United Leagues of Braeland

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Queensland, Dunwich, Dec. 6 – General Managers and scouts from all 16 clubs took time out of their busy schedules to gather in downtown Queensland where the Waterfront Auditorium hosted the annual Amateur Draft. This is the second time Queensland has hosted the event and first since the 1941-42 season, 16 years ago.

The teams converged to make their selections from among 160 prospects that hailed from 20 different countries. After weeks of scouting the young players, the teams arrived hopeful that their eventual selections would make a positive impact on their future fortunes.

That impact, perhaps, could not be better illustrated than by the Downie Chiefs, who arrived in Queensland holding the first overall selection for the second time in their history. The Chiefs have a rather underwhelming record in their draft selections, which accounts for their poor showing, especially in recent seasons. But they ‘hit it out of the park’ in two consecutive drafts when they selected OF Alfonso León, 2nd overall in 1944-45 and IF Dominic Dudding, 3rd overall in 1945-46. Those two players anchored a team that made three straight playoff appearances and won the 1949-50 United Cup.

65-year-old GM Gareth Danior, who is in his first season as general manager of the Downie Chiefs, knows what’s at stake. “A successful draft is the foundation of any future success a club will have,” asserted Danior, who also helmed the Sherburn Tigers for 10 seasons, from 1941 to 1950. “There’s no getting around it. Drafting smartly not only applies to identifying and securing that franchise-transforming prospect but also adding that crucial depth that all teams need to sustain long-term success and the ability to weather injuries and other adversities that could derail a deep run in the playoffs. So, it’s critical that we do our homework and get it right. And for Downie, it starts now.”

For Downie, it did indeed ‘start now’, as they were the first club on the clock, prepared to select that young, promising player as the first building block for a revitalized club, much as Alfonso León and Dominic Dudding were once upon a time. Following the Chiefs on the draft board will be the Fort Richmond Generals and the Kingston Pelicans.

Amateur scouts throughout the United Leagues ranked the following players as the Top 10 picks for this year’s draft:



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Here is a brief overview of the 16 players taken in the first round:

1st Pick – Downie Chiefs:



OF Jon Berose (49/80) – 23-years old; 6’-0”, 185 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
Status: CO Senior

GM Gareth Danior made his way to the podium and announced that the Downie Chiefs selected the nearly major league-ready Jon Berose from Kingston. Berose was ranked 3rd overall by scouts heading into the draft. Berose projects to challenge for batting titles with his speed putting the infield into panic mode. His speed allows him to stretch his hits. He does a great job at the plate working the count and frustrating opposing pitchers. Berose has a high ceiling and low floor and can play as a center fielder in the league, with the potential to be one of the best.

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2nd Pick – Fort Richmond Generals:



OF Sami Michel (43/80) – 21-years old; 5’-9”, 160 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
Status: CO Junior

The Generals also went with an outfielder for their first pick, the Canadian-born Michel from Brandon, Manitoba. Michel, who was ranked 2nd overall heading into the draft, has shown the ability to utilize his tremendous speed to hit for an elite average. His blazing speed can help turn an out into a hit. He can put on a show in batting practice and as he develops, he has the power potential to impact the game. Michel has all the tools to develop into an elite center fielder.

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3rd Pick – Kingston Pelicans:



IF Ivar Nuyten (47/76) – 22-years old; 5’-9”, 160 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: Co Senior

The Pelicans went with the top-ranked prospect who hails from the tiny Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten that is part of the Netherlands Antilles. Ivar Nuyten is a natural defender with very few nights off. He as above-average contact potential. He has a fluid swing and shows above average power potential. Nuyten has the potential to be one of the best shortstops in the league.

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4th Pick – Cambria Cannons:



P Derek Willday (54/80) – 22-years old; 6’-0”, 190 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
Status: Co Junior

The Cannons pick the highest-rated pitcher in the draft, Derek WIllday, who hails from the host city, Queensland. Willday’s three-pitch arsenal includes a lively cutter, a great changeup and a below-average fastball. His strike throwing ability and movement of his pitches will limit the long ball and he has the stuff to generate swings and misses. Willday has the making of a future ace.

