Friday, October 26, 2085
BEST SWINGERS IN THE IPA PRESENTED GOLDEN BATS
The Islandian Pro Alliance honored two of their best batsmen with Golden Bats, emblematic of being the the top hitters in the Ruthlandian Union and the Tycobbian Union. The 2085 RU Golden Bat Award went to Claxton's standout third baseman Andreas Koopman, while the 2085 TU Golden Bat Award was given to Mahaska's first baseman Byron Bennigan.
CLAXTON 3RD SACKER CLAIMS FIRST RU GOLDEN BAT
Koopman had an excellent season, leading his Claxton Diamonds to a second-place finish in the Ruthlandian South Division. His club came in a fairly close 5 games back of the 2084 Pro Cup champion Belair Beach Sunbirds. In 150 games Koopman put up a .320 batting average with 173 hits, 33 doubles, 26 homers, 100 ribbies and 106 runs scored. Koopman is 26 years old and in his third season. He started his career with the Fairfax Frogs in 2083, but was traded to the Diamonds in 2084, where he has blossomed.
Jake Osborne of the Crystal Lake Skippers gave Koopman the most competition. The 25-year-old superstar center fielder had another standout season with a .341 BA, 196 hits, 16 homers, 74 RBIs and 91 runs. However, the Skippers had a subpar season ending up in 5th place, 15 games out of first place with a 75-79 record. Now in his 7th season, Osborne sports a sparkling .347 career batting average. He also won the RU Golden Bats in 2080 and 2082, the RU Rookie of the Year in 2080 and was the 2082 RU Most Valuable Player. This year was the fourth time Osborne copped the RU batting crown.
At age 33, Tory Swinnerton of the LaGrange Gators had another marvelous year. Amazingly, he has won the home-run crown 10 times in his 12 seasons in the IPA. Swinnerton sparked the Gators to their 4th division flag in the last 5 seasons by batting .301 with 174 hits in 154 games with 44 roundtrippers, 98 RBIs and 104 runs. Swinnerton has 544 career homers and a .303 lifetime BA.
MAHASKA FIRST BASEMEN BAGS FIRST TU GOLDEN BAT
24-year-old Byron Bennigan has a superlative season for the Mahaska Haymakers, who gave powerhouse Hartsdale fits in the Tycobbian North pennant race, finally losing out by 5 games. Bennigan was a vital cog in the Haymakers success with a .324 BA in 144 games with 42 homers, 114 RBIs and 118 runs. Now in his 4th year with the club he is carrying a .309 career average with 119 home runs.
Coming in second in the TU Golden Bat balloting was Bobby Delaney, star left fielder for the Arlon Champions. Delaney stood out with 181 hits in 149 games with 33 doubles, 6 triples, 35 homers, 103 RBIs and 103 runs. Arlon wound up with a 77-77 record, good for 5th place in the TU West, won by Chicopee. Delaney has been a crackerjack at the plate with a career .330 BA and 222 roundtrippers in his 7 seasons.
Rounding out the TU Golden Bat voting was third-place finisher Jose Vasque of the Luxora Zorros. The 26-year-old left fielder flourished in his 7th year with the Z's. In 149 games he collected 189 base hits, batted .339 with 31 doubles, 5 triples, 30 homers, 95 RBIs and 99 runs scored. Despite his endeavors, the Zorros still came in 5th in the TU North with a 74-80 mark, 17 games behind pennant-winning Hartsdale. Lifetime Vasque is hitting .310 with 173 home runs.
