Nuts sweep way to California League Finals
Three games into their California League playoff run, the Modesto Nuts are having a blast.Mariners prospects Joe DeCarlo and Joey Curletta went yard as the Nuts bested Stockton, 8-2, on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-5 semifinals.
Three games into their California League playoff run, the Modesto Nuts are having a blast.
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"It's really exciting to watch all that come through, especially in the postseason," Modesto skipper Mitch Canham said. "Sometimes athletes will play all season and then get really tight in the postseason because it's added pressure and everything, but you can see watching these guys perform that they're having fun with it."
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The Nuts outscored the Ports, 23-11, in the series -- with 19 runs coming in the final two games. Modesto also outhit Stockton, 32-21, in the three games.
"I haven't seen a team come to the yard and prepare the way that they do, both pitchers and position players," Canham said. "If you focus on the process of getting better each and every day, good things will come.
"These guys have a lot of fun together, whether it's on the field or off the field. These guys love one another and they play for the guy next to them, no doubt about it."
Modesto will face Lancaster or Rancho Cucamonga in the Finals.
In other California League action
Lancaster 8, Rancho Cucamonga 1
Alex Kraft is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow and chat with him on Twitter @Alex_Kraft21.