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Eugene Church · 10-02-2009, 11:55 AM

The Islandian Times

Monday, August 22, 2005

Tycobbian Union West Division Standings

DC Redbirds Rule in TU West, BSC Bucs 2nd
The Denton City Redbirds are soaring like eagles in the Tycobbian Union West with a six-game lead over Bay St. Clair. It's beginning to look like the playoff positions are settled as the third place Kenwood Wildcats are 10 games off the pace with only one month to go in the regular season. Arlon is fourth, trailing by 12 games. Rounding out the division, Preseason favorite Bayview is in fifth place, 15 games behind, Chicopee and Rolling Hills are tied for sixth, 16 games back and LaClaire is eighth and last, 26 games out.

Denton City (78-50), skillfully directed by Ford Whiteman, is the dominant team, ranking first in batting (.282 BA), homers (140), runs (675) and pitching (3.53 ERA). Defensively the Redbirds are third with a .976 fielding percentage.

On the mound, Gino Carmazzo (21-5 2.95) and Daniel Fitzmorris (19-8 2.98) are one of the best 1-2 punches in the IPA. Whiteman also has a strong third starter in Hank Taylor (8-3 2.97), who stepped into the number four slot in the rotation about two months ago. The Redbirds also have a dependable closer in Bubba Lear (5-6 3.20) with 20 saves and 60 relief appearances.

Strong bats also abound in Denton City, headed by RF Lavon Gooch (.333/28 HR/91 RBI/87 R/21 SB), LF Dayton Walker (.363/13 HR/75 RBI/60 R), CF Paul Coniglio (.300/8 HR/98 RBI/88 R/16 SB), 3B Jay Petit (.290/23 HR/82 RBI/82 R/10 SB) and 1B Rod MacCormack (.288/20 HR/76 RBI/91 R/21 SB).

It's been a good year for Guy Rondre and his second place Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (72-56), who have rebounded after two sorry seasons the last two years. Rondre's rotation has been steady and consistent, led by Denny Coulon (15-13 2.75), Lloyd Weber (10-4 3.83), Duncan McFalls (1407 4.05) and Duke DeVree (12-9 4.14). Another huge plus is the Bucs bullpen ace, Norm Gross (6-4 2.43) with 52 game appearances and 22 saves. Overall the team ERA is 3.83, third-best in the TU West.

Bay St. Clair needs more offense to compete with Denton City. The Buccaneers are hitting .266 (4th), but have only 94 roundtrippers (7th) and 559 runs (6th). Rondre's best batters are rookie 1B Gerry Fields (.277/27 HR/79 RBI/71 R) and vet 3B Ed Albrecht (.290/15 HR/69 RBI/64 R). It's doubtful Bay St. Clair can catch Denton City, but the Bucs should be able to stave off third place Kenwood and garner a spot in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs.

After two long years in the cellar, the Kenwood Wildcats (68-60) clawed their way to respectability and bolted up to third place and are even challenging for a postseason berth under Aaron Hankins. They were picked to finish last again in the BNN preseason poll.

However, good pitching has done wonders in Kenwood. Hankins' hurlers have chalked up an impressive 3.81 team ERA (2nd), much improved over the 4.79 and 4.62 ERAs of the last two years. Johnny McBee (17-8 3.11) anchors the staff with some good help from Kris Angelico (11-7 3.61), Pedro Acosta (11-9 3.47) and Antonio Garafalo (12-9 4.21).

Like Bay St. Clair, the Wildcats could use a few more good bats. They carry a .259 BA (6th) and have hit only 101 home runs (6th), but have surprisingly produced 647 runs (3rd). Hankins biggest contributors are RF Aydan Winthrop (.265/29 HR/94 RBI/82 R), rookie 1B Russ Honor (.242/24 HR/91 RBI/81 R) and rookie phenom Dayton Walker (.361/2 HR/40 RBI/62 R/11 SB). The 22-year-old right fielder is the third-leading hitter in the Tycobbian Union.

The fourth place Arlon Champions (66-62) have a lot in common with Kenwood. They both suffer offensively (.255 BA-7th) and get by on decent pitching (4.02 ERA-6th). However, the Champs have much more firepower than the Wildcats. Arlon has gone deep 140 times and are tied with powerful Denton City for first place in that category. Manager Gary Louis has four players with 20 or more homers. Topping the team are LF Matt Merrill (.285/24 HR/92 RBI/75 R/10 SB), CF Steve Barnett (.319/22 HR/86 RBI/84 R/15 SB), 1B Jay Dunbar (.259/23 HR/86 RBI/75 R) and rookie LF Rocco Belasario (.301/25 HR/68 RBI/98 R/40 SB).

