Despite it being a bit buggy and crash-prone, overall I was enjoying my time playing Aztaka. Aztaka is a side-scrolling action game with RPG (role-playing game) elements. The RPG aspect of the game is featured in the story, quests, item inventory, and upgradability of the character. As your character Huitzilo and his bird companion Ayohpa level up, you receive points to add to their attributes and skills. Gameplay consists of typical side-scrolling action—running, jumping, and fighting. Combat can be physical (via spear) or magical (via spells).

It was fun while it lasted. I progressed quite far into the game. In the next to last area of the game, however, I could venture no further. It was called The Cursed Monkey Cavern and it was cursed all right. There was an extremely wide chasm, which was too wide to jump across. There was a giant red bat that flew back and forth across the chasm. Apparently, the trick is to try and jump on top of the bat and then use the spear stomp attack to ride it like using a pogo stick. I had some success with that approach and almost made it to the other side, falling just a bit short several times. Unfortunately, this caused damage to the bat and usually ended in its death. Unlike the golden bats in the area, the red bat did not respawn. You had to leave the area, go back to the map and work your way back to the chasm to try all over again. After numerous attempts, I finally had enough. It looks like I will never see the end of this one. It's time to move on to another game.

Here are North American League Baseball’s prestigious individual award winners for 2019.

League 1
Outstanding Batter Award: Tony Rodarte (Nashville Firecats)
Outstanding Pitcher Award: Tony Tamayo (Brooklyn Knights)
Reliever of the Year Award: Júlio Guillén (Brooklyn Knights)
Newcomer of the Year: Beagan Cajar (Dayton Grizzlies)
Manager of the Year: Kevin Fields (Brooklyn Knights)

Platinum Stick Award Winners
Catcher: Dacey Rager (Nashville Firecats)
First Baseman: Mabon Beniniger (Dunedin Otters)
Second Baseman: John Edwards (Nashville Firecats)
Third Baseman: Okura Kono (Luisville Beasts)
Shortstop: Larry Arceniaga (Nashville Firecats)
Left Fielder: Pat West (Dunedin Otters)
Center Fielder: Oscar Barrientes (Luisville Beasts)
Right Fielder: Maurílio Godim (Brooklyn Knights)
Designated Hitter: Tony Rodarte (Nashville Firecats)

Slick Fielder Award Winners
Pitcher: Rey Alvarado (Dayton Grizzlies)
Catcher: Luís Ellanos (Dayton Grizzlies)
First Baseman: Mabon Beniniger (Dunedin Otters)
Second Baseman: José Arzate (Cornfield Axemen)
Third Baseman: Moray Williams (Las Vegas Luck)
Shortstop: Fitz Griffey (St. Rock Mudcats)
Left Fielder: Yvon Chouinard (Luisville Beasts)
Center Fielder: Jonathan Robb (Cornfield Axemen)
Right Fielder: Leonard O'Marron (Luisville Beasts)

League 2
Outstanding Batter Award: Aramis Jáquez (Richmond Slam)
Outstanding Pitcher Award: Berto Sarzoza (Stade Maples)
Reliever of the Year Award: Berto Sarzoza (Stade Maples)
Newcomer of the Year: Matt Ross (St. James Crusaders)
Manager of the Year: Sakutaro Yoda (Phoenix Rattlers)

Platinum Stick Award Winners
Pitcher: Braulio Crame (Stade Maples)
Catcher: Morris Brown (Vancouver Wild)
First Baseman: Jonathan Grandberry (Phoenix Rattlers)
Second Baseman: Marc-André Lavoie (Richmond Slam)
Third Baseman: Adelmo Porcayo (Key West Corals)
Shortstop: Márque Parita (Quebeck Sky Chiefs)
Left Fielder: Aramis Jáquez (Richmond Slam)
Center Fielder: Dorian Chivers (Washington Allies)
Right Fielder: Arturo Guerrero (Phoenix Rattlers)

Slick Fielder Award Winners
Pitcher: Tyler Stivers (Stade Maples)
Catcher: Morris Brown (Vancouver Wild)
First Baseman: Dave Groot (Key West Corals)
Second Baseman: Brett Scheer (St. James Crusaders)
Third Baseman: Hsiao-lou Yuan (Vancouver Wild)
Shortstop: Carlos Cardenas (Richmond Slam)
Left Fielder: John Patterson (Phoenix Rattlers)
Center Fielder: Tad Burridge (Key West Corals)
Right Fielder: Ken MacEachern (Key West Corals)

The 2019 NALB World Championship Series (WCS) featured the familiar Brooklyn Knights (108-54). The Knights' dynasty is a formidable one with 18 WCS appearances and 14 championships in 20 seasons. Representing League 2, the Phoenix Rattlers (91-71) were a bit of a surprise. After April's slow start left them in last place, they spent most of the season in third place chasing the Vancouver Wild and Richmond Slam. Phoenix clinched the tight three-way division race on the last day of the regular season. The Knights and the Rattlers each survived a hard fought seven game League Series to get here.

