ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 1, 2021

2021 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Wins Must Game 8-7 Over GC
The heavily-favored Sligo Rovers needed a win on the road in the worst way and got it 8-7 over the Grand City Cybercats at Syntergy Park... it was a "must" win... another loss and the Rovers would have fallen behind 3-0 in the Ruthlandian Union Final 4... the pitchers haven't shown up in the series so far, but the bats are boomin'... Sligo ripped 10 hits with 7 of them being for extra bases to run up an 8-5 lead after 7 innings, led by LF Biff Blauer (.231) with 2 hits and 4 RBIs, including a 2-run homer... RF Clell Renshaw (.289) also hit a 2-run clout and scored 3 times... the Cybercats socked 13 hits and were paced by C Woodrow Mason (.342) with 2 hits and 3 RBIs, including a 2-run shot... 19-year-old rookie LF Gene Bridges (.308) collected 3 hits for the losers... Grand City almost sent the game into extra innings... they had the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth, but closer Lenny Ciaccio struck out the last batter to end the game... reliever Joey Kasat (1-0 0.00) got the win with a scoreless 2-inning stint in the fifth and sixth... Cybercat starter Brent Sturgis (0-3 8.59) was battered again and took the loss... Sligo slammed him for 6 runs in 3+ innings... Sturgis left trailing 6-2.

Tycobbian Union

Roberts Gets Nats Back In Series, Beats WR 4-2
Game three was also a very crucial game in the Tycobbian Final 4... favored Ozarka snapped a 2-game losing streak and finally won one, beating White River 4-2 behind a fine performance by Eddie Roberts (2-1 2.63) at White River Stadium... the 32-year-old right-hander stiffed the Rascals on 2 runs and went the distance, permitting 9 hits, walking 3 and fanning 2... LF Matt Harvey (.214) unloaded a 2-run salvo in the fourth inning and put the Naturals up 3-2 and that was good enough for Roberts... Del Brewer (1-1 2.50) worked a nice game, surrendering 9 hits and 4 runs... Brewer pitched a complete game, too... LF Amos Dunston (.226) and SS Kenny Young (.265) accounted for both Rascal runs with solo homers.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 2, 2021

2021 IPA Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Evens Series, Odakota Stops Cybercats 4-1
After allowing 24 runs in the first three games of the RU Final 4, Sligo finally got a good outing... Ralph Odakota tamed Grand City 4-1 and evened the series at two games each... Odakota (1-1 4.84) went the distance, allowed 7 hits, struck out 6 and walked 3... Randy Andrews also went the route in defeat... Andrews (0-1 2.25) did a creditable job... he gave up 4 runs on 8 hits, 3 of them earned... the Rovers took the lead in the third frame on a 2-run single by 3B Manny Alou (.293)... they made it 4-0 in the top of the seventh, scoring on a passed ball and a sac fly by PH Augie Gehringer... Grand City got its only run in the bottom of the seventh when SS Jimmy Swain (.484) homered.

Tycobbian Union

Ozarka Zaps WR 6-3, Ties Series At 2-2
The Ozarka Naturals cooled off the red-hot White River Rascals for the second day in a row and tied the TU Final 4 at two games apiece... They got a quality start from Yuka Nawajuk (2-0 2.65), who crafted a 6-3 triumph, checking the Rascals on 7 hits and 3 runs over his 8 innings... Nawajuk, a 37-year-old righty, fanned 5 and walked 3... closer Josh Carpenter (3.00) notched the save, his first of this postseason... the Nats bats put it on Rascal starter Ron Hendrix (3-1 3.48) and sent him down to his first playoff loss this year... they tagged him hard for 6 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings... Hendrix left behind 6-2 when he went to the showers... Ozarka slapped 11 hits and were paced by four players with two hits apiece: RF Ken Mayberry (.391), 3B Andre Dumas (.265), LF Jose Ordonez (.250) and C Frank Kiffin (.345)... CF Ryoma Nakayama (.324) led them with 2 RBIs... the Naturals busted up a 2-1 game in the fourth with 4 runs... 1B Marty Blake (.368), RF Hal Littleton (.310) and C Tom Hewlett each drove in a run for the Rascals... Blake had the game's only homer, his 3rd of the postseason.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 3, 2021

2021 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Squeezes By GC 4-3, Takes Lead
The Sligo Rovers, one of the favorites to win the Pro Cup this season, are finally playing the role as they took a third game in a row from the upstart Grand City Cybercats to take the led in the RU Final 4 three games to two... the Rovers squeezed out a 4-3 decision on the strong pitching of Les Patterson (2-2 3.07), who stopped the Cybercats on 6 hits and 3 runs... Lenny Ciaccio (2.70) came on in the last of the ninth and got the final out of the game after Grand City had cut the lead from 4-1 with a pair of runs... it was his 3rd playoff save... in defeat Jimbo Stearns (3-2 3.21) gave up 4 runs and 8 hits and went the distance.

