Catcher Matthew Graveline and Connor Knox of the Williamsport Crosscutters look out at the field between pitches during a recent game at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Even amongst a spiraling season, there are still individual performances worth celebrating for the Williamsport Crosscutters.

In a first half campaign where team success is typically secondary to improving one’s draft stock, some members of the Cutters managed to do just that in a massive way.

White the first half season seems to be lost for Williamsport, here are the individual athletes that have taken the most out of the opportunity.

MATTHEW GRAVELINE (C/DH)

There weren’t many plaudits for Williamsport at the plate, with a team batting average of .219 and OPS of .663 both last in the Draft League by a sizable margin. But gems still persisted for Williamsport in the order; none shining brighter than Matthew Graveline this summer.

No one touched the Manassas, Virginia native’s stats at the plate this summer, with Graveline finishing first on the team in OPS (.914) and triples (3), which also ranks first in the Draft League despite playing in just 13 games this season.

Graveline was one of the many early exits that Williamsport have gone through, an indication of their late season collapse.

It will be a summer of difficult decisions for Graveline who, in addition to potential interest at the next level, still has another year of collegiate eligibility.

LOGAN JOHNSTONE (CF)

Williamsport’s defensive leader in the outfield, Logan Johnstone will be remembered more for his clutch hits, disciplined eye at the plate, and unwavering contact.

Playing 11 games this season for Williamsport in preparation for the MLB Draft, Johnstone ranks first on the Cutters in batting average (.326) in addition to batting in seven runners. While base stealing was a rare sight for Williamsport in the first half, Johnstone remains one of just seven Crosscutter athletes with multiple stolen bases this season.

The 11 game cameo put the ribbon on an impressive amateur career for the Budapest native, who finishes with a .303 average and 114 runs batted in across 223 collegiate and summer league appearances.

TAEG GOLLERT (1B)

One of the few clinical bats still on the Cutters roster, Taeg Gollert has gone from a middle of the order linchpin to a vital bat at the top half of the order. Among qualified hitters, Gollert ranks second in OPS (.875) while ranking first in doubles with four.

Across 16 games played, the Toronto, Canada native has struck out seven times, placing him tied with Logan Johnstone for fewest on the team despite Gollert five more games.

The Canadian also sports a .300 batting average with the Cutters this campaign. If that tally stands the rest of the season, it would be first time Gollert finishes a summer league with a batting average starting in the three’s, besting his previous years with Lakeshore (.271) and Clinton (.242).

BULLPEN NOTABLES

When the good times were rolling for Williamsport, no area of the field shined brighter than the Cutters bullpen. That holds true today, with the Cutters securing six saves on six save opportunities. Going into Sunday, they remain the only Draft League team to not blow a save this season.

Leading the line in the pen have been the illustrious tangent of Merit Jones and Jed Boyle.

Jones, a 21 year old righty from American Fork, Utah, sports a 1.72 ERA across six appearances and 15 and two thirds of innings pitched. A key middle-length reliever, Jones’ 2-0 record is tied for first in the Draft League for wins without making a starting appearance.

As for Rudis, he’s been the anchor, recording three saves in six appearances this summer for Williamsport. Posting a head turning 0.79 ERA across 11 and a third innings pitched, no one has sparked more confidence on the hill than Rudis for Williamsport.

Other notable figures in the bullpen this season for the Cutters include Dylan Alonso (1.13 ERA and eight innings pitched in three appearances), Ryan Faulks (3.86 ERA in six appearances), and Tyler Dietz (3.60 ERA and five innings pitched in six games played).