The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Far Mountain Ace Kelly Wins RU Golden Arm Award
Robby Kelly of the Far Mountain Redhawks might be an old man, but he can still pitch with the best of them. Today the 35-year-old hurler snagged the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award honors for his outstanding 2012 performance. He posted a 2.38 ERA with 22 wins, 8 losses, 131 strikeouts and 78 walks in 299 innings. Kelly completed 23 games. The Redhawk star is 183-125 in his 12-year IPA career with a fine 3.01 ERA.

Kelly beat out some tough competition for the award. 21-year-old Nicky Perrier of the Glasco Athletics finished a very close second with a 23-9 record and a sterling 2.34 ERA. Wynnamac's standout southpaw Jerry Meeks posted a 21-12 mark and a great 2.17 ERA and wound up third in the BNN poll. Meeks led the RU in ERA.

TU's Best Hurler is Terranova
The Golden Arm Award for 2012 has been presented and the Tycobbian Union winner is 30-year-old Blackie Terranova of South Fork. "It's always nice to receive an award like this," said Terranova. "I just hope I can improve on my performance next year and be in the running again," the Stallions star told reporters. Terranova excelled with an impressive 25-6 record in 40 starts. In 320 innings he yielded 278 hits and 80 walks, while striking out 190 and compiling a fine 2.59 ERA. Terranova is 59-33 with a career 3.14 ERA in his 3-year career.

Terranova outpaced Cody Burg of the Cape Coral Hurricanes and Nicky Engstrom of the Turon Typhoons for this year's honor. Burg has won it twice previously and Engstrom took the trophy last year. All of them are right-handed pitchers. Burg was 24-10 on the year with a TU-leading 2.08 ERA, while the 23-year-old Engstrom posted a 2.26 ERA, good enough for a 20-13 record. Burg is only 30 and is the all-time wins leader in the IPA with a remarkable 208-128 mark and a splendid 2.53 ERA in his 12 seasons. Engstrom has been around the IPA only 3 years, but they have been sensational seasons. He has notched a superlative 63-27 record with a fantastic 2.14 ERA.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Garza Best RU Rookie in 2012
2012 was not much of a year for rookies in the Ruthlandian Union. It was tough for them to make a roster as most teams were veteran-dominated. There were no clear-cut winners this season. However, there were a few newcomers that made a dent in the league. Volusia's Rafael Garza was one of the few good newcomers. The Vigilantes 23-year-old first baseman was the cream of the freshman crop in the RU and today he received the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award. He played in 125 games, compiling a .318 batting average with 148 hits, 7 home runs, 46 walks and a .381 on-base percentage. Garza also chipped in 47 RBIs and scored 59 times.

Second in the poll was Sligo closer Lenny Ciaccio, who saved 27 games for the Rovers and compiled a 9-7 mark with a 3.79 ERA. Belair Beach reliever Frank Shaffner received the third-highest vote count. The 21-year-old righty chalked up an 8-2 record with a fine 2.59 ERA in 31 appearances. San Dimas right fielder Norm Owens was fourth in the balloting. He hit .285 with 12 homers and 67 RBIs. The only other votegetter was San Dimas right-hander Rafael Vargas, who fashioned a 10-9 record and a 3.92 ERA in 24 outings.

Tycobbian Union Honors Turon's Kingsford
The Tycobbian Union had a much better rookie class than the the Ruthlandian Union this season, mainly because of Clyde Kingsford, the fine Turon first baseman. The Tycobbian Union announced its Rookie of the Year Award for 2012 and the honor went to Kingsford, who was so good that he finished second in the Golden Bat competition. The 26-year-old Typhoons newcomer took the rookie trophy by hitting .330 in 148 games and finished with 176 hits, 38 home runs, 127 RBIs and 99 runs scored. Kingsford was the hands-down winner.

A distant second was Summerland's standout center fielder Jim Garrison, who bagged 32 doubles, 11 triples, 27 home runs, 88 RBIs and scored 86 runs. Number three in the BNN poll was Rick Prichard, who was signed in June by the Bayview Vikings and put up a very impressive 10-3 record with a 3.38 ERA in 18 starts.

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 12, 2012

RU Honors 2012 Golden Glove Award Winners
"Flashing the leather" and "good with the glove" are ways to describe players who help their teams by thwarting the opponent's offense. Sugar Valley's great catcher Hal Stevenson was acclaimed to the Dream Team for the fifth time, Belle Plaine's third baseman extraordinaire Warren McDaniel won for the third time and Rocky Rapids fine left fielder Scott Camden is now a two-time winner. All others were first-timers. Today the most dependable glovemen in the Ruthlandian Union for 2012 were announced. Golden Glove Awards will be presented to these top-notch defenders:

Pitcher: Pablo Orantes (LaGrange Sports) .990 FA (18-13 2.63)
Catcher: Hal Stevenson (Sugar Valley Rattlers) .994/FA/41.5% RTO/4 PB (.293 BA)
First Baseman: Ray Slater (Beechwood Bobcats) .997 FA/116 A (.308 BA)
Second Baseman: Darrell Woods (Beechwood Bobcats) .987 FA/ 471 A (.273 BA)
Third Baseman: Warren McDaniel (Belle Plaine Musketeers) .968 FA/384 A (.250 BA)
Shortstop: Don Nichols (Far Mountain Redhawks) .978 FA/565 A (.302 BA)
Left Fielder: Scott Camden (Rocky Rapids Snappers) .979 FA/328 PO/15 A (.293 BA)
Center Fielder: Rickey Alfonso (San Dimas Rancheros) .998 FA/401 PO/4 A (.274 BA)
Right Fielder: Kippy Doyle (Waleska Westerners) .993 FA/264 PO/6 A (.312 BA)

TU Announces 2012 Top Gloves
On the defensive side of the game pitchers always get the glory, but the best pitchers know their success hinges on the gloves behind them. Only two multi-year winners this season. Arlon's catcher Mike Felker and North Hills first sacker Masaichi Okaza picked up their second Gold Glove. The defensive dream team in the Tycobbian Union for 2012 has been announced, and the Golden Glove Award trophies will be presented to these outstanding fielders:

Pitcher: Duke DeVree (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) .987 FA (15-13 3.33)
Catcher: Mike Felker (Arlon Champions) .994 FA/42.3% RTO/3 PB (.278 BA)
First Baseman: Masaichi Okawa (North Hills Hawks) .994 FA/105 A (.255 BA)
Second Baseman: Jud Turchin (Hartsdale Hellcats) .980 FA/538 A (.297 BA)
Third Baseman: Bobby Ritter (South Fork Stallions) .970 FA/ 351 A (.326 BA)
Shortstop: Jose Aguilar (Red Bluff Red Sox) .976 FA/593 A (.315 BA)
Left Fielder: Dickie Nordhagen (Luxora Zorros) .994 FA/300 PO/12 A (.289 BA)
Center Fielder: Rick Hilliard (Blue Lake Blue Sox) .997 FA/353 PO/6 A (.286 BA)
Right Fielder: Gilberto Montenegro (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .987 FA/207 PO/15 A (.272 BA)

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 13, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Final Batting Statistics

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 13, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Final Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 13, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Final Batting Statistics

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 13, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Final Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 14, 2012

FM's Robby Kelly MVP In RU
The Far Mountain Redhawks won more games than anyone in the IPA this season and was one of the prime reasons was pitcher Robby Kelly, who racked up a 22-8 record to pace them to their fourth consecutive RU North pennant. For his excellent season Kelly hauled in the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award for 2012. The 35-year-old right-hander completed 23 of his 36 starts and compiled a 2.38 ERA, third-best in the league. Kelly led the entire IPA with 6 shutouts. This was the first time Kelly has claimed the MVP honor. He also was selected as the best pitcher in the RU and took the Golden Arm trophy this year. Outfielder Jet Kazmarek is the only player to win the award twice. He won in successive seasons in 2002 and 2003 while playing for Valmara.

Two very fine batters finished second and third in the BNN MVP poll. Golden Bat winner Mike Luzzatti was the runner-up. The Claxton Diamond first baseman worked over RU pitching to the tune of 40 homers, 124 RBIs, 116 runs and a .332 batting average. Sligo's splendid left-fielder Fred Collins came in third with another fine year. He batted .332 in leading the Rovers to the RU West crown. Collins totaled 28 homers, 96 RBIs, scored 110 times and stole 30 bases.

Terranova's Terrific Year Nets TU MVP
It was the year of the pitcher as far as the major awards in the IPA. South Fork's Blackie Terranova was also a double winner like Kelly. Not only did he win the Golden Arm Award, the 30-year-old righty took home the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player trophy. Terranova was 25-6 with a .2.59 ERA and almost single-handedly won the TU East title. Sadly however, because of poor offense, the Stallions fell 2 games short of the pennant. It really is amazing that Terranova won that many games with such poor run support. The only player to ever win the MVP twice in the TU was Fairfax's star left fielder Dane Wesner, who was picked in 2010 and 2011.

Two sluggers were Terranova's main competition. East Point's second baseman and Golden Bat winner Jesse Goodwin wound up a very close second with 50 home runs, 138 RBIs, 114 runs, while hitting at a .333 clip. Goodwin paced the IPA in homers and RBIs. Rookie phenom Clyde Kingsford was third in the close 3-way race. The Turon first sacker hit .330 with 38 home runs and 127 runs batted in.

I'll get busy and work on season 13.

In order to move faster, I will only give a final summary of the league, instead of covering it at mid-season, too.

I want to get through 30 seasons. I will speed up the process.

I intend to add the mythical greats of the movies and literature this season. You should see "The Natural" Roy Hobbs, Crash Davis, Ebby "Nuke" LaLoosh, "Mr. Baseball" Jack Eliott, Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn and all of Duane Decker's Blue Sox in the league this year. Decker wrote about a dozen books that covered all of the Blue Sox players. I read them in study hall in the 50's at Murphy High in Mobile, Alabama. Dream Teams is a fan of the books as well. He created the great Metro League dynasty.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 16, 2013

2013 Glitter Game Set For Far Mountain
Showcase for the Stars -- The 2013 Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game. It's a great game for the fans. The All-Star Classic comes around each year at this time to the delight of every baseball fan. All of gifted and talented players from the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union come together and show their wares on the baseball diamond. The top players go toe-to-toe with one another to get the bragging rights for their league. The game will be played at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain Wednesday afternoon. Tycobbia has won 9 of the 12 All-Star games. However, Ruthlandia has been victorious in the last two contests.

Heading up the RU Stars are 6-time All-Star Hal Stevenson, 5-time selections Mike Luzzatti and Don Nichols, 4-time honorees Ilya Szabo, Hollis Waldrup and Trip Holmes, and Lloyd Voss and Jim Rose, who has been chosen 3 times apiece. Dane Wesner and Zeppy Deshotel pace the TU Stars, both have made the dream team 6 times each. Tom Brabant has been honored 5 times and Jud Turchin on 4 occasions. 3-time choices are Don Holden, Jesse Goodwin, Karl Benson, Cameron Kamara, Bobby Steitz, Rocco Belasario and Mac Faulkner.

Selected to play for the Ruthlandian Union All-Stars are:

SP D. Edenborough (SLI) 13-3 2.31
SP V. Rastelli (SLI) 10-4 2.00
SP I. Szabo (CFX) 11-4 2.39
SP W. Crawford (FM) 10-5 2.25
SP G. Hersh (VOL) 8-5 1.86
SP J. Cartner (CFX) 11-4 2.59
SP N. Deville (GLS) 10-2 2.98
SP D. Jumonville (BEE) 9-5 2.57
CL V. Markovic (VLK) 2-6 2.03 23 Saves
CL G. Tenbrook (BB) 4-0 1.16 16 Saves
C T. Tillman (WYN) .295/2/30/37
C L. Carter (ELN) .302/14/49/45
C H. Stevenson (SV) .309/19/58/39
1B A. Doiron (FC) .345/7/34/50
1B P. Skrmetta (TAR) .288/14/42/57
1B M. Luzzatti (CLX) .337/17/55/52
2B P. Shelton (RR) .312/19/62/50
2B H. Waldrup (SLI) .314/8/29/55
2B J. Rose (MDF) .296/16/42/48
3B V. Sardisco (STJ) .346/9/44/31
3B A. Jalenak (VLM) .314/10/37/43
3B V. Scalzi (RAN) .346/9/44/31
SS D. Nichols (FM) .330/14/48/47
SS S. Hammill (BP) .357/12/52/47
LF M. Jaffe (STO) .345/15/46/41
LF J. Judlin (FC) .349/18/52/55
LF A. Kennedy (TAR) .333/11/41/42
CF K. MacPhail (KIL) .309/10/47/35
CF T. Holmes (CCR) .292/13/58/38
CF R. Hobbs (WLK) .384/10/59/52
RF L. Voss (ELN) .381/7/40/50
RF E. Stosha (CCR) .343/9/37/51
RF A. Marshall (TAR) .296/20/59/46

The Tycobbian Union All-Stars will have these players on their roster:

SP J. Russell (DC) 12-4 2.11
SP D. Quartermain (CHI) 12-3 2.06
SP K. Hill (FFX) 14-3 2.79
SP T. Bristow (TUC) 10-5 2.09
SP J. Hampton (FFX) 11-4 2.13
SP J. Rainer (HM) 12-2 2.81
SP N. Engstrom (TUR) 11-2 2.58
SP T. Wrightman (LUX) 9-4 2.50
CL J. Rabelais (ARL) 5-4 2.23 17 Saves
CL F. Gerber (SUM) 5-1 1.37 12 Saves
C B. O'Brian (MAH) .310/11/46/43
C C. Davis (GIN) .320/14/44/51
C D. Holden (AG) .282/10/39/42
1B J. Elliott (HM) .378/33/69/63
1B J. Peters (SF) .336/18/55/54
1B T. Brabant (HAR) .332/22/53/40
1B J. Carducci (MAH) .304/25/63/49
1B C. Kingsford (TUR) .311/19/58/48
2B J. Turchin (HAR) .289/14/49/46
2B J. Goodwin (EP) .302/24/61/51
3B C. Kamara (OXF) .312/22/58/51
3B K. Benson (BAY) .295/21/60/48
SS D. Conroy (BAY) .321/17/52/41
SS B. Steitz (LC) .331/7/34/50
LF R. Belasario (ARL) .289/12/45/49
LF M. Faulkner (HAR) .332/17/39/40
CF J. Lee (MDW) .313/16/47/46
CF Z. Deshotel (LC) .337/24/68/54
CF D. Lewis (RH) .333/9/47/59
RF D. Nordhagen (LUX) .352/8/42/59
RF D. Wesner (FFX) .360/14/50/42
RF K. Grabowski (RB) .377/7/34/37

