ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Elegants Willis RU Top Hitter
Nobody in the Ruthlandian Union outhit Cris Willis this season. In fact, Willis topped every hitter in the IPA and copped his first batting crown. It became official today with the close of the regular season that the talented Eastshore center fielder was the best in the league. His .371 average put him at the top of the leaderboard and got him the RU batting title. Willis' stats also included 188 hits, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, 77 RBIs and 85 runs. He is 35 years old and an 11-year veteran in the league. For his career Willis is batting at a .319 clip.

Coming in second was Kilkenny's fine CF Kevin McPhail, who hit .353 for the season with 47 doubles, 7 triples, 9 homers, 87 RBIs and 105 runs scored. McPhail is 29 and is in his third season with the Cats. 30-year-old Elnora RF Lloyd Voss finished third with a .348 mark. The 7-year vet racked up 27 doubles, 5 triples, 19 roundtrippers, 95 RBIs and scored 95 times. Voss won the title in 2009 with a .368 average.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Marvelous Kazmarek Does It Again, Wins 9th Bat Title
Pretty soon the IPA will have to name the batting champion trophy after Jet Kazmarek, who has just won it for the 9th time in his illustrious 12-year career. The 37-year-old Arroyo Grande outfielder garnered the Tycobbian Union batting title with an impressive .351 mark. In 148 games he piled up 196 hits, 36 doubles, 16 triples, 17 home runs, 67 RBIs and 115 runs scored. Overall in his career Kazmarek has batted a lofty .355 with 1055 RBIs and has scored 1326 runs.

East Point's outstanding 2B Jesse Goodwin and White River SS Jesse Crockhart were tied for second with a .333 batting average. In a fantastic season Goodwin led the TU with 203 hits, 138 RBIs and 50 homers. He had 32 doubles, 5 triples and scored 114 runs, while playing in 148 games. Goodwin is 37 and has played in the IPA for 8 years. Crockhart is 32 years old and has been in the league 7 years. This season Crockhart had 159 hits in 139 games with 24 doubles, 6 triples and 10 home runs. He knocked in 57 runs and scored 70.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Pro Cup XII Begins Today, FM-Cape Coral Finals Forecast
The Islandian Pro Alliance "Second Season" begins this afternoon at four sites around the Islands with the defending Pro Cup champions, the Far Mountain Redhawks, favored in the Ruthlandian Union, while the Cape Coral Hurricanes are picked to win the Tycobbian Union. Overall, the baseball experts are giving the nod to Far Mountain to take its second Pro Cup in a row. However, first they will have to go through some tough competition from Sligo and Belair Beach in the RU to get there. Cape Coral has the major task of knocking off last year's Pro Cup finalists, the Ozarka Naturals, who lost in a heartbreaking 7-game series with the Redhawks.

The 2012 Pro Cup Elite 8 playoffs get underway today. In the Ruthlandian Union Far Mountain will be at home for the first two games against the Belair Beach Sunbirds and the powerful Sligo Rovers host the Cold Creek Catamounts. Over in the Tycobbian Union it will be the Cape Coral Hurricanes entertaining the North Hills Hawks in games one and two and the Arlon Champions traveling to Ozarka.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Far Mountain, Cape Coral Favorites In Pro Cup Playoffs
The defending Pro Cup titleholders are forecast to reign supreme in Islands baseball once again. The Far Mountain Redhawks (96-58) of Ruthlandia won more games than anybody this season and are the number one choice to win it all in 2012. The Redhawks won it division by 12 games. The Cape Coral Hurricanes (90-64) posted the most victories in the Tycobbian Union and are the prime favorites represent that league in the Pro Cup finals. The Hurricanes had to subdue the Turon Typhoons to make the playoffs, edging them by just two games. Turon has been in the Pro Cup finals four times and has won it on three occasions.

