The Masher Makes It Seven

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

Ugak “Smokey” the Masher won his seventh Aragorn Award on Wednesday, and the strangest part is that this was, by his standards, a down year.

The 27-year-old switch-hitting shortstop hit .350 — best in the league — with 43 home runs, 106 RBI, 113 runs, 100 walks against just 54 strikeouts, and 39 stolen bases, one short of a 40/40 season. His 10.9 WAR led all Tolkien hitters for the sixth straight year. It was also his lowest total since 2046.

That’s the problem with the Masher’s résumé: everything gets graded against the Masher. In 2050 he hit .409 with a .762 slugging percentage. He hasn’t posted fewer than 10 WAR since he was 21. He’s now won the Mordor MVP in 2045, 2047, 2048, 2049, 2050, 2051, and 2052 — a run that started the year after he took the Frodo Award as a 19-year-old rookie and finished second in the MVP vote anyway.

Nine seasons in, the career line reads 371 home runs, 1,829 hits, 223 steals, and 102.8 WAR. He is 27.

The Uruk-hai finished 79-83, second in the Troll Division and 14 games out. Voters didn’t hold it against him. At this point, they’ve stopped pretending anyone else is in the conversation.

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Lucier’s Breakout Earns Shire Aragorn Award

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

A year ago, Belegond Lucier was a throw-in.

The 25-year-old third baseman arrived at Old Forest on June 26, 2051, packaged with pitcher Xu-gang Sharmistha in a deal that sent Polébio the Seer, Hildibrand Zooty, and Ecaeris Belondir to Dol Guldur. He’d hit 11 home runs in his Tolkien career. He hit 4 more the rest of that summer.

Then he hit 48.

Lucier was named the Shire Conference’s Aragorn Award winner Wednesday after a season in which he led the league in home runs (48), RBI (123), and hits (206), batted .338 with a 1.033 OPS, and scored 113 runs. He walked (73) more than he struck out (64) — a rarity for a hitter with that kind of power — and posted 9.5 WAR, second in the league only to Dead Marshes’ Ugak the Masher.

He did it on a winner, too. The Merry Fellows went 92-70 and took the Elf Division, with Lucier hitting alongside four-time MVP Alrond Hubbard Jr., who added 37 homers of his own. For the first time in a while, Hubbard wasn’t the best hitter in his own lineup.

The Merry Fellows’ side of that June trade looked like a depth move at the time. It now looks like the best day in franchise history.

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Gandalf Pitcher Award Winner Announced

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

Monday, November 18th , 2052
The Dagorlad Disaster have a rising superstar or maybe even a budding Hall-of-Famer in the making. It’s Hyeon-cheong Alejadre, this year’s Mordor Conference Gandalf Pitcher Award selection. This blossoming hurler wowed fans, peers and sportswriters with a fabulous performance.

Alejadre compiled a 18-6 record in 33 starts, tallied 255 strikeouts in 220.1 innings and recorded a 2.29 ERA. Other clubs managed only a .197 batting average against him.

Snuknogh Bugsmasher of the Minas Morgul Slayers finished second in voting, while Pansy Radríguez of the Ravenhill Darkwings finished third.

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2052 SC Gandalf Pitcher Award Named

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

Monday, November 18th , 2052
Gaetano Sowell of the Rivendell Royals had a tremendous season and was chosen the Gandalf Pitcher Award winner in the Shire Conference.

He crafted a standout 15-8 mark in 33 starts, striking out 187, while walking 57. He worked 213.2 innings, yielded 167 hits and posted a 2.82 ERA. Opposing clubs had a .213 average against him.

Snaglut Baldivía of the Old Forest Merry Fellows finished second in voting, while Frugorn Coronda of the Minas Ithil Wyrms finished third.

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Stonemould Wins Award for MC Dominance

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

Monday, November 18th , 2052
Sméagol Stonemould was a calming influence out of the Minas Morgul Slayers bullpen this season.

His teammates and manager said he had a poised demeanor about him that was typical of someone much older and more experienced. His poise has paid off, as the 25-year-old turned in a sparkling season and has been named the winner of the Mordor Conference Gwaihir Reliever Award for 2052.

The Long Cleeve, Hobbit Lands native won the award with 19 saves in 58 relief appearances, 65 strikeouts in 73.1 innings and a record of 7-2 to go with his 1.47 ERA.

Fredegar Mack of the Dagorlad Disaster finished second in voting, while Soliania Manfen of the Dol Guldur Dragons finished third.

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Top SC Reliever Honored

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

Monday, November 18th , 2052
She may only be 25, but Pandora Baecker of the Old Forest Merry Fellows has already established herself as one of the elite relievers in the Shire Conference.

The reliever was today named the SC Gwaihir Reliever Award winner for 2052.

She won the award with a strong year that saw her put up 4 saves in 67 relief appearances and 190 strikeouts in 113 innings. She had a record of 8-1 to go with her 2.07 ERA.

Dubpug Malona of the Minas Ithil Wyrms finished second in voting, while Gavin Hardbottle of the Erebor Eagles finished third.

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*the Masher Wins MC 2052 Sam Gamgee Batter

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

Monday, November 18th , 2052
When it came to hitting the baseball, Ugak *the Masher had few peers in the Mordor Conference this year. The gifted shortstop for Dead Marshes tagged opposing pitchers for a .350 average and was voted the Sam Gamgee Batter for 2052. Included in his season stats were 188 hits, 39 doubles, 2 triples, 43 home runs, 113 runs scored and 106 RBIs.

Elluin *Engwyn of the Lothlorien Lumberjacks finished second in voting, while Lance Greenholm of the Dagorlad Disaster finished third.

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#1 Batter Named by Shire Conference

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

Monday, November 18th , 2052
Belegond Lucier, the talented Old Forest third baseman, certainly made his name known among Shire Conference hurlers this season. He hammered them for 206 hits, 22 doubles, 3 triples, 48 home runs, 123 RBIs and scored 113 times. That kind of output made him the choice for Shire Conference Sam Gamgee Batter for 2052.

Alrond *Hubbard, Jr. of the Old Forest Merry Fellows finished second in voting, while Sam *Oakenstaff of the Carrock Bears finished third.

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MC’s Top Rookie Proclaimed

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

In his apprentice season in the Mordor Conference, Andwise Holeman put up some quality statistics to sew up the prestigious Frodo Rookie Award.

This talented Dagorlad third baseman posted a .249 average while accumulating 126 hits, 17 home runs, 53 RBIs and 57 runs scored in 146 games. He drew 40 walks as he fashioned a solid .306 on-base percentage.

Dinodas the Bucklebury Ferry Driver of the Misty Mountain Hops finished second in voting, while Elreamir Elvora of the Dol Guldur Dragons finished third.

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Bucklebury Center Fielder Voted Best SC Rookie

Posted on September 10, 2026 by commish

He’s the toast of the town in Bucklebury — the brand-new 2052 Shire Conference Frodo Rookie Award winner — center fielder Throblag the Insane.

In his debut season he compiled some good stats, hitting .288, batting in 77 runs and scoring 95 times, while playing in 152 games. The 21-year-old newcomer also had 25 doubles, 4 triples and 27 home runs.

Dejahlla Nightmeadow of the Mirkwood Sylvan finished second in voting, while Asecana Wisebattler of the Lake Town Archers finished third.

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