Weekly Report: July 6, 1931

Andy Thompson is back for the Brothers, and is almost immediately once again flirting with injury while simultaneously dominating at the plate. He’s been called the “best, most fragile player in the game” by Hubert Kallina, host of “Ballgames and More” on USU syndicated radio.

Both the Bears’ and Brothers’ starting rotations are in trouble with multiple injuries as the two teams try to keep pace with the surging Guardians in the West.

The NPL got underway this week. According to most experts, Carver looks primed to defend their championship, but the Metros have added several elements and may give them a challenge over the 70-game season.

The 4th UA All-Star Game is just over two weeks away in Deerborn. Voting continues at all UA & NPL ballparks and at participating picture houses nationwide.

The UA First Year Player Draft was held Sunday, with young high school phenom Andy Engel going first overall to the Taawa Chargers.

(Jump to UA Standings & League Leaders)

(Jump to NPL Standings & League Leaders)

UA News:

6/29:

Railey fan-favorite, RHP Alfredo Hernankez has been diagnosed with a torn labrum in his shoulder. The injury has led Hernankez to hang it up, putting an end to his career as a ballplayer. “No, I’m not happy at all, obviously. The road back to pitching at this point is just not what I need to be doing with my time. It’s a bitter feeling to end things this way, but I’ve made nice chunk of cash in baseball, and I’m looking forward to spending time with my kids.”
Brothers LF Andy Thompson comes out of today’s game in Redwood with a sore back. Thompson has been oft-injured during his career. He just made his season debut last week after missing 5 weeks with plantar fasciitis. The nature of his latest injury is not yet known. The Brothers lost to the Owls today, 5-1.
Trail Blazers LF Juan Tumaini smacks 2 HR and a double in a 4 for 4 day as Prissley blanks Deerborn, 6-0. The loss snaps the White Sox’ 12-game winning streak. They are still baseball’s top team at 22-5.
Albert Pentana scores in the top of the 10th inning on a wild pitch by Rivals RHP Michael Mercer. The Stags win in Railey by a final of 5-4.
Guardians 1B Cal Oluoch goes 4 for 5 with a home run and 5 RBI in Northsouth’s 9-4 win over Lia Kompos.
Stars LHP Kevin Leroux allows 1 run on 2 hits over 6 innings while striking out 8 as Delle rallies late to beat the Bears, 5-1.

6/30:

RHP Justin Russell and the Platte Bears got some very bad news today. Russell found out he will need surgery on the radial nerve in his elbow and will miss the remainder of 1931. The Bears are now missing 3 of their top pitchers. Orlando Nunez is out for 2-3 more weeks, and ace Julio Martinezto is still going to be out for 5-6 weeks longer.
White Sox LHP Domingo Lia Itoldino strikes out 8 in 8 innings and Curt Sawyer hits his 14th home run of the year as Deerborn responds to yesterday’s loss with a 9-1 pounding of the Trail Blazers.
Stags RHP Jose Verdier goes the distance against the Rivals. In 9 innings, he strikes out 10 batter and allows 1 run on 7 hits in Roland’s 4-1 victory. Albert Pentana and Earnest Calloway are ejected in the 7th inning after a bean ball from Calloway leads to a brawl between the two teams. Pentana and Calloway have both been suspended for 5 games.
Brothers LF Andy Thompson returns from yesterday’s back spasms to lead Salvation to a 7-2 win at Redwood. Thompson goes 2 for 4 with a HR and 3 RBI.

7/1:

