The Islandian Times

Monday, November 19, 2001

Trouble Looming in Pro Baseball?
There could be war in the Islands - at least on the pro baseball front. The Islandian Pro Alliance, the only professional baseball league in Islandia, had a meeting today of all 24 owners to discuss the expansion proposal of 40 new potential owners, who want to join the league. The meeting was called by IPA Commissioner John Banford at the behest of billionaire Gates Billingham, who is the chairman and spokesman of the expansion group.

After a lengthy meeting Banford was non committal on the expansion issue and said further study and discussion among the current league owners would be necessary. Banford told The Islandian Times, "We have some strong-willed owners that have convinced the majority that chaos could ensue with a quick expansion and it must be done in a timely and orderly fashion. We will continue to study the issue."

An expansion committee was appointed by the owners and will be co-chaired by Jock Ewing of Waleska and Jorge Trujillo of Belair Beach. Both are known to be vocal opponents of expansion.

Several owners speaking in private said wholesale expansion could lead to a dissolution of the IPA with the anti-expansionists threatening to break off and form their own league with free agency, giving them the right to sign any player they wanted. Many of the wealthier owners don't like the restrictiveness of the current draft system, saying it impedes competition. Commissioner Banford personally intervened during the formation of the league rules last year to put a stop to owners signing the best players to personal contracts. Ewing, Trujillo and quite a few owners fought to sign their own players. Ewing sons, Bobby Ewing of South Fork and J. R. Ewing of Ozarka, along with George Constanza of Elnora and Brent Steiner of Bayview has already signed up all of the best players prior to the IPA's first league draft. Banford, who has absolute power as Commissioner and is appointed for life, stepped in and voided all of the contracts and said there would be no free agency in the league, saying it would eventually destroy the competitive values and lead to a few domineering teams rather than parity.

The Ewings, Constanza and Steiner took Banford to court, but his decision was backed up by the Islandian Court, who ruled in Banford's favor.

Commissioner Banford has always been a strong supporter of no free agency to keep the cost of players down and eliminating bidding wars between clubs for talent. Banford devised the fair and equitable system to set salaries based on years of service and performance. It eliminates all of the squabbling and bargaining over contracts. It also insure that the teams will have continuity year-to-year for the sake of fan support. Banford doesn't want the IPA to evolve into the US Major League Baseball system, where players play musical chairs each season and the cost of salaries has spiraled out of control. Banford wants to have a league where players are well-paid, the owners costs are controlled and the cost of attending a game is within reason and can be afforded by the average wage earner. Banford doesn't want the corporations to be the prime customers of his league.

The Islandian Times tried to reach Gates Billingham of the expansion group for comment, but he was not available. His public relations people said Billingham had been in contact with Banford and would announce his plans at a press conference soon.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Billingham and Expansion Group Will Be Patient
Billionaire Gates Billingham, the chairman of the a group of investors, who want to join the Islandian Pro Alliance, held a press conference in Grand City today and said his group would be patient and wait to hear the report from the IPA Expansion Committee headed by Jock Ewing and Jorge Trujillo.

Billingham told The Islandian News and BNN his group did not need a quick answer and he appreciated the need for study in the matter. "That is what any prudent person would do in this situation. I'm sure Commissioner Banford will move the process along and do the study in a thorough fashion. As long as our group has two months advanced notice, we can be ready to play baseball in the coming IPA season. Not only do we have the financial backing and administrative skills to run a baseball team, we have the stadiums, too. And perhaps, the most important thing of all, we have the overwhelming support of public opinion, who are greatly in favor of expansion."

The Islandian Times

Monday, November 26, 2001

IPA Expansion Teams Rumored To Go The Rich And Mighty
BNN reported yesterday that rumors are abound that a "deal" is in the making where the current IPA owners will award a few expansion franchises to several of the wealthiest applicants and put an end for widespread expansion throughout Islandia. Anonymous sources close to the expansion committee confided to BNN that several billionaires would be offered franchises for the coming 2002 season. However, it would be just four franchises, not the 40 that had been requested by Gates Billingham and his expansion group.

One of the small town owners, Bob Catlin of Beechwood, was blunt. He told BNN that this sounded like something some of the current owners would try to do to keep from sharing pro baseball with all the towns of Islandia. Catlin was quoted as saying, "This stinks to high heaven. That's the way that Ewing bunch likes to operate. But Gates Billingham and Andrus Valk don't do business that way. They are billionaires, but they would never sell out their friends for a pro baseball franchise. They have too much class for that type of chicanery."

The Islandian Times contacted Jock Ewing to see if any decision has been made by the Islandian Pro Alliance expansion committee. Ewing said, "The committee is looking at all aspects of expanding the league, the pros and cons. It will be studied thoroughly and could take some time. The committee will not be rushed to make a quick decision."

Asked if he had heard the rumor of expanding to four teams for the coming year, Ewing replied, "I don't know where BNN got their story. But the expansion committee is still doing our due diligence. It is a little too early in the process for us to be doling out franchises."

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Billingham's Group Says "No Dice" To Franchise Offers
According to sources close to the IPA Expansion Committee, four franchises were offered to Gates Billingham of Grand City, Andrus Valk of Valka, Robert Hanford of Hillsboro and Onnie Anastas of Turon. The Islandian Pro Alliance would expand for the 2003 season. The group of expansionists put forth a unified front and said they would not be satisfied with that arrangement. Four teams were simply not enough to take care of the huge demand for pro baseball franchises in the Islands and waiting until 2003 to begin expansion would not please the baseball fans.

BNN was told that IPA Expansion Committee chairman, Jock Ewing, was disappointed that the deal was turned down. He reportedly said that his committee would continue studying the feasibility of adding more teams to the league, but the general feeling of the current owners still was not favorable. Ewing told Billingham that it might take six months to properly assess Billingham's proposal to increase the IPA to 64 teams and it was highly doubtful any teams would be added prior to the 2003 season.

Commissioner John Banford is working hard behind the scene to work out some compromise to avert a possible renegade league or a lengthy and expensive court battle. The one thing Banford doesn't want is a rival league that would highly inflate the salary structure in pro baseball. For the good of professional baseball, financial integrity must be maintained and Banford thinks you can only do that when there is one league. Several leagues would lead to chaos and financial ruin. Banford wants to avoid that scenario at all costs.

