ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Ruthlandian Union West Division 2004 Midseason Standings

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Roosters and Rovers Tied For First In RU West At All-Star Game
The Sligo Rovers have surged out of nowhere to make a serious challenge in the Ruthlandian Union West pennant chase. The Rovers with Eddie Keys in charge are tied with the Middlefield Roosters at the All-Star break.

Middlefield, Volusia, Colfax and Forest City were all rated higher than Sligo in the BNN preseason poll. The Rovers were ranked as the fifth-best club. However, great pitching can do wonders for a team. The Sligo starters and relievers have really excelled this season with an overall 2.97 ERA. In addition Keys crew has the best team batting average (.264).

Still Smitty Michaels Middlefield Roosters (45-28) have stayed right with the Rovers. The Roosters also have an elite mound corps (3.25 ERA) with All-Star LHP Jamie Hicks (9-6 2.47), LHP Denny Yarrow (10-4 3.71), Ross Jacobs (6-2 2.42), Don Shaw (5-2 3.06), Joshua Jackson (8-6 3.26) and closer Dave Webb (4-1 3.12), who has a league high 14 saves in 33 appearances.

While several Roosters are suffering subpar seasons, nonetheless Michaels team has been able to put enough runs on the board to more than get by. They lead the division in scoring (348 runs) and in homers (80), both by wide margins. All-Star RF Bailey Norcross (.308/18 HR/42 RBI/54 R/21 SB) leads the way, helped out by LF Cecil Clark (.294/11 HR/33 R/40 R) and rookie 2B Timmy Gage (.266/5 HR/30 RBI/44 R). Middlefield needs CF Ty DeWitt (.232/15 HR/54 RBI/44 R), 1B Allen Ludlow (.221/11 HR/43 RBI) and 3B Lowell Satterwhite (.261/7 HR/22 RBI) to pick it up in the second half.

The Sligo Rovers (45-28) staff has been magnificent in the first half of the season, sparked by Vern Vidmar (10-5 2.95), Jake Beneke (8-4 2.70), Al Bukowski (3.72), Colin McGrath (6-7 2.70) and closer Razzy Raziano (9-3 2.57) with 14 saves and 34 game appearances.

Keys' key hitters are LF Lefty Roberts (.292/16 HR/47 RBI/42 R), 3B Rusty Ellis (.313/2 HR/27 RBI/45 R/17 SB), 2B Jeff Richey (.317/3 HR/27 RBI/39 R/14 SB), RF Danny O'Shea (.270/9 HR/34 RBI/34 R) and SS Hollis Waldrup (.317/5 HR/21 RBI/33 R/17 SB), who has filled in for the injured Jack Wozniak. Key has a tough decision to make as Wozniak is scheduled to come off the DL in a week. Wozniak is a much better fielder than Waldrup. The Rovers have really missed the big bat of 1B Shane Redford, who hit .341 last year and is down to a paltry .248 thus far this year.

The preseason favorite, the Volusia Vigilantes (39-34), are holding down the third spot in the RU West, even with the Stoner Stars. Skipper Alfonso Feliz is shackled by a lack of home run power, a chronic problem for the V's. In spite of this, his team has stayed close and trail by 6 games. Feliz's pitching is still top quality, but not as deep as he would like in the starting rotation.

Heading up the Volusia staff is the outstanding southpaw Carl Schmitz (11-5 2.15). Slick and steady lefthander Raul Sandoval (8-9 3.06) has pitched better than his record indicates, while Ricky Moreno (8-6 4.13) is having a down year. Feliz will move rookie Todd Wolfe (1-0 1.71) and Tommy Betanzos (1-1 3.10) into the #4 spot in the rotation in effort to get more consistency there. Hank Massey (4-3 6.48) and LHP Lenny Collins (2-4 4.55) have fallen flat in that role. As always, closer Hernando Espaderos (3-3 2.89) continues to do his job well in the bullpen. Espaderos has 14 saves and has been in 31 games.

Offensively the Vigilantes top bats are LF Briscoe Crowder (.281/5 HR/43 RBI/45 R/12 SB), SS Scooter Perez (.303/2 HR/16 RBI/54 R/32 SB), CF Ryan Raines (.283/7 HR/36 RBI/34 R/20 SB) and newly-acquired catcher Charlie Hardesty (.254/6 HR/46 RBI). Hardesty came in a trade during the offseason from Tuckanarra of the Tycobbian Union. While not hitting for average, Hardesty leads the club in RBIs. Feliz is abandoning his platoon experiment at first base and is returning Francisco Abreu (.287/5 HR/21 RBI) back to full-time. Ruben De Andres has hit only .211 with no homers splitting time with Abreu.

The Stoner Stars (39-34) were expected to be an improved team this season and have done better than the forecast fifth in the preseason poll. Manager Willie Dickens ballclub is playing better than their stats show. Batting-wise the Stars are only average (.254) and pitching-wise are below average (3.90 ERA). Defensively they are a little below average (.971). Yet they are tied for third place at the halfway mark in the season, 5 games over .500. Ironically, the Stars have no stars, but must be doing something right. Unfortunately Dickens lost his top pitcher Dwight Ruckman for 6-7 weeks with a rotator problem. This could ruin Stoner's season. It is a huge loss.

Dickens has completely restructured his mound staff. The Stars will depend on Dave Pierre (4-1 2.28), Kelly Schaefer (1-0 2.33), newly-signed rookie Lynn Woodcock and rookie Jay Whatley (3-4 3.96) to take up the slack for Ruckman (8-6 3.64). In the bullpen Stoner is blessed with LHP Tony Hatch (5-2 2.61), a standout closer with a TU-leading 16 saves. Hatch has made 35 relief appearances.

Dickens' offense is paced by All-Star C Benny Stern (.305/14 HR/53 RBI), SS Yancy Bellows (.288/2 HR/30 RBI/41 R), RF Dutch Rheinecker (.267/11 HR/38 RBI) and CF Rob Preiss (.272/4 HR/16 RBI/40 R). LF Jalen Nolte (.221/12 HR/40) has not played up to expectations this year. He will have to step it up, if Stoner expects to remain high in the standings.

The Forest City Lumberjacks (36-37) are in the fifth spot in the RU West standings, 9 games behind, about where they were predicted to be. Manager Rob Jackson is stymied by lousy pitching (4.21 ERA) with no real help in sight. Only a great season by All-Star pitcher Timmy Brooks (13-5 2.55) has kept the 'Jacks from falling totally out of the race. Brooks is tied with Denny Coulon (13-5 2.27) of Bay St. Clair and Jerry Harrison (13-4 2.83) of Bayview for the most victories in the IPA. Look for the Lumberjacks to take a big fall this season.

At bat Jackson's team is only average (.259 BA). Pacing Forest City is All-Star SS Bill Nilsen (.303/15 HR/62 RBI/53 R), RF Chuck Hill (.267/8 HR/40 RBI), CF Ryan Morse (.301/5 HR/28 RBI/45 R), 1B J. T. Edmonds (.283/6 HR/33 RBI) and part-time LF Dave Jagger (.333/5 HR/24 RBI/27 R) in 55 games. Jagger will take over full-time in left field.

Pitching for the Rocky Rapids Snappers (35-38) has been abysmal this season. The Snappers are sixth in the standings, 10 games back. Manager Ryan Noland is lucky his team is not deep in the cellar, considering its 4.33 ERA, just about the worst in the entire IPA. Only the Kenwood Wildcats (4.48 ERA) and Blue Lake Blue Sox (4.48 ERA) of the Tyrobbian Union rank lower.

Even normally-reliable pitchers like Kirk Beckmann (8-6 4.05) and Ben Mashburn (7-8 4.18) have fallen on hard times and have ERAs above 4.00. Noland revamped his pitching rotation by signing three free agents. One will be his closer, while the other two will be #5 starters. The newcomers will make or break the Snappers season.

At the plate the Snappers can hold their own in the division with a .258 batting average (5th) and 338 runs scored (2nd). 1B Stan Haddix (.333/5 HR/51 RBI/41 R) is having an outstanding year and made the All-Star team. SS Cooter Bermudez (.319/4 HR/25 RBI/42 R/14 SB), picked up in a trade with San Alejo, has been superb at bat and in the field. CF Terry Hecht (.294/6 HR/27 RBI/45 R/14 SB) has wielded a good bat and glove, too. Rocky Rapids leads the TU with a .982 fielding percentage, third-best in the IPA. Only South Fork (.984) and Fairfax (.983) of the Tycobbian Union are better.

It has not been a happy season for the Colfax Blasters (34-39) and manager Clem Rogers. The preseason experts rated the Blasters the number three team in the RU West. At the midpoint in the year they are nowhere near that. Colfax is resting in seventh place, 11 games off the pace. However, a good second half would make it possible to finish as high as third. The Blasters are only 5 games behind Stoner and Volusia, but they are not likely to overtake them. Rogers' team is better than they have looked in the first half of the year.

Rogers has solid starters in LHP Harry Manning (9-5 2.88), Jasper LaForge (7-8 3.04) and Flash Guidry (6-3 3.26). He just needs to find a fourth starter. In the bullpen Colfax has one of the best in the IPA in Daric Jacoby (5-5 1.95). Rogers' middle relief corps needs to improve to move up in the race. Fair would be the best rating you could give them this season.

Colfax has been adequate with the bats, sparked by All-Star 1B Dennis Cole (.286/14 HR/42 RI/51 R), 3B Neely Keeton (.270/8 HR/33 RBI/39 R) and rookie CF Lujan Malanowski (.275/3 HR/39 RBI/43 R).

Last and just about the least in the IPA are the hapless Fort Benton Defenders (29-44). Not a whole lot of good things to say about Robbie Brooks ballclub. The Defenders are in last place, 16 games out of first and headed nowhere. This could be the third straight year in the cellar for them.

