ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

2032 RU Mid-Season Player Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

2032 TU Mid-Season Standings
Sunday, June 20, 2032

Several divisions in the Tycobbian Union have turned topsy-turvy at the All-Star break this season... none of the 2031 division winners are in first place this year... several quality teams have gone from the penthouse to the outhouse... Ginza won the TU South pennant last year, but has slumped severely to a tie for fifth... Red Bluff spiraled from second to last place in the TU East... and Bay St. Clair has fallen from runner-up in the TU West down to the seventh spot.

Two clubs, Arroyo Grande and San Alejo, have shot up from the bottom of the TU South to the top two spots... the Suns have a one-game edge over the Montaneros, followed closely by regular contenders Colchester and Southport... in the TU East the Cinderella club is the Midway Wolves, who climbed up from the second division last year and now have a solid 5-game lead over last year's winner East Point... the Arlon Champions have bolted from last place in the TU West and have a narrow one-game lead over La Claire and 3 games over defending Pro Cup champ, the Rolling Hills Reds... Mahaska has made an about-face and risen up from the second division to take over the top spot in the TU North, leading Fairfax by 2 games and 3 games better than Oxford and last year's flag winner Luxora... in a very tight race fifth-place North Hills, fifth last season, is also challenging and trail by only 4 games... doormat White River is up from the basement and is just 6 games off the pace in sixth place.

[Eugene Church]

2032 TU Team Batting Stats

[Eugene Church]

2032 TU Team Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

2032 TU Player Batting Stats

[Eugene Church]

2032 TU Player Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, June 20th, 2032

All-Star Classic Wednesday At Rolling Hills
It's time once again for the Islandian Pro Alliance All Star game!
The game features the top players from the Ruthlandian Union and the Tycobbian Union slugging it out in a baseball extravaganza. The game will be played at Midtown Base Ball Grounds, home of the IPA Pro Cup champion, the Rolling Hills Reds.

The Tycobbian Stars have dominated the series with Ruthlandia, winning 21 of the 31 encounters. The TU Stars have won 3 of the last 4 games. Veterans Crash Davis and James Couch will be appearing for the 15th and 8th time respectively for Tycobbia, while Russ Woodward, Loco Dillinger and Kees Draeger will lead the way for the RU Stars. Woodward has been selected 9 times and Dillinger and Draeger for the 7th time each. Four freshmen made the squads this year: Whitlow Stokes and Niles Gregory for Ruthlandia and Ike Phelps and Marius Lokken for Tycobbia.

This year's Ruthlandian Union standouts are:

SP Jarred Laclair (WLK) (13-4/2.05) - 4th All-Star Game
SP Ryan Janssen (LAG) (12-4/2.05) - 2nd time
SP Walt Thurber (LAG) (10-5/2.35) - 1st time
SP Raul Carrasco (SD) (8-4/2.42) -1st time
SP Alex Gillespie (LAG) (12-5/2.53) - 3rd time
SP Angelo Coppolo (RAN) (9-4/2.50)- 1st All-Star Game
SP Lucien Vachon (ELN) (9-3/2.54) - 2nd time
SP Sam Jensen (GLS) (10-5/2.59) -1st time
SP Freddi Hahn (CLX) (10-5/3.09) - 1st time
SP Pete Woods (ETS) (10-2/2.67) - 1st time
C Mitch Fullerton (CFX) (.381/9/61/37) - 1st time
C Allie Blackwell (RR) (.339/6/36/37) - 1st All-Star Game
C Kyle Hunt (RAN) (.303/3/23/29) - 6th time
1B Matt Boyd (ELN) (.362/11/46/41) - 2nd time
1B Kees Draeger (BB) (.359/10/35/36) - 7th time
1B Barry McKnight (SD) (.315/10/56/35) - 1st time
2B Whitlow Stokes (LAG) (.313/5/27/44) - 1st All-Star Game (Rookie)
2B Yancey Duvicque (CCR) (.325/2/33/37) - 2nd time
2B Greg Stone (GLS) (.302/13/35/34) - 1st time
3B Leevi Viru (VLK) (.349/15/47/46) - 5th time
SS Gil Brockmann (FM) (.298/2/25/30) - 1st All-Star Game
SS Timmy Robinson (CL) (..293/14/50/38) - 2nd time
SS Daryl McNeill (CCR) (.335/1/22/25) - 1st time (Rookie)
LF Benny Hooper (VLM) (..366/16/60/30) - 2nd time
LF Loco Dillinger (WLK) (.354/18/49/57) - 7th All-Star Game
CF Scotty Lagrange (ETS) (.331/16/60/46) - 2nd time
CF Russ Woodward (MAR) (.320/13/51/42) - 9th time
CF Travis Glass (ELN) (.315/15/51/45) - 5th time
CF Reno DiBenedetto (VLM) (.347/13/34/42) - 1st time
RF Pasquale Zavaglia (TAR) (.283/18/50/39) - 1st All-Star Game
RF Niles Gregory (WLK) (.343/10/49/50) - 1st time (Rookie)


