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Eugene Church · 08-07-2009, 04:41 PM

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 15, 2004

Rattlers Bird Tops RU Best Hitter List
There was nobody hotter in the Ruthlandian Union this season as Flipper Bird of the Sugar Valley Rattlers attacked enemy pitching with a vengeance and came away with the Golden Bat Award for 2004. Bird led the entire IPA with 132 RBIs, helping Sugar Valley to a second-place finish in the regular season and a runner-up spot in the IPA Pro Cup championship.

The 24-year-old shortstop hit .305 while collecting 187 hits, 33 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs and 132 RBIs. He also scored 108 runs and posted a .378 on-base percentage. On defense Bird registered an impressive .980 FA. Winning awards is nothing new for Bird. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2001, has been on the All-Star teams in 2002 and 2003 and won a Gold Glove in 2003. Bird is a lifetime .308 hitter.

Bird's biggest competition for the Golden Bat honors was Belair Beach's excellent first baseman Phil Gravelli. The gifted batter had the second-best batting average in the Ruthlandian Union at .356. Gravelli homered 35 times, batted in 120 runs and scored 94 to spark the Sunbirds to the RU South pennant. Gravelli handles the glove well, too, with a .992 FA. Over his four-year career Gravelli has hit a very strong .321.

This year's leading hitter Jet Kazmarek came out third in the Golden Bat category. Valmara's left fielder racked up a .376 batting average with 10 homers, 85 RBIs, 116 runs and 80 stolen bases. Kazmarek won the Golden Bat Award in 2002, when he hit an astounding .428.

Plunkett TU's Top Hitter for 2004
Oxford's Ike Plunkett put the wraps on a fine campaign today by winning the 2004 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. He scorched the opposition with a .319 average, picking up 188 hits, 30 doubles, 5 triples, 44 home runs and 103 RBIs, while scoring 128 runs in what many would say has been one of the better seasons of the veteran's career. The 31-year-old center fielder was a vital cog in the Red Caps season as he topped the IPA in home runs and runs scored, leading them to a TU North Division crown. Plunkett was chosen to the All-Star team for the first time this season. He is a career .303 hitter.

High Mesa's hard-hitting second baseman Ed Granberg was the second-highest vote collector. Granberg blistered league pitchers for a .321 mark, racked up 20 roundtrippers, had 116 RBIs and tallied 107 runs. For his career he has a lofty .335 batting average. Granberg is talented on defense, too. He finished up the year with a standout .985 fielding percentage.

Bayview's great all-around center fielder Phil Kanaan came in third in the vote for the Golden Bat. Kanaan paced the Vikings to the TU West title with a .303 batting average, 25 home runs, 102 RBIs, scored 120 runs and stole 36 bases, while patrolling center field with a splendid .985 percentage.

08-07-2009, 04:41 PM	#1173
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,690 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Friday, October 15, 2004 Rattlers Bird Tops RU Best Hitter List There was nobody hotter in the Ruthlandian Union this season as Flipper Bird of the Sugar Valley Rattlers attacked enemy pitching with a vengeance and came away with the Golden Bat Award for 2004. Bird led the entire IPA with 132 RBIs, helping Sugar Valley to a second-place finish in the regular season and a runner-up spot in the IPA Pro Cup championship. The 24-year-old shortstop hit .305 while collecting 187 hits, 33 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs and 132 RBIs. He also scored 108 runs and posted a .378 on-base percentage. On defense Bird registered an impressive .980 FA. Winning awards is nothing new for Bird. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2001, has been on the All-Star teams in 2002 and 2003 and won a Gold Glove in 2003. Bird is a lifetime .308 hitter. Bird's biggest competition for the Golden Bat honors was Belair Beach's excellent first baseman Phil Gravelli. The gifted batter had the second-best batting average in the Ruthlandian Union at .356. Gravelli homered 35 times, batted in 120 runs and scored 94 to spark the Sunbirds to the RU South pennant. Gravelli handles the glove well, too, with a .992 FA. Over his four-year career Gravelli has hit a very strong .321. This year's leading hitter Jet Kazmarek came out third in the Golden Bat category. Valmara's left fielder racked up a .376 batting average with 10 homers, 85 RBIs, 116 runs and 80 stolen bases. Kazmarek won the Golden Bat Award in 2002, when he hit an astounding .428. Plunkett TU's Top Hitter for 2004 Oxford's Ike Plunkett put the wraps on a fine campaign today by winning the 2004 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. He scorched the opposition with a .319 average, picking up 188 hits, 30 doubles, 5 triples, 44 home runs and 103 RBIs, while scoring 128 runs in what many would say has been one of the better seasons of the veteran's career. The 31-year-old center fielder was a vital cog in the Red Caps season as he topped the IPA in home runs and runs scored, leading them to a TU North Division crown. Plunkett was chosen to the All-Star team for the first time this season. He is a career .303 hitter. High Mesa's hard-hitting second baseman Ed Granberg was the second-highest vote collector. Granberg blistered league pitchers for a .321 mark, racked up 20 roundtrippers, had 116 RBIs and tallied 107 runs. For his career he has a lofty .335 batting average. Granberg is talented on defense, too. He finished up the year with a standout .985 fielding percentage. Bayview's great all-around center fielder Phil Kanaan came in third in the vote for the Golden Bat. Kanaan paced the Vikings to the TU West title with a .303 batting average, 25 home runs, 102 RBIs, scored 120 runs and stole 36 bases, while patrolling center field with a splendid .985 percentage.