The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 4, 2008

2008 Islandian Pro Alliance Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union - Game 1 at Sports Stadium in LaGrange

Sports Shock Sundowners 16-3 In Opener
In the first game of the RU Final 4 at Sports Stadium, the LaGrange Sports quickly disposed of a 2-0 deficit with a 9-run second inning as they shocked Wynnamac 16-3 behind a 20-hit barrage and a solid pitching job by Dave Webb... RF Jerry Lee Presley (.310) and C Otto Kronvath (.267) slammed four hits apiece and batted in three runs each to lead the Sports... Kronvath and 3B Mario Lombardi homered for the winners, while SS Warren Lee (.385) got one for Wynnamac... Dave Webb (1-1 3.04) chalked up the victory as he held the Sundowners to three runs and seven hits... Lefty Paddison (0-3) suffered the loss by giving up seven runs in less than two innings.

Tycobbian Union - Game 1 at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City

Luxora Drubs DC 9-4 in Final 4 Opener
Luxora took a step in the right direction when it beat Denton City's best pitcher 9-4 in the opening game of the best-of-seven TU Final 4 Series at Douglas Denton Field... The Zorros trailed 2-0 early, but they erupted for four runs in the top of the fifth and added two more in the seventh to defeat Mila Mohoski... 1B Leland Curtis (.500) and SS Scotty Sanderson (.300) paved the way to victory with 5 RBIs and 3 RBIs respectively... Sanderson walloped a two-run homer in the seventh and Curtis finished off the Redbirds with a three-run blast in the eighth, building up a 9-2 lead... Antonio Anaya (2-0 2.16) went the distance, allowed four runs and seven hits, while striking out five and issuing one walk... Mohoski (1-1 3.94) took the loss as he was tagged for six runs in seven innings... Denton City's top hitter was CF Rod MacCormack (.217) with two hits, including a home run... The Z's outhit the Redbirds 10-7.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 5, 2008

2008 Islandian Pro Alliance Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union - Game 2 at Sports Stadium in LaGrange

Hobart Evens Series, Blanks LaGrange 1-0
Wynnamac's Skeets Hobart was just what the doctored order - somebody to cool off the blazing hot bats of the LaGrange Sports... A day after a 16-3 drubbing, Hobart blanked them 1-0 on a four-hitter to even up the Final 4 at one game each... Hobart (3-0 1.38) has been brilliant in the postseason with three victories... He fanned eight and walked three in the shutout... Jay-Jay Dejarnette (1-1 2.08) suffered the tough loss... He only allowed four hits in the game... the only run of the game came in the top of the third, when C Mike Holder (.138) coaxed a walk off DeJarnette, was sacrificed to second by Hobart (.200) and scored on SS Warren Lee's (.367) two-out single.

Tycobbian Union - Game 2 at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City

DC's Blair Stops Luxora 3-2, Final 4 Tied At 1-1
Denton City's David Blair continued his string of strong postseason performances by stopping Luxora 3-2 today to tie the Final 4 at a game apiece... Blair was outstanding as he stopped the Zorros on just three hits and two runs in seven and one-third innings... Blair (2-0 1.72) has great stuff, but sometimes has trouble controlling it... He walked five today, but managed to hold off the Z's... It was Blair third consecutive excellent outing and he needed it to beat Elio Laurente (2-1 1.44), who permitted three runs in seven innings, struck out four and issued no walks... Tom Duroncelay came on in the eighth with the score 3-1 and the bases loaded... Blair had just forced in a run on a walk to LF Joel Reed (.391)... Duroncelay allowed an RBI single to CF Bob Haviland (.435), but then induced 2B Bobby Bayas (.333) to hit into an inning-ending double play... Duroncelay picked up the save with a scoreless ninth... the Redbirds collected eight hits overall and were paced by LF Nigel Huxley (.200), who hit his 3rd playoff homer to drive in two runs in the fourth inning that gave Denton City a 3-0 lead.

