|
Islandian Pro Alliance
Sunday, June 24, 2001
Ruthlandian Union - North Division
FM Wins 4th Straight
In the first game of a doubleheader in Far Mountain, Redhawks righthander Sonny Elliott zeroed in Valmara and shut them out 4-0 on six hits. Far Mountain has won five straight and taken all four games so far with the Vipers. Elliott (9-5 2.64) captured his third win in a row, struck out four and walked three. Paul
Schoenfeld (4-6 4.96] lost it for Valmara, giving up all six hits, all four runs with six Ks and two walks in six innings. Left fielder Gerald Davis (.251) collected his 8th homer with a solo shot.
Redhawks Sweep Two from Vipers
Solid pitching by John Lazzatti and a huge 7-run eighth paved the way for Far Mountain 9-3 victory to sweep the doubleheader and the five-game series from Valmara. Lazzatti (5-4 2.91) shined with a five-hitter and finished up with four strikeouts and two walks. Southpaw Zarek Zalewski (8-4 1.97) left with a 3-2 lead after seven, but closer Danny Blauser (5-3 2.61) was hit hard and lost it. Shortstop Al Nixon delivered a two-run two-bagger to put the Redhawks ahead for good. Also in the inning, second string first baseman Josh Swift (.267) clubbed a three-run triple and third baseman Joey Cannizzaro (.324) hit a two-run triple. Backup catcher Sean Larson (.333) had a two-RBI double in the fourth to put Far Mountain up 2-0 at the time. All of the Vipers runs came in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Louis Sharp (,358) and a two-run double by second baseman Floyd Vinson (.330).
The Far Mountain Redhawks (41-27) under Alex Groveland are the elite team of the RU North Division and have won their last six games. They swept the series with Valmara (33-34) and dropped them to fourth place in the standings, 7.5 games behind. The Vipers have now lost their last five games.
Blasters Beat A's 5-3 in Opener
In the opening game of a twinbill in Glasco, Colfax took charge in the late innings and won 5-3 over the Athletics for its fourth consecutive victory. 38-year-old shortstop Wayne O'Reilly (.223) tripled in a pair of runs in the eighth to put the Blasters ahead 3-1. After Glasco cut it to 3-2, Colfax finished them off with two more in the ninth on singles by left fielder Blinky Brandon (.284) and third baseman Russ Farrell (.286). Lefty Alex Castille (8-5 4.25) picked up his 8th win with a fine effort. He gave up seven hits and three runs, while pitching into the ninth. He was relieved with the score 5-3 and men on first and third with tow outs. Reliever Jim Dreyer (1-0 3.96) struck out the only batter he faced to get his 3rd save. Southpaw Bill Darby (3-4 3.76) got hung with a tough loss, allowing only two runs and four hits in seven innings. Colfax had 9 hits in the game and the A's only 7. Left fielder Ox Beauvais (.342) homered for Glasco. It was number 13 for the year. This was the Athletics fifth successive defeat.
Colfax Takes a Pair from Athletics
Colfax is on a hot winning streak as they took both ends of a twinbill. The Blasters slipped past Glasco 4-3 for their fifth consecutive triumph and dished out a sixth loss in a row for the Athletics. Flash Guidry (9-5 2.57) won his third successive game with an impressive complete-game performance. Guidry fanned eight, allowed seven hits and walked only one, struggling only in the three-run eighth when the A's tied it at 3-all. In the top of the Russ Ferrell drove in the game-winner with a single off reliever Bobby Joe Belvin (0-1 6.75). Third baseman Ferrell (.290) had two hits and two RBIs for the winners, while right fielder Buck Bucholtz (.333) had 2-4 and two RBIs for the losers. The Blasters totaled 10 hits overall and Glasco got only seven.
Second place Colfax (37-30) has a tough task keeping up with torrid Far Mountain (41-27). The Blasters remain 3.5 games off the pace after sweeping Glasco (32-33). The slumping A's are 7.5 games out of first.
V's Victorious Over All-Stars 3-2
He is new to Alfonso Feliz's starting rotation, but Ike Moore made a strong impression on the Volusia manager and the Elnora All-Stars, too. Moore blanked them for the first eight innings on four hits, but was touched for two runs in the ninth. Moore got credit for the 3-2 win in the only single game of the day in the RU North. After surrendering a single that closed the gap to 3-2, relief ace Ricky Moreno (3-1 2.57) got the last two outs for his 9th save. Moore (2-1 3.86) gave up six hits in all, struck out eight and walked three for the victory. The Vigilantes got only five hits and two earned runs off of lefthander Sean Sykes (6-7 5.09), who pitched a complete game. The loss spoiled Elnora's win streak at two and ended Volusia's skid at two games. The V's took a 1-0 lead in the second on second baseman Paco Rivera's (.239) ground out. They went up 3-0 in the seventh on another RBI ground out by Rivera and got the last one when second baseman Gus De la Hoya (.231) doubled, stole third and came home a throwing error by the catcher.
The fifth place Vigilantes (32-35) trail first place Far Mountain (41-27) by 8.5 games and Elnora (26-42) is in the basement, 15 games back.
|