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Eugene Church · 12-03-2009, 10:45 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 17, 2007

Big Surprise, Ancona Wins RU North Crown

Best Team BA - Ranford .275
Most HR - Taranto 225
Most Runs - Taranto 828
Best Team ERA - Far Mountain 3.17 ERA
Best Defense - Valmara .977 FA

Worst Team BA - Far Mountain .250
Fewest HR - Far Mountain 127
Fewest Runs - Far Mountain 648
Worst Team ERA - Taranto 4.46 ERA
Worst Defense - Far Mountain .969 FA

What a year it has been for Ancona manager Manny Mickens. His Red Elephants rose up from sixth place last year and won the RU North pennant this year. They finished 7 games up on second place Ranford, 11 games ahead of the defending division champs, the Taranto Tars and 16 in front of the fourth place Valmara Vipers. Ancona won the flag with an amazing second half run. The Red Elephants were 54-18 over the final three months of the season.

Ancona (94-60) did it with several key free agents and a well-rounded team with a good blend of hitting and pitching. Heading up Mickens' strong mound corps were All-Star Vern Vidmar (20-9 2.32), Sean Stone (18-12 3.37), Dave Webb (17-12 3.23) and Yannis Vardakis (10-6 3.77). At the plate the Red Elephants depended on CF Tavi Vakros (.327/19 HR/64 RBI/120 R), LF Louie DiMucci (.290/26 HR/95 RBI) and 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.295/20 HR/81 R).

Page Satcher at Ranford (87-67) didn't have the pitching to compete with the Red Elephants, but he did have the hitters. The Bulls had the best team batting average in the division, spearheaded by All-Star 2B Jesse Goodwin (.320/29 HR/117 RBI/95 R) and 1B Billy Massengale (.352/30 HR/104 RBI/105 R). On the hill Satcher had a good group of starters in Chris Bernhoffer (17-15 3.50), All-Star Stanley Ross (19-14 2.88) and Charley Aston (17-11 3.90).

In Taranto (83-71), it was the same old story for Tommaso Lazzorda's Tars - not enough pitching. His club had the worst pitching in the division, but they packed a lot of power in their bats. Taranto's best run producers were 2B Ed Miles (.323/28 HR/90 RBI/107 R) and LF Tommy Lee Hendley (.289/37 HR/110 RBI/82 R). Pitching-wise Sal Pascioni (17-9 3.34) had a great year considering he has to pitch in the Palazzo di Sport, one of the smallest ballparks in the IPA. Angelo Zinacola (22-12 4.31) won 20 games, but he was helped by the Tars bats quite a few times in the season. Give Lazzorda another quality pitcher and he would have won the title again this year.

J. Jackson Samuel in Valmara (78-76) suffered the same fate as Lazzorda in Taranto, not enough quality arms. New free agent signee Darryl Vannoy (13-16 4.02) had his first off-year and did not perform as expected. In 2006, he was 19-11 with a 3.40 ERA at Valka and led them to the TU South crown. Russell Greene (16-14 3.80) and Vanya Vasylenko (13-13 4.23) were the Vipers biggest winners. But like Taranto, the Vipers could smack the ball. 1B Masaichi Okawa (.301/28 HR/119 RBI/110 R) had an excellent year. Veteran 2B Floyd Vinson (.294/5 HR/45 RBI/97 R) still handles the bat pretty well, but while newcomer 3B Joe Courtney (.277/24 HR/92 RBI/89 R) did not put up the numbers he did in Oxford, he was a solid hitter and made the All-Star team.

The Glasco Athletics (77-77) guided by McDuffie Hughes to the fifth spot in the RU North 17 games off the pace. Hughes only has average talent in Glasco. Off-season pickup CF Ike Plunkett (.304/27 HR/85 RBI/88 R) did well, but might be showing his age at 34. Another expensive free agent acquisition RF Bailey Norcross missed half of the season due to injury and batted only .238 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs. SS George Ferguson (.279/29 HR/97 RBI) chipped in some offense, too. Hard-luck Mike Larsen (14-16 2.61) pitched very well, but suffered from little run support. Danny Stewart (14-16 3.86) also did well at times.

