2024 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #21

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
BENSON,Will	CCC AL	.538	1.154	3	13	7	0	1	2	4	8	3	2	0	2	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
McCLANAHAN,Shane	HOL AL	2	2	0	0	0.00	13	0	0	5	10	1	0	0	0	0	0

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
VERDUGO,Alex	CRK NL	.421	1.211	5	19	8	0	0	5	6	10	2	2	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
COLE,Gerrit	TEM NL	2	2	0	0	0.90	10	1	1	2	9	2	0	0	0	0	0

Bethesda Bandicoots @ Prairie Falcons
Preview:	First comes to town to face third in the NL East division. As we wind down the season Bethesda is in the Show while the Birds are fighting to stay in 8th place and this week they did not help themselves by moving two key pieces of that puzzle to other contenders. Mickey Moniak was shipped out and takes away a solid LH hitter from the lineup while Kenly Jansen the setup man for Adbert Alzolay was also sent packing…Let’s see how she goes this week
Game #1:	Detmers vs Elder Top of 2 and it looks like the recent acquisition of Branden Drury paid off for Bethesda as he hits a solo homer..In the 5th Trout gets driven home on an RBI single by Casas and we are tied…then the Bethesda Bandiboots the ball around the field in the 6th Yu Chang and Langiliers each misplay the ball and Alex Kirilloff singles home a run and Falcons lead 2-1….It stays that way till the 8th when the Falcons make the call for Jansen but he is not present so they have to switch to Carlos Estevez instead…Carlos gives up a single but no damage and then turns the ball over to Adbert- 1-2-3 Game over and the Non Acquisition of Branden Drury by the Falcons pays off as he whiffs to end the game…Elder’s only hit was the solo homer and Diaz had a single otherwise Bethesda offense was non exisitent…PRA 2 – BET 1
Game #2:	Kelly vs Boyd Top of the lineup from Bethesda was strong going 7-13 plating all 5 runs and rbi’s and hitting 2 doubles and 2 homers..5-0 Bethesda when Tristan Casas spoiled the shutout bid quickly with a jack way way back…But just like last game Falcons had only 2 hits a single and a homer ( both from Casas ) and Bethesda rolls…BET 5 – PRA 1
Game #3:	Kirby vs Ashcraft What is this reverse the curse every single game..Falons rip Kirby in the first for 4 runs on singles walks and HBP…Pavin Smith finally plated a Bandicoot run int he 5th on a single but it was essentially all Falcons – Ashcraft wins his 10th game while Kirby’s record falls to 17-5..PRA 5 – BET 1
Game #4:	Keller vs Pepiot With Bet up 2-1 on another drury homer the Falcons unload their weapons in the 6th scoring 5 times. Yoshida 3-3, Gelof 2 doubles and 3 ribbies Kirilloff wiht a homer…Now I was so high on Adbert with his 29 saves 2nd in the NL this year but some how he got a save pitching the 9th in a 7-2 game..not really sure how that occurred but he nows sits at 30 and increases his trade value even more…PRA 7 – BET 2
Game #5:	Cobb vs Muller All Coots in this one- Duvall 2 homers O’Hearn with a Jack..Wong with 3 hits including a triple. Falcons get a solo homer by Trout but can’t generate any more offense…Justin Martinez the diamond we found in the late late late rounds last draft was ejected for sticky substance on his glove..BET 11 – PRA 2
Game #6:	Wacha vs Rom Both starters give up two homers. Burger and Yoshida for the Birds – Siri and dejong for the Bandicoots but then Langiliers rips Cional Perez for a dinger and it is 5-3 Coots….Alex Kirilloff comes in and rips a 2 out 2 run single to tie it 5-5 and then it went to a showdown – Hader vs Alzolay…top two guns out of the pens a 24 for the coots a 16 for the Birds…Game set Match – Alzolay walks McNiel and Andrew Vaughn rips a game winning double…Hader improves to 2-2 while Adbert falls to 0-2 BET 6 – PRA 5 (10 innings )
Summary:	Series split 3-3…Bethesda doesnt really lose and ground while the falcons remain 1 game under .500 but unless the Baltimore Comets win 5 or 6 games this week – they will still hold the 8th and final slot. Bethesda stays on the road next week as they hit another 3rd place division team in Long Beach…Prairie will take their flock on the road and face yet another division leader in Triple Creek – Only one 2 game injury to Vaughn but I think both teams head into next series pretty clean…

