ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS) - Page 55

Eugene Church · 06-30-2009, 11:00 PM

The Islandian Times

March 20, 2004

Snappers Snap Up SS Bermudez, Ship Milwaine to Montaneros
The Rocky Rapids Snappers have agreed to send 25-year-old starting pitcher Clay Milwaine to the San Alejo Montaneros for 24-year-old shortstop Cooter Bermudez. The trade was announced today by the IPA commissioner's office.

Milwaine was 13-8 this past season with 10 starts and 5 complete games. He registered a 3.45 ERA. Milwaine has a lifetime record of 24 wins and 20 losses and a 3.84 ERA.

Burmudez is an outstanding talent and played his rookie year as a back-up. Bermudez batted .296 with 2 home runs and 21 RBIs in 87 total games and 35 starts.

Eugene Church · 07-01-2009, 01:19 PM

The Islandian Times

March 21, 2004

New Playoff Proposal By Owners
A group of 16 owners have proposed a new playoff system for the IPA Pro Cup Series. The owners say the present system favors the weaker teams by having short series. They have petitioned the IPA league commissioner John Banford to enlarge the length of each playoff series from best-of-three series to best-of-five for all rounds except for the Pro Cup Finals, which would be increased from best-of-five to a best-of-seven series. The group also requested that only 16 teams qualify for the Pro Cup Playoffs. Only the top 16 teams should qualify. Presently 32 teams qualify. They asked for the new playoff system be put into effect for the 2004 playoffs.

San Alejo's GM/Manager Lando Peceda, spokesman for the group, told the Commissioner Banford that the chances of a lesser team defeating a better team is far less likely in a five-game series. Longer series would be better for competition and better for the fans. Peceda said too often a .500 or worse team makes the playoffs, whips a first place team in a short series. It wouldn't happen as often if the series were made longer. Two teams under .500 maed the playoffs last season and two teams in 2002. This shouldn't happen. The new 16-team system would not extend the length of the playoffs. It could be played in the same time frame as the 32-team system.

Banford said he would take the petition under advisement and get back with his decision.

The Islandian Times did a quick poll of team owners to see how they felt about changing the playoff procedures. It was split 50-50, some liking it and some not liking it. The anti-votes said they didn't like cutting out 16 teams from the playoffs. One owner said, "It's only the best teams that are complaining. They are unhappy with getting eliminated early in the playoffs. The rest of us have a better chance of getting into the playoffs if there are 32 slots."

Eugene Church · 07-01-2009, 02:28 PM

The Islandian Times

March 24, 2004

IPA Owners Split Evenly On New Playoff Proposal.
The only agreement the IPA owners have about the new Pro Cup Series playoff proposal is that they don't agree. A poll by The Islandian Times showed that it is pretty much split right down the middle with the better teams favoring only 16 playoff teams and changing the short three-game series with longer five-game series, while the weaker clubs want to keep the playoff series as it is with 32 teams.

The Times also polled the fans to see how they stand on the new IPA Pro Cup playoff system. They overwhelmingly approved the new system saying under-.500 teams don't deserve to make the playoffs and that competition would be better without them. 16 teams would insure that only deserving teams would qualify for the playoffs. Extending the series to best-of-five would be more fair to teams that won the most games in the regular series. The fans said it was too easy for a lesser team win a three-game series. It would happen less if they were extended to at five-game sets.

The Times spoke with IPA Commissioner John Banford and he said he was looking at the new proposal, talking to all of the owners and trying to take the pulse of the fans before he makes his ruling. Banford said he would have his decision in a few days before the regular season begins.

The Commissioner has absolute power related to league rules and operation. The owners only have advisory powers.

Eugene Church · 07-01-2009, 04:02 PM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

IPA Commissioner Proclaims New 16-Team Playoff System
In a press conference today at IPA headquarters in Forest City, John Banford, the IPA Commissioner, issued his decision on the new Pro Cup playoff system. Banford approved the petition of 16 team owners that requested the number of playoff teams be lowered to 16 teams and each round of the playoffs be expanded to a best-of-five series, replacing the the best-of-three system in the early rounds.

Banford said he agreed that too often a lesser team could win a short series. Expanding the number of games made good sense and would make for better competition. Banford said he didn't think teams that did not play .500 ball deserved to be included in the playoffs, therefore he was reducing the number from 32 to 16 teams. Another important factor in his decision was the overwhelming support of the fans for the new system. He said his own private poll revealed 85% of them strongly favored it.

Banford said he knew his ruling would not be well-received by a good many owners. He advised them to improve their teams so that they would be worthy of the playoffs.

Banford told The Islandian Times that the new playoff system would go into effect this year. All of the playoff series would be best three-of-five series in the Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final 4 rounds. The Pro Cup Finals would be increased to a best-four-out-of-seven series.

Eugene Church · 07-01-2009, 04:03 PM

The Islandian Times

Saturday, April 3, 2004

BNN Poll Select Valmara, St. John, Elnora, Volusia Division Winners In RU
The offseason is over at last. Spring training has come and gone and it is now time to play ball. The 2006 Major League Baseball season begins Monday. Some teams have changed, but the game is still the same. Another great baseball season is here.

The 2004 BNN preseason baseball poll was released today. In the Ruthlandian Union all of last year's division winners have been forecast to win again. Valmara will win the North, St. John in the South, Elnora in the East and Volusia in the West.

* = 2003 Division Champion

RU North
1. Valmara Vipers * (2003 Pro Cup Runner-up)
2. Ranford Bulls
3. Glasco Athletics
4. Taranto Tars
5. Far Mountain Redhawks
6. LaGrange Sports
7. Kilkenny Cats
8. Ancona Red Elephants

RU South
1. St. John Crusaders *
2. Belair Beach Sunbirds
3. Waleska Westerners
4. San Dimas Rancheros
5. Claxton Diamonds
6. Grand City Cybercats
7. Valka Blackhawks
8. Crystal Lake Crushers

RU East
1. Elnora All-Stars *
2. Sugar Valley Rattlers
3. Marston Nine
4. Beechwood Bobcats
5. Belle Plaine Musketeers
6. Cold Creek Catamounts
7. Eastshore Elegants
8. Wynnamac Sundowners

RU West
1. Volusia Vigilantes *
2. Middlefield Roosters
3. Colfax Blasters
4. Forest City Lumberjacks
5. Sligo Rovers
6. Rocky Rapids Snappers
7. Stoner Stars
8. Fort Benton Defenders

Eugene Church · 07-01-2009, 04:04 PM

The Islandian Times

Sunday, April 4, 2004

BNN Preseason TU Picks: Oxford, San Alejo, Red Bluff, Bayview
Baseball is back tomorrow.

The long-awaited and much-anticipated Opening Day of baseball is finally here! For both fans and teams, hope always springs eternal. The proverbial "next year" is finally here! For better or worse, we'll find out what all the offseason management moves, manipulations and changes in personnel will bring. So, break out the peanuts and crackerjacks, sit back, sip on a tall cool one and get ready for some baseball.

BNN released it annual preseason baseball poll and two of last season's division winners have been tabbed to repeat in the Tycobbian Union. The San Alejo Montaneros in the South and the Bayview Vikings are picked to again take its division pennant, while the Oxford Red Caps are forecast to knock off last year's North champion, the Hartsdale Hellcats, and the High Mesa Cowboys will reign supreme over the defending East titlists, the Red Bluff Red Sox.

* = 2003 Division Champion

TU North
1. Oxford Red Caps
2. Hartsdale Hellcats *
3. Fairfax Frogs
4. North Hills Hawks
5. Luxora Zorros
6. Blue Lake Blue Sox
7. Mahaska Haymakers
8. White River Rascals

TU South
1. San Alejo Montaneros *
2. Turon Typhoons (2003 Pro Cup Winner)
3. Cape Coral Hurricanes
4. Ginza Ninjas
5. Summerland Sunsets
6. Colchester Elites
7. Southport Sun Sox
8. Arlon Champions

TU East
1. High Mesa Cowboys
2. Red Bluff Red Sox *
3. Tuckanarra Blue Jays
4. Hillsboro Blazers
5. Ozarka Naturals
6. South Fork Stallions
7. Midway Wolves
8. East Point Panthers

RU West
1. Bayview Vikings *
2. Rolling Hills Reds
3. Denton City Redbirds
4. La Claire Lynx
5. Bay St. Claire Buccaneers
6. Kenwood Wildcats
7. Chicopee Braves
8. Arlon Champions

Eugene Church · 07-01-2009, 04:42 PM

The Islandian Times

Sunday, April 4, 2004

Montaneros Send Acosta To Wildcats To Complete Deal
The San Alejo Montaneros swapped 27-year-old reliever Pedro Acosta for 28-year-old center fielder Johnny Laborde of the Kenwood Wildcats. Acosta was the "player to be named later" in a deal completed earlier this month.

Acosta was 9-5 last season in 55 games with a 3.95 ERA. Acosta made 11 starts and nailed down 6 saves. During his 110-game career Acosta has fashioned a 16-12 won-lost record. In 238 innings he has rolled up 203 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA with 13 saves. Kenwood intends to use Acosta as their #4 starter.

LaBorde played 36 games in the 2002 season with a .208 batting average. San Alejo will keep LaBorde on their reserved roster.

Eugene Church · 07-01-2009, 05:24 PM

The Islandian Times

Sunday, April 4, 2004

North Hills Dozier Trade Finished, Belle Plaine Gets Deaton
Signed. Sealed. Delivered.
North Hills sent 34-year-old reliever Lyle Deaton to Belle Plaine for 29-year-old reliever Ben Boulanger. Both teams expect to introduce the players to their new teammates within a day or two.

These players were part of the Lou Dozier trade several weeks ago. They were the "players to be named later".

