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Eugene Church · 12-03-2014, 10:12 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 19, 2050

ROOSTERS REPEAT IN RU WEST
The Middlefield Roosters took flight in the second half of the season and triumphed in the Ruthlandian West for the second year in a row and fourth time in six seasons... Forest City led until the All-Star Game and then went into a funk and was overtaken by the red-hot Roosters... the Lumberjacks finished seven games back... preseason favorite Rocky Rapids never really challenged the leaders and ended up in the third spot, trailing by 14 games... and fourth place went to the Colfax Blasters, who were 16 games behind Middlefield.

The Roosters have their work cut out for them... to have any chance at winning their second Pro Cup, they have to get past two powerful clubs, Valmara and Sugar Valley... Middlefield won its only Pro Cup trophy in 2005 and has made the playoffs 14 times... twice the Roosters made the Finals, but lost... to South Fork in 2025 and Southport in 2047, both in seven games.

1. MIDDLEFIELD: the Roosters hit well with power and have good veteran pitching, but a weak bullpen... they went deep 208 times, third best in the IPA behind Red Bluff's 238 homers and Bayview's 231... roster is still filled with many of the '47 finalists... pitching has always been their downfall in the postseason.

Top Pitchers: All-Star James Long (25-8/1.78) led the IPA in ERA and ranked second in victories... other starters are Carroll Collier (20-15/3.36) and Hollis Dale (16-14/3.78)... Ricky Farris (10-9/3.35/14 saves) is an adequate closer... Collier and Dale are the keys to the Roosters' postseason success.

Top Batters: last year's RU MVP, Rookie of the Year and All-Star CF Johnny Wyatt (.325/57/133/114) was even better this year, leading the IPA with 57 homers and ranking second with 133 RBIs... Grand City's Benny Hull was tops with 135 RBIs... Middlefield doesn't have an easy out in the batting order with RF Timothy Hayworth (.331/17/64/101), LF Russell Martin (.260/28/83/87), 1B Cliff Patterson (.280/18/60/65), 2B Ike Gary (.282/17/72/75), C Johnny McDonald (.293/9/67/68), SS Jimmy Beach (.266/14/71/51) and 3B Cramer Landis (.263/11/61/76).

2. Forest City: the Lumberjacks won the RU West two years ago (92-62), were second last year (91-63) and runner-up again this season (84-70)... they have never won a Pro Cup... never been to the finals... the 'Jacks scored well and have fine starting pitching, but not much punch in the lineup and a poor bullpen.

Top Pitchers: All-Star Rusty Howard (22-14/2.49), Omar Cordero (17-12/3.19) and John McKee (17-12/3.57)... Howard finished fourth in the IPA in strikeouts with 277... only Waleska's Lou Carlson (285), San Alejo's Will McKinney (284) and St. John's Frank Long (280) were ahead of him.

Top Batters: rookie All-Star LF Heck Callis (.339/8/77/82), All-Star 2B-3B Ziggy Regan (.305/11/74/103), C Dan Brownmiller (.302/14/85/68), 1B Hondo Harmon (.285/18/87/69) and 3B John Foley (.302/3/45/76)

3. Rocky Rapids: for the 12th successive year the Snappers finished in the first division, ending up a distant third (77-77) after being favored to win it in the preseason poll... their last pennant came in 2046... and their only Pro Cup came in 2019... Rocky Rapids features strong pitching with fairly good starters and excellent relievers, but not much in the way of offense (27th).

Top Pitchers: 34-year-old superstud ace Jamie Taylor (20-13/1.93), the only IPA hurler ever to win 30 games in a season ('46)... was fourth in the IPA this year in ERA... other starters are Dirk Halstad (17-16/3.20), Buster Noland (15-17/3.97) and Robby Barnhill (12-12/3.61)... bullpen is headed up by closer Steve Owens (6-3/2.04/11 saves).

