----------------------------------------------------------
Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, APL, NWLR, and BBL Leagues
by Evan Guy
24 August 2306
NWL Season Ends, Grape-Cherry to Meet
The 2306 season has concluded, and the division winners, the Grape Painted Ghouls and the Cherry Ghoulrillas, will meet in the eighth Nuka Series. During the 2306 regular season, the Painted Ghouls won 6 of 9 matchups over Cherry.
This will mark just the second appearance for the Painted Ghouls, which clinched home-field advantage with a 55-35 mark. Grape's last trip to the Nuka Series was in 2301 when they defeated the Orange Tourists, four games to three. The Painted Ghouls then went on to defeat the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales of the Vim! League, four games to three, in the first-ever Season Pass Association Series.
For Cherry (52-38), they are making their fifth appearance in the Nuka Series. The Tourists won only the 2303 Nuka Series where they defeated the Quartz Star Force, four games to three. The Ghoulrillas were then swept by the Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers in their first of three-straight Season pass Association Series championships. Other appearances in the Nuka Series were in 2299 (Lost 4-0 to Quartz), 2300 (Lost 4-3 to Quantum), and 2304 (Lost 4-3 to Victory).
Grape finished 1st in the NWL in both runs scored (501) and runs against (372). Featured players on offense include SS Ah Oona (.341/26/79) who led the NWL in home runs, RBI, WAR, and total bases, C Mousey Rooney (.312/22/61), 1B Tony Caps (.322/10/43), and LF DuWeb Bois (.340/7/47). One key player, CF Organizae Brown (.308/8/41/14 SB) is injured and may be out for the playoffs. For pitching, the Painted Ghouls are led by SP Steven Nebraska (14-7, 3.19), along with SP Jon Gorczyka (10-4, 3.46), RP Bobby Hamilton (6-1, 1.45, 1 SV), and CL Bobby Tippecanoe (19 SV, 2.67).
Cherry was 3rd in both runs for (457) and runs against (414). On offense, they have a good all-around team for both average and power at the top of the lineup and speed at the bottom. Leadoff RF Marquise Underwood (.381/9/47/17 SB) led the CBO in runs and hits and finished fourth on his team in steals. LF Zachary Utsinger (.353/22/58) led the team in homers and RBI. 2B Silt Bean (.290/6/48/40 SB) led the NWL in steals. The Ghoulrillas most successful starting pitcher was Neil Persian (10-4, 3.83). RP Khalil Brite (1-1, 1.35) and CL Old Buck Buchanan (25 SV, 2.18), who led the NWL in saves, lead the bullpen.
APL Playoffs
The Bradberton Disciples stunned the Galactic Zone G-Force by sweeping the Amusement Park Series 4-0. The Disciples dumped them 16-8 today at John-Caleb Bradberton Honorary Field in the deciding game of the series.
This was the 4th time Bradberton has been the league champions. During the regular season the powerful Disciples chalked up a 46-38 mark and finished in first place in the APL North Division.
Final scores in the the four games were 5-4, 6-1, 13-9, and 16-8. RF Ghost Hildebrand (.579/2/4) was named Series MVP for the Disciples.
Vim! View
Veracious, Vivacious, Vainglorious Vision of the Vim! Leagues
by Vikky Vail
24 August 2306
Dalton Farm to Battle Grand Hotel in Vim! Series
The Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers, winners of three-straight Vim! Series and Season Pass Association Series titles, vies for a fourth title when they face off the Grand Hotel Atoms in the sixth Vim! Series. The Atoms are making their first appearance in the Vim! Series while the Fog Crawlers are in their fifth-straight appearance. Dalton Farm won the season series, 8 games to 1.
Dalton Farm (60-30) dominated the Vim! League all season, racking up 535 runs (1st) and allowing 371 (1st). There are very few holes in the Fog Crawlers' lineup, with 1B James Darling (.386/31/75), CF Toppie Gunn (.316/34/90), and 3B Ryan Morris (.340/31/85) all being in MVP consideration. Although the bullpen is not the best, the starting trio of Phil Cecil (15-2, 3.15), Justin Wentworth (11-2, 3.38), and Steve Maskhelm (12-7, 4.02) are.
The Atoms were 5th in runs scored (474) and 2nd in runs allowed (412). They have a decent all-around offense though they did not have any dominant hitters in 2306. 2B Ryan Ediger (.349/2/27) was the top in batting average, while their best two power hitters were 1B Clean Mullis (.246/22/51) and CF Kyle Fahnestock (.330/19/60). On the mound, SP Michel Acadiaman (12-8, 3.45) is their best starter, while they also feature the Vim! League's best bullpen: CL Little Rat Swickard (24 SV, 1.87), RP Riff Tamson (2-0, 2.61), and RP Bout Nielsen (2-3. 3.34).
MDIL
The Mount Desert Island League has also come to a close with the Nucleus Radchickens (56-34) winning the Small Bertha Division and the Haddock Cove Engineers (51-39) taking the Old Longfellow Division.
The Radchickens, affiliates of Eden Meadows, are in their second straight series with a win last season over Oceanarium in seven games. The Engineers are making their first appearance.