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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 15, 2046
IPA BEST BANGERS NAMED
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the winners of the Golden Bat Awards for the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions. Rocky Rapids' Marty Featherstone copped the RU honor, while Josh Stevens of Red Bluff picked up the TU trophy. They were both first-time recipients.
Marty Featherstone, a 27-year-old second baseman, led the Snappers to Ruthlandian West division title. He played in 148 games, batted .303, stroked 39 homers, drove in 128 runs and scored 119 times. Featherstone is a .297 career hitter and three-time All-Star. He has played for Rocky Rapids for eight seasons. Featherstone topped the IPA with 119 runs and came in third with 128 RBIs.
Second in the RU Golden Bat balloting was Sugar Valley's talented center fielder Carl Ramsey, who paced them to another RU East title with a .297 BA, 41 roundtrippers, 129 RBIs and scored 113 runs. Ramsey was runner-up to the IPA RBI leader Jerry Culpepper of Bayview. Culpepper totaled 138.
Number three was Grand City's super first baseman Benny Hull, who excelled with 51 home runs, 125 RBIs and 94 runs, while playing in 148 games and batting .307 for the year. He was one of the few bright spots in Grand City's season. The Cybercats wound up sixth in the RU South. Hull hammered 51 out of the park, beaten only by Culpepper's 52 in the IPA rankings. He finished tied for fourth in RBIs.
The Tycobbian Golden Bat winner Josh Stevens sparked the Red Bluff Red Sox to a third straight TU North pennant. The 28-year-old first sacker has been with the club for four seasons now. He had his best year by far with a .329 BA, 49 HRs, 111 RBIs and scored 96 runs in 131 games. Stevens wound up fourth in the IPA in roundtrippers. Lifetime he is hitting only .273, but has averaged over 30 homers per season.
Turon's fine first baseman Nick Fisher ended up a close second to Stevens. Fisher batted .328 and had 35 homers, 108 RBIs and scored 100 runs to help the Typhoons to a fourth-place finish in the tough TU South, one of the strongest divisions in the IPA.
Stevens' Red Bluff teammate Fran Blanchard was the third choice in the voting. The third baseman collected 41 home runs, 100 RBIs and 92 runs in an impressive season, while participating in 148 contests.
Photos: Marty Featherstone/Josh Stevens
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