Top Batters: C Carney Kirkpatrick (.308/14/83/66), 2B Marty Featherstone (.279/17/78/85), 1B Masaharu Kawasaki (.267/23/89/76)

4. Colfax: the Blasters came in third last year with an 86-68 record (18 GB) and slipped a little to fourth this year with a subpar 75-79 (16 GB)... 13 times they have appeared in the playoffs, winning their only Pro Cup in 2010... Colfax also got to the Finals in '32 and '42, but fell to San Alejo and South Fork... the Blaster bats are better-than-average, but the mound corps is just mediocre.

Top Pitchers: the only decent starters were Dante Breeland (17-14/4.19/5 saves), Red McCallum (13-10/3.82/2 saves) and Keith Himmel (12-10/4.24/12 saves).

Top Batters: All-Star C Darrell Dillon (.333/31/93/83), All-Star LF Robb Maddux (.297/23/94/89), 2B Dan Zalewski (.290/8/52/75), RF Stu Richardson (.293/6/72/59) and 3B Hoot Glanville (.286/14/56/61)

5. Stoner: the Stars were 80-74 last year in fifth place (24 GB) and also fifth this year with 71-83 (20 GB)... just a lackluster club with so-so offense and pitching... it's been years since they won the RU West... '29 was the last time... Stoner has never won a Pro Cup, but did reach the Finals twice... in '07 against Oxford and in '29 against Rolling Hills.

Top Pitchers: Ira Monaghan (11-8/3.02/4 saves) and Rip Martin (16-17/3.67) were the only reliable starters.

Top Batters: 1B Emmett Tread (.318/25/82/78) was the club offensive leader... the only other decent run producers were CF Morgan Miller (.283/9/68/62) and 2B Mac Lord (.251/11/64/83).

6. Fort Benton: the Defenders ended a terrible five-year run in the cellar, improving a little bit to sixth place (22 GB) this year, but still only 69-85 record-wise... the club's history reveals only one postseason appearance... that was in '37... the Defenders hit well with a .278 team BA (7th), score pretty well with 699 runs (14th-tied), but don't have much power... only 84 HRs (30th)... pitching is poor with a 4.30 team ERA (30th).

Top Pitchers: most dependable starters were Dick Shepard (15-12/4.06) and Al Mitchell (12-10/4.02)... Darius Kimberly (8-5/3.33/14 saves) was the best in the bullpen.

Top Batters: All-Star SS Lucien Lindsey (.322/9/76/83), CF Freddie Woodruff (.316/9/81/94), RF Tristan Kenyon (.316/5/48/65), C Varnell Larrimore (.287/15/80/65), 1B Todd Higginbotham (.287/18/74/40) and 2B Charley Lang (.280/9/64/65)

7. Sligo: the Rovers finished second three years ago with an 82-72 mark (10 GB), dipped to sixth and 64-90 (40 GB) last year and to seventh and 65-89 (26 GB) this season... 2040 was the last pennant year and 2021 was the only Pro Cup title season... offensively the Rovers are dismal... and just average on the hill.

Top Pitchers: Mickey Walsh (21-16/2.61) is the only hurler over .500.

Top Batters: SS Nigel Colvin (.304/13/84/62) and 16-year vet 3B Denny Simmons (.294/17/60/79) are the only decent bats in the lineup.

8. Volusia: the Vigilantes haven't made the playoffs since 2043 and haven't won a Pro Cup since 2001, the first year of the IPA... the V's have been wallowing near the bottom for the last three seasons... this year they hit rock bottom with a 63-91 record (28 GB)... not much offense or pitching.

Top Pitchers: Drew Selby (16-19/3.27) is a quality starter... Alvaro Spinosa (17-12/4.08) is the top winner... Casimiro Ramires (11-20/3.73) gives them some quality starts... there's nothing much in the bullpen.

Top Batters: not a lot of talent in the batting order... CF Lonny Womack (.242/21/73/66) led the club with 21 homers and 73 RBIs, but hit only .242... LF Robby Booth (.289/20/49/70) had the best BA at .289 and scored the most runs with 70.

