The idea of the Cyclones started in
March 2008 when manager Dean Cosme was looking to start a team in the
North Houston Wood Bat League. He spoke with League President Joe Banasik and they agreed to meet at the league tryouts and put together a
team. During the tryouts, it became apparent that it
would not produce enough players to fill out a team. Joe, who also managed the Houston Sky Sox,
drafted Dean as a player. He relied on Dean to be the team's main
starting pitcher and fill-in first baseman. Dean accepted the
challenge and succeeded far beyond Joe's imagination. The Sky Sox
finished the regular season 5-2 and lost in the first round of the
playoffs that season. That season was the foundation for what
would come one year later.
At Joe's request, Dean took over as manager
of the Houston Sky Sox in the Spring 2009 season. Towards the end
of the Summer 2009 season, Dean, being a Mets fan, changed the team name to the Spring Cyclones in honor of the Mets Single A minor
league team, the Brooklyn Cyclones.
With the implementation of the 12 game
schedule in the NHWBL, the Cyclones roster stabilized to be a model of consistency
for over 5 years and 10 seasons. However, in the Spring 2015
Season, the Cyclones moved to the HHL 30+ Division after the NHWBL
folded, where they competed as the Houston Cardinals, but reverted back to being the Spring Cyclones
before the Fall season.
Since taking over the team in the Spring of
2009, Dean has compiled a 180-168-14 record as manager, furthermore, since S2010,
which saw the expansion of the NHWBL season to 12 games, the Cyclones record
in both the NHWBL & HHL is 175-154-12, including 1 season as the
Houston Cardinals. The Cyclones moved from the weeknight division to the
Sunday 35+ division beginning in the Spring 2021 season and officially
changed their name to Houston Cyclones.
Since the inception of the Cyclones, they
have reached the playoffs 21 times, appeared in the NHWBL & HHL Championships
12 times, winning the Spring 2010 & Spring 2012 NHWBL
Championships, the HHL Spring 2019 30+ Division Championship and the HHL
Fall 2022 35+ Division Championship.
The idea of the Cyclones started in
March 2008 when manager Dean Cosme was looking to start a team in the
North Houston Wood Bat League. He spoke with League President Joe Banasik and they agreed to meet at the league tryouts and put together a
team. During the tryouts, it became apparent that it
would not produce enough players to fill out a team. Joe, who also managed the Houston Sky Sox,
drafted Dean as a player. He relied on Dean to be the team's main
starting pitcher and fill-in first baseman. Dean accepted the
challenge and succeeded far beyond Joe's imagination. The Sky Sox
finished the regular season 5-2 and lost in the first round of the
playoffs that season. That season was the foundation for what
would come one year later.
At Joe's request, Dean took over as manager
of the Houston Sky Sox in the Spring 2009 season. Towards the end
of the Summer 2009 season, Dean, being a Mets fan, changed the team name to the Spring Cyclones in honor of the Mets Single A minor
league team, the Brooklyn Cyclones.
With the implementation of the 12 game
schedule in the NHWBL, the Cyclones roster stabilized to be a model of consistency
for over 5 years and 10 seasons. However, in the Spring 2015
Season, the Cyclones moved to the HHL 30+ Division after the NHWBL
folded, where they competed as the Houston Cardinals, but reverted back to being the Spring Cyclones
before the Fall season.
Since taking over the team in the Spring of
2009, Dean has compiled a 187-170-13 record as manager, furthermore, since S2010,
which saw the expansion of the NHWBL season to 12 games, the Cyclones record
in both the NHWBL & HHL is 182-156-12, including 1 season as the
Houston Cardinals. The Cyclones moved from the weeknight division to the
Sunday 35+ division beginning in the Spring 2021 season and officially
changed their name to Houston Cyclones.
