By Steve Sitter

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The 2017 Palm Springs POWER are a team that this organization, and the players themselves, will be talking about for years to come.  After capping off a truly historic run with the team’s eighth SCCBL Championship victory in fourteen years, this year’s team broke six individual franchise records and five team records.  Here’s a look at the old and new records:

1)  Career batting average:

old record –    .392, Hank Yates (’12)

new record –    .413, Cody Ducote (’16-’17)

2)  Single season batting average:

old record –    .424, Ryan Jones (’11)

new record –    .438, Cody Ducote (’17), .432, Taylor Grace (’17)

3)  Career home runs:

old record –    10, Ryan Jones (’11-’13)

new record –    14, Ryan Mota (’16-’17)

4)  Single season home runs:

old record –    6, Ryan Jones (’13)

new record –    13, Ryan Mota (’17), 6, Taylor Grace (’17)

5)  Career doubles:

old record –    24, Jake Howeth (’13-’14)

new record –    31, John Mauldin (’16-‘17)

6)  Single season runs scored:

old record –    49, Ryan Raslowsky (’13)

new record –    50, John Mauldin (’17)

7)  Team batting average:

old record –    .333, (’06)

new record –    .373, (’17)

8)  Team on-base percentage:

old record –    .425, (’11)

new record –    .459, (’17)

9)  Team slugging percentage:

old record –    .442, (’06)

new record –    .585, (’17)

10) Team home runs:

old record –    15, (’06, ’13)

new record –    46, (’17)

11) Team win percentage:

old record –    .911, (’11)

new record –    .921, (’17)

Not only did the team make a lasting impression on the baseball community as a whole, but they also had an impact on each other.  Taylor Grace (Michigan State), when asked about the 2017 POWER, said, “This was the best team that I have ever played with. Everyone on the team just bonded great. I feel that this is what took us to being the best team to ever wear the uniform… [What] also helped was having a team that even if [I had a] good or bad day, they were there to pick me up which allowed me to play more relaxed and just enjoy the game we all love.”  Regarding the similar numbers he and Cody Ducote (University of New Orleans) were putting up, Grace added, “He and I would battle at anything we did.  We always had that friendly rivalry going on, [and] we always told each other whatever you do today, I’m doing the same.”

The POWER ended their season by winning their eighth SCCBL Championship since its creation in 2004 and are slated to have a large number of returning players for 2018.  Season tickets can be purchased at (760) 778-4487.