June 1, 2018
Code:
Team W L Pct GB Stk L10
Elliott Springs 33 20 .623 - W1 6-4
Lorris 31 22 .585 2.0 W3 6-4
Silver Beach 31 22 .585 2.0 W4 7-3
Gentry Hills 25 26 .490 7.0 L3 5-5
Allison 25 29 .463 8.5 W1 6-4
Tifton 23 28 .451 9.0 L1 2-8
Deepvale 22 32 .407 11.5 L1 5-5
Marsein 20 31 .392 12.0 L5 3-7
League News
It's quickly turning into a three-team race at the top of the standings. The Tornadoes suffered a 5-game losing streak midmonth that allowed the Greens and Whales to sneak up the standings and close the gap a little, but they're the only three teams above .500 just over halfway through the 2018 season.
How are the Greens doing it? Remember, this is the team that won the very first Bay League title, and promptly sank into the cellar the following year. This turns out to be an extremely well-balanced team. Offensively, they're first or second in the league in nearly every category, thanks to huge seasons from
Tega Smith,
Cliff Rock,
Aaron Thomas and unknown
Marlon Nelson, all of whom have OPS over .900. Smith in particular is leading the race for Top Batter honors, hitting .389/.491/.622 with 20 steals in 25 tries. The 25-year old Nelson is a particular surprise. Picked up in a quiet trade with Deepvale before the season, he hit a miserable .194/.247/.403 in 310 AB for the Ferrymen last season. Plenty of power, but loads of strikeouts and no contact. He's cut down a bit on his strikeouts and as a result is making a lot more contact, hitting a robust .346/.381/.554 and putting that power to good use.
It's not just offense for the Greens though. They've allowed the fewest runs in the league, behind 24-year old ace
Michael Marek (11-2, 2.56). Their bullpen outside of closer
Brandon Watkins has been miserable, or they might well be in first place in the standings as well. The starters, outside of the struggling
Dalonte Morrison, have been top-notch.
Mike Woollum (5-4, 3.24) and
Carlin Bonner (7-4, 3.47) have provided terrific support to Marek in the #1 spot. Lorris fans have to be especially happy with Woollum, considering the Greens traded
Shawn Dawson to get him. The 25-year old Dawson (6-4, 3.62), now pitching for the Tifton Generals, looks like one of the future superstars of the league.
There's good news and bad news in Allison. First baseman
Walter Sebring was named player of the week two straight weeks in the Bay League, and is enjoying a career year in his 4th season. Sebring, still just 21, is hitting .333/.462/.588 on the season and is on pace to set career highs in nearly every statistic. Unfortunately, his infield mate,
Alton Strong, who had been keeping pace right with him, hurt his knee on the 27th and will be out at least 3 weeks. Strong was also in the midst of a career year, hitting .347/.440/.636. The Spelunkers, already thin in the lineup, will have to scramble to make up Strong's production and try to claw back into the race.
Monthly Awards
Batter of the Month: Tega Smith (LOR): .453/.568/.653, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 24 runs, 11 SB.
Pitcher of the Month: Michael Marek (LOR): 4-1, 1.88, 9 BB, 37 K, 43.0 IP.
League Leaders
Code:
Batting Average Stolen Bases
B. Dixon (GEN) .393 T. Smith (LOR) 20
T. Smith (LOR) .389 C. Rock (LOR) 19
J. Lutz (DPV) .376 R. Isenhour (ESP) 16
OPS ERA
T. Smith (LOR) 1.113 J. Thompson (TIF) 2.13
A. Strong (ALL) 1.076 J. Chambers (DPV) 2.36
S. Underwood (TIF) 1.053 M. Marek (LOR) 2.56
Home Runs Wins
W. Sebring (ALL) 14 M. Marek (LOR) 11
A. Strong (ALL) 14 F. Wise (ESP) 11
H. Land (ESP) 13 B. Earl (GEN) 10
RBI Strikeouts
A. Strong (ALL) 50 M. Marek (LOR) 126
R. Gomes (ESP) 44 G. Williams (MAR) 110
H. Land (ESP) 42 K. Richardson (ALL) 101
J. Sowder (ALL) 42
Runs Scored
J. Anderson (ALL) 44
W. Sebring (ALL) 44
T. Smith (LOR) 44