BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, GBRL, Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 May 2306
The May Super Post
CBO Players of the Month
NCA Hitter - It's perhaps an award he'll win many more times through his career, as at age 23 Baktu DaWell has a lot of baseball ahead of him.
But for now the young Sunshine Tidings Chemists star can enjoy the numbers he put up in April, which have garnered him the nod as the North Charles Association Batter of the Month.
His breakout month featured a .338 average with 14 home runs, 31 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
SCA Hitter - At only 22 years of age, Diamond Ball could very well have many more months like this last one during his career.
That would be great news for fans of the Spectacle Island Reapers, as April was one to remember for the third baseman and he has captured the South Charles Association Batter of the Month award.
On the month he hit .402 with 12 home runs, 24 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
NCA Pitcher - Mike Rubric of Sunshine Tidings had a tremendous April with a 4-1 mark and was chosen the Pitcher of the Month in the North Charles Association.
Rubric restricted opposing hitters to 35 base hits and a .215 batting average. He rang up 29 strikeouts in 45.1 innings of work, surrendered 12 walks, and crafted a 2.18 ERA.
SCA Pitcher - It was a sensational April for Exxie Summerset as he mystified, mesmerized and terrorized opposing batters to capture the South Charles Association Pitcher of the Month trophy.
Summerset locked down a 4-0 mark in 5 starts last month, striking out 28 while walking 11 in 41.2 innings and posting a 1.94 ERA.
NCA Rookie - Youngster Shirt Fowler emerged as the latest North Charles Association Rookie of the Month today. The young man from Lexington deserved the honor, batting .256 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI. Is the month of April a harbinger of things to come or just a fluke? We'll find out someday, but for now, we'll just let Fowler enjoy the limelight.
SCA Rookie - Magnum Peaeye earned April's Rookie of the Month honors in the South Charles Association for last month's performance. The boyish Diamond City right fielder might be wet behind the ears, but he's proving that he has what it takes to play at this level.
Peaeye hit .345 with 5 home runs, 18 RBIs and 14 runs scored this past month on his way to winning the award.
CBO Statistical Leaders
Two hitters dominating statistical categories in the CBO to start the season are RF Baktu DaWell of Sunshine Tidings and SS Nick Maris of Starlight.
DaWell leads the CBO in home runs (14), RBI (31), SLG (.912), OPS (1.398), runs (27), XBH (17, tied), ISO (.575), OPS+ (242), and wOBA (.546).
Maris leads the CBO in average (.449), OBP (.514), WAR (2.3), hits (40), XBH (17, tied), and WPA (2.60).
Alex Alexson of the Killers and Nuke Laloosh of Roxbury are the two pitchers leading most CBO categories.
Alexson is tops in ERA (1.87), ERA+ (252), and Opp Avg (.187).
Laloosh is the CBO leader in wins (5), IP (49.0), K (40), and BB/9 (1.1)
MMYL Analysis
The Massachusetts Minor League has premiered, replacing the Boston Minor Union as the top minor league in 2306. Early division leaders are the Burlington Ferals (Slog) of the Legend League's Wade Boggs Division, the Lynn Fortune Finders (OBE) of the LL's Matt Murtagh Division, the Natick Big Leaguers (DC) of the Stars League's Ted Williams Division, and the Sandwich Bay Snakes (Rox) of the SL's Carl Yastrzemski Division.
MMYL Players of the Month
LL Hitter - Lynn Fortune Finders fans may just have witnessed a star player blossoming before their eyes in April.
Forrest Library put up a remarkable month at the age of 21 and has been named the Legends League Batter of the Month.
For the month, Library hit .483 with 8 home runs, 26 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
SL Hitter - Michaelangelo Sandifer mauled enemy pitching all month long as he cruised to the Stars League Batter of the Month title.
Sandifer batted .418 with 15 home runs, 33 RBIs and 27 runs scored in a April performance that has Natick fans eagerly awaiting what he can do in May.
LL Pitcher - The Legends League named the winner of the Pitcher of the Month Award.
It went to Ed Homestead of Cambridge Coursers, who impressed the voters with a glittering 4-0 record in April.
The Cambridge star hurler made 6 starts, allowed 39 hits in 42.1 innings, struck out 40 and had a 3.61 ERA.
SL Pitcher - The Stars League Pitcher of the Month honor has been given to Van Funky of Sandwich for a superlative month.
"I actually never wanted to be a pitcher," Funky told reporters when asked who he credits for his pitching ability. "I was an outfielder until high school and on the third day of tryouts my coach came up and said, 'Son you couldn't hit a lick even if we put it on a tee for ya.' Well, that ticked me off, so I decided if I couldn't hit I wanted to make sure no one else could either and so here I am."
It all turned out for the best as the Sandwich starter notched a 4-0 record with a 1.70 ERA last month. He made 5 starts and struck out 41 in 37 innings.
BMU Analysis
The BMU is now a AA league, meaning it is on the second level of minor leagues for the CBO. League leaders in the Commonwealth Association are the Revere Beach Celtics (Rox) and Covenant Refractors (V81) of the Dark Hollow Pond League and the Mystic Pines Raybathers (OBE) and Woburn Bobbleheads (CC) of the Cambridge League. League leaders in the Massachusetts Association are the Neponset Park Criticals (SAL) in the Downtown Boston League and the Eastlake Aquaboys (County Crossing) and a four-way tie at 4-6 among the Worcester Cannons, Mayoral Shelter Tricentennials, Mass Pike Radroaches, and CGP Demolitionists in the Glowing Sea League.
