ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Ruthlandian Union

Kazmarek's .349 Average Tops in RU, 4th Straight Batting Title
Jet Kazmarek gave Vipers fans plenty to cheer about this past year. His latest achievement, the 2005 Ruthlandian Union batting crown, gives them one more reason to celebrate. In 147 games, the Valmara left fielder hit .349 with 190 hits, 13 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 98 runs scored. Kazmarek has dominated this category. He has won it four times in five years. His rookie season is the only time Kazmarek hasn't taken the trophy. He hit .314 in 2001, while shortstop Scooter Perez of Volusia took the title with a .374 mark.

Tycobbian Union

Rookie Walker Leads TU Hitters
Nobody in the Tycobbian Union outhit 22-year-old Dayton Walker this season. It became official today with the close of the regular season that the talented Kenwood rookie center fielder was the best in the league - but just barely better. Walker hit .358862 and edged out Bayview second sacker Andy Hansen by .000166 points. Hansen had a .358696 batting average.

Walker's average was officially rounded off to .359 average and that put him at the top of the leaderboard and got him the TU batting title. Walker's stats also included 164 hits, 45 doubles, 8 triples, 4 home runs, 52 RBIs and 78 runs. Walker played in 134 games.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Ruthlandian Union 2005 Statistics

[Eugene Church]

Ruthlandian Union 2005 Statistics

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Tycobbian Union 2005 Statistics

[Eugene Church]

Tycobbian Union 2005 Statistics

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

IPA Pro Cup: Sweet 16 Series Underway Today Across the Islands
The "second season" begins today in the Islandian Pro Alliance as the playoffs get under way to determine the best professional baseball team in Islandia. The top 16 clubs have been decided and now they will vie to see who win the IPA Pro Cup.

Ruthlandian Union Rankings by Season Record:
1. Sugar Valley (98-56) .270 BA (8th) 157 HR (7th-T) 3.38 ERA (2nd) .978 FA
2. Belair Beach (96-58) .269 BA (10th) 157 HR (7th-T) 3.02 ERA (1st) .976 FA
3. Volusia (92-62) .269 BA (10th) 120 HR (20th) 3.54 ERA (6th) .978 FA
4. Middlefield (85-70) .264 BA (16th) 221 HR (1st) 4.31 ERA (31st) .981 FA
5. Marston (84-70) .273 BA (4th) 140 HR (14th) 4.08 ERA (25th) .976 FA
5. Ranford (84-70) .276 BA (1st) 139 HR (15th) 3.61 ERA (7th) .974 FA
7. Taranto (83-71) .273 BA (3rd) 197 HR (2nd) 4.10 ERA (26th) .976 FA
7. San Dimas (83-71) .271 BA (6th) 151 HR (9th-T) 4.04 ERA (24th) .976 FA

Tycobbian Union Rankings by Season Record
1. Denton City (97-57) .286 BA (1st) 181 HR (6th) 3.52 ERA (2nd) .975 FA
2. Red Bluff (95-59) .274 BA (7th) 163 HR (12th) 3.68 ERA (6th) .983 FA
3. Cape Coral (93-61) .262 BA (19th) 135 HR/20th) 3.10 ERA (1st) .974 FA
4. Luxora (92-62) .281 BA (3rd) 169 HR (9th) 3.75 ERA (7th) .976 FA
5. Summerland (91-63) .273 BA (8th) 145 HR (15th) 3.63 ERA (4th) .975 FA
6. Bay St. Clair (87-67) .266 BA (16th) 111 HR (29th) 3.75 ERA (8th) .977 FA
7. Hartsdale (82-72) .270 BA (11th) 130 HR (23rd) 3.92 ERA (12th) .978 FA
8. Ozarka (81-73) .272 BA (10th) 129 HR (24th) 3.58 ERA (3rd) .973 FA

Pro Cup Sweet 16 Series Schedule
(Best Three-Out-Of-Five Games)

(Ruthlandian Union)

Belair Beach at Taranto
Ranford at San Dimas
Volusia at Marston
Middlefield at Sugar Valley

(Tycobbian Union)

Cape Coral at Hartsdale
Luxora at Summerland
Denton City at Ozarka
Red Bluff at Bay St. Clair

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

The Islandian Times Pro Cup Poll
In a poll of sportswriters and sportscasters throughout the Islands The Islandian Times has selected Denton City to capture the 2005 IPA Pro Cup. The Redbirds are favored over defending champion Red Bluff, Cape Coral, Luxora and Summerland in the Tycobbian Union, while Sugar Valley is predicted to take the Ruthlandian Union title and play Denton City for the overall Islandia crown. The Rattlers will have to fend off Belair Beach and Volusia to get to the Pro Cup finals.

The Islandian Times Pro Cup Poll:
1. Denton City (35 votes)
2. Red Bluff (32 votes)
3. Sugar Valley (23 votes)
4. Belair Beach (21 votes)
5. Cape Coral (9 votes)
6. Luxora (7 votes)
7. Volusia (5 votes)
8. Summerland (4 votes)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Sweet 16 Summary Around the IPA
The Pro Cup playoffs are underway. Eight Sweet 16 games were played today around the Islands. Opening-game winners in the Ruthlandian Union were Belair Beach 1-0 over Taranto, Volusia 9-3 over Marston, Ranford 5-4 over San Dimas and Middlefield sneaked past Sugar Valley 6-4.

Over in the Tycobbian Union first-game winners were Luxora 4-0 over Summerland, Red Bluff edged Bay St. Clair 2-1, Ozarka surprised Denton City 5-3 and Hartsdale got the best of Cape Coral 7-4.

Ruthlandian Union 2005 Sweet Sixteen Series

Mosley Masterpiece, Sunbirds Blank Tars 1-0
It was a whale of a pitching duel at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto. Slim Mosley (1-0), a 23-winner in the regular season, carried it over into the Sweet !6 opener as he blanked hard-hitting Taranto 1-0. Mosley went the route and gave up seven hits, while striking out three and walking one.

1B Phil Gravelli's second-inning homer was the difference in the game. Taking the tough loss was Carlo Bianchi (0-1). He worked eight innings and surrendered only six hits. The Tars threatened to tie it up in the ninth when LF Dominic Zuccaro doubled to lead off the inning, but was quickly erased when RF Tony Blaser lined into a double play.

V's Bomb Marston 9-3 in First Game
On a rainy day in Marston at Legends Field, Volusia homered its way to victory 9-3 in the first game of the Sweet 16 Series. 2B Chaco Rivera and C Clint Hardesty both slugged three-run homers to power the Vigilantes. Carl Schmitz (1-0 1.80) went five strong innings for the win. Schmitz left early with an 8-1 lead after a long rain delay. Relievers Brian King and Todd Wolfe finished out for him. Marston starter Vinnie Gardner (0-1) had an off-day and caught the loss. Gardner gave up five runs in just two innings.

Bulls Take Opener, Nips Rancheros 5-4
At Ranchero Stadium in San Dimas, the Rancheros dropped a nip-and-tuck opening game in the Sweet 16 Series. The Ranford Bulls trimmed them 5-4 with two runs in the eighth inning off closer Cleve Skinner (0-1 9.00), who failed to protect a 4-3 lead. With the bases full 2B Johnny Fenroy tied the score with a fielder's choice and relief ace Tim DeKosky (1-0 0.00) won his own game with a fly ball to right. Winning pitcher DeKosky totally shut down the Rancheros on one hit in three innings. Ranford had 13 hits to 9 for San Dimas. The Bulls committed three costly errors that kept the game close. Only one of the Rancheros runs were earned. Game two of the best-of-five series will also be in San Dimas.

