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Eugene Church · 06-18-2011, 11:51 PM

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 18, 2024

2024 Tycobbian East Final Recap

Tucks Barely Win Again In TU South
Down by 5 games to the Midway Wolves at mid-season, the defending IPA champion Tuckanarra Blue Jays turned it on in the second and came away with the Tycobbian East title for the second year in a row. The Blue Jays nudged by the feisty Wolves by a scant game. All the other teams were left in the dust. In third place and 9 games back were the Hillsboro Blazers. East Point and High Mesa tied for fourth and trailed by 23 games. Tuckanarra won the 2023 Pro Cup, topping Valmara in six games. The Blue Jays and the Vipers may meet again. Both of them will be favored to win their respective leagues and meet in the Pro Cup Finals.

Defending division champ Tuckanarra (96-58) proved its mettle with a great finish, winning more games than anyone in the Tycobbian Union... Valmara topped the IPA with 97 victories... Glynn Starr (19-12 2.56) carried the club in the first half, then his teammates Croc Wedgedale (20-9 2.81) and Quinn Starr (17-17 2.61) took over in the second half... closer Archie Desmond (6-4) was strong the entire season with 33 saves and a super 1.80 ERA... manager Lefty Stevens got improved hitting in the second part of the season, which was another important factor in overtaking and holding off Midway... 1B Lynn Starr went on a tear and raised his batting average from .303 at mid-year to a final .342 with 29 homers, 104 RBIs and 97 runs... RF Danny Redd (.274 BA/13 HR/55 RBI/117 R) didn't hit for average, but was a productive hitter... ditto for LF Jeff Johns (.258 BA/21 HR/87 RBI), SS Narra Gilyinju (.264 BA/21 HR/76 RBI/83 R) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.264 BA/18 HR/88 RBI/70 R).

It's tough to win 95 games and not win a division... that's what happened to Cochise Chandler and his Midway Wolves (95-59)... at the All-Star game it looked like they were getting ready to run away with the TU East... the Wolves seemingly had it all - great pitching and solid hitting... Midway had a terrific 2.88 team ERA (2nd), batted .260 (6th), hit 154 homers (6th) and scored 743 runs (7th-tied)... but it wasn't quite enough to whip talented Tuckanarra... Chandler had a wonderful rotation with the brilliant Bobby Dorignac (27-8 1.65), who led the IPA in wins, ERA and shutouts with 9... the other starters were Luka Abromowitz (20-9 3.01), Alberto Toledo (11-6 3.03) and Motego Wolf (16-19 3.07)... veteran closer Dom Vilaggio (4-3) had his typically-good season with 32 saves and a fine 2.19 ERA... the Wolves offense was quite capable, too, with 3B Rusty Graves (.315 BA/26 HR/79 RBI/97 R), SS Rob Gigler (.307 BA/24 HR/75 RBI/95 R) and RF Chitto Chandler (.280 BA/20 HR/84 RBI/70 R).

The third-place Hillsboro Blazers (87-67) got too far behind in the first half and they couldn't close the gap, even though they played as well as Tuckanarra and Midway in the second half... Rawhide Marshall's club trailed by 9 games at the All-Star break and finished that way... Hillsboro had three quality starters: Yank Yoland (20-12 3.27), Ben Garvik (22-10 3..47) and Tom Edgar (17-16 3.10)... plus a good closer in Gregg Hughes (6-5) with 26 saves and an impressive 2.17 ERA... the Blazer batting order packed some punch with 168 home runs (4th), led by RF Tommy O'Hara (.272 BA/31 HR/91 RBI/91 R), 1B Larry Guichard (.278 BA/20 HR/97 RBI/87 R), CF Biggy Washington (.279 BA/14 HR/57 RBI/105 R/65 SB), SS Jason DiMucci (.297 BA/12 HR/67 RBI/99 R/58 SB) and C Mike Payne (.324 BA/19 HR/74 RBI)... next year is looking good for Hillsboro.

