OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

Eugene Church · 06-25-2009, 07:49 PM

The Islandian Times

March 12, 2004

Rattlers Ready To Strike In RU East Race
One of the better IPA franchises is primed and ready to go into the new Ruthlandian Union East season. The Sugar Valley Rattlers have come in third, first and second in its three years in the league. This season manager Gibson Bobkins says everything is in place to get back on top again after finishing three games back of the top team, the Elnora All-Stars, last year.

Bobkins was an intense competitor as a marvelous pitcher in his industrial league days, known for intimidation and for throwing at batters. Once asked by a reporter why he hit a batter, he replied simply, "I heard he could hit." And Bobkins is just as intense as a manager. The Rattler manager is still smarting from being swept by Elnora in the Sweet 16 last year. "I hate to lose," he recently told the press, "I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win."

Sugar Valley should win often this year. However, the baseball experts still rank Elnora the best team in the RU East with the Rattlers slated to be the number two team. Both clubs are excellent teams and have improved during the winter. Bobkins has improved his defense with a new rookie 2B Casey Leeburn. Bobkins accessed Leeburn this way, "Not only does he have a good glove, he can hit the ball, too." Scouts have labeled Leeburn as a possible candidate for Rookie of the Year.

The Rattlers have an impressive starting rotation with four quality starters, backed up by one of the best closers in the league, combined with some fine hitters. They have pitching, hitting, power and speed. Sugar Valley will give Elnora more than a handful of trouble this season.

Best Pitchers: Gregg Neal (18-12 3.68), Anthony Glaser (7-3 2.66), Bernie Halsey (12-7 3.32), Frankie Jardine (12-4 3.85) and closer Val Watford (4-0 1.29) with 9 saves in 41 games

Best Batters/Players: All-Star SS/Gold Glover Flipper Bird (.306 BA/21 HR/80 RBI/129 R/38 SB), LF Bruno DiPirro (.301 BA/14 HR/103 RBI/91 R/40 SB), 1B Ron Armstrong (.294 BA/21 HR/106 RBI), CF Freddie Vaux (.304 BA/12 HR/59 RBI/94 R/33 SB) and All-Star C/Gold Glover Slingshot McFalls (.267 BA/9 HR/70 RBI)

06-25-2009, 07:49 PM	#1052
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,867	The Islandian Times March 12, 2004 Rattlers Ready To Strike In RU East Race One of the better IPA franchises is primed and ready to go into the new Ruthlandian Union East season. The Sugar Valley Rattlers have come in third, first and second in its three years in the league. This season manager Gibson Bobkins says everything is in place to get back on top again after finishing three games back of the top team, the Elnora All-Stars, last year. Bobkins was an intense competitor as a marvelous pitcher in his industrial league days, known for intimidation and for throwing at batters. Once asked by a reporter why he hit a batter, he replied simply, "I heard he could hit." And Bobkins is just as intense as a manager. The Rattler manager is still smarting from being swept by Elnora in the Sweet 16 last year. "I hate to lose," he recently told the press, "I've played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn't beaten me yet. I've always had to win. I've got to win." Sugar Valley should win often this year. However, the baseball experts still rank Elnora the best team in the RU East with the Rattlers slated to be the number two team. Both clubs are excellent teams and have improved during the winter. Bobkins has improved his defense with a new rookie 2B Casey Leeburn. Bobkins accessed Leeburn this way, "Not only does he have a good glove, he can hit the ball, too." Scouts have labeled Leeburn as a possible candidate for Rookie of the Year. The Rattlers have an impressive starting rotation with four quality starters, backed up by one of the best closers in the league, combined with some fine hitters. They have pitching, hitting, power and speed. Sugar Valley will give Elnora more than a handful of trouble this season. Best Pitchers: Gregg Neal (18-12 3.68), Anthony Glaser (7-3 2.66), Bernie Halsey (12-7 3.32), Frankie Jardine (12-4 3.85) and closer Val Watford (4-0 1.29) with 9 saves in 41 games Best Batters/Players: All-Star SS/Gold Glover Flipper Bird (.306 BA/21 HR/80 RBI/129 R/38 SB), LF Bruno DiPirro (.301 BA/14 HR/103 RBI/91 R/40 SB), 1B Ron Armstrong (.294 BA/21 HR/106 RBI), CF Freddie Vaux (.304 BA/12 HR/59 RBI/94 R/33 SB) and All-Star C/Gold Glover Slingshot McFalls (.267 BA/9 HR/70 RBI) Last edited by Eugene Church; 06-25-2009 at 07:52 PM.