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Eugene Church · 01-03-2015, 07:01 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 3, 2051

OLD HAT IN IPA, 7 TEAMS PICKED TO REPEAT
Don't expect a lot of change in the Islandian Pro Alliance this new season. Seven of last year's division champions are favored to repeat... defending Pro Cup champion Valmara should win the Ruthlandian North for the seventh time in the last nine years and get a chance to three-peat in the playoffs... the only one division winner to miss out in the preseason poll was the St. John Crusaders of the Ruthlandian East. The Waleska Westerners got the call this year with the Crusaders forecast to fall to third place. But don't count out the Holy Men... they will be in the running.

Sugar Valley is slated to run away with the RU East... Middlefield should be pressed in the RU West by Forest City... all of last year's Tycobbian division winners are expect back this year... White River, the Pro Cup runner-up should easily handle the Tycobbian North... Same thing for the Southport Sunrays in the TU South and Bay St. Clair Buccaneers in the TU West... but East Point will be pressured quite a bit in the TU East by three other challengers: the hungry Midway Wolves, the feisty Tuckanarra Blue Jays and the slugging Red Bluff Red Sox.

VIPERS IN A TIGHT RACE IN THE RU NORTH
The powerhouses are all back for season number 51 with Valmara going for its third straight Pro Cup crown. Last year the Vipers were pressed in the Ruthlandian North by the Ranford Bulls. This year you can add another contending club in the Taranto Tars, who are picked for second place, while Ranford will be a very close third. Valmara still has a relatively young club with all the mainstays back. Darus Polaski (25-9/1.98, Primo Sirak (19-10/2.63) and brothers Darek (18-8/2.42) and Mark Polaski (14-9/3.82) head up a potent pitching rotation. Ken Jensen (.320), Don Ritchie (.312) and Karol Koska (34 HR/132 RBI) are back with the big sticks. The Vipers did lose one of its Pro Cup stalwarts, Teddy Twardzik, who retired at age 39 after 13 seasons. Twardzik finished 195-155 with a 3.11 career ERA and a 12-4 postseason record with a 2.38 ERA in 19 starts. He missed all of last year with an arm injury and decided it was time to ride off into the sunset.

Taranto is paced by two fine starters Pablo Rivas (25-10/3.33) and Valerio Rossi (22-16/3.53)... Armani Pizziconi (13-13/3.16) and Bill Walker (17-18/3.94) give them a solid rotation that has the tough task to play in a bandbox, the Palazzo di Sport, one of the smallest diamonds in the IPA. Ryan Nelms (.262/33/96/70) and Derrick Damon (.319/22/88/89) are the primary run producers for the Tars.

Ranford still has the great portsider Ralph Hawk (22-8/2.81) on the hill and still in his prime at 33. He won the RU Golden Arms in '48 and '49. The number two starter is Neil Martin (17-11/3.51) and in the bullpen is a standout young closer Martin Futch (8-5/2.35), who led the IPA with 26 saves in his freshman season. The Bulls have plenty of firepower in the lineup with Virgil Belisle (.341), Rory O'Herlihy (.340) , Joey Hawkins (.308), Zach Isom (.312), Joel Rimes (.284/20/105/114) and Don Connell (.276/18/99/80)... Ranford is a dangerous club.

WALESKA FAVORED IN RU SOUTH
It's been 13 years since the Waleska Westeners tasted the sweet victory of winning the Ruthlandian South and the club's third Pro Cup trophy in 2039... this year the Islandian baseball experts have surprisingly selected them to beat out San Dimas, last year's champ St. John and Belair Beach for the division crown... the Westerners came in fifth last year, 20 GB.

St. John appears to be the best club in the division, but not by a lot... San Dimas, second last season, has much better offense than Waleska and just as much pitching... fourth place seems to be best suited for Belair Beach... none of the clubs will go far in the playoffs... the Ruthlandian South is not very strong.

