Dipoto finding ways to win despite high walk numbers
WAUSAU- After failing to reach the fifth inning in back-to-back starts to start the season, Woodchucks' starting pitcher Jonah Dipoto has started to find success on the mound despite high walk numbers.
In the two-game stretch against Kalamazoo and Kenosha in the middle of June, Dipoto was knocked around, allowing seven runs on 13 hits. During the two no-decisions, Dipoto walked just four and struck out five.
Dipoto has started four games since then, allowing nine earned runs on 12 hits. He has walked 19 batters but struck out 17 during the same time frame.
In his most recent start against Battle Creek on July 12, Dipoto allowed one run on a hit and five walks, but struck out 12 batters to pick up his second win of the season,
Dipoto was drafted in the 38th round by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft but chose to attend UC-San Diego instead. During his freshmen season this past spring, he made 13 appearances, including four starts. Dipoto pitched 28 innings, allowing 18 runs on 34 hits. He finished with a 2-3 record overall.
Walker riding 14-game hit streak
After going hitless across a two-game series with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters from June 27-28, Steele Walker has recorded a hit in 15 of the past 16 games. Walker also owns a 14-game hitting streak after a 2-for-5 game in a 4-1 loss to Green Bay Thursday night.
Since June 10, Walker has posted 12 hits in 22 at-bats, including two home runs. During the stretch, Walker has driven in five runs and scored seven times.
Walker's batting average of .392 is the top average in the entire NWL, with the next closest average being .355 to a trio of NWL batters.
Chucks offense remains among NWL's best
Wisconsin will have two players enter the league's home run derby, Steve Passatempo and Connor Heady. The power bats do not stop there though, as the Chucks rank among the best in the Northwoods League when it comes to extra-base hits.
Wisconsin has posted 75 doubles so far this season, a number that ranks them in the top five in the NWL. The Chucks have the fourth-most home runs this season, clubbing 29 so far. With all of the extra-base hits, the team also ranks among the top teams in terms of total bases, totaling 582 bases on 418 hits.
The week ahead
Saturday and Sunday, Wisconsin will host a two-game set against Wisconsin Rapids before heading to the All-Star break. The Chucks will host Lakeshore next Thursday and Friday before heading to Kenosha next weekend.
Steve Passatempo and pitcher Scott Parker both will participate in the All-Star game in Kenosha. The All-Star Game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19 from Simmons Field in Kenosha.
Passatempo and Connor Heady will participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday.
Morgan Rode can be reached at 715-345-2258, or by email at mrode@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @mrodeSPJ.