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Xenia bats crushing the competition

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XENIA — Late in Saturday’s game at Fairmont, it could be overheard in the Xenia dugout whether hitting the ball for an out should count as a hit or not.

With what could be an in-house batting title race on its way to happening, it’s no surprise players would want every edge possible to keep up with each other.

The first week of play in the books, the Bucs find themselves as the Miami Valley League leader in eight of the 10 offensive categories tracked as of Monday (runs – 72, hits – 82, doubles – 19, home runs – 7, RBI – 59, batting average – .550, on base percentage – .617, and slugging percentage – .859.)

Xenia’s first four in the batting order of Makyna Carr, Jada McAvene, Kynnydy Lewis and Tori McPherson are a huge part of the success as that group has feasted on opposing pitchers.

“As far as bats, they are some of the best to come through Xenia in awhile,” head coach John Miner said.

McPherson has burst out the gate to lead the MVL in seven individual categories. Through five game she has built a .833/.857/2.056 slash line, with five home runs, 20 RBI, three triples and 15 total hits, 10 of which have gone for extra bases.

“She is on fire,” Miner said of McPherson. “She’s a phenomenal hitter. From last year to this year, she’s always been a good hitter but she’s moved to another level. Maturity, hitting, talent and she is a threat every time she gets up to the plate.”

Lewis is keeping pace with a .737/.773/.947 slash to go with four doubles and nine RBI.

Carr and McAvene in the 1-2 spots are producing at a nearly identical rate. Hitting leadoff, Carr tops the runs scored list with 13 this season in addition to her .600 average. And McAvene doesn’t look like someone who hasn’t swung a bat for the Bucs in more than two years, as she currently holds the league’s fourth highest average at .650 while leading the team in stolen bases with four.

Overall, the Bucs have the league’s top-two hitters and six of the best 13 averages for all qualified hitters.

“Contagious is one way to put it,” McPherson said of the team’s success. “One person goes up there and hits and the energy goes around the dugout so fast. And I think that’s why once we start timing the pitching up and everybody starts hitting, that’s why we put so many runs up because it’s so contagious. It can be crazy how fast that goes.”

If you were to take into consideration the advanced stat “runs created,” it only confirms Xenia’s dominance at the plate. McPherson would lead the league at 32 RC, with Lewis in second at 14. Carr and McAvene would rank fourth and fifth, Dakota Wagner eighth and Megan Bradley 15th.

Last season, Xenia finished the year ranked in the middle of the pack in most stats. It doesn’t seem to be an outstanding amount of improvement to reach the top from there, but consider this: Xenia scored 145 runs for the 2021 season in 25 games. It is halfway to that total through just five games this season.

Xenia got off to a 4-1 start in its opening week which included three straight MVL wins. The bats have led the way, but pitching and hitting is crucial to team success as well and Xenia appears to be focused in on those parts of the game as well.

“Getting out of a hitting slump is easier than getting out of a fielding slump,” McPherson said. “We look good both on offense and defense, but defensively we have our holes.”

Not many though, as Xenia also has the fewest team errors (2) and highest fielding percentage (.974) in the MVL so far.

As a group, Miner said he sees he everyone playing as a unit and pulling for each other at the plate and on the field. The older, core players have encouraged the team’s freshman and sophomores to get on the same level as they are and he said he has seen everyone feeding of each other’s energy.

It’s all lead to one thing: Xenia raking at the plate.

“Offensively, we’re just crushing the ball right now,” McPherson said. “And that’s just going to keep carrying over.”

Xenia junior Megan Bradley (14) celebrates her triple to lead off the second inning in the game at Fairmont on Saturday. It’s one of the few statistics in which the Bucs do not lead the MVL in so far this season as eight of the 10 primary offensive categories go in Xenia’s favor.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/04/web1_CMYKDSC_0167_edited.jpgXenia junior Megan Bradley (14) celebrates her triple to lead off the second inning in the game at Fairmont on Saturday. It’s one of the few statistics in which the Bucs do not lead the MVL in so far this season as eight of the 10 primary offensive categories go in Xenia’s favor. Photos by Steven Wright | Greene County News

Xenia celebrated Tori McPherson’s second two-run home run of the game at Fairmont. The Bucs lead the MVL with 72 runs scored in six games.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/04/web1_CMYKDSC_0241_edited.jpgXenia celebrated Tori McPherson’s second two-run home run of the game at Fairmont. The Bucs lead the MVL with 72 runs scored in six games. Photos by Steven Wright | Greene County News

https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/04/web1_CMYKDSC_0249_edited.jpgPhotos by Steven Wright | Greene County News

Leading the league in seven offensive stats, Xenia junior Tori McPherson is on an exceptional tear to start her season.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/04/web1_CMYKDSC_0271_edited.jpgLeading the league in seven offensive stats, Xenia junior Tori McPherson is on an exceptional tear to start her season. Photos by Steven Wright | Greene County News
Bucs averaging 14.4 runs per game

By Steven Wright

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Contact Steven Wright at 937-502-4498 and follow on Twitter @Steven_Wright_.