(BPI-Van Schaick Island, New York) Biff Barnes Jr. TML Highlight Reel – November 2013 =================================================== Oceanic Conference Upsets! The Lake Wobegone Staring Rabbits stunned the Walla Walla Wombats to advance to the Oceanic Conference Final, while Wild Card Albany Avalanche edged past the Danny Way Diamonds. The Rabbits and Wombats were tied at 2 games apiece, before the Rabbits won two low-scoring thrillers to advance. Lake Wobegone MVP Will Middlebrooks (.300, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI) was “clutch” when needed. The Diamonds, down 3 games to 2, won a 15-inning marathon to force a Game 7, which the Avalanche won 7-3. Albany Co- MVPs Mike Trout (.310, 3 HR, 8 RBI) and Matt Moore (2-0, 0.64, 18 K in 14 IP) led the way for the Avalanche. Atmospheric Favorites Roll! Over in the Atmospheric Conference, the favorites rolled in a big way. The Beverly Hillbillies glided past the Duluth Thundercats in 5 games. The Hillbillies closed out the series with complete game shutouts by Roy Halladay and Justin Verlander. Hillbilly MVP Verlander was 2-0, 0.56, with 22 K in 16 IP. The Traffic Dodgers swept the Wild Card Carolina Crawfish. The first three games were 1- run victories. In Game 4, Traffic had built up an 8-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th. The Crawfish rallied for 3 runs, but fell short at 8-5. MVP Yadier Molina (.471, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI) led Traffic both offensively and defensively. So, the Conference Finals are all set: Oceanic Conference: Lake Wobegone vs. Albany Atmospheric Conference: Traffic vs. Beverly (See complete linescores and stats on the TML web page.) --------------------------------------------------- =================================================== ** Player of the Year ** (CH) Andrew McCutchen .361 229-635, 38-12-39, 408 TB 126 R, 132 RBI, 61 W, 17 SB OPS 1.059, 169 RC McCutchen was a runaway, nearly unanimous winner, garnering 22 of the 23 1st place votes. He led most offensive categories. --------------------------------------------------- ** Pitcher of the Year ** (BV) Justin Verlander 23-6, 2.58, 33 GS, 27 QS, 5 Sho 254.1 IP, 189 H, 62 W, 247 K .203 OAVG, 0.99 WHIP No-hitter on 9/25 Verlander received 19 of the 23 1st place votes in easily winning his 2nd consecutive “Pitcher of the Year” award! --------------------------------------------------- ** Fireman of the Year ** (WW) Aroldis Chapman 1-1, 0.66, 45 SV, 46 RP, 62 GR 82.0 IP, 37 H, 21 W, 131 K .134 OAVG, 0.71 WHIP =================================================== Next up ... Conference Finals highlights! Staff Columnist - Biff Barnes Jr. Previous articles: http://tmlam.org/news/2013-OCT.pdf .