BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 August 2309
CBO Trades
There was not a whole lot of significant movement before the trade deadline, but some teams have tried to improve themselves before the trade deadline. There were also some interesting trades. When we say interesting, we do not understand.
Let's take a look at two of the biggest trades.
21 July - Quincy acquired LF Delmarva Illeracula from FHE for SS Hose Wallcrawler. Illeracula (.296/5/29) was caught in a tough situation with the Yao Guai and now moves to a team trying for a playoff spot though not likely to get in this season. FHE gets back one of the settlement's favorite players in Wallcrawler, probably to finish out his career.
31 July - Spectacle Island acquired 1B Scott Back and C Biddy Swenson from Roxbury for C Ayag Mour and 1B Bug Eyes Sann. Swenson had been struggling on the season, batting just .219 with 8 home runs and 28 RBI. Roxbury thus sent Swenson to FHE and their top 1B prospect in Back to get the rights to Mour (.281/10/41), one of the CBO's top catchers.
CBO Top Performances
Fort Hagen's Birdie Burdi had the top hitting performance in July when his Silver Shroud faced the Salem Witch Hats on July 28. Burdi was 4 for 4 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, three runs, and six RBI in the Shroud's upset 10-5 victory over Salem.
Chase Wede of the Witch Hats matched Paul Stains of FHE for the longest outing in the 2309 CBO season when he pitched 11.0 shutout innings in Concord's walk-off win over the Hats in the bottom of the 12th to win 2-0 on July 7. Throwing 117 pitches, Wede held the Radstags to five hits, walked one, and struck out six batters. He also singled twice at the plate.
CBO Players of the Month
NCA Hitter - Michael Hoopring had quite a month with the bat in July and the Salem second baseman was crowned North Charles Association Batter of the Month for his outstanding efforts.
To win the honor, he batted .449 with 40 hits, 6 home runs, 12 RBIs and 22 runs scored. He also drew 12 walks to post a .515 on-base percentage.
Batting .348 to date, Hoopring has 22 home runs and 49 RBIs.
SCA Hitter - On the heels of a very productive July, Barker Cocoa received South Charles Association Batter of the Month recognition today.
The battle-tested first baseman hit .406 for the University Point Deathclaws and racked up 11 home runs, 28 RBIs and 32 runs scored.
Cocoa is batting .435 with 41 home runs and 111 RBIs this season.
NCA Pitcher - Ugio Church really tore up the North Charles Association this past month. He went 4-0 in July and won the Pitcher of the Month award.
In 5 starts he struck out 24 in 40 innings with a 1.57 ERA.
In 21 starts this year Church has fashioned a 9-4 record and a 3.47 ERA.
SCA Pitcher - The South Charles Association made it official today -- Emperry Alizm of the Oberland T-51s is the Pitcher of the Month. In July he impressed the sportswriters with his domination of league hitters.
Alizm made 5 starts, registered 4 wins and no losses with a solid 2.54 ERA. In 39 innings he allowed 31 hits, racked up 36 strikeouts, walked 10 and permitted teams to hit .215 against him.
On the year Alizm has worked 147.1 innings with 128 strikeouts en route to a 11-4 record and 3.79 ERA.
NCA Rookie - Youngster Kilometers Davis emerged as the latest North Charles Association Rookie of the Month today. The young man from The Slog deserved the honor, batting .250 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI. Is the month of July a harbinger of things to come or just a fluke? We'll find out someday, but for now, we'll just let Davis enjoy the limelight.
A look at his season totals shows Davis with 24 home runs, .305 BA, .367 OBP, 66 RBIs and 56 runs scored.
SCA Rookie - Flint Firefist is beginning to make a name for himself and he did it by posting a 3-0 record and a 1.80 ERA in July. For his spectacular mound performance last month he has been named BNN's Rookie of the Month in the South Charles Association.
The 18-year-old newcomer isn't at all intimidated by his lack of experience, at least not outwardly. In fact, by the way he has pitched beyond his years, you could easily mistake him for a veteran.
In 0 starts for the Cats Firefist has struck out 5 batters in 10 innings, holding opposing hitters to a batting average of .171 during his hot streak.
To date, his season stats show Firefist has 3 saves with a 5-4 mark and 4.91 ERA.
