The IBL's Alaska Avalanche

[gehrig38]

Taiwanese free agent Bing Kang has certainly made his mark in his first IBL season.



A look at the races. Just 2 races for post season berths, and those aren't close yet. West Michigan and Michigan duking it out in the Northeast. Michigan one of 2 original IBL teams yet to make the post season. They finished 2 GB in 2023, and 4 GB last year.

Dallas and San Antonio are at it again. Dallas trying to repeat, San Antonio missed the post season for the first time in 7 seasons last year, finishing 2 back of the Texans. Dallas has managed this lead with just 13 starts from ace Esteban Figueroa, but with the leagues fastest offense and a 4th rated rotation, 2nd rated bullpen and 4th rated defense. They're healthy, just 1 guy on the DL and he's not a major part of the offense.
On the flip side the Silver Stars are battling injuries. SP Chris Robison is out for at least the 1st two weeks of October, 2B Jeff Cotton is out another 1-2 weeks. They possess the leagues best offense in runs scored, average and OBP and are 4th in home runs.

I'm going to start a '400' watch for Asmin Swagat, as Ginger is out and going to do it in absentia. Horst Grueter has slowed a bit, now pacing for a .319-55-183 season, the latter being a new IBL record if he persists. Andy Morgan is my call for FL Koufax winner, Cody Miller, Cordell Bond and Bryant Thomas are all in the CL discussion.
Ron Carr is working to a batting title, it would be his 1st, and there's a great HR race going on with Sanchez (DAL) Carmona (LA) Marquez (FRE) and Roman (FRE) all within 1. Kang (SAN) 34, Schultz (TUL) 33 and Naylor (CC) at 32, are right behind.

[gehrig38]

2025 WEEK 25
RECORD: 4-2
OVERALL: 101-54 Clinched
RUNS SCORED: 837 (39) 7th
RUNS AGAINST: 635 (36) 1st
OWNER: Ecstatic
FANS: 77/100
SCHEDULE: 1 @ Brooklyn/3 @ Green Bay/Off Day/2 @ Columbus

9/15
ALK 8 BRO 4
W-Sheppard (8-1) L-Sharp (2-8)
HR NONE
Down 4-2 the offense pounces for 6 runs in the top of the 9th! Long and Garcia with 2 hit 2 RBI days, Long with a 9th inning triple (4). It went like this; Webb 1B, Torres F8 (1 out), Long 3B RBI, Garcia 1B RBI, Peterson BB, Douglas 1B RBI, Carter 1B, Abbas 1B 2 RBI's, Callahan Sac Fly, Webb L7.

9/16
ALK 5 GB 4
W-Solis (14-8) L-Althusser (8-11) S-Wheeler (41)
HR GB-Zapata (6)
Solis struggles big time, walking 6 in 6.2 but 2 double plays help him to a 6.2-3-2-2-6-6 outing and Endo H(11) gets it to Wheeler for his 41st (now just 3 back of the club record 44). Enrique Garcia goes 2-4 driving in 2 (71) and stealing his 41st base (further extending his single season record, the old record was 34 held by Jerry “Soda” Grant)

CONTRACT NEWS- Wes Webb has agreed to terms on a 3 year 2.4M dollar extension. This is a good deal, cheap power, tons of versatility and a RH bat.

9/17
ALK 8 GB 6
W-Sheppard (9-1) L-D.Morris (11-14) S-Wheeler (42)
HR ALK-Webb (6) GB-Walker (33) Rolen (26)
Carlos “King” Gonzales was king of one thing today, throwing balls. Walking 9 in 4 2/3 innings. Fortunately the offense and pen picked him up. David Peterson going 3-5 Mark Edwards 0-2 walking 3 times and scoring twice and Wes Webb drilling a 2 run shot in the 5th.

STUFF-Asmin Swagat dropped to .402 today, tying the injured Louie Ginger. Horst Grueter has gone silent, still sitting at 51-168 on the year.

Michigan has moved to within 4, and that's huge because they'll meet for the seasons final 3 games, in Michigan, at the end of next week. San Antonio is still 5 back of Dallas, they too meet next week but in a 4 game mid week set, in Dallas.

300 CLUB-Bryant Thomas' 311 K's will win the CL crown, and he's the 3rd member of the Elite 300 Club. Angelo Esparza has the single season record of 329 and another season of 310, Esteban Figueroa missed the record by 1, his 328 coming in 2nd, and he's got a season of 310 as well. This 311 makes Bryant the third member to do it, and the third member to do it 2 times. Figueroa's 328 are the IBL record for a LHP.

300 STRIKEOUT CLUB (* still going)
Angelo Esparza 329 '22 310 '23
Esteban Figueroa 328 '23 310 '22
Bryant Thomas 321 '23 311'25*

9/18
GB 11 ALK 7
W-Yates (1-3) L-Ball (1-1)
HR ALK-Gomez (4) Webb (7) GB-Greene (34) Rolen (27)
It could have been worse. Raul Rubio left in the 3rd with a stiff back and is headed for the 15 day DL. It's looking like 1-2 weeks tops, which means he'll just rest up for the 1st round. The pen was blasted in his absence. Tony Greene was 2-5 with a homer and 4 RBI's (127) and Wes Webb hit a homer and drove in 4 (20) in the loss.

