ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 26, 2004

IPA Round Of 8 Starts Today
The eight survivors of the IPA Sweet 16 will now go at it in the Elite 8 Series. The postseason prognosticators had predicted Elnora and Cape Coral would meet for the Pro Cup with the All-Stars prevailing. The favorites have already been eliminated as Elnora and Cape Coral fell by the wayside in the first round of the playoffs. Both the Volusia Vigilantes and the Luxora Zorros surprised the favored teams by taking three out of four games to eliminate them. But six powerful clubs did survive.

In the Tycobbian Union playoffs the Oxford Red Caps will now do battle with Luxora and the Bayview Vikings take on the Red Bluff Red Sox. In the Ruthlandian Union Volusia plays the Sugar Valley Rattlers and the Valmara Vipers engage the Ranford Bulls. In the regular season Oxford bested Luxora 4 games to 2, Bayview thrashed Red Bluff 5 out of 6, Volusia topped Sugar Valley 4 out 6 games and Valmara split with Ranford at 3 games apiece.

The experts are giving the nod to Oxford over Luxora because of its home run power and offense. Bayview is favored over Red Bluff for the same reason. The Vikings won 96 games in the regular season and dominated Tuckanarra in the first round. The Vikings look like the best overall team and could win it all this year.

Despite the regular season record against Volusia, Sugar Valley is favored to top the Vigilantes because of better hitting. The Rattlers have been picked to take the Ruthlandia Union title and meet Bayview for all the marbles in the IPA finals.

Ranford just might be the Cinderella team in the RU. The Bulls took the season series from both Volusia and Sugar Valley. However, it's a toss-up between them and the Vipers. But if Ranford can get by Valmara in this round, the analysts think the Bulls could make the Pro Cup finals.

No matter who gets to the Pro Cup championship series, the experts give the edge to the Tycobbian teams, who have won two of the three IPA Pro Cups.

It all gets underway today with a full slate of four games. Each Elite 8 Series will be best-of-five.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

NYY #23, you might want to check out the Wynnamac Sundowners in the Ruthlandian East. They are managed by Matt Donnelly, an outstanding first baseman in the industrial league. It's not incidental that he wears #23.

Well you've convinced me to switch my allegiances and start pulling for the Sundowners and Matt Donnelly next year!

I must also say that a no hitter in the playoffs is pretty special! Even if it helped eliminate the Hurricanes. I'm not sure who to root for during the rest of the playoffs, but I'll be following along none the less.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

SV Nips Volusia 4-3 In Elite 8 Opener
Sugar Valley had a tough time with Volusia during the regular season, but got the best of them in the Elite 8 opener today at Farmers Memorial Park. The Rattlers rattled the fences for 12 hits and nipped the Vigilantes 4-3 behind some fine pitching by Anthony Glaser (2-0 2.81), who stifled the V's on six hits, struck out nine and walked two. Glaser outpitched loser Carl Schmitz (0-2 3.86), who had a rocky outing, giving up 11 hits and four runs in six innings.

Volusia drew first blood on a first-inning homer by CF Ryan Raines (.316) with no one aboard. Sugar Valley rebounded with two in the second when RF Frank Horak (.389) singled and 2B Casey Leeburn (.375) doubled and were driven in on a single by C Slingshot McFall (.353). In the fourth Volusia rebounded on a solo shot by SS Scooter Perez (.190) to tie the score at 2-2, then went ahead on 1B Francisco Abreu's (.222) RBI ground-out. The Rattlers retaliated quickly with two runs in the fifth to go up to stay 4-3 on 1B Ron Armstrong's (.471) RBI single and a sacrifice fly by 3B Jorge Vargas (.176).

Five Rattlers had two hits apiece, led by McFall with two RBIs. Raines topped the V's with 3 three hits, including two doubles and a home run.

Game two in the series will be tomorrow in Sugar Valley. Volusia's Raul Sandoval (1-0 1.72) will attempt to even up the series and will be opposed by Gregg Neal (1-1 2.25).

Vasylenko Stops Bulls, Vipers Win 1st Game 5-2
A big four-run fourth led Valmara to a 5-2 victory in the first game of the IPA Elite 8 Series with Ranford. The Vipers got 11 hits and good pitching from Vanya Vasylenko to take the opening game at Ranford County Stadium. Vasylenko (1-0 3.75) was quite impressive as he struck out nine Bulls in seven innings, allowing only two runs and seven hits. Closer Gerry Wojcik (0-0 0.00) finished it up for him with two scoreless frames for his second playoff save.

Leading the way at-bat was 2B Floyd Vinson (.167), who drove in four runs. Vinson's three-run double in the fourth was the decisive hit in the game. Ranford totaled 8 hits and were paced by rookie LF Jose Castillo (.222), who got his fourth postseason home run and drove in his seventh run. Bud Enright (0-2) struggled badly and was drilled for 8 hits and five runs in four-plus innings. It was his second straight poor playoff performance. Enright won 24 games in the regular season.

Valmara's Ted Farentino (1-0 2.00) and Ranford's Jim Maxwell (1-0 2.45) will be the starters for tomorrow afternoon's second game.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Urban Brilliant, Red Sox Blank Viks 3-0 In Game 1
So far this season Bayview had had its way with the Red Bluff Red Sox, winning five of six games, but not today in the opening game of the Elite 8 Series at Red Bluff Park. The underdog Red Sox got a brilliant performance from 27-year-old Leland Urban (2-0 0.00), who was in total control. Urban stopped the hard-hitting Vikings on just three hits, while striking out nine of them. Urban has yet to give up a run in his two playoff starts. He went 8 innings a few days ago beating Denton City 3-0. Red Bluff got all three runs off losing pitcher Jerry Harrison (1-1 2.57), who allowed seven hits in his five innings. Offensively the Red Sox collected nine hits and were sparked by 2B Vern Gable (.565) with three hits.

Gable tripled in the first and came home on an error by 2B Alan Hansen. Gable singled in the Red Sox second run in the second inning. They got the last score in the fifth when SS Jerry Decker (.200) had an RBI double. Urban was helped by three double plays by the Red Bluff infield.

The two clubs will return to action again tomorrow at Red Bluff Park for game number two, which will pit Frank Wells (1-0 1.00) for the Viks and Frank Beaudoin (1-0 3.77) for the Red Sox. Wells won 21 games in the regular campaign, while Beaudoin was a 16-game winner.

