A'S WIN 8 IN A ROW TO CAPTURE FIRST PLACE
The Al Thomas A's battled all season long in the Carl Yastrzemski Division, the toughest division in the Tarpey Conference. The club spent the majority of the season chasing South Boston, Beacon Hill and the McKay Club, but for the third time in four years, The Thomas Club strapped it on when the going got tough and pulled out yet another division title. This year, they won 8 games in a row, including a brutal five-games-in-five days stretch, with huge wins against the McKay Club and two-time defending champ, West Roxbury.
The 2010 Al Thomas Club is a very deep and talented one. Many key contributions were made up and down the roster during the recent surge, as the A's captured the third seed in the playoffs.
One of the team's most significant leaders was Steve Lambert, who in his third year decided to pick his game up a few notches, resulting in one of the best seasons in Yawkey League history. Lambo led the league in hitting for most of the year and ended up winning the batting title with a .453 mark, edging teammate James Katsiroubas, who finished with a 4-4 game that raised his average to a robust .447, arguably the best 1-2 combo in the storied history of the Al Thomas Club. Lambo led the league in hitting, hits, triples and OPS, while finishing top 5 in runs, rbi (from the leadoff spot), home runs, OBP (2nd to Katzy), Slugging and stolen bases (2nd to Katzy). Steve also played a gold glove centerfield, had 9 outfield assists, played flawlessly at second base and first base, and was 1-0 on the mound with a 2.00 era.
Ryan Stoller led the league with 8 wins (against no losses) and was third wth a 1.20 ERA, and the team was third in the league in ERA. As a team, the Al Thomas Club finished second in batting, first in hits, doubles, triples (crushing the league record), slugging, OBP and OPS, and second in rbi and stolen bases. Lambert and Stoller were both elected All Stars and played against the U.S. Military All Stars at Jum Rice Field in July.
A job well done for a talented group of players, but they know the real season will begin soon! The team wishes speedy recoveries for players Pat Kelleher and Mike Niland, who sustained major injuries that ended their seasons in July. Kelleher broke his leg, while Niland crushes his PCL while trying to turn a doubleplay in a game. You're still on the field in spirit, guys!