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Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, APL, NWLR, and BBL Leagues
by Evan Guy
1 August 2311
Wild, Orange Lead Divisions
With just 14 games remaining in the 2311 regular season, the Wild Gatorclaws and Orange Tourists are division leaders. Wild currently has a seven-game lead, giving them a Magic # of 8. Meanwhile, the Tourists lead Cherry by just a game with Dark three games back and Quartz four back in a tight division.
It's perhaps an award he'll win many more times through his career, as at age 25 Fried Tatos Smith has a lot of baseball ahead of him.
But for now the young Wild Gatorclaws star can enjoy the numbers he put up in July, which have garnered him the nod as the Nuka World League Batter of the Month.
His breakout month featured a .553 average with 4 home runs, 24 RBIs and 26 runs scored.
So far this season, Smith has recorded a .432 batting average with 128 hits, 7 home runs, 47 RBIs, 60 runs scored and a .449 OBP.
The Quartz Star Force celebrated today after the news filtered through the clubhouse that Tumble Viera had been selected as July's Nuka World League Pitcher of the Month. Viera's zest for the game has been a frequent topic on the sports pages and his numbers of late have made his fans even more enthusiastic.
"Our coaching staff really helps me prepare well," Viera said, "and the fans feed off good pitching. Your pitches just seem to have that extra pop to them when the fans are behind you and you feel confident you can get outs."
Viera tossed 46.2 innings last month, holding opponents to a .184 average while striking out 27 batters. In 7 starting assignments he came away with a 4-1 record, putting together an ERA of 2.12.
This year, Viera has compiled a 8-5 mark with a 2.58 ERA.
Fried Tatos Smith's eyes seem to light up whenever he sees the baseball. The young Wild right fielder has been hitting everything in sight for the better part of a month.
In July he was voted the Rookie of the Month.
During the month he hit .553 with 12 doubles, 3 triples and 4 home runs. Smith also scored 26 times and drove in 24 runs.
On the year, Smith has hit .432 with 7 home runs, 47 RBIs and scored 60 runs.
In the Amusement Park League, both the Kiddie Kingdom Cappies and Nuka Town Operators have comfortable leads. The Cappies are up by seven games with a Magic # of 8. The Operators are up by six games with a Magic # of 9.
Elijah de Love may be much younger than other hitters in the Amusement Park League, but he performed like a seasoned veteran in July to win the Batter of the Month award.
The 23-year-old Galactic Zone first baseman hit .423 with 9 home runs, 17 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
For the season, de Love is batting .407 with 33 hits and 11 home runs. He has scored 26 times and batted in 20.
Nuka Town Operators fans lauded the selection of reliever Steve Slocums as Amusement Park League Pitcher of the Month for July. The 30-year-old hurler was nothing short of masterful, holding enemy hitters to a .148 average.
In 8 relief appearances he put up a 1-0 record, 5 saves, 3 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.00 over 8 innings.
In 22 relief appearances this year, Slocums has thrown 23.1 innings, struck out 10 and collected 14 saves. His won-lost record is 4-0 with a 0.77 ERA.
The NWLRL is a bit tighter with the Nuka Jolly Elves having a four-game lead and a Magic # of 11 in the North Bradberton Division. The South Bradberton Division has three teams all within a game of one another. The Dunmore Ferris Wheels lead both Nuka Plant and Junkyard by a game.
Fisher Ryba put together a good July to earn the NWL Rookie League Batter of the Month prize. A virtual unknown, he made the most of his chance to prove to Nuka Jolly officials that he belongs on the big league roster.
The Elves second baseman posted a .343 batting average with 13 home runs, 27 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Thus far this year, Ryba is batting .333 with 27 home runs, 69 RBIs and 44 runs scored.
July's #1 hurler was Culhwch Olwen of Red Rocket. He gunned down NWL Rookie League hitters the whole month and claimed the Pitcher of the Month award. The Radrats star piled up 3 wins and 1 loss to take the honor.
The 20-year-old Olwen added 23 strikeouts in 19.2 innings and 7 walks to his season record and compiled a 2.29 ERA. Other clubs hit .240 against him.
BBL Awards
The future looks extremely bright for Johhny Hair. At the age of 14, many players are still trying to find their way in Bradberton Boys League.
Hair has not only found his way, he's already established himself as one of the game's brightest stars, today being named the winner of the Bradberton Boys League Most Valuable Player Award.
"I didn't expect to hit .381 this year, that's for sure," the left fielder said.
