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Eugene Church · 07-15-2011, 10:27 PM

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 24, 2025

2025 Ruthlandian North Mid-Season Recap

Far Mountain, Ancona, Ranford Challenge Champs Valmara
It's a four-ring circus so far at the halfway point in the Ruthlandian North with the Far Mountain Redhawks on top by 2 games over second-place Ancona and 6 in front of Ranford. Defending division champs Valmara and Taranto are tied for the fourth spot in the standing, 7 games out. The Ranford Bulls are the big surprise. Last year they were cellar-dwellers, but not this year. The Redhawks, Vipers and Red Elephants were expected to be among the leaders this season.

It's another year of the pitchers in the IPA. Far Mountain (44-29) has an elite mound corps with the likes of starters All-Star Karl Franz (10-1 2.25), All-Star Jakob Wagner (8-3 2.29) and Jeff Cooper (8-6 2.27) and closer Hans Becker (1-4 2.45) with 15 saves.

The Ancona Red Elephants (42-31) are the top team in the RU with a .274 BA and in scoring, but are a little worse than average on the mound with a 3.67 ERA (21st)... All-Star RF Donnie Lewis (.327 BA/5 HR/36 RBI/51 R), 1B Alekos Kotas (.321 BA/11 HR/49 RBI/39 R) and All-Star 3B Todd Nasso (.275 BA/13 HR/48 RBI/46 R) topped the offense... rookie right-hander Hal Holmes (5-1 2.22) heads up the starting rotation... Kenny Nikas (2-1 1.45) is strong in the closer role with 10 saves.

Ranford (38-35) is led by a good staff with starters Angelo Coppolo (9-4 3.13), Sam Hart (9-6 3.11) and Jimmy Travis (7-6 2.24)... the Bulls hit better than the other contenders, paced by 2B Ed Ford (.356 BA/7 HR/26 RBI/25 R), rookie All-Star C Kyle Hunt (.350 BA/5 HR/36 RBI/32 R) and rookie 1B Elton Graff (.310 BA/5 HR/26 RBI/36 R)... Ranford is the best fielding club in the RU with a standout .979 FA.

Valmara (37-36), the flag winner the past two seasons, is suffering badly at the plate, but still has starters Clem Carmouche (7-4 2.52), Billy Ray (8-6 2.77) and Johnny Vasylenko (8-6 3.02) on the hill, along with a standout closer in All-Star Chris Phillips (4-2 2.03) with 14 saves.

The Taranto Tars (37-36), deadlocked with the Vipers, trailing by 6 games... the Tars are right on the heels of Ancona offensively with a .273 BA (2nd) and is number two in scoring runs... but Taranto ranks near the bottom with a 4.12 ERA (28th)... Tommaso Lazzorda's top bats are All-Star LF Nickie Tomasiewicz (.332 BA/10 HR/42 RBI/49 R) and All-Star 1B Denny Zaffino (.330 BA/17 HR/51 RBI/44 R)... Alfredo Barsotti (10-5 3.78) is the top hurler.

The Kilkenny Cats (34-39), which had a great season last year, winning 91 games, have tumbled to sixth this year because of a drop-off in pitching... last year Golden Arm and MVP winner Dave Whitaker (8-8 2.67) has slumped a bit this season... only rookie Kyle Ferguson (7-5 3.22) has been effective among the other starters... the Cats are 10 games off the pace at mid-year.

The LaGrange Sports (32-41) haven't had a winning season since 2014 and are in seventh place again this year, 12 games behind... the Sports have only one solid player in Gabe Thomas, who is 9-7 with a 3.06 ERA.

Last place Glasco (25-48) is just about last in everything... the Athletics are already 19 games out in the pennant race and they have only one outstanding player... All-Star 3B Eddie Darby is having a great season so far with a .361 BA, 5 HR, 43 RBI and 36 runs... Darby is second in the RU to San Dimas' first-year phenom All-Star 1B Lloyd Kelly, who had the best batting average in the IPA with a fantastic .413 mark.

RU North Outlook:
This may be the year of the Redhawks... Far Mountain may have what it takes to upend Valmara this season... manager Alex Groveland had four solid starters, while Jet Kazmarek only has three... neither club hits well... Ranford and skipper Rick Fargnoli may be in for the long haul with four capable starters and some heavy bats... the Ancona Red Elephants have the hitters, but suffer on the mound... Far Mountain will win a close battle with Valmara, with Ranford not far behind... Ancona will have to settle for fourth.

