The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian West Final Recap

Sligo Whips Powerful Colfax In RU West
Last season the Sligo Rovers lost the Ruthlandian West by 4 games to the Colfax Blasters. This year Sligo repaid the Blasters by sneaking by them by 4 games to claim the team's first-ever division championship. In a huge reversal of fortune, the Middlefield Roosters climbed out of oblivion and rose up to third place, just 6 games behind. The Roosters have been doomed to the cellar and second division for 6 long years. Rocky Rapids came in fourth, trailing by 13 games, followed by fifth place Volusia, who finished 16 games out. The Fort Benton Defenders were sixth and 19 games behind with Forest City seventh and 21 games off the pace. Last place went to the Stoner Stars. They were 25 games behind winning Sligo.

The Ruthlandian West rivals the Ruthlandian North as the toughest division in the league. Sligo (95-59), Colfax (91-63) and Middlefield (89-65) were second, third and fourth behind Far Mountain (96-58) for the best record. Two other RU West clubs also finished above the .500 mark.

Sligo won the pennant in the final week of the season... Eddie Keys' club swept three crucial games from Colfax and won four of their last six games, while the Blasters blew all six games to lose the division by 4 games... Sligo finished strong with a 28-16 mark over the last six weeks. Colfax faltered with a 23-21 record, mainly due to the loss of pitching ace Ilya Szabo (16-10 2.80)... Szabo went out with an arm injury on August 29, which was a critical loss for the Blasters... The Rovers have a tremendous team with a .270 BA (5th), fine firepower with 143 home runs (12th) and 740 runs (3rd)... plus strong pitching with a 3.18 ERA (2nd)... Keys' starting rotation includes All-Star Vinnie Rastelli (22-12 2.76), Dek Jumonville (22-8 3.22) and Colin McGrath (19-13 3.00)... in the bullpen closer Lenny Ciaccio (9-7 3.79) saved 27 games... Offensively the Rovers were led by All-Star RF Clell Renshaw (.332/15/101/86), superstar LF Fred Collins (.332/28/96/110), 2B Hollis Waldrup (.290/22/86/124) and SS Vic Carlin (.271/27/93/83).

The Colfax Blasters had won 4 straight division titles and the 2010 Pro Cup... So Sligo had to be a very fine team and should do well in the postseason... It was no fluke... Defending Pro Cup champs, the Far Mountain Redhawks, could have quite a battle on their hands for the RU overall crown and the right to play for the IPA Pro Cup trophy... Clem Rogers has a good bunch of players in Colfax... The Blasters batted .266 (10th), hit 158 homers (6th) and tallied 770 runs (6th)... on the mound they compiled a very fine 3.34 ERA (5th)... Rogers' top hurlers were Ilya Szabo (16-10 2.80), Jasper LaForge (20-15 3.40), Bryan Vidmar (13-4 3.10) and Jimmy Joe Cartner (19-18 3.14)... relief ace Dallas Somerville chalked up 31 saves with a 5-6 record and a 3.40 ERA... Colfax has some heavy hitters, too, paced by All-Star CF Ryan Raines (.277/33/111/100), LF Paul Coniglio (.300/26/94/99), All-Star RF Karl Heidelberg (.318/14/50/78) and C Joe Alexander (.268/27/84/68).

One of the surprise teams in the IPA this year was Smitty Michaels' Middlefield Roosters (89-65), who ran neck-and-neck with powerful Sligo and Colfax in the final weeks of the season and wound up a pretty close third, 6 games back... Middlefield was in the RU West basement and 40 games out last year... The Roosters were a potent team with a .271 BA (4th), 178 roundtrippers (2nd) and 804 runs (2nd)... on the hill, considering Middlefield plays in a very small ballpark, Michaels' starting rotation did fairly well with a 3.70 team ERA (13th)... it was in the bullpen where the Roosters suffered with a 4.72 ERA (30th)... Overall the team had a decent 3.87 ERA (20th)... Middlefield had good defense with a .976 FA... Michaels' steady rotation was composed of Johnny Bond (22-13 2.67), Buddy Kennedy (15-9 4.18), James Newberry (18-13 4.28) and Danny Stewart (17-16 3.75)... Better relievers would have put the Roosters right up there with the Ruthlandian elites, Far Mountain, Sligo and Colfax... 5 players hit 20 or more homers, led by All-Star 2B Jim Rose (.304/20/79/113), CF John Hartung (.292/25/87/123), 1B Ricky Tinker (.292/23/96/79), 3B Lowell Satterwhite (.307/23/88/67) and LF Moose Scoggins (.302/21/79/58).

Improved pitching made Ryan Noland's Rocky Rapids Snappers (82-72) a better team this season as they rose from seventh to fourth place, 13 games behind the leader... Don Chaney (18-14 2.83) and Herbie Drahm (18-14 4.10) sparked the revival along with great relief work from Earl Pitts (5-3 1.56), who posted 29 saves... The Snappers were only average at the plate with a .260 BA (15th) with 118 home runs (21st)... the mound staff had a 3.88 ERA, down from a sky-high 4.53 ERA last year... Noland's top bats were two standout IPA stars LF Scott Camden (.293/30/116/92) and All-Star C Hank Bethel (.313/18/94/81).

For the first time in its 12-year IPA history the Volusia Vigilantes (79-75) failed to finish in the first division... the V's fell to fifth in the standings, 16 games back... Manager Alfonso Feliz only had average pitching and average batting... 1B Rafael Garza (.318/7/47/59) and 2B Tucker Hill (.317/2/45/52) were Volusia's best hitters, but they had no power... LF Briscoe Crowder hit 15 homers to lead the club, but batted only .267 with 61 RBIs and 71 runs scored... All-Star Todd Wolfe (21-15 3.88) and Gerry Hersh (17-14 3.70) were the Vigilantes top twirlers.

Hit .247 (30th) and it is difficult to win in any league... The Fort Benton Defenders (76-78) were sixth in the RU West, 19 games off the pace... However, Robbie Brooks had excellent relievers and two fair starters... Closer Dave Osborn (10-7 1.70) was outstanding with 27 saves and a minuscule ERA... Tom Waltenbury was 6-4 with a 2.92 ERA in long relief... starters Ivan Gloeckner (17-10 4.00) and Tucker Dawes (18-17 3.72) were steady and consistent... Stronger bats would have really helped the Defenders... Brooks only reliable hitter was CF Ryan Smith, who batted .286, hit 20 out of the park, drove in 79 runs and scored 97 times... The Defenders are the best defensive team in the division with a fine .978 FA.

It was another down year for manager Rob Jackson and his Forest City Lumberjacks (74-80), who came in seventh in the standings, trailing first place Sligo by 21 games... Weak hitting with a .250 BA (25th) was the 'Jacks biggest flaw... Jackson's pitching corps did a good job with a 3.69 team ERA (10th)... Hard-luck Al Thibaut (16-20 2.64) kept Forest City in almost every game, but lacked run support... Paul Crews (16-12 3.61) did a good job, too... At the plate the Lumberjacks most dependable bats were 1B Andy Doiron (.297/20/98/76), All-Star SS/3B Royce Robinson (.299/19/61/82) and LF Joe Judlin (.284/24/69/70).

The Stoner Stars (70-84) ended up in the RU West cellar, but they were an entertaining ballclub with 193 homers, tops in the RU and number two in the IPA... Bayview of the TU West hammered the most with 202 (1st)... 8 Stars has 17 or more roundtrippers, led by C Benny Stern (.309/30/112/85), 2B Karol Zodoka (.285/24/78/86) and RF Lamar Proctor (.292/23/71/76)... but manager Willie Dickens had lousy pitching with a 4.73 team ERA (30th)... Don Patterson (14-14 4.20) was the best of the lot.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Tycobbian North Final Standings, Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Tycobbian North Final Recap

NH Hawks Hold On, TU North Champs
It was a great four-team donnybrook in the Tycobbian North with the amazing North Hills Hawks emerging from the pack to win the pennant by 2 games over runner-ups Blue Lake and Hartsdale with fourth place Fairfax only 3 games back. The Luxora Zorros were 10 games behind in fifth place, followed by sixth place Mahaska and White River, both 14 games out, with the Oxford Red Caps last, 22 games off the pace.

Manager Hub Carlson guided the North Hills Hawks (89-65) from last place to first place in a miraculous season... The Hawks had wallowed in the basement for last two years... North Hills had a slight lead at midseason, but none of the experts thought they could win, but they did... Carlson said, "It's a good thing the game is decided on the field rather than in the paper. Nobody had any faith in us but our fans and us."... The Hawks hit only .249 (26th), but had solid pitching with a 3.40 ERA (6th)... Ronnie Kerensky (16-12 3.18) and Lou Dozier (18-16 3.27) led the starters, while All-Star Denny Stuart (7-4 2.04) excelled in relief with 27 saves... at the plate Carlson's only run producer was 1B Masaichi Okawa (.255/27/93/84)... The Hawks were one of the better defensive clubs with a .975 FA.

Blue Lake (87-67) and Hartsdale (87-67) tied for second place, losing by only 2 games... nobody could put together a winning streak in the last week of the season and time ran out on them... The Blue Sox had the best pitching staff in the league with an impressive 3.10 ERA (1st) and were especially deep in the bullpen... Cobb Tyson's starters were Justin Eckhardt (19-12 3.24), Pat Henry (18-9 2.91), Dan Whitfield (11-10 2.76) and Jerry Harrison (12-13 3.36)... Relievers Mark Carey (4-5 2.77) saved 24 games and Tony Reed (5-8 3.02) had 16 saves for a fine 1-2 punch... Tyson's best batters were All-Star CF Rick Hilliard (.286/30/85/110) and 2B Loren Babcock (.285/23/84/96)... The Blue Sox led the division with a .976 field percentage.

Zim Donner in Hartsdale has a fine ballclub... The Hellcats batted .258 (16th) with 177 homers (3rd) and possessed a good 3.39 team ERA (5th)... Donner's bullpen was the best in the league with a super 2.52 ERA (1st)... on the hill Hartsdale was headed up by starters Tony Lane (21-8 2.80) and Rip Arnold (18-10 3.47)... in the bullpen closer Ben Clermont (5-6 2.44) led the way with 30 saves... Offensively Donner has the strong trio of All-Star 1B Tom Brabant (.302/34/96/98), 2B Jud Turchin (.297/28/98/99) and 3B Kendry Moulton (.304/24/77/94).

The Fairfax Frogs ((86-68) were the defending TU North champs and the preseason favorite, but a poor 5-10 mark in September sunk the Frogs to fourth place, 3 games back... on paper they looked to be the strongest team with a .268 BA (6th) with 149 home runs (10th), coupled with an excellent 3.20 team ERA (2nd)... But the September swan dive cost them a good season... Skipper Harry Buckley's best hitters were superstud and All-Star LF Dane Wesner (.331/34/83/88), SS Wes Hickox (.309/18/85/87) and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.298/12/88/82)... Fairfax had one of the best starting foursomes in the league with Joe Hampton (21-14 2.99), Ken Hill (16-17 2.98), Steve Aaron (17-12 3.82) and Wally Tidwell (14-14 3.32)... Bullpen ace Floyd Bennett (1-5 1.20) had a standout season with 22 saves.

Fifth-place Luxora (79-75) wound up 10 games out with weak hitting and average pitching... Alejandro Rodrigo's best arms were Tommy Wrightman (17-15 3.17) and Elio Laurente (19-16 3.62)... Connie Jahnke (4-6 1.81) sparkled in relief with 20 saves... at the plate RF Bob Haviland (.257/32/118/85) and LF Dickie Nordhagen (.289/3/61/99) were the Zorros best.

