Attachment 1033403
Saturday, October 19, 2086
NO SURPRISES IN RU AND TU TITLE SERIES
2086 PRO CUP SERIES FEATURES FAMILIAR FOES BELAIR BEACH AND ROLLING HILLS
No Cinderella's and no dark horses made the 2086 IPA Pro Cup Series this year. Old standbys Belair Beach and Rolling Hills will lock horns once again for the Pro Cup Trophy. The Sunbirds beat the Racers in the 2084 Pro Cup Finals in six games. Both clubs are riding high after knocking out up-and-coming whippersnappers Rocky Rapids and Ginza in rather easy fashion. Pro Cup favorite Belair Beach rode its impressive pitching staff to upend Rocky Rapids four games to two for the Ruthlandian Union crown and Rolling Hills did the same to the Ginza Ninjas, winning the Tycobbian Union Title Series four games to one.
SUNBIRDS' STAFF TOTALLY SHUT DOWN SNAPPERS FOR RU CROWN
The Sunbirds' staff of starters Gardiner Palmquist, Georgie Adams, Felix Poirot and Jim Brockington combined with closer Orval Columbus to shackle the red-hot bats of the Snappers. Neither club put many runs on the scoreboard. Belair Beach hurlers held Rocky Rapids to just 11 runs in the six-game series. The Sunbirds only scored 19 themselves. Mees Achthoven (.333 BA/7 for 21/5 RBI) was one of the few productive bats in the lineup, but its offense was enough to beat the Snappers. Belair Beach now moves to the Pro Cup Series and will seeking their 3rd Pro Cup, their second in the last three seasons. The Sunbirds triumphed over Rolling Hills in six games in 2084. The Pro Cup Finals is a toss-up. Either team can win it. According to the baseball experts there is no clear favorite.
ROLLING HILLS ROLLS OVER PUNCHLESS GINZA IN 5 GAMES FOR TU TITLE
Rolling Hills' mound staff outdid themselves in the Tycobbian Union Title Series as they befuddled and bedazzled the Ginza Ninjas four games to one. The entire 8-man pitching corps performed admirably, allowing only 14 runs in the 5-game series. In contrast the Ninjas' staff struggled and gave up 31 runs. Skeets Kazlauskas (2-0/4.15 ERA) won 2 games in the series and yet had the worst ERA. Linc Dickens (0-0/1.69 ERA), Junior Ashmore (1.80 ERA) and Dain Holman (1-0/3.86 ERA) were the other three starters. The bullpen was superb with J.B. Deeds (1.59 ERA), Ivan Malek (0.00 ERA) and Dominic Bard (3.00 ERA). Even Steve Farnham (4.50 ERA) picked up a save. The primary bats belonged to Liam Geraghty (.500 BA/10 for 20/7 RBI), Fabian Quigley (.412 BA/7 for 17/2 RBI) and Danny Marisnick (.316 BA/6 for 19/3 RBI). Several others contributed timely hits, too. It really was a team effort. In all respects the Racers played very well against the Ninjas. Everything went right for Rolling Hills. Nothing much good happened for the outmanned Ninjas. Beware, the 11th Pro Cup Trophy may be well on its way to Rolling Hills. However, the Racers have quite a daunting task ahead of them. The Belair Beach Sunbirds are a rock-solid club, too. It should be a great Pro Cup Series.
RUTHLANDIAN UNION TITLE SERIES GAME RECAPS
SUNBIRD TWIRLER ADAMS TOO TOUGH IN RU TITLE SERIES OPENER
Georgie Adams (2-0/0.57 ERA) hurled Belair Beach to a 4-1 victory in the Ruthlandian Title Series opening game on the Sunbirds' home field. Home runs were supplied by rookie Bucky Keats (.348 BA/1 HR) and Mees Achthoven (.333 BA/1 HR). Pat Buckland (1-1/5.54 ERA) went 7 innings in defeat, yielding all 4 runs. Tony Nobles (.158 BA/1 HR) homered for the Snappers. Orval Columbus (1-1/2.84 ERA) nabbed his 4th save for Belair Beach.
ROCKY RAPIDS' BROOKS AND MORTENSON TAME FAVORED SUNBIRDS IN GAME 2
Game two in Belair Beach was a ding-dong dilly captured by Rocky Rapids. Starters Gardiner Palmquist for Belair Beach and Sal Brooks for Rocky Rapids dueled for 7 innings with the Sunbirds holding a 1-0 edge. The Snappers rocked reliever Orval Columbus (2-1/3.09 ERA) for 4 runs in the 8th and 9th frames to even the series at one game each. Brooks (2-0/1.29 ERA) notched the victory with the help of 2 scoreless innings from Dobie Mortenson (0-1/4.05 ERA). It was his 3rd save. Lanny Moultrie (.091 BA) provided a decisive 2-run base hit for the game winner in the top of the 8th.
SURPRISE!
