ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Batting Leaderboard

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Pitching Leaderboard

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

Pro Cup Series: Sugar Valley vs. Red Bluff
The Sugar Valley Rattlers and the Red Bluff Red Sox have made it all the way to the Islandian Pro Cup Series to play for the IPA championship. They did it by surviving a rigorous regular season and a demanding playoff system. Both clubs are primed and ready to win the Islandian Pro Cup, symbolic of the best professional baseball team in the Islands.

Sugar Valley will represent the Ruthlandian Union, while Red Bluff hails from the Tycobbian Union. National pride is at stake. For the next week the nation of Islandia will focus on baseball and little else. Ruthlandians will be pulling for the Rattlers and Tycobbians will be cheering for the Red Sox. All done with proper respect for one another most of the time.

Who is going to win? The team that makes the right pitch at the right time, comes up with the right hit at the right time or makes the right play at the right time. Most of the time that's how championship are decided. And sometimes the element of luck gets intermeshed and changes the results.

Checking out each team position by position here is how the experts assess each club.

Starters:
Edge goes to Red Bluff with Mila Mohoski (21-10 2.36) and Leonard Urban (18-13 2.77) and Frank Beaudoin (16-13 3.12). A very solid threesome, who have pitched even better in the playoffs. Urban (3-0 0.00) and Mohoski (2-1 2.19) have been excellent, while Beaudoin (3-0 3.41) has more than done his part.

Sugar Valley can't match the Red Sox starters. Gregg Neal (20-8 2.62) is their equal, but Anthony Glaser (20-13 3.70) and Jay Washington (12-8 3.32) are not as strong as the Rattler counterparts. Neal (2-1 2.25) has stood out in the postseason, but Glaser (3-0 3.62) and Washington (2-2 4.42) have struggled at times.

Bullpen:
Even. Neither team has the edge here. Red Bluff will depend on Perry Toefield (1-0 3.55) for long relief and John Dougherty (6-12 2.72) at closing time. In the playoffs Dougherty (0-2 2.08) has two saves and Toefield (1-1 4.26) has two saves.

Manager Gibby Bobkins has been operating with a bullpen committee with Dale Bixler (2-2 2.62), Hec Skurgan (3-3 4.17) and Frankie Jardine (3-1 4.30). In the postseason Bixler (1-0 0.00) with two saves has been his best with help from Skurgan (1-0 2.79), who has one save. Jardine (0-0 2.25) has been effective with one save. Ron Benson (16-14 4.42), a starter in the regular season, has not been effective in relief. He is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA, but has one save.

Catcher:
Call it a draw between Virgil Carpenter (.249/16 HR/65 RBI) of Red Bluff and Slingshot McFall (.239/6 HR/58 RBI) of Sugar Valley. Carpenter hits with more power, but McFall has a great arm. Both are very capable defenders. McFall has a .996 FA and has thrown out 46% of the runners, while Carpenter has a .993 FA and has thrown out 43%. They are pretty even in the postseason. McFall is batting .273 with no home runs, 6 RBIs and has scored 4 runs, while Carpenter is hitting .255 with 2 HRs, 4 RBIs and 3 runs.

First Base:
The Rattlers have a decided offensive edge here with Ron Armstrong (.277/31 HR/108 RBI). Bucky Frizzell (.231/11 HR/62 RBI) had a very poor regular season and it has continued into the playoffs. Armstrong has 4 homers, 10 RBIs and is hitting .313 in the postseason. Defensively both handle the glove well with .996 FAs.

Second base:
Slight advantage to Red Sox Vern Gable (.287/5 HR/82 R) over Rattler rookie Casey Leeburn (.269/17 HR/79 RBI/70 R). Leeburn does hit with much more power, but Gable has a .982 FA to Leeburn's .977 FA, while Leeburn has better range. Gable hits for a higher average. In the playoffs Gable has been superb with a .362 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBIs and 10 runs. Leeburn is batting .304 with no homers, one RBI and 5 runs.

Third base:
Decided advantage for Sugar Valley's Jorge Vargas (.284/29 HR/94 RBI) over Red Bluff's Newt Lovell (.273/4 HR/59 RBI). Vargas has excelled in the postseason, too. He has a .298 BA, 3 homers, 8 RBIs and has scored 7 times to Lovell's .304 BA, no homers, 1 RBI and 5 runs scored. But Lovell is by far the better fielder with a .969 FA to Vargas' poor .933 FA.

