Monday, September 24, 2085
PENNANT SHOWDOWNS IN IPA IN FINAL WEEK OF SEASON
It's going to be a rip-roarin', rootin' tootin' good time in the final week of the regular season in the Islandian Pro Alliance. 19 teams are frantically fighting for the 8 postseason spots that come with a division title, that gives them a chance to win the revered IPA Pro Cup Trophy, emblematic of supremacy in baseball in the Islands
RUTHLANDIAN UNION
GATORS AND TARS LOSE, LAGRANGE STILL 4 GAMES IN FRONT
There are just 6 games left in the IPA season. Playoff spots are on the line. Both challengers lost in the Ruthlandian North, so first place LaGrange (83-65) kept its 4-game margin over second place Taranto (79-69). The Gators were shut out 4-0 on 4 hits by Ancona's Dolph Inman (8-7/2.84 ERA). The Jumbos pounded out 13 hits and sent Sonny James (14-9/3.44 ERA) down to defeat. The Tars fell 6-3 to Valmara (78-70) and Yuri Yermentov (6-1/4.51 ERA), who worked 7 innings and gave up 3 runs and 6 hits, posted the victory. Jay Coffman (6-4/4.90 ERA/3 saves/39 games) closed it out for him and got the save.
SUNBIRDS STILL 6 GAMES AHEAD OF DIAMONDS IN RU SOUTH
In the RU South the top team Belair Beach (86-62) lost 4-3 to the Grand City Cybercats (77-71) on Clem Roger's (.289 BA) homer in the last of the 8th. Rodney Heroman (5-5/2.39 ERA/7 saves/27 games) notched the win in relief. Claxton (80-68) stayed alive in the race with a 5-2 triumph over Crystal Lake, but the Diamonds are still 6 games behind. Tough Harry Lomas (12-4/2.41 ERA) chalked up the win for Claxton. Ty Almond (.295 BA) homered for the winners.
COTTON KINGS UP LEAD OVER MACS TO 3 GAMES IN RU EAST
In the RU East, leading Eastshore (88-60) gained a game on runner-up Wynnamac (85-63) to extend its lead to 3 games. The Cotton Kings rallied to beat Belle Plaine (79-69) 6-3 on Kirk Guilbeau's (.284 BA) 3-run clout in the 7th and Max Teale's (.258 BA) 2-run smash in the 8th. Johnny McQuillen (6-1/2.82 ERA) went 6 frames for the victory. The Macs (85-63) never had a chance. Cold Creek's (79-69) Stu Sevassi (13-16/4.14 ERA) trashed them 5-0 on a 5-hitter. Nailed with the loss was Sundowners starter Clifton Branch (13-10/3.54 ERA). The Raccoons got to him for 5 runs and 10 hits in his 8 frames.
COLFAX ALL EVEN WITH FOREST CITY IN RU WEST
Way out in the Ruthlandian West, Colfax (87-71) climbed up into a first-place deadlock with Forest City (87-71) by nipping Middlefield 3-2. The Roosters (55-93) are in last place. The Firebirds fell 6-5 in 12 innings to Fort Benton (77-71). Monty Counts (.234 BA) singled in the gamewinner for the Black Sox in the top of the 9th. Dick Latham (11-11/3.00 ERA) and Gordy Stockton (12-17/4.61 ERA/15 saves/67 games) teamed up with the win going to reliever Stockton. Fort Benton reliever Jim Keever (1-1/2.44 ERA) logged the victory with 2 scoreless innings with the loss going to Johnny Olszak (6-2/2.27 ERA/5 saves/45 games ). Stosh Dusek's (.313 BA) RBI single in the 12th put the Cannons over the top.
TYCOBBIAN UNION
HELLCATS and HAYMAKERS BOTH VICTORS, HARTSDALE ON TOP BY 4 GAMES IN TU NORTH
Top team Hartsdale (88-60) and runner-up Mahaska (84-64) both copped wins in the Tycobbian North. The Hellcats blanked Luxora (70-78) 3-0 on a brilliant 1-hit shutout by Fletch Beliveau (5-4/3.04 ERA). The Hellcats are still 4 games ahead in the race. The Haymakers also got some splendid pitching by Goldy Keane (19-6/2.55 ERA), who stiffed North Hills on 5 hits in a 4-0 thumping. Sam Moody (.230 BA/27 HR) and Byron Bennigan (.323 BA/41 HR) both hammered homers out of the park for the Haymakers.
