Nothing is 100% settled as we enter the stretch run of the EL's inaugural season.
The Giants staggered a bit in the early part of the month but regathered themselves and ended up posting a 17-10 sectional. They lead the Fleet National by 10 with 30 to play and should encounter little resistance on their way to winning the group.
The East still holds an 8-game advantage in the Weldy National despite an ordinary 12-15 August. The ABCs are the big mover in this group, putting together a 10-win string en route to a 19-7 showing for the month. They, the Motown Stars and American Giants are within a half game of each other but may just have left their run a tad too late this time around. Still, it bodes well for '69 and beyond.
The Grays continue to confound all the doubters (IE me), but while a horror stretch of 11 losses has ended the Athletics' hopes of playoff action, the Elite Giants are still hanging in there just 4 GB in the Weldy American. So, while undoubtedly in the box seat, the Grays still have plenty of work to do.
Finally, the Fleet American, which is still the tightest of the 4 Associations. A 10-16 August has dragged the Royal Giants back into a proper dogfight, with the Black Yankees, Crawfords and Eagles all now nipping at their heels. It should be a fascinating race and I'll update how it is playing out along the way.
FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Chito Martinez (Bacharach Giants) 322 / 10 HR / 22 RBI.
FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Pedro Dibut (Crawfords) 5-0 / 1.91 / 10 K / 61.1 IP.
WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Andre Thornton (Motown Stars) 391 / 4 HR / 15 RBI.
WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jeff Marquez (Motown Stars) 6-1 / 1.16 / 17 K / 62 IP.
