Sunday, November 3, 2069
MEISNER, MEAUX HONORED AS BEST PITCHERS AND GOLDEN ARMS IN THE IPA
Claxton's Mark Meisner and White River's Shorty Meaux were the recipients this season of Islandian Pro Alliance Golden Arm trophies... while Meisner was honored with the 2069 Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award for the fifth time in his splendid career, Meaux won the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award for the first time.
Meisner outpolled two very capable challengers, Galen Busby of Marston and Linc Christopher of Far Mountain... Meisner started 41 games this season, put up a 19-9 record with 211 Ks in 294 innings, a IPA league-leading 7 shutouts and an impressive 2.45 ERA... the 33-year-old southpaw led the Diamonds to their 7th straight RU South pennant... Meisner was also acclaimed the Golden Arm in '65, '66, '67' and '68... he was also named the RU Most Valuable Player in 2068... overall Meisner is 148-60 with a stellar 2.30 ERA in 13 seasons with the Diamonds... for his first six seasons he was in the bullpen and posted 145 saves.
2069 was a sensational season for Galen Busby... he paced the Marston Nine to the RU East title with marvelous 22-4 mark... Busby topped the Ruthlandian Union with a sparkling 2.24 ERA... he also led the IPA in victories, tied with La Claire's Ivar Rasmussen... in his 6 years with Marston, Busby is 80-40 with a strong 2.79 ERA.
Coming in third in the RU Golden Arm balloting was 13-year veteran Linc Christopher of the Far Mountain Redhawks... this year the big left-hander compiled a record of 21-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 41 starts, leading his team to the third spot in the RU North Division, winding up just 4 games behind in the pennant race... his first 5 seasons were spent with the Midway Wolves in the Tycobbian East... his last 4 years have been with Far Mountain... overall Christopher has logged a 112-89 mark with a 3.36 ERA.
Shorty Meaux is a man of small statue, just 5 foot 5 inches in height, but he stands mighty tall on the hill... Meaux is the King of the Mountain this season in the Tycobbian Union - the 2069 TU Golden Arm winner... not only did the 26-year-old lefty make 28 starts, he also made 30 relief appearances, posting a 20-13 record with a 1.97 ERA, the best in the IPA... he also was number one in strikeouts with 255... Meaux is a 5-year veteran with a 63-43 mark and an overall 2.85 ERA... Meaux was the prime reason the White River Rascals (79-75) finished fourth in the Tycobbian North Division.
39-year-old Pat McFarlane of the Oxford Red Caps was the runner-up to Meaux... twice before McFarlane won the Golden Arm Award, 2061 and 2067... this year he stood out with a 21-15 record with 302 innings and 39 starts, compiling a fine 2.67 ERA... his Red Caps came in third in the TU North pennant race, just 4 games behind division winner Blue Lake... lifetime McFarlane is 168-105 with an excellent 2.67 ERA.
The third-best votegetter in the TU Golden Arm race was a grizzled 37-year-old pitcher Rance Hasbrough of the Denton City Redbirds... Hasbrough had a career year this season, going 20-5 with a superb 2.70 ERA in 40 starts and sparking his Redbirds to a second-place finish behind powerhouse Rolling Hills in the Tycobbian West... in 15 seasons with Denton City Hasbrough is 207-165 with a 3.40 ERA.
