The Lancaster Barnstormers are on track to break several Atlantic League records this season as well as having the best regular season of any full-season team in all of minor league baseball. The Barnstormers face the final three weeks of the regular season with incredible momentum.
To convey its pride and confidence in the team, the Barnstormers organization is guaranteeing fans the opportunity to watch a winning game at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Starting tonight, fans attending any home game that is lost will be able to redeem their ticket stubs at the Faulkner Chevrolet Box Office for a ticket of equal or lesser value to any remaining home game on the 2012 regular season home schedule based on availability. The team’s remaining regular season home games include its current home stand, which runs through Thursday, September 6, and its final home stand from Friday, Sept 14 - Sunday, Sept 16.
"This baseball team is remarkably focused. It is a tremendously talented group of players who have really come together as a unit," said Manager Butch Hobson. "I'm really proud of how hard they are working."
One of the records the Barnstormers are most intent on breaking is the most wins by an Atlantic League team in one season. That record is currently held by the 2009 Somerset Patriots, who won 86 games and lost 54 en route to a league title. This year’s Barnstormers will need to win 10 of their remaining games in order to accomplish the feat. Starting today, the Barnstormers website www.lancasterbarnstormers.com, Facebook page and stadium video boards will keep a countdown toward the record.
In addition to pursuing the Atlantic League wins record, the Barnstormers currently have the best winning percentage (.647) of any minor league team with a schedule of more than 100 games in 2012. The Winston-Salem (NC) Dash, a Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox is the closest with a .632 mark.
Two Lancaster hitters are chasing the same individual season record. Both center fielder Adam Godwin and right fielder Fehlandt Lentini have a legitimate chance to top Vic Rodriguez’ record for most base hits in a season. Rodriguez banged out 179 for the 2004 Somerset Patriots.
As a team, the Barnstormers may also break the league record for team batting average. The 2007 Newark Bears hit .302. At present, Lancaster has a team mark of .305. The 2012 Lancaster Barnstormers team has also set a franchise record for wins in a season, with 77 already recorded, outpacing the 2006 team that went on to win the Atlantic League Championship.
"It's important that the community knows how well this 2012 team is playing as we are counting on fans to show their Barnstormers pride," CEO Jon Danos noted. "Heading into the playoffs at the end of the month, the fans become that important intangible factor that can make a huge difference."
