The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Tycobbian Union Selects Top Rookie
This year's Rookie of the Year Award honors went to Nicky Engstrom of Turon. In his magical debut season in the Tycobbian Union he ended up with a 20-7 record in 30 starts. Engstrom chalked up a 2.40 earned run average, while hurling 228 innings, striking out 176 and walking 65. Engstrom, a 21-year-old right-hander, was the primary reason the Typhoons won the TU South this year. Unfortunately he suffered an arm injury in his second postseason start was sorely missed by Turon in the playoffs. Engstrom shut out Blue Lake 3-0 in his first playoff start and only gave up one run in four innings in his second Elite 8 start. With him the Typhoons may have come away with their unprecedented 4th Pro Cup. Turon fell in seven games to the Colfax Blasters in the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

Rolling Hills center fielder Donnie Lewis finished second to Engstrom. The 21-year-old Lewis batted a sky-high .357, placing third behind Triple Crown and Golden Bat winner Dane Wesner of Fairfax for the TU batting title. Lewis smacked 5 out of the park, drove in 90 and scored 86 runs. Arlon's third baseman Jake Griffith was third in the balloting with 27 homers, 95 RBIs and a .286 batting mark. Griffith finally got a chance to play in the IPA at age 32. He has been starring in the industrial leagues for 14 years.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Colfax's Szabo Claims 2nd Major Award, RU MVP
2010 has been a great year for Ilya Szabo of the IPA champions, the Colfax Blasters. Szabo was recently named the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm winner and now has added the illustrious league Most Valuable Player honor to his resume. He had to outduel the Golden Bat winner Fred Collins of the Sligo Rovers and Duane Parsons of the Far Mountain Redhawks.

Szabo led the league with a sensational 1.79 ERA and 27 wins. Szabo lost only 4 games during the season. Left fielder Collins excelled with a .326 batting average with 32 home runs, 111 RBIs, 117 runs and 35 stolen bases. Second baseman Parsons stood out with 38 homers, 133 RBIs, 105 runs, while batting .312.

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 25, 2010

Fairfax's Wesner Acclaimed TU MVP
It's has been a season that Dane Wesner will never forget. The Fairfax star left fielder led the Islandian Pro Alliance in batting average, homers, hits and RBIs. Not only did he win the Triple Crown, Wesner captured the TU Golden Bat as the league's best batter, but he also won the prestigious Most Valuable Player Award. Wesner was awarded that trophy today by BNN in a poll of the Islandian media.

Wesner had a fantastic year with a .383 average, 46 home runs, 146 RBIs and 218 hits. The Frog outfielder is a .339 lifetime hitter in his 6 years in the IPA. The 25-year-old Wesner is the second player to hit for the Triple Crown. East Point's Karol Zodoka was the first to do it in 2002.

Two pitchers battled Wesner for the honor. Mila Mohoski of Denton City was second in the voting. Mohoski was 26-11 with a 2.54 ERA. Coming in third was Nicky Engstrom of Turon. Engstrom won Rookie of the Year in the Tycobbian Union as he chalked up a fine 20-7 record and an impressive 2.40 ERA in his first season in the IPA.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

2010 IPA Final Statistics

Ruthlandian Union Batting Leaders

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

2010 IPA Final Statistics

Ruthlandian Union Pitching Leaders

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

2010 IPA Final Statistics

Tycobbian Union Batting Leaders

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

2010 IPA Final Statistics

Tycobbian Union Pitching Leaders

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

2010 Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Awards

RU Names Top Gloves
What does it take to win a Golden Glove Award? It's a combination of good hands, knowing how to play the hitters, all-out hustle and a willingness to sacrifice your body to make a play. Good speed and a good arm never hurt, either, but not always required. This year's all-defense team in the Ruthlandian Union is led by four-time winner Danny Church, shortstop for the Marston Nine. Center fielder Lacy Tompkins was named for the second year in a row. All other honorees were first-time winners.

