The Home Stretch Begins

Denver 6, New Mexico 5
The Donuts handed the league-leading Roadrunners a rare loss in a close contest. Despite being out-hit and out-homered, Denver used strong pitching (4 wins, 1.20 WHIP, 4.06 K/BB) and defense (2 errors vs. 7) to steal it late. New Mexico still showed plenty of firepower (8 HRs, .242 AVG), but the Donuts proved that even the top team can sometimes get glazed.

Austin 6, Coastal Bend 4
A critical win for the Armadillos, who have snuck back into sixth place. Austin’s offense did the heavy lifting, exploding for 41 runs, 37 RBIs, 11 homers, and a .287 average while also swiping 3 bags. They swept the hitting categories and added just enough from the bullpen to hold off a Coastal Bend squad that dominated on the mound with a 2.66 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and ridiculous 7.10 K/BB ratio. The Oilers played clean defense too, but Austin’s bats carried the day.

Rockport 7, Michiana 2
The RedFish looked playoff-serious in Week 16, blasting 11 HRs with a .299 average and driving in 35 runs. Michiana kept it close in runs and ERA but couldn’t keep pace with Rockport’s efficiency. With the win, the RedFish move into 8th while the Cavemen drop to 7th—both teams still very much in the playoff conversation with six weeks to go.

Oahu 5, Gallagher Gulch 5
One of the most evenly matched contests of the season. Oahu brought the heat on offense, hitting .288 with 9 home runs, and also edged Gallagher Gulch in ERA (2.17 to 3.00) while matching them in wins and topping them in saves (3 to 1). The Fat Boys countered with better WHIP (1.00 to 1.18) and an impressive 4.13 K/BB ratio. It all balanced out in the end, as both teams walked away with five categories and a hard-earned draw.

Sinton 5, Indy 5
Don’t look now, but the Mullets have played well against two straight top-six teams, barely losing to the Fat Boys and now tying Indy. They out-hit Indy (.276 to .250) and took four batting categories while posting a tidy 2.72 ERA. Indy held on with better control (2.63 K/BB) and just enough power (12 HRs), but it wasn’t enough to escape with a win. The East remains tight.

Doña Ana 6, Boerne 4
In a heavyweight West Division matchup, the Chihuahuas came out on top. Boerne’s bats launched 10 homers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Doña Ana’s sharper execution (.250 AVG vs. .231) and dominant pitching—highlighted by a 2.84 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. The win pulls Doña Ana even with Boerne in the standings at 89 wins each.

I don’t usually single out individual players—because that would require me to pay way too much attention—but Nick Kurts left me no choice. The guy hit .600 last week with 5 homers, 11 RBIs, 9 runs scored, a stolen base, and no errors. Most of that came in Friday’s absurd performance, where he went 6-for-6 with 4 bombs and 8 RBIs.

Week 17 Preview: Home Stretch Hustle

Austin vs. Boerne
The Armadillos are clinging to sixth, and they’ll have to get through the hard-hitting Mutts to stay there. Boerne wants a win after dropping a close one to Doña Ana.

Michiana vs. Denver
Both teams come in looking to build on mixed results. Michiana is still very much in the playoff conversation, and every week counts in the tight East race. Denver just took down the league leaders and could play spoiler again. Expect a gritty back-and-forth.

New Mexico vs. Rockport
The Roadrunners’ loss didn’t do much to affect their standing. They still have a healthy lead overall but would like to make a statement after dropping last week’s matchup to Denver. The RedFish, meanwhile, are suddenly knocking on the playoff door.

Gallagher Gulch vs. Indy
The Fat Boys are built on pitching. Indy’s offense has been powerful, though occasionally inconsistent. Could be a grind-it-out war for every category.

Doña Ana vs. Coastal Bend
Two West Division rivals. Doña Ana is looking to cement their playoff spot, and Coastal Bend is trying to claw back into the mix. A must-win week for the Oilers.

Sinton vs. Oahu
Despite slow starts to the season and a wide gap in the standings, Sinton and Oahu have both been heating up lately. It’s not too late for one of them to go on a historic run—but it has to start this week.

In the Money: The Top Six, With 6 Weeks to Go Before the Playoffs

1. New Mexico Roadrunners (103–58–15)
Still safely in the top spot, despite a rare stumble last week.

    2. Indy Integrals (83–77–16)
    Another tie, another week of hanging on in the East.

    3. Boerne Mutts (89–69–18)
    The puppy dogs are sitting pretty in third.

    4. Doña Ana Chihuahuas (89–71–16)
    Tied in wins with Boerne and gaining steam. The West battle is officially spicy.

    5. Gallagher Gulch Fat Boys (85–77–14)
    Still pitching their way toward the playoffs, one tight matchup at a time.

    6. Austin Armadillos (82–78–16)
    Snuck into sixth with a timely win and now face a crucial test against Boerne. And while the Mutts may be favored, it’s worth noting: dogs are mammals, and some dogs are quite small.