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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 30, 2048
TWO OF TOP PICKS STILL IN PLAYOFFS
Two of the top picks in the Pro Cup playoffs are still in the running, while two of them bit the dust. Defending Pro Cup titlist and this year's favorite Southpost just barely got by White River in a tense seven-game duel in the first-round play. Third pick Sugar Valley disposed of Forest City in six games. The second choice Valmara Vipers were upset in just five games by the eight-ranked club, the Claxton Diamonds. And the number-four selection High Mesa fell to the fifth pick Rolling Hills four games to one in the first round.
Sugar Valley will host Claxton in a seven-game Ruthlandian Championship Series beginning this Friday afternoon at Farmers Memorial Park, while it will be Rolling Hills and Southport battling at Pleasure Beach Park in Southport for the Tycobbian League Championship.
The Rattlers will carry a strong pitching staff and high-powered offense into the Ruthlandian Series with Claxton. Antonio Cedeno (22-15/2.31), Cullen Winslow (18-7/2.47) and Joe Snow (19-4/2.29) head up very inpressive starting rotation with help in the bullpen from closer Domenico Renterias (13-9/2.35/10 saves). Sugar Valley will be led at the plate by CF Carl Ramsey (.252/38/108/98), RF Bobby Gamble (.289/17/71/65), 1B Walt Hanson (.311/18/77/62), 2B Richie Fry (.305/11/39/80), LF Jeff Harvey (.258/25/73/60) and 3B Roger Hobbs (.249/21/75/81).
The Claxton Diamonds will counter with a pretty fair offense featuring 1B Jojo DeLucca (.279/30/126/91), LF Whit Miley (.357/14/72/106), CF Darry Daniels (.295/12/55/88), 3B Rick Clayburne (.323/9/76/74) and 2B Rich Emery (.252/19/78/81). The Diamonds will have their ace Abe Schiffman (21-13/2.80) back back in the rotation. He missed the entire series with Valmara because of a five-game suspension incurred in the final days of the regular season. Stan Yudash (20-9/3.48) and Gilbert Clagsdale (16-12/3.84) will be number two and three in the postseason rotation. The top relievers will be Steven Ellison (18-9/3.79), Jared Lipton (11-6/2.71/9 saves) and Gary Haskin (5-8/2.95/16 saves).
RUTHLANDIAN FORECAST: Sugar Valley has too much pitching and firepower for the Diamonds... the Rattlers will win in six games.
The Southport Sun Sox are blessed with a wealth of hurlers, both starters and bullpen... Billy Hoover (16-7/2.72), Johnny Swanson (22-11/2.41) and Brandon Delmore will get the starting calls, while Gordon Forbes (26-10/3.64), Troy Hill (7-3/2.18/18 saves) and Hal Combs (4-7/3.23/8 saves) will be the go-to guys in the pen. Southport has a very solid core of hitters, too. The top guns are 1B Eddy Douglas (.340/26/93/88), rookie RF Tony Patrano (.280/32/92/85), C Vasilis Vlachos (.285/19/94/81), 2B Ricky Whitaker (.319/10/87/72), Craig Glennon (.267/21/82/71) and CF Barney Lewis (.247/25/62/60).
The Rolling Hills Reds rolled past a very good High Mesa club in round one. They did it without Golden Glove RF and slugger Jimbo Foxx (.247/37/100/75), the main threat in the lineup. Foxx will miss about four months with a serious hand injury. Sharp-fielding shortstop and leading hitter Dustin Thibodeau (.322/18/65/101) will also be out for the first few games with the Sun Sox due to a hamstring problem. Hoping to take up the slack will be star 1B Darwin Tard (.294/30/94/100), LF Orin Phillips (.300/24/95/87) and 2B Miguel Romeros (.288/19/65/61). Trying to hold the Sun Sox at bay will be starters Matthew Christianson (22-11/2.19), Johnny Howard (18-12/2.60) and Steve Adams (17-11/3.59). The main relievers will be Marty Phillips (14-14/3.76), Andy Bennett (11-5/3.83/4 saves) and Benny Young (9-5/2.37/15 saves).
TYCOBBIAN FORECAST: It's hard to go against Southport... they are solid in all respects... they should win in six games over a fine Rolling Hills team... the Reds can't quite match the Sun Sox starters... nor can they keep up with Southport in the scoring department... Rolling Hills will really miss the big bat of Jimbo Foxx.
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