BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 May 2311
The May Super Post
CBO Players of the Month
NCA Hitter - Babs Rooth received the North Charles Association Batter of the Month trophy earlier today for his efforts at the plate this last month.
"He might be getting older," County Crossing's manager told reporters, "But he's been around long enough to know what it takes to put a stretch such as this together... and he doesn't keep that to himself. He's always talking to the younger guys in the clubhouse helping 'em any way they'll let him. Babs's value to our team goes farther than the numbers he puts up on the field."
To win the honor Rooth put up a .441 batting average, 4 home runs, 13 RBIs and scored 20 times in April.
SCA Hitter - Orcin Cardinal battered South Charles Association pitchers all April and wound up taking home the Batter of the Month Award.
"I've been around Commonwealth Baseball Organization long enough to know you really have to work hard day in and day out to be able to put up this kind of consistency," the 28-year-old Cardinal told reporters. "I put in a lot of work, even on the days I might not take the field, and it's always nice when everything comes together for me like it did this last month."
In 20 games, Cardinal hit .385 with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs and scored 16 runs.
NCA Pitcher - Beachboy Nut really tore up the North Charles Association this past month. He went 5-0 in April and won the Pitcher of the Month award.
In 5 starts he struck out 29 in 37.1 innings with a 1.93 ERA.
SCA Pitcher - The Pitcher of the Month for April has been picked and the South Charles Association award went to FHE hurler, Baker Dozen.
During the month, Dozen was impressive with a 2.22 ERA and 4 wins and 1 loss. In 28.1 innings he struck out 15 and gave up 27 hits and 8 walks.
NCA Rookie - Easy Rider Powell earned April's Rookie of the Month honors in the North Charles Association for last month's performance. The boyish Cambridge center fielder might be wet behind the ears, but he's proving that he has what it takes to play at this level.
Powell hit .341 with 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and 11 runs scored this past month on his way to winning the award.
SCA Rookie - FHE's Rocket Arm Espinosa collected 16 hits to snare the South Charles Association Rookie of the Month for April.
He batted .485 with 7 home runs, 18 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
The 20-year-old is barely old enough to shave, but he could definitely contend for Rookie of the Year if he keeps up this pace.
MML Analysis
The season is 25 games in with three teams--the Finch Farm Shamrocks (Nah), Castle Strength (Qui), and Worcester Cannons (FtH)--all with 20 or more wins. The other division leader is the Watertown Armorers (FHE).
There are a lot of home runs flying out of the park in this season's MML. Fairprice Fairley of the Shamrocks and Sack King of the Graygarden Action Boys both have 18.
Here are the current team power rankings for Massachusetts Minor League:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Finch Farm Shamrocks (156.2, o)
2) Castle Strength (155.0, o)
3) Worcester Cannons (147.0, o)
4) Watertown Armorers (133.6, o)
5) Brookline Bandoliers (128.4, o)
6) Graygarden Action Boys (123.4, +)
7) Burlington Ferals (113.0, -)
8) Providence Warlocks (112.0, -)
9) Needham Archers (111.0, o)
10) Braintree Robobrains (107.8, ++)
11) Abernathy Adamantium (95.6, ++)
12) Everett Mutant Hounds (90.6, -)
13) Medford Medics (87.4, ++)
14) Natick Big Leaguers (82.4, -)
15) Arlington Caps (80.4, --)
16) Sandwich Bay Snakes (80.0, ++)
17) Lynn Fortune Finders (76.2, --)
18) Lowell Leprechauns (74.0, +)
19) Warwick Mirelurks (70.0, -)
20) Plymouth Pilgrims (68.0, --)
21) Wellesley Wanderers (68.0, --)
22) Revere Beach Shoremen (63.8, o)
23) Woburn Bobbleheads (59.8, +)
24) Clifton Vertibirds (58.8, --)
25) Foxborough Minutemen (55.6, o)
26) Marlborough Firemen (54.6, --)
27) Danvers Sonics (52.4, -)
28) Dedham Bombers (5.8, o)
MML Players of the Month
LL Hitter - When Sack King stepped up to the plate in April he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the Legends League Batter of the Month award.
