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Islandian Pro Alliance
Sunday, July 22, 2001
Ruthlandian Union - South Division
Marston Raps Rattlers 6-3
Manager Johnny Walters of the first place Marston Nine continues to get good pitching and good hitting. They lead the division in both categories. The Nine knocked off third place Sugar Valley 6-3 on a seven-hitter by Paul Azard (9-5 3.97). He was backed up by reserve outfielder Rodney Rich (.362), who went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Rich could start for most clubs in the IPA. Rich hit a two-run roundtripper in the second, broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI single in the sixth and added another run in the ninth with a single. Marston wrapped up the game with two more in the eighth on a sac fly by shortstop Don Nichols (.327) and a single by Rich. The Rattlers did all of their scoring in the fourth inning with RBIs on doubles by third baseman Jorge Vargas (.332) and Cy Bartz (.273), and a single by backup first baseman Ken Arnold (.232). Recent-signee 21-year-old John-Michael Darragh (0-3 7.27) lost his first starting assignment, giving up four runs in 5-plus innings. Shaky defense cost Sugar Valley three runs in the game. They committed two costly errors.
Marston (55-41) is the top club in the Ruthlandian Union South Division and leads third place Sugar Valley (47-49) by 8 games.
Giarussa Has Career Day, 6-6 and 8 RBIs
It was one of the greatest batting performances in the brief IPA history. Shortstop Jinx Giarussa of Waleska went 6-for-6 with three doubles, a home run, 8 RBIs and scored four times as the Westerners demolished Forest City 14-2 at Riverside Stadium. Giarussa (.313) tied the IPA mark for hits, runs and RBIs as Waleska hit 7 doubles, two triples and a home run among their 16 hits. Third baseman Yoshihide Nishida (.290) contributed three hits and three RBIs, while second baseman Wiz Taylor (.301) chipped in two hits, two walks and scored four times. Skipper McGraw Johnson got a strong effort on the hill from Jack Wagner (5-2 3.39), who stiffed the Lumberjacks on three hits and 10 strikeouts. The loser was Brian Charles (4-5 4.20), who bit the dust early and was sent to the showers after giving up 5 runs in one and two-thirds innings.
Giarussa now holds the RBI mark with Cape Coral's Rafael Betencourt, who drove in 8 on April 28 against Ozarka. He tied the record for hits and now share it with Billy Echevarria of Fairfax and Arlon's Jerry Keller. Echevarria had a 6-hit performance July 15 against Bayview and Keller accomplished it May 4 against Blue Lake. Giarussa scored four runs to tie the IPA record. He is the fourth player to do it. Dennis Cole of Colfax did it on April 28, Jerry Keller of Arlon on May 6 and Jan Szymanski of Valmara on May 14.
Forest City (53-45) is piloted by Rob Jackson and is second in the standings, trailing first place Marston (55-41) by 3 games. Waleska (46-51) is in the fourth spot in the division, 9.5 games out.
Diamonds Hold Off Sunbirds 6-5
Playing on the road at Bayside Park in Belair Beach, the Claxton Diamonds ran up a 3-0 lead after five innings and held off the Sunbirds for a 6-5 triumph. Topping the 9-hit attack were second baseman Donny McCoy (.341) with a double and a home run, shortstop Bobby Ritter (.312) with 2-4 and an RBI and right fielder Dixie Baker (.320) with two hits and a run batted in. Belair Beach had 10 hits and were paced by first baseman Phil Gravelli (.338) with three hits in four tries and two RBIs and shortstop Danny Church (.246) with a two-run homer, number 7 for him on the season. Gravelli also homered, his 21st. Lefthander Sammy Melton (2-1 4.07) registered the win, allowing four runs in seven and two-thirds innings. Chris Jauvert (0-1 5.68) got the last four outs for the Diamonds, but gave up a run in the ninth. It was his first save this season.
Claxton (46-52) is fifth in the RU South, 10 games off the pace. Belair Beach (44-53) is in the cellar and 11.5 games back.
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