[EMSoccerCoach]

September 15-September 21, 2014

Northern League Standings
East	W	L	PCT	GB
New York Heroes	90	59	.604	-
Louisville Racers	74	75	.497	16.0
Charlotte Cougars	73	76	.490	17.0
Philadelphia Ringers	72	77	.483	18.0
Boston Riders	67	82	.450	23.0
West	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago Hitmen	97	52	.651	-
Sacramento Stingers	82	67	.550	15.0
Wichita Brigade	79	70	.530	18.0
Indianapolis Engines	72	77	.483	25.0
Milwaukee Bangers	42	107	.282	55.0

Southern League Standings
East	W	L	PCT	GB
New Orleans Knights	96	53	.644	-
Memphis Strummers	82	67	.550	14.0
Orlando Orcas	79	70	.530	17.0
Alabama Airmen	77	72	.517	19.0
St. Louis Tides	62	87	.416	34.0
West	W	L	PCT	GB
Arizona Sandmen	86	63	.577	-
San Antonio Sheriffs	74	75	.497	12.0
Los Angeles Idols	73	76	.490	13.0
Las Vegas Bosses	66	83	.443	20.0
Oklahoma City Scorpions	47	102	.315	39.0

Jones Smacks 5 Hits for Sandmen
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014: Nobody can fault Ruppert Jones for the Sandmen 7-6 loss to the Engines at Sounders Ballpark. The Arizona center fielder played a whale of a game against Indianapolis by going 5-for-5.

Jones singled in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th, singled in the 7th and singled in the 10th.

Presently Jones is hitting .271 with 10 home runs and 62 RBIs. He has played in 137 games and scored 63 times.

Burns Pitches Oklahoma City to Shutout
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014: Oklahoma City rode the magical arm of Britt Burns in a 2-0 shutout win over Wichita. He shackled them on 3 hits and fanned 4. Almost to a man, the Wichita Brigade said he had them guessing wrong all game long.

Burns is 5-16 with a 4.38 ERA.

Las Vegas 3B Allen Done For Season
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014: Another injury blow for Dick Allen today, this time a serious one, as team doctors confirmed he suffered a ruptured medial collateral ligament. Doctors hope Allen will be ready for next season, but it's possible the recovery could linger into early 2015.

This year Allen is batting .297 with 129 hits and 14 home runs. He has scored 55 times and has batted in 70 runs.

Joe Morgan Tears Hammy, Season Over
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014: The New York Heroes were dealt a severe blow when Joe Morgan was hurt running the bases recently in a game against the New Orleans Knights. After the game, the team trainer reported Morgan might have to spend a lengthy time on the disabled list. Today doctors confirmed it, ruling the 21-year-old second baseman out for the rest of the season with a hamstring strain. They indicated it would take Morgan at least 4 weeks to heal.

Morgan said he'll be back during the playoffs, which if the doctors are correct would mean the Heroes would have to be in the PBL Championship Series.

So far this year Morgan is hitting .280 with 8 home runs.

Memphis' Charleston Injured, Out of Lineup
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014: It's been an injury plagued season for Oscar Charleston, who will likely be shelved the final two weeks with a strained oblique. The team did not announce any roster moves today related to this injury. The Memphis skipper told BNN that personnel decisions would be announced as early as tomorrow.

This year Charleston is batting .343 with 15 home runs.

Lawrence Blanks Milwaukee
Wednesday, September 17th, 2014: It was a razor-sharp performance by Brian Lawrence of the Los Angeles Idols against the Milwaukee Bangers. He fashioned a fine 4-hitter in blanking them 5-0 and chalked up 3 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Presently Lawrence has an 11-9 mark in 25 starts with a 4.07 ERA. He has given up 204 hits in 183.1 innings, struck out 70 and issued 38 walks. Opposing clubs have compiled a .283 batting average against him.

Bosses Shut out by Buffinton
Wednesday, September 17th, 2014: The Las Vegas Bosses struggled at the plate today against Engines hurler Charlie Buffinton, who shackled them on 5 hits while hurling a complete game 2-0 shutout.