The young Graygarden left fielder posted a .381 batting average with 18 home runs, 32 RBIs and scored 28 runs. King also worked pitchers for 14 walks to post a .480 on-base percentage.
SL Hitter - Weston DeGurlz made his presence known as one of the best young stars in the Stars League this past month.
The Castle Strength right fielder shined through the month of April and has won the Batter of the Month award.
The 21-year-old hit .406 with 13 home runs, 39 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
LL Pitcher - Don Sanctuary had a very good April and has been rewarded with the Legends League Pitcher of the Month Award. The Abernathy bullpen specialist was very effective, constantly coming in and getting his club out of trouble or protecting a one-run or two-run lead.
The Adamantium ace starred with no saves in no relief appearances, logging 46 innings, 42 strikeouts, 14 walks and a 1.17 ERA. Sanctuary finished the month with 5 wins and no losses -- and was named the league's best pitcher.
SL Pitcher - Don Sanctuary had a very good April and has been rewarded with the Legends League Pitcher of the Month Award. The Abernathy bullpen specialist was very effective, constantly coming in and getting his club out of trouble or protecting a one-run or two-run lead.
The Adamantium ace starred with no saves in no relief appearances, logging 46 innings, 42 strikeouts, 14 walks and a 1.17 ERA. Sanctuary finished the month with 5 wins and no losses -- and was named the league's best pitcher.
BMU Analysis
The season is still early, so teams are not yet showing how their potential talent is making strides needed for a playoff run. One league, the Downtown Boston League, has four teams tied atop the league standings: Brockton, Charles View, Suffolk County, and West Roxbury. The Cambridge League also has a tie between Sanctuary Hills and Littleton. League leaders are Taffington Boathouse and Hyde Park.
Here are the current team power rankings for Boston Minor Union:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Sanctuary Hills Zetans (142.0, o)
2) Littleton Ragers (140.0, ++)
3) Hyde Park Stingwings (124.5, ++)
4) Winchester Bashers (123.8, +)
5) Taffington Boathouse Spy Hunters (121.5, ++)
6) Charles View Cannibals (120.5, ++)
7) Suffolk County Pink Goo (116.5, --)
8) West Roxbury Mole Rats (113.5, ++)
9) Brockton Irish (111.5, --)
10) Mystic Pines Raybathers (105.2, ++)
11) Outpost Zimonja Strongbacks (102.2, --)
12) Hull Lead Bellies (95.0, o)
13) Belmont Sneakers (92.0, ++)
14) Tenpines Bluff Manta Men (92.0, ++)
15) Somerville Place Sentry Bots (91.0, ++)
16) Lynn Woods Bloatflies (89.0, --)
17) Covenant Refractors (87.0, --)
18) Mayoral Shelter Tricentennials (87.0, --)
19) Neponset Park Criticals (85.0, --)
20) Bedford Super Mutants (77.8, -)
21) Pioneer Park Hackers (76.8, --)
22) Forest Grove Pugilists (75.8, +)
23) CGP Demolitionists (66.5, -)
24) Marblehead Grenades (65.5, +)
25) Pleasant Lake Patriots (53.2, +)
26) Mass Pike Radroaches (42.2, --)
27) Sandy Coves Freaks (12.5, +)
28) Fiddler's Green T-60s (7.5, -)
BMU Players of the Month
CA Hitter - For a rookie just breaking in, Curious Vault certainly put together a successful month. It was good enough to win the CA Batter of the Month award for April.
The 20-year-old first baseman for the Mystic Pines Raybathers hit .411 with 10 home runs, 16 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
MA Hitter - Jiub Menace put together a good April to earn the Massachusetts Association Batter of the Month prize. A virtual unknown, he made the most of his chance to prove to Mass Pike officials that he belongs on the big league roster.
The Radroaches left fielder posted a .356 batting average with 10 home runs, 18 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
CA Pitcher - The top pitcher this past month in the Commonwealth Association was Tey How of the Taffington Boathouse Spy Hunters. He really bewildered league hitters, finishing April with an excellent 3-1 record and 0.90 ERA.
The Spy Hunters hurler made 4 starts and surrendered 15 hits in 30 innings. He struck out 26 and walked 6.
