The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

IPA Pro Cup Quest, Elite 8 Match-Ups
To win the IPA Pro Cup title is the zenith of any baseball career. Players on postseason qualifiers will get the chance of a lifetime beginning tomorrow afternoon with the Elite 8 Series, where both heroes and goats will arise, but only one team will emerge as the Pro Cup champion. The IPA playoffs are a time for managers to map out pitching and batting match-ups and on-the-field strategy. Rivalries soar to new heights and destiny's fickle finger holds the fate of the teams and players. The Elite 8 begins tomorrow. The division winners will tangle in elimination series to determine who will move on to the next round in the quest for the Holy Grail of IPA baseball - the Pro Cup.

All postseason series will be best-of-seven series. In the Ruthlandian Union the Far Mountain Redhawks (RU North) will be hosted by the Claxton Diamonds (RU South) and the Sugar Valley Rattlers (RU East) will visit the Colfax Blasters (RU West). Over in the Tycobbian Union the Denton City Redbirds (TU West) will entertain the Ozarka Naturals (TU East) and the Turon Typhoons (TU South) will be on the road against the Fairfax Frogs (TU North).

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Times Poll Picks Colfax and Turon For Pro Cup Finals
In a poll of the major sportswriters and broadcasters in the Islands The Islandian Times reported that the Colfax Blasters and the Turon Typhoons are favored to meet again in the IPA Pro Cup finals. Colfax is expected to whip the Far Mountain Redhawks in the Ruthlandian Union opening round and the Claxton Diamonds in the Final 4 Series. Turon was the choice to upend powerful Fairfax in the Tycobbian Union first round action and to knock off Denton City in the Final 4. Defending Pro Cup champion Colfax is also the favorite to win its second straight IPA crown. The Blasters edged the Typhoons 4 games to 3 in the 2010 Pro Cup Series.

1. Colfax
2. Turon
3. Denton City
4. Fairfax
5. Claxton
6. Far Mountain
7. Ozarka
8. Sugar Valley

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Arroyo Grande Star Captures TU Bat Crown
He has done it again - for a remarkable eighth time in ten years. This year's Tycobbian Union batting champ was 35-year-old right fielder Jet Kazmarek of the Arroyo Grande Suns. His .354 batting average was the best in the league. The Arroyo Grande star won the honor with 201 hits in 567 at-bats. He also tallied 20 home runs, 110 RBIs and scored 100 runs. Kazmarek also stole 34 bases. Lifetime Kazmarek sports a lofty .356 batting average.

Kazmarek had quite a battle to win the bat trophy this year. It was a hotly-contested affair with Harlan Roscoe (.351) of Colchester, who was edged out by only 3 percentage points. Bruno DiPirro (.345) of Bay St. Clair, Dane Wesner (.342) of Fairfax and Gerry Fields (.333), also of Bay St. Clair, were in the hunt, too.

Rovers Star Earns RU Bat Title
The Ruthlandian Union season came to a close with Fred Collins on top with a league-leading .347 batting average. It was his first title. The 32-year-old Sligo left fielder swung the bat well the entire season. He concluded the year with 186 hits, 24 doubles, 8 triples and 29 home runs with 120 runs scored, 103 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.

Collins outhit Lloyd Voss (.341) of Elnora, Billy Martz (.333) of Belair Beach, Miles Rogers (.330) of Taranto and Tucker Hill (.329) of Volusia to win the title.

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series

Colfax Crushes SV 9-2, Szabo Wins Elite 8 Opener
It was no contest in the first game of the RU Elite Series between the defending Pro Cup champion Colfax and Sugar Valley played at Mountain View Stadium in Colfax... The Blasters crushed the Rattlers 9-2 with a 12-hit attack and top-notch pitching by Ilya Szabo... C Juanito Luque had the big hit of the game, a 3-run blast in the fourth frame that put Colfax ahead to stay 3-2... Szabo (1-0) held Sugar Valley to 5 hits in 8 innings, fanned four and walked three for the victory... 20-game winner Charles Darby (0-1) took the loss, allowing 5 runs and 10 hits in 5-plus innings... however he had 10 strikeouts.

FM Redhawks Trim Claxton 6-3 Behind Hines
At Avalon Stadium in Claxton Boomerang Hines stopped the hometown Diamonds 6-3 as the Far Mountain Redhawks took the opening game of the RU Pro Cup Elite 8 Series... Hines (1-0) went the route, scattered 8 hits and held Claxton to 3 runs, while striking out 6 and issuing only 1 walk... Far Mountain collected 11 hits and broke open the game with 3 runs in the fifth to go up 6-2... loser Charlie Murphy (0-1) was victimized by 3 Diamond errors that cost them 5 unearned runs... Claxton RF Helmut Graczyk hit the only homer in the game, a solo shot in the sixth inning.

2011 Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series

Turon Edges Fairfax 2-1 in Game 1, Engstrom Winner
In a tight 2-1 pitching duel at the Frog Pond in Fairfax, Turon's Nick Engstrom got the best of Joe Hampton in the first game of the TU Elite 8 Series... Engstrom (1-0) hurled a brilliant game, stopping the Frogs on just 3 hits in 8 innings... Closer Merle Studebaker did his job to save it in the ninth by setting down Fairfax in 1-2-3 order for the save... All the scoring came in the fourth inning... 1B Johnny Carducci doubled in the first run of the game and then scored later in the inning on C Pete Kilgour's sacrifice fly to put the Typhoons ahead 2-0... in the bottom half of the frame Frog CF Erik Brockmann doubled and came in to score on an infield error... that was it for the day... Hampton (0-1) went the distance in defeat, yielding only 2 runs on 6 hits with 6 Ks and 2 bases on balls.

Engstrom was injured in the first game of the 2010 playoffs and missed the entire series, severely hurting Turon chance for winning the Pro Cup... they lost a hard-fought seven-game set to the Pro Cup-winning Colfax Blasters in the finals... Manager Whitey Richburn hopes its a different story this year.

