Jamestown catcher Branston Lindquist celebrates with teammates after defeating Elmira in Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League action on Wednesday night at Diethrick Park. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Branston Lindquist stands just outside the clubhouse door at Diethrick Park late Wednesday night, not long after the Jamestown Tarp Skunks defeated Elmira 15-10 to move — at least for 24 hours — percentage points ahead of Batavia in the West Division of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

As he speaks to a reporter, Lindquist, who is in demand by the media after a fine performance behind the plate on a hot and humid evening, is approached by a Pioneers’ player, who is on his way to the team bus.

“You’re the catcher?” he asks Lindquist.

When the recent St. Mary’s High School graduate acknowledges that he in fact is, the division rival offers this four-word assessment: “You can ball, bro.”

That could describe a bunch of other guys on Manager Frank Jagoda’s roster this summer, too.

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After Thursday night’s action, the Tarp Skunks find themselves in second place with a 27-13 record (.675), which is just behind first-place Batavia (28-13-1, .679). After an off day, Jamestown concludes the regular season at home tonight against Niagara, followed by road games at Niagara on Saturday and at Batavia on Sunday.

If the last few outings are any indication, Jagoda has to feel good about their postseason chances as the Tarp Skunks have won eight of their last 10 games and are mashing the ball all over the park.

The statistics prove it.

As a team, Jamestown is currently first in the PGCBL in runs (322), hits (395), RBIs (261), total bases (533), strikeouts (208), batting average (.303) and slugging percentage (.409); and is second in triples (13), home runs (16) and on-base percentage (.417).

On the mound, as a collective unit, the Tarp Skunks are second in shutouts (three); third in saves (10) and fourth in strikeouts (304) and earned-run average 4.32.

Offensively, seven regulars are batting better than .300, led by Ben Slanker, the outfielder from the University of Louisville. Although he joined the team late and has only played 15 games, he is batting .477 (21 for 44) with four doubles, one triple, one home run and 15 RBIs.

The six others in the .300-or-better club are Jakob Haynes (.360, five home runs, nine doubles, one triple, 25 RBIs); Brady McGuire (.355, one home run, one triple, three doubles, 23 RBIs); Justin Bremner (.321, three home runs, seven doubles, one triple and 32 RBIs); Nolan Smith (.318, five doubles and 20 RBIs); Nick Borchardt (.310, 12 doubles, three triples and 28 RBIs); and Dom Costello (.306, three doubles, 12 RBIs).

“It’s a deep lineup,” Jagoda said after Wednesday’s game. “Obviously, we’ve been cracking it all year. … They’re really starting to string some things together. It’s been a good display, especially as of late.”

On the mound, Nick Ianniello (6-1, 2.27 ERA) and Christian Pencek (4-1, 3.35) have anchored the staff, which is third in the PGCBL in saves (10), and fourth in team ERA (4.32) and strikeouts (304).

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Diethrick Park has been a busy place the last two months. In 23 home games, the Tarp Skunks have drawn 20,339 fans for an average of better than 800 per game, which is ranked sixth in the 15-team league. Much of that interest has been the result of the hard work of Christian Dolce, the team’s general manager and director of business operations, and his staff; as well as the board of directors of Jamestown Community Baseball LLC.

Of course, the play on the field has had a lot to do with it as well.

“Obviously, it’s always good to play good baseball late in the season and down the stretch,” Jagoda said Wednesday night. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us with three regular-season games (remaining).”