Both contenders have solid all-around ballclubs with strong pitching, good hitting and power, plus excellent defense. Alex Groveland has a talented team in Far Mountain. The Redhawks led the IPA with a phenomenal 2.88 team ERA, were second in the RU with a .272 batting average and did well in the scoring department with 742 runs (11th) and 125 homers (17th). Defensively they handled the gloves well with a fine .976 fielding average (3rd tied). Huggy Miller has some gifted players in Cape Coral, but not as strong on paper as Far Mountain. The Hurricanes have good pitching with a 3.43 ERA (7th), outstanding defense with a .977 FA (1st tied) and quality hitting. Cape Coral batted .258 (17th), scored 718 runs (11th) and showed adequate power with 142 homers (14th). Both clubs have quality relievers. Groveland's relief corps posted an impressive 3.10 ERA (5th), Miller's chalked up a very good 3.18 mark (8th).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Head-To-Head Who's The Best?
The 2012 Pro Cup playoffs get started today with the Elite 8 Series at four towns around Islandia. In the Ruthlandian Union Far Mountain and Sligo are getting most of the press, but in head-to-head competition it was the Belair Beach Sunbirds with the best record. They were 10-5 against the other three teams in the Elite 8 Series. Far Mountain was 9-6, Cold Creek 5-7 and surprisingly the Sligo Rovers were only 3-9.

Far Mountain and Belair Beach will meet in the Elite 8 with Cold Creek playing Sligo. The Redhawks and Sunbirds split 3-3 during the regular season, while the Catamounts swept all three games from the Rovers.

In the Tycobbian Union the Cape Coral Hurricanes had the best record head-to-head against other postseason participants. Cape Coral was 11-7, followed by the Arlon Champions and North Hills Hawks, both at 9-9. Pulling up the rear was the Ozarka Naturals with a 7-11 record.

The favored Hurricanes go up against North Hills in the Elite 8 with Ozarka matched up with Arlon. Cape Coral took 4 of 6 from the Hawks during the regular campaign and the Champs were 4-2 against the Nats.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The 2012 Pro Cup Playoffs By The Numbers
The 2012 IPA Pro Cup will be won on the field, but it's still interesting to look at who is the best team on paper.

---------------------------------------
*** Ruthlandian Union ***
---------------------------------------
Far Mountain Redhawks (96-58)
Batting: .272 BA (2nd)
Scoring: 742 runs(11th)
Power: 125 HR (17th)
Team ERA: 2.88 (1st)
Starters ERA: 2.85 (1st)
Bullpen ERA: 3.10 (5th)
Defense: .976 FA (3rd-Tied)

Sligo Rovers (95-59)
Batting: .270 BA (5th)
Scoring: 790 runs (3rd)
Power: 143 HR (12th)
Team ERA: 3.18 (2nd)
Starters ERA: 3.15 (2nd)
Bullpen ERA: 3.34 (10th)
Defense: .971 (23rd-Tied)

Belair Beach Sunbirds (89-65)
Batting: .263 BA (13th)
Scoring: 742 runs (11th-Tied)
Power: 163 HR (4th)
Team ERA: 3.28 (3rd)
Starters ERA: 3.24 (3rd)
Bullpen ERA: 3.43 (11th)
Defense: .976 FA (3rd-Tied)

Cold Creek Catamounts (79-75)
Batting: .252 BA (23rd)
Scoring: 720 runs (16th)
Power: 128 HR (16th)
Team ERA: 3.77 (12th)
Starters ERA: 3.60 (9th)
Bullpen ERA: 4.52 (29th)
Defense: .969 FA (29th-Tied)

-----------------------------------
*** Tycobbian Union ***
-----------------------------------
Cape Coral Hurricanes (90-64)
Batting: .258 BA (17th)
Scoring: 718 runs (11th)
Power: 142 HR (14th)
Team ERA: 3.43 (7th)
Starters ERA: 3.47 (7th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.18 (8th)
Defense: .977 FA (2nd-Tied)