The sixth place Far Mountain Redhawks (73-81) had the best pitching in the division, but conversely, the worst hitting, too. Not a good formula for success. Skipper Alex Groveland got a lot of mileage out of starters Leroy Hill (17-17 2.85), Robby Kelly (14-13 3.32) and free agent from Turon, James Longstreet (12-19 3.30). They were his workhorses, but they all needed more offense. All-Star 2B Duane Parsons (.305/29 HR/86 RBI/87 R) was Groveland's only dependable bat with some help from SS Keith Wasik (.299/9 HR/74 RBI/69 R).

In LaGrange (71-83) Foxy Jimison has two All-Stars, but not much else. C Otto Kronvath (.255/33 HR/111 RBI/82 R) and CF Karl Perret (.307/16 HR/69 RBI/111 R) both had good years as did SS Bill Nilsen (.288/21 HR/82 RBI/88 R). Hank Laccaseigne (11-13 3.81) was the ace of the staff, Hunk Sweitzer (11-15 4.21) was inconsistent, but had his moments and free agent Charles Darby (8-16 4.49) made a dismal first impression.

For the fourth consecutive season the Kilkenny Cats (68-86) wallowed in the cellar and completed the year 26 games out of first place. Manager Kieran McKenna has never finished higher than sixth in the standings. Poor hitting and so-so pitching won't get you far in the IPA or anywhere else. The Cats pitching corps did fairly well with Roger Davidson (20-16 3.83) winning 20 games. Free agent Gregg Neal (15-16 3.39) had a decent season considering the bad run support. Like-wise for Steve Ohlinger (14-12 3.85). Free agent second sacker Francisco Abreu (.282/22 HR/79 RBI/75 R) was the best man in the batting order. CF Happy Janish (.279/11 HR/38 RBI/90 R) also helped out a little bit.

12-03-2009, 10:45 PM	#1378
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,897	The Islandian Times Monday, September 17, 2007 Big Surprise, Ancona Wins RU North Crown Best Team BA - Ranford .275 Most HR - Taranto 225 Most Runs - Taranto 828 Best Team ERA - Far Mountain 3.17 ERA Best Defense - Valmara .977 FA Worst Team BA - Far Mountain .250 Fewest HR - Far Mountain 127 Fewest Runs - Far Mountain 648 Worst Team ERA - Taranto 4.46 ERA Worst Defense - Far Mountain .969 FA What a year it has been for Ancona manager Manny Mickens. His Red Elephants rose up from sixth place last year and won the RU North pennant this year. They finished 7 games up on second place Ranford, 11 games ahead of the defending division champs, the Taranto Tars and 16 in front of the fourth place Valmara Vipers. Ancona won the flag with an amazing second half run. The Red Elephants were 54-18 over the final three months of the season. Ancona (94-60) did it with several key free agents and a well-rounded team with a good blend of hitting and pitching. Heading up Mickens' strong mound corps were All-Star Vern Vidmar (20-9 2.32), Sean Stone (18-12 3.37), Dave Webb (17-12 3.23) and Yannis Vardakis (10-6 3.77). At the plate the Red Elephants depended on CF Tavi Vakros (.327/19 HR/64 RBI/120 R), LF Louie DiMucci (.290/26 HR/95 RBI) and 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.295/20 HR/81 R). Page Satcher at Ranford (87-67) didn't have the pitching to compete with the Red Elephants, but he did have the hitters. The Bulls had the best team batting average in the division, spearheaded by All-Star 2B Jesse Goodwin (.320/29 HR/117 RBI/95 R) and 1B Billy Massengale (.352/30 HR/104 RBI/105 R). On the hill Satcher had a good group of starters in Chris Bernhoffer (17-15 3.50), All-Star Stanley Ross (19-14 2.88) and Charley Aston (17-11 3.90). In Taranto (83-71), it was the same old story for Tommaso Lazzorda's Tars - not enough pitching. His club had the worst pitching in the division, but they packed a lot of power in their bats. Taranto's best run producers were 2B Ed Miles (.323/28 HR/90 RBI/107 R) and LF Tommy Lee Hendley (.289/37 HR/110 RBI/82 R). Pitching-wise Sal Pascioni (17-9 3.34) had a great year considering he has to pitch in the Palazzo di Sport, one of the smallest ballparks in the IPA. Angelo Zinacola (22-12 4.31) won 20 games, but he was helped by the Tars bats quite a few times in the season. Give Lazzorda another quality pitcher and he would have won the title again this year. J. Jackson Samuel in Valmara (78-76) suffered the same fate as Lazzorda in Taranto, not enough quality arms. New free agent signee Darryl Vannoy (13-16 4.02) had his first off-year and did not perform as expected. In 2006, he was 19-11 with a 3.40 ERA at Valka and led them to the TU South crown. Russell Greene (16-14 3.80) and Vanya Vasylenko (13-13 4.23) were the Vipers biggest winners. But like Taranto, the Vipers could smack the ball. 1B Masaichi Okawa (.301/28 HR/119 RBI/110 R) had an excellent year. Veteran 2B Floyd Vinson (.294/5 HR/45 RBI/97 R) still handles the bat pretty well, but while newcomer 3B Joe Courtney (.277/24 HR/92 RBI/89 R) did not put up the numbers he did in Oxford, he was a solid hitter and made the All-Star team. The Glasco Athletics (77-77) guided by McDuffie Hughes to the fifth spot in the RU North 17 games off the pace. Hughes only has average talent in Glasco. Off-season pickup CF Ike Plunkett (.304/27 HR/85 RBI/88 R) did well, but might be showing his age at 34. Another expensive free agent acquisition RF Bailey Norcross missed half of the season due to injury and batted only .238 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs. SS George Ferguson (.279/29 HR/97 RBI) chipped in some offense, too. Hard-luck Mike Larsen (14-16 2.61) pitched very well, but suffered from little run support. Danny Stewart (14-16 3.86) also did well at times. The sixth place Far Mountain Redhawks (73-81) had the best pitching in the division, but conversely, the worst hitting, too. Not a good formula for success. Skipper Alex Groveland got a lot of mileage out of starters Leroy Hill (17-17 2.85), Robby Kelly (14-13 3.32) and free agent from Turon, James Longstreet (12-19 3.30). They were his workhorses, but they all needed more offense. All-Star 2B Duane Parsons (.305/29 HR/86 RBI/87 R) was Groveland's only dependable bat with some help from SS Keith Wasik (.299/9 HR/74 RBI/69 R). In LaGrange (71-83) Foxy Jimison has two All-Stars, but not much else. C Otto Kronvath (.255/33 HR/111 RBI/82 R) and CF Karl Perret (.307/16 HR/69 RBI/111 R) both had good years as did SS Bill Nilsen (.288/21 HR/82 RBI/88 R). Hank Laccaseigne (11-13 3.81) was the ace of the staff, Hunk Sweitzer (11-15 4.21) was inconsistent, but had his moments and free agent Charles Darby (8-16 4.49) made a dismal first impression. For the fourth consecutive season the Kilkenny Cats (68-86) wallowed in the cellar and completed the year 26 games out of first place. Manager Kieran McKenna has never finished higher than sixth in the standings. Poor hitting and so-so pitching won't get you far in the IPA or anywhere else. The Cats pitching corps did fairly well with Roger Davidson (20-16 3.83) winning 20 games. Free agent Gregg Neal (15-16 3.39) had a decent season considering the bad run support. Like-wise for Steve Ohlinger (14-12 3.85). Free agent second sacker Francisco Abreu (.282/22 HR/79 RBI/75 R) was the best man in the batting order. CF Happy Janish (.279/11 HR/38 RBI/90 R) also helped out a little bit. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-04-2009 at 03:30 PM.