"CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON" - 2008 Fall
The Mustangs completed the 2008 Fall Season undefeated with a perfect 15-0 season. The Mustangs key off-season acquisitions added to the remaining six players from the season before equaled success in the 2008 Fall season for the Mustangs. Key players added in the off-season were: Keoki Wright, Dallas Tracy, Justin Spurrier, Jordan Judd, and Jeff Brignola. The returning players that were key staples in the Mustangs success from a season ago who came back were: The four Finateri brothers, CJ Najera, and Mike Moselle. Coach Mike would like to give a thanks to Keoki Wright and the Gambler franchise who decided to add on to the Mustangs and make this team a powerhouse. Without the Gamblers, the perfect season of 15-0 would not of been possible. The Championship season started out great with a quick 3-0 start with wins over tough teams - Bulls, Black Sox, and Lobos. Keoki Wright was nearly unhittable during this span while Justin Spurrier was still trying to find his groove. The Mustangs lineup was crushing the ball with Jeff Brignola leading the way. Next up was a matchup with the then undefeated Legacy team (3-0) in a battle of undefeateds. The Mustangs got the win by a score of 17-10 with CJ Najera getting his first win of the season on the mound. With a record of 4-0 on the season and with wins over most of the top teams in the league so far the Mustangs knew that they were the team to beat and it would be very hard for another team to take them down. To sum it up, the Mustangs were in control of their own destiny as the season moved along. The Mustangs really only had one true test the rest of the regular season and that was against the much anticipated matchup with the Bulls. The Mustangs were against the ropes until a classic Bulls collapse let the Mustangs score 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th and took the lead and the win 7-5. Mustangs finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record and capturing the #1 seed entering the playoffs. First up in the playoffs was the Black Sox and the Mustangs stampeded over them in 5 innings as their bats came out hot. They put up 13 runs in the first inning and it was smooth sailing from there. The final score was 20-4. Next, The Mustangs faced Team Legacy who was coming off of a controversial win against the Bulls. The weather was ridiculous with whipping winds and fridged temperature, the Mustangs managed to escape the frozen tundra with the win by a final of 5-1 and would move on to face the much improved Lobos in the championship game. In the Championship game the Lobos would be pitching maybe the best pitcher in the league and coach Mike knew that it would be critical to jump out to an early lead and that's exactly what happened as the Lobos defense couldn't handle the pressure applied by the Mustangs' hitters and got that important 3-0 lead halfway through the game. The spectacular pitching by Keoki Wright and Justin Spurrier along with the solid defense would only allow one run in the game. Spurrier struck out the side mowing down the Lobos' 2,3,4 hitters in the top of the 9th and The Mustangs went on to become the 2008 Fall ABU Elite Champions! This completed the perfect season that was a lot of fun as individuals put up outstanding stats along the way to the championship. The team chemistry was one of the best that I have been around, everyone was pulling for each other and without the chemistry the perfect season would not of been accomplished. "Individual stats mean nothing without a W in the end" - Coach Mike-