P Ernie Arredondo (Marston) .988 FA
C Little Jake Bungarooba (Belair Beach) .993 FA/31% RTO/2 PB
1B Alex Guilford (Valmara) .997 FA
2B Diego De Luna (Forest City) .990 FA
3B Ken Aubert (Ranford) .952 FA
SS Danny Church (Marston) .981 FA
LF Scott Camden (Rocky Rapids) .978 FA
CF Lacey Tompkins (Ancona) .988 FA
RF Tavi Vakros (Ancona) .996 FA

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 28, 2010

2010 Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Awards

Season's Best Fielders Selected By TU
Who are the Gold Glove Award winners? They are the guys that steal outs. They make spectacular plays, but they also consistently make the routine plays. Dane Wesner of Fairfax copped his fourth Golden Glove and his teammate Chancey Quibedeaux picked up his third one. This year in the Tycobbian Union these defensive stalwarts made a name for themselves with their gloves.

P Miguel Aguilera (Arroyo Grande) .974 FA
C Maka Bardinda (La Claire) .992 FA/41%/4 PB
1B Chancey Quibedeaux (Fairfax) .995 FA
2B Johnny Nowitzki (Arroyo Grande) .988 FA
3B Rick Fargnoli (Colchester) .974 FA
SS Monte Davis (Mahaska) .981 FA
LF Dane Wesner (Fairfax) .978 FA
CF Charley Turner (Arlon) .993 FA
RF Chucky Gilton (Arlon) .983 FA

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 29, 2010

Rogers Proclaimed Best Skipper In RU, Edges Bobkins and Groveland
When your team wins 107 games, you must have done something right. For doing things right Colfax manager Clem Rogers has been selected the BNN Ruthlandian Manager of the Year. He piloted the Blasters to their third consecutive RU West crown and set a new IPA record for victories. Colfax wound up with a truly outstanding 107-47 record, breaking San Alejo's old Tycobbian mark of 102-52 in 2002. This is the second straight year Rogers has been honored as the top manager. In 2009 Colfax improved from a 66-88 mark to 94-61 and climbed from a lowly 7th to the top spot. Rogers joins Arlon's Gary Louis as the only two-time winners. Louis garnered the Tycobbian best manager award in 2006 and 2008.

Gibby Bobkins of the Sugar Valley Rattlers ran second to Rogers. Bobkins guided the Rattlers to the RU East title this season as they rose up from 7th place in 2009. Sugar Valley improved its record from 71-83 to 88-66 this year.

Winding up third in the survey was Far Mountain's Alex Groveland. The Redhawk skipper notched his second successive pennant in th RU North with a 93-61 record.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Blue Sox Tyson Named Best TU Manager In Tight Vote
The Blue Lake Blue Sox had a dynamic rise from 6th place to first place in the North Division. This sudden surge led to Cobb Tyson being chosen the Tycobbian Manager of the Year. Tyson improved the Blue Sox from a 74-80 mark to a 92-64 record to claim their first ever division crown.

Tyson had a lot of competition from Ford Whiteman of Denton City, Guy Rondre of Bay St. Clair and John Randison of White River. Whiteman was the runner-up in the voting. He led the Redbirds to their best year with a 100-54 record and took the TU West for third season in a row. The third-highest votegetter was Rondre, who revived the Buccaneers, rousing them up from 7th to 3rd in the West standings. The Bucs chalked up a mediocre 69-85 mark in 2009 and improved drastically to 85-69 this year. Randison ended up fourth in the BNN poll. Randison's Rascals have never finished above .500 in its history until this year. White River led the TU North until mid-season and wound up sixth, but only three games out of first place in a very tightly- bunched pennant race. The Rascals improved greatly with an 88-66 mark. They were in last place in 2009 with a 71-83 record.

IPA Season 11 is just around the corner.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 19, 2011

All-Star Elite Named For IPA All-Star Game At Colfax
Showcase for the Stars -- The 2011 Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game. It's a great game for the fans. The All-Star Classic comes around each year at this time to the delight of every baseball fan. This year the site of the game will be Mountain View Stadium in Colfax. Blaster manager Clem Rogers will pilot the RU Stars, while Whitey Richburn will guide the TU Stars. Tycobbia has totally dominated the series with 9 wins in 10 games.

