ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS) - Page 98

Eugene Church · 09-03-2010, 09:05 PM

Around the Town in the IPA

COLFAX BLASTERS

Owner: Enim Dlog (Precious Metals Corporation)

GM/Manager: Clem Rogers

Colfax is found in west central Ruthlandia, population 89,000. It is a "City of Gold" situated on the scenic Silver River, which flows out of the Silver Mountains northwest of Volusia, past Colfax and then westward to the nation's capital, Forest City. It then merges with the Green River, which winds its way through the southern half of the country and ends at Belair Beach.

The town was settled during the Gold Rush of the 1850's and is still quite profitable. It is also an important coal mining center.

It is also the home of the Colfax Blasters of the Islandian Pro Alliance, who play in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the West Division. The team is nicknamed for the dynamite blasters, so important in mining the gold, silver, copper and coal...and also the longball hitters, therefore giving Blasters a double meaning.

Due to its great financial wealth and success, Colfaxians have a town of stunning beauty and charm. Built by the coal barons and the gold mine owners, it is filled with grand buildings and mansions, intermingled with the smokestacks that loom over the landscape. To lessen the environmental impact, quiet canals and man-made waterways flow through the town. Visitors can glide by boat along the tranquil Silver River or walk the fabled cobblestoned streets and discover a town that time has almost forgotten. You can hear its famous landmark, "The Belfry", a carillon or bells that toll every hour and has continuously for over 150 years. Colfax also boasts an opera house, concert hall, theater and a ballet company.

Colfax's Mountain View Stadium is known for its gorgeous view of the town, the Silver Mountain backdrop beyond the outfield fence and for its "Pot of Gold". It is an actual pot, five feet in diameter, located in the center field section of the ballpark, 410 feet away. Whenever a Blaster player hits a ball that ends up in the "Pot of Gold", the player and a fan each receive $5,000. The fan is chosen in a "lucky scorecard number" drawing.

At the ballpark you have hardworking and hard living miners and the white collar and managerial set...the beer set and the champagne set. Both are attended to at Mountain View Stadium. You can get anything from hot dogs to caviar at the concession stands.

The Blasters' owner is Enim Dlog, whose ancestors are from somewhere in the Baltics. It was his great-great-granddaddy, who first discovered gold in the 1850's. In fact, the new ballpark was built on the same site as the first gold mine.

The GM and Manager of the Colfax Blasters is Clem Rogers, one of the top righthanded pitchers of alltime in the industrial leagues. He is number two on the all-time strikeout list, just a few hundred behind the the strikeout king, Ryan Noland.

Eugene Church · 09-03-2010, 09:08 PM

Mountain View Stadium (1971)

Capacity: 10,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 315
LF 345
LCF 375
CF 405
RCF 375
RF 360
RF Line 345

Eugene Church · 09-03-2010, 10:16 PM

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 6, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Sunbirds Fly By Colfax, Whitaker Cinches Series
It's been a long wait, but Belair Beach has finally made it to the Pro Cup Finals... Denny Whitaker shut out Colfax 3-0 in game 6 to win the RU Final 4 Series four games to two... Whitaker (3-0 2.45) limited the Blasters to just 4 hits, struck out 6 and walked 4... Rodger Wright (1-1 5.88) pitched well in defeat as he yielded only two earned runs and 7 hits in a complete-game performance... the Sunbirds got to him for single runs in the first, third and fourth frames... Belair Beach will play the winner of the Turon-Kenwood TU Final 4 for the Island championship... the Sunbirds have never advanced this far in the IPA playoffs.

Kenwood Knocks Out Turon 9-7 In Game 6
It will be the Kenwood Wildcats and the Belair Beach Sunbirds in the 2014 IPA Pro Cup Finals... The Wildcats came from behind to eliminate the Typhoons 9-7 in game 6 of the TU Final 4 to win the series in six games... Turon jumped ahead 4-1 in the fifth, but Kenwood fought back and tied it 4-4 in the seventh and then erupted for 5 runs in the eighth to take a commanding 9-4 lead and held off a scary ninth-inning rally by the Typhoons... Turon outgunned them 14 to 10... For the second day in a row Tank Tucker notched the win with a perfect seventh inning... Sol Yakis also picked up the save for the second successive day with ninth-inning relief... the Wildcats had many heroes at the plate... RF Dennis Riley (.318) and 2B Paul Lassak (.375) had 2 RBIs apiece... and 3B Brad Walker (.306) had 2 hits, scored twice and batted in a run... CF Vince Palmer (.280) smacked 3 hits and scored 2 runs... leading the losing Typhoons were RF Andy Porter (.325) with a pair of hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Clyde Kingsford (.311) with 3-5, 2 runs and an RBI and SS Matt Madison (.391) with 2-4 and 2 runs scored... Turon starter Jeb Stuart (2-1 3.91) sustained the loss... Stuart was shelled for 5 runs in 7 innings.

Eugene Church · 09-04-2010, 12:59 PM

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 7, 2014

BB Sunbirds Favored In 2014 Pro Cup
The 2014 IPA Pro Cup Finals begin tomorrow at Bayside Park in Belair Beach. Except for this season both qualifiers have fared poorly in the postseason. In previous years the Belair Beach Sunbirds have made the playoffs five times and never gotten out of the first round. The Kenwood Wildcats have made only one prior postseason appearance in 2002 and were knocked out in the first round. However, this year they find themselves playing for all the marbles. One of them will win its first Pro Cup. Odds-makers have given the nod to the Sunbirds. Manager Marty Pedroza's club was 95-59 during the regular season, second best in the Ruthlandian Union, while Aaron Hankins' Wildcats were only 86-68, which was a distant third in the Tycobbian Union. Baseball analysts say Belair Beach has beaten two powerhouses in 3-time Pro Cup champ Far Mountain and Colfax and has proven to be a top-flight team. The baseball soothsayers qualify their pick by saying Kenwood has proven its worth with victories over Midway and Turon this postseason. Turon has three Pro Cup trophies in its history and came very close to winning a fourth. So the Wildcats have good credentials this season.

Belair Beach has a good offense, fair power, good starters and an excellent closer, while Kenwood has a good offense, decent power, good starters and great relievers. Both clubs are excellent defensively. The forecast is for a hard-fought series with the Sunbirds prevailing.

Belair Beach's top performers are starters Denny Whitaker (21-15 3.32)), Wally Green (19-5 3.67) and Nasty Naymick (15-10 3.21) and closer Groot Tenbrook (5-4 2.76) with 37 saves. At the plate LF Ron Dizon (.256) led the team with 27 homers and 91 RBIs. CF Tom Bennett (.283) had 12 home runs and scored 104 runs.

Kenwood standouts are starters Connie Gavagan (18-13 3.05) and Sammy Shaw (18-12 3.59). In Hankins' superb bullpen are Tank Tucker (9-3 2.76), Sol Yakis (10-2 2.99) and closer Rick Brickell (3-7 2.66) with 24 saves. Yakis and Tucker may get starting assignments in the finals in place of number three starter Todd Combs (14-19 3.46), who has had a rocky postseason. Offensively the Wildcats don't have a star, but they possess a solid bunch of batters throughout the line-up, led by RF Dennis Riley (.320) with 19 homers and 87 RBIs, LF Jimmy Brewer (.286) with 22 roundtrippers and 71 runs batted in and 3B Brad Walker (.290) with 14 long balls and 78 RBIs.

Eugene Church · 09-04-2010, 07:00 PM

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 8, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1

Belair Beach Bombs Kenwood 8-2 in Opener
At Bayside Park in Belair Beach, the Sunbirds bombed Kenwood with 14 hits and a pair of homers in the 8-2 victory in game one of the IPA Pro Cup Series... strong hitting combined with strong pitching made it easy for manager Marty Pedroza's club... Nasty Naymick (3-1 1.65) continued to excel in the playoffs... He stopped the Wildcats on 3 hits and didn't allow an earned run in a complete-game performance... Naymick struck out 7 and walked 3 in an impressive outing... RF Billy Martz (.397) and LF Ron Dizon (.298) both homered and drove in 2 runs... CF Tom Bennett (.288) added 3 hits and 2 runs batted in... Sammy Shaw (2-1 4.45) took the loss, allowing 6 runs and 9 hits in 2+ innings.