The Mahaska Haymakers (75-59) and the White River Rascals (75-79) ended up tied for the sixth spot in the TU North and trailed by 14 games... Both are just so-so ballclubs... In Mahaska, Rudy Lanussa's top performers were pitchers Johnny Picou (21-11 3.41), Johnny Spears (16-18 3.50) and closer Robby Sampson (1-2 1.81) with 24 saved games... Mahaska's best position players were LF Dalton Leeds (.305/16/79/89) and All-Star CF Reynaldo Quezada (.286/16/88/76).

Manager John Randison's White River Rascals had another disappointing season... The Rascals have finished in the first division only one time in its 11-year IPA history, a fourth-place finish in 2008... Randison's top pitchers were Clinton Banfield (20-13 3.13) and Lance Logan (16-15 2.98), along with closer Stan Clermont (4-5 2.53), who posted 28 saves... White River's top batters were RF Joey Jarrett (.285/15/68/101), 1B Wayne Harris (.265/33/80/85) and SS Jesse Crockhart (.333/10/57/70).

Once-mighty Oxford (67-87) once again suffered the indignity of a second-division finish, this time they were absolutely last, 22 games off the pace... For their first 9 years in the league, the Red Caps were a power with 4 division pennants and one Pro Cup... Oxford was a first-division team for its first 9 seasons, but Campy Roy's boys have been near the bottom the last two... Lousy pitching is the culprit with a 4.31 team ERA (28th)... The best thing the Red Caps do is hit homers... They slammed 165 (8th) this year, led by 3B Cameron Kamara (.283/32/87/80) and All-Star 1B Eddy Dowler (.297/25/86/97)... Oxford has a sensational closer... Ronnie D'Abo (1-2) had a terrific 1.12 ERA with 25 saves... Roy's best starter was Emerson Carnell (17-19 3.74).

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Tycobbian South Final Standings, Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Tycobbian South Final Recap

CC Hurricanes KO's Turon, End Title String At 4
In the Tycobbian South the Cape Coral Hurricanes put an end to Turon's four-year reign as division champs. The Hurricanes hung close at the All-Star break and then took over in July when Turon went into a mild slump. The Typhoons led by 2 games at midseason. None of the other teams put up much of a challenge. Summerland was third and 10 games back, Ginza was fourth and 11 games out. Heading up the second division were the Colchester Elites, who trailed by 12, followed by Arroyo Grande in sixth place, 18 games behind, San Alejo was seventh and 24 off the pace, with Southport in the cellar and 27 games back.

Manager Huggy Miller had a great starter and a great reliever in Cape Coral (90-64)... also the best defense in the division with a .977 FA... and adequate scoring... All-Star Cody Burg (24-10 2.08) had another outstanding season and was the 'Canes ace, the fifth time he has copped 20 victories... All-Star closer Bobby Maas (7-5 1.62) was truly remarkable with 37 saves... Maas came within one save of tying the IPA record... Nasty Naymick (18-13 3.47) was a consistent starter, too... Miller's top bats were CF Derek Ryckman (.305/28/99/95), 3B Bobby Josker (.278/18/90/89) and SS Flipper Bird (.239/14/57/98).

It's surprising that the Turon Typhoons (88-66) failed to win their 5th title in a row... Whitey Richburn's crew hit .277 (2nd), scored 790 runs (3rd) and compiled a 3.27 team ERA (4th), but fell short in the bullpen... Closer Merle Studebaker (7-9 4.35) had a dismal second half and finished with only 21 saves... Turon's top pitchers were All-Star Nicky Engstrom (20-13 3.26), who has won 20 games in each of his first three seasons, Jeb Pickett (19-11 3.18) and James Stuart (20-10 2.86)... The Typhoons have some solid bats, too... Leading the way were a tremendous rookie 1B Clyde Kingsford (.330/38/127/99), SS Mickey O'Malley (.310/10/70/78), LF Andy Porter (.290/21/73/81) and 2B Andy Hansen (.290/1/29/97).

The Summerland Sunsets (80-74) improved from sixth to third in the standings this year... Skipper Will Hackett had better-than-average hitting and some fine pitching... Denny Coulon (17-17) lost a lot of games he shouldn't, especially with a 2.53 ERA... Pat Dreux (18-10 2.84) was excellent, too... and Mark Falzone (19-14 3.60) was more than effective... In the bullpen closer Frank Gerber (1-5 2.61) piled up 36 saves... at bat the Sunsets were paced by 1B Don Hanks (.314/14/78/72) and CF Jim Garrison (.296/27/88/86)... Hackett's main problem was putting runs on the scoreboard.

The fourth-place Ginza Ninjas (79-75) suffered from a lack of runs, but had good pitching... Huroko Uchiyama's top hurlers were closer Kakuzo Harimoto (4-4 1.60) with 23 saves and starters Joji Azuma (20-15 3.09), Koichi Ishikawa (16-12 3.73) and tough-luck Carl Trebek, who was only 15-18 with a strong 2.89 ERA... CF Chazzie Lombardi led the Ninjas with a .303 batting average, 17 homers, 73 RBIs and 82 runs... All-Star LF Mark Buchanan tailed off after mid-year, but still batted .297 with 25 roundtrippers, 79 RBIs and scored 84 runs... SS Ed Dorland topped the team with 110 runs, but hit only .254 with 12 home runs and 72 runs batted in.

The Colchester Elites (78-76) were one game short of the first division, 11 games behind winning Cape Coral... Uncle Robbie Wilbertson had a few good men, but not enough to make any great noise in the TU South this season... on the mound Jimmy Simmons (16-18 2.69) is still a very fine pitcher at age 37... a few runs could do wonders for his won-loss record... rookie closer Don Richard (3-4) gave the team a big boost this year with an impressive 1.83 ERA and 21 saves... Two fine veterans CF Douglas Tilford (.290/18/65/109) and 1B Harlan Roscoe (.288/22/98/79) led the Elite bats.

It was another long year for the Arroyo Grande Suns (72-82) and manager Jean-Luc Marchand... the Suns wound up 6th and trailed by 18 games... Arroyo Grande has never made the postseason in its 11-year history... they have only finished in the first division one time... that was a stunning second place in 2010... the rest of the time it was sixth or worse... The Suns are an entertaining team with a .280 BA (1st), but their pitching gives up more than they can score with a 4.60 ERA (31st)... Their home field Capet Stadium is a tiny park, good for the bats and bad for the pitchers... Super hitter and All-Star RF Jet Kazmarek won his 9th batting title in his 12-year IPA career... Kazmarek hit .351 with 36 doubles, 16 triples, 17 homers, 67 RBIs, stole 45 bases and scored 115 runs, while striking out only 19 times, all at the ripe old age of 37... 1B Sherm Miles also helped out with a .306 BA, 28 home runs, 110 RBIs and 84 runs scored... Arroyo Grande's best pitchers were Chuck Kowalczyk (17-14 4.27) and Tommy Archer (17-15 4.47).

The San Alejo Montaneros (66-88) continue to haunt the bottom of the TU South with the seventh-place spot in the standings and 24 games off the pace... San Alejo won pennants in its first two IPA seasons, but hasn't made the Pro Cup playoffs since 2003... Manager Lando Peceda has pretty solid pitching with a 3.57 ERA, but lousy hitting with a .246 BA (29th)... The mound staff is led by Alberto Herrera (13-17 2.93) and Chad Gilmore (18-17 3.22) and at the plate by C Coco D'Abadie (.272/39/92/70), who slammed 39 out of the park this season and 1B Dominique Poirot (.289/25/82/91), who had 25.

The Southport Sun Sox (63-91) ended up 27 games out of first and in last place... It was a disappointing year for manager Charley Oscar, who had piloted the Sun Sox to two straight fourth place finishes the last two seasons... 2002 was the club's last playoff appearance... Southport is not strong in any aspect of the game with a .251 BA (24th) and a 4.29 ERA (27th)... pitcher Keith Callahan (15-15 3.89) and LF Big Stick Takala (.314/28/98/73) are the Sun Sox best players.

Sorry for not posting lately.

I have to get my computer worked on for a few days.

Hope to be back by Wednesday.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Tycobbian East Final Standings, Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Tycobbian East Final Recap

Ozarka Wins 3rd Straight TU East, SF Flops In 2nd Half
In an unlikely turn of events, the Ozarka Naturals rallied from a 7-game deficit at the All-Star Game to capture the Tycobbian East for the third year in a row. At that point the South Fork Stallions were playing the best ball of any team in the IPA, but in the second half of the season they faltered, floundered and flopped, winding up a frustrated second by a 2-game margin. The third place Red Bluff Red Sox made it a three-way chase and finished just 4 games off the pace. The Midway Wolves were fourth and 9 games back. At the top of the second division and in fifth place was Tuckanarra, 15 games behind. Sixth place went to the High Mesa Cowboys, who were 18 games out. Hillsboro was seventh, trailing by 30 games, with 106-game losing East Point in the cellar and 40 games behind the TU East champions, the Ozarka Naturals.

It was Ozarka's (88-66) fourth division crown... Joe Mac Carney has a top-notch batting order with a tough out in each spot and five .300 hitters like LF Vic Weinstein (.325/16/86/116), All-Star 3B Todd Chadwick (.320/22/95/122), All-Star C Todd Pepper (.315/11/71/87), 2B Gil Lantz (.314/19/65/81) and 3B Nathan Ferrell (.301/19/85/75)... Other contributors are RF Chris Hughes (.277/19/97/72) and 1B Al Wesner (.263/17/72/58)... Eddie Roberts (18-8 2.94) and Emile Leduc (18-11 3.63) are the prime starters.

Everything went Lips Leon's way in the opening half of the season, but not too much went right when his South Fork Stallions (86-68) played sub-.500 ball in the last half and allowed Ozarka to overtake and beat them... The Stallions bullpen was atrocious with a 5.08 ERA (32nd), the worst in the IPA... In comparison Ozarka's relief corps compiled a strong 3.10 ERA and ranked 5th in the league... South Fork couldn't compete with the Stallion bats, either... Their top bats were 3B Bobby Ritter (.326/9/62/90), CF Robby Michael (.304/18/91/85), LF Gary Horn (.283/24/85/96) and 1B Joe Peters (.268/20/104/86)... It was the fantastic pitching of Blackie Terranova, who almost single-handedly kept the Stallions in the race with a 25-6 record and a 2.59 ERA... Kurt Glinka also chipped in with a 17-16 mark and a 3.71 ERA.

Mack Connery had his Red Bluff Red Sox (84-70) in the hunt this year as in most years, but the deciding factor was a weak bullpen... Red Sox relievers were hit hard with a 4.94 ERA (31st)... otherwise they could hang with Ozarka and South Fork, winding up just 4 games out of the top spot... Red Bluff batted at a .267 clip (8th) with 160 homers (9th) and a good 3.55 ERA (11th)... Connery had a solid starting four with Jim Melanakos (20-9 3.06), John Dougherty (17-17 2.82) leading the mound corps with help from spot starter Ray Schiller (13-3 3.16), Frank Beaudoin (11-14 3.66) and Ivan Brasco (13-15 3.65)... The normally-reliable closer Ricardo Topez had a down year with a 2-8 record, lofty 4.37 ERA, yet still notched 31 saves... hitting-wise the Red Sox had a good offense with 1B Tommy Klegg (.275/39/119/84), All-Star SS Jose Aguilar (.315/17/81/103) and 3B Ty Knight (.315/17/74/61).

Cochise Chandler led the Midway Wolves (79-75) to a fourth-place finish and 9 games back... Chandler has never made the playoffs in the club's 11-year IPA history... Midway is just an average team with good power... the Wolves walloped 168 homers (7th)... Chandler's top hitters were 1B Don Piper (.294/22/97/96), CF Johnny Lee (.300/29/88/90) and RF Lou Sturge (.257/28/54/87)... on the hill the Midway moundsmen were paced by Matt Niemeyer (23-10 3.02), Sherm Jarvis (17-16 3.64) and bullpen ace Dom Vilaggio (5-4 2.53), who totaled 32 saves.

