The Islandian Times

Monday, September 23, 2013

Tycobbian Union 2013 Elite 8 Series

Fairfax KO's Favored Turon 7-2, Heads For Final 4
The underdog Fairfax Frogs have done it! They have knocked out of the playoffs one of the Pro Cup favorites, the tough and talented Turon Typhoons. The Frogs did it in 6 games, winding it up with a 7-2 trouncing at Typhoon Stadium. After falling behind 2-0 in the early going, Fairfax methodically went to work and won going away. Steve Aaron (1-0 3.00) worked 8 solid innings and held Turon to 2 runs on 6 hits for the triumph. 2B Fran O'Brian (.292) led the Frog bats with 2 hits and 3 RBIs. O'Brian had 7 RBIs in the series. Fairfax racked up a dozen hits in all with 3 by C Cuz Irby (.385) and 2 apiece by SS Wes Hickox (.292) and CF Phil Nelson (.250). SS Matt Madison (.250) was Turon top hitter with 2 hits and 2 RBIs. James Stuart (0-1 4.02) was the losing hurler. He was hammered hard for 7 runs and 11 hits in 8+ innings.

Tuckanarra Edges DC Redbirds In 6, Now Meets Fairfax in Final 4
It wasn't easy, the Tuckanarra had to overcome a 3-0 deficit halfway through the game to finish off the valiant Denton City Redbirds. Game 6 went 11 innings when pinchhitter Tony Blundell (.500) singled in the winning run with the bases loaded. The Blue Jays won the TU Elite 8 Series 4 games to 2 and will now tangle with the Fairfax Frogs in the Final 4. Roy Spence and Stephen Eubarinja (1-0) combined in the extra-inning win. Spence went the first 9, surrendering 3 runs - 2 earned - on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts. Eubarinja closed it out two spotless innings. The Redbird starter Dave Blair was outstanding. He departed with a 3-2 lead after 8 strong innings, yielding only 4 hits and one earned run. Blair fanned 7 and issued 3 walks. However, Frankie Taylor blew the save and allowed Tuckanarra to tie it up in the bottom of the ninth on 3B Rocky Fuqua's double (.200) and pinchhitter George Rowe's RBI single. 1B Mick Abbott (.286) sparked Denton City with 3 RBIs. Tuckanarra outhit the Redbirds 9 to 6.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

RU And TU Final 4 Slated For Tomorrow
The IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series will begin tomorrow afternoon in Far Mountain and Tuckanarra. In the Ruthlandian Final 4 the Wynnamac Sundowners will challenge the defending Pro Cup champion Far Mountain at Sky High Stadiun in the opener of the best-of-seven series, while Tuckanarra will host the Fairfax Frogs at Central Park Stadium. Both games will start at 1:05 pm in the afternoon. During the regular season Wynnamac took four of six games from the Redhawks and the Blue Jays thumped the Frogs four times out the six they played. Far Mountain has won 3 Pro Cups in its history, the last two years in a row. The Sundowners claimed one title in 2008, while the Frogs and the Blue Jays are still looking for their first Pro Cup trophy.

All four clubs are coming off strong wins and are primed to do battle. Far Mountain is the favorite over Wynnamac and Tucknarra is picked to take Fairfax. Both ballclubs feature good hitting with excellent pitching and are forecast to meet for the Island crown in the Pro Cup Finals. The Redhawks paced the Ruthlandian Union with 95 wins, while Tuckanarra piled up 100 victories in the Tycobbian Union. The Final 4 match-ups are shaping up to be something truly special as all of the participants have fine ballclubs. It wouldn't be big surprise to see the underdogs playing for the title. Wynnamac has fine pitching and Fairfax has a well-rounded team, adept at all aspects of the game.

In the Elite 8 Series Far Mountain mauled St. John in four straight, Wynnamac topped Forest City four games to one, Tuckanarra took care of Denton City and Fairfax upset Turon, both winning in six games. The Frogs were the only underdog to win as the Typhoons were favored to contend with Far Mountain in the Pro Cup finals. Neither the Redhawks, nor the Blue Jays should take their opponents lightly.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series - Game One at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain

FM Redhawks Fly Out Of The Gate, Dump Wynnamac 6-2
The unbeaten Far Mountain Redhawks are off to a good start in the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series. They dumped Wynnamac in the first game of the series 6-2 with some excellent mound work and timely hitting. Boomerang Hines (2-0 2.50) scattered 8 hits in a route-going start to get the win. In his career Hines is now 12-4 in the postseason with a super 1.74 ERA. The Redhawks chalked up 4 runs in the first and had a 6-0 lead by the fourth frame. Jerry Meeks , 22-6 in the season, found it tough going and was pounded for 6 runs in just 3+ innings. Meeks is now 1-2 in the playoffs with a 5.23 ERA. 2B Jim Rhodes (.389) had 3 hits to lead Far Mountain's line-up. C Otis Ott (.318) chimed in with 2 hits and CF Xavier Sosa (.412) boomed in 2 runs with a triple. The Redhawks had a slight 10-8 hit advantage. Sundowner LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.261) had the game's only home run.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

2013 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game One at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra

Bristow Cools Off Hot Frogs 4-2 in Opener
Two 25-game winners were on the hill in the Tycobbian Union Final 4 with Tuckanarra's Titus Bristow cooling off the hot Fairfax bats with a 4-2 victory. Bristow worked 8 standout innings and then he gave way to the Blue Jays bullpen ace Stephen Eubarinja to seal the verdict. Bristow (2-1 4.82) stopped the Frogs on 6 hits in his stint. Eubarinja had a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the postseason. On the losing side Ken Hill (1-1 1.08) also went the distance and permitted only one earned run as the Frogs committed 3 errors behind him. The Blue Jays blistered him for 14 hits, but left 11 runners on base. Five Blue Jay batters collected a pair of hits each: RF Danny Redd (.393), LF Dan Hill (.250), C Yoshi Motsuzuki (.370), 2B Milt Sims (.304) and Bristow (.571). 2B Fran O'Brian (.357) got 3 singles, half of the Frogs hits.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Around the Town in the IPA

FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS
Owner: Johann Becker
GM/Manager: Alex Groveland

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

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

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

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

Sky High Stadium (1997)
Capacity: 10,444
Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 354
LC 380
CF 402
RC 380
RF 354
RF Line 330

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 25, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series - Game Two at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain

FM Nips Wynnamac 3-2, Kelly Puts Them Up By 2 Games
Deja vu all over again in the Ruthlandian Union Final 4. The Far Mountain Redhawks are on another postseason run with their sixth straight triumph. That's the way it was last year when the Redhawks won its second Pro Cup in a row. Robby Kelly (2-0 1.50) got behind 2-0 in the first frame, but didn't give up any more runs the rest of the game in the 3-2 squeaker, won in the bottom of the ninth on PH Kelly Baxes' (.500) double. Kelly limited the Sundowners to 7 hits and a pair of run in a complete game. He totaled 8 strikeouts, while walking only one batter. Wynnamac starter Lenny Ward pitched quite well, allowing only 2 runs and 6 hits. Ward exited with the score tied at 2-2. Closer Dan Stevens (0-1 3.86) lost it in the ninth as he was whacked for 2 hits and a walk.

LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.259) and CF Clive Farnham (.231) got the Sundowners off on the right foot in the opening inning with RBIs. Far Mountain made it 2-1 in the third on 2B Jim Rhodes' (.400) double and LF Phil Stewart's (.174) single. CF Xavier Sosa's (.350) ground-out tied it up in the seventh.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 26, 2013

2013 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game Two at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra

Blue Jays Win First Two Games, Nudges Frogs 4-3
Playing at home, the Tuckanarra Blue Jays got another stout mound outing to slip past Fairfax 4-3 as Delaney Elliott (2-1 2.49) combined with closer Stephen Eubarinja to win for the second day in a row in the best-of-seven TU Final 4 Series. Elliott took a 4-2 lead into the ninth and needed help from Eubarinja. Elliott worked 8 and two-thirds innings and gave up 3 runs on 8 hits. Eubarinja got the final out after giving up a run-scoring single. Joe Hampton (0-1 3.91) went the distance for Fairfax and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits. C Yoshi Motsuzuki (.387) was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs to lead Tuckanarra. Motsuzuki got his second home run of the postseason in the fourth inning to give the Blue Jays a 3-0 margin. Frog LF Phil Nelson (.222) narrowed the score to 3-2 with a two-run single in the top of the fifth. Motsuzuki's triple expanded the Tuckanarra lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth frame.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 26, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series - Game Three at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Nichols' HR Gives FM Redhawks 3-0 Lead In RU Final 4
In another spinetingler Don Nichols' 10th-inning homer gave the sizzling Far Mountain Redhawks a 4-3 triumph over Wynnamac and their seventh consecutive Pro Cup playoff victory. Nichols' blast gave the Redhawks their third successive win over the Sundowners in the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series. One more victory will send them to an unprecedented third straight Pro Cup Final.

3B Duane Parsons' (.520) RBI double gave Far Mountain a 1-0 lead in the first frame. Wynnamac countered that with two runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.267) and an RBI single by CF Clive Farnham (.256). Redhawk CF Xavier Sosa tied it in the sixth with a double and put them ahead 3-2 with a solo shot in the eighth. Sosa lead everybody with 13 RBIs in the playoffs this year. The Sundowners sent the game into extra innings with an unearned run in the last of the ninth.

Far Mountain had the edge in hits 12 to 11. Both teams left a lot of runners on base. Woody Crawford started for the Redhawks and did a fine job, going 8 innings, allowing 9 hits and 2 runs, while Gene Fair went 9 innings for Wynnamac, yielded 3 runs and 10 hits. The victory was picked up by Jesse Hughes, who blew the save, but was saved by Nichols' homer. Hughes (1-0 0.00) worked two innings and gave up one unearned run. Dan Stevens (0-2 5.40) was the losing pitcher. He allowed Nichols' game-winner in the 10th.

Parsons led the Redhawks with 3 hits and Nichols and Sosa had 2 each. 1B Nate Cockroft (.367) paced the Sundowners with 3 hits and rookie C Tweet Tillman (.233) chipped in with a pair of hits.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 27, 2013

2013 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game Three at the Frog Pond in Fairfax

Spence Spins 2-0 Shutout, Tucks Take 3rd In A Row
The Tycobbian Union Final 4 switched ballparks, but that didn't make any difference in Tuckanarra's great pitching. Roy Spence was as tough on the road at the Frog Pond in Fairfax as he is at home in Tuckanarra. He made himself at home with a 2-0 shutout over the Frogs. Spence (2-0 1.44) scattered 8 hits over 8 innings, struck out 5 and gave up no walks. Closer Stephen Eubarinja notched his 4th playoff save blanking Fairfax in the ninth. It was the third straight victory for the Blue Jays, who are well on their way to their first Pro Cup appearance, if they can win one of the last three games in this series.

RF Danny Redd (.343) supplied the offense with a 2-run homer in the fifth. Tuckanarra only got 6 hits off Steve Aaron (1-1 2.63), who went the route in defeat.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 26, 2013

2013 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series - Game Four at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Redhawks Sweep Again, Pro Cup 3-Peat Possible
The way the Far Mountain Redhawks are playing is unheard of in the annals of the Islandian Pro Alliance. Manager Alex Groveland's crew has swept both postseason series so far and has rung up 8 consecutive victories and will now try to three-peat with 3 straight Pro Cups. The Redhawks really put a licking on the Wynnamac Sundowners in game 4 of the RU Final 4 Series. They smashed them 11-2 with a 15-hit attack and solid pitching by Boomerang Hines. CF Xavier Sosa (.400), 3B Duane Parsons (.571) and 1B Fran Grzanka (.382) led the hit-fest with 3 hits each. Sosa is having another great postseason. He homered, doubled and drove in 4 runs, giving him 17 RBIs in this year's playoffs. Hines (3-0 2.33) was his usual self with a route-going performance. Hines was touched for 8 hits, but for only 2 runs with 5 Ks and a walk. Far Mountain ran up a 7-1 score after 6 innings on losing pitcher Jerry Meeks (1-3 5.74), then put the game out-of-sight with 2 more in the eighth and 2 more in the ninth.