The Angry Anaconda Godmodes star also put up a .538 on-base percentage this year, with 45 hits, 7 doubles, no triples, 22 home runs, 40 RBIs and 37 runs scored.
He received 13 first place votes out of a possible 16. Louiston Bateman of the Angry Anaconda Godmodes finished second in voting, while Frothy Uriah of the Collegetown Spirits finished third with 1 first place vote.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Johhny Hair - Angry Anaconda Godmodes - 13 - 202
Louiston Bateman - Angry Anaconda Godmodes - 0 - 132
Frothy Uriah - Collegetown Spirits - 1 - 121
Bucket Corbett - Fizztop Mountain Conquerors - 2 - 102
Breck Cosin - Bay Path Voyagers - 0 - 95
Cedomil Cosic - Bay Path Voyagers - 0 - 89
Eagle Sheriff - Chicopee Galaxy - 0 - 85
Eagle Eye Arnold - South Bradberton Tycoons - 0 - 52
Guaire Dickerson - Ol Sugartop Buckaroos - 0 - 25
Franz Zilla - Fizztop Mountain Conquerors - 0 - 23
Wylie Startender - Starport Nuka Hubologists - 0 - 15
James Weaver - Sherwood Manor Sasquatch - 0 - 3
Dray Greenman of the Hilltop Farm Melonheads outdid his pitching peers this year and has been honored with the 2311 Bradberton Boys League Pitcher of the Year Award.
During his remarkable year Greenman posted a 5-1 record in 10 starts. In 53.2 innings he yielded 34 hits and 11 walks while striking out 68 and compiling a fine 1.01 ERA.
He received 15 first place votes out of a possible 16. Nay Fukuoka of the Sherwood Manor Sasquatch finished second in voting with 1 first place vote, while Evan Chukov of the King Cola Youths finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Dray Greenman - Hilltop Farm Melonheads - 15 - 109
Nay Fukuoka - Sherwood Manor Sasquatch - 1 - 67
Evan Chukov - King Cola Youths - 0 - 43
Avery Matthews - Chicopee Galaxy - 0 - 33
High Sparrow Wallcrawler - Wixon Shovels - 0 - 20
Johnny Bags was a calming influence out of the Angry Anaconda Godmodes bullpen this season.
His teammates and manager said he had a poised demeanor about him that was typical of someone much older and more experienced. His poise has paid off, as the 17-year-old turned in a sparkling season and has been named the winner of the Bradberton Boys League Reliever of the Year Award for 2311.
The Stamford, Connecticut native won the award with 5 saves in 16 relief appearances, 32 strikeouts in 23.2 innings and a record of 0-1 to go with his 1.14 ERA.
He received 16 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Madman Williams of the Fizztop Mountain Conquerors finished second in voting, while Van Horne of the Angry Anaconda Godmodes finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Johnny Bags - Angry Anaconda Godmodes - 16 - 80
Madman Williams - Fizztop Mountain Conquerors - 0 - 45
Van Horne - Angry Anaconda Godmodes - 0 - 8
Junie Tickettaker - Wixon Shovels - 0 - 5
Glover Mallory - Mad Mulligan Travelers - 0 - 4
Reed Throatslicer - Forest Park Brahmiluffs - 0 - 2
Vim! View
Veracious, Vivacious, Vainglorious Vision of the Vim! Leagues
by Vikky Vail
Exciting Division Races in Vim! League
Both the Fog and Harbor divisions have tight races in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Eden Meadows Anglers and Echo Lake Harbormen are both knotted up at 44-32 in the Fog Division. Meanwhile, the Far Harbor Ghoul Whales lead the Cranberry Island Hermit Crabs by just a game in the Harbor Division.
Chris Knickerbocker let his bat do the talking in July and the Vim! League heard him loud and clear. He made plenty of noise as he put together a .425 batting average and was named the top hitter of the month.
Knickerbocker's month to remember saw him accumulate 45 hits, 7 home runs, 32 runs batted in, 19 runs, 12 walks and a .479 on-base percentage.
In his 2311 season totals, Knickerbocker has 25 home runs, .410 BA, .434 OBP, 96 RBIs and 61 runs scored.
Despite the number of years he's been in the league, Keith Lighthouse still gets excited when he puts together a quality stretch like he had in July. The 35-year-old starter for Far Harbor was named Vim! League Pitcher of the Month earlier today.
He collected 4 wins and 1 loss with 33 strikeouts in his 6 starts, putting up a fine 1.53 ERA in 47 innings of work.
