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Eugene Church · 09-28-2009, 08:57 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, August 22, 2005

Ruthlandian Union West Division Standings

Volusia V's Open Up 6-game Lead in RU West
Over in the Ruthlandian Union West Division the Volusia Vigilantes have expanded their lead to six games in the last two months since the All-Star game. The V's still have a tough team to fend off, the preseason favorite, the Middlefield Roosters. In third place are the Colfax Blasters, seven games off the pace. The Sligo Rovers challenged Volusia until mid-year, trailing by just two games at that point, but have faded to fourth place going into the last month of the campaign, nine games out. Stoner is still close enough to contend for a playoff spot. The Stars are in fifth place, 10 games behind. Forest City (6th), Fort Benton (7th) and Rocky Rapids (8th) are too far back and out of the running.

The Volusia Vigilantes (74-54), piloted by Alfonso Feliz, have a well-balanced ball club with a .266 BA (3rd), 102 home runs (5th), 619 runs (2nd) and a 3.66 team ERA (1st). The V's play well defensively and have a .977 FA (2nd-tied).

Tommy Betanzos (18-8 3.69) and closer Hernando Espaderos (9-6 2.84) have carried the Vigilantes on their shoulders thus far. Espaderos has saved 22 games and made 61 appearances. Carl Schmitz (13-11 3.00) and Ricky Moreno (13-10 4.30) have also contributed.

At the plate it's been CF Ryan Raines (.316/18 HR/86 RBI/86 R/30 SB) and RF Lorenzo Pariente (.344/11 HR/45 RBI) leading the attack. Pariente has been red-hot since taking over full-time a month ago. Feliz has gotten good production from all of his regulars.

Five players have hit 20 or more homers for the second-place Middlefield Roosters (68-60), who are trying to hit their way to the RU West title. Smitty Michaels' hard-hitting bunch tops the division with a .270 batting average, 184 homers (1st) and 684 runs (1st), but have serious pitching problems with a 4.38 ERA (8th).

The Roosters have a plethora of power in rookie 3B Charlie Gamble (.329/44 HR/104 RBI/89 R), CF Ty DeWitt (.268/29 HR/90 RBI/88 R/11 SB), LF Cecil Clark (.313/26 HR/63 RBI/81 R/10 SB), RF Bailey Norcross (.294/23 HR/88 RBI/93 R/33 SB) and 1B Allie Ludlow (.263/21 HR/73 RBI/82 R). but fall far short on the mound. Only Jamie Hicks (14-7 3.43) and Joshua Jackson (14-12 3.25) have done the job for Michaels. Vets Denny Yarrow (11-9 5.00 and closer Dave Webb (2-10 5.90) have been yanked. Yarrow was sent to the bullpen and Webb was released.

The third place Colfax Blasters (67-61) with Clem Rogers at the helm are now seven games in back of the Vigilantes, but may have a better chance to catch Volusia because they possess superior pitching to Middlefield. Both clubs depend on firepower to win, but Colfax has a 3.74 team ERA (3rd). Rogers has two solid starters in Tommy Fuller (13-5 2.87) and Ilya Szabo (12-10 3.08). He also get effective work from Harry Manning (13-13 4.00). Rogers also has the advantage of a good closer in Dallas Somerville (3-4 3.23), who has chalked up 10 saves since taking over at midseason.

Batting-wise the Blasters can't quite match the output of the Roosters, but they can hit the ball pretty darn well. Colfax is hitting at a .269 clip (2nd) with 133 roundtrippers (3rd) and 613 runs (3rd). Rogers' top hitters are rookie LF Chris Carroll (.292/29 HR/89 RBI/73 R), 3B Neely Keeton (.280/25 HR/77 RBI/80 R), 1B Dennis Cole (.259/21 HR/57 RBI/74 R) and C Tino Leonetti (.323/6 HR/38 RBI).

The Sligo Rovers (65-63) have gone into the doldrums the last several months and have fallen 9 games behind Volusia and slipped to fourth place. Eddie Keys' crew is getting by on the strong arms of Dix Edenborough (18-13 3.07) and Al Bukowski (15-11 3.07). The Rovers pitching corps has compiled a 3.73 ERA (3rd), but the club's offense has difficulty putting runs on the scoreboard. Sligo is hitting only .256 (6th) on the year with 88 home runs (6th). Only SS Hollis Waldrup (.290/21 HR/86 RBI/74 R/41 SB) has put up any stats of worth. Sligo seems to be on the downturn and might struggle to stay where they are.

The Stoner Stars (64-64) are on the rise. Manager Willie Dickens has them playing their best ball of the year. The Stars have moved up in the standings to fifth place, but still are 10 games back. However, Stoner is only four games away from a postseason slot. They are a lot like Middlefield and depend on the long ball. The Stars have a .256 batting average (6th), but have gone deep 134 times (2nd). Stoner also suffers on the hill with a 4.28 ERA (7th).

