The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2005

Tycobbian Union East 2006 Mid-Season Standings

5-Team Chase in TU East, Ozarka Leader at Mid-Season

The first half leader in the Tycobbian Union East is the Ozarka Naturals. The Nats are one game up on second place Midway, two games ahead of third place Tuckanarra and six in front of fourth place High Mesa. The pennant winners for the past three years, the Red Bluff Red Sox, are still close enough to come back and put in its bid for this year's crown. The Red Sox are 8 games off the pace.

Manager Joe Mac Carney has done a masterful job manipulating the Ozarka Naturals (44-28) to the top of the TU East this season. Everybody has been platooned, but it seems to have worked. The Nats are near the top in batting average with a .275 mark (6th), a little less than average with 62 homers (19th), but almost the best in pitching with a standout 3.34 ERA (2nd).

Ozarka's fine rotation consists of Karl Kleinert (8-4 2.84), Sid Hyder (11-3 3.60), Alec DiMaggio (7-5 3.44) and Pat Schwartz (6-7 2.82). Sparking the Naturals at the plate are 2B Todd Chadwick (.324) with 6 homers and 33 RBIs, LF Vic Weinstein (.333) with 5 dingers, 39 RBIs and 39 scored and 3B Nathan Ferrell (.285) with 14 home runs, 42 RBIs and 47 runs scored.

Midway Wolves (43-29) manager Cochise Chandler has made steady progress the last two seasons and now has his team poised to contend for the division flag. The Wolves trail by only one game.

Chandler's crew is one of the better contact-hitting clubs in the league with a .275 batting average (5th), fair in the long ball department with 67 this season (17th) with pretty fair pitching. Midway's mound staff has chalked up a respectable 3.89 ERA (12th).

The Wolves top bats are RF Flying Eagle Wayra (.336) with 5 homers and 21 RBIs, SS Tommy Kawatoose (.331) with 3 home runs and 31 RBIs and LF Johnny Gillespie (.314) with 5 homers, 25 RBIs and 36 runs scored. The top RBI man has been OF Jan Szymanski (.259) with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs. Piper (.265) has 7 roundtrippers, 34 runs batted in and 38 runs scored. Chandler will have to do without his solid SS/2B Little Johnny Yuma for the rest of the season. He suffered an elbow injury two weeks ago and required surgery. Yuma was hitting .315 at the time.

Midway's best twirlers are All-Star Nosyt Sani (7-6 2.34), Russ Cheasequah (7-4 3.06) and Matty Schubert (4-1 1.40). Schubert has been outstanding in middle relief and has been promoted to the starting rotation. Ditto for Lanky Elsu (3-0 2.53).

After the Tuckanarra Blue Jays (42-30) had their worst season ever last year - a fifth place finish. Skipper Carlton "Lefty" Stevens now has them back in the thick of the battle this season. The third place Blue Jays are just two games behind in the race. Tuckanarra hits well for average (.272 - 7th), has some power (69 homers - 14th) and is a little better than average with a 3.93 team ERA (14th).

Stevens' top hurler is All-Star Titus Bristow (14-3 1.86), who is having a super season with the most wins in the IPA and the second best ERA. Tuckanarra also can rely on two other quality arms in Roy Spence (9-4 3.86) and Anthony Montgomerie (7-5 3.61).

The Blue Jays best batters are CF Monty Draycott (.280) with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs, LF Corey Tavington (.271) with 9 homers and 45 RBIs, 2B Owen MacArthur (.303) 3 homers, 34 RBIs and 49 runs and 3B Duncan Renwick (.311) with 6 roundtrippers, 29 RBIs and 44 runs scored.

The High Mesa Cowboys (38-34) are fourth in the TU East 6 games in back of first place Ozarka. Frisky Franks is the Cowboy skipper and his club plays ball in one of the smallest parks in the IPA. Homers come in abundance at Queen Ranch Stadium. High Mesa is always among the stats leaders in batting and among the worst for pitching. The Cowboys are hitting .281 (3rd) with 97 homers (2nd - tied), while sporting a very lofty 5.07 ERA (30th).

Pacing High Mesa at the plate are rookie 3B Nat Thurlow (.306) with 18 homers and 48 RBIs, LF Adam Zitek (.283) with 15 home runs and 42 RBIs, CF Billy Adenauer (.361) with 7 homers and 37 RBIs, 2B Ed Granberg (.301) with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs, C Jay Fessler (.304) with 1 home run, 32 RBIs and 40 runs and rookie SS John Asbury (.277) with 12 roundtrippers, 31 RBIs and 48 runs scored. Pitcher Joey Popovich (8-6 4.60) is the only Cowboy hurler with an ERA under 5.00.

Red Bluff (36-36) has won three straight pennants in the TU East, but this year they are in fifth place and 8 games out, suffering from a drop in both offense and pitching. Mack Connery's pennant-winning streak may come to an end this season. The Red Sox are hitting only .262 (18th) with 75 homers (11th) and a 4.02 ERA (18th).

Connery still has three very good starters in veterans Frank Beaudoin (10-5 2.58), John Dougherty (9-6 2.93) and Mila Mohoski (7-9 3.98), but little else. Leland Urban (2-6 5.87), who has won 18 games in each of the last two seasons had been relegated to the bullpen.

Red Bluff's best run producers are C Virgil Carpenter (.250) with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs, All-Star SS Jose Aguilar (.353) with 11 homers, 38 RBIs and 56 runs scored and LF Tony Blundell (.266) with 11 homers and 32 runs.

After winning the division championship in its first two seasons in 2001 and 2002 DeRoche "Lips" Leon has not had much to talk about as the South Fork Stallions (33-39) have wallowed in the lower rungs of the TU East. This year Leon's ball club is in the sixth spot in the standings and 11 games behind. The Stallions are one of the weakest hitting teams in the IPA, batting only .245 (31st) at the All-Star break with only 48 roundtrippers (30th) and a 4.05 ERA (22nd).

South Fork has only a few quality players. Leon's best pitchers are Ken Marsh (7-6 3.60) and Ken Olson (4-9 3.22). Only 2B Jim Helwig stands out with a .304 batting average, 6 homers and 28 RBIs.

The East Point Panthers (33-39) are seventh in the TU East and 15 games off the pace. Manager Griff Clarke's ball club has not tasted success since it wound up third in 2002. The Panthers have a weak-hitting team with a .260 average (22nd) and 79 homers (9th) and a crummy pitching staff, too. East Point has a 4.88 ERA mark (29th) this season. A good part of the poor ERA is the short fences at Armed Forces Stadium. It is a very tough place to pitch.

East Point has three capable starters in Zach Owens (7-11 3.90), Frenchy Domengeaux (5-10 4.17) and Jack Black (4-0 3.60). For hitting Clarke depends on 2B Karol Zodoka (.233), who is in a season-long slump with a 233 batting average, but still had 15 homers, 46 RBIs and has scored 44 times. RF Jerry Lee Presley (.283) has 13 home runs, 38 RBIs and 46 runs, while 3B Benny Rotella (.314) has 6 homers and has batted in 26 runs.

Arky Spanderson is the long-suffering pilot of the Hillsboro Blazers (25-47). who have ended up last four of the last five years. This season the Blazers are well-entrenched in the basement with little chance of escaping it. Hillsboro is hitting .263 (15th) with 69 homers (14th), but possesses a 5.09 ERA (31st). Hanford Stadium is also a small stadium where balls fly out of it with great regularity.