STUFF-Swagat was 2-2 and walked 3 times to raise his average to .405 and his OBP to .535, both would be IBL single season records. Grueter got off the schneid, homering and driving in 3. He's got 171 RBI's now, 5 shy of the record.

Michigan stays 4 back by beating Buffalo 7-1 while West Michigan beats New York 8-1. San Antonio lost to Boston 5-4 and Dallas got a strong start from Figueroa (8.2-6-3-3-2-11 lost SHO in the 9th) to push the Silver Stars 6 back.

9/19
Off Day West Michigan loses to New York 4-2 and Michigan sweeps Buffalo 6-2 to narrow the lead to 3.

9/20
ALK 7 COL 6
W-Fox (8-9) L-Morales (12-11) S-Wheeler (43)
HR COL-Lynch (33) Gomez (18)
Fox struggled through 5.2 giving up 10 hits and 4 earned runs. Wes Webb was 2-4 and drove in 3 (23) while Ash Carter was 3-5 and scored twice. Duane Long was 1-3 in the leadoff spot, scoring 3 times.

STUFF-Swagat goes 1-3 dropping to .403, Michigan drops Staten Island 7-2 and West Michigan beats Brooklyn 7-5 to keep it at 3. San Antonio drops a 2-1 decision to Baltimore despite a gem from Esparza as he goes 8-3-2-2-1-7 in the CG loss. Dallas pummels Pittsburgh 12-3 behind Kent Coker's 3 hits and 4 RBI's (42) to open up the lead to 7 for Dallas.

9/21
COL 5 ALK 4
W-Green (16-5) L-Alexander (7-4)
HR ALK-Peterson (2) D.Collins (17)
Paul Green went the distance in a 120 pitch effort (9-9-4-4-1-3). Colin Durham went 6.2-4-4-1-4-7 on 129 pitches. David Peterson went 3-5 with a double (22) homer, scored twice and drove in 2 (50)

WEEK 25 SUMMARY
FL POTW-Antonio Altagracia (NH) 11-21 2 HR's 10 RBI's (.286-24-81)
CL POTW-Andy Davis (LA) 10-19 2 HR's 4 RBI's (.290-20-93)

WEEK 25 POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago (1)
2) Fresno (2)
3) Alaska (3)
4) Michigan (5)
5) Columbus (4)

STUFF-Asiman Swagat went 1-3 to drop to .402, tying Louie Ginger for the FL batting lead. Grueter homered again, #53, and drove in 3 and now stands at 174 RBI's, just 2 back of Gerald Wright's record of 176.

Michigan beat Staten Island 10-4 as Albert Pujols drove in 3 (121) on 2 doubles (31) and Denny Boyce went 3-5 with a double (22) homer (11) and drove in 2 (55). They'll play 1 more vs the Yankees, then head to Providence for 4 before hosting West Michigan for the seasons final 3 games.

West Michigan beat Brooklyn 4-1 behind Artie Johnson's 8 strong innings of 3-hit ball to move to 15-8 4.38. The White Caps remain 3 games up with 7 to play. They have Brooklyn for 1 more, New Hampshire for 4, at home, and head to Michigan for the seasons final 3 games.

Jeffrey Hudson will miss the post season in what is a huge injury for Chicago.

[gehrig38]

The races are over, except in the Northeastern Division. 4 games left before Michigan, West Michigan, meet for the seasons final 3 games.

Tightening race in both leagues for the batting title, and the Coastal League HR race is now 5 players from 37 to 39 homers.

Andy Morgan's 22 wins are a new single season record for Chicago, and he (247) and Stan Hall (268) are setting a new record for K's in a season.

[gehrig38]

2025 WEEK 26
RECORD: 2-5
OVERALL: 103-59 +23
RUNS SCORED: 871 (34) 7th
RUNS AGAINST: 682 (47) 1st
OWNER: Ecstatic
FANS: 77/100
SCHEDULE: 1 @ Columbus/Off Day/3 vs Arizona/3 vs Hawaii

9/22
COL 12 ALK 6
W-Fowler (14-9) L-Ball (1-2) S-Colon (6)
HR COL-Tanner (40) Moreno (27) Collins 2 (36)
Potentially catastrophic day. Jesus Solis leaves after just 1 batter in the 1st, and there is no word yet. That would be a crippling injury for the post season rotation. Alex Moreno went 4-5 with a double (29) home run scoring 3 times and driving in 5 (93). Former Iron Pig Hugh Collins was 2-5 with 2 homers and 4 RBI's (109) Enrique Garcia was 3-5 with a double (18) and 2 RBI's (73) and Mauro Ibarbia went 3-3 scoring twice.

STUFF-Hugh Collins has had a fantastic season. In 130 games he's hitting .323-36-109 with a .389 OBP. He's a career .300 hitter with 446 homers and 230 stolen bases with 1393 RBI's and 1975 hits.

