[luckymann]

No doubt whatsoever that the story of the season so far is the Birmingham Black Barons. Not that they've been dreadful the first two seasons (3rd and 4th, combined 159-165 record), but they certainly seemed some way off from competing.

Not so, apparently, as they are currently 29-21 and on top of the WC National by 3 games. That margin was actually 6 until they lost 3 straight to another surprise packet and their closest rival in the Kansas City Monarchs. With the Black Yankees finally showing the sort of form we've been expecting from them (an EL-best 36-15 record), and the ABCs, Motown Stars and Lincoln Giants all greatly improved to this point, it is looming as a really exciting 1970 campaign, especially if teams like the Bacharach Giants, Buckeyes and Eagles - each of whom have started poorly - find form and move up the standings.




May awards:

• FC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Hank Thompson (Black Yankees) 360 / 8 HR / 23 RBI.
• FC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: CC Sabathia (Black Yankees) 5-1 / 2.61 / 36 K / 51.2 IP.
• FC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Amaury Telemaco (Monarchs) 2-1 / 5.93 / 4 SV / 10 K / 13.2 IP.
• WC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Ozzie Albies (ABCs) 433 / 4 HR / 27 RBI.
• WC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Yovani Gallardo (American Giants) 7-0 / 2.25 / 64 K / 68 IP
• WC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Ozzie Albies (ABCs).

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