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Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, APL, NWLR, and BBL Leagues
by Evan Guy
20 September 2309
NWL Awards
Ah Oona of the Grape Painted Ghouls had a fine season this year and today he accepted the Nuka King Award for 2309.
The 28-year-old shortstop put up a .327 average and a .383 on-base percentage, piling up 116 hits, 26 doubles, 4 triples, 29 home runs, 71 RBIs and 66 runs scored.
He received 4 first place votes out of a possible 8. Pudding Ohnderitz of the Orange Tourists finished second in voting with 1 first place vote, while Chris Motley of the Cherry Ghoulrillas finished third with 1 first place vote.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Ah Oona - Grape Painted Ghouls - 4 - 85
Pudding Ohnderitz - Orange Tourists - 1 - 73
Chris Motley - Cherry Ghoulrillas - 1 - 68
Poncho Picasso - Quantum Nukalurks - 2 - 65
Antonio Toeclaw - Quartz Star Force - 0 - 51
Due Crymes - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 40
Hicky Loftin - Wild Gatorclaws - 0 - 40
Curt Toth - Dark Bloodworms - 0 - 24
Mike Munchkin - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 12
Nick Lowe - Dark Bloodworms - 0 - 6
Alex Hopp - Quantum Nukalurks - 0 - 3
Denn Verr - Dark Bloodworms - 0 - 2
Man'oman Whurlizer - Orange Tourists - 0 - 2
Percent Lambert - Orange Tourists - 0 - 1
The 2309 Nuka World League Nuka Cannon Award has gone to Grape Painted Ghouls ace Steven Nebraska after a stellar 11-3 season.
In 23 starts he piled up 173.1 innings, 119 strikeouts, 24 walks and a 3.58 ERA. Nebraska held opposing hitters to a .269 batting average.
He received 5 first place votes out of a possible 8. Ed Homestead of the Dark Bloodworms finished second in voting with 3 first place votes, while Allen Puckett of the Orange Tourists finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Steven Nebraska - Grape Painted Ghouls - 5 - 47
Ed Homestead - Dark Bloodworms - 3 - 40
Allen Puckett - Orange Tourists - 0 - 25
Bull Johnson - Orange Tourists - 0 - 13
David Hill - Cherry Ghoulrillas - 0 - 6
Edgar Edgewater - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 5
The Victory Cave Crickets had an outstanding season, much of it due to their astute and gifted skipper. For his managerial excellence, Mauricio Luna reaped the reward of being voted Nuka World League Manager of the Year.
"A manager is only as good as the players he's managing," Luna told reporters. "If I didn't have the talent to work with, making all the right moves wouldn't have helped a bit."
Under Luna the Cave Crickets finished first in the North Bradberton Division with a record of 53-37.
The premier rookie performer in the Nuka World League was Wild right fielder Hicky Loftin. He was honored today by league officials as the 2309 Nuka Baby Bottle Award winner.
Loftin put up some good numbers, including a .370 batting average and .391 on-base percentage, while racking up 17 home runs, 67 RBIs and 60 runs scored.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Rich Texan of the Orange Tourists finished second in voting, while Matt Mill of the Grape Painted Ghouls finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Hicky Loftin - Wild Gatorclaws - 8 - 40
Rich Texan - Orange Tourists - 0 - 24
Matt Mill - Grape Painted Ghouls - 0 - 8
With all-stars all around the diamond, the 2309 Nuka World League Nuka Power Bat Award winners represent some of the best offensive performers that Nuka World League has to offer.
Here are the winners:
Pitcher
Quay Swimmer (Wild Gatorclaws)
.395/.449/.686, 185 AB, 12 HR, 184 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
Catcher
Nick Lowe (Dark Bloodworms)
.362/.397/.547, 287 AB, 11 HR, 133 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
First Baseman
Chris Motley (Cherry Ghoulrillas)
.352/.386/.694, 369 AB, 33 HR, 1 SB, 166 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
Second Baseman
Due Crymes (Victory Cave Crickets)
.416/.434/.519, 385 AB, 2 HR, 15 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
Third Baseman
Daniel Rousseaux (Quartz Star Force)
.350/.402/.487, 357 AB, 6 HR, 123 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
Shortstop
Ah Oona (Grape Painted Ghouls)
.327/.383/.668, 355 AB, 29 HR, 10 SB, 154 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
Left Fielder
Pudding Ohnderitz (Orange Tourists)
.400/.463/.616, 375 AB, 10 HR, 21 SB, 166 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
Center Fielder
Mystery Echo (Wild Gatorclaws)
.350/.407/.485, 371 AB, 7 HR, 14 SB, 130 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
Right Fielder
Hicky Loftin (Wild Gatorclaws)
.370/.391/.599, 359 AB, 17 HR, 10 SB, 149 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
His manager and teammates call Bobby Bouma a true bullpen ace.
