BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 May 2317
The May 1 Super Post, Part 1
CBO Top Performances
Hitters - There were decent hitting performances in April, but none topped the April 26 performance of Salem's Thatch Heard. In a thrilling 8-7 win at Cambridge, Heard's 9th-inning grand slam made the difference. Hear finished 4 for 5 with two home runs, three runs scored, and seven RBI for a 108 game score.
Pitchers - It was not even a complete game, but Glowing Sea's SP Hot Lips Houlihan threw the top game in April, earning an 89 game score. In 8.1 innings in an April 26 victory over Quincy, 1-0, Houlihan gave up one hit, a 1st-inning triple to Rookie of the Month, Brad Hop, walked one, and struck out nine.
CBO Players of the Month
NCA Hitter - It's perhaps an award he'll win many more times through his career, as at age 23 Halep Gutteridge has a lot of baseball ahead of him.
But for now the young Easy Town Assaultrons star can enjoy the numbers he put up in April, which have garnered him the nod as the North Charles Association Batter of the Month.
His breakout month featured a .474 average with 2 home runs, 18 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
SCA Hitter - When Honker Trinkl stepped up to the plate in April he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the South Charles Association Batter of the Month award.
The young Roxbury first baseman posted a .402 batting average with 5 home runs, 23 RBIs and scored 19 runs. Trinkl also worked pitchers for 5 walks to post a .441 on-base percentage.
NCA Pitcher - In April Sunshine Tidings starter, Eugene Gym really put the strong arm on the other North Charles Association teams and hauled in the Pitcher of the Month trophy. He did it with an impressive 3 wins and no losses.
In 5 starts and 37.1 innings of work, Gym limited opposing batters to 32 base hits and a .232 batting average. He fanned 25, issued 9 walks and had a 2.17 ERA.
SCA Pitcher - In April, when the name of Ryan Goodpryce appeared on the Vault 81 lineup card it was a virtual lock on a victory. He started 5 times and chalked up 4 wins and 1 loss. With those stats it was also a virtual lock that he would be named the South Charles Association Pitcher of the Month.
Goodpryce shackled opposing batters on 21 base hits and a .204 batting average. He rang up 16 strikeouts in 30.1 innings of work, surrendered 17 walks and fashioned a sparkling 1.48 ERA.
NCA Rookie - Axe Dillworth was toddling around on his tricycle when some of the guys he's playing against were in their prime, but the 20-year-old shortstop definitely knows how to get to first, second or beyond. Today he was chosen April's North Charles Association Rookie of the Month for his remarkable month of hitting.
In 20 games Dillworth batted .362 for Starlight, slapping 29 hits in 80 at-bats with 1 home run, drove in 6 runs and scored 11 times.
SCA Rookie - Brad Hop earned April's Rookie of the Month honors in the South Charles Association for last month's performance. The boyish Quincy right fielder might be wet behind the ears, but he's proving that he has what it takes to play at this level.
Hop hit .397 with 6 home runs, 20 RBIs and 19 runs scored this past month on his way to winning the award.
NEBL Analysis
The NEBL functions as the place where veterans go to hang on to baseball, try to make it back to the CBO, and sometimes dominate the league. Fans of the NEBL have flocked to see some of their favorites from the CBO play into their 30s, so to speak. This season, several 30+ players are giving the fans' a lot of worth for their caps.
All divisions currently have a sole leader after the first month of the season:
Maine - Everett
Vershire - Abernathy
Mass - Warwick
Connri - Needham
NEBL Players of the Month
PL Hitter - Tobias Hoffman of the Medford Radguards stood out in April with a .368 batting average against Patriot League pitchers to land him the Batter of the Month award.
The 26-year-old right fielder totaled 11 home runs, 21 RBIs and 16 runs scored. He also chipped in 9 walks for a .442 on-base percentage.
YL Hitter - At only 21 years of age, Spud Sewell could very well have many more months like this last one during his career.
That would be great news for fans of the Providence Warlocks, as April was one to remember for the shortstop and he has captured the Yankee League Batter of the Month award.
On the month he hit .370 with 5 home runs, 10 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
PL Pitcher - April's #1 hurler was Mirko Polanecky of Everett. He gunned down Patriot League hitters the whole month and claimed the Pitcher of the Month award. The Mutant Hounds star piled up 3 wins and no losses to take the honor.
The 23-year-old Polanecky added 15 strikeouts in 24.2 innings and 8 walks to his season record and compiled a 0.73 ERA. Other clubs hit .175 against him.
YL Pitcher - April's elite pitcher was Quack Quack Ruggiero of Needham. He silenced Yankee League hitters the entire month and claimed the Pitcher of the Month award with 3 wins and no losses in 4 starts.
Ruggiero restricted opposing hitters to a .185 batting average. He rang up 15 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work, surrendered 9 walks and crafted a 0.74 ERA.
MML Analysis
The MML has been the jumping spot for some of the younger talent once they "get it." While some still move into AAA territory in the NEBL, many of the top young guns will jump from here straight to the CBO ranks.
