ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 20, 2002

Tycobbian Union South Division First Round Playoffs

San Alejo Blows Away Turon Typhoons 9-1
There wasn't much doubt about who was going to win the ballgame and advance to the Sweet 16 today... San Alejo feasted on lefthander Jacques Lemaire for five first-inning runs and added three more in the fourth off Ian Knox... Sparking the Montaneros was RF Marcelino Zuniga with 3-5 and five RBIs, CF Vidal Munoz 2-4 with two runs batted in and 3B Paolo Huerta with 3-5 and a pair of RBIs... They all three went deep... San Alejo outhit them 11-6 and got an excellent mound effort from Jaime Serrano (1-0), who didn't give up an earned run, fanned five and issued no walks in a complete-game performance... Lemaire (0-1) lost it, giving up five runs in one-third of an innings... San Alejo now travels to Colchester for game one of the Sweet 16 Series... The Montaneros will meet the Elites tomorrow afternoon at Heyward Stadium. Turon made the regular season champs sweat in the series... San Alejo had to win the last two games to remain in the chase for the IPA Pro Cup.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

The Islandian Times

Friday, September 20, 2002

Tycobbian Union West Division First Round Playoffs

Bucs Bang Bayview 6-1, DeVree Gets 'Em to Sweet 16
It was a storybook game for Duke DeVree of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers... In an standout performance, DeVree hurled a five-hitter to beat the Bayview Vikings 6-1 to send the Bucs to the next round in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... He went the distance, fanned eight Vikings, while walking three... DeVree (1-0) also blasted a fifth-inning four-bagger to give the Buccaneers a 2-1 edge... Pacing the Buccaneers 11-hit attack were CF Wayne Latham and C Jake Singleton... Both of them had two hits and two RBIs apiece... Portsider Paul Hood (0-1) caught the loss as Bay St. Clair rapped him for four runs in five innings... The Bucs will open their Sweet 16 series tomorrow afternoon out of town and will meet the winner of the Rolling Hills-Kenwood clash.

Reds Power Past Wildcats 7-1, Take Series 2-1
Rolling Hills won on the road, powering past the Kenwood Wildcats 7-1 at the Olde Towne Grounds to advance to the Sweet 16 round... The Red ripped four Wildcat pitchers for 11 hits, including two doubles, two triples and two home runs... plus they got strong pitching from starter Hondo Anoki (1-0), who shut out Kenwood on three hits over six innings... Anoki whiffed four and walked one, but had to leave the game when his arm tightened up on him... Leading the hitters were LF Freddie Ridgeway with two hits and three RBIs, CF Willie Mays Nixon with three hits and three RBIs and 2B Cal Lennox with three hits and two runs scored... Ridgeway and Nixon both homered and tripled in the game... Peter Brenneman (0-1) suffered the defeat, as he allowed four runs and five hits in six innings...but only one of the runs was earned... Rolling Hills will be back in action tomorrow... The Reds will be hosting Bay St. Clair at the Midtown Baseball Grounds in the Sweet 16 opener.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Ruthlandian Union Sweet 16 Series - North Division

Glasco Massacres Redhawks, Darby Blanks Them 14-0
It was a great day for Glasco and an absolutely terrible day for Far Mountain in the first game of their Sweet 16 Series... The Athletics hit everything in sight with 15 hits and the Redhawks hit almost nothing with only three hits off Charles Darby... The final score was 14-0 at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain... 3B Lloyd Windham (.417) sparked the A's with 3-for-5 and four RBIs, but he has plenty of help... LF Bobby Pascarelli (.167) was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and four runs scored... and RF Ox Beauvais (.500) chipped in with three hits, including two triples, scored twice and batted in a run... Darby (1-1 1.69) was on top of his game, too... the Glasco southpaw spun a beautiful three-hit shutout, struck out 5 and walked only two... Far Mountain's Doc Rutledge (0-1) in his first playoff start this year was battered for seven runs in his two innings... Redhawk manager Alex Groveland told reporters in the clubhouse, "It's days like this that drive you to drink!" But he later said, "Games like this happen. All you can do is put it out of your mind. Tomorrow is another day. I know my ball club is a good one and we'll be ready to go tomorrow." The series will now switch to Athletics Field in Glasco for game two. Game three will also be there, if necessary.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Ruthlandian Union Sweet 16 Series - South Division

Valka Outlasts Sunbirds 5-2 in 14 Innings
In the opening game of the Sweet 16 Series at Bayside Park in Belair Beach, Valka got outstanding pitching and outlasted the Sunbirds 5-2 in 14 innings... RF Jimmy Tramayne (.200) unloaded a three-run homer off losing pitcher Terry Christian (0-1) to send the Blackhawks up 1-0 in the best-of-three series... Valka starter Roberto Peralta pitched into the ninth, allowed two runs and eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks... Closer Daryl Vannoy (1-0) worked the rest of the game and got the win, shutting out Belair Beach on three hits over five and two-thirds innings, fanned six and walked one in a superlative effort. The Blackhawks had 10 hits in the game all total, while the Sunbirds collected 11 in defeat... Slim Mosley tossed a solid seven innings, yielding only two runs and four hits... Relievers Lyndon Yarbrough and Lou Zanelli blanked Valka on one hit from the eighth through the thirteenth... The series will continue tomorrow afternoon in Valka at Cybertel Stadium... If a third game is needed, it will also be at the Blackhawks home park.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Ruthlandian Union Sweet 16 Series - East Division