Spanderson's best batters are SS Barry Bassett (.279) with 14 home runs, 48 RBIs and 41 runs, CF Lonnie Snider (.292) with 4 home runs and 36 runs batted in and 3B George Longmire (.306) with 4 dingers, 22 RBIs and 45 runs scored.

Thanks, Dark Horse.

I am really looking forward to the Laseron Baseball League.

It was one of my all-time favorites.

One of the best ever.

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2005

Tycobbian Union West 2006 Mid-Season Standings

No Contest in TU West, Arlon Champs 8 Games Ahead

It was way back in 2001 when Arlon was last in contention in the Tycobbian Union West. Since then Gary Louis' Champions have floundered around unsuccessfully, mainly in fifth and sixth place. But not this year. Arlon has soared to the top of TU West and is 8 games ahead of its closest competitor, the Denton City Redbirds, the defending division winner. Bayview and Kenwood are tied for third and are 11 games back.

Arlon (47-35) has always had good pitching, but this year the bats have come alive, sparked by All-Star RF Rocco Belasario (.313) with 15 homers, 42 RBIs and 44 runs, CF Steve Barnett (.305) with 15 home runs, 38 RBIs and 56 runs scored, 2B J. L. Lawrence (.314) with 8 roundtrippers, 31 RBIs and 43 runs and old reliable Matt Merrill (.290) with 8 homers and 33 RBIs. As a team the Champs are hitting .261 (17th) with 81 home runs (8th) and a solid 3.64 ERA (7th).

Louis has a formidable starting foursome in Andre Masson (9-3 2.93), Armando Cruz (8-4 3.31), Mike Arnold (6-0 2.48) and Kurt DeHaan (9-6 3.44).

Last year Denton City (39-33) won the TU West and reached the Pro Cup finals before falling to the IPA champion, the Middlefield Roosters. Manager Ford Whiteman's Redbirds are not the same ball club this season as they have slumped at the plate and on the hill. Denton City is hitting .266 (11th) with 83 home runs (6th), while compiling a sorrowful 4.56 team ERA. Last year they batted .286 and had a 3.52 ERA. That's why they are trailing by 8 games this year.

The Redbirds best batters are All-Star 3B Jay Petit (.329) with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs and 46 runs, rookie 1B Tommy Klegg (.256) with 13 homers and 58 RBIs and LF Rod MacCormack (.236) with 10 homers, 35 RBIs and 43 runs scored. Whiteman is hoping holdouts RF Lavon Gooch and 2B Darrion Ramsdell can revitalize the offense. Gooch and Ramsdell refused to sign this season in a salary dispute and recently came to terms. They have been sorely missed.

Denton City still has good veteran pitchers in Gino Carmazzo (8-6 4.18), Bubba Lear (5-5 4.21), Mike Danek (7-4 4.36) and Hank Taylor (7-9 4.67), but they have not been very effective this season.

Out on the west coast in Bayview (36-36), the third place Vikings are rolling along as usual with great hitting (.282 - 2nd), good power (92 HR - 5th) and second-rate pitching (4.48 ERA - 25th). When Walter Johanssen gets good pitching, he wins the pennant. His most effective hurlers this season have been Frank Wells (10-4 3.81), Jerry Harrison (5-3 4.06) and newcomer Roger Gwatney (7-5 3.43), who just arrived in a trade with Southport. That's why the Vikings are 11 games off the pace.

But Bayview can smack the ball. Johanssen has six .300 batters in All-Star 1B Chaucey Quibedeaux (.303) with 12 homers, 63 RBIs and 48 runs, SS Karl Benson (.310) 9 homers and 38 runs driven in, rookie RF Ted Karno (.333) with 15 roundtrippers and 32 RBIs, CF Wayne Latham (.349) 6 home runs, 32 RBIs and 36 runs, LF Kelton Carpenter (.326) with 10 homers, 33 RBIs and 35 runs and rookie OF Tommy Riddle (.301) with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. You can also toss in two more fine hitters into the mix in All-Star C Hank Bethel (.286) with 14 home runs, 47 RBIs and 52 runs and 2B Alan Hansen (.290) with no dingers, 18 runs batted in and 50 scores. There are plenty of teams in the IPA that need good hitters. Johanssen needs to shop a few of his around and get some top quality pitching.

The Kenwood Wildcats (36-36) are tied for third with Bayview. Manager Aaron Hankins has fair hitting and a little above average pitching. The Wildcats are carrying a .263 BA (13th) with not much firepower, only 57 home runs (25th), but a 3.85 ERA (11th).

Kenwood has three effective starters in Nick DeVille (4-2 1.97), Tracy Kinsler (6-3 3.73) and Johnny McBee (4-10 3.62). Hankins just need more punch from his line-up to move up in the standings. His best run providers are CF Dayton Walker (.333) with 3 home runs, 38 RBIs and 47 runs, RF Aydan Winthrop (.297) with 13 roundtrippers and 39 runs driven in, 3B Floyd Collins (.281) with 2 homers, 34 RBIs and 51 runs scored and SS Bob Sanders (.290) with 7 home runs, 30 RBIs and 39 runs.

Manager Matty Christianson has guided the Rolling Hills Reds (35-37) to the fifth spot in the TU West at the All-Star hiatus, 12 games back of first place Arlon. The Reds strong point is its three starters: Pete Brenneman (10-3 3.16), Logan Atwood (7-2 3.16) and Roger Davidson (7-8 3.21). Overall the staff has put up a 4.05 ERA (20th).

Where Christianson's club needs vast improvement is in offense. Rolling Hills is hitting only .261 (20th) with 61 homers (21st). A team cannot compete in the IPA with such numbers. Christianson has to depend on All-Star CF Bob Havilland (.299) and rookie SS Ray Bassett (.281) for most of their offense. Havilland has hit 23 homers, driven in 53 runs and scored 42 times, while Bassett has gone deep 6 times, batted in 35 runs and scored 38 runs.

The La Claire Lynx (34-38) with Rip Calkin at the helm are holding forth in sixth place in the TU West and within striking distance of a playoff spot. The Lynx are 13 games behind in the race, but only 5 games away from the playoffs. To make the postseason a team has to have great hitting or a good blend of batting and pitching. Calkin doesn't have that. La Claire has average hitting with a .263 mark (14th), poor power with 61 homers (21st - tied) and an out-of-sight 4.58 team ERA (27th).

La Claire has only five quality performers: All-Star LF Zeppy Deshotel (.328) with 15 homers, 46 RBIs and 46 runs, 2B Dale Pace (.294) with 7 home runs, 41 RBIs and 39 runs scored and CF Derek Prevost (.307) with 11 roundtrippers, 41 runs batted in and 38 runs scored. Calkin's top twirlers are Henny Cossaboom (7-9 3.55) and Andy Murray (9-7 4.16).

Manager Harry Fleetfoot has the number one mound staff in the Tycobbian Union with a very impressive 3.32 ERA, but the Chicopee Braves (33-39) are in seventh place and 14 games out. The reason is very simple - the Braves are batting a microscopic .229 (32nd) with just 46 home runs (31st) - nobody can win with such feeble offense. You are really in trouble when you team leader RF Cornell Madigan is the only regular above the .250 mark. Madigan is batting just .259 with 7 homers, 31 RBIs and has scored 35 times.

On the hill it gets much better for Fleetfoot. His starting quartet of Desmond Quartermain (9-7 2.75), Wayne Blackwell (6-9 3.42) and Johnny Falcon (4-8 3.83) can hold down the opposition, but need much better run support. Closer Dakota Yona (3-1 2.04) and the other relievers have also been outstanding in the Chicopee bullpen.

