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Eugene Church · 09-29-2021, 06:30 PM

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Friday, March 29, 1956

ISLANDERS READY FOR NEW BASEBALL SEASON
The townfolks all across South Island are bustin' out in springtime splendor, getting ready for the second seasons of the South Island Supreme League and it's subsidiary, the South Island Secondary League... winter time is over and the green grass is coming to life once again... play begin this Sunday afternoon at six diamonds around South Island.

There is also new life in the Island baseball leagues... last year's Supreme League champion, the Jackson Jackalopes, are hoping to defend their title and repeat... but there are five other clubs with the same aspirations and hopes, including a new threat, the St. Pete Pelicans, the Secondary League champion that is now a part of the Supreme League.

Parity was rampant last year in the Supreme League and the addition of the Pelicans will likely make it more competitive than ever... the Supreme League picked up St. Pete (8-3), a powerhouse, and got rid of its weakest team, the Columbia Black Cats (2-8), who were demoted to the Secondary League.

SUPREME LEAGUE SOOTHSAYINGS, SWAYINGS AND SLICK SUPPOSITIONS

Jackson (7-3) pretty much stayed the same roster-wise... pitching won it for the Jackalopes last year... so the Jacks added to their staff with Scott Duplessis... he will be in the bullpen in case Denny McCain (4-2/2.55 ERA) needs help... Donnelle Crochet (3-1/4.00 ERA/8 games) will also be back in the bullpen... he was a lifesaver last year... Duplessis is a left-hander like McCain... the only lineup change will be in right field... David Woodson will start the season in hopes of adding much needed offense to the batting order... offense will still be led by first baseman J.B. Shoemaker (.378 BA/5 SB), second baseman Harper Lovejoy (.324 BA/7 SB) and center fielder Kenny Butler (.293 BA/8 SB)... Jackson really helped itself score runs last season... they stole 28 bases, far more than any other teams... it was a vital element in their successful pennant run... no pun intended... it might be tough for the Jackalopes to repeat... the rest of the clubs seemed to take care of more of their problems... Jackson may have stayed pat too much.

The Braxton Bruins (6-4) were the second-best club... they also had fairly good pitching like Jackson... that was the key to success in the league... all the clubs hit about the same... Jim Black (4-4/2.63 ERA), a quality lefty, is back again, but he has competition for the starting spot... newcomer Peter Willis will get some looks, too, should Black falter... no bullpen help last year was a killer for the Bruins... Black only completed 4 of his 10 starts... the top hitters are back, except for one... second baseman Phil Butler (.351 BA), a solid bat and good gloveman, will miss this season with a shoulder injury... returning are RF Brian Howe (.372 BA), 3B Dan Harding (.359 BA), SS Matt Swain (.355 BA) and C Andy Brown (.306 BA/4 HR)... Brown is a plus at bat, but a liability behind the plate... new roster addition and highly-touted slugger Chris Bowler will take over at first base and bat cleanup... he could be a great addition to the batting order... the newcomers could make Braxton a very vibrant club this year.

The Pelham Oaks (6-4) had their shot last year... mediocre pitching was their problem (4.43 ERA)... the Oaks have added two new hurlers, George Strait and Bobby Derringer to try and right the ship... Pelham can hit... two of the Supreme League top bats, first baseman Rudy Allemand (.433 BA) and second baseman Cliff Lemaire (.433 BA) are also back to lead the charge...left fielder Clarence Wells (.297 BA/2 HR) and center fielder Tony Ferrara (.293 BA/2 HR) are also back with some help from Gold Glove third sacker Ricky Keegan (.316 BA) ... the Oaks have added depth to their infield with solid backup Chad Worthington... he might sneak into the lineup, possibly at shortstop, where Bernie Rivet handles the glove well, but only hit for .208 BA.

The Delta Stars (5-5) were in the battle last year... lack of capable and consistent pitching did them in... Phil Salvaggio (5-3/4.37 ERA), Adam Evans (0-2/4.84 ERA) are back again as the main chunkers... they will certainly have to improve for the Stars to move up in the standings... Delta has added some solid bats to go with first basemen and Supreme League MVP Nick Hill (.436 BA/2 HR/13 RBI) and catcher Gene Frazier (.436 BA)... Chris Clayton is at second base and Neal Kilgore has been added to left field... Delta can compete at the plate, but without improved pitching, the Stars may be destined to fall in the Supreme League standings.

The Bar Harbor Acadians (4-6) were a lackluster club last season with subpar pitching (4.19 ERA) and fairly good hitting... this year they certainly have tried to address those weaknesses... Ike Flynn, a good-hitting catcher has been added for good-field, no hit Paul Harrison (.176 BA)... a well-experienced pitcher Jesse Dodge could really help the staff... last year's starter Claude Achord (3-3/3.36 ERA) couldn't go deep and had no credible relief... Joey Stallworth (6.00 ERA/8 games) and Danny Hillman (8.00/6 games) just didn't do the job... Dodge may solve that... he may even take over as the top starter... the 26-year-old Dodge starred at the high school level and college level... he was an all-stater in 1949 and all-Gulf States pitcher at Nicholls State in the early 50s... new center fielder Buddy Gallagher should help out a lot defensively and may add a little offense... so may first sacker Adam Harper, who will platoon against lefties and provide a good bat off the bench... jack-of-all-trades Claude Achord (.407 BA), second baseman Doyle Dunn (.355 BA) and first sacker Duke Poche (.303 BA) head up the batting order... the Acadians look like a much sounder club this year.

