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Eugene Church · 12-28-2010, 06:26 PM

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 18, 2019

2019 Ruthlandian North Mid-Season Recap

4-Team Race In RU North, Tars and Bulls Tied at All-Star Break
Defending champ Ancona has been lackluster so far and is fourth place, 6 games back... Taranto and surprising Ranford are tied for first with a 4-game lead on Far Mountain... no other contenders on the horizon.

The Ranford Bulls are the cinderella club rising up from fifth place last year... youthful skipper Rick Fargnoli's team is led by pitchers Scotty Simmons (10-5 2.44) and Archie Young (10-4 2.93) and at the plate by All-Star 3B Vic Scalzi (.303/17/54) and RF Tyee Maska (.262/13/55).

Whenever Tommaso Lazzorda get any kind of pitching in Taranto, the Tars do well... he's getting it this year with Yuri Dozhenko (10-4 3.05) and long-time Tar Angelo Zinacola (11-2 4.43) and closer Vance Waters (4-1 1.75)... Lazzorda picked up the 42-year-old Dozhenko in a trade with Mahaska... as usual Taranto is loaded with hitters led by All-Star Augie Marshall (.319/20/70), Arnie Kennedy (.325/16/34) and Aron Aiello (.296/8/47)... two capable starters, a good closer and good bats can carry a team a long way.

Manager Alex Groveland doesn't have the talent he has in years past, but the Far Mountain Redhawks can score runs with Fran Grzanka (.350/5/34), All-Star Don Nichols (.287/12/47), Tony Tanaka (.294/13/47) and Mackie McAllister (.274/15/47)... Groveland needs another pitcher to keep up with Ranford and Taranto.

Last year's Ruthlandian champ and Pro Cup finalist Ancona has slumbered through the first half of the season, but still has the solid core from 2018, plus one of the best rookie in the league... they are showing signs of a second-half turnaround... rookie 3B Todd Nasso (.340/17/72) has been just about the best hitter in the IPA and made the All-Star club in his first year... the Red Elephants still sport a solid line-up with Kenny Willard (.317/9/35), Louie DiMucci (.333/14/37) and Johnny Lee Harder (.276/12/40)... all manager Manny Mickens needs is another starter to go along with his ace Clete Dukas (8-6 2.24)... last year's number two starter and postseason star Dave Blair (15-10) retired this season... he was a big loss.

Not a lot of talent on the second division clubs in the RU North... no one on Glasco is having much of a season... Kilkenny is paced by two fine starters in Sidney McFarland (8-7 3.13) and Rodger Wright (10-7 3.17)... Valmara has two standouts in pitcher Tad Janicki (11-6 2.96) and flashy-fielding 2B Ron Freiberg (.287/10/31)... 19-year vet LF Quincy Peterson (.300/14/36) is last place LaGrange's top player at age 42... Peterson again made the All-Star squad for the sixth time in his illustrious career.

Ruthlandian North Outlook:
All four of the contenders should stay in the race... likely finish: Taranto, Ancona, Ranford and Far Mountain... the Tars can score runs and have decent pitching... Ancona won it last year with the same group of players... Ranford has two good starters, but doesn't seem to have the offense for the long haul... the Redhawks just don't have the pitching to win the pennant... Kilkenny will be fifth, followed by Valmara, Glasco and LaGrange.

12-28-2010, 06:26 PM	#2223
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,721 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Tuesday, June 18, 2019 2019 Ruthlandian North Mid-Season Recap 4-Team Race In RU North, Tars and Bulls Tied at All-Star Break Defending champ Ancona has been lackluster so far and is fourth place, 6 games back... Taranto and surprising Ranford are tied for first with a 4-game lead on Far Mountain... no other contenders on the horizon. The Ranford Bulls are the cinderella club rising up from fifth place last year... youthful skipper Rick Fargnoli's team is led by pitchers Scotty Simmons (10-5 2.44) and Archie Young (10-4 2.93) and at the plate by All-Star 3B Vic Scalzi (.303/17/54) and RF Tyee Maska (.262/13/55). Whenever Tommaso Lazzorda get any kind of pitching in Taranto, the Tars do well... he's getting it this year with Yuri Dozhenko (10-4 3.05) and long-time Tar Angelo Zinacola (11-2 4.43) and closer Vance Waters (4-1 1.75)... Lazzorda picked up the 42-year-old Dozhenko in a trade with Mahaska... as usual Taranto is loaded with hitters led by All-Star Augie Marshall (.319/20/70), Arnie Kennedy (.325/16/34) and Aron Aiello (.296/8/47)... two capable starters, a good closer and good bats can carry a team a long way. Manager Alex Groveland doesn't have the talent he has in years past, but the Far Mountain Redhawks can score runs with Fran Grzanka (.350/5/34), All-Star Don Nichols (.287/12/47), Tony Tanaka (.294/13/47) and Mackie McAllister (.274/15/47)... Groveland needs another pitcher to keep up with Ranford and Taranto. Last year's Ruthlandian champ and Pro Cup finalist Ancona has slumbered through the first half of the season, but still has the solid core from 2018, plus one of the best rookie in the league... they are showing signs of a second-half turnaround... rookie 3B Todd Nasso (.340/17/72) has been just about the best hitter in the IPA and made the All-Star club in his first year... the Red Elephants still sport a solid line-up with Kenny Willard (.317/9/35), Louie DiMucci (.333/14/37) and Johnny Lee Harder (.276/12/40)... all manager Manny Mickens needs is another starter to go along with his ace Clete Dukas (8-6 2.24)... last year's number two starter and postseason star Dave Blair (15-10) retired this season... he was a big loss. Not a lot of talent on the second division clubs in the RU North... no one on Glasco is having much of a season... Kilkenny is paced by two fine starters in Sidney McFarland (8-7 3.13) and Rodger Wright (10-7 3.17)... Valmara has two standouts in pitcher Tad Janicki (11-6 2.96) and flashy-fielding 2B Ron Freiberg (.287/10/31)... 19-year vet LF Quincy Peterson (.300/14/36) is last place LaGrange's top player at age 42... Peterson again made the All-Star squad for the sixth time in his illustrious career. Ruthlandian North Outlook: All four of the contenders should stay in the race... likely finish: Taranto, Ancona, Ranford and Far Mountain... the Tars can score runs and have decent pitching... Ancona won it last year with the same group of players... Ranford has two good starters, but doesn't seem to have the offense for the long haul... the Redhawks just don't have the pitching to win the pennant... Kilkenny will be fifth, followed by Valmara, Glasco and LaGrange. Last edited by Eugene Church; 01-02-2011 at 12:09 AM.