The fifth-place Tuckanarra Blue Jays (73-81) were hampered greatly by a lack of scoring and were 15 games behind in the race... The Blue Jays offense produced only 600 runs (32nd)... However, Carlton "Lefty" Stevens' pitching corps was one of the best in the league with a 3.21 team ERA (3rd), anchored by four quality starters and a good closer... Titus Bristow pitched extremely well, but had little to show for it with a 10-21 record, despite a very fine 2.65 ERA... Delaney Elliott (16-20 3.32), Roy Spence (18-15 3.30) and Mook Epperson (12-11 3.44) all could have used better run support... Closer Neil Hilton (5-4 3.02) did well with 26 saves... Tuckanarra's bats were not in abundance with only two average run producers in SS Wayne Snider (.327/14/77/60) and 3B Rocky Fuqua (.298/11/46/80).

The sixth place High Mesa Cowboys (70-84) can hit, but so can the opposition in the tiny bandbox of Queen Ranch Stadium, where almost anyone is a powerhitter... Frisky Franks' Cowpokes poked 182 out of the ballpark this year and ranked 2nd in the league, only the Bayview Vikings outdid them with 202 circuit clouts... All-Star 2B Wild Deer Etchimin (.279) led the hit parade with 34 roundtrippers and 104 RBIs, LF Darrel Alston (.263) rapped 26 and 3B Ed Albrecht (.312) and 1B Maury Duncan (.290) collected 18 apiece... Veteran CF Kermit Wiggins stood out with a .318 BA, but only had 3 home runs... On the mound Johnny Falcon had a truly fine season considering he has to pitch half his games in such a small stadium... Falcon was 21-11 with a 3.33 ERA... Overall the Cowboys pitchers posted a mediocre 4.26 ERA (26th).

The seventh place Hillsboro Blazers (58-96) had their worst season in history with only 58 victories... The Blazers were 30 games back in the standings under the leadership of Arky Spanderson... They have never finished higher that 5th and have never come close to making the postseason... Hillsboro batted only .242 (32nd) and scored just 650 runs (27th), but slugged 176 homers (4th)... The mound staff logged a poor 4.32 team ERA (29th)... Spanderson's best performers were SP Domenico Belizon (13-17 3.67), MR Lou Zanelli (4-2 3.06), closer Randy Love (2-4 3.18) with 18 saves, 1B Dominic Carbonetti (.257/33/87/64), C Pete Robinson (.266/26/77/75) and SS Tommy Cooper (.255/26/60/80).

Griff Clarke won the pennant in 2008, but his East Point Panthers (48-106) haven't been close since... This season the Panthers were pathetic and set an IPA record for losses with 106... The Arroyo Grande Suns set the record in 2002 with a 49-105 mark... East Point was last with a 4.70 ERA (32nd), hit for a .249 (27th) average, pounded out 171 longballs (6th) and scored 675 times (23rd)... Superstar All-Star 2B Jesse Goodwin had a monster year with 50 homers, 138 RBIs, .333 BA and scored 114 runs... Goodwin topped everyone in the IPA in home runs and RBIs... LF Karl Dietz hit 33 out of the park and drove in 82 runs, but hit only .248... rookie closer Mark Hobbs chalked up 18 saves with a strong 2.23 ERA, but suffered with an 0-8 record.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2012 Tycobbian West Final Standings, Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2012

2012 Tycobbian West Final Recap

Arlon Triumphs In TU West, Takes 6-Team Tussle
Going into the last two weeks of the Tycobbian West, six teams were tightly bunched with a chance to take the crown. The Arlon Champions survived by edging the Kenwood Wildcats 5-4 in 10 innings in a one-game playoff and copped the title by one game. The Chicopee Braves were only 1.5 games back in the third spot. There was a 3-way tie for fourth place between Bay St. Clair, Bayview and Denton City, all only 4.5 games off the pace. In seventh place were the Luxora Zorros, 7.5 games behind with last place going to the Rolling Hills Reds, who finished 11.5 games out.

No one can explain it, but for the last few seasons the Arlon Champs (82-73) only play well in even years... Manager Gary Louis jumped his club from sixth to first with some solid pitching to capture his second TU West title... the first came in 2006... they trailed Bay St. Clair by 4 games at the halfway mark... Arlon caught fire and past them with a great September... The Champs sported the best staff in the division with a 3.49 team ERA (8th) and the second-best defense with a good .976 FA... Offensively Arlon was not so good with a .249 BA (25th)... The Champs solid starting rotation consisted of Hubie Croft (19-1 3.78), All-Star Armando Cruz (16-16 2.99) and Happy McManus (10-7 2.89) as the top 3... Louis' bullpen was outstanding with closer Johnny Rabelais (5-5 1.28), who notched 38 saves, which tied Coorain Janama of Tuckanarra for the most in IPA history... Janama set the mark in 2008... Arlon had three capable batters in LF Rocco Belasario (.278/28/85/94), RF Chucky Gilton (.287/27/87/84) and CF Charley Turner (.285/7/51/98).

The runner-up Kenwood Wildcats (81-74) of Aaron Hankins fell short by one game and a couple of runs... The Wildcats came on strong in August and September and caught up with Arlon, but were edged out in the decisive playoff game... Kenwood was pretty much like Arlon with good pitching and poor offense... Hankins' hurlers put up a credible 3.64 ERA (15th) with a weak .245 BA (30th)... Defensively the Wildcats were good with a .976 mark... Hankins had a solid core of starters, led by All-Star Todd Combs (19-14 2.26), Nick DeVille (14-13 3.79) and Denny Yarrow (19-15 4.04)... in the bullpen closer Fred Kimball (6-8 2.65) did a fine job with 31 saves... Most of Kenwood's offensive punch was supplied by RF Jimmy Brewer (.253/24/70/71), LF Dennis Riley (.257/19/66/56), 2B Paul Lassak (.286/18/53/72) and CF Dayton Walker (.301/2/44/54).

The third-place Chicopee Braves (80-74) came within an eyelash of the top spot in the TU West standings this season, just 1.5 games behind... Skipper Harry Blackfoot possessed good pitching with a 3.59 team ERA (13th), but could have used some better bats... The Braves batted only .253 (20th) with 136 roundtrippers (17th - tied)... Chicopee's top performers were pitcher Des Quartermain (22-12 2.84) and C Ivan Burkholder (.301/28/101/80)... 1B Robby Maynard (.313/13/61/49) started strong and made the All-Star team, but chilled off in the hot months of the season... Maynard led the league with a .381 mark at midseason, but dipped to .313 by year's end.

Three clubs were tied for fourth place, only 4.5 games back in the race... Bay St. Clair, Bayview and Denton City all registered 77-77 seasons... The Bucs stumbled down the stretch after leading at midseason... Both the Vikings and the Redbirds had good second halves... Bay St. Clair is piloted by Guy Rondre... The Buccaneers hit well with a .264 batting average, scored well with 736 runs (7th), but are dreadful when it comes to pitching... They had a 4.12 ERA (24th)... at the plate 2B Jimmy Sawyer (.290/22/101/102), All-Star LF Bruno DiPirro (.318/15/81/99) and 1B Gerry Fields (.262/26/94/76) led the way... All-Star SS Kelly Wright (.280/12/80/63) peaked at mid-year... Rondre's top twirlers were Duke DeVree (15-13 3.33), Norm Gross (16-13 4.02), Dean Dailey (16-13 3.91) and closer Sean Lawrence (7-8 2.29) with 20 saved games.

Walter Johanssen had a bunch of bombers in Bayview... The Vikings exploded for 202 homers to lead the entire IPA, but didn't have the pitching to go with it... The mound corps registered a mediocre 4.12 team ERA (24th)... Rookie Rick Pritchard (10-3 3.38) joined the team in June and sparkled thereafter... Norm Roy (15-15 4.01), Manny Tettelbach (15-19 3.53) and Tony Vardaman (16-16 4.30) were inconsistent starters... However Johanssen had 7 players with 17 or more home runs, sparked by RF Russ Murphy (.297/33/92/103), All-Star 3B Karl Benson (.309/23/92/86), All-Star CF Tommy Riddle (.286/23/86/85), 1B Mickey Quinn (.230/33/82/70), LF Kelton Carpenter (.307/29/69/59), SS Dan Conroy (.298/21/61/86) and C Joe Lootah (.275/17/54/58).

Denton City, which had won the TU West the last four years, had a very disappointing first half and floundered way under .500 and were next-to-last in the division... Very poor pitching cost the Redbirds another possible division crown... Ford Whiteman's staff could only manage a 4.18 ERA (25th)... last year it was a fine 3.42 ERA... But Whiteman had the bats with an impressive .276 BA (3rd) and 172 home runs (5th)... his Redbirds topped the TU with 813 runs (1st)... Denton City's attack were paced by All-Star 3B Jay Petit (.316/31/106/101), 1B Mick Abbott (.263/19/88/94), RF Ted Wagner (.284/26/85/70), SS Trevor Tomlinson (.285/18/73/96) and CF Rod MacCormack (.281/78/99)... on the hill the great Mila Mohoski was 17-16 with a solid 3.05 ERA, while Roger Ramsey posted a 20-8 mark with a 3.64 ERA... Mohoski has won 208 games in his 11-year career... He and Cody Burg of Cape Coral are tied for the most career IPA victories.

For the 12th consecutive year the La Claire Lynx will miss the playoffs... Rip Calkin's club ran a good race this year and had four All-Stars, but still wound up seventh, but just 7.5 games out... The Lynx have decent hitting with a .262 average (10th), but come up short with a 4.11 ERA (23rd)... All-Star Rick Novronski (21-15 3.39) was the club ace with help from Bernie Halsey (18-12 3.80)... top bats belonged to All-Star LF Zeppy Deshotel (.281/26/101/98), All-Star 2B Dale Pace (.302/13/46/84) and 3B Luis Marquez (.301/14/87/82)... C Maka Bardinda (.266/12/62/47) also made the All-Star squad.

The Rolling Hills Reds (70-84) have not made the playoffs since their first two IPA seasons in 2002 and 2003... This year Matty Christianson's Reds ended up in the basement, 11.5 games behind pennant-winning Arlon... Rolling Hills has mediocre hitting and pitching... they compiled a .254 BA (21st) with a 3.94 ERA (19th)... Mound leaders were Toshiharu Ito (19-16 3.60) and Clem Boutte (14-19 3.30)... in the batter's box it was CF Donnie Lewis (.300/5/64/83), SS Bobby Farias (.252/13/83/88) and 3B Clay Hoffman (.274/24/78/68) putting up the best numbers.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Elegants Willis RU Top Hitter
Nobody in the Ruthlandian Union outhit Cris Willis this season. In fact, Willis topped every hitter in the IPA and copped his first batting crown. It became official today with the close of the regular season that the talented Eastshore center fielder was the best in the league. His .371 average put him at the top of the leaderboard and got him the RU batting title. Willis' stats also included 188 hits, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, 77 RBIs and 85 runs. He is 35 years old and an 11-year veteran in the league. For his career Willis is batting at a .319 clip.

Coming in second was Kilkenny's fine CF Kevin McPhail, who hit .353 for the season with 47 doubles, 7 triples, 9 homers, 87 RBIs and 105 runs scored. McPhail is 29 and is in his third season with the Cats. 30-year-old Elnora RF Lloyd Voss finished third with a .348 mark. The 7-year vet racked up 27 doubles, 5 triples, 19 roundtrippers, 95 RBIs and scored 95 times. Voss won the title in 2009 with a .368 average.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Marvelous Kazmarek Does It Again, Wins 9th Bat Title
Pretty soon the IPA will have to name the batting champion trophy after Jet Kazmarek, who has just won it for the 9th time in his illustrious 12-year career. The 37-year-old Arroyo Grande outfielder garnered the Tycobbian Union batting title with an impressive .351 mark. In 148 games he piled up 196 hits, 36 doubles, 16 triples, 17 home runs, 67 RBIs and 115 runs scored. Overall in his career Kazmarek has batted a lofty .355 with 1055 RBIs and has scored 1326 runs.