Deaton was 3-0 in his rookie year last season with a 2.33 ERA in 17 relief appearances.

Boulanger was also a first-year player in 2003. He finished the season 2-0 with 3.86 ERA in 26 games.

Both will be spot starters and middle relievers with their new teams.

Eugene Church · 07-03-2009, 01:31 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, April 5, 2004

It's Swing Time! Are You Ready For Some Baseball?
The Islandian Pro Alliance begins its fourth season of play today with 32 games all across the Islands. From Far Mountain in the North to Arroyo Grande in the South, from Bayview in the West to San Dimas in the East, wherever you go, you can find a ballgame.

The IPA will culminate in early October with the Pro Cup championship series between the Tycobbian Union titlist and the Ruthlandian Union winner. This year for the first time it will be a best-of-seven series. In the past it has been decided with a best-of-five-games series. All of the preliminary rounds will be expanded as well, from best-of-three games to best-of-five games.

If the scribes are right, the Oxford Red Caps of the TU North and the Elnora All-Stars of the RU East will vie for the crown. The BNN baseball experts are giving the nod to the Red Caps because of their awesome offensive power.

Eugene Church · 07-03-2009, 05:28 PM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, June 23, 2004

IPA Breaks For The All-Star Game
The 2004 Islandian Pro Alliance season has reached the halfway point. Most of the good clubs have done well and played according-to-form. However, there are several surprises. Unheralded Valka, LaGrange, Sligo, Stoner and Wynnamac have really shaken up the Ruthlandian Union standings, while Midway and Colchester have done the same to the Tycobbian Union.

At the mid-season break, the LaGrange Sports have bolted to a 5-game lead over Valmara in the RU North. The Sports were rated the sixth-best club going into the season, while the Vipers were the number one choice.

The Valka Blackhawks were ranked seventh in the preseason, but have jolted the experts by holding a 3-game lead over the Belair Beach Sunbirds in the RU South. St. John was the preseason favorite.

The Sligo Rovers are tied with Middlefield for first place in the RU West with the Stoner Stars in the third spot, 6 games behind. Sligo was picked fifth in the BNN poll, while Stoner was ranked seventh. The experts had Volusia the winner with Middlefield number two.

Only the RU East has gone true-to-form, but even there, the Wynnamac Sundowners have surged up to third place, just three games off the pace and tied with Sugar Valley. Favored teams Elnora and Marston are the front runners. The All-Stars are two games up on the Nine at the All-Star break.

In a stunning reversal, the team picked to top the RU South has floundered badly and sunk to last place. The defending division champs, the St. John Crusaders, have struggled severely and have just about the worst record in the IPA. St. John finished the first half of the season with a pathetic 26-47 record. Only Blue Lake in the TU North is worse at 25-48.

Over in the Tycobbian Union Midway and Colchester have confounded the preseason predictions. The Wolves are the top dog in the TU East with a one-game edge over the Tuckanarra Blue Jays. The High Mesa Cowboys and the Red Bluff Red Sox were labeled the top clubs in the BNN preseason prognostications.

Colchester is the number two team in the TU South and trails first place Cape Coral by only two games. Midway was rated seventh in the BNN poll, while the Elites came in sixth. San Alejo was the heavy preseason favorite in the division.

The preseason poll was badly off-the-mark with San Alejo, High Mesa and Red Bluff in the Tycobbian Union. The Montaneros, one of the IPA powerhouses, was named the best team in the South Division, but have slipped down to an embarrassing fifth place and are 9 games behind the Cape Coral Hurricanes. The Cowboys and Red Sox were forecast to run 1-2 in the TU East, but are deadlocked in the fourth spot, 6 games back of the startling Midway Wolves.

Eugene Church · 07-03-2009, 10:02 PM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Ruthlandian Union North Division 2004 Midseason Standings

Eugene Church · 07-03-2009, 10:07 PM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Sports Surprising Leader in RU North
The LaGrange were picked to finish sixth in the BNN preseason poll. Questioned about that, Manager Foxy Jimison retorted, "My boys don't get paid to read the sports pages, they get paid to play baseball." And that is most certainly what the Sports have done. They have set the Ruthlandian Union North on fire and have opened up a 5-game lead over the preseason favorite and defending division crownholder, the Valmara Vipers.

The LaGrange Sports (44-29) are doing all the damage with their bats. They lead the RU with a .276 batting average. Sparking the Sports are LF John Babcock (.318/14 HR/54 RBI), All-Star RF Mike Di Lazzaro (.329/8 HR/46 RBI/45 R/13 SB), CF Roger Marley (.328/9 HR/34 RBI/45 R) and 2B Tim Masters (.321/4 HR/33 RBI/47 R).

Jimison doesn't have the strongest pitching staff in the league, but he does have three good starters and a solid closer. Barney Prohaska (6-1 2.73), Sean Stone (11-3 3.25), Al Thibaut (4-7 3.29) and closer Leroy Labat (7-3 3.03) have the arms to keep LaGrange in the game until the bats prevail. Labat has saved 12 games so far and pitched in 31 games.

Skipper J. Jackson Samuel has his Valmara Vipers (39-35) in second place despite a noticeable drop in batting average and ERA this season. Thank goodness, he can depend on All-Star LF Jet Kazmarek (.399/4 HR/42 RBI/54 R/40 SB), who is again flirting with .400. Two years ago Kazmarek astounded the IPA by batting a prodigious .428 for the season. 2B Floyd Vinson (.289/3 HR/51 RBI), 1B Masaichi Okawa (.280/7 HR/44 RBI) and RF Val Krol (.308/4 HR/27 RBI) have contributed, too.

Samuel said, "Pitching is our big problem this year. It seems that the league as whole has better pitching, but not us. My ace Danny Blauser (6-9 4.03) is not going to win 23 games this year like he did last year. Zarek Zalewski (8-8 4.32) is having a bad year and is now in my doghouse and the bullpen. And Yanni Wlodarczyk (3-2 5.66), who was wonderful as my closer last year, is lucky he is still on the team. He's got the rest of the season to straighten himself out, but not as my closer. Andre Trepanier (8-7 3.25) has been my steadiest and most consistent starter. If we expect to catch LaGrange, we better start hitting and start pitching. I think it is going to get better. These guys have too much talent to play so poorly for an entire season."

As always, Page Satcher has his Ranford Bulls (38-35) in contention. The Bulls are 6 games off the pace and led by two All-Stars, SS Rick Fargnoli (.339/12 HR/65 RBI/48 R) and 3B Colin Fairclough (.305/8 HR/38 RBI/48 R/15 SB). Fargnoli tops the IPA with 65 RBIs. Rookie LF Jose Castillo (.291/8 HR/24 RBI/47 R) and 1B Jordy John (.235/14 HR/50 RBI) have also chipped in some offense.

Satcher has one of the better mound staffs in the division with LHP Bud Enright (11-6 3.39), Jim Maxwell (7-5 3.54) and LHP Chris Bernhoffer (8-9 3.74). Bernhoffer has won 20 games in each of his first two series, but has not been as effective this year so far. Ranford needs him to turn it around to challenge LaGrange and Valmara this season. In the bullpen Old Satch has his southpaw closer Tim DeKosky (5-3 2.25), who has 10 saves and appeared in 27 games.

It's been a down year for the Glasco Athletics (36-37). They are in fourth place and 8 games behind the leader. Several of their mainstays, sluggers RF Ox Beauvais (.243/3 HR/26 RBI) and CF Bobby Pascarelli (.244/10 HR/44 RBI), are having down years. Pitchers LHP Charles Darby (5-9 4.49) and Jerry Smith (5-3 4.44) have not been effective. Smith has been sent to the bullpen by manager McDuffie Hughes. In an attempt to jump start the offense and the pitching, Hughes has decided to go with younger players.

The A's top performers are All-Star 2B Barry McCord (.329/9 HR/48 RBI/49 R), C Jonas Ogburn (.317/6 HR/41 RBI), 1B Maury Smith (.292/5 HR/31 RBI/33 R), LF Stan Kobzar (.292/6 HR/23 RBI/44 R) and Pascarelli, who hit 34 homers last season and hit 40 points higher.

On the hill LHP Jesse Balfour (6-8 2.52) has pitched well, but received poor bat support. Glasco's best hurler has been the veteran Ray Cook (11-5 3.09). Hughes is still looking for a closer and two other good starters. Rookie Hal Neyland (0-3 3.22) will get his chance as a starter in the second half of the year. He has appeared in 25 games and made 3 starts.

Hard times have come to Far Mountain and Alex Groveland this year. The Far Mountain Redhawks (35-38) are in a fifth place tie with Kilkenny and Taranto, 9 games behind. They have plenty of time to get into contention for a playoff spot. However, there are only two spots in each division this year. In years past four teams made the playoffs.

Poor hitting hampers the Redhawks this season. Groveland's prime producers just haven't done it so far. LF Karl Dietz (.223/15 HR/48 RBI) is hitting homers, but little else. CF Sid Cameron (.247/2 HR/36 RBI), a career .303 hitter, has slumped badly. 1B Royce Benson (.287/5 HR/20 RBI/43 R/22 SB) has been Far Mountain's top batter.

On the mound Robby Kelly (10-5 2.79) has sparkled and gotten solid help from Sonny Elliott (8-4 3.26) and Cliff Pope (6-2 3.09). However, Elliott missed a month with an injury. In the bullpen, specialist Bud Ford (2-3 1.62) has been sensational in the first half of the season with 13 saves and 33 relief appearances.