The Redhawks opponent will probably be the powerful Tuckanarra Blue Jays, who look like the likely team to represent the Tycobbian Union in the Pro Cup Finals. The Blue Jays could wrap up its TU Final 4 today with a win over Fairfax. This could be the first time ever that the teams with the best regular season records in each league have met for the overall Island title. Far Mountain won 93 games this year, while Tuckanarra led the IPA with 100 victories.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 28, 2013

2013 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game Four at the Frog Pond in Fairfax

Frogs Still Kicking, Beat Tuckanarra 6-4 In Game 4
The Fairfax Frogs are alive and kicking in the Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series. Ken Hill labored, but survived with a 6-4 decision over the Tuckanarra Blue Jays in game four of the best-of-seven series to keep the Frogs chances alive. They still trail three games to one and will have to win out to take the series. Hill (2-1 1.85) struggled and allowed 14 hits and 4 runs, but none after the fifth frame. He got stronger as the game proceeded. Hill was helped out with 3 double plays. LF Phil Nelson's (.206) two-run single in the sixth was a game-winner. Titus Bristow (2-2 5.11) took the loss as he was ravaged for 6 runs in 6 innings.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 29, 2013

2013 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game Five at the Frog Pond in Fairfax

Fairfax Back In Series, Hampton Halts Tuckanarra 7-2 in Game 5
After the first three games of the TU Final 4, manager Harry Buckley's Fairfax Frogs were on the brink of elimination with three defeats in a row, but now they are back in the series with two consecutive victories. Today Joe Hampton halted the Blue Jays 7-2 to cut the margin to three games to two. Now the Frogs have a fighting chance. Hampton was backed by a 12-hit attack, led by SS Wes Hickox (.357), RF Dane Wesner (.222), 2B Fran O'Brian (.378), C Cuz Irby (.302) and 3B Robby Franklin (.292), all of them had two hits apiece. Franklin drove in 3 runs, while Hickox and Wesner each scored twice. Hampton (1-1 3.38) hurled a strong game, stopping Tuckanarra on 6 hits and two runs with 4 strikeouts and one walk. Fairfax jumped all over Delaney Elliott (2-2 3.62) for 5 quick runs in the first two innings and dealt him the loss. The rest of the series will be played at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra. Game 6 is tomorrow.

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 30, 2013

2013 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game Six at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra

Tuckanarra Pro Cup Bound, Wipes Out Fairfax In 6
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays returned home to Central Park Stadium after three games on the road and finished off the Fairfax Frogs in the Tycobbian Union Final 4 with an 8-4 shellacking. The Blue Jays won the series 4-2. Tuckanarra is now bound for the IPA Pro Cup Finals opposed by the powerful Far Mountain Redhawks, who have won it the last two years.

Tuckanarra lashed out early against Steve Aaron with 6 runs in the first two frames. After 7 innings they were in front 7-0 behind the fine pitching of Roy Spence. The Frogs made a comeback with 4 in the eighth, highlighted by SS Wes Hickox's (.348) 3-run smash. Spence (3-0 2.18) spun the win, permitting 4 runs and 6 hits in his 8 innings. Bardo Julama worked a scoreless ninth in relief. The defeat went to Aaron (1-2 3.81), who was gone after two innings. The winners were paced by CF Earl O'Brien (.265) with 3-for-4, 3 runs scored and an RBI. 3B Rocky Fuqua (.238) and RF Danny Redd (.383) each delivered a pair of hits and 2 RBIs. The Blue Jays racked up 12 hits, while the Frogs only got 6.

The stage is now set for the teams that had the most victories in their leagues to meet. It is the first time in the 13-year Pro Cup history that this has happened. Tuckanarra led the Tycobbian Union and IPA with 100 wins this year. Far Mountain topped the Ruthlandian Union with 93 victories. The 2013 IPA Pro Cup Series will get underway in Tuckanarra day after tomorrow. It is a best-of-seven affair.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Redhawks Seeks 3-Peat Against Blue Jays In Pro Cup Finals
The Far Mountain Redhawks are back again, again and again. For the unprecedented third year in a row the Redhawks have returned to the IPA Pro Cup Finals and are favored slightly by most experts to take the crown. However, they are playing a team that is no slouch when it comes to winning and beating good teams. Ashton "Whitey" Richburn's Tuckanarra Blue Jays topped the IPA with 100 victories this season and they have whipped two fine clubs to get to the finals. The 2013 Pro Cup Series is shaping up to quite a battle between two superb pitching corps. Far Mountain chalked up 93 wins and had the best season record in the RU. This is the first time in IPA history that the teams with the best regular season records have ever played in the Pro Cup Finals.

Far Mountain is the defending Pro Cup champion. The Redhawks have won for the past two years. Groveland had the best mound staff in the Ruthlandian Union with a 3.18 ERA, but Richburn's Blue Jays were the best in the entire IPA with an extraordinary 2.92 ERA. Neither club is an offensive powerhouse. Far Mountain batted .258 (14th) with 121 homers (26th) and 668 runs (22nd), while Tuckanarra totes a .272 batting average (5th), but hit only 107 home runs (31st) and scored 709 times (16th). Defensively, they look about equal with .975 fielding averages.

The Redhawks have raced through the postseason without a loss. They swept the St. John Crusaders and the Wynnamac Sundowners and have posted 8 straight victories. Far Mountain has been unstoppable at the plate with a startling .333 batting average. They have also raised their play to a higher level in the postseason with an outstanding 2.46 team ERA. The Tuckanarra staff has its work cut out for them. The Blue Jays possess a 3.14 playoff ERA and have hit well with a .278 mark. Power numbers show the Redhawks with a 9-4 advantage in homers.

The Blue Jays are 8-4 overall in the playoffs as they defeated two tough teams, the Turon Typhoons and the Fairfax Frogs. Turon was the favorite to win the Tycobbian title and oppose Far Mountain in the finals. The Blue Jays are 5-1 at home and will get the home field advantage because of winning the most games this season. They were 58-19 at home this past season and 42-35 on the road. The Redhawks were 49-28 on their home field and 44-33 away.

Look for these players to be the prime performers during the series. For Far Mountain it will be starters Woody Crawford (23-9 2.49), Boomerang Hines (14-5 2.53) and Robby Kelly (19-16 3.17), along with relievers Rich Burton (14-4 2.47) and Jesse Hughes (2-3 3.08). At the plate 3B Duane Parsons (.293/27/106/92) and SS Don Nichols (.293/20/82/89/23 SB) are Groveland's top bats. CF Xavier Sosa has really turned it on in the postseason with a .400 batting average, 3 homers and 17 RBIs. He missed half the season with a groin injury and batted only .244 with 7 home runs and 37 RBIs in 88 games. Tuckanarra will be led by its ace Titus Bristow (25-9 2.04), who was number one in the IPA in ERA and 8 shutouts. Delaney Elliott (20-14 2.69) and Roy Spence (19-13 3.71) will be the number two and three starters. Offensively the Blue Jays best bats are rookie RF Danny Redd (.329/9/83/88/36 SB), SS Wayne Snider (.312/13/73/72) and CF Earl O'Brien (.305/13/65/104/44 SB).

The BNN prognosticators are giving the edge to Far Mountain because of its Pro Cup success and experience, plus they are playing extremely well on the mound and at the plate. It should be a whale of a series.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

2013 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game One at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra

FM Redhawks Victorious In Magnificent Opener, Nips Tucks 3-2 In 14th
All the predictions pointed toward an epic Pro Cup Series between two very talented teams and the opening game proved to be just that. Far Mountain and Tuckanarra went at it for 14 magnificent innings and it was finally decided on a home run by RF Julian Zavala (.333). The Redhawks nipped the Blue Jays 3-2 to go one-up in the best-of-seven series. It was the 9th postseason win in a row for the defending Pro Cup champion Redhawks. Both starters lived up to their billing. FM's Boomerang Hines and Tuckanarra's Titus Bristow both departed after 9 innings with the score tied at 2-all. Bristow was especially strong as he limited the Redhawks to just 4 hits. Hines was touched for 9. Far Mountain helped its cause with 3 double plays.

Pitching was superb in the game. FM's Jesse Hughes and Rich Burton blanked the Blue Jays over the final 5 frames with Burton (1-0 0.00) getting the win. In a brilliant performance he retired all 9 batters he faced and fanned 4 of them. Tuckanarra's Stephen Eubarinja and Yuka Nawajuk were terrific as well. Eubarinja allowed no runs in the 10th and 11th and losing pitcher Nawajuk (0-1 1.08) only allowed one hit in three innings and struck out 5. Zavala's home run was the only hit off Nawajuk. The Blue Jays outhit the Redhawks 12 to 6. This was only the second time in the postseason Far Mountain was held under 10 hits.

Far Mountain scored first on 2B Jim Rhodes' (.300) RBI single in the top of the second. Tuckanarra came back and knotted it at 1-1 in the fourth when C Yoshi Motsuzuki (.385) doubled, advanced on a grounder and scored when 2B Milt Sims (.209) grounded out. The Redhawks regained the lead on CF Xavier Sosa's (.361) double, SS Don Nichols' (.282) single and a sac fly by 3B Duane Parsons (.444). The Blue Jays evened the score at 2-2 in the last of the eighth on Motsuzuki's RBI fly after singles by 1B Erik Vayda (.250) and LF Dan Hill (.226) put runners on second and third. Motsuzuki leads Tuckanarra with 10 RBIs in the postseason.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 3, 2013

2013 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Two at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra

Redhawks Beat Blue Jays Again, 10th Straight Playoff Win
The defending Pro Cup champion Far Mountain Redhawks are unbeaten on the road, unbeaten at home and unbeaten in the playoffs this season. Alex Groveland's crew bumped off Tuckanarra 8-6 for its 10th straight postseason victory. This time it was the bats that prevailed. The Redhawks registered 11 hits and were sparked by SS Don Nichols (.302) with 3 RBIs and 2 hits and LF Phil Stewart (.186), who scored three times and batted in a run. 1B Fran Grzanka (.349) cracked a solo homer for the winners. Trailing 3-2 Far Mountain put 3 runs on the scoreboard in the fourth and 3 more in the sixth frame to do away with Tuckanarra. The Blue Jays made it close with single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth. Robby Kelly (3-0 2.42) posted the victory. He struggled at times, but went 8 innings, allowed 11 hits and 5 runs, while fanning 7 and issuing 3 bases on balls. Jesse Hughes (1.29) got his 3rd playoff save despite giving up a run in his only inning, the ninth. The Blue Jays collected 12 hits to 11 for the Redhawks. Loser Delaney Elliott (2-3 5.18) had a dismal start and was rocked for 5 runs in his 5 and two-thirds innings. SS Wayne Snider and rookie sensation RF Danny Redd made it close. Snider (.271) homered and drove in 4 runs with 3 hits, while Redd (.421) had a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate and scored 4 times.

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 4, 2013

2013 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Three at Sky Mountain Stadium in Far Mountain

FM Redhawks Romp To 11th In A Row, Bomb Blue Jays 10-2 in Game 3
No team has ever dominated the Pro Cup playoffs like the Far Mountain Redhawks. They bombed the Tuckanarra Blue Jays 10-2 for their 11th straight triumph in a row. Far Mountain has not lost a single game this postseason. The Redhawks rattled the fences at home in Sky High Stadium for 16 hits and were paced by RF Julian Zavala (.364) with 4-for-5 and 2 runs scored, CF Xavier Sosa (.395) with 2-for-4 and 3 RBIs and SS Don Nichols (.326) with 2-for-3 and 2 RBIs. Even starting pitcher Woody Crawford (.429) stroked a hot bat with 3 hits and scored twice. Crawford (3-0 3.38) worked a solid complete game for his 3rd playoff victory. Crawford permitted only 2 runs and 7 hits, but did walk 4. Roy Spence (3-1 3.35) suffered his first defeat of the postseason. He was tagged for 9 hits and 6 runs in just 4+ innings. LF Earl O'Brien (.274) and CF Gilberto Montenegro (.200) provided Tuckanarra weak offense with two solo homers.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 5, 2013

2013 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Four at Sky Mountain Stadium in Far Mountain

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 5, 2013

2013 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Four at Sky Mountain Stadium in Far Mountain

FM Redhawks Sweep Tuckanarra In A 3-Peat
The powerful Far Mountain Redhawks quickly disposed of the Tuckanarra Blue Jays in a four-game sweep to win its unprecedented 3rd IPA Pro Cup in a row. Far Mountain has played in 4 of the last 5 Pro Cups. The Redhawks wrapped it with a thrilling 3-2 win, highlighted by Fran Gzanka's clutch seventh-inning 3-run homer. Boomerang Hines (4-0 2.05) continued his postseason brilliance by outpitching tough Titus Bristow (2-3 4.10).

Hines worked 8 innings, limited the Blue Jays to 6 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2 for his 14th career playoff victory. He has lost only 4 games overall with a very impressive 1.74 ERA. Closer Jesse Hughes held Tuckanarra without a run in the ninth, although he was tagged for a pair of two-out singles and had the tying run on third, when he struck out the final batter. Except for the Grzanka clout Bristow (2-3 4.10) was outstanding. In all he gave up 8 hits and 3 runs and went all the way. 1B Fran Grzanka (.333) led the Redhawks with 2 hits and C Yoshi Motsuzuki (.354) had two hits for the Blue Jays. Tuckanarra snapped a scoreless tie with 2 runs in the top of the sixth. LF Dan Hill (.250) tripled in the first run, then scored on Motsuzuki's base hit.

Statistically in the Pro Cup Series, Far Mountain dominated Tuckanarra. The Redhawks had a decisive edge with a .275 batting average to .254 for the Blue Jays. It was even more pronounced with a splendid 2.20 ERA to a very poor 4.87 for Tuckanarra. Far Mountain outscored them 24-12 in the four-game series.

Winning manager Alex Groveland told the press, "Good things happen when you pitch like we did and hit like we did. My guys have played flawlessly the last three years. Going 12-0, 12-2 and 12-4 in the playoffs against the best teams in the IPA really says something. We weren't too bad in 2009 either, when were 11-7 and let Turon come back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals."

