Five things we learned from the 2017 season

The 2017 season has concluded with Covenant being crowned the new champions of the Lawrence-Mercer County Church Softball League.

Here are five things we learned from the memorable 2017 season:

1.  The home run limit rule saved Covenant.  Before the season began, a new rule was put in place limiting teams to hitting three home runs per game (inside the park ones did not count against that restriction).  Every home run hit by one team after three until their opponent hit three of their own was scored as an intentional walk.  Once both teams hit their three home runs, it was one home run at a time per team.  I jokingly referred to the rule as the "New Life Blue rule", because it was meant to provide parity throughout the entire league.  This is one reason why Covenant was crowned the new champions.

2.  Tyler Allen is money when the game is on the line.  In the finals, when New Life Blue went up 10-9 in the top of the fifth inning with one out, Covenant called on Tyler Allen to save the team.  He only allowed two runs the rest of the way in his two and two-thirds innings of relief as Covenant went on to win the championship.  Allen also helped his cause with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs.

3.  You will be hearing a lot about Corey Sternthal in the future.  Remember when I said that Corey Sternthal was legit?  Well, Corey Sternthal's first at bat against First Assembly in May was a home run, and it was fitting that his last hit of his rookie campaign was a home run to win the championship.  Corey Sternthal is primed to have many seasons in the Lawrence-Mercer County Church Softball League.

4.  Robert Mort's exploits in his rookie season were no fluke.  Robert Mort had an impressive rookie season in 2016, and in 2017, he proved that his exploits were no fluke, as he improved by leaps and bounds in his sophomore campaign.  There is no doubt he will be a key contributor for more championships in the future.

5.  This championship victory was satisfying.  After two near misses in 2015 and 2016, Covenant finally tasted victory in the championship finals in 2017.  My call of Corey Sternthal's walkoff home run to win the championship is one that will never get old.  The walkoff home run itself will also never get old.

These are the five things we learned from the memorable 2017 season for the new champions from Covenant Sharon.

Five things we have learned from the first half of the 2017 season

Thirteen games into the season, Covenant stands at 12-1 with their recent split of their doubleheader against New Life Blue.

These are the five things we have learned from the first half of the 2017 season:

1.  Covenant is a team full of speed and power.  This is the fifth year that the Covenant team is referred to as Team Speed because they have speed on the base paths.  This year, they have also emphasized power with the addition of Tyler Allen and Corey Sternthal.  They have combined for 11 home runs and 43 runs batted in through 13 games.

2.  Tyler Allen can be counted on when needed on the mound.  Tyler Allen has pitched three games (starting two of them), and being the winning pitcher in all three of them.  He has a 4.20 earned run average over 15 innings pitched.

3.  Corey Sternthal is legit.  Corey Sternthal is one of the rookies on the Covenant team, and he has a .611 batting average with 3 home runs and 19 runs batted in.  Ten of his sixteen hits have been for extra bases.  He is making a case for rookie of the year.

4.  Jacob Albright is going through the dreaded sophomore jinx.  Jacob Albright has only played three of the thirteen games this season and has not hit safely in his three at bats.  He had a strong rookie campaign in 2016, but his sophomore season has started very slowly.

5.  Bobby Mort is proving that his rookie campaign last year was no fluke.  Bobby Mort was the rookie of the year last season, and midway through the 2017 season, he is proving that his exploits last year were no fluke, as he has been batting .643 with 2 home runs and 12 runs batted in.

What will the second half teach us?  We shall find out as the games play out.