9/23
Despite the fact that they fell short of their ultimate goal in 2009, the Scorpions did have some shining individual performances worthy of reflection.  From Tommy Rios' complete game victory against the Wolves in week 8, to Reed Mcmackin's dominant 3-hit outing vs. the Colt 45's at Cal Poly Pamona, to Richard Glavas' two-homer inning against the Red Sox, it was an exciting year for Scorp fans.  For a team that started out 0-2, but came back to win their next five out of six, the stingers kept it interesting all the way through.

This was the year of the rookie.  There were a total of seven players who dawned the Scorpion Blue for the first time this season, and all of them contributed in some way or another.  Matt Hoyt, who had last played competitive baseball on the Pony League fields of Eastbluff some 17 years ago, stepped in to put up solid numbers in the leadoff spot (.358 BA, .485 OBA, 7 SB, 20 Runs).  Reed McMackin, who last played for the defunct P-Traps of the NABA in 2000, led the pitching staff in strikeouts with 46 (3rd all-time for a single season) and innings pitched with 48 1/3.  Joe Rovirosa was having a banner year behind the plate (.432 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 1.213 SLG+OBA) before a broken thumb ended his season prematurely in week 12.  Tommy Rios and Steve-o Manning gave the club some much needed quality innings on the hill, and Tom O'Brien filled in beautifuly for Rovirosa at catcher. 

But our first award goes to the player who re-wrote the single season Scorpions record book in his first year with the club.  The MVP of 2009, as voted on by his teammates, is non other than Matt Costello. 

In 17 games, Costello hit a eye-popping .514 (just one percentage point lower than Paul Alvarez's single season record), blasted three home runs, 11 doubles, drove in 27 runs, scored 24 runs, had an on-base percentage of .556, and slugged a ridiculous .839.  All of this while playing a gold glove-caliber shortstop.  For Costello, his first season wearing the Scorpions uniform was one of the greatest ever played in franchise history, which is why he also earned the team's Silver Slugger award. 

Transitioning to defense now, the award for the best pitcher on the Scorpions staff was an extremely close vote, with team co-captain Jon Piraino edging out Reed McMackin for the Cy Young.  Piraino led the club with a 3-1 record and an ERA of 4.41, while striking out a career high 27 batters in 32 2/3 innings.  Arguably his best start was his only loss; a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Wolves in which he pitched eight strong innings, giving up three earned runs. 

And from the Department of Redundancy Department, Richard Glavas was a runnaway winner in the catagory of Gold Glove.  The 2009 award marks the third consecutive year that the co-captain and mainstay center fielder has received such an honor from his teammates.  In addition to running down fly balls, Glavas was the main power source for the club this season, belting a record setting 5 home runs.  Perhaps his most meaningful bomb came in the top of the 9th inning against the Colt 45's in week 13; with the Scorps trailing 10-8 and down to their last strike with the bases loaded, the Rock unloaded a shot that sailed over the right-center field fence at Mission Viejo to drive a steak thru the hearts of the then winless Colt 45's. 

So another season has come and gone and another winter is fast approaching.  2009 is now nothing more than a memory, and the front office is already gearing up for the Hot Stove offseason.  Continue to check this site for all your offseason stinger news.