Late Scores Give Ozarka 4-1 Win Over DC Redbirds
The underdog Ozarka Naturals surprised favored Denton City at Douglas Denton Field by scoring in the late innings to whip the Redbirds 4-1 in the Elite 8 opener... Tyrus Yokum (1-0) pitched 8 strong innings to subdue the Redbirds and their ace, Mila Mohoski (0-1)... Closer Billy Krsnich notched the save with a perfect ninth... Yokum surrendered only 6 hits and 1 run for the win... Mohoski worked 7 innings and departed behind 2-1 after giving up 5 hits with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in a losing effort... reliever Dave Blair gave up 2 runs in the ninth... The Nats collected 8 hits in all to just 6 for the Redbirds... 2B Matt Burnett led Ozarka with 3 hits, including a triple... 3B Nathan Ferrell had a double and a triple for the Naturals... C Todd Pepper scored twice for the winners.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series

Rattlers Rip 3 HR, Even Series with Colfax
Three homers and a solid pitching performance by Ed Clavell in game 2 of the Elite 8 Series propelled Sugar Valley to a 6-2 victory over powerful Colfax to even the series at one game each... Clavell (1-0) was tagged for 9 hits, but allowed only two runs in hurling a complete game... Clavell fanned 5 and issued 2 bases on balls... 3B Brent Skurlock hit a two-run shot for the Rattlers in the second inning, C Hal Stevenson banged a solo homer in the sixth and SS Johnny Smith slammed a two-run home run in the ninth to finish the scoring... Sugar Valley cracked 10 hits in the game... losing pitcher Jimmy Joe Cartner (0-1) was touched for 4 runs and 6 hits in his 7 innings.

FM Nips Claxton 7-6, Goes Up 2-0 in Series
Great relief pitching saved the day for Far Mountain in Claxton... the Redhawks squeezed past the Diamonds 7-6 with the winning run coming in the sixth inning... RF Lucky Collins doubled in 2B Keith Wasik for the go-ahead run... Three Redhawks relievers held Claxton to just 1 run and 2 hits over the last six innings... Hummer Romig (1-0) picked up the victory with 4 fine innings... From the fourth through the seventh Romig gave up only two hits and an unearned run... Erich Dumont and Milos Annensky worked perfect innings in the eighth and ninth with the save going to Annensky... losing pitcher Alex Vanzetti (0-1) was also outstanding as he permitted only 1 run in his 5-plus stint, it just happened to be the winning run... the Redhawks rapped 13 hits and were sparked by Collins with 3 hits and 2 RBIs, Wasik 2 hits and 2 RBIs and 3B Duane Parsons with 2 hits and 2 batted in... Parsons homered... The Diamonds got 8 hits... LF Helmut Graczyk and 3B Artie Sherman led Claxton with 3 RBIs each... Sherman went deep for the Diamonds.

2011 Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series

Nats Stun DC, Stomp Them 13-3 in Game 2
After a 13-3 shellacking in game two of the Elite 8 Series, it's safe to say that favored Denton City just might have a tough opponent on its hands... the Ozarka Naturals pounded out 18 hits and whipped the Redbirds for the second day in a row to take a 2-0 lead... 2B Gil Lantz led the hit parade with 3-for-5 and 3 RBIs, including a home run... LF Vic Weinstein and 1B Al Wesner also cracked 3 hits apiece... 22-year-old rookie Eddie Roberts, who rang up an 18-9 mark, claimed the win, but walked 6... Roberts tossed 7 innings, whiffed 4 batters, allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and exited with a 6-3 lead... a 7-run eighth cinched the win for Ozarka.

Frogs Win 1-0 Thriller, Tie Series With Typhoons
Pitching dominated again in game two of the Elite 8 Series between Turon and Fairfax... this time around it was the Frogs winning 1-0 to tie up the series at a game apiece... 40-year-old Wally Tidwell (1-0) blanked the Typhoons for 8 innings on just 4 hits and closer Gino Carmazzo sealed the verdict by setting them down in order in the ninth... Turon starter James Stuart (1-0) was almost as good as he allowed just 1 run and 8 hits in his 8 frames... LF Johnny Whittier teamed up with Tidwell and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux to get the winning score in... Whittier doubled in the second, advanced to third on Tidwell's bunt and came in on Quibedeaux's base hit.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 22, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series

SV Shocks Colfax With 6-Run 9th, Wins 8-7
Playing at home for the first time in the playoffs, the Sugar Valley Rattlers shocked Colfax 8-7 with a stunning 6-run ninth-inning rally to take a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven Elite 8 Series... 1B Jason Wooten delivered the game-winning two-run single that decided the game... For most of the game Sugar Valley trailed... Colfax powered its way to a 6-0 lead in the second frame on 3-run homers by C Juanito Luque and RF Paul Coniglio... the Rattlers made it 6-2 in the fifth and the Blasters upped it lead to 7-2 in the sixth, then the roof fell in in the ninth... Sugar Valley got outstanding relief work from Ricky Fox, who relieved beleaguered starter Jay Washington in the second inning and worked 5 and one-third innings... Fox struck out 6, walked none and held Colfax to just one run... Nickie Lynn came on in the eighth and pitched two shutout innings for the win... Colfax had the advantage in hits 10-8... closer Dallas Somerville relieved starter Jasper LaForge in the ninth and got the loss on an unearned run... Wooten and CF Austen Conover paced Sugar Valley with 2 RBIs each, while Coniglio drove in 4 runs for the Blasters.

FM Wins 3rd Straight, Tops Claxton 6-4
Alex Groveland's Far Mountain Redhawks took a huge 3 games to none edge in the Elite 8 Series by topping Claxton 6-4 at home in Sky High Stadium... the Redhawks snapped a 3-3 tie in the sixth on RF Lucky Collins' RBI double... LF Phil Stewart followed that up with a two-run homer to put the game out of reach... Robby Kelly (1-0) got credit for the win with 8 decent innings... Kelly allowed 7 hits and 4 runs, struck out 4 and walked 3... Erich Dumont got the save with a scoreless ninth... Both Collins and Stewart has a pair of hits each... Collins had 2 RBIs and Stewart drove in 3... starting pitcher Paul Grange gave the Diamonds an early 2-0 lead with a two-run double and LF Helmut Graczyk had a solo homer in the eighth... Grange was the loser as he was rapped for 6 runs and 9 hits in 6 innings... One more Redhawk victory in the best-of-seven series will eliminate Claxton from the Pro Cup playoffs.

