8 HOMERUNS AND 40 RUNS LATER….
Game 3 at West Charlotte High School

We have the Chiefs and the Red Sox still battling it out over who is going to be this year’s Champ with a win from the Chiefs on Tuesday night. The series is tied at one game apiece. But all will be decided this Sunday at 2 o’clock).

These teams can absolutely put on a display when it comes to putting up runs. The Sox put up 21 and the Chiefs 19. The Sox have 27 hits notched in the series and the Chiefs have 23. 50 hits in 2 games! That only begs one question, where Is the pitching?

With this high level of offense, we don’t know what to expect come Sunday, but these two teams promise to deliver a show like no other. This year’s champion will be crowned on Sunday. Hope to see you there to cheer on your favorite

Red Sox trounce the Chiefs in Game 1
Put up 21 hits and 13 runs

In game 1 of the Championship Series, the Red Sox destroyed the Chiefs tallying 21 hits which led to an astounding 13 runs against one of the best pitching staffs in the league. Josh Benton started on the hill for the Sox and went the distance holding the very potent Chiefs to a modest 5 runs. Game 2 is tonight at West Charlotte High School with a 7:00 start time.

The Chiefs will host the Red Sox in Game 1 of the League Championship!

With a win by the National League All-Star team, the National League Championship Series winners, the Charlotte Chiefs, will be hosting the American League Championship Series winners, the Charlotte Red Sox.
Last year, the Red Sox and the Chiefs met in the Championship series and it ended with the Red Sox on top ending their marvelous season, but what will happen this year?

Charlotte Red Sox are calling, will it be the Astros or the Chiefs?
Game Three NLCS tonight!

The Charlotte Red Sox head to the Championship Series after two-game sweeps in both the ALDS and ALCS.  Though they have played nearly error-free baseball in the field and received great pitching performances from Josh Benton, Brett Bostick, and Keith Kraemer, it has definitely been the offense that has lead the way.  The Sox have had nine different players combine for 16 home runs in their four playoff victories and scored 58 runs in the process.  Josh Benton, Brian Freivogel, Jason Livingston, Mike Marconi, Joe Maione, Dowd Maye, and Andrew Romberger have each blasted two in the playoffs, with John-David Vidal and Scott Yaniszewski at one apiece.  Livingston, Romberger, and Vidal have lead the way in RBIʼs with 8 each, but the  balanced attack with nine guys tallying 4 or more through the first two rounds is what has made the offense so potent.

ALCS Game 1 a blowout! Red Sox win!

The Charlotte Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the ALCS with a commanding 21-5 victory in the series opener versus the Royals.  The Sox used a dominating pitching performance from starter Josh Benton and an offensive explosion, 26 hits, to pick up the victory.  Benton earned his 7th win of the season going 5 innings and surrendering 1 run on 4 hits and 4 strikeouts.  Mike Chmura took the loss for the Royals surrendering 8 runs on 11 hits in 3 innings of work.  

After Benton retired the Royals in order in the top of the 1st, the Sox struck early with a leadoff HR from J.D. Vidal, 3 straight singles from Brian Freivogel, Andrew Romberger and Josh Benton and was capped by a 2 RBI smash single from Scott Yaniszewski making it 3-0 early.  The Royals answered back with a single from Dave Tellers and an RBI single from Matt Hunter, to bring it to 3-1.  The Sox scored 4 in the bot 2nd with a single from Matt Rosner, walk to Philip Naylor, RBI groundout to Mike Marconi, 2 RBI double from Vidal and RBI double from Freivogel.  The 3rd was the only inning all game where the bats were silenced.  However, the Sox struck again in a big way scoring 7 runs in the 4th off Royals reliever Josh Fregosi.  Marconi started it with a single, followed by an RBI 2B from Vidal, RBI 2B from Romberger, RBI Single from Benton, 2 RBI 2B from Jason Livingston and capped by a 2RBI single from Matt Rosner making it 14-1 Sox.  Starting Sox pitcher Josh Benton held the Royals scoreless from the 2nd to the 5th inning.  Sox scored 1 in the 5th when Marconi hit a solo HR to start the inning, his first of 2 on the day, 15-1 Sox. In the 6th inning, the Royals scored 3 off Sox reliever Keith Kraemer with a walk to Eric Clewis, Singles from Chris Hall and Ryan Sansevero and a bases clearing, 3RBI single from Josh Fregosi, 15-4 Sox.  In Bot 6, the Red Sox unleashed the power with a leadoff solo HR from Joe Maione, 2 Run HR from Livingston, singles from Rosner and Naylor and finished with a 3 run blast from Marconi, which would conclude the offensive Explosion from the Red Sox with a 21 spot on the board. The Royals put 1 more on the board off Sox reliever Joe Maione off a walk to Dave Tellers, ground-rule double by Rob Beatty and RBI Sac fly by Matt Hunter, ending the score at 21-5. 

