----------------------------------------------------------
Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, APL, NWLR, and BBL Leagues
by Evan Guy
1 June
Quantum, Cherry Hold May Leads
The Quantum Nukalurks and Orange Tourists are divisional leaders through the first month of the 2305 NWL season. Quantum was predicted to barely win their division, while the Tourists were expected to finish in 2nd place in theirs, 13 games behind the predicted winner, Cherry.
In the North Bradberton Division, the Nukalurks currently hold a 1.5 game lead over 2nd place Victory, with Wild and Grape trailing behind.
Currently on a six-game winning streak, the Tourists now have a 3.5 game lead over Cherry. Quartz and Dark are both in trouble of being out of the race early.
For top players of the month, we have a double award thanks to a top CBO player becoming a rookie in the NWL this season.
1B Chase Doctorman of the Ghoulrillas is both the Hitter of the Month and Rookie of the Month. Whether he will finish the season in the NWL is left to be seen since a CBO team will probably come calling with lots of caps and prospects, but we will enjoy him while we have him.
In the NWL, Doctorman is currently 3rd in Batting Average (.407), tied for 1st in home runs (8), 1st in RBI (25), tied for 6th in OBP (.430), 1st in SLG (.690), 1st in OPS (1.120), 1st in WAR (1.8), tied for 1st in AB (113), 2nd in hits (46), 1st in runs (26), 1st in TB (78), tied for 1st in SF (2), 2nd in XBH (16), 6th in ISO (.283), 1st in OPS+ (170), 1st in WPA (1.56), and 2ns in wOBA (.469).
May was a magical month for SP Jesse Emacipated of Victory. He held the Nuka World League hitters spellbound, conjuring up a 6-0 mark and a 3.54 ERA. Emacipated also chalked up 7 starts, 56 innings and 41 strikeouts. For this outstanding performance he was rewarded with the Pitcher of the Month trophy.
APL
The Bradberton Disciples (Victory) of the North Division has taken an early 6-game lead in their division, while the Dry Rock Gulch Convicts (Dark) hold just a 1.5-game lead over the Nuka Town Operators in the South Division.
Not known for his offensive prowess, Savoy Slurp set the league afire in May and took home the Amusement Park League Batter of the Month award.
The Bradberton second baseman posted a steady .432 batting average, 9 home runs, 36 RBIs and 29 runs.
Logan McDaniels was pure poison coming out of the Flying Ants bullpen in May. For his outstanding performance, he picked up the Amusement Park League Pitcher of the Month award.
The Grandchester Flying Ants reliever had 1 save for the month with a 3-0 record and 1.35 ERA. He made 8 relief appearances, hurled 13.1 innings, yielded 13 hits, fanned 7 and walked 3.
NWLRL
Just like the NWL, the NWL Rookie League is split into the North Bradeberton and South Bradberton divisions. While most of the teams currently have their parent teams' namesakes, two squads decided to split from the parent squad name in 2305: the Nuka Jolly Elves (Victory) and the Nuka Plant Electrics (Dark). However, neither of those teams currently leade their divisions.
The leaders in the North Bradberton Division are the Quantum B Nukalurks, while the Orange B Tourists are the leaders in the South Bradberton Division. Just like their parent clubs.
John Millertime really put on a show in May, earning the Batter of the Month Award in the NWL Rookie League!
The Orange B right fielder batted .370 with 14 home runs, 39 RBIs, 34 runs scored, along with 26 walks to compile a .493 on-base percentage.
May's best hurler was Dusty Wilcox of Grape B. He overwhelmed NWLRL hitters all month long and captured the Pitcher of the Month award as he collected a 4-0 record in 8 starts.
The 23-year-old Wilcox added 49 strikeouts in 41 innings and 20 walks to his season record and compiled a 3.51 ERA. Other clubs hit .215 against him.
BBL
There are only 11 games left in the Bradberton Boys League, but a lot can happen with every team but the Angry Anaconda Godmodes is technically still in the race. The top two teams advance to the Bradberton Boys Series.
At 18-11, the Ol' Sugartop Buckaroos are the leaders, while the Starport Nuka Hubologists, the Fizztop Mountain Conquerors, and the Wixon Shovels all trail by just one game. The King Cola Youths, Mad Mulligan Travelers, and South Bradberton Tycoons are all still in the hunt, though the Travelers and Tycoons have been cold as of late.
When Rush Clovis stepped up to the plate in May he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the Bradberton Boys League Batter of the Month award.
The young Ol' Sugartop first baseman posted a .465 batting average with 20 home runs, 33 RBIs and scored 26 runs. Clovis also worked pitchers for 19 walks to post a .557 on-base percentage.
When the Hubologists skipper wrote Manigault on the lineup card, it was a bad omen for the opposition. Outing after outing in May he took command and usually got the win.
He dominated with a 5-1 mark and 2.03 ERA in 8 starts. The gifted Hubologists star pitched 44.1 innings, fanned 36 and held opposing teams to a .205 average.
