[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 21, 2054

TARS WIN 3RD RU NORTH FLAG IN A ROW
The Taranto Tars captured their third Ruthlandian North flag in a row, but not without a struggle with four other clubs... the Tars won the division again, but not like they did in 2052 and 2053... the other clubs put up quite a fight... In a close race Taranto (86-68) edged Ranford (84-70) by two games, Valmara (82-72) and Glasco (82-72) by four games and fifth place Far Mountain (81-73) by five.

1. TARANTO TARS (86-68)... great season last year 1st place (101/53)... overall IPA history shows 7 pennants and one Pro Cup (2015)... this year manager Augie Marshall saw his pitching and batting diminish... that's why they just barely won the pennant... but Taranto could still hammer the longball and topped the IPA with 229 homers... and the Tars had enough pitching to get them by with Armani Pizziconi (21-13/3.10), Phil Castle (13-9/2.98) and Freddy De Angelis (1915/4.11)... RF Lenny Buisson (.296/40 HR), LF Kuma Toyota (.306/34 HR), C Niccolo Parisi (.241/28 HR), CF Renzo Caruso (.279/27 HR) and SS Dan Armistead (.246/22 HR) led the offensive attack.

Outlook: Taranto made the Pro Cup Finals last year and lost to IPA champion Midway in a four-game sweep... not likely to get that far this season... the Middlefield Roosters may be too tough for the Tars this year... not likely Taranto will whip them in the Ruthlandian Finals this season.

2. Ranford Bulls (84-70) (2 GB)... in 2053 the Bulls were third in the race at 81-73 (22 GB)... this season they led by a game going into September, but manager Kyle Hunt's bunch went into a slight tailspin and lost in a very close race... he had a fairly good offense and solid pitching... his pitching rotation consists of superstar All-Star Ralph Hawk (24-10/1.98), Jeff Reese (16-9/3.32), Dutch Hawood (13-12/3.78) and Neil Martin (13-13/3.98)... the Bulls' relief corps was good, too, anchored by All-Star closer Martin Futch (5-7/1.86/29 saves/71 G) and Tony Burgess (5-6/2.84/7 saves/47 G)... the Ranford bats were sparked by 2B Don Connell (.314/21 HR/91 RBI), CF Joey Hawkins (.308/16 HR) and rookie C Kieran Bellinger (.331/7 HR/40 RBI).

Outlook: Ranford has won 7 RU North flags, but none since '40 and '41... the Bulls copped their only Pro Cup in 2041... they looked to be a potent force next year... they may have been the best team in the division at season's end and fell two games short of division crown.

3. Valmara Vipers (82-72) (4 GB)... last year they were fourth with an 80-74 mark and 23 GB... the Vipers with Vanya Vasylenko at the helm had a good first half, but a lackluster second half... very good pitching kept them in the race... weak offense did them in... few teams could match starters All-Star Primo Sirak (18-10/2.80), Darus Grajek (17-16/2.69), Darek Polaski (16-14/2.98) and Mirko Musial (11-8/3.33)... and Carver Dillon (6-11/2.61/25 saves/57 G) was a capable closer... Valmara had no real strong threats at the plate... Vasylenko's best were C Karol Koska (.267/24 HR/79 RBI) and All-Star RF Boyd Holmes (.314/21 HR/78 RBI)... after winning 7 division titles in 9 seasons (2043-2051), the Vipers had to be satisfied with first-division finishes the last three seasons... overall Valmara is one of the IPA's finest franchises with four Pro Cups and 20 postseason appearances... they won the Cup in '25, '43, '49 and '50... the Vipers also lost in the Finals on four occasions in '23, '30, '31 and '46.

Outlook: Valmara may be showing its age... key players are showing their age... talented new blood is needed to keep them up near the top of the RU North.

3. Glasco Athletics (82-72) (4 GB)... the A's had a good season under skipper Charles Darby, winding up tied for third place with Valmara, only four games off the pace... up from 72-82 and seventh place (32 GB) last year... like Ranford, the Athletics finished well... in its poor IPA history Glasco had only made the playoffs three times... the last time was in 2045... the A's have never won an IPA Pro Cup and have never even come close... age is catching up with Glasco, too, with half the mound staff 34 or older... Darby has just average pitchers, but better-than-average hitters... 34-year-old Benny McDaniel (22-13/2.86) is his All-Star ace and only standout... the Athletics have two very fine relievers in 37-year-old Ken McLin (9-3/2.34/10 saves/60 G) and 27-year-old Rip Scobie (6-2/1.49/17/41 G)... leading the attack at the plate are All-Star 3B Allen Spears (.338/8 HR/67 RBI/102 R/13 SB), LF Callum Slattery (.329/12 HR/77 RBI/92 R/24 SB) and 33-year-old Ross McFalls (.272/18 HR/88 RBI), 34-year-old 1B Gary Armitage (.271/17 HR) and SS Odis Tomlin (.288/18 HR).

