THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 11, 2052

COLLIER COPS PRO CUP MVP
Carroll Collier has played 11 seasons for the Middlefield Roosters in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the 33-year-old right-hander has won 20 games 6 times in his standout career, but this year may have been his best... Collier led his Roosters to the peak of perfection in the Islands... he led them to the IPA Pro Cup title, emblematic of the best team in Islandia... for his postseason efforts Collier was voted the 2052 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player, edging out teammates Trip Agarn and Natty Colclough in a close vote for the honor... Collier registered a brilliant 6-0 record with sensational 1.46 ERA, posting wins in the 7th game of the Ruthlandian LCS over tough and tenatious Taranto... and finishing off powerful East Point in the 6th game of the Pro Cup Finals... in the regular season Collier chalked up a 16-8 mark with a 3.57 ERA, but he came alive in the postseason and stepped it up to a super level... in his career Collier is 193-138 with an impressive 2.99 ERA.

Winding up second in the Pro Cup MVP balloting was Middlefield's fine 24-year-old slugger, Trip Agarn... the Rooster left fielder paced them at the plate with 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored and a .299 BA in 19 games... coming in third in the voting was Middlefield's 29-year-old second baseman Natty Colclough, who batted .350 with 7 roundtrippers, 15 ribbies and 21 runs scored... during the regular campaign Agarn batted .299 with 37 HRs and 117 RBIs and Colclough hit .254 with 21 HRs and 90 RBIs.

*** Carroll Collier * Trip Agarn * Natty Colclough ***

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 12, 2052

TOP GLOVES NAMED BY IPA
It's been said that the best offense is a good defense... that's why contending teams are always looking to improve on the defensive side of the game... it's make a difference... keeping runs from scoring is just a good as driving them in... The Islandian Pro Alliance has chosen the top fielders of the 2052 season...most of the top defenders this year are first-timers on the Golden Glove squad... four of them are rookies... Frank Penn, fine catcher for the Far Mountain Redhawks, was selected for the 5th time in his career.

RUTHLANDIAN UNION GOLDEN GLOVE AWARDS

Pitcher: Griff Hollman (Marston Nine) (1.000 FA/17 PO/51 A/3 DP)
(13-14/4.39 ERA)

Catcher: Frank Penn (Far Mountain Redhawks) (.994 FA/52 A/10 DP/24.1% RTO/3 PB) (5th Gold Glove)
(135 G/.262 BA/5 HR/56 RBI/54 R)

First Baseman: Phil Wilson (Taranto Tars) (.991 FA/96 A/130 DP)
(154 G/.292 BA/21 HR/88 RBI/99 R)

Second Baseman: Damien D'Amboise (Marston Nine) (.977 FA/409 A/88 DP) (2nd Gold Glove)
(144 G/.332 BA/7 HR/61 RBI/110 R/42 SB)

Third Baseman: Mark Hawkins (Belair Beach Sunbirds) (.939 FA/323 A/18 DP)
(143 G/.249 BA/22 HR/88 RBI/70 R)

Shortstop: Stan Radzikowski (Middlefield Roosters) (.971 FA/438 A/106 DP) (Rookie)
(144 G/.267 BA/23 HR/82 RBI/84 R/9 SB)

Left Fielder: Callum Slattery (Ancona Red Elephants) (.987 FA/287 PO/6 A) (Rookie)
(142 G/.325 BA/8 HR/64 RBI/85 R/15 SB)

Center Fielder: Freddie Woodruff (Fort Benton Defenders) (.984 FA/496 PO/10 A) (2nd Gold Glove)
(148 G/.291 BA/7 HR/65 RBI/98 R/24 SB)

Right Fielder: Lenny Buisson (Belle Plaine Musketeers) (.975 FA/222 PO/11 A)
(148 G/.333 BA/36 HR/119 RBI/98 R/12 SB)

TYCOBBIAN UNION GOLDEN GLOVE AWARDS

Pitcher: Flash Stringfellow (Denton City Redbirds) (1.000 FA/14 PO/38 A/3 DP)
(19-17/4.05 ERA)

Catcher: Tuffy Palmieri (Ozarka Naturals) (.994 FA/61 A/4 DP/41.2% RTO/1 PB)
(133 G/.282 BA/2 HR/52 RBI/67 R)

First Baseman: Colton Bonds (South Fork Stallions) (.992 FA/93 A/112 DP)
(149 G/.245 BA/9 HR/60 RBI/80 R/19 SB)

Second Baseman: James Murchison (Colchester Elites) (.979 FA/448 A/147 DP)
(148 G/.306 BA/8 HR/60 RBI/93 R/9 SB)

Third Baseman: Dennis Munsen (Fairfax Frogs) (.943 FA/185 A/13 DP)
(137 G/.263 BA/5 HR/47 RBI/56 R)

Shortstop: Ernie Larmon (Colchester Elites) (.963 FA/472 A/143 DP)
(145 G/.305 BA/9 HR/52 RBI/97 R/8 SB)

Left Fielder: Downtown Wyatt (Fairfax Frogs) (.987 FA/301 PO/2 A) (Rookie)
(120 G/.301 BA/7 HR/81 RBI/65 R/8 SB)

Center Fielder: Harv Bannerman (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) (.992 FA/359 PO/10 A) (2nd Gold Glove)
(143 G/.278 BA/34 HR/102 RBI/102 R/41 SB)

Right Fielder: Paddy Fenroy (Fairfax Frogs) (.971 FA/321 PO/16 A) (Rookie)
(142 G/.291 BA/3 HR/60 RBI/102 RU/26 SB)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 13, 2052

IPA GOLDEN SWINGERS ANNOUNCED
The best swingers in the Islands have been chosen... the Islandian Pro Alliance have honored Lenny Buission of Belle Plaine and Norishige Ito of Arroyo Grande as the best batsmen in the land... Buisson nabbed the 2052 Ruthlandian Golden Bat Award and Ito took the 2052 Tycobbian Golden Bat trophy.

Buisson is a 7-year veteran and 5-time All-Star... this is the Belle Plaine outfielder's second Golden Bat... he also won it in 2048... Buisson batted .333 in 146 games, rapped 36 homers, drove in 119 runs and scored 98 times... he also stole 12 bases and won his first Golden Glove this year... however, the Musketeers could only finished 5th in the division standings... Buisson has compiled a .337 BA overall with 251 homers... he was acclaimed the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player in 2048.

6-time All-Star Joe Cochrane was Buisson's biggest challenger for the best hitter honor... the Cold Creek third sacker hit .338 in 148 games with 17 roundtrippers, 89 RBIs and 101 runs scored... in spite of Cochrane impressive year, the Catamounts finished 7th in the RU East... third in the voting was Middlefield outfielder Johnny Wyatt, who won the Golden Bat in 2050... Wyatt cracked 35 home runs, hit .299 with 101 RBIs and 96 runs in 131 games... Wyatt's Roosters had a marvelous year, winning the RU West Division flag and also capturing the IPA Pro Cup trophy for the second time in the club's history.

The Tycobbian Golden Bat winner Norishige Ito had an extraordinary season... the Arroyo Grande outfielder topped the TU with 58 homers, 133 RBIs and a .346 BA... Ito also got the Triple Crown award... plus was named the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player... the 6-year veteran has a career .310 BA and 185 home runs... this was his first Golden Bat and first MVP Award... sad to say, the best the Suns could do was 7th place in the TU South.

Ito's main competition came from San Alejo's center fielder Paulo Teixeira... in his 14th season, the 33-year-old star hit .297 with 40 homers, 121 RBIs and 99 runs...Teixeira is a 7-time All-Star... his Monteneros came in second in the TU South this year... in the number three spot in the Golden Bat poll was Oxford's wonderful rookie center fielder, Dwayne Wagner... he sparked the Red Caps to the TU North Division pennant for the first time in almost 50 years with 125 RBIs, 28 HRs and 101 runs, while batting a solid .287 in 147 games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 14, 2052

CASTLE AND MCKINNEY IPA GOLDEN FLINGERS
This year the Ruthlandian Union and the Tycobbian Union went their separate ways on picking the top twirlers in their leagues... the 2052 Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award was bestowed on a rookie phenom, Phil Castle, while the 2052 Tycobbian Golden Arm trophy was given to 11-year veteran Will McKinney.

The 23-year-old Castle chalked up a fantastic first season with a remarkable 23-3 record and paced the Taranto Tars to their first pennant in three decades... Castle also posted a terrific 1.83 ERA, tops in the entire IPA.

Two standout veterans were second and third in the RU Golden Arm voting... 34-year-old Ralph Hawk of Ranford was the runner-up, registering a fine 23-7 mark with a standout 1.97 ERA... his Bulls wound up third in the tough RU North Division this year... Hawk has won 3 Golden Arms in his career ('48, '49, '51)... James Long was a prime reason the Middlefield Roosters won more games than anyone in the IPA, running up 106 victories... the Roosters won the RU West in a rout and also capped off the great season by capturing the team's second Pro Cup in its history... in his 14th season Long was 26-9 with an impressive 2.57 ERA... he was the pitcher of the year in 2050... Middlefield won its first Pro Cup in 50 years... 2005 was the last time they were the IPA champ.

The Tycobbian trophy winner, Will McKinney, has had a terrific career in the IPA... this was his 4th Golden Arm Award ('48, '50, '51)... he has won 20 games 10 times in his 11 seasons... 7-time All-Star... his overall record is 258-116 with a brilliant 2.46 ERA... this year McKinney was 23-10 with a 2.11 ERA... 'nuff said.

Coming in second in the top pitcher poll was Turon's 36-year-old star Nate Scottsdale, a 16-year vet with a 287-240 career record... for the first time in 13 seasons his Typhoons won the TU South pennant... Scottsdale piled up a 26-8 record with a strong 2.67 ERA... number three in the Tycobbian Golden Arm balloting was a teammate of McKinney, Matt Bell... in his 14th season with the Monties, Bell was 23-14 with a 2.37 ERA... overall he is 304-163 with a superb 2.50 career ERA... on three occasions Bell has won the Golden Arm ('45, '47, '49).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 15, 2052

CASTLE AND WAGNER BEST IPA ROOKS
2052 was a very, very good year for rookies in the Islandian Pro Alliance... there was an abundance of talented freshmen around the league... the best of them was Phil Castle, a super talented twirler for the Taranto Tars, and hard-hitting Oxford outfielder, Dwayne Wagner... Castle was selected the 2052 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year and Wagner was named the 2052 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year.

It was a tremendous year for Castle... not only did he receive the rookie trophy, he was also voted the Golden Arm Award for being the pitcher of the year... in his first year in the IPA Castle, a 23-year-old southpaw, posted a sensational 23-3 mark and led the IPA with a 1.83 ERA... he was a near-unanimous victor in the best rookie poll... due to his efforts Taranto won its first pennant in nearly 50 years.

Runner-up in the best rookie race was Elnora's switch-hitting outfielder, Robb Norwood, who won the batting title with a lofty .367 average... in 115 games, he hit 37 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, drove in 71 runs and scored 97... Norwood was an important part of the All-Stars 3rd place finish in the RU East Division... Far Mountain center fielder Ox Gless put up some fine stats, too... in 143 games Gless batted .301, had 30 doubles, 5 triples, 23 roundtrippers, 97 RBIs and scored 99 runs... despite his hitting heroics, the Redhawks wound up 6th in the RU North standings.

The race for the best rookie was tighter in the Tycobbian Union... taking the TU Rookie of the Year honor was Oxford's Dwayne Wagner... he edged out Arlon's shortstop Art Catlin and Turon's third baseman Joel Guidry... Wagner was one of the main ingredients in the Red Caps' first pennant since 2007... the young center fielder played in 147 games, hit .287 with 28 homers, 125 ribbies and scored 101 runs... Catlin participated in 141 contests, compiled a .302 BA with 27 HRs, 110 RBIs and scored 94 runs... however, his Champions fell a game short of winning the Tycobbian West Division... Guidry was instrumental in Turon taking its first flag in over a decade... he batted .295 in 142 games with 26 homers, 91 RBIs and tallied 101 runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 16, 2052

TRIPLE CROWNER AND ROOK NAB IPA MVP
Two outstanding players had career years in the Islandian Pro Alliance and they both captured the Most Valuable Player Awards for their respective leagues... Triple Crown winner Norishige Ito of the Arroyo Grande Suns hauled in the Tycobbian Union MVP trophy and rookie sensation Phil Castle of the Taranto Tars added the Ruthlandian Union MVP trophy to his accolades.

Arroyo Grande right fielder Norishige Ito had a glorious year... won the Triple Crown, the Tycobbian batting crown, the Tycobbian Golden Bat and now topped it off with the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player honor... the 25-year-old hit .346 with 58 homers and 133 RBIs, all tops in his league... he also led the entire IPA in those categories as well as runs scored with 144.

Winding up second in the Tycobbian MVP race was Oxford's fine freshman outfielder and Rookie of the Year, Dwayne Wagner... he sparked the Red Caps to their first division title in over 45 years with a .287 batting mark, 28 homers, 125 RBIs and 101 runs... Turon terrific twirler Nate Scottsdale was third in the MVP voting... he had a super season with a 26-8 record and a 2.67 ERA... his Typhoons won their first division flag in over 10 seasons.

First year phenom and 2052 Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player, Phil Castle, paced the Taranto Tars to their first pennant in over 30 years... the 23-year-old portsider racked up a 23-3 record and led the Ruthlandian Union with a very impressive 1.83 ERA... in addition Castle also was voted the top Ruthlandian rookie... he beat out two Middlefield players for the MVP award... James Long finished second in the voting and his teammate Johnny Wyatt came in third... Long tied with Nate Scottsdale for the most victories in the IPA this season, leading the RU with a 26-9 record, while posting a standout 2.57 ERA.. Middlefield not only won the pennant, but also captured the IPA Pro Cup... Wyatt was also a vital cog for the Roosters, batting .299 with 35 roundtrippers, 101 RBIs and 96 runs... Wyatt previously won the Ruthlandian MVP trophy twice... in '49 and '50.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 17, 2052

TINKER, KINGSFORD TOP SKIPS IN IPA
It's all about blame and glory... when a manager wins, he gets the glory... and when it the other way around, he gets the blame... but like a sage old skipper once said, "Hoss, this is the way the game is played... if you got the hosses, you win."... using that philosophy, Middlefield's manager Ricky Tinker and Turon's C. C. Kingsford must have been the best skippers in the Islandian Pro Alliance this year... they certainly had the hosses and rode them to a lot of victories this season... that's according to a poll conducted by the sportswriters and broadcasters all across the Islands.

The 2052 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year trophy went to Ricky Tinker of the Middlefield Roosters... he guided the Roosters to their first Pro Cup title in almost 50 years... Middlefield chalked up the best record in the IPA this season with 106 victories, easily winning the Ruthlandian West Division flag by 19 games... the Roosters won their 4th pennant in a row and 5th in 6 years... they greatly improved their record from 82-72 last year to a magnificent 106-48 this season... this was Tinker's second time to be acclaimed best manager... he also won it in 2049 with 104 wins.

Tinker had some high-powered competition from Taranto manager Augie Marshall, who piloted his Tars (82-72) up from 5th place in '51 to the RU North title this season with a splendid 99-55 mark... he had to overcome powerful Valmara, who had won the division 7 of the previous 9 years... the Vipers also captured 3 Pro Cups, too... Tinker and Marshall were the only skippers to show up in the poll... it was a fairly close vote, but Tinker got the best of Marshall.

There was quite a race for the 2052 Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year Award... it was a stirring three-way battle with Turon skipper C. C. Kingsford edging out two of his peers, Babe Hankins of the Kenwood Wildcats and Dennis Hartwig of the Oxford Red Caps.

The Turon Typhoons came in second in '51 in the Tycobbian South with a fine 91-64 record, losing the pennant in a single-game playoff... this year Kingsford kicked it up a notch and sparked them to a 96-58 mark and the division flag.

Hankins was at the helm of a greatly-revived Kenwood club... in one season they went from the outhouse to the penthouse in the Tycobbian West, going from a dismal 7th place (65-89) skyward to 91-63 and the top spot... his Wildcats nipped the defending Pro Cup champ Arlon by a single game to win the division flag... Hartwig also engineered a massive recovery in Oxford... the Red Caps went from 5th place (75-79) in '51 to a TU North division title in '52 with an 86-69 record.

Beginning roster work for the 2053 season.

It may take a week or two.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, February 9, 2053

3 NEW IPA HALL-OF-FAMERS
The Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame announced three new additions to the elite group... Jeremy Blanchard, Jerry Culpepper and William Snyder will be inducted into the IPA honor guard in March... this will bring the total number to 78 players.

Heading up this year's class is infielder Jerry Culpepper, the all-time home-run hitter in IPA history with 878 roundtrippers... 5 times in his fantastic career Culpepper hit 60 or more homers in a season... 60 in '37, 63 in '39, 66 in '40, 61 in '41 and 60 in '47... he collected 3064 hits in his 19 seasons, all with the Bayview Vikings, batting .304 overall... Culpepper was number two in RBIs behind the all-time IPA leader, Phil Gravelli... Culpepper drove in 2170 runs, while Gravelli had 2493... he was a 15-time All-Star, 5-time Tycobbian Golden Bat... in '40 and '41 Culpepper was honored as the Tycobbian MVP... he played his last season in 2051 at age 37.

Jeremy Blanchard was an ace right-hander that toiled for 20 years with the Sugar Valley Rattlers, registering an impressive 325-262 record with a solid 3.28 ERA... he starred for the Rattlers from 2027 to 2046 leading them to five division titles and one IPA Cup... Sugar Valley was the overall IPA champion in 2045, when they whipped the Southport Sun Sox in 6 games... 6 times in his illustrious career Blanchard won 20 or more games... he was a 3-time All-Star... he retired at age 40, ranking 13th in total victories and 15th in strikeouts with 3719.

The third inductee this year was a splendid hitter and fine gloveman... William Snyder batted a terrific .322 in his 18-year-career, almost all of it with the Cape Coral Hurricanes... the talented outfielder played from 2033 to 2051 posting 2966 hits with 426 homers and 1565 ribbies... unfortunately the 'Canes won only one pennant in Snyder's tenure with them... that was in 2030... Cape Coral never came close to winning the Islandian crown... 7 times he made the TU All-Stars, 3 times was named to the Golden Glove squad and Snyder was acclaimed the Golden Bat Award winner in 2035... he ended his career at age 36.

Finished updating the rosters with new rookies.

Islandian Pro Alliance Season 2053 will soon begin.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, March 1, 2053

THE ISLANDS ARE ALIVE AGAIN
It happens every spring... hope is coming soon and springs eternal... the white blight of wintertime is slowly fading into its annual oblivion and transforming to a beautiful green all across the Islands... lush baseball diamonds are beginning to flourish with a dark and deep green grass with beautiful green cathedrals and mansions spouting up across the nations of Ruthlandia and Tycobbia... the baseball season will soon be here anew... this is the way it's happened since the 1880s and 1890s... the Islands really do come to life each spring... once again, it's baseball season... the 53rd IPA season is just one month away.

64 clubs will go into action around the Islandian Pro Alliance... in the Ruthlandian Union Taranto, Waleska, Wynnamac and Middlefield will be defending their respective division titles... same thing in the Tycobbian Union for Oxford, Turon, East Point and Kenwood... and the Middlefield Roosters have the toughest task of all, trying to repeat as the coveted IPA Pro Cup trophy winner again this season... the Roosters are the current IPA champion... Middlefield will once again have to beat back 63 other passionate teams to reign supreme again... the poets, pundits and gurus will all have their say in the preseason, but as alway, it's the players on the field that make the difference... looking good on the diamond is always superior to looking good on the page or in the newspaper.

Sorry, having problems with my internet provider... it is intermittent for the last 3-4 days... can't always post... hoping they will fix it tomorrow.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

IPA REPEATS LAST YEAR
The good teams from 2052 are still riding high this year in 2053... not a lot has changed... the reigning Pro Cup champion Middlefield is apparently headed for another banner season... just like last year, the Roosters have won more games than any other team in the IPA... they are on top of the Ruthlandian West at midseason... other division leaders are the same ones that won last year: Taranto in the RU North, Waleska in the RU South and Wynnamac in the RU East... however, the Tycobbian Union is somewhat in flux... there are three new division leaders... Blue Lake is a mild surprise in the TU North... Midway has moved ahead of last year's TU East winner East Point... and Denton City has a slight lead in the TU West ... Turon is the only team that won the division flag last year that has maintained its lofty perch... the Typhoons have a solid lead in the TU South.

In the Ruthlandian North race the Taranto Tars (52-25) started off slowly in April (11-12), but have taken off and soared to the top spot in the last two months with a remarkable 41-13 mark and built up an 8-game bulge over the runner-up Ranford Bulls (44-33)... this despite the loss of three starting pitchers, including rookie phenom Phil Castle (23-3/1.83), Valerio Rossi (20-11/2.52) and Enzo Ferrara (17-15/3.58)... Castle (5-3/2.99) and Ferrera (3-2/3.30) are lost for the entire season, while Rossi (9-5/2.96) could return in August... Mario Martinelli (7-0/2.73), Jaron Montague (8-1/2.85) and Freddy De Angelis (7-4/2.82) have filled in admirably... manager Augie Marshall has the pitching and the bats this year again... his prime bats are CF Renzo Caruso (.260 BA/21 HR/45 RBI), LF Kuma Toyota (.315 BA/15 HR/32 RBI/30 R) and All-Star 3B Gaetano Palombo (.322 BA/14 HR/45 RBI/48 R)... the Tars have made the postseason only 5 times, but did cop the 2015 IPA title, whipping the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers in 5 games, led by current manager Augie Marshall... Marshall was installed in the IPA Hall-of-Fame in 2049... he was a standout slugger with 504 homers in his career.

Manager Kyle Hunt had his Ranford Bulls (44-33) rippin' and snortin' the first two months of the season (34-17)... the Bulls were in first place, but tumbled badly in June (10-16)... Hunt doesn't appear to have the pitching, nor the hitting to stay with the Tars... he only has one strong starter... that's his 35-year-old veteran superstar and All-Star Ralph Hawk (11-4/2.32)... and one excellent closer in Martin Futch (7-5/2.36 ERA/11 saves/37 G)... Ranford has a decent offense with 3B Don Connell (.245 BA/13 HR/46 RBI/43 R), 1B Virgil Belisle (.297/10/35/41), LF Zach Isom (.314/8/39/45), RF Rory O'Herlihy (.311/7/33/35) and CF Joey Hawkins (.305/6/32/38)... the Bulls have been to the Pro Cup playoffs on 7 occasions and came home with one IPA crown... that was in 2040 when they subdued the Summerland Sunsets in 7 games, sparked by the then 22-year-old Ralph Hawk.

