OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

Eugene Church · 02-23-2010, 04:30 PM

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 20, 2010

2010 IPA Mid-Season Recap

Ruthlandian Union West Division

Colfax Dominant In RU West, Leads By 7
The powerful Colfax Blasters are at it again. Clem Rogers' Blasters are on top of the Ruthlandian West where they have been entrenched for the past two seasons. Colfax won the division in 2008 and 2009 and seems intent on a three-peat with a strong 7-game bulge over the Volusia Vigilantes and Fort Benton Defenders. Rocky Rapids is in fourth place and is 11 games back.

Fort Benton is easily the most-improved ball club in the RU West, rising up from the cellar to a second-place tie... Down-trodden for years Robbie Brooks' team has really surprised with an influx of rookies...the Forest City Lumberjacks are the most disappointing as they have spiraled down from third to sixth this year.

The Colfax Blasters (48-22) have picked up where they left off last season. They racked 94 wins last year and 100 two years ago and are on schedule to take 95 or more this year... the Blasters do just about everything well and have three All-Stars on the squad... leading the way are All-Star pitcher Ilya Szabo (12-2 2.00) and Jimmy Joe Cartner (13-3 3.58), All-Star closer Dallas Somerville (2-2 0.42) with 13 saves, All-Star CF Ryan Raines (.285/12/53/57), LF Paul Coniglio (.286/14/51/45) and 3B Mike Janocko (.348/13/50/29)... Colfax is good defensively, too, with a .976 FA.

The always-strong Volusia Vigilantes (41-29) have never finished out of the first division in 10 IPA seasons and it's no different this year for them... the only problem is they have not made the playoffs in four years... the V's are tied for the runner-up spot in the standings with upstart Fort Benton and are 7 games off the pace... manager Alfonso Feliz stresses good pitching and year-after-year he has it... his pitching staff has registered an outstanding 3.20 ERA, led by All-Star Todd Wolfe (13-4 1.96), Gary Hersh (9-5 2.76) and Ben Manderson (6-6 3.57)... Volusia does well with a .276 BA... Feliz's top bats are SS Bobby Farias (.346/6/38/30), 1B Johnny Scallini (.285/8/36/51), RF Briscoe Crowder (.310/5/31/32) and newcomer free agent Rolf Kellgren (.304/2/24/31), who plays all over the infield... the V's were busy in the off-season and signed 6 pitchers and 4 position players... Feliz has the good problem of an over-abundance of talented players, but he is having trouble playing everybody.

Skipper Robbie Brooks says 6 rookies have made all the difference in the world for the Fort Benton Defenders (41-29)... rookie All-Star SS Pete Duvalier (.345/6/41/52) has been super at bat and in the field... utility IF Rob Burke (.277/10/35/30), RF Forest Cummings (.289/7/27/37) and CF Ryan Smith (.253/8/28/47) have also played well offensively and defensively... other rookie backups are SS Mark Pace (.259) and CF Louis Hudson (.298)... 10-year journeyman LF Nicky Swift (.245/11/46) still can go deep and drive in runs at age 33... But even more important are pitchers All-Star Frankie Jardine (11-4 2.33) and Tal Vaitkus (7-1 1.87), who have been superlative this season... Tucker Dawes (8-9 3.53) gives Brooks another adequate starter.

The Rocky Rapids Snappers (37-33) are still a good ball club, despite losing one of the best pitchers in the IPA... 39-year-old Charlie Boyer decided to call it a career in spite of winning 20 games in each of his last two seasons... Boyer suffered a severe arm injury late last year and decided to retire... With him, the Snappers could challenge Colfax, without him, they are just a good, solid team...Ryan Noland's club is fourth this year after coming within two games of the pennant in 2009... Rocky Rapids is a good-hitting team this year, but not the same on the mound as the team ERA rose from 3.69 to 4.22... Noland's top bats are All-Star LF Scott Camden (.324/19/60/50), All-Star C Hank Bethel (.340/12/48/40), SS Cooter Bermudez (.336/3/22/51) and 2B Hoppy Hill (.307/1/20/37)... on the hill Pat Brown (8-5 2,.77) and rookie Donnie Chaney (9-5 4.05) are carrying the load... rookie Closer Earl Pitts (3-2 2.91) has taken charge of the bullpen and saved 14 games... the Snappers play good defense with a .976 FA.

In fifth place at the All-Star break are the Sligo Rovers (34-36)... the Rovers stand 14 games out... on paper Eddie Keys' crew should be higher in the standings... Sligo hits with power and has fair pitching... LF Fred Collins (.306/15/49/45), 2B Hollis Waldrup (.273/10/42/46) and 3B Robby Franklin (.288/11/31/38) are the major run producers with help from rookies SS Vic Carlin (.266/9/42/40), CF Clell Renshaw (.311/11/35/45) and RF Mike Nordmann (.272/10/35/27)... the pitching leaders are Colin McGrath (7-5 3.34) and rookie Vinnie Ratelli (6-7 2.62)... The Rover defense is poor with a .965 FA, worst in the IPA.