The Nuka World League calls him the winner of the Nuka Thirst Zapper Award for 2309.
The Orange Tourists relief specialist out of Belchertown, Massachusetts, won the award with 14 saves in 33 relief appearances, 23 strikeouts in 31.1 innings and 17 walks.
He compiled a record of 2 wins and 3 losses and had a 3.45 ERA.
He received 5 first place votes out of a possible 8. Josh Kelley of the Dark Bloodworms finished second in voting with 1 first place vote, while Nate Dorrit of the Victory Cave Crickets finished third with 2 first place votes.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Bobby Bouma - Orange Tourists - 5 - 30
Josh Kelley - Dark Bloodworms - 1 - 24
Nate Dorrit - Victory Cave Crickets - 2 - 15
Mike Pitchfork - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 3
What does it take to win a Nuka Power Glove Award? It's a combination of good hands, knowing how to play the hitters, all-out hustle and a willingness to sacrifice your body to make a play. Good speed and a good arm never hurt either, but not always required. This year's all-defense team in the Nuka World League consists of:
Pitcher
Ed Homestead (Dark Bloodworms)
Catcher
Mousey Rooney (Grape Painted Ghouls)
First Baseman
Antonio Toeclaw (Quartz Star Force)
Second Baseman
Come Sreczynski (Orange Tourists)
Third Baseman
Corey Cook (Grape Painted Ghouls)
Shortstop
Mike Blackheart (Cherry Ghoulrillas)
Left Fielder
Pudding Ohnderitz (Orange Tourists)
Center Fielder
Rowboat Kinsella (Quartz Star Force)
Right Fielder
Marquise Underwood (Cherry Ghoulrillas)
Vim! View
Veracious, Vivacious, Vainglorious Vision of the Vim! Leagues
by Vikky Vail
20 September 2309
Vim! League Awards
Gladder Questseeker of the Grand Hotel Atoms proved that you can step out of the shadows and onto the stage if you've got the talent and the drive to hone your skills. Hard work, long hours and a tireless resolve paid off for him today in the form of the Vim! League Vim! MVP Award.
Questseeker hit for a .403 average while collecting 127 hits, 16 doubles, no triples, 32 home runs, 77 RBIs and scoring 66 times.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Toppie Gunn of the Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers finished second in voting, while Chris Knickerbocker of the Echo Lake Harbormen finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Gladder Questseeker - Grand Hotel Atoms - 8 - 112
Toppie Gunn - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 69
Chris Knickerbocker - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 64
Adam Henderson - Grand Hotel Atoms - 0 - 54
Angus McGuyver - Acadia Acadians - 0 - 53
Ryan Morris - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 39
Dell Refuge - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 33
Jason Eisch - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 14
Drew Buntrock - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 0 - 8
Witcher Craft - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 8
Tom Hopsman - Acadia Acadians - 0 - 6
Mike Mainelander - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 0 - 5
Dex Labb - Eden Meadows Anglers - 0 - 2
Mike Pigeonfoot - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 2
Max Standing - National Park Gulpers - 0 - 2
Chris Dominoes - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 1
The votes are in for the 2309 Vim! League Vim! Top Arm Award. It has been bestowed on Jason Woods of the Echo Lake Harbormen.
The 31-year-old Harbormen ace finished the year with a 12-9 mark, logged 23 starts, threw 191.2 innings, yielded 179 hits, struck out 157 and held the opposition to a .248 batting average.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Alex Ruder of the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales finished second in voting, while Phil Cecil of the Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Jason Woods - Echo Lake Harbormen - 8 - 56
Alex Ruder - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 0 - 24
Phil Cecil - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 22
Justin Wentworth - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 22
Steady Mike Holmes - Eden Meadows Anglers - 0 - 12
Grand Hotel Atoms field manager Eric Schneider has brought a winning attitude to the team and the city. His no-nonsense approach, work ethic and baseball experience have paved the way for success.