9/23
Off Day Injury News. Jesus Solis is out for the remainder of whatever we have left. Elbow surgery will sideline him for at least 4 months. That's likely the death knell on any hopes for a post season run.

9/24
AZ 7 ALK 5
W-Haynes (12-12) L-Santos (12-8) S-Miller (37)
HR AZ-Rios (3) ALK-Abbas (5) Olson (7)
Santos struggled through 6 giving up 5 on 7 hits. Francisco Rios went 3-4 with a homer and 2 RBI's (19)

STUFF-Horst Grueter drove in his 175th run, leaving him 1 shy with 4 games to play. Asmin Swagat has dropped to .399. West Michigan beat New Hampshire 3-2 as Pedro Debesa went 3-3 with 2 doubles (23) and drove in a run while Michigan dropped a heartbreaker, 3-2 in a walk off loss to Providence. Michigan is 5 back with 5 to play.

9/25
ALK 8 AZ 4
W-Gonzales (3-2) L-Meklau (5-1) S-Casas (4)
HR AZ-Hensley (1) Lopez (7) ALK-Harrell (17) Webb (8)
Carlos Gonzales labors through 5, 2 earned on 5 hits and 4 walks. Casas the last 2.1 punching out 4, making he and John Durham the first relief duo to punch out 100 each in a single season. Duane Long was 3-4 with a triple (5) and an RBI (18) and David Peterson led off going 3-5 with a double (23) and 3 RBI's (53).

9/26
AZ 7 ALK 2 (11)
W-Miller (5-14) L-Alexander (7-5)
HR AZ-Wood (11) R.Wright (6) ALK-Abbas (6)
Nathanial Fox was outstanding, going 8-4-2-2-1-4 to leave a tie game to the pen. Ron Alexander has had a great season but he imploded in a 5 run 12th. Ron Wrights PH 3R HR sealed it. Babar Abbas was 3-5 with a double (11) homer and an RBI (25).

STUFF-Swagat is now at .398, and Grueter remains at 53 HR's and 175 RBI's with 3 games to go. West Michigan beat New Hampshire to clinch the Frontier League's Northeastern Division title for the 5th year in a row. Michigan will again have to wait. Angel Marquez of Fresno hit his 40th HR, and now leads Raul Carmona (LA) and teammate Pedro Roman by 1. Bryant Thomas has 324 K's, and has 1 start remaining to get 6 more and set a new mark.

9/27
HAW 8 ALK 5
W-Taylor (3-1) L-Ball (1-3) S-Perez (28)
HR HAW-Soriano (30) ALK-Ibarbia (19)
Ball in a spot start does ok early, then falls on his face in a big 5th giving up 6 earned in 5 IP with 8 hits and 5 walks, while striking out 8. Alfredo Sanchez goes 3-5 with a double (18) and 3 RBI's (42) (remember this kid, I think he's going to be a great player)

STUFF-Chicago won 11-3 yesterday. Asmin Swagat went 2-4 and is hitting .399, Horst Grueter was 1-4 with an RBI, his 176th, to tie Gerald Wrights single season record. Bryant Thomas punched out 8 in a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles, setting a new IBL single season record for strike outs with 332. (Ya, still the worst trade in my GM history)

9/28
HAW 7 ALK 3
W-Hart (9-15) L-Caldwell (3-1)
HR HAW-Massey (9)
Limping into the playoffs. 2 more injuries. Caldwells spot start is bad (3.1-8-6-6-1-4) and the offense manages just 2 hits into the 9th. David Peterson is hurt in the 5th and Daniel Collins has become extremely ill, and is likely out a week with a virus. No word on Peterson at this time.

WEEK 26 SUMMARY
FL POTW-Antonio Sandoval (HAW) 13-27 6 HR's 9 RBI's (.265-26-88)
CL POTW-Cliff Edwards (SAN) 12-26 4 HR's 9 RBI's (.318-32-122)

9/29
ALK 5 HAW 2
W-Endo (1-0) L-Perez (4-8)
HR HAW-Francis (44) ALK-Webb (9) Torres WO (2)
Ricardo Torres walks off the seasons final game with a 3 run shot. Gonzales threw well, going 5.2-6-2-2-5-8 with Sheppard leaving the bases loaded in relief. Mike Francis was 3-4 with his 44th HR and 115th RBI in the loss.

WEEK 26 POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago (1)
2) Boston (-)
3) Michigan (4)
4) Corpus Christi
5) Fresno (2)
OUT Alaska (8) Columbus (6)

IRON PIG UPDATE
Horst Grueter goes 1-2 with an RBI to set the new record for RBI's in a season with 177 to back Andy Morgans 24th win, in which he went 8 and punched out 13 to establish a new mark for Chicago, at 24 wins (besting Walt Thompsons 21 of 2017) and Stan Hall (279) and Morgan (271) set the new mark for K's as well. In a cruel twist of fate, Asiman Swagat was hurt on the 27th, and there is still no word, which means he'll miss the seasons last game and end it at .399!
And Grueter would end the year at 177.