Since the inception of the Cyclones, they
have reached the playoffs 20 times, appeared in the NHWBL & HHL Championships
14 times, winning the Spring 2010 & Spring 2012 NHWBL
Championships, the Spring 2019 HHL 30+ Division Championship, the
Fall 2022 HHL 35+ Division Championship and the Spring 2025 HHL 35+
Division Championship
(* denotes incomplete
data)
(Seasons in italics indicates team played
as Houston Cardinals)
(Seasons in BOLD indicates team won the League Championship)
(* denotes incomplete
data)
(Seasons in italics indicates team played
as Houston Cardinals)
(Seasons in BOLD indicates team won the League Championship)
STORIES OF THE
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Spring
Cyclones Win NHWBL Spring 2010 Championship!!!
August16,
2010 -It
took one inning to take the lead 1-0 and 8 more to catch up
and take the lead again, but the Spring Cyclones finally
held on to take the North Houston Wood Bat League Spring
2010 Championship with a 5-4 victory over the Zephyrs. Jason Phelps was the hero of the
game blasting a 2-run bomb over Tomball City Park's
chain-link monster in left field to give the Spring Cyclones
the lead in the top of the 9th inning, leaving it in the
hands of the game's starting pitching. The Cyclones
starting pitcher threw a
complete game against the Zephyrs for the second time in the
playoffs, this time limiting them to 4 runs on 7 hits while
striking out 10 including the final 7 batters in a row.
SPRING 2012
NHWBL CHAMPIONS!!!
Despite Being
No-Hit, Cyclones Top Blaze For Title
Aug5,
2012 -In the
top of the 5th inning Saleem Malik stroked a line drive to
right field. But the right fielder, playing shallow,
charged the ball and threw a strike to first base to get the
out. That would have broken up the no-hitter. But instead,
it was just another out in a nine inning game.
One inning later, the Cyclones
would get on the board though. Justin Keith, who had his
best season for the Cyclones yet, led off the 6th inning
with a walk followed by a walk by the Cyclones starting
pitcher. Then, Ryan
Harris hit into a fielder's choice, as his speed broke up a
potential double play. Clean-up hitter Marc Love hit a fly
ball to left center to drive in Justin Keith for the
Cyclones first run and bring the Cyclones within one run of
tying the game.
That chance would happen in the
eighth inning. Keith Marion, his first plate appearance
of the post-season, led off the 8th with a walk. Buddy
Cochran got hit by a pitch next. Then Justin Keith
grounded into what would potentially have been at least a
force play, but Blaze 3rd baseman Louie Lee bobbled the ball
and all runners were safe. Next, the Cyclones starting
pitcher hit a sac-fly to center
field that scored Keith and moved Buddy to 3rd base. With
Ryan Harris batting, the Blaze's pitcher uncorked a wild
pitch to allow Buddy to score and Justin to move to second
base. After Ryan grounded out to 3rd, Marc Love hit a
potentially inning ending grounder to first, but it went
through the first baseman's legs and into right field, which
allowed Justin to score from 2nd base. Three runs scored,
without the benefit of a hit. The Cyclones were now up 4-2.
That would become the final
score as the Cyclones starting pitcher shut the Blaze down
in the final two innings to secure the win. The Cyclones
starting pitcher did what he had done
all post-season, not give up any earned runs. The only
hiccup in yesterday's game came in the 4th inning when the
Blaze led off the inning with a double to right center
field. The Cyclones starting pitcher got the next two outs. The leadoff hitter for
the Blaze next hit a chopper to third that was not handled
cleanly and all runners were safe. With runners on first
and third the Cyclones starting pitcher induced what looked like a potential inning
ending grounder to short. But a short hop throw was not
handled cleanly by first baseman Dean Cosme and the runner
was safe and run scored. A single followed and another run
scored before the Cyclones starting pitcher got a strikeout to end the inning. That is how the Spring Cyclones
became the NHWBL Spring 2012 Champions.
CYCLONES WIN IT ALL!!!
Cyclones top Thunder to win
HHL 30+ Championship.