Blue Jay skipper Carlton "Lefty" Stevens commented, "We had our chances in game one and game four when we lost by a run each time. The other two games we were just outgunned. It obvious that Far Mountain is a great team. When you have been in the Pro Cup four of the last five seasons and won three of them, that's says it all. I guess if you have to lose, it best to do it to a great team."

Redhawks CF Sosa Pro Cup MVP Again
For the second year in a row the IPA Pro Cup MVP went to Far Mountain's fine center fielder Xavier Sosa. He always seems to turn it up a notch or two in the postseason. In a poll by The Islandian Times Sosa beat out three teammates for the honor. Sosa drove in 20 runs to lead everyone in the Pro Cup playoffs. He batted .391 with 3 homers and also scored 11 runs to lead the Redhawks to their third Pro Cup title in succession. Sosa won it last year, too. Finishing number two in the balloting was Boomerang Hines, who was 4-0 in the postseason with an excellent 2.05 ERA. Closer Jesse Hughes was third. He worked in 6 games and compiled a 1-0 mark with a great 1.13 ERA and 4 saves. Robby Kelly was next in the poll with a 3-0 record and a strong 2.42 ERA.

Hines, who was the Pro Cup MVP in 2011, missed the playoffs last year because of injury, but came back strong this year. Sosa hit .450 with 6 roundtrippers, 14 RBIs and 20 runs to win the award last season.

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 6, 2013

2013 Best Gloves Picked by RU
Golden Glove Awards are the symbol for defensive excellence, a recognition of the best of the best in defense. The Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Award trophies for 2013 have been awarded to its outstanding fielders. SS Danny Church won his 5th trophy. C Virgil Carpenter, 2B Karol Zodoka and 3B Warren McDaniel were honored for the 4th time and 1B Ray Slater was selected for his second time. The only rookie Gold Glove winner was LF Kenny Willard.

Pitcher: Harry Dye (Beechwood Bobcats) (16-14 3.42) .989 FA
Catcher: Virgil Carpenter (St. John Crusaders) (.259 BA/17 HR;/82 RBI) .991 FA/5 PB/29.5% RTO
First Baseman: Ray Slater (Beechwood Bobcats) (.295 BA/6 HR/58 RBI) .996 FA
Second Baseman: Karol Zodoka (Stoner Stars) (..275 BA/23 HR/83 RBI) .989 FA
Third Baseman: Warren McDaniel (Belle Plaine Musketeers) (.269 BA/20 HR/86 RBI) .974 FA
Shortstop: Danny Church (Marston Nine) (.287 BA/5 HR/49 RBI) .982 FA
Left Fielder: Kenny Willard (Ancona Red Elephants) (.290 BA/26 HR/92 RBI) .993 FA
Center Fielder: Carl Johnson (Rocky Rapids Snappers) (.299 BA/26 HR/77 RBI) .993 FA
Right Fielder: Clayton Luck (St. John Crusaders) (.296/12 HR/46 RBI) .979 FA

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 7, 2013

TU Names Golden Glove Award Choices for 2013
Defense is a critical element in the game of baseball. Many times late in the game, a light-hitting defensive specialist will be inserted in place of a superstar hitter. Good defenders are worth their weight in gold and today the best of them for 2013 have been recognized by the Tycobbian Union. RF Chucky Gilton picked up his 3rd Golden Glove award. Named for the second time were SS Jose Aguilar and LF Rocco Belasario. Rookie phenom Jack Elliott was the only rookie to make the mythical squad.

Pitcher: Manny Tettelbach (Bayview Vikings) (16-18 3.74) .988 FA
Catcher: Jim Schubert (Red Bluff Red Sox) (.305 BA/15 HR/68 RBI) .991 FA/2 PB/34.5 % RTO
First Baseman: Jack Elliott (High Mesa Cowboys) (.355 BA/61 HR/144 RBI) .996 FA
Second Baseman: Phil Strong (Midway Wolves) (.266 BA/10 HR/58 RBI) .994 FA
Third Baseman: Todd Chadwick (Ozarka Naturals) (.302 BA/27 HR/115 RBI) .983 FA
Shortstop: Jose Aguilar (Red Bluff Red Sox) (.302 BA/13 HR/81 RBI) .980 FA
Left Fielder: Rocco Belasario (Arlon Champions) (.284 BA/27 HR/89 RBI) .980 FA
Center Fielder: Derek Ryckman (Cape Coral Hurricanes) (.290 BA/12 HR/53 RBI) 1.000 FA
Right Fielder: Chucky Gilton (Arlon Champions) (.264 BA/19 HR/83 RBI) .991 FA

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Taranto's Marshall Crowned RU Top Rookie
The Ruthlandian Union's Rookie of the Year Award winner for 2013 is Augie Marshall, the 19-year-old superstud right fielder for the Taranto Tars. He won the award by hitting .315 and collecting 174 hits, 42 home runs, 126 RBIs and 53 walks with 106 runs scored and a .376 on-base percentage.

Runner-up in the BNN poll was Waleska's standout center fielder Roy Hobbs, who batted a lofty .356 with 22 homers, 104 RBIs and 105 runs scored. Coming in third was Stoner's superb pitcher Billy Chapel. The young right-handed whiz compiled a fine 20-13 mark in his first season with a 3.00 ERA.

TU's Top Rookie Proclaimed
Today the Tycobbian Union announced the winner of the 2013 Rookie of the Year Award. The top-ranked rookie was the talented High Mesa first baseman Jack Elliott. The 20-year-old Cowboys newcomer had a colossal season, perhaps the greatest year in IPA history. Elliott took the trophy by hitting .355 in 154 games this season and finished with 222 hits, a league record of 61 home runs, 144 RBIs and 134 runs scored. The High Mesa slugger easily broke East Point's Karol Zodoka's home run mark of 54 set in 2002. Elliott was also named to the Golden Glove team yesterday.

Second place in the voting went to Denton City's ace Jeff Russell, who had a sensational year with 21 victories, only 9 losses and a strong 2.90 ERA. Rated third in the BNN Rookie poll was another fine freshman hurler, Wilcy Lord of the Southport Sun Sox. Lord, a southpaw, notched a 16-6 mark with a very impressive 2.57 ERA. Unfortunately he ended his season in early September with a rotator injury and will possibly miss some of next season.

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 8, 2013

FM's Groveland Acclaimed RU Skipper Of The Year
Many times a manager with the best teams gets bypassed when it comes to winning awards. Some voters think they just have a good team year-after-year and win the league title by default because of talented players. It happened to Far Mountain's Alex Groveland for quite a few years in the past. He finally won it last year. Guess what? They gave Groveland the Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year Award for the second straight season and he richly deserved it. The Redhawks had the most victories in the RU with a 93-61 record and took the pennant in the RU North. The poll is conducted by The Islandian Times. Groveland is now even up with Colfax's Clem Rogers for the most Manager of the Year awards with a pair each. Rogers captured the trophy in 2009 and 2010.

"This award is a true honor and a testament to the perseverance of our players and staff," Groveland said in a release. "As a team, we overcame several obstacles to put together a successful season."

Dickie Billings of the St. John Crusaders was Groveland's biggest competitor. His club rose up from a lowly seventh place and copped the crown in the RU South with an 87-67 mark, an improvement of 19 games over the previous season.

The Elnora All-Stars went from sixth to second in the RU East and lost out to Wynnamac by single game. Manager Zoggy White guided his team to a 16-game jump from 2012 with an 86-69 record. White was the number three votegetter in annual poll.

Ranking fourth in the balloting was Forest City's Rob Jackson. His Lumberjacks climbed from 7th place in the RU West to the top spot with an 85-69 mark, up 11 games over last season.

IPA Manager of the Year

Ruthlandian Union
2004 Foxy Jimison- LaGrange
2006 Stacy Engel – Claxton
2007 Manny Mickens – Ancona
2008 Robbie Jackson – Forest City
2009 Clem Rogers – Colfax
2010 Clem Rogers – Colfax
2011 Eddie Keys – Sligo
2012 Alex Groveland – Far Mountain
2013 Alex Groveland – Far Mountain

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 9, 2013

Tuck's Stevens TU's Top Manager
Actually it is quite simple to win the manager of the year award, all you have to do is win a hundred games and you'll get it for sure. Just ask this year's Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year, Carlton "Lefty" Stevens, first-time recipient of the annual honor given by The Islandian Times. The only problem with that philosophy is winning the hundred games. But Stevens and his Tuckanarra Blue Jays did just that in an outstanding 100-54 season and captured the TU East pennant with ease. The Blue Jays climbed up from fifth place to first place, a remarkable 27-game turnaround over 2012.

"One guy doesn't win an award like this," Stevens said in a conference call. "The Tuckanarra Blue Jays won this award."

Turon's Ashton "Whitey" Richburn was the runner-up to Stevens. Turon is a gifted team season-after-season, but Richburn piloted them to a super 95-69 record and regained the TU South title back after a year's absence. This was 7 games better than 2012. It's a mighty tough task to improve once you reach the 90-win level on a consistent basis like Richburn.

Frisky Franks and his High Mesa Cowboys rode high in the saddle this year with an 88-66 mark. They rose up from sixth place to second place in the tough TU South with an 18-game improvement in their record. Franks was the third highest votegetter in the poll.

IPA Manager of the Year

Tycobbian Union
2004 Huggy Miller – Cape Coral
2006 Gary Louis – Arlon
2007 Matty Christianson – Rolling Hills
2008 Gary Louis – Arlon
2009 Ashton "Whitey" Richburn – Turon
2010 Cobb Tyson – Blue Lake
2011 Harry Buckley – Fairfax
2012 Hub Carlson – North Hills
2013 Carlton "Lefty" Stevens – Tuckanarra

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 10, 2013

Stevenson Selected RU's Premier Batter
Sugar Valley's star catcher culminated a huge season by being named the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award winner for 2013. Hal Stevenson, a 10-year veteran and 6-time All-Star, was one tough out this season as he battered pitchers for 49 home runs, drove in 134 runs and scored 109 times, while batting at a .311 clip. The 30-year-old Rattler backstop paced the RU in homers and RBIs. This is the first time Stevenson has won the award. He is a career .290 hitter and just past the 300 mark in home runs.

His biggest competition came from Forest City's fine left fielder 31-year-old Joe Judlin and Waleska's standout rookie center fielder Roy Hobbs. Judlin finished second in the balloting. He hit .320 with 35 roundtrippers, 115 RBIs and 102 runs. Hobbs led the RU with a .355 batting average, drove in 104 runs, scored 105 times and walloped 22 out of the park.

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 11, 2013

Jack Elliott Wins TU Best Bat Trophy
It's beginning to look like the Year of Jack Elliott in the Islandian Pro Alliance. Already this week Elliott was named as the best fielding first baseman in the TU and won a Golden Glove, plus he was chosen the Rookie of the Year. It has been a phenomenal freshman year for the 20-year-old Elliott. Today High Mesa's record-breaking rookie was named the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award winner for 2013 by The Islandian Times. He pounded TU hurlers hard all season long, collecting 222 hits in 626 at-bats for a .355 batting average and totaled 26 doubles, 12 triples, 61 home runs, 144 RBIs and 134 runs scored. Elliott established a new IPA standard for roundtrippers and beat Karol Zodoka's previous mark of 54 in 2002 for the East Point Panthers.

Youngster Elliott had to beat out two superstars for the honor. La Claire's splendid center fielder Zeppy Deshotel wound up second in the poll. The 30-year-old Deshotel unloaded 44 home runs, stole 41 bases, batted in 125 runs, scored 112 runs and sported a .350 batting average. Number three was Turon's great first sacker Clyde Kingsford. Last year's top rookie had an even better second season with a .316 average, 46 homers, an IPA-leading 147 RBIs and 117 runs scored.

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 12, 2013

Wynnamac Ace Takes Golden Arm Award
The Golden Arm Award for 2013 has been presented and the Ruthlandian Union winner is Jerry Meeks of Wynnamac. The 27-year-old Meeks excelled with an impressive 22-6 record in 39 starts and was instrumental in the Sundowners winning the East Division flag. In 307 innings he yielded 278 hits and 49 walks, while striking out 197 and compiling a fine 2.47 ERA, which was the fifth best in the league. Meeks was a first-time winner of the Golden Arm Award.

The Golden Arm runner-up was Far Mountain's 22-year-old Woody Crawford, who paced the RU with 23 wins. Crawford lost 9 games and chalked up a 2.49 ERA. He was an important ingredient in the Redhawks fifth consecutive RU North pennant. Taylor Gibbs, Elnora's longtime ace, was third in The Islandian Times polling. Gibbs was 21-11 with a 2.60 ERA and he led the league with 251 strikeouts in 298 innings. Elnora finished a very close second to Wynnamac for the division crown, losing out in a single-game playoff.

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 13, 2013

Turon Twirler Wins TU Golden Arm Award
24-year-old Nicky Engstrom of the Turon Typhoons put together a good year in 2013 for such a young player. Engstrom was named today as the winner of the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award. Engstrom crafted a very impressive 25-6 record and a 2.10 ERA. In 300 innings he allowed 247 hits, struck out 246, and walked 72. Lifetime Engstrom is 88-33 with a superb 2.17 ERA. The star right-hander has won 20 games in each of his first four seasons in the IPA. Turon won the TU South title this year and three times in the last four years.