NEWS
The Solis injury is a killer. Sandoval gives the Warrior fans something to cheer about in an otherwise dismal season and Juan Vazquez sort of 'jumps' onto the scene with that deal. Not sure about that deal given what our guys think his ceiling is, but Tulsa paid a steep price to trade for him so they clearly believe he's a star on the rise.

[gehrig38]

.

[gehrig38]

BATTING TITLE
FL
2012 .342 Bill Hill (DAY)
2013 .336 Ernesto Garza (SI)
2014 .369 Gregory McCain (EDM)
2015 .351 Ernesto Garza (SI)
2016 .360 Todd Helton (GB)
2017 .350 Carlos Andrade (BRO)
2018 .336 Eric Coats (CHI)
2019 .345 Luis Chavez (CHI)
2020 .345 Dennis Ash (CHI)
2021 .347 Dennis Ash (CHI)
2022 .339 Roberto Alvarado (GB)
2023 .369 Ricardo Lozano (MICH)
2024 .382 Jeffrey Hudson (CHI)
2025 .402 Louie Ginger (WMI)

CL
2012 .357 Rich Stone (FRE)
2013 .347 Vincente Soto (LA)
2014 .336 Vincente Soto (LA)
2015 .368 Jesus Andrales (LV)
2016 .339 Allan Hedden (PIT)
2017 .3390 Jesus Castro (PHI) .3387 Vincente Soto (LA) .3386 Jesus Andrales (LV)
2018 .340 Rich Alfred (TUL)
2019 .359 Jesus Andrales (LV)
2020 .355 Jesus Castro (PHI)
2021 .338 Jesus Chapa (NH)
2022 .3304 Fernando Moya (PIT) .3300 Gonzalo Rios (EP) .3291 Pete Merritt (PHI)
2023 .330 Jesus Castro (PHI)
2024 .364 Karl Carter (CC)
2025 .346 Ron Carr (CC)

HR Title
FL
2012 60 Bill Hill (DAY)
2013 49 Bill Hill (DAY)
2014 42 Carlos Leon (BRO)
2015 52 Alberto Vargas (BUF)
2016 48 Wes Morgan (CHI)
2017 52 Andruw Jones (GB)
2018 49 Christian Schall (COL)
2019 42 Alex Rodriguez (ALK)
2020 43 Lonnie Vaughan (SI)
2021 59 Tony Greene (DAY)
2022 47 Todd Greene (DAY)
2023 50 Bernardo Montoya (MICH)
2024 47 Horst Grueter (CHI)
2025 53 Horst Grueter (CHI)

CL
2012 56 Cy May (HOU)
2013 41 Orlando Rios (FRE)
2014 54 Carlos Arredondo (PHI)
2015 47 Carlos Arredondo (PHI)
2016 48 Ron Stokes (SAN)
2017 57 Curt Whimster (TUL)
2018 49 Chandler Harris (LA)
2019 48 Travis Bryant (BAL) George Quinn (PHI)
2020 46 Travis Bryant (BAL)
2021 49 Alex Rodriguez (BAL)
2022 47 Jesus Becerra (LV)
2023 45 George Quinn (PHI)
2024 51 Roosevelt Ramsey (TUL)
2025 40 Raul Carmona (LA) Angel Marquez (FRE) Felix Sanchez (DAL)

RBI Crown
FL
2012 153 Bill Hill (DAY)
2013 156 Bill Hill (DAY)
2014 118 Tim Davis (EDM)
2015 176 Gerald Wright (EP)
2016 156 Stefan Conway (NY)
2017 147 Jeffrey Hudson (COL)
2018 137 Jeffrey Hudson (COL)
2019 152 Hugh Collins (CHI)
2020 139 Wazir Ubadah (AZ)
2021 147 Hugh Collins (CHI) Tony Greene (DAY)
2022 140 Todd Greene (DAY)
2023 157 Todd Greene (DAY)
2024 155 Horst Grueter (CHI)
2025 177 Horst Grueter (CHI)

CL
2012 157 Cy May (HOU)
2013 141 Orlando Rios (FRE)
2014 150 Henry Wilson (LA)
2015 133 Ross Tunstall (PIT)
2016 134 Curt Whimster (TUL)
2017 148 Curt Whimster (TUL)
2018 137 George Quinn (PHI)
2019 147 Cliff Edwards (SAN)
2020 142 George Quinn (PHI)
2021 142 Alex Rodriguez (BAL)
2022 135 Jesus Becerra (LV)
2023 146 George Quinn (PHI)
2024 135 Roosevelt Ramsey (TUL)
2025 137 John Naylor (CC)

ERA Title
FL
2012 2.59 Ernie Kelly (DAY)
2013 2.15 Shaun Calhoun (WMI)
2014 3.21 Walt Thompson (BRO)
2015 3.22 Will Cannon (COL)
2016 3.45 Barry Zito (ALK)
2017 2.91 Walt Thompson (CHI)
2018 2.97 Walt Thompson (CHI)
2019 3.35 Roberto Martinez (CHI)
2020 2.78 John Drake (WMI)
2021 2.96 Antonio Rodriguez (SI)
2022 3.03 John Drake (WMI)
2023 2.50 John Drake (WMI)
2024 2.90 John Drake (WMI)
2025 3.09 Roy Oswalt (DAY)

