ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, June 22, 2015

2015 Ruthlandian North Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

[Eugene Church]

2015 Ruthlandian North Mid-Season Recap

Taranto Tars (47-26)
Tommaso Lazzorda has the highest scoring team in the IPA and some good pitching, too. That's why his Taranto Tars are atop the Ruthlandian North at the mid-season mark. The Tars have a 3-game lead over the always strong Far Mountain Redhawks and 8 games over third place Glasco. All-Star RF Augie Marshall (.316), All-Star LF Artie Kennedy (.354), 1B Pietro Skrmetta (.308) and CF Miles Rogers (.364) are a hard-hitting bunch. On the mound Jimmy Mosley (10-3) and Chazzie DiBartolo (8-5) are Lazzorda's top arms. The Tars also possess the best defense in the RU North with a .976 FA.

Far Mountain Redhawks (44-29)
Don't feel sorry for Alex Groveland and the Far Mountain Redhawks, who lost all-time great pitcher Boomerang Hines to retirement, they still have a solid ballclub. Hines retired while still a star. He was 22-11 last year with a 2.41 ERA. Hines was 227-151 lifetime with a 2.99 ERA. Boomerang was even better in the postseason with a 14-6 mark and a great 1.86 ERA. He told the club he "wanted to go out on his own terms and while he was at the top of his game". Groveland has pieced together a good staff with the signings of rookie Bryan Frazier (8-6) and veteran Axel Weissmuller (4-2). The Redhawks still have Robby Kelly (8-5), Woody Crawford (7-3) and Rich Burton (9-5) as their main starters and solid hitters in 2B Duane Parsons (.279), C Otis Ott (.287), SS Don Nichols (.291), 1B Fran Grzanda (.312) and RF Julian Zavala (.300). Far Mountain has the best pitching in the division and plays good defense.

Glasco Athletics (39-34)
McDuffie Hughes has a good ball club, but not of the caliber of Taranto and Far Mountain. The A's are 8 games back and are no threat to them. Glasco has three outstanding players. All-Star 1B Wayne Harris (.315), Tony Piel (.324) and Nicky Perrier (7-3 2.26) can play with anybody. Perrier came back in May after missing all of the 2014 season and seemed to be recovered from his surgery. Hughes has a fine closer in Jack Hatcher (2-2 2.29) The Athletics hit and score well, but need help on the mound.

At best, the other teams will contest for fourth place.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, June 22, 2015

2015 Ruthlandian South Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, June 22, 2015

2015 Ruthlandian South Mid-Season Recap

Belair Beach Sunbirds (44-29)
The Belair Beach Sunbirds have picked up where they left off last year and are doing it again. Marty Pedroza guided them to the RU South pennant and almost won the Pro Cup, falling just one game short of winning the whole shebang. The Sunbirds are again leading the division halfway through the year. They have a 5-game edge on the second place San Dimas Rancheros and 6 games on third place Claxton, Waleska and Valka. Belair Beach is a good blend of hitting, pitching and fielding. Top batters are C Little Jake Bungarooba (.329), LF Billy Martz (.314), 1B Derek Krohn (.283) and RF Ron Dizon (.269). Krohn and Dizon are the long-ballers with 16 and 14 homers respectively. On the hill Pedroza has four fine starters, led by All-Star Slim Mosley (11-3), Dennis Whitaker (12-6), Wally Green (7-6) and Nasty Naymick (5-4). Defensively the Sunbirds are the best in the IPA with a .984 fielding percentage.

San Dimas Rancheros (39-34)
Strong hitting is carrying the San Dimas Rancheros this season, but it won't be enough to overcome Belair Beach. Improved pitching is necessary to get Paco Banderos' club to the next level. His best bats are RF Norm Owens (.313), LF Andre Drexel (.308), long-time star 1B Ron Armstrong (.298) and SS Greg Lawrence (.297)... San Dimas' best pitchers are Rudy Vasquez (10-5) and Carl Schmitz (9-5)... the 38-year-old Schmitz is a 15-year vet with a 242-183 mark... The Rancheros have an excellent closer in All-Star Raul Marroquin (1-0 0.76), who has 16 saves at mid-year.

Claxton Diamonds (38-35)
Stacy Engel's Claxton Diamonds are tied for third with Waleska, but he must be doing it with mirrors... Engel doesn't have a lot of talent... Charlie Murphy (10-8) is a very good pitcher with a 215-181 record over his 15 years in the IPA... still doing well at 39... the Diamonds have two top-notch hitters: superstar and All-Star 1B Mike Luzzatti with 23 homers and a .312 BA... and All-Star C Allen Lemay, who has a lofty .345 average with 9 roundtrippers... but little else except for three decent starters to go along with Murphy... Paul Grange (3-3) and Ernie van Riebeeck (4-5) have pitched well since being inserted into the starting rotation... Carlo Funicello (10-7) wins games, but usually has gotten great run support... Claxton stands out with the gloves with an excellent .978 fielding average.

Waleska Westerners (38-35)
McGraw Johnson is getting by with a few talented players... All-Star CF Roy Hobbs is headed toward the HOF, if he continues to perform like he has for his first three season... Currently Hobbs is batting .354 with 19 homers... RF Kippy Doyle also lends good support with a .329 mark and 13 home runs... Doyle has been a great player in his 12 years in the league... He is only 33... Jerry Chambers came into the league at mid-season last year and did well with a 9-5 record... He's doing even better with a 10-6 mark this season... Journeyman Lindow Shaw (10-4) is having his best year.

Valka Blackhawks (38-35)
Improved pitching has made Jaan Kurus' Valka Blackhawks a better team...however, they are pathetic at the plate with a .240 team BA... LF Kurt Jankauskas is the only threat in the line-up with a .291 average, 14 homers and 42 RBIs... on the hill starters Eddie Lasky (9-9 3.59) and rookie Arno Vainmaa (7-7 2.51) are the best... closer Robby Riley has excelled with a 3-1 mark, 2.38 ERA and 12 saves.

