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Eugene Church · 09-25-2009, 11:23 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, August 22, 2005

Ruthlandian Union North Division Standings

4-Team Battle in RU North, Ranford 1-Game Up
The Ranford Bulls trailed by four games at midseason. Going into the last month of the 2005 Ruthlandian Union North pennant chase, Ranford has surged from fifth place to first place since the All-Star game. The Bulls have a one-game edge over Far Mountain with three other clubs still in the playoff hunt. Ancona and Taranto are deadlocked for third, four games off the pace, while Valmara is fifth, but seven back.

The Ranford Bulls (71-57) under manager Page Satcher have raced to a 36-19 mark the last two months, the best record in the division. Satcher club is solid on the mound and at the plate. The Bulls have the best ERA (3.57) in the North Division and are paced by the strong-armed threesome of Leland Shaddock (13-8 3.00), Chris Bernhoffer (13-10 3.07) and Jim Maxwell (16-8 3.68). Closer Tim DeKosky (5-9 2.56) has rung up 19 saves and worked in 55 games. Leading the Bulls charge at bat are 1B Jordy John (.324/20 HR), LF Jose Castillo (.274/20 HR) and 3B Colin Fairclough (.302/19 HR). All of Satcher's other regulars are batting over .274. No weak sisters in Satcher's line-up.

Alex Groveland's Far Mountain Redhawks chalked up a 32-23 record since the halfway break. The only advantage Groveland has over Satcher is a little more home run power. RF Karl Dietz (.246) has 33 homers and 102 RBIs to top the Redhawks with help from rookie LF Gary Horn (.286) and 2B Duane Parsons (.282), who have added 20 and 18 roundtrippers respectively. On the mound Far Mountain is led by Dave Johnston (15-7 3.08), Robby Kelly (15-10 3.21) and Cliff Pope (13-13 3.65). One big disadvantage has arisen. The Redhawks lost their fine first sacker Royce Benson for the rest of the year with a broken hand. Benson was hitting a team high .339 with 9 home runs and 32 stolen bases.

The Ancona Red Elephants (67-61) and Taranto Tars (67-61), two power-laden clubs are tied for third place, just four games out. Both were also tied at the All-Star game for the top spot with Valmara. Since then they have each compiled a 28-27 record, while the Vipers slumped to 25-30.

Skipper Manny Mickens of Ancona depends on his bats to do the job. Mickens has 6 players with 15 or more homers. "Our philosophy is to get three hard swings in every at bat. We go for broke."

Rookie CF Tavi Vakros (.319) has gone deep 22 times, while rookie 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.304) has 21, RF Jimmy Brewer (.256) 18, 3B Denny Harris (.318) 17, C Bart Harben (.296) 15 and LF Louie DiMucci (.283) 15. The Red Elephants sport a 4.01 ERA and have only two quality hurlers. Nikon Maragos (17-11 3.73) and Yannis Vardakis (13-13 3.58) are Mickens' best.

The Taranto Tars and Tommaso Lazzorda really depend on the long balls. The Tars attack is the best in the RU North with 166 so far this season. Only three other teams in the IPA have more. RF Tony Blaser (.329) leads the power parade with 44 homers and 112 RBIs. LF Dominic Zuccaro (.318) has belted 36 and driven in 108 runs. Part-time CF Wayne Pounders (.245) has 23 in 61 games and C Norm Polochak (.272) has smacked 16 in 84 games. Despite playing in a home run haven, the Palazzo di Sport, Lazzorda has a pretty fair starting staff, sparked by Anthony Nardone (14-11 3.78), Carlo Bianchi (10-7 3.91) and George Brazzi (11-9 3.97). The Tars closer Gino Lamonica (5-3 2.63) gives Lazzorda a strong arm to go to in the late innings. Lamonica has saved 13 games.

Superior pitching gives Ranford and Far Mountain the best chance for the postseason. It will be tough for Taranto and Ancona to get there.

One of the preseason favorites, the Valmara Vipers (64-64) have faltered in the second half after tying Ranford and Taranto for the top spot at midseason. J. Jackson Samuel's team has slipped in both the pitching and hitting departments. Only Vanya Vasylenko (16-12 3.46) and closer Chuck Kowalczyk (6-2 1.58) have held their own. Ted Farentino (11-10 3.75) and Danny Blauser (10-16 3.56) have got to do better for the Vipers to get back to the top.

