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Eugene Church · 06-17-2009, 06:19 PM

The Islandian Times

March 6, 2004

High Mesa Ranks High In Preseason TU East Poll
The High Mesa Cowboys received high marks from the baseball forecasters for the coming IPA season. The Cowboys under manager Frisky Franks won the whole shebang two years ago. The hard-hitting High Mesa bunch were division co-champions along with the South Fork Stallions and then swept through the playoffs to garner the IPA Pro Cup in their first year of play. Last season the Cowboys came up one game short and lost the regular season flag to the Red Bluff Red Sox. And in the Pro Cup playoffs went out in the opening round at the hands of the Tuckanarra Blue Jays.

Asked about the quick exit in the playoffs last year, Franks responded, "As you guys know the worst team in the league can win two of three games against the best team in the league. Anything can happen in a short series. I'm hoping that the owners will come up with a plan to play best three-out-of-five series. That way the better team will won most of the time. We just ran into a hot Tuckanarra team that beat us. It's that simple."

Franks has just about the same club back for season number three and with his great track record is almost certain to be in the running again for the TU East crown and then make a deep run into the playoffs. The baseball experts love the High Mesa Cowboys and consider them one of the premier teams in the Islands. The Cowboys hit for average, hit for power and run like the wind.

High Mesa has a whole host of fine hitters, combined with a steady and consistent staff of pitchers. The pitchers really do a remarkable job considering how small the ballpark is. Queen Ranch Stadium is called "Homer Heaven" around the league. Only one rookie made the club this year. Jack Reeder is a 36-year-old righthanded power pitcher (95 mph) and he will step in as spot starter and long reliever.

Best pitchers: LHP Joey Popovich (17-11 3.53), LHP John Owens (18-10 3.92), Kael Claxton (15-8 4.22), Donnie Rinaldi (14-11 4.14) and closer Ken Edgar (4-1 1.52) with 14 saves in 34 games in a half season.

Best Batters: LF Adam Zitek (.276 BA/34 HR/111 RBI/93 R), 2B Ed Granberg (.359 BA/21 HR/108 RBI/119 R/27 SB), SS Rolf Kellgren (.293 BA/17 HR/72 RBI/110 R/28 SB), C Jay Fessler (.302 BA/6 HR/61 RBI/100 R/37 SB), RF Kenny Edelstein (.327 BA/16 HR/85 RBI/87 R/12 SB), 1B Babe Holloman (.253 BA/26 HR/92 RBI) and CF Lex Neville (.262 BA/22 HR/83 RBI/88 R/19 SB)

06-17-2009, 06:19 PM	#1022
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times March 6, 2004 High Mesa Ranks High In Preseason TU East Poll The High Mesa Cowboys received high marks from the baseball forecasters for the coming IPA season. The Cowboys under manager Frisky Franks won the whole shebang two years ago. The hard-hitting High Mesa bunch were division co-champions along with the South Fork Stallions and then swept through the playoffs to garner the IPA Pro Cup in their first year of play. Last season the Cowboys came up one game short and lost the regular season flag to the Red Bluff Red Sox. And in the Pro Cup playoffs went out in the opening round at the hands of the Tuckanarra Blue Jays. Asked about the quick exit in the playoffs last year, Franks responded, "As you guys know the worst team in the league can win two of three games against the best team in the league. Anything can happen in a short series. I'm hoping that the owners will come up with a plan to play best three-out-of-five series. That way the better team will won most of the time. We just ran into a hot Tuckanarra team that beat us. It's that simple." Franks has just about the same club back for season number three and with his great track record is almost certain to be in the running again for the TU East crown and then make a deep run into the playoffs. The baseball experts love the High Mesa Cowboys and consider them one of the premier teams in the Islands. The Cowboys hit for average, hit for power and run like the wind. High Mesa has a whole host of fine hitters, combined with a steady and consistent staff of pitchers. The pitchers really do a remarkable job considering how small the ballpark is. Queen Ranch Stadium is called "Homer Heaven" around the league. Only one rookie made the club this year. Jack Reeder is a 36-year-old righthanded power pitcher (95 mph) and he will step in as spot starter and long reliever. Best pitchers: LHP Joey Popovich (17-11 3.53), LHP John Owens (18-10 3.92), Kael Claxton (15-8 4.22), Donnie Rinaldi (14-11 4.14) and closer Ken Edgar (4-1 1.52) with 14 saves in 34 games in a half season. Best Batters: LF Adam Zitek (.276 BA/34 HR/111 RBI/93 R), 2B Ed Granberg (.359 BA/21 HR/108 RBI/119 R/27 SB), SS Rolf Kellgren (.293 BA/17 HR/72 RBI/110 R/28 SB), C Jay Fessler (.302 BA/6 HR/61 RBI/100 R/37 SB), RF Kenny Edelstein (.327 BA/16 HR/85 RBI/87 R/12 SB), 1B Babe Holloman (.253 BA/26 HR/92 RBI) and CF Lex Neville (.262 BA/22 HR/83 RBI/88 R/19 SB) Last edited by Eugene Church; 06-17-2009 at 06:26 PM.