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Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, APL, NWLR, and BBL Leagues
by Evan Guy
29 September 2311
NWL Awards
Hitter - Bubba Shrimp took Nuka World League by storm this year, and he did it all at the age of 20.
For his spectacular campaign, the Wild Gatorclaws star has been named the 2311 Nuka World League Nuka King Award recipient.
"To be considered amongst the best in the league is overwhelming," said the shortstop.
On the season he compiled a .383 batting average to go with a .407 on-base percentage. The native of Dothan, Alabama also added 38 doubles, 5 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBIs and 78 runs scored.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Fried Tatos Smith of the Wild Gatorclaws finished second in voting, while Wizard of Oz Smith of the Victory Cave Crickets finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Bubba Shrimp - Wild Gatorclaws - 8 - 112
Fried Tatos Smith - Wild Gatorclaws - 0 - 71
Wizard of Oz Smith - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 65
Geecee Metal - Grape Painted Ghouls - 0 - 44
Ah Oona - Grape Painted Ghouls - 0 - 44
Daniel Rousseaux - Quartz Star Force - 0 - 39
Yorkie Tallsky - Orange Tourists - 0 - 31
Roz McBerger - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 27
Spitfire Baker - Quantum Nukalurks - 0 - 15
Durable Robinson - Grape Painted Ghouls - 0 - 14
Doman Northsea - Orange Tourists - 0 - 9
Soda Popinski - Dark Bloodworms - 0 - 1
Pitcher - Nuka World League hitters didn't have much of a chance in the 2311 season when the Cherry manager wrote "Shamar Hunt" on the lineup card. Outing after outing, he held teams in check and usually got a win.
He excelled with a 11-5 mark and 3.00 ERA in 22 starts, tossed 144 innings, fanned 84 and held opposing teams to a .262 average.
For his superb season Hunt was today named the NWL Nuka Cannon Award winner.
He ended up tied with Tumble Viera with 44 total votes and 44 first place votes.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Shamar Hunt - Cherry Ghoulrillas - 4 - 44
Tumble Viera - Quartz Star Force - 4 - 44
Chick Aubrey - Wild Gatorclaws - 0 - 18
Hardware Flott - Dark Bloodworms - 0 - 16
Melvin Teacup - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 5
Jason Matich - Quartz Star Force - 0 - 4
Allen Puckett - Orange Tourists - 0 - 4
Justin Quast - Wild Gatorclaws - 0 - 1
Manager - When Earl Arnett was hired to lead the Wild Gatorclaws, fans were expecting improvement over the last manager. Today, flanked by team officials, Arnett accepted the Nuka World League Manager of the Year Award, noting the level of passion for the Wild Gatorclaws.
"The biggest challenge was the fans. I don't know how many times I was asked, if I thought the club was good enough. It was as if they expected failure. It was much easier to win over the ballplayers. Slowly but surely the fans began to believe in us."
Arnett led Wild to a first place finish in the North Bradberton Division. The Gatorclaws ended up with a 58-32 record.
Arnett is looking forward to the offseason. "We're reviewing our options. You never stand still in baseball. You either get better or worse, 'cause everyone else is out to get your free agents or deal for your prospects. It's going to be a challenge." But the skipper has more than proven he is equal to the task.
Rookie - Fried Tatos Smith, left fielder for the Wild Gatorclaws, has been honored with the Nuka Baby Bottle Award in the Nuka World League.
He batted .422 for the Wild Gatorclaws and racked up 149 hits, 9 home runs, 54 RBIs and 73 runs scored to capture the award.
He received 4 first place votes out of a possible 8. Wizard of Oz Smith of the Victory Cave Crickets finished second in voting with 3 first place votes, while Geecee Metal of the Grape Painted Ghouls finished third with 1 first place vote.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Fried Tatos Smith - Wild Gatorclaws - 4 - 32
Wizard of Oz Smith - Victory Cave Crickets - 3 - 28
Geecee Metal - Grape Painted Ghouls - 1 - 8
Roz McBerger - Victory Cave Crickets - 0 - 2
Yorkie Tallsky - Orange Tourists - 0 - 2
Positional Hitters - There was no shortage of offensive contribution from this year's Nuka World League Nuka Power Bat Award honorees.