All-Stars Take Series Lead, Belt Catamounts 9-3
Harry Dye of Elnora and Dave Molinari of Cold Creek were locked in a pitcher's battle for seven innings... Dye had the lead 2-1, when the All-Star bats began to boom with three runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth for a 9-3 triumph and a one-game edge in the best-of-three Sweet 16 playoff series... LF Quincy Peterson (.538) ripped a three-run double and a two-run homer, giving him five RBIs for the day... C Todd Simons (.333) and CF Rusty Gilbert (.267) also slugged roundtrippers for Elnora... Dye (1-0 3.38) got the win, holding the Catamounts to three runs and seven hits in his eight innings of work... Dye gave up four bases on balls and fanned eight Cold Creekers... It was a tough loss for Molinari (0-1 2.08), who only surrendered two runs on five hits in seven innings, but none of them were earned... Molinari had six strikeouts and walked one batter... Catamount 1B Johnny Carducci (.467) had a fine game with three hits and three RBIs... He hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to narrow the score to 5-3... The All-Stars will try to finish off Cold Creek at State Fair Park in Elnora tomorrow afternoon.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Ruthlandian Union Sweet 16 Series - West Division

Bevis Wins Opener, Middlefield Mauls 'Jacks 9-2
It took awhile, but the Middlefield bats finally came alive in the late innings to maul Forest City 9-2... Lumberjack starter Timmy Brooks had shut them out 2-0 on just two hits for the first five innings, but that came to an abrupt end in the three-run sixth... a solo homer by LF Cecil Clark (.400), a walk to RF Bailey Norcross (.500) and a two-run blast by CF Ty DeWitt (.222) put the Roosters in front to stay... It got even worse in the seventh when they rattled the boards for five more runs and disposed of Brooks (0-1)... Overall Middlefield ended up with 13 hits and were led by C George Patin (.533) with two hits and three RBIs, including a home run... Clark had two base hits, scored two and drove in two... Everybody in the line-up got at least one hit, including the pitcher Jackie Lee Bevis... Skipper Smitty Michaels got a strong outing from Bevis, who stopped the Lumberjacks on six hits and went the route... Bevis (1-1 5.91) finished up with seven Ks and three walks... The series will move to Middlefield for game two tomorrow afternoon.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Tycobbian Union Sweet 16 Series - North Division

Z's Go 1-Up, Whip Red Caps 3-2 in 11 Innings
Paul Hallenbeck was the man of the moment three times in the Oxford-Luxora game at De la Vega Stadum... and all three times the Zorro first baseman came through... Hallenbeck (.333) doubled in a run in the second inning, got a sac fly to tie the game at 2-all in the ninth, then singled in the winning run in the eleventh to give Luxora a 3-2 comeback win over the Red Caps in the opener of their Sweet 16 Series in the TU North Division... Keith Callahan (1-0) notched the win with a scoreless eleventh frame and the loss went to Del Anderson (0-1 3.86), who had come on in the tenth... Each team collected 9 hits... Oxford jumped in front with two runs in the top of the second... LF Austen Conover had an RBI groundout and 1B Lavon England singled in a run off starter Tito Tovares... Manager Alfonso Feliz got good relief work from Andy Stevens and Fernando Fernandes, who blanked Oxford the last six and one-third innings... Red Cap skipper Campy Roy got fine efforts from starter Jim Melanakos and Alec Bowman... Melanakos (0-1 5.40) pitched the first four innings and held the Z's to one run and four hits, but he had to be relieved because of a lenghty rain delay... Bowman (0-0 2.08) came on and worked four innings, holding Luxora to one run and two hits, while striking out six... Game two of the best-of-three series will be at Winchester Stadium tomorrow afternoon in Oxford.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Tycobbian Union Sweet 16 Series - South Division

Colchester Clubs San Alejo 11-7 in Sweet 16 Opener
At Heyward Field in Colchester, the hometown Elites were not intimidated by Ernie Arredondo, a 25-game winner for San Alejo during the regular season... The Elites went to work on him right away and sent him to the showers trailing 5-0 in the second inning... Colchester whammed out 14 hits and clubbed the Montaneros 11-7 in the opener of the TU South Sweet 16 Series... 1B Harlan Roscoe (.417) spearheaded the attack with two hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer... RF Kenny Krantz (.333) drove in three runs with two hits... and 2B Leland Curtis (.636) went 3-for-4, scored three times and batted in a run... The Elites led 8-0 after two innings... San Alejo cut it to 8-4 after five... but Colchester increased it to 11-4 with three in the sixth... the Montaneros closed out the scoring with three runs in the eighth... they had 10 hits in the game... 1B Gregorio Rosales (.500) had a three-run homer for San Alejo... 3B Paolo Huerta (.250) hit a two-run shot... and catcher Edmundo Franquez doubled in two scores... Arredondo (0-2) has now lost his two starts in the playoffs... Fred Kimball (1-0) got the win in relief of Elite starter Barry Henry, but gave up five runs in just three innings... Ray Beckham saved it for Colchester, striking out three of the four batters he faced... San Alejo will try to regroup tomorrow afternoon at their home field, the Casa de Beisbol.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Tycobbian Union Sweet 16 Series - East Division