BMU Players of the Month
CA Hitter - Even though he is a newcomer to Boston Minor Union, Handel Alone put up some good numbers in April and earned the CA Batter of the Month award.
He was one of Medford's offensive leaders with a .512 average in 10 games. He also racked up 5 home runs, 15 RBIs, and 15 runs scored.
MA Hitter - For a rookie just breaking in, Chris Munsterman certainly put together a successful month. It was good enough to win the MA Batter of the Month award for April.
The 22-year-old first baseman for the Plymouth Pilgrims hit .400 with 9 home runs, 19 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
CA Pitcher - The Commonwealth Association scribes have selected April's Pitcher of the Month and have awarded the honor to Frank Freeman of Revere Beach. He was outstanding on the hill last month and has the numbers to prove it -- a 2-0 record.
The Celtics star performer made 2 starts with a 1.00 ERA and surrendered 14 hits in 18 innings. He struck out 10 and walked 2.
MA Pitcher - The spotlight today is on Sam Hubble of the Neponset Park Criticals. The relief ace was chosen as the #1 pitcher in the Massachusetts Association for April.
He compiled a 2-0 record and an ERA of 1.84 in 14.2 innings with 9 strikeouts. Hubble nailed down 1 save in 1 save opportunity.
GBRL Analysis
Division leaders are the Taffington Boat Spy Hunters (FF) of the Northeast Division, the Belmont Sneakers (ET) of the Northwest Division, the Poseidon Energy Mongrels (V81) of the Southeast Division, and the Westing Estate Gunslingers (BH) in the Southwest Division.
GBRL Players of the Month
NL Hitter - When Paul Jaggers stepped up to the plate in April he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the North League Batter of the Month award.
The young Marblehead first baseman posted a .459 batting average with 8 home runs, 16 RBIs and scored 16 runs. Jaggers also worked pitchers for 10 walks to post a .583 on-base percentage.
SL Hitter - Not known for his offensive prowess, Gussy Busrider set the league afire in April and took home the South League Batter of the Month award.
The Hyde Park catcher posted a steady .444 batting average, 8 home runs, 22 RBIs and 11 runs.
NL Pitcher - The top-rated pitcher this past month in the North League was Closecall Hubb of the Belmont Sneakers. He really dominated league hitters, finishing April with a 3-0 won-lost mark and a 2.25 ERA.
The Sneakers ace made 3 starts and surrendered 24 hits in 24 innings. He struck out 37 and walked 10.
SL Pitcher - Ivan Garza took a much-deserved turn in the spotlight earlier today as he accepted the South League Pitcher of the Month award for April.
The 19-year-old Triggermen starter is a relative newcomer to the league, but nonetheless racked up an impressive 3-0 won-lost record in 3 starts. This month he fanned 19 batters in 22.1 innings and compiled a 2.01 ERA.
BYDL Preview
The BYDL begins its regular season on May 7. Expected division winners are:
NR Benjamin Franklin Division - Concord-Lexington Minuteboys
NR Ralph Waldo Emerson Division - Covenant Dandy Boys
NR Margaret Fuller Division - North Charles Bank Goonies
NR Paul Revere Division - Saugus Launchers
SR Samuel Adams Division - Needham Radstorm
SR Louisa May Alcott Division - Castle Freedom
SR Samuel Morse Division - Andrew Station Southies
SR Crispus Attucks Division - West Quincy Atomatoys
Top hitters in the NR are expected to be 3B Jacob Tarberry of the Goonies, CF Thrifty Iraheta of the Launchers, and 3B Gavin Deux-Gas of the Wattz Ups. Top pitchers are SP Paul Stains of North Charles Bank, SP Sluggo Pyne of the Beantown Brewers, and Sp Oliver Oil of the Fraternity Post 115 Leaders.
In the SR, top hitters are predicted to be CF Missile Crews of the Atomatoys, CF Sack King of the Braintree Schoolboys, and RF Innis Sark of the Spectacle Island Specters. The best pitchers are expected to be SP Clubhouse Treelover of the Weymouth Locksmiths, SP Make Money of the Specters, and SP Dew Ober of the Freedom.
SCYL Preview
There are four teams predicted to make the playoffs in the premier of the Southern Commonwealth Youth League, a merger of the Cape Cod Youth League and Providence Junior Pro League.
The Truro Hatchlings are predicted to win the Cape Cod Bay Division, the Harwich Fishheads are predicted to win the Nantucket Sound Division, the Freeplat Wicked Goods won the Seekonk River Division, and the Brown U Bubblers are predicted to win the Naragansett Bay Division.
Top hitters predicted in the Cape Cod League are LF Watch Estheroots of the Hatchlings, LF Castor Puzzlemaker of the Fishheads, and 3B Kesh Clean of Harwich. Top pitcher picks are SP Sebastian Brakefield of Truro, SP Burt Bloodhound of the Wellfleet Beacons, and SP Lonely Gale of the Provincetown Land Pirates.
Top hitters expected in the Providence League are LF Deez Phantom of the Wicked Goods, 2B Avrusa Sarethi of the Seekonk Quahog, and LF Voldsea Giryon of the Pawtucket Paw Sox. The top expected pitchers are SP Leydon Aigg of the Bubblers, SP Josh Woods of Seekonk, and SP Nervous Patron of Freeplat.