Eugene Church · 09-04-2010, 07:30 PM

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 9, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 2

Wildcats Down Sunbirds 8-6, Series Even
In game two of the IPA Pro Cup Series both teams had their aces on the mound, but it didn't matter much to the hitters... Kenwood outscored Belair Beach 8-6 to even the series at one game apiece in the best-of-seven set... It was a seesaw affair... the Sunbirds went in front 2-0 in the first on LF Ron Dizon's third playoff homer... the Wildcats countered with single runs in the second and third innings and added two more in each of the fifth and seventh, building up a 6-2 lead... but that didn't hold as Belair Beach tied it up in the last half of the inning on Dizon's fourth playoff home run, a bases-loaded blast... 2B Duncan Renwick got the game-winning hit in the top of the eighth, a two-run single.

Tank Tucker (3-0 4.15) got the win as he came on in the seventh and got the final out of the inning... Rick Brickell finished up with 2 perfect innings and got his 4th save... The loss went to Groot Tenbrook (2-2 4.50), who came on in the eighth and allowed 2 runs... Kenwood's top pitcher Connie Gavagan started, but was ineffective... Gavagan was tagged for 6 runs and 8 hits and departed in the seventh... Belair Beach's best hurler Denny Whitaker had a rough outing, too... Whitaker permitted 6 runs and 6 hits and exited in the seventh.

3B Brad Walker (.321) led the Wildcats at the plate with 3-3 and 2 runs scored... Walker belted 2 doubles and a triple... RF Dennis Riley (.302) had a 2-run homer and C Gene Verbick (.260) drove in 2 runs for the winners... Dizon sparked the Sunbirds with his 2 roundtrippers and 6 RBIs... Both clubs had 8 hits each.

Eugene Church · 09-04-2010, 07:55 PM

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 10, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 3

BB Sunbirds Trounce Kenwood 8-2, Lead Pro Cup 2-1
For game three the IPA Pro Cup Series switched to Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood, but it didn't help the homestanding Wildcats... the Belair Beach Sunbirds continued to thrive at the plate with 12 hits and an 8-2 triumph to take a two to one edge in the series.

Belair Beach got a fine start from Wally Green, too... Green (2-3 1.91) worked 7 strong innings, fanned 10 and held Kenwood to 1 run on 6 hits... closer Groot Tenbrook finished up, but allowed a run in his 2 innings, an eighth-inning clout by LF Jimmy Brewer (.182)... loser Sol Yakis (0-1) was routed after 2 innings... Yakis was ripped for 6 runs and 7 hits... It was Yakis' first start of the year... He made 52 relief appearances in the regular season and was very effective... Skipper Aaron Hankins is still looking for a good start from someone... all his starters have been battered so far in the series.

Belair Beach's top bats today belonged to 3B Zippy Parks (.341) with 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs, RF Billy Martz (.358), who drove in 2 runs with his 4th postseason home run and LF Ron Dizon (.333) with a pair of hits and 2 runs scored... RF Dennis Riley (.333) topped the Wildcats with 3 hits.

Eugene Church · 09-06-2010, 09:41 PM

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 11, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 4

Dizon's HR Lifts Sunbirds To 3-1 Lead In Pro Cup
In Kenwood, Ron Dizon of the Belair Beach Sunbirds broke the hearts of the Wildcat fans with a dramatic 2-run homer in the top of the eighth to win game 4 of the IPA Pro Cup Series 3-2... the triumph put the Sunbirds in the driver's seat with a big three-games-to-one edge in the best-of-seven series... It was Dizon's 5th roundtripper in the postseason playoffs and gave him 15 RBIs... Dizon (.345) drove in all 3 runs... He grounded out in the third and plated CF Tom Bennett, who led off the inning with a double... In the sixth RF Dennis Riley (.328) homered and put Kenwood ahead 2-1... Nasty Naymick (4-1 1.74) continued his playoff brilliance... Naymick held the Wildcats to 4 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings and fanned 6... Slim Mosley picked up his first save in the postseason by striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in the ninth... Bennett (.329) led the Sunbirds with 3 hits... Loser Sammy Shaw (2-2 4.10) went the route, struck out 7 and walked 1 and was tagged for 11 hits, but was tough with men on base.

Eugene Church · 09-06-2010, 10:00 PM

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 12, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5

Gavagan Fires 1-Hitter, Kenwood Still Alive
Trailing 3 games to 1 and with their backs to the wall, the Kenwood Wildcats rose to the occasion and staved off elimination in the IPA Pro Cup Series with a 5-2 decision over Belair Beach in game 5 at Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood... The Wildcats backed up Connie Gavagan's sizzling 1-hitter with 3 home runs... 3B Zippy Parks (.327) got the only Sunbird hit with an RBI single in the ninth... Gavagan (3-0 3.09) weakened in the ninth and walked 4, but closer Rick Brickell saved it for him... It was Brickell's 5th save in the playoff this year... He got the final out of the game with the bases loaded... 3B Brad Walker (.324), LF Jimmy Brewer (.196) and 1B Xavier Rocha (.234) all had solo homers to pace the Wildcats... Denny Whitaker (3-1 3.33) suffered his first postseason lost this season... Whitaker surrendered 5 runs and 11 hits in 7 innings.

Eugene Church · 09-06-2010, 10:30 PM

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 13, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 6

Pro Cup Tied 3-3, Kenwood Slams Sunbirds 13-8
The 2014 Pro Cup Series is all tied up a 3 games apiece after Kenwood demolished Belair Beach 13-8 in game 6 at Bayside Park in Belair Beach... the Wildcats bashed 21 hits, sparked by 2B Duncan Renwick (.357) with 4 hits and 2 RBIs, C Gene Verbick (.292) with 3 hits and 2 runs batted in and SS Bob Snyder (.232) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... LF Jimmy Brewer (.218) also delivered 3 hits, including a solo homer, and scored 3 times... In defeat 1B Denny Gray (.259) had a 3-run smash and LF Ron Dizon (.328) drove in a pair of runs with his 6th playoff home run... Kenwood led 6-3 after 3 innings, increased it to 8-3 in the top of the fifth, only to have the Sunbirds surge back to knot the score at 8-8 after 6 frames... The Wildcats regained the momentum and roared back with 5 in the last three innings for the win... Sol Yakis (1-1) got the victory, in spite of allowing 2 runs in his 1+ innings... Todd Combs and Rick Brickell saved the day by blanking Belair Beach on 1 hit in the final 3 innings... Combs worked a 1-2-3 seventh and Brickell shut them out in the last two frames.

Eugene Church · 09-06-2010, 11:28 PM

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 14, 2014

2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 7

Wildcats Win 2014 Pro Cup In 7 Games
Down 3 games to 1, the never-say-die Kenwood Wildcats came back and won the final 3 games to win the 2014 IPA Pro Cup... The Wildcats won game 7 by the score of 3-1 behind some fancy pitching by Sammy Shaw (3-2 3.57), who stopped the Belair Beach Sunbirds on 1 run and 4 hits in 8 impressive innings... closer Rick Brickell (1-1 3.75) notched his 6th playoff save by setting the Sunbirds down in order in the ninth... This was manager Aaron Hankins and Kenwood's first ever Pro Cup.