Luxora Slips By Oxford 3-2 In Elite 8 Opener
It has been a one-run thriller in each of Luxora's five playoff games this season and the Zorros have won four of them. The latest triumph came over the potent Oxford Red Caps in game one of the Elite 8 Series. The Z's continued to get terrific pitching and clutch hitting in the 3-2 decision.

Tito Tovares (0-0 1.29) gave manager Alejandro Rodrigo a gritty, but effective outing. Tovares was plagued with poor control (six walks), but still limited the Red Caps to five hits and a run in his six innings. He kept the game close. In the seventh Zorro reliever Julio Higuera got into hot water, gave up a run and was relieved by Fernando Fernandes with one out and the bases loaded. Fernandes (2-0 0.00) did his job to perfection and notched his second playoff victory. He retired RF Dante Vander Meer on an infield fly and then fanned Brad Earp to end the inning. Luxora was down 2-0, but still in the ball game. Fernandes also shut down Oxford in the eighth frame.

The Z's finally got to starter Boomer Belinsky (0-0 2.63) in the seventh. They tied the score at 2-2 on an RBI single by 3B Corey Niven (.118) and a sac fly by 1B Paul Hallenbeck (.188). Then they manufactured the winning run in the eighth off losing pitcher Kit Kivett (0-1 3.60). Pinchhitter Pedro Vizquel singled to lead off the inning and Tommy Fortunato came in to run for him. Fortunato stole second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. CF Cristo Viaconte's (.316) fly ball was deep enough to score Fortunato with the decisive run. Closer Elio Laurente (0-0 0.00) allowed a two-out double by 3B Joe Courtney (.381) in the ninth, but he got his second playoff save by getting the dangerous Mac Spencer on an infield pop-up.

Oxford had a 9-7 hit advantage with three doubles, a triple and a homer, while Luxora had no extra base hits. CF Ike Plunkett (.400) hit his fourth postseason roundtripper in the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie and LF Mac Spencer (.292) made it 2-0 in the top of the seventh with a single. Belinsky worked a strong game, yielding just two runs on six hits with five Ks and no bases on balls.

Eddie Hoffman (2-0 1.04), who has been outstanding in the postseason, will try gain a split in the series tomorrow for Campy Roy's Red Caps. Dan Phillips (1-0 5.63) will get the assignment for Rodrigo and the Zorros. Hoffman was 18-15 with a great 2.69 ERA in the regular season, while Phillips was 16-16 with a 3.56 ERA. Game number two will also take place at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora. The remaining games will be played in Oxford at Winchester Park.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 27, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

SV Takes Game 2, Too; Bombs Volusia 10-2
The Sugar Valley Rattlers flexed their muscles with a 10-2 trouncing of Volusia at Farmers Memorial Park to go up 2-0 in the best-of-five RU Elite 8 Series. The Rattlers laced 13 hits and got a fine outing from Gregg Neal to demolish the Vigilantes. 1B Ron Armstrong (.429) led the hit parade with a three-run homer, his third in the playoffs. SS Flipper Bird (.320) drilled three hits and batted in three runs, too. LF Bruno DiPirr0 (.375) went 4-for-5, scored twice and had two RBIs in the victory. Neal (2-1 2.16) shut down Volusia on five hits for the complete-game win. Sugar Valley led 4-1 after six frames and broke the game open late with three runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings.

The series will now change venues with tomorrow's clash at the Jailhouse in Volusia. Rattler skipper Gibson Bobkins will send the 24-year-old southpaw Jay Washington (1-0 1.13) out to finish off the V's, while Alfonso Feliz will send his 33-year-old veteran righthander Ricky Moreno (0-0 4.50) to the mound. Washington was 12-8 during the regular season with a 3.32 ERA and Moreno was 13-16 with a 4.15 ERA.

2 In A Row For Valmara, Squeaks By Bulls 5-4
At Ranford County Stadium Valmara ran up a 5-1 lead after six innings and then had to hold on for dear life to tame the Ranford Bulls 5-4. The Vipers took a huge step in the Elite 8 Series. One more victory will advance them to the Final 4. Reliever Erich Ptacek was the man of the hour for Valmara. The Bulls had rallied in the eighth and scored three runs and were primed to break open the game. Ptacek came in with two outs and the bases-loaded and struck out pinchhitter Karl Drobish (.333) to end the threat. Ptacek also got through the ninth unscathed, although the tying run got as far as third base before he finally finished Ranford off.

Starter Ted Farentino (2-0 2.81) got the win as he tossed seven innings and gave up three runs on seven hits. However, Farentino and closer Gerry Wojcik were hit hard in the eighth and could not halt the Bulls uprising. But Ptacek came to the rescue and logged the save.

The Bulls took an early lead on CF Warren Gravois' (.308) homer in the third inning. 1B Masaichi Okawa (.348) matched that with a solo shot for the Vipers in the fourth. The Vipers regained the lead on an RBI single by RF Val Krol (.296) in the fifth. Valmara then teed off on losing pitcher Jim Maxwell (1-1 3.46) with three runs in the sixtth. 3B Zoran Belakov (.263) and SS Steve Androwski (.333) both had RBI singles and the third run scored on an error by SS Rick Fargnoli. The last one proved to be the fatal winning run.

Ranford closed the gap in the eighth, scoring runs on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly by C Walt Horvath (.316) and a single by CF Bob Keegan (.318).

Bulls manager Page Satcher will try to stay alive tomorrow with Chris Bernhoffer (2-0 1.00) doing the pitching honors. The Vipers J. Jackson Samuel has nominated Andre Trepanier (0-1 6.43) to start. Bernhoffer was 18-14 with a 3.04 ERA in the regular season, while Trepanier was also 18-14 with a 3.42 ERA. The series now heads to Valmara's War Memorial Stadium for the rest of the games.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, September 27, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Red Bluff Up By 2 Games, Nick Bayview 7-5
So far in the first two games of the TU Elite 8 Series the Red Bluff Red Sox have shown they can play with the powerful Bayview Vikings. For the second consecutive day at Red Bluff Park the Red Sox knocked off the Vikings to go up 2-0 in the best-of-five series. Red Bluff batters piled up 11 hits in the 7-5 victory, sparked by CF Stan Helmke (.346), who doubled, tripled, scored twice and drove in three runs. LF Tony Blundell (.259) and RF Kris Grabowski (.423) both chipped in with two hits and two RBIs. Grabowski had a two-run homer.

