The Connecticut Shore League

[Big Six]

April 1, 1943

If what happened during spring training is any indication, the Connecticut Shore League is in for a very competitive season, in which any of the league's eight teams could end up on top.

Each of the teams won between 10 and 14 games during the exhibition season, with the Branford Barbers and Madison Republicans posting the best records.

Guilford's Sterling Reynolds (.404) and Old Saybrook's Tommy Phelps (.400) led all Shore Leaguers in batting during the spring. Spike Butler of Waterford got on base at a .525 clip, while Branford's Glenn Lauer and Groton's Grant Gould both belted five home runs and slugged over .700.

Among the pitchers who looked good during the spring were Old Saybrook's Jesse Williams (1.80 ERA, 25 K/24 IP), Guilford's Neal Bastien (1.80 ERA, 25 K/20 IP), and Stonington's Dave Frazier (1.88 ERA).

Not all the news coming out of spring training is good, however. Long-time Stonington stalwart David von Hof is contemplating retirement, after suffering a shoulder injury on March 23. von Hof, a 10-time All-Star, reigns as the Shore League's all-time leader in home runs (395), slugging average (.583) and OPS (.980). He will probably be out of action until August.

The only man to drive in more runs as a Shore Leaguer than von Hof is Mystic slugger Jaime Morales. He will also be out for about two months while his partially torn labrum heals.

Groton already knew they would be missing Matt Carter from their pitching staff for most of the '43 season. Now, they will be having to make do without Justin Fruge as well, perhaps until late May. By then, the Sox might also welcome Shannon West back to their rotation, too. West has been out since last April with a torn rotator cuff.

Here's the preseason list of the Shore League's Top 20 players:

 1  Spike Butler, RF, Waterford
 2  Paul Clayton, RF, Groton
 3  Alex Calihan, CF, Waterford
 4  Paul Flint, 1B, Branford
 5  Arnold Hebert, 2B, Branford
 6  Ray Matt, 1B, Stonington
 7  Bruce Vogt, 1B, Waterford
 8  Tommy Phelps, SS, Old Saybrook
 9  Grant Gould, 1B, Groton
10  Timothy LaChance, 1B, Madison 
11  David O'Herlihy, LF, Madison
12  Mark Lavender, SS, Guilford
13  Eric Hamlyn, 2B, Waterford
14  Cedric Hornbuckle, SS, Mystic
15  Ralph Gaines, CF, Stonington
16  Boyd Kneeshaw, 3B, Groton
17  Jaime Morales, RF, Mystic
18  Joseph Edwards, C, Mystic
19  Sherwood Rankin, LF, Mystic
20  Sean Maher, RF, Branford

The least-known name on this list is undoubtedly that of Timothy LaChance. He was Madison's #3 draft pick in 1937, and appeared to be little more than roster filler until he suddenly discovered his batting stroke in 1941. LaChance added power to the mixture last year, and now he's poised to make a big splash in '43. He's slated to hit cleanup for the Republicans this year.

Here are the league's top 10 pitchers. All of them are starters, and they're all familiar names to Shore League fans.

 1  Dave Frazier, Stonington
 2  Matt Carter, Groton
 3  Ray Keel, Branford
 4  Dave Cline, Stonington
 5  Scotty Goodwin, Madison
 6  Justin Fruge, Groton
 7  Scott Moye, Old Saybrook
 8  Jesse Williams, Old Saybrook
 9  Shane Polston, Branford
10  John Ellender, Groton

And here are the league's top 10 prospects. Lavender and Channing are the only players from this list who are breaking camp with their Shore League teams this spring.

 1  Mark Lavender, SS, Guilford (22)
 2  Lamont Markey, P, Madison (19)
 3  Johnston Harber, RF, Madison (18)
 4  Herman Carlson, P, Old Saybrook (21)
 5  Dae-hee Im, P, Branford (22)
 6  Rod Rutan, P, Waterford (21)
 7  Frank Channing, C, Branford (23)
 8  Charlie DeMars, 3B, Branford (19)
 9  Gene Stewart, P, Stonington (20)
10  George Schroeder, CF, Old Saybrook (22)

Dae-hee Im came to Connecticut from Korea this fall, and signed as a free agent with Branford. He looks like he has all the makings of a future star.

[Big Six]

I'll be getting back to this story soon. I've missed it, and I haven't had much time for OOTP lately. I'll be less busy in a week or two, and then the Shore League will be back up and running.

[Big Six]

May 1, 1943

EASTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Groton         20   8  .714  --
Waterford      17  11  .607   3
Stonington     12  16  .429   8
Mystic         11  17  .393   9

WESTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Branford       16  12  .571  --
Old Saybrook   14  14  .500   2
Madison        11  17  .393   5
Guilford       11  17  .393   5

Green Sox are in fashion this spring, as the Groton club opened the 1943 Connecticut Shore League season in the finest style.

The Sox have received some good mound performances, especially those of Pitcher of the Month Brian Wagner (6-0, 2.00, 7 BB, 39 K, 54 IP), but the real key to Groton's explosive start has been the thunder coming from their bats.

