Let's Look Back before we Move Forward

It was new era of Philadelphia Comets baseball in 2015. After winning the Greater Philadelphia Mens Adult Baseball League title in 2012 and 2013, and finishing second in 2014, there was a new manager and several new players in the fold.

After seven years on the Comets, Andrew Marcus stepped up to the plate and took over a team that saw its roster total dip to a mere seven player only weeks prior to the season started in April. A relentless pursuit of players gave them enough to start the year with 19, but no one was quite sure what to expect.

Slowly former Comets got the itch to return and the likes of Matt Gionta, Adam Goldstein, and Jason Rompola gave the perennial winners a fighting chance again midseason. After an 8-16 regular season, which included eight one-run losses, the team started to gel just in time for the playoffs.

The Comets clicked in the playoffs, knocking off the defending champion Philadelphia Muckdogs and the Kensington Royals behind the pitching of Jason Rompola. With team MVP Phil Motley absent for the week due to the birth of his first son, “Romp” threw 14 innings in one day and secured a 1-0 lead in the semifinal three game series.

Motley, who pitched 76 innings and finished with a 2.86 ERA in the regular season, came back to clinch a fourth straight trip the championship. The Comets were the sixth seed out of eight teams in the GPMABL, but no team was hotter.

The Comets eventually ran into some bad luck in the finals against the Philadelphia Colt 45s, who did all the right things when it mattered the most. Motley was one the mound with a 2-0 in Game Three before the Colts pitching cooled off the Comets. The 5-2 loss ended the Comets season one win shy of the ultimate goal.

The loss could not take away from a strong season. Comets first basemen Gavin White and manager/infielder Andrew Marcus finished second and third respectively in the league with 30 and 29 hits in the 24 game regular season. Comets outfielder Kyle Riley also earned an all-star nod for his 26 hits, 17 RBIs, and 1.006 OPS, and his gold glove play in the field.

Newcomers catcher Andrew Dean and outfielder Andrew Napoli also their mark and gave the Comets hope for another strong year next summer. Dean earned team Rookie of the Year for his .391 batting average and play behind the plate.