2024 Alpine Cowboys Season Recap - A Dominant Season Ends with Another Pecos League Championship

The 2024 Alpine Cowboys put together one of the most dominant seasons in franchise history and finished it exactly where the organization expected to be, as Pecos League Champions. Alpine went an extraordinary 45-4 during the regular season, dominated the Mountain Division, defeated the Pecos Bills every time the two teams played and then continued its remarkable run through the postseason. After surviving a three-game playoff series against the Tucson Saguaros, the Cowboys swept the Garden City Wind to win the Mountain Division and then swept the San Rafael Pacifics in the Pecos League Championship Series. The final victory on August 11 gave Alpine another championship and completed one of the greatest seasons ever played at Kokernot Field.

From the beginning of the season, it was obvious that the 2024 Cowboys were different. Alpine opened the year on May 28 with a 21-0 victory and followed with wins of 12-1, 10-3 and 8-3. The Cowboys continued into June with victories of 10-5, 15-5, 20-6, 19-3, 13-7 and 18-8. By the time Alpine finally suffered its first loss on June 9, the Cowboys had opened the season with 12 consecutive victories.

The scores demonstrated just how dominant Alpine could be. This was not a team barely surviving its schedule. The Cowboys were routinely overwhelming opponents. Alpine scored 21 runs on Opening Day, followed with 20 runs on June 3 and 19 runs on June 4. Even when the offense was not scoring double-digit totals, the pitching staff was capable of completely controlling games.

One of the most remarkable parts of the season was Alpine's complete domination of the Pecos Bills. The Cowboys played the Bills repeatedly throughout the summer and beat Pecos every single time they played. There was no split series and no night when Pecos managed to steal a game. Whether the games were played in Alpine or Pecos, the result was the same. The Cowboys won every matchup.

The series became increasingly one-sided as the season progressed. Alpine defeated Pecos by scores that included 21-0, 12-1, 10-3, 8-3 and 10-5 during the opening portion of the schedule. Later meetings produced more Alpine victories, including 12-2, 9-0, 2-0, 6-3 and 9-7. The Cowboys continued beating the Bills later in the summer with victories that included 16-4, 5-2, 7-4, 21-3, 7-3, 11-3 and 9-0. Pecos simply could not find a way to beat Alpine in 2024.

The domination of the Bills became symbolic of the entire season. Alpine could beat an opponent in virtually every possible way. The Cowboys could score 20 runs, win a low-scoring pitching game, survive a one-run battle or shut an opponent out. Pecos experienced all of those versions of the Cowboys and never found one it could defeat.

After the first loss of the season on June 9, Alpine immediately returned to its winning ways. The Cowboys won 12-2 and 9-0 and then swept a June 15 doubleheader with victories of 2-0 and 6-3. A 9-7 win followed the next day, and Alpine then won 5-4. The Cowboys had demonstrated another quality that would become important later in the season: even when games became close, they knew how to finish them.

Alpine continued its remarkable June with victories of 4-2, 11-3, 6-0 and 19-4. The Cowboys then went on the road and won 16-4, 28-4, 19-4, 16-3 and 10-8. The 28-4 victory was one of the largest offensive performances of the summer and further demonstrated the enormous difference between Alpine and many of its opponents.

By the end of June, the Cowboys had established themselves as the team everyone in the Mountain Division was chasing. Alpine was not simply winning the division. The Cowboys were controlling it.

The offense was led by a collection of hitters who produced extraordinary numbers. AJ Folds became one of the most productive players in the lineup. Folds appeared in 42 games and collected 69 hits in 154 at-bats for a .448 batting average. He scored 70 runs, hit 15 doubles, five triples and two home runs and drove in 37. He also drew 29 walks and was hit by 16 pitches, giving Alpine another hitter who was constantly on base.

Taylor Darden was another major force. Darden appeared in 41 games and hit .422 with 70 hits in 166 at-bats. He scored 48 runs, hit 12 doubles, three triples and six home runs and drove in 44. His ability to combine average and power made him one of the most dangerous hitters in the Cowboys lineup.

Drake Angeron provided another outstanding season. Angeron appeared in 46 games and hit .405, collecting 68 hits in 168 at-bats. He scored 64 runs, hit nine doubles, two triples and three home runs and drove in 34. Angeron also stole an incredible 53 bases, giving Alpine a major weapon at the top of the lineup and creating constant pressure on opposing defenses.

