The Outpost League

[ifspuds]

Originally Posted by Big Six

I was wondering what Allison would do with the first pick, and I was hoping there would be a stud pitcher in this year's draft class.

I like the fact that Hawkin is a lefty, but the fact that he's already had some injury problems frightens me. How old is he? It sounds like he's a few years away from being able to contribute, but he'll be worth the wait if he develops into an ace.

You're not going to be overjoyed with Hawkin. Granted, draft classes are a little unpredictable in 8-team leagues, but I couldn't believe just how poor this crop was -- not a single player above 3 stars, and only 4 of them at that level. Hawkin probably does have the highest ceiling of any of the players coming out of the draft, but he's by no means a sure thing.

He's 22 years old, nearly 23, and is starting at A-ball. He's got control issues, though the other parts of his game are good enough. Other pitchers with his talents have fared very well in the Bay League, but his future is unpredictable. He's a workhorse, and can throw a lot of innings, but he's prone to injury.

He'll team with Tony Jones, who the Spelunkers think will be the next Jamie Wilder if he can get his head on straight, to make one of the best "city league" rotations in the game: Jones is considered the second best prospect in the game, behind Gentry Hills' Ty Fuchs, who was the 2nd pick last year. But like Hawkin, Jones has baggage. He's 23 now, and inexplicably hasn't moved up past A-ball, despite some very nice numbers over the last three seasons. If the Spelunkers can get these two moving up through the system, Allison might very well have the best rotation in the league. But that's a huge, unpredictable 'if' right now.

[ifspuds]

Bay League Preview, 2017 Season

Here's a quick rundown on the Bay League teams, their stars, their prospects and their hopes for a good season in 2017. In order of 2016 finish, we'll start with the champs from Elliott Springs.


Elliott Springs Tornadoes
Last Season: 42-28, 1st place
Top Hitter: After two seasons of wondering why he wasn't dominating like everyone expected, 1B Riyad Gomes finally put together the sort of season expected of him... and it wasn't that much better than the last two. See what playing for a champion will do for perspective? Gomes hit a career low .293, but slugged a career best .552 thanks to 14 homers and 25 doubles.
Top Pitcher: He isn't just the Tornadoes' best pitcher. Jamie Wilder capitalized on his enormous promise to put together the best season ever by a Bay League pitcher, and didn't even enter the starting rotation until the end of May. Just to remind you, Wilder went 15-2 with a league record 1.90 ERA and struck out 192 batters in 175 innings. And he's still just 21 years old.
Top Prospect: As good as the Tornadoes were, you might expect that their city league teams are tapped of talent. Not so, though a number of young players made huge contributions to the Tornadoes. The most notable name is Damian Latimer, an extremely talented pitcher that the Tornadoes can't seem to decide on a role for: starter or reliever. He's been working on his endurance, and it seems to have him a little off his game this spring, with his fastball flattening out. But he's still got every bit as great an arm as any pitcher in the game.
Forecast: It will be a tremendous surprise if the Tornadoes don't become the first repeat champions in the Bay League. In fact, it will be a tremendous surprise if they don't become the league's first dominant dynasty. They're that good and that young.


Marsein Knights
Last Season: 40-30, 2nd place, 2 games back
Top Hitter: The incredibly talented Mario DeGray. The only thing he can't do is steal bases. After a bland debut in 2015, all DeGray has done is hit .372/.490/.611 and .374/.465/.638 in back-to-back seasons that saw his Knights finish just short of the title. He draws a ton of walks (a league record 58 in 2015) and almost never strikes out (17 times last season against 44 walks).
Top Pitcher: For a team that finished 2nd in runs allowed, there are few standout stars on the staff, just a lot of solid arms. Ken Bennett, who spent time in and out of the rotation, probably had the best season: 8-3, 2.63 ERA. But he's a surprise and may not be able to repeat those numbers again next year. Quentin Stallworth (6-9, 3.35) and youngster Josh Ray (13-11, 3.51) are the most talented pitchers on the squad.
Top Prospect: Selected 2nd overall in the 2015 draft, Matt Roy is starting to put his enormous talent to work, hitting .300 with power at mid-level city league play. He could move quickly this season.
Forecast: After two seasons of finishing just short of the title, the Knights could really use a breakout season from Roy to provide offensive support for Mario DeGray. Their pitching staff is also unpredictable. Anything could happen here.


Deepvale Ferrymen
Last Season: 37-33, 3rd place, 5 games back
Top Hitter: They might just name the award for the league's best hitter after Ace Gervin. He's the only player ever to win the award, after all. Take note of his career line: .371/.453/.688. His average dipped last season, but he hit for plenty of power, and easily led his team at the plate. Too bad he didn't have much help.
Top Pitcher: For a guy that had started all of 2 games in his Bay League career, Bo Dissinger surprised a whole lot of people by going 11-11, 2.67 with a 0.96 WHIP in 2017. Great control made a big difference, and he was able to pitch plenty of innings as a result. This was the Bay League's best pitching staff last season, and between Dissinger, Jason Grant and Isaac Black, they could be the best again next season.
Top Prospect: With former top prospect Mike Dodson unable to get himself out of mid-level city league play, Melvin Fay becomes Deepvale's best prospect. Another terrific control artist, Fay should be a dependable starter for the Ferrymen in a couple of seasons.
Forecast: Deepvale needs more hitting. Ace Gervin can only do so much, and while catcher Johnny Wright is capable of putting together great numbers, another bat or two would complement that brilliant pitching staff very nicely. It looks like another year of near-misses in Deepvale right now.


Silver Beach Whales
Last Season: 36-34, 4th place, 6 games back
Top Hitter: The Whales get a lot out of some surprising quarters. Their most talented hitter, Carlin Chadwick, has never put together the sort of season expected of him, but they get efforts like a .320/.359/.452 line from first baseman Jason Walton, who was their best hitter last season, following in the footsteps of the surprising Josh Sowder the year before. Manager Jim Latimer deserves loads of credit for getting this team to perform the way it does.
Top Pitcher: As good as their hitters were, the Whales' pitching collapsed behind a subpar year from Hawkeye Odle. Consider that the 12-11, 4.23 ERA season from Odle still made him Silver Beach's best pitcher, and you get an idea of what sunk the Whales in 2016. Odle's hit rate went way up, from a .201 mark in his 2015 Top Pitcher season to .233 in 2016. They need him to bounce back if they're going to compete. He's just 28, so that wouldn't be a huge surprise.
Top Prospect: There's not a lot in the stable, but right fielder Ben McAfee is the best of an average bunch. McAfee will be up with the Whales at the start of '17. He's got big-time power, slugging .704 in a short stint at the mid-level city league last year. Just 19 years old, the Whales think he's got a bright future. It's too bad he can't pitch too.
Forecast: The Whales challenged for the title in the latter half of the season before falling off the pace. If Odle is back to form, and one of their other pitchers steps up, this could be the dark horse candidate for the 2017 championship. Of course, the hitters might realize they really aren't that good...

