[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, April 3, 2002

Ruthlandian Union

Noobies Are Ahead Head-To-Head
Who's the best? The Noobie expansion clubs or the original franchises? One of the big questions about expansion was whether or not the new clubs could compete with the older teams. So far they are more than holding their own, they have won 24 and lost 21 after three days of play. In today's action the noobies were 8 and 3 against the established teams.

Crushers Down Rovers on James' HR in 14th Inning
At Lakefront Park in Crystal Lake the Crushers and Sligo Rovers went at for fourteen innings when first baseman Johnny James (.385) put an end to it with a dramatic two-run homer to win 7-5 for the hometown team. There were five home runs overall with left fielder Ben Butler (.231) also getting one for Crystal Lake and the Rovers hitting three out, all in the seventh inning to tie the score at 5-5. They were hit by third baseman Rusty Ellis (.267), center fielder Waylon Moses (.333) and first baseman Shane Redford (.250). Sligo had the edge in base hits 12 to 8. Mack Harrell (1-1) chalked up the win with a scoreless 14th inning and the loss went to Paul Petrovsky (0-1), who just came on the 14th.

The Crushers got their first win of the season after two losses, while the Rovers dropped their third consecutive game.

Longmire Leads Crusaders Over Tars 5-4
St. John third sacker George Longmire ran Taranto ragged on the basepaths, hit a home run and scored the winning run on a two-base throwing error in the bottom of the eighth. The Crusaders beat the Tars 5-4 at Cathedral Stadium. Longmire hit his second homer of the season, had two hits, stole a record-tying three bases and scored three times. Closer Claudell Beacham (1-0) got credit for the victory with two scoreless innings. He fanned three of the seven batters he faced. Jerry Juban started and worked seven innings, permitting four runs on seven hits, while walking three and fanning six. Jimmie Mosley (0-1) pitched the entire game and sustained the loss. He only allowed five hits, struck out five and issued two bases on balls. Taranto center fielder Wayne Pounders had a two-run homer to pace the Tars.

This is the sixth time a player has stolen three bases in a game. It was done previously by Chuck Hankins of Bay St. Clair, Jet Kazmarek of Valmara, Gerald Davis of Far Mountain, Lonnie Howard of Elnora and Paco Benitez of Ozarka. The Crusaders are 2-1 on the year, while Taranto falls to 1-2.

Sunbirds and Lindgren Blank Middlefield 3-0
He's only 5'6", but fortunately for Tiny Lindgren, the IPA is not a basketball league. The Belair Beach righthander stood tall on the hill today at Bayside Park and blanked Middlefield 3-0. Lindgren fired third strikes past nine Roosters, walked two and allowed seven hits. Shortstop Danny Church gave him all the runs he needed with a two-run triple in the fourth inning. Right fielder Matty McDermott doubled in the third run in the seventh. Adam Wright suffered the defeat, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out seven batters and gave up four bases on balls.

The Sunbirds are unbeaten thus far this season, winning for the third time in a row. It was Middlefield's first loss after taking its first two games. This was the opener of a three-game series.

Hymel Handcuffs Elnora, LaGrange Wins 4-2
The left hand slants of Tris Hymel were too much for Elnora to handle as he handcuffed them on five hits in a 4-2 LaGrange victory. Hymel racked up five Ks and issued four walks, while going the route. Left fielder Marc Jauvert drove in two runs in the first frame with his second roundtripper this year. Catcher George Patin also drove in a pair of runs for the winners. Elnora's Pat Giles hit a solo home run, his first of the season. Kenny Kerr was the loser as he hurled five innings and was touched for all four runs.

The Sports improved to 2-1 on the year, while Elnora dipped to 1-2. There are two more games in the series.