Red Bluff stunned Bayview with six runs in the third inning, but the Vikings cut it to 6-3 in the fourth and made it 7-5 in the fifth. However, that was as close as the Vikings could get. The Red Sox got a sensational relief job from Perry Toefield (0-0 0.00) who racked up his second postseason save. Toefield blanked Bayview over the last three and one-third innings and held them hitless. Though it was not a strong performance, Frank Beaudoin (2-0 4.95) registered the win. The Vikings belted him for five runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. Frank Wells (1-1 4.91) sustained the loss as he permitted six runs in two innings.

Bayview batters were led by LF Karl Yashin (.333) with a three-run roundtripper in the fourth frame and 1B Chancey Quibedeaux (.333) with a two-run smash in the fifth.

Viking skipper Walter Johanssen will use rookie Georgie Fambreau (1-0 6.00) in game three at Downtown Plaza Stadium tomorrow. Manager Mack Connery has his ace Mila Mohoski (1-0 2.12) ready to try and eliminate favored Bayview. Mohoski was 21-10 during the season with an outstanding 2.36 ERA. Fambreau compiled a 12-8 mark with a 3.47 ERA.

Oxford-Luxora Series Tied, Red Caps Win 5-2
Oxford's Dan Phillips shot down the Luxora Zorros 5-2 today on their home grounds at De la Vega Stadium. Phillips (2-0 3.71) was touched for eight hits, but only surrendered two runs, while fanning eight and giving up a walk. The victory deadlocked the Elite 8 Series at one game each. Phillips bested Eddie Hoffman (2-1 1.48), who worked a solid game, allowing only two runs and five hits in seven innings. Hoffman struck out five batters and issued just one base on balls, but still caught the loss.

The Red Caps got the game's first run in the top of the first on an RBI double by 3B Joe Courtney (.391). They made it 2-0 in the fourth on a HBP, passed ball, sacrifice and an RBI ground-out by RF Dante Vander Meer (.217). The Zorros narrowed it to 2-1 in the sixth, scoring on a single, walk, stolen base and an RBI grounder to third by 3B Corey Niven (.143). SS Paul Lassak gave Oxford some breathing room with a three-run blast off reliever Gustavo Escalora in the top of the ninth. Luxora finished the scoring in the bottom of the ninth on a double by Niven and a single by LF Joel Reed (.190). The teams got 8 hits apiece in the game.

The two clubs now travel to Oxford to continue the series. Marco Braceros (0-1 9.00) will be the starting pitcher for Luxora. Getting the call for the Red Caps will be Nicky Nicholson (0-1 10.39). Nicholson concluded the regular season with a 22-9 mark and 2.71 ERA, while Braceros was 16-14 and a 3.16 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Moreno Stops SV 3-1, V's Alive and Kickin'
The Volusia Vigilantes were on the brink of elimination. They needed a win today to stay in the playoffs and they got it. Veteran righthander Ricky Moreno, who has won many crucial contests during his four-year IPA career, did it again. Moreno stopped the Sugar Valley Rattlers 3-1 to keep the V's Pro Cup hopes alive. Moreno (1-0 2.40) went the distance, giving up seven hits to the high-flying Rattlers, who seemed unstoppable in the first two games of the Elite 8 series.

Moreno and Sugar Valley starter Jay Washington were locked in a scoreless affair until the sixth when two other postseason pros, 1B Francisco Abreu (.269) and RF Jesus Arroyo (.429), collected RBI singles to put Volusia in front 2-0. The Rattlers rallied for a run in the seventh on RF Frank Horak's (.440) base hit. The Vigilantes got an insurance run off closer Hec Skurgan in the eighth on Abreu's RBI triple. The Jailhouse Gang had 10 hits in all, led by Abreu and SS Scooter Perez (.346) with three each. Washington (1-1 1.80) suffered the loss, but pitched a solid game. He fanned five, walked none and gave up two runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Two 20-game winners will be on the hill tomorrow in game four. Anthony Glaser (20-13 3.70) will pitch for Sugar Valley and Carl Schmitz (24-10 2.54) will go for Volusia. Glaser has been great in the playoffs with a 2-0 record and a 2.81 ERA. Schmitz is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in the postseason.

Ranford Rips Valmara 7-1, Still Trail In Elite 8
There was no tomorrow if Ranford lost today in game three of the IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series with the Valmara Vipers. The Bulls needed a win in the worst way and Chris Bernhoffer provided it. The 28-year-old portsider fired a masterpiece at War Memorial Stadium, shackling the home town Vipers on just three hits and beating them 7-1. In Bernhoffer's (3-0 1.00) third playoff victory he walked one and had six Ks.

Ranford only got eight hits, but made them count. C Walt Horvath (.348) clouted a three-run homer and 3B Colin Fairclough hit a solo job to pace the Bulls. Andre Trepanier (0-2 7.15) had another dismal start and was the losing pitcher. Trepanier was slammed for four runs and five hits in four-plus frames. Reliever Danny Blauser (2-0 2.57) pitch well for the Vipers, except for the three-run blast in the eighth. Blauser surrendered three runs on three hits and fanned five in four-plus innings.

Ranford CF Bobby Keegan (.304) injured his back while diving for a ball in the outfield and had to be taken out of the game. Tommy Reiner (.500) took his place in the line-up.

The opposing hurlers in game four will be Bud Enright (0-2 6.55) for the Bulls and Vanya Vasylenko (1-0 3.75) for Valmara. Enright has had a rocky postseason, but won 24 games in the regular season. Manager Page Satcher is hoping he will regain that form. Vasylenko was 17-8 for the year with a 2.76 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Ranford's Keegan Down with Injury
Bobby Keegan of the Ranford Bulls was injured in today's game against Valmara and had to be helped off the field by the trainers. The initial diagnosis is a torn back muscle and he is expected to be out for up to 8 months. It happened while Keegan was making a defensive play.

During the regular season Keegan hit only .220 with 4 home runs in 119 games. Keegan is a good defender and compiled a .983 fielding percentage this year. He played well in the playoffs and had a .308 batting average.

