For Normal CornBelters first baseman Aaron Dudley, sticking to one’s way of approaching the game of baseball is what’s working for him. And to his way of thinking, “Sticking with your approach will allow results to happen.”

And when a player presents results in front of baseball scouts, Dudley said, a player’s name get passed from the scout to the player’s manager, looking to sign the player into the minors.

In 122 games with the CornBelters since coming here last year, Dudley has had 443 at-bats during 122 games, during which he has produced 84 runs, 141 hits including 14 home runs, 37 doubles and one triple. In the two years he has been with Normal, he has a .415 on base percentage. Defensively, he has helped turn 89 double plays, lent 17 assists, and committed just four errors.

Dudley is putting up such numbers here while waiting to get back to the minors, and helping the CornBelters fight to get into the Frontier League playoffs while doing so. As a CornBelter, Dudley explained, “I focus on each pitch, each at-bat, each defensive play,” he explained. As of my conversation with Dudley on June 19, the Toledo, Ohio native had not hit a home run yet this season. Yet, regarding that stat, he appeared philosophical.

“Having not had a home run yet this season kind of gets to me, but if I stick to my approach, the results will come,” the 6 foot-3, 195 pounder explained. A non-drafted free agent in 2010, Dudley signed with the then-Florida Marlins and was assigned to their Class A team in Jamestown, N.Y. He then moved to Class A teams in the Marlins system in Greensboro, N. C. and Jupiter, Fla., playing in just a handful of games at each stop before being advanced to their Class AA team, the Jacksonville Suns.

Jacksonville turned out to be Dudley’s last stop before being released by the Marlins in 2013. At the time of his release, he had played in just 94 games over four years.

By coming to Normal, Dudley felt he’d have a chance to contribute regularly – something that didn’t turn out to be the case with the Marlins organization.

“With the Marlins, I didn’t really get that many opportunities to show what I could do, and that’s something that makes you unsure of yourself,” Dudley admitted. “But being able to play every day here, and with the results I put forth thus far have shown me the only person who can beat me is myself.” Since arriving in Normal in 2014, Dudley said, his confidence has received a boost, helping him to contribute to Normal’s success.

While being with the CornBelters, Dudley said his mechanics at the plate have improved, including keeping his head from moving very much. He said he believes he has more consistent swing than he did when he first arrived last year.

Dudley’s life experiences in baseball transformed him, to some degree, into feeling a little like a veteran player. “I like that feeling because I am able to share my past experiences with some of the new guys,” he explained. “That allows me to give them my input.” After his playing days are over, Dudley said he would like to move into coaching.

For now though, Dudley waits for the next call up to the Minors. “I’m not discouraged,” he said. “Whatever happens, I’m just going to keep on playing my game.”

A Need To Lead: Prior to last Sunday’s game against Lake Erie, the ‘Belters had gone 3-7 in their last 10 games. For the last couple of weeks before that, starting with road games at Evansville, CornBelters Manager Brooks Carey said, the team had been “playing from behind.” He added, “Our players have to get better, which I know they can.”

The ‘Belters will have Monday off and be on the road this coming week playing Tuesday through Thursday, June 23-25 at Windy City, moving to Joliet for a weekend series Friday through Saturday, June 26-28. After taking Monday, June 29 off, the team returns to The Corn Crib for a four game series with River City, beginning with a doubleheader Tuesday, June 30, starting with game one’s first pitch at 4:30p.m. That first game is a make-up game due to bad weather earlier in the season. The two teams will meet for single games Wednesday and Thursday, July 1 and 2, beginning with first pitches at 6:35p.m. each night.

McKenna Continues Leading League’s Hit Parade: Infielder Pat McKenna continues leading the Frontier League in stats offensively, with 11 home runs and 32 Runs Batted In. Teammate Richard Lucas is second in homers hitting eight out of the park. That stat puts Lucas in a three-way tie with Washington’s David Popkins and Gateway’s Blake Brown. McKenna’s 32 RBIs leads the league and Lucas is locked in a three-way tie for fourth in the league in that statistic bringing in 27. Lucas is squarely between Frontier Grey Scott Carcaise and River City’s Danny Canela and looking to break away.

As of Monday, left hander Kevin Brahney continued chasing the league leader in wins, Scott Bywater of the Southern Illinois Miners. Bywater has 6 victories, followed by 5 wins each produced by Rockford’s Kyle Hassna and Schaumburg’s Eddie Cody, and then 12 players, including Brahney, find themselves in a logjam with four wins. CornBelters pitcher Michael Schweiss is second to Bywater in strikeouts, trailing him 60 to 52.

Christmas Coming Early – On July 10: Christmas will come early this year – at least at The Corn Crib, as the team will have a “Christmas In July” promotion on Friday, July 10, when the ‘Belters host the Frontier Greys. The evening will have all the feel of the season five months early as the team will also be collecting gifts to donate to the WJBC Brotherhood Tree.

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