Naturals Claim First-Half Division Title

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Parker Morin (right) of Northwest Arkansas is congratulated by manager Vance Wilson after hitting a solo home run against Arkansas during the third inning at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. The Naturals clinched the Texas League North Division Championship on Thursday and earned the team’s first playoff berth since 2011.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Parker Morin (right) of Northwest Arkansas is congratulated by manager Vance Wilson after hitting a solo home run against Arkansas during the third inning at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. The Naturals clinched the Texas League North Division Championship on Thursday and earned the team’s first playoff berth since 2011.

Mother Nature washed out Northwest Arkansas' game at Springfield on Thursday, but the Naturals still wrapped up the first-half North Division title in the Texas League when Arkansas' doubleheader at Tulsa was also rained out.

The Naturals (39-26) have led the division for the majority of the first half, buoyed by an 11-game winning streak and a league-best 25-11 record at home in Arvest Ballpark. It will be their first postseason appearance since 2011 when they won the second half. It's also quite a turnaround, after posting the worst cumulative record (53-87) in the league last season.

Northwest Arkansas will host games one and two of the divisional series on Sept. 9-10 thanks to winning the first half.

Naturals general manager Justin Cole said the team has been exciting to watch as many different players have contributed to the success.

"I'm really pumped," Cole said. "This is a great group of guys. I know after last year (manager) Vance Wilson was hungry to match up the development side and also get these guys in the winner's circle. We hope they can continue this in the second half and make something special out of this year."

Northwest Arkansas had eight players selected to play in the Texas League All-Star game, including four starters for the North Division. First baseman Balbino Fuenmayor, who was named TL Player of the Month in May, led the Naturals named to start the game, along with infielder Angel Franco, designated hitter Mike Bianucci and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio. Infielder Raul Mondesi, utility man Alex Liddi, outfielder Terrance Gore and pitcher J.C. Sulbaran were also honored.

The first half officially ends on Monday. The Texas League All-Star Game will be played June 30 at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.

The Naturals have utilized the long ball with a Texas-League leading 72 home runs, 18 more than Midland, which ranks second. Several Naturals rank among the top offensive players in the league. Fuenmayor ranks second in batting average (.350), tied for second in home runs (12) and second in RBIs (41). Gore leads the league with 24 stolen bases and have only been caught twice.

Bianucci is tied with Fuenmayor with 12 homers, just one behind Frisco's Drew Robinson for the league lead. Bonifacio is right behind his teammates with 11 homers and just behind Fuenmayor with 36 RBIs, ranking third in the league.

Paul Boyd can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaulb.

Sports on 06/20/2015

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