2011 Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series

Nats Nab 3rd In A Row, Nip DC 4-3
During the regular season the Ozarka Naturals lost all five games to Denton City, but they have turned it around in the playoffs with 3 wins in a row... the latest triumph was 4-3 putting the Nats just one victory away from knocking the powerful Redbirds out of the postseason... Today it was the pitching of Emile Leduc (1-0) that paved the way... Leduc held Denton City to 3 runs, while giving up 9 hits in 8 innings... Billy Krsnich retired the Redbirds in the ninth for his 2nd postseason save... Ozarka had only 5 hits in the game off losing pitcher Mike Danek (0-1), who pitched a complete game... his downfall was 7 bases on balls... 4 of them led to a pair of runs in the sixth that broke a 2-2 tie.

Frogs Trim Typhoons 4-1 in Game 3, Lead Series
Though he's only 21 years old and just in his second year in the IPA, Ken Hill disposed of the talented Turon Typhoons 4-1 to send the Fairfax Frogs up 2 games to 1 in the best-of-seven Elite 8 Series... Hill worked a strong 8 innings and held Turon to just one run on 6 hits... Gino Carmazzo worked a scoreless ninth inning for his 2nd save in the postseason... Trailing 1-0 in the fifth, it was LF Johnny Whittier's two-run clout that put Fairfax in front to stay... RF Dane Wesner and SS Wes Hickox drove in the other two runs in the sixth... Turon outhit the Frogs 7 to 5... Jacques Lemaire (0-1) suffered the loss as he permitted all 4 runs on 4 hits in his 7 innings... LF Raphael Semmes had three hits for the Typhoons and drove in their only run in the first inning.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 23, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series

Redhawks Romp 8-0, Knock Off Claxton in 4 Straight
The Claxton Diamonds ran into a buzzsaw and were sent packing from the Pro Cup playoffs by the red-hot Far Mountain Redhawks, who finished them off in 4 games... The Redhawks walloped 14 hits and backed up the shutout pitching of Boomerang Hines for an easy 8-0 triumph... Hines (2-0 1.00) tossed another fine game, holding the Diamonds to 6 hits... LF Phil Stewart (.467), SS Don Nichols (.316) and CF Xavier Sosa (.429) sparked the rout with 3 hits apiece with RF Lucky Collins (.571), C Otis Ott (.176) and Nichols driving in a pair of runs each... Collins had 7 RBIs in the series... Charlie Murphy (0-2 7.71) was tagged with the loss as he was battered for 5 runs on the first frame... Alex Groveland and Far Mountain will now advance to the RU Final 4 against the winner of the Colfax-Sugar Valley series.

Colfax Evens Series at 2-2, Takes SV 5-3
The Pro Cup Elite 8 Series between Colfax and Sugar Valley is all even after 4 games... The Blasters awoke late to trim the Rattlers 5-3 in game four at Farmers Memorial Park... Sugar Valley's ace Charles Darby was cruising along with a narrow 3-2 lead in the eighth, when Colfax exploded for 3 runs... LF Paul Coniglio (.313) pounded a two-run homer to take the lead 4-3, then RF Karl Heidelberg (.417) tripled and scored on 1B Kurt Vecchio's (.300) single... Blaster starter and ace Ilya Szabo (2-0 2.25) notched the win with 8 solid innings... he permitted only 5 hits and 3 runs... closer Dallas Somerville pitched a runless ninth for his 2nd playoff save... Darby (0-2 6.23) took the loss, allowing 5 runs in 7-plus innings... Coniglio and Heidelberg paced Colfax with 2 hits each... 2B Ilya Ivanchuk (.214) also ripped a roundtripper... C Hal Stevenson (.333) homered for Sugar Valley.

2011 Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series

Ozarka Upsets DC, 7-2 Win Sweeps Redbirds
Very few people picked Ozarka to beat the Denton City Redbirds in the Elite 8 Series, but the Naturals did so with surprisingly ease... they eliminated the heavily-favored Redbirds in a 4-game sweep... 35-year-old Tyrus Yokum hurled another outstanding game in beating Denton City 7-2 at Ellie Ewing Field in Ozarka... Yokum also won game one 4-1... He bested the Redbirds ace Mila Mohoski for a second time... Yokum (2-0 1.59) spread out 7 hits and went the distance... Mohoski was knocked out after 6 innings and 7 hits... He exited trailing 5-1... 2B Gil Lantz (.462) and LF Vic Weinstein (.438) led the Nats 10-hit attack with 2 hits each... It's now on to the Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series for Ozarka... The Naturals will match up with the Turon-Fairfax survivor... it was a very disappointing loss for the Redbirds... Ford Whiteman's ballclub was expected to be one of the serious challengers for this year's Pro Cup.

Engstrom Knots Frog-Typhoon Series, Turon Wins 6-1
Nicky Engstrom was just what the doctor ordered... He stopped Fairfax 6-1 at Typhoon Stadium on 4 hits to knot the Elite 8 series at two games apiece... Engstrom worked 8 very strong innings, yielded only 1 run, while fanning 7 and walking 3... Radley Long finished up for him with a 1-2-3 ninth... Turon collected 10 hits and were led by CF Mac McCurnan (.143), 1B Johnny Carducci (.333) and 3B Mickey O'Malley (.333), all with two hits each... O'Malley and C Pete Kilgour (.182) both drove in two runs... Fairfax starter Joe Hampton hung tough with Engstrom until the sixth inning when the Typhoons blew him away with a 5-run eruption... Hampton was the loser... He surrendered 6 runs on 9 hits, 4 of them earned.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 24, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series

Colfax Roughs Up Rattlers 8-3, Takes 3-2 Lead
Their explosive bats awoke today as Colfax roughed up Sugar Valley 8-3 with 3 home runs to take a 3-2 edge in the Elite 8 Series... 1B Kurt Vecchio (.308) hit a 3-run shot in the opening frame and CF Ryan Raines (.286) and LF Paul Coniglio (.300) connected in the ninth to spur them to victory... Coniglio has 8 RBIs in the postseason... On the hill manager Clem Rogers got a gutsy performance from Jimmy Joe Cartner (1-1 3.00), who made amends for a 6-2 loss in game two... Cartner struck out 6, walked 2 and gave up only 1 earned run in 8 innings, although he was tagged for 10 hits and 3 runs... Paul Gustafsson completed the game for him, setting down the Rattlers without a run in the ninth... Raines led the Blasters with 3-for-5, scored 3 times and drove in 2... Ed Clavell started for Sugar Valley and was the losing pitcher... Clavell (1-1 1.13) was smacked for 5 runs in his 7 innings, although he gave up no earned runs... The Rattlers committed 3 costly errors behind him... the Blasters also had 3 miscues... favored Colfax needs 1 more victory to win the best-of-seven set... Sugar Valley lost despite having an 11-8 advantage in hits.