Kilkenny Cats Skin Rattlers 8-4 in 15 Innings
Farmers Memorial Park in Middlefield was the scene of a 15-inning struggle finally won by the visiting Kilkenny Cats 8-4. Second baseman Ricky Flanagan got the game-winning hit that decided the game. He doubled in center fielder Kirk Pitzer from first base. Pitzer had led off with a single. Then the Cats added plenty of insurance with a three-run smash by right fielder Tee Boy Joubert. Mookie Flanagan, Ricky's older brother, retired the Rattlers in order to claim the victory. Kilkenny piled up 18 hits in the game and were sparked by Joubert with 5-7 and three RBIs. Manager Keiran McKenna got a splendid relief job by Keiran Kennedy. He came on in the seventh and held the Rattlers to one run and six hits in eight innings. Sugar Valley racked up 13 hits and had one home run by first baseman Ron Armstrong. Taking the loss was Paul Haines, who allowed four runs in his only inning.

Kilkenny has not lost a game yet in its inaugural season in the IPA. Sugar Valley has yet to win one in three tries.

Bobcats Whip Vigilantes 10-9 in Hit Fest
Beechwood and Volusia battled back and forth for the lead until the Bobcats bashed the Vigilantes for four runs in the seventh to take a 10-7 edge, then held off a ninth-inning rally to take the contest 10-9. Beechwood unleased 15 hits and two homers to subdue Volusia at the Jailhouse. Second baseman Augie Ippolito rapped three hits, score three times and batted in four. Ippolito got two more homers, giving him three this year. Left fielder L. J. Aldridge and catcher Hank Stewart added three hits and two RBIs to the Bobcat totals. Leading the V's 12-hit attack was second baseman Francisco Abreu with 4-for-4, three runs scored and a home run. Left fielder Winky Rush hit homer number two and center fielder Alex Luna recorded his first one this season. Calvin Quinn got the win, working into the seventh frame and giving up seven runs. Teddy Van Arsdale closed out the win, but staggered through a two-run ninth. Bobcat pitchers fanned 10 V's with Van Arsdale getting five in two and one-third innings. The third of five Volusia pitchers, Brian King, was ripped for four runs in the decisive seventh and took the loss.

Beechwood has won two of three games on the year, while Volusia falls to 1-2.

Grand City Hangs On, Noses Out Waleska 5-4
At Westerner Field in Waleska, the Grand City Cybercaps leaped out to a 5-0 lead, but just barely held on for a 5-4 victory as the Westerners came alive late to score four runs in the bottom of the ninth. Rob Martyn recorded the win. He blanked Waleska on five hits over the first six innings and fanned 11 batters. Reliever Dick Blessing continued to hold Waleska scoreless until he weakened in the ninth. Ivasca Marcelonis got the last two outs of the game for the save and left the tying run on third base. Right fielder Johnny Keitel homered and drove in two runs for the winners, while catcher Tyler Stokes delivered two hits and two RBIs. Waleska third baseman Yoshihide Nishida went 3-3 and had two runs batted in. Losing pitcher Gary Hill started and was shelled for five runs. He was knocked out in the seventh. Both ball teams had nine hits. Grand City hurlers piled up 14 Ks, while Waleska struck out 11.

This was Grand City's third straight triumph, they have yet to lose. It was Waleska's third successive defeat. The Westerners have yet to win a game this season.

FC's Marsh Strike Out 10 Ranford Bulls, Wins 4-2
At Riverside Stadium in Forest City, Johnny Marsh fanned 10 batters en route to a 4-2 decision over the Ranford Bulls. Marsh gave up nine hits and walked three, but left 11 runners stranded. The Lumberjacks left fielder Chuck Hill sparked the offense with a home run, double and four RBIs. Third baseman Pops Keller went 2-3 and scored twice. The loss went to Ranford's Jamie Phillips, who was tagged for four runs in six innings. Forest City won the game, but got only five hits in all. Hill's first roundtripper this season snapped a 2-2 tie and put the 'Jacks ahead to stay 4-2 in the sixth.

It was Forest City second straight triumph. The Lumberjacks are 2-1, while Ranford is 1-2 and has dropped two in a row.