North Hills Hawks (89-65)
Batting: .246 BA (26th)
Scoring: 645 runs (30th)
Power: 90 HR (32nd)
Team ERA: 3.40 (6th)
Starters ERA: 3.40 (6th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.40 (13th)
Defense: .975 (11th-Tied)

Ozarka Naturals (88-66)
Batting: .272 BA (4th)
Scoring: 796 (2nd)
Power: 144 HR (12th)
Team ERA: 3.69 (16th)
Starters ERA: 3.84 (18th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.10 (5th)
Defense: .976 FA (4th-Tied)

Arlon Champions (82-73)
Batting: .249 BA (25th)
Scoring: 683 (20th)
Power: 143 HR (13th)
Team ERA: 3.49 (8th)
Starters ERA: 3.55 (11th)
Bullpen ERA: 3.22 (9th)
Defense: .976 (4th-Tied)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

2012 IPA Elite 8 Series

Favorites Advance Easily In Elite 8
The underdogs never had a chance in the IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series. All the favorites quickly put them out of their misery and moved on to the next round where the competition will be kicked up quite a bit. In the Ruthlandian Union defending Pro Cup champ Far Mountain easily swept past outmatched Belair Beach in four straight games and the Sligo Rovers ripped Cold Creek in five games. Tycobbian favorite Cape Coral got the best of North Hills four games to one and potent Ozarka proved itself as strong as ever with a four to two verdict over the outclassed Arlon Champions.

Far Mountain Sweeps Belair Beach In Ruthlandian Union
Going into the Elite 8 Series Belair Beach had high hopes of challenging the powerful Far Mountain Redhawks, but it never materialized... The Redhawks dumped the Sunbirds 6-2 in game one as Robby Kelly (22-8) fired a 4-hitter to outpitch Slim Mosley (15-12)... Leading the Far Mountain 12-hit attack were 1B Fran Grzanka with a two-run homer and SS Don Nichols with 3 hits and 2 RBIs.

Game two was even worse as the Redhawks slammed the Sunbirds 10-1... This time Far Mountain rapped 15 hits and 3 homers to rout them... C Otis Ott, RF Julian Zuvala and CF Xavier Sosa all went deep... Sosa had 4 hits and 3 RBIs, while Zuvala banged out 2 hits and drove in 3... Wayne Baxley (13-7) hurled a solid 7-hitter and went the distance... Tiny Lindgren (17-7) never made it out of the second inning and took the loss.

In game three the Redhawks 20-year-old rookie Woody Crawford (10-6) tossed a 5-hitter and drove in 2 runs in a 5-1 decision over veteran Jeff Nieman (17-16) for Belair Beach... RF Zuvala collected 3 hits and 2 RBIs in Far Mountain 10-hit offense... Zuvala was obtained from Elnora in late July for starting pitcher Leroy Hill (15-14).

Far Mountain wrapped up the series with a comeback 8-4 triumph in game four... however the Sunbirds made a game of it for awhile as they ran up an early 4-0 lead after 3 innings on starter Robby Kelly... but Kelly settled down and blanked them over the last 6 frames for the win... 3 runs in the seventh and 4 runs in the eighth decided the issue for the Redhawks... C Otis Ott and RF Julian Zavala each got their 2nd home run of the series and Far Mountain racked up 14 hits and sent Sunbird starter Slim Mosley to his second loss of the series... Now manager Alex Groveland's talented club will go up against powerful Sligo in the RU Final 4.

Sligo Rovers Romp Over Cold Creek In RU
The Sligo Rovers came back from an opening game loss to eliminate the Cold Creek Catamounts in five games with four wins in a row... Cold Creek's Payton Saunders (16-12) was the whole show in game one with a 5-1 victory over 20-game winner Vinnie Rastelli (22-12)... Saunders hurled a 5-hitter and 3B Jade Hammett batted in 3 runs.