The winners were recognized today for their solid offensive contributions in 2311:
Pitcher
Chick Aubrey (Wild Gatorclaws)
.300/.300/.420, 50 AB, 2 HR, 77 wRC+, 0.0 WAR
Catcher
Soda Popinski (Dark Bloodworms)
.380/.391/.511, 313 AB, 5 HR, 130 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
First Baseman
Geecee Metal (Grape Painted Ghouls)
.382/.439/.609, 353 AB, 18 HR, 171 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
Second Baseman
Yorkie Tallsky (Orange Tourists)
.355/.420/.598, 321 AB, 17 HR, 18 SB, 156 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
Third Baseman
Wizard of Oz Smith (Victory Cave Crickets)
.486/.516/.808, 208 AB, 14 HR, 1 SB, 242 wRC+, 4.3 WAR
Shortstop
Bubba Shrimp (Wild Gatorclaws)
.383/.407/.661, 366 AB, 18 HR, 12 SB, 167 wRC+, 5.0 WAR
Left Fielder
Roz McBerger (Victory Cave Crickets)
.397/.447/.581, 370 AB, 14 HR, 3 SB, 162 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
Center Fielder
Organizae Brown (Grape Painted Ghouls)
.307/.335/.559, 322 AB, 15 HR, 22 SB, 121 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
Right Fielder
Fried Tatos Smith (Wild Gatorclaws)
.422/.441/.609, 353 AB, 9 HR, 3 SB, 173 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
Reliever - At the age of 21, Lionel Minelli says he still has a lot to learn about life in Nuka World League.
But he certainly seems to be a quick study, as the Wild Gatorclaws reliever was better than all others this year and has captured the 2311 Nuka World League Nuka Thirst Zapper Award.
"I hope to win this a few more times before all is said and done in my career," the
Audubon, New Jersey native said.
For the season, Minelli had 27 saves in 37 relief appearances, which totaled 35.2. He fanned 20 betters, while walking 7 and put up a record of 2-3 to go with his 2.02 ERA.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Bobby Bouma of the Orange Tourists finished second in voting, while Warren Gee of the Dark Bloodworms finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Lionel Minelli - Wild Gatorclaws - 8 - 40
Bobby Bouma - Orange Tourists - 0 - 24
Warren Gee - Dark Bloodworms - 0 - 4
Old Buck Buchanan - Cherry Ghoulrillas - 0 - 3
Tummy Urchin - Quantum Nukalurks - 0 - 1
Defenders - Good glovemen take pride in their defensive skills. They know they make a difference in baseball. Even on days when they don't get a hit, they feel they can make a difference in the field -- and they do. The Nuka World League announced its Nuka Power Glove Award honorees for 2311. This year's recipients are:
Pitcher
Ed Homestead (Dark Bloodworms)
Catcher
Lukewarm Nannybot (Quantum Nukalurks)
First Baseman
Antonio Toeclaw (Quartz Star Force)
Second Baseman
Jim Waples (Wild Gatorclaws)
Third Baseman
Corey Cook (Grape Painted Ghouls)
Shortstop
Mike Blackheart (Cherry Ghoulrillas)
Left Fielder
David Mabry (Wild Gatorclaws)
Center Fielder
Justin Lockandkey (Quartz Star Force)
Right Fielder
Buck Crosby (Victory Cave Crickets)
Vim! View
Veracious, Vivacious, Vainglorious Vision of the Vim! Leagues
by Vikky Vail
29 September 2311
Dedicated to a forgotten god
Vim! Award Winners
Hitter - What a way to finish off the year -- being honored with the 2311 Vim! MVP Award in the Vim! League. It had already been a very special season for Echo Lake's Chris Knickerbocker, but today's announcement really put the icing on his cake.
All season long Chris Knickerbocker gave opposing pitchers fits by hitting .417 as he collected 151 hits, 24 doubles, 5 triples, 30 home runs and 108 RBIs.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Witcher Craft of the Echo Lake Harbormen finished second in voting, while Bobba Fette of the Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Chris Knickerbocker - Echo Lake Harbormen - 8 - 112
Witcher Craft - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 71
Bobba Fette - Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs - 0 - 62
Chris Dominoes - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 54
Toppie Gunn - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 52
Angus McGuyver - Acadia Acadians - 0 - 34
Billy Yudkowsky - National Park Gulpers - 0 - 33
Ryan Hurst - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 21
Drew Buntrock - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 0 - 12
Hawk Callaway - Eden Meadows Anglers - 0 - 12
Shoeboy Capellan - National Park Gulpers - 0 - 7
Kody Downing - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 1
Max Standing - National Park Gulpers - 0 - 1
Pitcher - Echo Lake's Jason Woods took home the 2311 Vim! League Vim! Top Arm Award earlier today after a remarkable season on the mound.
