Jordan Roberts was a pretty good player on the Billings Scarlets' state championship team in 2008.

He's even better this season.

The 17-year-old has been a tough out at the plate and has provided stability on the mound as part of coach Adam Hust's pitching rotation.

"From his batting last year to this year, his average is bumped up a ton,'' Hust said. "His pitching performances have been outstanding. He's a good kid, a hard worker, and is getting everything he deserves because of the work he puts in. I'm very proud of him.''

Hust has put Roberts in the cleanup spot most of the season, although he has hit in the No. 3 hole. But it doesn't seem to matter where Roberts is in the lineup. It's hard to get him to make an out.

In a recent six-game stretch, Roberts went 15-for-22 and drove in 10 runs. Since the middle of June, he has had six games in which he has driven in at least four runs. Perhaps his best performance came against the Royals on June 5, when he hit two doubles and had seven RBIs in a 13-1 victory. Three weeks later, Roberts pitched a complete game and drove in two runs in a 2-1 victory over the Royals.

Those two games, of course, came at Dehler Park, where Roberts would play every day if he could.

"I love this big field, because if you hit in the gap, you're just running away,'' Roberts said. "It's great.''

In 2008, Roberts hit .364 and drove in 65 runs. He also fashioned a 4-0 pitching record with a 5.83 ERA. This season, his averaged has zoomed to .506, which includes three home runs, 24 doubles and an amazing 11 triples. Roberts has already surpassed his RBI total of last year with a team-high 77 and sports an eye-catching .846 slugging percentage.

Roberts has done just as well with his arm, leading the rotation with a 5-0 record and a 1.88 ERA.

"I don't think he's changed a whole lot. He's developed a really good changeup which he was developing last year,'' Hust said. "I think what's changed is we've put him in a leadership role where he's got to take the reins and go out there, and I think he's grown up to the point where he knows what to throw, when to throw it and where to put it. I think with more innings and learning the game a little bit better, that's what's helped him progress on the mound.''

While Roberts has impressive numbers, Hust is just as happy with his development as a leader.

"He's been put more in a leadership role this year versus where he was last year. He had leaders in front of him and just kind of played his role, but now he's stepped up and guys follow him. It's outstanding to have a kid like that.''

Roberts doesn't have any problems with his new role.

"Last year, I was a starter for most of the games," he said. "The kids helped me be a lot better, like Joel Reitz. I look up to him a lot. He's a really good player. This year, I think me and a couple of other players need to take it upon ourselves to be leaders and pick everybody else up when they're down.''

Roberts isn't the only one swinging a hot bat for the Scarlets, who have built a 35-11 record and are a strong contender to win the state championship again.

Justin Black (.350), Ty Gilmore (.451, 42 RBIs) and Aleksei Grosulak (.357, 42 RBIs) all hit in front of Roberts. Behind him are Brady Muller (.410) and Tyson Shriver (.336), who's on the injured list.

With that kind of a lineup, it's hard to pitch around Roberts. In a 15-inning loss to Helena on Tuesday, Roberts was handled carefully by the Senators when the game got into extra innings. In the bottom of the 13th, the Scarlets had a runner at second with one out and the Senators intentionally walked him. When Roberts came up in the 15th with the bases loaded, he walked on four pitches to force in a run.

Tuesday "was the about first time he got pitched around by Helena,'' Hust said. "When they do pitch around him, other guys step up and get the job done. That's where we're kind of hurting right now is having a couple of guys who hit behind out (with injuries). So it makes it easier for teams to deal with that, but, as a whole, they've all helped each other out enormously and I'm looking forward to some good things from all of them.''

Roberts is enjoying his time playing with a good team.

"I know when I'm down and having bad days, all these other guys will pick me up so when they're down all I have to do is to pick them up,'' Roberts said.

Both sides seem to have a done a good job of doing just that.

The Roberts file

Batting average: .506

Doubles: 24

Triples: 11

Home runs: 3

RBIs: 77

Slugging: .846

W-L: 5-0

ERA: 1.88

FYI

The Scarlets and Royals play Friday and Saturday at Dehler Park.