East Point's outstanding 2B Jesse Goodwin and White River SS Jesse Crockhart were tied for second with a .333 batting average. In a fantastic season Goodwin led the TU with 203 hits, 138 RBIs and 50 homers. He had 32 doubles, 5 triples and scored 114 runs, while playing in 148 games. Goodwin is 37 and has played in the IPA for 8 years. Crockhart is 32 years old and has been in the league 7 years. This season Crockhart had 159 hits in 139 games with 24 doubles, 6 triples and 10 home runs. He knocked in 57 runs and scored 70.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Pro Cup XII Begins Today, FM-Cape Coral Finals Forecast
The Islandian Pro Alliance "Second Season" begins this afternoon at four sites around the Islands with the defending Pro Cup champions, the Far Mountain Redhawks, favored in the Ruthlandian Union, while the Cape Coral Hurricanes are picked to win the Tycobbian Union. Overall, the baseball experts are giving the nod to Far Mountain to take its second Pro Cup in a row. However, first they will have to go through some tough competition from Sligo and Belair Beach in the RU to get there. Cape Coral has the major task of knocking off last year's Pro Cup finalists, the Ozarka Naturals, who lost in a heartbreaking 7-game series with the Redhawks.

The 2012 Pro Cup Elite 8 playoffs get underway today. In the Ruthlandian Union Far Mountain will be at home for the first two games against the Belair Beach Sunbirds and the powerful Sligo Rovers host the Cold Creek Catamounts. Over in the Tycobbian Union it will be the Cape Coral Hurricanes entertaining the North Hills Hawks in games one and two and the Arlon Champions traveling to Ozarka.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Far Mountain, Cape Coral Favorites In Pro Cup Playoffs
The defending Pro Cup titleholders are forecast to reign supreme in Islands baseball once again. The Far Mountain Redhawks (96-58) of Ruthlandia won more games than anybody this season and are the number one choice to win it all in 2012. The Redhawks won it division by 12 games. The Cape Coral Hurricanes (90-64) posted the most victories in the Tycobbian Union and are the prime favorites represent that league in the Pro Cup finals. The Hurricanes had to subdue the Turon Typhoons to make the playoffs, edging them by just two games. Turon has been in the Pro Cup finals four times and has won it on three occasions.

Both contenders have solid all-around ballclubs with strong pitching, good hitting and power, plus excellent defense. Alex Groveland has a talented team in Far Mountain. The Redhawks led the IPA with a phenomenal 2.88 team ERA, were second in the RU with a .272 batting average and did well in the scoring department with 742 runs (11th) and 125 homers (17th). Defensively they handled the gloves well with a fine .976 fielding average (3rd tied). Huggy Miller has some gifted players in Cape Coral, but not as strong on paper as Far Mountain. The Hurricanes have good pitching with a 3.43 ERA (7th), outstanding defense with a .977 FA (1st tied) and quality hitting. Cape Coral batted .258 (17th), scored 718 runs (11th) and showed adequate power with 142 homers (14th). Both clubs have quality relievers. Groveland's relief corps posted an impressive 3.10 ERA (5th), Miller's chalked up a very good 3.18 mark (8th).

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Head-To-Head Who's The Best?
The 2012 Pro Cup playoffs get started today with the Elite 8 Series at four towns around Islandia. In the Ruthlandian Union Far Mountain and Sligo are getting most of the press, but in head-to-head competition it was the Belair Beach Sunbirds with the best record. They were 10-5 against the other three teams in the Elite 8 Series. Far Mountain was 9-6, Cold Creek 5-7 and surprisingly the Sligo Rovers were only 3-9.

Far Mountain and Belair Beach will meet in the Elite 8 with Cold Creek playing Sligo. The Redhawks and Sunbirds split 3-3 during the regular season, while the Catamounts swept all three games from the Rovers.

In the Tycobbian Union the Cape Coral Hurricanes had the best record head-to-head against other postseason participants. Cape Coral was 11-7, followed by the Arlon Champions and North Hills Hawks, both at 9-9. Pulling up the rear was the Ozarka Naturals with a 7-11 record.

The favored Hurricanes go up against North Hills in the Elite 8 with Ozarka matched up with Arlon. Cape Coral took 4 of 6 from the Hawks during the regular campaign and the Champs were 4-2 against the Nats.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The 2012 Pro Cup Playoffs By The Numbers
The 2012 IPA Pro Cup will be won on the field, but it's still interesting to look at who is the best team on paper.

---------------------------------------
*** Ruthlandian Union ***
---------------------------------------
Far Mountain Redhawks (96-58)
Batting: .272 BA (2nd)
Scoring: 742 runs(11th)
Power: 125 HR (17th)
Team ERA: 2.88 (1st)
Starters ERA: 2.85 (1st)
Bullpen ERA: 3.10 (5th)
Defense: .976 FA (3rd-Tied)

Sligo Rovers (95-59)
Batting: .270 BA (5th)
Scoring: 790 runs (3rd)
Power: 143 HR (12th)
Team ERA: 3.18 (2nd)
Starters ERA: 3.15 (2nd)
Bullpen ERA: 3.34 (10th)
Defense: .971 (23rd-Tied)

Belair Beach Sunbirds (89-65)
Batting: .263 BA (13th)
Scoring: 742 runs (11th-Tied)
Power: 163 HR (4th)
Team ERA: 3.28 (3rd)
Starters ERA: 3.24 (3rd)
Bullpen ERA: 3.43 (11th)
Defense: .976 FA (3rd-Tied)

Cold Creek Catamounts (79-75)
Batting: .252 BA (23rd)
Scoring: 720 runs (16th)
Power: 128 HR (16th)
Team ERA: 3.77 (12th)
Starters ERA: 3.60 (9th)
Bullpen ERA: 4.52 (29th)
Defense: .969 FA (29th-Tied)

-----------------------------------
*** Tycobbian Union ***
-----------------------------------
Cape Coral Hurricanes (90-64)
Batting: .258 BA (17th)
Scoring: 718 runs (11th)
Power: 142 HR (14th)
Team ERA: 3.43 (7th)
Starters ERA: 3.47 (7th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.18 (8th)
Defense: .977 FA (2nd-Tied)

North Hills Hawks (89-65)
Batting: .246 BA (26th)
Scoring: 645 runs (30th)
Power: 90 HR (32nd)
Team ERA: 3.40 (6th)
Starters ERA: 3.40 (6th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.40 (13th)
Defense: .975 (11th-Tied)

Ozarka Naturals (88-66)
Batting: .272 BA (4th)
Scoring: 796 (2nd)
Power: 144 HR (12th)
Team ERA: 3.69 (16th)
Starters ERA: 3.84 (18th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.10 (5th)
Defense: .976 FA (4th-Tied)

Arlon Champions (82-73)
Batting: .249 BA (25th)
Scoring: 683 (20th)
Power: 143 HR (13th)
Team ERA: 3.49 (8th)
Starters ERA: 3.55 (11th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.22 (9th)
Defense: .976 (4th-Tied)

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

2012 IPA Elite 8 Series

Favorites Advance Easily In Elite 8
The underdogs never had a chance in the IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series. All the favorites quickly put them out of their misery and moved on to the next round where the competition will be kicked up quite a bit. In the Ruthlandian Union defending Pro Cup champ Far Mountain easily swept past outmatched Belair Beach in four straight games and the Sligo Rovers ripped Cold Creek in five games. Tycobbian favorite Cape Coral got the best of North Hills four games to one and potent Ozarka proved itself as strong as ever with a four to two verdict over the outclassed Arlon Champions.

Far Mountain Sweeps Belair Beach In Ruthlandian Union
Going into the Elite 8 Series Belair Beach had high hopes of challenging the powerful Far Mountain Redhawks, but it never materialized... The Redhawks dumped the Sunbirds 6-2 in game one as Robby Kelly (22-8) fired a 4-hitter to outpitch Slim Mosley (15-12)... Leading the Far Mountain 12-hit attack were 1B Fran Grzanka with a two-run homer and SS Don Nichols with 3 hits and 2 RBIs.

Game two was even worse as the Redhawks slammed the Sunbirds 10-1... This time Far Mountain rapped 15 hits and 3 homers to rout them... C Otis Ott, RF Julian Zuvala and CF Xavier Sosa all went deep... Sosa had 4 hits and 3 RBIs, while Zuvala banged out 2 hits and drove in 3... Wayne Baxley (13-7) hurled a solid 7-hitter and went the distance... Tiny Lindgren (17-7) never made it out of the second inning and took the loss.

In game three the Redhawks 20-year-old rookie Woody Crawford (10-6) tossed a 5-hitter and drove in 2 runs in a 5-1 decision over veteran Jeff Nieman (17-16) for Belair Beach... RF Zuvala collected 3 hits and 2 RBIs in Far Mountain 10-hit offense... Zuvala was obtained from Elnora in late July for starting pitcher Leroy Hill (15-14).

Far Mountain wrapped up the series with a comeback 8-4 triumph in game four... however the Sunbirds made a game of it for awhile as they ran up an early 4-0 lead after 3 innings on starter Robby Kelly... but Kelly settled down and blanked them over the last 6 frames for the win... 3 runs in the seventh and 4 runs in the eighth decided the issue for the Redhawks... C Otis Ott and RF Julian Zavala each got their 2nd home run of the series and Far Mountain racked up 14 hits and sent Sunbird starter Slim Mosley to his second loss of the series... Now manager Alex Groveland's talented club will go up against powerful Sligo in the RU Final 4.

Sligo Rovers Romp Over Cold Creek In RU
The Sligo Rovers came back from an opening game loss to eliminate the Cold Creek Catamounts in five games with four wins in a row... Cold Creek's Payton Saunders (16-12) was the whole show in game one with a 5-1 victory over 20-game winner Vinnie Rastelli (22-12)... Saunders hurled a 5-hitter and 3B Jade Hammett batted in 3 runs.

Sligo evened the series at a game each with a 6-3 verdict in the second game... Dix Edenborough (22-8) worked 8 solid innings, yielding 3 runs and 6 hits... Lenny Ciaccio sealed it with a perfect ninth... CF Chris Michel paced the Rovers at bat with 4 hits, 3 runs and a pair of RBIs... Michel doubled and homered... 3B Blair Allison also chipped in 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Loser Tommy Weeks (16-15) went all the way and allowed 6 runs on 10 hits.

Game three was no contest... the Rovers ripped the Catamounts 9-2 as Colin McGrath (19-13) checked them on 6 hits and one earned run... Sligo smacked 11 hits and were sparked by SS Vic Carlin's 3 RBIs, LF Fred Collins' 2 RBIs and CF Chris Michel's 2 RBIs... Carlin had the game's only homer.

Game four was quite a tussle with Rastelli and Saunders back on the mound... This time around Rastelli got revenge for the first game defeat with a tight 4-3 triumph to give Sligo a three games to one lead in the best-of-seven series... Rastelli only surrendered one earned run in his 8 innings... Saunders took a 3-1 lead into the 8th but was shelled for 3 runs and the loss... Closer Lenny Ciaccio got his second series save with a 1-2-3 ninth... Both clubs had 8 hits each in the game.

Game five was a fine pitchers' duel between Dix Edenborough and Tommy Weeks... Edenborough got the best of Weeks again with a 2-0 shutout to give the Sligo Rovers the series four games to one... Edenborough allowed only 3 hits... SS Vic Carlin homered in the second inning to give Edenborough all the runs he would need.