The Royals  were led offensively by Josh Fregosi (1-3, 3 RBI), Dave Tellers (2-2, 2 Runs) and Ryan Sansavero (1-3, 1 Run).  There were numerous offensive standouts for the Red Sox as every starter got at least 1 hit, but the star of the day was Mike Marconi (3-4, 5RBI, 2HR's, 3 Runs).  Other top hitters were Jason Livingston (2-4, HR, 2B, 4RBI, 2 Runs), J.D. Vidal (3-4,HR, 2 2B's, 4 RBI, 3 Runs), Matt Rosner (4-4, 2RBI, 2 Runs), Andrew Romberger (4-5, 2B, RBI, 2 Runs), Brian Freivogel (3-5, RBI, 1 Run) Brian Freivogel (3-5, 2B, 1 RBI, 2 Runs), Scott Yaniszewski (1-4, 2 RBI, 2 Runs), and Joe Maione (1-4, HR, RBI, 1 Run). 

The Chiefs even the series at 1 game apiece

The Chiefs evened the NLDS 1-1 Sunday on a come from behind win when Gary Taylor hit a 2 run double in the bottom of the 7th  for the win.
The Astros came out of the dugout swinging off 2007 Cy Young award winner Brian Zurhellen as they scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st  on back to back doubles from Kirby Holmes and Josh Barker then Pat Whitted knocked Barker in. The Chiefs defense then turned a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning. The Chiefs scored 1 run in the bottom of the 1st off Astros starting pitcher Jess Stewart on a lead-off homerun from Zach Pittman. The Astros loaded the bases in the top of the 2nd but couldn’t push a run across. The Chiefs tied the score in the bottom of the second when Dane Phillips singled and Sam Asis double, after a base-on-ball to load the bases Guy Koenig grounded out to score a run.

The Astros took the lead back in the top of the 3rd on a single by P. Whitted and a walk then a RBI single by Steve Delaney. The Chiefs tied the score again in the bottom of the 4th on a base-on-ball and S. Asis doubled down the left field line that was missed played to score a run.
In the top of the 5th the Astros scored 3 runs when J. Stewart doubled, then a fielder’s choice a S. Delaney sacrifice fly, a RBI 2 base hit from Anthony Gardzilik and then maybe the play of the game when Jason Krumbine hit a long drive to left and left fielder Zach Pittman climbed the fence to bring back a sure home run for an RBI double to take the lead 6-3. The Chiefs then took the lead in the bottom of the 5th scoring 4 runs on a base-on-ball, 3 singles and a RBI ground out. The Astros then turned to game 1 starter Sean Andrews and he set the Chiefs down in the 6th.

Joey Cress came into the game in the top of the 7th and gave up a single, double and 2 sacrifice fly’s by S. Delaney and Jim Berger to take a 8-7 lead.

In the bottom of the 7th the Chiefs G. Koenig reached safe on a dropped 3rd  strike and Me’Shaw Taylor had a infield single and that brought up G. Taylor who doubled in the right centerfield gap to score the 2 base runners and force game 3 which will be played Wednesday night at West Charlotte High.

Fans better get there early as they are expecting a large crowd for the deciding game to see who will represent the National league in the finals.  

Astros take game 1
Win 4-1 over the Chiefs

The Astros took game one of the NL Divisional Series edging out the Chiefs and holding off yet another last inning comeback.

     In the first inning, the Chiefs went quietly thanks to starter Sean Andrews. In the bottom half, Kirby Holmes led off with a homer to left. Starter Evan Denton then proceeded to strike out the next three batters.  

     In the 2nd, the Chiefs got their leadoff batter on by error and the Astros middle infield quickly turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. In the bottom, Dulaney tallied a one-out single. That was quickly cancelled by a sharp liner that doubled him up off of first.
     The third included the Chiefs getting men on 1st and 2nd with one out, but the Astros turned another double play to end the threat. The Astros went quietly in the bottom.
     In the 4th, the Chiefs threatened getting two guys on with one out. The Astros defense prevailed once again not allowing any runs to score in the frame. The bottom consisted of the Astros getting two guys in scoring position with just one out, but Denton buckled down and struck out the next two batters.