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 6, 2008

2008 Islandian Pro Alliance Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union - Game 3 at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Sundowners Go Up 2-1, Clay Whips Sports 6-4
It wasn't a thing of beauty, but Jay Clay did what he was supposed to do - keep LaGrange from scoring more runs than Wynnamac... the 38-year-old right-hander for the Wynnamac Sundowners garnered his third postseason victory with a 6-4 decision over the Sports to go up two games to one in the Final 4 Series... Clay (3-0 3.33) allowed nine hits and four runs, but made his pitch when he had to... Clay had six Ks and two walks... the Sports took the lead on LF Quincy Peterson's (.351) two-run clout in the opening inning... Wynnamac countered it in the last of the first with a three-run homer by 1B Nate Cockcroft (.424), his 4th of the playoffs... Sport SS Bill Nilsen (.314) knotted it up at 3-all with a solo shot in the fourth... the Sundowners scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth to stretch it to 6-3... LaGrange closed out the scoring with a run in the ninth... Wynnamac outhit the Sports 13-9... Denny Kristensen (2-1 2.66) suffered his first loss of the postseason... He was hit very hard and gave up five runs and 11 hits in six innings.

Tycobbian Union - Game 3 at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora

Redbirds Smack Zorros 7-3, Lead Series 2-1
The Denton City Redbirds scored 7 unanswered runs to rally and beat Luxora 7-3 in game three of the Final 4 Series... Kenyon MacKenzie got stronger as the game progress and went all the way to give Denton City a two games to one edge in the best-of-seven affair... Luxora CF Bob Haviland (.423) ripped a two-run homer in the first inning and C Sollie Rees (.259) added an RBI single in the third to give the Zorros a 3-0 lead, but MacKenzie stopped them cold from then on... MacKenzie (1-0 3.60) checked them on eight hits and three runs, fanned five and walked two... the Redbirds rallied and took the lead 4-3 in the sixth and then added to it... Denton City racked up 10 hits and were paced by RF Danny Nash (.400), 1B Mick Abbott (.300) and LF Nigel Huxley (.250) all with two hits and two runs batted in each... Abbott and Huxley homered... that gave Huxley four in the playoffs with 11 RBIs... the loss went to Eddie Hoffman (1-1 3.60), who surrendered four runs in six innings.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

2008 Islandian Pro Alliance Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union - Game 4 at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Wynnamac Wallops LaGrange 12-4, Needs One More Win
Playing at home at Granger Field, Wynnamac took a giant step toward the Pro Cup by walloping LaGrange 12-4 in the fourth game of the Final 4 Series to take an overwhelming three games to one advantage... One more triumph and the Sundowners will claim a spot in the IPA Pro Cup championship... Wynnamac teed off on the Sports to the tune of 14 hits and was led by 2B J. L. Lawrence (.310) with two hits and four RBIs, C Mike Holder (.200) with two hits and three runs batted in, RF Mark Buchanan (.356) with two hits and three runs, LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.400) with three hits and two runs and CF Dalton Leeds (.262) with two hits and two runs scored... manager Matt Donnelly also got a good start from a surprise starter Angus Conroy, who took Lefty Paddison spot in the rotation... Paddison is 0-3 in the postseason... and it paid off as Conroy went the distance, gave up four runs and seven hits with four strikeouts and four walks... Conroy was used only in middle relief during the regular campaign... He posted a 2-1 record with a 3.05 ERA in 44 appearances.

Tycobbian Union - Game 4 at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora

DC's Mohoski Beats Z's 5-3, Redbirds Up 3-1
Denton City rebounded from a 3-1 deficit after five innings and beat Luxora 5-3 to take a three games to one lead in the TU Final 4 Series... The Redbirds can wrap up the best-of-seven series with another victory... Luxora will have to win three in a row to stave off elimination... Mila Mohoski (2-1 3.24) corraled the Zorros on five hits with a strong outing to outpitched Antonio Anaya (2-1 3.52), who ran out of gas in the late innings... Anaya was touched for five runs and seven hits in six-plus innings... Mohoski shut out the Z's over the final seven frames after allowing three runs in the first two innings... Redbird RF Danny Nash (.412) led the comeback with a fifth-inning homer to cut it to 3-2, then a three-run sixth cinched it, highlighted by SS Trevor Tomlinson's (.216) game-tying single and CF Rod MacCormack's (.294) game-winning single... Nash drove in an insurance run with a ground-out to finish the scoring.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

