The first month of the Spring 2020 Maui Adult Baseball League season is in the books, and it’s time for players and fans to decide on the February 2020 Player of the Month. The first 4 weeks of games were held in Kihei and Lahaina, with the La Perouse Pirates and West Maui Brewers leading the way as the only two unbeaten teams following an Opening Day 13-inning tie.
The candidates for the Player of the Month award were selected based on their performances during the first 4 weeks of the season, with no more than one candidate per team. As always, voting is open to players, fans, and family, and is limited to 1 vote per individual.
The Brewers’ Mike Abercrombie has gotten off to a hot start this season, hitting .571 (8 for 14) over his team’s first 4 games. Abercrombie is tied for the league lead with 7 RBIs and 3 extra-base hits, to go along with 5 runs scored and a 1.386 OPS. Against the Makena Royals on Feb 9, the Brewers’ center fielder went 3 for 3 with a double, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBIs.
Brooks Faria has helped the new-look Pacific Hurricanes to a 2-2 start by hitting .545 (6 for 11) over 3 games to start the season. The ‘Canes backstop has a .545/.583/.545 AVG/OBP/SLG line to go with 3 runs, 3 RBIs, and 3 straight multi-hit games so far. In a huge victory over the Kihei Centipedes on Feb 23, Faria went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.
Rookie Justin Jamison of the Lahaina Warriors has burst onto the scene by hitting .471 (8 for 17) over his first 4 games, with 5 runs scored and 3 RBIs. The former Texas Rangers farmhand picked up 3 hits, including his first MABL triple in the Warriors 11-8 win over the Hurricanes on Feb 16. Jamison’s 1.147 OPS has paced the league’s top scoring offense through the first month of the season.
Joseph McFarlin of the La Perouse Pirates has been on fire to start the season, leading the league in batting average (.688), slugging percentage (.875), hits (11), RBIs (7), and stolen bases (7). In addition, the reigning two-time MABL Cy Young Award winner has posted a 1.64 ERA over 11.0 IP with 10 Ks and a minuscule .057 opponent batting average and 0.45 WHIP, both best in the league. Against the Brewers on Opening Day, Joe Mac threw 6 perfect innings in relief, while going 3 for 5 with a double, run scored, RBI, and 2 stolen bases.
Bryant Sparkman has been a workhorse for the Central Rays, throwing 15.0 innings over 3 appearances this month. Building on a stellar Summer 2019 campaign, the two-time MABL MVP is tied for the league lead with 2 wins to go with a 1.20 ERA, 12 Ks, and a 1.20 WHIP. Sparkman has been clutch at the plate as well, leading the league with 7 RBIs over 3 games (.357/.471/.429 AVG/OBP/SLG line over that span). In addition to picking up the win against the Royals on Feb 23 with 6 innings of 1-run ball, Sparkman drove in 2 while picking up 2 hits.
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 February 2020. The poll will remain open through March 2.
Vote for the MABL Player of the Month:
- Justin Jamison (38%, 43 Votes)
- Joseph McFarlin (23%, 26 Votes)
- Brooks Faria (18%, 20 Votes)
- Bryant Sparkman (12%, 13 Votes)
- Mike Abercrombie (10%, 11 Votes)
Total Voters: 113
I pick Brooks Faria
Go Hurricane’s !! Voted for Brooks Faria