     Both the Chiefs and the Astros both went silently in the 5th.
     In the 6th, the Chiefs got a single from Dane Phillips and from Sam Asis, but could again not plate any runs from the opportunity. The score is now 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th. The Astros got two men on base with one out and Jess Stewart hit home run to deep left field to score three runs for the home team.

     With a 4-0 lead against one of the most potent lineups in the league, Andrews took the hill for one last inning. The inning began with a ground ball to second. Next up is Me’Shaw Taylor singling to right. Due up next is Gary Taylor (no relation) who has an incredible 10 pitch at bat ending in a double to right putting two men in scoring position with only one out in the top of the 7th inning. Astros manager makes a decision to bring in relief pitcher Jess Stewart. Due up is Zack Pittman. Zack hits an infield single between second and third scoring Me’Shaw from third, but a fine defensive play to hold Gary Taylor at 2nd base. Stewart proceeds to strike out the next batter and get a foul fly out to end the game. Astros lead the series 1-0.
    This was a great defensive display with all of the double plays and fine running catches on both sides. But the story of the day was pitching. Sean Andrews (W) pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up 5 hits, surrendering 2 walks, and giving up only 1 run. Evan Denton (L) pitched 6 full innings, giving up 4 runs, but most importantly striking out 10. Jess Stewart picked up a save pitching 2/3 of an inning giving up 1 hit. What a game!

The Royals will meet the Red Sox!
The Chiefs are set to meet the Astros!

It’s time for the divisional showdowns. The Royals are set to meet the Sox. The series is planned to start Sunday August 10th, 2008 @ West Charlotte High School with a 4:00 pm start time and the 2nd game will be Tuesday August 12th, 2008 @ West Charlotte. The Chiefs are set to meet the Astros. The first game in the series is set for Wednesday August 5th, 2008 @ 7:00 pm start time at West Charlotte High and the 2nd for August 10th, 2008 with a 1:00pm start time at West Charlotte.

Royals win 6-5, force Game 3

The Charlotte Royals took game two of the three game series forcing a third game on Tuesday night at Indy. The Royals won 6-5. Chris Hall was the starter for the Royals and Bryan Hobson was the starter for the Muddogs. Hall pitched 5 and 1/3 innings giving up two runs before being relieved by Josh Fregosi, who finished the game surrendering three runs and earned the win. Hobson pitched 5 complete giving up 5 runs and was relieved b y Dan Whitten. Clinched at a 5-5 tie, the Royals loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th and won on a wild pitch.

From the offensive side, Randy Banner and Josh Dearing both went big fly to aid in the Muddogs comeback. They were down 5-1 in the 6th inning and tied the game up. Gregg Matthews and Anthony Kazmierczak both laced RBI singles to help in the cause. For the Royals, Dave Tellers, Mike Riley and Matt Hunter all smashed RBI doubles.

Chiefs and Sox Sweep! ‘Stros get a bye!
Muddogs and Royals still battling it out!

Both the Chiefs and the Red Sox were victorious in Game 2 of the divisional series clinching the advancement into the next round. The Chiefs will be playing the Astros in the National League Championship series (1st game Wednesday, August 6th at West Charlotte High School at 7:00 pm). The Red Sox will be hosting the winner of the Muddogs/Royals series. The Muddogs are up in that series 1 – 0.

Chiefs, Sox, and Muddogs all take game 1
Astros get a bye

The Chiefs took game 1 Sunday on a great pitching performance from Joey Cress going the distance giving up 3 runs on only 4 hits and striking out 7. The Chiefs got off to a hot when  the second and third batters of the game Brian Zurhellen and Steve Pritchard hit back-to-back homeruns.  Sam Asis doubled and Seth Waller singled in a run to take a 3-0 lead in the first. The Cubs scored 1 in the bottom on a sacrifice fly by Hyland. The Chiefs opened it up in the top of the 2nd with 6 straight hits capped off by a 2 RBI single by Seth Waller and 2 run homerun by David Piho. The Cubs scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd on 2 BB an error and 2 RBI single by Hyland and that was all that Cress would give up. Pem Hobbs shut the Chiefs down till the 6th when they scored 2 runs on a HBP, single, BB, and a sacrifice fly then scored 3 more in the top of the 7th highlighted by a 2 RBI single by Brian Zurhellen. Brian Zurhellen went 4-4 with his 6th homerun of the season and 5 RBI, Steve Pritchard went 3-4 with his 1st homerun, Sam Asis 2-5 with 2 doubles, Seth Waller 2-3 with 4 RBI, and David Piho hit his 2nd homerun of the season. Seth Gordon, Jim Rice, Jim Hyland, and Dan Shomate each had a hit apiece for the Cubs. Cress snatches the win; Glenn Jones takes the loss.

