[EMSoccerCoach]

September 29-October 5, 2014
FINAL STANDINGS

Northern League Standings
East	W	L	PCT	GB
New York Heroes	97	65	.599	-
Louisville Racers	80	82	.494	17.0
Charlotte Cougars	79	83	.488	18.0
Philadelphia Ringers	77	85	.475	20.0
Boston Riders	74	88	.457	23.0
West	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago Hitmen	106	56	.654	-
Sacramento Stingers	89	73	.549	17.0
Wichita Brigade	86	76	.531	20.0
Indianapolis Engines	75	87	.463	31.0
Milwaukee Bangers	50	112	.309	56.0

Southern League Standings
East	W	L	PCT	GB
New Orleans Knights	102	60	.630	-
Memphis Strummers	92	70	.568	10.0
Orlando Orcas	86	76	.531	16.0
Alabama Airmen	82	80	.506	20.0
St. Louis Tides	68	94	.420	34.0
West	W	L	PCT	GB
Arizona Sandmen	92	70	.568	-
San Antonio Sheriffs	82	80	.506	10.0
Los Angeles Idols	78	84	.481	14.0
Las Vegas Bosses	72	90	.444	20.0
Oklahoma City Scorpions	53	109	.327	39.0

Pineiro Twirls Ringers to Shutout Victory
Tuesday, September 30th, 2014: Philadelphia starter Joel Pineiro really did a number on the Stingers today, shutting them out 8-0 on 4 hits in a complete game victory. He issued 2 walks and had 2 strikeouts.

In his postgame comments, the Sacramento manager said, "We didn't have good at-bats. I don't make excuses, but when we were playing the game, our energy didn't show. That comes from either extremely good pitching or extremely lousy hitting... seeing as our team has a bunch of pretty good hitters, I have to tip my cap to Joel... he did an outstanding job today."

This year Pineiro has gone 14-9 with an ERA of 2.78 and has 105 strikeouts in 233 innings.

Sam Thompson Shelved by Injury
Wednesday, October 1st, 2014: Injuries are something every team has to deal with. But with the playoffs set to begin in less than a week, the timing couldn't be worse for New Orleans, which will be without Sam Thompson because of a strained oblique. He's considered doubtful for the first-round matchup against Arizona.

To date this season Thompson is hitting .275 with 19 home runs.

Ford at His Best, Blanks Las Vegas Wednesday, October 1st, 2014: The Las Vegas Bosses had no answer today for Airmen pitcher Russ Ford. They failed to score a single run against him, losing 3-0. Las VegasFord and suffered 6 strikeouts. On the season Ford has 6 wins and 4 losses and a 4.24 ERA.

5 Hits for Orcas Easterly Thursday, October 2nd, 2014: The Orcas tripped up the Sheriffs 20-5 today, led by Ted Easterly, their 25-year-old catcher. He tagged San Antonio pitching for 5 hits, making life miserable for them the entire game. Easterly singled in the 1st, grounded out in the 2nd, walked in the 3rd, hit a two-run single in the 4th, singled in the 6th, hit a two-run double in the 7th and singled in the 9th. For the year Easterly has hit .383 with no home runs, 12 RBIs and scored 9 runs.

Alabama No Match for Bond
Thursday, October 2nd, 2014: In a very sharp performance at The Air Field Tommy Bond of the Las Vegas Bosses blanked the Alabama Airmen 3-0. He permitted 6 hits and finished with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk in the Bosses victory.

Bond has a 13-15 season record so far. In 34 starts, he has fanned 182 batters in 274.2 innings with a 4.52 ERA.

Boston's Bender Shuts Out Engines Thursday, October 2nd, 2014: Chief Bender of the Boston Riders really strutted his stuff on the mound today with a 1-0 victory. He was almost untouchable, bewildering the Indianapolis Engines with a 2-hit shutout in which he struck out 7 and gave up 2 walks. This year Bender has compiled a 16-12 mark with a 2.82 ERA.

Willis Guns Down Arizona
Friday, October 3rd, 2014: Dontrelle Willis of the New Orleans Knights just toyed with the Arizona Sandmen today, blanking them 6-0. He was almost untouchable, baffling them on a 4-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks.

"I'm sweating now because it's hot in here," Willis said in the clubhouse after the game. "But it didn't even feel like I was sweating out there."

One of his teammates said it was easy to play behind him today. "It was like he's just playing with the hitters and doing whatever he wanted to do."

So far this season Willis has a record of 23-7 with 129 strikeouts and 60 walks in 263 innings and a 2.94 ERA.

Rudolph Twirls Sheriffs to Shutout Win
Saturday, October 4th, 2014: Dick Rudolph went the distance at Ballpark of San Antonio today. The San Antonio hurler yielded 6 hits, walked 1 and had 3 strikeouts in the Sheriffs 7-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Idols.

This year Rudolph has posted a 10-14 mark in 28 starts and has a 4.69 ERA.

Mickey Lolich Blanks Arizona
Saturday, October 4th, 2014: The Sandmen were no match for Mickey Lolich of the New Orleans Knights. He totally shut down Arizona at The Dune. In the 1-0 win, Lolich tossed a 6-hitter, struck out 5, and walked 2.

This season Lolich has fanned 103 in 185.1 innings and collected a 12-10 record with a 4.03 ERA.

McLain Toys with St. Louis
Saturday, October 4th, 2014: Denny McLain of the Orlando Orcas blanked St. Louis 3-0 on 5 hits. He rang up 3 strikeouts, keeping batters off balance all day long.

This year McLain has a 12-11 record with a 3.83 ERA.

Gross Tags Engines for 5 Hits
Sunday, October 5th, 2014: It seemed that Sacramento third baseman Wayne Gross could do no wrong as the Stingers kayoed the Engines 8-7 today as he rapped out 5 hits in 5 at-bats. Indianapolis pitchers couldn't get him out as Gross seemed to know which pitches they were throwing.

"I think the Stingers were stealing signs," growled one unhappy Indianapolis

"I just felt good today. I saw the ball well and just wanted to make good contact and put the ball in play," said the jubilant Gross in the postgame press interview.

Gross hit an RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, singled in the 4th, singled in the 6th and doubled in the 8th.

This season in 117 games, Gross has hit at a .241 clip with 92 hits, 9 home runs, 52 RBIs and 39 runs scored.