BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 July 2311
The July Super Post
CBO Players of the Month
NCA Hitter - When Kilometers Davis stepped up to the plate in June he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the North Charles Association Batter of the Month award.
The young The Slog first baseman posted a .373 batting average with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs and scored 16 runs. Davis also worked pitchers for 9 walks to post a .423 on-base percentage.
In 71 games this season, Davis has compiled a .304 batting average with 82 hits and 18 home runs. He has also scored 46 times and knocked in 54 runs.
SCA Hitter - Stormin Normin MacDonald battered South Charles Association pitchers all June and wound up taking home the Batter of the Month Award.
"I've been around Commonwealth Baseball Organization long enough to know you really have to work hard day in and day out to be able to put up this kind of consistency," the 26-year-old MacDonald told reporters. "I put in a lot of work, even on the days I might not take the field, and it's always nice when everything comes together for me like it did this last month."
In 25 games, MacDonald hit .370 with 8 home runs, 30 RBIs and scored 26 runs.
So far this year, MacDonald has 13 home runs and a .309 batting average.
NCA Pitcher - The North Charles Association scribes have selected June's Pitcher of the Month and have awarded the honor to Cohort Williams of Nahant. He was outstanding on the hill last month and has the numbers to prove it -- a 5-1 record.
The Celtics star performer made 7 starts with a 1.90 ERA and surrendered 38 hits in 42.2 innings. He struck out 31 and walked 9.
This season, Williams has a 10-5 mark in 19 starts with a 3.80 ERA. He has given up 102 hits in 104.1 innings, struck out 72 and issued 38 walks. Opposing clubs have compiled a .260 batting average against him.
SCA Pitcher - Heaven Fontenot certainly found a groove in June. The Goodneighbor starter posted 6 wins last month to easily claim the South Charles Association Pitcher of the Month.
During the month Fontenot was 6-1 with a 0.63 ERA. He made 7 starts, tossed 57 innings and had 35 strikeouts.
This season, Fontenot has worked 149.1 innings with 111 strikeouts en route to a 13-4 record and a 1.75 ERA.
NCA Rookie - In June Elastic Man Haley pitched his way to the North Charles Association Rookie of the Month Award.
He started 7 games, put up a 5-0 record, 3.19 ERA and 34 strikeouts. The Fort Hagen starter also tossed 48 innings and held batters to a .232 batting average.
This season, Haley has compiled a 8-3 record with a 4.22 ERA.
SCA Rookie - Naga Arakaki's eyes seem to light up whenever he sees the baseball. The young Glowing Sea right fielder has been hitting everything in sight for the better part of a month.
In June he was voted the Rookie of the Month.
During the month he hit .312 with 6 doubles, 1 triple and 7 home runs. Arakaki also scored 17 times and drove in 18 runs.
At the moment, Arakaki is batting .323 with 19 home runs and 42 RBIs. He has played in 73 games and scored 45 times.
CBO Updated Top Prospects List
The Top Prospects list was updated on June 22 with the top five being SS Gav Ingidree, Godneighbor; 3B Tommy Whitetiger, Lexington; 2B Will Hell, FHE; CF Candy Kline, Atom; and C Jozie Norwood, FHE.
CBO Draft Pool
With the CYL season now complete, we have some updates on some of the draft pool. We will start looking at the top prospects for the 2311 Draft and update that list and feature more players as we approach the November draft date.
If the draft were to start today, this would be the top five drafting teams:
1. Glowing Sea
2. Southie
3. Concord
4. Easy Town
5. Cambridge
Five top prospects to watch:
1. CF Eden Babz, SR, Weymouth Locksmiths - One of the Babz twins, Eden is the speedier of the two brothers. Babz can cover just about everything in the outfield and can swipe a base when necessary. While he may never progress into a true power hitter, Babz makes excellent contact and just needs to work on his patience at the plate. He appears to hate to walk when at bat, something that he has to learn will benefit his team.
2. LF Campy Madrid, SR, Pawtucket Paw Sox - Madrid saw his production drop a bit in his senior year, but scouts think he could be the best pure contact hitter in the 2311 Draft. Scouts like his ability to find open spots in the field when at bat, using shifting defenses to his advantage.