Manager Page Satcher said the veteran Tommy Reiner would replace Keegan in the line-up and play right field. The regular right fielder Warren Gravois will move to center. Satcher also said outfielder Johnny Stratton would be activated for the playoffs and be used as a utility outfielder.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Bayview Still In Elite 8, Edges Red Sox 4-3
Powerhouse Bayview found themselves in a bad position. Underdog Red Bluff had won the first two games of the Elite 8 Series and needed just one more victory to complete the upset. To make matters even worse, the Red Sox also had their ace Mila Moholski (21-10 2.36) on the mound against rookie Georgie Fambreau (12-8 3.47). But the tough Vikings rose to the occasion and remained alive with a 4-3 triumph - the rookie outpitched the vet. Fambreau went eight strong innings, limited the Red Sox to just three hits, struck out eight and walked none. Mohoski (1-1 3.00) yielded four runs in seven innings for the loss.

When Fambreau departed, he had a 4-1 lead, which his relief almost squandered in the ninth. The third hurler used, Paul Hood, finally shut down Red Bluff and saved the game for Fambreau (2-0 3.29). Hood came on with the bases loaded, no outs and the score 4-3. Hood got out #1 on a fly to shallow center, out #2 on a strikeout and the final one on another fly ball. Bayview was now back in business, but trailing two games to one.

LF Tony Blundell (.290) gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with a home run. The Vikings knotted it up in the fifth on Shorty Richards (.222) sacrifice fly and took the lead 2-1 in the sixth when C Hank Bethel (.500) swatted his 4th postseason homer. Bethel has 12 RBIs in the playoffs. Bayview added two more scores in the eighth. 2B Alan Hansen (.474) doubled in one of them and CF Phil Kanaan (.143) plated Hansen when he grounded out to first base. Red Bluff CF Stan Helmke (.333) finished the scoring and made it close with a two-run homer in the ninth.

Game four looks like a thriller with Leonard Urban (18-13 2.77) of Red Bluff and Jerry Harrison (23-10 2.88) of Bayview opposing one another. Urban has been exceptional in the postseason with a 2-0 mark and 0.00 ERA. He hasn't given up a run in 17 innings. Harrison has also been effective with a 1-1 record and a 2.57 ERA. Bayview will host the game at Downtown Plaza Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Z's Up By 1 Game, Top Oxford 3-2 in 11 Innings
The Luxora Zorros continued to get standout pitching and topped Oxford 3-2 in 11 innings today at Winchester Park to take a 2-1 edge in the Elite 8 Series. Each team used four pitchers and they all pitched well. Lacey Tompkins was the hero. His line drive single decided the game. Elio Laurante (1-0 0.00) worked three scoreless innings for the victory with the save going to Julio Higuera (0-0 2.08), who tossed a runless eleventh to preserve the win. Loser Emerson Carnell's (2-1 1.59) control finally burned him. He allowed only one run in three and two-thirds innings, but walked four batters, two in the fatal inning.

The Red Caps scored first when 2B Richie Vla (.257) tripled and scored on 1B Kenny Jablonski's (.233) fly ball in the opening frame. Hero CF Tompkins (.367) homered for the Zorros and tied it up in the fourth. Luxora took the lead 2-1 in the sixth when SS Rafael Lemos (.182) got on on an error, was bunted to second, tagged up and went to third on a fly out, then scored on a single by RF Cristo Viamonte (.333). Oxford took advantage of three walks in the seventh to even the score. SS Paul Lassak flied to center to get the RBI.

Both clubs got excellent starts. Marco Braceros (0-1 5.84) of the Zorros held the Red Caps to just one hit, but walked four in his six and one-third innings and allowed two runs. Oxford's Nicky NIcholson (0-1 6.75) had his best postseason outing, checking Luxora on two runs and three hits in six innings.

There were only 9 hits in the game. Luxora got six of them, paced by Tompkins with 3-5 and Viamonte with 2-3.

Luxora will go for the jugular again tomorrow afternoon in Oxford. Tito Tovares (0-0 1.29) will be on the mound for the Z's with Bomber Belinsky (0-0 2.63) of the Red Caps trying to even the series at two games apiece. Tovares was 16-12 with a 3.04 ERA during the regular season, while Belinsky was 17-17 with a 4.20 ERA. Both have been better in the playoffs.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

SV Rattlers KO V's 6-2, Qualify For Final 4
Final 4 - here we come! That's the message the Sugar Valley Rattlers sent today as they KO'd the Volusia Vigilantes 6-2 to take the Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series three games to one. The Rattler righthander Anthony Glaser (3-0 2.14) fired a sharp five innings, giving up only one hit with five Ks in a rain-delayed affair. Glaser got his third postseason win, but needed help to nail the verdict. He exited with a 2-0 lead. Ron Benson (0-0 4.91) struggled in his two-plus frames, allowing two runs, three hits and walking four. Dale Bixler (0-0 0.00) came on in the eighth and effectively retired all four batters he faced for his second playoff save. Sugar Valley jumped on losing pitcher Carl Schmitz (0-3 3.79) for five runs in five innings and were never challenged. The Rattlers only got six hits, but made the most of them. The V's were held to just four hits overall.

Sugar Valley will meet the winner of the Ranford-Valmara series in the RU Final 4.

Valmara In, Ranford Out, Vipers In Final 4
Valmara finished off Ranford 5-1 in game four of the Elite 8 Series at War Memorial Stadium. Vanya Vasylenko (2-0 2.14) eliminated the Bulls on a three-hitter as the Vipers won the series 3 games to 1. Vasylenko struck out five, walked two and went the distance. CF Jan Szymanski (.360) and 1B Masaichi Okawa (.321) were the big guns for Valmara. Szymanski got things rolling with a two-run single in the fourth inning to break up the scoreless game. Okawa rapped a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 4-1. RF Val Krol (.257) batted in the last run in the eighth.

24-game winner Bud Enright (0-3 6.35) was the loser. He was shelled for four runs in four innings, giving up four hits, walking four and fanning four. Enright had a miserable postseason as he lost all three starts.