MML Analysis
The MML still has more than a month to play. Therefore, the close divisional races can be interesting heading into the final month in September. Current divisional leaders are the Abernathy Adamantium, Everett Mutant Hounds, Providence Warlocks, and Brookline Bandoliers.
LF Bryan Cushman of Watertown had the best performance in the month on July 11, which also counts as the top hitting performance on the MML season. Cushman went 5 for 5 with a double, three home runs, a walk, five runs, and seven RBI in the Armorers' 23-12 victory over Burlington.
SP Redd Barron of Braintree had the top performance on July 18 when he pitched a complete-game four-hitter in a 5-0 victory over Warwick. Barron walked a batter and struck out 12 in the 125-pitch performance.
MML Players of the Month
LL Hitter - In the month of July David Stahl thumped the ball with authority, earning Legends League Batter of the Month honors in the process.
Everett's right fielder hit .380 with 11 home runs, 26 RBIs and scored 23 runs.
Stahl is hitting .319 this year with 30 home runs, 81 RBIs and 69 runs scored. He has 97 hits in 304 at-bats, 36 walks and a .405 on-base percentage. Stahl has played in 81 games.
SL Hitter - Arthur Dimmesdale relied on a .410 average to become the Stars League Batter of the Month. He had a good July, going 32 for 78.
He finished with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs, scored 20 runs, and had a .477 on-base percentage.
To date this season Dimmesdale is hitting .285 with 26 home runs.
LL Pitcher - In July Lynn starter Timmy Gilded mystified Legends League hitters and carried off the Pitcher of the Month honors by chalking up a 5-0 record in 5 starts.
The 30-year-old Gilded added 34 strikeouts in 42.1 innings and 12 walks to his season record and compiled a 3.19 ERA. Opposing batters hit .229 against him.
So far this season Gilded has compiled a 8-6 record with a 4.28 ERA.
SL Pitcher - The Stars League announced today that Pete Stahl has been chosen the league's Pitcher of the Month. The Providence starter had everything working for him last month as he glided to a 4-0 record.
In July Stahl chalked up a 2.36 ERA in 42 innings with 35 strikeouts and 15 walks.
This season Stahl has 7 wins and 3 losses and a 4.89 ERA.
BMU Analysis
We are now in the final month of the season with the lowest Magic # currently at 16. One league, the Dark Hollow Pond, is tied, and there are leaders in the other three leagues. Brockton and Tenpines are tied, while the Mystic Pines Raybathers, Neponset Park Criticals, and Forest Grove Pugilists have leads in their leagues.
LF Elijah Brooke of Mass Pike had a day to remember on July 27 when his Radroaches edged the Forest Grove Pugilists, 14-13. Brooke went 4 for 4 in the game with three home runs, two walks, three runs, and nine RBI. The biggest hit of all, though, came in the bottom of the 9th when he hit the game-winning, walk-off RBI single to send the Roaches home victorious.
SP Baker Hubbard of Somerville Place may not have pitched a complete game, but he had the month's best on July 27 when his Sentry Bots shut out the Marlbrorough Firemen, 12-0. In 8.2 innings, Hubbard allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out 11.
BMU Players of the Month
CA Hitter - Littleton Ragers fans may just have witnessed a star player blossoming before their eyes in July.
Heddic Volunnar put up a remarkable month at the age of 19 and has been named the Commonwealth Association Batter of the Month.
For the month, Volunnar hit .455 with 8 home runs, 23 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
This season Volunnar is hitting .310 with 13 home runs.
MA Hitter - Fastballs, curveballs, changeups, sliders. There wasn't really anything Elijah Booke of the Mass Pike couldn't hit during the month of July.
He has been named the Massachusetts Association Batter of the Month on the strength of a .395 batting average, with 13 home runs, 34 RBIs, 26 runs scored and a .443 on-base percentage.
Booke is currently hitting at a .310 pace with 21 home runs, 58 RBIs and has scored 52 times.
CA Pitcher - Mystic Pines's Pink Floyd put together one of the most consistent stretches of his career in July to earn the Commonwealth Association Pitcher of the Month trophy.