All of gifted and talented players from the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union come together and show their wares on the baseball diamond. The top players go toe-to-toe with one another to get the bragging rights for their league.

The LaGrange Sports had the most Ruthlandian All-Stars with four. Sligo and Stoner each placed three on the team and Colfax, Sugar Valley, Claxton and San Dimas all had two representatives.

Arroyo Grande and Hartsdale tied with three Tycobbian All-Stars apiece and eight other clubs each had a pair.

Ruthlandian All-Stars
SP Dek Jumonville - Beechwood (13-2 2.42)
SP Jimmy Joe Cartner - Colfax (12-5 2.14)
SP Taylor Gibbs - Elnora (11-3 2.83)
SP Charles Darby - Sugar Valley (9-2 1.91)
SP Gerry Hersh - Volusia (9-5 2.03)
SP Charlie Murphy - Claxton (11-7 2.21)
SP Colin McGrath - Sligo (12-5 2.43)
CL Raul Marroquin - San Dimas (2-1 0.44) 17 saves
CL Tony Haverkamp - Claxton (1-2 1.47) 17 saves

C Hal Stevenson - Sugar Valley (.283/19/38/58)
C Fran MacIntyre - Eastshore (.286/6/30/49)
C Benny Stern - Stoner (.346/11/36/39)
C Otto Kronvath - LaGrange (.311/14/41/42)
1B Phil Gravelli - Crystal Lake (.333/19/57/40)
1B Ron Armstrong - San Dimas (.314/17/48/44)
2B Karol Zodoka - Stoner (.306/9/46/47)
2B Dmitri Vrotsos - Elnora (.314/14/45/46)
3B Vinny Sardisco - St. John (.303/12/60/41)
3B Duane Parsons - Far Mountain (.298/13/55/45)
3B Dale Scoville - LaGrange (.304/10/44/47)
SS Bill Nilsen - LaGrange (.298/22/66/51)
SS Eddie Miles - Taranto (.280/17/57/51)
LF Fred Collins - Sligo (.369/15/53/72)
LF Quincy Peterson - LaGrange (.362/16/53/53)
LF Paul Coniglio - Colfax (.303/15/54/38)
CF Stan Maples - Forest City (.337/20/46/52)
CF Chris Collins - Stoner (.293/16/52/49)
RF Clell Renshaw - Sligo (.303/10/50/49)
RF Tom Bennett - Belair Beach (.320/6/51/42)

Tycobbian All-Stars
SP Joji Azuma - Ginza (12-3 1.95)
SP Nicky Engstrom - Turon (11-3 1.73)
SP Titus Bristow - Tuckanarra (10-5 2.04)
SP Jimmy Simmons - Colchester (11-5 2.33)
SP Tommy Wrightman - Luxora (10-5 2.40)
SP Pat Henry - Blue Lake (12-6 2.79)
SP Joe Hampton - Fairfax (11-4 2.69)
SP Norm Gross - Bay St. Clair (11-4 2.48)
CL Merle Studebaker - Turon (1-1 0.91) 18 saves
CL Mark Carey - Blue Lake (2-2 1.69) 18 saves

C Don Holden - Arroyo Grande (.319/9/41/42)
C Sollie Rees - Mahaska (.332/8/34/34)
C Fitz Garvie - High Mesa (.310/6/30/29)
1B Tom Brabant - Hartsdale (.310/15/54/48)
1B Sherm Miles - Arroyo Grande (.300/16/52/42)
1B Gerry Fields - Bay St. Clair (.352/10/47/36)
2B Jud Turchin - Hartsdale (.339/10/33/46)
2B Dale Pace - La Claire (.307/10/37/50)
3B Todd Chadwick - Ozarka (.333/11/62/49)
3B Bobby Josker - Cape Coral (.288/15/50/48)
3B Rick Fargnoli - Colchester (.347/5/25/37)
3B Kendry Moulton - Hartsdale (.311/17/53/46)
SS Nathan Ferrell - Ozarka (.301/12/42/40)
SS Jerry Riley - East Point (.296/5/33/61)
LF Dane Wesner - Fairfax (.344/28/71/53)
LF Zeppy Deshotel - La Claire (.330/20/58/64)
CF Chazzie Lombardo - La Claire (.318/9/37/42)
CF Gary Horn - South Fork (.286/14/49/45)
RF Jet Kazmarek - Arroyo Grande (.375/13/61/55)
RF Chucky Gilton - Arlon (.321/14/45/48)
RF Robby Michael - South Fork (.321/14/48/49)