Titus Bristow of the Tuckanarra Blue Jays finished number two in the Golden Arm balloting. Bristow registered a 25-9 mark with a 2.04 ERA and 8 shutouts. He topped the league in ERA and shutouts and tied for the most victories. Fairfax's Ken Hill also won 25 games and dropped 11 with a 3.09 ERA. Both Tuckanarra and Fairfax won their divisions.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 14, 2013

Sundowners Meeks RU MVP Choice
Without Jerry Meeks the Wynnamac Sundowners would not have won the RU East crown this season. Meeks had a superlative 22-6 season with a brilliant 2.04 ERA and now has been awarded the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player trophy given out annually by The Islandian Times. He was just recently chosen the best pitcher in the league and received the Golden Arm Award. Meeks struck out 197 batters in 306 innings, completed 14 games in 39 starts and had 4 shutouts in a marvelous year. Meeks is 27 years old and a five-year vet. He has an overall 68-38 won-loss record with a 2.75 ERA.

Meeks told reporters, "This was a special year. The Sundowners won the pennant and I helped them do it. It really is nice to get acknowledged this way. It's truly an honor to get this award."

Forest City's talented left fielder Joe Judlin was second in the poll. He played a huge part in leading the Lumberjacks to a surprise pennant in the RU West. They had been sixth the previous year. 31-year-old Judlin hit at a .320 pace with 35 home runs, 115 RBIs and 102 runs and provided much of the 'Jacks offense. This year's RU Golden Bat winner Hal Stevenson came in third in the MVP vote. The superstar catcher for the Sugar Valley Rattlers knocked 49 homers, batted .311, drove in 134 runs and scored 109 times. Stevenson topped the league in home runs and RBIs.

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 15, 2013

Elliott Is TU MVP, Sweeps Major Awards
Jack Elliott is "Mr. Baseball" this season in the Tycobbian Union and also in the entire Islandian Pro Alliance. The High Mesa rookie first baseman swept all of the major awards. First, he was named to the Golden Glove team, next came the Rookie of the Year and Golden Bat and now Elliott has been acclaimed the TU Most Valuable Player. The 20-year-old record-smashing slugger put up astronomical numbers in his first year in the IPA. Elliott broke the home run record with 61, led the TU in runs scored with 134 and was second with a .355 batting average and third in RBIs with 144. No other rookie has ever approached those stats. His great year sparked the Cowboys in their rise from sixth to second in the TU East.

Cowboys manager Frisky Franks commented at the press conference, "I don't think anyone envisioned what Jack has done. We knew he was a very talented and gifted player, but did not expect him to do what he has done this year. He has been truly amazing."

Elliott told reporters, "Hey, I know I'm a good ballplayer and I have always excelled, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would hit like I have this year."

Another rookie wound up second in the MVP poll, conducted annually by The Islandian Times. Pitcher Jeff Russell was the main reason Denton City won the TU West. Russell had a terrific year with a 21-9 record and a 2.90 ERA. He made 39 starts and completed 16 of them with 3 shutouts. Turon's fantastic first baseman Clyde Kingsford paced them to the TU South championship. The second-year player and last year's Rookie of the Year was even better this season with 46 homers (4th) and an IPA-leading 147 RBIs, while hitting .316 and scoring 117 runs.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, April 1, 2014

IPA Begins 14th Season
The brand new 2014 pennant race begins today. The clubs are poised and primed for another new season of baseball filled with plenty of spills, chills, hits, runs, errors and homers. Another exciting Islandian Pro Alliance season kicks off a new year with 32 games around the Islands. The defending champion Far Mountain Redhawks of the Ruthlandian Union will be in quest of its fourth Pro Cup in a row. They swept the Tuckanarra Blue Jays of the Tycobbian Union in four games to take the Pro Cup last year. Both clubs are expected to be in contention again this season.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Ruthlandian Union North Midseason Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Saturday, June 21, 2014

FM On Top As Usual, 5-Game Edge Over A's And Tars At Midseason
Business as usual in the Ruthlandian Union North. Defending champ Far Mountain has a 5-game edge over the Glasco Athletics and Taranto Tars at the All-Star break. Kilkenny and LaGrange are tied for fourth and are 9 in the rear. The Redhawks are trying to win their sixth consecutive division title and a remarkable fourth Pro Cup in a row. It looks like all that stands between them and another division pennant are Glasco and Taranto. No other clubs look to be up to the challenge.

All the experts are again favoring Alex Groveland's Far Mountain (49-24) crew in the RU North. Superior pitching will be the deciding factor. Glasco and Taranto can hold their own with the bats, but the Redhawks have the edge on the mound. All-Star Robby Kelly (11-3 2.39), Boomerang Hines (12-6 2.27) and Woody Crawford (10-3 2.39) are one of the best starting rotation in the IPA. Add in three more All-Stars in the batting order and you have quite a ball club. All-Star 3B Duane Parsons is having his best year ever with a .373 batting average. The two other All-Stars are SS Don Nichols (.293/9/38/52) and C Otis Ott (.268/6/35).

Manager Tommaso Lazzorda has his high-scoring Taranto Tars (44-29) primed for a run at powerful Far Mountain. He has three All-Stars in RF Augie Marshall (.327/23/68), 2B Ed Miles (.314/18/61) and SS Aron Aiello (.324/10/43). As a team the Tars have 122 home runs so far and are on pace to challenge the IPA record. Lazzorda needs another pitcher to go with Jay Cervini (8-6 2.37) and Chazzie DeBartolo (7-3 2.42) to really challenge the Redhawks. It is unlikely Taranto can sustain its offense the whole season. They will finish second, but way behind Far Mountain.

The Glasco A's (44-29) don't have the stars, but McDuffie Hughes has a solid core of veterans that can do the job. Defensively they are tied for second in the league with a strong .978 FA. Leading his line-up is future Hall-of-Famer 41-year-old RF Ike Plunkett with a .316 batting mark, 10 homers and 38 RBIs. SS Lee Sullivan (.283/5/54) and LF Tony Piel (.307/9/42/54) are two other good sticks. Glasco has a super bullpen ace in Jack Hatcher, who has chalked up 13 saves with a ridiculousy low 0.72 ERA. Hughes is lacking in pitching. His best starter is Davy McAdams with an 8-3 record, but a 4.32 ERA. The Athletics will battle Kilkenny and LaGrange for the third spot in the RU North.

The Kilkenny Cats (40-33) and LaGrange Sports (40-33) are 9 games back and tied for fourth in the RU North at midseason. Good pitching may keep them in the running for third place. Higher finishes are not seen. Both clubs could use some firepower. LF Billy Garrett is Kieran McKenna's biggest thread with the bat, but he has only 10 homers and 38 RBIs with a .318 batting average. The Cats strong points are two quality starters. McKenna's ace is All-Star Kyle Ferguson, who is 14-4 at mid-year with an excellent 2.02 ERA, third best in the league. 40-year-old Matt DeRosa can still hold his own. He is 8-6 with a 3.07 ERA.

Foxy Jimison is the same situation at LaGrange. Not much in the way of offense with two solid starters and a great closer. Veteran starters Denny Kristensen (12-5 3.21) and Pablo Orantes (10-9 3.27) are quality arms. In the bullpen Andre Dupas (0-1 1.74) is a stalwart with 17 saves thus far. Jimison has the best chance to move up in the division because of better bats. All-Star 1B Bill Nance is having a strong season with 66 RBIs and number two in the league. Nance is hitting .295 with 9 roundtrippers. Future HOFamer 37-year-old LF Quincy Peterson has 14 home runs, 52 RBIs and 51 runs with a decent .264 average. RF Joel Reed (.287), SS Bill Nilsen (.282), 2B Dale Scoville (.319) and CF Elijah Dillon (.283) give the Sports some more capable hitters at the plate. It wouldn't be a big surprise to see LaGrange wind up in the third spot.

The other three clubs in the RU North aren't going anywhere this year. Valmara (35-38) is 14 games off the pace in sixth. Manager J. Jackson Samuel has only two bonafide players. On the hill Vanya Vasylenko with over 200 wins in his career is still quite a pitcher at age 32. This season on a bad ball club Vasylenko is 11-5 with a strong 2.80 ERA. CF Stan Czerwinski sparks the offense with a .326 batting average, 7 homers, 34 RBIs and 48 runs scored.

Seventh place belongs to the Ancona Red Elephants (34-39), who trail by 15 games. Manager Manny Mickens has a fine closer with John Sharpe in the bullpen. Sharpe has 14 saves with a 3-2 record and an impressive 2.16 ERA. Ancona has some good bats, too. All-star 1B Johnny Lee Harder is batting .322 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs. Second-year man LF Kenny Willard already has gone deep 17 times, driven in 50 runs, scored 44 times, while hitting at a .296 pace. Veteran CF Lacey Tompkins, a future HOF'er with over a 1000 RBIs and 1000 runs, carries a .301 mark with 8 homers, 35 RBIs and 45 runs scored.

The hapless Ranford Bulls (32-41) are in the cellar and likely to remain there for the duration of the season. Manager Page Satcher hasn't been in contention for six long years and the drought will undoubtedly continue. Satcher just doesn't have any talent in Ranford. Pitcher Shane Hall is his best starter with a 5-7 record and a fine 2.97 ERA. Rookie closer Neil Walton looks like a star of the future. He is 4-4 with 5 saves and a superb 2.05 ERA in 17 games this year.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Ruthlandian Union South Midseason Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

BB Sunbirds Lead RU South By 6 Over Crushers
After finishing second to St. John last year, the Belair Beach Sunbirds have come back with a vengeance to take over first place in the Ruthlandian South by 6 games over the Crystal Lake Crushers. They are 9 ahead of third place San Dimas and 12 in front of the fourth-place Claxton Diamonds. Marty Pedroza's Sunbirds are the class of the division this season and seemed headed for another pennant. Belair Beach has won the division 3 times over the years and finished second 4 times.

Belair Beach (45-28) has the third-best record in the league after Far Mountain (49-24) of the RU North and Rocky Rapids (46-27) of the RU West. Pedroza has three fine starters, good fielding and a quality hitter in each slot in the batting order. All-Star Jeff Nieman is the biggest winner in both leagues with a 14-4 mark and a 3.45 ERA. The Sunbirds traded for Nasty Naymick and he has been a good addition with a 6-4 record and a strong 2.31 ERA. Overall Naymick is 10-5 with a 2.64 ERA. Pedroza got him from Cape Coral for two players. The trade was a win-win for both clubs as 1B Avery Womack is hitting .337 for the Hurricanes. Second-year man Denny Whitaker is starter number three with a 10-7 record and a 3.32 ERA. The Sunbirds are a well-balanced ball club and should rack up its fourth RU South title in September.

Herman "Baby" George may have the best team he's ever had in Crystal Lake (39-34). He has two quality starters and a dynamite closer, along with two standout hitters, but not enough talent to top Belair Beach. Second place is most likely where his Crushers will wind up. Al Duhon (9-3 3.88) and Ben Dewberry (7-9 2.25) are his best starters and All-Star Jeff Jernigan is George's bullpen ace. Jernigan (2-4) has appeared in 32 games, saved 20 of them and has posted a brilliant 1.51 ERA. Crystal Lake's attack is led by future Hall-of-Famer 1B Phil Gravelli and budding star RF Chip Fiske. 30-year-old Gravelli is the all-time leader in home runs, RBIs and games in the IPA. He had played in 2012 games, hit 454 homers and batted in 1454 runs in his fabulous career with a .316 batting average. This year Gravelli is at .290 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs. Fiske, in his second year, has a .315 BA with 7 roundtrippers, 43 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and has scored 44 times.

None of the other teams is over .500 in the RU South. The third place San Dimas Rancheros (36-37) are 9 games off the pace and are led on the mound by Rudy Nasquez (9-5 3.71) and at the plate by 1B Ron Armstrong (.298/12/42/48) and C Wesley Pate (.297/11/30/37). Ranchero skipper Paco Banderas just doesn't have a lot of talent, which is the case for the rest of the division.

The Claxton Diamonds (33-40) with the Old Perfesser Stacy Engel at the helm are 12 games out in the race and sitting in fourth place. Charlie Murphy (9-8 2.52) is his best starter and George Ferguson (2-1) is becoming quite a closer with an outstanding 1.19 ERA and 10 saves on the year. The Diamonds only productive hitter has been superstar and All-Star 1B Mike Luzzatti with a .306 BA, 16 home runs, 43 RBIs and 51 runs scored.

Last year's surprise pennant-winner, the St. John Crusaders (32-41), have totally fallen apart and plunged to fifth-place tie with the Valka, 13 games back. When your team ERA climbs out-of-sight and your team batting average take a severe dive, your team is in trouble. Dickie Billings still has two solid starters with Denny Copeland (6-4 2.68) and Teddy Garson (6-4 3.20), but little else. The team ERA stands at a poor 4.28 (28th) and the team BA is only .227, the worst in the IPA. It just might be the worst in the league history. The Crusaders have no hitters worth mentioning. They are that bad.

