Yankees Repeat for 2015 Ettare Division Championship
Regular Season Summary
In 2014, the San José Yankees ended 26 years of frustration and finally broke through with their first league championship in the team's history. Luckily for the Yankees, the wait for title number 2 would not be nearly as long. Building off of the foundation of a championship team, Manager José Mendoza reinforced the squad with the addition of key rookies who would all turn out to play crucial roles in the team's 2015 championship run.
The biggest addition to the Yankees was Lorenzo Javier, a pitcher and third basemen, who excelled both on the mound and at the plate. Javier finished his rookie campaign hitting .440 with 10 doubles, 17 runs and 19 RBI, and he also pitched to a 5-1 record with 1 save, a 2.82 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched.
Also providing a huge bat was newcomer Dennis Gordon. The outfielder hit .404 with 6 doubles and 15 RBI, while also providing excellent defense in both left and center. Rookie Jason Trask also proved to be a 2-way threat, picking up 2 wins and hitting .268 with 8 RBI and 5 SB. Brandon Dove excelled at both shortstop and second base, making numerous gold glove plays throughout the season and Gil Salgado also provided solid defense at third base and in the outfield while also demonstrating a great batting eye by accumulating a .433 on-base average.
Mendoza's big additions before the 2014 season also played huge roles in leading the 2015 team to the division title.
Ryan Erickson continued to show why he is one of the most dominant pitchers in the entire SJMSBL. Erickson finished the season with a record of 7-1 with 1 save and he struck out 74 batters in 68 innings. In the playoffs, Erickson won 3 games, including an epic 11 inning complete game in game 2 of the Division Championship Series. Erickson also contributed on the offensive end, finishing the season hitting .370 with 6 doubles, 24 runs and 20 SB. He made his second all-star team in as many seasons.
2nd year player David Wark also had an all-star season as he provided solid defense behind the plate and finished the season at .302 with 12 RBI.
Topher Chen continued to provide a reliable bat at the top of the order for the Yankees, and he finished the season hitting .280 with 19 Runs,14 RBI and 8 SB.
The remainder of the Yankees roster was made up of veterans who had each suffered through the lean years, but can now happily call themselves back to back champions.
Eric Rynhard put together a stellar season. Rynhard finished the year at .424 with 4 doubles, 17 runs and 19 RBI. On the mound, Rynhard picked up 3 wins and a save, and finished the year with 33 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.
Outfielder Roy Williams slugged his way to a .375 average with 1 HR, 22 Runs and 16 RBI. Centerfielder Greg Cohen finished the season at .332 with 15 Runs, 11 RBI and 11 SB. Harlan McCaskey battled through a broken finger to post a .250 average with 20 Runs, 14 RBI and 12 SB. Israel Rodriguez displayed improved defense in the outfield and he also finished the season hitting .304.
Battling injury throughout the season was Lambert Calvert who finished the season at .200, but hit a crucial walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 2 of the Championship Series. Also saving his best for last was Lonell "LC" Chattmon. The Yankees veteran announced that the 2015 season would be his last in pinstripes, and in his final at bat as a Yankee, he crushed a 2-out, RBI double in the 9th inning of Game 3 of the Championship Series. LC's hit led to 2 more Yankees runs, and provided the team with the cushion they would need to win the game and the championship.
Yankees legend Ron Smare provided crucial leadership during the playoff run, manning the third base coach's box and running the offense. Alex Niedzielski also provided much needed support to the coaching staff throughout the season and the playoffs.
Bullpen stalwart Sergio Zamorano missed most of the season due to injuries, however, he still picked up 1 win and 2 saves in his limited time on the field.
Finally, Yankees manager José Mendoza pushed all of the right buttons throughout the season as he steered the team to a club record 15 regular season wins and an eventual championship.
Playoff Summary
Semi-Final Series
After finishing the regular season with a franchise record 15 wins, the San José Yankees secured the 2nd seed and a bye into the Ettare Division Semi-Final Series against the Pirates. The Yankees were 3-0 against the Pirates during the regular season with the Yankees coming from behind to win two of those games in the late innings. The Semi-Final Series would live up to the regular season drama between the two teams.