Sligo scored first in the opening inning on CF Chris Michel's (.292) triple and RF Clell Renshaw's (.295) single... C Woodrow Mason (.348) yanked his 3rd homer to tie it up in the second... the Rovers regained the lead in the sixth, when Renshaw doubled, moved to third on a ground-out and scored on LF Biff Blauer's (.234) sacrifice fly... it stayed 2-1 until the ninth, when the Rovers got some crucial breathing room on C Sherman Albert's (.308) 2-run smash, his 4th roundtripper in the postseason... Patterson weakened in the bottom of the ninth and was slammed for a pair of runs on a triple by LF Gene Bridges (.319) and a single by SS Chuck Hackberry (.500)... Albert led the winners with 3 hits, while Mason drilled 2 for Grand City.

Tycobbian Union

Ozarka Rallies, Whips Rascals 5-3 In 10
Mighty Ozarka rallied from a 3-0 seventh-inning deficit to whip a determined bunch of White River Rascals 5-3 in 10 innings in game five of the TU Final 4 Series... it was the Nats third consecutive triumph and they are now a game up... 2B Teddy Tate (.263) put the Nats in front 4-3 with a tenth-inning homer off loser Joe Hudson... CF Ryoma Nakayama (.333) added an insurance run with an RBI single... Hudson went all the way, surrendering 5 runs and 7 hits in 10 innings... Benny Osterman (2-2 4.54) carded the win by going 9 innings and permitting 3 runs and 5 hits... closer Josh Carpenter (2.25) pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.

White River bolted to a 3-0 lead in the second, highlighted by 3B Ken Mathers' (.320) 2-run clout... Hudson made it stand up until the seventh when he allowed Ozarka's first run on an RBI double by SS James Couch (.370)... Nakayama tied it 3-3 with a 2-run shot in the eighth, forcing extra innings... Nakayama led the Naturals with 3 RBIs.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 4, 2021

2021 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

GC 'Cats Force 7th Game, Top Rovers 6-1
The Grand City Cybercats are going to make the Sligo Rovers earn the Ruthlandian title by forcing a seventh-game finale... Grand City's standout southpaw Clint Brewer fashioned a fine 6-1 victory in game six to deadlock the series at three games apiece... Brewer (3-0 2.70) fired a 4-hitter, holding Sligo to a single run, striking out 5 and issuing a couple of walks... Sam Tate (0-1 5.85) took the loss, working 8 innings and permitting 4 runs and 7 hits... Brewer (.375) even drove in 3 runs with a pair of hits to lead the Cybercat bats... RF Nick Baldini (.314) also chipped in with 2 RBIs... Grand City had a 10-4 advantage in hits... the Cybercats built up a 4-0 lead after 6 and a half innings and never were challenged.

Tycobbian Union

Rascals Alive, Beat Nats 7-5 In Game 6
The White River Rascals are not going down with a fight in the Tycobbian Final 4 with powerful Ozarka... the underdog Rascals could have quit when they were losing 4-1 after 6 innings in game six, but they didn't... they boomed out for 2 runs in the seventh and 4 more in the eighth to win going away 7-5... 2B Vinny Ulrich (.243) had the big blow with a 3-run double to make it 6-4 in favor of the Rascals... reliever Scott Little (1-0 0.00) notched the win with help from closer Arnie Montel, who saved his 5th game in the playoffs... Little blanked the Nats in the 7th and Montel allowed and unearned run in his 2 innings... LF Amos Dunston (.214) and RF Hal Littleton (.297) rapped solo homers for White River... CF Tony Genassi (.333) and LF Matt Harvey (.211) led Ozarka with solo shots... Howard Hutch (0-1 7.23) hurled a whale of game until the late innings... Hutch was crushed for 7 runs in 7+ innings... he fanned 11 and walked 4.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 5, 2021

