Ogden Raptors Playoff Preview

Ogden Raptors

Sitting at just 14-14 after their game on June 25, the Raptors closed the first half by winning 15 of the remaining 20 games to win the South Division first-half title with a 29-19 record. While their second half had some ups and downs, Ogden finished the year with three straight wins, including a 26-7 rout of Northern Colorado.

Offensively, the Raptors hit the third-most homers, scored the third-most runs, drew the second-
most walks, stole the second-most bases, and had the highest on-base percentage in the league.
Leading the charge with infielder Jesus Valdez, who sent the ball flying all summer. Valdez hit
.369/.433/.612 with 21 homers, 25 doubles, and 109 RBIs, while playing in all 94 of the team’s                                                                                        games. Valdez ranked second in the league in RBIs, fourth in homers and hits, and sixth in extra-
base hits. Outfielder Josh Broughton was a mainstay at the top of the Ogden lineup, hitting
.381/.437/.608 with 14 homers, 25 doubles, eight triples, 71 RBIs, and 29 steals. Broughton
ranked fourth among qualified hitters in batting average, fifth in hits, third in triples, fourth in
steals, and scored a league-leading 112 runs. Outfielders Pat Adams and Reese Alexiades tied for
the league lead with 62 walks, with Alexiades also ranking fourth in the league with 97 RBIs.

On the mound, southpaw Jackson Lancaster was arguably the best reliever in the league.
Lancaster was unscored upon in 24 of his 26 appearances, racking up 12 saves while pitching to
a minuscule 1.13 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 24 innings. Lancaster’s 16.13 K/9 was the highest
strikeout rate in the PBL aming pitchers with at least 15 innings pitched and he held his
opponents to a measly .133 batting average.

“It’s always an honor and very exciting to be a part of any postseason. It means a lot of hard
work has been rewarded,” said manager Kash Beauchamp. “From the players, to the coaching
staff, to the trainers, clubbies, and bat boys, it’s like a small reward for all the energy in the
making of a successful summer.”