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

RU Stars Rout TU Stars 10-3 In IPA All-Star Game
The power has shifted in the IPA as the Ruthlandian All-Stars routed the Tycobbian All-Stars 10-3 at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain. This is the third straight triumph for Ruthlandian in the All-Star competition. The RU has also won the last three Pro Cups. The RU Stars ripped TU pitching for 13 hits to win going away. Most of the damage was done in the 3-run second and the 4-run eighth. 1B Pietro Skrmetta's (Taranto) 2-run double in the second and LF Mike Jaffe's (Stoner) 3-run homer in the eighth were the big blows of the game. Jaffe was voted the game's MVP by the sportswriters. Ilya Szabo (Colfax) got credit for the victory with 2 scoreless innings, while starter Des Quartermain (Chicopee) was shelled for 4 runs in the first 2 frames for the loss. Tycobbia didn't score until the seventh when they picked up one run. Ruthlandia promptly put the game out of reach with a 4-run outburst in the next inning. 3B Karl Benson (Bayview) led the TU with a solo home run in the ninth. They were held to 7 hits in the game by 8 RU hurlers. Tycobbia still has a wide lead in the All-Star series. Overall they have won 9 of the 13 clashes.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Rookie Roy Hobbs Wins RU Batting Title
You might say the 20-year-old Waleska rookie center fielder is a natural. In his first IPA season Hobbs went to the plate 567 times, collected 202 hits and came away with the 2013 Ruthlandian Union batting title. His .356 average placed him at the top of the list. Hobbs played in 142 games and had 22 home runs, 104 RBIs and 105 runs scored.

Hobbs beat out Lloyd Voss, the veteran Elnora left fielder, for the batting crown. Voss batted .348 with 19 roundtrippers, 105 RBIs and scored 93 times. Third in the race was Belle Plaine fine freshman shortstop Scott Hammill, who hit an impressive .346 with 19 home runs, 105 RBIs and tallied 93 runs.

Fairfax's Wesner Is TU Swing King
Dane Wesner gave Frogs fans plenty to cheer about this past year. His latest achievement, the 2013 Tycobbian Union batting crown, gives them one more good reason to celebrate. In 132 games, the Fairfax right fielder hit .368 with 180 hits, 34 home runs, 106 RBIs and 91 runs scored. It was Wesner's second batting title in his 6-year career. He is a .342 lifetime hitter in the IPA.

Wesner got the best of High Mesa's sensational rookie Jack Elliott in the batting competition. Elliott won just about every other offensive category in the IPA, including a record number of homers, but finished second in hitting. The 20-year-old first sacker pounded 61 out of the park to top East Point's Karol Zodoka's 2002 mark of 54 roundtrippers. Elliott posted a .355 batting average and also led the IPA with 144 runs batted in and 134 runs scored. He was almost a Triple Crown winner in his freshman year in the league.

Zeppy Deshotel, La Claire's brilliant center fielder, was third with a .350 BA. Deshotel slugged 44 home runs, drove in 125 and scored 114 times. He also stole 44 bases in a very productive season.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian North Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2013

Redhawks RU North Champs 5th Year In A Row
The defending IPA Pro Cup crownbearers, the Far Mountain Redhawks, captured their phenomenal 5th successive Ruthlandian North title with relative ease and will now go in quest of its 3rd consecutive Pro Cup. Alex Groveland's Redhawks pulled away in hot days of summer and finished 7 games up on second place Kilkenny, 9 games ahead of Taranto and beat Glasco by 15 to claim the division again.

Far Mountain (93-61) did it with great pitching. The Redhawk staff compiled a superlative 3.18 team ERA, first in the RU. Youngsters Woody Crawford (23-9 2.47) and Rich Burton (14-4 2.47) combined with veterans Robby Kelly (19-16 3.17) and Boomerang Hines (14-5 2.53) to form one of the best rotations in the IPA. Dependable 3B Duane Parsons (.293/27/106/92) and SS Don Nichols (.293/20/82/89) led the fair offense, which hit only .258 (14th).

The second place Kilkenny Cats (86-68) featured a good starting foursome in a good year under manager Kieran McKenna. His pitching corps was headed up by southpaw Sidney McFarlane (19-9 3.46), who blossomed in his sophomore season. Matt DeRosa (18-10 3.49), obtained in a trade with Hartsdale of the TU, stood out as well. Rounding out the starters were vet Roger Davidson (18-14 3.03) and rookie Kyle Ferguson (10-3 3.01). The Cats have never made the Pro Cup playoffs. They missed this year because of a lack of offense. Kilkenny hit only .257 (18th), but does have a fine defensive club with a .977 FA, second-best in the league. McKenna's Cats need more run production. CF Kevin McPhail (.325/17/92/86) is his best bat.

Manager Tommaso Lazzorda guided his hard-hitting Taranto Tars (84-70) to third place with a long ball attack. The Tars totaled 225 homers to lead the entire IPA. 10 players hit 10 or more home runs, paced by the talented rookie RF Augie Marshall (.315/42/126/106), LF Arnie Kennedy (.303/27/88/85), 2B Ed Miles (.281/25/85/105) and 1B Pietro Skrmetta (.205/26/83/114). It is a plus and minus playing in the Palazzo di Sport with its short dimensions. The hitters love it, but not so for the pitchers. Lazzorda's staff put up a 4.29 ERA (28th) and ranked near the bottom. However, Jay Cervini (14-11 3.11) and Anthony Zinacola (15-9 3.94) both did a fine job for him. A few more like them would give the Tars a fighting chance to challenge the powerful Far Mountain Redhawks.

The Glasco Athletics (78-76) were just an ordinary ballclub and wound up fourth in the RU North standings with McDuffie Hughes at the helm. The A's had no power with only 89 home runs (32nd) and only average pitching with a 3.59 team ERA (12th). Glasco does possess two impressive hurlers in Nicky Perrier (20-12 2.25), who has won 20 games each year since he has been in the league. Perrier has played 3 years now and chalked up 63 victories. Hughes' other quality arm is lefty Nick Deville, who came over from the Tycobbian Union in a trade with Kenwood. Deville fashioned a solid 17-10 year with a 3.02 ERA. The Athletics top run producers are SS Lee Sullivan (.290/16/87) and 40-year-old RF Ike Plunkett (.288/18/72), who is winding down an excellent career. Plunkett has over 300 homers and over a 1,000 RBIs and runs in his 13 years in the league. Plunkett has a lifetime .301 batting average. He is a shoo-in for the IPA Hall of Fame.

The LaGrange Sports (76-78) came in fifth this year, but trailed by 17 games. Foxy Jimison did not have a lot to smile about this year. His hitting was poor with a .248 BA (28th) and pitching was only average with a 3.80 ERA (17th). 36-year-old vet LF Quincy Peterson (.277/30/77/101) can still fill the bill with the bat, but had little help. LaGrange has just three pitchers of note: starters Pablo Orantes (17-14 3.25) and portsider Denny Kristensen (15-18 3.03), along with a super closer Andre Dupas (6-5 2.18), who had 31 saves.

It was another disappointing season for the Ancona Red Elephants (70-84) and manager Manny Mickens. The club ended the year sixth and trailed by 23 games. They hit .259 (13th) with decent power. The Red Elephants rapped 141 homers (8th). On the mound they were pathetic with a 4.48 ERA (31st). Team leaders at plate were their veteran 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.319/24/108/88), who had another standout season, a terrific rookie LF Kenny Willard (.290/26/92/90) and dependable RF Louis DiMucci (.280/26/72/77). On the hill, it was starter Yannis Vardakis (19-14 3.92) and superb closer John Sharpe, who was 6-3 on the season with 33 saves and a microscopic 1.99 ERA in 54 games.

For the fifth year in a row the once-proud Ranford Bulls (68-86) of Page Satcher have staggered home in the second division. They have not made the playoffs in 8 years after being a postseason power in its first four seasons in the IPA. This season the Bulls languished in seventh place, 25 games off the pace. Satcher just doesn't have much talent in Ranford. 37-year-old lefty Chris Bernhoffer (15-16 3.63) is his best pitcher, while his top bats are rookie 3B Vic Scalzi (.293/27/97/94) and 9-year-veteran 1B Billy Massengale (.279/25/83/89).

For the first seven seasons in the IPA the Valmara Vipers (63-91) prospered under the leadership of skipper J. Jackson Samuel. The Vipers won 2 pennants and regularly contended for the RU North title, but not lately. For the last 6 years Valmara has only one first division finish and that was only fourth place in 2012. 2013 was the Vipers worst year ever. They plunged to the cellar and wound up 30 games in back of the champion Far Mountain. Valmara is at the bottom in all categories. They batted a paltry .241 (32nd) and registered a very poor 4.39 team ERA (29th). 13-year man Vanya Vasylenko (11-16 3.76) is still around at age 31 and still a capable starter. He has won 190 games in his career. Samuel's best batter is 31-year-old RF Lou Gdowski (.282/18/90/80). Sadly Valmara doesn't have much after those two vets.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian South Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

STJ September Surge Sinks Sunbirds
The surprising St. John Crusaders came on strong in crunch time and nailed down their 3rd Ruthlandian South flag. Dickie Billings' boys also won the title in 2007 and 2003. To win it, St. John had to beat the battle-tested Belair Beach Sunbirds, who wilted in September and allowed the Crusaders to surge past them by 3 games in the final week of the season. The Crystal Lake Crushers came in third, finishing just 5 games back. The San Dimas Rancheros were in the fourth spot, coming in 10 games behind.

St. John (87-67) was the comeback kids this season as they rose up from 7th place in 2012. Billings' ballclub succeeded with a good offense. They hit .265 (7th) and were one of the top-scoring teams with 790 runs (2nd). The Crusaders possess a solid batting order with decent power (129 HR-14th) and enough pitching to survive (3.63 ERA-13th). Billings' bullpen was outstanding and was anchored by left-hander Pat Chevalier, who saved 18 saves with a 9-7 mark and a fantastic 1.88 ERA. St. John's top twirler was Ken Wheeler (17-6 3.04), along with Teddy Garson (17-10 4.25). The big bats belonged to 3B Vinny Sardisco (.309/23/107/74), RF Clayton Luck (.296/12/46/127), 2B Tony Borcellino (.269/13/84) and C Virgil Carpenter (.259/17/82).

Belair Beach (84-70) slumped severely in September with a 4-10 record, while St. John swept past with a 10-4 mark. Poor hitting cost the Sunbirds their 4th RU South pennant as they came up 3 games short. Manager Marty Pedroza team hit well for average with a .264 mark (9th), but had trouble scoring (683-17th). Belair Beach's best bats were RF Billy Martz (.314/10/56/65), SS Ronnie Nossek (.298/15/70/72) and LF Ron Dizon (.259/23/70/69), none of which really had a good season. Pedroza's best pitchers were veteran starters Jeff Nieman (16-8 3.36) and Tiny Lindgren (15-11 3.66) and closer Groot Tenbrook (6-3 1.89), who piled up 29 saves. As a team they compiled a pretty good 3.72 ERA (16th). The Sunbirds are the best defensive club in Ruthlandia with a .979 FA (1st).

Manager Herman "Baby" George improved his pitching and offense over the winter and that translated into a strong 3rd place finish for Crystal Lake (82-72). The Crushers contended into the final days of the regular season, but failed to make the postseason for the 12th season in a row. Ben Dewberry (19-8 3.17), Al Duhon (17-15 3.83) and closer Jeff Jernigan (5-7 2.63) kept them in the race, along with the some good hitting from superstud 1B Phil Gravelli (.311/21/113/80), standout rookie RF Chip Fiske (.333/7/71/102/45 SB) and 2B Nelson Tolliver (.272/19/94/63). Jerrigan, a 29-year-old southpaw, led the league with 35 saves this year.

Paco Banderos' San Dimas Rancheros (77-77) ran a good race until a bad August (12-17) sent them plunging. At the end they were 10 games off the pace. Future Hall-of-Famer Carl Schmitz paced the pitching corps with a fine 18-14 record and a 2.84 ERA. The 36-year-old Schmitz is 220-160 in his 13 seasons. Closer Raul Marroquin racked up 32 saves with a 4-7 mark and an impressive 2.78 ERA in 53 games. However, San Dimas couldn't overcome an anemic offense. Banderos' most productive hitters were SS Greg Lawrence with 18 homers and 100 RBIs and 1B Ron Armstrong with 29 roundtrippers and 99 RBIs, but they batted only .241 and .258 respectively.

The 5th spot in the RU South standings went to McGraw Johnson's Waleska Westerners (75-79), who trailed first place St. John by 12 games. His club hits well for contact with a .267 batting average (6th), but lacks power with just 110 home runs (30th). Waleska's pitching is poor, too. Johnson's staff could only manage a 4.09 team ERA. 9-year vet Wilson Whitmore led the squad with a 14-14 record and a 3.19 ERA. The Westerners added a budding superstar this season. CF Roy Hobbs (.356/22/104/105) had a marvelous rookie season. Other capable run producers were LF Kippy Doyle (.307/20/90/74), 3B Grant Betzer (.296/10/64/101) and 1B DePaul Labat (.264/14/71/96). Johnson is only a pitcher or two and one hitter away from a solid pennant contender.

2013 was a very dismal year for Stacy Engel and his Claxton Diamonds (74-80), who tumbled unexpectedly from 2nd place to 6th, 13 games off the pace. Both the Diamonds pitching and hitting went south this season. Alex Vanzetti was Engel's only steady pitcher with a 13-10 record and 3.30 ERA. It wasn't much better at the plate except for 1B Mike Luzzatti (.300/31/97/97), one of the IPA all-time greats. Luzzatti got a little help from RF Helmut Graczyk, who had 24 home runs, 81 runs and 81 RBIs, but had an off-year with a .260 average. Graczyk is a .298 lifetime hitter and has averaged over 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored in his 9 years in the league.