2008 Islandian Pro Alliance Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union - Game 5 at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Wynnamac On A Roll, Heads To Pro Cup Finals
The Wynnamac Sundowners are on quite a roll... they bowled over LaGrange 7-4 in game five of the Ruthlandian Final 4 and will now advance to the Pro Cup Finals against the champion of the Tycobbian Union... Skeets Hobart (4-0 2.12) marked up his fourth consecutive playoff victory... He gave up nine hits and four runs in eight innings, but needed help from Lefty Paddison, who relieved him after the first three batters got on in the bottom of the ninth and cut the margin to three runs... Paddison got a double play and a ground-out to close out the victory... LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.432), 1B Nate Cockcroft (.421) and 3B Adam Farinas (.269) each batted in a pair of runs for the winners... C Otto Kronvath (.283) belted a two-run homer for LaGrange... Jay-Jay DeJarnette ((1-2 3.82) was whacked for seven runs in four-plus innings for the defeat... The Sundowners now await the winner of Luxora and Denton City... the Redbirds hold a 3-1 advantage going into today's fifth game.

Tycobbian Union - Game 5 at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora

DC Redbirds Advance To Pro Cup Finals
Denton City dumped Luxora 7-4 in game five of the TU Final 4 Series and will now head to the Pro Cup Finals against the Wynnamac Sundowners of the Ruthlandian Union... Denton City took the series four games to one... LF Nigel Huxley (.257) sparkled on defense and also unloaded two more homers and batted in three runs to spark the Redbirds to the IPA championship round... It was Huxley's 6th postseason homer... Three pitchers combined for the victory with starter Doug Blair working the first six frames, allowing three runs and four hits... he departed trailing 3-2... The win went to Tom Duroncelay (2-0 1.50), who permitted one run in his two and one-third innings... Duroncelay's control got him in trouble in the ninth and he needed relief from Mike Danek... Danek came in with the bases loaded and one out... He retired SS Scott Sanderson (.212) on a fly ball, but the runner tagged up and scored from third... LF Joel Reed (.306) singled to left, but the runner on second was thrown out at home on a perfect throw from Huxley to end the game... the Redbirds tied the score at 3-3 in the seventh, then busted it wide open with a four-run outburst in the eighth... Huxley's second homer gave Denton City a 5-3 lead... 3B Jay Petit (.308) and CF Rod MacCormack (.308) followed with RBI singles to push them ahead by four runs... The Redbirds outgunned the Zorros 17 hits to 6... 2B Darrion Ramsdell (.342) and Petit paced them with three hits apiece... reliever Ricardo Topez (0-1) was the loser... he was the victim of the four-run uprising... 2B Bobby Bayas (.286) led Luxora with two hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning that put them in front 3-2.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 9, 2008

IPA Pro Cup Begins Tomorrow - Wynnamac vs Denton City

It will be Wynnamac of the Ruthlandian Union and Denton City representing the Tycobbian Union in the IPA Pro Cup VIII. The Pro Cup Series will start tomorrow afternoon at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City. The Redbirds will be home for the first two games. Games 3 and 4 will be hosted by Sundowners. If necessary, game 5 is slated for Wynnamac with games 6 and 7 played in Denton City. Tycobbia has won 5 of the previous 7 Pro Cups. The defending champions, the Oxford Red Caps, wound up third in their division and missed the playoffs.

At a glance Denton City is the favorite. Ford Whiteman's Denton City Redbirds have made the playoffs four times in its history, but they have never won the IPA Pro Cup. However the Redbirds did get to the finals one time in 2005 and lost to the Middlefield Roosters in five games. Wynnamac, on the other hand, never made the playoffs until this year. In fact, this season is the only time the Sundowners finished in the first division, fifth place was their previous best. Most of the time it was worse. Until this season Matt Donnelly's team had never finished above the .500 mark.

So who's going to win? It looks like Wynnamac has the edge in starting pitching with the sizzling Skeets Hobart who has won 4 games and lost none in the postseason with a brilliant 2.21 ERA. Jay Clay gives Donnelly another strong starter. Clay is 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA in the playoffs. In the regular season Hobart 19-13 and Clay was 14-7. The bullpen could be the Sundowners Achilles' heel.