:thumbup1::eatpop::friday:

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Hurricanes Hurlers Dominate Hawks In TU Elite 8
The Cape Coral Hurricanes totally dominated the punchless North Hills Hawks with outstanding pitching to eliminate them four games to one in the Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series between the two clubs. In the other Elite 8 set Ozarka pretty much did the same thing to the Arlon Champions and came away with the series four games to two. As expected the two powers will be pitted against one another in the TU Final 4.

The Hurricanes got a terrific performance from their ace Cody Burg in the first game of the series... Burg (24-10) shut out the Hawks 4-0 on four hits... he fanned 8 and walked 4 for the win... All the runs in the game came in the 6th inning when CF Derek Ryckman hit a 2-run homer and RF Glenn Armstrong banged in two more with a single... The losing pitcher was Ronnie Kerensky (16-12), who was touched for 4 runs and 7 hits in 7 innings.

As good as Burg was in the opening game, Nasty Naymick was even nastier in game two as he held the hapless Hawks hitless and struck out 10 in a 5-0 victory... Naymick (18-13) almost pitched a perfect game... a walk to 2B Jimmy Ryland spoiled it for him... The 'Canes cracked 10 hits off loser Lou Dozier (18-16), who went the distance... 2B George Longmire, 1B Lonnie Moon and 3B Bobby Josker had two hits each to pace Cape Coral.

Game three was a low-scoring affair between Hawk starter Dooley O'Malley (3-0) and Hurricane Adam Lundgren (13-11)... North Hills finally put a run on the scoreboard in the seventh and snapped a 24-inning scoring drought... The Hawks squeezed by Cape Coral 3-2 with a run in the last of the ninth... Denny Stuart notched the win in spite of blowing the save... Bobby Maas sustained the loss... North Hills had 7 hits in all, while the 'Canes were held to 6.

Cape Coral got back on track with a game four victory to take a 3-1 edge... Cody Burg captured his second win in the series by stopping the Hawks 5-1 on 6 hits over 8 innings... 1B Lonnie Moon and C Bernie Finka led the winners with 2 hits and an RBI apiece... Ronnie Kerensky permitted 5 runs and 7 hits in 7 innings for the loss... LF Nicky Makovsky accounted for North Hills only run with a solo swat in the sixth frame.

Nasty Naymick wasn't almost perfect like he was in game two's no-hitter, but he was very good with a 5-2 win to take the series four games to one... North Hills could manage only two runs and five hits off Naymick, who turned in another strong performance... Lou Dozier caught his second loss of the postseason... He gave up 4 runs and 7 hits in his 7 innings... Hurricane 2B George Longmire homered and doubled, got 2 hits, scored twice and batted in a pair for the winners... CF Sozi Akiyama belted out 3-4 to pace the weak-hitting Hawks at the plate.

Ozarka Too Strong For Arlon, Wins Elite 8 Series
Superior pitching gave the Ozarka Naturals a victory over the weak-hitting Arlon Champions in their Elite 8 Series... In game one Eddie Roberts (18-8) and Luther Hatch combined for a dramatic 2-1 win... Roberts went the first 7 and gave up only five hits and a run... Roberts fanned 7 and walked only one batter for the win... Closer Luther Hatch finished up for him with two scoreless innings and picked up the win... LF Rocco Belasario clipped Roberts for a home run to lead the Champs at bat... Nats pinchhitter James Flanagan tripled in the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth off losing pitcher Johnny Rabelais.

Game two also went to Ozarka 3-0 on a brilliant 2-hit shutout by Emile Leduc (18-11), who outdueled Happy McManus (10-7)... McManus allowed 3 runs and 7 hits in a complete game... RF Chris Hughes homered for the Naturals.

The Arlon bats finally awoke with a vengeance in game three... The Champions clobbered Ozarka 9-4, highlighted by pitcher Hubie Croft's grand slam in the sixth that gave them a 6-1 lead... Croft salvaged Arlon's first win in the series although he allowed 11 hits and four runs in his 8 frames... Billy Krsnich (12-16) absorbed the loss by giving up 6 runs in 5-plus innings... Despite the defeat Ozarka still outhit Arlon 11 to 7.

Ozarka regrouped and trounced the Champs 10-2 in game four for a three to one edge in the series... The Nats battered loser Armando Cruz (16-16) for 7 runs in 3-plus innings, while Eddie Roberts put on another sterling performance by holding Arlon to six hits and two runs, while fanning 7 and walking only 2 batters... Ozarka racked up 12 hits and was led by RF Chris Hughes with 2-5 and 4 RBIs, LF Vic Weinstein with 3-5, 3 runs and 2 RBIs and SS Nathan Ferrell with 2-4, 3 runs and 2 RBIs.

Arlon got back into the series with a 10-inning 4-3 triumph in game five, cutting Ozarka's series lead to three games to two... Once again the Champions were outgunned 11 hits to 8, but they still gained the victory... Johnny Rabelais was the winning pitcher with a scoreless 10th... Luther Hatch sustained the loss... He walked two to set up a game-winning hit in the tenth... Hatch only managed one out in the inning... Arlon 2B Ed Richter had the game's only home run, a two-run shot in the sixth... The Nats were led by 3B Todd Chadwick, 2B Gil Lantz, LF Vic Weinstein and C Todd Pepper, all with 2 hits each.

Ozarka made quick work of Arlon in game six to capture the Elite 8 Series four games to two... After the Champs darted to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on SS Kirby Greene's two-run salvo, the Naturals pounded Hubie Croft for 8 runs in the next two frames to win going away 9-5... C Todd Pepper and 1B Al Wesner both hit solo homers for Ozarka... 2B Gil Lantz also drove in 3 runs for the winners... Billy Krsnich was ineffective, but got credit for the victory... Krsnich was roughed up for 5 runs in 7 innings... Luther Hatch held Arlon scoreless in the eighth and ninth.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Map of Islandia

The Islandian Times

Around the Towns in the IPA

FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS

Owner: Johann Becker
GM/Manager: Alex Groveland

Far Mountain, located in northern Ruthlandia in the Appian Mountains, is a very popular year-round ski resort and convention center. A beautiful town of 75,000 founded by immigrants from the German and Swiss Alps, Far Mountain oozes Tyrolian charm and culture. Horse drawn sleighs and buggies provide free public transportation. The rich and famous come here for wonderful ski vacations, to savor the good life and to enjoy the great hotels, nightclubs, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Yet it is priced for every pocketbook. Middle class families also partake of its many pleasures and activities. And with fine convention facilities, Far Mountain plays host to many professional and educational organizations.

And it is the home of the Far Mountain Redhawks baseball team of the Ruthlandian Union. The team is in the North Division and plays their games at Sky High Stadium with a magnificent panoramic view of the Appian Mountains in the distance. A specialty at all Redhawks games is a great polka band that furnishes music and songs, whenever there is a break in the game action. During the seventh inning stretch Redhawks supporters have a great time doing the “Chicken Dance” and singing “Take me out to the ballgame” to the accompaniment of the polka band. And fans get to enjoy special culinary treats of Bavarian beers, Nurnberg bratwurst mit sauerkraut (fried sausage with sauerkraut), Schwartzwalder kirschtorte (Black Forest cake) and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) pastries and hot gourmet soups at the games. Many fine German beers are served in profusion, too. In addition all of the traditional ballpark favorites are provided.

The Far Mountain Redhawks are owned by Johan Becker, whose family has been for 150 years the proprietors of one of the oldest hotels in town, The Bavarian Gasthaus. Becker developed a love for baseball in high school and college and played varsity baseball for both. He met Jock Ewing of Ewing Oil and Ewing Enterprises and developed a business relationship with him to make Far Mountain into a tourist resort. When Ewing offered him one of the franchises in the IPA, Johan quickly invested in it.

For a general manager and field manager, he hired one of the great pitchers of the industrial leagues, Alex Groveland.

Sky High Stadium (1997)

Capacity: 10,444

Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 354
LC 380
CF 402
RC 380
RF 354
RF Line 330

Sky High Stadium (1997)

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 1

FM Redhawks Take Final 4 Opener
The red-hot Far Mountain Redhawks continued unbeaten in this year's postseason. They downed the Sligo Rovers 7-2 in game one of the RU Final 4 Series, played at Sky High Stadium. It was the 5th straight victory for Alex Groveland's talented team as they try to repeat last year's Pro Cup championship. 35-year-old right-hander Robby Kelly mastered the hard-hitting Rovers, stopping them on 6 hits for his 3rd playoff win this year. Kelly (3-0 2.00) walked four and fanned four in the complete-game victory. The Redhawk bats continued to sizzle with 10 hits, led by CF Xavier Sosa (.458), SS Don Nichols (.400), RF Julian Zavala (.500) and 2B Jim Rhodes (.222), all with two hits each. Far Mountain jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after 3 innings and expanded it to 5-0 in the sixth. They pelted 22-game winner Vinnie Rastelli (1-2 2.35) for 5 runs and 8 hits in six innings, although shoddy play cost him 3 unearned runs.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Around the Towns in the IPA

CAPE CORAL HURRICANES

Owner: Conway Birdie
GM/Manager: Huggy Miller

Cape Coral is a town of 112,000 on the northshore of Arvonian Island, jutting out into Belair Bay. Arvonian Island is bordered on three sides by the Southern Sea. Cape Coral was settled at various times by the Spanish, Dutch and English with the English taking preeminence when tourism became the main economic focus. It is a resort area famous for great weather year round in idyllic tropical surroundings. Serene sky blue waters with magnificent sunsets, white, glistening beaches, luxury hotels, night clubs, legendary entertainers and retirement communities. It is a place to be pampered.

It is also known for an occasional tropical storm or hurricane spawned out of the warm tropical currents of the Southern Sea. Hence, the Cape Coral baseball team in the IPA's Tycobbian Union is nicknamed the Hurricanes. They play at Seaside Stadium, which has an eyecatching view of Belair Bay. Some of the myriad of magnificent hotels and casinos can also be seen rising up in grandeur over the island landscape.

Seaside Stadium is known for its exotic beverages and gourmet fare fit for a king. Every fan treasures the house speciality, "The Hurricane", a fantastic blend of tropical flavors and liqueurs, served up in a beautiful souvenir glass. The buffet foods make every game very special for the fans and resort visitors. Hot dogs and cokes are available, too, along with the best grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich outside of Memphis, Tennessee.

Music is provided by the Beachcomber Boys, a rock 'n' roll combo. Their version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" really reverberates, rocks and rolls. One of the Beachcomber Boys, Conway Birdie (old rock 'n' roll star and connoisseur of grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches) is the proud owner of the Hurricanes. Birdie was instrumental in the creation of the Islandian Pro Alliance along with Jock Ewing of Waleska, John Banson (former amateur and industrial league czar) and Jorge Trujillo of Belair Beach. The old rock 'n' roller was a pretty fair ballplayer in his day, too.

Huggy Miller is the GM and Manager of Cape Coral. He was a journeyman second baseman in the industrial leagues, but a truly gifted manager and baseball tactician.

Seaside Stadium (1987)

Capacity: 13,100

Dimensions:
LF Line 365
LF 375
LCF 400
CF 390
RCF 375
RF 360
RF Line 350

Seaside Stadium (1987)

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game 1

Ozarka Outlasts Cape Coral 5-4 In 12 Innings
At Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral, it was a great pitching duel until the 12th inning when things started poppin' in the opening game of the Tycobbian Union Final 4 between the Ozarka Naturals and the hometown Hurricanes. C Todd Pepper (.259) and CF Paul Noah (.269) shot the Nats ahead 4-2 with back-to-back homers and then relief pitcher Philip Britt banged a double, was bunted over to third and rode in on LF Vic Weinstein's (.280) sacrifice fly. That gave Ozarka a seemingly safe 5-2 lead going into the last of the 12th. But as they say, "It ain't over, 'til it's over." Cape Coral didn't give up - a walk and a homer by CF Derek Ryckman (.208) suddenly made it a one-run game - but Britt shut the door and got the final two outs for the shaky 5-4 win.

