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Eugene Church · 06-11-2009, 06:00 PM

The Islandian Times

March 2, 2004

Blue Lake Has Tough Task In Strong TU North
The Tyrobbian North Division has the reputation for being the best overall division in the IPA. Cobb Tyson's Blue Lake Blue Sox played .500 ball, yet finished sixth in the standings, 11 games out. In the last two years the Blue Sox have fallen from one of the league's better clubs to a second division team. Blue Lake compiled a fine 79-72 mark in the inaugural season, ending up second and just one game behind the flag-winning Fairfax Frogs. But slumped to sixth place, 15 games off the pace, with a poor 71-83 record in the 2002 expansion year. In 2003 they improved slightly to 77-77.

The outlook for 2004 is pretty fair as per the baseball writers. The Blue Sox could be better, but still not move up in the standings. All of the clubs ahead of them are solid teams and are not going to suddenly turn over and play dead. However, if rookie righthander Benny DeBartolo comes through and establishes himself as the team's #3 starter, Blue Lake's stock will rise and the playoffs are a possibility for Cobb Tyson's club. DeBartolo throws 98 mph and has marvelous movement on his pitches. The question is whether or not he can find the plate often enough to win and how pitching more often will affect him.

Cobb told reporters recently, "Our season depends on improved pitching. If Tom Waltenbury (9-1 2.70) can make the transition from long relief to starter and pitch like he did last season and DeBartolo can adapt to pitching every 3-4 days rather than once a week in the industrial league, the Blue Sox will be in the thick of the playoff battle. Another positive is my two gold glovers, Cy Orgeron at shortstop and Loren Babcock at third. Fourth place is highly possible and attainable. And if my lousy hitters would hit their weight, there's no doubt we would be in the playoffs. We would win the pennant."

Best Pitchers: LHP Tom Waltenbury (9-1 2.70), Neil Krogstad (18-15 4.06) and Bennie West (13-17 3.52)

Best Batters: RF Fred Collins (.300 BA/28 HR/91 RBI/111 R/53 SB), CF Rick Hilliard (.281 BA/24 HR/98 R/54 SB), 2B Ken Bennett (.275 BA/17 HR/96 RBI)

06-11-2009, 06:00 PM	#1002
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times March 2, 2004 Blue Lake Has Tough Task In Strong TU North The Tyrobbian North Division has the reputation for being the best overall division in the IPA. Cobb Tyson's Blue Lake Blue Sox played .500 ball, yet finished sixth in the standings, 11 games out. In the last two years the Blue Sox have fallen from one of the league's better clubs to a second division team. Blue Lake compiled a fine 79-72 mark in the inaugural season, ending up second and just one game behind the flag-winning Fairfax Frogs. But slumped to sixth place, 15 games off the pace, with a poor 71-83 record in the 2002 expansion year. In 2003 they improved slightly to 77-77. The outlook for 2004 is pretty fair as per the baseball writers. The Blue Sox could be better, but still not move up in the standings. All of the clubs ahead of them are solid teams and are not going to suddenly turn over and play dead. However, if rookie righthander Benny DeBartolo comes through and establishes himself as the team's #3 starter, Blue Lake's stock will rise and the playoffs are a possibility for Cobb Tyson's club. DeBartolo throws 98 mph and has marvelous movement on his pitches. The question is whether or not he can find the plate often enough to win and how pitching more often will affect him. Cobb told reporters recently, "Our season depends on improved pitching. If Tom Waltenbury (9-1 2.70) can make the transition from long relief to starter and pitch like he did last season and DeBartolo can adapt to pitching every 3-4 days rather than once a week in the industrial league, the Blue Sox will be in the thick of the playoff battle. Another positive is my two gold glovers, Cy Orgeron at shortstop and Loren Babcock at third. Fourth place is highly possible and attainable. And if my lousy hitters would hit their weight, there's no doubt we would be in the playoffs. We would win the pennant." Best Pitchers: LHP Tom Waltenbury (9-1 2.70), Neil Krogstad (18-15 4.06) and Bennie West (13-17 3.52) Best Batters: RF Fred Collins (.300 BA/28 HR/91 RBI/111 R/53 SB), CF Rick Hilliard (.281 BA/24 HR/98 R/54 SB), 2B Ken Bennett (.275 BA/17 HR/96 RBI) Last edited by Eugene Church; 06-25-2009 at 10:17 PM.