Fast Break News: Writers Awards Part Two
All season we have had our beat writers watch and write about the MLQ season. With championships happening this weekend, we are kicking off Awards week for the first time to reflect and honor the players from the 2023 season. Part One will consist of the nominees for the Rookie of the Year, Beater Pair of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Part two will cover the nominees for Defensive Player of the Year (this is a quadball only award), Most Improved Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player of the Year.
Most Improved Player of the Year Nominees
PC: Major League Quadball
East Division
Shane McConaghie, Keeper, Admirals: In his second MLQ season, Shane "Moneybags" McConaghie lit up the stat sheet, finishing with a team-leading 24 goals along with 11 assists. The young Virginia Tech phenom saved his best for last, dropping nine goals and three assists in the Admirals’ victory over the Forge to close out the regular season. McConaghie is known as a sharpshooter but improved his passing game and emerged as a monster defender, adding 13 stops to his impressive offensive totals. Even on a team filled with veterans, national champions, and USNT players, McConaghie emerged as the team's most dependable scoring option.
Jason Ng, Beater, Titans: Jason Ng went from last summer, where he would just run around and take battles with his partner cleaning up after him, to having the ability to take control of an offense and defense and exert himself on the field. With the full package of tools as an engage beater, Ng has learned how to use his feet and arm to efficiently control and threaten space. Maybe most impressively has been his ability to work with his chasers and to be a leader and voice that they will follow. This improvement shows in the stats where In New York's most competitve series against Washington, Ng led the NY beater core with a +7 in his +/-. He continued show his value the rest of the season going +5 in both the Charlotte and Boston series. His rapid ascent in this sport is nothing short of amazing, and he should be a staple in this NY beating core for years to come.
Hailey Yhap, Chaser, Black Bears: Hailey Yhap in 2022 found herself beating and chasing for an extremely young quadball team, and putting up a stat line of three goals, four assists, and nine stops. However, in 2023 her production and on-field confidence led her to a stat line of 12 goals, four assists, and six stops. However, the numbers don't do justice to how valuable she was for the Black Bears season. She accounted for 24% of the Ottawa offense for the summer and that was seen during the super series where she finished with nine goals against a talented Charlotte squad. Her ability to be everywhere and do everything for Ottawa has been impressive to watch and has quickly put herself as a must watch player anytime she is on the field.
North Division
Sam Beeler, Beater, Riff: Sam Beeler returned to MLQ in a big way this season for the Riff. Beeler was not a household name at the start of this season, but by the end of North Division Championship, Beeler was all everyone was talking about. Despite losing the series to Detroit, everyone thought the Innovators would have a clear edge in the beating game, and Beeler proved the league wrong. She tore up the pitch against some of the best pairs in the division. Cleveland relied on Beeler in a big way this season. Before North Division Championships, Beeler doubled any other beater in drives played and doubled any other beater in stops for her team (stats for post-NDC are not out yet). Beeler took big steps for the Riff this season and played a big role in giving Cleveland their wins this season.
Nivash Jayaram, Chaser, Prowl: Starting off his MLQ career as a beater, Jayaram switched to playing the quadball and showed that he could continue being an impact player for his team. His blazing speed and toughness accounted for 15 goals, five assists, and nine stops on a deep Chicago roster. Going from never playing the quadball at the MLQ level and having only played beater previously makes this an easy candidate for Most Improved. His decision-making and ability to cut and find/fill dangerous positions made him an easy fit for the Prowl style of play and showed how much improvement he continues to make as a player.
Ethan Wanous, Keeper, Innovators: Ethan Wanous has been rostered for the Innovators for a couple of seasons, but he has never had to play as large a role for the team as he had this year. In 2021 and 2022, Wanous was a far down the depth chart. He was usually a second or third-line chaser if he was rostered for a series. This season that changed dramatically. Wanous became a consistent starter and integral piece for Detroit. He is often Detroit's best driving threat on the field, and he flies off the hoops on defense to make goal-saving wraps. He finished second in stops for the team, only behind Nicholas Love, and 100 points on the season. His season got cut a little short with an injury at North Division Championships, but Wanous went from benchwarmer to starter this season, and that should not be overlooked.