The Green Sox have clubbed 45 home runs as a team, with 1B Grant Gould (9) and RF Paul Clayton (7) currently first and third on the home run leader board. Gould, who also boasts a .372 average, a .659 slugging percentage, and a league-best 27 RBI, was named the league's Batter of the Month.

Groton's outstanding play kept an outstanding Waterford club in second place, and there was more negative news coming out of the Conchs' camp. First baseman Bruce Vogt will miss the next month or so with a quadriceps strain. Vogt has slugged six homers, and takes a .338 average with him to the trainer's room.

Two of the better young pitchers in the league will have to wait until 1944 to take the mound again. Neil Bastien, 25, of the Guilford Corgis blew out his elbow in the season opener; last year, the fireballing righthander set a new record with 250 strikeouts.

The news was worse for Madison's Francisco Sanchez, who tore his rotator cuff on April 28. Sanchez, 23, might not be ready to pitch again until mid-season 1944.

Both Bastien and Sanchez were high-first round picks; Bastien going #3 overall in 1935 and Sanchez #2 in 1940.

[Kevdog1020]

Just found this dynasty and I have to say, I love it. I started reading and immediately became a Branford Barbers fan. To top it off, they won the 'Ship in the first season of reporting so I was a very happy fan. Love what you're doing here.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Kevdog1020

Just found this dynasty and I have to say, I love it. I started reading and immediately became a Branford Barbers fan. To top it off, they won the 'Ship in the first season of reporting so I was a very happy fan. Love what you're doing here.

Thanks, Kevdog. I realized I gave the defending champions short shrift in my April report. After all, they are leading their division.

The Barbers' good start is the result of balance--they are hitting, pitching, and fielding well, and that usually leads to winning baseball. 2B Arnold Hebert (.330-2-12) is off to a fine start, and last year's Outstanding Batter Award winner, 1B Paul Flint, has seven homers and is batting .297 on the young season.

The Barbers are particularly pleased with the play of C Frank Channing, whose first full season in the Shore League is off to a fine start: .280-4-15, after hitting .375 in the Shore Series last fall.

Ray Keel, Nolan Hopkins, and Jason Gary all have three wins to lead the Barbers' staff. Hopkins, who is the original Barber--the first player chosen by the team in the 1932 draft--is slowly losing his skills at age 38, and is pitching in relief now, while his spot in the rotation has been taken by promising 22-year-old southpaw Eric Nunnally, once the #1 pitching prospect in the league.

Don't be surprised to see your Barbers in the hunt for another Western Division championship all season long. Manager Ed Lowry has his club shooting for a chance to defend their title in the Shore Series this fall.

[Big Six]

June 1, 1943

EASTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Groton         38  19  .667  --
Waterford      32  25  .561   6
Stonington     24  33  .421  14
Mystic         22  35  .386  16

WESTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Madison        32  25  .561  --
Branford       31  26  .544   1
Old Saybrook   25  32  .439   7
Guilford       24  33  .421   8

May was an eventful month in the Connecticut Shore League, and the headlines were happier in Madison than anywhere else around the circuit.

Winning 21 games during the month, the Republicans vaulted from third to first in the Western Division standings. A five-game winning streak from May 26-30, including a series sweep over Branford, propelled the Reps into the lead.

Madison owner Tom McCoy has his team in "win now" mode, and two transactions the Republicans completed last week were signs that the club is taking McCoy's request to heart. They traded away three young players and received two established stars in return. From Stonington, they picked up closer Bill McCardle, and from Mystic, they acquired shortstop Cedric Hornbuckle. The deal with the Clippers cost them 19-year-old Lamont Markey, who's usually considered the league's top pitching prospect.

Scotty Goodwin leads the Madison staff with eight victories, while unheralded #4 starter David Fisher won the league's Pitcher of the Month prize with a 4-0 record in May.

The Barbers will have to dig down extra deep if they're going to keep pace with the Republicans. And, they'll have to do it without the services of veteran righthander Nolan Hopkins, at least for a while. Hopkins, the Shore League's career leader in wins with 177, will be out at least until August with shoulder inflammation.

In the East, the Groton Green Sox are threatening to run away with the division title before the weather truly gets warm. The Sox aren't playing .700 baseball anymore, but they have doubled their lead over the Waterford Conchs and are still looking like the class of the Shore League.

1B Grant Gould, CF Gary Cutts, and RF Paul Clayton have turned the Groton lineup into a Murderers' Row. All three are batting over .325 and slugging over .600. Gould leads the league in home runs with 18. Pitchers Brian Wagner (9-3) and John Ellender (8-2) lead the Green Sox' solid pitching staff. And, the Sox recently welcomed back lefthander Justin Fruge, who missed the first six weeks of the season with back problems. Fruge won 23 games and the Outstanding Pitcher Award in 1941.

Benjamin Harlow, the league's Batter of the Month for May, is doing his best to help keep the Conchs within striking range of the Green Sox. Harlow, a 27-year-old third baseman, hit .355 with nine homers during May, giving him a pretty .307-12-35 line for the season.