Whiteman will counter with Mila Mohoski (18-14), Dave Blair (4-3) and Kenyon MacKenzie (14-14) in his starting rotation. Blair has been a postseason surprise, unbeaten in 3 starts with 2 victories and a sterling 2.08 ERA. Mohoski is a solid 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA, while MacKenzie won his only start and has a 3.60 ERA. It is in the relief corps that the Redbirds stand out with Mike Danek (0-1 1.69) in 5 appearances and Tom Duroncelay (2-0 1.50) in 3 appearances. Danek has 3 saves and Duroncelay 1 in the playoffs.

What it will come down to is hitting. Wynnamac also gets an edge here. The Sundowners have exploded in the playoffs with 16 homers and a .302 batting average, while Denton City sports a .295 team batting mark and has hit 14 home runs. Wynnamac's line-up is packed with solid hitters like LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.432/4 HR/10 RBI/9 R), 1B Nate Cockcroft (.421/4 HR/13 RBI/9 R), SS Warren Lee (.366/1 HR/5 RBI/10 R) and RF Mark Buchanan (.333/4 HR/8 RBI/10 R). The Redbirds batting order is highlighted by LF Nigel Huxley (.257/6 HR/14 RBI/8 R), 3B Jay Petit (.308/3 HR/9 RBI/5 R), RF Danny Nash (.385/1 HR/7 RBI/7 R), 2B Darrion Ramsdell (.342/1 HR/4 RBI/7 R) and 1B Mick Abbott (.333/1 HR/5 RBI/7 R). SS Trevor Tomlinson is hitting only .220 in the playoffs, but has scored 10 runs and stolen 6 bases.

Outlook: If Wynnamac starters can go deep in the game and stay out of the bullpen, they should win. The Sundowners also have the advantage in firepower, too. Wynnamac will triumph in six games.

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 10, 2008

IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 1 at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City

DC Destroys Wynnamac 10-1 In Pro Cup Opener
The Denton City Redbirds destroyed Wynnamac 10-1 with a 13-hit attack and strong pitching by Mila Mohoski in the 2008 Pro Cup opener at Douglas Denton Field... the Redbird bats were led by SS Trevor Tomlinson (.239) with two hits, including a 3-run homer and 4 runs batted in, CF Rod MacCormack (.279) with two RBIs and Mohoski (.300) who also drove in a pair of runs... Mohoski (3-1 2.65) was an easy winner... he held the hard-hitting Sundowners to just one run and seven hits, struck out six and issued no walks... the Redbirds got out of the starting gate early and ripped starter Jay Clay (3-1 3.66) for five runs in two innings... it was Clay's first playoff loss this season.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 11, 2008

IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 2 at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City

Sundowners Rise Up, Tops DC 7-5, Pro Cup Tied
After being thoroughly chilled down in the game one rout, the Wynnamac bats blazed again with 13 hits to top Denton City 7-5 in game two of the Pro Cup Series and tie it up at one game each... Skeets Hobart (5-0 2.88) staggered a little bit but didn't fall... Hobart held back the Redbirds 6-2 until the last of the seventh when they tagged him for three runs and made a game of it... Hobart was blistered for five runs and eight hits in his six and two-thirds innings... Lefty Paddison got his 2nd save with two and one-third scoreless innings, but he allowed 3 hits... Kenyon MacKenzie (1-1 4.74) was the losing pitcher... he surrendered four runs and seven hits in four innings... MacKenzie was behind 4-2 when he went to the showers... RF Mark Buchanan (.321) led the Sundowners with a double and a homer, his 5th playoff roundtripper... Buchanan scored twice and batted in a run... 3B Adam Farinas (.286) has two hits and batted in a pair of runs... 2B J. L. Lawrence also had two hits, scored twice and had an RBI... Denton City was paced by 3B Jay Petit (.319) with two hits and four RBIs... Petit hit his 4th postseason home run... the Redbirds collected 11 hits overall.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 12, 2008

IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 3 at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Redbirds Take Lead, Blair Beats Sundowners 5-2
Denton City manager Ford Whiteman got another good outing from Dave Blair to take a 2-1 lead in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... Blair beat Wynnamac 5-2 on a three-hitter, although he had to get some help from closer Mike Danek after he loaded the bases in the last of the eighth... Blair (3-0 2.17) struggled with his control and walked nine, but fanned seven batters... Danek got the last five outs for his 4th save in the playoffs... The Redbirds took a three-run lead in the first inning on 1B Mick Abbott's (.283) RBI grounder and LF Danny Nash's (.333) two-run double... Denton City added two more runs in the top of the seventh to make it 5-0... 3B Jay Petit (.314) had an RBI single and CF Rod MacCormack (.288) had a sacrifice fly... Sundowner RF Mark Buchanan (.317) belted his 6th postseason homer in the bottom of the seventh to cut the margin to 5-2... the Redbirds slapped 11 hits in all with 2B Darrion Ramsdell (.373) collecting two of them and scoring two times... Losing pitcher Angus Conroy (1-1 5.06) was shelled for five runs in six-plus innings.

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 13, 2008

IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 4 at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Wynnamac Evens Pro Cup, Wins 6-5 in 11 Innings
Wynnamac SS Warren Lee (.328) only got one hit in the game, but it was a big one - he drove in the winning run with a single to nip Denton City 6-5 in 11 innings to even up the Pro Cup Series at two games each... After the Redbirds seemingly won it with two runs in the top of the tenth, the Sundowners turned defeat into victory by staging a dramatic 2-run rally to again knot the score... pinchhitter Vic Boutin was the hero this time... Boutin doubled in a run and then tied it up by moving around on a passed ball and a wild pitch... Sonny Nicoletti (1-0 0.00) pitched a scoreless eleventh for the victory and Tom Duroncelay (2-1 3.38) caught the loss... Denton City had the edge in hits 12 to 11... Wynnamac LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.377) garnered two hits and drove in four runs... Burkhalter batted in three runs and had the game's only roundtripper, his 5th of the playoffs... He is tied with 1B Nate Cockcroft (.327) for the team RBI lead with 13 each... Buchanan (.323) has chalked up 11 RBIs, too... 2B Darrion Ramsdell (.382), RF Danny Nash (.345) and 1B Mick Abbott (.300) sparked the Redbirds with two hits apiece... game five will be tomorrow afternoon in Wynnamac.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 5 at Granger Field in Wynnamac

Hobart Halts DC 5-1, Wynnamac Up 3-2 In Series
Skeets Hobart came through again for the Wynnamac Sundowners... he hurled them past Denton City 5-1 for his 6th playoff victory to give the Sundowners a three-to-two edge in the Pro Cup Series... one more win in the best-of-seven series and the Pro Cup will go to Wynnamac for the first time in its history... Hobart (6-0 2.36) tossed a strong game, halting the Redbirds on five hits, fanning eight and walking three... LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.385) and C Mike Holder (.246) paced the attack with solo homers... With the scored knotted at 1-all in the sixth, Wynnamac got the winning run on an error by 1B Mick Abbott (.283), who dropped a throw... 1B Nate Cockcroft (.356) had three hits for the winners and Burkhalter collected a pair of hits... Roger Ramsey (0-1 4.38) got the loss in his first postseason start... Ramsey only allowed one earned run, but was charged with three runs and six hits... overall the Sundowners had 9 hits... Denton City got RF Lavon Gooch back into the line-up... he had been on the DL for the past month and this was his first playoff action... the Redbirds have missed his bat in the postseason... Gooch batted .295 in the regular season with 28 homers and 100 RBIs in just 127 games.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 6 at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City

Wynnamac 2008 Pro Cup Champs
In the a rags-to-riches story the Wynnamac Sundowners are the 2008 Pro Cup champions... Wynnamac wrapped the title with a 6-2 victory over the Denton City Redbirds to take the series four games to two... Manager Matt Donnelly restored Lefty Paddison to the starting rotation and he gave a gritty performance... Paddison (1-3 9.00) was relegated to the bullpen after a string of poor outings in the postseason... Paddison got his first playoff victory by pitching into the eighth inning... he allowed two runs on eight hits for the win, helped out by Angus Conroy, who retired the last four batters without allowing a run for his second save... Redbird starter Doug Blair (3-1 3.18), a standout in the postseason, suffered his first loss as he was ripped for six runs in five innings... Leading the Sundowners were 1B Nate Cockroft (.355) and 3B Adam Farinas (.224), who had two runs batted in apiece... Both clubs had 8 hits each... Wynnamac scored two in the first, one in the second and three times in the fifth to take a 6-0 lead, then they held off the Redbirds the rest of the way... Denton City finally got on the scoreboard with two runs in the eighth.

