The Minnoka Grays are sitting pretty atop the American North division standings, boasting a 10-2 record with a month left to play. However, their dominance is being threatened by an unexpected issue - player attendance. Despite their strong start, several key players have been absent for various reasons, leaving the team to wonder who will show up for the final stretch of the season. Joey Olson, the team's leading hitter with a .514 average, will be missing for three games, as will Matt Johnson, who leads the team in runs batted in with 22. Meanwhile, newcomer Dustin Wolf has been making a name for himself, hitting .355 with 12 RBIs. While Dan Skog has been Skog like making incredible plays in the field and leading the lineup batting .375 and being a leader in runs, steals and hits. 

For the first time since 2016 the Grays have lost more than one game before July - losing two so far this season. But don't hit the panic button yet - Minnoka's run differential (119-26) is 93 runs. That's obscenely good, currently the best in the Federal League. The first loss was due to one bad inning and a little sleepwalking, the second loss was a 3-2 nail biter to the friendly rival East Metro Mammoth, and the Grays had the bases loaded during the last ball in play. The National Champs are still in a great spot and are almost guaranteed a spot in the Class AAA bracket. 

The team's pitching staff has also been a strength, with Bub Lovas leading the way with four wins and a 1.18 ERA. Jack Nelson, who has been out on vacation, is expected to return soon and build upon his impressive 2-0 record and zero ERA in 10 innings pitched. Mark Von Ruden has filled in admirably in Nelson's absence, going 2-0 with a 1.05 ERA. The wolves still have Billy Diaz and Alex Gonzalez to hit the bump in the second half as well. It will be important for both to get some innings before the playoffs. With Nick Larson returning from an ACL injury faster than expected and Mike Weyrauch regaining his strength after battling cancer, the Grays are hoping to get their full roster together for the final push. If they can overcome their attendance issues and stay healthy, they'll be well-positioned to claim their fourth consecutive division title and make a repeat run at the AAA championship title. But first, they need to get everyone on the same page and on the same field.