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Eugene Church · 06-13-2009, 09:25 PM

The Islandian Times

March 4, 2004

Poor Pitching Keeps Panthers In The Pits
In their initial season in 2002 the East Point Panthers pounded their way to third place with a 78-77 record in the Tycobbian Union East, winding up 9.5 games in back of the co-winners, South Fork and High Mesa. Last year the Panthers (65-89) slumped badly as their hitting fell off. They ended up last, 20 games behind the division-winning Red Bluff Red Sox. The outlook is for more of the same in 2004 according to the baseball buffs.

East Point manager Griff Clarke's ball club is near the bottom with a 4.49 ERA with not much help on the way. The only new pitcher is Denny Gentry, a 33-year-old journeyman righthander signed from the industrial league. Charlie Hale is Clarke's #1 hurler. Last season Hale was 14-9 with a 4.01 ERA. The Panthers future is gloomy. Clarke lamented in the interview, "Finish last in baseball and you're an idiot... finish last in medical school and you're a doctor... that ain't fair."

East Point is blessed with the best 1-2 power punch in the IPA with two sluggers who hit over 40 homers each last year. 2B Karol Zadoka and 3B Rex Sokolov both have been All-Stars two years in a row. In 2002 Zadoka won the Triple Crown, received the TU Golden Bat Award as the league's best batter and copped the TU MVP honors. Zadoka has also picked up Golden Gloves both seasons.

Clarke said, "Zadoka and Sokolov can't win games single-handedly. Some of the other guys are going to have to step up and help them out. Especially the pitchers. My guys can score runs, but our pitchers are the pits."

The Panthers also have five new position players with 1B Tex Cane and LF Hank Archer winning starting spots. SS Benny Rotella and C Ed Strasser will see a lot action in platoon roles. 2B Ralph Gates will back up All-Everything Zadoka. 'Nuff said - that doesn't leave much playing time for Gates.

Best Pitchers: Charlie Hale (14-9 4.01)

Best Batters: 2B Karol Zadoka (.313 BA/46 HR/123 RBI/134 R) and 3B Rex Sokolov (.304 BA/40 HR/118 RBI/92 R)

06-13-2009, 09:25 PM	#1011
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times March 4, 2004 Poor Pitching Keeps Panthers In The Pits In their initial season in 2002 the East Point Panthers pounded their way to third place with a 78-77 record in the Tycobbian Union East, winding up 9.5 games in back of the co-winners, South Fork and High Mesa. Last year the Panthers (65-89) slumped badly as their hitting fell off. They ended up last, 20 games behind the division-winning Red Bluff Red Sox. The outlook is for more of the same in 2004 according to the baseball buffs. East Point manager Griff Clarke's ball club is near the bottom with a 4.49 ERA with not much help on the way. The only new pitcher is Denny Gentry, a 33-year-old journeyman righthander signed from the industrial league. Charlie Hale is Clarke's #1 hurler. Last season Hale was 14-9 with a 4.01 ERA. The Panthers future is gloomy. Clarke lamented in the interview, "Finish last in baseball and you're an idiot... finish last in medical school and you're a doctor... that ain't fair." East Point is blessed with the best 1-2 power punch in the IPA with two sluggers who hit over 40 homers each last year. 2B Karol Zadoka and 3B Rex Sokolov both have been All-Stars two years in a row. In 2002 Zadoka won the Triple Crown, received the TU Golden Bat Award as the league's best batter and copped the TU MVP honors. Zadoka has also picked up Golden Gloves both seasons. Clarke said, "Zadoka and Sokolov can't win games single-handedly. Some of the other guys are going to have to step up and help them out. Especially the pitchers. My guys can score runs, but our pitchers are the pits." The Panthers also have five new position players with 1B Tex Cane and LF Hank Archer winning starting spots. SS Benny Rotella and C Ed Strasser will see a lot action in platoon roles. 2B Ralph Gates will back up All-Everything Zadoka. 'Nuff said - that doesn't leave much playing time for Gates. Best Pitchers: Charlie Hale (14-9 4.01) Best Batters: 2B Karol Zadoka (.313 BA/46 HR/123 RBI/134 R) and 3B Rex Sokolov (.304 BA/40 HR/118 RBI/92 R) Last edited by Eugene Church; 06-13-2009 at 11:24 PM.