Sunday, October 29, 2072
IPA SWING KINGS SNARE MVP TROPHIES, TOO
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the top performers in the league this season... the two Kings of Swing and this year's Golden Bats were also awarded the MVP trophies... the 2073 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award was given to Stefan Skarzynski of the Valmara Vipers and the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player Award went to Carroll Ezzell of the South Fork Stallions.
Ruthlandian Union MVP
Skarzynski captured the RU MVP trophy for the second straight season, beating out Volusia outfielder Lenny Larker and Taranto hurler Marcello Rossi... he sparked the Vipers to their 4th consecutive RU North Division crown... Skarzynski is just 24 years of age and a 4-year veteran... the splendid first sacker played in all 154 games with a .318 BA, 21 doubles, 4 triples, 32 homers, 122 RBI, scored 118 runs and stole 38 bases... he has excelled with a career .307 BA, 121 HR, 425 RBIs and a .400 OBP... Skarzynski is a 3-time Ruthlandian All-Star.
Larker blossomed this season and paced the Vigilantes to their 3rd RU West title in the last 4 seasons... the 26-year-old left fielder batted .325 in 144 games, winding up the year with 38 doubles, 8 triples, 15 roundtrippers, 80 RBIs, 121 runs scored and 37 stolen bases.
Coming in 3rd in the RU Most Valuable Player poll was Taranto's superlative southpaw Marcello Rossi... he led the Tars to second place behind Valmara in the RU North pennant race... Rossi starred with an 18-5 record and a 2.66 ERA in 30 starts... he is in his 4th season at age 24.
Tycobbian Union MVP
This was the first time in his 5-year career Ezzell was honored as the TU Most Valuable Player... his main competition was Chicopee's talented 20-game winner Cris Samuels and White River's slugger Lynn Elkins... Ezzell stood out over his peers with a .345 BA in 151 games, leading the Tycobbian Union with 219 hits and scoring 127 runs... at age 26 Ezzell socked 23 doubles, 13 triples, 10 homers, drove in 69 runs and stole 77 bases... he has been with the South Fork Stallions for 5 years and has led them to 2 TU East pennants so far... South Fork also capped the 2073 season with the third Pro Cup Trophy in the club's history... Ezzell is a special hitter with a lifetime .331 BA.
Cris Samuels had a brilliant year for the Chicopee Braves, leading them to a 3rd-place finish in the TU West... he wound up second in the TU Golden Arm race... also came in second in wins and ERA... in his 6th year in the IPA Samuels chalked up a 20-5 mark with an extrordinary 2.05 ERA... Samuels has been a vital part of building the Braves into a pennant contender... Chicopee has long been a doormat team in the IPA... they have only made the playoffs 3 times... the last time was way back in 2038.
White River third baseman Lynn Elkins was a prime reason the Rascals posted a fantastic season, winning the TU North for the 3rd time in 4 seasons... White River was a terrific 106-48 this year... Elkins played in 149 games, batted .334 with 200 hits, 24 homers, 104 RBIs, 110 runs and 22 SB... he is a 4-year veteran... sadly he was injured late in the season and did not get to play in the Pro Cup playoffs... Elkins' bat was sorely missed by the Rascals... they were favored to win it all this season.
