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Eugene Church · 07-08-2008, 01:23 AM

The Islandian Times

Friday, June 22, 2001

Around the IPA

The Claxton Diamonds (29-36) are piloted by the Old Perfesser, Stacy Engel, one of the most successful manager in the amateur and company league days. But Engel is finding it hard to compete in the professional world, where good managers are "dime a dozen" and good players are hard to find.

He told the press recently, "My boys are playing better lately. Some of them are fairly alert." The Old Perfesser is right on at least one point - the Diamonds are playing a little better lately. Claxton was 15-18 in May, but improved to 11-11 in the month of June. Engel's ballclub is 8.5 games behind first place Marston and is in fifth place.

The only things the Diamonds do well is hit for average and field. They are second in the division with a .273 average. But they are last in homers and fourth in runs scored.

And in pitching there is no one worse than Claxton's mound corps. The Old Perfesser's pitching staff has compiled a lowly 4.66 ERA, by far the worst in the IPA. The Diamonds are second to Marston (.980) defensively with a .979 fielding average.

Commenting on his defense Engel said, "I don't like guys who drive in two runs and give up three."

Claxton has a bunch of fine hitters with four .300 hitters in the lineup, paced by second baseman Donny McCoy, who is batting .348 (6th) with 3 homers, 25 doubles (1st), 46 runs (9th) and 36 RBIs and is a Gold Glove candidate. Right fielder Dixie Baker has a .320 average with 20 home runs (2nd), 43 runs and 56 RBIs (5th) and a solid glove man. Shortstop Bobby Ritter has a .309 batting average with 3 home runs, 32 runs scored and 21 RBIs. Ritter fields his position well. First baseman Marty McCluskey is at the .300 mark with 18 doubles (6th-tied), 6 HR, scored 28 times and batted in 28 runs. McCluskey is also a marvelous defender with great range and hands.

Engel also has some other good bats in third baseman Ken Olsen with a .296 average, 16 doubles (3rd), 6 roundtrippers, 38 runs and 35 RBIs, left fielder Winky Rush (.280) with 6 home runs, 25 runs and 29 RBIs and a good defender with a great arm, plus Wayne Wilson, who has taken over in center field. Wilson has compiled a .278 batting average with 3 homers, 21 runs and 13 RBIs in 32 starts. Wilson is a fine outfielder, covers a lot of ground and has a strong arm.

The Diamonds only pitching gems are relievers. Closer Earl Weber (4-2 2.76) with 6 saves and 22 appearances and longman Alex Vanzetti (3-1 2.08) with 2 saves in 19 games. Skipper Engel is toying with the idea of moving them both into the starting rotation and just hope for the best in the bullpen.

Claxton's present starting rotation is up-and-down with Tetsunori Nakashima (8-4 4.41), Dennis Scott (6-6 4.46) and Zach Nuxhall (4-7 4.52). Engel has been searching for a fourth starter, but hasn't found one yet. The Old Perfesser indicated changes are forthcoming in the mound staff. Don't be surprised if you see three or four new hurlers playing for the Diamonds very soon.

If Engel can find some pitching somewhere, he could still step up in the division and may get as high as third place. But he certainly is not expected to challenge first place Marston and second place Forest City.

Rounding out the Ruthlandian Union South Division are the last place Belair Beach Sunbirds (28-36) of Marty Pedrosa. Pedrosa is one of the all-time best righthanders in the Islands and has done a good job with his pitchers, but the Sunbirds have fallen on very hard times in recent weeks. They were 16-16 in May and holding their own with the top 2-3 teams, but have slumped badly in June with a 7-15 record and now have fallen nine games out.

Hitting is the culprit for Pedrosa's team. The Sunbirds are batting only .256 and ranked next-to-last. Scoring-wise they are last. But Pedrosa does have some decent pitchers. Starter Carl Thompson (8-7 2.55) has been one of the top twirlers in the division, but has suffered because of poor run support. Ken Frey (4-4 3.41) has been solid both as a reliever early in the season and now as a starter. In the bullpen Lou Zanelli (5-3 2.87) has been excellent with 25 relief appearances (1st) and 7 saves. The remaining pitchers are only adequate. Reliever Lyndon Yarbrough (0-1 4.33) in 20 games and starters Todd Wilson (4-7 4.36) and Dirk Garrett (4-6 4.48). Garrett is injured and will miss the next three weeks with a strained bicep.

Carrying the Sunbird offensive load have been three superb players: left fielder Nicky Swift with a .332 average, 25 homers (1st), 48 runs (7th-tied), 58 RBIs (4th) and 7 stolen bases, right fielder Matty McDermott, who has hit .337 with 10 home runs, 52 runs (1st-tied), 32 RBIs and 19 stolen bases (5th-tied) and first baseman Paul Gravelli with a .328 batting average, 9 roundtrippers, 15 runs and 24 RBIs. Gravelli was signed only five weeks ago and had played in only 32 games. Pedrosa does have a fine defensive shortstop in Danny Church, who has supplied some offense with a .262 average, 5 home runs, scored 32 times and plated 24 runs. Church leads in assists and has a .984 fielding average.

It is hard to win in the Ruthlandian South, when you only have three productive hitters and two solid pitchers. Pedrosa has gone on record that many roster changes will be made soon. The future is not too rosy for the Belair Beach Sunbirds. 2001 could be a very long season for them.