Chiefs lead the series 1-0. Game 2 is set for Wednesday night at West Charlotte.

In the first matchup of the first round of playoffs, the Muddogs beat the Royals in a dual of the pitchers.  Mike Chmura for the Royals and Bryan Hobson of the Muddogs.  Chmura gave up one run in the first inning and held the Muddogs down until being relieved in the 7th by Ryan Sansevero. Chad Echols hit a walk-off 2-run shot to win the game.  Chmura had 7 strikeouts and 2 walks.  Hobson gave up 1 run on 8 hits while only striking out 1 and walking 4.  Will Lane had a good day at the plate for the Royals going 2 for 2 with a walk.  For the Muddogs, Chad Echols went 2 for 4 with a HR, an 2 RBI and 2 runs.  Randy Banner went 2 for 3 with an RBI.  Josh Dearing went 1 for 1 with 2 walks and a run scored. Hobson gets the win, Sansevero takes the loss on this one.

Muddogs lead the series 1-0.  Next game is Wednesday at 7:00p.m. at Independence High School.

The Charlotte Red Sox began their title defense with a 17-7 Game 1 victory over the Charlotte Pirates Sunday afternoon at West Charlotte HS.  A closely contested battle through the first three and a half innings, the Red Sox bats came alive late and scored 13 unanswered runs to take the 1-0 series advantage.

     The Pirates scored 4 runs through the first 3 frames thanks to a Drew Daughtry RBI double in the first, a Herb Mulqueen 2-run single in the 2nd, and a John Vesel RBI single in the 3rd.  Heading to the 4th tied 4-4, they would jump to a 7-4 margin with a leadoff home run from Ryan Pflum, an RBI single off the bat of Michael Brooks, and RBI double from Charlie Pflum.  The Sox had scored all 4 runs to that point in the first inning via an RBI double from Andrew Romberger, RBI groundout by Joe Maione, and 2-run double off the bat of Jason Livingston. 

     Needing a spark, Red Sox starter Josh Benton led off the bottom of the 4th with a long home run to near-dead center and set the wheels in motion.  Six hits later the Sox jumped to an 11-7 lead and wouldn't look back.  A Matt Rosner RBI double, John-David Vidal 2-run single, and Romberger’s 3-run homer to right did the rest of the damage in the frame.

     That was all  Benton would need as he ran to the mound for the final three frames and didn't allow another hit the rest of the way.  The Sox added 6 more in the 5th with a Vidal 2-run double, Romberger RBI groundout, and Dowd Maye 3-run blast to right for the final margin of 17-7. 

     Benton went the distance on the bump striking out 10 in his playoff debut and earning his 6th win of the season.  Offensive leaders were aplenty with Vidal (3-3, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R) and .  Romberger (2-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R) leading the way with 9 runs driven in combined.  Livingston (4-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R) and Rosner (2-2, 2B, RBI, 2R) also went perfect on the afternoon and Maye drove in 3 runs with his 5th inning blast.  The Pirates were led with 2-3 efforts from Mulqueen ( 2 RBI, 2 R) and R. Pflum (HR, RBI, R) as well as Jacob McAreavy (2-4, 2B).

2008 Playoff Set to Begin

With the regular season at a close, it’s time to start the playoffs. The Top four teams from each division will be making this year’s tournament. The tournament will be a best of three game series where in each division the #1 seed will be hosting the #4 seed and the #2 seed will be hosting the # 3 seed. The teams representing the Charlotte NABA’s finest this year are:

American League:
#1 Seed CHARLOTTE RED SOX: With 16 wins and only 5 losses, could they repeat? They lead the AL in almost every offensive category: batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs home runs and RBI’s. With 6 guys hitting near or above the .400 mark [JD Vidal (.479); Dowd Maye (.444); Jason Livingston (.435); Brian Freivogel (.420); Andrew Romberger (.410); and Scott Yaniszewski (.395)], this lineup has proven to be electric. Their pitching staff isn't too shabby either with Wes Hepler, Josh Benton and Brett Bostick forging the way for them. They are #2, #3 and #5 on the AL’s ERA stat list.