Shortstop:
No contest. Flipper Bird of the Rattlers may be the best all-around player in the IPA. Bird (.305/30 HR/132 RBI/108 R) led the IPA in RBIs and is a Gold Glover with a .980 FA. He has been even better in the playoffs with a .345 BA, 3 HRs, 16 RBIs and 11 runs scored. He easily outdistances rookie Jeff Decker (.263/5 HR/41 RBI). Decker is a pretty dependable gloveman with a .977 FA. In the postseason Decker is hitting only .213 with no home runs, 4 RBI and has scored 4 times, but he has delivered several clutch hits.

Left Field:
Red Bluff's Tony Blundell (.294/28 HR/79 RBI/91 R) gets the nod because of his power and his great postseason performance over Sugar Valley's Bruno DiPirro (.291/5 HR/41 RBI/102 R). Blundell is hitting .367 in the playoffs with 5 homers, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored to DiPirro's .327 BA, no homers, 4 RBIs and has scored 7 runs. However, DiPirro is the better fielder with a much better arm. DiPirro had a .978 FA in the regular season with 11 assists. Blundell has a .957 FA with just 6 assists.

Center Field:
The Rattlers Freddie Vaux (.292/8 HR/56 RBI/102 R) is the pick here over Stan Helmke (.245/15 HR/61 RBI/77 R) of the Red Sox. Vaux gets edge on defense with a .973 FA to .969 for Helmke. But Helmke has played like he did last year in the postseason with a solid .313 BA, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs and 9 runs scored. Vaux has hit only .250 in the playoffs with no homers, but has 7 RBIs and scored 11 times.

Right Field:
Give this one to the Red Sox because of Kris Grabowski (.287/19 HR/90 RBI), who might be the team's top performer. Grabowski is great with the glove with an outstanding .996 FA. In the postseason he has batted .280 with 1 home run, 6 RBIs and has scored 3 times. Frank Horak (.264/14 HR/56 RBI) plays right for Sugar Valley and is only fair with the glove with a .967 FA. In the playoffs he has hit well with a .417 BA, 1 roundtripper, 4 RBIs and has scored 8 runs.

Will it be Sugar Valley or Red Bluff? It really looks like Sugar Valley is the superior team. They have four outstanding position players to just two for the Red Sox. If good pitching is the deciding factor, then the Red Sox will win. Herculean efforts by Mohoski and Urban could make Red Bluff the winner. If hitting is the deciding factor, then the Rattlers are the better team. The baseball experts have made their prediction. According to the BNN poll the Rattlers will win the Pro Cup. The reason: top to bottom in their batting order is a good hitter. That's the way it looks on paper. Now let's see how it plays out on the diamond and in real life.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series: Game One at Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley

Red Sox Prevail In Pro Cup Opener 4-2 Over SV
At Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley, Leonard Urban of Red Bluff stopped the Rattlers 4-2 in the opening game of the 2004 IPA Pro Cup Series. Somebody finally scored an earned run off Urban for the first time in the playoffs, but it didn't matter. He was ahead at the time 4-0. Urban (4-0 0.48) pitched into the eighth before tiring, but Urban still picked up his fourth postseason win. He allowed only four hits and two runs, but was all over the place with his control and walked six. However, Sugar Valley couldn't take advantage of it. Both teams ended up with five hits apiece.

The Red Sox got down to business right away in the first frame. 2B Vern Gable (.340) walked to lead off the game and CF Stan Helmke (.308) doubled him to third. LF Tony Blundell (.365) drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Helmke then stole third base and scored on RF Kris Grabowski's (.259) grounder to third. Red Bluff made it 3-0 in the third when Helmke reached second on an infield error and rode home on Blundell's base hit. The Red Sox upped it to 4-0 in the top of the seventh on C Virgil Carpenter's RBI double. The Rattlers finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh on C Slingshot McFall's (.292) RBI triple and pinchhitter Rudi Oliver's (.000) ground-out.

Sugar Valley's Jay Washington (2-3 4.24) started and lost it, surrendering three runs - two earned - on three hits in five innings. Closer John Dougherty (0-2 1.74) worked the last one and two-thirds innings for his third postseason save. Dougherty allowed one hit and no runs in the stint. Blundell led the Red Sox batters with 1-for-3 and two RBIs, giving him 15 for the playoffs. Helmke went 1-4 and scored twice.