CL
2012 2.99 Mattthieu Cafasso (LV)
2013 3.07 Cecil Watts (CC)
2014 2.92 Chris O'Slattery (BAL)
2015 2.59 Vincent Bray (PIT)
2016 2.70 Rafael Garza (LA)
2017 2.72 Vincent Bray (PIT)
2018 2.94 Vincent Bray (PIT)
2019 2.60 Ramon Roa (PIT)
2020 2.52 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2021 2.43 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2022 2.73 Angelo Espanza (SAN)
2023 2.53 Cody Miller (BOS)
2024 2.24 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2025 2.67 Cody Miller (BOS)

Wins
FL
2012 19 Chris Dusek (BUF)
2013 22 Ernie Kelly (DAY)
2014 18 Walt Thompson (BRO)
2015 19 Paco Gonzalez (EDM) Ron Pearce (SI) Walt Thompson (BRO)
2016 20 Ken Lee (CHI) Jesus Romano (NY)
2017 21 Walt Thompson (CHI)
2018 19 Ken Lee (CHI)
2019 20 Ken Lee (CHI)
2020 20 John Drake (WMI) Stan Hall (CHI)
2021 20 Roberto Martinez (CHI)
2022 23 Maurice Paterson (MICH)
2023 19 Maurice Paterson (MICH)
2024 20 Andy Morgan (CHI) Gabriel Pimentel (CHI) Jorge Trujillo (CHI)
2025 24 Andy Morgan (CHI)

CL
2012 20 Matthieu Cafasso (LV) Alberto Luna (BAL)
2013 22 Raul Gonzalez (HOU)
2014 20 Vince Bray (PIT) Christ O'Slattery (BAL)
2015 24 Vince Bray (PIT)
2016 21 Vincente Elisary (FRE) Rafael Garza (LA)
2017 22 Vince Bray (PIT) George Perkins (TUL)
2018 20 George Perkins (TUL)
2019 21 Richard Dyce (TUL)
2020 20 Luis Acosta (PHI)
2021 25 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2022 25 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2023 20 Angelo Esparza (SAN) Doug Russell (PHI)
2024 21 Tom Jackson (PIT)
2025 21 Ruben Lopez (DAL) Ronald Moss (HOU)

K Title
FL
2012 278 Walt Thompson (BRO)
2013 255 Walt Thompson (BRO)
2014 281 Walt Thompson (BRO)
2015 236 Walt Thompson (BRO)
2016 229 Jesus Romano (NY)
2017 240 Barry Zito (ALK)
2018 226 Jesus Romano (NY)
2019 252 Joaquin Vargas (WMI)
2020 260 Maurice Paterson (MICH)
2021 277 Joaquin Vargas (WMI)
2022 285 Joaquin Vargas (WMI)
2023 265 Joaquin Vargas (WMI)
2024 245 Joaquin Vargas (WMI)
2025 279 Stan Hall (CHI)

CL
2012 236 Chris O'Slattery (BAL)
2013 245 Chris O'Slattery (BAL)
2014 238 Chris O'Slattery (BAL)
2015 240 Vince Bray (PIT)
2016 206 Chris O'Slattery (BAL)
2017 232 Vincent Bray (PIT)
2018 266 Ramon Roa (PIT)
2019 279 Bryant Thomas (TUL)
2020 290 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2021 273 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2022 329 Angelo Esparza (SAN)
2023 328 Esteban Figueroa (SAC)
2024 274 Esteban Figueroa (DAL)
2025 332 Bryant Thomas (FRE)

Saves
FL
2012 43 F. Flores
2013 47 Bill Barlow (DAY) Greg Patterson (BRO)
2014 38 Nicholas Clark (NY)
2015 41 Sherwood Jacobs (MICH)
2016 37 Nicholas Clark (NY) Ernesto Cruz (CHI)
2017 48 Ernesto Cruz (CHI)
2018 46 Ivan Lopez (COL)
2019 44 Francisco Herreva (GB)
2020 49 Tom Conklin (WMI)
2021 44 Tom Conklin (WMI) Quincy Gallagher (ALK)
2022 41 Stephen Watkins (WMI)
2023 35 Pepe Artlano (BUF) Tomas Gonzalez (WMI)
2024 44 Jose Navarro (EDM)
2025 43 Michael Wheeler (ALK)

CL
2012 44 Julio Gonzalez (LA)
2013 42 Anbar Suhayb (LV)
2014 46 Julio Arroyo (PHI)
2015 43 Anbar Suhayb (LV)
2016 42 Anbar Suhayb (LV)
2017 39 Bill Barlow (SAC) Clinton Quinn (BAL)
2018 47 Joe Boswell (PIT)
2019 40 Shimei Ikarashi (SAN) Jesus Machado (BAL)
2020 42 Otto Hunter (TUL)
2021 44 Alex Brown (CC)
2022 49 Jake Ellison (BOS)
2023 43 Dale Picot (TUL)
2024 43 Dale Picot (TUL)
2025 45 Dave Hubbard (CC)

[PhillieFever]

.402! Awesome to see someone finally hit .400, and what a name as well, Louie Ginger. It reminds you of the great old deadball era names such as Baby Doll Jacobson, Topsy Hartsel, Rabbit Maranville, and a pretty good hitter in his own right Tris Speaker.

