NALB - April 2011

By mid-April, the Brooklyn Knights were rolling with an eight game winning streak. Hot turned to cold, however, as the Knights dropped their next five games. On April 21, ace pitcher Bob Wiesner (2-1, 1.52 ERA) looked to halt Brooklyn’s losing streak. Although the Knights got the win, it was a costly one. Bob Wiesner left the game in the first inning with a serious arm injury. A medical examination later confirmed a damaged elbow ligament. Wiesner will require reconstructive surgery and will miss 13-14 months. Despite some setbacks, the Knights finished April tied with the Mudcats at 17-11. The Nashville Firecats and Stade Maples played even better baseball, leading the NALB with 20-8 records.

Brooklyn wasn’t the only team with a significant injury. St. James lost starter Atley Berger to a torn UCL. Tommy John surgery and rehabilitation will keep him off the mound for 13-14 months. Dayton’s Cade McQuisham suffered a horrible shoulder injury diving for a ball in center field. His completely torn labrum was, unfortunately, a career ending injury. Starter Hartman Ivers of the Las Vegas Luck tore an elbow ligament. He’s expected to be out for ten months. A broken bone in his elbow will keep shortstop Daron McKilligan out of the Quebeck lineup for about four months. Stade’s Red Valdez was injured in a collision at a base. The second baseman will miss three to four months. Key West’s veteran ace, Ray Cruz, needs surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow. He is not expected to return before September.

April 2011 awards:

League 1
Batter of the Month: Hsiao-lou Yeh (Brooklyn Knights)
Pitcher of the Month: Hap Bedford (Cornfield Axemen)
Rookie of the Month: Roberto Jerrano (Las Vegas Luck)

League 2
Batter of the Month: Jason Walton (Vancouver Wild)
Pitcher of the Month: Francisco Daza (Quebeck Sky Chiefs)
Rookie of the Month: Leif Green (Vancouver Wild)