THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 1, 2055

3 PRO CUP CONTENDERS FALL TO THE WAYSIDE
The first round of the IPA Pro Cup playoffs didn't pan out the way most people were thinking... the number one, two and three picks were suddenly gone, leaving number four and IPA titleholder Midway in the driver's seat... the Wolves will not have to worry about the Middlefield Roosters, Denton City Redbirds and Southport Sun Sox... Midway's quest for a third consecutive Pro Cup title certainly was made easier... they will be challenged by the league's lesser lights the rest of the way, not the elites.

At a glance Midway and Wynnamac are very likely going to have a rematch of last year's Pro Cup Finals, where the Wolves feasted on the Macs, torching them in four straight games... Midway has the tougher foe in White River because of the pitching strength of the Rascals' rotation... they could slow down the Midway three-peat express... the Wynnamac Sundowners are big favorites over upstart Far Mountain, which didn't have much opposition in the first round... the Grand City Cybercats were not ready for the postseason prime-time players just yet... the number-five ranked Macs once again pulled a mild surprise in whipping Pro Cup Favorite Middlefield for the second year in a row in the Ruthlandian Union Division Series.

The current Pro Cup champion Midway Wolves demolished a very good Denton City team in the opening round in just four games... it's not likely White River's pitching will be able to hold them down like they did the poor hitting Southport Sun Sox... White River has a major flaw ... they are one of the worst hitting clubs in the IPA... but their strong staff could win a couple of games against the reigning baseball king of the Islands... the Wolves will win in five or six games.

On paper Far Mountain matches up with Wynnamac pretty well statistically, but looking closer at the player comparisons, the Macs are much superior... Wynnamac is much more talented on the mound and at the plate with much greater depth... the Sundowners will shoot down the Redhawks in five or six games.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series Tale of the Tape
*********** Midway Wolves *************************** White River Rascals ***********

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series Tale of the Tape
********** Wynnamac Sundowners ************* Far Mountain Redhawks *********

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 4, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 1

REDHAWKS OUTSCORE MACS IN GAME 1
Everybody was expecting a pitchers' duel in game one of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series played at Granger Field in Wynnamac, but instead they got an old-fashioned runfest... the underdog Far Mountain Redhawks pulled it out 8-7 in the top of the 9th, overcoming a 7-5 Wynnamac lead... Fernando Gonzales ripped a two-out bases-loaded two-run base hit to whip the Macs... the Sundowners' vaunted pitching staff let them down... Far Mountain scalded starter Sammy Hayes for five runs in five innings, but couldn't hold it... Wynnamac bounced back with seven runs in the next three innings to take the lead, but the Macs' bullpen blew it... C Jethro Bibbs (.265/5 RBI) walloped a three-run homer for the Macs... other contributors were RF Manny Sendejas (.333/8 RBI) with three hits and two runs scored and 1B Enos Benham (.324/3 RBI) with two hits, two runs and an RBI... the top batsmen for Far Mountain were C Fernando Gonzales (.323/7 RBI) and 2B Mylon Towner (.229/5 RBI) with two ribbies apiece... Wynnamac had advantage in hits 13 to 10.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 1

MIDDIES NIP RASCALS IN SERIES OPENER
White River really made the reigning IPA Pro Cup champion Midway Wolves sweat, but in the end the Middles nipped them 5-4 in the opening game of the Tycobbian title series at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... the Rascals went up 4-2 in the 7th, but couldn't stop the Wolves in the late innings... wildness by reliever Butch Slattery helped Midway tie it up 4-all in the bottom of the 7th... a bases-loaded walk to RF Daryl Vale (.111/6 RBI) and an RBI single by LF Norishige Ito (.316/2 RBI) evened the score... more walks by Slattery led to the game-winner... with the bases again full of Wolves, SS Kax Clark (.182/2 RBI) lifted a fly to left field that scored C Bobby Martinez (.353/4 RBI) and salvaged the victory... it was a tough defeat for White River as they outhit Midway 11 to 6... the Wolves' bullpen saved the day... they shut out the Rascals the final two and two-thirds innings with Jeffrey Leonard (2-0/2.70/3 G) notching the win... Slattery (0-1/1.50/4 G) was tagged with the loss... Ito sparked the Middles at the plate with two hits and two RBIs, including his first roundtripper of the postseason... 2B Mark Gates (.240/3 RBI) paced the Rascals with two hits and two runs batted in... Midway is unbeaten in five games in the postseason.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 5, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 2

