IPA UNION TITLE SERIES TALE OF THE TAPE
Here is a quick glance at the first-round statistics for each of the final four playoffs teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance Union Title Series.
Record-wise Summerland and Ozarka went 4-0 in the first round, while Belle Plaine was 4-1 and Forest City 4-3.
Ozarka had the best scoring record with 5.25 runs per game, 2 homers and 2 stolen bases in 5 games. Forest City averaged 4.56 runs per game with 9 homers and no stolen bases. Belle Plaine plated 4.40 runs a game with 8 homers and 6 stolen bases. Summerland scored at the rate of 4.00 runs per game with 2 homers and no stolen bases.
On the mound Ozarka stood out with a superlative 1.25 ERA, followed by Summerland's 2.00 ERA, Forest City's 2.43 ERA and Belle Plaine's 2.86 ERA. The Firebirds only surrendered 3 roundtrippers in 7 games, the Musketeers 5 in 5 games, the Naturals 5 in 4 games and the Sunsets 8 in 4 games.
Forest City has the best OBP with 31 walks in its 7 games. Summerland 14 in 4 games, Belle Plaine 14 in 5 games and Ozarka 10 in 4 games.
The Forest City-Belle Plaine affair might be a higher-scoring series than the Ozarka-Summerland clash. Offense rules in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series, while it's the mound corps in the Tycobbian Union Title Series.
The prime players for Forest City at the plate are Willie Collingham (.299/30 HR), Fuzz Smiley (.280/26 HR), Jim Raver(.344/11 HR) and Clete Ward (.281/14) and on the hill Matty O'Mara (20-7/3.21 ERA), Tommy Tate (18-8/3.18 ERA) and Shannon Slate (19-10/3.21 ERA). In the bullpen it will Darrell Shaw (28 saves/3.40 ERA/78 games).
Leading the way for Belle Plaine will be position players Dominque Roche (.279/23 HR), Claude Mayeux (.261 BA/16 HR), Callum Hayford (.273/23 HR) and Jean-Paul Lacombe (.318/35 HR). On the slab it will be Anton Petit (17-10/2.84 ERA) and Allie Tuthill (14-13/3.07 ERA) and Marcel Giroud (11-10/3.65 ERA). The main reliever will be Johnny Koonce (12-5/4.15 ERA).
Ozarka need good play from its hurlers Miles Chaucer (19-9/2.58 ERA), Mordecai Partridge (20-7/2.56 ERA) and Ron Passman (14-13/2.76 ERA). Handling the closer role will be Tony Albergaria (11-7/3.40 ERA). Good run production from Banger Barnhill (.310/25 HR), Vladya Grigorovich (.283/14 HR) and Rikki Inkamara (.310/3 HR) will be crucial, too.
Vital to the success of the Summerland Sunsets will be starters Paul Pegram (20-7/2.64 ERA), Joren Vanderzee (18-11/2.75 ERA) and Cees De Groot (14-12/2.59 ERA), plus Rik Boone (20 saves/3.13 ERA/62 games) in the bullpen. The critical bats will be Guus Lutjens (.303 BA/27 HR), Bruce Quarterman (.276 BA/19 HR), Norris Chance (.316 BA/14 HR), Danny Defoe (.298 BA/17 HR) and Hennie Hendriks (.289 BA/13 HR).
