The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Ruthlandian Union West Division 2004 Midseason Standings

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Roosters and Rovers Tied For First In RU West At All-Star Game
The Sligo Rovers have surged out of nowhere to make a serious challenge in the Ruthlandian Union West pennant chase. The Rovers with Eddie Keys in charge are tied with the Middlefield Roosters at the All-Star break.

Middlefield, Volusia, Colfax and Forest City were all rated higher than Sligo in the BNN preseason poll. The Rovers were ranked as the fifth-best club. However, great pitching can do wonders for a team. The Sligo starters and relievers have really excelled this season with an overall 2.97 ERA. In addition Keys crew has the best team batting average (.264).

Still Smitty Michaels Middlefield Roosters (45-28) have stayed right with the Rovers. The Roosters also have an elite mound corps (3.25 ERA) with All-Star LHP Jamie Hicks (9-6 2.47), LHP Denny Yarrow (10-4 3.71), Ross Jacobs (6-2 2.42), Don Shaw (5-2 3.06), Joshua Jackson (8-6 3.26) and closer Dave Webb (4-1 3.12), who has a league high 14 saves in 33 appearances.

While several Roosters are suffering subpar seasons, nonetheless Michaels team has been able to put enough runs on the board to more than get by. They lead the division in scoring (348 runs) and in homers (80), both by wide margins. All-Star RF Bailey Norcross (.308/18 HR/42 RBI/54 R/21 SB) leads the way, helped out by LF Cecil Clark (.294/11 HR/33 R/40 R) and rookie 2B Timmy Gage (.266/5 HR/30 RBI/44 R). Middlefield needs CF Ty DeWitt (.232/15 HR/54 RBI/44 R), 1B Allen Ludlow (.221/11 HR/43 RBI) and 3B Lowell Satterwhite (.261/7 HR/22 RBI) to pick it up in the second half.

The Sligo Rovers (45-28) staff has been magnificent in the first half of the season, sparked by Vern Vidmar (10-5 2.95), Jake Beneke (8-4 2.70), Al Bukowski (3.72), Colin McGrath (6-7 2.70) and closer Razzy Raziano (9-3 2.57) with 14 saves and 34 game appearances.

Keys' key hitters are LF Lefty Roberts (.292/16 HR/47 RBI/42 R), 3B Rusty Ellis (.313/2 HR/27 RBI/45 R/17 SB), 2B Jeff Richey (.317/3 HR/27 RBI/39 R/14 SB), RF Danny O'Shea (.270/9 HR/34 RBI/34 R) and SS Hollis Waldrup (.317/5 HR/21 RBI/33 R/17 SB), who has filled in for the injured Jack Wozniak. Key has a tough decision to make as Wozniak is scheduled to come off the DL in a week. Wozniak is a much better fielder than Waldrup. The Rovers have really missed the big bat of 1B Shane Redford, who hit .341 last year and is down to a paltry .248 thus far this year.

The preseason favorite, the Volusia Vigilantes (39-34), are holding down the third spot in the RU West, even with the Stoner Stars. Skipper Alfonso Feliz is shackled by a lack of home run power, a chronic problem for the V's. In spite of this, his team has stayed close and trail by 6 games. Feliz's pitching is still top quality, but not as deep as he would like in the starting rotation.

Heading up the Volusia staff is the outstanding southpaw Carl Schmitz (11-5 2.15). Slick and steady lefthander Raul Sandoval (8-9 3.06) has pitched better than his record indicates, while Ricky Moreno (8-6 4.13) is having a down year. Feliz will move rookie Todd Wolfe (1-0 1.71) and Tommy Betanzos (1-1 3.10) into the #4 spot in the rotation in effort to get more consistency there. Hank Massey (4-3 6.48) and LHP Lenny Collins (2-4 4.55) have fallen flat in that role. As always, closer Hernando Espaderos (3-3 2.89) continues to do his job well in the bullpen. Espaderos has 14 saves and has been in 31 games.

Offensively the Vigilantes top bats are LF Briscoe Crowder (.281/5 HR/43 RBI/45 R/12 SB), SS Scooter Perez (.303/2 HR/16 RBI/54 R/32 SB), CF Ryan Raines (.283/7 HR/36 RBI/34 R/20 SB) and newly-acquired catcher Charlie Hardesty (.254/6 HR/46 RBI). Hardesty came in a trade during the offseason from Tuckanarra of the Tycobbian Union. While not hitting for average, Hardesty leads the club in RBIs. Feliz is abandoning his platoon experiment at first base and is returning Francisco Abreu (.287/5 HR/21 RBI) back to full-time. Ruben De Andres has hit only .211 with no homers splitting time with Abreu.

The Stoner Stars (39-34) were expected to be an improved team this season and have done better than the forecast fifth in the preseason poll. Manager Willie Dickens ballclub is playing better than their stats show. Batting-wise the Stars are only average (.254) and pitching-wise are below average (3.90 ERA). Defensively they are a little below average (.971). Yet they are tied for third place at the halfway mark in the season, 5 games over .500. Ironically, the Stars have no stars, but must be doing something right. Unfortunately Dickens lost his top pitcher Dwight Ruckman for 6-7 weeks with a rotator problem. This could ruin Stoner's season. It is a huge loss.

Dickens has completely restructured his mound staff. The Stars will depend on Dave Pierre (4-1 2.28), Kelly Schaefer (1-0 2.33), newly-signed rookie Lynn Woodcock and rookie Jay Whatley (3-4 3.96) to take up the slack for Ruckman (8-6 3.64). In the bullpen Stoner is blessed with LHP Tony Hatch (5-2 2.61), a standout closer with a TU-leading 16 saves. Hatch has made 35 relief appearances.

Dickens' offense is paced by All-Star C Benny Stern (.305/14 HR/53 RBI), SS Yancy Bellows (.288/2 HR/30 RBI/41 R), RF Dutch Rheinecker (.267/11 HR/38 RBI) and CF Rob Preiss (.272/4 HR/16 RBI/40 R). LF Jalen Nolte (.221/12 HR/40) has not played up to expectations this year. He will have to step it up, if Stoner expects to remain high in the standings.

The Forest City Lumberjacks (36-37) are in the fifth spot in the RU West standings, 9 games behind, about where they were predicted to be. Manager Rob Jackson is stymied by lousy pitching (4.21 ERA) with no real help in sight. Only a great season by All-Star pitcher Timmy Brooks (13-5 2.55) has kept the 'Jacks from falling totally out of the race. Brooks is tied with Denny Coulon (13-5 2.27) of Bay St. Clair and Jerry Harrison (13-4 2.83) of Bayview for the most victories in the IPA. Look for the Lumberjacks to take a big fall this season.

At bat Jackson's team is only average (.259 BA). Pacing Forest City is All-Star SS Bill Nilsen (.303/15 HR/62 RBI/53 R), RF Chuck Hill (.267/8 HR/40 RBI), CF Ryan Morse (.301/5 HR/28 RBI/45 R), 1B J. T. Edmonds (.283/6 HR/33 RBI) and part-time LF Dave Jagger (.333/5 HR/24 RBI/27 R) in 55 games. Jagger will take over full-time in left field.

Pitching for the Rocky Rapids Snappers (35-38) has been abysmal this season. The Snappers are sixth in the standings, 10 games back. Manager Ryan Noland is lucky his team is not deep in the cellar, considering its 4.33 ERA, just about the worst in the entire IPA. Only the Kenwood Wildcats (4.48 ERA) and Blue Lake Blue Sox (4.48 ERA) of the Tyrobbian Union rank lower.

Even normally-reliable pitchers like Kirk Beckmann (8-6 4.05) and Ben Mashburn (7-8 4.18) have fallen on hard times and have ERAs above 4.00. Noland revamped his pitching rotation by signing three free agents. One will be his closer, while the other two will be #5 starters. The newcomers will make or break the Snappers season.

At the plate the Snappers can hold their own in the division with a .258 batting average (5th) and 338 runs scored (2nd). 1B Stan Haddix (.333/5 HR/51 RBI/41 R) is having an outstanding year and made the All-Star team. SS Cooter Bermudez (.319/4 HR/25 RBI/42 R/14 SB), picked up in a trade with San Alejo, has been superb at bat and in the field. CF Terry Hecht (.294/6 HR/27 RBI/45 R/14 SB) has wielded a good bat and glove, too. Rocky Rapids leads the TU with a .982 fielding percentage, third-best in the IPA. Only South Fork (.984) and Fairfax (.983) of the Tycobbian Union are better.

It has not been a happy season for the Colfax Blasters (34-39) and manager Clem Rogers. The preseason experts rated the Blasters the number three team in the RU West. At the midpoint in the year they are nowhere near that. Colfax is resting in seventh place, 11 games off the pace. However, a good second half would make it possible to finish as high as third. The Blasters are only 5 games behind Stoner and Volusia, but they are not likely to overtake them. Rogers' team is better than they have looked in the first half of the year.

Rogers has solid starters in LHP Harry Manning (9-5 2.88), Jasper LaForge (7-8 3.04) and Flash Guidry (6-3 3.26). He just needs to find a fourth starter. In the bullpen Colfax has one of the best in the IPA in Daric Jacoby (5-5 1.95). Rogers' middle relief corps needs to improve to move up in the race. Fair would be the best rating you could give them this season.

Colfax has been adequate with the bats, sparked by All-Star 1B Dennis Cole (.286/14 HR/42 RI/51 R), 3B Neely Keeton (.270/8 HR/33 RBI/39 R) and rookie CF Lujan Malanowski (.275/3 HR/39 RBI/43 R).

Last and just about the least in the IPA are the hapless Fort Benton Defenders (29-44). Not a whole lot of good things to say about Robbie Brooks ballclub. The Defenders are in last place, 16 games out of first and headed nowhere. This could be the third straight year in the cellar for them.

Brooks' best pitchers are rookie Armando Vega (6-5 3.94), Leroy Hill (3-3 2.93) and his closer Tom Chiarra (3-2 3.31) with 10 saves in 31 relief appearances.

Fort Benton doesn't boast many good hitters. The best it has to offer is C Irvin Small (.258/14 HR/40 RBI), LF Carl McCord (.271/8 HR/31 RBI/41 R/11 SB) and 3B Bill Mingan (.284/4 HR/29 RBI).

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union North Division 2004 Mid-Season Standings

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Oxford Leads Fairfax By 4 In TU North, Hartsdale, Luxora By 6
The Tycobbian North could be the most talented division in the Islandian Pro Alliance. At midseason four teams have won 43 or more games with the Oxford Red Caps leading the way with 49 victories, tops in the IPA. The Red Caps have a 4-game edge over the Fairfax Frogs and 6 over Hartsdale and Luxora, who are tied for third place. So far the pennant race is running just like the polls predicted.

The Oxford Red Caps (49-24) have been devastating with the bats this season with 104 home runs, far and away the best in the league. Middlefield of the RU West and High Mesa of the TU East are a distant second with 80 homers each. Campy Roy has a well-balanced team that is strong in pitching (3.31 ERA) and hits with extraordinary power. They could set a new IPA home-run mark. Oxford has four All-Stars on its roster, two pitchers and two position players. Bayview also has four All-Stars. No other club had more than two players selected.

The Red Cap pitching corps is anchored by All-Star Bomber Belinsky (11-4 2.98), All-Star Nicky Nicholson (9-5 2.31), Wayne Baxley (6-0 2.46) and Dan Phillips (8-6 2.95). No other teams can match this starting four. The only weakness is in the bullpen. Last year standout Emerson Cannell (4-3) has seen his ERA skyrocket to 5.20, but he does have 19 saves.

The Oxford hitters are just as good with All-Star CF Ike Plunkett (.348/30 HR/63 RBI/76 R/16 SB) on a pace to break records in homers, RBIs and runs scored. Plunkett could also win the Triple Crown. All-Star LF Mack Spencer (.297/21 HR/63 RBI/51 R) is crushing the ball, too. The Red Caps have five players with ten or more homers in their line-up. 3B Joe Courtney (.273) has 14 and 1B Kenny Jablonski (.262) and C Brad Earp (.245) have 10 each.

Manager Harry Buckley has his Fairfax Frogs (45-28) hitting and pitching on all cylinders and within 4 games of first place. The Frogs are batting a composite .273, fourth best in the IPA behind LaGrange (.276) of the RU North, High Mesa (.275) of the RU East and Beechwood (.274) of the RU East. Fairfax also excels on defense with a .983 fielding percentage, second to the South Fork Stallions, who top the IPA with a .984 mark.

Buckley's best batters are RF Gregg Vincent (.300/15 HR/56 RBI/42 R), 2B Cecil Parmenter (.346/9 HR/39 RBI/46 R) and CF Billy Echevarria (.288/4 HR/25 RBI/54 R/15 SB).

On the hill the Frogs are paced by Barrett Carruthers (11-4 2.98) and brilliant closer Jay Sorenson (5-3 1.59) with 18 saves and 35 game appearances. Three new pitchers will have a lot to do with deciding the flag winner and playoff spots in the TU North. All the newcomers will be used by Buckley in middle relief.

The defending champion in the TU North is Zim Donner's Hartsdale Hellcats (43-30) who are still in the chase, tied for third with Luxora and 6 games behind Oxford.

Hellcat hurlers have been hard-to-beat and have compiled a terrific 2.99 ERA this year, second-best to Sligo (2.97) of the RU West. Gus Kostro (11-5 2.98) looks like he is headed for his second consecutive 20-win season. Tal Vaitkus (9-5 3.76) has done well, too. Closer Nico Carnera (4-2 1.66) has stood out in the bullpen with 14 saves in 30 relief appearances.

Hartsdale hits the ball well with a .265 BA, sparked by All-Star and TU-leading hitter, Mac Faulkner (.359/10 HR/55 RBI/44 R). Donner's line-up also includes three other .300 batters in SS Jud Turchin (.302/4 HR/36 RBI/47 R), 2B Hoppy Hill (.328/1 HR/30 RI/34 R) and C Lawton Payne (.320/3 HR/27 RI/31 R).

Asked about his club's chances in the second half of the schedule, Donner replied, "I like the looks of my team. We are settled as far as the roster is concerned. We didn't make any changes at midyear. We are going to finish up with what we started with in the spring. I think the Red Caps need to solve their closer problem and the Frogs have three brand-new middle relievers and I think they are all rookies. And as you know, you never can tell about rookies. I like our chances to finish the season strong. Hopefully to win the division... or at least make the playoffs."

The Luxora Zorros (43-30) are another top-notch team in the solid TU North pennant chase, currently tied for third with Hartsdale, 6 games off the pace. Skipper Alejandro Rodrigo has a bunch of good and consistent batters in his starting line-up, headed by CF Lacey Tompkins (.304/12 HR/51 RBI/48 R), new 3B Carey Niven (.305/14 HR/46 RBI/36 R), 2B Pablo Santa Cruz (.295/2 HR/24 RBI/56 R/15 SB), RF Cristo Viamonte (.267/11 HR/36 RBI/45 R), LF Joel Reed (.281/7 HR/35 RBI/41 R) and SS Rafael Lemos (.303/1 HR/29 RBI/27 R).

Rodrigo has a talented mound staff, too. His ace is Marco Braceros (10-6 3.00), but the Z's also have Eddie Hoffman (7-8 2.69) and Tito Tovares (6-5 2.73), two gifted and steady pitchers. The bullpen specialist is Elio Laurente (6-4 2.02), as good as a closer as you'll find in the IPA. Laurente has 12 saves and has made 33 relief appearances this season.

North Hills and Mahaska are deadlocked for fifth place in the TU North and trail the top team, Oxford, by 15 games.

The North Hills Hawks (34-39) have Hub Carlson as the manager. Carlson was a great industrial league pitcher with a devastating screwball. He has molded a good staff together, which has a fine 3.34 team ERA, but it is in the offense that the Hawks fall flat, batting only .247 with 42 home runs, both are near the bottom of the league.

On the mound Carlson has four fine starters in LHP Leland Clinkscales (8-8 2.98), Stan Ballard (7-3 2.73) Ben Dewberry (6-6 2.92) and Lou Dozier (7-7 3.22). This quartet is equal toe-to-toe with the best teams. North Hills has an impressive closer in Carson Romine (3-5 1.91), who has registered 9 saves in 28 games.

Good hitters are few and far between on the Hawks roster. Carlson's best hitters are less than average in the IPA. 2B Jimmy Ryland (.295/5 HR/41 RBI/45 R), LF Keith Schmidt (.268/12 HR/41 RBI/ and RF Trent Gilbert (.287/2 HR/33 RBI) is the best he has to offer.

Carlson lamented to reporters about the lack of hitting, "Good pitching can give you a chance to win every game, but it's hitting that will make the difference. If some of the higher-ranked teams had my starting four, they wouldn't lose too many games. We just have to come up with some hitters to really compete."

The Mahaska Haymakers (34-39) are guided by Rusty Tanussa. The Haymakers don't have the pitching that North Hills has, but it has a better offense with 1B Miles Shufford (.304/15 HR/58 RBI/43 R) batting clean-up. Tanussa has several other capable hitters as well in 3B Lloyd Windham (.300/6 HR/36 RBI/45 R), 2B Dusty Eaton (.281/3 HR/21 RBI/38 R) and C Mike Kanjorsky (.303/7 HR/33 RBI). However, Windham's defense was so bad, he was just released. He had made 31 errors and was fielding only .859.

The Haymakers only have a couple of good pitchers in starters Greg Turchin (8-9 3.04) and Boomerang Hines (7-6 3.19). At the All-Star break Tanussa has just signed three new pitchers.

Big John Randison pilots the White River Rascals (30-43), who have never finished better than seventh place in the TU North and it appears that streak will remain intact for another year. Randison doesn't have much to work with. He just added four new pitchers to the roster in hopes of getting lucky and getting some pitching help. None of them look like impact players.

The Rascals have two solid hurlers in Lindon Shaw (6-3 2.25) and LHP Mick Cronyn (6-9 3.19) and three decent hitters in CF Hal Hoover (.300/11 HR/34 RBI/41 R/10 SB), 3B Riley Cloy (.275/13 HR/40 RBI/48 R) and LF Roy Cochran (.273/3 HR/43 RBI). Not much beyond these five players. White River will try to keep its head above water in the battle for the basement with Blue Lake in the TU North.

Give the edge to the Rascals. The Blue Lake Blue Sox (25-48) only have three quality ballplayers. Manager Cobb Tyson is fit to be tied. It is a wonder that he has been able to tolerate such a bad team this year. The Blue Sox are getting worse by the year. They finished second in 2001, then ended up sixth the last two seasons, but had competitive teams. They played .500 ball in 2003. But not so in 2004. Blue Lake has the worst record in the entire Islandian Pro Alliance.

Tyson has one decent pitcher in Neil Krogstad (5-6 3.44). That's why he dropped five pitchers at midseason. He is desperate for pitching. The Blue Sox are last in the IPA with an atrocious 4.49 ERA.

Not much better when it comes to hitting. All-Star RF Fred Collins (.318/16 HR/46 RBI/44 R/12 SB) is Blue Lake's best. CF Rick Hilliard (.261/10 HR/32 RBI/37 R/14 SB) gives him some help at times.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union South 2004 Mid-Season Standings

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

What? Hurricanes Hold Top Spot In TU South At Halfway Point?
So far in the Tycobbian Union South the baseball experts have been all wrong. The favored Turon and San Alejo powerhouses have suddenly suffered severe power failures and tumbled down to fourth and fifth place respectively. Jumping in to take their spots at the top are the Cape Coral Hurricanes, Colchester Elites and the Summerland Sunsets.

Huggy Miller's Hurricanes have put together a fine first half and have a 2-game lead over Colchester and are 5 games in front of third place Summerland. San Alejo was the top choice to take the title this year, while the last year's Pro Cup winner, the Turon Typhoons were picked to be the runner-up this year.

The Cape Coral Hurricanes (42-31) have a solid club, strong in all categories, pitching, batting and defense. On paper they should be 10 games ahead in the standings. The 'Canes top the division with a .272 batting average, 383 runs, 3.09 ERA and are second in homers with 75 and in fielding with a .976 percentage.

Miller's top mound performers are All-Star Cody Burg (12-4 2.53), Doug Lyons (9-6 2.71) and Jeff Salow (10-4 3.73). The Hurricanes batting order boast good hitters from top to bottom, led by All-Star rookie LF Kippy Doyle (.315/17 HR/58 RBI/41 R), 1B Danny Mullins (.264/13 HR/48 RBI/56 R), C Fats Dalton (.289/10 HR/43 RBI/37 R) and 2B Hoshi Sato (.289/10 HR/32 RBI/57 R). Miller moved outfielder Mullins to first base to make room in the outfield for the talented Doyle. Mullins has handled the change well and has played the bag very well.

The Colchester Elites (40-33) have proved the prognosticators wrong, at least up to the All-Star break. The outlook was for a lowly sixth-place finish, but manager Uncle Robbie Wilbertson's Elites are running a very strong second in the TU South, trailing by just two games. Hitting is the name of the game in Colchester. They top the division in home runs with 78 and are second in scoring with 359 runs. Leading the attack are All-Star 3B Niles Stanton (.354/20 HR/64 RBI/47 R), 1B Harlan Roscoe (.303/15 HR/55 RBI/47 R), RF Tom Barella (.286/12 HR/41 RBI/53 R/22 SB) and rookie LF Douglas Tilford (.297/8 HR/37 RBI/41 R/21 SB).

Wilbertson has enough pitching to get by with three adequate starters in Frank Payne (9-5 3.24), rookie Tom Carter (5-1 2.45) and Ray Beckham (9-5 4.30). Colchester is in dire need of a closer. To fill that spot he took Tom Carter (5-1 2.45), one of his spot starters and long relievers, and inserted him into the closer spot. This will be the key decision of the year for the Elites. If Carter can come through and perform well, Colchester will be in the thick of the pennant race.

The Summerland Sunsets (37-36) get the job done offensively, ranked number two (.268 BA) behind first place Cape Coral (.272 BA) and number three in scoring (344) behind Cape Coral and Colchester. Skipper Will Hackett's Elites have benefited from the poor play of San Alejo and Turon to rise up to third place, just 5 back of the leading Hurricanes. Hackett's Sunsets could use a few more good pitchers as they are rated next-to-last with a 4.06 ERA. Summerland added three new arms at the All-Star intermission.

1B Karl Van Kooten (.278/8 HR/48 RBI) and CF Stacy Zacker (.285/10 HR/36 RBI/42 R) are Hackett's best hitters with some help from 2B Tucker Hill (.294/2 HR/19 RBI/35 R).

On the hill the Sunsets are led by All-Star Paul Felkner (11-5 2.54) and Duncan Cade (9-7 4.07), two portsiders. Without decided improvement in the pitching department, there is no way Summerland can compete with Cape Coral. However, they can compete with Colchester for the other playoff spot in the TU South.

The most asked question in the IPA this year? What has happened to Turon, St. Alejo and St. John? All of those teams were expected to dominate again this year. But it hasn't happened, much to the chagrin of Whitey Richburn, Lando Peceda and Smitty Michaels, the managers of the teams.

The Turon Typhoons (35-38) are the defending IPA champions, but haven't played like it this season. Picked to run a close second to San Alejo in the TU South, the Typhoons have slipped under .500 and down to fourth place in the standings, but only 7 games out. Richburn told reporters recently, "Our pitching has held up, but you can't compete when you are batting .245, hit half as many home runs and score a run a game less. When your club leader has 4 home runs and 29 RBIs at midseason, you have got serious problems. Absolutely no one on the team is hitting at all. I've never seen anything like it."

But the Typhoons do play good defense and are tied with Ginza for the division lead with a .978 fielding percentage.

Turon's top batters are SS John-Paul Thevenot (.282/4 HR/29 RBI) and 1B Boots Dubois (.283/3 HR/22 RBI).

Scotty Boswell (9-6 3.34) and Jeb Pickett (8-7 3.57) lead the Typhoon twirlers. Ace closer Mac Yokum (2-3 2.38) is doing a fine job with 14 saves in 31 game appearances.

Richburn is the eternal optimist, commenting, "The law of averages say the second half is going to be much better than the first half of the year. We'll do fine, if we hit like we are supposed to."

San Alejo is the southern-most town in the Islands. Peceda observed, "You would think we couldn't go any more south, but we have. Our hitting and pitching has dropped off the charts this season." The Montaneros have averaged 98 wins a year in their first two seasons in the IPA. They are on schedule to win only 70 games this season. Peceda's club is hitting 30 points less as a team and is scoring 1.5 runs fewer a game than last year. The team ERA has surged upward from 3.46 to 3.91 this season. That's why the San Alejo Montaneros (33-40) have slumped to fifth place and find themselves in the very uncomfortable position of being 9 games back in the race.

