VICTORIA 6
MEDFORD 4
听
Chris Fougner is modestly manufacturing his mark with the Victoria HarbourCats.
The Lambrick Park/Victoria Mariners product is quietly making his presence known in his first year with the West Coast League club.
The 19-year-old, who will head back to Salt Lake Community College for his second season in late August, was 2-for-4, reached on an error and stole two bases 鈥� but was also caught twice 鈥� in Monday鈥檚 6-4 win in Medford against the Rogues, Victoria鈥檚 seventh consecutive victory.
That came after a 4-for-4 performance with four RBIs in Saturday night鈥檚 late 8-2 doubleheader victory in Klamath Falls against the Gems. Fougner added a hit and a scored in Sunday鈥檚 8-1 win as the HarbourCats swept the hapless Gems (5-26).
鈥淗e鈥檚 been good. He does a lot of things well. He hits the ball well, throws well, runs well and he鈥檚 a good exciting player,鈥� HarbourCats head coach Graig Merritt said of Fougner. 鈥淗e just has to clean his game up a bit.
鈥淗e鈥檚 like a rock and we just have to polish it and that鈥檚 what this summer is about. Chris is one year out of high school. He went to JC [junior college] and he just needs more reps. That鈥檚 what he鈥檚 getting here. He鈥檚 contributing to the team and doing a great job.鈥�
In a big way over the weekend.
Going into Monday, Fougner was hitting .295, tied with highly-touted teammate Kevin Collard for third best on the club among players with 10 games or more. Fougner had played 21 games with 61 at-bats, 17 fewer than Collard. The local has scored 11 runs, had 18 hits (including four doubles) with eight RBIs.
However, his strikeouts stand out at 16, tied for the worst on the team with Collard.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good so far. I just have to keep capitalizing on my at-bats. I鈥檓 just trying to get in and show something for us and get wins for the club. My at-bats are coming around,鈥� said Fougner.
鈥淓veryone comes here to get better, it鈥檚 a plus with having all our resources with the coaches helping us out. I just want to be a better ball player after this and go back into next [school] season.
鈥淚 want to get smarter, mentality-wise for baseball. Being around guys from Division 1 schools will help with that.鈥�
On Monday, at Harry & David Field, centre-fielder Austin Guibor had the big night for Victoria with a two-run home run in the first inning and a third RBI in the third for the 鈥機ats. Designated hitter Kevin Collard had a pair of doubles, with an RBI and scored once.
Reliever Nick Wojtysiak was credited with the win for Victoria after he replaced starter Jonathan Buckley in the third. Shawn Kennedy closed it out with 22脷3 innings of shut-out, one-hit ball.
The two teams are back at it tonight at 7 p.m.
EXTRA INNINGS: HarbourCats pitcher Dominic Topoozian will be the lone representative for the team at the WCL all-star game, slated for July 20 in Bellingham.
