ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS) - Page 71

Eugene Church · 12-17-2009, 06:20 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 25, 2007

2007 Tycobbian Union Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Oxford Edges Colchester 2-1 in 11 in Game 7
Game seven of the TU Elite 8 Series between Oxford and Colchester was a magnificent 11-inning mound battle between two of the finer pitchers in the IPA. Both pitchers, Bomber Belinsky of the Red Caps and Jimmy Simmons of the Elites, pitched their hearts out, but only one of them could win. It was a 2-1 victory for Oxford and Belinsky. The 31-year-old southpaw limited Colchester to just five hits, fanned eight and walked five in a brilliant outing. Simmons, a 32-year-old portsider, was just about as good. Simmons allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked two in defeat. The difference in the game was RF Bobby Lark's (.233) one-out double that drove in LF Wayne McDonald (.370) from second base with the winning score.

Simmons and Colchester got the lead in the third inning when 1B Harlan Roscoe (.296) drove in the first run of the game with a two-out RBI single scoring LF Douglas Tilford (.241) from second base. Simmons made it stand up until the ninth inning. All he needed was three more outs and the Elites would win the series -- it wasn't to be. 1B Timmy Binford (.417) led off with a single and was replaced by pinchrunner Greg Reynolds. McDonald and Lark advanced Reynolds to third on back-to-back ground-outs to set the stage for C Whitey Cosgrove to beat out an infield hit, tie the score at 1-1 and send the game into extra innings.

Oxford now has the difficult task to take on powerful Bayview in the Tycobbian Union Final 4, which will get underway Wednesday afternoon in Bayview at Downtown Plaza Stadium.

Eugene Church · 12-17-2009, 10:38 PM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs

RU and TU Final 4 Begins Tomorrow in St. John and Bayview
On tap to start tomorrow afternoon are the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series. Four teams have advanced to the Pro Cup semi-final series. It will be the St. John Crusaders (89-65) hosting the Stoner Stars (86-68) at Cathedral Stadium for the first two games and the Bayview Vikings (94-60) entertaining the Oxford Red Caps (91-63) twice at Downtown Plaza Stadium. All series will be best-of-seven.

During the regular season St. John swept three games from the Stars and Oxford had a 3-2 advantage over the Vikings. Bayview is the favorite to win the Pro Cup this season. According to the BNN experts the Vikings hitting and home run power gives them a big edge over the other teams. Bayview led the entire IPA with a .283 batting average and 220 home runs. Oxford could pose a challenge with a .275 average and 162 roundtrippers. In contrast Stoner batted .267 with 154 homers, while St. John hit .263 with only 127 home runs for the season.

Oxford had a 3.30 team ERA during the regular season, followed by Stoner 3.35, Bayview 3.45 and St. John 3.69.

Eugene Church · 12-18-2009, 12:14 PM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Crusaders Crush Stars in Final 4 Opener 8-2
Two big innings brought home an 8-2 victory to St. John in the RU Final 4 opener at Cathedral Stadium. After Stoner jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning, the Crusaders crushed the Stars with five runs in the second and three more in the seventh.

St. John bashed them for 14 hits and Johnny Cole (1-0 5.30) and Ken Wheeler combined for the victory. Cole worked seven innings and stopped Stoner on five hits and two runs, while striking out 5 and walking two. Wheeler sat the Stars down without a run over the final two frames. Georgie West (2-1 2.86) suffered the defeat, yielding five runs and 11 hits in six innings, although only two of the runs were earned. LF Jake Dillon (.391) had three hits to pace the Crusaders. SS Jerry Pontros (.273) delivered two hits, scored twice and batted in a pair of runs, too. LF Bruce Boatman (.500) tripled in Stoner's runs.

Tycobbian Union

Bayview Bombs Oxford 11-4 in Final 4 Opener
The hometown Bayview Vikings started the Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series with a bang -- five runs in the first and four more in the second. They bombed Oxford for three homers and 14 hits in an 11-4 rout at Downtown Plaza Stadium in the series opener. 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.391) went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, CF Tommy Riddle (.353) collected two hits and drove in three runs and C Hank Bethel (.346) batted in three. All of them homered, Quibedeaux and Bethel each clouted three-run shots and Riddle got a two-run blast. The Red Caps racked up 11 hits and six walks, but stranded 12 baserunners. They were paced by RF Bobby Lark's (.265) two-run homer and SS Johnny Zumwalt's (.294) two-run double.

Norm Roy got the win for the Viks with relief help from Josh Glover. Roy (2-1 1.44) was tagged for 10 hits in his eight innings, walked five and fanned six, while Glover was nicked for one run in the ninth. Loser Dan Phillips (1-2 4.59) did not get an out in the first inning and was rapped for five runs and five hits.

Eugene Church · 12-18-2009, 06:30 PM

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 27, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Series Even, Stars Slaughter Crusaders 13-2
The Stoner Stars evened up the Final 4 Series with St. John at a game each with a 13-2 massacre at Cathedral Stadium. The Stars slammed four homers and 14 hits to easily defeat the Crusaders. C Benny Stern (.267) unloaded twice and batted in four runs, 3B Yancy Bellows (.143) slugged a three-run homer and LF Bruce Boatman (.474) hit a two-run roundtripper to lead the Stars. Stern has now hit four home runs in the postseason.

Although it went unnoticed because of all the fireworks, Ted Chambers (1-0 3.13) tossed a good game, permitting only five hits and two runs in eight innings. Teddy Garson (1-1 2.19) was the losing pitcher. Stoner battered him for eight runs in seven-plus innings. It was a close 4-2 game until the Stars' bats went berserk in the last two innings. Stoner scored five in the eighth and four in the ninth to sew up the game.

Tycobbian Union

Bayview Noses Out Oxford 4-3, Lead Series 2-0
Trailing 3-0 going into the fifth was no problem for Bayview. The Vikings rebounded in the late innings and took a close 4-3 victory from the Oxford Red Caps to open up a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven TU Pro Cup Final 4 Series. With score tied 3-all in the bottom of the eighth, Bayview took advantage of a single by Nick Suvak (.393), passed ball, ground out and a balk to take the comeback victory. Connie Gavagan (3-0 1.73) continued to shine in the postseason with his third win. Gavagan struck out five, walked three and gave up three runs on six hits in his eight innings. Josh Glover closed it out for the save by retiring three in a row in the ninth to preserve it. CF Tommy Riddle (.333) paced the Vikings with two RBIs, while SS Dan Conroy (.174) collected a solo homer. Red Cap LF Mack Spencer (.333) had a solo clout for the losers. Dan Sisler (1-2 4.98) was the losing pitcher. He allowed four runs and five hits in seven-plus frames.

Eugene Church · 12-18-2009, 08:09 PM

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 28, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

St. John Squeezes by Stoner 7-6, Crusaders Up 2-1
It was a nip-and-tuck affair at Nonnac Stadium in Stoner with lots of lead changes before the visiting St. John Crusaders squeezed by the Stars 7-6 on CF Champ Grayson's (.321) ninth-inning RBI single. St. John now has a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven Pro Cup Final 4 Series. Reliever Ken Wheeler (3-0 0.00) notched his third playoff victory this year with a scoreless eighth. Pat Tarkovsky got the save by retiring the Stars in the ninth. Matthew Wise (0-1 2.25) gave up the winning run and sustained the loss.

The Crusaders banged out 13 and were sparked by homers by 3B Sully Hull (.286), SS Jerry Pontros (.310) and 2B Baron Ainsworth (.371). Hull now has three home runs and nine RBIs in the playoffs. Stoner registered 10 hits with 3B Karol Zodoka (.300), C Benny Stern (.286) and LF Matt Merrill (.357) leading the way with two hits apiece.

Tycobbian Union

Oxford Wins on McDonald's HR 7-4, Trails Viks 2-1
Bayview usually lives by the long ball, today at Winchester Park in Oxford, they died by the long ball. CF Wayne McDonald (.316) went deep in the ninth with a three-run walk-off homer to subdue the Vikings and give the Red Caps their first win the TU Final 4 Series and chopped Bayview's margin to 2-1. It was a tough loss for the Vikings as they had rallied from a 3-0 score after six innings. Bomber Belinsky had a two-hit shutout going until the seventh inning when Bayview cut it to 3-2, tied it up in the eighth and again in the ninth, but to no avail.