SNAPPERS WIN AGAIN! UP 2-1 IN SERIES OVER SUNBIRDS
Playing at their home park, Rocky Rapids took the series' lead two games to one with a splendid 2-0 win behind Nelson Goodlee's 6 scoreless innings and Dobie Mortenson's 3 runless frames. Goodlee (2-0/0.00 ERA) posted the victory. He is unscored upon in 2 postseason starts. In 4 postseason assignments Mortenson has 4 saves and a 0.00 ERA. So far in the playoffs he hasn't given up a run in 10 innings. Julien Duvauchelle hammered the game's only roundtripper. The Snappers had 7 hits, while the Sunbirds could muster only 5. Losing pitcher Felix Poirot (0-1/1.93 ERA/2 starts) worked a fine game, too, going the distance
SUNBIRDS REBOUND!
BELAIR BEACH TIES SERIES AT 2 GAMES EACH BEHIND SHUTOUT PITCHING OF BROCKINGTON AND COLUMBUS
The two clubs traded victories by the identical scores. Game one went to the Sunbirds 4-1, the Snappers nabbed game two by the same score. The Snappers won the third game 2-0. Yep, the Sunbirds came right back in game four with a identical 2-0 shutout. Now the series is deadlocked two games each. Jim Brockington (1-0/2.13 ERA) spun 8 scoreless innings for the win. Orval Columbus (1-1/2.84 ERA) struck out the side in the 9th for his 5th postseason save. Dilan Munsey (.500/2 HR) homered in the 3rd frame for the game's only scores. Otherwise, the Snappers got excellent pitching from loser Ronny Dabbs (0-1/3.46 ERA) and his relief Bobby Ray Timberlake (0-0/0.00 ERA) and Sandy Noland (0-0/3.00 ERA)
BELAIR BEACH BLAST ROCKY RAPIDS IN PIVOTAL 5TH GAME AND TAKE 3-2 LEAD
Critical game five in Rocky Rapids was another low-scoring skirmish most of the game between Rocky Rapids' Pat Buckland and Belair Beach's Georgie Adams. They were all even at 1-1 heading into the top of the 8th when the Sunbirds erupted for 8 runs for a 9-4 victory, highlighted by Yiannis Kostakos' (.364 BA) grand slam. Belair Beach is now up three games to two in the best-of-seven series. Orval Columbus (2-1/2.45 ERA/5 saves) chalked up the win with 2 scoreless innings. Belair Beach bombed Rocky Rapids for 14 hits. The Snappers smacked 8 singles, 5 of them in their 3-run 9th against Delmar Keel. Dobie Mortenson (0-1/3.97 ERA/4 saves/5 games) was pinned with the defeat. He allowed 6 runs. Evan Murdoch (.303 BA), Lucky Hayden (.211 BA) and Mees Achthoven (.314 BA) all had 3 hits for the Sunbirds.
SUNBIRDS' PITCHING SUPERB -- WRAP UP SNAPPERS IN 6 GAMES FOR RU CROWN AND SPOT IN IPA PRO CUP FINALS
In decisive game six back in Belair Beach, two unbeaten 24-year-old starters, righty Sal Brooks and lefty Gardiner Palmquist were again foes and they both did their jobs well. Belair Beach had the best bats and Palmquist (3-0/1.37 ERA) was the victor 3-0 in the 11-hit shutout. After trailing two games to one, the Sunbirds copped the series four games to two. The Sunbirds are the 2086 Ruthlandian Union champion. Brooks (2-1/1.35 ERA) took the loss, but only permitted 1 earned run in his 6 innings. Dependable Orval Columbus (2-1/2.16 ERA/5 saves/9 games) followed Palmquist with 2 runless frames and Ty Griffith closed it out with a scoreless 9th to advance the Sunbirds to the IPA Pro Cup Series against Rolling Hills, the champion of the Tycobbian Union. Belair Beach only managed 6 hits with Henrik Bogen (.229 BA) slamming one out of the ballpark in the 2nd inning. The Sunbirds got another run on an error in the 3rd frame and tacked on an insurance run in the 7th on a base hit by Bucky Keats (.256 BA). The Snappers got a lot of hits, but could not hit with men on base.
TYCOBBIAN UNION TITLE SERIES GAME RECAPS
RACERS ROCK NINJAS IN TU OPENER
At home at the Mid Towne Base Ball Grounds, Rolling Hills cracked 10 hits and got homers from Liam Geraghty (.267 BA) and Pete Palazzi (.300 BA) to rock the Ginza Ninjas 7-1 in the opening game of the best-of-seven-game series for the Tycobbian Union title and the right to advance to the IPA Pro Cup Series against the Ruthlandian Union champion. Skeets Kazlauskas (2-0/1.29 ERA) outpitched Taichi Taka (0-1/4.26 ERA), holding the Ninjas to one run and 7 hits in his 8 innings. In the 9th frame Ivan Malek tossed a 1-2-3 inning, striking out 2 of the 3 batters. Losing pitcher Taka was battered for 5 runs in 6 innings.
