Monthly Magazine: July 1987
Vegas Odds' Favor Oshkosh, Duluth Slips
Despite posting a winning record (7-6) in the last two weeks, the Danger couldn't seem to sidestep a seemingly inevitable decline in the North League standings following an explosive stretch for the Outlaws (10-2). That's the bad news. The good news? Bay City has all but bowed out of a previously four-team battle. The Lake Monsters demise came at perhaps the most inopportune point in the season, going 0-6 in a pair of series against Oshkosh and South Bend during the week of July 19th. At the end of the month, Bay City now sits a distant nine games back of the leader.
Duluth was actually given a golden opportunity to conclude the month of July tied for 1st place when they were slated to face off against Oshkosh for a pair of games on the 30th and 31st of the month. As luck would have it, the pitching staff was less than effective in the pair of games, allowing nineteen runs in the two-game series. The Danger are now just 6-11 against the rival Outlaws this season.
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Sanders Named July Batter Of The Month
Following a less than spectacular month of June, Duluth's prized rookie outfielder Michael Sanders shined like a gem in July! The now 23 year-old Sanders was recently moved to the fifth slot in the lineup, but that didn't seem to effect his swing in the slightest. Sanders played in 27 games this month, batting .311 with 9 home runs, 22 RBI, and 28 runs scored, enough to grant him the Batter Of The Month award for July.
The Duluth lineup has similarly been insane this year. Although we aren't scoring as many runs as other teams (4th in the NL in RS), the production we're receiving from the top half of the lineup is just ridiculous. In Heartland League history, only a mere three players have ever hit 40 home runs in a single-season. Duluth has three players that could realistically come very close to the milestone in John Newman (30), Michael Sanders (27), and Andrew Rodgers (25). Furthermore, all but one member of the starting lineup is either batting over .300 or within .006 points of .300. Take that Oshkosh!
All Star Teams Announced -- Duluth With Six!
The commissioners office has selected the rosters for the upcoming 1987 All Star Game, and six of them will be proudly wearing the Duluth colors!