Saturday, November 7, 2082
SUNBIRD SKIPPER JOSEPHSON UNANIMOUS RU CHOICE; WILDCAT MANAGER BRADFORD EDGES 4 OTHERS IN TU
The choice was very easy in the Ruthlandian Union this year for the best manager honor, but it was a totally different story in the Tycobbian Union. There were a number of worthy skippers. Brock Josephson of the Belair Beach Sunbirds was the unanimous choice for the 2082 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year, while Rusty Bradford was given the 2082 Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year Trophy. This is the second time in his career Josephson has won the award. He also was named best skipper in 2071, the year Belair Beach won its only Pro Cup. This is the first time the IPA has given the honor to Bradford.
Belair Beach had a glorious rebirth in the Ruthlandian South Division. Josephson turned them around from 72-82 in 2081 to 90-64 this year. The Sunbirds went from 6th place, 26 games behind to the runner-up spot, just 6 games off the pace of the powerhouse Crystal Lake Skippers. Josephson has been with the Sunbirds since 2066.
Rusty Bradford took command of the Kenwood Wildcats in 2076. Most the years since they have done very well under his leadership. However, last season was a bummer for his Wildcats. They staggered in with a 72-82 mark, good for 6th place and 26 GB. But Bradford regained the magic touch and won the TU West by 6 games with a 90-64 record. Though the postseason playoffs are not included in the best manager poll, just the regular season, Kenwood won the Pro Cup title this season, defeating the Crystal Lake Shippers in a stirring 7-game affair.
Bradford had some serious competition for the best manager award. He outpolled Hartsdale's Mark Markis, South Fork's Jay Murphy, Ozarka's Glen Jenkins and Fairfax's Harold Dorman. All of them had standout seasons, too.
Markis took the Hellcats from 76-78 (5th) to 97-57 (1st) in the TU North. Murphy improved his Stallions from 73-81 (6th) to 90-64 (2nd) in the TU East. Jenkins and the Naturals went from 81-73 (4th) to 93-61 (1st) in the TU East. And Dorman had a tremendous year with the lowly Fairfax Frogs, taking them from 60-94 (8th) to 85-69 (2nd) in the TU North.