The Valka Blackhawks (32-41) have some power with 77 home runs (3rd), but not much besides that. Manager Jaan Kurus only has two players of any note. Starter Erke Tonisson (7-7 3.53) is having a fair year and LF Kurt Jankauskas has hit 14 out of the park and driven in 47 runs, but is batting only .264 this season.

Manager Torry Joseph in Grand City (31-42) hasn't made the playoffs since 2002 and probably will continue the trend for a few more years. The Cybercats are in seventh place in the standings and trail by 14 games. They may have trouble staying ahead of cellar-dwelling Waleska. Grand City's top players are Denny Yarrow, Paul McBride and Jimmy Tremayne. 36-year-old Yarrow came to the Cybercats in a trade with Mahaska and he has been a great addition with an 11-6 mark and a 3.49 ERA. Closer McBride (0-1) has been absolutely sensational with a 0.92 ERA and 12 saves. Tremayne, a 37-year-old journeyman CF, is leading the team with a .315 BA and 33 RBIs.

McGraw Johnson guided the Waleska Westerners (30-43) to the RU South crown in 2012, but it's been all downhill since with second-division finishes. At the All-Star hiatus the Westerners are at the bottom of the entire totem pole, some 15 games behind the pack. However all is not gloom - the Westerners can hit the ball and will probably move up in the standings if Johnson can find a decent pitcher or two. Budding superstar CF Roy Hobbs sports a .318 BA with 15 homers, 46 runs batted in and has scored 56 times. All-time great LF Kippy Doyle still gets the job done with a .332 BA, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. And RF Harold Setser may be 41, but still can hit with a .278 BA, 14 roundtrippers, 50 RBIs and 40 runs scored. Waleska's only pitcher to date has been Sammy Grimaldi with a fine 6-3 mark and a strong 2.78 ERA.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Ruthlandian Union East Midseason Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Ruthlandian East Midseason Standings and Team Batting

Marston Tops Super-Tight RU East
The Ruthlandian East is packed tightly at the mid-year break with all of the teams still having a shot at the pennant. Only 7 games separate first from last. The Marston Nine are on top, but not by much. They have a 1-game lead over second place Belle Plaine, 2 games over Elnora and Wynnamac in third place, 3 games up on fifth place Beechwood, 6 games in front of sixth place Cold Creek and Sugar Valley and 7 ahead of last place Eastshore. Whoever wins the flag will just be a big fish in a small pond. None of the teams will do well in the playoffs. The RU East is easily the weakest division in the IPA. Only Marston has a record over .500 and just barely.

The Marston Nine (37-36) are skippered by Johnny Walters. He has three All-Stars on his club. Hunk Sweitzer is 10-2 with a sterling 2.54 ERA. 5-time All-Star 3B Jimmy Holman (.333/15/54) and 1B Pat Farris (.390/5/31) are Marston best bats. 2-time All-Star Farris has led the RU in hitting twice (2007 and 2010) and is near the .400 mark this year and the leader with a .390 average thus far. Closer Bobby Daniel (2-4 2.83) has been a plus this season with 12 saves. Marston can pull away from the pack if it can just score more runs. Walters has some good veteran pitchers. The club is good defensively, too. The Nine has a .976 FA.

Boo Ladrieux has a good starting rotation in Belle Plaine (36-37), headed up by Matt Van Rensberg (10-4 3.90). Like Marston the season will depend on the hitters stepping it up in the second half. The Musketeers best bats belong to CF Hugh Berryhill (.325/0/35/51) and LF Juan Mendez (.319/1/28/460, both of whom lack power.

The Elnora All-Stars (35-38), tied for third with defending division champ Wynnamac, are good with the gloves (.979 FA) and possess some good starters. Manager Zoggy White has some very capable hitters, too. The future is bright, if starters Taylor Gibbs (8-8 3.03), Stevie Howard (5-2 3.38) and Matty Wilkerson (3-3 1.61) can get it going in the last half of the season. Howard was injured in May and is back now. Wilkerson has recently been promoted from the bullpen to starter. Elnora has the best trio of hitters in the division: RF Lloyd Voss, All-Star C Leon Carter and CF Denny Sawyer. Voss is one of the premier contact hitter in the IPA and is currently batting .340 with 6 homers, 42 RBIs and has scored 39 times. Voss is a career .339 batter and has whiffed only 200 times in 4000 at-bats. C Leon Carter has been great in his first two seasons, making the All-Star team both times. He is hitting .313 with 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in. Sawyer is having his best year in his career with a .305 mark, 10 roundtrippers, 30 RBIs and 54 runs scored. Many experts favor Elnora to take the pennant this year.

Matt Donnelly is disappointed with the play of his Wynnamac Sundowners (35-38) through the opening half of the season. He told reporters that the offense is down a little and the pitching is way off from a year ago. Jerry Meeks won the RU MVP Award last season, but is only 7-8 record-wise. He was 25-6 in the pennant-winning year. Meeks' ERA is up, but still is a strong 2.81 on the season. Donnelly said two standouts in 2013 Lenny Ward (8-4 4.04) and Gene Fair (7-8 3.69) could make a whale of a difference with better second halves. Wynnamac's top run producers are CF Clive Farnham (.319/12/43/38), 14-year vet and future HOF LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.321/16/42/45) and second-year C Tweet Tillman (.280/9/39/31). Burkhalter is a lifetime .287 hitter with 365 homers to date and 1347 RBIs.

The Beechwood Bobcats (34-39) are in the fifth spot in the RU East standings, but just 3 games off the pace. The Bobcats have never won a pennant or even made the playoffs. This year could be their best chance. Manager Bret George would be in first place if Dek Jumonville, his ace, was having a typical year. Jumonville is 37 this season and has fallen on hard times with a 6-12 mark and a 3.82 ERA, about a run higher than usual. Beechwood's best twirler is another 37-year-old, Terry Kuznetsov, who has posted a 10-6 record with a 3.12 ERA. A revitalized Jumonville could do wonders for the Bobcats in the race. Leading the Beechwood offense is second-year CF Vic Valenti, who had a very good rookie season, but has really blossomed into a budding superstar with a .365 batting average, 18 homers, 65 RBIs and 51 runs. Valenti made the All-Star team and has already topped his first-year home run total and is fast approaching his last season's RBI number. Valenti went deep 17 times and batted in 78 runs in 2013. 38-year-old RF Clifton Czabo has helped Valenti with the offensive load. Czabo is hitting .317 with 4 homers, 31 RBIs and 39 runs scored. Beechwood has a good defensive team with an above average .977 FA.

The Cold Creek Catamounts (31-42) are tied for sixth with Sugar Valley and trail first place Marston by 6 games. T. Kelly Holmes is in charge of the Catamounts. His top starting pitchers are Marc Matherne (7-6 2.94) and Payton Saunders (8-10 3.64). In the bullpen Shannon Robinson (1-3) has been extraordinary with 14 saves and a terrific 1.88 ERA. 1B Terry Sauer (.324/11/37/38) and CF Trip Holmes (.294/7/34/32) shoulder most of the offensive load for the club. Cold Creek is just a second-division club and needs improved pitching and hitting to contend in the RU East.

Gibby Bobkins, who has won the division 5 times, has nothing to show but seventh-place finishes the last two years and a low finish looming again this season. His Sugar Valley Rattlers (31-42) just simply lack the talent to compete. Bobkins has very little in the way of starters. His best hurler is his closer Woody Murrell, who has compiled a 5-4 won-lost record with 15 saves and a fine 2.35 ERA. LF Austen Conover (.330/2/35/42) and C Hal Stevenson (.276/14/50) are Bobkins' top hitters.

The Eastshore Elegants (30-43) are in last place again this season, a spot they have occupied 5 of the past 6 seasons. Killer Brewster just has a bad ball club with average pitching and below-average hitting. The Elegants have only one top-notch pitcher. Second-year man Bix Hansen is a strong right-hander with an 8-4 mark and a standout 2.87 ERA. Hansen was 18-15 in his freshman year and looks like he will be a good one for many years to come. LF Stan Cuccinello (.308/12/45/32) and RF Cha-Cha Cervini (.322/5/34/22) lead the Eastshore batters.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Ruthlandian Union West Midseason Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

4-Club Race In RU West, RR Snappers Lead At All-Star Game
Another great pennant race is shaping up again in the Ruthlandian West, perhaps the strongest overall division in the IPA. But not like last year when 6 teams were closely bunched. This season 4 clubs will probably contest it down to the last few days. The Rocky Rapids Snappers have a narrow lead at the halfway point. They hold a two-game margin over runner-up Colfax, three over third-place Sligo and four over Volusia in fourth place. Who's going to be victorious? Rocky Rapids and Colfax have strong pitching, Sligo has the offense and Volusia has both pitching and hitting. The key factor could be which teams stays the healthiest.

The big story of this season has been the total collapse of last year's division winner, the Forest City Lumberjacks. Forest City came out of nowhere and leaped from seventh to first in 2013. Not so this season. The 'Jacks have nose-dived to the basement with a poor 28-45 mark, 18 games off the pace. Forest City has suffered from a lack of scoring this year. Last year they hit 177 home runs. At mid-year Robbie Jackson's crew had hit only 62 in 2014.

The Rocky Rapids Snappers (46-27), piloted by Ryan Noland, are chocked full of All-Stars... heading the list of 4 is SP Don Chaney (14-4 1.81), who has had a truly fine season... closer Earl Pitts (2-2 1.88) has notched 18 saves... SS Cooter Bermudez (.330/0/26/52) is enjoying a career year... and C Hank Bethel (.282/10/47/38) made the All-Stars for the 9th time... The Snappers have four quality starters and are ranked second in the RU with a fine 3.06 ERA.

The Colfax Blasters (44-29) slipped a bit last year, dropping from second to sixth, but were only 4 games off the lead... Hitting is Clem Rogers' biggest worry, but he still has strong pitching, led by All-Stars Ilya Szabo (13-2 1.05) and Jimmy Joe Cartner (12-1 2.10)... Colfax tops the IPA with a terrific 2.85 team ERA... there is no better duo in the IPA... the Blasters are batting only .253 (23rd) with longtime star CF Ryan Raines (.278/14/38/39) the top batter.

On paper the Sligo Rovers (43-30) of Eddie Keys look to be the best team in Ruthlandia with 4 All-Stars... The Rovers can hit and score and are ranked near the top offensively... plus they have two good starters in All-Star Vinnie Rastelli (13-1 2.68) and newly-acquired Jasper LaForge (8-4 2.95), who came over from Colfax after 13 years in the league... LaForge is only 32 and looks to have quite a few years to go... It's bewildering why Colfax let him go... Rumor is he just got fed up with Clem Rogers, known to be difficult to play for... And wow, just look at Keys' line-up: All-Star 2B Hollis Waldrup (.298/14/46/69/32SB), 1B Joe Helmke (.296/10/39/36), All-Star RF Clell Renshaw (.333/7/43/55). All-Star LF Fred Collins (.346/10/42/60), 3B Manny Alou (.256/17/54/41) and CF Chris Michel (.302/5/40/43/20 SB)... Sligo needs longtime ace Dix Edenborough to regain form and close out the year well... 36-year-old Edenborough is 10-7 but has an inflated 4.30 ERA... Trailing by only 3 games, Sligo has a good shot at the crown this year.

Alfonso Feliz has the best-balanced team in the RU West with both quality pitching and hitting... The Volusia Vigilantes (42-31) have an impressive 3.29 ERA (3rd) and are batting .265 (9th) and are just 4 games back in the pennant chase... Gerry Hersh (12-5 2.51) is having a career year, but just missed out on the All-Star team... CF Joe DeLucca (.342/13/59/58) is a premier player and in just his second season... Old dependable in RF Briscoe Crowder (.338/5/34/40), a 13-year vet, and 1B Rafael Garza (.332/2/37/25) give Feliz' two more solid and consistent bats.

None of the second-divison clubs are expected to challenge the upper crust this season... The Fort Benton Defenders (35-38) have respectable pitching with a 3.45 ERA (6th), but not much in hitting... Manager Robbie Brooks has three dependable starters in his rotation with Tucker Dawes (10-7 2.81), Hec Skurgan (7-8 2.99) and Ivan Gloeckner (8-8 3.47)... There is also quality in the bullpen with closer David Osborn (0-2 1.59), who has saved 17 games so far... The Defenders best bats are few in number and belong to CF Ryan Smith (.304/15/34/50) and LF Forest Cummings (.276/12/51/47).

The Stoner Stars (34-39) are sixth, 12 games off the pace and likely to end up in the second division for the 8th year in a row... Willie Dickens is short on talent as usual except for three players: Billy Chapel (8-9 2.82), who could be a headliner for any team in the IPA... Chapel, only 21, won 20 games last year as a rookie... Ditto for All-Star LF Mike Jaffe, only 20, who had a standout season as a freshman, and is even better this year with a .353 average, 18 homers, 45 RBIs and 54 runs scored... and 5-year man 1B Robert Dunbar (.317/11/49).