Brooks' best pitchers are rookie Armando Vega (6-5 3.94), Leroy Hill (3-3 2.93) and his closer Tom Chiarra (3-2 3.31) with 10 saves in 31 relief appearances.

Fort Benton doesn't boast many good hitters. The best it has to offer is C Irvin Small (.258/14 HR/40 RBI), LF Carl McCord (.271/8 HR/31 RBI/41 R/11 SB) and 3B Bill Mingan (.284/4 HR/29 RBI).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union North Division 2004 Mid-Season Standings

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Oxford Leads Fairfax By 4 In TU North, Hartsdale, Luxora By 6
The Tycobbian North could be the most talented division in the Islandian Pro Alliance. At midseason four teams have won 43 or more games with the Oxford Red Caps leading the way with 49 victories, tops in the IPA. The Red Caps have a 4-game edge over the Fairfax Frogs and 6 over Hartsdale and Luxora, who are tied for third place. So far the pennant race is running just like the polls predicted.

The Oxford Red Caps (49-24) have been devastating with the bats this season with 104 home runs, far and away the best in the league. Middlefield of the RU West and High Mesa of the TU East are a distant second with 80 homers each. Campy Roy has a well-balanced team that is strong in pitching (3.31 ERA) and hits with extraordinary power. They could set a new IPA home-run mark. Oxford has four All-Stars on its roster, two pitchers and two position players. Bayview also has four All-Stars. No other club had more than two players selected.

The Red Cap pitching corps is anchored by All-Star Bomber Belinsky (11-4 2.98), All-Star Nicky Nicholson (9-5 2.31), Wayne Baxley (6-0 2.46) and Dan Phillips (8-6 2.95). No other teams can match this starting four. The only weakness is in the bullpen. Last year standout Emerson Cannell (4-3) has seen his ERA skyrocket to 5.20, but he does have 19 saves.

The Oxford hitters are just as good with All-Star CF Ike Plunkett (.348/30 HR/63 RBI/76 R/16 SB) on a pace to break records in homers, RBIs and runs scored. Plunkett could also win the Triple Crown. All-Star LF Mack Spencer (.297/21 HR/63 RBI/51 R) is crushing the ball, too. The Red Caps have five players with ten or more homers in their line-up. 3B Joe Courtney (.273) has 14 and 1B Kenny Jablonski (.262) and C Brad Earp (.245) have 10 each.

Manager Harry Buckley has his Fairfax Frogs (45-28) hitting and pitching on all cylinders and within 4 games of first place. The Frogs are batting a composite .273, fourth best in the IPA behind LaGrange (.276) of the RU North, High Mesa (.275) of the RU East and Beechwood (.274) of the RU East. Fairfax also excels on defense with a .983 fielding percentage, second to the South Fork Stallions, who top the IPA with a .984 mark.

Buckley's best batters are RF Gregg Vincent (.300/15 HR/56 RBI/42 R), 2B Cecil Parmenter (.346/9 HR/39 RBI/46 R) and CF Billy Echevarria (.288/4 HR/25 RBI/54 R/15 SB).

On the hill the Frogs are paced by Barrett Carruthers (11-4 2.98) and brilliant closer Jay Sorenson (5-3 1.59) with 18 saves and 35 game appearances. Three new pitchers will have a lot to do with deciding the flag winner and playoff spots in the TU North. All the newcomers will be used by Buckley in middle relief.

The defending champion in the TU North is Zim Donner's Hartsdale Hellcats (43-30) who are still in the chase, tied for third with Luxora and 6 games behind Oxford.

Hellcat hurlers have been hard-to-beat and have compiled a terrific 2.99 ERA this year, second-best to Sligo (2.97) of the RU West. Gus Kostro (11-5 2.98) looks like he is headed for his second consecutive 20-win season. Tal Vaitkus (9-5 3.76) has done well, too. Closer Nico Carnera (4-2 1.66) has stood out in the bullpen with 14 saves in 30 relief appearances.

Hartsdale hits the ball well with a .265 BA, sparked by All-Star and TU-leading hitter, Mac Faulkner (.359/10 HR/55 RBI/44 R). Donner's line-up also includes three other .300 batters in SS Jud Turchin (.302/4 HR/36 RBI/47 R), 2B Hoppy Hill (.328/1 HR/30 RI/34 R) and C Lawton Payne (.320/3 HR/27 RI/31 R).

Asked about his club's chances in the second half of the schedule, Donner replied, "I like the looks of my team. We are settled as far as the roster is concerned. We didn't make any changes at midyear. We are going to finish up with what we started with in the spring. I think the Red Caps need to solve their closer problem and the Frogs have three brand-new middle relievers and I think they are all rookies. And as you know, you never can tell about rookies. I like our chances to finish the season strong. Hopefully to win the division... or at least make the playoffs."

The Luxora Zorros (43-30) are another top-notch team in the solid TU North pennant chase, currently tied for third with Hartsdale, 6 games off the pace. Skipper Alejandro Rodrigo has a bunch of good and consistent batters in his starting line-up, headed by CF Lacey Tompkins (.304/12 HR/51 RBI/48 R), new 3B Carey Niven (.305/14 HR/46 RBI/36 R), 2B Pablo Santa Cruz (.295/2 HR/24 RBI/56 R/15 SB), RF Cristo Viamonte (.267/11 HR/36 RBI/45 R), LF Joel Reed (.281/7 HR/35 RBI/41 R) and SS Rafael Lemos (.303/1 HR/29 RBI/27 R).

Rodrigo has a talented mound staff, too. His ace is Marco Braceros (10-6 3.00), but the Z's also have Eddie Hoffman (7-8 2.69) and Tito Tovares (6-5 2.73), two gifted and steady pitchers. The bullpen specialist is Elio Laurente (6-4 2.02), as good as a closer as you'll find in the IPA. Laurente has 12 saves and has made 33 relief appearances this season.

North Hills and Mahaska are deadlocked for fifth place in the TU North and trail the top team, Oxford, by 15 games.

The North Hills Hawks (34-39) have Hub Carlson as the manager. Carlson was a great industrial league pitcher with a devastating screwball. He has molded a good staff together, which has a fine 3.34 team ERA, but it is in the offense that the Hawks fall flat, batting only .247 with 42 home runs, both are near the bottom of the league.

On the mound Carlson has four fine starters in LHP Leland Clinkscales (8-8 2.98), Stan Ballard (7-3 2.73) Ben Dewberry (6-6 2.92) and Lou Dozier (7-7 3.22). This quartet is equal toe-to-toe with the best teams. North Hills has an impressive closer in Carson Romine (3-5 1.91), who has registered 9 saves in 28 games.

Good hitters are few and far between on the Hawks roster. Carlson's best hitters are less than average in the IPA. 2B Jimmy Ryland (.295/5 HR/41 RBI/45 R), LF Keith Schmidt (.268/12 HR/41 RBI/ and RF Trent Gilbert (.287/2 HR/33 RBI) is the best he has to offer.

Carlson lamented to reporters about the lack of hitting, "Good pitching can give you a chance to win every game, but it's hitting that will make the difference. If some of the higher-ranked teams had my starting four, they wouldn't lose too many games. We just have to come up with some hitters to really compete."

The Mahaska Haymakers (34-39) are guided by Rusty Tanussa. The Haymakers don't have the pitching that North Hills has, but it has a better offense with 1B Miles Shufford (.304/15 HR/58 RBI/43 R) batting clean-up. Tanussa has several other capable hitters as well in 3B Lloyd Windham (.300/6 HR/36 RBI/45 R), 2B Dusty Eaton (.281/3 HR/21 RBI/38 R) and C Mike Kanjorsky (.303/7 HR/33 RBI). However, Windham's defense was so bad, he was just released. He had made 31 errors and was fielding only .859.

The Haymakers only have a couple of good pitchers in starters Greg Turchin (8-9 3.04) and Boomerang Hines (7-6 3.19). At the All-Star break Tanussa has just signed three new pitchers.

Big John Randison pilots the White River Rascals (30-43), who have never finished better than seventh place in the TU North and it appears that streak will remain intact for another year. Randison doesn't have much to work with. He just added four new pitchers to the roster in hopes of getting lucky and getting some pitching help. None of them look like impact players.

The Rascals have two solid hurlers in Lindon Shaw (6-3 2.25) and LHP Mick Cronyn (6-9 3.19) and three decent hitters in CF Hal Hoover (.300/11 HR/34 RBI/41 R/10 SB), 3B Riley Cloy (.275/13 HR/40 RBI/48 R) and LF Roy Cochran (.273/3 HR/43 RBI). Not much beyond these five players. White River will try to keep its head above water in the battle for the basement with Blue Lake in the TU North.

Give the edge to the Rascals. The Blue Lake Blue Sox (25-48) only have three quality ballplayers. Manager Cobb Tyson is fit to be tied. It is a wonder that he has been able to tolerate such a bad team this year. The Blue Sox are getting worse by the year. They finished second in 2001, then ended up sixth the last two seasons, but had competitive teams. They played .500 ball in 2003. But not so in 2004. Blue Lake has the worst record in the entire Islandian Pro Alliance.

Tyson has one decent pitcher in Neil Krogstad (5-6 3.44). That's why he dropped five pitchers at midseason. He is desperate for pitching. The Blue Sox are last in the IPA with an atrocious 4.49 ERA.

Not much better when it comes to hitting. All-Star RF Fred Collins (.318/16 HR/46 RBI/44 R/12 SB) is Blue Lake's best. CF Rick Hilliard (.261/10 HR/32 RBI/37 R/14 SB) gives him some help at times.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union South 2004 Mid-Season Standings

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

What? Hurricanes Hold Top Spot In TU South At Halfway Point?
So far in the Tycobbian Union South the baseball experts have been all wrong. The favored Turon and San Alejo powerhouses have suddenly suffered severe power failures and tumbled down to fourth and fifth place respectively. Jumping in to take their spots at the top are the Cape Coral Hurricanes, Colchester Elites and the Summerland Sunsets.