3. 3B Mike Fountaineau, SR, Wareham Comets - Where Madrid is a contact hitter, Fountaineau checks the boxes as a power hitter. He hit at least 20 home runs all four seasons with the Comets, the last three being a part of the CYL where he now ranks 52nd all-time. He would be 11th if his freshman season counted.
4. RF Cupper Galvan, SR, Wareham Comets - Fountaineau's teammate, Galvan did not hit as many home runs, but he can also bomb the ball, hitting 30 in his sophomore season. Galvan has good contact skills, too, helping him to find the sweet spot on many swings. He is fun to watch in batting practice.
5. 1B Hammer Longball, SR, Brockton Claws - Longball chose his name because he was born as a powerful kid. He has a consistent swing that is always looking for the home run. At the next level, he will need to cut down on his strikeouts to avoid being a .200 hitter.
MML Analysis
We are now in the final 32 days of the regular season. Division leaders are the Watertown Armorers, Finch Farm Shamrocks, Worcester Cannons, and Castle Strength. The Cannons are in the only true division race right now, leading the Needham Archers by just a game with the Archers currently on a six-game winning streak.
MML Players of the Month
LL Hitter - Yip Yick Ping made his presence known as one of the best young stars in the Legends League this past month.
The Medford Medics first baseman shined through the month of June and has won the Batter of the Month award.
The 22-year-old hit .462 with 13 home runs, 25 RBIs and 25 runs scored.
In this current campaign Ping is hitting at a .372 clip with 31 home runs and 73 RBIs.
SL Hitter - Worcester left fielder Gunner Eyesocket was certainly bad news for pitchers in the month of June. He wore them out, going 39 for 93, and was rewarded with the Stars League Batter of the Month award.
He hit .419 with 12 home runs, 27 RBIs and scored 30 runs.
So far this season, Eyesocket has hit .378 with 27 home runs, 75 RBIs and scored 76 times.
LL Pitcher - David Coocoo of the Danvers Sonics outdistanced his peers on the mound this month. He fashioned a fine 5-0 won-lost mark and 3.54 ERA in 6 starts to get the Legends League Pitcher of the Month honors.
Coocoo had a very impressive June, finishing with 46 strikeouts in 48.1 innings and holding opposing hitters to a .230 average.
Up to now Coocoo has compiled an ERA of 6.48 with a 7-5 mark over 18 starts. He has 98 strikeouts in 116.2 innings and has held opponents to a .291 batting average.
SL Pitcher - Billy Faulkner dazzled opponents on his way to the Stars League Pitcher of the Month award for June.
Posting a 4-0 record and a 1.88 ERA, the Braintree Robobrains starter held opposing hitters to a .234 batting average while striking out 34 in 38.1 innings and giving up 16 walks.
This season, Faulkner has fashioned a 8-7 mark and 4.57 ERA in 122 innings. Opposing clubs are batting .272 against him and he has logged 104 strikeouts.
BMU Analysis
There are just three weeks remaining in the 2311 regular season. Leagues are mostly tight with the Winchester Bashers holding the largest lead of five games. In the Dark Hollow Pond League, the Covenant Refractors and Taffington Boathouse Spy Hunter are tied. In the Massachusetts Association, the Hull Lead Bellies and Hyde Park Stingwings each lead their league in tight races. The Stingwings lead the Mayor Shelter Tricentennials by just a game.
BMU Players of the Month
CA Hitter - It's perhaps an award he'll win many more times through his career, as at age 20 Pockets Wrench has a lot of baseball ahead of him.
But for now the young Covenant Refractors star can enjoy the numbers he put up in June, which have garnered him the nod as the Commonwealth Association Batter of the Month.
His breakout month featured a .396 average with 11 home runs, 27 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
So far this year in 34 games, Wrench is hitting .380 with 14 home runs, 33 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
MA Hitter - Forest Grove Pugilists fans may just have witnessed a star player blossoming before their eyes in June.
Jouane Manette put up a remarkable month at the age of 22 and has been named the Massachusetts Association Batter of the Month.