Arlon has two quality starters in Connie Gavagan (14-8 3.50) and rookie Andre Masson (11-7 3.50). Louis also has a strong and dependable veteran, Kurt DeHaan (11-14 3.57), who can at times get the job done, too.

One of the biggest disappointments this season in the IPA has been the performance of the Bayview Vikings (63-65). They were heavy favorites to claim their third straight TU West title - but it didn't happen. Instead Walter Johanssen's Vikings are wallowing in fifth place, 15 games off the pace. The Viking pitching staff has totally jumped ship, skyrocketing this year to a lofty 4.68 ERA (8th) up from a respectable 3.69 last season. Bayview's best pitchers this season have been Frank Wells (13-13 3.87), Georgie Fambeau (15-9 4.41) and Josh Glover (6-7 3.38). Glover is the closer, who has saved 18 games and made 61 appearances.

The Bayview batters can still tag the ball, but not enough to overcome the pitching handicap. The Viks have a standout .278 batting average (2nd), have walloped 132 homers (3rd) and scored 656 times (2nd). Johanssen's top hitters are 2B Alan Hansen (.361/3 HR/59 RBI/100 R/36 SB), CF Wayne Latham (.345/23 HR/78 RBI/87 R/19 SB), Phil Kanaan (.288/15 HR/79 RBI/74 R/21 SB), C Hank Bethel (.282/18 HR/65 RBI/58 R) and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.265/16 HR/70 RBI/71 R/13 SB).

The Chicopee Braves (62-66), skippered by Harry Fleetfoot, are resting in sixth place, 16 games back. The Braves are a run-of-the-mill ball club with mediocre hitting (.261 BA-5th), fair pitching (3.87 ERA-4th) and the best defense (.980 FA-1st). Fleetfoot's top hitters are SS Karl Uhl (.276/23 HR/78 RBI/15 SB), 1B Big Charlie Hansa (.283/22 HR/67 RBI) and 3B Wild Deer Etchimin (.295/14 HR/73 RBI). Not too many top guns there. As far as pitching Wayne Blackwell, a 26-year-old left-hander, has been truly amazing this year. Blackwell is 17-2 with a microscopic 2.12 ERA. As far as other quality pitchers Fleetfoot has none.

It is crowded in sixth place in the TU West - the Rolling Hills Reds (62-66) are there, too. Former pitching great Matty Christianson is the head honcho for the Reds and the club has made the playoffs in two of his three seasons in the IPA. Rolling Hills has always prospered with good pitching, but not this year. Christianson's staff has let him down with a jolt, going from a 3.31 ERA to 3.99 (5th). Rolling Hills has only two solid hurlers, but Roger Davidson (14-16 3.28) and Peter Brenneman (11-9 3.38) are effective. Christianson recently promoted Gerry McFarland (5-2 3.04) and Stephen Faccaro (6-2 3.66) to starting roles and it has worked out well in the short term.

As far as offense, the Reds are hitting .268 (3rd) with 106 home runs (5th) and have scored 603 runs (5th). RF Theron Latigo (.263/20 HR/72 RBI) and LF Willie Mays Nixon (.255/21 HR/65 RBI) supply the power, while 1B Eddy Dowler (.301/11 HR/73 RBI) hits for average. Christianson has also gotten good performances out of his new CF Bob Havilland (.332/13 HR/49 RBI/45 R) and C Ned Channing (.321/7 HR/58 RBI).

Another bitter disappointment has been the LaClaire Lynx (52-76), who were forecast to finish third this season in the preseason poll. Instead manager Rip Calkin finds his club deep in the basement and headed nowhere. The Lynx also suffered a catastrophic drop in pitching from 2004. Last year the team compiled an excellent 3.16 ERA. This year it spiraled up to a 4.11 ERA (7th). Last year's aces, Jim Melanakos (10-17 4.26) and Munoto Kishata (10-13 4.26) have tanked this season. In 2004 Melanakos won 23 games and Kishata 18 games.

LaClaire is just about last in everything - .251 BA (8th), 93 homers (8th) and only 518 runs (8th). Calkin has only two consistent hitters in rookie LF Zeppy Deshotel (.301/23 HR/91 RBI/15 SB) and his veteran CF Lucky Collins (.302/12 HR/65 RBI/80 R/16 SB).

When the season plays out in several weeks, first place Denton City and runner-up Bay St. Clair should finish in that order and and represent the Tycobbian West in the Pro Cup playoffs. Kenwood and Arlon should hang on to third and fourth place respectively.

