TOP SWINGERS IN THE IPA WIN IPA GOLDEN BAT HONORS
La Claire left fielder Charles Larson, a 6-year veteran, finished off his best season with the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award... it was Waleska rookie left fielder Rod Rheems that captured the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Trophy... both of them led the leagues in hitting and won the batting crowns.
Larson had a banner year for La Claire, participating in 149 games and batting .361 with 205 hits, 27 doubles, 3 triples, 17 home runs, 94 ribbies, 130 runs, 38 stolen bases and a .443 OBP... La Claire came in third to Rolling Hills in the TU West pennant race.
Larson outdistanced Virgil Welsh of Denton City and Hugo Sutton of Rolling Hills in Tycobbian MVP poll... Welsh played in 153 games, hit .324 with 192 hits, 32 homers, a league-leading 126 RBIs and scored 106 times... Welsh's Redbirds finished in fourth place in the TU West, 22 games behind the Racers.
Sutton had another super season at age 35, leading the Rolling Hills Racers back to the playoffs after a few years of absence... in 152 games he posted a .300 BA with 172 hits, led the league with 45 doubles, had 10 triples, 21 roundtrippers, 115 RBIs, scored 112 runs and stole 29 bases... Rolling Hills easily triumphed in the TU West by 9 games over the Chicopee Braves.
It was an astounding year for rookie Rod Rheems in the Ruthlandian Union... he topped the IPA with a .369 BA in 153 games and also paced the RU with 121 runs and 223 base hits, totaling 30 doubles, 10 triples, 24 homers, 116 RBIs and 32 stolen bases with a .426 OBP.
Second in Ruthlandian MVP balloting was Cold Creek's first sacker Dude Gurley... the Raccoons wound up 5th in the RU East race with a 73-81 mark, 24 games behind division champion Marston... Gurley, age 24 and in his third season, put up a .347 BA with 220 hits, 33 doubles, 4 triples, 35 homers, topped the RU with 133 RBIs and scored 104 times... he played in all 154 games.
Third in the poll was Crystal Lake's standout second baseman Sookie Murphy... the Skippers were the Pro Cup champion last year, but they were beaten out by 3 games in a close race by the Valka Blackhawks in the Ruthlandian South... Sookie has a strong season with a .335 BA in 129 games... he had 162 hits, 27 doubles, 4 triples, 24 home runs, drove in 89 runs, scored 96, stole 39 bases with a .428 OBP, while playing a solid outfield.
