Hitter of the Week: Cole McKenna

By Ellie Rand

Giants infielder Cole McKenna (Undecided) wins Week 1 Hitter of the Week honors. The shortstop finished the week hitting .524 (11-for-21), leading the league with 15 total bases while scoring 11 runs in just five games. He also added four RBIs, a home run, and four stolen bases.

McKenna’s week began with a two-hit performance against the Olney Cropdusters on June 2. The leadoff hitter reached base three times and scored twice, including setting up the Giants’ first run of the season after a first-inning single and wild pitch to advance into scoring position. McKenna later crossed the plate again in the second inning as Gaithersburg built an early lead en route to an 8-6 victory.

The following night against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, McKenna showcased his plate discipline despite not recording a hit. The Jersey native drew two walks, was hit by two pitches, drove in a run during the Giants’ pivotal six-run sixth inning, and scored three times as Gaithersburg erased a 7-4 deficit before pulling away for an explosive 20-8 victory.

His consistency continued on June 4 against the Bethesda Big Train. McKenna notched a hit, drove in a run, and scored as the Giants secured a key 5-3 win over one of the league’s perennial contenders.

On June 5, squaring up against the Alexandria Aces, McKenna collected three hits in five plate appearances. However, his signature performance came Sunday in a 14-5 win over Olney.

McKenna erupted for a perfect five-for-five afternoon, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. After opening the game with a first-inning single and scoring on an RBI hit from Ayden Phillips (Jacksonville), he delivered the biggest swing of the day in the second inning, launching a deep two-run homer to extend the Giants’ lead.

McKenna later doubled down the left-field line and scored on a sacrifice fly before adding two more singles and crossing the plate twice more. By the end of the evening, he had accumulated five hits, two RBIs, a home run, a double, and four runs while reaching base in every plate appearance.

Beyond the numbers, McKenna’s ability to manufacture runs separates him from the rest of the league. He consistently puts himself and his teammates in scoring position and capitalizes, establishing himself as a major offensive threat early in the season.