PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #23

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
DAVIS,Eric	CHI AL	.269	.692	7	26	7	2	0	3	7	10	4	4	0	1	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
SANDERSON,Scott	MEX AL	2	2	0	0	1.93	14	3	3	7	8	5	0	0	0	0	1

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
SCHU,Rick	GER NL	.296	.778	7	27	8	1	0	4	6	13	1	0	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
SMITH,Bryn	VAL NL	2	2	0	0	0.50	18	2	1	10	9	0	0	0	0	0	0

Janesville Juggernauts @ Detroit Stars
Summary	Detroit wins series 5-2 over Janesville – Highlight of the series is Dave Parker collecting hit #2500 which was a HR over the right field wall in game 6; still the all time hit leader in the MWWL.

Missouri Black Bears @ Steel City Sluggers
Summary	Steel City sweeps, but the games are very close.

Clovis Cougars @ Germantown Grays
Preview	Clovis is looking strong for a playoff spot and come into Germantown looking to make that spot more secure.
Game #1:	Germantown kept it close through 7 (down 2-1), but a 4 spot by the Cougars dashed all hopes. Black (15-9) went the distance allowing only 1R on 3H and 1W. Cougars Murray was 2-4 2R 2b W, Barfield 2-3 2R RBI HR W and Pena 2-4 RBI. Clovis 6-1.
Game #2:	This time the Grays were up 2-1 until a 3 spot by the Cougars in the 8th. Cougars Wells allowed 0ER over 6IP w/ 7K. Cougars Gantner was 2-5 2b and Murray 2-4 2R 4RBI 2HR. Grays MacFarlane went 2-4 2RBI 2-2b. Finley went 7IP allowing 1R on 3H and 3W. Clovis 4-3.
Game #3:	Cougars jumped out in front with 3 in the 1st, but the Grays 8 runs during the 5th and 6th innings decided the game. Schu went 4-5 2R 7RBI 2HR and MacFarlane 2-5 R RBI HR. Parker, Morgan and Veres pitched 4 innings of scoreless relief. Cougars Harris was 2-5 R 2RBI HR, Barfield 2-4 2RBI and Goff 2-3 R. Germantown 10-5.
Game #4:	The Grays posted 12 runs over the first 3 innings and cruised to the win. Grays Smoltz (4-15) went 7.2IP allowing 1ER on 5H and 2W. Alomar went 2-4 R RBI, McRae 2-4 R RBI 2b 3b, Schu 2-5 2R RBI 2b, Martinez 4-4 2R RBI W, Gagne 3-3 2R 2RBI 2b. Cougars Murray was 2-4 2RBI and Henderson 2-3 R 2b. Germantown15-2
Game #5:	This was a wild one with 7 lead changes capping it off with the Cougars scoring 3 in the top of the 11th, but the Grays countering with 4 in the bottom half. Grays Alomar went 3-6 2R RBI 2b HR, Mack 3-3 2R 3RBI 2b HR 3W, Caminiti 2-3 R. Cougars Reed was 2-4 R RBI HR and Anderson 2-4 R RBI. Germantown 10-9 in 11.
Game #6:	Cougars plated 3 in the 3rd for the early lead. Grays tied it in the 7th, but a Thon HR in the top of the 9th was the decider. Cougars Henderson went 2-4 R RBI 2b and Barfield 2-4 RBI. Grays Morgan went the distance allowing 1 ER on 7H and 4W. Jose went 2-5 RBI and Caminiti 3-4 RBI. Clovis 4-3
Game #7:	Rubber match. Grays score 3 in the 4th and Finley does the rest pitching 7.2IP of shutout ball on 3H and 7W. Cougars Harris was 3-5.
Summary	Schu carried the series for the Grays batting 11-22 with 6R 13RBI 2b and 5HR. Grays win series 4-3