2B Johnny Zumwalt (.310) led Oxford's 10-hit attack with 3-5, including a solo homer and two runs batted in. McDonald got his third homer of the playoffs and now had 13 RBIs in the postseason. Bayview totaled seven hits and were paced by RF Sozi Akiyama (.600), who had three hits, including a home run. SS Dan Conroy (.192) contributed two RBIs in defeat.

Starters Bomber Belinsky and Charley Tubbs both had decent outings. Belinsky allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings, while Tubbs permitted four runs in his eight innings. Nicky Nicholson (1-0 2.08) got credit for the win, despite blowing the save in the ninth. Josh Glover (0-1) was the victim of McDonald's game-winning blast and got the loss.

Eugene Church · 12-18-2009, 09:04 PM

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 29, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Stars Wins 4-3 on Guilford's HR, Ties St. John
The Stoner Stars blew a 3-0 lead late, but recovered on a lead-off ninth-inning homer by 1B Alan Guilford (.206) to trim the St. John Crusaders 4-3 and tie the RU Pro Cup Final 4 Series at two games apiece. Stoner starting pitcher Georgie West was sailing along until St. John erupted in the eighth to tie the score at 3-3. The Crusaders knotted it up on C Virgil Carpenter's (.226) two-run single and pinchhitter Fred Taranto's (.500) run-scoring single.

The victory went to Matthew Wise (1-1 1.69), who was tagged for four hits in one and one-third innings, but kept St. John off of the scoreboard. Ken Wheeler (3-1 1.35) faced only one batter and was the loser. St. John had the edge in hits 12-10. SS Karol Zodoka (.353) went 3-for-4 for the Stars, while the Crusaders were led by 1B Abe Worthy (.314), RF Clayton Luck (.308) and LF Jake Dillon (.375), all with two hits each.

Tycobbian Union

Oxford Slips by Bayview 5-4, Final 4 Even
Oxford and Bayview are now down to a best-two-of-three series. The Pro Cup Final 4 Series is now tied at two games each as the Red Caps slipped by the Vikings 5-4, courtesy of a bad throw by RF Kelton Carpenter in the bottom of the ninth that allowed C Whitey Cosgrove to score the winning run. That gave the win to reliever Nicky Nicholson (2-0 1.42), who held the Vikings scoreless the final two frames. The loser was Bayview starter Norm Roy (2-2 2.43). He worked into the ninth and surrendered five runs on nine hits. Dan Phillips (1-2 4.74) was the Oxford starter. He struggled through seven innings, yielding four runs and eight hits.

The Red Caps chalked up 10 hits to 9 for the Vikings. Cosgrove (.293) went 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, including a home run and a double. Cosgrove has driven in 8 runs in the playoffs so far. 1B Timmy Binford (.382) added two hits and scored twice for Oxford. Carpenter (.353) led Bayview with a two-run homer, his third this postseason.

Eugene Church · 12-19-2009, 02:05 PM

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 30, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Stars Lead Final Four 3-2, Blank Crusaders 5-0
Yancy Bellows gave Ted Chambers all the runs he needed with a second-inning homer and Chambers made it stand up. The 36-year-old Stoner right-hander throttled St. John 5-0 in game five to give the Stars a 3-2 lead in the RU Pro Cup Final 4. Chambers (2-0 2.32) limited the Crusader bats to just five hits, fanned five and issued three bases on balls. Dave Pierre pitched a perfect ninth in relief of Chambers. Stoner got nine hits off the Stars with 3B Bellows (.158) pacing them with a home run and 2B Johnny Nowitzki (.308) cracking two doubles among his three hits and driving in two runs. Stoner shelled Teddy Garson (1-2 2.84) for the second time in the series, pounding him for eight hits and five runs in seven innings.

The Stars will try to wrap up the series on the road tomorrow afternoon at Cathedral Stadium in St. John. Game seven, if needed, will also take place there.

Tycobbian Union

Viks Outmuscle Oxford 8-5, Up 3-2 in Final 4
The Bayview bats were booming again as the Vikings outmuscled Oxford 8-5 with three home runs. The victory put Bayview up three games to two in the TU Final 4 and within a game of the IPA Pro Cup championship series. LF Sunshine Helaku (.360), C Hank Bethel (.375) and 3B Karl Benson (.235) all slapped solo homers to spark the win. Both Bethel and Benson had two hits and two runs batted in apiece. It was Bethel 4th postseason blast and 12th and 13th RBIs.

Workhorse Connie Gavagan (4-0 2.31) went the distance, but he had to ward off numerous challenges from the Red Caps, who worked him for five hits and five walks. Gavagan struck out seven in the game and won his fourth postseason game. LF Mack Spencer (.308) and 1B Timmy Binford (.378) led Oxford with two RBIs each and RF Bobby Lark (.271) hit his 3rd playoff homer. Bayview jumped ahead 6-1 going into the last of the sixth. The Red Caps narrowed it to 6-4 in the inning, but never got any closer. The Vikings ripped five Oxford pitchers for 12 hits and sent starter Dan Sisler (1-3 5.68) down to defeat. Sisler was routed in the fourth frame after being slammed for four runs.

Game six is set for Bayview tomorrow afternoon. If necessary, game seven will also be played there.

Eugene Church · 12-19-2009, 08:40 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 1, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Stoner Pro Cup Bound, Eliminates St. John 7-4
The Stoner Stars are Pro Cup bound! They eliminated the St. John Crusaders 7-4 to win the RU Final 4 Series in six games. Manager Willie Dickens got great work from his bullpen to do it. The Crusaders led 4-0 after three innings and seemed headed for a series-tying win, but it didn't happen. The St. John bats went cold as the Stars bullpen heated up. Dwight Ruckman, Dave Pierre and Norm Canfield came to the rescue and shut out the Crusaders the rest of the game. Stoner then went to work on the St. John staff and tied the score 4-4 in the fifth, took the lead 5-4 in the seventh and added a good cushion in the ninth with two more runs. C Bill Stern (.292) led the comeback with a solo homer in the fourth and a three-run double in the fifth. Stern now has 5 homers and 13 RBIs in the playoffs. RF Dutch Rheinecker (.195) put the Stars ahead to stay with a homer in the seventh. SS Johnny Nowitzki (.349) paced the Stars with three hits. Stoner collected 12 hits in all, while St. John had 11. In defeat RF Clayton Luck (.319) rapped out three hits and drove in a pair of runs. CF Champ Grayson (.308) had two hits and two RBIs.

Ruckman pitched a scoreless fourth, Pierre took over and lasted into the eighth, when Canfield came in to finished off the Crusaders. Pierre (2-0 2.45) got credit for the victory, although he was in hot water most of the time. Pierre allowed three hits and walked six, while fanning four in an erratic performance. St. John left 15 men on base. Crusader starting pitcher Sterling Eccles (1-1 3.98) couldn't hold the 4-0 lead and was the losing pitcher. He surrendered five runs in seven innings.

Stoner now has the tough task of taking on the best team in Tycobbia. The Stars will play the winner of the Bayview-Oxford Final 4 Series for the IPA Pro Cup, emblematic of the best professional baseball team in Islandia. Manager Willie Dickens told the press, "This has been an unbelievable season. No one expected us to win the regular season pennant and no one expected us to beat Cold Creek and St. John, but we did. I'm sure none of you guys will pick us to win the Pro Cup. Maybe we can't win in your papers, but by golly, we just might be able to it on the field."

Tycobbian Union

Red Caps Eke By Viks 4-2 in 10 Innings, Knot Series 3-3
The Oxford Red Caps just keep coming back against the powerful Bayview Vikings. The Red Caps dropped the first two games of the TU Pro Cup Final 4, came back to win the next two, then fell behind three games to two and were on the edge of elimination. Every game is now a must win for them. They had to win today at Downtown Plaza Stadium in Bayview and they did -- a 4-2 victory in 10 innings that evened the series at three games each and set up tomorrow's decisive seventh game.

Campy Roy had many heroes today. His pitchers held Bayview to just 6 hits and only two runs and his hitters came through in the clutch. 3B Preston Browne (.261) led off the tenth with a two-bagger, scampered to third on a ground-out and scored the game-winner on 1B Timmy Binford's (.390) base hit. Then SS Jim Pulaski (.219) singled to send Binford to third and he was driven in by CF Wayne McDonald's sacrifice fly. McDonald (.292) continued to shine with three more RBIs, giving him 16 for the postseason.