On paper, the Knights were the better team and solid favorites to win. The Rattlers rode their late-season hot streak, however, and outplayed their opponent. They displayed superior power (8 home runs to Brooklyn's 4) and better relief pitching by their bullpen. In the end, the games were close and competitive but the Rattlers always found a way to win. They edged the Knights every game on way to a World Championship Series four game sweep. This is the first championship for the Phoenix Rattlers in their third try.

Right fielder Arturo Guerrero's .375 average, 6 hits, 4 home runs, and 6 RBI powered Phoenix to victory. Rattlers' fans will long remember his MVP performance.

Game 1: Phoenix 5, Brooklyn 4
Game 2: Phoenix 5, Brooklyn 2
Game 3: Phoenix 7, Brooklyn 6
Game 4: Phoenix 7, Brooklyn 5

Series MVP: RF Arturo Guerrero (Phoenix Rattlers)


Click the image for the NALB 2019 World Championship roster

The Phoenix Rattlers entered game four of the World Championship Series (WCS) in an enviable position. Playing at home, they had a 3-0 series lead over the Brooklyn Knights. Not only were they but one win away from winning the series, they had the opportunity to secure a four-game sweep. In 17 previous WCS appearances, the Knights had never been in this position before.

Brooklyn's starter Aaron Patterson (15-7, 3.11 ERA) had a lot of pressure on him in this win or go home game. Phoenix had 30 year old journeyman José Sandoval (0-1, 2.14 ERA) on the mound. The Rattlers acquired Sandoval from the Maples in July. Sandoval hadn't seen much action this year, starting only two games and pitching some relief work in 11 games.

The Knights wanted to get out in front quickly and they got their wish. A base on balls and a pair of singles led to the game's first run. That lead was squashed, however, in the third inning. A 3-run home run by first baseman Jonathan Grandberry and a 2-run homer by catcher Sancho Alguirre put the Rattlers on top 5-1. The Knights felt the game slipping away but managed to load the bases in the fourth inning. Syman Lowery crushed a Sandoval fastball and his grand slam tied the game at 5-5. The Rattlers kept fighting and scored a run in the fifth off of a double by Sancho Alguirre. It looked like Brooklyn had a chance to tie the game in the eighth when pinch hitter Ramon Alconer singled to right field. However, the speedy base-stealing threat took too big of a lead off of first base and was picked off for the inning's first out. That was bad news for the Knights as Syman Lowery delivered a line-drive double to the center field wall in the very next at bat. It was probable that Alconer would have scored on that hit. The Rattlers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when second baseman Ríco Gómez hit an RBI single.

Final score: Phoenix 7, Brooklyn 5

             1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R  H  E
Brooklyn     1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0   5 10  0
Phoenix      0 0 5 0 1 0 0 1 X   7 12  0

W: D. Green
L: X. Scaife

The World Championship Series shifted to Phoenix for game three. With a League 2 team as host, there were no designated hitters. The Rattlers hoped to use home field advantage to add to its 2-0 series lead. The starting pitching matchup was Phoenix's Markus Wright (13-9, 3.68 ERA) vs. Brooklyn's Marcos Delgadillo (17-10, 2.92 ERA).

The Knights gave up an unearned run in the first inning after a throwing error by shortstop Estevan Portillo gave the Rattlers their first base runner. Brooklyn kept its poise, however and racked up five runs in a second inning highlighted by a home run by Maurílio Godim. The Rattlers and Knights each added a run in the second and fourth innings, respectively. Down 6-2, Phoenix started its comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Arturo Guerrero hit a two-run homer and the Rattlers scored three runs overall to cut the deficit to one. With Julio Gullén on in relief in the eighth inning, Alvino Flores tied the game with a single to center field. The game was still up for grabs in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Guerrero hit a fastball from Armando Alfaro for a solo home run. The Rattlers, in dramatic fashion, had a walk-off win.

As he had done in game one of the WCS, Arturo Guerrero homered twice and was once again named the player of the game. The Phoenix Rattlers are now one game away from a sweep of the Brooklyn Knights.

