AquaSox notes: Grebeck coming on strong after slow start

Published 5:43 pm Friday, August 12, 2016

EVERETT — Austin Grebeck belted his second home run of the season Thursday as the Everett AquaSox demolished the Vancouver Canadians 16-7 to complete a three-game sweep at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver.

Why is that so significant? That ties Grebeck’s career total from his three-year career at the University of Oregon. The 5-foot-8, 155-pound outfielder has come on strong in the last 10 games hitting .344 with a home run and 10 RBI to raise his season average from .165 to .201.

“I was struggling early and I’ve been in the cages early working with (hitting coach Brian) Hunter,” Grebeck said. “We’re working on trying to put good swings on the ball and not trying to do too much.

“It was both pitch selection and a little mechanical issue, Grebeck continued. “I got that cleaned up and feel a lot better in the box.”

Everett maintains focus despite big lead

The Sox built a 15-2 lead after three innings Thursday, and securing a big advantage early can have its challenges.

“You have to say to yourself, ‘Hey, these numbers still matter. These at-bats still matter, these innings for the pitchers still matter,’” Everett manager Rob Mummau said. “At the end of the year they don’t take the stats in the games that were close, they take the stats from the whole year: every game, every inning, every at-bat. I think that might help with some of the kids.”

The Frogs also got solid pitching for majority of the Vancouver series. Brandon Miller worked six innings in Everett’s 1-0 win in the opener, and Matt Festa and Reggie McClain combined to strike out nine in eight innings of six-hit, two-run baseball.

“Our guys got after it,” Mummau said. “They threw a lot of strikes and stepped up in big situations with guys on base and really competed well.”

Lewis has surgery

Kyle Lewis, the Seattle Mariners’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, had surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Thursday. Lewis, who was named a Northwest League All-Star and was hitting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage and a .530 slugging percentage. He had three home runs, five triples, eight doubles, 26 RBI and a .915 on-base-plus-slugging-percentage when he was injured in a home plate collision on July 19.

Lewis tweeted a video Friday that showed him on a training table and beginning his rehabilitation process.

Even while injured Lewis remained with the AquaSox, traveling on the road trips and interacting with his teammates and the fans at Everett Memorial Stadium.

“Kyle has been helping out any way he can, whether it’s in the dugout, picking up what the opposing pitchers are doing, or trying to learn the game, doing charts,” Mummau said. “He’s been a joy to have around.”

Filia, Zammarelli still ranking among league leaders

Entering Friday, Everett outfielder Eric Filia was second in the NWL in hitting at .329. He lead the league in on-base percentage (.432) and RBI (33), was second in walks (28), fourth in hits (54) and fifth in total bases (78) and slugging (.476).

Everett infielder Nick Zammarelli was fourth in hitting (.322) and second in hits (55).

For the latest AquaSox news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.