Huggy Miller's Hurricanes have put together a fine first half and have a 2-game lead over Colchester and are 5 games in front of third place Summerland. San Alejo was the top choice to take the title this year, while the last year's Pro Cup winner, the Turon Typhoons were picked to be the runner-up this year.

The Cape Coral Hurricanes (42-31) have a solid club, strong in all categories, pitching, batting and defense. On paper they should be 10 games ahead in the standings. The 'Canes top the division with a .272 batting average, 383 runs, 3.09 ERA and are second in homers with 75 and in fielding with a .976 percentage.

Miller's top mound performers are All-Star Cody Burg (12-4 2.53), Doug Lyons (9-6 2.71) and Jeff Salow (10-4 3.73). The Hurricanes batting order boast good hitters from top to bottom, led by All-Star rookie LF Kippy Doyle (.315/17 HR/58 RBI/41 R), 1B Danny Mullins (.264/13 HR/48 RBI/56 R), C Fats Dalton (.289/10 HR/43 RBI/37 R) and 2B Hoshi Sato (.289/10 HR/32 RBI/57 R). Miller moved outfielder Mullins to first base to make room in the outfield for the talented Doyle. Mullins has handled the change well and has played the bag very well.

The Colchester Elites (40-33) have proved the prognosticators wrong, at least up to the All-Star break. The outlook was for a lowly sixth-place finish, but manager Uncle Robbie Wilbertson's Elites are running a very strong second in the TU South, trailing by just two games. Hitting is the name of the game in Colchester. They top the division in home runs with 78 and are second in scoring with 359 runs. Leading the attack are All-Star 3B Niles Stanton (.354/20 HR/64 RBI/47 R), 1B Harlan Roscoe (.303/15 HR/55 RBI/47 R), RF Tom Barella (.286/12 HR/41 RBI/53 R/22 SB) and rookie LF Douglas Tilford (.297/8 HR/37 RBI/41 R/21 SB).

Wilbertson has enough pitching to get by with three adequate starters in Frank Payne (9-5 3.24), rookie Tom Carter (5-1 2.45) and Ray Beckham (9-5 4.30). Colchester is in dire need of a closer. To fill that spot he took Tom Carter (5-1 2.45), one of his spot starters and long relievers, and inserted him into the closer spot. This will be the key decision of the year for the Elites. If Carter can come through and perform well, Colchester will be in the thick of the pennant race.

The Summerland Sunsets (37-36) get the job done offensively, ranked number two (.268 BA) behind first place Cape Coral (.272 BA) and number three in scoring (344) behind Cape Coral and Colchester. Skipper Will Hackett's Elites have benefited from the poor play of San Alejo and Turon to rise up to third place, just 5 back of the leading Hurricanes. Hackett's Sunsets could use a few more good pitchers as they are rated next-to-last with a 4.06 ERA. Summerland added three new arms at the All-Star intermission.

1B Karl Van Kooten (.278/8 HR/48 RBI) and CF Stacy Zacker (.285/10 HR/36 RBI/42 R) are Hackett's best hitters with some help from 2B Tucker Hill (.294/2 HR/19 RBI/35 R).

On the hill the Sunsets are led by All-Star Paul Felkner (11-5 2.54) and Duncan Cade (9-7 4.07), two portsiders. Without decided improvement in the pitching department, there is no way Summerland can compete with Cape Coral. However, they can compete with Colchester for the other playoff spot in the TU South.

The most asked question in the IPA this year? What has happened to Turon, St. Alejo and St. John? All of those teams were expected to dominate again this year. But it hasn't happened, much to the chagrin of Whitey Richburn, Lando Peceda and Smitty Michaels, the managers of the teams.

The Turon Typhoons (35-38) are the defending IPA champions, but haven't played like it this season. Picked to run a close second to San Alejo in the TU South, the Typhoons have slipped under .500 and down to fourth place in the standings, but only 7 games out. Richburn told reporters recently, "Our pitching has held up, but you can't compete when you are batting .245, hit half as many home runs and score a run a game less. When your club leader has 4 home runs and 29 RBIs at midseason, you have got serious problems. Absolutely no one on the team is hitting at all. I've never seen anything like it."

But the Typhoons do play good defense and are tied with Ginza for the division lead with a .978 fielding percentage.

Turon's top batters are SS John-Paul Thevenot (.282/4 HR/29 RBI) and 1B Boots Dubois (.283/3 HR/22 RBI).

Scotty Boswell (9-6 3.34) and Jeb Pickett (8-7 3.57) lead the Typhoon twirlers. Ace closer Mac Yokum (2-3 2.38) is doing a fine job with 14 saves in 31 game appearances.

Richburn is the eternal optimist, commenting, "The law of averages say the second half is going to be much better than the first half of the year. We'll do fine, if we hit like we are supposed to."

San Alejo is the southern-most town in the Islands. Peceda observed, "You would think we couldn't go any more south, but we have. Our hitting and pitching has dropped off the charts this season." The Montaneros have averaged 98 wins a year in their first two seasons in the IPA. They are on schedule to win only 70 games this season. Peceda's club is hitting 30 points less as a team and is scoring 1.5 runs fewer a game than last year. The team ERA has surged upward from 3.46 to 3.91 this season. That's why the San Alejo Montaneros (33-40) have slumped to fifth place and find themselves in the very uncomfortable position of being 9 games back in the race.

Montanero pitcher Alberto Herrera (10-6 2.57) has been Peceda's only dependable hurler. All the rest are suffering exceedingly bad years. Same thing for the batters. Only three of them are playing competitive baseball: 1B Rodger Wooten (.286/14 HR/41 RBI/, 3B Paolo Huerta (.267/10 HR/38 RBI) and SS Erico Pilar (.307/6 HR/39 RBI/39 R).

The Ginza Ninjas (31-43) and Southport Sun Sox are tied for the sixth spot in the TU South race and trail the top team by 11 games.

Manager Huroko Uchiyama's club has the same problem as several other teams - run production. The Ninjas team batting average has dropped 20 points from last season. Uchiyama assessed the season this way, "Our pitching has held its own, in spite of the fact that Kazuhiro Nakayama, a 17-game winner last year, has missed the entire first half with an injury. It will be good to have him back after the All-Star Game. Nakayama will make us a different team. Our main problem is that we suffer from a lack of runs. Defensively we are fine."

Uchiyama has two quality hurlers in All-Star Kojiro Motsumoto (9-12 2.66) and Alec Sasek (8-7 3.25). With the return of Nakayama, Ginza will have three fine starters. The outlook is good from that standpoint.

At the plate LF Ronnie Cahill (.316/9 HR/37 RBI), SS Dave Torregrossa (.285/2 HR/36 RBI) and 2B Ken Mack (.314/2 HR/20 RBI/29 R) have been the Ninjas best bats. One of Uchiyama's top performers, 3B Kenshin Yamamoto (.263/7 HR/34 RBI), a normal .300 hitter, is down some 40 points on his average at the halfway mark of the season. Ginza needs Yamamoto to come back strong in the second half. With him and Nakayama doing well, the Ninjas could move up in the standings, but still will not be a playoff team.

Famed center fielder Charley Oscar is in charge of the Southport Sun Sox (31-42). The polls have proven to be right in the case of the Sun Sox. They were the consensus seventh pick in the preseason analysis and that just about where they are. Oscar doesn't have much to brag about. His only pitcher of note is Walt Corbin (8-5 2.58) and and his one and only genuine hitter is 1B Pat Mystryk (.289/12/45 RBI). LF Angelo Lombardi (.254/15 HR/38) has supplied some much-need long ball, but has not hit much for average.

Oscar has too many needs to do much better than seventh this season. The BNN experts called this one right.

For the third year in a row the Arroyo Grande Suns (30-43) will undoubtedly end up the season in the TU South cellar, but they are better this year. Manager Jean-Luc Marchand Suns just might break the 60-win mark. They have never won more than 52. Improved pitching is the reason.

Indicating what he planned to do the rest of the year, Marchand told reporters, "Normally I carry nine pitchers, but for the last half of the season, I will use a 5-man rotation and will expand to 10 pitchers. I want to see as many starters as I can and give them experience in the starting rotation. This will help us find the starters for next season. I am also going to use my entire position players roster during the second half. Everyone will get a chance to show me what they can do. If we are going to lose, we might as well lose with a variety of ballplayers. We need to know if they can play or not."

Arroyo Grande's best pitchers have been starter Miguel Aguilera (6-7 4.08) and closer Val Hudson (2-1 2.13) with 5 saves and 34 relief assignments. Marchand has only one solid hitter in 1B Cristian Avajos (.281/16 HR/51 RBI).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union East Division 2004 Mid-Season Standings

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Midway Skyhigh In TU East, Surprises Favored Red Bluff and High Mesa
It has been a remarkable year for the Midway Wolves, who have soared to the top of the Tycobbian Union East ahead of highly-favored High Mesa and Red Bluff. Manager Cochise Chandler has guided Midway from a sixth place finish in 2003 to a surprising first place spot this season. Halfway through year the Wolves have a narrow one-game lead over second place Tuckanarra with third place Ozarka 4 games back and Red Bluff and High Mesa tied for fourth, 6 games off the pace. The Red Sox are the defending division champs, while the Cowboys were picked to win this season.

The Midway Wolves (42-31) have rode its number-one ranked pitching staff to the TU East lead. The Wolves have the best ERA (3.37) in the division and are much improved over last season. Mac Chaney (10-1 3.86), Nosyt Sani (7-5 2.82), Pedro Shunkaha (4-3 3.05) and closer Joe Eckermann (1-0 0.64) with 13 saves and 26 game appearances are the nucleus for this season's success.

