OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg In this July 7 file photo, Jamestown’s Eric Weeks, left, is greeted at home plate by Grant Moore (2) and Nolan Smith after belting a home run against Newark. The Tarp Skunks, who trail first-place Batavia by percentage points in the West Division, will square off against the Muckdogs at 6:30 tonight at Diethrick Park.

In a July 7 Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League contest at Diethrick Park, Jamestown’s Eric Weeks belted a towering two-run home run in the eighth inning in a win over Newark.

Upon circling the bases, he was greeted at home plate by teammates Grant Moore and Nolan Smith. The trio doffed their helmets in celebration and, as they did so, Weeks sported an ear-to-ear grin.

There’s been plenty to smile about for the Tarp Skunks this summer.

Entering tonight’s home game against West Division-rival Batavia, Jamestown sports a 24-7-2 record, while the Muckdogs are percentage points ahead in the battle for first place at 24-7-1.

The Tarp Skunks are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games, while Batavia is 8-1-1. The Muckdogs’ lone blemish during that span was a 6-5 setback Monday night at Dwyer Stadium versus Jamestown, which has claimed one-run victories in their last three games. With eight games remaining in the regular season, it appears it will be a two-team race for the division’s top seed heading into the playoffs.

The Tarp Skunks are apparently poised and ready for that challenge.

Entering tonight’s game, they are among the league leaders in many statistical categories.

Individually, Weeks is third in RBIs with 37 and Moore is tied for third in stolen bases with 22.

On the mound, Santino Musone is 6-0 and leads the league in wins, while teammate Champ Churchill (4-0) is tied for second with four victories. Zach McLean is third in strikeouts with 44; and Collin Pence and Chase Beran are in the top five in saves. Pence is tied for second with four, while Beran is tied for third with three.

For the season, Weeks is batting .367 in his 28 games, during which he has 40 hits, including 11 doubles and two home runs. He has also stolen 21 bases in 22 attempts and sports a .446 on-base percentage.

Moore, meanwhile, is batting .340 and has collected 35 hits, including seven doubles, three triples and a home run. He has a nifty .507 on-base percentage and has only been caught stealing three times.

Although Smith joined the team late, he has proven to be a huge asset offensively. In 12 games, he is batting .486 (18 for 37), has driven in 12 runs and sports a .627 on-base percentage.

As a team, the Tarp Skunks are first in at-bats (1,125) and walks (217); second in runs (284), hits (327), doubles (67), RBIs (238), stolen bases (128) and hit into double play (22); and third in total bases (436) and hit by pitch (63).