Final score: Phoenix 7, Brooklyn 6

             1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R  H  E
Brooklyn     0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0   6 13  1
Phoenix      1 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 1   7 14  0

W: S. Konig
L: A. Alfaro

After winning the opener, the Phoenix Rattlers faced another road game in Brooklyn. Saul Ramírez (15-9, 3.78 ERA) was on the mound for Phoenix, their second left-handed starter in as many games. The Knights starter for game two was staff ace Tony Tamayo (18-5, 2.87 ERA).

The game was a pitching duel for the first four innings. The Rattlers' bats came alive in the fifth inning, however. After Charles Difranco smashed a solo home run, the hits continued to pile up. Phoenix built a 5-0 lead and Tamayo was pulled from the game. Brooklyn responded in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff triple by Maurílio Godim, who later scored. The Knights got a solo homer from designated hitter Joe Barnstaple in the seventh but that was all they could muster in another losing effort.

Six strong innings pitched by Saul Ramírez made him the player of the game.

Final score: Phoenix 5, Brooklyn 2

             1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R  H  E
Phoenix      0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0   5  8  0
Brooklyn     0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0   2 10  0

W: S. Ramírez
L: T. Tamayo

For the sixth year in a row, the Brooklyn Knights (108-54) are in the World Championship Series and hosting game one. The Phoenix Rattlers (91-71) are making their third appearance in the WCS. Their previous trips were in 2003 and 2009. Each team won a hard fought seven game League Series to get here. Both teams suffered playoff injuries to key players. The Knights' top hitter, outfielder Blas Ramos, hurt his knee in game seven of the League Series and was sent to the injured list. Likewise, the Rattlers sent starting pitcher Ralph Kerfoot to the IL.

The Rattlers had lefty ace Heath MacKissock (15-10, 2.76 ERA) on the mound for the opening game. The Knights starter was Darius Luxton (13-12, 4.37 ERA).

Right fielder Arturo Guerrero was the player of the game. Guerrero went 2 for 5 with 2 home runs and a walk. He drove in 3 runs and scored twice. His first home run keyed a three run fourth inning for the Rattlers. His second homer was a solo shot in the sixth inning. The Knights finally pushed some runs across in the seventh inning. DH Joe Barnstaple blasted a three run homer as Brooklyn scored four runs to tie the game. The game went into extra innings and lasted until the 13th inning. With Norman Forbes on the mound for Brooklyn, center fielder Carl Gwinn led off with a home run to give Phoenix the win. It was extra sweet for Gwinn to have this big WCS moment in Brooklyn as he played for the Knights from 2010 to 2013.

Final score: Phoenix 5, Brooklyn 4

             1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13   R  H  E
Phoenix      0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0  0  0  0  1   5 12  0
Brooklyn     0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0  0  0  0  0   4  7  2

W: N. Chávez
L: N. Forbes

2019 League 1 Series - Luisville Beasts (98-64) vs. Brooklyn Knights (108-54)

Game 1: Brooklyn 4, Luisville 1
Game 2: Luisville 9, Brooklyn 2
Game 3: Luisville 10, Brooklyn 4
Game 4: Brooklyn 9, Luisville 8
Game 5: Luisville 3, Brooklyn 2
Game 6: Brooklyn 5, Luisville 3
Game 7: Brooklyn 9, Luisville 5

For the third straight year, the Luisville Beasts and Brooklyn Knights met in the League 1 Series. This was a matchup of the league's two highest scoring teams. Brooklyn had the better pitching staff, however, and home field advantage as well. These teams were very evenly matched in their 23 regular season games with the Knights edging the Beasts 12-11. The Beasts were dealt a bad break in the final game of the season when star center fielder Oscar Barrientes fractured his wrist. His spot on the playoff roster will be filled by Clive Thoma, a minor league outfielder.

The opener featured this season's two winningest pitchers—Luisville's Noel Trevenot (19-5, 3.20 ERA) vs. Brooklyn's Tony Tamayo (18-5, 2.87 ERA). Tamayo gave up a solo home run to Yvon Chouinard in the first inning. He cruised through the next five innings, striking out 11. The Knights got a three-run homer from Maurílio Godim in the sixth inning. Brooklyn added another run in the eighth and prevailed 4-1.

In game two, Luisville center fielder Leonard O'Marron produced all the offense the Beasts needed in the club's 9-2 win over the Brooklyn Knights. O'Marron slugged two home runs, one in the first inning and a grand slam in the ninth. He drove in seven runs and scored twice as Luisville moved into a tie in the League Series.

