The Weaver Times - Vancouver in First?


	WEAVER TIMES PAGE ONE \| WEAVER LEAGUE HOMEPAGE

2012 STORIES...

Ruth Retires, Will Manage in MInors
(10/27/12)

Disappointment in Vancouver
(10/2/12)

Rio Shakes Up Roster
(9/3/12)

The Need for Speed
(8/13/12)

Vancouver in First?
(4/30/12)

Power Rankings
(4/16/12)

"In the Clubhouse" With the Rastas
(4/16/12)

Rock to Play Kamehameha in Movie?
(3/30/12)

Karros Returns to Tokyo
(3/5/12)

Mounties Petition League
(3/5/12)

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Editor Jim Lockwood

ICQ # 1850917
Current Status -

Monday, April 30, 2012
VANCOUVER IN FIRST?
Story by Cory Muzyka

VANCOUVER (AP) - What's going on up North? The Vancouver Mounties, a team that was ranked second to last in the power rankings two short seasons ago has turned things around and is competing hard for the Roehm division this year.

The leader of the team? All-timer Babe Ruth, who is fifth in BL batting average with a .333 clip. Robb Reuschel, who has been an enigma for most of his short career in the Weaver League, leads the BL with 9 home runs.

"Babe and Robb have been huge for us so far this season" said GM Cory Muzyka. "Whenever we need a big hit our guys are all looking to them to provide the offense. Jim Tipper and Dick Simpson have both played well as well, but we still aren't getting enough production from a number of players on the field. If we can get Tony Clark, rookie catcher Miller Moser, and rookie shortstop Paddy Smalley actually hitting... we'll be a pretty dangerous team."

The pitching has really been the story for the Mounties this season. Denny McLain, Sean Johnston, Kym Ashworth and Bryan Rekar - four of the Mounties five starters - all have ERA's under 2.00. Free agent acquisition Julian Tavarez has the highest ERA of any Mounties starter, at a miniscule 2.56!

"Denny has been huge for us since he arrived here" said pitching coach Greg Maddux - a recent inductee into the Weaver League Hall of Fame. "He's shown the other guys how to win and that's a big step for them to take. The acquisition of Bryan Rekar from Long Beach, and Julian Tavarez in the free agent draft, have both been big for us because now we can put together a very reliable five-man rotation."

"Everyone looks to Denny" said pitcher Sean Johnston, "but you also have to look at how amazing Kym Ashworth has pitched this season. This is a guy who has allowed 14 hits in 30 innings of pitching. He's been outstanding for us."

The fans have certainly responded to the Mounties amazing run to start the season, by filling the Nat for a recent two game series against Jamaica in which the team allowed no runs and a total of six hits.

"I must stress though" said GM Muzyka, "that we have played less than 1/4 of the season so far, and that we aren't expecting to win the division this season. Our goal this season - as we stated to start this year - is simply to improve on last year's performance. There are a lot of games left and we are just glad to be in the mix at this early stage of the season."