The seventh place Valka Blackhawks (72-82) are short of talent and wound up 15 games out of first. Skipper Jaan Kurus has four quality performers. Rookie Eddie Lasky (14-14 3.38) impressed the experts and looks to be a future star, while vets Connie Krueger(17-12 3.70) and closer Vinko Markovic did quality work, too. Markovic totaled 33 saves with a splendid 1.98 ERA, but he put up a very poor 4-10 mark. Valka suffers badly in the offensive department. Kurus' only top-notch hitter is 24-year-old Kurt Jankauskas. The gifted left fielder cracked 33 homers, scored 94 times and batted in 107 runs.

Last place went to the Grand City Cybercats (62-92) and deservedly so. Manager Torry Joseph's crew was the worst team in the RU and second worst in the IPA. Only East Point (53-101) of the TU East won fewer games. Poor pitching and poor hitting says it all. Grand City had only two pretty fair players. Rookie 3B Jug Slavin was Joseph's top batter with a .299 batting average, 17 homers and 93 RBIs, while closer Paul McBride was his best hurler. McBride went 7-7, saved 23 games and posted a 3.60 ERA.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian East Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Wynnamac Edges Elnora In Playoff, Wins RU East
The Wynnamac Sundowners fought off the Elnora All-Stars in a close race to claim their 2nd Ruthlandian East flag. Matt Donnelly's Sundowners nipped the All-Stars 6-5 in a one-game playoff and edged them out by a single game. Wynnamac won its first title in 2008. Third place went to the Beechwood Bobcats, who finished 6.5 games out with fourth place going to the Marston Nine. Marston trailed by 12.5 games.

Wynnamac's (87-68) pitching carried them. ERA leader Jerry Meeks (22-6 2.47), Gene Fair (17-13 3.69) and Lenny Ward (10-3 2.97) were Donnelly's mainstays on the mound, while his top hitters were LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.269/24/103/96), RF Joey Eaton (.317/24/79/87) and CF Clive Farnham (.279/25/79/83). Rookie C Tweet Tillman (.301/4/57/74) made an impact defensively and offensively.

The Elnora All-Stars (86-69) almost hit their way to the division crown, but fell one game short. Manager Zoggy White's charges belted the ball at a .275 rate (2nd) and were paced by star RF Lloyd Voss (.348/19/81/100), a career .339 hitter after 8 seasons in the IPA. CF Denny Sawyer (.282/22/91/96) and rookie C Leon Carter (.291/24/86/93) made an impact, too. Elnora's pitching was its weakness overall with a 3.83 team ERA, but White did have Taylor Gibbs, who has accumulated 197 wins in his 13 years. The 34-year-old Gibbs seems to be getting better with age. He notched a strong 21-10 record with a 2.94 ERA this year. Another solid veteran Leroy Hill, who came over late last year in a trade with Far Mountain, showed he has plenty of life and plenty of wins left in his 36-year-old arm with a 20-13 mark and a 4.11 ERA.

It was another good year for Bret George. His Beechwood Bobcats (80-74) capped the year in third place, only 6.5 games off the pace. A quartet of 36-year-old pitchers kept the Bobcats in the race the whole season. Starters Dek Jumonville (21-10/2.82), Terry Kuznetsov (18-14/3.27) and Harry Dye (16-14 3.42) gave George a steady rotation. Over the years Jumonville has won 205 games, Kuznetsov 191 and Dye 136. In the bullpen Carl Costas registered 29 saves with a 3.06 ERA, however, he was only 2-8 in wins and losses. Overall Beechwood posted a fine 3.41 team ERA (7th). Weak hitting hurt Beechwood. The Bobcats batted only .253 (26th). George only had two dependable bats. Rookie CF Vic Valenti led the club with a .318 average, swatted 17 homers, scored 77 and batted in 78, while stealing 29 bases. 1B Ray Slater also contributed a .280 average with 6 homers, 58 RBIs, 97 runs and 37 stolen bases.

The fourth place Marston Nine (74-80) ended up 12.5 games behind winning Wynnamac. Skipper Johnny Walters had a fairly good mound corps that compiled a 3.57 ERA (10th), he didn't have much in the way of offense with a .254 batting average (21st). 10-year vet Milt Wilson (19-12 3.17) posted his best season ever at the age of 38. Bullpen specialist John Updike put up some good numbers with a 6-4 mark, 2.77 ERA and 25 saves. Rookie CF Russ Woodward was Marston's best batsman with a .310 average, 29 home runs, 97 RBIs and 86 runs. RF Richie Marrone chipped in 20 homers, 109 runs and 56 RBIs, while hitting .265.

Last year's RU East titleholder Cold Creek (70-84) slumped badly this season and fell all the way to the fifth spot in the standings. T. Kelly Holmes did not have much to be happy about. His hitting and pitching both went into the pits. The Catamounts best performers were pitchers Payton Saunders (19-15 3.66) and closer Shannon Robinson (3-3 2.18), who had 25 saves. At the plate Holmes' grandson, Trip Holmes, had a productive year with 25 homers, 102 RBIs and 81 runs with a so-so .262 BA. Cold Creek's top hitter was the its rock steady RF Emile Stosha, who batted .310 with 17 roundtrippers, 101 runs and 77 runs batted in.

The Belle Plaine Musketeers (68-86) and Sugar Valley Rattlers (68-86) deadlocked for sixth place in the RU East and finished way back, 18.5 games out of first. Muskie manager Boo Ladrieux had a tough time competing with a 4.25 team ERA (27th) and a .258 batting average (15th) with no power whatsoever. Belle Plaine hit only 97 home runs (31st). The Musketeers top hurler were Brad Anderson (17-16 3.48), Jimmy Giroir (10-3 3.44) and relief ace Denny Reynaud (3-7 2.49) with 19 saves. Rookie SS Scott Hammill had an outstanding year with a .346 BA, 19 homers, 105 RBIs and 93 runs scored. Other contributors were 3B Warren McDaniel (.269/20/86/80) and LF Juan Mendez (.292/3/49/98).

Times were once again very hard for manager Gibby Bobkins in Sugar Valley as the Rattlers wallowed near the bottom of the division for the second successive season. The only thing the Rattlers do is hit home runs, but so do the opposing teams. Farmers Memorial Park is only 310 feet down the lines and only 385 in straight away center - hence, it is a homer haven. Sugar Valley hit 150 (6th) out of the park, but other clubs had a feast with 225 homers. Consequently the Rattlers pitching corps posted an atrocious 4.84 ERA (32nd). Bobkins best pitchers were starter Ed Clavell (16-15 4.06) and closer Woody Murrell, who saved 28 games with a 3-4 record and an impressive 2.47 ERA. Sugar Valley was sparked at the plate by 6-time All-Star C Hal Stevenson, who walloped 49 home runs, hit .311 with 134 RBIs and scored 109 times in a great season. LF Austen Conover added a .291 BA with 3 home runs, 102 runs and 56 RBIs, while leading the IPA with 51 steals.

For the third consecutive year the pathetic Eastshore Elegants (66-88) floundered in the RU East cellar, the fifth time in six seasons it has happened. Manager Killer Brewster's crew wound up 20.5 games off the pace. The only bright spots on the club were rookie pitcher Bix Hansen, who racked up an 18-15 mark with a 3.54 ERA and LF Stan Cuccinello, who had another solid season with a .281 average, 29 home runs, 92 RBIs and 90 runs.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian West Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

FC Lumberjacks Survives 6-team Race In RU West
It was a 6-team dogfight in the Ruthlandian West. Just about every team in the division had a chance to take home the pennant and the automatic slot in the postseason Pro Cup playoffs that determine the overall IPA champion. The Forest City Lumberjacks put the final touches on a fine comeback season by wrapping up the pennant with a 9-5 record in September. Only four games separated first place from sixth place. Runner-ups Fort Benton and Volusia both finished one game out of the top spot, Sligo was fourth and 2 games back, Rocky Rapids was fifth and 3 games out and Colfax ended up sixth, yet only 4 games off the pace in the tightly-bound division.

Last season Forest City (85-69) was deep in the second division in seventh place, but this year manager Rob Jackson got improved pitching and that was all the 'Jacks needed. 171 home runs (2nd) didn't hurt matters, either. Paul Crews (19-9 2.38) had a super season and got plenty of help from veterans Knucks Nomellini (19-15 2.48) and Al Thibaut (16-14 2.83). LF Joe Judlin (.320/35/115/102), 1B Andy Doiron (.329/12/69/92) and rookie CF Joe Callaway (.273/22/73/93/31 SB) led the potent attack. 8 Lumberjacks had 10 or more homers.

Manager Alfonso Feliz has a well-balanced ballclub in Volusia (84-70). Solid hitting and pitching carried the day for the Vigilantes as they climbed up from fifth place in 2012. Volusia almost caught champion Forest City with a strong 10-4 finish in the last month, but ran out of time and wound up one scant game behind Forest City. Hank Massey, a 39-year-old journeyman pitcher, had his best year by far with a 21-14 record and a 3.58 ERA. His best previous season was 9-7 in 2003. Alejandro Rio (14-8 2.80) and hard-luck Gerry Hersh (15-16 2.58) gave the V's two more valuable starters. Closer Paul Zenger saved 30 games and compiled a 4-5 mark with a terrific 2.10 ERA in 50 games. Volusia had good bats throughout the batting order, led by the sensational rookie CF Joe DeLucca (.295/24/100/88), 1B Rafael Garza (.337/13/65-64) and dependable RF Briscoe Crowder (.297/15/74/67).

Perrenial loser Fort Benton (84-70) made quite race of it, but a 5-9 record in September cost them the RU West crown. The Defenders came up one game short and tied for second place. Last year they were sixth and 19 games out. Much like Volusia, skipper Robbie Brooks had a good balance of pitching and hitting. Fort Benton had four capable starters in Ivan Gloeckner (19-6 3.36), Tucker Dawes (17-15 2.81), Tom Waltenbury (16-15 3.68) and Hal Neyland (13-15 3.73). Brooks also had a very reliable closer with David Osborn (6-3 2.88), who saved 23 games and registered a strong 2.88 ERA. The Defenders top run producers were rookie 1B Stretch Stookey (.292/9/64/88), 3B Rafael Lemos (.299/7/80/82) and LF Ryan Smith (.273/24/77/112).

It is hard to see how the defending division champ Sligo Rovers (83-71) did not prevail again this season with great stats - .267 batting average (5th) and a 3.34 ERA (3rd). Manager Eddie Keys seemed to have it all. The Rovers were close, just two games behind in fourth place. A poor second half did them in. Sligo was only 31-38 over the last three months of the season. Vinnie Rastelli (19-12 2.23), Dix Edenborough (18-13 3.37) and Roy Gaines (13-13 3.15) topped Keys' pitching rotation. Lack of a quality closer hurt Sligo. The Rovers bats had plenty of punch with the likes of RF Clell Renshaw (.311/21/89/82), CF Chris Michel (.295/14/82/86/34 SB), SS Vic Carlin (.262/25/96/83), LF Fred Collins (.280/25/81/113) and 2B Hollis Waldrup (.266/14/58/105/50 SB). As a team Sligo went deep 167 times (3rd).

Ryan Noland's Rocky Rapids Snappers (82-72) were one of the most improved teams in the IPA, but they still wound up fifth, but just 3 games out of first place. That the problem of playing in one of the strongest divisions in the IPA. Noland's Snappers did well at the plate and on the hill, paced by pitchers Herbie Drahm (19-11 3.42) and Ernie Watkins (13-13 3.48). Don Chaney (15-20 3.47) also gave Rocky Rapids another quality arm. Sparking the offense were a wealth of good hitters. 3B Paul Shelton (.298/38/122/98) had sensational season. Future Hall-of-Famers LF Scott Camden (.322/30/104/104) and C Hank Bethel (.289/26/98/80) were consistent contributors, along with CF Carl Johnson (.299/26/77/97) and SS Cooter Bermudez (.297/5/57/101).

The Colfax Blasters (81-73) are still a powerhouse, but Clem Rogers' talented crew ended up in an unlikely place this season - sixth place, but only 4 games off the lead. A drop in offense cost Colfax dearly this year. They hit only .247 (27th), down from .266 in 2012. Only CF Ryan Raines (.308/21/86/89) and C Joe Alexander (.255/28/102/81) had good years. On the mound Rogers still has a formidable trio of starters in Ilya Szabo (19-13 2.32), Jimmy Joe Cartner (19-11 2.87) and Jasper LaForge (18-10 3.72). A few hits here and there would have made a tremendous difference in their records. A faulty bullpen was also a big problem for Rogers. Dallas Somerville, a normally-reliable closer, had a lousy year with a 1-10 record with a 3.55 ERA and only 24 saves.

The seventh place Stoner Stars (70-84) are just a mediocre team and haven't made the first division since 2007, when they won the RU West flag. Manager Willie Dickens only has a few quality players. Rookie right-hander Billy Chapel really impressed the experts with a 20-13 mark and a 3.00 ERA. 38-year-old 2B Karol Zodoka, a bonafide Hall-of-Famer, can still handle the bat and the glove. Zodoka batted only .275, but scored 92 runs, hit 23 out of the park and drove in 83 runs, while playing like a Gold Glover. Dickens also has a find in rookie LF Mike Jaffe, who led the club with 26 homers, 89 RBIs and a .316 batting average. Jaffe also scored 86 runs.

The Middlefield Roosters (66-88) had a lot to crow about last year with a surprising jump from the basement to third place, but Smitty Michaels' ballclub quickly dispelled any ideas of grandeur this season with a quick return to the RU West dungeon and eighth place, 19 games behind. The Roosters top players were starter Danny Stewart (16-16 3.01), 2B Jim Rose (.268/25/76/89/25 SB) and CF John Hartung (.257/20/75/92/19 SB).