Two of the better starters in the IPA got first-game assignments. Young Eddie Roberts (18-8) was Ozarka's choice and the great veteran Cody Burg (24-10) got the nod for Cape Coral. And they didn't disappoint. Roberts worked 7 strong innings, allowed only 2 runs on 6 hits with 9 Ks and 1 walk and left with a 2-2 tie. Burg matched him and added two more innings. Burg tossed 9 superb innings, permitted only 4 hits and two runs with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks. But neither one got the decision. Ozarka's Luther Hatch blanked the Hurricanes in the eight and ninth frames and Britt held them scoreless in the tenth and eleventh. Cape Coral's Bobby Maas shut down the Nats in the tenth and eleventh. Then all hell broke loose in the 12th. Britt got the win and James Nordmann took the loss. Britt (1-0 4.50) pitched 3 innings and was tagged for two runs, while Nordmann (0-1) was ripped for 3 runs in two-thirds of an inning. Cape Coral had the edge in hits 10-8.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 2

Redhawks Capture 6th Straight, Lead Rovers 2-0
The Far Mountain Redhawks are the defending Pro Cup champions and they are playing even better this year. The Redhawks are really rolling with 6 straight wins in the playoffs. They rolled over the visiting Sligo Rovers for the second day in a row at Sky High Stadium. Wayne Baxley and Don Nichols teamed up to beat Sligo 7-2. Baxley (2-0 0.50) limited them to 5 hits and two runs - none earned and none after the second inning. He stuck out 4 and issued 4 walks in another impressive postseason outing. The Redhawks were ahead 4-2 and put the Rovers away with a 3-run sixth. SS Nichols (.435) provided the offense with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs. Far Mountain kayoed starter Dix Edenborough in the third after blistering him for 3 runs and 4 hits. Edenborough (2-1 2.75) took his first loss of the postseason. The Redhawks lead the best-of-seven series two games to none.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 2

Hurricanes Even Series, Naymick Stumps Nats 4-1
In game two of the TU Final 4 at Seaside Stadium, Cape Coral's Nasty Naymick went the route and throttled the Ozarka Naturals 4-1 on a 6-hitter to even up the series at one game each. Naymick (3-0 1.04) notched his third victory in the playoffs. CF Derek Ryckman (.250) sparked the Hurricane bats with a homer, double and two RBIs. Ryckman has slammed 4 out of the park in the Pro Cup playoffs. Left-hander Emile Leduc (1-1 1.73) suffered the defeat, after giving up 4 runs on 6 hits. The Ozarka southpaw also went the distance.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Around the Towns in the IPA

SLIGO ROVERS

Owner: Myron Dalrymple, CEO of the Silver Mountain Ski Resort

GM/Manager: Eddie Keys

Sligo is located in the slopes of the Silver Mountains in northern Ruthlandia. Because of its remote location, the area was largely uninhabited until 1872 when silver was discovered in the hills surrounding the town. The name of the town comes from Theodore Sligo, one of the men who originally discovered the silver. Sligo laid out the roads and a tent city popped up shortly after the discovery. By the turn of the century, the mines had produced more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Many fine examples of Victorian architecture that were built during the era are well-preserved today.

When the mines stopped producing in the late 1940s, the town lost almost half of its population and fell upon hard times. It survived mainly on its timber industry until the 1970s when environmental concerns caused the town to form a commission that would seek alternative industries that could sustain the economy. The commission findings led to a rebirth of the once-beautiful city. Through various tax breaks, the town was able to attract several builders to construct ski resorts just outside of town. The town also refurbished many of the historic buildings that had fallen into disrepair and decided to place its economic emphasis on tourism.

With a population of only 38,000, Sligo is the smallest town to own a team in the Islandian Pro Alliance and has at various times struggled to meet ends meet despite having very loyal fans. The 1973 commission made it clear in its report that the town should figure out a way to provide long term stability to the local nine as it would be a devastating blow to civic pride if the Rovers were to leave town. As a result, the ballpark was part of the downtown refurbishment and the team signed a long-term lease that makes it difficult for the Rovers to leave. In the 80s, the team was sold to Myron Dalrymple, owner of the highly successful Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Dalrymple is respected among long-time Sligo residents for settling in town and helping to revive its economy.

The Rovers play at Silver Mountain Park which seats 5,678 spectators. The ballpark’s mid-seventies facelift did a good job of preserving its historic nature and the town funded yet another update in 1998 when four sky suites were added along with expanding the clubhouses. SM Park sports a brick façade and is tucked among historic Main Street’s shopping district. There is no parking here, but the sight of fans walking to the ballpark on a balmy summer evening fits in well with the town’s quaint ambiance. The team plays to that ambiance by having a barber shop quartet stationed outside the main ticket booth to greet approaching fans.

Speaking of music, you won’t find loud rock and roll music blaring from a state of the art sound system here. Like Hillsboro, Kenwood, Ozarka and Marston, the team employs an organist who serenades fans with classic tunes and is quite adept at finding songs that have something to do with the batter’s last name. Food here is among the most affordable in all of the IPA, and while you will find classic ballpark fare like peanuts, hot dogs, and crackerjacks, the most popular item on the menu may well be the roasted corn on the cob that is slathered with mayonnaise.

Despite its nod to the traditional, the team has added one of those big fuzzy mascots in recent years. “Rover”, a giant red dog, roams the stands entertaining children and adults alike. When fans catch a foul ball, the public address announcer will announce to “give that fan a contract,” and Fetch will indeed present the fan with a “contract” and a "doggy bag" filled with club gifts. Another Silver Mountain park tradition traces its roots back to the team’s current manager Eddie Keys. During his playing days for the Rovers, fans would jingle their keys whenever he came to bat. The tradition continues to this day whenever a rally is in order.

Silver Mountain Park (1912)

Capacity: 5,678

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 328
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 382
Center Field - 387
Right Center - 382
Right Field - 366
Right Field Line - 342

Silver Mountain Park

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 27, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 3

FM Redhawks Blow Away Sligo Rovers Again!
For the third day in a row the Far Mountain Redhawks have run roughshod over the Sligo Rovers in the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series. The defending Pro Cup champions crushed the Rovers 11-3 at Sligo's Silver Mountain Park. Far Mountain swept Cold Creek in first round action and just might well do the same thing to Sligo. The Redhawks have won 7 consecutive playoff games. They broke open a 5-3 game with a 4-run sixth. Just about everybody in the batting order contributed in the 17-hit attack. Leading the assault were 2B James Rhodes (.333) with 4 hits and 2 RBIs, 3B Duane Parsons (.200) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs, LF Phil Stewart (.385) with 3 hits and 3 runs and CF Xavier Sosa (.455) with 3 hits and 3 runs scored. Stewart had the game's only home run. 20-year-old rookie Woody Crawford (2-0 2.00) hurled a good game, holding talented Sligo to 8 hits and 3 runs to win his second straight postseason start. The Redhawks backed him with 4 double plays. Veteran Colin McGrath (1-1 3.38) was the losing pitcher. McGrath was pounded for 9 runs and 12 hits in his 5+ frames. 3 more errors by the Rover defense did not help his cause and led to 5 unearned runs. Sligo has committed 8 errors so far in the 3 games.

Many are surprised by the sensational play of Far Mountain. Manager Alex Groveland lost his number two starter and last year's Pro Cup MVP Boomerang Hines (22-14) in the last week of the season with a torn rotator. No one expected rookie Woody Crawford to take his place in the rotation as well as he has done. The baseball experts were divided over who was the best team in this series. Sligo won 95 games this season, just one game less than Far Mountain. The Rovers were expected to give the Redhawks quite a tussle. Quite a few analysts thought Sligo was the better-balanced team and with the loss of Hines would have the edge in the playoffs. So far it hasn't happened. Far Mountain has dominated both Cold Creek and now the Sligo Rovers.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Around the Towns in the IPA

OZARKA NATURALS

Owner: J. R. Ewing
GM/Manager: Joe Mac Carney

Ozarka, a Silver Mountains resort town of 73,000, is located in south central Tycobbia and near the Caledonia River, which flows southward through Hillsboro, then westward and comes to an end at Turon on the southwest coast. Nestled among scenic forests and outdoor hot springs, Ozarka is host to tourists who come for snow skiing during the winter and boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking and hunting the rest of the year. Big time developers have made this a mecca for the rich and famous with luxury hotels and nightclubs that attend to every possible need: hot spring spas and bathhouses, superstar entertainers, magnificent golf courses, gourmet food, art galleries and gift shops. Ozarka is a retirement center, too.

It is also home to the Ozarka Naturals. J. R. Ewing’s father, Jock Ewing, got tired of the incessant sibling quarrels over the operation of the family-owned Waleska Westerners in the Ruthlandian Amateur Association, so he bought the battling brothers and club vice-presidents, J. R. and Bobby, their own teams in the IPA. Bobby owns the South Fork Stallions and J. R. has Ozarka, where he is a prime real estate developer. Bobby named his brand new stadium after his dad. Not to be outdone, J. R. named his brand new stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie. So the sibling rivalry continues on and off the field. Ellie Ewing Stadium is one of the few parks in baseball that still has a live organ player at each game (Marston is the other), which adds a nice nostalgic touch, especially during the seventh-inning stretch. And at the concessions stands is a succulent gourmet buffet fit for the rich and famous. You will also find all of the traditional baseball fare at a Naturals game.

J. R. Ewing spares no expense when it comes to impressing people and paying his ballplayers. He likes to get his way. He even got the all-time winningest manager in company league history to come out of retirement and take over his team. Joe Mac Carney is now the GM and Manager of the Naturals. And he is very well paid, too.

Ellie Ewing Stadium

Capacity: 11,750

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 370
LCF 390
CF 375
RCF 390
RF 370
RF Line 350

Ellie Ewing Stadium

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 27, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 3

Gautier 2-1 Winner, Nats Lead 'Canes 2-1 in Final 4
Ozarka manager Joe Mac Carney went to an unlikely source for a starting pitcher in game 3 of the TU Final 4. He went to long reliever and spot starter Rene Gautier, who only made 5 starts among his 48 appearances this year. Gautier was 5-5 on the season with a 3.99 ERA. Last year in the Pro Cup Finals Carney went to Gautier in a crucial game and he was bombed - but not this year - the 32-year-old southpaw responded with the game of his life - a 2-1 victory over Cape Coral that gave the Naturals a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series. In a magnificent outing Gautier limited the Hurricanes to just one run and 2 hits over 7 and a third innings, struck out 9 and walked 3. Luther Hatch and Philip Britt nailed down the game by blanking Cape Coral the rest of the game. Loser Adam Lundgren (0-1 2.40) also pitched a whale of a game, surrendering only two runs and four hits in seven strong innings.

In the top of the fourth, the Hurricanes scored first on a homer by CF Derek Ryckman (.281), who got his 5th postseason home run. The Nats finally got something going in the last of the sixth against Lundgren. CF Paul Noah (.258) led off with a base on balls, advanced to second on a bunt, then came across on 2B Gil Lantz's (.353) RBI single. Lantz went to second on the throw home and was driven in by LF Vic Weinstein's (.303) line-drive single. Ozarka got only 5 hits in the game, while Cape Coral was held to just 3.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 28, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 4

Rovers End Redhawks 7-Game Streak, Win Game 4
Somebody finally put a stop to the Far Mountain 7-game winning streak. 22-game winner Vinnie Rastelli was the man that did it. Rastelli scattered 9 hits over 8 and two-thirds innings to whip the Redhawks 5-3. He had to outpitch Far Mountain's ace Robby Kelly to snap the string and keep the Sligo Rovers alive the RU Final 4. Once more victory by the Redhawks and the season is over for Eddie Keys' crew. The Rovers needed a mild miracle and got it from Rastelli.

