Pitch Perfect

Incaviglia says the AirHogs-Cats rivalry is great for the metroplex though it may have taken the Cats by surprise. "They probably thought we'd be a doormat in the league for a few years until we found the right pieces and the right group of people."

For Incaviglia, a couple of AirHogs championships could lead to an opportunity to manage in the majors, though he says he's happy right where he is. "It's Christmas every day for me to come out here and put the uniform on."

Brandon Thibodeaux

Brandon Thibodeaux

After spending a decade trying to make it to the big leagues,Derek Nicholson now focuses on leading the AirHogs in their quest for a championship.

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More About

• Derek Nicholson
• Pete Incaviglia
• Jose Cordero
• Mark Schuster
• Minor League Baseball

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For Nicholson, a championship might not result in much—other than giving him a few more seasons to play baseball beyond what he had imagined for himself. "I wouldn't change one thing in my whole career. I'm really lucky to have played this long," he says. "That's the thing I'll miss most—being around the game."