In May, the Brooklyn Knights, Cornfield Axemen, and Key West Corals maintained leads atop their respective divisions. The Phoenix Rattlers, however, surrendered first place to the St. James Crusaders.

The Knights bullpen took a big hit when Jeff Ramirez was put on the disabled list May 20. He needs surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He is expected to miss four to five months. Ramirez had been pitching well, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.79 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.

May 2010 awards:

League 1
Batter of the Month: Paul Lyons (Nashville Firecats)
Pitcher of the Month: Bob Wiesner (Brooklyn Knights)
Rookie of the Month: Alexis Schmidt (Brooklyn Knights)

League 2
Batter of the Month: Tony Rodarte (Richmond Slam)
Pitcher of the Month: Kid Wilson (St. James Crusaders)
Rookie of the Month: Héctor De Echevarría (Richmond Slam)

The Brooklyn Knights struggled to score runs in April. Despite some major injuries, they managed to win many close games and stay atop division 1. The Dunedin Otters played very well in spring training. They continued to play good baseball in April as well. A 15-13 record put them in second place behind the resurgent Cornfield Axemen. Just as they had in 2009, the Washington Allies started hot in 2010. They slumped at the end of April, losing their last four games, and surrendered first place to the Key West Corals. Last year’s League 2 champions, the Phoenix Rattlers led their division by just a game over the Richmond Slam.

Many teams suffered notable injuries and the Knights were no exception. Ted Pollet’s fractured hand in spring training was on the mend when he received further bad news. Pollet required an appendectomy and missed all but the last few days of April. Tracy Corkhill strained his forearm in his second start of the regular season. He is probably out until June. The biggest injury for the Knights came in the last game of April. José Arisa, the League 1 pitcher of the month, left the game in the first inning with shoulder pain. A medical confirmed that is was a torn labrum. Arisa is expected to miss about four months.

April 2010 awards:

League 1
Batter of the Month: Mahlon Torres (Luisville Beasts)
Pitcher of the Month: José Arisa (Brooklyn Knights)
Rookie of the Month: Hsiao-lou Yeh (Brooklyn Knights)

League 2
Batter of the Month: Jason Walton (Vancouver Wild)
Pitcher of the Month: Max Brown (Stade Maples)
Rookie of the Month: Héctor De Echevarría (Richmond Slam)

In League 1, the Brooklyn Knights (14-10) and St. Rock Mudcats (14-10) led the way in Division 1. In Division 2, it was the world champion Nashville Firecats (15-9) and the surprising Dunedin Otters (15-9) with the best records. In Division 2, the Quebeck Sky Chiefs (16-8) and Richmond Slam (14-10) led their respective divisions.

Key injuries in spring training:
Brooklyn Knights: MR Carl Hatton tore a back muscle on the first day of spring training. He's expected to miss about 4 months.
Brooklyn Knights: C Ted Pollet was injured while sliding into a base. He's expected to miss about 6 weeks with a fractured hand.
Brooklyn Knights: MR Mario Rivera was injured while pitching. A torn labrum (Shoulder) will cause him to miss about 4 months.
Cornfield Axemen: SP Billy Martinez experienced a partially torn labrum while pitching. He's expected to miss about 3-4 months.
Dayton Grizzlies: CF Jim Stoneman strained his hamstring running down a fly ball. He's expected to miss about 4-5 weeks.
Key West Corals: SP Ronaldo Mijangos suffered a torn UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament). He will need Tommy John surgery and will miss at least 12 months.
Las Vegas Luck: MR Marcos Amaya will miss about 4-5 months due to a torn rotator cuff.
Luisville Beasts: 2B Tony Fitzgerald broke his kneecap and will miss about 7 months.
Nashville Firecats: MR Steve Towell left the game with a sore shoulder. He's expected to miss about 8 weeks.
St. James Crusaders: RF Merkin Sartuche strained a hamstring and will miss about 6-7 weeks.
Stade Maples: 1B James Maguire tore his hamstring while running the bases. He will be out for about 2 months.
Stade Maples: 2B Gene Anson was injured in a collision at a base. A partially torn labrum will keep him out of the lineup for 6 weeks.
Washington Allies: RF Gus English was injured on a defensive play. The Diagnosis: partially torn labrum. He's expected to miss about 5 weeks.

There were a number of important trades and signings during the offseason.