On the mound Bomber Belinsky (2-1 2.38) excelled again with six strong innings. He stopped Bayview on one run and four hits and left the game leading 2-1. Starter-turned reliever Dan Phillips (2-2 4.23) blew the save, but held the Vikings to one unearned run through the ninth and Doyle Chadwick nailed the save with a 1-2-3 tenth inning. The Vikings got a good effort from Charley Tubbs (1-0 1.88) as he checked the Red Caps on four hits and two runs in his seven innings. Tony Vardaman (0-1) picked up the loss as he allowed two runs in three innings.

Game seven will take place tomorrow at Downtown Plaza Stadium in Bayview. The victor will win a spot in the Pro Cup Series, which will begin Thursday. The Ruthlandian representative will be the Stoner Stars.

Eugene Church · 12-19-2009, 09:59 PM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series

Tycobbian Union

Oxford Wins TU Final 4, Sneaks by Bayview 2-1
Nicky Nicholson got the call from manager Campy Roy to start game seven in the TU Final 4 Series against Bayview and he came through big-time with flying colors for the Oxford Red Caps. Nicholson, a 34-year-old righty, pitched an absolutely superb game to eke out a 2-1 triumph over the favored Bayview Vikings. He was the Red Caps number four starter with a 14-15 mark in the regular season and was asked to work in the bullpen for the playoffs. Nicholson did his relief chores very well and in the process earned the start in the crucial seventh game, replacing Dan Sisler (1-3 5.68), who had struggled in the postseason after going 9-1 with a 2.00 ERA during the season. Nicholson (3-0 1.17) powder-puffed his way past the hard-swinging Vikings and held them to just one run on five hits. Nicholson won three of the four Oxford victories. Norm Roy, the Vikings starter, pitched very well, too. Roy (2-3 2.40) was tapped for only two runs in his eight innings, but it wasn't good enough.

Oxford drew first blood in the top of the second when singles by RF Bobby Lark (.246) and LF Mack Spencer (.323) placed runners on first and third. C Whitey Cosgrove put the Red Caps ahead 1-0 with a sacrifice fly. Spencer made it 2-0 with a solo homer in the fourth. That was his 4th of the playoffs. LF Sunshine Helaku (.393) led the Bayview rally in the last of the eighth with a single. He advanced to second on a passed ball, to third base on a ground-out and was driven in 2B Nick Suvak's (.381) RBI base hit. However, that's all the powerful Vikings could muster off the junk-balling Nicholson.

Oxford will now contend with the Stoner Stars of the Ruthlandian Union for the 2007 Pro Cup title. The Pro Cup Series will get underway on Thursday, October 4 and will be a best-of-seven series. The Red Caps will host the first two games at Winchester Park, then the series will switch to Nonnac Stadium in Stoner for the next three games, if needed. Games six and seven will be back in Oxford, if necessary.

Eugene Church · 12-21-2009, 12:53 PM

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Oxford Slight Favorite Over Stoner in Pro Cup Finals
It's time once again to determine the best pro baseball team in the Islands. It's Pro Cup time - 32 teams in the Ruthlandian Union have been whittled down to just one team and 32 teams in the Tycobbian Union have been cut to just one. It will be the Stoner Stars and the Oxford Red Caps battling for the 2007 IPA Pro Cup. The best-of-seven series will start tomorrow afternoon in Oxford at Winchester Park.

Neither club has ever reached the finals. Oxford has been a playoff regular with five appearances in six seasons. The Red Caps best finish was the Final 4 in 2003 when they were eliminated by the eventual Pro Cup champions, the High Mesa Cowboys. This is Stoner's second appearance in the playoffs. The Stars lost out in the first round in 2002.

Statistically here is how the teams shape up:
Stoner Stars (86-68)
Willie Dickens, Manager
.267 BA (14th)
709 runs (17th)
154 HR (11th)
3.35 ERA (5th)
612 runs allowed (2nd)
80 HR (2nd)
.974 FA (12th)
181 DP (5th)

Oxford Red Caps (91-63)
Campy Roy, Manager
.275 BA (4th)
735 runs (10th)
162 HR (9th)
3.30 ERA (4th)
619 runs allowed (3rd)
96 HR (2nd)
.971 FA (19th)
173 DP (6th)

Oxford seems to have an advantage on offense, pitching is pretty even and Stoner has the best defense. Most of the baseball analysts give the edge to the Red Caps because of the overall superiority of the Tycobbian Union, which has won the Pro Cup four times in the six years of the IPA. Tycobbia has also dominated the All-Star competition with five victories in six years.

Eugene Church · 12-21-2009, 12:59 PM

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 4, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game One at Winchester Park in Oxford

Oxford Stops Stoner 6-3 in Pro Cup Opener
Oxford welcomed the visiting Stoner Stars to Winchester Park, but it was Stoner that was the more hospitable. The Stars gifted the Red Caps with three unearned runs on three costly errors and were beaten 6-3 in the opening game of the IPA Pro Cup Series. Pitchers Dan Phillips and Dan Sisler combined for the victory. Phillips (2-2 4.24) was breezing along with a 3-0 lead until the seventh inning when RF Dutch Rheinecker (.200) stunned him with a three-run homer. That's when Sisler (2-3 5.14) relieved him and held the Stars scoreless the rest of the game and picked up the victory.

The Red Caps put the Stars away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. 3B Preston Browne doubled in two runs and then came around to score on an infield error by SS Karol Zodoka.

Phillips worked six and a third innings, fanned five, walked two and allowed three runs on six hits. Oxford 3B Preston Browne (.276) led the way with three RBIs and two runs scored. SS Johnny Zumwalt (.236) added two runs batted in. Stoner's Ted Chambers (2-1 2.37) took the loss as he yielded four runs on seven hits in seven innings. Chambers was charged with only two earned runs. Stars SS Karol Zodoka (.348) led all hitters with 3-for-4.

Eugene Church · 12-21-2009, 02:57 PM

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 5, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Two at Winchester Park in Oxford

Oxford Hangs On, Tops Stars 6-5, Up 2-0 in Finals
The Oxford Red Caps were outhit and outhomered, but they still managed to win their second game in a row in the IPA Pro Cup Finals at Winchester Park. Stoner outhit them 10-7 and outhomered them 2-0, but the Stars came out on the short end of the score 6-5. The Red Caps bolted to a 5-0 in the second inning and then hung on for a slim victory. Bomber Belinsky (3-1 2.54) went eight innings for the win. He gave up three runs and eight hits and departed in the ninth with a 6-2 lead. Stoner then teed off on reliever Dan Sisler. SS Karol Zodoka (.347) jacked a two-run homer and LF Matt Merrill (.370) hit a solo blast to bring the Stars to within a run. Doyle Chadwick was summoned from the bullpen and he got the final out.

SS Johnny Zumwalt (.237) led Oxford with two RBIs, while 1B Timmy Binford (.385) had two hits and an RBI. LF Mack Spencer (.361) and 2B Casey Leeburn (.259) each also batted in a run. Taking the loss for Stoner was starter Georgie West (2-2 3.73), who was smoked for six runs in his six-plus innings.

Eugene Church · 12-21-2009, 03:41 PM

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 6, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Two at Winchester Park in Oxford

STONER STARS CUT OXFORD LEAD TO 2-1

Sorry, folks... old Doofus deleted the recap again.

Eugene Church · 12-21-2009, 04:44 PM

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 7, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Four at Nonnac Stadium in Stoner

Oxford Wins on a Lark 5-2, Leads Pro Cup 3-1
Bobby Lark crashed a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to give the Oxford Red Caps a 5-2 decision over the Stoner Stars in game four of the IPA Pro Cup Series. The win gave the Red Caps a huge 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Manager Campy Roy got a standout game from Dan Phillips (2-2 3.95), who worked seven innings and yielded only two runs. Del Anderson (1-0 2.45) relieved Phillips in the eighth and got the victory with two scoreless innings. Stoner's starter Ted Chambers (2-1 2.35) also had a solid outing as he tossed eight frames and allowed only two runs. Dwight Ruckman (0-1 5.40) came on in the ninth and was the loser.