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Tycobbian North Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Fairfax Back On Top In TU North
After a year's absence from atop the Tycobbian North, the Fairfax Frogs rebounded to win their second pennant in the last three years. The Frogs squandered a big lead in the final weeks of the season, but still won by a comfortable 5-game margin over second place Luxora and Mahaska and 8 games over fourth place Oxford.

Team Rankings

BA
1. HAR .266
2. FFX .265
3. MAH .261

HR
1. HAR 205
2. OXF 188
3. MAH 160

Runs
1. MAH 767
2. BL 740
3. LUX 728

ERA
1. FFX 3.33
2. LUX 3.50
3. WR 3.61

FA
1. FFX .977
1. BL .977
3. NH .976

Manager Harry Buckley's Fairfax Frogs (87-67) pretty much led start-to-finish and had things their way in 2013... The Frogs are a well-balanced ballclub with a solid core of veterans on the mound and in the batter's box... top twirlers are Ken Hill (25-13 3.09), Joe Hampton (18-13 2.97), rookie Dan Hunt (18-16 3.49) and Steve Aaron (12-12 3.20)... Toss in an excellent closer in Floyd Burnett (1-2 2.02), who had 26 saves and you have a fine staff... Superstar RF Dane Wesner again led the team and the IPA with a .368 BA... Wesner hammered 34 homers and had 106 RBIs and scored 91 times... SS Wes Hickox (.313/16/85/79) and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.278/17/70/106) chipped in good numbers, too.

The Luxora Zorros (82-72) and the Mahaska Haymakers (82-72) deadlocked for the runner-up spot this season... Alejandro Rodrigo had good pitching in Luxora, while Rusty Tanussa used offense in Mahaska... The Z's top pitchers were Elio Laurente (20-14 2.98), Tommy Wrightman (19-13 2.91) and Rudy De la Roca (14-11 3.37), plus super closer Connie Jahnke, who 28 saves and posted an extraordinary 1.14 ERA with a 4-3 record... top bats were RF Dickie Nordhagen (.316/13/83/112/30 SB), 3B Pablo Santa Cruz (.275/10/85/92/21 SB) and CF Bob Haviland (.263/28/101/79).

Mahaska used 160 homers to lead the TU North in scoring, led by 1B Johnny Carducci with 39 homers, 112 RBIs, 102 runs and a .284 batting average... The 39-year-old Carducci got reborn with the Haymakers as he wasted a year sitting on the bench in Turon after losing his spot in the line-up to a great rookie Clyde Kingsford in 2012... Rookie Bucky O'Brian (.303/21/87/87), SS Monte Davis (.276/14/62/105) and LF Dalton Leeds (.300/15/66/85) added punch to the Lanussa batting order... on the hill Mahaska had Yuri Dozhenko (18-9 4.02) and 41-year-old vet Johnny Spears (13-12 3.69).

The Oxford Red Caps (79-75), skippered by Campy Roy to a fourth-place finish, got off to a poor start, but ended up one of the better teams in the division by year's end... The Red Caps were 8 games off the pace... Oxford used the long ball for success with 188 overall (5th)... Roy could have used more pitching... 41-year-old 3B Cameron Kamara sparked the Red Cap batting order with 47 roundtrippers, 123 RBIs, 98 runs, while batting .311... Other contributors were LF Mack Spencer (.284/37/98/71), 2B Carl Graeme (.265/27/72/80) and 1B Eddy Dowler (.300/11/65/88)... Roy had two dependable starters in Del Anderson (19-14 3.45) and Emerson Carnell (15-14 3.97)... Rookie Rick Vaughn (13-15 3.65) shined at times and struck out 212 batters in his first year.

Heading up the second division 11 games out were Cobb Tyson's fifth place Blue Lake Blue Sox (76-78), who stumbled badly on the mound and took a sharp nosedive in the standings... Justin Eckhardt (15-14 3.51), Pete Henry (15-18 4.08) and Dan Whitfield (14-15 3.73) all had off-years this season... The Blue Sox bats put runs on the scoreboard, powered by CF Rick Hilliard (.290/24/102/88/23 SB), 2B Loren Babcock (.280/27/100/99/35 SB), C Justin Kucks (.276/24/81/61) and 1B Vic Gelder (.296/20/73/89).

Last year's titlist, the North Hill Hawks (73-81), saw their pitching crumble and plunged down to sixth place and 14 games back... Hub Carlson lost a valuable starter in Ben Dewberry, who was traded to Crystal Lake of the Ruthlandian Union... Dewberry was 19-9 this season for the Crushers... Carlson did not find a replacement for him and suffered the consequences... Lou Dozier (20-14 3.54) led the Hawks staff with some help from Fred Weidemeyer (16-15 3.75)... Ronnie Kerensky was 16-12 in 2012, but dipped to 16-19 and a 3.74 ERA this year... Offense was sorely lacking with 1B Masaichi Okawa (.258/25/84/82) and newcomer C Todd Simons (.284/11/74/71) Carlson's best bets... Simons was the only productive player obtained in the Dewberry deal.

The poor White River Rascals (72-82) continued their tradition of never making the playoffs in their 12-year IPA history, winding up seventh in the TU North and 15 games off the pace... Manager John Randison had three quality arms in his rotation with Clinton Banfield (19-13), Brian Charles (13-13 3.26) and Joe Hudson (11-12 3.29), but closer Stan Clermont failed to protect many leads for them... Clermont was only 4-10 with a high 3.44 ERA, although he did have 32 saves... Lifetime Clermont has a strong 2.78 ERA... The Rascals got a fine rookie in 1B Marty Blake, who smacked 36 homers and drove in 111 runs with a .317 BA... It was a bumper crop of freshmen this season in the IPA... Grandison only other decent hitter was LF Joey Jarrett (.270/17/62/97).

Manager Zim Donner saw his pitching trashed this season and his Hartsdale Hellcats (70-84) became clawless pussycats and plummeted to last place, an unlikely place for him... The Hellcats trailed first place Fairfax by 17 games... Last year's mound aces Rip Arnold (15-15 4.45) and Tony Lane (15-17 3.83) went downhill... Last year Arnold was 18-10 and 3.47 with Lane 21-8 and 2.80, big factors in the huge fall from third to the basement... However Donner's bunch could hit the ball hard and led the division with 205 homers (2nd) and a .266 BA (8th)... Hartsdale best hitters were its great 1B Tom Brabant (.333/42/103/88) and solid pros like 3B Kendry Moulton (.289/37/94/97), SS Jud Turchin (.281/27/90/96) and LF Mac Faulkner (.336/34/86/84).

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Tycobbian South Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Turon Retakes TU South, CC Hurricanes 2nd
The powerful Turon Typhoons reestablished themselves as the class of the Tycobbian South in 2013. They busted open a tight race with the defending champs, the Cape Coral Hurricanes, with a sensational September to pull away and win by 9 games. Turon has now won five of the last six years. This was its sixth overall crown. It was only a two-team race with no other real challengers. The Colchester Elites copped third place and trailed by 15 games and the Ginza Ninjas were fourth, 18 games behind.

RU South Team Rankings

Batting Average
1. Arroyo Grande .275
2. Turon .272
3. Southport .262
4. Cape Coral .261

Home Runs
1. Colchester 172
1. Arroyo Grande 172
3. Turon 161
4. Cape Coral 154

Runs
1. Turon 882
2. Arroyo Grande 803
3. Cape Coral 754
4. Colchester 696

ERA
1. Turon 3.11
2. Southport 3.26
3. San Alejo 3.38
4. Ginza 3.50

Fielding Average
1. Ginza .979
2. Colchester .976
3. Southport .973
3. Arroyo Grande .973
3. Cape Coral .973

After a close loss to Cape Coral last season, manager Ashton "Whitey" Richburn righted his Turon Typhoons (95-69) and they won handily this season, tallying up the second-best win total in the Tycobbian Union, outdone only by Tuckanarra of the TU East. The Blue Jays chalked up a great season and 100 victories. The Typhoons strong pitching and strong bats are a hard combination to beat. Young Nicky Engstrom was again brilliant with a 25-6 record and 2.10 ERA. It was his fourth straight 20-win season. Engstrom had plenty of help from veterans Jeb Pickett (21-12 2.94), James Stuart (18-13 3.08) and Jacques Lemaire (16-9 3.57). There is no better starting rotation in the entire IPA. Turon put up a splendid 3.11 team ERA (2nd), bested only by Tuckanarra's microscopic 2.92 ERA (1st).

At the plate the Typhoons were just as good with a .272 mark (4th), 161 homers (13th) and 882 runs (1st). Leading the hit parade was the truly-gifted 1B Clyde Kingsford, who was even better in his sophomore year. The 27-year-old Kingsford ripped 46 home runs, batted .316 with 147 RBIs and 117 runs scored. He led the IPA in RBIs and ranked high in other power categories. CF Mac McCurnan had a standout year with 27 homers, 106 RBIs, 102 runs and a .288 batting average. LF Raphael Semmes (.274/19/88/89) and 2B Alan Hansen (.285/3/50/113) also were important run producers.

Cape Coral (86-68) just didn't have the hitting and the pitching to compete with Turon this year, although Huggy Miller's charges tried hard and stayed with the Typhoons until September, when they fizzled and faded. Pitching-wise Cody Burg (19-11 3.20) and closer Bobby Maas (6-3 2.63) carried the Hurricanes. Maas finished with 32 saves. Other starters Nasty Naymick (15-14 4.15) and Adam Lundgren (11-9 4.08) had down years. Cape Coral only had a few quality bats, none to compare to Turon's. White's best performers were 3B Bobby Josker (.291/18/87/90) and C Todd Boyd (.292/20/89/76).

It was a good year for the third place Colchester Elites (80-74), but they still wound up 15 games off the pace, never posing any threat. Uncle Robbie Wilbertson depend on home runs to get by. The Elites clubbed 172 this year (18th-tied), paced by one of the all-time IPA stars 1B Harlan Roscoe, who delivered for them again and now has over 350 homers, 1250 RBIs and has scored over a 1000 times. Roscoe hit .302 with 26 roundtrippers, 107 RBIs and scored 76 runs. Another solid veteran CF Douglas Tilford chipped in with a .305 average, 17 home runs, 99 runs and 66 RBIs. Colchester only had a couple of quality pitchers. 38-year-old starter Jimmy Simmons (17-16 3.23) has registered a great 183-127 record in his 10 seasons with a very impressive 2.83 ERA. Closer Don Richard was superb in the bullpen with an astronomically-low 0.99 ERA in 49 appearances with a 3-3 record and 36 saves.

Down in Ginza (77-77) the Ninjas broke even for the year and finished 18 games back of Turon. Manager Huroko Uchiyama has a very good starting rotation with Joji Azuma (21-14 2.97), Carl Trebek (17-14 2.71) and Al Myers (15-10 3.11), but suffers batting woes. Ginza just simply doesn't score enough to compete with the likes of Turon, Cape Coral and Colchester. But Uchiyama found a jewel in rookie C Crash Davis, who debuted in grand style with a .329 batting average, 30 home runs, 91 RBIs and 100 runs.

The Southport Sun Sox (76-78) were fifth in the TU South standings, 19 games behind. Skipper Charley Oscar has fine pitching, but mediocre hitting. His top performers are Neil Howell (16-16 2.70) and RF Big Stick Takala (.276/34/99/72).

The San Alejo Montaneros (69-85) wound up in the sixth spot and were 26 games back. Manager Lando Peceda has wealth of good arms, but little in the way of offense. His most capable players are starters Mateus Salinas (19-15 3.28) and rookie Sam Sloat (14-12 3.64), along with 1B Dominique Poirot (.328/25/89/72) and CF Adam Manzoni (.300/4/41/84).

Lousy hitting and average pitching tells the story of the 2013 Summerland Sunsets (66-88), who wound up 29 games behind and in seventh place. Manager Will Hackett has two good pitchers in starter Denny Coulon (12-18 3.16) and closer Frank Gerber (5-6 2.09). Gerber had 21 saves in 44 games this season. 33-year-old Coulon has won over 200 games in his 13-year-career. CF Jim Garrison (.268/19/61/65) is Summerland's only decent bat.

Jean-Luc Marchand's Arroyo Grande Suns (65-89) are right near the top in all of the offensive categories, but are dead last in pitching. The Suns batted .275 (3rd), scored 803 runs (3rd) and hit 172 homers (8th), but had 4.91 team ERA (32nd). That translates to a last-place finish and 30 games away from first place. Aydan Havilland (13-13 3.58) is Arroyo Grande's only pitcher under a 4.00 ERA, most of them are over 5.00.

At the plate LF Jet Kazmarek still gets the job done at age 38. The 9-time batting title winner didn't win it this season, but he did hit .327 with 9 homers, 73 RBIs, 84 runs and 27 stolen bases. Vet 1B Sherm Miles cracked 31 out of the park, batted .288 with 114 RBIs and scored 82 runs. 11-year veteran Kenny Edelstein had another solid season with a .290 mark, 18 home runs, scored 108 runs and batted in 68. Sensational rookie SS Andy Pearson put up an awesome first season with a .322 BA, 16 homers, 116 RBIs and scored 100 times.

Eugene, is Arroyo an extreme hitters park?

Yes, Capet Stadium in Arroyo Grande is a bandbox with 308 down the lines, 331 and 329 straight away left and right, 352 and 349 in the power alleys and 410 in center.

The ballpark factors for homers are a very high 1.450 for left and right-handed hitters.

The Suns hit 172 homers and gave up 221 this season. Opponents hit .284 against them, while they compiled a .275 mark.

Arroyo Grande was 38-39 at home and 27-50 away.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Tycobbian East Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Top-Notch Twirlers Led Tuckanarra To TU East Trophy
Extremely good pitching enabled the Tuckanarra Blue Jays to totally trounce all opposition this season in the Tycobbian East. The Tuckanarra staff had a remarkable 2.92 ERA, which led the entire IPA. Carlton "Lefty" Stevens piloted the Blue Jays to the pennant by 12 games over second place High Mesa, 17 up on third place Red Bluff and 19 games in front of fourth place Midway. It was an amazing feat to record such a low team ERA, especially when the division is loaded with outstanding hitters and high-powered teams.

