Van-tastic

Somerset Patriots left-hander Andy Van Hekken is making tonight's start against the Lancaster Barnstormers and third baseman Steve Van Note and right fielder Chris Van Rossum. That's more vans on the field than in the parking lot at the ballpark.
Anyway, now that I've blown past that terrible joke, this is the Patriots first game in sole possession of first place since May 29, and they wasted no time proving it with a two-run first inning.
Saturday's game is the first of six straight against the Lancaster Barnstormers, and while it is not easy to play the same team six games in a row, it helps that it is the Barnstormers.
Although this team is the defending Atlantic League champion, it is not very good.
The lineup has serious holes. There appears to be three solid bats in the entire lineup -- shortstop Danny Gonzalez, first baseman Jeremy Todd and left fielder Dominick Ambrosini. Once you get past them, there is not much to scare you.
In my opinion, Lancaster is going to have a very hard time qualifying for the playoffs without a serious second-half shakeup. From what I hear, that's probably not going to happen because manager Frank Klebe is very particular about the kind of player he will coach and very loyal to "his guys." His guys are a third-place team in the first half, however, and probably no better next half.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: There is one former major-leaguer on the roster and it's left-handed reliever Phil Norton, who was released by the Patriots earlier this month. Sometimes the "major-league" tag is deceiving. Some of the league's best players have never been above Triple-A, but you need at least some major-league talent to compete.
Maybe they can sign Van Morrison.