This was Wynnamac's first playoff appearance and they went all the way to the title... It was a magical season for the Sundowners, who had never made the first division or finish with a .500 record... Wynnamac rose from sixth place to first place this year... they did it with free agents... LF Big Hoss Burkhalter and SS Warren Lee came to the team two years ago and RF Mark Buchanan and SP Jay Clay arrived this year.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wynnamac's Hobart Pro Cup MVP
Quite a few of the Wynnamac Sundowners could have been chosen the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. This year's Pro Cup champions really were a team loaded with valuable players. When the poll was announced the honor went to the Sundowners superb 31-year-old left-hander Skeets Hobart, who made six starts in the playoffs and won them all, while compiling an impressive 2.36 ERA. Hobart won in a tight race with left fielder Big Hoss Burkhalter, first baseman Nate Cockcroft and RF Mark Buchanan.

Hobart was named on 32 ballots. Burkhalter was second with 27 votes, Cockcroft was third with 25 votes, fourth was Buchanan with 22 and shortstop Warren Lee was a distant fifth with four votes.

Burkhalter hit .377 in the playoffs with 6 homers and 15 RBIs, Cockcroft batted .355, hit 4 home runs and batted in 16 runs, Buchanan compiled a .310 mark with 6 roundtrippers, 12 driven in and scored 17 runs and Lee batted .348, scored 11 times with 7 RBIs and 1 homer.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Colfax's Cartner Voted Best RU Rookie
27-year-old pitcher Jimmy Joe Cartner of the Colfax Blasters won the Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award. He took the best rookie honor with a 12-10 record and a 3.03 ERA. Cartner made 24 starts, struck out 131 in 199 innings, surrendered 181 hits and walked 54 this season.

Chris Hall of Taranto was second in the balloting. In 35 starts the 24-year-old southpaw compiled a 14-12 record in his freshman year with a 3.91 ERA.

Eastshore third sacker Champ O'Herlihy finished third in the vote. In 130 games the 26-year-old rookie batted .275 with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs.

SF's Michael This Year's TU Premier Rookie
South Fork's right fielder Robby Michael is the latest winner of the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Award. During his first year in the league, the 21-year-old Michael played in 142 games, hit .326 with 159 hits, 18 home runs, 80 RBIs and 58 runs scored. He also walked 39 times and put up a .377 on-base percentage.

Midway right fielder Lou Sturge was the runner-up to Michael. The 23-year-old Sturge had a .260 batting average with 16 roundtrippers, 51 RBIs, scored 85 times and stole 32 bases, while playing in 133 games.

Third place in the poll went to 26-year-old Ozarka lefty Harry Robinson, who went 10-9 with a 3.72 ERA in 24 starts.

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 17, 2008

RU King of the Hill Announced
With speculation about his retirement gaining steam last off-season, Snappers ace Charley Boyer had something to prove. He proved it in award-winning style as he accepted the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award today. The 38-year-old veteran Rocky Rapids hurler posted a record of 26 wins and 8 losses this year with a 2.10 ERA. In 39 starts he struck out 147 and walked 79 in 318 innings. Boyer posted the most wins and the best ERA in the IPA this year.

Boyer pitched for fourth-place Rocky Rapids, while his main competition Ilya Szabo and Jasper LaForge played for the first place Colfax Blasters. Szabo was runner-up in the balloting and LaForge was a close third. Szabo chalked up an impressive 23-7 record with a 2.64 ERA, while LaForge was 23-8 with a 2.84 ERA.

Best TU Hurler Chosen for 2008
A sparkling 24-9 mark for the year just about says it all -- that's what Todd Combs of the Kenwood Wildcats put up this season. That's why the Tycobbian Union rated him the #1 hurler in the league and named him the 2008 Golden Arm Award winner. He held opposing clubs to a .256 batting average and compiled a 2.91 ERA. Combs stood out with 135 strikeouts while giving up 298 hits and 93 walks in 315 innings.