Most teams value defense over offense when they choose their first-string catcher, but there are a several Shore League backstops who are doing considerable damage with the lumber this spring. They include Stonington's Charlie Michell, the league's leading hitter (.374); Guilford's Sterling Reynolds (.374-14-49), who leads the loop in RBI; and Old Saybrook's Bob Montgomery, who has hammered 14 homers. Michell is the only one of the four who is a better-than-average receiver, but none of the other three are truly awful.

The annual rookie draft is coming up on June 15, and word has it that there are several outstanding pitching prospects available in this year's pool--including two who were drafted in the first round in 1942 and failed to sign contracts.

[Stromson]

I'm really liking this league (and I like that it's mean to be a small, comfortable league, versus a 30+ team behemoth). I know you said you were just planning to play in "Commish" mode, but any intention of ever taking over one of these clubs personally?

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Stromson

I'm really liking this league (and I like that it's mean to be a small, comfortable league, versus a 30+ team behemoth). I know you said you were just planning to play in "Commish" mode, but any intention of ever taking over one of these clubs personally?

I've thought about it. I wonder if I would enjoy it as much if I were personaly attached to one team, rather than overseeing the whole league as a sort of Great Baseball Deity.

For now, I'll keep going the way I am, but I would say there's a chance I might change my mind at some point.

I'm glad you're enjoying it, Stromson. I hope you'll keep following along.

[Big Six]

June 15, 1943

Today was Draft Day, and the eight Shore League teams salivated over one of the best crops of pitching talent the league has ever seen. No fewer than eight of the first ten selections were moundsmen, and several teams think they've added a future ace to their roster.

Let's meet the young men who were drafted in today's first round. We'll also check up on last year's first round picks to see how they are developing.

Guilford Corgis: LHP Paul Melancon (age 19)

If Paul's name seems familiar, it's because it is. He was drafted #3 overall last year, but failed to sign a contract with the Waterford Conchs. Paul went to Oklahoma State, where he posted a 10-3 record and a 2.58 ERA, striking out 118 batters and walking 38 in 124 innings of work. Once again, Melancon is asking for a bonus of $80,000 to sign his contract.

Let's catch up with Mark Lavender, the Corgis' first round pick in 1942. Mark has been the Corgis' regular shortstop since his arrival in Guilford. He's hitting .247 with seven home runs in 1943, and his skills are continuing to develop. Mark looks like a future All-Star.


Mystic Clippers: RHP Brian White (age 17)

In many scouts' eyes, White was the best of a strong group of young pitchers in this year's draft. He's a big (6'4, 210,) strong righthander with a sinking, low-90s fastball. Brian is also developing a changeup that, in time, might become his best pitch. He is an intelligent young man with a fine work ethic. He won't come cheaply, however; the Wheeling, Illinois product is requesting a $95,000 signing bonus. Since the Clippers failed to sign #1 pick Charlie Pike last year, the pressure is on their front office to close the deal with White.


Old Saybrook Privateers: RHP Forrest Kelly (age 17)

It's easy to look at this 6'5 righthander's fluid motion and envision a future ace. Forrest mows down hitters with a fastball that touches 96 MPH, and also throws a curve, a slider, and a changeup. As a senior at Tome High in North East, Maryland, Kelly posted statistics that look surreal. He allowed only 62 hits and seven earned runs in 114 innings, while striking out 199 batters. He might become the first player in Shore League history to command a $100,000 signing bonus.

Let's catch up with Herman Carlson, the Privateers' #1 pick in 1942. He hasn't made his Old Saybrook debut yet, but he is making steady progress. Herman is ranked #7 on the league's prospect list.


Waterford Conchs: LHP Charlie Pike (age 19)

The Conchs failed to reach a deal with Paul Melancon last summer, but they aren't afraid to try again with Pike, whom the Clippers drafted #1 overall in 1942. Charlie enjoyed a successful freshman season at Ole Miss (7-2, 2.15, 93 strikeouts in 96.1 innings) and scouts say he's a more mature pitcher than he was this time last season. He is asking the Conchs for a $100,000 signing bonus.


Madison Republicans: RHP Floyd Goodman (age 18)

The parade of pitchers continued with this Pennsylvania righthander, who dominated his competition at Forward High School (9-0, 1.08, 112 K, 13 BB, 91.1 IP). Floyd has a heavy low-90s fastball with life and movement, and he's developing a feel for his curve and change. He is a good athlete who fields his position well. He has the makings of a top-of-the-rotation starter, and he's asking for about half as much money to sign as players like Pike, White, and Melancon.

Let's catch up with Johnston Harber, whom the Republicans drafted in Round 1 last year. He's still awaiting his Shore League debut; at age 19, he's the #3 prospect in the league.


Groton Green Sox: OF Mauro Reyna (age 22)

Reyna is a native of the Dominican Republic who came to Syracuse, NY to play college ball at LeMoyne. There, he displayed the skills of an ideal leadoff hitter: he hit for average (.335), got on base (54 walks in 53 games; .468 OBP) and he stole bases (34 in 40 attempts). Mauro's best position is left field, but his range and arm could play in center. He's close to being readyfor the Shore League right now, and could sign quickly. Mauro is asking for a $60,000 signing bonus.

