The Y-D lineup has seen a lot of consistent hitters this season, including the team’s hit leader, Easton Carmichael. The All-Star East Division MVP out of Oklahoma has collected 37 hits this season and has continued to be a reliable bat for Y-D throughout the summer.
Carmichael has proved to be an offensive weapon for Y-D since the beginning, logging three multi-hit games in the first week of the season. He is currently second in the league for doubles with 10 so far this season and third in the league for extra-base hits with 15.
In Saturday’s game in Brewster, he went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double — completing his third consecutive game with a double. He said that in the batter’s box, he goes up with a focused mindset, looking to be on time with the pitches thrown at him.
“I always go back to one pitch at a time, each at-bat is a new opportunity,” Carmichael said. “It's a game of mistakes, so you're gonna have ups and downs. I just ride out the lows and enjoy the highs.”
The utility player has rotated between first baseman, catcher and designated hitter this season for Y-D. As a catcher, he has caught for many different pitchers and seen a wide variety of pitches. He said being behind the plate as a catcher gives him a bit of a unique perspective when hitting at the plate on offense.
“I think it helps with sequencing and perspective, especially if you get a sinker guy or a slider guy,” Carmichael said. “Being familiar with the strike zone and getting to know some of the umpires out here and their tendencies of the zone has been helpful. When catching, you see a lot more thrown balls, so when you see 100 pitches a game behind the plate, it can help at the plate.”
With the first game of the playoffs on Tuesday, Y-D prepares to take on an East Division opponent in a single-elimination faceoff. Carmichael said that bringing the intensity will be crucial to the team’s approach to postseason at-bats.
“It's going to be a fun time,” Carmichael said. “I think we have a good team and have a chance to make a deep run. So it's just continuing to have intensity and continuing to do your job and pick other guys up.”
Photo by Sophie Solarino