Valmara really suffers from the loss of CF Jan Szymanski, who was traded to Midway for SS Tory Bidwell (.261 BA/8 HR/56 RBI/57 R). Szymanski's 33 homers, 95 RBIs and .327 batting average sure would have made a difference in the Viper season. LF Jet Kazmarek (.343) has had a good season, but really misses his favorite clean-up man. Kazmarek has gotten little help this year except for 1B Masaichi Okawa, who has walloped 25 home runs, batted in 81 runs, but has hit for only a .245 batting average.

It's been a very disappointing year for manager Foxy Jimison and his LaGrange Sports (56-72), who were the top choice to take the RU North in the BNN poll at the start of the year. However the Sports have never been in the race and have wallowed in sixth and seventh place all season long. LaGrange is currently 15 games back in the race. Jimison's only bat is SS Bill Nilsen, who carries a .294 average with 25 homers and 87 RBIs. His top pitchers have been Hunk Sweitzer (11-9 2.41), Robert Marquis (9-5 3.23) and Tony Amick (12-11 3.68).

The Glasco Athletics (50-78) and Kilkenny Cats (49-79) have had dismal campaigns with not much to cheer about. Pitcher Charles Darby (14-11 4.14) is skipper McDuffie Hughes' only bright spot. C Jonas Ogburn is the top hitter at .297 and 9 roundtrippers.

Kilkenny's Kieran McKenna has had a few good efforts. Pitchers Colin Gilder (11-7 3.34) and Victor Kauchak (11-11 3.86) have stood out at times, while second-year closer Carley Stockwell (2-5 3.17) saved 20 games and made 58 appearances thus far. Outfielders Rick Audubon (.280/20 HR) and Kirk Pitzer (.301/9 HR) have been his best run producers.

The forecast is for Ranford to take the regular season title with Far Mountain in second place. Better pitching and a balanced line-up will give preference to the Bulls over the Redhawks.

