2008 National Division Champion Giants Season Highlights
Regular Season Summary
The Giant's season started off slow - starting off 1 and 3 in divisional play. The team finished in 2nd place in the National Division with 6 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. The regular season seeding went down to the final weekend where the Giants came through with a win and a tie against the Brewers to clinch 2nd place in the division. Overall, the Giants finished with a 13-6-1 record.
This season was a great team effort. The addition of several younger players like Jon Cannon, Brian Stirm, Chad Ziemendorf, Gabe Barrientos, Noah Sweeters, and Chris Denevi rejuvenated the Giants. The return of several veterans like John Yandle, Mike Denevi, Ed Berbena, Rich Zuvella, Kevin Wakeman, Ron Dunn, Don Sanford, Harold Sutherland, Huck Hibberd, Ric Foley, Paul Tomini, Mark Sarpa, Mike Digiulio, Phil Jaramillo, and Mike Boesch was another key to the season's success. Most of all, the Giant pitching was second to none.
For the four playoff games, the Giants started four different pitchers and every one came away with a win. John Yandle won the opener against the A's followed up by a Jon Cannon win to eliminate the A's and move on to the finals. Brian Stirm and Mike Denevi finished up the playoffs with a sweep on the Indians.
During the season, Kevin Wakeman pitched 3 great games to get us into the playoffs. The Giant staff had seven different pitchers get wins this year while only yielding 91 runs over 20 games.
Congratulations to the Giants for a fun and exciting season! We can't wait until next year.
Final Series Summary
In Game One, Giants pitcher Brian Stirm was dominant. He threw a complete game 2-hit shutout. In fact the Indians only hit 6 balls out of the infield - 2 hits and 4 flyballs.
The Giant defense was solid. The only 2 errors were committed in the 4th, but they were wiped clean with a 6-4-3 double play. For the game, Denevi, Denevi, and Wakeman turned three 6-4-3 double plays. Stirm only pitched to 6 batters above the minimum.
As good as the pitching was, the Giant hitting was just as good. Jon Cannon had an awesome game. Jon was a perfect 3-for-3 with 2 HRs. He drove in 4 and scored 4 runs. In all, the Giants scored 12 runs on 18 hits to end the game via the 10-run rule 12-0 after 7 innings. In addition to Jon, Chad Ziemendorf went 2-for-4 with 2 long doubles. Stirm had a great day at the plate too with 3 hits including a double that drove in the 10th run.
In Game Two, Mike Denevi pitched great. The Indians ace, Jaimie Ybarra, pitched equally as well. Both pitchers were throwing great.
The Indians scored first with 2 runs in the top of the 3rd inning but the Giants answered back with 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. After base hits by Chris Denevi and Mike Denevi, Rich Zuvella came through with a one-out triple off Ybarra down the right field line to tie the game 2-2.
No runs were scored in the 4th. Denevi shut down the Indians in the 5th even though the Giants didn't convert 2 double plays. Denevi struck out the Indians number 2 hitter to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 5th, the game took a turn. After striking out the first 2 batters, Ybarra hit Mike Boesch with a pitch with 2 outs. Since Ybarra already hit 2 batters earlier in the game, he had to be removed. The Giants didn't waste any time capitalizing. Phil Jaramillo got a base hit to move the runners to 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Then Mike Denevi hit a 2-out double over the right fielder's head to score the go ahead run and put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Rich Zuvella worked the Indian's pitcher for a walk and then Jon Cannon got another base on balls to force in a fourth run.
In the seventh, the Giants offense came alive again and scored four runs capped by another two-run homer by Jon Cannon. The Giants scored two more runs in the 8th and held on for a 10-5 win to claim the National Division Championship.
Mike Denevi pitched a great game scattering 10 hits over 9 innings. He also had a great day at the plate going 3-for-3 with a double, walk, 2 runs scored and an RBI. Jon Cannon went 1-for-2 with a walk, hit-by-pitch, and a clutch two-run homer. Not a bad day for Jon, 3 HRs, 5 runs scored, 7 RBIs, 2 HBP, a walk, and a stolen base.