Stallions Skim by Cowboys 7-6 in 10 Innings
It was looking bad for South Fork as High Mesa bolted to a 6-0 lead after just three innings... but the Stallions just slowly chipped away with two runs in the fourth, seventh and ninth to send the game into overtime... South Fork won 7-6 in the tenth when shortstop Katsuhiko Hamada led off the inning with a double, was sacrificed to third and scored the game-winner when pinchhitter Rick Tsoukalis grounded the ball to first base... Hamada beat Babe Holloman's throw home trying to cut him down... Manager Duroche "Lips" Leon got marvelous work from his reliever corps... Glenn Turnbull, Billy Joe Gordon, Robby Rosario and Ken Marsh completely shut down the hard-hitting Cowboys on two hits over the last eight innings... Marsh (1-0) was the winner, going the last two frames... Jesse Wilson (0-1) was the losing pitcher... He allowed one run and two hits in one and one-third innings... The Stallions outhit High Mesa 12 to 10 with 3B Glenn Holliday (.438) hitting a two-run homer and 2B Whitey Voelkel (.429) also driving in a pair... Hamada (.308) went 2-for-4 and scored twice... LF Adam Zitek scored twice for the Cowboys and belted a three-run homer... Game two of the TU East Sweet 16 Series will be held at Queen Ranch Stadium in High Mesa tomorrow afternoon.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Tycobbian Union Sweet 16 Series - West Division

Rolling Hills Romps Over Bucs 12-4 in Game 1
In the opening game of the Tycobbian Union West Division Sweet 16 Series, the Rolling Hills Reds romped over Bay St. Clair 12-4 to take a one-game lead in the best-of-three series... The Reds shelled seven Buccaneer pitchers for 13 hits, paced by 3B Big Jack Minninewah (.267), RF Big Boy Charisa (.375) and CF Wille Mays Nixon (.438)... all of them swatted three hits... Minninewah drove in five runs and 1B Sunshine Anaba (.364) had three RBIs... Keith Greenwood (2-0 1.15) got his second playoff victory... Greenwood tossed six and two-third innings, allowed four runs - two earned - and gave up nine hits... Stephen Faccaro and Chet Kramer closed out the game with two and two-thirds hitless innings... Bay St. Clair got nine hits in all and were led by C Jake Singleton (.250) with two hits and three runs batted in... The playoff action will continue on the coast in Bay St. Clair tomorrow afternoon for game number two.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Around the Town in the IPA

RED BLUFF RED SOX

Owner/GM/Manager: Mack Connery

Red Bluff, population 72,000, is located in the isolated and hard-to-get-to Silver Mountains in east central Tycobbia. With iron ore mining and steel production as the main industries, it is the headquarters of Ettillig, makers of the most popular razors and razor blades in the Islands and the famous "Look sharp, be sharp” slogan. The town is literally cut out of rock and gets its name from the red-colored bluffs of iron ore rocks visible high beyond the outfield fences of Red Bluff Park, the home of the Red Bluff Red Sox.

The ballpark is an anachronism, a throwback to days of yore, but the Red Bluff fans have repeatedly voted down building a new modern stadium to replace their beloved ball field. Since flat land is at a premium in Red Bluff, it looks like Red Bluff Park will be safe for quite a few more years, at least as long as the team’s 70-year-old owner, Mack Connery is in charge for the team. Connery was instrumental in creating the Islandian Pro Alliance in concert with Jock Ewing, owner at Waleska, John Banson, the League Commissioner, Jorge Trujillo of Belair Beach, Brent Steiner of Bayview, Rock ’n’ roll star and Cape Coral owner, Conway Birdie and jazz entertainer Louis “Sugar Lips” Charles of Bay St. Clair. Connery, the long time and very frugal President, general Manager and manager of the Red Sox, probably still has the first dollar he ever made, so if the town won’t build them a new ballpark, they’ll just stay where they are.

Red Bluff Park is a hitter's heaven for righthanded batters. It's only 310 feet down the line and just 360 to center. If you like lots of homers and scoring, you get it here. With Old Mack all you get on the field is the basics, no high-priced stars. And all you get at the concession stands are just the basics: no fancy gourmet food or drink, just beer, soft drinks, lemonade, hamburgers, hot dogs, peanuts and crackerjacks. There are no silly promotions, either. But the Red Bluffians wouldn’t have it any other way. No yuppies, preppies, techies or boomers here. They are just hardworking, blue collared fans that just love baseball. They love their old Red Bluff Park and their 70-year-old owner and manager, too.

Red Bluff Park (1913)

Capacity: 7,350

Dimentions:
LF Line 310
LF 335
LCF 365
CF 360
RCF 380
RF 365
RF Line 345

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Around the Town in the IPA

ROCKY RAPIDS SNAPPERS

Owner: Express Freight and Shipping Company
GM/Manager: Ryan Noland

Rocky Rapids, population near 63,000, is a river town in northwestern Ruthlandia on the banks of the vital Green River, which begins in the Appian Mountains near Far Mountain and ends in Belair Beach, almost splitting the country in half north to south. The Green River intersects with its western tributary, the Silver River, at Forest City, the Ruthlandian capital and main commercial city.