09-25-2009, 11:23 PM	#1221
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,791 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Monday, August 22, 2005 Ruthlandian Union North Division Standings 4-Team Battle in RU North, Ranford 1-Game Up The Ranford Bulls trailed by four games at midseason. Going into the last month of the 2005 Ruthlandian Union North pennant chase, Ranford has surged from fifth place to first place since the All-Star game. The Bulls have a one-game edge over Far Mountain with three other clubs still in the playoff hunt. Ancona and Taranto are deadlocked for third, four games off the pace, while Valmara is fifth, but seven back. The Ranford Bulls (71-57) under manager Page Satcher have raced to a 36-19 mark the last two months, the best record in the division. Satcher club is solid on the mound and at the plate. The Bulls have the best ERA (3.57) in the North Division and are paced by the strong-armed threesome of Leland Shaddock (13-8 3.00), Chris Bernhoffer (13-10 3.07) and Jim Maxwell (16-8 3.68). Closer Tim DeKosky (5-9 2.56) has rung up 19 saves and worked in 55 games. Leading the Bulls charge at bat are 1B Jordy John (.324/20 HR), LF Jose Castillo (.274/20 HR) and 3B Colin Fairclough (.302/19 HR). All of Satcher's other regulars are batting over .274. No weak sisters in Satcher's line-up. Alex Groveland's Far Mountain Redhawks chalked up a 32-23 record since the halfway break. The only advantage Groveland has over Satcher is a little more home run power. RF Karl Dietz (.246) has 33 homers and 102 RBIs to top the Redhawks with help from rookie LF Gary Horn (.286) and 2B Duane Parsons (.282), who have added 20 and 18 roundtrippers respectively. On the mound Far Mountain is led by Dave Johnston (15-7 3.08), Robby Kelly (15-10 3.21) and Cliff Pope (13-13 3.65). One big disadvantage has arisen. The Redhawks lost their fine first sacker Royce Benson for the rest of the year with a broken hand. Benson was hitting a team high .339 with 9 home runs and 32 stolen bases. The Ancona Red Elephants (67-61) and Taranto Tars (67-61), two power-laden clubs are tied for third place, just four games out. Both were also tied at the All-Star game for the top spot with Valmara. Since then they have each compiled a 28-27 record, while the Vipers slumped to 25-30. Skipper Manny Mickens of Ancona depends on his bats to do the job. Mickens has 6 players with 15 or more homers. "Our philosophy is to get three hard swings in every at bat. We go for broke." Rookie CF Tavi Vakros (.319) has gone deep 22 times, while rookie 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.304) has 21, RF Jimmy Brewer (.256) 18, 3B Denny Harris (.318) 17, C Bart Harben (.296) 15 and LF Louie DiMucci (.283) 15. The Red Elephants sport a 4.01 ERA and have only two quality hurlers. Nikon Maragos (17-11 3.73) and Yannis Vardakis (13-13 3.58) are Mickens' best. The Taranto Tars and Tommaso Lazzorda really depend on the long balls. The Tars attack is the best in the RU North with 166 so far this season. Only three other teams in the IPA have more. RF Tony Blaser (.329) leads the power parade with 44 homers and 112 RBIs. LF Dominic Zuccaro (.318) has belted 36 and driven in 108 runs. Part-time CF Wayne Pounders (.245) has 23 in 61 games and C Norm Polochak (.272) has smacked 16 in 84 games. Despite playing in a home run haven, the Palazzo di Sport, Lazzorda has a pretty fair starting staff, sparked by Anthony Nardone (14-11 3.78), Carlo Bianchi (10-7 3.91) and George Brazzi (11-9 3.97). The Tars closer Gino Lamonica (5-3 2.63) gives Lazzorda a strong arm to go to in the late innings. Lamonica has saved 13 games. Superior pitching gives Ranford and Far Mountain the best chance for the postseason. It will be tough for Taranto and Ancona to get there. One of the preseason favorites, the Valmara Vipers (64-64) have faltered in the second half after tying Ranford and Taranto for the top spot at midseason. J. Jackson Samuel's team has slipped in both the pitching and hitting departments. Only Vanya Vasylenko (16-12 3.46) and closer Chuck Kowalczyk (6-2 1.58) have held their own. Ted Farentino (11-10 3.75) and Danny Blauser (10-16 3.56) have got to do better for the Vipers to get back to the top. Valmara really suffers from the loss of CF Jan Szymanski, who was traded to Midway for SS Tory Bidwell (.261 BA/8 HR/56 RBI/57 R). Szymanski's 33 homers, 95 RBIs and .327 batting average sure would have made a difference in the Viper season. LF Jet Kazmarek (.343) has had a good season, but really misses his favorite clean-up man. Kazmarek has gotten little help this year except for 1B Masaichi Okawa, who has walloped 25 home runs, batted in 81 runs, but has hit for only a .245 batting average. It's been a very disappointing year for manager Foxy Jimison and his LaGrange Sports (56-72), who were the top choice to take the RU North in the BNN poll at the start of the year. However the Sports have never been in the race and have wallowed in sixth and seventh place all season long. LaGrange is currently 15 games back in the race. Jimison's only bat is SS Bill Nilsen, who carries a .294 average with 25 homers and 87 RBIs. His top pitchers have been Hunk Sweitzer (11-9 2.41), Robert Marquis (9-5 3.23) and Tony Amick (12-11 3.68). The Glasco Athletics (50-78) and Kilkenny Cats (49-79) have had dismal campaigns with not much to cheer about. Pitcher Charles Darby (14-11 4.14) is skipper McDuffie Hughes' only bright spot. C Jonas Ogburn is the top hitter at .297 and 9 roundtrippers. Kilkenny's Kieran McKenna has had a few good efforts. Pitchers Colin Gilder (11-7 3.34) and Victor Kauchak (11-11 3.86) have stood out at times, while second-year closer Carley Stockwell (2-5 3.17) saved 20 games and made 58 appearances thus far. Outfielders Rick Audubon (.280/20 HR) and Kirk Pitzer (.301/9 HR) have been his best run producers. The forecast is for Ranford to take the regular season title with Far Mountain in second place. Better pitching and a balanced line-up will give preference to the Bulls over the Redhawks. Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-25-2009 at 11:34 PM.