ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, October 17, 2005

Ruthlandian Union

RU's Best Rookie Proclaimed
It was a standout 2005 season for Harold Setser. The 32-year-old center fielder for the Waleska Westerners has been named the winner of the Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award. He hit .321 in 152 games with 25 home runs, 187 hits, 107 RBIs and scored 112 runs, helping the Westerners rise up to fourth place in the South Division.

Another center fielder ran a close second in the vote. 24-year-old Tavi Vakros of Ancona put up a .323 mark with 27 homers, 88 RBIs and 118 runs scored, enabling the Red Elephants to climb up into fourth place in the RU North and into the first division for the first time in their history.

Marston's third sacker Jimmy Holman came in third for the Rookie Award. Holman is 24 and hit the ball at a .312 clip with 28 long balls, 107 runs batted in and 80 runs scored. The Nine came in second in the RU North race.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Tycobbian Union

Zitek Cops TU MVP Award
2005 has been a wonderful season for High Mesa's brilliant left fielder Adam Zitek. Just a few days ago he was honored with the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award and now Zitek has been acclaimed the league's Most Valuable Player. The 27-year-old Cowboy slugger set a new IPA record with 170 RBIs. Zitek also unloaded 51 home runs, the second highest number in league history. For the year Zitek sported a .305 batting average.

He outpaced Hartsdale's terrific first baseman Mac Faulkner, who had a banner year as well. Faulkner led the Hellcats to a second-place finish in the TU North with a .344 batting average, 30 homers and 130 RBIs.

Third in the balloting was Midway's superb center fielder Jan Szymanski. He played great in the field, batted .323 with 36 roundtrippers, 108 RBIs and scored 101 runs. It was the best year the 33-year-old veteran has had in his four years in the league.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Ruthlandian Union

Carducci Wins Again, Named 2005 RU MVP
It's been an award-winning year for Johnny Carducci of the San Dimas Rancheros. Carducci just added the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award to his laurels. Last week he was awarded the Golden Bat Award.

The 32-year-old San Dimas first baseman slammed 44 homers, batted in 145 runs and hit for a .305 batting percentage to lead the Rancheros to a second-place finish in the RU South, the team's highest finish ever.

Runner-up to Carducci was Taranto's fine left fielder Dominic Zuccaro, who hit .329, went deep 45 times and drove across 135 runs and sparked the Tars to second place in the RU North, the best the club has ever done.

Rounding out the select group was third baseman Charlie Gamble, who wound up third in the balloting. The 32-year-old Gamble in his first full season with the Middlefield Roosters crashed 51 homers, the second-best total in IPA history and just three off the league record. Gamble racked up 120 RBIs and hit for a .324 batting average. The Roosters rounded out the season in second place in the RU West.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Tycobbian Union

Year's Best Gloves Selected by Tycobbian Union
"Hit 'em where they ain't" is a great hitting philosophy, but it doesn't always work when a fielder can seemingly appear out of nowhere to make the play. These magicians are often taken for granted as the season grinds along, but today they take center stage. South Fork left fielder Art Atkins became a three-time winner this year. Everybody else is a first timer.

The Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Award selections for 2005 are:

Pitcher: Mike Amato (Tuckanarra Blue Jays)
Catcher: Jim Mitchell (Ginza Ninjas)
First Baseman: Cristian Avajos (Arroyo Grande Suns)
Second Baseman: Vern Gable (Red Bluff Red Sox)
Third Baseman: Rupert Doan (White River Rascals)
Shortstop: Karl Uhl (Chicopee Braves)
Left Fielder: Art Atkins (South Fork Stallions)
Center Fielder: Jan Szymanski (Midway Wolves)
Right Fielder: Dean Howell (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Friday, October 21, 2005

Ruthlandian Union

Ruthlandian Union Names Top Gloves
Golden Glove Awards are the symbol for defensive excellence, a recognition of the best of the best in defense. Slingshot McFall, Sugar Valley's great backstop, won for the fifth straight year and Elnora left fielder Quincy Peterson picked up his second Gold Glove. All the rest are making the list for the first time.

The Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Award trophies for 2005 have been awarded to these outstanding fielders:

Pitcher: Ricky Moreno (Volusia Vigilantes)
Catcher: Slingshot McFall (Sugar Valley Rattlers)
First Baseman: Ron Armstrong (Sugar Valley Rattlers)
Second Baseman: Ilya Ivanchuk (Colfax Blasters)
Third Baseman: Charlie Gamble (Middlefield Roosters)
Shortstop: Rick Fargnoli (Ranford Bulls)
Left Fielder: Quincy Peterson (Elnora All-Stars)
Center Fielder: Doyle Dobbs (San Dimas Rancheros)
Right Fielder: Teddy Giacone (Grand City Cybercats)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 22, 2005

Rattlers Bobkins RU Best Manager
In a tight vote Sugar Valley's Gibby Bobkins was honored as the Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year. Bobkins edged out runner-up Marty Pedroza of the Belair Beach Sunbirds. The only other skippers to get any votes were Colfax's Clem Rogers and Volusia's Alfonso Feliz. They were a distant third and fourth in the poll conducted by The Islandian Times.

Bobkins advanced his Rattlers from second (89-66) to first (98-56) in the RU East . Sugar Valley had the best record in the IPA this season. Pedroza won the RU South for the second straight year with a 96-58 mark, an improvement from 90-64 in 2004. Colfax moved up from seventh place (82-72) to third (84-71) this season and Volusia went from second (89-65) last year to the pennant (92-62) this year.

