[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 21, 2038

COLFAX TOPS RU WEST
Down by seven games at mid-season to Ruthlandian West Division co-leaders Sligo and Fort Benton, the Colfax Blasters did an about-face and turned their season around... they soared past both of the them in August and September to win the division by seven games... for the fourth time in the last nine seasons Colfax has won the pennant... the Blasters also won in 2030, 2032 and 2036... this will be Colfax's 12th appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs, which they have won one time in 2010.

1st: Colfax
PRO CUP OUTLOOK: the Blasters could test Sugar Valley in the first round with its hot bats and quality pitchers, but may not have the long-ball power to knock off the Rattlers... otherwise Colfax is a very solid ball club at the plate, on the hill and on defense... Sugar Valley should not look past them... the Blasters were very good the second half of the season.
Top Pitchers: Bobby Porter (24-12/3.27), Norm Harbison (21-13/3.21), Randell Perkins (17-15/3.81)
Top Batters: All-Star LF Chet Penn (.321/22/98/87), 2B Kristian McEly (.277/26/99/82), C Mitch Fullerton (.288/17/71/86)

2nd tied: Fort Benton
Comments: the Defenders did not play well in the second half... overall they were a little better-than-average in offense, pitching and defense, but short on home-run power... for the ninth consecutive year Fort Benton was a first-division club... last year was the first time in its history to make the playoffs... the Defenders were the heavy favorite to win the RU West in the preseason polling... they have not ever won the Pro Cup... Fort Benton's mound corps was not as good this year as last.
Top Pitchers: Jordy Raeburn (25-9/3.13), Augie Marquis (18-17/3.36), closer Edd Farmer (8-7/3.12/19 saves)
Top Batters: 3B Mitch Hamilton (.320/8/69/104), RF Cayman Crittenden (.327/17/78/88), 1B Oscar Pendleton (.323/18/73/72), All-Star C Hunter Glenholmes (.272/7/48/81), LF Kelly Chamberlain (.248/21/87/68)

2nd tied: Sligo
Comments: the Rovers posted a losing mark the last three months of the year... the bats went into decline and the pitching suffered some, too... still they had a winning record for the fourth season in a row... Sligo won the IPA crown in 2021 and has made the postseason seven times... the last time they went to the playoffs was 2033... offensively and on the mound the Rovers are fair... they go deep well and also handle defense pretty well.
Top Pitchers: Tom Pierson (20-12/2.62), Randall Steele (17-15/3.91), Joey Hicks (15-12/4.05)
Top Batters: All-Star 1B Denny Simmons (.297/29/95/101), SS Neil Mitchell (.292/16/77/77), C Damon Klein (.280/13/69/60), LF Jim Lewellen (.260/27/65/66)

4th: Middlefield
Comments: second best in scoring primarily because of the home runs... the Roosters were the RU leader and fourth in the IPA... only three Tycobbian teams hit more: Bayview, Luxora and High Mesa... pitching was pathetic... defense was bad... but for the first time in four seasons the Roosters wound up in fourth place and the first division... Middlefield last won a pennant in 2026 and you have to go back to 2005 for the only Pro Cup trophy... seven times they have made the postseason.
Top Pitchers: reliever Ricky Farris (4-1/1.93/7 saves), reliever Ray Owens (5-7/2.29/18 saves)
Top Batters: All-Star Brad Alexander (.285/39/106/87), LF Alejandro Dominguez (.285/37/99/93), RF Norman Antonioni (.251/37/75/71), CF Tony Parsons (.302/26/79/87)

5th: Forest City
Comments: the 'Jacks only had one winning month this season... they were just a middle-of-the-road team in most respects, not very good on offense, on the hill or on defense... Forest City has had only one playoff appearance... that was in 2013 and the club hasn't ever captured an IPA championship.
Top Pitchers: Jeff Watford (17-14/3.35)
Top Batters: RF Junior Chandler (.341/10/56/62), 1B Pistol Pete Picard (.291/20/65/71), SS Hal Burton (.282/0/67/81), 3B Kelly Hardison (.289/18/70/79)

6th: Rocky Rapids
Comments: for the sixth straight season the Snappers have been in the second division of the RU West Division... for the fourth year in five they came in sixth in the standings... Rocky Rapids doesn't have a lot of hitting, pitching or defense... it's been almost 20 years since they won a pennant (2020)... four times they have participated in the postseason and won a Pro Cup in 2019.
Top Pitchers: Janek Zoldak (11-12/3.86), Randy Peters (15-20/4.03)
Top Batters: 1B Omar Velaquez (.337/23/82/90), CF Crusher Derringer (.292/24/86/72), 2B Dwight Dickey (.324/12/50/88), LF Buddy Hamilton (.254/18/74/65)

7th: Stoner
Comments: for the fourth year in a row the Stars found themselves in the second division with very few bright spots... poor hitting, terrible pitching and pretty good defense... Stoner has rarely gone to the postseason, only three times in its history with no Pro Cups... they copped the RU West Division in 2029.
Top Pitchers: closer Earl Marley (10-5/2.01/19 saves), Mel Glosterman (13-12/4.12)
Top Batters: All-Star Barry Swindell (.278/33/89/75), 1B Don Shoenweiss (.305/19/84/100), RF Amos Mars (.313/11/61/44), CF Don Cain (.294/10/75/64)

8th: Volusia
Comments: the Vigilantes were in the running until the All-Star Game, just 5 games off the pace... but it didn't last... the V's went a horrible 19-56 the rest of the year... they rank near the bottom in almost everything... Volusia doesn't do anything well... they have languished near the bottom the last three years with two eighth-place finishes and a sixth-place finish... the Vigilantes won the very first Pro Cup in 2001, but have been winless since... eight times they have made the playoffs... most recently in 2034 and 2035.
Top Pitchers: Drew Selby (11-23/3.80), Hector Vargas (12-21/4.07)
Top Batters: CF Cazzie Carvalho (.268/14/73/78), 2B Charlie Farmer (.276/13/58/93), 1B Kris Wilson (.308/15/67/63)

2038 RUTHLANDIAN WEST DIVISION FINAL STANDINGS AND TEAM STATISTICS