Oxford's 11-hit attack included three roundtrippers and was led by CF Wayne McDonald with a perfect 4-4 day. McDonald (.333), C Wayne Cosgrove (.277) and RF Lark (.247) all collected home runs. SS Karol Zodoka (.375) paced the Stars with four hits.

Eugene Church · 12-21-2009, 05:25 PM

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 8, 2007

2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Five at Nonnac Stadium in Stoner

Oxford Red Caps 2007 Pro Cup Champs
The Oxford Red Caps made quick work of the Stoner Stars and captured the 2007 IPA Pro Cup Series four games to one. Oxford took game five 8-4 to wrap up the series. The Red Caps scored four times in the top of the first and never looked back. Campy Roy's crew was sparked by homers by 1B Timmy Binford (.323), 3B Jim Pulaski (.233) and RF Bobby Lark (.260). Bomber Belinsky (4-1 2.76) got his fourth victory in the playoffs as he went the distance, giving up four runs on six hits with six Ks and four walks. Georgie West (2-3 4.69) was the loser for Stoner. West was ripped for six runs in four innings. C Benny Stern (.261) and RF Dutch Rheinecker (.204) each drove in a pair of runs for the Stars with Rheinecker unloading a home run.

Oxford truly deserved its crown. The Red Caps had to endure two grueling seven-game series with Colchester and Bayview to get to the championship round. The Elites were 95-59 during the regular campaign and had the best record in the IPA this year, while the Vikings were also a powerhouse with a 91-63 mark.

This was Oxford's first IPA Pro Cup title. No team has ever won twice in the seven-year history of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Tycobbian Union won the Pro Cup for the fifth time in seven years.

bwburke94 · 12-21-2009, 08:45 PM

Wow... another season done.

Eugene Church · 12-21-2009, 11:30 PM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Oxford's Belinsky Pro Cup MVP
32-year-old Bomber Belinsky is the 2007 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. He outpolled two teammates, CF Wayne McDonald and 1B Timmy Binford for the honor. Stoner's fine catcher Benny Stern finished fourth in the voting by the BNN.

Belinsky compiled a 4-1 record with an impressive 2.76 ERA. McDonald batted .319 with 4 homers, 18 RBIs and scored 13 times, while Binford hit .323, homered three times, drove in 11 runs and scored 16. Stern rapped 5 roundtrippers, had 16 runs batted in, scored 10 and hit for a .261 average.

Eugene Church · 12-22-2009, 10:48 PM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

GC Cybercats Yates, AG Suns Miles Top IPA Rookies

Ruthlandian Union

Emmitt Yates's age didn't show very often in his first year. He performed more like a veteran on the hill for the Grand City Cybercats and today he walked away with the 2007 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award. Yates was one of the prime reasons the Cybercats rose from last place to second place in the RU South standings. The 24-year-old starter registered a 19-6 record this season in 31 starts. Over 250 innings he gave up 212 hits, struck out 157 and issued 73 walks as he held the opposition to a .236 batting average and fashioned a 2.09 ERA.

Second in the voting was Eastshore's fine freshman Stan Cuccinello. The 23-year-old right fielder played in 146 games and put up a .295 batting average with 30 home runs, 107 RBIs and scored 92 runs.

Coming in third in the poll was Crystal Lake's standout closer Jeff Jernigan. The 24-year-old southpaw worked in 52 games and saved 26 of them. He compiled a 6-7 mark with an impressive 2.73 ERA.

Tycobbian Union

The Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Award has been given to Sherm Miles of the Arroyo Grande Suns. In the 2007 season the 27-year-old first baseman played in 152 games, recording a .298 batting average with 24 home runs, 81 RBIs and 78 runs scored.

Number two in the balloting was Ernie Teague of the Ginza Ninjas. The big 27-year-old righty fashioned a 7-6 record with a 3.12 ERA and 24 saves. Teague made 49 relief appearances in his rookie season.

Third in the poll was Luxora's shortstop Scotty Sanderson. The 26-year-old newcomer was solid on defense with a .964 fielding percentage and held his own with the bat. Sanderson hit .286 in 122 games with 9 homers, 59 RBIs and 63 runs scored.

Eugene Church · 12-23-2009, 01:35 PM

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 11, 2007

IPA Announces 2007 Golden Glovers

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. The top fielders have been chosen in the IPA for 2007.

SS Karol Zodoka of Stoner, LF Quincy Peterson of Belle Plaine and SS Trevor Tomlinson are three-time Golden Glove winners. C Virgil Carpenter of St. John, 3B Jimmy Holman and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux of Bayview have all won twice.

Ruthlandian Union

Pitcher: Charley Boyer (Rocky Rapids Snappers) .975 FA
Catcher: Virgil Carpenter (St. John Crusaders) .993 FA/34.2% RTO/4 PB
First Baseman: Masaichi Okawa (Valmara Vipers) .994 FA
Second Baseman: Duane Parsons (Far Mountain Redhawks) .981 FA
Third Baseman: Jimmy Holman (Marston Nine) .963 FA
Shortstop: Karol Zodoka (Stoner Stars) .985 FA
Left Fielder: Quincy Peterson (Belle Plaine Musketeers) .988 FA
Center Fielder: Karl Perret (LaGrange Sports) .990 FA
Right Fielder: Dennis Kernell (Sugar Valley Rattlers) .989 FA

Tycobbian Union

Pitcher: Tommy Ruffin (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .989 FA
Catcher: Geronimo Paytah (Midway Wolves) .992 FA/35.7% RTO/8 PB
First Baseman: Chancey Quibedeaux (Bayview Vikings) .995 FA
Second Baseman: Owen MacArthur (Rolling Hills Reds) .991 FA
Third Baseman: Hal Corbin (South Fork Stallions) .978 FA
Shortstop: Trevor Tomlinson (Denton City Redbirds) .988 FA
Left Fielder: Todd Bryant (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) .996 FA
Center Fielder: Bobby Josker (Cape Coral Hurricanes) .994 FA
Right Fielder: Dane Wesner (Fairfax Frogs) .980 FA

Eugene Church · 12-23-2009, 02:12 PM

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 12, 2007

Phil Gravelli Named RU's Best Batter
Belair Beach's Phil Gravelli put the wraps on a fine campaign today by winning the 2007 Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award. He scorched the opposition with a .350 average, picking up 226 hits, 28 doubles, 3 triples, 49 home runs and 146 RBIs, while scoring 112 runs. Gravelli is just 23 years old and this was his best season ever. Gravelli is a lifetime .324 hitter in his seven-year career with the Sunbirds. It was the first Golden Bat Award for the 4-time All-Star.

This year's runner-up was Billy Massengale, the talented first sacker for the Ranford Bulls. Massengale finished second in batting with a .352 batting average with 30 roundtrippers, 104 RBIs and 105 runs scored.

Taranto rookie first baseman Ed Miles was the third-highest votegetter. Miles hit .323 and had 28 homers, drove in 90 runs and scored 107 times.

Kirklin TU's Top Hitter for 2007
"Words can't quite express how it feels right now," Tad Kirklin said today after being named the 2007 Golden Bat Award recipient. "It's an honor to join the list of the other fine players that have won this award."

The 25-year-old Kirklin was Blue Lake's left fielder and he smacked opposing pitchers around for a .334 batting average and a .417 on-base percentage this year, tallying 15 doubles, 7 triples, 49 home runs, 149 RBIs and 108 runs scored. Kirklin topped the TU in RBIs and tied Gravelli for the IPA lead in homers. His career batting average is .306 in his three seasons with the Blue Sox.

Second in the BNN voting was Nathan Farrell of the Ozarka Naturals. The 25-year-old third baseman walloped 34 home runs, while batting .322 with 111 runs batted in and 126 runs scored. Farrell led the IPA in runs.

Arroyo Grande's outstanding left fielder Jet Kazmarek was third in the balloting. In his first season with the Suns 32-year-old Kazmarek copped his sixth batting title in seven years with a .349 average. The 4-time All-Star collected 15 homers, batted in 97 and scored 103 runs. Kazmarek also stole 60 bases. Lifetime he sports a very lofty .362 batting average.