2021 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Swings Past GC In Game 7, Pro Cup Bound
Second-seeded Sligo is going to the IPA Pro Cup for the first time in its history... the Rovers smoked seventh seed Grand City for 13 hits and a 9-6 victory in game seven of the Ruthlandian Final 4 Series... 3B Matty Alou (.300) led the way with a 3-run homer in the first frame... pitcher Luka Abromowitz (.250) did some damage, too, with 3 RBIs... Sligo leaped out to an 8-2 lead after 3 innings... Grand City made it close with a 3-run rally in the ninth and even had the tying runs on base, but Rover closer Lenny Ciaccio (2.45) retired the last two batters to seal the win... Abromowitz (2-0 4.64) got credit for the victory, but was not effective... he was tagged for 6 runs and 9 hits in 8 and one-third innings... it was Ciaccio's 4th postseason save... 2B Jim Mellencamp (.211) sparked Grand City with 3 hits and 3 runs scored... Sligo will play the Tycobbian champion in the Pro Cup, either Ozarka or White River... Should it be Ozarka, this will be the first time in IPA history that two 100-game winners will meet for the Island championship... the Nats were 106-48 this season, while the Rovers were 100-54.

Tycobbian Union

Rascals Upset Nats, Go To Pro Cup
The eighth-seeded White River Rascals came out of nowhere and shocked the top-seeded Ozarka Naturals 9-1 in game seven of the TU Final 4 Series and will now go for another upset in the Pro Cup Finals against the Sligo Rovers... Ron Hendrix (4-1 2.92) hurled a standout game, stopping the Nats on just 5 hits and one run, while his teammates unloaded 4 homers to eliminated heavily-favored Ozarka four games to three... 19-year-old rookie CF Jake Doerr (.213) blasted a 3-run homer and 1B Marty Blake (.320), LF Amos Dunston (.217) and PH P. J. Blake (.143) all had solo salvos... Eddie Roberts (2-2 2.67) was the losing pitcher... the Rascals got to him for six runs in 3 innings, but only one was earned... White River will now try to work its magic on the Sligo Rovers in the IPA Pro Cup championship, beginning Thursday in Sligo.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Pro Cup Starts Tomorrow, Sligo Favored Over White River
Will it be a one-sided series in the Pro Cup this year? It will be one of the top seeds against one of the lowest seeds in this year's Pro Cup Finals. The second-seeded Sligo Rovers (100-54) will represent the Ruthlandian Union and eighth-seeded White River Rascals (81-73) are the Tycobbian Union representative. The lowest seed to ever win the Island championship was the seventh-seeded Kenwood Wildcats in 2014. Last year it was a sixth seed that took the crown, the Crystal Lake Crushers. Sligo is a big favorite this year and is forecast to take the Pro Cup in six games. Sligo had the easier task of the two. The Rovers disposed of fifth seed Sugar Valley and seven seed Grand City, while the Rascals whipped Arroyo Grande and Ozarka, who were ranked number three and number one by the baseball experts prior to the playoffs. Many analysts are rethinking their positions. If White River could beat the Suns and the Naturals, they surely have a chance against anyone in the IPA. Underdogs have been doing quite well in the IPA in recent years.

Sligo skipper Eddie Keys has superb pitching and strong bats and will be tough to beat. Keys' rotation features four 20-game winners including the IPA ERA leader Les Patterson (23-8 2.03), plus Sam Tate (21-9 2.77), Ralph Odakota (20-10 2.98) and Luka Abromowitz (21-7 3.35). In the Rover bullpen, Keys has lefty Lenny Ciaccio (9-7), who posted 26 saves and a fine 2.97 ERA. Sligo is not strong in middle relief, but so far it has not been a problem as the starters all go deep into the game. Sligo starters had a sensational 2.93 ERA and ranked first in the league. White River's starting rotation combined for a lofty 4.22 ERA, 23rd in the league. The Rascals Ron Hendrix (16-15 3.09), Del Brewer (15-14 4.77) and 42-year-old Joe Hudson (17-17 4.49) don't appear to be in the same league as the Rover counterparts. In the bullpen manager Mick Cronyn has a strong closer in Arnie Montel (3-6) with 28 saves and an impressive 2.25 ERA.