Game three was very similar to game two. Luisville's offense overwhelmed Brooklyn's pitching. After three scoreless innings, the Beasts came alive. They scored four runs in the fourth inning, two in the sixth inning, and put the game out of reach by adding four more in the eighth. The Knights had plenty of chances but mostly failed to take advantage of them. Despite twelve hits, they managed to score only four runs and left twelve men on base. With two fielding errors adding insult to injury, it was a game Brooklyn would rather forget.

Game four was an entertaining slugfest. The Knights struck quickly as they scored five runs in the first inning, which was capped by a Flavio Marquez three-run homer. Hsiao-lou Yeh answered in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer. The Beasts added a run in second and another run in the third to narrow the score to 5-4. Cleveland Garfield's home run contributed to three more runs for Brooklyn in the fourth inning. Luisville never quit, however. They tied the game 8-8 in the eighth. The Beasts fell short in their comeback when the Knights scored in the ninth and Ken Hannah closed out the game for the 9-8 win to tie the series.

Game five was another great pitching duel between Tony Tamayo and Noel Trevenot. The Knights took a quick 2-0 lead after catcher Andrew Strain homered in his first at bat. The Beasts got a run in the fourth thanks to Amsalu Kanda, their speedy leadoff man. He singled and stole second base and third base before scoring. Despite a 35 minute rain delay in the sixth inning, the pitchers kept cruising. Okura Kono hit a solo home run in the eighth to give Luisville a chance. The game went into extra innings tied 2-2. In the 14th inning, Amsalu Kanda came through again. He singled, stole two more bases, and scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly. The Knights will be thinking about all of the missed opportunities on the trip back to Brooklyn. They had plenty of chances to win game five but stranded 13 men on base.

Brooklyn took advantage of its home field advantage to prevail in game six. The Knights had Marcos Delgadillo on the mound for this must-win game. Although opposing pitcher Whitney Sanders was good, Delgadillo was just a bit better. He gave up only one run in 6.1 innings and struck out nine without walking a single batter. The Beasts had some success against Brooklyn's relief pitchers, scoring two runs in the seventh inning and another run in the eighth. However, the Knights held on to win 5-3, which forces a decisive game seven. Along with Delgadillo, the game's star was clearly Andrew Strain. The Knights' catcher was 4 for 4 at the plate with 2 singles, a double, and a home run.

The Brooklyn Knights and Luisville Beasts fought their way to game seven of the League 1 Series. After meeting 29 times in the regular season and postseason, the Knights held an ever so slight 15-14 edge. The Beasts had done a better job scoring runs in this series, however, and that trend continued early in game seven. After getting a base on balls to start the game, Amsalu Kanda used his blazing speed to steal second base and later score. A single by shortstop Connor Duck in the top of the fifth drove in a run to extend Luisville's lead to 2-0. Up till that point, Brooklyn had followed its usual script of stranding baserunners and failing to score. That came to an end in the fifth inning. A five run offensive explosion brought the crowd to a roar. The runs came courtesy of a 3-run home run by Milburn Hutchison and a 2-run homer by Flavio Marquez. With victory so near, the Knights showed a killer instinct. They added three more runs in the seventh inning and another run in the eighth inning. With a 9-2 lead, the Knights decided to send starter Alex Mobley to the mound to finish the last two innings in relief. After pitching a scoreless eighth inning, Mobley struggled in the ninth. After he surrendered back to back home runs, he was pulled. Closer Ken Hannah came in to retire the next three batters and secure the 9-3 win. The only disappointment in Brooklyn was related to the status of star outfielder Blas Ramos. Ramos sprained his knee during the game and is awaiting further evaluation.

Knight's catcher Andrew Strain was the consensus choice for series MVP. Strain hit .419 with a .455 on-base percentage. He had 3 home runs, 6 RBI and scored 6 runs.

Series MVP: C Andrew Strain (Brooklyn Knights)

2019 League 2 Series - Stade Maples (89-73) vs. Phoenix Rattlers (91-71)

Game 1: Phoenix 3, Stade 1
Game 2: Phoenix 6, Stade 3
Game 3: Stade 3, Phoenix 2
Game 4: Phoenix 8, Stade 3
Game 5: Stade 6, Phoenix 3
Game 6: Stade 9, Phoenix 4
Game 7: Phoenix 5, Stade 4

In a rematch of last year's League 2 Series, the Stade Maples will once again play the Phoenix Rattlers. Although the Maples led their division since June, the Phoenix Rattlers surprised most onlookers with a late surge. After a last place April start, they were in third place for most of the season. It was quite a comeback to overtake the Wild and Slam to win the division.