12-17-2009, 06:20 PM	#1401
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Monday, September 25, 2007 2007 Tycobbian Union Pro Cup Elite 8 Series Oxford Edges Colchester 2-1 in 11 in Game 7 Game seven of the TU Elite 8 Series between Oxford and Colchester was a magnificent 11-inning mound battle between two of the finer pitchers in the IPA. Both pitchers, Bomber Belinsky of the Red Caps and Jimmy Simmons of the Elites, pitched their hearts out, but only one of them could win. It was a 2-1 victory for Oxford and Belinsky. The 31-year-old southpaw limited Colchester to just five hits, fanned eight and walked five in a brilliant outing. Simmons, a 32-year-old portsider, was just about as good. Simmons allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked two in defeat. The difference in the game was RF Bobby Lark's (.233) one-out double that drove in LF Wayne McDonald (.370) from second base with the winning score. Simmons and Colchester got the lead in the third inning when 1B Harlan Roscoe (.296) drove in the first run of the game with a two-out RBI single scoring LF Douglas Tilford (.241) from second base. Simmons made it stand up until the ninth inning. All he needed was three more outs and the Elites would win the series -- it wasn't to be. 1B Timmy Binford (.417) led off with a single and was replaced by pinchrunner Greg Reynolds. McDonald and Lark advanced Reynolds to third on back-to-back ground-outs to set the stage for C Whitey Cosgrove to beat out an infield hit, tie the score at 1-1 and send the game into extra innings. Oxford now has the difficult task to take on powerful Bayview in the Tycobbian Union Final 4, which will get underway Wednesday afternoon in Bayview at Downtown Plaza Stadium. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-17-2009 at 09:13 PM.

12-17-2009, 10:38 PM	#1402
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Tuesday, September 25, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs RU and TU Final 4 Begins Tomorrow in St. John and Bayview On tap to start tomorrow afternoon are the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series. Four teams have advanced to the Pro Cup semi-final series. It will be the St. John Crusaders (89-65) hosting the Stoner Stars (86-68) at Cathedral Stadium for the first two games and the Bayview Vikings (94-60) entertaining the Oxford Red Caps (91-63) twice at Downtown Plaza Stadium. All series will be best-of-seven. During the regular season St. John swept three games from the Stars and Oxford had a 3-2 advantage over the Vikings. Bayview is the favorite to win the Pro Cup this season. According to the BNN experts the Vikings hitting and home run power gives them a big edge over the other teams. Bayview led the entire IPA with a .283 batting average and 220 home runs. Oxford could pose a challenge with a .275 average and 162 roundtrippers. In contrast Stoner batted .267 with 154 homers, while St. John hit .263 with only 127 home runs for the season. Oxford had a 3.30 team ERA during the regular season, followed by Stoner 3.35, Bayview 3.45 and St. John 3.69. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-18-2009 at 08:05 PM.

12-18-2009, 12:14 PM	#1403
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Wednesday, September 26, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series Ruthlandian Union Crusaders Crush Stars in Final 4 Opener 8-2 Two big innings brought home an 8-2 victory to St. John in the RU Final 4 opener at Cathedral Stadium. After Stoner jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning, the Crusaders crushed the Stars with five runs in the second and three more in the seventh. St. John bashed them for 14 hits and Johnny Cole (1-0 5.30) and Ken Wheeler combined for the victory. Cole worked seven innings and stopped Stoner on five hits and two runs, while striking out 5 and walking two. Wheeler sat the Stars down without a run over the final two frames. Georgie West (2-1 2.86) suffered the defeat, yielding five runs and 11 hits in six innings, although only two of the runs were earned. LF Jake Dillon (.391) had three hits to pace the Crusaders. SS Jerry Pontros (.273) delivered two hits, scored twice and batted in a pair of runs, too. LF Bruce Boatman (.500) tripled in Stoner's runs. Tycobbian Union Bayview Bombs Oxford 11-4 in Final 4 Opener The hometown Bayview Vikings started the Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series with a bang -- five runs in the first and four more in the second. They bombed Oxford for three homers and 14 hits in an 11-4 rout at Downtown Plaza Stadium in the series opener. 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.391) went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, CF Tommy Riddle (.353) collected two hits and drove in three runs and C Hank Bethel (.346) batted in three. All of them homered, Quibedeaux and Bethel each clouted three-run shots and Riddle got a two-run blast. The Red Caps racked up 11 hits and six walks, but stranded 12 baserunners. They were paced by RF Bobby Lark's (.265) two-run homer and SS Johnny Zumwalt's (.294) two-run double. Norm Roy got the win for the Viks with relief help from Josh Glover. Roy (2-1 1.44) was tagged for 10 hits in his eight innings, walked five and fanned six, while Glover was nicked for one run in the ninth. Loser Dan Phillips (1-2 4.59) did not get an out in the first inning and was rapped for five runs and five hits. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-18-2009 at 08:04 PM.

12-18-2009, 09:04 PM	#1406
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Saturday, September 29, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series Ruthlandian Union Stars Wins 4-3 on Guilford's HR, Ties St. John The Stoner Stars blew a 3-0 lead late, but recovered on a lead-off ninth-inning homer by 1B Alan Guilford (.206) to trim the St. John Crusaders 4-3 and tie the RU Pro Cup Final 4 Series at two games apiece. Stoner starting pitcher Georgie West was sailing along until St. John erupted in the eighth to tie the score at 3-3. The Crusaders knotted it up on C Virgil Carpenter's (.226) two-run single and pinchhitter Fred Taranto's (.500) run-scoring single. The victory went to Matthew Wise (1-1 1.69), who was tagged for four hits in one and one-third innings, but kept St. John off of the scoreboard. Ken Wheeler (3-1 1.35) faced only one batter and was the loser. St. John had the edge in hits 12-10. SS Karol Zodoka (.353) went 3-for-4 for the Stars, while the Crusaders were led by 1B Abe Worthy (.314), RF Clayton Luck (.308) and LF Jake Dillon (.375), all with two hits each. Tycobbian Union Oxford Slips by Bayview 5-4, Final 4 Even Oxford and Bayview are now down to a best-two-of-three series. The Pro Cup Final 4 Series is now tied at two games each as the Red Caps slipped by the Vikings 5-4, courtesy of a bad throw by RF Kelton Carpenter in the bottom of the ninth that allowed C Whitey Cosgrove to score the winning run. That gave the win to reliever Nicky Nicholson (2-0 1.42), who held the Vikings scoreless the final two frames. The loser was Bayview starter Norm Roy (2-2 2.43). He worked into the ninth and surrendered five runs on nine hits. Dan Phillips (1-2 4.74) was the Oxford starter. He struggled through seven innings, yielding four runs and eight hits. The Red Caps chalked up 10 hits to 9 for the Vikings. Cosgrove (.293) went 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, including a home run and a double. Cosgrove has driven in 8 runs in the playoffs so far. 1B Timmy Binford (.382) added two hits and scored twice for Oxford. Carpenter (.353) led Bayview with a two-run homer, his third this postseason. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-18-2009 at 09:07 PM.

12-19-2009, 02:05 PM	#1407
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Sunday, September 30, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series Ruthlandian Union Stars Lead Final Four 3-2, Blank Crusaders 5-0 Yancy Bellows gave Ted Chambers all the runs he needed with a second-inning homer and Chambers made it stand up. The 36-year-old Stoner right-hander throttled St. John 5-0 in game five to give the Stars a 3-2 lead in the RU Pro Cup Final 4. Chambers (2-0 2.32) limited the Crusader bats to just five hits, fanned five and issued three bases on balls. Dave Pierre pitched a perfect ninth in relief of Chambers. Stoner got nine hits off the Stars with 3B Bellows (.158) pacing them with a home run and 2B Johnny Nowitzki (.308) cracking two doubles among his three hits and driving in two runs. Stoner shelled Teddy Garson (1-2 2.84) for the second time in the series, pounding him for eight hits and five runs in seven innings. The Stars will try to wrap up the series on the road tomorrow afternoon at Cathedral Stadium in St. John. Game seven, if needed, will also take place there. Tycobbian Union Viks Outmuscle Oxford 8-5, Up 3-2 in Final 4 The Bayview bats were booming again as the Vikings outmuscled Oxford 8-5 with three home runs. The victory put Bayview up three games to two in the TU Final 4 and within a game of the IPA Pro Cup championship series. LF Sunshine Helaku (.360), C Hank Bethel (.375) and 3B Karl Benson (.235) all slapped solo homers to spark the win. Both Bethel and Benson had two hits and two runs batted in apiece. It was Bethel 4th postseason blast and 12th and 13th RBIs. Workhorse Connie Gavagan (4-0 2.31) went the distance, but he had to ward off numerous challenges from the Red Caps, who worked him for five hits and five walks. Gavagan struck out seven in the game and won his fourth postseason game. LF Mack Spencer (.308) and 1B Timmy Binford (.378) led Oxford with two RBIs each and RF Bobby Lark (.271) hit his 3rd playoff homer. Bayview jumped ahead 6-1 going into the last of the sixth. The Red Caps narrowed it to 6-4 in the inning, but never got any closer. The Vikings ripped five Oxford pitchers for 12 hits and sent starter Dan Sisler (1-3 5.68) down to defeat. Sisler was routed in the fourth frame after being slammed for four runs. Game six is set for Bayview tomorrow afternoon. If necessary, game seven will also be played there. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-19-2009 at 02:07 PM.