[ifspuds]

Bay League Preview, 2017 Season

Here's a quick rundown on the Bay League teams, their stars, their prospects and their hopes for a good season in 2017. In order of 2016 finish, we'll start with the champs from Elliott Springs.


Gentry Hills Scouts
Last Season: 33-37, 5th place, 9 games back
Top Hitter: Third baseman Roland Harrington defies the adage that players get worse as they get older. After a decent 2015 season that saw him hit 12 homers and drive in a respectable 36 runs, he broke out at the age of 35 and established career highs in nearly every category, including 19 homers, 49 RBI and a career-high 37 walks, all of which put him in elite company.
Top Pitcher: Even if he hasn't won any Top Pitcher Awards, you can make a case that Broderick Earl is the best pitcher in the Bay League. He was 14-10, 2.90 last season with 221 strikeouts. His 7 shutouts and 18 complete games were both tops in the league, and he's finished in the top 10 of every meaningful pitching category every season.
Top Prospect: Not just the top prospect of the Scouts, but the top prospect in the league. Ty Fuchs, last year's 2nd overall pick, has nearly unlimited potential. He may have gone 4-15 with a 4.37 ERA in low-level city ball, but those numbers don't tell the whole story. How about 32 walks and 133 strikeouts in 160 innings? The 18-year old will be a few years in reaching the Bay League, but when he does, look out.
Forecast: There's some real talent on this team. Broderick Earl and Will Brooker are one of the best 1-2 punches in the game, and if Harrington can repeat even his 2015 season, there's enough offensive support to make Gentry Hills a competitor. They could surprise people this year.


Lorris Greens
Last Season: 32-38, tied for 6th place, 10 games back
Top Hitter: Center fielder Tega Smith doesn't hit .350, he doesn't slug .600, but he might just be the most exciting player in the game. He had a career-best year of .320/.401/.554 last season, with career highs in doubles and homers, but what separates Smith is his speed. Smith swiped 17 bags last season, tops in the league (he's led the league twice and finished 2nd in 2015), but better yet, he didn't get caught a single time.
Top Pitcher: Frank O'Neil led the Greens in wins with 10, and his 3.80 ERA is deceptive: he held opponents to a .227 average and posted a 1.18 WHIP, tops in the Lorris rotation.
Top Prospect: Things aren't getting better for the aging Greens. Their top prospect, starting pitcher John Oliver, isn't expected to be much more than a back-of-the-rotation guy. He pitched admirably at high-level city league last year (5-2, 2.51), and could join the team if one of the older members of the staff falters.
Forecast: All the signs of a collapse are here. Old rotation, not much offensive support for Smith. Remember the Greens were on a league-record losing pace for much of the 2016 season? They could complete that disaster this year.


Tifton Generals
Last Season: 32-38, tied for 6th place, 10 games back
Top Hitter: Did Steven Underwood burst on to the scene or what? Selected 1st in the 2016 draft, he hit the Bay League in late May and never left. Hitting an incredible .389/.475/.681, numbers previously reserved for Ace Gervin, Underwood capped a brilliant rookie season by hitting .429 and slugging 1.107 in September.
Top Pitcher: Carlin Bonner would probably like a new home. One of the league's better pitchers, he doesn't get much notice in Tifton. 12-11 with a 3.56 ERA last season, he's been a dependable force in Tifton's otherwise underachieving rotation.
Top Prospect: We can't really call Underwood a prospect any more, so let's talk about Ahmad Reese. Selected 3rd in the 2015 draft, Reese has climbed slowly through the city league system but has picked up speed lately, and could very well pitch for Tifton this season. He went 2-3, 2.23 at mid-level city league and 4-2, 2.69 at high-level last season.
Forecast: Tifton has never finished last, but they've never been in danger of the upper half of the standings. Underwood aside, they won't do it this year either. There's just not much there.


Allison Spelunkers
Last Season: 28-42, last place, 14 games back
Top Hitter: When is a career best season a disappointment? When you have the talent that Alton Strong does and that career year is .278/.350/.480. Strong has terrific skills at the plate, great speed and instincts, a fantastic glove, all ingredients to make a superstar, but he's never come close to putting it together.
Top Pitcher: One of the few players on the Spelunkers to step up last season, Edwards was dominating on the mound: .190 batting average against, 2.68 ERA, a solid 1.19 WHIP. It's an indication of his poor support that he was just 5-9. The Spelunkers keep waiting for Kyle Richardson to take charge of the rotation, and he keeps faltering.
Top Prospect: When is Tony Jones going to move up? He was 15-4, 2.37 at low level city league play in 2014, and has put up similar numbers in the two years since, but has never even sniffed an inning at a higher level. He's 23 years old, so it's hard to imagine he has much left to prove down there.
Forecast: Allison surprised a lot of people with their horrid season. They're still fairly young, and maybe that's the problem. Stories of carousing, brawls and attitude problems abound, and manager Joe Leonard doesn't seem to be able to keep it under control. The Spelunkers could finish anywhere from first to last and no one would be surprised.

[ifspuds]

Fourth Bay League Season To Open Tomorrow
Outpost News Service

After three successful trips, the Bay League will begin a fourth journey around the Outposts starting tomorrow, with the Elliott Springs Tornadoes attempting to become the first team to repeat as champions. One major change for this season is the introduction of a longer schedule, 98 games rather than the 70 games played in each of the first three seasons. There has been extensive debate about what it will mean for the league. Some have decried the effect it will have on pitching: traditionally, Bay League teams have relied on two or three pitchers, and with long off-periods between games, these pitchers have been able to come back at full strength. With a more condensed schedule -- the 98 games are played in roughly the same number of days as the 70-game schedule -- there is some concern about injury, as well as ineffectiveness.

"I think people are worried about nothing," said Silver Beach Whales pitcher Derrick Odle. "I could've pitched a hundred more innings last season, and that was when I was hurt. A good pitcher is a good pitcher." Elliott Springs manager Lennox Herrion wasn't so sure. "These pitchers are going to get tired. None of these guys have had to pitch this often, under the competitive lens. Offense is going to be up this year, you can mark my words."

Another consideration is the effect the lengthened schedule will have on league records. Bay League president and founder John Baxter has addressed this issue, stating that records for 70-game years will be kept separate of 98-game years. "It is certainly not fair to have the herculean efforts of early Bay Leaguers left in the dusty back corners of history, simply because they didn't have the opportunity to play 28 more games," said Baxter in his now-traditional Opening Week address.