Sligo and White River are pretty even at the plate. The Rovers batted .265 (6th) with 148 homers (8th) and 798 runs (2nd), while the Rascals put up a .264 mark with 163 roundtrippers (6th) and scored 782 runs (7th-tied). Sligo has homered 18 times in 13 games in the playoffs, White River has gone deep 16 times in 12 games.

Keys' best bats are 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.298/26 HR/103 RBI/100 R), 3B Manny Alou (.279/23 HR/97 RBI/80 R), LF Biff Blauer (.301/19 HR/94 RBI/94 R), RF Clell Renshaw (.301/13 HR/74 RBI/96 R), CF Chris Michel (.289/14 HR/67 RBI/98 R) and SS Vic Carlin (.243/20 HR/103 RBI/71 R).

Cronyn has some excellent hitters, too, but not quite as many. 1B Marty Blake (.329/40 HR/115 RBI/112 R) heads up the Rascals batting order with help from C Tom Hewlett (.295/18/93 RBI/69 R), RF Hal Littleton (.342/12 HR/68 RBI/74 R) and SS Kenny Young (.278/10 HR/70 RBI/80 R).

Both clubs are only average with the gloves with .970 fielding percentages. Sligo was rated tied for 20th in the Ruthlandian Union and White River was tied for 24th in the Tycobbian Union.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 7, 2021

2021 IPA Pro Cup Final Series
(best-of-seven games)

Patterson Blanks Rascals, Sligo Wins Opener 2-0
Sligo got an outstanding mound performance from its ace Les Patterson in the opening game of the 2021 IPA Pro Cup at Silver Mountain Park... Patterson (3-2 2.35) shut out White River 2-0 on a 4-hitter... Patterson walked none and fanned 6 in a flawless outing... unsung number 8 hitter, 2B Akihiro Kato (.208), was the hero with a 2-run homer in the second inning... it was his second of the postseason and Kato now has 10 RBIs, third best on the club... losing pitcher 42-year-old Joe Hudson (2-3 3.60) tossed a terrific game, too, limiting the Rovers to just 5 hits with 4 Ks and 2 bases on balls... his only mistake was the gopher ball to Kato.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 8, 2021

2021 IPA Pro Cup Final Series
(best-of-seven games)

Tate Tames Rascals, Rovers Win Game 2, Too
For the second straight day, the Sligo Rovers got a standout mound job and went up 2-0 in the best-of-seven IPA Pro Cup Series... southpaw Sam Tate tamed White River 3-2 in game two... Tate (1-1 4.82) yielded only 2 runs and 4 hits in 8 sterling innings, striking out 4 and walking one... closer Lenny Ciaccio (2.16) notched his fifth playoff save by striking out 2 of the 3 hitters he faced in the ninth... shoddy defense cost the Rascals the game... they committed 4 errors... Del Brewer (1-2 2.81) deserved a better fate... he allowed only one earned run and 5 hits in defeat... Sligo went up 3-0 after four innings... 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.254), RF Clell Renshaw (.263) and CF Chris Michel (.246) drove in the runs... White River picked up 2 in the seventh on PH Derek Durel's (.364) double... game three will be played in White River at White River Stadium.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 9, 2021

2021 IPA Pro Cup Final Series
(best-of-seven games)

Rovers Romp 7-2, Close To Crown
Sligo's dominant pitching won the day for the third game in a row in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... Luka Abromowitz fashioned his way to a 7-2 decision over White River on the road, giving the Rovers an almost-insurmountable lead in the championship series... one more victory and the Pro Cup goes to Sligo for the first time in its history... Abromowitz (3-0 3.56) went the distance and held the Rascals to just one earned run and 5 hits, while the Rovers were ripping Ron Hendrix (4-2 3.72) for 6 runs in 6 innings... trailing 1-0 in the sixth, Sligo scored all their runs to send Hendrix to the showers... C Sherman Albert (.278) cracked a bases-loaded homer in the decisive inning... it was his 5th of the playoffs... Sligo will try to wrap up the Pro Cup title tomorrow afternoon at White River Stadium.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 10, 2021

2021 IPA Pro Cup Finals
(best-of-seven series)

Rascals Hang On To Hopes, Win Game 4
The White River Rascals are down to their last loss of the year - one more and they'll go home for a long and lonely winter... they managed to just barely hang on to their feeble hopes of a Pro Cup trophy with a tense 4-3 triumph over the Sligo Rovers at White River Stadium in game four... the Rovers had won the first three games and only need one more victory to take the Pro Cup... winning pitcher Joe Hudson weathered a 3-run first, then anchored down and shut the Rovers out the rest of the game... the 42-year-old Hudson (3-3 3.49) gave up 7 hits, fanned 5 and walked 6... the Rascals got the winning score in the ninth when C Tom Hewlett (.163) singled to lead off the inning... Doug Patterson pinch ran for him and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground-out, then scored on PH P. J. Blake's (.300) base hit.