Middlefield Whips Sugar Valley 6-4 in Opener
The Middlefield Roosters took the Sweet 16 opener 6-4 from the Sugar Valley Rattlers at Middlefield Park. 17-game winner Jamie Hicks (1-0 4.50) went eight innings, scattered nine hits and was tapped for four runs, but managed to hold off the powerful Rattlers for the victory. Hicks fanned five and walked two. RF Bailey Norcross topped Rooster batters with a homer and two RBIs. 2B Timmy Gage also batted in a pair of scores. SS Flipper Bird and 2B Casey Leeburn led Sugar Valley with solo homers. Hec Skurgan (0-1), who was 17-6 during the regular season, suffered the loss. Skurgan was ripped for five runs in five-plus innings. He exited trailing 5-2.

Tycobbian Union 2005 Sweet 16 Series

Red Bluff Edges BSC Bucs 2-1, Wins Opening Game
Shoreline Park fans in Bay St. Clair didn't see many hits today as the hometown Buccaneers hosted the defending Pro Cup champion Red Bluff in the first game of the Sweet 16 Series. Two 18-game winners went at it with the Red Sox Leonard Urban finally winning out 2-1 over the Bucs Denny Coulon. Urban (1-0) held Bay St. Clair to just one hit and one run in his seven innings. Urban was wild, but unhittable. He issued six bases on balls, but was good in the clutch. The Buccaneers stranded 12 baserunners in the game. Closer John Dougherty worked the final two frames and closed out the victory for Urban. Coulon (0-1) pitched the entire game and gave up only five hits.

Red Bluff got a run in the first inning on a single by SS Jose Aguilar, who stole second and third and rode home on LF Tony Blundell's sacrifice fly. Blundell also singled in the eventual winning run in the third inning. A walk, two-base error by 2B Vern Gable and an RBI ground-out by 3B Ed Albrecht plated Bay St. Clair's only score in the fourth frame.

Fernandes Blanks Sunsets 4-0, Luxora Wins 1st Game
On the road at Sunset Stadium in Summerland, Luxora's tall and lanky 34-year-old Fernando Fernandes softballed his way to a 4-0 two-hit triumph over the Sunsets in game one of the Sweet 16 Series. Fernandes was at his best as he finessed through the Summerland line-up, striking out three and walking just one with an 89 mph fastball, lots of breaking stuff and great location. The 6'6" southpaw outhurled Paul Felkner, a 22-game winner. Felkner had a rough outing as the Zorros shelled him for 12 hits and four runs in seven-plus innings. Fernandes finished the regular season with a 16-6 mark and a great 2.93 ERA.

35-year-old rookie 1B Matt Maxwell topped Luxora at the plate with a 4-for-5 day. LF Hank Hamilton's first-inning single and rookie 3B Randy Rudelmeier's third-inning double were all the hits Summerland got.

Ozarka Goes 1-Up, Slips by DC 5-3
At Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka, C Scotty Fisher went deep in the eighth inning to give the Naturals a come-from-behind victory in game one of the Sweet 16 Series with Denton City. Fisher belted a two-run homer to upend the Redbirds 5-3.

Karl Kleinert (1-0) tossed a complete game and held Denton City to three runs and seven hits. The Redbirds got to him for three runs early and led 3-0 after five innings, but DC starter Gino Carmazzo couldn't hold it. The Nats bashed him for three runs in the sixth to tie it up. The defeat went to reliever Mike Danek (0-1), who surrendered Fisher's game-winning blast. Ozarka collected 10 hits in the game and were led by Fisher with three RBIs and 1B Hootie Shook, who had three hits and scored twice.

Hellcats Rally Late, Top Hurricanes 7-4
At Pioneer Park in Hartsdale, the Hellcats rallied in the last innings to knock off Cape Coral 7-4 in the opening game of the Sweet 16 Series. Three runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth paved the way to victory. RF Woody Crow broke the 4-4 tie in the eighth with a single. Reliever Nico Carnera and 2B Hoppy Hill added a pair of insurance runs with a sac fly and an RBI single respectively.

Carnera (1-0) chalked up the win by shutting out the Hurricanes over the last two innings. Carnera came on in the eighth with no outs and the bases loaded and proceeded to strike out two of the three batters to end the inning with no further damage. Closer Arlie Nichols (0-1) was the losing pitcher. He was rapped for three runs in the ninth. Hartsdale outhit Cape Coral decidedly with an 11-4 advantage.

There were no extra base hits in the game. The Hurricanes suffered the loss of starter Jeff Salow. He had to leave in the fourth with a blister and could be out a week or so. The game was even at 1-all at that point. Crow and SS Jud Turchin led the Hellcats with two RBIs apiece, while C Lawton Payne had three hits. LF Kippy Doyle sparked Cape Coral with two runs batted in.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 22, 2005

2005 IPA Sweet 16 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Bully for Bernhoffer, Ranford Raps Rancheros 8-2
The Ranford Bulls showed their stuff and slammed San Dimas 8-2 to take a two-nothing lead in their best-of-five Sweet 16 Series. The Bull cracked 13 hits and got a fine mound performance from Chris Bernhoffer (1-0), who scattered eight hits, fanned five and walked three.

1B Jordy John (.400) rapped out three hits and drove in three runs, while SS Rick Fargnoli (.400) had two hits and two runs batted in. John and Fargnoli both had solo homers. CF Warren Gravois (.444) also slapped out three hits for the Bulls. The loss went to Ranchero starter Keith Callahan (0-1), who allowed five runs in five innings in a poor outing. C Wesley Pate (.286) homered for San Dimas.

Rattlers Nip Roosters 4-3, Series Tied 1-1
Sugar Valley manager Gibson Bobkins got just what the doctor ordered from his ace Gregg Neal, who beat the tough Middlefield Roosters 4-3 to even up the Sweet 16 Series at one game apiece. Neal went the distance and stopped Middlefield on five hits, while striking out seven and walking two. Neal (1-0) shut them out after the fourth inning.

3B Jorge Vargas (.286) and 2B Casey Leeburn (.429) led the 10-hit attack with home runs. Vargas broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the fifth with his roundtripper. Leeburn hit one for the second game in a row. The Roosters rookie 3B Charlie Gamble (.429) sparked them with two RBIs in defeat. Jamie Gilchrist (0-1) was the loser. The Rattlers got to him for four runs and seven hits in six innings.

The teams will now shift to Sugar Valley for the rest of the best-of-five games series.

Tars Tie Sweet 16, Trim Sunbirds 3-2
At home in Taranto, the Tars got back into the Sweet 16 Series with a 3-2 win over Belair Beach. Each club has won a game apiece. All the scoring came in the first two innings. The Sunbirds got on the scoreboard first with a two-run homer by CF Billy Martz (.333) in the opening frame. Taranto cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning when LF Dominic Zuccaro (.429) singled and came around on RF Tony Blaser's (.250) two-bagger. The Tars took the lead for good in the second on two walks and a sac bunt to place runners at second and third base. SS Sal Bruno (.375) lined a single to right plating both runners. Taranto won the game despite being outhit 11-7.

Both starters pitched well. Taranto's Anthony Nardone (1-0) notched the win in spite of the 11 hits. He worked into the eighth, struck out five and issued three walks. With two away Sunbird SS Danny Church doubled to put the tying run in scoring position. Skipper Tommaso Lazzorda called in Lefty Paddison from the bullpen. Paddison got the final out of the inning and worked a perfect ninth for the save. The losing pitcher was Tiny Lindgren (0-1), who permitted three runs and seven hits in his seven innings.

Marston Evens Series, Edges Vigilantes 4-3
it was a seesaw affair in game two of the Sweet 16 Series in Marston with the hometown Nine finally pulling out a 4-3 squeaker over Volusia with 1B Pat Farris' (.444) walk-off base hit in the bottom of the ninth. Manager Johnny Walters mound staff only gave up four hits, but countered that with six walks to keep it too close for comfort. Marston smacked 10 hits and was paced by Farris, who had three of them, and rookie 3B Johnny Holman (.429) with a pair of RBIs. LF Briscoe Crowder (.429) led the V's at bat with a homer and a double and two runs scored.