Josh Rego became one of Alpine's leading run producers. Rego played in 35 games and hit .453 with 58 hits in 128 at-bats. He hit 11 doubles, two triples and seven home runs and drove in 50 runs. James Prockish continued his long run as one of Alpine's most dependable players, appearing in 35 games and hitting .387 with 53 hits, nine doubles, six home runs and 38 RBIs.

Trevor Tripoli provided tremendous power in only 27 games. Tripoli hit .413 with 38 hits in 92 at-bats and scored 39 runs. He hit eight home runs and drove in 35. Johnny Medina added even more power, hitting nine home runs and driving in 37 while batting .392 in 31 games. Tommy Kretzler hit .371 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in only 17 games.

Peyten Kennard hit .446 during his 16 games with the Cowboys, while Khalil Wilson hit .365 and stole 13 bases. Matteo Avallone hit .337 with four home runs and 27 RBIs. Everywhere opposing pitchers looked, Alpine had another hitter capable of causing problems.

The offensive numbers were impressive, but the pitching staff was arguably even more responsible for Alpine's historic record. Brayde Hirai put together an extraordinary season, finishing a perfect 8-0 with a 1.95 ERA. Hirai appeared in eight games, made seven starts and worked 46 innings. He allowed only 10 earned runs, walked six and struck out 48. His 1.02 WHIP reflected just how difficult he was to reach against.

Humberto Vela was equally dominant. Vela went a perfect 7-0 with a 2.35 ERA in eight starts. He worked 49.2 innings, allowed only 13 earned runs, walked seven and struck out 51. Between Hirai and Vela, Alpine had two starters who combined to go 15-0 during the regular season.

Hunter Reid added another undefeated record, going 6-0 with a 3.88 ERA in nine appearances, including eight starts. Dieterich Guertzgen went 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA and worked 44 innings. Jacob Bradley added three victories, while Brendan May also won three games. The starting rotation gave Alpine a chance to win virtually every night.

The bullpen was just as impressive. Alec Cruz went 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA in 13 appearances and recorded four saves. Cruz allowed only two earned runs in 14.1 innings and struck out 18 while walking only three. Liam Reynolds was even more difficult to score against, going 3-0 without allowing an earned run in 13.1 innings.

Kacey Cheek went 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA. Dom Spinoso posted a 2.13 ERA and recorded two saves. Kyle Petri did not allow a run in six innings and recorded a save. Jack McNellis recorded three saves and struck out 25 in 14.2 innings, while Jaylen Smith went 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Jonathan Fleckenstein went 1-0 with a 2.07 ERA in 13 appearances.

The depth of the pitching staff explains how Alpine was able to lose only four regular-season games. The Cowboys had undefeated starting pitchers, multiple reliable bullpen arms and several pitchers capable of closing games. On nights when the offense scored 15 or 20 runs, the pitching made the result easy. On nights when the offense scored only two, four or five runs, the pitching staff was capable of making those runs stand up.

July brought more of the same. Alpine opened the month by winning 5-4 before suffering only its second loss of the season, 9-7. The Cowboys immediately responded with victories of 9-2, 12-1 and 7-4. After another 5-2 victory, Alpine suffered a rare 3-2 loss on July 8.

Once again, a loss did not become a losing streak. Alpine responded by winning 15-3 and 5-4 in a July 9 doubleheader and followed with a 16-1 victory. The Cowboys then won 15-6 and 15-13 before suffering a 12-5 loss on July 13. It would be the final regular-season loss of the year.

Alpine closed the regular season in overwhelming fashion. The Cowboys won 12-1, 5-1, 19-12, 7-4 and 21-3. A July 27 doubleheader produced victories of 7-3 and 11-3, and Alpine closed the regular season on July 28 with a 9-0 shutout.

The final regular-season record was an incredible 45-4.

Alpine had won more than 91 percent of its games. The Cowboys had lost only four times all summer, had gone undefeated against the Pecos Bills and entered the playoffs as the clear favorite from the Mountain Division.

But the Pecos League playoffs have repeatedly demonstrated that an outstanding regular season guarantees nothing. Alpine had experienced that reality before. Great Cowboys teams had seen their seasons end suddenly in postseason series, and the 2024 club still had to prove that its 45-4 record could translate into a championship.

The first playoff opponent was the Tucson Saguaros, and for the first time all season Alpine found itself facing serious postseason adversity. Tucson defeated Alpine 4-1 on August 1, putting the Cowboys behind in the series and immediately threatening to end one of the greatest regular seasons in league history.

