Islandian Pro Alliance
Tuesday, June 5, 2001
Ruthlandian Union - North Division
Redhawks Back on Top in RU North
At the Jailhouse in Volusia, the Far Mountain Redhawks needed a win to take over the top spot in the RU North Division from Colfax -- and they got it! -- a resounding 8-0 romp over the Vigilantes. Far Mountain is now a half-game in front of the Blasters in the pennant chase. Manager Alex Groveland got an outstanding effort from his little righthander John Luzzatti, who spun a five-hit shutout. The 35-year-old Luzzatti (3-2 3.10) gave up a walk and whiffed four batters. He even singled in two runs. The Redhawks jumped in front with six runs in the second inning off loser Hank Massey (2-8 4.91) and never looked back. Shortstop Joey Cannizzaro and left fielder Gerald Davis led the charge. Cannizzaro (.343) had three hits, scored twice and had two RBIs, while Davis (.262) went 2-for-5, drove in one and scored once.
"John Luzzatti is really a good pitcher when he throws strikes early in the count," said his manager.
"I went right after each hitter, trying to get ahead in the count," said Luzzatti. "I wanted them to swing the bats and keep my pitch count down. It worked. I felt strong the whole game, even in the last two innings."
In season stats Luzzatti shows a 3-2 record in 11 games, 69.2 innings, 41 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA.
Far Mountain (28-20) broke a three-game skid to get back into first place. It was fifth place Volusia's (21-27) first loss in three games.
Elnora Dumps Colfax 6-1, Blasters Fall to Second
Elnora manager Zoggy White got double duty out of pitcher Troy Hudson in the 6-1 win over Colfax. Hudson limited the potent Blasters to just one run and eight hits and went 2-for-2 and doubled in two runs. The defeat cost Colfax the top spot in the RU North. Hudson did have some help. Second baseman Greg Foster (.343) hit his 7th home run, center fielder Rusty Gilbert (.313) had two doubles and first baseman Will Jackson (.222) drove in a pair of runs. New Colfax acquistion, rookie right fielder Wiley Reese (.571) had three hits in his second game with the team. The Blaster starter Flash Guidry (6-4 2.96) didn't fare very well as the All-Stars hit him around for four runs and six hits in five innings. Guidry was the losing pitcher.
Colfax (27-20) falls to the runner-up position in the RU North, while Elnora (20-29) remains in last place. The Blasters dipped a half-game back of Far Mountain (28-20).
Balfour Outduels Zalewski 2-0
For six innings there was nothing but goose eggs on the scoreboard at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara. Jesse Balfour of the Glasco Athletics and Zeke Zalewsk of the Vipers were really going at it in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel. Then one swing of the bat in the seventh by the A's third baseman Rick Adkins (.228) finally gave the lonely scoreboard operator something to do. Adkins parked one over the center field fence to make it 2-0 in favor of Glasco and Balfour made it stand up. The southpaw cruised throught the final three innings to collect the win. Balfour fired a four-hitter, fanned eight and walked only one in a strong performance. Valmara's Zalewski (6-3 1.77), who is second in the Ruthlandian Union with a 1.77 ERA, only allowed three hits and one earned run with six strikeouts and a walk. Atkins homer was the first one off of Zalewski this season.
"Jesse was very efficient and he hit his spots," his manager McDuffie Hughes said. "He stayed down in the zone and stayed away from the middle of the plate."
Thus far this season Balfour has posted a 4-4 record, started 11 games, struck out 58 batters in 69.2 innings and compiled an excellent 2.84 ERA.
Third place Glasco (24-21) now trails first place Far Mountain by 2.5 games. Valmara (22-25) is in the fourth spot in the division standings and rests 5.5 games out.
Last edited by Eugene Church; 05-20-2008 at 11:32 PM.
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