Midseason Report: Everton Eagles

The Everton Eagles have never had success in the UPCL's Cricket competitions. Retaining the same roster as from last season, no one expected them to step forward as even a contender this year, but as they finish their 32nd game, they stand atop the league at 26-6, and it's not even very close. Their offense has taken a drastic leap, the team unity is much stronger, and the franchise has hope to beat some of its more successful rivals, including last year's Hutton Cup winners, the Central Warriors, who play just a bit to the north of them. At home, the Eagles were perfect for twelve weeks and hold a 14-1 record, while their road mark sees them at 12-5, which still makes them formidable despite recent lapses. In the highly competitive East Division, they hold an 8-3 mark, and they are likely responsible for denting the records of their opponents in the division.

The Eagles, long a triple-digit offense, have more than doubled their output this season, scoring about 1872 per game as a top offensive team. The uptick in attack is largely the work of longtime captain Goldy, who hits about 524 points per game, at a consistency of 1.5 for 28% of the team's total offense. Behind her is the second arm of the league's best 1-2 punch, and that is Puff III, who clocks in at a devastating 541 per game, making her share of the offense 29% on a high-scoring team. Puff III also hovers around 1.5 in consistency, making her and Goldy a potent and stable attacking force, which gives opponents nightmares. Behind the leaders, there's a drop-off to Cleo, who strikes 357 points per game, only 19% of the offense. She may not be pulling her weight on the team, but her consistency is nearly 1.8 on the year, making her a highly reliable source of secondary scoring for the team, and a player who would be doing pretty well on many other sides this season. Rounding out the team is a highly-improved Blizzard, who hits 449 to make up 24% of the offense at a disappointing consistency of 1.25. Her volatility at least makes things interesting, and she has a key role in some comeback wins. As a team, the Eagles have absolutely nothing to worry about in cricket. They are essentially locked into a very good seed for the playoffs, and the future is bright.