RELATED • Record Chasers: Thomas and Dodaro Close in on the All-Time Hits Record

Hank Aaron’s 755 career home runs. Barry Bonds’ 73 homers in 2001. Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits. These numbers continue resonate through the world of sports. In fact, no American sport cherishes their records like baseball. And one of Wabash’s own baseball records, Zak Judd’s single season hit record of 56, is in jeopardy this weekend to not one, but two Little Giants. And they’re only sophomores.

Outfielder Jake Thomas and shortstop Matt Dodaro both find themselves on the brink of Wabash baseball history, with 55 and 51 hits, respectively. The two will look to keep up their offensive prowess this weekend in a double- header against Earlham, their final series of the year.

"I think it’s pretty cool," said Thomas. "Even if I don’t get a hit this weekend, I’ll still end up with 55 hits, which is better than I ever would have expected at the start of the year."

The pair continued their offensive barrage in the Little Giants’ loss against Rose-Hulman on Wednesday, combining for five of the team’s nine hits against the Engineers. Thomas now needs just two hits to tie Judd’s mark set in 1997, and Dodaro needs five hits to join him in the record books.

Head Coach Cory Stevens attributes their incredible success this season to their unwavering effort. "Both of them have an outstanding work ethic," said Stevens. "Any free time in the off-season, they’ve either been in the weight room or batting practice. They’ve made themselves into year round players." Dodaro also attributes their success to offseason work. "It was all about working out in batting and in the weight room," said Dodaro. "(Thomas) was my off- season hitting partner and lifting partner, and we worked together all the time."

Stevens and Dodaro went from off- season partners to friendly rivals this year, pushing each other towards the record books. In fact, the only reason the record is on their radar is because of the challenges from each other. "It’s kind of funny, we each try not to think about the record, but then one of us will play Devil’s advocate and bring it up," said Thomas. Dodaro added, "Even as freshman, it’s been sort of a competition."

Even on Wednesday, he gets a hit in is first two at bats, and I’m like, ‘Damnit, Jake,’ but then I got my two hits so it’s ok." Dodaro is also one double and three home runs away from tying each of those school records.

Even though Dodaro and Thomas just have one more weekend to set the single season hit record, they still have two years ahead of them to assault the record books and lead the Little Giants to more success than they’ve seen in a long time. "I think (their success) should be a good indicator of what the young talent on this team can do," said Stevens. "I expect them to be great leaders from this point on."

Thomas admitted that he’s worried the bar has been set too high, "You don’t want to drop off your junior year and have to look back and say, ‘wow, I did a lot better last year.’" But both Thomas and Dodaro are confident that, with a maintaining of their strong work ethic, they’ll be able to maintain their offensive success. "We’ll just have to lift and hit like crazy," said Thomas.