[gehrig38]

In the Frontier League, Chicago as a heavy, HEAVY, favorite.



And I got to believe Fresno is the favorite over in the Coastal.

[gehrig38]

GAME 1's

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Staten Island Yankees (Antonio Rodriguez 7-3 4.60)
@
Chicago Iron Pigs (Jorge Trujillo 14-6 4.63)

Chicago enters the 'tourney' as a massive favorite, with this round being the one potential slip up as Staten Island played them 3-3 during the season.

Stan Hall goes 8-8-2-2-3-7 on 114 pitches and Horst Grueter slams a homer, drives in 2 as Chicago rides a 4 run first to a 1-0 series lead.

West Michigan White Caps (Artie Johnson 15-8 4.45)
@
Alaska Avalanche (Colin Durham 13-9 3.36)

Unsure of what to expect. I am devastated by injuries on the staff and in the lineup. David Peterson needs shoulder surgery, 6-8 weeks. So 3 of my top 4 hitters and my #2 and #3 SP are out. That being said, if there is a way for my starters to get into the 7th with a lead, this pen could steal a series. That means Colin Durham's starts are must win games.

Chester Walters opens the series with a leadoff homer off Colin Durham. 1-0 through 2, Durham at 28 pitches, Artie Johnson at 18.
And Walters delivers another leading off the 3rd. Pepe Mejia later singles in Pedro Debesa, 3-0 after 3.
An error, double and a single give the White Caps 2 more.
Dirk McBryde is 3-3 and his single in the 5th scores Kevin Olson to make it 5-1 after 5. Durham's gone 5-7-5-4-1-2 on 76 pitches. Artie Johnson's gone 5-6-1-1-0-2 on 59 pitches.
Mark Sheppard relieves Durham in the 7th after his leadoff walk of Walters. A pop up and double play end the inning.
Carlos Gomez RBI ground out scores Wes Webb in the 8th, 5-2 heading into the 9th.
Tomas Gonzalez gets the final 3 outs as West Michigan takes a 1-0 series lead.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Corpus Christi Hooks (Adolfo Gobbi 8-6 4.53)
@
Fresno Grizzlies (Luis Acosta 17-10 3.20)

Bryant Thomas went 8-4-1-1-2-8 and Pedro Roman's 3 run shot in a 4 run 4th gave Fresno a 1-0 series lead.

Boston Bombers (Lee Case 14-12 4.73)
@
Dallas Texans (Brad Cameron 11-11 5.02)

By far the most exciting game 1, the teams traded leads 4 times after the 6th with Boston getting an RBI single from Don Hart to score Ron Johnson in the top of the 11th.

[gehrig38]

Check out the season John Byrd had in AA. I believe he's the 3rd player, at any level, to hit 60 or more homers in a season. Roosevelt Ramsey (TUL) hit 51 homers in AAA in 2023 and then 9 in a September call up, and Bill Day hit 60 home runs in the IBL's inaugural season.

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE
Staten Island Yankees (Ralph Miller 16-9 4.72)
@
Chicago Iron Pigs (Stan Hall 18-10 3.82)

Chicago used another big 1st, scoring 3 on Horst Grueter's 3 run homer, and got 8.1 stellar innings from Jorge Trujillo (8.1-7-3-3-1-5) to go up 2-0 on Staten Island.

West Michigan White Caps (John Drake 12-10 5.36)
@
Alaska Avalanche (Jose Santos 12-8 4.47)

Harrell's RBI single in the 1st drives in Garcia to open the scoring. The White Caps manage to tie it until Wes Webb drills a leadoff homer in the 2nd, 2-1 after 2. In the top of the 3rd Santos unravels as West Michigan plates 3 runs on 4 hits and an error to take a 4-2 lead, where it stands after 4 full. Santos has gone 4-7-4-4-2-2 on 72 pitches, Drake 4-3-2-2-1-5 on 61.
Robbie Littles 2 run homer following a McBryde error ends Santos' day in the 6th. 6-2 after 5 ½. Babar Abbas drills a solo shot in the bottom half, 6-3 after 6, Alexander in for us, Drake at 6-5-3-3-1-5 and 86 pitches.
Into the 9th, 6-3 where Enrique Garcia hits with 2 outs and the bases loaded, and leaves them out there as we leave Alaska and home field, down 2-0.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Corpus Christi Hooks (Steve McKinley 17-7 4.36)
@
Fresno Grizzlies (Cordell Bond 19-10 3.49)

Fresno scores 3 in the 1st and 1 each in the 2nd through the 4th to withstand the Hooks furious comeback attempt and take a 2-0 series lead. Fresno's first 3 hitters go 7-14 scoring 5 and driving in 4 as Pedro Roman homers again.

