Gameday Magazine June

May recap HILLCATS IN THICK OF PLAYOFF CHASE FOLLOWING SEE-SAW MAY Despite a 13-14 record in the month of May, the Lynchburg Hillcats are right in the middle of the playoff hunt, as they entered June just 0.5 games back of the Potomac Nationals for the Carolina League North Division lead. They play host to the Nationals June 8-10 and the Salem Red Sox, who aren’t far behind, on June 14-17 to close out the first half of the season at City Stadium. RAKING AT THE PLATE Shortstop Luke Wakamatsu is starting to heat up offensively. The switch-hitter is bat- ting .328 over his final 16 games of the month. He has five extra-base hits and has six RBI during that span, including his first home run of the season on May 22, in Myrtle Beach. On May 8, Wakamatsu’s batting average was .162, and he has since raised that to .209 (47 points). He has also hit safely in 12 of his final 17 games in the month. Outfielder Mitch Longo batted .300 for the month of May, and hit safely in 18 of the 24 games he played during the month. Longo clubbed a grand slam against Salem on May 12, and lined a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the ballgame against Myrtle Beach on May 21. He led the team in May with 30 hits, and was tied for the team lead with five doubles and 16 runs scored. Since coming off the disabled list in late April, Anthony Miller really picked up his play at the plate in May. He batted .293 over the month, and raised his overall average 36 points in the process. Miller also slugged three home runs in the month, and enjoyed a 4-RBI game May 15 against Frederick.