BOTH WIN, MONTIES STILL 1 GAME AHEAD OF TYPHOONS IN TU SOUTH
In the Tycobbian South both contenders triumphed. First place San Alejo (84-64) skimmed by Summerland 3-2 behind the fine performance by Fernando Hierro (16-5/1.97 ERA). He held the Sunsets (67-81) to one run and 2 hits in his 6 innings. Victor Arcanada (5-3/2.66 ERA/7 saves/39 games) got the save with a runless 9th. Both Vicente del Bosque (.289 BA) and Kerry Carter (.275 BA) got 2 hits and a run batted in for the Montaneros. Turon (83-65) got the best of the Southport Sports (72-76) 3-1. Clete Engstrom (15-9/2.99 ERA) fired 7 strong innings, striking out 8, walking nobody and allowing 8 hits and just one run. Closer Philip Reiser (8-9/2.67 ERA/22 saves/76 games) finished up for him with 2 scoreless frames. Gus Newton's (.189 BA) 2-run blast in the first frame turned out to be the winning runs. Sun Sox pitcher Lacy Lillis (8-11/3.96 ERA) went the distance in defeat and pitched well, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits.
BOTH FALL, HIGH MESA MAINTAINS 2-GAME EDGE OVER HILLSBORO
Things did not go well for first place High Mesa (85-63) and second place Hillsboro (83-65) in the Tycobbian East Division. They both tasted the harsh pangs of defeat. The Buckaroos are still 2 games up on the Blazers. The Buckaroos lost a close one 3-1 to the Ozarka Naturals (67-81). Asmund Byornstad (12-11/2.85 ERA) and Adam Fedderson (4-2/0.40 ERA/4 saves/15 games) stifled them on just 4 hits. Rick Prescott's (.245 BA) 2-run double in the top of the 9th settled the game. The win went to Fedderson. In relief Elizar Belasario (10-11/3.48 ERA/22 saves/77 games) was pinned with the loss. The Midway Wolves (70-78) knocked off Hillsboro 6-4 in 11 innings. Blackie Lavitola (.245 BA) put them in front 5-4 with an RBI base hit in the top half of the inning. Miguel Cuellar (.212 BA) added an insurance RBI single, too. Midway's Nat Mortenson (6-2/3.31 ERA/3 saves/44 games) gained the victory, while the defeat went to Presley Pendergast (12-9/3.65 ERA/17 saves/78 games).
LOGJAM IN TU WEST TIGHTENS, ONLY 4 GAMES SEPARATE 5 TEAMS, BRAVES ON TOP BY 2
Yes indeed, it is a heck of a pennant race in the frantic logjammed Tycobbian West. 5 teams are still going at it like all get out, trying to catch first place Chicopee (80-68). At the end of the day's action, the Braves enjoy a 2-game edge over La Claire (78-70) and Rolling Hills (78-70), 3 games better than Bayview (77-71) and 4 up on fifth place Arlon (76-72).
The Arlon Champions bumped off first place Chicopee 7-5 as losing pitcher Sparky Toms (15-11/2.50 ERA) was shelled for 5 runs in the 2nd inning and 6 in 6 innings. Pinch hitter Terry Zinn (.241 BA) delivered the game-winning blow with a sac fly in the 6th frame. Wayne Shafer (4-3/4.79 ERA/1 save/37 games) won it in relief for Arlon with 1 and two-thirds scoreless innings. Nathan Ellis (.265 BA) and Mick McKinnon (.250 BA) both went deep for the Champions. Chino Robinson (.222 BA) belted one out for the Braves.
The La Claire Lynx lashed out 13 hits and lambasted Rolling Hills 10-1, enabling them to move up into a second-place tie with the Racers, 2 games out of first place. Johnny Salsbury (.265 BA) sparked the Lynx with 3 hits, including a 3-run roundtripper. Lynn Holman chimed in with 2 hits and 3 runs batted in. Charlie Hamner (10-12/3.01 ERA) also hurled 8 strong innings. The Racers were held to just 3 hits. It was not a good day for loser Dominic Bard (14-9/3.83 ERA). He was bashed for 7 runs in the very first inning. He didn't get an out.
The Bayview Vikings knocked off the Kenwood Wildcats (63-85) 6-4, led at the plate by Kim Kallstrom (.256 BA/43 HR) and Hoder Kristensen (.236 BA/9 HR), who walloped home runs for the Vikings. On the hill Byork Thorstad (12-10/2.43 ERA) gritted out the win, permitting 4 runs in 7 and two-thirds innings,but it was good enough to win. Closer Marcos Rubio (1012/4.50 ERA/13 saves/55 games) finished up for him, holding the Wildcats runless the rest of the game. Anders Thorsen (.240 BA) sparked Kenwood with 3 hits, a homer and 2 ribbies. Andre Lafrance (6-16/4.44 ERA) suffered the defeat, slammed for 6 runs in 4 innings.
Yeah buddy, the race is on in the IPA. It just might be the photo finish of all pennant races.
Who's gonna win.
Ruthlandian Union Standings and Statistics
Tycobbian Union Standings and Statistics
