2016 Pirates Add to Spring Title with Summer Crown in 40+ Sacramento MSBL

Sacramento 40+ Summer Night League

Golden State Pirates 8, Rockets 2

‘Spring and Summer Titles Highlight 2016’

Submitted by Dan Martinez, Golden State Pirates

2016 was another great year of baseball for the Golden States Pirates baseball team. The Winter-Spring season kicked off to a slow start, but an all-around team effort resulted in a championship. (Photos by Jane Burkitt) 

The Summer League was a chance to continue what the team had started in the Spring. We missed a couple of guys we lost to injuries, but hope will return in the Spring 2017 season. Things got off to a good start with everyone else returning for the Summer League, and with the addition of key players that further solidified the offense and defense. The key to another championship season proved to be once again a full team effort from this great group of guys. In this team everyone contributed to each and every win.

We had timely hitting throughout the season from everyone in the lineup. Roberto “Pajaro” Rojo had a breakout season at the plate to spark the offense, and right behind him were Dan Martinez, team manager Tommy Tomaszewski, and new additions Steve Sharp and Will Ruelas. Our heart of the lineup guys Elias, Jorge and Henry were always there to provide power hitting as well.

The defense surely helped our pitching: speed in the outfield (Dan Martinez, Jeramie Jones, Steve Sharp), and another strong defensive year at third base from Jorge Sandoval. Edgar Montes, Mauricio Sainz, Roberto Rojo, and Jason Knieriem alternated covering short and second and had the middle infield covered; and Henry was solid at first.

The pitching staff was stellar. Elias Mendoza, Rafael Rubio, and Jason Knieriem made up the starting rotation, and all had great years on the mound. Our starting catcher, Ever Maldonado, was solid defensively behind the plate and did a phenomenal job, as always, working with our starting pitchers.

The Pirates finished the Summer league with a record of 15-2-1, and were top seed going into the playoffs. The Championship series was all that was expected against a great Rockets team. Pirates won game one behind a great pitching performance from big Eli Mendoza. The Rockets took game two to force a decisive game three. The Pirates won the championship with another all-team effort behind Elias once again on the mound pitching for the Pirates. We are looking forward to another fun 2017 season.