Let's catch up with Wesley Powell, who is frustrated by the fact that he hasn't been given a chance to pitch in Groton yet. The 22-year-old righthander is still struggling to locate home plate.


Stonington Brawlers: LHP Sherwood Wester (age 18)

Sherwood's teammates at Helix High in La Mesa, California call him "The Shark" because of his aggressive mentality. He's also being recruited by colleges who desire his services as a linebacker. On the mound, he features a hard cutter, a curve and a changeup, all of which are very well-developed for a high school pitcher. The Brawlers also like Sherwood's leadership qualities. He's asking for about $40,000 to sign his contract.

Let's catch up with Dennis Herring, one of a group of fine young pitching prospects the Brawlers have accumulated. At age 22, Dennis will need to progress quickly in order to establish himself in the Shore League.


Branford Barbers: OF Dwain Alexander (age 20)

After the Conchs and Clippers drafted righthanded pitchers Lanny Ruff and Mike Weaver with the picks they received for failing to sign their first round picks last year, the champion Barbers selected Alexander, a hard-hitting outfielder from Brooklyn who headed out to California to play college ball at Golden West. Dwain has a quick, compact swing that generates lots of power. He could hit .300 with 30 homers a year in his prime. Alexander is requesting a $40,000 signing bonus.

Let's catch up with Frank Channing, who wasted no time entrenching himself as the first-stringer behind the plate in Branford. He's currently hitting an even .300, with nine homers and 40 RBI, and he's thrown out 51% of the baserunners who have challenged his arm.

[Big Six]

A number of Shore League players possess what I call "crossover skills." These are position players who have the potential to pitch effectively, and pitchers who have enough hitting talent to play elsewhere on the diamond. Most of them are young, and if they don't develop into stars in one role, they could possibly re-emerge as prospects in the other.

POSITION PLAYERS WHO CAN PITCH
The Brawlers drafted 17-year-old outfielder George Greenway with their #2 pick in the recent rookie draft. As an outfielder, George's primary tool is his exceptional speed. Otherwise, he doesn't seem like a top prospect. However, Greenway also throws a high-80s fastball, and his slider could develop into a dominant pitch. I wouldn't be surprised if Greenway, whose pitching potential reads 11/13/9 (Stuff/Movement/Control) makes it to the Shore as a reliever rather than a centerfielder.

Mark Lavender of the Corgis doesn't have to worry about making the Shore League. At age 23, the #2 overall pick in the 1942 draft is already the starting shortstop in Guilford. However, Mark can bring it from the pitchers' mound, too. His fastball has been clocked at 94 MPH, and he also throws a wicked splitter. His 11/13/9 potential is very similar to Greenway's.

In 1940, shortstop Adam Rochon was drafted in the second round by the Clippers. He's appeared in ten games for Mystic this season, which represents his most extensive Shore League action to date. Adam is now 24, so perhaps the Clippers might be tempted to see what his mid-90s fastball and nasty slider might do to opposing hitters. He has no idea where the ball is going when it leaves his hand; his 18/9/5 potential is fully developed. Still, it might be cool to see Rochon take the mound.

Bill Boyd stepped in as Groton's second baseman midway through the 1942 season, and has held the job ever since. However, he's currently hitting .175 and, although he has the potential to develop into a good hitter, he won't keep a job in the Shore League unless he raises that average 75 points or so. Could the Sox use Boyd (12/15/16 potential) in their bullpen?

The most intriguing crossover prospect is Old Saybrook's Charlie DeMars. The Privateers acquired him in a trade with Branford, sending pitcher Jesse Williams to the Barbers in return. DeMars, 19, is an elite prospect as a second baseman, projecting as a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter. It's possible Charlie could be an even more promising pitcher, however. He throws a 90 MPH fastball and a devastating sinker that yields ground ball after ground ball. In fact, His 16/20/16 potential is better than that of any pitcher in the league.

Next, we'll look at pitchers who swing the lumber well enough to hold down a spot in someone's everyday lineup.

[illeracula]

How is DVH doing? Has age caught up to him or is he bouncing back?


Sad to see the Clippers didn't sign Pike. Looking at their season, looks like they could of used the help.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by illeracula

How is DVH doing? Has age caught up to him or is he bouncing back?

David von Hof hurt his shoulder during spring training, and he is still recovering. Fortunately, his rehabilitation seems to be progressing well, and the Brawlers are expecting to have him back in the lineup by late next month.

Originally Posted by illeracula

Sad to see the Clippers didn't sign Pike. Looking at their season, looks like they could of used the help.

The decline of the Clippers, who beat Waterford in a one-game playoff to win the Eastern Division championship last year, has been one of the big stories of the 1943 season. Their pitching staff, which was barely adequate for a contending team in '42, has been horrible so far in '43; their 4.57 staff ERA is the worst in the league.