MACS MEDWORTH MOWS 'EM DOWN, TIES SERIES 1-1
It's all even after two games in the Ruthlandian title series after Wynnamac right-hander George Medworth made quick work of the Far Mountain Redhawks... he stumped them 4-2, permitting only four hits... the only damage was LF Frankie Neill's (.231/4 RBI) two-run homer in the fourth frame... going all the way Medworth stuck out four batters and walked only two... backing him up at the plate was clean-up hitter RF Manny Sendejas (.378/11 RBI), who has gone wild in the playoffs with 5 roundtrippers and 11 RBIs... Sendejas got three hits and drove in three more runs, two of them coming on a home-run clout in the opening frame... taking the loss was Redhawk starter Ryan Kolb (0-2/5.12), who was shelled for nine hits and four runs in his six innings.

The best-of-seven series will revert to the Far Mountain home field, the beautiful Sky High Stadium in the Appian Mountains... games three, four and five are slated there... Far Mountain is the northern-most city in the Islands.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 2

MCGILL DOMINATES RASCALS, MIDWAY UP 2-0
They are the current Pro Cup champ... they are the unbeaten Midway Wolves... and they are playing like they will capture their third Pro Cup in a row... 19-game winner Arnie McGill almost totally dominated the White River Rascals yesterday afternoon at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... the 26-year-old right-hander fired a 5-0 two-hitter in the second game of the series, fanned seven and walked five as the Wolves racked up their sixth straight triumph in the postseason playoffs... they now possess a 2-0 lead in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... and they beat a grizzled 35-year-old chubby superstar with 236 wins to do it... Nicky Palmer (2-1/3.13) didn't quite have it on the mound... the Middles slammed him for 10 hits and five runs in six frames... RF Daryl Vale (.182/8 RBI) and LF Norishige Ito (.348/4 RBI) tagged him hard with two hits apiece and two runs batted in...Vale had the only homer in the game, while Ito doubled in his runs.

White River will try to get back into the series on the homefront... White River Stadium will be the site of the series for the next three games, if they are all necessary... could Midway be headed for a four-game sweep?

Midway is in the central part of Tycobbia.
White River is located in the northwest part in the western Appian Mountains.
Wynnamac is near the east coast, middle ways into Ruthlandia.
Far Mountain is the northern-most city, high in the eastern Appians.

Map of Islandia

Wouldn't it really be something if Far Mountain, the only team in IPA history to win three Pro Cups in a row, won the Ruthlandian Union title and went up against the Midway Wolves, who are seeking to three-peat... would be special, but not likely... Wynnamac's pitching is too good for the Redhawks, me thinks... Far Mountain accomplished the great feat in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

AROUND THE TOWN IN THE IPA

FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS

Owner: Becker Hospitality Enterprises
GM/Manager: Robby Kelly

Far Mountain, located in northern Ruthlandia in the Appian Mountains, is a very popular year-round ski resort and convention center. A beautiful town of 75,000 founded by immigrants from the German and Swiss Alps, Far Mountain oozes Tyrolian charm and culture. Horse drawn sleighs and buggies provide free public transportation. The rich and famous come here for wonderful ski vacations, to savor the good life and to enjoy the great hotels, nightclubs, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Yet it is priced for every pocketbook. Middle class families also partake of its many pleasures and activities. And with fine convention facilities, Far Mountain plays host to many professional and educational organizations.

And it is the home of the Far Mountain Redhawks baseball team of the Ruthlandian Union. The team is in the North Division and plays their games at Sky High Stadium with a magnificent panoramic view of the Appian Mountains in the distance. A specialty at all Redhawks games is a great polka band that furnishes music and songs, whenever there is a break in the game action. During the seventh-inning stretch Redhawks supporters have a great time doing the “Chicken Dance” and singing “Take me out to the ballgame” to the accompaniment of the polka band. And fans get to enjoy special culinary treats of Bavarian beers, Nurnberg bratwurst mit sauerkraut (fried sausage with sauerkraut), Schwartzwalder kirschtorte (Black Forest cake) and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) pastries and hot gourmet soups at the games. Many fine German beers are served in profusion, too. In addition all of the traditional ballpark favorites are provided.

