|
Islandian Pro Alliance
Monday, May 21, 2001
Tycobbian Union - West Division
Frogs Hold on to Top Spot in TU West
It's a battle royal going on in the TU West Division with Fairfax, La Claire and Bayview all in contention. So far, the Frogs are holding a very slight edge in a very tight race. Today at the Frog Pond, Fairfax narrowly beat Blue Lake 4-3 behind righthander Mel Murray (3-3 4.66), who allowed 11 hits, but only three runs. He fanned six and walked only one in a good performance.
Manager Harry Buckley told reporters, "Mel did a fine job. He bent, but he didn't break. He got 'em out when he had to."
Pacing the Frog attack was second baseman Greg Inman (.280) with a two-run single in the second and catcher Rich Kelly (.220) had a two-run blast in the sixth. Donnie Bullock (3-4 5.92) allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings and absorbed the loss. Center fielder Donnie Frazier (.355) got his 7th homer of the season and second baseman Dandy Wilson (.241) got number two to account for all of the Blue Sox scores.
Fairfax (19-13) leads the division by a half-game over second place La Claire (19-14) and third place Bayview (20-15). The Lynx are just a few percentage points ahead of the Vikings in the battle for the runner-up position.
The Blue Lake Blue Sox (15-17) are in fourth place and are four games out of first.
Lynx Win Close One, Beat Champs 8-7
La Claire started on a roll and ran up an 8-1 lead over Arlon, but the Champs quickly made it a ballgame with a six-run fourth to make it an 8-7 game. That is how it ended as Arlon failed to score another run. Third sacker Luis Marquez (.308) topped the Lynx at bat with three hits and four RBIs, along with second baseman Darrell Boyce (.268), who batted in a pair of runs. Left fielder Matt Merrill (.313) was the Champions best producer with three hits and three RBIs. including his 7th roundtripper. Third baseman Nicky Sweet (.235) also homered.
Tony Nygaard (1-0) got the win in his first start this season, but it was tough going. Nygaard was rapped for nine hits and seven runs in six innings with three of them unearned. Skipper Rip Calkin has a tired bullpen and needed the innings from Nygaard. Nick Baumgartner (2-5 4.56) recently demoted from the starting rotation, stood out in his first relief appearance. He picked up the save with three scoreless innings and struck out five.
"Nick saved us today in more ways than one. We really needed some innings out of the starter and bullpen. Our staff is bushed right now," Calkin told the press in the clubhouse after the game. "Baumgartner and Nygaard gave the pen some vital rest today. They should be ready to go tomorrow."
Sean Dudek (0-3) was ripped for five hits and five runs before being chased in the second and took the loss for Arlon. It was the Champs third in a row.
The Lynx (19-14) are in second place in the TU West, trailing Fairfax (19-13) by just a half-game. Arlon (14-18) is fifth, four games back.
Viks End Bucs 3-Game Win Streak
Bayview put an end to Bay St. Clair's three-game winning streak with a three-run eighth to captured an 8-7 victory. The Vikings firepower was three homers, two by first baseman Dwayne Coleman (.281) and one by catcher Tommy Harrell (.272). Coleman has hammered 14 into the seats this season, while Harrell has hit two. Right fielder Dean Howell (.368) socked three hits and scored twice for Bayview. Leading the attack for the Bucs was center fielder Nickie Friedrich (.290) with a double, sac fly and three RBIs and third baseman Bubba Tate (.333) with 2-for-2, including a triple and two RBIs.
Both clubs swatted a dozen hits apiece as it was not a good day for the twirlers. Charley Andrews (4-3 5.23) gained the win in relief, while starter Ben Crowley (2-3 4.25) lost it. The Vikings hit him hard for eight runs and eleven hits before he took a shower in the three-run eighth.
Bayview (19-15) is in the third spot in the close TU West race and Bay St. Clair (12-22) is comfortably sitting in last place in the division.
|