The Vipers will now go up against the Sugar Valley Rattlers in the RU Final 4. The first two games of the series will be at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara with the remaining games at Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Red Bluff Blanks Bayview, Viks Eliminated
Home run power and strong pitching can take you quite a way in the IPA playoffs. The Red Bluff Red Sox put them together today at Downtown Plaza Stadium and put away the favored Bayview Vikings 4-0 to eliminate them from the postseason. Red Bluff now advances to the Tycobbian Union Final 4. Solo homers by C Virgil Carpenter (.265) in the second and LF Tony Blundell (.343) in the eighth gave them the runs and Leonard Urban, John-Michael Trimble and John Dougherty blanked the Vikings on a one-hit shutout. C Hank Bethel (.458) busted up the no-hitter with a seventh-inning single.

Urban (3-0 0.00) notched the victory and still hasn't allowed a run in 23 postseason innings. He tossed six hitless frames in this one and was forced to leave the game after a long rain-delay. The only hit came off Trimble.

The Red Sox cracked 10 hits and were led by Blundell who had two hits in four tries with a pair of RBIs. CF Stan Helmke (.353), SS Jerry Decker (.219) and 3B Newt Lovell (.226) also had two hits apiece. Jerry Harrison suffered the defeat as he allowed three runs on eight hits in his five innings.

Red Bluff won three of the four games with Bayview and now awaits the victor in the Oxford-Luxora Elite 8 Series. The Red Sox will be at home for the first two games of the Final 4 Series.

Red Caps-Zorros Even, Oxford Wins 4th Game 6-3
At Winchester Park in Oxford, the Red Caps powered up their offense, pounded out 11 hits and evened up their Elite 8 Series with a 6-3 victory over the Luxora Zorros. 1B Kenny Jablonski (.235), RF Dante Vander Meer (.258) and C Brad Earp (.375) all drove in two runs with Jablonski and Earp hitting homers. On the hill Boomer Belinsky (1-0 2.49) picked up the win with eight solid innings. Belinsky struck out eight, walked three and permitted three runs - two earned - and seven hits. Z's starter Tito Tovares (0-0 1.80) left after six with a 3-2 lead. Tovares fanned four, walked only one and was touched for seven hits. Loser Julio Higuera blew the lead and sustained the loss as he was roughed up for four runs and four hits in one-plus innings.

Oxford took the lead in the fourth with two runs on Vander Meer's double and Earp's single. Luxora erupted for three runs in the seventh on SS Rafael Lemos' (.200) clutch two-run single to tie it and gained the lead 3-2 on a gift run when Jablonski botched a two-out ground ball. Earp evened the score at 3-3 with a solo roundtripper off Higuera in the seventh and the Red Caps got the clincher in the eighth when Jablonski made up for his crucial error with a two-run clout.

Closer Kit Kivett (0-1 2.84) relieved the tired Belinsky and got the final three outs for his second save in the playoffs.

The series will be decided tomorrow afternoon in Oxford. Luxora will have Eddie Hoffman (2-1 1.48) starting, while the Red Caps will go with Dan Phillips (2-0 3.71). Hoffman was 18-15 during the regular season with an excellent 2.69 ERA. Hoffman fired a no-hitter against Cape Coral a week ago in a first round game. Phillips was 16-16 and a 3.56 ERA. The winner will travel to Red Bluff on Friday for the opening game of the TU Final 4.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Tycobbian Union 2004 Elite 8 Series

Luxora Outscores Oxford 12-9, Wins Elite 8
Not noted for much hitting, the underdog Luxora Zorros somehow found some and outscored Oxford 12-9 in the decisive fifth game in the TU Elite 8 Series. Luxora laced 12 hits and two homers to take the series three-games-to-two and will now tangle with the Red Bluff Red Sox in the Final 4. 3B Carey Niven (.219) drove in three runs, RF Cristo Viamonte (.314) batted in two and SS Rafael Lemos (.200) had two RBIs to spark the Zorros. The Red Caps hung tough throughout the slugfest by unloading three homers. 1B Kenny Jablonski (.231), 3B Joe Courtney (.424) and SS Paul Lassak (.188) all went deep, but it wasn't enough.

Luxora led 5-0 after one inning, 5-4 after two, but Oxford tied it up 6-6 after three innings. The Z's made it 7-6 in the fifth and 10-6 in the sixth, but the Red Caps cut it to 10-8 in their half of the sixth. Two more for Luxora in the seventh put it at 12-8 and Oxford closed the scoring with one in the eighth. The Zorros used four pitchers and the Red Caps six. Oxford chalked up 9 hits.

In his first postseason action, Reliever Antonio Anaya (1-0 0.00) worked two scoreless innings, getting six in a row in the fourth and fifth frames for the victory. Fernando Fernandes (2-0 1.42) notched the save by going three innings and giving up one run. Fernandes has appeared in four playoff games. Wayne Baxley (0-2 4.85) was assaulted by the Z's for five runs in four innings for the loss.

Offensively Viamonte, Niven and LF Joel Reed (.258) paced Luxora with a pair of hits apiece, while 2B Richie Vla (.273), Courtney and Lassak collected two hits each for Oxford.

The Tycobbian Union Final 4 will begin tomorrow afternoon at Red Bluff Stadium. The Red Sox will host games one and two with games three, four and five, if needed, will be played at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 1, 2004

IPA Pro Cup Playoffs Down To Final 4
After 10 days of intense play in the Islandian Pro Cup playoffs four teams have survived and made the Final 4 cut. It wasn't the clubs picked by the experts as Ruthlandian Union powers Elnora, Ranford and Middlefield have been eliminated. In the Tycobbian Union top-ranked Cape Coral, Colchester, Oxford and Bayside been knocked out, too.

It will be Sugar Valley and Valmara in the Ruthlandian Union and two underdogs in the Tycobbian Union. The Red Bluff Red Sox and the Luxora Zorros surprised the experts and the fans and will now battle it out for the right to go to the Pro Cup Series. The Red Sox and Zorros were given little chance to win, ranked seventh and eighth in the TU in the BNN playoff poll. Sugar Valley is the highest pick still in the chase. The Rattlers were rated the second-best team in the RU. Valmara was the fifth choice.

Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series: Sugar Valley-Valmara

The Rattler-Viper series will open in Valmara for the first two games. Sugar Valley won four of the six regular season contests and will be a slight favorite in the Final 4 because of stronger starting pitching and better power. Anthony Glaser (3-0 2.14), Gregg Neal (2-1 2.16) and Jay Washington (1-1 1.80) have been dominating in the playoffs so far.