Sligo evened the series at a game each with a 6-3 verdict in the second game... Dix Edenborough (22-8) worked 8 solid innings, yielding 3 runs and 6 hits... Lenny Ciaccio sealed it with a perfect ninth... CF Chris Michel paced the Rovers at bat with 4 hits, 3 runs and a pair of RBIs... Michel doubled and homered... 3B Blair Allison also chipped in 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Loser Tommy Weeks (16-15) went all the way and allowed 6 runs on 10 hits.

Game three was no contest... the Rovers ripped the Catamounts 9-2 as Colin McGrath (19-13) checked them on 6 hits and one earned run... Sligo smacked 11 hits and were sparked by SS Vic Carlin's 3 RBIs, LF Fred Collins' 2 RBIs and CF Chris Michel's 2 RBIs... Carlin had the game's only homer.

Game four was quite a tussle with Rastelli and Saunders back on the mound... This time around Rastelli got revenge for the first game defeat with a tight 4-3 triumph to give Sligo a three games to one lead in the best-of-seven series... Rastelli only surrendered one earned run in his 8 innings... Saunders took a 3-1 lead into the 8th but was shelled for 3 runs and the loss... Closer Lenny Ciaccio got his second series save with a 1-2-3 ninth... Both clubs had 8 hits each in the game.

Game five was a fine pitchers' duel between Dix Edenborough and Tommy Weeks... Edenborough got the best of Weeks again with a 2-0 shutout to give the Sligo Rovers the series four games to one... Edenborough allowed only 3 hits... SS Vic Carlin homered in the second inning to give Edenborough all the runs he would need.

[scott1964]

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Hurricanes Hurlers Dominate Hawks In TU Elite 8
The Cape Coral Hurricanes totally dominated the punchless North Hills Hawks with outstanding pitching to eliminate them four games to one in the Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series between the two clubs. In the other Elite 8 set Ozarka pretty much did the same thing to the Arlon Champions and came away with the series four games to two. As expected the two powers will be pitted against one another in the TU Final 4.

The Hurricanes got a terrific performance from their ace Cody Burg in the first game of the series... Burg (24-10) shut out the Hawks 4-0 on four hits... he fanned 8 and walked 4 for the win... All the runs in the game came in the 6th inning when CF Derek Ryckman hit a 2-run homer and RF Glenn Armstrong banged in two more with a single... The losing pitcher was Ronnie Kerensky (16-12), who was touched for 4 runs and 7 hits in 7 innings.

As good as Burg was in the opening game, Nasty Naymick was even nastier in game two as he held the hapless Hawks hitless and struck out 10 in a 5-0 victory... Naymick (18-13) almost pitched a perfect game... a walk to 2B Jimmy Ryland spoiled it for him... The 'Canes cracked 10 hits off loser Lou Dozier (18-16), who went the distance... 2B George Longmire, 1B Lonnie Moon and 3B Bobby Josker had two hits each to pace Cape Coral.

Game three was a low-scoring affair between Hawk starter Dooley O'Malley (3-0) and Hurricane Adam Lundgren (13-11)... North Hills finally put a run on the scoreboard in the seventh and snapped a 24-inning scoring drought... The Hawks squeezed by Cape Coral 3-2 with a run in the last of the ninth... Denny Stuart notched the win in spite of blowing the save... Bobby Maas sustained the loss... North Hills had 7 hits in all, while the 'Canes were held to 6.

Cape Coral got back on track with a game four victory to take a 3-1 edge... Cody Burg captured his second win in the series by stopping the Hawks 5-1 on 6 hits over 8 innings... 1B Lonnie Moon and C Bernie Finka led the winners with 2 hits and an RBI apiece... Ronnie Kerensky permitted 5 runs and 7 hits in 7 innings for the loss... LF Nicky Makovsky accounted for North Hills only run with a solo swat in the sixth frame.

Nasty Naymick wasn't almost perfect like he was in game two's no-hitter, but he was very good with a 5-2 win to take the series four games to one... North Hills could manage only two runs and five hits off Naymick, who turned in another strong performance... Lou Dozier caught his second loss of the postseason... He gave up 4 runs and 7 hits in his 7 innings... Hurricane 2B George Longmire homered and doubled, got 2 hits, scored twice and batted in a pair for the winners... CF Sozi Akiyama belted out 3-4 to pace the weak-hitting Hawks at the plate.

