[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, April 2, 2002

Ruthlandian Union

Well, the "oldtimers" did pretty well against the "noobies" (expansion teams) on the second day of play in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The second-year clubs captured 11 of the 16 games this time around, giving them an 18-16 lead in the head-to-head competition.

Costas Fires Brilliant 2-Hitter, All-Stars Nip V's
The Elnora All-Stars got a brilliant effort from Carl Costas, who struck out 10 Volusia Vigilantes and held them to just two base hits in a 2-1 triumph. Left fielder Winky Rush went deep for Volusia's only score in the fourth frame. Shortstop Scooter Perez doubled for the only other hit given up by Costas. The V's Tommy Betanzos was hard to hit, too, but a little on the wild side with seven bases on balls. Betanzos was touched for six hits and fanned six in defeat. Center fielder Rusty Gilbert accounted for both runs for the All-Stars. He homered in the fifth to even the score at 1-1 and then in the seventh scored the winning run on an error by shortstop Perez. The two clubs have now split the first two games of the series.

Darby and A's Edge Redhawks 2-1 in 10 Innings
Charles Darby of the Glasco Athletics and Sonny Elliott of the Far Mountain Redhawks went at it for 10 innings and when it was finally decided Darby came away with a 2-1 victory. Right fielder Buck Bucholtz made the difference with a 10th-inning home run. Darby stopped the Redhawks on six hits, walked nobody and whiffed three, while Elliott allowed nine hits, fanned four and walked one. Second baseman Steve Kaminski went downtown for Far Mountain in the fifth inning for the only run off Darby. This win gave Glasco a split in the series so far.

Ancona's Macaluso Blanks Marston 5-0
The Ancona Red Elephants racked up their first IPA victory with a 5-0 shutout over Marston at Legends Field. In a splendid performance Dennis Macaluso struck out four, walked four and stopped the Nine on just four hits. Both clubs have now won a game in the series. The Red Elephants busted open a close game with four runs in the eighth frame off losing pitcher Booger Burchfield. Ancona was led by catcher Dale Kerr with two hits and two RBIs and right fielder Gene Kanavos with two hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

Wilson Homers, Claxton Edges Belle Plaine in 11th
Claxton took its second straight victory at home, edging Belle Plaine 4-3 in 11 innings on center fielder Wayne Wilson's walk-off home run. Sammy Melton and Mike Grenier collaborated on the win. Melton worked into the ninth, when he faltered and allowed the Musketeers to score twice and send the game into overtime. Melton notched seven Ks, walked three and permitted three runs on seven hits. Closer Grenier got credit for the win with two and a third scoreless innings. He struck out three batters. Wilson sparked the win with 3 hits in 6 at-bats, scored twice and knocked in a run. First baseman Scott Theriot paced Belle Plaine with three hits and a run batted in. Reliever Roger Shearer registered the loss.

5 Catamount Pitchers Beat Ft. Benton 10-4
Fort Benton couldn't stand the prosperity. They jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening frame and then stopped hitting. Cold Creek used five pitchers in the game and came back swinging with a big 7-run fifth inning to whip the Defenders 10-4. Center fielder Trip Holmes led the charge with a grand slam. First baseman Johnny Carducci also homered for the Catamounts and batted in four runs. Paige Saunders recorded the victory with three scoreless innings, while Don Heinsohn caught the loss by being slammed for ten runs in five innings. Right fielder Murph Lunsford topped Fort Benton with a two-run homer.

Wynnamac Rebounds, Stops Ranford 5-2
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday Ranford went on a rampage and set an IPA mark for the most runs in a game. They mauled Wynnamac 21-2. However it was a different story today, The Sundowners got some good pitching and came away with a 5-2 triumph. Dino Carravaggio captured the win as he held the Bulls to just one run in his five and one-third innings. Carravaggio fanned five, but walked five and had to leave after a rain delay. Relievers Billy Timms and John Greenwood came in and continued to hold off Ranford bats. Greenwood registered the save with two scoreless innings. Left fielder Rusty Gleason had a great day at the plate for the Sundowners with four hits and two RBIs, including a record-tying three doubles. Wynnamac rapped ten hits in the game and dealt the loss to Bull starter Chris Bernhoffer. They socked him for four runs in six innings.