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5th Pick – Wolseley Unions:



OF Carlton Monroe (31/68) – 22-years old; 5’-8”, 165 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: Co Junior

The Unions go with a hometown outfielder, the Wolseley-born Carlton Monroe, who was rated 7th overall. Monroe has a great feel for the strike zone and knows when to lay off a bad pitch. He has improving pitch recognition and projects to have a .290 batting average. His raw strength and quick wrists should give him above average power. Monroe could develop into a productive regular on a contending team.

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6th Pick – Braeland City Monarchs:



IF Phillip White (27/48) – 21-years old; 6’-0”, 185 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

Braeland City reaches out to Melbourne, for the Australian-born Phillip White. White will be a threat to swipe a base. He may not be an elite defensive second baseman, but he’s solidly above average. He should be solid at judging balls and strikes and is projected to draw 40 walks each year. White needs more seasoning against quality pitching before getting a shot in the majors.

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7th Pick – Hespeler Stars:



IF/OF Arthur Clack (20/67) – 19-years old; 6’-2”, 175 lbs.; Bats SH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

The Stars also stick close to home, as they pick Arthur Clack from Hespeler. Clack shows plus contact ability which should translate into a solid batting average. Repetition and learning which pitches he can drive are essential to his development into an above average power hitter. He has good recognition of balls and strikes. Clack has good potential a very promising future.

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8th Pick – Embro Suns:



OF Craig Radford (39/67) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Senior

The Embro Suns also nab a player from Hespeler in outfielder Craig Radford. Radford has plus-plus speed with advances instincts on the basepaths. He has a good swing. He won’t likely set records but could become a solid contact hitter. As he develops, he should be able to play the centerfield position at the next level. Radford is a centerfielder with plenty of tools and a lot of upside. He has the potential to be a first division starter.

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9th Pick – Balmoral Giants:



IF Sam Sato (34/54) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 170 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Senior

The Giants go with the young Sam Sato from Brunswick. Sato is an above average runner. As a shortstop he should be able to provide above average defense. At maturity he should be a league average hitter with a .270 batting average. Sato is a worthwhile development project for a future role as a shortstop.

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10th Pick – Queensland Eagles:



IF/OF Edgar Rivera (29/61) – 21-years old; 6’-0”, 175 lbs.; Bats SH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

Queensland selects the versatile Edgar Rivera from the Dominican Republic. Rivera projects to be able to consistently put the barrel of the bat on the ball. He should be able to provide above average defense as a shortstop. He projects to be a solid hitter with some pop. Rivera is an above average, everyday big-league player.

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11th Pick – Sherburn Tigers:



OF Garrick Walcott (44/63) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 165 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: Co Junior

The Tigers become the third team to pick a hometown player in Garrick Walcott. The Sherburn-born Walcott projects to be an elite hitter. His speed could allow him to be on the top base stealers in the league. He has good hands and makes difficult plays look easy. Walcott has the dynamic tools needed to make an impact in the majors.

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12th Pick – Stratford Barons:



OF Hal Wilson (32/67) – 21-years old; 5’-9”, 160 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

Stratford nabs Hal Wilson from Renforth, Braeland. Wilson is projected to be a defensive marvel after he matures. He should eventually be an above average contact hitter in the big leagues. The power is more a projection right now, but he has above average power potential. Wilson looks like a potential regular in a key role at the big-league level.

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13th Pick – Wellington Athletics:



IF Kahua Aremana (24/50) – 21-years old; 5’-11”, 180 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

Wellington selects Kahua Aremana from American Samoa. Aremana should be able to provide above average defense as a shortstop. Speed is a huge part of his game. He exercises very good patience at the plate. Aremana should be an average big leaguer.

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14th Pick – Pulberry Trolleys:



2B Lester Margerison (30/52) – 23-years old; 5’-10”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

The trend of selecting home-grown talent continues as the Trolleys snag Lester Margerison from Pulberry. Margerison doesn’t get perfect reads, but his sheer speed lets him make up for it. He has the flexibility and conditioning to play above average defense. He should have a patient approach at the plate and will take a walk if he doesn’t get a pitch he likes. Margerison should be an average big leaguer.

