By Colin Richey, Assistant Sports Editor
Junior outfielder Jackson Strong has had a stellar season for the Griffs. Leading the team in batting average, hits, runs, RBIs and in several other categories, his success has been critical for the team’s overall success this season.
Following the team’s 15–9 loss to St. Bonaventure, Strong’s three stolen bases helped him tie the Canisius single-season stolen base record of 24 set by Kyle Domogala in 2001. He currently leads the MAAC in stolen bases and stolen bases per game. When asked about his knowledge of the record, he stated, “I knew that it was coming up. It’s been something on my mind, but I didn't feel any added pressure.”
The team has stolen multiple bases in 11 of their last 12 games, and they have a total of 74 this year, for an average of 2.84 stolen bases per game. “We’ve been taking bags all year,” Strong commented, “and really that’s a byproduct of our coaching staff and the work we’ve been putting in.”
For “Moneyball” fans, Strong is also closing in on his career best on-base streak of 26 games, currently sitting at 23 straight games getting on-base. “Again, it’s a byproduct of my training and going up there and trusting, knowing I put the work in, seeing the ball and taking what they’re giving me.”
The team hosts Siena this weekend for a three-game series starting on Friday at 1 p.m. Strong said the team’s game plan is “to dig deep and find things within each other that maybe we haven’t seen yet this year. Leaning on each other this weekend, that’s what it’s really going to be about. If we can do that and dig down deep within ourselves, we’ll do a great job this weekend.”