Both starters gave a good account of themselves. Marston's Jan Arnick worked eight innings and left with a 3-2 lead. Arnick limited the Vigilantes to just two hits. Closer Booger Burchfield (1-0) got the victory, but also blew the save to get it. Volusia starter Tommy Betanzos left after eight innings, giving up three runs, two of them earned. The loss went to closer Hernando Espaderos (0-1).

Tycobbian Union

Nats Do It Again! Rout DC Redbirds 15-0!
The Ozarka Naturals did it again! They have shocked the heavily-favored Denton City Redbirds for the second day in a row. This time they routed them 15-0. The Nats now have a commanding 2-0 bulge in the Sweet 16 Series and only need one more win in the next three games to move on in the Pro Cup playoffs.

Leading 4-0 in the seventh, they scored 11 times to annihilate the Redbirds. Ozarka rattled the fences for 14 hits led by SS Duffy Douglas (.286) with two homers and four RBIs and C Scotty Fisher (.500) who ripped three doubles and batted in two runs. Winning pitcher Rene Gautier (1-0) also stood out with seven shutout innings. He gave up only five hits, walked nobody and fanned eight in an outstanding performance. Archie Lemon relieved Gautier in the eighth and finished it off for him with two scoreless frames. Daniel Fitzmorris (0-1) took the loss, giving up six runs in six innings.

Denton City had the most wins in the IPA this season and is the favorite to win the Pro Cup. The Sweet 16 Series will continue tomorrow afternoon in Denton City at Douglas Denton Field.

Red Bluff Up by 2 Games, Noses Out Bucs Again 2-1
For the second successive day at Shoreline Park Red Bluff nosed out Bay St. Clair by the identical 2-1 score. Mila Mohoski (1-0) was on top of his game as the crafty left-hander restricted the Buccaneers to seven hits, struck out five and walked one batter in a complete-game performance. Duncan McFalls (0-1) toiled in defeat, yielding six hits and two runs in seven innings.

Bucky Frizzell's (.250) two-run roundtripper in the second inning was the game-breaker. The Bucs only score came in the bottom of the frame when 3B Ed Albrecht (.429) double to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a ground-out and scored on Jake Singleton's (.143) RBI ground-out.

The Red Sox will try and wrap up the Sweet 16 Series in a sweep at home tomorrow at Red Bluff Park.

Sunsets 4, Zorros Zero, Taft Blanks Them in Game 2
Summerland's Bill Taft zeroed in on the Zorros at Sunset Stadium and masterfully blanked them 4-0 on a fine four-hitter to knot the Sweet 16 Series at one game each. Taft (1-0) had six Ks, walked just one batter and was rarely in trouble in shutting out Luxora. The Z's only got to second base twice in the game. All of their hits were singles. The Sunsets chalked up eight hits and were paced by 1B Karl Van Kooten (.429) with three hits and an RBI. SS Zee Overbeek (.250) delivered two hits and an RBI. Summerland broke open a scoreless game with three runs in the fifth off loser Eddie Hoffman (0-1), who gave up five hits and three runs in his five innings, none of them earned.

The teams will tangle again tomorrow afternoon in Luxora as the Sweet 16 Series will move to De la Vega Stadium.

Hurricanes Prevail 4-2 Over Hellcats, Series Tied
Cape Coral's Cody Burg quelled Hartsdale 4-2 to even up their Sweet 16 Series at 1-1. Burg (1-0) worked eight strong innings for the victory, holding the Hellcats to just four hits, while striking out seven and issuing no base on balls. Cal Holtzman came on in the ninth and got all three batters in a row, two by strikeouts.

Mark Sakelaris (0-1) suffered a heartbreaking defeat. A critical two-out error in the ninth was his downfall. SS Jud Turchin mishandled a ground ball and opened the floodgates. CF Ernie Montaro (.200) and 2B Fancy Phelan (.286) followed with RBI singles to push the Hurricanes in front of Hartsdale. Sakelaris allowed only one earned run in eight-plus innings. Turchin (.250) accounted for all of the Hellcat runs with a two-run shot in the opening inning.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 23, 2005

2005 IPA Sweet 16 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Bulls Advance, Sweep San Dimas in Sweet 16
The Ranford Bulls have advanced to the next round of the Pro Cup Series by sweeping the San Dimas Rancheros in three games. Leland Shaddock got them there by shutting out the Rancheros 3-0 on just two hits. 2B Cyclone Cobb (.308) singled in the third and LF Dennis Jones (.182) collected the other in the sixth.

It was a scoreless battle between Shaddock and Bill Sharp until the fifth when the Bulls struck paydirt. C Walt Horvath (.400) got an infield single and reached third on an error by RF Goose Garlin, who dropped a fly ball. Shaddock bunted them to second and third, setting the stage for CF Warren Gravois' (.385) RBI ground-out. Wildness by losing pitcher Sharp (0-1) and reliever Bobby Prince cost San Dimas two more runs in the eighth. Prince walked two runs in to seal their fate. Sharp pitched well until his control went haywire. He worked seven innings, allowed only two earned runs and surrendered six hits.

Ranford will now await the winner of the Belair Beach Sunbirds and Taranto Tars. The Bulls will play one of them in the Pro Cup Elite 8 Series.

BB Takes Tense 2-1 Win, Takes 2-1 Lead Over Tars
"It has been a magnificently played series", Belair Beach manager Marty Pedroza told reporters after his Sunbirds won a 2-1 duel from the Taranto Tars. The tense one-run decision was the the third straight one-run game in the Sweet 16 Series and gave Belair Beach a 2-1 edge in games in the best-of-five series. Previous scores have been 1-0 and 3-2. This time around Ray Watson (1-0) and closer Johnny Spears combined to tame the Tars. Watson was the winner as he worked seven strong innings and stopped tough-hitting Taranto on four hits and a run. Spears came in for the final two frames and dominated with four strikeouts to nail down the important victory. George Brazzi (0-1) deserved a better fate as he only allowed two runs and four hits in a complete-game performance.

The Sunbirds got all of their runs in the third frame. RF Matty McDermott (.100) walked to lead off the innings and scampered to third on 2B Art Parker's (.385) double. Clean-up hitter 1B Phil Gravelli (.500) drove them both in with a clutch single and put Belair Beach ahead to stay. C Norm Polochak (.100) narrowed the score to 2-1 in the fourth with a solo homer, but the Tars could not get any closer.

Pedroza said, "To win the series the pitchers have to keep Zuccaro and Blaser in the ballpark." Taranto LF Dominic Zuccaro (.300) and RF Tony Blaser (.222) hit 45 homers each during the regular season, but have yet to hit one in the postseason.

V's "Walk" Past Marston 8-5, Lead Series 2-1
At the Jailhouse in Volusia, the Vigilantes literally "walked" their way to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Sweet 16 Series with Marston. The V's collected 14 walks en route to an 8-5 triumph over the Nine. Volusia also intermingled seven hits and were sparked by RF Lorenzo Pariente (.364), who racked up three hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer. The Vigilantes ran up an 8-1 after eight innings, but winner Raul Sandoval (1-0) needed help in the ninth before Marston was subdued. The Nine smacked a dozen hits, but failed to take advantage of it. They were led by SS Don Nichols (.429) with three hits and rookie 3B Jimmy Holman (.455) with a home run. Hayden Bagshaw (0-1) went six innings and lost it, walking eight batters.

Jackson Halts Rattlers 6-3, Roosters Up 2-1
The Middlefield Roosters were on the road at Farmers Memorial Park against the powerful Sugar Valley Rattlers and manager Smitty Michaels got just want he needed - an impressive 6-3 victory from Joshua Jackson and a two-games-to-one edge in the Sweet 16 Series. Jackson (1-0) twirled a solid game, holding the Rattlers to seven hits and three runs in a route-going performance. He walked only one and fanned four. The Roosters rapped a dozen hits off Sugar Valley pitching, including three home runs.