Both ballclubs will have their aces ready to go tomorrow in game two. Gregg Neal (2-1 2.25) will get the call from Rattler manager Gibby Bobkins and Mila Mohoski (2-1 2.19) will get the assignment from Red Sox skipper Mack Connery. Both pitchers were 20-game winners during the regular campaign.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 7, 2004

Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series: Game Two at Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley

Red Bluff Routs Rattlers 9-2 In Game 2
For the second day in a row the Red Bluff Red Sox wasted no time and scored early en route to a 9-2 rout of Sugar Valley in game two of the IPA Pro Cup Series. The Red Sox rocked Rattler pitching for 13 hits, sparked by 1B Bucky Frizzell (.262) with four hits and four RBIs, LF Tony Blundell (.375) with two hits and three RBIs and 2B Vern Gable (.358) with two hits and two runs scored. Red Bluff went ahead 3-0 after two innings and 4-1 after six, then busted the game wide open with a five-run outburst in the eighth, highlighted by Frizzell's three-run homer. Blundell now has 18 RBIs in the playoffs. Mila Mohoski worked a strong game, going all the way and holding Sugar Valley to five hits. Gregg Neal (2-2 2.81) took it on the chin and was shellacked for four runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. Neal also walked four in a very poor outing.

Based on the first two games it's beginning to look like Sugar Valley can't match Red Bluff pitching. Manager Gibby Bobkins really needs a turnaround if the Rattlers expect to compete. So far it has been totally one-sided. Sugar Valley now must head to Red Bluff for the next three games. In game three the starters are Anthony Glaser (3-0 3.62) for the Rattlers and Frank Beaudoin (3-0 3.41). During the regular season Glaser was 20-13 with a 3.70 ERA, while Beaudoin compiled a 16-13 mark with a fine 3.12 ERA. Sugar Valley batters better step it up, too. They have been held to four runs and 10 hits in the first two games. So far the Red Sox's good pitching has shackled the Rattlers good hitting.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 8, 2004

Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series: Game Three at Red Bluff Park in Red Bluff

Red Sox Win 3rd In A Row, Smash Sugar Valley 10-4
The Red Bluff Red Sox are making it look easy in the IPA Pro Cup Series. They smashed Sugar Valley 10-4 at Red Bluff Park for their third triumph in a row to take an almost insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. Trailing 4-3 going into the bottom of the eighth, the Red Sox exploded for 7 unearned runs to put the Rattlers away. Vern Gable's grand slammer was the game clincher. Gable (.368) paced the 11-hit attack with two home runs and six RBIs with LF Tony Blundell (.377) and RF Kris Grabowski (.281) also chipping two hits and driving in a run apiece.

Closer John Dougherty (1-2 1.46) got the win with two scoreless innings in relief of starter Frank Beaudoin (3-0 3.50), who left after seven innings after giving up four runs on nine hits with five Ks and three walks. Dale Bixler (1-0 2.61) blew the save and was the grand slam victim, but all five runs against him were not earned. Bixler couldn't protect Anthony Glaser's 4-3 lead. Glaser allowed three runs in the first two frames, but settled down and permitted only two runs in the next five innings. Altogether Glaser permitted five runs, only three earned, in seven innings. A crucial eighth-inning error on a possible double play ball cost Sugar Valley the game. The Rattlers excellent shortstop Flipper Bird dropped a throw at second base that could have ended the inning.

The Rattlers took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on 3B Jorge Vargas' (.316) base hit. Grabowski evened the score with a double in the last of the first. Gable gave the Red Sox the lead 3-1 in the second with his first homer, a two-run blast. Sugar Valley chopped it to 3-2 in the fourth on C Slingshot McFall's (.309) RBI double. Bird (.303) hit a two-run homer in the fifth frame, putting the Rattlers in the lead 4-3, but sadly ended up being the game's goat. Bird has driven 18 runs in the postseason, second to Blundell's 19.

Game four will be also be played at Red Bluff Park. Manager Mack Connery will try to close the Pro Cup Series out with Leonard Urban, who has been sensational in the postseason with a perfect 4-0 record and an unbelievable 0.48 ERA. Jay Washington will take the hill for Gibby Bobkins' Rattlers. Washington has been 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA so far in the playoffs.

Bobkins bluntly told reporters after the second straight one-sided loss, "My pitchers are bad... my batters are bad... and my fielders are bad. I don't think we can play any worse. But don't count my Rattlers out of it yet. We could turn all of that around and come back and win it."

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 9, 2004

Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series: Game Four at Red Bluff Park in Red Bluff

Rattlers Stave Off Elimination, Top Red Sox 6-2
A gritty performance by Jay Washington enabled Sugar Valley to stave off elimination in the IPA Pro Cup Series. Washington scattered eight hits over eight innngs and pitched the Rattlers to a 6-2 decision over Red Bluff for their first win in the series. The Red Sox still have a huge advantage with three wins in four games and need only one more win in the best-of-seven to win the Islandian title. Washington (3-3 3.45) struck out seven and walked four, giving up only one earned run. Closer Hec Skurgan (1-0 2.13) worked a scoreless ninth to preserve the victory. The game was in doubt until the ninth inning when LF Bruno DiPirro (.308) slammed an RBI double, RF Frank Horak (.371) slapped an RBI single and rookie 2B Casey Leeburn (.281) walked to force in a run. That gave Sugar Valley a four-run cushion.

