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Islandian Pro Alliance
Wednesday, August 1, 2001
Tycobbian Union - East Division
Ojima HR Wins It for Ninjas, Defeat SF 4-2
The first place Ginza Ninjas got rid of tough Ken Conner with a three-run blast of the bat from third baseman Kaz Ojima (.319) in the sixth inning to send them up 4-1 on the way to a 4-2 decision over the second place South Fork Stallions. Righthander Vic Rousakis (12-11 3.69) won his third in a row, striking out 10 batters, walking only one, and holding the Stallions to two runs on seven hits. It was his 13th complete game this season, second-best in the IPA. Left fielder Takashi Fujimoto (.278) drove in the other run in the first frame with a sac fly to score shortstop Shinjiro Aoki (.284), who scored twice and had two hits. South Fork's only runs came off solo roundtrippers by right fielder Art Atkins (.311) in the third inning, his 9th, and by pinchhitter Glenn Holliday (.292) in the ninth, his 24th. Conner (9-6 2.93) pitched well except for the game-winning gopher ball. He worked seven innings, permitted five hits and four runs, three earned.
So far, Ginza (61-44) has taken two of the three games from South Fork (58-49) and has increased its lead to 4 games in the Tycobbian Union East.
Hyder Hurls Nats to 4-2 Victory Over Hurricanes
Fourth place Ozarka got the best of third place Cape Coral 4-2 on the strength 18-year-old righthander Sid Hyder's four-hitter. Hyder whipped third strikes past ten Hurricanes, while walking two. Only one of the two runs he gave up was earned. Both of Hyder's walks came in the ninth. Just to be on the safe side manager Joe Mac Carney summoned his splendid bullpen artisan, Alex DiMaggio (8-4 1.13) to get the last two outs. He did -- struck them both out to nail down his 12th save and gave Hyder the win. Ozarka collected 9 hits and were sparked by catcher Scotty Fisher (.266) with 3-3 and a homer. Second baseman Duane Starr (.275) and left fielder Ronnie Patterson (.237) doubled in runs in the fifth inning, along with right fielder Gus Dufrene (.000), who had a sacrifice fly. That put Ozarka up 4-0 and got rid of Katsuyuki Nagashima (10-9 3.09), who surrendered four runs on seven hits in his five frames for the loss.
Third place Cape Coral (53-53) fell to 8.5 games out of first in the standings, while Ozarka (51-54) is fourth and 10 games out.
3 HR Lift Zorros Over Hellcats 8-6
Home runs brought home the victory for the hometown Luxora Zorros at De la Vega Stadium. The Z's socked three of them into the stands to knock off Hartsdale 8-6. Luxora had to rally several times in the back-and-forth battle. The Zorros trailed 3-0 after three, took a 4-3 lead in the fifth, lost it again 6-4 in the sixth, then tied it up 6-6 in the sixth and won it 8-6 with a pair of runs in the seventh. First baseman Paul Hallenbeck (.317) clouted two homers to drive in four runs and right fielder Lacey Tompkins (.299) drove in two runs with his first IPA home run. Hallenbeck's 17th was the game-winner in the seventh. Starter Keith Callahan (12-8 3.34) was the winner, though he struggled. He was hit hard for six runs and eleven hits in seven innings of work. Ricky Martinez (9-3 1.92) saved it for Callahan with a scoreless eighth and ninth. It was Martinez's fourth save of the year. The Hellcats outdid the Zorros with the bats 12 hits to 10. They were headed by left fielder Mel Poe (.251), who hit a 3-run homer, number 11 for him. Four 'Cats had two hits apiece: center fielder Greg Reynolds (.274), right fielder Dan Rogers (.299), newcomer first baseman Mac Faulkner (.500) and shortstop Mike Burke (.267). Starting pitcher Mitch Yassen (3-3 4.25) had a tough go of it, being shelled for eight runs in seven innings. He picked up the loss.
The Luxora Zorros (48-57) are in the first spot in the Tycobbian Union East Division and are 13 games out in the race. Hartsdale (46-60) are last and 15.5 games behind.
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