The Islandian Times

Friday, December 28, 2001

IPA Expansion Not Likely
The Islandian Times was told today by unnamed sources high up in Islandian Pro Alliance circles that expansion was in reality "dead in the water". No one would go on record, but did go into great detail on what has transpired in private league discussions. Basically, there are several powerful and influential owners who are adamant that now is not a good time to expand the league. They feel that a period of several years is needed to insure the viability and growth of the infant league. An expansion of such magnitude could be catastrophic. Expanding to 64 teams from the present 24 is just too big a task to be accomplished in just a few months. A report by the expansion committee co-chaired by Jock Ewing of Waleska and Jorge Trujillo of Belair Beach is expected to be released early in January.

The Islandian Times

Friday, January 11, 2002

IPA Expansion Committee To Present Plans at Next Week's Preseason Owners Confab
The Islandian Pro Alliance will discuss in detail the league expansion committee report at a called business meeting next Friday at the league headquarters in Forest City. Commissioner John Banford has asked the co-chairs of the expansion committee, Jock Ewing and Jorge Trujillo, to present their findings at owners preseason meeting. Ewing owns the Waleska Westerners and Trujillo has the Belair Beach Sunbirds. Both were appointed to head the expansion investigation in mid-November last year.

Baseball writers for The Islandian Times have reported in many stories and commentaries over the past year that the time is right for expanding professional baseball throughout the Islands. Well-known BNN baseball analyst and Times columnist, Gam Peters, did a series of articles on the subject. Peters commented, "It's a no brainer. All you have to do is just look at the attendance at industrial league games of the non-IPA towns. Not only are they very well attended, the talent level is probably on par with the IPA. The industrial league draws as well as the pro teams. Even in towns that have pro teams, the company teams pull great crowds. There is just no justifiable reason to put off pro baseball expansion for 5-10 years as has been suggested by several IPA owners."

The Islandian Times

Friday, January 18, 2002

IPA Owners' Meeting Volatile
What Islandian Pro Alliance Commissioner John Banford wanted was a quiet and meaningful discussion of expansion plans for the new pro baseball league, but instead it turned in to a volatile confrontation between the anti-expansion owners and the pro-expansion owners. Anonymous owners at the meeting told The Islandian Times co-chairmen Jock Ewing and Jorge Trujillo revealed a plan that would expand the IPA over a nine-year period. The four-member expansion committee voted unanimously to expand 8 teams at a time beginning five years hence. 2007 would be the first year with 8 teams added each year thereafter until 40 teams were included by 2011. Eventually there would 64 teams in all with 8 eight-team divisions. Expansion franchises would be awarded on the basis of population and financial backing. Each franchise would sell for $1,000,000.

None of this was acceptable to a vocal minority of the owners, Rob Jackson of Forest City, Manny Earl of Sugar Valley and Rip Calkin of La Claire. The expansion committee's proposal was voted down. A two-thirds majority was needed for passage. It failed 15-9 with 16 votes needed for approval.

Unnamed sources at the meeting told The Times that Jackson was the most vocal and stated that the people of Islandia would not tolerate a group of rich owners hoarding franchises. It would be a public relations' nightmare. He pointedly asked Ewing why would franchises go up some much. The original teams only paid $100,000 to get into the league. Charging the new owners 10 times as much was unconscionable.

In order to get some business conducted Commissioner John Banford asked the owners to table expansion to a later date and get on to other less controversial matters. After the meeting the commissioner told BNN that expansion was discussed and that a majority of the owners favored it, but they couldn't agree on all of the details in the plan.

Times baseball analyst Gam Peters reported in his column today that Jackson, Earl and Calkin are beginning to sway more moderate owners to a pro-expansion stance. Public opinion carries a lot of weight with a majority of the IPA owners. The owners do not want to alienate the public and its support of their league. Peters said while most of owners really don't want to expand, they may have to do it for the good of the sport.

The people of both Ruthlandia and Tycobbia will probably be crushed if this doesn't go through.

However, expansion would add a considerably large load of work for the....commissioner (wink).

Looking forward to both off-season hot-stove reports and the start of next season!

Yeah, I know it's going to be a lot of work. But I'm looking forward to it.

I will just have to write shorter game write-ups.

Thanks for checking this thread out.

I'm enjoying your league. You do it very well.

Eugene, I was thinking about this and seeing this league is only 1 season into its history, maybe the owners should hold off for a few years before adding more teams. Or, if you really have the itch to make additions then wait until after season 2. I'm really loving the offseason write-ups though and looking forward to the next season.

Erik

Jock Ewing must have bought you off. :)

The Islandian Times

Sunday, January 20, 2002

IPA Commish Promises Expansion Decision Soon
In an exclusive interview with Gam Peters, The Islandian Times' top baseball analyst, Islandian Pro Alliance Commissioner John Banfield stated it was his desire and the desire of a majority of the owners to soon come to a decision on league expansion. Banford said, "We have been looking at expansion for almost a year now and we know all of the pros and cons. We have studied it thoroughly over the last two months. It is time for the IPA to make a decision. I just hope the public will accept our decision. It is our intention to do what is best for the future of professional baseball in the Islands."

Banford went on to say that he would be working to mediate the differences between the various factions and hopes to bring it all to a conclusion in the next few days. Peters asked Banford if he made the decision, would he be for or against expansion. Banford replied, "As commissioner I represent the league and its owners. I have my own personal opinion, but it's not the important thing. The important thing is to protect professional baseball in the Islands and do what is best for all concerned: the league, the owners and our loyal public, the wonderful baseball fans that support us."

BNN reported that Jock Ewing, one of the chairmen of the IPA Expansion Committee, told them, "Our committee has made several good faith concessions to expansion. We offered four teams. That was not enough. We then offered 8 teams a year for 5 years and that was not enough. So far, the other side is not willing to negotiate. The Expansion Committee feels that our plan is the prudent way to progress for the good of the sport. We are now waiting for the expansionists to bend a little."

The Times contacted Gates Billingham, one of the prime exponents of expanding the IPA, for comment. Billingham said, "Our group is patient. We know it might take some time to get a decision. We are happy that the commissioner has taken charge and hopes to bring this to a quick dissolution. Whatever the IPA decides, we will abide by their decision. My group does not intend to go to the courts and the legislature for help in this matter."