Manager Gibby Bobkins has a potent line-up with 1B Ron Armstrong (.393/3 HR/8 RBI), SS Flipper Bird (.265/0 HR/7 RBI/6 R), RF Frank Horak (.444/1 HR/4 RBI/6 R) and LF Bruno DiPirro (.364/0 HR/3 RBI/5 R). Bobkins has depended on three relievers in his bullpen, closer Hec Skurgen (0-1 4.50), Ron Benson (0-0 4.91) and Dale Bixler (0-0 0.00). Bixler leads with 2 saves to one for Skurgen.

Viper skipper J. Jackson Samuel has two excellent starters in Ted Farentino (2-0 2.81) and Vanya Vasylenko (2-0 2.14), but needs Danny Blauser (2-0 2.57) to keep pitching well in the postseason. He was the #4 starter in the regular season, but has seen his ERA shoot up to 3.79 this season, the highest of his career. Blauser began the playoffs as the long reliever, but recently was tabbed as the #3 starter because of the ineffectiveness of Andre Trepanier (0-2 7.15). Valmara gets the edge in the bullpen. Both closer Gerry Wojcik (0-0 2.70) and Erich Ptacek (0-0 0.00) have been outstanding with two saves each.

Valmara can't match the Rattlers in the batter's box overall, but does have some very capable hitters in CF Jan Szymanski (.360/2 HR/6 RBI/6 R), 1B Masaichi Okawa (.321/2 HR/3 RBI/4 R) and RF Val Krol (.257/1 HR/5 RBI/4 R). What Samuel really needs is for LF Jet Kazmarek (.267/0 HR/0 RBI/2 R) to snap out of his postseason slump. Kazmarek won his second batting title this year with a .376 batting average. He could really make a difference in the outcome of this series.

Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series: Red Bluff-Luxora

Mack Connery's Red Bluff Red Sox are really rolling, just coming off a big series win over the team that won more games (96) than anybody in the IPA this season, the Bayview Vikings. Most baseball experts expect them to whip Luxora and represent the TU in the Pro Cup finals. The Red Sox are doing it with firepower from hot hitters like CF Stan Helmke (.353/2 HR/7 RBI/7 R), LF Tony Blundell (.343/2 HR/6 RBI/7 R), RF Kris Grabowski (.353/1 HR/6 RBI/3 R) and 2B Vern Gable (.429/1 HR/4 RBI/9 R).

Connery has had some impressive mound work, too, from Leonard Urban (3-0 0.00), who has been absolutely brilliant in the playoffs and has not given up a single run in 23 innings. Mila Mohoski (1-1 3.00), his #2 starter, has been strong, too. Red Bluff's #3 man is Frank Beaudoin (2-0 4.95), who has benefitted from good run support. Connery's bullpen could be better. Closer John Dougherty (0-2 3.18) has lost two games, but has saved one. Perry Toefield (0-0 0.00) has been the most dependable reliever so far and has two saves.

No one expected Alejandro Rodrigo's Luxora Zorros to last long in the playoffs. No one expected Red Bluff to be around long, either. They were picked just ahead of the Zorros in the BNN poll. Luxora was rated one of the weakest teams in the playoffs, but they are still around for some reason. All the Z's have done is beat the team favored in the BNN poll to win the overall Islandian championship, the Cape Coral Hurricanes. They bested them in the Sweet 16. Then in the Elite 8 they ousted the talented Oxford Red Caps, another team that figured to contend strongly for the Pro Cup. Did they get lucky two series in a row? No, the Z's got where they are with some superb pitching and timely hitting. Can they do it again in the Final 4 against another club very much like the ones they have toppled in the first two rounds? We'll know in a few days.

Luxora's hill corps is its strength. Rodrigo's #1 and #2 starters have been hard to beat. Eddie Hoffman (2-1 2.63) and Tito Tovares (0-0 1.80) have both been sensational. The Zorros won all three of Tovares' starts, although he didn't get the wins. Rodrigo severely needs a #3 starter to replace Marco Braceros (0-1 5.84). He is toying with making long reliever Francisco Fernandes (2-0 1.42) his third starter. Fernandes has won two games and saved one in a very strong postseason. Closer Elio Laurente (1-0 0.00) has been like money in the bank with one win and two saves in the playoffs.

The Zorros have gotten good mileage out of a few batters. Sparking the offense has been C Otto Kronvath (.294/2 HR/6 RBI), CF Lacey Tompkins (.297/2 HR/6 RBI/7 R), RF Cristo Viamonte (.314/1 HR/4 RBI/6 R) and 3B Carey Niven (.219/1 HR/5 RBI/6 R).

Who will win? Both Red Bluff and Luxora are playing their best ball of the season. Both are good teams. Give the Zorros a slight edge in overall pitching, but the Red Sox may prevail because they have six hitters in the line-up who hit often and with authority.

Both the Sugar Valley-Valmara and Red Bluff-Luxora clashes should be hard-fought and contested, but in the end the teams that hit the best and hit more home runs will score more runs and win the series. Hitting will win out over good pitching.

Sugar Valley and Red Bluff will be the winners. The Rattlers and Red Sox will play for the Islandian Pro Cup.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 1, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Belakov Homers In 10th, Vipers Nips Rattlers 5-3
At War Memorial Stadium in Valmara, the Vipers nipped the visiting Sugar Valley Rattlers 5-3 in 10 innings on Zoran Belakov's two-run homer, putting them one-up in the best-of-five Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series. Gerry Wojcik (1-0 2.08) got credit for the victory, tossing a scoreless inning in relief of starter Ted Farentino, who pitched into the tenth, holding Sugar Valley to six hits and three runs. Farentino struck out six and gave up no walks in his nine innings. The loss went to Ron Benson (0-1 9.00), who gave up the walk-off roundtripper to Belakov.

The Rattlers scored first in the third inning, when 2B Casey Leeburn (.300) doubled, tagged up and went to third on a fly-out, then came in on a sacrifice fly by pitcher Gregg Neal (.200). Valmara jumped ahead 3-1 in the fourth on an RBI single by 2B Floyd Vinson (.194), a bases-loaded walk to SS Steve Androwski (.308) and an RBI ground-out by pitcher Ted Farentino (.000). It stayed that way until the top of the ninth when SS Flipper Bird (.263) forced overtime with a two-run homer.

Both teams had six hits each. Belakov (.267) led Valmara with two hits, a double and a homer, and two RBIs. Vinson also had a pair of hits.

