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Eugene Church · 12-05-2014, 08:16 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 19, 2050

SUN SOX SHINE IN SECOND HALF, WIN TU SOUTH
During the first half of the Tycobbian South season the Southport Sun Sox staggered quite a bit... they trailed front-running and defending champ San Alejo by 8 games at the halfway point... the Montaneros had easily won the TU South last year and were the preseason pick to repeat, but Southport suddenly put it all together and roared to an 8-game victory over the second-place Monties... the Sun Sox posted a great 52-22 mark in the final three months to overtake San Alejo, who slumped to 36-38... this was Southport's seventh division flag in nine years... twice they have captured the Pro Cup ('44 and '47)... the Sun Sox would like nothing better than to add to their collection of IPA crowns... they were third in the Tycobbian Union with 98 wins and possess strong pitching and solid bats.... Southport has a wealth of players with Pro Cup experience and should do well in the playoffs, but must first get by powerful White River in the opening round.

1. SOUTHPORT: the Sun Sox's pitching went south last year and they fell from a lofty 101-53 in 2048 to 83-71 in 2049... but it came back this year, aided by a trade... they picked up lackluster jouneyman Tom Chambers from Chicopee and he won 22 games... in the previous 8 years with the Braves he was only 60-74.

Top Pitchers: star Johnny Swanson (17-11/2.58), All-Star Tommy Hoover (19-13/3/12), Tom Chambers (22-11/3.33) and Brandon Delmore (17-10/3.90)... two excellent relievers lead the bullpen: Troy Hill (14-5/1.85/21 saves) and Hal Combs (7-5/1.95/8 saves)... Hill was third in the IPA with 21 saves... only rookie Martin Futch of Ranwood with 26 and Domenico Renterias of Sugar Valley with 25 were ahead of Hill.

Top Batters: C Vasillis Vlachos (.293/27/93/78), LF Tony Patrano (.308/26/109/74), RF Chris Jones (.304/4/55/90), 2B Owen Wallace (.288/4/60/94) and platooners 1B Eddy Douglas (.294/15/47/40) and 1B Zee Graham (.333/23/64/56).

2. San Alejo: the Montaneros were breezing along in June, heading toward a second straight pennant, but badly swooned in the second half and were easily beaten by the resurgent Southport Sun Sox... the Monties are still a fine club, but just couldn't keep up with the Sun Sox... San Alejo won its only Pro Cup in 2032... five years later they made the Finals, but were beaten by Waleska in six games.

Top Pitchers: Matt Bell (23-8/1.83) and Will McKinney (26-12/1.93) are great pitchers, but they need a some help... none of the other starters and relievers are reliable.

Top Batters: the offense is very good with All-Star CF Pablo Teixeira (.311/30/104/102), All-Star LF Royce Grantham (.272/30/95/100), RF Erik Landau (.275/10/62/99), SS Benito Clemente (.295/8/57/87) and rookie 1B Alanzo Grassi (330/24/83/66).

3. Turon: the Typhoons have good hitting, but only fair pitching... they never challenged the leaders this year... Turon is a good team and has averaged 85-89 wins over the past five seasons, but they can't get past Southport and San Alejo in the standings... the Typhoons have a gloried history with 15 playoff appearances and four Pro Cup trophies, but very little in recent seasons... the titles came in '03, '06, '09 and '18... Turon also made the Finals in 2010 and 2017, but were defeated... for 15 years they really had a good run in the postseason.

Top Pitchers: pitching is the Typhoons' problem... Tom Fuller (22-10/3.19) is the only solid starter... and only Russell Mallory (12-2/1.81/12 saves) gets the job done in the bullpen.

Top Batters: Turon can put runs on the scoreboard... they had six players with 20 or more roundtrippers in the batting order with the likes of 3B Al Salisbury (.297/22/94/94), 1B Buford Cloninger (.276/24/72/89), RF Guido Gervasio (.288/24.83/80), 2B C. C. Kingsford (.279/23/84/80), LF Wallace Sonnier (.285/26/77/63), and C Neil Brandt (.293/24/77/57)... CF Eddy Spafford (.292/4/49/87) also is a pretty fair lead-off hitter and outstanding defender.

4. Summerland: the Sunsets haven't been setting the league on fire lately... they won the pennant in '46, but fizzled the next three years, ending up in the basement last season (57-97)... Summerland turned it around to 77-77 this year, winding up fourth (21 GB) in the standings... they still depend on good pitching... they have rarely had a good hitting team... only four times have the Sunsets graced the playoffs and they have yet to win a Pro Cup, but they came close to winning it in 2040, falling to the Ranford Bulls in seven games.