Montanero pitcher Alberto Herrera (10-6 2.57) has been Peceda's only dependable hurler. All the rest are suffering exceedingly bad years. Same thing for the batters. Only three of them are playing competitive baseball: 1B Rodger Wooten (.286/14 HR/41 RBI/, 3B Paolo Huerta (.267/10 HR/38 RBI) and SS Erico Pilar (.307/6 HR/39 RBI/39 R).

The Ginza Ninjas (31-43) and Southport Sun Sox are tied for the sixth spot in the TU South race and trail the top team by 11 games.

Manager Huroko Uchiyama's club has the same problem as several other teams - run production. The Ninjas team batting average has dropped 20 points from last season. Uchiyama assessed the season this way, "Our pitching has held its own, in spite of the fact that Kazuhiro Nakayama, a 17-game winner last year, has missed the entire first half with an injury. It will be good to have him back after the All-Star Game. Nakayama will make us a different team. Our main problem is that we suffer from a lack of runs. Defensively we are fine."

Uchiyama has two quality hurlers in All-Star Kojiro Motsumoto (9-12 2.66) and Alec Sasek (8-7 3.25). With the return of Nakayama, Ginza will have three fine starters. The outlook is good from that standpoint.

At the plate LF Ronnie Cahill (.316/9 HR/37 RBI), SS Dave Torregrossa (.285/2 HR/36 RBI) and 2B Ken Mack (.314/2 HR/20 RBI/29 R) have been the Ninjas best bats. One of Uchiyama's top performers, 3B Kenshin Yamamoto (.263/7 HR/34 RBI), a normal .300 hitter, is down some 40 points on his average at the halfway mark of the season. Ginza needs Yamamoto to come back strong in the second half. With him and Nakayama doing well, the Ninjas could move up in the standings, but still will not be a playoff team.

Famed center fielder Charley Oscar is in charge of the Southport Sun Sox (31-42). The polls have proven to be right in the case of the Sun Sox. They were the consensus seventh pick in the preseason analysis and that just about where they are. Oscar doesn't have much to brag about. His only pitcher of note is Walt Corbin (8-5 2.58) and and his one and only genuine hitter is 1B Pat Mystryk (.289/12/45 RBI). LF Angelo Lombardi (.254/15 HR/38) has supplied some much-need long ball, but has not hit much for average.

Oscar has too many needs to do much better than seventh this season. The BNN experts called this one right.

For the third year in a row the Arroyo Grande Suns (30-43) will undoubtedly end up the season in the TU South cellar, but they are better this year. Manager Jean-Luc Marchand Suns just might break the 60-win mark. They have never won more than 52. Improved pitching is the reason.

Indicating what he planned to do the rest of the year, Marchand told reporters, "Normally I carry nine pitchers, but for the last half of the season, I will use a 5-man rotation and will expand to 10 pitchers. I want to see as many starters as I can and give them experience in the starting rotation. This will help us find the starters for next season. I am also going to use my entire position players roster during the second half. Everyone will get a chance to show me what they can do. If we are going to lose, we might as well lose with a variety of ballplayers. We need to know if they can play or not."

Arroyo Grande's best pitchers have been starter Miguel Aguilera (6-7 4.08) and closer Val Hudson (2-1 2.13) with 5 saves and 34 relief assignments. Marchand has only one solid hitter in 1B Cristian Avajos (.281/16 HR/51 RBI).

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union East Division 2004 Mid-Season Standings

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Midway Skyhigh In TU East, Surprises Favored Red Bluff and High Mesa
It has been a remarkable year for the Midway Wolves, who have soared to the top of the Tycobbian Union East ahead of highly-favored High Mesa and Red Bluff. Manager Cochise Chandler has guided Midway from a sixth place finish in 2003 to a surprising first place spot this season. Halfway through year the Wolves have a narrow one-game lead over second place Tuckanarra with third place Ozarka 4 games back and Red Bluff and High Mesa tied for fourth, 6 games off the pace. The Red Sox are the defending division champs, while the Cowboys were picked to win this season.

The Midway Wolves (42-31) have rode its number-one ranked pitching staff to the TU East lead. The Wolves have the best ERA (3.37) in the division and are much improved over last season. Mac Chaney (10-1 3.86), Nosyt Sani (7-5 2.82), Pedro Shunkaha (4-3 3.05) and closer Joe Eckermann (1-0 0.64) with 13 saves and 26 game appearances are the nucleus for this season's success.

Midway's offense has been sufficient with a .261 batting average (3rd) and 337 runs (4th), headed by 1B Don Piper (.254/10 HR/47 RBI/43 R), rookie SS Tory Bidwell (.309/6 HR/38 RBI/47 R), 2B Little John Yuma (.306/1 HR/32 RBI/45 R/11 SB) and CF Johnny Gillespie (.277/6 HR/35 RBI/40 R).

Good defense has played a part, too. Midway is tied for second with Red Bluff with an impressive .979 percentage. South Fork is the leader with a sensational .984 fielding average, tops in the entire IPA.

Carlton "Lefty" Stevens has his Tuckanarra Blue Jays (41-32) right on the tails of the Wolves, just a scant game off the pace. Mike Amato (1-0 3.86) has played a huge role since coming to the Blue Jays in a trade in the off-season with Volusia for catcher Clint Hardesty (.254/6 HR/46 RBI). Niles Applewhite (7-7 3.34) and Titus Bristow (7-9 3.23) give Stevens two more capable starters. In his bullpen rookie Mook Epperson (1-2 2.27) had stood out in the first half as a middle reliever and he will now take over as the closer.

Tuckanarra did not sneak up on anyone as the Blue Jays were predicted to be the third-best team in the division. In 2003 they finished a very close third, only 2 games behind Red Bluff and a game behind High Mesa.

The Blue Jays are batting only .250 (6th) with 65 homers (4th), but they do put a lot of runs on the scoreboard, ranking second with 339 runs. Stevens has a well-balanced line-up with some solid and productive batters in RF Monty Draycott (.266/13 HR/60 RBI/45 R/9 SB), 1B Charley Schofield (.269/13 HR/46 RBI/40 R), LF Corey Tavington (.269/11 HR/43 RBI/37 R), 2B Owen MacArthur (.292/5 HR/23 RBI/41 R/9 SB) and C Maka Bardinda (.296/4 HR/34 RBI/21 R).

The Ozarka Naturals (38-35) under Joe Mac Carney have made steady progress in its fourth year, moving up from fourth last season to third so far this year. The Nats pitching staff gets most of the credit. They have compiled the second-best team ERA (3.45) in the TU East. Carney has four very capable starters in his rotation, led by Alex DiMaggio (8-7 2.95), rookie Karl Kleinert (6-2 3.05), Dana Channing (9-5 3.69) and Pat Schwartz (7-7 3.68). Ozarka could use a stronger closer, although Dayle Claypoole (2-3 3.93) has been adequate with 11 saves in his 33 games.

Carney's ballclub has outscored everybody in the league with 362 runs, even though the Naturals are hitting just .262, second to High Mesa's .275, with only 45 homers (7th). Just about all of the players contribute to the offense, paced by CF Kermit Wiggins (.294/1 HR/31 RBI/48 R/15 SB) and SS Duffy Douglas (.279/4 HR/37 RBI/47 R). Platooners have done their part, too: RF Gus Dufrene (.291/6 HR/33 RBI/30 R) in 50 games, 3B Royce Robinson (.309/4 HR/21 RBI) in 40 games and C Richard Morley (.335/1 HR/28 RBI) in 48 games.

Frisky Franks, the skipper of the High Mesa Cowboys (36-37), has had a very disappointing season thus far. Favored in the BNN poll to win the TU East, the Cowboys have slumped to a tie for fourth with another frustrated team, the defending division champion, the Red Bluff Red Sox. High Mesa won the IPA Pro Cup just two years ago.

Franks told reporters, "Plain and simple, pitching is killing us." High Mesa is right at the bottom with a very poor 4.28 ERA. Only when John Owens (10-10 3.69), Donnie Rinaldi (6-4 4.00) and hard-luck Joey Popovich (6-13 4.03) are on the hill are the Cowboys competitive. The bullpen has been lousy this year and can't protect any leads at all. Franks has truly missed Kael Claxton. He won 14 and 15 games the last two seasons, but has been sidelined by an injury this year. Claxton will be back in the rotation after the All-Star game. Meanwhile, Franks has signed three new hurlers in hopes of turning things around in the second half of the campaign. Franks said, "If Claxton can pitch like he usually does and Popovich (6-13 4.03) can get a break or two, we can still win this thing."

One thing about it, High Mesa can still hit the ball. The Cowboys have far and away the best batting average (.275) in the division and second-best in the IPA, are comfortably ahead in home runs with 80 and are runner-up in scoring with 339 runs. Sparking the Cowboys at bat are C Jay Fessler (.338/7 HR/32 RBI/45 R/19 SB), 2B Ed Granberg (.304/9 HR/51 RBI/46 R), SS Rolf Kellgren (.356/3 HR/23 RBI/56 R/20 SB), RF Kenny Edelstein (.291/9 HR/42 RBI) and CF Lex Neville (.292/10 HR/31 RBI). And despite batting only .219, slugger LF Adam Zitek still has contributed 13 roundtrippers and 44 RBIs.

What's wrong with the Red Bluff Red Sox (36-37)? It looks like Mack Connery really misses his former second baseman Tony Borcellino and his 30 homers and 107 RBIs. He was shipped to Grand City in the RU for fleet center fielder Stan Helmke. Borcellino was traded because he hit only .237 last year. At the mid-season Borcellino is hitting .275, belted 16 home runs and batted in 51 runs, while Helmke has fizzled to a .228 batting average. Last year Helmke hit .326, stole 61 bases and scored 93 runs, while playing very good defense.

Connery told BNN, "The jury is still out on that trade. Remember Helmke is six years younger. I'll comment on the trade value in six years. OK?"

Hitting is the missing element this year in Red Bluff. In addition to losing Borcellino, 1B Bucky Frizzell is batting only .229. Plus closer John Dougherty (2-6 3.00) is having an off-year and has only 6 saves in 33 games. However, Connery has good starters in All-Star Leonard Urban (9-5 2.72) and two southpaws, Mila Mihoski (8-5 2.75) and Frank Beaudoin (7-8 3.32). He just has to get some help in middle relief and for Dougherty, Frizzell and Helmke to get back on track. That would make a world of different for Connery's team.

At the plate the Red Sox depend on LF Tony Blundell (.284/12 HR/32 RBI) and RF Kris Grabowski (.303/8 HR/29 RBI). They have pretty much carried the team this year, along with C Virgil Carpenter (.271/8 HR/31 RBI).

The East Point Panthers (35-38) are doing a little better than predicted. Skipper Griff Clarke's crew is in sixth place, but were picked for the basement in the TU East. The Panthers are only 7 games out of first. They really don't have the pitching to finish any higher. They hit with occasional power and can score. East Point has a .259 team batting average (4th), 68 homers (3rd), 324 runs (6th), but a poor 3.92 ERA (6th).

Clarke's top run producers are his old reliables, 3B Rex Sokolov (.298/13 HR/53 RBI/45 R) and All-Star 2B Karol Zadoka (.319/15 HR/45 RBI/54 R/11 SB). Rookie 1B Terry Cane (.300/5 HR/35 RBI) has lended a much-needed hand this year. Sokolov and Zadoka have carried the team by themselves for the last three seasons.

On the hill East Point depends on starters Charlie Hale (10-6 2.99), LHP Jarred Robillard (7-8 3.13) and LHP Carl Thompson (6-3 3.94). Clarke just signed three rookie hurlers for the second half of the year.

The Hillsboro Blazers (30-43) set a new IPA record for home runs last season with 201. Manager Arky Spanderson gave up some of that firepower for a standout pitcher and two solid position players. He traded SS Jerry Pontros to St. John of the Ruthlandian Union for three players: pitcher George Wilson, second baseman George Longmire and outfielder Jorge Mercado. Wilson bombed with a 3-10 mark with a skyhigh 4.98 ERA and has been released at midyear. That is the prime reason has faltered this season. Spanderson thought the trade would put them on equal footing with the division powers, but it has not worked out that way. The Blazers are in seventh place, 12 games off the pace. A good year by Wilson would have greatly improved Hillsboro standing in the division. But that didn't happen.

Spanderson's mound corps has been atrocious so far with a 4.25 ERA (7th) except for starters Ronnie Greinke (6-6 3.70) and Hap Howerton (7-4 4.07). LHP closer Frankie Coleridge (2-2 2.56) has impressed with 10 saves in 33 relief appearances. The Blazers have added three new pitchers to the staff for the last half of the season.

Hillsboro can still hit with power, but not like last year. As a team the Blazers have slumped badly from .264 to .246 this year. 1B Sloan Shatner (.235/13 HR/32 RBI) will not come close to his 2003 numbers when he hit .297 with 38 homers and 109 RBIs. Pontros' 27 home runs will be missed, too. Hillsboro is on pace to hit 60 fewer home runs.

LF Kevin Baker (.276/17 HR/52 RBI/47 R) is leading the charge this year, along with 3B Tommy Emrick (.314/10 HR/39 RBI/36 R). 2B George Longmire (.268/6 HR/38 RBI/45 R/23 SB) has contributed offensively and defensively, but CF Jorge Mercado (.259/10 HR/27 RBI/40 R) has been a disappointment.

South Fork manager Duroche "Lips" Leon just might have to find another pet phrase. "Nice guys finish last" just doesn't seem to fit anymore. It is quite likely that the Stallions will finish last in the TU East. Considering Leon's volatile disposition, no reporters had had the nerve to approach Leon about that subject this year. Maybe "bad guys finish last", too. At least this year.

The South Fork Stallions (28-45) are indeed in last place, 14 games behind. They are last in TU East in hitting with a .246 average and next-to-last in the IPA in homers with only 33. Only Volusia in the RU has fewer with 32. Leon has one bright spot on the team. The Stallions are the best defensive squad in the IPA with an outstanding .984 percentage.

The Stallions best batter is 1B Keith Burke (.257/5 HR/44 RBI). Rookie SS Marty Bolt (.280/0 HR/35 RBI) has the top average on the team. Even former All-Star Art Atkins (.260/5 HR/34 RBI) is having a dismal season. Atkins is a career .299 hitter.

In the pitching department veteran Flint Battle (7-9 2.73) has pitched very well, in spite of a losing record. Rookie Shannon Talbert (4-1 2.75) also has done well in 5 starts and 9 relief assignments. Talbert will move into a full-time starting role after the All-Star break.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union West Division 2004 Mid-Season Standings

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Bayview Best In TU West, Vikings Have 4-Game Lead Over Rolling Hills Reds
What a season it has been for the Bayview Vikings. They were the number one choice to take the division flag and they are proving their meddle. Walter Johanssen's Vikings have a 4-game bulge at the season's halfway point in the Tycobbian Union West over the Rolling Hills Reds, 7 games over third place Denton City and 10 up on fourth place Bay St. Clair.

The standings remarkably mirrors the BNN preseason poll. The only deviation is Bay St. Clair is fourth and La Claire is fifth. They flipped-flopped in the poll. Otherwise the pollsters were perfect in their picks.

The Bayview Vikings (47-26) are the defending champs in the TU West with the second-best record in the IPA. Only Oxford of the TU North have won more games. Johanssen's Viks dominate the division offensively with a .271 batting average, 72 homers and 375 runs. Pitching-wise they hold their own, ranking third with a 3.49 ERA. However, Bayview is last in fielding with a .972 FA.

Johanssen says he has the best job in the IPA. "I got four All-Stars, who make my job a breeze. Who couldn't win with the players I have." Bayview's success is sparked by 2-time All-Star CF Phil Kanaan (.316/13 HR/52 RBI/64 R/15 SB), 2-time All-Star C Hank Bethel (.313/16 HR/49 RBI/35 R), 3B James Scott (.316/5 HR/42 RBI), 2-time All-Star 2B Alan Hansen (.310/0 HR/21 RBI/66 R/23 SB) and RF Karl Yashin (.270/9 HR/38 RBI).

Johanssen, himself a great HOF pitcher in amateur circles, has forged a good pitching staff, too. 3-time All-Star Jerry Harrison (13-4 2.83) is having a career year thus far. Other solid starters are Frank Wells (8-3 3.38) and rookie Georgie Fambreau (4-0 3.09). Bayview is on top of the division despite Adrian Strom's (5-9 5.13) dire troubles. Strom was 24-5 last season with a 3.44 ERA. He has been shipped to the bullpen to sort things out. In the bullpen is closer Terry Banks (7-4 3.08) with 13 saves and 40 relief appearances.

Another great HOF pitcher, Matty Christianson, is in charge of the Rolling Hills Reds (43-32). Christianson has his club running neck-and-neck with torrid Bayview and he is doing it with a blend of fine pitching and good hitting.

The Reds have the best starting rotation in the division. It has compiled a strong 3.20 ERA and ranks number one in that category. All-Star Keith Greenwood (11-2 2.65) has been superb this season with some help from Hoyt Paulsen (5-0 2.73), Pete Brenneman (4-3 2.14) and Roger Davidson (7-7 3.31). Christianson has excellent middle relievers and an adequate closer in LHP Stephen Faccaro (5-8 3.55), who has 14 saves and has made 38 relief appearances. Spearheading the Reds attack are RF Theron Latigo (.292/10 HR/58 RBI/42 R/11SB), 1B Eddy Dowler (.302/8 HR/30 RBI/44 R) and CF Willie Mays Nixon (.258/7 HR/37 RBI/42 R/13 SB)

Ford Whiteman has the Denton City Redbirds (40-33) in the running for a playoff spot in the TU West. The Redbirds are seven games behind Bayview, but only three games away from the second place Reds. Whiteman's main strength is his offense. Denton City is third in batting with a .261 team average, second in roundtrippers with 67 and third in runs scored with 346. Leading the Redbirds attack is their sensational All-Star 1B Rod MacCormack (.335/15 HR/58 RBI/51 R), hard-hitting 3B Jay Petit (.347/8 HR/47 RBI) and solid RF Lavon Gooch (.281/13 HR/42 RBI/52 R).

On the hill Whiteman could use some help as Denton City is a little below average with a 3.88 team ERA (7th). Whiteman has three fairly good starters in Gino Carmazzo (8-5 3.32), Roger Ramsey (7-2 3.52) and LHP James Darbonne (4-3 3.25). The Redbirds have an excellent closer in LHP Bubba Lear (3-2 2.29) with 13 saves in 36 games. Former mainstays of his staff, Bob Coleman (7-10 5.69) and Joe Hoffman (7-7 4.46) have been sent to the bullpen in hopes of getting straightened out. Burton McGarrick (2-2 2.19) and LHP Daniel Fitzmorris (0-0 3.21) will take their spots in the starting rotation and will be crucial to Denton City's playoff aspirations. McGarrick and Fitzmorris pitched well in middle relief in the first half of the season. Together they made 43 game appearances. McGarrick made 5 starts and 22 relief appearances, while Fitzmorris relieved in 16 games.

The Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (37-36) don't appear to have the talent to compete with the top three teams in the division. The Bucs are number two in batting with a .265 average, but that is misleading. They are 5th in runs scored with 317 and last in home runs with only 34. Manager Guy Rondre's team is also fifth in pitching with a 3.68 ERA.

Bay St. Clair's best batters are contact hitters with not much power. Topping the
Buccaneers are 3B Eddie Albrecht (.305/9 HR/46 RBI/41 R), C Jake Singleton (.331/1 HR/37 RBI) and LF Stan Denton (.353/0 HR/29 RBI/36 R).

Rondre has an All-Star hurler in Denny Coulon (13-5 2.27), who is tied for the most victories in the IPA with Bayview's Jerry Harrison (13-4 2.83) and Forest City's Timmy Brooks (13-5 2.55). Coulon has the fifth-best ERA. Duncan McFalls (7-6 3.36) has done a credible job in the rotation, while southpaw Norm Gross (3-3 1.91) seems to have found his niche in the bullpen. The Buc closer has 13 saves and a fantastic 1.91 ERA in 34 appearances.

Rip Calkin's La Claire Lynx (36-37) have made good strides this season and have almost reached the .500 mark. But they are a fourth or fifth place team at best. Calkin's club suffers from a lack of hitting and power. They are sixth with a .254 BA, seventh in home runs with just 39 and next-to-last in runs with only 284. One of his hopes for the future, shortstop Kevin English, has been a gigantic failure. English, an All-Star in 2003 for Arroyo Grande, has batted a Mendoza-like .201 so far this year for the Lynx. English batted .319 last season.

Thank goodness Calkin has two very strong starters in All-Star Jim Melanakos (10-3 2.52) and Munoto Kishata (10-7 3.09). They give La Claire a fighting chance in each series. Melanakos came from Oxford in a 3-for-1 trade for 1B Kenny Jablonski in April. One of the other players, 1B Lavon England (.299/4 HR/26 RBI/37 R/19 SB) has performed well offensively and defensively (.993 FA). So it has been a great trade for Calkin.

At the plate RF Lucky Collins (.282/8 HR/41 RBI/43 R/12 SB) and 2B Dirk Lindahl (.303/4 HR/25 RBI/24 R) have been the Lynx's top performers.

Not much good to say about the sixth place Kenwood Wildcats (34-39). Seventh in hitting (.245), sixth in homers (46) and last in pitching (4.48 ERA). Statistically they are the worst in the division.

It sure must be tough on manager Aaron Hankins, one of the greatest home run hitter in industrial league history. Hammerin' Hankins hit more homers than anyone in the amateur leagues. But they are not any help at all to him now. Hankins used hit more homers in a week than his team does in a month. His best batters are CF Teddy Mays (.308/9 HR/35 RBI/36 R/11 SB), SS Ned Chamberlain (.297/4 HR/26 RBI/32 R/10 SB) and LF Sassy Garfield (.250/7 HR/43 RBI/36 R/13 SB). Quite pale compared to the top teams in the TU West.

Not any better in the pitching department, either. The Wildcats have a good closer in Aydan Havilland (3-3 3.09) with 14 saves in 36 games. They have only one decent starter in Pedro Acosta (4-5 3.41). Beyond that, Hankins has two inconsistent lefties, Johnny McBee (9-8 4.31) and Lou Phillips (7-6 4.25). Kenwood is doing what a lot of teams are doing at the mid-point in the year, sign pitcher in wholesale numbers. Hankins just added three new rookies to his roster.

This season the seventh place Chicopee Braves (33-40) are an improved ballclub, mainly due to it solid pitching corps. The Braves are ranked second with a 3.47 team ERA, topped only by Rolling Hills with a splendid 3.20 ERA. However, mananger Harry Fleetfoot's batting order is woefully inadequate. Chicopee is averaging .260 (4th-tied), has 60 homers (4th), but is last in runs with just 277. Not a recipe for success. But the Braves can run and catch the ball and lead the TU West with a .978 FA.

Fleetfoot's top hitters are 1B Patrick Patamon (.263/6 HR/36 RBI), RF Orville Butler (.246/14 HR/33 RBI) and SS Ben McClendon (.286/8 HR/31 RBI).

Chicopee has two quality starters in Alan Goodwin (7-6 3.17) and Little Jake Liwanu (6-5 3.20). Fleetfoot has a standout closer in Desmond Quartermain (3-1 2.70), who has made 35 appearances with 11 saves. With its excellent pitching, the Braves could sneak past La Claire and definitely surpass Kenwood in the second half.

The last place Arlon Champions (30-43) are similar to Chicopee. The Champs have pretty fair pitching, ranked fourth with a 3.56 ERA, but absolutely no offense. Skipper Gary Louis' team is batting a dreadful .230, 63rd out of the 64 clubs in the IPA. Only the Eastshore Elegants (.229) of the RU East are worse.

You are in trouble when the best hitter you have on your roster is batting just .274. Arlon's top batters are LF Matt Merrill (.274/10 HR/33 RBI/41 R), CF Steve Barnett (.273/8 HR/31 RBI/45 R) and C Smoke Zakharov (.252/10 Hr/43 RBI).

Louis' top twirlers are rookie Jose Gonzales (6-5 2.47) and bullpen ace Stanley Ross (5-5 2.79), who has 6 saves in 32 games.

The Islandian Pro Alliance

Friday, June 25, 2004

IPA Announces Ruthlandian and Tycobbian All-Stars
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the All-Stars for the 2004 All-Star Game to be played at Turon's Typhoon Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Turon got to host the All-Star Game because they won the Pro Cup last season, beating the Valmara Vipers in the finals. Managers for the game will be Turon's skipper Ashton "Whitey" Richburn and Valmara's J. Jackson Samuel. The Tycobbian Union Stars hold a 2-1 edge over the Ruthlandian Stars with victories in 2001 and 2003.

