[Eugene Church]

Yesterday in the IPA

The Islandian Times
Sunday, April 4, 2027

IPA Announces First-Year HOF Inductees
After 26 great years of play the Islandian Baseball Writers Association announced the first 11 players to be enshrined into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall-of-Fame. The historic first class includes pitchers Cody Burg, Mila Mohoski, Titus Bristow and Ilya Szabo and position players Phil Gravelli, Jet Kazmarek, Mike Luzzatti, Rocco Belasario, Hal Stevenson, Don Nichols and Quincy Peterson. The new Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame will be housed in the birthplace of Islandian baseball, Marston.

Burg In IPA HOF
The IBWA has put the crowning touch on Cody Burg's outstanding baseball career. They selected the great mound superstar for the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame today. He modestly gave credit to "better than average pitching skills and lots of three-run homers" for making it possible for him to move up into the legendary class of baseball players -- but the sportswriters, his teammates and peers knew differently.

In reality Burg was a craftsman, an artist. He was a perfectionist. He painted a ballgame stroke by stroke and when he got through pitching a game, it was a masterpiece. Burg sparked the Cape Coral Hurricanes to 4 pennants and 7 playoff appearances in his 21-year career (2001-2021). The talented right-hander is the all-time IPA leader in victories and strikeouts. He won the Tycobbian Union MVP in 2014 and 3 Golden Arm Awards (2004, 2005, 2014), plus he was an 8-time All-Star.

By the time he retired at age 39, Burg fashioned an impressive record of 369-264, had an ERA of 2.79, struck out 5250 batters and held opposing teams to a .227 batting average. Burg made 787 mound appearances and worked 5880 innings in his career. Burg was even more brilliant in the playoffs with a 9-2 record and a 1.54 ERA in 15 starts.

Gravelli Enters Hall Of Fame
Phil Gravelli, the great first baseman and consummate professional, was inducted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame today. He played for 25 years (2001-2025) with Belair Beach and Crystal Lake, was a 12-time All-Star, twice a Golden Glove winner and the Ruthlandian Union MVP and RU Golden Bat recipient in 2007. Gravelli led his teams to 2 Pro Cups, 5 pennants and 7 playoffs. Crystal Lake won the IPA Pro Cup in 2020 and 2022. In addition, he holds 4 all-time IPA records. At the induction ceremony, he grew misty-eyed as he recalled the highlights of his playing career: his first base hit, his first home run, and -- humorously -- the first time he was thrown out at home plate. Gravelli says he barged through his third base coach's stop sign. As he returned to the dugout, his manager simply glared at him. "His eyes just burned a hole right through me. If looks could kill, I wouldn't be here today," he chuckled. More often than not, Gravelli pleased his managers and coaches during his superb career.

His all-time numbers show Gravelli as the IPA leader in games, hits, homers, and RBIs. He compiled a .315 batting average and collected 4260 hits, 726 home runs and 2493 RBIs. In all, he played in 3628 games. In 65 postseason games Gravelli was even more productive with a .340 batting average, 7 homers and 44 runs batted in. Gravelli retired from baseball at the age of 42.

Szabo Newest Hall-Of-Famer
Today was a historic day that Ilya Szabo will never forget. The superb pitcher was enshrined into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame alongside the great baseball immortals of the past. He was the third player inducted. Szabo is ranked seventh in all-time wins in IPA history with 327. He played 20 years (2002-2021) for Colfax and paced the Blasters to the 2010 Pro Cup, 7 division crowns and 8 postseason appearances. Colfax set an IPA record for most wins in a season in 2010 with a remarkable 107-47 record. That year Szabo topped the IPA with a magnificent 27-4 mark and a ridiculously low 1.79 ERA. Szabo retired in 2021, still a quality pitcher. He went 18-17 with a 3.76 ERA for a fifth place club that finished under the .500 mark. Szabo twice was selected the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player in 2010 and 2014. Four times in his career Szabo won the prestigious RU Golden Arm Award, in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015. He was also named to the RU All-Star squad 9 times.

Szabo was introduced by his former manager, Clem Rogers, who said, "He was the best I have seen in my lifetime. Ilya was a fabulous pitcher. The key to his success was that he threw the ball as far from the bat and as close to the plate as possible."

The talented pitcher retired from baseball at 42, but not before he amassed 327 victories. In his illustrious career, Ilya Szabo was 327-210 with a 2.57 ERA. He made 765 mound appearances and struck out 3162 in 5261 innings with an amazing 2.54 career ERA, third best in IPA history after Southport's Bob Montgomery, who posted a .254 ERA and Luxora's Tiago Torres with a 2.55 ERA. He was ranked ninth in strikeouts and number two in shutouts with 53. Only fellow Hall-of Famer Titus Bristow of Tuckanarra had more with 60 shutouts. Szabo was also very effective in the Pro Cup playoffs with a standout 14-8 mark in 25 games with a 2.44 ERA. He is second to Denton City's Hall-of-Famer Mila Mohoski for most playoff victories. Mohoski is the leader with a 16-11 record in 31 starts and a 3.07 ERA.

