[Eugene Church]

Islandian Pro Alliance

Sunday, June 10, 2001

Ruthlandian Union - North Division

Redhawks Outlast Colfax 2-1 in 13 Innings
Skipper Alex Groveland's club is on another rampage and have won the last five games. In the opening game of a twinbill, both clubs got outstanding pitching in the Redhawks 2-1 victory over Colfax in 13 innings. It was the Blasters third defeat in succession. Three straight singles decided the game. Third baseman Al Nixon (.250) hit the game-winner and gave the loss to Walt Sellers (1-3 1.85) and gave the win to Vance Mitchell (4-0 1.06). Mitchell fanned five batters in four scoreless innings and allowed only one base hit. Sellers allowed one run and three hits in three-plus frames. Flash Guidry (6-4 2.79) started for Colfax and permitted one run and nine hits in eight-plus innings with nine Ks, while John Luzzatti (3-2 2.88) also worked eight-plus, yielded only five hits and a run. The Redhawks had 12 hits, while the Blasters only picked up six.

Redhawks Sweep Four-Game Series from Colfax
After trailing 7-3 after the first five innings, first place Far Mountain bats awoke and rallied to win 9-8 and sweep both games of the doubleheader from second place Colfax. The pair of victories gave them six victories in a row and raised the Redhawks to a 4.5 games lead on the Blasters in the RU North Division race. Third baseman Johnny Strickland was Johnny-on-the-spot again with a game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth that scored Tommy Sonnier (.314). Gator Davis (.256) had two hits and 4 RBIs. He got a two-run homer in the sixth. The two clubs together collected 26 hits with Far Mountain getting 14 to Colfax's 12. Center fielder Hawk Gallagher (.303) and Strickland (.280) had three hits apiece for the Redhawks and left fielder Blinky Brandon (.302) and right fielder Pat Lott (.270) had three hits each for the Blasters. First baseman Dennis Cole (.309) whacked his 15th homer, a three-run blast. He now has 50 RBIs for the season and ranks first in the Ruthlandian Union and is third in homers. Closer Doc Rutledge (6-1 2.38) took the mound in the ninth and survived a bases-loaded situation. He picked up up the victory, while Pat Langlais (0-3 4.35) only pitched the ninth and got nailed for the loss.

Far Mountain (33-20) has won six in succession and separated themselves from the pack in the RU North with a 4.5-game lead. Colfax (28-24) is in second place in the division and has fallen in their last four games. The Redhawks took all four games of the series.

Vipers Victorious in 11-Inning Opener Over Elnora
Fine pitching prevailed for both sides in the opener of a twinbill between Elnora and Valmara at the Vipers home field, War Memorial Stadium. Valmara took advantage of Wally Tidwell's wildness to take a 4-3 victory in 11 innings. Tidwell loaded the bases with two walks and two outs and paved the way for third baseman Matt Mazurek (.237) to win the game with a line-drive single to right. However, it was Benny Bechtold that gave up the game-winning hit and pinned the loss on Tidwell (1-4 3.78). Notching the victory was Andre Trepanier (3-2 4.08) with a scoreless eleventh. Both clubs collected nine hits with first baseman Will Jackson (.230) hitting his 4th home run for Elnora and shortstop Mike Ellefsen (.315) getting his 8th for the Vipers.

Elnora's starting pitcher Troy Hudson (4-3 4.12) suffered an arm injury and will miss three weeks. He strained his elbow ligament and only pitched two innings.

Valmara Sweeps All-Stars for 5th Straight
Valmara smashed Elnora 12-1 in the second game of the doubleheader to sweep the All-Stars and are a full game ahead of fourth place Glasco. Cellar-dwelling Elnora has now lost its last five games. Todd Turner tossed one of his best games of the season, taming the All-Stars on a six-hitter, walking none and striking out five. Leading the Vipers 13-hit offensive attack were second baseman Floyd Vinson (.340) and backup catcher Jerry Burkhardt (.273) with three RBIs each and center fielder Jan Szyanski (.258) and first sacker Yank Jankowski (.278) with two apiece. Ted Gray (2-5 4.19) toiled in defeat and was belted for seven runs and seven hits in just two innings.

With the doubleheader win, Valmara (27-25) climbed two games over the .500 mark and now trails first place Far Mountain (33-20) by 5.5 games. Elnora (20-34) fell further into the division basement, 13.5 games out.

V's Rally Late, Drop A's to Fourth Place
In game one of a doubleheader, Volusia came back in the late innings to garner a 5-3 win over the Glasco A's. The Vigilantes tied it 3-3 in the sixth and won it with a two-run seventh on a triple by third baseman Alejandro Salazar. Southpaw Lenny Collins (3-2 3.16), recently restored to the starting rotation by manager Alfonso Feliz, went the distance, allowing three runs and eight hits, with six strikeouts and three walks. The V's Salazar (.291) had three hits and two RBIs and center fielder Alex Luna (.277) chased in a pair of runs with three base hits. Salazar had two doubles and a triple. Losing pitcher Jesse Balfour (4-5 3.09) also went the route, giving up a dozen hits, fanned eight and walked three. Glasco catcher Pete Kilgour (.257) had the only homer in the game.

Glasco (24-25) dropped to fourth place with the first-game loss. Valmara (26-25) took over the third spot in the RU North Division, a game ahead of the A's.

A's Win Nightcap 4-1, Split with Vigilantes
Hard-throwing lefty Charles Darby got Glasco a 4-1 win today in the nightcap to get a split with the Volusia Vigilantes at Athletics Field. Darby (8-3 2.08) registered his 8th victory of the season, while giving up eight hits, fanning seven and walking only one. He outhurled Raul Sandoval (5-6 2.67) in a battle of two of the better southpaws in the IPA. At bat center fielder Chet Reynolds (.300) and second baseman Barry McCord (.296) led the Athletics with two hits and an RBI apiece. Reynolds had a double and a triple. Right fielder Jose Valenzuela (.320) and backup catcher Nick O'Neil (.288) both chipped in an RBI for the winners. Sandoval surrendered eight hits and all four runs with three Ks and two bases on balls.

With the split of the doubleheader, Glasco (25-25) dropped to fourth place in the RU North standings and Volusia (24-29) is in the fifth spot. The Athletics are 6.5 games in back of first place Far Mountain (33-20) and Volusia is nine games out.