The Wildcats had to beat Nasty Naymick to take the crown... Naymick (4-2 1.94) was tough in the postseason... Naymick allowed 3 runs on 8 hits and left in the ninth... Kenwood scored first with a run in the top of the third... 1B Xavier Rocha (.259) walked, moved to second on an error by Naymick and scored on 2B Duncan Renwick's (.367) base hit... In the bottom of the fifth Belair Beach knotted the score at 1-1... singles by 3B Zippy Parks (.283) and 1B Denny Gray (.258) placed runners on second and third... Parks scored on SS Ron Nossek's (.250) fly ball... A walk, a sacrifice bunt and a single by Shaw (.077) produced a 2-1 lead for Kenwood in the top of the seventh... Wildcat RF Dennis Riley's (.307) 4th playoff four-bagger provided an insurance run in the eighth.

At the post-game press conference winning skipper Aaron Hankins told reporters, "It's been a long time coming, but we finally won a Pro Cup for the great fans in Kenwood. Our pitching had not been very good in the first six games... we really needed a good outing today and Sammy gave it to us. He was absolutely amazing, holding the Sunbirds to just four hits and one run."

Eugene Church · 09-07-2010, 06:02 PM

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Kenwood's Gavagan Pro Cup MVP
In a hotly-contested poll, Connie Gavagan, Kenwood's fine pitcher, nudged out teammate Dennis Riley for the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award. Gavagan led the Wildcats to the Pro Cup championship with a 3-0 record and a 3.09 ERA. Gavagan won several of the crucial "must win" games. Riley, the Kenwood right fielder, batted .307 and led the club with 4 homers and 14 RBIs during the postseason. 32-year-old Gavagan was the choice of 30 writers and sportscasters, while Riley received 28 votes. The most valuable player in the Pro Cup playoffs is selected each season in a poll conducted by The Islandian Times.

Belair Beach's mound standout Nasty Naymick (4-2 1.94) came in third in the balloting with 24 votes, followed by Sunbird left fielder Ron Dizon, who led the playoffs with 6 home runs and 17 RBIs. Dizon had a .324 batting average. He was named on 23 ballots. The only other player to get votes was Belair Beach's right fielder Billy Martz, who was fifth in the poll. Martz had a .341 batting average, 4 homers, 13 RBIs and scored 16 runs. Martz received 20 votes.

Eugene Church · 09-08-2010, 07:21 PM

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 16, 2014

IPA Picks Best Defenders For 2014

Top Defensive Players Named by RU
Great glovemen can range far and wide to make a backhand stop or an over-the-shoulder catch -- and the best usually make it look easy. Today the winners of the Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Award for 2014 were announced. Sugar Valley's Hal Stevenson won his third Golden Glove, while Al Thibaut of Forest City and Phil Gravelli of Crystal Lake were honored for the second time in their careers.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team

Pitcher: Al Thibaut (Forest City Lumberjacks) 15-18/2.99 ERA/.990 FA
Catcher: Hal Stevenson (Sugar Valley Rattlers) .281 BA/34 HR/106 RBI/84 R .986 FA/4 PB/36.0% RTO
First Baseman: Phil Gravelli (Crystal Lake Crushers) .325 BA/39 HR/123 RBI/87 R/.996 FA
Second Baseman: Garrett Glisson (Eastshore Elegants) .233 BA/0 HR/36 RBI/ 63 R/.985 FA
Third Baseman: Johnny Madigan (Kilkenny Cats) .305 BA/1 HR/45 RBI/103 R/.965 FA
Shortstop: Cooter Bermudez (Rocky Rapids Snappers) .295 BA/1 HR/44 RBI/92 R/.977 FA
Left Fielder: Phil Stewart (Far Mountain Redhawks) .286 BA/3 HR/44 RBI/82 R/.987 FA
Center Fielder: Russ Woodward (Marston Nine) .317 BA/23 HR/91 RBI/91 R/.995 FA
Right Fielder: Norm Owens (San Dimas Rancheros) .265 BA/19 HR/104 RBI/73 R/.991 FA

This Year's Best Gloves Chosen by TU
"Hit 'em where they ain't" is a great hitting philosophy, but it doesn't always work when a fielder can seemingly appear out of nowhere to make the play. These magicians are often taken for granted as the season grinds along, but today they take center stage. Tycobbia had quite a few multiple winners: Rocky Fuqua of Tuckanarra and Rocco Belasario of Arlon were selected for his third Golden Glove Award and Jim Schubert of Red Bluff, Alan Hansen of Turon and Bob Snyder of Kenwood are two-time winners.

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team

Pitcher: Mick Cronyn (White River Rascals) 11-14/3.96 ERA/.986 FA
Catcher: Jim Schubert (Red Bluff Red Sox) .269 BA/13 HR/46 RBI/63 R/.996 FA/2 PB/38.5 % RTO
First Baseman: Vic Gelder (Blue Lake Blue Sox) .271 BA/13 HR/43 RBI/66 R/.997 FA
Second Baseman: Alan Hansen (Turon Typhoons) .276 BA/1 HR/45 RBI/101 R/.988 FA
Third Baseman: Rocky Fuqua (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .276 BA/9 HR/61 RBI/80 R/.984 FA
Shortstop: Bob Snyder (Kenwood Wildcats) .266 BA/12 HR//76 RBI/77 R/.985 FA
Left Fielder: Rocco Belasario (Arlon Champions) .310 BA/29 HR/87 RBI/117 R/.985 FA
Center Fielder: Earl O'Brien (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .307 BA/19 HR/97 RBI/136 R/.995 FA
Right Fielder: Ozzie Takach (Oxford Red Caps) .297 BA/17 HR/65 RBI/86 R/.994 FA

Eugene Church · 09-09-2010, 08:49 PM

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 17, 2014

IPA Rookies Of The Year Announced

Ruthlandian Union Honors Waleska's Chambers
Jerry Chambers's age didn't show very often in his first year. He performed more like a veteran on the hill for the Waleska Westerners and today he walked away with the 2014 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award. Chambers didn't join the club until the middle of July, but he certainly made an impression on the league in his rookie season. The 23-year-old starter registered a 9-5 record this season in 17 starts. Over 136 innings he gave up 131 hits, struck out 36 and issued 48 walks as he held the opposition to a .258 batting average and fashioned a 2.45 ERA.

2013 was a bumper crop of rookies, but not so in 2014. Very few freshmen got much playing time in the IPA. Runner-up Marv Marjoe was a very distant second in the voting. The LaGrange shortstop batted just .276 with 10 homers, 56 RBIs and scored 49 runs in 132 games. Finishing third was Far Mountain's fine fielding third sacker Beauregard Lee, who hit .267 with 12 roundtrippers, 53 runs batted in and 41 runs, while appearing in 127 games. Lee had a .976 fielding percentage.

TU's Best Rookie Acclaimed
Rob Pearson put together some impressive numbers for North Hills to garner enough votes for the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Award. The Hawks 24-year-old first baseman took the honor by hitting .296 in 149 games this season and finishing with 141 hits, 27 home runs, 103 RBIs and 86 runs scored. Pearson was an overwhelming choice in the balloting.

Second in the best rookie poll was South Fork's second baseman Ron Freiberg, who posted a .267 batting average with 17 home runs, 76 RBIs and 73 runs scored in 143 games. Freiberg played a solid second base with a .980 fielding average. Oxford's center fielder Ron Berry played in 136 games and compiled a .276 average with 15 homers, 64 RBIs, 89 runs and stole 31 bases. Berry was fine defender with a .980 percentage.

Eugene Church · 09-09-2010, 09:40 PM

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 18, 2014

IPA Golden Bats Awarded

RU Announces Top Batter Award
There's something special about a guy who can stride up to the plate and put the ball anywhere -- in the stands, off the wall, into the gap, down the third base line. You name the place and Roy Hobbs probably put it there on his way to winning the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award for 2014. The gifted Waleska center fielder belted out 212 hits in compiling a .357 batting average and racked up 36 doubles, 7 triples, 38 home runs, 131 RBIs and 124 runs scored. Hobbs had the best batting average in the league, led it in hits and wound up third in homers and second in scoring. The 21-year-old Hobbs is also strong on defense with a fine .980 FA. As a ballplayer Hobbs is the complete package.

