[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

6-TEAM SCRAMBLE IN TU WEST
The Tycobbian West Division is a fan's dream race at least in the first month of the campaign... six clubs have winning records with the Rolling Hills Reds on top, one game up on Kenwood and Arlon... three teams are tied for fourth: Chicopee, Bayview and Bay St. Clair... the preseason poll favored the Arlon Champions with Denton City the number-two choice, last year's division champ La Claire third and Rolling Hills fourth.

1. Rolling Hills (17-8) - The Reds have been also-rans for the past six seasons and haven't graced the postseason since 2032, the year after their second Pro Cup crown... they feature an explosive offense with average pitching and defense... the Reds are tied with Belle Plaine of the RU East for the scoring lead in the IPA.
Top Pitchers: Matthew Christianson (4-0/2.52), Maxim Petrosian (4-0/2.20) and Jakob Wagner (2-3/3.60) three capable starters... the bullpen has struggled with a 5.40 ERA.
Top Batters: RF Jimbo Foxx (.329/10/28/18), rookie 1B Darwin Tard (.317/7/16/23), 3B Billy Christianson (.326/1/15/14), CF Scotty Yiska (.308/6/15/10)... the 33-year-old Christianson, son of manager Matty Christianson and brother of pitcher Matty, rejoined the Reds after six solid seasons in Colchester... he said he and his dad had made up over previous disagreements and he wanted to retire with Rolling Hills.

2. Kenwood (16-9/1 GB) - The Wildcats got their only Pro Cup trophy in 2014 and haven't been to the playoffs since 2024... improved bats and pitching have gotten them off on the right foot this season... they played good defense, too... this has gotten the Wildcats fans excited.
Top Pitchers: starters Glen Murray (4-2/2.66) and Ben Abramo (3-2/3.00)... and in the bullpen Artemus Hale (4-0/0.66) and Brett Wilkins (0-0/2.16/1 save).
Top Batters: spectacular rookie 2B Country Crowder has exploded with a .420 BA, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs, 20 runs... star C Corky DiNozzo has boomed 9 HRs with 16 RBIs, 13 runs and a .319 BA... IF Ricky Boyer (.354/1/11/8), CF Warren Vickers (.310/2/15/9) and SS Rod Jenkins (.316/2/6/12) have contributed, too.

2. Arlon (16-9/1 GB) - The Champs are the preseason favorite and sport standout pitching and defense, along with average offense... they made a run last year, but lost out to La Claire by 3 games... it's been almost 20 years since Arlon was in the playoffs... they have never won a Pro Cup... optimism reigns in Arlon.
Top Pitchers: Frankie Gautier (4-1/1.54), Emil Novak (5-0/3.22), Lanny Gray (2-3/3.19)... heading up the modest relief corps is rookie Peter Shannon (0-0/1.20/1 save).
Top Batters: RF Mark Cameron (.344/8/24/13), LF Charley Hastings (.313/2/7/24), C Nick Shafer (.309/3/18/10), 1B Ernie Pryor (.298/3/12/16), CF Gussi Czaik (.278/1/13/19).

4. Chicopee (14-11/3 GB) - After taking the division title for three straight seasons 2034-36, the Braves have been in a funk since with two second-division finishes... the offense is back, the defense is great, but the pitching is lackluster.. the preseason prognosticators placed them seventh in the standings.
Top Pitchers: Paul Foster (2-3/2.78) has been the most effective starter... vets Heyoka Chaska (3-1/4.70), Jimmy Beckwith (4-3/4.39) and Lou Gianakos (2-4/5.32) have had it rough so far... rookie Wes Pennington (1-0/0.00/4 saves) has been a very good addition to the bullpen.
Top Batters: RF Rick Nellis leads the line-up with a .402 BA and has collected 2 HRs, 8 RBIs and scored 13 runs... other run producers are 3B Kurt Gustavsen (.337/5/10/17), 2B Todd Goodwin (.313/5/16/10), CF Big Jim Moran (.305/5/18/15) and LF Charley Kota (.284/4/11/13).

4. Bayview (14-11/3 GB) - the Vikings are a scoring machine with firepower, decent pitching for such a homer-happy stadium and excellent glove work... they came in a close third last year, losing out by 4 games... the Viks have been a mediocre team since winning the division in 2016... this is their best shot in a long, long while.
Top Pitchers: Christy Kane (3-1/1.44) is the only effective starter... Lars Frydenlund (1-0/2.25/1 save) and Chris Landry (1-0/0.93) are the best relievers.
Top Batters: CF Derek Jorstad (.326/3/10/20), 1B Claude Kingston (.333/4/13/18), SS Andreas Stokke (.305/2/5/13), RF Ivars Nilssen (.370/5/13/12), SS Ted Macy (.289/4/14/9)... veterans sluggers 2B Jerry Culpepper (.229/6/18/13) and LF Roy Ricks (.254/5/11/14) are down a bit in batting average, but still go deep and drive in runs

4. Bay St. Clair (14-11/3 GB) - after a good run in the early 30s, the Bucs have sunk down near the bottom... the last postseason year was 2030... they have good power, average offense and defense with weak pitching... picked sixth in the pennant race.
Top Pitchers: Russell McIntosh (3-1/4.44) and John Karlsen (3-3/4.69) are the most reliable starters... in the bullpen it's Andre Karkinos (2-1/2.93), Sam Zale (1-0/3/24/3 saves) and Pete Cross (4-0/3.95/1 save).
Top Batters: at 34 RF Cotton Cornwall has a new lease on life with a .400 BA, 9 HRs, 24 RBIs and 17 runs... he's playing like his early years with Ginza... LF Sakima Shaman also has rejuvenated this year with a .372 BA, 6 HRs, 15 RBIs and 11 runs... also aiding the offense are SS Zip Lowery (.296/0/8/13) and CF Robby Palmer (.276/0/8/16).

7. Denton City (9-16/8 GB) - The Redbirds were a preseason contender, but have just been plain bad in the first month of the season... they will need a quick turnaround to get back in the race... Denton City's glory years were 2002 to 2012, when the club won six pennants and made the playoffs 8 times... the IPA had wild cards in it first few years... twice they made the Pro Cup Finals, but lost.
Top Pitchers: James Webb (2-2/3.33) and Troy McIntosh (2-4/3.56) are the most dependable starters... in the bullpen Stephen Edwards (1-2/2.19/4 saves) and Denny Mills (1-0/2.25) have been the best.
Top Batters: no one on the team has had a good start... RF Pete Doyle (.252/5/11/12), SS Sammy Thornton (.253/1/4/13), C Felton Welch (.247/3/15/11) and 1B Wayman Stetson (.238/3/8/12) have been the best of the bad.

8. La Claire (8-17/9 GB) - Forecast for a third-place finish, it's been a rocky beginning for the defending division champ... lousy hitting, mediocre pitching and average defense has put them deep in the cellar... the Lynx have won four TU West flags in the last decade.
Top Pitchers: vets Pat Kovacs (2-5/2.56), Tony Rossi (3-2/2.92) and John Page (1-2/3/12) have pitched well, but haven't had much offensive support... the bullpen hasn't been much help to them, either.
Top Batters: 1B Eddy Veevers (.309/0/9/8), rookie 3B Phil Lyons (.300/1/5/5) and 2B Sam Norman (.277/5/9/9) top the club in batting average... star SS Jarred O'Neal (.217/2/11/8), star CF Billy Holland (.237/1/9/7) and C Weldon Waller (.235/4/7/8) have struggled thus far.