League News: October 3, 2005
Bree, Isengard win pennants, Wild Card races too close to call
MIDDLE EARTH - Only 5 games are left in the 2005 season, and we're down to the Wild Card races!
The Bree Cheese and the Isengard Raiders won their divisions, leaving only the Mordor Conference Orc Division left to be decided. But after a 6-game winning streak, Dead Marshes' magic number is down to 1.
In the Shire Conference, Carrock leads Old Forest and Rivendell by just 2 games. Old Forest only lost 1 game this week and had their strikeout king, Boriam "The White Wizard" Celebrin top the 400 K mark! Meanwhile, the Royals keep hanging in the thick of things with their ace, Boreathor Boraulf, getting his 21st victory and third-straight 10-strikeout performance--a 4-0 shutout of Old Forest (his 7th shutout and 16th complete game of the year).
In the Mordor Conference, Misty Mountain and Grey Havens are tied for the Wild Card spot, with Rohan 4 games down. The Stars have won 7-straight games, tangling with the Hops who are trying to return to the playoffs for the third straight year.
Farin Beardsnapper dominates Lake Town, throws NO-HITTER
MORIA - Great things can happen when you throw strikes. And Farin Beardsnapper did so on September 27, in a no-hitter against Lake Town. Beardsnapper (11-12) fanned 8 and walked 5, throwing 109 pitches. 'Well, the ball went where I wanted it. I was able to hit the corners with all of my pitches. I'm so happy that it was enough to pitch such a great game.' The hitting star for Moria was centerfielder Lumtina Elväwen, he went 1 for 4, blasting a homerun, and collecting 2 RBI. Moria scored 2 runs on 5 hits. Lake Town's only run came in the third inning when Beardsnapper walked Denamir Eärindel with the bases loaded, scoring Nick Proudfoot.
Bree Ace Drowslammer Out for Season!
BREE - Bad news for the Cheese, especially going into the playoffs, but their ace starter, Gogak "Gopher" Drowslammer, won't be making the trip with them. He tore a tricep muscle in the 2nd inning of a game against Rivendell on September 26. After getting Ruzdug the Wicked to ground into an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play, Drowslammer left the field clutching his right arm. 'He must have thrown it out trying to get the guy at second,' manager Butterburr said. This will be the second straight year the All-Star hurler will just miss his 20th victory. He finishes the season 19-12 with a 3.80 ERA and 267 strikeouts.
Hammershaker is first Mordor Conference 20-game winner
NUMENOR - Prilak Hammershaker became the first Mordor Conference pitcher to win 20 games in League history when he beat the Hops, 14-1. Hammershaker pitched 8 innings, striking out 8 and walking none for the victory. Before this year, there were only three 20-game winners. Dalo Bloodkiller of Wilderland was the first and only 20-gamer in 2003, going 20-5. In 2004, Libur Irontwister of Wilderland was 25-10, and Erunai Cleaverpunishr of Carrock was 22-13. Already this season, there have been 6 20-game winners, including Hammershaker: Gandogast Fadrier of Lake Town (23-5), Irontwister (21-12), Boreathor Boraulf of Rivendell (21-7), Hammershaker (20-5), Gwelf Goriborn of Mirkwood (20-8) and Tigseen Tal of Carrock (20-8).
Orcback and Eliondel win Player of the Week award
MIDDLE EARTH - The Player of the Week award in the Shire Conference goes to Bucklebury's Lugnar Orcback this time, as the centerfielder displayed the best offensive perfomance in his league. Lugnar went 8 for 22 (.364), while hitting 5 HR and collecting 10 RBI. He now has homered in 3 consecutive games as well! He has hit 31 bombs while batting .246 this season. His 140 hits and 35 walks add up to a .299 on-base percentage. It's the 2nd time that the Mordor Conference Player of the Week award goes to Grey Havens' leftfielder Isszava Eliondel. Eliondel helped his team with an average of .458 and 9 RBI in 24 at bats.
Pitcher of the Month award winners announced
MIDDLE EARTH - The best month of September in the Shire Conference certainly had Rivendell's left-hander Boreathor Boraulf, earning him the Pitcher of the Month award. He went 5-0 in September and finished the month with an ERA of 1.97. He struck out 54 in 50.1 innings. Boreathor pitched a shutout as well. This season Boraulf compiled an ERA of 2.05, going 21-7 in 32 starts. He fanned 223 while giving up 182 hits in 254.2 innings. He has 16 complete games and 7 shutouts. He's 1st in the Shire Conference in ERA and 2nd in wins! Legeron Iseomer couldn't have pitched much better than he did in September, and the Mordor Conference thought so as well, naming the left-hander Pitcher of the Month. His ERA of just 0.73 helped him to a 5-0 record in September. He worked 49 innings, striking out 54 hitters while walking 5. Legeron fired two shutouts! This season Iseomer compiled an ERA of 1.63, going 18-5 in 33 starts. He fanned 266 while giving up 175 hits in 254 innings. He has 9 complete games and 5 shutouts. He's 1st in the Mordor Conference in ERA and 4th in wins!
Red hot Nilad and Eliondel win Batter of the Month award
MIDDLE EARTH - It's the 1st time that the Shire Conference Batter of the Month award goes to Lake Town's catcher Thuralia Nilad. Thuralia was on fire, hitting .475 with 7 homeruns and 24 RBI. This year Nilad drove in 101 and scored 119 runs while batting .347 with 28 homeruns. He's 2nd in the Shire Conference in batting! The Mordor Conference Batter of the Month award goes to Isszava Eliondel, Grey Havens' starting leftfielder. Isszava went 39 for 101 (.386), while hitting 8 HR and collecting 26 RBI. Eliondel has hit 39 bombs this year while batting .312. He adds 18 doubles, along with 108 runs scored. He's 7th in the Mordor Conference in batting, 2nd in homeruns and 2nd in RBI!
Säriand Ties Save Record
BREE - Rivendell's Thutai Säriand tied the Shire Conference record for Saves in a season, held by Myrbis Elvóldur of Carrock in 2004. Säriand tossed 1.1 hitless innings on September 27 against Bree, earning him save number 41.
Numenor Breaks Record
MINAS MORGUL - With a 10-2 win over the Slayers on September 27, the Numenor Kings broke the record for most team wins in a season, held by the 2003 Bucklebury Fairies. The Kings' 105th victory came on an 8-run explosion in the 13th inning, including triples by Minto Gamgee-Took and Theo Nering.