South Division
David Avila, Keeper, Soldados: Not only has David Avila been effective in the stat sheet, as he is second on his team in every statistical chaser category, but Avila has also been a true veteran presence and a moral leader for the Soldados. His leadership has been lauded by coaches and teammates, who all praise his hard work ethic and inside and outside of practice. Avila has served this season as a crucial piece to the Soldados' offensive attack as he has started many games for this San Antonio team and has taken a role as a distributor when he needs while being a constant threat to score. His decision-making on offense has improved greatly from previous years, as his understanding of when to attack and slow the pace down has improved. He has also added a consistent shot which has added a different dynamic and has added to his already lethal ability to finish through contact for a dunk.
Maya Hinebaugh, Beater, Soldados: Maya Hinebaugh has shown a big jump after playing a year of club, and that combined with her technical skills as a beater which include a strong arm, catching, and blocking, has made her one of the best and most reliable beaters this summer. Her decision-making and ability to cover her spaces were invaluable as she played 43 drives vs. Austin, the most number of drives played amongst all the beaters. When looking strictly at the statistics, Hinebaugh had fewer stops this year than she did last year. However, context matters, and for a team that was filled with young collegiate beaters, her leadership, and overall decision-making set a floor for this Soldados' beating core that has helped them clinch the number two seed in the south.
Milena Sousa, Chaser, Soldados: A Developmental Academy player, Milena Sousa has gotten a lot of accolades in her young career. However, going from a stat line of one goal, four assists, two stops, and 12 turnovers in her rookie season to 11 goals, 14 assists, and 11 stops and cutting the number of turnovers (8) with more usage on a team that lost a ton of experienced players is simply remarkable. Her toughness and willingness to do whatever is needed of her allowed San Antonio to achieve the same mark as they have had in previous years. And unlike previous years, doing it with a roster where she had to replace Team USA caliber talent and continuing to perform at a high level makes Sousa an easy candidate for the Most Improved Player award.
Defensive Player of the Year Nominees
PC: Major League Quadball
East Division
Lindsay Marella, Titans: Lindsay Marella is arguably the most dynamic off-ball defender the sport’s ever seen. If you’ve ever found yourself so lucky as to be marked by Marella, you’ll know that she uses her body positioning to completely take you out of possession, leaving gaps only when it’s prudent to do so within the defensive unit’s system. Watching any film of her, you’ll find that her best strength is her scanning – she’s always using her eyes on when it’s best to soft cover, faceguard, or start helping at the nail (we as a sport need to come up with a term for that). Marella’s best strengths can’t be found within the stat sheet, and even so, she still finds herself at 12th in the league in stops (17) while playing only nine games this season.
Jon Jackson, Titans: Jon Jackson has the consummate hoop protector build – long-armed, tall, and fast-reflexed. And as if the physical idea of Jackson isn’t enough, you also get to complete the defensive package with someone who uses his body-angling and positioning to stop cross-hoop passes and deter shots in general and someone who is more than willing to step off the hoops when necessary they deem spatially necessary, whether it’s in rotation or to cut off driving angles. You don’t have to take my word for it – many offenses may feel like they’re finding success within a possession, only to be met at the hoops with the league’s leading stop-maker in Jackson.
Lee Hodge, Avaitors: Few players mean more to their team's success than Lee Hodge. This season continued that trend where Hodge would be the person that teams would need to gameplan for or face the consequences of letting him dictate the pace. While he didn't have the most amount of stops on his own team, that can be attributed to the game plan for most of the east division to avoid the side that Hodge was defending. Hodge finished with 13 stops in only nine games. However, that was plenty for his reputation as the immovable object in the Aviators' defense. No one wanted to go through Hodge, as his tackling ability and quickness to keep up with any offensive players allowed him to curb transition opportunities and force teams to go on the opposite side of the field. In football terms, he was the Richard Sherman covering an entire side of the field to the point the offense is forced to attack the other side, and that sort of defensive impact cannot be quantified.
North Division
Liam Zach, Prowl: Liam Zach had a stellar season as a point defender for the Prowl. In the Prowl's high press, it was often Zach who met the ball carrier right at the midfield line. Their aggressive defense at the start of every possession often led to a risky pass or a beater stop. Zach finished the season with 13 stops, which is lower compared to the other nominees, but it's important to recognize that Zach's defensive presence isn't always about wrapping drivers in the keeper zone but creating the initial pressure that leads to a turnover and fastbreak goal for Chicago.