They just got slugging LF Jaime Morales back from the DL, but almost immediately, RF Ambrose Phelan (.259-14-38) sprained a finger. It will be another two weeks before the Clippers have both Morales and Phelan in their lineup.

The Clippers just drafted another stud pitcher, Brian White, whose potential looks as good as Charlie Pike's. However, Brian is almost two years younger than Charlie, and isn't nearly as advanced a prospect. It could be several years before White is ready for the Shore League, and the Clippers could use an ace ASAP.

Thanks for your comment, illeracula.

[Big Six]

June 17, 1943

A sellout crowd is expected at Branford Park for the Connecticut Shore League All-Star Game on June 19.

Let's meet your 1943 All-Stars! League-leading statistics are highlighted in black ink.

For the Eastern Division, the roster includes:
SP John Ellender (GROT) - 9-2, 2.76 ERA
SP Dave Frazier (STO) - 7-9, 2.80 ERA
SP Dennis Holland (MYST) - 5-9, 3.02 ERA
SP Nathan Hollins (WAT) - 8-3, 2.91 ERA
SP Juan Jose Valdéz (WAT) - 7-5, 4.96 ERA
SP Brian Wagner (GROT) - 11-4, 2.71 ERA
MR Nelson Hopewell (WAT) - 3-1, 2.33 ERA
MR Dave Thompson (GROT) - 5-3, 3 SV, 4.44 ERA
MR José Torres (STO) - 2-3, 2 SV, 2.82 ERA
CL Johnny Lucas (GROT) - 1-2, 8 SV, 2.08 ERA
CL Ray Phelps (MYST) - 1-3, 8 SV, 3.38 ERA
CL Steven Quarles (WAT) - 1-0, 12 SV, 2.14 ERA
C Joe Farrington (GROT) - .276/.345/.510, 12 HR, 43 RBI
C Charlie Michell (STO) - .395/.467/.585, 10 HR, 36 RBI
1B Ray Matt (STO) - .319/.352/.528, 9 HR, 43 RBI
1B Grant Gould (GROT) - .321/.397/.611, 23 HR, 56 RBI
2B David Enders (WAT) - .336/.391/.497, 3 HR, 23 RBI
3B Benjamin Harlow (WAT) - .297/.367/.505, 13 HR, 43 RBI
3B Nick Wallace (GROT) - .290/.354/.403, 2 HR, 30 RBI
SS Boyd Kneeshaw (GROT) - .255/.296/.446, 11 HR, 48 RBI
SS José Hernández (WAT) - .267/.338/.445, 11 HR, 42 RBI
LF Lance Smith (GROT) - .283/.314/.453, 10 HR, 31 RBI
CF Sherwood Rankin (MYST) - .283/.410/.504, 9 HR, 33 RBI
CF Ralph Gaines (STO) - .304/.313/.405, 5 HR, 22 RBI
CF Gary Cutts (GROT) - .322/.375/.578, 14 HR, 42 RBI
CF Alex Callihan (WAT) - .275/.355/.424, 9 HR, 40 RBI
RF Paul Clayton (GROT) - .331/.393/.645, 14 HR, 50 RBI
RF Spike Butler (WAT) - .282/.403/.388, 6 HR, 27 RBI


And, your Western Division All-Stars:
SP Jamie DeYoung (MAD) - 6-4, 3.74 ERA
SP Brian Dunlap (GUIL) - 5-9, 3.14 ERA
SP David Fisher (MAD) - 8-6, 4.72 ERA
SP Scotty Goodwin (MAD) - 9-6, 3.18 ERA
SP Carl Harris (OS) - 8-7, 3.75 ERA
SP Ray Keel (BRAN) - 9-8, 3.81 ERA
SP Shane Polston (BRAN) - 6-3, 3.85 ERA
SP Walter Salzman (MAD) - 8-7, 4.44 ERA
MR Orlando Cintrón (MAD) - 2-1, 4 SV, 1.50 ERA
MR Tom Clancy (BRAN) - 3-1, 2 SV, 1.65 ERA
MR Tim Sparks (GUIL) - 1-0, 2 SV, 1.80 ERA
CL Dave Eggleston (BRAN) - 1-3, 15 SV, 3.04 ERA
C Frank Channing (BRAN) - .294/.355/.449, 6 HR, 42 RBI
C Sterling Reynolds (GUIL) - .364/.411/.641, 17 HR, 59 RBI
1B Paul Flint (BRAN) - .305/.403/.597, 18 HR, 49 RBI
2B Mitchell Beattie (OS) - .281/.367/.381, 3 HR, 26 RBI
2B Dan Vaughn (MAD) - .280/.330/.437, 10 HR, 39 RBI
2B Arnold Hebert (BRAN) - .326/.406/.438, 6 HR, 31 RBI
3B Bryan Mulvihill (BRAN) - .262/.312/.350, 2 HR, 34 RBI
SS Cedric Hornbuckle (MAD) - .338/.399/.475, 2 HR, 18 RBI
SS Mark Lavender (GUIL) - .247/.338/.367, 7 HR, 26 RBI
LF Glenn Lauer (BRAN) - .271/.345/.411, 10 HR, 42 RBI
LF David O'Herlihy (MAD) - .298/.401/.480, 7 HR, 36 RBI
CF Anthony Dawson (MAD) - .275/.371/.405, 6 HR, 36 RBI
RF David Jones (MAD) - .316/.345/.474, 6 HR, 34 RBI
RF Sean Maher (BRAN) - .260/.409/.532, 10 HR, 33 RBI
RF Adam Watkins (OS) - .261/.301/.500, 5 HR, 21 RBI
RF Dave Tolliver (GUIL) - .307/.340/.457, 8 HR, 43 RBI

