[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, July 1, 2056

TIGHT RACES ALL AROUND THE IPA
Halfway through the 2058 Islandian Pro Alliance season almost half of the 64 clubs are still in the hunt for the pennant... all of the pennant races around the league are tightly bunched... the biggest lead any division leader has is just 4 games... that would be the Midway Wolves of the Tycobbian East Division.

Ruthlandian North Division

It's a 3-team battle in the Ruthlandian North with the preseason favorite Valmara Vipers (53-30) up on the second place Taranto Tars (51-32) by 2 games and 6 games ahead of the third place Far Mountain Redhawks (47-36)... the Vipers and Redhawks both gained good ground on the Tars with 17-9 marks in June, while Taranto slipped to 12-14.

Valmara is sparked by a bevy of fine batters: Timmy Benford (.326/22 HR/78 RBI), Alek Stolarski (.307/7 HR/49 RBI), rookie Jud Gilbride (.289/19 HR/51 RBI), Vladimir Szymanski (.284/14 HR/43 RBI) , Harv Shepard (.317/8 HR/37 RBI) and Dock Pollins (.291/15 HR/34 RBI)... the Vipers topped the Ruthlandian Union with 116 roundtrippers... they are second in victories with 53... the pitching is solid, too, anchored by ace Darus Grajek (13-4/2.90)

Taranto has good firepower, too, with the likes of Buddy Lark (.368/18 HR/41 RBI), Lenny Buisson (.281/21 HR/56 RBI) and Mark Trupiano (.263/10 HR/43 RBI)... the Tars also have two fine starters in Phil Castle (12-6/2.57) and Valerio Rossi (12-8/2.32).

The third place Far Mountain Redhawks have excellent pitching, but they are only average offensively... top twirlers are Benny Van (11-4/1.77), Jeffrey Chandler (10-8/3.05), Bob Speed (10-9/3.03) and Howie Haywood (8-4/2.39)... the only decent bats belong to Curt Miley (.309/11 HR/34 RBI) and Jarrick Beauchamp (.289/8 HR/38 RBI).

Ruthlandian South Division

It's looking like a 2-team tussle in the Ruthlandian South... at the beginning of July, the St. John Crusaders (47-36) and Crystal Lake Skippers (47-36) are all even and tied for the top spot... preseason pick Grand City (39-44) is a distant third and trails by 8 games... the Skippers had the best month with a 15-11 record, while St. John was even at 13-13... the Cybercats were only 12-14... fourth place San Dimas (36-47) and Claxton (36-47) are 11 games off the pace and not playing very well, neither club broke even in the month of June... last year the Crusaders just barely eked out a one-game win over the Skippers... just might happen again this season.

St. John is a well-balanced ballclub, both on the mound and at the plate... they will not go down easily... Deke Eubanks (10-3/1.79) is the ace, but he gets good help from Tom Smithson (12-5/3.24), Teddy Howell (10-7/3.24), Gibby Pritchell (6-8/3.24) and Teddy de Grom (5-2/3.15)... all of the bats in the lineup are reliable, headed up by Michael Cheeks (.363/7 HR/36 RBI), Freddie Woodruff (.311/5 HR/32 RBI), Tuffy Palmieri (.291/6 HR/43 RBI) and Ozwaldo Romero (.287/10 HR/46 RBI).

Crystal Lake gets by with its big bats... the Skippers have a weak pitching staff... the big sticks are Mel Brouwer (.344/17 HR/57 RBI) and Zippy Coburn (.355/17 HR/53 RBI) and they get solid help from Jasper Shackleford (.318/13 HR/51 RBI), Speedy McCormick (.312/12 HR/29 RBI), Gib Conlan (.282/13 HR/58 RBI)... Merle Pitts (12-3/2.18) is a standout starter with some help from Robin Norbonne (12-7/4.34)... but the Skips have little else on the hill.

Ruthlandian East Division

In the Ruthlandian East, the Wynnamac Sundowners (49-34) are enjoying a fine season this year, but they are in a fight... the runner-up Eastshore Cotton Kings (46-37) are lurking close, only 3 games behind the Macs... the third place Marston Nine (44-39) are 5 back... all of the contenders are playing well... Wynnamac and Eastshore were both 17-9 last month and Marston was 16-10... still in the running and tied for the fourth spot are the Elnora All-Stars (42-41) and the Belle Plaine Musketeers (42-41)... the All-Stars posted a 13-13 mark in June, while the Muskies slipped to 11-15... Elnora won the RU East crown last year and made the Pro Cup Finals, but lost to the IPA champion Red Bluff Red Sox.