Nathan Digmann, Prowl: Nathan Digmann forced a colossal number of turnovers this season. He often led the pressure up top with Liam Zach, but his stops often came from intercepting passes outside the keeper zone and making wraps on driving players. When Chicago is not pressing, Digmann would often be the point defender in the two-two zone that would wrap driving forces. He finished fourth in the league in stops this season.
Cody Keefer, Whiteout: Cody Keefer has always been a staple for the Whiteout, but this season he excelled defensively. Through seven games, Keefer has 26 stops. That's second in the league, and he would likely take the crown if he were rostered against Toronto. His standout performance was against the Riff, where he had 12 stops in one game. Keefer is always known for his physicality on defense, and even though Rochester's season fell short of a divisional bid, Keefer is one of the pieces that led the Whiteout to one series away from Iowa.
South Division
P.J. Mitchell; Curse: Defensively, P.J. Mitchell's size is immediately apparent, but his ability to shut down hoop options has allowed Curse's physicality to truly flourish this season. His ability to goad a shot and then shut it down with a quick block that leads to a ton of crucial stops for the Curse has been essential to their success. Mitchell's energy and reads on defense carry forward heavily for their offense and often provides the momentum for the New Orleans squad that creates their scoring runs. Finishing top five in the league and leading his team with 22 stops cements his candidacy for defensive player of the year for the South division.
Kaci Erwin; Outlaws: Few players in the league's history are as feared as Kaci Erwin, setting up as a point defender. Quadball players in the last few years were given some respite with Erwin's switch to the beating game. However, she made her return to the quadball game this summer at a more consistent rate and immediately picked up where she left off with 10 stops in only 9 games; however, combined with her stints at beater where she was +10 makes her a prime candidate for defensive player of the year in the South division. Her physicality is unmatched and continues to make her a defensive impact, something that other teams have to game plan to avoid.
Jay Stewart; Soldados: Jay Stewart, believe it or not, is underrated because the focus is often on what he does offensively and not on defense. Stewart's flexibility with playing his role and stepping into other roles when asked has been key to the Soldados' success. He has transitioned to an on-hoop defender and has been such a threat that defenses think twice before taking a shot on him. However, his ability to cover space has been apparent all summer, and against the Curse and Austin, he showed that he would not shy away from being driven on and would block anyone trying to dunk on any of the hoops. From a player that is only ever talked about one-dimensionally, Jay has turned himself into a three-dimensional player by making great defensive stops, stepping up to make a hit or block, and beating anyone to a loose ball leading to his top 3 finish in the stop category with 25.
Most Valuable Player of the Year Nominees
PC: Carrie Cowden
East Division
Devin Lee, Beater, Titans: NY Titans, arguably the best team in MLQ's strongest division, had their best season to date, and Devin Lee was pivotal to this performance. A versatile beater who can shrink to an almost unhittable blocking target or leap high over incoming dodgeballs, Devin forces opposing beaters to make impossible decisions on how to engage him while having an arm that allows him to strike from any range at any opponent’s hesitation. Lee leads NY's beater core with 17 stops, putting him in the top five in the league, and with only nine games played on the season, this shows just how brutal a defensive obstacle Devin is for any opponent. Lee’s impact is also felt on offense, as he sprints at lightning speed, opening up driving lanes for NY's incredible chasing core, and creating bubbles of safety when a more passing-heavy approach is required to break down a zone. On top of all of this, Lee has played with five different partners this season, truly demonstrating that he could improve the performance of any team with any partner on any day, the definition of an MVP.
Jon Jackson, Keeper, Titans: With a 36-goal season, Jon Jackson leads the New York Titans in scoring and is fourth in the league overall. Almost more impressive, Jackson also boasts the fifth most assists in the league at 22. On offense, Jackson cannot be ignored; his opportunity-creating ability shines as he reads opposing teams' defenses and either carves them up himself or draws their attention before dishing the ball away. Fast, strong, and decisive, John can score from range, drive through defenses, or send the perfect pass to a teammate. However, while Jackson’s offensive prowess alone could afford him consideration for MVP, it is only half of what he brings to the table. On defense, he is the glue that holds the team together. Incredible field vision and communication allow him to lead his teammates with ease. And when someone breaks through their ranks, his shot-blocking ability and his stopping strength make any offense think twice. This is why it should come as no surprise that he leads the league in stops at an astounding 30. You can't ask for more than what Jon Jackson brings to the table.
