The Spring 2019 Maui Adult Baseball League regular season is winding with only one playoff spot still up for grabs. During the span from April 2 through May 5 pitching dominated, with 10 qualifying pitchers logging ERAs below 2.80. As their teams battled for playoff seeding, the following candidates came up big enough to warrant consideration as the MABL Player of the Month. As always, voting is open to players, fans, and family, and is limited to 1 vote per individual.
The La Perouse Pirates’ Austin Beesley had a standout month both on the mound and at the plate. In 2 appearances, Beesley posted a 2.23 ERA, .199 opponent’s average, and 1.22 WHIP while striking out 13 over 12.1 IP. At the plate he posted a .417/.481/.417 AVG/OBP/SLG line, picking up a league-leading 10 hits to go along with 5 runs scored and 5 stolen bases in 6 games, including 3 straight multi-hit games.
Dreyson Cordova helped the resurgent Upcountry Dirtbags clinch a playoff spot with a tremendous month on the mound. In 3 appearances, Cordova went 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA, .143 opponents average, and 12 Ks over 16 IP. In a start against the Warriors on April 14 Dreyson picked up his 3rd win of the season, holding the Warriors to 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits while striking out 6 over 6 IP.
Ikaika Neizman led the Lahaina Warriors formidable trio of pitchers this month, going 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA, .149 opponent batting average, and a league-leading 0.77 WHIP over 15.2 IP. In a complete game shutout against the Hurricanes on April 2, Neizman surrendered only 4 hits while walking 1 en route to his team’s first complete game of the season.
The Central Rays’ Kory Takamura picked up 2 complete game wins in 2 starts this month. The defending Cy Young award winner posted a 0.50 ERA, .250 opponents average, 1.00 WHIP, and 0 walks over 18 IP. In a huge matchup against the La Perouse Pirates on April 14, Takamura limited league’s top run-scoring offense to 4 runs (1 earned) on 8 hits.
The West Maui Brewers’ Enmanuel Yajure Pena continued to lead the charge for the defending champs. Yajure Pena led the league with a .583 average, picking up 7 hits over 12 at bats in 3 games. On the mound, the Venezuelan righthander dominated as well, posting a 0.00 ERA over 13 IP along with 13 Ks and a league leading .133 opponent’s batting average. During the Brewers’ 15 inning marathon against the Pirates on May 5, Yajure Pena threw 9 innings of scoreless relief, striking out 10 along the way.
Check out the stats page for complete hitting and pitching stats for every player in the league, and cast your vote below for the MABL Player of the Month for March 2019. The poll will remain open through May 13.
Vote for the MABL Player of the Month:
- Ikaika Neizman (36%, 45 Votes)
- Dreyson Cordova (27%, 34 Votes)
- Enmanuel Yajure Pena (21%, 26 Votes)
- Kory Takamura (10%, 13 Votes)
- Austin Beesley (5%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 124