About the only thing that might cool down Ben Polshuk this summer is this week鈥檚 expected damp weather. There certainly hasn鈥檛 been much else to do it.
The Victoria HarbourCats slugger was named West Coast League player of the week for going four-for-14, with three home runs, 10 RBIs, six runs scored and nine walks for a .577 on-base percentage. Victoria (20-4) went 6-1 in that stretch and nailed down the North Division first-half title and the automatic playoff berth that goes with it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an awesome summer so far, and it鈥檚 cool to win the weekly league award, but I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do this without the team,鈥� said Polshuk.
鈥淲e play well together. I鈥檝e never been on a team that has melded so quickly and so well. If one player has a [bad] at-bat, the others around him in the lineup have come through.鈥�
The six-foot-four junior from NCAA Div. 1 Cal Poly is hitting .315 on the season and leads the WCL in homers with five. But he knows well the capricious nature of his sport and is wary of getting overly confident.
鈥淏aseball is a game that will humble you,鈥� he said.
Polshuk, however, is showing why the HarbourCats wanted him back for a second season with the team after a promising 2015 WCL season last summer.
鈥淏en is a big guy with good bat speed and has been a stabilizing factor in the middle of the order,鈥� said Jim Swanson, HarbourCats co-owner and managing director.
Polshuk certainly gives the HarbourCats plenty of options and flexibility directly in front of him and following him in the order.
The nine walks in one week are notable.
鈥淥pposing teams have been pitching around him. He is clearly an all-star in this league,鈥� added Swanson.
Because he can play both outfield and first base, Polshuk鈥檚 versatility on defence also gives the HarbourCats options on the other side of the ball.
The HarbourCats travel to southern Washington state for a three-game set beginning tonight in Kelso-Longview against the Cowlitz Black Bears (11-15). The HarbourCats return to Royal Athletic Park on Saturday night to start a three-game series against the Bend Elks from Oregon.
EXTRA BASES: The HarbourCats have opted to open the playoffs on the road next month, giving them the final two games of the best-of-three first-round series at Royal Athletic Park. Games 2 and 3 will be on Aug. 10-11.
