[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 20, 2056

TARS OVERTAKE REDHAWKS IN RU NORTH
The Taranto Tars (91-63) were the preseason favorite in the Ruthlandian North Division and the baseball pollsters were right... the Tars got hot down-the-stretch and whipped defending champ Far Mountain by 3 games... Taranto chalked up a 12-4 in September, while Far Mountain faded to 6-10... the Redhawks blew a 3-game margin in the final weeks of the campaign.

Taranto's fine pitching led them to the RU North title with a impressive 2.96 ERA (1st)... offensively the Tars had very good firepower with 200 homers (1st), but they only hit .248 and were just average in scoring runs (18th-tied)... vets Freddy DeAngelis (22-7/2.61) and Valerio Rossi (20-11/2.54), Phil Castle (15-12/3.42) and Chris Gallo (16-14/3.51) were a solid starting rotation... the bullpen was good, too... defense was just average with a .974 FA... no great contact bats in the lineup, but Taranto had good power with RF Lenny Buisson (.275/31 HR/65 RBI/75 R/8 SB), CF Renzo Caruso (.233/31 HR/56 RB/64 R/17 SB), C Nicolo Parisi (.234/22 HR/69 RBI/54 R), 1B Kuma Toyota (.236/21 HR/69 RBI/46 R) and LF Dominick Sanna (.243/20 HR/60 RBI/71 R)... 9 players had 10 or more roundtrippers... the club just doesn't hit for much average, but they can go deep... the Tars got a good draw in the opening round of the Pro Cup playoffs... they will host lightly-regarded Waleska (86-68) and have a good chance to advance to the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series against the survivor of the Middlefield Roosters (95-59) and the Eastshore Cotton Kings (92-62), two of the stronger clubs in the Ruthlandian Union... the Tars might be a factor in the postseason with its very good starting rotation and long-ball power... however, the bullpen could hurt their chances... lack of contact hitters, too.

Second Place Far Mountain (88-66) took a turn for the worse late in the season and it cost them the division flag... they compiled a solid 3.35 ERA (4th) and had a better-than-average offense (12th), but only average power (14th)... defense just fair with .971 FA... the Redhawks had a solid rotation with Benny Van (21-14/2.98), Stan Smith (17-12/3.05), Eldon Bittner (15-13/3.68) and Frankie Frasier (10-8/3.37)... Brian Townsend (5-6/2.01/29 saves/49 G) was a standout closer... 1B/OF Ox Gless (.287/29 HR/88 RBI/98 R/24 SB) was the biggest threat and had a fine season... 2B Luke Hazlett (.305/10 HR/65 RBI/82 R/7 SB), LF Frankie Neill (.239/29 HR/92 RBI/82 R/15 SB) and CF Lew Aston (.268/23 HR/86 RBI/72 R/10 SB) also contributed to the offense... Far Mountain just picked a bad time to play poorly.

It appears that the Ruthlandian North will belong to Taranto and Far Mountain for the next few seasons... none of the other teams in the division played winning ball and might be a few years away from pennant contention... LaGrange (73-81) came in a distant third, 18 GB... Rudy Barnett (12-9/3.19) and J. T. Dwyer (16-16/3.77) put up the best numbers for the starters... the bullpen was only mediocre with closer Rob Fullmer (6-10/3.99/30 saves)... the Sports only have so-so bats in the lineup... the best sticks are CF Bert Rockenbaugh (.280/13 HR/60 RBI), RF Sonny Ricard (.278/17 HR/67 RBI) and LF Robby Rousseau (.278/16 HR/68 RBI)... there are no real threats in the batting order.

The Valmara Vipers (72-82) finished fourth in the standings, 19 GB... mediocre pitching, batting and fielding... aging vets topped the twirlers: 33-year-old Darus Grajek (16-12/3.26) and 37-year-old All-Star Primo Sirak (16-14/3.38)... no one special in the bullpen, either... C Karol Koska (.254/24 HR) was the most productive bat with some help from Vladimir Szymanski (.294/16 HR) and 1B Timmy Benford (.315/23 HR)... looks like it's time for Valmara to rebuild.

Fifth place went to the Ranford Bulls (71-83)... just a lackluster club... superstar Ralph Hawk (13-15/3.63) really showed his age at 38 this year and is rumored headed for retirement... he has carried the club for almost 20 years with a 351-195 career record... Hawk was 21-12 in '55 with a 2.20 ERA... Martin Futch (7-6/2.05/24 saves/44 G) is the only mound talent to speak of... all-around talent All-Star LF Jedd Blodgett (.296/18 HR/92 RBI/98 R/39 SB) showed good progress in his sophomore season at age 22.

The Glasco Athletics (68-86) were forecast to seriously challenge for the division crown... the A's were the second choice for the pennant, but it never happened... they never contended at all, going 6-20 in April and wound up tied for sixth place with Ancona... Monte France (17-14/3.85) is a fairly good starter... not a lot of offense... fair hitters in 2B Ross McFalls (.272/26 HR/87 RBI), CF Callum Slattery (.317/13 HR/83 RBI/78 R/13 SB) and 3B Allen Spears (.302/8 HR/65 RBI/82 R/8 SB).

The Ancona Red Elephants (68-86) were picked sixth in the preseason poll and wound up right there... 21-year-old rookie hurler Yanni Bubas (16-12/3.69) did well this year, but didn't have much help... Chet Sheldon (4-5/1.63/19 saves/37 G) was another youngster who did well in the closer spot... Ancona just has a few average bats, but nothing special... best of the lot is LF Franco Briganti (.295/17 HR/69 RBI), CF Horace Nickens (.285/12 HR/69 RBI/18 SB) and 2B Jason Seleznick (.249/20 HR/76 RBI).

For the third straight season the Kilkenny Cats (65-89) came in last in the RU North, 26 games behind pennant winner Taranto... Kilkenny is one of the IPA worst franchises with just one postseason appearance back in 2043... Billy Joe Wooster (16-18/3.27) is a quality starter, along with Carroll Hudsmith (17-12/4.07)... and 22-year-old Willie Tobin (1-4/1.23/16 saves/45 G) showed well in the bullpen this year... CF Vance Snead (.304/3 HR/35 RBI/98 R/25 SB) and SS Rex Parkhill (.284/5 HR/68 RBI/72 R/28 SB) are the best veterans... and 19-year-old 3B Tory Upton (.230/22 HR/98 RBI/74 R/6 SB) impressed with his power and production, but didn't hit much.