Smitty Michaels had a powerhouse in Middlefield (31-42) in the first five seasons, when his Roosters made the playoffs every year and even won the Pro Cup in 2005... However those days of glory are long gone and Middlefield is next-to-last and 15 games behind... Johnny Bond (6-10 2.99) is a reliable starter... 33-year-old 2B Jim Rose (.322/14/48/47) could start for just about every team in the IPA... Rose is a 3-time All-Star and just missed by a wink this year... and Ricky Tinker (.286/11/49) is a solid first sacker.

The last place Forest City Lumberjacks (28-45) were riding high last year and won the RU West with good offense and good pitching... the offense is gone this season... Rob Jackson's crew is one of the worst-hitting teams in the IPA with a lowly .241 batting average (30th)... home run production and scoring is down, too... The 'Jacks have jacked only 62 (14th) this year and are dead last in scoring with 258 runs (32nd)... Jackson has only one good hitter in his line-up and that is LF Joe Judlin with a .300 average, 19 homers, 53 RBIs and 42 runs scored... but Judlin has no help... Forest City still has a good group of pitchers, who can keep them in the game, but the batters can't win them... Paul Crews (4-12 3.19), Knucks Nomellini (7-10 3.30) and Al Thibaut (7-9 3.25) are still fine starters and closer Dale Owens (0-2 1.92) can still take care of leads, but he rarely has one. The Lumberjacks have simply gone into a severe power decline and took a huge plunge in the standings.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Tycobbian Union North Midseason Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

7-Team Race, Mahaska Has Slight Lead In TU North
At the halfway mark in the season the Tycobbian Union is still up for grabs with a 7-team tangle. The Mahaska Haymakers have a slight 1-game lead over North Hills, 3 over Hartsdale and Oxford and 5 over Blue Lake, defending champ Fairfax and Luxora. Cellar-dwelling White River is the only club that has no chance for the pennant.

Manager Rusty Tanussa has greatly improved his pitching and the Mahaska Haymakers (41-32) are doing quite well, but they have a task to stay on top in the last half of the season. There are quite a few clubs within striking distance and ready to take over if they slip... Mahaska has two good starters in 37-year-old Bill Sunday (11-5 4.05) and 42-year-old Johnny Spears (6-8 3.04), a strong relief corps and two strong bats in All-Star C Bucky O'Brian (.349/17/54/45) and 1B Johnny Carducci (.290/13/51)... In addition the Haymakers have a veteran player at almost every regular position.

Much-improved hitting has made the North Hills Hawks (40-33) a threat this year... they were sixth last season... Skipper Hub Carlson has them right on Mahaska's tail and in the thick of things, just one game out of first... the Hawks are strong defensively with a .979 FA... Carlson's batting order is full of veterans, led by 1B Rob Pearson (.278/15/55/46), LF Brodie Blackburn (.320/8/34/39) and CF Charley Walton (.309/0/22/41)... on the mound North Hills has Lou Dozier (7-3 3.61) and Ronnie Kerensky (9-6 3.45) as two reliable starters and closer Denny Stuart (5-2) in the bullpen with 11 saves and a strong 2.10 ERA... the Hawks look like they are in the race to stay.

Zim Donner's hard-hitting Hartsdale Hellcats (38-35) are back on track after a disasterous eighth-place finish in 2013... a good offense and improved mound staff have made the difference... Hartsdale is only 3 games off the pace and deadlocked with Oxford for third in the standings... top hitters are All-Star SS Jud Turchin (.326/19/46/58), 1B Tom Brabant (.330/14/54) and 3B Kendry Moulton (.319/17/57)... you would be hard put to find a better trio of 3-4-5 batters in the IPA... Donner also has two reliable starters in Rip Arnold (8-7 3.28) and Ronnie Jernigan (10-4 3.45)... Ben Clermont (3-3 3.00) gets the bullpen work done well with 11 saves... The Hellcats will make their presence known in the second half of the season.

The Oxford Red Caps (38-35) are again hitting the ball like they did in their heyday, when Campy Roy's crew won four flags in its first six seasons in the IPA... The Red Caps have some scoring power with LF Mack Spencer (.273/16/51), 1B Eddy Dowler (.295/14/51/45), RF Ozzie Takach (.333/6/28/40) and C Sollie Rees (.308/9/32/33)... the team is hitting .270 (6th) and has 93 home runs (4th)... Roy has some capable arms in Del Anderson (8-4 3.49), Norm Mann (10-4 4.24) and Emerson Carnell (6-9 2.98)... Oxford could use some help on defense as they are near the bottom with a very poor .965 FA.

Cobb Tyson's Blue Lake Blue Sox (36-37) are tied with Fairfax and Luxora for fifth place in the TU North, all 5 games back... the Blue Sox are keeping close with 7-year vet Justin Eckhardt (8-7 3.12) and young 24-year-old Nick Walker (7-5 2.81)... 22-year-old closer Tony Reed (0-1 1.77) has impressed in 19 games... Reed has 8 saves... Tyson needs vets Neil Krogstad (5-11 4.06) and Dan Whitfield (9-8 4.27) to have better second halves to contend for the pennant... Blue Lake is also in dire need of some offense, batting only .246 (30th) with only 58 homers (27th)... when asked who his best hitters are, the blunt Tyson replied tersely, "I have none."

The Fairfax Frogs (36-37) are the defending champion in the TU North, but have suffered a devastating loss... Superstar RF Dane Wesner dislocated his shoulder while diving for a ball in the first week of the season and could be back the last few weeks of the year... Wesner hits .341 lifetime and averages almost 40 home runs, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored each year... No team can replace a talent like that... Manager Harry Buckley is hanging in with vets Steve Aaron (7-6 3.16) and Ken Hill (8-8 3.29) in his starting roles and quality closer Floyd Burnett (4-2 3.24) with 10 saves... but it is tough to win when your team is batting a lowly .240 (32nd)... the Frogs best bat belongs to SS Wes Hickox (.276/14/46/44)... Buckley needs his other two starters Joe Hampton (5-9 4.57) and Dan Hunt (6-5 3.53) to pick up where they left off in pennant-winning 2013... Hampton was 18-13 with a 2.97 ERA, while Hunt was 18-16 with a 3.49 ERA... the Fairfax batting order could pick it up, too... Better pitching and better batting might lift the Frogs back to the top rung of the TU North.

The Luxora Zorros (36-37) are also tied for fifth, but are just five games off the pace of Mahaska... Alejandro Rodrigo has seen his pitching corps take a drastic dive to mediocrity from a solid 3.50 to a poor 4.20 team ERA... Last season Elio Laurente was 20-14 with a 2.98 ERA and Tommy Wrightman was 19-13 with 2.91 ERA... this year they have stumbled to 7-7 and 4.34 for Laurente and 4-7 and 6.13 for Wrightman... The Z's top pitchers are Marcus Zamora (8-6 4.06) and Anthony Glaser (7-6 4.09)... nowhere near what you need to compete in the IPA... Luxora's strong points this year have been the play of All-Star 3B Pablo Santa Cruz (.345/5/38/53/17 SB), LF Gene Watson (.307/12/63) and 1B Billy Whitney (.332/2/24/46).

It's another bad year for the White River Rascals (23-50)... John Randison's club has made the first division in the TU North only once in its 13-year history... that was a fourth-place finish in 2008... the Rascals have never come close to the playoffs... this looks like it will be the worst season ever... they are in last place, 18 games out, and have only 23 victories so far... Not much talent on the Rascals... Randison's best performers are pitcher Mick Cronyn (5-7 3.86), 1B Marty Blake (.317/17/38) and 3B Jess Crockhart (.292/7/31).

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Tycobbian Union South Midseason Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Ginza Ahead In Jam-Packed TU South
The Ginza Ninjas and the Colchester Elites are challenging the traditional powers in the Tycobbian South this season. The Ninjas are on top in the jam-packed division with the Elites in the second spot, just one game off the pace. However, hanging real close are two clubs that have won 9 pennants between them, the Turon Typhoons and Cape Coral Hurricanes. Turon is third and trails by only two games with Cape Coral fourth and just three games back.

Finally after 11 years of failing to make the playoffs, manager Huroko Uchiyama has got a good shot at making them... He has put together a solid ball club with excellent pitching and defense and better-than-average hitting and power. The Ginza Ninjas (40-33) are ranked number one in the TU with a 3.08 ERA and tied for fourth with a sparkling .978 FA... top starters: Joji Azuma (10-3 2.92), Carl Trebek (10-4 2.73) and Al Myers (5-9 2.50) gives Uchiyama three very good starters... Best bats: All-Star C Crash Davis (.320/16/38/39), CF Chazzie Lombardo (.270/13/37/39) and LF Mark Buchanan (.273/14/43/39).

It's been a 7-year postseason drought for the Colchester Elites (39-34)... They have vastly improved its mound staff and can hit with decent power... Manager Uncle Robbie Wilbertson's best pitchers are veterans Timmy Brooks (10-6 2.52), Jimmy Simmons (9-8 3.57) and Mark Bright (7-5 3.61), who have over 30 years' experience combined... Brooks made the All-Star for the second time in his career... top players: one of the most prolific hitters in IPA history is superstar 1B Harlan Roscoe (.315/18/53/43)...Rascoe has scored over 1000 runs and batted in over 1300 in his 13 years in the league... Rascoe is a lifetime .316 batter with 375 homers and a 3-time All-Star... C Tommy Booker has added 14 homers and 46 RBIs with a .263 BA... SS Patsy Bates is super in the field and totes a .298 BA with 4 HRs, 38 runs and 17 RBIs... the Elites could use better defense... they have a poor .970 FA.

The defending division winner Turon Typhoons (38-35) are in third place, two games behind the Ninjas, mainly because of a pretty fair drop in hitting and pitching from last year... The Typhoons won easily in 2013 by 9 games over Cape Coral... star reliever Merle Studebaker (1-1 0.59) has also been out for the last two weeks with a bad knee... he is expected back soon... Studebaker has 9 saves this season... His replacement has been poor... Manager Whitey Richburn's defense is quite suspect, too... The Typhoons are a dismal .969 in the field... 4-time All-Star Nicky Engstrom (11-4 2.28) still anchors the mound corps, but needs some help from the other three starters that are having off-years so far... Gifted slugger and 1B Clyde Kingsford (.312/16/66/50) is having another superb season and again made the All-Star team... CF Mac McCurnan (.269/11/50/45) is still a productive hitter and covers center field well... 35-year-old 2B Alan Hansen (.301/0/18/50) is one of the IPA's all-time best second baseman with a career .306 average and over 1400 runs, 1400 walks and 500 stolen bases... Turon will be okay if Richburn can get a couple of hitters and a pitcher to step it up in the rest of the season... The Typhoons are not dead in the water yet... they may be brewing up a storm in the last half of the season.

Huggy Miller's Cape Coral Hurricanes (37-36) are still a team to contend with in the TU South... Miller's problem this year is his pitching... it has dipped the last two years and is now at a 4.09 ERA (23rd)... two years ago when the 'Canes snatched the pennant from Turon, it was a solid 3.43, last season it fell to 3.77... starter and All-Star Cody Burg (11-7 2.66) and closer Bobby Maas (0-3 3.04) are still his mainstays, but the rest of the rotation have faltered... Burg, a cinch for the IPA Hall of Fame, is the all-time leader with 238 victories and over 3000 strikeouts... Cape Coral's key to success this season is its very capable batter order, which has a .271 BA (7th)... White has the best offense in the TU South, led by All-Star LF Rich Osolinsky, who is leading the TU with a .380 mark... Osolinsky has 7 home runs, 39 RBIs and has scored 31 times... RF Glenn Armstrong is at .333 with 9 homers and 38 RBIs... Newly-obtained 1B Avery Worley has come on strong in his first opportunity at a full-time spot... In his sixth season, the 29-year-old Worley is batting .340 with 3 home runs and 31 RBIs... other top bats are 2B Lonnie Moon (.316/7/36/43) and CF Derek Ryckman (.287/10/46/38).

The TU flag winner will go to one of the above teams... none of the remaining clubs have the talent to challenge the current top four teams... The Arroyo Grande Suns (33-40) are fifth in the standings and are 7 games out... Skipper Jean-Luc Marchand's Suns are just average in most respects, but he does have two fine starters in Miguel Aguilera (10-7 3.40) and Omar Allende (6-4 3.17) and a talented All-Star shortstop in Andy Pearson (.340/8/39/43)... The best hitter ever in the IPA LF Jet Kazmarek with a career .352 BA, 1431 runs, 1142 RBIs and 800 stolen bases is showing signs of aging at 39... Kazmarek is hitting almost 100 points under his lifetime average... He is batting only .267 this year and plays only against right-handers... Kazmarek has won an unprecendented 9 batting crowns in his illustrious 14-year career... the last one came in 2012.

It's been a dozen years since the Southport Sun Sox (32-41) made the postseason... They are in sixth this season and trail by 8 games... Manager Charley Oscar's crew will not make the playoffs anytime soon... just not much talent... The Sun Sox best performers are pitchers Neil Howell (9-8 2.81) and Keith Callahan (8-5 3.69) and RF Big Stick Takala (.303/9/31).