MA Pitcher - Brockton Irish fans lauded the selection of reliever Andre Blande as Massachusetts Association Pitcher of the Month for April. The 21-year-old hurler was nothing short of masterful, holding enemy hitters to a .080 average.
In 6 relief appearances he put up a 2-0 record, 4 saves, 5 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.00 over 8 innings.
GBRL Analysis
In the GBRL, the Roadside Pines Cosmos (FtH) have gotten off to a 15-1 start, only one better than their division rivals, the Greater Mass Vans (FHE). In the Northeast Division, the Croup Manor Inspectors and Greentop Nursery Night People are tied. Other division leaders are the Union Hope Lifegivers and Big John Salvagers.
Here are the current team power rankings for Greater Boston Rookie League:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Roadside Pines Cosmos (185.8, +)
2) Greater Mass Vans (168.5, -)
3) Big John Salvagers (154.2, o)
4) Union Hope Lifegivers (144.0, o)
5) Croup Manor Inspectors (131.8, +)
6) Greentop Nursery Night People (126.8, -)
7) Corvega Flamers (124.8, +)
8) Rocky Narrows Blitz (109.5, ++)
9) Med-Tek Eyebots (102.2, +)
10) Freight Depot Collectors (93.0, ++)
11) Satellite Array Riflemen (87.0, o)
12) Poseidon Energy Mongrels (86.0, --)
13) Switchboard Gun Fu (83.8, ++)
14) Scrap Palace Attack Dogs (81.8, ++)
15) Parsons Asylum Greasers (79.8, o)
16) Eastlake Aquaboys (75.8, ++)
17) Westing Estate Alphas (75.8, ++)
18) Cabot House Triggermen (70.5, ++)
19) DB Tech Nuclear Physicists (68.8, --)
20) Breakheart Banks Sugar Bombs (66.5, -)
21) Coastal Cottage Buds (63.5, ++)
22) Beantown Brewers (57.5, --)
23) Nuka Express Chrono Cowboys (56.2, ++)
24) Murkwater Animal Friends (51.2, -)
25) Rockland Snipers (49.2, --)
26) Walden Pond Poets (46.2, --)
27) Hingham AntAgonizers (44.0, o)
28) Kingsport Moon Monkeys (32.0, --)
GBRL Players of the Month
NL Hitter - Bipp Islander may be much younger than other hitters in the North League, but he performed like a seasoned veteran in April to win the Batter of the Month award.
The 19-year-old Corvega first baseman hit .340 with 10 home runs, 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored.
SL Hitter - It's perhaps an award he'll win many more times through his career, as at age 18 Rodney Caribou has a lot of baseball ahead of him.
But for now the young Big John Salvagers star can enjoy the numbers he put up in April, which have garnered him the nod as the South League Batter of the Month.
His breakout month featured a .327 average with 11 home runs, 22 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
NL Pitcher - Union Hope starter Dog Miller claimed the North League Pitcher of the Month Award today with his strong performance in April.
The 21-year-old starter tossed 24.2 innings of solid baseball, putting up a 2.55 ERA, 38 strikeouts and a 4-0 record in 4 starts.
SL Pitcher - Question: Who was the #1 pitcher in the South League in April?
Answer: That would be Nick Soulless of the Roadside Pines Cosmos.
He excelled with a 4-0 mark and a 0.58 ERA in 4 starts, tossed 31 innings, fanned 31 and held opposing teams to a .167 average. That's exactly why the South League scribes voted him the Pitcher of the Month.
CCBL Analysis
There is still plenty of season to play, but the expanded CCBL has shown a lot of promise for good baseball for now and the future. Divisional leaders are the Winthrop Guardians, Boston College Eagles, Assumption Greyhounds, and a tie between the Mass Atlantic Suns and U Mass-Loweell River Hawks.
The divisional winners will be the top four seeds in the College Series tournament with four non-winners playing as wildcards in the double-elimination tournament to end the season. Those current wildcard teams are Greenfield College, Holy Cross, Mass Bay, and a tie between Nuka U and Harvard. The Crimson won the last two championships and was predicted to win it again this season.
