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AZTarHeel · 04-05-2009, 05:04 PM

1918 North Carolina State League — Mid-Season Update

Hornets setting the pace again in NCSL
Some new faces producing familiar results in Charlotte

JUNE 24, 1918 STANDINGS

Code:

Team                     W       L       PCT     GB      Pyt.Rec Diff    Home    Away    XInn    1Run    M#      Streak  Last10
Charlotte Hornets       50      28      .641    -       49-29   1       27-12   23-16   4-4     21-10   36      L1      6-4
Asheville Tourists      43      35      .551    7.0     45-33   -2      21-18   22-17   4-4     14-16           W1      8-2
Winston-Salem Twins     39      39      .500    11.0    42-36   -3      20-16   19-23   5-8     11-18           W2      5-5
Raleigh Capitals        38      40      .487    12.0    37-41   1       19-20   19-20   4-4     14-15           L2      4-6
Durham Bulls            35      43      .449    15.0    31-47   4       14-25   21-18   2-1     15-14           L2      2-8
Greensboro Patriots     29      49      .372    21.0    31-47   -2      16-26   13-23   6-4     14-16           W2      5-5

There seems to be a true dynasty forming in the North Carolina State League. The Charlotte Hornets, for the third year in a row, have bolted out to an impressive lead in the standings.

The team that was the league's laughingstock in the first few years has now become the dominant presence. On May 20, Charlotte had already built a 10-game lead (with a 33-13 record). Asheville has reeled the Hornets in a little bit but they are going to be tough to catch down the stretch.

Some interesting roster moves have helped the defending champs maintain their spot at the top. In the preseason, Charlotte called up young standout pitcher Tim “T-Rex” Johnston. On April 1, Charlotte felt good enough about Johnston to trade 31-year-old starter Norm Ross to Durham, getting a huge bat in return — outfielder Antonio Arevalo, the 1915 Most Outstanding Hitter. Arevalo quickly won a spot in the middle of the batting order and started producing, batting better than .300.

Then, T-Rex went down with a rotator cuff injury in late April. Lost for the year! Yikes. But the Hornets went out and made a deal with Winston-Salem to bring in veteran hurler Gary “Brick” Lee to take T-Rex’s place. Winston fans were wondering why the Twins would give “Brick” away to the top team in the league, considering Lee had won a league record 19 games for Winston a year ago. Brick was curious as well but quickly became at home in Charlotte. He was 6-1 in May and earned Pitcher of the Month honors. The Hornets just have the golden touch right now, it seems.

A few other mid-season notes

• On May 27, Raleigh pitcher Andy Owens became the second in NCSL history to throw a NO-HITTER. He struck out seven and walked three against Asheville. Asheville's Merlin "The Wizard" McNeill threw the first no-no in 1917.

• On May 15, infielder Anthony Watson of Durham, who was having another great year, broke his ankle and was lost for the season! He missed a lot of 1916 due to a back injury. He’s 39 years old. Will this be the end for one of the most beloved players in the league? He was one of the league leaders in several offensive categories before his latest misfortune.

• Strikeout artist Oliver “Skull” Jenkins was traded! On June 17, the Raleigh Capitals gave up one of the league’s top pitchers. A curious move because Raleigh also traded away a reliever and only got a mediocre 40-year-old outfielder in return. Skull was 8-7 at the time of the trade. His ERA had climbed into the 3.50 range but still Jenkins had been somewhat effective.

• The injury bug hit a handful of big-name players. We haven’t talked much of Raleigh’s Bill Robbins, but the right fielder is a career .311 hitter and on the NCSL career leader board in a number of categories. He screwed up his shoulder in June and will be out 15 months or so. Ouch. Tough times for the Capital City's team. Winston's Jack Fry also missed some time due to injury.

• The Greensboro Patriots are 21 games out and 20 games under .500. Meet the Detroit Lions of the NCSL...

• The Mount Airy Graniteers, the D-League team for Winston-Salem, started the year 4-16. Yikes. They've recovered some but Cooleemee (Greensboro) and Mooresville (Charlotte) lead the Western Carolina League coming down the stretch of their season. Remember, for the first time the D-League will have a best-of-three playoff series once their 90-game schedule is complete...