The 2006 season has been a stunning reversal for the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (32-40) and manager Guy Rondre. Last year they finished second and went to the Pro Cup playoffs, but this year they have fallen down to last place and are 15 games behind. But like La Claire and Chicopee, the Bucs are close enough to get back in the chase and in the playoff hunt with a good second half. Of the three clubs Bay St. Clair has the best chance to turn it around. All Rondre needs is for a pitcher or two to pitch like they did last year and a batter or two to hit like they did last year. The Buccaneers are batting .257 (23rd) with 60 home runs (23rd) and have registered a 4.01 ERA (17th).

Rondre's rotation is led by All-Star Norm Gross (10-6 2.74), Kenny Metcalf (6-5 3.50) and Denny Coulon (7-8 4.07). Bay St. Claire needs big winners from last season Duncan McFalls, Duke DeVree and Lloyd Weber to regain last year's form. They won 46 games a year ago, only 6 this season.

The Bucs best batters are SS Ed Albrecht (.299) with 8 homers and 46 RBIs, 1B Gerry Fields (.299) 14 home runs and 37 RBIs, 2B Jimmy Sawyer (.319) with 3 dingers and 26 runs batted in and RF Dan Zimmerman (.249) with 10 roundtrippers and 44 RBIs.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

2006 RU and TU All-Stars Meet in Middlefield

Who's the best league? The Ruthlandian Union or the Tycobbian Union? The answer will be found in the Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game set for tomorrow at Middlefield Park in Middlefield. All the votes have been counted and tabulated, all of the players have been selected and they themselves will decide the question on the baseball diamond.

Leading the Ruthlandian Stars will be manager Smitty Michaels of the defending Pro Cup champions, the Middlefield Roosters. Guiding the Tycobbian stars will be Ford Whiteman of the Denham City Redbirds, who represented that league in the Pro Cup last year.

Belair Beach, Valmara and Cold Creek have three All-Stars each on the RU squad, while Colchester is tops in the TU with three All-Stars. 8 other teams had two represenatives each. Elnora, Middlefield and Taranto in the Ruthlandian Union and Turon, Hartsdale, Red Bluff, Oxford and Bayview in the Tycobbian Union.

Belair Beach pitcher Slim Mosley and 1B Phil Gravelli and Valmara RF Jet Kazmarek were named for the third time in their careers to the RU Stars, while Valmara C Erich Adamczyk, Middlefield 3B Charlie Gamble, Forest City SS J. T. Edmonds and Volusia CF Ryan Raines were selected for the second time.

The leader for the most All-Star appearances is Taranto's power-hitting LF Dominic Zuccaro, who made the RU All-Stars for the fifth time. Cape Coral's splendid right-hander Cody Burg and C Hank Bethel are close on his heels. They were named to the TU Stars for the fourth time. Pitcher Norm Gross of Bay St. Clair and 3B Joe Courtney of Oxford have been picked three times each. Summerland pitcher Paul Felkner, Turon pitcher Scotty Boswell, Oxford hurler Boomer Belinsky, Bayview 1B Chancey Quibedeaux, Denton City 3B Jay Petit and Red Bluff SS Jose Aguilar have been selected twice in their careers.

The Tycobbian stars hold a four-to-one edge in All-Star competition. There are four rookies on the All-Stars. 3B Robby Franklin of the Sligo Rovers was the only first-year player to make the Ruthlandian All-Stars. Tycobbia has three rookie players: closer Ricardo Topez of Luxora, RF Mark Buchanan of Hartsdale and RF Teddy Blanton of Colchester.

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

SP Johnny Spears (Belair Beach) (10-2 2.06)
SP Ted Farentino (Valmara) (11-4 2.46)
SP Slim Mosley (Belair Beach) (11-5 2.32)
SP Tommy Weeks (Cold Creek) (10-3 2.37)
SP Ernie Watkins (Rocky Rapids) (12-7 2.28)
SP Payton Saunders (CCR) (9-5 1.96)
SP Warren Paul (ELN) (8-6 2.73)
CL Eddy Walker (Fort Benton) (2-2 2.42) 13 saves
C Erich Adamczyk (VLM) (.309/9 HR/45 RBI)
C Fran MacIntyre (ETS) (.329/4 HR/26 RBI)
1B Wayne Pounders (TAR) (.293/19 HR/50 RBI)
1B Phil Gravelli (BB) (.284/24 HR/68 RBI)
2B Sammy Ragsdale (MDF) (.295/18 HR/52 RBI)
3B Phil Cates (RR) (.336/7 HR/33 RBI)
3B Robby Franklin (SLI) (.297/15 HR/49 RBI) *
3B Charlie Gamble (MDF) (.309/23 HR/64 RBI)
SS J. T. Edmonds (FC) (.310/14 HR/49 RBI)
LF Quincy Peterson (ELN) (.316/16 HR/54 RBI)
LF Dominic Zuccaro (Taranto) (.346/15 HR/39 RBI)
CF Jose Castillo (RAN) (.333/19 HR/49 RBI)
CF Trip Holmes (CCR) (.292/12 HR/31 RBI)
CF Ryan Raines (VOL) (.331/11 HR/49 RBI)
RF Jet Kazmarek (VLM) (.351/7 HR/44 RBI)
RF Jackie Allemand (CLX) (.330/10 HR/36 RBI)

* = Rookie

The Tycobbian Union All-Stars will feature these players:

SP Titus Bristow (TUC) (14-3 1.88)
SP Paul Felkner (SUM) (11-7 1.80)
SP Scotty Boswell (TUR) (10-6 2.00)
SP Phil Reed (HAR) (13-2 2.94)
SP Frank Beaudoin (RB) (10-5 2.48)
SP Cody Burg (CC) (11-4 2.69)
SP Norm Gross (BSC) (10-6 2.71)
SP Nosyt Sani (MDW) (8-6 2.19)
SP Boomer Belinsky (OXF) (7-3 2.31)
CL Ricardo Topez (LUX) (0-2 1.83) 13 saves *
C Todd Somerset (TUR) (.320/14 HR/52 RBI)
C Hank Bethel (BAY) (.286/14 HR/47 RBI)
1B Chancey Quibedeaux (BAY) (.307/13 HR/66 RBI)
2B Leland Curtis (CCH) (.315/3 HR/30 RBI)
3B Joe Courtney (OXF) (.372/23 HR/62 RBI)
3B Jay Petit (DC) (.329/16 HR/46 RBI)
3B Jimmy Ryland (NH) (.317/5 HR/35 RBI)
SS Jose Aguilar (RB) (.353/11 HR/38)
SS Bill Keese (CCH) (.350/12/38 RBI)
LF Zeppy Deshotel (LC) (.329/15 HR/47 RBI)
LF Tad Kirklin (BL) (.301/13 HR/59 RBI)
CF Bob Haviland (RH) (.292/23 HR/52 RBI)
RF Mark Buchanan (HAR) (.366/12 HR/49 RBI) *
RF Rocco Belasario (ARL) (.308/15 HR/42 RBI)
RF Teddy Blanton (CCH) (.306/24 HR/66 RBI) *
RF Ira Engelstad (MAH) (.340/17 HR/49 RBI)

* = Rookie

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 21, 2005

TU Stars Trounce RU Stars 13-4
In the first five IPA All-Star Games the pitchers have pretty much had their way with the hitters, but not this time. The TU All-Stars trounced the RU All-Stars 13-4, led by La Claire's LF Zeppy Deshotel, who slammed a two-run double and a two-run homer to win the MVP Award. Hartsdale's rookie RF Mark Buchanan added three doubles and three RBIs and Colchester 3B Leland Curtis chipped in a three-run double in the lopsided triumph at Middlefield Park in Middlefield. The TU Stars piled up 14 hits in the runaway win.