Standing (L-R): Jusef Frias,
Pete Ulloa, Ray Mariano, Oswar Monsalve, Juan Cantu, Choice
Johnson, Dean Cosme
Kneeling (L-R): Pete Rivera, Andrew Picos, Priamo Reyes,
Pete Murillo, Delvin Hudson, Luis Garcia
July
26, 2019 - For 7 innings it
was a tightly contested battle. With no score after 2,
the Cyclones pushed across a run with 2 outs in the 3rd on
an RBI double by Juan Cantu with 2 outs to plate the game's
first run. The score would stand for 2 more innings
until Cyclones starting pitcher Jusef Frias, the league's
best pitcher, walked the leadoff batter Jimmy Rivera.
Rivera would eventually score on a 3 error stolen base,
tying the game at 1.
A 1-1 game through 6, the Thunder would
strike again in the 7th inning when Jimmy Rivera struck
again. This time lining a 2 out double off the fence
in right field and scoring on a single to the next batter.
But that was all the Frias would allow as he was his typical
dominant self, striking out 15 while only allowing 4 hits,
walking 1 and hitting 2 batters in the complete game
victory.
With the score tied 2-2, the Cyclones knew
their best chance to win the game would come in the 8th
inning, as the heart of the order was coming to bat.
Juan Cantu led off the inning with a single and would
eventually score the go ahead run when Jusef was hit by a
pitch with the bases loaded. After 1 out, Pete
Murillo, a former Thunder player, singled to get 2 men on
with only 1 out. Oswar Monslave walked to load the
bases after an incredible at bat that saw him foul off 6
consecutive pitches and earn a walk after being down 0-2 in
the count.
Next batter, Jusef Frias would earn an RBI on
the aforementioned HBP, to put the Cyclones up 3-2. It
would be all they need, but not all they would get.
After Rivera struck out the next batter to get the 2nd out
of the inning, Luis Garcia III, who tied the game an inning earlier,
dropped a single over the infield to plate 2 more runs and
open the game to 5-2. But the Cyclones were not done yet.
Next batter, Andrew Picos got hit by a pitch to get on base
and reload the bases for Priamo Reyes, who has been as
clutch as they come this season. And clutch he was as he
smacked a 2 out, 2 run single to make the score 7-2 where it
would stay.
Jusef Frias completed the game in the 9th to
give the Cyclones their 3rd overall Championship and first
in the HHL 30+ Division. Congratulations to Ray Mariano and
Delvin Hudson, who are the longest tenured Cyclones, have
begun with the Cyclones in the Spring 2017 season.
Congratulations to Luis Garcia III and Priamo Reyes, who
both joined the Cyclones in the Spring 2018 season.
Congratulations to Hector Espinoza and Andrew Picos, who
both joined this year after having gone through the HHL
draft. Congratulations to Pete Ulloa, who joined the team at
the recommendation of his long time friend and teammate, Ray
Mariano. Congratulations to Pete Murillo and Choice
Johnson who came to the Cyclones after having won the Fall
2018 Championship with the Texas Thunder just months
earlier. Congratulations to Pete Rivera, Jr., Jusef
Frias, Juan Cantu and Oswar Monsalve who all joined the
Cyclones on Pete Rivera's recommendation. And last but not
least, congratulations to Mgr. Dean Cosme who put this all
together and made it all work. Congratulations
Cyclones, you are the Houston Hardball League 30+ Division
Spring 2019 Champions!
CYCLONES ARE CHAMPIONS!
9 run 7th capped by a
Craig Baser Grand Slam sealed the victory while Justin
Putnal gutted out a complete game
Houston Cyclones win the
Fall 2022 35+ Division Championship
DH Craig Baser capped off a 9 run 7th inning with a Grand
Slam to centerfield vs. Marauders Dec 4, 2022
Justin Putnal vs. Marauders Dec 4, 2022
December
5, 2022
- On Sunday the #1 seed Marauders faced the Houston Cyclones
for the HHL Fall 2022 35+ Division Championship. It
was quite the back and forth game until the 7th inning.