The Tycobbian Union stars will represented by:

SP Paul Sardini (WR) (8-1/1.11) - 2nd All-Star Game
SP Ko Yuma (MDW)(10-4/1.88) - 1st time
SP Dixie Brooks (EP) (10-4/2.08) - 2nd time
SP Ralph Elmore (DC) (11-2/2.15) - 1st time
SP Pat Kovacs (LC) (10-5/2.27) - 3rd All-Star Game
SP Kenny Nikas (FFX) (10-3/2.62) - 2nd time
SP Wiley Wheeler (SPT) (10-5/2.66) - 1st time
SP Frank Blair (EP) (10-6/2.76) - 5th time
MR Johnny Brown (SA) (5-2/1.37/12 saves) - 2nd All-Star Game
MR Ike Phelps (WR) (2-1/1.27)/10 saves) - 1st time (Rookie)
C Crash Davis (CC) (.307/7/35/28) - 15th time
C Tony Brinkerhoff (RH) (.264/8/42/33) - 3rd time
C Brian Davis (FFX) (.268/5/27/27) - 1st time
1B Gerry Hathaway (LUX) (.324/14/42/39) - 1st All-Star Game
1B Johnny Scott (HAR) (.323/12/43/40) - 3rd time
1B Emile Francois (ARL) (.354/7/38/36) - 1st time (Rookie)
2B Tetsu Tanaka (EP) (.312/17/39/46) - 4th time
2B Jan Kessinger (KEN) (.311/1/12/35) - 5th time
3B Billy Christianson (RH) (.342/8/31/63) - 3rd All-Star Game
3B Marius Lokken (BAY) (.266/16/45/42) - 1st time (Rookie)
SS Jarred O'Neal (LC) (.354/18/53/42) - 1st time
SS James Couch (OZK) (.322/8/37/36) - 8th time
LF Max Lebowitz (FFX) (.310/9/35/47) - 1st All-Star Game
LF Cotton Cornwall (BSC) (.341/19/55/45) - 5th time
CF Del Carpenter (ARL) (.332/3/28/38) - 1st time
CF Chris Halley (BL) (.313/1/18/27) - 2nd time
CF Antonio Vasquez (SUM) (.321/1/23/34) - 1st time
RF Babe Hankins (KEN) (.343/9/45/49) - 3rd All-Star Game
RF Carroll Candy (LC) (.320/10/32/48) - 4th time
RF Lorne Evans (SPT) (.340/13/33/35) - 5th time
RF Matt Sundberg (RH) (.332/4/27/25) - 1st time

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 23, 2032

RU Stars Shine, Top TU 3-1 In All-Star Game
It's not often that the Ruthlandian Stars get the best of the Tycobbian Stars, but they did this year at Midtown Base Ball Grounds in Rolling Hills... the RU Stars took advantage of shoddy play to prevail 3-1 for only their 11th victory in 32 All-Star Games... however Ruthlandia has won two of the last three contests.

Tycobbia moved ahead 1-0 in the second frame on a single by Emile Francois (Arlon) and an RBI triple by Billy Christianson (Rolling Hills)... Ruthlandia quickly rebounded and tied the score on a triple by Pasquale Zavaglia (Taranto) and a wild pitch by Dixie Brooks (East Point)... the RU Stars got the decisive runs in the last of the fourth... Loco Dillinger (Waleska) walked and Leevi Viri (Valka) reached first on an error by pitcher Ko Yuma (Midway), who threw the ball into center field trying for a double play... that put runners on first and second... Matt Boyd (Elnora) grounded out to first base and advanced the runners to second and third... Yuma wild-pitched in the eventual winning run, allowing Dillinger to score... Viru came in when third baseman Billy Christianson botched a groundball, making it 3-1 in favor of the RU Stars.

