New London — Senior Jeremy Lhotka regularly receives video and tips from his personal hitting coach.

For the first time in his Coast Guard Academy baseball career, his hitting coach was on hand for a home game as the Bears hosted Clark University on Friday afternoon.

So was Lhotka's father, Steve, who's visiting from Florida.

They're the same person.

Ever since Jeremy started hitting baseballs off a tee in his backyard in Orange Park, Fla., his father has given him wise advice.

With his father's help, Lhotka, a catcher, is enjoying one of the best offensive seasons in program history.

"Jeremy has been locked in for the whole season," Coach C.C. Grant said. "I can't remember the last player on my team to hit over .400 for the entire season. I'm happy for him because nobody has worked harder, especially for a kid who basically had to sit for three years.

"... He's improved in all facets of the game, not just hitting."

Lhotka owns the second highest single-season batting average in program history at .426 and has a shot at the single season record for hits. With five games remaining, he needs 12 hits to take over the lead. He also has the second most RBI in a season with 33 and tied for sixth for home runs in a season with five.

What's the reason behind his senior success?

"I'd say my Dad," Lhotka said. "My Dad has taught me how to hit since I was three in the backyard. He still sends me hitting videos now. He's all the way down in Florida but he tells me what's wrong with my mechanics from 1,100 miles away.

"So, if you've got technical questions about my swing, he's the guy to ask, not me."

Lhotka's fourth-inning single was Coast Guard's only hit off of starter Cal Slepkow (7-2) until the ninth inning of Friday's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference game. Will Stephens doubled and Luke Thompson singled him home. But the rally fell short, with the Bears losing 3-2.

The Bears (15-15, 4-11) already are out of contention for a spot in the NEWMAC tournament field but still have a chance to finish over .500 and win 20 games for the first time since 2013.

"We have 11 seniors this year, so finishing out our baseball careers on a high note would be huge," Lhotka said.

Lhotka certainly has had a season to remember.

He started hot during the spring trip to his home state of Florida. Following a 1-for-3 performance in the season opener, he had 10 straight hits over three games. Then after sitting out a game, he belted a grand slam in the first inning against Lasell.

In his first 20 at-bats he contributed 14 hits, including five doubles, and added 10 RBI.

"That's because he was there in Florida," Jeremy said of his father. "The first game I went 1 for 3 and he told me what I was doing wrong. I just blindly accept what he says. And then 10 straight hits after the first game."

Over the years, they've bonded over baseball.

In their backyard, Steve made a batter's box out of concrete and added lights so Jeremy could hit at all hours. He's shot tons of video of his son's swing.

"We're very close," Steve said. "He's been playing baseball since he was five or six years old. And hitting has been something that he's worked on diligently. When he comes home for Thanksgiving or Christmas break, he hits 3,000 baseballs in our backyard."

At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Jeremy is considerable bigger than his father who checks in at a stocky 5-4.

He always welcomes his father's advice, especially when it comes to the subject of hitting.

"He knows more about hitting than me," Jeremy said. "I feel like one of my character strengths is humility, so I really don't care that he's my Dad and my hitting coach, too. He knows my swing better than I do."

Unfortunately for Steve, he only would get to see his son play one game this weekend. Saturday's doubleheader was rained out.

They planned to spend some time together off the field. Odds are the subject of hitting will come up.

"This has been a really good season," Steve said. "This is a highlight right now. This is the first home game I got to see him play in and he's graduating soon. It is really nice to see him have a good season, especially his last one."

g.keefe@theday.com