Valdosta Bombers @ Michigan Marauders
Preview	Valdosta cruises into Michigan for 7 games. This series features the 4th place team versus the 2nd place team.
Game #1:	Bryn Smith vs. Mark Langston 2 runs are scored, and they are in the 4th inning for the Bombers. Fletcher and Wallach both knock in runs. Smith throws a 4 hit shutout for the Bombers. Smith is now 8-10. Valdosta 2 Michigan 0
Game #2:	Browning vs. Knudson The Bombers twirl their 2nd straight shutout. Browning throws a 5 – hitter. Van Slyke and Bream hit homers. Valdosta gets 10 hits. Browning goes to 8-15 Valdosta 3 Michigan 0
Game #3:	Candiotti vs. Gullickson Valdosta bats explode in this one. Candiotti tosses the 3rd straight complete game for the Bombers. Wallach hits a homer. In the 8th, Dale Murphy hits a solo homer for Michigan to avoid a 3rd straight shutout. Candiotti goes to 9-12. Valdosta 9 Michigan 1
Game #4:	Lapoint vs. Higuera Guess what – Michigan wins this game. It was a close one. Michigan gets a walk off win on a Dion James single. Bo Jackson with a homer and 3 RBIs.Chuck Crim wins the game with a scoreless 3 innings. Michigan 5 Valdosta 4
Game #5:	Trevor Wilson vs. Jim Deshaies This was a 13 inning affair, that the Bombers pull out. Sid Bream hits a 2 run homer in the top half of the 13th. Bo Jackson hits a solo homer in the 13th, but Michigan falls short. Dave Schmidt gets the win and John Franco gets the save. Valdosta 3 Michigan 2 (13)
Game #6:	Smith vs. Langston. Same starters as game 1. Same result – Valdosta wins. Tim Wallach with 3 hits and 3 RBIs for Valdosta. Bryn Smith gets a complete game victory to increase his win total to 9. Valdosta 8 Michigan 2
Game #7:	Browning vs. Knudson The Bombers score early as they end up taking 6 of 7 from the Mauraders. Greg Olson records 4 RBIs for the Bombers. Bo Jackson with 3 RBIs for Michigan, as they fall short. Valdosta 9 Michigan 6
Summary	This was an extremely disappointing series for Michigan. After slumping against Manhattan, they don’t play well at all. Valdosta generally got off to some nice leads, and got strong starting pitching. Valdosta 6 games to 1.

Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Long Beach Titans
Game #1:	Winnipeg took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st and held the lead until Justice tied it with a solo HR in the 8th. Long Beach took their only lead of the game when Fielder doubled in Pecota in the bottom of the 10th to give the Titans a 4-3 win.
Game #2:	Viola threw a 6 hit 0 walk shutout in the Long Beach 2-0 win as he improved to 15-5. Glavine pitched 7 strong innings in the hard luck loss.
Game #3:	This was a back and forth game that was tied in the 12th. Roberts singled in Wilson with 2 outs to give Winnipeg the 5-4 win. Wilson was the sparkplug for the Goldeyes offense with 3 hits.
Game #4:	This was a good old fashioned slugfest. Winnipeg took a 4-2 lead in the 3rd behind 2 McGwire HRs. Long Beach took a 5-4 lead in the 4th on a Magadan 3 run HR. That lead didn’t last long as the Goldeyes scored in the 5th, 6th & 7th to build a 9-5 lead. However, the Titans tied it in the 8th with Magadan again delivering the key hit a 2 run 2B. It stayed 9-9 until the 13th when Cerone won it with a bases loaded SF giving Long Beach the 10-9 win.
Game #5:	This was another high scoring game. This time Long Beach took the early lead 5-1 on an Incaviglia 3 run bomb in the 3rd. Winnipeg tied it in the 5th when McGwire hit a 3 run HR. Long Beach took the lead back in the bottom of the inning and held on for a 7-6 win. Winnipeg had the tying run in scoring position in the 7th and 9th but couldn’t get the hit they needed.
Game #6:	Winnipeg pounded Hartley early, taking a 7-0 lead in the top of the first behind RBI hits by Orsulak, Stottlemyre & Roberts. They coasted to a 13-9 win. Wilson had a huge game with 3 hits and 6 RBI. It got a little interesting in the bottom of the 9th when Long Beach cut the lead to 13-9 and had the tying run on deck but Ripken hit into a DP to end the game.
Game #7:	Glavine was dominant giving up just 3 hits over 8 innings in the Winnipeg 6-1 win. Wilson continued his strong series with 2 more hits and another steal.
Summary	Long Beach takes 4 of 7 from Winnipeg.

California Quakes @ Cedar Park Bears
Preview	California at Cedar Park
Summary	Olson blows two save opportunities enabling the Quakes to take the series 3-2.

