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Eugene Church · 07-08-2008, 10:30 PM

The Islandian Times

Friday, June 22, 2001

Around the IPA

Tyrobbian Union - East Division

After the first two months of the IPA's first season, the Tycobbian Union East Division has the closest race. Only 6.5 games separate the teams from top to bottom. Ginza has gotten hot in June with a 15-7 mark and moved ahead of the pack, leading second place Cape Coral by 2.5 games. Ozarka has dropped to third because of a June swoon and is 3.5 games out. In fourth place are the Luxora Zorros, who are 5.5 games off the pace. South Fork is fifth, 6 games behind and Hartsdale is last.

Pitching and defense is the name of the game for Horoto Uchiyama, the GM and field manager of the first place Ginza Ninjas (36-28). The Ninjas took off and took over the TU East when Uchiyama promoted Toshiharu Ito (5-1 1.82) into a starting role about two weeks ago. The 25-year-old righty ran off four wins and a quality no-decision in his first five starts. Ginza was already well-stocked on the mound with Kojiro Matsumoto (9-2 3.05), Vic Rousakis (8-6 3.24) and Kazuhiro Nakayama (5-8 3.03). Coupled with closer Ken Watkins (3-3 2.86), they are a potent pitching staff. Watkins has made 20 appearances and has posted 6 saves. Watkins is the only southpaw on the team.

A former starter Buddy Hart (2-3 4.10) has settled in comfortably to a long relief role. He has two saves and has given up only one run in eight innings in his first four appearances. Uchiyama said he is well-pleased with his current mound staff, but is in need of two quality middle relievers.

The Ninjas are third in the division with a 3.41 ERA with South Fork (3.23) and Luxora (3.40) ahead of them. Ginza is the top defensive club with a .980 fielding percentage.

The Ninjas top batters are first sacker Kenshin Yamamoto with a .295 average, 11 homers, 33 runs and 34 RBIs, left fielder Charlie Campbell with a .279 average, 9 home runs, 25 runs and 37 RBIs, center fielder Takashi Fujimoto with a .277 average, 9 roundtrippers, 37 runs, 34 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, and lead-off man, shortstop Shinjiro Aoki, who is batting .304 with 5 triples (3rd-tied), 42 runs scored, 22 RBIs and 24 stolen bases (1st). Third baseman Kaz Ojima (.300, 2 HR, 16 R, 21 RBI) has played and hit well in a platoon role.

Recent additions to the line-up have played a part in the recent surge. Catcher Katsuya Noguchi (.302, 3 HR, 13 R, 12 RBI), third baseman Toshiro Nomura (.300, 7 R, 8 RBI) and left fielder Ronnie Graf (.292, 18 R, 14 RBI).

Ginza has four possible Golden Glovers in catcher Howard Mitchell (.996), first baseman Yamamoto (.997), second baseman Scoop McDonald (.992) and center fielder Fujimoto (1.000).

If the Ninjas continue to play as well as they have in the first third of the season, the fans will be celebrating a division title. They look to be the class of the TU East.

Manager Huggy Miller has the best-scoring team in the division. The second place Cape Coral Hurricanes (33-30) lead in runs scored, are second with a .257 batting average (tied with Hartsdale) and are number three in homers with 58. Ozarka is the top power team with 70 roundtrippers with Hartsdale number two with 63. On the hill the Hurricanes have a very well-balanced staff and have compiled a 3.73 ERA, fourth in the division. Defense is not one of their strong points as they have a poor .972 fielding average and rank last.

Cape Coral had a so-so May with a mark of 15-16, but some line-up changes has help improve them to 12-10 in June.

Miller depends on left fielder Rod Kelly and first baseman Rodger Wooten for run production. Kelly has a .309 batting average with 12 homers, 32 runs and 38 batted in, while Wooten is hitting .283 with 12 home runs, 37 runs and 35 RBIs. Right fielder Danny Mullins (.364, 6 HR, 17 R, 20 RBI) and catcher Rick Clark (.354, 3 HR, 16 R, 13 RBI) are now starters and have certainly added some punch to the club in recent weeks. Center fielder James Middleton (.323, 23 R, 15 RBI), a fine defender and hitter, is now back after a stay on the DL. Things are looking up for Cape Coral.

Miller made some changes in his pitching rotation several weeks ago and it has been quite successful in the short term. He moved his fine southpaw closer Katsuyuki Nagashima (4-6 2.73) into the rotation and he has gone 3-2 and been just as effective. Nagashima is still used in relief occasionally between starts. He has six saves in 21 games this season.

Lefthander Wally Robinson (9-4 2.79) is the ace of the staff. The other two starters are Kaz Hayakawa (7-7 4.00) and lefty Owen Pruitt (4-5 4.03). Former middle reliever Scotty Lohmeyer (2-3 2.92) is now the closer. He throws left, has three saves and has made 14 game appearances. Another portsider Joey Martin (0-0 3.10) is now the long man in relief. He has pitched in 17 games. Cody Burg (1-1 4.10) is the short man.

The Cape Coral Hurricanes are a good ballclub and looks like they will be around for the long haul this season. They have good balanced between offense and pitching, they just need to get more sure-handed on defense. Miller may be in the market for some good gloves up the middle.

