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Eugene Church · 10-16-2008, 01:57 AM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

Around the IPA
Ruthlandian Union - South Division

The Marston Nine, under the tutelage of manager Johnny Walters, had a great June with a 20-9 record and 12-12 in July thus far to lead runner-up Forest City by 3 games in the Ruthlandian Union South Division. Marston can do it all on the baseball diamond - especially hit. The Nine is hitting .287, the highest of any team in the IPA. In the third spot are the Sugar Valley Rattlers, but they are 8 games back. Waleska is in the number four slot in the division standings, 9.5 games off the pace. Claxton is fifth 10 games out and Belair Beach pulls up the rear, 11.5 games behind.

Skipper Walters is blessed with a bevy of batters. In fact, he has some many good hitters he can't play them all. His bench is by far the strongest in the IPA. Walters can start four .300 hitters, and six if he wanted. Marston is paced by All-Star third baseman Roland Thomas (.364/3 HR/53 RBI/51 R), second baseman Ken Green (.329/9 HR/44 RBI/58 R), shortstop Don Nichols (.327/2 HR/26 RBI/14 R/7 SB), center fielder Tommy Reinhold (.312/9 HR/40 RBI/55 R/33 SB), catcher Mo Chappell (.296/6 HR/35 RBI/25 R), left fielder Ronnie Horn (.291/11 HR/40 RBI/57 R/17 SB) and right fielder Chris Deangelo (.272/13 HR/47 RBI/46 R/5 SB). First baseman Johnny Bethold (.241/18 HR/55 RBI/54 R) doesn't hit for average, but hits homers and drives in runs.

For backup, the Nine can call upon outfielders Kerby Jost (.542), Rodney Rich (.362) and Sam Dixon (.288). In the infield Walters has first baseman Chuck Barrett (.262) and third baseman Roddy Teague (.412). There are many clubs in the IPA that could make good use of the Marston bench, but they will have to part with a quality pitcher to get them.

The pitching corps is no slouch, either. Walters has two All-Star twirlers in his rotation. Righthanders Norm Pace (14-8 2.80) and Casey Ledbetter (12-6 3.36) might be the best duo in the IPA. Pace has 4 shutouts and 13 complete games, both numbers are tops in the IPA. Ledbetter has two shutouts. Lefthander Paul Azard (9-5 3.97) is a sound starter, too. Rounding out the starters is right hander Booger Burchfield (5-9 3.43), who has gone 2-3 with a with a 3.56 ERA since being obtained in the last month from the South Fork Stallions of the TU East.

Walters has not found a closer yet. The current one is Vince Gardner (3-4 3.89). Marston's mid-relievers have 13 saves working by committee. Gardner has two so far. Milt Wilson (1-4 3.21) has four saves, Juan Bonilla (2-0 3.47) four saves, Kenny Bagby (4-3 3.94) three saves and Ed Vogler (3-4 4.46) 2 saves.

Marston only weakness is a lack of longballs. They are last in the RU South with 90 homers, while Forest City leads with 122. Nonetheless, the Nine are second in runs scored to the Lumberjacks, trailing them by only 11.

Marston has done well, despite the fact that they have been missing one of their better pitchers pretty much the entire season due to a knee injury. Bob Lowe (1-2 3.44) is expected back for the tail end of the season. He should be ready for the playoffs for sure.

The keys to the Nine's success this season is the domination of Waleska and Belair Beach. Marston is 15-4 against the Westerners in head-to-head play and 13-5 against the Sunbirds. Forest City has a 12-8 mark in the season series with the Nine.

Rob Jackson has skippered the Forest City Lumberjacks to a second place position this year. They were 17-14 in June and 14-10 in July. The 'Jacks success has been a combination of home run power, solid starting pitching, excellent closing and fielding. They also hit for average. On paper, you would think they would be 10 games up on everybody. The Lumberjacks had the most All-Stars in the Ruthlandian Union with four, two pitchers and two position players. Fairfax of the Tycobbian Union topped all teams with six All-Stars.

Forest City has 122 roundtrippers on the year, led by All-Star left fielder Chuck Hill (.320/23 HR/78 RBI/67 R), second baseman Jesse Wolf (.300/20 HR/69 RBI/62 R), right fielder Benny Davis (.271/18 HR/58 RBI/51 R), first baseman J. T. Edmonds (.293/12 HR/52 RI/45 R), All-Star center fielder Ryan Morse (.359/12 HR/46 RBI/77 R) and shortstop Pops Keller (.294/6 HR/32 RBI/52 R).

Jackson can call on three impressive starters: All-Stars Glenn Moore (11-7 3.10) and Herm Bahr (11-6 3.34), plus Vinny Edelman (9-7 3.11). In the bullpen Timmy Brooks (4-3 1.38) has consistently shut down the opposition, when he gets the summons. Middle relief has been another story for the Lumberjacks. Consequently Jackson just cut three pitchers and signed three replacements. They could also vie for the fourth starter slot, currently held by Brian Charles (4-5 4.20).

Forest City's other negative is a weak bench. It is a big talent drop-off when Jackson has to rest his regulars.

Defensively, the 'Jacks have four Gold Glove contenders in first baseman Edmonds (.997), shortstop Keller (.991), and outfielders Morse (.995) and Hill (.985). They are the top defensive club in the Ruthlandian Union with a .982 fielding average.

The Lumberjacks have played consistently well thus far and the outlook is pretty much the same. The key will be middle relief. Forest City could catch Marston, if they come through for Jackson.