In the opening frame three walks by Leonard Urban and a sac fly by 1B Ron Armstrong (.262) gave the Rattlers the lead. Washington's control went also went haywire with three walks in the third and he walked 1B Bucky Frizzell (.265) with the bases loaded to force in the tying run. In the fourth Leeburn's two-run single made the score 3-1 in favor of the Rattlers. Red Bluff closed the gap to one run in the eighth on C Virgil Carpenter's (.250) double and a two-base error by third baseman Jorge Vargas.

Leonard Urban (4-1 1.02) fell for the first time in the playoffs. He only allowed three hits and three runs, but walked nine batters in seven innings. Sugar Valley only got six hits and were paced by Leeburn with 2-2 and three RBIs. Red Bluff totaled nine hits, led by LF Tony Blundell (.385), RF Kris Grabowski (.299) and Carpenter with two base hits apiece.

The site of game five will be Red Bluff Park. On the hill for the Red Sox will be their ace Mila Mohoski (3-1 1.96), opposed by Gregg Neal (2-2 2.81), the Rattlers best hurler. Mohoski outpitched Neal in game two, winning by a 9-2 score. Mohoski and Neal both won 20 games during the season.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 10, 2004

Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series: Game Five at Red Bluff Park in Red Bluff

Red Bluff Crowned 2004 Pro Cup Champs
This year's IPA Pro Cup champions are the Red Bluff Red Sox of the Tycobbian Union. They proved it by dominating Sugar Valley of the Ruthlandian Union four games to one in the Pro Cup Series. The Red Sox finished off the Rattlers 5-1 in game five at Red Bluff Park, giving the TU its third title in four years. Red Bluff was dominant in all aspects of the game. They outpitched, outhit and just outplayed Sugar Valley.

Mila Mohoski (4-1 1.80) wrapped up the crown with a five-hitter to win his fourth postseason game. Mohoski pitched a complete game, fanned six and issued three bases on balls. He allowed a run in the first inning on a single by CF Freddie Vaux (.257) and a double by 1B Ron Armstrong (.266), but then held the Rattlers runless the rest of the way.

Red Bluff wasted no time and took the lead 2-1 in the bottom half of the inning on a single by 2B Vern Gable (.364), an RBI double by CF Stan Helmke (.302) and an RBI ground-out by LF Tony Blundell (.377). In the fourth frame 1B Bucky Frizzell (.268) tripled and scored on a ground-out by SS Jerry Decker (.200) increasing it to 3-1 and Blundell's two-run single made it 5-1 in the fifth. The Red Sox collected 8 hits in all and were led by Blundell with three RBIs. Helmke had three hits, including two doubles and Gable got a pair of hits and scored twice. Starter Gregg Neal (2-3 3.50) took the brunt of the attack and took the loss, giving up five runs and seven hits in four-plus innings.

The winning manager Mack Connery told reporters in the postgame press conference, "The key to victory was our marvelous pitchers. They held in check all of the fine hitters we had to face throughout the playoffs."

Gibson Bobkins, skipper of Sugar Valley, agreed, "Red Bluff has three excellent starters in Mohoski, Urban and Beaudoin. They showed good pitching can beat good hitting. We couldn't match up with their pitching corps."

Red Bluff now join the Volusia Vigilantes (2001), High Mesa Cowboys (2002) and Turon Typhoons (2003) as Pro Cup winners.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 11, 2004

Red Bluff's Mohoski Acclaimed Playoff MVP
The Islandian Baseball Writers Association has chosen Red Bluff hurler Mila Mohoski the IPA Postseason Most Valuable Player. Mohoski led the Red Sox to the Pro Cup championship with a 4-1 record and a 1.80 ERA. The 25-year-old southpaw won two games in the Final 4 Series and two games in the IPA Finals.

Mohoski was the top votegetter with 45 votes. Red Bluff's left fielder Tony Blundell was second in the balloting with 35 votes. Blundell batted .377 during the playoffs with 5 homers, 22 RBIs and 14 runs scored. Sugar Valley's fine shortstop Flipper Bird came in third with 12 votes. Bird hit .301 with 4 home runs, 18 RBIs and scored 13 times during the postseason and sparked the Rattlers to a second-place finish.

