Heavy Metal Softball

For The Stat-Chaser In All Of Us...

This news-story was continually updated throughout the Division 3 season to provide players with individual stats to take with them for whatever reason they deemed interesting. I always strive, along with our team statistician, Jerry Dean Amaro, to make this information as accurate as possible. So, for what it is worth, here are the final statistics:

Individual Statistics (Games 1 thru 10; alphabetically):

Vern Amaro -- 29 for 42; 2 walks; 24 singles; 3 doubles; 2 triples; 22 RBIs; 26 runs; .690 BA 6 bonus points (4 for 5); 140 points.

Rich Avery -- 20 for 42; 13 singles; 5 doubles; 2 triples; 19 RBIs; 12 runs; .476 BA; 6 bonus points (4 for 5); 97 points.

Wes Avery -- 12 for 24; 5 singles; 4 doubles; 1 triple; 2 HRs; 13 RBIs; 11 runs; .500 BA; 3 bonus points (4 for 4); 75 points.

Loyal Brown -- 6 for 16; 5 singles; 1 double; 4 RBIs; 3 runs; .375 BA; 21 points.

Gordon Caudle -- 17 for 39; 2 walks; 13 singles; 3 doubles; 1 triple; 11 RBIs; 12 runs; .436 BA; 70 points.

Frank Fletcher -- 26 for 42; 2 walks; 17 singles; 5 doubles; 2 triples; 2 HRs; 25 RBIs; 25 runs; .619 BA; 3 bonus points (4 for 4); 146 points.

Lee Garcia -- 14 for 37; 12 singles; 2 doubles; 10 RBIs; 5 runs; .378 BA; 46 points.

Gene Hitt -- 25 for 41; 3 walks; 21 singles; 1 double; 3 triples; 13 RBIs; 27 runs; .610 BA; 6 bonus points (4 for 5); 121 points.

Joe Machado -- 16 for 41; 8 singles; 4 doubles; 4 triples; 12 RBIs; 8 runs; .390 BA; 68 points.

Ray Soto -- 21 for 41; 18 singles; 1 double; 1 triple; 1 HR; 6 RBIs; 19 runs; .512 BA; 3 bonus points (4 for 5); 80 points.

Eddie Sousa -- 10 for 39; 10 singles; 4 RBIs; 8 runs; .256 BA; 34 points.

Nelson Vieira -- 21 for 37; 1 walk; 15 singles; 4 doubles; 1 triple; 1 HR; 22 RBIs; 19 runs; .568 BA; 114 points.

Team Average (Games 1 thru 10): .491 (216 for 440)

Division 3 record: 7 wins, 3 losses (tied for second-best record; 3rd place trophy awarded in tie-breaker)

2002 Division 3 MVP -- Frank Fletcher (146 points; awarded 3rd place trophy)

Previous MVPs (from past seasons) -- Gene Hitt (1st place trophy; by vote); Frank Fletcher (1st place trophy; by vote); Vernon Amaro (1st place trophy; by vote -- I gave it to my brother, Jerry Dean, our pitcher, whom I believed deserved it, also); John Sousa (1st place trophy; by vote); Frank Fletcher (1999 season; 169 points); Gene Hitt (2000 season; 138 points); Vernon Amaro (2001 season; 103 points)

A plaque will be created to honor our past MVPs, engraved with their names, and it will be given to future MVPs to hold onto until it is presented again. In the past, first, second, and third place votes, with numerical value, were given to determine the team's MVP; we can still go back to that. Defense and leadership are also determinants of that kind of selection. As of now, however, points from the offensive categories are means of selection. I will be asking our current team members how they want to go, and, after that, the method will be a permanent process.

Thanks, Jerry Dean, for sacrificing your time and effort for Heavy Metal's cause! As an original member of the team, we appreciate and enjoy you in the dugout (oh, and you too, Waylon!)