[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, April 1, 2002

Tycobbian Union Recaps

Blue Sox Blast Turon 12-2
In the opener of the season at Typhoon Stadium, homestanding Turon got a rude welcome to the IPA from the Blue Lake Blue Sox and were blasted 12-2. The Blue Sox scored 8 times in the first frame and were well on their way to victory. Blue Lake belted out 16 hits in all and got a fine complete game from Bennie West, who was a 19-game winner last season. West, a big tall righthander, limited the Typhoons to two runs on nine hits. Catcher Curly Harris paced the offense with a homer and three RBIs. Right fielder Fred Collins was 4-for-5 and shortstop Cy Orgeron collected three hits. Losing pitcher James Stuart never even got out of the first inning. He was slammed for seven runs.

Rolling Hills Rolls Over Kenwood 6-3
At the Old Towne Grounds in Kenwood, the Rolling Hills Reds rolled over the hometown Wildcats 6-3. The Reds broke up a 1-0 shutout by starter Tyrus Yokum with four runs in the seventh inning. Rolling Hills rapped out 13 hits and were sparked by first baseman Sunshine Anaba who delivered three hits, including a roundtripper. Catcher Donnie Woolridge had two hits and batted in two runs for the victors. Southpaw Johnny Sakima went all the way for the win, striking out five Wildcats and checking them on eight hits and a walk. Yokum took the loss, allowing 11 hits in seven-plus innings and five runs, but only two were earned. Kenwood committed two critical errors in the decisive seventh. A crowd of 6081 attended the first pro game ever in Kenwood.

Sokolov's 3-Run Shot Wins Game, EP Nips SA 7-6
Almost 8,000 were in attendance at the Casa de Beisbol in San Alejo for the opening game of the new IPA season and they saw an exciting ballgame. But their Montaneros were edged out 7-6 by the East Point Panthers on third baseman Rex Sokolov's game-winning three-run homer in the seventh inning. San Alejo was nursing a 6-4 lead but couldn't hold it. The Panthers pounded three home runs with first baseman Felipe Velasco getting a solo shot in the second frame and shortstop John Cottrell blasting a two-run roundtripper in the fifth. The Montaneros outhit East Point 13 to 9, but left 10 men on. Panther reliever Matt Van Rensberg notched the win with three scoreless innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh. Starter Mateus Salinas, plagued by wildness and seven walks, was the loser. He gave up all three home runs and all seven runs in his six-plus innings. Andron Kitsos and Fred Traugott blanked San Alejo over the last two innings. Traugott picked up the save. Third baseman Paolo Huerta hammered a three-run homer and batted in four runs in defeat.

Southport's Corbin Stops Suns 4-2 on 4-Hitter
In their home opener at Pleasure Beach Park, the Southport Sun Sox got an impressive mound job from Walt Corbin. He stopped the Arroyo Grande Suns on just four hits in a 4-2 victory. First baseman Pat Mystryk made Corbin the winner with a two-run clout in the eight inning, snapping a 2-2 tie. Sun Sox left fielder Larry McDowell also drilled one out of the park, a one-run shot in the second inning. Southport only managed six hits in the game. Corbin fanned six and walked just one in an outstanding performance. He got the best of Erik Menard, who hurled seven and one-third innings, yielding three runs and five hits.

Mahaska's Hines Fire 3-Hitter, Beats Ninjas 3-1
There is joy in Mahaska today after the Haymakers knocked off the Ginza Ninjas 3-1 at Heartland Stadium. Boomerang Hines was the hero. The hard-throwing lefty nailed down the win with a sparkling three-hitter. Hines walked four and fanned four, while pitching a complete game. Toshiharu Ito also went the distance, gave up six hits, walked three and struck out four. Mahaska catcher Dennis O'Donnell unloaded a two-run bash for the game-winner in the fifth inning. That made it 2-1 in favor of the Haymakers, who tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning.

Hawks Swifton Fires 2-Hitter, Blanks Arlon 3-0
In reality Bingo Swifton stands only 5'8", but today at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, he really stood tall on the mound. The 30-year-old righthander with a 96 mph fastball shut down the Arlon Champions 3-0 on a dominating two-hitter. Swifton had a no-hitter for seven innings, broken up by third baseman Bubba Tate. The only other hit went to pinchhitter Pete Pappas in the ninth. The Hawks got all the runs they needed in the third inning when first sacker Max Sarkiewitz doubled in the first run of the game and second baseman Ivo Kovacs singled in the other two. Except for that inning, Loser Connie Gavagan tossed a good game, allowing three runs on eight hits with six Ks and two walks.

