BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 June 2315
The June 1 Super Post
CBO Top Performances
We already reported about it yesterday in the Noteworthy News, but Oberland's Odd Todd Walker had a performance on May 28 that may already have clinched the season's top spot. With a game score of 135, Walker catapulted over Barker Cocoa's performance last month by 27(!) points. In a 14-4 victory at Nahant, Walker was 6 for 6 with two doubles, a triple, and two home runs, accounting for an amazing 16 total bases in hitting for the cycle. Walker added two runs and drove in nine RBI. His six hits and nine RBI each tied SCA records. The six hits was matched by three other people, with the last being Jamaica Plain's Sheedy Smith almost exactly a year before. The nine RBI was reached six other times, with Smith also being the last to achieve that feat. Fort Hagen's Andrew Nuka set the record of 11 in 2304.
It may not be as impressive as the hitting performance, but Vault 81's Scruffy Taguchi had May's top pitching performance with a 92 score. On May 30, Taguchi pitched a complete-game four-hitter, striking out a season-tying high 13 batters in the Dwellers' 6-0 win at Starlight. Taguchi is 10th all-time with 187 victories after that dominating performance, tying Nervous Patron's April performance for the top performance this season.
CBO Players of the Month
NCA Hitter - To Hurr Lee Reyes, age is just a number.
He may be 35 years old, but the Lexington Synths right fielder proved in May that he's still got what it takes to compete at an elite level.
With a .398 average, 9 home runs, 23 RBIs, and 32 runs scored, Reyes had all the numbers that counted and has won the North Charles Association Batter of the Month award.
So far this season, Reyes has gotten 69 hits in 192 at-bats for a .359 batting average with 15 home runs. His stats include 37 RBIs and 50 runs scored. He has played in 51 games.
SCA Hitter - When Tawfiq Kibowen stepped up to the plate in May he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the South Charles Association Batter of the Month award.
The young Atom catcher posted a .337 batting average with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs and scored 26 runs. Kibowen also worked pitchers for 11 walks to post a .415 on-base percentage.
In 42 games Kibowen is hitting .346 this season with 54 hits, 20 home runs, 50 RBIs, 20 walks, .420 OBP and has scored 41 runs.
NCA Pitcher - There was little doubt around the North Charles Association that Paul Stains would be awarded Pitcher of the Month honors for May. Today, they made it official, naming the 26-year-old Salem Witch Hats starter the latest honoree.
He thoroughly dominated the hitters who stood in against him, holding them to a .205 batting average while fashioning a 2.55 ERA in 7 starts. His record for the month was 5-2 in 60 innings of work.
His record for the year is 8-4 in 12 starts and Stains has a 3.14 ERA.
SCA Pitcher - Doug Creep of Atom had an excellent May with a 5-1 record and was selected as the Pitcher of the Month in the South Charles Association.
He finished the month with a 2.31 ERA while piling up 42 strikeouts in 58.1 innings and holding opposing hitters to a .234 batting average.
In 13 starts this season, Creep has recorded 8 wins and absorbed 3 losses. He has pitched 100 innings, allowed 94 hits, struck out 81 and has a 3.51 ERA.
NCA Rookie - Waterbug Grant's eyes seem to light up whenever he sees the baseball. The young Nordhagen Beach left fielder has been hitting everything in sight for the better part of a month.
In May he was voted the Rookie of the Month.
During the month he hit .268 with 4 doubles, no triples and 9 home runs. Grant also scored 18 times and drove in 19 runs.
For the season, Grant is batting .270 with 38 hits and 10 home runs. He has scored 24 times and batted in 25.
SCA Rookie - University Point's Pop Dylan collected 28 hits to snare the South Charles Association Rookie of the Month for May.
He batted .311 with 6 home runs, 24 RBIs and 16 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 43 games this season, Dylan has compiled a .301 batting average with 41 hits and 8 home runs. He has also scored 23 times and knocked in 35 runs.
NEBL Analysis
The NEBL is 46 games into the 2315 season, and there has been a lot of buzz on a recent increase in overall talent at this level. Part of the criticism was that it was overloaded with former CBO players no longer talented enough for the Big League squad. Now, an eruption of younger talent is making the NEBL the place to play. Current division leaders are the Manchester Granites, Abernathy Adamantium, a tie between the Braintree Robobrains and Sandwich Bay Snakes, and a three-way tie among the Providence Warlocks, Wellesley Wanderers, and Worcester Cannons.