It was a 3-3 game until the Roosters tallied three runs in the eighth and ninth innings. The winning run was not earned. In the eighth frame C Mike Kanjorsky (.083) reached base on a throwing error by SS Flipper Bird with one away. 1B Allie Ludlow (.333) put Middlefield ahead with an RBI double. Back-to-back roundtrippers in the ninth by LF Cecil Clark (.364) and RF Bailey Norcross (.364) gave the Roosters two insurance runs. It was Norcross' second home run of the game and third of the series. Both he and Clark drilled three hits and scored twice. Sugar Valley starter Frankie Jardine (0-1) had a decent outing. He surrendered four runs in seven-plus innings, but only two were earned.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 23, 2005

2005 IPA Sweet 16 Series

Tycobbian Union

DC Wins 1st Game, Lee's HR Beats Ozarka 5-3
Denton City staved off elimination in its best-of-five series with upstart Ozarka. The Redbirds rode the good right arm of pitcher Hank Taylor (1-0) and two homers by Lawton Lee and Rod MacCormack to a 5-3 triumph over the Naturals and thus cut the lead down to two-games-to-one in the Sweet 16 Series.

"We live another day," Ford Whiteman, the Denton City skipper, thankfully sighed in the club house after the game. "We haven't looked like the team that won 98 games during the regular season. We are going to have to get back to that kind of ball to beat Ozarka. They have a good ball club and we'll have to play really well to beat them."

Hank Taylor tossed a gritty eight and one-third innings for the victory. Taylor walked six and allowed six hits and three runs, but fanned eight and was tough with men on base. Closer Bubba Lear walked two in a shaky ninth, but managed to get the final out with the tying runs on base and the winning run at home plate. He retired clean-up hitter Vic Weinstein (.250) to seal the verdict and keep the Redbirds Pro Cup aspirations alive.

At the plate Denton City was led by C Lawton Lee (.400), who slammed what proved to be a game-winning two-run homer in the fourth inning. LF Danny Nash (.300) doubled in the tying run to even the score at 2-2, then Lee followed with his mighty blast. 1B Rod MacCormack (.167) increased the margin to 5-3 in the fifth with his solo shot. Sid Hyder (0-1) was the losing hurler. The Redbirds got to him for five runs in five innings.

CF Kermit Wiggins (.429) paced the Naturals with 3-for-4. He cracked two doubles and scored twice. 1B Hootie Shook (.400) also contributed a home run.

Bucs Beat Red Sox 7-5, Still Alive
The homestanding Red Sox were poised at Red Bluff Park to send Bay St. Clair home for the season, but it didn't happen. The Buccaneers smashed 12 hits and piled up a 7-1 bulge halfway through the game, then held off a determined challenge by the defending Pro Cup champions. The Bucs upended the Red Sox 7-5 for their first win in the best-of-five Sweet 16 Series. Manager Guy Rondre's Buccaneers remained alive in the postseason and will live to play another day.

CF Skeeter Hall (.462) led the attack with four hits in six at-bats and scored four times. Rookie 1B Gerry Fields (.182) and LF Stan Denton (.231) knocked in two runs apiece. Starting pitcher Lloyd Weber (.333) got the Buccaneers only homer. RF Kris Grabowski (.300) had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice for the Red Sox. Grabowski collected Red Bluff's only roundtripper in the game.

Weber (1-0) notched the win, but he labored. In six innings he permitted five runs and seven hits, while walking four and fanning three. Closer Norm Gross got the save with three spotless innings. He struck out three, walked none and allowed a pair of hits in a fine relief performance. It was a long day for Red Bluff starter Frank Beaudoin (0-1), who sustained the loss. He was ripped for five runs in the first four innings.

Summerland Leads Sweet 16, Tops Luxora 5-3
The Summerland Sunsets were victorious on the road at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora. The Sunsets copped a 5-3 win to take a 2-1 lead in the Sweet 16 Series. Outgunned 13-6 by the Zorros, Summerland racked up nine bases on balls along with six hits to knock off the Z's.

Starter Alex Alessi (1-0) bent, but didn't break and picked up the victory. Alessi went eight-plus frames and was tagged for 11 hits, but surrendered only three runs. Closer Bobby Winwood worked the last one and two-thirds innings for the save. He allowed the Z's no runs. Marco Braceros (0-1) took the brunt of the Sunset attack for the loss. He hurled seven innings and permitted four runs, while striking out four and walking seven.

Luxora took an early 2-0 lead after two innings, but Summerland came back and went in front 4-2 after five frames and held on. There was only one homer in the game. Zorro C Otto Kronvath unloaded a solo job in the second inning.

Hellcats Up 2-1 in Sweet 16, Whip 'Canes 8-2
Manager Zim Donner of the Hartsdale Hellcats had a hunch that 42-year-old Gus Kostro could get the Sweet 16 lead for him and the old vet did it. Kostro (1-0) worked seven splendid innings and stopped Cape Coral on two runs and five hits in an 8-2 decision. Kostro needed help from reliever Tal Vaitkus, who wrapped up the save with two scoreless frames. That gave Hartsdale a 2-1 edge in the best-of-five playoff with the Hurricanes. One more Hellcat victory and Cape Coral will be eliminated from the postseason.

Hartsdale busted up a 1-1 game with four runs in the sixth inning against loser Doug Lyons (0-1), who was pounded for six runs in his six innings. C Lawton Payne (.400) doubled in two runs, 3B Terry Bellino (.333) doubled in one and Kostro even drove in a run in the inning with a ground-out. The Hellcats added homers by RF Woody Crow (.222) and Jud Turchin (.308) in the late innings. Hartsdale had the edge in hits 8-6.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 24, 2005

2005 IPA Sweet 16 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Middlefield Massacres SV, Advances in Postseason
The Sugar Valley Rattlers, the champion of the RU East, were favored to beat Middlefield in the Sweet 16 Series and eventually win the Ruthlandian Union portion of the Pro Cup Series - but somebody forgot to tell the Middlefield Roosters. Manager Smitty Michaels' crew eliminated the Rattlers from the postseason by destroying them 11-0 in game four. Middlefield won the best-of-five series three games to one and will now advance to the Elite 8 round.

Southpaw Jamie Hicks (2-0 2.12) blanked the Rattlers on a three-hitter and was backed with 11 hits to easily finish them off. The Roosters offense was led by 1B Allie Ludlow (.412) with three hits and four RBIs and CF Ty DeWitt (.267), who smacked two hits and drove in three, while RF Bailey Norcross (.429) scored twice and delivered a pair of hits and two RBIs, including his 4th homer of the series. Ludlow also went deep for Middlefield in the rout.

Hec Skurgan (0-2 12.27) was pounded for the second time in the series and took the embarrassing loss. This time he gave up five runs in just one and two-thirds innings. In the series finale Sugar Valley didn't do anything well and even committed four errors. It was a bad day and a bad series all around for skipper Gibson Bobkins, who took the Rattlers to the Pro Cup finals last year and expected to win it this season.

V's KO Marston, Volusia Heads to Elite 8 Round
TU West champ Volusia knocked off Marston 3-2 in game four of the Sweet 16 Series to take it three games to one. The Vigilantes wrapped it up at home at the Jailhouse with home run power and a strong mound performance. 2B Chad Rivera (.333), SS Scooter Perez (.231) and RF Lorenzo Pariente (.333) each hit solo homers and Carl Schmitz (2-0 1.93) worked nine innings, scattered nine hits, fanned five and issued no walks to spark the victory. Gopher balls continue to haunt losing pitcher Vinnie Gardner (0-2 9.00) as he was torched three times in six innings. He allowed nine hits overall.

C Davis Teed (.333) gave Marston a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the third with a solo homer. Volusia quickly regained the lead with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. The Nine made a last-ditch effort in the ninth when back-to-back doubles by rookie 3B Jimmy Holman (.400) and 1B Pat Farris (.529) narrowed the score to 3-2. Schmitz escaped by retiring the last two batters in easy fashion to clinch the series.

