Infielder has shot at Chucks RBI record
WAUSAU - Steve Passatempo could end up in the Chucks record book in his first season with the Northwoods League team.
The infielder hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning of Friday's loss to Kenosha and enters the final series of the NWL regular season with a chance to tie the Chucks record for RBI in the season.
The Chucks, 30-38 overall and 17-16 in the second half of the NWL season, finish the year with games at Kenosha both Saturday and Sunday.
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The home run, Passatempo's 11th of the season, gave him 59 RBI for the season. Former Chucks infielder Paul DeJong set the franchise mark with 61 RBI in 2014. DeJong currently plays for the Springfield Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals' Class AA minor league team.
It has already been a strong season for Passatempo, who was the co-MVP for the NWL All-Star Game in July. The University of Massachusetts-Lowell freshman leads the Chucks in home runs, RBI and hits (84) and at-bats (261). He also enters the final series with a .322 batting average.
Chucks near top of NWL in extra-base hits
The Woodchucks might not have the top team batting average in the NWL this season. But the type of hits the Chucks players have generated this season have been among the best in the league.
Wisconsin entered the weekend second in the NWL with 964 total bases — sparked by the team hitting 124 doubles, 52 home runs and two triples through Friday's games. The Chucks had 680 hits overall and a .281 batting average overall.
"(The offense) has been our strength all year," Chucks coach Dustin Coffman said late last week.
The Chucks have one less double than league-leading Willmar. The Stingers also lead the league with 969 total bases.
Seven Chucks players are in double figures in doubles, led by Stevie Mangrum with 16. Chad Fleischman and Passatempo both had 14.
Wisconsin compiled 91 doubles and 773 total bases in 2015.
Notable
The Chucks had an attendance of 3,012 on Friday in their final home game of the season. Wisconsin had a total attendance of 49,396 in 35 dates at Athletic Park this summer, an average of 1,411 per game ... Steele Walker extended his on-base streak to 43 straight games in Friday's loss. The University of Oklahoma product also has a .406 batting average going into the final series of the NWL schedule. The season record for the Chucks is a .391 batting average, set by Josh Smaler in 1994.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11