The rest of the division don't appear to be any threat... trailing in the distance are third place Kilkenny (41-36) and fourth place Valmara (39-38), 11 and 13 games off the pace of Taranto.

For the third straight season the Waleska Westerners (48-29) are atop of the Ruthlandian South Division... it's a two-club tussle with the Grand City Cybercats (44-33) hanging close, just 4 games back... manager and Hall-of-Fame outfielder Roy Hobbs has a fairly good staff with Vince Gibson (13-4/2.64), Kenny Foster (11-5/3.01), Trey Earnest (7-7/3.85) and John McElveen (7-6/3.44)... but seriously lacks productive power (31st) and run-scoring ability (27th)... SS Jingo Jernigan (.292 BA/4 HR/32 RBI/43 R/16 SB) and LF Zip McHan (.327/4/26/29) are the only productive hitters... Waleska has won the Pro Cup 3 times ('28, '37, '39), along with 9 pennants... Hobbs helped the Westerners win in an upset over Tuckanarra in the '28 Pro Cup Series... they beat the Blue Jays in a 7-game set... Hobbs was voted the Pro Cup MVP that year.

Grand City (44-33) is skippered by Thomas Hall... it's been over two decades since the Cybercats' last division crown... they have never won a Pro Cup and have made the playoffs only 3 times in the club history... they are excited about the team this year... the mound staff is borderline old, but capable... Joel Eaton (11-6/2.76), Jimmy Engels (9-4/3.46) and Rusty Stephens (8-7/3.18) are solid, but need better hitting support, especially in home runs (30th)... Kent Douglas (6-4/1.52/9 saves/32 G) is a fine closer... the only two threats at the plate are All-Star CF Rocky Valverdi (.354 BA/10 HR/29 RBI/48 R/15 SB) and RF Harland Blankenship (.292/1/41/38)... the Cats stuggled in April (11-12), but have played steady and winning baseball since at 33-21... just might stay in the race until the end.

Everybody else in the RU South seem to be in the same mediocre boat, playing for third place at best... at midyear the St. John Crusaders (37-40) were in the third spot, but trailing by 11 games... and the Claxton Diamonds (35-42) were fourth and 13 games behind in the pennant chase.

There's a pretty good race in the Ruthlandian East with last year's champ still on top of the standings... Wynnamac (43-34) has a 3-game edge on second place Elnora (40-37), 5 games better than third place Marston (38-39) and 7 games up on fourth place Cold Creek (36-41) and Belle Plaine (36-41).

Wynnamac manager Jerry Meeks is getting by on his pitching corps... his reliable staff probably makes them the pennant favorite... Meeks has some good ones in Simon Northcutt (11-5/3.31), Garan Parula (7-4/2.84/5 saves/20 G), James Duncan (9-6/2.59) and Sammy Hayes (8-10/3.09)... but he has a shaky bullpen (4.93 ERA) and just an average offense (21st in scoring runs)... the Sundowners' best bats belong to 1B Enos Benham (.343 BA/9 HR/36 RBI/37 R), All-Star C Jethro Bibbs (.308/3/28/40), LF Marv Washburn (.306/6/21/32/8 SB) and CF Dickie Key (.293/7/40/36/6 SB)... 8 times Wynnamac has appeared in the postseason playoffs and they have one Pro Cup trophy to show off... but that was way back in 2008 when the Sundowners defeated the Denton City Redbirds in 6 games, paced by sluggers Big Hoss Burkhalter and Nate Cockcroft and hurlers Skeets Hobart and Lefty Paddison.

The Elnora All-Stars (40-37) possess a hard-hitting attack, but skipper Stan Kivas is severely lacking any kind of pitching (4.49 ERA-27th)... his club is batting .279 (1st) and is ranked 3rd in scoring and 7th in home runs... heading up the torrid batting order are two All-Star performers: RF Donald Ray Mooney (.353 BA/12 HR/56 RBI/42 R) and 1B Gus Abreu (.312/11/49/61)... aided by LF Robb Norwood (.301/9/35/32) and CF Pedro Abreu (.305/7/33/43/6 SB)... the best of the lot on the pitching staff are Wade Mendenhall (8-7/3.93) and Billy Ehrenreich (9-9/4.49)... they are not likely to lead a club to a division title in the IPA... Kivas really need a lot of help on the hill to get back to the playoffs... Elnora hasn't participated since 2035... they have appeared 9 times in the postseason playoffs and captured their one and only Pro Cup in '33, topping the East Point Panthers in 7 games... Kivas was even a 23-year-old rookie hurler on that team, saving three games in relief... he went on to post a 237-203 record in 16 years with the club... other stars were pitchers Jeremy Sellers and Freddy Pfeffer, along with CF Travis Glass, MVP RF Pettis Pentleton and 2B Akihiro Samurakami.

The third place Marston Nine (38-39) under manager Russ Woodward have little hitting this year and are rated 28th in scoring runs, but better-than-average on the mound with a 3.41 team ERA (10th)... the Nine last captured the RU East flag in '47... 7 times they have made the playoffs, but have never won a Pro Cup... and have sadly never come close... not likely to win the division this year either... All-Star C Boomer Merritt (.278 BA/15 HR/52 RBI/42 R) and SS John Rodgers (.269/13/40/32) are the only decent hitters... Snooky Knaup (9-9/2.67) is the only reliable starter with Robert Tringle (4-4/0.88/6 saves/29 G) the best in the bullpen.

Can't see the Elnora All-Stars contending for the division crown this season... ditto for the fourth place Cold Creek Catamounts (36-41) and Belle Plaine Musketeers (36-41)... all of them can put plenty of runs on the scoreboard, but can't hold down the opposition on the hill.

Hall of Fame hurler J. J. Gillespie (294-170/2.46 ERA) is at the helm of the Cold Creek Catamounts... and it was in his playing tenure that the club won 5 division titles in 6 years... they have been to the postseason playoffs 8 times, but never won the Pro Cup, but they came oh so close in '41 when they lost in 7 games to the great North Hills dynasty... Gillespie won 22 games that year at age 35... he also won 19, 20 and 21 in the following three years... Cold Creek's top players are All-Star 3B Joe Cochrane (.319 BA/10 HR/46 RBI/50 R), RF Mel Parnell (.266/19/61/46) and LF Jimmy Lange (.281/12/40/53)... the pitching is so bad, there's nobody worth mentioning.

Former Belle Plaine star shortstop Slick Hammill is in charge of the Musketeers... only one single, solitary time have the Muskies graced the playoffs... that was in ancient times... back in 2009... zilch since, unfortunately... probably will be a few more years or so... could be decades, too... anyway, Hammill has one of the best players in the IPA in All-Star outfielder Lenny Buisson (.335 BA/25 HR/64 RBI/50 R/6 SB)... he pretty much carries the club, but does get some help from a few others like SS Kendell Hanks (.308/8/34/43) and LF Nappy Kiggins (.282/7/36/32)... Belle Plaine is hitting a hot .279 (2nd), 8th in scoring and 5th in roundtrippers with 87 so far... but the pitching is lousy with a 4.46 ERA (26th)... no contender anytime soon.

Last year's Ruthlandian Manager of the Year and IPA Pro Cup champion Ricky Tinker had a splendid season with his Middlefield Roosters (106-48) and they are half way to claiming their fifth Ruthlandian West Division banner... they are still in first place with a sparkling 53-24 mark, 5 games up on runner-up Volusia (48-29) and 6 games better than third place Sligo (47-30)... the Roosters have made the postseason 16 times in the team's history... they first captured the Pro Cup in 2005, getting past the Denton City Redbirds in 5 games, led by some sensational hitters, who walloped 34 homers in the playoffs... in the regular campaign Charlie Gamble led them with 51 homers and 120 RBIs, Ty DeWitt had 39 with 113 ribbies, Bailey Norcross added 32 with 111 RBIs... Cecil Clark went deep 28 times and Allie Ludlow socked 26 out of the park... all total they hammered 221 for the year... last year the current edition of the team won their 2nd Pro Cup trophy and they have a fairly good shot at repeating again this year... Tinker has a powerhouse club with 4 All-Stars, sparked by All-Star LF Rufus Blackburn (.283 BA/33 HR/73 RBI/67 R), All-Star SS Stan Radzikowski (.337/20/56/55), CF Johnny Wyatt (.337/20/60/47) and RF Trip Agarn (.317/14/44/46)... Middlefield has a marvelous mound corps, too, with All-Star James Long (14-4/2.38), All-Star Hollis Dale (11-4/2.46), Carroll Collier (10-6/2.46) and Larry Wheelhouse (9-2/3.74)... the Rooster bullpen could be better... so far, they have been mediocre.

The runner-up Volusia Vigilantes (48-29) are managed by player-manager and catcher Tubby Tarkanian... the V's have made the playoffs 9 times in their past, but not a lot lately... '43 was the last pennant... their only Pro Cup trophy came in the inaugural IPA season in 2001 when Volusia topped the Ginza Ninjas in a 4-game sweep, paced by Scooter Perez, Alejandro Salazar, Jesus Arroyo and Alex Luna at the plate and Raul Sandoval and Tony Bertanzos on the hill... this year Volusia has impressive mound work with an outstanding 2.98 ERA (2nd) and super-duper relief (1st-1.23 ERA)... but the V's have trouble scoring (26th)... Tarkanian's staff is young and talented, Casimiro Ramires (12-5/2.68) is the oldest at 30... All-Star Mateus Branco (12-3/1.98) is 25... Rique Batista (10-7/2.65) is 23... Freddy Lapaz (6-5/3.47) is 24... in the bullpen is standout closer Dan Hunt (0-2/1.27/15 saves/22 G), just 26 years old... the future is bright for Volusia... the V's offense is pathetic, ranking last with 31 homers... CF J. D. Landy (.276 BA/6 HR/42 RBI/46 R/16 SB) is the best they have... SS Xandos Passos (.284/2/32/28) and 2B Pablo Mendoza (.330/1/25/21) help out a little bit, but not much... it will tough for Volusia to compete with juggernaut Middlefield, but they have the pitching to contend for second place.

Third place Sligo (47-39) is skippered by ex-Rover star twirler and Hall-of-Famer Les Patterson (306-230), who toiled mainly from 2017 to 2030 and compiled a great career 2.79 ERA... during his era he led them to 4 division crowns and one Pro Cup title in 2021... the Rovers routed the White River White Sox in 5 games... Patterson was 23-8 in the season with a brilliant 2.03 ERA... in the postseason he was 4-2 with 2.09 ERA in 6 starts... Sligo has made 9 appearances in the postseason playoffs... the last pennant came in 2040... the current club has impressive pitching (7th-3.17 ERA) and average hitting (16th/.268 BA) with little power (25th/46 HR)... All-Star Mickey Walsh (13-4/2.34) and 21-year-old rookie Bruce Belden (11-3/2.51) have been standouts on the hill... 20-year-old closer Tiger Snodgrass (4-6/2.51/10 saves/25 G) has been very good, too... #3 and #4 starters Ayden Evans (8-8/4.34) and Mitch Taylor (6-6/4.16) have had some quality starts, too... Patterson's only reliable bats have been 3B Paddy Durham (.297 BA/10 HR/53 RBI/44 R/6 SB), CF Merle Bliss (.307/6/38/48/15 SB) and 2B Tommy Alberts (.292/3/34/34/7 SB).

Fourth place Forest City (42-35), along with two clubs tied for the fifth spot, Rocky Rapids (41-36) and Colfax (41-36), could challenge for second place in the second half... they all three could get back into that race with Volusia (48-29) and Sligo (47-30)... they have pretty fair ball clubs, too.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

MIDWAY, DENTON CITY, BLUE LAKE, TURON TOP TU RACES
The Midway Wolves have a slight lead over powerhouse East Point in the Tycobbian East this season... the Turon Typhoons are running away with the Tycobbian South again this year... and two clubs in mild surprises are on top of their respective divisions... in the TU North the Blue Lake Blue Sox have a scant one-game lead over last year's flag winner, Oxford... and the Denton City Redbirds are ruling the nest in the Tycobbian West so far... a narrow one-game margin over second place La Claire.

There has been a mild surprise in the Tycobbian North Division this year... the Blue Lake Blue Sox (46-31) came in fifth last season, 10 games under the .500 mark... but this year manager Frankie Quinn's club is giving last season's division winner Oxford (45-32) fits... the Blue Sox have a one-game margin over the Red Caps at midseason... Blue Lake is doing it with a fine pitching staff, both starters and relievers... leading the rotation is Weldon Nettleton (9-6/2.61), Al Easley (9-6/3.05), Miikael Arens (7-3/3.53), Dookie Denham (7-7/3.93) and Dirk Sinclair (7-4/3.44)... solid in the bullpen, too, with Marty Manush (2-4/3.20/12 saves/28 G) and Jaybird Christan (4-1/2.12/3 saves/16 G)... altogether they have posted a 3.19 team ERA (3rd)... at the plate the Blue Sox are poor, batting only .257 (23rd), ranking only 27th in runs scored and 18th in homers with 65... the only two decent batters are 1B Jude Rupp (.330 BA/8 HR/35 RBI/50 R) and C Juan Luis Barcelona (.279/8/28/38)... with such a wimpy attack, it will be hard for Quinn's troops to outdo Oxford... Blue Lake has been to the postseason just 3 times in its history... their last appearance was 23 years ago... but they did haul in their only Pro Cup trophy in 2030 when they pulled a big upset over the Valmara Vipers in 7 games.

The second place Oxford Red Caps (45-32) are doing it with good power and fairly good pitching... All-Star hurler Rudy Mellancamp (15-1/1.93) has been miraculous thus far this year, but is out with an injury for the next few weeks... his return will be crucial to the Red Caps in the pennant race... skipper Dennis Hartwig is frantically trying to piece together a starting rotation... hopefully the blazing bats will keep them near the top... defending division champ Oxford is hitting only .263 (14th), but leads the league with 441 runs (1st) and is 3rd in homers with 99... 3 All-Stars lead the way: RF Wade McGrew (.312 BA/20 HR/66 RBI/42 R), 2B Ethan Cuthbert (.321/14/45/40/9 SB) and CF Dwayne Wagner (.294/12/48/48)... add in LF Ozzy Ackerman's numbers (.242/21/61/69/17 SB) and you've got a pretty good attack... the Red Caps have appeared only 6 times in the postseason playoffs and they have collected one Pro Cup trophy... that came in 2007 when they triumphed over the Stoner Stars in 5 games.

The White River Rascals (41-35) under the guidance of Hall-of-Famer Marty Blake are a better-than-average club and should stay in the pennant chance till the end... they are 5 GB behind at midyear... the Rascals have a .262 BA (17th) with 71 homers (12th) and they are tied for 12th with 374 runs... and about average on the hill with a 3.87 ERA (11th)... Blake's most productive bats are LF Pudge Tate (.266 BA/14 HR/57 RBI/50 R), 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.279/12/42/41/6 SB), 35-year-old long-time star 1B Billy Joe Hickman (.266/10/34/22) and Kunta Burton (.306/1/29/37)... topping the twirlers are Keil Trickett (11-3/3.26), Nicky Palmer (7-8/3.70), Butch Slattery (9-7/4.37) and Glen Horton (8-7/3.99)... White River had a string of pennants from '47 to '51, but slipped to 3rd place in '52 and this season... the Rascals are still looking for their first Pro Cup despite making the Pro Cup Finals 3 times... lost to Sligo in '21... and to Valmara in '49 and '50.

The rest of the Tycobbian North will have to wait until next year... none of them will be contenders this year.... the 4th place North Hills Hawks (38-39) are just fair-to-middling in most respects... the 5th place Fairfax Frogs (34-43) have average hitting and terrible pitching... the 6th place Hartsdale Hellcats (32-45) are pussycats this season, just a crummy ball club, not good at anything... the 7th place Luxora Zorros (31-46) have pretty good pitching, but zilch for bats... and the last place Mahaska Haymakers (29-48) have a lousy offense and even worse pitching.

In the Tycobbian South the Turon Typhoons (51-26) are picking up where they left off last year and continuing to blow and go at an even better pace... manager C. C. Kingsford's club won the Tycobbian South last year by 15 games and they are rolling along again with a 7-game edge at midseason this year over second place Summerland (44-33)... Turon is getting it done with a high-powered scoring machine and average pitching... the Typhoons are batting a lofty .280 (4th) with 411 runs (3rd)... but they come up short on power with only 51 roundtrippers (27th)... the team ERA is 3.92, ranking 13th in the league... Kingsford's line-up is chocked full of solid hitters including five .300 batters: All-Star CF Maxie Mullinax (.321 BA/2 HR/34 RBI/55 R/21 SB), SS Fernando Labrera (.323/2/26/48/19 SB), RF Andy Wilkerson (.325/2 HR/26 RBI/35 R/10 SB) and 2B Gaylen Clive (.314/2 HR/31 RBI/47 R/6 SB)... however, two of the most productive bats are C Doyle Ashcroft (.284/10/62/29) and 3B Joel Guidry (.262/7/41/41)... on the hill the standouts are starters Nate Scottsdale (12-5/2.87) and Glenn Avery (12-6/3.98), along with Russell Mallory (2-2/1.62/5 saves/11 G) in the bullpen... Turon lost a pretty good starter Yancey Hedges (3-1/3.97) early in the season... he might return in August... last year as a rookie Hedges notched a fine 13-8 mark with an impressive 2.83 ERA... so far, so good for the Typhoons... 16 times the team has made the Pro Cup playoffs, but most of them came in the first 20 seasons... Turon is tied for the most Pro Cups with 4, but they all came in the early years... they won in '03, '06, '09 and '18 and lost in '10 and '17 in a fantastic success run... Kingsford would like nothing better than to add a 5th IPA crown to their resume this season.

The second place Summerland Sunsets (44-33) have only made the postseason 4 times in the club's history and have never captured the ultimate goal, the IPA Pro Cup... the closest they came was in 2040 when they were edged out by the Ranford Bulls in 7 games... they had great pitching and lousy hitting that year, just about like this year... a young 23-year-old right-hander Jayson Hallstrom was the ace of the mound staff... at age 36 he's still the ace of the team with a 13-3 record and a fantastic 1.39 ERA... can history repeat?... nope, not likely... this year's staff is not as strong as the '40 rotation (2.83 ERA), but they have a very good 3.12 ERA (2nd)... Tommy Underhill (9-3/3.21) is a solid #2 starter, but the talent drops off thereafter... manager Antonio Vasques has a good bullpen with Rory Poe (4-2/0.80/8 saves/24 G) and Rudy Hilgendorf (3-2/2.48/2 saves/19 G)... a good second half by #3 starter Corey Vinson (7-11/3.57) could get Summerland back in the pennant battle... scoring is the team's biggest shortcoming... they are batting a lowly .249 (31st) with only 29 homers (29th) and just 289 runs (32nd)... the most productive batters are 3B Zane Howe (.275 BA/9 HR/46 RBi/34 R), C Zip Enright (.254/7/33/27), LF Kinky Elkerson (.277/6/30/32) and CF Kleef Woestmann (.267/7/27/21)... contact hitter RF Tony Vargas tops the team with a .348 BA, but has only 2 dingers and 19 RBIs.

In third place in the TU South are the Southport Sun Sox (41-36), managed by Hall-of-Famer outfielder Lorne Evans (.305 BA/701 HR), 12-time All-Star, 5-time Golden Bat and 2-time Golden Glove winner... in his rookie year as skipper, Evans guided the Sun Sox to their 3rd IPA Pro Cup trophy, beating the Middlefield Roosters in a stirring 7-game series in 2047... that was 6 years ago... Southport is currently 3rd in the TU South race with a 41-36 mark, 10 games off the pace... the Sun Sox feature good pitching with a 3.64 ERA (7th) and a fair offense with 342 runs (23rd)... not much power eight with just 57 home runs... top staffers include starters Hal Combs (7-9/3.23) and Champ Shafer (11-8/3.86), along with closer Troy Hill (6-3/2.20/8 saves/20 G)... the team's top gun now in his 2nd season is 21-year-old RF Manuelo Garcia (.348 BA/11 HR/44 RBI/43 R/10 SB)... helping him out are 1B Zee Graham (.286/11/48/42) and LF Chris Jones (.293/1/23/36)... not too many other threats in the batting order... Evans needs more offense to contend for the division crown.

The rest of the clubs in the Tycobbian South will battle it out for third or fourth place... they are all fairly evenly matched... the San Alejo Montaneros (38-39) and Cape Coral Hurricanes (38-39) are tied for the 4th spot in the standings... the Monties are just an average club... the 'Canes need better pitching... the 6th place Colchester Elites (37-40) are similar to San Alejo... the 7th place Arroyo Grande Suns (35-42) top the Tycobbian Union with 108 homers, but has little else in the batting order, plus terrible pitching... the Ginza Ninjas (32-45) are at the bottom of the barrel in the Tycobbian South... a strange team with a real fine offensive attack, but an absolutely horrendous pitching corps... the Ninjas are hitting at a torrid .283 clip (2nd) and scoring at the rate of 395 runs (6th), but have an atrocious 5.15 team ERA (32nd), the second worst in the entire IPA this season... only the LaGrange Sports of the Ruthlandian North are worse with a horrible 5.21 ERA.

This season in the Tycobbian East Division the Midway Wolves (51-26) have turned the tables on last year's pennant-winning East Point Panthers (47-30)... the Middies have a 4-game lead midway through the season over the high-octane Panther ball club... that's how good Midway is this year... last year they wound up 5 games behind East Point... this season they are the top team with a standout 2.79 ERA (1st) and the Wolves also hit the heck out of the ball, batting .282 (3rd), rank 10th in scoring with 385 runs and 13th in homers with 69... on the mound All-Star Charlie Chase (15-4/2.29), All-Star Will Deberry (14-3/2.57) and Beau McCloud (10-6/3.17) are pitching lights-outs baseball... add in newcomer to the rotation Yank Atchley (4-3/2.31) and manager Bobby Dorignac has quite a staff... his bullpen is solid, too... at the plate doing the heavy-duty work are All-Star SS Kax Clark (.361 BA/8 HR/47 RBI/55 R/7 SB), LF Lew Dillinger (.351/3/21/38/10 SB) and RF Daryl Vale (.339/6/28/25) with help from 1B Tom Goodnight (.301/7/38/41) and CF Ernesto Diaz (.278/9/30/47/16 SB)... plus 3B Jamey Southwick (.244/13/44/28) has been a pretty good power and RBI guy... Midway is for real... East Point beware.