White River Noses Out Summerland 4-3 in 10 Innings
On opening day in the IPA, the White River Rascals hosted Summerland at White River Stadium and nosed them out 4-3 in ten innings. The winning run came in on a wild pitch that allowed pinchhitter Warwick Haslett to score from third base. Haslett led off the inning with a triple off losing pitcher Pete Van Dijk. Rubber-arm Slats Bledsoe went the entire 10 innings for the victory. The skinny 6'11" righthander gave up 11 hits, but was stingy with men on base. He walked only one, fanned five and left 10 Sunsets stranded on base. Leading the Rascals at the plate were first baseman Al Joyner with a two-run homer in the first frame and left fielder Roy Cochran, who tied the score at 3-3 with a solo shot in the eighth. Summerland center fielder Stacey Zacker and second baseman Rikki Quackenboss paced them with three hits apiece.

Cape Coral Ekes by Chicopee 2-1 in 11 Innings
In the first professional baseball game ever played in Chicopee, the 8200 fans got a great ballgame, but went home disappointed. Their hometown Braves fell in 11 innings to the Cape Coral Hurricanes at Brewster Street Park. In the top of the eleventh left fielder Rod Kelly led off with a double, went to third on first baseman Rodger Wooten's single and then scored on right fielder Danny Mullins' game-winning double. The win went to closer Tommy Archer and the lost went to starter Wayne Blackwell. Archer pitched a scoreless tenth, then left for a pinchhitter. Owen Pruitt saved it for him by retiring the Braves in the last of the eleventh. Starters Katsuyuki Nagashima and Blackwell pitched outstanding games. Nagashima worked nine innings, allowed only five hits and one run, while Blackwell went into the eleventh, gave up two runs on six hits with five Ks in a tough loss. The Hurricanes had a slight edge in hits 8 to 6. Chicopee center fielder Fleetfoot Tocho had the only roundtripper in the game, a one-run homer in the sixth that knotted the score at 1-1.

Denton City Outslugs Colchester 9-8
It was a seesaw slugfest at Heyward Field in Colchester for the opening game of the IPA season. But it was the visiting Denton City Redbirds who captured the 9-8 victory before 9500 in attendance. Third baseman Kenny Sterling lifted a two-run blast into the right field bleachers for the winning score. Both teams were even with 11 hits apiece. There were 7 balls hit out of the park with Colchester having the edge 4 to 3. Sterling, catcher Kyle Hamilton and second baseman Glen Throckmorton went deep for Denton City, while first baseman Niles Stanton, second baseman Leland Curtis, center fielder Eldon Hutchens and pinchhitter Andy Krieger countered for the Elites. Reliever Alec Schwartz copped the win by blanking the Redbirds over the last one and a third innings with the loss going to Dickie Pendarvis, who was ripped for three runs in the ninth.

Hartsdale Skims by Bayview 3-2
Before a full house of over 15,000 at Downtown Plaza in Bayview, Hartsdale skimmed by the Vikings 3-2. But it took a brilliant throw by right fielder Rob Voss to cut down the tying run at the plate on the final play of the game. Closer Gene Young was the beneficiary of Voss' fine throw and saved the win for starter Phil Reed, who worked eight and two-thirds innings, surrendering just two run on eight hits with three Ks and one base on balls. Tony Vardaman took the defeat, going eight innings, being tagged for nine hits and three runs with four walks and five strikeouts. Rookie shortstop Josh Turchin, center fielder Greg Reynolds and left fielder Mel Poe drove in the runs for the Hellcats, while first baseman Dwayne Coleman homered and catcher Hank Bethel singled in a run for the Vikings. Hartsdale outhit Bayview 9 to 6 in the game.

Buccaneers Bury Red Bluff 13-5
The Bay St. Clair Buccaneers entertained over 9000 hometown fans at Shoreline Park by burying the Red Bluff Red Sox 13-5 in the first game of the new IPA season. The Bucs rattled the fences with 14 hits and were sparked by second baseman Tony Mann with 4 RBIs, catcher Jake Singleton with three, right fielder Jose Valenzuela with three and shortstop Chuck Hankins with two runs batted in. Mann and Hankins homered. On the hill Norm Gross tossed a complete game, allowing nine hits and five runs. Gross walked five and struck only two. Going down to defeat was starter Zach Waltrip, who was tagged for nine runs in just four innings.

