The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 5, 2013
2013 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Four at Sky Mountain Stadium in Far Mountain
The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 5, 2013
2013 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Four at Sky Mountain Stadium in Far Mountain
FM Redhawks Sweep Tuckanarra In A 3-Peat
The powerful Far Mountain Redhawks quickly disposed of the Tuckanarra Blue Jays in a four-game sweep to win its unprecedented 3rd IPA Pro Cup in a row. Far Mountain has played in 4 of the last 5 Pro Cups. The Redhawks wrapped it with a thrilling 3-2 win, highlighted by Fran Gzanka's clutch seventh-inning 3-run homer. Boomerang Hines (4-0 2.05) continued his postseason brilliance by outpitching tough Titus Bristow (2-3 4.10).
Hines worked 8 innings, limited the Blue Jays to 6 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2 for his 14th career playoff victory. He has lost only 4 games overall with a very impressive 1.74 ERA. Closer Jesse Hughes held Tuckanarra without a run in the ninth, although he was tagged for a pair of two-out singles and had the tying run on third, when he struck out the final batter. Except for the Grzanka clout Bristow (2-3 4.10) was outstanding. In all he gave up 8 hits and 3 runs and went all the way. 1B Fran Grzanka (.333) led the Redhawks with 2 hits and C Yoshi Motsuzuki (.354) had two hits for the Blue Jays. Tuckanarra snapped a scoreless tie with 2 runs in the top of the sixth. LF Dan Hill (.250) tripled in the first run, then scored on Motsuzuki's base hit.
Statistically in the Pro Cup Series, Far Mountain dominated Tuckanarra. The Redhawks had a decisive edge with a .275 batting average to .254 for the Blue Jays. It was even more pronounced with a splendid 2.20 ERA to a very poor 4.87 for Tuckanarra. Far Mountain outscored them 24-12 in the four-game series.
Winning manager Alex Groveland told the press, "Good things happen when you pitch like we did and hit like we did. My guys have played flawlessly the last three years. Going 12-0, 12-2 and 12-4 in the playoffs against the best teams in the IPA really says something. We weren't too bad in 2009 either, when were 11-7 and let Turon come back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals."
Blue Jay skipper Carlton "Lefty" Stevens commented, "We had our chances in game one and game four when we lost by a run each time. The other two games we were just outgunned. It obvious that Far Mountain is a great team. When you have been in the Pro Cup four of the last five seasons and won three of them, that's says it all. I guess if you have to lose, it best to do it to a great team."
Redhawks CF Sosa Pro Cup MVP Again
For the second year in a row the IPA Pro Cup MVP went to Far Mountain's fine center fielder Xavier Sosa. He always seems to turn it up a notch or two in the postseason. In a poll by The Islandian Times Sosa beat out three teammates for the honor. Sosa drove in 20 runs to lead everyone in the Pro Cup playoffs. He batted .391 with 3 homers and also scored 11 runs to lead the Redhawks to their third Pro Cup title in succession. Sosa won it last year, too. Finishing number two in the balloting was Boomerang Hines, who was 4-0 in the postseason with an excellent 2.05 ERA. Closer Jesse Hughes was third. He worked in 6 games and compiled a 1-0 mark with a great 1.13 ERA and 4 saves. Robby Kelly was next in the poll with a 3-0 record and a strong 2.42 ERA.
Hines, who was the Pro Cup MVP in 2011, missed the playoffs last year because of injury, but came back strong this year. Sosa hit .450 with 6 roundtrippers, 14 RBIs and 20 runs to win the award last season.
Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-22-2022 at 06:45 PM.
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