Kokk Quells Cold Creek, Valka Triumphs 5-2
Valka skipper Jaan Kurus got some fine pitching for the third game in a row, but this time it produced a victory - the Blackhawks first ever in the IPA. Righthander Andrei Kokk fashioned an impressive seven-hit game and quelled the Cold Creek Catamounts 5-2 at Cybertel Field. Kokk issued two bases on balls and totaled six Ks. Still suffering from a lack of run support, the Blackhawks mustered eight hits today. Right fielder Jimmy Tremayne pounded a three-run smash in the opening frame to put them ahead 3-0. Left fielder Arkady Mironov added RBI single in the first to make it 4-0. First baseman Vadik Yeltsin finished off the day's scoring with an RBI triple in the fifth. The Catamounts got their only two runs on homers by left fielder Karl Yashin in the second inning and shortstop Chris Hale in the fifth. The Blackhawks got rid of starter Ronnie Hampton in a hurry, battering him for four runs in the first and dealing him the defeat.

Both Valka and Cold Creek have 1-2 records so far this season.

Claxton Edges Wynnamac 4-3, Third Win In A Row
At Granger Field in Wynnamac the home crowd saw righthander Tetsunori Nakashima spin a 4-3 win over the Sundowners, holding them to six hits, all singles. The Claxton Diamonds recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the fourth inning. Single runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth brought in the victory. The Diamonds are unbeaten in three games this season, while Wynnamac is 1-2. Left fielder Dan Molnar had a solo homer and an RBI single to account for two runs. Center fielder Wayne Wilson smacked two hits, scored twice and batted in a run for Claxton. Right fielder Dickie Hollister drove in two runs to lead the Sundowners. Jimmy Baldwin also went the route in defeat. He allowed four runs and eleven hits.

Marston's Ledbetter Stops Ft. Benton on 3-Hits
Before a big crowd at Old Fortress Park, Marston's Casey Ledbetter was in midseason form as he stopped Fort Benton on just three hits in a 7-2 triumph. Ledbetter had four walks and five Ks in the game. A four-run explosion in the eighth busted up a 2-2 deadlock. Pacing the Nine's 11-hit attack were second baseman Ken Green and center fielder Tommy Reinhold. Green drove in two runs with two hits and Reinhold scored twice, had two hits and an RBI. Although he fanned nine in seven innings and only gave up three earned runs, starter Leroy Hill took the loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits.

It was Fort Benton's initial loss of the season after two wins. Marston has the same 2-1 mark.

Musketeers Theriot Tops Redhawks with Grand Slam
It was Belle Plaine's first home game at Musketeer Field and it was a happy one. The Musketeers first baseman Scott Theriot chalked up the team's first IPA win in grand style with a grand slam in the sixth frame, giving them a 5-4 triumph over the visiting Far Mountain Redhawks. That ruined a fine outing by Bud Ford, who had shut them out cold until then. Lou Dozier got credit for the victory. He worked seven and a third innings, surrendering four runs and seven hits. However, Dozier had control problems with six walks, but did strike out six. Lefthander Paul Wessex came in and got the save with one and two-thirds scoreless innings. Wessex cut short Far Mountain's eighth-inning comeback. Belle Plaine outhit Far Mountain 9 to 8. The Redhawks were led at bat by third baseman Johnny Strickland and catcher Dave Davis. They both had two hits and an RBI in the game. Strickland homered and Davis had a triple.

Both teams stand at 1-2 on the season.