Grand City, St. John and Crystal Lake will have to wait until next year. None are expected to finish higher than sixth.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, June 22, 2015

2015 Ruthlandian East Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, June 22, 2015

Beechwood 4 Games Up On Elnora In RU East
The class of the Ruthlandian East this season is the Beechwood Bobcats. Skipper Bret George has sparked the Bobcats to a 4-game margin over Elnora at the halfway point. Defending champion Marston has been stung by injuries and trails by 6 games with Cold Creek in the fourth spot 8 games off the pace and Belle Plaine in fifth and 9 games out.

Beechwood Bobcats(45-28)
Quality arms give Beechwood the edge in the RU East... George has three fine veteran starters with Dek Jumonville (10-3), Terry Kuznetsov (10-7) and Knucks Nomellini (9-5)... The Bobcats can put runs on the scoreboard, too... All-Star CF Vic Valenti is batting .358 with 24 home runs and 57 RBIs and 2B Ray Slater has a .295 BA with 6 homers and 40 RBIs.

Elnora All-Stars (41-32)
Zoggy White also has a trio of good starters and a trio of good hitters to contend with Beechwood... Marty Wilkerson leads the staff with a 9-2 record, Stevie Howard is 8-6 and Taylor Gibbs is 7-10, but with a 3.42 ERA... Elnora's top bats are RF Lloyd Voss (.349), LF Denny Sawyer (.335) and All-Star C Leon Carter (.310)... Carter and Sawyer are the power guys with 14 and 12 roundtrippers respectively.

Marston Nine (39-34)
Last year's RU East pennant-winning Marston Nine has had bad luck this year, but manager Johnny Walters is still surviving well just 6 games behind... Zippy Hodge has been lost for the season with an elbow injury... Hodge was 20-17 last season... Ace Hunk Sweitzer (1-2 2.37) missed most of this season and just returned to the active list... Sweitzer led the team last year with a great 22-5 mark and has been sorely missed... 35-year-old lefty All-Star Roberto Conception (13-2) has taken up a lot of the slack with brilliant work this season... Dennis Townsend (9-7) has been a good addition to the rotation, too... closer Bobby Daniel (2-3) has posted 12 saves and a strong 2.29 ERA... Star CF Russ Woodward is having a great year with a .354 BA, 18 roundtrippers and 51 RBIs... LF James Yardley is another good bat... Yardley is hitting .306 with 9 homers and 39 RBIs... super glove man SS Danny Church has perked up with a .318 BA, 38 runs scored and 28 runs batted in.

Cold Creek Catamounts (37-36)
Up in Cold Creek, T. Kelly Holmes has a few good men that have the Catamounts in striking distance, 8 games back... Heading the list are All-Star hurler Marc Matherne with an 11-5 mark, closer Shannon Robinson (3-5) with 16 saves and a 2.84 ERA, CF Trip Holmes with 19 home runs, 45 RBIs, 65 runs and a .332 BA, All-Star RF Emile Stosha with a .363 BA, 11 home runs, 44 RBIs and 43 runs and 1B Terry Sauer with a .279 average, 12 roundtrippers and 46 RBIs.

Belle Plaine Musketeers (36-37)
Boo Ladrieuix's boys in Belle Plaine are much like Cold Creek with a few talented players carrying the whole club... the Musketeers are led by All-Star Brad Anderson (13-3 2.04) on the mound... with some help from Jorge Bonilla (8-7 3.03)... and closer Denny Reynaud (0-4) with a superb 1.90 ERA and 13 saves... at bat RF Travis Bower (.294), All-Star SS Scott Hammill (.292) and LF Juan Mendez (.294) have been the main offensive producers.

Don't expect much from the rest of the division... Eastshore, Sugar Valley and Wynnamac will pretty much just play out the second half of the season and hope to build for next year... None of them will challenge this season.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, June 22, 2015

2015 Ruthlandian West Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, June 22, 2015

2015 Ruthlandian West Mid-Season Recap

Great Pitching Puts Colfax On Top Of RU West
The Colfax Blasters are on pace to win 100 games and Clem Rogers' hurlers are on a recording-setting pace. His mound staff has posted an unheard of 2.53 team ERA at the All-Star break and has the Blasters in first place in the Ruthlandian West by 6 games over runner-up Volusia. Third in the standings are the Rocky Rapids Snappers, 8 games back and Fort Benton in fourth and 9 games out. The RU West is the strongest division in the IPA.

Colfax (50-23)

Colfax has three pretty good ball clubs chasing them, but they have opened up a good lead on them at the mid-year mark. All-Star Ilya Szabo (13-3 1.78) and All-Star Rodger Wright (12-5 1.69) have been devastating this season... Clem Rogers has some good arms in the number three and four slots in his rotation, too... Jimmy Joe Cartner (7-6 3.38) and Dennis Kretzmeier (8-5 3.64) are solid as well... CF Ryan Raines (.299) and All-Star 2B Ilya Ivanchuk (.324) provide the offense... Raines has gone deep 12 times, scored 42 runs and driven in 45 runs, while Ivanchuk has 7 homers, 31 RBIs and has scored 44 times.