Midway's offense has been sufficient with a .261 batting average (3rd) and 337 runs (4th), headed by 1B Don Piper (.254/10 HR/47 RBI/43 R), rookie SS Tory Bidwell (.309/6 HR/38 RBI/47 R), 2B Little John Yuma (.306/1 HR/32 RBI/45 R/11 SB) and CF Johnny Gillespie (.277/6 HR/35 RBI/40 R).

Good defense has played a part, too. Midway is tied for second with Red Bluff with an impressive .979 percentage. South Fork is the leader with a sensational .984 fielding average, tops in the entire IPA.

Carlton "Lefty" Stevens has his Tuckanarra Blue Jays (41-32) right on the tails of the Wolves, just a scant game off the pace. Mike Amato (1-0 3.86) has played a huge role since coming to the Blue Jays in a trade in the off-season with Volusia for catcher Clint Hardesty (.254/6 HR/46 RBI). Niles Applewhite (7-7 3.34) and Titus Bristow (7-9 3.23) give Stevens two more capable starters. In his bullpen rookie Mook Epperson (1-2 2.27) had stood out in the first half as a middle reliever and he will now take over as the closer.

Tuckanarra did not sneak up on anyone as the Blue Jays were predicted to be the third-best team in the division. In 2003 they finished a very close third, only 2 games behind Red Bluff and a game behind High Mesa.

The Blue Jays are batting only .250 (6th) with 65 homers (4th), but they do put a lot of runs on the scoreboard, ranking second with 339 runs. Stevens has a well-balanced line-up with some solid and productive batters in RF Monty Draycott (.266/13 HR/60 RBI/45 R/9 SB), 1B Charley Schofield (.269/13 HR/46 RBI/40 R), LF Corey Tavington (.269/11 HR/43 RBI/37 R), 2B Owen MacArthur (.292/5 HR/23 RBI/41 R/9 SB) and C Maka Bardinda (.296/4 HR/34 RBI/21 R).

The Ozarka Naturals (38-35) under Joe Mac Carney have made steady progress in its fourth year, moving up from fourth last season to third so far this year. The Nats pitching staff gets most of the credit. They have compiled the second-best team ERA (3.45) in the TU East. Carney has four very capable starters in his rotation, led by Alex DiMaggio (8-7 2.95), rookie Karl Kleinert (6-2 3.05), Dana Channing (9-5 3.69) and Pat Schwartz (7-7 3.68). Ozarka could use a stronger closer, although Dayle Claypoole (2-3 3.93) has been adequate with 11 saves in his 33 games.

Carney's ballclub has outscored everybody in the league with 362 runs, even though the Naturals are hitting just .262, second to High Mesa's .275, with only 45 homers (7th). Just about all of the players contribute to the offense, paced by CF Kermit Wiggins (.294/1 HR/31 RBI/48 R/15 SB) and SS Duffy Douglas (.279/4 HR/37 RBI/47 R). Platooners have done their part, too: RF Gus Dufrene (.291/6 HR/33 RBI/30 R) in 50 games, 3B Royce Robinson (.309/4 HR/21 RBI) in 40 games and C Richard Morley (.335/1 HR/28 RBI) in 48 games.

Frisky Franks, the skipper of the High Mesa Cowboys (36-37), has had a very disappointing season thus far. Favored in the BNN poll to win the TU East, the Cowboys have slumped to a tie for fourth with another frustrated team, the defending division champion, the Red Bluff Red Sox. High Mesa won the IPA Pro Cup just two years ago.

Franks told reporters, "Plain and simple, pitching is killing us." High Mesa is right at the bottom with a very poor 4.28 ERA. Only when John Owens (10-10 3.69), Donnie Rinaldi (6-4 4.00) and hard-luck Joey Popovich (6-13 4.03) are on the hill are the Cowboys competitive. The bullpen has been lousy this year and can't protect any leads at all. Franks has truly missed Kael Claxton. He won 14 and 15 games the last two seasons, but has been sidelined by an injury this year. Claxton will be back in the rotation after the All-Star game. Meanwhile, Franks has signed three new hurlers in hopes of turning things around in the second half of the campaign. Franks said, "If Claxton can pitch like he usually does and Popovich (6-13 4.03) can get a break or two, we can still win this thing."

One thing about it, High Mesa can still hit the ball. The Cowboys have far and away the best batting average (.275) in the division and second-best in the IPA, are comfortably ahead in home runs with 80 and are runner-up in scoring with 339 runs. Sparking the Cowboys at bat are C Jay Fessler (.338/7 HR/32 RBI/45 R/19 SB), 2B Ed Granberg (.304/9 HR/51 RBI/46 R), SS Rolf Kellgren (.356/3 HR/23 RBI/56 R/20 SB), RF Kenny Edelstein (.291/9 HR/42 RBI) and CF Lex Neville (.292/10 HR/31 RBI). And despite batting only .219, slugger LF Adam Zitek still has contributed 13 roundtrippers and 44 RBIs.

What's wrong with the Red Bluff Red Sox (36-37)? It looks like Mack Connery really misses his former second baseman Tony Borcellino and his 30 homers and 107 RBIs. He was shipped to Grand City in the RU for fleet center fielder Stan Helmke. Borcellino was traded because he hit only .237 last year. At the mid-season Borcellino is hitting .275, belted 16 home runs and batted in 51 runs, while Helmke has fizzled to a .228 batting average. Last year Helmke hit .326, stole 61 bases and scored 93 runs, while playing very good defense.

Connery told BNN, "The jury is still out on that trade. Remember Helmke is six years younger. I'll comment on the trade value in six years. OK?"

Hitting is the missing element this year in Red Bluff. In addition to losing Borcellino, 1B Bucky Frizzell is batting only .229. Plus closer John Dougherty (2-6 3.00) is having an off-year and has only 6 saves in 33 games. However, Connery has good starters in All-Star Leonard Urban (9-5 2.72) and two southpaws, Mila Mihoski (8-5 2.75) and Frank Beaudoin (7-8 3.32). He just has to get some help in middle relief and for Dougherty, Frizzell and Helmke to get back on track. That would make a world of different for Connery's team.

At the plate the Red Sox depend on LF Tony Blundell (.284/12 HR/32 RBI) and RF Kris Grabowski (.303/8 HR/29 RBI). They have pretty much carried the team this year, along with C Virgil Carpenter (.271/8 HR/31 RBI).

The East Point Panthers (35-38) are doing a little better than predicted. Skipper Griff Clarke's crew is in sixth place, but were picked for the basement in the TU East. The Panthers are only 7 games out of first. They really don't have the pitching to finish any higher. They hit with occasional power and can score. East Point has a .259 team batting average (4th), 68 homers (3rd), 324 runs (6th), but a poor 3.92 ERA (6th).

Clarke's top run producers are his old reliables, 3B Rex Sokolov (.298/13 HR/53 RBI/45 R) and All-Star 2B Karol Zadoka (.319/15 HR/45 RBI/54 R/11 SB). Rookie 1B Terry Cane (.300/5 HR/35 RBI) has lended a much-needed hand this year. Sokolov and Zadoka have carried the team by themselves for the last three seasons.

On the hill East Point depends on starters Charlie Hale (10-6 2.99), LHP Jarred Robillard (7-8 3.13) and LHP Carl Thompson (6-3 3.94). Clarke just signed three rookie hurlers for the second half of the year.

The Hillsboro Blazers (30-43) set a new IPA record for home runs last season with 201. Manager Arky Spanderson gave up some of that firepower for a standout pitcher and two solid position players. He traded SS Jerry Pontros to St. John of the Ruthlandian Union for three players: pitcher George Wilson, second baseman George Longmire and outfielder Jorge Mercado. Wilson bombed with a 3-10 mark with a skyhigh 4.98 ERA and has been released at midyear. That is the prime reason has faltered this season. Spanderson thought the trade would put them on equal footing with the division powers, but it has not worked out that way. The Blazers are in seventh place, 12 games off the pace. A good year by Wilson would have greatly improved Hillsboro standing in the division. But that didn't happen.

Spanderson's mound corps has been atrocious so far with a 4.25 ERA (7th) except for starters Ronnie Greinke (6-6 3.70) and Hap Howerton (7-4 4.07). LHP closer Frankie Coleridge (2-2 2.56) has impressed with 10 saves in 33 relief appearances. The Blazers have added three new pitchers to the staff for the last half of the season.

Hillsboro can still hit with power, but not like last year. As a team the Blazers have slumped badly from .264 to .246 this year. 1B Sloan Shatner (.235/13 HR/32 RBI) will not come close to his 2003 numbers when he hit .297 with 38 homers and 109 RBIs. Pontros' 27 home runs will be missed, too. Hillsboro is on pace to hit 60 fewer home runs.

LF Kevin Baker (.276/17 HR/52 RBI/47 R) is leading the charge this year, along with 3B Tommy Emrick (.314/10 HR/39 RBI/36 R). 2B George Longmire (.268/6 HR/38 RBI/45 R/23 SB) has contributed offensively and defensively, but CF Jorge Mercado (.259/10 HR/27 RBI/40 R) has been a disappointment.

South Fork manager Duroche "Lips" Leon just might have to find another pet phrase. "Nice guys finish last" just doesn't seem to fit anymore. It is quite likely that the Stallions will finish last in the TU East. Considering Leon's volatile disposition, no reporters had had the nerve to approach Leon about that subject this year. Maybe "bad guys finish last", too. At least this year.

The South Fork Stallions (28-45) are indeed in last place, 14 games behind. They are last in TU East in hitting with a .246 average and next-to-last in the IPA in homers with only 33. Only Volusia in the RU has fewer with 32. Leon has one bright spot on the team. The Stallions are the best defensive squad in the IPA with an outstanding .984 percentage.