Fort Worth Panthers @ Montana Cutthroats
Preview	The Fort Worth Panthers visit the Montana Cutthroats in a AL East Divisional Series. Fort Worth building to next year. Montana fighting for first playoff berth.
Game #1:	Montana scores single runs in the 6th and 7th innings to break a 1-1 tie. Roberto Kelly homered for the Panthers’ lone run. Marianno Duncan and Joe Girardi get 2 hits a piece and drive in all 3 Cutthroat runs. FINAL – MCT 3 FWP 1
Game #2:	Ellis Burks and Franklin Stubbs get 3 hits a piece as Montana outhits Fort Worth 13-5 for the game. Montana bullpen holds Fort Worth to 1-hit over final 4 innings. FINAL – MCT 5 FWP 1
Game #3:	Montana gets four hits from Burks and Duncan and then holds on late for the win. Burks goes 4-5 with 2 runs batted in while Duncan is 4-4 on the game. Alvin Davis also pitches in with a 2 for 2 night while walking 3 times. Although up 7-2 heading into the 9th, the Panthers find a way to get the tying run at the plate but the rally falls short. FINAL – MCT 7 FWP 3
Game #4:	Like in game 3, Montana is cruising with a 7-2 lead heading into the 8th. But again the Panthers battle late as Fort Worth gets 3 in the 8th and Montana closer Paul Assenmacher has to come in in the 9th to get his 25th save. Sam Horn goes 3 for 5 with a HR and 3 RBI while Stubbs also drives in 3 for Montana. Interestingly, for the second game in a row Montana has a player get on base all 5 trips to the plate as Von Hayes goes 2 for 2 with 3 walks. FINAL – MCT 8 FWP 5
Game #5:	Ramon Martinez and Willie Fraser combine on a 1-hit shutout. Roberto Kelly‘s single in the 6th off Martinez was the only blemish for Montana pitching. Horn has a second monster game in a row at the plate with a 3 for 4 game. He also hits 2 HR and drives in four. FINAL – MCT 6 FWP 0
Game #6:	Jeff Ballard is amazing as he shuts down the Montana bats over 9 innings. Unfortunately for Ballard, Fort Worth struggles to score as well. The Panthers, backed by an unearned run in the 2nd, held a 1-0 lead into the 8th. Girardi led off with a double. Herm Willingham pitch ran and then advanced to second on a sac bunt, and scored on Tommy Herr’s sac fly to tie the game. Von Hayes then won it with a lead off HR in the bottom of the 10th. Ballard was great. He went 9 innings and allowed just 3 hits. Gonzales and Martinez each got 2 hits for Fort Worth. FINAL – MCT 2 FWP 1 (10 innings)
Game #7:	This may be one of the wildest games I have ever played in APBA. Both teams combined for 39 hits, 25 runs, and 8 home runs. Fort Worth jumped on Montana early. After hitting only 1 homerun the entire series, they pound 4 in the first two innings. All this new found power builds a 10-5 lead after 4 innings. The pitching settles in for a little while as Montana scores a single run in the 6th and the Panthers carry a 10-6 lead into the wild and wacky 9th. There Fort Worth extends its lead to 12-6 with 2 runs in the top half. But the unthinkable happens (Al Michaels saying, “Do you believe in Miracles?!” comes to mind) as Montana scores 6 times off of closer Roger McDowell to tie the game at 12. The game remains tied until Montana wins it with a run in the bottom of the 12th. Lots of hitting stars in this one. For Fort Worth, Dave Winfield goes 5 for 7 with 3 runs, 4 RBI, 2 doubles and 2 HRs. Kevin Elster surprises with a 3 for 5 day and a HR. For Montana, it is Duncan (4-6, 3 runs, 6 RBI, and 2 HRs) and Ray Lankford (3-6, run, 2 RBI) leading the way. If Montana makes the playoffs, this will be a game that is remembered. All I can say, is thank goodness for expanded rosters. FINAL – MCT 13 FWP 12 (12 innings)
Summary	Montana keeps making a run at California and Detroit with a 7-0 sweep of Fort Worth. The series seemed closer than the result. Three Montana hitters deserved notice this week. Duncan (11-22, 5 runs, 8 RBI, and 2 HRs), Burks (10-21, 6 runs, and 4 RBI), and Horn (10-19, 4 runs, 8 RBI, and 3 HRs) carried the Cutthroats in the series offensively.

Chicago Demolition @ Stockton Wings
Preview	Chicago @ Stockton in a 7 game series Chicago is going to to the playoffs, Stockton is going nowhere.
Game #1:	CHI 6 – STO 1 WP: Lewis (CG) LP: Milacki HR: Daniels, E. Davis
Game #2:	CHI 6 – STO 1 WP: Steib LP: Ojeda HR: Strawberry, Scioscia
Game #3:	STO 3 – CHI 2 WP: Kiecker LP: Stewart (CG) HR: Whiten, Pagliarulo, E. Davis
Game #4:	CHI 10 – STO 0 WP: Clemens LP: Blair HR: none Blair out 10 days
Game #5:	CHI 6 – STO 5 WP: Sampen LP: Mahler SV: Eckersley HR: Tettleton, C. Davis
Game #6:	CHI 6 – STO 3 WP: Swan LP: D. Johnson SV: Eckersley HR: Walker, Boggs, Scioscia (2)
Game #7:	STO 11 – CHI 2 WP: Milacki LP: Stieb HR: Pagliarulo, E. Davis, C. Davis, Hrbek (GS)
Summary	Chicago takes the series 5 games to 2. Eric Davis and Mike Scioscia had 3 HR’s each for Chicago