07-08-2008, 01:23 AM	#336 (permalink)
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 17,079 Thanks: 100 Thanked 100x in 52 posts	The Islandian Times Friday, June 22, 2001 Around the IPA The Claxton Diamonds (29-36) are piloted by the Old Perfesser, Stacy Engel, one of the most successful manager in the amateur and company league days. But Engel is finding it hard to compete in the professional world, where good managers are "dime a dozen" and good players are hard to find. He told the press recently, "My boys are playing better lately. Some of them are fairly alert." The Old Perfesser is right on at least one point - the Diamonds are playing a little better lately. Claxton was 15-18 in May, but improved to 11-11 in the month of June. Engel's ballclub is 8.5 games behind first place Marston and is in fifth place. The only things the Diamonds do well is hit for average and field. They are second in the division with a .273 average. But they are last in homers and fourth in runs scored. And in pitching there is no one worse than Claxton's mound corps. The Old Perfesser's pitching staff has compiled a lowly 4.66 ERA, by far the worst in the IPA. The Diamonds are second to Marston (.980) defensively with a .979 fielding average. Commenting on his defense Engel said, "I don't like guys who drive in two runs and give up three." Claxton has a bunch of fine hitters with four .300 hitters in the lineup, paced by second baseman Donny McCoy, who is batting .348 (6th) with 3 homers, 25 doubles (1st), 46 runs (9th) and 36 RBIs and is a Gold Glove candidate. Right fielder Dixie Baker has a .320 average with 20 home runs (2nd), 43 runs and 56 RBIs (5th) and a solid glove man. Shortstop Bobby Ritter has a .309 batting average with 3 home runs, 32 runs scored and 21 RBIs. Ritter fields his position well. First baseman Marty McCluskey is at the .300 mark with 18 doubles (6th-tied), 6 HR, scored 28 times and batted in 28 runs. McCluskey is also a marvelous defender with great range and hands. Engel also has some other good bats in third baseman Ken Olsen with a .296 average, 16 doubles (3rd), 6 roundtrippers, 38 runs and 35 RBIs, left fielder Winky Rush (.280) with 6 home runs, 25 runs and 29 RBIs and a good defender with a great arm, plus Wayne Wilson, who has taken over in center field. Wilson has compiled a .278 batting average with 3 homers, 21 runs and 13 RBIs in 32 starts. Wilson is a fine outfielder, covers a lot of ground and has a strong arm. The Diamonds only pitching gems are relievers. Closer Earl Weber (4-2 2.76) with 6 saves and 22 appearances and longman Alex Vanzetti (3-1 2.08) with 2 saves in 19 games. Skipper Engel is toying with the idea of moving them both into the starting rotation and just hope for the best in the bullpen. Claxton's present starting rotation is up-and-down with Tetsunori Nakashima (8-4 4.41), Dennis Scott (6-6 4.46) and Zach Nuxhall (4-7 4.52). Engel has been searching for a fourth starter, but hasn't found one yet. The Old Perfesser indicated changes are forthcoming in the mound staff. Don't be surprised if you see three or four new hurlers playing for the Diamonds very soon. If Engel can find some pitching somewhere, he could still step up in the division and may get as high as third place. But he certainly is not expected to challenge first place Marston and second place Forest City. Rounding out the Ruthlandian Union South Division are the last place Belair Beach Sunbirds (28-36) of Marty Pedrosa. Pedrosa is one of the all-time best righthanders in the Islands and has done a good job with his pitchers, but the Sunbirds have fallen on very hard times in recent weeks. They were 16-16 in May and holding their own with the top 2-3 teams, but have slumped badly in June with a 7-15 record and now have fallen nine games out. Hitting is the culprit for Pedrosa's team. The Sunbirds are batting only .256 and ranked next-to-last. Scoring-wise they are last. But Pedrosa does have some decent pitchers. Starter Carl Thompson (8-7 2.55) has been one of the top twirlers in the division, but has suffered because of poor run support. Ken Frey (4-4 3.41) has been solid both as a reliever early in the season and now as a starter. In the bullpen Lou Zanelli (5-3 2.87) has been excellent with 25 relief appearances (1st) and 7 saves. The remaining pitchers are only adequate. Reliever Lyndon Yarbrough (0-1 4.33) in 20 games and starters Todd Wilson (4-7 4.36) and Dirk Garrett (4-6 4.48). Garrett is injured and will miss the next three weeks with a strained bicep. Carrying the Sunbird offensive load have been three superb players: left fielder Nicky Swift with a .332 average, 25 homers (1st), 48 runs (7th-tied), 58 RBIs (4th) and 7 stolen bases, right fielder Matty McDermott, who has hit .337 with 10 home runs, 52 runs (1st-tied), 32 RBIs and 19 stolen bases (5th-tied) and first baseman Paul Gravelli with a .328 batting average, 9 roundtrippers, 15 runs and 24 RBIs. Gravelli was signed only five weeks ago and had played in only 32 games. Pedrosa does have a fine defensive shortstop in Danny Church, who has supplied some offense with a .262 average, 5 home runs, scored 32 times and plated 24 runs. Church leads in assists and has a .984 fielding average. It is hard to win in the Ruthlandian South, when you only have three productive hitters and two solid pitchers. Pedrosa has gone on record that many roster changes will be made soon. The future is not too rosy for the Belair Beach Sunbirds. 2001 could be a very long season for them. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-11-2008 at 10:37 PM.