DC's Whiteman Named Top TU Manager
There were five contenders in the Tycobbian Union for the 2005 Manager of the Year Award. In a super-close vote the trophy went to Ford Whiteman of the Denton City Redbirds, whose club went from 87-67 (2nd place) to 97-57 (1st place) in the TU West. Whiteman's team chalked up the most victories in the Tycobbian Union this season. Mack Connery of the Red Bluff Red Sox was the runner-up. Connery boosted his Red Sox from 83-71 (3rd) to 95-59 (1st) in the TU East. Third in the poll was Will Hackett, who guided Summerland from third place (76-78) to a much-improved second place (91-63) in the TU South. The fourth spot in the balloting went to Alejandro Rodrigo of the Luxora Zorros. The Z's edged upward to first place and won the TU North this year with a 92-62 record. Last season the Zorros finished second (88-66). Kenwood's Aaron Hankins improved his Wildcats from the cellar (63-91) to third place (81-73) in the TU West.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union North Division 2006 Midseason Standings

[Eugene Church]

Tars and Vipers Tied in RU North at All-Star Break, A's only 2 games back

It's a four-team race in the Ruthlandian Union North this season. At the All-Star break the Taranto Tars (44-28) and Valmara Vipers (44-28) are tied for the top spot with the Glasco Athletics (42-30) just two games off the pace. The Far Mountain Redhawks (37-35) are also lurking only seven games back.

Manager Tommaso Lazzorda is doing it with plenty of pitching and power. The Tars are leading everybody in the IRA with 120 homers and have good starting pitching with Carlo Bianchi (11-3 3.40), Sal Pascioni (8-3 3.28), Lefty Paddison (9-6 4.09) and Anthony Nardone (5-4 2.16), but the bullpen is a mess. Lazzorda has seven players in the line-up with 10 or more homers, led by RF Tommy Lee Hensley (.237) with 22, All-Star 1B Wayne Pounders (.291) with 19, All-Star LF Dominic Zuccaro (.343) with 15 and SS Jake Travanti (.327) with 14.

Pretty much the same situation in Valmara for manager J. Jackson Samuel, except for the home runs. the Vipers have hit only 47 this year, but do have some solid hitters in perennial batting champ All-Star RF Jet Kazmarek with an RU-leading .351 batting average, 6 homers and 43 RBIs, 2B Floyd Vinson at .309 with 32 RBIs and C Erich Adamczyk batting .309 with five home runs and 49 RBIs. Valmara has a strong group of starters in All-Star Ted Farentino (11-4 2.41), Andre Trepanier (8-4 3.32), Vanya Vasylenko (8-4 3.41) and Danny Blauser (5-5 4.01).

After finishing a disappointing next-to-last in 2005, Glasco has surged this year to a close third. McDuffie Hughes has three good starters in Ray Cook (7-2 3.71), Leon Marshall (6-4 3.04) and Jake Nyberg (7-6 3.35) plus an outstanding closer in former starter Charles Darby (8-3 2.87), who has racked up 10 saves. In the hitting department RF Cal Hadley (.314) has been the big bat with 16 roundtrippers and 49 RBIs, followed by rookie 3B George Ferguson (.286) with 8 homers and 35 RBIs, LF Bobby Pascarelli (.314) with 6 home runs and 26 RBIs and CF Aidan Latimer (.310) with 7 homers and 22 runs batted in.

Far Mountain skipper Alex Groveland is wanting his mound corps to step it up and give Cliff Pope (8-3 3.38) some help. So far Robby Kelly (7-8 3.79) and Steffi Crotzer (6-6 4.68) have struggled. At bat the Redhawks best hitters have been 2B Duane Parsons (.339) with 6 homers and 39 RBIs, 3B Lindy Collins (.329) with 3 home runs and 28 RBIs, RF Karl Dietz (.263) with 11 roundtrippers and 36 RBIs and LF Gary Horn (.251) with 11 homers and 44 RBIs.

Foxy Jimison's LaGrange Sports (33-39) are tied for the fifth spot in the RU North, 11 games back. The Sports hit the ball well, but have mediocre pitching. SS Bill Nilsen (.273) leads the hitters with 14 homers and 48 RBIs. RF Mike DiLazzaro (.336) has 39 RBIs, 4 home runs and scored 40 runs and CF Karl Perret (.292) has 7 roundtrippers , scored 52 times and batted in 31. Jimison's most dependable hurlers are Sean Stone (8-5 3.43) and Barney Prohaska (8-3 4.18).

The Ranford Bulls (33-39) have tumbled into the second division into a tie for fifth after having a pennant-winning year last season. Pitching is manager Page Satcher's main problem as three of his stalwarts have floundered. Leland Shaddock (4-8 4.06) and Tim DeKosky (5-6 4.05) have not been up to par and Jean-Claude Scivicque (2-6 7.87) has been downright awful. But the Bulls still have Chris Bernhoffer (8-5 2.87) as their stopper. Ranford is hitting .272 as a team with five .300 hitters, led by All-Star CF Jose Castillo (.333) with 19 homers, 49 RBIs and 54 runs, 2B Jesse Goodwin (.319) with 12 home runs, 42 RBIs and 48 runs, RF Johnny Stratton (.318) with 7 homers and 37 RBIs, 3B Colin Fairclough (.310) with 5 home runs and 44 runs scored and 1B Jordy John (.307) with 5 homers and 34 RBIs.

The Kilkenny Cats (27-45) are in the throes of another dismal season resting in seventh place 17 games behind the leaders. Manager Kieran McKenna has one fine starter in Victor Kauchak (6-5 2.71) and two others that are decent in Jerry Babb (5-3 3.94) and Don McCauley (4-6 4.13). The Cats also have an impotent offense. 2B Errol Eichhorn (.271) and C Pat McGonagle (.283) are the most productive. Eichhorn has 8 home runs and 35 RBIs and McGonagle has hit 8 out of the park and driven in 33 runs.

