Futures League News & Notes: Down to the Wire We Go

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With two weeks left in the Futures League regular season, things are starting to take shape. Once again the Vermont Lake Monsters are leading the way. Not only is this team in first place and beginning to widen its lead in the division, but they are also on another impressive win streak. This one is a seven-game streak that has them up by four games on the rest of the pack. Clearly, the best team in this league is Vermont, however, anything can happen in a best of three series for the championship. Here is what else is going on in the Futures League.

Not only has the Lake Monsters (36-20) won seven in a row, but over their last ten games, they have gone 9-1. Scoring runs has not been a problem during this stretch of games. They have recorded double-digits games three times. They have four one-run victories to their credit. Their only loss was back on July 26 when they were handled by the New Britain Bees 11-1. At the plate, they are getting some big-time numbers from Ethan Anderson. The catcher out of the Univ. of Virginia has been something special over these past ten games going 19-for-38 with three doubles, one home run, 18 RBI, and 12 runs scored. It is no surprise he was named Player of the Week and really was Player of the Month for July in the league. He is now hitting .434 with five long balls, 27 runs batted in and 20 runs scored in 23 games played.

The race for second place in the league is between two ball clubs. The Brockton Rox (30-22) and Pittsfield Suns (31-23). Over their last ten games, the Rox went 4-6. They have lost three one-run games and have been shut out once. At the plate, the team is still being led by Merrimack College OF Michael Golankiewicz who leads the team in batting average at .362, home runs with five, and runs batted in with 30. Over his last ten games, Michael has hits in seven of them (9- for- 34, with one double and one home run). He has played all 41 games for Brockton this summer. On the hill, Dillion Ryan from UMass Boston is doing his part. He is tied for the staff lead in wins with a 4-0 record. He leads in strikeouts with 62 and in ERA at 1.60. His four wins have come in his last ten starts for the team. In those wins, Dillion has allowed only three runs in 20 innings pitched. The righty has averaged at least four innings in his starts this summer.

Pittsfield has played better baseball lately. They have won three in a row, and eight of ten to be a game back in the loss column of Brockton. At 31-23, they are right there for a playoff spot. In two of their victories, the offense exploded for a combined 31 runs. Another UMass Boston product is helping Pittsfield stay within reach. Tim Cianciolo leads the team in pitching wins with four and is third in punchouts with 41. He has won three of his last four starts averaging at least five innings on the mound. His last outing did not go so well as he allowed four earned runs in four innings. The good news is the team still won 14-6 over Brockton. The two teams will meet only one more time before the season comes to an end. That matchup will take place on August 6 at Pittsfield. It will be a good one with a lot at stake.

The Suns also have this week’s Pitcher of the Week in Univ. of New Haven Izalya Mestre who went 11 innings allowing nine hits, one earned run, struck out eight giving up three free passes. He has gone at least five innings six times this season. He is tied for the team lead in wins with three. His ERA of 2.27 is second on the team.

Next week we will look at the final week of the regular season in the Futures League.