East Point (47-30) can put runs on the boards, but they only have average pitching... skipper Frank Blair's club is carrying a modest .263 BA (15th), but has scored 418 runs (2nd) and hit 91 out of the park (5th)... his main bats are 1B Alvaro Cavacos (.297 BA/15 HR/47 RBI/40 R/11 SB), C Kenny Bailey (.289/14/47/40) and All-Star 3B Justin McRae (.308/7/36/52/8 SB)... slugging RF Doug Dennhardt (.240/18/42/27) can also get you a run in a hurry, too... on the hill the Panthers have posted a so-so 3.95 ERA (15th)... Blair has a quality rotation with Ralph Wallace (11-6/3.29), Benny Allen (8-8/3.77) and Chip Dowler (9-4/4.04)... he needs a reliable #4 man in the mix... Pudgy Putman (5-1/2.12/7 saves/23 G) is a fine closer and heads up a good bullpen... East Point will have a tough fight to overtake Midway in the second half... the Wolves are getting better as the season moves along... not so, the Panthers.

The Tuckanarra Blue Jays (42-35) are in the third spot in the TU North standings, 9 games off the pace of Midway (51-26)... Tucks skipper Junior Bristow has a fine staff with starters All-Star Dickie Pittman (11-6/2.63), rookie Terence Gargan (9-5/3.05), Ozzie Leslie (5-10/3.56) and Daku Dundee (7-2/3.81)... his bullpen is pretty sharp, too, with the likes of Paul Landale (2-2/2.64/12 saves/28 G)... the Blue Jays' main weakness is the offense... they are ranked 28th in scoring with just 330 runs... batting .263 (16th) with only 64 roundtrippers (19th-tied)... Tuckanarra could compete with Midway and East Point if it could score more runs with better regularity... the Tucks' top guns are CF Harv Bannerman (.296 BA/14 HR/29 RBI/50 RBI/21 SB), All-Star 1B Rodger Parsons (.359/8/33/34), RF Jay Jay Batchelor (.288/9/36/34) and 3B Newt Crutchfield (.300/6/41/29)... not too much in the batting order otherwise... no division title for Tuckanarra this year... the last one came in '48... the Blue Jays have graced the postseason playoffs 18 times in a storied history, winning 3 Pro Cups: 2023 over Valmara in 6 games... 2024 over Sugar Valley in a 4-game sweep ... and 2034 over Elnora in another sweep... in addition the Tucks made the Finals in '13, losing to powerhouse Far Mountain in 4 games and to Waleska in 7 games in '28.

The remaining 5 clubs in the Tycobbian North are probably all playing for 4th place... it's not likely any of them can catch the top three teams... the South Fork Stallions (38-39) may have the best prospects for the last spot in the first division because of a fairly good pitching staff... the Red Bluff Red Sox (35-42), High Mesa Mustangs (35-42) and Hillsboro Blazers (33-44) can hit homers, but can't get a lot of people out... and the Ozarka Naturals (33-44) are just mediocre on the mound and at the plate.

In the Tycobbian West Division the Denton City Redbirds (46-31) have done a complete about face this year... ditto the second place La Claire Lynx (45-32), the third place Chicopee Braves (39-38) and the fourth place Bayview Vikings (38-39)... in another complete reversal, the good teams last year have fizzled, flopped and fallen into the second division... last year's winner Kenwood (37-40) has slipped to fifth place... Arlon (35-42), Bay St. Clair (35-42) and Rolling Hills (31-46) are all deep in the doldrums this season, after being in the top four teams last year.

The top team, the Denton City Redbirds' (46-31) mound corps regained their magic after collapsing last year and finishing sixth (67-87) in the standings... at midseason this year manager Pete Gibbs' pitchers have chalked up a fine 3.21 ERA (4th), lowering it from a poor 4.38 ERA last year... the Redbirds still can rip the ball and rank 4th in scoring runs... everything is coming up rosy for the Redbirds... Flash Stringfellow (13-5/2.18), Harry Elliott (8-5/2.72/5 saves/27 G), Johnny Wingate (9-4/2.86) and Jayson Manning (8-9/3.40) are a formidable foursome... topping the Redbird batters are RF Tristan Redgrave (.373 BA/11 HR/38 RBI/45 R/8 SB), SS Vincent McCloud (.307/8/40/56/5 SB) and 3B Ronny Lambert (.300/5/35/47) with quite a bit of help from longballers CF Harper Catlow (.206/15/41/48/9 SB) and 1B Val Anniston (.274/11/35/43)... Denton City looks to be the best team in the division this year... it will take quite a club to beat them out in the chase for the TU West pennant... the Redbirds were a power in the early days of the IPA, making the postseason 8 times in the first 13 seasons and making the Pro Cup Finals in 2005, falling to the Middlefield Roosters... in 2008 Denton City lost to the Wynnamac Sundowners in 6 games... since then, they have only the 2040 pennant to show for the last four decades... the Redbirds might be a force in the playoffs this year.

La Claire had an awful season in 2052, finishing in the TU West cellar with a terrible 58-96 record... this year the surprising Lynx (45-32) have been running neck-and-neck with Denton City (46-31), trailing by just one game at the All-Star break... manager Flash Devlin's doing it with a .291 team BA (1st)... still they rank only 11th in scoring with 380 runs... the Lynx have hit only 60 homers (24th)... pitching is a problem for Devlin with a 4.23 ERA (26th), not exactly the quality of pitching for a bonafide contender... yet La Claire is right up there at the top of the standings... not likely to stay that way in the second half... could battle for the runner-up spot... it's been years since the Lynx have appeared in postseason play... the last pennants came in '37 and '38... only made the playoffs 4 times total... never close to winning a Pro Cup trophy... add another year to the long drought.

In a rebound year the third place Chicopee Braves (39-38) are 7 games back of Denton City (46-31)... last season the Braves wound up 5th with a 72-82 mark... this year they can also hit the ball, but lack good pitching... manager Augie Meaux's club is batting .269 (11th), is 7th in scoring with 390 runs, but only has 61 roundtrippers (23rd)... not so good on the hill with a 4.12 ERA (21st)... the Braves' most productive batters are 2B Tex Whatley (.256 BA/18 HR/60 RBI/45 R) and SS Derrell Stelly (.250/11/32/31), but they don't hit for average... Chicopee's best contact hitters are LF Adam Maxson (.326/5/26/29), CF Rico Visaggi (.324/2/31/32/4 SB) and RF Travis Ledger (.304/2/23/24)... top pitchers are starter Sharlon Barbour (9-8/3.21) and closer Chipper Gilton (4-2/1.67/10 saves/27 G)... third may be the best the Braves can do... the Braves also have a sparse history of success in the IPA with just 3 playoff appearances... 3 years in a row... '34, '35 and '36... still seeking their first Pro Cup... not gonna happen in '53.

Last year Bayview stumbled in seventh in the standings at a dismal 65-89... in a fine turnaround, the Bayview Vikings (38-39) are currently fourth in the Tycobbian West and 8 games behind first place Denton City (46-31)... IPA all-time home-run leader Jerry Culpepper is in charge of the club now... and they can go deep... 80 homers (9th)... and they can score really well with 406 runs (5th), but the pitching is non-existent with a pitiful 4.73 ERA (31st)... forget about winning the pennant, but first division might be possible... it's been 37 years since Bayview won a pennant... all 6 of the postseason appearances came in the club's first 16 seasons... never managed a Pro Cup title in its history... this season the Vikings could wind up as high as second due to its potent attack.

Kenwood manager Babe Hankins had a fine year last year, winning the TU West flag... not so this season... both his offense and pitching deserted him in the first half of the year... his Kenwood Wildcats (37-40) have dropped to fifth place and are 9 games off the pace... they are playing better the last two months, so there's still hope for a decent season... Kenwood has both a lackluster offense (18th) and mound staff (23rd)... top performers at the plate are 37-year-old superstar C Corky DiNozzo (.338 BA/9 HR/31 RBI/30 R), SS Kiko Vidal (.295/7/49/38/5 SB), LF William Gloucester (.340/7/32/29/5 SB) and 3B Bailey Brumley (.287/3/33/3/3 SB)... the club leader in homers is CF Chris McNeal with 10, but he is batting a lowly .217... not much in the gas tank after these guys... starters Rusty Bradford (9-8/3.88), Tony Myerson (5-10/3.17) and Elian Verjano (4-2/5.26) have all declined this season... last year Bradford was 20-13 with an impressive 2.92 ERA, Myerson 19-11 with a 3.12 ERA and Verjano was 15-11 with a 3.53 ERA... what a difference a year makes... the Wildcats have chalked up 7 pennants since 2040... they have made the playoffs 10 times and have captured one Pro Cup championship... that was back in 2014, when Kenwood got the best of the Belair Beach Sunbirds in a 7-game series... the talent is still there... if Hankins can get his pitching staff straight, the Wildcats could end up a high as second place... it could happen.

Only last place Rolling Hills (31-46) is out of the running for the first division... 6th place Bay St. Clair (35-42) has a pretty fair attack (8th), but lacks pitching (22nd)... Arlon (35-42) no longer has the standout mound staff they possessed when they captured its only Pro Cup trophy in 2051, but it might be able to get up into the first division this year... the Champions surprised everybody in the Islands, when they were the upset Pro Cup winner... they were picked last in the Pro Cup predictions that year and still won the title... Arlon defeated Waleska in 5 games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

2053 RUTHLANDIAN UNION MIDSEASON BATTING AND PITCHING LEADERBOARD

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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

2053 TYCOBBIAN UNION MIDSEASON BATTING AND PITCHING LEADERBOARD

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2053 Midseason Ruthlandian Union Team Batting Statistics
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

2053 Midseason Ruthlandian Union Team Pitching Statistics
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

2053 Midseason Tycobbian Union Team Batting Statistics
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

2053 Midseason Tycobbian Union Team Pitching Statistics
Tuesday, July 1, 2053

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

FEW PENNANT RACES IN IPA THIS YEAR
Tight finishes, down-to-the wire duels, intense stretch drives were nowhere to be found in the Islandian Pro Alliance this year... 6 of the 8 divisions were no contest at all... only the Ruthlandian South and Tycobbian West had any kind of pennant chases... the rest were runaways... and dominant teams continued to dominate their divisions.

For the second straight season the Taranto Tars (103-51) easily manhandled the Ruthlandian North Division, winning by a whopping 20 games over the second place Ancona Red Elephants (83-71), 22 better than the third place Ranford Bulls (81-73) and 23 games ahead of the fourth place Valmara Vipers (80-74)... the Tars built up an 8-game margin over the Bulls at the All-Star Game and never looked back, winning in a walkover.

At least in the Ruthlandian South Division there was a season-long battle for the pennant... the Waleska Westerners (90-64) held off the clinging Grand City Cybercats (85-69) by 5 games... the Westerners have won the division the last three years... the St. John Crusaders (79-75) came in third and the Belair Beach Sunbirds (76-78) wound up in the fourth spot, a distant 11 and 14 games off the pace respectively.

In the Ruthlandian East Division the Wyannamac Sundowners (89-65) had a cakewalk in the second half of the year, defeating the runner-up Elnora All-Stars (78-76) by 11 games... they were the only two division clubs to top the .500 mark... the WMACS copped the division for the second successive season... in the final standings in spot number three was the Marston Nine (75-79), 14 GB... followed by the fourth place Cold Creek Catamounts (74-80), 15 games behind in the race... the All-Stars, Nine, Cats and Belle Plaine Musketeers stayed relatively close until the middle of the season, then faded in the second half... midway in the year the Sundowners led Elnora by only 3 games, Marston by 5 and the Catamounts and Muskies by 7.

The current Pro Cup titleholder, the Middlefield Roosters (99-55) won their 5th consecutive division flag and will defend their laurels again in the postseason playoffs after stomping everybody in sight in the Ruthlandian West Division... the Roosters rambled to a 9-game margin over the second place Sligo Rovers (90-64)... they had a 15-game bulge over the third place Rocky Rapids Snappers (84-70) and were 20 games in front of the Forest City Firebirds (79-75) in spot number four... the fifth place Volusia Vigilantes (76-78) and Rovers stayed in the hunt until midyear, then fell back... the V's trailed by 5 games at the All-Star game, while Sligo was 6 games out.

The Oxford Red Caps (91-63) roared to a second straight Tycobbian North Division title in a waltz, topping the runner-up White River Rascals (80-74) by 11 games... third place went to the Blue Lake Blue Sox (76-78) and the North Hills Hawks (76-78), who were tied, 15 games back in the race... the Blue Sox had a one-game edge over the Red Caps at midseason, but couldn't keep up the pace in the second half of the year... the Rascals were 5 games behind at the halfway mark and the Hawks were 8 games out.

For awhile the Turon Typhoons (101-53) had a mild challenge from Summerland (82-72) in the Tycobbian South Division, but the Sunsets sputtered out after the mid-year mark ... the Typhoons expanded their lead from 7 games to a humongous 19 games and won in a gigantic blowout... it's the second year in a row Turon has taken the division flag in a rout... they won by 15 games last year... 22 games behind and tied for the third spot in the division were the Southport Sun Sox (79-74) and the San Alejo Montaneros (79-74).

There was a pretty fair tussle in the Tycobbian East Division... champion Midway (100-54) only had a 4-game lead over last year's winner East Point (90-64) at the halfway mark, but the Wolves went on a tear in the second half and put the Panthers away by 10 games... the South Fork Stallions (83-71) finished third in the race, 17 GB... and the Tuckanarra Blue Jays (81-73) ended up in the fourth spot, 19 GB.

There was a decent four-club free-for-all in the Tycobbian West Division with Denton City (89-65) beating off the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (83-71) by 6 games, the La Claire Lynx (81-73) by 8 and the Chicopee Braves (80-74) by 9 games... at midseason the Redbirds only had a scant one-game edge over the Lynx.

The 2053 IPA Pro Cup playoffs will get started this Wednesday afternoon at four sites around the Islands... in the Ruthlandian Union it will be reigning Pro Cup champion Middlefield (99-55) hosting the Wynnamac Sundowners (89-65) at Middlefield Park and Taranto (103-51) tangling with the Waleska Westerners (90-64) at the Palazzo di Sport... over in the Tycobbian Union Midway (100-54) will entertain the Denton City Redbirds (89-65) at Joe Wolf Stadium and Turon (101-53) will welcome the Oxford Red Caps (91-63) to Typhoon Stadium... the first two games will be played at these venues and then will switch to the visitors' ballparks for the next three games, if they are needed.

2053 Ruthlandian Union Final Player Batting and Pitching Leaderboards

CLICK ON LEADERBOARDS TO ENLARGE IMAGE

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

TARS TEAR UP RU NORTH, 2ND STRAIGHT FLAG
The Taranto Tars sailed to their second straight division title in the Ruthlandian North Division, running up an IPA-best 103 victories and tearing up everything sight... manager Augie Marshall has a high-octane attack that walloped 244 homers, coming within 2 of the Ruthlandian record, set in 2006 by the Tars with 246... the Red Bluff Red Sox of the Tycobbian Union hold the all-time mark with 283 roundtrippers, set in 2045.

TARANTO TARS
This Year: 1st Place (103-51)
Last Year: 1st Place (99-55)
2 Years Ago: 5th Place (82-72) (22 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 6 (2052) (lost to Pro Cup titlist Middlefield in LCS in 7 games)
Pro Cups: (1) 2015 (defeated Bay St. Clair in 5 games)

Team Stats: .274 BA (5th)/774 runs (3rd)/244 HR (1st)/3.05 ERA (4th)/.978 FA (very good defense)

Top Batters: CF Renzo Caruso (.276 BA/37 HR/85 RBI/87 R/18 SB), C Niccolo Parisi (.278/30/73/60), LF Kuma Toyota (.319/29/73/51), All-Star 3B Gaetano Palombo (.311/18/61/78) and 1B Phil Wilson (.270/17/57/87)

Top Pitchers: starters Armani Pizziconi (25-9/3.09), Freddy De Angelis (.17-12/3.17), Mario Martinelli (16-7/3.61), Valerio Rossi (15-9/2.88) and Jaron Montague (14-4/3.31)... reliever Louie Toscano (3-4/2.13/17 saves/36 G)

Forecast: talented team all-around... the Tars easily won the division in spite of losing 23-winner Phil Castle (5-3/2.99) for the season in May... Castle was the '52 MVP, Golden Arm and Rookie of the Year... Taranto should be a big force in the postseason playoffs... could be a thorn to Middlefield's repeat Pro Cup aspirations... the Ruthlandian League Championship Series could be a humdinger if the Tars and Roosters win first-round matches against Waleska and Wynnamac.

Ancona Red Elephants
This Year: 2nd Place (83-71) (20 GB)
Last Year: 7th Place (69-85) (30 GB)
2 Years Ago: 8th Place (57-97) (47 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 5 (last time 2022)
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .259 BA (25th)/654 runs (24th)/107 HR (22nd)/3.63 ERA (13th)/.975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: 1B Raul Suarez (.278 BA/17 HR/70 RBI/53 R), RF Denver Banton (.268/15/60/51), LF Woodrow Doss (.277/13/58/80/13 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Hank Worsley (22-10/3.76), Roger Kostas (14-15/3.79), Benjie Scaggs (12-143/38)... relievers Kasey Tharp (7-7/1.82/23 saves/51 G), Kylan Hamilton (2-2/2.24/6 saves/37 G), Vince Atkins (6-3/1.16/6 saves/34 G)

Forecast: much improved this season... manager Alekos Kotas still needs better bats to get into the pennant hunt... not close to Taranto yet.

Ranford Bulls
This Year: 3rd Place (81-73) (22 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (83-71) (16 GB)
2 Years Ago: 3rd Place (100-54) (4 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 7 (last time 2041)
Pro Cups: 1 (2040... beat Summerland Sunsets in 7 games)

Team Stats: .265 BA (18th)/697 runs (16th)/129 HR (13th)/3.58 ERA (12th)/.975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: 2B Don Connell (.268 BA/25 HR/101 RBI/84 R), 1B Virgil Belisle (.307/16/73/67), CF Joey Hawkins (.304/15/61/77/20), LF Zach Isom (.297/15/68/88/4 SB), RF Rory O'Herlihy (.283/15/65/61/3 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters All-Star Ralph Hawk (22-9/2.54), Dutch Hawood (12-14/3.52), Neil Martin (12-12/4.08), Todd Cole (10-17/4.25)... reliever Martin Futch (10-10/2.97/25 saves/64 G)

Forecast: skipper Kyle Hunt has a better-than-average team... first division club for sure... could be as high a second-best in the RU North.

Valmara Vipers
This Year: 4th Place (80-74) (23 GB)
Last Year: 2nd Place (94-60) (5 GB)
2 Years Ago: 1st (104-50)
Playoff Appearances: 20 (last time in 2050... won Pro Cup... whipped White River Rascals in 4-game sweep)
Pro Cups: 4 (2026, 2043, 2049, 2050)

Team Stats: .263 BA (20th), 685 runs (19th), 114 HR (18th), 3.14 ERA (5th), .981 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: C Karol Koska (.263 BA/26 HR/81 RBI/62 R), LF Boyd Holmes (.306/20/71/95/4 SB), 3B Jorge Aparicio (.315/8/63/70/14 SB), SS Ken Jensen (.278/7/61/78/21 SB), CF Don Ritchie (.276/5/58/60/11 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Darus Grajek (19-9/2.73), Primo Sirak (17-13/2.54), Darek Polaski (14-20/3.32)

Forecast: manager Vanya Vasylenko still has a solid starting rotation, but the bullpen has slipped from the banner years when the Vipers copped 7 division flags and 3 Pro Cups in 11 years... bats and offense have slipped much, too... not the dominant club they used to be... still capable of finishing anywhere from 2nd to 4th... no longer in Taranto's class.

Far Mountain Redhawks
This Year: 5th Place (79-75) (24 GB)
Last Year: 6th Place (75-79) (24 GB)
2 Years Ago: 7th Place (73-81) (31 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 14 (last time in 2047... fell in 6 games to Pro Cup finalist Middlefield in LCS
Pro Cups: 3 (2011, 2012, 2013)

Team Stats: .254 BA (28th)/671 runs (21st)/119 HR (17th)/3.63 ERA (14th)/.975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: CF Ox Gless (.290 BA/23 HR/86 RBI/88 R/16 SB), LF Frankie Neill (.271/30/80/81)

Top Pitchers: starters Benny Van (17-16/2.75), Tony Charles (13-10/3.25), Ryan Kolb (13-19/3.98)... relievers Sid Michaels (3-0/2.53/12 saves/58 G), Brian Townsend (6-5/2.70/12 saves/40 G), Jack McKinney (9-8/4.11/13 saves/70 G)

Forecast: Far Mountain manager Robby Kelly only has a fair-to-middling club, 4th or 5th place at best... has fairly good pitching, but nothing but weak bats... 5th place at best... might squeeze into the first division in the 4th spot.

Kilkenny Cats
This Year: 6th Place (78-76) (25 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (81-73) (18 GB)
2 Years Ago: 6th Place (78-76) (26 GB)
Playoff Appearances: Kilkenny has only made the postseason one time in its history... that was in 2042 when they lost to Pro Cup finalist Colfax in a sweep in the LCS.
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .249 BA (31st), 713 runs (10th), 156 HR (6th), 3.65 ERA (15th), .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: All-Star 1B Ryan Reagan (.280 BA/27 HR/106 RBI/78 R), LF Michael Murray (.253/26/76/67/16 SB), 3B Jorge Collazo (.301/17/67/87), SS Ray Vayda (.246/13/59/95/24 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Glen Caswell (18-17/3.33), Dewayne Hague (16-16/2.98), Braydon Washbourne (15-13/4.08)... reliever Larry Burke (3-3/2.77/15 saves/51 G)

Forecast: Cats' skipper Kevin McLaglen needs more contact hitters... still scores well with home-run power... just average mound work... just a middle of the pack team.

