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Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, APL, NWLR, and BBL Leagues
by Evan Guy
1 June 2310
Hot Victory, Dark Hold Big Leads Leading into June
The Victory Cave Crickets and Dark Bloodworms are the NWL's two hottest teams and they now have division leads of 4.5 and 6.5 games, respectively, as we begin June. The only other team in the NWL with a winning record is Quartz at 14-12, so this season has begun top-heavy with the Cave Crickets (17-8) and Bloodworms (20-5) looking dominant so far.
For Victory, the defending champions, they are the best pitching team, allowing just 94 runs so far. The Cave Crickets have the 2nd-best Starters ERA (3.85) and the best Bullpen ERA (2.83). The third and fourth starters, Travis Armstrong (2-2, 3.68) and Chad Hartwig (4-1, 3.51) are holding down the ERA there. In the bullpen, CL Daron Hendrix (4 SV, 0.49) is hard to beat.
Dark is the best offensive team in the NWL, ranking 1st in runs scored (186) at 7.44 runs per game! Two players--3B Curt Toth (.439/9/32) and LF Denn Verr (.410/1/19)--are hitting over .400 with C Nick Lowe (.390/2/23) and 1B Bran Maverly (.388/6/26) not far away.
May's Batter of the Month has been chosen by the Nuka World League. This month's trophy was awarded to the Dark third baseman, Curt Toth.
He starred by hitting .439 with a .487 on-base percentage, totaled 47 hits in 107 at-bats, 9 home runs, 32 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
The premier pitcher this past month in the Nuka World League was Ed Homestead of the Dark Bloodworms. He was one mighty tough pitcher, finishing May with a sensational 5-0 record and a 3.09 ERA.
The Bloodworms star made 6 starts and surrendered 42 hits in 43.2 innings. He struck out 32 and walked 4.
Dark's Bran Maverly collected 33 hits to snare the Nuka World League Rookie of the Month for May.
He batted .388 with 6 home runs, 26 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
The 21-year-old is barely old enough to shave, but he could definitely contend for Rookie of the Year if he keeps up this pace.
In the Amusement Park League, division leaders are the Nuka Bottling Plant Pack and the Nuka Town Operators. The Bradberton Disciples are the only other team above .500 in the league.
Not known for his offensive prowess, Jake Roth set the league afire in May and took home the Amusement Park League Batter of the Month award.
The Nuka Bottling Plant center fielder posted a steady .396 batting average, 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and 28 runs.
Wuguns Tommy of Nuka Town had an excellent May with a 5-0 record and was selected as the Pitcher of the Month in the Amusement Park League.
He finished the month with a 3.08 ERA while piling up 50 strikeouts in 49.2 innings and holding opposing hitters to a .233 batting average.
The NWLRL also has just three teams above .500 with the Northpoint Reservoir Gulchers and the Dunmore Ferris Wheels atop their divisions. The Nuka Jolly Elves are the sole team above .500 without a division lead.
The #1 hitter in the NWL Rookie League in May was Junkyard shortstop Nighttime Danny Lastname. He was selected as the Batter of the Month.
Lastname starred with a .433 batting average, 6 home runs and 28 RBIs.
No doubt about it!
Dunmore starter Bazine Netal earned his NWL Rookie League Pitcher of the Month award.
He made that very clear as he mowed his way through league hitters in May.
During the month Netal chalked up a 5-0 record with a 3.07 ERA.
The Ferris Wheels star made 6 starts and surrendered 43 hits in 41 innings. He struck out 35 and walked 7.
Finally, with just two weeks remaining in the Bradberton Boys League season, the Ol Sugartop Buckaroos lead the West by a game as do the Bay Path Voyagers in the East.
When Bad Henry Erren 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 Mad Mulligan first baseman posted a .297 batting average with 16 home runs, 26 RBIs and scored 28 runs. Erren also worked pitchers for 21 walks to post a .443 on-base percentage.
May's best hurler was Bet Goodson of Bay Path. He overwhelmed BBL hitters all month long and captured the Pitcher of the Month award as he collected a 5-1 record in 8 starts.
The 15-year-old Goodson added 46 strikeouts in 41 innings and 7 walks to his season record and compiled a 2.85 ERA. Other clubs hit .197 against him.
Vim! View
Veracious, Vivacious, Vainglorious Vision of the Vim! Leagues
by Vikky Vail
1 June 2310
National Park, Grand Hotel Lead
National Park has never been to the playoffs in their first nine seasons of existence. This season, the Gulpers, whose highest finish was 3rd in 2306, are atop the Fog Division heading into June with a 2.5-game lead over Dalton Farm.
