Around the worldwide farm
In the African Baseball Alliance it’s not been the best start for our Triple-A affiliate the Port Elizabeth Windies. They’ve gone 39-43 in their first ever half season, but they are slowly picking up. They’re one game above .500 for June with one game left in the month, looking for their first winning month. Top pitcher has been Thomas Morrison who in 14 starts has a 5-5 record thanks to a 2-0 record in his last four starts. He leads the current Windies team in wins (although Riyadh’s Bert Hackworth won six games before being promoted to the UMEBA) and also in IP (87.1) and strikeouts (77). Corner outfielder Hyon-joung Yu has split his time between left & right clubbing the ball to all corners, he has nine homers and 29 RBI, but has also worked 40 walks as well as stealing 19 bases. Utility infielder Yoshida Fujita has lost his starting role at second following his .180 average, but has nine homers anyway with a team leading 35 RBI.
Over in the South American Baseball League the Santiago Tabaqueros have also had a ropey start. With a 33-47 record as we hit the second half. They had been just about coping but a 9-18 June has hit their hopes of a better season. Clean-up hitter Wally Rees has only been hitting .238 but has 11 homers, 45 RBI and 37 walks. Hitting right behind him is Jeremy Copeland who also has 11 homers, 40 RBI, but a batting average of .341 and an OBP of .404 which makes teams try to avoid walking Rees. The pitching staff has struggled to compete in the league, Hokuao Pakiana has been the best of a poor bunch in the rotation with a 4-3 record, 5.21 ERA while in the bullpen, the man has been Damon Urry. He was picked up for spring training by Riyadh but released before the season started; he was picked back up in late May by Santiago and in four outings has a 3-0 record with an ERA of 2.25.
The South Guam Saints over in their first season in the Far East Baseball League have been getting better as the season as worn on, his 15-12 June so far has contributed to their overall record of 34-32. Starter Marko Kinkel has been the team leader in wins (6), Starter’s ERA (3.39) and strikeouts (76) while in the ‘pen the star has been Jorge Moran. He was released by Cairo in early May and within a couple of weeks the franchise had scooped him up. In 10 outings he is 1-0 with a 0.46 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 19.2 innings with 29 strikeouts. First baseman Birger Skjelbred as been slugging away with seven homers and 34 RBI along with walking 32 times.
The young draftees and other rookies playing for the Chinese Taipei Baseball Team in the Chinese Baseball League started well and have carried it on, going 14-10 in the team’s first ever month. All the talk of course has been of 17-yr-old Alba Gallino, the world’s only Vatican City pro, he’s not got a decision yet, but has only given up three ruins in 25 innings pitched along with a 22/3 K/BB. Keeping the bat swinging has been third baseman Michael Roga, three homers, 14 RBI and a batting average of .388.