In the first inning, the visiting Cyclones went up 1-0 on a
Rudy Casanova hit, who stole second and scored on an error
by the Marauders first baseman. The Cyclones would give up
their slim lead in the 2nd inning as Cyclones starting
pitcher was tagged for 4 runs in the inning, 2 of which were
unearned. The Cyclones promptly answered back scoring
4 of their own in the 3rd inning as a walk, 2 singles and 2
doubles plated the 4 runs to put the Cyclones back on top
5-4. But the Cyclones couldn't hold the lead as a
throwing error, a walk and an RBI ground out scored 2 more
runs for the Marauders, who now lead 6-5. The Marauders
would tack on another run in the 6th inning.
Come the 7th inning, the Marauders made a pitching change as
their starter ran out of gas and let his manager know. With the pitching change came renewed life in the Cyclones
dugout. Cyclones veteran third baseman BJ Galvan began
the 7th with a single to left. A walk to Alfredo
"Sauce" Rivas and a seeing eye single just past the third
baseman to left loaded the bases. A walk and a hit followed,
scoring 2 runs to tie the game. A grounder to third was the
next play and the third baseman chose to attempt the out at
home rather than trying for a standard double play. He
threw the ball high and wide of home and the error allowed
the go-ahead run to score leaving the bases still loaded for
Craig Baser. The Marauders pitcher had just thrown 2
consecutive slow curve balls that Craig took for a strike
and a ball. The Marauders pitcher attempted a third
straight slow curve and before you knew it, Craig Baser
deposited the ball over the wall in just left of center
field for a game changing Grand Slam!
The Cyclones would score two more runs in the inning and
take the lead 14-7. Fast forward to the bottom of the 8th
inning which would be the last inning, the Marauders would
not go down without a fight. Back-to-back doubles led
off the inning scoring another run before the runner on
second would be doubled off after the next batter hit a fly
ball to right for the first out and then the second out. Another couple of hits and an error plated the final run of
the game for the Marauders as the next batter grounded into
a fielder's choice to end the game and give the Houston
Cyclones a 14-9 victory and the Fall 2022 35+ Division
Championship.
CHAMPIONS!
Cyclones defeat the Northside Astros
8-1 to take the Fall 2024 35+ Division Title
January 20, 2025 - On a bitterly cold
and windy afternoon, the Cyclones looked to cap off a
terrific season with the league's ultimate prize, the title
of HHL Fall 2024 35+ Division Champions. But before that,
they had to get through the back-to-back champs, the
Northside Astros. This would be the third match up for
the title in 3 straight seasons, with the Astros winning the
last two. For the Cyclones, it would be there 5th
consecutive appearance in the championship, winning the Fall
2022 title against the Marauders.
This time would have a different feel to it.
There was a buzz in the air that told you this would be the
Cyclones game. From the get go things were going the
Cyclones way. Even with a shaky start for starting Pitcher
Eddie Baray, The Cyclones allowed no runs in the top half of
the first to set the tone. In the bottom half, the Cyclones
did what the Cyclones typically do, strike first and often
and not relent. In this scenario, the Cyclones took
full advantage of the Astros with good at-bats and timely
hitting. The Astros starting pitcher was having trouble
locating the strike zone early so the Cyclones worked the
count into their favor and made the Astros pay for it by
plating 5 runs to take an early 5-0 lead.
In reality, it would be all that the Cyclones
needed as starter Eddie Baray kept the Astros at bay for 8
innings, only allowing a run on 10 scattered hits and 1 walk
while striking out 5 batters. The Cyclones would add single
runs in the 3rd, 6th and 7th innings to secure the victory.
The biggest hits cam from Josh Granados and Andre Vappie, as
they both had two 2-RBI hits in the first inning. The other
big contributor last night was Camilo Galvez who was on base
3 times and scored twice putting a lot of pressure on the
Astros to keep him contained. It was a solid team effort
with most everyone reaching base at least once. Taking
home the Championship Game MVP honors was Eddie Baray for
his shutdown performance on the mound against the Astros.
