HITMEN NOT DEFINED

BY PLAYOFF LOSS

   For the second consecutive season, the HITMEN experienced a first-round "Mercy Rule" playoff loss. However, today's 15-0 rout by the Hops takes nothing away from what was the HITMEN's most successful season since winning the 2019 Fall Championship back in their "AA" days.

   

TIPPING THE SCALES: The HITMEN concluded the season tied for first place with a 7-3 record; their best showing since the birth of the team 7 years ago.

 

MORE HARDWARE:

MICHAEL McVEY garnered his second consecutive team Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. MICHAEL also finished second in the race for MVP of the entire "AAA" Division. Teammate JOSE CASTILLON settled into fourth place for the divison MVP. 

LEIF SOLHEIM locked up his fourth team Cy Young Award (CYA) for his Fall mound work and his eighth team CYA overall.

 

OHTANI NUMBERS: Two-way player RYAN ELLIOTT finished the season in the top-ten for "AAA" Division batting average leaders and took third place for "AAA" Division earned run average leaders.

 

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? When the goal is to win the league championship, a first-round playoff loss feels like running into a brick wall. Emotions can run the gambit from frustration, anger, depression, disappointment, bewilderment; among others. But, at the same time, every single HITMEN had an opportunity to play a game they all love in a setting that included sunshine and a majestic mountain; with friends and family in attendance. Without a doubt, every single HITMEN knows at least one person who would make a deal with the Devil in order to play a game of baseball under these, or any other conditions, except age or physical limitations will forever preclude them from doing so. Appreciating the chance to play and being able to watch teammates and opponents play baseball at a high level of competition should strikeout the negativity of the loss. The HITMEN is a special team made up of individuals who recognize and demonstrate that respecting teammates, supporting teammates, encouraging teammates, and bonding with teammates amounts to a "winning season" regardless of won-lost record.

 

"WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!": Words spoken by bygone Brooklyn Dodgers fans and echoed by the current HITMEN!!!