Team Batting Average
1. High Mesa .276
1. Red Bluff .276
3. Tuckanarra .272
4. Midway .265

Team Home Runs
1. High Mesa 231
2. Midway 193
3. East Point 187
4. Hillsboro 181

Team Runs
1. High Mesa 807
2. Red Bluff 760
3. Midway 737
4. South Fork 725

Team ERA
1. Tuckanarra 2.92
2. Hillsboro 3.80
3. Midway 3.89
4. Red Bluff 4.00

Team Fielding Average
1. Ozarka .980
2. Red Bluff .979
3. High Mesa .976
4. Tuckanarra .975

Tuckanarra's (100-54) mound corps sparked them to 100 victories, the most of any club in the IPA. One of the league's finest all-time pitchers, Titus Bristow, fashioned a great 25-9 record with a 2.04 ERA. Bristow's ERA was the best in the IPA this season. Lifetime the 12-year veteran right-hander is 219-154 with a superb 2.71 ERA. Delaney Elliott also stood out with a 20-14 mark and a strong 2.69 ERA. Delaney is 141-109 in his 10 seasons with a 3.35 ERA. They also got help from Yuka Nawajuk (15-9 3.54) and reliable Roy Spence (19-13 3.71). New closer Stephen Eubarinja did his job as well, compiling 35 saves with a 3-3 record and a sparkling 1.91 ERA. Offensively the Blue Jays were just adequate. Topping the batting order were rookie RF Danny Redd (.329/9/83/88/36 SB), SS Wayne Snider (.312/13/73/72) and CF Earl O'Brien (.305/13/65/104).

The High Mesa Cowboys (88-66) really had a good season as they came up from a sixth-place finish in 2012. But Frisky Franks club wasn't really in the same league as Tuckanarra, windng up a dozen games behind them. The Cowpokes boomed their way to the runner-up spot with 231 homers, 807 runs and a .276 batting average, along with some solid pitching. Rookie 1B Jack Elliott had a colossal season with a record-smashing 61 homers. He totally shattered Karol Zodoka's old mark of 54 set in 2002, while playing for East Point. Elliott batted .355, drove in 144 runs and tallied 134 runs. He was one of the prime reasons for the Cowboys turnaround this year. Elliott also got plenty of support from LF Darrel Alston (.312/30/88/77), 3B Ed Albrecht (.293/20/65/94) and 2B Wild Deer Etchimin (.298/29/94/81).

Starters Kent Wells (19-12 2.92), Johnny Falcon (18-12 3.67) and John Rainer (21-7 3.52) played a big part in High Mesa's success, too. They gave them consistent performances and Ed Galliano (4-6 3.02) was effective with 36 saves in the bullpen.

The third place Red Bluff Red Sox (83-71) also had a robust attack. Mack Connery's charges equaled High Mesa's .276 team batting average and were second in the TU East in scoring. 9-year vet 1B Tommy Klegg had a career year with 53 home runs, 146 RBIs, 108 runs with a .270 batting average. Other Red Sox contributors were RF Kris Grabowski (.342/16/84/69), SS Jose Aguilar (.302/3/81/104/30 SB), C Jim Schubert (.305/15/65/79) and LF Bryan Wessels (.293/13/56/92/22 SB). Connery has a pair of quality pitchers in Ivan Brasco (19-9 3.18) and John Dougherty (16-14 3.50). Both are 12-year veterans. Dougherty has won 166 games with 139 losses and a lifetime 3.20 ERA. Red Bluff is one of the better defensive teams in the IPA with a fine .979 FA (2nd-tied)

The fourth place Midway Wolves (81-73) with Cochise Chandler at the helm had a bunch of bashers, too. They batted .265 with 193 homers and scored 737 runs, but still ended up 19 games out of first. Leading the way were CF Johnny Lee (.291/32/93/98), RF Lou Sturge (.279/38/93/104/37 SB) and LF Dylan Stevenson (.264/33/103/93). Not much on the mound except for 22-year-old starter Motega Wolf (13-6 2.52) and closer Dom Vilaggio (4-7 3.25), who chalked up 31 saves.

The Ozark Naturals (76-78), who had won the TU East the last three years, surprisingly dropped to fifth this season and trailed Tuckanarra by 24 games. Skipper Joe Mac Carney saw his pitching and hitting go downhill, both in the same year. 24-year-old Eddie Roberts was the Nats only standout hurler. In his third year Roberts was 17-10 with a fine 2.66 ERA. At the plate 3B Todd Chadwick (.302/27/115/105/26 SB) and SS Nathan Ferrell (.291/29/114/87) were Ozarka's big guns as usual, along with LF Vic Weinstein (.296/10/65/88). Ozarka is the best fielding club in the IPA with a splendid .980 percentage.

The South Fork Stallions (74-80) were runners-up to Ozarka the past two seasons, but spiraled downward unexpectedly to a dismal sixth spot in the standings, 26 games back. Manager Duroche "Lips" Leon only had two quality arms with Blackie Terranova (17-12 3.58) and Ken Marsh (17-10 3.93). A year ago Terranova won the TU MVP and Golden Arm Awards with a fantastic 25-6 record. South Fork only had two capable hitters in 1B Joe Peters (.325/32/107/95) and CF Robby Michael (.303/18/88/83).

The hapless Hillsboro Blazers (73-81) still haven't made the playoffs after 12 years in the IPA. In fact, Arky Spanderson's team has never even been in the first division. However, things did improve for the Blazers. It's pitching perked for the first time in its history. Spanderson was proud of the team's 3.80 ERA (13th). It is usually 4.25 or worse. Hanford Stadium is noted for its short fences, 318 in left and 320 in right. Three starters stood at the forefront: 13-year veteran Ted Farentino (15-17 3.35), Tom Edgar (14-19 3.66) and Domenico Belizon (16-17 3.81). Young closer Randy Love was outstanding with 27 saves, a very impressive 2.53 ERA and a 7-5 record. The Blazers went deep often with 181 roundtrippers (7th) and were paced by rookie 1B Andy Jefferson (.303/22/66/60). 8 other players hit 10 or more homers, but did not hit for much average. As a team Hillsboro posted a poor .249 mark (30th).

For the second consecutive season the pathetic East Point Panthers (53-101) have logged over 100 defeats. It was even worse last year when they dropped 106 games. Naturally Griff Clarke's Panthers wound up dead last again. All East Point does is hit homers and lose. Because Armed Forces Park has such short fences down the lines (326 feet), the home team notched 187 home runs, but the opposing teams sent 213 soaring into the stands. Gifted 2B Jesse Goodwin, last year's Golden Bat winner, stood out again with 42 homers, 110 RBIs and 98 runs scored. Goodwin hit for a .302 average. CF Joey Olson, a 9-year player, collected 23 roundtrippers, 97 RBIs, while batting .293. However, there is some hope in East Point for the future. The Panthers were blessed with a tremendous rookie pitcher by the odd name of Bingo Long. He won 17 and lost 14 in his first season and finished with a super 2.65 ERA, even though he pitches in such a hitter's ballpark.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Tycobbian West Final Standings and Team Batting and Pitching Statistics

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

DC Redbirds Win Close TU West
Denton City had a close race in the crowded Tycobbian West, but the Redbirds regained the crown after a missing out last year. Denton City fought off spunky Chicopee by 2 games, Kenwood by 3 and the defending champ Arlon Champions by 4 games. It was the Redbirds 5th title in 6 years. Last season they dipped to fourth place, but were only 4.5 games away from winning it.

Team Rankings

Batting Average
1. Denton City .267
1. La Claire .267
3. Bayview .262
4. Kenwood .261

Home Runs
1. Bayview 194
2. La Claire 171
3. Bay St. Clair 168
4. Denton City 164

Runs
1. Bayview 761
2. Denton City 759
3. La Claire 746
4. Rolling Hills 705

ERA
1. Chicopee 3.44
2. Denton City 3.90
3. Arlon 3.92
4. Kenwood 4.01

Fielding Average
1. Arlon .979
1. Kenwood .979
3. Bay St. Clair .976
3. Chicopee .976

Manager Ford Whiteman has had great success in Denton City (83-71) with a well-rounded ballclub. He usually has above-average pitching and hitting, a good formula for winning. The Redbirds have racked up 6 pennants so far. 2013 was another fine season with a rookie the key element. 22-year-old rookie right-hander Jeff Russell crafted a sensational 21-9 record with a 2.90 ERA to almost single-handedly lead them to the title. Without Russell the team would have been in trouble. Long-time star Mila Mohoski was only 16-18 this season with a 3.49 ERA. Mohoski has been 224-154 in his 12 years in the IPA and has four 20-win seasons. Good hitting also played an important part. Whiteman's top bats were veterans RF Lavon Gooch (.317/23/97/80), 1B Mick Abbott (.263/20/96/77) and LF Rod MacCormack (.291/23/70/82), along with rookie C Pete Gibbs (.300/16/69/84).

The second-place Chicopee Braves (81-73) made a late-season charge with an 11-3 record in September and almost caught Denton City. Chicopee has never made the postseason in its 12-year history. They have come very close the last two seasons, falling short by 1.5 games in 2012 and 2 games this year. Manager Harry Fleetfoot has crafted a fine mound staff consisting of solid veterans like Desmond Quartermain (20-12 2.21), Tommy Ruffin (17-9 3.06) and Bill Branch (12-8 3.46). Closer Rich Taylor also sparkled in relief with 30 saves and a 7-5 record and 3.23 ERA. The Braves big shortcoming was its offense. They hit only .256 as a team and had difficulty scoring. Fleetfoot's best producers were C Ivan Burkholder (.288/28/92/81) and RF Matty McDermott (.308/8/57/86/32 SB), who hasn't a fulltime spot on four other teams in the last seven years. Fleetfoot gave him a shot at right field and McDermott did the job in the field, on the basepaths and with the bat. A better attack would have given the Braves the title hands down.

The Kenwood Wildcats (80-74) contended with Denton City the entire year, but flopped badly in September with a 3-11 mark and dipped to third place, 4 games off the pace. Manager Aaron Hankins has really come close to winning the last three seasons, finishing second in 2011 and 2012. Last year Kenwood missed out on the pennant in a single-game playoff loss to champion Arlon. The Wildcats lost a heartbreaking 6-5 game. Hankins' strength is three effective starters, headed up by Todd Combs (18-16 3.20), Sammy Shaw (18-15 3.15) and Denny Yarrow (16-13 4.06). Kenwood suffered from a lack of offense like Chicopee. What little it had came from 1B Duncan Renwick (.289/10/49/88/34 SB) and RF Jimmy Brewer (.301/20/75/63).

Defending champion Arlon (79-75) couldn't hit either and wound up in fourth and 4 games back. The Champs batted an atrocious .241 this season and ranked last in the IPA. Pitchers Armando Cruz (16-12 3.22) and Johnny Rabelais (6-6 1.82) carried the club. Rabelais saved 39 games to set a new IPA record. Skipper Gary Louis' top bats were only so-so. Solid LF Rocco Belasario had another good season with 27 homers, 104 runs, 89 RBIs, 47 stolen bases, while batting .289. RF Chucky Gilton had an off-year with a mediocre .264 mark, but did hit 19 out of the park, batted in 83 and scored 60.

At the top of the TU West second division were the Bayview Vikings (76-78). Manager Walter Johanssen has a strong batting order, but is lacking on the mound, mainly in the bullpen. The offensive leaders for the power-hitting Viks are 3B Karl Benson (.303/31/99/91), SS Dan Conroy (.286/22/84/81), RF Tommy Riddle (.260/23/81/95) and LF Russ Murphy (.273/24/72/60). Alltogether the team clubbed 194 roundtrippers and were tops in the division and 3rd best in the TU. Downtown Plaza Stadium is a tough place to pitch - it is a hitter's ballpark. However, Johanssen has some quality arms in Norm Roy (17-15 3.94), Rick Pritchard (17-14 4.15) and Manny Tettelbach (16-18 3.74). Closer Neil Hilton is the best in the bullpen by far. He was 4-5 on the year with 26 saves and a good 3.08 ERA.

It's been 8 long years since the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (71-83) had a taste of the postseason. Manager Guy Rondre guided them to a poor sixth spot in the standings, 12 games out of first. His top performers are talented veteran 1B Gerry Fields, who has one of his best years with a .323 batting average, 41 homers and 114 RBIs, SS Jimmy Sawyer (.295/26/85/73), 3B Ryan Sanders (.306/17/65/86) and rookie 2B Bud Walker (.287/4/40/92/30 SB).

The La Claire Lynx (66-88) have never made the postseason in its 13-year history and have been in the second division 10 times. 2013 was a usual season for the seventh-place Lynx, 17 games off the pace. Rip Calkin's ballclub had some potent hitters, led by the gifted CF Zeppy Deshotel, who batted .350 with 44 home runs, 125 RBIs, stole 41 bases and scored 112 times in marvelous season. Deshotel is 30-years-old and has a career .312 batting average in his 9 seasons with the Lynx. Deshotel should top the 1000-mark milestone in RBIs and runs in the coming year. He had plenty of support from rookie 3B Flash Devlin (.325/26/94/113/17 SB), SS Bob Steitz (.302/14/67/101/19 SB) and RF Taro Nakanishi, who slammed 32 into the stands, drove in 105 runs, but batted only .237. Calkin has a few good pitchers, led by Nick Pilsner (16-9 3.79) and long-time vet Doug Lyons (12-13 3.48), who is still a quality pitcher at age 39 and 13 years in the league. Lyons is 171-163 in his career.

The Rolling Hills Reds (65-89) has another bad year and ended up in the cellar for the second year in a row. Manager Matty Christianson's club trailed by 18 games. Not much to say about the Reds. Terrible pitching and poor hitting says it all. Christianson's top players were 3B Clay Hoffman (.293/30/110/73) and CF Donnie Lewis (.318/15/74/106/32 SB), both very reliable and consistent ballplayers. The Reds top pitcher was their steady closer Barney Kearns, who notched 28 saves with a 6-5 mark and great 2.26 ERA in 56 game appearances. Rolling Hills fans were excited this year as they drafted one of the top prospects in the Islands, power pitcher Nuke LaLoosh, who had dominated batters in high school and college. However, it was a tough freshman year for him. LaLoosh had his moments. He fanned 187 in 211 innings, but was only 11-17 with a 5.16 ERA. Another rookie, the unsung Sal Jordan, was the Reds best starter as he compiled a 12-12 record with a 3.83 ERA. Mid Towne Baseball Grounds, Rolling Hills ballfield, is a good place to hit for average, but tough to hit homers in. The outfielders have a lot of ground to cover.