Taranto's terrific right fielder Augie Marshall gave Hobbs a run for the award as he led the league with 146 RBIs and 49 home runs, while hitting at a .327 clip, helping the Tars to a second-place finish in the TU North. Marshall's teammate Ed Miles was third in the poll. Miles topped the TU with 134 runs, hit .310 with 28 homers and 113 runs batted in. The 34-year-old second baseman also handled his defensive chores well with a .987 fielding percentage.

TU Top Hitter, 2014 Choice Is Elliott
For the second successive season Jack Elliott has copped the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. The sensational 21-year-old High Mesa first baseman almost won the Triple Crown Award as he assaulted TU pitchers for a .342 batting average, 201 hits, 52 home runs and 141 RBIs, while scoring 129 times. Elliott led the league in homers and RBIs and was third in batting and number two in runs. He failed to take the bat title by only 2 percentage points. The 2014 honoree sparked High Mesa to a third-place spot in the TU East.

His biggest competition came from Turon's superb first baseman Clyde Kingsford, the number two vote-getter in the balloting. Kingsford play all 154 games and put up a .311 batting mark with 39 roundtrippers, 129 runs batted in and scored 112 times. He was a prime reason the Typhoons won the TU South pennant. TU batting average leader Andy Pearson of the Arroyo Grande Suns was number three in the poll. Pearson hit .344 for the bat crown with 30 home runs, 104 RBIs and 101 runs in a superlative performance.

Eugene Church · 09-10-2010, 11:27 PM

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 19, 2014

IPA Gives Out Golden Arm Trophies

Colfax's Szabo Nets RU Golden Arm Award
Ilya Szabo, the 35-year-old Colfax starter hoisted up the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award earlier today. It's the third time in his illustrious career that he had taken the honor. Szabo also was the top hurler in 2010 and 2011. Szabo crafted an ERA of 1.75 as he won 23 games, dropped 8, fanned 190 and gave up 58 walks in 318 innings of work. The 12-year veteran led the RU in ERA for the third time and tossed 7 shutouts. Szabo was one of the main ingredients in the Blasters RU West pennant. Lifetime in the IPA he is 220-110 with a splendid 2.36 ERA.

Szabo outpolled Kyle Ferguson of the Kilkenny Cats and his Colfax teammate Jimmy Joe Cartner. Ferguson was second in the poll with a 24-8 record and a sparkling 2.09 ERA. Cartner went 25-8 with a 2.56 ERA and wound up third in the balloting.Cartner had 19 complete games and helped the Blasters to another RU West crown.

Tycobbian Union Best Pitcher Named
The winningest pitcher in IPA history Cody Burg of the Cape Coral Hurricanes again fired on all cylinders in 2014 and dominated Tycobbian Union batters. For his superb season he has been selected the Golden Arm Award winner. During the year Burg compiled a 25-12 record, a 2.41 ERA and 288 strikeouts while working 310 innings. It's the third time the 32-year-old righty has won the trophy. Burg also won in back-to-back seasons in 2004 and 2005. He also led the TU in strikeouts for the 11th time and ERA for the fifth time. Burg has had a brilliant career with 252-151 record and a 2.57 ERA. Burg is a 14-year vet.

Nicky Engstrom was again in the forefront of another Turon pennant. He fashioned his fourth 20-win season, winding up with a 24-10 mark and a 2.44 ERA, numbers good enough to be a very close second in the Golden Arm race. In the third spot in the poll was Ginza's Carl Trebek. He chalked up a 19-9 record with a 2.70 ERA and was an important element in the Ninjas rise up to third place in the TU South.

Eugene Church · 09-11-2010, 10:34 AM

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 20, 2014

Szabo And Burg 2014 IPA MVPs
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the BNN Most Valuable Player Awards for the 2014 season. Both winners have already been recognized with the Golden Arm Awards. Ilya Szabo of the the Colfax Blasters was the MVP recipient in the Ruthlandian Union and Cody Burg was honored with the Tycobbian Union MVP.

Szabo led the Blasters to the RU West title with a standout 23-8 record and topped the league with a brilliant 1.75 ERA. Szabo has been the ERA leader three times in his career. The 35-year-old right-hander also paced the league with 7 shutouts. This is Szabo's second MVP crown. He has also taken the RU Golden Arm trophy twice. Lifetime Szabo has compiled a 220-110 record with a remarkable 2.36 ERA.

Taranto's slugger Augie Marshall was Szabo's biggest challenger. Marshall batted .327 for the second place Tars in the RU North and ranked at the top of the league with 49 homers and 146 RBIs. Young Kyle Ferguson, Kilkenny's 25-year-old hurler, rated third in the BNN poll, was 24-8 with a 2.04 ERA in his second season in the IPA. Ferguson had the second-best ERA. The Cats wound up fourth in the tough RU North.

Burg has won most games in IPA history with an overall 252-151 mark in his 14 seasons. This year the 32-year old Hurricane ace registered a 25-12 record and fanned 288 batters in 310 innings and collected the Tycobbian Union MVP award for the first time. He has been named the Golden Arm winner on three occasions. Burg has been the TU strikeout king a remarkable 11 times. His 2.41 ERA was the best in the TU. It's the fifth time Burg has ranked number one in that category. Despite Burg's great year, Cape Coral finished fifth in the TU South this year.

Two hard-swinging first sackers gave Burg the most competion. Turon's Clyde Kingsford led the Typhoons to the TU South flag and was the number two votegetter. Kingsford batted .311, slammed 39 home runs and drove in 129 runs. High Mesa's Jack Elliott, the TU Golden Bat winner for the second year in a row, was third in the balloting. Elliott's Cowboys were third in the TU East race. He had another massive season with a .342 batting average (3rd), 51 homers (1st), 141 RBIs (1st) and scored 129 runs (2nd). Elliott came up 2 points short in the batting race and just barely missed out on the Triple Crown.

Eugene Church · 09-11-2010, 11:42 AM

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Best Skippers Honored By IPA, FM's Groveland And Midway's Chandler Winners
The top IPA managers for 2014 have been selected by BNN. This year's best are Far Mountain's Alex Groveland in the Ruthlandian Union and Midway's Cochise Chandler in the Tycobbian Union. Groveland's Redhawks captured their sixth consecutive RU North title and recorded the most wins in the IPA with a 96-58 mark. Groveland won the award for the third straight year. Chandler led his Wolves to the playoffs for the first time in history with a league-best 94-60 record. Midway rose up from 4th place in 2013. Chandler is a first-time winner.

In the Ruthlandian Union, Belair Beach's Marty Pedroza was second to Groveland in the poll. His Sunbirds won the RU South with a 95-59 record. Marston's Johnny Walters was number three. The Nine climbed from 4th to first in the RU East. The other votegetters were Boo Ladrieux of Belle Plaine in fourth place and Rocky Rapids' Ryan Noland. The Musketeers jumped from 6th to second in the RU East and the Snappers went from 5th to second in the RU West with a 91-63 mark, which was the fourth-best record after powerhouses Far Mountain, Belair Beach and Colfax.

Over in the Tycobbian Union, the runner-up to Chandler was Zim Donner of the Hartsdale Hellcats in the TU North, who went from last place to first place in just one year. Third in the polling was Kenwood's Aaron Hankins. His Wildcats moved from 3rd in the TU West to first and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2002. Turon's Whitey Richburn came in fourth. The Typhoons were again pennant winners in the TU South with a 93-61 record, second in victories to Midway's 94.

Eugene Church · 09-12-2010, 12:05 AM

15th IPA Season Coming SoonTo A Ballpark Near You.

Thanks for being such loyal and faithful viewers.

Much appreciated.

Eugene Church · 09-12-2010, 04:46 PM

Deleted, so the standings and recap would be on the same page.