Three Red Bluff players rounded out the balloting. Second baseman Vern Gable was fourth with 10 votes, pitcher Leonard Urban fifth with 8 votes and center fielder Stan Helmke sixth with 5 votes. Gable compiled a .364 batting average with 3 roundtrippers, 12 RBIs and 18 runs, Urban was 4-1 with a 1.02 ERA and Helmke batted .302 with 2 homers, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Kazmarek Wins 2nd RU Bat Title with .376 Average
When it came to hitting in the Ruthlandian Union this season, none did it better than Jet Kazmarek of the Valmara Vipers. He surpassed all his peers with a .376 average to take the 2004 batting crown. This is the second time Kazmarek has taken the title. He hit an unbelievable .428 in 2002. This season the 29-year-old left fielder had 210 hits, including 45 doubles, 18 triples and 10 home runs. Kazmarek participated in 149 games and also chipped in 85 RBIs, scored 116 times and stole 80 bases.

Kazmarek is a career .369 hitter and has twice been named the Ruthlandian Union MVP. He won the award in 2002 and 2003.

High Mesa Star Captures TU Bat Crown
Rolf Kellgren of the High Mesa Cowboys was named Tycobbian Union batting champion yesterday. The 26-year-old shortstop hit .338 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs during the 2004 campaign, collecting 198 hits in 585 at-bats and scored 123 runs, while playing in 147 games. It is the first batting title for Kellgren. The High Mesa star has a .316 lifetime batting average.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

RU's Best Rookie Named, Bulls Castillo
Jose Castillo, left fielder of Ranford, was the cream of the freshman crop in the Ruthlandian Union and today he received the 2004 Rookie of the Year Award. He played in 141 games, compiling a .292 batting average with 154 hits, 17 home runs, 58 walks and a .370 on-base percentage. Castillo also chipped in 47 RBIs and scored 103 times.

In the runner-up spot was pitcher Shane Hall of the Grand City Cybercats. Hall chalked up 17 victories and 17 losses with a fine 3.13 ERA for a sixth-place team. Far Mountain's second baseman Duane Parsons came in third in the voting. He batted .279, hit 19 homers, drove in 65 runs and scored 99 times. Parsons had a .984 fielding percentage.

Cape Coral's Doyle Wins 2004 Newcomer Award
It was an impressive debut for Cape Coral left fielder Kippy Doyle. For his solid performance, he has been chosen the best of the 2004 freshman class in the Tycobbian Union. The 22-year-old novice carved out a .317 average during the regular season, playing in 150 games and gathering 186 hits in 587 at-bats. Doyle hit 35 home runs while driving in 125 runs and scoring 85 times. He also picked up 37 walks to post a .356 on-base percentage. Doyle was an excellent defender with a .993 fielding percentage.

Two talented Midway rookies were second and third in the voting. Shortstop Tory Bidwell was the runner-up. He batted .297 with 15 homers, 89 RBIs and scored 104 runs. Bidwell had a good glove with a .973 fielding average. Wolves first sacker Don Piper had a solid freshman year with a .264 batting average, 20 roundtrippers, 97 RBIs and 90 runs scored. Piper posted a fine .993 fielding percentage.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Top Pitcher Award Announced by RU
The Middlefield clubhouse staff referred to him as "the kid" this season. Next year Jamie Hicks will have to have a new nickname. He earned it after winning the 2004 Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award. Hicks helped the Roosters take the RU West regular season crown. The 23-year-old Hicks made 39 starts this year, winning 23 and losing 9. He threw 295 innings, fanned 164, allowed 235 hits and 91 walks, while holding opposing teams to a .222 average as he logged an impressive 2.38 ERA. Lifetime Hicks is 43-29 with a 3.03 ERA in his three seasons in the IPA. He was elected to the 2004 All-Star Game.

Carl Schmitz of Volusia was the runner-up with a 24-10 mark and a 2.54 ERA. Third in the voting was Bud Enright of the Ranford Bulls with a 24-10 record and a 2.66 ERA.

2004 TU Golden Arm Award Chosen
22-year-old Cody Burg of the Cape Coral Hurricanes put together a great year in 2004 for such a young player. Burg was named today as the winner of the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award. He was a prime reason why the Hurricanes won the TU South Division. Burg crafted an impressive 24-8 record and a 2.13 ERA. In 305 innings he allowed 227 hits, struck out 306, and walked only 32 batters.

In his four seasons Burg has logged a 51-34 career mark with 2.48 ERA. He has made the All-Star team the last two seasons. Burg has had the best ERA in the Tycobbian Union the last two years with a 1.87 and 2.13 ERA, respectively.

Coming in second in the balloting was Denny Coulon of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers. Coulon compiled a 25-10 record with a 2.40 ERA. The third-place votegetter was Jim Melanakos of LaClaire, who notched a 23-10 won-lost mark and a 2.32 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 15, 2004

Rattlers Bird Tops RU Best Hitter List
There was nobody hotter in the Ruthlandian Union this season as Flipper Bird of the Sugar Valley Rattlers attacked enemy pitching with a vengeance and came away with the Golden Bat Award for 2004. Bird led the entire IPA with 132 RBIs, helping Sugar Valley to a second-place finish in the regular season and a runner-up spot in the IPA Pro Cup championship.