Game two will also take place at War Memorial Stadium with Anthony Glaser (3-0 2.14) on the mound for Sugar Valley and Vanya Vasylenko (2-0 2.14) getting the assignment for Valmara.

Tycobbian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Blundell's Blast Beats Z's, Red Bluff Wins 2-1
On a rainy and windy afternoon in Red Bluff, Tony Blundell blasted a two-run homer in the last of the seventh to give the Red Sox a narrow 2-1 triumph over Luxora. The victory gave Red Bluff a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five IPA Final 4 Series. There wasn't much offense by either team today as the Red Sox got eight hits to seven by the Zorros. Strong pitching prevailed with starters Marco Braceros (0-1 4.41) and Mila Mohoski (1-1 2.57) matching goose eggs for the first four frames. The rains came and both starters departed. Finally in the top of the seventh Luxora broke the ice on an RBI two-bagger by SS Rafael Lemos (.242) off Perry Toefield. Blundell got Toefield off the hook and got the lead back for good in the bottom half of the inning with the home run off losing pitcher Gustavo Escalora (0-1). In fact, Toefield (1-0 1.69) got credit for the win and closer John Dougherty registered his second postseason save by retiring the Zorros in the ninth. LF Blundell (.359) led Red Bluff with two hits.

Tomorrow's game might be another low-scoring affair as Tito Tovares (0-0 1.80) takes the hill for Luxora to try and even up the series. Leonard Urban (3-0 0.00), who hasn't allowed a run in four starts in the playoffs, gets the call for the Red Sox.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Saturday, October 2, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Rattlers Tie Vipers, Win Game 2 in 10 Innings
Sugar Valley gained a split in its Final 4 showdown at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara. The Rattlers smacked Gerry Wojcik for three runs in the 10th inning to take game two 5-2. 3B Jorge Vargas (.324) rapped his third triple of the postseason and drove in two runs in the decisive frame. One out later C Slingshot McFall (.206) added an insurance run with a single. Dale Bixler was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Anthony Glaser. Bixler (1-0 0.00) blanked Valmara on one hit over the final two innings. Glaser hurled a good game, holding the Vipers to two runs on six hits in his eight innings. Valmara had many chances as Glaser issued five bases on balls, but the Vipers couldn't cash in and left 11 runners on base. Sugar Valley outhit Valmara 11 to 7 and were led by Vargas with two hits and two RBIs. Wojcik (1-1 4.91) was tagged with the loss as he allowed three runs in three innings.

Game three will be played in Sugar Valley as the Rattlers will host the remaining games at Farmers Memorial Park. Lefthander Danny Blauser (2-0 2.57) is scheduled to pitch for the visiting Vipers, while it will be Jay Washington (1-1 1.80) for Sugar Valley.

Luxora Tops Sox 4-2 On Niven's 2-Run HR In 10th
Luxora clean-up hitter Carey Niven really cleaned up with a game-winning two-run homer in the 10th inning in game two at Red Bluff Park to even up the TU Final 4 Series. Both clubs have won a game so far. Manager Alejandro Rodrigo's pitching continued to be awesome in the playoffs. Tito Tovares and closer Elio Laurente combined to top Red Bluff 4-2 today. It was a scoreless duel between Tovares and Red Sox starter Leonard Urban for six innings. The Zorros snapped the tie in top of the seventh, but Red Bluff quickly knotted it again in the bottom of the inning. Luxora got their runs on a throwing error by 3B Newt Lovell and a sacrifice fly by 2B Pablo Santa Cruz (.156). The Red Sox retaliated on RBI singles by pinchhitter Jack McNeal (.250) and CF Stan Helmke (.350). Each team had six hits.

Tovares (1-0 1.86) finally got a postseason win in his fifth quality start. Tovares worked nine innings and allowed six hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Elio Laurante (1-0 0.00) made his sixth playoff appearance and knotched his third save. Laurente hasn't given up a run in 8 innings of relief. Mack Connery also got fine pitching from starter Urban (3-0 0.00), who gave up no earned runs in seven innings and held the Zorros to just four hits. Urban hasn't allowed an earned run in 30 innings in the postseason. Closer John Dougherty (0-2 2.08) permitted no runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Perry Toefield ((1-1 4.26) was the victim of Niven's (.244) blast and suffered the defeat.

Rodrigo will send another strong arm to the hill tomorrow in game three at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora. It will be Eddie Hoffman (2-1 2.63) for the Z's and Frank Beaudoin (2-0 4.95) for the Red Sox.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Sunday, October 3, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Valmara Mauls Sugar Valley 11-6, Leads Series 2-1
The bats finally came alive as the Valmara Vipers mauled Sugar Valley 11-6 to go ahead two games to one in the best-of-five RU Final 4 Series. The Vipers unleased a 12-hit attack and were led by two homers in the opening frame. Valmara shot in front 5-0 right off the bat on a two-run rip by 1B Masaichi Okawa (.256) and a three-run salvo by 3B Zoran Belakov (.289). That quickly got rid of Sugar Valley starter Jay Washington. The rest of the game the Rattlers had to play catch-up, but the Vipers matched them run-for-run.

Valmara's top bats were 2B Floyd Vinson (.243) with 3-for-4, C Yoshi Motsuzuki (.178) 2-for-4 and RF Val Krol (.265) 2-for-5. The Rattlers rattled the boards for a lot of hits, chalking up 14, but left 11 runners on base. SS Flipper Bird (.298), RF Frank Horak (.425) and C Slingshot McFall (.256) all collected three hits apiece. Bird and 3B Jorge Vargas (.333) both went deep for Sugar Valley.

It wasn't a thing of beauty as winner Danny Blauser (3-0 3.00) surrendered six runs and 13 hits in seven innings, but only three runs were earned. Reliever Zarek Zalewski (0-0 0.00) preserved the victory for Blauser with two scoreless frames. Manager Gibby Bobkins used seven pitchers in all to try and stop the Vipers with the loss going to Jay Washington (1-2 4.60), who was slugged for five runs and five hits in the first.

Sugar Valley will try to regroup tomorrow with Gregg Neal (2-1 2.16) slated to throw. Valmara will send Ted Farentino (2-0 2.81) to the hill, attempting to wrap up the series and advance the Vipers to the IPA Pro Cup championship.

