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Eugene Church · 02-06-2013, 12:30 AM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2035

Chicopee Top Choice In TU West
The Chicopee Braves were the best in the Tycobbian West last season and the baseball scribes have chosen them to win again in The Islandian Times preseason poll. And they expect them to do it again in easy fashion despite the overall strength of the division where six of the squads played .500 or better baseball. Chicopee is even better than last season when they won the pennant by 11 games. Second in the voting was the Arlon Champions, the third spot went to Denton City and in fourth place was Bay St. Clair. The Bayview Vikings were at the top of the second division team in fifth place with La Claire sixth, Kenwood seventh and Rolling Hills eighth.

Poll Ranking/Team/2034 Record/Standings
1. Chicopee Braves (96-58) (--) *Division Champion
2. Arlon Champions (68-86) (28 GB) 7th Place
3. Denton City Redbirds (79-75) (17 GB) 6th Place
4. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (84-70) (12 GB) 3rd Place
5. Bayview Vikings (85-69) (11 GB) 2nd Place
6. La Claire Lynx (81-73) *15 G B) 5th Place
7. Kenwood Wildcats (82-72) (14 GB) 4th Place
8. Rolling Hills Reds (65-89) (21 GB) 8th Place

1. Chicopee Braves (.275 BA/3.62 ERA)
Top Pitchers: Kajika Fleetfoot (21-13/3.32), Heyoka Chaska (17-12/3.26), Ryan Ledbetter (18-10/3.49)
Top Batters: 1B-3B Kurt Gustavsen (.325/26 HR/109 RBI/92 R), LF Alfredo Cobos (.307/24 HR/110 RBI/77 R), 2B Todd Goodwin (.316/20 HR/83 RBI/82 R), CF Charley Kota (.283/27 HR/94 RBI/104 R), RF Nelson Hunter (.264/18/56 RBI/101 R/30 SB)
Comments: The Braves were strong last season at the plate... pitching was a little better-than-average in 2034... 31-year-old free agent from Grand City (RU) Vito Sanfratello (4-2/3.29) could make them ever better... Chicopee has its sights set squarely on the Pro Cup... the Braves came close last year, losing to IPA champ North Hills in seven games in the TU Final 4.

2. Arlon Champions (.248 BA/3.34 ERA)
Top Pitchers: Alex Beckner (14-12/2.75), Lacy Dalton (7-11/2.77), Ken Lawson (13-16/3.45)
Top Batters: RF Mark Cameron (.277/25 HR/70 RBI/70 R), C Paco Diaz (.305/6 HR/59 RBI/60 R), 28-year-old free agent from Bayview 2B Todd Benson (.264/6 HR/50 RBI/89 R/12 SB), 35-year-old free agent from Bayview LF Tandy Connery (.291/28 HR/79 RBI/78 R)
Comments: Analysts think Champs' pitching and batting are much improved over last year... Lacy Dalton will get full season in the rotation... plus rookie John Hillburn arrives with great potential... Connery will add some good punch to the batting order... and Benson is an excellent gloveman and a good contact hitter.

3. Denton City Redbirds (.278 BA/4.48 ERA)
Top Pitchers: Francisco Salcido (19-10/3.92), 26-year-old free agent from Crystal Lake Denny Mills (22-13/3.35), 28-year-old free agent from East Point Stephen Edwards (18-12/2.98 ERA)
Top Batters: RF Kenny Kuebler (.335/21 HR/86 RBI/94 R), 1B Barry McKnight (.290/33 HR/92 RBI/72 R), 3B Dominique Raynaud (.267/19 HR/64 RBI/78 R)
Comments: Adding star pitchers like Mills and Edwards greatly improves the Redbirds... combined with good hitting and a strong bench elevates Denton City to the first division of the Tycobbian West... but not in the same league with Chicopee this year.

4. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (.260 BA/3.32 ERA)
Top Pitchers: Jim McBride (25-10/2.34) won Golden Arm in 2034, John Karlsen (20-11/2.81)
Top Batters: CF Cotton Cornwall (.316/27 HR/87 RBI/70 R), 3B Bailey Holmsworth (.299/17 HR/50 RBI/38 R), RF Milt Powers (.252/19 HR/93 RBI/81 R), 2B Terry Adams (.299/16 HR/62 RBI/53 R)
Comments: two excellent starters like McBride and Karlsen and pretty fair offense makes the Bucs a first-division contender.

5. Bayview Vikings (.264 BA/3.46 ERA)
Top Pitchers: Sam Dunbar (11-8/3.09), Christy Lane (14-11/3.14), Chris Landry (14-6/3.96) and Joaquin Lima (15-15/3.65)
Top Batters: 2B Jerry Culpepper (.284/45 HR/113 RBI/82 R), 1B Claude Kingston (.272/36 HR/86 RBI/84 R), 3B Marius Lokken (.299/33 HR/86 RBI/82 R), LF Roy Ricks (.269/30 HR/81 RBI/93 R/18 SB), RF Cleve Belton (.261/21 HR/64 RBI/67 R), 27-year-old free agent from Sugar Valley 1B Giles Butler (.288/27 HR/70 RBI/73 R)
Comments: Very impressive power with four decent starters makes the Vikings a viable first-division challenger, too... could finish as high as second place.

6. La Claire Lynx (.253 BA/3.10 ERA)
Top Pitchers: Rance Raymond (21-9/2.13), Pat Kovacs (16-14/3.14), Mac Jackson (7-7/2.78/10 saves), Angelo Rossi (16-17/3.41)
Top Batters: 3B Jarrod O'Neal (.275/23 HR/58 RBI/80 R), SS Harmon Brewster (.285/15 HR/64 RBI/53 R), CF Andy Tibbett (.282/5 HR/49 RBI/84 R/27 SB)
Comments: Deep mound corps top to bottom, led by stars Raymond and Kovacs, but lacks scoring... still will challenge for first division.

7. Kenwood Wildcats (.297 BA/3.68 ERA)
Top Pitchers: Freddy Gooch (17-14/3.59), Claude Watson (17-13/3.91), Lee Dixon (13-15/3.51), Doug Kirkpatrick (14-16/3.70)
Top Batters: 3B Koora Nawajuk (.282/21 HR/85 RBI/90 R), RF Pettis Pentleton (.315/18 HR/73 RBI/82 R), LF Rodney Harrison (.281/14 HR/50 RBI/83 R), 1B Glen Carraway (.381/16 HR/66 RBI/54 R), CF Cal Copeland (.305/16 HR/49 RBi/42 R)
Comments: Excellent contact hitting, but not much power... fair starting rotation... has a shot at the first division.

8. Rolling Hills Reds (.281 BA/4.62 ERA)
Top Pitchers: 31-year-old free agent from Far Mountain Jakob Wagner (20-12/2.77), 34-year-old free agent from Wynnamac (RU) Kevin Meeks (9-2/2.25)
Top Batters: LF Scotty Yiska (.295/32 HR/63 RBI/97 R), 1B Angelo Nardone (.299/20 HR/83 RBI/62 R), CF Jason Garrett (.294/9 HR/69 RBI/84 R/14 SB), C Stan Ellis (.278/18 HR/67 RBI/75 R), RF Carroll Candy (.361/2 HR/26 RBI/22 R)
Comments: Reds are not the powerhouse they used to be... the last two seasons have been bad and another is looming on the horizon unless free agents Wagner and Meeks come through for them... Reds have a good offense, but they need more than two good pitchers... might finish near the bottom of the TU West for a second year in a row.

My Tycobbian West Forecast:
Hands down, dominant Chicopee will win the TU West pennant... tight battle between Bayview Vikings, Bay St. Clair Buccaneers and Denton City Redbirds for the runner-up spot... I'll go with the Viks because of the powerful offense and quality four-man starting rotation... the Buccaneers will be third... they need better #3 and #4 starters... and the Redbirds will round out the first division in the fourth spot because of its improved pitching to go along with a good offense... the Kenwood Wildcats will beat out Arlon for fifth place... La Claire will be seventh in the standings and Rolling Hills will suffer another last place finish.