Valdosta Snappers @ Baltimore Comets
Preview:	The Valdosta Snappers visit Baltimore for a 6-game set. The Snappers sit in third place in the N.L. Central, but they’ve compiled a .603 winning percentage.
Game #1:	Valdosta pounds out 14 hits to cruise to an 8-1 win in the opener. Brent Rooker had 3 hits, including homerun #20, and scored 3 times, and Elvis Andrus added 3 hits and 3 RBIs to lead the Snapper offense. Martin Perez had a strong start, tossing 6 innings of 1 hit, shutout ball to earn the win. SNAPPERS 8 / 14 / 1 COMETS 1 / 4 / 1 WP – Perez (8-2) LP – Zerpa (7-4)
Game #2:	15 more Snapper hits, 7 of them doubles, and Valdosta takes game 2, 7-4. Yulieski Gurriel had 2 hits, 3 RBIs, and Austin Riley had a pair of doubles, a pair of walks, and scored 3 times for Valdosta. Jackson Wolf wins his 12th game of the season. Joey Wiemer had 3 hits for Baltimore. SNAPPERS 7 / 15 / 1 COMETS 4 / 9 / 0 WP – Wolf (12-4) LP – Contreras (4-8) S – Scott (32)
Game #3:	Valdosta jumps out to a 6-1 lead before the Baltimore bats finally wake up. Home runs by Bryson Stott (20), Keibert Ruiz (11), and Garrett Mitchell (3), and a 2-run, pinch-hit double by Hunter Renfroe, propel a Comet comeback, as Baltimore wins it 8-6. SNAPPERS 6 / 13 / 0 COMETS 8 / 9 / 0 WP – Priester (3-1) LP – Wantz (2-2) S – Phillips (28)
Game #4:	Baltimore finally holds the Valdosta hit tally under 10, but still fall to the Snappers 4-1. Allan Winans pitched 7 strong innings, holding the Comets to just a run on 6 hits. Kevin Ginkel pitched 2 perfect innings for the save. Brent Rooker homered again for Valdosta (#21). SNAPPERS 4 / 8 / 0 COMETS 1 / 6 / 1 WP – Winans (9-10) LP – Taillon (8-11) S – Ginkel (3)
Game #5:	Baltimore had as many errors as hits in this one, five, and Valdosta takes advantage of the sloppy Comets’ defense to plate a pair of unearned runs to take this one, 5-3. Austin Riley went deep (#27), and Drew Smyly struck out 10 Comets over 6 innings for the Snappers. SNAPPERS 5 / 8 / 1 COMETS 3 / 5 / 5 WP – Smyly (11-8) LP – Mikolas (6-15) S – Scott (33)
Game #6:	Ronald Acuna blasts a pair of solo homeruns (#s 38 & 39) and Martin Perez pitches 5 1/3 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits, as Valdosta wins the series finale, 5-2. SNAPPERS 5 / 9 / 1 COMETS 2 / 6 / 3 WP – Perez (9-2) LP – Zerpa (7-5) S – Ginkel (4)
Summary:	Employing an offensive barrage, Valdosta takes the series 5 games to 1

Columbus Explorers @ Harsens Island Walleye
Summary:	4-2 series win for Columbus.

Sacramento Capitals @ Corktown Cycle
Summary:	Corktown takes the series 5-1 in a series that is usually dominated by the Capitals. 2 games were won in the 10th by the home team.

Southwest Detroit Fighting Chihuahuas @ Dallas Cougars
Summary:	Dallas wins the first game then loses the next 5.

Selkirk Steelers @ Yucaipa Road Runners
Preview:	YUC still chasing the elusive 40 wins.
Game #1:	YUC 3-2 13 inn Vavra walk off hit, scoring pr Lawler.
Game #2:	SEL 15-0 Perez 2 HR 6 ribibes.
Game #3:	YUC 6-5 11 inn Cooper walk off ribbie
Game #4:	SEL 3-1
Game #5:	SEL 8-2
Game #6:	SEL 8-2
Summary:	YUC picks up 2 wins, 6 away from improving over last year.

Fremont Cannons @ Cincinnati Skyliners
Preview:	AL East leader Fremont makes its annual trek to Glenn Sample Field in Cincinnati.
Summary:	Fremont takes four of six in Cincinnati. Despite being in the playoff chase, the Skyliners will be exploring dealing players at the trade deadline. Operators standing by now!

