The 2012 North American League season was the second season of the North American League. There was no inter division play between the North and United division. San Rafael Pacifics outfielder Maikel Jova held a NABL record 37 game hit streak during the season.
Season schedule The 10 teams in the league were divided into two divisions: North and United. The North Division consisted of four teams, while the United Division had six. The United Division did not play a championship series against the North; instead, it held a best-of-three semifinal series and a best-of-five division championship series. The North Division held a single best-of-three final series.
Exhibition and international games Na Koa Ikaika Maui hosted the Ishikawa Million Stars from Japan on July 10 and 11, 2012, in an unofficial two-game exhibition series, which the teams split. Ishikawa competed in the Baseball Challenge League, an independent professional league in Japan. Following the North American League postseason, Na Koa Ikaika recruited several players from the Hawaii Stars to participate in a two-game series against Ishikawa in Japan, which was also split between the teams.
The trip allowed team executives — including Maui owner Bob Young, CEO David Andrus, and COO Chris Osgood — to meet multiple times with the owners of six BCL teams to discuss potential interleague play for the 2013 season. The discussions included agreements on player trades and exchanges, providing players opportunities to compete internationally.
Separately, the Sonoma County Grapes hosted the East Bay Lumberjacks in an unofficial exhibition on August 2, 2012, marking the franchise’s first home game while exploring potential venues for the 2013 season. The game, held at Recreational Park in Healdsburg, California, ended in an 8–2 victory for the Grapes. A second home exhibition against the San Rafael Pacifics, scheduled for August 9, was later canceled due to a scheduling conflict.
Regular season standings as of September 3, 2012
+ North Division Regular Season Standings Pos Team G W L Pct. GB1y – San Rafael Pacifics603426.567--2x – Maui Na Koa Ikaika663630.5451.03e – Hawaii Stars542529.4636.04e – Sonoma County Grapes481929.3969.0
+ United Division Regular Season Standings Pos Team G W L Pct. GB1y – Edinburg Roadrunners966036.625--2x – Fort Worth Cats965244.5428.03x – Rio Grande Valley White Wings955144.5378.54x – San Angelo Colts965145.5319.05e – Abilene Prairie Dogs873453.39121.56e – McAllen Thunder883157.35225.0
y – Clinched division x – Clinched playoff spot e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Statistical leaders
Hitting Stat Player Team Total HR Brandon Jones Fort Worth Cats 18 AVG Chad Gabriel Fort Worth Cats .363 RBIs Cory Patton San Angelo Colts 70 SB Stantrel Smith Edinburg Roadrunners 59
Pitching Stat Player Team Total W Celson Polanco Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 12 ERA Jesse Smith Maui Na Koa Ikaika 1.33 SOCelson Polanco Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 108 SV Erik Draxton San Angelo Colts 23
To qualify as league leader for hitter, AVG - Minimum of plate appearances of 2.7 per team game. To qualify as league leader for pitcher, ERA - Minimum inning(s) of .8 pitched per team game.
Playoffs Format In 2012, the North division played a best-of-three finals between the top two teams. The San Rafael Pacifics defeated Maui Na Koa Ikaika two games to one, claiming them the North Division Champions. In the United division, the top four teams advanced to the playoffs. The first round was a best-of-three series. The second round was a best-of-five series for the United Division Championship. The Edinburg Roadrunners defeated the Fort Worth Cats three games to zero. The North playoffs were held August 24-26th while the United playoffs were held September 4-9th.
Playoff North Division
Playoff United Division
Northern Division Individual Awards The manager's of the Pacifics, Na Koa Ikaika, Hawaii Stars and Sonoma County Grapes voted to determine the post-season awards and select the division's post-season All-Star Team.
Award Player Team Most Valuable Player Maikel Jova San Rafael Pitcher of the Year Jesse Smith Maui Rookie of the Year Mark Micowski Sonoma County
Northern Division Postseason All-Star Team Position Player Team C Nick Valdez Maui 1B Johnny Woodard San Rafael 2B Kalaika Kahoohalahala Maui SS Arnoldo Ponce Hawaii 3B Jose Sanchez Maui OF Maikel Jova San Rafael OF Keoni Manago Hawaii OF Steve Tedesco Hawaii DH Anthony Lopez Hawaii Starter RHP Jesse Smith Maui Starter LHP Brian Gump San Rafael Reliever RHP Victor Ferrante Maui Reliever LHP Matthew Stabelfeld San Rafael Northern Division Honorable Mention All-Star Team Position Player Team C D. J. Dixon Sonoma County/San Rafael C Adam Jacobs Hawaii 1B/DH Brandon Gregorich Sonoma County 1B/DH Anthony Lopez Hawaii 2B Chase Fontaine San Rafael SS Danny Sandoval Maui INF Gered Mochizuki Maui OF Waylen Sing Chow Maui Starter RHP Dustin Crenshaw Sonoma County Starter RHP Jake Rasner San Rafael Reliever RHP Julian Arballo San Rafael Reliever RHP Josh Larson Hawaii/Maui
Notable players Former Major League Baseball players who played in the North American League in 2012
Rick Bauer (Fort Worth) Benji Gil (Fort Worth) James Hoyt (Edinburg) Bill Lee (San Rafael) Danny Mota (San Angelo) Billy Petrick (Abilene), (Edinburg) Tony Phillips (Edinburg) Al Reyes (Rio Grande Valley) Danny Sandoval (Maui)
References