Waleska has only two quality starters in veteran Niles Neilsen (20-15/2.27) and young, 24-year-old Lou Carlson (17-17/3.18)... not much in the bullpen... nor in the lineup... so-so performers Rob Rice (.298/18/64/56), Gene Stevenson (.281/12/63/55) and Pete Doyle (.276/14/60/53) will have to carry the offense... however, Doyle is 39 and came over in a trade with Denton City of the Tycobbian Union... Doyle has 322 homers in 17 seasons with a .275 lifetime BA and 1152 RBIs... the preseason prognosticators must know something the rest of us don't... we shall see who's right.

The St. John Crusaders still have impressive pitching with Frank Long (26-11/3.00), who led the IPA in wins, Teddy de Grom (19-13/3.10), new starter Jimmy Chambers (10-7/3.38/11 saves) and Zeke Yoder (15-8/3.94/1 save)... and some very capable bats in Al Pace (.321/26/119/76), Cris Hershey (.321/11/88/86), Herb Gruen (.265/17/92/73) and Sherrill Westerfield (.343/6/48/91).

The San Dimas Rancheros can put runs on the scoreboard, but are not that strong on the hill... top hitters are Enrique Orantez (.308/34/113/106), Johnny Locke (.305/10/63/98), Ricardo Cepeda (.297/7/46/81), 38-year-old veteran Denny Hendrix (.279/32/99/80) and 36-year-old star Leonard Purkey (.295/21/89/54)... Gary Widmer (16-11/3.79) is the most reliable starter with some help from Shan Dewhurst (17-20/3.67)... the bullpen is well-fixed with fine closer Kenny Robinson (14-7/1.91/21 saves) and Georgie Walker (6-3/2.15/9 saves).

Offensively the Belair Beach Sunbirds are sparked by Norm Ellis (.281/33/108/67), Alvara Abreu (.312/1/42/75) and Andy Williams (.276/3/45/102)... star slugger Jason Butler (.276/18/70/71) is still around, but is 38 years old... he has 574 homers and over 1600 RBIs in a fine 16-year career... Tom Cook (10-5/2.31/10 saves) is a solid closer and Jeffrey Verblen (17-18/3.62) is the most reliable starter... the Sunbirds will be lucky to wind up fourth this year... not much on the mound or at the plate.