The Stallions best batter is 1B Keith Burke (.257/5 HR/44 RBI). Rookie SS Marty Bolt (.280/0 HR/35 RBI) has the top average on the team. Even former All-Star Art Atkins (.260/5 HR/34 RBI) is having a dismal season. Atkins is a career .299 hitter.

In the pitching department veteran Flint Battle (7-9 2.73) has pitched very well, in spite of a losing record. Rookie Shannon Talbert (4-1 2.75) also has done well in 5 starts and 9 relief assignments. Talbert will move into a full-time starting role after the All-Star break.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Tycobbian Union West Division 2004 Mid-Season Standings

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Bayview Best In TU West, Vikings Have 4-Game Lead Over Rolling Hills Reds
What a season it has been for the Bayview Vikings. They were the number one choice to take the division flag and they are proving their meddle. Walter Johanssen's Vikings have a 4-game bulge at the season's halfway point in the Tycobbian Union West over the Rolling Hills Reds, 7 games over third place Denton City and 10 up on fourth place Bay St. Clair.

The standings remarkably mirrors the BNN preseason poll. The only deviation is Bay St. Clair is fourth and La Claire is fifth. They flipped-flopped in the poll. Otherwise the pollsters were perfect in their picks.

The Bayview Vikings (47-26) are the defending champs in the TU West with the second-best record in the IPA. Only Oxford of the TU North have won more games. Johanssen's Viks dominate the division offensively with a .271 batting average, 72 homers and 375 runs. Pitching-wise they hold their own, ranking third with a 3.49 ERA. However, Bayview is last in fielding with a .972 FA.

Johanssen says he has the best job in the IPA. "I got four All-Stars, who make my job a breeze. Who couldn't win with the players I have." Bayview's success is sparked by 2-time All-Star CF Phil Kanaan (.316/13 HR/52 RBI/64 R/15 SB), 2-time All-Star C Hank Bethel (.313/16 HR/49 RBI/35 R), 3B James Scott (.316/5 HR/42 RBI), 2-time All-Star 2B Alan Hansen (.310/0 HR/21 RBI/66 R/23 SB) and RF Karl Yashin (.270/9 HR/38 RBI).

Johanssen, himself a great HOF pitcher in amateur circles, has forged a good pitching staff, too. 3-time All-Star Jerry Harrison (13-4 2.83) is having a career year thus far. Other solid starters are Frank Wells (8-3 3.38) and rookie Georgie Fambreau (4-0 3.09). Bayview is on top of the division despite Adrian Strom's (5-9 5.13) dire troubles. Strom was 24-5 last season with a 3.44 ERA. He has been shipped to the bullpen to sort things out. In the bullpen is closer Terry Banks (7-4 3.08) with 13 saves and 40 relief appearances.

Another great HOF pitcher, Matty Christianson, is in charge of the Rolling Hills Reds (43-32). Christianson has his club running neck-and-neck with torrid Bayview and he is doing it with a blend of fine pitching and good hitting.

The Reds have the best starting rotation in the division. It has compiled a strong 3.20 ERA and ranks number one in that category. All-Star Keith Greenwood (11-2 2.65) has been superb this season with some help from Hoyt Paulsen (5-0 2.73), Pete Brenneman (4-3 2.14) and Roger Davidson (7-7 3.31). Christianson has excellent middle relievers and an adequate closer in LHP Stephen Faccaro (5-8 3.55), who has 14 saves and has made 38 relief appearances. Spearheading the Reds attack are RF Theron Latigo (.292/10 HR/58 RBI/42 R/11SB), 1B Eddy Dowler (.302/8 HR/30 RBI/44 R) and CF Willie Mays Nixon (.258/7 HR/37 RBI/42 R/13 SB)

Ford Whiteman has the Denton City Redbirds (40-33) in the running for a playoff spot in the TU West. The Redbirds are seven games behind Bayview, but only three games away from the second place Reds. Whiteman's main strength is his offense. Denton City is third in batting with a .261 team average, second in roundtrippers with 67 and third in runs scored with 346. Leading the Redbirds attack is their sensational All-Star 1B Rod MacCormack (.335/15 HR/58 RBI/51 R), hard-hitting 3B Jay Petit (.347/8 HR/47 RBI) and solid RF Lavon Gooch (.281/13 HR/42 RBI/52 R).

On the hill Whiteman could use some help as Denton City is a little below average with a 3.88 team ERA (7th). Whiteman has three fairly good starters in Gino Carmazzo (8-5 3.32), Roger Ramsey (7-2 3.52) and LHP James Darbonne (4-3 3.25). The Redbirds have an excellent closer in LHP Bubba Lear (3-2 2.29) with 13 saves in 36 games. Former mainstays of his staff, Bob Coleman (7-10 5.69) and Joe Hoffman (7-7 4.46) have been sent to the bullpen in hopes of getting straightened out. Burton McGarrick (2-2 2.19) and LHP Daniel Fitzmorris (0-0 3.21) will take their spots in the starting rotation and will be crucial to Denton City's playoff aspirations. McGarrick and Fitzmorris pitched well in middle relief in the first half of the season. Together they made 43 game appearances. McGarrick made 5 starts and 22 relief appearances, while Fitzmorris relieved in 16 games.

The Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (37-36) don't appear to have the talent to compete with the top three teams in the division. The Bucs are number two in batting with a .265 average, but that is misleading. They are 5th in runs scored with 317 and last in home runs with only 34. Manager Guy Rondre's team is also fifth in pitching with a 3.68 ERA.

Bay St. Clair's best batters are contact hitters with not much power. Topping the
Buccaneers are 3B Eddie Albrecht (.305/9 HR/46 RBI/41 R), C Jake Singleton (.331/1 HR/37 RBI) and LF Stan Denton (.353/0 HR/29 RBI/36 R).

Rondre has an All-Star hurler in Denny Coulon (13-5 2.27), who is tied for the most victories in the IPA with Bayview's Jerry Harrison (13-4 2.83) and Forest City's Timmy Brooks (13-5 2.55). Coulon has the fifth-best ERA. Duncan McFalls (7-6 3.36) has done a credible job in the rotation, while southpaw Norm Gross (3-3 1.91) seems to have found his niche in the bullpen. The Buc closer has 13 saves and a fantastic 1.91 ERA in 34 appearances.

Rip Calkin's La Claire Lynx (36-37) have made good strides this season and have almost reached the .500 mark. But they are a fourth or fifth place team at best. Calkin's club suffers from a lack of hitting and power. They are sixth with a .254 BA, seventh in home runs with just 39 and next-to-last in runs with only 284. One of his hopes for the future, shortstop Kevin English, has been a gigantic failure. English, an All-Star in 2003 for Arroyo Grande, has batted a Mendoza-like .201 so far this year for the Lynx. English batted .319 last season.

Thank goodness Calkin has two very strong starters in All-Star Jim Melanakos (10-3 2.52) and Munoto Kishata (10-7 3.09). They give La Claire a fighting chance in each series. Melanakos came from Oxford in a 3-for-1 trade for 1B Kenny Jablonski in April. One of the other players, 1B Lavon England (.299/4 HR/26 RBI/37 R/19 SB) has performed well offensively and defensively (.993 FA). So it has been a great trade for Calkin.

At the plate RF Lucky Collins (.282/8 HR/41 RBI/43 R/12 SB) and 2B Dirk Lindahl (.303/4 HR/25 RBI/24 R) have been the Lynx's top performers.

Not much good to say about the sixth place Kenwood Wildcats (34-39). Seventh in hitting (.245), sixth in homers (46) and last in pitching (4.48 ERA). Statistically they are the worst in the division.

It sure must be tough on manager Aaron Hankins, one of the greatest home run hitter in industrial league history. Hammerin' Hankins hit more homers than anyone in the amateur leagues. But they are not any help at all to him now. Hankins used hit more homers in a week than his team does in a month. His best batters are CF Teddy Mays (.308/9 HR/35 RBI/36 R/11 SB), SS Ned Chamberlain (.297/4 HR/26 RBI/32 R/10 SB) and LF Sassy Garfield (.250/7 HR/43 RBI/36 R/13 SB). Quite pale compared to the top teams in the TU West.

Not any better in the pitching department, either. The Wildcats have a good closer in Aydan Havilland (3-3 3.09) with 14 saves in 36 games. They have only one decent starter in Pedro Acosta (4-5 3.41). Beyond that, Hankins has two inconsistent lefties, Johnny McBee (9-8 4.31) and Lou Phillips (7-6 4.25). Kenwood is doing what a lot of teams are doing at the mid-point in the year, sign pitcher in wholesale numbers. Hankins just added three new rookies to his roster.

This season the seventh place Chicopee Braves (33-40) are an improved ballclub, mainly due to it solid pitching corps. The Braves are ranked second with a 3.47 team ERA, topped only by Rolling Hills with a splendid 3.20 ERA. However, mananger Harry Fleetfoot's batting order is woefully inadequate. Chicopee is averaging .260 (4th-tied), has 60 homers (4th), but is last in runs with just 277. Not a recipe for success. But the Braves can run and catch the ball and lead the TU West with a .978 FA.

Fleetfoot's top hitters are 1B Patrick Patamon (.263/6 HR/36 RBI), RF Orville Butler (.246/14 HR/33 RBI) and SS Ben McClendon (.286/8 HR/31 RBI).

Chicopee has two quality starters in Alan Goodwin (7-6 3.17) and Little Jake Liwanu (6-5 3.20). Fleetfoot has a standout closer in Desmond Quartermain (3-1 2.70), who has made 35 appearances with 11 saves. With its excellent pitching, the Braves could sneak past La Claire and definitely surpass Kenwood in the second half.