Miners 2B Jose Meza learns today that we will be out at least another 4 days as he recovers from a strained hamstring.
Trail Blazers LF Juan Tumaini wins UA Batter of the Month for June. He hit .324 with 13 HR, 30 RBI and 20 R. He had a .391 on-base percentage.
White Sox RHP Mathew Huertata wins UA Pitcher of the Month for June. Opposing hitters were just .145 against Huertata in June. He struck out 47 in 34.1 innings with only 4 walks and a 1.57 ERA.
24-year old White Sox SP Martin Westfield in June’s Rookie of the Month. He is 4-0 with 35 Ks and a 2.78 ERA in 3 starts.
The Stags outlast the Bears in a pitcher’s duel. Rich Smith (ROL) and Travis Voelker (PLA) each went 7 innings, but Smith’s 1 ER on 2 H and 9 Ks were enough to hand Platte the loss, 2-1.
Prissley RHP Jeff Rogers strikes out 9 in 8 scoreless innings and gives up just 2 hits as the Trail Blazers beat the Owls, 3-0.
The Rivals honored Alfredo Hernankez today, who was forced to retire on Monday due to re-aggravating the shoulder he tore in 1928. The team held a pre-game ceremony in which team owner Wesley Sullivan and manager Jon Roman presented Hernankez with a framed jersey signed by his teammates. Hernankez, with his right arm in a sling beneath his sports coat, spoke briefly after receiving the gift: “Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the birth of pro baseball in Railey. The Rivals fans will always be in my heart. Thank you all so, so much.” Hernankez wept openly, waving to the crowd as he left the field. While he has missed significant time over his short UA career, the former touring ball star was a fan favorite and a trusted source of leadership in the clubhouse.
The Rivals beat the White Sox, 6-3. Deerborn 3B Rygh Ogg twists his ankle running the bases but isn’t expected to miss time.
Northsouth 1B Cal Oluoch hits his 3rd HR in the last 4 games as the Guardians take down the Brothers, 6-2. Salvation gives a spot start to reliever Jack Carver, who leaves after the 1st inning with an apparent back strain. The Brothers use eight pitchers over the course of the game, including two of their starters. The crowd of 25,170 is vocal in their distaste as Salvation is now once again below .500 at 14-15, and the Guardians are alone in first place in the West, 3 games ahead of the Bears.
Miners 2B Jose Mesa overcomes the limitations of his strained hamstring to go 2 for 4 and takes a walk in the bottom of the 9th to bring home the winning run of a thrilling 4-run 9th inning rally against the Herders. Final: LK 5, CHE 4
Chargers young 1B Bill Newman’s hit streak ends at 17 games as the Chargers lose to the Stars, 6-2.

7/2:

After being released by the Stags due to a bad start against Deerborn in mid-June, RHP Don Neal signs with those same Deerborn White Sox and makes his first start for the team on the same day. His White Sox debut goes much better, with just 1 run on 4 hits over 7 innings as Deerborn beats Railey, 5-4.
Prissley LF Juan Tumaini hits his 14th homer of the year, tying Deerborn’s Curt Sawyer for the league lead. The Trail Blazers beat the Owls, 5-2.
The Bears bounce back to take game 2 in Roland as Adam Evans goes 7 innings for the win. They’ll play the rubber match tomorrow.
RHP Gurr Gurr strikes out 11 in 8 innings and Mario Olivo hits a double and his 11th home run as the Stars down the Chargers, 3-1.
Brothers OF Andy Thompson ties the game in the bottom of the 9th with an RBI single, and Salvation finishes the comeback win over Northsouth when CL Fernando Varkas brings C Kyllian Bresson home from 2nd base for the walk-off in the 10th. Final: SAL 5, NOR 4 (10 inn.)

7/3:

Since winning his long-awaited UA debut on June 2 against the Owls, Rivals starter Sonny Hernankez has lost 5 straight decisions the Rivals have lost all 7 games he has appeared in. He loses again today as White Sox starter Martin Westfield racks up 8 Ks in 7 innings with only 1 hit allowed. Final: DEE 3, RAI 2
RHP Vic Mitchell goes 8.1 innings with only 1 hit as the Owls blank the Trail Blazers, 2-0.
Stars all-star RF Antonio Teakowa leaves the game with an apparent injury to his left knee after colliding on a slide. He walks off the field, so Delle fans are optimistic that he won’t be out long. The Chargers avoid the sweep in Delle with a 6-3 win.
Brothers RF Mike Wilson goes deep twice and LF Andy Thompson hits his 4th HR since returning from injury last week as Salvation beats Northsouth, 3-2, to take 2 of 3 in the series. Brothers C Luka Joubert was hit in the thumb by a pitch, but should be back to 100% within a week. The Brothers now trail the Guardians by 3 games in the UA West.
The Stags beat the Bears, 2-1, to take 2 of 3 in the series.

7/4:

Stars LHP Kevin Leroux goes 8 innings and gives up 1 run on 7 hits as Delle tops the Herders, 2-1. Antonio Teakowa plays with a swollen knee and hits a 2-run HR in the 1st inning to give the Stars the win.
Guardians 1B Cal Oluoch smacks a double and his 11th HR for 3 RBI as Northsouth stomps Prissley, 7-1.
The Chargers beat the Stags, 7-5, but veteran SP Ricardo Molina comes on in the 2nd inning and sprains his ankle. He is questionable for his next start.
Bears SS Ralph Maxwell leaves with a strained back muscle after stretching on a defensive play. He is day-to-day but could be affected for up to 5 weeks. Jorge Takato goes 7 innings for the White Sox in the 3-2 win at Craterview Park.
The Owls lose 2 starters and 1 reliever in their 6-2 loss to the Rivals. LH SP Jimmie Abbott takes the loss and leaves after 3 innings with as-yet undiagnosed elbow injury. Reliever William Merlin leaves after 1 batter with back spasms. He is expected to fully recover by Monday or Tuesday. LH SP Elliot Gaillard comes on in late relief and leaves with a strained ab muscle. He’ll be questionable for his next start.