The Oxford Red Caps and Bayview Vikings of the Tycobbian Union led with four players each. Four teams have a pair of participants: Forest City and Middlefield of the Ruthlandian Union and Cape Coral and High Mesa of the Tycobbian Union.

Four players have been named to the All-Star team three times: LF Dominic Zuccaro of the Taranto Tars in the RU; 2B Karol Zadoka of East Point, SS Rolf Kellgren of High Mesa and P Jerry Harrison of Bayview.

10 players were picked for the second time: LF Jet Kazmarek (VLM), 1B Phil Gravelli (BB), RF Bailey Norcross (MDF), C Todd Simons (ELN) in the RU; P Cody Burg (CC), C Hank Bethel (BAY), Jay Fessler (HM), 2B Alan Hansen (BAY), CF Phil Kanaan (BAY) and Kojiro Matsumoto (GIN) in the TU.

Representing the Ruthlandian Union:
SP C. Schmitz (VOL) (11-5 2.15)
SP T. Brooks (FC) (13-5 2.55)
SP J. Hicks (MDF) (9-6 2.47)
SP G. Neal (SV) 9-4 2.39)
SP A. Nardone (TAR) (7-8 2.33)
SP D. Vannoy (VLK) (9-5 1.91)
SP Y. Nakagawa (KIL) (9-5 1.89)

LF J. Kazmarek (VLM) (.399 BA/4 HR/54 RBI/40 R)
1B P. Gravelli (BB) (.372 BA/20 HR/63 RBI)
RF B. Norcross (MDF) (.308 BA/18 HR/42 RBI/54 R/21 SB)
SS R. Fargnoli (RAN) (.330 BA/12 HR/65 RBI/48 R)
2B B. McCord (GLS) (.329 BA/9 HR/48 RBI/49 R)
CF D. Jones (SD) (.335 BA/2 HR/30 RBI/48 R/29 SB)
3B C. Fairclough (RAN) (.305 BA/8 HR/38 RBI/48 R/15 SB)
C T. Simons (ELN) (.303 BA/5 HR/39 RBI/34 R)
C B. Stern (STO) (.305 BA/14 HR/53 RBI)
1B N. Cockcroft (WYN) (.325 BA/22 HR/40 RBI/52 R)
1B D. Cole (CFX) (.286 BA/14 HR/42 RBI/51 R)
SS B. Nilsen (FC) (.303 BA/15 HR/62 RBI/53 R/9 SB)
LF D. Zuccaro (TAR) (.295 BA/21 HR/51 RBI/47 R)
RF C. Czako (BEE) (.327 BA/9 HR/39 RBI/60 R/11 SB)
RF M. Di Lazzaro (LAG) (.329 BA/8 HR/46 RBI/45 R/13 SB)
1B S. Haddix (RR) (.333 BA/5 HR/51 RBI/41 R)

Participating for the Tycobbian Union:
SP D. Coulon (BSC) (13-5 2.27)
SP J. Harrison (BAY) (13-4 2.83)
SP K. Greenwood (RH) (11-2 2.65)
SP C. Burg (CC) (12-4 2.53)
SP J. Melanakos (LC) (10-3 2.52)
SP P. Felkner (SUM) (11-5 2.54)
SP N. Nicholson (OXF) (9-5 2.31)
SP B. Belinsky (OXF) (12-6 3.19)
SP K. Matsumoto (GIN) (9-12 2.66)
SP L. Urban (RB) (9-5 2.72)

CF I. Plunkett (OXF) (.348 BA/30 HR/63 RBI/76 R/16 SB)
3B N. Stanton (CCH) (.354 BA/20 HR/64 RBI/47 R)
2B K. Zodoka (EP) (.319 BA/15 HR/45 RBI/54 R/11 SB)
1B M. Faulkner (HAR) (.359 BA/10 HR/55 RBI/44 R)
RF F. Collins (BL) (.318 BA/16 HR/46 RBI/44 R)
C H. Bethel (BAY) (.313 BA/16 HR/49 RBI/47 R)
SS R. Kellgren (HM) (.356 BA/3 HR/23 RBI/56 R/20 SB)
LF M. Spencer (OXF) (.297 BA/21 HR/63 RBI/51 R)
C J. Fessler (HM) (.338 BA/7 HR/32 RBI/45 R/19 SB)
1B R. MacCormack (DC) (.335 BA/15 HR/58 RBI/51 R/10 SB)
3B J. Petit (DC) (.347 BA/8 HR/47 RBI/33 R)
2B C. Parmenter (FFX) (.346 BA/9 HR/39 RBI/46 R)
2B A. Hansen (BAY) (.310 BA/0 HR/21 RBI/66 R/23 SB)
CF P. Kanaan (BAY) (.316 BA/13 HR/52 RBI/64 R/15 SB)
LF K. Doyle (CC) (.315 BA/17 HR/58 RBI/41 R)
LF K. Baker (HIL) (.276/17 HR/52 RBI/47 R)

The Islandian Times

Saturday, June 26, 2004

Tycobbia Stars Prevail Over Ruthlania Stars 4-3 In 2004 All-Star Game
At Typhoon Stadium in Turon, the Tycobbian Union All-Stars defeated the Ruthlandian All-Stars for the third time in four years. The TU Stars erupted for four runs in the top of the eighth to win the 2004 All-Star Game 4-3. With Gregg Neal (SV) on the mound, Ruthlandia had a 3-0 lead. With one away RF Kippy Doyle (CC) doubled and 2B Alan Hansen (BAY) walked. CF Phil Kanaan (BAY) doubled to make it 3-1, putting runners on second and third. 3B Jay Petit (DC) got an infield hit to drive in another run, cutting the score to 3-2. With runners on the corners, LF Kevin Baker (HIL) doubled in Kanaan with the tying run. P Jim Melanakos then flied out deep to right to plate Petit with the eventual winning run. Melanakos picked up the win with a perfect 1-2-3 eighth.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth Ruthlandia mounted a threat. C Todd Simons (ELN) worked a walk off of Paul Felkner (SUM). 1B Dennis Cole (CFX) hit into a force play at second for out number one. Nicky Nicholson came on to pitch and surrendered a single to 1B Nate Cockroft (WYN) with Cole advancing to second base. LF Dominic Zuccaro hit one to the wall, but CF Kanaan went back and got it for the second out. Cole tagged and put the tying run on third. Leonard Urban relieved Nicholson and he retired RF Clifton Czako (BEE) on a sharp line drive to left to end the game and claimed the victory for Tycobbia. The defeat went to Neal, who gave up four runs and four hits in his only inning.

The Ruthlandian Stars took the lead against Denny Coulon (BSC) on a single by LF Jet Kazmarek (VLM) and a two-run homer by RF Bailey Norcross (MDF) in the opening frame. Ruthlandia added another run in the fourth when Norcross singled to lead off the inning against Jerry Harrison (BAY) and was driven in by C Bill Stern's (STO) RBI double. Norcross was voted the game MVP. He went 2-for-3 with a home run and a single and two RBIs.

Carl Schmitz (VOL), Yasuyuki Nakagawa (KIL) and Bomber Belinsky (OXF) stood out on the mound. Pitching for Ruthlandia, Schmitz fanned four in his two hitless innings and Nakagawa struck out two of the three batters he faced in a scoreless inning, while Tycobbia's Belinsky whiffed two and allowed no runs in his only inning.

Tycobbia won the first All-Star clash in 2001 with a 6-0 victory. Ruthlandia evened it up in 2002 with stunning 5-4 win by scoring four runs in the last of the ninth. Last year Tycobbia shut them out 2-0.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Ruthlandian Union Batting Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Ruthlandian Union Pitching Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Tycobbian Union Batting Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Tycobbian Union Pitching Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

The Islandian Times

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Crunch Time In The IPA, Ruthlandian Union Readies for Playoff Run
The pressure is on. Just one more month to go in the IPA. That's how much time the teams have to secure a playoff spot. This season only the top two teams in each of the eight divisions will get an automatic bid to the Pro Cup playoffs. Only 16 teams will qualify.

If the playoffs began today it would be Valmara (70-57) and Ranford (69-58) representing the Ruthlandian Union North. However, there is another month to go, so LaGrange (68-59), Taranto (64-63) and Glasco (63-64) still have something to say in the matter.

The Valmara Vipers and Ranford Bulls have both caught and surpassed the first half leader, LaGrange. The Vipers have a one-game lead over the Bulls. Manager Foxy Jimison has seen his Sports go into a downward spiral, blow a 5-game lead and fall out first place in the last two months. The Sports slumped badly to 19-27 since the All-Star break, while the Vipers were 28-20 and the Bulls were 30-18. Yet Jimison's club is only two games out of first and has time to right the ship. Skipper Tommaso Lazzorda has Taranto running in high gear with a 29-19 surge the last two months. They are just 6 games out of first place. So don't count the Tars out. Though the Glasco A's are only 7 games behind in the race, it is not likely they will challenge for a playoff slot. Especially since their season has taken a downward turn this month. The Athletics are not playing well at all and are only 6-13 in August.

Over in the RU South Valka enjoyed first place most of the season until just recently when the Blackhawks went into the doldrums with a 6-13 mark in August. This enabled the Belair Beach Sunbirds (77-50) to take over in a big way. Marty Pedroza's Sunbirds have a 6-game edge over the second place Claxton Diamonds (71-56) and San Dimas Rancheros (71-56). All three of them have played very well in July and August and are primed for the playoff run. Belair Beach chalked up an outstanding 31-17 record since mid-season, while Claxton was just as good at 31-17 and San Dimas was 28-20. The Valka Blackhawks (70-57) are still in contention, but Jaan Kurus' club has gone into the tank and now trails by 7 games. Valka is just 23-25 in the last two months.

In the RU East the Elnora All-Stars (72-55) and Sugar Valley Rattlers (71-56) are in good shape heading into the final month of play with a good lead over the third place Marston Nine (66-61). The Rattlers have been playing the best ball of late with a 27-21 mark in the last two months, while Elnora slipped to 25-23 and Marston to 21-27. To make the lead look even better Marston hasn't been playing very well with a 6-13 record this month and has fallen 6 games off the pace. Beechwood (60-67), Belle Plaine (60-67) and Wynnamac (60-67) are too far back to be any playoff threat. The Sundowners were a strong fourth at the All-Star break, only 3 games back, but have since gone 17-30 and have dropped out of sight.

Smitty Michaels and his Middlefield Roosters (77-50) are riding high with a 6-game bulge on top of the RU West and they are still playing quite well with a 29-19 mark in July and August. It's not likely anyone is going to catch them. Volusia (71-56) has the best chance as the Vigilantes have hung close and played extremely well, too. Alfonso Feliz has guided them a 29-19 record over the past two months. They haven't gained any ground on the Roosters, but they haven't lost any, either. Eddie Keys and the Sligo Rovers (69-58) have gone into a slumber in recent weeks and dropped 8 games behind with a poor 22-26 record. The way things are going lately Middlefield and Volusia look like safe bets for the playoffs. Fourth place Rocky Rapids (66-61) and Stoner (66-61) are good teams, but have too much ground to make up, being 11 games off the pace.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Bayview, Oxford, Cape Coral Playoff-Bound
Three powerful ballclubs in the Tycobbian Union have just about wrapped up the division pennants and the playoff spots that goes with them. Bayview, Oxford and Cape Coral seem to be shoo-ins for the regular season crowns. Only the Midway Wolves have a challenge on their hands for the division flag and they are in a battle royal with the Red Bluff Red Sox and Tuckanarra Blue Jays for it.

The awesome Oxford Red Caps (82-45) are still at it, pitching well and knocking the cover off the ball in the TU North. Since the mid-season hiatus, Campy Roy's boys have gone 30-18 and increased their lead to 8 games over runners-up Hartsdale (74-53) and Luxora (74-53). The Hellcats and Zorros are no slouches as they have been 29-19 and 27-21 respectively the last two months of play. They have a 3-game lead over fourth place Fairfax (71-56) heading down the stretch drive. The Frogs fell to 22-26 in July and August to slip 11 games out.

In the Tycobbian Union South race, Huggy Miller's Cape Coral Hurricanes (78-49) have gone on a 32-16 rampage and bolted 8 games ahead of second place Colchester (70-57), despite the fact that the Elites have been playing well with a 26-22 mark since the All-Star game. Both clubs are just about guaranteed playoff positions. The Hurricanes should win the division crown and Colchester should easily get the second playoff spot. It's not likely third place San Alejo (62-65) and fourth place Summerland (61-66) will contend with them. The defending IPA Pro Cup champion, the fifth place Turon Typhoons (58-69) will definitely not be in the playoffs and will have to wait until next year.

There is quite a tussle in the TU East. Everything is still up for grabs - the regular season crown and both playoff spots. Five teams are in the running and are set to battle down-to-wire and down to the last day of the season. Manager Cochise Chandler's Midway Wolves (68-59) are now tied with last year's winner Red Bluff (68-59) for first place. Over the past two months the Wolves have played poorly with a 20-28 mark, while Mack Connery's Red Sox put up a 28-20 record and climbed up to the top of the division. Third place Tuckanarra (67-60) is only one game behind the leaders. The Blue Jays were 24-24 since mid-season. Still in the chase are the High Mesa Cowboys (63-64) and Ozarka Naturals (63-64), both tied for fourth place and only 5 games back. The Cowpokes performed at a 24-24 clip in July and August, while the Nats dipped to a dismal 21-27 pace.

Walter Johanssen has piloted the Bayview Vikings (83-44) to the best overall record in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season and they will coast to TU West Division championship. The Vikings compiled a 32-16 record over the last two months and have left everyone in the dust in the regular season title race with a huge 12-game lead over second place Rolling Hills (71-56). The Denton City Redbirds (70-57) are third, 13 games behind, and will challenge the Reds for the final playoff spot. Fourth place La Claire (66-61) is 17 games out and seems to be out of contention. Since the season's halfway point, Rolling Hills has been 24-24 with the Redbirds 26-22 and the Lynx 29-19.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

IPA Regular Season Champs Proclaimed, Pro Cup Series Begins Today
Year Four was a good one in the Islandian Pro Alliance with tight, down-to-the-wire races in just about all of the divisions. One of them had to have a one-game winner-take-all-game to decide the pennant. There was also a playoff to decide second place in one of the divisions.

The Pro Cup Sweet 16 Series is slated to get underway today with 8 games on the schedule. For the first time this season, the Pro Cup playoffs will be a best-three-of-five in the first three rounds with the championship series will be a best-of-seven affair.

Ruthlandian Union North Division 2004 Final Standings

Valmara Streaks To Pennant in RU North, Ranford Runner-Up
The Valmara Vipers (87-67) had to win their final five games to overtake the Ranford Bulls (86-68) in the Ruthlandian Union North. The Vipers won it by one game with third place LaGrange (84-70) just three games back. Valmara and Ranford will represent the North in the Pro Cup playoffs that will get underway today with Sweet 16 action. The Bulls will host the RU South champion Belair Beach, while the Vipers will travel to play the Claxton Diamonds, the number two team in the South.

Valmara finished strong under manager J. Jackson Samuel to take the crown for the second successive season. The Vipers vaulted to the top with a great 13-5 run in September and a power-packed line-up headed by LF Jet Kazmarek (10 HR/85 RBI/116 R/80 SB), the top hitter in the IPA with a .376 mark. It's Kazmarek's third straight batting title. 1B Masaichi Okawa (.279/23 HR/115 RBI), 2B Floyd Vinson (.279/7 HR/105 RBI) and RF Val Krol (.312/21 HR/80 RBI) also helped make Valmara the top-scoring club in the division.

Samuel made two big moves at mid-season and put Ted Farentino into the starting rotation and Gerry Wojcik at the closer. They both responded big-time. Farentino with a sparkling 11-2 record with a terrific 2.14 ERA, while Wojcik was 3-1 with 13 saves in 34 games. Valmara also got solid performances from Vanya Vasylenko (17-8 2.76) and Andre Trepanier (18-14 3.42).

The Ranford Bulls had a good run at the pennant, but faltered slightly in the last two weeks of the year with a 9-9 record. Skipper Page Satcher's outstanding mound corps topped the division with an impressive 3.13 ERA, led by LHP Bud English (24-10 2.66), Jim Maxwell (17-9 3.22), LHP Chris Bernhoffer (18-14 3.04) and closer Tim DeKosky (7-8 2.51) with 25 saves and 59 game appearances.

Satcher's best bats were his standout SS Rick Fargnoli (.322/20 HR/127 RBI/91 R), rookie LF Jose Castillo (.292/17 HR/47 RBI/103 R/18 SB) and 3B Colin Fairclough (.286/16 HR/78 RBI/94 R/31 SB). 1B Jordy John delivered 27 home runs to lead the club, but hit only .236.

The LaGrange Sports ran a great race, but just ran out of gas with a 9-19 August, which sunk them. Foxy Jimison's Sports closed well with a 12-6 mark in September, but it was too little, too late by that time. LaGrange is a well-balanced team with quite a few strong performers. On the hill, Sean Stone (20-9 2.80), Barney Prohaska (15-10 2.63) and Tony Amick (13-9 3.45) had fine seasons. In the bullpen closer Leroy Labat (11-5 2.49) excelled with 26 saves and 64 relief appearances.

At the plate, LF John Babcock (.292/23 HR/91 RBI) and RF Mike Di Lazzaro (.315/15 HR/85 RBI/83 R/23 SB) were the kingpins of the attack with help from CF Roger Marley (.295/18 HR/61 RBI/92 R), 2B Timmy Masters (.298/5 HR/58 RBI/81 R) and SS Marvin Hollis (.285/4 HR/54 R/84 R).

Glasco, Taranto and Far Mountain were in the next tier, finishing the season in fourth, fifth and sixth place. The Athletics were 78-76, the Tars 77-77 and the Redhawks 76-78.

Ray Cook was Glasco's top player. He was 20-13 with a 3.42 ERA. A's manager McDuffie Hughes suffered from a lack of offense. Pitcher Jesse Balfour (12-19 3.26) was effective, but could have used more run support. Jake Nyberg (4-1 3.12) was a success as the team's closer. Nyberg saved 18 games and worked in 62 games. Glasco only had one quality hitter, 2B Barry McCord (.278/18 HR/94 RBI/81 R). The Athletics got a lift from SS Kieran Kilgore (.297/9 HR/52 RBI/60 R), when he was inserted into the line-up halfway through the year.

In Taranto manager Tommaso Lazzorda had the pitching but his Tars just did not give good run support to the pitchers, especially Anthony Nardone (10-16 2.76) and Lefty Paddison (13-15 3.18). The other two starters Carlo Bianchi (18-13 3.38) and Arnie Wickersham (11-7 2.41) fared better. The Tars 1-2 tandem, LF Dominic Zuccaro (.291/40 HR/111 RBI/95 R) and RF Tony Blaser (.291/34 HR/107) again produced most of the team's runs. Zuccaro again led the Ruthlandian Union with 40 roundtrippers, leading for the third year in a row.

This is the first year Alex Groveland's Far Mountain Redhawks didn't make the playoffs. The Redhawks bats just can't compete, batting a lowly .248. But as expected Groveland's hurlers did their jobs very well. Robby Kelly (21-10 2.64) won 20 games for the first time in his career. Sonny Elliott (16-10 3.06) and Cliff Pope (13-9 3.34) contributed well, too.

Far Mountain's only productive hitter was LF Karl Dietz, who slugged 31 homers and drove in 106 runs, but only hit for a .245 batting average.

Down at the bottom of the RU North standings were the hapless Kilkenny Cats (68-86) and Ancona Red Elephants (68-86), who tied for seventh place. Neither team had much to cheer about this season. However, Cats manager Kieran McKenna found an extraordinary closer in rookie Carley Stockwell, who joined the team in late June and copped 11 saves and 41 appearances with an excellent 6-2 record and a microscopic 1.33 ERA. McKenna could also smile about his fine RF Rick Audubon (.283), who slammed 36 homers, drove in 115 runs and scored 96 times.

Manny Mickens, skipper of the Red Elephants, got good performances out of CF Simon Manetas (.327/10 HR/59 RBI/59 R) and rookie RF Louis DiMucci (.284/17 HR/70 RBI). On the mound Nikon Maragos (17-15 3.13) and rookie Yannis Vardakis (12-12 3.10) were steady and dependable. RF Jimmy Brewer (.256/25 HR/76 RBI/95 R) provided most of the offense.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Ruthlandian Union South 2004 Final Standings

Sunbirds Hold Off Diamonds For RU South Crown
The Claxton Diamonds (87-67) made a valiant charge, but came up 3 games short in their quest to take the Tycobbian Union South flag away from the Belair Beach Sunbirds (90-64).

Marty Pedroza's Sunbirds are class of the division with the best batting average (.266) and the best ERA (2.96). His mound staff has been superb with no weak links at all. Belair Beach has nine pitchers that can get batters out, led by starters Tiny Lindgren (19-11 2.67), Ray Watson (17-10 2.71), Slim Mosley (18-8 3.01), Terry Christian (15-13 3.09) and Jed Mitchell (11-5 3.47). Pedroza's closer Johnny Spears (6-10 2.45) has registered 25 saves and worked 72 games. Mitchell, the spot starter and long reliever, has also chalked up 7 saves.

Offensively, Belair Beach is spearheaded by its wonderful 1B Phil Gravelli (.356/35 HR/120 RBI/94) and the free-swinging LF Nicky Swift (.249/26 HR/76 RBI/96 R). Pedroza added in 3B Mike Janocko at mid-year and he gave their offense quite a lift with 14 homers and 52 RBIs, while compiling a .297 batting average.

Nobody really wanted to win the RU South as only Belair Beach and Claxton played .500 ball the last three weeks of the season. Valka and San Dimas killed their chances by their poor play in the closing weeks.

Stacy Engel, the Old Perfesser, got the Claxton crew to cranking in the second half of the year. He told BNN, "We came close, but this is baseball, not horseshoes. Close don't cut it. But what the hey, we made the playoffs and still can win the whole shebang."

The Diamonds are right on par with the Sunbirds rotation with a brilliant 3.05 team ERA (2nd). Claxton's Teddy Kuznetsov (21-8 2.43), Doug Torvik (18-12 2.98), Sal Tallis (17-12 3.08) and Tetsunori Nakashima (16-12 3.55) can match the talented Sunbird twirlers. Toss in closer Tom Dahl (5-4 2.07) with 14 saves and 59 relief assignments and you've got as strong a staff as anyone.

The Diamonds run into problems matching Belair Beach with the bats. Claxton is hitting only .250 as a team. Engel doesn't have the hitters Pedroza possesses. LF Dixie Baker (.252/25 HR/77 RBI/86 R) is his only deep threat. Rookie Jackie Faust (.295/17 HR/58 RBI/104 R) has done very well from the lead-off spot. Engel said it is very likely he will drop in the order in the playoffs to get more opportunities with runners on base. Claxton top hitter average-wise is 2B Bobby Ritter (.312/13 HR/69 RBI/74 R).

Valka (82-72), the early leader, had a good month, then a bad month, going through the season that way. ending up in third place, 8 games off the pace. Manager Jaan Kurus said, "We had rotating hot-and-cold spells throughout the season. You can do that and expect to win the pennant." The Blackhawks had good pitching with a 3.36 team ERA (3rd), but only hit .255 with only 72 home runs (8th). Kurus told BNN, "You can't win if you don't hit and we simply don't hit. You're in trouble when your power guys hit 13 and 12 homers for the season. You can win with pitching and home runs. One without the other and you don't win."

The Blackhawks sport a good threesome in pitchers Daryl Vannoy (16-11 2.53), Bobby Karu (18-16 3.06) and Andrei Kokk (14-11 3.53). Valka also has a gifted closer in Tom Ruffin (8-8 1.96) with 26 saves and 66 game appearances. But Kurus' pitching can't stand up against Belair Beach and Claxton. And his hitting can't, either. The Blackhawks best batters are RF Jimmy Tremayne (.299/9 HR/68 RBI), CF Kyell Ibbotson (.296/7 HR/68 RBI) and SS Villem Kask (.282/1 59 RBI).

The San Dimas Rancheros (80-74) combined good pitching with home runs and ended up fourth in the RU South standings, 10 games back of Belair Beach. Skipper Paco Banderas said, "We just didn't quite have enough good pitching and didn't go deep quite often enough."

The Rancheros batted .250 with 138 roundtrippers (1st), powered by RF Goose Garlin (.269/36 HR/96 RBI), 1B Johnny Carducci (.275/34 HR/88 RBI/100 R), 3B Domingo Rios (.257/19 HR/76 RBI/89 R), rookie CF Dennis Jones (.316/7 HR/67 RBI/86 R/58 SB), LF Loyd Chance (.260/14 HR/63 RBI) in 108 games and C John Wesley Ewing (.257/11 HR/84 RBI).