02-06-2013, 12:30 AM	#3424
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,942	*THE ISLANDIAN TIMES* Sunday, April 1, 2035 Chicopee Top Choice In TU West The Chicopee Braves were the best in the Tycobbian West last season and the baseball scribes have chosen them to win again in The Islandian Times preseason poll. And they expect them to do it again in easy fashion despite the overall strength of the division where six of the squads played .500 or better baseball. Chicopee is even better than last season when they won the pennant by 11 games. Second in the voting was the Arlon Champions, the third spot went to Denton City and in fourth place was Bay St. Clair. The Bayview Vikings were at the top of the second division team in fifth place with La Claire sixth, Kenwood seventh and Rolling Hills eighth. Poll Ranking/Team/2034 Record/Standings *1. Chicopee Braves (96-58) (--) Division Champion** 2. Arlon Champions (68-86) (28 GB) 7th Place 3. Denton City Redbirds (79-75) (17 GB) 6th Place 4. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (84-70) (12 GB) 3rd Place 5. Bayview Vikings (85-69) (11 GB) 2nd Place 6. La Claire Lynx (81-73) 15 G B) 5th Place 7. Kenwood Wildcats (82-72) (14 GB) 4th Place 8. Rolling Hills Reds (65-89) (21 GB) 8th Place 1. Chicopee Braves (.275 BA/3.62 ERA)* Top Pitchers: Kajika Fleetfoot (21-13/3.32), Heyoka Chaska (17-12/3.26), Ryan Ledbetter (18-10/3.49) Top Batters: 1B-3B Kurt Gustavsen (.325/26 HR/109 RBI/92 R), LF Alfredo Cobos (.307/24 HR/110 RBI/77 R), 2B Todd Goodwin (.316/20 HR/83 RBI/82 R), CF Charley Kota (.283/27 HR/94 RBI/104 R), RF Nelson Hunter (.264/18/56 RBI/101 R/30 SB) Comments: The Braves were strong last season at the plate... pitching was a little better-than-average in 2034... 31-year-old free agent from Grand City (RU) Vito Sanfratello (4-2/3.29) could make them ever better... Chicopee has its sights set squarely on the Pro Cup... the Braves came close last year, losing to IPA champ North Hills in seven games in the TU Final 4. 2. Arlon Champions (.248 BA/3.34 ERA) Top Pitchers: Alex Beckner (14-12/2.75), Lacy Dalton (7-11/2.77), Ken Lawson (13-16/3.45) Top Batters: RF Mark Cameron (.277/25 HR/70 RBI/70 R), C Paco Diaz (.305/6 HR/59 RBI/60 R), 28-year-old free agent from Bayview 2B Todd Benson (.264/6 HR/50 RBI/89 R/12 SB), 35-year-old free agent from Bayview LF Tandy Connery (.291/28 HR/79 RBI/78 R) Comments: Analysts think Champs' pitching and batting are much improved over last year... Lacy Dalton will get full season in the rotation... plus rookie John Hillburn arrives with great potential... Connery will add some good punch to the batting order... and Benson is an excellent gloveman and a good contact hitter. 3. Denton City Redbirds (.278 BA/4.48 ERA) Top Pitchers: Francisco Salcido (19-10/3.92), 26-year-old free agent from Crystal Lake Denny Mills (22-13/3.35), 28-year-old free agent from East Point Stephen Edwards (18-12/2.98 ERA) Top Batters: RF Kenny Kuebler (.335/21 HR/86 RBI/94 R), 1B Barry McKnight (.290/33 HR/92 RBI/72 R), 3B Dominique Raynaud (.267/19 HR/64 RBI/78 R) Comments: Adding star pitchers like Mills and Edwards greatly improves the Redbirds... combined with good hitting and a strong bench elevates Denton City to the first division of the Tycobbian West... but not in the same league with Chicopee this year. 4. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (.260 BA/3.32 ERA) Top Pitchers: Jim McBride (25-10/2.34) won Golden Arm in 2034, John Karlsen (20-11/2.81) Top Batters: CF Cotton Cornwall (.316/27 HR/87 RBI/70 R), 3B Bailey Holmsworth (.299/17 HR/50 RBI/38 R), RF Milt Powers (.252/19 HR/93 RBI/81 R), 2B Terry Adams (.299/16 HR/62 RBI/53 R) Comments: two excellent starters like McBride and Karlsen and pretty fair offense makes the Bucs a first-division contender. 5. Bayview Vikings (.264 BA/3.46 ERA) Top Pitchers: Sam Dunbar (11-8/3.09), Christy Lane (14-11/3.14), Chris Landry (14-6/3.96) and Joaquin Lima (15-15/3.65) Top Batters: 2B Jerry Culpepper (.284/45 HR/113 RBI/82 R), 1B Claude Kingston (.272/36 HR/86 RBI/84 R), 3B Marius Lokken (.299/33 HR/86 RBI/82 R), LF Roy Ricks (.269/30 HR/81 RBI/93 R/18 SB), RF Cleve Belton (.261/21 HR/64 RBI/67 R), 27-year-old free agent from Sugar Valley 1B Giles Butler (.288/27 HR/70 RBI/73 R) Comments: Very impressive power with four decent starters makes the Vikings a viable first-division challenger, too... could finish as high as second place. 6. La Claire Lynx (.253 BA/3.10 ERA) Top Pitchers: Rance Raymond (21-9/2.13), Pat Kovacs (16-14/3.14), Mac Jackson (7-7/2.78/10 saves), Angelo Rossi (16-17/3.41) Top Batters: 3B Jarrod O'Neal (.275/23 HR/58 RBI/80 R), SS Harmon Brewster (.285/15 HR/64 RBI/53 R), CF Andy Tibbett (.282/5 HR/49 RBI/84 R/27 SB) Comments: Deep mound corps top to bottom, led by stars Raymond and Kovacs, but lacks scoring... still will challenge for first division. 7. Kenwood Wildcats (.297 BA/3.68 ERA) Top Pitchers: Freddy Gooch (17-14/3.59), Claude Watson (17-13/3.91), Lee Dixon (13-15/3.51), Doug Kirkpatrick (14-16/3.70) Top Batters: 3B Koora Nawajuk (.282/21 HR/85 RBI/90 R), RF Pettis Pentleton (.315/18 HR/73 RBI/82 R), LF Rodney Harrison (.281/14 HR/50 RBI/83 R), 1B Glen Carraway (.381/16 HR/66 RBI/54 R), CF Cal Copeland (.305/16 HR/49 RBi/42 R) Comments: Excellent contact hitting, but not much power... fair starting rotation... has a shot at the first division. 8. Rolling Hills Reds (.281 BA/4.62 ERA) Top Pitchers: 31-year-old free agent from Far Mountain Jakob Wagner (20-12/2.77), 34-year-old free agent from Wynnamac (RU) Kevin Meeks (9-2/2.25) Top Batters: LF Scotty Yiska (.295/32 HR/63 RBI/97 R), 1B Angelo Nardone (.299/20 HR/83 RBI/62 R), CF Jason Garrett (.294/9 HR/69 RBI/84 R/14 SB), C Stan Ellis (.278/18 HR/67 RBI/75 R), RF Carroll Candy (.361/2 HR/26 RBI/22 R) Comments: Reds are not the powerhouse they used to be... the last two seasons have been bad and another is looming on the horizon unless free agents Wagner and Meeks come through for them... Reds have a good offense, but they need more than two good pitchers... might finish near the bottom of the TU West for a second year in a row. My Tycobbian West Forecast: Hands down, dominant Chicopee will win the TU West pennant... tight battle between Bayview Vikings, Bay St. Clair Buccaneers and Denton City Redbirds for the runner-up spot... I'll go with the Viks because of the powerful offense and quality four-man starting rotation... the Buccaneers will be third... they need better #3 and #4 starters... and the Redbirds will round out the first division in the fourth spot because of its improved pitching to go along with a good offense... the Kenwood Wildcats will beat out Arlon for fifth place... La Claire will be seventh in the standings and Rolling Hills will suffer another last place finish.