Glasco Athletics
This Year: 7th Place (72-82) (31 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (80-74) (19 GB)
2 Years Ago: 2nd Place (101-53) (3 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (last appearance was in 2045... were defeated in the LCS in 6 games by Pro Cup champ Sugar Valley)
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .259 BA/23rd), 571 runs (32nd), 104 HR (23rd), 3.50 ERA (10th), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: batting crown winner LF Callum Slattery (.338 BA/11 HR/72 RBI/72 R/16 SB), SS Ross McFalls (.278/25/82/67/6 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Pat Meyers (17-15/4.09), Evan Walsh (16-17/2.89), Benny McDaniel (15-21/3.46), Harry Hadland (11-18/3.43)... reliever Takae Kawamura (3-2/2.73/6 saves/33 G)

Forecast: A's manager Charles Darby has a good rotation that posted 101 wins just three years ago in '51, but the batters can't hit a lick... until that changes, that will keep Glasco near the bottom of the heap in the Ruthlandian North.

LaGrange Sports
This Year: 8th Place (57-97) (46 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (54-100) (45 GB)
2 Years Ago: 4th Place (85-69) (19 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 6 (2037 was the most recent year... LaGrange was eliminated by Pro Cup champ Waleska in first-round play in 5 games.
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .249 BA (32nd), 595 runs (31st), 120 HR (15th-tied), 4.78 ERA (32nd), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: CF Bobby Rousseau (.278 BA/15 HR/61 RBI/77 R/8 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Rodger Gagnier (15-15/3.89)

Forecast: manager Mike York just has a bad ball club... very little talent... will have trouble getting out of the cellar.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 9, 2053

The Ruthlandian South Division was one of the few close races in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season... the Waleska Westerners (90-64) rode to their 3rd straight division crown, holding off the scrappy Grand City Cybercats (85-69) by 5 games... the Cybercats clung close the entire year... a September swoon did them in... they went 8-12 the final month, while the Westerners rambled off victoriously into the sunset with a 13-7 mark down the stretch... the only other division rival with a winning record was the third place St. John Crusaders (79-75), trailing by 11 games... fourth place went to the Belair Beach Sunbirds (76-78), 14 games off the pace.

WALESKA WESTERNERS
This Year: 1st Place (90-64)
Last Year: 1st Place (90-64)
2 Years Ago: 1st Place (87-67)
Playoff Appearances: 9 (last 3 years, '51, '52... lost to Taranto in 6 games last season)
Pro Cups: 3 (2028, 2037, 2039)... lost to Arlon in '51 finals in 5 games

Team Stats: .276 BA (3rd), 691 runs (18th), 82 HR (30th), 3.16 ERA (6th), .971 FA (fair to average defense)

Top Batters: 2B Richie Fry (.331 BA/1 HR/42 RBI/66 R/15 SB), SS Jingo Jernigan (.303/8/65/92/28 SB), LF Zip McHan (.300/9/54/52), 3B Hisashi Yamaguchi (.289/3/57/61/3 SB), 1B Rob Rice (.282/8/50/40)

Top Pitchers: starters Vince Gibson (25-11/2.57), Kenny Foster (20-12/3.11), Trey Earnest (13-10/3.18) and Lou Carlson (11-15/3.45)... bullpen Niles Nielsen (3-0/1.70 4 saves/23 G)

Forecast: Westerner skipper Roy Hobbs has solid staff, but is short on scoring and longballs... also has to beat two of the top clubs in the IPA to get out of the Ruthlandian Union into the Pro Cup Finals... Taranto and Middlefield are first-class powers... Waleska just might be the fourth-best team in the Ruthlandian Union.

Grand City Cybercats
This Year: 2nd Place (89-55) (5 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (81-73) (9 GB)
2 Years Ago: 5th Place (tie) (70-84) (17 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (most recent was in 2030... in first round fell to Pro Cup runner-up Valmara in 6 games)
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .271 BA (7th), 719 runs (8th), 76 HR (31st), 3.44 ERA (9th), .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: All-Star CF Rocco Valverdi (.318 BA/16 HR/57 RBI/85 R/24 SB), 3B Scott McIntyre (.307/9/70/64/7 SB), RF Harland Blankenship (.303/1/59/73/5 SB), SS Randy Littleton (.283/7/63/75/4 SB), LF Dave Durocher (.277/12/74/79/9 SB), 1B Zane Faulkner (.274/3/85/51), 2B Laney Carrigan (.275/1/64/56/12 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Joel Eaton (21-13/2.83), Roy Tuthill (16-17/3.11), Frank Long (15-8/3.67), Jimmy Engels (10-9/4.02), bullpen Kent Douglas (9-5/2.23/15 saves/56 G)

Forecast: manager Thomas Hall has a good club, quality staff, but lacks power in the lineup... should be a pennant contender for the coming seasons... has young club... but no threat in the postseason yet... not as good as Waleska yet.

St. John Crusaders
This Year: 3rd Place (79-75) (11 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (66-88) (24 GB)
2 Years Ago: 2nd Place (82-72) (5 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (last playoff appearance was in '50... was swept by powerhouse Valmara lost in first round... the Vipers won IPA crown that season
Pro Cups: None (went to the Finals in 2036 and fell in 6 games to juggernaut North Hills, who copped 4 Pro Cup from '34 to '38)

Team Stats: .263 BA (22nd), 720 runs (7th), 97 HR (27th), 3.67 ERA (16th), .980 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: 2B Herbie Gruen (.294 BA/15 HR/79 RBI/80 R/8 SB), CF Cris Hershey (.294/13/70/71/4 SB), LF Chuck Coltharpe (.301/12/61/54/10 SB), RF Nolan Cramer (.309/7/52/57/8 SB), 3B Derek McKendrick (.278/6/73/71/13 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Zeke Yoder (17-9/2.88), John Dickinson (15-17/3.78), Teddy de Grun (14-16/3.66)... not a lot in the bullpen

Forecast: Crusader manager Nicky Farrugia only has so-so talent... just a run-of-the-mill club... can score, but has no firepower.. not likely to challenge for division flag anytime soon.

Belair Beach Sunbirds
This Year: 4rd Place (76-78) (14 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (tie) (70-84) (20 GB)
2 Years Ago: 7th Place (68-86) (19 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (last made the postseason in '47 (84-70)... eliminated in first round by Far Mountain (101-53)
Pro Cups: None (reached the Finals in 2014... lost to the Kenwood Wildcats in 7 games)

Team Stats: .259 BA (24th), 711 runs (11th), 101 HR (24th-tied), 3.55 ERA (11th), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: LF Andy Williams (.304 BA/4 HR/73 RBI/78 R/10 SB), 1B Shannon Stewart (.282/8/67/73), All-Star 2B Alvaro Abreu (.291/5/42/90/12 SB), 3B Rusty Van Slyke (.294/8/68/39)

Top Pitchers: starters Tommy Hester (18-17/3.36), Glen Long (14-8/3.79), Kevin Tolbert (12-17/3.40), Jeffrey Verblen (11-17/3/65)... bullpen Tom Cook (6-7/3.06/15 saves/56 G)

Forecast: Sunbird skipper Bob Meusel just has a ho-hum team... will have to have better pitching and more firepower to contend for division pennant... probably won't happen soon.

Valka Blackhawks
This Year: 5th Place (75-79) (15 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (81-73) (9 GB)
2 Years Ago: 5th Place (tie) (70-84) (17 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 4 (years ago was last time in 2017... were toppled by eventual Pro Cup winner, the Eastshore Elegants... were swept by a really fine team that won two consecutive Pro Cups)
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .252 BA (29th), 649 runs (26th-tied), 112 HR (19th), 3.78 ERA (18th), .979 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: RF Mel Shadwell (.287 BA/17 HR/112 RBI/73 R/10 SB), CF Artie Marciano (.309/15/101/65/7), 3B Corey Belk (.302/7/49/77/14 SB)

Top Pitchers: Maksim Moroz (14-14/3.17), Ilmar Olesk (13-14/3.77), Arvi Tamm (13-14/3.99), Adrian Stenhouse (12-16/3.83)... not much of a bullpen

Forecast: Blackhawk manager Arno Vainmaa doesn't have much offense and only a lackluster pitching staff... just a second division club... might be capable of contending for the fourth spot in the RU South standings.

Claxton Diamonds
This Year: 6th Place (67-87) (23 GB)
Last Year: 6th Place (70-84) (20 GB)
2 Years Ago: 3rd Place (tie) (74-80) (13 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 14 (most recent pennant was in '49... lost to IPA winner Valmara in 5 games in first round that year... won 4 flags in 5 seasons '45 to '49)
Pro Cups: None (got to Pro Cup Finals in '47, but lost to the Rolling Hills Reds in 5 games)

Team Stats: .266 BA (12th), 694 runs (17th), 147 HR (8th), 4.53 ERA (29th), .966 FA (poor defense)

Top Batters: All-Star 2B Jojo DeLucca (.276 BA/22 HR/74 RBI/88 R/4 SB), RF Jimmy John Ramsey (.277/21/76/53/5 SB), 1B Reece Somerset (.261/19/80/76), CF Kyler Riley (.343/14/43/60/7 SB), C Sid Fitzgerald (.290/13/62/49), LF Konrad Neumann (.284/12/47/67/17 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Claus Antoon (10-18/4.06)... bullpen Ramon Santos (4-3/2.59/11 saves/38 G)

Forecast: Claxton skipper Jojo DeLucca, a playing manager, doesn't have much in the way of players... no pitching at all... not much offense... lousy fielding... but the team hits with some punch... destined for the second division for awhile.

Crystal Lake Skippers
This Year: 7th Place (66-88) (24 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (tie) (70-84) (20 GB)
2 Years Ago: 8th Place (65-89) (22 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 10 (last postseason play was in '44... defeated in 7 games in the LCS by Wynnamac... the Sundowners dropped a 7-game Pro Cup Finals to the Southport Sun Sox... Crystal Lake captured 3 division crowns from '40 to '44.
Pro Cups: 2 (2020... whipped Ozarka Naturals in 5 games... 2022... topped Midway Wolves in 5 games)

Team Stats: .272 BA (6th), 666 runs (22nd-tied), 144 HR (9th), 4.39 ERA (25th), .972 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: SS Gib Conlan (.293 BA/24 HR/67 RBI/62 R), LF Zippy Coburn (.308/16/61 55/6 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Steve Leslie (17-16/3.94)... bullpen Josh Crosby (7-10/3.73/28 saves/63 G)

Forecast: manager Duncan Welch has a tough row to hoe... dim future for the Skippers... more of the second division... not much good except for some good pop in the bats... little else.

San Dimas Rancheros
This Year: 8th Place (59-95) (31 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (tie) (70-84) (20 GB)
2 Years Ago: 3rd Place (tie) (74-80) (13 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 4 (last appeared in postseason in 2041... beaten by the Ranford Bulls in the first round in 7 games
Pro Cups: None (never have reached the Finals... lost in first round all 4 years in the playoffs)

Team Stats: .266 BA (16th), 649 runs (26th-tied), 120 HR (15th-tied), 4.44 ERA (28th), .970 FA (fair defense)

Top Batters: SS Mickey Booth (.320 BA/22 HR/87 RBI/72 R), LF Wesley Quinton (.308/7/61/64/15 SB), RF Gilberto Gallardo (.263/21/79/79), CF Johnny Locke (.298/4/38/68/16 SB), 2B Eduardo Ortiz (.267/15/70/59), 1B Joaquin Vargas (.283/14/51/45)

Forecast: Ranchero manager Shannon White appears to have the worst team in the RU South... weak pitching, mediocre offense, some power and just fair defensively... San Dimas needs a lot of improvement in a lot of places... will remain near the bottom of the standings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

WMACS WIN 2ND STRAIGHT RU EAST FLAG
There was race in the Ruthlandian East Division, but for only half a season... the Wynnamac Sundowners wound up winning in a romp, but they were tested by four other clubs in the first half of the campaign, then they all fizzled and faded out... Wynnamac (89-65) strolled to the division flag 11 games ahead of the second place Elnora All-Stars (78-76), 14 better than third place Marston (75-79) and 15 games in front of fourth place Cold Creek (74-80) and Belle Plaine (74-80)... the RU East is one of the weaker divisions in the Islandian Pro Alliance... just two clubs possess a winning record.

WYNNAMAC SUNDOWNERS
This Year: 1st Place (89-65)
Last Year: 1st Place (95-59)
2 Years Ago: 3rd Place (85-69) (18 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (most recently lost in the first round last year to Pro Cup winner Middlefield in 6 games)
Pro Cups: 1 (only IPA crown came in 2008... beat Denton City in 6-game series... also reached the Finals in 2044, but were defeated the Southport Sun Sox in 7 games)

Team Stats: .270 BA (9th), 705 runs (13th), 100 HR (26th), 3.03 ERA (2nd), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: CF Dickie Key (.299 BA/21 HR/96 RBI/80 R/10 SB), 1B Enos Benham (.352/13/60/76/4 SB), C Jethro Bibbs (.301/7/58/76), LF Marv Washburn (.298/12/64/64/18 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Sammy Hayes (23-14/2.26), Simon Northcott (22-10/2.50), James Duncan (15-14/2.79), George Medworth (11-11/3.49)... not much in the bullpen

Forecast: Wynnamac manager Jerry Meeks has the starting pitching to give both Middlefield and Taranto problems in the postseason playoffs, but lacks the scoring ability to compete with them.

Elnora All-Stars
This Year: 2nd Place (78-76) (11 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (83-71) (12 GB)
2 Years Ago: 7th Place (68-86) (35 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 9 (last appeared in the playoffs in '35... they were swept by the Tuckanarra Blue Jays)
Pro Cups: 1 (All-Stars won their only Pro Cup in '33 by beating East Point in 7 games)

Team Stats: .290 BA (1st), 833 runs (2nd), 163 HR (5th), 4.62 ERA (30th), .971 FA (fair defense)

Top Batters: All-Star 1B Gus Abreu (.315 BA/20 HR/90 RBI/112 R), All-Star Donald Ray Mooney (.329/23/91/77), 2B Mickey Wilbur (.291/22/89/92/7 SB), CF Pedro Abreu (.321/14/59/86/12 SB), SS Bobby Lee Carnahan (.288/10/66/72), 3B Dickie DeBusshere (.315/11/77/64/8 SB), LF Robb Norwood (.297/16/66/60/3 SB), C Jarrick Gayden (.284/11/74/59)

Top Pitchers: starters Billy Ehrenreich (19-16/4.21), Wade Mendenhall (15-15/4.47)... bullpen Leland Schofield (6-5/2.61/13 saves/40 G)

Forecast: skipper Stan Kivas has a strong attack at the plate, but is seriously lacking on the mound... must improve greatly on the hill to challenge for the pennant.

Marston Nine
This Year: 3rd Place (75-79) (14 GB)
Last Year: 2nd Place (86-68) (9 GB)
2 Years Ago: 2nd Place (94-60) (9 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 7 (2047 was their last appearance)
Pro Cups: None (made the postseason in '47... fell to Pro Cup runner-up Middlefield in 7 games in the opening round)

Team Stats: .266 BA (15th), 666 runs (22nd-tied), 134 HR (11th-tied), 3.74 ERA (17th), .976 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: All-Star C Boomer Merritt (.290 BA/26 HR/99 RBI/76 R/4 SB), 1B John Rodgers (.271/25/84/59), 2B Damien D'Amboise (.275/10/72/90/21 SB), 3B Jarrod Crutchfield (.260/16/60/52/3 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Snooky Knaup (17-20/3.05), John Newton (14-16/3.47), Mel Pritchard (13-9/3.49)... bullpen Robert Tringle (8-5/1.91/15 saves/58 G)

Forecast: manager Russ Woodward has seen his hitting and pitching slip the last two seasons... now just a middle-of-the-pack club.

Cold Creek Catamounts
This Year: 4th Place (tie) (74-80) (15 GB)
Last Year: 7th Place (62-92) (33 GB)
2 Years Ago: 6th Place (69-85) (34 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (won pennant in '41)
Pro Cups: None (in '41 lost in Pro Cup title series in 7 games to powerful North Hills Hawks... Cold Creek captured 5 division flags in 6 seasons, 2036 to 2041)

Team Stats: .265 BA (17th), 709 runs (12th), 150 HR (7th), 4.43 ERA (27th), .980 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: RF Mel Parnell (.274 BA/32 HR/111 RBI/80 R/7 SB), LF Jimmy Lange (.288/28/77/95/13 SB), 2B Milt Swallow (.278/16/67/53), 1B Bobby Dundee (.315/14/57/61)

Top Pitchers: starters Andres Padilla (13-15/4.78)... bullpen Rodger Brockhoff (12-4/2.30/6 saves/55 G), Zee Dial (4-2/3.36/12 saves/52 G)

Forecast: manager J. J. Gillespie has some home-run punch in his line-up and impressive defense, but little else... 4th to 5th place team at best.

Belle Plaine Musketeers
This Year: 4th Place (tie) (74-80) (15 GB)
Last Year: 6th Place (69-85) (26 GB)
2 Years Ago: 4th Place (77-77) (26 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 1 (occurred long ago in 2009... lost in first round)
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .284 BA (2nd), 765 runs (4th), 194 HR (3rd), 4.33 ERA (24th), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: superstar All-Star RF Lenny Buisson (.326 BA/52 HR/135 RBI/103 R/9 SB), 1B Chuck Gregory (.306/34/80/88), SS Kendell Hanks (.295/17/61/82)

Top Pitchers: starters Al McKeown (21-14/3.80), Al Poirot (15-13/4.21)... bullpen Clint Quick (6-4/3.47/24 saves/64 G)

Forecast: the Muskies can muster runs in abundance, but also give them up in abundance... manager Slick Hammill has a plethora of potent bats, but very little on the hill... similar to Cold Creek... will fight it out for 4th or 5th place.

Beechwood Blues
This Year: 6th Place (70-84) (19 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (73-81) (22 GB)
2 Years Ago: 8th Place (62-92) (41 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (nothing recent... '26 and '27 were the last division titles... lost in RU title series to Pro Cup champ Valmara in 2026... most recent pennant was in 2027.
Pro Cups: None (never got past Ruthlandian title game)

Team Stats: .250 BA (30th), 616 runs (29th), 110 HR (20th), 3.99 ERA (20th), .976 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: 1B Daryl Brady (.289 BA/25 HR/71 RBI/58 R), CF Rod McClellan (.278/23/86/75/7 SB), 2B Arlen Buchanan (.245/8/68/74/3 SB), RF Darrel Felton (.318/5/31/57/10 SB), SS Eldon Gilbert (.258/7/54/71)

Top Pitchers: starters Harper Killen (16-17/3.66), Sandy Wilbur (14-15/3.99), Lenny Medford (11-14/3.45)... bullpen D. W. Downs (5-3/0.49/9 saves/34 G)

Forecast: Blues are just a second-division team... manager Maury Patterson needs a lot of help in a lot of places to climb higher in the standings.

Sugar Valley Rattlers
This Year: 7th Place (68-86) (21 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (77-77) (18 GB)
2 Years Ago: 1st Place (103-51)
Playoff Appearances: 18 (most recent in 2051... fell to Waleska in the Ruthlandian League Championship Series in 5 games)
Pro Cups: 1 (whipped Southport Sun Sox in 6 games in 2045 for their only IPA crown... and lost in the Pro Cup Finals twice... to the Red Bluff Red Sox in '04 and to the Tuckanarra Blue Jays in '24)

Team Stats: .267 BA (11th), 735 runs (5th), 189 HR (4th), 4.42 ERA (26th), .972 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: 1B Deke Lundy (.348 BA/46 HR/116 RBI/87 R), LF Carl Ramsey (.276/33/89/85/5 SB), All-Star SS Tuck Alstott (.282/25/86/105/26 SB), RF Tyler Alban (.296/19/72/74/7 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Dale Johns (17-17/4.53)... nothing worth mentioning in bullpen... actually not much on the entire staff

Forecast: Rattler skipper Bobby Gamble need some young blood... the team has gotten old the last few years... a former powerhouse, Sugar Valley can still sting the ball, but the fine pitching of a few years ago has disintegrated quite suddenly... they posted a standout 2.81 ERA in '51... has skyrocketed to 4.42 in '53.

Eastshore Cotton Kings
This Year: 8th Place (67-87) (22 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (59-95) (36 GB)
2 Years Ago: 5th Place (70-84) (33 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 7 (the last pennant came two decades ago in '34)
Pro Cups: 2 (won back-to-back IPA titles in '16 and '17... knocking off Ozarka in a 4-game sweep and Turon in a tough 7-game affair)

Team Stats: .255 BA (27th), 644 runs (28th), 92 HR (28th), 4.32 ERA (23rd), .972 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: 1B Herman Fair (.282 BA/21 HR/76 RBI/77 R/9 SB)... sorry nothing else in the line-up


Top Pitchers: starter Malcolm Tansbury (16-14/3.61)... bullpen Trent Niven (4-5/2.47/18 saves/51 G)

Forecast: sorry to say it, but manager Scotty Lagrange just has a plain bad ball team... not a lot of talent on the roster.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

5TH STRAIGHT RU WEST FLAG FOR ROOSTERS
The Middlefield Roosters are on a monumental roll... they have captured the division crown in the Ruthlandian West for the fifth time in a row... the reigning IPA Pro Cup champion Roosters (99-55) won handily by 9 games over runner-up Sligo (90-64), 15 games better than third place Rocky Rapids (84-70) and 20 games ahead of fourth place Forest City (79-75)... Middlefield was only mildly challenged, holding a 5-game edge over Volusia and a 6-game lead over Sligo at the All-Star break... the Vigilantes (76-78) ended up in fifth place, 23 games behind... nobody seriously contended in the second half of the season... now the Roosters are headed for the Pro Cup playoffs and a shot at their second straight IPA title and will be one of the favorites... Middlefield would like nothing better than to bring home their third Pro Cup trophy... the Roosters won their first back in 2005.

MIDDLEFIELD ROOSTERS
This Year: 1st Place (99-55)
Last Year: 1st Place (106-48)
Two Years Ago: 1st Place (82-72)
Playoff Appearances: 16
Pro Cups: 2 (first one came in 2005... routed Red Bluff in 5 games in 2005... eased by East Point last year in 6 games)

Team Stats: .266 BA (14th), 853 runs (1st), 204 HR (2nd), 3.28 ERA (7th), .976 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: All-Star LF Rufus Blackburn (.259 BA/45 HR/114 RBI/111 R/8 SB), CF Johnny Wyatt (.337/40/133/96/10 SB), 3B Natty Colclough (.238/30/91/85/3 SB), All-Star SS Stan Radzikowski (.320/28/102/98/6 SB), RF Trip Agarn (.268/26/95/63/5 SB)

Top Pitchers: All-Star James Long (23-12/2.37), All-Star Hollis Dale (22-10/3.30), Larry Wheelhouse (15-5/3.93), Carroll Collier (12-12/3.19)... bullpen Ricky Farris (6-4/2.72/11 saves/35 G), Norm Coventry (6-3/2.03/7 saves/40 G), Yazzy Yastrzemski (6-2/2.37/1 save/34 G)

Forecast:manager Ricky Tinker has an aging club, but they are still performing at high levels... will be one of the favorites in the playoffs... could win another Pro Cup with its strong pitching staff and home-run hitters.