Last season the Ancona Red Elephants (23-49) blossomed into a good ball club and finished over .500 for the first time in their history and wound up fourth in the division. But Manny Mickens' ball club has just as suddenly regressed and returned to the basement this year, 21 games out. His pitching corps has been poor. Ancona's best pitchers have been Adonis Dragma (5-8 3.65), Yannis Vardakis (5-10 4.13) and Nikon Maragos (5-10 4.13). All of them have been good at times, but inconsistent. Mickens only hitter to speak of is 3B Denny Harris (.308), who has 13 homers and 36 RBIs.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union South Division 2006 Midseason Standings

[Eugene Church]

3-Team Race In RU South, Claxton on Top by 4, Belair Beach and Valka 2nd

The Claxton Diamonds (48-24) are the surprise team in the Ruthlandian South. Manager Stacy Engel's charges have leaped from fifth place in 2005 to first place this year. However, right on their tails 4 games behind are the Belair Beach Sunbirds (44-28), who have won the flag the last two seasons and the Valka Blackhawks (44-28), last year's runner-up. San Dimas (37-35) is fourth and trails by 11 games.

Claxton is a powerhouse this season with strong hitting (.273 - 4th) and strong pitching (3.42 - 2nd). Engel's crew has unloaded 81 homers (4th) as well. CF Jackie Faust (.357) heads up the team with 5 homers, 32 RBIs and 37 runs scored. All-Star RF Jackie Allemand has provided 10 home runs, scored 47 runs and batted across 36 and rookie 1B Mike Luzzatti (.283) has added 11 roundtrippers and 46 RBIs. On the hill Terry Kuznetsov (11-4 2.90) and Doug Torvik (10-4 3.29) have been the Diamonds mainstays.

Down in Belair Beach Marty Pedroza still has his Sunbirds near the top of the division with the best pitching (3.08 ERA) in the Ruthlandian Union. He has two standout starters in Golden Arm winner and All-Star Slim Mosley (11-5 2.32) and All-Star Johnny Spears (9-2 2.11). Joe Schmidt (8-2 3.89) gives Belair Beach another capable starter. Sunbird offense has been supplied by superstar and All-Star 1B Phil Gravelli (.287), who has belted 24 homers and driven in 68 runs, both tops in the league. Rookie LF Matt Craft (.267) has gone deep 11 times and has knocked in 32 runs. 3B Danny Church (.288) is having his best year at bat with 5 home runs and 47 RBIs.

The Valka Blackhawks are getting by with adequate hitting (.266 BA - 12th) and solid pitching (3.54 ERA - 7th). Manager Jaan Kurus has three impressive starters in Bobby Karu (11-3 3.77), Darryl Vannoy (9-6 3.20) and newcomer Aato Neetar (6-1 2.61). Valka is strong in relief as well with closer Artie Sarv (2-3 3.05) and Erke Tonisson (2-1 3.26). At the plate RF Jimmy Tremayne (.320) has 41 RBIs and 4 homers and CF Ron Landauer (.330) has contributed 8 home runs, batted in 38 and scored 48 times.

San Dimas is fourth in the RU South and is skippered by Paco Banderos. The mound staff is the Rancheros strong point, anchored by four capable starters, Keith Callahan (10-5 3.02), Zippy Hodge (7-11 3.25), Bobby Prince (6-4 3.40) and Cleve Skinner (5-4 3.27). Three regulars provide most of the offense, paced by Golden Bat winner 1B Johnny Carducci (.264) with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs, RF Goose Garvin (.280) with 10 homers and 31 RBIs and 3B Domingo Rios (.247), who has 11 roundtrippers and 30 runs batted in. All of them are having down years in the first half of the season. Banderos is hoping they can turn it around in the second half.

Crystal Lake (36-36) has never come close to a .500 season in its first four years in the IPA, but this year manager Herman "Baby" George has gotten some decent pitching and has the team in fifth place with a break-even record and are tied with Waleska. The Crushers have never finished higher than seventh in their existence. George's pitching rotation is topped by Pablo Orantes (7-4 3.08), Delaney Elliott (4-0 2.54) and Tony Hartwig (7-11 3.53). Crystal Lake's best batters are RF Derren Prince (.313) with 5 homers and 28 RBIs, 3B Skip Daniels (.310) with 3 home runs and 27 RBIs and 2B Nelson Tolliver (.295) 6 dingers and 28 runs batted in.

The Waleska Westerners (36-36) are guided by McGraw Johnson and are tied for fifth, 12 games out of first. Johnson has a good core of starters with Smoky Joe Carter (7-7 2.86), Joel Lockett (4-3 3.23) and Wilson Whitmore (8-5 3.58), but has very little in the hitting department. Waleska's top batters are 1B DePaul Lebat (.300) with 4 home runs, 39 RBIs and 54 runs scored and LF Big Hoss Burkhalter (.289) with 9 homers and 41 RBIs.

The Grand City Cybercats (31-41) are in seventh place and 17 games behind. Torry Joseph is the head man and only has an average ball club at best. The Cybercats may be playing over their heads right now. Joseph has gotten good results out of two starters Shane Hall (10-3 2.95) and Kerry Loomis (5-2 1.53). At bat 2B Tony Borcellino (.270) has 14 home runs and 47 RBIs, RF Russ Baumer (.276) with 8 homers and 39 RBIs, Gold Glove CF Teddy Giacone (.293) with 9 roundtrippers and 25 runs batted in, and 1B Robby Maynard (.311) with 7 homers and 28 RBIs.