RACERS SMASH NINJAS AGAIN FOR 2ND GAME IN A ROW
Rolling Hills didn't get a bunch of hits, just 5 singles, but they beat Ginza for the second day in a row, winning 6-1. It was a close 2-1 game until the Racers broke it open with 4 runs in the last of the 8th against closer Louis St. Pierre (2-0/3.60 ERA/1 save/5 games). The defeat, however, went to Asmund Byornstad (1-1/1.29 ERA), who only allowed 2 hits and no earned runs in 6 frames. Winner Junior Ashmore (1-1/4.40 ERA) posted the victory with the help of J.B. Deeds (1-0/1.04 ERA/4 games) and Dominic Bard (1-0/3.86 ERA/4 games). Ashmore even drove in a pair of runs in the win. The other 3 RBIs came from Liam Geraghty (.273 BA), Pete Palazzi (.273 BA) and Fabian Quigley (.115 BA).
GINZA CUTS RACERS' EDGE TO 2-1 IN TU TITLE SERIES
13-year veteran right-hander Eddy Bohannon saved the day and kept the Ginza Ninjas from going down 3-0 in the Tycobbian Union Title Series. He spun 5 strong innings, holding Rolling Hills to 4 hits and a run with 5 Ks and no walks in a 2-1 squeaker. Bohannon also got splendid help from closer Louis St. Pierre (3-0/2.84 ERA/1 save/6 games), who redeemed himself after a miserable outing in the game-one loss. St. Pierre got credit for the win with 4 scoreless frames and only one hit and a walk allowed. Muzuki Hoshino (.371 BA/4 HR/8 RBI) and Takahito Tomiyama (.194 BA/1 RBI) supplied the runs with solo swats. Linc Dickens (0-1/3.86 ERA/3 starts) matched the Ninzas, firing 5 innings, fanning 6 and permitting only one run in his start. Closer J.B. Deeds (1-1/1.59 ERA/5 games) was tagged with the loss, though he gave up only one hit and one run in his 4 frames. Tomiyama's circuit clout in the 7th won the game.
RACERS TRIM NINJAS IN PIVOTAL GAME 4 FOR 3-1 LEAD IN TU TITLE SERIES
It didn't take long for the Rolling Hills Express to get rolling again. On the road at Ninja Stadium, the Racers blasted 14 hits and trimmed Ginza 6-4 to go up three games to one in the best-of-seven TU Title Series. One more win for Rolling Hills and they will get another chance at their 11th IPA Pro Cup. Pacing the Racer attack were Liam Geraghty (.333 BA) and Fabian Quigley (.242 BA) with 4 hits apiece and Danny Marisnick (.333 BA) with 2 hits. They also got decent pitching from starter Dain Holman (1-0/6.00 ERA/2 starts) and reliever Steve Farnham (1-0/1.29 ERA/3 saves/4 games). Holman went 7 innings and gave up 3 runs and 7 hits, while Farnham finished up and permitted one run in 2 innings for his 3rd postseason save this season. Ginza's Kazz Yamazaki (.500 BA/3 HR/9 RBI) continued his torrid postseason pace with 3 hits, 2 RBIs and his 3rd roundtripper. Reliever Louis St. Pierre (3-1/3.43 ERA/1 save/7 games) suffered his first playoff loss, knocked around for 2 runs and 3 hits in his 2 innings. He allowed the go-ahead runs in the 7th when the Racers took the lead and snapped a 3-all tie.
RACERS RAVAGE NINJAS IN 5 GAMES; HEAD TO PRO CUP FINALS
Rolling Hills is headed back to the IPA Pro Cup Finals. In game five the Racers ravaged the Ginza Ninjas for 17 hits and outscored them in game five 11-6 to defeat them four games to one in the Tycobbian Union Title Series. Rolling Hills will now take on the Ruthlandian Union champion Belair Beach Sunbirds for the 2086 IPA title. The Racers' blistering bats were too much for Ginza, led by Clifford Stratton (.310 BA) with 4 hits, Emmett Spangler (.304 BA) and Danny Marisnick (.366 BA) with 3 hits each and Liam Geraghty (.319 BA), Fabian Quigley (.270 BA) and Harv Phelan (.270 BA) with 2 hits apiece. The Racers ran up a 9-1 lead after 7 and a half innings, which was too much for the Ninjas to overcome. Thanks to the great run support, Skeets Kazlauskas (3-0) picked up the victory, but he was hit hard for 5 runs in 5 innings. Dominic Bard (1-0/4.05 ERA/4 games) and Ivan Malek (0-0/2.57 ERA/4 games) saved it for him, holding Ginza to one run over the last 4 frames. In vain Kazz Yamazaki (.535 BA/3 HR/11 RBI) has another great day at the plate for the Ninjas with 2 doubles, 2 singles and 2 ribbies. Danny Cantrell (.150 BA/1 HR) doubled and homered and drove in 3 runs for Ginza.
Rolling Hills will now take on the tough Belair Beach Sunbirds for the IPA Pro Cup beginning Sunday afternoon at Bayside Park in Belair Beach. Yeah, buddy, it should be a great series. Anyone can win it. They are two very impressive, good all-around teams.