By Travis Newton, Power Broadcaster
A historic regular season for the 2019 Palm Springs Power comes to an end as the team chases their 9th SCCBL tittle in 16 years. With a franchise leading .947 winning percentage, the Power, carrying a 36-2 record, capture the first seed and face off against the SoCal Stros in game one of the 2019 SCCBL Playoffs. To learn more about their semifinal matchup check out this article by Power Broadcaster Ethan Waters (SCCBL Playoff Review )
The season was packed with action from start to finish and provided plenty of moments that had Power faithful on their feet. The first thriller came on Wednesday, June 19th, when the Power surpassed a record set by the 2006 Power team, as they won their 18th game in a row over the SoCal Sparrows. But that was not the stopping point for the Power, as they went on to win 36 straight before suffering their first loss.
While the Power did dominate in the regular season, there were a number of games that had us on the edge of our seats. In fact, there was a span where the power won by walk-off three times in just one week. Featuring a pair of game winning singles by Brendan Avventino and Blake Daniels and a towering walk-off homer by Trevor McKinley (Trevor McKinley Walk-Off Homerun ), the Power provided plenty of moments to keep fans flocking to Palm Springs Stadium.
There are a number of games this season that truly embodied the All-American baseball experience. The 4th of July game drew in one of the largest crowds in franchise history with an attendance of over seven thousand flooding through the gates of the old Polo Grounds. The Night was capped off with a Power victory over the Palm Springs Collegiate League All-Stars and a firework display that matched the shine of the stars on the field.
The regular season was concluded with the 2019 SCCBL All-Star game which featured 14 Power players on the East roster. The Power’s winning attitude rolled over into the East All-Star dugout as they claimed a 10-6 victory over the West All-Stars. The evening also featured a Home Run Derby, where Power slugger, Ryan Sepede hit a total of 11 jacks in a second place effort.
The Power dominated at the plate this season as they outscored opponents 322-109. Trevor McKinley and Peter Abinanti led the charge on the offensive side as they batted .455 and .410 respectively. The pair also combined for an on base percentage of .527 at the end of the 2019 season. Brett Young and Hobbs Nyberg also provided a nice punch at the top of the Power lineup, coming together for 70 hits. Young also showed off the speed on the bases, stealing a conference leading 23 bases.
The Power pitching unit displayed their excellence as well, amassing a 2.55 ERA throughout the regular season. The Power slingers also recorded an impressive 361 strikeouts, including double-digit strikeout performances from Seth Hougesen, Travis Booth, Jesus Chavez and Justin Watland. Power closer, Darin May showed he was league ready during the regular season. Through 16.1 innings pitched, May has only given up six hits for one earned run and a 0.55 ERA. Overall, the Power only allowed a league best 2.86 runs per game while keeping a well-rested core for the start of the 2019 Playoffs.
The Power will start their Playoff run on Tuesday, July 16th as they take on the SoCal Stros in game one of a possible three game series. Be sure to stay locked in to the 2019 SCCBL Playoff action with all games being broadcast on Facebook Live. You can also find up to date news and information for all things Power on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
