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Islandian Pro Alliance
Friday, July 20, 2001
Ruthlandian Union - South Division
Hines and Rattlers Halt Marston Streak at 7
Sugar Valley halted Marston's winning string at 7 games with a 4-2 triumph at Legends Field. Righthander Harvey Hines (9-7 3.66) went the distance, allowed ten hits, but only two runs. Hines finished up with four strikeouts and walked only one batter in a solid performance. At the plate the Rattlers were led by left fielder Cy Bartz (.269), who hit his 10th home run. Shortstop Flipper Bird (.299) smacked three hits in four tries, a double and two triples (tied the IPA record). Picking up the loss was Casey Ledbetter (12-6 3.36), who lost for the fifth time in his last six decisions. Ledbetter went the route, allowed nine hits and four runs, three earned, fanned six and issued two walks.
Bird's two triples tied the IPA mark, currently held by three other players: Tucker Hill of Colfax, who hit a pair against Volusia on May 3, Timmy Smith of Blue Lake, who hit his against Bay St. Clair on May 15 and Alex Luna of Volusia, who collected two triples in the game against Colfax on July 8.
Marston (54-40) is atop the RU South Division and has an 8-game edge over third place Sugar Valley (46-48).
Waleska's Kraft Beats FC with bat and arm 2-1
For the first time in a week Waleska won a game. The Westerners broke a 7-game skid with a narrow 2-1 victory over Forest City at Riverside Stadium, giving the Lumberjacks their first loss in four games. Big 6'7" Rusty Kraft (7-10) hurled a strong game, checking them on six hits, fanning eight batters and walking just one. It snapped a personal three-game losing stretch for Kraft. He outpitched FC's tough lefty Herm Bahr (11-6 3.34), who tossed seven impressive innings, gave up two runs and seven hits before departing. The two battled to a scoreless tie for six innings. Finally shortstop Errol Einhorn (.259) tripled in the first run of the game in the seventh. Kraft (.083) followed up and won his own game with an RBI single to score Einhorn with the eventual-winning run. Center fielder Ryan Morse (.362) provided the 'Jacks only run in the eighth with his 12th homer of the season.
With the setback, Forest City (52-44) remained 3 games back of first place Marston (54-40). The Westerners (45-50) are 9.5 games behind and in fourth place in the division.
Belair Beach Belts Claxton 8-4
At Bayside Park in Belair Beach, the Sunbirds belted Claxton 8-4 to capture three in a row from the Diamonds and escape from the division cellar. The Sunbirds ripped 13 hits and were led by first baseman Phil Gravelli (.333) with three hits and two RBIs, including his 20th home run, left fielder Nicky Swift (.336) with 3-for-4 and an RBI and second baseman Rick Sullivan (.264) with a solo homer. Carl Thompson (12-8 2.56) recorded his fourth consecutive win, being touched for four runs and 11 hits over eight innings. Closer Lou Zanelli (7-7 3.41) got credit for his 10th save with a scoreless ninth. Claxton had plenty of hits with 12, but stranded 11 baserunners. Second baseman Donny McCoy (.343) rapped out three hits and scored twice to pace the Diamonds. Right fielder Dixie Baker (.316) and first baseman Marty McCluskey (.310) each added two hits and an RBI to the attack. John Szwak (9-5 3.85) continued to struggle on the mound with his third loss in a row. Belair Beach socked him for ten hits and seven runs in seven and a third innings.
Belair Beach (44-51) moved ahead of Claxton (44-52) into fifth place in the Ruthlandian Union South standings. The Sunbirds are 10.5 games behind first place Marston (54-40) and the Diamonds are 11 games out.
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