Asked if he would start his own professional league, Billingham responded, "No, we will not set up a renegade league. Down through history, second leagues in any sport have never thrived. That would not be good for pro baseball in the Islands. We do not want to be at war with a rival league and get into bidding wars for players. That could be ruinous for both leagues. One probably wouldn't survive. Our group wants an orderly expansion."

The Islandian Times

Friday, January 25, 2002

Pro Baseball Expansion is Coming!
The wait is over!

Pro baseball will yield to public pressure and expand this season. Yesterday afternoon at the Islandian Pro Alliance headquarters in Forest City Commissioner John Banford announced that the league would expand to 64 teams this season. Banford said the league would be divided into 8 eight-team divisions. The commissioner told the press that all the details would be disclosed next Friday.

In the press conference Banford explained, "Expansion has been on the minds of all the baseball fans since we inaugurated the IPA last year. We made a great step forward with the initial season and now we are going to take pro baseball to every part of Islandia. After much study, the overwhelming consensus was that the time is right now for expansion and there is no reason to do it piecemeal, a year at a time over a decade."

Also present at the press conference were the two co-chairmen of the league's expansion study committee, Jock Ewing and Jorge Trujillo. They had favored a much slower growth plan and only missed getting it passed by one vote. Asked if he was disappointed that expansion would be immediate and include 40 new teams, Ewing smiled and said, "Heck no. Like my old pappy used to tell me, 'you got to know when to fold 'em'. We played our cards, but the game didn't come out our way. There were just too many aces to beat. I guess we will just have to kick their butts on the baseball field."

Trujillo went on to say that this was a good decision and good for the Islandian Pro Alliance. "It is good that we will have one league under one umbrella. Rival leagues and bidding wars have been averted... and the baseball fans in every nook and cranny in the Islands will have a home team to root for. I'm looking forward to the new influx of competition."

In a phone interview this morning with The Islandian Times Gates Billingham, one of the pro-expansion leaders, said he was overjoyed with the commissioner's announcement and looked forward to competing in the new IPA. "This would never have happened without the hard work of many baseball enthusiasts. Our committee would like to thank Commissioner Banford for his support throughout the negotiations. Without him there would not have been expansion anytime soon. The entire baseball world, both fans, players and owners owe him a huge debt of gratitude."

Wow! That's gonna be a lot of work for sure. With that many teams, what's the schedule going to look like? Also, as for your write-ups, are you going with daily, weekly or monthly reports?

Erik

I am just going to use a game-generated schedule. I will probably edit it some... to put in some doubleheaders. It looks like teams will play 4-6 times a season against all the teams in its subleague. Come playoff time we'll have some idea of how the teams performed head-to-head during the regular season.

It is a lot of work, but I will continue to do daily game reports, but make them briefer than in the past. I find I just don't enjoy it as much when I do monthly summaries.

During the first year I kept all of the league records myself that the game doesn't keep. I want to continue keeping track of team and individual game records and using them in the game write-ups.

I tried simming a month at a time, but just didn't enjoy it. The AI just doesn't use the relievers and closers like I want it to be. Too many pitchers lose shutouts and complete games when I sim.

Plus I enjoy reading the PBP, too... even though I only do from the 8th inning on most games.

I have just about done everything to start the new season. I used the news stories about expansion to have something going on the dynasty report. Boy, I hate preseason. Too much tedious data entry. Entering all of the team strategy settings really took some time. Setting up all the pinchhitters took some time as well.

The new season should begin in a few days.

Thanks for your interest in the league.

The Islandian Times

Friday, February 1, 2002

IPA Announces New Teams and Divisons
Commissioner John Banford released the names of all the new teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The commissioner also announced that there would be 8-eight team divisions, four in Ruthlandia and four in Tycobbia. Each division would be composed of towns in close proximity to one another in order to create regional rivalries. Each league will have a North, South, East and West Division.

The teams will play a 154-game schedule and will play 3-6 games against each of the 29 teams in their league. 8 division winners and 8 wild cards will be in the playoffs and battle for the Islandian Pro Cup, awarded to the best team in the Islandian Pro Alliance each year. The Volusia Vigilantes are the defending champions. They defeated the Ginza Ninjas for the title in the IPA's inaugural season. Play will begin April 1.

Ruthlandian Union North Division
Ancona Red Elephants - Owner: Golden Hill Insurance - GM: Nick Yakis - Manager: Manny Mickens
Far Mountain Redhawks - Owner: Johann Becker - GM/Manager:Alex Groveland
Glasco Athletics - Owner: Great Aberdeen Granite Company - GM/Manager: McDuffie Hughes
Kilkenny Cats - Owner: Smithwick's Brewing Company - GM/Manager: Kieran McKenna
LaGrange Sports - Owner/GM/Manager: Foxy Jimison
Ranford Bulls - Owner: Barnes Oil Company - GM: O'Neal Buckman - Manager: Page Satcher
Taranto Tars - Owner: Papa Giovanni's Pizzas - GM/Manager: Tommaso Lazzorda
Valmara Vipers - Owner: Viper Offshore Services - GM/Manager: J. Jackson Samuel

Ruthlandian Union South Division
Belair Beach Sunbirds - Owner: Jorge Trujillo - GM/Manager: Marty Pedroza
Claxton Diamonds - Owner: DeBeers Mining Company - GM/Manager: Stacy Engel
Crystal Lake Crushers - Owner: Casino Resorts, Inc. - GM/Manager: Herman "Baby" George
Grand City Cybercats - Owner: Windows Technologies, Gates Billingham CEO - GM/Manager: Torry Joseph
San Dimas Rancheros - Owner: Esai Montanez - GM/Manager: Paco Banderos
St. John Crusaders - Owner: The Brothers of St. John the Baptist - GM: Barry Edwards - Manager: Dickie Billings
Valka Blackhawks - Owner: Cybertel, Andrus Valk CEO - GM/Manager: Jaan Kurus
Waleska Westerners - Owner: Ewing Oil, Jock Ewing, President - GM/Manager: McGraw Johnson