2051 Ruthlandian North and South Divisions Preseason Predictions

01-03-2015, 07:01 PM	#4525
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,047	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Monday, April 3, 2051 OLD HAT IN IPA, 7 TEAMS PICKED TO REPEAT Don't expect a lot of change in the Islandian Pro Alliance this new season. Seven of last year's division champions are favored to repeat... defending Pro Cup champion Valmara should win the Ruthlandian North for the seventh time in the last nine years and get a chance to three-peat in the playoffs... the only one division winner to miss out in the preseason poll was the St. John Crusaders of the Ruthlandian East. The Waleska Westerners got the call this year with the Crusaders forecast to fall to third place. But don't count out the Holy Men... they will be in the running. Sugar Valley is slated to run away with the RU East... Middlefield should be pressed in the RU West by Forest City... all of last year's Tycobbian division winners are expect back this year... White River, the Pro Cup runner-up should easily handle the Tycobbian North... Same thing for the Southport Sunrays in the TU South and Bay St. Clair Buccaneers in the TU West... but East Point will be pressured quite a bit in the TU East by three other challengers: the hungry Midway Wolves, the feisty Tuckanarra Blue Jays and the slugging Red Bluff Red Sox. VIPERS IN A TIGHT RACE IN THE RU NORTH The powerhouses are all back for season number 51 with Valmara going for its third straight Pro Cup crown. Last year the Vipers were pressed in the Ruthlandian North by the Ranford Bulls. This year you can add another contending club in the Taranto Tars, who are picked for second place, while Ranford will be a very close third. Valmara still has a relatively young club with all the mainstays back. Darus Polaski (25-9/1.98, Primo Sirak (19-10/2.63) and brothers Darek (18-8/2.42) and Mark Polaski (14-9/3.82) head up a potent pitching rotation. Ken Jensen (.320), Don Ritchie (.312) and Karol Koska (34 HR/132 RBI) are back with the big sticks. The Vipers did lose one of its Pro Cup stalwarts, Teddy Twardzik, who retired at age 39 after 13 seasons. Twardzik finished 195-155 with a 3.11 career ERA and a 12-4 postseason record with a 2.38 ERA in 19 starts. He missed all of last year with an arm injury and decided it was time to ride off into the sunset. Taranto is paced by two fine starters Pablo Rivas (25-10/3.33) and Valerio Rossi (22-16/3.53)... Armani Pizziconi (13-13/3.16) and Bill Walker (17-18/3.94) give them a solid rotation that has the tough task to play in a bandbox, the Palazzo di Sport, one of the smallest diamonds in the IPA. Ryan Nelms (.262/33/96/70) and Derrick Damon (.319/22/88/89) are the primary run producers for the Tars. Ranford still has the great portsider Ralph Hawk (22-8/2.81) on the hill and still in his prime at 33. He won the RU Golden Arms in '48 and '49. The number two starter is Neil Martin (17-11/3.51) and in the bullpen is a standout young closer Martin Futch (8-5/2.35), who led the IPA with 26 saves in his freshman season. The Bulls have plenty of firepower in the lineup with Virgil Belisle (.341), Rory O'Herlihy (.340) , Joey Hawkins (.308), Zach Isom (.312), Joel Rimes (.284/20/105/114) and Don Connell (.276/18/99/80)... Ranford is a dangerous club. WALESKA FAVORED IN RU SOUTH It's been 13 years since the Waleska Westeners tasted the sweet victory of winning the Ruthlandian South and the club's third Pro Cup trophy in 2039... this year the Islandian baseball experts have surprisingly selected them to beat out San Dimas, last year's champ St. John and Belair Beach for the division crown... the Westerners came in fifth last year, 20 GB. St. John appears to be the best club in the division, but not by a lot... San Dimas, second last season, has much better offense than Waleska and just as much pitching... fourth place seems to be best suited for Belair Beach... none of the clubs will go far in the playoffs... the Ruthlandian South is not very strong. Waleska has only two quality starters in veteran Niles Neilsen (20-15/2.27) and young, 24-year-old Lou Carlson (17-17/3.18)... not much in the bullpen... nor in the lineup... so-so performers Rob Rice (.298/18/64/56), Gene Stevenson (.281/12/63/55) and Pete Doyle (.276/14/60/53) will have to carry the offense... however, Doyle is 39 and came over in a trade with Denton City of the Tycobbian Union... Doyle has 322 homers in 17 seasons with a .275 lifetime BA and 1152 RBIs... the preseason prognosticators must know something the rest of us don't... we shall see who's right. The St. John Crusaders still have impressive pitching with Frank Long (26-11/3.00), who led the IPA in wins, Teddy de Grom (19-13/3.10), new starter Jimmy Chambers (10-7/3.38/11 saves) and Zeke Yoder (15-8/3.94/1 save)... and some very capable bats in Al Pace (.321/26/119/76), Cris Hershey (.321/11/88/86), Herb Gruen (.265/17/92/73) and Sherrill Westerfield (.343/6/48/91). The San Dimas Rancheros can put runs on the scoreboard, but are not that strong on the hill... top hitters are Enrique Orantez (.308/34/113/106), Johnny Locke (.305/10/63/98), Ricardo Cepeda (.297/7/46/81), 38-year-old veteran Denny Hendrix (.279/32/99/80) and 36-year-old star Leonard Purkey (.295/21/89/54)... Gary Widmer (16-11/3.79) is the most reliable starter with some help from Shan Dewhurst (17-20/3.67)... the bullpen is well-fixed with fine closer Kenny Robinson (14-7/1.91/21 saves) and Georgie Walker (6-3/2.15/9 saves). Offensively the Belair Beach Sunbirds are sparked by Norm Ellis (.281/33/108/67), Alvara Abreu (.312/1/42/75) and Andy Williams (.276/3/45/102)... star slugger Jason Butler (.276/18/70/71) is still around, but is 38 years old... he has 574 homers and over 1600 RBIs in a fine 16-year career... Tom Cook (10-5/2.31/10 saves) is a solid closer and Jeffrey Verblen (17-18/3.62) is the most reliable starter... the Sunbirds will be lucky to wind up fourth this year... not much on the mound or at the plate. 2051 Ruthlandian North and South Divisions Preseason Predictions Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 01-03-2015 at 07:21 PM.