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Eugene Church · 09-14-2009, 10:20 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 24, 2005

Ruthlandian Union East Division 2005 Mid-Season Standings

6-Team Tussle in RU East
It's quite a race in the Ruthlandian Union East at the mid-year break. There are six clubs within three games of the top spot, currently held by the Sugar Valley Rattlers, but the leader changes almost daily. Three teams, Belle Plaine, Cold Creek and Eastshore, are tied for second place, only one game off the lead and two more, Elnora and Marston, are just a scant three games back and tied for fifth place.

Powerful Sugar Valley (45-28) is at the head of the class so far. Manager Gibson Bobkins always has his club near the top of the division. He has made the playoffs in three of his four years at the helm, missing out with a third-place finish in 2001. Bobkins copped the division crown in 2002. The Rattlers do most things well - 3.49 ERA (2nd), 64 home runs (4th-tied), 351 runs (3rd) and .978 FA (1st-tied). Sugar Valley's only shortcoming is a .261 BA, which is last in the division, nonetheless it is still very close to the league average.

A red-hot April (18-7) and June (13-6) have kept the Rattlers among the leaders all season long. Sugar Valley's star performers have been All-Star Gregg Neal (11-2 2.67) and Hec Skurgan (8-1 2.57) on the hill. At bat the Rattlers have been paced by All-Star 1B Ron Armstrong (.299/12 HR/56 RBI/43 R), 3B Jorge Vargas (.328/12 HR/50 RBI), LF Bruno DiPirro (.310/5 HR/40 RBI/45 R/15 SB) and SS Flipper Bird (.281/6 HR/37 RBI/53 R/15 SB).

Boo Ladrieux, skipper of the Belle Plaine Musketeers (44-27), never has finished higher than fourth, but he has opened some eyes this year with the best pitching in the division, ranking first with an impressive 3.31 ERA. His Muskies also have registered a .273 team batting average (3rd-tied) and are tied for the top spot with a .978 fielding percentage. Belle Plaine began slowly with a 13-12 mark in April, then took off and took 31 of 48 in the next two months.

Landrieux told the press, "My Musketeers are not a flash-in-the-pan... we are not going to fade in the second half. We started getting better last year and have gotten better this season. We do have a legitimate shot at the playoffs." Belle Plaine's best have been pitchers Milo Anthony (7-5 2.80), Pistol Pete Westberry (10-3 3.26) and All-Star Kent Wells (2-2 1.59). Wells is the brilliant closer, who has saved 15 games and made 37 relief appearances. Leading the bat attack have been LF Juan Mendez (.338/4 HR/27 RBI/49 R), 1B Scott Theriot (.297/6 HR/53 RBI) and 3B Dominique Rousseau (.303/11 HR/48 RBI).

The other two clubs tied for the runner-up spot were expected to finish far down in the standings. Cold Creek was forecast sixth in the preseason poll by BNN, while Eastshore was supposed to be in last place. But here we are in the middle of June and they are within a game of first place.

The Cold Creek Catamounts (44-27) under T. Kelly Holmes have never come close to making the playoffs. Fourth place in 2001 was the top finish, the rest of the time they have been buried deep in the standings. But it has all come together this season. The Catamount bats are booming with 75 roundtrippers (2nd) and a torrid .281 team batting average (1st). Holmes' hurlers are doing it on the hill, too, with a sparkling 3.45 ERA (2nd). Cold Creek can catch the ball, too, with a .977 FA. No wonder they are right up with Sugar Valley and ahead of Elnora and Marston. They are playing with the big boys this year. The 'Cats started off slowly at 12-13, but have picked up speed in the last two months, racking up a fine 32-16 record.

How would you like to have a starting line-up with everyone hitting at least .264 and peaking out at .355? All-Star LF Fernando Baldera (.355/17 HR/69) is having a colossal season and he is getting plenty of help from CF Trip Holmes (.264/13 HR/38 RBI/58 R/13 SB), 3B Kelsey Yates (.286/11 HR/38 RBI), 1B Nat Mayakovsky (.281/36 RBI/45 R), RF Emile Stosha (.291/8 HR/35 RBI/48 R) and C Whitey Cosgrove (.305/8 HR/29 RBI). Even Chris Hale (.287) has filled in admirably for star shortstop Russ Russell, who went out after 10 games hitting .395. Russell tore a back muscle and will be out for a few more games. Hale has really shored up the defense with an outstanding .980 fielding percentage. It may be tough for Russell to get his position back, despite his powerful bat. On the mound Cold Creek's Kyle Peterson (8-3 2.20), Tommy Weeks (7-3 2.75) and Payton Saunders (5-1 3.03) have more than gotten the job done.