Sunbirds Slams Taranto 12-8, Wins Sweet 16 Series
The RU South flag winner, the Belair Beach Sunbirds, beat the tar out of the Taranto Tars and now head to the next Pro Cup round, the Elite 8. The Sunbirds won a 12-8 slugfest to eliminate Taranto from the postseason in four games. In contrast to the first three games, this game was ablaze with hits - 16 for Belair Beach and 15 for the Tars - a total of 31 in all. The Sunbirds slugged six doubles and a triple and were paced by SS Danny Church (.417) with two hits and three RBIs. He had plenty of support from 1B Phil Gravelli (.571) with 3-4 and two runs scored and three other players each with two hits and two runs driven in: LF Nicky Swift (.200), C Little Jake Bungarooba (.500) and pitcher Slim Mosley (.500).

Starter Slim Mosley (2-0 3.21) claimed the win, but wasn't around at the end. Mosley left after five inning leading 10-5 after giving up five runs and 10 hits. Relievers Lyndon Yarbrough and Joe Schmidt worked the last four innings, but were hit hard, too. The Tars got to them for three runs and made it close. Loser Carlo Bianchi (0-2 6.57) had a brutal outing as he was thrashed for 10 runs in four-plus innings. RF Tony Blaser (.250), 1B Pietro Skrmetta (.250) and C Norm Polochak (.200) tried to keep Taranto in the ballgame with two RBIs each. Blaser had the only home run in the game.

Volusia, Middlefield and Belair Beach join the RU North regular season winner, the Ranford Bulls, in the Elite 8. Ranford swept its series with the San Dimas Rancheros and had the day off.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 24, 2005

2005 IPA Sweet 16 Series

Tycobbian Union

Sunsets Sink Luxora, Wins Series in Four Games
The sun has set on Luxora's season. The Zorros, who easily won the TU North this season, have fallen to the Summerland Sunsets in four games in the Sweet 16 Series. Summerland finished them off 7-5 today at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora much to the dismay of the Zorro loyalists. LF Hank Hamilton (.308) rapped two doubles and batted in four runs to led the Sunsets. SS Zee Overbeek (.357) also played a part with three hits and three runs scored. Summerland built up a 6-3 lead after four innings and held on, although the Z's made it close with LF Joel Reed's two-run shot in the eighth.

Lefty Paul Felkner (1-1 4.61) got credit for the victory. He hurled six innings, allowed three runs on seven hits. Closer Bobby Winwood (0-0 3.86) registered his second save of the series, but was tagged for Reed's roundtripper. Winwood worked three innings and yielded two hits and two runs with two strikeouts and no base on balls. Luxora's top batters were Reed (.412) with two hits and two RBIs and CF Cristo Viamonte (.333), who went 3-for-4, scored twice and batted in a run. Fernando Fernandes (1-1 4.38) was the losing pitcher. He was ripped for six runs in less than four innings.

DC Still Breathing, Evens Series with Ozarka Nats
Denton City is still breathing after the Redbirds eked out a 5-4 win over Ozarka at Douglas Denton Field for the second day in a row. The two clubs are now all even at two games apiece in the Sweet 16 Series. It took 11 hits and five pitchers to stave off elimination today. The heroes were 3B Jay Petit (.125), who clouted a two-run homer in the fifth to break a 3-3 tie and relievers Mike Danek and Bubba Lear, who held the Naturals runless over the last three frames. DC's RF Lavon Gooch (.563) had three hits in five at-bats, scored twice and had an RBI.

Roger Ramsey (1-0) picked up the win, but gave up two runs in his two innings and allowed Ozarka to tie the score in the fifth. Pat Schwartz (0-1) was the victim of Petit's blast and he got the loss. The Nats starting pitcher Karl Kleinert had a home run in the third inning to cut the Redbirds lead to 3-1. Ozarka had seven hits in all.

CC 'Canes Even Up with Hellcats, Win in 10
It's a seesaw Sweet 16 Series. Today at Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral it was the Hurricanes turn to win against Hartsdale and they did it on a bases-loaded walk in the tenth inning. 2B Fancy Phelan (.357) led off the inning and walked, 3B Hoshi Sato (.154) doubled and LF Kippy Doyle (.125) was intentionally walked - that brought 1B Sammy Harding (.267) to the plate to face Nico Carnera - and Carnera walked him to force in the winning run. The hard-earned 2-1 victory evened up the best-of-five game series at two apiece.

It was a well-pitched ball game. Cape Coral got just six hits, while Hartsdale could only muster three. Max Darenhauer got the start in place of the injured Jeff Salow. Darenhauer pitched extremely well, limiting the Hellcats to just three hits in six innings with five Ks and three walks. Cape Coral relievers pitched even better as they held the Hellcats hitless for the rest of the game. Cal Holtzman, Arlie Nichols and winner Bart Thomas (1-0) were brilliant in their four innings. Hartsdale starter Ben Manderson worked into the ninth and allowed just five hits, while striking out five and walking five. Carnera (1-1 2.70) was the losing pitcher.

Hartsdale got its only run of the game in the second frame on LF Emile Djorovich's (.250) double and an RBI single by C Lawton Payne (.357). The Hurricanes knotted it up on Harding's solo salvo in the last of the second.

Bucs-Red Sox Tied 2-2 in Sweet 16
Great relief work and strong bats gave Bay St. Clair a 9-5 twelve-inning triumph over Red Bluff to tie the Sweet 16 Series at two games each. Down two games to none, the visiting Buccaneers have rebounded to win two consecutive games at Red Bluff Park. CF Skeeter Hall (.474) lashed a two-run double in the twelfth for the go-ahead runs, then two more runs came across on LF Stan Denton's (.263) single that RF Kris Grabowski misplayed. After the Red Sox tied the score at 5-5 in the eighth inning, relievers Duke DeVree, Kenny Metcalf, and Ben Crowley blanked them for four and two-thirds innings on just one hit. Metcalf (1-0) got the win with two scoreless innings. He retired all six batters he faced in the tenth and eleventh innings. Crowley closed out the game with a perfect inning. Closer John Dougherty (0-1 3.86) was zapped for four runs in his two-plus innings for the loss.

Bay St. Clair had 14 hits to 11 for Red Bluff and were sparked by Hall with three hits and three RBIs, Denton had two hits and three RBIs and 2B Tony Mann (.250) and SS Chuck Hankins (.286) collected three hits each. Red Sox 3B Newt Lovell (.500) continued his hot hitting with three-for-five.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 25, 2005

2005 IPA Sweet 16 Series

Tycobbian Union

Redbirds Rally, Beat Nats 3rd Straight Time
The Denton City Redbirds were down and almost out after losing the first two games to Ozarka in the Sweet 16 Series, but they rallied with a vengence and took the next three games to advance to the Elite 8. Denton City snapped a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning to overcome the Naturals 6-4. RF Lavon Gooch (.524) tripled in the winning run and 3B Jay Petit (.176) drove him in with a sacrifice fly to give the Redbirds a two-run cushion. Denton City pelted Ozarka pitching for 12 hits, led by 1b Rob MacCormack (.211) with a two-run homer, Petit with two RBIs and SS Trevor Tomlinson (.167) with two hits and three runs scored.

At the postgame press conference Ford Whiteman, skipper of the victorious Redbirds, praised Ozarka, "We knew coming in it was going to be a tough series. We didn't take the Nats for granted. We didn't expect a cakewalk and it wasn't. Joe Mac teams are always sound fundamentally and play hard. We could have easily lost this series. Our hitting made the difference in the last three games. We got some timely hits."

Redbird starter Daniel Fitzmorris (1-1 6.92) had a tough time, but got credit for the win. Fitzmorris went seven innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Mike Danek and Tom Duroncelay held Ozarka at bay over the last two innings and protected the two-run lead. Nats starter Rene Gautier (1-1 4.15) was ineffective, giving up six runs in six innings.

Losing manager Joe Mac Carney told reporters, "My boys can hold their heads up high. There's a reason Denton won 98 games this season - they are a darn good ball club - but we gave 'em fits and came pretty close to upsetting them."