The 24-year-old shortstop hit .305 while collecting 187 hits, 33 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs and 132 RBIs. He also scored 108 runs and posted a .378 on-base percentage. On defense Bird registered an impressive .980 FA. Winning awards is nothing new for Bird. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2001, has been on the All-Star teams in 2002 and 2003 and won a Gold Glove in 2003. Bird is a lifetime .308 hitter.

Bird's biggest competition for the Golden Bat honors was Belair Beach's excellent first baseman Phil Gravelli. The gifted batter had the second-best batting average in the Ruthlandian Union at .356. Gravelli homered 35 times, batted in 120 runs and scored 94 to spark the Sunbirds to the RU South pennant. Gravelli handles the glove well, too, with a .992 FA. Over his four-year career Gravelli has hit a very strong .321.

This year's leading hitter Jet Kazmarek came out third in the Golden Bat category. Valmara's left fielder racked up a .376 batting average with 10 homers, 85 RBIs, 116 runs and 80 stolen bases. Kazmarek won the Golden Bat Award in 2002, when he hit an astounding .428.

Plunkett TU's Top Hitter for 2004
Oxford's Ike Plunkett put the wraps on a fine campaign today by winning the 2004 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. He scorched the opposition with a .319 average, picking up 188 hits, 30 doubles, 5 triples, 44 home runs and 103 RBIs, while scoring 128 runs in what many would say has been one of the better seasons of the veteran's career. The 31-year-old center fielder was a vital cog in the Red Caps season as he topped the IPA in home runs and runs scored, leading them to a TU North Division crown. Plunkett was chosen to the All-Star team for the first time this season. He is a career .303 hitter.

High Mesa's hard-hitting second baseman Ed Granberg was the second-highest vote collector. Granberg blistered league pitchers for a .321 mark, racked up 20 roundtrippers, had 116 RBIs and tallied 107 runs. For his career he has a lofty .335 batting average. Granberg is talented on defense, too. He finished up the year with a standout .985 fielding percentage.

Bayview's great all-around center fielder Phil Kanaan came in third in the vote for the Golden Bat. Kanaan paced the Vikings to the TU West title with a .303 batting average, 25 home runs, 102 RBIs, scored 120 runs and stole 36 bases, while patrolling center field with a splendid .985 percentage.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Bird Wins Again, MVP in RU
Sugar Valley's superb shortstop has done it again! Fresh off winning the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award, Flipper Bird has added the 2004 Most Valuable Player accolades. The 24-year-old Bird led the Rattlers to another fine season. They finish the regular season in the second spot, just one game behind the East Division titlist, the Elnora All-Stars. Not only is Bird a standout with the bat, he is a talented defender as well. He hit for a .305 batting average with 30 homers and 132 RBIs. Bird outpaced everyone in the IPA in RBIs and sported a .980 fielding percentage, ranking among the top 5 shortstops in the Islandian Pro Alliance. He received 30 votes.

Belair Beach's first baseman Phil Gravelli ran a close second in the BNN MVP balloting with 27 votes. The 20-year-old Gravelli put up a sensational season, batting .356 with 35 roundtrippers and 120 RBIs. The Sunbirds took the RU South pennant.

Caleb Browne, Wynnamac's capable lefthander, came in third in the voting and was named on 20 ballots. The 31-year-old Browne registered 21 wins for the fifth place Sundowners. He only suffered 7 defeats and compiled a 2.97 ERA.

Forest City's power-hitting shortstop Bill Nilsen collected 18 votes and ranked fourth in the poll. The 24-year-old Nilsen hit at a .312 clip during the season, swatted 32 home runs, scored 115 times and batted in 112 runs.

The Golden Arm winner, 23-year-old pitcher Jamie Hicks of the Middlefield Roosters, polled 17 votes, coming in number five in the MVP balloting. Hicks was 23-9 for the season with a sparkling 2.38 ERA. The Roosters were the RU West champions.

Rounding out the votegetters were two outstanding pitchers, 27-year-old Carl Schmitz of the Volusia Vigilantes and 28-year-old Bud Enright of the Ranford Bulls. They ran 2-3 behind Hicks in the Golden Arm balloting and were tied for sixth place with 10 votes each in the MVP category. They both were 24-10 this past year. Schmitz had 2.54 ERA, while Enright put up a 2.66 mark.