Sligo Rovers
This Year: 2nd Place (90-64) (9 GB)
Last Year: 6th Place (74-80) (32 GB)
Two Years Ago: 5th Place (tie) (69-85) (13 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 9 (last appeared over 10 years ago in 2040)
Pro Cups: 1 (2021... whipped White River in 5 games)

Team Stats: .2634 BA (19th), 653 runs (25th), 86 HR (30th), 2.88 ERA (1st), .977 FA (very good defense)

Top Batters: 3B Paddy Durham (.278 BA/15 HR/91 RBI/67 R/15 SB), CF Merle Bliss (.308/14/66/87/28 SB), 1B Tommy Alberts (.318/9/66/63/15 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Mickey Walsh (24-10/2.28), Bruce Belden (21-11/2.85), Mitch Taylor (18-13/3.21), Craig Hurley (13-10/3.03)... bullpen Tiger Snodgrass (5-8/1.76/16 saves/38 G)

Forecast: Rover skipper Les Patterson has strong set of starters and a decent bullpen, but seriously lacks offense... won't challenge for the division title until the bats vastly improve or the Middlefield Roosters retire... will still be a first-division club because of the very fine pitching, first in the IPA at 2.88 ERA... and very good defense.

Rocky Rapids Snappers
This Year: 3rd Place (84-70) (15 GB)
Last Year: 2nd Place (87-67 (19 GB)
Two Years Ago: 8th Place (60-94) (22 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 6 (last played in postseason in '44 and '46)
Pro Cups: 1 (swept all 12 games en route to the Pro Cup in 2019... beat Ozarka in the Finals)

Team Stats: .263 BA (21st), 675 runs (20th), 134 HR (11th - tied), 3.04 ERA (3rd), .971 (fair defense)

Top Batters: 2B Marty Featherstone (.280 BA/23 HR/80 RBI/86 R/3 SB), C Pat Stennett (.324/17/66/68)

Top Pitchers: All-Star Clay Callaghan (21-6/2.09), All-Star Sammy Sterling (20-10/3.14), Jamie Taylor (14-19/3.24)... bullpen Chucky Coxson (4-2/0.49/9 saves/29 G)

Forecast: manager Junior Noland has molded an impressive mound corps, but has trouble scoring runs... will contend for third or fourth place because of good pitchers... not ready to overtake Middlefield... all-time great Jamie Taylor (300-224/2.54 ERA) reached the 300-win milestone this year, but is slowing down a bit at 37.

Forest City Firebirds
This Year: 4th Place (79-75) (20 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (85-69) (21 GB)
Two Years Ago: 7th Place (68-86) (14 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 5 (lost in first round in '47 to Sugar Valley in 6 games)
Pro Cups: None (Firebirds have never gone deep into the Pro Cup playoffs... made the second round twice in '02 and '03)

Team Stats: .268 BA (10th), 726 runs (6th), 143 HR (10th), 4.00 ERA (21st), .974 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: 1B Ziggy Regan (.326 BA/9 HR/52 RBI/94 R/28 SB), SS Clancy Beaufort (.286/37/116/79/3 SB), CF Randy Snow (.298/15/76/89/17 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Omar Cordero (22-7/3.07), Tim Varnado (10-8/3.39/23 saves/61 G), Rusty Howard (14-17/3.66), Tokuji Takahara (14-16/4.11)... bullpen Emilio Juarez (2-4/2.64/1 save/35 G), Jackie Owens (0-0/1.42/0 saves/19 G)

Forecast: manager Rich Barstow has a little bit of firepower and can score runs, but only has an average pitching staff... should compete for a spot in the first division... most likely third or fourth place... not pennant material yet.

Volusia Vigilantes
This Year: 5th Place (76-78) (23 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (82-72) (24 GB)
Two Years Ago: 3rd Place (73-81) (9 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 9 ('43 was the last pennant, fell to eventual IPA Pro Cup champion Valmara in a 4-game sweep)
Pro Cups: 1 (swept Ginza in 4 games in the first-ever Pro Cup title series)

Team Stats: .258 BA (26th), 603 runs (30th), 72 HR (32nd), 3.40 ERA (8th), .977 FA (very good defense)

Top Batters: 2B Pablo Mendoza (.312 BA/3 HR/53 RBI/46 R/16 SB), CF J. D. Landy (.275/8/68/74/25 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Casimiro Ramires (21-13/2.99), All-Star Mateus Blanco (16-10/2.73), All-Star Rique Batista (13-20/3.28), Freddy Lopez (12-12/3.86)... bullpen Dan Hunt (1-7/2.76/22 saves/43 G)

Forecast: playing manager and catcher Tubby Tarkanian might have made the first division if he hadn't lost All-Star ace Mateus Branco (16-10/2.73) to injury in early August... the V's offense stink... but the pitching is above average... should contend for third or fourth place.

Colfax Blasters
This Year: 6th Place (75-79) (24 G)
Last Year: 7th Place (64-90) (42 GB)
Two Years Ago: 4th Place (70-84) (12 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 13 (last appearance was in '42... made Pro Cup Finals but lost in a sweep to South Fork)
Pro Cups: 1 (won the IPA title in 2010, defeated Turon in a tight 7-game series... lost in '32 Finals in 7 games to San Alejo)

Team Stats: .270 BA (8th), 718 runs (9th), 127 HR (14th), 4.08 ERA (22nd), .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: LF Robb Maddox (.293 BA/17 HR/69 RBI/90 R/16 SB), C Darrell Dillon (.284/26/86/75), SS Dan Zalewski (.291/6/46/72), 1B Nicky Yorke (.299/13/52/65), 3B Hoot Glanville (.294/11/61/55)

Top Pitchers: Dante Breland (17-16/3.90), Alan Schmitt (15-13/3.84), Keith Himmel (14-13/3.67), Kermo Jarvi (11-11/3.08)... bullpen is not very good

Forecast: manager Mitch Fullerton has a solid core of contact hitters that put runs on the scoreboard, but no power... his starters are fair... bullpen weak... could contend for fourth or fifth place, but no higher.

Stoner Stars
This Year: 7th Place (27 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (75-79) (31 GB)
Two Years Ago: 2nd Place (75-79) (7 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (last played in postseason in '29... also '02 and '07))
Pro Cups: None (lost in 2029 in Pro Cup Finals to Rolling Hills in 4 games... also lost to Oxford in 2007 in 5 games)

Team Stats: .266 BA (13th), 700 runs (14th-tied), 108 HR (21st), 3.91 ERA (19th)... .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: SS Mac Lord (.306 BA/14 HR/63 RBI/90 R/13 SB), LF Grayson Lancaster (.287/21/64/72/3 SB), SS Ernie Bowen (.284/2/54/61/5 SB)

Top Pitchers: Brad Squires (19-15/3.89), Kade Crow (13-10/4.02), Stan Ulmer (12-16/3.55), Ira Monaghan (11-15/4.34)... bullpen Rip Martin (2-0/2.11/0 saves/25 G)... not much else.

Forecast: manager Fletch Fowler doesn't have a lot of talent... pretty much a second division club... just fair-to-mediocre offense and mound staff... poor bullpen.

Fort Benton Defenders
This Year: 8th Place (64-96) 35 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (54-100) (52 GB)
2 Years Ago: 6th Place (69-85) (13 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 1 (only pennant was in 2037... fell to Cold Creek in 7 games in first round)

Team Stats: .274 BA/700 runs (14th-tied), 101 HR (24th-tied), 4.75 ERA (31 st), .978 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: CF Freddie Woodruff (.312 BA/17 HR/92 RBI/112 R/17 SB), 2B Murph Eldard (.303/9/84/51/2 SB), SS Lucien Lindsey (.296/14/58/93/28 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Perry Blystone (12-17/3.25)... other starters are mediocre to bad... bullpen is really bad.

Forecast: manager and former standout pitcher Augie Marquis (368-300/3.22 ERA) has the same trouble the Defenders had when he was playing... just not much talent... Fort Benton seems doomed to the botton of the RU West for the time being... Marquis has average hitting and power... fine defense... but terrible pitching.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

RED CAPS ROMP IN TU NORTH
After going 45 years without a pennant, the Oxford Red Caps (91-63) have now won two in a row in the Tycobbian North Division... and they did it in grand style, copping the crown by 11 games over the second place White River Rascals (80-74) and by 15 games over the North Hills Hawks (76-78) and Blue Lake Blue Sox (76-78), who tied for the third spot in the standings... the Red Caps had a hot race for half the season... the Blue Sox even led them by a game at the All-Star Game and the Rascals and Hawks were in striking distance, trailing by 5 and 8 games respectively... but they all went into a tailspin and fell out of contention in the second half.

OXFORD RED CAPS
This Year: 1st Place (91-63)
Last Year: 1st Place (86-69)
2 Years Ago: 5th Place (75-79) (22 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 6
Pro Cups: 1 (whipped the Stoner Stars in 2007 in 5 games)

Team Stats: .273 BA (11th), 853 runs (1st), 184 HR (5th), 3.82 ERA, .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: RF Ozzy Ackerman (.252 BA/40 HR/111 RBI/126 R/37 SB), All-Star 2B Ethan Cuthbert (.329/32/89/92/13 SB), LF Dwayne Wagner (.282/24/99/92/6 SB), SS Miko Fujikawa (.272/14/79/89/11 SB), All-Star RF Wade McGrew (.311/23/70/45/3 SB)

Top Pitchers: All-Star Rudy Mellancamp (27-3/1.97), Lou Ellison (19-17/3.73)... not much help in the bullpen

Forecast: manager Dennis Hartwig and his Red Caps pushed last year's Tycobbian champ East Point to the limit before falling in 7 games... Oxford has the offense to do some damage in the Pro Cup playoffs, but doesn't have the pitching... if All-Star Wade McGrew gets off the DL in time for the postseason, he will give them another strong bat... they won't have to contend with East Point this year, but Midway and Denton City both won 100 games, have superior mound staffs and will be favored over the Red Caps.

White River Rascals
This Year: 2nd Place (89-74) (11 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (82-72) (3.5 GB)
Two Years Ago: 1st Place (97-57)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (last appeared in '51... had also won pennants in '48, '49, and '50)
Pro Cups: None (lost to powerful Valmara in Finals two years in a row... '49 and '50)

Team Stats: .261 BA (23rd), 729 runs (13th), 156 HR (13th), 3.79 ERA (10th), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: LF Pudge Tate (.290 BA/28 HR/94 RBI/103 R/17 SB), 1B Billy Joe Hickman (.248/26/78/47), 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.277/22/77/78/13 SB), SS Kunta Burton (.311/3/55/73/5 SB), RF Roger Todd (.291/11/58/57/2 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Keil Trickett (15-11/3.19), Butch Slattery (14-10/3.95), Nicky Palmer (16-18/3.47), Glen Horton (16-10/4.10)... not much in the weak bullpen

Forecast: manager Marty Blake's club has slipped the last two years... pitching is not what it was when they won four pennants in a row and made the Pro Cup Finals twice... but still a solid, but aging club... definitely first division material.

Blue Lake Blue Sox
This Year: 3rd Place (tie) (76-78) (15 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (72-82) (15.5 GB)
Two Years Ago: 6th Place (61-93) (36 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (not since Pro Cup title year in 2030... upset Valmara in 7 games)
Pro Cups: 1 (2030)

Team Stats: .257 BA (27th), 665 runs (27th), 135 HR (18th), 3.78 ERA (9th), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: LF Jude Rapp (.305 BA/15 HR/60 RBI/90 R/3 SB), RF Burl Baugh (.230/25/80/62), LF Yatsuhiro Shimada (.284/18/55/62/9 SB), C Juan Luis Barcelona (.286/14/62/78), 2B Perry Wilkins (.278/13/68/56/2 SB), CF Johnny Harding (.274/12/54/49), SS John Gilbert (.269/11/64/66/4 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Dirk Sinclair (17-12/3.17)... not much after him

Forecast: manager Frankie Quinn has a mediocre team... fair bats... and so-so pitching... no threat to Oxford... 4th-5th place at best.

North Hills Hawks
This Year: 3rd Place (tie) (76-78) (15 GB)
Last Year: 6th Place (71-83) (14.5 GB)
Two Years Ago: 8th Place (46-108) (51 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 13 (last pennant was 2045... Hawks had a tremendous run with 11 division flags in 12 years with 4 Pro Cup titles from '34 to '45... )
Pro Cups: 4 (2034 over Crystal Lake, 2036 over St. John, 2038 over Far Mountain and 2041 over Cold Creek... fell to Valmara in 2043 Finals in 6 games to miss out on a record 5th Pro Cup trophy... North Hills is right up there with the greatest all-time dynasties in IPA history.

Team Stats: .267 BA (14th), 713 runs (17th), 91 HR (32nd), 4.08 ERA (21st), .979 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: All-Star 3B Justin Roscoe (.290 BA/22 HR/117 RBI/77 R), 2B Sam Dunstone (.302/3/66/99/16 SB), RF Clifton Mahaffey (.301/6/77/96/22 SB), C Leland Backus (.277/13/67/59), LF Ryan Webbe (.260/21/75/52)

Top Pitchers: starters Stan Kallis (22-15/3.25), Heck Radborne (12-9/3.88)... bullpen not dependable, but good at times with DeWitt Dobkins (5-10/3.65/22 saves/54 G)

Forecast: manager David Michael has an average offense and fair-to-mediocre staff... pretty much a middle-of-the-pack ball club... no pennant threat.

Luxora Zorros
This Year: 5th Place (67-87) (24 GB)
Last Year: 7th Place (68-86) (17.5 GB)
Two Years Ago: 3rd Place (82-72) (15 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 11 (but none since 2031)
Pro Cups: None (defeated in TU title game by IPA champ Red Bluff in 2004... lost to Pro Cup finalist Denton City in TU title game in 2008... fell to Pro Cup finalist Turon in 2017... eliminated by IPA champion Turon in first round in 2018)

Team Stats: .257 BA (26th), 644 runs (31st), 116 HR (22nd-tied), 4.03 ERA (18th), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: SS Emmett Cusack (.263 BA/7 HR/47 RBI/83 R/25 SB), 1B Tuff McLendon (.269/19/77/69), 3B Bobby Portonova (.268/24/78/63)

Top Pitchers: starters Juliano Machado (17-16/3.80), Mack Wellman (12-16/3.33), Paolo De Freitas (11-21/4.08)... bullpen Jan Futcher (6-4/2.80/11 saves/45 G)

Forecast: Luxora skipper Kent Halloran has a bad offense and only fair pitching... pretty much like Mahaska, Fairfax and Hartsdale... just a second-rate second division team... might squeeze into fourth place.

Mahaska Haymakers
This Year: 6th Place (tie) (66-88) (25 GB)
Last Year: 2nd Place (85-70) (1 GB)
Two Years Ago: 2nd Place (87-67) (10 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 4 (last division crowns came in '26 and '28)
Pro Cups: None (fell to IPA champ Valmara in 4-game sweep in 2026... defeated by Pro Cup finalist Tuckanarra in 2028 in TU title clash in 7 games)

Team Stats: .279 BA (5th), 722 runs (15th-tied), 111 HR (28th), 4.43 ERA (28th), .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: All-Star C Johnny Samarin (.345 BA/6 HR/55 RBI/66 R), RF Dub Forrester (.302/19/89/97/10 SB), SS Paul Waldrep (.283/1/59/94/9 SB), 1B Roger Lewis (.292/25/86/60), LF Roy Wilson (.331/1/47/64/11)

Top Pitchers: starters Bobby Kelman (14-18/3.95), Morrie Dalman (13-13/4.17)

Forecast: manager Travis Tuttle's Haymakers hit well for average, but not with much power... not a lot of pitching... just a second division team.

Fairfax Frogs
This Year: 6th Place (tie) (66-88) (25 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (64-90) (21.5 GB)
Two Years Ago: 7th Place (57-97) (40 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (no postseason since '32 and '33)
Pro Cups: None (in 2032 lost to IPA champ San Alejo in first round in 6 games)

Team Stats: .277 BA (7th), 704 runs (20th-tied), 93 HR (31st), 4.41 ERA (27th), .977 FA (very good defense)

Top Batters: LF Paddy Fenroy (.325 BA/3 HR/58 RBI/94 R/18 SB), C Scott Courtney (.303/24/116/70), RF Downtown Wyatt (.288/13/92/53/6 SB)1B Roman Hancock (.304/5/49/61/17 SB), 2B Cade Durning (.325/4/54/60)

Top Pitchers: starters Shaun O'Riley (14-9/2.87), Jay Jay Dillaway (13-20/4.12)... bullpen is just plain bad

Forecast: manager John Velasco has a tough task... team makes good contact, but lacks power and scoring ability... pitching is downright bad... just a second division team.

Hartsdale Hellcats
This Year: 8th Place (65-89) (26 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (81-73 (4.5 GB)
Two Years Ago: 4th Place (80-74) (17 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 9
Pro Cups: 1 (whipped Valmara in 2046 in 7 games... beaten by IPA champ South Fork in 7 games in 2042 in TU title series)

Team Stats: .253 BA (29th), 645 runs (29th-tied), 163 HR (10th-tied), 4.02 ERA (17th), .971 FA (fair defense)

Top Batters: 3B Bruno Bardella (.273 BA/33 HR/90 RBI/71 R), C Kenton Carmichael (.245/24/65/75), CF Justin Cutler (.288/22/58/67), LF Jules Randolph (.265/22/65/76/10 SB), RF Nathan Ivy (.277/17/61/72/22 SB), 2B Smokey Nix (.266/10/55/66/10 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Perry Givens (12-18/3.25), Ron Norton (12-17/3.92)... bullpen standout and All-Star Roy Krieger (10-7/1.78/20 saves/63 G)

Forecast: manager Wayne Dawson has some longball threats, but has a lackluster staff except for starter Perry Givens and super closer Roy Krieger... probably a second division team, but could rise as high as fourth place.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

TYPHOONS TAKE TU SOUTH IN A RUNAWAY
For the second straight season the Turon Typhoons have stormed past everybody in sight in the Tycobbian South Division... the Typhoons (101-53) breezed to the title, routing the second place Summerland Sunsets(82-72) by 19 games and the third place Southport Sun Sox (79-75) and San Alejo Montaneros (79-75) by 22 games... the Sunsets gamely tried to make a race out of it for half the season, but then fizzled out and flopped... Turon led them by 7 games at midseason, then kicked it into high gear and blew everybody away... last year it was the same thing... the Typhoons won by 15 games over runner-up San Alejo... Turon is now ready to try and make amends for the poor showning in last year's Pro Cup playoffs, when they lost in the first round to the Oxford Red Caps... they won 96 games last season and improved to 101 this season, second best in the IPA to Taranto's 103 victories.

TURON TYPHOONS
This Year: 1st Place (101-53)
Last Year: 1st Place (96-58)
2 Years Ago: 2nd Place (91-64) (1 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 16 (appeared last year and lost to Oxford in 5 games in round one)
Pro Cups: 4 (2003, 2006, 2009, 2018... also made the Pro Cup Finals in 2010, falling to Colfax in 7 games... almost won in 2017, but again lost in 7 games to Eastshore)

Team Stats: .282 BA (1st), 820 runs (2nd), 103 HR (30th), 3.42 ERA (4th), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: C Doyle Ashcroft (.279 BA/19 HR/114 RBI/59 R), All-Star CF Maxie Mullinax (.304/4/53/112/50 SB), 3B Joel Guidry (.289/16/96/94/8 SB), 2B Gaylen Clive (.327/3/61/90/9 SB), SS Fernando Labrera (.305/2/42/82/42), 1B Shoyo Yuro (.316/18/81/72/5 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Nate Scottsdale (25-10/2.77), Glenn Avery (23-12/3.39), Jose Beltran (12-9/3.86), Dickie Parmenter (14-6/4.26), Yancey Hedges (8-4/2.81)... bullpen Russell Mallory (9-8/2.36/5 saves/26 G)

Forecast: manager C. C. Kingsford doesn't seem to have the pitching to contest Midway in the postseason... the Typhoons score well, but could use more longball power in the playoffs... could be a factor, if third pitcher steps up and wins a few games... Kingsford has his hands full with Midway and Oxford in the Tycobbian Union... the Wolves have powerhouse pitching and the best record in the IPA, while the Red Caps have a top-notch offensive machine that led the IPA in runs scored, tied with the Middlefield Roosters of the Ruthlandian Union, the defending Pro Cup titleholder.

Summerland Sunsets
This Year: 2nd Place (82-72) (19 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (77-77) (19 GB)
Two Years Ago: 7th Place (67-87) (24.5 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 4 (last division crown came in 2047... fell to IPA champion Hartsdale in 6 games in Tycobbian LCS)
Pro Cups: None (but did make the Finals one time in 2040... lost in 7 games to the Ranford Bulls, the IPA champion)

Team Stats: .249 BA (30th), 570 runs (32nd), 110 HR (29th), 3.18 ERA (2nd), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: 3B Zane Howe (.258 BA/18 HR/85 RBI/70 R), LF Kinky Elderson (.253/10/62/59/5 SB), C Zip Enright (.271/14/69/52)

Top Pitchers: starters All-Star Jayson Hallstrom (21-10/2.22), Tommy Underwood (18-13/3.03)... bullpen Rory Poe (4-4/0.89/17 saves/38 G)

Forecast: skipper Antonio Vasques has one of the better rotation in the Tycobbian Union, but his offense is absolutely awful, one of the worst in the IPA... nobody can presently compete with Turon for the division title... Summerland is probably a first division club... but needs a lot to challenge the Typhoons.