Yuma was the losing pitcher, while Wally Thurber (LaGrange) worked a runless fourth and notched the victory... Ruthlandia used 8 pitchers in all, holding Tycobbia to one run on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts and just one walk... 7 TU hurlers allowed only one earned run, 7 hits, fanned 6 and walked 4 in defeat... Ruthlandia's Scotty Lagrange (Eastshore) and Tycobbia's Lorne Evans (Southport) led the hitters with 2 base hits each... CF Lagrange collected the game's MVP Award with a perfect day at bat... Lagrange doubled, singled and walked in three plate appearances.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 21, 2032

2032 Ruthlandian North Final Recap

Sports Rise To Top In RU North, Dethrone Valmara
Mighty Valmara has been overthrown in the Ruthlandian North after 8 division titles in the last 9 seasons... the LaGrange Sports finally hauled in a pennant after coming very close the last few seasons... they were 78-76 in second place last year, but were beaten by 21 games by Valmara... this season Quincy Peterson's Sports easily captured the division, winning by 10 games over the Ranford Bulls, 11 games better than third-place Ancona and 13 ahead of perennial power Valmara, which came in fourth... the last time LaGrange was in the Pro Cup playoffs was way back in 2008.

Sparked by 4 All-Star players, the first-place Sports (92-62) did it with excellent starting pitching, timely hitting, power and a strong bench that hit well... the starting four of Walt Thurber (22-9), Alex Gillespie (24-10), Ryan Janssen (20-13) and Mike York (15-11) were outstanding... Thurber, Gillespie and Janssen were on the All-Star team... rookie C Matt Dunmire (25 HR), 1B Chris Charbonnier (22 HR)and LF Russell Watkins (20 HR) provided the power... Peterson had 5 bench players hitting over .300... rookie All-Star 2B Whitlow Stokes topped the team with a .304 BA... the Sports are only average on defense with a .972 FA and are quite weak in the bullpen... improved hitting with a .271 team BA made the difference this season.

[Eugene Church]

Manager Rick Fargnoli brought the Ranford Bulls (82-72) in second this season, up from seventh place last year... the Bulls couldn't match the Sports on the hill or at bat... Manny Mateo (22-15), All-Star Angelo Coppola (16-13) and Chad Cummings (13-12) were the staff leaders... top bats were CF Ricky Urbina (.302), 3B Alex Vanno (.289), 2B Sonny Statum (.304) and All-Star C Kyle Hurt (.279)... Ranford played solid defense with a .975 FA.

[Eugene Church]

Skipper Manny Mickens got his Ancona Red Elephants (81-73) back on track in the RU North with a third-place finish after a bad season the year before when they came in sixth (68-86), 31 games off the pace... the Red Elephants haven't made the IPA postseason for the last decade, but they usually wind up in the first division... Mickens only has an average team in most respects, except when it comes to scoring runs as they ranked 4th in the league... defensively Ancona plays well with a .974 FA... Razzy Angelis (19-17) and Ken Rokas (10-5) were Mickens' best hurlers... at the plate it was standout 3B Koora Nawajuk (.281), fine C Tonio Libertore (.299) and blossoming CF Thurston Brice (.269), who led the offense... several young players showed promise: CF Jimmy Howell (.316), 2B Ricky Boyer (.316), LF John Lewis (.310) and RF Anthony Patton (.301).

[Eugene Church]

It was a very disappointing season for manager Jet Kazmarek and his Valmara Vipers (79-75), who staggered in fourth this year, 13 games back of Ranford... Kazmarek didn't have his usual dominant pitching as veterans Teddy Lem (10-12) and Carroll Cain (7-12) had subpar seasons... Valmara's top pitchers were first-year starter Ivan Guzek (19-13), who spent 9 years in the bullpen as a fine reliever, and Richie Raeburn (13-5), along with third-year starter Garry Gronek (18-18)... overall the team ERA dropped from a sensational 2.85 to just an average team with 3.37... All-Stars LF Benny Hooper (.315) and CF Reno DiBenedetto (.307) led the club at bat with help from 2B Alec Leclerc (.303)... the Vipers were just so-so in the field with a .970 FA.

[Eugene Church]

The Kilkenny Cats (76-78) possess a top-notch mound corps, both starters and relievers (3.16 team ERA - 5th), but manager Rusty Denicola's offense was severely lacking... defense is shoddy, too, with a very poor .967 FA... the Cats tied with Far Mountain for fifth place in the RU North standings and trailed by 16 games... Kilkenny was fourth in 2031... the team hit a lousy .234 for the season, ranking near the bottom in most offensive categories... heading up the staff were Christy Kane (16-14), veteran Dave Whitaker (15-20), Dean Harris (14-15) and Darragh Whelan (11-14)... James Crockett (4-5), Joey Hicks (10-7) and Jamie O'Connell (2-1) anchored the rock-solid bullpen... vet OF Hal Littleton (.307) paced the team in BA, but played most of the season with Ancona, coming in a trade at the trading deadline... rookie standout 2B Thomas Rutherford (.303) had a fine season and one of the few quality batters.

