RYAN CHURCH (pictured in this photo by Mike Collins of Collinsphotography.com) was restored to the Washington Nationals' starting lineup Friday night. The story from reporter Bill Ladson of MLB.com.WASHINGTON -- Outfielder Ryan Church started for the second consecutive game in center field on Friday night against the Phillies, and Nationals manager Manny Acta acknowledged that Church's hot bat is the reason why he's in the lineup.
Entering Friday's action, Church has 15 RBIs in his past 18 games, and he's hitting .310 in his last 28 games. For most of that time, Church has been a reserve. He lost his job as the everyday left fielder after Wily Mo Pena arrived in a trade from the Red Sox on Aug. 17.
"Not only [am I going with the hot hand, but] 40 doubles and 64 RBIs and a [.347] on-base percentage is hard to ignore," Acta said. "So we are trying to put our best team out there."
Church has not made it a secret that he doesn't like being benched, but he hasn't taken his displeasure out on the field, which has pleased Acta.
"I think he had the right attitude about it," Acta said. "I also think this is the first time he has had this many at-bats. A break was probably good for him. Call it a breather and he's energized."
Although he has set career highs in almost every offensive category, Church doesn't sound like a man who's satisfied with his season.
"I have 100 and something at-bats that I missed out on," Church said. "I know I can play. I really don't want to talk about it. It's one of those things where it's the end of the year, and you take advantage of whatever you can get."
With Church in the lineup, it means that Nook Logan has to sit. Logan's hitting .237 during September."
Entering Friday's action, Church has 15 RBIs in his past 18 games, and he's hitting .310 in his last 28 games. For most of that time, Church has been a reserve. He lost his job as the everyday left fielder after Wily Mo Pena arrived in a trade from the Red Sox on Aug. 17.
"Not only [am I going with the hot hand, but] 40 doubles and 64 RBIs and a [.347] on-base percentage is hard to ignore," Acta said. "So we are trying to put our best team out there."
Church has not made it a secret that he doesn't like being benched, but he hasn't taken his displeasure out on the field, which has pleased Acta.
"I think he had the right attitude about it," Acta said. "I also think this is the first time he has had this many at-bats. A break was probably good for him. Call it a breather and he's energized."
Although he has set career highs in almost every offensive category, Church doesn't sound like a man who's satisfied with his season.
"I have 100 and something at-bats that I missed out on," Church said. "I know I can play. I really don't want to talk about it. It's one of those things where it's the end of the year, and you take advantage of whatever you can get."
With Church in the lineup, it means that Nook Logan has to sit. Logan's hitting .237 during September."
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL-- BRAVES WIN
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DARYL AGUILAR connected on 9 of 12 passes while the Lompoc defense led by GILBERTO RIOS and SETH BROADHEAD held Dos Pueblos’ passing attack to 9-for-27 with two interceptions to give the Chargers their first defeat of the season, 28-14.
The Braves took a 21-7 halftime margin into the second half after which they appeared to snooze.
“Overall it was a great effort,” coach ROBIN LUKEN told his team afterward. “A lot of good things happened. But for 22 minutes tonight you guys didn’t block a soul.”
DP scored in the third quarter to pull within one TD and it was not until BOBBY COLLINS reeled off a 30-yard TD run with 2:29 remaining that the victory was sealed. Collins rushed for 124 yards on 21 carries and scored three TD’s, the earlier two coming on runs of 15 and 11 yards.
STEVEN MOREHART was Aguilar’s most frequent receiver as he hauled in four passes for 55 yards and a TD.
“He ran around but he always kept looking,” Morhart said of Aguilar. “Daryl kept his head up.”
The Braves evened their season record at 2-2 with the win. They have a bye on Friday before opening Pac-7 action against Righetti.
CABRILLO FALLS
In the first game of the Los Padres League season the Pioneer Valley Panthers scored on drives of 67, 96 and 62 yards and on a 50-yard interception return to take a 28-7 lead in the second quarter and were never headed. The final was 41-14.
While the Panther running game rolled up 331 yards, PVHS’ defense meanwhile stopped Cabrillo twice inside the 10-yard-line. “They have big, physical kids up front,” said Cabrillo coach Don Cross. “We’re kind of undersized there on defense.”
The Conqs ran the ball decently. BENNIE GARRETT totaled 94 yards on 21 carries and GREG WATSON had 85 on 10 rushes including a fourth quarter TD.
Pioneer Valley vaulted to the top of the LPL standings at 1-0 and 3-1 overall, while Cabrillo falls to 0-1 and 1-2.
OTHER GAMES
St.Joseph unveiled sophomore running back Russell Perkins who ran for 181 yards in a 14-0 shutout over Bishop Diego as the Knights finish preseason 2-1.
Morro Bay, now 3-0, demolished Wasco 40-0, Atascadero did the same to Dinuba 42-0, Paso Robles pummeled Ridgeview of Bakersfield 48-13 to push their record to 4-0, San Luis Obispo downed San Marcos 14-7, Santa Maria fell to King City27-6, Righetti lost to Santa Barbara 34-29, Santa Ynez picked up its first “W” of the season 26-7 over Carpinteria. Arroyo Grande plays Washington of San Francisco tonight. Nipomo and Templeton were idle.
The Braves took a 21-7 halftime margin into the second half after which they appeared to snooze.
“Overall it was a great effort,” coach ROBIN LUKEN told his team afterward. “A lot of good things happened. But for 22 minutes tonight you guys didn’t block a soul.”
DP scored in the third quarter to pull within one TD and it was not until BOBBY COLLINS reeled off a 30-yard TD run with 2:29 remaining that the victory was sealed. Collins rushed for 124 yards on 21 carries and scored three TD’s, the earlier two coming on runs of 15 and 11 yards.
STEVEN MOREHART was Aguilar’s most frequent receiver as he hauled in four passes for 55 yards and a TD.
“He ran around but he always kept looking,” Morhart said of Aguilar. “Daryl kept his head up.”
The Braves evened their season record at 2-2 with the win. They have a bye on Friday before opening Pac-7 action against Righetti.
CABRILLO FALLS
In the first game of the Los Padres League season the Pioneer Valley Panthers scored on drives of 67, 96 and 62 yards and on a 50-yard interception return to take a 28-7 lead in the second quarter and were never headed. The final was 41-14.
While the Panther running game rolled up 331 yards, PVHS’ defense meanwhile stopped Cabrillo twice inside the 10-yard-line. “They have big, physical kids up front,” said Cabrillo coach Don Cross. “We’re kind of undersized there on defense.”
The Conqs ran the ball decently. BENNIE GARRETT totaled 94 yards on 21 carries and GREG WATSON had 85 on 10 rushes including a fourth quarter TD.
Pioneer Valley vaulted to the top of the LPL standings at 1-0 and 3-1 overall, while Cabrillo falls to 0-1 and 1-2.
OTHER GAMES
St.Joseph unveiled sophomore running back Russell Perkins who ran for 181 yards in a 14-0 shutout over Bishop Diego as the Knights finish preseason 2-1.
Morro Bay, now 3-0, demolished Wasco 40-0, Atascadero did the same to Dinuba 42-0, Paso Robles pummeled Ridgeview of Bakersfield 48-13 to push their record to 4-0, San Luis Obispo downed San Marcos 14-7, Santa Maria fell to King City27-6, Righetti lost to Santa Barbara 34-29, Santa Ynez picked up its first “W” of the season 26-7 over Carpinteria. Arroyo Grande plays Washington of San Francisco tonight. Nipomo and Templeton were idle.
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