This season the Atoms parlayed his managerial skills and some talented ballplayers into a first place spot in the Vim! League Harbor Division standings. Grand Hotel finished the year with a 50-40 record.
To everybody's delight Schneider was voted the 2309 Vim! League Manager of the Year by the baseball writers.
"Mr. Schneider doesn't take any nonsense. If you aren't doing your job, he's not afraid to call you on it," noted one of his ballplayers. "But the team wouldn't want to play for anyone else. He's tough, demanding, but he treats everyone fairly and doesn't play favorites. Nobody gets pampered on his ballclub."
This year's outstanding newcomer has been selected and the honor goes to the Eden Meadows rookie Dex Labb -- the recipient of the 2309 Vim! League Vim! Fresh Face Award.
The talented Anglers right fielder took the trophy by hitting .343 in 88 games this season and finished with 120 hits, 15 home runs, 54 RBIs and 67 runs scored.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Ricardo Vega of the Eden Meadows Anglers finished second in voting, while Saesee Tiin of the National Park Gulpers finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Dex Labb - Eden Meadows Anglers - 8 - 40
Ricardo Vega - Eden Meadows Anglers - 0 - 24
Saesee Tiin - National Park Gulpers - 0 - 8
The Vim! Best Batters Award goes to the player at each position around the diamond who shows the best offensive skills. This group of players gave Vim! League pitchers trouble all year and have been honored for 2309:
Pitcher
Tony Hose (Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs)
.327/.352/.385, 52 AB, 70 wRC+, -0.3 WAR
Catcher
Adam Henderson (Grand Hotel Atoms)
.335/.397/.655, 281 AB, 25 HR, 161 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
First Baseman
Gladder Questseeker (Grand Hotel Atoms)
.403/.440/.759, 315 AB, 32 HR, 200 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
Second Baseman
Tom Hopsman (Acadia Acadians)
.326/.376/.543, 341 AB, 18 HR, 2 SB, 131 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
Third Baseman
Ryan Morris (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
.328/.392/.576, 354 AB, 20 HR, 3 SB, 146 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
Shortstop
Water Allen (Acadia Acadians)
.299/.370/.434, 341 AB, 4 HR, 15 SB, 108 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
Left Fielder
Gyro Olly (Eden Meadows Anglers)
.319/.399/.510, 361 AB, 18 HR, 132 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
Center Fielder
Dell Refuge (Echo Lake Harbormen)
.328/.382/.539, 360 AB, 15 HR, 18 SB, 131 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
Right Fielder
Toppie Gunn (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
.296/.383/.756, 307 AB, 40 HR, 4 SB, 173 wRC+, 4.7 WAR
Grand Hotel Atoms closer Little Rat Swickard said he loves to come into the game when the outcome is in jeopardy.
He certainly did a good job of impacting his team's outcomes this season, as he has been named the winner of the 2309 Vim! Refresh Reliever Award for the Vim! League.
"There's no better feeling than running in from the bullpen with the game on the line and your heart pumping," Swickard said.
On the season, the Quincy, Massachusetts native had 21 saves in 37 relief appearances, 49 strikeouts in 38.2 innings and a record of 3 wins and 4 losses to go with his 2.09 ERA.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Mike Strong of the Eden Meadows Anglers finished second in voting, while Kap Kooke of the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Little Rat Swickard - Grand Hotel Atoms - 8 - 40
Mike Strong - Eden Meadows Anglers - 0 - 17
Kap Kooke - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 0 - 12
Justin Quast - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 3
The Vim! League had many great defensive performers in 2309, but these men stood above all others at their respective positions. The winners of the Vim! Best Gloves Award are:
Pitcher
Stage Room (Far Harbor Ghoul Whales)
Catcher
Bill O'Connor (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
First Baseman
Angus McGuyver (Acadia Acadians)
Second Baseman
Biggie Biggs (Eden Meadows Anglers)
Third Baseman
Ryan Morris (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
Shortstop
Stone Wall (Echo Lake Harbormen)
Left Fielder
Mighty Dward (Grand Hotel Atoms)
Center Fielder
Mike Pigeonfoot (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
Right Fielder
Chris Knickerbocker (Echo Lake Harbormen)