The Kilkenny Cats (35-38) with Kieran McKenna at the controls made wholesale hill changes at the break and signed four new pitchers in an effort to end the mound malaise. McKenna is blessed with three fine arms in All-Star Yasuyuki Nakagawa (9-5 1.89) and two lefties, Marty Cullen (5-2 2.57) and Collin Gilder (5-6 3.13). Conan Walsh (5-3 3.82) has also had some success. But four guys do not make a staff that can compete in the IPA.

At the plate the Cats have been led by RF Rick Audubon (.252/15 HR/54 RBI/41 R), CF Kirk Pitzer (.287/8 HR/34 RBI/47 R/18 SB), 1B Andy Danzer (.290/6 HR/37 RBI) and LF Zoro Volakis (.289/10 HR/36 RBI).

Taranto's jolly skipper Tommaso Lazzorda was excited about this season, thinking the Tars were playoff material, but it hasn't happened. Taranto just is not hitting this year, ranking right near the bottom in average, plus the heavy hitters and powerball has not been there, either. Consequently, the Taranto Tars (35-38) are 9 games in back of the RU North-leading LaGrange Sports. Taranto is in a three-way tie for the fifth spot in the standings.

But things are not all bad in Taranto. Lazzorda has outstanding pitching, ranking third in the RU with an impressive 3.18 team ERA. The Taranto twirlers are headed by brilliant Anthony Nardone (7-8 2.33), who has won 38 games in his first two seasons, racking up 16-10 and 22-10 records. As good as he is, Nardone can't consistently win without run support. Carlo Bianchi (10-5 3.15) seems to have found himself with a strong year thus far. The other starter for Lazzorda is Lefty Paddison (3-10 3.69), obtained in a trade from Grand City. The change of scenery has not been good for Paddison.

Taranto still has two fine hitters in All-Star LF Dominic Zuccaro (.295/21 HR/57 RBI/47 R) and RF Tony Blaser (.288/13 HR/51 RBI). 3B Sal Bruno (.303/2 HR/13 RBI/29 R) is Lazzorda's only .300 regular.

Believe it or not, but Manny Mickens has made progress in Ancona this season. The Ancona Red Elephants (32-41) are still in the cellar, but only 12 games out. Mickens still has a long way to go to compete in the RU North. Ancona has a few top performers in CF Simon Manetus (.362/5 HR/29 RBI/22 R), rookie LF Louie DiMucci (.283/10 HR/40 RBI/38 R) and RF Jimmy Brewer (.259/12 HR/38 RBI/43 R).

However, talent is sparse on the hill for Mickens. Rookie Yannis Vardakis (6-2 2.38) has been exceptional and vet Carl Costas (5-9 3.24) has been solid and dependable.

stevebydac · 07-04-2009, 12:57 AM

Great writing!

What's a better name for a base-stealer than Jet Kazmarek! And I noticed that Rick Audubon is on the Cats. Is he only allowed to play on teams with animal nicknames? I smell a trade to the Red Elephants!

Eugene Church · 07-04-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevebydac

Great writing!

What's a better name for a base-stealer than Jet Kazmarek! And I noticed that Rick Audubon is on the Cats. Is he only allowed to play on teams with animal nicknames? I smell a trade to the Red Elephants!

The Red Elephants could certainly use Audubon.

As far as "Jet Kazmarek", I deleted all of the nicknames from the nickname file and just gave them as the first name. I created players so the nickname would fit them as far as height, weight, nationality, demeanor and personality, .

A guy with a name like "Jet" should be fast. Kazmarek stands only 5'6" and weighs only 153 pounds.

There is a negative about removing all of the nicknames from the game nickname file. It will put a symbol "+" for the nickname in the player profile when it can't find a nickname to generate.

I have to catch them and remove the "+".

Eugene Church · 07-04-2009, 10:06 PM

Deleted.

I forgot to put the Division standings in.

Afino · 07-04-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

The Red Elephants could certainly use Audubon.

As far as "Jet Kazmarek", I deleted all of the nicknames from the nickname file and just gave them as the first name. I created players so the nickname would fit them as far as height, weight, nationality, demeanor and personality, .

A guy with a name like "Jet" should be fast. Kazmarek stands only 5'6" and weighs only 153 pounds.

There is a negative about removing all of the nicknames from the game nickname file. It will put a symbol "+" for the nickname in the player profile when it can't find a nickname to generate.

I have to catch them and remove the "+".

This will help you in OOTPX because nicknames seem to be cosmetic only. They don't show in the PBP anymore

I wouldn't know if people HAD nicknames if I didn't go to their player pages.

Eugene Church · 07-05-2009, 04:57 PM

The Ruthlandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Ruthlandian Union South Division 2004 Midseason Standings

Eugene Church · 07-05-2009, 04:58 PM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Valka Vaults To The Top in the RU South, Favorite St. John Falters Badly
The St. John Crusaders and the Belair Beach Sunbirds were the top two picks in the BNN preseason poll, but somebody forgot to tell the Valka Blackhawks, who were rated only seventh. The Blackhawks defied the experts, jumped out to an great 18-7 record in April and left everybody else in the dust.

At the midseason All-Star break the Valka Blackhawks (43-30) have 3-game margin over second place Belair Beach. Manager Jaan Kurus doesn't have many stars, just a bunch of good, solid ballplayers and role players.

Top Pitchers: All-Star Daryl Vannoy (9-5 1.91) and LHP Bobby Karu (10-6 2.90)... Andrei Kokk (6-7 3.97) and Arlo Krimm (7-6 3.84) are two more adequate starters... Outstanding in relief is closer Tommy Ruffin (4-2 2.08) with 14 saves and 33 game appearances... middle relief has been marginal at best... Kurus has added two rookies relievers to his mound corps for the second half run.

Top Batters: RF Jimmy Tremayne (.281/4 HR/42 RBI), Platooners CF Kyell Ibbotson (.331/3 HR/23 RBI) in 43 starts, 3B Buddy Petrisko (.273/8 HR/25 RBI) in 39 games and 3B Elmo Kuusk (.356/4 HR/17 RBI) in 36 games...Kuusk will move to second base to get both him and Petrisko in the line-up... Ibbotson will take over center field full-time... SS Villem Kask (.318/0 HR/28 RBI/40 R/14 SB)

The Blackhawks stand out in no categories... are dead last in homers with just 31 for the season... Waleska leads the division with 62.

Just as expected Marty Pedroza's Belair Beach Sunbirds (40-33) are in the thick of the pennant chase and just as expected the Sunbirds are doing it with tremendous pitching. Pedroza has five solid starters and a standout closer. The Sunbird staff have a 3.05 team ERA. Hitting is another story as the Sunbirds get by with basically two productive hitters in their line-up. One of them is All-Star 1B Phil Gravelli, who seems headed for a career year. Gravelli is number two in the RU in homers and RBIs.

Best Pitchers: Tiny Lindgren (9-7 2.78), Slim Mosley (6-4 2.90), Terry Christian (8-7 3.57), Jed Mitchell (6-4 3.51), Ray Watson (5-3 3.53) and closer Johnny Spears (3-6 2.82) with 11 saves in 33 relief appearances

Best Batters: All-Star 1B Phil Gravelli (.372/20 HR/63 RBI) and RF Nicky Swift (.248/13 HR/38 RBI)

The Claxton Diamonds (37-36) and San Dimas Rancheros are tied for the third spot in the RU South. The Old Perfesser, Stacy Engel, has his Diamonds sparkling on the ballfield and in the running for a playoff spot. They are only 3 games out of second place and 6 out of first at the halfway point in the season.

Claxton with four strong starters stays in the flag fight with excellent pitching, combined with excellent defense. The Diamonds pitching corps has compiled an impressive 3.19 ERA and the team sports a .980 fielding percentage, which ties them with Waleska for first place. What Engel needs is better hitting. Several of his top players are having terrible seasons. Dixie Baker (.223) and Marty McCluskey (.246) need to bounce back in the second half for Claxton to contend for a playoff spot.

Top Pitchers: Teddy Kuznetsov (8-4 2.89), Sal Tallis (8-2 2.49), Doug Torvik (6-4 3.01) and Tetsunori Nakashima (7-4 3.68)

Top Batters: Rookie CF Jackie Faust (.318/13 HR/34 RBI/49 R), LF Dixie Baker (.223/12 HR/39 RBI), 2B Bobby Ritter (.325/4 HR/29 RBI/30 R) and 3B Ron Doucette (.299/2 HR/32 R)

Paco Banderos has the San Dimas Rancheros (37-36) in the running for a playoff spot, but it will take more hitting to pull it off and more pitching, too. Banderos has better-than-average starters, but could use help in the bullpen. Domingo Rios, one of the top offensive performers last year, has suffered a slump and has seen his batting average fall from .291 last season to only .230 this year.

Top Pitchers: Keith Callahan (8-5 3.01), Shane Rymer (4-4 2.76) and Bill Sharp (9-3 3.40)

Top Batters: Rookie CF Dennis Jones (.335/2 HR/30 RBI/48 R/29 SB), RF Goose Carlin (.267/17 HR/48 RBI), C John Wesly Ewing (.267/8 HR/47 R), 1B Johnny Carlucci (.296/11 HR/38 RBI/44 R), 3B Domingo Rios (.230/10 HR/36 RI/39 R) and Rookie SS Manuel Romero (.301 /1 HR/16 RBI/16 R/ in 53 games

Torry Joseph's Grand City Cybercats (34-39) are playing better ball this year, but they still are a second division team. The Cybercats are holding forth in fifth place, 9 games off the pace of first place Valka. Joseph's crew is not likely to make the playoffs or get any higher in the standings. Grand City is just a mid-level team in all aspects of the game.