The last place St. John Crusaders (28-44) are a woeful team and stand 20 games back at midseason. Manager Dickie Billings has a tough task as he has only two credible hurlers in Terry Garson (5-6 3.68) and Kris Garvik (4-3 3.55). And the Crusaders have only one decent bat in rookie CF Champ Grayson (.284), who has racked up 12 homers and driven in 40 scores.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union East Division 2006 Midseason Standings

[Eugene Church]

Sugar Valley #1 in RU East, Beechwood, Elnora Tied for #2

Sugar Valley is again the number one team in the RU East, but with several challengers close enough to make it an interesting pennant chase at the midpoint of the season. The Rattlers have a four-game edge over runners-up Beechwood and Elnora with several other clubs nearby. Cold Creek is fourth, five games off the pace with Marston fifth, trailing by eight games.

Sugar Valley manager Gibby Bobkins has a group of veterans that know how to win. The Rattlers (41-31) are sparked by the bats of Gold Glover 1B Ron Armstrong (.273) with 9 homers and 42 RBIs, SS Flipper Bird (.291) with 7 home runs, 38 RBIs and 48 runs, LF Bruno DiPirro (.317) with 5 roundtrippers, 33 RBIs and 37 runs scored and 2B Casey Leeburn (.314), who has 4 homers and has batted in 39 runs. On the mound Sugar Valley has Jay Washington (10-3 2.77), Gregg Neal (3.61) and Hec Skurgan (9-6 4.22) in the starting rotation with an outstanding closer in the bullpen, Anthony Glaser. He has registered a 5-1 mark with an extraordinary 1.38 ERA and 18 saves thus far this season. Bobkins gives Glaser credit for them being in first place.

Skipper Zoggy Miller has the Elnora All-Stars (37-35) back in the race this year after being exiled to seventh place last season. They are tied with Beechwood (37-35) for the second spot in the standings. Like Sugar Valley Miller has a wealth of veteran players beginning with his booming bats. The All-Stars are batting .273 (6th) with 89 homers (3rd) and are among the leaders in runs scored (4th). Leading the way are All-Star and Gold Glover LF Quincy Peterson (.321) with 16 home runs, 54 RBIs and 49 runs, 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.301) with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs and rookie RF Lloyd Voss (.308) with 12 roundtrippers, 42 RBIs and 43 runs.

Miller's pitching staff is chocked full of vets, too. Taylor Gibbs (10-3 3.56), Harry Dye (8-3 2.39) and Matty Wilkerson (5-6 4.02) have been his prime starters. In addition Elnora just traded for All-Star Warren Paul (10-6 2.37), who just came over in early June from the Chicopee Braves of the Tycobbian Union. Miller was overjoyed to get Paul and told the press, "This trade really give us something to compete with. You can never have too much pitching in this league. Paul could put us over the top this season." So far Paul has won both of his starts and did not surrender a run in 17 innings.

The Beechwood Bobcats (37-35) have hit their way to a second place tie. Bret George's bunch can score runs. They are hitting only .265 (14th), but are sixth in runs scored. His potent attack is led by 1B Kurt Goodman (.274) with 12 homers, 46 RBIs and 48 runs, 3B Guy Cassidy (.309) with 12 dingers, 41 RBIs and 55 runs scored, CF Clifton Gzako (.294) with 7 homers, 40 RBIs and 50 runs and LF Roy Slater (.300) with 5 roundtrippers, 34 runs batted in and has scored 37 times. Pitching is Beechwood's big shortcoming. The only pitcher George has is Dek Jumonville (9-6 3.48), but he is a good one.

The fourth place Cold Creek Catamounts (36-36) are getting by with two excellent starters and three good hitters. They also have three All-Stars, tied for the most in the league. All-Star pitchers Payton Saunders (8-5 1.91) and Tommy Weeks (10-3 2.37) head the staff with some help from Kyle Peterson (6-10 3.57). Manager T. Kelly Holmes has some hitters, too. One of them is his grandson, All-Star CF Trip Holmes (.292), who has delivered 12 roundtrippers, 31 RBIs and scored 50 times. SS Russ Russell (.332) is Beechwood's top hitter with 11 homers and 35 RBIs. 1B Nat Mayakovsky (.282) also has 9 home runs and has batted in 36.

Fifth place belongs to the Marston Nine (33-39), who are 8 games off the pace. Johnny Walters just has an average ball club this year. He is surviving with two good pitchers, Jan Arnick (7-5 3.31) and Phil Azard (7-4 3.36) and a few good bats, SS Don Nichols (.326) with 7 homers and 34 RBIs, RF Dennis Riley (.278) with 5 home runs and 47 RBIs and 3B Jimmy Holman (.292) with 8 roundtrippers and 42 runs driven in. Marston needs a lot of help in a lot of areas to get back into the race this year.

The Eastshore Elegants (32-40) and Wynnamac Sundowners (32-40) are in a dead heat for sixth place in the RU East. They trail Sugar Valley by 9. Manager Killer Brewster's Elegants are coming off a real good season where they ended up in fourth place. This year doesn't look like a repeat. The club is batting only .251 (28th) and the team ERA is 4.22 (23rd). Thomas Williams (7-7 3.96) is the top pitcher, while All-Star C Fran MacIntyre (.329) has four homers with 26 RBIs and scored 40 runs, LF Darrel Alston (.287) has 10 home runs, scored 40 times and driven in 37 and CF Ron Dizon (.283) has drilled 11 homers and batted in 38 runs.

Skipper Matt Donnelly has a club that statistically couldn't get much worse. Wynnamac is hitting only .247 (30th) and sports a bad 4.52 ERA (29th). Aussie Musselwhite (6-7 3.28) has done well as a starter. The Sundowner offense has been carried by 1B Nat Cockroft (.312) with 9 homers and 54 RBIs with some help from LF Darrell Leeds (.252) with 9 roundtrippers and 35 RBIs and 2B Fred Younger (.300) with 3 dingers and 24 RBIs.

