Veto League Baseball's 21st season is well underway, having already played over 1/4 of this spring and summer's games. There have been several surprised and a couple disappointments.
The reigning World Series Champion Goonies are off to a hot start. Captained by veteran Josh Paul, they're sitting atop the standings at 5-0 while new team - Kekambas - have yet to pick up a win under leadership by 11-year veteran Adlonis Hopkins. In fact, the Kekambas were shut out 17-0 earlier the season during a home game. They've been outscored 76-41.
The Blackhawk Division is much more competitive, with just 1.5 games separating all three teams. Mitch Dietrich's expansion team Gems lead the division at 2-1, with Alex Miller's Cannons at 2-2 and Andrew Collins' Mad Dogs at the bottom of the division but still at 1-3.
Just three players have attended every game - Miller, Hopkins and sophomore Mason Overmire. The rookie who has played the most games is Scott Murray (6). Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season is the league leader in both RBI and runs scored - Overmire. In those 12 games he has 25 runs, 31 RBI, leads the league in doubles (10) and is tied for the lead in homeruns (2). He's also got a .582 batting average. Hopkins sits in second in RBI with 27. Miller is second in runs with 21.
One of the larger disappointments thus far is field availability. Twice, Veto Leaguers found themselves without a field, as the Quad City Cannons had dibs after VLB had arrived at Ridgewood. The shed which for the last several years had stored league gear such as bats, baseballs and the l-screen, had a new lock put on it keeping VLB out of the shed. VLB administration has spoken with both the QC Cannons and Rock Island Parks Department about the field issue but thus far there is no resolution aside from paying a fee to rent Ridgewood.
Players are encouraged to continue spreading the word about Veto League to co-workers, friends, family and strangers. Thus far, league average is less than 16 players per game, compared to over 18 last season.
Games will continue to be played at Ridgewood for the foreseeable future.
The reigning World Series Champion Goonies are off to a hot start. Captained by veteran Josh Paul, they're sitting atop the standings at 5-0 while new team - Kekambas - have yet to pick up a win under leadership by 11-year veteran Adlonis Hopkins. In fact, the Kekambas were shut out 17-0 earlier the season during a home game. They've been outscored 76-41.
The Blackhawk Division is much more competitive, with just 1.5 games separating all three teams. Mitch Dietrich's expansion team Gems lead the division at 2-1, with Alex Miller's Cannons at 2-2 and Andrew Collins' Mad Dogs at the bottom of the division but still at 1-3.
Just three players have attended every game - Miller, Hopkins and sophomore Mason Overmire. The rookie who has played the most games is Scott Murray (6). Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season is the league leader in both RBI and runs scored - Overmire. In those 12 games he has 25 runs, 31 RBI, leads the league in doubles (10) and is tied for the lead in homeruns (2). He's also got a .582 batting average. Hopkins sits in second in RBI with 27. Miller is second in runs with 21.
One of the larger disappointments thus far is field availability. Twice, Veto Leaguers found themselves without a field, as the Quad City Cannons had dibs after VLB had arrived at Ridgewood. The shed which for the last several years had stored league gear such as bats, baseballs and the l-screen, had a new lock put on it keeping VLB out of the shed. VLB administration has spoken with both the QC Cannons and Rock Island Parks Department about the field issue but thus far there is no resolution aside from paying a fee to rent Ridgewood.
Players are encouraged to continue spreading the word about Veto League to co-workers, friends, family and strangers. Thus far, league average is less than 16 players per game, compared to over 18 last season.
Games will continue to be played at Ridgewood for the foreseeable future.
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