Volusia Vigilantes (44-29)

Alfonso Feliz in Volusia usually suffers from a lack of offense, but has a wealth of pitching... This year the Vigilantes have an abundance of both, but to no avail so far... Colfax is just too powerful... The V's are hitting at a torrid .285 and are the top team in the IPA in scoring, number two in batting to Ozarka of the Tycobbian Union with its sky-high .288 BA... Leading the hit parade are All-Star CF Joe DeLucca (.368 BA/13 HR/57 RBI/52 R), All-Star SS Vince Wilson (.300 BA/15 HR/50 RBI), All-Star 1B Rafael Garza (.359 BA/7 HR/48 RBI/60 R), RF Briscoe Crowder (.306 BA/8 HR/38 RBI/48 R) and 2B Tucker Hill (.356 BA/2 HR/24 RBI/25 R)... on the hill Feliz features a great relief corps with a 2.68 ERA (2nd), headed up by closer Paul Zenger (2-5), who has 14 saves and a 2.63 ERA... Volusia has two fine starters in Todd Wolfe (9-5 3.06) and Gerry Hersh (9-6 3.66).

Rocky Rapids Snappers (42-31)

Rocky Rapids has a solid team with excellent pitching and good offense... Ryan Noland's pitchers have compiled a very impressive 2.94 team ERA (2nd), are hitting a respectable .267 (7th), yet trail by 8 games... The Snappers have three strong starters: All-Star Don Chaney (12-6 2.19), All-Star Junior Noland (12-5 2.56) and Norrie Wickham (7-7 3.26)... John Newton (5-7 2.89), the number four man, has pitched very well, too... In the bullpen closer Earl Pitts (1-1 0.66) gets the job done when called upon... Noland's batting order has three standout hitters: All-Star LF Scott Camden (.346 BA/19 HR/52 RBI/58 R), CF Carl Johnson (.274 BA/14 HR/44 RBI/44 R) and C Hank Bethel (.306 BA/8 HR/41 RBI/34 R).

Fort Benton Defenders (41-32)

The head man in Fort Benton is the legendary industrial league third baseman Robbie Brooks... in recent years Brooks has forged a fine ball club... the Defenders have better-than-average pitching and better-than-average hitting... The team ERA is 3.60 (7th) and the team batting average is .261 (14th)... Hec Skurgan (10-5 3.26) and Cal Walger (9-5 3.17) are Brooks top starters and closer David Osborn (3-1 1.50) is strong in the bullpen with 15 saves... Fort Benton's best bats belong to CF Ryan Smith (.304 BA/8 HR/47 RBI/52 R), LF Forest Cummings (.271 BA/13 HR/44 RBI/41 R) and 3B Bobby Josker (.301/7 HR/40 RBI/60 R).

No one in the RU West second division is likely to move up into the first division.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

2015 Tycobbian North Mid-Season Standings

Team W-L Record GB

Mahaska 40-33 ---
Fairfax 39-34 (1 GB)
Oxford 39-34 (1 GB)
Blue Lake 35-38 (5 GB)
White River 34-39 (6 GB)
Luxora 33-40 (7 GB)
North Hills 32-41 (8 GB)
Hartsdale 29-44 (11 GB)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

2015 Tycobbian North Mid-Season Recap

Mahaska Leads Tight TU North
Teams are tightly-bunched again this season in the Tycobbian North with only 7 games separating the top 6 squads. Last year 5 clubs were within 2.5 games of each other at season's end with the title going to Hartsdale. Halfway through the season the pennant race is crowded again this year, but Hartsdale is not one of them. The Hellcats have plunged down to the cellar and are 11 games off the pace and out of the running. Fairfax and Oxford are right on Mahaska's tail and just one game off the pace. Blue Lake is 5 games behind in fourth place, White River is fifth and 6 games out, while Luxora is sixth and 7 games behind the leading Haymakers. North Hills and Hartsdale don't look like they can compete this year.

Mahaska Haymakers (40-33)

22-year-old All-Star southpaw Joey Wallace (13-6 2.00) has been fantastic in the first half of the year and is the major reason Rusty Tanussa's Haymakers are in the lead at the All-Star Game... All-Star C Bucky O'Brian (.292 BA/13 HR/37 RBI/46 R) and LF Dalton Leeds (.317 BA/8 HR/36 RBI/47 R) lead the Mahaska hitters.

Fairfax Frogs (39-34)

The Frogs may have the best chance to break out of the pack in the second half because of its good pitching... Harry Buckley has a good rotation that is two-deep with All-Star Ken Hill (11-6 2.32) and Kaz Hayagawa (7-4 3.47)... Fairfax has a 3.38 team ERA, tops in the TU North and 6th in league overall... closer Floyd Burnett (4-3 2.27) has chalked up 16 saves at the All-Star break... If some of his bats could take off in the second half Buckley would have a good shot at the TU North flag... so far superstar Dane Wesner (.270 BA/5 HR/34 RBI) numbers are way down from his career stats... Wesner is back after missing last year with a bad shoulder... He is hitting 67 points under his .337 lifetime average... SS Wes Hickox (.280 BA) and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.261 BA) are down, too.

Oxford Red Caps (39-34)

How Oxford does depends on its pitching... Last year it was good and Campy Roy's Red Caps almost won the pennant... not so good this year, but they are still in the chase because of the bats... Oxford is second in scoring in the TU... 1B Eddy Dowler (.318 BA), LF Mack Spencer (.294 BA), CF Ron Berry (.297 BA) and 3B Carl Graeme (.272 BA) put runs on the scoreboard in bunches... the Red Caps season depends on its pitchers... Roy's best this year have been Del Anderson (7-7 3.77) and Emerson Carnell (7-4 3.99)... but it's tough to win when the team ERA is a lofty 4.59, 30th in the league.

Blue Lake Blue Sox (35-38)

Cobb Tyson's Blue Sox are under .500 this year after coming so close to winning in 2014 with some fine pitching... Blue Lake's pitching corps has fallen down a bit and the team still can't hit much... Experts don't think they will be in contention at year's end... Pitchers Justin Eckhardt (7-9 3.15) and Nick Walker (7-10 3.87) are the best of the lot... Tyson has one bright light in C Justin Kucks, who is batting .340 with 9 home runs and 40 RBIs... SS Loren Babcock (.261 BA) leads the club with 13 homers and 41 runs batted in.