Szabo brought down the house with his closing remarks: "This is really a sad day for me. I've never had a job. I've always played baseball. I guess I'll have to go to work now."

Luzzatti Gets Call From Hall
Mike Luzzatti of the Claxton Diamonds played baseball a long time and he played it well from 2006 to 2025. Then at the age of 41, he called it a career. In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, Luzzatti has been voted into the IPA Hall of Fame.

"There is so much to love about this game," the newest honoree said during his induction speech at the Islandian Pro Alliance Baseball Hall of Fame in Marston. "I couldn't imagine anything greater than my first major league game. Then I hit my first home run. Then the other landmarks came. But nothing tops today... to think that I made it to the Hall of Fame."

The legendary first baseman put up some impressive numbers and is sixth on the IPA all-time home run list. Luzzatti played in 2614 games, compiled a .316 batting average, hit 562 home runs, drove in 1698 runs and scored 1670 times during his career. Luzzatti performed quite well in the postseason with a .327 BA, 7 home runs and 27 RBIs, while playing in 40 games.

Mohoski Takes Place Among IPA Greats
The latest member of the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame is Mila Mohoski (2002-2021), who excelled for 20 years with the Red Bluff Red Sox and Denton City Redbirds, registering 353 wins, second best in IPA history. Only HOF-er Cory Burg with 369 victories has won more games. However, Mohoski has won the most postseason games with 16 victories.

Mohoski starred for the Red Sox for 5 years, leading them to the playoffs three times and one division title. He was also a vital force in the 2004 Pro Cup championship year. Mohoski was the Pro Cup Most Valuable Player that year with a 4-1 record and a 1.80 ERA. The stylish southpaw won the deciding game of the series. Mohoski was the 2004 Golden Arm winner, too. In addition he was acclaimed the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player for the 2004 regular season. Twice in his career Mohoski was an All-Star.

Mohoski spent the rest of his career with Denton City, playing 16 years for the Redbirds. They won 5 division pennants during his stay. Overall Mohoski was 353-267 with a 3.19 ERA. In the playoffs he was 16-11 in 31 starts and compiled a 3.07 ERA.

Nichols Joins HOF Immortals
The Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame just added a fine shortstop and hitter to its number. The newest member of baseball's most elite group is Don Nichols, who recently retired at the age of 43 in 2024. Nichols (2001-2024) played for 24 seasons, 7 with the Marston Nine and 17 for the Far Mountain Redhawks. His teams won 3 Gold Cups, made the postseason 5 times and copped 3 division crowns. Nichols was an 11-time All-Star, 2-time Golden Glover and in 2018 took the Ruthlandian Union MVP Award and the Golden Bat. In his career he was near the top in all-time IPA stats, ranking 6th in games (3253), 2nd in hits (3760), 7th in RBIs (1773), 3rd in runs (2164) and 7th in stolen bases (668).

"I always knew I was good enough to play, but the Hall of Fame was one of the few things I never even dreamed of," said Nichols at his induction ceremony. "For me to focus a lot on the individual, that's not the way I learned to play the game. Baseball is a team game. You win as a team, you lose as team. You also do so many things together, but it is not an 'I' thing."

During his illustrious career, Nichols had 386 home runs among his 3760 hits, while batting .310. He played in 3253 games, scored 2164 runs and knocked in 1773 runs.

Kazmarek Enters IPA Hall of Fame
The only batter in IPA history to hit .400 is Hall of Fame bound - outfielder Jet Kazmarek, the number two hitter in IPA history with a fantastic lifetime .350 average, has found a new home.

"He simply produced - game after game after game. That's what I loved about him." Those sentiments were expressed by Jet Kazmarek's manager J. Samuel Jackson when the gifted left fielder's Hall of Fame selection was inducted yesterday. Kazmarek played for Valmara in his first 6 seasons in the IPA and 10 years in Arroyo Grande. Alltogether his teams made the playoffs 5 times.

Kazmarek stood only 5 feet and 6 inches high, but he stood real tall in the batter's box, playing from 2001 to 2016. He won the RU Golden Bat Award in 2002 with a stunning .428 batting average and captured the RU Most Valuable Player trophy twice, in 2002 and 2003. 9 times Kazmarek won the league batting crown and was an 8-time All-Star. He also topped the league in thefts on 5 occasions, stealing 822 bases in his 16-year career with Valmara and Arroyo Grande. Only Arlon's Hall of Famer Rocco Belasario with 1023 finished ahead of him. Kazmarek's 215 three-baggers are the most in IPA history, leading the league 8 seasons.