Two divisions are tied. Division leaders are:
Boggs - Marblehead and Nashua
Murtagh - Bedford
Williams - Hull
Yastrzemski - Dedham and Hartford
MML Players of the Month
LL Hitter - For a rookie just breaking in, Grumpy Jamarauli certainly put together a successful month. It was good enough to win the LL Batter of the Month award for April.
The 21-year-old first baseman for the Watertown Armorers hit .392 with 10 home runs, 21 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
SL Hitter - Even though he is a newcomer to Massachusetts Minor League, Aru Makalapua put up some good numbers in April and earned the SL Batter of the Month award.
He was one of Springfield's offensive leaders with a .360 average in 20 games. He also racked up 5 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 17 runs scored.
LL Pitcher - The premier pitcher this past month in the Legends League was Jakie Zhou of the Bedford Beaneaters. He was one mighty tough pitcher, finishing April with a sensational 4-0 record and a 1.49 ERA.
The Beaneaters star made 5 starts and surrendered 26 hits in 36.1 innings. He struck out 17 and walked 5.
SL Pitcher - Hull Lead Bellies hurler Gatatog Uvenk was rewarded today with the Stars League Pitcher of the Month honors. Uvenk, 26, realizes that pitching isn't all about how hard you can throw, it's about accuracy and about picking yourself up even when you've had a run of bad luck.
"I'd like to say I don't give them anything to hit," said the Hull starter, "but that's not true. Every pitcher gives up a long ball now and then. Usually there's at least one mistake in each at-bat, but you've got to battle through your mistakes and build some positive momentum. The rest will fall into place."
Things did fall into place for Uvenk. In April he took the ball for 38.1 innings while notching 26 strikeouts, a 0.47 ERA and a 3-0 record.
BMU Analysis
The BMU is built for the college selections who are not ready to compete for a CBO shot. While some 18 and 19 year olds play here, many are in the 20-25 range.
There are four solo division leaders:
Dark Hollow Pond - Parsons Asylum
Cambridge - Mystic Pines
Downtown Boston - DB Tech
Glowing Sea - Meriden
BMU Players of the Month
CA Hitter - Dante Joyce made his presence known as one of the best young stars in the Commonwealth Association this past month.
The Parsons Asylum Greasers right fielder shined through the month of April and has won the Batter of the Month award.
The 19-year-old hit .357 with 7 home runs, 12 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
MA Hitter - Troll Pope has a lot going for him. The Westing Estate right fielder just broke into the majors this year and now the Massachusetts Association has just picked him as its top hitter for April.
In 12 games last month this outstanding rookie batted .421 with 5 home runs, 14 RBIs and 9 runs scored.
CA Pitcher - A 4-0 record with a 2.01 ERA is a good month for most any pitcher. The Commonwealth Association thought it was worthy of an award and named B.J. Westing, starter for the Bristol Blitz, April's Pitcher of the Month.
He also held the opposition to a .171 average while posting 12 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.
MA Starter - When Malik Watts takes the hill, there's a good chance for a Meriden victory. At least that's the way it was in May.
He excelled with a 4-0 mark and a 2.08 ERA in 4 starts, tossed 26 innings, fanned 22, and held enemy hitters to a .226 average.
That's why the Attack Dogs star was honored today as the Pitcher of the Month by the Massachusetts Association.
GBRL Analysis
Ah, the youngsters fresh out of the CYL, and a few college players 22 or under. The GBRL is for the "rookies," the players with talent but not yet showing those skills at a major league level. The GBRL is full of potential talent looking to show off what they have, probably for a jump to AA (MML) or A (BMU) later in the season or next.
Division leaders in the GBRL through 16 games are:
Northeast - Augusta
Northwest - Beantown
Southeast - Neponset Park
Southwest - Roadside Pines
GBRL Players of the Month
NL Hitter - Not known for his offensive prowess, Horan Freeman set the league afire in April and took home the North League Batter of the Month award.
The Augusta third baseman posted a steady .446 batting average, 7 home runs, 26 RBIs and 13 runs.
SL Hitter - Aurie Fubini, the Woonsocket third baseman, certainly made a name for himself this past month. He banged out a .431 batting average with 28 hits, 7 home runs, 16 RBIs and scored 19 times.
That kind of hitting earned him the South League Batter of the Month honors for April.
NL Pitcher - When Everton Lance takes the hill, he's a good bet to nail down the victory for the Diamond Island Glowers. At least that's the way it was in May.
He excelled with a 3-0 mark and 2.52 ERA in 4 starts. In 25 innings, he fanned 21 and walked 13.
That's why he was honored today as the Pitcher of the Month by the North League.
SL Pitcher - There's something about a young rookie winning the South League Pitcher of the Month trophy that sends shock waves through the league. Such is the case with Hugh Ironhorse, a 22-year-old starter for the Pioneer Park Hackers.
In April, he topped off the month with a 3-1 mark and 2.57 ERA in 4 starts, tossed 21 innings, fanned 20 and held opposing teams to a .213 average.