Mystic RF Ambrose Phelan (.259/.333/.502, 14 HR, 38 RBI) is enjoying an All-Star calibre season, and would have earned a spot on the East roster if he were healthy.

[Big Six]

The upcoming All-Star Game distracted me from my report on "crossover stars." Here are the most productive and promising hitters among Connecticut Shore League moundsmen.

PITCHERS WHO CAN HIT

Veteran Madison righthander Scotty Goodwin ranks second all-time in wins with 167. He has undoubtedly helped himself win a few of those games with his bat. Scotty's lifetime batting average is a pitcherish .158, but he leads all Shore League twirlers in RBI with 65, and he's one of three pitchers with nine career home runs.

Brian Wagner of Groton also has nine career homers, and he's accumulated them in half the number of at bats that Goodwin has required. The smart money is on Brian to become the league's all time home run king among pitchers.

Wagner's teammate, John Ellender, is arguably the best all-around athlete among Shore League pitchers. In 743 at bats, Ellender has batted .201, but his exceptional speed has enabled him to leg out 29 doubles and six triples. John also loves to steal bases; he's 33-for-51 in his career.

The Clippers' Dennis Holland is batting .342 this season, raising his career average to .248. That's the best among Shore League pitchers who have batted at least 100 times. Holland's ratings, which include a 10 for Contact, indicate his performance is no fluke.

However, there is only one pitcher in the league whose batting ratings are good enough to make a full-time move away from the mound a tempting option. That's Madison righthander Francisco Sanchez.

Francisco is a promising young pitcher with a torrid fastball. The 23-year-old went 5-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 16 starts last year; he tore his rotator cuff in April and will be out for at least another 12 months. The Republicans hope Sanchez' arm heals completely, but if it doesn't, they would be smart to let him try his hand at playing first base.

Francisco's batting ratings are simply nasty: Contact 16, Power 14, Eye 11. In other words, he gets his bat on the ball as regularly as Arnold Hebert, he hits with as much power as Paul Clayton, and he has the strike zone judgment of Paul Flint. Sanzhez went only 4-30 as a batter last season, but who knows what he could do if he were given the chance to hit every day?

[Big Six]

July 1, 1943

EASTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Groton         55  28  .663  --	
Waterford      45  38  .542  10
Stonington     36  47  .434  19
Mystic         33  50  .398  22

WESTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Branford       48  35  .578  --
Madison        47  36  .566   1
Guilford       37  46  .446  11
Old Saybrook   31  52  .373  17

Last year, the Eastern Division required a one-game playoff to determine its champion, while the Western Division pennant was secured by early September. This year, it's the West's turn to feature a closely contested race.

The Branford Barbers edged back ahead of the Madison Republicans during June, and they now hold a one-game edge in the standings. Barbers second baseman Arnold Hebert hit .324 in June, equal to his season's mark, and stole 14 bases in 15 attempts to jumpstart the Barbers' attack.

Madison's pitching staff was shakier than usual last month, but recent acquisition Cedric Hornbuckle has done nothing but hit since arriving from Mystic. Last month, the shortstop posted a .396/.461/.535 line, scoring 22 runs in 25 games.

Meanwhile, Groton has increased its lead in the East to ten games. Green Sox ace John Ellender was named the league's Pitcher of the Month for June, after recording three wins and a microscopic 0.30 ERA in five starts. However, the Sox will be missing Ellender for three weeks or so, while he rests an achy shoulder.

The Batter of the Month prize went to a player who was once regarded as the brightest hitting prospect in the league. Dillon Pope was drafted #1 overall by the Green Sox in 1936, but had never really established himself in Groton. On May 24, Pope was traded to Mystic for reliever Dave Thompson, and the Clippers inserted him into their everyday lineup. Dillon responded by hitting .348 with seven homers and 22 RBI in June. Still only 25, he hopes to finally establish himself as a star.

Last summer, many first round draft picks took their time signing their contracts, and two didn't sign at all. This time around was different. Within a week of the June 15 draft, almost all the players who were selected early had put their names to Shore League contracts.

Paul Melancon and Charlie Pike, the 1942 first rounders who failed to reach agreements last year, both signed on June 16 this time around. Melancon took $85,360 as a bonus from the Guilford Corgis, and Pike banked a cool $110,000 in exchange for his signature on a Waterford Conchs deal. And, later that day, Forrest Kelly broke Pike's record for the most bodacious bonus in league history when he received $121,000 from the Old Saybrook Privateers.

