Thursday, October 10, 2086
SUNBIRDS, SNAPPERS, RACERS AND NINJAS ARE OFF AND RUNNING: ADVANCE TO IPA SECOND ROUND
One series down, two more to go. Belair Beach, Rocky Rapids, Rolling Hills and Ginza all answered the call in the first round of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs and advanced to the second round. The Sunbirds soared past the Marston Nine in 5 games, the Snappers torched the Ancona Jumbos in a 4-game sweep, the #5-ranked Racers outplayed the #3-rated South Fork Stallions 4 games to 2 and the #4-rated Ninjas upset the #2-ranked Mahaska Haymakers. Belair Beach and Rocky Rapids will meet for the Ruthlandian Union Title and it will be Rolling Hills and Ginza in the Tycobbian Union Title Series.
SUNBIRDS IN 5 OVER THE NINE
Belair Beach, the Pro Cup favorite, performed very well against the unheralded Marston Nine with fine pitching from veteran starters Gardiner Palmquist (2-0/2.77 ERA), Georgie Adams (1-0/0.00 ERA) and closer Orval Columbus (1-0/0.00 ERA/3 saves/4 games). Almost top to bottom in the batting order each player did his job and contributed. Dutch Van Donk (.389 BA/4 RBI), Taavo Dees (.333 BA/3 RBI), Dirk MacIntyre (.263 BA/5 RBI) and Mees Achthoven (.278 BA/3 RBI) all had good series. The Sunbirds won the first two at home, 6-3 and 3-0. Palmquist won the opener, while Adams fired a shutout in game two.
They continued to roll when the series switched to Marston for the next 3 games. Behind starting pitcher Felix Poirot and Orval Columbus, Belair Beach shackled the Nine bats again, winning their third straight game, 3-1, with Columbus the winner. In game four the Nine finally salvaged a game. Augie Huffman hit two out of the park for the Nine in an 8-6 victory for their first and only win. In the fifth game Palmquist silenced Marston 2-1 to triumph in the series in 5 games. Huffman had a great series in defeat, slamming 3 homers and driving in 5 runs while batting .381. No one else offered any offense whatsoever. 'Nuff said, Marston made a quick exit for the postseason playoffs.
ROCKY RAPIDS ROCKED ANCONA IN 4-GAME SWEEP
The Rocky Rapids Snappers performed almost flawlessly in all aspects of the game and never gave the outclassed Ancona Jumbos a chance, totally dismantling them in 4 straight. Eugene Ganley (.286 BA) hit 2 homers and drove in 6 runs, Mickey Starbuck (.357 BA) popped two roundtrippers and batted in 4 runs, Julien Duvauchelle (.357 BA) had 4 ribbies and so did Henri Talleyrand (.375 BA). Franco Ragazzi (.400 BA) and Lee Drummond (.417 BA) both set the table with .400 batting averages. Backed up by the offense with almost 7 runs per game, the pitchers also came out well.
At home the Snappers slammed Ancona 11-4 in the opening game. In game two Sal Brooks (1-0/2.12 ERA) hurled a good game and took the win 4-1. In game three in Ancona, a change of venue didn't help the Jumbos, who were blanked 6-0 by Nelson Goodlee (1-0/0.00 ERA) and Dobie Mortenson (0-0/0.00 ERA/2 saves/2 games). Game four was competitive, but Rocky Rapids still wrapped up the series with a 6-4 victory. The Snappers built up a 6-0 lead early and held on. Ronnie Dabbs (1-0/3.86 ERA) posted the win with the relief help of Sandy Noland (0-0/4.50 ERA/1 save/1 game).