Bird joins two other Ruthlandian Union MVPs, second baseman Francisco Abreu of Volusia (2001) and two-time winner, left fielder Jet Kazmarek of Valmara (2002 and 2003).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Oxford's Plunkett Nabs MVP in Tycobbian Union
Ike Plunkett of the Oxford Red Caps blasted his way to the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player Award. The 31-year-old center fielder topped the IPA with 44 homers and 128 runs scored, pacing the Red Caps to the North Division flag. Plunkett put up a .319 batting average and drove in 103 runs.

The Oxford star led the BNN MVP poll with 22 votes to edge out Cape Coral's ace righthander Cody Burg by two votes in a very close race. Burg was this year's Golden Arm winner with a terrific 24-8 record and a microscopic 2.13 ERA, which was the best in both leagues. Burg led the Hurricanes to the TU South championship.

Third in the balloting was Bayview's fine center fielder Phil Kanaan, who was named on 19 ballots. The 27-year-old Kanaan was an important ingredient in the Vikings taking the Western Division crown. He batted .303, walloped 25 roundtrippers and had 102 RBIs, 36 stolen bases and scored 120 runs.

This season's Rookie of the Year Kippy Doyle finished with 18 votes. Doyle sparked Cape Coral with 35 home runs and 125 RBIs to go with his .317 batting average.

Bay St. Clair pitcher Denny Coulon received 16 votes for a fifth-place finish. Coulon was outstanding with a 25-10 mark, the most victories in the IPA this year. The 24-year-old righty registered a 2.40 ERA.

Colchester Elite third sacker Niles Stanton picked up 12 votes, sixth in the poll. He was runner-up in homers and third in RBIs in the Tycobbian Union. The 32-year-old Stanton hit .309 with 40 home runs and plated 124 runs. The Elites finished second in the standings and were runner-up to Cape Coral, which won 94 games, more than anyone in the TU.

Seventh in the balloting with 10 votes was Miles Shufford, first baseman for the Mahaska Haymakers. The 26-year-old Shufford racked up a .323 batting average with 34 homers and 116 runs batted in for the last place Haymakers.

Two players collected 9 votes each, High Mesa's second baseman Ed Granberg and Colchester's first baseman Harlan Roscoe. Granberg hit .321 with 116 RBIs and 107 runs scored, while unloading 20 home runs. Rascoe batted .312 with 34 homers, 116 RBIs and 102 runs.

Previous MVP winners were Ginza pitcher Kojiro Motsumoto in 2001, East Point second baseman Karol Zadoka in 2002 and Hartsdale hurler Gus Kostro in 2003.

[Eugene Church]

Update:

I have one more award to do for Manager of the Year.

I'm working on this year's draft and getting all of the rosters in order.
I have done pitching rotations, line-ups and depth charts for 23 of the 64 teams.

Season five should begin in about two weeks.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 18, 2004

RU Best Skipper Award Goes to Jimison of LaGrange
The Ruthlandian Manager of the Year Award went to Foxy Jimison of the LaGrange Sports. Jimison totally turned the Sports from a perennial also-ran into a title contender in the North Division. He piloted them to a third-place finish behind powerful Valmara and Ranford. LaGrange went from a 68-86 record and seventh place last season to 84-70 this season.

Jimison garnered 65 votes in the BNN poll, finishing well ahead of Claxton's Stacy Engel, who was chosen on 20 ballots. The Diamonds rose from fifth in the South Division to second, just three games behind the pennant-winning Belair Beach Sunbirds. Third in the balloting with 10 votes was Belair Beach's Marty Pedroza, who improved them from 85-69 to 90-64.

Rounding out the voting (votes in parentheses) were Zoggy White (9) of Elnora, Smitty Michaels (8) of Middlefield, J. Jackson Samuel (7) of Valmara, Paco Banderos (5) of San Dimas, Page Satcher (3) of Ranford and Eddie Keys (1) of Sligo.

The All-Stars White copped his second successive RU East pennant with a 90-65 record, Michaels guided the Roosters to their first division crown in the West race, the Rancheros improved from seventh to third under Banderos in the South Division, the Bulls Satcher came within one game of winning in the North and Keys lifted the Sligo Rovers from fifth to third in the RU West Division.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Miller Named TU Manager of the Year
Huggy Miller of the Cape Coral Hurricanes did a superb job in his fourth year as manager, he guided them to the top spot in the TU South and has been voted the Tycobbian Manager of the Year in a poll of writers by BNN. Miller received 45 votes to 30 for Bayview's Walter Johanssen and 25 for LaClaire's Rip Calkin.

Last season the Hurricanes ended up second and a distant 12 games off the pace of the division-winning San Alejo Montaneros with a 84-70 mark. This season Miller finished 94-60, the second-best record in the league, beaten only by Bayview's 96-58 in the TU West. Miller was last year's runner-up to Hartsdale's Zim Donner in the Manager of the Year race.