In the top of the second they torched the RU Stars for seven runs and never looked back. The TU Stars tacked on four more in the sixth to really put the game out of sight 11-3. The TU Stars also sparkled on defense with three double plays. Forest City SS J. T. Edmonds paced the RU Stars with 3 of their 9 hits. Phil Reed of the Hartsdale Hellcats got credit for the win, though he allowed one run in his two innings. Starter Payton Saunders of the Cold Creek Catamounts was smacked for seven runs in his two innings for the loss.

Managers Smitty Michaels of the Middlefield Roosters and Ford Whiteman of the Denton City Redbirds did manage to get all of the players in the game. Whiteman was hampered as he only had six rested pitchers for the game. Three RU All-Stars had worked on Monday and could not pitch in the game.

The Tycobbian Union has won five of the six All-Star Games winning 6-0 in 2001, 2-0 in 2003, 4-3 in 2004 and 2-1 last year. Ruthlandia got its only victory in game two 5-4 in 2002.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union 2006 North Division Final Standings

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union North Division 2006 Final Standings

Taranto Tars Take RU North Title, Valmara Also Make Pro Cup Playoffs
Tommaso Lazzorda's Taranto Tars outfought the Valmara Vipers in a down-to-wire finish to capture the Ruthlandian Union North title by a 2-game spread. Both clubs are now headed to the IPA Pro Cup playoffs which begin tomorrow at eight game sites. The Glasco Athletics were 8 games off the pace in third place with last year's champ Ranford finishing a disappointing fourth and 18 games back. The Far Mountain Redhawks came in fifth, 23 games behind, followed by Ancona and LaGrange tied for sixth and 25 games out. The Kilkenny Cats ended up in the cellar again for the third successive year, 30 games back.

Taranto Tars (91-63)
Taranto powered its way to the division crown with 246 homers... 4 players had 30 or more homers, paced by RF Tommy Lee Hensley (.250) with 35, CF Lou Cutrer (.274) with 35, All-Star 1B Wayne Pounders (.243) with 31 and All-Star LF Dominic Zuccaro (.325) with 31... three other regulars clouted 20 or more... Hensley and Cutrer were the RBI leaders with 106 and 105... Top hitters were SS Jake Travanti (.329), Zuccaro (.325) and C Norm Polochak (.309)... 2B Ed Miles hit .289 and scored 107 runs... Lazzorda's top pitchers were Anthony Nardone (16-8 2.89), Sal Pascioni (15-10 3.28) and Carlo Bianchi (21-11 3.70)... The Tars have an outstanding baseball team and a real powerhouse.

Valmara Vipers (89-65)
Manager J. Jackson Samuel lacked power, but stayed in the race with strong contact hitting, led by All-Star RF Jet Kazmarek (.361), who won his fifth straight batting title, 1B Masaichi Okawa (.343), All-Star C Erich Adamcyzk (.322) and 2B Floyd Vinson (.320)... Okawa topped the team with 21 homers... Best pitchers were reliever Russell Greene (9-1 2.45) and starters Andre Trepanier (19-6 3.63) and Vanya Vasylenko (16-15 3.86)... Greene will start in the postseason... Kazmarek stole 72 bases and scored 117 times... Rookie LF Stan Czerwinski scored 103 runs and swiped 38 bases... Vinson scored 102 runs.

Glasco Athletics (83-71)
The Glasco A's vastly improved from a seventh-place finish last year...Manager McDuffie Hughes' crew hit better and pitched better... starters Charles Darby (14-8 3.01) and Jake Nyberg (14-11 4.01) along with reliever Danny Stewart (6-5 2.87) were the A's best, while rookie SS George Ferguson (.295 BA/17 HR/84 RBI) and RF Cal Hadley (.293 BA/23 HR/72 RBI) were the top batters... Glasco was tied for second in fielding with a .978 percentage.

Ranford Bulls (73-81)
The Bulls drop in the standings was due primarily to dismal years for some of its former mound stalwarts like Jim Maxwell (4-7 5.02) and Tim DeKosky (8-13 4.44)... Page Satcher's team still hit the ball well, led by 2B Jesse Goodwin (.317 BA/25 HR/97 RBI/101 R) and 3B Colin Fairclough (.329 BA/16 HR/62 RBI/71 R)... However SS Rick Fargnoli, a career .300 hitter, dipped to .251 for the year and was way off in production with only 7 homers and 65 RBIs... Normally Fargnoli hits 15 homers and drives in 90 runs a season.

Far Mountain Redhawks (68-86)
Skipper Alex Groveland has an average ball club at best... his top pitchers are Robby Kelly (13-14 3.20) and Frank Schiffman (12-8 3.97)... his top bats are LF Lou Horn (.306 BA/19 HR/94 RBI/101 R) and 2B Duane Parsons (.298 BA/20 HR/91 RBI/78 R).

Ancona Red Elephants (66-88)
Injuries to critical players hampered Ancona this year... Manager Manny Mickens lost two prime players for the first half of the year: CF Tavi Vakros (.350 BA/13 HR/54 RBI/61 R) and 1B John Lee Harder (.305 BA/13 HR/43 RBI/48 R)... Otherwise the hitting was not very good with 2B Denny Harris leading with a .295 average, 22 homers and 76 RBIs... Mickens didn't have a lot of pitching, either... Carl Costas (8-5 3.53) and Ernie Harrell (7-2 3.36) had the best stats, but all of the main starters had ERAs over 4.00 this year.

LaGrange Sports (66-88)
Just a mediocre team like Ancona... skippered by Foxy Jimison... Best arms are starters Johnny Picou (13-12 3.45) and Hunk Schweitzer (13-12 3.77)... Best bats are SS Bill Nilsen (.264 BA/26 HR/85 RBI/88 R), rookie 2B Dale Scoville (.292 BA/12 HR/63 RBI/78 R) and RF Mike DiLazzaro (.304 BA/11 HR/69 RBI/77 R).

Kilkenny Cats (61-93)
Kieran McKenna's Cats wound up last for the third consecutive year... not a whole lot of talent... pitchers Victor Kauchak (10-17 3.49) and Jerry Babb (9-9 3.97) are the best of the lot, while LF Zoro Volakis (.290 BA/14 HR/69 RBI/70 R) led the hitters... McKenna did make a good trade near the end of the season... He acquired Roger Davidson (13-14 3.56) from Rolling Hills of the TU West... Davidson went 5-3 with a 2.97 ERA in 9 starts.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union South Division 2006 Final Standings

*** St. John and Claxton played an extra game because I apparently forgot to delete the playoff games I added to the 2005 schedule to decide playoff positions. I should have removed them from the 2006 preseason schedule.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union South Division 2006 Final Standings

Valka Wins Great Race in RU South, Claxton Runner-up, Belair Beach 3rd
It was a very tight three-team race in the Ruthlandian Union South this year with Valka edging out second place Claxton by one and a half games and third place Belair Beach by 4 games. Down the stretch Valka went 11-5 in September, while Claxton was 9-8 and Belair Beach 9-7. The Blackhawks with 97 wins and the Diamonds with 96 victories will now head to the postseason Pro Cup playoffs starting tomorrow. Despite winning 93 games, all the Sunbirds can do is go home and get ready for next year. That is the most wins in IPA history for a team that failed to make the playoffs.