'Canes Win Rubber Game 5-2 in Sweet 16
Favored Cape Coral was down and gasping after three games in the Sweet 16 Series with Hartsdale. The Hellcats had them down two games to one and needed only one more win to eliminate the Hurricanes. But Huggy Miller's fine hill corps took over and won the last two games to take the series. Today it was Cody Burg (2-0 2.16), who shackled the Hellcats in the 5-2 victory. Burg, a 25-game winner in the regular campaign and the IPA leader with a terrific 1.90 ERA, took the mound and took charge as he usually does. The big 6-5 right-hander scattered eight hits, struck out seven and didn't issue a walk to beat Hartsdale for the second time in the series. He had whipped them 4-2 in game two. Hellcat starter Mark Sarkelaris (0-2 2.93) went down to defeat as he was tagged for five runs and five hits in seven innings.

Hellcat skipper Zim Donner was proud of his team, "We made the Hurricanes sweat. We came within an eyelash of taking the series. We could have easily won yesterday's 2-1 game. Having to face Burg twice in the series was a killer for us. Huggy has a hell of team. Any manager would love to go into the postseason with outstanding pitchers like Burg, Urban and Salow."

The Hurricanes got on the scoreboard early in the last of the first inning when 3B Hoshi Sato (.143) walked and was doubled home by LF Kippy Doyle (.211). They added two more in the second, helped out by two Hartsdale errors. The Hellcats cut the margin to 3-2 in the fifth frame on RF Wayne Crow's (.294) RBI single and 3B Terry Bellino's (.231) double play grounder. Doyle doubled in another score in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-2 in Cape Coral's favor. The Hurricanes wrapped up the scoring when pitcher Burg (.200) tripled to lead off the seventh and was driven in by CF Ernie Montano's (.136) liner to right.

Hartsdale threatened in the top of the ninth and loaded the bases on the tiring Burg, but Miller brought in his closer Arlie Nichols, who struck out 3B Whiz Weaver to end the game.

Commenting on the series, Miller said, "We dodge a bullet in this one. It was much too close for comfort. The key was Max Darenhauer, who started for the the injured Salow in game four. Darenhauer gave us six great innings when we really needed it." Cape Coral won game four 2-1 in 10 innings.

Red Bluff Rebuffs Bucs, Win Sweet 16 Series
It was a hotly-contested five-game series and when the smoke cleared the powerful Red Bluff Red Sox prevailed over the valiant Bay St. Clair Buccaneers. The Red Sox took the finale 7-3 and will now head on to the Elite 8 Series. The defending Pro Cup champions banged out 15 hits and got another fine effort from Mila Mohoski on the mound. Mohoski (2-0 2.00) was touched for 10 hits, but surrendered only three runs in stopping the red-hot Bucs. Everybody in the Red Bluff line-up got at least one hit, including Mohoski.

Bay St. Clair manager Guy Rondre lamented, "Not only do the Red Sox have good pitching, they hit the heck out of the ball, too. There are no patsies in their line-up. My Bucs gave it a good shot, but we just ran out of runs and pitching today. Mohoski is one crafty pitcher."

Red Bluff took the lead for good in the sixth when 2B Vern Gable (.35) snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI double and Mohoski (.143) added an RBI single. In the seventh the Buccaneers got within one run, but the Red Sox countered it with two more runs, making it 6-3 as RF Kris Grabowski (.316) and C Virgil Carpenter (.222) singled in runs. Red Sox 3B Newt Lovell (.450) had the only homer in the game, a two-run job in the fourth that tied the score at 2-all.

Manager Mack Connery remarked after the game, "Thank goodness for Mohoski. The Bucs bats had really done a number on us the previous two games. But my little savvy southpaw came through for us. He's my money pitcher."

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 26, 2005

2005 IPA Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Bulls Blister Belair Beach in Elite 8 Opener 10-1
At home at Ranford County Stadium, the Ranford Bulls remained unbeaten in the Pro Cup playoffs with a 10-1 thrashing of Belair Beach in the Elite 8 opener. It was the Bulls fourth win in a row. They teed off on Sunbird pitching for 17 hits, paced by 1B Colin Fairclough (.375) and 2B Johnny Fenroy (.375) with two-run homers. Fairclough had three RBIs, while Fenroy, CF Warren Gravois (.412) and LF Jose Castillo (.389) all had two each. On the mound Jean-Claude Scivicque (1-0 1.20) went the distance, gave up eight hits, fanned five, walked four, but only allowed one run. 21-game winner Tiny Lindgren (0-2 3.65) lost for the second time in the postseason. The Bulls battered him for six runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings with four of them unearned.

Roosters Crush V's with 6 HRs in Elite 8 Opener
In the Elite 8 opener Middlefield crushed Volusia 13-2 with a 6-homer barrage at Middlefield Park. The Roosters led the RU with 221 during the regular season and have hit 12 more in the postseason. Three players hit two each. Powering the way were 1B Allie Ludlow (.455) with four RBIs, CF Ty DeWitt (.350) with three RBIs and rookie 3B Charlie Gamble (.350) with a pair of RBIs. Altogether Middlefield piled up 19 hits in the runaway victory.

Meanwhile Julian Gilchrist (1-1 3.00) redeemed himself from a mediocre showing in his first playoff start with a sharp four-hitter. Gilchrist struck out nine Vigilantes and walked only one. Tommy Betanzos (0-1 7.27) was ravaged for five runs in the first inning for the loss.

Tycobbian Union

DC Redbirds Down RB Red Sox in Elite 8 Opener
Visiting Denton City got the best of the Red Sox 6-2 at Red Bluff Park in the first game of the Elite 8 Series. The Redbirds busted up a tight 3-2 game with a three-run outburst in the top of the ninth, highlighted by pinchhitter Delmer Barker's (.167) two-run triple. Denton City now has four consecutive playoff victories.

Three pitchers combined to whip Red Bluff with the victory going to starter Hank Taylor (2-0 2.81), who held them to two runs and six hits in seven and two-thirds innings. Relievers Bruce Baird and Tom Duroncelay got the last four outs to clinch it. The losing pitcher was Frank Beaudoin (0-2 6.55), who permitted three runs and four hits in seven innings. C Lawton Lee (.300) had the only roundtripper. It was a solo shot in the fifth, his 3rd of the playoffs.

Sunsets Clip Hurricanes 7-5 in Elite 8
Summerland defeated Cape Coral 7-5 in the first game of the Elite 8 Series at Sunset Stadium. The Sunsets went up 4-0 in the opening frame, let the Hurricanes back in it with three runs in the top of the fifth, then put them away with four scores in the bottom half of the inning. Summerland was led by rookie 3B Randy Rudelmeier (.294), who slammed three hits and drove in three runs with a pair of doubles and a single. LF Schuyler ten Haken (.667) also chipped in two doubles and a pair of runs batted in. The Sunsets were outgunned by Cape Coral 14 hits to 11, but were not outscored.

Starting pitcher Bill Taft (2-0 2.25) was beleaguered but stuck it out for seven innings to pick up the win. Taft was tapped for 11 hits, but only surrendered four runs. Reliever Josie Welker in his first postseason appearance worked a perfect 1-2-3 ninth for the save. 3B Hoshi Sato (.278) and RF Simon Manetas (.286) provided all of the Hurricanes scoring. Sato had three singles and batted in three runs, while Manetas had three hits and a two-run homer. Taking the loss was Doug Lyons (0-2 8.44), who has suffered two bad beatings in the playoffs. Lyons was slammed for seven runs in just four-plus innings.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

2005 IPA Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Belair Beach Bests Bulls 2-1, Elite 8 Tied
Managers Page Satcher of Ranford and Marty Pedroza of Belair Beach got exceptional pitching today in game two of the Elite 8 Series at Ranford County Stadium. The Sunbirds finally nosed out the Bulls 2-1 in 11 innings on SS Danny Church's (.412) two-out line single to left to even the series at one game apiece. It was Ranford's first defeat after four consecutive playoff victories.