San Dimas had a steady and consistent rotation that sparkled at times with the likes of Bill Sharp (20-12 3.85), Keith Callahan (16-14 2.89), Zippy Hodge (11-9 3.17), Shane Rymer (12-11 3.18) and Lowell Wall (13-11 3.75). One vital element missing in the Rancheros equation was a strong closer. Wayne Mallard (2-7 3.76) was only adequate with 15 saves in 59 relief assignments.

Coming in fifth in the RU South were the preseason favorite and defending division champion, the very disappointing St. John Crusaders (70-84). After a terrible first half, Dickie Billings' ball club actually turned it around in the second half and played well with a fine 43-32 mark. Still St. John finished the season hitting only .251 with 93 homers (7th) and a 3.88 team ERA (6th).

The Crusaders only bright spots were pitchers Sterling Eccles (17-12 3.49) and Zach Simon (17-14 3.68). As far as hitting there were no bright spots except for Wayne Slaughter (.302/2 HR/37 RBI/50 R) in 82 games, CF Marty Sedlin (.292/6 HR/33 RBI/37 R) in 81 games and LF Gerry Carmody (.329/1 28 RBI) in 38 games. All of them became regulars in the second half of the season. The best regulars, 1B Frankie Faber (.260/19 HR/81), RF Kenny Hatcher (.258/21 HR/65 RBI) and SS Jerry Pontros (.260/12 HR/73 RBI), came nowhere near their 2003 stats.

Grand City (64-90), Waleska (61-93) and Crystal Lake (60-94) all had lousy seasons, ranking with the worst teams in the IPA. Basically, they all suffered dearly from a lack of scoring, with all of them batting under .250. None of them had much pitching, either. No hitting plus no pitching usually equals a poor and pathetic season.

The Grand City Cybercats were led by pitcher Shane Hall, who was 17-17 with a good 3.13 ERA. Longballers 2B Tony Borcellino (.250/29 HR/102 RBI) and RF Teddy Giacone (.251/30 HR/84 RBI) didn't hit much for average, but they did drive in runs.

The Waleska Westerners were another very downtrodden team. They were picked to finish third by the BNN preseason poll. Only two veterans Smokey Joe Carter and LF Big Hoss Burkhalter put up good seasons. Carter was 16-15 with a 3.08 ERA and Burkhalter did himself proud with 30 roundtrippers, 100 RBIs and a .277 batting average.

Crystal Lake Manager Herman "Baby" George had another terrible season in the IPA and ended up in the cellar again, but he did find him several good players to begin 2005. At the All-Star Game George began platooning almost everybody he could and got some good results from 3B Nelson Tolliver (.312/10 HR/32 RBI) in 78 games, RF Derren Prince (.302/4 HR/19 RBI) in 42 games and CF Geoff Hunter (.299/6 HR/26 RBI) in 66 games.

The only productive regular was LF Ben Butler, who walloped 30 homers and drove in 90 runs, while hitting just .244 for average.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Ruthlandian Union East 2004 Final Standings

Elnora Wins RU East Title, Whips Sugar Valley in Playoff
At the end of a 154-game schedule, it was all even between the Elnora All-Stars and the Sugar Valley Rattlers. The two clubs had identical 89-65 marks. A one-game playoff was necessary to decide the 2004 Ruthlandian East regular season championship.

Sugar Valley got the home field advantage as the Rattlers had whipped the All-Stars in four of the five games during the season - but it didn't do them any good - Elnora took the title with a 5-1 victory. Charlie Murphy (22-12) tossed a 6-hitter, holding the Rattlers to just one run, striking out 8 and walking only two in a route-going performance. C Todd Simons (.312) had a great game with two homers and four RBIs to spark the All-Stars. 1B Kent Swain (.248) added a solo homer.

Elnora will be on the road today in the Sweet 16 Series against the RU West runner-up, the Volusia Vigilantes, while Sugar Vally will have to play the tough Middlefield Roosters, who won the title in the West. The Rattlers will be the home team in the first two games of the series.

Manager Zoggy White's pitching staff gave Elnora (3.30 ERA) the edge over Sugar Valley (3.75 ERA), which was a better hitting team. The All-Stars starters were tough to beat with Lou Horn (16-6 2.33), Charlie Murphy (22-12 2.75) and Taylor Gibbs (19-12 3.05). White's club also had the advantage of a good closer in Matty Wilkerson (8-3 3.20), who saved 20 games and made 67 relief appearances.

Elnora's (.266) line-up could compete with the Rattlers (.264) in batting average, but not in power. Sugar Valley led the division with 159 roundtrippers to Elnora's 126 and topped it in scoring, too. The Rattlers outscored the All-Stars 757 to 721. But White had some very capable hitters in RF Quincy Peterson (.278/27 HR/101 RBI/98 R/14 SB), 2B Gil Foster (.317/22 HR/97 RBI/97 R), C Todd Simons (.312/12 HR/84 RBI), 3B Dimitri Vrotsos (.303/16 HR/74 RBI/80 R) and SS Kyle Villere (.282/12 HR/71 RBI/71 R). But in the end it got down to pitching with Elnora emerging the winner.

Sugar Valley has a very tough competitor in charge of the ball club. Gibson Bobkins was great pitcher in the industrial leagues and a very intense player. Bobkins is the same way as manager. The Rattlers have a good starting rotation with three fine starters in Gregg Neal (20-8 2.62), Anthony Glaser (20-13 3.70) and Jay Washington (12-8 3.32), but Bobkins lacks a good closer.

What Sugar Valley lacks in pitching is more than made up with its bats. Bobkins has a talented array of batters in SS Flipper Bird (.305/30 HR/132 RBI/108 R/31 SB), 1B Ron Armstrong (.277/31 HR/108 RBI/86 R), 3B Jorge Vargas (.284/29 HR/94 RBI/89 R), CF Freddie Vaux (.292/8 HR/56 RBI/102 R/34 SB) and LF Bruno DiPirri (.291/5 HR/41 RBI/102 R/45 SB). Bird led the IPA with 132 RBIs.

The Marston Nine (82-72) led by skipper Johnny Walters ended up third and trailed the pennant winner by 7.5 games. A bad August (11-17) sent the Nine reeling and they never recovered. Walters, one of the best righthanders that ever stood on a mound, has created a strong staff that topped the division with a 3.20 ERA. Marston top guns are Nick Pace (17-12 3.39), Johnny Paris (15-11 3.20) and Vinnie Gardiner (13-14 2.82). Walters had a good arm in the bullpen, too, with Booger Burchfield (13-9 3.46). Burchfield racked up 22 saves and 61 relief appearances.

Marston hit .254, had the fewest home runs in the division (70) and scored the fewest runs (571) and they were the worst by far. Good hitters were few-and-far-between for the Nine. Only 1B Pat Farris (.314/9 HR/72 RBI) and SS Don Nichols (.300/10 HR/63 RBI) had decent seasons.

Boo Ladrieux's Belle Plaine Musketeers (75-79) never recovered from an atrocious April (6-19), but did do well enough to finish fourth in the standings, 14.5 games out of first. They were last at the All-Star Game intermission, but really turned it around in the last half of the year. Ladrieux predicted it would be the Musketeers best season and it was. Belle Plaine was last in 2002 and sixth in 2003.

Belle Plaine put up a .264 batting average (2nd-tied), hit only 80 home runs (7th), had a 3.72 ERA with a .979 FA (1st). Top players were pitchers Milo Anthony (17-7 3.35), rookie Tony Saroyan (12-8 3.55) and closer Kent Wells (4-6 2.22) with 23 saves and 75 game appearances. The Muskies don't hit with power, but got some production out of LF Juan Mendes (.313/10 HR/63 RBI/94 R), CF Dennis Riley (.274/23 HR/89 RBI/83 R) and 1B Scott Theriot (.296/13 HR/81 RBI).

2004 was wonderful season for Matt Donnelly and his Wynnamac Sundowners (74-80) until the All-Star Game. The Macs were elated and surprised everybody by being 9 games over .500 and in fourth place just three off the pace. Then reality set in and the Sundowners did a reversal with a 31-44 mark over the last three months. But it was not all-for-naught. In the end Wynnamac finished fifth, 15.5 games out, but it was their highest finish ever.

The Sundowners had fair hitting (.250-7th) and sufficient power (114 HR-5th), better-than-average pitching (3.64 ERA- 3rd) and very good fielding (.977 FA-3rd). Wynnamac's top pitchers were Caleb Browne (21-7 2.97), Matt Landrieu (15-10 3.48) and closer Liam Bristow (5-8 2.84) with 22 saves in 69 games.

Donnelly, quite a hitter in his heyday and a fancy dan first baseman, only had one strong batsman. 1B Nate Cockroft (.314/33 HR/94 RBI/89 R) had a fine season. CF Hawkeye Ingram (.239/21 HR/89 RBI/95 R/18 SB) didn't hit for high average, but was very productive and a fine flychaser.

Bret George and the Beechwood Bobcats (72-82) came in sixth in the RU East standings, but won more games than they did in their first two seasons. The Bobcats strong point was in the batter's box. They batted .262 (4th), rapped 119 homers (4th) and scored 690 times (3rd). It looks like some of George's hitting prowess rubbed off on his team. The famed industrial league third sacker had a bunch of good bats, sparked by 1B Ray Slater (.328/19 HR/103 RBI/106 R/36 SB), RF Clifton Czabo (.328/14 HR/73 RBI/107 R/28 SB), CF Lon Snider (.307/8 HR/50 RBI/102 R/31 SB), LF L. J. Aldridge (.265/21 HR/84 RBI) and SS Eldon Barker (.261/12 HR/85 RBI).

But it was not enough to lift Beechwood into the first division. The Bobcats couldn't get it done on the hill as the staff compiled a 3.78 ERA (7th). George only had two quality pitchers in Dek Jumonville (19-10 2.55), who had a sensational season, and Joe Hahn (14-16 3.28).

It was another down year in Cold Creek (70-84), a seventh place finish for manager T. Kelly Holmes and his Catamounts. They hit the ball OK with a .256 BA (5th) and 112 home runs (6th) and scored 666 runs (5th), but came up short on the mound. Holmes' hurlers were tied for fifth with a 3.75 ERA. Cold Creek had only two quality pitchers: starter Terence Gilbert (17-10 3.16) and closer Payton Saunders (10-2 2.07), who had an outstanding season with 16 saves and 69 relief appearances.

Hitters are also in short supply for Holmes. SS Russ Russell (.295/11 HR/92 RBI) and RF Emile Stosha (.317/25 HR/84 RBI/119 R/52 SB) were his most dependable bats.

The Eastshore Elegants (69-85) were in the first division in 2002 and 2003, but Killer Brewster's bunch took a turn-for-the-worse in 2004 and plummeted all the way down to the basement, 20.5 games behind. The only good thing that the Elegants do is hit home runs. They walloped 142 (2nd) with LF Darrel Alston (.242/30 HR/90 RBI/95 R/11 SB), RF Ron Dizon (.237/27 HR/102 RBI) and 2B Miles Sheehan (.276/21 HR/82 RBI/82 R) doing most of the damage. But overall Eastshore's hitting was atrocious as they hit only .236 as a team, the lowest average in the entire IPA.

Brewster's ball club is not any better when it comes to pitching. The Elegants are dead last in the RU East with a 3.91 ERA. Despite that lofty number, Eastshore has four quality arms in starters Stony Blackwell (19-12 3.57), Fred Duhon (14-14 3.31) and Ivar Jorgerson (13-10 3.79). Closer Thomas Williams (4-8 2.66) also pitched well with 19 saves in 67 games.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Ruthlandian Union West Division 2004 Final Standings

Roosters Outduel Vigilantes For RU West Pennant
The Middlefield Roosters ruled the roost this year in the Ruthlandian Union West, taking the title by 2 games over the preseason favorite Volusia Vigilantes. Manager Smitty Michaels' longball bashers, combined with excellent pitching, gave them the edge. Middlefield led the RU with 186 homers, .978 fielding percentage and 3.23 ERA.

The Roosters (91-63) rotation featured four fine starters and a top-rated closer. Michaels top four consisted of Jamie Hicks (23-9 2.38), Denny Yarrow (19-13 3.27), Joshua Johnson (14-10 3.14) and Don Shaw (10-7 3.17). His bullpen ace was Dave Webb (8-3 2.20) with 26 saves and 61 games.

Middlefield had formidable line-up, too. Leading the way were CF Ty DeWitt (.233/34 HR/109 RBI/86 R/18 SB), RF Bailey Norcross (.292/35 HR/92 RBI/104 R/47 SB), 1B Allie Ludlow (.246/33 HR/98 RBI) and LF Cecil Clark (.270/22 HR/69 RBI/85 R/15 SB).

Overall Volusia (89-65) couldn't match the firepower and the overall pitching depth of the Roosters. Alfonso Feliz, skipper of the Vigilantes, had two aces in Carl Schmitz (24-10 2.54) and Raul Sandoval (20-10 3.02) and a good closer in Hernando Espaderos (8-4 3.22) with 26 saves in 71 relief appearances. The team ERA was a solid 3.38, tied with Sligo for second place.

The V's led the division with 732 runs and ended up number two with a .265 batting average. Sligo had the top team batting average at .269. Heading Volusia at bat were CF Ryan Raines (.326/22 HR/98 RBI/90 R/33 SB), LF Briscoe Crowder (.292/16 HR/98 RBI/93 R/22 SB), C Clint Hardesty (.289/15 HR/94 RBI/77 R), SS Scooter Perez (.271/4 HR/36 RBI/103 R/56 SB).

The Sligo Rovers (84-70) had a good season with Eddie Keys at the helm. Rated fifth-best in the BNN poll, the Rovers came in third, 7 games off the pace. Keys had his club tied for the division lead going into the All-Star Game, but the pitching dropped off and Sligo slipped back in the race.

The Rovers top twirlers were Al Bukowski (18-14 3.21), Dix Edenborough (9-2 2.65), Jake Beneke (12-9 3.40) and Vern Vidmar (16-17 3.32). Keys also had an effective closer in Razzy Raziano (15-6 3.40), who was credited with 24 saves and appeared in 74 games.

Keys had a bunch of good contact hitters, but not enough of them could go deep. His best run producers were LF Lefty Roberts (.277/37 HR/111 RBI/96 R) and RF Danny O'Shea (.256/20 HR/83 RBI). Other contributors were 3B Rusty Ellis (.307/6 HR/62 RBI/104 R/33 SB), 1B Shane Redford (.287/5 HR/78 RBI), 2B Jeff Richey (.327/4 HR/49 R/95 R/30 SB) and SS Hollis Waldrup (.289/9 HR/86 RBI/48 SB).

Forest City (78-76) and Rob Jackson failed to make the playoffs for the first in the Lumberjacks short history. They had a lackluster year and wound up fourth, 13 games behind. Jackson's 'Jacks still could score, but saw the team ERA soar to 4.31. Though they ranked second with 136 home runs, the pitching just couldn't stop the opposition. Only Timmy Brooks (23-13 3.06) and closer Tommy Marbury (2-2 3.13) were effective. The rest of the staff had ERAs in the 4.00-5.00 range.

But Forest City could hold their own in the scoring department, paced by SS Bill Nilsen (.312/32 HR/112 RBI/115 R/22 SB), RF Chuck Hill (.260/19 HR/86 RBI), 2B Jesse Wolf (.249/19 HR/82 RBI), LF Dave Jagger (.312/12 HR/74 RBI), 1B J. T. Edmonds (.270/17 HR/66 RBI), 3B Johnny Mack Butler (.260/11 HR/58 RBI/84 R/16 SB) and CF Ryan Morse (.268/8 HR/52 RBI/101 R/23 SB).

The Stoner Stars (77-77) under the leadership of Willie Dickens ended up fifth in the RU East race after flirting with the big boys until mid-year. The Stars were only 5 games back at the All-Star break and tied for third place with Volusia. Dickens just doesn't have the talent to stay at the top. The Stars hit only .244 (7th), scored only 631 runs (7th), but had 119 roundtrippers (3rd). On the hill Stoner sported a 3.70 ERA (6th). So they did well to come in fifth.

The Stars top performer was ace reliever Tony Hatch (11-3 2.29), one of the best in the IPA. Hatch saved 25 games and made 68 appearances. Dave Pierce (12-10 3.00) and rookie Jay Whatley (10-7 3.49) also had good seasons. Hitting-wise, the offense was sparked by C Benny Stern (.291/24 HR/101 RBI), RF Dutch Rheinecker (.263/24 HR/76 RBI) and SS Yancy Bellows (.269/9 HR/60 RBI/93 R/15 SB)

Sixth in the standings were Ryan Noland's Rocky Rapids Snappers (74-80). This is their third staight season in the second division. The Snappers hit .256 (3rd), collected only 97 homers (7th), but surprisingly scored 700 runs (3rd). In the pitching department they had a mediocre 4.06 ERA (7th).

1B Stan Haddix (.321/11 HR/100 RBI) had a standout season for Rocky Rapids. He led the IPA with 54 doubles. LF Scott Camden (.267/22 HR/89 RBI/114 R/17 SB) and SS Cooter Bermudez (.305/8 HR/51 RBI/100 R/30 SB) also put up some good stats for the Snappers.

Noland only had one impressive pitcher. That was rookie closer Frank Riggins (5-3 2.63), who joined the club at mid-season and registered 9 saves in 35 games.

2004 was an embarrassing year for manager Clem Rogers and his Colfax Blasters (72-82). They were picked to finish third in the BNN preseason vote, but stumbled badly and dipped to the seventh spot in the RU West, 19 games back. Colfax had finished third last year and thought they would challenge for the division crown. But it didn't happen. Rogers' pitching rotation did a good job with a 3.46 ERA (4th), but he just didn't have the bats to compete. The Blasters hit only .253 (6th), scored only 647 times (6th), but were fourth with 113 four-baggers.

On the hill Harry Manning (20-13 3.37)) pitched very well as did Jasper LaForge (13-18 3.22), in spite of losing 18 games. Colfax had two rookies do well in the last half of the year. Rogers expects good things from Tommy Fuller (7-5 2.76) and Ilya Szabo (7-6 2.52) in 2005.

At the plate the Blasters were led by rookie CF Lujan Malanowski (.281/15 HR/82 RBI/88 R), 1B Dennis Cole (.281/25 HR/75 RBI/88 R) and 3B Neely Keeton (.266/17 HR/78 RBI/83 R).

In Fort Benton (61-93), it was just another futile year for manager Robbie Brooks. For the third successive year the Defenders came in last and trailed by 30 games. It is easy to understand why, just by looking at the stats. Brooks ball club batted only .237 (8th), hit 91 home runs (7th), scored a pathetic 555 runs (8th) and compiled a 4.00 ERA (7th). Fort Benton ranked 64th in batting average and runs in the entire IPA.

It is really hard to come up with something postive to say about the dismal Defenders. Leroy Hill (10-11 3.24) was a pretty good pitcher and C Irv Small (.237/21 HR/67 RBI) hit a few roundtrippers.

That's it.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Tycobbian Union North Division 2004 Final Standings

Oxford TU North Winner, Luxora Also In Playoffs
Campy Roy's Oxford Red Caps were favored to win the Tycobbian Union North flag chase by the BNN preseason poll and that is exactly what happened. The Red Caps took the regular season championship by 3 games over the Luxora Zorros, 8 games over the Hartsdale Hellcats and by 9 games over the Fairfax Frogs.

Oxford and Luxora qualified for the IPA Pro Cup playoffs that begin today. The Red Caps will travel to Colchester to play the Elites and the Zorros will entertain the TU South champion, the Cape Coral Hurricanes.

The Red Caps (91-63) powered their way to the 2004 division crown by smashing 180 homers, the most by any club in the Islandian Pro Alliance. CF Ike Plunkett (.319/44 HR/103 RBI/128 R/31 SB) blasted 44 out of the park and scored 128 runs to lead the IPA in those categories. LF Mac Spencer (.276/33 HR/101 RBI/91 R) and C Brad Earp (.255/24 HR/106 RBI) both also drove in over 100 runs. 3B Joe Courtney (.296/27 HR/91 RBI/107 R), 1B Kenny Jablonski (.299/18 HR/83 RBI/97 R) and RF Dante Vander Meer (.267/18 HR/81 RBI/79 R) stood out as well.

Roy had some quality pitchers, too. Nicky Nicholson (22-9 2.71) was his best and he got some help from Wayne Baxley (14-9 3.73), Dan Phillips (16-16 3.56) and Bomber Belinsky (17-17 4.20). In the bullpen Kit Kivett (3-2 3.19) did a sufficient job in the second half of the year with 12 saves in 43 games.

Alejandro Rodrigo guided the Luxora Zorros (88-66) to the runner-up spot and a playoff position, aided and abetted by a strong mound staff, manned by Eddie Hoffman (18-15 2.69), Tito Tovares (16-12 3.04), Marco Braceros (16-14 3.16) and Gustavo Escalora (13-8 3.89). And when Rodrigo needed a closer, the Z's had one of the finest in the IPA in Elio Laurente, who compiled an 11-7 mark, saved 27 games and pitched in 71 games overall. The Z's registered the top ERA in the division with a 3.18 ERA.

Rodrigo's bats were not overly abundant, but they were sufficient to put up a .260 mark (3rd-tied) with 118 roundtrippers (6th). Luxora's top run producers were CF Lacey Tompkins (.292/18 HR/92 RBI/96 R), 3B Carey Niven (.281/22 HR/91 RBI) and 2B Pablo Santa Cruz (.297/3 HR/48 RBI/120 R/32 SB). The Zorros were a good team on defense with a .977 percentage, tied for second place. Fairfax was the top defensive club with a .979 fielding percentage.

Hartsdale (83-71) was last year's TU North champ. They played well again and came in third, 8 games back. The Hellcats were a similar club to Luxora. They batted .260 (3rd-tied), knocked 108 homers (7th), tallied 699 runs (2nd) and had a good 3.25 ERA.

Hellcat manager Zim Donner got another sensational 20-game season out of Gus Kostro (22-13 3.37). Tal Vaitkus (19-16 3.44) and Ben Masterson (8-2 2.98) were also valuable contributors. Phil Reed (12-19 3.48) was solid, despite the losses. In the bullpen Nico Cardera (5-5 2.09) was superb again with 27 saves and 60 game appearances.

Hartsdale has four .300 hitters. 1B Mac Faulkner (.319/18 HR/96 RBI/90 R) was Donner's top bat. The others were C Lawton Payne (.307/8 HR/77 RBI), SS Jud Turchin (.304/10 HR/62 RBI/89 R/15 SB) and 2B Hoppy Hill (.300/1 HR/52 RBI/72 R).

Harry Buckley and his Fairfax Frogs (82-72) had a good year except for an awful August when they slumped to a 9-19 mark. The Frogs fell to fourth this year, the worse finish for them over the past four seasons.

But there were bright spots. Fairfax topped the division with a .979 fielding percentage, hit well with a .262 mark (2nd), 119 home runs (5th), scored 657 runs (5th) and notched 3.38 team ERA (3rd).

Barrett Carruthers (22-10 2.94) had a terrific year. Buckley also got good work out of Robby Meredith (16-15 3.30) and Kaz Hayagawa (15-18 3.49). Jay Sorenson (9-7 2.04) chalked up his best season in the closer position and saved 29 games in 70 relief assignments. La Claire's Henny Cossaboom led the IPA with 32 saves. Sorenson came in number two in saves.

Fairfax's offense was sparked by RF Gregg Vincent (.272/24 HR/93 RBI), 1B Jeff Vretsos (.301/18 HR/91 RBI), 2B Cecil Parmenter (.309/13 HR/68 RBI/102 R) and CF Billy Echevarria (.267/9 HR/48 RBI/102 R).

Cobb Tyson regrouped his Blue Lake Blue Sox (72-82) in the second half of the year and climbed out of the cellar up to fifth place in the TU North, 19 games off the pace. The Blue Sox did two things well - hit 132 homers (3rd) and played good defense. Tyson's team chalked up a .977 fielding percentage (2nd-tied).

Blue Lake also did some things poorly. They hit only .253 (7th) and had trouble on the hill with a 3.91 ERA (6th). Tyson had only two dependable hurlers in Neil Krogstad (16-12 3.64) and Pat Grange (4-1 2.81) in the bullpen. Grange took over the closer slot at mid-season and performed very well with 15 saves in 38 games.

Most of the Blue Sox offense was supplied by two players: RF Fred Collins (.334/27 HR/86 RBI/102 R/34 SB) and CF Rick Hilliard (.261/25 HR/72 RBI/86 R/35 SB).