This season, Lighthouse has fashioned a 11-5 mark and 2.86 ERA in 138.1 innings. Opposing clubs are batting .264 against him and he has logged 87 strikeouts.
Hazmatt Zuniga earned top rookie honors in the Vim! League with a solid performance last month.
In July the Far Harbor first baseman posted a .327 average while racking up 32 hits, 10 home runs and 34 RBIs.
For the year, Zuniga is batting .327 with 10 home runs, 34 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
The Mount Desert Island League races are also tight. In the Small Bertha Division, the Southwest Harbor Rippers have a one-game lead over the Cliff's Edge Actors. In the Old Longfellow Division, the Oceanarium Oceanics are one game up on Eagle's Cove and two up on Haddock Cove.
Even though he is a newcomer to Mount Desert Island League, Vince Eller put up some good numbers in July and earned the MDIL Batter of the Month award.
He was one of Oceanarium's offensive leaders with a .387 average in 17 games. He also racked up 12 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 21 runs scored.
Eller is currently batting .372 with 31 home runs and 60 RBIs.
Sometimes relievers are treated like second class citizens, most of the time the award goes to the starters, but not this month. A reliever, Camden Wakewater, has been named the Pitcher of the Month in the Mount Desert Island League.
In July, the Cliff's Edge relief specialist stood out with 5 saves in 9 relief appearances, a 1-0 won-lost mark and 0.00 ERA. He worked 9.2 innings, allowed 6 hits, struck out 4 and walked 5.
Looking at his season stats to date, Wakewater has 11 saves in 19 relief appearances with a 2-0 mark and 0.00 ERA.
In the VRL, the Vim Factory Pops are five games up on both the Glowing Grove Brainiacs and Kitteredge Rad Rabbits in the Western Atlantic. Both the Fringe Cove Champions and Longfellow Pips are tied in the Eastern Atlantic.
Alman Brothers is not used to being associated with Batter of the Month-caliber players, but today the Fringe Cove right fielder joined that select company when the VIM! Rookie League announced the results of July's voting.
Brothers totaled 22 hits, 28 walks, 16 home runs, 37 RBIs and 28 runs scored last month to put together a .344 batting average and .553 on-base percentage.
During the current season Brothers is batting at a .282 clip with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs. He has played in 39 games and scored 43 times.
In July, the best pitcher in the VIM! Rookie League was One Eye Alanis, thanks to some sensational numbers coming out of the bullpen.
The Vim Factory relief ace compiled a 3-1 mark and an ERA of 2.57 in 14 innings with 15 strikeouts and no saves in no save opportunities.
This season, Alanis has made 9 relief appearances, pitched 24.1 innings and struck out 30 with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. He has compiled a 3.70 ERA and saved 0 games.
MYL Awards
Jay McLeod of the Cliff's Edge Wolves had a fine season this year and today he accepted the Most Valuable Player Award for 2311.
The 14-year-old right fielder put up a .419 average and a .602 on-base percentage, piling up 52 hits, 12 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs, 31 RBIs and 35 runs scored.
He received 6 first place votes out of a possible 8. Leopold Necesany of the National Park Rangers finished second in voting with 2 first place votes, while Brahm Bhagwat of the Far Harbor Dockdwellers finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Jay McLeod - Cliff's Edge Wolves - 6 - 102
Leopold Necesany - National Park Rangers - 2 - 82
Brahm Bhagwat - Far Harbor Dockdwellers - 0 - 64
Damien Fogcrawler - National Park Rangers - 0 - 52
Tommy Opie - Far Harbor Dockdwellers - 0 - 52
Alien Buckley - Far Harbor Dockdwellers - 0 - 38
Matador O'Leary - Far Harbor Dockdwellers - 0 - 31
Dinnerplate Negrete - Far Harbor Dockdwellers - 0 - 24
Vito Timms - National Park Rangers - 0 - 17
Westin Desert - National Park Rangers - 0 - 10
He may have less experience than most of his Maine Youth Leagues peers, but that didn't slow Isaiah Robicheaux down at all in 2311.
At the age of 14, the Sunset Park catcher has been named the winner of the Great Diamond Island League Most Valuable Player Award.
He had a .404 batting average and a .504 on-base percentage this year. In 35 games he piled up 42 hits, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 20 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
"I'm blown away by the season I was able to put together," he said. "I'm looking forward to trying to do it all again next year."