#2 Seed MECKLENBURG MUDDOGS: An expansion team contending for this year’s title? Many were skeptical, but the Muddogs have put together an incredible inaugural season to prove those words wrong. Bryan Hobson and Tim Porter have done a great job of pulling guys that knew nothing about each other together so that they can function well as a team. The Muddogs bring some heavy hitters of their own with Randy Banner, Greg Matthews, Brandon Aldinger, Ty Allison, Chad Echols, and Brent Robinson. The Muddogs have 13 wins on the season matched with only 8 losses. They have won their last 7 games. Do they have what it takes to take the title?

# 3 Seed CHARLOTTE ROYALS: This has been a great season for new manager Will Lane winning 12 games and losing 9. Will, Mike Chmura, and Chris hall have done most of the pitching this year accounting for all but 15 of the Royal’s innings. With 10 of their 13 rostered players hitting well over the .300 mark, this group of guys is a tough battle no matter what who the opponent is. Led offensively by David Broome, Dave Tellers and Robert Beatty, the Royals promise to do some damage in this post-season.

#4 Seed CHARLOTTE PIRATES: Newcoming Co-Managers Drew Daughtry and John Vesel have done a great job taking over the team mid-season. Since their inception, the team went 7 & 5; they were 4 & 5 prior to the change-over. The Pirates have their share of big hitters with Herb Mulqueen, Michael Brooks, and Kelly Poplin. These guys have combined for 66 hits, 42 runs and 40 RBI. The Pirates pitching staff is comprised of former Cy Young award winning Charlie Pflum and Kevin Carpenter. The Pirates will be a a tough team to beat in this year’s tournament.

National League:
#1 Seed Charlotte Astros: Under new management, Bill Maslin and the Astros have put together an explosive season winning 18 games and losing only 3. Their pitching staff is made up of Sean Andrews and Jess Stewart. Together these guys have comprised a record of 12-1 and an ERA of 2.03. Scoring runs against these guys plans to be difficult giving that they have allowed the least amount of runs in the league this year. The Astros have led the entire NABA in runs, RBI, and batting average. Every one of their rostered players is hitting well above the .300 mark with many hitting over .400. Led statistically by Stewart, Steve Mitrovich, Patrick Whitted and Kirby Holmes, the Astros will provide offense. These four all hit over .400 and have provided a lot of bang around the diamond.

#2 Seed Charlotte Cubs: Josh Costner and his Charlotte Cubs have done a fantastic job this year winning 17 games and losing only 4. The cubs have a great pitching staff comprising of Thomas Wilson (injured in regular season play), Pem Hobbs, Mark Fornaciari, and Glen Jones, they do have the pitching to go all the way through the tournament. With hitters like Robert Scott, Seth Gordon, Jim Rice, and Dan Shomate, the Cubs are never too far out offensively. These guys have played great ball all season long and are expected to do the same in the playoffs considering their run as the Charlotte Cardinals over the last 7 or 8 years. These guys have a lot of NABA experience and know how to get the job done.

# 3 Seed Charlotte Chiefs: Manager Larry Thomas has led his team to an overall record of 16 wins and 5 losses. Their pitching staff is led by Brian Zurhellen (last year’s Cy Young Award winner). Joey Cress, Evan Denton and Alex Cost round out their pitching staff. The Chiefs’ pitching staff led the league in K’s and ERA and led the National League in Innings Pitched, Earned Run, Complete Games and of course K’s and ERA. Offensively, the Chiefs have some really heavy hitters. Steve Pritchard, Brian Zurhellen, Sack Pittman, Dane Phillips, Kevin Faulkner, and Me’Shaw Taylor all hit over .400. As we all know, Kevin leads the league in home runs with a ridiculous 10, but the Chiefs team led the league in home runs with 27. The Chiefs led the NL in hits, doubles, triples, walks, HBP’s, On-Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage. These guys have a lot of pop; it’s going to take some great pitching to bring these guys down.

#4 Seed Charlotte Hurricanes: Manager Greg Stickley has put together a good first season. With solid hitters like John Lowe, Nick Vaughan, and Greg himself, they were a tough part of the lineup to get through. Andy Maxson and Greg make up their pitching staff sharing 96 strikeouts over only 83 innings. This team has been through a lot, can they pull it all together for the playoffs?

Best Of Luck to all teams and congratulations to everyone making it this far. It’s been a great season and the playoffs should be that much better.