2011 Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series

Frogs Top Turon 5-3, Leap Ahead 3-2 In Series
The feeble Fairfax bats came alive with 4 runs in the fourth inning and that was enough offense to get by the Turon Typhoons 5-3 in game five of the Elite 8 Series... the Frogs shelled loser James Stuart (0-2 3.18) to leap ahead 3 games to 2 in the best-of-seven affair... One more Fairfax win and it's all over for Turon, the favorite to represent the Tycobbian Union in the Pro Cup Series... In the decisive fourth frame the crucial hits came from 3B Robby Franklin (.313) with a 2-run single and 2B Carl Tauber (.133) with a 2-run two-bagger... Skipper Harry Buckley got a win by committee... it was a rainy and muggy day in Turon with several rain delays... Wally Tidwell (1-0 0.75) worked a fine 4 innings, stopping the Typhoons on 2 hits and a run... Wayne Cahill (1-0 0.00) and Scotty Marshall (0-0 4.50) each tossed two innings each and allowed 1 run each with the victory going to Cahill... closer Gino Carmazzo (0-0 0.00) chalked up his 3rd save in the series by putting down Turon in the ninth with no runs... 3B Mickey O'Malley (.385) had 2 hits including a homer for the Typhoons.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 24, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series

SV Slips By Colfax 3-2, Series Tied 3-3
Playing on the road at Mountain View Stadium in Colfax, the Sugar Valley Rattlers slipped by the hometown Blasters 3-2 behind some clutch pitching by Joe Washington to tie the best-of-seven Elite 8 Series at three games each... A seventh game finale is set for tomorrow afternoon again in Colfax... Washington (1-0 5.59) redeemed himself for a poor performance in the 8-7 loss in game three and stopped Colfax cold in his 8 scoreless innings, leaving with a 3-0 lead, but closer Woody Murrell was slapped around hard in the ninth and was lucky to escape with a win... Washington was the winning pitcher as he allowed 7 hits, walked 3 and whiffed 4... Colfax starter Jasper LaForge (0-1 4.76) performed well in a route-going job... LaForge permitted 3 runs and 8 hits... It was a scoreless tie until the sixth when Sugar Valley broke the ice on an RBI single by CF Austen Conover (.364)... the Rattlers added on two insurance runs in the top of the ninth on 3B Brent Scurlock's (.278) two-run hit... The Blasters mounted a serious rally on RBI singles by RF Paul Coniglio (.320) and CF Ryan Raines (.280), but fell one run short... Colfax had the advantage in hits 10-8... Both clubs will have their aces on the hill tomorrow in the winner-take-all battle... Charles Darby (20-6 2.71) will take the mound for Sugar Valley, while it will be Ilya Szabo (19-11 1.95) for the Blasters... Szabo beat Darby in 9-2 in game one and 5-3 in game four.

2011 Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series

Frogs Advance With 3-2 Win Over Typhoons On Hickox's HR
SS Wes Hickox was the hero today at the Pond in Fairfax... Hickox (.300) hammered a 3-run homer in the opening inning and that was all the Frogs needed to eliminate the Turon Typhoons from the Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series 4 games to 2... In a sterling start Ken Hill (2-0 1.69) fired 8 tough innings, holding the Typhoons to 2 runs on 7 hits... Closer Gino Carmazzo cinched it with his 4th save in the series by shutting down a budding Turon rally in the top of the ninth... Carmazzo was summoned in after RF Raphael Semmes (.444) had cut the margin to 3-2 with a two-run single... with no outs and a runner on first Carmazzo got one out on a flyball to left and then induced PH Johnny Carlucci (.214) to hit into a game-ending double play... For game six manager Whitey Richburn changed his rotation and inserted Freddi Spiegel for Jacques Lemaire and got a fine outing... Spiegel shut the Frogs out after the 3-run first... He gave up 8 hits, fanned 5 and walked only 1, while going the distance... The Frogs will now take on the upstart Ozarka Naturals in the TU Final 4... the Nats upset highly-favored Denton City in first round action.

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 25, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series

Szabo Blanks SV 3-0, Colfax Cops 7th Game
It was crunch time in Colfax and Ilya Szabo rose to the occasion and blanked Sugar Valley 3-0 to cop game 7 of the RU Elite 8 Series... The Blasters took the tough series 4-3 from the valiant Rattlers and will move on to the Final 4 against the Far Mountain Redhawks... Szabo (3-0 1.44) was brilliant as he held Sugar Valley to 7 hits, struck out 3 and issued no walks... It was his 3rd victory in the series... The Rattlers ace Charles Darby (0-3 4.71) pitched a solid game, giving up only 2 earned runs and 8 hits in the loss... C Juanito Luque (.458) led the Blasters at the plate with 3-for-3... Luque doubled twice and scored twice... SS Paul Amundsen (.367) went 2-4, scored once and drove in one for the winners... Colfax scored single runs in the second, sixth and seventh.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 27, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series

Colfax-FM In RU Finals, Rated Toss-Up
The Colfax Blasters and the Far Mountain Redhawks are rated even in the Ruthlandian Final 4 Series by the baseball prognosticators. Both Alex Groveland of Far Mountain and Clem Rogers of Colfax have solid ballclubs. During the regular season the Blasters had a slim 3-2 advantage in games. In the playoffs the Redhawks had the easier path with a surprising sweep of the Claxton Diamonds, while Colfax fought for their lives with a 4 games to 3 decision over the Sugar Valley Rattlers. Offensively Groveland's group has a slight edge. On the hill Rogers' rotation and relievers were the best in the IPA with a brilliant 2.86 team ERA. However, Far Mountain can match Colfax pitcher for pitcher in starters. Groveland has three outstanding hurlers in Boomerang Hines (22-12 2.85), Robby Kelly (12-7 2.76) and Leroy Hill (18-18 2.62). All three are 10-year veterans with over 150 lifetime wins each. Rogers has a strong staff, too, headed up by Ilya Szabo (19-11 1.95), Jimmy Joe Cartner (23-13 3.25) and Jasper LaForge (20-14 3.25). Things are pretty even in the bullpen as well. Both Far Mountain's closer Erich Dumont (5-6 1.42) and Colfax's main reliever Dallas Somerville (5-5 1.99) excelled in 2011. Somerville had 32 saves to Dumont's 28.