Rastelli is only 20 years old and in his third season in the IPA, but he performed like a battle-tested veteran today. Rastelli (2-2 2.56) walked no one and whiffed 9. He carried a 5-1 lead and a 5-hitter into the ninth when Sligo made him sweat a little. LF Phil Stewart led off the inning with a bunt single. Rastelli got the next two batters out, but then gave up a 2-run homer to C Otis Ott (.334) to narrow the score to 5-3. It was his 3rd playoff roundtripper. 1B Fran Grzanka (.200) and RF Julian Zavala (.419) followed with back-to-back singles. At that point Keys made a move and brought in his closer Larry Ciaccio, who got the final out of the game for his 3rd postseason save. Robby Kelly (3-1 2.65) lost his first playoff game this season. He wasn't as sharp as usual, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings. Kelly departed with the score 4-1 in favor of Sligo.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 28, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 4

Roberts Beats Burg 2-1, Ozarka Close To Winning Series
The Ozarka Naturals, who came very close to winning the Pro Cup last year, could very well be headed back again. The Nats got a great performance from Eddie Roberts and clutch hitting by Paul Noah to beat favored Cape Coral 2-1 in game 4 of the TU Final 4. Ozarka has a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven and needs only one more win to eliminate the Hurricanes. Roberts (2-0 1.74) stopped the 'Canes on one run and 5 hits in 8 innings to outpitch Cody Burg, the all-time career winner in the IPA. Roberts walked one and fanned 7 in a superlative effort. Manager Huggy Miller brought in his closer Luther Hatch to finish up for Roberts. Hatch pitched a perfect 1-2-3 ninth for the save. Burg (2-1 1.32) had nothing to be ashamed of. He went the distance, gave up only 5 hits and had 9 Ks and a walk.

Ozarka drew first blood in the first frame. LF Vic Weinstein (.297) singled and came around on SS Nathan Ferrell's (.229) two-out double. Back-to-back doubles by CF Derek Ryckman (.278) and 3B Bobby Josker (.310) evened it up at 1-all in the bottom of the fourth. Nats CF Paul Noah (.265) delivered the crucial two-out single to drive in the winning run in the seventh.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 29, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 5

FM Redbirds Shell-Shock Sligo, Headed For Pro Cup Finals Again
It's not too often that the defending Pro Cup champions make it back for a repeat appearance, but this year the fantastic Far Mountain Redhawks will get a shot at their second title in a row. They dumped Sligo 8-4 to takes the RU Final 4 in 5 games. If anybody was going to beat the Redhawks, the Rovers were given the best chance at knocking them off - but it didn't happen. Sligo was greatly outclassed.

Game 5 heroes were CF Xavier Sosa (.439), who hammered 2 homers and drove in 3 runs, RF Julian Zuvala (.400) with a 3-run double and Wayne Baxley (3-0 1.67) won his third straight postseason game. Baxley allowed four runs on nine hits to eliminate the Rovers. Far Mountain led from the beginning with a 3-run first inning. Sligo rallied for 2 in the bottom of the frame, but the Redhawks put them away with 5 more in the sixth to make it 8-2. Far Mountain outhit the Rovers 12-9. Dix Edenborough (2-2 4.26) took the loss as he was battered for 8 runs in 5-plus innings. 3B Eddy Lamar led Sligo with a two-run homer. Zuvala has driven in 12 runs in the postseason for the Redhawks, while Sosa has 3 home runs and 10 RBIs.

Manager Alex Groveland's Redhawks now awaits the winner of the Tycobbian Union Final 4 between the Ozarka Naturals and Cape Coral Hurricanes. Going into today's game Ozarka was on the verge of winning that series with a 3-1 edge in games. If the Nats win, it will be the second year in a row for them in the Pro Cup Finals. Last year Far Mountain made a stirring comeback from a 3 games to 1 deficit to take the Island crown.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 29, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 5

History Repeats, Ozarka-Far Mountain Pro Cup Bound
The Ozarka Naturals wrapped up the Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series at home at Ellie Ewing Stadium with a seesaw 7-6 verdict over the Cape Coral Hurricanes. The Nats won 4 of the 5 games and a chance to return to the Pro Cup Finals and redeem themselves for last year's stunning loss to the Far Mountain Redhawks. The Naturals blew a 3-1 in the series. This will be the first time in IPA history that the same teams have played for the Pro Cup in two successive seasons.

The Hurricanes shot out to a 3-0 lead in the second on pitcher Nasty Naymick's (.083) home run and added another run in the third on CF Derek Ryckman's (.325) double and 2B Lonnie Moon's (.286) single. Ozarka chopped it to 4-2 when 3B Todd Chadwick (.326) went deep. SS Flipper Bird (.231) doubled, stole third and came in to score when C Todd Pepper threw it into left field. That put the 'Canes up 5-2. At that point the Ozarka bats got serious. CF Paul Noah (.263) tied the score with a 3-run blast in the bottom of the fourth frame. The Nats went ahead to stay in the fifth on 2B Gil Lantz's (.326) RBI double and 1B Al Wesner's (.216) RBI single. That gave them a 7-5 lead. Cape Coral made a serious challenge in the top of the eight. A two-out bases-loaded walk to Derek Ryckman cut the lead to 7-6. However reliever Tyrus Yokum retired 3B Bobby Josker (.265) to end the threat.

Yokum pitched a scoreless ninth to send the Nats to the Pro Cup Finals for the second season in a row. Philip Britt (2-0 3.24) got credit for the win. He worked the fifth, sixth, seventh and into the eighth, permitting only one run and 3 hits in 3 and a third innings. Manager Joe Mac Carney used 6 pitchers to subdue the Hurricanes. Naymick (3-1 2.32) sustained the loss, his first of the postseason. Ozarka smacked him hard for 7 runs in 5-plus innings. SS Flipper Bird went 4-5 in defeat. Cape Coral had 14 hits, but left 11 runners on base. The Naturals had 9 hits with Chadwick, Lantz and Wesner getting 2 apiece.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Redhawks Favored In Pro Cup Series
History has repeated itself, at least in the IPA. For the second year in a row it will be the Far Mountain Redhawks doing battle against the Ozarka Naturals for Island professional baseball supremacy. This is the first time in the league's history this has happened. The Pro Cup Series begins tomorrow afternoon at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain. Last year in an epic struggle the Redhawks had to win the last three games to capture the title. Most of the baseball experts have put the defending champs in the favorite's role, although Ozarka has a lot of supporters as well. The two clubs are fairly even in most categories. They both hit well for average and power and play good defense. The difference is in the pitching, where Far Mountain has the edge. Alex Groveland's Redhawk rotation compiled a strong 2.88 team ERA (1st), while Joe Mac Carney's Nats posted a 3.69 mark (16th). One huge thing in Ozarka's favor is that Far Mountain will not have 22-game winner and last year's Pro Cup MVP Boomerang Hines. He was lost in September with rotator cup issue. That could be the equalizer.

Groveland will use Robby Kelly (18-8 3.19), Wayne Baxley (13-7 3.14) and rookie Woody Crawford (10-6 3.19) as his starting threesome with Erich Dumont (2-7 3.11) as his closer. Baxley is 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in the postseason this year. Kelly is 3-1 with a 3.15 ERA and Crawford is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA.

Carney's starters will be Eddie Roberts (18-8 2.94), Emile Leduc (18-11 3.63) and Rene Gautier (5-5 3.99). Roberts is unbeaten in the playoffs with a 2-0 mark and a 1.74 ERA. Leduc is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA and Gautier is 1-0 in one start with a 1.13 ERA. Gautier was inserted into the rotation when Billy Krsnich (12-16 3.77) was in effective in first round games with 7.82 ERA.

Both managers break into big smiles when they talk about their hitters and they both are loaded with them. Far Mountain is led by SS Don Nichols (.302/17/99/97), C Otis Ott (.306/21/96/68), 3B Duane Parsons (.283/19/88/106), LF Phil Stewart (.306/7/62/91) and CF Xavier Sosa (.275/20/58/107). Ozarka's top batters are 3B Todd Chadwich (.320/22/95/122), LF Vic Weinstein (.325/16/86/116), SS Nathan Ferrell (.301/19/85/75), C Todd Pepper (.315/11/71/87) and 2B Gil Lantz (.314/19/65/81). Last year hitting decided the outcome. The forecast is more of the same this season. However, both skippers, Groveland and Carney, think the pitchers will make or break each club.

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 1, 2012

2012 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 1

Ozarka Outscores Far Mountain 10-7 In Pro Cup Opener
The Ozarka Naturals and the Far Mountain Redhawks took up where they left off last year with another thrilling slugfest in this year's Pro Cup opening game at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain. The Nats rallied from a 6-5 deficit with 5-late inning scores to overwhelm the Redhawks 10-7. They blasted 4 out of the park and collected a dozen hits. LF Vic Weinstein (.289) smashed 2 homers and 1B Al Wesner (.238) and PH Rick McLeod (.200) each got one to lead the winners. A 3-run eighth and a 2-run ninth sparked the victory. Far Mountain tried hard to stay in the game with 13 hits and led 6-5 after 7 innings. Redhawk CF Xavier Sosa (.457) had 3 hits, including his 4th playoff roundtripper.

Neither starter was effective. Ozarka's Eddie Roberts (3-0 2.61) was ripped for 12 hits and 6 runs in 7 innings, but got the win anyway. Closer Luther Hatch (1-1 1.80) pitched the last two innings for the save and gave up a run in the ninth. Robby Kelly (3-0 3.15) was a little better for Far Mountain as he was touched for 5 runs in 6 innings and departed with the score tied at 5-5. Erich Dumont (0-1) got the loss as he was slammed for 3 runs in the decisive 8th.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

2012 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 2

Baxley and Zavala Spark FM Redhawks To 7-2 Win, Pro Cup Even At 1-1
Powerful Far Mountain got back on track with some good pitching and timely hitting to trim Ozarka 7-2 in game 2 of the 2012 Pro Cup Series. Wayne Baxley (4-0 1.75) hurled another strong game to even up the best-of-seven series at one game each. He stopped the hard-hitting Naturals on 2 runs and 6 hits to win his 4th consecutive postseason game. RF Julian Zavala (.372) continued to blister pitchers in the playoffs as he walloped a grand slam homer and batted in 5 runs to give him 17 RBIs in the postseason. Zavala was the main reason Emile Leduc (1-2 3.95) went down to defeat. Leduc was shellacked for 5 runs in just two innings and surrendered Zavala's grand slam.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

2012 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 3

FM Leads Pro Cup, Redhawks Edge Nats 6-5 In Game 3
Game 3 in the Pro Cup Series was a back-and-forth thriller at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka. Defending Pro Cup champs, the Far Mountain Redhawks, parlayed crucial hits with good relief pitching to best the Ozarka Naturals 6-5 and nudge ahead 2 games to 1 in the series. Redhawk SS Don Nichols tied the score 5-5 with a lead-off homer in the top of the seventh. With two outs and nobody on, CF Xavier Sosa doubled and scored the game-winning run on a single by 1B Fran Grzanka. Nats starter Rene Gautier (1-1 4.30) had a rough outing as was rapped for 6 runs and 11 hits in his 6-plus innings, while reliever Jesse Hughes (1-0 4.50) claimed the win. Hughes allowed a run in two innings. Erich Dumont and Hummer Romig held Ozarka scoreless over the last two innings to protect the victory. FM starter rookie Woody Crawford was wild with 8 walks in 5 innings. He was tapped for 4 runs and 5 hits. Crawford left trailing 4-3.