Dickens' has some potent bats in his arsenal, sparked by 1B Lou Martyn (.265/27 HR/90 RBI), C Benny Stern (.305/19 HR/75 RBI), RF Dutch Rheinecker (.285/25 HR/66 RBI), CF Andre Bienvenu (.267/16 HR/57 RBI) and 3B Allen Black (.253/15 HR/53 RBI/85 R/13 SB). On the mound only Norman Canfield (13-10 3.28) has stood out.

The Forest City Lumberjacks (58-70) and Fort Benton Defenders (58-70) are locked in a tie for the sixth spot in the RU West standings. Neither team has much to brag about, but it looks like the Lumberjacks will get the best of the Defenders in this second-division battle. Forest City pitching will prevail with a 3.72 ERA (2nd) over Fort Benton's 3.98 ERA (6th).

Forest City's best performers are its starting rotation of Timmy Brooks (13-9 3.63), Knucks Nomellini (11-11 3.11) and Al Thibaut (11-12 3.47). The 'Jacks batting order has just not done the job this year for manager Robbie Jackson. They are batting .262 (5th) with 103 homers (4th), but have scored only 493 runs (8th), the third worst total in the whole IPA. CF Roger Marley (.334/13 HR/49 RBI) is the one bright spot.

In Fort Benton manager Robbie Brooks doesn't have much to smile about except for starter Leroy Hill (16-9 2.96), closer Tom Chiarra (5-7 3.07) and C Jake Varshon (.330/15 HR/67 RBI). The Defenders are awfully weak with only 76 dingers (8th) this year. They are batting .265 overall (4th).

The Rocky Rapids Snappers (51-77) again will be nowhere near a playoff spot and will finish in the RU West basement. Ryan Noland's Snappers are near the bottom in hitting with a .253 BA (8th), 84 home runs (7th), 514 runs (7th), but have a fair 3.83 ERA (5th). Noland has three decent starters in Charley Medford (12-9 3.24), Kirk Beckmann (7-16 2.97) and Ben Mashburn (10-14 3.74). Rocky Rapids also has a couple fine hitters in 1B Stan Haddix (.326/11 HR/84 RBI) and LF Scott Camden (.285/22 HR/74 RBI) - but little else.

After all is said and done, it will be Volusia and Colfax as the RU West's postseason representatives. However, the vote for Colfax is a shaky one - the Middlefield Rooster offense is awesome.