12-18-2009, 06:30 PM	#1404
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Thursday, September 27, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series Ruthlandian Union Series Even, Stars Slaughter Crusaders 13-2 The Stoner Stars evened up the Final 4 Series with St. John at a game each with a 13-2 massacre at Cathedral Stadium. The Stars slammed four homers and 14 hits to easily defeat the Crusaders. C Benny Stern (.267) unloaded twice and batted in four runs, 3B Yancy Bellows (.143) slugged a three-run homer and LF Bruce Boatman (.474) hit a two-run roundtripper to lead the Stars. Stern has now hit four home runs in the postseason. Although it went unnoticed because of all the fireworks, Ted Chambers (1-0 3.13) tossed a good game, permitting only five hits and two runs in eight innings. Teddy Garson (1-1 2.19) was the losing pitcher. Stoner battered him for eight runs in seven-plus innings. It was a close 4-2 game until the Stars' bats went berserk in the last two innings. Stoner scored five in the eighth and four in the ninth to sew up the game. Tycobbian Union Bayview Noses Out Oxford 4-3, Lead Series 2-0 Trailing 3-0 going into the fifth was no problem for Bayview. The Vikings rebounded in the late innings and took a close 4-3 victory from the Oxford Red Caps to open up a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven TU Pro Cup Final 4 Series. With score tied 3-all in the bottom of the eighth, Bayview took advantage of a single by Nick Suvak (.393), passed ball, ground out and a balk to take the comeback victory. Connie Gavagan (3-0 1.73) continued to shine in the postseason with his third win. Gavagan struck out five, walked three and gave up three runs on six hits in his eight innings. Josh Glover closed it out for the save by retiring three in a row in the ninth to preserve it. CF Tommy Riddle (.333) paced the Vikings with two RBIs, while SS Dan Conroy (.174) collected a solo homer. Red Cap LF Mack Spencer (.333) had a solo clout for the losers. Dan Sisler (1-2 4.98) was the losing pitcher. He allowed four runs and five hits in seven-plus frames.

12-18-2009, 08:09 PM	#1405
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Friday, September 28, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series Ruthlandian Union St. John Squeezes by Stoner 7-6, Crusaders Up 2-1 It was a nip-and-tuck affair at Nonnac Stadium in Stoner with lots of lead changes before the visiting St. John Crusaders squeezed by the Stars 7-6 on CF Champ Grayson's (.321) ninth-inning RBI single. St. John now has a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven Pro Cup Final 4 Series. Reliever Ken Wheeler (3-0 0.00) notched his third playoff victory this year with a scoreless eighth. Pat Tarkovsky got the save by retiring the Stars in the ninth. Matthew Wise (0-1 2.25) gave up the winning run and sustained the loss. The Crusaders banged out 13 and were sparked by homers by 3B Sully Hull (.286), SS Jerry Pontros (.310) and 2B Baron Ainsworth (.371). Hull now has three home runs and nine RBIs in the playoffs. Stoner registered 10 hits with 3B Karol Zodoka (.300), C Benny Stern (.286) and LF Matt Merrill (.357) leading the way with two hits apiece. Tycobbian Union Oxford Wins on McDonald's HR 7-4, Trails Viks 2-1 Bayview usually lives by the long ball, today at Winchester Park in Oxford, they died by the long ball. CF Wayne McDonald (.316) went deep in the ninth with a three-run walk-off homer to subdue the Vikings and give the Red Caps their first win the TU Final 4 Series and chopped Bayview's margin to 2-1. It was a tough loss for the Vikings as they had rallied from a 3-0 score after six innings. Bomber Belinsky had a two-hit shutout going until the seventh inning when Bayview cut it to 3-2, tied it up in the eighth and again in the ninth, but to no avail. 2B Johnny Zumwalt (.310) led Oxford's 10-hit attack with 3-5, including a solo homer and two runs batted in. McDonald got his third homer of the playoffs and now had 13 RBIs in the postseason. Bayview totaled seven hits and were paced by RF Sozi Akiyama (.600), who had three hits, including a home run. SS Dan Conroy (.192) contributed two RBIs in defeat. Starters Bomber Belinsky and Charley Tubbs both had decent outings. Belinsky allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings, while Tubbs permitted four runs in his eight innings. Nicky Nicholson (1-0 2.08) got credit for the win, despite blowing the save in the ninth. Josh Glover (0-1) was the victim of McDonald's game-winning blast and got the loss.

12-19-2009, 08:40 PM	#1408
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Monday, October 1, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series Ruthlandian Union Stoner Pro Cup Bound, Eliminates St. John 7-4 The Stoner Stars are Pro Cup bound! They eliminated the St. John Crusaders 7-4 to win the RU Final 4 Series in six games. Manager Willie Dickens got great work from his bullpen to do it. The Crusaders led 4-0 after three innings and seemed headed for a series-tying win, but it didn't happen. The St. John bats went cold as the Stars bullpen heated up. Dwight Ruckman, Dave Pierre and Norm Canfield came to the rescue and shut out the Crusaders the rest of the game. Stoner then went to work on the St. John staff and tied the score 4-4 in the fifth, took the lead 5-4 in the seventh and added a good cushion in the ninth with two more runs. C Bill Stern (.292) led the comeback with a solo homer in the fourth and a three-run double in the fifth. Stern now has 5 homers and 13 RBIs in the playoffs. RF Dutch Rheinecker (.195) put the Stars ahead to stay with a homer in the seventh. SS Johnny Nowitzki (.349) paced the Stars with three hits. Stoner collected 12 hits in all, while St. John had 11. In defeat RF Clayton Luck (.319) rapped out three hits and drove in a pair of runs. CF Champ Grayson (.308) had two hits and two RBIs. Ruckman pitched a scoreless fourth, Pierre took over and lasted into the eighth, when Canfield came in to finished off the Crusaders. Pierre (2-0 2.45) got credit for the victory, although he was in hot water most of the time. Pierre allowed three hits and walked six, while fanning four in an erratic performance. St. John left 15 men on base. Crusader starting pitcher Sterling Eccles (1-1 3.98) couldn't hold the 4-0 lead and was the losing pitcher. He surrendered five runs in seven innings. Stoner now has the tough task of taking on the best team in Tycobbia. The Stars will play the winner of the Bayview-Oxford Final 4 Series for the IPA Pro Cup, emblematic of the best professional baseball team in Islandia. Manager Willie Dickens told the press, "This has been an unbelievable season. No one expected us to win the regular season pennant and no one expected us to beat Cold Creek and St. John, but we did. I'm sure none of you guys will pick us to win the Pro Cup. Maybe we can't win in your papers, but by golly, we just might be able to it on the field." Tycobbian Union Red Caps Eke By Viks 4-2 in 10 Innings, Knot Series 3-3 The Oxford Red Caps just keep coming back against the powerful Bayview Vikings. The Red Caps dropped the first two games of the TU Pro Cup Final 4, came back to win the next two, then fell behind three games to two and were on the edge of elimination. Every game is now a must win for them. They had to win today at Downtown Plaza Stadium in Bayview and they did -- a 4-2 victory in 10 innings that evened the series at three games each and set up tomorrow's decisive seventh game. Campy Roy had many heroes today. His pitchers held Bayview to just 6 hits and only two runs and his hitters came through in the clutch. 3B Preston Browne (.261) led off the tenth with a two-bagger, scampered to third on a ground-out and scored the game-winner on 1B Timmy Binford's (.390) base hit. Then SS Jim Pulaski (.219) singled to send Binford to third and he was driven in by CF Wayne McDonald's sacrifice fly. McDonald (.292) continued to shine with three more RBIs, giving him 16 for the postseason. On the mound Bomber Belinsky (2-1 2.38) excelled again with six strong innings. He stopped Bayview on one run and four hits and left the game leading 2-1. Starter-turned reliever Dan Phillips (2-2 4.23) blew the save, but held the Vikings to one unearned run through the ninth and Doyle Chadwick nailed the save with a 1-2-3 tenth inning. The Vikings got a good effort from Charley Tubbs (1-0 1.88) as he checked the Red Caps on four hits and two runs in his seven innings. Tony Vardaman (0-1) picked up the loss as he allowed two runs in three innings. Game seven will take place tomorrow at Downtown Plaza Stadium in Bayview. The victor will win a spot in the Pro Cup Series, which will begin Thursday. The Ruthlandian representative will be the Stoner Stars.

