BNN Report
News from the CBO, MML, BMU, GBRL, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 August 2307
The August Super Post, Part 2
BYDL Analysis
The 2307 BYDL has concluded, and 16 teams--eight division winners and eight wildcards--get to move on to the playoffs for the rights to win the 8th Boston Youth Series. Division winners and wildcards are:
North Region
Franklin - Beantown Sprouts #2
Emerson - Wattz Ups #4
Fuller - Kendall Hospital Yahoos #1
Revere - Saugus Launchers #3
#5 - Stoneham Commandos
#6 - South Charles Bank Moonies
#7 - Covenant Dandy Boys
#8 - Danvers Perception
South Region
Adams - Vault 95 Vault Boys #4
Alcott - Castle Freedom #2
Morse - Andrew Station Southies #3
Attucks - Spectacle Island Specters #1
#5 - Weymouth Locksmiths
#6 - Avon Lakers
#7 - Hester Mechanists
#8 - Boston Common Baby Bellies
Last season's Boston Youth Series saw the Specters defeating the Sprouts. Both teams are again high seeds this season, meaning there is a chance for the first-ever rematch since the BYDL became a part of the CBO. Spectacle Island is the only team to have won two championships in this format.
Two season records were broken in 2307 with SP Harry Baines of the Specters tying the season record for pitching wins (15). Also, four Danvers players tied the regular season record for games played (78). The Perception played a 78th game due to tiebreakers in the regular season. The Perception defeated the Lynn Gamers to earn the 8th seed after they fell to the Covenant Dandy Boys for the right to the 7th seed.
BYDL Players of the Month
NR Hitter - Naga Arakaki put together a good July to earn the North Region Batter of the Month prize. A virtual unknown, he made the most of his chance to prove to 111 officials that he belongs on the big league roster.
The Iceboys right fielder posted a .529 batting average with 9 home runs, 28 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
A look at his season totals shows Arakaki with 29 home runs, .431 BA, .507 OBP, 85 RBIs and 68 runs scored.
SR Hitter - Even though he is a newcomer to Boston Youth Development League, Innis Sark put up some good numbers in July and earned the SR Batter of the Month award.
He was one of Spectacle Island's offensive leaders with a .361 average in 28 games. He also racked up 17 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 35 runs scored.
For the season Sark is batting .359 with 99 hits and 28 home runs. He has scored 70 times and batted in 93.
NR Pitcher - Last month was a very good one for Sluggo Pyne of Beantown. So good that he has been picked as the Pitcher of the Month in the North Region.
Pyne throttled league hitters the entire month, completing July with an impressive 4-2 mark and a 3.89 ERA in 6 starts with 66 strikeouts in 44 innings.
This season Pyne has a 12-3 mark in 19 starts with a 3.04 ERA. He has given up 108 hits in 133.1 innings, struck out 194 and issued 50 walks. Opposing clubs have compiled a .220 batting average against him.
SR Pitcher - Question: Who was the #1 pitcher in the South Region in July?
Answer: That would be Clubhouse Treelover of the Weymouth Locksmiths.
He excelled with a 5-0 mark and a 1.46 ERA in 7 starts, tossed 55.1 innings, fanned 73 and held opposing teams to a .213 average. That's exactly why the South Region scribes voted him the Pitcher of the Month.
In pitching stats this season Treelover has rung up 14 wins and 1 loss in 20 games. He has an ERA of 2.33 and has fanned 202 batters in 150.1 innings.
SCYL Analysis
The SCYL regular season concluded on July 19 with eight teams going to the playoffs. In the CCL, the Truro Hatchlings and Harwich Fishheads won their divisions to clinch the top two seeds, while the Provincetown Land Pirates and Sandwich Screamers took the final two seeds in the playoffs. In the PL, the Woodlawn Red Clay and Brown Bubblers won their divisions, while the Pawtucket Paw Sox and Freeplat Wicked Goods clinched wildcard spots. The Bubblers won their division with just a 34-36 record.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Screamers upset the Hatchlings, 2 games to 1 (2-1), and the Fishheads swept the Land Pirates 2-0. In the Providence League, Woodlawn swept the Wicked Goods 2-0, and the Bubblers edged the Paw Sox 2-1.
In the league finals, Sandwich overcame their tiebreaker loss to Harwich, defeating them 2-0 to move on to the Southern Commonwealth Series. The Red Clay then got another sweep, this time over Brown 2-0.
The Sandwich Screamers and Woodlawn Red Clay are now meeting in the Southern Commonwealth Series where the Red Clay have a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five series.
SCYL Players of the Month
CCL Hitter - Silver Workman made his presence known as one of the best young stars in the Cape Cod League this past month.
The Wareham Comets right fielder shined through the month of July and has won the Batter of the Month award.
The 17-year-old hit .381 with 4 home runs, 11 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Presently Workman is batting .290 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs. He has played in 69 games and scored 53 times.
PL Hitter - When Tome Humphries stepped up to the plate in July he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the Providence League Batter of the Month award.
The young Woodlawn second baseman posted a .523 batting average with 8 home runs, 36 RBIs and scored 20 runs. Humphries also worked pitchers for 6 walks to post a .569 on-base percentage.
Currently Humphries is batting .462 with 20 home runs, 91 RBIs and 75 runs scored.
CCL Pitcher - Sarthis Idren of Harwich excelled on the mound in July with a 3-0 record and was named the Pitcher of the Month in the Cape Cod League.
Idren restricted opposing batters to 19 base hits and a .153 batting average. He rang up 50 strikeouts in 36 innings of work, surrendered 8 walks, and fashioned a 2.25 ERA.
This year Idren has worked 137 innings with 175 strikeouts en route to a 8-6 record and 3.48 ERA.
PL Pitcher - The premier pitcher this past month in the Providence League was Hitman Medicman of the Freeplat Wicked Goods. He was one mighty tough pitcher, finishing July with a sensational 3-0 record and a 1.33 ERA.
The Wicked Goods star made 4 starts and surrendered 21 hits in 27 innings. He struck out 32 and walked 9.
In the current season in 18 starts, Hitman Medicman has a record of 10-5 with 132 strikeouts in 120 innings and a 3.15 ERA.