Floyd was tough out of the pen, holding the opposition to a .225 batting average in 10.1 innings. For the month he had a 3-0 record, struck out 10 and collected 5 saves in 9 relief appearances.
This season Floyd has notched 15 saves. In 26 relief appearances, he has 29 strikeouts in 28.1 innings with a 1.27 ERA. His season won-lost mark is 4-1.
MA Pitcher - Stranger Backrubman was firing on all cylinders in the month of July with 5 wins as he steamrolled all Massachusetts Association opposition on his way to the Pitcher of the Month award.
During the month Backrubman was 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA. He made 5 starts, tossed 32.1 innings and had 31 strikeouts.
For the season, Backrubman has a record of 10 wins and 3 losses in 17 appearances. He has an ERA of 3.73 and has fanned 82 batters in 99 innings.
GBRL Analysis
Like the MML, the GBRL enters its final month with three of the four divisions just one game apart with 1st and 2nd place. The sole exception is the Northwest Division where the Nuka Express Chrono Cowboys hold a five-game lead. The other leaders are the Lynn Woods Bloatflies, Hyde Park Stingwings, and Greater Mass Vans.
RF Alvin Treeshadow led the Chrono Cowboys on July 9 in a 9-5 road win at Beantown. In the game, Treeshadow was 5 for 5 with two home runs, two runs, and six RBI.
The GBRL's top pitching performance came on July 29 when SP Red Eagle of Union Hope shutout Rockland. In the game, Eagle allowed six hits and struck out 14.
GBRL Players of the Month
NL Hitter - When you hit the baseball as well as Alvin Treeshadow did in July, it's no surprise when you get named the North League Batter of the Month.
The Nuka Express Chrono Cowboys standout terrorized opposing pitchers all month long, to the tune of a .406 batting average, with 7 home runs, 25 RBIs, 18 runs scored and a .518 on-base percentage.
This season Treeshadow has hit 14 home runs and posted a .354 batting average.
SL Hitter - Gnaw Lynns, the Pioneer Park center fielder, certainly made a name for himself this past month. He banged out a .436 batting average with 34 hits, 6 home runs, 15 RBIs and scored 24 times.
That kind of hitting earned him the South League Batter of the Month honors for July.
Lynns is currently batting .305 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.
NL Pitcher - July's top-rated pitcher was George Uh of Med-Tek Eyebots. He demoralized North League hitters in posting a 4-0 record and captured the Pitcher of the Month award.
In 5 starts, Uh limited opposing batters to a .170 average. He rang up 34 strikeouts in 30.2 innings of work, issued 23 walks, and crafted a 2.64 ERA.
In 17 starts this year Uh has crafted a 6-5 record and a 4.55 ERA.
SL Pitcher - July's best hurler was Little Bee Delphi of Westing Estate. He overwhelmed SL hitters all month long and captured the Pitcher of the Month award as he collected a 3-0 record in 4 starts.
The 20-year-old Delphi added 34 strikeouts in 32 innings and 18 walks to his season record and compiled a 1.12 ERA. Other clubs hit .133 against him.
This year Delphi has compiled a 5-1 record with a 4.34 ERA in 12 starts.
BCAC Analysis
The BCAC is in its final week, but the divisions are already set with the Harvard Crimson and Mass Bay University Beacons winning their divisions. The Crimson and Beacons will now meet in the second College Series. Last season, Northeastern defeated CIT in seven games.
RF Greg Florida of the Huskies had the month's and season's best performance on offense just yesterday in a 19-7 victory over Boston College. Florida finished the game 4 for 5 with three home runs, a walk, five runs, and seven RBI.
SP Freon McMahan already had the top pitching performance in April. Now he gets to add an extra crown for July with his performance on July 13 against the Engineers. McMahan went 9.0 innings, allowing four hits and striking out 13 in Mass Bay's 13-0 victory.
BCAC Players of the Month
BCAC Hitter - July was a very productive month for Alec Box, and today the Commonwealth University shortstop was rewarded with the Boston Collegiate Athletic Conference Batter of the Month honors.
He clobbered enemy hurlers for a .479 average, 5 home runs, and 15 RBIs and scored 25 runs.
Currently Box has 9 home runs and a .350 batting average.
