[Eugene Church]

TU PICKS PLAYED WELL IN APRIL
Most of the preseason picks had good Aprils in the Tycobbian Union... the defending Pro Cup champion Ginza Ninjas (18-7) had a standout start in the Tycobbian South with a two-game lead so far... highly-rated Rolling Hills (17-8) is first in the Tycobbian West... the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats, the choice to take the Tycobbian East, is right up near the top, just one game behind leader South Fork (18-7)... only one of the favorites tanked in the first month of play... after being touted as one of the top teams in the Tycobbian West, the Kenwood Wildcats had a miserable 10-15 month, and fell six games behind the pace of division-leading Rolling Hills (16-9)... the Mahaska Haymakers (16-9) had very good month and lead the Tycobbian North... the preseason choice Oxford (14-11) is right up there with them, tied for third place.

Most of the good teams in the TU North did well in April... Mahaska (16-9), Luxora (15-10) and Oxford (14-11)... Blue Lake (14-11) did better than expected... highly-regarded Fairfax (9-16) flopped badly... the Frogs got of the gate very slowly and are at the botton of the division in last place.

The first place Haymakers (16-9) have a good offense, pretty good pitching and excellent defense... top bats are Buddy Minkler (.3.04/6 HR/20 RBI), Elvis Gilford (.337/3 HR/13 RBI) and Griff Stillman (.340/1 HR/13 RBI)... top moundsmen are Cubby Darville (3-2/2.30), Marty Mobley (2-1/2.95), Kerstan Koening (2-1/2.70) and closer Wiley Youngblood (4-0/2.68 ERA/4 saves/16 games)... Mahaska looks like a club in for the long haul... not a flash-in-the-pan.

The runner-up Luxora Zorros (15-10) are using firepower to win games... 33 homers in April... but the mound staff is not up to stuff... top swatters are Francisco Queiro (.358/5 HR/19 RBI), Omar Solis (.300/4 HR/11 RBI), Wade Tibbs (.274/5 HR/17 RBI) and Riyo Nijo (.311/4 HR/15 RBI)... staff has a high ERA... best of the lot are Wallace MacPherson (3-2/3.92), Juliano Machado (3-2/3.46), Howie Huntsman (4-1/3.98)... starters are fairly good... the bullpen is abyssmal... thank goodness for the run support.

Highly-ranked Oxford, last year's TU North Division winner, still has the dynamic duo of Buddy Blackford (.284/8 HR/21 RBI) and Showboat Lynn (.281/7 HR/21 RBI)... actually they are off to a slow start offensively... they were super duper last year with 59 and 50 homers... both hit well over .300, too... fortunately, the pitching is better this year... but the offense is down... the Red Caps are still a threat and will be in the running for the pennant again... the starting five are pretty darn good: Rico Alessi (3-1/2.14), Chucker Pitts (3-1/3.00), Pat McFarlane (3-2/3.31), Maury Statler (1-1/1.62) and Meldon Eddington (1-0/3.27)... but the bullpen doesn't look very impressive... yet, Oxford was ranked heads and shoulders ahead of everybody in the TU North... they were picked to win by double digits again this year... the won the TU North last year by 11 games (97-57)... when the Red Cap offense gets hitting on all cylinders... look out... they are a fearsome team... especially if the pitching is improved over last season.

Blue Lake (14-11) came in very distant third last year (80-74)... the Schooners were picked seventh in the preseason poll, but came out playing well and are tied for third with Oxford... they are first in runs scored in their division... vets Daryl Monaghan (.316/2 HR/16 RBI), John Gilbert (.284/2 HR/10 RBI), Steve Schueler (.341/0 HR/10 RBI lead the way, but have gotten good help from two rookies, Teddy Vilardo (.280/8 HR/20 RBI) and Niles Kinnick (.269/4 HR/12 RBI)... Hank Kingman (3-0/3.05) and Weldon Nettleton (4-1/3.66) are the mainstay starters... the bullpen needs help... the Schooners need better pitching to contend for the pennant.