Best Pitchers: Shane Hall (10-6 3.07), Rookie Jarrick Neely (3-3 2.63) and Milo Dyer (6-9 3.33)

Best Batters: 2B Tony Borcellino (.275/16 HR/51 RBI/40 R), RF Teddy Giacone (.260/16 HR/48 RBI/39 R) and SS Wynn Joslin (.307/7 HR/28 RBI/48 R)

This year has been a big disappointment for McGraw Johnson and his Westerners, who were expected to be one of the top three teams. The Waleska Westerners (32-41) are sitting in sixth place in the RU South and don't seem to have the capability to climb any higher. Johnson's team is in the bottom third in hitting and pitching, but tops the division in fielding, tied with Claxton with a .980 FA. Waleska has only three quality players in Jack Carter, Big Hoss Burkhalter and Yoshihide Nishata. It's tough to compete in IPA that way.

Top Pitchers: Jack Wagner (9-4 3.34) and Smokey Joe Carter (7-8 4.11)

Top Batters: LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.277/16 HR/57 RBI/38 R) and 3B Yoshihide Nishida (.277/10 HR/34 RBI/46 R/17 SB)

It's going to be another long season for Herman "Baby" George's Crystal Lake Crushers (27-46). The good news is they are out of the cellar - the bad news is they are in seventh place, right close to the cellar.

Best Pitchers: Rocky Giambi (3-6 3.17) and closer Pablo Orestes (3-4 3.72) with 11 saves and 38 relief appearances

"Shock and awe on a seesaw" - that is an apt description of the St. John Crusaders (26-47) experience in the IPA. Last in 2002, first in 2003 and now back to last in 2004. Flip-flopping back and forth from top to bottom and back. This year the Crusaders have have returned to the dank and dismal basement dungeon.

"It really is stunning what has happened this year," manager Dickie Billings told BNN. "Everything has gone wrong this season. Eric Mayes was 19-12 with a 3.46 ERA last year, now he's 4-12 with an ungodly 6.21 ERA... Eddie Thorsen, a good solid closer with 30 saves last season has ballooned to a 6.43 ERA... SS Jerry Pontros is hitting .249 with 5 homers, last year he hit 27 and batted in the .290s... LF Don Kolstad is down from .294 to to .252. I could go on and on. Suffice to day we are atrocious and getting worse."

Top Pitchers: Sterling Eccles (8-7 3.00) and LHP Zach Simon (7-7 3.44)

Top Hitters: RF Kenny Hatcher (.270/15 HR/36 RBI) and 1B Frankie Faber (.263/12 HR/44 RBI)

Eugene Church · 07-06-2009, 12:09 AM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Ruthlandian Union East Division 2004 Midseason Standings

Eugene Church · 07-06-2009, 12:13 AM

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Elnora, Marston, Sugar Valley, Wynnamac 1-2-3, Sundowners Rise Up In RU East
The Ruthlandian East race is playing out to form at the midseason break except that the Wynnamac Sundowners are on the rise and tied for third place, just 3 games in back of first place Elnora. The Sundowners are the surprise team. They were penciled in for last place in the BNN preseason poll. Marston is in second place, two games behind. Sugar Valley is tied with Wynnamac in the third spot in the standings.

Skipper Zoggy White has the Elnora All-Stars (44-29) in peak-season form. The All-Stars are well-balanced with strong pitching and good offense. Defense is their only negative. They are last in the division with a poor .968 FA. White has one of the best teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance and it just got better. Elnora has just signed a new 1B Kent Swain and LF Wally Vincent. This fills the only two weak spots on the All-Star team. Scouts give Swain high marks as an all-around performer with some power. Swain is an outfielder/first baseman, but will take over first base for White. Vincent is a solid outfielder, but with no power. Both hit for average, too.

Best Pitchers: Lou Horn (10-2 2.64), Taylor Gibbs (9-5 3.45), Charlie Murphy (8-7 3.12) and closer Matty Wilkerson (6-2 3.11) with 10 saves and 32 relief appearances

Best Batters: RF Quincy Peterson (.292/15 HR/43 RBI/50 R), 2B Gil Foster (.342/9 HR/46 RBI/44 R), All-Star C Todd Simons (.303/5 HR/39 RBI), 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.284/9 HR/41 R), SS Kyle Villere (.285/7 HR/35 RBI/37 R) and CF Rusty Gilbert (.282/4 HR/30 RBI/45 R)

The Marston Nine (42-31) get by with a fine mound corps. Manager Johnny Walters' crew is not much with the bats this year. The Nine offense is last in scoring, but they have counter-balanced that shortcoming with excellent pitching, ranking first with a 3.19 team ERA. But Marston suffers from a severe lack of firepower, ranking last with only 36 homers. Eastshore is tops with 75, while Elnora and Sugar Valley, the Nine's main rivals, have hit 63 and 71 respectively. The Nine defense stands out with a .978 FA, second-best in the division.

Best Pitchers: Nick Pace (8-5 2.75),LHP Johnny Paris (8-6 3.29), Vinny Gardner (7-7 3.01) and closer Booger Burchfield (7-3 3.74) with 13 saves in 32 games.

Best Hitters: SS Don Nichols (.309/3 HR/23 RBI/45 R/22 SB), 1B Pat Farris (.327/3 HR/24 RBI), LF Sam Dixon (.312/6 HR/28 RBI) and CF Paulie Rizzutto (.242 8 HR/45 RBI)

Despite bullpen woes the Sugar Valley Rattlers (41-32) have had a good first half and are a close third, tied with Wynnamac, only 3 games back of leading Elnora. Manager Gibby Bobkins is desperate for a consistent closer. Hec Skurgan (1-0 2.61) will get the call in the second half of the year. Bobkins needs better work from his other two starters, Ron Benson (6-6 4.26) and Bernie Halsey (7-7 4.27). LHP Jay Washington, who is 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 31 relief assignments will split starts with Halsey in the #4 slot. The Rattlers top the division with 71 homers and they have a good attack with five productive hitters in the line-up.

Best Pitchers: All-Star Gregg Neal (9-4 2.39) and Anthony Glaser (9-6 3.43)

Best Hitters: SS Flipper Bird (.299/9 HR/44 RBI/40 R/19 SB), LF Bruno DiPirro (.302/4 HR/18 RBI/51 R/26 SB), 1B Ron Armstrong (.269/14 HR/54 RBI), 3B Jorge Vargas (.290/12 HR/42 RBI/45 R) and Rookie 2B Casey Leeburn (.277/9 HR/37 RBI/35 R)

The sudden rise of the Wynnamac Sundowners (41-32) can be attributed to the strong arms of starting pitchers Matt Landrieu and LHP Caleb Browne, closer Liam Bristow and the big bat of All-Star 1B Nate Cockroft. The trio of twirlers are a sensational 21-6 with microscopic ERAs. Toss in some fine defensive play, too. The Sundowners are tied for first with Belle Plaine with a .979 fielding percentage. But manager Matt Donnelly could use more offense. A .247 batting average can't compete with the three teams that Wynnamac is contending with. Fortunately, the Sundowners can go deep occasionally and hold their own in the home run department. Wynnamac has hit 61 out of the park this season.

Top Pitchers: Matt Landrieu (8-0 1.87), LHP Caleb Browne (9-3 2.99) and closer Lian Bristow (4-3 2.06) with 12 saves and 38 game appearances

Top Hitters: All-Star 1B Nate Cockroft (.325/22 HR/40 RBI/52 R) and RF Darcy Monaghan (.275/5 HR/33 RBI/49 R)

Bret George has his Beechwood Bobcats (34-39) on top of the heap with a .274 batting average and near the top with 69 roundtrippers, but he sure could use some pitching. Beechwood is last with a 4.11 ERA. The Bobcats have hit their way to fifth place, deadlocked with Eastshore, trailing Elnora by 10 games.

Top Pitchers: Dek Jumonville (11-3 2.81)

Top Hitters: 1B Roy Slater (.343/10 HR/55 RI/50 R/14 SB), All-Star RF Clifton Czabo (.327/9 HR/39 RBI/60 R/11 SB), CF Lonnie Snider (.341/6 HR/27 RBI/58 R/17 SB), SS Eldon Barker (.276/10 HR/44 RBI) and LF L. J. Aldridge (.268/13 HR/42 RBI)

The Eastshore Elegants (34-39) hit with power and lead the division with 75 homers, but they don't hit ball otherwise, ranking absolutely last in the entire Ruthlandian Union with an anemic .229 batting average. But manager Killer Brewster has put together a decent pitching staff that keeps them in most ballgames. The Elegants are also good with the gloves with a .977 fielding mark.

Best Pitchers: Ivar Jorgerson (8-5 3.46), Fred Duhon (7-7 3.16), Stony Blackwell (8-6 3.76) and closer Thomas Williams (2-4 2.25) with 10 saves in 31 games

Best Batters: RF Ron Dizon (.236/15 HR/58 RBI), 2B Miles Sheehan (.253/10 Hr/44 RBI), LF Darrel Alston (.248/13 HR/37 RBI/50 R) and 1B Vito Iacoboni (.206/13 HR/35 RBI)

The Cold Creek Catamounts (31-42), managed by T. Kelly Holmes, have decent pitching (3.71 ERA), but not much hitting (.243 BA). Those kind of stats translate into a seventh-place standing in the TU East, 13 games off the pace.

Best Pitchers: Terence Gilbert (8-5 3.07) and closer LHP Payton Saunders (3-0 3.24) with 6 saves in 27 games

Best Batters: SS Russ Russell (.273/5 HR/45 RBI), CF Trip Holmes (.248/10 HR/39 RBI/20 SB), RF Emile Stosha (.272/12 HR/37 RBI/52 R/23 SB)

The Belle Plaine Musketeers (29-44) skippered by Boo Ladrieux began the 2004 campaign in upbeat fashion. They had been very active on the trading block just prior to opening day and thought the team would be much-improved. Even the BNN preseason poll indicated a better season with a fifth-place finish. But that is not to be, at least halfway through the season. The Muskies are in the basement, 15 games behind Elnora at the midpoint in the year.

