2010 Atlantic Division Champion Mets(18) Season Highlights

By Brian Feduk, Mets(18) Manager September 17, 2010

Mets Home Run During Atlantic Championship!

Met Eddie Newman knocks a home run during Game Two of the Atlantic Division Championship. The Mets swept the Reds 13-2 and 16-14 at Aptos to repeat as Atlantic Champions. (Photo by Jim Hadley).

Regular Season Summary

2010 Atlantic Division Champion Mets(18) Team Picture

(Front row) Django Whittington, Steve Monigold, Jeremy Kirby, BrianFeduk, Russell Laubach (Back row) Juan Cervantes, JD Money, Eddie Newman, Ryan Genovese, Randyn Trybom, Drew Pleasant, Matt Meier, Jeremy Hernandez, Chris McCall (Not Pictured) Travis Bearden, Nick Doan, Ryan Doan, Sammy Garcia, Nick Piper, Mike Urbani, Zak Warren (Photo by José Medina).

The Santa Cruz Mets rolled out of 2009 as Atlantic Division Champions with a sweep of the San José Reds. In 2010, the Mets looked early on for a repeat of the title, as the entire pitching staff returned, seemingly healthier than ever. That all quickly changed for the promise of the Mets as ace Nick Doan was sidelined early in the season. Nick had a brain tumor removed in June and is recovering like a champ and we continue to send him good thoughts and prayers.

Mets pitching remained strong behind the arms of Nick Piper and Travis Bearden as they continued to win ball games. As the season continued, Piper was unable to make games and Bearden ended mid-season with a serious bicycle accident. The Mets were left looking for arms... and they already had them! Enter Eddie Newman, Jeremy Hernandez and Ryan Genovese. All three were righties, with some zip, and all three dealt when it counted! Combined, the three went 7-1 in the second half of the season and kept the Mets rolling into the playoffs.

Playoff Summary

The Santa Cruz Mets ended the regular season 17-3 going into playoffs as the #1 seed.

Round One, Game One

On their home field in Aptos, the Mets looked to face a strong #4 seed San José Royals. Genovese was given the ball and handed a tough loss in the end to a very resilient Royals squad!

The Mets were down 0-1 and about to be knocked out of the playoffs!

Round One, Game Two

2010 Atlantic Division Champion Mets(18) Hernandez Home Run

Mets Jeremy Hernandez knocks a home run during Game Two of the Atlantic Division Championship Series. (Photo by Jim Hadley).

In Game Two, the Mets looked to Jeremy Hernandez to stop the bleeding. Allowing only 5 runs, JHern handled the Royals, while the offense posted up 13 runs. Series tied, 1-1.

Round One, Game Three

In the rubber match game, the Mets looked back to Genovese to work a little magic... and that he did, throwing a complete game, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits! Mets win semis 2-1 against the Royals.

Championship Series, Game One

For the fourth straight year, the Santa Cruz Mets (Formerly Diamondbacks) and the San José Reds locked horns.

Up 2-1 in the overall series, the Mets looked to face a hungry Reds squad. But the Reds had to deal with Newman on the hill in Game One, who was nailing his spots and held the Reds to only 2 runs! The offense threw out 13 runs to back it up keyed by Matt Meier (2-4, 3 Runs), Juan Cervantes (2-2,HR, 4 RBI), Jeremy Hernandez (1-2, HR, 2 RBI), Ryan Doan (2-3, HR, RBI), and Steve Monigold (2-3, 2B, RBI).

Mets take Game One, 13-2. 1-0 in the series.

Championship Series, Game Two

2010 Atlantic Division Champion Mets(18) Genovese

Mets pitcher Ryan Genovese throws during Game Two of the Atlantic Division Championship Series. (Photo by Jim Hadley).

In Game Two, the Mets started quick against the Reds scoring 6 runs in the first. Genovese was given the ball and strolled through the first 2 innings. In the 3rd he hit a wall, as fatigue set in. With the bases loaded and 2 out, the Mets looked to the bullpen. Mets manager, Brian Feduk took the hill to face Reds slugger Hector Esparza. On a 1-2 fastball, Esparza struck out and the Red threat had ended!

Feduk sailed through the 4th and into the 5th when the Reds offense suddenly woke up, scoring 4 runs sparked by Esparza's Moonball. It was 9-7 Mets going into the 6th when the Mets scored 5 to make it 14-7. The Mets looked back to Newman for an inning until Drew Pleasant came in for relief. In the 8th, Pleasant allowed an error, a couple walks, and some untimely hits to let the Reds get within reach. Russell Laubach was called on to close the game out with 2 runners on, 2 outs, and a 2-run ball game. The Reds rallied to drive in the tying run to make it a 14-14 game.

Top of the 9th for the Mets started with a walk to Steve Monigold and put the bat into the hands of the pitcher himself, Russell Laubach. With a swing of the bat, Big Russ put 2 runs on the board and himself in the position to win the game on the hill! Bottom of the 9th, as always, the Reds fought hard and put 2 runners on, however the outs came too quick for them and the ball game ended. 16-14 Mets!!!!!!!!

Santa Cruz Mets defend their SJMSBL Atlantic crown!!!!!!

Team Leaders:

Drew Pleasant (.551 AVG, .659 OBP, 36 Runs, 38 H, 12 2B, 4 HR, 34 RBI, 8 SB)
Jeremy Hernandez (.531 AVG, .625 OBP, 27 Runs, 34 H, 10 2B, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 1.016 SLG)
Steve Monigold (.456 AVG, .588 OBP, 18 Runs, 26 H, 9 2B, HR, 15 RBI)
Jeremy Kirby (.425 AVG, .567 OBP, 28 Runs, 34 H, 4 2B, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 19 BB)
Matt Meier (.424 AVG, .559 OBP, 30 Runs, 36 H, 4 2B, 13 RBI)
Travis Bearden (4-0, 2.98 ERA, 45 K's)
Eddie Newman (3-0, 3.55 ERA, 20 K's)