The next four clubs were bunched together, but never in the pennant chase. Crystal Lake had its best season yet and ended up in fourth place, but 21 games back. The San Dimas Rancheros were fifth and trailed by 22 games with Waleska sixth and 24 out, St. John seventh and 24.5 games back and Grand City in the basement and 33 games off the pace.

Valka Blackhawks (97-57)
In Valka, manager Jaan Kurus lifted his Blackhawks from third to first with a balanced team featuring solid hitting and pitching... Three very capable starters and a good closer did the job on the hill with Aato Neetar (19-4 3.22), Darryl Vannoy (19-11 3.40), Bobby Karu (18-11 3.47) leading the rotation... closer Kaido Oras (5-1 2.56) pitched very well in relief... At the plate Valka's headliners were CF Jimmy Tremayne (.327 BA/15 HR/84 RBI/93 R), 2B Wayne Snider (.292 BA/17 HR/68 RBI/92 R) and RF Vic Gelder (.287 BA/14 HR/69 RBI/90 R), who sparkled with a .325 BA after coming to the Blackhawks in a June trade with Elnora.

Claxton Diamonds (96-59)
The Claxton Diamonds under the leadership of the crafty Old Perfesser Stacy Engel climbed up from fifth place in 2005 to a close second in 2006... Offense is the name of the game in Claxton with a slew of solid bats, headed by CF Jackie Faust (.348/14 HR/67 RBI/79 R), All-Star RF Jackie Allemand (.296/21 HR/70 RBI/90 R), C Allen Lemay (.324/9 HR/77 RBI), 1B Mike Luzzatti (.287/23 HR/85 RBI) and LF Dixie Baker (.237/22 HR/99 RBI/103 R). Engel's pitching corps has been adequate with Teddy Kuznetsov (21-11 3.52), Charlie Murphy (13-15 3.35) and Doug Torvik (17-10 4.30). Reliever Dennis Scott (11-4 3.38) has been an asset as well.

Belair Beach Sunbirds (93-61)
Marty Pedroza had the misfortune to be in the same division with Valka and Claxton.... His third place Sunbirds chalked up 93 wins, but sadly will not be in the Pro Cup playoffs... This will be the first time since 2001 Belair Beach had not been in the postseason... They have won the division flags the last two seasons... Pedroza has excellent pitching with a 3.24 team ERA... He has four impressive starters in All-Star Slim Mosley (23-13 2.49), All-Star Johnny Spears (19-8 2.57), Tiny Lindgren (15-11 3.46) and Joe Schmidt (16-9 3.77). Reliever Vance Stromberg (7-2 2.70) has done a fine job in middle relief... the Sunbirds really need more offense as All-Star 1B Phil Gravelli has carried the team this year with a .300 average, 40 homers, 136 RBIs and 99 runs scored... among the regulars light-hitting 3B/SS Danny Church (.282/7 HR/81 RBI) is next in run production with 81 runs batted in.

Crystal Lake Crushers (76-78)
Wow! A fourth-place finish for the downtrodden Crystal Lake Crushers of Herman "Baby" George... It's the team's best finish ever by far... they were seventh in 2002 and have been last ever since... George, the great slugger and great pitcher of the industrial leagues, did it with pitching... Crystal Lake compiled a 3.67 ERA, good enough for sixth in the rankings... the Crushers have a pretty fair starting rotation with Pablo Orantes (17-12 3.31), Rocky Giambi (7-6 3.56) and Tony Tipton (12-11 4.04), but the bullpen is even better with a 3.15 ERA, second best in the Ruthlandian Union... George could use some hitting though... 1B Eddy Lamar (.276) is tops with just 12 homers, while 3B Skip Daniels (.321) is his only .300 batter... Crystal Lake is 29th with a .254 team batting average and 23rd in homers with only 115.

San Dimas Rancheros (75-79)
Manager Paco Banderos brought the team in second last season and was expecting a big year for the San Dimas Rancheros, but to no avail, they wound up in fifth place 22 games off the pace... Banderos had good starting pitchers, but a weak bullpen... His starters were led by Bobby Prince (13-9 3.74), Bill Sharp (10-10 3.42), Zippy Hodge (16-19 3.32) and Keith Callahan (17-14 4.06)... The Rancheros hit .272 (7th) for the year, but had little power... they were last with only 107 roundtrippers... San Dimas was led by its fine 1B Johnny Carducci (.296/27 HR/95 RBI/89 R) and excellent 2B Cyclone Cobb (.326/3 HR/53 RBI/107 R), who topped the IPA with 88 steals... 3B Domingo Rios (.268) also chipped in 18 home runs, batted in 73 runs and scored 83 times.

Waleska Westerners (73-81)
After climbing up to the fourth spot in the standings in 2005, McGraw Johnson's Waleska Westerners fell back to sixth place this season... One big reason was not signing last year's Rookie of the Year until June... Once signed Harold Setser (.347/20 HR/69 RBI/64 R) tore up the league, but played in only 80 games... Johnson has been known to be tight with money... it really cost him this time... the Westerners also got good offense from LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.279/19 HR/80 RBI/72 R), 1B DePaul Labat (.270/8 HR/63 RBI/117R/38 SB) and SS Johnny Nowitzki (.323/0 HR/54 RI/84 R)... Waleska has a good starting trio in Wilson Whitmore (17-13 3.16), six-year vet Smokey Joe Carter (15-16 3.30) and Joel Lockett (12-10 3.53)... Carter racked up his 100th victory this season.

St. John Crusaders (73-82)
Seventh place St. John has Dickie Billings at the helm... Not much talent to speak of in St. John... Billings has a good closer in rookie Ken Wheeler (4-2 2.30) and two solid starters in Kris Garvik (13-10 3.56) and Teddy Garson (14-15 3.73)... at the plate the Crusaders are led by 3B Sully Hull (.310/10 HR/64 RBI) and LF Jake Dillon (.292/16 HR/63 RBI).

Grand City Cybercats (64-90)
Except for a fourth-place finish in 2002, Grand City has never had much success in the IPA... Torry Joseph had another awful year and ended up in last place... The Cybercats were last in pitching with a 4.47 ERA and near the bottom in hitting with a .259 team batting average (23rd)... Joseph got an impressive season from starter Shane Hall (16-7 3.45) and good efforts at times from Kerry Loomis (10-15 3.92)... At the plate Grand City's best were 2B Tony Borcellino (.253/27 HR/86 RBI/73 R) and LF Teddy Giacone (.283/18 HR/55 RBI)... in late July Joseph picked up a long ball hitter in CF Ty DeWitt (.254/14 HR/50 RBI) from Middlefield... DeWitt has hit 159 homers in his 5-year IPA career.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union East Division 2006 Final Standings

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union East Division 2006 Final Standings

Sugar Valley Wins RU East Pennant, Elnora 2-Games Back
The Sugar Valley Rattlers held off the on-charging Elnora All-Stars in the last weeks of the season to claim the 2006 Ruthlandian Union East flag by 2 games. It was the Rattlers second straight title and third in its history. The Marston Nine were third in the standings 9 games back. Cold Creek came in fourth and were 11 games off the pace. Rounding out the rest of the division were fifth place Beechwood 15 games out, sixth place Eastshore 19 games out, seventh place Wynnamac 21 games behind and Belle Plaine was in last place and trailed by 28 games.

