Top Five All-Star Game Performers

Cardenas tied the game with a RBI double and scored the game-winning
run, my pick for top performer. /Berkshire Eagle

1. JC Cardenas, SS, North Adams

Cardenas went 1-1 with a RBI double to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, stole third as part of a double steal and came home as the game-winning run to carry the Northern Division to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory. He also drew a walk in his other at bat as a replacement for starter Garrett Black (Valley).

2. Drew Ferguson, OF, Ocean State

Also not the MVP, Ferguson’s clutch at bat in the top of the sixth put the Southern squad up. Ater teamamte Ryan Blanton cut the North lead to just one, Ferguson hit a two-run single on a line down the first base line to drive in both the game-tying and go ahead run. He also swiped a bag and would’ve most likely been the MVP had Keene’s Jared Mederos not walked off.

3. Trey Amburgey, OF, Vermont

Another non-MVP, however , Ambrurgey accounted for half of the Northern Division runs in just two at bats. He hit a RBI sacrifice fly to right field in the first and then led off the fourth with a single on a full count. He eventually came home on bases-loaded double play.

5. Jack English, RHP, Laconia

4nglish, a rising senior at Florida Gulf Coast, stands just six feet tall but unleashed against the 9-1-2 of the Southern order and was the only pitcher to strike out the side. He threw just two balls to 11 strikes, and struck out Logan Koch, Toby Handey and Tommy Edman- two of which were looking.

5. Jared Mederos, SS, Keene

The MVP went just 1-3 but his lone hit was the biggest of the night. The Swamp Bat shortstop laced a single through the right side of the infield to walkoff, scoring Cardenas from third base. He flew out twice in his other at bats but carried the Northern Division to the victory.

NECBL Midseason Awards

Thomas Jankins has been excellent in relief for Plymouth. (Photo from Pilgrims)

The 2014 NECBL season is (more or less) at the midway point. I've decided to hand out midseason awards, which don't mean much- their is still a month of regular season baseball to play. I'll include the big ones- MVP, top hitter, defensive player of the year, etc. Here goes.

Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas Roulis, Plymouth Pilgrims
Roulis committed 17 errors in 38 games for the Vermont Mountaineers last year and finished with a .907 fielding mark. This summer, he's turned it around and has made just one error through the first 18 games and holds a .990 fielding percentage along with a league-leading 47.5 range factor, just above '13 teammate Bret Dennis on the Keene. Roulis has been excellent for the Pilgrims this summer, both at second base and at the plate.

Relief Pitcher of the Year: Thomas Jankins, Plymouth Pilgrims
He may only have one save but in seven appearances (one a start), Jankins hasn't allowed an earned run over 18 2/3 innings and is deserving of the relief pitcher of the year honor so far. The right-hander owns a 20:3 K/BB ratio and leads the league with a 0.00 ERA. In one relief appearance, he held Ocean State to just one hit over the final six innings (into the 13th) and picked up a win while striking out eight/

Most Pleasant Surprise Team: Plymouth Pilgrims
Obvisouly it's Plymouth, who entered 2014 coming off of an inaugural season where they finished last in the league with a 15-28 record. They've completely turned it around, and sit just a half game out of the best record in the league, held by Newport. Definitely good stuff for a team that finished 14.5 games out of first in the Eastern Division last season.

Most Disappointing Team: Keene Swamp Bats
They've made a turnaround as of late and have won four straight, but Keene still sits at .500. In a preseason interview with the New England Baseball Journal, Swamp Bat GM Kevin Watterson said that it was potentially one of the best hitting teams put together in Keene history. The offense rank fourth to last in average and the pitching staff hasn't been able to pick them up. However, the Northern Division has just six games between the first and last teams and Keene has been hot, so don't expect them taking this award at the seasons end.

Robin Roberts Top Pitcher: Chris Kalica, Mystic Schooners and Mitchell Jordan, Ocean State Waves
This is a really, really tough decision so far. Mystic's Chris Kalica and Ocean State's Mitchell Jordan have both yet to allow an earned run- Jordan has four starts, Kalica has three. Since it's the midseason awards, I've decided to give them both a nod.  Jordan has a ridiculous 16:1 K/BB ratio through 18 innings and has made back-to-back starts of five innings. Kalica, on the other hand, has gone six plus innings in all three of his starts, recently going six and giving up just one hit while striking out seven.

Rick Ligi MVP: Blaise Salter, Newport Gulls
When you hit seven home runs at the midseason mark while also hitting .353, you're doing something right. Last season, Tyler Boyd hit seven home runs the entire summer. Salter has hit that mark by July 4th, including  a two-home run performance against Plymouth, including the go-ahead shot in the top of the 17th. He leads the league in RBIs (26) and also has five doubles and 15 runs scored.

Midseason Leaders (Pace/NECBL record)
Home runs: Blaise Salter, 7 (14/19, Danny Collins)
RBIs: Blaise Salter, 26 (52/45, Rob Kelly)
Walks: Drew Ferguson, 15 (30/47, Paul Hoilman)
Runs: Michael Martin, 17 (35/45, Zach Stone)
Stolen Bases: Jordan Mountrford, 11 (22/44, Jason Maule)
Saves: Jeffrey Paglione, 5 (10/16, Mark Murray)
Strikeouts: Jack Patterson, 28 (56/89, Ryan Mullins)
Innings Pitched: Shaefer Shepard, 27.1 (60.1/81, Stu Perry)