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Assumption Greyhounds (137.8, o)
2) Boston College Eagles (130.2, ++)
3) Holy Cross Crusaders (125.2, o)
4) Greenfield College Greenies (120.2, o)
5) Winthrop College Guardians (116.2, --)
6) Mass Bay University Beacons (107.0, -)
7) Harvard Crimson (104.8, o)
8) Nuka University Mixologists (104.8, -)
9) Glowing Sea College Glowing Ones (94.6, +)
10) Western New England Statesmen (94.6, ++)
11) Bunker Hill Globalists (92.6, +)
12) Northeastern Huskies (92.6, o)
13) U Mass-Lowell River Hawks (86.4, ++)
14) Tufts University Jumbos (85.4, ++)
15) Mass Atlantic Suns (84.4, ++)
16) Commonwealth University Terriers (82.4, --)
17) CIT Engineers (74.2, --)
18) Quincy College Masons (73.0, ++)
19) Stonehill College Skyhawks (69.0, --)
20) Plymouth University Pioneers (66.0, --)
21) Nahant Marine Institute Aquas (63.8, +)
22) Cape Cod University Sharks (54.6, +)
23) Revere College Riders (54.6, -)
24) UMass Minutemen (44.6, --)
CCBL Players of the Month
Hitter - Sheedy Smith is not used to being associated with Batter of the Month-caliber players, but today the Plymouth University first baseman joined that select company when the Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League announced the results of April's voting.
Smith totaled 44 hits, 12 walks, 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 28 runs scored last month to put together a .484 batting average and .543 on-base percentage.
Pitcher - A standout performance in April earned Gilchrist Moore the Pitcher of the Month Award in the Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League. When his name was penciled in to start by the Boston College skipper, it meant trouble for opposing teams. For the month the Eagles star racked up 5 wins and 2 losses.
In 50.1 innings of work, Moore limited opposing batters to 37 base hits and a .202 batting average. He notched 51 strikeouts, issued 8 walks and had a 0.72 ERA.
CYL Analysis
The CYL season is more than halfway done, with the All-Star Game now complete. Divisional leaders are:
Franklin - Acton Ups
Emerson - Beantown Sprouts
Fuller - South Charles Bank Moonies
Revere - Rockport Seafarers
Adams - North Providence Phantoms
Alcott - Spectacle Island Specters
Morse - Swansea Nuka Sox
Attucks - Nauset Beach Lurk Hunters
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Youth League:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Swansea Nuka Sox (133.9, ++)
2) South Charles Bank Moonies (130.7, -)
3) North Providence Phantoms (127.7, ++)
4) Rockport Seafarers (125.1, ++)
5) Nauset Beach Lurk Hunters (122.7, o)
6) Taunton Giants (120.7, --)
7) Beantown Sprouts (119.7, ++)
8) Boston Harbor Harborfellows (116.4, ++)
9) Marblehead Mess (115.8, ++)
10) Saugus Launchers (114.8, --)
11) Brown Bubblers (112.9, ++)
12) Dennis Menaces (110.1, --)
13) Acton Ups (109.8, -)
14) Woburn Diners (108.1, --)
15) CIT Academy Yahoos (108.0, o)
16) Provincetown Land Pirates (107.5, o)
17) Pawtucket Paw Sox (106.1, --)
18) Wellfleet Tarberries (105.6, ++)
19) Spectacle Island Specters (103.9, +)
20) East Providence Skulls (102.0, -)
21) Wareham Comets (100.6, ++)
22) West Quincy Atomatoys (99.6, --)
23) Wellesley Brahmin (98.5, --)
24) Worcester Crows (98.3, ++)
25) Coventry Quads (97.6, ++)
26) Sandwich Screamers (97.6, --)
27) Hester Mechanists (97.3, ++)
28) Georgetown Scholars (97.0, +)
29) Andrew Station Southies (95.6, --)
30) Harwich Fishheads (95.3, --)
31) Sudbury Celebs (95.3, ++)
32) Castle Freedom (94.2, ++)
33) Danvers Perception (94.0, ++)
34) Lexington Minuteboys (93.0, ++)
35) Stoneham Commandos (92.6, --)
36) Diamond City Newsboys (92.3, --)
37) Sturbridge Rangers (90.7, ++)
38) Needham Radstorm (90.3, --)
39) Braintree Schoolboys (89.2, --)
