Delaware Conference
Batter of the Month: Bruce Walker, Lewes Braves
When guys like Lewes's Bruce Walker win Batter of the Month awards, it just makes you feel good. In a productive May, the longtime Delaware Conference veteran toyed with opposing pitchers all month long, collecting 48 hits in 110 at-bats. The veteran first baseman hit for a .436 batting average and collected 5 home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
Pitcher of the Month: Cesar Morales, Wilmington Iron Pigs
César Morales has been around the league long enough to know that relievers are often overlooked. That has never stopped him from doing what he does best -- and he did it extremely well in May and stole away with the Delaware Conference Pitcher of the Month award. The Iron Pigs bullpen ace collected 10 saves and 20 strikeouts in 15.2 innings, holding the opposition to a .185 average and posting a 1.72 ERA and a 2-0 record.
Rookie of the Month: Cody Patton, Georgetown Sixteens
The whole town is celebrating today in Georgetown as Cody Patton has just been awarded May's Delaware Conference Rookie of the Month trophy. The standout rookie second baseman took the award by rapping out 38 hits in 112 at-bats for a .339 batting average. During the month he collected no home runs, drove in 10 runs and scored 18 times.
MarVa Conference
Batter of the Month: Anthony Cunningham, Ocean City Tourists
May was a very productive month for Anthony Cunningham, and today the Ocean City first baseman was rewarded with the MarVa Conference Batter of the Month honors. He clobbered enemy hurlers for a .407 average, 9 home runs, and 26 RBIs and scored 27 runs.
Pitcher of the Month: Kyle Brown, Washington Senators
Kyle Brown hasn't been around the big leagues long enough to know that youngsters shouldn't be winning MarVa Conference Pitcher of the Month. But when you put up numbers like his, you're going to get some notice. In May the Washington starter earned a 5-0 mark in 6 starts. He threw 44.2 innings, struck out 24 and compiled a solid 3.02 ERA.
Rookie of the Month: Totoya Ogawa, Chesapeake Blue Crabs*
Hot-hitting Totoya Ogawa of the Chesapeake Blue Crabs garnered the Rookie of the Month honors for May in the MarVa Conference. Posting a .370 average last month, he collected 37 hits, 9 home runs, 20 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
*Last month Tomas Reyes won the award this month Totoy Ogawa, these are the only 2 International Free Agents that signed this season. Might be a little competition for the Rookie of the Year.
League Leaders (as of June 1st)
* means new leader for the month
Delaware Division:
AVG: Bruce Walker (Lewes Braves) .403
HR: Billy Moore (Milford Clippers) 19
RBI: Billy Moore (Milford Clippers) 46*
SB: Kevin Norris (Milford Clippers) 14
W: Marcos Estrada (Wilmington Iron Pigs) 9*
ERA: James McLaughlin (Newark Miller) 1.82*
K: Marcos Estrada (Wilmington Iron Pigs) 76*
SV: Otik Duffek (Milford Clippers) 18
Marva Division:
AVG: Cliff Jones (Washington Senators) .382
HR(t): Anthony Cunningham (Ocean City Tourists)/Francisco Reyes (Ocean City Tourists)/Abraham Thomas (Washington Senators) 16*
RBI: Abraham Thomas (Washington Senators) 52*
SB: Ron Alder (Norfolk Cavaliers) 18 (only 4 last month)
W: Tsuneo Sato (Norfolk Cavaliers) 8
ERA: Kyle Brown (Washington Senators) 3.17*
K: Barney Butler (Washington Senators) 63
SV(t): Bill Fox (Ocean City Tourists)/Manuel Martinez (Chesapeake Blue Crabs) 15*
Standings as of June 1
The Lewes Braves continue to hold on to a 2-game lead, bu the Milton Brewers are still fighting. The Souther Division should come down to a 2-team battle, and right now it looks like Lewes would be the favorite. A long-shot would be Georgetown, after an awful first month, they turned it up a little bit. Its a long shot, but anything is possible... Over in the Northern Division its anyones guess as to who is going to pull this one out. Newark went from 3 down to 3 up, and New Castle went from 3 up to 3 down. Three games separte the four teams, don't be surprised if it stays like this all season... In the Eastern Division, the Blue Crabs and Admirals are fighting away, but the Tourists are lingering around. Their offense says they will be in it all season. The Barons, eventhough only 9 out, don't have enough to compete at this time... And the Western Division is going to be a two team race with the Norfolk Cavaliers and Washington Senators. This should be a season long battle. Richmond and Ellicott City will be playing the role of spoiler.
Norfolk Cavaliers May Recap
We followed a 16-6 April up with a 15-12 May, which isn't too bad. I would like to think we had a much tougher schedule in May. But our batters just didn't hit the ball as well. We dropped from #1 in runs scored to #3 that makes a huge difference. Our batters came out swinging and have slightly cooled. Noticed no .300 hitter at this time... Our pitchers did pretty good in May as they remained in the top 2 of the pitching categories. And our defense is back to playing over .700 Defensive Efficiency... What I would like to see moving forward is Brian Cline and Jose Rodriquez to warm up. They are both on pace to just about match what they did last season, but I would like to see some growth. Maybe I am asking for too much...
What I would like to see in June:
Pablo Freitas raise his average currently he is hitting .250.
Don Sweetapple get 3 wins, currently he is 2-2 with the 2nd best ERA in the league.
Edgar Matsuda pitch better. Highest ERA in the bullpen.
Trade material?
Carlos Rodriquez, our closer, lower his walk per/9 rating, currently 8.16
The draft is up next, then June, we have a couple of tough series coming up, so it should be an interesting month...