07-08-2008, 10:30 PM	#337 (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 Tyrobbian Union - East Division After the first two months of the IPA's first season, the Tycobbian Union East Division has the closest race. Only 6.5 games separate the teams from top to bottom. Ginza has gotten hot in June with a 15-7 mark and moved ahead of the pack, leading second place Cape Coral by 2.5 games. Ozarka has dropped to third because of a June swoon and is 3.5 games out. In fourth place are the Luxora Zorros, who are 5.5 games off the pace. South Fork is fifth, 6 games behind and Hartsdale is last. Pitching and defense is the name of the game for Horoto Uchiyama, the GM and field manager of the first place Ginza Ninjas (36-28). The Ninjas took off and took over the TU East when Uchiyama promoted Toshiharu Ito (5-1 1.82) into a starting role about two weeks ago. The 25-year-old righty ran off four wins and a quality no-decision in his first five starts. Ginza was already well-stocked on the mound with Kojiro Matsumoto (9-2 3.05), Vic Rousakis (8-6 3.24) and Kazuhiro Nakayama (5-8 3.03). Coupled with closer Ken Watkins (3-3 2.86), they are a potent pitching staff. Watkins has made 20 appearances and has posted 6 saves. Watkins is the only southpaw on the team. A former starter Buddy Hart (2-3 4.10) has settled in comfortably to a long relief role. He has two saves and has given up only one run in eight innings in his first four appearances. Uchiyama said he is well-pleased with his current mound staff, but is in need of two quality middle relievers. The Ninjas are third in the division with a 3.41 ERA with South Fork (3.23) and Luxora (3.40) ahead of them. Ginza is the top defensive club with a .980 fielding percentage. The Ninjas top batters are first sacker Kenshin Yamamoto with a .295 average, 11 homers, 33 runs and 34 RBIs, left fielder Charlie Campbell with a .279 average, 9 home runs, 25 runs and 37 RBIs, center fielder Takashi Fujimoto with a .277 average, 9 roundtrippers, 37 runs, 34 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, and lead-off man, shortstop Shinjiro Aoki, who is batting .304 with 5 triples (3rd-tied), 42 runs scored, 22 RBIs and 24 stolen bases (1st). Third baseman Kaz Ojima (.300, 2 HR, 16 R, 21 RBI) has played and hit well in a platoon role. Recent additions to the line-up have played a part in the recent surge. Catcher Katsuya Noguchi (.302, 3 HR, 13 R, 12 RBI), third baseman Toshiro Nomura (.300, 7 R, 8 RBI) and left fielder Ronnie Graf (.292, 18 R, 14 RBI). Ginza has four possible Golden Glovers in catcher Howard Mitchell (.996), first baseman Yamamoto (.997), second baseman Scoop McDonald (.992) and center fielder Fujimoto (1.000). If the Ninjas continue to play as well as they have in the first third of the season, the fans will be celebrating a division title. They look to be the class of the TU East. Manager Huggy Miller has the best-scoring team in the division. The second place Cape Coral Hurricanes (33-30) lead in runs scored, are second with a .257 batting average (tied with Hartsdale) and are number three in homers with 58. Ozarka is the top power team with 70 roundtrippers with Hartsdale number two with 63. On the hill the Hurricanes have a very well-balanced staff and have compiled a 3.73 ERA, fourth in the division. Defense is not one of their strong points as they have a poor .972 fielding average and rank last. Cape Coral had a so-so May with a mark of 15-16, but some line-up changes has help improve them to 12-10 in June. Miller depends on left fielder Rod Kelly and first baseman Rodger Wooten for run production. Kelly has a .309 batting average with 12 homers, 32 runs and 38 batted in, while Wooten is hitting .283 with 12 home runs, 37 runs and 35 RBIs. Right fielder Danny Mullins (.364, 6 HR, 17 R, 20 RBI) and catcher Rick Clark (.354, 3 HR, 16 R, 13 RBI) are now starters and have certainly added some punch to the club in recent weeks. Center fielder James Middleton (.323, 23 R, 15 RBI), a fine defender and hitter, is now back after a stay on the DL. Things are looking up for Cape Coral. Miller made some changes in his pitching rotation several weeks ago and it has been quite successful in the short term. He moved his fine southpaw closer Katsuyuki Nagashima (4-6 2.73) into the rotation and he has gone 3-2 and been just as effective. Nagashima is still used in relief occasionally between starts. He has six saves in 21 games this season. Lefthander Wally Robinson (9-4 2.79) is the ace of the staff. The other two starters are Kaz Hayakawa (7-7 4.00) and lefty Owen Pruitt (4-5 4.03). Former middle reliever Scotty Lohmeyer (2-3 2.92) is now the closer. He throws left, has three saves and has made 14 game appearances. Another portsider Joey Martin (0-0 3.10) is now the long man in relief. He has pitched in 17 games. Cody Burg (1-1 4.10) is the short man. The Cape Coral Hurricanes are a good ballclub and looks like they will be around for the long haul this season. They have good balanced between offense and pitching, they just need to get more sure-handed on defense. Miller may be in the market for some good gloves up the middle. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-08-2008 at 10:31 PM.