Ruthlandian Union East Divison
Beechwood Bobcats - Owner: Bob Catlin - GM/Manager: Bret George
Belle Plaine Musketeers - Owner/GM/Manager: Boo Ladrieux
Cold Creek Catamounts - Owner: Cold Creek Catamounts Baseball Club - GM/Manager: T. Kelly Holmes
Eastshore Elegants - Owner: Clark and Vivien Butler, Tara Plantation Enterprises - GM/Manager: Killer Brewster
Elnora All-Stars - Owner: George Costanza - GM/Manager: Zoggy White
Marston Nine - Owner: Doubleday Sporting Goods - GM/Manager: Johnny Walters
Sugar Valley Rattlers - Owner/GM: Manny Earl - Manager: Gibson Bobkins
Wynnamac Sundowners - Owner: Granger Co-Operative Association - GM/Manager: Matt Donnelly

Ruthlandian Union West Division
Colfax Blasters - Owner: Precious Metal Corporation - GM/Manager: Clem Rogers
Forest City Lumberjacks - Owner/GM/Manager: Rob Jackson
Fort Benton Defenders - Owner: General Paddy George - GM/Manager: Robbie Brooks
Middlefield Roosters - Owner: Middlefield Merchants Association - GM/Manager: Smitty Michaels
Rocky Rapids Snappers - Owner: Express Freight and Shipping Company - GM/Manager: Ryan Noland
Sligo Ramblers - Owner: Myron Dalrymple - GM/Manager: Eddie Keys
Stoner Stars - Owner: Nonnac Textiles - GM: Beanie Billington - Manager: Willie Dickens
Volusia Vigilantes - Owner: Tierra Wools Consolidated - GM: Juan-Carlos de la Hoya - Manager: Alfonso Feliz

Tycobbian Union North Division
Blue Lake Blue Sox - Owners: Tink Joseph, Ev Johnson, Chance Franklin - GM/Manager: Cobb Tyson
Fairfax Frogs - Owner: Frog Fashions - GM/Manager: Harry Buckley
Hartsdale Hellcats - Owner: Pioneer Brewing Company - GM/Manager: Zim Donner
Luxora Zorros - Owner: De la Vega Foundation - GM/Manager: Alejandro Rodrigo
Mahaska Haymakers - Owner/GM: Rickey Branch - Asst GM: Rick Branch, Jr. - Manager: Rusty Tanussa
North Hills Hawks - Owner: Hawk Steel Company - GM/Manager: Hub Carlson
Oxford Red Caps - Owner: Tyco-Tech - GM: Amanda Effings - Manager: Campy Roy
White River Rascals - Owner: Tycalco - GM/Manager: John Randison

Tycobbian Union South Division
Arroyo Grande Suns - Owner: Abelard Capet, Capet Manor Vineyards - GM/Manager: Jean-Luc Marchand
Cape Coral Hurricanes - Owner: Conway Birdie - GM/Manager: Huggy Miller
Colchester Elites - Owner: Heyward Rubber Company - GM/Manager: Robbie Wilbertson
Ginza Ninjas - Owner: OmniSea, Ltd. - GM/Manager: Huroko Uchiyama
San Alejo Montaneros - Owner: Godoy Entertainment - GM/Manager: Lando Peceda
Southport Sun Sox: Owner: Stage Productions - GM: Amanda Thompson - Manager: Charley Oscar
Summerland Sunsets - Owner: Augie Altonno - GM/Manager: Will Hackett
Turon Typhoons - Owner: Anastas International Shipping - GM/Manager: Ashton "Whitey" Richburn

Tycobbian Union East Division
East Point Panthers - Owner: Silver Mountain Marble Works - GM/Manager: Griff Clarke
High Mesa Cowboys - Owner: Queen Ranch - GM/Manager: Frisky Franks
Hillsboro Blazers - Owner: Hanford Banking and Insurance Company - GM/Manager: Arky Spanderson
Midway Wolves - Owner: Midway Baseball Cooperative - GM/Manager: Cochise Chandler
Ozarka Naturals - Owner: J. R. Ewing - GM/Manager: Joe Mac Carney
Red Bluff Red Sox - Owner/GM/Manager: Mack Connery
South Fork Stallions - Owner: Bobby Ewing - GM: Finley Charles - Manager: Deroche "Lips" Leon
Tuckanarra Blue Jays - Owner: Jayden Thorpe - GM/Manager: Carlton Stevens

Tycobbian Union West Division
Arlon Champions - Owner: Kobeer Sport and Athletic Apparel - GM/Manager: Gary Louis
Bay St. Clair Buccaneers - Owner: Louis "Sugar Lips" Charles - GM/Manager: Guy Rondre
Bayview Vikings - Owner: Brent Steiner, Steiner Shipbuilding - GM/Manager: Walter Johanssen
Chicopee Braves - Owner: Jenkins Lumber Company - GM: Lou Littlefeather - Manager: Harry Fleetfoot
Denton City Redbirds - Owner: The Denton Family Foundation - GM/Manager: Ford Whiteman
La Claire Lynx : Owner/GM/Manager: Rip Calkin
Kenwood Wildcats - Owner: Kenwood Farmers Co-Op - GM/Manager: Aaron Hankins
Rolling Hills Reds - Owner: Lemroh Meat Company - GM/Manager: Matty Christianson

Count me in as a Rolling Hills Reds fan!

I'll be rooting for the Blue Lake Blue Sox! Eugene, I gotta hand it to you, some of those names of the managers are pretty funny and really cool. This is a great league.

Erik

The Islandian Times

Monday, April 1, 2002

Expansion Noobies Do Well Opening Day in IPA
While it is only the first day of a long season, the new expansion teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance performed quite well and won 10 of the 16 games head-to-head against the "oldtimers". It was a day of offense with ten teams scoring 10 or more runs. In fact, one of the "noobies" set a new league record by racking up 21 runs. The Ranford Bulls crushed the Wynnamac Sundowners 21-2 in an amazing offensive display. The High Mesa Cowboys stunned South Fork 17-3 in another runaway game. There was good pitching, too. Attendance was great with almost every game selling out. It was a very good day for pro baseball in the Islands. Expansion to 64 teams looks like a good decision. Now every town in Islandia has a team to root for.

Ruthlandian Union Recaps

Marston Edges Ancona 5-4 in 10 Innings
The Marston Nine opened the new season at home with a 5-4 victory at Legends Field over the Ancona Red Elephants. The game went extra innings and wildness by reliever Shannon Estes cost his club the win. Estes walked the first two batters in the tenth, but then got a double play ball, but he couldn't stand the prosperity, Estes promptly tossed a wild pitch and allowed the winning run to score from third base. Closer Walt Sellers pitched a runless tenth for the win, while Estes suffered the loss. Faulty fielding by Ancona cost them two unearned runs. The Red Elephants committed four errors in all. Ancona outhit the Nine 8 to 7.