The Gulpers have been great on offense, leading most offensive categories, including runs scored with 175. 1B Swanee Law (.330/12/31) has been among the Vim! League's best, with loads of help from SS DaMan Sayes (.381/4/22), LF Joe Hayes (.363/3/9), and RF Billy Yudkowsky (.357/1/12).
In the Harbor Division, the 1st-place Atoms are used to winning, having won the division three of the past four seasons. The two-time defending champions, Grand Hotel does not lead any of the major offensive categories, but they are 2nd in runs scored (159) and 5th in runs allowed (142) despite having the 3rd-best Starters ERA (5.19) and 2nd-best Bullpen ERA (4.58). Since offense is more talented than pitching in the Vim! League, performances by starters Michael Acadiaman (3-1, 4.44), Boss O'Malley (1-2. 4.83), and Jeff Herd (1-1. 4.70) can be considered good. CL Sundown Velasquez (2 SV, 2.38) has been efficient from the bullpen, as has Pitcher of the Month RP Tim Aren't (6 SV, 2-1, 1.29).
Swanee Law has a lot going for him. The National Park first baseman just broke into the majors this year and now the Vim! League has just picked him as its top hitter for May.
In 25 games last month this outstanding rookie batted .330 with 12 home runs, 31 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
When Grand Hotel bullpen ace Tim Aren't came into the game, good things happened. For his impressive month of May he was named the Vim! League Pitcher of the Month.
The Atoms reliever had 6 saves for the month with a 2-1 record and 1.29 ERA. He made 11 relief appearances, hurled 14 innings, yielded 11 hits, fanned 3 and walked 0.
In the MDIL, the Brooke's Head Behemoths have a half-game lead in the Small Bertha Division, while the Haddock Cove Engineers have a 5.5-game lead. In the Small Bertha Division, both the Nucleus Radchickens (14-11) and Southwest Harbor Rippers (14-12) are on the Behemoths' heels.
Boss Ross is not used to being associated with Batter of the Month-caliber players, but today the Cliff's Edge first baseman joined that select company when the Mount Desert Island League announced the results of May's voting.
Ross totaled 36 hits, 13 walks, 9 home runs, 25 RBIs and 23 runs scored last month to put together a .383 batting average and .454 on-base percentage.
When Tuppy Whear takes the hill, he's a good bet to nail down the victory for the Brooke's Head Behemoths. At least that's the way it was in May.
He excelled with a 4-1 mark and 3.38 ERA in 5 starts. In 37.1 innings, he fanned 23 and walked 18.
That's why he was honored today as the Pitcher of the Month by the Mount Desert Island League.
The VRL has a tie in the Western Atlantic between the Kitteridge Rad Rabbits and Glowing Grove Braniacs. In the Eastern, the MS Azalea Shipwrecks have a one-game lead over the Fringe Cove Champions.
May is a month Soreau Weau will no doubt remember for quite some time to come.
The 21-year-old Glowing Grove left fielder came through all month long for his club and has won honors as the VIM! Rookie League Batter of the Month.
His standout month saw him put up a .298 batting average, with 12 home runs, 29 RBIs, 24 runs scored and a .408 on-base percentage.
The top-rated pitcher this past month in the VIM! Rookie League was Nick Wise of the Kitteredge Rad Rabbits. He really dominated league hitters, finishing May with a 5-0 won-lost mark and a 0.87 ERA.
The Rad Rabbits ace made 5 starts and surrendered 24 hits in 31 innings. He struck out 41 and walked 14.
The Maine Youth Leagues are winding down their 2310 season. In the MDIF, the Cliff's Edge Wolves have a 3.5-game lead and a Magic # of 11. In the GDIL, the Diamond Cover Fort Knight have a two-game lead and a Magic # of 12.
Beaver Creek Bowlers fans may just have witnessed a star player blossoming before their eyes in May.
Home Run Baker put up a remarkable month at the age of 17 and has been named the Mount Desert Island Four Batter of the Month.
For the month, Baker hit .283 with 17 home runs, 36 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
RB Ferrell may be much younger than other hitters in the Great Diamond Island League, but he performed like a seasoned veteran in May to win the Batter of the Month award.
The 17-year-old Diamond Cove first baseman hit .280 with 8 home runs, 24 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
May was a magical month for Josty Penguin of National Park. He held the Mount Desert Island Four hitters spellbound, conjuring up a 3-0 mark and a 1.40 ERA.
Penguin also chalked up 7 starts, 45 innings and 66 strikeouts.
For this outstanding performance he was rewarded with the Pitcher of the Month trophy.
Big Craig Astro really tore up the Great Diamond Island League this past month. He went 5-0 in May and won the Pitcher of the Month award.
In 7 starts he struck out 40 in 38.1 innings with a 2.11 ERA.