[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

ST. JOHN BREEZES TO RU SOUTH FLAG
The Ruthlandian South pennant chase was supposed to belong to defending champ Waleska again this season, although Belair Beach and Grand City were expected to be strong contenders... instead the division crown went to unheralded St. John, who was forecast to wind up in seventh place... this despite the fact that they have been near the top of the division the last five years, finishing no worse than third... however, the Crusaders rode strong hitting and good pitching to win in a breeze by 11 games over Waleska, 12 better than San Dimas and 13 in front of Belair Beach... St. John dominated the last two months with a marvelous 34-14 record to pull away from the pack... Crystal Lake came in fifth and 14 games back... in sixth was Claxton, 24 games off the pace... Grand City tumbled down to seventh, finishing 27 out... and Valka had the cellar to themselves, trailing by 29 games... five of the teams in the RU South wound up with winning records.

1st - St. John: won second title in six years... also won in 2033... the Crusaders have been in the postseason five times, but don't have a Pro Cup so far... last year they came in a distant second to Waleska... St. John is a powerful club with a high-powered offense, fine pitching and a pretty fair defense (.974 FA)... the Crusaders have a .276 BA (4th), rank second in scoring with 789 runs and posted a good 3.48 team ERA (5th)... St. John is a well-balanced team and should be a strong contender for the Pro Cup this year.
Top Performers: All-Star Lou Gianakos (21-13/3.07), Jeremy Kirk (19-15/3.64), Lou Page (16-6/3.39), All-Star Nicky Farrugia (.323/34/121/113), rookie sensation CF Art Kelley (.309/33/92/89), All-Star SS Byron Johannsen (.325/8/68/81), 3B Marty Blankenship (.252/22/90/71)

2nd - Waleska: 11 games behind St. John... offense let the Westerners down this year... have appeared in the playoffs 5 times, winning the pennant last year and their only Pro Cup in 2028... still has standout pitching with a 3.30 ERA (3rd)... offensive numbers are down with a .268 BA (12th)... better-than-average .974 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Terry Richards (21-11/2.47), Craig Nash (17-14/2.85), Tony Haskell (18-16/3.37), rookie C Rodney Hanson (.31/23/85/73), 2B Joey Harris (.277/13/63/101), LF Loco Dillinger (.277/19/75/65)

3rd - San Dimas: 12 games back in third place... moved up from 23 games behind and fourth last season... the Rancheros have never won the Pro Cup and have only made the postseason 3 times... last pennant was in 2031... hit .270 (9th) with 179 HRs (5th)... scored well with 784 runs (4th)... pitching is lackluster with a 3.96 ERA... and weak on defense (.969 FA)
Top Performers: Carroll Cain (24-9/3.06), Zack Dowdle (19-16/3.94), Toby White (17-16/3.45), RF Denny Hendrix (.313/24/80/81), CF Joe McGarrett (.272/34/97/91), 3B Leonard Purkey (.318/21/83/93), rookie C Hermie Goetz (.288/9/57/82)

4th - Belair Beach: 13 games behind... one of the top preseason picks, but the Sunbirds never challenged... however they did finish well in September with a 15-5 mark... ranked sixth in 2035, 29 games back... the Sunbirds have made the playoffs seven times, but have never been IPA champion... it's been over 20 years since they made the postseason (2016)... average hitting (.258 BA-18th), good power with 166 homers (8th), but the Sunbirds have trouble scoring (25th) with only 693 runs... mound corps is average with a 3.82 team ERA (14th)... good defensive club with a .974 FA
Top Performers: Stefan Zeeman (19-15/4.29), Kerstan Mak (15-15/3.93), Wally Hudson (12-10/3.95), All-Star LF Bobby Meusel (.306/21/91/93), 1B Jason Butler (.279/35/99/79), SS Tony Ptacek (.289/12/49/72)

5th - Crystal Lake: 14 GB... improved from 8th last year (33 GB)... the Crushers have 2 Pro Cups to their credit, 2020 and 2022... and have captured 7 pennants... they have a potent offense with a .279 BA (3rd) and average power (154 HR-13th tied)... the Crushers can score (768 runs-5th tied)... but are miserable on the mound with a 4.22 ERA (22nd)... defensively they are impressive with a .975 FA
Top Performers: Arnie Cason (20-12/3.71), Darragh Whelan (13-7/3.93), All-Star 3B Marty O'Reilly (.300/24/95/100), who was signed as a free agent from Hillsboro of the Tycobbian Union, RF Pat Dillon (.315/12/59/91), 1B Big Sam Takota (.300/26/103/89), C Stan Stanek (.298/20/81/92), LF Zach Collins (.314/15/85/66)

6th - Claxton: 27 GB... a drop from third last season (16 GB)... the Diamonds have been a playoff team 9 times... have won six pennants, but have no Pro Cups... last finished first in 2032... offense is good with 745 runs (10th) and 163 HRs (10th tied)... but pitching floundered badly this year with a whopping 4.55 team ERA (28th)... average in the field with a .973 FA
Top Performers: Dave Wojcik (13-7/3.76), All-Star 2B Gary Colton (.309/23/100/82), 1B Jojo DeLucca (.294/25/113/90), SS Stevie Wynn (.314/15/68/121), RF Foxy Fuchs (.272/23/88/97)

7th - Grand City: 27 GB... fifth last season 23 GB... was rated a pennant contender in the preseason... only 3 postseason appearances in the team's history... last division title was in 2030... never won a Pro Cup... just a mediocre club tied for 21st in scoring and ranking 20th in pitching with a poor 4.09 ERA... good power with 163 homers (9th tied)... just average with the gloves (.972 FA)
Top Performers: Shane Tollivar (15-11/2.78), SS Teddy Grantham (.304/22/87/83), LF Junior Baldini (.301/20/64/83), All-Star 1B Reed Gremillion (.313/23/77/70), C Iggy Van Dyck (.251/18/87/55)

8th - Valka: 29 GB... seventh in 2035... 32 games off the pace... the Blackhawks have been in the playoffs only 5 times with 3 pennants in all... no Pro Cups... 2017 was the last year they went to the postseason... average offense with .257 BA (21st), 715 runs (16th), 154 HRs (13th tied)... dismal pitching with a lofty 4.36 ERA (26th)... fairly good in the field with a .974 FA
Top Performers: Heino Nomm (18-11/3.81), All-Star 1B Bobby Scott (.309/29/85/105), RF Kenny Mitzusaka (.323/22/105/83), LF Gilberto Duarte (.256/26/82/83)