San Alejo Montaneros
This Year: 3rd Place (tie) (79-75) (22 GB)
Last Year: 2nd Place (81-73) 15 GB)
Two Years Ago: 1st Place (92-63)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (last appeared in '51... eliminated in first round by White River in 5 games)
Pro Cups: 1 (2032... topped the Colfax Blasters in 7 games... fell in Finals to Waleska in 2037... the Westerners won in 6 games)

Team Stats: .262 BA (22nd), 727 runs (14th), 136 HR (17th), 3.65 ERA (6th), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: All-Star CF Paolo Teixeira (.308 BA/35 HR/114 RBI/103 R/1 SB), RF Erik Landau (.306/5/46/100/13 SB), LF Royce Grantham (.229/31/100/75/6 SB), 1B Alonzo Grassi (.287/19/73/48)

Top Pitchers: starters Matt Bell (20-11/2.74), Will McKinney (18-19/2.76)... bullpen Marcelo Cervantes (5-8/3.74/18 saves/52 G)

Forecast: manager Filipe Zamora has two of the greatest pitchers ever in the IPA... Matt Bell (324-174/2.39) and Will McKinney (276-135/2.49), but not a lot else on the mound... he also has several talented position players... but only an average offense... will still be in the running for a first-division finish as long as Bell, age 34, and McKinney, age 33, are around... but won't contend for the division flag... just too much Turon.

Southport Sun Sox
This Year: 3rd Place (tie) (79-75) (22 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (79-75) (17 GB)
Two Years Ago: 5th Place (78-76) (13.5 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 10 (last pennant was in 2050... defeated by Pro Cup finalist White River in 7 games)
Pro Cups: 3 (2027, 2044, 2047... also made the Pro Cup Finals in '45 and lost to Sugar Valley in 6 games)

Team Stats: .266 BA (16th), 711 runs (19th), 112 HR (27th), 3.96 ERA (15th), .972 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: RF Manuelo Garcia (.323 BA/19 HR/89 RBI/93 R/16 SB), 1B Zee Graham (.298/21/92/83), LF Chris Jones (.304/3/43/67), CF Tony Patrano (.263/17/60/52)

Top Pitchers: starters Champ Shafer (21-16/4.13), Hal Combs (14-16/3.44)... bullpen Troy Hill (8-6/1.81/18 saves/44 G)

Forecast: manager Lorne Evans only has an average ballclub... but should be able to finish in the first division (top four teams), but is not anywhere near the class of Turon, by far the best in the Tycobbian South Division.

Cape Coral Hurricanes
This Year: 5th Place (78-76) (23 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (tie) (68-85) (27 GB)
Two Years Ago: 6th Place (71-83) (20.5 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 8 ('Canes haven't made the playoffs for more than a decade... 2041 was the last pennant... were defeated in the first round by IPA overall champ North Hills in 5 games)
Pro Cups: None (the best the Hurricanes have done in the playoffs was 2006 when they were beaten by the IPA Pro Cup champ Turon 3 games to 2 in the Elite 8 Series... also lost in 2030 in the Elite 8 to eventual Pro Cup titlewinner Blue Lake in 6 games)

Team Stats: .282 BA (2nd), 747 runs (11th), 113 HR (26th), 3.98 ERA (16th), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: 3B Jaybird Ethridge (.278 BA/27 HR/92 RBI/93 r), 1B Shinjo Tabuchi (.307/5/59/74/21 SB), CF Billy Lee Wakefield (.286/8/43/80/9 SB), RF Enrique Orantez (.275/12/73/77/9 SB), SS Scotty Jackson (.278/18/82/65), C Deron Agarn (.336/2/55/51), LF Sammy Ashcraft (.326/13/66/58/6 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Banjo Prewett (17-18/3.85), Vernon Marks (16-17/3.74)... bullpen Vinny McAfee (5-0/2.58/7 saves/40 G)

Forecast: manager William Snyder's club has made modest improvements each year for the past few seasons... moved past the .500 mark this year for the first time since 2047... team bats make good contact, but lacks power to compete with the elite teams... pitching is just average... Cape Coral will challenge for a berth in the top four teams, but won't be in the running for the division flag... that belongs to Turon for a few years or so.

Colchester Elites
This Year: 6th Place (77-77) (24 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (69-85) (27 GB)
Two Years Ago: 4th Place (81-73) (10.5 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 4 (lost in first round to IPA champion North Hills in 5 games)
Pro Cups: None (never came close to a Pro Cup trophy... always eliminated in early rounds)

Team Stats: .263 BA (18th), 697 runs (23rd), 147 HR (15th), 3.81 ERA (11th), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: CF Eldon McLennan (.302 BA/6 HR/48 RBI/88 R/52 SB), 2B James Murchison (.293/10/54/88/12 SB), SS Ernie Larmon (.319/10/57/81/5 SB), RF Graig Sutton (.297/26/93/75/4 SB), LF Yancy Willmon (.266/27/70/62/11 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters All-Star Greg Ginger (21-13/3.29), Denzel Durand (18-17/3.80), Zip Sharpe (15-15/4.21), Champ Meadows (12-19/4.32)... bullpen Haden Fraser (5-7/2.33/19 saves/49 G)

Forecast: manager Blake Barrister has just an average to mediorce club... pretty fair power... decent starters... good closer... could finish in first division... broke even in 6th place this season... just about as good as the clubs that finished ahead of them in the standings... except for powerful Turon.

Ginza Ninjas
This Year: 7th Place (71-83) (30 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (59-95) (37 GB)
Two Years Ago: 3rd Place (3.5 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 7 (2031... lost to IPA Pro Cup winner Rolling Hills in Tycobbian title game in 7 games)
Pro Cups: None (2001 - lost to Pro Cup champ Volusis in Finals 4-0... 2025 - lost 4-1 in Tycobbian Finals to Pro Cup winner South Fork... 2026 - lost 4-2 in first round to Pro Cup finalist Mahaska... 2029 - lost 4-3 in Tycobbian Finals to Pro Cup champ Rolling Hills... 2031 - lost 4-3 in Tycobbian Finals to IPA champ Rolling Hills)

Team Stats: .280 BA (4th), 765 runs (9th), 144 HR (16th), 4.86 ERA (31st), .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: All-Star SS Kuzuki Tamura (.318 BA/20 HR/106 RBI/98 R/17 SB). 3B Horace Dyson (.296/7/62/80), 1B Kyle Estes (.264/16/74/74/7 SB), RF Ronny Firestone (.323/1/41/72/4 SB), 2B Wahoo Durkee (.310/7/47/58/7 SB), 1B Takuya Toyota (.304/14/57/46), C Jules Bordeaux (.318/10/44/45)

Top Pitchers: starter Ward Marlowe (12-16/3.85)... bullpen Abram Worth (6-3/2.48/22 saves/58 G)

Forecast: manager Sogo Takagi has terrible pitching, coupled with a fairly good offense... Ninjas are doomed to the bottom of the Tycobbian South.

Arroyo Grande Suns
This Year: 8th Place (65-89) (36 GB)
Last Year: 7th Place (67-87) (29 GB)
Two Years Ago: 8th Place (64-90) (27.5 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 4 (last pennant was in 2024... lost in first round 4-2 to White River)
Pro Cups: None (usually eliminated early in the postseason... the best the Suns have done was in 2022 when they lost to Pro Cup Finalist Midway Wolves 4-1 in the TU Finals)

Team Stats: .244 BA (31st), 692 runs (24th), 209 HR (1st), 4.68 ERA (29th), .969 FA (poor defense)

Top Batters: All-Star RF Norishige Ito (.321 BA/55 HR/108 RBI/122 R/14 SB), All-Star 1B Vince Kinston (.318/41/94/92), SS Russell Taylor (.284/19/79/89/12 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Nap Vickerson (18-17/3.61) is the only quality hurler on the staff

Forecast: manager Rusty Vizcarra has it tough... franchise has finished last 18 times in its history... current squad only has two talented players... All-Stars Norishige Ito and 1B Vince Kinston... the rest are just run-of-the-mill and mediocre... Sun fans don't have much to look forward to... you can't win with lousy pitching and bad hitting.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

MIDWAY MOPS UP IN TU EAST
The pennant race in the Tycobbian East Division only lasted half a season... the defending division champion East Point Panthers (90-64) hung close to this year's flag winner, the Midway Wolves (100-54) for awhile, only 4 games back at the All-Star Game... a great second half propelled the Wolves to the title by 10 games over the runner-up Panthers... third place South Fork (83-71) was far behind, trailing by 17 games, followed by fourth place Tuckanarra (81-73), 19 games back... Midway led the Tycobbian Union with 100 wins, second best in the IPA... only the Taranto Tars were better with 103 victories... the Wolves will be one of the favorites to capture the IPA Pro Cup trophy, along with the Tars and the reigning king of the Islands, the Middlefield Roosters (99-55).

MIDWAY WOLVES
This Year: 1st Place (103-51)
Last Year: 2nd Place (91-63) (5 GB)
2 Years Ago: 5th Place (83-71) (15 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (2014 - defeated by IPA champ Kenwood in opening round 4-1... 2027 - lost in the first round to Rolling Hills in a 4-game sweep)
Pro Cups: None (2022 - reached the Pro Cup Finals, but lost to Crystal Lake Crushers in 6 games)

Team Stats: .277 BA (6th), 758 runs (10th), 165 HR (8th), 3.02 ERA (1st), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: All-Star SS Kax Clark (.368 BA/17 HR/88 RBI/1-9 R/16 SB), 1B Tom Goodnight (.289/21/86/86), RF Daryl Vale (.332/21/62/57), 3B Jamey Southwick (.263/25/70/68)

Top Pitchers: starter All-Star Charlie Chase (27-10/2.51), All-Star Will DeBerry (25-10/3.25), Beau McCloud (18-10/3.38), Yank Atchley (15-7/2.39)... bullpen Rocket Rholdes (7-4/2.22/13 saves/36 G)... Jeffrey Leonard (4-2/0.36/8 saves/21 G)

Forecast: skippered by Bobby Dorignac (315-228/2.96 ERA), a great Midway HOF pitcher, the team has one of the better pitching staffs in the IPA with four quality starters and a good relief corps... the Wolves also hit well with power... should be a potent force in the playoffs.

East Point Panthers
This Year: 2nd Place (90-64) (10 GB)
Last Year: 1st Place (95-58)
Two Years Ago: 2nd Place (96-58) (2 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 7 (went to the Pro Cup Finals last year)
Pro Cups: None (2052 - made the Pro Cup Finals... lost to IPA champ Middlefield in 6 games... 2033 - fell to IPA champ Elnora in 7 games)

Team Stats: .264 BA (17th), 81 runs (3rd), 201 HR (3rd), 3.73 ERA (8th), .975 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: 1B Alvaro Cavacos (.301 BA/37 HR/101 R/85 R/20 SB), RF Doug Dennhardt (.258/32/74/56/7 SB), C Kenny Bailey (.302/30/92/77), All-Star 3B Julian McRae (.286/15/74/98/15 SB)

Top Pitchers: Ralph Wallace (23-11/3.10), Benny Allen (17-14/3.50), Chip Dowler (15-13/4.12)... bullpen Pudgy Putnam (7-3/1.71/13 saves/42 G), Kerry Woodburn (6-4/2.75/5 saves/29 G), Mo McCandless (3-2/2.53/1 save/26 G)

Forecast: manager Frank Blair still has a solid ballclub and pennant contender... Midway was just better this season... Panthers can score very well... have firepower... and fairly good pitching.

South Fork Stallions
This Year: 3rd Place (83-71) (17 GB)
Last Year: 7th Place (76-78) (20 GB)
Two Years Ago: 8th Place (56-98) (42 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 6 (last postseason appearance was 2043... were swept by Pro Cup Finalist North Hills in Tycobbian title series)
Pro Cups: 2 (won first Pro Cup in 2025 - topped Middlefield in 7 games... won second Pro Cup in 2042 - swept Colfax in 4 games)

Team Stats: .263 BA (19th), 672 runs (26th), 117 HR (21st), 3.63 ERA (5th), .982 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: C Rudy Maroney (.295 BA/23 HR/97 RBI/61 R/6 SB), 3B Pete Arnold (.286/13/68/77/16 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Brett McCracken (21-11/2.67), Emmett Coogan (15-13/3.41), Bud Bowens (18-15/3.43)... not much in bullpen

Forecast: manager Eldon Jacoby has an improving ballclub... is a first-division contender, but not up to par with the two league elites, Midway and East Point... offense is just mediocre... while pitching is a little better than average... defense is outstanding... should finish as high as 3rd again next year.

Tuckanarra Blue Jays
This Year: 4th Place (81-73) (19 GB)
Last Year: 6th Place (76-78) (20 GB)
Two Years Ago: 6th Place (79-75) (19 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 18 (last appearance in 2049 - beaten in TU title series by White River in 6 games... the Rascals were the IPA runner-up that year, losing to powerful Valmara in the Pro Cup Finals in 6 games)
Pro Cups: 3 (2023 - topped Valmara in 6 games... 2024 - swept Sugar Valley for second straight IPA Pro Cup trophy... 2035 - took third Pro Cup from Elnora in a 4-game sweep)

Team Stats: .262 BA (21st), 645 runs (29th-tied), 127 HR (19th-tied), 3.71 ERA (7th), .980 FA (excellent defense)

Top Batters: All-Star 1B Rodger Parsons (.332 BA/16 HR/76 RBI/73 R), 3B Newt Crutchfield (.300/9/71/59), RF Jay Jay Batchelor (.291/15/63/53/9 SB), CF Harv Bannerman (.265/22/53/85/45 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Terence Gargan (17-13/3.87), All-Star Dickie Pittman (17-15/3.77), Ozzie Leslie (12-16/3.17)... bullpen Paul Landale (4-6/2.27/26 saves/60 G)

Forecast: manager Junior Bristow has a fairly good starting rotation and a fine closer, but is sorely lacking at the plate... excellent defense... will just be a middle-of-the-pack team until the Tucks get some firepower... should be good enough for 3rd or 4th in the standings.

Red Bluff Red Sox
This Year: 5th Place (78-76) (22 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (88-66) (8 GB)
Two Years Ago: 4th Place (88-66) (10 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 8 (last postseason appearances were a 4-year string from 2044 to 2047... reached the TU Finals each year and lost to Pro Cup champ... Southport whipped them in '44, '45 and '47... Hartsdale in '46)
Pro Cups: 1 (captured only Pro Cup in 2005... tamed Sugar Valley in 7 games)

Team Stats: .254 BA (28th), 702 runs (22nd), 176 HR (6th), 4.04 ERA (19th), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: LF Toni Kolkov (.274 BA/43 HR/104 RBI/116 R/10 SB), 3B Dazzy Bevis (.257/23/104/79/19 SB), CF Dane Summer (.265/20/70/89/45 SB), SS Monty Lyons (.288/19/60/84/22 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Felix Delatte (18-13/3.23), Sonny Wheat (17-12/4.13), Julius Eccleston (12-13/3.69)... nothing much in the bullpen

Forecast: Ike Sweetwater is at the helm of the Red Sox... has had a very good team the last few years, but may be on the decline... he has a lackluster starting rotation, no bullpen... may be hard put to be a first-division team next season.

High Mesa Mustangs
This Year: 6th Place (72-82) (28 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (82-72) (14 GB)
Two Years Ago: 3rd Place (91-63) (7 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (last playoff appearance was in 2048 when they lost in the first round 4-1 to eventual Pro Cup winner Rolling Hills)
Pro Cups: 1 (High Mesa swept Elnora in 3 games in 2002... Pro Cup Finals were a best-of-three at that time)

Team Stats: .258 BA (25th), 792 runs(6th), 203 HR (2nd), 4.32 ERA (25th), .969 FA (poor defense)

Top Batters: All-Star LF Joe Duplantis (.303 BA/40 HR/112 RBI/89 R/5 SB), CF Tracy McGriff (.286/26/87/86/8 SB), RF Dix McIntosh (.291/22/57/51), 3B Kagetoki Miyazaki (.307/22/56/61/3 SB), RF Mo Modjewski (.274/20/62/66/10 SB), SS Tommy Yost (.278/18/68/85)

Top Pitchers: starters Dickie Sternfeld (15-6/3.27), Tuffy Hammel (14-17/3.61)... not much in bullpen

Forecast: IPA all-time great slugger Jack Elliott is the Mustangs manager... he has a home-run hitting club, but doesn't have a lot on the hill... team may have peaked two years ago with third place finish... headed for the lower end of the Tycobbian East.

Hillsboro Blazers
This Year: 7th Place (68-86) (32 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (86-66) (10 GB)
Two Years Ago: 1st Place (98-56)
Playoff Appearances: 1 (only made the playoffs one time... 2051... dropped a first round series 4-3 to eventual IPA champ Arlon.
Pro Cups: None

Team Stats: .234 BA (32nd), 646 runs (28th), 192 HR (4th), 4.18 ERA (23rd), .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: RF Eli Nickerson (.295 BA/29 HR/65 RBI/75 R/17 SB), 2B Bob Foster (.288/19/76/71/7 SB), 1B Ernie Moxley (.217/31/72/66), CF Vern Hodge (.289/18/51/56)

Top Pitchers: starters Clay Spencer (13-10/3.42), Steve Cooper (12-16/3.23), Hank Greenberry (11-17/3.92)... bullpen Ron Pryor (10-4/3.69/7 saves/52 G)

Forecast: manager Andy Jefferson had Hillsboro on top of the world in 2051 when came out of nowhere and captured the Tycobbian East pennant... they were in the first division last year, but have returned to mediocrity in 2053... the Blazers depend totally on home runs... the pitching which was quite good in '53 has fallen off to just lackluster... looks like the Hillsboro is headed for the bottom rungs in the division... not a rosy future.

Ozarka Naturals
This Year: 8th Place (61-93) (39 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (70-84) (26 GB)
Two Years Ago: 7th Place (77-77) (21 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 15 (last pennant was in 2040 when the Nats lost to Summerland in the Tycobbian title series... the Sunsets in the 7-game IPA Finals by the Ranford Bulls)
Pro Cups: None (but Ozarka has made the Pro Cup Finals on 5 occasions: '11, '12, '16, '19, '20)

Team Stats: .266 BA (15th), 686 runs (25th), 114 HR (24th-tied), 4.04 ERA (20th), .969 FA (poor defense)

Top Batters: SS Foxy Alderson (.28 BA/12 HR/81 RBI/78 R/10 SB), LF Donny Joe Jacks (.313/12/56/82/14 SB), 1B Sookie Lagerberg (.260/18/62/64)/3 SB), RF Scotty Hanlon (.250/16/72/67/16 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Carl Hemus (15-19/3.48), Marlin Mathewson (13-19/3.98), Jason Mayes (12-9/3.92)... bullpen Jim Greene (7-9/2.36/15 saves/52 G)

Forecast: manager Jaak Pajukivi's team is short on talent with 9 straight seasons in the second division... 4 times in the TU East basement... and it looks like more of the same... just a humdrum team in all respects.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2053

DC REDBIRDS BEST IN TU WEST
13 seasons have come and gone since the Denton City Redbirds (89-65) flew sky high in the Tycobbian West Division... but they were the best in the west this year, taking the title by 6 games over the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (83-71), 8 games better than the La Claire Lynx (81-73) and 9 up on the Chicopee Braves (80-74)... it was a decent 4-team race at mid-year... the Lynx were just a game behind... but they flopped in July and fell out of contention... the Braves trailed by 7 games, but couldn't make up any ground on the Redbirds in the second half of the year... the Bayview Vikings (64-90) were in the fourth spot and 8 games off the pace at the All-Star Game, but spiraled into oblivion in the second half with a 26-51 mark and wound up in the TU West basement... the Buccaneers didn't play well in the first half, falling 11 games out at midseason, but could have been the best team in the division the second half... Denton City is capable of sneaking up on the Tycobbian upper crust Turon (101-53) and Midway (100-54), the teams favored to make the most noise in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... fine pitching and good hitting could send the Redbirds soaring in the postseason.

DENTON CITY REDBIRDS
This Year: 1st Place (89-65)
Last Year: 6th Place (67-87) (24 GB)
2 Years Ago: 2nd Place (82-72) (6 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 9 (last pennant came in 2040... lost in first round)
Pro Cups: None (lost twice in Pro Cup Finals... 2005 to Middlefield in 5 games... and in 2008 to Wynnamac in 6)

Team Stats: .272 BA (12th), 809 runs (4th), 164 HR (9th), 3.28 ERA (3rd), .971 FA (fair defense)

Top Batters: SS Vincent McCloud (.313 BA/23 HR/89 RBI/110 R/10 SB), CF Harper Catlow (.320/34/104/105/22 SB), 3B Ronny Lambert (.290/11/58/93/16 SB), 1B Val Anniston (.295/22/71/86), RF Tristan Redgrave (.351/17/72/80/11 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters All-Star Flash Stringfellow (21-10/2.53), Johnny Wingate (21-8/2.67), Jayson Mannon (15-18/3.34), Harry Elliott (14-13/4.08)... bullpen Razzy Richmond (1-1/1.95/6 saves/28 G), Freddy O'Neal (4-2/0.78/4 saves/25 G)

Forecast: manager Pete Gibbs has an aging mound corps... needs some young arms to stay in contention... despite this, he still has a fine team that should test the powers-that-be in this year's playoffs... Turon, Midway and Oxford beware... his starting rotation is solid... so is his relief corps... plus the Redbirds can put the bat on the the ball and put runs on the scoreboard.

BAY ST. CLAIR BUCCANEERS
This Year: 2nd Place (83-71) (6 GB)
Last Year: 3rd Place (80-74) (11 GB)
Two Years Ago: 3rd Place (82-72) (6 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 11 (made postseason twice in recent years... '49 and '50... defeated by Pro Cup Finalist White River in 6 games in 2050)
Pro Cups: None (closest Pro Cup came in 2015... lost in Finals to IPA champ Taranto 5 games)

Team Stats: .262 BA (20th), 781 runs (7th), 158 HR (12th), 3.93 ERA (14th), .976 FA (good defense)

Top Batters: CF Don Holliday (.243 BA/31 HR/111 RBI/79 R/10 SB), LF Jed Killick (.282/39/101/97/2 SB), C Hersh Cranmore (.284/16/97/58), 1B Clive Caveness (.272/23/83/83), RF Stan Kovalenko (.288/19/74/113/14 SB), 3B Trace Burney (.286/12/63/87/12 SB), SS Pip Blaylock (.287/7/53/79/21 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Alex Brown (17-12/4.04), Dion Hawkins (12-14/3.18)... bullpen Cadillac Bogart (11-4/1.78/13 saves/58 G), Ian Abercrombie (8-6/1.99/6 saves/71 G), Steve Swanwick (2-2/1.68/9 saves/29 G)

Forecast: skipper Cotton Cornwall has a sound ballclub... solid core of hitters, super bullpen, but only average starters... fairly young team... is set to be a division contender for the next few years... could give Denton City a run for the pennant next year.