09-03-2010, 09:08 PM	#1942
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	Mountain View Stadium (1971) Capacity: 10,850 Dimensions: LF Line 315 LF 345 LCF 375 CF 405 RCF 375 RF 360 RF Line 345 Attached Images

09-03-2010, 10:16 PM	#1943
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Monday, October 6, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series Sunbirds Fly By Colfax, Whitaker Cinches Series It's been a long wait, but Belair Beach has finally made it to the Pro Cup Finals... Denny Whitaker shut out Colfax 3-0 in game 6 to win the RU Final 4 Series four games to two... Whitaker (3-0 2.45) limited the Blasters to just 4 hits, struck out 6 and walked 4... Rodger Wright (1-1 5.88) pitched well in defeat as he yielded only two earned runs and 7 hits in a complete-game performance... the Sunbirds got to him for single runs in the first, third and fourth frames... Belair Beach will play the winner of the Turon-Kenwood TU Final 4 for the Island championship... the Sunbirds have never advanced this far in the IPA playoffs. Kenwood Knocks Out Turon 9-7 In Game 6 It will be the Kenwood Wildcats and the Belair Beach Sunbirds in the 2014 IPA Pro Cup Finals... The Wildcats came from behind to eliminate the Typhoons 9-7 in game 6 of the TU Final 4 to win the series in six games... Turon jumped ahead 4-1 in the fifth, but Kenwood fought back and tied it 4-4 in the seventh and then erupted for 5 runs in the eighth to take a commanding 9-4 lead and held off a scary ninth-inning rally by the Typhoons... Turon outgunned them 14 to 10... For the second day in a row Tank Tucker notched the win with a perfect seventh inning... Sol Yakis also picked up the save for the second successive day with ninth-inning relief... the Wildcats had many heroes at the plate... RF Dennis Riley (.318) and 2B Paul Lassak (.375) had 2 RBIs apiece... and 3B Brad Walker (.306) had 2 hits, scored twice and batted in a run... CF Vince Palmer (.280) smacked 3 hits and scored 2 runs... leading the losing Typhoons were RF Andy Porter (.325) with a pair of hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Clyde Kingsford (.311) with 3-5, 2 runs and an RBI and SS Matt Madison (.391) with 2-4 and 2 runs scored... Turon starter Jeb Stuart (2-1 3.91) sustained the loss... Stuart was shelled for 5 runs in 7 innings. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:54 PM.

09-04-2010, 12:59 PM	#1944
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Tuesday, October 7, 2014 BB Sunbirds Favored In 2014 Pro Cup The 2014 IPA Pro Cup Finals begin tomorrow at Bayside Park in Belair Beach. Except for this season both qualifiers have fared poorly in the postseason. In previous years the Belair Beach Sunbirds have made the playoffs five times and never gotten out of the first round. The Kenwood Wildcats have made only one prior postseason appearance in 2002 and were knocked out in the first round. However, this year they find themselves playing for all the marbles. One of them will win its first Pro Cup. Odds-makers have given the nod to the Sunbirds. Manager Marty Pedroza's club was 95-59 during the regular season, second best in the Ruthlandian Union, while Aaron Hankins' Wildcats were only 86-68, which was a distant third in the Tycobbian Union. Baseball analysts say Belair Beach has beaten two powerhouses in 3-time Pro Cup champ Far Mountain and Colfax and has proven to be a top-flight team. The baseball soothsayers qualify their pick by saying Kenwood has proven its worth with victories over Midway and Turon this postseason. Turon has three Pro Cup trophies in its history and came very close to winning a fourth. So the Wildcats have good credentials this season. Belair Beach has a good offense, fair power, good starters and an excellent closer, while Kenwood has a good offense, decent power, good starters and great relievers. Both clubs are excellent defensively. The forecast is for a hard-fought series with the Sunbirds prevailing. Belair Beach's top performers are starters Denny Whitaker (21-15 3.32)), Wally Green (19-5 3.67) and Nasty Naymick (15-10 3.21) and closer Groot Tenbrook (5-4 2.76) with 37 saves. At the plate LF Ron Dizon (.256) led the team with 27 homers and 91 RBIs. CF Tom Bennett (.283) had 12 home runs and scored 104 runs. Kenwood standouts are starters Connie Gavagan (18-13 3.05) and Sammy Shaw (18-12 3.59). In Hankins' superb bullpen are Tank Tucker (9-3 2.76), Sol Yakis (10-2 2.99) and closer Rick Brickell (3-7 2.66) with 24 saves. Yakis and Tucker may get starting assignments in the finals in place of number three starter Todd Combs (14-19 3.46), who has had a rocky postseason. Offensively the Wildcats don't have a star, but they possess a solid bunch of batters throughout the line-up, led by RF Dennis Riley (.320) with 19 homers and 87 RBIs, LF Jimmy Brewer (.286) with 22 roundtrippers and 71 runs batted in and 3B Brad Walker (.290) with 14 long balls and 78 RBIs. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:54 PM.

09-04-2010, 07:00 PM	#1945
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Wednesday, October 8, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1 Belair Beach Bombs Kenwood 8-2 in Opener At Bayside Park in Belair Beach, the Sunbirds bombed Kenwood with 14 hits and a pair of homers in the 8-2 victory in game one of the IPA Pro Cup Series... strong hitting combined with strong pitching made it easy for manager Marty Pedroza's club... Nasty Naymick (3-1 1.65) continued to excel in the playoffs... He stopped the Wildcats on 3 hits and didn't allow an earned run in a complete-game performance... Naymick struck out 7 and walked 3 in an impressive outing... RF Billy Martz (.397) and LF Ron Dizon (.298) both homered and drove in 2 runs... CF Tom Bennett (.288) added 3 hits and 2 runs batted in... Sammy Shaw (2-1 4.45) took the loss, allowing 6 runs and 9 hits in 2+ innings. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:55 PM.

09-04-2010, 07:30 PM	#1946
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Thursday, October 9, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 2 Wildcats Down Sunbirds 8-6, Series Even In game two of the IPA Pro Cup Series both teams had their aces on the mound, but it didn't matter much to the hitters... Kenwood outscored Belair Beach 8-6 to even the series at one game apiece in the best-of-seven set... It was a seesaw affair... the Sunbirds went in front 2-0 in the first on LF Ron Dizon's third playoff homer... the Wildcats countered with single runs in the second and third innings and added two more in each of the fifth and seventh, building up a 6-2 lead... but that didn't hold as Belair Beach tied it up in the last half of the inning on Dizon's fourth playoff home run, a bases-loaded blast... 2B Duncan Renwick got the game-winning hit in the top of the eighth, a two-run single. Tank Tucker (3-0 4.15) got the win as he came on in the seventh and got the final out of the inning... Rick Brickell finished up with 2 perfect innings and got his 4th save... The loss went to Groot Tenbrook (2-2 4.50), who came on in the eighth and allowed 2 runs... Kenwood's top pitcher Connie Gavagan started, but was ineffective... Gavagan was tagged for 6 runs and 8 hits and departed in the seventh... Belair Beach's best hurler Denny Whitaker had a rough outing, too... Whitaker permitted 6 runs and 6 hits and exited in the seventh. 3B Brad Walker (.321) led the Wildcats at the plate with 3-3 and 2 runs scored... Walker belted 2 doubles and a triple... RF Dennis Riley (.302) had a 2-run homer and C Gene Verbick (.260) drove in 2 runs for the winners... Dizon sparked the Sunbirds with his 2 roundtrippers and 6 RBIs... Both clubs had 8 hits each. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:55 PM.