Tycobbian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Red Sox Beaudoin Terrific, Blanks Luxora Z's 2-0
Game three between Luxora and Red Bluff was another classic pitchers' duel. This time it was between Frank Beaudoin and Eddie Hoffman. Beaudoin came away with a terrific 2-0 shutout to boost his Red Sox to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five TU Final 4 Series. Beaudoin (3-0 3.41) captured his third playoff victory with a superb three-hitter. He fanned six, walked two and went the distance. The Z's Hoffman (2-2 2.29) was equally outstanding in defeat, striking out 11 in eight innings, permitting just one run, no walks and seven hits. The only run off Hoffman came in the sixth. 3B Newt Lovell (.310) led off with a double, advanced to third on a bunt and rode home on 2B Vern Gable's (.364) deep fly ball to left. Red Bluff got the other run in the ninth off reliever Elio Laurente. 1B Bucky Frizzell (.213) doubled, move over to third on a sacrifice and scored on a passed ball.

Red Sox skipper Mack Connery will use his game one starter Mila Mohoski (1-1 2.57) to try and finish off Luxora. Manager Alejandro Rodrigo of the Zorros will counter with Fernando Fernandes (2-0 1.13) to stave off elimination. It will be Fernandes' first playoff start this season.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 4, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Final 4 Tied, Sugar Valley Trims Valmara 4-3
After four games the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 is all tied up at two games each. Sugar Valley rallied and won at home 4-3 over Valmara to remain in the running for the IPA Pro Cup. The Rattlers had it tough in the early going against Ted Farentino and trailed 2-0 after five innings. C Yoshi Motsuzuki (.180) knocked in the first run in the third frame. Run number two came in on a walk, single and an infield error. Sugar Valley mounted a comeback in the sixth when SS Flipper Bird (.294) cracked an RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1. In the seventh three successive singles tied the score and got rid of Farentino. Reliever Gerry Wojcik, however, did not fare well. C Slingshot McFall (.250) sent the Rattlers ahead with a sacrifice fly and a single by CF Freddie Vaux (.229) put them two in front.

The Vipers rallied in the ninth and threatened to tie it up. RF Val Krol's (.296) solo homer narrowed the score to 4-3. A single and an error put the tying run on second with two away, but Ron Benson relieved Jay Washington and fanned the final batter to end the game. Manager Gibson Bobkins had used Washington in relief after he started and exited early in yesterday's loss. Washington struggled in his two and two-thirds innings, giving up five hits and a run, but managed to salvage the win with the help of Benson. Valmara outhit the Rattlers 10-8, paced by Krol with three hits. Vaux led Sugar Valley with a pair of base hits. Ted Farentino (2-1 3.48) caught the loss, going six innings and allowing four runs.

The series finale comes tomorrow at Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley as the Rattlers will try to close it out before the home fans. Anthony Glaser (3-0 2.17), who has had an outstanding year and postseason will pitch for Sugar Valley. Glaser was 20-13 with a 3.70 ERA. Vanya Vasylenko (2-0 2.33) has been designated the Viper starter by manager J. Jackson Samuel. Vasylenko had a great year with a 17-8 mark and a very impressive 2.76 ERA.

Tycobbian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Red Sox Win Final 4, Sock It To Luxora 7-1
It was a two-man wrecking crew that catapulted Red Bluff past Luxora 7-1 to capture the Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series. Tony Blundell hit two homers and Mila Mihoski hurled a four-hitter to pave the way to the IPA Pro Cup championship. The Red Sox copped the series three games to one and will now go up against the Ruthlandian title winner.

LF Blundell (.367) smashed two out of the park, scored three times and batted in five runs. Blundell now has 5 homers and 13 RBIs in the playoffs. Mohoski (2-1 2.19) went all the way, fanned three and walked only one. Red Bluff tore into starter and loser Fernando Fernandes (2-1 4.66) early for a 5-0 lead after two innings and never were challenged. The Red Sox racked up 10 hits and won easily.

Manager Mack Connery will now get busy and try to set his rotation for the Pro Cup Series against the winner of the Ruthlandian Union Final 4. Valmara and Sugar Valley will battle tomorrow afternoon for the right to play Red Bluff.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Final 4 Series

Sugar Valley Pro Cup Bound, Valmara Falls 9-6
The Sugar Valley Rattlers are bound for the Pro Cup finals. Gibby Bobkins' booming bats outscored Valmara 9-6 in game five of the RU Final 4 at Farmers Memorial Park. SS Flipper Bird had a magnificent game with four hits and four RBIs. CF Freddie Vaux and 1B Ron Armstrong also contributed two RBIs each to the victory.

The expected pitching duel between starters Vanya Vasylenko and Anthony Glaser never materialized today. It was offense from the git-go. The Rattlers racked up four runs in the first inning on a two-run double by Bird (.345) and a two-run clout by Armstrong (.313). Bird drove in another run in the second with a single making it 5-0. The Viper batters then found the range and shaved it to 5-4 on SS Steve Androwski's (.250) home run, C Yoshi Motsuzuki's (.200) triple, RF Val Krol's (.276) sacrifice fly and 1B Masaichi Okawa's (.234) roundtripper. Valmara even took the lead 6-5 with two runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Motsuzuki and LF Jet Kazmarek (.306). But Sugar Valley went back to work in the fifth frame and tied it up 6-6 on Bird's double and 3B Jorge Vargas' (.298) RBI ground-out and then put it out of reach with three more runs in the sixth. Vaux (.250) had a two-run single and Bird batted in another one.

The Rattlers got good relief work from winning pitcher Hec Skurgan (1-0 2.79) with two and two-thirds scoreless innings and Frankie Jardine (0-0 2.25), who got the save with three runless innings. Andre Trepanier (0-3 8.56) was pounded again and sustained the loss. Sugar Valley slammed him for four runs in two-plus innings. The Rattlers had a 13-9 advantage in base hits.

Sugar Valley will now take on the Tycobbian Union playoff champion, the Red Bluff Red Sox, in the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series. It begins tomorrow afternoon in Sugar Valley. It will be a best-of-seven series with the first two games at Farmers Memorial Park in Sugar Valley and games three, four and five, if needed, will be at Red Bluff Park. The teams will return to Sugar Valley if games six and seven are necessary.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Leaderboard

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Ruthlandian Union 2004 Pitching Leaderboard