Sligo drew first blood in the first on 1B Johnny Lee Harder's (.243) 2-run double and an RBI ground-out by SS Vic Carlin (.267).. White River came right back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on a single by 1B Marty Blake (.297)... Blake came across with the second run when RF Hal Littleton (.259) hit into a double play... 3B Ken Mathers (.310) tied it up at 3-all with a solo home run in the second... Ralph Odakota started for the Rovers and worked 8 solid innings, allowed 3 runs and 8 hits... the loss went to closer Lenny Ciaccio (1-2 3.00), who pitched the ninth.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 11, 2021

2021 IPA Pro Cup Final Series
(best-of-seven series)

Sligo Slams WR 12-1, Wins Pro Cup
The 2021 champions of the IPA are the second-seeded Sligo Rovers of the Ruthlandian Union... they easily whipped eighth-seeded White River four games to one in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... In game five everything went right for Sligo and everything went wrong for the White River Rascals... the Rovers unleashed 14 hits, got a great 5-hit job from pitcher Les Patterson and the Rascals committed 5 errors to boot... Sligo slammed out a 12-1 victory to capture the Islandia title for the first time in its history... on the mound Patterson (4-2 2.09) hurled a complete game, fanned 6 and walked 2... at the plate RF Clell Renshaw (.294) had a 3-run homer and SS Vic Carlin (.270) hammered a two-run clout... LF Biff Blauer (.257) and CF Chris Michel (.253) added 2 RBIs each... Del Brewer (1-3 3.99) was the losing pitcher... he was zapped for 9 runs and 12 hits in 6+ innings.

Ruthlandia has dominated the Pro Cup Series by winning five of the last six years... Overall Ruthlandia leads Tycobbia 12 to 8 in the IPA championship series.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Sligo Duo Named Pro Cup Co-MVP
Two Sligo players have been named the Pro Cup Most Valuable Players. In the annual Islandian Times poll, the co-MVPs were pitcher Les Patterson and right fielder Clell Renshaw. They sparked the Rovers to the Pro Cup title. Patterson is the ace of the Sligo pitching corps. He was 4-2 in the postseason with a super 2.09 ERA. Patterson won two games in the Pro Cup Finals beating White River 2-0 and 12-1. Renshaw topped the Rovers in the playoffs with a .294 batting average. Renshaw hit 4 homers, scored 17 times and drove in 11 runs. Renshaw walked 15 times in postseason action.

During the regular season 30-year-old Patterson won 20 games for the fifth season in a row. He was 23-8 this year and paced the IPA with a splendid 2.03 ERA. Renshaw, age 29, batted .301 with 13 homers, 96 runs, 74 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Patterson has played 5 years in the league, while Renshaw is a 12-year veteran.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Year's Best Gloves Selected by Ruthlandian Union
"Ball hawk" is a good name for the members of the defensive elite, the players who make leather shine. The fielders who crashed the wall, leaped in the air, and dived in the hole better than any others during 2021 have been tabbed as the Ruthlandian Union's Golden Glove Award winners. San Dimas RF Norm Owens has won the award 7 times, Marston CF Russ Woodward 3 times and Ancona LF Kenny Willard 2 times. All the rest were first-time winners.

Pitcher: Tommy Zenon (Forest City Lumberjacks) .980 FA/19-13 3.60
Catcher: Tweet Tillman (Wynnamac Sundowners) .992 FA/43.6% RTO/8 PB/.255 BA/10 HR
First Baseman: Johnny Lee Harder (Sligo Rovers) .994 FA/.299 BA/26 HR
Second Baseman: Gerry Garner (Eastshore Elegants) .980 FA/.329 BA/36 HR
Third Baseman: Todd Nasso (Ancona Red Elephants) .985 FA/.341 BA/34 HR
Shortstop: Warren Fisher (Elnora All-Stars) .984 FA/.260 BA/1 HR
Left Fielder: Kenny Willard (Ancona Red Elephants) .995 FA/.290 BA/22 HR
Center Fielder: Russ Woodward (Marston Nine) .998 FA/.325 BA/37 HR
Right Fielder: Norm Owens (San Dimas Rancheros) .993 FA/.247 BA/12 HR