The East Point Panthers (73-81) were one of the good stories in the IPA this year... for the first time since 2008 manager Robbie Brooks' ball club made the first division, tying for fourth in the standings with High Mesa... pitchers Andy Charles (21-9 2.97 ) and J. D. McDermott (3-1) led the way... closer McDermott saved 30 games and chalked up a superlative 2.03 ERA... Brooks' best at the plate were LF Kenko Aoki (.252 BA/28 HR/101 RBI/87 R), CF Ian Holmes (.288 BA/3 HR/45 RBI/107 R/39 SB) and 2B Nick Kohl (.285 BA/12 HR/84 RBI).

One of the most disappointing teams in the IPA this year was the High Mesa Cowboys (73-81)... they fought tooth-and-nail last year and lost out to Tuckanarra by a single game and were forecast to be one of the best teams again... 'twas not to be... skipper Frisky Franks' pitching fell apart, going from 3.58 last year to a dismal 4.52 this year... the Cowpokes lost 20-game winner Daniel Ferguson to Ginza for a big contract... John Rainer (13-17 4.03) was the most effective starter... the others had ERAs 4.50 and above... High Mesa still swung good bats with 191 roundtrippers (1st) and were third in runs with 756... one of the best hitter in IPA history, maybe the best, 1B Jack Elliott, had another fine season with a .343 BA, 49 HR, 110 RBI and 122 R... in 12 seasons Elliott has amassed 635 homers and hit for a .358 BA... RF Bill Andrews also pitched in with 42 home runs, 106 RBIs and 95 runs, while batting .285.

For the sixth consecutive year the South Fork Stallions (69-85) ended up in the second division... The Stallions were in sixth place, 27 games behind in the race... Lips Leon's team could hit and score, but couldn't get too many out... top hitters were LF Patric Giles (.294 BA/23 HR/86 RBI/101 R), CF Robby Michael (.324 BA/16 HR/73 RBI/88 R) and SS Teddy Nixon (.290 BA/18 HR/74 RBI/84 R)... Gary Price (20-13 3.46) was the only reliable pitcher, though 42-year-old Blackie Terranova (15-21 3.56) tossed 4 shutouts and stood out on many occasions.

After being an IPA dynasty for 17 years with 13 postseason appearances and 11 TU East crowns, the Ozarka Naturals (67-87) have descended into mediocrity... the Nats wound up in seventh place, 29 games in back of Tuckanarra, the second straight season they have been mired in the second division... Joe Mac Carney had good work from Howard Hutch (16-8 3.10), who led the IPA with 312 strikeouts in 288 innings... Hutch has led the IPA the last three years in strikeouts and four times in his 10-year career... vets Benny Ostermann (9-17 4.90) at age 28 and Eddie Roberts (5-12 4.89) at age 35 both had miserable seasons... youngster Stan Carey (8-2 2.69) racked up a fine 5-0 mark in 11 starts after being promoted to the starting rotation in August... only two batters had good seasons... SS James Couch led the TU with a .351 batting average... Couch had 19 homers, 80 RBIs and scored 105 times...it was his first batting title... 1B George Jenkins hit well, too, with a .306 mark, 16 home runs and 86 runs batted in... long-time star, 36-year-old 3B Andre Dumas, rode the bench most of the season... Dumas batted only .208 with 2 homers in 106 plate appearances.

The best thing the last-place Red Bluff Red Sox (66-88) did this year, was hit homers... Bucky Frizzell's club went deep 169 times (3rd), sparked by 3B James Mack (.293 BA/38 HR/112 RBI/94 R), LF Corbett Brooks (.290 BA/38 HR/108 RBI/98 R) and 2B Leander Burks (.263 BA/33 HR/85 RBI/75 R)... on the hill the team ERA was a pathetic 4.51 (31st)... closer Rod Westfall (3-5) did well with 50 appearances, 30 saves and a standout 1.98 ERA... Ramsey McCloud (10-14 3.87) was the only starter under a 4.00 ERA.

06-18-2011, 11:51 PM	#2588
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,876	*The Islandian Times* Wednesday, September 18, 2024 2024 Tycobbian East Final Recap Tucks Barely Win Again In TU South Down by 5 games to the Midway Wolves at mid-season, the defending IPA champion Tuckanarra Blue Jays turned it on in the second and came away with the Tycobbian East title for the second year in a row. The Blue Jays nudged by the feisty Wolves by a scant game. All the other teams were left in the dust. In third place and 9 games back were the Hillsboro Blazers. East Point and High Mesa tied for fourth and trailed by 23 games. Tuckanarra won the 2023 Pro Cup, topping Valmara in six games. The Blue Jays and the Vipers may meet again. Both of them will be favored to win their respective leagues and meet in the Pro Cup Finals. Defending division champ Tuckanarra (96-58) proved its mettle with a great finish, winning more games than anyone in the Tycobbian Union... Valmara topped the IPA with 97 victories... Glynn Starr (19-12 2.56) carried the club in the first half, then his teammates Croc Wedgedale (20-9 2.81) and Quinn Starr (17-17 2.61) took over in the second half... closer Archie Desmond (6-4) was strong the entire season with 33 saves and a super 1.80 ERA... manager Lefty Stevens got improved hitting in the second part of the season, which was another important factor in overtaking and holding off Midway... 1B Lynn Starr went on a tear and raised his batting average from .303 at mid-year to a final .342 with 29 homers, 104 RBIs and 97 runs... RF Danny Redd (.274 BA/13 HR/55 RBI/117 R) didn't hit for average, but was a productive hitter... ditto for LF Jeff Johns (.258 BA/21 HR/87 RBI), SS Narra Gilyinju (.264 BA/21 HR/76 RBI/83 R) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.264 BA/18 HR/88 RBI/70 R). It's tough to win 95 games and not win a division... that's what happened to Cochise Chandler and his Midway Wolves (95-59)... at the All-Star game it looked like they were getting ready to run away with the TU East... the Wolves seemingly had it all - great pitching and solid hitting... Midway had a terrific 2.88 team ERA (2nd), batted .260 (6th), hit 154 homers (6th) and scored 743 runs (7th-tied)... but it wasn't quite enough to whip talented Tuckanarra... Chandler had a wonderful rotation with the brilliant Bobby Dorignac (27-8 1.65), who led the IPA in wins, ERA and shutouts with 9... the other starters were Luka Abromowitz (20-9 3.01), Alberto Toledo (11-6 3.03) and Motego Wolf (16-19 3.07)... veteran closer Dom Vilaggio (4-3) had his typically-good season with 32 saves and a fine 2.19 ERA... the Wolves offense was quite capable, too, with 3B Rusty Graves (.315 BA/26 HR/79 RBI/97 R), SS Rob Gigler (.307 BA/24 HR/75 RBI/95 R) and RF Chitto Chandler (.280 BA/20 HR/84 RBI/70 R). The third-place Hillsboro Blazers (87-67) got too far behind in the first half and they couldn't close the gap, even though they played as well as Tuckanarra and Midway in the second half... Rawhide Marshall's club trailed by 9 games at the All-Star break and finished that way... Hillsboro had three quality starters: Yank Yoland (20-12 3.27), Ben Garvik (22-10 3..47) and Tom Edgar (17-16 3.10)... plus a good closer in Gregg Hughes (6-5) with 26 saves and an impressive 2.17 ERA... the Blazer batting order packed some punch with 168 home runs (4th), led by RF Tommy O'Hara (.272 BA/31 HR/91 RBI/91 R), 1B Larry Guichard (.278 BA/20 HR/97 RBI/87 R), CF Biggy Washington (.279 BA/14 HR/57 RBI/105 R/65 SB), SS Jason DiMucci (.297 BA/12 HR/67 RBI/99 R/58 SB) and C Mike Payne (.324 BA/19 HR/74 RBI)... next year is looking good for Hillsboro. The East Point Panthers (73-81) were one of the good stories in the IPA this year... for the first time since 2008 manager Robbie Brooks' ball club made the first division, tying for fourth in the standings with High Mesa... pitchers Andy Charles (21-9 2.97 ) and J. D. McDermott (3-1) led the way... closer McDermott saved 30 games and chalked up a superlative 2.03 ERA... Brooks' best at the plate were LF Kenko Aoki (.252 BA/28 HR/101 RBI/87 R), CF Ian Holmes (.288 BA/3 HR/45 RBI/107 R/39 SB) and 2B Nick Kohl (.285 BA/12 HR/84 RBI). One of the most disappointing teams in the IPA this year was the High Mesa Cowboys (73-81)... they fought tooth-and-nail last year and lost out to Tuckanarra by a single game and were forecast to be one of the best teams again... 'twas not to be... skipper Frisky Franks' pitching fell apart, going from 3.58 last year to a dismal 4.52 this year... the Cowpokes lost 20-game winner Daniel Ferguson to Ginza for a big contract... John Rainer (13-17 4.03) was the most effective starter... the others had ERAs 4.50 and above... High Mesa still swung good bats with 191 roundtrippers (1st) and were third in runs with 756... one of the best hitter in IPA history, maybe the best, 1B Jack Elliott, had another fine season with a .343 BA, 49 HR, 110 RBI and 122 R... in 12 seasons Elliott has amassed 635 homers and hit for a .358 BA... RF Bill Andrews also pitched in with 42 home runs, 106 RBIs and 95 runs, while batting .285. For the sixth consecutive year the South Fork Stallions (69-85) ended up in the second division... The Stallions were in sixth place, 27 games behind in the race... Lips Leon's team could hit and score, but couldn't get too many out... top hitters were LF Patric Giles (.294 BA/23 HR/86 RBI/101 R), CF Robby Michael (.324 BA/16 HR/73 RBI/88 R) and SS Teddy Nixon (.290 BA/18 HR/74 RBI/84 R)... Gary Price (20-13 3.46) was the only reliable pitcher, though 42-year-old Blackie Terranova (15-21 3.56) tossed 4 shutouts and stood out on many occasions. After being an IPA dynasty for 17 years with 13 postseason appearances and 11 TU East crowns, the Ozarka Naturals (67-87) have descended into mediocrity... the Nats wound up in seventh place, 29 games in back of Tuckanarra, the second straight season they have been mired in the second division... Joe Mac Carney had good work from Howard Hutch (16-8 3.10), who led the IPA with 312 strikeouts in 288 innings... Hutch has led the IPA the last three years in strikeouts and four times in his 10-year career... vets Benny Ostermann (9-17 4.90) at age 28 and Eddie Roberts (5-12 4.89) at age 35 both had miserable seasons... youngster Stan Carey (8-2 2.69) racked up a fine 5-0 mark in 11 starts after being promoted to the starting rotation in August... only two batters had good seasons... SS James Couch led the TU with a .351 batting average... Couch had 19 homers, 80 RBIs and scored 105 times...it was his first batting title... 1B George Jenkins hit well, too, with a .306 mark, 16 home runs and 86 runs batted in... long-time star, 36-year-old 3B Andre Dumas, rode the bench most of the season... Dumas batted only .208 with 2 homers in 106 plate appearances. The best thing the last-place Red Bluff Red Sox (66-88) did this year, was hit homers... Bucky Frizzell's club went deep 169 times (3rd), sparked by 3B James Mack (.293 BA/38 HR/112 RBI/94 R), LF Corbett Brooks (.290 BA/38 HR/108 RBI/98 R) and 2B Leander Burks (.263 BA/33 HR/85 RBI/75 R)... on the hill the team ERA was a pathetic 4.51 (31st)... closer Rod Westfall (3-5) did well with 50 appearances, 30 saves and a standout 1.98 ERA... Ramsey McCloud (10-14 3.87) was the only starter under a 4.00 ERA. Last edited by Eugene Church; 06-22-2011 at 06:51 PM.