White River Rascals (34-39)

John Randison has seen his White River Rascals improve this season... Last year they were dead last... the Rascals have improved on the hill and at the plate, but still don't have the depth to challenge in the TU North... However Randison does have some talented players... 1B Marty Blake is one of the best hitters around with a .329 average, 18 home runs, 59 RBIs and 52 runs... All-Star RF Johnny Stratton has a phenomenal season going and is leading the TU with a .396 mark, 16 homers, 44 RBIs and has scored 48 times... White River has two fine 36-year-old vets: Joe Hudson, who is having his best year with a 10-7 record and 2.76 ERA... Mick Cronyn is 8-4 with a 3.39 ERA... it will take a few more players for Randison to get up with the division's big boys, Mahaska, Fairfax and Oxford.

Luxora Zorros (33-40)

Alejandro Rodrigo only has a fair ball club in Luxora with average pitching and average hitting... Not likely to be a contender this season... None of the Zorro starters stand out, but they have a standout closer in the bullpen with All-Star Connie Jahnke (2-1 1.35), who has saved 14 games this year... Rodrigo has three solid hitters in LF Gene Watson (.288 BA/9 HR/50 RBI), 1B Billy Whitley (.303 BA/'7 HR/37 RBI/51 R) and RF Dickie Nordhagen (.302 BA/5 HR/35 RBI).

The North Hills Hawks (32-41) and the Hartsdale Hellcats (29-44) just don't hit very well and have mediocre mound staffs. Not likely to finish higher than 7th.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

2015 Tycobbian South Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

2015 Tycobbian South Mid-Season Recap

TU South Rivals Turon And Cape Coral Tied At Mid-Season

Two old rivals Turon and Cape Coral are all knotted up and even in the Tycobbian South at the mid-season All-Star break, but they do have two ball clubs very close on their coattails. The upstart Southport Sun Sox are third, but only one game behind them... Summerland is in the fourth spot in the standings and just 3 games off the pace. The Arroyo Grande Suns and the Ginza Ninjas are tied for fifth and are 6 games out.

Turon Typhoons (41-32)

The Turon Typhoons are an IPA dynasty with 3 Pro Cups in its 14-year history and 7 pennants in the last 9 seasons... Manager Whitey Richburn has good hitting and good pitching, but very poor defense and a weak closer... Turon's fielding percentage is only .962, the worst in the IPA... these could be the deciding factors this year in the race with Cape Coral... the Hurricanes are excellent with the gloves with a .978 FA and a 2.95 ERA (5th) in the relief corps... In the bullpen Turon's closer Merle Studebaker (2-3 4.73) has really struggled this season... Richburn's big pluses are elite starter All-Star Nicky Engstrom, who has won 20 games in each of his 5 IPA seasons... Engstrom is 11-6 on the year with a super 1.86 ERA... James Stuart (9-5 2.93), his number two starter... superstar All-Star 1B Clyde Kingsford with a .357 BA, 23 HRs, 63 RBIs and 53 runs... and his fine CF Mac McCurnan (.278 BA/11 HR/42 RBI/49 R).

Cape Coral Hurricanes (41-32)

Huggy Miller has Cape Coral back on track after a down year when they slipped to fifth place last year... Rookie starter Ray Salisbury (11-4 3.30) and journeyman starter Chris Van Heusen (8-2 3.41) have led the revival... ace Cody Burg (8-7 2.89) has been hot and cold this season... Miller needs him to pitch like his old self to top Turon this year... Bobby Maas (3-6 2.73) is still in the bullpen and has racked up 16 saves so far... The 'Canes offense is only so-so with CF Derek Ryckman (.256 BA/11 HR/47 RBI), LF Rich Osolinsky (.292 BA/10 HR/37 RBI) and RF Glenn Armstrong (.274 BA/13 HR/36 RBI)... Many baseball experts think Cape Coral can whip Turon this year.

Southport Sun Sox (40-33)

Southport has been a surprisingly strong challenger this season, currently third and just one game behind the two co-leaders... Charley Oscar has done wonders with a little bit of hitting and a little bit of pitching... All-Star pitcher Neil Howell gets most of the credit with an impressive 12-6 record with a fine 2.21 ERA... at the plate it has been 3B Buddy Petrisko (.333 BA/7 HR/32 RBI), RF Big Stick Takala (.263 BA/15 HR/42 RBI) and C Ralph Norbury (.315 BA/12 HR/32 RBI)... the Sun Sox also handle the gloves well with a .976 FA.

Summerland Sunsets (38-35)

Skipper Will Hackett has gotten exceptional work out of his pitching corps this year with a strong 3.05 team ERA (3rd) sparked by All-Star Denny Coulon (10-7 2.13), Pat Dreux (8-7 2.59) and Ken Olson (9-6 3.52)... closer Frank Gerber (4-2 3.32) has carded 10 saves, too... Not much offense in the Sunsets batting order... Hackett's top producers are CF Jim Garrison (.250 BA/17 HR/47 RBI) and 2B Don Hanks (.286 BA/8 HR/42 RBI)... still good pitching can carry a team a long way.

Arroyo Grande Suns (35-38)

It's been a decent year for the Arroyo Grande Suns, who are staying close with an abundance of hitting... They trail the co-leaders by 6 games and are tied with Ginza for fifth in the TU South... The Suns are fourth in homers, runs and batting average... As a team they are hitting .281 with 93 home runs, paced by All-Star RF Buddy Bechtel (.320 BA/21 HR/55 RBI/47 R), 1B Sherm Miles (.283 BA/17 HR/53 RBI/40 R) and All-Star SS Andy Pearson (.317 BA/11 HR/41 RBI/43 R)... Not noted for its pitching, Arroyo Grande does possess a good one in second-year man Ernie Mathews (10-5 3.08)... Capet Stadium is a small bandbox with some very short fences... the Suns will vie with Southport for 4th place.