Ozarka Too Strong For Arlon, Wins Elite 8 Series
Superior pitching gave the Ozarka Naturals a victory over the weak-hitting Arlon Champions in their Elite 8 Series... In game one Eddie Roberts (18-8) and Luther Hatch combined for a dramatic 2-1 win... Roberts went the first 7 and gave up only five hits and a run... Roberts fanned 7 and walked only one batter for the win... Closer Luther Hatch finished up for him with two scoreless innings and picked up the win... LF Rocco Belasario clipped Roberts for a home run to lead the Champs at bat... Nats pinchhitter James Flanagan tripled in the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth off losing pitcher Johnny Rabelais.

Game two also went to Ozarka 3-0 on a brilliant 2-hit shutout by Emile Leduc (18-11), who outdueled Happy McManus (10-7)... McManus allowed 3 runs and 7 hits in a complete game... RF Chris Hughes homered for the Naturals.

The Arlon bats finally awoke with a vengeance in game three... The Champions clobbered Ozarka 9-4, highlighted by pitcher Hubie Croft's grand slam in the sixth that gave them a 6-1 lead... Croft salvaged Arlon's first win in the series although he allowed 11 hits and four runs in his 8 frames... Billy Krsnich (12-16) absorbed the loss by giving up 6 runs in 5-plus innings... Despite the defeat Ozarka still outhit Arlon 11 to 7.

Ozarka regrouped and trounced the Champs 10-2 in game four for a three to one edge in the series... The Nats battered loser Armando Cruz (16-16) for 7 runs in 3-plus innings, while Eddie Roberts put on another sterling performance by holding Arlon to six hits and two runs, while fanning 7 and walking only 2 batters... Ozarka racked up 12 hits and was led by RF Chris Hughes with 2-5 and 4 RBIs, LF Vic Weinstein with 3-5, 3 runs and 2 RBIs and SS Nathan Ferrell with 2-4, 3 runs and 2 RBIs.

Arlon got back into the series with a 10-inning 4-3 triumph in game five, cutting Ozarka's series lead to three games to two... Once again the Champions were outgunned 11 hits to 8, but they still gained the victory... Johnny Rabelais was the winning pitcher with a scoreless 10th... Luther Hatch sustained the loss... He walked two to set up a game-winning hit in the tenth... Hatch only managed one out in the inning... Arlon 2B Ed Richter had the game's only home run, a two-run shot in the sixth... The Nats were led by 3B Todd Chadwick, 2B Gil Lantz, LF Vic Weinstein and C Todd Pepper, all with 2 hits each.

Ozarka made quick work of Arlon in game six to capture the Elite 8 Series four games to two... After the Champs darted to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on SS Kirby Greene's two-run salvo, the Naturals pounded Hubie Croft for 8 runs in the next two frames to win going away 9-5... C Todd Pepper and 1B Al Wesner both hit solo homers for Ozarka... 2B Gil Lantz also drove in 3 runs for the winners... Billy Krsnich was ineffective, but got credit for the victory... Krsnich was roughed up for 5 runs in 7 innings... Luther Hatch held Arlon scoreless in the eighth and ninth.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Map of Islandia

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Around the Towns in the IPA

FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS

Owner: Johann Becker
GM/Manager: Alex Groveland

Far Mountain, located in northern Ruthlandia in the Appian Mountains, is a very popular year-round ski resort and convention center. A beautiful town of 75,000 founded by immigrants from the German and Swiss Alps, Far Mountain oozes Tyrolian charm and culture. Horse drawn sleighs and buggies provide free public transportation. The rich and famous come here for wonderful ski vacations, to savor the good life and to enjoy the great hotels, nightclubs, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Yet it is priced for every pocketbook. Middle class families also partake of its many pleasures and activities. And with fine convention facilities, Far Mountain plays host to many professional and educational organizations.

