One Last Pic from the Desert
Salt River Wins AFL Championship
Surprise: The Sagauros were upset in the AFL title game by the Rafters, 3-2, giving a Washington-fed team its first title since 2010. Dustin Saenz (pictured) got the start and allowed one run on two hits and three walks. He did not strike out a batter while throwing 56 pitches and 32 strikes. The 25-y.o. …
AFL/Offseason Update: Nov. 16, 2024
With a four-run 1st, a two-run 2nd, and a solid outing from Chase Solesky (pictured above), the Salt River Rafters stung the Scottsdale Scorpions, 13-3 Solesky spun four shutout innings, allowing two hits, issuing three walks, and striking out two. He threw 61 pitches, 36 for strikes. Robert Hassell started in centerfield and batted sixth. …
AFL Update: Nov. 15, 2024
The Salt River Rafters lost again to the Surprise Sagauros, 10-2. No Nationals appeared in the game. Three Nationals appeared in the game: Robert Hasselll batted second and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He played centerfield and had two putouts and an error. Phillip Glasser was the No. 8 batter and had a double in …
AFL Update: Nov. 14, 2024
A 3-0 Salt River lead vanished with a seven-run 2nd as the Saguaros downed the Rafters, 8-5.
Three Nationals appeared in the game:
● Phillip Glasser started and played third, where he had no putouts or assists. He singled once and struck out three times as the No. 8 Salt River batter.
● Matt Cronin came on with one out and one on in the 7th and struck out both batters he faced.
● Michael Cuevas cordero’d around two singles in the 8th without registering a whiff or a walk.
The two teams switch venues and will rematch this afternoon in Scottsdale.
AFL Update: Nov. 13, 2024
Salt River sent 12 men to the plate and eight of ’em came around to score as the Rafters held off the Javelinas for a 13-10 win.
Two Nationals appeared in the game:
● Robert Hassell batted cleanup and started in centerfield again. However, he was just 1-for-5 with a run scored as the 23-y.o. Tennessee native struck out in three of his last four plate appearances. Defensively, he had two putouts and fielded two doubles and a single.
● Phillip Glasser was the Rafters DH and batted eighth. He doubled once and singled three times in five trips to the plate, improving his fall line to .276/.382/.310 in eight games.
Salt River (16-12) travels to Surprise (16-10) this afternoon.
AFL/Offseason Update: Nov. 12, 2024
A four-run 1st would be more than enough for the Rafters to beat the Javelinas, 7-1. Dustin Saenz made his third start and blanked Peoria for four innings, scattering five hits, walking none, and striking out two. He was credited with his second fall “W.” Robert Hassell batted cleanup for the Rafters and went 2-for-4 …
AFL Update: Nov. 10, 2024
The American League put up five in the 2nd to take a 5-1 lead but needed a 9th-inning HR from Detroit’s Thayron Liranzo to take the Fall Stars Game, 6-5.
Robert Hassell (doing his best imitation of Rickey Henderson) was among the starters for the National League, as he went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI from the No. 6 slot and manned center field. He had one putout and fielded a single and a double.
Chase Solesky (the one on the mound) was among the parade of pitchers that a required of these showcases. He started and finished the 5th inning, working around a pair of singles while not issuing a walk nor striking out a batter. He threw 20 pitches, 14 for strikes.
Baseball America Ranks the Top 10 Nats Prospects
With last year’s #1 falling 11 at-bats shy of the ROY threshold, the Boys in Durham get to crow about Crews for one more offseason. But that’s not the worst thing about this year’s list. Apparently you can barely pitch, turn 26, have serious questions about your health, and still be ranked! Let’s get to …
AFL Update: Nov. 8, 2024
Robert Hassell’s three-run HR after a two-out error in the 1st was all Salt River could muster as it was all Peoria for the next eight innings as the Javelinas sank the Rafters, 10-3.
Hassell later walked as he finished the game at 1-for-3 with a strikeout.
Matt Cronin also appeared in the game and fortified his likelihood of going undrafted in either phase of the Rule 5 draft by allowing a run on two hits while retiring one of three batters faced while finishing the 7th inning.
The Rafters (14-12) rematch against the Javelinas (7-17) Monday night in Scottsdale.