Complete Challenger League Coverage Weeks 7 and 8
The Pailyn Panthers have opened a 4 game lead over their closes competition, thanks to a 6-2 record over the last two weeks. The Panthers’ run has come in large part thanks to their pitching, where they dominate in almost all categories.
MVP Watch
The season has yet to reach the half-way point, but the race for MVP may quickly be wrapping up. Michael Attrill of the Opadea Galaxy is having the year to end all years. The young center fielder is hitting .392 with 14 homers and 34 RBIs. He leads the league in Slugging, OPS, Hits, Home Runs, Runs scored, Extra Base Hits, and Total bases. Attrill was the number 1 overall selection 3 years ago, and has proven time and again that he deserved that selection. Attrill is eligible for arbitration after this season, but the Galaxy are expected to try and offer him a long term deal before that happens.
Logjam at the top
With the Panthers threatening to leave the field in the dust, the focus turns to 2nd through 4th place, the other teams that will qualify for the post season and have a chance to be promoted. Right now, there are 5 teams tied for those three spots. The Kyros Storm are the newest and maybe most unexpected team to join the party, as they were projected to finish at the bottom of the table in the pre-season polls.
Benches Clear
Tensions ran high when Lion’s reliever John Carvalho lost control of a fastball and hit Ron Nolten of the Opadea Galaxy in his upper back near the neck. Nolten took exception and charged the mound, causing the benches to clear. The two took swings at each other, but no major damage was done. The league has announced that both Nolten and Carvalho will be suspended for 6 games. The loss is bigger for the Galaxy, as Nolten is hitting a sliver over 300 with 7 homers and 32 RBIs.
Key matchup of the week
The Tawa Archers look to secure their position atop the table and help reel in the league leaders as they take on the Pailyn Panthers this week.
Full CCL standings through week 8 of 19