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union North Mid-Season Standings, Team Batting and Pitching

Have-Nots On The Rise In RU North, Ranford and Taranto Surprise
Last year the Ranford Bulls finished in last place in the Ruthlandian North and the Taranto Tars were fifth, but not this year. Page Satcher has the Bulls riding high in the top position at midseason and a game ahead of Tommaso Lazzorda's Tars and Foxy Jimision's LaGrange Sports. Last year's powerhouses Far Mountain and Glasco are close behind and only four games off the pace. Ranford has good starting pitching with a 3.61 team ERA, but suffers at bat with a .251 batting average. LaGrange as per usual has the offense with 96 homers and a .274 average, but has puny pitching with a 4.27 ERA. Taranto does it all at the plate with a .277 BA and 81 roundtrippers. Lazzorda's pitchers are pathetic with a 5.10 ERA. It looks like a five-team race. Don't count Far Mountain and Glasco out. Alex Groveland and McDuffie Hughes both have good ballclubs.

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union South Mid-Season Standings, Team Batting and Team Pitching

3-Way Tie in RU South, All 8 Teams Still In The Race At All-Star Time
The Claxton Diamonds, Crystal Lake Crushers and St. John Crusaders are all deadlocked in first place in the Ruthlandian South at mid-season. They have a 3-game edge over Belair Beach and San Dimas, who are tied for fourth place. Valka is sixth, 4 games back, last year's champs Waleska is a disappointing 5 games off the pace and last place Grand City is 7 games behind. All of the teams still have a chance to turn the season around in the second half of the year.

Stacy Engel's Diamonds are still a good team with average hitting, pretty good pitching and strong defense. Baby George's Crushers have good offense with good power, solid pitching and excellent defense. The outlook is for Claxton and Crystal Lake to battle for the pennant because of pitching and defense. St. John can contend with the bats, but not with its mediocre mound corps. Belair Beach has high-octane hitting and scores a lot of runs, but has an atrocious team ERA well over 5.00 and is not likely to be a factor in the long haul.

The San Dimas Rancheros suffer on the hill and at the plate and looks like a second-division ballclub. Valka leads the RU South in pitching, but is woefully inept on offense. Waleska won the pennant a year ago, but McGraw Johnson has seen his team batting average fall from .267 to .256 and his team ERA slipped from 3.55 to 4.05 this season. The Westerners could still get back in the pennant chase if some of this players kick it up a notch with the bats. The last place Grand City Cybercats with only average hitting and little below average in pitching are not likely to make much noise in RU South

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union East Mid-Season Standings, Team Batting and Team Pitching

Beechwood Has Solid 6-Game Edge At RU East Halfway Mark
Primed by outstanding mound work the Beechwood Bobcats under Bret George have run away with a 6-game edge in the Ruthlandian East at the All-Star break this season. Only Colfax and Volusia have better team ERAs in the league. Second place Elnora has made great strides on the hill, too, and is much improved over last year. Sugar Valley is in the third spot in the standings, 7 games back. Gibby Bobkins has another solid club.

Beechwood will be tough to beat with veteran starters Dek Jumonville (13-2 2.42) and Harry Dye (10-4 2.89) and a top-notch closer in Bubba Lear (6-2 2.75), who has already saved 19 games for the Bobcats. Zoggy Miller's Elnora All-Stars have good pitching in starters Taylor Gibbs (11-3 2.83), Jim Tarzetti (9-3 2.90) and bullpen ace Tom Allen (1-4 1.74), but they are not quite a match for Beechwood on the hill. However, Elnora can hit well and is one of the better fielding clubs around with a .978 FA. The Sugar Valley Rattlers are the best in the IPA with the glove with a .980 FA. Sugar Valley can hit with power, but doesn't have the pitching to compete with Beechwood and Elnora. Charles Darby (9-2 1.91) and Neil Howell (10-6 3.55) are Bobkins' best hurlers.

