Interesting little trend developing here in 2008.
For the first16 games of the season, the Tri-City Dust Devils were one of the most power-challenged teams in the Northwest League, hitting just two home runs through its first four series.
But since then, the Dust Devils plugged in the power and have started to see some results.
It took 10 games before any Northwest League player could hit a ball out of Gesa Stadium. And now all of a sudden its Coors Field.
Look at the latest three-game series against Spokane. In all, both teams combined for seven home runs, 54 runs and 77 base hits.
Through the first seven years of the clubs existence in Tri-Cities, you could count on one hand the number of times a Dust Devils player hit two home runs in a game.
But it happened twice in three games against Spokane Thomas Field and Johnny Bowden each took advantage of a nice, warm breeze blowing out to left to add to their season totals.
After their latest 15-2 win over the Indians, the Dust Devils are second in the NWL with 32 home runs, trailing only Eugene with 34 homers. Tri-City is on pace to hit over 50 home runs, something it hasnt done since 2004, when the team hit 58.
Tri-City is hitting a combined .259, which is currently fourth among NWL teams. Only the 2004 club led by Rockies top prospect Joe Koshansky was able to hit the .260 mark. Koshansky also shares the team record of 12 homers with Darin Holcomb, who led the 2007 team to the NWL East Division title.
Theres nobody this year who will threaten the single-season homer mark the team leaders are Austin Rauch and Thomas Field, who have four apiece with just 28 games remaining.
But the evidence is there: These boys can mash.
The Dust Devils are slugging .390, its best mark since the 2004 team, which finished at .394. Tri-City also leads the NWL with 19 triples and is on pace with the 2001 club, which set the franchise record with 30 three-baggers.
Maybe Gesa Stadium is transforming itself into a hitters park after all.
Similar stories:
Plenty to cheer after Dust Devils' fine year
Plenty to cheer after Dust Devils' fine year
The Tri-City Dust Devils will feel the sting for a while.
To come within one game of a Northwest League title only to fall short on the final day of the season, it leaves a hole.
"It's quiet (in the locker room), but there's nothing we can do. It's over with," Dust Devils pitcher Tyler Gagnon said after he took the loss in Game 3 of the NWL championship series Sunday in Vancouver. "We have to learn from it and move on."
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
PASCO -- If you look at the Northwest League website, you'll see that the Tri-City Dust Devils have vastly superior numbers to the Vancouver Canadians.
The Dust Devils swept the first half and second half East Division titles, and then went on to sweep Boise in the best-of-3 NWL divisional playoffs.
The Canadians didn't win either half in the West and backed into the playoffs after losing five of their last six regular season games.
Dust Devils beat Boise in Game 1 of NWL playoffs
Dust Devils beat Boise in Game 1 of NWL playoffs
BOISE -- The Tri-City Dust Devils have been to the Northwest League playoffs before.
They've even won Game 1 before, both against Salem-Keizer in 2007 and 2009.
But never like this.
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils have been able to hold champagne celebrations in the clubhouse twice this season.
First, the Dust Devils did it in late July after clinching the first-half title in the Northwest League East Division. They did it again Tuesday after a 9-1 win over Boise to win the NWL Divisional Playoff series at Gesa Stadium.
They're counting on getting good and happy one final time, hopefully to commemorate Tri-City's first Northwest League championship since 1984. The Tri-City Triplets were the last team from Tri-Cities to win the NWL title. The Tri-City Posse, an independent team, won the Western Baseball League championship in 1999.
LIVE BLOG: NWL division series, Dust Devils at Boise Hawks, Game 1
LIVE BLOG: NWL division series, Dust Devils at Boise Hawks, Game 1
Getting an early start on today's NWL Divisional Series blog between the Tri-City Dust Devils and Boise Hawks.
Hitched a ride to Boise with Dust Devils radio play-by-play man Jason Schwartz at 10 a.m. this morning. Our other passenger was Erik Mertens, best known as Erik the Peanut Guy. It was a fun trip with two great guys, and we all had a lot to talk about.
Erik and Jason had a good discussion about their favorite team logos and team colors — both are long-time aficionados. They were going back and forth with thoughts about improving the Dust Devils logo. I'll tell you, these two might have missed a calling as graphic artists.
Print
Email Story
