2016 Pacific Association season
The 2016 Pacific Association season was the fourth season of the Pacific Association. There was a four team 78 game schedule. Most series included a three-game series with each team having 39 home games.
| 2016 Pacific Association season | |
|---|---|
| League | Pacific Association |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | May 31, 2016 – August 28, 2016 [1] |
| Number of games | 78 (156 games in total) |
| Number of teams | 4 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Sonoma Stompers 1H (23–16), Sonoma Stompers 2H (24–15) |
| League postseason | |
| Finals champions | Sonoma Stompers |
The San Rafael Pacifics entered the season as defending champions, having defeated the Sonoma Stompers 4–3 in the league's 2015 championship game.[2]
The season concluded on August 28, with the Sonoma Stompers winning both halves, becoming outright champions.[3]
Team and rule changes
The four teams in the league played a 78-game schedule. Each team played 39 games for the first and second half of the season.
In June, the Stompers signed two female players to their roster. Kelsie Whitmore and Stacy Piagno were the third time since the 1950s that women were on a professional baseball team.[4][5]
In July, Anna Kimbrell joined Piagno and Whitmore to become the first female battery in professional baseball.[6]
Regular season standings
as of August 28, 2016
| Pacific Association | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | G | First half | Second half | Season record | Pct. | GB |
| 1 | y – Sonoma Stompers | 78 | 23–16 | 24–15 | 47–31 | .603 | -- |
| 2 | e – San Rafael Pacifics | 78 | 21–18 | 20–19 | 41–37 | .526 | 6.0 |
| 3 | e – Pittsburg Diamonds | 78 | 19–20 | 17–22 | 36–42 | .462 | 11.0 |
| 4 | e – Vallejo Admirals | 78 | 15–24 | 17–22 | 32–46 | .410 | 15.0 |
- y – Clinched division
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Statistical leaders
Hitting
| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR | Jake Taylor | San Rafael Pacifics | 16 |
| AVG | Joel Carranza | Sonoma Stompers | .316 |
| RBIs | Jake Taylor | San Rafael Pacifics | 74 |
| SB | Darian Sandford | Vallejo Admirals | 99 |
Pitching
| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | J.R. Bunda, Mike Jackson | San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers | 8 |
| ERA | Patrick Conroy | San Rafael Pacifics | 2.12 |
| SO | Chris Cummins | Pittsburg Diamonds | 102 |
| SV | J.R. Bunda | San Rafael Pacifics | 11 |
To qualify as league leader for hitter, AVG - Minimum of plate appearances of 2.7 per team game. To qualify as league leader for pitcher, ERA - Minimum inning(s) of .8 pitched per team game. [8]
Playoffs
Format
In 2016, The winner of the first and second half would have played in a best-of-one championship game. However, The Sonoma Stompers won the first half with a 23–16 record and the second half with a 24–15 record, naming them the outright champion.
Individual Awards
| Award | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Joel Carranza [9] | Sonoma Stompers |
| Pitcher of the Year | Patrick Conroy | San Rafael Pacifics |
| Reliever of the Year | J.R. Bunda [10] | San Rafael Pacifics |
| Rookie of the Year | Marquis Hutchinson [11] | Vallejo Admirals |
| Manager of the Year | Takashi Miyoshi [12] | Sonoma Stompers |
| Executive of the Year | Theo Fightmaster | Sonoma Stompers |
Defensive Players of the Year
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Mason Morioka | Sonoma Stompers |
| 1B | Lydell Moseby | Vallejo Admirals |
| 2B | Chase Tucker | San Rafael Pacifics |
| SS | Daniel Gonzalez | San Rafael Pacifics |
| 3B | Gerald Bautista | Vallejo Admirals |
| LF | Mark Hurley | Sonoma Stompers |
| CF | Zack Pace | San Rafael Pacifics |
| RF | Tim Williams | Vallejo Admirals |
| P | J.R. Bunda | San Rafael Pacifics |
Notable players
Former Major League Baseball players who played in the Pacific Association in 2017
- Jose Canseco (Pittsburg)
- Aaron Miles (Pittsburg)
- Trent Oeltjen (Pittsburg)
Other notable players who played in the Pacific Association in 2017
- Anna Kimbrell (Sonoma)
- P. J. Phillips (Vallejo)
- Stacy Piagno (Sonoma)
- Clayton Tanner (Pittsburg)
- Kelsie Whitmore (Sonoma)
References
- "Pacific Association - schedule".
- "San Rafael Pacifics Win 2015 Pacific Association Championship". Independent Baseball. September 2, 2015.
- "Stompers clinch first ever Pacific Association championship in 5-4 win". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Sonoma Stompers make history by signing 2 women to professional baseball team". sbnation.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Pacific Association's Sonoma Stompers sign two female players". si.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Stompers to have first pro female battery in history". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Pacific Association - standings".
- "Pacific Association - stats".
- "Carranza named league's Most Valuable Player". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "From near-death to professional baseball; J.R. Bunda's journey to the Saltdogs". klkntv.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Vallejo Admirals pitcher Marquis Hutchinson is league's rookie of the year". timesheraldonline.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Stompers' Miyoshi honered as manager of the year". petaluma360.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Marin briefs: County well represented at North Coast Section girls golf championship". marinij.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Two Stompers take home Defensive Player of the Year honors". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- "Three Vallejo Admirals recognized for defense by Pacific Association". timesheraldonline.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.