The cellar-dwelling Belle Plaine Musketeers (23-49) are having an abysmal year. Manager Boo Ladrieux simply doesn't have the talent to compete. The Muskies are batting just .250 (29th) and have a 4.39 team ERA (26th). Pitcher Marc Matherne (6-6 3.80) is the top pitcher and RF Cris Willis (.303) is the best batter. Willis has 6 homers and has plated 44 runners.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2006

Ruthlandian Union West Division 2006 Midseason Standings

[Eugene Church]

Middlefield RU West Midseason Leader, 4 Games Over Volusia

The defending IPA Pro Cup champion, the Middlefield Roosters, are on atop the Ruthlandian West at the midseason mark, 4 games up on second place Volusia. Forest City is third 9 games out, followed by Sligo, which trails by 10 games.

Just like they did last year Smitty Michaels' Rattlers are pounding their way to the pennant. Sugar Valley (46-26) leads everybody offensively with a .285 batting average (1st), 112 homers (2nd) and 440 runs (1st). And just like last year they are near the bottom in getting people out with a 4.39 team ERA.

Michaels has three .300 hitters in RF Cecil Clark (.321), 3B Charlie Gamble (.311) and C Mike Kanjorsky (.302). Add in All-Star rookie 2B Sammy Ragsdale (.293) and rookie CF Zeb Baker (.288) and you have a run-scoring machine. Gamble has 23 homers and 64 RBIs, Ragsdale 18 home runs and 52 RBIs and Baker 14 roundtrippers and 46 RBIs. However Middlefield will be missing its terrific CF Bailey Norcross until September or October because of injury. Norcross went out in early June with a .303 batting average, 15 homers and 54 RBIs. In addition, he patrolled the outfield like a Gold Glover. Without him the Roosters are missing a great bat and a great glove. Middlefield's loss is Volusia's gain - the Vigilantes are just four games behind them.

One reason for the high ERA is the fact that Middlefield Park is one of the smallest stadiums in the IPA and is a "home run heaven". Starters Jamie Hicks (9-6 4.50), Joshua Jackson (9-4 4.58) and Dave Webb (6-3 3.83) are better pitchers than the stats show. Michaels has added Denny Yarrow (5-0 1.61) to his starting rotation and he has been sensational in three starts so far. The Roosters are in dire need of late-inning relievers.

Volusia manager Alfonso Feliz has a club that can compete with Middlefield in everything but power. The V's (42-30) are batting .280 (3rd), but have only 52 home runs (24th). If good pitching beats good hitting, then the Vigilantes should do well. Feliz's mound corps is strong with starters Carl Schmitz (10-4 2.77), Hernando Esperados (10-5 2.89), Todd Wolfe (9-7 3.04) and Jose Gonzales (6-2 3.32). And to keep things in its proper perspective, Silver River Stadium ("The Jailhouse") is a pitcher's paradise with its huge dimensions.

Volusia's top bats are All-Star CF Ryan Raines (.327) with 10 homers, 48 RBIs and 55 runs, RF Briscoe Crowder (.309) with 6 home runs, 47 RBIs and 47 runs and SS Scooter Perez (.306) with one dinger, 26 RBIs and 51 runs scored.

The third place Forest City Lumberjacks (37-35), piloted by Robby Jackson, are 9 games in back of Middlefield. The 'Jacks carry a .270 team average (10th) with 77 roundtrippers (6th) and a 3.94 ERA (15th). Jackson's club is not in the class of Middlefield and Volusia.

Offensively Forest City is led by All-Star SS J. T. Edmonds (.307) with 14 homers, 49 RBIs and 47 runs scored, 1B Andy Doiron (.311) with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs and RF Chuck Hill (.293) with 12 homers and 36 runs batted in. The Lumberjacks top pitchers are Al Thibaut (11-2 2.82), Knucks Nomellini (8-9 3.80) and the newly-acquired Pedro Shunkaha (8-4 3.55). Shunkaha was obtained in June from the Midway Wolves of the Tycobbian Union. Forest City has a good set of starters, but Jackson needs help in the bullpen.

The Sligo Rovers (36-36), guided by Eddie Keys, are in fourth place in the RU West race and 10 games off the pace. The Rovers are a little above average ball club with a .270 batting average (9th), 65 homers (12th - tied) and a 3.69 team ERA (10th).

Keys has a good starting foursome in Paul Waskins (3-5 2.19), Dex Edenborough (9-4 3.90), Razzy Raziano (6-8 3.43) and Billy Brewster (6-5 3.74). Waskins has really pitched well, but rarely gets the decision. He has made 17 starts with 9 no-decisions. Sligo also has a good bullpen. Batting-wise All-Star rookie 3B Robby Franklin (.299) is the leader with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 50 runs. Franklin has gotten help from rookie RF James Melton (.308) with 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in and 1B Gary Shives (.258) with 11 homers and 43 RBIs.

The Rocky Rapids Snappers (35-37) and Stoner Stars (35-37) are tied for fifth. The Snappers have compiled a .271 batting average (8th) with 53 home runs (22nd) and a poor 4.24 ERA (24th). The Stars are hitting only .261 (17th), but have 68 roundtrippers (8th). On the mound Stoner is atrocious with a sky-high 4.62 ERA (31st).

Rocky Rapids manager Ryan Noland only had two dependable hurlers. All-Star starter Ernie Watkins has blossomed this year with a 12-6 record and a great 2.35 ERA. Closer Doyle Chadwick (3-4 3.62) has also been effective with 16 saves.

The Snapper main run producers are 3B Phil Cates (.337) with 7 homers, 33 RBI and 49 runs, LF Scott Camden (.261) with 11 home runs and 36 runs batted in, 2B Archie Jackman (.296) with 7 roundtrippers and 36 RBIs and SS Travis Belton (.337) with 1 dinger and 29 RBIs.