La Claire Lynx
This Year: 3rd Place (81-73 (8 GB)
Last Year: 8th Place (58-96) (33 GB)
Two Years Ago: 6th Place (65-89) (23 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 4 (it's been 15 years since the Lynx made the playoffs... did it in '37 and '38
Pro Cups: None (pushed powerful Pro Cup champ North Hills to 7 games in 2038 Tycobbian title series)

Team Stats: .276 BA (8th), 712 runs (18th), 114 HR (24th-tied), 4.22 ERA (24th), .973 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: RF Whit Miley (.302 BA/17 HR/77 RBI/90 R/16 SB), SS Frisco Thorpe (.263/24/106/85/7 SB), 2B Derek Winchester (.310/5/59/81/17 SB), C Kade Vadar (.306/10/55/62), 3B Mickey Dennis (.302/16/76/54/3 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Jacques Guichard (11-3/3.04)... bullpen Derrick Kajlich (9-5/2.91/19 saves/48 G), Trey Pless (5-2/2.61/10 saves/29 G)

Forecast: manager Flash Devlin, HOF 3B, has just a little above average hitting team with not a lot of home-run power... pitching is weak except for a good bullpen... should contend for 2nd-3rd place in the coming year... could challenge Denton City for TU West crown if a pitcher or two comes through for them.

Chicopee Braves
This Year: 4th Place (80-74) (9 GB)
Last Year: 5th Place (71-83) (20 GB)
Two Years Ago: 5th Place (73-81) (15 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 3 (won pennants in '34, '35, '36)
Pro Cups: None (but did do well in the postseason... lost to the IPA champs in those three years... 2034 - beaten by powerful IPA champ North Hills in 7 games in Tycobbian title game... 2035 - fell to IPA champ Tuckanarra in first round in 7-game series... 2036 - upended in 6 games in Tycobbian title game by IPA champ North Hills)


Team Stats: .282 BA (3rd), 805 runs (5th), 116 HR (22nd-tied), 4.12 ERA (22nd), .969 (poor defense)

Top Batters: 2B Tex Whatley (.283/24/105/81/2 SB), LF Adam Maxson (.333 BA/15 HR/71 RBI/65 R/4 SB), 3B Frank Luckett (.286/15/67/51/15 SB), RF Rico Visaggi (.321/4/64/59/4 B), SS Derrell Stelly (.287/18/61/69/1 SB), LF Travis Ledger (.327/5/42/58/14 SB), CF Johnny Helwig (.310/8/38/61/7 SB)

Top Pitchers: starters Sharlon Barbour (19-16/3.09), Manny Spaulding (19-14/4.73)... bullpen Chipper Gilton (8-8/1.90/16 saves/52 G)

Forecast: manager Augie Meaux has a fine hitting team, but is short on the longball element... needs improvement on the hill and on defense before he is a pennant contender... offense really carries the club... middle-of-the-pack team with a shot at the first division.

Arlon Champions
This Year: 5th Place (78-76) (11 GB)
Last Year: 2nd Place (90-64) (1 GB)
Two Years Ago: 1st Place (88-66)
Playoff Appearances: 6 (last pennant was recently... won IPA title in '51)
Pro Cups: 1 (2051- whipped Waleska in 6 games for team's only Pro Cup trophy)

Team Stats: .273 BA (10th), 746 runs (12th), 163 HR (10th-tied), 3.91 ERA (13th), .970 FA (fair defense)

Top Batters: 1B P. J. Flagg (.305 BA/25 HR/95 RBI/77 R/4 SB), 2B Leon Normand (.290/19/74/58), SS Art Catlin (.290/18/69/70/5 SB, C Riley Earnshaw (.293/9/53/60)

Top Pitchers: starters J. C. Hilburn (20-14/3.80), Ty Coffee (17-17/2.93), Erik Branham (15-20/4.05), Lanny Gray (14-8/4.34)... nothing worth mentioning in the bullpen

Forecast: manager Mark Cameron has seen his club fall from IPA champ to 5th place in just a couple of seasons... his pitching has drastically declined from 2.81 ERA to 3.91 ERA... while his hitting and offense has picked up quite a bit... not likely to win the pennant, but the Champions could finish in the TU West first division next year.

Kenwood Wildcats
This Year: 6th Place (70-84) (19 GB)
Last Year: 1st Place (91-63)
Two Years Ago: 7th Place (65-89) (23 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 10 (most recent pennant in '52)
Pro Cups: 1 (won only Pro Cup trophy in 2014, defeating Belair Beach in 7 games... lost to the eventual IPA champ: Tuckanarra in '24, North Hills in '41 and South Fork in '42)

Team Stats: .276 BA (9th), 704 runs (20th-tied), 127 HR (19th-tied), 4.40 ERA (26th), .972 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: LF William Gloucester (.321 BA/12 HR/60 RBI/74 R/14 SB), SS Kiko Vidal (.282/18/80/74/7 SB), 3B Bailey Brumley (.287/7/70/65/6 SB), 1B Bralen Connolly (.302/17/70/57), C Corky DiNozzo (.307/17/59/54)

Top Pitchers: starters Rusty Bradford (16-15/4.11), Emmitt Oates (15-15/3.84)... bad bullpen

Forecast: manager Babe Hankins will retire after this season and turn the reins over to superstar catcher Corky DiNozzo (.314 BA/628 HR/1711 RBI/1413 R), a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer... DiNozzo inherits a team with average bats and mediocre pitchers... the best the Wildcats can expect is a slim shot at the first division... that's all... mostly likely will remain in the second division... 5th or 6th.

Rolling Hills Reds
This Year: 7th Place (67-87) (22 GB)
Last Year: 4th Place (72-82) (19 GB)
Two Years Ago: 4th Place (80-74) (8 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 11 (defeated by eventual IPA champ three times... first round in '25 to South Fork... Tycobbian Finals in '27 to Southport... Tycobbian Finals in '32 to San Alejo)
Pro Cups: 3 (swept Stoner Stars in 2029... topped Valmara in 2031 in 6... and defeated Claxton Diamonds in 2048 in 5 games)

Team Stats: .267 BA (13th), 722 runs (15th-tied), 152 HR (14th), 4.73 ERA (30th), .974 FA (average defense)

Top Batters: SS Dustin Thibodeau (.307 BA/25 HR/95 RBI/94 R/12 SB), 1B Darwin Tard (.285/19/79/79/8 SB), RF Orin Phillips (.263/23/72/57/4 SB), C Ryan Nelms (.239/24/64/56), 3B Taddy McKeown (.333/12/56/58), 2B Adam Hynes (.303/3/44/75/23 SB), CF Harv Gatehouse (.258/20/63/53/5 SB)

Top Pitchers: starter Johnny Howard (17-17/3.70)... bullpen Matty Mosby (4-0/2.70/6 saves/29 G)

Forecast: manager and HOF third sacker Billy Christianson has terrible pitching and just an average offense... average defense, too... slated to end up near the bottom of the TU West in the forseeable future... pitching is just too bad.

Bayview Vikings
This Year: 8th Place (64-90) (25 GB)
Last Year: 7th Place (65-89) (26 GB)
Two Years Ago: 8th Place (45-109) (43 GB)
Playoff Appearances: 6 (haven't made the playoffs since 2016)
Pro Cups: None (lost to eventual IPA champ three times... in 2003 to Turon in Elite 8... in 2006 to Turon in Final 4 (Tycobbian Final series)... in 2007 Oxford in TU Finals)

Team Stats: .259 BA (24th), 766 runs (8th), 167 HR (7th), 4.90 ERA (32nd), .969 FA (poor defense)

Top Batters: RF Vern Woodcock (.267 BA/25 HR/74 RBI/66 R/5 SB), C Lou Fairhead (.255/24/94/77/2 SB), 1B Eddie Beeman (.273/18/64/66/4 SB), SS Bing Wolverton (.290/14/68/60)

Top Pitchers: starter Arlo Lounsberry (16-14/4.48)... bullpen Wayne Stewart (6-10/3.18/12 saves/52 G)

Forecast: manager and HOF infielder Jerry Culpepper (.304 BA, 878 HR/2170 RBI/1739 R), IPA all-time leading home run slugger, has an atrocious team... very little to boast about... destined for deep depths of the division for quite some time.

:eatpop: :)

The hard work is done... now I get to enjoy myself with the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... I'll preview the teams and create a Pro Cup Prediction poll... then play out all of the games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2053

PRO CUP UP FOR GRABS
Playoff time in the Islands is magical... the 8 division winners tangling in a free-for-all for the IPA Pro Cup trophy, the Holy Grail of Islandian baseball... and it all begins tomorrow afternoon... in the Ruthlandian Union, the defending IPA champion Middlefield Roosters (99-55) will be at home at Middlefield Park against the Wynnamac Sundowners (89-65)... and the Taranto Tars (103-51), the winningest club this year, host the Waleska Westerners (90-64) at the tiny bandbox, the Palazzo di Sport... on the western half of the main Island in the Tycobbian Union, the Turon Typhoons (101-53) will entertain the visiting Oxford Red Caps (91-63) at Typhoon Stadium... and the Midway Wolves (100-54) take on the Denton City Redbirds (89-65) at Joe Wolf Stadium... all series in the Pro Cup playoffs are best-of-seven with the team with the best regular season record given the home field advantage.

Last year in the championship series Middlefield topped the East Point Panthers in six games, winning four games to two... the Roosters got to the Pro Cup Finals by defeating Wynnamac 4 games to 2 in the RU Division Series... and just barely beat out the tough Taranto Tars in the Ruthlandian Championship Series 4 games to 3... longball firepower and clutch pitching proved to be decisive for the Roosters... they were the prime reasons they captured the IPA title.

In 2052 pitching ace, Carroll Collier, led Middlefield to the peak of perfection in the Islands... he led them to the IPA Pro Cup title, emblematic of the best team in Islandia... it has been 47 long years since they won their first in 2005... for his postseason efforts Collier was voted the 2052 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player, edging out teammates Trip Agarn and Natty Colclough in a close vote for the honor... Collier registered a brilliant 6-0 record with sensational 1.46 ERA, posting wins in the 7th game of the Ruthlandian LCS over tough and tenacious Taranto... and finishing off powerful East Point in the 6th game of the Pro Cup Finals... in the regular season Collier chalked up a 16-8 mark with a 3.57 ERA, but he came alive in the postseason and stepped it up to a super level... in his career Collier is 193-138 with an impressive 2.99 ERA.

Winding up second in the Pro Cup MVP balloting was Middlefield's fine 24-year-old slugger, Trip Agarn... the Rooster left fielder paced them at the plate with 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored and a .299 BA in 19 games... coming in third in the voting was Middlefield's 29-year-old second baseman Natty Colclough, who batted .350 with 7 roundtrippers, 15 ribbies and 21 runs scored... during the regular campaign Agarn batted .299 with 37 HRs and 117 RBIs and Colclough hit .254 with 21 HRs and 90 RBIs.

And all of them will be back again defending their title and trying to take the Pro Cup in back-to-back years... other returning star sluggers Rufus Blackburn, Johnny Wyatt and Stan Radzikowski will also be in the Rooster lineup... on the hill the Rooster rotation will feature veteran stars James Long, Hollis Dale and Larry Wheelhouse... Middlefield will probably be the favorite to win the Pro Cup this year... but it will be a daunting task with the likes of Taranto, Midway and Turon.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2053

ROOSTERS RULE IN PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
There could be a rooster ruling the roost again in the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs... or there could be a wolf in the henhouse... whoever survives will be put to the test... Middlefield won the IPA crown last year with its home-run power, but it was a struggle getting past Wynnamac, Taranto and East Point... they lost 7 games last year in the postseason... it certainly will be another hassle this year for the overall IPA champion.

The powerhouses Middlefield, Taranto, Midway and Turon will be the odds-on favorites with their high-scoring attacks and strong pitching... the other playoff clubs Wynnamac, Waleska, Denton City and Oxford are lacking one of the two elements needed to win - offense or pitching.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES released its annual Pro Cup Predictions today... the baseball experts are ranking the reigning IPA champion Middlefield Roosters #1, followed by the Taranto Tars #2, Midway Wolves #3 and Turon Typhoons #4... the also-ran will be the Wynnamac Sundowners, Waleska Westerners, Denton City Redbirds and the Oxford Red Caps.

#1 MIDDLEFIELD ROOSTERS (99-55): Strong bats, pitching and very good defense make them a formidable foe in the IPA playoffs... Middlefield has won two Pro Cups... might be #3 this year... but it won't be easy to get past Wynnamac's fine pitching staff in round one or by Taranto in the Ruthlandian Championship Series... James Long (23-12/2.37), Hollis Dale (22-10/3.30), last year's Pro Cup MVP Carroll Collier (12-12/3.19), along with sluggers Rufus Blackburn (45 HR/114 RBI), Johnny Wyatt (40 HR/133 RBI), Natty Colclough (30 HR/91 RBI), SS Stan Radzikowski (28 HR/102 RBI) and Trip Agarn (26 HR/95 RB) are ready to roll again... the Roosters played well in September after a cool August... Middlefield has made the playoffs 16 times, winning 2 Pro Cups in '05 and last year.

#2 Taranto Tars (103-51): best record in the IPA this year... team features standout staff, a lineup full of fireworks and an excellent defense... last year fought Middlefield tooth-and-nail in the Ruthlandian title series before losing four games to three... twirlers Armani Pizziconi (25-9/3.0-9), Valerio Rossi (15-9/2.68), Freddy DeAngelis (17-12/3.17), Louis Toscano (3-4/2.13/17 saves/36 G) and a big batch of batters like Renzo Caruso (.37 HR/85 RBI), Niccolo Parisi (.30 HR/73 RBI), Kuma Toyota (29 HR/73 RBI) and Gaetano Palombo (18 HR/61 RBI) are poised and ripe for winning its second Pro Cup trophy... they won the first one in 2015... the Tars are really playing well and with a lot of momentum... may have been the best team in the IPA the second half of the season... this will be the 6th time Taranto has made the postseason... the Tars won their only Pro Cup trophy in 2015... the long-suffering fans are ready for another one.

#3 Midway Wolves (100-54): could have the best rotation and bullpen in the IPA with Yank Atchley (15-7/2.39), Charlie Chase (27-10/2.51), Will DeBerry (25-10/3.25), Beau McCloud (18-10/3.38), Rocket Rhodes (7-4/2.22/13 saves/36 G) and Jeffrey Leonard (4-2/0.36/8 saves/21 G)... some good batters, too, with Kax Clark (.368 BA/17 HR/88 R), Daryl Vale (.332/21 HR/62 RBI), Tom Goodnight (.289 BA/21 HR/86 RBI) and Jamey Southwick (.263 BA/25 HR/70 RBI)... Midway is just an average team with the gloves... only had a so-so month in September...first playoff appearance in years and years... last pennant came in '27... the Wolves are really hungry for their first Pro Cup trophy.

#4 Turon Typhoons (101-53): one of the best franchises in the IPA with 16 postseason appearances and 4 Pro Cups (2003, 2006, 2009, 2018)... talented club that is heading in the playoffs playing very well... an impressive attack with good contact hitters, can score runs, but lacks longball power... good defensively... top-notch starters... fair bullpen... offensive leaders are Stoyo Yuro (.316 BA/18 HR/81 RBI), Gaylen Clive (.327 BA/3 HR/61 RBI), Joel Guidry (.289 BA/16 HR/96 RBI) and Doyle Ashcroft (.279 BA/19 HR/114 RBI)... top staffers are Nate Scottsdale (25-10/2.77), Glenn Avery (23-12/3.39) and rookie Yancey Hedges (8-4/2.81), who missed the first half of the season with an injury... not as highly heralded as the trio of Middlefield, Taranto and Midway.

#5 Wynnamac Sundowners (89-65): team possesses some fine starters in Sammy Hayes (23-24/2.26), Simon Northcott (22-10/2.50), James Duncan (15-14/2.79) and George Medworth (11-11/3.49)... not a lot in the bullpen... gave IPA champ Middlefield fits last year in the postseason, but it wasn't the pitching... it flopped last year in the playoffs... gave up 14 homers and 56 runs in 6 games and lost the series 4-2... the Sundowners are a modest hitting club with Dickie Key (.299 HR/21 HR/96 RBI), Enos Benham (.353 BA/13 HR/60 RBI) and C Jethro Bibbs (.301 BA/7 HR/58 RBI) the best of the lot... WMACs have average fielding... not likely to get past powerful Middlefield in opening round... the one and only Pro Cup came years ago in 2008... Wynnamac will be making its 9th postseason appearance.

#6 Waleska Westerners (90-64): same boat as Wynnamac... fairly good pitching corps, but not a lot of offense to go with it... defense is just fair... the Westerners put up a fight last year against Taranto in the round one, but lost 4 games to 2... might be even harder this year as the Tars really are a fine team with Pro Cup potential... but if they are right Kenny Foster (20-12/3.11), Vince Gibson (25-11/2.57), Trey Earnest (13-10/3.18) and Lou Carlson (11-15/3.45) could throw a monkey wrench into the Tars' title aspirations... the pitchers will have to do it all... runs don't come easy for Waleska... no power, but decent contact hitters... defense is just fair at best... most productive batters are Boomer Barnes (.275 BA/14 HR/70 RBI), Jingo Jernigan (.303 BA/8 HR/65 RBI), Richie Fry (.331 BA/1 HR/42 RBI) and Hisashi Yamaguchi (.289 BA/3 HR/57 RBI)... the Westerners have done well in the Pro Cup playoffs winning 3 IPA crowns (2028, 2037, 2039) and have made the postseason 9 times... this will be the third year in a row they have won the division flag... but it will be a tough task to take Taranto.

#7 Denton City Redbirds (89-65): two veterans Flash Stringfellow (21-10/2.53) and Johnny Wingate (21-8/2.67) make the Redbirds a dangerous team... if Harry Elliott (14-13/4.08) has his good stuff, they could challenge the Midway Wolves... Denton City ranked third in pitching and fourth in scoring runs, but is just an average fielding club... the top guns at bat are Harper Catlow (.262 BA/34 HR/104 RBI), Vincent McCloud (.313 BA/23 HR/110 RBI), Tristan Redgrave (.351 BA/17 HR/72 RBI), Val Anniston (.295 BA/22 HR/71 RBI) and Ronnie Lambert (.290 BA/11 HR/58 RBI)... the Midway hurlers better be ready... the Redbird bats will test them... Denton City will be making its 10th postseason appearance, the first in 13 seasons... it has never won a Pro Cup trophy.

#8 Oxford Red Caps (91-63): the Red Caps played well in the second half of the season and are ready for the playoffs... Turon was favored over them in the first round action last year, but Oxford knocked them off in a mild surprise 4 games to one... the Red Caps will still be underdogs this year... but Oxford still has the same explosive attack that eliminated Turon last season... the Red Caps tied Middlefield for the top-scoring team in the IPA this year... Look out, Turon, Ozzy Ackerman (.252 BA/40 HR/111 RBI), Ethan Cuthbert (.329 BA/32 HR/89 RBI), Dwayne Wagner (.282 BA/24 HR/99 RBI), Cliff Nilssen (.315 BA/1 HR/49 RBI) and Mito Fujikawa (.272 BA/14 HR/79 RBI) are coming back at you again... on the mound Oxford has one truly fine pitcher Rudy Mellancamp (27-3/1.97), who posted one of the best season's ever in IPA history... but he can't win it all by himself... he will need a lot of help from Lou Ellison (19-15/3.73) and Homer Keaton (8-4/3.97) to upset the Turon Typhoons again... the Red Caps have better-than-average pitching and just average defense, but their bats are blazing... Oxford has only made the playoffs 6 times in its history, most of them long ago in the early years of the IPA... they have captured one Pro Cup... that was long ago, too, in 2007... their series against Turon just might be a toss-up.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 25, 2053

IPA KING ROOSTERS REIGN IN OPENER
It was clear, sunny and 83 - a perfect day for baseball at Middlefield Park - and the hometown fans left happy... they saw their Middlefield Roosters, the reigning king of IPA baseball, shut out the Wynnamac Sundowners 3-0 in game one of the Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series... 33-year-old right-handier James Long stopped the Sundowners cold on five hits, struck out nine batters , while walking just two... 23-game winner Long was the master of the day, outpitching another tough customer 23-game winner Sammy Hayes... a two-run homer by CF Johnny Wyatt in the opening frame was all that Hayes allowed in seven strong innings.,, last year's Pro Cup champion could only muster seven hits off two Wyannamac pitchers.

LOSBY HR SAVES THE DAY FOR TARS IN GAME 1
It was a breezy day at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto with the wind blowing in, where the Tars took a classic pitchers' duel from the Waleska Westerners 2-1, winning the game on an 8th-inning two-run smash by RF Cody Losby... his liner gave Valerio Rossi the victory over Vince Gibson... in eight sharp innings Rossi restricted the Westerners to just three hits, whiffed five batters and walked only one... Louie Toscano garnered the save with a flawless 9th... Gibson was almost as good as Rossi, permitting just two runs on seven hits, while going the distance... Waleska snapped the scoreless game in the top of the 6th when SS Jingo Jernigan tripled and scored on 3B Richie Fry's RBI grounder.

MELLANCAMP MOWS DOWN TURON IN 1ST GAME
Coming off a brilliant 27-3 season Oxford's Rudy Mellancamp rolled up a 7-3 win over the tough Turon Typhoons in the first game of the best-of-seven Tycobbian Division Series at Typhoon Stadium, going the distance and scattering eight hits, while fanning seven batters and walking none... 25-game winner Nate Scottsdale didn't have his best stuff and the Red Caps whacked him for 13 hits and five runs in six innings... Scottsdale departed on the short end of a 5-0 score... Turon is one of the Pro Cup favorites, along with current champ Middlefield, Taranto and Midway... 3B Cedric Qualls and C Giles Gilliam sparked the Red Caps with home runs... Qualls drove in three runs and Gilliam two.