The Fairfax Frogs (9-16) have fallen on the faces in the early going... they were second last year (86-68) and forecast for the first division again this year... but the pitching corps has been bad... the Frogs can still score plenty of runs, but they have not been able to keep the opposing clubs off the scoreboard... 4.72 team ERA overall with a terrible 6.89 in the bullpen... top to bottom the batting order is solid with the likes of Wyatt Clausen (.327/3 HR/16 RBI), Jarred McMain (.282/3 HR/14 RBI), Paddy Fenroy (.350/0 HR/13 RBI), Mike Mitchell (.325/1/& RBI), Ron Travis (.288/1 HR/5 RBI), Kirk Waner (.302/4 HR/14 RBI), Cade Durning (.329/1 HR/10 RBI) and Arlie Buckridge (.291/1 HR/12 RBI)... they just have to get some help for starters Ken Wallington (3-0/0.36) and Ronnie Custer (2-1/2.65)... and someone in the bullpen to get someone out... the Frogs are not really this bad... it just might be a bad month.

The first place Ginza Ninjas (18-7) were the class of the Tycobbian South Division last year and the very best in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the Karate Kids won the whole shebang last season... they were the IPA Pro Cup champion... and they really look like they are headed for a repeat... the Ninjas do everything well... they hit, they score, they pitch well and they play really good defense... heading up the hitters are Gideon Tracy (.330/3 HR/21 RBI), Kuzuki Tamura (.405/2 HR/10 RBI), Nori Matsumoto (.311/4 HR/14 RBI) and Gerry Glidden (.293/3 HR/7 RBI)... the mound corps is solid, too, with Mikio Nosaka (4-0/1.16), last year's Pro Cup MVP Kurt Brophy (3-1/2.25) and Motohiro Shima (5-0/2.63)... anchoring the bullpen is Abram Worth (1-1/1.50 ERA/5 saves/12 games)... Ginza is the favorite to win the TU South for the second straight season, but they have a mess of good ballclubs to challenge them this year... it will be harder to repeat.

April was a very good month for the second place Arroyo Grande Suns (16-9)... they were seventh last year (69-85) and were not expected to do any better this year, but they have used homers (36 HR) and very good pitching (2.85 ERA) to get a quick start to the season... that's a very good combination for a good season... starters Beau McCloud (1-1/1.91), Diego Avalos (3-2/3.19), Rocky Steed (2-2/3.50) and Nap Vickerson (3-1/3.96) have done well on the hill... the bullpen (1.05 ERA) has been outstanding, led by closer Kurt Wolf (2-0/1.15 ERA/6 saves/11 games)... batting-wise the Suns don't hit much for average, but they are a productive bunch with Gaston Robin (.230/7 HR/15 RBI), Sammy Workman (.247/6 HR/15 RBI) and rookie Davis Branch (.194/5 HR/15 RBI)... the Suns will have to hit better than .213 to keep up this pace for the rest of the year... a second-division finish is more than likely for Arroyo Grande... they are not likely to shine as much as time goes on.

The third place Southport Sun Sox (15-10) have won the TU South twice in the last five years... they are picked to be the main challenger to Ginza this season... picked for a very close second place... they are a very similar club to the Ninjas... good scoring, good home-run power (27 HR) and terrific pitching (3.23 ERA)... Champ Shafer (3-1/3.32), Jeff Moncriffe (2-1/4.33), Jordy Wales (1-3/4.98) and Jace Dickenson (3-0/2.41) are a good starting foursome... the top reliever is a very good one, Troy Hill (0-1/0.47 ERA/6 saves/10 games)... vets Keiland Forrester (.310/3 HR/13 RBI), Manuelo Garcia (.273/5 HR/13 RBI), Walt Walmsley (.268/2 HR/11 RBI) and Zee Graham (.302/4 HR/10 RBI) are the top run producers.

