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The Islandian Times
March 12, 2004
Playoffs Possible For Sunsets In TU South
The Summerland Sunsets made progress last season in the TU South. They improved from 70-84 in 2002 to 79-75, rising up from sixth place to fifth place in the standings. The Sunsets were 32 games off the pace of pennant-winning San Alejo in their first year and only 17 in back of the Montaneros in 2003.
Skipper Will Hackett has made strides improving the ballclub again in 2004 with two players with good potential in pitcher Freddie Hayes and outfielder Schuyler ten Haken. Hayes, a 33-year-old righty will get his chance as a spot starter and long reliever, while ten Haken will first have to prove himself in a platoon role in right and left field. ten Haken is an outstanding contact hitter, but slow of foot defensively with poor range. Summerland has a ton of good-hitting outfielders. It will be tough to play them all.
Hackett has two very capable starters and a quality closer, but he needs at least one more solid starter to challenge Turon and Cape Coral, the number two and three teams in the division. It is not likely that the Sunsets can contend with the powerful San Alejo Montaneros. Summerland is forecast to finish fourth or fifth in the TU South, pressured by Ginza and Colchester for the last playoff spot.
Best Pitchers: LHP Duncan Cade (16-10 3.35), LHP Katsuyuki Nakashima (12-10 3.48) and closer Bobby Winwood (8-4 2.97) with 26 saves in 63 appearances
Best Batters: CF Stacey Zacker (.282 BA/21 HR/93 RBI/98 R/21 SB), 1B Karl Van Kooten (.314 BA/18 HR/77 RBI/78 R) and LF Derek Visser (.287 BA/15 Hr/88 RI/83 R)
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