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Islandian Pro Alliance
Tuesday, May 22, 2001
Tycobbian Union - West Division
Fairfax Noses Out Sox
First place Fairfax had a narrow escape from the last place Blue Lake Blue Sox. Third baseman Stan Cobb's ten-inning single plated center fielder Billy Echevarria (.264) with the winning score in the 2-1 win. First baseman Earl Hutchinson's (.301) fourth-inning home run put the other run on the scoreboard. Skipper Harry Buckley got good efforts on the mound by Johnny Schuessler and closer Takehide Takahashi. Schuessler (1-3 3.55) pitched into the tenth and gave up eight hits, struck out five and walked two. Takahashi (3-1 2.08) picked up the victory with an impressive performance. After Schuessler gave up a lead-off single, Takahashi came in and was promptly tagged for another single to put runners on second and third. He proceeded to strike out Blue Lake's best hitters, Donnie Frazier (.351) and Fred Taranto (.325), and got the last out when Ken Bennett (.216) grounded out. Starter Jay Clay sparkled in his seven innings, permitting seven hits and one run with five strikeouts and a walk. Russ Courtney worked a 1-2-3 eighth with two Ks and Derek Manetti (3-1 4.19) was pinned with the loss. He pitched the last two innings.
The Frogs (20-13) hold the top spot in the close TU West and Blue Lake (15-18) is in the fourth position, four games off the pace. The Blue Sox are tied with Arlon (15-18).
Champs Clip La Claire
Arlon's Craig Smith racked up 10 Ks in his 7-4 decision over the La Claire Lynx at Derby Downs. Smith (5-2 2.90) was touched for eight hits, walked four and gave up three runs in seven innings. He tired and ran into trouble in the eighth and needed help from Rod Kelley. Unherealded third baseman Archie Berry (.236) supplied a three-run homer to sparked the Champions. Shortstop Bama Hartley (.252) drove in a pair of runs with two hits and center fielder Jerry Keller (.369) chipped in his 10th roundtripper. The Lynx were led by catcher Dennis Weiss (.289), who had three hits and two RBIs, including his 3rd homer this season. Starter Nick Pilsner (1-3 5.06) was saddled with the loss. Arlon got to him for seven hits and four runs in just four innings.
Second place La Claire (19-15) fell 1.5 games in back of first place Fairfax (20-13) and the Champions (15-18) snapped a three-game losing streak. Arlon is tied for fourth in the division standings with the Blue Lake Blue Sox (15-18).
Bucs Hang On, Beat Viks 6-5
Reliever Johnny Nikolsky fanned clean-up hitter Dwayne Coleman with the bases-loaded and only one out in the ninth to protect Bay St. Clair's 6-5 victory over the Bayview Vikings. Nikolsky then closed it out by retiring the dangerous Phil Kanaan (.299) on a grounder. It was Nikolsky's (1-1 2.89) second save. First baseman Maury Smith (.373) rapped three hits and batted in two runs for the Bucs. Third sacker Bubba Tate (.333) also drove in two runs. Coleman (.301) slammed his 15th homer among his four hits for the day. Viks right fielder Dean Howell (.391) was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and shortstop Shorty Richards (.252) had a solo roundtripper. Ted Jorgerson (1-4 5.83) finally got a win this season. He lasted until the seventh and surrendered nine hits and three runs. Starter Mike Jardoin (2-3 6.56) was rocked for four runs and six hits in six innings and took the loss for Bayview.
The Buccaneers (12-22) are sixth and last in the TU West Division, while the Vikings (19-17) are third and trail the division leader, Fairfax, by 2.5 games.
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