Elegants Edge Rancheros 3-2 Behind Lloyd
The Eastshore Elegants hosted the San Dimas Rancheros at Kraft Stadium in the first game ever for both clubs in the Islandian Pro Alliance and came away with a tight 3-2 triumph. Second baseman Miles Sheehan provided a two-run homer in the fourth inning for the difference in the game. That put the Elegants up 3-1 and lefthander Justin Lloyd made it stand up. Lloyd allowed eight hits, walked only one and whiffed four. Josh Houston went the distance in defeat for San Dimas, giving up six hits and striking out four. Houston walked just one. Center fielder Pepe Maduro has a solo homer for the Rancheros.

Redhawks Rip A's 12-4
Opening the brand new season at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain, the Redhawks sent the hometown fans home happy with a resounding 12-4 win over the visiting Glasco Athletics. Three circuit clouts and 13 hits made it easy with center fielder Hawk Gallagher smashing a pair of home run and driving in three runs. Catcher Dave Davis also had a two-run homer. John Luzzatti and Mike McCable combined for the victory. Luzzatti got the win, going seven innings, giving up four runs on six hits. McCabe closed it out with two scoreless innings. Jesse Balfour, a 16-game winner last year, copped the loss. He was rapped for three homers and seven runs in three-plus innings.

Claxton Nips Belle Plaine 5-4
At Avalon Stadium in Claxton, the Diamonds knocked off the Belle Plaine Musketeers 5-4. Claxton took a 5-1 lead after the first four innings and then staved off the Musketeers, who had 12 hits in the game, but wasted most of them. The Diamonds only had 8, but did some damage with when they got them. Alex Vanzetti toughed out the victory, being tagged for a dozen base hits and four runs in his seven innings. Mike Grenier, a new closer this year for Claxton, looked great by setting down all six batters he faced, while fanning two of them. Grenier chalked up the save on opening day. Belle Plaine starter Jack Ambeau was the losing pitcher. The Diamonds roughed him up for five runs in less than four innings. Center fielder Wayne Wilson sparked Claxton with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.

Fort Benton Slips by Cold Creek 3-2
At Holmes Field in Cold Creek, homers accounted for all of the runs in the Fort Benton Defenders 3-2 decision over the Catamounts. In fact, there were three homers hit in the third inning, scoring all five runs in the game. Left fielder Russ Murphy slugged a two-run homer for Fort Benton and one batter later third baseman Connie Gibbons slammed another one. In the bottom of the inning, left fielder Karl Yashin went deep for Cold Creek, good for their two runs. Both starters pitched well with Tom Chiarra chalking up the win over Lew MacAlester. Chiarra worked eight innings, allowed seven hits, fanned three and issued only one base on balls, while MacAlester gave up six hits in his eight innings, struck out eight and walked two in defeat. Both clubs had 7 hits in the game.

Ranford Sets IPA Record, Crushes Wynnamac 21-2
What a debut the Ranford Bulls had! They set a new IPA record by crushing the Wynnamac Sundowners 21-3. The Bulls scored at will against a hapless Wynnamac pitching staff, ripping them for 19 hits. Topping the Bull batters were second baseman Johnny Fenroy with five RBIs, center fielder Teddy Halvorsen with four and left fielder Johnny Russo with three. Halvorsen got three of his on a home run. Ranford also shined on the mound as lefthander Paul Dickey sizzled with 11 strikeouts. Dickey went the route, held the Sundowners to seven hits, while walking four. It was a day to remember at Ranford County Stadium.

The Marston Nine held the old mark for most runs in a game when they shelled the Belair Beach Sunbirds 20-9 last year on June 22 at Bayside Stadium. Ranford had two 7-run innings to completely overwhelm Wynnamac.

Kerston's 9th-Inning Triple Wins it for Grand City
Neil Kerston's ninth-inning triple thrilled 15,000 fans at Entergy Park in Grand City. It gave the Cybercats a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the visiting Valka Blackhawks. Valka's Erik Sommers had stymied Grand City 2-1 on four hits, but he faltered in the bottom of the ninth, issuing his only two walks just ahead of Kerston's game-winning blow. The Cybercats got good mound work from starter Milo Dyer and closer Bill Berglund. Dyer only surrendered two runs and five hits in his eight innings. Berglund pitched a perfect ninth for the win. Sommers yielded five hits overall in the loss, while striking out four. Right fielder Kerston paced Grand City with a double, triple and two RBIs. Catcher Kristjan Kasik homered for the Blackhawks.

Beechwood Bombs Forest City 10-3
Being a new team in the IPA didn't hamper the Beechwood Bobcats. They bombed the Forest City Lumberjacks 10-3 at City Park Stadium to win their debut game in the IPA. Catcher Hank Stewart led the hit parade with 4-4 and five RBIs. The Bobcats socked 11 hits and hit two out of the park. Stewart hit a 3-run salvo in the seventh to break open a 5-3 game, while second sacker Augie Ippolito belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Joe Hahn and Frankie Lacaze teamed up to stop the Lumberjacks on eight hits. Winning pitcher Hahn had control problems and left in the seventh with a 5-3 lead. Hahn walked five, fanned five and permitted three runs on seven hits. Lacaze netted the save with two and two-thirds shutout innings. He allowed one hit and struck out three. Herm Bahr had a rocky outing for Forest City and sustained the loss. Bahr went five innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.

Cats Joubert Sinks Waleska 2-1 with 11th Inning HR
Before a packed crowd of almost 8000 at Smithwick Stadium in Kilkenny, Tee Boy Joubert sent them to the pubs happy with an eleventh-inning four-bagger to squeak out a 2-1 triumph over the Waleska Westerners. It came off of closer Buddy Kennedy, who caught the defeat. It was the only run he gave up in three innings. Notching the victory was Collin Gilder, who pitched a scoreless eleventh inning. Starters Smokey Joe Carter for the Westerners and Sean O'Doherty battled to a 1-1 draw. Carter hurled seven innings and allowed seven hits, while O'Doherty went eight, gave up six hits, struck out five and walked two. Kilkenny had the advantage in hits 9 to 8 with left fielder Joubert and and center fielder Kirk Pitzer leading the way with two hits and an RBI each. Rookie catcher Carlos Trujillo drove in Waleska's only run with a single.