The last place Arlon Champions (30-43) are similar to Chicopee. The Champs have pretty fair pitching, ranked fourth with a 3.56 ERA, but absolutely no offense. Skipper Gary Louis' team is batting a dreadful .230, 63rd out of the 64 clubs in the IPA. Only the Eastshore Elegants (.229) of the RU East are worse.

You are in trouble when the best hitter you have on your roster is batting just .274. Arlon's top batters are LF Matt Merrill (.274/10 HR/33 RBI/41 R), CF Steve Barnett (.273/8 HR/31 RBI/45 R) and C Smoke Zakharov (.252/10 Hr/43 RBI).

Louis' top twirlers are rookie Jose Gonzales (6-5 2.47) and bullpen ace Stanley Ross (5-5 2.79), who has 6 saves in 32 games.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Pro Alliance

Friday, June 25, 2004

IPA Announces Ruthlandian and Tycobbian All-Stars
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the All-Stars for the 2004 All-Star Game to be played at Turon's Typhoon Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Turon got to host the All-Star Game because they won the Pro Cup last season, beating the Valmara Vipers in the finals. Managers for the game will be Turon's skipper Ashton "Whitey" Richburn and Valmara's J. Jackson Samuel. The Tycobbian Union Stars hold a 2-1 edge over the Ruthlandian Stars with victories in 2001 and 2003.

The Oxford Red Caps and Bayview Vikings of the Tycobbian Union led with four players each. Four teams have a pair of participants: Forest City and Middlefield of the Ruthlandian Union and Cape Coral and High Mesa of the Tycobbian Union.

Four players have been named to the All-Star team three times: LF Dominic Zuccaro of the Taranto Tars in the RU; 2B Karol Zadoka of East Point, SS Rolf Kellgren of High Mesa and P Jerry Harrison of Bayview.

10 players were picked for the second time: LF Jet Kazmarek (VLM), 1B Phil Gravelli (BB), RF Bailey Norcross (MDF), C Todd Simons (ELN) in the RU; P Cody Burg (CC), C Hank Bethel (BAY), Jay Fessler (HM), 2B Alan Hansen (BAY), CF Phil Kanaan (BAY) and Kojiro Matsumoto (GIN) in the TU.

Representing the Ruthlandian Union:
SP C. Schmitz (VOL) (11-5 2.15)
SP T. Brooks (FC) (13-5 2.55)
SP J. Hicks (MDF) (9-6 2.47)
SP G. Neal (SV) 9-4 2.39)
SP A. Nardone (TAR) (7-8 2.33)
SP D. Vannoy (VLK) (9-5 1.91)
SP Y. Nakagawa (KIL) (9-5 1.89)

LF J. Kazmarek (VLM) (.399 BA/4 HR/54 RBI/40 R)
1B P. Gravelli (BB) (.372 BA/20 HR/63 RBI)
RF B. Norcross (MDF) (.308 BA/18 HR/42 RBI/54 R/21 SB)
SS R. Fargnoli (RAN) (.330 BA/12 HR/65 RBI/48 R)
2B B. McCord (GLS) (.329 BA/9 HR/48 RBI/49 R)
CF D. Jones (SD) (.335 BA/2 HR/30 RBI/48 R/29 SB)
3B C. Fairclough (RAN) (.305 BA/8 HR/38 RBI/48 R/15 SB)
C T. Simons (ELN) (.303 BA/5 HR/39 RBI/34 R)
C B. Stern (STO) (.305 BA/14 HR/53 RBI)
1B N. Cockcroft (WYN) (.325 BA/22 HR/40 RBI/52 R)
1B D. Cole (CFX) (.286 BA/14 HR/42 RBI/51 R)
SS B. Nilsen (FC) (.303 BA/15 HR/62 RBI/53 R/9 SB)
LF D. Zuccaro (TAR) (.295 BA/21 HR/51 RBI/47 R)
RF C. Czako (BEE) (.327 BA/9 HR/39 RBI/60 R/11 SB)
RF M. Di Lazzaro (LAG) (.329 BA/8 HR/46 RBI/45 R/13 SB)
1B S. Haddix (RR) (.333 BA/5 HR/51 RBI/41 R)

Participating for the Tycobbian Union:
SP D. Coulon (BSC) (13-5 2.27)
SP J. Harrison (BAY) (13-4 2.83)
SP K. Greenwood (RH) (11-2 2.65)
SP C. Burg (CC) (12-4 2.53)
SP J. Melanakos (LC) (10-3 2.52)
SP P. Felkner (SUM) (11-5 2.54)
SP N. Nicholson (OXF) (9-5 2.31)
SP B. Belinsky (OXF) (12-6 3.19)
SP K. Matsumoto (GIN) (9-12 2.66)
SP L. Urban (RB) (9-5 2.72)

CF I. Plunkett (OXF) (.348 BA/30 HR/63 RBI/76 R/16 SB)
3B N. Stanton (CCH) (.354 BA/20 HR/64 RBI/47 R)
2B K. Zodoka (EP) (.319 BA/15 HR/45 RBI/54 R/11 SB)
1B M. Faulkner (HAR) (.359 BA/10 HR/55 RBI/44 R)
RF F. Collins (BL) (.318 BA/16 HR/46 RBI/44 R)
C H. Bethel (BAY) (.313 BA/16 HR/49 RBI/47 R)
SS R. Kellgren (HM) (.356 BA/3 HR/23 RBI/56 R/20 SB)
LF M. Spencer (OXF) (.297 BA/21 HR/63 RBI/51 R)
C J. Fessler (HM) (.338 BA/7 HR/32 RBI/45 R/19 SB)
1B R. MacCormack (DC) (.335 BA/15 HR/58 RBI/51 R/10 SB)
3B J. Petit (DC) (.347 BA/8 HR/47 RBI/33 R)
2B C. Parmenter (FFX) (.346 BA/9 HR/39 RBI/46 R)
2B A. Hansen (BAY) (.310 BA/0 HR/21 RBI/66 R/23 SB)
CF P. Kanaan (BAY) (.316 BA/13 HR/52 RBI/64 R/15 SB)
LF K. Doyle (CC) (.315 BA/17 HR/58 RBI/41 R)
LF K. Baker (HIL) (.276/17 HR/52 RBI/47 R)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, June 26, 2004

Tycobbia Stars Prevail Over Ruthlania Stars 4-3 In 2004 All-Star Game
At Typhoon Stadium in Turon, the Tycobbian Union All-Stars defeated the Ruthlandian All-Stars for the third time in four years. The TU Stars erupted for four runs in the top of the eighth to win the 2004 All-Star Game 4-3. With Gregg Neal (SV) on the mound, Ruthlandia had a 3-0 lead. With one away RF Kippy Doyle (CC) doubled and 2B Alan Hansen (BAY) walked. CF Phil Kanaan (BAY) doubled to make it 3-1, putting runners on second and third. 3B Jay Petit (DC) got an infield hit to drive in another run, cutting the score to 3-2. With runners on the corners, LF Kevin Baker (HIL) doubled in Kanaan with the tying run. P Jim Melanakos then flied out deep to right to plate Petit with the eventual winning run. Melanakos picked up the win with a perfect 1-2-3 eighth.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth Ruthlandia mounted a threat. C Todd Simons (ELN) worked a walk off of Paul Felkner (SUM). 1B Dennis Cole (CFX) hit into a force play at second for out number one. Nicky Nicholson came on to pitch and surrendered a single to 1B Nate Cockroft (WYN) with Cole advancing to second base. LF Dominic Zuccaro hit one to the wall, but CF Kanaan went back and got it for the second out. Cole tagged and put the tying run on third. Leonard Urban relieved Nicholson and he retired RF Clifton Czako (BEE) on a sharp line drive to left to end the game and claimed the victory for Tycobbia. The defeat went to Neal, who gave up four runs and four hits in his only inning.

The Ruthlandian Stars took the lead against Denny Coulon (BSC) on a single by LF Jet Kazmarek (VLM) and a two-run homer by RF Bailey Norcross (MDF) in the opening frame. Ruthlandia added another run in the fourth when Norcross singled to lead off the inning against Jerry Harrison (BAY) and was driven in by C Bill Stern's (STO) RBI double. Norcross was voted the game MVP. He went 2-for-3 with a home run and a single and two RBIs.

Carl Schmitz (VOL), Yasuyuki Nakagawa (KIL) and Bomber Belinsky (OXF) stood out on the mound. Pitching for Ruthlandia, Schmitz fanned four in his two hitless innings and Nakagawa struck out two of the three batters he faced in a scoreless inning, while Tycobbia's Belinsky whiffed two and allowed no runs in his only inning.

Tycobbia won the first All-Star clash in 2001 with a 6-0 victory. Ruthlandia evened it up in 2002 with stunning 5-4 win by scoring four runs in the last of the ninth. Last year Tycobbia shut them out 2-0.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Ruthlandian Union Batting Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Ruthlandian Union Pitching Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Tycobbian Union Batting Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Tycobbian Union Pitching Leaderboards 2004 Mid-Season

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Crunch Time In The IPA, Ruthlandian Union Readies for Playoff Run
The pressure is on. Just one more month to go in the IPA. That's how much time the teams have to secure a playoff spot. This season only the top two teams in each of the eight divisions will get an automatic bid to the Pro Cup playoffs. Only 16 teams will qualify.

If the playoffs began today it would be Valmara (70-57) and Ranford (69-58) representing the Ruthlandian Union North. However, there is another month to go, so LaGrange (68-59), Taranto (64-63) and Glasco (63-64) still have something to say in the matter.

