Standout Performances: Week Four
There’s nothing much better than a full slate of weekend games. Week four delivered across the board with nine games happening Saturday night. We opened in the North Division, where the Detroit Innovators took care of business on the road against the Toronto Raiders. We then headed to the East Coast for an electric series between the Boston Forge and New York Titans. The series that always delivers, delivered once again, with our first split series of the summer. Finally, we got our first look at the San Antonio Soldados, where they looked every part of a title contender with three dominant victories over the Houston Legends. With more than 50 athletes playing last weekend, here are six that stood out.
Michael Wanless (#20)
In their only home series of the year, Michael Wanless put on a show for the home crowd. Last year, they had a solid series in Detroit, but this year, they took major steps for the Raiders. Wanless finished with 60 points, triple their output from the 2024 matchup. The six goals are also double the next highest Raider scorer from the weekend. Wanless also coupled their strong offensive performance with a top-level defensive showing. They finished with four stops, the second highest of any chaser for Toronto. Wanless has seen continual growth in the Raider chaser system, and their improvement from last year’s performance demonstrates it.
Sarah Multer (#4)
After a slow start against the Minneapolis Monarchs, Sarah Multer was a vital part of the Innovators’ sweep of the Raiders. She finished with 20 points and one stop, showing improvement from week two. Multer’s biggest contributions on the weekend, however, came in the yellow headband. After catching against the Riff and catching twice against Detroit last summer, Toronto boasted a major seeker advantage entering the series. With the usual Innovator seekers off the roster, the league was wondering who would step up. The answer is Multer, who caught twice against a veteran flag runner. In an almost must-win series, Multer ended two games, ripping away the flag and the Raiders’ hopes of finishing in the top half of the division.
Zachary Donofrio (#23)
Putting up 70 points against the Charlotte Aviators clearly wasn’t enough for Forge rookie Zachary Donofrio. The Boston University product was all over the field on Saturday against the reigning champs, and one of the leading scorers for the Forge. He put up 50 points, two stops, and a mere two turnovers during the Series of the Week. In what was a defensive battle, Donafrio was the flame that set fire to the offense. With such a young group of chasers taking on a veteran defense, Donofrio is a symbol for Boston, not just this season but for the future of the franchise. Even though they fell to their rivals, Forge fans should be ecstatic knowing young players like Donofrio can compete at the highest levels of MLQ.
Byron Ng (#33)
Byron Ng’s return to the Titans could not have come at a better time for the franchise. In the tightest series of the season, Ng reminded the quadball world why he’s a star. In game one, he provided a spark plug that led to New York pulling away. In game three, he took the ankles of some of the best defenders in the sport. Ng finished with a team-leading eight stops, alongside his 40 points and three assists. He did it all with just two turnovers, tied with the fewest of any Titans chaser. Ng’s move from Chicago to New York is already making a major impact. Don’t expect it to stop anytime soon.
Caleigh Duvall (#35)
In what was a tough series against one of the best teams the league has ever seen, Caleigh Duvall led the Legends’ beaters against an efficient offense. Playing 31 drives, the most of any Houston beater, against such a strong opponent demonstrates the importance of Duvall to the franchise's rotation. Duvall came away with three stops, tied with the most on the team, and had an average dodgeball of 1.29. She also finished with a plus/minus of -4, tied with the most on the team of anyone who played more than ten drives. Duvall will continue to anchor this Legends’ team come the end of July and in Buffalo.
Baldemar Nunez (#1)
Returning to Houston to face his former team, Baldemar Nunez delivered for quadball fans, reminding the largest city in Texas why they will miss him. Nunez played a team-leading 45 drives in an extremely high scoring series. On top of that, he finished with one of this week’s best plus/minus at +16. He also led the team in stops with seven and average dodgeballs with 1.84. The Soldados look the full part of a Benepe Cup-caliber team, and they challenge anyone who tries to get in their way. Nunez’s move to San Antonio provides an added boost for the franchise and gives the team an extra edge at beater.
