[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 21, 2038

CLAXTON CRUISES TO RU SOUTH CROWN
Six so-so seasons have gone by since the Claxton Diamonds have had any real success in the Ruthlandian South Division... that was the last year they took home the pennant... the high-octane Claxton bats boomed this year and rolled up 96 wins, the second-best number in the IPA next to Sugar Valley's 104 victories in the RU East... the Diamonds had an 8-game edge at the All-Star break... they easily outdistanced runner-up St. John Crusaders by 14 games and third-place Waleska Westerners by 17 to garner their 10th Pro Cup appearance... Waleska was the reigning IPA champion... Claxton is still in search of its first Islands' baseball crown.

1st: Claxton
PRO CUP OUTLOOK: the Diamonds should be one of the prime contenders to win the Pro Cup with its tremendous hitting... they led the IPA with 902 runs this season and have pretty fair pitching and good defense... potent Sugar Valley will pose the biggest threat in the Ruthlandian Union... Tuckanarra, Turon and North Hills will be among the favorites in the Tycobbian Union.
Top Pitchers: Sam Nathan (20-14/3.27), Stan Yudash (21-6/3.81), Abe Schiffman (17-9/3.95), closer Maxie Richter (9-2/1.74/10 saves), reliever Gary Haskin (4-4/3.09/10 saves)
Top Batters: All-Star 1B Jojo DeLucca (.340/30/106/129), All-Star LF Foxy Fuchs (.335/32/109/115), CF Ivan Krause (.289/30/105/72), 2B Gary Colton (.301/17/88/102), C Jaan Hoogendoorn (.299/17/80/80)

2nd: St. John
Comments: the Crusaders have a few good bats, but can't compare to Claxton... they fall short on the mound, too... and only have average defense... St. John has been a first-division club in seven of the last eight years... they won the pennant in 2033 and 2036, have 6 overall, but haven't won a Pro Cup.
Top Pitchers: Jeremy Kirk (20-15/3.26), Vito Sanfratello (16-14/3.51)
Top Batters: All-Star RF Nicky Farrugia (.304/33/117/90), All-Star CF Art Kelley (.314/29/87/94), 3B Marty Blankenship (.259/25/97/70)

3rd: Waleska
Comments: the Westerners were the preseason pick to win the division, but didn't get a chance to repeat as IPA champion... just didn't have the bats... but the pitching was still there... Waleska has finished in the first division the last four seasons, winning two RU South flags in 2035 and 2037... the Westerners have made the Pro Cup playoffs six times and captured two Pro Cups in 2028 and 2037.
Top Pitchers: Tony Haskell (19-12/2.99), Terry Richards (17-11/2.57), Craig Nash (18-18/3.19), relievers Jeff Woodruff (4-2/1.86/10 saves), William Slaughter (3-3/2.52/10 saves)
Top Batters: CF Jon Lassiter (.329/10/58/98), RF Niles Gregory (.275/23/96/75), 1B Shayn Lambert (.307/22/76/73), 2B Joey Harris (.271/15/63/105)

4th: San Dimas
Comments: the Rancheros sport a high-scoring offense, average starting pitching, poor bullpen and poor defense... for the sixth successive season they have wound up in the first division... San Dimas has never won a Pro Cup and has only three pennants in its history, the last was in 2031.
Top Pitchers: Gil Arnaud (15-9/3.65)
Top Batters: All-Star 3B Leonard Purkey (.324/25/104/94), 1B Pat Sautier (.342/21/92/79), CF Klaus Stordahl (.296/26/92/116), RF Denny Hendrix (.280/30/91/87)

5th: Valka
Comments: for the tenth year in a row the Blackhawks have been stuck in the second division of the RU South Division... Valka has never won a Pro Cup and it's been 22 years since they have copped a pennant... only four times have they been in the playoffs, the last time was in 2017... the Blackhawks possess good bats, lousy pitching and inadequate defense.
Top Pitchers: All-Star Dave Gronkowski (20-13/3.93), Arnie Rosenboom (13-11/3.89)
Top Batters: All-Star RF Kenny Mitzusaka (.331/27/107/98), 1B Bobby Scott (.310/28/87/112), 3B Bill Bradford (.285/17/97/77), LF Gilberto Duarte (.306/27/83/96), 2B Marek Kallasmaa (.298/13/82/95)

6th: Crystal Lake
Comments: the Crushers have a total of two Pro Cup titles (2020 and 2022) and seven postseason appearances... they have been down for the last four seasons with second-division finishes... the last year Crystal Lake won the pennant was in 2034... mound corps is fairly good, offense is mediocre, defense better-than-average.
Top Pitchers: Ken Lawson (16-11/3.43), Douglas Merrill (10-6/2.81), reliever Clyde Thompson (6-4/2.82/16 saves)
Top Batters: RF Paul Dillon (.344/11/68/102), C Stan Stanek (.304/15/103/72), SS Mackie Cummings (.265/22/81/62), 3B Harry Berry (.242/19/90/58)

7th: Grand City
Comments: marooned five consecutive seasons in the second division... last RU South flag was in 2030... has appeared only three times in the Pro Cup playoffs with nothing to show as far as Pro Cup trophies... not much on the hill, nor with the bats... pretty good with the gloves.
Top Pitchers: Kenny Morrow (19-14/2.96)
Top Batters: 1B Benny Hull (.315/40/117/92), SS Teddy Grantham (.311/19/68/84), 3B Mickey Etheridge (.286/25/84/78)

8th: Belair Beach
Comments: after coming in fourth place for the previous two years, the bottom fell out for the Sunbirds as they sunk down to the cellar... the culprits were very puny offense and questionable pitching... defensively the Sunbirds are good... it's been over two decades since they made the playoffs... overall the Sunbirds have participated seven times... 2016 was the last time... never in its history has Belair Beach won a Pro Cup.
Top Pitchers: Todd Clyman (18-19/3.57)
Top Batters: 3B Jason Butler (.324/43/99/94)

RUTHLANDIAN SOUTH FINAL STANDINGS AND TEAM STATISTICS