Top Pitchers: at 33, longtime star Jayson Hallstrom (23-14/2.79) is still the ace and gets helps from 21-year-old Rudy Hilgendorf (17-13/3.42)... the other two starters are Lanny Meredith (11-20/3.22), a talented 22-year-old... and Tony Charles (11-8/3.92), the number four man.

Top Batters: the club leader was 1B Kenny Douglas (.263/32/96/90) with help from SS Alex Abbotson (.298/23/83/73), RF Rick Mayes (.272/22/65/79), CF Tony Vargas (.289/1/39/75) and 2B Zane Howe (.304/16/66/43).

5. Colchester: the Elites have finished in the second division for the last 14 years... '37 was the last pennant... they have never won the Pro Cup... for the last two seasons the Elites have been nearing the .500 mark... they are a fair-to-middling ball club... very little pitching and a little above average at the plate.

Top Pitchers: rookie Lynwood Ginger (18-17/3.99), Denzel Durand (16-16/3.75) and Dan Scott (15-13/4.38) are fair starters... Colchester only has a so-so bullpen.

Top Batters: super rookie CF Kelton McFalls (.296/43/113/86) and All-Star LF Eldon McLennan (.321/13/76/101) are budding superstars... and rookie 3B Brett Applewhite (.315/8/53/87) and SS James Murchison (.311/12/59/82) show good promise.

6. Ginza: it was a mediocre year for the Ninjas again... they finished sixth for the second year in a row with 72-82 records... no pennant in years... the last division title came in 2031... no Pro Cups yet in their trophy case.

Top Pitchers: Carlos Del Toro (12-18/3.49) is the most effective starter, but T. C. Gallimore (17-19/4.19) led the club in wins... and also losses... 210-game winner Charley Waskins (16-12/4.76) gives them an occasional quality start... so does number four starter Tokuji Takahara (13-16/4.37)... veteran closer Timmy Hickens (10-5/2.34/17 saves) is still the best hurler on the staff by far.

Top Batters: superstar All-Star and Gold Glover LF Sogo Takagi (.315/32/96/114) had a wonderful season even at age 37... Takagi tied Chicopee's Arlen Buchanan for the IPA lead in doubles with 45... other productive hitters were 1B Kyle Estes (.267/13/95/69), 2B Kazumi Tamura (.297/4/65/63), 3B Horace Dyson (.296/10/47/69) and CF Harley Harvey (.382/8/55/60).

7. Cape Coral: the last good year for the Hurricanes was '47 when they came in fourth with an 85-69 mark (7 GB)... since then all downhill... 74-80 and fifth place two seasons back to 70-84 and seventh place the last two years... no division flags since 2041... and the Ninjas have never hoisted a Pro Cup... but they did make the Finals in the first year of the IPA in '01... however Volusia swept them in four games... the current 'Canes can still hit, but can't get anybody out.

Top Pitchers: Cape Coral doesn't have much in the way of pitching... the best of the lot are so-so at best... 36-year-old vet Vernon Marks (15-16/3.97) and 35-year-old Benton McCall (12-17/3.89) led the starters... 37-year-old closer Terry Baird (12-6/4.15/12 saves) may be showing his age.

Top Batters: All-Star SS-3B Scotty Jackson (.296/36/109/105) had a career year at age 30... CF Teddy Plimpton (.237/19/95/96) didn't hit much with a .237 average, but was productive with 95 RBIs and 96 runs... veteran 2B Kent Mantle (.266/27/89/73) is still a threat... C Tommy Jaggs (.310/14/86/53) had a solid season... 1B Tommy Hazle (.265/9/66/77), RF Eduardo Plassio (.288/4/51/71) and SS Dorson Crabbe (.281/11/66/69) showed well, too.

8. Arroyo Grande: the Suns made some progress last year, winding up in fourth place with a 75-79 record, but came in last this year for the seventh time in 13 seasons, finishing 64-90... the Suns have horrendous pitching and less-than-average offense.. they have only made the postseason four times in the team's history with no Pro Cup trophies.... Arroyo Grande last won the pennant in 2024.

Top Pitchers: Enrique Lopez (15-17/3.92) and Anthony Lombardi (13-19/4.14) were decent starters... and Russ Simmons (4-4/3.03/6 saves) did OK in the bullpen.

Top Batters: three players pretty much carried the offensive load for the Suns... RF Norishige Ito (.284/46/121/120), All-Star 1B Vince Kinston (.285/46/104/93) and SS Russell Taylor (.275/28/66/90)... Ito and Kinston both totaled 46 homers and over 100 RBIs in very impressive seasons... Ito could be in the running for the Tycobbian Golden Bat Award, given to the best batter in the league.