And it is the home of the Far Mountain Redhawks baseball team of the Ruthlandian Union. The team is in the North Division and plays their games at Sky High Stadium with a magnificent panoramic view of the Appian Mountains in the distance. A specialty at all Redhawks games is a great polka band that furnishes music and songs, whenever there is a break in the game action. During the seventh inning stretch Redhawks supporters have a great time doing the “Chicken Dance” and singing “Take me out to the ballgame” to the accompaniment of the polka band. And fans get to enjoy special culinary treats of Bavarian beers, Nurnberg bratwurst mit sauerkraut (fried sausage with sauerkraut), Schwartzwalder kirschtorte (Black Forest cake) and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) pastries and hot gourmet soups at the games. Many fine German beers are served in profusion, too. In addition all of the traditional ballpark favorites are provided.

The Far Mountain Redhawks are owned by Johan Becker, whose family has been for 150 years the proprietors of one of the oldest hotels in town, The Bavarian Gasthaus. Becker developed a love for baseball in high school and college and played varsity baseball for both. He met Jock Ewing of Ewing Oil and Ewing Enterprises and developed a business relationship with him to make Far Mountain into a tourist resort. When Ewing offered him one of the franchises in the IPA, Johan quickly invested in it.

For a general manager and field manager, he hired one of the great pitchers of the industrial leagues, Alex Groveland.

Sky High Stadium (1997)

Capacity: 10,444

Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 354
LC 380
CF 402
RC 380
RF 354
RF Line 330

[Eugene Church]

Sky High Stadium (1997)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 1

FM Redhawks Take Final 4 Opener
The red-hot Far Mountain Redhawks continued unbeaten in this year's postseason. They downed the Sligo Rovers 7-2 in game one of the RU Final 4 Series, played at Sky High Stadium. It was the 5th straight victory for Alex Groveland's talented team as they try to repeat last year's Pro Cup championship. 35-year-old right-hander Robby Kelly mastered the hard-hitting Rovers, stopping them on 6 hits for his 3rd playoff win this year. Kelly (3-0 2.00) walked four and fanned four in the complete-game victory. The Redhawk bats continued to sizzle with 10 hits, led by CF Xavier Sosa (.458), SS Don Nichols (.400), RF Julian Zavala (.500) and 2B Jim Rhodes (.222), all with two hits each. Far Mountain jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after 3 innings and expanded it to 5-0 in the sixth. They pelted 22-game winner Vinnie Rastelli (1-2 2.35) for 5 runs and 8 hits in six innings, although shoddy play cost him 3 unearned runs.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Around the Towns in the IPA

CAPE CORAL HURRICANES

Owner: Conway Birdie
GM/Manager: Huggy Miller

Cape Coral is a town of 112,000 on the northshore of Arvonian Island, jutting out into Belair Bay. Arvonian Island is bordered on three sides by the Southern Sea. Cape Coral was settled at various times by the Spanish, Dutch and English with the English taking preeminence when tourism became the main economic focus. It is a resort area famous for great weather year round in idyllic tropical surroundings. Serene sky blue waters with magnificent sunsets, white, glistening beaches, luxury hotels, night clubs, legendary entertainers and retirement communities. It is a place to be pampered.

It is also known for an occasional tropical storm or hurricane spawned out of the warm tropical currents of the Southern Sea. Hence, the Cape Coral baseball team in the IPA's Tycobbian Union is nicknamed the Hurricanes. They play at Seaside Stadium, which has an eyecatching view of Belair Bay. Some of the myriad of magnificent hotels and casinos can also be seen rising up in grandeur over the island landscape.

Seaside Stadium is known for its exotic beverages and gourmet fare fit for a king. Every fan treasures the house speciality, "The Hurricane", a fantastic blend of tropical flavors and liqueurs, served up in a beautiful souvenir glass. The buffet foods make every game very special for the fans and resort visitors. Hot dogs and cokes are available, too, along with the best grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich outside of Memphis, Tennessee.

