Champs: Tourists claim 2012 crown

By Doug Maurer

September 14, 2012

On September 14, 2012, the Asheville Tourists defeated the Greensboro Grasshoppers 10-4 to win the 2012 South Atlantic League Championship series three games to one. The SAL title is the first won by the Tourists since 1984.

Asheville dropped the first game of the series 6-3 but rallied to win Game Two by a final score of 10-3. In Game Three, the Tourists hit four Home Runs and defeated the Grasshoppers 9-0.

Greensboro won the South Altantic League title in 2011, but were unable to hold off the 2012 Asheville Tourists; who recorded the best regular season record in all of Minor League baseball.

The Tourists defeated the Rome Braves two games to one in the Southern Division Championship series before capping off a memorable and exciting season with the pinnacle of acheviements; a South Atlantic League Championship.

2012 Asheville Tourists Championship Roster:

Coaching Staff:

Manager: Joe Mikulik

Hitting Coach: Mike Devereaux

Pitching Coach: Joey Eischen

Trainer: Billy Whitehead

Strength Coach: Mark Smith

Clubhouse Manager: Adam Berry

Pitchers:

#22 Ben Alsup

#13 Tyler Anderson

#16 Russell Brewer

#21 Tyler Gagnon

#10 Alex Gillingham

#11 Nelson Gonzalez

#14 Jefri Hernandez

#30 Chris Jensen

#27 Vianney Mayo

#37 Will Rankin

#17 Kenneth Roberts

#31 Rafael Suarez

#39 Seth Willoughby

#15 Daniel Winkler

Catchers:

#24 Drew Beuerlein

#7 Ryan Casteel

#23 Will Swanner

Infielders:

#2 Taylor Featherston

#8 Sam Mende

#33 Jordan Ribera

#35 Harold Riggins

#1 Jose Rivera

#3 Trevor Story

Outfielders:

#18 Brian Humphries

#25 David Kandilas

#5 Tyler Massey

#26 Jared Simon

Additional player contributors: Craig Bennigson, Delta Cleary Jr., Rosell Herrera, Chandler Laurent, Geoff Parker, Juan Perez, Taylor Reid, Mike Wolford, Joey Wong