Best Pitchers: Milo Anthony (7-5 4.02), Guy Mercier (1-2 2.95) in 32 relief appearances and closer Kent Wells (0-5 2.61) with 9 saves in 33 games

Best Batters: CF Dennis Riley (.255/12 HR/39 RBI/41 R), 1B Scott Theriot (.297/5 HR/37 RBI/34 R), RF Cris Willis (.307/7 HR/34 RBI/36 R) and LF Juan Mendes (.300/6 HR/33 RBI/39 R)

07-01-2009, 01:19 PM	#1082
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times March 21, 2004 New Playoff Proposal By Owners A group of 16 owners have proposed a new playoff system for the IPA Pro Cup Series. The owners say the present system favors the weaker teams by having short series. They have petitioned the IPA league commissioner John Banford to enlarge the length of each playoff series from best-of-three series to best-of-five for all rounds except for the Pro Cup Finals, which would be increased from best-of-five to a best-of-seven series. The group also requested that only 16 teams qualify for the Pro Cup Playoffs. Only the top 16 teams should qualify. Presently 32 teams qualify. They asked for the new playoff system be put into effect for the 2004 playoffs. San Alejo's GM/Manager Lando Peceda, spokesman for the group, told the Commissioner Banford that the chances of a lesser team defeating a better team is far less likely in a five-game series. Longer series would be better for competition and better for the fans. Peceda said too often a .500 or worse team makes the playoffs, whips a first place team in a short series. It wouldn't happen as often if the series were made longer. Two teams under .500 maed the playoffs last season and two teams in 2002. This shouldn't happen. The new 16-team system would not extend the length of the playoffs. It could be played in the same time frame as the 32-team system. Banford said he would take the petition under advisement and get back with his decision. The Islandian Times did a quick poll of team owners to see how they felt about changing the playoff procedures. It was split 50-50, some liking it and some not liking it. The anti-votes said they didn't like cutting out 16 teams from the playoffs. One owner said, "It's only the best teams that are complaining. They are unhappy with getting eliminated early in the playoffs. The rest of us have a better chance of getting into the playoffs if there are 32 slots." Last edited by Eugene Church; 10-29-2011 at 11:19 PM.

07-01-2009, 02:28 PM	#1083
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times March 24, 2004 IPA Owners Split Evenly On New Playoff Proposal. The only agreement the IPA owners have about the new Pro Cup Series playoff proposal is that they don't agree. A poll by The Islandian Times showed that it is pretty much split right down the middle with the better teams favoring only 16 playoff teams and changing the short three-game series with longer five-game series, while the weaker clubs want to keep the playoff series as it is with 32 teams. The Times also polled the fans to see how they stand on the new IPA Pro Cup playoff system. They overwhelmingly approved the new system saying under-.500 teams don't deserve to make the playoffs and that competition would be better without them. 16 teams would insure that only deserving teams would qualify for the playoffs. Extending the series to best-of-five would be more fair to teams that won the most games in the regular series. The fans said it was too easy for a lesser team win a three-game series. It would happen less if they were extended to at five-game sets. The Times spoke with IPA Commissioner John Banford and he said he was looking at the new proposal, talking to all of the owners and trying to take the pulse of the fans before he makes his ruling. Banford said he would have his decision in a few days before the regular season begins. The Commissioner has absolute power related to league rules and operation. The owners only have advisory powers. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-01-2009 at 03:33 PM.

07-01-2009, 04:04 PM	#1086
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Sunday, April 4, 2004 BNN Preseason TU Picks: Oxford, San Alejo, Red Bluff, Bayview Baseball is back tomorrow. The long-awaited and much-anticipated Opening Day of baseball is finally here! For both fans and teams, hope always springs eternal. The proverbial "next year" is finally here! For better or worse, we'll find out what all the offseason management moves, manipulations and changes in personnel will bring. So, break out the peanuts and crackerjacks, sit back, sip on a tall cool one and get ready for some baseball. BNN released it annual preseason baseball poll and two of last season's division winners have been tabbed to repeat in the Tycobbian Union. The San Alejo Montaneros in the South and the Bayview Vikings are picked to again take its division pennant, while the Oxford Red Caps are forecast to knock off last year's North champion, the Hartsdale Hellcats, and the High Mesa Cowboys will reign supreme over the defending East titlists, the Red Bluff Red Sox. * = 2003 Division Champion TU North 1. Oxford Red Caps 2. Hartsdale Hellcats * 3. Fairfax Frogs 4. North Hills Hawks 5. Luxora Zorros 6. Blue Lake Blue Sox 7. Mahaska Haymakers 8. White River Rascals TU South 1. San Alejo Montaneros * 2. Turon Typhoons (2003 Pro Cup Winner) 3. Cape Coral Hurricanes 4. Ginza Ninjas 5. Summerland Sunsets 6. Colchester Elites 7. Southport Sun Sox 8. Arlon Champions TU East 1. High Mesa Cowboys 2. Red Bluff Red Sox * 3. Tuckanarra Blue Jays 4. Hillsboro Blazers 5. Ozarka Naturals 6. South Fork Stallions 7. Midway Wolves 8. East Point Panthers RU West 1. Bayview Vikings * 2. Rolling Hills Reds 3. Denton City Redbirds 4. La Claire Lynx 5. Bay St. Claire Buccaneers 6. Kenwood Wildcats 7. Chicopee Braves 8. Arlon Champions Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-01-2009 at 04:07 PM.

07-01-2009, 04:42 PM	#1087
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Sunday, April 4, 2004 Montaneros Send Acosta To Wildcats To Complete Deal The San Alejo Montaneros swapped 27-year-old reliever Pedro Acosta for 28-year-old center fielder Johnny Laborde of the Kenwood Wildcats. Acosta was the "player to be named later" in a deal completed earlier this month. Acosta was 9-5 last season in 55 games with a 3.95 ERA. Acosta made 11 starts and nailed down 6 saves. During his 110-game career Acosta has fashioned a 16-12 won-lost record. In 238 innings he has rolled up 203 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA with 13 saves. Kenwood intends to use Acosta as their #4 starter. LaBorde played 36 games in the 2002 season with a .208 batting average. San Alejo will keep LaBorde on their reserved roster. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-01-2009 at 04:46 PM.

07-03-2009, 01:31 PM	#1089
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Monday, April 5, 2004 It's Swing Time! Are You Ready For Some Baseball? The Islandian Pro Alliance begins its fourth season of play today with 32 games all across the Islands. From Far Mountain in the North to Arroyo Grande in the South, from Bayview in the West to San Dimas in the East, wherever you go, you can find a ballgame. The IPA will culminate in early October with the Pro Cup championship series between the Tycobbian Union titlist and the Ruthlandian Union winner. This year for the first time it will be a best-of-seven series. In the past it has been decided with a best-of-five-games series. All of the preliminary rounds will be expanded as well, from best-of-three games to best-of-five games. If the scribes are right, the Oxford Red Caps of the TU North and the Elnora All-Stars of the RU East will vie for the crown. The BNN baseball experts are giving the nod to the Red Caps because of their awesome offensive power. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-11-2009 at 01:05 AM.

06-30-2009, 11:00 PM	#1081
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times March 20, 2004 Snappers Snap Up SS Bermudez, Ship Milwaine to Montaneros The Rocky Rapids Snappers have agreed to send 25-year-old starting pitcher Clay Milwaine to the San Alejo Montaneros for 24-year-old shortstop Cooter Bermudez. The trade was announced today by the IPA commissioner's office. Milwaine was 13-8 this past season with 10 starts and 5 complete games. He registered a 3.45 ERA. Milwaine has a lifetime record of 24 wins and 20 losses and a 3.84 ERA. Burmudez is an outstanding talent and played his rookie year as a back-up. Bermudez batted .296 with 2 home runs and 21 RBIs in 87 total games and 35 starts.

07-01-2009, 04:02 PM	#1084
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Wednesday, March 31, 2004 IPA Commissioner Proclaims New 16-Team Playoff System In a press conference today at IPA headquarters in Forest City, John Banford, the IPA Commissioner, issued his decision on the new Pro Cup playoff system. Banford approved the petition of 16 team owners that requested the number of playoff teams be lowered to 16 teams and each round of the playoffs be expanded to a best-of-five series, replacing the the best-of-three system in the early rounds. Banford said he agreed that too often a lesser team could win a short series. Expanding the number of games made good sense and would make for better competition. Banford said he didn't think teams that did not play .500 ball deserved to be included in the playoffs, therefore he was reducing the number from 32 to 16 teams. Another important factor in his decision was the overwhelming support of the fans for the new system. He said his own private poll revealed 85% of them strongly favored it. Banford said he knew his ruling would not be well-received by a good many owners. He advised them to improve their teams so that they would be worthy of the playoffs. Banford told The Islandian Times that the new playoff system would go into effect this year. All of the playoff series would be best three-of-five series in the Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final 4 rounds. The Pro Cup Finals would be increased to a best-four-out-of-seven series.