No other contenders are in sight at mid-season. Wynnamac is fourth, but trails by 12 games, Marston is fifth, 15 games out, Belle Plaine and Cold Creek are tied for sixth and 16 games off the pace and Eastshore is in the division basement and 18 games behind leading Beechwood.

Elnora is been the most-improved ballclub with Cold Creek the most disappointing so far. The Catamounts have finished third the past two years, but have slipped way down to sixth this season.

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 22, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union West Mid-Season Standings, Team Batting and Team Pitching

Sligo Rovers Rules RU West, Up By 6 Over Powerful Colfax
Manager Eddie Keys has enough mound talent to do quite well in the Ruthlandian West pennant chase, but when you toss in the best hitting in the IPA, you have a powder keg of explosive power good enough to take a 6-game lead over the defending Pro Cup champions, the Colfax Blasters. It was totally unexpectant for Sligo to be that far ahead at the halfway mark in the season.

So far the Rovers have reigned supreme playing .699 ball in the best overall division in Ruthlandian baseball circles. Sligo is 12 games up on Forest City, Fort Benton and Volusia, all tied for the third spot in the standings. Rocky Rapids comes in sixth, 19 games back, Stoner is seventh, 20 games out and Middlefield is last and 24 games off the pace.

Sligo's hitting is out-of-sight with a .280 team batting average, highest in the IPA and tops everybody in runs scored, too. A 3.35 team ERA doesn't hurt any, either. Keys' starting four boasts Colin McGrath (12-5 2.43), Vinnie Rastelli (10-3 3.28), Dix Edenborough (6-4 2.66) and Luka Abromowitz (10-3 4.07). Offensively the Rovers great LF Fred Collins (.369/15/57/73), RF Clell Renshaw (.303/10/50/49) and 2B Hollis Waldrop (.304/10/38/54) lead an awesome line-up.

Skipper Clem Rogers had stayed in the hunt so far with some very fine pitching, even better than last season's superlative staff that brought home the IPA Pro Cup to Colfax. However, the Blaster batters have slumped this season, dropping from .276 to a poor .251 BA. On the hill the hurlers have improved from 3.00 to 2.76 this year. Colfax's best performers have been pitchers Jimmy Joe Cartner (12-5 2.14), Ilya Szabo (8-7 2.00), Vito Incardona (7-4 2.84) and closer Dallas Somerville (2-1 0.47) with 3 saved games. At the plate the only reliable hitter has been LF Pat Coniglio with a .303 average, 15 roundtrippers and 54 RBIs.

Don't count the Blasters out just yet. If the hitting does an about-face in the second half of the year, then Colfax will be in the thick of the fight again. No one expects Sligo to keep hitting at the clip they are currently. The RU West will have a good race till the end.

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 20, 2001

2011 Tycobbian Union North Standings, Team Batting and Team Pitching

Blue Lake and Fairfax Tied In TU North At All-Star Break
In 2010 it was a chaotic 6-team tussle for the title in the Tycobbian North. This year the number has been chiseled down to just two - the defending champs, the Blue Lake Blue Sox, and the Fairfax Frogs that finished in a fifth-place tie, but only 3 games off the lead in the monumental logjam. This year the two clubs are deadlocked for the top spot halfway through the season.

Both Cobb Tyson and Harry Buckley have quality pitching. Tyson's Blue Sox are number one in the TU with an outstanding 3.11 team ERA. Blue Lake suffers at the plate where they are hitting a poor .255 for average. Buckley's Frogs have a decisive advantage with a solid .273 BA, coupled with good home run power. Fairfax has hammered 87 out of the park so far this season and may have the edge in the last half of the year. The Frogs sports a slew of top-notch batters in LF Dane Wesner (.344/28/71/58), SS Wes Hickox (.291/14/54), 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.301/12/32/66), C Carl Tauber (.301/7/34/34) and CF Eric Brockmann (.318/3/29/34). In contrast, Blue Lake's best batters are LF Vic Gelder (.286/11/34) and RF Ron Landauer (.309/5/23/34).