Ray Watson started and worked six excellent innings for Belair Beach. Watson held the Bulls to just two hits and one run. Closer Johnny Spears (1-0 0.00) followed him with five innings of shutout ball to get the win. Spears allowed three hits and fanned five. Chris Bernhoffer started for Ranford, tossed eight fine frames, permitting seven hits and one run. Losing pitcher Tim DeKosky (1-1 1.50) relieved Bernhoffer in the ninth and went the rest of the way, yielding one run on three hits in his three innings.

Ranford took the lead in the third inning on CF Warren Gravois' (.400) sac fly. Bernhoffer held the Sunbirds scoreless until the eighth when 3B Mike Janocko (.217) tied it up 1-1 with an RBI single. Belair Beach had an advantage in hits 10-5 with Janocko and 1B Phil Gravelli (.478) both getting three hits.

V's Cools Off Roosters with 3 HRs, Series Even
Three homers and strong pitching prevailed as Volusia cooled off Middlefield 4-2 to even the Elite Series at one game each. Solo swats by 2B Chaco Rivera (.250) in the first frame and by SS Scooter Perez (.300) and LF Briscoe Crowder (.286) in the eighth sent the Roosters down to defeat. Middlefield had its postseason winning streak broken at three games.

Manager Alfonso Feliz got six strong innings out of Todd Wolfe (0-0 1.13), who held Middlefield to just four hits and two runs, just one earned. In the seventh reliever Augie Giertych (1-0 4.15) was summoned in from bullpen and pitched lights outs for three scoreless innings for the win. Giertych fanned three and walked one, while allowing just one hit. Joshua Jackson (1-1 3.00) pitched fairly well and went the route, giving up four runs on nine hits with seven Ks and three walks. LF Cecil Clark (.381) led the Roosters with a solo home run in the sixth. Perez's and Crowder's blasts broke the 2-2 tie and gave the victory to Volusia.

Tycobbian Union

Redbirds Roar Past Red Sox 11-3, Two Up in Series
At Red Bluff Park there was a huge brawl involving the Red Sox and Denton City. Five players on each team were ejected and more should have been ejected, that's how bad it was. It took umpires and police 15 minutes to restore order. Almost every player on the teams were fighting and wrestling. Fortunately no fans got involved in it. They remained in the stands.

As far as the game, Denton City roared past the hometown Red Sox 11-3 again to go up two games to none in the best-of-five Elite 8 Series. Denton City is unbeaten in its last five playoff games. The Redbirds jumped on Leonard Urban for a four-run first and went on to stomp Red Bluff. Leading the Redbirds 12-hit attack were SS Trevor Tomlinson (.240), LF Danny Nash (.400) and 2B Darrion Ramsdell (.458), all with two hits each and two runs batted in. Tomlinson had a home run and Ramsdell ripped a double and a triple.

Redbird manager Ford Whiteman had to use three pitchers in the game as his starter Gino Carmazzo was ejected along with Red Bluff LF Tony Blundell. They got into fisticuffs after Carmazzo hit Blundell with a pitch. It happened in the fifth inning with Denton City up 5-2. Tom Duroncelay (1-0 0.00) got the win with two-thirds of an inning of relief. He got the last two outs in the fifth. Roger Ramsey (1-0 4.05) gained the save with four scoreless innings of three-hit ball. Ramsey fanned three and walked none in a fine outing. Urban (1-1 6.23) took the loss as he gave up four runs on just one hit and six walks in the first inning. Red Bluff's only scores came on CF Stan Helmke's (.156) two-run homer in the fifth.

Cape Coral Nips Summerland, Series Tied 1-1
Although they were sorely outhit and in dire need of starting pitching, Cape Coral salvaged a 5-4 triumph over Summerland at Sunset Stadium to tie the Elite 8 Series at one game each. With one of his main starters, Jeff Salow (18-11 3.48), on the injured list, manager Huggy Miller is having to juggle his pitching staff to find a replacement. Today Miller gave the ball to Bart Thomas, who started off poorly by giving up three runs in the opening inning, but then he settled down and held the Sunsets scoreless the rest of his stint. Thomas left trailing 3-2 in the fifth. Cal Holtzman (1-0 0.00) received credit for the win with three scoreless innings.

The Hurricanes evened it up 3-3 in the sixth on 1B Sammy Harding's (.185) solo home run and went ahead on Simon Manetas' (.294) two-run rip in the eighth. Summerland rallied for one run in the last of the ninth, but closer Arlie Nichols retired the dangerous Karl Van Kooten (.409) to end the game and get the save, his 2nd of the postseason. Hurricane starter Alex Alessi (1-1 5.02) took the loss. He was tagged for five runs in seven innings, struck out six and walk four.

The Sunsets racked up 12 hits to just five for the Hurricanes. Cape Coral got an early 2-0 lead in the top half of the first on an RBI ground-out by Hoshi Sato (.227) and an RBI single by LF Kippy Doyle (.179). However, Summerland leaped in front 3-2 in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double by 2B Fancy Phelan (.320) and a two-run blast by CF Hank Hamilton (.381). Hamilton went 3-3 and drove in three runs today and now has eight RBIs in the playoffs.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Commissioner Suspends Brawling Stars From Playoffs
In an unprecedented decision IPA commissioner John Banford has suspended pitcher Gino Carmazzo of Denton City and outfielder Tony Blundell of Red Bluff for the rest of the postseason. The two stars initiated an all-out brawl in yesterday's game between the two teams at Red Bluff Park.

Banford stated in his ruling, "This was flagrant behavior by both players and by both teams and dire action was needed. The league will not tolerate this type of despicable behavior. I levied a very severe penalty because of this. I should have suspended 10 players on each team, but this would serious effect the playoffs. I chose not to do that. I think both organizations got my pointed message and will make certain there is no recurrence of this type of discord on the playing field. I also warned all other playoff teams that I will be even more severe in dealing with any further outbreaks of fighting or mass brawling at any of the remaining games."

Denton City manager Ford Whiteman protested the ruling and said the Redbirds would appeal it. "This creates an uneven playing field for the rest of the playoffs. The Redbirds will have to play without one of our top players. The loss of Carmazzo is devastating. I think heavy fines would have been a better solution. I strongly disagree with the commissioner. I think he grossly over-reacted."

Carmazzo was the ace of the Denton City mound staff. During the regular season he recorded 24 wins and 6 losses with a 3.06 ERA.

Blundell batted .283 this season with 91 RBIs and 92 runs scored. He had 162 hits including 24 home runs, 59 walks and .350 OBP. He will be vitally missed by the Red Sox.

Mack Connery of the Red Bluff Red Sox agreed with Whiteman's assessment, but said that "We will not appeal it. Banford has his mind made up and I've never known him to change it in previous dealings with him. The Red Sox will just have to begrudgingly accept this decision."

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

2005 IPA Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Middlefield Bombs Volusia 10-3. Up 2-1 in Series
The Middlefield bats were booming on a chilly and rainy day at the Jailhouse in Volusia, enabling the Roosters to go up two games to one in the Elite 8 Series. The Roosters ripped 14 hits to bomb the Vigilantes 10-3, led by 2B Timmy Gage (.393) with four hits, including three doubles, and by 1B Allie Ludlow (.400) with two hits and a two-run homer.

Three pitchers combined to beat the V's with starter Jamie Hicks going the first four frames. A long rain delay got him removed although he was pitching well, allowing only one run. Hicks left leading 6-1. Ross Jacobs (1-0 0.00) worked the fifth and the sixth and notched the win. Jacobs surrendered two unearned runs in his two innings. Delton Crawford (0-0 0.00) hurled the last three innings and blanked Volusia for the save.

Carl Schmitz (2-1 2.70) lost for the first time in the postseason as the Roosters routed him for six runs in his two-plus innings. Only two were earned. The V's collected 10 hits with CF Ryan Raines (.179) going 4-for-5 and Scooter Perez 3-for-5.

