Weekly Report: August 17, 1931

The UA West-leading Bears faced a tough test this week, wrapping up their series against the Stags and then facing the juggernaut White Sox for 3 games in a rematch of last year’s Windsor Cup Finals.

The Stars are fighting the Stags and the Guardians for a UA Wild Card berth, but their season may be in peril after news of multiple injuries on Sunday.

Rebuilding UA teams sent a few star players to both UA and NPL contenders via trade with the deadline approaching on August 28.

With about a month to go, the Spiders and Canaries appear to be emerging as the top contenders for this year’s NPL crown.

(Jump to UA Standings & League Leaders)

(Jump to NPL Standings & League Leaders)

UA News:

8/10:

• Miners 2B Jose Meza and LF Jose Lia Taawa each hit 2 HR in 11-6 win over the Herders. Meza ties the Lia Kompos team record with 4 runs scored in the game.
• RHP Esteban Muiru pitches very well in his debut with White Sox. He goes 8 innings with 2 ER on 4 hits and strikes out 5. Deerborn beats Railey 4-2 for the series sweep. The Whit Sox are the fastest team in UA history to 50 wins at 50-14.
• SP Mike Gurr gives the Brothers 6 innings with just 1 run allowed, but that turns out to be the difference as Northsouth wins, 1-0. The Guardians take 2 of 3 in the series.
• Chargers RHP Francisco Lia Taawa pitches 7 scoreless innings with just 2 hits. The Stars rally to tie it in the 9th, but the Chargers walk off in 10th on 3B Ted Sharpe’s solo home run. Final: TAA 4, DEL 3 (10 inn).
• Bears 2-time all-star RHP Julio Martinezto returns from a 3-month bout with acute elbow soreness for his first start of the season. He allows 2 ER on 4 hits and gets the win in the Bears 4-3 victory over Roland. Platte avoids being swept in the series and retains a 3-game lead over the Guardians in the UA West.

8/11:

• The Rivals are officially in rebuilding mode. They send RH SP Noa Dutertre to the NPL’s Wight Spiders in a surprise deal. Railey gets two 20-year old prospects in return: LHP Jackson Schmitt and 2B Marcos Lia Potak.
• Bears RHP Will Shufflebottom turns in 8 solid innings with 1 run on 4 hits as the Bears take game 1 of the big series in Deerborn, 3-1.
• RHP Arturo Kolon makes his first start of the year for Railey after the team traded away SP Noa Dutertre today. Kolon gives up just 1 run in 6 innings and strikes out 7 as the Rivals beat up on the Owls, 9-1.
• Stags LHP Rich Smith strikes out 8 Chargers in 6 scoreless innings with just 3 hits as Roland beats Taawa, 3-1.

8/12:

• The Guardians pick up righty reliever Brahim Espinosa in a trade with the NPL’s Lia Puedris Kings as Northsouth prepares for a playoff push down the stretch. Espinosa has been tearing it up as a closer in the NPL this year, with a 1.10 ERA in 16.1 innings.
• White Sox LF Bob Hove hits a grand slam in the 1st inning of Deerborn’s 6-5 win over the Bears. Curt Sawyer hits his league-leading 29th home run in the win. The White Sox even things up in the series, with the rubber match against Platte coming tomorrow.
• RF Brad Bailey is 2 for 4 with a double and homer as the Guardians beat the Trail Blazers, 7-2. Northsouth pulls within 2 games of the Bears in the West with the win.
• Owls LF Ambroise Forestier hits a pair of home runs for 3 RBI in Redwood’s 6-5 win over the Rivals.
• Roland SS Carlos Katamori and LF Jose Lia Tinta each go deep twice in the Stags’ 7-4 win over Taawa. SP Edward Mercier leaves with a sore ankle on his push-off foot, but is expected to be fine a few days.

8/13:

• Rivals all-star LHP George Webb notches 10 Ks in the Rivals 4-2 victory over the Owls.
• The Guardians sweep Prissley with a 7-5 win today. Northsouth 1B Cal Oluoch is 3 for 5 with a pair of doubles in the win. Northsouth has now won 5 games in a row and the Guardians are hot on the heels of the Bears for the UA West lead.
• Herders CF Ed DeMent has a big day against the Stars in Delle. He goes 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and a home run for 2 RBI and steals his 20th base of the season as Cherricaw takes 2 of 3 from the Stars in the series.
• Stars SS Gary Allaire limps off the field after coming up with an injury to his right foot while running the bases in today’s loss to the Herders. He is likely to sit while we await a diagnosis.
• Stags CF Ramon Zuniga hits his 19th and 20th HRs, but the Chargers avoid a sweep in Roland with a 6-4 win. Chargers 1B Bill Newman is 3 for 4 with a double and a grand slam in the win.
• Bears LHP Craig Ogg strikes out 9 batters in 7 IP. Platte takes the rubber in Deerborn with a 3-1 win. This is only the White Sox’ third series loss of the 1931 season. Platte retains a 2-game lead over the Guardians in the UA West.