The newest Hall of Famer assessed his career in these words: "I did my best to contribute to the team -- in the field, at the plate, in the dugout. I didn't care about personal numbers. I just went out there to win."

Kazmarek played in 2191 games with a .350 career batting average and 2746 hits. He also scored 1522 runs and drove in 1207 runs with 186 home runs. Kazmarek retired from baseball in 2016, when he was 41. He is now the manager of the Valmara Vipers. Since taking over from Jackson in 2017, Kazmarek has led the Vipers to 4 RU North pennants and to the Pro Cup title last season.

Tucks Bristow Enshrined In IPA Hall Of Fame
Titus Bristow has just become immortal -- the star pitcher has just been inducted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame. What a fabulous career he has had. Bristow's lifetime record shows a 342-258 won-lost mark, an ERA of 2.75 and 60 shutouts. In 741 game appearances he fanned 2041 batters in 5434 innings and held opposing hitters to a .256 average. The stubby, little 5 foot 6 inch right-hander wound up 4th in all-time IPA wins and first in shutouts. The 6-time All-Star led the Blue Jays to 6 postseason appearances and 2 division flags. Bristow played from 2002 to 2020 and was the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player and Golden Arm winner in 2006 with a superb 27-7 record and a 1.73 ERA.

His name will now be added to the list of legends at the Hall of Fame in Marston. Bristow was 38, when he retired from baseball. He closed out his career with a 22-14 record for a sixth place club. That's how good the diminutive junkballer was.

At the enshrinement ceremony Carlton "Lefty" Stevens, his Blue Jay manager, commented on what it was like to hit against the new Hall of Famer. "When you think it's a ball, it's a strike. When you swing at what you think is a strike, it's in the dirt. He was a remarkable pitcher.

Bristow was well-known for winning ballgames and for pitching inside.
"Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser."
Writers once asked him on Mother's Day, if he would brush back his mother.
He curtly replied, "Only if she was diggin' in."

Peterson Enshrined in HOF
The best of the best, that is an apt description of baseball superstar Quincy Peterson, who starred in the IPA from 2001 to 2021, performing mainly with LaGrange and Elnora. The talented outfielder was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame today at ceremonies in Marston. Peterson was honored 6 times as an All-Star and gathered in 4 Golden Glove Awards. The latest Hall-of-Famer participated in 5 Pro Cup playoffs in his career and was on 3 pennant winners.

Peterson retired at the age of 44 with a .294 career batting average. He mainly played left fielder, participated in 3087 games, rang up 3514 hits, 589 doubles, 565 home runs and batted in 1956 runs. Peterson was 5th in all-time hits, 4th in roundtrippers, 3rd in runs batted in, 9th in doubles and 10th in triples. Peterson was even tougher in the postseason, batting .343 with 13 homers, 38 RBIs and scoring 30 runs in only 41 games. However, he never got a Pro Cup ring.

"From the first time I saw him play, I knew he had the potential to be one of the best," Quincy Peterson's first manager Zoggy White said, "and the more I saw him play, the more certain I was that he would reach that potential."

White, along with Foxy Jimison, Peterson's longtime skipper at LaGrange were there at his enshrinement in the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame. It was a celebration of the career of one of the shining stars of his generation. His teammates loved him and opposing fans loved to hate him, but respect followed him everywhere, as evidenced by the large crowd at the ceremony.

The man of the moment was overcome with emotion when he finally took his turn at the podium to speak. "This is one of the greatest moments of my life and to share it with all of you here is... simply amazing. I would just like to thank my family and all my teammates for their support during my journey here. Individual honor was never my goal, winning was, but this is more than I could have ever dreamed."

Stevenson Now Hall of Famer
Sugar Valley's Hal Stevenson, a standout catcher throughout his Islandian Pro Alliance career, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Stevenson was gifted at the plate and with the mitt. He is number four on the IPA career homer list with 567. The Rattler superstar was a 12-time All-Star and hauled in 8 Golden Gloves from 2001 to 2024. He sparked the Rattlers to 8 division pennants and to the postseason 9 times. Stevenson played in one Pro Cup Final. Sugar Valley was beaten by the Red Bluff Red Sox in 2004. In 2013 Stevenson was honored with the Golden Bat Award. That year Stevenson topped the Ruthlandian Union with 49 home runs and 134 runs batted in, while batting at a .311 clip.

During the induction ceremony, he credited the coaches, who taught him to play the game and the teammates, who taught him to be a professional. However, the most important influence, Stevenson said, was his father. "Pops never gave up on me," he said, "no matter how often I felt like giving up on myself".

In his 2466-game career, Stevenson hit .287 with 2503 hits, 567 home runs, 1574 runs scored and 1758 RBIs. He wrapped up his career at the age of 40.