The White River Rascals (71-83) resembled Blue Lake in many respects and came in sixth, 20 games back. The Rascals rapped 142 home runs (2nd), but hit only .256 (6th) and scored only 676 times (4th). Skipper John Randison's pitching rotation ran up a high 3.98 ERA, but he had some good gloves with a .977 FA (2nd-tied).

CF Hal Hoover (.332/20 HR/74 RBI/108 R/26 SB) had a fine season and was the Rascals MVP. Randison got good power output from 3B Rupert Doan (.269/30 HR/80 RBI/114 R), who cracked 30 roundtrippers. White River may have found a good first baseman in Bryan Dickerson (.304/12 HR/43 RBI), who took over after the All-Star Game and gave the team some much-needed punch.

On the mound Mick Cronyn (19-13 3.28) led the way with some help from rookie Lindon Shaw (13-11 3.63). And Emile Sifko (5-8 3.27) did well as the closer with 23 saves and 65 game appearances.

Seventh place belonged to the North Hills Hawks, skippered by Hub Carlson. The Hawks have adequate pitching with four solid starters in Stan Ballard (15-9 3.49), Ben Dewberry (15-13 3.47), Lou Dozier (13-15 3.27) and Leland Clinkscales (14-19 3.52). Carlson has a fine closer in Carson Romine (5-8 1.51), who compiled a brilliant 1.51 ERA in 64 games and saved 23 games. Carlson's crew had a decent 3.70 ERA (4th).

But North Hills is missing bats. The Hawks hit only .249 (8th), hit only 73 homers (8th), scored only 609 runs (8th). 2B Jimmy Ryland (.280/7 HR/58 RBI/104 R/15 SB) and LF Keith Schmidt (.266/17 HR/84 RBI) were the Hawks best performers this year.

It was a long season for Rudy Lanussa in Mahaska (68-86) as the Haymakers closed the year in the division basement, 23 games out of first. It was Mahaska worse finish in its three years in the IPA. The Haymakers are the worst fielding team in the Islandian Pro Alliance with an abysmal .966 FA. They have trouble scoring with only 622 runs (7th), but do go deep occasionally with 127 home runs (4th), while hitting just .258 (5th). Mahaska suffered on the mound with a 3.92 ERA (7th).

Lanussa does have one player of note, the talented 1B Miles Shufford (.323/34 HR/116 RBI/92 R). RF Ira Engelstad (.287/22 HR/83 RBI/77 R) is a good all-around player as well. Pitching-wise Boomerang Hines (13-17 3.13) and rookie Ivan Vayda (11-7 3.13) do a solid job each time out. But other than these four players, talent is scarce on the Haymakers.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Tycobbian Union South Division 2004 Final Standings

Cape Coral TU South Champs, Runner-up Colchester Makes Playoffs
Start to finish the Cape Coral Hurricanes dominated the Tycobbian Union, but the Colchester Elites kept them on their toes the entire year. The Elites stayed real close until mid-season, just one game off the pace, but dipped a little in the second half, eventually finishing 6 games behind. The Hurricanes closed with a flourish, registering a strong 48-27 record in July, August and September. Colchester wasn't too far behind with a 44-31 mark. Cape Coral won 94 games, second-best in the IPA to the Bayview Vikings, the TU West champions, who copped 96 victories.

Both South Division clubs will be in action today as the IPA Sweet 16 Series begins. Cape Coral will be in Luxora and Colchester will be at home, hosting the Oxford Red Caps, the TU North winner. They will be best-of-five series.

Cape Coral Hurricanes (94-60) 1st Place - Last Year (84-70) 2nd Place
Manager: Huggy Miller

MVP: Cody Burg (24-8 2.13) and rookie LF Kippy Doyle (.317/35 HR/125 RBI/85 R)

Strength: Great pitching with a 2.82 ERA, first in the IPA... strong offense with a .268 batting average (1st), 139 homers (2nd)

Top Pitchers: MVP Burg, Doug Lyons (20-10 2.56), Zane Robinson (13-8 2.69), Jeff Salow (19-12 3.73)

Top Hitters: MVP LF Doyle, 1B Danny Mullins (.275/20 HR/84 RBI/111 R), 2B Hoshi Sato (.267/19 HR/64 RBI/109 R/17 SB)

Weakness: Could use improvement in defense... .973 FA (4th-tied)

Surprises: Doyle's great season and closer Wally Robinson (4-9 2.97) with 25 saves and 71 relief appearances

Busts: None

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Colchester Elites (88-66) 2nd Place, 6 games back - Last Year (78-76) 6th place
Manager: Robbie Wilbertson

MVP: 3B Niles Stanton (.309/40 HR/124 RBI/92 R), 1B Harlan Roscoe (.312/34 HR/116 RBI/102 R) and rookie closer Tom Carter (11-3 2.71) with 18 saves and 75 games

Strength: Outstanding hitting with .265 BA (2nd)... excellent power with 155 roundtrippers (1st)... fine run production with 765 runs (2nd)... Solid pitching with a 3.47 team ERA (3rd)

Best Batters: MVP 1B Stanton, MVP 1B Rascoe, RF Tom Barella (.274/20 HR/75 RBI/88 R/41 SB), 2B Leland Cross (.301/8 HR/58 RBI/110 R/31 SB)

Best Hurlers: MVP rookie Carter, rookie Jimmy Simmons (18-10 2.89), Frank Payne (18-13 3.56) and Dickie Pendarvis (14-14 3.15)

Excellent team speed with 143 stolen bases (2nd)

Weakness: Defensive improvement needed... .971 FA (6th-tied)

Surprises: MVP rookie closer Tom Carter, rookie SP Jimmy Simmons and rookie LF Douglas Tilford (.295/17 HR/75 RBI/88 R/43 SB)

Busts: None

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Summerland Sunsets (76-78) 3rd Place, 18 games behind - Last Year (79-75) 5th Place
Manager: Will Hackett

MVP: SP Paul Felkner (22-14 2.63)

Strength: Two fine starters in MVP Felkner and Bill Taft (14-8 2.90)

Best Hitters: 1B Kurt Van Kooten (.292/14 HR/85 RBI) and CF Stacy Zacker (.288/21 HR/80 RBI)

Best Pitchers: closer Bobby Winwood (6-7 3.10) had good season with 25 saves in 62 games... starters MVP Felkner and Taft

Weakness: Just average team in pitching and hitting... only 96 home runs (6th)... fielding percentage only .970 (8th)

Surprises: LF Hank Hamilton (.317/6 HR/56 RBI/55 R) in just 91 starts

Disappointments: 2B Tucker Hill (.277/4 HR/47 RBI/80 R) had off year, normally .300 hitter.

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San Alejo Montaneros (75-79) 4th Place 19 games Out - Last Year (96-58) 1st Place
Manager: Lando Peceda

MVP: SP Alberto Herrera (22-10 2.78)

Strength: still hit with power... 125 home runs (4th)... can still score with 688 runs (4th)

Best Hitters: RF Marcelino Zuniga (.282/15 HR/88 R), 1B Rodger Wooten (.289/22 HR/85 RBI) and 3B Paolo Huerta (.290/22 HR/79 RBI/99 R)

Best Pitchers: MVP Herrera, Ernie Arredondo (16-15 3.69)

Weakness: Pitching... Team ERA ballooned to 3.81 (5th)... .971 FA (7th-tied)

Surprises: None that were good

Busts: Closer Domenico Belizon (4-15 4.80), 2B Denholm Carruthers (.228/10 HR/58 RBI/68 R), CF Vidal Munoz (.228/12 HR/58 RBI) and SP Clay Milwaine (5-11 4.42)

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Ginza Ninjas (71-83) 5th Place Tie 23 games back - Last Year (82-72) 4th Place
Manager: Huroko Uchiyama

MVP: SP Alec Sasek (17-9 2.76)

Strength: Strong pitching staff with 3.18 ERA (2nd)... Strong defense with .978 FA (1st)

Top Pitchers: MVP Sasek, Carl Trebek (13-15 3.12), Kojiro Matsumoto (15-21 3.35)

Top Batters: LF Ronnie Cahill (.299/11 HR/81 RBI)

Weakness: last in batting average with .247... 7th in homers with only 77... last in run production with 596... need better closer

Surprises: (none)

Busts: 3B Shinjiro Aoki (.203/1 HR/18 RBI) in 81 games

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Turon Typhoons (71-83) 5th Place Tie, 23 games out - Last year (82-72) 4th Place, Won IPA Pro Cup
Manager: Ashton "Whitey" Richburn

MVP: 1B Boots Dubois (.304/7 HR/53 RBI/88 R/19 SB)

Strength: Good fielding team with a .977 FA (2nd)

Top Hitters: MVP 1B Dubois, Jean-Paul Trevenot (.301/7 HR/73 RBI/76 R/16 SB) and RF George Farley (.264/11 HR/80 RBI)

Top Pitchers: James Longstreet (14-18 3.72) and Jeb Pickett (14-14 4.11)

Weakness: 4.08 ERA (7th)... Lack of home run power... only 74 homers (8th)

Surprises: (none)

Busts: Pitchers Keir McNamara (9-18 4.46) and MR Ian Knox (4-2 5.06)

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Arroyo Grande Suns (66-88) 7th Place - Last Year (52-100) 8th Place
Manager: Jean-Luc Marchand

MVP: 1B Cristian Avajos (.280/40 HR/126 RBI/82 R)

Strength: HR power with 134 home runs (3rd)

Top Hitters: MVP 1B Avajos, 2B Randy Knowles (.269/22 HR/73 RBI/71 R)

Top Pitchers: SP Miguel Aguilera (13-12 3.58) and closer Val Hudson (4-5 2.71) with 14 saves in 70 games

Weakness: poor hitting with a .248 BA (7th)... poor pitching with a 4.05 ERA (6th)

Surprises: (none)

Busts: (none)

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Southport Sun Sox (60-94) 8th Place 34 games back - Last Year (70-84) 7th Place
Manager: Charley Oscar

MVP: 1B Paul Mystryk (.287/21 HR/93 RBI/80 R)

Strength: team hits with some power, 114 home runs (5th)

Top Hitters: MVP 1B Mystryk, rookie CF Jared Brockington (.314/2 HR/33 RBI/59 R/22 SB)

Top Pitchers: SP Walt Corbin (14-15 3.73) and rookie SP/MR Johnny Apple (5-5 2.86)

Weakness: all aspects of the game

Surprises: rookie CF Jared Brockington blossomed into a fine hitter and an outstanding defender (.991 FA)

Busts: (none)

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Tycobbian Union East Division 2004 Final Standings

Red Bluff Survives Tough TU East Race, Tuckanarra Wins Playoff Spot
The Tycobbian Union East could be the toughest and the tightest division in the Islandian Pro Alliance. From top to bottom only 16 games separate the best from the worst. The Red Bluff Red Sox won it for the second consecutive season, besting second place Tuckanarra by 3.5 games and third place Midway by 4.5 games. High Mesa and East Point were close by, too. They were 6 and 7 games behind the champion Red Sox.

Tuckanarra and Midway had to go an extra game to decide the final playoff spot in the Tycobbian Union East. They finished the regular season all knotted up at 79-75 and had to play it off at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra. The Blue Jays got the home field advantage as they had taken two-of-the-three games between them in the regular season.

Tuckanarra was outhit 10 to 6, but took the win 7-3 to move into the IPA Sweet 16 playoffs. Tris Bristow (16-17 3.15) tossed a solid game, struck out four and walked only one for the victory. The Wolves took an early lead with a run in the opening frame, but the Blue Jays got the lead with a two-run fourth to make it 2-1. Midway evened it up in the fifth with a single run. Tuckanarra went ahead to stay in the bottom of the frame 3-2, then clinched it with a four-run outburst in the sixth inning. 2B Owen MacArthur (.277) sparked the Blue Jays to victory with a pair of hits and two RBIs. MacArthur also scored twice. Starter Pedro Shunkaha (13-10) suffered the loss, giving up all seven runs and six hits in five-plus innings. The victory gave Tuckanarra second place in the TU East standings and a playoff spot. The Blue Jays will now have to play the powerful Bayview Vikings of the TU West. The Vikings won its division with a 96-58 record. They won more games than any other team in the IPA this season. Tuckanarra will host the first two games of the best-of-five series beginning tomorrow.

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Red Bluff Red Sox (83-71) 1st Place - Last Year (85-69) First Place
Manager: Mack Connery

MVP: Mila Mihoski (21-10 2.36)

Strength: Best pitching with 3.43 ERA (1st)... good power with 125 homers (5th)... very good defensively with .980 FA (2nd)

Weakness: Need to hit better for average

Top Hitters: RF Kris Grabowski (.309/19 HR/90 RBI/72 R), LF Tony Blundell (.294/28 HR/79 RBI/91 R/22 SB)

Top Pitchers: MVP Mila Mihoski, Leonard Urban (18-13 2.77), Frank Beaudoin (16-13 3.12)

Surprises: (none)

Disappointments: 1B Bucky Frizzell (.231/11 HR/62 RBI) and CF Stan Helmke (.245/15 HR/61 RBI/77 R/39 SB)

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Tuckanarra Blue Jays (80-75) 2nd Place 3.5 games behind - Last Year (83-71) 3rd Place
Manager: Carlton "Lefty" Stevens

MVP: RF Monty Draycott (.267/23 HR/112 RBI/78 R/18 SB)

Strength: good power with 130 homers (4th)

Weakness: Needs to improve .252 BA (7th), 3.80 ERA (5th) and .971 FA (7th)

Top Hitters: MVP RF Draycott, 1B Charley Schofield (.284/23 HR/84 RBI/79 R), C Maka Bardinda (.298/14 HR/80 RBI/80 R/12 SB), 2B Owen MacArthur (.277/10 HR/54 RBI/84 R/16 SB), CF Gavin Munro (.264/10 HR/45 RBI/93 R/15 SB)

Top Pitchers: Mike Amato (16-12 3.67), Niles Applewhite (15-17 3.76), Tris Bristow (16-17 3.15) and closer Mook Epperson (4-7 3.21) 17 saves in 61 games

Surprises: (none)

Disappointments: (none)

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Midway Wolves (79-76) 3rd Place 4.5 games behind - Last Year (71-83) 7th Place
Manager: Cochise Chandler

MVP: SP Mac Chaney (19-10 3.66)

Strength: good .263 team BA (2nd-tied)... scored 715 runs (2nd)... 3.61 ERA (2nd)...with .976 FA (3rd-tied)

Weakness: needs more power at the plate... hit 105 home runs (6th)

Top Batters: 2B Little John Yuma (.329/6 HR/59 RBI/105 R/19 SB), rookie SS Tory Bidwell (.297/15 HR/89 RBI/104 R/17 SB), rookie 1B Don Piper (.264/20 HR/97 RBI/90 R), CF Johnny Gillespie (.291/12 HR/69 RBI/89 R/12 SB), 3B Tommy Kawatoose (.257/21 HR/68 RBI/93 R/ 14 SB)

Top Pitchers: MVP SP Mac Chaney, Nosyt Sani (15-14 3.20), Pedro Shunkaha (13-10 3.38) and closer Joe Eckermann (4-3 1.80) with 24 saves in 59 game appearances

Surprises: rookie SS Bidwell, rookie closer Joe Eckermann and rookie 1B Don Piper

Disappointments: (none)

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High Mesa Cowboys (77-77) 4th Place, 6 games out - Last Year (84-70) 2nd Place
Manager: Frisky Franks

MVP: 2B Ed Granberg (.321/20 HR/116 RBI/107 R/14 SB)

Strength: Outstanding with .276 BA (1st), 171 home runs (1st), most runs (1st), solid defense with .976 FA (3rd-tied)

Weakness: 4.27 ERA (7th)

Top Batters: MVP 2B Granberg, SS Rolf Kellgren (.338/13 HR/69 RBI/123 R/34 SB), RF Kenny Edelstein (.303/14 HR/100 RBI), C Jay Fessler (.330/10 HR/71 RBI/94 R/27 SB), LF Adam Zitek (.263/29 HR/96 RBI/85 R) and CF Lex Neville (.273/24 HR/79 RBI/77 R/10 SB)

Top Pitchers: SP John Owens (20-14 3.89), Joey Popovich (18-19 3.76), closer Amos Bracklin (4-2 2.97) in 55 games

Surprises: (none)

Busts: 1B Babe Holloman (.207/21 HR/55 RBI)

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East Point Panthers (76-78) 5th Place, 7 games behind - Last Year (65-89) 8th Place
Manager: Griff Clarke

MVP: 3B Rex Sokolov (.280/32 HR/116 RBI/87 R)

Strength: 146 roundtrippers (2nd-tied), good defense with .976 FA (3rd-tied)... three solid starters

Weakness: 3.93 ERA (6th)

Top Batters: MVP 3B Sokolov, 2B Karol Zadoka (.296/30 HR/90 RBI/109 R/21 SB), SS Keith Wasik (.321/3 HR/44 RBI/79 R), C Ed Strasser (.293/11 HR/46 RBI) in 58 starts, LF Hank Archer (.283/15 HR/58 R/80 R/13 SB)

Top Pitchers: Charlie Hale (18-14 3.09), Jarred Robillard (18-14 3.13), Carl Thompson (16-11 3.88) and rookie closer Jed Erdmann (3-1 2.14) in 32 games

Surprises: SS Keith Wasik, C Ed Strasser, LF Hank Archer, rookie closer Jed Erdmann

Busts: (none)

********

Ozarka Naturals (73-81) 6th Place tied - Last Year (78-76) 4th Place
Manager: Joe Mac Carney

MVP: SP Alec DiMaggio (20-13 3.33)

Strength: .263 team batting average (2nd-tied), 708 runs scored (3rd), 3.62 team ERA (3rd)

Weakness: Lacks home run power, hit only 91 (7th)... weak defense .973 FA (6th)

Top Hitters: CF Kermit Wiggins (.305/3 HR/70 RBI/108 R/43 SB), SS Duffy Douglas (.267/13 HR/88 RBI/90 R) and C Richard Morley (.321/1 HR/50 RBI/43 R) in 112 games

Top Pitchers: MVP SP Alex DiMaggio, Dana Channing (13-11 3.46) and closer Dayle Claypoole (5-7 2.89) with 22 saves in 67 relief appearances

Surprises: (none)

Busts: (none)

********

South Fork Stallions (73-81) 6th Place tied - Last Year (77-77) Fifth Place
Manager: Deroche "Lips" Leon

MVP: rookie SP Shannon Talbert (17-8 3.02)

Strength: .982 FA (1st)

Weakness: weak hitting with .256 BA (6th) and no power... only 86 home runs (8th)

Top Batters: 1B Keith Burke (.292/19 HR/92 RBI/78 R/13 SB), LF Art Atkins (.285/11 HR/71 RBI/74 R)

Top Pitchers: MVP Shannon Talbert, Flint Battle (15-18 2.92) and closer Ken Olson (2-6 1.93) with 16 saves in 65 games

Surprises: MVP rookie SP Shannon Talbert

Disappointments: CF Preston Crim (.235/9 HR/39 RBI/48 R/9 SB) in 129 games

********

Hillsboro Blazers (67-87) 8th Place 16 games behind - (71-83) 6th Place
Manager: Arky Spanderson

MVP: 2B George Longmire (.270/16 HR/81 RBI/91 R/45 SB)

Strength: good power with 146 home runs (2nd-tied)

Weakness: poor .247 BA (8th)... poor 4.42 ERA (8th)... poor .968 FA (8th)

Top Bats: MVP 2B Longmire, LF Kevin Baker (.249/34 HR/95 RBI/94 R/14 SB), 3B Tommy Emrick (.293/21 HR/92 RBI/76 R)

Top Pitchers: closer Frank Coleridge (4-6 3.29) with 22 saves in 72 appearances

Surprises: (none)

Disappointments: 1B Sloan Slatner (.242/17 HR/59 RBI/73 R/13 SB)

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Tycobbian Union West Division Final Standings

Bayview Easy Winner in TU West, Denton City Distant Second
The Bayview Vikings breezed to the Tycobbian Union West crown and won it by 9 games over runner-up Denton City. Surprising La Claire turned it on in the second half of the season to finish in the third spot, 12 games off the pace. The Rolling Hills Reds flopped after mounting a strong challenge at the halfway point. The Reds were just 4 games back, but ended up 14 games out and in fourth place. Arlon had a miserable first half in the cellar, but recovered and climbed up to fifth by year's end. The Champions were 20 games behind and edged sixth place Bay St. Clair by a game. Chicopee and Kenwood played poorly the entire season and came in seventh and eighth respectively, 28 and 33 games out of first place.

The division-winning Vikings and second place Redbirds will now advance to the Sweet 16 playoffs. They will open best-of-five series against TU East teams this afternoon. Bayview will go to Tuckanarra to play the Blue Jays, while Denton City will be at home against the TU East title-winning Red Bluff Red Sox.

********

Bayview Vikings (96-58) First Place - Last Year (92-62) First Place
Manager: Walter Johanssen

MVP: 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.297/30 HR/112 RBI/110 R/16 SB)

Strength: best offense with .273 BA (1st), 156 homers (1st), 784 runs (1st)... good starting pitching

Weakness: poor defense .973 FA (7th), so-so pitching with 3.69 ERA (6th)

Top Hitters: MVP 1B Quibedeaux, CF Phil Kanaan (.303/25 HR/102 RBI/120 R/36 SB), C Hank Bethel (.294/35 HR/96 RBI/109 R), 2B Alan Hansen (.307/0 HR/48 RBI/114 R/36 SB), LF Karl Yashin (.268/25 HR/87 RBI), 3B James Scott (.315/11 HR/83 RBI)

Top Pitchers: Jerry Harrison (23-10 2.88), Frank Wells (21-6 3.36), rookie Georgie Fambreau (12-8 3.47) and closer Terry Banks (10-9 3.43) with 25 saves in 76 games

Surprises: 20-game winners Harrison and Wells

Busts: Adrian Strom (12-13 4.92) was 24-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 2003

********

Denton City Redbirds (87-67) 9 games behind - Last Year (79-75) Third Place
Manager: Ford Whiteman

MVP: RF Lavon Gooch (.320/27 HR/90 RBI/109 R/12 SB)

Strength: Good hitting, good power with .268 BA (2nd), 131 homers (2nd), 733 runs (2nd)... fine .978 FA (1st)... good starters and closer

Weakness: middle relief

Top Hitters: MVP RF Lavon Gooch, 1B Rod MacCormack (.301/23 HR/99 RBI/93 R/25 SB), 3B Jay Petit (.311/17 HR/91 RBI/75 R), SS Trevor Tomlinson (.267/12 HR/66 RBI/92 B/52 SB)

Top Pitchers: Burton McGarrick (14-8 2.95), Gino Carmazzo (16-13 3.08), James Darbonne (10-4 3.44), Daniel Fitzmorris (9-6 3.38) and closer Bubba Lear (8-3 2.76) with 27 saves in 73 games

Surprises: Starters rookie McGarrick, rookie Darbonne and Fitzmorris... CF Paul Coniglio (.292/17 HR/56 RBI/85 R/16 SB) in 104 games and 2B Lou Pruitt (.273/3 HR/33 RBI/22 R) and .992 FA in 46 games

Busts: SP Bob Coleman (7-10 5.55) and Joe Hoffman (8-7 4.55), 2B Glen Throckmorton (.232/13 HR/58 RBI/53 R/8 SB)

********

La Claire Lynx (84-70) Third Place, 12 games behind - Last Year (61-97) 7th Place
Manager: Rip Calkin

MVP: SP Jim Melanakos (23-10 2.32)

Strength: Starting pitchers and closer... team 3.16 ERA (1st)

Weakness: terrible hitting with .248 BA (7th), only 66 home runs (8th), 579 runs (8th)... fair .974 FA (6th)

Top Hitters: CF Lucky Collins (.288/13 HR/88 RBI/77 R/28 SB)

Top Pitchers: MVP SP Jim Melanakos, Munoto Kishata (18-14 3.40), Andy Murray (9-2 2.17), Nikon Danos (7-15 2.94) and closer Henny Cossaboom (7-10 3.27) with 32 saves and 65 relief appearances... Cossaboom topped the IPA in saves

Surprises: MVP SP Jim Melanakos and SP Andy Murray

Busts: SS Kevin English (.227/0 HR/32 RBI/48 R/14 SB)... English hit .319 last year and made the All-Star team... platooned at mid-season

********

Rolling Hills Reds (82-72) 14 games back - Last Year (87-67) 2nd Place
Manager: Matty Christianson

MVP: SP Keith Greenwood (23-7 2.56)

Strength: Strong starters... Team has 3.31 ERA (2nd)... Tied for third with .975 FA

Weakness: Need offense - .253 BA (5th), 113 homers (4th-tied)

Top Batters: RF Theron Latigo (.290/20 HR/104 RBI/93 R/15 SB), 1B Eddy Dowler (14 HR/77 RBI/91 R) and C Ned Channing (.297/8 HR/53 RBI/41 R/10 SB) in 75 starts

Top Pitchers: MVP Keith Greenwood, Hoyt Paulsen (15-8 3.72), Roger Davidson (15-18 3.18)

Surprises: C Ned Channing with .297 batting average and 53 RBI in half season

Disappointments: closer Stephen Faccaro (7-13 3.83)

********

Arlon Champions (76-78) 20 games off the pace - Last Year (61-93) 6th Place
Manager: Gary Louis

MVP: Closer Stanley Ross (10-7 2.78) with 17 saves in 69 games

Strength: Good closer and better-than-average 3.48 team ERA (4th)

Weakness: Lousy .241 team BA (8th)... Poor defense with .971 FA (8th)

Top Hitters: LF Matt Merrill (.294/16 HR/72 RBI/91 R) and CF Steve Barnett (.305/16 HR/76 RBI/100 R/10 SB)

Top Pitchers: MVP Closer Stanley Ross, rookie Jose Gonzalez (12-14 3.35) and Kurt DeHaan (16-18 3.46)

Surprises: Kenneth Bell (6-3 2.27) in 13 starts after All-Star Game

Busts: (none)

********

Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (75-79) 6th Place - Last Year (77-77) 4th Place
Manager: Guy Rondre

MVP: SP Denny Coulon (25-10 2.40)

Strength: .263 team batting average (3rd)

Weakness: very little power, 83 home runs (7th)... team ERA 3.70 (7th)

Top Hitters: 3B Ed Albrecht (.305/24 HR/111 RBI/94 R/11 SB), LF Stan Denton (.334/4 HR/66 RBI/75 R), CF Wayne Latham (.299/6 HR/52 RBI/96 R)

Top Pitchers: MVP Denny Coulon, Duncan McFalls (16-14 3.45), closer Norm Gross (7-8 2.95) with 19 saves and 69 games

Surprises: (none)

Busts: (none)

********

Chicopee Braves (68-86) 7th Place 28 games back - Last Year (62-92) 5th Place
Manager: Harry Fleetfoot

MVP: Closer Desmond Quartermain (5-3 2.02) with 27 saves in 70 games

Strength: hits with power, 129 homers (3rd)... Team ERA 3.45 (3rd)... Good defense .977 FA (2nd)

Weakness: Offense poor with .254 BA (4th), 586 runs (7th)

Best Batters: RF Orville Butler (.239/33 HR/78 RBI), 3B Wild Deer Etchimin (.277/17 HR/65 RBI), LF Big Stick Takala (.273/18 HR/63 RBI), SS Ben McClendon (.268/14 HR/62 RBI)

Best Pitchers: MVP Closer Desmond Quartermain, Alan Goodwin (14-13 3.14), Johnny Falcon (8-5 2.90)

Surprises: SP Johnny Falcon (8-5 2.90) re-signed after year layoff.