Willie Dickens pilots the Stoner Stars. He has terrible pitching with a 4.62 ERA (31st) and only average hitting (.261 - 17th) with decent power (69 homers - 8th). Stoner's best arms are Paul Sakarian (6-6 4.28), Dave Pierre (7-4 4.40) and Erich Schrader (7-6 4.93). At the plate the main contributors have been 3B Allen Black (.310) with 15 home runs, 46 runs and 52 RBIs, RF Dutch Rheinecker (.319) with 10 homers and 45 runs driven in and C Benny Stern (.282) with 13 homers, 44 runs and 41 RBIs.

Not much you can say about the Fort Benton Defenders (32-40). It is another dismal year for skipper Robbie Brooks with the Defenders down near the bottom of the standings in seventh place and 14 games out. His club is hitting only .239 (32nd) with little power (47 home runs - 27th), but they do fairly well on the hill with a 3.96 ERA (16th).

Fort Benton does feature an All-Star pitcher in closer Eddy Walker (2-2 1.42), who has chalked up 13 saves and a very good starter in Leroy Hill (7-7 2.48). Ivan Gloeckner has a fine 11-6 record, but carries a high 4.44 ERA.

The Defenders best bats are LF Carl McCord (.266) with 6 home runs, 49 runs scored and 39 batted in and SS Leon Flynn (.247) with a team high 8 roundtrippers, 34 RBIs and 37 runs.

It's been a down year for Clem Rogers, manager of the Colfax Blasters (31-41). The Blasters are coming their best season ever. Last year they finished up in third place and were expecting better things this year, but it hasn't happened. Colfax has fallen into the cellar and are 15 games behind in the race. It may get better for Rogers in the second half as he had traded for two fine Tycobbian Union performers in CF Paul Coniglio from Denton City and SS Warren Lee from Fairfax.

Colfax sports a .261 team batting average with 63 homers (14th) and a 3.86 ERA (13th). Pitching is Rogers' strong point with two excellent starters in Ilya Szabo (7-8 2.69) and Vito Incardona (7-3 3.14). Tommy Fuller (6-8 3.89) and Jasper LaForge (5-9 4.05) are effective starters as well. The Blaster bullpen is non-existent.

Rogers had tried many line-ups so far in an attempt to find some offense. LF Chris Carroll (.293) has been his only solid contributor with 17 roundtrippers and 49 RBIs. Rogers is banking that Coniglio (.254) and Lee (.357) will perk up the offense.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2006

Tycobbian Union North Division 2006 Mid-Season Standings

[Eugene Church]

Hartsdale Way Ahead at Halfway Point in TU North

The Hartsdale Hellcats have had things their way during the first half of the Tycobbian Union North and they have left all challengers in the dust so far. Manager Zim Donner's crew has a 7-game bulge over second place Oxford and North Hills. The Luxora Zorros are in fourth, 9 games off the pace. The rest of the division are too far behind and are not in playoff contention.

Donner has a solid ball club with excellent hitting and quality pitching. The Hellcats are ripping the ball at a record pace. They have a .288 team batting average (1st) with 82 homers (7th) and a 3.78 ERA (10th).

Hartsdale's top hitters are 3B Kendry Moulton (.314) with 10 homers and 49 RBIs, CF Mac Faulkner (.352) with 5 homers and 28 RBIs, All-Star rookie RF Mark Buchanan (.366) with 12 home runs, 48 RBIs and 47 runs, rookie 1B Tom Brabant (.317) with 12 roundtrippers and 42 runs batted in, SS Jud Turchin (.278) with 7 home runs, 32 RBIs and 46 runs and C Jorge Rosado (.284) with 5 homers and 37 RBIs.

The Hellcats can hold their own with pitching, too. Donner has a good staff, consisting of All-Star Phil Reed (12-2 2.85), Tom Wiley (6-0 3.36), Nico Carnera (9-7 3.86) and Mark Sakelaris (8-2 3.81).

Manager Campy Roy has his Oxford Red Caps (42-30) tied for second place, but they have a lot of ground to make up in the last half of the season, trailing Hartsdale by 7 games. Roy has a good hitting team with a .269 average (8th) with a lots of power. The Red Caps have gone deep 96 times (4th). Five Oxfordians have 10 or more homers: All-Star 3B Joe Courtney (.368) has hit 22 with 61 RBIs, 1B Scott McKinley (.258) has 14 with 50 RBIs, RF Ike Plunkett (.286) has 13 with 42 RBIs, C Whitey Cosgrove (.274) has 11 with 41 RBIs and SS Timmy Binford (.304) has 11 homers with 39 RBIs. Courtney tops the Tycobbian Union with a .368 batting average and is in the top three in homers and RBIs.

Roy has three good starting pitchers, too. Heading the list are All-Star Boomer Belinsky (7-3 2.31), Dan Phillips (6-4 2.65) and Nicky Nicholson (8-7 3.63).

One of the Cinderella stories this year is the North Hill Hawks (42-30). Manager Hub Carlson has put together a quality team after years as an also-ran. The Hawks are tied for second place. Carlson's club has good hitting (.269 - 9th tied), fair power (68 homers - 10th) and solid pitching with a 3.70 team ERA (9th).

Ben Dewberry (9-5 2.51), Artie Kazlauskas (6-2 3.72) and Johnny Bond (8-6 3.85) give North Hills a good starting nucleus. Pacing them at bat are All-Star 3B Jimmy Ryland (.318) with 5 homers, 35 RBIs and 60 runs, LF Kevin Schmidt (.278) with 14 home runs, 49 RBIs and 46 scored, SS Russell Beal (.297) with 7 roundtrippers and 47 RBIs, 1B Tommy Nilsson (.252) with 11 dingers and 41 runs batted in and LF Roy Stainbrook (.304) with 9 homers and 29 RBIs.