10-02-2009, 11:55 AM	#1228
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,956	The Islandian Times Monday, August 22, 2005 Tycobbian Union West Division Standings DC Redbirds Rule in TU West, BSC Bucs 2nd The Denton City Redbirds are soaring like eagles in the Tycobbian Union West with a six-game lead over Bay St. Clair. It's beginning to look like the playoff positions are settled as the third place Kenwood Wildcats are 10 games off the pace with only one month to go in the regular season. Arlon is fourth, trailing by 12 games. Rounding out the division, Preseason favorite Bayview is in fifth place, 15 games behind, Chicopee and Rolling Hills are tied for sixth, 16 games back and LaClaire is eighth and last, 26 games out. Denton City (78-50), skillfully directed by Ford Whiteman, is the dominant team, ranking first in batting (.282 BA), homers (140), runs (675) and pitching (3.53 ERA). Defensively the Redbirds are third with a .976 fielding percentage. On the mound, Gino Carmazzo (21-5 2.95) and Daniel Fitzmorris (19-8 2.98) are one of the best 1-2 punches in the IPA. Whiteman also has a strong third starter in Hank Taylor (8-3 2.97), who stepped into the number four slot in the rotation about two months ago. The Redbirds also have a dependable closer in Bubba Lear (5-6 3.20) with 20 saves and 60 relief appearances. Strong bats also abound in Denton City, headed by RF Lavon Gooch (.333/28 HR/91 RBI/87 R/21 SB), LF Dayton Walker (.363/13 HR/75 RBI/60 R), CF Paul Coniglio (.300/8 HR/98 RBI/88 R/16 SB), 3B Jay Petit (.290/23 HR/82 RBI/82 R/10 SB) and 1B Rod MacCormack (.288/20 HR/76 RBI/91 R/21 SB). It's been a good year for Guy Rondre and his second place Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (72-56), who have rebounded after two sorry seasons the last two years. Rondre's rotation has been steady and consistent, led by Denny Coulon (15-13 2.75), Lloyd Weber (10-4 3.83), Duncan McFalls (1407 4.05) and Duke DeVree (12-9 4.14). Another huge plus is the Bucs bullpen ace, Norm Gross (6-4 2.43) with 52 game appearances and 22 saves. Overall the team ERA is 3.83, third-best in the TU West. Bay St. Clair needs more offense to compete with Denton City. The Buccaneers are hitting .266 (4th), but have only 94 roundtrippers (7th) and 559 runs (6th). Rondre's best batters are rookie 1B Gerry Fields (.277/27 HR/79 RBI/71 R) and vet 3B Ed Albrecht (.290/15 HR/69 RBI/64 R). It's doubtful Bay St. Clair can catch Denton City, but the Bucs should be able to stave off third place Kenwood and garner a spot in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs. After two long years in the cellar, the Kenwood Wildcats (68-60) clawed their way to respectability and bolted up to third place and are even challenging for a postseason berth under Aaron Hankins. They were picked to finish last again in the BNN preseason poll. However, good pitching has done wonders in Kenwood. Hankins' hurlers have chalked up an impressive 3.81 team ERA (2nd), much improved over the 4.79 and 4.62 ERAs of the last two years. Johnny McBee (17-8 3.11) anchors the staff with some good help from Kris Angelico (11-7 3.61), Pedro Acosta (11-9 3.47) and Antonio Garafalo (12-9 4.21). Like Bay St. Clair, the Wildcats could use a few more good bats. They carry a .259 BA (6th) and have hit only 101 home runs (6th), but have surprisingly produced 647 runs (3rd). Hankins biggest contributors are RF Aydan Winthrop (.265/29 HR/94 RBI/82 R), rookie 1B Russ Honor (.242/24 HR/91 RBI/81 R) and rookie phenom Dayton Walker (.361/2 HR/40 RBI/62 R/11 SB). The 22-year-old right fielder is the third-leading hitter in the Tycobbian Union. The fourth place Arlon Champions (66-62) have a lot in common with Kenwood. They both suffer offensively (.255 BA-7th) and get by on decent pitching (4.02 ERA-6th). However, the Champs have much more firepower than the Wildcats. Arlon has gone deep 140 times and are tied with powerful Denton City for first place in that category. Manager Gary Louis has four players with 20 or more homers. Topping the team are LF Matt Merrill (.285/24 HR/92 RBI/75 R/10 SB), CF Steve Barnett (.319/22 HR/86 RBI/84 R/15 SB), 1B Jay Dunbar (.259/23 