Rocky Rapids is a lumber and grain processing center and is an important transportation community. Vast quantities of timber from Far Mountain in the north are shipped through the town. It is not a fancy town, just a blue collar, middle class town.

Rocky Rapids is also the home of the Snappers of the IPA’s RU West Division. The Snappers play at Snapper Stadium, overlooking the Green River in the downtown area, which can be seen in the background beyond the ballpark fences. The team is named the Snappers because of the financial importance of the river to the community’s economy. The Snapper was chosen because it is a tough, tenacious river inhabitant, just like the citizens of Rocky Rapids.

The fans really rock at Snapper games with team mascot, Rocky the Snapping Turtle, leading the charge. Music is played throughout the game by the rock band, Rocky Rapids Revival. They constantly rock the stadium with the classic “Rollin’ on the River” every time the Snappers mount a rally. And the seventh inning stretch is really something to hear. RRR jams out on a rock-n-roll version of the baseball classic “Take me out to the ballgame”.

Stadium concessions include crisp and tasty fried catfish taken from the river’s pure and clear waters. But absolutely no turtle soup can be found in the town, despite the request by many opposing teams fans.

The team is owned by Express Freight and Delivery Company, which has extensive railroad and river barge interests and is managed and directed by Ryan Noland, the all-time strikeout leader in company league baseball history. His father is the president of the company board of directors.

Snapper Stadium (1940)

Capacity: 7,650

Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 345
LCF 371
CF 408
RCF 371
RF 345
RF Line 330

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Around the Town in the IPA

ROLLING HILLS REDS

Owner: Lemroh Meat Company

GM/Manager: Matty Christianson

Rollings Hills has a population of 78,000 and is located in the west central part of Tycobbia and was originally settled by the Kewanna Indians. "kewanna" means "hills that rise and fall" in their language. That is exactly what the landscape looks like here...gentle, rolling hills populated with sporadic groves of birch trees and acre after acre of cattle, dairy, pig, chicken and agricultural farms. Crops include wheat, oats and corn, potatoes and vegetables. In town are the stockyards and meat and grain processing plants. The population is mainly Americans and Brits with only a few Kewannas remaining.

Rolling Hills is an oldtime middle class town with wooden storefronts and bricks streets, lined with gas lamps and pedestrian walkways. No cars are allowed in the midtown area.

It is the home of the Rolling Hills Reds of the IPA's Tycobbian Union West Division. The Reds play at Midtown Park, a relic from the early days of baseball. Built in 1907, it is surrounded by birchwood trees in a picturesque park area of town, where families can picnic and enjoy strolls, bicycle rides and boat rides on the park ponds, all amid the peaceful shade trees. A quaint aspect of the ballpark is that the power alleys are deeper than center field. They measure 425 feet, while to dead center it is 410 feet. It takes quite a blast for righthanders to get it out...350 down the line in left field and 375 in straightaway left. However, the lefthanded hitters love it...only 320 down the right field line and 350 to straightaway right .

The Lemroh family owns the team as well as being the owners of the stockyards and meat processing plants. The concessions stands are unique in design. All are set up like soda fountains, complete with stools. They serve up tasty hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, thick shakes and malts.

A Dixieland band provides the music between innings and helps the Rolling Hillians cheer their Reds to victory. Many times throughout the game the fans will dance the Charleston. During the seventh inning stretch you get a rousing Dixieland version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

The GM and Manager of the Rolling Hills Reds is the legendary pitcher, Matty Christianson, one of the most revered players and managers in Tycobbian baseball history.

Midtown Ballpark (1907)

Capacity: 6,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 375
LCF 425
CF 410
RCF 425
RF 350
RF Line 320

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Around the Town in the IPA

SAN ALEJO MONTANEROS

Owner: Petro Internationale

GM/Mgr: Lando Peceda

San Alejo rests on a 1000-acre plateau in the highlands of Arvonian Island, which is south of Tycobbia and Ruthlandia and is bordered by the Southern Sea and Belair Bay. Its population is nearly 40,000, making it one of the smallest towns in the IPA.

The initial settlement was founded in the 1850's by remnants of Portuguese sailors that settled Arroyo Grande. They sought the safety of the isolated central highlands. Over the next hundred years the initial group of 42 settlers grew to a modest town of 10,000 inhabitants. They survived predominantly on subsistence farming and hunting. Life was hard in San Alejo.

In 1937, all that changed as a Mexican oil and gas baron, Antonio De Nova, brought commerce and industry to the town. His company, Petro Internationale, discovered natural gas in the area. Instant prosperity came to San Alejo. With their newly-found wealth, the city fathers greatly improved life with modern hospitals and schools. As Petro Internationale grew in size, De Nova had to import oil field workers from Mexico. In 1947, De Nova built the first stadium the town has ever had. He called it the Casa de Beisbol, which was primarily for his plant workers to play baseball and soccer. The Casa de Beisbol is not a fancy stadium. It is on the rustic side and just a functional ball park. Because of the ballpark, baseball became an important part of the town's culture. Only recently were the wooden bleachers rebuilt using steel. This was done when the town received a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance.

The team is called the Montaneros, Spanish for "Mountaineers". San Alejo is managed by Lando Peceda, an outstanding hitter and first baseman for the Petro Internationale company teams in the 70s and 80s. The Montaneros are a member of the Tycobbian Union South Division.