The Valmara Vipers and Ranford Bulls have both caught and surpassed the first half leader, LaGrange. The Vipers have a one-game lead over the Bulls. Manager Foxy Jimison has seen his Sports go into a downward spiral, blow a 5-game lead and fall out first place in the last two months. The Sports slumped badly to 19-27 since the All-Star break, while the Vipers were 28-20 and the Bulls were 30-18. Yet Jimison's club is only two games out of first and has time to right the ship. Skipper Tommaso Lazzorda has Taranto running in high gear with a 29-19 surge the last two months. They are just 6 games out of first place. So don't count the Tars out. Though the Glasco A's are only 7 games behind in the race, it is not likely they will challenge for a playoff slot. Especially since their season has taken a downward turn this month. The Athletics are not playing well at all and are only 6-13 in August.

Over in the RU South Valka enjoyed first place most of the season until just recently when the Blackhawks went into the doldrums with a 6-13 mark in August. This enabled the Belair Beach Sunbirds (77-50) to take over in a big way. Marty Pedroza's Sunbirds have a 6-game edge over the second place Claxton Diamonds (71-56) and San Dimas Rancheros (71-56). All three of them have played very well in July and August and are primed for the playoff run. Belair Beach chalked up an outstanding 31-17 record since mid-season, while Claxton was just as good at 31-17 and San Dimas was 28-20. The Valka Blackhawks (70-57) are still in contention, but Jaan Kurus' club has gone into the tank and now trails by 7 games. Valka is just 23-25 in the last two months.

In the RU East the Elnora All-Stars (72-55) and Sugar Valley Rattlers (71-56) are in good shape heading into the final month of play with a good lead over the third place Marston Nine (66-61). The Rattlers have been playing the best ball of late with a 27-21 mark in the last two months, while Elnora slipped to 25-23 and Marston to 21-27. To make the lead look even better Marston hasn't been playing very well with a 6-13 record this month and has fallen 6 games off the pace. Beechwood (60-67), Belle Plaine (60-67) and Wynnamac (60-67) are too far back to be any playoff threat. The Sundowners were a strong fourth at the All-Star break, only 3 games back, but have since gone 17-30 and have dropped out of sight.

Smitty Michaels and his Middlefield Roosters (77-50) are riding high with a 6-game bulge on top of the RU West and they are still playing quite well with a 29-19 mark in July and August. It's not likely anyone is going to catch them. Volusia (71-56) has the best chance as the Vigilantes have hung close and played extremely well, too. Alfonso Feliz has guided them a 29-19 record over the past two months. They haven't gained any ground on the Roosters, but they haven't lost any, either. Eddie Keys and the Sligo Rovers (69-58) have gone into a slumber in recent weeks and dropped 8 games behind with a poor 22-26 record. The way things are going lately Middlefield and Volusia look like safe bets for the playoffs. Fourth place Rocky Rapids (66-61) and Stoner (66-61) are good teams, but have too much ground to make up, being 11 games off the pace.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Bayview, Oxford, Cape Coral Playoff-Bound
Three powerful ballclubs in the Tycobbian Union have just about wrapped up the division pennants and the playoff spots that goes with them. Bayview, Oxford and Cape Coral seem to be shoo-ins for the regular season crowns. Only the Midway Wolves have a challenge on their hands for the division flag and they are in a battle royal with the Red Bluff Red Sox and Tuckanarra Blue Jays for it.

The awesome Oxford Red Caps (82-45) are still at it, pitching well and knocking the cover off the ball in the TU North. Since the mid-season hiatus, Campy Roy's boys have gone 30-18 and increased their lead to 8 games over runners-up Hartsdale (74-53) and Luxora (74-53). The Hellcats and Zorros are no slouches as they have been 29-19 and 27-21 respectively the last two months of play. They have a 3-game lead over fourth place Fairfax (71-56) heading down the stretch drive. The Frogs fell to 22-26 in July and August to slip 11 games out.

In the Tycobbian Union South race, Huggy Miller's Cape Coral Hurricanes (78-49) have gone on a 32-16 rampage and bolted 8 games ahead of second place Colchester (70-57), despite the fact that the Elites have been playing well with a 26-22 mark since the All-Star game. Both clubs are just about guaranteed playoff positions. The Hurricanes should win the division crown and Colchester should easily get the second playoff spot. It's not likely third place San Alejo (62-65) and fourth place Summerland (61-66) will contend with them. The defending IPA Pro Cup champion, the fifth place Turon Typhoons (58-69) will definitely not be in the playoffs and will have to wait until next year.

There is quite a tussle in the TU East. Everything is still up for grabs - the regular season crown and both playoff spots. Five teams are in the running and are set to battle down-to-wire and down to the last day of the season. Manager Cochise Chandler's Midway Wolves (68-59) are now tied with last year's winner Red Bluff (68-59) for first place. Over the past two months the Wolves have played poorly with a 20-28 mark, while Mack Connery's Red Sox put up a 28-20 record and climbed up to the top of the division. Third place Tuckanarra (67-60) is only one game behind the leaders. The Blue Jays were 24-24 since mid-season. Still in the chase are the High Mesa Cowboys (63-64) and Ozarka Naturals (63-64), both tied for fourth place and only 5 games back. The Cowpokes performed at a 24-24 clip in July and August, while the Nats dipped to a dismal 21-27 pace.

Walter Johanssen has piloted the Bayview Vikings (83-44) to the best overall record in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season and they will coast to TU West Division championship. The Vikings compiled a 32-16 record over the last two months and have left everyone in the dust in the regular season title race with a huge 12-game lead over second place Rolling Hills (71-56). The Denton City Redbirds (70-57) are third, 13 games behind, and will challenge the Reds for the final playoff spot. Fourth place La Claire (66-61) is 17 games out and seems to be out of contention. Since the season's halfway point, Rolling Hills has been 24-24 with the Redbirds 26-22 and the Lynx 29-19.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

IPA Regular Season Champs Proclaimed, Pro Cup Series Begins Today
Year Four was a good one in the Islandian Pro Alliance with tight, down-to-the-wire races in just about all of the divisions. One of them had to have a one-game winner-take-all-game to decide the pennant. There was also a playoff to decide second place in one of the divisions.

The Pro Cup Sweet 16 Series is slated to get underway today with 8 games on the schedule. For the first time this season, the Pro Cup playoffs will be a best-three-of-five in the first three rounds with the championship series will be a best-of-seven affair.

Ruthlandian Union North Division 2004 Final Standings

Valmara Streaks To Pennant in RU North, Ranford Runner-Up
The Valmara Vipers (87-67) had to win their final five games to overtake the Ranford Bulls (86-68) in the Ruthlandian Union North. The Vipers won it by one game with third place LaGrange (84-70) just three games back. Valmara and Ranford will represent the North in the Pro Cup playoffs that will get underway today with Sweet 16 action. The Bulls will host the RU South champion Belair Beach, while the Vipers will travel to play the Claxton Diamonds, the number two team in the South.

Valmara finished strong under manager J. Jackson Samuel to take the crown for the second successive season. The Vipers vaulted to the top with a great 13-5 run in September and a power-packed line-up headed by LF Jet Kazmarek (10 HR/85 RBI/116 R/80 SB), the top hitter in the IPA with a .376 mark. It's Kazmarek's third straight batting title. 1B Masaichi Okawa (.279/23 HR/115 RBI), 2B Floyd Vinson (.279/7 HR/105 RBI) and RF Val Krol (.312/21 HR/80 RBI) also helped make Valmara the top-scoring club in the division.

Samuel made two big moves at mid-season and put Ted Farentino into the starting rotation and Gerry Wojcik at the closer. They both responded big-time. Farentino with a sparkling 11-2 record with a terrific 2.14 ERA, while Wojcik was 3-1 with 13 saves in 34 games. Valmara also got solid performances from Vanya Vasylenko (17-8 2.76) and Andre Trepanier (18-14 3.42).

The Ranford Bulls had a good run at the pennant, but faltered slightly in the last two weeks of the year with a 9-9 record. Skipper Page Satcher's outstanding mound corps topped the division with an impressive 3.13 ERA, led by LHP Bud English (24-10 2.66), Jim Maxwell (17-9 3.22), LHP Chris Bernhoffer (18-14 3.04) and closer Tim DeKosky (7-8 2.51) with 25 saves and 59 game appearances.

Satcher's best bats were his standout SS Rick Fargnoli (.322/20 HR/127 RBI/91 R), rookie LF Jose Castillo (.292/17 HR/47 RBI/103 R/18 SB) and 3B Colin Fairclough (.286/16 HR/78 RBI/94 R/31 SB). 1B Jordy John delivered 27 home runs to lead the club, but hit only .236.

The LaGrange Sports ran a great race, but just ran out of gas with a 9-19 August, which sunk them. Foxy Jimison's Sports closed well with a 12-6 mark in September, but it was too little, too late by that time. LaGrange is a well-balanced team with quite a few strong performers. On the hill, Sean Stone (20-9 2.80), Barney Prohaska (15-10 2.63) and Tony Amick (13-9 3.45) had fine seasons. In the bullpen closer Leroy Labat (11-5 2.49) excelled with 26 saves and 64 relief appearances.

At the plate, LF John Babcock (.292/23 HR/91 RBI) and RF Mike Di Lazzaro (.315/15 HR/85 RBI/83 R/23 SB) were the kingpins of the attack with help from CF Roger Marley (.295/18 HR/61 RBI/92 R), 2B Timmy Masters (.298/5 HR/58 RBI/81 R) and SS Marvin Hollis (.285/4 HR/54 R/84 R).

Glasco, Taranto and Far Mountain were in the next tier, finishing the season in fourth, fifth and sixth place. The Athletics were 78-76, the Tars 77-77 and the Redhawks 76-78.