With a record of 13-9, Woods was certainly a worthy winner. He made 23 starts and posted 184.1 innings, 135 strikeouts and a 3.37 ERA.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Keith Lighthouse of the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales finished second in voting, while Wearya Going of the Acadia Acadians finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Jason Woods - Echo Lake Harbormen - 8 - 56
Keith Lighthouse - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 0 - 28
Wearya Going - Acadia Acadians - 0 - 27
Phil Cecil - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 13
Alex Ruder - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 0 - 8
Steady Mike Holmes - Eden Meadows Anglers - 0 - 4
Manager - An outstanding season by the Ghoul Whales garnered their manager Jason Bassfish the Vim! League Manager of the Year award for 2311. He led Far Harbor to a 52-38 record this year and a first place finish in the Vim! League Harbor Division.
Even so, Bassfish seemed less than thrilled. "I don't give a darn about the award," he growled to reporters, "I just want this team to win championships!"
Rookie - His rookie season has paid off well for Shoeboy Capellan of the Gulpers. He has hit the jackpot. The 18-year-old third baseman topped off his fine first season with the 2311 Vim! League Vim! Fresh Face Award.
It was a season to remember for the Gulpers newcomer. He wrapped up his inaugural year with a .344 batting average, 19 doubles, 1 triple and 14 home runs. Capellan also had 50 RBIs and scored 48 times.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Bad Breath Seth of the National Park Gulpers finished second in voting, while Ricky Day-Z of the Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Shoeboy Capellan - National Park Gulpers - 8 - 40
Bad Breath Seth - National Park Gulpers - 0 - 16
Ricky Day-Z - Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs - 0 - 7
Goodman James - National Park Gulpers - 0 - 6
Bucketfoot Szymanski - Echo Lake Harbormen - 0 - 3
Positional Hitters - Pitchers around the Vim! League had difficulty pitching to this group of hitters all season long, and for their strong seasons, they have been honored with the Vim! Best Batters Award for 2311.
The winners are:
Pitcher
Steady Mike Holmes (Eden Meadows Anglers)
.429/.433/.554, 56 AB, 1 HR, 152 wRC+, 0.4 WAR
Catcher
Goodman James (National Park Gulpers)
.298/.342/.536, 252 AB, 15 HR, 113 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
First Baseman
Chris Dominoes (Echo Lake Harbormen)
.374/.399/.676, 361 AB, 21 HR, 167 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
Second Baseman
Bobba Fette (Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs)
.365/.449/.567, 351 AB, 9 HR, 48 SB, 162 wRC+, 5.6 WAR
Third Baseman
Ryan Hurst (Echo Lake Harbormen)
.294/.386/.513, 343 AB, 16 HR, 28 SB, 127 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
Shortstop
DaMan Sayes (National Park Gulpers)
.316/.355/.490, 339 AB, 9 HR, 4 SB, 111 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
Left Fielder
Witcher Craft (Echo Lake Harbormen)
.448/.482/.672, 326 AB, 5 HR, 32 SB, 191 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
Center Fielder
Toppie Gunn (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
.309/.420/.627, 314 AB, 22 HR, 40 SB, 157 wRC+, 4.7 WAR
Right Fielder
Chris Knickerbocker (Echo Lake Harbormen)
.417/.448/.760, 362 AB, 30 HR, 4 SB, 108 RBI, 6.1 WAR
Reliever - At the young age of only 26, Stage Room has been named the Vim! League Vim! Refresh Reliever Award winner for 2311.
The future appears bright for the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales relief ace, who captured the award with 10 saves in 26 relief appearances, 32 strikeouts in 42 innings and a record of 4-3 to go with his 2.14 ERA.
He received 6 first place votes out of a possible 8. Biscuit Catalano of the Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs finished second in voting with 1 first place vote, while Sundown Velasquez of the Grand Hotel Atoms finished third with 1 first place vote.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Stage Room - Far Harbor Ghoul Whales - 6 - 34
Biscuit Catalano - Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs - 1 - 24
Sundown Velasquez - Grand Hotel Atoms - 1 - 12
George Hickey - Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers - 0 - 2
Defenders - It's been said that the best offense is a good defense. That's why contending teams are always looking to improve on the defensive side of the game. Keeping runs from scoring is just as good as driving them in. The top fielders have been chosen in the Vim! League for 2311. Here are the Vim! Best Gloves Award winners:
Pitcher
Phil Cecil (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
Catcher
Bill O'Connor (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)
First Baseman
Clean Mullis (Grand Hotel Atoms)
Second Baseman
Biggie Biggs (Eden Meadows Anglers)
Third Baseman
Danny Pineda (Grand Hotel Atoms)
Shortstop
Ricky Day-Z (Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs)
Left Fielder
Wedge Anthill (Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs)
Center Fielder
Man'oman Whurlizer (Eden Meadows Anglers)
Right Fielder
Gaia Earthdweller (Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers)