2077 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award
ELNORA 3B BAYLESS HONORED AS RU MVP FOR 2077
This year Ronald Bayless had a terrific season for the Elnora Clippers... for his performance of the baseball diamond the 30-year-old third baseman has received one of the elite honors in the Islandian Pro Alliance... Bayless had been voted the 2077 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player... not only did he outpoll the RU Golden Arm Ron Honore, he also beat out the RU Golden Bat winner Matt Hazelton... Bayless edged out Honore and Fort Benton second sacker Stosh Dusek.
Bayless was the RU Swing King with a league-leading .374 BA... in 140 games he amassed 194 base hits, 21 doubles, 10 triples, 15 roundtrippers, 88 RBIs and scored 104 runs... the speedy Bayless also stole 61 bases... he sparked the Clippers to the RU East Division flag... Bayless is a 2-time RU All-Star... Elnora (86-68) edged out the Marston Nine (2 GB) and Wynnamac Sundowners (4 GB) for the division crown... in 9 seasons Bayless has compiled a .330 BA... he first 4 years were spent in the Tycobbian Union with the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats, where he languished on the bench... Bayless came alive in Elnora in 2072 and has been a stalwart ever since... the Tucks loss was Elnora's gain.
Valka's standout hurler Ron Honore led the RU in wins with a 26-6 record and a fine 3.02 ERA... the Blackhawks finished 88-66 and captured the RU South race by 5 games over runners-up Waleska and Grand City.
Winding up third in the Ruthlandian MVP poll was Fort Benton's talented second baseman Stosh Dusek, who batted .358 and topped the league with 221 hits, while playing 143 games... Dusek stole 62 bases, scored 115 runs and drove in 58 runs from the leadoff spot... he was a prime performer in the Defenders taking the RU West Division title... Fort Benton won a very tight 5-team race by 4 games over the Forest City Firebirds, Sligo Rovers, Rocky Rapids Snappers and Volusia Vigilantes.
