Daily Farm Report: Championship Edition

The State College Spikes' season came to an end last night. The team won to clinch their second New York-Penn League Championship in the last three seasons. It is also their second championship since becoming a Cardinals affiliate in 2013. It is a perfect ending to the season for the Spikes who also set a franchise record by winning 50 regular season games. And is a nice feather in the cap of Cardinals scouting director Randy Flores. The Spikes featured had 5 players picked in the 2016 draft - which was the first one overseen by Flores - including last night's hero Danny Hudzina.

Class A Short Season: State College 2 - Hudson Valley 1

• Tommy Edman (SS): 0-4
• Andy Young (2B): 0-3, BB
• Vincent Jackson (CF): 0-4,
  
• Jeremy Martinez (C): 1-3
• Ricardo Bautista (RF): 0-3, 2 K
• Danny Hudzina (3B): 2-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
  
• Elier Rodriguez (2B): 0-3, 3 K
• Mick Fennell (LF): 0-3
• Jordan DeLorenzo (SP): 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K
• Greg Tomchick (RP): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB
• Brady Bowen (RP): 1 IP, 3 K

Starter Jordan DeLorenzo got off to a rough start giving up a leadoff triple loading the bases in the first with only one out, but he escaped relatively unscathed only allowing one run and getting two bases loaded strikeouts to end the inning. That was DeLorenzo's night in nutshell he got into a couple more jams, but he kept coming up with the big strikeout. Greg Tomchick only allowed two baserunners in his four innings of work, one of which was erased on a double play, and Brady Bowen shut the door in the 9th, striking out all three batters he faced.

Danny Hudzina provided all of the offense State College would need with his 2 run shot in the 2nd. He also added a 7th inning double for good measure. No other Spikes put up much of a fight, but the pitching staff made it hold up. The whole affair only lasted 2 hours and 18 minutes.

As I mentioned in the intro, it was a fantastic year for the Spikes. In addition to the team success they received outstanding individual performances from Tommy Edman, Elier Rodriguez, Jeremy Martinez and Jose Martinez who the Royals inexplicable gave the Cardinals in exchange for Tony Cruz's last two arbitration years.

So that's it, this is the end. I'm not sure what the prospect coverage will look like this offseason, but this has been a fun system to cover this year. After what felt like a down year last season the organization seemed to bounceback this summer and it looks like the 2016 draft class will leave them on solid footing heading into next spring. Thanks so much to Ryan and Josey for pitching in this year. They both put in a ton of time and effort putting these together, the weekend recaps can't be especially rough. And thanks as well to Craig for giving us the opportunity to cover the farm again. And thanks to all of you for reading. I'm not sure where I'll be next year, but I hope you'll think of me every time the wind screams, "DECK".

Today's Probables

Nobody, dummies, it's the end of the year.