However, the Blue Sox pitching corps really shines with starters Pat Henry (12-6 2.79), Neil Krogstad (10-3 3.41) and Dan Whitfield (10-5 3.15), combined with their new rookie closer Mark Carey (2-2 1.69), who has registered 18 saves at the mid-season point. Fairfax also has a fine set of starters in Joe Hampton (11-4 2.69), Wally Tidwell (11-6 2.68) and Ken Hill (8-6 2.66). The Frogs look too strong offensively and are the favorites to take the regular season TU North crown.

The Mahaska Haymakers, guided by Rusty Tanussa, are in third place and within striking distance of the leaders. Mahaska is 6 games off the pace. Tanussa has good pitching with a 3.40 team ERA, but is weak hitting. Hartsdale and Luxora are tied for fourth and trail by 8 games. Zim Donner's Hellcats swing a pretty fair bat and have decent pitching, but are not in the class of Blue Lake and Fairfax this season. Hartsdale hurlers have slumped a bit since last year, but the the hitters are holding their own. Stalwarts 2B Jud Turchin (.339/10/33/46), 1B Tom Brabant (.310/15/54/48) and 3B Kendry Moulton are doing quite well. Alejandro Rodrigo's Luxora Zorros have improved over 2010 when they wound up seventh in the TU North. The Z's biggest plus is their pitching, especially when rookie Tommy Wrightman (10-5 2.40) takes the hill. Otherwise Luxora is just too weak at bat. White River, piloted by John Randison, is in the sixth spot and is 11 games back. Oxford is seventh and 12 games out with Campy Roy at the helm. The North Hills Hawks, managed by Hub Carlson, follow in last place and trail by 13 games. None of the three will likely compete this year.

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 Tycobbian Union South Mid-Season Standings, Team Batting and Team Pitching

Turon Headed for 5th Title in 6 Years
Year in and year out Whitey Richburn's Turon Typhoons are the class of the Tycobbian South. This season is no exception. The Typhoons have a 6-game bulge at the mid-season mark over the Southport Sun Sox, 8 games over third place Cape Coral and 10 games up on fourth place Colchester. No challenger is within sight. It looks like Turon will claim its fifth division crown in the last 6 seasons.

Ginza and Arroyo Grande are tied for the fifth spot in the TU South and trail by 12 games, Summerland is seventh, 13 games back and San Alejo is in the cellar, 15 games off the pace of the Typhoons.

Turon always relies on strong pitching. Richburn's mound staff is third with a sparkling 3.33 team ERA and the team manages to put runs on the scoreboard despite its .257 batting average. They are 7th in runs scored. Heading up the pitching rotation are starters Nicky Engstrom (11-3 1.73), James Stuart (8-2 2.69) and Jeb Pickett (10-3 4.07). The bullpen is led by Merle Studebaker (1-1 0.91) with 18 saves. At the plate Turon is paced by CF Mac McCurnan (.278/9/40), LF Andy Porter (.265/13/35) and RF Jack Brown (.286/10/38).

The Southport Sun Sox have had a good first half. They just can't match Turon's pitching or even its hitting. Manager Charley Oscar's club however does excel on defense with a splendid .979 field percentage. Southport's staff is pretty good with four quality starters. Daric Jacoby (6-2 2.92), Bobby Ray Trent (9-6 3.33), Kael Claxton (7-7 3.29) and Keith Callahan (8-8 3.73) give the Sun Sox a good outing almost every game. It's in the relief corps that Oscar really suffers. 1B Bill McCann (.321/9/44), 2B Charlie Gamble (.296/9/49) and LF Big Stick Takala (.276/14/48) provide most of the firepower and offense.