Alpine responded like a championship team.

The Cowboys won Game 2 by a 15-11 score, forcing a deciding third game. On August 3, Alpine survived Tucson 5-4. After dominating opponents throughout much of the regular season, the Cowboys had to fight for their season in a one-run elimination game. They found a way to win and advanced.

The next opponent was the Garden City Wind. Alpine was far more decisive in the Mountain Division Championship series. On August 6, the Cowboys shut out Garden City 11-0. One night later, Alpine won 5-4. The two-game sweep sent the Cowboys to the Pecos League Championship Series.

Waiting for Alpine were the San Rafael Pacifics, the champions from the Pacific side of the Pecos League. The matchup brought together two of the league's premier organizations with the championship at stake.

Alpine left no doubt in the opening game.

On August 10, the Cowboys exploded for a 24-4 victory over San Rafael. After an entire summer of dominant offensive performances, Alpine delivered its biggest statement on the biggest stage. The Cowboys were now one victory away from another Pecos League Championship.

Game 2 was much different. San Rafael responded and forced Alpine into a high-scoring battle. The Pacifics fought to keep their season alive, but the Cowboys had spent the entire summer finding ways to win every type of baseball game.

On August 11, Alpine defeated San Rafael 12-10.

The Alpine Cowboys were Pecos League Champions.

The victory completed an extraordinary postseason journey. Alpine had lost the playoff opener to Tucson before winning six consecutive postseason games. The Cowboys defeated Tucson 15-11 and 5-4, swept Garden City 11-0 and 5-4 and then swept San Rafael 24-4 and 12-10 to win the championship.

Combined with the 45-4 regular season, Alpine finished its championship campaign with 51 victories against only five losses in games recorded on the schedule. It was a remarkable level of dominance over an entire summer.

The championship was also another milestone in the long history of the Cowboys at Kokernot Field. Alpine had won its first Pecos League Championship in 2012 under Ryan Stevens. Seven years later, the Cowboys returned to the top in 2019. The 2024 club added another championship chapter to that tradition.

What separated the 2024 team from many great Alpine teams of the past was the consistency with which it dominated the regular season. A 45-4 record left almost no room for extended adversity. Alpine opened the season with 12 straight victories, lost only four times during the regular season and responded immediately after nearly every defeat.

The season series against the Pecos Bills illustrated that dominance better than anything else. The Bills were one of Alpine's most frequent opponents, yet they never defeated the Cowboys. Every time Pecos lined up against Alpine in 2024, the Cowboys won. Some games were complete blowouts. Others were competitive. Some were decided by Alpine's offense and others by its pitching. The method changed, but the result did not.

Alpine beat Pecos every single time.

That kind of consistency extended throughout the roster. Angeron hit .405 and stole 53 bases. Folds hit .448 and scored 70 runs. Darden hit .422. Rego hit .453 and drove in 50. Prockish hit .387. Tripoli hit .413 with eight home runs, and Medina hit nine home runs while batting .392.

On the mound, Hirai went 8-0 with a 1.95 ERA. Vela went 7-0 with a 2.35 ERA. Reid went 6-0. Reynolds went 3-0 without allowing an earned run. Cheek went 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA, and Cruz anchored the bullpen with a 1.25 ERA and four saves.

The numbers were those of a championship team, and unlike some great regular-season clubs that fell short in August, Alpine finished the job.

The most important moment of the season may have come immediately after the playoff-opening loss to Tucson. Alpine had spent the regular season destroying opponents and entered August at 45-4. Suddenly, after a 4-1 loss, the entire season was in danger. One more loss would have turned a historic regular season into a postseason disappointment.

Instead, the Cowboys won six straight games.

They never lost again.

Alpine survived Tucson, swept Garden City and swept San Rafael. The final two games provided the perfect conclusion. The Cowboys demonstrated their overwhelming offensive power with a 24-4 victory and then showed their ability to survive a battle with a 12-10 championship-clinching win.

The 2024 Alpine Cowboys therefore deserve to be remembered as one of the greatest teams in franchise history. They dominated the regular season, went undefeated against the Pecos Bills, survived their only postseason loss and finished the year by winning six consecutive playoff games.

A 45-4 regular season became a championship season.

The Alpine Cowboys were once again Pecos League Champions, and another championship trophy was headed to Kokernot Field.