Hot-hitting Vassar on a roll

Cannon County sophomore Nick Vassar, left, drills a first-inning double against rival DeKalb County Monday (April 15). Vassar is hitting .565 over his last eight games.

By BOBBY WITT/Courier Contributor

Sophomore Nick Vassar missed three games with a stomach virus and temperature in excess of 100 degrees two weeks ago.

The sickness has subsided but Vassar has not cooled off since his return to the diamond.

Vassar is hitting a team-best .565 (13-of-23) in his last eight games. He has an eight game hitting streak, has scored seven runs, driven in three and scored seven during this torrid stretch. Vassar also has reached base safely in eight consecutive plate appearances.

“I’m just seeing the ball well and feeling good at the plate,” Vassar said after going 7-of-11 in four games during the Tennessee Walking Horse Classic. “We have worked hard on our hitting, as a team, and I’ve made a few adjustments that are paying off for me right now.”

Vassar has enjoyed multi-hit games in five of the eight outings during his streak, including three straight.

“Nick has been on a tear but he works hard and understands the game so it doesn’t surprise me when he has success,” Lions coach Tony Stinnett said. “When you work good things usually happen. What impresses me most is that he has done this against some good teams and pitchers.”

Not only is Vassar, who was moved back into the leadoff position early during the current streak, hitting well, but he also is getting on base and scoring runs. He has scored in five of the eight games including multiple runs in two of them.

“I’m just trying to get on base and create scoring opportunities,” Vassar said. “We have hit better as a team of late so we are all heating up at the right time.”

The humble sophomore was a first-team All-District 8-AA selection as a freshman and is enjoying an even better all-around season in 2013.