Sugar Valley Rattlers (86-68)

Sugar Valley's success is based on a good blend of hitting, power and pitching. Manager Gibby Bobkins has a good all-round team led by a solid core of veteran pitchers. His starting foursome consists of Hec Skurgan (18-8 4.02), Jay Washington (17-14 3.91), Frankie Jardine (12-9 4.17) and newcomer Ted Farentino (20-8 2.88), who Bobkins stole in a trade in July. Farentino made the All-Star team for Valmara and went 7-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 13 starts the last two months of the season. He gave up a good CF Freddie Vaux to get him. Vaux is a career .303 hitter. Sugar Valley also has a good closer in Harvey Hines (5-4 3.30).

The Rattlers were also involved in another trade in which Bobkins sent his longtime ace Gregg Neal (18-13 3.70) to Oxford for OF Austen Conover in late July. Neal was 10-11 with a 3.86 ERA at the time. He went 8-2 for Oxford the rest of the year. Lifetime Neal has won more games than anyone in the IPA with a 106-61 record in his six years. Conover was hitting .290 for the Red Caps, but batted .346 for Sugar Valley and ended the year with a .315 batting average. So it was a good trade for both clubs. The difference is Neal is 34 and Conover is 27. Conover is a .285 career hitter and a five-year veteran.

Sugar Valley depends on C Hal Stevenson (.272/34 HR/98 RBI), 1B Ron Armstrong (.288/18 HR/84 RBI/80 R) and SS Flipper Bird (.269/17 HR/77 RBI/101 R/27 SB) for offense. CF Ron Landauer (.318/13 HR/65 RBI/76 R/35 SB) and LF Conover (.315/6 HR/42 RBI/83 R/61 SB) have also contributed, too.

Elnora All-Stars (84-70)
A poor start in the first two months of the season cost Elnora the pennant this year. Over the final four months the All-Stars played the best ball in the division and almost caught Sugar Valley. After winning the division championship in 2003 and 2004, they suddenly dropped to seventh place last season. But manager Zoggy White revitalized his pitching corps and turned the team around. His ace Taylor Gibbs led the recovery with a brilliant 23-6 mark and a 3.32 ERA this year. Elnora's rotation included two new pitchers obtained in trades: All-Star Warren Paul (19-17 3.26) from Chicopee of the Tycobbian Union and Leland Shaddock (14-12 3.32) from Ranford. The fourth starter is Harry Dye (10-8 3.42) and Miller's closer was Troy Hudson (6-2 3.14).

The All-Stars have a strong attack with a .271 batting average (8th), 181 homers (3rd) and scored 801 runs (6th). Miller's top batters were 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.301/32 HR/111 RBI/89 R), C Todd Simons (.289/24 HR/92 RBI/87 R), All-Star LF Quincy Peterson (.308/29 HR/89 RBI/91 R), rookie sensation CF Rick Mulloy (.289/24 HR/76 R/125 R) and rookie RF Lloyd Voss (.280/20 HR/73 RBI/75 R).

Marston Nine (77-77)

Johnny Walters is the skipper of the third place Marston Nine. He has capable starters, but is weak in the bullpen and short on power compared to Sugar Valley and Elnora. His four starters are Ernie Arredondo (10-5 2.46), Milt Wilson (12-5 3.35), Walt Sellers (7-5 3.45) and Mark Falzone (15-20 3.75). Marston's primary hitters are SS Don Nichols (.333/15 HR/95 RBI/95 R), 3B Jimmy Holman (.282/19 HR/86 RBI/73 R) and LF Ronnie Horn (.291/11 HR/64 RBI/60 R).

Cold Creek Catamounts (75-79)

Fourth in the RU East are T. Kelly Holmes' Cold Creek Catamounts. Holmes has top-notch pitching, but a feeble offense. His club has a 3.44 ERA (2nd) and a .259 BA (25th). Cold Creek has two All-Star hurlers in Payton Saunders (16-12 2.21) and Tommy Weeks (16-12 2.83). Holmes' top hitters were LF Fernando Baldera (.316/17 HR/80 RBI), SS Russ Russell (.301/18 HR/71 RBI/72 R) and CF Trip Holmes (.280/21 HR/66 RBI/91 R/21 SB).

Beechwood Bobcats (71-83)

In Beechwood Bret George had average hitting (.264 BA - 15th) and lousy pitching (4.73 ERA - 32nd). Little wonder the team finished under the .500 mark and in fifth place. At the plate the Bobcats were sparked by 3B Guy Cassidy (.288/19 HR/74 RBI/105 R/77 SB), CF Clifton Czabo (.315/13 HR/73 RBI/109 R/25 SB), 1B Kurt Goodman (.282/18 HR/83 RBI/77 R) and RF Dale Strickland (.288/17 HR/76 RBI). On the hill George's one and only pitcher was All-Star Dek Jumonville (19-16 3.04).

Eastshore Elegants (67-87)

The Eastshore Elegants were very similar to Beechwood with good power (162 HR - 6th) and little pitching (4.40 ERA - 27th). Manager Killer Brewster's bashers could go deep, led by LF Darrel Alston (.294/29 HR/91 RBI/87 R), CF Ron Dizon (.276/27 HR/87 RBI/, RF Chris Pruitt (.286/26 HR/77 RBI/94 R) and All-Star C Fran MacIntyre (.318/13 HR/56 RBI/89 R). The Elegants had two decent pitchers in Thomas Williams (16-16 3.89) and Eddie Lance (10-13 3.63).

Wynnamac Sundowners (65-89)

The seventh place Wynnamac Sundowners are piloted by Matt Donnelly. The Sundowners are perennial also-rans in the RU East and have never come close to the playoffs or the first division. This year was no exception. Poor hitting (.255 BA - 28th), poor power (114 HR - 24th tied) and poor pitching (4.45 ERA - 29th). Donnelly has a legitimate star in 1B Nate Cockroft (.342/22 HR/115 RBI/74 R), who puts up All-Star numbers year-after-year. Cockroft is a lifetime .317 hitter with 114 homers in his five-year career. LF Dalton Leeds (.278/20 HR/79 RBI/83 R) is a quality player as well. On the mound Wynnamac's best are starter Jody Crockett (14-9 3.65) and closer Liam Bristow (7-8 3.16), who had 19 saves on the season.

Belle Plaine Musketeers (58-96)

Boo Ladrieux's boys in Belle Plaine had another pathetic season and wound up in the cellar. The Musketeers have never come close to the Pro Cup playoffs, but did sneak into fourth place in 2004. The Muskies have never reached the .500 mark in their five years in the IPA. Ladrieux has a lot of mediocre ballplayers. 5-year vet LF Cris Willis (.316/11 HR/81 RBI/80 R) is his best performer. Willis is a career .317 hitter. On the hill Jorge Bonilla (9-9 2.73) is his top arm.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union West Division 2006 Final Standings

*** Sligo and Stoner played an extra game because I apparently forgot to delete the playoff games I added to the 2005 schedule to decide playoff positions. I should have removed them from the 2006 preseason schedule.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union West Division 2006 Final Standings

Middlefield Runs Away with RU West, Routs Volusia by 9 Games
Manager Smitty Michaels has an awesome array of hitters that just boomed past all comers to take the RU West pennant in easy fashion. The defending Pro Cup champion Middlefield Roosters won in a rout topping second place Volusia by 9 games. Colfax was third and 15 games back, followed by fourth place Sligo which was 18.5 games off the pace. Rounding out the rest of the division were Forest City and Rocky Rapid in a fifth-place tie, trailing by 20 games each, Fort Benton in the seventh position, 21 games out and finally last place Stoner 34.5 games back.

