NALB - 2010 Regular Season Ends

K. Fields
2011-10-14T18:35:14-04:00
Baseball

The Brooklyn Knights had easy sailing this season. The second-place Mudcats played .500 baseball and didn’t present a serious challenge in the division. After a disappointing 2009, the Cornfield Axemen returned to form. Led by superstar second baseman John Edwards, they won their division by 20 games. Despite being pushed hard by the Key West Corals, the Stade Maples claimed yet another division crown. Rounding out the playoff picture is the Richmond Slam. The Slam were steady all season long and easily outpaced their competition.

The League Series match-ups:
Cornfield Axemen (97-65) vs. Brooklyn Knights (114-48)
Stade Maples (89-73) vs. Richmond Slam (96-66)

The 2010 NALB season produced some amazing feats. After winning the NALB’s first triple crown last year, the Maples’ Travis Araoz won his second triple crown this season. He hit .357, smacked 53 homers, and had 133 RBI. Even more amazing was that John Edwards won the triple crown in League 1. Two triple crowns in the same year! Edwards put up a .345 average with 53 home runs and 148 RBI.

Playoff injury report:
The Axemen will be without star right fielder, Roque Cordero, and star shortstop Flavio Marquez. Center fielder Tad Burridge will miss the League Championship Series. He could see action if Cornfield makes it to the World Championship Series. The Knights do not have CF Jeromy Bezanzon available. RF Zhu-Ian Xian and 2B Carlos Cardenas will miss the LCS but could return Brooklyn plays for the World Championship. CF Carl Gwinn will miss LCS game 1, but it expected to return in game 2. The Maples have two injuries, which are major concerns. Catcher Topper Blefary is out with a ruptured MCL. Ace starter Max Brown experienced serious shoulder inflammation at the very end of September. Neither will play in the 2010 playoffs. Richmond has a number of injured players: SP Markus Donovan, SP Jose Smith, SS Steve Mcneill, and C Matty Byers. None compare to the hole in the lineup caused by the absence of LF Tony Rodarte. He fractured his ankle on August 24 and will need another two months to heal.