Ginza Ninjas (35-38)

Manager Huroko Uchiyama just has an average club in Ginza and will not challenge the big boys this season... the Ninjas do have two steady veteran starters in Joji Azuma (7-7 3.88) and Carl Trebek (9-9 3.73), neither of which are having a strong year... Uchiyama's top bats are CF Chazzie Lonbardo (.338 BA/10 HR/39 RBI/37 R) and standout All-Star C Crash Davis (.296 BA/15 HR/40 RBI/39 R)... Ginza will probably wind up in sixth place in the standings.

Colchester (27-46), who finished second last year, has been terrible this season at the plate... everyone is having an off-year at the same time... San Alejo (25-48) is super bad, too... the Montaneros are hitting a very weak .224 (32nd) for the team batting average.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

2015 Tycobbian East Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

2015 Tycobbian East Mid-Season Recap

Ozarka Terrorizes TU East, Up By 7 Games
What a difference a gifted rookie or two can make in a team. Just ask Ozarka, who have had a massive influx of newcomers. The Naturals added 5 rookies this season and they have shot to the top of the Tycobbian East and have raged through the first half, building up a 7-game lead over the second place Tuckanarra Blue Jays. No team in IPA history has ever added this many talented and productive rookies. The Nats are making shambles of the pennant race with third place Red Bluff 14 games back and fourth place High Mesa 15 games behind.

Ozarka Naturals (51-22)

Ozarka was a good ball club last year. They have been a great team this season with an IPA-leading 51 victories at the All-Star Game... Rookie starters All-Star Benny Osterman (11-5 2.33) and Wayne Gates (11-3 3.38), along with vets Eddie Roberts (9-3 3.29) and Dennis Purcell (6-2 3.23) give Joe Mac Carney one of the best rotations in the IPA... He also has a very good closer in Wayne Haren (5-3 1.98)... But it doesn't end there, the Nats added three super rooks to the batting order: 1B Benny Rousseau (.340 BA/19 HR/59 RBI/42 R), 3B Andre Dumas (.330 BA/18 HR/55 RBI/49 R) and C Frank Kiffin (.301 BA/7 HR/27 RBI/50 R)... coupled with a line-up that includes All-Star 2B Todd Chadwick (.340 BA/9 HR/34 RBI/44 R). And if that wasn't enough, Carney's club is one of the best fielding teams in the league with a .977 FA. Even Tuckanarra as good as they are can't compete with such a talent glut.

Tuckanarra Blue Jays (44-29)

Tuckanarra is having a strong season, but it pales when compared to Ozarka... Manager Lefty Stevens has three veterans in his starting rotation: Roy Spence (12-2 2.62), All-Star Titus Bristow (10-8 2.50) and Yuka Nawajuk (8-6 3.24), which would be good enough in most years to take the TU East title... Add in a strong bullpen headed by All-Star Stephen Eubarinja (1-0 0.39) with 15 saves... The Blue Jays hit well with a .267 BA (10th) and field well with a .978 FA (2nd-tied)... Tuckanarra's top bats are 1B Erik Vayda (.294 BA/6 HR/52 RBI/45 R), RF Danny Redd (.308 BA/11 HR/50 RBI/50 R) and All-Star SS Rocky Fuqua (.296 BA/9 HR/44 RBI/48 R)... the Blue Jays only hope to catch Ozarka is if the rookies fade in the pressure of the long season and pennant race.

Red Bluff Red Sox (37-36)

The Red Bluff Red Sox have the hitting to compete, but simply are too pitching poor to challenge... Mack Connery's crew just can't score enough to overcome the bad pitching, but they try... All-Star 1B Tommy Klegg (.305 BA/22 HR/75 RBI/55 R) is having a tremendous year and is helped out by All-Star CF Kris Grabowski (.353 BA/11 HR/38 RBI/31 R), LF Bryan Wessels (.305 BA/11 HR/37 RBI/42 R) and SS Jose Aguilar (.314 BA/7 HR/28 RBI/50 R)... vet John Dougherty (8-9 2.99) still does a good job on the hill at age 37 and could go over the 200-victory milestone this season... Dougherty is 192-164 in his 14 seasons... the Red Sox will be battling High Mesa and Midway for third place.

High Mesa Cowboys (36-37)

Despite a high-powered offense, High Mesa is below .500 and 15 games off the pace with no chance to win the pennant this year... but Frisky Franks has one great player in All-Star 1B Jack Elliott, who is still blistering the pitchers for a third consecutive season with a .352 mark, 27 roundtrippers, 74 RBIs and 63 runs scored... and he has plenty of help from SS Wild Deer Etchimin (.318 BA/15 HR/49 RBI/43 R), RF Darrel Alston (.297 BA/15 HR/43 RBI/47 R), CF Danny Nash (.336 BA/5 HR/21 RBI/45 R) and 2B Ed Albrecht (.293 BA/12 HR/30 RBI/50 R)... on the mound Cowboy starters Frankie Welch (9-6 3.72) and Johnny Falcon (9-7 4.25) do a pretty fair job considering they have to play in such a small venue that really favors the batters.

South Fork Stallions (35-38)

Duroche "Lips" Leon's team doesn't hit very well, pitch very well or field very well... sixth place looks like the most likely finish... the Stallions top pitchers are starter Ernie Hostetler (8-7 2.90) and closer Woody Price (5-2 1.50)... top batter is 9-year vet CF Robby Michael (.326 BA/9 HR/32 RBI/36 R).