For the month, Manette hit .395 with 8 home runs, 22 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
This year, Manette is hitting at a .302 pace with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs. He has played in 67 games and scored 38 times.
CA Pitcher - When the Bashers skipper wrote Maiden on the lineup card, it was a bad omen for the opposition. Outing after outing in June he took command and usually got the win.
He dominated with a 6-1 mark and 1.96 ERA in 7 starts. The gifted Bashers star pitched 55 innings, fanned 30 and held opposing teams to a .226 average.
For his excellent mound work Maiden was named the CA Pitcher of the Month by the baseball writers.
This season in 17 starts, Iron Maiden has a record of 11-4 with 73 strikeouts in 126.2 innings and a 2.98 ERA.
MA Pitcher - June's #1 hurler was Mean David Green of Hull. He gunned down Massachusetts Association hitters the whole month and claimed the Pitcher of the Month award. The Lead Bellies star piled up 5 wins and no losses to take the honor.
The 21-year-old Green added 25 strikeouts in 51 innings and 5 walks to his season record and compiled a 1.41 ERA. Other clubs hit .267 against him.
In 18 starts this season, Green has recorded a 9-3 record and a 2.41 ERA.
GBRL Analysis
There is some craziness happening in the GBRL with three teams currently in a 12-game or more winning streak. The Greater Mass Vans are on an 18-game winning streak and own the league's best record at 61-9. Their Southwest Division mates, the Roadside Pines Cosmos are on a 12-game winning streak to trail by one game.
In the Northwest Division, the Union Hope Lifegivers are on a 17-game winning streak to take a nine-game lead. In the Northeast, the Croup Manor Inspectors lead the Greentop Nursery Night People by just a game, while the Southeast Division is tied between the Big John Salvagers and Poseidon Energy Mongrels.
GBRL Players of the Month
NL Hitter - Not known for his offensive prowess, Josh Tall set the league afire in June and took home the North League Batter of the Month award.
The Kingsport third baseman posted a steady .319 batting average, 17 home runs, 41 RBIs and 25 runs.
Tall is currently batting .303 with 30 home runs, 52 runs scored and 76 RBIs. His OBP is .389.
SL Hitter - Greater Mass Vans fans believe they've got a talented young star in Jozie Newroad.
He did nothing to dissuade that notion in June, as he hit .395 with 14 home runs, 41 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
The end result was the catcher being named the South League Batter of the Month.
Thus far this year, Newroad has hit .372 with 29 home runs and 74 RBIs.
NL Pitcher - Dew Ober will be bringing June's North League Pitcher of the Month trophy home to Union Hope. He excelled all month long as he kept opposing hitters guessing, reaching and hoping.
Ober started 7 games, going 6-0 with 73 strikeouts in 53 innings as he compiled his 1.53 ERA.
This season, Ober has 9 wins and 6 losses and a 3.91 ERA.
SL Pitcher - The South League announced the winner of the Pitcher of the Month Award for June.
It went to Culhwch Olwen of Greater Mass for his outstanding 6-0 record and 1.51 ERA.
Olwen also chalked up 6 starts, 47.2 innings and 66 strikeouts.
So far this year, Olwen has compiled a 13-2 record with a 2.17 ERA.
CCBL Analysis
The Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League concludes later today, so we will feature the analysis on Monday, June 3, to go with the CBO analysis.
CCBL Players of the Month
Hitter - Jack of Diamonds Cordero may be much younger than other hitters in the Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League, but he performed like a seasoned veteran in June to win the Batter of the Month award.
The 19-year-old Holy Cross second baseman hit .474 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
Thus far this year, Cordero is hitting .441 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs and 77 runs scored.
Pitcher - June was a magical month for Frank Heart of Mass Bay University. He held the Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League hitters spellbound, conjuring up a 6-1 mark and a 2.42 ERA.
Heart also chalked up 7 starts, 48.1 innings and 37 strikeouts.
For this outstanding performance he was rewarded with the Pitcher of the Month trophy.
This season, Heart has a 14-2 record with a 3.12 ERA.