It's been 11 years since Lando Peceda's San Alejo Montaneros were a playoff team... it will be stretched to 12 years this year... Peceda top players are pitchers Daniel Fitzmorris (7-6 3.68) and Chad Gilmore (7-5 3.54)... at the plate 1B Dominique Poirot (.335/9/38) and CF Adam Marzoni (.321/1/22) are the Montaneros best bats.

The Summerland Sunsets (28-45) wound up a surprising third in 2012, but have since fallen deep in the second division... Will Hackett's Sunsets are in last place this year and 12 games behind in the race... Weak hitting (.247 BA) and mediocre pitching (3.99 ERA) equal the cellar this season... However Hackett's hurlers are quality pitchers... Denny Coulon (8-9 3.80), Herbie Drahm (8-8 3.78) and Pat Dreux (6-9 3.92) are his top three pitchers... Summerland has one All-Star, CF Jim Garrison, who has 19 roundtrippers with a .285 mark, 40 RBIs and 47 runs scored... and 2B Don Hanks (.307/6/32/29), who has contributed to the offense, too.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Tycobbian Union East Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Tucks Tops In TU East, Midway #2
The mid-season forecast is for a two-team battle in the Tycobbian East between defending champion Tuckanarra and Midway. The Blue Jays have a slight 3-game edge over the Wolves at the All-Star break. The High Mesa Cowboys are third and 7 games behind with the Red Bluff Red Sox in fourth place and trailing by 10 games. High Mesa and Red Bluff are not expected to be in the pennant hunt this year. The Ozarka Naturals are fifth and are 10 games out, but should give the Cowboys and the Red Sox a tussle for third.

The Tuckanarra Blue Jays (47-26) are once again on top of the Tycobbian Union East, but this year they are being hotly contested by the Midway Wolves... Last season they ran away with the pennant and won by 12 games... Carlton "Lefty" Stevens' Blue Jays really don't have a weakness with a .279 BA (1st), 381 runs (4th), a 3.27 ERA (3rd) and a .976 FA (6th-tied)... The Tucks have a wonderful pitching staff with starters Titus Bristow (11-7 2.35), Delaney Elliott (8-7 3.18), Roy Spence (10-3 3.29) and Yuka Nawajuk (10-3 3.18) and brilliant closer Stephen Eubarinja (1-0 0.57), who has 17 saves... they will have to do without Spence for about two weeks due to injury... The Blue Jay batting order is really something with 7 regulars batting .280 or over, led by All-Star RF Danny Redd (.348/6/38/53), 1B Erik Vayda (.305/10/56/41), SS Wayne Snider (.288/9/49/37) and CF Earl O'Brien (.285/8/48/65).

Manager Cochise Chandler has guided his Midway Wolves (44-29) to within 3 games of the division lead... Chandler has all the ingredients to win with a .276 BA (4th), 108 homers (1st), 395 runs (1st), 3.45 ERA (6th) and a .976 FA (6th-tied)... his biggest problem is being in the same division with Tuckanarra... While Midway has talented players, the Blue Jays have more of them... The Wolves have three on the All-Star squad: closer Dom Vilaggio (5-3 1.95) with 14 saves, CF Johnny Lee (.346/20/47/42) and 3B Gerry Jordan (.310/17/56/44)... Jordan is injured and will be on the DL for two weeks and will miss the All-Star Game... LF Dylan Stevenson (.325/13/39/49) also swings a good bat... on the mound Chandler has two solid starters in Motega Wolf (8-5 2.74) and Sherm Jarvis (8-6 2.95).

Frisky Franks' High Mesa Cowboys (40-33) are right up there with the top two clubs offensively, but fall far short of them on the hill... The Cowpokes sport a .278 BA (3rd), 105 home runs (3rd) and have scored 382 runs (3rd), but have a whopping 4.66 team ERA... Keep in mind Queen Ranch Stadium is one of the smallest venues in the IPA - not exactly a pitcher's paradise... but Franks does have an outstanding pitcher... Kent Wells is having his second straight super year with an 11-6 record and a great 2.78 ERA... last season the 34-year-old Wells was 19-12 with a 2.97 ERA... High Mesa also has a fine closer... Ed Galiano (1-2 3.18) has 17 saves... The Cowboys are blessed with a great hitter in All-Star 1B Jack Elliott, who as a rookie won all the awards, best rookie, best hitter, Gold Glove and MVP... Once again he is blistering the IPA pitchers to the tune of a .359 batting average with 26 homers, 74 RBIs and 66 runs... Last season Elliott set a new IPA mark for home runs with 61... helping out with the offense are RF Darrel Alston (.270/15/45) and LF Danny Nash (.305/11/34).

The fourth place Red Bluff Red Sox (38-35) have a decent ball club, but Mack Connery lacks hitting and scoring... top pitchers are Jim Melanakos (11-4 2.77) and John Dougherty (9-8 3.56)... the top Red Sox bats are All-Star Tommy Klegg, who is on target to break Elliott's home run standard... Klegg has 32 at the halfway point in the season with 80 RBIs and a .306 batting average... Klegg, playing in his 10th year, just passed the 1000-RBI milestone... Connery also has a standout SS in Jose Aguilar (.292/10/34/60).

Former powerhouse Ozarka (37-36) is fifth this year and 10 games off the pace... Skipper Joe Mac Carney just doesn't have the pitching he had when the Naturals won three straight flags 2010-2012... Even his young ace Eddie Roberts (6-8 3.87) is suffering an off-year... But the Nats can still hit the ball for average with a .274 mark (5th) and can score with 375 runs (6th)... however they are missing the long ball with just 66 this year (21st)... Ozarka has an impressive line-up with good sticks in 7 of the 8 slots, paced Nathan Ferrell, a 5-time All-Star at 3B, who is enjoying a great year with a .337 BA, 16 roundtrippers, 55 RBIs and 54 runs scored... 11-year vet Ferrell is closing in on the 1000-run and 1000-RBI milestones... Todd Chadwick, a 4-time All-Star at 2B, has a .280 BA with 11 homers, 54 RBI and 53 runs scored... LF Vic Weinstein is having another solid season with a .311 mark, 8 home runs, 59 runs and 34 runs batted in... The Naturals will probably give High Mesa and Red Bluff some stiff competition for third place.

The remaining teams solely lack talent and have no chance of getting higher than sixth in the TU East this year... The South Fork Stallions (34-39) are the best of the lot and currently are in the sixth spot... Deroche "Lips" Leon has better offense than Hillsboro and East Point... CF Robby Michael leads the Stallions at the plate with a .335 BA, 10 home runs and 50 RBIs... on the hill Leon's best hurlers are Blackie Terranova (8-8 3.79) and Bill Branch (7-8 3.29)... 2 years back Terranova was 25-6 and a Golden Arm winner.

The Hillsboro Blazers (32-41) will not make the playoffs for the 13th successive season... Arky Spanderson's club has never finished higher than 5th in the IPA... Closer Randy Love (2-1 1.71) has 12 saves and an excellent ERA... Hillsboro only possesses one decent hitter in RF Louis Mugnier (.314/4/38/43).

The East Point Panthers (24-49) could very well be the worst team in the IPA... Griff Clarke's pitchers have posted an atrocious 5.25 ERA (32nd) and have only 24 victories, one more than the White River Rascals... the Panthers outstanding 2B Jesse Goodwin (.268/22/53/46) made the All-Stars for the fourth time... quality CF Joey Olson is having a solid season with a .286 average, 12 homers and 42 RBIs... C Roland Garsett is hitting .311 with 8 homers, 40 runs scored and 27 RBIs.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

2014 Tycobbian Union West Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Arlon TU West Best In 6-Team Race At All-Star Game
It's a good pennant race in the Tycobbian West with 6 teams in the hunt. Arlon holds a 1-game lead over second place Kenwood. The Rolling Hills Reds are third and just 2 games off the pace. Last year's crownholder Denton City is hanging close by and trails by 4. Also within striking distance are the fifth place Chicopee Braves 5 games back and the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers are in the sixth spot and 6 games out.

The TU West leader, the Arlon Champions (44-29) don't have great stats overall, but Gary Louis flat out has a skilled relief corps with a terrific 2.59 ERA (2nd)... So far the bullpen is carrying the Champs... All-Star closer Johnny Rabelais (2-0) has appeared in 25 games and saved 19 of them with a superlative 1.33 ERA... Ross Birchford (6-0 1.30) has also been a standout reliever... Arlon best starter is Happy McManus (9-5 3.71) along with Armando Cruz (7-8 3.09)... Cruz is on the DL and will miss two weeks with an injury... It will be tough for Louis to do without Cruz in such a tight race... What little offense the Champs have is supplied by All-Star LF Rocco Belasario (.289/17/45/59), who is also a gifted gloveman.

On paper you would think that manager Aaron Hankins' Kenwood Wildcats (43-30) would blow away everybody in the division... the Wildcats are batting .278 (2nd) with 384 runs (2nd), plus they have compiled a very fine 3.12 team ERA (2nd)... and it even gets better in the bullpen with a 2.23 ERA (1st)... defensively Kenwood is tops in the IPA with a standout .980 FA... yet the Wildcats are in the second spot in the standings and trails by a game... Go figure... Hankins has a trio of quality starters in his rotation with All-Star Connie Gavagan (10-5 2.45), Sammy Shaw (10-7 3.99) and Todd Combs (8-8 3.03)... Gavagan was obtained in a trade with Beechwood of the RU East in the off-season and has been a great acquisition... Gavagan is headed for a career year... Closer Rick Brickell (1-3 3.38) has chalked up 13 saves... Kenwood also excels in the batter's box with five .300 batters, sparked by All-Star LF Aidan Latimer (.339/10/44), RF Dennis Riley (.332/11/51), LF Jimmy Brewer (.333/12/34), 3B Brad Walker (.300/8/34/50) and CF Dayton Walker (.317/1/22/28).

The Rolling Hills Reds (42-31) are the cinderella team this season... Matty Christianson's Reds were basement dwellers last year, but have surged up to third this season and are just 2 games out of first... They don't do anything well except winning... Christianson gives most of the credit to his four solid starters... 34-year-old Shane Hooper (10-4 3.66) and 22-year-old Sal Jordan (9-5 2.59) are his top twirlers, but two old journeymen 38-year-old dinosaurs Gerry McFarland (7-4 4.15) and Keir McNamara (6-3 4.09) are also steady and dependable... Christianson really needs some help in the bullpen... his relievers have a very poor 4.56 ERA (23rd)... CF Donnie Lewis (.336/2/32/49), 3B Clay Hoffman (.286/10/39) and 1B Scotty Smith (.283/14/42) provide the lion's share of what little offense the Reds have... it's been a great first half of the season for Rolling Hills, but the experts forecast a fifth-place finish with Denton City and Chicopee passing the Reds by year's end.

The fourth place Denton City Redbirds (40-33) have won the TU West flag six times in its history and are the current returning champs, within four games of the top spot... the Redbirds live and die with two great starters Mila Mohoski (10-4 2.69) and Jeff Russell (12-4 3.00)... both are All-Stars this year... a cinch Hall of Famer, Mohoski is 34 and has a lifetime 234-158 record with a 3.02 ERA and is in his 14th year... Mohoski is also 16-11 in the postseason with a strong 3.07 ERA... Russell is only 23 and in his second season... He was 21-9 in 2013... Skipper Ford Whiteman has a solid core of hitters in his batting order, headed up by All-Star C Pete Gibbs (.321/8/46), veteran RF Lavon Gooch (.287/13/44/49) in his 12th season, steady LF Rod MacCormack (.282/10/36/52) in his 13th year and 1B Maury Duncan (.301/9/36/37), who's in his fifth season... Don't be surprised if Whiteman has his Redbirds challenging Arlon and Kenwood for the TU West title in the second half of the season... Denton City is never far from first place.

Harry Fleetfoot and his Chicopee Braves (39-34) have come close to the title the last two years and are hanging tough this season in fifth place, but only 5 games out... The Braves are led by two strong starters Desmond Quartermain and Tommy Ruffin, two 36-year-old vets... All-Star Quartermain has been sensational this year with an IPA-leading 1.58 ERA and a 12-5 mark, while Ruffin has registered a 9-4 record with an impressive 2.86 ERA... Fleetfoot depends on these two to keep him in the running... Chicopee's big downfall is its lousy bullpen, which has a pathetic 5.15 ERA (27th)... The Braves are not much at the plate, either... They have only one decent hitter, C Ivan Burkholder (.274/11/41/42)... It's not likely Quartermain and Ruffin can win the pennant by themselves, some others have to step up on the mound and in the batter's box... fifth or sixth is a likely finish.

The Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (38-35) are better this year and playing over .500 ball at mid-year... Guy Rondre's Bucs are in the sixth spot in the standings and six games back, but are not predicted to wind up higher... Rondre's best batters are 1B Gerry Fields (.274/14/44), CF Todd Bryant (.300/10/42/52), 3B Ryan Sanders (.311/7/41) and SS Jimmy Sawyer (.268/6/43)... The Buccaneers ace is Lloyd Weber (11-4 3.53)... number two in the rotation is Duke DeVree (5-8 3.29).