The Middlefield Roosters (97-57) tied Valka for the most wins in the Ruthlandian Union this year. They rapped league pitching at a near record .285 clip with 229 home runs (1st) and 943 runs (1st), the most runs ever scored in the IPA. Bayview of the Tycobbian West set a new mark this year with a .287 team batting average. Leading the Roosters was 3B Charlie Gamble (.338/52 HR/147 RBI/120 R), who paced the entire IPA with 52 homers and 147 RBIs. He also got plenty of help from All-Star 2B Sammy Ragsdale (.287/35 HR/108 RBI/129 R), LF Zeb Baker (.271/29 HR/97 RBI/90 R) and C Mike Kanjorsky (.296/13 HR/67 RBI/105 R). Middlefield's overall staff ERA was a poor 4.23, but Michaels starters were effective with Bill Berglund (18-11 3.53), Denny Yarrow (18-5 3.21) and Dave Webb (16-9 3.77). Jamie Hicks was 16-12, but with a high 4.45 ERA.

The Volusia Vigilantes (88-66) are one of the most successful franchises in the IPA. They have won the division flag twice and finished second four times. Volusia hits well for average (.278 - 3rd), but have little power (117 HR - 22nd). However the V's can score runs (825 - 4th) and they can pitch. Manager Alfonso Feliz's hill corps chalked up a fine 3.60 ERA (4th). They were headed by Carl Schmitz (23-10 3.02), Hernando Espaderos (17-10 3.21), Tony Hartwig (16-15 3.89) and Todd Wolfe (15-17 3.82). Middle reliever Raul Sandoval (1-3 1.89) was also outstanding in 49 relief appearances. At bat All-Star CF Ryan Raines (.333/22 HR/106 RBI/115 R/30 SB) was the club leader. 3B Scooter Perez (.310/4 HR/64 RBI/111 R/44 SB), RF Briscoe Crowder (.288/14 HR/88 RBI/85 R/24 SB) and SS Bobby Farias (.289/15 HR/76 RBI/99 R/29 SB) chipped in their support, too.

It was a good year for the Colfax Blasters (82-72) as they finished third again this season. Skipper Clem Rogers has an impressive starting rotation with Ilya Szabo (19-10 2.58), Vito Incardona (16-10 3.39), Tommy Fuller (4.02) and Jasper LaForge (13-18 3.55). Colfax has a good closer in Dallas Somerville (4-2 2.05) with 17 saves in 28 appearances. The Colfax mound staff registered the third-best ERA (3.56) in the Tycobbian Union. The Blasters best bats are LF Chris Carroll (.283/30 HR/100 RBI/82 R) and several platooners: 3B Roberto Vargas (.287/17 HR/69 RBI), 2B Warren Lee (.306/12 HR/55 RBI), SS Rollie Johnson (.349/12 HR/39 RBI/52 R), SS Phil Amundsen (.309/4 HR/30 RBI/58 R) and SS George Grogan (.344/4 HR/38 RBI/44 R).

Fourth place in the RU West belongs to the Sligo Rovers (79-76) managed by Eddie Keys. The Rovers simply do not score enough. They tallied only 694 runs (27th) this year with a .264 BA (16th) and 125 roundtrippers (18th). On the hill Sligo did well with a 3.66 ERA (5th). Dix Edenborough (20-8 3.64) got good run support, but Paul Waskins (7-17 3.13) and Colin McGrath (6-11 2.81) didn't and lost a lot of low-scoring games. Rounding out the starters was Razzy Raziano (13-14 3.72). What offense the Rovers had was supplied by 1B Gary Shives (.274/23 HR/103 RBI), RF Jason Melton (.295/25 HR/86 RBI), All-Star 3B Robby Franklin (.272/24 HR/84 RBI) and 2B Rusty Ellis (.283/2 HR/31 RBI/85 R/26 SB).

Heading up the second division were Forest City and Rocky Rapids. The Lumberjacks and Snappers deadlocked for the fifth spot in the standings.

Manager Rob Jackson at Forest City (77-77) got good power from his bats with 180 home runs (4th) and the Lumberjacks plated 785 runs (8th). Jackson also has good starting pitching with Al Thibaut (18-11 3.18), Knucks Nomellini (19-16 3.98) and Vern Vidmar (9-5 3.23). Jackson's main problem is his weak bullpen. Sparking the 'Jacks long ball attack are LF Joe Judlin (.329/23 HR/101 RBI/85 R), SS J. T. Edmonds (.308/30 HR/91 RBI/103 R), CF Roger Marley (.328/19 HR/57 RBI/74 R) and 1B Andy Doiron (.300/21 HR/50 RBI/85 R).

It was Rocky Rapids (77-77) best season in its history as the Snappers reached the .500 mark for the first time. Manager Ryan Noland can thank his splendid 26-year-old right-hander Ernie Watkins (28-11 2.52) who made IPA history with his 28 victories. Rocky Rapids excelled in nothing with a .260 BA (22nd), 108 homers (29th), 678 runs (29th) and a 4.04 ERA (17th). Noland best offensive performers were LF Scott Camden (.280/25 HR/82 RBI/108 R/26 SB) and All-Star 3B Phil Cates (.295/13 HR/71 RBI/87 R).

The Fort Benton Defenders (76-78) also had their best season as far as wins and wound up seventh in the RU West. Manager Robbie Brooks only strength is his pitching rotation. The Defenders compiled a 3.85 ERA (9th) and were led by Leroy Hill (18-13 3.14), Tucker Dawes (12-5 2.86), Ivan Gloeckner (17-16 4.03), Dave Blair (7-7 3.12) and All-Star closer Eddy Walker (4-6 3.43), who chalked up 21 saves. Bats were almost non-existent as the Defenders hit a paltry .244 (32nd) with just 106 homers (31st). Brooks only had one hitter of note: LF Carl McCord (.262/15 HR/80 RBI/99 R/23 SB).

Not many stars on the Stoner Stars (63-92) this season. Skipper Willie Dickens saw his club tumble from fourth place in 2005 to the cellar in 2006. Terrible pitching caused it. Stoner had a lofty 4.70 team ERA (31st). The Stars Dave Pierre was their best moundsman with a 14-12 mark and a 4.40 ERA. However they did hit the ball well at times with a 149 home runs (9th - tied), led by 3B Allen Black (.309/25 HR/97 RBI/96 R/22 SB), C Benny Stern (.266/23 HR/77 RBI/76 R) and RF Dutch Rheinecker (.285/20 HR/76 RBI/73 R).

I have to delete this post, so the standings will be right above the division summary.

Hey EC, quick question, i managed to figure out some of your managers' names; like Zoggy White being Whitey Herzog. i was wondering if you were using the sliders in game to try to mimick these managers styles (or in the case of Ryan Noland and Bret George, what they were famous for) or are the names just place holders?

And thanks for the kind words about Laseron. Goody doing a great job getting putting it back together. If you ever want to do some writing (or even managing), we'd be happy to have you over there.

The managers' names are just placeholders. It would be good to use the managers' strategies, but this league is just too much for one person to administer. It was a HUGE MISTAKE to include 64 teams. I should have kept it to 16 and I could have really, really enjoyed it. Out of necessity I had to turn everything over to the AI. I want to play 30 years and then stop. I want to see how all of these players and teams evolve. Then I will create me a 16-team league and go back to controlling all teams and playing out the last three innings of every game. That is the way I can really get immersed in a league. I love to keep all the individual and league game records. I will do the new league after the final patch is released for OOTP10.