Stadium: Casa de Beisbol (1947)
Capacity: 8,000
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 340
Left Field - 360
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 400
Right Center - 380
Right Field - 360
Right Field Line - 340

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Around the Town in the IPA

SAN DIMAS RANCHEROS

Owner/GM: Esai Montanez

Manager: Paco Banderes

San Dimas is located in the southeastern tip of Ruthlandia on the Valerian Ocean in the swampy lowlands. The town and its surrounding area were founded by Spanish settlers in the 1700s. Originally, the area was called Mud Springs, but when this name proved to be troublesome in recruiting new settlers from Spain, it was changed to San Dimas.

Because of its remote location, San Dimas remained largely a ranching area until the start of the 20th century. The San Dimas climate was perfect for farming, and in 1903 the San Dimas Farm and Ranch Company was formed, and the following year the Ruthlandia Railway Line reached San Dimas. The combination of the two established the town as the heart of a vast agricultural community that continues to thrive to this day. Oranges, grapefruits, sugar cane, and all types of vegetables are grown in the San Dimas region.

Despite agriculture taking over as the dominant economic force, ranching remains the face of the community. Each February brings the San Dimas Exposition and Livestock show to the Stockyards, kicking off a three-week celebration that includes the largest rodeo in Ruthlandia. The area around the old Stockyards has been preserved as a Ruthlandia Historic Site and includes a state-of-the-art Western museum along with renovated stores that recreate old San Dimas as it used to be. Rodeos are big in San Dimas.

Some of San Dimas' other highlights include San Dimas A & M University. A & M is the finest agricultural university in the nation and the center for most cultural activities in town.

As evidenced by the town name, San Dimas’ culture is still very rooted in its Spanish heritage. Many of the buildings still reflect the architecture of the Spanish colonial era. These influences can be further seen in music and food as well. San Dimas boasts more tapas bars than anywhere else in the country, and flamenco is very popular in many of the local establishments.

The Rancheros struggled for many years at the box office as the team played second fiddle to the ever popular rodeo. In 1974 the club was purchased by Esai Montanez, a very prosperous and wealthy business entrepreneur and promoter, changing the team’s fortunes almost immediately. Mr. Montanez held numerous promotions and promoted a lively, fan-friendly atmosphere at the ballpark. The team was so successful that dozens of other owners came to San Dimas to attend seminars on how to model their franchise after the Rancheros. The atmosphere continues to this day as the team is still famous for its many other whacky promotions. Among the more popular promotions are Trekkie Night where fans wearing their Star Trek costumes get in for $1 and two-for-one beer days dubbed “Thirsty Thursdays.” The seventh-inning stretch features flamenco dancers on both dugouts, and fans can expect to be entertained by the team’s mascot, “Bucky the Bronco.”

Another successful aspect of the Montanez ownership has been the construction of Ranchero Park. The project was a combination of public and private financing with the town paying for all of the infrastructure costs and the Montanez family paying the stadium construction costs. Ranchero Park was opened to the public in time for opening day 1988 and has been a huge success for both the club and San Dimas. Originally it held just over 6,500 fans, but this year for their debut into the Islandian Pro Alliance, the club built a picnic area, luxury suites and bleachers in left field that has added an additional 1,000 seats.

The general manager and field manager of the Rancheros is Paco Banderes. He is one of the few managers in the Islandian Pro Alliance that did not play in amateur or industrial leagues. Banderes always says, "I was always the last one chosen when we would choose up sides on the playground." But that didn't keep him from being a successful manager in company league circles. "When it comes to baseball, I may not be able to do it, but I can sure heck tell you how to do it. And there ain't too many guys around that can out-manage me, either!" Banderes is also unique in another way - he doesn't wear a uniform in the dugout - he wears street clothes. Banderes told BNN, "I never wore a uniform in my life. Never played organized ball. I'm not gonna play, so why do I need a uniform?" Banderes may be a bit ornery and eccentric at times, but he can sure manage a baseball team. He's a spiffy dresser, too.

Ranchero Park (1988)

Capacity: 7,500

Dimensions:

LF Line 330
LF 350
LCF 375
CF 402
RCF 375
RF 350
RF Line 330

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2002

Ruthlandian Union North Division Sweet 16 Series

Glasco Makes Elite 8, Sweeps Two from Redhawks
In the RU North Sweet 16 Series at Athletics Field in Glasco, the A's squeezed out a 6-5 victory over Far Mountain and are now headed to the Elite 8 round... Glasco prevailed with 12 hits... 2B Barry McCord (.619) led the way with 3-for-4... CF Chet Reynolds and 3B Lloyd Windham chipped in with two hits apiece... the Redhawks countered with 10 hits with 3B Mike Murphy getting three of them, scoring twice and driving in two runs... 1B Royce Benson and C Dave Davis both had two hits and an RBI each... LF Karl Dietz had a solo homer... The Athletics tough lefty Takehide Takahashi (2-0 2.81) captured his second playoff win with seven gritty innings... Takahashi was touched for four runs and nine hits in his seven innings, fanned nine batters, but walked none... Closer Jake Nyberg (0-0 1.50) nabbed his second save, but gave up a run in two innings of relief... Robby Kelly (0-1 7.00) lost it for Far Mountain, yielding five runs in six innings, three of them earned... It was a seesaw battle... the Redhawks led 3-2 after four frames... Glasco surged in front 5-3 in the sixth... and held on to win... Far Mountain committed four errors, costing them two crucial runs.

