JetHawks Win!!! JetHawks Win!!! JetHawks Win!!!

This will be my last recap of the season, one that I am very happy to be able to write, but it won't be the end of my off-season coverage of our future Astros. I will be covering all current and future Astros that are participating in the Arizona Fall League, the various Winter Leagues and the World Baseball Classic to let you know how they are doing. And now that the season is at an end, I'll be posting a lot of stats-driven info as well. And there are always the interviews. I have already made contact with several players and my goal is to have an interview for you about once a week or so until Spring Training. And, of course, the Birthdays and Tweets of the Day will just keep coming. So, check back often. I promise I'll make it worth your while.

Saturday's Game

Lancaster over Modesto 3-2 (Lancaster wins the Series 3-0)
I left the Astros game early so that I could come home and listen to the inimitable Jason Schwartz' call of the game without distractions. I'm so glad I did. I didn't expect such a low-scoring affair and I was on tenterhooks for most of the game waiting to see which team would put up a big inning first. It turns out that both starting pitchers were on their game and those "big innings" consisted of two runs.

Lancaster struck first as MVP Delino DeShields launched a solo shot in the first JetHawks at-bat of the game off major leaguer Jorge de la Rosa who was making a rehab start. DeShields got the second round of scoring started as well with a one-out single in the bottom of the third. After moving to second on a Jio Mier walk, DeShields stole third base and came home on a Domingo Santana single. Erik Castro then singled home Mier for the second run of the inning. In the meantime, JetHawks starter Colton Cain was totally in control until a lead-off triple in the fourth inning, a wild pitch, another triple and a double brought in two runs. Cain ended the night having allowed two runs on only four hits and no walks with three strikeouts to earn the win.

And that was that for scoring. No one else crossed the plate during the next five innings and I'll admit that I had to remind myself to breathe at times. You know how sometimes the scariest part of the movie is when it's really quiet and nothing is happening, but you just know something is about to jump out and scare the crud out of you? Yeah, it was like that. Except neither Jason nor Freddy ever jumped out. Pat Urckfitz (2IP 1H 1BB 3SO) and Jorge de Leon (1.2IP 1H 2SO) pitched beautifully to maintain the very slim 3-2 lead. Rodney Linares took no chances though. He brought in lefty Kenny Long to face lefty Dallas Tarleton for the final out, a move that quickly paid off as Tarleton grounded out to Erik Castro to end the game.

And that, my friends, is the story of how the Lancaster JetHawks, on the 150th game of the year, became

2012 California League Champions

Congratulations to all the players as well as Manager Rodney Linares and coaches Don Alexander and Darryl Robinson on a job well done!!!