 |
|
|
1957; Lisbon Holds the East; Mobile Slips Ahead in a West Nobody Can Seize Wednesday, July 3rd , 1957 The first half of the 1957 campaign is complete, and the Trans-Oceanic Baseball Association reaches its All-Star holiday with both pennant races very much alive. Lisbon carries a two-game advantage into the break, while Mobile has finally nudged ahead in the West at 25-23. The Mobile Monsters went 4-2 to claim sole possession of first place. Their bats have come alive at precisely the right moment. Damon Carides has been scorching, collecting 13 hits in 22 at-bats, while Chris Sullivan hit .417 with three home runs and six RBIs. Mobile's pitching remains less certain, but after weeks of sharing the lead, the Monsters finally have the Western flag to themselves. Los Angeles stumbled through another 2-4 week and reaches the break at 24-24, one game behind Mobile. The Stars still possess two of the league's finest bats in Clay Austen (.347) and Daniel Martin (.345), but David Morrison has gone ice cold, managing only two hits in his latest 23 at-bats. Even so, Los Angeles remains close enough that one good week could put the Stars right back on top. New York went 3-3 to reach 23-25, two games out. Alfredo Jimenez provided a welcome spark with 10 hits in 20 at-bats, but the Skyliners have spent most of the first half hovering around the .500 mark. Providence likewise finished 4-2, climbing to 22-26. Wei-hong Shao remains the Anglers' great attraction, and his tremendous June earned him Batter of the Month honors. Across the Atlantic, Lisbon went 3-3 and enters the break at 28-20, still holding the East by two games. The Seafarers' strength remains on the mound. Aaron Williams owns a magnificent 1.87 ERA, while Brian Robb has seven victories and Griff Murphy stands at 2.48. Loflinger Schneider supplied some thunder this week as well, belting four home runs in seven games. Iceland went 2-4, cooling after its Week 7 charge but remaining firmly in the chase at 26-22. Kjeld Penders refuses to cool off, batting an extraordinary .500 over his last seven games with 12 hits in 24 trips. Hirose Inouye has been equally dependable on the mound and carries a 2.16 ERA into the holiday. Paris stands at 23-25 after a 2-4 week, while Sicily went 3-3 to reach 21-27. Federico Calderon remains one of the hottest hitters in the Association, and the Mafia have quietly gone 10-8 over the past three weeks after their miserable opening stretch. Now the regular-season business gives way to festivities. The First-Year Player Draft, All-Star Challenge and July 5 All-Star Game take center stage. Wei-hong Shao led all Western fan voting with an enormous 460,330 votes, while Carmelo Marsuppini topped the East with 256,087. The league's youngsters will also take the field in the Prospects Game, offering the public a first glimpse at several names who may shape TOBA's future. Among the first-half honors, Los Angeles youngster Jon Maas was named June's Rookie of the Month, batting .304 during the month with three homers and 12 runs scored. Providence's Oscar Martel captured Pitcher of the Month after going 5-2 with a 1.92 ERA, while Shao took the batting prize. At the halfway bell, there is no runaway club and no settled pennant. Seven of the eight clubs are within five games of a postseason position. The second half promises a scrap. Week 8 Records: Mobile 4-2; Providence 4-2; Lisbon 3-3; New York 3-3; Sicily 3-3; Iceland 2-4; Los Angeles 2-4; Paris 2-4. |
|