Midway Wolves (34-39)

The defending TU East champion Midway Wolves have taken a nose-dive down to sixth place, 17 games out of first... Too many players are not playing like they did last year... pitching is down and batting is down... Motega Wolf (8-6 2.75) is still the ace and pitching a little better than last year when he won 20 games, but Wolf is the only dependable starter manager Cochise Chandler has... His bullpen has gone to pot, too, with a 4.58 ERA (26th)... 24-year-old All-Star CF Johnny Lee (.303 BA/14 HR/46 RBI/41 R) is still Midway's stud player... RF Lou Sturge has 20 homers and 42 RBIs, but only a .240 BA... 1B Gerry Jordan is batting .292 with 14 home runs and 32 runs batted in... LF Dylan Stevenson has gone deep 16 times, but is hitting only .247... the Wolves need a second-half turnaround from 3 or 4 players for the club to climb higher in the standings.

Perennial also-rans, the Hillsboro Blazers (30-43) and East Point Panthers (27-46), will just play out the season and hope to stay out of the cellar. But they do have some talented players. Hillsboro's best are pitchers Tom Edgar (9-5 2.99) and Ted Farentino (8-7 3.80), along with 1B Andy Jefferson (.296 BA/20 HR/44 RBI/36 R). East Point's top performers are All-Star 2B Jesse Goodwin (.286 BA/20 HR/48 RBI/53 R) and LF Joey Olson (.305 BA/8 HR/44 RBI/38 R).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

2015 Tycobbian West Mid-Season Standings and Team Batting

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

2015 Tycobbian West Mid-Season Recap

BSC Bucs Lead Tough TU West
The Tycobbian West just might be the toughest division in the league with six of the clubs playing .500 or better baseball. The mid-year leader is the hard-hitting Bay St. Clair Buccaneers, who have a 4-game bulge over runner-up Arlon, 6 games up on third place Chicopee and 7 games on Denton City and defending Pro Cup champ Kenwood, who are tied for fourth place. Bayview is sixth, trailing by 9 games.

Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (46-27)

Improved hitting has boosted Guy Rondre's Bay St. Clair Buccaneers into the TU West lead... the Bucs have sizzled at the plate, hitting at a hefty .282 clip (3rd), led by All-Star 1B Gerry Fields (.360 BA/21 HR/55 RBI/53 R), All-Star SS Jimmy Sawyer (.323 BA/13 HR/49 RBI/47 R), C Vince Herbert (.314 BA/10 HR/43 RBI/30 R) and a revitalized LF Frank DiPirro (.328 BA/4 HR/26 RBI/51 R), who missed last year with a bad elbow injury... Rondre has a solid pitching rotation with veteran starters Bobby Joe Belvin (9-7 3.42), Lloyd Weber (12-4 3.47) and Sean Lawrence (8-2 3.90)... Chris Van Arden (4-0 1.71) is a capable closer... The Bucs play good defense, too, with a solid .976 FA.

Arlon Champions (42-31)

Gary Louis depends on his pitching, defense and the home run for survival in the TU West... two solid starters, a sensational closer and three pretty good hitters are responsible for the Champs lofty position this season and will be key for the long haul in the second half of the year... Arlon's pitching rotation consists of Wayne Haun (7-3 3.03) and Tony Zaretti (10-3 2.62) in the number one and two spots, along with Happy McManus (7-5 4.00) as number three... Johnny Rabelais (0-2 2.91) is the closer and has 16 saves... providing the offense are Gold Glover and All-Star LF Rocco Belasario (.282 BA/16 HR/50 RBI/46 R), RF Scott Connor (.296 BA/11 HR/29 RBI/48 R) and CF Chucky Gilton (.327 BA/8 HR/32 RBI/23 R)... Belasario should break the 300-HR threshold this season and has a shot at crossing the 1000-RBI milestone as well... Louis is hoping Bay St. Clair will come down-to-earth with its hitting in the second half. Louis' philosophy is "good pitching will beat good hitting". He also said "Defense can win games, too."... Arlon is a good defensive club with a fine .976 FA.

Chicopee Braves (40-33)

The Chicopee Braves espouse the same baseball philosophy... Manager Harry Fleetfoot's mound corps has a superb 2.97 ERA (2nd), but has trouble scoring with a .256 BA (18th) and only 41 homers (31st)... Currently the Braves are third and 6 games in back of first place Bay St. Clair... Chicopee's ace is All-Star Desmond Quatermain, who is 10-6 with a sensational 1.31 ERA. by far the best ERA in the IPA... shoddy defense has been costly to Quartermain this season... Chicopee is an average defensive team with a .973 FA... Veteran Tommy Ruffin (8-6 3.65) and young 23-year-old Scotty Simmons (7-6 3.02) are solid starters, too... Closer Rich Taylor (5-2 1.19) has been a standout with 11 saves... However, Chicopee can't compare with the two teams ahead of them on the scoreboard... 37-year-old well-traveled journeyman RF Matty McDermott is the Braves best batter... McDermott is hitting .297 with 3 homers, 25 RBIs and 41 runs scored... Chicopee's home run leader only has 7 for the year... Poor offense will cost the Braves dearly this year... they probably will not be able to hold off Denton City and Kenwood in the second half and could fall into the second division.

