Braves Sluggers’ Kish and Lebel Lead Offense

The Bourne Braves have had their fair share of offensive woes in the early goings of the 2011 season, but there have been a few bright spots in the Braves offense. Infielder Mike Lebel (Rhode Island) and outfielder Colin Kish (Florida Southern) have headlined the Bourne’s offensive attack, which has started seventh overall in the CCBL with a batting average of a mere .186.

Lebel, who hails from Quincy, MA, came off of a relatively strong junior season at the Univeristy of Rhode Island. Lebel boasts a .312 career batting average with the Rams and in 2011 he hit for a .274 average from 59 hits from 215 at bats. Lebel also provided power for the Rams in 2011, hitting ten doubles,
four triples, and eight home runs, with thirty-six runs batted in. In addition to his talents at the plate, Lebel also finds alternative methods to get on base and threaten teams with his speed. Lebel walked fourteen times in 2011, while also stealing twenty-four bases and scoring forty-nine total runs.

This summer Lebel has led the Braves in batting average (.385) by collecting five hits in his first 13 at bats, with one RBI. All of Lebel’s hits thus far have been singles, however his speed has carried over from the Atlantic 10 Conference to the Cape Cod Baseball League. Lebel has stolen three bases in five
total games for the Braves this season while drawing three walks and accounting for one run.

Though Mike Lebel is currently Bourne’s most dangerous hitter, outfielder Colin Kish ranks just behind Lebel in all major offensive categories. Kish has joined the Braves after a successful junior year at Florida Southern in which he started all forty-six games for the Mocs. Kish ranked third on his team in batting average (.354) derived from sixty-three total hits in 2011. He totaled nine doubles, six triples and one homer last season at Florida Southern while also boasting a mammoth .489 slugging percentage and a .405 on base percentage.

Kish has adjusted well to the Cape League thus far for Bourne. He ranks second on the team in batting average (.353) managing six hits in his first seventeen at bats. Kish has totaled five singles and one double, while also drawing three walks. Kish has yet to score, or drive in a run yet this season with Bourne, however, Colin has stolen two bases in his first five games, one more base than he had stolen in his junior year at Florida Southern.

The Bourne Braves (1-4) will be back in action at Doran Park on Friday June 17 at 6pm. For any information on Braves players Colin Kish and Mike Lebel or any other news on the Bourne Braves visit www.bournebraves.org.


Go Braves!