TU Best Gloves of 2021 Chosen
In baseball circles, a player who has good range, a good arm, and good hands is a great catch. Clubs strive to be strong in the field, especially "up the middle." Solid defenders can make a difference in the outcome of tight games and tight pennant races. Jim Shubert of Red Bluff has won 5 Golden Gloves in his career. Chucky Gilton of Arlon has 4, Jack Elliott of High Mesa 3, Danny Redd of Tuckanarra 3 and Bud Walker of Bay St. Clair and Midway's Chitto Chandler have been selected twice. The Golden Glove Awards for 2021 in the Tycobbian Union go to these standout defenders:

Pitcher: Julian Gilchrist (Ginza Ninjas) .990 FA/18-12 3.98
Catcher: Jim Schubert (Red Bluff Red Sox) .993 FA/30.2% RTO/2 PB/.288 BA/11 HR
First Baseman: Jack Elliott (High Mesa Cowboys) .994 FA/.380 BA/67 HR
Second Baseman: Bud Walker (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) .995 FA/293 BA/6 HR
Third Baseman: Mike Mackowiak (Denton City Redbirds) .975 FA/.275 BA/30 HR
Shortstop: Andy Pearson (Arroyo Grande Suns) .974 FA/346 BA/27 HR
Left Fielder: Chitto Chandler (Midway Wolves) .992 FA/.281 BA/17 HR
Center Fielder: Chucky Gilton (Arlon Champions) .993 FA/.311 BA/26 HR
Right Fielder: Danny Redd (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .982 FA/.328 BA/21 HR

[Celtic Forever]

Great stuff as always!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Celtic Forever

Great stuff as always!

Thank you for your nice comment and support.

Much appreciated.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 14, 2021

Brewer Earns RU Rookie Honor
Clint Brewer's age didn't show very often in his first year. Most of the time he performed like an old pro on the hill for the Grand City Cybercats and today he walked away with the 2021 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award. Brewer led the Cybercats to the RU South pennant. The 25-year-old standout registered a 21-9 record this season in 35 starts. Over 289 innings he gave up 223 hits, struck out 179 and issued 102 walks as he held the opposition to a .216 batting average and fashioned a 2.68 ERA. Brewer hurled 16 complete games and 3 shutouts.

The number two vote-getter was Dan Marconi of the Belair Beach Sunbirds. The 20-year-old lefty compiled a very impressive 22-13 mark with a 3.29 ERA for the sixth-place Sunbirds. Third in The Islandian Times poll was Taranto's fine first baseman Denny Zaffino, who hit .330 with 20 homers, 83 RBIs and scored 76 runs. The Tars ended up third in the RU North pennant chase.

Kazlauskas Collects TU Rookie of the Year Award
It was a great debut season for Kris Kazlauskas as he dumbfounded Tycobbian Union batters to capture the Rookie of the Year Award for 2021. He racked up a 22-10 record to rank as the league's standout rookie. The Red Bluff hurler tossed 291 innings this season with 211 strikeouts and 114 walks as he compiled a 3.53 ERA. Teams got to him for 254 base hits as he held them to a .238 batting average. Kazlauskas sparked the Red Sox to a second-place finish in the TU East.

Another pitcher came in second in the voting. Midway's Joe Wolf Warner posted an 18-10 record with a 3.48 ERA. The Wolves finished third to Ozarka in the TU East this season. Right fielder Nicky Carpenter of the Kenwood Wildcats wound up third in the poll with .276 batting average, 18 roundtrippers, 76 runs batted in and 77 runs. Kenwood came in third in the TU West.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 15, 2021

RU's Best Hitter for 2021 Named
It's been a year of triumph for veteran Roy Hobbs of the Waleska Westerners as he hit his way to the 2021 Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award. Hobbs has now won three Golden Bats. The 28-year-old veteran claimed his second batting crown with a .347 average and .385 on-base percentage. Hobbs collected 214 hits, 40 doubles, 8 triples, 40 home runs and 41 walks. He also scored 109 times and drove in 114 runs. Hobbs previously captured this award in 2014 and 2017. He has led the RU in hits six times and has had at least 200 hits in each of his nine years in the league.