Muddogs Continue Strong Expansion Season,
Win Carolina Challenge Tournament

Over the 4th of July weekend, Charlotte North Carolina hosted the first annual Carolina Challenge Baseball Tournament.  Charlotte NABA 2008 expansion team, Mecklenburg Muddogs marched their way to victory going undefeated throughout the tournament.  This was a big step for the Muddogs and for Charlotte baseball. 

The Mecklenburg Muddogs have overcome many doubts of becoming an established team in their 2008 expansion season.  The Muddogs have won, including the tournament, 13 of their last 14 games.  With a 13-8 record, not only did they take 2nd place in the AL, but the Muddogs have the best record for an NABA expansion team in its first season.  Manager, Bryan Hobson and Coaches, Steve Frey and Tim Porter worked hard to pull this squad together.  Congrats Muddogs.

New Home Run King!
Faulkner Hits Two More, Take HR Title

Kevin Faulkner has a pretty full trophy case as it is, including a Rookie of the Year, an All-Star Game MVP and tournament MVP, but he added a pretty significant piece of hardware Monday by hitting his 9th and 10th home runs of the season and breaking the single season NABA record.

What's even more impressive is that he's done it in a drastically reduced number of games, with the regular season being paired down to 21 games this year. With only 66 at-bats so far, Kevin has hit a home run every 6.6 at-bats. Almost half of his 23 hits have landed over a fence, and he leads the league with a ridiculous 1.056 slugging percentage. This league has seen some impressive offensive performances in the past, and Kevin's certainly ranks right up there with all of them. Congratulations to Kevin on his accomplishment!

NL edges out the AL 13-11
Andrews and Whitted receive co-MVP

The 2008 Charlotte NABA’s All-Star game was a spectacular event over at Phillip O’Berry High School. As it seems, Father’s Day and baseball were meant to be together. An absolute perfect day for baseball was capped by the National League All-Stars sealing the division’s home field advantage for the Championship Series that will occur in August. The starting pitcher for the National League was Charlotte Astros’ Sean Andrews and the starting pitcher for the American League was the Charlotte Royals’ Mike Chmura. Both starters did a great job. Andrews earned a share of the All-Star Game MVP by pitching 8 innings, giving up 6 runs (4 earned), striking out 7 and only walking 2. Holding the American League to 6 runs in 8 innings is no small feat; that is why he was selected as one of the game’s MVP’s. Mike Chmura pitched only four innings before suffering an injury to his pitching hand. Chmura gave up four runs in those four innings, but he did a great job holding a very potent National League lineup down for a while. The other half of the MVP award went to the Charlotte Astros’ Patrick Whitted. Whitted went 3 for 3 in the game, drove in 5 runs, scored 2 runs and earned a walk. Congratulations to both Patrick and Sean (both former Carolina Athletics) on well-deserved performances.

To round out the National League’s notables, Kirby Holmes (Astros) went 2 for 4, scored 2 runs, hit a double, and stole 2 bases. Brian Zurhellen, last year’s Charlotte NABA MVP and Cy Young award winner, went 1 for 2, scored 2 runs, was hit twice in the game, and made an incredible catch out in centerfield. Dane Phillips (Chiefs) went 2 for 4, scored two runs and drove in a run. Seth Gordon of the Cubs went 2 for 3, hit a double and scored a run.

The American League had its notables as well. Herb Mulqueen of the Charlotte Pirates went 3 for 4 and scored 3 runs. David Broome went 2 for 3 in the game. Jason Livingston went 2 for 2 in the game and scored two runs. To round out the American League is their big slugger, JD Vidal who went 2 for 4 in the game, scored three runs, knocked in two and hit a moon-shot the left the park in a hurry.

Congratulations to all the participants in this year’s All-Star game. It was great seeing so many fans and members of the NABA out to enjoy a great night of baseball. Thank you all for your support and making this year’s All-Star Game a success for the Charlotte NABA’s best!

HR Derby Champ Crowned

Chad Echols, Bryan Hobson, Brent Robinson (winner), and Tim Porter prepare to hit

Brent Robinson of the Charlotte Muddogs showed why he is in a tie for the league lead of homerun this season. Brent belted two balls out in the first round of the derby. In the second round, Brent hit two more out, making it a total or 4 homeruns hit in only 15 outs. He obviously knows how to hit it when it counts. Notables in this year’s derby were Mike Chmura of the Royals, Kevin Faulkner(last year’s Derby winner) of the Chiefs, Scott Yaniszewski of the Red Sox, Josh Benton of the Red Sox, and Dan Shomate of the Cubs. All of these players hit homeruns and advanced to the second round. Great job guys and Congratulations Brent!