Wynnamac looks like one of the best teams in the Ruthlandian Union... the Sundowners can do it all... they have a good rotation with veterans George Medworth (13-6/2.30) and Sammy Hayes (8-7/2.26)... two rookies have done pretty well, too... Kuparr Bunji (11-7/3.01) and Don Loewenthal (9-7/3.79)... and the Macs can put runs on the scoreboard with Enos Benham (.378/15 HR/56 RBI), Snooky Bartels (.363/16 HR/60 RBI) and Manny Sendejas (.286/17 HR/59 RBI).

The Eastshore Cotton Kings have two solid starters in Bebe Kinney (10-5/3.22) and Ted Weiss (8-5/2.95)... overall the Cotton Pickers are just average on the hill and in the batter's box... they only have two reliable hitters in rookie Percy Basford (.331/1 HR/32 RBI) and Ian Kelehan (.286/17 HR/59 RBI).

Third place Marston is paced by starting pitchers Buddy Wilkes (12-5/3.28) and Lance McElveen (11-5/3.42) and ably aided by closer Robert Tingle (1-4/2.67 ERA/18 saves/28 G)... and a few good batters like Damien D'Amboise (.314/5 HR/33 RBI), Luke Cranshaw (.304/7 HR/50 RBI) and Joe Duplanis (.268/13 HR/44 RBI)... the Nine are not likely to overtake the other two teams ahead of them.

The high-powered offense is still going strong for the Elnora All-Stars, but the pitching is lousy... the same formula got them to the Pro Cup Finals last year... but it may not happen again this year... Elnora has several solid hitters, led by Dickie DeBusshere (.327/8 HR/50 RBI), Keith Colburn (.309/9 HR/27 RBI), Kuro Ishihara (.275/10 Hr/45 RBI), Mickey Wilbur (.291/15 HR/57 RBI), Gus Abreu (.299/5 HR/27 RBI) and Donald Ray Mooney (.235/12 HR/57 RBI)... Matt Mackowiak (13-5/3.13) and Freddy Grosscup (9-4/3.97) are the best of a poor overall staff.

Ruthlandian West Division

The team with the best record in the IPA this year is the redhot Volusia Vigilantes (55-28), who have yet to cool off... in the Ruthlandian West Division, the V's have 3-game margin over the second place Sligo Rovers (52-31) and are 6 games better than the third place Middlefield Roosters (49-34)... Volusia chalked up a 16-10 record in June, while the Rovers and Roosters were 14-12.

Volusia is not a flash-in-the-pan after three months of play... the V's just may have the best pitching staff in the IPA this year with Lonny Rinehart (17-3/2.18), Reynaldo Medrano (13-4/2.77), Philip Duron (9-10/2.82), Gustavo Clemente (4-1/2.36) and Cloyd Queen (9-6/3.92)... closer Dan Hunt (0-2/2.42 ERA/19 saves/25 G) is also solid in the bullpen... the Vigilantes have some good sticks with Teddy Cornelius (.338/13 HR/59 RBI), Bobby Barone (.328/12 HR/55 RBI) and Carlos Silva (.341/5 HR/33 RBI)... Volusia should be around for the long haul this year.

However, they will be challenged by the second place Sligo Rovers, who also have outstanding pitching with Mickey Walsh (11-4/2.75), Judah Carmack (11-3/2.52), Mitch Taylor (11-6/2.32) and Ayden Evans (6-8/2.96)... and Tiger Snodgrass (7-3/2.78 ERA/9 saves/24 G) is a good closer in the pen... scoring runs is the Rovers' shortcoming... they don't go deep very well... the best bats are average at best... leading the way are Josh Brolin (.314/11/50 RBI), Paddy Durham (.265/10 HR/50 RBI), Clancy Beaufort (.271/13 HR/47 RBI) and Dallas Patton (.304/1 HR/17 RBI/52 R/14 SB).

The preseason choice to take the RU West this year was the Middlefield Roosters... they were supposed to have the bats and the arms... the Roosters have done alright so far... but they don't seem to have the pitching of Volusia and Sligo... the all-time IPA wins leader, James Long (14-4/2.55), is having another banner year at age 37, but needs help on the hill... Frank Williams (11-5/3.18) is a solid #2... and Rick Goldman (5-4/2.17) may be a very good #3... but the Roosters need help in the #4 and #5 spots to challenge the Vigilantes and the Rovers... Middlefield's top run producers are Trip Agarn (.285/23 HR/77 RBI), Donnie Hix (.346/3 HR/45 RBI), Stan Radzikowski (.248/17 HR/59 RBI) and Del Ganley (.254/13 HR/41 RBI).