Boston Bombers (Adam Shirley 15-8 3.59)
@
Dallas Texans (Esteban Figueroa 10-5 3.55)

Esteban Figueroa outpitched Adam Shirley and Lorenzo Ortiz went 2-3 with a homer and 3 RBI's to give Dallas a split as they head to Boston for game 3.

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago Iron Pigs (Andy Morgan 24-4 3.72)
@
Staten Island Yankees (Steve Price 12-13 4.16)

Staten Island jumps on likely Koufax winner Andy Morgan for 3 in the 1st 3, before busting it open with 4 in the 4th to take game 3. Steve Price goes 7.1-3-1-0-2-3 for the win and Pedro Hernandez goes 4-5 from the leadoff spot, driving in 2 and scoring 2 on a single and 3 doubles.

Alaska Avalanche (Nathanial Fox 8-9 4.67)
@
West Michigan White Caps (Carlos Vargas 14-10 3.83)

After grabbing a 1st inning run Fox surrenders 2 in the 2nd on a Hunter double and Pedro Debesa drills a solo shot in the 3rd to make it 3-1 after 3. Fox has gone 3-4-3-3-0-0 on 37 pitches, Vargas 3-3-1-1-0-3 on 41.
Both pitchers get out of mini-jams and keep the offenses quiet over the next 3, score still 3-1 at the end of 6.
Fox at 6-7-3-3-1-1 on 74 pitches
Vargas has gone 6-4-1-1-1-5 on 87
Ash Carter homers in the top of the 7th to make it 3-2.
After surrendering a lead off double Fox's day ends. Endo comes on to get he lefty, which he does, and then we get to the prime part of our pen, calling on John Durham and friends to try and hold the fort. Durham proceeds to open the flood gates. Surrendering Pedro Debesa's 2nd HR of the day and putting West Michigan up 6-2 at the end of 8.
Vargas still in (8-6-2-2-3-6 on 117 pitches)
White Caps send Don Franklin on to get the final 3, and he does, in order. Now down to 27 outs in the season.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Fresno Grizzlies (Luis Acosta 17-10 3.20)
@
Corpus Christi Hooks (Carlos Medina 12-10 4.17)

Hanging on for dear life the Hooks got 2 solo homers from John Naylor and Carlos Flores delivered a walk off game winning single to score Alex Covington in the bottom of the 9th to make it a 2-1 series. Sakutaro Tamura (Japanese FA Fresno won the bidding for in 2023) hit a 4th inning grand slam that looked like it might hold up for a bit.

Dallas Texans (Ruben Lopez 21-7 3.50)
@
Boston Bombers (Cody Miller 20-4 2.67)

Boston gets a HUGE outing from Cody Miller to get on the board. John Lewis' 2 run shot in the 4th proved decisive as Miller shut down the Texans.

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago Iron Pigs (Stan Hall 1-0 2.25)
@
Staten Island Yankees (Antonio Rodriguez 0-1 22.50)

Keith Poole went 4-4 with a double and an RBI and Asmin Swagat and Andre Blakeway had 2 hit 2 RBI days as Stan Hall went 7.2-6-2-1-2-7 for his 2nd win of the series and Chicago's 3rd, putting them a win away from another FLCS.

Alaska Avalanche (Carlos Gonzales 3-2 7.62)
@
West Michigan White Caps (Artie Johnson 1-0 2.25)

I wasn't expecting to make a deep run, but also wasn't expecting to get swept.

Both starters come out firing. 0-0 into the 4th before Wes Webb slams his 2nd homer of the series to make it 1-0.
Leo Corunha triples in the 5th and scores on a Lando Jongmans grounder to make it 1-1 after 5 full.
Gonzales has gone 5-2-1-1-2-4 on 78 pitches.
Artie Johnson is at 5-4-1-1-0-3 on 61.
With 2 outs in the 7th Duane Long slams a 2 run double, plating Gomez and Olson to give us a 3-1 lead. Ash Carter singles but Long is thrown out at home to end the inning.
In the top of the 8th Carlos Gomez lines a single to right scoring Douglas and making it 4-1.
Cisco Casas comes on in the 8th and Matt Roberson doubles. After 2 ground outs Casas balks, with Roberson at 3rd, making it 4-2 (a run that will haunt us for awhile)
Mike Wheeler comes on to get the final three outs.
Pedro Debesa hits a solo homer to lead it off.
Jim Turner pinch hits and grounds out on 1 pitch.
Leao Corunha hits the next pitch for a double.
Wheeler then punches out Lando Jongmans for the 2nd out.
Allen Hunter works a walk before pinch hitter Robbie Little lines a 1-0 pitch into the gap which plates the tying run!
Morgan Berry pinch hits and punches out to end the inning, but it's tied.
Wheeler stays on for the 10th after Enrique Garcia lines into an inning ending double play.
Garcia then boots Chester Walters lead off grounder, badly enough that Walters gets to 2nd.
Chris Scott grounds out, moving Walters to 3rd.
Pedro Debesa steps up and promptly ends the Avalanche season on the 1st pitch as he singles through the hole to left.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Fresno Grizzlies (Bryant Thomas 1-0 1.13)
@
Corpus Christi Hooks (Forbes Lepine 9-9 5.37)

Bryant Thomas went 5.2-7-1-1-2-3 on 114 pitches as Ed Phillips went 4-5 with a homer and Fresno took a 3-1 series lead.