Sugar Land Skeeters @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Preview	Heading down the homestretch the Gas Hornets are trailing to nail down another division title (future drought is fore-casted for a long time, so hopes are riding high – however, they struggle against the tough teams). Sugarland – a solid team for the future – comes to town working on delaying tactics.
Game #1:	Bob Welch sees no delays working game 1 – tosses a 2 hit shutout over 8 innings as Gas Hornets take the opener. SLS 0-2-0 LP Wilson (4-12) MGH 3-8-0 WP Welch (23-4) S Jones (16) HR – Yount (13) S. Wilson suffers a 5 day injury for Skeeters.
Game #2:	Gas Hornet 4 run 5th breaks up a 2-2 tie and Manhattan goes on to win 7-2. Miller 3 hits for Skeeters, Coles racks up 2. James, Dawson and McReynolds lead the offense. SLS 2-8-0 LP D.Robinson (4-15) MGH 7-14-0 WP McGaffigan (2-1)
Game #3:	Ah – everything is not done in Sugarland. A 4 run outburst in the 6th turns a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead. That lasts until Manhattan plates 2 in the bottom half. However, the Skeeters hold Manhattan to 5 and plate the winner in the 10th. The 4 run inning? Tim Naehring steps in and hits a pinch-hit Grand Salami (3). Ontiveros key to win with 2 innings of scoreless relief, followed by 2 more from winner John Habyan. Skeeters spoil 3 for 4, 4 rbis efforts from Santiago (triple-his 11th, and homer). SLS 6-7-1 WP Habyan (1-0) 10 innings MGH 5-10-1 LP Reardon (4-2) HRs SLS – Naehring (3); MGH – Santiago (10)
Game #4:	Tim Leary does his Bob Welch impression and tosses a CG 3 hit shutout as the Gas Hornets take this one. Gibson had 2 of the 3 hits (all 3 were singles). SLS 0-3-0 LP Valenzuela (6-15) MGH 3-8-0 WP Leary (9-10)
Game #5:	Welch back on the hill – and he gets the win – but it wasn’t a typical Welch game. In fact, this game was a slugfest. Sugarland scores 2 in the 1st but Manhattan gets 3 back in the 3rd. Then they get 5 in the 4th. Easy game for Welch? No – Skeeters rack up 3 in the 5th (including 2 run Hollins HR). Gas guys get 1 back in the bottom half, but Skeeters get that right back in the 6th. Welch finally leaves for PH in the 6th, giving up 7 hits and 6 runs (4 earned) and 3 walks. But he did have 9-6 lead. Bottom half Gas Hornets make it 10-6 and get 3 more in the 8th for the final score of 13-6. Bell and Griffey (think we’ll hear a lot about them for years to come) got 2 hits each. McReynolds, Dawson and Schofield 3 hits each (21 Manhattan hits total). SLS 6-8-0 LP Lilliquist (5-16) MGH 13-21-5 WP Welch (24-4) – yes that was 5 errors, almost thought they were going for double digits in runs, hits, AND errors. HRs – SLS – Hollins (9); MGH – Felder (3), James (10, Dawson (17)
Game #6:	Greg Harris and 4 relievers tamed the Skeeters, but Manhattan commits 3 more errors in this one leading to all runs given up being unearned. Griffey took advantage of sloppy play and hit a 2 run HR when he shouldn’t have had the chance. It was good for a 2-1 lead at the time (3rd inning). Manhattan got 2 in their half, and Skeeters tied it with 1 in 4th, but Manhattan took over after that with 3 in 5th, 1 in 7th and 4 more in the 8th. Chris James had another solid day going 5 for 5 with 7 rbis, 3 singles, double and HR. SLS 3-5-1 LP D.Robinson (4-16) MGH 11-14-3 WP Harris (11-7) HRs: SLS – Griffey (20); MGH – James (11) Devon White injured in collision and will be hurting for 5 days. Felder for Gas Hornets suffers and injury as well and will miss the next 9 days – or the whole Missouri series.
Game #7:	Final game of the series is put away by a 3 run Joyner homer in the 4th. Magrane pitches well for 6.2 innings (2 runs) and the Gas Hornets take the finale. Biggio gets 3 hits in this one, Kittle and Hollins knock solo shots. SLS 2-8-0 LP Wilson (4-13) MGH 5-12-0 WP Magrane (7-11) S Henke (14) HRs: SLS – Kittle (10), Hollins (10); MGH – Joyner (4)
Summary	With a 6-1 series win and Michigan having a tough time at home vs. Valdosta, the Gas Hornets magic # is down to 1 game. They go on the road to Missouri looking to clinch the division. Missouri has been hot lately and will try to stop the Gas Hornets – they are just getting back from a very tough week at Steel City (the NL West leader), so they hope to play spoiler (or at least delayer).

Mexico City Chiauhuas vs. Traverse City Tigers
Summary	Mexico City takes the series 4 games to 3.