The Brooklyn Knights completed two large multiplayer deals:

• Brooklyn sent 24 year old shortstop Jorge Cheno to the Washington Allies in exchange for 28 year old second baseman Martin Swader. 25 year old right fielder Zhu-Ian Xian, 22 year old minor league starting pitcher Frederico Doval, 22 year old minor league reliever Thomas Green, 20 year old minor league reliever Eudy Vega, and 20 year old minor league reliever Manny Huebe.
• The Knights traded six minor leaguers for three minor leaguers with the Luisville Beasts. SP Zolly McQuillan, MR Rocky Beverly, 1B Ronan McDermid, MR Shannan Lovejoy, MR Dick Shaddix, and MR Eric O’Fogarty went to Luisville in exchange for MR Jason Stagg, 1B Joe Barnstaple, and MR Bucky Inge.

The Knights extended a couple of player contracts and signed one free agent:

• Reliever Carl Hatton signed a $7,740,000 extension that will keep him in Brooklyn for another 3 years.
• Fresh off his Outstanding Pitcher Award, Bob Wiesner agreed to a four year extension of $26,000,000.
• Brooklyn signed free agent left hander Craig Bella to a $2.9 million a year deal. Bella will solidify the Knights bullpen for two years as part of the deal.

There were several other notable offseason signings:

• The Cornfield Axemen signed closer Joe Pendarvis to a three year, $17,520,300 extension.
• Pete Chavez signed a one year extension with the Nashville Firecats for $2,910,000.
• Washington’s center fielder Tadao Tsuchiya accepted a $5,550,000 offer that will keep him in an Allies uniform for another year.
• First baseman Pete Porter extended his stay in Luisville for another year with a salary of $3,740,000.
• Media analysts hailed Richmond’s signing of Tony Rodarte, one the North American League Baseball’s brightest stars, as a pivotal move. Rodarte is exptected to earn every bit of the $7,480,000 promised to him over the next year.
• Nashville fans were delighted as the Firecats and shortstop Charles DiFranco put the finishing touches on a $3,040,000 contract extension for one year.
• Terrance Steinman re-signed with the Firecats for $3,530,000 to play another year.
• Tony Martell and Vancouver pushed aside their differences to agree on a $4,170,000 one year extension.
• The Axemen extended the contract of superstar second baseman John Edwards for another year at a cost of $7,150,000.
• The Key West Corals kept Ronaldo Mijangos from jumping ship. Seen as an integral part of the club, they signed him to a one year, $6,730,000 extension.
• Charlie Revels was rewarded for his loyalty as the Las Vegas Luck extended his contract another year for $3,570,000.
• Hotshot catcher Matthew “Bulldog” Loy will pocket $4,220,000 to play for the Corals for another year.
• Cornfield announced that shortstop Flavio Marquez will be back with the Axemen next season as part of a $4,520,000 one year deal.
• Triple-crown winner Travis “The Beast” Araoz will be with the Maples again in 2010. He agreed to Stade’s offer of a $7,500,000 contract extension.
• Right Fielder Roberto Rentería re-signed with the Stade Maples. He will earn $7,770,000 as part of the one year extension.
• Starter Chris Rodriguez opted to sign with the Beasts after receiving a three year $11,130,000 offer.
• The St. Rock Mudcats celebrated signing shortstop Steamboat Schultz, NALB’s all-time home run leader. The Mudcats will pay him $12,260,000 for two years.
• Luisville signed former Mudcats starting pitcher Alberto Harrington to a $5.5 million a year deal for three years.
• The Mudcats extended the contract of outfielder Oscar Barrientes for another year. Barrientes will pocket $6,000,000 as part of the deal.
• After marathon contract talks, the Allies and lefty starter Rey Wilkins agreed to a four year $24,040,000 deal.
• Gary Mccreery, ex-Brooklyn center fielder signed on with Nashville. His new contract is worth $13,180,000 for two years.
• Former Knights star Fred Millard signed with the Nashville Firecats. Millard improves their starting rotation and will be rewarded $15,330,000 for three years.
• Rip Sukeforth joined the Luisville bullpen. The Beasts awarded him a two year contract worth $5,420,000.
• Top free agent closer Rob Muncy will take his talents to St. Rock. The Mudcats offered him a contract worth $9,140,000, which runs for two years.
• Nashville got themselves a new closer in Bris Clark. The $4,206,666 a year deal will keep him in a Firecats uniform for three years.
• Phoenix fans were pleased with the signing of Yale Burns. The 33 year old shortstop inked a two year, $6,740,000 deal.