Dallas Texans (Tsuneo Miyamoto 0-0 12.46)
@
Boston Bombers (David Shields 11-14 4.86)

Boston jumped all over Miyamoto and the Texan pen en route to a 10 run 14 hit pasting of Dallas. Mei-Shio Ying went 4-5 and drove in 2 and Corey Oliver was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI's as David Shields went 7.1-7-3-3-2-4.

[gehrig38]

.389 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI's in the 4 game series.

[gehrig38]

If you remember back to June, Will was our 4th round pick (130th overall) out of Rutgers.

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago Iron Pigs (Rob Bright 17-5 3.61)
@
Staten Island Yankees (Antonio Sandoval 0-1 7.50)

Rob Bright went 8-6-3-3-1-7 as the Iron Pigs again jumped to an early lead and rode their starter for the game, and series, win.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Dallas Texans (Esteban Figueroa 1-0 2.25)
@
Boston Bombers (Lee Case 0-0 10.39)

An amazing and wild game as Dallas heads into the 9th up 2-1 when Farran Abdul-Muta'al homers to make it 3-1.
Castaneda comes in to close it out. Tim Davis singles with 1 out, Jose Sandoval doubles him home as Davis scores Sandoval beats the throw to 3rd. Cesar Cordero's sac fly ties it up at 3-3 after 9 full.
It stays there into the 11th before Daniel Rodriguez homers with 1 out, taking a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the 11th for Brady Smith, who relieves Castaneda.
Smith gets Poulet on a ground out, Alden Phillips on another ground out.
With 2 outs, no one on, Tim Davis walks on 4 pitches.
Jose Sandoval singles.
Cesar Cordero then doubles to drive Davis home again, making it 4-4.
Into the 12th when, with 1 out, Jorge Garcia drills a 1st pitch deep to left for a tie breaking 2 run homer.
Smith stays on, retiring Boston in order to grab game 5 and make it 3-2.

Fresno Grizzlies (Jorge Palacios 18-5 3.61)
@
Corpus Christi (Adolfo Gobbi 0-1 7.11)

Fresno grabbed a 1st inning run before pouncing for 10 more between the 3rd and 6th to eliminate the Hooks 4 games to 1. Eddie Jones and Angel Marquez had 3 hit days, Jones scoring 3 times and Ed Phillips drove in 3.

[PhillieFever]

Man, tough way to go out....again. Hopefully year two sees you take on mighty Chicago. BTW, congrats on the Wall Of Fame, just heard today!

[gehrig38]

COASTAL LEAGUE

Boston Bombers (Adam Shirley 0-1 4.70)
@
Dallas Texans (Brad Cameron 11-11 5.02)

Boston misses a bases loaded 1 out chance in the top of the 2nd as Cameron gets a shallow pop and a ground out to end it.
In the bottom Ludovic Mangin hits a sac fly to score Dave Adams and put Dallas up 1-0.
John Lewis hits his own sac fly in the top of the third, scoring Sandoval and tying the game.
Through 4 full it's 1-1, Boston with 6 hits Dallas 2.
Boston's Tim Davis is hurt in the top of the 5th, leaving the game. Corey Oliver then singles, scoring Jose Sandoval with their 2nd run, 2-1 after 5 full.
Brady Smith on for Dallas after a leadoff walk to Jean Poulet. John Lewis greets him with an RBI double, 3-1 Boston after 6 ½.
Adam Shirley has gone 7-5-1-1-1-3, Boston leads 3-1 into the 8th.
And it's still 3-1 into the 9th inning.
Shimizu comes on, retiring the side in order, and giving Boston another trip to the CLCS.

Sanchez hit .458/.458/1.042 with 4 Home Runs and 6 RBI's in the 6 game series.

[gehrig38]

Are we getting a rematch? Odds say Fresno meets Chicago, but Boston has the pitching to win the series. With Ginger and Mendez healthy I might give West Michigan at least a slim shot at this, without? I can't see them scoring enough to do this.

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

West Michigan White Caps (Carlos Vargas 14-10 3.83)
@
Chicago Iron Pigs (Stan Hall 18-10 3.82)

Chicago trounces Vargas for a 6 spot in the 2nd inning and Stan Hall moves to 3-0 in the post season by going 8-4-3-3-3-9 on 115 pitches. Luis Chavez homers, driving in 4 and Keith Poole goes 1-1 walking 3 times and scoring twice.
Corunha drilled a late homer to score 3 for the White Caps.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Boston Bombers (Cody Miller 20-4 2.67)
@
Fresno Grizzlies (Cordell Bond 19-10 3.49)

Jack McPhee lined a 2 out walk off double to give Fresno the 1st game of the series. Pedro Roman was the winning run, and also scored the other Grizzly run on his 2nd inning solo homer (his 4th post season HR).
Both starters were outstanding, Bond went 8-8-1-1-0-8 on 101 pitches, Miller 8-4-1-1-0-8 on 97.