Skipper Huggy Miller has his Cape Coral Hurricanes playing well this year after a poor 2010 season when they plunged down to the basement. The bats have perked up since a dismal season last year. The Hurricanes are hammering the ball at a strong .275 clip, good enough to be ranked number 5 in the Tycobbian Union. 3B Bobby Josker (.288/15/50/48) and C Bernie Finka (.301/15/40/35) pack some wallop in their bats and have good help from 2B Lonnie Moon (.351/5/34/42), SS Flipper Bird (.289/6/27/52) and LF Rich Osolinsky (.297/9/38/38). Miller has some solid starters, too. Cody Burg (9-5 2.96) is still one of the best hurlers ever to play in the IPA. Steve Aaron (8-4 3.17) and Adam Lundgren (5-3 3.15) are also having fine years. Rookie closer Bobby Maas (1-2 2.79) is showing some good potential at the youthful age of 21 with 10 saves thus far. Cape Coral is also very capable in the field with a fine .978 FA. Miller has his 'Canes poised for a return to the top echelon of the TU South, but it may not be this season. He has too much ground to make up.

Colchester, managed by Uncle Robbie Wilbertson, has a few talented performers, but overall is just a mediocre club. The Elites boast pitcher Jimmy Simmons (11-5 2.33) and 1B Harlan Roscoe (.311/15/44) and 3B Rick Fargnoli (.347/5/25/37), but little else.

Arroyo Grande is at the top of TU with a very strong .282 batting average led by the perennial league leader 35-year-old RF Jet Kazmarek (.375/13/61/55), who is in the running for his 8th batting title. 1B Sherm Miles (.300/16/52/42), C Don Holden (.319/9/41/42) and SS Randy Warren (.322/2/27/34) are also important offensive contributors to the potent Suns attack. Pitchers Miguel Aguilera (9-9 3.66) and Jimmy Boxx (7-7 3.42) are quality starters for manager Jean-Luc Marchand.

The Ginza Ninjas are skippered by Huroko Uchiyama, but they are are no threat this season, despite hitting the ball well and having decent starters. Uchiyama's club falls on its face in the bullpen. Third-year man Joji Azuma (12-3 1.95) is having a fantastic season on the hill, but has little help. But at the plate the Ninjas can hit the ball with a .276 team batting average. If the other pitchers were decent, Ginza would definitely be a first division club. 2B Ichiro Kawasaki (.335/7/28), RF Jack Vorland (.327/9/41), 1B Coonie Coulon (.312/11/34) and SS Ed Dorland (.304/6/31) all handle the bats very well.

Summerland manager Will Hackett just doesn't have the talent to compete. Except for veteran starter Denny Coulon (6-4 2.34), closer Frank Gerber (6-5 2.28) and RF Derek Visser (.298/10/35), Hackett has very little in the way of quality ballplayers.

Last place continues to be the dominion of the hapless San Alejo Montaneros. Lando Peceda has only two players of any significance. Third year pitcher Chad Gilmore is solid with a 7-5 mark and a good 3.12 ERA and 23-year-old C Coco D'Abadie hits only .249, but shows awesome power potential with 16 homers at mid-year.

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 20, 2011

2011 Tycobbian Union East Mid-Season Standings, Team Batting and Team Pitching

7-Team Chase in TU East, Only 5 Games Apart
The teams are tightly squeezed in the Tycobbian East at the halfway mark with 7 clubs still in the race. Only 5 games separate first place Ozarka from seventh place Tuckanarra. Last year's crownbearer the Ozarka Naturals are right back on top, but they have a bunch of contenders. It's a three-way tie for the number two spot with High Mesa, Red Bluff and South Fork right on the Nats heels and just 1 game off the pace. The Midway Wolves are fifth in the standings and only 2 games back, East Point is sixth and 4 behind and Tuckanarra trails by just 5 games. The Hillsboro Blazers are doomed for the cellar and are 9 games out.

Skipper Joe Mac Carney's Nats, Frisky Franks' Cowboys and Mack Connery's Red Sox are given the best chance by the baseball forecasters to prevail this season. Ozarka has a well-rounded team with decent hitting and good pitching, led at the plate by 2B Todd Chadwick (.333/11/62/49), SS Nathan Ferrell (.301/12/42/40) and 1B Al Wesner (.301/8/31/37) and on the hill by the vet Emile Leduc (7-5 3.06) and rookie Eddie Roberts (6-3 3.86). Philip Britt (6-10 3.29) also gives Carney another good arm for the second half. The Naturals are also the top fielding club in the league with a standout .979 fielding average.

