[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Two-Team Race in RU South, Waleska on Top, 5 Games Up on St. John

Over in the RU South, the Waleska Westerners (45-28) have taken charge and lead by five games over the surprising second place St. John Crusaders (40-33), which finished a very distant last in 2002. Belair Beach (38-35) is in the third spot with Claxton (36-37) and San Dimas (36-37) close behind and tied for fourth. Two contenders from last year have both fallen on hard times. The Valka Blackhawks (30-43) and Grand City Cybercats (30-43) have tumbled into the second division and are in a tie for sixth. Crystal Lake (22-51) is having a terrible season and is in the basement with the worst record in the IPA.

Waleska Westerners - First Place
McGraw Johnson, Manager
.261 BA (23rd)
62 HR (11th-tied)
3.07 ERA (2nd)
.976 FA (7th-tied)

Best Pitchers: Smokey Joe Carter (10-2 2.37), Gary Hill (11-5 3.70), Jack Wagner (6-1 2.70), Buddy Kennedy (7-5 2.93), Erv Gunderson (3-5 1.70 8 SV), closer Ken Vakros (4-6 4.17 15 SV)

Best Hitters: LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.285/16 Hr/56 RBI/50 R), 3B Yoshihide Nishida (.271/7 HR/51 RBI/46 R/20 SB), 1B Mark Ulricht (.314/11 HR/40 RBI/24 R)

Analysis: Great pitching, so-so hitting, lack power, good defense, Johnson added new center fielder for added offense and two new relievers

St. John Crusaders - Second Place
Dickie Billings, Manager
.266 BA (21st)
49 HR (25th)
3.82 ERA (13th)
.975 FA (12th-tied)

Best Pitchers: Eric Mays (10-5 4.03), Zach Simon (8-8 3.01), rookie George Wilson (7-4 3.99), rookie Sterling Eccles (3-1 2.40), closer Eddie Thorsen (3-3 2.54 17 SV)

Best Batters: LF Don Kolstad (.282/9 HR/43 RBI/35 R), RF Kenny Hatcher (.282/7 HR/42 RBI/44 R/24 SB), rookie SS Cal Kanellis (.280/7 HR/34 RBI/30 R/9 SB)

Analysis: Solid in pitching, need power, good defense, six rookies have contributed, two of them pitchers, Billings added five new players at midseason, two pitchers and 3 position players, which will make or break them in the second half

Belair Beach Sunbirds - Third Place
Marty Pedroza, Manager
.289 BA (1st)
59 HR (16th-tied)
3.32 ERA (6th)
.971 FA (24th-tied)

Best Pitchers: All-Star Slim Mosley (11-5 2.75), Terry Christian (6-3 3.11), Ray Watson (9-6 3.52), Tiny Lundgren (8-8 3.30)

Best Hitters: All-Star 1B Phil Gravelli (.342/20 HR/65 RBI/52 R), LF Nicky Swift (.273/15 HR/56 RBI/54 R), 3B Dom Corbelli (.337/2 HR/32 RBI/35 R/26 SB), RF Matty McDermott (.315/4 HR/26 RBI/42 R/22 SB), CF Bobby Joe Morris (.310/5 HR/25 RBI/44 R/10 SB), 2B Rick Sullivan (.298/4 HR/32 RBI/29 R/8 SB), C Denny Everhart (.293/3 HR/36 RBI/30 R)

Analysis: Fine starters and excellent hitting, need bullpen help, defense could be better, Pedroza has six regulars hitting .293 or better, new closer is critical for the Sunbirds success in the second half of the season, very sound team overall

Claxton Diamonds - Fourth Place (tie)
Stacy Engel, Manager
.259 BA (24th)
46 HR (27th)
3.82 ERA (12th)
.971 FA (24th-tied)

Best Pitchers: Terry Kuznetsov (6-5 3.07), Sal Tallis (7-6 3.80), Tetsunori Nakashima (6-8 4.15), closer Geno Franchi (4-2 2.57 11 SV)

Best Hitters: LF Dixie Baker (.281/10 HR/38 RBI/47 R), C Pete Robinson (.303/4 HR/39 RBI/30 R), 2B Eric Carducci (.282/4 HR/30 RBI/30 R)

Analysis: Weak hitting, no power, average pitching, poor fielding, no threat if Claxton makes the playoffs, Kuznetsov and Franchi are strong pitchers, not much talent beyond them except for LF Baker

San Dimas Rancheros - Fourth Place (tie)
Paco Banderos - Manager
.268 BA (19th)
74 HR (3rd)
3.52 ERA (8th)
.976 FA (7th-tied)

Best Pitchers: Wayne Mallard (8-5 3.16), Lowell Wall (4-4 3.09), Tris Lightfoot (5-4 3.64), closer All-Star Zippy Hodge (7-3 1.90 12 AV)

Best Hitters: 1B Sancho Duran (.266/15 HR/53 RBI/34 R), 3B Domingo Rios (.293/14 HR/33 RBI/45 R), SS Russ Russell (.266/5 HR/43 RBI/32 R), LF Fernando Baldera (.338/10 HR/29 RBI/26 R)

Analysis: Good all-around ballclub with pretty fair hitting and good power, better than average pitching, good defense, excellent closer, might be the second-best team in the RU South, should definitely make the playoffs

Grand City Cybercats - Sixth Place (tie)
Torry Joseph - Manager
.269 BA (17th)
49 HR (25th)
4.30 ERA (27th)
.969 (28th)

Best Pitchers: Lefty Paddison (11-7 2.71)

Best Batters: SS Wynn Joslin (.282/14 HR/53 RBI/45 R), 1B Robby Maynard (.296/12 HR/34 RBI/40 R), CF Stan Heinke (.316/3 HR/20 RBI/40 R/28 SB), RF John Terry (.313/1 HR/42 RBI/24 R)

Analysis: Just a mediocre ballclub, unlikely to make the playoffs

Valka Blackhawks - Sixth Place (tie)
Jaan Kurus, Manager
.258 BA (26th)
45 HR (28th)
4.20 ERA (23rd)
.983 (1st)

Best Pitchers: Andrei Kokk (7-8 3.03), Bobby Karu (5-5 3.67), Arvo Krimm (5-5 3.83)

Best Hitters: 2B Brian McGinnis (.310/4 HR/29 RBI/25 R), C Kristjan Kasik (.282/6 HR/32 RBI/33 R)

Analysis: RU South Division winner last year, total collapse this year, probable finish will be seventh place, still excellent fielding team, but little else.

Crystal Lake Crushers - Eighth Place
Herman "Baby" George, Manager
.252 (30th)
74 HR (3rd)
4.78 ERA (30th)
.963 FA (32nd)

Best Pitcher: Mel Hogan (3-4 3.47), Bill Ehrhardt (5-7 4.25)

Best Batters: 1B Johnny James (.298/13 HR/41 RBI/38 R), 2B Ronnie Mikkelsen (.293/12 HR/35 RBI/31 R), LF Ben Butler (.231/17 HR/50 RBI/51 R)

Analysis: Worst team in the IPA, probably will lose over 100 games

Ruthlandian Union South Division Outlook:
One of the weakest divisions in the IPA, but it has two good teams in Waleska and Belair Beach because of their pitching. The Sunbirds also hit very well. They should run 1-2 in the standings and do well in the playoffs. San Dimas will be third and St. John the fourth playoff team. Claxton should end up fifth, followed by Grand City in the sixth spot. Valka will be seventh and Crystal Lake will be last.