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The Islandian Times
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tycobbian Union West Division
Bayview Hangs On, Outduels Denton City in TU West
In a cliffhanger Bayview held on to outduel the on-rushing Denton City Redbirds. The Vikings took a comfortable 6-game bulge into the final of month of the regular season and just barely beat back Denton City's charge by one game. The Redbirds put up a torrid 13-2 mark in September, while Bayview staggered to an 8-7 record. The Vikings finally cinched the pennant on the next-to-the-last day in the season. The Rolling Hills Reds ended the year in the third spot in the standings and trailed by 10 games, while the Kenwood and La Claire came in tied for fourth, 15 games out of first place.
Best Team BA: Bayview .283
Most HR: Bayview 220
Most Runs: Bayview 793
Best Team ERA: Denton City 3.17
Best Team Defense: Rolling Hills Reds .977 FA
Worst Team BA: Chicopee .255
Fewest HR: Kenwood 112
Fewest Runs: Chicopee 700
Worst Team ERA: Arlon 4.06
Worst Team Defense: La Claire .969 FA
1st – Bayview Vikings (94-60)
Walter Johanssen, Manager
The powerful Bayview Vikings continued their winning ways in the Tycobbian West. Walter Johanssen piloted them to their third division crown and to the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons. In the past the Vikings have depended on firepower alone, but this year the pitching was as good as the hitting. Johanssen's mound corps compiled a fine 3.45 ERA (6th), while his line-up blistered the ball for a .283 batting average (1st) and smashed 220 home runs (1st). This season free agent Connie Gavagan (20-11 3.41) came from Turon and joined up with Norm Roy (21-13 2.93), Charlie Tubbs (17-13 3.80) and Georgie Fambreau (11-11 3.55) to give the Vikings a very solid rotation. Add in closer Josh Glover (3-4 2.78) with his 30 saves and you have a solid pitching staff. Mix in three All-Stars in 3B Karl Benson (.325/36 HR/102 RBI/106 R), 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.329/23 HR/94 RBI/100 R) and C Hank Bethel (.300/32 HR/80 RBI/93 R). Toss in two more budding All-Stars like CF Tommy Riddle (.280/28 HR/96 RBI/78 R) and SS Dan Conroy (.283/32 HR/88 RBI/75) and you have one potent ball club.
2nd – Denton City Redbirds (93-61)
Ford Whiteman, Manager
In a spirited effort Ford Whiteman and his Denton City Redbirds almost caught the Bayview Vikings in the final days of the season, but fell one game short. Still it was a very good season for them. Whiteman has a strong, steady and consistent pitching rotation with Mila Mohoski (16-11 2.45), Bubba Lear (19-10 2.80), Hank Taylor (20-12 3.31) and Daniel Fitzmorris (15-17 3.52). They were the prime reason the Redbirds mounted such a challenge to Bayview. The DC staff registered a very good 3.17 team ERA (1st). Whiteman's top hitters were RF Lavon Gooch (.269/27 HR/98 RBI/99 R), All-Star 3B Jay Petit (.337/21 HR/72 RBI/81 R) and CF Rod MacCormack (.300/18 HR/77 RBI/75 R).
3rd – Rolling Hills Reds (84-70)
Matty Christianson, Manager
2007 was a good year for the Rolling Hills Reds, skippered by Matty Christianson, but they still missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Pitching is the Reds strong point with three good starters: Kojiro Matsumoto (17-7 3.22), Peter Brenneman (18-14 3.31) and Keir McNamara (11-6 2.90). Christianson also has two solid relievers in Chet Kramer (9-5 3.21) and Hoyt Paulsen (7-4 3.22). Rolling Hills has no big time batting stars or All-Stars. The Reds top bats are 2B Owen MacArthur (.318/7 HR/62 RI/85 R), SS Spider Worley (.290/5 HR/52 RBI/90 R), CF Roy Stainbrook (.289/18 HR/80 RBI/73 R), C Kenny Abshire (.273/18 HR/80 RBI) and RF Theron Latigo (.264/13 HR/79 RBI).
4th tied – Kenwood Wildcats (79-75)
Aaron Hankins, Manager
The drought continues in Kenwood. It's been five years since the club made the IPA playoffs. The Kenwood Wildcats are just an average ball club. Manager Aaron Hankins' top pitchers are Todd Combs (15-8 2.77), Joey Popovich (13-12 3.58) and Ray Cook (12-13 3.60). At the plate Kenwood was led by 1B Scott McKinley (.298/20 HR/115 RBI/89 R), LF Nickie Troxell (.287/29 HR/87 RBI/84 R) and RF Dayton Walker (.309/6 HR/62 RBI/81 R).
4th tied – La Claire Lynx (79-75)
Rip Calkin, Manager
For the seventh successive season the La Claire Lynx have failed to make the playoffs. Lynx manager Rip Calkin is pretty much in the same boat as Hankins at Kenwood. Calkin just has an average team, but with a little more power than the Wildcats. His best player is All-Star LF Zeppy Deshotel (.293/26 HR/97 RBI/ 109 R). La Claire's other run producers are 3B Luis Marquez (.287/16 HR/84 RBI/70 R) and 2B Dale Pace (.328/13 HR/66 RBI/78 R). Calkin's top throwers are Andy Murray (17-14 3.47) and Nosyt Sani (18-14 3.61).
6th – Chicopee Braves (76-78)
Harry Fleetfoot, Manager
The Chicopee Braves are another team that has never made the playoffs. The highest finish was fourth place last year. The best thing the Braves do is hit home runs. They ranked third this season with 186. Manager Harry Fleetfoot's crew comes up short with a .255 BA (25th), but is a little better than average with a 3.67 ERA (13th). Chicopee has three long ball hitters: C Ivan Burkholder (.296/28 HR/84 RBI/81 R), RF Cornell Madigan (.275/27 HR/81 RBI/81 R) and 3B Randy Knowles (.302/25 HR/84 RBI). On the hill Fleetwood's best arms are Desmond Quartermain (14-16 2.77), Wayne Blackwell (16-16 3.42) and Alan Goodwin (16-14 3.93).
7th – Arlon Champions (74-80)
Gary Louis, Manager
It was a troubled year for Gary Louis and his Arlon Champions. After winning the TU West pennant last season with 99 victories, the most in the IPA, the Champs sunk down to seventh place. Pitching was the culprit as Arlon dropped from a strong 3.37 to a 4.06 team ERA this season. 20-game winners Kurt DeHaan (11-12 3.29) and Andre Masson (13-13 2.77) both pitched well, but did not approach their win totals of 2006. For the most part, the starting rotation did their job. It was when they turned it over to the bullpen when everything went to the dogs. Armando Cruz (15-12 3.63) and Hubie Croft (16-13 3.88) did gave Louis two more credible starters. In the batter's box Arlon's best performers were superb All-Star LF Rocco Belasario (.319/32 HR/95 RBI/116 R), RF Chucky Gilton (.305/24 HR/92 RBI/66 R), 3B Nick Sweet (.293/14 HR/85 RBI/60 R) and All-Star C Juanito Luque (.298/9 HR/64 RBI/69 R).
8th – Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (69-85)
Guy Rondre, Manager
For the second consecutive year the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers ended the season in the TU West basement. Skipper Guy Rondre's ball club suffered from mediocrity in most aspects of the game, but they did stand out in the homer category. The Bucs went deep 176 times (4th) with 1B Gary Fields (.292/39 HR/114 RBI/86 R) leading the team, followed by RF Ira Engelstad (.299/28 HR/69 RBI/79 R), LF Todd Bryant (.260/23 HR/69 RBI/89 R) and 2B Jimmy Sawyer (.295/19 HR/64 RBI/61 R). Rondre had two fine starters in Denny Coulon (16-18 2.99) and Duke DeVree (17-14 3.26).
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