Ancona's talented third sacker Todd Nasso was Hobbs' primary competition. He was second in the voting. The 24-year-old Nasso had a brilliant season with a .341 batting average, 34 homers, 112 RBIs and 119 runs. In addition, he was recently named to the Golden Glove team for the first time with a superb .985 fielding percentage. Nasso played in 130 games and paced the Red Elephants to the RU North crown.

29-year-old Eastshore second baseman Gerry Garner came in third in The Islandian Times poll. He batted .329 with 36 home runs, 117 RBIs and scored 115 runs. He also picked up his first Gold Glove this year. The Elegants wound up second to Sugar Valley this season in the RU East.

Jack Elliott Picked TU's Best Hitter
What a super year for Jack Elliott. He was honored with the 2021 Golden Bat Award in the Tycobbian Union - the ninth time he has won it. It had already been a very special season for High Mesa's Jack Elliott. The Cowboys gifted first baseman set a new IPA home run mark, breaking his own record, the Golden Bat slugger also copped his sixth batting title and led the IPA in hits and RBIs. And you know he will be in the running for the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player honor. In addition, Elliott was named to the TU Golden Glove team for the third time. All season long Jack Elliott gave opposing pitchers fits by hitting .380 as he collected 224 hits, 33 doubles, 6 triples, 65 home runs and 156 RBIs. And you know he will be in the running for the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player honor.

Ozarka's outstanding third baseman Andre Dumas finished runner-up to Elliott. He hit .310 with 45 roundtrippers, 140 RBIs and scored 126 times. Dumas has led the Naturals to a record-setting seven consecutive TU East flags.

The third-highest vote-getter was James Mack, Red Bluff's hard-hitting second baseman, who posted a .343 batting average, clouted 33 out of the park, drove in 134 runs and scored 110 runs, while playing in 148 games. The Red Sox came in second to Ozarka in the TU East.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 16, 2021

Golden Arm Award Goes to Patterson
The Golden Arm Award for 2021 has been presented and the Ruthlandian Union winner is Les Patterson of Sligo. Patterson topped the IRA in ERA, excelling with an impressive 23-8 record in 39 starts. In 323 innings he yielded 264 hits and 49 walks, while striking out 212 and compiling a fine 2.03 ERA. Patterson was one of the primary reasons the Sligo Rovers won the RU West. He completed 20 games and posted 4 shutouts.

The Sugar Valley Rattlers were a surprise division winner this year and pitcher Benny McConnell had a big hand in it with a 26-11 record and 2.43 ERA. He was runner-up in the Golden Arm Award. The 24-year-old right-hander had 18 complete games and 5 shutouts. Winding up third in The Islandian Times poll was Middlefield's Frank Dean, who blossomed this year with a standout 24-9 mark and a 2.37 ERA, helping the Roosters to a second-place spot in the RU West. Dean had 5 shutouts and 20 complete games. What is really amazing is Dean has to pitch in a home-run haven, yet had an ERA way under 3.00, when the average is well over 4.00.

Osterman Selected TU's Top Pitcher
The Ozarka Naturals have a superstar or maybe even a budding Hall-of-Famer in the making. It's Benny Osterman, this year's Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award selection. This splendid hurler wowed fans, peers and sportswriters with a fabulous performance and picked up his second Golden Arm honor. Osterman, a 25-year-old right-hander, compiled a 25-9 record in 40 starts, tallied 330 strikeouts in 320 innings and recorded a 2.33 ERA, 6 shutouts and 17 complete games. Other clubs managed only a .200 batting average against him.

Coming in number two in The Islandian Times balloting was Southport's 22-year-old phenom, Al Laclair, who wowed everybody in the league for a second straight season. He was the Rookie of the Year last year and even better this year with a sensational 26-10 and 2.37 ERA. The Sun Sox wound up second in the TU South standings. Arroyo Grande's ace Sixto Zamora was the third choice of the voters. At age 39 he sparked the Suns to a second pennant in a row in the TU South with a fine 24-14 record and a strong 2.74 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 17, 2021

Ancona's Nasso Named RU MVP
He came in second in the Golden Bat competition, but Ancona's Todd Nasso got something better - the Red Elephant third baseman has been selected the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player for 2021 in a poll conducted by THE ISLANDIAN TIMES . Nasso, just 24 years old and in his third year, batted .341 with 36 doubles, 5 triples and 34 homers to lead Ancona to its second successive RU North championship. The league's newest MVP drove in 112 runs, stole 23 bases and scored 119 runs and also nabbed his first Gold Glove with a terrific .985 fielding average.

