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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 20, 2039
SLIGO EDGES VOLUSIA, WINS WEST IN PLAYOFF
The Ruthlandian West Division went extra innings to decide this year's champion... at the Jailhouse in Volusia, the Sligo Rovers defeated the Volusia Vigilantes 7-5 in a single-game playoff to capture their first flag since 2033... the V's came in second place, Fort Benton faded badly down the stretch and finished five and a half games behind... the Rocky Rapids Snappers came in fourth and trailed by seven and a half games... last year's winner Colfax came in fifth, losing out by eight and a half games.
1. SLIGO ROVERS: the Rovers had good pitching (3.32 ERA-5th) and can score runs (722 runs-8th), though they don't hit much for average (.256 BA-24th)... they make up for it with firepower (164 HR-9th)... the Rovers could be dangerous in the playoffs with their strong defense (.979 FA), good pitching and homer power.
Top Starters: Randall Steele (25-8/3.25), Scotty Price (19-12/2.53), Tom Pierson (15-16/2.83)
Top Relievers: (none)
Top Batters: leading the way offensively were CF Joe McGarrett (.304/29/94/101), 1B Denny Simmons (284/15/72/87) and SS Neil Mitchell (.279/22/69/85).
2. Volusia Vigilantes: pitching pretty much carried the club... 3.43 team ERA (8th)... bats could have been better... the V's hit only .256 (25th) with average power (143 HR-15th tied) and didn't score well (674 runs-26th)... did a great turnaround this year after three seasons near the bottom of the division.
Top Pitchers: Drew Selby (24-13/2.94) and rookie Andrew Arryn (15-6/3.27/3 saves) gave them two fine starters... Hector Vargas (15-17/3.62) and Raul Navarro (13-18/3.21) gave them a lot of quality starts, too.
Top Relievers: Skeeter Milham (5-5/3.97/14 saves)
Top Batters: 1B Kris Wilson (.343/26/98/87), CF Cazzie Carvalho (.280/20/78/101), 2B Charlie Farmer (.289/18/64/104), LF Kerry Keller (.261/23/80/68)
3. Fort Benton Defenders: the Defenders won their only pennant in 2037... since then they have come in third twice... they went 4-13 in September and blew any chance of winning the pennant... hit well for average with a .271 team BA (4th), score pretty well with 715 runs (11th-tied), but don't go deep often... only had 99 HRs (32nd)... starters are fairly good (3.53 ERA-10th)... strong bullpen with a 2.50 ERA (2nd).
Top Starters: Augie Marquis (24-12/2.28), Jordy Raeburn (15-17/2.94)
Top Reliever: Edd Farmer (10-4/3.53/12 saves)
Top Batters: C Hunter Glenholmes (.319/7/52/101), RF Cayman Crittenden (.292/16/95/96), 3B Mitch Hamilton (.285/2/61/91) , 1B Oscar Pendleton (.298/16/84/56), SS D. D. Badeaux (.296/8/51/70)
4. Rocky Rapids Snappers: for the first time in six years the Snappers worked their way into the first division... improved pitching did it (3.75 ERA-15th)... offense hit only .262 (17th), but did score runs (718-10th)... have decent power with 129 HRs (22nd).
Top Starters: Janek Zoldak (20-10/2.55) and Randy Peters (20-11/3.98) both won 20 games... and rookie Jamie Taylor (16-18/2.63) had 27 complete games and was very effective.
Top Relievers: (none) the bullpen was horrific with a 4.92 ERA (31st)
Top Batters: LF Buddy Hamilton (.261/25/91/87) led the club in HRs, RBIs and runs... top average was SS Nick Nova with .312 BA, 12 HRs, 60 RBIs and 80 runs... CF Crusher Derringer chipped in with a .303 average, 10 homers, 54 RBIs and 66 runs.
5. Colfax Blasters: after a good run of four years, which had two pennants and two second places, the Blasters fell off on the hill and at the plate and dropped in the standings to fifth place.
Top Starters: Bobby Porter (21-12/3.31) won 20 games for the second year in a row... Norm Harbison (17-17/3.73) dropped from 21-13 last year.
Top Relievers: Nilos Andris (5-1/2.72) did well in the bullpen and as spot starter.
Top Batters: 1B Samm Bolton (.311/8/59/78), 2B Kristian McEly (.253/26/98/70), LF Chet Penn (.313/19/79/73), C Mitch Fullerton (.286/19/58/76)
6. Middlefield Roosters: for the ninth time in ten seasons the Roosters came in under the .500 mark and wound up in sixth place... because they play in a bandbox they always hit a lot of homers and also give up a lot of homers... the Roosters racked up 238 homers to lead the Ruthlandian Union and placed second in the IPA behind Bayview with 251... they were number two in scoring with 776 runs... Sugar Valley was number one with 828 runs... the team ERA was 4.40 (30th).
Top Starters: James Long (18-16/3.60) and Larry Wheelhouse (16-11/3.81) had good seasons considering where they have to pitch.
Top Relievers: Ray Owens (4-4/2.72/18 saves) was solid in the bullpen
Top Batters: C Brad Alexander (.257/50/114/84) was the RU home-run leader with 50 and third best in the IPA behind Jerry Culpepper of Bayview with a near-record 63 and Mark Cameron of Arlon, who rapped 52... Hall-of-Famer Jack Elliott of High Mesa holds the all-time mark with 65 in 2021... CF Norm Antonioni (.249/34/66/78) added 34 homers, LF Wes Stanley (.238/29/78/68) had 29, 2B Matt Womack (.261/23/73/90) chipped in 23 and RF Alejandro Dominguez (.290/22/84/89) popped 22 out of the park.
7. Forest City Lumberjacks: the last good year the 'Jacks had was 2013, a pennant-winning season... they have rarely top the .500 mark since... average pitching, mediocre offense and decent power can only go so far.
Top Starters: Rich Barstow (18-12/3.46) and Walter Gibbons (15-16/3.07) led the staff.
Top Relievers: rookie Omar Cordero (3-9/3.98/20 saves) was inconsistent, but did collect 20 saves.
Top Batters: C Bob Brisdon (.303/28/87/74) and 1B Pistol Pete Picard (.281/23/76/56) were the most productive bats.
8. Stoner Stars: the Stars continued a string of five consecutive seasons in the RU West second division with an eighth-place finish... bad pitching and bad offense will do that.
Top Pitchers: Sammy Slater (14-12/4.24) was the only winning starter... although Michael Keller (13-18/3.19) was the most effective.
Top Relievers: (none) the bullpen was absolutely terrible with a 6.32 ERA (32nd).
Top Batters: 2B Don Cain (.332/17/73/79) is the top hitter with a .332 BA, ranking fifth in the RU and eighth in the IPA... C Barney Swindell (.275/23/85/80) had a good year... so did RF Amos Mars (.314/10/48/67).
RUTHLANDIAN WEST DIVISION
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