The Eastshore Elegants (44-29) are another Cinderella club in the RU East. After playing good ball for their first two seasons in the IPA, Killer Brewster's crew plunged to last place in 2004 and this year's outlook didn't appear to offer much hope. However, a robust offense led by three vets and a rookie, has revived the franchise. The Elegants are second with a .273 BA, tied with Belle Plaine, and leading in homers with 90. They also have outscored all of the opposition with 395 runs. Pitching-wise Brewster's staff holds it own with a 3.67 ERA.

All-Star LF Darrel Alston (.309/20 HR/53 RBIj/47 R), RF Ron Dizon (.278/16 HR/47 RBI/49 R), 1B Vito Iacoboni (.255/11 HR/44 RBI), rookie CF Chris Krychevsky (.311/10 HR/43 RBI) and C Fran MacIntyre (.340/7/23 RBI) have provided the run production. Eastshore's starting rotation is composed of rookie Steve Ohlinger (7-2 3.70), Igor Jorgerson (9-7 2.95), Fred Duhon (9-7 3.45) and Stony Blackwell (10-6 4.10). In the bullpen Tommy Ladner (1-1 2.43) has stood out as the closer with 16 saves in 28 games.

Like the other three contenders the Elegants are playing their best ball right now. They were only 12-13 the opening month, but have since blazed to a sensational 32-16 mark in May and June.

The preseason favorite Elnora All-Stars and third choice Marston have some unexpected opposition, but Zoggy White's and Johnny Walters' teams are still right in the fight, just three games behind and tied for fifth place.

Elnora (42-31) is a sound club all-around. The All-Stars have chalked up a .267 team batting average (5th) with a solid 3.50 ERA (4th). For most of the season they were near the top of the RU East standings, but have slumped to 7-12 in June. Starting pitching has been the drawback as two old reliables, Harry Dye (4-5 4.16) and Charlie Murphy (4-10 4.06), have not been effective. Elnora has been carried by All-Stars Lou Horn (10-6 3.19) and Matty Wilkerson (7-0 1.96). Closer Wilkerson has been superb with 9 saves and 29 appearances. Starter Taylor Gibbs (8-6 2.81) has pitched very well, too.

White's top batters have been 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.300/7 HR/43 RBI), C Todd Simons (.292/5 HR/41 RBI), LF Quincy Peterson (.295/11 HR/35 RBI/53 R) and rookie 1B Andy Tucker (.325/9 HR/31 RBI/40 R).

The Marston Nine (42-31) began the season with a 12-13 record in April and 15-14 in May, but caught fire in June with a strong 15-4 mark to get back in the race. The Nine's main attribute is their .275 batting average (2nd), energized by All-Star SS Don Nichols (.367/12 HR/47 RBI/62 R/23 SB), All-Star rookie 3B Jimmy Holman (.297/17 HR/56 RBI/42 R), CF Dennis Riley (.273/9 HR/51 RBI/42 R/10 SB) and rookie RF Helmut Graczyk (.286/12 HR/42 RBI/42 R).

But it's another story on the mound - Marston is the worst in the RU East with a 4.06 ERA. Skipper Johnny Walters has gotten good work out of starters Mark Falzone (8-7 3.11) and Vinnie Gardner (10-4 3.53). Long reliever Hayden Bagshaw (7-1 2.15), who has been outstanding will move to the starting rotation to beef it up. Walters could use more help in the middle relief and closer spots. The usually-dependable closer Booger Burchfield (1-5 5.40) has been terrible this season.

The seventh-place Beechwood Bobcats (36-37) are guided by Bret George and they are currently nine games back in the race. The Bobcats are a lackluster ball club this season with few standouts. Only pitchers Dek Jumonville (9-6 2.87) and rookie Ozzy Burton (9-6 3.70) have done well. At bat only 1B Ray Slater (.322/3 HR/44 RBI/42 R/17 SB) and RF Clifton Czabo (.307/8 HR/33 RBI/52 R/10 SB) have excelled. Beechwood has a .262 team batting average (7th) with little power. They have hit only 50 roundtrippers (8th). On the hill George's group has compiled a mediocre 3.83 ERA (6th).

The only way Wynnamac (30-43) can go is up. The Sundowners are in their customary position near the bottom of the division, trailing first place Sugar Valley by 15 games at the All-Star break. Manager Matt Donnelly has a good hold on the cellar and the forecast is bleak. His club is batting .264 (6th) with 66 homers (4th) and a 4.04 team ERA (7th).

Wynnamac's best talent this season has been hurler Rich Walters (9-5 3.03), 1B Nate Cockroft (.320/15 HR/55 RBI/41 R), All-Star LF Dalton Leeds (.342/10 HR/42 RBI/40 R) and 3B Joey Kingford (.291/15 HR/39 RBI/40 R).

