[Eugene Church]

Islandian Pro Alliance

Sunday, June 10, 2001

Tycobbian Union - East Division

Nats Stun Ninjas, Win Opener 4-3 in 9th
Shortstop Gil Lantz was the hero in the opener of a Sunday doubleheader between the two top clubs in the TU East. Lantz (.238) slammed a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to give first place Ozarka a walk-off 4-3 victory over second-place Ginza. Starter Ted Didriksen (5-4 3.35) and closer Alex DiMaggio (6-2 1.80) teamed up to beat the Ninjas. Didriksen worked the first eight frames, permitted three runs on six hits and fanned six. However, the win went to DiMaggio. He sat down Ginza 1-2-3 in the ninth and struck out two of them. The Naturals outhit them 11 to 6. Lantz had a double and triple and drove in three runs. Third baseman Doug Cunningham (.238) went 2-for-4 and scored twice. First sacker Kenshin Yamamoto (.297) drilled a two-run homer for the Ninjas, number 8 for the season. Closer Ken Watkins (3-3 2.93) was the victim of the game-winning hit and was pinned with the loss.

Ozarka (29-22) expanded their lead to 2.5 games over runner-up Ginza (27-25).

Ninjas Divide DH with Nats, Win Nightcap 5-3
Four unearned runs in the fourth gifted Ginza with a 5-3 triumph over first place Ozarka and gained the split in the doubleheader at Ellie Ewing Stadium. Manager Huroko Uchiyama used three pitchers to whip the Nats with starter Kojiro Matsumoto (8-1 3.34) getting his 8th victory of the year. He only allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, but was constantly in trouble because of five bases on balls. Matsumoto struck out nine. Buddy Hart (2-3 4.30) came out of exile in the bullpen and gave Uchiyama two fine innings to nail down the verdict and get his first save. Donnie Young (3-3 3.76) was the losing pitcher. He was raked over the coals by the Ninjas, who hammered him for five runs and eight hits in three-plus innings, but only surrendered one earned run. Shortstop Shinjiro Aoki (.296) led the 11-hit parade for the Ninjas. He was 3-for-4, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs. Third baseman Doug Cunningham (.244) led the Naturals at bat, going 2-for-4.

The showdown between first place Ozarka (29-23) and second place Ginza (28-25) ended up all even. They split the four-game series with two victories apiece. The Nats are still 1.5 games ahead in the pennant race.

First Game Goes to Z's, Slip by Stallions 2-1
In the first game of the doubleheader at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora, the hometown Zorros squeezed by South Fork 2-1 in twelve innings and snapped a four-game losing spell. At the same time, Luxora ended the Stallions four-game winning streak. With two outs right fielder Pedro Vizquel (.305) doubled in pitcher Roberto Martinez (.200) with the winning run. Martinez had led off the twelfth with a double. That made closer Martinez (3-1 3.03) the winning pitcher. He went three innings, allowed no runs, three hits and faned three. Ken Conner (3-2 2.67) came on in the eleventh and failed to do the job, yielding three hits and a run in less than two innings. Booger Burchfield (3-4 3.60) twirled a terrific ten innings, limited the Zorros to just two hits, fanned four and allowed no walks. Johnny Montel of South Ford was superb as well, being touched for just three hits in nine innings, struck out seven and had zero walks. The Z's third baseman Rico Vina (.266) plated the first run of the game in the fith, when he grounded out to short. Third baseman Glenn Holliday (.220) put the Stallions only run on the scoreboard with a solo homer, when he tied the score at 1-all. He now has 8 this season.

Stallions Split with Luxora
Center fielder Mike Yastrzemski's clutch ninth-inning homer gave South Fork the victory and a split in the twinbill with the Luxora Zorros. The Stallions were one out from losing when Yastrzemski cracked a two-run shot off reliever Eddie Hoffman (0-2 4.01), who caught the loss. It was quite a pitchers' duel between Jerry Harrison and Francisco Fernandes. Harrison (5-3 3.74) left trailing 2-1 after eight innings. Fernandes (4-5 3.29) stopped South Fork on six hits through seven innings, but Hoffman couldn't win it for him. But Billy Joe Gordon (0-3 2.93) tossed a scoreless ninth and sealed the verdict for Harrison. It was Gordon's 6th save this season. Yastrzemski (.264) led the Stallions with 2-for-5 and two RBIs, while first baseman Paul Hallenbeck (.325) and center fielder Shotgun Boggs (.140) paced the Z's with solo homers. Luxora outhit South Fork 10-7, but left too many runners on.

The Stallions (26-27) dipped to fourth place with the split, 3.5 games behind the TU East leader, the Ozarka Naturals (29-23). Cape Coral (26-26) swept a pair form Hartsdale (23-29) and edged a half-game in front of South Fork. Luxora (24-26) is fifth in the division, four games off the pace.

Hurricanes Eked Out 3-2 Win Over Hellcats
The first game of the doubleheader between Cape Coral and Hartsdale went to the Hurricanes 3-2. Right fielder Danny Mullins (.342) drove in center fielder Billy Abbott (.250) from third with game-winning single to give Glenn Mann (5-7 2.92) a tough loss. Katsuyuki Nagashima (2-5 2.72), who has suffered several well-pitched games, got the victory this time. Nagashima worked eight innings, allowed seven hits, two runs, fanned seven and walked only one in a fine performance. Scotty Lohmeyer (2-2 3.18) picked up his second save with a perfect ninth inning. Mann went the distance for Hartsdale, yielded ten hits, three runs with six Ks and two walks. Mullins had two hits and two RBIs top the Hurricanes hitters, while first baseman Rodger Wooten (.310) was 3-for-4. Shortstop Terry Bellino (.350) and second baseman Francisco Abreu (.294) drove in the runs for the Hellcats.

Cape Coral lost center fielder James Middleton with a hand injury for one to two weeks. Manager Huggy Millers said they had signed outfielder Claude Kershaw to fill in his spot on the roster. Eric Smith will move into Middleton's place in the lineup and Kershaw will be his backup.

Cape Coral Takes Two from Hartsdale
At Pioneer Park in Hartsdale, Cape Coral copped both ends of the doubleheader, winning the nightcap 11-6. They have won three straight from the Hellcats. Thirteen hits, including four doubles and four homers made it easy for the Hurricanes. Center fielder Eric Smith (.232), left fielder Rod Kelly (.315), shortstop Bobo Hatfield (.280) and right fielder Danny Mullins (.316) all walloped homers. The Hellcats had fourteen hits, but couldn't match the Hurricane firepower. Only center fielder Greq Reynolds (.249) went deep for them. A five-run first got rid of Hartsdale starter Jim Sears (2-6 4.26) and a four-run fifth put Cape Coral ahead to stay 9-4. Owen Pruitt (4-4 4.21) wavered a bit, but still got credit for the victory. He tossed seven innings and gave up six runs on ten hits. Joey Martin (0-0 2.67) registered his first save as he held Hartsdale scoreless and struck out three in two innings of relief.

With the sweep, the Hurricanes (26-26) moved ahead of South Fork (26-27) in the battle for third place in the division. Cape Coral is three back of first place Ozarka (29-23) and the Stallions are now fourth, 3.5 games off the pace. Last place Hartsdale (23-29) trails by six games.