NEBL Players of the Month
PL Hitter - In May, Ryoo Ree was the toughest out in the Patriot League and that is the prime reason he was voted the Batter of the Month.
The Greenfield shortstop rapped out 39 hits in 90 at-bats for a .433 batting average, hit 3 home runs, drove in 17 runs and scored 24 times.
Hitting .385 to date, Ree has 4 home runs and 20 RBIs. He has played in 33 games.
YL Hitter - Worcester Cannons fans believe they've got a talented young star in Barbarus Bailey.
He did nothing to dissuade that notion in May, as he hit .412 with 6 home runs, 20 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
The end result was the third baseman being named the Yankee League Batter of the Month.
In 41 games this season, Bailey is batting .367 with 54 hits and 10 home runs. He has scored 25 runs and driven in 34.
PL Pitcher - An outstanding 5-0 record in May earned Cohort Williams the Pitcher of the Month Award in the Patriot League. When his name was penciled in to start on the Greenfield lineup card, it meant trouble for opposing teams.
In 38 innings of work, Williams limited opposing batters to 29 base hits and a .221 batting average. He notched 24 strikeouts, issued 9 walks and had a 2.37 ERA.
This season, Williams has crafted a 7-2 mark with a 2.54 ERA in 60.1 innings. Opposing clubs are batting .236 against him and he has 41 strikeouts.
YL Pitcher - When Wicked Good O'Malley takes the mound, a Worcester victory is usually the result. At least that's the way it was in May.
He excelled with a 4-0 mark and a 1.05 ERA in 6 starts, tossed 42.2 innings, fanned 22 and held opposing batters to a .197 average.
That's why the Cannons starter was honored today as the Pitcher of the Month by the Yankee League.
This season, O'Malley has worked 61.2 innings with 34 strikeouts en route to a 5-1 record and a 1.17 ERA.
MML Analysis
There is a ton of talent also in the Massachusetts Minor League, with a lot of players looking to make the jump from the AA level to the CBO. Division leaders are the Ipswich Hitters, Sanctuary Hills Zetans, Castle Strength, and Mayoral Shelter Tricentennials.
MML Players of the Month
LL Hitter - Hajy Babaev may be much younger than other hitters in the Legends League, but he performed like a seasoned veteran in May to win the Batter of the Month award.
The 21-year-old Bedford second baseman hit .340 with 3 home runs, 18 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
For the season, Babaev is hitting at a .327 clip with 4 home runs, 31 RBIs and has scored 25 runs. He has 48 hits, 19 walks and a .402 on-base percentage.
SL Hitter - Even though he is a newcomer to Massachusetts Minor League, Sleepy Scharf put up some good numbers in May and earned the SL Batter of the Month award.
He was one of Hull's offensive leaders with a .355 average in 27 games. He also racked up 6 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 18 runs scored.
Scharf is currently batting .327 with 7 home runs and 36 RBIs.
LL Pitcher - The Legends League scribes have picked May's Pitcher of the Month and have given the trophy to Smiling Timmy Keefe of Sanctuary Hills. He was devastating on the mound last month with a standout 6-0 mark.
The Zetans star hurler made 6 starts with a 2.28 ERA and surrendered 44 hits in 47.1 innings. He struck out 30 and walked 11.
This season, Keefe has rung up 7 wins and 1 loss in 9 games. He has an ERA of 2.69 and has fanned 40 batters in 70.1 innings.
SL Pitcher - The Pitcher of the Month Award has been announced and the Stars League winner is Dedham hurler, MM Alonso. For his fine efforts in May he has been named the league's #1 pitcher.
During the month, Alonso excelled with a 3.05 ERA and 5 wins and 1 loss. In 41.1 innings he struck out 19 and gave up 43 hits and 17 walks.
Up to now Alonso has compiled an ERA of 4.01 with a 6-3 mark over 10 starts. He has 31 strikeouts in 60.2 innings and has held opponents to a .281 batting average.
