THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 18, 2047
ROOKIE SKIPPER WOODWARD TOPS IN RU
Rookie manager Russ Woodward in Marston inherited a team that was headed nowhere, but he made a few changes and the Nine made a huge turnaround and won Woodward the Ruthlandian Manager of the Year Award. In just a single season Marston went from seventh place to the RU East division champion. Woodward just barely beat three other skippers, who forged fine years for their clubs. In the runner-up spot in the poll was Bobby Meusel of the Belair Beach Sunbirds, number three was Don Nichols of the Far Mountain Redhawks and coming in fourth was Middlefield's Ricky Tinker.
Woodward starred for Marston from 2013 to 2033. This year in his first year he guided the Nine to a splendid 96-58 mark to cop the division title. Marston was only a lackluster 71-83 the year before, winding up in 7th place and trailing by 22 games.
The Belair Beach Sunbirds under Bobby Meusel also did an about-face similar to Marston. In his fourth year at the helm Meusel led them to the postseason for the first time since 2016 with an 84-70 mark. The Sunbirds were only 65-89 in 7th place the year before.
Far Mountain also made a vast improvement this season. Don Nichols piloted the Redhawks up from 83-71 and the fifth place spot in the RU North in 2046 to the pennant with a resounding 101-53 record, the best in the IPA. Nichols was a Hall of Fame player for Far Mountain from 2008 to 2024. He also starred for Marston in his early years in the IPA, playing for the Nine from 2001 to 2007.
Ricky Tinker also had a fine year in Middlefield, leading the Roosters to the RU West pennant with a 95-58 record. The season prior they came in a close second to Rocky Rapids with an 89-65 mark.
EVANS HONORED AS BEST TU MANAGER IN 1ST YEAR
Rookie managers don't often pick up the Manager of the Year Award, but this season it happened in both leagues. Hall of Famer Lorne Evans tooked over for the great Charley Oscar, who retired in 2046, and was acclaimed the best manager in the Tycobbian Union in his first year as skipper for the Southport Sun Sox. Evans sparkled in a great 10-year career with the Sox.
Under Evans they moved up a notch in the standings from second place in 2046 to the top spot in 2047 in the TU South, probably the best divsion overall in the IPA. Like Woodward, the RU winner, Evans had some tough competition for the award. Evans nipped Red Bluff's Jim Schubert, Tuckanarra's Carlton "Lefty" Stevens and High Mesa's Jack Elliott in a very tight four-man race.
Schubert won his fourth consecutive Tycobbian East Division title with a 95-59 record and came in second to Evans. Third place in the balloting went to Stevens of the Tucks, who rose up this year from 82-72 (second place) to 92-72 (second place). High Mesa's Elliott was in the fourth spot in the poll after leading his Cowboys up from fifth place (82-72) to third place (86-68).
Last edited by Eugene Church; 08-11-2014 at 10:35 PM.
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