"What can you say? We didn't hit well," said the Bosses skipper in his postgame comments.

"Hopefully we shake this off and bounce back tomorrow."

Buffinton finished the game with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks in an excellent mound performance.

"He pitched real well," his manager said. "Charlie made pitches when he had to. He hit his spots and did a great job of mixing in his changeup and using his fastball effectively."

This season Buffinton has a 13-10 record with a 4.25 ERA.

Justin Morneau Out For Season
Wednesday, September 17th, 2014: Dealing with injuries is part of the game and now Justin Morneau of the Stingers knows this firsthand. He was injured against the Oklahoma City Scorpions while running the bases. Diagnosed as a sprained ankle, the Sacramento first baseman is expected to be placed on the DL, ending his season. Morneau was a little upset, but understands it comes with the territory. "Baseball can be a contact sport. You try to be careful, but no matter how careful you are, injuries happen."

This season in 143 games Morneau is batting .263 with 19 home runs, 72 RBIs and has scored 73 times.

Cobb Strokes 5 Hits
Thursday, September 18th, 2014: The Idols tripped up the Bangers 14-6 today, led by Ty Cobb, their 19-year-old right fielder. He tagged Milwaukee

Cobb singled in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, singled in the 4th, hit an RBI double in the 4th, grounded out in the 7th and singled in the 9th.

This season Cobb is hitting .365 with 197 hits, 4 home runs, 63 RBIs, scored 85 runs and played in 131 games.

CF Stan Musial Out
Thursday, September 18th, 2014: The Indianapolis Engines will lose the services of center fielder Stan Musial after he sustained a torn meniscus while making a defensive play in today's game against the Las Vegas Bosses. "I'll get through it," Musial said. "The key now is to stay positive."

Musial will need minor surgery, but is expected to be ready to go for spring training.

This season Musial is hitting at a .322 pace with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs and has scored 46 times.

Rollins Socks it to Bosses, Cracks 5 Hits
Sunday, September 21st, 2014: What a day for Jimmy Rollins of the Alabama Airmen! A 5-hit hitting spree! That doesn't happen every day. He ripped Las Vegas pitching apart at The Pit. He wrote his name in the record books, finishing his special day 5 for 8. But the Bosses spoiled his party by winning the game 5-4.

The Alabama shortstop confessed, "I would have much preferred getting a couple of hits and winning the game to this. It's hard to enjoy anything when you lose."

His skipper said, "It's a shame that we couldn't have won the game. A guy gets a once-in-a-lifetime game and can't really enjoy it."

But he was upbeat enough to talk about his basic theory of hitting. "I'm usually a first ball hitter," Rollins told reporters. "I think pitchers think batters are going to let the first one go by. I never do. I've always found that it's better to pull the trigger early in the count. Pitchers get real nasty when they get ahead of you, so I try to avoid that."

Rollins singled in the 2nd, grounded out in the 4th, hit a solo-shot off Juan Cruz in the 6th, singled in the 8th, grounded out in the 10th, grounded out in the 12th, singled in the 15th and singled in the 18th.

So far this year in 128 games Rollins is hitting .232 with 8 home runs, 41 RBIs and 58 runs scored.

suffered the injury running the bases. Although officials from the pitching for 5 hits, making life miserable for them the entire game.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ringers Jones NL Hitter of the Week
Monday, September 22nd, 2014: Charley Jones is respected by most Philadelphia Ringers fans for his no-frills style of play. The 31-year-old left fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Northern League Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .480 average (12-25) with 5 home runs, 11 RBIs and 7 runs scored.

For the year Jones is batting .259 with 34 home runs.

SL's #1 Player Named
Monday, September 22nd, 2014: It's always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got. Ty Cobb, the Los Angeles Idols 19-year-old right fielder, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for Southern League Player of the Week honors.

He ripped 17 hits in 30 at-bats, compiling a .567 average with 1 home run and 6 RBIs.

To date Cobb has chalked up a .369 average with 4 home runs, driven in 67 runs and scored 89 times.