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Islandian Pro Alliance
Wednesday, June 27, 2001
Ruthlandian Union - South Division
Nine's Pace Blanks Sunbirds, Wins 11th
Nick Pace of the Marston Nine became the third pitcher to win 11 games in the Islandian Pro Alliance. Pace blanked last place Belair Beach 7-0 and sent them down to their 7th successive defeat and gave Marston its 8th consecutive victory. Pace (11-6 2.69) struck out six, walked three and gave up eight hits. Left fielder Ronnie Horn (.302) and third baseman Roland Thomas (.344) batted in two runs apiece, while Horn and second baseman Ken Green (.340) homered for the Nine. Sunbird starter Troy Wilson (4-9 4.50) didn't last long as he surrendered five runs in less than two innings, although only one was earned.
Marston (42-26) is atop the RU South standings and leads last place Belair Beach (28-42 by 14 games.
Diamonds Take 4-3 Win Over Lumberjacks
Claxton's is finally playing the type of ball manager Stacy Engel wants them to play -- winning baseball. The Diamonds just won their 4th in a row by taking a close 4-3 triumph over second place Forest City. Former bullpen king turned starter, Earl Weber (5-3 3.46), struck out 11 in getting his first win in that role. He permitted nine hits and walked nobody in his second start. Leading Claxton's 10-hit attack were left fielder Dan Molnar (.346) with 3-4, two runs scored and an RBI and catcher Pete Robinson (.204) was 2-4 with a solo homer. Right fielder Dixie Baker (.325) also drove in a run. Topping the Lumberjacks was J. T. Edmonds (.249) with a two-run roundtripper and two hits, while right fielder Benny Davis (.248) has a pair of hits and an RBI. Vinny Edelman (6-6 3.20) was the losing pitcher, allowing four runs and nine hits in eight innings with six strikeouts. The Diamonds broke up a 2-2 tie with single runs in the sixth and seventh.
Runner-up Forest City (37-34) fell another game behind first place Marston (42-26) and now trails by 6.5 games. Claxton (33-38) is fifth and 10.5 games out.
Waleska's Carter Mows Down Rattlers 6-2, Wins 11th Game
Waleska snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over Sugar Valley on the road. Smokey Joe Carter (11-6 2.98) won his third in a row and fifth in his last six decisions to become the fourth hurler in the IPA to reach 11 wins. Carter tossed seven and a third innings, fanning six, allowing ten hits, but only two runs. He got help from closer Andrei Marsiske (3-2 2.65), who retired all five batters he faced for his 7th save. Harvey Hines (6-6 4.27) lost it, but was the victim of five unearned runs. He allowed seven hits and six runs in four innings. Westerner shortstop Jinx Giarussa (.290) led the offense with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, including a home run. Left fielder Big Hoss Burkhalter (.311) went 3-for-4 with a double and a run batted in. Rattler shortstop Flipper Bird (.266) accounted for both runs with a two-run blast in the fifth inning to cut the score to 6-2. Bird has hit 6 homers this season.
Waleska (34-35) is fourth in the Ruthlandian Union South Division and is one game behind third place Sugar Valley (35-34). The Westerners are 8.5 games behind first place Marston (42-26), while the Rattlers are 7.5 games back.
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