2050 Tycobbian South Division Final Standings and Team Statistics

12-05-2014, 08:16 PM	#4486
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,906	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Monday, September 19, 2050 SUN SOX SHINE IN SECOND HALF, WIN TU SOUTH During the first half of the Tycobbian South season the Southport Sun Sox staggered quite a bit... they trailed front-running and defending champ San Alejo by 8 games at the halfway point... the Montaneros had easily won the TU South last year and were the preseason pick to repeat, but Southport suddenly put it all together and roared to an 8-game victory over the second-place Monties... the Sun Sox posted a great 52-22 mark in the final three months to overtake San Alejo, who slumped to 36-38... this was Southport's seventh division flag in nine years... twice they have captured the Pro Cup ('44 and '47)... the Sun Sox would like nothing better than to add to their collection of IPA crowns... they were third in the Tycobbian Union with 98 wins and possess strong pitching and solid bats.... Southport has a wealth of players with Pro Cup experience and should do well in the playoffs, but must first get by powerful White River in the opening round. 1. SOUTHPORT: the Sun Sox's pitching went south last year and they fell from a lofty 101-53 in 2048 to 83-71 in 2049... but it came back this year, aided by a trade... they picked up lackluster jouneyman Tom Chambers from Chicopee and he won 22 games... in the previous 8 years with the Braves he was only 60-74. Top Pitchers: star Johnny Swanson (17-11/2.58), All-Star Tommy Hoover (19-13/3/12), Tom Chambers (22-11/3.33) and Brandon Delmore (17-10/3.90)... two excellent relievers lead the bullpen: Troy Hill (14-5/1.85/21 saves) and Hal Combs (7-5/1.95/8 saves)... Hill was third in the IPA with 21 saves... only rookie Martin Futch of Ranwood with 26 and Domenico Renterias of Sugar Valley with 25 were ahead of Hill. Top Batters: C Vasillis Vlachos (.293/27/93/78), LF Tony Patrano (.308/26/109/74), RF Chris Jones (.304/4/55/90), 2B Owen Wallace (.288/4/60/94) and platooners 1B Eddy Douglas (.294/15/47/40) and 1B Zee Graham (.333/23/64/56). 2. San Alejo: the Montaneros were breezing along in June, heading toward a second straight pennant, but badly swooned in the second half and were easily beaten by the resurgent Southport Sun Sox... the Monties are still a fine club, but just couldn't keep up with the Sun Sox... San Alejo won its only Pro Cup in 2032... five years later they made the Finals, but were beaten by Waleska in six games. Top Pitchers: Matt Bell (23-8/1.83) and Will McKinney (26-12/1.93) are great pitchers, but they need a some help... none of the other starters and relievers are reliable. Top Batters: the offense is very good with All-Star CF Pablo Teixeira (.311/30/104/102), All-Star LF Royce Grantham (.272/30/95/100), RF Erik Landau (.275/10/62/99), SS Benito Clemente (.295/8/57/87) and rookie 1B Alanzo Grassi (330/24/83/66). 3. Turon: the Typhoons have good hitting, but only fair pitching... they never challenged the leaders this year... Turon is a good team and has averaged 85-89 wins over the past five seasons, but they can't get past Southport and San Alejo in the standings... the Typhoons have a gloried history with 15 playoff appearances and four Pro Cup trophies, but very little in recent seasons... the titles came in '03, '06, '09 and '18... Turon also made the Finals in 2010 and 2017, but were defeated... for 15 years they really had a good run in the postseason. Top Pitchers: pitching is the Typhoons' problem... Tom Fuller (22-10/3.19) is the only solid starter... and only Russell Mallory (12-2/1.81/12 saves) gets the job done in the bullpen. Top Batters: Turon can put runs on the scoreboard... they had six players with 20 or more roundtrippers in the batting order with the likes of 3B Al Salisbury (.297/22/94/94), 1B Buford Cloninger (.276/24/72/89), RF Guido Gervasio (.288/24.83/80), 2B C. C. Kingsford (.279/23/84/80), LF Wallace Sonnier (.285/26/77/63), and C Neil Brandt (.293/24/77/57)... CF Eddy Spafford (.292/4/49/87) also is a pretty fair lead-off hitter and outstanding defender. 