Skipper Matt Donnelly told reporters in the clubhouse, "Thank goodness, we played better than yesterday. That was embarrassing. Really, really embarrassing."

Gleason tied the IPA doubles record, which he now shares with 8 other players: Alejandro Salazar and Scooter Perez of Volusia, Donnie McCoy and Marty McCluskey of Claxton, Scoop McDonald of Ginza, Jerry Keller of Arlon, Yoshihide Nishida of Waleska and Chris Deangelo of Marston.

Cybercats Tame Blackhawks 3-1
Manager Torry Joseph of Grand City got another well-pitched game as his Cybercats tamed Valka 3-1. Three hurlers teamed up to beat the Blackhawks. Rikki Coons claimed the win with five shutout innings. He was relieved with a 2-0 lead after developing a small blister on his throwing hand. Cal Ryder and Bill Berglund finished Valka off with Berglund picking up the save. Both clubs had nine hits each with shortstop Wynn Joslin collecting four of them for the Grand City and catcher Tyler Stokes rapping a homer for the Cybercats. Right fielder Jimmy Tremayne drove in the Blackhawks only run and was 3-for-4. Lefty Johnny Peterson tossed a good game in defeat, allowing only three runs, even though he gave up nine hits.

'Jacks Trim Bobcats 7-6
Forest City bolted to a 7-2 lead early and then held on and weathered a home run barrage to trim the Bobcats 7-6 at City Park Stadium in Beechwood. First baseman J. T. Edmonds and right fielder Benny Davis paced the Lumberjacks with two runs batted in each. Edmonds also tied the IPA record for most walks in a game with four. Catcher Alec DiBetta and right fielder Clifton Czako made it close with three home runs. DiBetta hit two of them and drove in three runs,while Czako hit a two-run blast. Glenn Moore garnered the victory for Forest City, but struggled. Moore allowed eleven hits and six runs in seven innings with seven Ks and a walk. Closer Timmy Brooks nailed down the save with two perfect innings of relief. Will Cadberry absorbed the loss as the 'Jacks jolted him for five runs in three innings. So far in the series each ballclub has taken a game.

Edmonds is now tied with Dennis Cole of Colfax for the most walks in a regulation nine-inning game with four. However, the most ever is five, set by teammate Chuck Hill of Forest City. He got the mark in an 11-inning 6-5 victory over Sugar Valley on May 8, 2001.

Kilkenny Upends Waleska 5-3
Playing on their home field at Smithwick Stadium, the Kilkenny Cats upended the Waleska Westerners for the second day in a row. Kilkenny whipped them 5-3 with the win going to starter Gavin Healy, who went seven and two-thirds innings, surrendering three runs and ten hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Closer Dean Brennan got Healy out of trouble in the eighth and then wrapped up the save with a perfect ninth. Brennan retired all four batters he faced. Only one homer in the game and that was by Waleska's left fielder Big Hoss Burkhalter. He had three hits including a solo roundtripper. Five different Cats drove in their runs.

Valmara Vipers Dump Stoner Stars 7-1
Valmara chalked up its first victory of the new season with an easy 7-1 decision over the Stoner Stars. It was a cold and rainy day with the temp around 30 and it took three Viper pitchers to get the win because of the rain delays. Todd Turner started and blanked the Stars for four innings, but was wild and walked three. Gary Wojcik tossed a scoreless fifth and Vance Mitchell worked the last four frames, yielding only one run. Wojcik got credit for the victory and Mitchell notched the save. Second baseman Floyd Vinson led the Vipers at bat with two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored. Vinson got his first homer of the season. First baseman Yank Jankowski also had two hits and two RBIs.