Get ready for the IPA Pro Cup playoffs.

They will begin soon.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

IPA Pro Cup Playoffs Begin Tomorrow
A playoff baseball game has a surreal atmosphere. Fans become one, roaring in unison at a great play and sharing the grief at blown opportunity. Victory and defeat play out in a rainbow of colors, sounds, smells and feelings. Islandian Pro Alliance playoff baseball is a memorable experience. What is it like? Ask the 10-year-old sitting with his dad as he plucks a foul ball out of the air. Ask the veteran slugger who hits that walk-off home run. Ask the manager in the big game after coming from 10 games back to win the pennant. Ask the countless number of legends who have flourished or those greats who never won the big one. Or tomorrow, ask any of the rookies what it's like to play in one of the Elite 8 Series showdowns: St. John Crusaders versus Far Mountain Redhawks, Forest City Lumberjacks versus Wynnamac Sundowners, Denton City Redbirds versus Tuckanarra Blue Jays and Fairfax Frogs versus Turon Typhoons.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Times Poll Picks Far Mountain In 2013 Pro Cup Series
The Islandian Times polled all of the major sportswriters and broadcasters and announced the Far Mountain Redhawks as the favorites to win the 2013 IPA Pro Cup. Manager Alex Groveland talented club has brought home the coveted trophy the last two years. Far Mountain's biggest competition is expected to come from the Turon Typhoons, who have captured 3 Pro Cups in their history. However the Redhawks and Typhoons can look for the Tuckanarra Blue Jays and the St. John Crusaders to have a big say in the eventual champion. They were the third and fourth choices respectively. The voters gave Far Mountain and Turon the edge because of stronger pitching, plus successful postseason experience.

Turon has won the Pro Cup the most, three times, while making the postseason 7 times. Far Mountain has appeared in the playoffs 7 times and won the Pro Cup twice. Only one other of this year's representatives has ever won the Pro Cup previously. The Wynnamac Sundowners copped it in their only playoff appearance. That was in 2008. Denton City has been in postseason on 7 occasions, but has never won the overall crown. Tuckanarra and Fairfax have played in the playoffs 5 and 4 times respectively and Forest City has made the Pro Cup playoffs 3 times.

The Islandian Times 2013 Pro Cup Poll
1. Far Mountain (93-61)
2. Turon (95-59)
3. Tuckanarra (100-54)
4. St. John (87-67)
5. Fairfax (87-67)
6. Wynnamac (87-68)
7. Denton City (83-71)
8. Forest City (85-69)

Team Batting Average
1. Turon .272
1. Tuckanarra .272
3. Denton City .267
4. Fairfax .265
4. St. John .265
6. Wynnamac .263
7. Far Mountain .258
8. Forest City .254

Team Home Runs
1. Forest City 171
2. Denton City 164
3. Turon 161
4. St. John 129
5. Wynnamac 123
6. Fairfax 122
7. Far Mountain 121
8. Tuckanarra 108

Team Runs
1. Turon 882
2. St. John 790
3. Denton City 759
4. Wynnamac 734
5. Fairfax 712
6. Forest City 714
7. Tuckanarra 709
8. Far Mountain 668

Team ERA
1. Tuckanarra 2.92
2. Turon 3.11
3. Far Mountain 3.18
4. Wynnamac 3.26
5. Fairfax 3.33
6. Forest City 3.35
7. St. John 3.63
8. Denton City 3.90

Team Fielding Average
1. Fairfax .977
2. Far Mountain .975
2. Tuckanarra .975
2. Denton City .975
2. Forest City .975
6. St. John .972
6. Wynnamac .972
8. Turon .970

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Ruthlandian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

FM Smacks St. John 7-4 In Elite 8 Opener
Playing at home at Sky High Stadium, defending Pro Cup champion Far Mountain rallied late to smack St. John 7-4 in the Elite 8 opener. The Redhawks racked up 12 hits in the victory to subdue 17-game winner Ken Wheeler. Pitcher Woody Crawford didn't have one of his better days, but the 23-game winner got the win. Crawford was tagged for 4 runs in his 8 unsteady innings. He walked 6, struck out 8 and yielded 5 hits. The Crusaders had 3-2 lead going into the seventh, but Wheeler couldn't hold it. Far Mountain shelled him for 3 in the seventh and 2 more in the eighth to wrap up the first game of the series.

Thibaut Fires 5-hitter, FC Lumberjacks Whip Wynnamac 5-1
Al Thibaut waited 12 long years to get to the playoffs and when he did, the 33-year-old Forest City right-hander made the most of it with a sterling 5-1 victory over the Wynnamac Sundowners at Granger Field in Wynnamac. Thibaut, who was 16-14 in the regular season, stopped them on 5 hits and struck out 8 with 2 walks to outpitch 22-game winner Jerry Meeks. The Lumberjacks broke open a tight 2-1 duel with a run in the eighth and two more clinchers in the ninth. C Matt Stinson led the 'Jacks with 2 hits and 2 RBIs, while RF Jack Maples had 2 hits and the game's only homer.

Tycobbian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Frogs Outlast Typhoons 4-1 In 11-Inning Opener
At Typhoon Stadium in Turon, the Fairfax Frogs got the first leg up on favored Turon defeating them 4-1 in 11 innings in game one of the best-of-seven Elite 8 Series. C Cuz Irby was the hero with a two-single off of losing pitcher Merle Studebaker. The next batter 2B Fran O'Brian added another run with an RBI single. Both clubs got excellent pitching up until the final inning. Frog starter Ken Hill (25-13) worked the first ninth and gave up only 1 runs and 5 hits. Closer Floyd Burnett got the win with 2 scoreless frames. The Typhoons Nicky Engstrom (25-6) hurled 8 innings, allowed a run on 6 hits with 8 Ks. Reliever Jacques Lemaire sat down Fairfax in order in the ninth and tenth. The Frogs has the advantage in hits 10-6.

Mohoski the Magnificent, DC Redbirds Rout Tuckanarra 7-1 in First Game
On the road at Tuckanarra's Central Park Stadium, the Denton City Redbirds staked Mila Mohoski to an early 5-0 lead and he made it stand up for an easy 7-1 decision over the Blue Jays in their Elite 8 opening game. The Redbirds routed Titus Bristow (25-9) out of the game in the second inning. Mohoski scattered 8 hits, fanned 10 and walked only 1 in a magnificent performance. He was backed up by 11 hits, sparked by RF Lavon Gooch, who was 3-for-4 with a homer and 2 runs batted in. LF Rod MacCormack chipped in with a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the second.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Ruthlandian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Redhawks Slam Crusaders 10-4, Up 2-0 In Elite 8
The red-hot Far Mountain Redhawks played like champions again in game two of the RU Elite 8 Series and slammed St. John 10-4 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. In the second inning Far Mountain cracked open a 3-3 tie with 4 runs to take a 7-3 lead, then finished off the Crusaders with 3 more in the fifth. CF Xavier Sosa and 3B Duane Parsons paced them with home runs. Sosa had 3 hits and 4 RBIs, while Parsons collected 2 hits, drove in 3 and scored 3 times. Boomerang Hines (14-5) cruised to the victory, allowed 10 hits, 3 earned runs, struck out 6 and walked 3. Pat Tarkovsky suffered the loss for the Crusaders as he was bashed for 7 runs and 7 hits in only 2 and two-thirds innings.

Sundowners Even Series, Stop Lumberjacks 4-2
At Granger Field in Wynnamac, the hometown Sundowners trailed Paul Crews and Forest City 2-1 going into the bottom of the eighth, when their bats came alive for 3 runs to knock off the Lumberjacks 4-2 and even up the Elite 8 Series at one game apiece. RF Joey Eaton tied it up with a sacrifice fly and Big Hoss Burkhalter put them ahead with an RBI double. CF Clive Farnham tacked on an insurance run with a single. Wynnamac starter Lenny Ward (17-17) tossed a strong game, holding the Lumberjacks to 2 runs and 5 hits in 8 innings. Ward picked up the win with help from closer Dan Stevens (7-8), who worked a scoreless ninth for the save. The Sundowners had the edge in hits 9-6. Eaton also doubled in a run in the first inning. Crews (19-9) was the loser as he surrendered 4 runs and 9 hits in a complete game. Crews struck out 8 and walked only 1 batter.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Around the Town In The IPA

ST. JOHN CRUSADERS
Owner: The Brothers of St. John the Baptist
GM: Barry Edwards
Manager: Dick Billings

St. John is an isolated college town of 79,000, located in the sparsely-settled southwestern part of Ruthlandia. It is in the Southern Lowlands about a 100 miles inland from Belair Bay and the Southern Sea. Originally established by the Brothers of St. John the Baptist as a monastery and religious retreat. It is now the home of St. John University, a center of learning and the country's elite academic institution and research center. The university is run by the St. John Brothers.

The school's academic specialties are educational, agricultural and medical research. The university is the site of the oldest and largest library in the country. It also houses the largest medical center and hospital in Ruthlandia.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross Convent is also in St. John. The nuns are active in nursing and education. Together the two orders supply many doctors, nurses and teachers for the Islands.

Another important industry run by the Brothers is the Crusader Wagon Company, the makers of top-of-the-line cars, trucks and tractors used throughout Tycobbia and Ruthlandia. The company was started in the 1860s and made wagons and buggies, expanding to automobiles in the early 1900s.

The picturesque and idyllic town is filled with parks and boulevards, all centered around the university and is a nice place to call home and raise a family.

St. John is also home of the St. John Crusaders of the IPA's Ruthlandian Union South Division, who play at lovely Cathedral Stadium on the university campus. The stadium has a great view of the revered gothic cathedrals that pervade the campus. The fans also get a great panoramic view of the downtown area in the distance. The outfield walls and buildings in left, center and right fields are made of white marble. The Crusaders are owned and operated by the Brothers of St. John. Spectators and fans at the stadium can feast on wonderful and delicious sandwiches made with bread from the monastery's famous ovens and sample exquisite wines from its classic cellars and delightful cheeses from its marvelous dairies. All available at nominal prices. Typical baseball fare is also offered at the concession stands.

Crusader fans are noted for being true sportsmen in the truest sense of the word. They never boo the umpires or utter a discouraging word toward their beloved team or the visiting clubs. They will even applaud a good play by opposing players. A visit to Cathedral Stadium is truly unique and enjoyable.

Longtime front office man, Barry Edwards, is the general manager. He worked for the Doubleday Company in Marston and was the architect of that company's success in industrial league baseball. The manager is Dick Billings, the fabled catcher for the legendary Marston Nine, one of the greatest teams ever. He was an outstanding hitter, catcher and manager.

Cathedral Stadium (1948)
Capacity: 7,450
Dimensions:

LF Line 360
LF 375
LCF 390
CF 400
RCF 390
RF 375
RF Line 360

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Tycobbian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Turon Ties Fairfax With 8-5 Triumph
A 3-run outburst in the seventh inning gave Turon an 8-5 win over the Fairfax Frogs to deadlock the TU Elite 8 Series at a game each. A lead-off triple by veteran 2B Andy Hansen and an RBI single by SS Matt Madison proved to be the game winner for the Typhoons. Later in the inning Turon added two more runs on a sac fly by RF Jack Brown and a double by LF Andy Porter. Reliever Jacques Lemaire (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh for the win with Freddi Spiegel shutting out the Frogs the last two innings for the save. The Typhoons pounded out 13 hits with CF Mac McCurnan and Hansen getting 3 each and 1B Clyde Kingsford, Brown and Porter 2 each. Kingsford scored 3 times for the winners. There were 3 homers in the game. Kingsford belted one for the Typhoons and 3B Robby Franklin and 2B Fran O'Brian kept the Frogs close with 2-run shots. Joe Hampton (18-13) took the loss. He was slammed for 5 runs on 8 hits in his innings.

Motsuzuki's HR Gives Tuckanarra 2-0 Victory, Elliott's 2-Hitter Evens Series
Delaney Elliott and Yoshi Motsuzuki teamed up to even up the Tuckanarra-Denton City Elite 8 Series at one game apiece. Elliott fired a brilliant 2-hit shutout and C Motsuzuki went deep with a 2-run homer in the fifth frame to give the Blue Jays the game 2-0 over the Redbirds. Elliott (20-14) only permitted singles by 2B Pat Batistella in the third and RF Lavon Gooch in the fifth, while striking out 6 and walking just one. Elliott had to be really good as his Denton City counterpart Jeff Russell was almost his equal. Russell (21-9), a superb 22-year-old rookie, wound up allowing only 5 hits in the game.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Around the Town In The IPA

TUCKANARRA BLUE JAYS
Owner: Jayden Thorpe
GM/Manager: Carlton "Lefty" Stevens

Tuckanarra is a rural town in southern Tycobbia with a population of 49,000. It is about 100 miles east of Bay St.Clair, 100 miles west of South Fork and 100 north of Denton City. Tuckanarra came into existence in the 1860s, when a group of Australians were shipwrecked on the coast near Bay St. Clair. Not having the means to continue their journey from Tuckanarra, Australia to England, they decided to move inland to set up homesteads. Included in their numbers were a few aboriginal families. These were farmers, cattle ranchers and sheep herders. Wheat, wool, beef and lamb were their main products. They named the town after their old hometown, Tuckanarra. The main industries in modern day Tuckanarra are woolen textiles factories and meat processing plants.