07-01-2009, 04:03 PM	#1085
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Saturday, April 3, 2004 BNN Poll Select Valmara, St. John, Elnora, Volusia Division Winners In RU The offseason is over at last. Spring training has come and gone and it is now time to play ball. The 2006 Major League Baseball season begins Monday. Some teams have changed, but the game is still the same. Another great baseball season is here. The 2004 BNN preseason baseball poll was released today. In the Ruthlandian Union all of last year's division winners have been forecast to win again. Valmara will win the North, St. John in the South, Elnora in the East and Volusia in the West. * = 2003 Division Champion RU North 1. Valmara Vipers * (2003 Pro Cup Runner-up) 2. Ranford Bulls 3. Glasco Athletics 4. Taranto Tars 5. Far Mountain Redhawks 6. LaGrange Sports 7. Kilkenny Cats 8. Ancona Red Elephants RU South 1. St. John Crusaders * 2. Belair Beach Sunbirds 3. Waleska Westerners 4. San Dimas Rancheros 5. Claxton Diamonds 6. Grand City Cybercats 7. Valka Blackhawks 8. Crystal Lake Crushers RU East 1. Elnora All-Stars * 2. Sugar Valley Rattlers 3. Marston Nine 4. Beechwood Bobcats 5. Belle Plaine Musketeers 6. Cold Creek Catamounts 7. Eastshore Elegants 8. Wynnamac Sundowners RU West 1. Volusia Vigilantes * 2. Middlefield Roosters 3. Colfax Blasters 4. Forest City Lumberjacks 5. Sligo Rovers 6. Rocky Rapids Snappers 7. Stoner Stars 8. Fort Benton Defenders

07-01-2009, 05:24 PM	#1088
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Sunday, April 4, 2004 North Hills Dozier Trade Finished, Belle Plaine Gets Deaton Signed. Sealed. Delivered. North Hills sent 34-year-old reliever Lyle Deaton to Belle Plaine for 29-year-old reliever Ben Boulanger. Both teams expect to introduce the players to their new teammates within a day or two. These players were part of the Lou Dozier trade several weeks ago. They were the "players to be named later". Deaton was 3-0 in his rookie year last season with a 2.33 ERA in 17 relief appearances. Boulanger was also a first-year player in 2003. He finished the season 2-0 with 3.86 ERA in 26 games. Both will be spot starters and middle relievers with their new teams.

07-03-2009, 05:28 PM	#1090
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Tuesday, June 23, 2004 IPA Breaks For The All-Star Game The 2004 Islandian Pro Alliance season has reached the halfway point. Most of the good clubs have done well and played according-to-form. However, there are several surprises. Unheralded Valka, LaGrange, Sligo, Stoner and Wynnamac have really shaken up the Ruthlandian Union standings, while Midway and Colchester have done the same to the Tycobbian Union. At the mid-season break, the LaGrange Sports have bolted to a 5-game lead over Valmara in the RU North. The Sports were rated the sixth-best club going into the season, while the Vipers were the number one choice. The Valka Blackhawks were ranked seventh in the preseason, but have jolted the experts by holding a 3-game lead over the Belair Beach Sunbirds in the RU South. St. John was the preseason favorite. The Sligo Rovers are tied with Middlefield for first place in the RU West with the Stoner Stars in the third spot, 6 games behind. Sligo was picked fifth in the BNN poll, while Stoner was ranked seventh. The experts had Volusia the winner with Middlefield number two. Only the RU East has gone true-to-form, but even there, the Wynnamac Sundowners have surged up to third place, just three games off the pace and tied with Sugar Valley. Favored teams Elnora and Marston are the front runners. The All-Stars are two games up on the Nine at the All-Star break. In a stunning reversal, the team picked to top the RU South has floundered badly and sunk to last place. The defending division champs, the St. John Crusaders, have struggled severely and have just about the worst record in the IPA. St. John finished the first half of the season with a pathetic 26-47 record. Only Blue Lake in the TU North is worse at 25-48. Over in the Tycobbian Union Midway and Colchester have confounded the preseason predictions. The Wolves are the top dog in the TU East with a one-game edge over the Tuckanarra Blue Jays. The High Mesa Cowboys and the Red Bluff Red Sox were labeled the top clubs in the BNN preseason prognostications. Colchester is the number two team in the TU South and trails first place Cape Coral by only two games. Midway was rated seventh in the BNN poll, while the Elites came in sixth. San Alejo was the heavy preseason favorite in the division. The preseason poll was badly off-the-mark with San Alejo, High Mesa and Red Bluff in the Tycobbian Union. The Montaneros, one of the IPA powerhouses, was named the best team in the South Division, but have slipped down to an embarrassing fifth place and are 9 games behind the Cape Coral Hurricanes. The Cowboys and Red Sox were forecast to run 1-2 in the TU East, but are deadlocked in the fourth spot, 6 games back of the startling Midway Wolves. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-03-2009 at 05:31 PM.

07-03-2009, 10:02 PM	#1091
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Ruthlandian Union North Division 2004 Midseason Standings Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-05-2009 at 05:00 PM.

07-03-2009, 10:07 PM	#1092
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Sports Surprising Leader in RU North The LaGrange were picked to finish sixth in the BNN preseason poll. Questioned about that, Manager Foxy Jimison retorted, "My boys don't get paid to read the sports pages, they get paid to play baseball." And that is most certainly what the Sports have done. They have set the Ruthlandian Union North on fire and have opened up a 5-game lead over the preseason favorite and defending division crownholder, the Valmara Vipers. The LaGrange Sports (44-29) are doing all the damage with their bats. They lead the RU with a .276 batting average. Sparking the Sports are LF John Babcock (.318/14 HR/54 RBI), All-Star RF Mike Di Lazzaro (.329/8 HR/46 RBI/45 R/13 SB), CF Roger Marley (.328/9 HR/34 RBI/45 R) and 2B Tim Masters (.321/4 HR/33 RBI/47 R). Jimison doesn't have the strongest pitching staff in the league, but he does have three good starters and a solid closer. Barney Prohaska (6-1 2.73), Sean Stone (11-3 3.25), Al Thibaut (4-7 3.29) and closer Leroy Labat (7-3 3.03) have the arms to keep LaGrange in the game until the bats prevail. Labat has saved 12 games so far and pitched in 31 games. Skipper J. Jackson Samuel has his Valmara Vipers (39-35) in second place despite a noticeable drop in batting average and ERA this season. Thank goodness, he can depend on All-Star LF Jet Kazmarek (.399/4 HR/42 RBI/54 R/40 SB), who is again flirting with .400. Two years ago Kazmarek astounded the IPA by batting a prodigious .428 for the season. 2B Floyd Vinson (.289/3 HR/51 RBI), 1B Masaichi Okawa (.280/7 HR/44 RBI) and RF Val Krol (.308/4 HR/27 RBI) have contributed, too. Samuel said, "Pitching is our big problem this year. It seems that the league as whole has better pitching, but not us. My ace Danny Blauser (6-9 4.03) is not going to win 23 games this year like he did last year. Zarek Zalewski (8-8 4.32) is having a bad year and is now in my doghouse and the bullpen. And Yanni Wlodarczyk (3-2 5.66), who was wonderful as my closer last year, is lucky he is still on the team. He's got the rest of the season to straighten himself out, but not as my closer. Andre Trepanier (8-7 3.25) has been my steadiest and most consistent starter. If we expect to catch LaGrange, we better start hitting and start pitching. I think it is going to get better. These guys have too much talent to play so poorly for an entire season." As always, Page Satcher has his Ranford Bulls (38-35) in contention. The Bulls are 6 games off the pace and led by two All-Stars, SS Rick Fargnoli (.339/12 HR/65 RBI/48 R) and 3B Colin Fairclough (.305/8 HR/38 RBI/48 R/15 SB). Fargnoli tops the IPA with 65 RBIs. Rookie LF Jose Castillo (.291/8 HR/24 RBI/47 R) and 1B Jordy John (.235/14 HR/50 RBI) have also chipped in some offense. Satcher has one of the better mound staffs in the division with LHP Bud Enright (11-6 3.39), Jim Maxwell (7-5 3.54) and LHP Chris Bernhoffer (8-9 3.74). Bernhoffer has won 20 games in each of his first two series, but has not been as effective this year so far. Ranford needs him to turn it around to challenge LaGrange and Valmara this season. In the bullpen Old Satch has his southpaw closer Tim DeKosky (5-3 2.25), who has 10 saves and appeared in 27 games. It's been a down year for the Glasco Athletics (36-37). They are in fourth place and 8 games behind the leader. Several of their mainstays, sluggers RF Ox Beauvais (.243/3 HR/26 RBI) and CF Bobby Pascarelli (.244/10 HR/44 RBI), are having down years. Pitchers LHP Charles Darby (5-9 4.49) and Jerry Smith (5-3 4.44) have not been effective. Smith has been sent to the bullpen by manager McDuffie Hughes. In an attempt to jump start the offense and the pitching, Hughes has decided to go with younger players. The A's top performers are All-Star 2B Barry McCord (.329/9 HR/48 RBI/49 R), C Jonas Ogburn (.317/6 HR/41 RBI), 1B Maury Smith (.292/5 HR/31 RBI/33 R), LF Stan Kobzar (.292/6 HR/23 RBI/44 R) and Pascarelli, who hit 34 homers last season and hit 40 points higher. On the hill LHP Jesse Balfour (6-8 2.52) has pitched well, but received poor bat support. Glasco's best hurler has been the veteran Ray Cook (11-5 3.09). Hughes is still looking for a closer and two other good starters. Rookie Hal Neyland (0-3 3.22) will get his chance as a starter in the second half of the year. He has appeared in 25 games and made 3 starts. Hard times have come to Far Mountain and Alex Groveland this year. The Far Mountain Redhawks (35-38) are in a fifth place tie with Kilkenny and Taranto, 9 games behind. They have plenty of time to get into contention for a playoff spot. However, there are only two spots in each division this year. In years past four teams made the playoffs. Poor hitting hampers the Redhawks this season. Groveland's prime producers just haven't done it so far. LF Karl Dietz (.223/15 HR/48 RBI) is hitting homers, but little else. CF Sid Cameron (.247/2 HR/36 RBI), a career .303 hitter, has slumped badly. 1B Royce Benson (.287/5 HR/20 RBI/43 R/22 SB) has been Far Mountain's top batter. On the mound Robby Kelly (10-5 2.79) has sparkled and gotten solid help from Sonny Elliott (8-4 3.26) and Cliff Pope (6-2 3.09). However, Elliott missed a month with an injury. In the bullpen, specialist Bud Ford (2-3 1.62) has been sensational in the first half of the season with 13 saves and 33 relief appearances. The Kilkenny Cats (35-38) with Kieran McKenna at the controls made wholesale hill changes at the break and signed four new pitchers in an effort to end the mound malaise. McKenna is blessed with three fine arms in All-Star Yasuyuki Nakagawa (9-5 1.89) and two lefties, Marty Cullen (5-2 2.57) and Collin Gilder (5-6 3.13). Conan Walsh (5-3 3.82) has also had some success. But four guys do not make a staff that can compete in the IPA. At the plate the Cats have been led by RF Rick Audubon (.252/15 HR/54 RBI/41 R), CF Kirk Pitzer (.287/8 HR/34 RBI/47 R/18 SB), 1B Andy Danzer (.290/6 HR/37 RBI) and LF Zoro Volakis (.289/10 HR/36 RBI). Taranto's jolly skipper Tommaso Lazzorda was excited about this season, thinking the Tars were playoff material, but it hasn't happened. Taranto just is not hitting this year, ranking right near the bottom in average, plus the heavy hitters and powerball has not been there, either. Consequently, the Taranto Tars (35-38) are 9 games in back of the RU North-leading LaGrange Sports. Taranto is in a three-way tie for the fifth spot in the standings. But things are not all bad in Taranto. Lazzorda has outstanding pitching, ranking third in the RU with an impressive 3.18 team ERA. The Taranto twirlers are headed by brilliant Anthony Nardone (7-8 2.33), who has won 38 games in his first two seasons, racking up 16-10 and 22-10 records. As good as he is, Nardone can't consistently win without run support. Carlo Bianchi (10-5 3.15) seems to have found himself with a strong year thus far. The other starter for Lazzorda is Lefty Paddison (3-10 3.69), obtained in a trade from Grand City. The change of scenery has not been good for Paddison. Taranto still has two fine hitters in All-Star LF Dominic Zuccaro (.295/21 HR/57 RBI/47 R) and RF Tony Blaser (.288/13 HR/51 RBI). 3B Sal Bruno (.303/2 HR/13 RBI/29 R) is Lazzorda's only .300 regular. Believe it or not, but Manny Mickens has made progress in Ancona this season. The Ancona Red Elephants (32-41) are still in the cellar, but only 12 games out. Mickens still has a long way to go to compete in the RU North. Ancona has a few top performers in CF Simon Manetus (.362/5 HR/29 RBI/22 R), rookie LF Louie DiMucci (.283/10 HR/40 RBI/38 R) and RF Jimmy Brewer (.259/12 HR/38 RBI/43 R). However, talent is sparse on the hill for Mickens. Rookie Yannis Vardakis (6-2 2.38) has been exceptional and vet Carl Costas (5-9 3.24) has been solid and dependable. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-05-2009 at 05:04 PM.