On paper Redhawks hitters 3B Duane Parsons (.273/22/103/87), SS Don Nichols (.287/12/81/109), C Otis Ott (.271/25/91/77) and CF Xavier Sosa (.273/17/77/91) seem to have an edge over the Blasters LF Paul Coniglio (.311/27/109/95) and CF Ryan Raines (.281/25/74/93).

On defense, the experts rate Far Mountain a little better than Colfax. The Redhawks had a .975 FA this year to .972 for the Blasters.

Game 1 in the RU Final 4 Series is tomorrow. Colfax will host Far Mountain at Mountain View Stadium. It will be Jimmy Joe Cartner on the hill for the Blasters, opposed by Boomerang Hines for the Redhawks.

2011 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series

Frogs Get Nod Over Nats in TU Final 4
Both the Fairfax Frogs and Ozarka Naturals knocked off powerful opponents in first-round action. The Frogs squirmed past talented Turon in 7 games, while Ozarka stunned heavily-favored Denton City with a startling sweep. Island baseball analysts have chosen Fairfax in the Tycobbian Final 4 because of its superior pitching and hitting. No one is giving the Nats much of a chance. However, no one gave them a chance in the Elite 8 Series against the DC Redbirds. In head-to-head action during the regular season the Frogs won 3 of the 5 games.

Frog manager Harry Buckley is blessed with a talented pitching corps. Wally Tidwell (22-10 2.74), Joe Hampton (21-8 2.95) and Ken Hill (17-12 3.16) really shined this year as starters. Joe Mac Carney's mound staff is not as strong. Ozarka's starting threesome are Tyrus Yokum (21-10 3.76), rookie Eddie Roberts (18-9 3.51) and Emile Leduc (13-12 3.52). The Naturals have the edge in the bullpen with Billy Krsnich (3-2 2.49), who moved into the closer role late in the season. Fairfax uses Gino Carmazzo (14-16 4.47) as its finisher. Carmazzo started most of the season, but has been superb with 4 saves in the postseason. He has yet to surrender a run in the playoffs.

Both ballclubs can score with Fairfax sporting more home run power. One of the premier IPA hitters paces the Frogs. LF Dane Wesner had another great season and almost won his second Triple Crown award. Wesner batted .342 with 47 homers, 127 RBIs and 104 runs scored. He also got substantial support from 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.280/23/74/130) and SS Wes Hickox (.278/25/104/81). But Carney can put a productive batting order together, too. Ozarka boasts a gifted 3B Todd Chadwick, who had outstanding numbers with a .323 batting average, 29 roundtrippers, 126 RBIs and 116 runs during the season. The Nats LF Vic Weinstein (.315/93/82) and SS Nathan Ferrell (.300/18/81/92) had some punch in their bats, too.

Defensively Fairfax and Ozarka are strong with .978 FA and .977 fielding percentages respectively.

The opening game of the TU Final 4 is tomorrow afternoon at the Frog Pond in Fairfax. The Frogs Tidwell and the Naturals Yokum will have mound honors.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 28, 2001

2011 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series

Colfax Prevails Over FM 3-2 in 13 Innings
Mountain View Stadium in Colfax was the scene of a brilliant battle in the opening game of the Ruthlandian Union Final 4... Colfax finally prevailed in 13 innings over Far Mountain 3-2 on a Mike Janocko base hit... Both clubs got superb outing from their starters... both hurled 10 innings and left with the score tied at 2-2... Far Mountain's Boomerang Hines allowed 2 runs on 8 hits with 6 Ks and a walk with only 1 run earned, while Jimmy Joe Cartner was even better, permitting only two unearned runs on just 3 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts... The Blasters got the winning run when 2B Ilya Ivanchuk (.219) and RF Paul Coniglio (.343) hit back-to-back singles and advanced to second and third on CF Ryan Raines (.229) sacrifice bunt, then scored on 3B Janocko's (.231) line single... Colfax had a decisive advantage with 12 hits to only 5 for the Redhawks... Colfax was led at the plate by Coniglio with 3 hits and Ivanchuk and Janocko with two each... SS Don Nichols (.280) accounted for both Far Mountain scores with a 2-run homer in the top of the sixth... Coniglio and Janocko tied it up in the last of the sixth with RBI singles... it remained that way until the 13th... Pat Gustafson (1-0 3.60) garnered the victory with a perfect 13th, while Milos Annensky (0-1 3.86) suffered the defeat... Annensky had come on with two outs in the 12th.

2011 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series

Nats Trim Frogs In Final 4 Opener 5-4
The Ozarka Naturals may be for real... they swept powerful Denton City in 4 games and now have trimmed the favored Fairfax Frogs 5-4 to take the Final 4 opener at the Frog Pond... Vic Weinstein tripled in the winning score in the eighth after the Nats had blown a 4-0 lead... Tyrus Yokum (3-0 2.52) got the win with 8 decent innings in which he was touched for 4 runs on 7 hits... reliever Billy Krsnich (0-0 0.00) notched his 3rd playoff save when he retired Fairfax in order in the ninth... Frog starter Wally Tidwell (1-1 2.21) worked into 9th and gave up 5 runs on six hits for the loss... Hits were all even at 7 apiece... LF Weinstein (.450) got the scoring started for Ozarka in the second with a triple and RF Chris Pruitt (.333) knocked a 2-run clout for a 3-0 lead... In the 3rd, after two back-to-back errors by SS Wes Hickox, SS Nathan Ferrell (.368) got an RBI ground-out to make it 4-0... then the Frogs began to chip away with a 4th-inning RBI single by Robby Franklin (.364)... in the 6th a lead-off walk to CF Eric Brockmann (.150) and a triple by LF Dane Wesner (.120) made it 4-2... Wesner then scored on Hickox's (.304) grounder and cut it to 4-3... Tidwell's (.200) single, 1B Chancey Quibedeaux's (.259) double and Brockmann's long fly tied the score at 4-all... Weinstein and Pruitt each had 2 hits and 2 runs batted for the winners, while Franklin and Quibedeaux slapped 2 hits apiece for Fairfax.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 29, 2001

