[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 21, 2038

SV RATTLERS HOLD OFF CC 'CATS IN RU EAST
The frustration is over... after three years of winning 97, 92 and 97 games and not winning the Ruthlandian East, the Sugar Valley Rattlers sweetened the pot to 104 victories and finally subdued the Cold Creek Catamounts... the Rattlers ended up winning by 8 games, but it wasn't very easy... the Catamounts hung with them until September before they finally folded, if you can call winning 96 games folding... Cold Creek won the RU East in 2036 and 2037 with Elnora winning it in 2035... Sugar Valley's mighty bats were the deciding factor... this was their first division pennant in nine years, which gives them their 11th crack at an IPA Pro Cup... the Rattlers have never won it, but should be one of the favorites this season... as in the last few seasons, the RU East is one of the better divisions in the IPA... seven of the eight clubs had winning seasons.

1st: Sugar Valley
PRO CUP OUTLOOK: the Rattlers certainly have the offense to challenge in the playoffs, plus good starting pitching... however the bullpen and defense are poor.
Top Pitchers: Juan Navarro (24-8/3.21), All-Star Jeremy Blanchard (22-10/3.29), All-Star Christopher Dunsberry (21-10/3.62), Josh Wilkerson (15-8/3.69)
Top Batters: All-Star 2B Roger Hobbs (.333/26/113/84), RF Bobby Gamble (.306/34/136/132), 1B Richie Strickland (.277/32/77/142), SS Jesse Burns (.280/2/43/113), LF Tyler White (.243/34/118/96), Carlo Verlucci (.289/20/86/79)

2nd: Cold Creek
Comments: powerhouse pitching wasn't enough for the Catamounts to win a third straight divisional flag... Sugar Valley's sluggers were just too much for them this year... 'Cats made the first division for the seventh year in a row... they have never won a Pro Cup, but have made the postseason on five occasions.
Top Pitchers: Joey Baker (22-8/2.38), All-Star J. J. Gillespie (18-13/2.32), Rob Hutchins (16-4/2.74), reliever Pete Heller (7-5/3.08/14 saves)
Top Batters: CF Ken Brennan (.312/8/55/96)

3rd: Beechwood
Comments: rose up from sixth place to third this year on the strength of strong pitching, average hitting and good power... not much on defense... Bobcats haven't made the playoffs since 2027... have only been in the postseason three times and possess no Pro Cups so far.
Top Pitchers: All-Star Maury Patterson (26-8/2.35), Neil Palmer (17-9/2.96), Jimmy Herman (18-9/3.81)
Top Batters: All-Star SS Cody Hanks (.329/26/100/97), All-Star LF Howie Baldwin (.271/47/120/106), 3B Leonard Mason (.291/25/83/96), 2B Mel Smith (.272/18/74/95)

4th: Marston
Comments: best season in 10 for the Nine with a fourth-place finish, 14 games over the .500 mark... had pretty good bats, fair pitching and average defense... last RU East flag came in 2028... Marston is still looking for its first Pro Cup title... has only been in the playoffs six times.
Top Pitchers: rookie Val Farnsworth (20-9/3.60), Barry Sexton (16-12/3.41), Kris Delaney (16-12/4.14), reliever Jimbo McGinnity (7-11/1.98/19 saves), reliever Webb Walden (6-0/1.93/6 saves)
Top Batters: 1B Marco Ameche (.348/21/97/89), All-Star 3B Philip DeWey (.285/9/104/94), 2B Lonnie Trekell (.292/22/95/85), SS Stan Mila (.288/16/65/101)

5th: Elnora
Comments: the All-Stars hit very well with average power... one of the better offensive clubs in the league... but had average pitching... batter-than-average with the gloves... in spite of some lean seasons recently, Elnora has been quite good with four flags in the last eight years... they won their only IPA title in 2033 and have appeared in the Pro Cup playoffs 9 times.
Top Pitchers: Dan Pitts (19-16/3.59), Jeremy Sellers (16-16/3.32)
Top Batters: C Cannon Johnson (.287/20/92/65), SS Joe Korman (.289/18/89/79), CF Clive Kenyon (.302/17/65/88), LF Enos Conrad (.359/5/48/73), 3B Cooter Whitter (.316/19/56/48)

6th: Wynnamac
Comments: the Sundowners were rated co-favorites with Cold Creek in the preseason poll, but they were overated... Wynnamac had good offense, average pitching, no power and good defense... part of the problem was playing in a strong division, too... they have been down on their luck the last three seasons with second-division finishes... prior to that the Sundowners racked up 11 straight years in the first division... spotty record in the postseason with just five appearances... the last RU East pennant came in 2030, however Wynnamac did win one Pro Cup, way back in 2008.
Top Pitchers: Ernie Hodges (18-14/2.99), Geoff Hobart (16-15/4.12)
Top Batters: CF Darrell Donnelly (.270/17/86/112), RF Davy Lamour (.299/26/89/77)

7th: Eastshore
Comments: won two Pro Cups in 2016 and 2017, but little success since with only one pennant since in 2034... had a winning year, but came in seventh... weak starters, great bullpen, average with the bats, good power and good defense.
Top Pitchers: Ramon Contreras (17-16/3.56), Don Klingenberg (13-15/3.65), reliever Kenny Chandler (6-4/1.66/15 saves), Jody Friday (3-2/1.81/10 saves)
Top Batters: All-Star 2B Johnny Petrak (.325/27/104/91), CF Scotty Lagrange (.292/35/103/96)

8th: Belle Plaine
Comments: the Musketeers haven't had a winning team in five years, coming in last three times and seventh twice... they have only one pennant the club's history and no Pro Cups... the Muskies can hit, but can't pitch... defensively they are just average.
Top Pitchers: Mario Aragon (12-5/3.45), Benny Lucas (17-11/3.95)
Top Batters: RF Boo Boudreaux (.309/49/117/103), 3B Cal Lund (.308/33/89/76), 1B Mitch Mason (.297/21/73/81), SS Kit Ritter (.294/23/67/85)

2028 RUTHLANDIAN EAST FINAL STANDINGS AND TEAM STATISTICS