1999 Season Summary

The 1999 Muskegon ChannelCats produced another exciting winning season of baseball for Muskegon area fans.  The Cats posted an overall record of 18-10-1 for a .671 winning percentage. The ChannelCats finished atop the tough Connie Mack League in Grand Rapids with a 6-1 first place showing.

Field Manager Roberto Patino liked the blend of talent on the ChannelCats roster which was bolstered by Detroit Tiger Major League amatuer draft pick Phil Mixter, three All Stater's in Nick Bultema of West Michigan Christian, Atlanta Braves centerfielder Nate McLouth and David Miller of Whitehall and ten Muskegon Chronicle All-Area players. These diamonds in the rough came together from 10 different area schools to form one of the areas most exciting summer baseball teams.

Two ChannelCats Nate McLouth and Phil Mixter were honored by being selected to play for Elite Baseball I in regional tournament play and help the team to a second place finish in the region. Phil picked up a win for the Elite team.

Brett Cagney led the Cats hitting attack with a team high .512 average while Nate McLouth crushed the ball for a team record 8 home runs and a.508 batting clip. David Miller was the leading RBI man with 32 runs batted in. Miller and Scott Garzelloni finished tied for 2nd on the team by belting 6 round trippers on the season. Brett Cagney ripped 7 doubles for a team high.

Top pitchers were Phil Mixter (5-0) with an ERA of 3.13. Aaron LeRoux (2-0)and a team best ERA of 1.17.

Nick Bultema posted the most strikeouts on the staff with 60. Bultema earned iron man honors by throwing 60 innings, tops on the ChannelCats staff. Nick also had a game high 13 strikeouts in a Muskegon Inter City game against the Golddiggers.

The Cats showed well in the Connie Mack district tournament in Grand Rapids. The ChannelCats fell one run short 3-2 against perennial powerKalamazoo Maroons. They won their next game 11-0 before bowing out to District Champ Elite Baseball I in the third round of play.
The ChannelCats baseball team truly showcased the best young amateur baseball talent on the lakeshore.