The fourth place Turon Typhoons (13-12) have won the TU South flag five times in the last eight years... they were second the last two years and are forecast to be a close contender this season... they are hitting the cover off the baseball this year (.297), but the pitching has been woeful (4.82 ERA)... it was much better last season (3.43 ERA)... the only decent starters are Larry Lynch (4-0/4.00) and Snooky Cossman (2-3/4.82)... the bullpen is a little better than the starters (4.18 ERA)... but thankfully, Turon has seven... count 'em... seven .300 hitters: Andy Wilkerson (.364/3 HR/24 RBI), Maxie Mullinax (.304/2 HR/18 RBI), Omar Price (.304/2 HR/15 RBI), Tank Shepperton (.358/1 HR/13 RBI), Matthew Fears (.322/3 HR/12 RBI), Juan De La Roca (.316/0 HR/11 RBI and Bill Wolverton (.330/0 HR/9 RBI)... so you know they can do some damage and put runs on the scoreboard... but the pitching has to greatly improve to challenge the likes of Ginza and Southport.

The Summerland Sunsets (10-15) with its great pitching was picked to be in the fight for the pennant, but they have started off poorly, tied for fifth place and already eight games back of leader Ginza... the Sunsets are an abomination at the plate... only 9 homers and a pathetic .220 BA... however, they are terrific on the mound with an IPA-leading 2.42 ERA... starters Manny Jimanez (3-2/2.61), Tommy Underhill (2-4/2.93), Mick Marlow (0-3/2.33) and Marty Westhuizen (0-4/2.60) deserve better... the bullpen is even better than the starting rotation... Rip Norfield (.317/3 HR/11 RBI) is the only decent bat in the lineup... 'nuff said... middle of the pack may be the best Summerland can do this year.

Tuckanarra was the preseason choice to capture the Tycobbian East Division this year... South Fork and last year's champ High Mesa were picked in the poll to put up the biggest fight, along with regular contenders, Red Bluff and Midway... in the initial month of action, the Stallions (18-7) have raced to the top of the standings, but the Tucks (17-8) are right on their hooves and running a very close second... the Red Sox (14-11) are doing well in third place... the Mustangs (12-13) are tied for fourth and under the .500 mark... it looks like the Wolves have slumped into mediocrity after years of dominance and glory... 5 TU East flags in 8 years... and 2 Pro Cups ('53, '54).

The South Fork Stallions (18-7) are in the top spot in the Tycobbian East standings because of its superb pitching (2.49 ERA), second-best to Summerland (2.42 ERA)... the difference is South Fork has a decent offense, compared to the lousy Summerland offense... the Stallions have been brilliant on the mound with four rookies and a veteran... Mark Packard (2-2/1.46), Bret Danziger (3-0/1.85), Benito Banuelos (2-1/2.25), Christopher Hollie (3-0/2.83) are all first-year hurlers and Herm McClanahan (4-1/3.09) is the vet... South Fork has a standout bullpen, too, with Sam Black (2-0/1.06 ERA/6 saves/16 games)... the offense is just good enough to get by, led by Bob Purkey (.362/4 HR/16 RBI), Rudi Eberhardt (.297/2 HR/13 RBI) and Rudy Maroney (.290/4 HR/14 RBI)... and the Stallions have accomplished this without 25-game winner Emmett Coogan, who is injured and will be out about six weeks... South Fork is a club to be reckoned with this year in the TU East.

Second place Tuckanarra (17-8) has better bats than South Fork... they can put more runs on the scoreboard than the Stallions and they have solid pitching (3.12 ERA) and decent home-run power (20 HR)... it should be quite a race in the TU East this year... the Tiger Cats' lineup is productive with Boomer Carlton (.244/4 HR/20 RBI), Jamie Thomas (.259/3 HR/16 RBI), Odell Overstreet (.321/14 RBI), Orin Ryder (.349/1 HR/10 RBI), Duncan McLemore (.261/2 HR/9 RBI) and Foxy Frye (.284/1 HR/6 RBI)... the Tucks rotation is good with superstar Ian Timms (3-1/2.17), Ralph Ayers (3-1/3.30), Alan Dayton (2-1/3.60) and Skip Eberly (2-2/4.06)... and a fairly good bullpen, headed up by Mick Dooley (5-1/2.73 ERA/2 saves/13 games)... one key difference between the Tucks and South Fork is defense... the Stallions (.980) are much better with the gloves than the Tiger Cats (.973).