Vigilantes Top Elnora 5-2, Sandoval Too Tough
The defending IPA champions, the Volusia Vigilantes, topped the Elnora All-Stars 5-2 on the road at State Fair Park. The V's did it with a three-run ninth and some fine pitching by their ace lefthander Raul Sandoval. Third baseman Shane Wells delivered the game-winning blow with a two-run single. Wells went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs to lead Volusia. Shortstop Scooter Perez cracked out three hits and had two RBIs, while rookie catcher Juanito Luque scored twice and smacked three hits in his debut game. Sandoval was as tough as ever, holding the All-Stars to just two runs. Sandoval allowed nine hits and fanned five. Pat Savoie took the loss for Elnora, giving up nine hits and five runs in eight and two-thirds innings. Volusia had ten hits in all.

Roosters Rout Rattlers 8-2, Smith Goes the Distanc
Somebody forgot to tell the Middlefield Roosters who was on the mound for the Sugar Valley Rattlers at Middlefield Park. The Roosters tore into 23-game winner Ron Benson for six runs in the first two innings to rout the Golden Arm Award winner and the Rattlers 8-2. Meanwhile Curtis Smith held Sugar Valley to just six hits and two runs in a fine performance. Leading Middlefield at bat was center fielder Ty DeWitt, who smacked a three-run roundtripper. Total attendance for the Roosters first ever pro baseball game was 7388.

Taranto Holds Off LaGrange 6-4
In front of over 7000 excited spectators at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto the local Tars held on to down the LaGrange Sports 6-4 in the opener of the 2002 Islandian Pro Alliance season. Taranto took the win in spite of being outgunned 15 to 13 in hits. Both clubs left lots of baserunners, the Sports left 13 and the Tars stranded 12. There were only four extra base hits in the game. Taranto took a 4-2 lead in the first frame and then managed to hold on and defeat LaGrange. The Tars top hitter was catcher Jules Carmouche with a perfect 4-for-4 day. Carmouche hit two doubles and plated a pair of runs. Left fielder Teddy Giacone also drove in two runs and went 2-for-5. LaGrange right fielder Phil Lacroix had four hits, too, and scored twice. Second baseman Kyle Villere had two hits and two RBIs in the game. Starting pitcher Carlo Bianchi got the victory with the help of three relievers. He worked six innings and gave up a lot of hits, but only three runs. Bianchi was touched for nine hits, fanned four and issued two bases on balls. Tony Rossi chalked up a save by getting the last out in the ninth with the tying runs on second and third. Rossi only faced one batter and got him on a popup to short to end the threat and the game. Barney Prohaska was the losing pitcher for the Sports. He was rapped for a dozen hits and six runs in six innings.

Sunbirds Blank Sligo 2-0, Thompson Bests Grant
The Sligo Rovers had a capacity crowd at Silver Mountain Park, but ran into a tough southpaw pitcher for Belair Beach. Carl Thompson shut them out 2-0 on an eight-hitter, besting Ezzie Grant. It was a scoreless duel until the ninth when a double, walk and single loaded the bases. That brought on the Rovers closer Colin McGrath, who forced in a run with a walk. Thompson drove in the second run himself with a sacrifice fly to center field. Losing pitcher Grant issued five walks and fanned only one, while giving up five hits. Thompson fanned three and issued a couple of walks.

St. John Squeezes by Colfax 2-1, Simon Beats Guidry
The Colfax Blasters opened up their second IPA season at home at Mountain View Stadium with almost 11,000 in the stands. But it was the St. John Crusaders who took home a 2-1 victory. It was a tight pitchers' duel between Zach Simon and Flash Guidry. Winner Simon went the distance, yielding only six hits and a run with eight strikeouts and a walk, while loser Guidry worked eight innings, permitted six hits and two runs. Home runs accounted for all the runs with St. John third baseman George Longmire leading off the game with a homer. Colfax center fielder Pat Lott matched it in the last of the first, then first baseman Richie Renaudin won it for St. John with a solo shot in the fourth.

The Blasters lost closer Vic Jankovich for about a week due to back spasms. Middle reliever Irv Panko will move into that spot according to manager Clem Rogers.

Rocky Rapids Cates Slams Crystal Lake 6-4
It was a freezing 29 degrees at Snapper Stadium in Rocky Rapids for opening day, but 7500 brave souls were rewarded as the Snappers sent the visiting Crystal Lake Crushers down to defeat 6-4 on third baseman Phil Cates' grand slammer in the fourth inning. Lefthander Tom Brown went the route and held the Crushers to five hits, while fanning three and walking three. Two of the hits were solo roundtrippers by shortstop Richie Dunn and left fielder Ben Butler. The loss went to starting pitcher Rocky Giambi, who was forced to make a quick exit in the fourth after being mauled for four runs and four hits. Rocky Rapids got 8 hits off four Crusher hurlers.

Stoner Downs Valmara 4-1, Schrader Winner
It was chilly and windy at Nonnac Stadium in Stoner, but it didn't put a damper on the crowd of 6600 attending the first game of the new IPA season. The Stars got a very impressive start from lefthander Erich Schrader, who downed the Valmara Vipers 4-1 on seven hits. Schrader gunned down 10 Vipers on strikes, while walking three, outpitching Zarek Zalewski, a 20-game winner last year. Zalewski got the loss, allowed four runs on eight hits in six and two-thirds innings. Stoner garnered nine hits overall in the game with third baseman Allen Black going 3-4, scoring twice and driving in a run. Black homered for the Stars and catcher Yoshi Motsuzuki banged one for the Vipers.

The Islandian Times

Monday, April 1, 2002

Tycobbian Union Recaps

Blue Sox Blast Turon 12-2
In the opener of the season at Typhoon Stadium, homestanding Turon got a rude welcome to the IPA from the Blue Lake Blue Sox and were blasted 12-2. The Blue Sox scored 8 times in the first frame and were well on their way to victory. Blue Lake belted out 16 hits in all and got a fine complete game from Bennie West, who was a 19-game winner last season. West, a big tall righthander, limited the Typhoons to two runs on nine hits. Catcher Curly Harris paced the offense with a homer and three RBIs. Right fielder Fred Collins was 4-for-5 and shortstop Cy Orgeron collected three hits. Losing pitcher James Stuart never even got out of the first inning. He was slammed for seven runs.

