5 May 2302
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Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, NWLB, and APYL Leagues
by Evan Guy
5-1 Week Leaves Cave Crickets on Top
The Victory Cave Crickets blew away its two opponents this week to move their record to 9-3 and two games up on Orange and Grape for first place. The Cave Crickets started the week with a three-game sweep of the Quartz Star Force before winning two of three versus the Cherry Ghoulrillas.
The Tourists and Painted Ghouls are currently at 7-5. Orange helped its cause by winning two of three at the Ghouls but lost two of three at Quartz for a 3-3 week. Grape won its weekend series, two games to three, over the Dark Bloodworms.
Dark's 1B Hunter Cobble was named this week's Player of the Week. In his five games, he only started two but got a hit in all three pinch hitter situations. On the week, he went 7 for 11 (.636) with 3 HR, 6 RBI, and 4 runs scored. The usual starter, 38-year-old Justin Salvage, who used to be a part of the Finch Farm organization in the CBO, is struggling this season, hitting at a .162/.220/.459 clip. He has three homers, eight RBI, and four runs in 11 games with nine starts.
Besides Cobble's heavy-hitting week, three hitters have been off to a stellar start: LF Bruce Brownwater (Cherry), LF Tom Mastodon (Orange), and 3B Spratt Turnpike (Victory).
Brownwater is second in the NWL only to Mastodon in average (.420). He also has four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 13 runs scored, eight RBI, was walked six times, struck out four, and has stolen five bases. The free agent pick up from the Vim! League's Echo Lake Harbormen has been a welcome addition.
Mastodon is the leader in average (.423). He has also added a double, a triple, four homers, 10 runs, 10 RBI, walked twice, struck out once in 55 plate appearances, and stole seven bases. Mastodon was a 7th-round pick in the 2296 CBO Inaugural Draft but the County Crossing Bloodbugs. He was one of the Bloodbugs' top players the first four years, but got beat out in 2300 by current star Taygun Topaloglu. In 2301, he was traded to the Tourists for a couple of prospects but tore his ACL only seven games into the season. This season, he is looking to play a full season and blow away the NWL competition.
Turnpike is improving on his 2300 and 2301 numbers. In 12 games, he is batting .404 with four doubles, five home runs, 13 runs, 16 RBI, four walks, three strikeouts, and a stolen base. He was originally a third-round pick by University Point in the 2297 CBO Rookie Draft but mostly sat the bench in his one year with their BMU team, the Boston Common Lead Bellies. He was then cut and signed with the Cave Crickets prior to the 2299 season.
Standings
APL and BBL
In the Amusement Park League, the Nuka Bottling Plant Pack (Quantum) only had a 2-4 week but still hold onto the division lead by a game over the Nuka Town Operators (Orange). The Kiddie Kingdom Cappies (Grape) had a 4-2 week to move themselves out of absolute last and into a three-way tie for last place with the Bradberton Disciples (Victory) and Dry Rock Gulch Convicts (Dark). All three teams are at 5-7 and three games back of the Pack.
1B Blue Gralinski of the Safari Adventure Gazelles (Wild) was named the APL Player of the Week. He hit .769 on the week with 10 hits, two of those home runs. He also racked up six RBI and scored three times.
The Bradberton Boys League started its 2302 campaign. The Fizztop Mountain Conquerors were the only team to start 4-0, while the Ol' Sugartop Buckaroos and the Mad Mulligan Travelers are both 0-4.
Although the BBL did not name a Player of the Week for its first week, 1B Os Cazadore of the Conquerors blew the competition away to help his team to being first in every offensive category except stolen bases. In just four games, he went 10 for 19 (.474) with seven home runs, 10 runs, 11 RBI, three walks, and six strikeouts.
Vim! View
Veracious, Vivacious, Vainglorious Vision of the Vim! Leagues
by Vikky Vail
Standings
Analysis
Rayburn Point (15-9) is still atop the Fog Division while the Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers (16-8) stay atop yet again in the Harbor Division.
The Patcheyes hold only a two-game lead over the Echo Lake Harbormen (13-11). Despite being atop its division, Rayburn Point is still middle of the pack both in offense and pitching. The Patcheyes went 5-1 on the week. The completed their series with the Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs by winning on Monday and Tuesday by one-run in each game. They then won the first three games at the Brooke's Head Behemoths before breaking their winning streak on Sunday in a 5-0 loss.
The Fog Crawlers were only 3-3 on the week, but maintained their division dominance record-wise. Dalton Farm started the week by splitting two games with the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales (10-14). They then split a four-game series with the Grand Hotel Atoms (13-11). Currently, the Acadia Acadians (15-9) trail the Crawlers by a game.
Player of the Week
LF Edgar Virus, Echo Lake, 13/24 (.542), 3 HR, 7 RBI
MDIL Report
The Southwest Harbor Rippers (Echo Lake) of the Small Bertha Division and the Huntress Island Ug-Qualtoths (Dalton Farm) of the Old Longfellow Division are both at the top of their divisions at 16-10.
1B Colin Goldsworthy of the Ug-Qualtoths was named the Player of the Week. He was 16 of 28 (.571) with two homers, six RBI, and seven runs. He currently leads the MDIL in batting average (.447) and WAR (1.8).
MYL Report
In Week One of the season, the Far Harbor Dockdwellers (3-1) lead the Mount Desert Island Four. In the Great Diamond Island League, the Sunset Park Anglers are off to a 3-1 start for an early league lead.