Trade Winds Blow...

Mid-season trades don't usually happen in the NABA, but with the addition of multiple expansion teams and the addition of new managers things have heated up this season.

In their quest for an NABA title, the Astros have been the most active on the trade scene. First they sent veteran Mike Riley to the Royals in exchange for draft picks, and then they unloaded some of those picks to get Jess Stewart from the expansion Angels. One of the biggest names to move also came from the Astros when former Cy Young winner Charlie Pflum joined his brother on the Pirates. Charlie hasn't lost a decision this season, going 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA prior to the trade.

Randy Banner won the 2005 HR Derby

Not to be left out, the expansion Muddogs looked to improve their offense by adding infielder Randy Banner from the Braves. In return, the Braves got Shane Taylor, Matt Stone, Nick Reyes, and Andrew Petty to help shore up their lineup. The Muddogs didn't finish there, however, and sent Adam Rohrer to the Angels for Gregg Matthews.

It's hard to see how trades are going to play out until the dust settles, but it's nice to see everyone trying to improve their chances of making the playoffs. Good luck to all of the players and all of the teams involved.

Jim Baran Steps Down as Pirates Manager

After two plus seasons at the helm of one of the Charlotte NABA's up-and-coming teams, it is with great regret that I announce that Jim Baran is stepping down from the team. Everyone who has managed a team in the NABA understands the time and energy demands that it requires, and no one can fault Jim for need to reclaim some of that to spend on work and with his family.

The Pirates were an expansion team in 2006, which Jim built from the ground up without the benefit of a draft in his first season. The have improved as a group of ball players every game they have been together, and currently sit percentage points out of second place in the AL. They have participated in tournaments as a team, Jim has been active in acquiring talent through trades and the draft, and has been a valuable member of the Board of Directors. His presence will be missed, even for a Northerner.

John Vesel and Drew Daughtry will be taking over the team, and they have former NABA manager Nate Lang to lean on for guidance. With the core that Jim has built, hopefully they will be able to continue to climb the ranks and compete for a title.

I apologize that this announcement is so late in coming, I was just made aware of it today. Good luck to Jim in the future, and good luck to the Pirates going forward.

June is a great time for baseball!

June is the time of the year where good baseball is played regularly. All of our teams have won a game and all of the teams have lost a game. The playoffs are still a possibility for all of the teams. Who wants in? Every day the standings get mixed up. Contention is within reach.

In two weeks (June 15th), we will have our All-Star game. We are almost half-way through the season and nothing is decided yet. Managers elect players that most deserve the honor.

Check out the regular season standings. What are you doing to make your team better?

Charlotte NABA partners with Citizens Lending Group to allow our player to take advantage of low interest rates!!

Citizens Lending Group, Inc, the official lender of the NABA, has an unparalleled advantage in the mortgage industry when it comes to their ability to combine knowledge, experience, and customer service. One of our own is a Senior Mortgage Consultant and is willing to work with you. CLGI lends FHA, USDA Rural Developments, Conventional, and Credit Challenged mortgages. If you are in the market for a new home or would like to refinance your current mortgage, contact Steve Mitrovich [stevem@citizenslendinggroup.com] at CLGI. 704.323.8040 direct 704.975.4825 cell 866.258.5897 ext 307 toll free 866.379.0077 fax

Moving Towards Memorial Day.....

As we approach the Memorial Day holiday weekend, teams are getting together to play. This past Sunday we saw the Angels and the Sabres split a double header, each earning their first wins. The Muddogs topped the Braves, the Dodgers topped the Pirates, and the Chiefs slowed the pulse of the Hurricanes. The standings are getting mixed up with each game played. Keep an eye out on them this week. There are some big games ahead...

Everyone has played and baseball is in the air!

It’s been a good baseball so far. Teams are competing and having fun. Two teams still remained undefeated and a few still have yet to get their first win of the season, but it’s baseball. It’s what we love.

The Red Sox and the Astros are both at 3-0 and seem to be rolling well. Not far behind are the Chiefs in the standings with a record of 2-1. The Hurricanes, Cubs, Dodgers, Muddogs, Royals and Pirates all have one win apiece. The Angels, Sabres and Braves are yet to get their first victories but will definitely compete once the summer months start rolling in.