The MVP runner-up was Sugar Valley's super right-hander Benny McConnell, who was instrumental in the Rattlers RU East title with a sensational 26-11 mark and a 2.43 ERA. McConnell was also runner-up to Sligo's Les Patterson in the Golden Arm category. McConnell and Southport's Al Laclair were tied for the most wins in the IPA this season.

Third in the MVP voting was Eastshore's outstanding Golden Glove second sacker Gerry Garner, who also swung a sweet bat with a .329 average, 41 doubles, 6 triples and 36 roundtrippers. Garner, a six-year veteran, had 117 runs batted in and scored 115 times. The Elegants finished second in the RU East to Sugar Valley.

Triple Crown Winner Elliott TU MVP
Two-time Triple Crown winner Jack Elliott, the stupendous High Mesa superstar first baseman, has grabbed up just about all the 2021 awards in the Tycobbian Union. First, he was honored with his third Golden Glove, then named the best batter and received his ninth Golden Bat and now Elliott has been acclaimed the TU Most Valuable Player for the third time in his illustrious career. Elliott won in 2013 and 2017. This season he topped the league with a .380 batting average, the sixth time he has done that, broke his own home-run mark with 65, led the IPA with 156 RBIs and wound up second in the IPA with 132 runs scored. The slugging Cowboy broke his old record of 61 homers established in the 2013 season.

Number two in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES poll was Southport's 22-year-old hurler Al Laclair, who was tied for the most victories in the IPA this season. Laclair was 26-10 with a very impressive 2.37 ERA. Laclair almost single-handedly sparked the Sun Sox to a second-place finish in the TU South. He made 39 starts, tossed 17 complete games and fired 3 shutouts.

Arroyo Grande's grand shortstop Andy Pearson wound up third in the vote. The 29-year-old nine-year star batted at a .346 clip with 27 home runs, 110 RBIs and 109 runs scored and got his first Golden Glove. Pearson's all-around play was a big cog in the Suns second straight TU South flag.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 18, 2021

Top Managers Named In RU And TU
Two rookie skippers were honored as the IPA Managers Of The Year by THE ISLANDIAN TIMES annual poll. Skinny Kisecawchuk of the St. John Crusaders and Mick Cronyn of the White River Rascals are this year's recipients. Kisecawchuk piloted St. John from last place to second place in the Ruthlandian South, improving the club from 59-95 in 2020 to 82-72 this season. Cronyn guided White River to the Tycobbian North division title in his first year at the helm. The Rascals raised their record from last year's 68-86 to 81-73 in 2021, going from fifth to first this season.

Sugar Valley's Gibson Bobkins was second in the Ruthlandian poll as he led the Rattlers to the top spot in the RU South. Last year they were fourth in the standings. Record-wise they went from 79-75 to 93-61. Number three was Bailey Norcross, Middlefield's rookie skipper. The Roosters rose from the cellar to the second spot in RU West with an 86-68 mark. Last year they were a poor 63-91. Eddie Keys of the Pro Cup champion Sligo Rovers was the fourth choice after raising his team from fourth to the top spot in the RU West. Sligo went from an 83-71 record to a sizzling 100-54. Last year's best manager Baby George was the fifth-best vote-getter. George improved his club from 85-69 to 90-64 and climbed from second to first this year in the RU South.

Joe Mac Carney of the Ozarka Naturals won 106 games, but still wound up second to Cronyn in the Tycobbian balloting. Carney has won the TU East for seven years in a row. Downtrodden San Alejo was rejuvenated by its rookie manager Alberto Herrera, who sparked them from last place to fourth place this year. The Montaneros improved from 67-87 to 87-67 in the TU South. Herrera ended up third in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES poll. The fourth spot went Bay St. Clair's Guy Rondre, who lifted his Buccaneers up two places in the TU West, from third to first. The Bucs were 75-79 last year and 92-62 in 2021. Rounding out the voting and selected fifth was Cyclone Cobb of the Arroyo Grande Suns, who captured a second straight pennant in the TU South. In his second season Cobb was 95-59. Last year he was 97-57 and was named the TU Manager of the Year.