Kenwood Wildcats (39-34)

Skipper Aaron Hankins and the Kenwood Wildcats still have all of the prime time players that won the 2014 Pro Cup... Hankins still has strong pitching with an impressive 3.24 team ERA (5th)... Kenwood's problems are two-fold: lousy hitting and lack of a competent closer... Last year the Wildcats batted .270... this year they are down to .243 (29th) with the same line-up... it will take a second-half surge at the plate to get back into the pennant chase... LF Dennis Riley (.323 BA/16 HR/56 RBI/35 R) is carrying the ball club and needs help... Kenwood's starters are excellent and one of the better foursome in the IPA... Heading Hankins' rotation are Sammy Shaw (8-6 2.95), Tank Tucker (9-8 3.18), Connie Gavagan (8-8 3.02) and Todd Combs (7-7 3.12)... closer Rick Brickell (0-3) has been inconsistent this season... Brickell has saved 15 games, but his ERA has ballooned to 4.56... last season Brickell posted a fine 2.66 ERA... Defensively the Wildcats are one of the best in the IPA with a .980 fielding percentage.

Denton City Redbirds (39-34)

Ford Whiteman's Denton City Redbirds are always hanging close and contending in the TU West, having won it six times in their history... The Redbirds still have two strong starters in 35-year-old ace Mila Mohoski (11-4 2.77) and 24-year-old Jeff Russell (10-5 3.85) and three quality bats in the line-up: 3B Jay Petit (.305 BA/13 HR/51 RBI/42 R), LF Rod MacCormack (.267 BA/13 HR/41 RBI/45 R) and 1B Maury Duncan (.284 BA/11 HR/38 RBI/32)... a better second half by a pitcher or two, a dependable closer and a few more bats could make the Redbirds a solid contender.

Bayview Vikings (37-36)

The Bayview Vikings continue to live and die with the home run ball... Walter Johanssen's Viks are third with 94 homers, but they hit only .246 (26th)... Better pitching is a must, too... a 4.23 ERA (28th) just will not cut it in the IPA, if you want to win the pennant... In the good old days when the Vikings won their three pennants, the team ERA was around the 3.60 mark... Johanssen's best arms are veteran starter Norm Roy (9-7 3.88) and closer Ivar Bergmann (2-1 1.88)... Bergmann has looked good with 10 saves this season... hard-luck 23-year-old Rick Pritchard shows potential, but has suffered from a lack of run support in his starts... Pritchard has a good 3.25 ERA, but is only 4-9 record-wise... Leading the Bayview bomb squad are All-Star LF Davey Krueger (.306 BA/21 HR/50 RBI/44 R), 3B Karl Benson (.294 BA/15 HR/46 RBI/35 R) and 1B Stan Haddix (.337 BA/17 HR/38 RBI/60 R)... the Vikings handle the gloves well, too, with a solid .976 FA.

Rolling Hills Reds (36-37)

Rolling Hills is a pretty decent team that suffers from playing in a strong division... Matty Christianson has three quality starters in J. R. Beresford (8-7 3.03), Sal Jordan (8-8 2.59) and Keir McNamara (5-5 3.27)... the Reds also have a capable closer in Alfonso Gonzales (0-3 2.19)... Rolling Hills has a respectable 3.80 ERA (12th) and a .261 batting average (13th) with 81 homers (9th-tied), numbers that should get you better than 7th in the standings... leading Christianson's bat brigade are All-Star 3B Clay Hoffman with 26 home runs, 60 RBIs and a .309 BA... Hoffman, a 6-year vet, is headed for a career year... All-Star CF Donnie Lewis is also having a terrific season with a .345 BA, 51 runs scored, 34 runs scored and 4 homers... 1B Michael Griffin has 10 homers and 52 RBIs, but is batting only .251... SS Bobby Farias at 37 has 13 roundtrippers with 42 runs batted in and 44 runs, but just a .259 average.

La Claire Lynx (32-41)

Rip Calkin's La Claire Lynx are a pretty good last-place team, maybe the best last-place team in the IPA... they are batting .265 (11th) with 86 home runs (6th) and are 9th in scoring, but the thing that dooms them to the basement is a 4.21 team ERA (27th)... offense fills the stands and might make you a winner at the box office, but pitching makes you a winner where it counts - in the standings... Calkin needs some new blood in his pitching corps and roster... La Claire is headed nowhere with too many aging veterans... Leading the Lynx is 41-year-old Doug Lyons (9-7 3.24)... the rest of the rotation is only mediocre at best and 35 or older... Calkin's best bats are 21-year-old phenom All-Star 3B Flash Devlin, a crackerjack hitter, who is hitting .340 with 20 homers, 52 RBIs and 55 runs scored... In his third season Devlin will put up HOF numbers, if he continue to play in this fashion... Devlin has hit .328 lifetime so far... 36-year-old 2B Dale Pace is a solid performer with a .298 average, 13 roundtrippers, 42 RBIs and 42 runs... 31-year-old CF Zeppy Deshotel has dropped off the last two years, but has put up good stats this year with a .284 BA, 9 home runs, 50 runs and 28 RBIs... however they do not approach his career .307 average... Deshotel's power numbers are also way down from 30 homers and 100 RBIs a year... Calkin's club has a better-than-average defense with a .975 fielding percentage.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

The All-Star Classic is here again! -- the 2015 Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game! This is a game for the fans. They choose the players that are the best at their positions. Then these fan favorites take on one another to determine which league is best. Who will be top league this season? -- the Ruthlandian Union or the Tycobbian Union? We'll get the answer soon.