Disappointments: rookie CF Phil Nelson (.258/4 HR/50 RBI/71 R/33 SB)

********

Kenwood Wildcats (63-91) 8th Place, 33 games behind - Last Year (59-95)
Manager: Aaron Hankins

MVP: CF Teddy Mays (.308/12 HR/67 RBI/67 R/20 SB)

Strength: (none)

Weakness: You name it - Team BA .250 (6th), Team ERA 4.62 (8th)

Top Batters: MVP CF Teddy Mays, RF Aydan Winthrop (.246/24 HR/94 RBI)

Top Pitchers: Closer Aydan Havilland (3-8 3.68) with 28 saves in 66 games

Surprises: (none)

Disappointments: CF Juan Padilla (.216/2 HR/23 RBI/23 R) in 48 games

********

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

War In The IPA, Pro Cup Playoffs Begin Today
It's Sweet 16 Time in the Islandian Pro Alliance, the first round of the Pro Cup Series. Sixteen of the best teams in the Islands begin their quest today for the Holy Grail of the baseball world - The Pro Cup - the symbol of superiority in professional baseball in the Islands.

Who will join the Volusia Vigilantes, High Mesa Cowboys and the Turon Typhoons as the winner of the prestigious Pro Cup? The V's are the only one of the previous winners in this year's playoff battle.

In past seasons 32 teams qualified for the Pro Cup Series, but this has all been changed this year. Only 16 teams will participate. Only the top two teams in each of the eight divisions qualified for this year's playoffs. The owners and fans wanted longer series as too many of the best clubs got eliminated too quickly in short three-game series. The IPA has made each series the best-three-of-five in the first three rounds with the finals set at best-of-seven. Longer series will hopefully give the better team a better chance of winning.

The Islandian Times polled all of the sportswriters and broadcasters that cover the IPA and the consensus is the Elnora All-Stars and the Cape Coral Hurricanes will meet for the 2004 Pro Cup with the Hurricanes favored to win.

Ruthlandian Union

1. Elnora All-Stars
2. Sugar Valley Rattlers
3. Ranford Bulls
4. Middlefield Roosters
5. Valmara Vipers
6. Volusia Vigilantes
7. Belair Beach Sunbirds
8. Claxton Diamonds

Tycobbian Union

1. Cape Coral Hurricanes
2. Colchester Ellites
3. Oxford Red Caps
4. Bayview Vikings
5. Tuckanarra Blue Jays
6. Denton City Redbirds
7. Red Bluff Red Sox
8. Luxora Zorros

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

How Sweet 16 It Is! IPA Playoffs Get Underway Today!
Playoff baseball generates a reaction in every fan. To the fan of the perennial loser, it's a time to moan again about their team's misfortune. To the fan whose club defines success by the number of Pro Cup Series championship trophies lining their clubhouse walls, anything short of the ultimate victory is a disaster.

This is playoff baseball. Baseball lovers can't help but be consumed by it in some way or another. There is nothing better than playoff baseball. These Sweet 16 Series battles will unfold later today. Each series will be best-three-out-of-five.

Ruthlandian Union Sweet 16

Belair Beach at Ranford
Valmara at Claxton
Middlefield at Sugar Valley
Elnora at Volusia

Tycobbian Union Sweet 16

Cape Coral at Luxora
Oxford at Colchester
Bayview at Turkanarra
Red Bluff at Denton City

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Favorites Fall In RU Sweet 16 Openers
Second-place teams split with the pennant winners in the first games of the Ruthlandian Union Sweet 16 Series. The Middlefield Roosters and Valmara Vipers were the only division champs to win an opener.

Roosters Nip Rattlers 2-1 in Sweet 16 Opener
Two 20-game winners went at it at Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley as Middlefield's Jamie Hicks outdueled Sugar Valley's Gregg Neal 2-1. In the opening game of the Ruthlandian Union Sweet 16 Series Hicks stopped the Rattlers on seven hits, striking out four and issuing three bases on balls. Neal tossed seven solid innings, yielding only two runs and seven hits. Sugar Valley opened up the scoring in the home-half of the third when Freddie Vaux doubled and scored on Flipper Bird's base hit. However, the Roosters regained the lead in the two-run fourth on a walk to Eddie Reeves, a sacrifice bunt and RBI singles by Timmy Gage and Cecil Clark. That did it for the scoring as Middlefield held on to take the first game of the best-of-five series. The Roosters had nine hits in all, led by Clark with 3-for-4 and Gage with 2-for-5. Ron Armstrong and Casey Leeburn had two hits apiece for the Rattlers.

The second game of the series is slated for tomorrow afternoon and again will be played at Farmers Memorial Park. Denny Yarrow (19-13 3.27) will be the choice of manager Smitty Michaels, while Gibby Bobkins will send Anthony Glaser (20-13 3.70) to the hill to try and even up the series.

Valmara Takes Sweet 16 Opener, Edges Claxton 5-4
Trailing the Claxton Diamonds 4-0 going into the seventh inning, it was looking bad for Valmara, but the Vipers got three runs in on a Jan Szymanski three-run clout to get them back in the game, then they won it 5-4 with two runs in the eighth. With one away Yoshi Motsuzuki doubled. That got rid of starter Teddy Kuznetsov and brought on closer Tom Dahl for the Diamonds. Val Krol's RBI single tied the game at 4-4. Krol went to second on the throw home. Jet Kazmarek bunted Krol over to third and he scored when 3B Ron Doucette fumbled a grounder hit by Floyd Vinson. Dahl (0-1) got the loss, while the victory went to Danny Blauser (1-0), who pitched a scoreless seventh. Manager J. Jackson Samuel got great relief work from Zarek Zalewski, Blauser and Eric Ptacek. They stopped Claxton on no runs and one hit over the final four frames in relief of starter Vanya Vacylenko, who allowed four runs and six hits in five innings. Teddy Kuznetsov started for the Diamonds and held the Vipers scoreless for six innings, then he got shelled for four runs.

Valmara outhit Claxton 11 to 7 and were led by CF Szymanski with three hits and three RBIs. RF Krol, C Yoshi Motsuzuki and 2B Vinson each had two hits for the Vipers. LF Dixie Baker topped the Diamonds with two hits and two RBIs. CF Jackie Faust also collected a pair of base hits.

Game two will be played tomorrow afternoon at Avalon Stadium in Claxton. Doug Torvik (18-12 2.98) will pitch for Claxton and Andre Trepanier (18-14 3.42) for Valmara.

Ranford Rips Sunbirds 7-0, Bernhoffer Blanks 'em
Ranford County Stadium was rocking today as the Ranford Bulls blanked Belair Beach 7-0 on a 5-hitter by Chris Bernhoffer (1-0). That put the Bulls up one-game-to-none in the Sweet 16 Series. Ranford ripped Sunbird pitching for 11 hits, sparked by home runs by Johnny Fenroy and rookie Jose Castillo. The Bulls slammed starter and loser Ray Watson (0-1) for four runs and five hits in his three-plus innings and then continued the onslaught with three more off reliever Vance Stromberg. Warren Gravois and Colin Fairclough drove in the first runs of the game with RBI doubles in the third. In the fourth frame Fenroy's two-run homer and Castillo's three-run blast nailed down the victory early.

The teams will play game number two tomorrow in Ranford. Tiny Lindgren (19-11 2.67) will work the game for the Sunbirds, while it will be Bud Enright (24-10 2.66) on the mound for the Bulls.

Vigilantes Vault Past All-Stars 5-1 In First Game
The Volusia Vigilantes took a one-game lead in the Sweet 16 Series by vaulting past Elnora 5-1. The V's put five quick ones up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning and never were challenged by the All-Stars. Back-to-back doubles by Briscoe Crowder and Clint Hardesty plated the first run, then Francisco Abreu pounded a two-run roundtripper to make it 3-0. Pitcher Raul Sandoval's sacrifice fly and Scooter Perez's double drove in two more runs to put Volusia ahead 5-0. Sandoval made it stand up as he gave up only a solo homer in the eighth inning by Quincy Peterson. Sandoval (1-0) went the distance, struck out seven and walked three for the win, while Lou Horn (0-1) was tagged with the defeat, giving up all five runs on five hits in his two innings of work.

Game two of the best-of-five series will be played tomorrow at Silver River Stadium, better known as "the Jailhouse" in Volusia. Zoggy White has nominated Taylor Gibbs (19-12 3.05) to go for his All-Stars and Alfonso Feliz of the Vigilantes will give the ball to his ace, Carl Schmitz (24-10 2.54).

First I must confess to reading just the first page and pages 56 and 57 (a 57 page thread is quite intimidating:)), but the quality and depth of which you are covering the league is very impressive! I'll have to start slowly going back and getting caught up on the history, but for now I'll be following along and rooting for the Hurricanes to win their first Pro Cup!:)

Glad to have you checking it out.

I don't blame you for just looking at the end first. It is a lot to read if you go back to the beginning.

Thank you for the nice comments.

NYY #23, you might want to check out the Wynnamac Sundowners in the Ruthlandian East. They are managed by Matt Donnelly, an outstanding first baseman in the industrial league. It's not incidental that he wears #23. :D

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

Zorros Get A NO-NO, Hoffman No-Hits Hurricanes
22-year-old righthander Eddie Hoffman made history today at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora. Hoffman hurled the first playoff no-hitter ever in the IPA. Hoffman was briliant, halting Cape Coral 1-0 in game one of the Sweet 16 Series. Hoffman walked two batters and struck out five. The winning score came in the bottom of the fifth when Joel Reed led off with a double and was sacrificed to third base. Hurricane starter Doug Lyons walked two batters to load the bases, then Pablo Santa Cruz delivered the go-ahead base hit and Hoffman made it stand up. Losing pitcher Lyons (0-1) only surrendered four hits himself, walked two and fanned three in a superb outing.

The two clubs will duke it out again tomorrow in Luxora with Cody Burg (24-8 2.13) working for Cape Coral and Tito Tovares (16-12 3.04) doing the honor for the Z's.

Division Champs In Trouble, 3 Lose Sweet 16 Openers
After the first day of play in the IPA Sweet 16 playoffs, the second-place clubs are doing quite well. Division winners Cape Coral, Oxford and Red Bluff all lost the series openers. Only Bayview played like champions.

Bayview Trounces Tuckanarra 11-1 in Game One
At Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra, the Bayview Vikings trounced the Blue Jays 11-2 behind an 11-hit barrage and a strong outing by Jerry Harrison. Bayview was led by Dean Howell and Hank Bethel, who drove in three runs each and Karl Yashin and Chancey Quibedeaux with two apiece. Harrison (1-0) fired a 5-hitter, fanned six and walked none in a fine performance. Loser Niles Applewhite did make it out of the first inning as he was belted for four runs and four hits. Bethel got the only homer for the winners, while Gavin Munro hit a solo job for Tuckanarra.

Game two is tomorrow in Tuckanarra. The pitching assignments will pit the Vikings Georgie Fambreau (12-8 3.47) against the Blue Jays Mike Amato (16-12 3.67).

Colchester Crushes Oxford In 1st Game 13-6
In the first game of the Sweet 16 Series at Heyward Stadium, the Colchester Elites came back from a 3-0 deficit to crush the Oxford Red Caps 13-6 with four home runs and 17 hits. Harlan Roscoe whacked two roundtrippers with Tom Barella and Niles Stanton cracking the other two. Barella's was a 3-run smash in the fourth to send Colchester ahead 6-3. After Oxford narrowed it to 6-4 in the sixth, the Elites put them away with a 6-run seventh. Barella and Stanton had 3 RBIs each, while Roscoe and Leland Curtis batted in two runs apiece. Barella, Curtis and Roscoe all collected three hits each. The victory went to reliever Hootie Boatner (1-0), who sparkled in his three innings. Boatner allowed no runs and one hit for the win. Wayne Baxley, the second of five hurlers for the Red Caps, was the losing pitcher. He was slugged for three runs and five hits in just two frames. He exited trailing 6-4.

Campy Roy has designated Nicky Nicholson (22-9 2.71) his game two starter. Rookie Jimmy Simmons (18-10 2.89) got the call from Uncle Robbie Wilbertson. The second game in the best-of-five set will be played in Colchester.

DC Redbirds Slip By RB Red Sox 4-3 in 1st Game
At Douglas Denton Field in Denton City the hometown Redbirds rebounded in the late innings to slip past Red Bluff 4-3. The Red Sox built up a 3-1 margin after five frames, but Denton City tied them up 3-3 in the sixth and wrapped up the win with a run in the eighth. Danny Nash was the hero as he doubled in Jay Petit with the winning score. Closer Bubba Lear (1-0) notched the victory as he retired all six batters he faced in the final two innings. John Dougherty (0-1) took the loss as he gave up one run and two hits in two innings. Petit paced the Redbirds at bat with a perfect 3-3 performance. Stan Helmke led Red Bluff with a two-run homer in the fifth that snapped a 1-1 tie. Gino Carmazzo started and hurled seven innings for Denton City, allowed three runs and nine hits, while Frank Beaudoin logged six innings for the Red Sox and was touched for three runs - one unearned - in six frames. The Red Sox had the advantage 9-8 in hits.

The clubs will head back to the diamond in Denton City tomorrow for the second game of the series. Mila Moholski (21-10 2.36) will work for Red Bluff, opposed by Burton McGarrick (14-8 2.95).

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

Vipers Go Up 2-0, Farentino Stops Diamonds 3-2
For the second straight day at Avalon Stadium, the Valmara Vipers won a one-run game from the Claxton Diamonds to take a giant step in the Sweet 16 Series. One more victory and Valmara will advance to the next round. Ted Farentino held them to six hits and went all the way in the 3-2 victory. Claxton's CF Jackie Faust and C Rance Murillo hammered him for home runs in the first two innings, but didn't score another run after that. Farentino weaved his way through the Diamond line-up with masterful control and movement. He issued no walks and had two strikeouts. Viper CF Jan Szymanski slammed one in the seats in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1, but Murillo gave Claxton back the lead in last of the inning. Then in the fifth RF Val Krol sent a Doug Torvik pitch soaring for a two-run homer for the eventual game-winner. Torvik took the loss, going seven innings and giving up all three runs on nine hits. LF Jet Kazmarek and 1B Masaichi Okawa both went 3-4, but it was Szymanski and Krol who saved the day. They have driven in all seven Valmara runs in the series with Szymanski driving in four and Krol three. Szymanski has gone deep in both games.

Manager Stacy Engel will try to stay alive in the series with Sal Tallis (17-12 3.08) on the hill. J. Jackson Samuel will use Andre Trepanier (18-14 3.42) for his starter. The series will switch to War Memorial Stadium in Valmara for the rest of the games.

Rattlers Knot Series, Quiet Roosters 6-3
The Middlefield-Sugar Valley Sweet 16 Series is now knotted up at one win each after the Rattlers rapped the Roosters 6-3 in game two at Farmers Memorial Park. SS Flipper Bird and CF Freddie Vaux led Sugar Valley 10-hit attack with a pair of RBIs apiece. Vaux doubled in two in the first inning, while Bird had a two-run swat in the fifth to put the Rattlers in front 5-2. RF Bailey Norcross topped Middlefield with two RBIs and C Kevin Dial smacked a solo homer. Anthony Glaser picked up the victory. He worked seven innings, allowed four hits and three runs, but had trouble with his control as he walked six. Relievers Ron Benson and Hec Skurgan each pitched a scoreless inning with the save going to Skurgan. All total Sugar Valley held Middlefield to six hits. The loser was Denny Yarrow. He was rapped for eight hits and five runs in six innings, but two of them were not earned. The Roosters committed three errors in the game.

The ball clubs will swap venues for the rest of the series. Middlefield Park will be the site of games three, four, and if necessary, game five. Starting pitchers for tomorrow's clash will be Jay Washington (12-8 3.32) for the Rattlers and Joshua Jackson (14-10 3.14) for the Roosters.

Elnora Evens Sweet 16, Stops Volusia 3-1
It was a low-scoring affair, but Elnora's Zoggy White still needed 5 pitchers to whip Volusia 3-1 and even the Sweet 16 Series at one game each. Starter Taylor Gibbs worked a strong seven innings and stopped the Vigilantes on one run and three hits with eight Ks and four walks. Gibbs left with a 2-1 lead. White used Matty Wilkerson, Troy Hudson and Stevie Howard to each get one batter out in the eighth, then turned it over to Kenny Kerr to seal it down in the ninth. Gibbs got credit for the victory.

It was scoreless through four with Gibbs and Carl Schmitz throwing nothing but goose eggs. However, the All-Stars broke the ice in the top of the fifth on SS Kyle Villere's RBI triple and RF Quincy Peterson's double, giving them a 2-0 edge. V's 2B Chaco Rivera chopped it to one run when he belted a bases-empty homer in the bottom of the inning. Elnora added a run in the eighth on two errors and a bases-loaded walk. Schmitz, a 24-game winner, did not have one of his better games. He walked six and struck out four, while permitting eight hits. But Schmitz was stingy and only allowed two earned runs, yet he walked in a run. The All-Stars had the hitting edge 8 to 5, but left 12 men on base. Villere was 3-for-4 for Elnora with Peterson and 2B Gil Foster both going 2-for-5.

Game three is scheduled for State Fair Park in Elnora tomorrow afternoon. Ricky Moreno (13-16 4.15) will toil for Volusia and Charlie Murphy (22-12 2.75) will get the starting assignment for the All-Stars.

Lindgren Masters Bulls, Sunbirds Win 6-1
Little 5'6" Tiny Lindgren was the big man for the Belair Beach Sunbirds this afternoon at Ranford County Stadium. Lindgren (1-0) checked the Ranford Bulls on six hits en route to a 6-1 spanking that tied the Sweet 16 Series at one game apiece. Lindgren chalked up five strikeouts and walked no one to best Ranford's ace, Bud Enright, who won 24 games in the regular season. The Sunbirds drilled him for six runs and five hits and KO'd Enright in the three-run seventh that put the game out of reach. LF Nicky Swift led the charge with three RBIs, while CF Bobby Joe Morris scored three times. Enright (0-1) was the losing pitcher, although three of the runs were unearned.

Game three will feature Jim Maxwell (17-9 3.02) for the Bulls and Slim Mosley (18-8 3.01) for Belair Beach. It will be played at Bayside Park, the Sunbirds home stadium. Belair Beach will be the home team for the rest of the series.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

Z's Zap 'Canes 2-1, Lead Sweet 16 By 2 Games
It was brilliant pitching again today at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora as the Zorros squeezed out a 2-1 eleven-inning triumph over Cape Coral, giving them two consecutive wins in the Sweet 16 Series. Yesterday Eddie Hoffman fired a 1-0 no-hitter in the opening game.

Lacey Tompkins had an unbelievable day with the bat today, hitting a game-tying homer in the last of the ninth to send the game into overtime, then delivering the game-winning hit two innings later. In the decisive inning 2B Pablo Santa Cruz led off with a single, stole second and then came around to score the winning run on a walk-off clutch base hit by CF Tompkins. That sent closer Wally Robinson (0-1) down to defeat. Robinson has just come in for starter Cody Burg, who was terrific, holding Luxora to just one run and five hits in 10 very strong innings. Burg struck out 10 batters and walked only one. The Z's also got good pitching from starter Tito Tovares, who worked 8 frames and gave up only four hits and a run, while striking out six and walking five. Julio Higuera worked the ninth and tenth innings and held the Hurricanes runless. Fernando Fernandes (1-0) racked up the victory with a perfect eleventh frame, retiring all three batters in order. There were only 11 hits in the game, 7 for Luxora and 4 for Cape Coral.

Tomorrow afternoon at Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral, manager Marty Pedroza will try to get his Hurricanes back in the series with Jeff Salow (19-12 3.73). Zorro skipper Alejandro Rodrigo will go with Marco Braceros (16-14 3.16) in game three.

Bayview Beats Blue Jays 7-5 In Game 2
The Bayview bats bashed out 11 hits to beat the Tuckanarra Blue Jays 7-5 and take a 2-0 advantage in the Sweet 16 game played at Central Park Stadium. The Vikings need just one more victory to eliminate the Blue Jays from the playoffs. C Hank Bethel cracked two hits and batted in four runs for the victors. Bethel blasted a three-run homer to put Bayview in front 3-1 in the third. SS Shorty Richards had three hits, putting the Viks ahead 5-3 in the fifth with a two-run single. An RBI double by Bethel and an RBI single by LF Karl Yashin put Bayview up to stay 7-3 in the sixth.

Tuckanarra also slammed 11 hits, led by 1B Charley Schofield with 3-5 and three RBIs and LF Corey Tavington with a two-run roundtripper. Starter Georgie Fambreau (1-0) got the win, working six innings and giving up four runs. Terry Banks tossed two scoreless innings for the save. Blue Jay starter Mike Amato (0-1) sustained the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings, but only three of them were earned. Tuckanarra committed two costly errors.

Game three is slated for Downtown Plaza Stadium in Bayview tomorrow afternoon. The Vikings will host the remaining games in the best-of-five series. Walter Johanssen has selected Frank Wells (21-6 3.36) to nail down the series, while Carlton "Lefty" Stevens named Tris Bristow (16-17 3.15) his starter.

DC's Lee Hits Walk-Off HR, 2-Games Up On Red Sox
For the second game in a row at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City, the Redbirds came alive in the late innings and snatched another one-run victory from the Red Bluff Red Sox. This time the Redbirds won it 3-2 with a ninth-inning walk-off homer by C Lawton Lee off closer John Dougherty (0-2), who also lost yesterday's contest. Burton McGarrick (1-0) fired a fine six-hitter, going the distance with nine strikeouts and just two walks in a sharp performance. Red Bluff's Milo Mohoski was almost as tough, yielding only two runs and four hits in eight innings of work.

