Milestone Comes on the Road as Team Clinches Second Consecutive WCL Tri-State Title; Focus Turns to League Tournament as Season Winds Down.
Time flies when you're winning ballgames.
It seems like only yesterday that Matt Nutter stood in the Jacoby Storehouse and was introduced as the Crabs' new coach. But on Thursday night up in Medford, Ore., Nutter became just the third Crabs manager to record 200 victories, joining Lou Bonomini and Ken Shorty Ames.
"I wish I would have gotten it at home, but it's amazing to think back," said Nutter after his 201st win Sunday against the California Seals. "I remember 100, and 200 is definitely a nice landmark. It goes so quickly."
Nutter, a one-time Crabs pitcher, took over at the helm in 2006 when Ken "Shorty" Ames — who threw out the first pitch at Sunday's game — retired. Win No. 200 came on the same night the Crabs clinched their second consecutive WCL Tri-State regular season championship.
"This is probably the best team I've been around in a long time," said Nutter after his team improved to 34-9 on Sunday. "Hopefully we finish off strong. It's tough to keep focus at the end of they year, everyone's going in different directions. We've got to put a few goals in front of us. We've won league, but we have the playoffs, and that's big."
The Crabs have just one week remaining in the regular season, starting with a doubleheader against the rival Steelheads on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The WCL Tri-State Tournament begins on Thursday, Aug. 5.