In the early 1900s, the game of baseball arrived in the form of exhibition games by the Chicopee town teams, who began to barnstorm the Islands. Initially just traveling to nearby towns like Denton City, Colchester and Tuckanarra, then expanding to Tycobbia, Ruthlandia and even to distant Valdar Island. The Aussies took a liking to the American game and began to form teams, which led to leagues. It took them almost 20 years to compete on the level of the other adjacent towns. By 1920 company leagues were flourishing in Tuckanarra. It stayed amateur and semipro for the next 80 years, when in 2001, the first pro baseball league in the Islands was established, the Islandian Pro Alliance. It was an attempt to get rid of all the corruption in the Amateur Baseball Alliance. Too many teams were just violating the rules by paying the players to just play baseball, but not requiring them to do any bonafide work for the company sponsors.

Since it is one of the smallest towns in the Islands, it seemed like Tuckanarra was going to miss out on the IPA. But local baseball aficionado, playboy and philanthropist, Jayden Thorpe, stepped up to the plate and put up the money for the franchise, the Tuckanarra Bluejays. He chose the name Bluejays simply because it is a tough and feisty bird...just like him. He thought it would make a good mascot, too. Thorpe made his fortune riding high tech stocks in the 1980s and 90s. He hired as GM and manager, Carlton "Lefty" Stevens, a great lefthanded pitcher in the industrial leagues.

The Bluejays play at Central Park Stadium, which is located right in the middle of a beautiful park on the edge of the downtown area, which houses the Central Park Zoo, that specializes in animals native to Australia and features a ferris wheel, carousel and a carnival midway. It is a favorite place for Tuckanarra families to while away weekend hours perusing koala bears, kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, platypuses, tasmanian devils and kookaburras. Central Park Stadium was constructed in 1948 and is still a great place to watch a ballgame. Even the aboriginal Australians have taken to the sport of baseball and have acquited themselves very ably over the years.

Food-wise, you won't just gorge out on Vegemite (salty food paste) sandwiches and swig Australian beers like VB (Victoria Bitter) and Foster's at the ballpark, you can also get Aussie gourmet treats like barbecue, Tim Tam (chocolate biscuits) and a chocolate Pavlova (a fruit meringue dessert named for the Russian ballerina) with sorbet. Hot dogs, hamburgers and cokes are available, too.

Central Park Stadium (1948)
Capacity: 7,750
Dimensions:

Left Field Line - 340
Left Field - 370
Left Center - 400
Center Field - 385
Right Center - 400
Right Field - 370
Right Field Line - 340

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 20, 2013

Ruthlandian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Redhawks On Rampage, Beat Crusaders 3rd Straight Time
The Elite 8 Series switched to Cathedral Stadium in St. John, but it didn't make any difference in the outcome. The rampaging Far Mountain Redhawks rallied in the late innings and trounced the St. John Crusaders for the third straight time to go up three games to none in the series. Robby Kelly (1-0) pitched his usual game, knocking off the Crusaders 7-3. Kelly allowed only 7 hits and one earned run, while striking out 6 and walking only one. But it was a tough struggle for the first seven innings as starter Paco Lavaro (0-1) stymied the Redhawk bats and held a 3-2 lead. But he tired in the eighth and was assaulted for 4 runs, highlighted by homers by SS Don Nichols and 2B Jim Rhodes. Nichols (.429) and 1B Fran Grzanka (.500) led the attack with 3 hits each. Nichols, CF Xavier Sosa (.545) and Rhodes (.273) drove in 2 runs each.

Wynnamac Takes Series Lead, Fair Stops Lumberjacks 6-3
At Riverside Stadium in Forest City, Wynnamac manager Matt Donnelly got a fine effort from his number three starter Gene Fair as the 26-year-old right-hander stopped Forest City 6-3. Fair (1-0) allowed 9 hits, whiffed 3 and walked none in going the distance in his first ever postseason game. Fair and Knucks Nomellini were locked in a 1-1 duel until the Sundowners began to connect with Nomellini's knucklers for 3 runs in the sixth and finished him off with 2 more in the eighth. Nomellini (0-1) gave up 12 hits, but struck out 10. RF Joey Eaton (.417) and SS Vic Vinton (.444) had 3 hits each for Wynnamac.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 20, 2013

Around the Town In The IPA

FOREST CITY LUMBERJACKS
Owner/GM/Manager: Rob Jackson

Forest City is the capital of Ruthlandia and the second largest town in the Islands with a population of 125,000. The town was settled by a group of American abolitionists from the North and the South, who foresaw the coming Civil War and decided to emigrate to Ruthlandia and Tycobbia and establish countries free from the rigors of slavery and religious intolerance. It was one of the earliest settlements because of the access to timber and its strategic location near the intersection of the Green River and the Silver River in the central part of the country.

The beautiful Green River emanates out of the Appian Mountains in the north near Far Mountain (ski resort), runs south throught Rocky Rapids (lumber, grain and transportation center) in the western foothills and plains, flows through Forest City, then winds its way past agrarian Middlefield and Sugar Valley in the fertile southern lowlands and finally empties into Belair Bay and the Southern Sea at the bayside resort and shipping center, Belair Beach.

The Silver River originates in its namesake, the Silver Mountains, which form the western border of Ruthlandia. It travels eastward through Volusia in the western foothills (silver mining and timber interests) and merges with the Green River at Forest City.

The Ruthlandian capital is an old town with buildings and homes that go back a hundred years or more. It is rare that the town planning commission allows much in the way of a modern building. It is noted for being the seat of the Federal government, for banking, commerce, railroads, steel, advertising, autos, paper and lumber industries...and also the home of the Forest City Lumberjacks.

The club is named for the country's first important industry and is in the Ruthlandian Union in its South Division. The 'Jacks play their games at old and quaint Riverside Stadium (circa 1915), right on the riverbanks with a wonderful view of the Silver River just beyond the left and center field fences. Across the river in the distance the fans can see the main part of town. Hot and freshly fried river catfish is a house speciality at Riverside, along with traditional ballpark fare.

Forest City is owned and operated by Rob Jackson, who is GM and Manager, too. Jackson was a four-letter man in college, excelling in baseball, football, basketball and track. He played many years in the industrial league for one of the biggest banks in the Islands. When his playing days were over, he went to work for the bank, managed its company team, moved up in the bank hierarchy and eventually became its president and chief administrative officer. He then expanded to professional baseball and was one of the prime originators of the Islandian Pro Alliance. He joined with good baseball men like John Banson (IPA creator and commissioner), Manny Earl of the Sugar Valley Rattlers and Rip Calkin of the La Claire Lynx to create the first professional baseball league in the Islands.

Multi-millionaires also were involved and provided the needed finances to establish the league. Men like Jock Ewing of the Waleska Westerners, Brent Steiner of the Bayview Vikings, Jorge Trujillo of the Belair Beach Sunbirds, jazz great, Louis "Sugar Lips" Charles of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers and rock 'n' roll superstar, Conway Birdie of the Cape Coral Hurricanes.

Riverside Stadium (1915)
Capacity: 14,780
Dimensions:

LF Line 332
LF 360
LC 388
CF 400
RCF 381
RF 350
RF Line 325

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 20, 2013

Tycobbian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Frogs Top Typhoons 4-3 In 10 Innings
The Fairfax Frogs overcame a 3-0 deficit in a comeback 4-3 victory in 10 innings over the Turon Typhoons at the Frog Pond. That gave Harry Buckley's Frogs a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Elite 8 Series. Typhoon starter James Stuart (18-13) had a 3-0 lead and a 2-hit shutout after 5 innings, but it didn't last. Fairfax got back in the game with a 2-run sixth and tied the score at 3-3 in the last of the eighth, then won it in the 10th on LF Tony Kraus' walk-off single. The Frogs got a good start from Steve Aaron (12-12), who gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings. Relievers Floyd Burnett and Dan Hunt took over and held Turon scoreless the rest of the game. Hunt (1-1) got credit for the victory with two scoreless frames. The loss went to closer Merle Studebacker (0-2), who lost for the second time in the series. The Frogs easily outhit the Typhoons 13-8, but stranded 13 baserunners. 3B Robby Franklin (.417) led them with 3 hits, while CF Phil Nelson (.300) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs. LF Andy Porter (.375) had a 2-run homer for Turon.

Tuckanarra Up 2-1 In Series, Blue Jays Best Redbirds 3-2
For the second day in a row Yoshi Motsuzuki played the hero in Tuckanarra's 3-2 decision over the Denton City Redbirds at Douglas Denton Field to give the Blue Jays a one-game edge in the best-of-seven affair. Yesterday Motsuzuki accounted for all the runs in the game with a 2-run home run shot. Today he drove in the eventual-winning run with a two-out seventh-inning single. 1B Erik Vayda began the rally with a one-out double and moved to third on a ground-out. Roy Spence (1-0) tossed a fine game for the win, permitting only 2 runs and 8 hits in his 8 innings. Spence fanned 5 and walked 2. Tuckanarra's bullpen ace Stephen Eubarinja closed it out for Spence with a scoreless ninth. Losing pitcher Dave Blair hurled a solid game, went all the way in defeat, allowed 3 runs and 9 hits, walking four and striking out 5. The Blue Jays got 9 hits to 5 for the Redbirds and were led by RF Danny Redd (.308) and LF Dan Hill (.222), who had 2 hits each and a RBI. CF Danny Nash (.300) homered and drove in a run for Denton City.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 20, 2013

Around the Town In The IPA

FAIRFAX FROGS
Owner: Frog Fashions
GM/Manager: Harry Buckley

Fairfax is a dynamic town of 107,000 on the northshore of beautiful Blue Lake in Central Tycobbia and at the mouth of the Rio Lobo. It is an important river and railway distribution hub for timber and wood products from North Hills and Hartsdale to the north and agricultural products from Mahaska to the west, which is brought by rail and the Appian River. Timber and manufactured goods from Luxora are shipped on the Rio Lobo.

Because of its proximity to the lake, it a tourist haven with hotels lining the peaceful blue waters, which provide sailing , swimming, skiing, fishing and other boating activities and a thriving recreational shipbuilding industry.

Fairfax is also the home of the popular and quite prosperous Frog Fashions, makers of fine men and women's fashions, including bathing suits and swimwear. The Frog logo is featured on all of the company's wearing apparel and is known throughout the Islands.

Frog Fashions is also the owner of the Fairfax Frogs, who play in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The ballclub is a member of the Tycobbian Union's West Division. Fairfax plays its games at the Frog Pond, one of the newest stadiums in the IPA. It is a beautiful, state-of-the-art stadium with a panoramic view of the downtown area over the outfield walls and was built just in time for the 2001 inaugural season.

It is a tradition from industrial and company league days for the Frog fanatics to cheer and urge their team on to victory with this rally chant, led by the team mascot, Jeremiah the Bullfrog:

"Who let the Frogs out?..ribbit...ribbit...ribbit...ribbit.
Who let the Frogs out?..ribbit...ribbit...ribbit...ribbit.
Who let the Frogs out?..ribbit...ribbit...ribbit...ribbit."

Jeremiah the Bullfrog, also leads the fans in singing "Take Me Out to the Frog Pond" during the seventh inning stretch. A Fairfax victory is always celebrated with a rousing chorus of "Joy to the World" when the last out of the game is made.

At the concession booths, the fans can savor ballpark regulars like hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, soft drinks, peanuts and crackerjacks. In addition, refreshing daiquiries of all flavors and concoctions are available.

Harry Buckley is the GM and Manager of the Fairfax Frogs. He is a former company league second baseman and manager. Buckley was a fine hitter and fielder and also stood out as a manager.

The Frog Pond (2001)
Capacity: 11,700
Dimensions:
LF Line 340
LF 375
LCF 400
CF 422
RCF 400
RF 375
RF Line 340

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Ruthlandian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

FM Redhawks On A Tear, Sweep St. John In RU Elite 8
The St. John Crusaders never saw what hit them as they were steamrolled by the mighty Far Mountain Redhawks in four games. The defending Pro Cup champion swept the RU Elite 8 Series, winning 5-4 in today's deciding game in St. John. It was no easy task as the Crusaders started off like a ball-of-fire with a 3-run first and they still had a 4-3 lead as late as the seventh inning. The Redhawks constantly threatened with 15 hits, but left 16 on the bases. Finally, in the eighth, they broke through with two runs to take the game and the series. Clean-up hitter 3B Duane Parsons came through with a crucial bases-loaded two-run single to eliminate the Crusaders. Parsons (.571) paced Far Mountain with a 3-4 game, while 3B Vinny Sardisco (.267) had a two-run double and 2B Tony Borcellino a homer for the Crusaders, all in the first frame. Starter Woody Crawford (1-0) staggered in with the win, going 7 shaky innings, giving up 8 hits, 4 runs and walking 6. Three relievers rescued him. Wayne Baxley, Erich Dumont and Jesse Hughes got the final 6 outs with the save going to Hughes. St. John starter Ken Wheeler (0-2) took the loss as he was pelted for 14 hits and 5 runs in 8 innings.

St. John manager Dickie Billings told reporters after the game, "I thought I had some darn good hitters, but we couldn't compete with the Redhawks line-up. They had double-digit hits in every game. I pity anybody that has to face them the way they are playing right now. It could be a three-peat for Far Mountain." The Redhawks will now advance to the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 and will await the winner of the Wynnamac-Forest City series.

Meeks Mows Down 'Jacks 5-2, Wynnamac Up 3-1 In Elite 8
22-game winner Jerry Meeks got a rude awakening in game one of the RU Elite 8 Series. Forest City bashed him for 10 hits in the 5-1 triumph. But he got sweet revenge in game four with a 5-2 win, putting the Wynnamac Sundowners in a strong position to win the Elite 8 Series. Meeks (1-1 3.18) allowed 9 hits, but always got out of serious trouble before too much damage occurred. Dan Stevens got his second series save with a runless ninth to preserve Meeks' victory. Meeks (.333) also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second frame and a 2-run single in the third. The Sundowners got the other two runs on a second-inning double by SS Vic Vinson (.500). They built up a 5-0 lead after 4 at bats and that was enough for victory. Forest City starter Al Thibaut (1-1 3.86), the first-game winner, couldn't hold off Wynnamac this time around. He left after 5 innings behind 5-2. Thibaut was touched for 5 runs and 9 hits. The Sundowners collected 10 hits in all, sparked by Meeks with a pair of hits and 3 RBIs and Vinson with 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Around the Town in the IPA

WYNNAMAC SUNDOWNERS
Owner: Granger Co-Operative Association
GM/Manager: Matt Donnelly

Wynnamac is a town of 86,000 residents and can be found about 50 miles inland from the Valerian Ocean, which is the eastern border of Ruthlandia. It is located in the northeastern part of the country in the Central Plains, which spans east to west across it and is a well-known farming region, filled with seemingly endless fields of ripe golden wheat and rustic farms. It is the "Breadbasket of Ruthlandia". Settled by a diverse band of hearty and hardworking Canadian and Australian immigrants, who worked "sunup to sundown". They became known as "Sundowners" because of their great work ethic and love for the land...and for their love of baseball and the homestanding Wynnamac Sundowners. The area is also a center for meat packing and dairy industries.