12-19-2009, 09:59 PM	#1409
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Tuesday, October 2, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Playoffs - Final 4 Series Tycobbian Union Oxford Wins TU Final 4, Sneaks by Bayview 2-1 Nicky Nicholson got the call from manager Campy Roy to start game seven in the TU Final 4 Series against Bayview and he came through big-time with flying colors for the Oxford Red Caps. Nicholson, a 34-year-old righty, pitched an absolutely superb game to eke out a 2-1 triumph over the favored Bayview Vikings. He was the Red Caps number four starter with a 14-15 mark in the regular season and was asked to work in the bullpen for the playoffs. Nicholson did his relief chores very well and in the process earned the start in the crucial seventh game, replacing Dan Sisler (1-3 5.68), who had struggled in the postseason after going 9-1 with a 2.00 ERA during the season. Nicholson (3-0 1.17) powder-puffed his way past the hard-swinging Vikings and held them to just one run on five hits. Nicholson won three of the four Oxford victories. Norm Roy, the Vikings starter, pitched very well, too. Roy (2-3 2.40) was tapped for only two runs in his eight innings, but it wasn't good enough. Oxford drew first blood in the top of the second when singles by RF Bobby Lark (.246) and LF Mack Spencer (.323) placed runners on first and third. C Whitey Cosgrove put the Red Caps ahead 1-0 with a sacrifice fly. Spencer made it 2-0 with a solo homer in the fourth. That was his 4th of the playoffs. LF Sunshine Helaku (.393) led the Bayview rally in the last of the eighth with a single. He advanced to second on a passed ball, to third base on a ground-out and was driven in 2B Nick Suvak's (.381) RBI base hit. However, that's all the powerful Vikings could muster off the junk-balling Nicholson. Oxford will now contend with the Stoner Stars of the Ruthlandian Union for the 2007 Pro Cup title. The Pro Cup Series will get underway on Thursday, October 4 and will be a best-of-seven series. The Red Caps will host the first two games at Winchester Park, then the series will switch to Nonnac Stadium in Stoner for the next three games, if needed. Games six and seven will be back in Oxford, if necessary.

12-21-2009, 12:53 PM	#1410
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Wednesday, October 3, 2007 Oxford Slight Favorite Over Stoner in Pro Cup Finals It's time once again to determine the best pro baseball team in the Islands. It's Pro Cup time - 32 teams in the Ruthlandian Union have been whittled down to just one team and 32 teams in the Tycobbian Union have been cut to just one. It will be the Stoner Stars and the Oxford Red Caps battling for the 2007 IPA Pro Cup. The best-of-seven series will start tomorrow afternoon in Oxford at Winchester Park. Neither club has ever reached the finals. Oxford has been a playoff regular with five appearances in six seasons. The Red Caps best finish was the Final 4 in 2003 when they were eliminated by the eventual Pro Cup champions, the High Mesa Cowboys. This is Stoner's second appearance in the playoffs. The Stars lost out in the first round in 2002. Statistically here is how the teams shape up: Stoner Stars (86-68) Willie Dickens, Manager .267 BA (14th) 709 runs (17th) 154 HR (11th) 3.35 ERA (5th) 612 runs allowed (2nd) 80 HR (2nd) .974 FA (12th) 181 DP (5th) Oxford Red Caps (91-63) Campy Roy, Manager .275 BA (4th) 735 runs (10th) 162 HR (9th) 3.30 ERA (4th) 619 runs allowed (3rd) 96 HR (2nd) .971 FA (19th) 173 DP (6th) Oxford seems to have an advantage on offense, pitching is pretty even and Stoner has the best defense. Most of the baseball analysts give the edge to the Red Caps because of the overall superiority of the Tycobbian Union, which has won the Pro Cup four times in the six years of the IPA. Tycobbia has also dominated the All-Star competition with five victories in six years. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-08-2022 at 07:33 PM.

12-21-2009, 12:59 PM	#1411
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Thursday, October 4, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game One at Winchester Park in Oxford Oxford Stops Stoner 6-3 in Pro Cup Opener Oxford welcomed the visiting Stoner Stars to Winchester Park, but it was Stoner that was the more hospitable. The Stars gifted the Red Caps with three unearned runs on three costly errors and were beaten 6-3 in the opening game of the IPA Pro Cup Series. Pitchers Dan Phillips and Dan Sisler combined for the victory. Phillips (2-2 4.24) was breezing along with a 3-0 lead until the seventh inning when RF Dutch Rheinecker (.200) stunned him with a three-run homer. That's when Sisler (2-3 5.14) relieved him and held the Stars scoreless the rest of the game and picked up the victory. The Red Caps put the Stars away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. 3B Preston Browne doubled in two runs and then came around to score on an infield error by SS Karol Zodoka. Phillips worked six and a third innings, fanned five, walked two and allowed three runs on six hits. Oxford 3B Preston Browne (.276) led the way with three RBIs and two runs scored. SS Johnny Zumwalt (.236) added two runs batted in. Stoner's Ted Chambers (2-1 2.37) took the loss as he yielded four runs on seven hits in seven innings. Chambers was charged with only two earned runs. Stars SS Karol Zodoka (.348) led all hitters with 3-for-4. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-08-2022 at 07:34 PM.

12-21-2009, 02:57 PM	#1412
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Friday, October 5, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Two at Winchester Park in Oxford Oxford Hangs On, Tops Stars 6-5, Up 2-0 in Finals The Oxford Red Caps were outhit and outhomered, but they still managed to win their second game in a row in the IPA Pro Cup Finals at Winchester Park. Stoner outhit them 10-7 and outhomered them 2-0, but the Stars came out on the short end of the score 6-5. The Red Caps bolted to a 5-0 in the second inning and then hung on for a slim victory. Bomber Belinsky (3-1 2.54) went eight innings for the win. He gave up three runs and eight hits and departed in the ninth with a 6-2 lead. Stoner then teed off on reliever Dan Sisler. SS Karol Zodoka (.347) jacked a two-run homer and LF Matt Merrill (.370) hit a solo blast to bring the Stars to within a run. Doyle Chadwick was summoned from the bullpen and he got the final out. SS Johnny Zumwalt (.237) led Oxford with two RBIs, while 1B Timmy Binford (.385) had two hits and an RBI. LF Mack Spencer (.361) and 2B Casey Leeburn (.259) each also batted in a run. Taking the loss for Stoner was starter Georgie West (2-2 3.73), who was smoked for six runs in his six-plus innings. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-08-2022 at 07:34 PM.

12-21-2009, 03:41 PM	#1413
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Saturday, October 6, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Two at Winchester Park in Oxford STONER STARS CUT OXFORD LEAD TO 2-1 Sorry, folks... old Doofus deleted the recap again. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-08-2022 at 07:41 PM.

12-21-2009, 04:44 PM	#1414
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Sunday, October 7, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Four at Nonnac Stadium in Stoner Oxford Wins on a Lark 5-2, Leads Pro Cup 3-1 Bobby Lark crashed a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to give the Oxford Red Caps a 5-2 decision over the Stoner Stars in game four of the IPA Pro Cup Series. The win gave the Red Caps a huge 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Manager Campy Roy got a standout game from Dan Phillips (2-2 3.95), who worked seven innings and yielded only two runs. Del Anderson (1-0 2.45) relieved Phillips in the eighth and got the victory with two scoreless innings. Stoner's starter Ted Chambers (2-1 2.35) also had a solid outing as he tossed eight frames and allowed only two runs. Dwight Ruckman (0-1 5.40) came on in the ninth and was the loser. Oxford's 11-hit attack included three roundtrippers and was led by CF Wayne McDonald with a perfect 4-4 day. McDonald (.333), C Wayne Cosgrove (.277) and RF Lark (.247) all collected home runs. SS Karol Zodoka (.375) paced the Stars with four hits. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-08-2022 at 07:42 PM.