Music is provided by the Beachcomber Boys, a rock 'n' roll combo. Their version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" really reverberates, rocks and rolls. One of the Beachcomber Boys, Conway Birdie (old rock 'n' roll star and connoisseur of grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches) is the proud owner of the Hurricanes. Birdie was instrumental in the creation of the Islandian Pro Alliance along with Jock Ewing of Waleska, John Banson (former amateur and industrial league czar) and Jorge Trujillo of Belair Beach. The old rock 'n' roller was a pretty fair ballplayer in his day, too.

Huggy Miller is the GM and Manager of Cape Coral. He was a journeyman second baseman in the industrial leagues, but a truly gifted manager and baseball tactician.

Seaside Stadium (1987)

Capacity: 13,100

Dimensions:
LF Line 365
LF 375
LCF 400
CF 390
RCF 375
RF 360
RF Line 350

[Eugene Church]

Seaside Stadium (1987)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series - Game 1

Ozarka Outlasts Cape Coral 5-4 In 12 Innings
At Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral, it was a great pitching duel until the 12th inning when things started poppin' in the opening game of the Tycobbian Union Final 4 between the Ozarka Naturals and the hometown Hurricanes. C Todd Pepper (.259) and CF Paul Noah (.269) shot the Nats ahead 4-2 with back-to-back homers and then relief pitcher Philip Britt banged a double, was bunted over to third and rode in on LF Vic Weinstein's (.280) sacrifice fly. That gave Ozarka a seemingly safe 5-2 lead going into the last of the 12th. But as they say, "It ain't over, 'til it's over." Cape Coral didn't give up - a walk and a homer by CF Derek Ryckman (.208) suddenly made it a one-run game - but Britt shut the door and got the final two outs for the shaky 5-4 win.

Two of the better starters in the IPA got first-game assignments. Young Eddie Roberts (18-8) was Ozarka's choice and the great veteran Cody Burg (24-10) got the nod for Cape Coral. And they didn't disappoint. Roberts worked 7 strong innings, allowed only 2 runs on 6 hits with 9 Ks and 1 walk and left with a 2-2 tie. Burg matched him and added two more innings. Burg tossed 9 superb innings, permitted only 4 hits and two runs with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks. But neither one got the decision. Ozarka's Luther Hatch blanked the Hurricanes in the eight and ninth frames and Britt held them scoreless in the tenth and eleventh. Cape Coral's Bobby Maas shut down the Nats in the tenth and eleventh. Then all hell broke loose in the 12th. Britt got the win and James Nordmann took the loss. Britt (1-0 4.50) pitched 3 innings and was tagged for two runs, while Nordmann (0-1) was ripped for 3 runs in two-thirds of an inning. Cape Coral had the edge in hits 10-8.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

2012 Ruthlandian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 2

Redhawks Capture 6th Straight, Lead Rovers 2-0
The Far Mountain Redhawks are the defending Pro Cup champions and they are playing even better this year. The Redhawks are really rolling with 6 straight wins in the playoffs. They rolled over the visiting Sligo Rovers for the second day in a row at Sky High Stadium. Wayne Baxley and Don Nichols teamed up to beat Sligo 7-2. Baxley (2-0 0.50) limited them to 5 hits and two runs - none earned and none after the second inning. He stuck out 4 and issued 4 walks in another impressive postseason outing. The Redhawks were ahead 4-2 and put the Rovers away with a 3-run sixth. SS Nichols (.435) provided the offense with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs. Far Mountain kayoed starter Dix Edenborough in the third after blistering him for 3 runs and 4 hits. Edenborough (2-1 2.75) took his first loss of the postseason. The Redhawks lead the best-of-seven series two games to none.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