BCAC Pitcher - Freon McMahan certainly found a groove in July. The Mass Bay University starter posted 5 wins last month to easily claim the Boston Collegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Month.
During the month McMahan was 5-1 with a 2.11 ERA. He made 7 starts, tossed 47 innings and had 54 strikeouts.
This season McMahan has a 9-4 record with a 2.78 ERA.
CYL Awards
NR Hitter - Pie Trainer of the Boston Common Baby Bellies had a fine season this year and today he accepted the Most Valuable Player Award for 2309.
The 16-year-old right fielder put up a .333 average and a .411 on-base percentage, piling up 97 hits, 18 doubles, no triples, 38 home runs, 88 RBIs and 64 runs scored.
He received 64 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Allee Bobbuh of the Beantown Sprouts finished second in voting, while Doorbell Arg of the Lexington Minuteboys finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Pie Trainer - Boston Common Baby Bellies - 64 - 896
Allee Bobbuh - Beantown Sprouts - 0 - 505
Doorbell Arg - Lexington Minuteboys - 0 - 455
Jeet November - North Charles Bank Goonies - 0 - 383
Riot Darton - Marlborough Minigunners - 0 - 323
Dude Lebowski - South Charles Bank Moonies - 0 - 288
Red Jay Jones - Beantown Sprouts - 0 - 251
Natick Inhousing - Lexington Minuteboys - 0 - 188
Huck McFarland - North Charles Bank Goonies - 0 - 166
Gremlin T. Squearfish - Beantown Sprouts - 0 - 147
Josh Peerson - Hester Mechanists - 0 - 109
Aaron Wright - Beantown Sprouts - 0 - 35
Juu Racetrack - Littleton Beasts - 0 - 19
G.B. Means - Needham Radstorm - 0 - 10
Lone Wolf Leo Gamma-Ray - Beerthirty Sippers - 0 - 1
SR Hitter - Mike Fountaineau took Commonwealth Youth League by storm this year, and he did it all at the age of 15.
For his spectacular campaign, the Wareham Comets star has been named the 2309 South Region Most Valuable Player Award recipient.
"To be considered amongst the best in the league is overwhelming," said the third baseman.
On the season he compiled a .351 batting average to go with a .433 on-base percentage. The native of Hudson, Massachusetts also added 13 doubles, 1 triple, 31 home runs, 80 RBIs and 62 runs scored.
He received 60 first place votes out of a possible 64. Packs Ton Kling of the West Quincy Atomatoys finished second in voting with 4 first place votes, while Esau Babz of the Weymouth Locksmiths finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Mike Fountaineau - Wareham Comets - 60 - 876
Packs Ton Kling - West Quincy Atomatoys - 4 - 589
Esau Babz - Weymouth Locksmiths - 0 - 465
Gav Ingidree - Plymouth Hunters - 0 - 376
Huge Hugh Testerman - Dennis Menaces - 0 - 346
Odd Todd Walker - Brown Bubblers - 0 - 272
Glove Payton - Harwich Fishheads - 0 - 245
Cupper Galvan - Wareham Comets - 0 - 189
Javen the Raven Coleman - Spectacle Island Specters - 0 - 172
Robbie McHaney - Nauset Beach Lurk Hunters - 0 - 68
Eden Babz - Weymouth Locksmiths - 0 - 64
Cole Apse - Harwich Fishheads - 0 - 52
Alex Bragman - Thompson Heights Earthlings - 0 - 24
Ramrod Arana - West Quincy Atomatoys - 0 - 13
Tarry Chik - Truro Hatchlings - 0 - 7
Campy Madrid - Pawtucket Paw Sox - 0 - 7
Slitter Faith - Taunton Giants - 0 - 4
Luff Gurr - Brockton Claws - 0 - 4
Tonguetie Edder - Hope Firestarters - 0 - 3
NR Starter - This year there was no one better on the mound than Alex Language. Posting 14 wins and a 1.42 ERA was only part of the story for the Beantown superstar. For his outstanding performance in 2309 he was chosen as the North Region Pitcher of the Year Award winner.
From start to finish Language never let up. In 18 starts he recorded 14 wins and no losses, 127 innings, 152 strikeouts, 44 walks, yielded 67 hits, and permitted opposing batters to hit .155 against him.