40) Circle Jerks (89.0, --)
41) Eastham Rads (88.7, ++)
42) New Bedford Whales (85.8, --)
43) Hope Firestarters (85.7, ++)
44) Bridgewater Baristas (84.7, -)
45) Kingstown Royals (84.0, ++)
46) Seekonk Quahog (84.0, --)
47) Covenant Dandy Boys (82.4, ++)
48) GSP Venom (82.4, --)
49) Lynn Pier Gamers (82.4, --)
50) Plymouth Hunters (81.7, --)
51) Malden Megabeasts (80.7, --)
52) Truro Hatchlings (79.4, --)
53) Ipswich Quarriers (78.0, +)
54) Boston Common Baby Bellies (77.0, --)
55) South Beach Waves (76.1, --)
56) Thompson Heights Earthlings (74.0, ++)
57) Boston College Prep Professors (73.9, ++)
58) Littleton Beasts (72.6, --)
59) North Charles Bank Goonies (71.2, +)
60) Brockton Claws (71.1, --)
61) Marlborough Minigunners (69.5, --)
62) Woodlawn Gnomes (68.2, ++)
63) Salem Werewolves (67.4, --)
64) Chatham Lighthouse (67.2, +)
65) Concord Iceboys (63.6, -)
66) Reading Rhinos (59.6, --)
67) Attleboro Deejays (56.5, o)
68) Lowell Frags (55.0, o)
69) Freeplat Wicked Goods (54.3, --)
70) Weymouth Locksmiths (43.7, o)
71) Jamaica Plain Treasures (42.3, o)
72) Beerthirty Sippers (35.9, o)
CYL All-Star Game
Freshman T'Pol Lovsky of Lynn Pier said the annual all-star game is mostly for the fans to enjoy, but the players have a lot of fun too.
"It's a great time to get that much talent on one ball diamond," he said. "You feel fortunate to even be part of it."
Lovsky wasn't just a part of the game, he was named the game MVP, as his North Region All-Stars won 6-4 over the South Region All-Stars.
Lovsky went 1 for 2 in the game to earn the nod as the game's best.
Lovsky is the youngest of the Lovsky brothers playing in the youth leagues, but he may be the most talented. His oldest brother, T'Pring, plays in the Bradberton Boys League for the Bay Path Voyagers. Their season begins today. The middle brother, T'Pau, plays for the Beerthirty Sippers of the CYL.
CYL Players of the Month
NR Hitter - Even though he is a newcomer to Commonwealth Youth League, McKidd McKennan put up some good numbers in April and earned the NR Batter of the Month award.
He was one of Needham's offensive leaders with a .415 average in 23 games. He also racked up 15 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 27 runs scored.
So far this season, McKennan has hit .326 with 20 home runs, 39 RBIs and scored 36 times.
SR Hitter - Black Helmet Fruegaarten has a lot going for him. The Provincetown second baseman just broke into the majors this year and now the South Region has just picked him as its top hitter for April.
In 24 games last month this outstanding rookie batted .478 with 13 home runs, 28 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
To date, Fruegaarten has collected 61 hits for a .401 average. He has posted 15 home runs, scored 31 runs and driven in 32 runs.
NR Pitcher - When the Launchers skipper wrote Gillette on the lineup card, it was a bad omen for the opposition. Outing after outing in April he took command and usually got the win.
He dominated with a 5-0 mark and 2.38 ERA in 7 starts. The gifted Launchers star pitched 41.2 innings, fanned 47 and held opposing teams to a .199 average.
For his excellent mound work Gillette was named the NR Pitcher of the Month by the baseball writers.
To date this year, Gillette has compiled a 7-3 mark with a 3.03 ERA in 12 starts.
SR Pitcher - The elite pitcher this past month in the South Region was Meribrand Docybuck of the Provincetown Land Pirates. He stood head and shoulders above the rest, finishing April with an extraordinary 5-1 record and a 1.17 ERA.
The Land Pirates star hurler made 6 starts and surrendered 32 hits in 46 innings. He struck out 69 and walked 11.
In 11 starts this season, Docybuck has registered a 6-3 record and a 2.88 ERA.