2050 Ruthlandian West Division Final Standings and Team Statistics

12-03-2014, 10:12 PM	#4484
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,897	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Monday, September 19, 2050 ROOSTERS REPEAT IN RU WEST The Middlefield Roosters took flight in the second half of the season and triumphed in the Ruthlandian West for the second year in a row and fourth time in six seasons... Forest City led until the All-Star Game and then went into a funk and was overtaken by the red-hot Roosters... the Lumberjacks finished seven games back... preseason favorite Rocky Rapids never really challenged the leaders and ended up in the third spot, trailing by 14 games... and fourth place went to the Colfax Blasters, who were 16 games behind Middlefield. The Roosters have their work cut out for them... to have any chance at winning their second Pro Cup, they have to get past two powerful clubs, Valmara and Sugar Valley... Middlefield won its only Pro Cup trophy in 2005 and has made the playoffs 14 times... twice the Roosters made the Finals, but lost... to South Fork in 2025 and Southport in 2047, both in seven games. *1. MIDDLEFIELD:* the Roosters hit well with power and have good veteran pitching, but a weak bullpen... they went deep 208 times, third best in the IPA behind Red Bluff's 238 homers and Bayview's 231... roster is still filled with many of the '47 finalists... pitching has always been their downfall in the postseason. Top Pitchers: All-Star James Long (25-8/1.78) led the IPA in ERA and ranked second in victories... other starters are Carroll Collier (20-15/3.36) and Hollis Dale (16-14/3.78)... Ricky Farris (10-9/3.35/14 saves) is an adequate closer... Collier and Dale are the keys to the Roosters' postseason success. Top Batters: last year's RU MVP, Rookie of the Year and All-Star CF Johnny Wyatt (.325/57/133/114) was even better this year, leading the IPA with 57 homers and ranking second with 133 RBIs... Grand City's Benny Hull was tops with 135 RBIs... Middlefield doesn't have an easy out in the batting order with RF Timothy Hayworth (.331/17/64/101), LF Russell Martin (.260/28/83/87), 1B Cliff Patterson (.280/18/60/65), 2B Ike Gary (.282/17/72/75), C Johnny McDonald (.293/9/67/68), SS Jimmy Beach (.266/14/71/51) and 3B Cramer Landis (.263/11/61/76). 2. Forest City: the Lumberjacks won the RU West two years ago (92-62), were second last year (91-63) and runner-up again this season (84-70)... they have never won a Pro Cup... never been to the finals... the 'Jacks scored well and have fine starting pitching, but not much punch in the lineup and a poor bullpen. Top Pitchers: All-Star Rusty Howard (22-14/2.49), Omar Cordero (17-12/3.19) and John McKee (17-12/3.57)... Howard finished fourth in the IPA in strikeouts with 277... only Waleska's Lou Carlson (285), San Alejo's Will McKinney (284) and St. John's Frank Long (280) were ahead of him. Top Batters: rookie All-Star LF Heck Callis (.339/8/77/82), All-Star 2B-3B Ziggy Regan (.305/11/74/103), C Dan Brownmiller (.302/14/85/68), 1B Hondo Harmon (.285/18/87/69) and 3B John Foley (.302/3/45/76) 3. Rocky Rapids: for the 12th successive year the Snappers finished in the first division, ending up a distant third (77-77) after being favored to win it in the preseason poll... their last pennant came in 2046... and their only Pro Cup came in 2019... Rocky Rapids features strong pitching with fairly good starters and excellent relievers, but not much in the way of offense (27th). Top Pitchers: 34-year-old superstud ace Jamie Taylor (20-13/1.93), the only IPA hurler ever to win 30 games in a season ('46)... was fourth in the IPA this year in ERA... other starters are Dirk Halstad (17-16/3.20), Buster Noland (15-17/3.97) and Robby Barnhill (12-12/3.61)... bullpen is headed up by closer Steve Owens (6-3/2.04/11 saves). Top Batters: C Carney Kirkpatrick (.308/14/83/66), 2B Marty Featherstone (.279/17/78/85), 1B Masaharu Kawasaki (.267/23/89/76) 4. Colfax: the Blasters came in third last year with an 86-68 record (18 GB) and slipped a little to fourth this year with a subpar 75-79 (16 GB)... 