Thursday, October 29
TOP RUTHLANDIAN AND TYCOBBIAN ROOKIES CHOSEN BY IPA SPORTWRITERS AND BROADCASTERS -- CLAXTON'S NORTHROP AND SOUTHPORT'S HICKMAN 2071 SELECTIONS
The Islandian Pro Alliance sports reporters have chosen the top freshmen players of the year... Jon Northrop of Claxton had been lauded as the 2071 Ruthlandiand Union Rookie of the Year and Bucky Hickman of Southport has been hailed as the 2071 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year.
NORTHRUP BEST RUTHLANDIAN NEWCOMER
Northrop was the top newcomer in the Ruthlandian Union... the runner-up was Taranto hurler Marcello Rossi... in the third spot was Volusia center fielder Benito Santana.
Jon Northrop easily stood out with 140 games played, .310 BA, 184 hits, 8 home runs, 63 RBIs, 94 runs scored and 30 stolen bases... however, his Claxton Diamonds did not do well... they finished a lackluster 75-79 this year.
Rossi helped the Taranto Tars to a strong season with a 94-60 record, good for 2nd place in the RU North Division... at age 22, Rossi compiled a 12-11 mark with a fine 2.90 ERA in 202 innings pitched... he started 26 games.
Santana was a excellent defender in center field... the 24-year-old outfielder had a modest year with the bat... in 122 games he collected 123 hits with 27 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, 58 ribbies, 64 runs and 13 stolen bases... his Volusia Vigilantes claimed the RU West pennant.
TU TOP FRESHMAN IS HICKMAN
Bucky Hickman is a tall 6'5" portsider for the Southport Sun Sox... he was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dismal season for the Sun Sox (79-75), who finished 4th in the TU South (25 GB)... in his rookie season this year's best Tycobbian rookie performer fashioned a 12-8 record in 25 starts and 175 innings with an impressive 2.83 ERA.
Another twirler Carl Shafer wound up second in the TU top rookie voting... he posted a 12-9 mark with a 3.36 ERA in 28 starts and 209 IP... his Denton City Redbirds were a subpar 74-80 this season, winding up a distant 5th in the TU West, 22 GB... the only position player to get any votes was left fielder Jonah Wright of the Southport Sun Sox... in 144 games he batted .261 with 144 hits, 22 doubles, 1 triple, 20 roundtrippers, 76 RBIs, 77 runs scored and stole 7 bases... Wright is 25.
2071 Ruthlandian Union Rookie Stars of the Year