09-03-2010, 09:05 PM	#1941
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	Around the Town in the IPA COLFAX BLASTERS Owner: Enim Dlog (Precious Metals Corporation) GM/Manager: Clem Rogers Colfax is found in west central Ruthlandia, population 89,000. It is a "City of Gold" situated on the scenic Silver River, which flows out of the Silver Mountains northwest of Volusia, past Colfax and then westward to the nation's capital, Forest City. It then merges with the Green River, which winds its way through the southern half of the country and ends at Belair Beach. The town was settled during the Gold Rush of the 1850's and is still quite profitable. It is also an important coal mining center. It is also the home of the Colfax Blasters of the Islandian Pro Alliance, who play in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the West Division. The team is nicknamed for the dynamite blasters, so important in mining the gold, silver, copper and coal...and also the longball hitters, therefore giving Blasters a double meaning. Due to its great financial wealth and success, Colfaxians have a town of stunning beauty and charm. Built by the coal barons and the gold mine owners, it is filled with grand buildings and mansions, intermingled with the smokestacks that loom over the landscape. To lessen the environmental impact, quiet canals and man-made waterways flow through the town. Visitors can glide by boat along the tranquil Silver River or walk the fabled cobblestoned streets and discover a town that time has almost forgotten. You can hear its famous landmark, "The Belfry", a carillon or bells that toll every hour and has continuously for over 150 years. Colfax also boasts an opera house, concert hall, theater and a ballet company. Colfax's Mountain View Stadium is known for its gorgeous view of the town, the Silver Mountain backdrop beyond the outfield fence and for its "Pot of Gold". It is an actual pot, five feet in diameter, located in the center field section of the ballpark, 410 feet away. Whenever a Blaster player hits a ball that ends up in the "Pot of Gold", the player and a fan each receive $5,000. The fan is chosen in a "lucky scorecard number" drawing. At the ballpark you have hardworking and hard living miners and the white collar and managerial set...the beer set and the champagne set. Both are attended to at Mountain View Stadium. You can get anything from hot dogs to caviar at the concession stands. The Blasters' owner is Enim Dlog, whose ancestors are from somewhere in the Baltics. It was his great-great-granddaddy, who first discovered gold in the 1850's. In fact, the new ballpark was built on the same site as the first gold mine. The GM and Manager of the Colfax Blasters is Clem Rogers, one of the top righthanded pitchers of alltime in the industrial leagues. He is number two on the all-time strikeout list, just a few hundred behind the the strikeout king, Ryan Noland.

09-04-2010, 07:55 PM	#1947
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Friday, October 10, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 3 BB Sunbirds Trounce Kenwood 8-2, Lead Pro Cup 2-1 For game three the IPA Pro Cup Series switched to Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood, but it didn't help the homestanding Wildcats... the Belair Beach Sunbirds continued to thrive at the plate with 12 hits and an 8-2 triumph to take a two to one edge in the series. Belair Beach got a fine start from Wally Green, too... Green (2-3 1.91) worked 7 strong innings, fanned 10 and held Kenwood to 1 run on 6 hits... closer Groot Tenbrook finished up, but allowed a run in his 2 innings, an eighth-inning clout by LF Jimmy Brewer (.182)... loser Sol Yakis (0-1) was routed after 2 innings... Yakis was ripped for 6 runs and 7 hits... It was Yakis' first start of the year... He made 52 relief appearances in the regular season and was very effective... Skipper Aaron Hankins is still looking for a good start from someone... all his starters have been battered so far in the series. Belair Beach's top bats today belonged to 3B Zippy Parks (.341) with 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs, RF Billy Martz (.358), who drove in 2 runs with his 4th postseason home run and LF Ron Dizon (.333) with a pair of hits and 2 runs scored... RF Dennis Riley (.333) topped the Wildcats with 3 hits. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:56 PM.

09-06-2010, 09:41 PM	#1948
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Saturday, October 11, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 4 Dizon's HR Lifts Sunbirds To 3-1 Lead In Pro Cup In Kenwood, Ron Dizon of the Belair Beach Sunbirds broke the hearts of the Wildcat fans with a dramatic 2-run homer in the top of the eighth to win game 4 of the IPA Pro Cup Series 3-2... the triumph put the Sunbirds in the driver's seat with a big three-games-to-one edge in the best-of-seven series... It was Dizon's 5th roundtripper in the postseason playoffs and gave him 15 RBIs... Dizon (.345) drove in all 3 runs... He grounded out in the third and plated CF Tom Bennett, who led off the inning with a double... In the sixth RF Dennis Riley (.328) homered and put Kenwood ahead 2-1... Nasty Naymick (4-1 1.74) continued his playoff brilliance... Naymick held the Wildcats to 4 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings and fanned 6... Slim Mosley picked up his first save in the postseason by striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in the ninth... Bennett (.329) led the Sunbirds with 3 hits... Loser Sammy Shaw (2-2 4.10) went the route, struck out 7 and walked 1 and was tagged for 11 hits, but was tough with men on base. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:57 PM.

09-06-2010, 10:00 PM	#1949
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Sunday, October 12, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5 Gavagan Fires 1-Hitter, Kenwood Still Alive Trailing 3 games to 1 and with their backs to the wall, the Kenwood Wildcats rose to the occasion and staved off elimination in the IPA Pro Cup Series with a 5-2 decision over Belair Beach in game 5 at Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood... The Wildcats backed up Connie Gavagan's sizzling 1-hitter with 3 home runs... 3B Zippy Parks (.327) got the only Sunbird hit with an RBI single in the ninth... Gavagan (3-0 3.09) weakened in the ninth and walked 4, but closer Rick Brickell saved it for him... It was Brickell's 5th save in the playoff this year... He got the final out of the game with the bases loaded... 3B Brad Walker (.324), LF Jimmy Brewer (.196) and 1B Xavier Rocha (.234) all had solo homers to pace the Wildcats... Denny Whitaker (3-1 3.33) suffered his first postseason lost this season... Whitaker surrendered 5 runs and 11 hits in 7 innings. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:57 PM.

09-06-2010, 10:30 PM	#1950
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Monday, October 13, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 6 Pro Cup Tied 3-3, Kenwood Slams Sunbirds 13-8 The 2014 Pro Cup Series is all tied up a 3 games apiece after Kenwood demolished Belair Beach 13-8 in game 6 at Bayside Park in Belair Beach... the Wildcats bashed 21 hits, sparked by 2B Duncan Renwick (.357) with 4 hits and 2 RBIs, C Gene Verbick (.292) with 3 hits and 2 runs batted in and SS Bob Snyder (.232) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... LF Jimmy Brewer (.218) also delivered 3 hits, including a solo homer, and scored 3 times... In defeat 1B Denny Gray (.259) had a 3-run smash and LF Ron Dizon (.328) drove in a pair of runs with his 6th playoff home run... Kenwood led 6-3 after 3 innings, increased it to 8-3 in the top of the fifth, only to have the Sunbirds surge back to knot the score at 8-8 after 6 frames... The Wildcats regained the momentum and roared back with 5 in the last three innings for the win... Sol Yakis (1-1) got the victory, in spite of allowing 2 runs in his 1+ innings... Todd Combs and Rick Brickell saved the day by blanking Belair Beach on 1 hit in the final 3 innings... Combs worked a 1-2-3 seventh and Brickell shut them out in the last two frames. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:58 PM.

09-06-2010, 11:28 PM	#1951
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Tuesday, October 14, 2014 2014 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 7 Wildcats Win 2014 Pro Cup In 7 Games Down 3 games to 1, the never-say-die Kenwood Wildcats came back and won the final 3 games to win the 2014 IPA Pro Cup... The Wildcats won game 7 by the score of 3-1 behind some fancy pitching by Sammy Shaw (3-2 3.57), who stopped the Belair Beach Sunbirds on 1 run and 4 hits in 8 impressive innings... closer Rick Brickell (1-1 3.75) notched his 6th playoff save by setting the Sunbirds down in order in the ninth... This was manager Aaron Hankins and Kenwood's first ever Pro Cup. The Wildcats had to beat Nasty Naymick to take the crown... Naymick (4-2 1.94) was tough in the postseason... Naymick allowed 3 runs on 8 hits and left in the ninth... Kenwood scored first with a run in the top of the third... 1B Xavier Rocha (.259) walked, moved to second on an error by Naymick and scored on 2B Duncan Renwick's (.367) base hit... In the bottom of the fifth Belair Beach knotted the score at 1-1... singles by 3B Zippy Parks (.283) and 1B Denny Gray (.258) placed runners on second and third... Parks scored on SS Ron Nossek's (.250) fly ball... A walk, a sacrifice bunt and a single by Shaw (.077) produced a 2-1 lead for Kenwood in the top of the seventh... Wildcat RF Dennis Riley's (.307) 4th playoff four-bagger provided an insurance run in the eighth. At the post-game press conference winning skipper Aaron Hankins told reporters, "It's been a long time coming, but we finally won a Pro Cup for the great fans in Kenwood. Our pitching had not been very good in the first six games... we really needed a good outing today and Sammy gave it to us. He was absolutely amazing, holding the Sunbirds to just four hits and one run." Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:58 PM.

