[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Ruthlandian Union North Division

RU Tight at the Top, Bulls Lead Redhawks and Tars by 1
The tense battle is still raging in the Ruthlandian Union North - there are only three days left in the season and three teams still have a shot at the pennant. After today's action Ranford (83-68) is first, but just barely. The Bulls have a one-game lead over Far Mountain (82-69) and Taranto (82-69).

Far Mountain was the only winner as the Redhawks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-4 triumph over Ranford. The Redhawks salvaged the third game after losing the first two to the Bulls. Taranto failed to take advantage of this and were beaten 9-7 by the Belair Beach Sunbirds in 12 innings.

RF Karl Dietz's (.254) two-run ninth-inning double was the game-winner in the Redhawks win over first place Ranford. 3B Ken Henderson had the other big hit in the contest with a three-run blast in the sixth to put Far Mountain ahead 4-2. The Bulls 1B Jordy John (.314) and RF Sherman Waters (.279) evened the score with solo homers in the sixth and the eighth. Cliff Pope (16-16 3.85) went eight innings for the victory, while reliever Jamie Phillips (6-6 3.41) took the loss.

In Taranto, Sunbird 2B Art Parker (.320) sent the Tars down to a tough defeat with a two-run single in the twelfth inning. The Tars has fought back from a six-run deficit with a big six-run eighth. 3B Mike Janocko (.296) had a homer and three RBIs to pace Belair Beach, the regular season champs in the RU South. Taranto C Norm Polochak (.277) had three hits, including a three-run shot in the eighth inning. Reliever Sparky Oberlander (1-2 3.22) got the win with two scoreless innings, while closer Gino Lamonica (5-4 2.98) lost it.

Ruthlandian Union South Division

San Dimas Keeps 2-Game Edge in RU South
The magic number is now down to 3 in the race for the final playoff position in the RU South. San Dimas (81-70) maintained its hold on second place with a stirring 7-6 comeback victory over the Cold Creek Catamounts. The Valka Blackhawks (79-72) kept their chances alive with a 7-4 win over the Sligo Rovers. Any combination of Ranchero wins and Blackhawk losses that total three will send San Dimas to the Pro Cup playoffs, along with Belair Beach, the regular season flag-winner.

San Dimas came back from a 6-3 ninth-inning deficit and nipped Cold Creek 7-6 in the tenth on 1B Johnny Carducci's (.299) walk-off homer, his 43rd of the year. Closer Cleve Skinner (8-7 3.00) collected the win, while Buzzy Lewis (7-9 5.06) netted the loss.

In Valka, the Blackhawks led the entire game in topping Sligo 7-4. Darrel Vannoy (15-13 3.16) sparked the way with his arm and his bat. Vannoy hit a two-run home run, while holding the Rovers to four runs and eight hits.

Ruthlandian Union East Division

3-Team Tangle for 2nd Spot in RU East
The RU East is apparently going down to the last day to determine which team will get the final playoff spot. The Marston Nine (82-69) was the only contender that won today. The Nine trimmed Grand City 5-1 for their third win in a row to take over second place. Cold Creek was beaten by San Dimas 7-4, Eastshore fell to Claxton 7-2 and Belle Plaine (78-73) was eliminated from playoff contention 3-1 by Crystal Lake. The Catamounts and Elegants are now in third place in the standings and trail by one game. The Sugar Valley Rattlers (96-55) have already qualified for the playoffs as the division champion.

Vinnie Gardner (18-12 4.02) hurled Marston into second place by halting Grand City on five hits, while striking out six batters and walking two in his eight innings. Booger Burchfield (6-6 3.84) continued to sparkle in the bullpen. He has made 75 relief appearances and saved 32 games, which is tops in the IPA. CF Dennis Riley (.295) and C Mo Chappell (.232) led the Nine at bat with two RBIs apiece.

Claxton's CF Jackie Faust (.260) homered and drove in four runs and RF Dixie Baker (.330) homered and batted in three runs to support Doug Torvik's (17-14 3.24) fine mound performance in the Diamonds 7-4 triumph over Eastshore. Torvik had eight Ks and held the Elegants to seven hits. Eastshore's Freddie Duhon (17-15 3.93) sustained the loss, allowing seven runs in six-plus frames.

Cold Creek lost its third straight to San Dimas by blowing a 6-3 lead in the ninth. The Rancheros won 7-6 in ten innings.

The Belle Plaine Musketeers playoff hopes were shattered today when Crystal Lake's 3B Nelson Tolliver (.271) doubled in two runs in the seventh inning to defeat them 3-1. Winning pitcher Gus Zavos (10-15 3.94) had a standout game, stopping the Muskies on three hits, while fanning six and walking only one. Pistol Pete Westberry (17-13 3.70) went down to defeat, yielding three runs in seven innings.

Ruthlandian Union West Division

Colfax Back, Ties Middlefield for 2nd in RU West

Volusia 990-61) won the regular season crown in the RU West. Now it is a battle between Colfax (82-69) and Middlefield (82-69) for the other playoff slot. The Colfax Blasters have won the last two games, while Middlefield has dropped its last two to fall back into a two-way tie for second place with just three days to go.

Blaster Harry Manning (18-12 3.57) tossed a superb game in blanking Ancona 4-0. Manning limited the Red Elephants to five hits in eight innings for the victory. Reliever Daric Jacoby (8-10 4.44) worked a scoreless ninth to wrap up the shutout. SS George Grogan (.270) smacked a three-run roundtripper to pace Colfax at the plate. Manning outpitched Yannis Vardakis (15-16 3.45), who gave up only one run in eight innings and departed trailing 1-0.