10-16-2008, 01:57 AM	#495
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,054	The Islandian Times Tuesday, July 24, 2001 Around the IPA Ruthlandian Union - South Division The Marston Nine, under the tutelage of manager Johnny Walters, had a great June with a 20-9 record and 12-12 in July thus far to lead runner-up Forest City by 3 games in the Ruthlandian Union South Division. Marston can do it all on the baseball diamond - especially hit. The Nine is hitting .287, the highest of any team in the IPA. In the third spot are the Sugar Valley Rattlers, but they are 8 games back. Waleska is in the number four slot in the division standings, 9.5 games off the pace. Claxton is fifth 10 games out and Belair Beach pulls up the rear, 11.5 games behind. Skipper Walters is blessed with a bevy of batters. In fact, he has some many good hitters he can't play them all. His bench is by far the strongest in the IPA. Walters can start four .300 hitters, and six if he wanted. Marston is paced by All-Star third baseman Roland Thomas (.364/3 HR/53 RBI/51 R), second baseman Ken Green (.329/9 HR/44 RBI/58 R), shortstop Don Nichols (.327/2 HR/26 RBI/14 R/7 SB), center fielder Tommy Reinhold (.312/9 HR/40 RBI/55 R/33 SB), catcher Mo Chappell (.296/6 HR/35 RBI/25 R), left fielder Ronnie Horn (.291/11 HR/40 RBI/57 R/17 SB) and right fielder Chris Deangelo (.272/13 HR/47 RBI/46 R/5 SB). First baseman Johnny Bethold (.241/18 HR/55 RBI/54 R) doesn't hit for average, but hits homers and drives in runs. For backup, the Nine can call upon outfielders Kerby Jost (.542), Rodney Rich (.362) and Sam Dixon (.288). In the infield Walters has first baseman Chuck Barrett (.262) and third baseman Roddy Teague (.412). There are many clubs in the IPA that could make good use of the Marston bench, but they will have to part with a quality pitcher to get them. The pitching corps is no slouch, either. Walters has two All-Star twirlers in his rotation. Righthanders Norm Pace (14-8 2.80) and Casey Ledbetter (12-6 3.36) might be the best duo in the IPA. Pace has 4 shutouts and 13 complete games, both numbers are tops in the IPA. Ledbetter has two shutouts. Lefthander Paul Azard (9-5 3.97) is a sound starter, too. Rounding out the starters is right hander Booger Burchfield (5-9 3.43), who has gone 2-3 with a with a 3.56 ERA since being obtained in the last month from the South Fork Stallions of the TU East. Walters has not found a closer yet. The current one is Vince Gardner (3-4 3.89). Marston's mid-relievers have 13 saves working by committee. Gardner has two so far. Milt Wilson (1-4 3.21) has four saves, Juan Bonilla (2-0 3.47) four saves, Kenny Bagby (4-3 3.94) three saves and Ed Vogler (3-4 4.46) 2 saves. Marston only weakness is a lack of longballs. They are last in the RU South with 90 homers, while Forest City leads with 122. Nonetheless, the Nine are second in runs scored to the Lumberjacks, trailing them by only 11. Marston has done well, despite the fact that they have been missing one of their better pitchers pretty much the entire season due to a knee injury. Bob Lowe (1-2 3.44) is expected back for the tail end of the season. He should be ready for the playoffs for sure. The keys to the Nine's success this season is the domination of Waleska and Belair Beach. Marston is 15-4 against the Westerners in head-to-head play and 13-5 against the Sunbirds. Forest City has a 12-8 mark in the season series with the Nine. Rob Jackson has skippered the Forest City Lumberjacks to a second place position this year. They were 17-14 in June and 14-10 in July. The 'Jacks success has been a combination of home run power, solid starting pitching, excellent closing and fielding. They also hit for average. On paper, you would think they would be 10 games up on everybody. The Lumberjacks had the most All-Stars in the Ruthlandian Union with four, two pitchers and two position players. Fairfax of the Tycobbian Union topped all teams with six All-Stars. Forest City has 122 roundtrippers on the year, led by All-Star left fielder Chuck Hill (.320/23 HR/78 RBI/67 R), second baseman Jesse Wolf (.300/20 HR/69 RBI/62 R), right fielder Benny Davis (.271/18 HR/58 RBI/51 R), first baseman J. T. Edmonds (.293/12 HR/52 RI/45 R), All-Star center fielder Ryan Morse (.359/12 HR/46 RBI/77 R) and shortstop Pops Keller (.294/6 HR/32 RBI/52 R). Jackson can call on three impressive starters: All-Stars Glenn Moore (11-7 3.10) and Herm Bahr (11-6 3.34), plus Vinny Edelman (9-7 3.11). In the bullpen Timmy Brooks (4-3 1.38) has consistently shut down the opposition, when he gets the summons. Middle relief has been another story for the Lumberjacks. Consequently Jackson just cut three pitchers and signed three replacements. They could also vie for the fourth starter slot, currently held by Brian Charles (4-5 4.20). Forest City's other negative is a weak bench. It is a big talent drop-off when Jackson has to rest his regulars. Defensively, the 'Jacks have four Gold Glove contenders in first baseman Edmonds (.997), shortstop Keller (.991), and outfielders Morse (.995) and Hill (.985). They are the top defensive club in the Ruthlandian Union with a .982 fielding average. The Lumberjacks have played consistently well thus far and the outlook is pretty much the same. The key will be middle relief. Forest City could catch Marston, if they come through for Jackson. Last edited by Eugene Church; 10-16-2008 at 03:41 PM.