REDBIRDS NIP WOLVES IN OPENING GAME
In the opening game of the Tycobbian Division Championship Series at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway, the Denton City Redbirds nipped the Wolves 5-4 by builting up a 5-2 margin at the end of five frames and then holding off a late rallly... the Redbirds outhit them 11 to 8, while Flash Stringfellow, a 21-game winner, got the best of 27-game winner Charlie Chase... Stringfellow notched the win, working seven innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs... he departed with a 5-3 lead... Razzy Richmond saved it for him with one and two-thirds scoreless innings... he retired all five batters he faced... losing pitcher Chase was socked for nine hits and five runs in seven frames.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 26, 2053

ROOSTERS EDGE WMACS WITH 4 HRS
Wynnamac took the lead 4-2 in the top of the 9th on a three-run blast by Tate Bretton, but it wasn't good enough... IPA champion Middlefield came right back with back-to-back roundtrippers and stole a 5-4 victory and are now up two games to none in the best-of-seven RU Division Championship Series.... LF Rufus Blackburn (.250) crashed a two-run homer to tie the score at 4-all, then RF Trip Agarn (.222) sent the game-winner soaring out of the park to the delight of the Rooster fans at Middlefield Park... two 20-game winners tangled and kept it close... Simon Northcott left after seven innings and held Middlefield to two runs on seven hits, while Hollis Dale worked into the 9th, stopped the Sundowners on two runs and eight hits in eight and one-third innings... Norman Coventry won it despite being slammed for two runs in the top of the 9th and lost the lead... Garan Paran suffered the loss... the Roosters ripped four homers... besides Blackburn and Agarn, 2B Natty Coclough (.200) and CF Johnny Wyatt (.571) also went deep... it was Wyatt's second clout in the series... Wynnamac skipper Jerry Meeks is hoping to get back into the series as it switches to the Sundowners' home field, Granger Park, for the next three games.

TARS UP 2-0 ON ARMISTEAD'S BLAST IN 14TH
Six homers flew out of the tiny Palazzo di Sport in Taranto with the hometown Tars blasting four of them and coming away with a hard-earned 6-5 triumph over the Waleska Westerners... light-hitting SS Dan Armistead crushed one in the bottom of the 14th frame to send Taranto to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Ruthlandian Division Championship Series... Mario Martinelli got credit for the win with three shutout innings... CF Renzo Caruso (.400) hit two out of the park for the Tars and batted in three scores... 3B Gaetano Palombo (.222) also added a solo shot... 2B Richie Fry (.100) kept the Westerners in the game with a three-run clout in the top of the 9th to send it to extra innings... RF Boomer Barnes also hit one out for Waleska.

TYPHOONS EVENS TU SERIES, AVERY WINNER
Turon's Glenn Avery evened the series with Oxford at one game apiece, hurling a 5-1 victory in game two at Typhoon Stadium... Avery, who won 23 games in the regular season, tamed the Red Caps on six hits, struck out five and walked two batters, while going all the way... 3B Joel Guidry (.500) pounded two homers and batted in three runs to back up Aviery's fine performance... Oxford starter Lou Ellison was the losing hurler... the Typhoons tapped him for five runs in his six innings... six walks really got him in trouble... Turon only got three hits off of him, but two of them were homers... the two clubs will change venues... games three, four and five will be played at Winchester Park in Oxford.

MIDWAY KNOTS SERIES WITH DC AT 1-1
Midway and Denton City split the first two games of the Tycobbian DCS... the Wolves knotted it up at one game each with a 6-3 decision at Joe Wolf Park... now the series will head to Denton City for games three through five... game two featured a fine outing by Yank Atchley, who held the Redbirds to five hits, while chalking up 6 Ks and walking only one batter... Atchley went the route... Midway's top hitters were CF Ernesto Diaz (.300) with a two-run homer and SS Kax Clark (.500) with three hits, two runs and an RBI... 21-game winner Johnny Wingate bit the dust... the Wolves slammed him hard for 12 hits and six runs in just six innings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 27, 2053

ROOSTERS NEAR SWEEP, UP 3-0
Playing on the road at Granger Park in Wynnamac, the current Pro Cup champion Middlefield Roosters moved closer to knocking off the Sundowners in the Ruthlandian DCS... in a tense 10-inning game the Roosters pulled out a 3-2 win to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series... the Middlefield fans are breaking out the brooms for game four... an error by second baseman Danny McDougal (.970 FA) was the Sundowners downfall... LF Rufus Blackburn (.375) singled off reliever Duncan Heathershaw (0-1) to lead off the 10th... McDougal then botched CF Johnny Wyatt's (417) grounder and put runners on first and second... RF Trip Agarn (.357) hit into a force play at second with Blackburn moving to third base... 3B Natty Colclough (.100) grounded into another force play at second base and Wyatt scored the go-ahead run when Wynnamac failed to complete the double play... Yazzy Yastrzemski (1-0) notched the victory, but gave up the tying run in the last of the 9th... game four will also be played at Granger Park in Wynnamac.

TARS TRIM WESTERNERS, BROOM TIME
It was another pressure-filled playoff game at Westerner Field where the visiting Taranto Tars trimmed Waleska 2-1 in game three of the Ruthlandian Division Championship Series... it's also broom time in this series... Taranto is totally in the driver's seat with a 3-0 edge in the best-of-seven series... one more victory by the Tars and the Westerners will call it a season... Taranto got a standout job from number three starter Freddy DeAngelis (1-0), who held Waleska to just one run on five singles, struck out six batters and walked only one... Westerner starter Trey Earnest (0-2) was pretty tough, too... he worked seven innings, allowed only two runs and eight hits, while fanning six and walking two... both clubs got fine pitching... Taranto drew first blood in the top of the 3rd on a solo homer by RF Cody Losby (.467)... it was his 2nd of the series... Waleska evened it up 1-all in the last of the 5th... C Jimmy Butler (.182) walked, was bunted to second and came home on a two-out base hit by 2B Richie Fry (.143)... a single by Taranto LF Kuma Toyota (.187) and 1B Phil Wilson's (.250) provided the winning score in the 6th... that was all the runs winning pitcher Freddy DeAngelis needed... he blanked the Westerners over the final four frames to seal the verdict... Taranto will try and sweep the series this afternoon at Westerner Field in Waleska.

HEDGES HURLS SHUTOUT, TURON TAKES LEAD 2-1
In game three of the Tycobbian Division Championship Series, Turon got an extraordiinary mound performance from young 24-year-old Yancey Hedges, who hurled a 4-hit shutout, blanking the Oxford Red Caps 4-0 at Winchester Park.. that gave the Typhoons a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series... hot-hitting Oxford had trouble handling his mid-90's fastball... Hedges (1-0) was in command, walking none and striking out one... Turon collected 11 hits and was led by clean-up hitter Joel Guidry (.455), who socked his 3rd roundtripper of the series and batted in a pair of runs... Doyle Ashcroft (.462) also drove in two runs in the 3-run 4th that pretty much put away the Red Caps... Homer Keaton (0-1) caught the loss, going six innings, but only allowed two earned runs.

MANNON MOPS UP ON MIDWAY, GIVES DC LEAD
Playing at home at Douglas Denton Field, the underdog Denton City Redbirds got a rock-solid start from the number three man in the rotation, Jayson Mannon, and took a 2-1 lead over the favored Midway Wolves in the Tycobbian first-round matchup in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... junk-balling Mannon (1-0) mopped up on the Wolves 4-1, limiting them to just one run on seven hits with five Ks and only one base on balls... the Redbirds only got five hits, but it was enough... LF Paul McMahon (.667) and 2B Rich Prince (.333) broke up a scoreless duel with back-to-back two-baggers in the last of the fifth... they also posted three more on the scoreboard in the next frame on a two-run double by 1B Val Anniston (.200) and an RBI single by McMahon... 25-game winning left-hander Will DeBerry (0-1) was pinned with the defeat, smacked for four runs and five hits in seven frames.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 28, 2053

ROOSTERS ADVANCE, SWEEP WYNNAMAC
Down three games to none Wynnamac never had a chance in game four... the reigning Pro Cup holder Middlefield massacred the Sundowners 10-1 to sweep the RU Division Championship Series... James Long (2-0/0.00) was touched for nine hits, but Wynnamac only got one run of of him and it wasn't even earned... Long went the distance for the second time in the series, struck out five batters and walked no one... mighty Middlefield, favored to take its second straight IPA crown, pounded out 15 hits in the rout with RF Rufus Blackburn (.500) going 3-4 with three runs and three RBIs... 1B Bubby Cranmore (.267) and SS Stan Radzikowski (.250) both garnered three hits and scored a pair of runs... the Roosters will now take on the Taranto- Waleska winner for the Ruthlandian title and the right to play in the Pro Cup Finals against the champion of the Tycobbian Union... Blackburn was hurt flagging down a deep fly ball... no word yet on how serious it was... his loss would put a huge damper on the Roosters repeating as Pro Cup titlist... not too many teams can replace a player who hit 45 home runs and batted in 114 runs.

Sundowner skipper Jerry Meeks told reporters, "All you hear about is how good the Roosters hit the ball... well, they have some pretty darn good pitchers, too... Long is something else... all we could get off him was one run in two games... we didn't much better against Dale and Wheelhouse... 7 runs in 4 games... it's hard to win that way."

The Roosters posted a superlative 1.46 ERA... but the batters did their job, too... they talled 21 runs, hit 5 out of the park and batted .276 for the series against a strong Sundowner staff... Sammy Hayes (23-14/2.26), Simon Northcutt (22-10/2.50) and James Duncan (15-14/2.79) have pretty strong credentials.

Middlefield manager Ricky Tinker praised his whole squad... "the last five years have been special... these guys do it all... we just need to play well in the next series...actually we may have to play better... you know as well as I do, the teams get better with each round."... the Roosters have captured five pennants in a row in the Ruthlandian West Division.

TARS HEAD TO RU TITLE SERIES
The top two picks to win the Pro Cup trophy this year will tangle with each other in the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series... the #2 pick Taranto Tars blew away the Waleska Westerners in four games in first-round action and will now test the top pick and Pro Cup favorite, the Middlefield Roosters... it's a repeat of last year's Ruthlandian Finals which was won in a stirring 7-game series by the Roosters on the way to the IPA title.

To get to the next level in the playoffs, Friday afternoon Taranto eliminated Waleska with a 4-2 triumph in 10 innings at Westerner Field... 1B Phil Wilson snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single and Dan Armistead tacked on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly... Louie Toscano (1-0/0.00) recorded the victory with two runless frames and Lou Carlson (0-1/5.40) was pinned with the loss... both clubs blew quite a few opportunities to blow the game open... Waleska outhit the Taranton 14 to 12 and also stranded 13 runners to 11 for the Tars... RF Cody Losby (.450) sparked Taranto with two hits, including a two-run homer, his 3rd in the series... Wilson (.375) and Armistead (.294) each had three hits in the game.

"Great pitching and home runs can take you a long way in the playoffs."... Those were the words of Augie Marshall, the triumphant skipper of the Taranto Tars... "The starters were sensational... so was the bullpen... and they had to be... otherwise we would be heading home for the winter... Waleska was in every game... I know it was a sweep, but three games were decided by one run... the fourth one by two runs... and two of them went extra innings."

Roy Hobbs, the Waleska manager, spoke in a similar vein to reporters... "A few hits here and there and we would still be playing... it wasn't as one-sided as you might think." Taranto held the Westerners to just two runs a game... the Tars' ERA was a standout 1.71 for the four games.

TURON TRIPS OXFORD, UP 3-1 IN SERIES
In game four at Winchester Park in Oxford, favored Turon tripped up the Red Caps 8-5, topping them with a pair of two-run homers... C Doyle Ashcroft (.471) and LF Darrell Faust (.167) both went deep for the Typhoons, who now have a huge three games to one bulge in the best-of-seven Tycobbian Division Championship Series... Ashcroft batted in four runs with a pair of hits... Turon rapped out 11 hits to 9 for Oxford... both clubs had their aces on the hill, but neither performed like it... Nate Scottsdale (1-1/6.14) staggered to the win... the Red Caps ripped him for five runa and nine hits in his eight and two-thirds innings... Dickie Parmenter came in with the bases loaded and got the final out... Rudy Mellancamp (1-1/5.06) didn't fare very well, either... the Typhoons slammed him for seven runs in seven innings... so much for the pitching duel... it was Turon's third straight triumph... all they need is one more win and they have three games to do it... with the final two at home at Typhoon Stadium.

MIDWAY TIES DC AT 2 GAMES APIECE
Game four of the Tycobbian Division Championship Series went to the Midway Wolves 5-1 over the Denton City Redbirds... playing on the road at Douglas Denton Field, Beau McCloud and Jeffrey Leonard combined on a two-hitter to even up the series at two game apiece... winning pitcher McCloud (1-0/1.42) started and worked into the 7th when his control left him... he only permitted one hit and one run, but walked five batters... Leonard relieved and put down the Redbird threat... he blanked the Redbirds over the final two and two-thirds inning on one hit for the save... the Wolves collected nine hits and dealt the defeat to Flash Stringfellow (1-1/1.93), who held them to two runs - one earned - in seven frames... Midway jolted the Denton City bullpen for three runs in the top of the 8th to open up a four-run lead... RF Daryl Vale (.472) socked three hits to pace the Wolves with help from SS Kax Clark (.438) with a pair of hits and two ribbies and LF Elton O'Leary (.231), who scored two runs, had two hits, including a solo swat... game five will also be played in Denton City... game six and seven are scheduled for Midway.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 29, 2053

TYPHOONS BLOW AWAY RED CAPS IN 5 GAMES
Revenge is oh so sweet... just ask the Turon Typhoons... last year in the first round Oxford disposed of them in quick order, wiping them out in five games... this season Turon turned the tables on them... the Typhoons blew away the Red Caps in the Tycobbian Division Championship Series... this time around they did it in five games, eliminating the Red Caps 8-5 in game five... Glenn Avery was not at his best, but he was good enough... Avery (2-0/1.13) was tagged for five runs in seven innings, but only one of them was earned... closer Russell Mallory blanked Oxford in the 8th and 9th for the save... LF Darrell Faust (.235) homered and batted in three runs for the winners... in the 6th 1B Shoyo Yuro (.350) also went deep for Turon with a 2-run shot that cinched the game... Turon will now take on the victor of the Midway-Denton City series for the Tycobbian title and a spot in the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

Turon skipper C. C. Kingsford told the press, "Oxford put it to us last year with some mighty big bats... but this year we got much better pitching and put them away." The Typhoon staff compiled an impressive 2.40 ERA in the first round series against one of the better offensive clubs in the IPA... along with the current Pro Cup champ Middlefield, the Red Caps are the highest-scoring club in the IPA.

Red Cap manager Dennis Hartwig said, "We had high expectations this season after reaching the Tycobbian Finals last year... our pitching was improved over last season and the offense was still operating at a very high level... we were set to go, but C. C.'s staff really cooled us off... we just didn't perform at the plate... or on the mound for that matter."

MIDWAY TAKES 3-2 EDGE IN TYCOBBIAN SERIES
On the road at Douglas Denton Field, favored Midway got great pitching in game five to take a 3-2 victory in 12 innings over underdog Denton City and take a three games to two lead in the best-of-seven Tycobbian DCS... the Wolves starter, 27-game winner Charlie Chase, fired the first eight frames and stopped the Redbirds on one earned run and seven hits, leaving with the score tied at 2-2... three relievers, Jeffrey Leonard, Rocket Rhodes and Artie McGill, shut down Denton City without a run the final four frames with Rhodes (1-0) getting credit for the win... Denton City starter Johnny Wingate, a 21-game winner, kept the Wolves at bay, tossing seven innings and permitting only one run... he departed with score tied 1-all... Midway amassed 12 hits with CF Ernesto Dias (.182) driving in the winning score... his single in the top of the 12th scored 2B Del Holloway (.462) from third base... Redbird RF Tristan Redgrave (.174) led his club with a solo homer, while CF Harper Catlow (.200) collected three hits... Midway will be at home for games six and seven, if they are needed.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2053

DIAZ HIT SENDS MIDWAY TO TU TITLE SERIES
Game 6 was a thriller-diller at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... finally decided in the bottom of the 9th on CF Ernesto Diaz's (.185) ground single to right that scored 2B Del Holloway (.523) from second base with the winning run... the Wolves whipped Denton City 4-3 to cop the series four games to two... Diaz also got the game-winning hit in game five... Yank Atchley (2-0/3.00) hurled a solid game, holding the Redbirds to three runs on eight hits with four Ks and no walks... Midway had 12 hits with 3B Nate Stiles (.125) getting a two-run homer... Denton City 1B Val Anniston (.286) hit a two-run shot and LF Paul McMahon a solo clout, both in the 4th frame... the defeat went to reliever Freddy O'Neal (0-2/7.36), who came on in the last of the 9th... O'Neal also was the loser in yesterday's game... Midway will now make their way to the Tycobbian League Championship Series against the Turon Typhoons... the winner of the best-of-seven set will get a spot in the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

Hall-of-Fame pitcher and Midway manager, Bobby Dorignac, was estatic, telling reporters, "For the first time in 27 years we have made the playoffs... I don't want to count my chickens too soon, but this team has what it takes to take our first Pro Cup trophy... we still have to win two more tough series, but this team can do it... we got the pitching and the clutch hitting to do it.

Downcast Denton City skipper Pete Gibbs went straight-to-the-point... "You got to give it to the Midway staff... they are something special... starters and bullpen.. just might be the best in the IPA...we couldn't score runs... you can't win if you don't score runs... 18 runs in 6 games won't cut the mustard."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2053

PRO CUP PLAYOFFS DOWN TO 4
The first round action in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs has pruned the list down to the Final 4... and they just happened to be the teams rated the best four clubs in the postseason... #1 Middlefield will defend its IPA crown against #2 Taranto in the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series and it will #3 Midway battling #4 Turon for the Tycobbian title... both series will be best-of-seven and will begin Thursday afternoon at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto and Typhoon Stadium in Turon... last year in the Pro Cup Finals the Middlefield Roosters defeated the East Point Panthers in six games.

Ruthlandian Union

Reigning IPA champ Middlefield (99-55) has an arsenal at the plate and impressive starters and relievers on the hill... but the Taranto Tars (103-51) can match them in both respects... both teams sweep their first round series... both clubs have very good defense... even though Taranto won more games in the regular season and will have the homefield advantage, the Roosters are favored mainly because they are Pro Cup champion and they have played in the postseason the past four seasons and have a lot of experienced veterans... in actuality, both are very talented and well-balanced ballclubs... there's not a hair's difference between them... the simplest way to pick the winner would probably be to flip a coin.

#1 MIDDLEFIELD ROOSTERS (99-55):
Strong bats, pitching, very good defense and postseason experience make them a formidable foe in the IPA playoffs... Middlefield has won two Pro Cups... might be #3 this year... but it won't be easy to get past by formidable Taranto in the Ruthlandian Championship Series... James Long (23-12/2.37), Hollis Dale (22-10/3.30), last year's Pro Cup MVP Carroll Collier (12-12/3.19), Larry Wheelhouse (15-5/3.93), along with sluggers Rufus Blackburn (45 HR/114 RBI), Johnny Wyatt (40 HR/133 RBI), Natty Colclough (30 HR/91 RBI), SS Stan Radzikowski (28 HR/102 RBI) and Trip Agarn (26 HR/95 RB) are ready to roll again... the Roosters played well in September after a cool August... Middlefield has made the playoffs 16 times, winning 2 Pro Cups in '05 and last year... only negative is they don't have the homefield advantage.

#2 TARANTO TARS (103-51)
Best record in the IPA this year... team features standout staff, a lineup full of fireworks and an excellent defense... last year fought Middlefield tooth-and-nail in the Ruthlandian title series before losing four games to three... twirlers Armani Pizziconi (25-9/3.0-9), Valerio Rossi (15-9/2.68), Freddy DeAngelis (17-12/3.17), Louis Toscano (3-4/2.13/17 saves/36 G) and a big batch of batters like Renzo Caruso (.37 HR/85 RBI), Niccolo Parisi (.30 HR/73 RBI), Kuma Toyota (29 HR/73 RBI) and Gaetano Palombo (18 HR/61 RBI) are poised and ripe for winning its second Pro Cup trophy... they won the first one in 2015... the Tars are really playing well and with a lot of momentum... may have been the best team in the IPA the second half of the season... this will be the 6th time Taranto has made the postseason... the Tars won their only Pro Cup trophy in 2015... the long-suffering fans are ready for another one.

Pro Cup Forecast: a tough call to make... OK, give it to Middlefield... experience counts...actually, I just tossed a coin... I couldn't have made it as a sportswriter.

Tycobbian Union

In the Tycobbian Union League Championship affair, you got the same thing... two closely matched and talented teams... Turon (101-53) racked up the most victories in the TU in the regular campaign with Midway (100-54) right on their tail... the Typhoon bats are a little better at scoring runs, but the Wolves have slightly better pitchers and much better home-run power... with the gloves they both are just average defenders... neither of them have much playoff experience... this is Midway first time to appear since 2027... Turon made the postseason last year, but lost in the first round... prior to that you have to go back to 2038 and 2039.

#3 MIDWAY WOLVES (100-54)
Could have the best rotation and bullpen in the IPA with Yank Atchley (15-7/2.39), Charlie Chase (27-10/2.51), Will DeBerry (25-10/3.25), Beau McCloud (18-10/3.38), Rocket Rhodes (7-4/2.22/13 saves/36 G) and Jeffrey Leonard (4-2/0.36/8 saves/21 G)... some good batters, too, with Kax Clark (.368 BA/17 HR/88 R), Daryl Vale (.332/21 HR/62 RBI), Tom Goodnight (.289 BA/21 HR/86 RBI) and Jamey Southwick (.263 BA/25 HR/70 RBI)... Midway is just an average team with the gloves... only had a so-so month in September...first playoff appearance in years and years... last pennant came in '27... the Wolves are really hungry for their first Pro Cup trophy.

#4 TURON TYPHOONS (101-53)
One of the best franchises in the IPA with 16 postseason appearances and 4 Pro Cups (2003, 2006, 2009, 2018)... talented club that is heading in the playoffs playing very well and has the homefield advantage... an impressive attack with good contact hitters, can score runs, but lacks longball power... average defensively... top-notch starters... fair bullpen... offensive leaders are Stoyo Yuro (.316 BA/18 HR/81 RBI), Gaylen Clive (.327 BA/3 HR/61 RBI), Joel Guidry (.289 BA/16 HR/96 RBI) and Doyle Ashcroft (.279 BA/19 HR/114 RBI)... top staffers are Nate Scottsdale (25-10/2.77), Glenn Avery (23-12/3.39) and rookie Yancey Hedges (8-4/2.81), who missed the first half of the season with an injury... not as highly heralded as the trio of Middlefield, Taranto and Midway.

PRO CUP FORECAST: Midway is our choice to take the Tycobbian title over Turon... strong pitching, both starters and bullpen... and more firepower make the difference.

The great graphics guys in the OOTPB Community really made my Islandian Pro Alliance dynasty report really fun to play because of their great logos, jerseys and caps they made for me.

Just want to share a few of them with you.

They really get me into the game.