2011 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series

Redhawks Outlast Colfax 5-4 In 12, Ties Series 1-1
It was another extra-inning barnburner in Colfax... Far Mountain tied the RU Final 4 Series at one game each with a 5-4 triumph in 12 innings... Colfax gifted the Redhawks with an unearned run to decide the contest... a throwing error by C Mike Janocko allowed Lucky Collins to score the winning run... Collins was trying to steal third when Janocko made the errant throw... Far Mountain piled up 18 hits in the game to just 8 for the Blasters, but stranded 16 baserunners... RF Collins (.500) led the way with 4-for-6 and 2 RBIs... 1B Fran Grzanka (.200) and SS Don Nichols (.313) added 3 hits each... LF Paul Coniglio (.325) and 1B Kurt Vecchio (.286) belted homers for Colfax with Coniglio's a 3-run blast, his 4th of the postseason... Coniglio has driven in 13 runs so far... Milos Annensky (1-1 2.08) got credit for the victory with 2 scoreless frames... the save went to Hummer Romig, who sat down the Blasters in order in the 12th... the losing pitcher was Troy Wilson (0-1 0.00)... It was a tough loss for Wilson... he worked the last three innings and gave up only one unearned run... Far Mountain came back from a 4-2 deficit after 4 innings... The Redhawks tied it up with single runs in the 6th and the 9th and sent the game into extra innings... they had to do it off one of the best hurlers in the IPA, Ilya Szabo... They tagged him for 13 hits in 7-plus innings... Szabo departed with a 4-3 lead. but his relief couldn't hold it... Skipper Alex Groveland's bullpen did its job with 5 shutout innings.

2011 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series

Ozarka Rolls On, Takes Game 2 From Frogs 5-3
Nothing succeeds like success... the sizzling Ozarka Naturals powered past Fairfax 5-3 with 3 homers to win their 6th playoff game in a row... Joe Mac Carney's club is unbeaten in the postseason so far and now has taken the first two games in the TU Final 4 Series from favored Fairfax... and they did it on the road... C Todd Pepper (.179) put them ahead 1-0 in the fourth with a solo homer... then 3B Todd Chadwick (.200) and RF Chris Pruitt (.333) both went deep in the 4-run 6th to put Fairfax away, although the Frogs came back with 3 runs in the last 3 innings... Pruitt led the Nats with 3 RBIs... Ozarka's sensational rookie Eddie Roberts (2-0 3.60) chalked up his second playoff win with a nice 8-inning performance... Roberts allowed three runs on seven hits... Closer Billy Krsnich (0-0 0.00) picked up his 4th postseason save with a spotless ninth... Joe Hampton (0-3 4.71) lost it for the Frogs, going six innings and giving up 5 runs on 7 hits... it was Hampton's second straight bad outing as the 21-game winner is having difficulty in the playoffs.

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 30, 2001

2011 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series

FM Trounces Colfax 9-1, Leads Series By A Game
Sky High Stadium got its first taste of the RU Final 4 Series and it was a delicious one for the Far Mountain Redhawks and their fans... The Redhawks trounced the Colfax Blasters 9-1 in game 3 of the best-of-seven series to go up two games to one... Right-hander Robby Kelly was masterful as he limited Colfax to 1 run and 6 hits in a route-going performance... Kelly (2-0 2.65) fanned 7 and walked only 1... Far Mountain battered Colfax pitching for 12 hits and were sparked by CF Xavier Sosa (.323) and 2B Keith Wasik (.435), who both slugged 2-run homers and by C Otis Ott (.267) with 3 hits, 2 runs scored and a run batted in... Losing pitcher Jasper LaForge (0-2 5.87) didn't have his best stuff... The Redhawks roughed him up for 6 runs and 9 hits in 6 innings... Far Mountain ran up a 4-0 lead after 5 innings and then really put away the Blasters with a 5-run seventh.

2011 Tycobbian Union Final 4

Hill Cools Off Ozarka 6-2, Frogs Still Trail 2-1
The favored Fairfax Frogs finally got into the win column in the Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series and snapped Ozarka's 6-game postseason winning streak... The 6-2 decision cut the Naturals lead to 2 games to 1... The Frogs walloped 13 hits to support the fine pitching of Ken Hill, who struck out 9 batters and held Ozarka to just two runs on 9 hits... Hill (3-0 1.80) has been a standout in the playoffs and registered his 3rd victory... Pacing the Fairfax bats were LF Dane Wesner (.152) and SS Wes Hickox (.310) with 2 RBIs apiece... 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.364) rapped out 3 hits and scored twice and CF Eric Brockmann (.172) smacked 2 hits and scored 2 times... Nats starter Emile Leduc (1-1 4.80) was tagged with the defeat... Leduc allowed 6 runs and 13 hits in his 7 innings... The Frogs broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the third, then pulled away with a pair of scores in the fifth and seventh frames.

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 1, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series

FM Redhawks Up 3 Games To 1, Hines Zaps Colfax 5-0
Clem Rogers' Colfax Blasters are the defending Pro Cup champions and favored to take it again, but the Far Mountain Redhawks are not buying into that scenario... They are rewriting the script... The Redhawks rode Boomerang Hines' (3-0 0.73) wonderful pitching to a 5-0 shutout victory in game four of the RU Final 4 and now have tremendous three games to one edge... Hines hurled a 6-hitter for his 3rd postseason win and lowered his postseason ERA down to a microscopic 0.73 mark... He easily outpitched Jimmy Joe Cartner (1-2 2.53), who sustained the loss... Cartner surrendered 5 runs in 7 innings and allowed 8 base hits... Leading the Far Mountain line-up was LF Phil Stewart (.406) with 3 hits and 2 RBIs including two doubles and a home run... Colfax could only manage 6 singles off Hines... The Redhawks only need one more win in the final 3 games to secure a spot in the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

2011 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series

Frogs Flail Nats 13-6, Evens Up Series at 2-2
28 hits rattled around Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka, but it was the visiting Fairfax Frogs that feasted the most with 17 hits... Every regular got at least one hit as the Frogs outslugged the hometown Naturals 13-6 to even the Final 4 Series at two games each... Fairfax held a slim 6-5 lead until the sixth inning when they busted out with 5 runs... LF Dane Wesner (.211) broke out of his playoff slump with 3 hits, 3 RBIs and 3 runs... Wesner collected a 2-run homer in the third to give the Frogs a 4-0 lead... CF Eric Brockmann (.212), SS Wes Hickox (.324), RF Ted Karno (.226) and 2B Carl Tauber (.188) all drove in 2 runs each for the victors... Wally Tidwell (2-1 3.55) was lucky he got such great support... Tidwell gained the win despite allowing 5 runs and 8 hits in his 5 innings... Tyrus Yokum (3-1 3.94) lost for the first time in the playoffs as he yielded six runs in 4-plus frames.

