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Islandian Pro Alliance
Monday, September 10, 2001
Ruthlandian Union - North Division
FM Stops V's Win String at 4
Sonny Elliott and the Far Mountain Redhawks put a stop to Volusia's four-game winning string with a tense 1-0 victory, putting in danger the Vigilantes hopes for last playoff slot in the Ruthlandian Union. Elliott (18-13 2.86) twirled a six-hitter, fanned three and issued no walks in a most impressive outing. Losing pitcher Lenny Collins (15-11 3.81) did almost as well, yielding six hits and one run with five Ks and three bases on balls. The game's only score came in the opening inning when center fielder Hawk Gallagher (.295) led off with a bunt single, moved to second on a Royce Benson (.311) sacrifice bunt, then scored on catcher Dave Davis' (.354) RBI single. From then on it was nothing but goose eggs on the scoreboard.
Far Mountain (82-65) has already won the RU North. The Rattlers are now 6 games up on second place Volusia (76-71). The Vipers are battling Valmara (75-72) of the North Division and Sugar Valley (75-72) of the South Division for the last playoff spot for the Eiite 8 Series.
A's Squeak By Vipers 7-6
The Glasco Athletics extended Valmara's late season slump by squeaking by the Vipers 7-6 and giving them a fourth straight defeat. In the top of the eighth the visiting A's broke a 4-4 deadlock with back-to-back doubles by left fielder Ox Beauvais (.338) and first baseman Maury Smith (.354), then added two more runs in the ninth for a 7-4 margin. Right fielder Buck Bucholtz (.284) and Smith each had RBI singles in the inning. In the last of the ninth Valmara mounted a two-run comeback that fell one run short. Glasco was sparked by Smith with two hits and two RBIs, Bucholtz with two hits and three RBIs and center fielder Chet Reynolds (.271) with three hits, two runs batted in and two runs scored. In defeat Valmara right fielder Jet Kazmarek (.315) went 3-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs with a double and a triple. Lefthander Charles Darby (18-16 3.70) worked eight long innings for the victory, allowed four runs, seven hits, fanned seven and walked five. Ray Cook (4-5 2.01) almost gave the game away in the ninth. He got his 18th save, but almost blew a three-run lead. Viper bullpen ace, Danny Blauser, (9-6 2.53) also had a rough time and was the losing pitcher. Blauser was battered for three runs and six hits in one and one-third inning. The Athletics outhit the Valmara 13 to 10.
The third place Vipers (75-72) are floundering in the final stages of the regular season and are now one game behind second place Volusia (76-71) in the RU wild card race. Sugar Valley (75-71) of the South Division is also contending for the final playoff slot.
All-Stars Savoie Strikes Out 16
Pat Savoie of the Elnora All-Stars tied the IPA record for most strikeouts in a game. The crafty lefty whiffed 16 Colfax Blasters in the 5-4 victory, equalling Ron Benson of the Sugar Valley Rattlers. Savoie (13-8 3.73) got them in only eight innings, leaving for a pinchhitter. Savoie allowed five hits and four runs, while walking two batters. Taylor Gibbs (3-1 5.14) worked a scoreless ninth to finish out the game. It was Gibbs 5th save of the year. Robbie Smith (11-13) sustained the loss, going only four innings and giving up four runs. He went to the showers trailing 4-1. Right fielder Paul Giles (2.83) doubled in two runs in the first inning and third baseman Richie Franklin (.253) doubled in two more in the third to lead the victors. Catcher Bill Urbanek (.217) unloaded a three-run homer in the seventh to pace Colfax.
Ron Benson of Sugar Valley originally set the strikeout mark with 16 in a 5-3 triumph over Waleska on June 25.
Colfax's (71-76) defeat dropped them into a tie with Glasco (71076) for the fourth spot in the RU North standings. Both are now 11 games behind the division leader. Elnora (66-81) is in the cellar and 16 games out.
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