The Ruthlandian Union All-Stars have these fine performers on their roster:
SP Ilya Szabo (CFX)
SP Rodger Wright (CFX)
SP Brad Anderson (BP)
SP Don Chaney (RR)
SP Junior Noland (RR)
CL Dallas Somerville (CFX)
CL Raul Marroquin (SD)
C Leon Carter (ELN)
2B Ilya Ivanchuk (CFX)
3B Kasey Gibson (STO)
SS Scott Hammill (BP)
SS Greg Lantz (ETS)
CF Vic Valenti (BEE)
LF Arnie Kennedy (TAR)
1B Mike Luzzatti (CLX)
2B Jim Rose (MDF)
RF Emile Stosha (CCR)
C Hal Stevenson (SV)
SS Vince Wilson (VOL)
C Allen Lemay (CLX)
3B Jug Slavin (GC )
LF Scott Camden (RR)
CF Joe DeLucca (VOL)
RF Augie Marshall (TAR)
CF Roy Hobbs (WLK)
1B Wayne Harris (GLS)
LF Stan Cuccinello (ETS)
1B Rafael Garza (VOL)
SP Slim Mosley (BB)
SP Roberto Concepcion (MAR)
SP Marc Matherne (CCR)

While the Tycobbian Union All-Stars will be represented by these talented players:
SP Desmond Quartermain (CHI)
SP Joey Wallace (MAH)
SP Ken Hill (FFX)
SP Neil Howell (SPT)
SP Nicky Engstrom (TUR)
C Bucky O'Brian (MAH)
CL Stephen Eubarinja (TUC)
2B Jesse Goodwin (EP)
3B Clay Hoffman (RH)
CL Connie Jahnke (LUX)
SS Jimmy Sawyer (BSC)
SS Rocky Fuqua (TUC)
RF Johnny Stratton (WR)
1B Jack Elliott (HM)
3B Flash Devlin (LC)
2B Todd Chadwick (OZK)
LF Davey Krueger (BAY)
SS Andy Pearson (AG)
CF Johnny Lee (MDW)
C Crash Davis (GIN)
C Todd Simons (NH)
1B Clyde Kingsford (TUR)
1B Gerry Fields (BSC)
1B Tommy Klegg (RB)
RF Buddy Bechtel (AG)
LF Rocco Belasario (ARL)
CF Donnie Lewis (RH)
CF Kris Grabowski (RB)
SP Denny Coulon (SUM)
SP Benny Osterman (OZK)
SP Titus Bristow (TUC)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, June 24, 2015

2015 Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game

TU Stars Win On Lee's HR
At the Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood, the Tycobbian All-Stars edged the Ruthlandian All-Stars 4-3 on Johnny Lee's (Midway) dramatic two-run homer in the seventh inning. It was the TU Stars second straight victory and gave them a commanding 11 to 4 lead in the IPA All-Star series. The clout came off losing pitcher Slim Mosley (Belair Beach). Benny Osterman (Ozarka) gained the win with a scoreless seventh. The Nats rookie struck out two of the three hitters he faced.

Ruthlandia scored first with 2 runs in the fourth frame off Nicky Engstrom (Turon). 3B Jug Slavin (Grand City) doubled with one away and was driven in by LF Arnie Kennedy's (Taranto) single. Kennedy went to second on the throw home and came in on 2B Jim Rose's (Middlefield) base hit. The RU Stars tacked on another run in the fifth to go up 3-0. RF Andy Marshall (Taranto) led off with a single, was sacrificed to second and rode in on an RBI single by SS Gil Lantz (Eastshore).

In the last of the sixth Tycobbia cut it to 3-2 when 1B Clyde Kingsford (Turon) singled in CF Johnny Lee (Midway), who had gotten hit by a pitch and advanced to third on 2B Jesse Goodwin's (East Point) single. Goodwin moved to third on a double-play grounder, then scored on LF Rocco Belasario's (Arlon) RBI single. That set up Lee's game-winning blast with RF Buddy Brechtel (Arroyo Grande) on board in the next inning.

Lee of the Midway Wolves was voted the game's Most Valuable Player. He scored twice and had 2 runs batted in. The TU Stars outhit Ruthlandia 10 to 9 with Goodwin the only Tycobbian player to get 2 hits. Ruthlandia had three players with a pair of hits each: Rose, Lantz and CF Joe DeLucca (Volusia).

Last year's Pro Cup opponents Aaron Hankins of Kenwood and Marty Pedroza of Belair Beach were the All-Star managers. Once again Hankins defeated Pedroza and directed Tycobbia in the victory.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 21, 2015

Valenti Hits .383 to Earn RU Crown
With another season in the books, the 2015 Ruthlandian Union batting title has been awarded to Beechwood center fielder Vic Valenti. He put up a .383 batting average, recording 215 hits in 561 at-bats. Valenti's numbers included 31 doubles, 4 triples, 45 home runs, 120 RBIs and 119 runs scored. This year's batting champ appeared in 147 games. It was Valenti's first batting title. The Bobcats were second in the RU East.

Right fielder Chip Fiske of the last place Crystal Lake Crushers came in second in the batting race with a .372 average, 12 home runs, 72 runs batted in, scored 109 times and stole 34 bases. Waleska's fine center fielder Roy Hobbs finished third with a .365 mark, 42 roundtrippers, 125 RBIs and 124 runs scored. Hobbs paced the Westerners to a third place spot in the RU South standings.

Elliott Is TU Swing King
When it came to hitting in the Tycobbian Union this season, none did it better than Jack Elliott of the High Mesa Cowboys. He surpassed all his peers with a .363 average to take the 2015 batting crown and almost won the Triple Crown. He topped the TU in homers and average, but wound up a close third in RBIs. The 22-year-old first baseman had 214 hits, including 37 doubles, 11 triples and 56 home runs. Elliott participated in 154 games and also chipped in 135 RBIs and scored 139 times. Elliott had come close in his first two seasons, however this was his first time to win the batting title.

Ozarka's truly outstanding rookie third baseman Andre Dumas chalked up a .344 batting average to rank number two behind Elliott. Dumas slugged 44 homers, drove in 125 runs and scored 124 times in his freshman season and sparked the Naturals to the TU East pennant. 37-year-old Don Hanks, Summerland's second baseman, has his best year with a .333 average for third place. Hanks had 21 homers, 89 RBIs and 82 runs.

[Eugene Church]

I have finished the 2015 regular season.

Final Recaps and Stats will follow in the next few days.