Sunday, October 31, 2083
IT'S AWARDS TIME IN THE ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE
Baseball is certainly a team sport that is made of a wide array of talents, some of them outstanding and deserving of individual praise and acclaim. Today the Islandian Pro Alliance honored the best batters, the best pitchers, the best rookies, best fielders and best managers for the 2083 season.
BP MUSKETEER WIELDS BEST BAT IN RUTHLANDIAN UNION
Callum Hayford took Islandian Pro Alliance by storm this year, and he did it all at the age of 25.
For his spectacular campaign, the Belle Plaine Musketeers star has been named the 2083 Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award recipient.
"To be considered amongst the best in the league is overwhelming," said the center fielder. Hayford is a first-time winner of the prestigious award. Sadly, Belle Plaine (64-90) still came in a dismal 7th in the RU East.
On the season he compiled a .334 batting average to go with a .409 on-base percentage. He also added 37 doubles, 17 triples, 35 home runs, 114 RBIs and 115 runs scored. Hayford finished fourth with a .334 BA. Julius Goodson of Wynnamac won it with a .358 mark.
Shortstop Dirk MacIntyre (.306 BA/33 HR/118 RBI/117 R/10 SB) of the Belair Beach Sunbirds finished second in voting, while third baseman Chris Savallas (.308 BA/32 HR/97 RBI/123 R/14 SB) of the Ancona Jumbos finished third.
ELNORA ACE TEMPLETON WINS RU GOLDEN ARM AT AGE 35
In the twilight of his career, Hawk Templeton has no intention of going anywhere anytime soon. The 35-year-old Clippers starter hoisted up the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award earlier today, silencing critics who thought it was time for the "old man" to retire.
To claim the honor for the first time in his 14-year career Templeton crafted an ERA of 2.27 as he won 20 games, dropped 6, fanned 166 and gave up 80 walks in 254 innings of work. It was a good year for the Clippers (81-73), who came in tied for fourth place in the RU South, just 6 games behind winning Wynnamac (87-67).
His main challengers were also up in age. Jim Brockington and Whiz Williamson are 35, too.
Jim Brockington (20-7/2.83 ERA) of the Belair Beach Sunbirds finished second in voting, while reliever Whiz Willamson (13-8/2.56 ERA/22 saves/65 games) of the Far Mountain Redhawks finished third.
ROOSTER RULES ROOST IN RUTHLANDIAN ROOKIES
This year's outstanding newcomer has been selected and the honor goes to the Middlefield rookie Keith Tobin -- the recipient of the 2083 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award.
The talented Roosters first baseman took the trophy by hitting .351 in 112 games this season and finished with 135 hits, 32 home runs, 90 RBIs and 72 runs scored. Tobin is 23. His standout performance paced Middlefield (87-67) to the runner-up position in the RU West, winding up just 2 games back of division winner Volusia (89-65).
18-year-old right fielder Radley Correll (.301 BA/28 HR/84 RBI/83 R/2 SB) of the Sugar Valley Rattlers finished second in voting, while 20-year-old starter Delmer Keel (16-9/3.04 ERA) of the Belair Beach Sunbirds finished third.
SUPER DUPER YEAR FOR SOUTH FORK'S MANNINGTON, WIN TYCOBBIAN GOLDEN BAT
Davy Mannington of the South Fork Stallions proved that you can step out of the shadows and onto the stage if you've got the talent and the drive to hone your skills. Hard work, long hours and a tireless resolve paid off for him today in the form of the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. Only in his second season in the IPA, Mannington tore up the league at the tender age of 21 with a league-leading .340 BA.
Mannington hit for a .340 average and copped the TU batting crown, while collecting 198 hits, 24 doubles, 4 triples, 44 home runs, 116 RBIs and scoring 116 times. The talented first sacker helped his Stallions (80-74) to a fourth-place spot in the TU East standings, 12 games behind pennant-winning and Pro Cup champion East Point.
Robert Hazle (.292 BA/44 HR/128 RBI/120 R/23 SB) of the Turon Typhoons finished second in voting, while Kazz Yamazaki (.319 BA/38 HR/117 RBI/96 R/3 SB) of the Ginza Ninjas finished third.
MIDWAY'S TATE TAKES TYCOBBIAN GOLDEN HURLER AWARD
29-year-old right-hander Frankie Tate of the Midway Wolves had a fine 18-9 season in 2083 and today claimed the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award. In his 10-year career he is 137-122 overall with a fine 3.16 ERA. This was his first Golden Arm trophy.
He started 31 times, threw 252 innings while collecting 184 strikeouts and fashioned a 2.39 ERA. Tate allowed only 217 hits, 62 walks and a .235 opponents' batting average. However, his Wolves wound up in 5th place with a 78-76 record, 14 games back of first place East Point (92-62), this season's Pro Cup champion.
Skeets Kazlauskas (14-6/2.38 ERA) of the Rolling Hills Racers finished second in voting, while Chuck Chelkowski (15-10/2.71 ERA) of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers finished third.
VIKS' KALLSTROM NABS TYCOBBIAN NEWCOMER AWARD
The regular season is now history and it's awards' time in the Tycobbian Union. This year's winner of the Rookie of the Year Award is 19-year-old Kim Kallstrom of the Bayview Vikings.
The talented right fielder batted .329, played in 153 games and delivered 197 hits in 599 at-bats. His totals also included 46 home runs, 124 RBIs, 98 runs scored, 48 walks and a .377 OBP. Kallstrom's heroics almost won the Tycobbian West flag. The Vikings (88-66) came up one game short of winning the pennant. They came in a very close second to division flagwinner Rolling Hills (89-65).
Kallstrom biggest challengers were two starting pitchers. Hard-throwing hurler Big Boy Pete Bradburn (17-10/3.95 ERA) of the North Hills Hawks finished second in voting, while Martin Ellingsen (16-9/3.43 ERA) of the Bayview Vikings finished third.