Roosters Slip Past Rattlers 6-5 in 11 Innings
Middlefield second baseman Alfredo Soriano lined a walk-off single to left in the last of the eleventh to beat Sugar Valley 6-5. It was the Rooster second straight victory in the opening series of the season. Center fielder Ty DeWitt slammed two homers, giving him three for the year. DeWitt drove in four runs to lead both teams. Sugar Valley outhit Middlefield 14 to 10 and were sparked by shortstop Flipper Bird, who homered and had 3 RBIs. But the Roosters got the victory with some outstanding bullpen work. Freddy Cooke, Will Strassmayer and Buford Slade shut out the Rattlers over the last five frames. Slade picked up the win. Gregg Neal was tagged with the defeat as he walked two and gave up two hits in a short stint.

LaGrange Homers 4 Times, Tops Taranto 6-4
LaGrange got the best of Taranto in the home run battle and topped the Tars 6-4 at the Palazzo di Sport. The Sports outhomered them four to two, led by catcher George Patin with a pair of homers and center fielder Bobby Joseph and left fielder Marc Jauvert with one each. All of them were with the bases empty. First baseman Georgie Hearn had a solo roundtripper and right fielder Bobby Pascarelli unloaded a three-run shot for Taranto. Tony Amick was the winning pitcher, going seven innings, striking out six and giving up four runs. Frank Beaudoin saved it for him with two scoreless innings. Chazzie DeBartolo suffered the loss. He was scorched for six runs in six innings. Taranto had the edge in hits 10 to 9. LaGrange broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the sixth frame to win it.

Sunbirds Soar Over Rovers 4-2, Watson Winner
On the road in Sligo, the Belair Beach Sunbirds soared over the Sligo Rovers 4-2 on the right arm of Ray Watson, who limited them to just four hits in a route-going performance. Watson was on top of his game with six Ks and just one base on balls. He outpitched Otis Coughlan for Belair Beach's second consecutive victory this year. Coughlan tossed eight innings, allowed six hits and three runs. Second baseman Rick Sullivan tripled in two runs for the winners, while center fielder Waylon Moses hammered a two-run homer for the Rovers.

Blasters Pound St. John 10-6, Cole Homers Twice
The Colfax Blasters broke out the big bats today and pounded St. John 10-6 at Mountain View Stadium. Last year's RU Golden Bat winner, Dennis Cole, swatted his first two homers of the season, driving in three runs and third baseman Russ Farrell boomed a grand slammer as the Blasters ran up an early 8-3 lead in the first two innings. On the hill Robbie Smith was not at his best, but still had enough to go the distance and get the win. He permitted six runs and ten hits. Crusader starter Jason Burgess caught the defeat as Colfax ripped him for two homers and eight runs in less than two innings.

Colfax lost its left fielder Blinky Brandon for a week. He was hit on the hand by a pitch and suffered a dislocated finger. Cy Bartz will take his place in the line-up.

RR's Beckmann Halts Crushers 7-1 on 6 Hits
Rocky Rapids' Kirk Beckmann, a big rangy righthander, never gave Crystal Lake a chance. He was in complete control throughout the game, halting the Crushers on six hits, while striking out four and walking only one. The Snappers gave him plenty of bat support with a dozen hits, led by homers by right fielder Doug Holt and center fielder Terry Hecht. Taking the loss was Mack Harrell, who exited early, giving up four runs in the first two frames.

Eastshore Rallies for 6-5 Win Over San Dimas
The Eastshore Elegants rallied from a 4-0 deficit with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to vault past San Dimas 6-5. It was the second straight one-run victory over the Rancheros. Right fielder Ron Dizon sparked the comeback win with his bat and his arm. Dizon homered, singled and drove across five runs and also threw out the tying run at home plate for the final out of the game. San Dimas took an early lead with four roundtrippers. First baseman Sancho Duran slugged two into the stands, while center fielder Pepe Maduro and second baseman Cyclone Cobb popped one each. Eastshore manager Killer Brewster got great help from his bullpen. Matt DeRosa and Ivar Jorgerson stopped the Rancheros on three hits and just one run over the last six frames. DeRosa took the victory and Jorgerson got the save. Loser Beau Juneau had an up-and-down outing. He fanned eight in six innings, but walked five and gave up five hits. However, Juneau only allowed three earned runs, San Dimas had eight hits in the game, while Eastshore only collected six.