He received 60 first place votes out of a possible 64. Richard Burns of the South Charles Bank Moonies finished second in voting with 4 first place votes, while Macho Lopez of the Lynn Pier Gamers finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Alex Language - Beantown Sprouts - 60 - 436
Richard Burns - South Charles Bank Moonies - 4 - 268
Macho Lopez - Lynn Pier Gamers - 0 - 188
Mack Gunn - Woburn Diners - 0 - 67
Butterass DeCicco - Diamond City Newsboys - 0 - 66
Tristan Martell - Wellesley Brahmin - 0 - 21
Ralis Sedarys - Worcester Crows - 0 - 21
Darby Doyle - Lexington Minuteboys - 0 - 16
Buzzcut McDonald - Hester Mechanists - 0 - 5
SR Starter - Siltbean Ferguson walked away with the top pitching honors in the South Region this year. The Taunton Giants starter was named the Pitcher of the Year Award winner for 2309 earlier today.
This outstanding 14-year-old hurler fashioned a fine 13-2 won-lost record in 19 starts. He threw 145.1 innings, giving up 80 hits and 43 walks and holding opponents to a .158 average. Ferguson struck out 203 and posted a 1.24 ERA.
He received 64 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Jacques Of'Ten of the Jamaica Plain Treasures finished second in voting, while Kevin Gauzeman of the Truro Hatchlings finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Siltbean Ferguson - Taunton Giants - 64 - 448
Jacques Of'Ten - Jamaica Plain Treasures - 0 - 251
Kevin Gauzeman - Truro Hatchlings - 0 - 161
Leland van Sprang - Taunton Giants - 0 - 114
Alt Errigo - Harwich Fishheads - 0 - 62
Tiny de Grande - Truro Hatchlings - 0 - 32
Melvin Terminator - Wareham Comets - 0 - 14
Meribrand Docybuck - Provincetown Land Pirates - 0 - 3
Jared Porch - Freeplat Wicked Goods - 0 - 2
Jazz Delgado - Pawtucket Paw Sox - 0 - 1
NR Reliever - Gritty Railroad said he thinks hitters often underestimate him, as he's only 17 years old.
But he'll certainly be getting a lot more respect now, as the Concord Iceboys rising star has won the North Region Reliever of the Year Award for 2309.
He captured the award on the strength of his 0.25 ERA over 36 innings. He also had 22 saves in 31 relief appearances, 38 strikeouts and only 13 walks.
He received 43 first place votes out of a possible 64. Headhunter Woods of the Needham Radstorm finished second in voting with 5 first place votes, while Dirk Denovich of the Castle Freedom finished third with 13 first place votes.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Gritty Railroad - Concord Iceboys - 43 - 254
Headhunter Woods - Needham Radstorm - 5 - 135
Dirk Denovich - Castle Freedom - 13 - 103
Adda DeWhite - Boston Common Baby Bellies - 3 - 50
Avery Harrell - Acton Ups - 0 - 16
Rhody Wallace - Diamond City Newsboys - 0 - 14
Putt Putt Ashburn - South Charles Bank Moonies - 0 - 2
Cat Prairie - Beantown Sprouts - 0 - 2
SR Reliever - Microwave Johnson was a calming influence out of the South Beach Waves bullpen this season.
His teammates and manager said he had a poised demeanor about him that was typical of someone much older and more experienced. His poise has paid off, as the 16-year-old turned in a sparkling season and has been named the winner of the South Region Reliever of the Year Award for 2309.
The Dennis, Massachusetts native won the award with no saves in 32 relief appearances, 29 strikeouts in 46.2 innings and a record of 4-1 to go with his 1.16 ERA.
He received 57 first place votes out of a possible 64. Rump Pellstilt of the Harwich Fishheads finished second in voting with 5 first place votes, while Doodles Mast of the South Beach Waves finished third with 1 first place vote.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Microwave Johnson - South Beach Waves - 57 - 295
Rump Pellstilt - Harwich Fishheads - 5 - 135
Doodles Mast - South Beach Waves - 1 - 132
Barry Skylark - Taunton Giants - 1 - 9
Horse Mattison - Chatham Lighthouse - 0 - 5