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Islandian Pro Alliance
Monday, June 4, 2001
Tycobbian Union - East Division
Z's Squeeze by Nats 2-1, Take Over Second Place
At Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka, the Naturals were stifled by young Keith Callahan 2-1 on a six-hitter. In a strong performance, Callahan (5-4 2.60), a 20-year-old righthander for the second place Luxora Zorros, had eight strikeouts and no walks to stop the first place Nats. Center fielder Rickey Alfonso (.258) hit a bases-loaded single to drive in two runs in the eighth to win it for the Z's. Yasuyuki Nakagawa (6-3 2.03) was as stingy as ever with runs, but took the loss. He gave up 10 hits, fanned five and walked two, but just didn't get the run support. Left fielder Ronnie Patterson (.260) accounted for the Nats lone score with his 9th roundtripper in the bottom of the sixth.
The Z's (23-21) climbed to within a game of first place Ozarka (25-21) with only their second win in the last ten games. Luxora jumped ahead of third place Ginza (24-23) by a half-game in the very tight TU East race.
Hurricanes Lash Ninjas 6-3
At Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral, the Hurricanes lashed out 15 base hits and got past the Ginza Ninjas 6-3. Left fielder Rod Kelly and right fielder Danny Mullins each had two hits and two-run homers to lead Cape Coral to victory. Both homers came during the four-run eighth inning off losing pitcher Alec Sasek (1-1 5.30). Hurricane starter Wally Robinson (7-3 2.73) hurled a solid game and was removed with one out in the eighth with the score 2-2. Robinson only gave up 4 hits, fanned seven and walked three. The victory went to closer Scotty Lohmeyer (1-2 3.66), but he had to survive a tough ninth with two hits and two walks. Lohmeyer got out of the inning with only one run scored against him. Catcher Kotsuya Noguchi (.360) rapped a solo homer in the seventh to tie the score. It was his 3rd this year. Ninja starting pitcher Vic Rousakis was lifted after six innings for a pinchhitter. He allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked two.
With the defeat, Ginza (24-23) fell to third place in the TU East, a half-game behind Luxora (23-21). The top team in the division is Ozarka (25-21).
'Cats Rally for 4-3 Win over Stallions
At Jock Ewing Stadium in South Fork, Hartsdale rallied to tie the game at 3-all in the ninth and then won it 4-3 in the eleventh on second baseman Terry Bellino's (.362) triple and first baseman Walt Long's (.259) RBI single. Reliever Adam Falkenbach (1-1 3.54) captured the win with three sparkling innings. He yielded only one hit and no runs. South Fork closer Glenn Turnbull (3-2 3.04) failed to hold a 3-2 lead in the ninth for starter Flint Battle (6-4 2.73) and notched the loss. Turnbull surrendered two runs and four hits in three innings of work. Battle hurled a sharp eight innings, holding the Hellcats to six hits and two runs. Bellino also had a double and scored twice to pace Hartsdale, along with catcher Kevin Haynie (.364) and left fielder Jay Luna (.279). They had a pair of hits each. Second baseman Bob Jones (.306) led the Stallions at bat with three hits, two runs and two RBIs, including his first homer of the season.
In the tightest division in the Islandian Pro Alliance, fifth place Hartsdale (22-24) is now only three games behind leading Ozarka (25-21). South Fork (21-26) is back in the basement in the TU East, 4.5 games out.
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