Right now the third spot in the Tycobbian East belongs to the Red Bluff Red Sox (14-11)... they have been a perennial power in the division for the past five years... the Red Sox copped the Pro Cup in '57 and finished a close second the last two seasons... they were forecast for fourth place in the preseason poll... no longer a scoring and home-run machine, Red Bluff depends on its pitching (3.31 ERA) these days... and they have three fine starters in Dontrelle Gilbreath (4-1/1.26), Wilson Sharpe (2-2/2.14) and rookie Shayne Cushenbury (2-1/2.42)... last year's ace Duane Sturgeon (21-10/2.20) will be sorely missed this year... he will likely miss most of this season with a torn UCL... they may also lose their prime bat, slugger Toni Kolkov (.348/9 HR/20 RBI), who has a sore elbow... Kolkov, Joe Patrick (.297/1 HR/13 RBI) and Ian Driskell (.305/1 HR/8 RBI) are about the only reliable batters in the lineup... third or fourth may be the best Red Bluff can do without Sturgeon... not likely to challenge South Fork and Tuckanarra this year.

The High Mesa Mustangs (12-13) were a bit of a surprise winner last year in the TU East... this year in the preseason poll they finished third behind Tuckanarra and South Fork... the fourth place Mustangs have been a bit sluggish this season... hitting and pitching is not up to par... superstar Kagetoki Miyazaki is hitting only .213 with three homers and 12 RBIs... he hit 50 out of the park last year and 47 the year before with a near .300 BA... but Billy Putnam (.250/6 HR/16 RBI) and Tommy Yost (.330/5 HR/16 RBI) have taken up some of the slack... the Mustangs will have to hit better to repeat as division champ... only one starter, Weldon Herrington (1-2/2.15), has been effective... he needs help from David Newell (1-0/0.00) and Bucky Dodge (1-1/4.19)... both were solid starters lasy season... last year's outstanding closer Sandy Stevenson (2-3/5.21) has stuggled mightily as a starter... if the bats perk up and the pitching returns to form, High Mesa could be in the pennant mix.

The Hillsboro Blazers (12-13) are tied for the fourth spot, but are not expected to remain there... they came in last in '59 and were picked sixth this year in the preseason poll... which is about right... the only reliable bats are Ichiro Ichikawa (.296/7 HR/19 RBI) and impressive rookie center fielder Jake Hepburn (.300/4 HR/13 RBI)... Horace Almond (2-1/2.78) is the top starter, but the rest of the rotation is lackluster... rookie Nigel Raborn (0-2/2.48) looks like he has good potential... the only one quality arm in the bullpen is Jeffrey Bevan (0-1/1.29 ERA/5 saves/9 games).

The Midway Wolves are not the team they have been... they still have superstars Norishige Ito (.284/7 HR/20 RBI) and Daryl Vale (.242/8 HR/18 RBI), plus a solid shortstop Kax Clark (.330/1 HR/8 RBI), but little else... the pitching is the worst it has been in 15 years (4.28 ERA)... ditto the .250 BA... it's rebuilding time for the Wolves... Steve Swanwick (3-2/2.61) is the only reliable starter... there is nobody decent in the bullpen.