Outlook: Glasco may not be able to remain in the first divsion of the RU North... not a lot of young talent on the roster... in the next year or so, too many key players may be on the downgrade and headed over the hill and into retirement.

5. Far Mountain Redhawks (81-73) (5 GB)... they came in fifth last year at 79-75 (24 GB)... 14 times in the club history the Redhawks have made the postseason... but not lately... the division flag was last hoisted in 2047... Far Mountain has three Pro Cups in its possession... they won all three of them in succession (2011, 2012, 2013)... the Redhawks also made the Pro Cup Finals in 2009 and 2038, but came up empty-handed... piloted by former pitching star Robby Kelly (279-196/3.23) Far Mountain has fairly good pitching and a fairly good offense... Benny Van (21-16/3.04) is his best starter with quality help from Eldon Bittner (18-12/3.58) and 34-year-old Ryan Kolb (14-15/3.85)... Kelly has a budding superstar in 23-year-old All-Star CF Ox Gless (.322/29 HR/115 RBI/98 R/12 SB) after three standout seasons... LF Frankie Neill (.255/34 HR/103 RBI/80 R/17 SB) also looks like a comer... 23-year-old RF Howard Highsmith (.280/12 HR) completes a fine young outfield.

Outlook: it's been six years since Far Mountain has made the first division in the RU North... they better do it soon as age is catching up with the club.

6. LaGrange Sports (76-78) (10 GB)... came in eighth in '52 and '53... much improved this year under manager Mike York, who was 266-250 (3.12 ERA) for the team in his 22 seasons... the Sports haven't appeared in the playoffs since 2037 and have never won a Pro Cup... they have captured the pennant six times... most reliable hurlers are Rudy Bonnett (14-9/3.25) and Stan Kolstad (15-15/3.72)... Rob Fulmer (4-6/1.72/24 saves/57 G) is the team's impressive closer... LaGrange's most productive bats are LF Sonny Ricard (.301/27 HR/90 RBI/13 SB), RF Miguel Berrera (.299/19 HR) and 3B Fred Allison (.290/9 HR/66 RBI/81 R).

Outlook: LaGrange has a youth-filled roster and just might be better next year... might contend for 4th place.

7. Ancona Red Elephants (74-80) (12 GB)... manager Alekos Kotas (.288/284 HR) was a solid first baseman for 13 seasons... he perked the team up last year with an 81-73 record, good for second place in the RU North standings, but 20 games behind runaway winner Taranto... slipped to seventh this year as the offense went south on them... only young All-Star 2B Jason Seleznick (.280/23 HR/93 RBI/78 R/12 SB) was much of a threat... the rest of the regulars was just mediocre at best... the pitching corps was much better with starters All-Star Roger Kostas (17-13/3.07) and Hank Worsley (18-16/3.39) and reliever Kasey Tharp (9-7/2.34/16 saves/52 G)... Ancona's IPA history is pathetic... only five postseason appearances... none since way back in 2022... and no Pro Cups... one time the Red Elephants made the Finals, but were beaten in six games for the IPA championship by powerhouse Turon in 2018.

Outlook: Ancona is a work in progress and needs some more talent to get out of the doldrums and the also-ran category in the RU North... may take a few years... the Red Elephants are a young club.

8. Kilkenny Cats (64-80) (22 GB)... down from 76-78 last year... the Cats wound up in the sixth spot, 25 GB... the skipper is Kevin McLaglen (.267/157 HR), a journeyman outfielder with the club for 12 seasons... the Cats couldn't score this year, but did have fairly credible pitching with the likes of 37-year-old Glen Caswell (11-17/3.56), Braydon Washbourne (15-12/3.60) and Billy Joe Wooster (12-17/3.80)... not a lot of offense in the batting order... LF Butch Sheppard (.315/17 HR/61 RBI) and 1B Ryan Reagan (.241/20 HR/77 RBI) was the best of the worst.

Outlook: Kilkenny has a lousy history in the IPA... just one pennant in 53 seasons... no Pro Cups... '47 was its one and only division title... and the future doesn't bode well, either... the Cats seem to be headed for a pretty bleak future.