The Bay League is also taking a greater interest in local leagues around the Outposts. Several teams have offered financial and material support to nearby communities in developing their city leagues and baseball facilities. One source in the offices of the Lorris Greens, who wished not to be named, stated that the league was considering adding these communities as affiliate teams in coming years. William Grant, mayor of the town of Haystack, welcomed the news. "We've wanted a part of the Bay League ever since it began, only to be told it wasn't possible," said Grant. "If they've finally seen the potential in our mid-sized towns, I couldn't be happier."

[ifspuds]

June 1, 2017

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk   L10
Elliott Springs  16  10  .615    -    L1   4-6
Silver Beach     14  10  .583  1.0    L1   5-5
Marsein          13  10  .565  1.5    W1   4-6
Gentry Hills     13  12  .520  2.5    W1   6-4
Allison          11  12  .478  3.5    W3   6-4
Tifton           11  14  .440  4.5    L1   5-5
Lorris            9  13  .409  5.0    L2   5-5
Deepvale          8  14  .364  6.0    W1   5-5

League News

No surprises at the top of the standings. Last season's champions -- and odds-on favorites to become the first repeat champs -- the Elliott Springs Tornadoes jumped out to a 7-0 record before a 3-game sweep at the hands of their closest pursuers, the Silver Beach Whales, cooled them off. The Marsein Knights, the perpetual bridesmaids, hang just a half-game behind the Whales. Perhaps the strangest thing about looking at the standings is this: the teams have played 20 or more games and we're only a quarter of the way through the season. After three years of 70-game schedules, the 98-game circuit has a lot of things askew:

* The Deepvale Ferrymen are dead last, and Ace Gervin is nowhere to be found on the league leaderboards (see below). It's not that the 3-time Top Batter is hurt or having an awful season by anyone's standards but his own. It's just that his standards are so high. Many players would be overjoyed with a .286/.394/.500 line, but for Gervin, that's over 200 points below his career OPS! The Ferrymen have allowed the fewest runs in the league, but they've scored the fewest as well.

* Some people were saying that offense would be up, and there are signs that they were right. Deepvale's Marlon Nelson, who had hit 12 homers over two seasons in the Bay League, became the first player to hit three in a game, unloading against Allison on May 4th, knocking in 6 runs. Not to be outdone, Tifton's phenom Steven Underwood (see more about him below) followed 13 days later with 3 bombs and 6 RBI of his own. And then, Allison's Jules Cooper, one of the worst-hitting regulars in the game last season, parked three solo shots on May 25th.

* Steven Underwood is doing his best to fill the void left by Ace Gervin's early season slump. The 19-year old first sacker is embarrassing Bay League pitchers, hitting .414/.458/.737 and generally looking like the prohibitive favorite to be the first non-Gervin Top Batter. Too bad his Generals teammates aren't holding up their end of the bargain: only Renaldo Wright (.370/.463/.494) has an OPS above .615.

Players of the Month
Broderick Earl (GEN): 5-0, 2.47, 47 K, 58 IP
Steven Underwood (TIF): .425/.474/.724, 7 HR, 13 RBI

League Leaders

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
S. Underwood (TIF)    .414     L. Barber (ESP)         11
M. Richardson (ESP)   .402     R. Isenhour (MAR)        7
J. Anderson (ALL)     .384     T. Smith (LOR)           5
                               E. Ashman (GEN)          5
                               
OPS                            ERA
S. Underwood (TIF)   1.195     D. Morrison (DPV)     1.80
M. Richardson (ESP)  1.051     D. Odle (SIL)         2.24
M. DeGray (MAR)      1.013     J. Wilder (ESP)       2.43
                               J. Chambers (LOR)     2.43
 
Home Runs                      Wins
S. Underwood (TIF)       9     D. Odle (SIL)            5
A. Strong (ALL)          7     B. Earl (SIL)            5
5 Tied with              6     J. Moore (MAR)           5
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Isenhour (MAR)       24     M. Hawkins (TIF)        79
A. Thomas (LOR)         18     K. Richardson (ALL)     71
M. Degray (MAR)         17     B. Earl (GEN)           67
B. Jones (SIL)          17                          
     
Runs Scored                   
J. Leslie (SIL)         20
M. DeGray (MAR)         18	
L. Barber (ESP)         17

[Dark Horse]

i haven't really written anything in this thread in awhile. But i'd like to restate that i am enjoying reading about the Outpost League. You do good work, ifspuds.

KUTGW!

[ifspuds]

Glad you're still enjoying it, Dark Horse. You're one of the longest-tenured supporters of the thread, and I appreciate any comments you can toss in, even if it's just popcorns.

Spelunkers Fans Protest, Riot Outside Team Offices
Outpost News Service
(video includes riot outside team offices, interviews with residents, footage of Spelunkers games)

A crowd gathered outside the offices of Allison Spelunkers owner Timothy Martin today. Initially gathered as what looked like a peaceful protest over what those present called mismanagement of the team, as the day went on the gathering turned violent, sending a number of people to the local hospital. At least four people are believed to be in serious condition, and many more have been treated and released for injuries sustained in what some are calling a riot.

While no one has come forward as the organizer of the initial protest, it is difficult to find a resident of the town of Allison that doesn't agree with the sentiment of frustration, though most are quick to condemn today's events. "Look, you finish in dead last, the only consolation you get is first pick of the new players coming in," said resident Alex Jackson, who identified himself as a member of the Cave Dwellers, the Spelunkers fan club. "So to turn around and trade the guy you pick for a 32-year old shortstop that can barely hit .250? You're darn right I'm angry."

Another local, Annie Meyers, who says she's been to every Spelunkers home game in the last two seasons, said, "They can't even keep their players under control. My grandson says he was at the tavern a couple nights ago, and half the team was there, too drunk to stand. If I was Russell Hawkin, I'd be glad they traded me away. They ought to trade poor Tony Jones to some team that'd give him a chance, too. He's rotting down there in the city leagues, and they won't even give him a shot against better competition."

Allison is well-known around the Outposts for being a rough town, owing to its dependence on the growing mining industry in the southern hills and mountains. Brawls in the Hillside Park stands are not uncommon, and visiting players have often complained about the abuse hurled at them from the bleachers. The Spelunkers fans have long been known as some of the most passionate in the Outposts, but it appears that the passion is on the verge of turning into something much worse.

-----

Author's Note:

A couple of interesting trades from the first month of the 2017 season:

Allison sends SP Russell Hawkin to the Elliott Springs Tornadoes for SS Adam Foreman.

