Rex Bell Has Significant Seaon
Mounties Playoff Ready
by Caitlen Sullivan
Vancouver Sun Sports Reporter
October 1, 2009
Improbably, the Vancouver Mounties ended up the regular season with the best record in the MBWBA (103-59) despite resting numerous players during the last four game series against Valencia. Starter Robbie Sargent, starter Gary Jones, closer Jason Egan, set-up man Pete Bedford, slugging first baseman Arturo Gutiérrez, leading hitter Doug Newhouse, designated hitter Rex Bell, and catcher Juan Castaneda did not dress for the series. The Mounties lost three of four but maintained their one-game best record lead over Madison. The Wolves too were resting their stars.
The Mounties will begin their quest to get to the World Series again tomorrow night vs. the Baltimore Monarchs. The Mounties edged the Monarchs in the season series seven games to five. Robbie Sargent will take the mound in the opener at Northwoods Outpost.
It’s been quite a season for long-time Montreal star Rex Bell (pictured) who is in his first season in a Mountie uniform. Relieved of playing the field (where he always struggled), Rex put up impressive offensive numbers as the Mountie designated hitter (32 HRs. 91 RBIs, and a solid .288 batting average and .544 slugging percentage. But that’s just the beginning. He was named to the league All Star team for the third time. On April 23rd he hit for the cycle. On May 24th he scored his 1,000th MBWBA run. On September 10th he got his 1,000th RBI. Four days later on September 14th he hit his 300th career home run.
Doug Newhouse had significant milestones this season as well: he got his 1,000th RBI on May 31st and racked up his 2,000th hit on September 21st. He was also named to the All Star team, his 10th lifetime appearance.
Christian Nichols failed in his attempt to win twenty games for the second time in his career when he lost in the opening game of the Valencia series. Slightly disappointed, he’ll be ready and well rested for his next appearance against the Monarchs in the third game of the playoffs.
Landis Memorial Cup Runner Up 2006 and 2008