09-07-2010, 06:02 PM	#1952
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Kenwood's Gavagan Pro Cup MVP In a hotly-contested poll, Connie Gavagan, Kenwood's fine pitcher, nudged out teammate Dennis Riley for the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award. Gavagan led the Wildcats to the Pro Cup championship with a 3-0 record and a 3.09 ERA. Gavagan won several of the crucial "must win" games. Riley, the Kenwood right fielder, batted .307 and led the club with 4 homers and 14 RBIs during the postseason. 32-year-old Gavagan was the choice of 30 writers and sportscasters, while Riley received 28 votes. The most valuable player in the Pro Cup playoffs is selected each season in a poll conducted by The Islandian Times. Belair Beach's mound standout Nasty Naymick (4-2 1.94) came in third in the balloting with 24 votes, followed by Sunbird left fielder Ron Dizon, who led the playoffs with 6 home runs and 17 RBIs. Dizon had a .324 batting average. He was named on 23 ballots. The only other player to get votes was Belair Beach's right fielder Billy Martz, who was fifth in the poll. Martz had a .341 batting average, 4 homers, 13 RBIs and scored 16 runs. Martz received 20 votes. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:59 PM.

09-08-2010, 07:21 PM	#1953
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Thursday, October 16, 2014 IPA Picks Best Defenders For 2014 Top Defensive Players Named by RU Great glovemen can range far and wide to make a backhand stop or an over-the-shoulder catch -- and the best usually make it look easy. Today the winners of the Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Award for 2014 were announced. Sugar Valley's Hal Stevenson won his third Golden Glove, while Al Thibaut of Forest City and Phil Gravelli of Crystal Lake were honored for the second time in their careers. Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team Pitcher: Al Thibaut (Forest City Lumberjacks) 15-18/2.99 ERA/.990 FA Catcher: Hal Stevenson (Sugar Valley Rattlers) .281 BA/34 HR/106 RBI/84 R .986 FA/4 PB/36.0% RTO First Baseman: Phil Gravelli (Crystal Lake Crushers) .325 BA/39 HR/123 RBI/87 R/.996 FA Second Baseman: Garrett Glisson (Eastshore Elegants) .233 BA/0 HR/36 RBI/ 63 R/.985 FA Third Baseman: Johnny Madigan (Kilkenny Cats) .305 BA/1 HR/45 RBI/103 R/.965 FA Shortstop: Cooter Bermudez (Rocky Rapids Snappers) .295 BA/1 HR/44 RBI/92 R/.977 FA Left Fielder: Phil Stewart (Far Mountain Redhawks) .286 BA/3 HR/44 RBI/82 R/.987 FA Center Fielder: Russ Woodward (Marston Nine) .317 BA/23 HR/91 RBI/91 R/.995 FA Right Fielder: Norm Owens (San Dimas Rancheros) .265 BA/19 HR/104 RBI/73 R/.991 FA This Year's Best Gloves Chosen by TU "Hit 'em where they ain't" is a great hitting philosophy, but it doesn't always work when a fielder can seemingly appear out of nowhere to make the play. These magicians are often taken for granted as the season grinds along, but today they take center stage. Tycobbia had quite a few multiple winners: Rocky Fuqua of Tuckanarra and Rocco Belasario of Arlon were selected for his third Golden Glove Award and Jim Schubert of Red Bluff, Alan Hansen of Turon and Bob Snyder of Kenwood are two-time winners. Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team Pitcher: Mick Cronyn (White River Rascals) 11-14/3.96 ERA/.986 FA Catcher: Jim Schubert (Red Bluff Red Sox) .269 BA/13 HR/46 RBI/63 R/.996 FA/2 PB/38.5 % RTO First Baseman: Vic Gelder (Blue Lake Blue Sox) .271 BA/13 HR/43 RBI/66 R/.997 FA Second Baseman: Alan Hansen (Turon Typhoons) .276 BA/1 HR/45 RBI/101 R/.988 FA Third Baseman: Rocky Fuqua (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .276 BA/9 HR/61 RBI/80 R/.984 FA Shortstop: Bob Snyder (Kenwood Wildcats) .266 BA/12 HR//76 RBI/77 R/.985 FA Left Fielder: Rocco Belasario (Arlon Champions) .310 BA/29 HR/87 RBI/117 R/.985 FA Center Fielder: Earl O'Brien (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .307 BA/19 HR/97 RBI/136 R/.995 FA Right Fielder: Ozzie Takach (Oxford Red Caps) .297 BA/17 HR/65 RBI/86 R/.994 FA Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-11-2010 at 11:52 AM.

09-09-2010, 08:49 PM	#1954
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Friday, October 17, 2014 IPA Rookies Of The Year Announced Ruthlandian Union Honors Waleska's Chambers Jerry Chambers's age didn't show very often in his first year. He performed more like a veteran on the hill for the Waleska Westerners and today he walked away with the 2014 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award. Chambers didn't join the club until the middle of July, but he certainly made an impression on the league in his rookie season. The 23-year-old starter registered a 9-5 record this season in 17 starts. Over 136 innings he gave up 131 hits, struck out 36 and issued 48 walks as he held the opposition to a .258 batting average and fashioned a 2.45 ERA. 2013 was a bumper crop of rookies, but not so in 2014. Very few freshmen got much playing time in the IPA. Runner-up Marv Marjoe was a very distant second in the voting. The LaGrange shortstop batted just .276 with 10 homers, 56 RBIs and scored 49 runs in 132 games. Finishing third was Far Mountain's fine fielding third sacker Beauregard Lee, who hit .267 with 12 roundtrippers, 53 runs batted in and 41 runs, while appearing in 127 games. Lee had a .976 fielding percentage. TU's Best Rookie Acclaimed Rob Pearson put together some impressive numbers for North Hills to garner enough votes for the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Award. The Hawks 24-year-old first baseman took the honor by hitting .296 in 149 games this season and finishing with 141 hits, 27 home runs, 103 RBIs and 86 runs scored. Pearson was an overwhelming choice in the balloting. Second in the best rookie poll was South Fork's second baseman Ron Freiberg, who posted a .267 batting average with 17 home runs, 76 RBIs and 73 runs scored in 143 games. Freiberg played a solid second base with a .980 fielding average. Oxford's center fielder Ron Berry played in 136 games and compiled a .276 average with 15 homers, 64 RBIs, 89 runs and stole 31 bases. Berry was fine defender with a .980 percentage. Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-11-2010 at 11:53 AM.