I'd riot too. Sure, Hawkin's not a sure thing (7/5/6 talents), but he's not a 32-year old shortstop rated 4/6/4/3/5 with a 6 range at shortstop and a .248/.290/.391 career line. Hawkin might turn into something. Foreman isn't going to do anything for the Spelunkers except take up space.

Lorris sends RF Justin Hunter to the Tifton Generals for MR Jamar Jarmond, 1B Ralph Duell and MR Steven Johnson.

Sure, Tifton has superstar first baseman Steven Underwood, but this makes the second 2017 first-round draft pick given away for almost nothing. Hunter is 33, rated 5/5/5/2/5, a below-average defender, and 57 of his 86 career at-bats have come this season alone. Jarmond is a 29-year old reliever with 3/8/8 ratings and 4/9/9 talents. Hunter for Jarmond alone would've been lopsided, but when you add Duell (6/6/8/5/5 talents, 3.5 stars) in as well, along with a toss-in 1-star relief prospect, you can almost start rooting for a team as boneheaded as the Generals to continue to flop around at the bottom of the standings.

There aren't many trades in the Bay League. Maybe this is why...

[ifspuds]

July 1, 2017

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk   L10
Silver Beach     28  16  .636    -    W1   7-3
Gentry Hills     27  18  .600  1.5    L1   7-3
Elliott Springs  27  19  .587  2.0    L2   7-3
Allison          24  19  .558  3.5    W5   8-2
Marsein          21  23  .477  7.0    W1   2-8
Lorris           20  23  .465  7.5    W1   5-5
Tifton           17  29  .370 12.0    L1   2-8
Deepvale         13  30  .302 14.5    L1   2-8

League News

That's the Tornadoes you see in third place, down from their lofty perch of last month. There's bad news for the Elliott Springs squad, news that could put a serious dent in their hopes of repeating: last year's Top Rookie and Top Pitcher, the 22-year old phenom Jamie Wilder, went out on June 28th with serious shoulder pain. Medscans after the game indicate he's got a torn rotator cuff and will miss at least this season. Wilder wasn't pitching quite as well as he did in 2016, but 100 innings of 2.34 ERA, 88 K ball is going to be hard for the Tornadoes to replace.

Who's taken over? Those scrappy Silver Beach Whales have. It's hard to be sure entirely how they've done it, as they're squarely middle of the pack in runs scored and runs allowed. Never let it be said that you can count out the Whales. They live to surprise. Second baseman Carlin Chadwick, who seems to have spent more time playing the Outpost equivalent of matinee idol rather than taking advantage of his tremendous talent, is having the season of his career, hitting .306/.396/.535 to pace his club. Hawkeye Odle is back up to his old tricks as well, standing at 10-3, 2.88 with 109 Ks.

The Gentry Hills Scouts are hard on the Whales' heels, led by fantastic pitching from May's pitcher of the month Broderick Earl (10-3, 2.83, 124 K in 133.2 IP) and currently reigning pitcher of the month Will Brooker (8-5, 2.92, 84 K in 114 IP). The Scouts staff ranks #1 in runs allowed, opponents' average and walks allowed. If they can get some more offense, they're going to be dangerous.

The Deepvale Ferrymen are mired in a miserable slump, winning just 5 of 21 games last month, and are last in nearly every offensive category. The blinding star power of Ace Gervin may have, in past years, masked just how inept this team can be at the plate. Now that Gervin's suffering the same woes as his teammates (.242/.328/.442), it's painfully clear to even the casual observer. No one seems to know what's wrong with the 3-time Top Batter. Explanations from injury to exhaustion due to the longer schedule to personal problems and beyond have been put forward, but the reticent Deepvale star hasn't given any indication what's going on.

Players of the Month
Will Brooker (GEN): 6-1, 1.41 ERA, 42 K, 57.1 IP
Eddie Daniels (TIF): .447/.478/.671, 5 HR, 13 RBI

League Leaders

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
M. Richardson (ESP)   .410     L. Barber (ESP)         16
S. Underwood (TIF)    .370     T. Smith (LOR)          13
A. Thomas (LOR)       .366     R. Isenhour (MAR)       12
                               
OPS                            ERA
S. Underwood (TIF)   1.093     G. Williams (ESP)     2.29
R. Gomes (ESP)       1.077     J. Wilder (ESP)       2.34
M. DeGray (MAR)      1.040     A. Logan (ALL)        2.73
                                
Home Runs                      Wins
S. Underwood (TIF)      14     D. Odle (SIL)           10
C. Rock (LOR)           13     B. Earl (SIL)           10
R. Gomes (ESP)          12     K. Richardson (ALL)      9
                               T. Curry (SIL)           9
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Isenhour (MAR)       37     K. Richardson (ALL)    129
M. DeGray (MAR)         35     M. Hawkins (TIF)       125
A. Thomas (LOR)         34     B. Earl (GEN)          124
     
Runs Scored                   
M. DeGray (MAR)         35
R. Gomes (ESP)          33	
S. Underwood (TIF)      31

[ifspuds]

Your Yearly Draft Retrospective

How are your favorite teams' draftees doing? What can you expect from the City Leagues this year? Let's take a look...

Allison Spelunkers
2015: 1B Walter Sebring: .265/.393/.483, 10 HR, 26 RBI
2016: SP Chezley Harris: 5-3, 5.32 ERA, 20 BB, 43 K, 66 IP between AA and AAA
2017: SP Russell Hawkin: 5-1, 1.51 ERA, 20 BB, 52 K, 71.1 IP in Elliott Springs A
Draft Surprise: 2017 2nd round pick SS Carlos Figueredo is already up with the team, which makes you wonder (again) why the Spelunkers dealt for Adam Foreman but the real surprise is this year's 4th round pick, reliever Jeremy Knight, who wasn't expected to be much more than organizational filler but is starting to look like a strong middle relief candidate, something that should become important with the longer schedule.

Deepvale Ferrymen
2015: SP Mike Dodson: 8-4, 2.49 ERA, 24 BB, 91 K, 101.1 IP at AA (note: Dodson is 26 now, and while he has all the talent in the world -- 8/10/10 talents -- he's been excruciatingly slow to develop -- 3/5/4 ratings.)
2016: 3B Mekeli Masters: .248/.352/.387, 2 HR, 13 RBI at A
2017: SP Ryan Jones: 0-1, 3.71 ERA, 3 BB, 10 K, 17 IP at AA
Draft Surprise: 2015 3rd round pick RF Jason Bratton (.256/.301/.372, 5 HR, 14 RBI) is the only Deepvale draftee to actually play in the Bay League, which by default makes him a surprise, though maybe not in the way Ferrymen fans would hope...