Lindsay Marella, Chaser, Titans: Lindsay Marella is one of the few players in the league that can play every position on offense and defense at an elite level. She can ball carry, play up top, dice up defenses on the wing, or loom as a threat behind hoops as an off-ball chaser. On defense, she can block shots at hoops, point defend against anyone, or off-ball mark people tight enough to take them entirely out of the play. Marella does each of these things at an elite level, making the NY offense more dynamic with her passing and scoring ability and changing how NY can play defense with her world-class skill. Often seen as the cog that keeps the Titans' offense chugging along, her ability to fill space and organize an offense brings endless opportunities to the Titans and is reflected in her stat line, finishing the season with 10 goals and 17 assists. On top of that, Marella boasts 17 stops on defense, the most for any female/gender minority chaser in the league, and that doesn't speak to the stops she generates by stopping offenses from using their most efficient threats due to her incredible marking. Watching her play this summer cements her status as a top-tier chaser and firmly puts her in the race for MVP in the East Division.
North Division
Emma Vazquez, Chaser, Prowl: Emma Vasquez played a critical role for the past two seasons for Detroit. This year was her first MLQ season playing in a new uniform, and she thrived. How she played this season made it seem like she had played with Chicago for the past two years. She put up 100 points on the year and played an important part in the Prowl offense throughout the season. She also had six stops and four assists on the year. While she doesn't lead the team in any stat categories, her presence on the field is massive, and she has been a key to the Prowl's success this season.
Nathan Digmann, Keeper, Prowl: Nathan Diggmann is fourth in the league in goals per game, first in assists, and second in stops, with less than one turnover per game, and two of the players ahead of him in goals/game are south players who missed the Austin series. No one else is particularly close to his impact in all phases of the quadball game, especially in the North division.
Matt Brown, Beater, Prowl: Matt Brown had a phenomenal season. The recent USNT addition showcased his talents in Chicago all season long. He leads the league with a plus/minus of 49. He is also the only beater to finish in the top 12 in every category; stops, drives played, plus/minus, and average dodgeballs. This could have been a top-10 finish if Brown had played 12 games instead of eight. His performance this season illustrates beater dominance across the board.
South Division:
Miguel Esparza, Keeper, Outlaws: With a total of 91 scores accounted for, Miguel Esparza finished the 2023 regular season with the most prolific offensive season the league has ever seen. Even more impressive is Esparza doing this after his MLQ season last summer ended on a broken ankle which cut short his 47 goals, 22 assists, and 26-stop season. Little did anyone know that he would make his stat line from last year look like rookie numbers by putting up 60 goals, 31 assists, 18 stops, and to do everything that he did with only four turnovers makes his offensive efficiency truly historic. His game-breaking speed and ability to set up his teammates' success and be a one-man offense at points makes this a truly memorable 2023 season for him and makes him a leading candidate for the MVP honors.
Josh Mansfield, Beater, Curse: From a purely statistical point of view, Josh Mansfield leads the league in drives played and is second in stops. The NO team only finished fourth in the South with only three wins on the season, and Josh's +/- is still positive (+1). Removing the Austin series, and his +/- jumps to +9. NO was at their best whenever Mansfield was on the pitch, and his play was the main reason that the Curse had so many nail-biting games. On top of that, his SOP beating was some of the best in the league, efficiently moving in and out of the seeker game to help with both defense and offense. There was not a player more valuable to their team than Josh this summer, and he would be on a shortlist of players to build any franchise around.
Jay Stewart, Chaser, Soldados: What defines valuable? Some people see it as strictly a statistics award, often giving it to the person that has put up the best numbers- however, there is an emotional side, where context means a ton for the MVP storyline. Jay Stewart came into this season the bonafide star of a roster that lost most of their experienced players. The Developmental Star did not let that stop him from putting the team on his back and carrying a Soldados roster to second in the south, a largely unexpected result. His speed and shiftiness allowed him to put up 40 goals, and his unselfishness has led to 20 assists. When combined, this accounts for nearly a quarter of his team's quadball points (24%) this summer and shows how crucial he was for the success of the Soldados season.
Fan Voting
We have opened up fan voting so if you want to support a certain nominee please fill out the link or click on the fan voting text: https://forms.gle/p3vkASn5ro4jUBLt9
