Fighting for the Top Spot

They haven't been, but it would be understandable if they did.

The two Sharks players who have batted leadoff all season--Brett Weinstock and Daniel Williams--have hit at least 140 points higher in the top spot than in the other spots they've occupied. Weinstock, who led off in the opener against Vasquez, then gave way to Williams for the next fourteen games before moving back into the leadoff position on April 22 against Nordhoff, is hitting .545 at the top of the order and .404 elsewhere in the lineup. Williams, who batted second in the Vasquez game and third since April 22, has a .580 average as a leadoff hitter and a .370 average elsewhere.

Either way, Williams (currently hitting .513) and Weinstock (now at .453) have done a great job of setting the table this season. Nineteen times this season (the Sharks have played 21 games thus far), Malibu's leadoff hitter has reached base in the first inning. That translates into a phenomenal .905 on-base average for the leadoff hitter in the first inning. Believe it or not, it gets better. Fifteen times, the leadoff hitter has scored in the first inning. It's such an incredible statistic that a game-by-game run-down seems in order.

On the following table, first column provides the opponent and date of the game. The far-right column provides the outcome of the time at bat in the first inning. (A description in color indicates a run was scored.)

Vasquez--3/4	Weinstock	Walk
South Gate--3/5	Williams	Single
Marshall--3/7	Williams	Double
Glendale--3/10	Williams	Walk
Reseda--3/12	Williams	Double
Nordhoff--3/15	Williams	Walk
Kilpatrick--4/2	Williams	E-4
Oaks Christian--4/5	Williams	Single
Oaks Christian--4/8	Williams	Double
Montclair Prep--4/9	Williams	Walk
Santa Paula--4/12	Williams	Single
Santa Paula--4/15	Williams	Single
Oak Park--4/16	Williams	6-3
Oak Park--4/16	Williams	Single
Nordhoff--4/19	Williams	Single
Nordhoff--4/22	Weinstock	Single
Harvard Westlake--4/23	Weinstock	Double
Santa Clara--4/26	Weinstock	Walk
Santa Clara--4/29	Weinstock	Walk
Santa Clara--5/2	Weinstock	1-3
Oaks Christian--5/10	Weinstock	Single