8/14:

• Guardians 1B Cal Oluoch hits his 23rd long ball of the season as Northsouth tops the Rivals, 5-2. The Guardians use all-star LH SP Justin Morris in early relief and he leaves with an apparent injury to his throwing hand. His diagnosis is pending.
• The Stars drop their 3rd game in a row, losing to the Miners this evening, 8-6. Delle LF Robby Hawk takes a pitch off his right foot and comes out of the game. We await word on his injury.
• Stags CF Ramon Zuniga hits 2 home runs for the 2nd game in a row, driving home 4 runs in Roland’s 10-4 win versus Cherricaw. Stags CL Arturo Buyoya leaves the game with a strained ab muscle. He should be fully healed within a week, and will be day-to-day during that time.
• White Sox starter Mathew Huertata strikes out 8 over 7 innings, but the Chargers rally against RH RP Joao Thery for 3 runs on their way to a 5-4 victory.
• Bears 3B Juan Tokorres takes the UA lead with his 30th homer as Platte beats Redwood, 6-3.

8/15:

• The Trail Blazers ship star 3B Bob Gunther to the Reapers in exchange for 20-year RHP Marcos Osayaba. The Trail Blazers are one of the UA’s worst teams and are attempting to build a future with new young talent, while the Reapers are hoping to make a push to climb the NPL standings with a month to go in the season.
• Guardians LH SP Justin Morris learns that he will be back to full strength in 4 days. He has been dealing a stiff pitching wrist since yesterday’s win against Railey.
• The Rivals send RHP Arturo Kolon and 20-year old infield prospect Marcos Lia Potak to the White Sox in exchange for 21-year old 2B prospect Bekk Len. Kolon has a 1.71 ERA in 19 relief appearances for the Rivals this season.
• Miners 3B Hichem Colle hits a double and a home run, but the Stars rally for 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th, walking off on CF Jesus Vazuiza’s 3-run home run.
• Herders LF John Bunce hits a walk-off solo shot in the bottom the 10th to down the Stags, 5-4.
• Rivals RHP Michael Mercier gives Railey 7 scoreless innings. The Guardians rally for 3 to tie it in the 8th, but the Rivals hold on in 12 innings for a 7-5 win. The loss snaps Northsouth’s 6-game win streak.
• RHP Esteban Muiru turns in another gem, his 2nd win since being traded from the NPL’s Spiders to the White Sox. Muiru pitches 8 scoreless innings with just 3 hits as Deerborn beats Taawa, 1-0. They’ll play the rubber match at Sapfoot Stadium tomorrow.
• Brothers RF Mike Wilson goes deep twice for 3 RBI in Salvation’s 9-1 win over Prissley.

8/16:

• Stars SS Gary Allaire will miss 6 weeks with a sprained ankle. He will likely miss the rest of the year, but could theoretically return in time for a potential Stars Windsor Cup appearance.
• More bad news for the Stars: LF Robby Hawk has a broken foot and will miss around 2 weeks.
• Even more bad news for Delle: Stars RF Norm Hester will require surgery on his broken finger. He has been out since July 15th when he was hit in the left hand by a pitch. The injury will keep Hester out for the remainder of the 1931 season, which is bad news for Delle, who are dealing with a plethora of injuries in the midst of a playoff race.
• Roland unloads on the Herders for 12 runs in the 8th inning, beating the Herders 15-4. Stags LHP Rich Smith strikes out 10 in the no-decision. Stags LF Jose Lia Tinta goes 3 for 4 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in the decisive win.
• Northsouth RF Brad Bailey hits his 18th and 19th home runs as the Guardians pound the Rivals, 9-1.
• White Sox 3B Rygh Ogg bags a hat trick with 3 HR for 5 RBI in Deerborn’s 11-8 win at Taawa. White Sox RF Curt Sawyer hits his 30th HR of the year to draw even with Juan Tokorres for the UA lead.
• Delle RF Anotnio Teakowa hits his 25th dinger of the year, but the Stars lose to the Miners, 5-3. Delle drops 2 of 3 in the series and have now lost 3 series in a row. They are currently 5 games behind the Stags for the UA Wild Card.
• Platte RHP Will Shufflebottom goes the distance against his former team in Redwood. Shufflebottom allows 4 runs on 4 hits, striking out 8 in the Bears’ 8-4 win. Platte still leads Northsouth by 2 games in the UA West.

Current UA Standings:

Current UA League Leaders:

NPL Watch:

8/10:

• Canaries LHP Morgan Burnett throws a complete game 3-hit shutout against the Reapers. The Canaries win game 1 of the big series between the two contenders, 7-1. 1B Bob Jones is 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and a HR in the win. Reapers CF Jimmy Hamm’s 16-game hit streak comes to an end with an 0 for 4 performance in the loss.
• Metros LHP Albert Sumait sets the NPL record for strikeouts in a game with 12 Ks against the visiting Toppers, but Sumait is tagged with the loss when he allows the go-ahead run before leaving the 8th inning. Trimble starter Carlos Lia Kutando goes 8 innings and gets the win. Final: TRI 5, TS 2.
• Carp 1B Pedro Bausi has a 2-HR day as Petchon stomps Lia Puedris, 14-4.