The High Mesa Cowboys have some pitching this year and coupled with its strong .277 team batting average makes Franks' club a potent challenger. Starter Kent Wells (9-5 3.36) and second-year closer Ed Galiano (2-5 2.42) gives him a strong twosome. Galiano has 16 saves at mid-season. Two other veteran starters Johnny Falcon (6-7 4.15) and John Rainer (7-7 4.30) have done well in the small confines of hitter-friendly Queen Ranch Stadium with its notoriously close fences. The Cowpokes have a rock-ribbed line-up of hitters with RF Sookie Givens (.286/20/49/46), SS Wild Deer Etchimin (.288/13/43/44), 1B Maury Duncan (.312/11/42/35) and 2B Ed Albrecht (.305/9/32/45).

The Red Bluff Red Sox mound corps has kept Mack Connery's club in the hunt halfway through the season. Ivan Brasco (8-8 2.66) and John Dougherty (8-8 3.34) give the Red Sox two veteran arms. The key to Red Bluff's season may be Frank Beaudoin (6-11 3.81), who has had a slow year thus far. If Beaudoin returns to form, the Red Sox could make a strong run for the TU East title. Connery depends on 1B Tommy Klegg (.297/18/56/38) and SS Jose Aguilar (.329/8/40/41) for his offense. Red Bluff is also good with the gloves and has posted a .976 FA this year.

Down in South Fork Duroche "Lips" Leon has his Stallions all even with High Mesa and Red Bluff in the runner-up position, just a scant game out. Leon's bats are carrying South Fork, sparked by the power of CF Gary Horn (.286/14/49/45), RF Robby Michael (.321/14/48/49), 1B Joe Peters (.285/11/35/45) and LF Adam Zitek (.311/15/30/30). The Stallions are blessed with one fine starter in Dave Small (10-5 2.84). If Bobby Karu (7-8 4.61) and Blackie Terranova (8-7 4.03) can turn it up a notch in the second half of the season, the Stallions could be Pro Cup bound.

The fifth place Midway Wolves are in contention because of its offense and run-scoring. Manager Cochise Chandler's line-up card boasts RF Lou Sturge (.277/14/39/39), SS Akis Kola (.300/8/36/34), 1B Don Piper (.305/9/35/48) and 2B Phil Strong (.309/7/35/44). Midway's mound staff is just not doing the job and is one of the worst in the league with a 4.71 team ERA. Chandler's most dependable hurlers are Matt Niemeyer (5-4 3.61) and Joe Eckermann (6-1 3.86). Improved pitching is the key to the Wolves season.

Home run power is keeping Griff Clarke's East Point Panthers close to the top. The Panthers are in sixth place in the TU East and are only 4 games behind at the All-Star break. Clarke's batting order is headed up by 2B Jesse Goodwin (.259/16/46/47), CF Joey Olson (.298/14/45), LF Cisco Perales (.270/15/40), RF Karl Dietz (.285/10/30) and SS Jerry Riley (.296/5/33/61). East Point has a couple of good pitchers in starters Tommy Fuller (10-3 3.00) and Fred Traugott (5-2 3.39). Another quality starter could do wonders for Panther postseason hopes.

Perennial power Tuckanarra finds themselves in an unlikely seventh place, but only 5 games to the top of the division, but still in the chase. Skipper Lefty Stevens has the pitching that could easily make up that in the last half of the year. Defensively Tuckanarra is strong with a .976 FA. However, the Blue Jay attack is dismal and in need of much improvement. Only 1B Erik Vayda (.281/6/40) is any threat at all and a modest one at best. 29-year-old right-hander Titus Bristow (10-5 2.04) is in the midst of another banner year, but sure could use some help from Delaney Elliott (5-9 3.44). A good second half from Elliott could get Tuckanarra in the thick of the battle for first place.

The Hillsboro Blazers are just about the worse franchise in IPA history. Arky Spanderson's club has never done better than fifth and has finished last five times. Looks like number six is on the horizon for 2011. The Blazers have the worst pitching in the Tycobbian Union with a 4.95 team ERA. Ted Farentino (7-7 3.67) is the only bright spot on the team.