The Alamo Short Stacks spent the first four weeks of the RDBL Playoffs trading punches, and often haymakers, with the Spokane Fightin' Fish and Burlingame Blue Ducks as the three Franchises battled for the 2022 RDBL Title. As the final period opened, the Stacks were clinging to a 40.0 point lead with 10 days remaining in the season when their lineup took their production to another level, pushing the club to a 231.5 point margin over the second place Ducks and their first RDBL Championship in League History.
With the delay in the MLB CBA to start the 2022 season, the schedule changes resulted in a 10 day Period 26 which the Stacks took over. In the final period, the Stacks posted a league-high 622.0 points, an average of 62.2 points per day. Their pitching staff was the main story, allowing just 12 earned runs in 81 2/3 innings (1.33 ERA) while Emmanuel Clase, Liam Hendriks and Kenley Jansen combined for 10 saves and 92.0 points over that span.
While the Stacks added the likes of Corbin Burnes, Carlos Rodon and Jacob deGrom, their top three starters for the Playoffs were long-time Stack pitchers Brandon Woodruff, Julio Urias and Logan Gilbert.
The Stacks broke record for Total Playoff Points (2,039.0), breaking the mark 157.5 points previously set by the Mission Viejo Maulers in 2017. The Pitching Staff also set RDBL Records for Team Playoff Pitching Points (994.0), Playoff ERA (2.68), Playoff WHIP (0.96) and Playoff Saves (29).
The offense came to life down the stretch after a rough start to the Playoffs, posting the 7th most Team Hitting points in RDBL History while leading this year's Playoffs. Taylor Ward (105.0 points) locked in his Keeper spot for 2023 while Jeff McNeil (103.5 points) finished on a tear to win the National League Batting Title.
The Stacks became the third team in League History to win the Regular Season and Playoff title, joining the Spokane Fightin' Fish (2016) and Lake Merced Goutfish (2021). Their $3,760 in career earnings continues to rank second behind the Spokane Fightin' Fish, while their fourth division title and seventh cash finish both are tied for RDBL Records.
The Stacks will return much of their core for 2023 with hopes of being the first Franchise to win back-to-back RDBL Championships as the league celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The parade down Danville Blvd. is scheduled for Friday evening at 6pm starting at Norm's. For more information, contact the Alamo Short Stacks Front Office.
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