The Luxora Zorros (40-32) with Alejandro Rodrigo at the helm are in the fourth spot in the TU North, 9 games off the pace. Rodrigo's mound staff have been steady and consistent with an impressive 3.43 ERA (4th), but not quite up to par in hitting with a .261 team average (19th) and only 65 homers (18th).

Rodrigo has three veteran starters and a rookie closer leading the way. Elio Laurente (8-5 3.50), Eddie Hoffman (9-6 3.78) and Marco Braceros (8-6 3.80) head up the starters, while All-Star and rookie closer Ricardo Topez (0-2 1.89) has 14 saves.

Pacing the Z's offense are CF Lacey Tompkins (.282) with 7 homers and 44 RBIs, C Otto Kronvath (.268) with 14 roundtrippers and 37 runs batted in and 3B Pablo Santa Cruz (.275) has four home runs, 26 RBIs and scored 45 times.

Three clubs are deadlocked for fifth place. Blue Lake, Fairfax and Mahaska are all 16 games back with 33-39 records and going nowhere this season.

The Blue Lake Blue Sox with Cobb Tyson at the helm have three quality starters in Pat Grange (6-6 3.18), Pete Henry (5-4 3.27) and Charley Tubbs (6-6 3.74) and a good closer in Russ Courtney (3-1 3.12). The team has compiled a 3.90 ERA (13th). They need help in the bullpen to rise up in the standings.

Blue Lake also drastically needs some bats. Tyson's big dilemma is offense. His Blue Sox are batting only .256 (24th) with 62 homers (19th tied). All-Star LF Tad Kirklin (.301) with 13 homers, 58 RBIs and 45 runs and CF Fred Collins (.283) with 7 home runs, 42 RBIs and 47 runs produce most of the team runs.

Harry Buckley and his Fairfax Frogs are in the same boat as the boys across the lake from them. Like Blue Lake the Frogs suffer from puny run production with a .253 batting average (26th) and only 51 homers (29th), but have pretty fair pitching with a 3.95 ERA (15th).

Fairfax's best starters are Gil Hallston (6-2 1.99), Jimmy Dalton (4-5 3.83) and Jay Sorenson (8-6 4.05). At the plate only SS Wes Hickox (.289) with 15 roundtrippers, 49 RBIs and 43 runs scored and 3B Stan Cobb (.290) with 3 home runs, 27 RBIs and 28 runs are having good seasons.

Ditto for the Mahaska Haymakers under manager Rusty Tanussa - fair pitching and poor hitting. Tanussa has an adequate rotation in Kurt Glinka (7-3 3.46), Boomerang Hines (5-5 3.49), Irv McDaniel (5-8 3.85) and Matt DeRosa (6-7 4.12), but has a shortage of good hitters. His best batters are All-Star RF Ira Engelstad (.341) with 17 roundtrippers, 48 runs batted in and 40 runs scored, 1B Miles Shufford (.303) with 12 home runs, 43 RBIs and 37 runs and 2B Dusty Eaton (.281) with 3 homers, 30 RBIs and 35 scores.

After a short-lived rise to fifth place last season, the White River Rascals (27-45) are back in their customary slot in the cellar of the TU North, 22 games off the pace. Manager John Randison's club packs a little punch and can score. The Rascals have put up a .263 average (16th) with 75 homers (11th) and are led by CF Lee Taryn (.286) with 12 home runs, 51 RBIs and 43 runs, 1B Bryan Dickerson (.258) with 14 homers and 40 runs driven in, RF Hal Hoover (.305) with 12 home runs, 38 RBIs and 47 runs scored and SS Riley Cloy (.273 with 11 roundtrippers, 32 runs batted in and 44 runs.

White River is short on pitching with only a pair of decent pitchers in Brian Ainslee (5-5 3.30) and Mick Cronyn (5-8 3.61).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 19, 2006

Tycobbian Union South Division 2006 Mid-Season Standings

[Eugene Church]

Red-Hot Race in TU South, Colchester, Turon Co-Leaders

It's a great pennant race in the Tycobbian South this year with five teams in the chase. The Colchester Elites and the Turon Typhoons are co-leaders at the All-Star break with the Ginza Ninjas only two games behind and the Cape Coral Hurricanes and San Alejo Montaneros in fourth place, just four games off the pace. The race is so tight you can't even count out the Southport Sun Sox and Summerland Sunsets. They are tied for sixth and only seven games out.

Colchester (38-34) lets its bats do the talking, while Turon depends on its pitching corps. The Elites have a .281 batting average (4th) with 97 home runs (2nd) and 401 runs (3rd), while the Typhoons sport a 3.41 ERA (3rd). Colchester has compiled a 4.05 ERA (21), while Turon is hitting only .261 (21st) and has hit only 54 home runs (28th). Time will tell which method is the most successful. Come September we'll know.

Elite manager Uncle Robbie Wilbertson has a line-up chocked full of All-Stars and .300 hitters, led by All-Star SS Bill Keese (.354) with 12 homers and 38 RBIs, CF Doug Tilford (.314) with 7 roundtrippers and 37 RBIs, All-Star 2B Leland Curtis (.312) with 3 dingers, 29 RBIs and 53 runs scored, 1B Harlan Roscoe (.309) with 9 homers and 34 RBIs and All-Star rookie RF Teddy Blanton (.306) with 24 home runs, 66 runs driven in and 46 runs. Blanton is tied for the IPA lead in homers with Belair Beach's Phil Gravelli and is second in RBIs to Gravelli's 68.