Denton City took the lead 1-0 in the first on a sac fly by 1B Rob MacCormack. The Red Sox tied it up 1-1 on Virgil Carpenter's RBI single in the second. The Redbirds regained the lead 2-1 in the third on a double by SS Trevor Tomlinson and a single by CF Paul Coniglio, only to see Red Bluff tie it up again at 2-2 in the seventh when SS Jeff Decker doubled and scored on Carpenter's base hit.

The Sweet 16 Series is now bound for Red Bluff Park for game three, and if needed, games four and five. The Red Sox hope Leonard Urban (18-13 2.77) can keep their chance alive, while Daniel Fitzmorris (9-6 3.38) of the Redbirds will try to put the quietus on Red Bluff and send them home for the year.

Colchester Up 2-0 In Sweet 16, Oxford Falls 6-5
They did it again! The Colchester Elites knocked off the Oxford Red Caps 6-5 to go up 2-0 in the Sweet 16 Series played today at Heyward Field. Rookie southpaw Jimmy Simmons pitched and hit the Elites to victory. His bases-loaded single broke a 4-4 deadlock in the last of the sixth. Simmons had a rough start and surrendered four runs in the first three innings, but stiffened up and blanked the Red Caps for the next four frames. Closer Tom Carter relieved him in the eighth and gave up LF Mac Spencer's solo homer, but shut them down in the ninth for the save. Simmons collected the win. Nicky Nicholson (0-1) suffered the defeat, giving up six runs and seven hits in six innings. Colchester's top batter was CF Elden Hutchens with two hits and two RBIs. The Elites picked up 8 hits in the game to 6 for the Red Caps. There were two homers in the game, both by Oxford. CF Ike Plunkett also homered for the Red Caps. Both of them came with the bases empty.

Colchester will be on the road at Winchester Park the rest of the series as they try to finish off favored Oxford. In game three Dickie Pendarvis (14-14 3.15) will take the hill for the Elites and Bomber Belinsky (17-17 4.20) will do the chores for the Red Caps.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

V's Edge Elnora on Arroyo's Hit, Take Series Lead
Volusia took a tense 5-3 duel from Elnora today at State Fair Park on Jesus Arroyo's pinch-hit two-run single in the top of the ninth, putting the Vigilantes in the driver's seat in the Sweet 16 Series with a 2-1 lead. It came off closer Matty Wilkerson, but the runs were charged to starter Charlie Murphy (0-1 5.40), who was the losing pitcher. V's skipper Alonso Feliz got excellent relief work from Hernando Espaderos and Tommy Betanzos, who blanked the All-Stars over the final three frames. Espaderos (1-0 0.00) got the win with two hitless innings, while Betanzos got the save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Ricky Moreno started and departed after six with the score tied at 3-3. Volusia outhit Elnora 10-5 with C Clint Hardesty (.583) and 1B Francisco Abreu (.200) in the lead. Hardesty went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Abreu got his second playoff homer with a two-run shot in the second inning. Homers accounted for all of the All-Stars scores. C Todd Simons (.111) powered a two-run homer in the fourth inning and RF Quincy Peterson (.500) banged one out in the sixth. It was Peterson's second in the postseason.

Raul Sandoval (20-13 3.02), a 5-1 winner in game one, will get the chance to wrap up the series for the Vigilantes. He will be opposed by Lou Horn (16-6), who lost the opening game.

Bulls Best Birds 5-3, Up 2-1 in Sweet 16
At Bayside Park in Belair Beach, the Ranford Bulls rode Jim Maxwell's right arm to a 5-2 win in game three of the RU Sweet 16 Series. It was the Bulls second win in three games. Maxwell shut out the Sunbirds 3-0 before tiring in the eighth frame. Maxwell (1-0 2.45) notched the victory and gave up just two runs on six hits in seven and one-third innings. Relievers Leland Shaddock and Tim DeKosky saved the win for Maxwell as they retired the last five batters in order. Pacing Ranford at bat were 2B Johnny Fenroy (.500), who had two hits and two RBIs and 1B Jordy John (.417) with 3-for-4 and a run scored. C Little Jake Bungarooba (.300) and SS Danny Church (.083) accounted for Belair Beach's two runs. Starter Slim Mosley (0-1 2.57) pitched a credible game, surrendering three runs - two earned - and five hits in seven innings. Mosley garnered the loss.

Cody Burg (18-14) will try and wrap up the series for Ranford tomorrow afternoon in game four. Burg sizzled in the game-one 7-0 shutout. Ray Watson (17-10 2.71) will try to redeem himself after lasting only three-plus innings in the loss.

Claxton Whips Valmara 6-1, Stays Alive In Sweet 16
On the road in Valmara, the Claxton Diamonds stayed alive in the Sweet 16 by dumping Valmara 6-1 at War Memorial Stadium. Portsider Sal Tallis (1-0 1.00) hurled a standout game, allowing only four hits, while fanning three and walking just one batter. Tallis got good offensive backing from LF Dixie Baker (.545) and 2B Bobby Ritter (.500). Baker put the Diamonds on the board in the opening frame with a two-run wallop and also doubled in a run in the eighth. Ritter laced three hits, scored twice and had an RBI. 3B Ron Doucette (.167) and C Rance Murillo (.182) also chipped in an RBI each. Claxton finally broke open a 3-1 game with three runs in the eighth, dealing Andre Trepanier (0-1 6.43) the loss. Trapanier gave up all six runs on seven hits and called it a day in the eighth.

Tomorrow the clubs will go at it again with another lefty going for the Diamonds, Teddy Kuznetsov (21-8 2.43), who will be opposed by Vasya Vasylenko (17-8 2.76). They both started the opening game of the series, but did not figure in the decision. Valmara won the game 5-4.

Rattlers Skim By Roosters 2-1, Lead Series By Game
The pitching was something to behold at Middlefield Park. But visiting Sugar Valley was just a little bit better as the Rattlers skimmed by the Middlefield Roosters 2-1 to take a one-game lead in the Sweet 16 Series. Rattler starter Jay Washington worked eight strong innings for the victory, permitted only one run and six hits, while fanning six and walking two. Dale Bixler relieved him in the ninth and retired all three batters on ground-outs for the save. Rooster starter Joshua Jackson (0-1 2.57) performed almost as well. He tossed seven frames, gave up two runs on six hits, whiffed eight and issued two bases on balls. Dave Webb came on in the eighth and held Sugar Valley scoreless.

The Rattlers got 7 hits in the game and Middlefield totaled 6. Second-inning doubles by 3B Jorge Vargas (.222) and rookie 2B Casey Leeburn (.500) gave Sugar Valley a 1-0 lead. The Roosters tied it up in the fourth when LF Cecil Clark (.500) tripled and scored on CF Ty DeWitt's RBI ground-out. Sugar Valley got the winning score in the top of the fifth. Leeburn singled and stole second. A walk and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third. Leeburn then crossed the plate on CF Freddie Vaux 3-1 ground out.

Game four will be a rematch of the first-game starters. Jamie Hicks (1-0 1.00) outpitched Gregg Neal (0-1 2.57) in the 2-1 Sugar Valley victory.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

Bayview Sweeps Blue Jays, Elite 8 Bound
No Contest.
Bayview totally outhit, outpitched and outplayed the Tuckanarra Blue Jays, sweeping all three Sixteen 16 games. The Vikings blitzed them 9-2 today and will now move on to the Elite 8 Round. C Hank Bethel (.583) beat Tuckanarra all by himself. He hammered three homers and batted in 11 runs in the series. The Blue Jays only scored 9 runs in the three games. Bethel went 3-4 today with a home run and four RBIs. LF Karl Yashin (.417) also swatted one out and had two RBIs. The Vikings piled up 13 hits and scored almost at will, leading 8-2 after four innings. Frank Wells (1-0) coasted to victory, allowing two runs on six hits. Taking the loss was Tris Bristow (0-1), who was raked for five runs and eight hits in just three innings.

Tuckanarra manager Carlton "Lefty" Stevens told reporters after the game, "The Bayview line-up is really something. There is not an easy out in the bunch. Not only do they hit well, they have the pitching, too. We are a pretty good offensive team, but they shut up down. I don't think a team can play any better that they played against us."

Walter Johanssen, skipper of the Vikings, said, "We have played well the whole season. I just hope it will last another 3-4 weeks."

Hurricanes Hang In With 6-5 Win Over Zorros
The Cape Coral Hurricanes staved off elimination from the IPA playoffs with a 6-5 victory in game three over Luxora at Seaside Stadium. But they had to come back from a 4-1 deficit to remain alive in the Sweet 16 Series. A four-run assault in the sixth turned the game around for Hurricanes, highlighted by Kippy Doyle's two-run game-winning single. That gave them a 6-4 lead that they never relinquished. Jeff Salow (1-0) registered the win. He gave up only two hits in six innings, but they were two two-run homers by C Otto Kronvath. Salow fanned six and allowed two walks in the game.

Cape Coral collected 10 hits in all and were led by Doyle (.182), Hoshi Sato (.300) and CF Edmundo Montano (.222), all with a pair of hits each. Kronvath (.500) paced the Z's with three hits and four RBIs. Luxora starter Marco Braceros (0-1) couldn't hold the lead and went down to defeat. The 'Canes smacked him for six runs and eight hits in six innings. Braceros walked six and fanned four in a poor outing. Reliever Cal Holtzman got the save by holding the Zorros scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings.

Luxora will get another shot at winning the best-of-five series with Eddie Hoffman (18-15 2.69) getting the starting assignment. He fired a no-hitter in game one. Cape Coral has given the starting assignment to Doug Lyons (20-10 2.56), who lost to Hoffman 1-0 and only surrendered four hits.

Oxford Stays In The Fight, Nips Elites 5-4
It was looking like Oxford's season was about to end. The Red Caps were trailing 4-2 going into their last at-bat. If they didn't at least tie the score, there would be no tomorrow in the Sweet 16 Series. Oxford put their rally caps on and went to work. A single, a walk and a sacrifice bunt put the tying runs on second and third. Then things started to really go bad for the Colchester Elites. 1B Harlan Roscoe dropped a throw for an error and allowed a run to score, making it 4-3. Now there were runners on first and third and one out. CF Ike Plunkett (.417) singled to right and tied the score at 4-4. Robbie Wilbertson then went to his bullpen for Hootie Boatner. With runners on second and third, still just one out, 1B Kenny Jablonski (.167) lined it hard to left. LF Douglas Tilford speared it and fired a strike to home plate - but too late. Richie Vla (.154), the runner on third, beat the throw home and gave new life to his team. Oxford had rallied to beat Colchester 5-4 and would live to see another day.

"Wow, that was too close for comfort," Red Cap manager Campy Roy told reporters after the game. "I would rather be lucky than good sometimes... and this was one of those times."

Through the first seven innings Colchester had everything its way as Dickie Pendarvis shut out Oxford. But they faltered in the last two innings. The Elites went ahead in the fifth with two unearned runs off Red Cap starter Bomber Belinsky. RF Tom Barella (.429) broke the tie with a two-run single. In the top of the eighth 1B Niles Stanton (.417) and CF Eldon Hutchens (.500) delivered RBI singles to expand the lead to 4-0. In the last of the eighth Oxford finally got on the scoreboard when Jablonski had an RBI triple and 3B Joe Courtney (.417) an RBI double to cut the lead to 4-2.

Both starters did well with Pendarvis working seven and two-thirds innings, allowed two runs and struck out six. Belinsky also went seven and two-thirds innings, fanned 10 batters and gave up four runs, but only two of them were earned. Ray Beckham was the losing pitcher as he was laced for three runs and three hits in just two-thirds of an inning. However, he gave up only one earned run. Emerson Carnell (1-0) got credit for the victory. He sat down the Elites in order in the ninth.

Game four will also be at Winchester Park in Oxford. It's a best-of-five series with Colchester needing one more win to advance in the IPA playoffs. Colchester's Frank Payne (18-13 3.56) will take the mound for Robbie Wilbertson and it will be Dan Phillips (16-16 3.56) for Campy Roy's Red Caps.

Red Bluff Blanks DC 3-0, Still Has Hope
The Red Bluff Red Sox are still alive and kicking in the Sweet 16 playoffs. They got a marvelous mound performance from Leonard Urban to avoid being swept by the Denton City Redbirds. Urban (1-0) blanked them on three hits over eight innings, but needed help from Perry Toefield to finish them off in the ninth. Urban chalked up 10 Ks in the game, while walking four. Daniel Fitzmorris (0-1) caught the loss as he was tapped for nine hits and three runs in five innings. Urban and Fitzmorris matched zeroes for four frames when the Red Sox erupted for three runs. 1B Bucky Frizzell (.333) knocked in the first run of the game with a single and light-hitting SS Jeff Decker (.333) followed that up with a two-run double. That was it for the scoring. Red Bluff unloaded 12 hits, while Denton City managed only five.

Game four will be a rematch of game-one starters. Redbird Gino Carmazzo (16-13 3.08) will get his second start in the series. He went seven innings in the 4-3 Denton city victory in the opening game. Frank Beaudoin (16-13 3.12) will try to even the series at two wins apiece for manager Mack Connery and the Red Sox.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 24, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

Castillo's 2 HR KO Sunbirds, Bulls Move On
Rookie LF Jose Castillo unloaded two home runs and powered the Ranford Bulls into the IPA Elite 8 with a 6-2 shellacking of the Belair Beach Sunbirds. Ranford took three of the four games to eliminate the RU South champions from the playoffs. Castillo (.200) drove in three runs and scored three times to back up the fine pitching of Chris Bernhoffer (2-0 1.00), who went the distance and shackled the Sunbirds on seven hits. Bernhoffer had shut them out in game one 7-0. Ray Watson (0-2 9.39) lost his second game of the series as he was tagged for five runs in four innings. Watson gave up both of Castillo's home runs.

Ranford will now tangle with North Division rival Valmara in the Elite 8 Series.

V's Edge Elnora 5-3 In 10, All-Stars Are Out
Back-to-back blasts in the 10th inning propelled Volusia past favored Elnora 5-3, sending the Vigilantes to the Elite 8 round in the IPA playoffs. The All-Stars were the BNN choice to represent the RU in the Pro Cup Series. CF Ryan Raines (.200) stroked a two-run homer and LF Briscoe Crowder (.214) got a solo smash to give Volusia its third win in four games over the RU East champion. Zoggy White's relief corps let him down after his starting pitcher Lou Horn had given a good account of himself with eight strong innings. Horn held the V's to one run and five hits, fanned five and walked three. Tim Hudson gave up the tying run in the ninth and Kenny Kerr (0-1) was bashed for two homers in the tenth to doom the All-Stars. Todd Wolfe (1-0) garnered the victory, but gave up a home run to 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.143) in the last of the tenth. Wolfe allowed one run in two innings of work. Both teams collected 11 hits each.

Volusia of the RU West will now meet the Sugar Valley Rattlers of the RU East. Both teams finished second in the regular season and whipped division champs to advance to the Elite 8.

Vipers Advance To Elite 8, Nose Out Claxton 2-1
The Valmara Vipers will advance to the IPA Elite 8 by virtue of their third one-run victory over the Claxton Diamonds. The Vipers nosed them out 2-1 today to win the Sweet 16 Series three games to one. Manager J. Jackson Samuel got strong pitching from Danny Blauser and closer Gerry Wojcik. Blauser was a surprise starter as Vanya Vasylenko was slated to take the mound. Vasylenko wasn't feeling good, so Blauser went to the hill. Blauser was a starter during the regular season with a 14-17 mark and a 3.79 ERA, but was designated for long relief for the playoffs as most teams go with three starters.

Blauser (2-0 0.96) responded with an impressive outing, stopping Claxton on six hits and one run, while striking out 9 and walking three. Blauser had shut the Diamonds out 2-0 going into the ninth, when back-to-back doubles by 1B Marty McCluskey (.133) and SS Eric Carducci (.077) cut the margin to 2-1 and put the tying run on second base with one out. Samuel then summoned his closer Gerry Wojcik to the hill and he promptly put an end to the rally by striking out RF Sammy Joe Fuchs (.083) and pinchhitter Johnny Smith (.000) to nail down the verdict and send Valmara the next round and to end Claxton's season.

The Vipers got a run in the second frame on singles by 1B Masaichi Okawa (.400) and CF Jan Szymanski (.500) and a sac fly by SS Steve Androwski (.091). Androwski also plated the other run with an RBI single off reliever Tetsunori Nagashima to drive in Szymanski from third in the seventh. Losing pitcher Teddy Kuznetsov (0-1 3.38) started for Claxton and hurled a strong six innings. He allowed only one run and four hits before he departed for a pinchhitter.

Diamond manager Stacy Engel tongue-and-cheek told BNN after the game, "How do you lose a series where you outscore the other team? I think it's time to make each series longer. It looks like my club needs a few more games to get going. I think I will lobby for new rules next season. Best-of-11 or best-of-13 should do it." The Old Perfesser also added, "This ain't the first time this has happened to me. Remember in 1990, the President's Cup finals. My DeBeers team grossly outplayed the Tycalco team in three of the games, yet lost."

Engel was right. DeBeers was going for its fourth straight Island industrial league championship. The Diamonds outscored Tycalco 55-27 in the 7-game series, outhit them 91-60, outbatted them .338 to .256, hit ten home runs to Tycalco's four (three of the latter's coming in Game 7), got two complete game shutouts from Ford Whiteman and lost four games to three in one of the most stunning upsets of all-time.

Rattlers Rout Roosters 9-4, Head To Elite 8
Sugar Valley tore into five Middlefield pitchers for 12 hits to rout the Roosters 9-4 and knock them out of the IPA playoffs. The Rattlers won three of the four games in the Sweet 16 Series. 1B Ron Armstrong (.462) spearheaded them with two homers, three RBIs and three runs scored. RF Frank Horak (.333) added a solo roundtripper and scored three times. Gregg Neal (1-1 2.25) tossed a good game, allowing four runs and eight hits, while striking out five batters and walking none. Jamie Hicks (1-1 3.07) suffered the loss, giving up five runs in five-plus innings.

Sugar Valley will meet Volusia in the Elite 8 round.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

Luxora Upsets Cape Coral, Wins In 4 Games
Eddie Hoffman was unbelievable. He no-hit Cape Coral in game one of the Sweet 16 Series, then in game four Hoffman held them hitless again until the seventh inning - 15 consecutive hitless innings. Finally breaking the spell was 2B Hoshi Sato, who belted a lead-off homer to make the score 3-1. No big deal. Luxora still won the game 3-2 and wrapped up the series three-games-to-one. Cape Coral was favored to win the IPA Pro Cup this season in the BNN postseason poll.

Hoffman (2-0 1.04) worked eight and one-third innings, permitted just three hits and two runs. In the ninth a walk, single and a walk loaded the bases for the Hurricanes with one away. At that point Zorro manager Alejandro Rodrigo sent his closer Elio Laurente to the mound. Laurente got RF Dan Rogers (.077) on a force-out at second, allowing one run to score. Then Laurente retired 3B Lonnie Moon (.125) on an infield pop-up to end the ball game and the series.

Luxora took the lead 2-0 in the opening frame after two were out. LF Joel Reed (.200) and C Otto Kronvath (.429) delivered RBI singles. The Zorros added another run in the third inning on a triple by RF Cristo Viamonte (.250) and a single by CF Lacey Tompkins (.278).

Doug Lyons (0-2 1.39) dropped his second game in the series, but was tough in the clutch. He surrendered three runs in six innings, but only one of them was earned.

Luxora will play the winner of the Colchester Elites and Oxford Red Caps in the Elite 8 Series.

Oxford Evens Series, Beats Elites 6-4
At Winchester Park in Oxford, the home town Red Caps went deep twice and made them stand up 6-4 to even the Sweet 16 Series with the Colchester Elites. The two ball clubs have split four games thus far. Today it was homers by CF Ike Plunkett (.438), who socked a two-run blast in the first inning and LF Mac Spencer's solo shot in the third that sparked the victory. Plunkett led Oxford at-bat with two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. 2B Richie Vla (.250) also helped out with two hits and scored three times. Each club had 10 hits apiece.

The Red Caps got good bullpen work as Wayne Baxley and Kit Kivett held Colchester without a run the last four innings. Dan Phillips (1-0 5.63) got the win, but had a struggle. He walked eight in his five innings, gave up seven hits, but only four runs. The Elites left 14 runners on-base during the game. 1B Harlan Roscoe (.438) and RF Tom Barella (.444) led Colchester. Roscoe was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Barella as 2-for-4 and scored once. The Elites used four hurlers with the defeat charged to starter Frank Payne (0-1 6.43). He was nicked for four runs in his three innings.

The fifth-and-deciding game will be played tomorrow afternoon at Winchester Park. Rookie Jimmy Simmons (18-10 2.89) will draw the assignment for Colchester and Nicky Nicholson (22-9 2.71) will be the starter for Oxford. Neither was effective in game two, but Simmons got the the 6-5 victory with the loss going to Nicholson.

Series Deadlocked, Red Sox Whip DC Redbirds 6-4
The Red Bluff Red Sox whipped Denton City 6-4 at Red Bluff Park to deadlock the Sweet 16 Series at 2-2 and forced a fifth game to decide who moves on in the IPA playoffs. RF Kris Grabowski (.438) had a perfect 4-for-4 day and three RBIs to lead the charge. 1B Bucky Frizzell (.333) also contributed with a two-run double and LF Tony Blundell (.250) had two hits and scored twice. Starter Frank Beaudoin (1-0 3.77) worked into the ninth, allowed four runs and nine hits for the victory. He carried a 6-2 lead into the inning, but made a quick exit after back-to-back roundtrippers by 3B Jay Petit (.429) and LF Danny Nash (.167) chopped it to 6-4. Closer Big John Dougherty came in and got the final two outs for the save. Red Bluff had the edge in hits 10-9. Redbird starter Gino Carmazzo (0-1 6.00) was the losing pitcher. The Red Sox got to him for five runs and nine hits in five innings.

Burton McGarrick (14-8 2.95) and Mila Mohoski (21-10 2.36) are the scheduled pitchers for tomorrow afternoon's deciding contest. McGarrick hurled an excellent game in beating the Red Sox 3-2 last Wednesday in game number two. Mohoski also pitched well for the Red Sox, but didn't lose it. He left with the score tied at 2-2 after eight innings.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Sweet 16 Series

Red Caps Shock Colchester 7-6, Takes Series
For the second time in the Sweet 16 Series the Oxford Red Caps stunned Colchester and came back to win, not only the game, but this time, the series. The Elites piled up a 6-0 lead after five innings and seemed destined to advance to the next round. But Campy Roy's Boys would have none of that. The Red Caps erupted for four runs in the sixth, spirited by LF Mac Spencer's (.316) three-run double, two more in the eighth to tie it on a C Brad Earp (.278) single and an Elite error and won it in last of the ninth 7-6 on 3B Joe Courtney's (.389) single. Oxford pounded out 12 hits to win its third straight game over Colchester. The other miraculous win was in game three when the Red Caps had to score five runs in the last two innings to remain alive in the series.

The Colchester bats went to work early with four runs in the third and two more in the fifth and looked unbeatable. 1B Harlan Roscoe had a three-run clout and four RBIs all total. 3B Niles Stanton also sent one out of the park - but all in vain. Roy got superb relief work from Wayne Baxley, who gave him three scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh and eighth, and Emerson Carnell, who blanked Colchester in the ninth. Carnell (2-0 0.00) was the winning pitcher, while Elite closer Tom Carter (0-1 4.26) lost it. Carter was battered for three runs and five hits in his two-plus frames.

The Red Caps will now battle the Luxora Zorros in the Elite 8 Series. The two teams ran 1-2 in the Tycobbian Union North this season. The series begins tomorrow afternoon in Luxora at De la Vega Stadium.

Red Bluff Survives, Beats DC 3 In A Row
"I'm mighty glad it was a five-game series this year. We would have been long gone otherwise," Red Bluff manager Mack Connery told the press after the Red Sox took their third-in-a-row from Denton City to win the Sweet 16 Series three-games-to-two. Connery got a strong effort in game five from his ace Milo Mohoski (1-0 2.12), who held the Redbirds to just four hits in the 6-2 triumph.

Mohoski, a 21-game winner in the regular season, walked nobody and fanned six in a standout performance. He held Denton City scoreless after they took the lead 2-0 in the top of the first on an RBI triple by CF Paul Coniglio (211) and a sacrifice fly by RF Lavon Gooch (.188). A solo homer by Red Sox 3B Vern Gable (.526) made it 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. C Virgil Carpenter (.333) tied the score in the second with another roundtripper. Red Bluff took the lead 4-2 for good in the third frame on an RBI single by 1B Bucky Frizzell (.316) and a balk. RF Kris Grabowski (.474) singled in another score in the fifth and Gable accounted for the final run in the seventh when he scored from third on a ground-out by LF Tony Blundell (.211).

