BWAL TOP 15 — NO. 11: ROSS CONWAY

There may not be a better day to reveal No. 11.

On his birthday, Ross Conway checks in at No. 11 on the BWAL Season 4 Top 15—a fitting spotlight for one of the league's most consistent and highly requested players.

Conway appeared in six games during Season 3 and reached base in every one of them. He finished with 12 hits and 10 walks, reaching safely 22 times in 44 recorded opportunities. That gave him a .500 on-base percentage to go along with nine runs and 10 RBIs.

His production placed him among the league's best in several categories:

• Tied for second in triples with two
• Third in catches with 17, placing him within the league's top 10%
• Seventh in RBIs with 10, placing him within the league's top 25%
• Tied for 10th in runs scored with nine
• 11th in hits with 12

He did not need home runs to consistently affect games.

"Ross is one of the most dependable players in the league," Cherrypickers star Dylan Atkinson said. "You know he's going to compete, get on base and give you a productive at-bat. There really aren't many bad nights with him."

That reliability has made Conway one of the most frequently requested names in BWAL trade talks. Whenever teams begin discussing possible moves, his name seems to come up.

The reason is simple: Conway fits almost anywhere.

He can hit near the top of a lineup, drive in runs from the middle and contribute defensively. He finished within the league's top 25% in RBIs and top 10% in catches while tying for second in triples. He provides something in nearly every area without requiring an offense to be built entirely around him.

"Every team asks about Ross because everybody knows what he gives you," Titans captain Johnny Besecker said. "He's extremely consistent, he understands the game and he can help any roster. He's the type of player every captain wants."

Conway opened Season 3 with his best performance of the year against the Titans. He collected five hits—including a double and a triple—while driving in five runs and scoring five times.

He followed that performance with three hits, two walks, an RBI and two runs against the Dragons. Through his first two games, Conway had already produced eight hits, six RBIs and seven runs.

Even when his hitting cooled, his production never completely disappeared.

Conway drew three walks in each of his next two games against the 8 Balls. Later, in the postseason, he delivered a triple and drove in three runs with the Cherrypickers' season on the line.

"That's what makes him difficult," 8 Balls veteran Matt McCleary said. "If you don't give him anything to hit, he'll take his walks. If you challenge him, he can drive the ball. He finds a way to contribute."

There is a case that No. 11 is too high. Conway did not hit a home run during Season 3, played only six games and did not produce the explosive power numbers of some players ranked around him.

But there may be an even stronger case that No. 11 is too low.

Conway reached base at a .500 rate, ranked seventh in RBIs and never played a game without reaching safely. He produced as a hitter, ranked third in catches and remained valuable even when he was not collecting hits.

"He's the kind of player you appreciate more every time you play against him," Dragons veteran Will Byler said. "He doesn't give away many at-bats. He's always doing something that helps his team."

That is the value of consistency.

Plenty of players can dominate for one night. Conway gives his team something nearly every time he steps onto the field. His production is predictable, his game travels and his skill set would strengthen virtually any roster in the BWAL.

That is why his name is always involved in trade conversations—and why the Cherrypickers may have to work hard to keep him.

For today, however, the trade rumors can wait.

No. 11 belongs to Ross Conway: the birthday boy, the dependable veteran and one of the most consistently productive players in the league.