The Kent Cubs have are the 2024 18+ Premiere Division Champions.
The Cubs are of the longest running teams in the Hudson Valley of any men's league team dating back to mid 2000's. An original Dutchess County MSBL team (now the HVMSBL) having moved to NABA six years ago, the Cubs concluded an outstanding season with an overall 21-4 record sweeping the '22 defending champion Royals in two straight shutout games and a solid Pirates team loaded with pitching 2 games to 1 (2-4, 4-2, and 5-1).
It was a long time coming for the Cubs who have seemingly been on the brink for a few years now. '23 seemed to be the year, starting the season 17-0 but horrific fall weather prevented the semi-finals and finals from being played and teams agreed to not play into November, so there was no champion in '23. So with essentially two years of championships on the line, this team came through.
The 2024 regular season was an impressive one, the year of the pitchers. With a 'big four' staff of '23 Cy Young Winner Nick Denapoli (7-2, 1.59ERA, 56.2IP, 33K/8BB, 1.01 WHIP), another former Cy Young Winner Marty Hand (3-0, 0.75ERA, 29K/4BB, 0.96WHIP), Sean Liquori (2-0, 2 saves, 0.50ERA, 0.89WHIP), and Hunter Wheeler (3-0, 1 save, .42ERA, .88WHIP), the whole pitching staff pithed to a 2.13ERA on the season. Offensively, the team was lead by '22 MVP Zack Graczyk (.423, 1HR, 7SB), Joe Dimarco (.409, HR, 12RBI), Jack Walter (.396, HR, 14RBI) and John Wheeler (.360, and .500 OBP). Anthony Dimarco (.400), Greg Chanelli (.321), Dan Slate (..356) and Josh Koller (2HR) also had productive campaigns.
Come playoff time, once again the pitching staff did a better than great job! 4-1, 0.40ERA giving up only 7 runs in five games (only 2 earned) with just 23 hits and 7 walks in 45 innings, computing to a 0.67 WHIP and a .148 batting average against. The playoff MVP (though several players) ultimately goes to Liquori who after getting the save in game two against the Pirates to force a deciding game three in the finals, threw a complete game one unearned run game. He ends the playoffs with 13 innings, just the one unearned run, 1-0, 2 saves, 10Ks and just one walk. Nate Guillen (a huge bases clearing double in the final game), Bobby Wagner (5-12, 2 RBI), Greg Chanelli (5-13), Josh Koller (6-16) and Joe Dimarco (6-19) lead the charge offensively. Chris Nardo, John Wheeler, Jack Walter also had big and timely hits in the series. And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that age-defying Steve Aurigemma caught all 18-innings on championship Sunday.
This was as true of a 'team' win as a team can get. 18 guys were playoff eligible, everyone contributed to this team. Tough when you have so many talented guys and only so many spots in the batting order, only so many innings on the mound and so many different guys coming up big. Congratulations to a great group.
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Historical Cubs Regular Season Records:
2024 - 17-3 *
2023 - 13-3
2022 - 15-9
2021 - 16-7-1
2020 - 11-5
2019 - 10-14
2018 - 17-4**
2017 - 16-5
2016 - 17-5**
2015 - 12-7
2014 - 13-7
2013 - 12-8-1
2012 - 13-8
2011 - 6-11
2010 - 6-13-1
2009 - 4-12
2008 - 8-8
2007 - 8-8
* League Champions
** Championship Appearance
Players interested in playing for the Cubs should send an email HERE and come to one of our workouts. You'll not find a better group of players and a group of guys as close as these.
