[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Elnora on Top in RU East, Marston and Sugar Valley Close Behind

The IPA Pro Cup runner-up last season, the Elnora All-Stars (42-31) are the top club in the Ruthlandian Union East pennant chase with a two-game lead over the Marston Nine (40-33). Last year's titlist, the Sugar Valley Rattlers (38-35), are close by and only four games back. Rounding out the first division are the Belle Plaine Musketeers (34-39), who have done quite a turnaround this year and trail by only 8 games. Last season the Musketeers dropped 100 games and finished in the cellar, 33 games off the pace. The bottom four teams are tightly-bunched with Beechwood (33-40) and Eastshore (33-40) tied for fifth place in the standings. The Cold Creek Catamounts (32-41) are seventh in the race with Wynnamac (31-42) pulling up the rear in last place.

Elnora All-Stars - First Place
Zoggy White, Manager
.273 BA (13th)
52 HR (23rd)
2.92 ERA (1st)
.978 FA (4th)

Best Pitchers: All-Star Harry Dye (13-3 3.46), Taylor Gibbs (8-9 2.56), Charlie Murphy (8-9 3.11), Pat Savoie (4-1 2.12), closer Matty Wilkerson (2-1 1.26 13 SV)

Best Hitters: All-Star 2B Gil Foster (.335/12 HR/46 RBI/42 R), LF Quincy Peterson (.299/11 HR/35 RBI/49 R/6 SB), All-Star C Todd Simons (.300/3 HR/36 RBI/27 R), CF Rusty Gilbert (.321/5 HR/36 RBI/43 R/15 SB)

Manager Zoggy White has Elnora hitting on all cylinders with the best pitching in the IPA with a ridiculously low 2.92 team ERA, excellent fielding and adequate hitting. White almost won the IPA title last season, but fell short at the hands of the high-scoring High Mesa Cowboys in the finals. Elnora is the favorite for the division crown this season.

Marston Nine - Second Place
Johnny Walters, Manager
.284 BA (2nd)
62 HR (11th)
3.61 ERA (10th)
.980 (2nd)

Best Pitchers: All-Star closer Booger Burchfield (3-1 1.52 13 SV), Nick Pace (10-7 4.24), Walt Sellers (8-7 3.56)

Best Hitters: All-Star RF Sam Dixon (.369/12 Hr/63 RBI/35 R), All-Star SS Don Nichols (.330/6 HR/36 RBI/56 R/25 SB), CF Paulie Rizzutto (.274/9 HR/38 RBI/34 R)

Strong defense, very good hitting and a little better than average pitching is carrying Marston this season. The Nine probably will not catch Elnora because they just don't have the pitching, but Marston will contend in the playoffs. Anything can happen in short series. Second-place finish in the RU East seems the best they can do.

Sugar Valley Rattlers - Third Place
Gibson Bobkins, Manager
.275 BA (9th)
59 HR (16th-tied)
3.56 ERA (9th)
.977 FA (5th-tied)

Best Pitchers: Gregg Neal (8-5 3.07), Ron Benson (9-9 4.17), Dale Bixler (5-5 3.46), rookie closer Frankie Jardine (2-2 3.25 12 SV)

Best Batters: 1B Ron Armstrong (.276/11 HR/54 RBI/27 R), LF Bruno DiPirro (.302/7 HR/49 RBI/46 R/22 SB), All-Star SS Flipper Bird (.330/10 HR/39 RBI/60 R/14 SB/.977 FA), All-Star C Slingshot McFall (.263/5 HR/36 RBI/28 R/.995 FA/57% RTO)

Manager Gibby Bobkins has a well-balanced ballclub with good hitting and pitching. The Rattlers also play good defense. Sugar Valley has no bad weaknesses and will challenge Marston for second place. The RU East has a strong threesome in Elnora, Marston and Sugar Valley. The winner out of them will do well in the playoffs.

Belle Plaine Musketeers - Fourth Place
Boo Ladrieux, Manager
.259 BA (25th)
41 HR (31st)
3.91 ERA (15th)
.971 FA (24th-tied)

Best Pitchers: Lou Dozier (8-5 3.15), Jack Ambeau (7-8 3.60)

Best Batters: rookie RF Lavon Gooch (.292/12 HR/48 RBI/39 R/10 SB), rookie CF Dennis Riley (.305/8 HR/48 RBI/41 R/9 SB), LF Juan Mendez (.329/0 HR/30 RBI/51 R/8 SB)

Belle Plaine has made fine progress over last year's dismal season, but is still just a mediocre team. It is doubtful that they can hold on to fourth place and make the playoffs. Sixth, seventh or eighth is its likely finish. Eastshore should pass them in the second half.

