As May comes to an end it's already "wait until next year" for teams like Dayton, Poplar Bluff, and Cedar Rapids while other teams still hold out hope for making a run at the top spot. Springfield's youth movement has then a few years ahead of schedule fighting defending HBL Champion Evansville and 1983 South Champion Canton for a spot in the Heartland Series. In the North Duluth continues to surprise everyone but will a season ending injury to the HBL's best closer spell doom for the Danger?
POM: Lee Wilson(DUL) 7 GS, 6-0, 2.53 ERA, 53.1 IP, 41 K
HOM: Rob Clemons(OSH) .349, 9 2B, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 17 RS, 12 BB
ROM: David Rubio(ROC) .333, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 13 RS, 8 BB
POM: Robbie Tyler(SPR) 13 G, 2-0, 10 SVS, 0.00 ERA, 14 IP, 15 K
HOM: John Winters(SPR) .330, 7 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 21 RS, 8 BB
ROM: John Winters(SPR) .330, 7 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 21 RS, 8 BB
News & Notes
-There were eight shut outs in May including a spectacular one hitter by Bay City's Aaron Johnson in a 2-0 win over Cedar Rapids on May 18th.
-Four players had five hit games in May including Duluth's Preston Richards and Mike Young in the same game, an 18-5 smashing of Rochester on May 14th. The Danger would finish the game with 26 hits and 8 bases on balls.
-Ray Gray hit three dingers in an 8-7, 15 inning victory over Duluth on May 8th.
-Canton's Elton Cantwell had his 20 game hitting streak snapped on May 12th by Bay City.
-Springfield rookie John Winters finished the first two months of the season with 10 triples. The record for triples in a single season is 12 done three times.
Key Injuries
-RP Jesus Gonzales(PB) will miss 6 months with a torn UCL
-OF Bryant Parsons(DUL) will miss 6 weeks with a torn ab muscle
-SS Enrique Ortiz(SB) will miss 6 weeks with an oblique strain
-OF Robinson Velazquez(EVA) will miss 4 months with post concussion syndrome
-CL Bakhtiyar Davis(DUL) will miss 5 months with a torn rotator cuff
-SS Benny Hubbard(BC) will miss 6 weeks with a strained groin
-OF Vernon Hall(BC) will miss 5 weeks with a sprained thumb