07-04-2009, 12:57 AM	#1093
stevebydac All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In a fictional baseball world Posts: 840	Great writing! What's a better name for a base-stealer than Jet Kazmarek! And I noticed that Rick Audubon is on the Cats. Is he only allowed to play on teams with animal nicknames? I smell a trade to the Red Elephants! __________________

07-04-2009, 10:06 PM	#1095
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	Deleted. I forgot to put the Division standings in. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-05-2009 at 04:58 PM.

07-05-2009, 04:57 PM	#1097
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Ruthlandian Times Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Ruthlandian Union South Division 2004 Midseason Standings Attached Images

07-05-2009, 04:58 PM	#1098
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Valka Vaults To The Top in the RU South, Favorite St. John Falters Badly The St. John Crusaders and the Belair Beach Sunbirds were the top two picks in the BNN preseason poll, but somebody forgot to tell the Valka Blackhawks, who were rated only seventh. The Blackhawks defied the experts, jumped out to an great 18-7 record in April and left everybody else in the dust. At the midseason All-Star break the Valka Blackhawks (43-30) have 3-game margin over second place Belair Beach. Manager Jaan Kurus doesn't have many stars, just a bunch of good, solid ballplayers and role players. Top Pitchers: All-Star Daryl Vannoy (9-5 1.91) and LHP Bobby Karu (10-6 2.90)... Andrei Kokk (6-7 3.97) and Arlo Krimm (7-6 3.84) are two more adequate starters... Outstanding in relief is closer Tommy Ruffin (4-2 2.08) with 14 saves and 33 game appearances... middle relief has been marginal at best... Kurus has added two rookies relievers to his mound corps for the second half run. Top Batters: RF Jimmy Tremayne (.281/4 HR/42 RBI), Platooners CF Kyell Ibbotson (.331/3 HR/23 RBI) in 43 starts, 3B Buddy Petrisko (.273/8 HR/25 RBI) in 39 games and 3B Elmo Kuusk (.356/4 HR/17 RBI) in 36 games...Kuusk will move to second base to get both him and Petrisko in the line-up... Ibbotson will take over center field full-time... SS Villem Kask (.318/0 HR/28 RBI/40 R/14 SB) The Blackhawks stand out in no categories... are dead last in homers with just 31 for the season... Waleska leads the division with 62. Just as expected Marty Pedroza's Belair Beach Sunbirds (40-33) are in the thick of the pennant chase and just as expected the Sunbirds are doing it with tremendous pitching. Pedroza has five solid starters and a standout closer. The Sunbird staff have a 3.05 team ERA. Hitting is another story as the Sunbirds get by with basically two productive hitters in their line-up. One of them is All-Star 1B Phil Gravelli, who seems headed for a career year. Gravelli is number two in the RU in homers and RBIs. Best Pitchers: Tiny Lindgren (9-7 2.78), Slim Mosley (6-4 2.90), Terry Christian (8-7 3.57), Jed Mitchell (6-4 3.51), Ray Watson (5-3 3.53) and closer Johnny Spears (3-6 2.82) with 11 saves in 33 relief appearances Best Batters: All-Star 1B Phil Gravelli (.372/20 HR/63 RBI) and RF Nicky Swift (.248/13 HR/38 RBI) The Claxton Diamonds (37-36) and San Dimas Rancheros are tied for the third spot in the RU South. The Old Perfesser, Stacy Engel, has his Diamonds sparkling on the ballfield and in the running for a playoff spot. They are only 3 games out of second place and 6 out of first at the halfway point in the season. Claxton with four strong starters stays in the flag fight with excellent pitching, combined with excellent defense. The Diamonds pitching corps has compiled an impressive 3.19 ERA and the team sports a .980 fielding percentage, which ties them with Waleska for first place. What Engel needs is better hitting. Several of his top players are having terrible seasons. Dixie Baker (.223) and Marty McCluskey (.246) need to bounce back in the second half for Claxton to contend for a playoff spot. Top Pitchers: Teddy Kuznetsov (8-4 2.89), Sal Tallis (8-2 2.49), Doug Torvik (6-4 3.01) and Tetsunori Nakashima (7-4 3.68) Top Batters: Rookie CF Jackie Faust (.318/13 HR/34 RBI/49 R), LF Dixie Baker (.223/12 HR/39 RBI), 2B Bobby Ritter (.325/4 HR/29 RBI/30 R) and 3B Ron Doucette (.299/2 HR/32 R) Paco Banderos has the San Dimas Rancheros (37-36) in the running for a playoff spot, but it will take more hitting to pull it off and more pitching, too. Banderos has better-than-average starters, but could use help in the bullpen. Domingo Rios, one of the top offensive performers last year, has suffered a slump and has seen his batting average fall from .291 last season to only .230 this year. Top Pitchers: Keith Callahan (8-5 3.01), Shane Rymer (4-4 2.76) and Bill Sharp (9-3 3.40) Top Batters: Rookie CF Dennis Jones (.335/2 HR/30 RBI/48 R/29 SB), RF Goose Carlin (.267/17 HR/48 RBI), C John Wesly Ewing (.267/8 HR/47 R), 1B Johnny Carlucci (.296/11 HR/38 RBI/44 R), 3B Domingo Rios (.230/10 HR/36 RI/39 R) and Rookie SS Manuel Romero (.301 /1 HR/16 RBI/16 R/ in 53 games Torry Joseph's Grand City Cybercats (34-39) are playing better ball this year, but they still are a second division team. The Cybercats are holding forth in fifth place, 9 games off the pace of first place Valka. Joseph's crew is not likely to make the playoffs or get any higher in the standings. Grand City is just a mid-level team in all aspects of the game. Best Pitchers: Shane Hall (10-6 3.07), Rookie Jarrick Neely (3-3 2.63) and Milo Dyer (6-9 3.33) Best Batters: 2B Tony Borcellino (.275/16 HR/51 RBI/40 R), RF Teddy Giacone (.260/16 HR/48 RBI/39 R) and SS Wynn Joslin (.307/7 HR/28 RBI/48 R) This year has been a big disappointment for McGraw Johnson and his Westerners, who were expected to be one of the top three teams. The Waleska Westerners (32-41) are sitting in sixth place in the RU South and don't seem to have the capability to climb any higher. Johnson's team is in the bottom third in hitting and pitching, but tops the division in fielding, tied with Claxton with a .980 FA. Waleska has only three quality players in Jack Carter, Big Hoss Burkhalter and Yoshihide Nishata. It's tough to compete in IPA that way. Top Pitchers: Jack Wagner (9-4 3.34) and Smokey Joe Carter (7-8 4.11) Top Batters: LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.277/16 HR/57 RBI/38 R) and 3B Yoshihide Nishida (.277/10 HR/34 RBI/46 R/17 SB) It's going to be another long season for Herman "Baby" George's Crystal Lake Crushers (27-46). The good news is they are out of the cellar - the bad news is they are in seventh place, right close to the cellar. Best Pitchers: Rocky Giambi (3-6 3.17) and closer Pablo Orestes (3-4 3.72) with 11 saves and 38 relief appearances "Shock and awe on a seesaw" - that is an apt description of the St. John Crusaders (26-47) experience in the IPA. Last in 2002, first in 2003 and now back to last in 2004. Flip-flopping back and forth from top to bottom and back. This year the Crusaders have have returned to the dank and dismal basement dungeon. "It really is stunning what has happened this year," manager Dickie Billings told BNN. "Everything has gone wrong this season. Eric Mayes was 19-12 with a 3.46 ERA last year, now he's 4-12 with an ungodly 6.21 ERA... Eddie Thorsen, a good solid closer with 30 saves last season has ballooned to a 6.43 ERA... SS Jerry Pontros is hitting .249 with 5 homers, last year he hit 27 and batted in the .290s... LF Don Kolstad is down from .294 to to .252. I could go on and on. Suffice to day we are atrocious and getting worse." Top Pitchers: Sterling Eccles (8-7 3.00) and LHP Zach Simon (7-7 3.44) Top Hitters: RF Kenny Hatcher (.270/15 HR/36 RBI) and 1B Frankie Faber (.263/12 HR/44 RBI)