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 2, 2011

2011 Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series

FM Bumps Colfax 6-0, Pro Cup Finalist
The Far Mountain Redhawks continued their torrid play and bumped Colfax, the defending Pro Cup champions, out of the playoffs... Far Mountain blanked the Blasters 6-0 on a 4-hit shutout by Leroy Hill to take the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series four games to one... The Redhawks now advance to the IPA Pro Cup title series against the Tycobbian champion... Hill (1-0 4.26) worked a terrific game, stopping Colfax on just 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and only one base on balls... Hill (.333) even got a home run, a 2-run shot in the eighth... Far Mountain bashed 11 hits off two Colfax hurlers... They had to beat Ilya Szabo (3-1 2.52), who has led the IPA in ERA the last two seasons and was unbeaten in the postseason this year... The Redhawks got to him for 4 runs on 8 hits in his 7 innings... LF Phil Stewart (.472) sparked FM with a perfect 4-for-4 day... CF Lucky Collins (.394) gave Far Mountain an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, 2B Keith Wasik (.379) made it 2-0 in the fourth with another sac fly and SS Don Nichols' (.326) single and C Otis Ott's (.250) flyball upped it to 4-0 in the fifth frame... The Redhawks were rated only 6th in the Islandian Times poll prior to the playoffs... Far Mountain will play the Fairfax-Ozarka survivor for this year's Pro Cup... The Redhawks have been to the IPA finals only one time in its history... They lost to Turon in 2009.

The elated winning skipper, Alex Groveland, gave credit to his standout pitching staff for the series win. "Boomerang Hines, Robby Kelly and Leroy Hill are the reason we're headed to the Pro Cup. They really outdid themselves in holding down Colfax, perhaps the best-hitting team in our league."

Colfax's deflated and defeated manager, Clem Rogers, said, "I thought we had a very good shot at another Pro Cup, but I was wrong. Far Mountain totally silenced our bats and our pitching didn't do very well either. Not only do the Redhawks pitch well, but the offense is quite capable, too. I think Far Mountain will get the Ruthlandian Union another Pro Cup."

Far Mountain dropped the first game of the Final 4 to Colfax 3-2 in 13 innings, but then ripped off four consecutive victories, winning 5-4 in 12 innings, 9-1, 5-0 and 6-0.

2011 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series

Ozarka Downs Fairfax 6-2, Takes 3-2 Series Lead
The Ozarka Naturals bolted past Fairfax 6-2 in game 5 of the TU Final 4 Series with a 4-run uprising in the eighth, highlighted by CF Rick McLeod's (.200) two-run double and 1B Al Wesner's (.300) two-run single... The win enabled the Nats to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, putting them just one triumph away from their first-ever Pro Cup appearance... Manager Joe Mac Carney got a very strong outing from rookie right-hander Eddie Roberts (3-0 3.13), who stymied the Frogs on just 4 hits and 2 runs... After SS Wes Hickox (.316) tagged him for a two-run homer in the first frame, Roberts held them scoreless over the next 7 innings... Roberts walked 2 and fanned 8... Abe Lemon pitched a perfect ninth to finish the game... Loser Joe Hampton (0-4 4.97) went the distance in vain... He faltered in the eighth, mainly because of back-to-back errors to start the inning... Hampton permitted 6 runs and 9 hits.

The Final 4 Series will now revert back to the Frog Pond in Fairfax for game 6, and game 7, if necessary. Ozarka can wrap it up tomorrow afternoon.

The Islandian Times

Mondy, October 3, 2011

2011 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series

Nats Knock Off Frogs 9-6, Pro Cup Bound
The lightly-regarded Ozarka Naturals are proving to be the darlings of this year's Pro Cup playoffs... The Nats knocked off the favored Fairfax Frogs 9-6 at the Pond in game six of the TU Final 4 to win the series 4 games to 2... Of the eight pennant winners, Ozarka was voted least likely to win the Pro Cup in The Islandian Times poll... Well, contrary to belief, manager Joe Mac Carney has eliminated Denton City and Fairfax and will now take on the Ruthlandian champ, the Far Mountain Redhawks for the overall IPA title... The Pro Cup finals will get underway Wednesday at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka... and yes, the experts have already picked the Redhawks to bring home the trophy cup.

Game 6 was dilly with Ozarka jumping out to a 4-0 lead with 3 in the first and 1 in the fourth... SS Nathan Ferrell (.378) batted in the first run with a single and C Todd Pepper (.214) had a 2-run hit to increase it to 3-0... 1B Al Wesner's (.303) sacrifice fly accounted for run number 4... Then the Frogs went to work and tallied 5 runs in the bottom of the third frame to go up 5-4... C Bryan Pippin (.195) walked with the bases loaded for the first run and LF Johnny Whittier (.357) walloped a grand slammer... In the fourth a triple by 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.326) and an RBI single by RF Dane Wesner (.277) upped Fairfax's led to 6-4... In the top of the sixth the Nats regained the lead with 3 runs when Al Wesner socked a solo homer and back-to-back-to-back doubles by P Rene Gautier, 2B Gil Lantz (.282) and 3B Todd Chadwick (.273) gave them a 7-6 lead... Ozarka padded the score to 9-6 in the ninth on Chadwick's solo roundtripper, a triple by LF Vic Weinstein (.385) and an RBI single by RF Chris Pruitt (.382) to finish off the Frogs.

The Nats pounded Frog pitching for 14 hits and were paced by Chadwick's 3 hits and 2 RBIs... Pepper and Al Wesner also had two RBIs each and Weinstein scored 3 times... Fairfax hit the ball well with 11 hits, led by Dane Wesner's 4 hits... The Wesners are brothers... Al is 29 and Dane is 26... 2B Carl Tauber (.282) had 3 base hits for the Frogs... Reliever Rene Gautier (1-0 6.43) held Fairfax to one run in four innings for the victory with the loss going to starter Ken Hill (3-1 3.23), who was whacked for 7 runs and 10 hits in 5-plus innings... It was Hill's first defeat in the playoffs after 3 victories... 5 Nats relievers held Fairfax runless over the last 5 innings.