8/11:

• The Rivals are officially in rebuilding mode. They send RH SP Noa Dutertre to the NPL’s Wight Spiders in a surprise deal. Railey gets two 20-year old prospects in return: LHP Jackson Schmitt and 2B Marcos Lia Potak. With the addition of Dutertre to their starting rotation, the Spiders further strengthen their case for a 1931 NPL championship.
• Lakers 1B Blake Mercier goes off with a double and 2 homers, but the Spiders win a 5-hour, 16-inning test of endurance in Elderwood, 6-5. Wight DH Lier Semb hits his 14th HR in the win.
• Toppers star 3B Ryad Renaud will be day-to-day for the next week with a bruised shoulder after being hit by a pitch today in Trimble’s 3-2 win at Tiny Sea. The Metros have now lost 6 in a row and are plummeting in the standings.
• Plains City RHP Geoff Brooks goes 8 innings and gives up 2 hits on 4 runs. Carver 1B Raul Sotio hits his 14th long ball of the year, but the Reapers beat the Canaries, 7-2. They’ll meet tomorrow in Carver for the rubber match.

8/12:

• Toppers 1B Lee Gutierrekaz goes wild with 2 doubles and his league-leading 15th home run as Trimble completes a 3-game sweep of the Metros, who have now lost 7 in a row.
• Carver C Sergio Salinitas goes 2 for 4 with 3 RBI in the Canaries’ 5-3 win as they take 2 of 3 from Plains City. With the Spiders’ loss at Elderwood, Carver is just 1 game out of first place.
• Petchon RHP Kevin Griffin strikes out 7 in 6.2 scoreless innings. The lowly Carp earn their first series win of the 1931 season with a 6-0 victory over the Kings, taking 2 of 3 games from Lia Puedris.

8/13:

• RH SP Noa Dutertre makes his NPL debut after being traded to the Wight Spiders on Tuesday. He allows 1 run on 8 hits over 5.2 innings and earns the win. The first-place Spiders take game 1 of 3 from the Reapers with a 4-3 victory this afternoon.
• Toppers 1B Lee Gutierrekaz hits his league-leading 16th bomb. He has homered in 3 straight games. Trimble loses a 13-inning thriller to the Canaries, 9-6.
• Tiny Sea 3B Juan Korrea goes off at the plate with a double and 2 home runs. His teammate, 1B Chuck Parker, has a double and a homer of his own, as the Metros snap their 7-game losing streak with a 11-2 pounding of the Kings in Lia Puedris.

8/14:

• The Spiders make yet another deal to strengthen their roster, bringing 32-year old LH RP Allen Thompson to their bullpen. He will make $3.12 million over the next 2 years. Thompson was released by the Rivals in early August as part of their roster rebuild.
• Canaries reliever Jeff Tardif is out for the rest of the year after suffering a torn shoulder labrum on Tuesday.
• Carver 1B Bob Jones hits his 16th home run to tie Trimble’s Lee Gutierrekaz for the NPL lead as the Canaries beat the Toppers, 5-4. Carver remains a game behind Wight for first place.

8/15:

• The Trail Blazers ship star 3B Bob Gunther to the Reapers in exchange for 20-year RHP Marcos Osayaba. The Trail Blazers are one of the UA’s worst teams and are attempting to build a future with new young talent, while the Reapers are hoping to make a push to climb the NPL standings with a month to go in the season.
• Wight RF Jeff Pekerez hits 2 HR before being ejected in the 5th inning for giving the home plate umpire the raspberry after what Pekerez deemed a bad strike call. Wight stomps Plains City, 10-1. The Spiders sweep the Reapers with the win and are the first NPL team to 30 wins. Reapers CF Jimmy Hamm leaves with a twisted ankle, but should be back to 100% within a day or two.
• Canaries LHP Morgan Burnett turns in his 2nd straight complete game victory. He works the Toppers for a 6-1 win, allowing 1 run on 6 hits. Carver 1B Raul Sotio hits his 15th HR of the year. The win gives Carver the series sweep at Trimble, their 4th win in a row.
• The Metros beat the Kings in 11 innings, 6-4. The Metros sweep Lia Puedris after breaking their 7-game losing streaking against them on Thursday.

8/16:

• Spiders RF Jeff Pekerez hits his 3rd HR in 2 days as the Spiders win their 4th in a row, 10-4, over the Toppers. Wight remains the top team in the NPL.
• Reapers LH SP Greg Greenhaw leaves in the 2nd inning of Plains City’s 8-2 win over the Carp. Greenhaw appears to have a serious elbow injury, but we await official word.
• Metros DH Jose Tokorres goes yard twice, but the Canaries walk off on Bob Jones’s 2-run home run in the 9th. Jones leads the NPL with 17 long balls this year. Carver wins their 5th straight and remain 1 game behind Wight in the NPL standings.
• The Kings and their fans had bright hopes coming in to the 1931 season, but those hopes are slipping away as they drop their 5th straight, losing to Elderwood, 5-1. Lia Puedris is 14 games out of first place.

Current NPL Standings:

Current NPL League Leaders:

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