The Forest City Lumberjacks (32-38) were poised to make a move upward and make a serious charge at Colfax this season under manager Robbie Jackson... the 'Jacks finished third and second the last two years... but so far they have staggered and fallen down to sixth place and trail by 16 games... they dropped off in pitching and batting... Jackson has a quality rotation with Brian Charles (7-7 2.88), Ernie Hill (7-7 3.93) and Knucks Nomellini (10-7 4.00)... but 9-year vet Al Thibaut (4-12 3.75) is having to endure his worst season and may not make double-digit wins for the first time in his career... at the plate Forest City is paced by All-Star 3B Vic Lemay (.335/12/41/34), LF Joe Judlin (.286/13/37/38) and 2B Diego De Luna (.281/7/28/41)... the Lumberjacks are poor in the field with a .966 FA.

Manager Smitty Michaels made the playoffs his first six seasons in the IPA and won the Pro Cup in 2005... but for the last four years his Middlefield Roosters (28-42) have been stuck in the second division of the RU West... it's hard to win in any league with a 4.70 team ERA... Michaels has nobody beyond starters Johnny Bond (9-8 3.38) and Tino Elardo (5-3 3.97)... Offensively the Roosters can still rip the ball with SS Jim Rose (.321/11/40/57), CF Lee Taryn (.278/16/47/38) and LF Moose Scoggins... Middlefield plays mediocre defense with a .968 FA.

The last place Stoner Stars (27-43) have had only one good year in its 9-year IPA history when they won the RU West crown in 2007... it's been downhill ever since... this year Willie Dickens' team has hit bottom and find themselves 21 games out of first place... the Stars are a hapless team, hitting only .249 with a pathetic 4.75 team ERA... Stoner does have one bright star in All-Star SS Karol Zodoka (.303/12/44/41)... at age 35 Zodoka can still play with the best of them... He still holds the IPA record for 54 home runs in 2001... rookie 1B Terry Jackson (.279/11/41/3) has impressed in his freshman year... LF Tony Scalise (.268/12/33/35) has chipped in some offense, too... there's not much to cheer about on the mound... Norman Canfield (7-6 3.86) and Kelly Schaeffer (4-2 2.39)are the only two hurlers under the 4.00 ERA mark... most of the pitchers are over 5.00 in ERA.

02-23-2010, 04:30 PM	#1576
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,906	The Islandian Times Sunday, June 20, 2010 2010 IPA Mid-Season Recap Ruthlandian Union West Division Colfax Dominant In RU West, Leads By 7 The powerful Colfax Blasters are at it again. Clem Rogers' Blasters are on top of the Ruthlandian West where they have been entrenched for the past two seasons. Colfax won the division in 2008 and 2009 and seems intent on a three-peat with a strong 7-game bulge over the Volusia Vigilantes and Fort Benton Defenders. Rocky Rapids is in fourth place and is 11 games back. Fort Benton is easily the most-improved ball club in the RU West, rising up from the cellar to a second-place tie... Down-trodden for years Robbie Brooks' team has really surprised with an influx of rookies...the Forest City Lumberjacks are the most disappointing as they have spiraled down from third to sixth this year. The Colfax Blasters (48-22) have picked up where they left off last season. They racked 94 wins last year and 100 two years ago and are on schedule to take 95 or more this year... the Blasters do just about everything well and have three All-Stars on the squad... leading the way are All-Star pitcher Ilya Szabo (12-2 2.00) and Jimmy Joe Cartner (13-3 3.58), All-Star closer Dallas Somerville (2-2 0.42) with 13 saves, All-Star CF Ryan Raines (.285/12/53/57), LF Paul Coniglio (.286/14/51/45) and 3B Mike Janocko (.348/13/50/29)... Colfax is good defensively, too, with a .976 FA. The always-strong Volusia Vigilantes (41-29) have never finished out of the first division in 10 IPA seasons and it's no different this year for them... the only problem is they have not made the playoffs in four years... the V's are tied for the runner-up spot in the standings with upstart Fort Benton and are 7 games off the pace... manager Alfonso Feliz stresses good pitching and year-after-year he has it... his pitching staff has registered an outstanding 3.20 ERA, led by All-Star Todd Wolfe (13-4 1.96), Gary Hersh (9-5 2.76) and Ben Manderson (6-6 3.57)... Volusia does well with a .276 BA... Feliz's top bats are SS Bobby Farias (.346/6/38/30), 1B Johnny Scallini (.285/8/36/51), RF Briscoe Crowder (.310/5/31/32) and newcomer free agent Rolf Kellgren (.304/2/24/31), who plays all over the infield... the V's were busy in the off-season and signed 6 pitchers and 4 position players... Feliz has the good problem of an over-abundance of talented players, but he is having trouble playing everybody. Skipper Robbie Brooks says 6 rookies have made all the difference in the world for the Fort Benton Defenders (41-29)... rookie All-Star SS Pete Duvalier (.345/6/41/52) has been super at bat and in the field... utility IF Rob Burke (.277/10/35/30), RF Forest Cummings (.289/7/27/37) and CF Ryan Smith (.253/8/28/47) have also played well offensively and defensively... other rookie backups are SS Mark Pace (.259) and CF Louis Hudson (.298)... 10-year journeyman LF Nicky Swift (.245/11/46) still can go deep and drive in runs at age 33... But even more important are pitchers All-Star Frankie Jardine (11-4 2.33) and Tal Vaitkus (7-1 1.87), who have been superlative this season... Tucker Dawes (8-9 3.53) gives Brooks another adequate starter. The Rocky Rapids Snappers (37-33) are still a good ball club, despite losing one of the best pitchers in the IPA... 39-year-old Charlie Boyer decided to call it a career in spite of winning 20 games in each of his last two seasons... Boyer suffered a severe arm injury late last year and decided to retire... With him, the Snappers could challenge Colfax, without him, they are just a good, solid team...Ryan Noland's club is fourth this year after coming within two games of the pennant in 2009... Rocky Rapids is a good-hitting team this year, but not the same on the mound as the team ERA rose from 3.69 to 4.22... Noland's top bats are All-Star LF Scott Camden (.324/19/60/50), All-Star C Hank Bethel (.340/12/48/40), SS Cooter Bermudez (.336/3/22/51) and 2B Hoppy Hill (.307/1/20/37)... on the hill Pat Brown (8-5 2,.77) and rookie Donnie Chaney (9-5 4.05) are carrying the load... rookie Closer Earl Pitts (3-2 2.91) has taken charge of the bullpen and saved 14 games... the Snappers play good defense with a .976 FA. In fifth place at the All-Star break are the Sligo Rovers (34-36)... the Rovers stand 14 games out... on paper Eddie Keys' crew should be higher in the standings... Sligo hits with power and has fair pitching... LF Fred Collins (.306/15/49/45), 2B Hollis Waldrup (.273/10/42/46) and 3B Robby Franklin (.288/11/31/38) are the major run producers with help from rookies SS Vic Carlin (.266/9/42/40), CF Clell Renshaw (.311/11/35/45) and RF Mike Nordmann (.272/10/35/27)... the pitching leaders are Colin McGrath (7-5 3.34) and rookie Vinnie Ratelli (6-7 2.62)... The Rover defense is poor with a .965 FA, worst in the IPA. The Forest City Lumberjacks (32-38) were poised to make a move upward and make a serious charge at Colfax this season under manager Robbie Jackson... the 'Jacks finished third and second the last two years... but so far they have staggered and fallen down to sixth place and trail by 16 games... they dropped off in pitching and batting... Jackson has a quality rotation with Brian Charles (7-7 2.88), Ernie Hill (7-7 3.93) and Knucks Nomellini (10-7 4.00)... but 9-year vet Al Thibaut (4-12 3.75) is having to endure his worst season and may not make double-digit wins for the first time in his career... at the plate Forest City is paced by All-Star 3B Vic Lemay (.335/12/41/34), LF Joe Judlin (.286/13/37/38) and 2B Diego De Luna (.281/7/28/41)... the Lumberjacks are poor in the field with a .966 FA. Manager Smitty Michaels made the playoffs his first six seasons in the IPA and won the Pro Cup in 2005... but for the last four years his Middlefield Roosters (28-42) have been stuck in the second division of the RU West... it's hard to win in any league with a 4.70 team ERA... Michaels has nobody beyond starters Johnny Bond (9-8 3.38) and Tino Elardo (5-3 3.97)... Offensively the Roosters can still rip the ball with SS Jim Rose (.321/11/40/57), CF Lee Taryn (.278/16/47/38) and LF Moose Scoggins... Middlefield plays mediocre defense with a .968 FA. The last place Stoner Stars (27-43) have had only one good year in its 9-year IPA history when they won the RU West crown in 2007... it's been downhill ever since... this year Willie Dickens' team has hit bottom and find themselves 21 games out of first place... the Stars are a hapless team, hitting only .249 with a pathetic 4.75 team ERA... Stoner does have one bright star in All-Star SS Karol Zodoka (.303/12/44/41)... at age 35 Zodoka can still play with the best of them... He still holds the IPA record for 54 home runs in 2001... rookie 1B Terry Jackson (.279/11/41/3) has impressed in his freshman year... LF Tony Scalise (.268/12/33/35) has chipped in some offense, too... there's not much to cheer about on the mound... Norman Canfield (7-6 3.86) and Kelly Schaeffer (4-2 2.39)are the only two hurlers under the 4.00 ERA mark... most of the pitchers are over 5.00 in ERA. Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-23-2010 at 04:38 PM.