2017 Team Recap: Olive Township Mechanics

The Olive Township Mechanics officially put themselves on the map after a breakout 2017 campaign. After going 7-17 in their inaugural season, the Mechanics made incredible strides as they finished with a 16-14 record.

The young, talented squad came out red hot as they started the season with 7 consecutive wins. While the team definitely dropped off in the 2nd half of the season, the Mechanics still headed into the playoffs as a team to be reckoned with.

Led by 2017 NL MVP and Manager of the Year Aidan Cotter, Olive Township established credibility from the start. In one of many highlights of 2017, the Mechanics were able to take 2 out of 3 in the Migley Field night series in front of many fans. That series win was a special one for this young team as it helped prove to themselves that they can not only hang with, but beat the best.

With the Webb brothers out in the field and Bailey Rhed behind the plate, Olive Township had one of the best defenses in the league.

That dominant defense carried over into the Wild Card Round as they no hit the Lynn St. Leprechauns en route to their first ever postseason victory. Aidan Cotter was on the mound for Lynn St. in what was the first No-Hitter in ORWBL playoff history.

The Mechanics then turned their attention to their friends over at the New Carlisle Newts as they had high hopes of dethroning the champs. After picking up a Game 1 victory, the Newts experience proved to be too much for Olive Township as they dropped the final 2 games of the series.

While the arrows were pointing straight up for the Mechanics, Aidan Cotter announced after the season that they would not be returning for a 3rd season due to lineup uncertainty. Cotter did mention they he would not rule out the possibility of the Mechanics returning in a year or 2.

After seeing the success that they had in 2016, Olive Township fans can only hope that someday their beloved Mechanics will return to ORWBL play.

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