The Redhawks leaped ahead in the first on C Otis Ott's 3-run shot. Ozarka came back in the last of the first with 2 runs on SS Nathan Ferrell's (.176) roundtripper. The Naturals tied it 3-3 in the fourth when C Todd Pepper (.224) doubled, move over to third on a sacrifice and scored on 3B Todd Chadwick's (.305) ground-out. Nats LF Vic Weinstein (.302) led off the fifth with double and after 3 walks by Crawford was forced in for a 4-3 lead. FM rebounded to even it a 4-all in the sixth on a Sosa (.434) double and an RBI single by Grzanka. Chadwick manufactured the go-ahead run for Ozarka in the bottom of the frame when he walked, was bunted to second, stole third and came in to score on a ground-out by Weinstein. That make it 5-4 in favor of the Nats.

Far Mountain lashed 14 hits and was led by Grzanka (.261) with 4-5 and 2 RBIs, Ott (.347) with 2-5 and 3 RBIs and Nichols (.417) with 3-5. Ozarka only had 7 hits and were paced by RF Chris Hughes (.280) and 1B Al Wesner (.265) with a pair of hits each.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 4, 2012

2012 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 4

FM Slips By Ozarka 5-4 In 10 Innings, Up 3-1 In Pro Cup
It was another tense tussle between Far Mountain and Ozarka in the Pro Cup Series. The Redhawks slipped by the Nats 5-4 in 10 innings to take a big three games to one bulge in the best-of-seven series. One more Far Mountain triumph and it will give the Redhawks their second straight Pro Cup trophy. No team in IPA history has won two Pro Cups in back-to-back years.

It was another hard-fought affair highlighted by a gritty performance by winning pitcher Robby Kelly, who worked 9 innings. Kelly (4-1 3.31) allowed 4 runs and 11 hits, struck out 4 and issued 2 walks, but still beat the Naturals with the help of closer Erich Dumont. Dumont retired the side in order in the last of the tenth to seal the verdict for Kelly. Eddie Roberts (3-0 3.00) started for Ozarka and in a shaky outing tossed 7 innings, gave up 4 runs and 7 hits with 7 Ks and 5 walks.

Far Mountain pounced on Roberts for a 4-0 lead in the top of the third, highlighted by 3B Duane Parsons' (.245) 3-run double and C Otis Ott's (.365) RBI hit. Ozarka got single runs in the fourth and sixth frames on RBI doubles by C Todd Pepper (.226) and RF Chris Hughes (.296). Kelly was cruising along and apparently on his way to victory when he was jolted by back-to-back blasts by LF Vic Weinstein (.310) and SS Nathan Ferrell (.196), which tied the score at 4-4 and sent it to overtime. A walk and balk and a double won the game in the tenth. With two away and nobody on base, CF Xavier Sosa (.418) worked a walk, went to second on a balk by reliever Philip Britt and rode home on Phil Stewart's (.365) game-winning two-bagger. Britt (2-1 3.52) worked one inning and shouldered the loss.

Parsons and Ott were the top bats for Far Mountain with 3 hits and 2 hits repectively. The Redhawks were outhit by the Naturals 11-9. Ozarka's Weinstein, Ferrell and Hughes all had 2 hits and an RBI.

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 5, 2012

2012 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 5

FM Redhawks Back-To-Back Pro Cup Champs
The Far Mountain Redhawks roared through the IPA Pro Cup playoffs to cop their second straight Island championship. They disposed of the Ozarka Naturals in 5 games, outlasting them 14-9 in the finale. The Redhawks boast a devastating line-up chocked full of talented bats that averaged over 7 runs a game in the postseason. Manager Alex Groveland had good pitching, too. His staff put up a fine 3.14 ERA and had an overall 12-2 record.

The decisive factor in the series was hitting. Far Mountain's explosive offense was just too much for Ozarka to overcome. In the finale they unloaded 4 homers - the Nats got none. The Redhawks bombed Emile Leduc for 7 runs in the first 4 innings, but Ozarka miraculously rallied with 4 in the fifth and took the lead 9-8 with 5 more runs in the sixth. However, Far Mountain came right back and regained the lead 10-9 in the top of the seventh on 1B Fran Grzanka's (.278) sac fly and PH Phil Alston's (.222) single, then disposed of the Naturals with a 4-run outburst in the top of the ninth to haul in the IPA Pro Cup trophy for the unprecedented second year in a row. No team had ever done that before in the league's 12-year existence.

Far Mountain mauled Ozarka pitching for 18 hits. CF Xavier Sosa (.450) had a marvelous game with 4 hits, including 2 home runs, double and a single. Sosa drove in 3 and scored 4 times. LF Phil Stewart (.351) and 2B Phil Alston also had 3 RBIs each. SS Don Nichols (.379) and Alston chipped in 2 more circuit blasts and C Otis Ott (.394) collected 3 hits and scored 3 times. RF Julian Zavala (.351) smacked 3 hits and batted in a pair of runs, giving him 19 RBIs in the playoffs. Sosa had 6 roundtrippers and 14 runs batted in.

The Nats got 5 gifted runs from the poor Redhawk defense to stay in the game. Far Mountain committed 4 errors, but its powerful bats overcame them. Ozarka got 11 hits, but didn't get any homers. Manager Alex Groveland got excellent relief work. After starter Wayne Baxley gave up 9 runs in 5-plus frames, 4 relievers blanked the Naturals over the next 3 and two-third innings. Jesse Hughes (2-0 4.15) notched the win by getting the final out in the sixth. Hummer Romig (0-0 5.40), Erich Dumont (0-1 7.36) and Milos Annensky (0-0 0.00) each worked an inning and held the Nats hitless.

For the series Far Mountain hit for a .312 batting average with 8 home runs and 37 runs. Ozarka batted .276 with 7 homers and 27 runs scored. Pitching was not the strong point of either team. The Redhawk staff registered a 4.69 ERA in the Pro Cup Finals, while the Naturals had an atrocious 7.43 ERA.

Alex Groveland told reporters, "Obviously our club had an outstanding postseason with the bats... and it was extraordinary in the Pro Cup Series. We got pretty fair pitching considering how well the Nats handle the bats. They are a tough club to beat... they never give up."

Ozarka skipper Joe Mac Carney said, "We just got beat by a tremendous offensive team that came into the series with their bats blazing and they got even better. We did our best to stay with them, but came up second-best for the second straight season. I'm disappointed we didn't win, but we still had a hell of of season. We're going to go out and get us some pitchers and come back next year and win it all."

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Redhawks Sosa Named Pro Cup MVP
It was the year of the hitter in the 2012 IPA Pro Cup Series. This year's Most Valuable Player Award went to Far Mountain's fine center field Xavier Sosa, who led the Redhawks to their second straight Island championship. Sosa pounded postseason pitching for a .450 batting average with 7 doubles and 6 home runs. Sosa scored 20 runs and batted in 14. Last year he came in second in the voting to pitching teammate Boomerang Hines.

Right fielder Julian Zavala finished second in the vote. He led Far Mountain with 19 RBIs. Zavala batted .351 with 3 doubles, 1 triple and 3 homers. The third spot in the MVP balloting went to catcher Otis Ott of the Redhawks, who hit .393 with 4 roundtrippers, 12 runs batted in and 13 runs scored. Pitcher Wayne Baxley wound up in the fourth spot in the selection process. Baxley was 4-0 with 4 complete games in the playoffs. SS Don Nichols was fifth as he batted .379 with 4 home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 runs. Robby Kelly was the sixth choice with a 4-1 mark and a 3.31 ERA, followed by left-fielder Phil Stewart, who was seventh in the poll. Stewart batted .351, scored 15 times, had 9 RBIs and went deep once.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Groveland Acclaimed Best Manager In RU
The baseball pollsters finally got around to giving one of the most successful managers in the IPA a long-awaited award. BNN has selected Far Mountain's fine skipper Alex Groveland as the Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year. Groveland has won four pennants and two Pro Cups, but has never received any awards for it. Traditionally the award has gone to the most-improved team's manager each year. Groveland got it this year for posting the best record in the IPA with a 96-58 mark.

Belair Beach's Marty Pedroza and Cold Creek's T. Kelly Holmes ran second and third to Groveland, but finished well back in the voting. Pedroza guided the Sunbirds to their third pennant with an 89-65 record, while Holmes piloted the Catamounts from 5th place in 2011 to the RU East division crown this season with a 79-75 mark. It was the second time Cold Creek had taken the pennant. Colfax's Clem Rogers has won the Manager of the Year trophy twice, in 2009 and 2010.

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 8, 2012

Hawks Rise Nets Carlson TU Top Skipper Award
The Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year Award was pretty clear-cut. Hub Carlson led the North Hills Hawks from last place to first place this season and was an easy choice. Carlson's Hawks posted an 89-65 record, which was much improved over last year's 72-82 mark. It was the first time Carlson was honored with the top manager trophy. Second choice Gary Louis turned his Arlon Champions into a division winner after winding up sixth in 2012. His champs rose from sixth to first place with a much-improved 82-73 record. Huggy Miller of Cape Coral was the number three votegetter. He spurred his Hurricanes to a 90-64 record and edged out powerful Turon for the TU South flag. Fourth in the balloting was Summerland's Will Hackett, who lifted the Sunsets from sixth to third in the RU South race this season. The Sunsets were 80-74 for the year. Gary Louis of Arlon has copped the most managerial awards. He won in 2006 and 2008.

Wow. The longevity of this dynasty amazes me!! Good job man.

Thank you for the nice words.

Thank you for looking in.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

RU Gold Bat Goes To Luzzati
What a way to finish off the year -- being honored with the 2012 Golden Bat Award in the Ruthlandian Union. It had already been a very special season for Claxton's Mike Luzzatti, but today's announcement really put the icing on his cake. All season long Mike Luzzatti gave opposing pitchers fits by hitting .332 as he collected 186 hits, 20 doubles, 1 triple, 40 home runs, 124 RBIs and scored 116 runs in a marvelous season. This was the second time Luzzatti had won the much-coveted trophy. He also won it in 2008. The Diamonds star first baseman played in all 154 games. He tied Valka's Kurt Jankauskas for the RU home run led with 40 and finished in the top 5 in batting, RBIs and runs scored. The 28-year-old Luzzatti is a 7-year IPA vet and has a .319 career batting average. Amazingly he has not missed a game in the last six seasons. Luzzati played in 144 games in his rookie season.

Valka's slugger Kurt Jankauskas was second in the BNN poll. The 23-year-old Blackhawk left fielder had a great season with 40 roundtrippers, 114 RBIs, 32 doubles, 10 triples and 34 stolen bases. Jankauskas batted .303 and appeared in 145 games. Hal Stevenson, Sugar Valley's superb catcher, was third in the voting. He is 28 years old with 9 years experience in the IPA. Not only can Stevenson hit, he also picked up a Golden Glove this season. For the year he hit at a .293 clip with 39 home runs, 123 RBIs and scored 94 runs, while catching 134 games.

Jesse Goodwin Named TU's Best Hitter
Jesse Goodwin of the East Point Panthers proved that talent plus dedication can help you to reach the highest levels of competition. Hard work, long hours and a tireless resolve paid off for him today in the form of the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. Goodwin hit for a .333 average while collecting 203 hits, 32 doubles, 5 triples, 50 home runs, 138 RBIs and scoring 114 times. The talented Panther second sacker is 37 years of age and still going strong. Goodwin was the IPA leader in homers and topped the TU in hits and runs batted in. He sports a .298 average over his 8-year career. This was his first Golden Bat Award.

Turon's rookie first baseman Clyde Kingsford had a colossal season with 39 doubles, 2 triples and 38 homers, while batting .330 with 127 RBIs and scoring 99 runs. Kingsford was the runner-up to Goodwin for the Gold Bat honor. He is 26 and played in 148 games in his first year in the IPA. The third spot in the BNN poll went to Denton City's star third baseman Jay Petit, who hit .316, rapped 31 out of the park, drove in 106 and scored 101 times.