04-05-2009, 05:04 PM	#68 (permalink)
AZTarHeel All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,488 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9x in 8 posts	1918 North Carolina State League — Mid-Season Update Hornets setting the pace again in NCSL Some new faces producing familiar results in Charlotte JUNE 24, 1918 STANDINGS Code: Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Charlotte Hornets 50 28 .641 - 49-29 1 27-12 23-16 4-4 21-10 36 L1 6-4 Asheville Tourists 43 35 .551 7.0 45-33 -2 21-18 22-17 4-4 14-16 W1 8-2 Winston-Salem Twins 39 39 .500 11.0 42-36 -3 20-16 19-23 5-8 11-18 W2 5-5 Raleigh Capitals 38 40 .487 12.0 37-41 1 19-20 19-20 4-4 14-15 L2 4-6 Durham Bulls 35 43 .449 15.0 31-47 4 14-25 21-18 2-1 15-14 L2 2-8 Greensboro Patriots 29 49 .372 21.0 31-47 -2 16-26 13-23 6-4 14-16 W2 5-5 There seems to be a true dynasty forming in the North Carolina State League. The Charlotte Hornets, for the third year in a row, have bolted out to an impressive lead in the standings. The team that was the league's laughingstock in the first few years has now become the dominant presence. On May 20, Charlotte had already built a 10-game lead (with a 33-13 record). Asheville has reeled the Hornets in a little bit but they are going to be tough to catch down the stretch. Some interesting roster moves have helped the defending champs maintain their spot at the top. In the preseason, Charlotte called up young standout pitcher Tim “T-Rex” Johnston. On April 1, Charlotte felt good enough about Johnston to trade 31-year-old starter Norm Ross to Durham, getting a huge bat in return — outfielder Antonio Arevalo, the 1915 Most Outstanding Hitter. Arevalo quickly won a spot in the middle of the batting order and started producing, batting better than .300. Then, T-Rex went down with a rotator cuff injury in late April. Lost for the year! Yikes. But the Hornets went out and made a deal with Winston-Salem to bring in veteran hurler Gary “Brick” Lee to take T-Rex’s place. Winston fans were wondering why the Twins would give “Brick” away to the top team in the league, considering Lee had won a league record 19 games for Winston a year ago. Brick was curious as well but quickly became at home in Charlotte. He was 6-1 in May and earned Pitcher of the Month honors. The Hornets just have the golden touch right now, it seems. A few other mid-season notes • On May 27, Raleigh pitcher Andy Owens became the second in NCSL history to throw a NO-HITTER. He struck out seven and walked three against Asheville. Asheville's Merlin "The Wizard" McNeill threw the first no-no in 1917. • On May 15, infielder Anthony Watson of Durham, who was having another great year, broke his ankle and was lost for the season! He missed a lot of 1916 due to a back injury. He’s 39 years old. Will this be the end for one of the most beloved players in the league? He was one of the league leaders in several offensive categories before his latest misfortune. • Strikeout artist Oliver “Skull” Jenkins was traded! On June 17, the Raleigh Capitals gave up one of the league’s top pitchers. A curious move because Raleigh also traded away a reliever and only got a mediocre 40-year-old outfielder in return. Skull was 8-7 at the time of the trade. His ERA had climbed into the 3.50 range but still Jenkins had been somewhat effective. • The injury bug hit a handful of big-name players. We haven’t talked much of Raleigh’s Bill Robbins, but the right fielder is a career .311 hitter and on the NCSL career leader board in a number of categories. He screwed up his shoulder in June and will be out 15 months or so. Ouch. Tough times for the Capital City's team. Winston's Jack Fry also missed some time due to injury. • The Greensboro Patriots are 21 games out and 20 games under .500. Meet the Detroit Lions of the NCSL... • The Mount Airy Graniteers, the D-League team for Winston-Salem, started the year 4-16. Yikes. They've recovered some but Cooleemee (Greensboro) and Mooresville (Charlotte) lead the Western Carolina League coming down the stretch of their season. Remember, for the first time the D-League will have a best-of-three playoff series once their 90-game schedule is complete... __________________ AzTarHeel's dynasty works: The Arizona League 3.0: Historical players in the Grand Canyon state Tall Tales: The Andrew Zarzour Story Baseball In The Tar Heel State: A Fictional Experience Win At All Costs: The 2004 Boston Red Sox The Arizona League: Real Players. Fictional Teams Last edited by AZTarHeel; 04-05-2009 at 05:08 PM.