Elliott Springs Tornadoes
2015: CF Lannce Barber: .198/.303/.331, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 16 SB (out of 16!)
2016: LF Tim Bohm: .156/.279/.312, 4 HR, 18 RBI
2017: SP Sam Przybilla: 5-7, 4.50 ERA, 34 BB, 89 K, 98 IP at AA
Draft Surprise: The Tornadoes have had good luck with their first round picks, not so much with their lower-round picks. 2016 2nd round pick SS Seth Maybin has the full-time shortstop spot, and is hitting .264/.311/.393 with 4 HR and 14 RBI. Nothing earthshattering, but dependable enough from a #8 hitter.

Gentry Hills Scouts
2015: P Damian Latimer: 0-1, 1 SV, 2.78 ERA, 8 BB, 18 K, 22.2 IP in Elliott Springs AA
2016: SP Tyrus Fuchs: 6-3, 2.63 ERA, 21 BB, 74 K, 95.2 IP at A
2017: CF Lee Schrupp: .145/.239/.246, 4 HR, 10 RBI at A
Draft Surprise: 2015 3rd round pick RP Bryant Griffin is looking like a steal. The lefty junkballer has really grown into himself and now looks like a top-notch reliever at just 20 years old. He's 0-1 with 3 saves and a 2.84 ERA in 6.1 Bay League innings as the Scouts' top setup man.

Lorris Greens
2015: 2B Sherman Wells: .288/.398/.536, 8 HR, 25 RBI at A (his 3rd season at that level...)
2016: SP Arlie Hammick: 7-4, 3.82 ERA, 37 BB, 84 K, 92 IP at A
2017: SS Jason Hyde: .226/.319/.339, 2 HR, 13 RBI at A
Draft Surprise: 1B Brad Marsh is looking a lot better than the players selected around him in 2017's 2nd round (6/6/5/7/7 talents), but he's no longer the property of the Greens organization, but rather the Tornadoes. Notice a trend? Elliott Springs clearly has an eye for talent that other teams think is expendable: Allison and Gentry Hills have both given away good first round prospects and Lorris dealt Marsh in exchange for 1B Aaron Thomas. To be fair, Thomas is hitting .366/.400/.552 in the Bay League for the Greens.

Marsein Knights
2015: LF Matt Roy: .309/.409/.451, 5 HR, 23 RBI at AA
2016: CF Jason Driggers: .353/.488/.412, 0 HR, 4 RBI at AA, .105/.105/.105 in 19 AB in the Bay League
2017: 2B Aaron Gonzalez: .298/.420/.427, 3 HR, 19 RBI at 3 city league levels, 8 AB, 1 BB, 0 hits in the Bay League
Draft Surprise: 2016 3rd round pick RP Marquel Townsend has a 2.61 ERA and has struggled a little with his control, but he appears to be shaping up as a useful reliever.

Silver Beach Whales
2015: 1B Richie Jones: .300/.364/.383, 2 HR, 13 RBI at AAA
2016: RF Ben McAfee: .227/.271/.273, 0 HR, 6 RBI in Bay League
2017: 1B Carson Richardson: .222/.309/.380, 6 HR, 28 RBI at A
Draft Surprise: 2016 2nd rounder SP Sam McBride has turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, starting 4 games in 2016 for the Whales with a 3.03 ERA and going one better in 2017, going 1-1 with a 1.91 ERA and a 21:7 K to BB ratio in 28.1 IP (4 starts)

Tifton Generals
2015: P Ahmad Reese: 1-1, 1.80 ERA, 2 BB, 3 K, 5 IP in Bay League
2016: 1B Steven Underwood: .370/.430/.663, 14 HR, 30 RBI in Bay League
2017: 1B Ralph Duell: .342/.457/.553, 1 HR, 7 RBI in Lorris A, .294/.360/.476, 4 HR, 13 RBI in Lorris AA
Draft Surprise: 2016 3rd round pick C Charles Dye has come out of nowhere to nab the starting backstop job for the Generals. After a decent 2016 season at A (.264/.377/.421), he started the season at AAA (.348/.444/.391) but got the callup after just 8 games. He looks like a quality offensive catcher, though his arm is nothing to write home about.

[illeracula]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Spelunkers Fans Protest, Riot Outside Team Offices
Outpost News Service
(video includes riot outside team offices, interviews with residents, footage of Spelunkers games)

Can I find that video on Youtube yet?

I have finally caught up... Enjoying this, even though my team Lorris is tanking! At least they had a good first season...

Keep up the good work.

[Big Six]

Even if Hawkin is a bust, trading him for a nondescript thirtysomething shortstop is a foolish, foolish move. And when I discovered the Spelunkers have a young shortstop prospect in the pipeline, I was even more amazed. Is Foreman the starting shortstop, or is Figueredo playing? I almost hope Foreman is rotting on the bench; that way, he's not standing in the way of Figueredo's development.

I'd like to see Walter Sebring's BA and SLG go up, but he's getting on base and hitting with power. How is Alton Strong doing? Is he underachieving again this season?

And WHY is Tony Jones still in the city leagues??? These are the times I'm tempted to play Great Baseball Deity and give the man a chance. (adjusting my "FREE TONY JONES" button)

On a more positive note, it's good to see Kyle Richardson pitching well, and the Spelunkers are winning. Maybe they're resisting the temptation to visit that notorious tavern.



Thanks for a fun read, Jeff.

[ifspuds]

Originally Posted by illeracula

Can I find that video on Youtube yet?

I have finally caught up... Enjoying this, even though my team Lorris is tanking! At least they had a good first season...

Keep up the good work.

Lorris is looking up, actually. Their trade for Aaron Thomas is looking brilliant. While he hit .348/.400/.478 for Elliott Springs last year, it was only in 23 AB. The 27-year old Thomas, getting full-time duty this year, is hitting a team-leading .366/.400/.552. Together with Tega Smith (.333/.442/.436) and a solid supporting cast, the Greens lead the league in runs scored. Sadly, they have the worst ERA in the league (4.36).

Originally Posted by Big Six

Even if Hawkin is a bust, trading him for a nondescript thirtysomething shortstop is a foolish, foolish move. And when I discovered the Spelunkers have a young shortstop prospect in the pipeline, I was even more amazed. Is Foreman the starting shortstop, or is Figueredo playing? I almost hope Foreman is rotting on the bench; that way, he's not standing in the way of Figueredo's development.

I'd like to see Walter Sebring's BA and SLG go up, but he's getting on base and hitting with power. How is Alton Strong doing? Is he underachieving again this season?

And WHY is Tony Jones still in the city leagues??? These are the times I'm tempted to play Great Baseball Deity and give the man a chance. (adjusting my "FREE TONY JONES" button)

On a more positive note, it's good to see Kyle Richardson pitching well, and the Spelunkers are winning. Maybe they're resisting the temptation to visit that notorious tavern.