In Game 1 of the Semi-Final Series, the Pirates jumped out to an 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, and with 2 outs in that frame, things were looking bleak for the Yankees. However, Dennis Gordon was able to coax a bases loaded walk to bring the score to 8-5. Greg Cohen then singled to right to drive in 2 more, and Eric Rynhard followed with a 2 run single of his own to give the Yankees the lead 9-8. Ryan Erickson came in to relieve Lorenzo Javier in the top of the 9th, and Erickson struck out 2 to preserve the win for the Yankees.
In Game 2, Ryan Erickson took the ball for the Yankees and he did not let go of it until the final out of the game was recorded 9 innings later. However, the Yankees found themselves trailing 1-0 heading into the 7th until the bats broke out, and they scored 8 unanswered runs. Erickson struck out 12 batters and allowed only the 1 run, leading the Yankees to the 8-1 victory and the Series win.
Division Championship Series
The 2015 Ettare Division Championship presented a match-up of the #1 seed Marlins v. the #2 seed Yankees. In their first year in the Ettare Division, the Marlins dominated the division, finishing with a record of 17-2-1, while scoring 223 runs and allowing only 97 runs. In the regular season, the Yankees handed the Marlins one of their 2 losses.
In Game 1, the Marlins jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning. Starter Will St. Clair, who went undefeated for the Marlins on the regular season, cruised for 7 innings, allowing only 1 run. Yankee Lorenzo Javier provided great relief work, throwing 8 innings and allowing only 1 earned run. However, the Yankees would not be able to battle back from the early deficit, and the Marlins would take game 1 of the series by a score of 8-2.In Game 2, Yankees ace Ryan Erickson took the mound on one of the hottest days of the summer in San José. The Marlins jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning. However, the Yankees would battle back with 1 run in the bottom of the frame, and they added 3 more runs in each of the 3rd and 4th innings. Despite the deficit, and the heat, the Marlins would not quit, and they battled back to make it a 7-6 game heading into the top of the 8th. Although Erickson was still going strong into the 8th inning, he would see the lead vanish as the Marlins tied the game. Undeterred, Erickson took the ball in the top of the 9th, and held the Marlins scoreless.
In the top of the 10th inning, the Marlins were able to drive across the potential winning run and take an 8-7 lead. As they proved during their series against the Pirates, the Yankees would not go down without a fight, and they scratched together the tying run with pinch runner Brandon Dove scoring from second on Jason Trask's ground ball through the second baseman. Still in the game, Erickson climbed back to the mound in the 11th and shut down the Marlins.
Leading off the bottom of the 11th for the Yankees was Harlan McCaskey, who had struggled on the day. However, McCaskey crushed a double, and with one out, pinch hitter Lambert Calvert strode to the plate for his first at bat of the day. The veteran Calvert stroked a 2 strike pitch to right center, sending McCaskey racing home with the winning run. The Yankees tied the series at 1 game apiece, and the stage was set for a winner take all Game 3.
In Game 3, the Marlins would send Will St. Clair back to the mound to face Lorenzo Javier. St. Clair shut down the top of the Yankees' lineup in the first, however, the Yankees bats came to life in the 2nd and they scored 4 runs to take an early lead. The Marlins would chip away at the score, and heading into the top of the 9th, the Yankees held a 4-2 advantage. With 2 outs, LC Chattmon came to bat with a runner on and the Yankees hoping to add to the lead. LC's final at-bat as a Yankee would prove to be the biggest of his Yankees career as he crushed a double to the left-center gap. 2 more runs would score and the Yankees were able to take a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the 9th.
The 3 runs the Yankees scored turned out to be huge as the Marlins, who continued to fight the entire game, pushed across 3 runs and had the tying run at the plate. However, Ryan Erickson, who came in to throw 6 innings of relief, struck out the final batter to secure the victory, and the division championship for the Yankees.
The Yankees would like to thank all of their families and friends for all of their support throughout the season.
The Yankees also tip their cap to the Marlins who played 3 terrific games in the Series and who will be a force as they move to the Dunn Division.