The rain and other conflicts have not been our friends lately, but it seems that some of these issues are in the past. Some teams have played three games and some teams have only played one, but eventually all this will not matter. What matters is that good baseball is being played and it can only get better from here!

Opening Day is Finally Here

Don't tell me about the world.  Not today.  It's springtime and they're knocking baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball. - Pete Hamill

Finally, it's time to play baseball. Good luck to all of the teams! Stay healthy, have fun and play the game right. Nothing else matters.

Charlotte NABA Welcomes Partnership with Akadema

The 2008 season could prove to be one of the best ever, and Akadema, an innovative baseball company on the cutting edge of sports technology wants along for the ride!

The league has partnered with Akadema to cater to the equipment needs of our local players. Packages of apparel, gloves and bats are available at a fantastic discount, and any of the products on their web site can be ordered in bulk from the league at below retail cost.

The apparel package includes shorts, a hooded sweatshirt, BP sweats, a cage jacket, batting jacket and long-sleeve performance wear for $100. Pro-Soft gloves can be had for $85 each, and the Pro-Precision gloves are just $135. If a glove is purchased, you will also get sunglasses, a t-shirt, batting gloves and wristbands at no extra charge. A pair of turf shoes and spikes together can be had for $60. Bats are also part of the deal, with a "buy two get one free" deal on the Xtension series for $370, versus the $350 normal price, maple bats for $38, and ash models going for $20/each.

For those of you still looking to pick up equipment for the beginning of the season, please contact Anthony Gardzielik with your orders by May 1st. If you find something on the website that isn't listed above, please ask about special NABA pricing.

2008 Season Set to Begin

The draft is done, the teams are scrimmaging, the schedule has been posted and the Charlotte NABA is ready for the 2008 season to get underway. With opening day less than one month away, teams are finalizing their rosters and trying to get some field time under their belts.

There are still a limited number of roster spots available for the 2008 season, but they are going fast. Even after adding THREE new teams to the league there were more players who wanted to be a part of this season than there were available slots. If you are coming in late, please make sure you sign-up online so that your information gets sent to each of the managers.

Anthony Gardzielik and the rest of the managers have done a great job so far of expanding the league, finding quality managers for the new teams and working hard to fill everyone's rosters with the type of talent that the league has come to expect. 2008 should be a great year, and a springboard to even more success in the future.

Talk to the Commish!

Anthony Gardzielik has taken over as commissioner of the Charlotte NABA, and would like to invite you to provide your feedback and ask questions about the league. His e-mail address is agardzielik@nababaseball.com and he's interested in your opinions of the league, what works and what doesn't, what you'd like to change, and what should definitely stay in place.

Anthony has done a great job preparing for the 2008 season, and we look forward to a smooth and competitive season!

2007 Awards Announced

The Chiefs had an incredible run as a second year franchise, and their success as a team was reflected in the 2007 awards voting as they swept all three categories.

On the mound, in the field or at the plate, Zurhellen was the NABA's Most Valuable Player.

Brian Zurhellen became the first player in Charlotte NABA history to win both the Most Valuable Player award and the Cy Young in the same season. On the mound, Brian was one of the most dominant pitchers in the league, finishing in the top 5 in every statistical category and leading the National League in wins. When his teammate Derrick Helms went down in the middle of the season, Brian refused to let it affect the team, making sure the Chiefs stayed in the playoff chase.

Of course, Brian was much more than a pitcher. In addition to being the leader of the Chiefs in the dugout, Brian was arguably their best offensive player as well. He hit .492 (4th in the league), went deep three times and drove in 19 runs. For his ability to play any position, come up big when needed on the mound or at the plate and for helping to guide his team to the league championship in just their second year, Brian Zurhellen is the 2007 League MVP and Cy Young Award winner.

Kevin Faulkner is the 2007 Rookie of the Year

Kevin Faulkner became the second straight member of the Chiefs to win the Rookie of the Year award. Kevin was the brawn in the middle of the lineup all season, making sure that the guys ahead of him got pitches to see. Kevin led the NL in home runs, was third in RBI with 21, won the MVP of both the NABA All-Star Game and the Memorial Day Tournament in Myrtle Beach and was a huge factor in the Chiefs advancing to the championship game.

Both of these men are examples of the best of the Charlotte NABA. Talented, fun-loving, competitive and great team players, both Brian and Kevin are worthy recipients of their awards. Please join me in congratulating them.

Full Voting Results