Middlefield led 3-1 after five innings, but Forest City exploded in the late innings to win going away 13-5, capping it with a seven-run ninth. Timmy Brooks (16-11 3.83) was the winner and Joshua Jackson (16-15 3.52) was the losing pitcher. Pinchhitter Rob Carlson led the Lumberjacks with a grand slam homer. The Roosters' best bats were rookie 3B Charlie Gamble (.323), who hit his 48th home run and LF Cecil Clark (.300), who cracked his 27th of the season.

Tycobbian Union North

Hellcats Move Ahead of Blue Sox by a Game in TU North
In the TU North, Hartsdale (80-71) nudged ahead of Blue Lake (79-72) by a game to take over second place. The Hellcats skimmed by Southport 2-1, while the Blue Sox faltered at home to La Claire 8-5. The Luxora Zorros (90-61) have already nailed down the regular title and a place in the Pro Cup playoffs.

Mark Sakelaris (17-10 3.43) and three relievers saved the day for Hartsdale in the Hellcats 2-1 squeaker over the Sun Sox. Sakelaris held them in check for seven innings, permitting just one run and six hits. Phil Reed, Nico Carnera and Tal Vaitkus combined to close it out with Vaitkus getting the save. Pinchhitter Michinori Okada (.236) knocked in the winning score in the seventh with a single. Howie Clark (9-19 4.11) lost a toughie as he went all the way and allowed only two runs and seven hits.

La Claire used the long ball to sink the Blue Sox 8-5. 3B J. M. Chenault (.269) rapped two homers among his three hits and drove in four runs for the Lynx. LF Zeppy Deshotel (.309) added in a two-run clout. Winner Munoto Kishata (13-15 4.00) had a 7-1 lead, but weakened in the eighth. Kishata was tapped for five runs and eight hits in eight innings. Closer Henny Cossaboom (6-9 2.72) put Blue Lake to rest by retiring them in order for his 29th save. The loss went to Carroll Wendell (10-8 3.27), who allowed five runs in his seven innings. Rookie LF Tad Kirklin (.275) supplied most of the Blue Sox offense with four RBIs on a three-run blast and a sac fly. 1B Les Reynolds homered for the other run.

Tycobbian Union South Division

Hurricanes and Sunsets in Playoffs, TU South Crown Up for Grabs
Both Cape Coral (91-60) and Summerland (90-61) will make the postseason, but they haven't decided who will get the regular season crown in the TU South and the higher seed that goes with it. With three games left the Hurricanes are one game in the lead. Both ball clubs won today. Cape Coral downed Colchester 5-2 and Summerset nipped Bay St. Clair 5-4.

Two fine pitchers faced each other at Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral. It was Dickie Pendarvis for the Elites and Cody Burg for the Hurricanes. Burg (25-8 1.90) got the best of it, winning 5-2. Burg struck out 10 and stopped Colchester on five hits, while walking just one. Closer Arlie Nichols (5-3 3.05) relieved him in the ninth and notched his 10th save with a perfect ninth. Pendarvis (14-7 3.17) pitched well until the eighth when LF Kippy Doyle (.312) clipped him for a two-run clout, pushing the Hurricane lead up to three runs. LF Doug Tilford (.304) went deep for the Elites.

Summerland almost blew it today. Winning pitcher Lorne Rucker (6-4 3.97) was coasting along with a 5-1 lead heading into the ninth, when SS Chuck Hankins (.273) unleased a three-run shot and put the Buccaneers back in the game. Manager Will Hackett summoned in his bullpen ace, Bobby Winwood (6-4 3.36) and he promptly got the final two outs and saved a 5-4 victory. It was his 32nd of the year. Winwood is tied with Marston's Booger Burchfield for the IPA saves lead. 18-game winner Duncan McFalls (18-8 3.94) was the losing pitcher.

Both contenders will close out the year on the road. Cape Coral will travel to Southport (56-95) for the final games of the season, while Summerland ends the season in Fairfax (67-84).

Tycobbian Union East Division

Red Bluff TU East Champs, Ozarka Runner-Up
The playoff clubs have been decided in the TU East. Red Bluff (94-57) took the regular season honors, while Ozarka (79-72) came in the runner-up spot. Today the Red Sox outlasted the White River Rascals 7-6 in 10 innings and the Naturals lost to Bayview 3-1.

Red Bluff pinchhitter Dan Zimmerman's (.236) tenth-inning base hit plated the winning run. The top Red Sox hitters were 1B Jack McNeal (.338) with 3-for-4 and four RBIs, including a three-run homer, and C Virgil Carpenter (.236) with a perfect 4-for-4 day, including a two-run home run. The Rascals were led by LF Lee Taryn (.305) and RF Dennis Bertrand (.276). They each slammed two-run homers. Reliever Joe Sharp (5-1 2.96) garnered the victory, while Bobby Kipper (4-6 4.50) was the losing pitcher, also in relief.

Frank Wells (17-15 3.70) shot down Ozarka. He restricted them to one run and worked into the eighth inning. Norm Roy (2-4 3.87) pitched the final one and one-third innings to preserve the victory. Alec DiMaggio (11-16 3.28) pitched well in defeat as he gave up three runs and went the distance.

Tycobbian Union West Division

DC Redbirds Win TU West, BSC Bucs Take Second
The TU West playoff teams are the division champs, the Denton City Redbirds (95-56) and the runner-up Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (85-66). Both clubs lost today with Midway stomping Denton City 9-2 as Nosyt Sani (20-11 3.15) became a 20-game winner. He outperformed another 20-game winner to do it. Daniel Fitzmorris (21-10 3.20) was no match for Sani today as he was forced to exit in the fifth after surrendering seven runs - but only three were earned. Summerland edged the Bucs 5-4 at Sunset Stadium.