Long Beach Dirt Bags @ Tempe Tempers
Preview:	Long Beach comes to town dreaming of ping pong balls and Tempe looks to rebound from a beating in Triple Creek.
Game #1:	Paxton vs. Jimenez Paxton didn’t even record an out in the first inning as Freeman and Ramirez each launched three run homers. Tempe 10-1 W – Jimenez (1-1), L – Paxton (3-9), S – Strzelecki (1)
Game #2:	Pitchers duel – Vasquez only gave up one hit in 4.2 innings, but he tweaked his shoulder and was injured for 27 days. Gray gave up two hits in six innings. Long Beach scored the first run of the game in the 5th on a Peguero rbi single. Grossman gunned Bogaerts attempting to score on a sac fly in the 5th to preserve the shutout. Tempe did tie it in the 6th but then left 8 runners on base in the 6th, 7th, and 8th. The tie was broken in the 10th on a Pillar walk off rbi single. Tempe 2-1 (10 INN) W – Munoz (4-2), L – Justice (1-1)
Game #3:	Bowlan vs. Cole Ozuna rbi double in the 3rd gave Tempe a brief lead until Tauchman got the first hit for the Dirt Bags in the 4th and tied it 1-1. Jones, Martinez and Albies went deep in the 5th to put Tempe up 5-1. Freeman three run homer in 8th. Cruz picked up the four inning save. Tempe 8-2 W – Cole (20-3), L – Bowlan (5-17), S – Cruz (2)
Game #4:	Feltner vs. Darvish Tempe loaded the bases with no outs in the 1st, but Feltner managed to limit the damage to one run. RBI hits from Freeman and Ozuna made it 3-0 in 2nd. Gomes three run homer in the 5th put the game out of reach. Darvish rebounded from a couple bad starts to pitch his first shutout of the year. Tempe 12-0 W – Darvish (7-7), L – Feltner (7-14)
Game #5:	Spiers vs. Woodruff Woodruff felt a pop in his elbow to start the 2nd and will be on the DL for 38 days. Tempe got to Spiers for three runs in the 2nd and a Martinez Baltimore special in the bottom 5th put the game out of reach. Gomes also injured for a week. Tempe 6-1 W – Minter (2-3), L – Spiers (2-11)
Game #6:	Paxton vs. Cole Mateo’s two run homer in 5th allowed Cole to qualify for his 21st win. Tempe added two more runs in the 6th on a Realmuto rbi double and Pillar rbi single. Tempe 4-0 W – Cole (21-3), L – Paxton (3-10)
Summary:	Tempe picked up the rare sweep and got some needed usage for the backups. They unfortunately lost one of their aces for the rest of the season right before a key divisional match-up with Valdosta. Long Beach should move further up the 2025 draft board next week as they host another divisional leader in Bethesda.

Coconut Creek Crushers @ Virginia Sluggers
Preview:	Coconut Creek in the playoff hunt. Virginia not.
Game #1:	CCC 5-0 Snell goes 8 innings giving up 1 hit no runs. Brash finishes the 2-hit shutout. Benson 2-5 with 2 RBI.
Game #2:	CCC 7-3 Cabrera goes 6.2 allowing 3 hits while striking out 10. Benson the big gun again as he went 2-3 with a HR and 4 RBI and helped add to a 5 run 7th for CCC.
Game #3:	CCC 7-5 VIR led 5-0 after 5 innings. Oh well. CCC scored 7 in the next 4 innings to win it. Julien 2-4, 4 RBI and a homer. Marsh and Olson also chipped in with HR’s.
Game #4:	CCC 7-0 Webb and Martin combined on the 1-hit shutout as VIR left bats at home. CCC didn’t as they had 16 hits…and everyone got one.
Game #5:	CCC 11-5 Julien and Benson (who are these guys?) went deep once again. Julien 2-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI. Benson 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI. CCC bullpen 3.1 innings of no run ball.
Game #6:	VIR 5-1 Not sure how they won. VIR got 5 hits, Devers got 2 (one was a HR) and Ruiz got 2. But somehow they scored 5 runs. CCC got 11 hits but only got 1 run,…go figure. Olson did hit his 47th HR for CCC.
Summary:	The Crushers crushed VIR 5 games to 1.