Rolling Hills Rolls Over Kenwood 6-3
At the Old Towne Grounds in Kenwood, the Rolling Hills Reds rolled over the hometown Wildcats 6-3. The Reds broke up a 1-0 shutout by starter Tyrus Yokum with four runs in the seventh inning. Rolling Hills rapped out 13 hits and were sparked by first baseman Sunshine Anaba who delivered three hits, including a roundtripper. Catcher Donnie Woolridge had two hits and batted in two runs for the victors. Southpaw Johnny Sakima went all the way for the win, striking out five Wildcats and checking them on eight hits and a walk. Yokum took the loss, allowing 11 hits in seven-plus innings and five runs, but only two were earned. Kenwood committed two critical errors in the decisive seventh. A crowd of 6081 attended the first pro game ever in Kenwood.

Sokolov's 3-Run Shot Wins Game, EP Nips SA 7-6
Almost 8,000 were in attendance at the Casa de Beisbol in San Alejo for the opening game of the new IPA season and they saw an exciting ballgame. But their Montaneros were edged out 7-6 by the East Point Panthers on third baseman Rex Sokolov's game-winning three-run homer in the seventh inning. San Alejo was nursing a 6-4 lead but couldn't hold it. The Panthers pounded three home runs with first baseman Felipe Velasco getting a solo shot in the second frame and shortstop John Cottrell blasting a two-run roundtripper in the fifth. The Montaneros outhit East Point 13 to 9, but left 10 men on. Panther reliever Matt Van Rensberg notched the win with three scoreless innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh. Starter Mateus Salinas, plagued by wildness and seven walks, was the loser. He gave up all three home runs and all seven runs in his six-plus innings. Andron Kitsos and Fred Traugott blanked San Alejo over the last two innings. Traugott picked up the save. Third baseman Paolo Huerta hammered a three-run homer and batted in four runs in defeat.

Southport's Corbin Stops Suns 4-2 on 4-Hitter
In their home opener at Pleasure Beach Park, the Southport Sun Sox got an impressive mound job from Walt Corbin. He stopped the Arroyo Grande Suns on just four hits in a 4-2 victory. First baseman Pat Mystryk made Corbin the winner with a two-run clout in the eight inning, snapping a 2-2 tie. Sun Sox left fielder Larry McDowell also drilled one out of the park, a one-run shot in the second inning. Southport only managed six hits in the game. Corbin fanned six and walked just one in an outstanding performance. He got the best of Erik Menard, who hurled seven and one-third innings, yielding three runs and five hits.

Mahaska's Hines Fire 3-Hitter, Beats Ninjas 3-1
There is joy in Mahaska today after the Haymakers knocked off the Ginza Ninjas 3-1 at Heartland Stadium. Boomerang Hines was the hero. The hard-throwing lefty nailed down the win with a sparkling three-hitter. Hines walked four and fanned four, while pitching a complete game. Toshiharu Ito also went the distance, gave up six hits, walked three and struck out four. Mahaska catcher Dennis O'Donnell unloaded a two-run bash for the game-winner in the fifth inning. That made it 2-1 in favor of the Haymakers, who tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning.

Hawks Swifton Fires 2-Hitter, Blanks Arlon 3-0
In reality Bingo Swifton stands only 5'8", but today at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, he really stood tall on the mound. The 30-year-old righthander with a 96 mph fastball shut down the Arlon Champions 3-0 on a dominating two-hitter. Swifton had a no-hitter for seven innings, broken up by third baseman Bubba Tate. The only other hit went to pinchhitter Pete Pappas in the ninth. The Hawks got all the runs they needed in the third inning when first sacker Max Sarkiewitz doubled in the first run of the game and second baseman Ivo Kovacs singled in the other two. Except for that inning, Loser Connie Gavagan tossed a good game, allowing three runs on eight hits with six Ks and two walks.

White River Noses Out Summerland 4-3 in 10 Innings
On opening day in the IPA, the White River Rascals hosted Summerland at White River Stadium and nosed them out 4-3 in ten innings. The winning run came in on a wild pitch that allowed pinchhitter Warwick Haslett to score from third base. Haslett led off the inning with a triple off losing pitcher Pete Van Dijk. Rubber-arm Slats Bledsoe went the entire 10 innings for the victory. The skinny 6'11" righthander gave up 11 hits, but was stingy with men on base. He walked only one, fanned five and left 10 Sunsets stranded on base. Leading the Rascals at the plate were first baseman Al Joyner with a two-run homer in the first frame and left fielder Roy Cochran, who tied the score at 3-3 with a solo shot in the eighth. Summerland center fielder Stacey Zacker and second baseman Rikki Quackenboss paced them with three hits apiece.

Cape Coral Ekes by Chicopee 2-1 in 11 Innings
In the first professional baseball game ever played in Chicopee, the 8200 fans got a great ballgame, but went home disappointed. Their hometown Braves fell in 11 innings to the Cape Coral Hurricanes at Brewster Street Park. In the top of the eleventh left fielder Rod Kelly led off with a double, went to third on first baseman Rodger Wooten's single and then scored on right fielder Danny Mullins' game-winning double. The win went to closer Tommy Archer and the lost went to starter Wayne Blackwell. Archer pitched a scoreless tenth, then left for a pinchhitter. Owen Pruitt saved it for him by retiring the Braves in the last of the eleventh. Starters Katsuyuki Nagashima and Blackwell pitched outstanding games. Nagashima worked nine innings, allowed only five hits and one run, while Blackwell went into the eleventh, gave up two runs on six hits with five Ks in a tough loss. The Hurricanes had a slight edge in hits 8 to 6. Chicopee center fielder Fleetfoot Tocho had the only roundtripper in the game, a one-run homer in the sixth that knotted the score at 1-1.