09-09-2010, 09:40 PM	#1955
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Saturday, October 18, 2014 IPA Golden Bats Awarded RU Announces Top Batter Award There's something special about a guy who can stride up to the plate and put the ball anywhere -- in the stands, off the wall, into the gap, down the third base line. You name the place and Roy Hobbs probably put it there on his way to winning the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award for 2014. The gifted Waleska center fielder belted out 212 hits in compiling a .357 batting average and racked up 36 doubles, 7 triples, 38 home runs, 131 RBIs and 124 runs scored. Hobbs had the best batting average in the league, led it in hits and wound up third in homers and second in scoring. The 21-year-old Hobbs is also strong on defense with a fine .980 FA. As a ballplayer Hobbs is the complete package. Taranto's terrific right fielder Augie Marshall gave Hobbs a run for the award as he led the league with 146 RBIs and 49 home runs, while hitting at a .327 clip, helping the Tars to a second-place finish in the TU North. Marshall's teammate Ed Miles was third in the poll. Miles topped the TU with 134 runs, hit .310 with 28 homers and 113 runs batted in. The 34-year-old second baseman also handled his defensive chores well with a .987 fielding percentage. TU Top Hitter, 2014 Choice Is Elliott For the second successive season Jack Elliott has copped the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. The sensational 21-year-old High Mesa first baseman almost won the Triple Crown Award as he assaulted TU pitchers for a .342 batting average, 201 hits, 52 home runs and 141 RBIs, while scoring 129 times. Elliott led the league in homers and RBIs and was third in batting and number two in runs. He failed to take the bat title by only 2 percentage points. The 2014 honoree sparked High Mesa to a third-place spot in the TU East. His biggest competition came from Turon's superb first baseman Clyde Kingsford, the number two vote-getter in the balloting. Kingsford play all 154 games and put up a .311 batting mark with 39 roundtrippers, 129 runs batted in and scored 112 times. He was a prime reason the Typhoons won the TU South pennant. TU batting average leader Andy Pearson of the Arroyo Grande Suns was number three in the poll. Pearson hit .344 for the bat crown with 30 home runs, 104 RBIs and 101 runs in a superlative performance. Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-11-2010 at 11:53 AM.

09-10-2010, 11:27 PM	#1956
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Sunday, October 19, 2014 IPA Gives Out Golden Arm Trophies Colfax's Szabo Nets RU Golden Arm Award Ilya Szabo, the 35-year-old Colfax starter hoisted up the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award earlier today. It's the third time in his illustrious career that he had taken the honor. Szabo also was the top hurler in 2010 and 2011. Szabo crafted an ERA of 1.75 as he won 23 games, dropped 8, fanned 190 and gave up 58 walks in 318 innings of work. The 12-year veteran led the RU in ERA for the third time and tossed 7 shutouts. Szabo was one of the main ingredients in the Blasters RU West pennant. Lifetime in the IPA he is 220-110 with a splendid 2.36 ERA. Szabo outpolled Kyle Ferguson of the Kilkenny Cats and his Colfax teammate Jimmy Joe Cartner. Ferguson was second in the poll with a 24-8 record and a sparkling 2.09 ERA. Cartner went 25-8 with a 2.56 ERA and wound up third in the balloting.Cartner had 19 complete games and helped the Blasters to another RU West crown. Tycobbian Union Best Pitcher Named The winningest pitcher in IPA history Cody Burg of the Cape Coral Hurricanes again fired on all cylinders in 2014 and dominated Tycobbian Union batters. For his superb season he has been selected the Golden Arm Award winner. During the year Burg compiled a 25-12 record, a 2.41 ERA and 288 strikeouts while working 310 innings. It's the third time the 32-year-old righty has won the trophy. Burg also won in back-to-back seasons in 2004 and 2005. He also led the TU in strikeouts for the 11th time and ERA for the fifth time. Burg has had a brilliant career with 252-151 record and a 2.57 ERA. Burg is a 14-year vet. Nicky Engstrom was again in the forefront of another Turon pennant. He fashioned his fourth 20-win season, winding up with a 24-10 mark and a 2.44 ERA, numbers good enough to be a very close second in the Golden Arm race. In the third spot in the poll was Ginza's Carl Trebek. He chalked up a 19-9 record with a 2.70 ERA and was an important element in the Ninjas rise up to third place in the TU South. Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-11-2010 at 11:53 AM.

09-11-2010, 10:34 AM	#1957
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Monday, October 20, 2014 Szabo And Burg 2014 IPA MVPs The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the BNN Most Valuable Player Awards for the 2014 season. Both winners have already been recognized with the Golden Arm Awards. Ilya Szabo of the the Colfax Blasters was the MVP recipient in the Ruthlandian Union and Cody Burg was honored with the Tycobbian Union MVP. Szabo led the Blasters to the RU West title with a standout 23-8 record and topped the league with a brilliant 1.75 ERA. Szabo has been the ERA leader three times in his career. The 35-year-old right-hander also paced the league with 7 shutouts. This is Szabo's second MVP crown. He has also taken the RU Golden Arm trophy twice. Lifetime Szabo has compiled a 220-110 record with a remarkable 2.36 ERA. Taranto's slugger Augie Marshall was Szabo's biggest challenger. Marshall batted .327 for the second place Tars in the RU North and ranked at the top of the league with 49 homers and 146 RBIs. Young Kyle Ferguson, Kilkenny's 25-year-old hurler, rated third in the BNN poll, was 24-8 with a 2.04 ERA in his second season in the IPA. Ferguson had the second-best ERA. The Cats wound up fourth in the tough RU North. Burg has won most games in IPA history with an overall 252-151 mark in his 14 seasons. This year the 32-year old Hurricane ace registered a 25-12 record and fanned 288 batters in 310 innings and collected the Tycobbian Union MVP award for the first time. He has been named the Golden Arm winner on three occasions. Burg has been the TU strikeout king a remarkable 11 times. His 2.41 ERA was the best in the TU. It's the fifth time Burg has ranked number one in that category. Despite Burg's great year, Cape Coral finished fifth in the TU South this year. Two hard-swinging first sackers gave Burg the most competion. Turon's Clyde Kingsford led the Typhoons to the TU South flag and was the number two votegetter. Kingsford batted .311, slammed 39 home runs and drove in 129 runs. High Mesa's Jack Elliott, the TU Golden Bat winner for the second year in a row, was third in the balloting. Elliott's Cowboys were third in the TU East race. He had another massive season with a .342 batting average (3rd), 51 homers (1st), 141 RBIs (1st) and scored 129 runs (2nd). Elliott came up 2 points short in the batting race and just barely missed out on the Triple Crown. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 05:59 PM.

09-11-2010, 11:42 AM	#1958
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	The Islandian Times Tuesday, October 21, 2014 Best Skippers Honored By IPA, FM's Groveland And Midway's Chandler Winners The top IPA managers for 2014 have been selected by BNN. This year's best are Far Mountain's Alex Groveland in the Ruthlandian Union and Midway's Cochise Chandler in the Tycobbian Union. Groveland's Redhawks captured their sixth consecutive RU North title and recorded the most wins in the IPA with a 96-58 mark. Groveland won the award for the third straight year. Chandler led his Wolves to the playoffs for the first time in history with a league-best 94-60 record. Midway rose up from 4th place in 2013. Chandler is a first-time winner. In the Ruthlandian Union, Belair Beach's Marty Pedroza was second to Groveland in the poll. His Sunbirds won the RU South with a 95-59 record. Marston's Johnny Walters was number three. The Nine climbed from 4th to first in the RU East. The other votegetters were Boo Ladrieux of Belle Plaine in fourth place and Rocky Rapids' Ryan Noland. The Musketeers jumped from 6th to second in the RU East and the Snappers went from 5th to second in the RU West with a 91-63 mark, which was the fourth-best record after powerhouses Far Mountain, Belair Beach and Colfax. Over in the Tycobbian Union, the runner-up to Chandler was Zim Donner of the Hartsdale Hellcats in the TU North, who went from last place to first place in just one year. Third in the polling was Kenwood's Aaron Hankins. His Wildcats moved from 3rd in the TU West to first and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2002. Turon's Whitey Richburn came in fourth. The Typhoons were again pennant winners in the TU South with a 93-61 record, second in victories to Midway's 94. Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-24-2022 at 06:00 PM.

09-12-2010, 12:05 AM	#1959
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	15th IPA Season Coming SoonTo A Ballpark Near You. Thanks for being such loyal and faithful viewers. Much appreciated.

09-12-2010, 04:46 PM	#1960
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,695 Blog Entries: 1	Deleted, so the standings and recap would be on the same page. Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-12-2010 at 06:47 PM.