12-21-2009, 05:25 PM	#1415
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Monday, October 8, 2007 2007 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game Five at Nonnac Stadium in Stoner Oxford Red Caps 2007 Pro Cup Champs The Oxford Red Caps made quick work of the Stoner Stars and captured the 2007 IPA Pro Cup Series four games to one. Oxford took game five 8-4 to wrap up the series. The Red Caps scored four times in the top of the first and never looked back. Campy Roy's crew was sparked by homers by 1B Timmy Binford (.323), 3B Jim Pulaski (.233) and RF Bobby Lark (.260). Bomber Belinsky (4-1 2.76) got his fourth victory in the playoffs as he went the distance, giving up four runs on six hits with six Ks and four walks. Georgie West (2-3 4.69) was the loser for Stoner. West was ripped for six runs in four innings. C Benny Stern (.261) and RF Dutch Rheinecker (.204) each drove in a pair of runs for the Stars with Rheinecker unloading a home run. Oxford truly deserved its crown. The Red Caps had to endure two grueling seven-game series with Colchester and Bayview to get to the championship round. The Elites were 95-59 during the regular campaign and had the best record in the IPA this year, while the Vikings were also a powerhouse with a 91-63 mark. This was Oxford's first IPA Pro Cup title. No team has ever won twice in the seven-year history of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Tycobbian Union won the Pro Cup for the fifth time in seven years. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-08-2022 at 07:42 PM.

12-21-2009, 08:45 PM	#1416
bwburke94 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Belchertown, MA, USA Posts: 4,481	Wow... another season done.

12-21-2009, 11:30 PM	#1417
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Tuesday, October 9, 2007 Oxford's Belinsky Pro Cup MVP 32-year-old Bomber Belinsky is the 2007 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. He outpolled two teammates, CF Wayne McDonald and 1B Timmy Binford for the honor. Stoner's fine catcher Benny Stern finished fourth in the voting by the BNN. Belinsky compiled a 4-1 record with an impressive 2.76 ERA. McDonald batted .319 with 4 homers, 18 RBIs and scored 13 times, while Binford hit .323, homered three times, drove in 11 runs and scored 16. Stern rapped 5 roundtrippers, had 16 runs batted in, scored 10 and hit for a .261 average. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-21-2009 at 11:37 PM.

12-22-2009, 10:48 PM	#1418
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Wednesday, October 10, 2007 GC Cybercats Yates, AG Suns Miles Top IPA Rookies Ruthlandian Union Emmitt Yates's age didn't show very often in his first year. He performed more like a veteran on the hill for the Grand City Cybercats and today he walked away with the 2007 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award. Yates was one of the prime reasons the Cybercats rose from last place to second place in the RU South standings. The 24-year-old starter registered a 19-6 record this season in 31 starts. Over 250 innings he gave up 212 hits, struck out 157 and issued 73 walks as he held the opposition to a .236 batting average and fashioned a 2.09 ERA. Second in the voting was Eastshore's fine freshman Stan Cuccinello. The 23-year-old right fielder played in 146 games and put up a .295 batting average with 30 home runs, 107 RBIs and scored 92 runs. Coming in third in the poll was Crystal Lake's standout closer Jeff Jernigan. The 24-year-old southpaw worked in 52 games and saved 26 of them. He compiled a 6-7 mark with an impressive 2.73 ERA. Tycobbian Union The Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Award has been given to Sherm Miles of the Arroyo Grande Suns. In the 2007 season the 27-year-old first baseman played in 152 games, recording a .298 batting average with 24 home runs, 81 RBIs and 78 runs scored. Number two in the balloting was Ernie Teague of the Ginza Ninjas. The big 27-year-old righty fashioned a 7-6 record with a 3.12 ERA and 24 saves. Teague made 49 relief appearances in his rookie season. Third in the poll was Luxora's shortstop Scotty Sanderson. The 26-year-old newcomer was solid on defense with a .964 fielding percentage and held his own with the bat. Sanderson hit .286 in 122 games with 9 homers, 59 RBIs and 63 runs scored.

12-23-2009, 01:35 PM	#1419
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Thursday, October 11, 2007 IPA Announces 2007 Golden Glovers 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. The top fielders have been chosen in the IPA for 2007. SS Karol Zodoka of Stoner, LF Quincy Peterson of Belle Plaine and SS Trevor Tomlinson are three-time Golden Glove winners. C Virgil Carpenter of St. John, 3B Jimmy Holman and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux of Bayview have all won twice. Ruthlandian Union Pitcher: Charley Boyer (Rocky Rapids Snappers) .975 FA Catcher: Virgil Carpenter (St. John Crusaders) .993 FA/34.2% RTO/4 PB First Baseman: Masaichi Okawa (Valmara Vipers) .994 FA Second Baseman: Duane Parsons (Far Mountain Redhawks) .981 FA Third Baseman: Jimmy Holman (Marston Nine) .963 FA Shortstop: Karol Zodoka (Stoner Stars) .985 FA Left Fielder: Quincy Peterson (Belle Plaine Musketeers) .988 FA Center Fielder: Karl Perret (LaGrange Sports) .990 FA Right Fielder: Dennis Kernell (Sugar Valley Rattlers) .989 FA Tycobbian Union Pitcher: Tommy Ruffin (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .989 FA Catcher: Geronimo Paytah (Midway Wolves) .992 FA/35.7% RTO/8 PB First Baseman: Chancey Quibedeaux (Bayview Vikings) .995 FA Second Baseman: Owen MacArthur (Rolling Hills Reds) .991 FA Third Baseman: Hal Corbin (South Fork Stallions) .978 FA Shortstop: Trevor Tomlinson (Denton City Redbirds) .988 FA Left Fielder: Todd Bryant (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) .996 FA Center Fielder: Bobby Josker (Cape Coral Hurricanes) .994 FA Right Fielder: Dane Wesner (Fairfax Frogs) .980 FA

12-23-2009, 02:12 PM	#1420
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,702 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Friday, October 12, 2007 Phil Gravelli Named RU's Best Batter Belair Beach's Phil Gravelli put the wraps on a fine campaign today by winning the 2007 Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award. He scorched the opposition with a .350 average, picking up 226 hits, 28 doubles, 3 triples, 49 home runs and 146 RBIs, while scoring 112 runs. Gravelli is just 23 years old and this was his best season ever. Gravelli is a lifetime .324 hitter in his seven-year career with the Sunbirds. It was the first Golden Bat Award for the 4-time All-Star. This year's runner-up was Billy Massengale, the talented first sacker for the Ranford Bulls. Massengale finished second in batting with a .352 batting average with 30 roundtrippers, 104 RBIs and 105 runs scored. Taranto rookie first baseman Ed Miles was the third-highest votegetter. Miles hit .323 and had 28 homers, drove in 90 runs and scored 107 times. Kirklin TU's Top Hitter for 2007 "Words can't quite express how it feels right now," Tad Kirklin said today after being named the 2007 Golden Bat Award recipient. "It's an honor to join the list of the other fine players that have won this award." The 25-year-old Kirklin was Blue Lake's left fielder and he smacked opposing pitchers around for a .334 batting average and a .417 on-base percentage this year, tallying 15 doubles, 7 triples, 49 home runs, 149 RBIs and 108 runs scored. Kirklin topped the TU in RBIs and tied Gravelli for the IPA lead in homers. His career batting average is .306 in his three seasons with the Blue Sox. Second in the BNN voting was Nathan Farrell of the Ozarka Naturals. The 25-year-old third baseman walloped 34 home runs, while batting .322 with 111 runs batted in and 126 runs scored. Farrell led the IPA in runs. Arroyo Grande's outstanding left fielder Jet Kazmarek was third in the balloting. In his first season with the Suns 32-year-old Kazmarek copped his sixth batting title in seven years with a .349 average. The 4-time All-Star collected 15 homers, batted in 97 and scored 103 runs. Kazmarek also stole 60 bases. Lifetime he sports a very lofty .362 batting average.