Johanssen won his second consecutive division crown and improved the Vikings record from 92-62 in 2003. Calkin did a masterful job with the LaClaire Lynx, who had finished fifth, eighth and seventh in their IPA history. The Lynx jumped from 61-93 to 84-70 this year, climbing up to third place behind Bayview and Denton City (87-67).

Also listed in the balloting were Campy Roy of Oxford with 10 votes, Colschester's Robbie Wilbertson with 8 votes, Cochise Chandler of the Midway Wolves with 6 and Red Bluff's Mack Connery with 4 votes.

Roy moved the Red Caps from third to first in the North Division race, Wilbertson improved the Elites from sixth to second in the South, Chandler managed Midway from seventh to third in the East and Connery won his second straight East title.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

RU Best Gloves of 2004 Chosen
It's been said that the best offense is a good defense. That's why contending teams are always looking to improve on the defensive side of the game. Keeping runs from scoring is just as good as driving them in. There were three multi-year recipients. Sugar Valley's super catcher Slingshot McFall was named for the fourth straight year, Claxton's fine outfielder Dixie Baker picked up his third trophy and Glasco's gifted second baseman Barry McCord won for the second time.

The top fielders have been chosen in the Ruthlandian Union for 2004. Here are the Golden Glove Award winners:

Pitcher: Harry Manning (Colfax Blasters) (1.000 FA/75 A/4 DP) (20-13 3.37 ERA) (.148 BA/0 HR/4 RBI/5R)
Catcher: Slingshot McFall (Sugar Valley Rattlers) (.996 FA/46% RTO/66 A) (.239 BA/6 HR/58 RBI/37 R)
First Baseman: Jordy John (Ranford Bulls) (.999 FA/94 A) (.236 BA/27 HR/86 RBI/68 R)
Second Baseman: Barry McCord (Glasco Athletics) (.990 FA/499 A) (.278 BA/18 HR/74 RBI/81 R)
Third Baseman: Rusty Ellis (Sligo Rovers) (.962 FA/373 A) (.307 BA/6 HR/62 RBI/104 R/33 SB)
Shortstop: Danny Church (Belair Beach Sunbirds) (.982 FA/523 A) (.254 BA/4 HR/42 RBI/67 R)
Left Fielder: Dixie Baker (Claxton Diamonds) (.982 FA/364 PO/8 A) (.252 BA/25 HR/77 RBI/86 R)
Center Fielder: Jackie Faust (Claxton Diamonds) (.998 FA/445 PO/0 A) (.295 BA/17 HR/58 RBI/104 R/11 SB)
Right Fielder: Paulie Rizzutto (Marston Nine) (.991 FA/335 PO/7 A) (.243 BA/10 HR/72 RBI/69 R/16 SB)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 21, 2004

TU Announces 2004 Top Gloves
Golden Glove Awards are the symbol for defensive excellence, a recognition of the best of the best in defense. Turon's fancy-fielding first baseman Boots Dubois won for the third year in a row, while East Point second baseman Karol Zadoka, High Mesa third baseman Howie Partridge, South Fork left fielder Art Atkins and Fairfax center fielder Billy Echevarria were chosen for the second time.

The Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Award trophies for 2004 have been awarded to these outstanding fielders:

Pitcher: Jarred Robillard (East Point Panthers) (.987 FA/64 A/5 DP) (18-14 3.13) (.268 BA/2 HR/12 RBI/4 R)
Catcher: Virgil Carpenter (Red Bluff Red Sox) (.993 FA/43% RTO/2 PB/102 A) (.249 BA/16 HR/65 RBI/52 R)
First Baseman: Boots Dubois (Turon Typhoons) (.994 FA/138 A) (.304 BA/7 HR/53 RBI/88 R/19 SB))
Second Baseman: Karol Zodoka (East Point Panthers) (.985 FA/505 A) (.296 BA/30 HR/94 RBI/109 R/21 SB))
Third Baseman: Howie Partridge (High Mesa Cowboys) (.978 FA/388 A) (.258 BA/16 HR/57 RBI/72 R)
Shortstop: Erico Pilar (San Alejo Montaneros) (.979 FA/486 A) (.305 BA/10 HR/70 RBI/82 R)
Left Fielder: Art Atkins (South Fork Stallions) (.991 FA/300 PO/13 A) (.285 BA/11 HR/71 RBI/74 R)
Center Fielder: Billy Echevarria (Fairfax Frogs) (.989 FA/461 PO/7 A) (.267 BA/9 HR/48 RBI/102 R/28 SB)
Right Fielder: Monty Draycott (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) (.981 FA/353 PO/12 A) (.267 BA/23 HR/112 RBI/78 R/18 SB)