Thanks for a fun read, Jeff.

Embarrassingly, Foreman is still starting. Apparently, there's a sense that they've got to play him, since they traded for him. He's hitting a ridiculously bad .192/.216/.323. Figueredo is nothing terribly special (5/6/2/5/4 ratings, 6/6/3/6/5 talents), but he's already better than Foreman.

As for Sebring, his .483 SLG is thus far a career high. His .877 OPS is a career best as well, but of course this is just his third season. He's looking up. We'll see how it continues. Strong is indeed back to his underachieving ways, hitting a meager .225/.339/.430.

Tony Jones... well, who knows. The guy's 23 and he's always put up great numbers, but his ratings are still lagging (2/4/5 vs. 9/10/10 talents). I'm tempted to give him the call up too. I've yet to step in and tweak anything in this league, though, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. We'll see. Richardson looks like he's doing well, but oddly enough, it's about the same as last year. His K rate is up, his opponents' average is down slightly, but his walk rate is up a little more. It's been Andre Logan that's keeping the rotation steady. He's just 6-5, but he's got a 2.73 ERA.

Thanks for continuing to read, both of you. It's always nice to get comments and questions.

[ifspuds]

August 1, 2017

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk   L10
Elliott Springs  41  26  .612    -    W3   6-4
Marsein          36  29  .554  4.0    W3   7-3
Silver Beach     36  29  .554  4.0    W1   4-6
Gentry Hills     35  30  .538  5.0    L3   2-8
Allison          34  30  .531  5.5    L1   5-5
Tifton           28  38  .424 12.5    L1   8-2
Lorris           26  38  .406 13.5    W1   4-6
Deepvale         24  40  .375 15.5    L3   4-6

League News

Were you worried, Elliott Springs fans?

Even without Jamie Wilder, the Tornadoes have the top pitching staff in the Bay League, with Greg Williams (11-4, 2.23 ERA) making a strong case for Top Pitcher honors and wily veteran Eddie Hope (11-2, 3.09) not far behind him. 23-year old swing man Frankie Wise has provided stellar support in the rotation and the pen, pitching in 24 games (5 starts) with a 2-2 record and 2.61 ERA. Consider also that they have the top two hitters in the league in Riyad Gomes (.375/.463/.640, 17 HR) and Mike Richardson (.409/.445/.611, 11 HR). Richardson is gunning to become the first .400 hitter in the Bay League, having hit at least .407 in every month since April (.357). And he's just 25.

The Marsein Knights were big movers this month as well, going 15-6 to leap into a second place tie. The Knights are growing used to looking up at a single team: will this be the season they break through, or is Elliott Springs just too tough? Only the Knights have scored more runs than the Tornadoes, thanks to Mario DeGray (.316/.397/.600, 13 HR) and Robbie Isenhour (.335/.390/.563, 13 HR), but only the Lorris Greens have allowed more runs. Some of that could be due to the Knights starting three lefties at the top of their rotation, but it might just be that they're not very good. Their ace in past seasons, Quentin Stallworth, has been taken out of the rotation due to ineffectiveness (3-5, 4.52 ERA) and put in the closer's role.

Bad news for the Allison Spelunkers. Their ace Kyle Richardson went out at the end of the month with a bad shoulder. He's expected to miss up to two months. It was a bad month for pitchers all around, with Gentry Hills ace Will Brooker, last month's Pitcher of the Month (and repeat winner this month), going out for a month with a bad shoulder as well. Brooker is 12-5, 2.80 ERA and was a strong candidate for Top Pitcher honors. If he can come back effectively, he might still have a shot, but he's left the door open and the Scouts' descent into 4th can be traced to his absence from the rotation.

Players of the Month
Will Brooker (GEN): 4-0, 2.49 ERA, 29 K, 43.1 IP
Ace Gervin (DPV): .390/.489/.831, 9 HR, 29 RBI

League Leaders

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
M. Richardson (ESP)   .409     L. Barber (ESP)         20
R. Gomes (ESP)        .375     T. Smith (LOR)          19
J. Anderson (ALL)     .354     E. Ashman (GEN)         17
                               
OPS                            ERA
R. Gomes (ESP)       1.103     G. Williams (ESP)     2.23
M. Richardson (ESP)  1.056     J. Wilder (ESP)       2.34
S. Underwood (TIF)   1.018     W. Brooker (GEN)      2.80
                                
Home Runs                      Wins
S. Underwood (TIF)      18     W. Brooker (GEN)        12
H. Gervin (DPV)         18     D. Odle (SIL)           12
R. Gomes (ESP)          17     5 tied with             11
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Isenhour (MAR)       53     B. Earl (GEN)          178
H. Gervin (DPV)         47     M. Hawkins (TIF)       175
M. Richardson (ESP)     47     G. Williams (ESP)      173
     
Runs Scored                   
M. DeGray (MAR)         50
T. Ridnour (MAR)        49	
T. Smith (LOR)          47
R. Gomes (ESP)          47

[ifspuds]

September 1, 2017

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk
Elliott Springs  53  34  .609    -    W4
Silver Beach     50  36  .581  2.5    L2
Marsein          46  40  .535  6.5    L1
Gentry Hills     44  42  .512  8.5    W1
Allison          43  43  .500  9.5    W1
Tifton           41  46  .471 12.0    L1
Lorris           37  49  .430 15.5    L1
Deepvale         31  55  .360 21.5    W1

League News

The Tornadoes can breathe a little easier now. Two days ago, the Silver Beach Whales were a mere half-game behind them, with a 2-game series between the two frontrunners to be played at the rowdy, sold-out Silver Field. And what a two game series it turned out to be.

Game one pitted the Tornadoes' current ace Greg Williams against the Silver Beach standout Tayshaun Curry. The Tornadoes struck first, with three straight singles to lead off the game plating a single run, but Curry settled down and got a groundout and a double play to end the threat. The score stayed 1-0 until the 8th inning, when Elliott Springs scratched out another run on Mike Richardson's two-out RBI single. The Whales weren't going quietly, though, scoring a one-out run in the bottom half of the 8th. They had runners on first and second with one down, but Larry Williams watched strike three sail past and Josh Sowder grounded out to third. Down to their last chances, the Whales put a runner on with one down, chasing Williams from the game, but Dante Duany's fly ball into left field settled into Josh Lutz's glove just feet from being a walk-off homer, and pinch hitter Mike Williams grounded out 6-4 to end the game.