13 times they have appeared in the playoffs, winning their only Pro Cup in 2010... Colfax also got to the Finals in '32 and '42, but fell to San Alejo and South Fork... the Blaster bats are better-than-average, but the mound corps is just mediocre. Top Pitchers: the only decent starters were Dante Breeland (17-14/4.19/5 saves), Red McCallum (13-10/3.82/2 saves) and Keith Himmel (12-10/4.24/12 saves). Top Batters: All-Star C Darrell Dillon (.333/31/93/83), All-Star LF Robb Maddux (.297/23/94/89), 2B Dan Zalewski (.290/8/52/75), RF Stu Richardson (.293/6/72/59) and 3B Hoot Glanville (.286/14/56/61) 5. Stoner: the Stars were 80-74 last year in fifth place (24 GB) and also fifth this year with 71-83 (20 GB)... just a lackluster club with so-so offense and pitching... it's been years since they won the RU West... '29 was the last time... Stoner has never won a Pro Cup, but did reach the Finals twice... in '07 against Oxford and in '29 against Rolling Hills. Top Pitchers: Ira Monaghan (11-8/3.02/4 saves) and Rip Martin (16-17/3.67) were the only reliable starters. Top Batters: 1B Emmett Tread (.318/25/82/78) was the club offensive leader... the only other decent run producers were CF Morgan Miller (.283/9/68/62) and 2B Mac Lord (.251/11/64/83). 6. Fort Benton: the Defenders ended a terrible five-year run in the cellar, improving a little bit to sixth place (22 GB) this year, but still only 69-85 record-wise... the club's history reveals only one postseason appearance... that was in '37... the Defenders hit well with a .278 team BA (7th), score pretty well with 699 runs (14th-tied), but don't have much power... only 84 HRs (30th)... pitching is poor with a 4.30 team ERA (30th). Top Pitchers: most dependable starters were Dick Shepard (15-12/4.06) and Al Mitchell (12-10/4.02)... Darius Kimberly (8-5/3.33/14 saves) was the best in the bullpen. Top Batters: All-Star SS Lucien Lindsey (.322/9/76/83), CF Freddie Woodruff (.316/9/81/94), RF Tristan Kenyon (.316/5/48/65), C Varnell Larrimore (.287/15/80/65), 1B Todd Higginbotham (.287/18/74/40) and 2B Charley Lang (.280/9/64/65) 7. Sligo: the Rovers finished second three years ago with an 82-72 mark (10 GB), dipped to sixth and 64-90 (40 GB) last year and to seventh and 65-89 (26 GB) this season... 2040 was the last pennant year and 2021 was the only Pro Cup title season... offensively the Rovers are dismal... and just average on the hill. Top Pitchers: Mickey Walsh (21-16/2.61) is the only hurler over .500. Top Batters: SS Nigel Colvin (.304/13/84/62) and 16-year vet 3B Denny Simmons (.294/17/60/79) are the only decent bats in the lineup. 8. Volusia: the Vigilantes haven't made the playoffs since 2043 and haven't won a Pro Cup since 2001, the first year of the IPA... the V's have been wallowing near the bottom for the last three seasons... this year they hit rock bottom with a 63-91 record (28 GB)... not much offense or pitching. Top Pitchers: Drew Selby (16-19/3.27) is a quality starter... Alvaro Spinosa (17-12/4.08) is the top winner... Casimiro Ramires (11-20/3.73) gives them some quality starts... there's nothing much in the bullpen. Top Batters: not a lot of talent in the batting order... CF Lonny Womack (.242/21/73/66) led the club with 21 homers and 73 RBIs, but hit only .242... LF Robby Booth (.289/20/49/70) had the best BA at .289 and scored the most runs with 70. 2050 Ruthlandian West Division Final Standings and Team Statistics Attached Images