Hollywood Werewolves @ Gainsville Swamp Things
Preview:	Hollywood heads to Gainesville as these teams are in two different places. Hollywood is a contender for a deep run and Gainesville is in late season purgatory. This feels like an early tune up for Hollywood to prepare for the post season.
Game #1:	Hollywood 12 Gainesville 0W: S. McClanahan 7-6 L: J. Teheran 5-3
Game #2:	Gainesville 4 Hollywood 3W: H. Milner 7-4 L: D. Bednar 1-4
Game #3:	Gainesville 3 Hollywood 2 (10)W: W. Peralta 3-4 L: I. Campbell
Game #4:	Hollywood 4 Gainesville 3W: P. Fairbanks 6-0 L: J. Foley 1-5
Game #5:	Hollywood 4 Gainesville 3W: J. Romano 2-3 L: J. Foley 1-6 S: D. Bednar 40
Game #6:	Hollywood 3 Gainesville 0W: S. McClanahan 8-6 L: J. Teheran 5-4 S: D. Bednar 41
Summary:	Hollywood grabs 4 of 6 from Gainesville in what was actually a tight series. Game 1 was a blowout but the next 4 games were all 1 run games. Both teams battled hard but Hollywood showed their superior roster from top to bottom. Hollywood is still in a battle to close out the division but each week it is getting closer to clinching.

Motor City Muscle @ Tijuana Bottle Rockets
Preview:	Tijuana and Motor City get together for 6.
Summary:	Tijuana takes 5 of 6.

Triple Creek Patriots @ Arboga Rats
Summary:	Arboga takes 4 of 6 from Triple Creek.

Detroit Crime @ Mesa Solar Sox
Summary:	Two teams looking forward to the golf course split a six games series with – three wins apiece.