Number two in the poll was 33-year-old Jimmy Simmons of the Colchester Elites. He chalked up a 19-12 mark and an exceptional 2.21 ERA. Number three was Turon's 35-year-old Anthony Nardone, who compiled a 21-11 record with a 2.54 ERA.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 18, 2008

2008 Premier Batter Picked
The top batter in the Ruthlandian Union in 2008 was Claxton first baseman Mike Luzzatti. Today the 24-year-old was named the winner of the Golden Bat Award. Luzzatti starred this season with a .329 batting average, 191 hits, 51 home runs, 124 RBIs, .439 OBP and 130 runs scored. He led the IPA in home runs. Only five players have hit over 50 homers in a season. Karol Zodoka holds the record with 54 in 2002, while playing for East Point.

Marston's splendid second baseman Ed Miles came in second in the poll. In 146 games the 24-year-old Miles batted .323 with 39 home runs, 115 RBIs and 131 runs. Marston's gifted third baseman, 27-year-old Jimmy Holman, finished third in the voting. Holman has a fine season with a .334 batting average, 33 homers, 132 RBI and scored 112 runs, while participating in 149 games.

TU Names #1 Hitter
What a way to finish off the year -- being honored with the 2008 Golden Bat Award in the Tycobbian Union. It had already been a very special season for Colchester's Harlan Roscoe, but today's announcement really put the icing on his cake. All season long the 28-year-old first baseman gave opposing pitchers fits by hitting .369 in 152 games as he collected 195 hits, 30 doubles, 34 home runs, 112 RBIs and scored 97 runs. Roscoe also took the TU batting crown.

Roscoe beat out Fairfax's Dane Wesner and Oxford's Wayne McDonald for the honor. Wesner played in 146 games, batted .364 and had 31 roundtrippers, 99 RBIs and scored 98 times. Wesner led the IPA in hits with 204 and was second to Roscoe for the batting title. In 148 games McDonald hit .326 with 28 homers, 102 runs and 102 RBIs.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 19, 2008

RU Honors Top Glovemen for 2008
Great glovemen can range far and wide to make a backhand stop or an over-the-shoulder catch -- and the best usually make it look easy. Quincy Peterson of LaGrange won his fourth Gold Glove Award, while Virgil Carpenter of St. John has been named three times in his career. All the others are first-time winners. Today the winners of the Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Award for 2008 were announced. These awards for defensive excellence go to:

Pitcher: Erke Tonisson (Valka Blackhawks) 1.000 FA/42 Assists
Catcher: Virgil Carpenter (St. John Crusaders) .996 FA/33.3% RTO/4 PB
First Baseman: Russ Honor (Glasco Athletics) .995 FA/101 Assists
Second Baseman: Ed Miles (Taranto Tars) .984 FA/469 Assists
Third Baseman: Danny Church (Volusia Vigilantes) .981 FA/350 Assists
Shortstop: Bill Nilsen (LaGrange Sports) .983 FA/505 Assists
Left Fielder: Quincy Peterson (LaGrange Sports) .989 FA/262 PO
Center Fielder: Billy Martz (Belair Beach Sunbirds) .997 FA/409 PO
Right Fielder: Stan Cuccinello (Eastshore Elegants) .993 FA/257 PO

TU Rewards Top Defenders for 2008
Golden Glove Awards are the symbol for defensive excellence, a recognition of the best of the best in defense. Owen MacArthur of Rolling Hills, Todd Bryant of Bay St. Clair and Dane Wesner of Fairfax are two-time Gold Glovers. The other recipients were named for the first time. The Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Award trophies for 2008 have been awarded to these outstanding fielders:

Pitcher: Karl Kleinert (Ozarka Naturals) .985 FA/47 Assists
Catcher: Scott Sykora (Bayview Vikings) .997 FA/54% RTO/9 PB
First Baseman: Stan Vankosky (Arlon Champions) .995 FA/113 Assists
Second Baseman: Owen MacArthur (Rolling Hills Reds) .993 FA/486 Assists
Third Baseman: Nicky Sweet (Arlon Champions) .961 FA/330 Assists
Shortstop: Bob Snyder (Kenwood Wildcats) .984 FA/469 Assists
Left Fielder: Todd Bryant (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) .985 FA/300 PO
Center Fielder: Wayne McDonald (Oxford Red Caps) .996 FA/448 PO
Right Fielder: Dane Wesner (Fairfax Frogs) .984 FA/305 PO

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 20, 2008

'Jacks Jackson Chosen RU Skipper of the Year
In a close four-man battle Robbie Jackson of Forest City has been chosen Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year for 2008. Jackson led the Lumberjacks to an outstanding season as they finished second in the RU West with a 91-63 record, topped only by the division champs, the Colfax Blasters, who chalked up a 100-54 mark, tops in the IPA.