The La Claire Lynx (31-42) have wound up near the bottom of the TU West for the previous five seasons... It will be no change this year... Rip Calkin's club is presently in seventh place and 13 games behind and more than likely it will be passed by last place Bayview, who has much better hitting... The Lynx do not hit well with a .243 BA (31st) and do not pitch well with a mediocre 4.27 team ERA (27th)... 40-year-old Doug Lyons is Calkin's top pitcher with a 6-8 mark and a very good 2.78 ERA... 20-year-old 3B Flash Devlin (.330/10/34) is a rising star and La Claire best player... Journeyman pro 1B Luis Marquez (.283/9/47) is always reliable.

Walter Johanssen has not had a real good team in Bayview (29-44) since 2009 when the Vikings came in second and have not won a pennant since 2007... They are in eighth place and 15 games behind first place Arlon... Really bad pitching is keeping them down... This year it is particularly bad with a 5.17 team ERA (31st)... Bayview can hit the ball with authority and score runs with a .261 BA (12th), 366 runs (8th) and 108 roundtrippers (1st), but the opposing teams feast on its pitching... Norm Ray (8-8 3.93) is the only quality arm on the staff... Things won't change until Johanssen can come up with a stronger staff... Bayview's best bats are a couple of All-Star outfielders... young LF Davey Krueger (.314/22/53/43) and RF Tommy Riddle (.281/19/48/51)... other capable contributors are SS Dan Conroy (.291/15/45/40) and 2B Tommy Shore (.300/9/33/43)... seventh place seems to be the best the Viks can accomplish in 2014.

The Islandian Times
Monday, September 23, 2014

IPA All-Star Game Wednesday in Far Mountain
The All-Star Classic is here again! -- the 2014 Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game! This is a game for the fans. They choose the players that are the best at their positions. Then these fan favorites take on one another to determine which league is best. Who will be top league this season? -- the Ruthlandian Union or the Tycobbian Union? We'll get the answer soon. The 14th Annual IPA All-Star Game is Wednesday afternoon at Sky High Mountain in Far Mountain. The TU Stars lead the series 9 to 4, however the RU Stars are on a 3-game winning streak. They pounded out a 10-3 victory last year.

The Ruthlandian Union All-Stars have these fine performers on their roster:

SP Ilya Szabo (CFX) 13-3 1.05 ERA
SP Don Chaney (RR) 14-4 1.81 ERA
SP Kyle Ferguson (KIL) 14-4 2.02 ERA
SP Vinnie Rastelli (SLI) 13-1 2.68 ERA
SP Jeff Nieman (BB) 14-4 3.45 ERA
SP Jimmy Joe Cartner (CFX) 12-1 2.10 ERA
SP Robby Kelly (FM) 11-3 2.39 ERA
SP Hunk Sweitzer (MAR) 10-2 2.58 ERA
CL Jeff Jernigan (CL) 2-4 1.51 ERA 20 SV
CL Earl Pitts (RR) 2-2 1.88 ERA 18 SV
C Leon Carter (ELN) .313 BA 10 HR 33 RBI 42 R
C Otis Ott (FM) .268 BA 6 HR 35 RBI 24 R
C Hank Bethel (RR) .282 BA 10 HR 47 RBI 38 R
1B Pat Farris (MAR) .390 BA 5 HR 31 RBI 30 R
1B Mike Luzzatti (CLX) .306 BA 16 HR 43 RBI 51 R
1B Johnny Lee Harder (ANC) .322 BA 15 HR 58 RBI 40 R
1B Bill Nance (LAG) .295 BA 9 HR 66 RBI 36 R
1B Ron Armstrong (SD) .298 BA 12 HR 42 RBI 48 R
2B Ed Miles (TAR) .314 BA 18 HR 61 RBI 67 R
2B Hollis Waldrup (SLI) .298 BA 14 HR 46 RBI 69 R
3B Duane Parsons (FM) .373 BA 12 HR 53 RBI 45 R
3B Jimmy Holman (MAR) .333 BA 15 HR 54 RBI 36 R
SS Cooter Bermudez (RR) .330 BA 0 HR 26 RBI 52 R
SS Aron Aiello (TAR) .324 BA 10 HR 43 RBI 39 R
SS Don Nichols (FM) .293 BA 9 HR 38 RBI 52 R
LF Mike Jaffe (STO) .353 BA 18 HR 45 RBI 54 R
LF Fred Collins (SLI) .346 BA 10 HR 42 RBI 60 R
CF Vic Valenti (BEE) .365 BA 18 HR 65 RBI 51 R
CF Joe DeLucca (VOL) .342 BA 13 HR 59 RBI 58 R
RF Augie Marshall (TAR) .327 BA 23 HR 68 RBI 52 R
RF Clell Renshaw (SLI) .333 BA 7 HR 43 RBI 55 R

While the Tycobbian Union All-Stars will be represented by these talented players:

SP Desmond Quartermain (CHI) 12-5 1.58 ERA
SP Nicky Engstrom (TUR) 11-4 2.28 ERA
SP Timmy Brooks (CCH) 10-6 2.52 ERA
SP Jeff Russell (DC) 12-4 3.00 ERA
SP Cody Burg (CC) 11-7 2.66 ERA
SP Connie Gavagan (KEN) 10-5 2.45 ERA
SP Mila Mohoski (DC) 10-4 2.69 ERA
CL Johnny Rabelais (ARL) 2-0 1.33 19 SV
CL Stephen Eubarinja (TUC) 1-0 0.57 ERA 17 SV
CL Dom Vilaggio (MDW) 5-3 1.95 ERA 14 SV
C Pete Gibbs (DC) .321 BA 8 HR 46 RBI 32 R
C Bucky O'Brian (MAH) .349 BA 17 HR 54 RBI 45 R
C Crash Davis (GIN) ,320 BA 16 HR 38 RBI 39 R
1B Tommy Klegg (RB) .306 BA 32 HR 80 RBI 53 R
1B Jack Elliott (HM) .359 BA 26 HR 74 RBI 66 R
1B Clyde Kingsford (TUR) .312 BA 16 HR 66 RBI 50 R
2B Todd Chadwick (OZK) .280 BA 11 HR 54 RBI 53 R
2B Jesse Goodwin (EP) .268 BA 22 HR 53 RBI 46 R
3B Kendry Moulton (HAR) .319 BA 17 HR 57 RBI 36 R
3B Nathan Ferrell (OZK) .337 BA 16 HR 55 RBI 54 R
3B Gerry Jordan (MDW) .310 BA 17 HR 56 RBI 44 R
3B Pablo Santa Cruz (LUX) .345 BA 5 HR 38 RBI 53 R
SS Andy Pearson (AG) .340 BA 8 HR 39 RBI 43 R
SS Jud Turchin (HAR) .326 BA 19 HR 46 RBI 58 R
LF Aidan Latimer (KEN) .339 BA 10 HR 44 RBI 36 R
LF Rocky Belasario (ARL) .289 BA 17 HR 45 RBI 59 R
LF Rich Osolinsky (CC) .380 BA 7 HR 39 RBI 31 R
LF Davey Krueger (BAY) .314 BA 22 HR 53 RBI 43 R
CF Johnny Lee (MDW) .346 BA 20 HR 47 RBI 42 R
CF Jim Garrison (SUM) .285 BA 19 HR 40 RBI 47 R
RF Danny Redd (TUC) .348 BA 6 HR 38 RBI 53 R
RF Tommy Riddle (BAY) .281 BA 19 HR 48 RBI and 51 R

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, June 25, 2014

TU Stars Outshine RU Stars 3-2 In IPA All-Star Game
The Tycobbian All-Stars snapped the Ruthlandian All-Stars 3-game winning skein by slipping past them 3-2 in the 14th Annual Game played at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain. The TU Stars put up a 3-0 lead after 7 innings and then withstood a homer rally by the RU Stars. Tycobbia scored in the opening frame on a lead-off triple by RF Danny Redd (Tuckanarra) and an RBI ground-out by 2B Todd Chadwick (Ozarka). They tallied run number two in the second inning. 3B Nathan Ferrell (Ozarka) singled, moved over to third on a double by LF Davey Krueger (Bayview) and rode home on a sac fly by Bucky O'Brian (Mahaska). The TU Stars got their final run on singles by LF Aidan Latimer (Kenwood), PH Clyde Kingsford (Turon) and CF Tommy Riddle (Bayview). Trailing 3-0 going into the in the bottom of the seventh CF Joe DeLucca (Volusia) and LF Fred Collins (Sligo) lite up Cody Burg (Cape Coral) for a pair of solo homers to cut the lead down to 3-2. Ruthlandia failed to tie it by going scoreless the final two frames.

Nicky Engstrom (Turon) got the win with a scoreless 1-2-3 third inning and the loss went to the RU starter Don Chaney (Rocky Rapids), who was ripped for 2 runs and 5 hits in his two innings. Tycobbia outhit the RU Stars 9 to 7 with Redd getting 2 hits for the winners and Collins collecting two for the losers. Redd was awarded the game's MVP honors.

The TU Stars have a huge edge in the All-Star Game series with 10 victories in 14 games.

The Islandian Times
Monday, September 15, 2014

IPA Begins Last Week Of Season, 6 Races Up In The Air

Two divisions in the IPA have been decided going into the final week of the season. Belair Beach long ago clinched in the Ruthlandian South and Turon easily took the title in the Tycobbian South. 23 teams are still in the hunt for the division pennant and the automatic Pro Cup playoff spot.

Far Mountain (93-54) is in the driver's seat in the RU North with a 6-game bulge over second place Taranto (87-60) with just 7 games to go. The Redhawks are the defending titleholder and are trying to wrap up their sixth straight division flag.

The Belair Beach Sunbirds (92-55) won the RU South by a whopping 21 games over second place Crystal Lake (71-76) and Waleska (71-76). Fourth place St. John (70-77) won the pennant last season.

In the RU East it's still a race with the Marston Nine (83-64) holding a 3-game edge over second place Belle Plaine. Last year's winner Wynnamac is in third place this season and trails by 7 games.

Out in the RU West Colfax (90-57) still has a battle on its hands with the Rocky Rapids Snappers (88-59) just 2 games back and the Volusia Vigilantes (87-60) 3 out. The 2013 champ, the Forest City Lumberjacks (64-83) slumped badly and are tied for last place, 26 games off the pace.

In the Tycobbian Union it's a 5-team donnybrook in the TU North with only two games separating first to fifth. Three teams are tied for the top spot with 79-68 records. Hartsdale, Mahaska and North Hills have a game lead over second place Blue Lake (78-69) and a 2-game margin over fifth place Oxford (77-70). The Fairfax Frogs (71-76) won last year, but have fallen to sixth place, 8 games behind in the race.

In the RU South the Turon Typhoons (88-59) are again the champion. They whipped the runner-up Colchester Elites by 9 games and the Ginza Ninjas by 11 to take their sixth flag in seven seasons.

The Midway Wolves (89-58) are up by 3 games over second place Tuckanarra (86-61) with 7 to go in the TU East. The High Mesa Cowboys (82-65) are third and 7 games out, but still have a slim chance of winning. The Tuckanarra Blue Jays were the top team in 2013.

There's still quite a tussle going on in the TU West between 6 clubs. Last year's champ, the Denton City Redbirds (80-67), are tied with the Kenwood Wildcats (80-67) for first place and are 2 games up on the Arlon Champions (78-69) and Chicopee Braves (78-69). The Bay St. Clair Buccaneers are fifth and trail by 5 games and the Rolling Hills Reds are sixth and 7 games behind. The DC Redbirds won the TU West last season and are seeking a second consecutive pennant and their sixth in seven seasons.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 23, 2014

RU Batting Title Belongs to Voss
For Lloyd Voss of the Elnora All-Stars, 2014 was a very good year. Voss nabbed the Ruthlandian Union batting championship with a .362 average. On the season, the 32-year-old right fielder registered 191 hits, 87 runs, 22 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs and 97 RBIs. It was the second bat title for the 9-year veteran. Voss also won in 2009 with a .368 mark. Lifetime He is a .341 hitter.

21-year-old Waleska center fielder Roy Hobbs was second with a .357 average, 38 home runs, 131 RBIs and 124 runs. Hobbs' sophomore year was ever better than the first. Mike Jaffe, a fine young left fielder for the Stoner Stars, finished number three. He batted .353 with 38 roundtrippers, 104 RBIs and scored 108 times.

AG's Pearson Crowned TU Bat King
This season Arroyo Grande shortstop Andy Pearson won the Tycobbian Union batting crown by just a few decimal points over Crash Davis of Ginza. His .344 average led everyone in 2014. Pearson's season stats included 187 hits, 30 home runs, 101 runs scored and 104 RBIs. Last year as a rookie he batted .322 for the Suns.

Strictly speaking, Pearson batted .34438 for the year. Crash Davis of the Ginza Ninjas came in a very, very close second with a .344 batting average - actually .34375 - with 34 homers and 92 RBIs. High Mesa Cowboy first baseman Jack Elliott had another spectacular season with a .342 average and finished third in the batting race. Elliott led the TU with 52 home runs and 141 RBIs, while scoring 129 runs. He just barely missed out on the Triple Crown.