None of that trio of teenaged twirlers is ready to make his Shore League debut, but one of this year's draftees is already in uniform. Groton handed a $66,000 bonus, a two-year, $43,560 contract, and a #27 jersey to outfielder Mauro Reyna on June 17. Since then, Reyna has come to the plate three times and has yet to make an out; he's singled twice and walked.

The only holdout among the first round draftees of '43 is Brian White, whom the Clippers took with the #2 overall pick. If White fails to sign by mid-August, Mystic will have struck out with two straight first round selections. On a more positive note for Clippers fans, their supplemental #1 pick, pitcher Mike Weaver, an Eastern Michigan product, has already come on board.

[Big Six]

I've decided I am a big fan of the storyline feature.

When Matt Carter, a pitcher for the Groton Green Sox, blew out his elbow, I took a close look at his player profile, mainly to see if he was likely to recover. I noticed that he had a National Popularity rating of Very Popular and a Local Popularity rating of Extremely Popular. From that, I envisioned a young pitcher who was a fan favorite, the kind of guy any baseball fan would pull for, even if you don't like the Green Sox much.

This item showed up in the league news on June 27. I've edited it to add a few details, but the game generated the basic story.

***

Carter Working Hard to Give Back

When Matt Carter isn't on the diamond, he enjoys working with the less fortunate.

Carter is currently recovering from elbow surgery, and while he is working hard to get back on the field, he is finding time to assist underprivileged children here in Groton. This spring, Carter visited elementary schools and read to the students. He also supported food and clothing drives during the holiday season.

Explaining his reasoning, he said, "Growing up poor in Westerville [Ohio], my family and I often had to rely on the community to help us get through tough times. Now that I'm doing well financially, I want to give back and I am working hard to try and get my team and teammates to do the same.

"Honestly, I do this for selfish reasons," he continued with a smile. "Nothing makes me feel better than working with these kids and helping them to succeed."

***

Touches like this give OOTP the immersion level that makes these fictional players come alive. Matt Carter can seem almost as real to me as Cliff Lee or Stephen Strasburg.

[Big Six]

August 1, 1943

EASTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Groton         74  37  .667  --	
Waterford      61  50  .550  13
Stonington     47  64  .423  27
Mystic         45  66  .405  29

WESTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Branford       61  50  .550  --
Madison        56  55  .505   3
Old Saybrook   50  61  .450  11
Guilford       50  61  .450  11

Another month has gone by, and the Shore League standings look a whole lot like they did a month ago. The Green Sox are a little farther ahead in the East, and after heating up a little bit along with the July weather, they've now won exactly two thirds of their games.

The Sox got a bit of a scare early in the month, when John Ellender left a game in the second inning complaining of an achy shoulder. His rotator cuff turned out to be strained--not torn--and Ellender returned to action on the 24th. Since his return, he's allowed only eight hits and two runs in 14 innings, and run his record to 13-2. He reclaimed the ERA lead from Guilford's Brian Dunlap, 2.21 to 2.26.

Ellender's teammate, Brian Wagner, rolled to a 5-2 record in July and won the Pitcher of the Month Award. Brian's 17-7 record and 173 strikeouts are both best in the league.

Groton slugger Grant Gould hammered six homers and drove in 23 runs during the month, giving him Shore League-leading totals of 32 and 88, respectively. Grant also hit .314, but he didn't win the Batter of the Month award. That went to Tommy Phelps, Old Saybrook's shortstop, who batted .359, driving in 17 runs and scoring 24. Phelps' hot streak raised his batting average from .245 to .274.

The trade deadline came and went without a single noteworthy deal being reached. Perhaps East Division clubs are conceding the race to Groton, while the Western contenders have decided to stick with the players who have gotten them in position to challenge for the flag.

Perhaps the best story of the month comes out of Stonington. The Brawlers' beloved slugger, David von Hof, made his 1943 debut on July 22, finally healthy after a scary shoulder injury during spring training. von Hof made his first appearance in Stonington on the 26th, receiving an extended standing ovation when he came to the plate in the bottom of the first and another when, in the third, he smacked a two-run homer that gave the Brawlers a 4-2 victory over Mystic.

The next night, David hit two more homers against the Clippers, and on the 30th, he went deep twice more against the Branford Barbers. His second home run on July 30 was the 400th of his career; von Hof is the first Shore Leaguer to reach this milestone. In fact, no other player in league history has hit as many as 300 home runs; Turner Swanger retired at the end of the 1942 season with 296 career homers, and Groton's Boyd Kneeshaw is #2 among active players with 291.

For good measure, David homered again last night against Groton. Since his return, the 37-year-old von Hof is batting .429 with six homers and eight RBI.

[The Iron Horse]

This has been a fantastic read. The detail involved is quite enthralling. Keep up the good work.

I've decided to support the lovable (yet futile) Guilford Corgis. How can you not like a team named after such a ridiculous looking dog?

Also, how can you not like a guy named "Cedric Hornbuckle?" Off-the-charts great (Even if he does play for those Madison so-and-sos...).