4. Summerland: the Sunsets haven't been setting the league on fire lately... they won the pennant in '46, but fizzled the next three years, ending up in the basement last season (57-97)... Summerland turned it around to 77-77 this year, winding up fourth (21 GB) in the standings... they still depend on good pitching... they have rarely had a good hitting team... only four times have the Sunsets graced the playoffs and they have yet to win a Pro Cup, but they came close to winning it in 2040, falling to the Ranford Bulls in seven games. Top Pitchers: at 33, longtime star Jayson Hallstrom (23-14/2.79) is still the ace and gets helps from 21-year-old Rudy Hilgendorf (17-13/3.42)... the other two starters are Lanny Meredith (11-20/3.22), a talented 22-year-old... and Tony Charles (11-8/3.92), the number four man. Top Batters: the club leader was 1B Kenny Douglas (.263/32/96/90) with help from SS Alex Abbotson (.298/23/83/73), RF Rick Mayes (.272/22/65/79), CF Tony Vargas (.289/1/39/75) and 2B Zane Howe (.304/16/66/43). 5. Colchester: the Elites have finished in the second division for the last 14 years... '37 was the last pennant... they have never won the Pro Cup... for the last two seasons the Elites have been nearing the .500 mark... they are a fair-to-middling ball club... very little pitching and a little above average at the plate. Top Pitchers: rookie Lynwood Ginger (18-17/3.99), Denzel Durand (16-16/3.75) and Dan Scott (15-13/4.38) are fair starters... Colchester only has a so-so bullpen. Top Batters: super rookie CF Kelton McFalls (.296/43/113/86) and All-Star LF Eldon McLennan (.321/13/76/101) are budding superstars... and rookie 3B Brett Applewhite (.315/8/53/87) and SS James Murchison (.311/12/59/82) show good promise. 6. Ginza: it was a mediocre year for the Ninjas again... they finished sixth for the second year in a row with 72-82 records... no pennant in years... the last division title came in 2031... no Pro Cups yet in their trophy case. Top Pitchers: Carlos Del Toro (12-18/3.49) is the most effective starter, but T. C. Gallimore (17-19/4.19) led the club in wins... and also losses... 210-game winner Charley Waskins (16-12/4.76) gives them an occasional quality start... so does number four starter Tokuji Takahara (13-16/4.37)... veteran closer Timmy Hickens (10-5/2.34/17 saves) is still the best hurler on the staff by far. Top Batters: superstar All-Star and Gold Glover LF Sogo Takagi (.315/32/96/114) had a wonderful season even at age 37... Takagi tied Chicopee's Arlen Buchanan for the IPA lead in doubles with 45... other productive hitters were 1B Kyle Estes (.267/13/95/69), 2B Kazumi Tamura (.297/4/65/63), 3B Horace Dyson (.296/10/47/69) and CF Harley Harvey (.382/8/55/60). 7. Cape Coral: the last good year for the Hurricanes was '47 when they came in fourth with an 85-69 mark (7 GB)... since then all downhill... 74-80 and fifth place two seasons back to 70-84 and seventh place the last two years... no division flags since 2041... and the Ninjas have never hoisted a Pro Cup... but they did make the Finals in the first year of the IPA in '01... however Volusia swept them in four games... the current 'Canes can still hit, but can't get anybody out. Top Pitchers: Cape Coral doesn't have much in the way of pitching... the best of the lot are so-so at best... 36-year-old vet Vernon Marks (15-16/3.97) and 35-year-old Benton McCall (12-17/3.89) led the starters... 37-year-old closer Terry Baird (12-6/4.15/12 saves) may be showing his age. Top Batters: All-Star SS-3B Scotty Jackson (.296/36/109/105) had a career year at age 30... CF Teddy Plimpton (.237/19/95/96) didn't hit much with a .237 average, but was productive with 95 RBIs and 96 runs... veteran 2B Kent Mantle (.266/27/89/73) is still a threat... C Tommy Jaggs (.310/14/86/53) had a solid season... 1B Tommy Hazle (.265/9/66/77), RF Eduardo Plassio (.288/4/51/71) and SS Dorson Crabbe (.281/11/66/69) showed well, too. 8. Arroyo Grande: the Suns made some progress last year, winding up in fourth place with a 75-79 record, but came in last this year for the seventh time in 13 seasons, finishing 64-90... the Suns have horrendous pitching and less-than-average offense.. they have only made the postseason four times in the team's history with no Pro Cup trophies.... Arroyo Grande last won the pennant in 2024. Top Pitchers: Enrique Lopez (15-17/3.92) and Anthony Lombardi (13-19/4.14) were decent starters... and Russ Simmons (4-4/3.03/6 saves) did OK in the bullpen. Top Batters: three players pretty much carried the offensive load for the Suns... RF Norishige Ito (.284/46/121/120), All-Star 1B Vince Kinston (.285/46/104/93) and SS Russell Taylor (.275/28/66/90)... Ito and Kinston both totaled 46 homers and over 100 RBIs in very impressive seasons... Ito could be in the running for the Tycobbian Golden Bat Award, given to the best batter in the league. 2050 Tycobbian South Division Final Standings and Team Statistics Attached Images