[Eugene Church]

The Far Mountain Redhawks (76-78) were a major powerhouse in the first 15 years of the IPA, winning 3 unprecedented back-to-back Pro Cups in 2011, 2012 and 2013... but they have won only one RU North pennant since 2017... they tied for fifth this season... very much like Kilkenny, Redhawk skipper Don Nichols lacks offense, but had very good pitching... Jeff Cooper (10-6) and Frankie Moreland (14-12) led the way... Far Mountain also go quality performances from Keith Griggs (15-17), Jacob Wagner (16-19) and Hans Becker (14-16), too... Gil Brockman (.272) made the All-Star team at 3B, but slumped in the second half... there was little else in the way of hitting on the club.

[Eugene Church]

The downtrodden Glasco Athletics (75-79) were not a bad ball club this season, yet they finished in the seventh spot and wound up 17 games behind in the pennant chase... it's been almost 30 years since the A's made the playoffs... manager Barry McCord thought he had the team on the right track after a third-place finish last year... the Athletics fell in the standings despite greatly improving on the mound from a poor 4.17 ERA to a respectable 3.35 (11th)... All-Star Sam Jensen (18-16) and Zee Higgins (16-16) were the most dependable starters, in addition to Rusty McIntosh (18-15), who made the transition to a starting role after being a relief specialist for 9 seasons... Glasco has decent power at the plate, but is mediocre in scoring... top performers were All-Star 2B Greg Stone (.277), LF Dennis Kaiser (.320), CF Bradley Kincaid (.294) and C Eddy Martin (.289)... the A's sparkled with the gloves with a .976 FA.

[Eugene Church]

The Taranto Tars (61-93) are just a bad team... for the third successive season Denny Radke's club ended up in the Ruthlandian North cellar... it's been almost 15 years since the Tars made the Pro Cup playoffs... the only bright spot on the entire team was All-Star RF Pasquale Zavaglia, who topped the IPA with 49 homers, drove in 102 runs and batted a solid .287... he had to carry all of the team's offensive load with almost no help at all... at age 30 Zavaglia finally got his opportunity to play in the IPA this year after spending parts of 4 seasons with the team in the 20s with little playing time... Paulie Pieroni (14-19) and Johnny Sakelaris (5-9) were the only dependable hurlers.

[Stromson]

Oi, it hurts to think such a quality Kilkenny pitching corp is being wasted by a non-existent offense. The numbers suggest they had a lot to do with what few wins we were able to muster, and a lot of them look to be potential 20-game winners. Here's to hoping we have some bats down on the farm.

[Eugene Church]

2032 Ruthlandian South Finals Standings

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 22, 2032

2032 RU South Final Recap
It's been quite a while since the Claxton Diamonds have been much of a challenger in the Ruthlandian South... the last division flag came in 2019... the Diamonds have only made the first division three times since then... Claxton hit its way to the pennant to whip runner-up Waleska by 6 games, St. John by 9, Grand City by 10 and defending champ San Dimas by 11 games... the Diamonds led pretty much the entire season and played well done the stretch to hold off all comers.

First place Claxton (85-69) had a productive attack with Dixie Baker at the helm... the Diamonds were in the top 5 in most offensive categories and had fairly good mound work... after seventh-place finishes the last two seasons, the hitters took charge and brought home the pennant... Baker's batting order sported four .300 hitters with good power... pitcher Freddi Hahn (17-13) was the team's only All-Star... Claxton only shortcoming was on defense... the Diamonds has a poor .967 FA.

[Eugene Church]

The second-place Waleska Westerners (79-75) have been top contenders in the RU South for the last decade, winning one Pro Cup in 2028 and taking two division titles in all... manager McGraw Johnson did very well, especially with Hall-of-Famer Roy Hobbs in the lineup... but this year there was no Hobbs, who decided to go out on top... when Hobbs retired, Johnson stepped down as skipper and named Hobbs as his replacement, but he retained the GM position.

A sluggish first half probably cost the Westerners the title... they played well in the second half of the season... rookie OF Niles Gregory helped ease the loss of the fabled Hobbs with a great season... Gregory and superstar Loco Dillinger led a potent offense with the help of veteran 1B Glenn Childress... Dillinger, Gregory and pitcher Jarred Laclair made the RU All-Stars... Hobbs needs better pitching to put him over the top in the RU South... the Westerners are only average with the gloves with a .971 FA.