2022 Pines Go ‘Back to Back’ in MABL West Division of Southern Colorado MABL/MSBL
Southern Colorado MABL/MSBL, MABL West Division
Colorado Springs Pines 4, Nomads 2 (Game three in best of three championship series)
‘Pines Notch ‘Back to Back’ Titles’
The Colorado Springs Pines of the Southern Colorado Men’s Adult Baseball League (SOCO MABL) finally won the western division title in 2021 after grinding away through three losing seasons. Being that many of their players had finally made it to the top, most of the team decided to hang up their cleats or look for their next challenge. Going into the 2022 season, the Pines looked to defend their championship with a new look, a new manager, a new division, and a new team. With six veteran players returning and nine new players through the draft and free agency, the team knew there would be a quick learning curve moving into the top division of the SOCO MABL.
The first half of the season was a struggle with multiple losses, most by at least double digits runs, and trying to get the team to gel together. The competition was better and more experienced than the Pines had ever seen before. Most of the teams in the top eastern division of the SOCO MABL have been together for multiple seasons and played in national tournaments. But with a better second half and the team finally coming together, the Pines found a way to make the playoffs.
Being that the Pines were the defending western division champs, the Pines were bracketed in their former division and made it to the championship series to defend their title against their rivals The Nomads.
The Nomads went up 3 to 0 in game one, but the Pines rallied late to win the game 4 to 3 in nine innings. This led to a double-header championship Sunday. The Nomads struck back and took game two, 8 to 0 in convincing fashion, holding the Pines to only four hits. With a winner-take-all, nine-inning game looming Sunday night, both teams looked to take the title.
The Pines scored in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI single by right fielder Amner Reyes, and took a 1 to 0 lead through six innings. The Nomads answered in the top of the seventh, taking the lead 2 to 1. The Pines answered in the bottom half, first tying the game at 2-2 thanks to an RBI triple by left fielder Austin Kearns, and then taking the lead with an RBI single by manager Robert Wekamp, who also came around to score on a single by catcher Ethan Sanford.
The Pines took the 4 to 2 lead going into the eighth, and that was enough for pitcher Keanu Aguilera to finish the game, pitching all nine innings while striking out six and only giving up one earned run. Thanks to series and season MVP Keanu Aguilera, who was also the MVP of the 2021 championship series, the Pines defended their title, and are the 2022 SOCO MABL West Champs for the second straight year.
This is their second division title in their five-year history. The Pines look to three-peat in the 2023 season, which would be the second time to happen in the western division since 1999.