2012 Alpine Cowboys Season Recap - Ryan Stevens Leads Alpine to the Pecos League Championship
The 2012 Alpine Cowboys season became one of the defining years in the history of professional baseball at Kokernot Field. One year after the Alpine 06 Cowboys helped launch the Pecos League, manager Ryan Stevens took over a club that was ready to contend and led Alpine all the way to the Pecos League Championship.
The Cowboys finished the regular season 44-25 and entered the postseason as one of the strongest teams in the league. Alpine had plenty of offense, a deep roster and, most importantly, enough pitching to survive the high-scoring environment that defined the early years of the Pecos League.
Stevens had a balanced team that could beat opponents in different ways. Alpine could win a slugfest at Kokernot Field, but the Cowboys could also win close games behind quality starting pitching and a strong bullpen.
Eric Garcia was one of the leaders of the offense. Garcia played in 67 games and hit .387, collecting 91 hits in 235 at-bats. He finished with 21 doubles, 10 home runs and 53 RBIs while scoring 56 runs. Garcia gave the Cowboys one of the most consistent hitters in the Pecos League lineup.
Ben Ives was another major part of the championship club. Ives appeared in 69 games and collected 100 hits, finishing with a .339 batting average. He scored 74 runs, hit 26 doubles, seven home runs and drove in 58 runs. He also stole 38 bases, giving Alpine a dangerous combination of speed and power.
Bo Bell hit .349 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs while scoring 62 runs. Bell also drew 53 walks, making him one of the most difficult outs in the lineup.
Justin McDavid provided additional power, hitting .347 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. Tyler Hicks also hit 13 home runs and drove in 52 runs, while Mike Marion hit .353 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs.
Derrick Fox provided another dimension to the offense. Fox scored 73 runs and stole 23 bases while appearing in all 69 games. Throughout the lineup, Stevens had players capable of getting on base, stealing bases and driving the ball out of the park.
But what separated the 2012 Cowboys from many teams in the early Pecos League was their pitching.
Brett Kennedy gave Alpine a legitimate ace at the top of the rotation. Kennedy went 6-2 with a 2.46 ERA in 11 appearances, including 10 starts. He worked 73 innings, allowed only 20 earned runs and struck out 69 while walking just 18.
In a league where high-scoring games were common, Kennedy's ability to consistently control opposing lineups was extremely valuable.
Bryce Weidman went 4-2 while making 11 starts and struck out 67 hitters in 62 innings. Scott Hartling finished 4-1 with a 4.36 ERA, while Chris Welborn won five games and gave Alpine another durable starter.
The bullpen was also one of Alpine's strengths.
Alfredo Caballero became the Cowboys' primary closer and finished with 12 saves in 31 appearances. Caballero posted a 3.58 ERA and struck out 50 batters in only 32.2 innings. Andrew Plotkin was outstanding in relief, going 5-3 with a 3.03 ERA while appearing in 26 games. Andrew Wall posted a 2.70 ERA in 22 appearances.
That combination gave Stevens something many Pecos League managers did not have: multiple reliable options late in games.
Alpine's season started unevenly. The Cowboys dropped their first two games of the year in Roswell, losing 4-3 and 3-2, but quickly recovered once they returned home. Alpine won four straight games in mid-May, including victories of 19-5 and 10-1.
By June, the Cowboys had begun to establish themselves as one of the league's top teams.
Alpine put together an important run during the middle of the month, winning seven of eight games. The Cowboys defeated opponents 11-1, 6-5, 5-4, 7-4, 13-3, 12-11, 7-1 and 7-5 during a stretch that demonstrated how many different ways Stevens' club could win.
The Cowboys continued winning throughout the summer. They posted victories of 19-10, 18-3, 10-6 and 13-2 during July while also winning a number of one-run games.
Those close victories would become important experience once the postseason began.
Alpine entered August with one goal remaining: win the Pecos League Championship.
The Cowboys' first postseason opponent was the Trinidad Triggers.
Alpine handled Trinidad in two games at Kokernot Field. The Cowboys won the opener 8-4 and followed with a 5-2 victory, sweeping the series and advancing to the Pecos League Championship Series.
Waiting for Alpine were the Las Cruces Vaqueros.
Las Cruces had experienced an incredible turnaround under manager Casey Dill. The Vaqueros finished 42-27, featured one of the most explosive offenses in the league and swept Roswell in their playoff series. They entered the championship series believing they could complete their turnaround with a title.
The matchup between Alpine and Las Cruces became a fitting championship series between two of the best teams in the Pecos League.
Game 1 was played at Kokernot Field on August 5, and the Cowboys immediately found themselves in a battle. Alpine edged Las Cruces 5-4, taking a one-game lead in the best-of-three championship series.
The Vaqueros responded the next night.
Las Cruces exploded offensively and defeated Alpine 12-5, evening the series at one game apiece and setting up a winner-take-all championship game.
Everything came down to August 7 at Kokernot Field.
One game would determine the Pecos League champion.
Alpine responded like a championship team.
The Cowboys defeated Las Cruces 13-7 in the deciding game, winning the series two games to one and capturing the 2012 Pecos League Championship.
For Ryan Stevens and the Cowboys, the victory completed a remarkable two-year transition for professional baseball in Alpine.
Only two seasons earlier, the Big Bend Cowboys had won the final Continental Baseball League championship. When that league disappeared, there was no guarantee that professional baseball would continue at Kokernot Field.
The Pecos League was created in 2011, the Alpine 06 Cowboys identity was established and the franchise reached the playoffs in the league's inaugural season before losing to Roswell.
One year later, Alpine finished the job.
The 2012 Cowboys became Pecos League Champions.
It also reinforced Alpine's status as one of the premier professional baseball markets in the league. Kokernot Field had now been home to championship teams in two different independent leagues within three seasons.
The 2012 team represented the first championship of Alpine's Pecos League era and helped establish a standard that future Cowboys teams would be measured against.
Ryan Stevens had assembled and managed a complete club. Alpine had outstanding hitters throughout the lineup, speed on the bases, dependable starting pitching and one of the strongest bullpens in the league.
Eric Garcia hit .387. Ben Ives collected 100 hits and stole 38 bases. Bo Bell drove in 59 runs. Justin McDavid and Tyler Hicks each hit 13 home runs. Brett Kennedy posted a 2.46 ERA. Alfredo Caballero recorded 12 saves.
The Cowboys won 44 regular-season games, swept Trinidad in the playoffs and then defeated a powerful Las Cruces team in a three-game championship series.
The final game told the story perfectly.
After Las Cruces had tied the series with a convincing win, Alpine returned to Kokernot Field for one final game and scored 13 runs with the championship on the line.
The Cowboys had survived the first year of the Pecos League in 2011.
In 2012, they conquered it.
Ryan Stevens and the Alpine Cowboys were Pecos League Champions.
Here is a fresh 2012 championship recap in paragraph format, emphasizing Ryan Stevens, the 44-25 regular season, the sweep of Trinidad, and the three-game Championship Series victory over Las Cruces.
2012 Alpine Cowboys Season Recap - Ryan Stevens Leads the Cowboys to the Pecos League Championship
The 2012 Alpine Cowboys season became one of the defining years in the history of professional baseball at Kokernot Field. In only the second season of the Pecos League, manager Ryan Stevens led the Cowboys to a 44-25 regular-season record, through the Pecos League playoffs and ultimately to the league championship. Alpine swept the Trinidad Triggers in the opening round before defeating the Las Cruces Vaqueros in a three-game Championship Series at Kokernot Field. On August 7, the Cowboys finished the season with a 13-7 victory and became Pecos League Champions for the first time.
The championship represented the next step for an Alpine organization that had been one of the foundational teams of the Pecos League. The Alpine 06 Cowboys had reached the playoffs during the league's inaugural 2011 season but were eliminated by the Roswell Invaders in a three-game series. That defeat gave the Cowboys something to build on entering 2012. Alpine had already proven that it could compete. The next objective was to finish the season on top.
Under Ryan Stevens, the 2012 Cowboys developed into one of the strongest and most complete teams in the Pecos League. The regular season was not without difficult stretches, particularly early in the schedule, but Alpine consistently found ways to respond. The Cowboys opened the season with consecutive one-run losses, falling 4-3 and 3-2, before beginning to find their rhythm. Alpine soon posted victories of 5-1, 19-5, 10-1 and 10-9, demonstrating both the offensive potential of the club and its ability to win close games.
That ability to win different types of games became one of the characteristics of the championship team. Alpine could overwhelm an opponent with offense, but the Cowboys could also survive the close games that ultimately determine postseason success. During the regular season Alpine won games by scores of 6-5, 5-4, 7-6 and 12-11 while also producing blowout victories such as 19-5, 10-1, 11-1 and 13-3.
One of the most important stretches of the season came during June when Alpine began playing consistently winning baseball. The Cowboys won 11-1 and then survived a 6-5 game. After a narrow 3-2 loss, Alpine responded with a 5-4 victory and then won three consecutive games by scores of 7-4, 13-3 and 12-11. Alpine followed with victories of 7-1, 7-5 and 13-6. The Cowboys were developing the consistency that would eventually carry them to a 44-win regular season.
The Alpine offense featured tremendous balance throughout the lineup. Eric Garcia produced one of the best offensive seasons on the club, hitting .387 while collecting 91 hits. Garcia finished with 21 doubles and 10 home runs and drove in 53 runs, giving Stevens a dangerous run producer in the middle of the lineup.
Ben Ives was another major part of the championship offense. Ives collected 100 hits and finished with a .339 batting average. He scored 74 runs, hit 26 doubles and seven home runs and drove in 58. Ives also stole 38 bases, giving Alpine a player who could create offense with both his bat and his speed.
Bo Bell provided another powerful presence. Bell hit .349 with 82 hits and scored 62 runs. He finished with 19 doubles and 12 home runs while driving in 59. Bell also drew 53 walks, making him one of the most difficult hitters in the Alpine lineup to keep off base.
Justin McDavid gave the Cowboys additional power, hitting .347 with 84 hits, 13 doubles and 13 home runs. Tyler Hicks also hit 13 home runs and drove in 52. Mike Marion hit .353 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs, providing still another dangerous bat. The depth of the lineup meant opposing pitchers could not simply work around one or two Alpine hitters.
Derrick Fox became another important part of the championship club. Fox appeared throughout the season and scored 73 runs while collecting 82 hits. He finished with 18 doubles, five home runs and 38 RBIs while drawing 45 walks and stealing 23 bases. Chris Davis added 56 hits, 12 doubles and 27 RBIs while stealing 13 bases.
The offensive balance made Alpine extremely difficult to contain. Garcia hit .387, Marion hit .353, Bell hit .349, McDavid hit .347 and Ives hit .339. Several players combined power with speed, allowing the Cowboys to score without relying exclusively on the home run. When Alpine needed a big inning, the lineup could produce it. When the Cowboys needed one run in a close game, they had players capable of creating that run as well.
The pitching staff provided the other half of the championship formula. Brett Kennedy emerged as the leading starter, finishing 6-2 with a 2.46 ERA. Kennedy worked 73 innings, allowed only 20 earned runs and struck out 69 while walking just 18. His 1.23 WHIP reflected the consistency he gave Alpine at the top of the rotation.
Alfredo Caballero became an important weapon at the back of the bullpen. Caballero finished 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 31 appearances and recorded 12 saves. He struck out 50 hitters in 32.2 innings, giving Stevens a dependable late-inning option when Alpine carried a lead into the final innings.
Andrew Plotkin was another major contributor out of the bullpen. Plotkin went 5-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 26 appearances and struck out 40 in 29.2 innings. Bryce Weidman made 11 starts and struck out 67 in 62 innings, while Scott Hartling went 4-1 and worked 45.1 innings. Andrew Wall also gave Alpine quality relief work, posting a 2.70 ERA in 22 appearances.
The combination of starting pitching, bullpen depth and a powerful offense allowed Alpine to continue accumulating victories as the summer progressed. By the end of the regular season, the Cowboys had won 44 games against 25 losses and had established themselves as a serious championship contender.
For Alpine, however, the regular-season record was only the beginning. The Cowboys had reached the postseason in 2011 and learned how quickly a successful summer could end. In 2012, the goal was not simply to qualify for the playoffs again. The goal was to win the Pecos League Championship.
The first postseason obstacle was the Trinidad Triggers. Alpine hosted the series at Kokernot Field and immediately took control. On August 2, the Cowboys defeated Trinidad 8-4 to move within one victory of advancing. The following night Alpine won 5-2, completing the two-game sweep and earning a place in the Pecos League Championship Series.
The Cowboys had reached the final series, but one of the league's strongest teams was waiting for them. The Las Cruces Vaqueros had enjoyed an outstanding turnaround season under Casey Dill and entered the Championship Series after eliminating the Roswell Invaders. Las Cruces possessed a powerful offense of its own and had the ability to match Alpine in a high-scoring game.
The championship would be decided at Kokernot Field.
Game 1 on August 5 immediately demonstrated how close the series could be. Alpine defeated Las Cruces 5-4, giving the Cowboys a one-game advantage and putting them one victory away from the championship. After an entire season filled with close games, Alpine had once again found a way to win by a single run when the stakes were at their highest.
Las Cruces responded in Game 2. The Vaqueros defeated Alpine 12-5 on August 6, evening the series and forcing a winner-take-all Game 3. After 69 regular-season games and four postseason games, the entire 2012 season had been reduced to one final night at Kokernot Field.
The Cowboys responded like a championship team.
On August 7, Alpine defeated Las Cruces 13-7 in the deciding game of the Pecos League Championship Series. The offense that had powered the Cowboys throughout the summer delivered when it mattered most, and Alpine completed the season in front of its home crowd as Pecos League Champions.
The final postseason run had been decisive. Alpine swept Trinidad with victories of 8-4 and 5-2 and then survived a much more difficult Championship Series against Las Cruces. The Cowboys won the opener 5-4, lost Game 2 by a 12-5 score and then responded with a 13-7 victory in the deciding game.
For Ryan Stevens, the championship represented the culmination of an outstanding season. His team had the offensive firepower to win high-scoring games, the pitching to control opponents and the resilience to recover when things went wrong. That resilience was particularly important in the Championship Series. After moving one victory away from the title and then losing Game 2, Alpine did not allow the momentum of the series to shift permanently to Las Cruces. The Cowboys came back the following night and scored 13 runs to win the championship.
The numbers from the season reflected just how complete the team had become. Garcia hit .387 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs. Ives collected 100 hits, scored 74 runs and stole 38 bases. Bell hit .349 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs. McDavid hit .347 with 13 home runs, Hicks added 13 home runs and Marion hit .353 with 11 home runs. Fox scored 73 runs and stole 23 bases.
On the mound, Kennedy went 6-2 with a 2.46 ERA, Caballero recorded 12 saves, Plotkin posted a 3.03 ERA and Hartling went 4-1. The Cowboys had production throughout the roster, and that depth became increasingly important as the season moved into August.
The 2012 championship also helped establish the identity of the Alpine Cowboys within the Pecos League. Alpine had been part of the league from the beginning, and Kokernot Field had immediately become one of its signature venues. By winning the championship in only the second Pecos League season, the Cowboys established a standard that future Alpine teams would be measured against.
The path from the disappointment of 2011 to the celebration of 2012 was completed in just one year. Roswell had eliminated Alpine from the inaugural Pecos League playoffs, but the Cowboys returned the following season stronger and more complete. They won 44 regular-season games, swept Trinidad in the opening round and defeated Las Cruces in three games for the championship.
The deciding game on August 7 became one of the defining moments in Alpine Cowboys history. With the championship on the line at Kokernot Field, the Cowboys scored 13 runs and defeated the Vaqueros 13-7. There would be no road trip the following morning and no next series to prepare for. The season was over because Alpine had accomplished everything it set out to accomplish.
The Alpine Cowboys were Pecos League Champions.
The 2012 team became the first Alpine club to win the Pecos League Championship and gave the franchise one of the most important seasons in its history. Ryan Stevens had guided the Cowboys from a 44-25 regular season through five postseason games and ultimately to the championship celebration at Kokernot Field.
Years later, Alpine would again reach championship series, endure postseason disappointments and eventually win another Pecos League title in 2019. But the standard was established in 2012. The Cowboys had proven that Alpine could be more than simply one of the league's best baseball markets or one of its most consistent playoff teams. Alpine could finish the summer as the best team in the Pecos League.
The 2012 Alpine Cowboys finished 44-25, swept the Trinidad Triggers in the first round and defeated the Las Cruces Vaqueros two games to one in the Championship Series. On August 7 at Kokernot Field, a 13-7 victory completed the journey and gave Alpine its first Pecos League Championship.
The 2012 Alpine Cowboys were champions, and the championship tradition at Kokernot Field had officially begun.
