Top Ten Plays of 2009

Welcome to the Top Ten Plays of the Year!

Team Cy Young Mitch Handley kicks off our countdown with one of his many masterpieces.  On August 1st, in game two of a rain-induced twinbill, Handley allowed just one runon one hit, but the offense couldn't muster more than a tie going into the bottom of the last inning.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the last inning, FGCU's Mikel Alvarez stepped to the plate with a chance to win the game.

The walk-off walk secured Handley's one-hitter, just the third in team history.

Play Number 9

Had it not been for play number nine, a franchise record winning streak would have been cut short.  Next in our countdown, clutch two-out ninth inning heroics from UC-San Diego's Vance Albitz.

Although his season came to a halt with an injury sustained on July 1^st, Albitz still hit .297 in 17 games with ten runs scored, five doubles, a triple, and 14 RBI.

Play Number 8

It's more late-inning drama for play number eight.

UNC-Greensboro's Trevor Edwards sent the crowd home happy on July ninth.  It was a two-run single that turned a one-run deficit into a one-run winner.

Play Number 7

It's lucky number seven for our next play in the countdown.  Coming in next is yet another Beetle record.

The streak started with a five-game road sweep of Brainerd, Thunder Bay and Duluth, before returning home to knock off Rochester twice.

Play Number 6

He entered his junior season just waiting to be crowned Beetles Home Run King.  And, just two weeks into the season, USC's Keith Castillo left the yard.

Castillo would finish with four homers on the year, two on the last day of the season, and a total of 18 in his Beetles career.

Play Number 5

We're counting down the top ten plays of 2009, and coming in at number five is a five-spot posted in Madison.

The rally didn't start until two outs were quickly recorded in the ninth.  But, five runs later pushed the Beetles past the Mallards for a huge road victory.

Play Number 4

In 2009, the Beetles posted their second best overall record in team history, finishing 38-30.  20 of those wins came in a record-setting first half.

Mills' four RBI night and run-saving throw preserved a 5-1 win in Waterloo on July 2^nd.  The Beetles finished the first half 20-14, their best first half in team history.

Play Number 3

More Handley Heroics for the third best play of 2009.  On August 8^th in Brainerd, Handley looked to finish the season a winner of four straight.  Locked in a duel with the Lunker's Michael Gedman, Handley worked eight, two-hit innings in a scoreless tie.  But, in the ninth, the offense finally came through.

Handley would surrender one more hit in the ninth, but go the distance in the 5-0 win, his team-record second complete game shutout of the season.

Play Number 2

A pair of late-inning rallies comes in at number two.  The first, a fourth of July comeback in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Then, just hours later and hundreds of miles away, Alexandria took a slim lead into the bottom of the tenth in Rochester.

Play Number 1

We've reached the top play in 2009 for the Alexandria Beetles.  Play number one comes on opening weekend against St. Cloud.  One day removed from keeping Chase Porch's one-hit shutout intact with his spectacular defense, Eastern Kentucky's Jayson Langfels came off the bench to pinch hit in the ninth.

With the tying run aboard and the Beetles down a run, Jayson etched his name squarely in the I-94 rivalry with one swing of the bat.