2013 Nicewonger Division Champion Mets Season Highlights
2013 turned out to be one giant roller coaster ride for the Santa Cruz Mets. With the 18+ Nicewonger division switching to wood bat, the team knew it would provide a new challenge and incorporate a higher level of play at the same time. What the team did not know, was that they would be sitting under .500 at the half way point in the season, a first for the Mets. Another first for the team was to be shutout, not only once, but twice by the hands of the Cupertino Twins and Sunnyvale Royals. To complicate matters, the Mets looked at a very tough schedule down the stretch. With a record of 5-6, the team looked to see the defending Champion Royals three times, the undefeated Reds twice, and the Cupertino Twins one more time, who had already taken all three games from the Mets.
It looked grim, not only for trying to win a championship, but to even make playoffs! The only saving grace, the light at the end of the tunnel, was that the team was competing in every single game. The losses were mostly one or two run differences, with the biggest defeat(s) being both shutouts, 4-0. With this, the team decided to stop eating heart sandwiches and bear down, buckle up and prepare for what was going to happen next, win or lose!
First test at that point was a doubleheader against the San José Nationals. The Mets swept at the end of the day, but the team still looked sloppy and the Nationals fought hard and stayed in both games, losing 6-2 and 5-4. The team left the field that day with a different attitude, not happy with the sloppy play and determined to try and resolve it. An attitude that seemed to elude them early on. The timing was perfect as the Mets looked to face the Champs, on their home field, the following week.
Everyone showed that day, and it was apparent that the team was once again hungry!! The Mets broke out with 18 hits that game, including six home runs, in a 17-2 beating of the two time defending Champs. The tides turned from that moment forward. The Mets and Reds would split the following week, but that would be the last loss the Mets would endure, all the way through the Ship!!!! In the end, the Santa Cruz Mets and San José Reds locked horns in the finals for the 5th time in the last seven years. The Mets swept the Reds to win the 2013 Nicewonger division with scores of 9-6 and 8-4 and after a two year gap the Santa Cruz Mets regained the 18+ crown in the San José MSBL!! Very proud of this team- never gave up when faced with a challenge, and it paid off.
Team Leaders:
Steven Monigold (.450 AVG, 18 Hits, 7 Runs, 9 RBI, 23 TB)
Brad Shannon (.450 AVG, 18 Hits, 9 Runs 14 RBI, 27 TB)
Carl Bacon (.404 AVG, 21 Hits, 12 Runs, 18 RBI, 32 TB)
Jeremy Hernandez (.390 AVG, 23 Hits, 19 Runs, 22 RBI, 48 TB)
Travis Bearden (4 Wins, 63 Ks, 3.50 ERA)
Casey Ramback (5 Wins, Save, 21 Ks, 2.95 ERA)
Ryan Genovese (4 Wins, 27 Ks, 3.03 ERA, .96 WHIP)
Team MVP: Jeremy Hernandez
Looking back at the season, I realized how much better of a baseball game, and experience for that matter, playing with wood bats provided. Every team in the Nicewonger division competed, regardless of each teams record at the end of the day, no single team could come out and expect to roll anyone! I am already looking forward to next season as I know the competition will be stacking up even more so...
Can the Mets manage to pull another Championship in 2014? Will the powerhouse Reds and Royals stack up to take it down? Will the Marlins, Colt 45s or Nationals make their own move to the top? Or will the mega merge between the Cupertino Twins and Santa Clara Dynasty prove to be too much for any of them to handle?? Good times ahead either way!!!!
Enjoy the Holidays and see you all next season.
Brian Feduk