A happy Carney told the press, "Thank goodness, our bats were hot and Roberts was strong on the mound in his two starts. Let's hope they stay that way and we can get some improved pitching from the other guys in the Pro Cup Series. We definitely will have to do better against Far Mountain."

A dejected Harry Buckley, the Frogs skipper, remarked, "We just didn't hit in games one, two and five. That costs us a chance at the Pro Cup. The rookie Roberts handled us well in game two and five."

Ozarka was victorious 5-4 in game one, 5-3 in two, lost three and four 6-2 and 13-6, then polished off Fairfax 6-2 and 9-6 in games five and six.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 4, 2011

FM Redhawks Pro Cup XI Favorites Over Ozarka Nats
Both Far Mountain and Ozarka have breezed through the playoffs thus far. The Redhawks are 8-1 in the postseason and the Naturals are almost as good at 8-2. The baseball analysts have pinned the favorite label on Far Mountain in Pro Cup XI, citing much stronger pitching, both starting and relieving. Manager Alex Groveland has three solid veterans in Boomerang Hines (22-12 2.85), Robby Kelly (12-7 2.76) and Leroy Hill (18-18 2.62). Joe Mac Carney's starters can't compare to that threesome. Ozarka has Tyrus Yokum (21-10 3.76) and standout rookie Eddie Roberts (18-9 3.51), but he needs help from Emile Leduc (13-12 3.52). Leduc had struggled in the postseason so far with a 1-1 mark and a poor 6.75 ERA. Carney has decided to put Phillip Britt (14-15 3.58) in the number 3 slot.

In the playoffs Far Mountain has had tremendous pitching with a 1.85 team ERA. Hines is 3-0 with a microscopic 0.73 ERA, Kelly is 2-0 and 2.65 and Hill is 1-0 and 4.26. The Redhawks relief corps of Erich Dumont (0-0 0.00), Hummer Romig (1-0 0.00) and Milos Annensky (1-1 2.09) has only given up one earned run in 14 innings, a 0.63 ERA with 3 saves.

By contrast Ozarka's starters will carry a 4.20 ERA into the finals and the bullpen has posted a 3.32 ERA. Roberts has been solid with a 3-0 record and a 3.13 ERA, Yokum is 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA and Leduc (1-1) has been disappointing with a sky-high 6.75 ERA. Closer Billy Krsnich has been super with 4 saves in 6 appearances and has not been scored upon. Neither has Abe Lemon (0-0 0.00) in 4 games.

Both offenses can put runs on the scoreboard. As a team Far Mountain is batting .313 in the postseason, while Ozarka is hitting at a .292 clip. They are even in homers with 7 apiece. The Redhawks are led by LF Phil Stewart with a .472 mark, RF Lucky Collins at .394, 2B Ken Wasik with a .379 average, SS Don Nichols with .326 and CF Xavier Sosa is hitting for a .308 average. Collins is the top RBI man with 11 with Wasik, Nichols and Sosa having 7 each. Stewart tops the team with 8 runs scored.

The Nats are sparked at the plate by LF Vic Weinstein with a .385 batting average and 11 runs scored, RF Chris Pruitt hitting .382 with 11 RBIs and 8 runs, SS Nathan Ferrell at .378 and has scored 10 times and 1B Al Wesner sports a .303 average with 8 RBIs.

The old adage applies according the BNN prognosticators. Good pitching will beat good hitting. This year's Pro Cup Finals will give us the answer in about a week.

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

2011 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1 at Ozarka

FM Trims Ozarka 4-2 In Pro Cup Opener, Kelly Wins
Well, the experts were right in the opening game of the IPA Pro Cup Finals - good pitching beats good hitting... Robby Kelly (3-0 2.08) fired another strong game and beat Ozarka 4-2 at Ellie Ewing Field... He held the Nats to just 6 hits, struck out 2, walked 3 and allowed only one earned run... Kelly outpitched Tyrus Yokum (3-2 3.96), who was plagued by wildness... Yokum also went the route, permitted just 6 hits, but walked 8 batters... Ozarka opened up the scoring in the last of the second on Yokum's (.308) RBI double that drove in 1B Al Wesner (.270)... Wesner had gotten aboard on an infield error... Far Mountain tied it in the fourth on 2B Keith Wasik's sacrifice fly... The Redhawks added single runs in the fifth when SS Don Nichols' grounded into a double play and in the sixth when C Otis Ott solo homered to go ahead 3-1... Nats CF Rick McLeod (.286) doubled in the seventh and scored on 2B Gil Lantz's (.273) base hit... This made it a 3-2 game... In the ninth Far Mountain stretched it to 4-2 on LF Phil Stewart's (.462) two-bagger and Nichols' (.326) RBI single.

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 6, 2011

2011 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 2 at Ozarka

Ozarka Edges FM 2-1, Rookie Roberts Evens Series
Game 2 in the Pro Cup Finals was a classic pitching duel with the rookie getting the best of the old pro... Ozarka's Eddie Roberts, a 22-year-old southpaw, tossed a masterpiece in edging Far Mountain's 35-year-old Boomerang Hines 2-1 to even up the series at one game apiece... The Naturals finally broke a scoreless tie in the last of the 8th on 2B Gil Lantz's (.271) two-run double... The Redhawks threatened in the top of the 9th against closer Billy Krsnich... With one away SS Don Nichols tripled (.320) and scored on 3B Duane Parsons' (.174) ground-out to cut the lead to 2-1... After C Otis Ott (.256) singled, Krsnich retired CF Xavier Sosa (.289) for the third out to wrap up the victory... Roberts (4-0 2.32) registered his 4th postseason win by holding Far Mountain to just 3 hits in 8 innings, while fanning 9 and walking none in a brilliant performance... Krsnich (0-0 1.42) chalked up a shaky save, his 5th in the playoffs this year... Hines (3-1 1.00) was also outstanding in defeat, his first of the postseason... Hines worked a complete game, allowed only 4 hits, struck out 4 and gave up 2 bases on balls... With a split of the two games in Ozarka, the Pro Cup Series will now switch to Far Mountain for the next 3 games.