Colchester also has some quality arms in Fred Kimball (6-6 2.86), Jimmy Simmons (8-6 3.31) and Dickie Pendarvis (8-3 3.54).

Turon (38-34) manager Ashton "Whitey" Richburn doesn't have the offensive talent to compete with the Elites, but he does have it on the hill with his starting threesome in All-Star Scotty Boswell (10-5 1.99), James Longstreet (8-5 3.15) and James Stuart (5-2 2.56). For run production the Typhoons depend on All-Star rookie C Todd Somerset (.320) with 14 homers, 52 RBIs and 40 runs, 3B Eric Hix (.281) with 7 home runs and 40 runs batted in, 2B John Paul Trevenot (.307) with 3 homers, 20 RBIs and 39 runs, and 1B Boots Dubois (.316) with 2 home runs, 20 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

Manager Huroko Uchiyama has got his Ginza Ninjas (36-36) near the top in third place only 2 games out. It has been several years since the club has reached such heights. Give the credit mainly to Toshiharu Ito (9-2 2.41), who has been superb this season. Alec Sasek (8-6 3.29) and Carl Trebek (8-9 3.45) have also pitched well for Uchiyama. Ginza has a 3.58 team ERA (5th), but the bats have been pathetic with a .261 BA (12th) and only 44 roundtrippers (32nd) and just 313 runs (28th). The best Ninja batters have been 3B Toshiro Nomura (.276) with 13 homers and 44 RBIs, 1B Hiroji Fujikawa (.262) with 4 home runs and 40 RBIs and RF Lonnie Jacobson (.272) with 8 homers and 38 RBIs. It might be tough for the Ninjas to stay in the race with such poor hitting.

Cape Coral (34-38) and San Alejo (34-38) are tied for the fourth spot in the standings, but only four games back. Neither club is outstanding in any respects. The Hurricanes have compiled a .254 batting average (25th), but have hit 77 home runs (10th), while the Montaneros have hit at a .252 clip (27th) and have 71 homers (13th). San Alejo has a 4.06 ERA (23rd) to 4.28 (24th) for Cape Coral.

It is a very down year for Cape Coral and manager Huggy Miller, who has won the TU South crown the last two seasons. Everybody is having an off-year except the Hurricane mainstays All-Star pitcher Cody Burg (10-4 2.65), RF Kippy Doyle (.275) 18 roundtrippers, 54 RBIs and 47 runs and 2B Hoshi Sato (.281) with 13 home runs, 45 runs batted in and 52 scored. Doug Lyons (7-6 3.20) has done well on the mound, but is down in wins. He had 39 victories in 2004 and 2005.

This year has been a resurgence of sorts for manager Lando Peceda and the San Alejo Montaneros. He won the TU South pennants in 2002 and 2003 but has not done well the last two seasons. Top pitchers are starters Felipe Branco (8-4 3.46) and Alberto Herrera (7-8 2.67) and closer Clay Milwaine (0-1 1.88). Top hitters are 3B Paolo Huerta (.274) with 9 homers, 40 RBIs and 39 runs scored and 2B Denholm Carruthers (.278) with 7 home runs, 33 runs batted in and 42 runs scored.

Southport (31-41) and Summerland (31-41) are deadlocked for sixth and trail by 7 games. Charley Oscar is the skipper for the Sun Sox. He has only three quality players in pitcher Mark Mumford (8-5 3.22), 1B Pat Mystryk (.295) with 12 homers and 45 RBIs and C Ty Duncan (.327) with 8 home runs and 22 RBIs. Team-wise the Sun Sox are hitting .251 (29th) with 56 homers (27th) and have a 3.97 ERA (16th).

Summerland, managed by Will Hackett, has slumped tremendously over last season. The Sunsets ran second to Cape Coral last year and went to the Pro Cup Final 4 where they lost to Denham City, but have spiraled down almost to the bottom of the division this year. They just don't hit or pitch like they did in 2005. Summerland has averaged .266 (10th) as a team with 57 home runs (25th), while registering a 3.67 ERA (8th)

Hackett still has one of the best pitchers in the IPA, All-Star Paul Felkner (11-6 1.59), who has been excellent this season. Bill Taft (6-5 3.15) and Bobby Winwood (6-7 4.02) are still around, but they just don't have any help. Batting-wise the numbers are way off from last year, especially in homers. Summerland hit 144 in 2005, but are on schedule to hit only 114 this year. Hackett still has some good bats in 2B Tucker Hill (.321) with 1 homer, 31 RBIs and 37 runs, C Glen Tracy (.298) with 8 roundtrippers and 28 RBIs and RF Nickie Troxell (.262) with 13 home runs and 40 runs batted in.

The Arroyo Grande Suns (29-43) are back in the TU South basement, where they have spent most their five years in the IPA. In 2005 the Suns blazed with an IPA record of 260 home runs and finished at the .500 mark with a 77-77 record and sixth place. Manager Jean-Luc Marchand had 8 players hit over 18 homers. The Suns still go deep this year, but not as often. They have hit 100 (1st) so far, but will come up way short of last season. To make matters even worse, Arroyo Grande's pitching also went from awful last year (4.79 ERA) to atrocious this year with a 5.27 ERA (32nd).

Charley Boyer (6-6 3.89) is Marchand's only decent pitcher. At the plate his top batters are 1B Cristian Avajos (.273) with 16 roundtrippers, 51 RBIs and 42 runs, SS Jared McCarthy (.289) with 16 homers, 44 RBIs and 42 runs scored and 3B Randy Knowles (.278) with 10 home runs, 39 runs batted in and 38 runs scored. However, none of them will approached last year's figures.

[Eugene Church]

Sorry, I need to put the league standings right above the Mid-Season summary.

[Dark Horse]

i'm glad you're still doing these, EC.