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Islandian Pro Alliance
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Tycobbian Union - East Division
SF Wins 6th Straight, Dumps Hellcats 5-2
TU East Division champions, the South Fork Stallions, notched their 6th straight win with a 5-2 victory over last place Hartsdale. It was the Hellcats fourth defeat in a row. Lefty Vince Bernini (12-6 2.48) shackled them on six hits, fanned six and gave up no walks. Stallion right fielder Kris Gervais (.237) drove in three runs with a pair of base hits, while second baseman Rick Tsoukalis (.280) had two hits, scored twice and batted in a run. South Fork ripped Tal Vaitkus (7-6 3.08) for five runs and ten hits in his seven innings, although he gave up only one earned run. Center fielder Dan Rogers (.292) slugged a two-run homer for the Hellcats only runs.
First place South Fork (84-64) is now 18 games up on the last place Hartsdale Hellcats (66-82).
No Playoffs for Cape Coral Despite Victory
Going into the late innings, third place Cape Coral trailed second place Ginza 5-0 at Ninja Stadium, but the Hurricanes rebounded with a five-run outburst in the top of the eighth to tie the game and send it into overtime, then won it 7-5 in the tenth. But to no avail, Cape Coral was eliminated today in the chase for the last wild card in the Tycobbian Union when Bayview won its game. Closer Tommy Archer (.250) doubled in the winning run in the tenth inning and third baseman Spook Estes (.259) added an insurance run with a single. It was Estes' third hit in the game. Cape Coral first baseman Royce Wooten (.297) and second baseman Howie Winters (.245) drove in two runs each. Archer (3-1 0.55) picked up the win with two scoreless frames. Kenny Nishimura (0-2 1.13) worked the tenth inning and allowed two unearned runs on two hits for the loss. Kojiro Matsumoto (19-11 3.00) was sailing along with a 5-0 lead in the eighth, but failed to hold it and get his 20th victory. He was touched for eight hits and picked up the loss. At bat Charlie Campbell (.291) laced four hits, scored two and batted in two for the Ninjas, including a solo homer, his 19th.
The third place Hurricanes (74-74) evened their season mark and are now 10 games behind South Fork (84-64). The playoff-bound Ginza Ninjas (80-68) are runner-up in the TU East and trail by 4 games. Cape Coral needed Bayview (75-73) of the TU West to lose today to stay in the fight for the last wild card playoff position.
Z's Swanson Whips Nats 3-2
In his first start of the season Sparky Swanson (1-0) of Luxora rose to the occasion and whipped Ozarka 3-2 for the Zorros third consecutive win. Swanson, a recent addition to the Zorros roster, struck out 10, walked four and allowed 8 hits for his first career win in the IPA. The Z's trailed 2-0 after six innings, but scored single runs in the last three innings for the victory. Closer Roberto Martinez (11-5 1.78) got out of a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win for Swanson. It was his 12th save. Center fielder Tommy Fortunato (.266) doubled in shortstop Vince Cooper (.279) from second base with the winning run in the top of the ninth. Tony Didriksen (12-17 3.73) pitched a solid game, but lost his 9th straight decision. Didriksen went the route, gave up only two earned runs and eight hits. Cooper led the Luxora hitters in the game with three hits, including his 4th homer. First baseman Floyd Snow (.251) and second baseman Duane Starr (.270) both homered for Ozarka. It was Snow's 22nd and Starr's 15th roundtrippers.
The triumph put Luxora (70-78) and Ozarka (70-78) back into a tie for fourth in the TU East, 14 games behind the champions, South Fork (84-64). It was the Naturals third loss in a row.
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