09-28-2009, 08:57 PM	#1224
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,820	The Islandian Times Monday, August 22, 2005 Ruthlandian Union West Division Standings Volusia V's Open Up 6-game Lead in RU West Over in the Ruthlandian Union West Division the Volusia Vigilantes have expanded their lead to six games in the last two months since the All-Star game. The V's still have a tough team to fend off, the preseason favorite, the Middlefield Roosters. In third place are the Colfax Blasters, seven games off the pace. The Sligo Rovers challenged Volusia until mid-year, trailing by just two games at that point, but have faded to fourth place going into the last month of the campaign, nine games out. Stoner is still close enough to contend for a playoff spot. The Stars are in fifth place, 10 games behind. Forest City (6th), Fort Benton (7th) and Rocky Rapids (8th) are too far back and out of the running. The Volusia Vigilantes (74-54), piloted by Alfonso Feliz, have a well-balanced ball club with a .266 BA (3rd), 102 home runs (5th), 619 runs (2nd) and a 3.66 team ERA (1st). The V's play well defensively and have a .977 FA (2nd-tied). Tommy Betanzos (18-8 3.69) and closer Hernando Espaderos (9-6 2.84) have carried the Vigilantes on their shoulders thus far. Espaderos has saved 22 games and made 61 appearances. Carl Schmitz (13-11 3.00) and Ricky Moreno (13-10 4.30) have also contributed. At the plate it's been CF Ryan Raines (.316/18 HR/86 RBI/86 R/30 SB) and RF Lorenzo Pariente (.344/11 HR/45 RBI) leading the attack. Pariente has been red-hot since taking over full-time a month ago. Feliz has gotten good production from all of his regulars. Five players have hit 20 or more homers for the second-place Middlefield Roosters (68-60), who are trying to hit their way to the RU West title. Smitty Michaels' hard-hitting bunch tops the division with a .270 batting average, 184 homers (1st) and 684 runs (1st), but have serious pitching problems with a 4.38 ERA (8th). The Roosters have a plethora of power in rookie 3B Charlie Gamble (.329/44 HR/104 RBI/89 R), CF Ty DeWitt (.268/29 HR/90 RBI/88 R/11 SB), LF Cecil Clark (.313/26 HR/63 RBI/81 R/10 SB), RF Bailey Norcross (.294/23 HR/88 RBI/93 R/33 SB) and 1B Allie Ludlow (.263/21 HR/73 RBI/82 R). but fall far short on the mound. Only Jamie Hicks (14-7 3.43) and Joshua Jackson (14-12 3.25) have done the job for Michaels. Vets Denny Yarrow (11-9 5.00 and closer Dave Webb (2-10 5.90) have been yanked. Yarrow was sent to the bullpen and Webb was released. The third place Colfax Blasters (67-61) with Clem Rogers at the helm are now seven games in back of the Vigilantes, but may have a better chance to catch Volusia because they possess superior pitching to Middlefield. Both clubs depend on firepower to win, but Colfax has a 3.74 team ERA (3rd). Rogers has two solid starters in Tommy Fuller (13-5 2.87) and Ilya Szabo (12-10 3.08). He also get effective work from Harry Manning (13-13 4.00). Rogers also has the advantage of a good closer in Dallas Somerville (3-4 3.23), who has chalked up 10 saves since taking over at midseason. Batting-wise the Blasters can't quite match the output of the Roosters, but they can hit the ball pretty darn well. Colfax is hitting at a .269 clip (2nd) with 133 roundtrippers (3rd) and 613 runs (3rd). Rogers' top hitters are rookie LF Chris Carroll (.292/29 HR/89 RBI/73 R), 3B Neely Keeton (.280/25 HR/77 RBI/80 R), 1B Dennis Cole (.259/21 HR/57 RBI/74 R) and C Tino Leonetti (.323/6 HR/38 RBI). The Sligo Rovers (65-63) have gone into the doldrums the last several months and have fallen 9 games behind Volusia and slipped to fourth place. Eddie Keys' crew is getting by on the strong arms of Dix Edenborough (18-13 3.07) and Al Bukowski (15-11 3.07). The Rovers pitching corps has compiled a 3.73 ERA (3rd), but the club's offense has difficulty putting runs on the scoreboard. Sligo is hitting only .256 (6th) on the year with 88 home runs (6th). Only SS Hollis Waldrup (.290/21 HR/86 RBI/74 R/41 SB) has put up any stats of worth. Sligo seems to be on the downturn and might struggle to stay where they are. The Stoner Stars (64-64) are on the rise. Manager Willie Dickens has them playing their best ball of the year. The Stars have moved up in the standings to fifth place, but still are 10 games back. However, Stoner is only four games away from a postseason slot. They are a lot like Middlefield and depend on the long ball. The Stars have a .256 batting average (6th), but have gone deep 134 times (2nd). Stoner also suffers on the hill with a 4.28 ERA (7th). Dickens' has some potent bats in his arsenal, sparked by 1B Lou Martyn (.265/27 HR/90 RBI), C Benny Stern (.305/19 HR/75 RBI), RF Dutch Rheinecker (.285/25 HR/66 RBI), CF Andre Bienvenu (.267/16 HR/57 RBI) and 3B Allen Black (.253/15 HR/53 RBI/85 R/13 SB). On the mound only Norman Canfield (13-10 3.28) has stood out. The Forest City Lumberjacks (58-70) and Fort Benton Defenders (58-70) are locked in a tie for the sixth spot in the RU West standings. Neither team has much to brag about, but it looks like the Lumberjacks will get the best of the Defenders in this second-division battle. Forest City pitching will prevail with a 3.72 ERA (2nd) over Fort Benton's 3.98 ERA (6th). Forest City's best performers are its starting rotation of Timmy Brooks (13-9 3.63), Knucks Nomellini (11-11 3.11) and Al Thibaut (11-12 3.47). The 'Jacks batting order has just not done the job this year for manager Robbie Jackson. They are batting .262 (5th) with 103 homers (4th), but have scored only 493 runs (8th), the third worst total in the whole IPA. CF Roger Marley (.334/13 HR/49 RBI) is the one bright spot. In Fort Benton manager Robbie Brooks doesn't have much to smile about except for starter Leroy Hill (16-9 2.96), closer Tom Chiarra (5-7 3.07) and C Jake Varshon (.330/15 HR/67 RBI). The Defenders are awfully weak with only 76 dingers (8th) this year. They are batting .265 overall (4th). The Rocky Rapids Snappers (51-77) again will be nowhere near a playoff spot and will finish in the RU West basement. Ryan Noland's Snappers are near the bottom in hitting with a .253 BA (8th), 84 home runs (7th), 514 runs (7th), but have a fair 3.83 ERA (5th). Noland has three decent starters in Charley Medford (12-9 3.24), Kirk Beckmann (7-16 2.97) and Ben Mashburn (10-14 3.74). Rocky Rapids also has a couple fine hitters in 1B Stan Haddix (.326/11 HR/84 RBI) and LF Scott Camden (.285/22 HR/74 RBI) - but little else. After all is said and done, it will be Volusia and Colfax as the RU West's postseason representatives. However, the vote for Colfax is a shaky one - the Middlefield Rooster offense is awesome.