For his excellent mound work Manigault was named the BBL Pitcher of the Month by the baseball writers.
Vim! View
Veracious, Vivacious, Vainglorious Vision of the Vim! Leagues
by Vikky Vail
1 May
Vim! League's Visionary Verdict for the 2305 Voyage
The 2305 season is off to a rushing start after the first month of the season. Dalton Farm leads the Fog Division by 6 games and holds the Vim! League's top record, while the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales have a 5.5-game lead over Grand Hotel in the Harbor Division.
Ryan Morris has a lot going for him. The Dalton Farm third baseman just broke into the majors this year and now the Vim! League has just picked him as its top hitter for May.
In 27 games last month this outstanding rookie batted .392 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
When Alex Ruder takes the mound, a Far Harbor victory is usually the result. That was the case in May.
That's why he was voted the Vim! League Pitcher of the Month.
Ruder throttled league hitters the whole month with an impressive 5-0 mark and 2.40 ERA in 7 starts. The Ghoul Whales star hurler also rung up 45 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Youngster Tom Hopsman emerged as the latest Vim! League Rookie of the Month today. The young man from Acadia deserved the honor, batting .345 with 7 home runs and 16 runs batted in. Is the month of May a harbinger of things to come or just a fluke? We'll find out someday, but for now, we'll just let Hopsman enjoy the limelight.
MDIL
The Southwest Harbor Rippers (Echo Lake) lead the Small Bertha Division, and the Oceanarium Oceanics (National Park) lead the Old Longfellow Division.
For a rookie just breaking in, Marc Giddens certainly put together a successful month. It was good enough to win the MDIL Batter of the Month award for May.
The 18-year-old third baseman for the Nucleus Radchickens hit .396 with 11 home runs, 25 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
Isaiah Jones's been around the league long enough to appreciate the honor he received today. After going 3-1 in May, the 32-year-old Oceanarium hurler has been named Mount Desert Island League Pitcher of the Month.
He fanned 30 in 34 innings, logged an ERA of 2.12 and allowed opponents to hit .197 against him.
VRL
In the Western Atlantic Division, the Rock Point Barnacles (Grand Hotel) and Glowing Grove Brainiacs (National Park) are tied at the top at 15-14. In the Eastern Atlantic Division, the Fringe Cove Champions (Far Harbor) have a five-game lead.
A hot-hitting Matt Gonzalez punished VRL pitchers in May, hitting .404 in 29 games while racking up 10 home runs, 34 RBIs and 36 runs scored.
With those numbers it came as no surprise that Huntress Island's 21-year-old second baseman earned VIM! Rookie League Batter of the Month honors.
The Huntress Island Ug-Qualtoths owe Dan Singleton a lot for his performance this past month. One of the league's most dominant starters in May, Singleton tore up the opposition with a fine 4-1 mark on his way to the VIM! Rookie League Pitcher of the Month award.
"When you're pitching this well," analyzed Singleton, "it's a lot easier to come to the park. I don't judge my performance by the stats, I judge it -- the team judges it -- by the score of the game. I could say I'm tossing electric stuff right now and that would go over big. But if I toss that same stuff -- exact same pitch selection and location -- and they bang me around tomorrow, I was awful. That's the way baseball is."
It was Singleton who did the banging in May as he tossed up 65 strikeouts in 52.2 innings, holding opponents to a .260 average and posting a 4.10 ERA.
MYL
In the Mount Desert Island Four, the Beaver Creek Bowlers hold a 4-game lead with 13 to play. The Cliff's Edge Wolves are in 2nd place.
The Echo Point Glowers lead the Great Diamond Island League by two games over the Sunset Park Anglers.
Kaydel Ko-Connix put together a good May to earn the Mount Desert Island Four Batter of the Month prize. A virtual unknown, he made the most of his chance to prove to National Park officials that he belongs on the big league roster.
The Rangers left fielder posted a .312 batting average with 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
Armitage Hux no doubt wishes every month could be like May was for the Echo Point first baseman.
He wore out opposing pitchers to a .311 batting average and has been named the Great Diamond Island League Batter of the Month.
On the month, Hux added 7 home runs, 19 RBIs, 13 runs scored and a .398 on-base percentage.
Beaver Creek's Flatlander Flanagan hated to see May end. It was one of the single greatest months the reliever has posted, and the 15-year-old reliever did so well that he garnered enough votes for the Mount Desert Island Four Pitcher of the Month trophy.
Flanagan held the opposition to a .183 batting average in 15 relief appearances. He worked 16.1 innings, collected 11 saves, sat down 13 on strikes and posted a 2-0 record and a 1.10 ERA.
When Mandy Downcellar takes the hill, he's a good bet to nail down the victory for the Sunset Park Anglers. At least that's the way it was in May.
He excelled with a 4-1 mark and 1.38 ERA in 7 starts. In 39 innings, he fanned 42 and walked 8. That's why he was honored today as the Pitcher of the Month by the Great Diamond Island League.