Game two had Elliott Springs swingman Frankie Wise on the hill against Silver Beach ace Derrick Odle. The Whales looked like they'd earn the split when the game went to the 9th with the home team in front 3-0 and Odle working on a 6-hit, 13-strikeout shutout. With one out, though, Tornado shortstop Seth Maybin doubled and right fielder Marquel Jenkins singled him home to end the shutout. Reliever Dwayne Vining came on and allowed a single before getting the second out. Then the wheels came off. An RBI single from Torris Stephens made it 3-2 Whales, and Riyad Gomes walked to load the bases for Hunter Land, who drove a 2-1 fastball well past the wall in right-center for a back-breaking grand slam homer. As the Tornadoes welcomed Land back to the dugout, you could've heard a pin drop in Silver Field. Or owner Michael Hernandez cursing and firing half the team. The demoralized Whales went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and the Tornadoes left town owning a 2.5-game lead.

What does the future hold for the 2017 Bay League race? The Whales have 12 games remaining, travelling to Tifton for 3 and Deepvale for 2 before finishing the season at home against Marsein, Gentry Hills and Lorris. The Tornadoes will face Deepvale and Marsein at home before hitting the road to take on Lorris, Allison and Tifton. Elliott Springs has a couple more off days, which will allow them to adjust their rotation. With the two schedules roughly equal, that could end up giving the Tornadoes plenty of room to become the first repeat Bay League champs.

It shouldn't be a surprise to see Elliott Springs players sprinkled all over the leaderboards, but the most impressive thing is their dominance of the ERA board. Jamie Wilder is likely to drop off the leaderboard for lack of appearances by the end of the season, but right now, the Tornadoes own the top four spots on the list, with Eddie Hope's 2.89 placing him 4th. The Top Hitter race appears to be wide open, with Riyad Gomes, Mario DeGray and our old friend Ace Gervin all strong candidate. Gervin has been hotter than the sun since a miserable June, hitting .390/.489/.831 in July and .447/.523/.868 in August. If he keeps that up, it's very likely he'll win his 4th Top Hitter trophy and keep his title as the only man ever to win the award.

Players of the Month
Juggie Hawkins (TIF): 6-0, 3.02 ERA, 66 K, 59.2 IP
Simon Burks (MAR): .355/.417/.750, 8 HR, 20 RBI

League Leaders

Batting Average                Stolen Bases
M. Richardson (ESP)   .379     L. Barber (ESP)         28
R. Gomes (ESP)        .363     T. Smith (LOR)          28
J. Anderson (ALL)     .352     P. Cullen (TIF)         24
                               
OPS                            ERA
R. Gomes (ESP)       1.075     F. Wise (ESP)         2.19
H. Gervin (DPV)      1.008     G. Williams (ESP)     2.33
M. DeGray (MAR)       .988     J. Wilder (ESP)       2.34
                                
Home Runs                      Wins
H. Gervin (DPV)         23     D. Odle (SIL)           16
J. Brown (ESP)          22     E. Hope (ESP)           15
S. Underwood (TIF)      22     T. Curry (SIL)          15
                               M. Hawkins (TIF)        15
                               
RBI                            Strikeouts
R. Isenhour (MAR)       71     M. Hawkins (TIF)       241
A. Thomas (LOR)         62     D. Odle (SIL)          232
M. Richardson (ESP)     62     G. Williams (ESP)      230
J. Brown (ESP)          62     

Runs Scored                   
M. DeGray (MAR)         69
T. Smith (LOR)          66	
R. Gomes (ESP)          63

[ifspuds]

September 10, 2017

Derrick Odle and the rest of the Silver Beach Whales sat around the vidscreen in the Silver Field home clubhouse. The Elliott Springs-Lorris game was headed to the bottom of the 8th, tied 1-1. The Whales had just won their third straight, Odle's 17th win, a 5-2 victory over the Marsein Knights, and were tied with the Tornadoes for first, pending the outcome of the game they watched.

Lorris's Keith Coulibaly struck out on back-door slider from Eddie Hope for the first out, and Bryen Angeli came to the plate. The Whales' center fielder Jacob Leslie turned to his outfield mate Josh Sowder. "A hundred says he takes Hope yard, first pitch," said Leslie. Heads turned, and Sowder laughed. "Angeli? You know he's hitting about .240, right? I'll take that bet." Derrick Odle chimed in, "I'm in. Angeli couldn't hit water if you tossed him in Tifton Bay." A number of other voices jumped in on the action as well.

On the vidscreen, Hope came to a set and launched a fastball plateward. Angeli turned on it and gave it a long, graceful arc, deep into the right field corner. Eyes whipped back to the screen, just in time to see the ball deposited safely in the crowd. The room went crazy, and Jacob Leslie grinned from ear to ear. "Let's see... that's a hundred from Sowder, Odle, Jones..."

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk
Silver Beach     55  37  .598    -    W4
Elliott Springs  55  38  .591  0.5    L1

Games Remaining: SIL 6, ESP 5

[Dark Horse]

WOW! Here i was feeling sorry for the Silver Beach manager after that debacle at home. And they come storming back!

Nice bit of story telling.

And what happened to Richardson? Down to .379? It looks like he hit the wall.

[ifspuds]

Thanks, Dark Horse. I was hoping for a dramatic title race, but when the Tornadoes went up 2.5, I figured it was all over but the shouting. Did I ever turn out to be wrong...

Excerpt from Outpost Baseball: An Early History, by Mark Christensen

"As tense as the 2015 Bay League championship race was, the 2017 title proved to be even more dramatic, pitting the previous two champions against one another, both hoping to become the first repeat champions in the Bay League's short history. The 2016 champions from Elliott Springs held a 2.5-game lead over the Silver Beach Whales headed into the final month of the season, but with just a handful of games remaining, the Whales snuck in front by a half-game. A day later, a Whales win and a Tornadoes loss increased the Silver Beach lead by an additional game, and things looked grim for the Tornadoes' hopes of repeating. September 14th saw the tables begin to turn, though.

While the Whales, behind Hawkeye Odle, had dropped a tough 8-5 contest to the fading Gentry Hills Scouts, the Tornadoes didn't seem likely to take advantage of the opportunity. Down 4-3 to the Allison Spelunkers heading to the 8th inning of their contest, Elliott Springs put two men on with two out for their star second baseman Mike Richardson. Richardson had hit over .400 for much of that season, but the longer schedule seemed to wear him down, as he hit .289 in August and while he'd hit in 8 straight games up to that point, the multi-hit games that had inflated his average throughout the season were curiously missing. Not so on that day, as Richardson's 2nd single of the game brought home the tying run. Allison would put two runners on in the 8th, 9th and 10th, but it was the Tornadoes that took advantage of their opportunities, scoring 4 runs in the top of the 11th with two down to take the win and climb back within a half-game.