Beechwood Bobcats - Fifth Place (tied)
Bret George, Manager
.255 BA (27th)
72 HR (5th-tied)
3.93 ERA (17th)
.968 FA (29th-tied)

Best Pitchers: All-Star Lance Moore (11-4 2.58), Larry Eaton (5-4 3.69), closer Will Cadbury (2-3 2.95 15 SV)

Best Hitters: RF Clifton Czako (.289/11 HR/42 RBI/49 R/10 SB), SS Augie Ippolito (.270/5 HR/42 RBI/24 R/15 SB), CF Lonnie Snider (.296/7 HR/32 RBI/33 R/17 SB)

Bobcat skipper Bret George doesn't have a lot of talent except for Moore, Czako and Snider. The team is down at the bottom in hitting and fielding and only average in pitching. Still they might make the playoffs in this weak division. They could sneak into fourth place or the Bobcats could fall all the way to last place.

Eastshore Elegants - Fifth Place (tied)
Killer Brewster, Manager
.271 BA (14th)
72 HR (5th)
4.25 ERA (25th)
.975 (12th)

Best Pitchers: Don Willis (5-1 3.36), Nick Baumgartner (4-1 3.40)

Best Batters: LF Darrel Alston (.327/15 HR/51 RBI/54 R/8 SB), 2B Miles Sheehan (.308/14 HR/49 RBI/50 R), 1B Vito Iacoboni (.294/12 HR/47 RBI/47 R), rookie CF Judd Kilpatrick (.313/2 HR/31 RBI/51 R/14 SB)

Killer Brewster needs a lot of good pitchers to compete in the RU East. His Eastshore Elegants can put runs on the board, but so can the opposition. At mid-season Brewster purged half of his staff in an effort to change the direction the club is heading. The Elegants finished third last year. Eastshore will battle five teams for the final playoff spot.

Cold Creek Catamounts - Seventh Place
T. Kelly Holmes, Manager
.277 BA (8th)
70 HR (7th-tied)
5.32 ERA (32nd)
.975 FA (12th - tied)

Best Pitchers: Jimmy Gustafson (6-2 4.10)

Best Hitters: 1B Johnny Carducci (.329/14 HR/53 RBI/58 R), LF Karl Yashin (.290/15 HR/49 RBI/37 R), Trip Holmes (.283/7 HR/44 RBI/54 R/14 SB), RF Emile Stosha (.296/11 HR/39 RBI/45 R/20 SB), 3B Clancy Daigrepont (.301/2 HR/36 RBI/31 R/7 SB)

Cold Creek's T. Kelly Holmes has a lot in common with Killer Brewster, the Eastshore manager. They both are in dire need of pitching, especially Holmes. Ranked dead last in the Ruthlandian Union with an outrageous 5.32 ERA, Holmes just signed six new pitchers at the All-Star breakn in hopes of turning the season around. The Catamounts have very good hitting, good power and can play defense. They just need some help on the mound. If they get it, a playoff spot is easily within reach. Cold Creek is only two games out of fourth place.

Wynnamac Sundowners - Eighth Place
Matt Donnelly, manager
.273 BA (12th)
41 HR(31st - tied)
3.99 ERA (19th)
.977 (5th - tied)

Best Pitchers: Rich Walters (9-6 3.43), Ulo Illka (5-5 3.44)

Best Batters: 1B Nate Cockcroft (.325/8 HR/40 RBI/30 R), SS Marvin Hollis (.290/2 HR/38 RBI/38 R), 2B Fred Younger (.323/2 HR/21 RBI/53 R), RF Don Hollister (.247/9 HR/50 RBI/30 R)

Matt Donnelly's Sundowners hit for a decent average, but have no power, good defense, but only fair pitching. Still Wynnamac is in striking distance of fourth place and a playoff slot.

Ruthlandian Union East Division Outlook:
Elnora's pitching is so good it is hard not to pick them to win the division. Marston is the second choice because of their good hitting. Sugar Valley will be third, but with its better pitching could pass Marston. Eastshore will get the fourth and final playoff position because it can score runs. Belle Plaine will edge out Beechwood for spot number five, while Cold Creek will score enough runs to outpace Wynnamac for seventh place. The RU East should do well again in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs with the likes of Elnora, Marston and Sugar Valley.