[Jakeydude18]

Our preseason prediction was that we were going to finish with a record of 50-40 which would have just missed out on a playoff spot. We were predicted to finish two games behind the Navy Midshipmen for the conference title. Fortunately, for us, the season did not go according to the preseason predictions

We rolled out the season with what was in my opinion the best starting pitching in the National League
1. Terry Main (10-4, 2.47 ERA)
2. Carlos Camargo (12-4, 2.72 ERA)
3. Utaemon Urashima (8-3, 3.29 ERA)
4. Shane Balsley (7-6, 3.81 ERA)
5 Keith LaFargue (7-5, 3.14 ERA)

Every pitcher with the exception of Shane Balsley is rated 4.5 overall. As you can see the top half of the rotation pitched very well. Our major problem throughout the season was our bullpen, with a disheartening 3.57 ERA (57th in the NL out of 130). That number, at points, was up to 6.25 ERA. The bullpen is definitely something to look into in the offseason. As well as trying to strengthen our bullpen, I was to increase our batting skills, with the best stat being stolen bases at 40 good for 27th in the NL. But in order to get stolen bases you need to get on base. Our batting average was .256 good for 65th in the NL. That statistic is our second best batting statistic.

The last thing I would like to improve in the offseason is our performance on the road. At home, we were 33-12 and away from home we were 21-24. You can't be under .500 really in any stat and expect to be a playoff contending team. Which was probably why I was happy when we scraped into the playoffs. In February we started 7-7 in which, I'll be honest, the team wasn't gelling very well. Our breakout month was March in which we went 19-9 to be fighting for first place in the conference and an automatic bid into the big dance. In April and May the team went 14-12 and 14-8 respectively which is decent, but not when the competition all around is winning three and four more games each month. Needless to say, we scarped into the playoffs by finishing 8th out of the available 15 wildcard spots. We were pitted against UC Irvine who won the Big West Conference at a commanding 52-28, 7.5 games ahead of second placed UC Davis.

The first two games of the series were at Lehigh, something I felt that if we were going to have chance in this series we needed to win both games. Our road record was against us in the playoffs. Sadly, we lost the first game 3-2 to go down early. My optimistic self wasn't to optimistic anymore. The second game we won 1-0 in a pitchers' duel. I was happy that we didn't need to use our bullpen in that game. Then the two games at UC Irving. Needless to say we lost both of those games (2-0, 10-0) to go down 3-1 and effectively writing us out of the playoffs. And, to no surprise, we lost game 5 7-11 to lose our very first playoff series. But I can be proud of the boys for making it into the playoffs this year as it wasn't expected. I can be even more proud that we ended up losing to the eventual national champions so our loss isn't too bittersweet. UC Irvine beat Lehigh 4-1, Holy Cross 4-1, Arizona State 4-1, UCLA 4-3, Sam Houston State 4-1, and finally Eastern Kentucky 4-2 to win its first ever national championship. Looking forward to next season I would like to continue our playoff push and win our first ever playoff series.

Tune in next time to see how the 2017 season transpires!