Two days later, with Elliott Springs idle, Silver Beach had a shot to pick up a half-game on their pursuers at home against the Lorris Greens. With their top pitcher that season, Tayshaun Curry, on the hill against talented rookie Michael Marek, they liked their chances. But Lorris struck Curry in the top of the 7th, Tega Smith's 2-out, 3-run homer giving them a 4-3 lead. The Whales knotted the score at 4 in the bottom of the 8th on Josh Sowder's RBI groundout, sending the game into dramatic extra frames. The Greens scratched out 3 runs in the top of the 10th, but Silver Beach wasn't done quite yet. Bryan Jones singled in a run with 2 down in the bottom half, and a clutch pinch-hit double by Derrick Grawer tied it all up at 7. The fleet-footed Greens center fielder Tega Smith was once more a thorn in the Whales' side, though, as he walked and stole second with 2 down in the top of the 11th, coming around to score on Aaron Thomas's single. It looked as though the scrappy Whales would get even once again as Ben McAfee singled to lead off the bottom of the 11th and move to second on a sac bunt, but they just couldn't bring him around, and Silver Beach fell into a tie with Elliott Springs, setting up a two-game race to the 2017 Bay League title..."

[ifspuds]

September 18, 2017

Team              W   L   Pct   GB   Stk
Elliott Springs  56  41  .577    -    L1
Silver Beach     56  41  .577    -    L4

Bay League Title to Come Down to Final Day
Outpost News Service

Even though the Bay League added 28 games to its schedule this season, it looks like even 98 games might not be enough to decide the 2017 champion. Just four days ago, the Silver Beach Whales owned a seemingly commanding 1.5-game lead over last year's champs, the Elliott Springs Tornadoes, but a four-game losing skid brought the Whales into a deadlock with the boys from Elliott Springs, with one more chance to end the season today.

Elliott Springs (56-41) is in Tifton (46-51) today, where Eddie Hope (15-5, 3.18 ERA) will face young Shawn Dawson (10-12, 4.21 ERA). Tifton spoiled the Tornadoes' hopes yesterday with a narrow 6-5 win that earned Juggie Hawkins his 17th win over the slumping Greg Williams despite a late rally by the Tornadoes. The Tornadoes appear to have the advantage over the Generals in the pitching matchup today, with the 37-year old Hope showing no signs of slowing down.

Silver Beach (56-41) entertains the Lorris Greens (45-52), who have won the first two games of this pivotal three-game series for the Whales. Both games have gone to extra innings, and the Greens have come out on top both times. Today the Whales send Hawkeye Odle (17-11, 3.36 ERA) to face Mike Woollum (13-8, 3.53 ERA), a classic matchup of talented veterans, but one that has to make Silver Beach fans nervous. In two starts against the Whales this season, Woollum has allowed just a single run.

If both teams win or lose, there will be a one-game playoff to be held in Silver Beach tomorrow. Maybe 98 games won't settle the issue after all.

[ifspuds]

One More Day: Playoff Game Is On
Outpost News Service

It would be hard to script a more dramatic ending than this 2017 Bay League race. After Elliott Springs chased Tifton's Shawn Dawson with 8 runs allowed in 2.2 innings en route to a 12-2 thumping of the Generals, the pressure was on Silver Beach to match their rivals with a win. And what a game that turned out to be, with Hawkeye Odle and Mike Woollum matching each other inning for inning, nearly identical pitching lines except for one important difference: Woollum allowed two runs to Odle's one, and the Whales escaped with a 2-1 victory.

Whoever wins today's one-game playoff will become the first two-time champion in Bay League history. The Whales won the 2015 title, while Elliott Springs earned the trophy in 2016. The Tornadoes will send Frankie Wise to the mound today. Wise, 24 years old, began the season in the bullpen, where he'd spent the last two seasons, but with Jamie Wilder out for the season, he was pressed into duty in the rotation, where he's performed very well. On the season, Wise may just be 6-5, but his 2.31 ERA puts him among the league leaders, and he's allowed just 121 hits and 20 walks in 132.2 innings and struck out 100. He's got the talent to stick in the rotation for a long time. Opposing Wise will be Silver Beach's Sam McBride. Another youngster, just 22 years old, McBride will be making his 10th appearance, all starts. He carries a 1-4 record into the game, with a 3.49 ERA. He's struck out 57 batters in his 67 innings of work, but he's allowed 88 baserunners in that same amount of work.

[ifspuds]

Tornadoes Twist Whales In Knots, Win Second Straight Bay League Title
Outpost News Service

Fans filed into the gleaming Silver Field knowing they would witness Bay League history. The championship would be decided here today, for starters. This was the first playoff game in Bay League history, for another thing. And top all that off, whoever won this single game would become the first repeat champions in Bay League history. All in all, guaranteed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the 6,387 fans that packed the Whales' home stadium on this pleasant evening. Unfortunately for that home crowd, Frankie Wise and the Elliott Springs Tornadoes were just too much for the host Whales, earning the Elliott Springs squad the championship trophy for the second straight season with a 4-2 win.

The Tornadoes jumped on top early, with shortstop Seth Maybin driving a Sam McBride fastball deep into left center for a 2-run homer. Elliott Springs would never relinquish that lead, as Wise continually worked out of trouble. Silver Beach touched up the Tornado starter for at least one hit in every inning he worked, but could never muster the clutch hit they needed to get back in the contest. Elliott Springs tacked on runs in the 4th and 5th on an RBI single from Jared Brown and a solo homer from Tim Bohm, useful insurance for the Tornadoes. Silver Beach got on the board in the 4th on Dante Duany's RBI double, and added another when Jason Walton popped a solo homer down the right field line, giving the home fans hope, but relievers Corsley Carey and Wahhab Duncan shut the door. The Whales had a golden opportunity on Bryan Jones's leadoff double in the bottom of the 8th, but Tim Bohm made a diving catch on what looked like a sure gapper and caught Jones napping off second for a demoralizing double play. "That was a huge catch," said Corsley Carey, who came on to start that 8th inning. "Rocket doesn't make that play, it's a one-run game, no outs and a runner on 2nd. That might have been the catch that saved our season."

When Silver Beach's Josh Sowder hit a rocket that Riyad Gomes speared for the final out of the game, the celebration hit the mound, but it was an entirely different scene than the previous season's. "This is almost more of a relief, right now," said Gomes. "We kicked ourselves all month for letting our lead slip away, and to get another shot, especially head-to-head, we're all sitting around pinching ourselves to make sure we're not dreaming." Gomes still held tight to the third out hours after the game, and gave no indication he'd be letting go anytime soon. "It's an incredible feeling, but the reality of it won't set in for a couple days, I think," he said. "It's a storybook ending, to be sure."