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NDBA POWER RANKINGS - Ups and Downs Edition
It's been an eventful couple weeks in the Niagara District Baseball Association (NDBA), with teams jostling for position and showcasing their talents both new and old on the field. The action is ramping up, the second half is upon us!
As we delve into this edition of the NDBA Power Rankings, we'll highlight the 'ups and downs' of each team's performance over the season. Each “Up” is a head-held-high stat that a team leads the league in through the first dozen games. While the “Downs” represent the... well... unsavoury moments.
Before we get going, we’d like to give a shout out to one of our key sponsors for the 2023 season. Chris Heckley Mortgage Broker.
There’s been a great shift in the tides, there may even be a new champion!?. There's been a lot to analyze since the wee moments of the season began, who's got the goods? Let the rankings begin!
- Thorold Anchors (1-3 this week; 5-8 overall) -3
It was a challenging couple weeks for the Anchors as they suffered three losses to drop to the bottom of the rankings. The worst of the losses were endured in a 13-2 defeat against the Niagara Falls Expos and an 11-0 shutout against the Beamsville Yellow Jackets.
Up: Offensive prowess - the Thorold Anchors displayed their explosive potential by scoring a remarkable 12 runs in a single inning during a matchup against the Merritton Alliance.
Down: Struggles with strikeouts - the Anchors lead the league with 106 strikeouts, which is shades higher than the next closest teams.
- St. Catharines Cobras (1-3 this week; 5-7 overall) -5
The Cobras managed to secure a victory against the Fort Erie Cannons with a 6-3 scoreline but suffered losses against the Thorold Anchors and Merritton Alliance twice for the biggest fall in the rankings.
Up: Gaining in Games Played - the Cobras have been actively competing and gaining valuable experience in the Tillsonburg tournament demonstrates their commitment to the game. On an individual level, Brad Vaters shares the league lead in triples, showcasing his offensive impact.
Down: Struggles with batting average - St. Catharines has the lowest team batting average in the league, sitting at .217 -- there’s a need for improvement in generating offense.
- Merritton Alliance (1-2 this week; 5-6 overall) E
The Alliance experienced a mixed week with a loss against the Fort Erie Cannons and a pair of wins against the St. Catharines Cobras. We’d like to see them regain form before bolstering their spot in the rankings.
Up: Plate discipline - the Alliance have demonstrated exceptional discipline at the plate, striking out the fewest times in the league with just 58 strikeouts in their first 11 games, averaging 5.27 strikeouts per game.
Down: Longest losing streak - the Alliance previously experienced a four-game losing streak, which was the longest in the NDBA this season. They will need to maintain consistency to avoid extended slumps.
- Beamsville Yellow Jackets (2-0 this week; 5-5 overall) +3
The Yellow Jackets had their first plus week of 2023, recording two victories in a washed-out fortnight. They showcased their offensive dominance with an 11-0 shutout win against the Thorold Anchors and a hard-fought 13-10 victory over the Welland Pioneers.
Up: On-base Kings - the Yellow Jackets share the league lead in OBP, boasting an impressive .397 mark. Their ability to draw walks consistently (4.2 walks per game) contributes to their offensive success of late.
Down: Defensive Turmoil - Beamsville has allowed the most runs per game (7.1) among all teams, indicating room for improvement on the defensive side.
- Fort Erie Cannons (1-4 this week; 8-5 overall) -2
The Cannons came crashing down to earth and are in the midst of a four-game slide, including two heartbreaking one-run defeats. They managed to secure a convincing 11-6 win against the Merritton Alliance but fell short against the St. Catharines Cobras, Welland Pioneers before dropping a narrow 7-6 game against the Niagara Falls Expos on the NDBA Live Stream.
Up: Crowd Pleasers - the Cannons boast the best home record in the league with a 5-2 mark, translating to a win percentage of 0.714. They thrive in the comfort of their home field. Additionally, Spencer Edwards leads the league in batting average among eligible batters with an impressive .522 mark.
Down: Struggles in close games - Fort Erie has suffered the most one-run losses this season, indicating their difficulty in winning tightly contested matchups. They suffered a late loss to the Niagara Falls Expos this week.
- Welland Pioneers (2-1 this week; 7-6 overall) +1
Welland had a positive week, recording two victories against the Fort Erie Cannons. However, they fell short in a high-scoring game against the Beamsville Yellow Jackets, losing 13-10. If that barnburner on Sunday night had swung the other way, the Pioneers may have found themselves on top of these rankings. We’ll wait another week.
Up: Best Nine - the Pioneers hold the highest team batting average in the league at .296, highlighting their offensive prowess. Individually, Mark Jaroslawski leads the league in hits (17) and stolen bases (14), making a significant impact on the basepaths and in the Pioneers overall success.
Down: Walks per game - Welland pitching staff shares the highest walks per game average with Thorold Anchors, averaging 4.76 walks per game. They will need to strike a balance between patience and aggression when facing tough batters.
- Niagara Falls Expos (3-0 this week; 7-5 overall) +5
The Expos had a perfect week, securing three consecutive victories and vaulting to the top of the NDBA Power rankings. They showcased their offensive dominance with a 13-2 win against the Anchors and a convincing 10-2 victory in the rematch. In a closely contested game, they emerged victorious with a 7-6 win against the Cannons. Tenacious, spontaneous and stingy as ever, the Expos are the team to bat right now.
Up: Offensive consistency - the Expos lead the league in hits per game with an average of 8.16 hits per game, showcasing their ability to consistently generate offense. Anthony Baldinelli also leads the league in on-base percentage among eligible batters, further bolstering their offensive prowess.
Down: Big Blowouts - the Expos have experienced their fair share of blowout losses (3), sharing the league lead in this category with the Beamsville Yellow Jackets.