LaGrange's Boo Ladrieux led his Sports from 7th place to the RU North pennant to come in second in the balloting. In third was Wynnamac's Matt Donnelly, who guided them to the playoffs for the first time in the team's history with a first-place finish in the East Division. Rounding out the votegetters was Paco Banderos of San Dimas. He piloted the Rancheros from seventh to first and won the RU South.

Previous winners of the award are Stacy Engel of the Claxton Diamonds in 2006 and Manny Mickens of the Ancona Red Elephants last year.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Arlon's Louis Win TU Manager of the Year Again
For the second time in three years Gary Louis of the Arlon Champions has been selected the best manager in Tycobbian Union. East Point's Griff Clarke and LaClaire's Rip Calkin came in second and third in the vote. Louis also copped the honor in 2006, the first year for the award in the IPA. Matty Christianson of Rolling Hills took the trophy last year.

Louis brought his Champions from seventh place in 2007 to a third-place finish this season. Louis had Arlon in the race up until the last day of the season. They wound only two games behind Denton City and one game back of LaClaire in the tight TU West pennant chase.

East Point manager Griff Clarke won the TU East in a close race with Ozarka, Tuckanarra and Red Bluff. The Panthers rose from fourth place to first this season.

Rip Calkin lifted his La Claire Lynx from fifth place in 2007 to a very close second this year. Calkin ended up only one game out of first place and was just barely beaten out by Denton City.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 27, 2008

IPA MVPs Awarded For 2008

Snappers Boyer Captures RU MVP Award
It was a great year for pitchers this season. Hurlers won the MVP in both leagues. The Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player is 38-year-old right-hander Charley Boyer of the Rocky Rapids Snappers. Boyer had a sensational season with a 26-8 record and a 2.10 ERA. He made 39 starts and completed 20 of them and tossed 5 shutouts. Boyer led the IPA in victories, ERA, shutouts and complete games. He has led both leagues in ERA the last two years. Last season Boyer set the record with an astounding 1.70 ERA. The Snappers won the most games in their history this season, finishing in fourth place in the RU West with an 86-68 record.

Boyer had some strong competition from Claxton first baseman Mike Luzzatti, this year's Golden Bat winner, who became only the fourth player in IPA history to hit over 50 home runs. Luzzatti had a great year with a .329 batting average, 51 homers, 124 RBIs and 130 runs scored. He also walked 95 times and compiled a .439 on-base percentage. Luzzatti finished a close second in the balloting.

Coming in third in the MVP poll was Marston's outstanding third baseman Jimmy Holman, who batted .334 and hit 33 roundtrippers. Holman topped the IPA with 132 RBIs. He also scored 112 runs.

Kenwood's Combs Wins TU MVP
Todd Combs, a 32-year-old right-hander for the Kenwood Wildcats, picked up the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player Award. Combs was a prime reason Kenwood finished a strong sixth in the best division in the IPA, the TU West, where every club finished with at least a .500 record. The Wildcats were only four games out of first at season's end. Combs racked up a fine 24-9 mark with a 2.91 ERA and 17 complete games.

Combs had to beat three standout hitters to win the award. Oxford center fielder Wayne McDonald was second in the vote with Colchester first baseman and Golden Bat winner Harlan Roscoe third and Fairfax right fielder Dane Wesner fourth.

McDonald hit .326 with 28 home runs, scored 102 times and batted in 102 runs, while stealing 22 bases. Roscoe lead the TU with a .369 batting average, hit 34 homers and drove in 112 runs. Wesner came in second to Roscoe with a .364 average, collected 31 roundtrippers with 99 RBIs and 98 runs. Both McDonald and Wesner won Gold Gloves.