09-14-2009, 10:20 PM	#1206
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,867	The Islandian Times Monday, June 24, 2005 Ruthlandian Union East Division 2005 Mid-Season Standings 6-Team Tussle in RU East It's quite a race in the Ruthlandian Union East at the mid-year break. There are six clubs within three games of the top spot, currently held by the Sugar Valley Rattlers, but the leader changes almost daily. Three teams, Belle Plaine, Cold Creek and Eastshore, are tied for second place, only one game off the lead and two more, Elnora and Marston, are just a scant three games back and tied for fifth place. Powerful Sugar Valley (45-28) is at the head of the class so far. Manager Gibson Bobkins always has his club near the top of the division. He has made the playoffs in three of his four years at the helm, missing out with a third-place finish in 2001. Bobkins copped the division crown in 2002. The Rattlers do most things well - 3.49 ERA (2nd), 64 home runs (4th-tied), 351 runs (3rd) and .978 FA (1st-tied). Sugar Valley's only shortcoming is a .261 BA, which is last in the division, nonetheless it is still very close to the league average. A red-hot April (18-7) and June (13-6) have kept the Rattlers among the leaders all season long. Sugar Valley's star performers have been All-Star Gregg Neal (11-2 2.67) and Hec Skurgan (8-1 2.57) on the hill. At bat the Rattlers have been paced by All-Star 1B Ron Armstrong (.299/12 HR/56 RBI/43 R), 3B Jorge Vargas (.328/12 HR/50 RBI), LF Bruno DiPirro (.310/5 HR/40 RBI/45 R/15 SB) and SS Flipper Bird (.281/6 HR/37 RBI/53 R/15 SB). Boo Ladrieux, skipper of the Belle Plaine Musketeers (44-27), never has finished higher than fourth, but he has opened some eyes this year with the best pitching in the division, ranking first with an impressive 3.31 ERA. His Muskies also have registered a .273 team batting average (3rd-tied) and are tied for the top spot with a .978 fielding percentage. Belle Plaine began slowly with a 13-12 mark in April, then took off and took 31 of 48 in the next two months. Landrieux told the press, "My Musketeers are not a flash-in-the-pan... we are not going to fade in the second half. We started getting better last year and have gotten better this season. We do have a legitimate shot at the playoffs." Belle Plaine's best have been pitchers Milo Anthony (7-5 2.80), Pistol Pete Westberry (10-3 3.26) and All-Star Kent Wells (2-2 1.59). Wells is the brilliant closer, who has saved 15 games and made 37 relief appearances. Leading the bat attack have been LF Juan Mendez (.338/4 HR/27 RBI/49 R), 1B Scott Theriot (.297/6 HR/53 RBI) and 3B Dominique Rousseau (.303/11 HR/48 RBI). The other two clubs tied for the runner-up spot were expected to finish far down in the standings. Cold Creek was forecast sixth in the preseason poll by BNN, while Eastshore was supposed to be in last place. But here we are in the middle of June and they are within a game of first place. The Cold Creek Catamounts (44-27) under T. Kelly Holmes have never come close to making the playoffs. Fourth place in 2001 was the top finish, the rest of the time they have been buried deep in the standings. But it has all come together this season. The Catamount bats are booming with 75 roundtrippers (2nd) and a torrid .281 team batting average (1st). Holmes' hurlers are doing it on the hill, too, with a sparkling 3.45 ERA (2nd). Cold Creek can catch the ball, too, with a .977 FA. No wonder they are right up with Sugar Valley and ahead of Elnora and Marston. They are playing with the big boys this year. The 'Cats started off slowly at 12-13, but have picked up speed in the last two months, racking up a fine 32-16 record. How would you like to have a starting line-up with everyone hitting at least .264 and peaking out at .355? All-Star LF Fernando Baldera (.355/17 HR/69) is having a colossal season and he is getting plenty of help from CF Trip Holmes (.264/13 HR/38 RBI/58 R/13 SB), 3B Kelsey Yates (.286/11 HR/38 RBI), 1B Nat Mayakovsky (.281/36 RBI/45 R), RF Emile Stosha (.291/8 HR/35 RBI/48 R) and C Whitey Cosgrove (.305/8 HR/29 RBI). Even Chris Hale (.287) has filled in admirably for star shortstop Russ Russell, who went out after 10 games hitting .395. Russell tore a back muscle and will be out for a few more games. Hale has really shored up the defense with an outstanding .980 fielding percentage. It may be tough for Russell to get his position back, despite his powerful bat. On the mound Cold Creek's