[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, July 1, 2039

'CATS AND RATTLERS AT IT AGAIN
The epic saga continues in the Rutlandian East - it's another close battle between the powerhouses Cold Creek Catamounts and the Sugar Valley Rattlers - two arch-nemeses that have been at each other's throat for the last five seasons... Cold Creek has a two-game edge at the mid-point of the season... the remaining six clubs will probably be playing for third place at best... currently Wynnamac is nine games back in third place... and Belle Plaine is a dozen games behind in the fourth spot... a good winning streak could quickly improve a team's position since the difference between third and last is just five games.

1. Cold Creek: the Catamounts had an exceptional June, going 18-8, but lost a game in the standings to the Rattlers, who were even better at 19-7... exceptional pitching (2.85 ERA/1st) has gotten the best of an explosive attack (453 runs/1st) and solid pitching (3.46 ERA/11th) so far this season... All-Star Joey Baker (12-3/2.71), Peter Heller (9-3/2.33/7 saves) and Rob Hutchins (7-4/2.28) top the Cold Creek starters... plus J. J. Gillespie (11-6/3.70) got back on track in June with a 5-1 record and a super 1.06 ERA... the relief corps is doing very well with a 2.02 ERA (2nd), led by Tommy Wynn (4-2/2.66/6 saves) and Harvey Fullerton (3-3/1.21)... the Catamounts are deceiving at the plate... they are batting a decent .264 (12th), but have only 56 HRs (30th-tied), yet they are tied for seventh in scoring with 384 runs... top bats are RF Ken Brennan (.309/4/42/49), SS Jeremy Hall (.298/2/36/54) and CF Guy St. Laurent (.276/11/48/34).

2. Sugar Valley: if you go by the numbers, this may be the Rattlers' best team in recent years... last year they led the IPA with 105 victories... that number may too hard to beat this year... hitting is better this year (.270 to .262) and so is the pitching (3.70 to 3.46)... leading the fabled attack this season are three All-Stars: RF Bobby Gamble (.301/16/58/71), 3B Roger Hobbs (.329/17/64/49) and LF Tyler White (.267/23/69/53)... other solid contributors are CF Carlo Velucci (.261/10/49/43) and 1B Richie Strickland (.273/15/32/71)... All-Star Jeremy Blanchard (12-3/3.64) leads the club in wins, followed by three other very capable starters Juan Navarro (11-4/2.51), Christopher Dunsberry (8-6/2.96) and Josh Wilkerson (6-5/3.36/8 saves)... however, the bullpen (4.12 ERA-25th) could use some improvement... the outlook is for another battle royale between Sugar Valley and Cold Creek.

3. Wynnamac: the Sundowners lost ground in June with a 12-14 record, falling six games further behind in the race... they have a scoring machine with a .281 BA (1st) and 433 runs (2nd), sparked by All-Star CF Darrell Donnelly, who is batting .340 with an IPA-leading 87 RBIs, 12 homers and 52 runs... supported by 2B Ed Lane (.315/5/38/34), 3B Duane Hudson (.272/1/39/51), RF Nioka Inkamara (.273/10/37/46), SS Lou Borcellino (.320/5/32/37), C Edward Williams (.289/4/35/26) and LF Davy Lamour (.272/7/32/43)... the pitching is mediocre (4.08 ERA/22nd) with Ernie Hodges (11-5/3.82) and Paul Payton (6-3/3.90/2 saves) topping the staff.

4. Belle Plaine: went 12-14 in June and dropped 12 games off the pace... selected last in the preseason poll... could be headed much lower in the standings... hits with power (105 HRs-3rd) and scores runs (392/6th), but is atrocious on the mound with a 4.50 ERA (31st)... top hitters are All-Star RF Boo Boudreaux (.290/20/49/51), LF Noel Martin (.307/14/47/51), 1B Mitch Mason (.321/14/36/40) and SS Kit Ritter (.310/10/28/40)... only decent starter is Mario Aragon (8-10/4.33).

5. Marston: the Nine compiled a 12-14 record in June... not much statistically... Barry Sexton (10-9/2.97) and Matt Reeves (10-7/3.75) are good starters and reliever Webb Walden (3-1/0.00/13 saves) is a standout in the bullpen... All-Star SS Stan Mila (.329/9/55/35) and 1B Lonnie Trekell (.295/13/40/34) are the best in the batting order.

6. Elnora: the All-Stars were standing tall for the first few months, but really went on the fritz with a very poor 8-18 mark in June... Jeremy Sellers (10-7/3.90) leads the staff in wins, but hasn't had a lot of help from the other starters... Jesus Robles (1-0/1.11/1 save) and Tony Ryman (0-0/1.04/1 save) have done well in relief... leading the way offensively has been All-Star C Cannon Johnson (.290/17/58/42), CF Clive Kenyon (.329/6/32/40) and RF Keith Kalder (.268/10/37/41).

6. Eastshore: the Elegants were chosen third in the preseason rankings behind favorite Sugar Valley and Cold Creek, but have failed to deliver thus far... but they did racked up a 16-10 month in June... they have booming bats (.273 BA-88 HRs) and can score (380 runs-10th tied), but have lousy pitching (4.38 ERA-30th)... All-Star CF Scotty Lagrange (.313/14/50/51), All-Star SS Johnny Petrak (.306/11/37/48), 1B Paul Reed (.327/7/46/37), 2B Marty O'Reilly (.339/16/39/31), LF Felipe Henriques (.303/5/35/30) and C Kyle Hunt (.289/3/27/21) are a potent line-up... Koy Clampett (9-5/3.80) and Ramon Contreras (9-9/3.90) are the only reliable starters... and Kenny Chandler (4-4/2.78/6 saves) and Delaney Moss (1-1/1.29/3 saves) have been the most effective in the bullpen... the Elegants just might make a run at third place.

6. Beechwood: the Bobcats finally broke the .500 mark for the month with a decent 14-12 record... the can score pretty well with 383 runs (9th) and 87 HRs (8th), but are lackluster on the hill with a 3.99 ERA (20th)... All-Star RF Eddie Wilson (.361/21/63/56) and All-Star SS Cody Hanks (.310/15/63/44) are having super seasons with help from 2B Mel Smith (.287/8/38/63)... the Bobcats have quality starters, too, in vet Ken Arby (9-6/3.60), Neil Palmer (6-7/2.95) and John Mueller (5-5/3/24/4 saves)... Beechwood has enough talent to move up into the first division.