Denton City Outslugs Colchester 9-8
It was a seesaw slugfest at Heyward Field in Colchester for the opening game of the IPA season. But it was the visiting Denton City Redbirds who captured the 9-8 victory before 9500 in attendance. Third baseman Kenny Sterling lifted a two-run blast into the right field bleachers for the winning score. Both teams were even with 11 hits apiece. There were 7 balls hit out of the park with Colchester having the edge 4 to 3. Sterling, catcher Kyle Hamilton and second baseman Glen Throckmorton went deep for Denton City, while first baseman Niles Stanton, second baseman Leland Curtis, center fielder Eldon Hutchens and pinchhitter Andy Krieger countered for the Elites. Reliever Alec Schwartz copped the win by blanking the Redbirds over the last one and a third innings with the loss going to Dickie Pendarvis, who was ripped for three runs in the ninth.

Hartsdale Skims by Bayview 3-2
Before a full house of over 15,000 at Downtown Plaza in Bayview, Hartsdale skimmed by the Vikings 3-2. But it took a brilliant throw by right fielder Rob Voss to cut down the tying run at the plate on the final play of the game. Closer Gene Young was the beneficiary of Voss' fine throw and saved the win for starter Phil Reed, who worked eight and two-thirds innings, surrendering just two run on eight hits with three Ks and one base on balls. Tony Vardaman took the defeat, going eight innings, being tagged for nine hits and three runs with four walks and five strikeouts. Rookie shortstop Josh Turchin, center fielder Greg Reynolds and left fielder Mel Poe drove in the runs for the Hellcats, while first baseman Dwayne Coleman homered and catcher Hank Bethel singled in a run for the Vikings. Hartsdale outhit Bayview 9 to 6 in the game.

Buccaneers Bury Red Bluff 13-5
The Bay St. Clair Buccaneers entertained over 9000 hometown fans at Shoreline Park by burying the Red Bluff Red Sox 13-5 in the first game of the new IPA season. The Bucs rattled the fences with 14 hits and were sparked by second baseman Tony Mann with 4 RBIs, catcher Jake Singleton with three, right fielder Jose Valenzuela with three and shortstop Chuck Hankins with two runs batted in. Mann and Hankins homered. On the hill Norm Gross tossed a complete game, allowing nine hits and five runs. Gross walked five and struck only two. Going down to defeat was starter Zach Waltrip, who was tagged for nine runs in just four innings.

Jays Draycott Slams 3 HRs, Drills Oxford 8-2
Monty Draycott made his debut in the IPA in dramatic fashion -- the 26-year-old Tuckanarra center fielder slammed three home runs and drove in seven runs as the Blue Jays drilled the Oxford Red Caps 8-2 at Winchester Park. Draycott went 4-for-5 and scored three times in a splendid show of power. Left fielder Corey Tavington also chipped in a solo shot. On the mound Tuckanarra got an impressive outing from Coorain Janama, who twirled a five-hitter for the win. The Blue Jays shot off to a 6-0 lead after two frames against loser Mark Bright and never looked back.

Cowboys Ride Herd on Stallions, Clobber Them 17-3
The High Mesa Cowboys put on a powerful display of hitting in the season opener at South Fork's Jock Ewing Stadium. The Cowboys clobbered the Stallions 17-3. They smoked four pitchers for 19 hits in a rout of one of the IPA's best pitching staffs. Left fielder Adam Zitek led the way with four hits, six RBIs and four runs scored. High Mesa unloaded three homers with Zitek, right fielder Kenny Edelstein and center fielder Lex Neville collecting one apiece. Neville totaled three hits and batted in four runs. Everybody in the lineup got at least one hit, including the winning pitcher, Isaac Willard, who was 2-for-5. Willard fired a good game, holding South Fork to five hits and three runs. He registered four strikeouts and walked just one batter. 20-game winner Flint Battle didn't have it today as he was shelled for seven runs in three and two-thirds innings. It was a miserable day all around for the Stallions.

Midway's Nepayshni Throttles Ozarka 6-3
There were 8000 fans at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway as the Wolves hosted their first ever professional baseball game. The Wolves got a fine pitching outing from portsider Adam Nepayshni, who throttled the Ozarka Naturals 6-3. Nepayshni lasted until the ninth, giving up three runs on eight hits, finishing up with three walks and five Ks. Closer Tecumsek Ahanu nailed down the verdict by retiring all three batters he faced. Third baseman Denny Alpert led Midway with three hits and three RBIs. Shortstop Tommy Kawacatoose sparkled as well with 3-for-3 and score three times. Kawacatoose also hit a two-run homer. Losing pitcher Tony Didriksen was routed in the fifth after being shelled for four runs and eight hits. He departed trailing 4-1.

Hillsboro Outscores Fairfax 12-8
At Hanford Stadium in Hillsboro to the delight of 7500 fans, the Blazers unleased a 15-hit assault to outscore the Fairfax Frogs 12-8 in a slugfest. Hillsboro blasted three homers and were led by first baseman Audie Williamson and second baseman Tommy Emrick with three RBIs each, and three players with two runs batted in each: right fielder Rawhide Marshall, catcher Bill Worthington and pitcher Jacques Marchand. Williamson, Emrick and Marshall all hit home runs. After falling behind 6-0 in the first inning, the Frogs tried to come back and even took a short-lived lead of 8-7 in the top of the fourth, but the Blazers tallied four in the bottom of the frame to kill the rally. Fairfax totaled 11 hits and was paced by third baseman Stan Cobb with three hits and two RBIs. Right fielder Gregg Vincent and left fielder Gator Davis both went deep and drove in a pair of runs apiece. Hillsboro got excellent help from the bullpen after starter Marchand was KO'd after four innings. Cooper Rankin and Dallas Reid blanked the Frogs over the last five innings on one hit. Rankin picked up the victory, while Gil Hall suffered the loss in relief. He was victimized in the decisive four-run fourth. Fairfax was forced to use six pitchers in the game.

Luxora Drubs La Claire 10-2
At De la Vega Stadium in Luxora, the Zorros kicked off the 2002 IPA season with a rousing 10-2 triumph over the La Claire Lynx. The Z's battered Luxora for 17 hits to the delight of 9300 spectators. Right fielder Lacy Tompkins, first baseman Paul Hallenbeck and left fielder Pedro Vizquel led the attack with three hits each. Tompkins had a two-run homer and scored three times and Hallenbeck drove in three runs. Winning pitcher Keith Callahan added two hits and two RBIs to the offense. He also pitched a complete-game victory, permitted nine hits, fanned four and walked just one batter in a good performance. Kimo Orlando absorbed the loss. He was knocked out in the third inning after allowing five runs and six hits.