He received 5 first place votes out of a possible 8. Lappy Swampfog of the Diamond Cove Fort Knights finished second in voting with 3 first place votes, while Donk Oh of the Pleasant Cove Raiders finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Isaiah Robicheaux - Sunset Park Anglers - 5 - 97
Lappy Swampfog - Diamond Cove Fort Knights - 3 - 86
Donk Oh - Pleasant Cove Raiders - 0 - 60
Dale Nails - Echo Point Glowers - 0 - 57
Filip Moller - Sunset Park Anglers - 0 - 48
Bobby Brookehead - Sunset Park Anglers - 0 - 36
Firestarter Saugus - Pleasant Cove Raiders - 0 - 35
Up Oceanarium - Sunset Park Anglers - 0 - 27
Atom Adam Aaronson - Pleasant Cove Raiders - 0 - 18
Gopher Balian - Pleasant Cove Raiders - 0 - 4
Vaz Xhaferi - Echo Point Glowers - 0 - 4
This year, there was no one better on the mound than Josty Penguin. Posting 6 wins and a 1.75 ERA was only part of the story for the National Park superstar. For his outstanding performance in 2311 he was chosen as the Mount Desert Island Four Pitcher of the Year Award winner.
From start to finish Penguin never let up. In 10 starts he recorded 6 wins and 1 loss, 66.2 innings, 105 strikeouts, 45 walks, yielded 50 hits, and permitted opposing batters to hit .203 against him.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Phlox Denobu of the Cliff's Edge Wolves finished second in voting, while Sisto Bianchetti of the Beaver Creek Bowlers finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Josty Penguin - National Park Rangers - 8 - 56
Phlox Denobu - Cliff's Edge Wolves - 0 - 32
Sisto Bianchetti - Beaver Creek Bowlers - 0 - 23
David Dzhafarov - Beaver Creek Bowlers - 0 - 17
Mansplain Christman - Cliff's Edge Wolves - 0 - 8
Hector Foley of the Echo Point Glowers impressed voters as one of the elite pitchers in the Great Diamond Island League this year. He capped off a sensational 6-4 season by taking home the coveted Pitcher of the Year Award today.
Making 11 starts, he tossed 84.1 innings, struck out 127, walked 6 and registered a 1.81 ERA.
He ended up tied with Magic Moore with 39 total votes and 39 first place votes.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Hector Foley - Echo Point Glowers - 4 - 39
Magic Moore - Sunset Park Anglers - 4 - 39
Harpo Thompson - Sunset Park Anglers - 0 - 29
Lapdog Sideburn - Diamond Cove Fort Knights - 0 - 21
First Boy Grayloz - Echo Point Glowers - 0 - 7
Gomer Beachcomber - Pleasant Cove Raiders - 0 - 1
At the age of 14, Guppy Gulper says he still has a lot to learn about life in Maine Youth Leagues.
But he certainly seems to be a quick study, as the National Park Rangers reliever was better than all others this year and has captured the 2311 Mount Desert Island Four Reliever of the Year Award.
"I hope to win this a few more times before all is said and done in my career," the
Augusta, Maine native said.
For the season, Gulper had 7 saves in 13 relief appearances, which totaled 16.1. He fanned 23 betters, while walking 6 and put up a record of 4-0 to go with his 1.10 ERA.
He received 7 first place votes out of a possible 8. Oren Ishli of the Beaver Creek Bowlers finished second in voting with 1 first place vote, while Padraig Turner of the National Park Rangers finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Guppy Gulper - National Park Rangers - 7 - 38
Oren Ishli - Beaver Creek Bowlers - 1 - 26
Padraig Turner - National Park Rangers - 0 - 6
Adnil Arano - Cliff's Edge Wolves - 0 - 2
Pax Trapper said he thinks hitters often underestimate him, as he's only 14 years old.
But he'll certainly be getting a lot more respect now, as the Echo Point Glowers rising star has won the Great Diamond Island League Reliever of the Year Award for 2311.
He captured the award on the strength of his 0.00 ERA over 16 innings. He also had 8 saves in 14 relief appearances, 26 strikeouts and only 3 walks.
He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Reece Leith of the Sunset Park Anglers finished second in voting, while Heydar Mouravov of the Diamond Cove Fort Knights finished third.
Player - Team - First Place - Total Points
Pax Trapper - Echo Point Glowers - 8 - 40
Reece Leith - Sunset Park Anglers - 0 - 20
Heydar Mouravov - Diamond Cove Fort Knights - 0 - 12