The Red Sox racked up 11 hits in the game, sparked by Gable with four. Gable also scored three times. Taking the loss for Denton City was starter Burton McGarrick (1-1 4.50), who was shelled for four runs and six hits in just three innings.

Red Bluff really has its work cut out for it. They will tangle with the powerful Bayview Vikings, who destroyed Tuckanarra in a three-game sweep. The Elite 8 Series will open tomorrow at Red Bluff Park. The Red Sox will host the first two games of the series with the rest scheduled in Bayview.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 26, 2004

IPA Round Of 8 Starts Today
The eight survivors of the IPA Sweet 16 will now go at it in the Elite 8 Series. The postseason prognosticators had predicted Elnora and Cape Coral would meet for the Pro Cup with the All-Stars prevailing. The favorites have already been eliminated as Elnora and Cape Coral fell by the wayside in the first round of the playoffs. Both the Volusia Vigilantes and the Luxora Zorros surprised the favored teams by taking three out of four games to eliminate them. But six powerful clubs did survive.

In the Tycobbian Union playoffs the Oxford Red Caps will now do battle with Luxora and the Bayview Vikings take on the Red Bluff Red Sox. In the Ruthlandian Union Volusia plays the Sugar Valley Rattlers and the Valmara Vipers engage the Ranford Bulls. In the regular season Oxford bested Luxora 4 games to 2, Bayview thrashed Red Bluff 5 out of 6, Volusia topped Sugar Valley 4 out 6 games and Valmara split with Ranford at 3 games apiece.

The experts are giving the nod to Oxford over Luxora because of its home run power and offense. Bayview is favored over Red Bluff for the same reason. The Vikings won 96 games in the regular season and dominated Tuckanarra in the first round. The Vikings look like the best overall team and could win it all this year.

Despite the regular season record against Volusia, Sugar Valley is favored to top the Vigilantes because of better hitting. The Rattlers have been picked to take the Ruthlandia Union title and meet Bayview for all the marbles in the IPA finals.

Ranford just might be the Cinderella team in the RU. The Bulls took the season series from both Volusia and Sugar Valley. However, it's a toss-up between them and the Vipers. But if Ranford can get by Valmara in this round, the analysts think the Bulls could make the Pro Cup finals.

No matter who gets to the Pro Cup championship series, the experts give the edge to the Tycobbian teams, who have won two of the three IPA Pro Cups.

It all gets underway today with a full slate of four games. Each Elite 8 Series will be best-of-five.

Well you've convinced me to switch my allegiances and start pulling for the Sundowners and Matt Donnelly next year! :D

I must also say that a no hitter in the playoffs is pretty special! Even if it helped eliminate the Hurricanes. :( I'm not sure who to root for during the rest of the playoffs, but I'll be following along none the less.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

SV Nips Volusia 4-3 In Elite 8 Opener
Sugar Valley had a tough time with Volusia during the regular season, but got the best of them in the Elite 8 opener today at Farmers Memorial Park. The Rattlers rattled the fences for 12 hits and nipped the Vigilantes 4-3 behind some fine pitching by Anthony Glaser (2-0 2.81), who stifled the V's on six hits, struck out nine and walked two. Glaser outpitched loser Carl Schmitz (0-2 3.86), who had a rocky outing, giving up 11 hits and four runs in six innings.

Volusia drew first blood on a first-inning homer by CF Ryan Raines (.316) with no one aboard. Sugar Valley rebounded with two in the second when RF Frank Horak (.389) singled and 2B Casey Leeburn (.375) doubled and were driven in on a single by C Slingshot McFall (.353). In the fourth Volusia rebounded on a solo shot by SS Scooter Perez (.190) to tie the score at 2-2, then went ahead on 1B Francisco Abreu's (.222) RBI ground-out. The Rattlers retaliated quickly with two runs in the fifth to go up to stay 4-3 on 1B Ron Armstrong's (.471) RBI single and a sacrifice fly by 3B Jorge Vargas (.176).

Five Rattlers had two hits apiece, led by McFall with two RBIs. Raines topped the V's with 3 three hits, including two doubles and a home run.

Game two in the series will be tomorrow in Sugar Valley. Volusia's Raul Sandoval (1-0 1.72) will attempt to even up the series and will be opposed by Gregg Neal (1-1 2.25).

Vasylenko Stops Bulls, Vipers Win 1st Game 5-2
A big four-run fourth led Valmara to a 5-2 victory in the first game of the IPA Elite 8 Series with Ranford. The Vipers got 11 hits and good pitching from Vanya Vasylenko to take the opening game at Ranford County Stadium. Vasylenko (1-0 3.75) was quite impressive as he struck out nine Bulls in seven innings, allowing only two runs and seven hits. Closer Gerry Wojcik (0-0 0.00) finished it up for him with two scoreless frames for his second playoff save.

Leading the way at-bat was 2B Floyd Vinson (.167), who drove in four runs. Vinson's three-run double in the fourth was the decisive hit in the game. Ranford totaled 8 hits and were paced by rookie LF Jose Castillo (.222), who got his fourth postseason home run and drove in his seventh run. Bud Enright (0-2) struggled badly and was drilled for 8 hits and five runs in four-plus innings. It was his second straight poor playoff performance. Enright won 24 games in the regular season.

Valmara's Ted Farentino (1-0 2.00) and Ranford's Jim Maxwell (1-0 2.45) will be the starters for tomorrow afternoon's second game.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Urban Brilliant, Red Sox Blank Viks 3-0 In Game 1
So far this season Bayview had had its way with the Red Bluff Red Sox, winning five of six games, but not today in the opening game of the Elite 8 Series at Red Bluff Park. The underdog Red Sox got a brilliant performance from 27-year-old Leland Urban (2-0 0.00), who was in total control. Urban stopped the hard-hitting Vikings on just three hits, while striking out nine of them. Urban has yet to give up a run in his two playoff starts. He went 8 innings a few days ago beating Denton City 3-0. Red Bluff got all three runs off losing pitcher Jerry Harrison (1-1 2.57), who allowed seven hits in his five innings. Offensively the Red Sox collected nine hits and were sparked by 2B Vern Gable (.565) with three hits.

Gable tripled in the first and came home on an error by 2B Alan Hansen. Gable singled in the Red Sox second run in the second inning. They got the last score in the fifth when SS Jerry Decker (.200) had an RBI double. Urban was helped by three double plays by the Red Bluff infield.

The two clubs will return to action again tomorrow at Red Bluff Park for game number two, which will pit Frank Wells (1-0 1.00) for the Viks and Frank Beaudoin (1-0 3.77) for the Red Sox. Wells won 21 games in the regular campaign, while Beaudoin was a 16-game winner.

Luxora Slips By Oxford 3-2 In Elite 8 Opener
It has been a one-run thriller in each of Luxora's five playoff games this season and the Zorros have won four of them. The latest triumph came over the potent Oxford Red Caps in game one of the Elite 8 Series. The Z's continued to get terrific pitching and clutch hitting in the 3-2 decision.

Tito Tovares (0-0 1.29) gave manager Alejandro Rodrigo a gritty, but effective outing. Tovares was plagued with poor control (six walks), but still limited the Red Caps to five hits and a run in his six innings. He kept the game close. In the seventh Zorro reliever Julio Higuera got into hot water, gave up a run and was relieved by Fernando Fernandes with one out and the bases loaded. Fernandes (2-0 0.00) did his job to perfection and notched his second playoff victory. He retired RF Dante Vander Meer on an infield fly and then fanned Brad Earp to end the inning. Luxora was down 2-0, but still in the ball game. Fernandes also shut down Oxford in the eighth frame.

The Z's finally got to starter Boomer Belinsky (0-0 2.63) in the seventh. They tied the score at 2-2 on an RBI single by 3B Corey Niven (.118) and a sac fly by 1B Paul Hallenbeck (.188). Then they manufactured the winning run in the eighth off losing pitcher Kit Kivett (0-1 3.60). Pinchhitter Pedro Vizquel singled to lead off the inning and Tommy Fortunato came in to run for him. Fortunato stole second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. CF Cristo Viaconte's (.316) fly ball was deep enough to score Fortunato with the decisive run. Closer Elio Laurente (0-0 0.00) allowed a two-out double by 3B Joe Courtney (.381) in the ninth, but he got his second playoff save by getting the dangerous Mac Spencer on an infield pop-up.

Oxford had a 9-7 hit advantage with three doubles, a triple and a homer, while Luxora had no extra base hits. CF Ike Plunkett (.400) hit his fourth postseason roundtripper in the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie and LF Mac Spencer (.292) made it 2-0 in the top of the seventh with a single. Belinsky worked a strong game, yielding just two runs on six hits with five Ks and no bases on balls.

Eddie Hoffman (2-0 1.04), who has been outstanding in the postseason, will try gain a split in the series tomorrow for Campy Roy's Red Caps. Dan Phillips (1-0 5.63) will get the assignment for Rodrigo and the Zorros. Hoffman was 18-15 with a great 2.69 ERA in the regular season, while Phillips was 16-16 with a 3.56 ERA. Game number two will also take place at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora. The remaining games will be played in Oxford at Winchester Park.

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 27, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

SV Takes Game 2, Too; Bombs Volusia 10-2
The Sugar Valley Rattlers flexed their muscles with a 10-2 trouncing of Volusia at Farmers Memorial Park to go up 2-0 in the best-of-five RU Elite 8 Series. The Rattlers laced 13 hits and got a fine outing from Gregg Neal to demolish the Vigilantes. 1B Ron Armstrong (.429) led the hit parade with a three-run homer, his third in the playoffs. SS Flipper Bird (.320) drilled three hits and batted in three runs, too. LF Bruno DiPirr0 (.375) went 4-for-5, scored twice and had two RBIs in the victory. Neal (2-1 2.16) shut down Volusia on five hits for the complete-game win. Sugar Valley led 4-1 after six frames and broke the game open late with three runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings.

The series will now change venues with tomorrow's clash at the Jailhouse in Volusia. Rattler skipper Gibson Bobkins will send the 24-year-old southpaw Jay Washington (1-0 1.13) out to finish off the V's, while Alfonso Feliz will send his 33-year-old veteran righthander Ricky Moreno (0-0 4.50) to the mound. Washington was 12-8 during the regular season with a 3.32 ERA and Moreno was 13-16 with a 4.15 ERA.

2 In A Row For Valmara, Squeaks By Bulls 5-4
At Ranford County Stadium Valmara ran up a 5-1 lead after six innings and then had to hold on for dear life to tame the Ranford Bulls 5-4. The Vipers took a huge step in the Elite 8 Series. One more victory will advance them to the Final 4. Reliever Erich Ptacek was the man of the hour for Valmara. The Bulls had rallied in the eighth and scored three runs and were primed to break open the game. Ptacek came in with two outs and the bases-loaded and struck out pinchhitter Karl Drobish (.333) to end the threat. Ptacek also got through the ninth unscathed, although the tying run got as far as third base before he finally finished Ranford off.

Starter Ted Farentino (2-0 2.81) got the win as he tossed seven innings and gave up three runs on seven hits. However, Farentino and closer Gerry Wojcik were hit hard in the eighth and could not halt the Bulls uprising. But Ptacek came to the rescue and logged the save.

The Bulls took an early lead on CF Warren Gravois' (.308) homer in the third inning. 1B Masaichi Okawa (.348) matched that with a solo shot for the Vipers in the fourth. The Vipers regained the lead on an RBI single by RF Val Krol (.296) in the fifth. Valmara then teed off on losing pitcher Jim Maxwell (1-1 3.46) with three runs in the sixtth. 3B Zoran Belakov (.263) and SS Steve Androwski (.333) both had RBI singles and the third run scored on an error by SS Rick Fargnoli. The last one proved to be the fatal winning run.

Ranford closed the gap in the eighth, scoring runs on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly by C Walt Horvath (.316) and a single by CF Bob Keegan (.318).

Bulls manager Page Satcher will try to stay alive tomorrow with Chris Bernhoffer (2-0 1.00) doing the pitching honors. The Vipers J. Jackson Samuel has nominated Andre Trepanier (0-1 6.43) to start. Bernhoffer was 18-14 with a 3.04 ERA in the regular season, while Trepanier was also 18-14 with a 3.42 ERA. The series now heads to Valmara's War Memorial Stadium for the rest of the games.

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 27, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Red Bluff Up By 2 Games, Nick Bayview 7-5
So far in the first two games of the TU Elite 8 Series the Red Bluff Red Sox have shown they can play with the powerful Bayview Vikings. For the second consecutive day at Red Bluff Park the Red Sox knocked off the Vikings to go up 2-0 in the best-of-five series. Red Bluff batters piled up 11 hits in the 7-5 victory, sparked by CF Stan Helmke (.346), who doubled, tripled, scored twice and drove in three runs. LF Tony Blundell (.259) and RF Kris Grabowski (.423) both chipped in with two hits and two RBIs. Grabowski had a two-run homer.

Red Bluff stunned Bayview with six runs in the third inning, but the Vikings cut it to 6-3 in the fourth and made it 7-5 in the fifth. However, that was as close as the Vikings could get. The Red Sox got a sensational relief job from Perry Toefield (0-0 0.00) who racked up his second postseason save. Toefield blanked Bayview over the last three and one-third innings and held them hitless. Though it was not a strong performance, Frank Beaudoin (2-0 4.95) registered the win. The Vikings belted him for five runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. Frank Wells (1-1 4.91) sustained the loss as he permitted six runs in two innings.

Bayview batters were led by LF Karl Yashin (.333) with a three-run roundtripper in the fourth frame and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.333) with a two-run smash in the fifth.

Viking skipper Walter Johanssen will use rookie Georgie Fambreau (1-0 6.00) in game three at Downtown Plaza Stadium tomorrow. Manager Mack Connery has his ace Mila Mohoski (1-0 2.12) ready to try and eliminate favored Bayview. Mohoski was 21-10 during the season with an outstanding 2.36 ERA. Fambreau compiled a 12-8 mark with a 3.47 ERA.

Oxford-Luxora Series Tied, Red Caps Win 5-2
Oxford's Dan Phillips shot down the Luxora Zorros 5-2 today on their home grounds at De la Vega Stadium. Phillips (2-0 3.71) was touched for eight hits, but only surrendered two runs, while fanning eight and giving up a walk. The victory deadlocked the Elite 8 Series at one game each. Phillips bested Eddie Hoffman (2-1 1.48), who worked a solid game, allowing only two runs and five hits in seven innings. Hoffman struck out five batters and issued just one base on balls, but still caught the loss.

The Red Caps got the game's first run in the top of the first on an RBI double by 3B Joe Courtney (.391). They made it 2-0 in the fourth on a HBP, passed ball, sacrifice and an RBI ground-out by RF Dante Vander Meer (.217). The Zorros narrowed it to 2-1 in the sixth, scoring on a single, walk, stolen base and an RBI grounder to third by 3B Corey Niven (.143). SS Paul Lassak gave Oxford some breathing room with a three-run blast off reliever Gustavo Escalora in the top of the ninth. Luxora finished the scoring in the bottom of the ninth on a double by Niven and a single by LF Joel Reed (.190). The teams got 8 hits apiece in the game.

The two clubs now travel to Oxford to continue the series. Marco Braceros (0-1 9.00) will be the starting pitcher for Luxora. Getting the call for the Red Caps will be Nicky Nicholson (0-1 10.39). Nicholson concluded the regular season with a 22-9 mark and 2.71 ERA, while Braceros was 16-14 and a 3.16 ERA.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Moreno Stops SV 3-1, V's Alive and Kickin'
The Volusia Vigilantes were on the brink of elimination. They needed a win today to stay in the playoffs and they got it. Veteran righthander Ricky Moreno, who has won many crucial contests during his four-year IPA career, did it again. Moreno stopped the Sugar Valley Rattlers 3-1 to keep the V's Pro Cup hopes alive. Moreno (1-0 2.40) went the distance, giving up seven hits to the high-flying Rattlers, who seemed unstoppable in the first two games of the Elite 8 series.

Moreno and Sugar Valley starter Jay Washington were locked in a scoreless affair until the sixth when two other postseason pros, 1B Francisco Abreu (.269) and RF Jesus Arroyo (.429), collected RBI singles to put Volusia in front 2-0. The Rattlers rallied for a run in the seventh on RF Frank Horak's (.440) base hit. The Vigilantes got an insurance run off closer Hec Skurgan in the eighth on Abreu's RBI triple. The Jailhouse Gang had 10 hits in all, led by Abreu and SS Scooter Perez (.346) with three each. Washington (1-1 1.80) suffered the loss, but pitched a solid game. He fanned five, walked none and gave up two runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Two 20-game winners will be on the hill tomorrow in game four. Anthony Glaser (20-13 3.70) will pitch for Sugar Valley and Carl Schmitz (24-10 2.54) will go for Volusia. Glaser has been great in the playoffs with a 2-0 record and a 2.81 ERA. Schmitz is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in the postseason.

Ranford Rips Valmara 7-1, Still Trail In Elite 8
There was no tomorrow if Ranford lost today in game three of the IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series with the Valmara Vipers. The Bulls needed a win in the worst way and Chris Bernhoffer provided it. The 28-year-old portsider fired a masterpiece at War Memorial Stadium, shackling the home town Vipers on just three hits and beating them 7-1. In Bernhoffer's (3-0 1.00) third playoff victory he walked one and had six Ks.

Ranford only got eight hits, but made them count. C Walt Horvath (.348) clouted a three-run homer and 3B Colin Fairclough hit a solo job to pace the Bulls. Andre Trepanier (0-2 7.15) had another dismal start and was the losing pitcher. Trepanier was slammed for four runs and five hits in four-plus frames. Reliever Danny Blauser (2-0 2.57) pitch well for the Vipers, except for the three-run blast in the eighth. Blauser surrendered three runs on three hits and fanned five in four-plus innings.

Ranford CF Bobby Keegan (.304) injured his back while diving for a ball in the outfield and had to be taken out of the game. Tommy Reiner (.500) took his place in the line-up.

The opposing hurlers in game four will be Bud Enright (0-2 6.55) for the Bulls and Vanya Vasylenko (1-0 3.75) for Valmara. Enright has had a rocky postseason, but won 24 games in the regular season. Manager Page Satcher is hoping he will regain that form. Vasylenko was 17-8 for the year with a 2.76 ERA.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Ranford's Keegan Down with Injury
Bobby Keegan of the Ranford Bulls was injured in today's game against Valmara and had to be helped off the field by the trainers. The initial diagnosis is a torn back muscle and he is expected to be out for up to 8 months. It happened while Keegan was making a defensive play.

During the regular season Keegan hit only .220 with 4 home runs in 119 games. Keegan is a good defender and compiled a .983 fielding percentage this year. He played well in the playoffs and had a .308 batting average.

Manager Page Satcher said the veteran Tommy Reiner would replace Keegan in the line-up and play right field. The regular right fielder Warren Gravois will move to center. Satcher also said outfielder Johnny Stratton would be activated for the playoffs and be used as a utility outfielder.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Bayview Still In Elite 8, Edges Red Sox 4-3
Powerhouse Bayview found themselves in a bad position. Underdog Red Bluff had won the first two games of the Elite 8 Series and needed just one more victory to complete the upset. To make matters even worse, the Red Sox also had their ace Mila Moholski (21-10 2.36) on the mound against rookie Georgie Fambreau (12-8 3.47). But the tough Vikings rose to the occasion and remained alive with a 4-3 triumph - the rookie outpitched the vet. Fambreau went eight strong innings, limited the Red Sox to just three hits, struck out eight and walked none. Mohoski (1-1 3.00) yielded four runs in seven innings for the loss.

When Fambreau departed, he had a 4-1 lead, which his relief almost squandered in the ninth. The third hurler used, Paul Hood, finally shut down Red Bluff and saved the game for Fambreau (2-0 3.29). Hood came on with the bases loaded, no outs and the score 4-3. Hood got out #1 on a fly to shallow center, out #2 on a strikeout and the final one on another fly ball. Bayview was now back in business, but trailing two games to one.

LF Tony Blundell (.290) gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with a home run. The Vikings knotted it up in the fifth on Shorty Richards (.222) sacrifice fly and took the lead 2-1 in the sixth when C Hank Bethel (.500) swatted his 4th postseason homer. Bethel has 12 RBIs in the playoffs. Bayview added two more scores in the eighth. 2B Alan Hansen (.474) doubled in one of them and CF Phil Kanaan (.143) plated Hansen when he grounded out to first base. Red Bluff CF Stan Helmke (.333) finished the scoring and made it close with a two-run homer in the ninth.

Game four looks like a thriller with Leonard Urban (18-13 2.77) of Red Bluff and Jerry Harrison (23-10 2.88) of Bayview opposing one another. Urban has been exceptional in the postseason with a 2-0 mark and 0.00 ERA. He hasn't given up a run in 17 innings. Harrison has also been effective with a 1-1 record and a 2.57 ERA. Bayview will host the game at Downtown Plaza Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Z's Up By 1 Game, Top Oxford 3-2 in 11 Innings
The Luxora Zorros continued to get standout pitching and topped Oxford 3-2 in 11 innings today at Winchester Park to take a 2-1 edge in the Elite 8 Series. Each team used four pitchers and they all pitched well. Lacey Tompkins was the hero. His line drive single decided the game. Elio Laurante (1-0 0.00) worked three scoreless innings for the victory with the save going to Julio Higuera (0-0 2.08), who tossed a runless eleventh to preserve the win. Loser Emerson Carnell's (2-1 1.59) control finally burned him. He allowed only one run in three and two-thirds innings, but walked four batters, two in the fatal inning.

The Red Caps scored first when 2B Richie Vla (.257) tripled and scored on 1B Kenny Jablonski's (.233) fly ball in the opening frame. Hero CF Tompkins (.367) homered for the Zorros and tied it up in the fourth. Luxora took the lead 2-1 in the sixth when SS Rafael Lemos (.182) got on on an error, was bunted to second, tagged up and went to third on a fly out, then scored on a single by RF Cristo Viamonte (.333). Oxford took advantage of three walks in the seventh to even the score. SS Paul Lassak flied to center to get the RBI.

Both clubs got excellent starts. Marco Braceros (0-1 5.84) of the Zorros held the Red Caps to just one hit, but walked four in his six and one-third innings and allowed two runs. Oxford's Nicky NIcholson (0-1 6.75) had his best postseason outing, checking Luxora on two runs and three hits in six innings.

There were only 9 hits in the game. Luxora got six of them, paced by Tompkins with 3-5 and Viamonte with 2-3.

Luxora will go for the jugular again tomorrow afternoon in Oxford. Tito Tovares (0-0 1.29) will be on the mound for the Z's with Bomber Belinsky (0-0 2.63) of the Red Caps trying to even the series at two games apiece. Tovares was 16-12 with a 3.04 ERA during the regular season, while Belinsky was 17-17 with a 4.20 ERA. Both have been better in the playoffs.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

SV Rattlers KO V's 6-2, Qualify For Final 4
Final 4 - here we come! That's the message the Sugar Valley Rattlers sent today as they KO'd the Volusia Vigilantes 6-2 to take the Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series three games to one. The Rattler righthander Anthony Glaser (3-0 2.14) fired a sharp five innings, giving up only one hit with five Ks in a rain-delayed affair. Glaser got his third postseason win, but needed help to nail the verdict. He exited with a 2-0 lead. Ron Benson (0-0 4.91) struggled in his two-plus frames, allowing two runs, three hits and walking four. Dale Bixler (0-0 0.00) came on in the eighth and effectively retired all four batters he faced for his second playoff save. Sugar Valley jumped on losing pitcher Carl Schmitz (0-3 3.79) for five runs in five innings and were never challenged. The Rattlers only got six hits, but made the most of them. The V's were held to just four hits overall.

Sugar Valley will meet the winner of the Ranford-Valmara series in the RU Final 4.

Valmara In, Ranford Out, Vipers In Final 4
Valmara finished off Ranford 5-1 in game four of the Elite 8 Series at War Memorial Stadium. Vanya Vasylenko (2-0 2.14) eliminated the Bulls on a three-hitter as the Vipers won the series 3 games to 1. Vasylenko struck out five, walked two and went the distance. CF Jan Szymanski (.360) and 1B Masaichi Okawa (.321) were the big guns for Valmara. Szymanski got things rolling with a two-run single in the fourth inning to break up the scoreless game. Okawa rapped a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 4-1. RF Val Krol (.257) batted in the last run in the eighth.

24-game winner Bud Enright (0-3 6.35) was the loser. He was shelled for four runs in four innings, giving up four hits, walking four and fanning four. Enright had a miserable postseason as he lost all three starts.

The Vipers will now go up against the Sugar Valley Rattlers in the RU Final 4. The first two games of the series will be at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara with the remaining games at Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley.