Keith Jarrett

kjarrett@citizen-times.com

ASHEVILLE – As the 2014 Asheville Tourists were being formed in late March at spring training in Arizona, manager Fred Ocasio knew he had a good team.

He and his players began talking confidently even then about competing for a championship, bold language for a franchise that finished 63-73 in 2013, Ocasio’s first season in Asheville.

And it turned out to be more than talk.

After a regular season of unsurpassed offensive excellence and enough quality pitching and defense to complement the booming bats, the Tourists capped one of the best seasons in the franchise’s 94-year history Saturday night with its eighth championship.

Riding the strong pitching of Konner Wade and two relievers, the Tourists beat host Hagerstown, 4-1, in the deciding Game 5 of the South Atlantic League Championship Series.

The Tourists, winning their 94th game of the season, claimed their second title in three seasons after going 27 years without a championship.

Before the Tourists won a minor-league best 93 games to claim the 2012 SAL title, Asheville hadn’t won a championship since 1984.

Asheville (94-51) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning at Hagerstown (91-56) when Ryan McMahon drew a two-out walk, moved to second on an error and scored on Correlle Prime’s single.

Raimel Tapia hit a solo home run in the third, and Asheville broke out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth.

After Prime singled and Dillon Thomas walked, Zach Osborne delivered a a two-run double for Asheville.

The Southern Division champions who went 5-2 in the playoffs, the Tourists swept Savannah in two games in first-round play before edging Northern Division champion Hagerstown 3-2 in the title series.

Prime finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Tourists.

Wade went seven shutout innings, allowing just five hits with six strikeouts.

In the five-game series, Wade was 2-0, threw 12 innings in two starts and didn’t allow a run.

Trent Daniel got the last four outs for the save, setting off a celebration around second base, all dog piles and big smiles.

Asheville played very good baseball in the first half, finishing 41-28 (.594), but couldn’t overcome Savannah (44-22) for the division title.

But in the second half, an incredible road record (27-7, including a string of 16 straight victories away from home) helped produce a division crown and a 48-21 record (.696).

Including the playoffs, Asheville finished the season 49-24 in road games (.671).

The top of the offense was the team’s strong point all season, with table setters Tapia (.326, 33 stolen bases, 93 runs) and David Dahl (.309, 18 stolen bases, 69 runs, despite missing more than 30 games after being promoted) hitting 1-2.

Power producers McMahon (.282, 18 home runs, 102 RBIs) and Correlle Prime (.291, 21 home runs, 102 RBIs) were team leaders in the 3-4 spots, and dependable Jordan Patterson (.278, 14 home runs, 66 RBIs) delivered in the No. 5 slot.

All that production helped add up to a .292 team batting average, the best in the history of the SAL, as were the 1,390 hits.

The starting pitching was shaky early but became dependable, with all five full-season starters winning eight or more games, paced by Antonio Senzatela (15-2, 3.11 ERA) and Johendi Jiminian (14-6, 3.99).

The bullpen was consistent, with 11 players earning a save, including Daniel (5-2, 3.11, 15 saves) and Dylan Stamey (1-3, 4.54, 11 saves).

“It’s a special team, to put up the numbers they have and play like that all season, especially on the road,” Tourists’ development supervisor Marv Foley said.

The 89-49 regular-season record marked the seventh time in the franchise’s 94 seasons of pro baseball of winning 89 or more games. The record for most wins is held by the 1928 squad (97-49).

The 49 losses was the second fewest in its history, bettered only by the ’87 team (91-48).

“It was an incredible season, and it was accomplished by a great bunch of guys who showed a lot of character all year.” Ocasio said. “They played the game hard and the right way, and represented the Tourists the way we want them to. I’m glad they were rewarded for that.”

94 in 94

In their 94th season of pro baseball, the Asheville Tourists finished 94-51 en route to their second South Atlantic League title in three years and eighth championship overall. Other impressive numbers include:

*.292: Team batting average.

*1,390: Hits.

335: Doubles, one off league record.

49-24: Road record.

174,983: Regular-season attendance at McCormick Field, second-best in history.

* Best in history of the SAL.