Life hasn't changed much here for a hundred years and probably won't change much in the next hundred years. Wynnamac is a member of the IPA's Ruthlandian East Division. The club plays at Granger Field, which is built right next to a grain processing plant with huge silos and a water tower with a gigantic ear of corn on it...all visible from the ballpark. The Sundowners are owned by the Granger Co-operative Association, farmers banded together for the common good.

At the concession stands you get nothing fancy...just soda pop, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, peanuts, crackerjacks and ice cream. No beer or alcoholic beverages are permitted at the stadium. It is against the law in Wynnamac county and strictly enforced.

Wynnamac's General Manager and Field Manager is Matt Donnelly, who loves the game of baseball like no other. And he played the game very well, too. He was an outstanding hitter and first baseman for quite a few seasons in the local company leagues, playing until he was almost 50.

Granger Field (1967)
Capacity: 7,965
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 355
Left Field - 375
Left Center - 415
Center Field - 404
Right Center - 375
Right Field - 350
Right Field Line - 325

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Tycobbian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Fairfax Gains Big Edge In Elite 8, Nips Turon 3-1 Behind Hill
Two of the best pitchers in the IPA were going head-to-head in game four of the TU Elite 8 Series between the Turon Typhoons and the Fairfax Frogs. Together they won 50 games during the regular season - the Typhoons Nicky Engstrom was 25-6 and the Frogs Ken Hill was 25-13. In game one they battled to a 1-1 draw and now were facing each again. It was another classic duel with Fairfax and Hill reigning supreme with a 3-1 victory over Turon and Engstrom, giving the Frogs a tremendous 3-1 edge in the series. One more win in the best-of-seven series and Fairfax will move on to play for the Tycobbian title in the Pro Cup Final 4.

Hill (1-0 1.06) held the Typhoons to 1 run and 7 hits over 8 innings. Closer Floyd Burnett got the save with a perfect ninth inning when he fanned 2 of the 3 batters he faced. Engstrom (0-1 2.25) was good, but not quite good enough. Engstrom pitched well in defeat, going the distance and giving up only 3 runs and 5 hits with 7 Ks and 3 bases on balls. SS Wes Hickox (.250) gave the Frogs an early lead with a first-inning RBI triple. Hill (.500) provided the other two scores with a 2-run two-bagger in the fourth. 1B Clyde Kingsford (.294) singled in the Typhoon only run in the sixth.

No Contest, Tuckanarra Blasts Denton City 12-3
It was no contest from the git-go in game four of the TU Elite 8 Series in Denton City. The visiting Tuckanarra Blue Jays blasted the hometown Redbirds 12-3 to run up a big three-games-to-one lead, needing only one more win to advance in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs. The Blue Jays jumped on Mila Mohoski (1-1 2.61) for 9 runs in the first two frames and never looked back. Only 2 of the runs off Mohoski were earned as the Redbirds committed 5 errors in the game. Titus Bristow (1-1 6.75) redeemed himself for the 7-1 loss in game one to Mohoski by cruising to this easy victory. Bristow gave up 10 hits, but only 3 runs in a complete-game performance. Tuckanarra racked up 12 hits with Bristow himself (.500) getting two of them and driving in 3 runs. RF Danny Redd (.375) and 3B Rocky Fuqua (.154) added 2 RBIs each. Denton City 1B Mick Abbott (.286) had the game's only four-bagger.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Around the Town in the IPA

DENTON CITY REDBIRDS
Owner : The Denton Family Foundation
GM/Manager: Ford Whiteman

Denton City is a town of 64,000 located in South Tycobbia midway between Chicopee on the west coast and South Fork in the east near the slopes of the Silver Mountains.

Denton City was founded by Douglas Denton, for whom the town is named. Douglas Denton was born in 1832 in Montrose, Scotland. As a young man Denton had heard of a new country called Tycobbia and the stories he had heard made him eager to seek adventure, fame and fortune there.

He arrived in 1851 by ship across the Kelynck Ocean, landing in the Bay of St. Clair. From there he headed south towards what he had been told was mostly virgin territory. He had travelled about 4 days when he reached his land of paradise. Denton described in his journal this way: “It was like I had found heaven upon earth, the grass was as green as it was back home in Montrose and the air I had never smelled anything like it - it was so pure and sweet."

Denton built a small log cabin for shelter and began life in his new country as a trapper. He did quite well and prospered over the next few years. Saving the money he got from selling furs in Bay St. Clair, Denton began to buy up land grants around his log cabin. So began the small origins of Denton City.

Denton expanded his business into real estate, renting and selling to trappers and their families. At this point he decided to start the Montrose Trading Company, named after his birthplace in Scotland. The area soon became known as Scotsman’s Fields.

Shortly before his 38th birthday, Denton sold the rights to mining to the McMillan Company. Because of the mining boom, the town grew rapidly with an influx of mining families from all over Tycobbia, Scotland, Ireland and England. Douglas Denton had finally made it. He was now a wealthy man.

Two years later in 1862 Denton met and married his wife Sarah and soon expanded the family with two sons, Greer and Murdock. By now Scotsman's Fields had McMillan Mining and Steel, but also a railway line to link the town with Bay St. Clair to ship out the steel and iron ore.

In 1872 on Denton’s 50th birthday Scotsman's Fields was officially named Denton City in his honor. Denton died in 1890 at the age of 68. He had dedicated his life and his fortune to Denton City. He had built a hospital, library, concert hall and the first ballpark in town.

Just like any other small town in Tycobbia at the time, it had started to follow the new sport of Base Ball. The first team of Denton were called the Denton Miners due to the fact that the team were fielded by the miners. Many teams would come and go, teams like the Denton 9, The Denton Mutuals, Ball Club of Denton and lastly the Denton City Redbirds. One person who was always there to watch was Douglas Denton who loved the game of Base Ball. Eventually he sponsored and managed a team in the town league. He named the team the Ball Club of Denton.

The Denton City Redbirds name came about because of Sarah Denton. She would spend hours sitting in the fields with her paints and canvas, painting the beautiful scenery around Denton. She also had a passion for painting birds. One of her beautiful paintings of a cardinal was on her husband's office wall. One day a meeting was being held in his office to decide on a nickname for the Ball Club of Denton. Many names had been discussed, when all of a sudden Huck McKinney, who was captain of the club, looked up at Mrs. Denton’s painting and said “that redbird would sure look pretty on a baseball jersey”.

It wasn’t long before Douglas Denton had a wooden stadium built for the town league. The first stadium was constructed in 1880 and just called the Base Ball Field. But it soon burned down and was had to be rebuilt. This time it had covered bleachers, was built of steel and seated 500 people. Denton named the new stadium McBride Park in honor of Jack McBride, who lost his life in trying to put the fire out at the old ballpark.

It wasn’t long before baseball spread across Tycobbia and The civic pride in each town raised the competition level. In Denton City they began to combine the local teams into a town team. So the Denton Miners joined up with the Denton 9 to become the Denton Red Stockings and The Mutuals and the Ball Club of Denton became the Denton City Redbirds. Eventually all the teams combined as the Denton City Redbirds.

McBride Stadium was expanded several times over the years and finally was replaced in 1971 by a new state-of-the-art facility, funded by McMillan Steel. This time it was named Douglas Denton Stadium in honor of the town's founder and biggest baseball fan.

A day at Douglas Denton Stadium is just good old-fashioned baseball with peanuts, crackerjacks, cokes and hot dogs. And good old-fashioned baseball. The Redbirds GM and manager is Ford Whiteman, one of the best lefties in the industrial leagues. He was prominent in Denton City history for winning so many postseason games.

Douglas Denton Field (1971)
Capacity: 9,250
Dimensions:

LF Line 335
LF 355
LCF 375
CF 395
RCF 375
RF 355
RF Line 335

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Ruthlandian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Wynnamac Eliminates Forest City, Meets FM Redhawks In RU Final 4
Great pitching carried the Wynnamac Sundowners past the Forest City Lumberjacks and into the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 against powerful Far Mountain. The Sundowners eliminated the Lumberjacks 5-1 in game 5 of the Elite 8 Series. Young Lenny Ward fired a 3-hitter in the deciding game at Riverside Stadium in Forest City. Ward (2-0 1.06) struck out 5 and walked 3 in a complete-game victory. It was his second win in the series. He also beat the 'Jacks 4-2 on Thursday. Losing pitcher Paul Crews (0-2 4.24) made a game of it until the 3-run eighth.

Wynnamac drew first blood in the top of the second on a 2-run single by 2B J. L. Lawrence (.231). Forest City cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth when SS Josh Venturini (.221) got on base on an error, was advanced to second with a sac bunt, moved to third on Joe Callaway's single (.238) and scored on an RBI ground-out by Diego De Luna (.111). In the Sundowner eighth LF Big Hoss Burkhalter's (.211) RBI single and 1B Nate Cockroft's (.368) two-run double finished off the Lumberjacks. Crews went the distance, allowed 5 runs on 8 hits with 6 Ks and 2 walks.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Tycobbian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Turon Staves Off Elimination with 12-inning Win Over Fairfax
Turon got back in the Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series at least for one more day. The favored Typhoons turned back Fairfax 3-1 at the Frog Pond in a tense 12-inning battle that was finally decided on a botched flyball by the sure-handed Gold Glover Dane Wesner. He dropped an easy pop fly in shallow right and allowed two runs to score. The underdog Frogs still have a 3-2 edge in the series and need just one win in two games to advance to the Pro Cup Final 4.

It looked for a while Turon was playing in vain. The Typhoons rapped out 12 hits to just 4 for the Frogs, but left 16 on base. Starter Jeb Pickett had allowed only 2 hits and had a 1-0 lead going into the last of the ninth, but was slammed for a game-tying homer by LF Tony Kraus (.136). Both starters did superbly. Pickett gave up only one run in 9 innings, fanned 5 and walked none. Frog starter Joe Hampton gave up 10 hits, but permitted only 1 run in his 9 frames. Reliever Merle Studebaker (1-2) got credit for the win with a scoreless tenth and eleventh. Jacques Lemaire picked up the save with a runless twelfth. Dan Hunt (1-2) was victimized by the two-run error and sustained the loss.

DC Redbirds Stay Alive, Knock Off Blue Jays 5-1 In Game 5
On the brink of elimination, the Denton City Redbirds rode the fine right arm of Jeff Russell to a 5-1 victory over Tuckanarra to remain alive in the TU Elite 8 Series. Despite the defeat the Blue Jays are still ahead 3-2 in the series. Russell (1-1 1.59) went all the way, gave up 8 hits, struck out 6 and walked 4 in a clutch outing. Both clubs notched 8 hits each. RF Lavon Gooch (.444) and SS Lou Pruitt (.333) sparked Denton City with homers. It was Gooch's second roundtripper in the playoffs. The Redbirds snapped a 1-1 tie in the fifth with 2 runs, going up 3-1. They added single runs in the sixth and eighth to solidify the victory. Losing pitcher Delaney Elliott (1-1 2.16) was tagged for 5 runs in 7-plus innings.

Map of Islandia

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Around the Town in the IPA

TURON TYPHOONS
Owner: Anastas International Shipping
GM/Manager: Ashton “Whitey” Richburn

Turon is a seaport town of 118,000 in the Caledonia River basin on the southwestern coast of Tycobbia and its second largest population-wise. The Caledonia River terminates here after winding 500 miles from east to west from Red Bluff in the central Silver Mountains southward through Hillsboro and then flowing westward near the towns of South Fork, Denton City and Arlon. The river finally comes to an end in Turon and empties into the Kelnyck Ocean and Southern Sea.

It is a cosmopolitan town with a diversified economy and a mecca for tourists. Turon is a busy trade and distribution center with many shipping interests. Agriculture flourishes here with extensive farmlands in the Caledonia River basin. It is also a diversity of cultures and was settled in the 1840s and 1850s by French, Scottish, Irish and German settlers, who came to get away from religious intolerance and persecution. Southerners from the United States came in good numbers after the Civil War defeat. Turon became their New South, but minus the slave culture.

Turon is resplendent with beauty. Streets and boulevards lined with grand live oak trees and antebellum mansions. In the countryside are majestic plantations. Near the coast you'll find sugar-white sandy beaches. You'll find plenty of Old World in Turon, but also plenty of the Modern World, too.

The Turon Typhoons of the IPA's South Division in a very modern baseball palace, Typhoon Stadium. It is built with concrete and steel to withstand the occasional typhoon that emanates from the cold and icy waters of the Kelnyck Ocean. The old ballpark was completely destroyed twice in 1938 and 1967. The new stadium was completed in 1999 and houses the Tyrobbian Baseball Hall of Fame, a must-see for all Islandian baseball fans. It covers the entire spectrum and includes memorabilia from the amateur, college and industrial leagues.

The Typhoons really are active promoters with something going on each inning during the ballgames. All kinds of promotions, games and stunts to enliven and entertain the fans. Wild music tracks fill the stadium to rally the Typhoons and their fans. Concessions are stocked with all of the traditional ballpark delights.

Turon is owned by wealthy shipping tycoon, Onnie Anastas. His GM and Manager is Ashton “Whitey” Richburn, one of the finest defensive center fielders and lead-off men in Tycobbian baseball history.

Typhoon Stadium (1999)
Capacity: 8,010
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 335
Left Field - 355
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 410
Right Center - 380
Right Field - 355
Right Field Line - 345