Ruthlandian Union South Division Sweet 16 Series

Valka Advances, Eliminates Sunbirds 5-4
Playing on their home field at Cybertel Park, the Valka Blackhawks won for the second straight day and eliminated the Belair Beach Sunbirds 5-4 to advance to the Elite 8 Series... The Sunbirds kickstarted with three first-inning runs... 1B Phil Gravelli (.391) doubled in a run and two came in on LF Nicky Swift's home run... The Blackhawks got one back on a walk, sacrifice and an RBI single by LF T. C. Haskell (.429)... Valka tied it a 3-3 in the fourth on 3B Buddy Petrisko's (.238) two-bagger and 1B Stan Gatlin's (.263) single... Gatlin's two-run homer made it 5-3 Valka in the fifth... Belair Beach narrowed it to 5-4 on back-to-back doubles by C Denny Everhart and CF Bobby Joe Morris... Andrei Kokk (1-1 2.76) notched the win, striking out nine Sunbirds, while giving up all four runs on nine hits in seven and one-third innings... Lefthander Bobby Karu got the save, holding Belair Beach scoreless in his one and two-thirds innings, fanning two batters... The loser was Ray Watson (0-1 3.21), who was tagged for five runs and eight hits in six innings... Valka got 9 hits to 10 for the Sunbirds... Gatlin led the Blackhawks with three RBIs... Petrisko had three hits, two of them doubles... RF Jimmy Tremayne (.263) and Haskell got two hits apiece... Gravelli paced Belair Beach with 3-5... Swift had two RBIs... Gravelli and Morris one each.

Ruthlandian Union East Division Sweet 16 Series

Elnora Sweeps Again, Trounces Cold Creek 8-3
Zoggy White's Elnora All-Stars have yet to lose a playoff game this year... The All-Stars swept their second straight series... this time trouncing the Cold Creek Catamounts 8-3 to cop the Sweet 16 East Division playoff series... White got strong pitching from righthander Charlie Murphy (2-0 3.94)... Murphy blanked the Catamounts on three hits for the first eight innings, but weakened in the ninth and gave up three runs on three hits... He was backed up by 10 hits and plenty of run support... SS Joe Norris (.550) was the top gun with a bases-loaded triple... 1B Vic Gelder (273) walloped three doubles... and LF Quincy Peterson (.500) and C Todd Simons (.385) had solo roundtrippers... Going down to defeat was starter Mitch Saffo (1-1 5.65)... he was pelted for seven runs in five-plus innings.

Ruthlandian Union West Division Sweet 16 Series

Moore Keeps 'Jacks Alive, Beats Roosters 4-3
In the RU West Sweet 16 Series manager Rob Jackson needed a win in the worst way and he got it from Glenn Moore... Forest City stayed alive in the playoffs as Moore (1-0 6.00) hurled a solid game and beat Middlefield 4-3 at Riverside Stadium... Moore scattered nine hits, fanned seven and walked none in a complete-game effort... The Roosters drew first blood on a sacrifice fly by RF Bailey Norcross in the opening inning... but 1B J. T. Edmonds countered it with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to give the Lumberjacks the lead... Forest City added single runs in the second and third on 2B Jesse Wolf's (.333) and CF Ryan Morse's (.429) solo smashes... That put the 'Jacks up 4-1... Middlefield made it 4-2 on two singles and a sac fly by SS Garrett Sims (.111) in the fourth frame... then narrowed it to 4-3 in the eighth when LF Cecil Clark (.500) doubled, went to third on a groundout and scored on CF Ty DeWitt's RBI grounder... But that was as close as they came... The Roosters Freddy Cooke (1-1 4.15) lost it, allowing four runs and six hits in six innings... The rubber game of the series will be played tomorrow afternoon in Forest City.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2002

Tycobbian Union North Division Sweet 16 Series

Red Caps Even Sweet 16, Nips Luxora 6-5 in 10
Things were getting desperate at Winchester Stadium in Oxford for Red Cap manager Campy Roy... He had run out of pitchers and had to send one of his starters to the bullpen in the late innings... Roy had already used five pitchers... His only rested pitcher was starter Dan Phillips... then it got even worse as the game went extra innings... But CF Ike Plunkett (.450) saved the day with a walk-off homer in the last of the tenth to give the Red Caps a 6-5 win over the Luxora Zorros and even up the TU North Sweet 16 Series at a game apiece and set the stage for the deciding-game three tomorrow afternoon... Phillips (2-0 0.84) worked the final two frames, held the Zorros without a run and picked up the victory. Elio Laurente (1-1 5.40) surrendered the game-winning blast and suffered the loss... Plunkett paced Oxford with 4-5 and four RBIs, including a pair of home runs... Plunkett has three homers and eight RBIs in the playoffs... RF Mack Spencer (.368) pitched in with 3-4 and two RBIs... Trailing 5-3 after six innings, Loxora tied the score with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings... Roy was questioned in the locker room after the game and asked who was his starter for tomorrow... Roy had no answer... "Good question. I guess I will use anybody that has an arm." Phillips was originally set to pitch game three.