11-Run Inning Spells Doom For Stars, Ancona Wins
It was a game that had everything - good pitching, good hitting, thrills and chills, but you wouldn't think it by the final score. In its opening home game at Jay Loman Park, the Ancona Red Elephants demolished the Stoner Stars 14-3, but it was a tight for most of the game. George Agelakos came within one strikeout of the league record with 15 Ks. He nursed a 3-0 lead until the eighth inning when Stoner first baseman Garland Andre tied it up with a three-run clout. That must have made the Red Elephants mad. They scored at will in the last of the eighth, putting 11 runs on the scoreboard to win going away. Agelakos tried to set the strikeout record - he had to strike out the side in the ninth - but ran out of gas. After a hit, walk, two strikeouts and another walk, he just couldn't throw anymore. Agelakos had thrown 147 pitches and had to leave the game. He was exhausted. Spiros Savakis came in and got the final out. Ancona torched Stoner for 15 hits. First baseman Issie Manos bashed four hits, including two roundtrippers and a double, drove in seven runs and scored three times. Right fielder Gene Kanavos went 4-for-5 and scored three runs and catcher Dale Kerr was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and one run batted in. Third baseman Dimitri Vrotsos added a solo homer. The losing pitcher was Dwight Ruckman, who was ripped for six runs in seven innings.

And would you believe, the 11 runs in an inning was not good enough to be a new record. The IPA mark for most runs in an inning occurred on May 3, 2001, when Elnora scored 13 runs in the third inning against the Valmara Vipers en route to an 18-8 victory. The game is the highest-scoring game in IPA history with a total of 26 runs. Ranford holds the record for most runs by a team. In the opening game of this season the Bulls crushed Wynnamac 21-2.

Ancona is now 2-1 on the season and Stoner is 1-2.

A's Rap 4 Homers, Nip Valmara 5-4
At home in the friendly confines of Athletics Field, the Glasco A's powered their way past Valmara 5-4 with four home runs. First baseman Maury Smith went deep twice, while right fielder Bucky Bucholtz and left fielder Ox Beauvais cashed in one time each. Smith and Beauvais hammered three hits apiece and scored twice. Smith batted in three runs in the game with Beauvais and Bucholtz driving in one each. Glasco had 9 hits to the Vipers 6. Jake Nyberg was the winning pitcher. He limited Valmara to just four hits and two runs in seven innings with six walks and seven strikeouts. Ray Cook relieved him in the eighth and was tagged for two runs in two innings, but still got the save. Jerry Yosarian lost it. He allowed five runs and exited in the sixth inning. The Vipers also hit a home run. Shortstop Matt Mazurek hit one out in the eighth inning.

Glasco's record is 2-1 with the victory, dropping Valmara to 1-2.

Elegants Alston's 11th-Inning Homer Beats Snappers
At Snapper Stadium in Rocky Rapids, two unbeaten ball clubs battled and Eastshore won it 6-4 on left fielder Darrel Alston's second home run of the game. Alston had three hits, three RBIs and scored twice. Center fielder Carl Hendriksen also belted a home run, scored twice and had two runs batted in for the Elegants. Brian Russell notched the victory by holding the Snappers runless in the ninth and tenth innings. Noel Cromwell saved the game for him with a 1-2-3 ninth. Kevin Fry delivered the home run ball to Alston and was pegged with the loss. Rocky Rapids had the most hits, 11 to 9, but left 11 men on base.

Eastshore has now won all three of its game this year. This was Rocky Rapids first defeat after two wins.

Colfax Nips San Dimas 5-4
At Ranchero Stadium, Colfax kept San Dimas winless with a 5-4 decision. The Blasters won it in the top of the seventh when second baseman Tucker Hill tripled and scored on center fielder Pat Lott's RBI single. Colfax finished up with nine hits to seven for the Rancheros. Shortstop Wayne O'Reilly hit a two-run homer and first baseman Dennis Cole had a solo shot to pace the Blasters. Shortstop Domingo Rios and left fielder Fernando Baldera went deep for San Dimas. Andy Haig, a 37-year-old rookie, registered the win for Colfax. Haig tossed seven innings, allowed four runs and seven hits with three walks and six Ks. Jim Dreyer came in from the bullpen in the eighth and carved out the save with two scoreless frames. Roberto Silvas sustained the loss, permitting one run and four hits in his two innings of work.

The Colfax Blasters upped their season record to 2-1, while San Dimas remained winless so far in its first year in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Rancheros have been defeated in all three games they have played.