Chicago Mobsters @ Southbend Lynx
Preview:	Chicago and Southbend meet for a 6 game series between 2 playoff seeking teams.
Game #1:	CHI J.Luzardo vs SBL N.Pivetta After 2 1/2 scoreless ininngs the SBL jump all over J.Luzardo in the B3; Soto 2bs, Straw w/rbi-1b, Tucker with an rbi-2b, and then Bichette with a 2-run HR; SBL up 4-0 In the SBL B4 Soto hits a solo-HR; SBL up 5-0 CHI finally breaks through against Pivetta in the T6 when Adames 1bs and then 1 out later Bregman hits a 2-run HR; SBL up 5-2 SBL gets a run back in the B7 on a Tucker solo-HR; SBL up 6-2 But CHI would answer in a big way in the T8 as SBL makes a big mistake giving the ball to C.Sands; Adames bbs, Marte bbs, Bregman w/rbi-1b, and then Alvarez with a 3-run HR to tie the game up at 6-6! The game would go into extra innings where CHI threatens in the T10 but Cosgrove gets out of the jam getting Torkelson on groundout and Diaz on a pop out. In the CHI T11 Greene draws a 2-out bb, steals 2nd, but is stranded when Adames P4 In the SBL B11 Fairchild 2bs, d’Arnaud then 1bs to LF and the ball hits off Alvarez glove and Fairchild scores; the scorer doesn’t give Alvarez the error but it doesn’t matter as the SBL get the win after blowing the lead in the 8th WP-E.Peguero SBL LP-F.Bautista CHI Southbend 7, Chicago 6
Game #2:	CHI C.Bassitt vs SBL P.Avila CHI Belt opens things up with a lead-off solo-HR in the T1; CHI up 1-0 SBL tie it in the B3 when Straw 1bs, Soto reaches 1st when Belt drops Adames throw and Straw cruises into 3rd, Altuve with a SF8; Tied up 1-1 CHI retakes the lead in the T4 when Arraez 2bs and Torkelson with an rbi-2b; CHI up 2-1 CHI keeps the pressure on in the T5 when Alvarez bbs with 2 out, Bregman with an rbi-2b, and Arraez with an rbi-1b; CHI up 4-1 CHI adds one more run in the T9 on a Moreno solo-HR; CHI up 5-1 On the mound for CHI, Bassitt settled in after the B3 and threw scoreless ball through the 6th, then tuned it over to the pen; Can and Chapman got through the 7th, and then Francis comes on for a scoreless 8th and 9th to close out the game WP-C.Bassitt CHI LP-P.Avila SBL SV-B.Francis CHI Chicago 5, Southbend 1
Game #3:	CHI L.Gilbert vs SBL J.Oviedo This was a good old fashioned pitcher’s duel as both pitcher’s give up a run in the 2nd inning, but nothing else through the 7th CHI got its run in the T2 when Rodriguez 2bs and Adames comes through with a 2-out rbi-1b SBL tied it up in the B2 when Moore 2bs and Schoop drives him in with an rbi-2b In the SBL B8 Soto hits a 2-out solo-HR to give the Lynx the 2-1 lead. It was only the 4th hit allowed by Gilbert in the game SBL gives the ball to Holton in the T9 and he tosses a perfect 9th to earn the save and give SBL the win. CHI Gilbert is the hard luck loser as he goes 8IP giving up only 4 hits while fanning 9 and walking 2 SBL Oviedo is strong as well as he goes 6IP, gives up 5 hits, and also fans 9, but doesn’t walk anyone; SBL pen of Yates, Kelly, and Holton close out the game WP-K.Kelly SBL LP-L.Gilbert CHI SV-T.Holton SBL Southbend 2, Chicago 1
Game #4:	CHI J.Urias vs SBL F.Peralta CHI on hte board early again in the T1 when Belt 1bs, Alvarez bbs, Bregman bbs, and then Arraez GIDP 463 to plate a run but Diaz Ks to limit the rally to 1 run; CHI up 1-0 SBL waste no time tying the game up in the B1 when Soto bbs and Altuve with a H&R rbi-2b; Tied up 1-1 In the SBL B4 Tucker 1bs, steals 2nd, moves to 3rd on Bichette’s groundout, Fairchild bbs, and then Muncy with a SF7; SBL up 2-1 CHI takes the lead in the T5 when Rodriguez bbs, Taveeras with a H&R 1b, Moreno with a rbi-groundout, Belt 1bs, and then Alvarez with a SF7; CHI up 3-2 In the SBL B6 Altuve 1bs, steals 2nd, and then scores on a Fairchild 2-out rbi-2b; Tied 3-3 CHI once again retakes the lead in the T7 when Moreno bbs, Alvarez hits into a FC, Bregman with an inf-1b, and then Arraez with a 2-rbi 2b; CHI up 5-3 SBL get lead-off doubles in the B7 and B8 but can’t plate a run and go into the B9 still behind by 2 runs. In the B9 Muncy leads off with a solo-HR off Francis, which brings on Bautista for CHI; Bautista gives up a 2 out 1b, but then gets Soto to P6 to end the game. WP-B.Abreu CHI LP-K.Kelly SBL SV-F.Bautista CHI Chicago 5, Southbend 4
Game #5:	CHI B.Miller vs SBL T.Houck SBL start the scoring in the B1 when Soto 1bs and Faley hits a 2-run HR; SBL up 2-0 SBL add another run in the B2 when Muncy 2bs, a wild pitch moves him to 3rd, Fairchild bbs, and then Soto with an rbi-1b; SBL up 3-0 SBL Fairchild hits a solo-HR in the B4 to extend the Lynx lead; SBL up 4-0 CHI gets a run in the T5 when Bregman bbs, Alvarez bbs, an Diaz with an 2-out rbi-1b; SBL up 4-1 In the CHI T8 Arraez 1bs, Rodriguez is HBP, Adames bbs, SBL bring in Cosgrove, Moreno with a SF9, Bregman bbs, Alvarez with an rbi-bb, and then Torkelson with another rbi-bb to tie the game! Cosgrove finally gets Diaz to get out of the inning on a groundout; Tied 4-4! CHI calls on Bautista in the B9 and after he gets d’Arnaud and Escobar, Fairchild strides to the plate and ends the game with a solo-HR, his 2nd of the game! WP-E.Peguero SBL LP-F.Bautista CHI Southbend 5, Chicago 4
Game #6:	CHI J.Luzardo vs SBL N.Pivetta CHI Lizardo and CHI Pivettta are in control through the 5th as they both throw shutout ball. In the SBL B6 the Lynx finally break through with 2 runs when Soto bbs and Altuve hits a 2-run HR: SBL up 2-0 CHI gets a run back in the T7 when Arraez 2bs and then PH Marte with an rbi-2b; SBL up 2-1 SBL open up the game in the B8 when Soto leads off with a solo-HR, Altuve 1bs, Tucker with a 2-run HR, Raley 1bs, and then Muncy with a 2-run HR; SBL up 7-1 CHI makes some noise in the T9 when Diaz bbs, Arraez 1bs, and Rodriguez hits a 3-run HR, but C.Sands fans Greene and gets Adames F8 to end the game WP-N.Pivetta SBL LP-J.Luzardo CHI Southbend 7, Chicago 4
Summary:	Southbend takes the series 4-2 over Chicago. The series was pretty close and could’ve easily gone 4-2 Chicago except for some fortunate key hits by Southbend. The Lynx feel very lucky to come away with the series win.