07-06-2009, 12:09 AM	#1099
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Ruthlandian Union East Division 2004 Midseason Standings Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-06-2009 at 12:12 AM.

07-06-2009, 12:13 AM	#1100
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,868	The Islandian Times Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Elnora, Marston, Sugar Valley, Wynnamac 1-2-3, Sundowners Rise Up In RU East The Ruthlandian East race is playing out to form at the midseason break except that the Wynnamac Sundowners are on the rise and tied for third place, just 3 games in back of first place Elnora. The Sundowners are the surprise team. They were penciled in for last place in the BNN preseason poll. Marston is in second place, two games behind. Sugar Valley is tied with Wynnamac in the third spot in the standings. Skipper Zoggy White has the Elnora All-Stars (44-29) in peak-season form. The All-Stars are well-balanced with strong pitching and good offense. Defense is their only negative. They are last in the division with a poor .968 FA. White has one of the best teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance and it just got better. Elnora has just signed a new 1B Kent Swain and LF Wally Vincent. This fills the only two weak spots on the All-Star team. Scouts give Swain high marks as an all-around performer with some power. Swain is an outfielder/first baseman, but will take over first base for White. Vincent is a solid outfielder, but with no power. Both hit for average, too. Best Pitchers: Lou Horn (10-2 2.64), Taylor Gibbs (9-5 3.45), Charlie Murphy (8-7 3.12) and closer Matty Wilkerson (6-2 3.11) with 10 saves and 32 relief appearances Best Batters: RF Quincy Peterson (.292/15 HR/43 RBI/50 R), 2B Gil Foster (.342/9 HR/46 RBI/44 R), All-Star C Todd Simons (.303/5 HR/39 RBI), 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.284/9 HR/41 R), SS Kyle Villere (.285/7 HR/35 RBI/37 R) and CF Rusty Gilbert (.282/4 HR/30 RBI/45 R) The Marston Nine (42-31) get by with a fine mound corps. Manager Johnny Walters' crew is not much with the bats this year. The Nine offense is last in scoring, but they have counter-balanced that shortcoming with excellent pitching, ranking first with a 3.19 team ERA. But Marston suffers from a severe lack of firepower, ranking last with only 36 homers. Eastshore is tops with 75, while Elnora and Sugar Valley, the Nine's main rivals, have hit 63 and 71 respectively. The Nine defense stands out with a .978 FA, second-best in the division. Best Pitchers: Nick Pace (8-5 2.75),LHP Johnny Paris (8-6 3.29), Vinny Gardner (7-7 3.01) and closer Booger Burchfield (7-3 3.74) with 13 saves in 32 games. Best Hitters: SS Don Nichols (.309/3 HR/23 RBI/45 R/22 SB), 1B Pat Farris (.327/3 HR/24 RBI), LF Sam Dixon (.312/6 HR/28 RBI) and CF Paulie Rizzutto (.242 8 HR/45 RBI) Despite bullpen woes the Sugar Valley Rattlers (41-32) have had a good first half and are a close third, tied with Wynnamac, only 3 games back of leading Elnora. Manager Gibby Bobkins is desperate for a consistent closer. Hec Skurgan (1-0 2.61) will get the call in the second half of the year. Bobkins needs better work from his other two starters, Ron Benson (6-6 4.26) and Bernie Halsey (7-7 4.27). LHP Jay Washington, who is 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 31 relief assignments will split starts with Halsey in the #4 slot. The Rattlers top the division with 71 homers and they have a good attack with five productive hitters in the line-up. Best Pitchers: All-Star Gregg Neal (9-4 2.39) and Anthony Glaser (9-6 3.43) Best Hitters: SS Flipper Bird (.299/9 HR/44 RBI/40 R/19 SB), LF Bruno DiPirro (.302/4 HR/18 RBI/51 R/26 SB), 1B Ron Armstrong (.269/14 HR/54 RBI), 3B Jorge Vargas (.290/12 HR/42 RBI/45 R) and Rookie 2B Casey Leeburn (.277/9 HR/37 RBI/35 R) The sudden rise of the Wynnamac Sundowners (41-32) can be attributed to the strong arms of starting pitchers Matt Landrieu and LHP Caleb Browne, closer Liam Bristow and the big bat of All-Star 1B Nate Cockroft. The trio of twirlers are a sensational 21-6 with microscopic ERAs. Toss in some fine defensive play, too. The Sundowners are tied for first with Belle Plaine with a .979 fielding percentage. But manager Matt Donnelly could use more offense. A .247 batting average can't compete with the three teams that Wynnamac is contending with. Fortunately, the Sundowners can go deep occasionally and hold their own in the home run department. Wynnamac has hit 61 out of the park this season. Top Pitchers: Matt Landrieu (8-0 1.87), LHP Caleb Browne (9-3 2.99) and closer Lian Bristow (4-3 2.06) with 12 saves and 38 game appearances Top Hitters: All-Star 1B Nate Cockroft (.325/22 HR/40 RBI/52 R) and RF Darcy Monaghan (.275/5 HR/33 RBI/49 R) Bret George has his Beechwood Bobcats (34-39) on top of the heap with a .274 batting average and near the top with 69 roundtrippers, but he sure could use some pitching. Beechwood is last with a 4.11 ERA. The Bobcats have hit their way to fifth place, deadlocked with Eastshore, trailing Elnora by 10 games. Top Pitchers: Dek Jumonville (11-3 2.81) Top Hitters: 1B Roy Slater (.343/10 HR/55 RI/50 R/14 SB), All-Star RF Clifton Czabo (.327/9 HR/39 RBI/60 R/11 SB), CF Lonnie Snider (.341/6 HR/27 RBI/58 R/17 SB), SS Eldon Barker (.276/10 HR/44 RBI) and LF L. J. Aldridge (.268/13 HR/42 RBI) The Eastshore Elegants (34-39) hit with power and lead the division with 75 homers, but they don't hit ball otherwise, ranking absolutely last in the entire Ruthlandian Union with an anemic .229 batting average. But manager Killer Brewster has put together a decent pitching staff that keeps them in most ballgames. The Elegants are also good with the gloves with a .977 fielding mark. Best Pitchers: Ivar Jorgerson (8-5 3.46), Fred Duhon (7-7 3.16), Stony Blackwell (8-6 3.76) and closer Thomas Williams (2-4 2.25) with 10 saves in 31 games Best Batters: RF Ron Dizon (.236/15 HR/58 RBI), 2B Miles Sheehan (.253/10 Hr/44 RBI), LF Darrel Alston (.248/13 HR/37 RBI/50 R) and 1B Vito Iacoboni (.206/13 HR/35 RBI) The Cold Creek Catamounts (31-42), managed by T. Kelly Holmes, have decent pitching (3.71 ERA), but not much hitting (.243 BA). Those kind of stats translate into a seventh-place standing in the TU East, 13 games off the pace. Best Pitchers: Terence Gilbert (8-5 3.07) and closer LHP Payton Saunders (3-0 3.24) with 6 saves in 27 games Best Batters: SS Russ Russell (.273/5 HR/45 RBI), CF Trip Holmes (.248/10 HR/39 RBI/20 SB), RF Emile Stosha (.272/12 HR/37 RBI/52 R/23 SB) The Belle Plaine Musketeers (29-44) skippered by Boo Ladrieux began the 2004 campaign in upbeat fashion. They had been very active on the trading block just prior to opening day and thought the team would be much-improved. Even the BNN preseason poll indicated a better season with a fifth-place finish. But that is not to be, at least halfway through the season. The Muskies are in the basement, 15 games behind Elnora at the midpoint in the year. Best Pitchers: Milo Anthony (7-5 4.02), Guy Mercier (1-2 2.95) in 32 relief appearances and closer Kent Wells (0-5 2.61) with 9 saves in 33 games Best Batters: CF Dennis Riley (.255/12 HR/39 RBI/41 R), 1B Scott Theriot (.297/5 HR/37 RBI/34 R), RF Cris Willis (.307/7 HR/34 RBI/36 R) and LF Juan Mendes (.300/6 HR/33 RBI/39 R)