RH RACERS TAKE ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM SERIES FROM SF STALLIONS IN 6 GAMES
In a slight upset #5-ranked Rolling Hills rocked favored #2-rated South Fork, four games to two. The Racers and the favored South Fork Stallions went toe-to-toe in the series. Both attacks put runs on the scoreboard. The Racers were sparked by Danny Marisnick (.409 BA/5 RBI), Emmett Spangler (.320 BA/5 RBI) and Harv Phelan (.316 BA/5 RBI). They also got some help from Jaron Shufford (.381 BA) and Clifford Stratton (.333 BA). Pacing the Stallions were Rupert Kruger (.458 BA/7 RBI), Cristian Morales (.273/6 RBI), Davy Mannington (.333 BA) and Will Wilford (.320 BA). The Racers won the duel with a little better overall pitching, mainly in the bullpen. Steve Farnham (1-0/0.00 ERA/2 saves/3 games) and J.B. Deeds (1-0/1.59 ERA/3 games) were the difference. They were crucial with 2 wins and 3 saves in the series. Actually, South Fork had the best starting pitchers with Willem Bekker (1-0/0.00 ERA) and Arjen Rijkaard (1-0/2.51 ERA). Rijkaard had two good starts. Bekker had a shutout in his first start and then sadly went out with a leg injury after one inning in game six. He was a critical loss. The Stallions bullpen really let them down. Closer Alfie Ginger (0-3/9.82 ERA/0 saves/3 games) lost 3 of the games.
RACERS EDGE STALLIONS IN TU TITLE SERIES OPENER
Rolling Hills' Danny Marisnick doubled in 2 runs in the 8th inning to win the opener 3-1. Closer Alfie Ginger was pinned with the defeat. Junior Ashmore and J.B. Deeds outpitched Ginger and South Fork starter Arjen Rijkaard.
SOUTH FORK'S BEKKER BLANKS ROLLING HILLS IN 2ND GAME -- SERIES EVEN 1-1
Willem Bekker was superb in a 4-0 shutout in the second game won by South Fork. Linc Dickens absorbed the loss and went the distance. He only allowed 4 hits. Davy Mannington led the Stallions at the plate with 3 hits, including a solo homer.
VISITING RACERS CRUSH STALLIONS TO GO UP 2-1
The series switched to South Fork for the next three contests. The Racers crushed the Stallions 13-3, bashing 17 hits, paced by 3 hits apiece from Harv Phelan and Danny Marisnick to go up two games to one in the best-of-seven series. Phelan had the game's only roundtripper, good for a pair of scores. Veteran Skeets Kazlauskas went 6 innings for the win, holding South Fork to one run. Jimmy Cravens was blasted for 7 runs in 5 innings.
ROLLING HILLS RALLY IN GAME 4, SOARS AHEAD 3 GAMES TO ONE
Rolling Hills surged ahead 3 games to one with a comeback 6-5 victory in game four. The Racers trailed 5-0 heading into the last of the 5th frame. The keys hits were a 3-run clout by Emmett Spangler in the 5th and a game-winning 2-run two-bagger by Tater Yearwood in the 8th. Rudolf Kruger led the Stallions with 3 singles and 2 ribbies. The Racers bullpen excelled again. J. B. Deeds and Steve Farnham worked 4 runless innings with the win going to Farnham. Closer Alfie Ginger lost his second game of the series.
SOUTH FORK HANGS TOUGH, BATTERS ROLLING HILLS IN 5TH GAME -- RACERS' EDGE CUT TO 3-2
Banging out 17 hits South Fork manhandled Rolling Hills in game five to the tune of 9-3 to narrow the gap to three games to two in favor of the Racers. Kruger went 3 for 5 for the Stallions, had a 2-run homer and drove in 4 scores. Will Wilford was 3 for 4 and scored 3 runs and Yank Yankovich socked 2 hits, scored twice and batted in 2. Arjen Rijkaard spun 8 solid innings and held the Racers to 3 runs and 6 hits. Junior Ashmore lost it, slammed for 6 runs in his 4 innings.