According to the baseball pollsters, Kenwood (10-15) was supposed to be "the best in the West" this year in the Tycobbian West... instead, the Wildcats have been pretty bad and have tumbled to seventh place in the first month of action... a 5.12 team ERA is the problem... Dennis Tarrant (3-2/3.13) is the only effective starter... the rest range from 4.50 to 6.00... Kenwood is not likely to win a pennant with those kinds of numbers... the Wildcats are still hitting well, paced by Gabriel Macedo (.373/6 HR/13 RBI), Bralen Connolly (.316/4 HR/13 RBI) and Rick Lundgren (.337/0 HR/7 RBI)... if the pitchers snap out of the slumber, Kenwood could get back into the hunt.

In the meantime, Rolling Hills (16-9) has raced to the top of the TU West with a high-octane attack, sporting a .300 team BA, 25 HR (12th) and 149 runs (1st)... with fairly good pitching (3.53 ERA)... the Racers were the second choice to win the division... last year they came in a heartbreaking second to Denton City, losing out in a single-game playoff... boy, what a lineup Rolling Hills has with superstud Teddy Stonich (.327/9 HR/28 HR), Jameson Mulbert (.421/1 HR/17 RBI), Jean-Luc Roubique (.274/4 HR/19 RBI), Drayton Mayfield (.368/2 HR/12 RBI), Gil Arthur (.298/1 HR/14 RBI), Jasper Bowling (.349/0 HR/7 RBI) and Enrique Marantos (.356/0 HR/7 RBI)... leading the rotation are starters Bob Corcorane (4-1/2.80), Vance Dillaway (2-3/3.50) and Audie Stafford (3-1/3.23)... Corcorane and Stafford are rookies... the Racers need help in the bullpen... defense is strong... this could be the year to nab the pennant.

Running second to the Racers are the unheralded Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (14-11)... they came in seventh last season (66-88)... picked to finish fifth this year... but have scored well with 137 runs (3rd) and pitched well (3.71 ERA)... top performers at the plate are Whiz Ivie (.327/0 HR/15 RBI), Hersh Cranmore (.375/2 HR/14 RBI), Joseph Sloane (.283/2 HR/13 RBI) and Hal Driscoll (.255/3 HR/14 RBI)... on the hill it's Darcey Kennedy (2-2/0.97) and Neil Yoder (2-1/2.25)... weakness is in the bullpen.

Third place Arlon (13-12) has won four of the last nine division titles... the were a close third last year (83-71) to Denton City and Rolling Hills... but ranked seventh this season in the preseason... the Champions won the 2051 Pro Cup... they are holding their own this season, but the offense and pitching are down a bit... superstar slugger Jaimey Stansfield (.284/9 HR/25 RBI) is off to a good start and is getting some help from Rebel Bryce (.270/6 HR/13 RBI) and Carl Mendelsohn (.321/1 HR/11 RBI)... the rotation is steady with Harley Angus (3-2/3.19), rookie Ronny Lauren (3-2/3.00), Stephen Youngblood (2-0/3.78) and Mylon Hebb (1-2/2.84)... and closer Clyde Burney (2-0/0.40 ERA/5 saves/14 games) has been sensational thus far... not too sure the Champs have the talent to keep up with Rolling Hills and Denton City this year... but looks like a first-division team.

Denton City (12-13), last year's pennant winner, has started off slowly, but is still a contending team with rock-solid pitching (3.39 ERA) and fairly good bats... the starting rotation is doing well with Carl Coons (3-1/1.60), Brett Whatley (2-0/2.00), Robert Currie (2-2/2.83) and Gary Jackson (1-0/2.45)... and veteran closer Burnell Kelley (0-1/1.47 ERA/6 saves/12 games) has been impressive in the bullpen... ace Flash Stringfellow, a 20-game winner last season, had stuggled so far... as soon as he gets back to form, the Redbirds will do fine... should be in the chase again... and hoping to repeat... they were picked third in the preseason forecast to Kenwood and Rolling Hills... the offense has been slack so far... look for Vincent McCloud (.303/2 HR/8 RBI), Val Anniston (244/1 HR/12 RBI), Winky Biggio (.256/2 HR/12 RBI) and Ozzie Crenshaw (.293/2 HR/11 RBI) to get it going soon.[/QUOTE]

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