I look forward to following this. GO CORGIS!!!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by The Iron Horse

This has been a fantastic read. The detail involved is quite enthralling. Keep up the good work.

I've decided to support the lovable (yet futile) Guilford Corgis. How can you not like a team named after such a ridiculous looking dog?

Also, how can you not like a guy named "Cedric Hornbuckle?" Off-the-charts great (Even if he does play for those Madison so-and-sos...).

I look forward to following this. GO CORGIS!!!

It's been way too long since I was here...I'm sorry to let your comment go so long without a response. Thanks for your compliments.

I've had a great time with the Shore League. I've missed it, and I'm planning on spending some quality time with it in the next few days.

The Corgis were inspired by our family dog. She's perfect for us--she's gentle with the kids, not so big that she scares them, not so small that she doesn't enjoy some spirited playtime. She tries to "herd" them, and she even attempts the same thing with our cats--without success.

The Guilford variety of Corgis are perhaps on their way to better days. Unlike some of the other Shore League teams who have had early picks in the rookie draft, the Corgis have been able to sign their draftees. They worked out a deal with Paul Melancon, the #1 overall pick in this year's draft, after Melancon couldn't reach terms with the Conchs in '42. Their #1 pick from 1942, Mark Lavender, is already the Corgis' starting shortstop.

The Corgis' best players, guys like catcher Sterling Reynolds (.333-28-88, age 22), outfielder Dave Tolliver (.303-12-65, age 26) and pitcher Brian Dunlap (11-13, 2.26, age 29, as of yesterday) are young enough to remain productive for a few years. Strikeout artist Neil Bastien, who's missed almost the entire '43 season, is only 25. If Lavender and Melancon fulfill their potential, and if Bastien can recover completely, the Corgis could reward their faithful followers with a pennant in the near future.

You're right. Cedric Hornbuckle has one of the greatest names I've seen in a decade of playing OOTP. Here he is, wearing his Madison road greys:

Thanks for following, Iron Horse. I hope you haven't already lost touch with the Shore League while I was taking an unplanned hiatus!

[Big Six]

September 1, 1943

EASTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Groton         88  52  .629  --		
Waterford      75  65  .536  13		
Stonington     58  82  .414  30
Mystic         58  82  .414  30

WESTERN         W   L   PCT  GB
Branford       83  57  .593  --
Guilford       67  73  .479  16
Old Saybrook   66  74  .471  17
Madison        65  75  .464  18

If you enjoy pennant races, you'll have to wait a year, or look somewhere other than the Shore League.

The Branford Barbers have clinched their third consecutive Western Division championship. The Barbers rank first or second in the league in almost every significant offensive and defensive category; despite the Green Sox' superior record, the Barbers might be the best team in the Shore League.

Every member of the Branford rotation boasts an ERA under 4.00. Righthander Jason Gary, who went 6-0 during August, won the Outstanding Pitcher award for the month. He's one of two Shore League pitchers who have won 20 games this season, joining Groton's Brian Wagner.

The Barbers claim the Outstanding Batter for August, too. Second baseman Arnold Hebert hit .379 during the month, scoring 27 runs, hitting six homers and collecting 19 RBI. Hebert currently leads a close race for the batting title. His .331 average gives him a slight edge over Guilford's Sterling Reynolds (.329) and Hebert's own teammate, Frank Channing (.321).

Earlier in the month, it looked like the Barbers might have a fight on their hands. The Guilford Corgis reeled off a 12-game winning streak to move from fourth place into second, six games behind the Barbers. However, after Groton stopped their on August 16, the Corgis began to struggle again.

However, Corgis fans still have to feel better than supporters of the Madison Republicans. On August 1, the Reps were in the race, only three games behind Branford. Since then, Madison has posted an awful 9-20 record, and they've plunged all the way into the cellar. Veteran Scotty Goodwin provided the only real highlight of the month for the Republicans. On August 15, he shut the Privateers out on three hits and hit his 10th career home run.

Speaking of home runs, Stonington slugger David von Hof continues to terrorize opposing pitchers. In 37 games since his return to the Brawlers lineup, von Hof has clubbed 17 homers. He's also driven in 34 runs, and his "slash line" is an otherworldly .354/.438/.808.

I nearly missed an important milestone that occurred last month. Boyd Kneeshaw of the Groton Green Sox drove in the 1000th run of his Shore League career on July 18.

All-time RBI leader Boyd Kneeshaw

Kneeshaw was the original Green Sox player; at age 20, he was drafted with the Sox' #1 pick in the original draft back in 1932. He's been a fixture in the Groton lineup since then. One of the league's quietest, most frequently overlooked stars, Boyd has never led the league in any offensive category, although he is one of only two players to post a 30-30 season (Sherwood Rankin of the Clippers is the other).

At age 31, Kneeshaw is still swinging a potent bat. His .272 average and .469 slugging percentage are both slightly higher than his career marks, and he has 22 home runs and 92 RBI. He doesn't run as much anymore, but he's still stolen 18 bases in 23 attempts.