Thanks for the offer concerning the great Laseron Baseball League. It is one of the best leagues ever. I have never played with finances, player contracts, waivers, etc. My lack of knowledge would slow you guys down too much and I probably wouldn't be much competition. I would be lost in your league, but I intend to follow it when you guys get it up and going. I don't know if you know it, but the Laseron and DreamTeams' Metro League are the ones that inspired me to create the Islandian Pro Alliance. I was fascinated by the creation of fictional worlds, maps and the great logos and uniforms.

I can't wait to see what the new Laseron will be like. :D

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Tycobbian Union North Division 2006 Final Standings

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Tycobbian Union North Division

Oxford's Second Half Surge Wins TU North, Hartsdale Runner-up
The Oxford Red Caps came on strong in August and September with a 30-15 record and overtook the Hartsdale Hellcats to win the Tycobbian Union North title. It's Campy Roy's third pennant in five years. The Red Caps finished four games ahead of the Hellcats, 12 games up on third place Luxora and 16 in front of fourth place North Hills. The Hellcats (20-25), Zorros (22-23) and Hawks (21-24) all faded in the second half of the season.

Oxford and Hartsdale will be the TU North Pro Cup representatives in the coming postseason playoffs to determine the best pro team in the Islands. The IPA Pro Cup playoffs begin tomorrow.

Oxford Red Caps (93-61)
Manager: Campy Roy
Summary: Great bats, power and run scoring, solid pitching, weak defensively

Team Stats:
.273 BA (5th), 210 homers (3rd) 849 runs (2nd) 3.95 ERA (11th) and .969 FA
Oxford Top Bats:
All-Star 3B Joe Courtney (.359/44 HR/118 RBI/114 R)
1B Scott McKinley (.285/32 HR/124 RBI/102 R)
RF Ike Plunkett (.317/26 HR/87 RBI/85 R)
Rookie CF Wayne McDonald (.281/18 HR/68 RBI/118 R/32 SB)

Red Caps Top Pitchers:
Boomer Belinsky (19-6 2.90)
Dan Phillips (15-11 3.44)
Gregg Neal (18-13 3.70)
Reliever Wayne Baxley (6-5 3.14)

Hartsdale Hellcats (89-65)
Manager: Zim Donner
Summary: Fine bats, good power, can score, good pitching, above average defense

Team Stats:
.279 BA (2nd), 172 HR (8th), 819 runs (4th) 3.94 ERA (10th) and .975 FA
Hartsdale Best Hitters:
All-Star rookie RF Mark Buchanan (.338/25 HR/84 RBI/87 R)
3B Kendry Moulton (.310/21 HR/89 RBI/76 R)
Rookie 1B Tom Brabant (.318/21 HR/75 RBI/77 R)
SS Jud Turchin (.278/19 HR/67 RBI/101 R)

Hellcats Best Pitchers:
All-Star Phil Reed (22-11 3.55)
Ben Manderson (19-9 3.75)
Mark Sakelaris (15-13 3.67)

Luxora Zorros (81-73)
Manager: Alejandro Rodrigo
Summary: Average hitting, poor power, average scoring, above-average pitching, average defense

Team Stats:
.266 BA (10th), 124 HR (26th), 748 runs (15th), 3.83 ERA (7th) and .972 FA
Luxora Best Batters:
C Otto Kronvath (.291/30 HR/100 RBIj/86 R)
CF Lacey Tompkins (.272/13 HR/92 RBI/79 R)
1B Robby Maynard (.303/13 HR/73 RBI/60 R)
SS Bobby Bayas (.283/14 HR/60 RBI/86 R)

Zorros Best Pitchers:
Elio Laurente (15-12 3.37)
Eddie Hoffman (15-9 3.92)
Anthony Glaser (12-12 3.84)
Francisco Fernandes (13-17 3.43)
Kenny Metcalf (11-15 3.53)
Ricardo Topez (1-7 2.80) with 31 saves

North Hills Hawks (77-77)
Manager: Hub Carlson
Summary: Poor batting, little power, poor scoring, above-average pitching, poor defense

Team Stats:
.257 BA (26th), 119 HR (28th), 704 runs (24th), 3.87 ERA (8th) and .969 FA
North Hills Top Bats:
SS Russell Beal (.291/14 HR/97 RBI)
LF Kevin Schmidt (.278/23 HR/88 R)
RF Roy Stainbrook (.280/18 HR/71 RBI/93 R/16 SB)
All-Star 3B Jimmy Ryland (.279/8 HR/57 RBI/96 R/20 SB)

Hawks Best Hurlers:
Ben Dewberry (18-12 2.68)
Johnny Bond (17-14 3.44)
Artie Kazlauskas (12-9 3.72)

Blue Lake Blue Sox (76-78)
Manager: Cobb Tyson
Summary: sub-par hitting, average power and scoring, very good pitching, average defensively

Team Stats:
.261 BA (24th), 148 HR/15th), 740 runs (19th), 3.71 ERA (6th) and .971 FA
Blue Lake Best Bats:
All-Star LF Tad Kirklin (.309/30 HR/100 RBI/106 R)
RF Fred Collins (.290/24 HR/98 RBI/98 R/29 SB)
2B Loren Babcock (.267/24 HR/57 RBI/115 R/32 SB)

Blue Sox Best Pitchers:
Pat Grange (17-12 3.29)
Pete Henry (12-11 3.14
Benny DeBartolo (8-8 3.32)
Russ Courtney (7-7 3.66)

Mahaska Haymakers (76-78)
Manager: Rusty Tanussa
Summary: poor bats, average power, poor scoring, average pitching, little below average on defense

Team Stats:
.252 BA (30th), 141 HR (16th), 698 runs (25th), 3.98 ERA (13th) and .970 FA
Mahaska Top Hitters:
1B Mile Shufford (.283/35 HR/114 RBI/87 R)
All-Star RF Ira Engelstad (.286/29 HR/82 RBI/76 R)
3B Lloyd Windham (.274/7 HR/41 RBI/102 R)

Haymakers Top twirlers:
Boomerang Hines (15-12 2.91)
Mark Glinka (14-12 3.56)
Matt DeRosa (16-15 4.15)

Fairfax Frogs (68-86)
Manager: Harry Buckley
Summary: poor hitting, very poor power, poor scoring, poor pitching, good defense

Team Stats:
.252 (31st), 99 HR (32nd), 637 runs (30th - tied), 4.19 ERA (29th) and .976 FA
Fairfax Top Batters:
SS Wes Hickox (.283/24 HR/85 RBI/89 R)
1B Jeff Vretsos (.256/20 HR/86 RBI)

Frogs Best Pitchers:
Robby Meredith (11-15 3.75)
Matthew Wise (8-8 3.73)

White River Rascals (63-91)
Manager: John Randison
Summary: average hitting, good power, average scoring, very poor pitching, average on defense

Team Stats:
.264 BA (17th), 162 HR (10th), 729 runs (20th), 4.77 ERA (31st) and .972 FA
White River Top Bats:
CF Lee Taryn (.281/23 HR/98 RBI)
RF Hal Hoover (.283/22 HR/83 RBI/97 R/19 SB)
SS Riley Cloy (.263/26 HR/80 RBI/85 R/22 SB)

Rascals Best Pitchers:
Brian Ainslee (13-13 4.05)