2012 Tycobbian Union Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 2

Hurricanes Even Series, Naymick Stumps Nats 4-1
In game two of the TU Final 4 at Seaside Stadium, Cape Coral's Nasty Naymick went the route and throttled the Ozarka Naturals 4-1 on a 6-hitter to even up the series at one game each. Naymick (3-0 1.04) notched his third victory in the playoffs. CF Derek Ryckman (.250) sparked the Hurricane bats with a homer, double and two RBIs. Ryckman has slammed 4 out of the park in the Pro Cup playoffs. Left-hander Emile Leduc (1-1 1.73) suffered the defeat, after giving up 4 runs on 6 hits. The Ozarka southpaw also went the distance.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Around the Towns in the IPA

SLIGO ROVERS

Owner: Myron Dalrymple, CEO of the Silver Mountain Ski Resort

GM/Manager: Eddie Keys

Sligo is located in the slopes of the Silver Mountains in northern Ruthlandia. Because of its remote location, the area was largely uninhabited until 1872 when silver was discovered in the hills surrounding the town. The name of the town comes from Theodore Sligo, one of the men who originally discovered the silver. Sligo laid out the roads and a tent city popped up shortly after the discovery. By the turn of the century, the mines had produced more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Many fine examples of Victorian architecture that were built during the era are well-preserved today.

When the mines stopped producing in the late 1940s, the town lost almost half of its population and fell upon hard times. It survived mainly on its timber industry until the 1970s when environmental concerns caused the town to form a commission that would seek alternative industries that could sustain the economy. The commission findings led to a rebirth of the once-beautiful city. Through various tax breaks, the town was able to attract several builders to construct ski resorts just outside of town. The town also refurbished many of the historic buildings that had fallen into disrepair and decided to place its economic emphasis on tourism.

With a population of only 38,000, Sligo is the smallest town to own a team in the Islandian Pro Alliance and has at various times struggled to meet ends meet despite having very loyal fans. The 1973 commission made it clear in its report that the town should figure out a way to provide long term stability to the local nine as it would be a devastating blow to civic pride if the Rovers were to leave town. As a result, the ballpark was part of the downtown refurbishment and the team signed a long-term lease that makes it difficult for the Rovers to leave. In the 80s, the team was sold to Myron Dalrymple, owner of the highly successful Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Dalrymple is respected among long-time Sligo residents for settling in town and helping to revive its economy.

The Rovers play at Silver Mountain Park which seats 5,678 spectators. The ballpark’s mid-seventies facelift did a good job of preserving its historic nature and the town funded yet another update in 1998 when four sky suites were added along with expanding the clubhouses. SM Park sports a brick façade and is tucked among historic Main Street’s shopping district. There is no parking here, but the sight of fans walking to the ballpark on a balmy summer evening fits in well with the town’s quaint ambiance. The team plays to that ambiance by having a barber shop quartet stationed outside the main ticket booth to greet approaching fans.

Speaking of music, you won’t find loud rock and roll music blaring from a state of the art sound system here. Like Hillsboro, Kenwood, Ozarka and Marston, the team employs an organist who serenades fans with classic tunes and is quite adept at finding songs that have something to do with the batter’s last name. Food here is among the most affordable in all of the IPA, and while you will find classic ballpark fare like peanuts, hot dogs, and crackerjacks, the most popular item on the menu may well be the roasted corn on the cob that is slathered with mayonnaise.

Despite its nod to the traditional, the team has added one of those big fuzzy mascots in recent years. “Rover”, a giant red dog, roams the stands entertaining children and adults alike. When fans catch a foul ball, the public address announcer will announce to “give that fan a contract,” and Fetch will indeed present the fan with a “contract” and a "doggy bag" filled with club gifts. Another Silver Mountain park tradition traces its roots back to the team’s current manager Eddie Keys. During his playing days for the Rovers, fans would jingle their keys whenever he came to bat. The tradition continues to this day whenever a rally is in order.

Silver Mountain Park (1912)

Capacity: 5,678

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 328
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 382
Center Field - 387
Right Center - 382
Right Field - 366
Right Field Line - 342

[Eugene Church]

Silver Mountain Park