Kyle Peterson (8-3 2.20), Tommy Weeks (7-3 2.75) and Payton Saunders (5-1 3.03) have more than gotten the job done. The Eastshore Elegants (44-29) are another Cinderella club in the RU East. After playing good ball for their first two seasons in the IPA, Killer Brewster's crew plunged to last place in 2004 and this year's outlook didn't appear to offer much hope. However, a robust offense led by three vets and a rookie, has revived the franchise. The Elegants are second with a .273 BA, tied with Belle Plaine, and leading in homers with 90. They also have outscored all of the opposition with 395 runs. Pitching-wise Brewster's staff holds it own with a 3.67 ERA. All-Star LF Darrel Alston (.309/20 HR/53 RBIj/47 R), RF Ron Dizon (.278/16 HR/47 RBI/49 R), 1B Vito Iacoboni (.255/11 HR/44 RBI), rookie CF Chris Krychevsky (.311/10 HR/43 RBI) and C Fran MacIntyre (.340/7/23 RBI) have provided the run production. Eastshore's starting rotation is composed of rookie Steve Ohlinger (7-2 3.70), Igor Jorgerson (9-7 2.95), Fred Duhon (9-7 3.45) and Stony Blackwell (10-6 4.10). In the bullpen Tommy Ladner (1-1 2.43) has stood out as the closer with 16 saves in 28 games. Like the other three contenders the Elegants are playing their best ball right now. They were only 12-13 the opening month, but have since blazed to a sensational 32-16 mark in May and June. The preseason favorite Elnora All-Stars and third choice Marston have some unexpected opposition, but Zoggy White's and Johnny Walters' teams are still right in the fight, just three games behind and tied for fifth place. Elnora (42-31) is a sound club all-around. The All-Stars have chalked up a .267 team batting average (5th) with a solid 3.50 ERA (4th). For most of the season they were near the top of the RU East standings, but have slumped to 7-12 in June. Starting pitching has been the drawback as two old reliables, Harry Dye (4-5 4.16) and Charlie Murphy (4-10 4.06), have not been effective. Elnora has been carried by All-Stars Lou Horn (10-6 3.19) and Matty Wilkerson (7-0 1.96). Closer Wilkerson has been superb with 9 saves and 29 appearances. Starter Taylor Gibbs (8-6 2.81) has pitched very well, too. White's top batters have been 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.300/7 HR/43 RBI), C Todd Simons (.292/5 HR/41 RBI), LF Quincy Peterson (.295/11 HR/35 RBI/53 R) and rookie 1B Andy Tucker (.325/9 HR/31 RBI/40 R). The Marston Nine (42-31) began the season with a 12-13 record in April and 15-14 in May, but caught fire in June with a strong 15-4 mark to get back in the race. The Nine's main attribute is their .275 batting average (2nd), energized by All-Star SS Don Nichols (.367/12 HR/47 RBI/62 R/23 SB), All-Star rookie 3B Jimmy Holman (.297/17 HR/56 RBI/42 R), CF Dennis Riley (.273/9 HR/51 RBI/42 R/10 SB) and rookie RF Helmut Graczyk (.286/12 HR/42 RBI/42 R). But it's another story on the mound - Marston is the worst in the RU East with a 4.06 ERA. Skipper Johnny Walters has gotten good work out of starters Mark Falzone (8-7 3.11) and Vinnie Gardner (10-4 3.53). Long reliever Hayden Bagshaw (7-1 2.15), who has been outstanding will move to the starting rotation to beef it up. Walters could use more help in the middle relief and closer spots. The usually-dependable closer Booger Burchfield (1-5 5.40) has been terrible this season. The seventh-place Beechwood Bobcats (36-37) are guided by Bret George and they are currently nine games back in the race. The Bobcats are a lackluster ball club this season with few standouts. Only pitchers Dek Jumonville (9-6 2.87) and rookie Ozzy Burton (9-6 3.70) have done well. At bat only 1B Ray Slater (.322/3 HR/44 RBI/42 R/17 SB) and RF Clifton Czabo (.307/8 HR/33 RBI/52 R/10 SB) have excelled. Beechwood has a .262 team batting average (7th) with little power. They have hit only 50 roundtrippers (8th). On the hill George's group has compiled a mediocre 3.83 ERA (6th). The only way Wynnamac (30-43) can go is up. The Sundowners are in their customary position near the bottom of the division, trailing first place Sugar Valley by 15 games at the All-Star break. Manager Matt Donnelly has a good hold on the cellar and the forecast is bleak. His club is batting .264 (6th) with 66 homers (4th) and a 4.04 team ERA (7th). Wynnamac's best talent this season has been hurler Rich Walters (9-5 3.03), 1B Nate Cockroft (.320/15 HR/55 RBI/41 R), All-Star LF Dalton Leeds (.342/10 HR/42 RBI/40 R) and 3B Joey Kingford (.291/15 HR/39 RBI/40 R).