Bulls Edge Sunbirds 3-2, Lead Elite 8 Series
Solid pitching by Leland Shaddock and closer Tim DeKosky gave Ranford a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Elite 8 Series with Belair Beach. The two hurlers teamed up for a 3-2 victory overs the Sunbirds. Shaddock (2-0 1.13) went seven innings and permitted only two runs, while DeKosky (1-1 1.13) picked up the save with two perfect innings, retiring all six batters he faced. They outpitched Slim Mosley (2-1 3.13) who went the distance, allowed eight hits and three runs and struck out eight in a losing cause.

2B Johnny Fenroy's (.348) bases-loaded single put the Bulls in front in the second inning. They added two more in the fifth on an RBI double by 3B Colin Fairclough (.333) and an RBI single by SS Rick Fargnoli (.333). The Sunbirds retaliated with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning when RF Matty McDermott (.143) tripled in a run and 1B Phil Gravelli (.462) doubled in a run. That ended the scoring for the day.

Tycobbian Union

Redbirds Final 4 Bound, Sweep Red Sox
Last year's Pro Cup champions, the Red Bluff Red Sox were no match for Denton City in the Elite 8 Series. The Redbirds feasted on Red Sox pitching and swept them in three games to advance to the Pro Cup Final 4. Today at home Denton City drilled the Red Sox 11-5, running up 14 hits. CF Pat Coniglio (.310) unloaded two homers and drove in four runs to lead the way. SS Trevor Tomlinson (.300) smacked three hits and plated three runs, while LF Danny Nash (.448) went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Red Bluff rallied to cut the score to 6-5 in the top of the eighth, but the Redbirds put the game out of reach with a five-run uprising.

To wrap up the series Denton had to beat one of the better pitchers in the IPA. They got to 22-game winner Mila Mohoski (2-1 3.80) early for five runs in three-plus innings to give him the loss. Redbird starter Daniel Fitzmorris (2-1 6.30) continued to struggle, but came away the winner. Fitzmorris tossed seven innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. Relievers Bubba Lear and Tom Duroncelay preserved the victory for him with two scoreless innings. RF Kris Grabowski (.273) paced Red Bluff with three hits, three runs scored and two RBIs. Grabowski homered for the Red Sox.

The Redbirds now will have to bide their time until the winner is decided between Cape Coral and Summerland. Cape Coral won the Tycobbian South this year, while Summerland finished second, two games behind the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes Take Elite 8 Lead, Top Sunsets 7-1
Cape Coral rode the good right arm of 25-game winner Cody Burg to a 7-1 triumph over Summerland at Seaside Stadium. That gave the Hurricanes a two games to one edge in the best-of-five Elite 8 Series. Burg (3-0 1.75) went the route and shut the Sunsets down on one run and five hits, while fanning six and issuing no walks.

Cape Coral was sparked by homers by 2B Fancy Phelan (.357) and 1B Sammy Harding (.194). It was Harding's third roundtripper of the postseason. Summerland starter Paul Felkner (1-2 6.75) had another rocky performance. The Hurricanes hung him with the loss by battering him for six runs in three-plus frames. Harding, Phelan and 3B Hoshi Sato (.200) all drove in a pair of runs to lead the winners.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Denton City Will Not Appeal Carmazzo's Suspension
The Denton City Redbirds issued a brief, written statement to the press and said they were not going to appeal pitcher Gino Carmazzo's suspension. Carmazzo was suspended for the rest of the season after he and Red Bluff outfielder Tony Blundell initiated a full scale brawl at a recent playoff game.

25-year-old right-hander Kenyon MacKenzie will take Carmazzo's place on the roster. MacKenzie has played only one season in the IPA. That was 2003 when he had a 4-1 mark with a 5.70 ERA in 7 starts.

Bruce Baird will take Carmazzo's place in the pitching rotation. Baird was 6-1 in the regular season with a 3.08 ERA, primarily as a reliever.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 29, 2005

2005 IPA Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Middlefield Makes Round of Four, Whips V's 7-3
Volusia had the pitchers, but Middlefield had the bats and reigned supreme in their Elite 8 Series by taking three of the four contests. Middlefield will play the winner of Ranford-Belair Beach in the RU Final 4. The Roosters walloped the Vigilantes 7-3 with a 13-hit attack led by CF Ty DeWitt, rookie 3B Charlie Gamble (.273) and pitcher Julian Gilchrist (.500), who rapped two hits apiece and drove in a pair of runs apiece. RF Bailey Norcross (.419) went 3-for-3, including his 5th playoff homer. Even Gilchrist got a home run. Gilchrist also did the job on the hill, holding Volusia to three runs and six hits in eight and two-thirds innings. He struck out seven and walked three, needing help for the final out from Denny Yarrow. Starting pitcher Tommy Betanzos (0-2 6.60) lasted into the seventh and was the loser. The Roosters pelted him for four runs on nine hits.

Sunbirds Wins Squeaker 3-2, Ranford Series Even
The Ranford-Belair Beach Elite 8 Series will go to a fifth and final game. In a third straight pitchers' duel, the Sunbirds came out the winner 3-2 in 10 innings at Bayside Park to even up the series at two games each. C Little Jake Bungarooba (.407) led off the last of the 10th with a double, tagged up and moved to third on a deep fly to left and came flying home when he beat shortstop Rick Fargnoli's throw home on a grounder by pitcher Johnny Spears. Spears (2-0 0.00) continued his bullpen brilliance as he fired two perfect innings and fanned three of the six batters for the victory. Spears has won two games, saved another and not allowed a run in four games with 13 strikeouts in 10 innings. Jamie Phillips (0-1) came on in the 10th and suffered the loss.

Belair Beach took an early lead on 1B Phil Gravelli's (.433) RBI single in the opening frame. Ranford regained the lead 2-1 in the fifth on CF Warren Gravois' (.345) two-run shot into the stands. The Sunbirds gained a tie with a run in the eighth. Bungarooba walked, was sacrificed to second and scored on pinchhitter Ray Mathews' double. Offensively Belair Beach had nine hits to six for the Bulls.

Sunbird starter Tiny Lindgren worked into the fourth inning and shut out Ranford on one hit, but had to leave because of injury. Belair Beach is anxiously awaiting word from the doctors as to the severity of the injury. Lindgren is 0-2 in the postseason this year, but has pitched well with a 2.70 ERA in three starts. During the regular season he won 21 games.

Sunsets Tie Series, Beat 'Canes in 16 Innings
Playing at Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral, Summerland needed a win in the worst way. A loss and the season was over. The Sunsets prospects did not look good going into the top of the eighth inning. The Hurricanes starter Doug Lyons was cruising along with a 3-1 lead and just needed six more outs to take the Elite 8 Series. Fortunately for Summerland it did not happen. They rallied for two runs to tie the score and force it into extra innings, where they finally won it 6-3 in 16 innings. The win evened up the series at 2-2. The Sunsets got the winning runs when LF Schuyler ten Haken (.500) slammed a one-out triple and scored on an RBI single by RF Nickie Troxell (.227) and 2B Tucker Hill (.286) banged a two-run double.

Skipper Will Hackett got great relief work from his bullpen. They blanked the Hurricanes over the last ten innings. Bobby Winwood worked five innings, Phillip Westerfeldt went two innings and starter turned reliever Paul Felkner (2-2 5.75) was outstanding. Felkner fired three perfect innings and retired all nine batters he faced for the victory. Arlie Nichols (0-2 6.75) suffered the loss. He had blanked the Sunsets for five innings, before he faltered in the fatal 16th.

The Sunsets outhit the Hurricanes 14-10. Top hitters for Summerland were ten Haken with 4-7, 3B Randy Rudelmeier (.219) with two hits and two RBIs and Hill with two RBIs. 2B Fancy Phelan (.371) had three hits for Cape Coral. The two ball clubs will play for a Pro Cup Final 4 spot tomorrow afternoon in Cape Coral.