Also expected to make a big splash in the Supreme League is the latest addition, the promoted St. Pete Pelicans (8-3)... they edged out the Gull Lake Sailors (8-4) and the Grin Hill Smileys (7-4) in a hard-fought campaign in the South Island Secondary League last season... the Pels did it pretty much with firepower... they hammered 31 homers and scored almost 9 runs a game.. it's not saying much, but St. Pete possessed the best pitching, too, with a so-so 4.16 ERA... Marcel Jolissaint (6-1/4.54 ERA) benefited greatly from the massive run support... his relief, Frank Rossi (1-1/3.75 ERA/7 games) and Pat Hamilton (1-1/3.32 ERA/7 games), did a pretty good job from the bullpen... but it was the high-octane bats that won the pennant, sparked by first baseman and Secondary League MVP Mike Williams (.435 BA/8 HR/14 RBI/16 R), third baseman Neill Schexnaydre (.381 BA/4 HR/9 RBI/10 R), left fielder Bobby Hammond (.367 BA/6 HR/13 RBI/14 R), second baseman Eric Lynch (.298 BA/3 HR/15 RBI/13 R) and center fielder Grady Moore (.288 BA/3 HR/9 RBI/12 R)... this season the biggest plus for the Pelicans is 30-year-old right-hander Tony Tortorich... he could be some help on the mound and is contending with Jolissaint for the number-one spot in the rotation.... not that they need any help, the offense is pretty much the same... however, Gino Gagliano (.286 BA/2 HR/6 RBI/5 R/7 games), will take over for James McAndrews (.174 BA/1 HR/3 RBI/2 R/8 games) in right field... McAndrews struggled badly at the plate and also in the field... one would expect the Pelicans to fly high in the Supreme League, too.