BMU Analysis
The oldest minor league in the CBO and once split into four separate leagues like the original CBO was, the Boston Minor Union is now for the "old" rookies as the A affiliate. This season, division leaders of the traditional Dark Hollow Pond, Cambridge, Downtown Boston, and Glowing Sea division are the Parsons Asylum Greasers, Union Hope Lifegivers, Pleasant Lake Patriots, and Westing Estate Alphas.
BMU Players of the Month
CA Hitter - For a rookie just breaking in, Leo Dawn certainly put together a successful month. It was good enough to win the CA Batter of the Month award for May.
The 24-year-old left fielder for the Union Hope Lifegivers hit .500 with 6 home runs, 17 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
This year, Dawn is batting .436 with 24 hits, 6 home runs, 17 RBIs, 7 walks, .500 OBP and has scored 14 runs.
MA Hitter - Snake Eyes Daniels made his presence known as one of the best young stars in the Massachusetts Association this past month.
The Scrap Palace Attack Dogs left fielder shined through the month of May and has won the Batter of the Month award.
The 20-year-old hit .337 with 6 home runs, 22 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
Currently Daniels has 8 home runs and a .347 batting average.
CA Pitcher - Kit Kauffman of the Outpost Zimonja Strongbacks outdistanced his peers on the mound this month. He fashioned a fine 4-0 won-lost mark and 2.06 ERA in 6 starts to get the Commonwealth Association Pitcher of the Month honors.
Kauffman had a very impressive May, finishing with 31 strikeouts in 39.1 innings and holding opposing hitters to a .253 average.
Kauffman has fashioned a 5-0 mark for the season, 1.78 ERA and thrown 60.2 innings in 9 starts. Opposing clubs are batting .249 against him.
MA Pitcher - The #1 pitcher this past month in the Massachusetts Association was Rhys Garbett of the Somerville Place Shamrocks. He worked the hitters over real good, finishing May with a superb 4-0 record and a 1.47 ERA.
The Shamrocks star made 7 starts and surrendered 44 hits in 43 innings. He struck out 29 and walked 16.
In 7 starts this season, Garbett has notched a 4-0 record and a 1.47 ERA.
GBRL Analysis
And now for the youngins. With no player in the league over the age of 21, the Greater Boston Rookie League has been the place for the true rookies of the CBO. Current leaders of divisions are the Croup Manor Leprechauns, a tie between the Beantown Brewers and Nuka Express Chrono Cowboys, the Pioneer Park Hackers, and the Waterbury Cola Kings.
GBRL Players of the Month
NL Hitter - At only 21 years of age, Bizzy Van Buizen could very well have many more months like this last one during his career.
That would be great news for fans of the Switchboard Gun Fu, as May was one to remember for the first baseman and he has captured the North League Batter of the Month award.
On the month he hit .486 with 13 home runs, 30 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
This year, Van Buizen has hit at a .486 clip with 36 hits, 13 home runs, 30 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
SL Hitter - It's perhaps an award he'll win many more times through his career, as at age 19 Phineas Barnum has a lot of baseball ahead of him.
But for now the young Norwalk Pickpockets star can enjoy the numbers he put up in May, which have garnered him the nod as the South League Batter of the Month.
His breakout month featured a .338 average with 13 home runs, 25 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
This season, Barnum is hitting .337 with 35 hits, 16 home runs, 33 RBIs, scored 37 runs and played in 32 games.
NL Pitcher - Petie Pembroke was on cloud nine the entire month of May, capping it off with the North League Pitcher of the Month honors.
The Augusta starter was spectacular in 7 starting assignments with 5 wins and 1 loss, 53.2 innings pitched, 79 strikeouts and a fine 2.18 ERA.
His record this season is 7-3 in 11 starts and Pembroke has a 3.38 ERA.
SL Pitcher - May's premier pitcher was Hugh Ironhorse of Pioneer Park Hackers. He pulverized South League hitters all month long and picked up the Pitcher of the Month award. The Hackers star hurler fashioned a 5-0 record en route to the honor.
He had 54 strikeouts in 34 innings and compiled a 2.12 ERA. Other clubs hit .214 against him.
Ironhorse has made 5 starts this season, posting 5 wins and no losses. Opposing clubs are batting .242 against him and he has 73 strikeouts in 47 innings with a 4.21 ERA.