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The Islandian Times
Friday, June 15, 2012
2012 Tycobbian South Mid-Season Recap
Turon Tops TU South Again, Cape Coral Close By
Perennial kingpin Turon is perched on top of the Tycobbian South again. The Typhoons of Whitey Richburn are seeking their 5th successive division flag and just might get it. However, Turon has some competition this season from Cape Coral, who is clinging close just 2 games back, from Summerland, who is 5 games out and from Colchester, 6 games off the pace.
Turon has an illustrious record in the IPA with 3 Pro Cups, 5 division pennants and 7 postseason appearances. The Typhoons are solid at the plate and on the mound and have adequate defense (.973 FA). Richburn is steep in starters with Nicky Engstrom (10-6 2.14), Jeb Pickett (9-4 2.88), Jame Stuart (8-7 3.14) and Freddi Spiegel (8-5 3.76). He is super strong in the bullpen with a brilliant closer in Merle Studebaker (4-2 1.55), who has racked 14 saves so far. Overall the club has a very strong 3.16 ERA (3rd), while batting .275 (4th) and is 4th in run scoring with 352. Top Typhoon hitters are rookie 1B Clyde Kingsford (.294/13 HR), LF Andy Porter (.299/9 HR) and SS Mickey O'Malley (.290/8 HR). It may be a more difficult task this year with Cape Coral, Summerland and Colchester playing well, but the baseball prognosticators are still going with Turon to win the TU South again and be a strong contender for the 2012 Pro Cup in September.
Up until a 10 days ago Marty Pedroza had his Cape Coral Hurricanes blowing everybody away and in first place, but they have gone into a mild slump and Turon has won 8 of its last 10 games to move ahead in the division by a couple of games. Pedroza depends on his pitching corps and has a good one with three capable arms in his starting rotation. Cody Burg (10-6 1.98) is still one of the best at age 30 and he has plenty of help from Steve Aaron (9-6 3.51) and Nasty Naymick (7-7 3.19). Closer Bobby Maas (3-0 1.17) has fashioned 15 saves and has been almost impossible to score on. The Hurricanes need better offense to stick with Turon over the long haul. The club is only carrying a .253 BA (23rd) with only 55 home runs (25th) and 289 runs (26th). CF Derek Ryckman (.297/13 HR), 3B Bobby Josker (.287/9 HR) and LF Rich Osolinsky (.305/6 HR) head up Pedroza's hitters.
Improved hitting has helped the Summerland Sunsets rise up to third place in the standings this season. Will Hackett's bats have hit a .269 rate (7th) with 58 roundtrippers (19th-tied) and 323 runs (13th-tied). The club has carded a 3.62 team ERA (14th). However, in the bullpen, Hackett's hurlers have fine 2.95 ERA (6th). Summerland's starters are Denny Coulon (9-6 2.65), Pat Dreux (5-4 2.86) and Mark Falzone (9-5 3.43). In the closer role Frank Gerber (0-2 2.84) has put up 14 saves. SS Don Hanks (.330/6 HR) and CF Jim Garrison (.301/10 HR) have supplied most of the offense.
Cape Coral and Summerland will battle with Colchester for the second spot in the TU South. None of them are likely to surpass potent Turon. The Colchester Elites are fourth and trail by 6 games at the All-Star game. Uncle Robbie Wilbertson's charges sport a .268 batting average (9th) with 56 homers (19th-tied) and 321 runs scored (15th). He has good pitching, too, with a 3.69 team ERA (16th). Frank Payne (7-4 2.67) is Colchester's ace, along with veteran Jimmy Simmons (6-10 3.37), who is going through a tough year by his standards. Sparking the offense are 1B Harlan Roscoe (.300/8 HR), C Tommy Booker (.273/12 HR), LF Ronnie Horn (.275/9 HR) and CF Douglas Tilford (.301/6 HR).
Down in Ginza the Ninjas are in fifth place and 7 games in back of first place Turon. Ninja skipper Huroko Uchiyama has put together a good mound staff, led by Koichi Ishikawa (8-2 3.14) and Joji Azuma (10-7 3.44). The Ninjas have another fine starter in Carl Trebek (6-9 2.69), who has pitched much better than his record would indicate. Kakuzo Harimoto (1-2 2.28) had done well in the closer slot for Ginza. Uchiyama needs better offense. His best bats are few in number with LF Mark Buchanan (.339/11 HR) and CF Chazzie Lombardi (.294/6 HR) providing the best numbers at the plate.
The rest of the clubs will have to wait until the proverbial "next year" for their day in the sun. The Arroyo Grande Suns are sixth, 11 games behind with the San Alejo Montaneros and Southport Sun Sox pulling up the rear in last place, 14 games back. Jean-Luc Marchand's Suns can hit with a .276 average (3rd), but do miserably on the mound with a 4.59 ERA (31st). The Arroyo Grande batting order is led by superstar LF Jet Kazmarek (.330/9 HR), 1B Sherm Miles (.285/12 HR) and C Don Holden (.296/6 HR). Marchand's lone quality pitcher is Chuck Kowalczyk (7-6 3.81).
Basement dwellers San Alejo and Southport don't do much of anything well and have only a few talented performers. Montanero manager Lando Peceda's top players number only two: pitcher Chad Gilmore (10-7 3.25) and 1B Dominique Poirot (.293/7 HR). Charley Oscar is at the helm of the Southport Sun Sox, who are suffering from a 10-year postseason drought. His best players are LF Big Stick Takala (.333/12 HR) and 2B Charlie Gamble (.296/10 HR).
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