|
Islandian Pro Alliance
Monday, June 4, 2001
Ruthlandian Union - South Division
Nine Nips Sugar Valley 6-5 in Record Loss
At Legends Field in Marston, the Nine let Sugar Valley come back and tie it up with two runs in the top of the ninth, but pulled it out in the bottom half to nip the Rattlers 6-5 and sent them to their ninth loss in a row, a new IPA record. Center fielder Tommy Reinhold (.302) doubled off losing pitcher Ron Benson to lead off the inning, was bunted to third by left fielder Ronnie Lee (.438) and scored on third baseman Roland Thomas' (.321) line single to left. Benson (6-5 2.81) was pressed into service by manager Gibson Bobkins. He is a normal starter and this was his first relief appearance this season. Closer Ken Bagby (2-2 2.93) got lucky -- he blew the save in the top of the ninth, but got the win. Second baseman Ken Green (.358) sparked the Nine with two hits, three RBIs and two runs, including his 6th roundtripper. First baseman Ken Arnold (.268) belted his 5th for the Rattlers, a two-run shot.
First place Marston (27-19) has won its last four and is two games in front of second place Forest City (25-22). Sugar Valley (21-24) fell to fifth place in the standings, 5.5 games out.
Westerners Stop 'Jacks Win String at 8
It had been quite awhile since second place Forest City tasted defeat. It finally came to an end after eight consecutive victories. The Lumberjacks ran into some strong pitching by Waleska starter Marv Chancellor and reliever Andre Marsiske, who combined to hold them to just four hits. The two clubs battled to a 2-2 draw after six innings and then the Westerners erupted for five runs in the seventh and eighth to take a 7-2 win. Key hits in the game were homers by right fielder Charley Williamson (.278) and left fielder Big Hoss Burkhalter (.313) and Freddie Shelton's (.313) pinch-hit 2-run single in the seventh to send Waleska up 4-2. They were never headed after that. Willamson cracked a two-run shot in the second to give them an early 2-0 margin, but J. T. Edmonds (.219) deadlocked it with a two-run double in the fourth. Burkhalter unloaded his 12th blast of the year in the eighth. It was good for two runs, his 44th and 45th RBIs, tops in the Ruthlandian Union. Chancellor (3-6 5.65) gained the victory with six very good innings. He allowed just four hits, fanned two and walked two. Marsiske (3-1 2.67) pitched three perfect innings for his fourth save. Loser Vinny Edelman (3-3 3.20) had a bad outing, yielding six runs and six hits in seven innings.
Forest City (25-22) dropped to 2.5 games behind the first place Marston Nine (27-19). Waleska (23-24) is fourth and trail by 4.5 games.
Diamonds Slip by Sunbirds 4-3
At Avalon Stadium in Claxton, the Diamonds took a close 4-3 decision from the Belair Beach Sunbirds. Pinchhitter Arnie Kruger (.226) plated left fielder Winky Rush (.272) with the winning run in the last of the eighth with a sacrifice fly. Pat Castellani (4-2 4.57) registered the win with an eight-inning outing. He spread out ten hits, fanned seven and allowed two bases on balls. Closer Earl Weber (3-1 2.59) tossed a perfect ninth for his 3rd save. Getting the loss was Troy Wilson (3-5 3.86). He lasted until the start of the eighth, permitted four runs on seven hits, walked five and whiffed three. The last walk was his downfall, it was the eventual winning run. Only one home run in the game. That went to Sunbird left fielder Nicky Swift (.333), who banged his TU-leading 17th roundtripper. Belair Beach outhit Claxton 10-8. Right fielder Matty McDermott (.339) collected 3-for-5 for the Sunbirds. Third baseman Keith Olsen (.315), right fielder Dixie Baker (.327) and Rush (.272) each drove in a run to pace the Diamonds.
Claxton (21-27) is seven games out of first and in the RU South cellar, while Belair Beach (23-24) is tied with Waleska (23-24) for the third spot in the standings.
|