EC'S PRESEASON PEEK-A-BOO PRECISE AND PERFECTED PREVIEW PICKS

1. ST. PETE PELICANS
2. BAR HARBOR ACADIANS
3. JACKSON JACKALOPES
4. BRAXTON BRUINS
5. PELHAM OAKS
6. DELTA STARS

09-29-2021, 06:30 PM	#178
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,944	Friday, March 29, 1956 ISLANDERS READY FOR NEW BASEBALL SEASON The townfolks all across South Island are bustin' out in springtime splendor, getting ready for the second seasons of the South Island Supreme League and it's subsidiary, the South Island Secondary League... winter time is over and the green grass is coming to life once again... play begin this Sunday afternoon at six diamonds around South Island. There is also new life in the Island baseball leagues... last year's Supreme League champion, the Jackson Jackalopes, are hoping to defend their title and repeat... but there are five other clubs with the same aspirations and hopes, including a new threat, the St. Pete Pelicans, the Secondary League champion that is now a part of the Supreme League. Parity was rampant last year in the Supreme League and the addition of the Pelicans will likely make it more competitive than ever... the Supreme League picked up St. Pete (8-3), a powerhouse, and got rid of its weakest team, the Columbia Black Cats (2-8), who were demoted to the Secondary League. SUPREME LEAGUE SOOTHSAYINGS, SWAYINGS AND SLICK SUPPOSITIONS Jackson (7-3) pretty much stayed the same roster-wise... pitching won it for the Jackalopes last year... so the Jacks added to their staff with Scott Duplessis... he will be in the bullpen in case Denny McCain (4-2/2.55 ERA) needs help... Donnelle Crochet (3-1/4.00 ERA/8 games) will also be back in the bullpen... he was a lifesaver last year... Duplessis is a left-hander like McCain... the only lineup change will be in right field... David Woodson will start the season in hopes of adding much needed offense to the batting order... offense will still be led by first baseman J.B. Shoemaker (.378 BA/5 SB), second baseman Harper Lovejoy (.324 BA/7 SB) and center fielder Kenny Butler (.293 BA/8 SB)... Jackson really helped itself score runs last season... they stole 28 bases, far more than any other teams... it was a vital element in their successful pennant run... no pun intended... it might be tough for the Jackalopes to repeat... the rest of the clubs seemed to take care of more of their problems... Jackson may have stayed pat too much. The Braxton Bruins (6-4) were the second-best club... they also had fairly good pitching like Jackson... that was the key to success in the league... all the clubs hit about the same... Jim Black (4-4/2.63 ERA), a quality lefty, is back again, but he has competition for the starting spot... newcomer Peter Willis will get some looks, too, should Black falter... no bullpen help last year was a killer for the Bruins... Black only completed 4 of his 10 starts... the top hitters are back, except for one... second baseman Phil Butler (.351 BA), a solid bat and good gloveman, will miss this season with a shoulder injury... returning are RF Brian Howe (.372 BA), 3B Dan Harding (.359 BA), SS Matt Swain (.355 BA) and C Andy Brown (.306 BA/4 HR)... Brown is a plus at bat, but a liability behind the plate... new roster addition and highly-touted slugger Chris Bowler will take over at first base and bat cleanup... he could be a great addition to the batting order... the newcomers could make Braxton a very vibrant club this year. The Pelham Oaks (6-4) had their shot last year... mediocre pitching was their problem (4.43 ERA)... the Oaks have added two new hurlers, George Strait and Bobby Derringer to try and right the ship... Pelham can hit... two of the Supreme League top bats, first baseman Rudy Allemand (.433 BA) and second baseman Cliff Lemaire (.433 BA) are also back to lead the charge...left fielder Clarence Wells (.297 BA/2 HR) and center fielder Tony Ferrara (.293 BA/2 HR) are also back with some help from Gold Glove third sacker Ricky Keegan (.316 BA) ... the Oaks have added depth to their infield with solid backup Chad Worthington... he might sneak into the lineup, possibly at shortstop, where Bernie Rivet handles the glove well, but only hit for .208 BA. The Delta Stars (5-5) were in the battle last year... lack of capable and consistent pitching did them in... Phil Salvaggio (5-3/4.37 ERA), Adam Evans (0-2/4.84 ERA) are back again as the main chunkers... they will certainly have to improve for the Stars to move up in the standings... Delta has added some solid bats to go with first basemen and Supreme League MVP Nick Hill (.436 BA/2 HR/13 RBI) and catcher Gene Frazier (.436 BA)... Chris Clayton is at second base and Neal Kilgore has been added to left field... Delta can compete at the plate, but without improved pitching, the Stars may be destined to fall in the Supreme League standings. The Bar Harbor Acadians (4-6) were a lackluster club last season with subpar pitching (4.19 ERA) and fairly good hitting... this year they certainly have tried to address those weaknesses... Ike Flynn, a good-hitting catcher has been added for good-field, no hit Paul Harrison (.176 BA)... a well-experienced pitcher Jesse Dodge could really help the staff... last year's starter Claude Achord (3-3/3.36 ERA) couldn't go deep and had no credible relief... Joey Stallworth (6.00 ERA/8 games) and Danny Hillman (8.00/6 games) just didn't do the job... Dodge may solve that... he may even take over as the top starter... the 26-year-old Dodge starred at the high school level and college level... he was an all-stater in 1949 and all-Gulf States pitcher at Nicholls State in the early 50s... new center fielder Buddy Gallagher should help out a lot defensively and may add a little offense... so may first sacker Adam Harper, who will platoon against lefties and provide a good bat off the bench... jack-of-all-trades Claude Achord (.407 BA), second baseman Doyle Dunn (.355 BA) and first sacker Duke Poche (.303 BA) head up the batting order... the Acadians look like a much sounder club this year. Also expected to make a big splash in the Supreme League is the latest addition, the promoted St. Pete Pelicans (8-3)... they edged out the Gull Lake Sailors (8-4) and the Grin Hill Smileys (7-4) in a hard-fought campaign in the South Island Secondary League last season... the Pels did it pretty much with firepower... they hammered 31 homers and scored almost 9 runs a game.. it's not saying much, but St. Pete possessed the best pitching, too, with a so-so 4.16 ERA... Marcel Jolissaint (6-1/4.54 ERA) benefited greatly from the massive run support... his relief, Frank Rossi (1-1/3.75 ERA/7 games) and Pat Hamilton (1-1/3.32 ERA/7 games), did a pretty good job from the bullpen... but it was the high-octane bats that won the pennant, sparked by first baseman and Secondary League MVP Mike Williams (.435 BA/8 HR/14 RBI/16 R), third baseman Neill Schexnaydre (.381 BA/4 HR/9 RBI/10 R), left fielder Bobby Hammond (.367 BA/6 HR/13 RBI/14 R), second baseman Eric Lynch (.298 BA/3 HR/15 RBI/13 R) and center fielder Grady Moore (.288 BA/3 HR/9 RBI/12 R)... this season the biggest plus for the Pelicans is 30-year-old right-hander Tony Tortorich... he could be some help on the mound and is contending with Jolissaint for the number-one spot in the rotation.... not that they need any help, the offense is pretty much the same... however, Gino Gagliano (.286 BA/2 HR/6 RBI/5 R/7 games), will take over for James McAndrews (.174 BA/1 HR/3 RBI/2 R/8 games) in right field... McAndrews struggled badly at the plate and also in the field... one would expect the Pelicans to fly high in the Supreme League, too. EC'S PRESEASON PEEK-A-BOO PRECISE AND PERFECTED PREVIEW PICKS 1. ST. PETE PELICANS 2. BAR HARBOR ACADIANS 3. JACKSON JACKALOPES 4. BRAXTON BRUINS 5. PELHAM OAKS 6. DELTA STARS Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-30-2021 at 12:58 AM.