7/5:

The Chargers take 17-year old power-hitting speedster Andy Engel out of Whitlock High School in Tiny Sea City as the first overall pick in the 1931 First Year Player Draft.
RHP Ron Rivera strikes out 10 in 7.2 IP for the Stars, but the Herders get the win at home, 3-2.
Brothers RH SP Jon Roberston leaves in the 4th inning with an apparent elbow injury. We await a diagnosis. Salvation is currently already missing starters John George (1-2 wks) and Mike Gurr (4 wks), so a serious injury to Robertson could potentially threaten their season. Brothers LF Andy Thompson sprains his right knee. It is the same knee he missed 3 weeks after spraining last August. He could miss a week this time, but has not been placed on the IL. Miners 3B Hichem Colle hits 2 HR and C Roger Jenkins drives in 5 runs as Lia Kompos beats up on Salvation, 9-2. Salvation fans once again rained boos onto their team from the stands.
Guardians 1B Cal Oluoch hits his 6th HR in his last 8 games. The Guardians walk off in the 11th on back-to-back singles from Adel Cros and Paul Miller. Final: NOR 5, PRI 4 (11 inn.)
Stags 1B Francisco Kosgei appears to strain or pull a muscle in his torso running the bases today in Roland’s 5-1 win at Taawa. He awaits a diagnosis.
Platte LHP Craig Ogg strikes out 10 in 6 IP, but gives up 6 runs as the White Sox beat the Bears, 6-4. They’ll go for the sweep tomorrow in Platte.

Current UA Standings:

Current UA League Leaders:

NPL Watch:

7/1:

The NPL’s second season gets underway today with games in Carver, Wight, Petchon, and Lia Puedris. According to most experts, Carver looks primed to defend their championship, but the Metros have added several elements and may give them a challenge over the 70-game season.
Kings star 1B and 1930 MVP Luis Rokodriguez comes up with a sore elbow after a collision and leaves the game. He is expected to be day-to-day for a week or two and has not been placed on the IL. The Kings lose their opener to the Metros, 5-1.

7/2:

RHP Alfonso Lopetokaz wins his first start in the NPL, giving Lia Puedris 8 innings in their 5-3 win over Tiny Sea, splitting the 2-game series. Kings 1B Luis Rokodriguez plays despite his sore elbow and goes 2 for 3 with a HR and 2 RBI in the win.
Spiders LHP Rayan Bouchet wins his first start since moving over from the UA, allowing just 1 hit in 8 innings, striking out 8 and walking no one. The Spiders beat the Reapers, 3-0.
Lakers C George Cool loses his cool and is ejected in the 4th inning after an argument with the home plate umpire. The Lakers go on to beat the Carp in 10 innings on SS Ignacio Mapemba’s go-ahead 2-run home run.

7/3:

Last year’s home run champ, Lier Semb, hits 2 HR for 5 RBI in Wight’s 8-7 win over Trimble.
Projected top contenders, the Canaries and Metros meet for the first time this year. The Canaries come back to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th after Tiny Sea CL Harvey Minahan leaves the game, favoring his right hand, with just 1 out to go for the save. David Isa throws a wild pitch and then gives up a double to Canaries 1B Raul Soto that brings in the tying run. Carver goes on to win in the 10th as David Isa gives up a walk-off double to Paul Kutakoto. The Canaries win a thriller at home, 6-5. The nature and severity of Minahan’s injury remains to be reported by Tiny Sea team doctors.
Elderwood 2B Faycal Boutin goes 4 for 5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI in the Lakers’ 13-7 win over the Kings.

7/4:

X-rays on Tiny Sea CL Harvey Minahan’s wrist are negative, and he is expected to be back at full strength in a day or two.
Wight 1B Lier Semb has a 2-HR day for the 2nd straight day in the Spiders’ 5-4 win against the Toppers.
Elderwood SP Jorge Vela strikes out 8 in 5 scoreless innings as the Lakers down the Kings, 2-0.

7/5:

Petchon 1930 Golden Bat-winning RF Jose Gomez strains his shoulder throwing a ball. He is day-to-day for the next 5 days. The Carp are knocked around by the Reapers, 8-1.
Metros 1B Chuck Parker hits 2 solo home runs in Tiny Sea’s 5-4 win over Carver. Parker has 4 HR through the first 5 games of the season, tied with Wight’s Lier Semb for the league lead. The Metros take 2 of 3 from the Canaries in the series.