Jays Draycott Slams 3 HRs, Drills Oxford 8-2
Monty Draycott made his debut in the IPA in dramatic fashion -- the 26-year-old Tuckanarra center fielder slammed three home runs and drove in seven runs as the Blue Jays drilled the Oxford Red Caps 8-2 at Winchester Park. Draycott went 4-for-5 and scored three times in a splendid show of power. Left fielder Corey Tavington also chipped in a solo shot. On the mound Tuckanarra got an impressive outing from Coorain Janama, who twirled a five-hitter for the win. The Blue Jays shot off to a 6-0 lead after two frames against loser Mark Bright and never looked back.

Cowboys Ride Herd on Stallions, Clobber Them 17-3
The High Mesa Cowboys put on a powerful display of hitting in the season opener at South Fork's Jock Ewing Stadium. The Cowboys clobbered the Stallions 17-3. They smoked four pitchers for 19 hits in a rout of one of the IPA's best pitching staffs. Left fielder Adam Zitek led the way with four hits, six RBIs and four runs scored. High Mesa unloaded three homers with Zitek, right fielder Kenny Edelstein and center fielder Lex Neville collecting one apiece. Neville totaled three hits and batted in four runs. Everybody in the lineup got at least one hit, including the winning pitcher, Isaac Willard, who was 2-for-5. Willard fired a good game, holding South Fork to five hits and three runs. He registered four strikeouts and walked just one batter. 20-game winner Flint Battle didn't have it today as he was shelled for seven runs in three and two-thirds innings. It was a miserable day all around for the Stallions.

Midway's Nepayshni Throttles Ozarka 6-3
There were 8000 fans at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway as the Wolves hosted their first ever professional baseball game. The Wolves got a fine pitching outing from portsider Adam Nepayshni, who throttled the Ozarka Naturals 6-3. Nepayshni lasted until the ninth, giving up three runs on eight hits, finishing up with three walks and five Ks. Closer Tecumsek Ahanu nailed down the verdict by retiring all three batters he faced. Third baseman Denny Alpert led Midway with three hits and three RBIs. Shortstop Tommy Kawacatoose sparkled as well with 3-for-3 and score three times. Kawacatoose also hit a two-run homer. Losing pitcher Tony Didriksen was routed in the fifth after being shelled for four runs and eight hits. He departed trailing 4-1.

Hillsboro Outscores Fairfax 12-8
At Hanford Stadium in Hillsboro to the delight of 7500 fans, the Blazers unleased a 15-hit assault to outscore the Fairfax Frogs 12-8 in a slugfest. Hillsboro blasted three homers and were led by first baseman Audie Williamson and second baseman Tommy Emrick with three RBIs each, and three players with two runs batted in each: right fielder Rawhide Marshall, catcher Bill Worthington and pitcher Jacques Marchand. Williamson, Emrick and Marshall all hit home runs. After falling behind 6-0 in the first inning, the Frogs tried to come back and even took a short-lived lead of 8-7 in the top of the fourth, but the Blazers tallied four in the bottom of the frame to kill the rally. Fairfax totaled 11 hits and was paced by third baseman Stan Cobb with three hits and two RBIs. Right fielder Gregg Vincent and left fielder Gator Davis both went deep and drove in a pair of runs apiece. Hillsboro got excellent help from the bullpen after starter Marchand was KO'd after four innings. Cooper Rankin and Dallas Reid blanked the Frogs over the last five innings on one hit. Rankin picked up the victory, while Gil Hall suffered the loss in relief. He was victimized in the decisive four-run fourth. Fairfax was forced to use six pitchers in the game.

Luxora Drubs La Claire 10-2
At De la Vega Stadium in Luxora, the Zorros kicked off the 2002 IPA season with a rousing 10-2 triumph over the La Claire Lynx. The Z's battered Luxora for 17 hits to the delight of 9300 spectators. Right fielder Lacy Tompkins, first baseman Paul Hallenbeck and left fielder Pedro Vizquel led the attack with three hits each. Tompkins had a two-run homer and scored three times and Hallenbeck drove in three runs. Winning pitcher Keith Callahan added two hits and two RBIs to the offense. He also pitched a complete-game victory, permitted nine hits, fanned four and walked just one batter in a good performance. Kimo Orlando absorbed the loss. He was knocked out in the third inning after allowing five runs and six hits.