By Zane Miller
In the 20-season long history of the Brooklyn Cyclones, the team has gone 2 for 5 in championship finals appearances, to go along with making nine postseason appearances in total. As of this writing, Brooklyn’s best regular season record came in 2001 at 52-24, while their worst came in 2017 at 24-52. These are the top five single seasons by starting pitchers that I felt have stood out the most during the team history of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
In total, the team has won two championships, coming in 2001 and 2019, with their 2001 championship credited as a co-championship with the Williamsport Crosscutters after the remainder of the finals were cancelled due to the September 11th terrorist attacks.
5. Rainy Lara (2012)
After being signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Mets, Lara earned an 8-3 record with the Cyclones in 2012 after allowing six home runs, 22 earned runs and 53 hits, going 68 innings for a 2.91 ERA. Brooklyn went 31-45 on the season to reach the 2012 playoffs, losing in the first round to the Hudson Valley Renegades.
4. Harold Eckert (2001)
The 584th overall pick of the 1999 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a 9-1 showing with the Cyclones in 2001, giving up just four home runs, 26 earned runs and 51 hits over the course of 70 innings pitched for a 3.34 ERA. Brooklyn would go 52-24 to make it to the 2001 playoffs, defeating the Staten Island Yankees two games to one in the first round before claiming their first championship in franchise history in their debut season.
3. Dylan Owen (2007)
The 633rd overall pick of the 2007 draft by the Mets scored a record of 9-1 with the Cyclones in 2007, allowing zero home runs with 12 earned runs and 51 hits, taking a 1.49 ERA. Brooklyn finished the year at 49-25 to reach the 2007 playoffs, taking down the Staten Island Yankees two games to none in the first round before also losing to the Auburn Doubledays two games to none in the finals.
2. Chris Hilliard (2010)
The 1,154th overall pick of the 2008 draft by the Mets also went 9-1 in 2010, giving up a pair of home runs, 33 earned runs and 79 hits in 79 and a third innings pitched to take a 3.74 ERA. Brooklyn claimed a 51-24 record to qualify for the 2010 playoffs, defeating the Jamestown Jammers two games to one, before being swept by the Tri-City ValleyCats two games to none in the finals.
1. Mark Cohoon (2009)
The 374th overall pick of the 2008 draft by the Mets took a 9-2 showing with the Cyclones in 2009, going 92 innings while allowing only four home runs, 22 earned runs and 69 hits for a 2.15 ERA. Brooklyn made the 2009 playoffs courtesy of a 45-30 record, falling to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers two games to none in the first round.
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