HR/86 RBI/75 R) and rookie LF Rocco Belasario (.301/25 HR/68 RBI/98 R/40 SB). Arlon has two quality starters in Connie Gavagan (14-8 3.50) and rookie Andre Masson (11-7 3.50). Louis also has a strong and dependable veteran, Kurt DeHaan (11-14 3.57), who can at times get the job done, too. One of the biggest disappointments this season in the IPA has been the performance of the Bayview Vikings (63-65). They were heavy favorites to claim their third straight TU West title - but it didn't happen. Instead Walter Johanssen's Vikings are wallowing in fifth place, 15 games off the pace. The Viking pitching staff has totally jumped ship, skyrocketing this year to a lofty 4.68 ERA (8th) up from a respectable 3.69 last season. Bayview's best pitchers this season have been Frank Wells (13-13 3.87), Georgie Fambeau (15-9 4.41) and Josh Glover (6-7 3.38). Glover is the closer, who has saved 18 games and made 61 appearances. The Bayview batters can still tag the ball, but not enough to overcome the pitching handicap. The Viks have a standout .278 batting average (2nd), have walloped 132 homers (3rd) and scored 656 times (2nd). Johanssen's top hitters are 2B Alan Hansen (.361/3 HR/59 RBI/100 R/36 SB), CF Wayne Latham (.345/23 HR/78 RBI/87 R/19 SB), Phil Kanaan (.288/15 HR/79 RBI/74 R/21 SB), C Hank Bethel (.282/18 HR/65 RBI/58 R) and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.265/16 HR/70 RBI/71 R/13 SB). The Chicopee Braves (62-66), skippered by Harry Fleetfoot, are resting in sixth place, 16 games back. The Braves are a run-of-the-mill ball club with mediocre hitting (.261 BA-5th), fair pitching (3.87 ERA-4th) and the best defense (.980 FA-1st). Fleetfoot's top hitters are SS Karl Uhl (.276/23 HR/78 RBI/15 SB), 1B Big Charlie Hansa (.283/22 HR/67 RBI) and 3B Wild Deer Etchimin (.295/14 HR/73 RBI). Not too many top guns there. As far as pitching Wayne Blackwell, a 26-year-old left-hander, has been truly amazing this year. Blackwell is 17-2 with a microscopic 2.12 ERA. As far as other quality pitchers Fleetfoot has none. It is crowded in sixth place in the TU West - the Rolling Hills Reds (62-66) are there, too. Former pitching great Matty Christianson is the head honcho for the Reds and the club has made the playoffs in two of his three seasons in the IPA. Rolling Hills has always prospered with good pitching, but not this year. Christianson's staff has let him down with a jolt, going from a 3.31 ERA to 3.99 (5th). Rolling Hills has only two solid hurlers, but Roger Davidson (14-16 3.28) and Peter Brenneman (11-9 3.38) are effective. Christianson recently promoted Gerry McFarland (5-2 3.04) and Stephen Faccaro (6-2 3.66) to starting roles and it has worked out well in the short term. As far as offense, the Reds are hitting .268 (3rd) with 106 home runs (5th) and have scored 603 runs (5th). RF Theron Latigo (.263/20 HR/72 RBI) and LF Willie Mays Nixon (.255/21 HR/65 RBI) supply the power, while 1B Eddy Dowler (.301/11 HR/73 RBI) hits for average. Christianson has also gotten good performances out of his new CF Bob Havilland (.332/13 HR/49 RBI/45 R) and C Ned Channing (.321/7 HR/58 RBI). Another bitter disappointment has been the LaClaire Lynx (52-76), who were forecast to finish third this season in the preseason poll. Instead manager Rip Calkin finds his club deep in the basement and headed nowhere. The Lynx also suffered a catastrophic drop in pitching from 2004. Last year the team compiled an excellent 3.16 ERA. This year it spiraled up to a 4.11 ERA (7th). Last year's aces, Jim Melanakos (10-17 4.26) and Munoto Kishata (10-13 4.26) have tanked this season. In 2004 Melanakos won 23 games and Kishata 18 games. LaClaire is just about last in everything - .251 BA (8th), 93 homers (8th) and only 518 runs (8th). Calkin has only two consistent hitters in rookie LF Zeppy Deshotel (.301/23 HR/91 RBI/15 SB) and his veteran CF Lucky Collins (.302/12 HR/65 RBI/80 R/16 SB). When the season plays out in several weeks, first place Denton City and runner-up Bay St. Clair should finish in that order and and represent the Tycobbian West in the Pro Cup playoffs. Kenwood and Arlon should hang on to third and fourth place respectively.