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15th Pick – Cobourg Redlegs:



P/OF Akinori Umaba (20/70) – 19-years old; 6’-0”, 165 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

Cobourg picks the Japanese-born Akinori and is the second pitcher taken in the first round. Umaba is a right-hander who can top out at 85-87 mph on the radar gun. He projects to throw a four-pitch mix that includes an above average sinker, an average forkball, an average slider and a changeup that he doesn’t use much. His pitches have plenty of movement that should help to keep the ball in the park. If everything comes together, Umaba has the talent to pitch at the top of the rotation.

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16th Pick – Brunswick Legends:



P/3B Martin López (20/54) – 18-years old; 5’-10”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

The final selection in the first round is pitcher Martin López from Coral Gables, Florida. López should end up with an above average sinker as the best of his five pitches. His pitches have plenty of movement that should help to keep the ball in the park. López is projected to fit comfortably in the middle of a big-league rotation.

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Originally Posted by DreamTeams

Alright! Another season in the making. Go Trollyes!

Finally!

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December 31, 1957 - Snapshot

Here are the standings and leaderboards for both Leagues at the end of games on December 31:

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Here are the latest results of the All-Star voting for both Leagues (from January 5, 1958):

[DreamTeams]

Ten and a half up for the boys. Wow! Well, it's still very early, but I'll take it.

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January 14, 1958

Eastern All-Stars Clobber the West in 10-1 Laugher

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Wolseley, Oxford (BP) – At first glance, the 1957-58 all-star game should have been an interesting one, with firepower and power pitching to spare on both squads. But when it was all over, the Eastern League All-Stars ran roughshod over an overmatched Western squad. Although both clubs went ‘3-up, 3-down’ four separate times, the Eastern All-Stars managed to cash in their chances much more effectively than the Western All-Stars, who ended up leaving 15 base runners stranded.

For the first 2-1/2 innings, it looked as though the sellout crowd at Wolseley’s Satchel Paige Park would be treated to a low scoring affair with the pitchers limiting the offense to one hit – a one-out double by Sherburn’s 3B Adrian Flynn off Stratford’s LHP Robin Wadsworth. The West, in fact, got on the board first in the bottom of the 3rd. Sherburn’s SS Dwayne Vick singled off Embro’s close Rob Gladstone with one out. Cambria’s 2B Doug Martin then lined a double into rightfield, bringing home Vick for the West’s only run.

After that, the East took over. In the top of the 4th, Pulberry’s manager Ryo Ichikawa made a curious move by bringing in Sherburn’s reliever RHP Callum Benstead, despite his 0-1, 6.03 ERA, 1.54 WHIP record on the season and plenty of better options in the bullpen. As expected, it did not go well. After walking Queensland’s 3B Apia Yarrah to lead off, Braeland City’s RF Aidan Trembath roped a liner into deep right-center for a double, scoring Yarrah to tie things up. Next up was Cobourg’s CF Raymond Williams, who slammed a Benstead’s 92 mph fastball 386 ft. into the rightfield bleachers for a 2-run homer. But the East was not done. After Embro’s 1B Damien Whetter singled with one out, Brunswick’s C Robert Kersey scorched Benstead’s 75 mph change-up for a 2-out, 2-run home run of his own that landed 448 ft. deep in the centerfield stands, pushing the score to 5-1.

In the top of the 5th, the East added two more runs, thanks again to Raymond Williams’ bat. With Stratford’s CF Alfonso León on first and facing Pulberry’s RHP Robin Medellin with two out, Williams smashed Medellin’s 86 mph forkball 408 ft. into the rightfield bleachers.

The East would round out the scoring with two more runs in the top 8th thanks to Embro’s C Gareth Mawle’s two-run, two out double and a final run in the top of the 9th when Downie’s 2B Dominic Dudding singled home Cobourg’s LF Nihopalaoa Neho from second.

For his heroics, Raymond Williams won his second All-Star game MVP award after first winning it back in 1950-51. He becomes the second player to win two MVP awards, after Brunswick’s Stuart Bentham (1942-43, 1947-48). With the victory the Eastern All-Stars have triumphed in back-to-back All-Star games and have won 7 of the last 9 All-Star games. They now lead the head-to-head matchup, 13-8.

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Here is the game summary as well as the complete All-Star rosters:

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January 15, 1958 - Snapshot

Here is a snapshot of the Leagues at the All-Star break with an updated Top Farm Systems Ranking:

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[Bottom Of The Sixth]

Long live the United Leagues of Braeland