Congratulations to the Houston Cyclones,
Houston Hardball League Fall 2024 35+ Division Champions!
Houston Hardball Fall 2024 35+ Division
Champions - Houston Cyclones
(Kneeling from L-R: Juan Zuniga, Chad
Tineo, Eddie Baray, BJ Galvan, Jairo Reyes, Andre Vappie,
Guy Koenig)
(Standing from L-R: Camilo Galvez, Justin Putnal, Tom West,
Ray Mariano, Jposh Granados, Craig Baser, Juan Guedez, Mgr
Dean Cosme)
Championship Game MVP - Eddie Baray along
with Manager Dean Cosme
Eddie Baray delivering a fastball vs.
Northside Astros Jan 19, 2025
BACK TO BACK CHAMPS
Eddie Baray earns back-to-back MVP
honors as Cyclones defeat Expos 8-0
Jul 21, 2025 - Prior to the beginning
of yesterday's championship game, Eddie Baray announced "I'm
pitching to contact boys, so be ready". Eddie could not have
been more accurate and truthful with that statement. Eddie
pitched 8 innings and struck out only 1 batter and that
strikeout came in his last inning of work. The rest of his
outing, Eddie pitched in and around the strike zone enough to
induce contact produce outs. Eddie was able to keep the Expos' big hitters
at bay for most of the game and the rest of the lineup
mostly off the bases. The Expos best chance at getting back
in the game came in the 5th inning when the Expos loaded the
bases courtesy of two hits and a walk. But with two
outs already in the books, the Expos drove a liner to left
field and Eddie was out of trouble.
On offense, the Cyclones took advantage of
Expos misplays and made them dearly. In the 1st, Guy Koenig
reached on a hard hit grounder to third base that wasn't
handled cleanly. He promptly stole second base and
moved to third on a strike three wild pitch that saw Camilo
Galvez reach first as well. Craig Baser followed with a
Sac-Fly to get the Cyclones on the board. Eddie Baray joined
in with a hit of his own and Juan Guedez, courtesy running
for Eddie, stole second to put 2 runners in scoring
position. Up next, Josh Granados reached on an error, but
that error produced two runs.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Dre Vappie led the
inning of with a single to right. Justin Putnal followed
with a grounder to third, but the ball was thrown in to the
outfield and runners were now on first and third. Taylor
Scaggs joined in on the action as hit laced an RBI single to
center making the score 4-0. Chad Tineo grounded into a
fielder's choice moving Justin to third. Chad stole second
on the next pitch putting himself into scoring position.
Next batter, Juan Guedez, grounds to third but the third
baseman tripped and was unable to come up with the play with
Justin scoring on the play and Chad moving to third. With
runners on first and third again, Guy hit a sharp grounder
to the pitcher driving in the third run of the inning to
make the score 6-0.
The Cyclones would score 2 more runs, 1 each
in the 4th and 5th innings to end the scoring at 8. Taylor
Scaggs pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning to secure the Championship
for the Cyclones. It's the Cyclones 6th championship in the
Houston Hardball League, including two while in the North
Houston Wood Bat League, a division of the HHL. It's the
third championship in the last 6 seasons and first
back-to-back championship for the Cyclones.
Houston Cyclones - Houston Hardball League
Spring 2025 35+ Division Champions
Standing (Left-Right): Craig Baser,
Guy Koenig, Tom West, Priamo Reyes, Justin Putnal, Josh
Granados, Ray Mariano, Taylor Scaggs, Camilo Galvez, Mgr.
Dean Cosme
Kneeling (Left-Right): Ernesto Ojeda, Andre Vappie, Juan
Zuniga, BJ Galvan, Eddie Baray, Chad Tineo, Jairo Reyes,
Juan Guedez
Eddie Baray hurls a changeup Championship
Game vs Expos July
20, 2025
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