Coats, Jankowski Lead Bourne’s Offense At Midway Point

Written by- Will Gasson
Edited by- Dan Kroening
Looking back on past summers and the first half of the 2011 season, the Bourne Braves are often associated with dominant pitching and stellar defense. This summer, Bourne is ranked second to last in team batting average (.227), while only totaling a .297 slugging percentage, and only forty eight extra base hits.

However, Braves fans look at these midseason numbers with delight after Bourne started the season last in team batting average, and managed to score only two runs in their first four games.

Much of the Braves mid-season emergence can be attributed to Braves outfielder’s Travis Jankowski (Stony Brook) and Jason Coats (TCU).

Jankowski is back for his second season with the Bourne Braves. Travis was brought to Bourne as a replacement player in 2010 to fill a hole in the Braves outfield, and he has roamed center field at Doran Park ever since.

Travis may have started off the season slow, going only 2 for his first 9, but the transition phase into a wood bat league inevitably wore off for Jankowski, as he is now 6th in the CCBL in batting average, boasting a strong .320 average. Travis has two doubles and four triples in 2011, driving in 16 runs from the lead-off spot. Mostly known for his speed on the basepaths, Jankowski has managed 9 steals on 12 attempts.  Much of Travis's success this season can be attributed to increased patience at the plate.  The Stony Brook product has walked eleven times this summer and has been an effective table-setter for the Braves.

Also in his second season with the Braves, TCU Horned Frog Jason Coats has made a significant offensive impact this summer.  Coats has settled into the third spot in the lineup and has become a consistent run-producer for Bourne.

This summer Coats is batting .309, which is the ninth highest batting average in the CCBL. Coats has emerged as the most dependable Braves hitter, always managing to come up with big hits in important situations. Jason has driven in twelve runs this season, while also racking up nine doubles in his first season for the Braves.

While Jankowski and Coats have been the fuel behind the Braves' recent offensive surge, their defense has also played a major part in Bourne's success. This summer neither Jankowski or Coats has committed an error in the outfield.  These two everyday stalwarts, combined a platoon involving Johnny Bladel and Blake Crohan, have created one of the best defensive outfields in the league.