Jun 26, 2025
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Taeg Gollert of the Williamsport Crosscutters dives safely back to first on a pick off attempt against the Spikes at Bowman Field.
In the modern game, the jury is still out on stolen bases. Neutrals and the old guard adore the practice. It creates a real level of excitement all at once, with some of the biggest conflicts and confrontations throughout a game taking place when a runner fancies swiping an extra bag for himself.
But despite the Williamsport Crosscutters finding themselves in the top of the MLB Draft League going into Thursday, this still has come in small, infrequent doses, with success occurring on even fewer occasions.
Going into Thursday night’s series finale against the State College Spikes, Williamsport had attempted an astonishingly low 17 stolen bases on the season, with just 13 being successful. In comparison, the MLB Draft League’s second-lowest steals mark, the State College Spikes, have more than double that mark with 34 swiped bags on the year.
This lack of ambition on the basepaths isn’t too much of an anomaly for Williamsport historically. After finishing first in the MLB Draft League in 2022 with 170 steals in 75 games, Williamsport has since finished third out of six teams in stolen bases in 2023 (147 steals in 74 games) and actually finished in last in 2024 (93 steals in 72 games.)
But last year’s mark doesn’t touch where Williamsport may fall in terms of stolen bases in 2025. Extending their stolen base mark to the 72 games they are predicted to play this season, Williamsport are on pace to steal just 58 bags this season.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Boston Smith of the Williamsport Crosscutters safely steals during a recent game against the Frederick Keys at Bowman Field.
In fact, Williamsport’s lack of ambition on the basepaths may reach a historic level if it keeps its pace. Since the league mandated an 80 game schedule in 2022, only three teams — the 2024 Cutters (96), 2024 West Virginia Black Bears (94) and the 2023 Trenton Thunder (84) — have secured less than 100 steals in a full season. The 2025 Cutters are not only on pace to join that club, but become the head of it.
Of course, stolen bases aren’t a proper indicator of team success.
Those 2024 Cutters were crowned MLB Draft League champions by the end of the season. The 2024 Black Bears were a tiebreaker away from joining the Cutters thanks to an elite second half campaign. The 2023 Trenton Thunder also saw solid success, making the Draft League championship that season.
But while it doesn’t equal success, the feeling of vulnerability permeates when you don’t have that X factor in your pocket.
“You know, I like to run,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “This team is just not built this way, and that’s a little bit of a concern. We don’t have a lot of team speed to run bases.”
As far as weapons go to stealing bases, the lead candidate has been outfielder Amman Dewberry, who has three stolen bases on four attempts this season. But with a .184 average, opportunities are scarce for the outfielder to take bags.
“If the opportunity comes about … again, you have to have the personnel that can do that,” Thomas said. “The ones we have, are trying to steal (get to first).”
Four more athletes have two stolen bases, with Logan Johnstone, Ryan Kennell, Armani Newton, and Boston Smith a combined 8 for 10 on stolen base attempts this campaign. The only other athletes with a stolen base are Jack Lausch and Dylan Schaefer, who both successfully stole their only attempt.
A deep dive into the athlete’s collegiate careers backs up Thomas’s claim that Williamsport isn’t choosing not to steal, they are being forced not to. Of the 15 active registered batters for Williamsport that played a collegiate season, only two, Hayden Jatczak (10) and Boston Smith (16) recorded at least 10 stolen bases in their previous collegiate season. With seven athletes not recording more than five and three, Matt Ilgenfritz, Carlos Castillo, and Dylan Schaeffer, not recording a single stolen base in their last college season.
LATHAM, N.Y. – Penn College was recognized for its academic excellence with 96 student-athletes selected as …
LOCK HAVEN — The College Sports Communicators announced their annual Division II Women’s Cross Country and …
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A total of 10 Lock Haven softball players were named to the 2024-25 Easton / National Fastpitch …
Copyright © 2025 Sun-Gazette, LLC | https://www.sungazette.com | 252 W. Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17703 | 570-326-1551