Ray Cook was Glasco's top player. He was 20-13 with a 3.42 ERA. A's manager McDuffie Hughes suffered from a lack of offense. Pitcher Jesse Balfour (12-19 3.26) was effective, but could have used more run support. Jake Nyberg (4-1 3.12) was a success as the team's closer. Nyberg saved 18 games and worked in 62 games. Glasco only had one quality hitter, 2B Barry McCord (.278/18 HR/94 RBI/81 R). The Athletics got a lift from SS Kieran Kilgore (.297/9 HR/52 RBI/60 R), when he was inserted into the line-up halfway through the year.

In Taranto manager Tommaso Lazzorda had the pitching but his Tars just did not give good run support to the pitchers, especially Anthony Nardone (10-16 2.76) and Lefty Paddison (13-15 3.18). The other two starters Carlo Bianchi (18-13 3.38) and Arnie Wickersham (11-7 2.41) fared better. The Tars 1-2 tandem, LF Dominic Zuccaro (.291/40 HR/111 RBI/95 R) and RF Tony Blaser (.291/34 HR/107) again produced most of the team's runs. Zuccaro again led the Ruthlandian Union with 40 roundtrippers, leading for the third year in a row.

This is the first year Alex Groveland's Far Mountain Redhawks didn't make the playoffs. The Redhawks bats just can't compete, batting a lowly .248. But as expected Groveland's hurlers did their jobs very well. Robby Kelly (21-10 2.64) won 20 games for the first time in his career. Sonny Elliott (16-10 3.06) and Cliff Pope (13-9 3.34) contributed well, too.

Far Mountain's only productive hitter was LF Karl Dietz, who slugged 31 homers and drove in 106 runs, but only hit for a .245 batting average.

Down at the bottom of the RU North standings were the hapless Kilkenny Cats (68-86) and Ancona Red Elephants (68-86), who tied for seventh place. Neither team had much to cheer about this season. However, Cats manager Kieran McKenna found an extraordinary closer in rookie Carley Stockwell, who joined the team in late June and copped 11 saves and 41 appearances with an excellent 6-2 record and a microscopic 1.33 ERA. McKenna could also smile about his fine RF Rick Audubon (.283), who slammed 36 homers, drove in 115 runs and scored 96 times.

Manny Mickens, skipper of the Red Elephants, got good performances out of CF Simon Manetas (.327/10 HR/59 RBI/59 R) and rookie RF Louis DiMucci (.284/17 HR/70 RBI). On the mound Nikon Maragos (17-15 3.13) and rookie Yannis Vardakis (12-12 3.10) were steady and dependable. RF Jimmy Brewer (.256/25 HR/76 RBI/95 R) provided most of the offense.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Ruthlandian Union South 2004 Final Standings

Sunbirds Hold Off Diamonds For RU South Crown
The Claxton Diamonds (87-67) made a valiant charge, but came up 3 games short in their quest to take the Tycobbian Union South flag away from the Belair Beach Sunbirds (90-64).

Marty Pedroza's Sunbirds are class of the division with the best batting average (.266) and the best ERA (2.96). His mound staff has been superb with no weak links at all. Belair Beach has nine pitchers that can get batters out, led by starters Tiny Lindgren (19-11 2.67), Ray Watson (17-10 2.71), Slim Mosley (18-8 3.01), Terry Christian (15-13 3.09) and Jed Mitchell (11-5 3.47). Pedroza's closer Johnny Spears (6-10 2.45) has registered 25 saves and worked 72 games. Mitchell, the spot starter and long reliever, has also chalked up 7 saves.

Offensively, Belair Beach is spearheaded by its wonderful 1B Phil Gravelli (.356/35 HR/120 RBI/94) and the free-swinging LF Nicky Swift (.249/26 HR/76 RBI/96 R). Pedroza added in 3B Mike Janocko at mid-year and he gave their offense quite a lift with 14 homers and 52 RBIs, while compiling a .297 batting average.

Nobody really wanted to win the RU South as only Belair Beach and Claxton played .500 ball the last three weeks of the season. Valka and San Dimas killed their chances by their poor play in the closing weeks.

Stacy Engel, the Old Perfesser, got the Claxton crew to cranking in the second half of the year. He told BNN, "We came close, but this is baseball, not horseshoes. Close don't cut it. But what the hey, we made the playoffs and still can win the whole shebang."

The Diamonds are right on par with the Sunbirds rotation with a brilliant 3.05 team ERA (2nd). Claxton's Teddy Kuznetsov (21-8 2.43), Doug Torvik (18-12 2.98), Sal Tallis (17-12 3.08) and Tetsunori Nakashima (16-12 3.55) can match the talented Sunbird twirlers. Toss in closer Tom Dahl (5-4 2.07) with 14 saves and 59 relief assignments and you've got as strong a staff as anyone.

The Diamonds run into problems matching Belair Beach with the bats. Claxton is hitting only .250 as a team. Engel doesn't have the hitters Pedroza possesses. LF Dixie Baker (.252/25 HR/77 RBI/86 R) is his only deep threat. Rookie Jackie Faust (.295/17 HR/58 RBI/104 R) has done very well from the lead-off spot. Engel said it is very likely he will drop in the order in the playoffs to get more opportunities with runners on base. Claxton top hitter average-wise is 2B Bobby Ritter (.312/13 HR/69 RBI/74 R).

Valka (82-72), the early leader, had a good month, then a bad month, going through the season that way. ending up in third place, 8 games off the pace. Manager Jaan Kurus said, "We had rotating hot-and-cold spells throughout the season. You can do that and expect to win the pennant." The Blackhawks had good pitching with a 3.36 team ERA (3rd), but only hit .255 with only 72 home runs (8th). Kurus told BNN, "You can't win if you don't hit and we simply don't hit. You're in trouble when your power guys hit 13 and 12 homers for the season. You can win with pitching and home runs. One without the other and you don't win."

The Blackhawks sport a good threesome in pitchers Daryl Vannoy (16-11 2.53), Bobby Karu (18-16 3.06) and Andrei Kokk (14-11 3.53). Valka also has a gifted closer in Tom Ruffin (8-8 1.96) with 26 saves and 66 game appearances. But Kurus' pitching can't stand up against Belair Beach and Claxton. And his hitting can't, either. The Blackhawks best batters are RF Jimmy Tremayne (.299/9 HR/68 RBI), CF Kyell Ibbotson (.296/7 HR/68 RBI) and SS Villem Kask (.282/1 59 RBI).

The San Dimas Rancheros (80-74) combined good pitching with home runs and ended up fourth in the RU South standings, 10 games back of Belair Beach. Skipper Paco Banderas said, "We just didn't quite have enough good pitching and didn't go deep quite often enough."

The Rancheros batted .250 with 138 roundtrippers (1st), powered by RF Goose Garlin (.269/36 HR/96 RBI), 1B Johnny Carducci (.275/34 HR/88 RBI/100 R), 3B Domingo Rios (.257/19 HR/76 RBI/89 R), rookie CF Dennis Jones (.316/7 HR/67 RBI/86 R/58 SB), LF Loyd Chance (.260/14 HR/63 RBI) in 108 games and C John Wesley Ewing (.257/11 HR/84 RBI).

San Dimas had a steady and consistent rotation that sparkled at times with the likes of Bill Sharp (20-12 3.85), Keith Callahan (16-14 2.89), Zippy Hodge (11-9 3.17), Shane Rymer (12-11 3.18) and Lowell Wall (13-11 3.75). One vital element missing in the Rancheros equation was a strong closer. Wayne Mallard (2-7 3.76) was only adequate with 15 saves in 59 relief assignments.

Coming in fifth in the RU South were the preseason favorite and defending division champion, the very disappointing St. John Crusaders (70-84). After a terrible first half, Dickie Billings' ball club actually turned it around in the second half and played well with a fine 43-32 mark. Still St. John finished the season hitting only .251 with 93 homers (7th) and a 3.88 team ERA (6th).

The Crusaders only bright spots were pitchers Sterling Eccles (17-12 3.49) and Zach Simon (17-14 3.68). As far as hitting there were no bright spots except for Wayne Slaughter (.302/2 HR/37 RBI/50 R) in 82 games, CF Marty Sedlin (.292/6 HR/33 RBI/37 R) in 81 games and LF Gerry Carmody (.329/1 28 RBI) in 38 games. All of them became regulars in the second half of the season. The best regulars, 1B Frankie Faber (.260/19 HR/81), RF Kenny Hatcher (.258/21 HR/65 RBI) and SS Jerry Pontros (.260/12 HR/73 RBI), came nowhere near their 2003 stats.

Grand City (64-90), Waleska (61-93) and Crystal Lake (60-94) all had lousy seasons, ranking with the worst teams in the IPA. Basically, they all suffered dearly from a lack of scoring, with all of them batting under .250. None of them had much pitching, either. No hitting plus no pitching usually equals a poor and pathetic season.

The Grand City Cybercats were led by pitcher Shane Hall, who was 17-17 with a good 3.13 ERA. Longballers 2B Tony Borcellino (.250/29 HR/102 RBI) and RF Teddy Giacone (.251/30 HR/84 RBI) didn't hit much for average, but they did drive in runs.

The Waleska Westerners were another very downtrodden team. They were picked to finish third by the BNN preseason poll. Only two veterans Smokey Joe Carter and LF Big Hoss Burkhalter put up good seasons. Carter was 16-15 with a 3.08 ERA and Burkhalter did himself proud with 30 roundtrippers, 100 RBIs and a .277 batting average.

Crystal Lake Manager Herman "Baby" George had another terrible season in the IPA and ended up in the cellar again, but he did find him several good players to begin 2005. At the All-Star Game George began platooning almost everybody he could and got some good results from 3B Nelson Tolliver (.312/10 HR/32 RBI) in 78 games, RF Derren Prince (.302/4 HR/19 RBI) in 42 games and CF Geoff Hunter (.299/6 HR/26 RBI) in 66 games.

The only productive regular was LF Ben Butler, who walloped 30 homers and drove in 90 runs, while hitting just .244 for average.