Tycobbian Union South Division Sweet 16 Series

San Alejo Survives, Barely Beats Elites 3-2
The favorite to win the IPA Pro Cup almost bit the dust today at the Casa de Beisbol in San Alejo... It took a two-run rally in the last of the eighth for the Montaneros to survive... that's how close they came to elimination at the hands of the Colchester Elites in the TU South Sweet 16 Series... Behind 2-1, San Alejo mounted a rally... 1B Rodger Wooten (.214) led off the inning with a base on balls... pinchhitter Ivan Lopez bunted the ball to pitcher Dickie Pendarvis, who threw wildly to first base and put runners on second and third with nobody out... 2B Xavier Rocha (.350) hit a grounder past the shortstop and batted in the winning runs... 25-game winner Ernie Arredondo came on and closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth, thus redeeming himself for a terrible outing yesterday when he lasted less than two innings and caught the loss in an 11-7 victory for Colchester... Alberto Herrera (1-0 3.24) started and did well, but didn't get the win... He went seven and two-thirds innings, allowed only two runs and seven hits, fanned six and issued one walk... Pedro Acosta (1-0) was the winning pitcher... He only worked one-third of an inning, but was the pitcher of record... Dickie Pendarvis (1-1 1.06) suffered the heart-breaking defeat, giving up only two hits with six Ks, but walked five, which was his downfall... Colchester collected seven hits in the game... The two ballclubs will wrap up the series tomorrow in San Alejo to determine who advances to the Elite 8.

Tycobbian Union East Division Sweet 16 Series

Torok's Grand Slam Saves High Mesa
A little-used infielder hit a grand slam homer in the bottom of the ninth as High Mesa shocked South Fork 11-8 and forced a third-and-deciding game in their TU East Sweet 16 playoff series... Zollie Torok, in his first at-bat this year, slammed a two-out bases-loaded roundtripper off Bobby Petrov to keep the Cowboys in the running for the IPA Pro Cup... He only got into the game when the regular third baseman Howie Partridge went out for a pinchrunner in the eighth frame... And he had to stay in the game as he was the last remaining third baseman left in the game... Otherwise manager Frisky Franks would have had someone else hit for him... Early on, the Stallions looked like they were on their way to the Elite 8... South Fork jumped out to a 6-1 margin after three innings... but High Mesa's high-octane arsenal got busy and got them back in the game... 1B Babe Holloman (.235) ripped a two-run shot in the sixth to narrow it to 6-3... 2B Ed Granberg's (.267) RBI double and RF Kenny Edelstein (.500) RBI groundout cut it to 6-5 in the seventh... SS Rolf Kellgren (.278) sent the Cowboys ahead in the eighth with a two-run smash... setting the stage for LF Art Atkins (.273) to put South Fork back in the lead 8-7 with a two-run roundtripper... Glen Green (1-0) gave up Atkins' homer, but still got the win with one inning of relief... But it was Daron Alberstadt that kept the Cowboys in the game by stopping South Fork on three hits and no runs in his five and one-third innings of outstanding relief work... Alberstadt blanked them from the fourth through the eighth inning in relief of starter John Owen, who he relieved in the five-run third frame... High Mesa had the advantage in hits 12 to 11... Bobby Petrov (0-1) was the losing pitcher... Game three will also be played at Queen Ranch Stadium in High Mesa... It is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

Tycobbian Union West Division Sweet 16 Series

Bucs Knot Sweet 16 Series, McFalls Blanks Reds 6-0
Bay St. Clair righthander Duncan McFalls didn't know where the ball was going very often, but Rolling Hills didn't know where it was going, either - the Reds couldn't hit it... McFalls (1-0 1.00) shut them out 6-0 on a four-hitter, but he had to throw 149 pitches and issued 6 bases on balls, while fanning 8... It was a gritty way to get a victory, but it knotted the Tycobbian West Sweet 16 Series at a game apiece... The decisive-third game will be at Shoreline Park in Bay St. Clair tomorrow afternoon... The Buccaneers gave McFalls plenty of bat support with 10 hits... a four-run sixth got rid of Roger Davidson (0-2 1.98) and gave the Bucs some breathing room... Davidson gave up only one earned run as the Reds committed three errors.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2002

Around the Town 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 site 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]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2002

Around the Town in the IPA

SOUTH FORK STALLIONS

Owner: Bobby Ewing
GM: Finley Charles
Manager: DeRoche “Lips” Leon

South Fork is a rural and provincial town with a population of 58,000. The main industries are cattle and ranching mixed with agriculture. South Fork is situated in the fertile Caledonian River basin in southern Tycobbia. Rich and black alluvial soils produce a plethora of crops on the farms in the area.

This is cowboy country and home of the South Fork Stallions of the Islandian Pro Alliance, owned by Bobby Ewing of the wealthy, influential and powerful Ewing family headed by Jock Ewing. The Stallions play in the Tycobbian Union East Division.

Bobby and brother J. R. were squabbling vice-presidents of the Waleska Westerners of the Tycobbian Industrial League. To separate the two siblings, the family patriarch bought each one of them a baseball team. Bobby got South Fork and J. R. got the Ozarka Naturals. Bobby built a beautiful new stadium and named it after his daddy, Jock Ewing Stadium. It is located at the edge of town and has a wonderful panoramic view of the town rising up behind the gigantic electronic scoreboard. J. R. built a new state-of-the-art stadium with a monstrous scoreboard, too, and named it Ellie Ewing Stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie.