Heath MacKissock out-dueled Braulio Crame in game one. Although Crame only gave up one run in six innings, MacKissock gave up none in 6.1 innings. Leading 3-0 after seven innings, the Rattlers held on to win 3-1.

After the solid pitching of game one, the starters struggled in game two. Ralph Kerfoot turned his ankle and only pitched one inning for the Rattlers. The Maples' Tyler Stivers didn't look good at all. He gave up seven hits and six runs and failed to make it through the first inning. Although the Phoenix bullpen surrendered three runs, the early lead was enough to carry the Rattlers to a 6-3 victory.

In game three, Stade third baseman Kurt Johnson put the Maples ahead 2-0 with a home run in the first inning. The Rattlers tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third. Kurt Johnson scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a Kensaku Shemada single.

The Phoenix Rattlers pulled off a road win in game four despite committing three errors in the field. Starter José Sandoval out-pitched Stade's David Bracy. After six innings, the Rattlers led 5-3. Phoenix sealed the win in the seventh inning, however, by scoring three runs off of five hits.

Home field advantage helped the Stade Maples win game five and stay alive in the League 2 Series. Down three games to one, the Maples relied on solid pitching from starter Braulio Crame and their bullpen. Third baseman Kurt Johnson was Stade's MVP for the game. Johnson drew a walk, had two hits (including a home run), and three RBI. The 6-3 win sends the series back to Phoenix.

The Rattlers squandered a chance to win the League 2 Series at home in game six. Phoenix fell behind 4-0 but tied the game 4-4 in the fifth inning. Both starters were out of the game by then. The Maples' relievers were excellent the rest of the way. The same could not be said about the Rattlers' bullpen. They gave up a run in the eighth and four more in the ninth. Stade's center fielder Terry Bannatyne went 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI. He was the game's MVP.

After building a 3-1 series lead, the Phoenix Rattlers had lost the momentum after dropping the last two games. Game seven presented the Rattlers with one final chance at home and they delivered. Catcher Sancho Alguirre led the offense with a 3 for 3 performance and starting pitcher Markus Wright tossed six solid innings, giving up only two runs. The Rattlers' 5-4 victory avenges last season's game seven loss to the Maples in the League 2 Series. The Rattlers move on to play for the NALB World Championship. Phoenix's last appearance in the World Championship Series was in 2009 when the lost in six games to the Nashville Firecats.

The Most Valuable Player Award went to Stade third baseman Kurt Johnson. Despite playing for the losing side, Johnson did all he could. His .370 average, 10 hits, 3 home runs, and 8 RBI helped push this series to go the distance.

Series MVP: 3B Kurt Johnson (Stade Maples)

The Brooklyn Knights cruised to another playoff appearance after wrapping up the division title on September 9. The Luisville Beasts and Stade Maples also took division crowns without any major drama down the stretch. League 2 Division 2 was a different story. The Vancouver Wild and Richmond Slam battled all season long in this extremely competitive division. In the end, however, the Phoenix Rattlers rode a red hot finish to take the division by a single game. Only two games separated these three teams in the final standings. Therefore, all four playoff teams from last year will be back again.

The League Series match-ups:
Luisville Beasts (98-64) vs. Brooklyn Knights (108-54)
Stade Maples (89-73) vs. Phoenix Rattlers (91-71)

Head to head this season:
The Knights were 12-11 against the Beasts.
The Rattlers were 12-11 against the Maples.

Playoff injury report:
The Knights are without four players from their opening day roster: DH and team captain Hooks Goetz, starting pitcher José Arisa, reliever Stokley McGruder, and reliever Jesús Montufar. McGruder and Montufar are both lefties so that limits Brooklyn's bullpen options. Likewise, the Beasts have four notable players on the Injured List: Noriaki Momotami, Roberto Farinas, Miguel López, and Paul Thompson. Momotami is a starter and the other three are relief pitchers.

The Rattlers and Maples are quite healthy going into October. Phoenix will be without center fielder John Buker in the playoffs. Stade's only player on the Injured List is second baseman Rustin Appling.

September 2019 awards:

League 1
Batter of the Month: Tony Rodarte (Nashville Firecats)
Pitcher of the Month: Darius Luxton (Brooklyn Knights)
Rookie of the Month: Beaghan Cajar (Dayton Grizzlies)

League 2
Batter of the Month: Jonathan Grandberry (Phoenix Rattlers)
Pitcher of the Month: Berto Sarzosa (Stade Maples)
Rookie of the Month: Stafford Konig (Phoenix Rattlers)