RACERS ROAR BACK IN 9TH -- BEATS STALLIONS IN 6 GAMES
Game six began well for South Fork with Willem Bekker on the mound, but he suffered an arm injury in the first frame and left the game. The relief corps did well for awhile and had a 4-1 edge going into the top of the 9th. Chaos erupted. The Racers scored 4 runs and won the series four games to two to advance to the Tycobbian Union Title Series against Ginza. Terrence Stonich singled in the winning scores. 4 bases on balls were decisive in the outcome of the game. Poor Alfie Ginger walked 5 batters and dropped his 3rd game of the series. Steve Farnham closed it out for the Racers and got his 2nd save. Dominic Bard was the winner with a scoreless 8th.
MILD UNDERDOG KARATE KIDS SNEAK BY HAYMAKERS IN 6 GAMES
It was a hotly-contested humdinger of a series. Mild underdog and #4-rated Ginza edged past #2-ranked Mahaska four games to two. The Ninja closer Louis St. Pierre (2-0/2.77 ERA/1 save/4 games) played a vital role in their victory over the tough Haymakers, along with starter Asmund Bjornstad (1-0/1.80 ERA/2 starts).
MAHASKA GRABS TENSE OPENER FROM GINZA AT HOME
At home, favored Mahaska copped the first game 3-2 by scoring single runs in the 8th and 9th to come back and win it. Manny Savallas plated the winning run with a walk-off double. On the hill starter Mel Golden and three relievers chalked up the victory. Asmund Byornstad started and pitched well, holding the Haymakers to one run in his 6 innings. His relief Luis Rosario lost it.
NINJAS' HOSHINO HR TIES SERIES WITH HAYMAKERS AT 1 GAME EACH
In the second game Ginza's Muzuki Hoshino's three-run clout in the top of the 5th proved to be the game winner by the score of 4-3. Eddy Bohannon and Louis St. Pierre combined for the win. The Ninjas returned home with a split in the opening two games.
GLATNEY'S 9TH-INNING CLOUT GIVE MAHASKA 2-1 EDGE OVER GINZA
In a tense struggle in Ginza, game three went to Mahaska 2-1 with strong pitching by Corky Jasker, Izo Utterbach and Goldy Keane. Loser Taichi Taka tossed a solid game, holding the Haymakers to one run and 3 hits in his 6 frames. Luis Rosario again lost the game in relief, victimized by Galan Glatney's solo swat in the top of the 9th. Keane got the win.
KARATE KIDS COME BACK IN GAME 4 -- HAYMAKERS SERIES TIED 2 GAMES APIECE
The Karate Kids of Ginza evened it up at two games apiece with a 7-4 victory in game four. Louie Patino and reliever Louis St. Pierre teamed up to knock off the Haymakers. Kazz Yamazaki provided the go-ahead run in the 5th inning with a 2-run shot for a 5-3 margin. Izo Utterbach was the losing pitcher.
BYORNSTAD HURLS GINZA PAST MAHASKA IN GAME 5 FOR 3-2 LEAD -- YOSHINO AND DE WILDE DRILL 2-RUN HOMERS
Game five was all Ginza. Asmund Byornstad went all the way, stopping Mahaska 6-2 on 5 hits. Muzaki Hoshino and Rikki De Wilde led the Ninjas with a pair of 2-run homers.
KARATE KIDS NICK HAYSEEDS IN TENSE DUEL IN GAME 6 -- GINZA BEATS FAVORED MAHASKA 4 GAMES TO 2
Ginza won another nailbiter 5-4 over Mahaska in the sixth game of the best-of-seven series, sending the Haymakers home for the winter. That gave the Ninjas the series four games to two. They will now advance to the Tycobbian Union Title Series, opposed by the Rolling Hills Racers. Once again Louis St. Pierre picked up the win, his second of the series with 3 and two-thirds innings of good relief. Kazz Yamazaki had 4 hits and 2 RBIs to pace the Ninjas. Ko Yoshino homered for the winners. Byron Bennigan and Clete Shotwell kept Mahaska close with solo homers. In relief, Izo Utterbach dropped his 2nd game of the series.