Stallions fans are a rowdy bunch who love their team. They never let up on the opposing teams, giving them a lot of discouraging words and a lot of harassing at every opportunity. They even throw home run balls hit by the opposition back onto the playing field. No self-respecting Stallions fan would want possession of a ball that harmed the best interests of their favorite team.

For entertainment the Stallions have a Texas swing band at every game. You ain’t never heard a better version of “Take me out to the ballgame”. There is a whole lot of two-steppin’ during the seventh inning stretch at Jock Ewing Stadium. And when the buckaroos and buckarettes mosey on over to the concessions stands, hot and juicy charcoal-broiled steak sandwiches await them there along with imported Lone Star Beer (“Brewed Deep in the Heart of Texas”).

Jock Ewing Stadium is a joy for the fans. Eccentric Finley Charles is the Stallions GM and promotions director. Charles is famous for his creative promotions and innovations in baseball. His teams were the first to wear loud-colored uniforms, like solid orange road uniforms. One of his amateur teams even dressed in a soft pink and wore Bermuda shorts. He also experimented with an orange baseball and having only 3 balls and 2 strikes in the game. He said it would speed up the game and create more action. None of his leagues instituted his ideas, but he keeps trying.

His manager is that noted umpire baiter and debater, DeRoche “Lips” Leon, a very successful, but hot-headed and controversial skipper. “Lips” is rated a fine tactician and a very good motivator. As a player he was a “good field, no hit” rabble-rousing shortstop. His favorite saying is “nice guys finish last”. There is never a boring minute at Jock Ewing Stadium; Finley and “Lips” see to that.

Jock Ewing Stadium (2000)

Capacity: 11,750

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 347
Left Field - 360
Left Center - 383
Center Field - 400
Right Center - 383
Right Field - 360
Right Field Line - 347

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 22, 2002

Around the Town in the IPA

SOUTHPORT SUN SOX

Owner: Stage Productions, CEO Amanda Thompson

GM/Manager: Charley Oscar

Southport is located on Arvonian Island on its southeast tip. Arvonian Island, a tourist's treat, sits in the Southern Sea south of the main island and is separated from the mainland by Belair Bay. Cape Coral is on the island's north coast, Summerland on the northeast shore, Arroyo Grande on the southwest coast and San Alejo in the mountainous interior.

Southport has a good natural port with beautiful white beaches and was settled by the British in the 1860s. They had first settled in Summerland, but thought that greater opportunities lay in the sparsely-populated southern part of the island.

Southport's population numbers about 75,000 fulltime residents, but is visited by many times that number of tourists from all over Tycobbia, Ruthlandia and recently by visitors from all over the world. The town got it start in 1870s when the "Father of Southport" Henry Banks built several hotels near the hot springs along with holiday cottages. Banks promoted Southport as "Heaven on Earth" and got the plant and factory owners on the mainland to send their workers there on holiday as a reward for their work. Banks arranged for cheap passage on ships to Southport as well. The growth intensified when he got the factory owners to close down for a week each year to service and repair the equipment. Banks got them to do it on different dates throughtout the year to insure a steady flow of tourists. As more and more industry developed in Tycobbia and Ruthlandia, the more Banks' tourist enterprise prospered and grew.

Southport's early growth and character was predicated on its pioneering use of electric power. In 1879 Banks created Southport Illuminations, lighting up the Promenade, the main downtown area, with 12 arc lamps. Banks called it "Artificial Sunshine". This was a year before Edison got the patent on the electric light bulb. Also as an attraction, Banks built was one of the world's first electric tramways running from Cocker Street to Dean Street on the Promenade. The tram has remained in continuous service to this day. Southport Illuminations has now grown to a three-mile stretch on the Promenade and lit up by 100,000 light bulbs. Tourists from all over Islandia and the world come to see the light spectacle.

In 1912 Pleasure Beach, a world-class amusement park, was the brainchild of a town alderman, William George Bean. He wanted to create "a place where adults could feel like children again". It succeeded beyond his wildest dreams and is still a huge attraction today. The amusement park includes a baseball stadium, built in 1962 for the town's industrial leagues. It is named Pleasure Beach Ballpark and is run by Stageworks Productions, a company Bean's son-in-law, Leonard Thompson, established to run Pleasure Beach. Thompson's daughter, Amanda, is the current manager and CEO.

It was through Amanda Thompson's urging that the corporation ventured into professional baseball and obtained a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance. She thought it would be a great addition to Southport's tourist attractions, considering how much the Islands love baseball. That's how the Southport Sun Sox came into being.

The skipper of the Southport Sun Sox is Charlie Oscar, one of the greatest all-around player ever, who starred as in the company leagues for over 25 years. Oscar was great with the glove and the bat. He could run, throw, field, hit for average and hit with power, a true 5-tool player.

Pleasure Beach Ballpark (1962)

Capacity: 12,500

Dimensions:
Left Field Line 330
Left Field 355
Left Center 385
Center Field 395
Right Center 385
Right Field 355
Right Field Line 330