B East Midseason Review

[ntodd71]

With another rainout this week putting a damper on Sunday softball, I figured we would be due for a little midseason recap as we reach the halfway point of the spring session.



Nobody has made the Purple Cobras bleed their own blood this season. The new team has started out 3-0-1 with a top three offense (15.3 rpg) and middle of the road defense (12.3 rpg). Their top hitters are MVP candidate Cody “Road” Runner and Dan Roman, who have combined for a .742 average, 17 Rs, 21 RBIs, and 36 TB. Purple Cobras have a mixed bag for the second half schedule. They have to play Dave and Confused twice, but also get the Dirt Stars and Palz Tap House, who are both currently spotting 1-3 records. (Prediction 7-0-1)



The Sunday Scaries also remain unbeaten with an identical 3-0-1 record. They currently have the division’s best offense (22.5 rpg) and the second-best defense (10.5 rpg). Sunday Scaries have a whopping 11 players hitting .571 or better, and a team best .629 average. Their two biggest producers are Matt “the Bat” Horn, and Bobby Scholly, who is leading the league in doubles with 9. They look to keep pace with Purple Cobras for the top seed, and they have the schedule to do so. Scaries plays Palz Tap House twice, Dave and Confused, and the Yankee Clippers in the second half. (Prediction 6-1-1)



Dave and Confused has started off well, record wise, at 2-1, which is good for 3rd place in the division, despite sporting the second worst offense (9.7 rpg). Helping offset the lack of runs is their defense, which is one of the best in run prevention (11.7 rpg). Dave and Confused best bats thus far have been Kevin Noone (batting a blistering .857), Carl Ervin, and perennial power stroker Mark McKinney. They have one of the most difficult schedules in the second half of the season, with two matchups against Purple Cobras, and one apiece against Sunday Scaries, Philly’s Phinest, and Cifelli Sunoco. (Prediction 5-3)



Big comeback season for the Yankee Clippers, as they have already dwarfed their win total from last year (1), with a 2-2 record. Adding two-time All-ANH pitcher Eric Rohrback has helped guide the Yankee Clippers to a division best defense (8.5 rpg). Their offense currently ranks 4th at 14.5 rpg. Kai Browner is currently pacing the offense, hitting .857 with a 1.429 slugging %. Unfortunately, the Clippers do lead the league in strikeouts offensively (6), with Pat Brennan pacing the team with two. They have an average remaining strength of schedule with two games against Philly’s Phinest, and matchups vs. Dirt Stars and Sunday Scaries remaining. (Prediction 4-4)





Philly’s Phinest comes near the halfway point with a 1-2 record to start the season. Offensively, they’ve been one of the best in the division, averaging exactly 15 rpg. Defensively has been another story, however, with Phinest sporting the worst mark in the league, allowing 19 rpg. Ray "Go Kick” Rocks has been raking for Phinest so far, batting .600 with 5 R and 8 RBI. Phinest has one of the easier schedules remaining, playing the Yankee Clippers twice, Dave and Confused, Palz Tap House, and Cifelli Sunoco. (Prediction 4-4)



Cifelli Sunoco is off to a slow start this spring, coming in to the midway mark with a 1-3 record. They are sporting one of the least efficient offenses in the league (10.8 rpg) while defensively they have been 2nd worst allowing 17.3 rpg. Mike Schoenagle has been crushing it for them, with a division leading 3 HR, .529 average, and 10 RBIs. If Cifelli can field 10 consistently in the last half of the season, they will be a problem. They play Dirt Stars twice, Dave and Confused, and Philly’s Phinest in the second half. (Prediction 1-7)
**Update** They were not able to field 10 consistently in the last half of the season.



Dirt Stars have struggled mightily this season, sporting a 1-3 record. They currently have the second worst offense in the division (10 rpg), and have the 3rd worst defense (14.8). They need to get Tony Carpino back in the lineup, who leads the squad in average and is tied for the team lead with 1 HR on the season. They have a mixed bag schedule wise, with Cifelli Sunoco twice, the Purple Cobras, and Yankee Clippers remaining. (Prediction 3-5)



Palz Tap House is 1-3 to start the year, but with a win in their last outing against the Yankee Clippers. They need to wake the bats up in the second half, with their first half offense being the worst in the division (8.8 rpg). Defensively, they have been middle of the pack, allowing 12 rpg. Andrew Heller is smacking a cool .800 on the season to pace the team, while Pete Herbert and Casey Long are tied for the team lead in total bases with 12 apiece. They have an absolutely brutal schedule to finish the year, facing Sunday Scaries twice, along with games against Purple Cobras and Philly’s Phinest. (Prediction 1-7)



MVP Standings

Matt Horn

Cody “Road” Runner

Mike Schoenagle

Bobby Scholly