07-15-2011, 10:27 PM	#2626
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,875	*The Islandian Times* Tuesday, June 24, 2025 2025 Ruthlandian North Mid-Season Recap Far Mountain, Ancona, Ranford Challenge Champs Valmara It's a four-ring circus so far at the halfway point in the Ruthlandian North with the Far Mountain Redhawks on top by 2 games over second-place Ancona and 6 in front of Ranford. Defending division champs Valmara and Taranto are tied for the fourth spot in the standing, 7 games out. The Ranford Bulls are the big surprise. Last year they were cellar-dwellers, but not this year. The Redhawks, Vipers and Red Elephants were expected to be among the leaders this season. It's another year of the pitchers in the IPA. Far Mountain (44-29) has an elite mound corps with the likes of starters All-Star Karl Franz (10-1 2.25), All-Star Jakob Wagner (8-3 2.29) and Jeff Cooper (8-6 2.27) and closer Hans Becker (1-4 2.45) with 15 saves. The Ancona Red Elephants (42-31) are the top team in the RU with a .274 BA and in scoring, but are a little worse than average on the mound with a 3.67 ERA (21st)... All-Star RF Donnie Lewis (.327 BA/5 HR/36 RBI/51 R), 1B Alekos Kotas (.321 BA/11 HR/49 RBI/39 R) and All-Star 3B Todd Nasso (.275 BA/13 HR/48 RBI/46 R) topped the offense... rookie right-hander Hal Holmes (5-1 2.22) heads up the starting rotation... Kenny Nikas (2-1 1.45) is strong in the closer role with 10 saves. Ranford (38-35) is led by a good staff with starters Angelo Coppolo (9-4 3.13), Sam Hart (9-6 3.11) and Jimmy Travis (7-6 2.24)... the Bulls hit better than the other contenders, paced by 2B Ed Ford (.356 BA/7 HR/26 RBI/25 R), rookie All-Star C Kyle Hunt (.350 BA/5 HR/36 RBI/32 R) and rookie 1B Elton Graff (.310 BA/5 HR/26 RBI/36 R)... Ranford is the best fielding club in the RU with a standout .979 FA. Valmara (37-36), the flag winner the past two seasons, is suffering badly at the plate, but still has starters Clem Carmouche (7-4 2.52), Billy Ray (8-6 2.77) and Johnny Vasylenko (8-6 3.02) on the hill, along with a standout closer in All-Star Chris Phillips (4-2 2.03) with 14 saves. The Taranto Tars (37-36), deadlocked with the Vipers, trailing by 6 games... the Tars are right on the heels of Ancona offensively with a .273 BA (2nd) and is number two in scoring runs... but Taranto ranks near the bottom with a 4.12 ERA (28th)... Tommaso Lazzorda's top bats are All-Star LF Nickie Tomasiewicz (.332 BA/10 HR/42 RBI/49 R) and All-Star 1B Denny Zaffino (.330 BA/17 HR/51 RBI/44 R)... Alfredo Barsotti (10-5 3.78) is the top hurler. The Kilkenny Cats (34-39), which had a great season last year, winning 91 games, have tumbled to sixth this year because of a drop-off in pitching... last year Golden Arm and MVP winner Dave Whitaker (8-8 2.67) has slumped a bit this season... only rookie Kyle Ferguson (7-5 3.22) has been effective among the other starters... the Cats are 10 games off the pace at mid-year. The LaGrange Sports (32-41) haven't had a winning season since 2014 and are in seventh place again this year, 12 games behind... the Sports have only one solid player in Gabe Thomas, who is 9-7 with a 3.06 ERA. Last place Glasco (25-48) is just about last in everything... the Athletics are already 19 games out in the pennant race and they have only one outstanding player... All-Star 3B Eddie Darby is having a great season so far with a .361 BA, 5 HR, 43 RBI and 36 runs... Darby is second in the RU to San Dimas' first-year phenom All-Star 1B Lloyd Kelly, who had the best batting average in the IPA with a fantastic .413 mark. RU North Outlook: This may be the year of the Redhawks... Far Mountain may have what it takes to upend Valmara this season... manager Alex Groveland had four solid starters, while Jet Kazmarek only has three... neither club hits well... Ranford and skipper Rick Fargnoli may be in for the long haul with four capable starters and some heavy bats... the Ancona Red Elephants have the hitters, but suffer on the mound... Far Mountain will win a close battle with Valmara, with Ranford not far behind... Ancona will have to settle for fourth. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-16-2011 at 06:19 PM.