2017 Mudhounds Make It a ‘Three-Peat’ in Santa Barbara (CA) MABL
Santa Barbara (CA) MABL
Santa Ynez Mudhounds 6, Santa Barbara Whalers 5
‘Mudhounds Make it a Three-Peat’
Submitted by Michael Savidan, Santa Ynez Mudhounds
The Santa Ynez Mudhounds won their third championship in a row, defeating the Santa Barbara Whalers by a score of 6-5, at Santa Barbara City College, on Aug. 27th, 2017. This is the Mudhounds’ fourth league title in six years!
The Mudhounds cruised to a regular season record of 12-2 behind a balanced offensive attack and solid pitching. Batting .382 overall as a team they outscored their opponents 210-92. Middle-infielders Mike Savidan (.475), Kolten White (.469) Mike Young (.462), Mike Bennett (.390), pitcher Jake Kougl (.462) and first-baseman Tom Maccianti (.441) led the team in hitting. Speedsters Adam Miller (10) and Brett Miller (9) led the team in steals. Catchers Chip Arias, Bryan Hendershot and Todd Sparkes provided solid catching behind the plate. Infielders Bob Lord, Bugsy Bennett, Sean Glaser and Jim Watts all flashed the leather in the infield while Rob Fry, Seth Hunter, Parker Maccianti and Gregory Sparkes anchored a solid outfield. Kougl was the ace of the team’s pitching staff, posting a 0.92 ERA and striking out 42 batters in 39 innings pitched. Pitchers Robbie Miller (33), Jim Enderle (10) and Andy West (10) provided solid depth in the rotation.
The championship game was one to remember! Trailing the Whalers 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Mike Bennett led off the inning with a thundering double to center field. Team veterans Todd Sparkes and Jim Watts came off the bench to deliver clutch AB’s. On a ground ball to first base with runner’s on second and third bases, Chip Arias scored the winning run with a hook slide at home-plate, giving the Mudhounds a 6-5 victory!
The Santa Ynez Mudhounds would like to thank all of their friends and family members for their support each and every Sunday. Having played together for ten seasons now, the Hounds have developed some great friendships on and off the field. They will look to defend their MSBL Desert Classic 35+ American Division title this coming January ‘18 in Palm Springs, California.