The Far Mountain Redhawks have been owned by Becker Hospitality Enterprises for 150 years. They are the proud proprietors of one of the oldest hotels in town, The Bavarian Gasthaus. Johan Becker developed a love for baseball in high school and college and played varsity baseball for both. He met Jock Ewing of Ewing Oil and Ewing Enterprises and developed a business relationship with him to make Far Mountain into a tourist resort. When Ewing offered him one of the franchises in the IPA, Johan quickly invested in it... his family is still running the business.

Far Mountain has had only three managers in its history. For a general manager and field manager, Becker originally hired one of the great pitchers of the industrial leagues, Alex Groveland, who was the architect of the famous Far Mountain three-peat, the winning of three straight Pro Cups in 2011, 2012 and 2013. It's been accomplished only one time in the annals of the Islandian Pro Alliance. Grove made the playoffs 10 times in his managerial tenure.

The second skipper was one of the best players in IPA history, Hall-of-Fame shortstop Don Nichols. As a player Nichols sparked Far Mountain to the three consecutive Pro Cup titles and seven division flags. In his 24 years in the league Nichols batted .310 in 3523 games (8th) with 3760 hits (5rd), 1773 RBIs (16th), 2161 runs (4th) and stole 668 bases (8th). In 95 playoff games he hit .300 with 9 homers, 51 RBIs, 53 runs and 17 stolen bases. Nichols was elected to the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027. He played 17 years with Far Mountain and 7 with the Marston Nine. He retired as a player in 2024.

When Nichols retired, he was replaced by his pitching coach, Robby Kelly, who was a teammate of Nichols during the glory years and also an IPA Hall-of-Famer. Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2030 after a splendid 19-year career... the chubby 250-pound right-hander posted a 279-196 record with a fine lifetime 3.23 ERA... Kelly holds the all-time Far Mountain record for wins. He played a prime role in the Redhawks' three IPA titles with a fine 11-4 mark in the playoffs those years. In a magnificent year Kelly went 22-8 in 2012 with a 2.38 ERA and was named the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm and Most Valuable Player. Kelly's final season as a player was in 2019.

Sky High Stadium (1997)
Capacity: 10,444
Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 354
LC 380
CF 402
RC 380
RF 354
RF Line 330

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 5, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 3

DELGIORNO SPINS SHUTOUT, MACS LEAD SERIES 2-1
The Sundowner pitchers have been standing tall on the hill the last two games in the Ruthlandian title series... in game three at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain, Dion Delgiorno (3-0/0.70) spun a 6-0 shutout, restricting the Redhawks to seven hits for his third postseason victory... the young lefty struck out seven hitters and walked three to send Wynnamac ahead in the best-of-seven series two games to one... the Macs were booming at the plate, too, banging out 16 hits on three Far Mountain hurlers... seven Sundowners popped two hits apiece, paced by 1B Enos Benham (.349/5 RBI) with two RBIs and a home run... RF Charley Bristol (.400/1 RBI) also had two hits and a solo homer.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 3

RASCALS STOP MIDDIES 6-GAME WIN STREAK
Forget about Midway sweeping the White River Rascals... Cody Butler made certain of that... the right-hander put a stop to Midway's six-game postseason winning streak, corraling them 8-3 in the third game of the Tycobbian LCS... it was the Rascals first win in the series... Midway still has the upper hand two games to one... Butler (2-0/1.25) was tapped for eight hits in seven and two-third innings, but he departed with five-run advantage... southpaw reliever Glen Horton retired all four batters he faced, fanning two of them... C Wayne Carlton (.485/6 RBI) continued to prosper at the plate in the postseason for the Rascals with a homer, single and two RBIs... CF Pudge Tate (.244/3 RBI) also slammed a two-run roundtripper... the Wolves also walloped two out of the park, courtesy of RF Daryl Vale (.222/9 RBI) and 1B Ted Merritt (.308/8 RBI)... they each have three in the playoffs... losing pitcher Charlie Chase (0-1/7.71) lived up to this name... the Rascals chased him after four innings... they pounded him for six runs and seven hits.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 6, 1948

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 4

MACS SMACK REDHAWKS, UP 3-1, NEAR RU TITLE
The Wynnamac Sundowners teed off on Far Mountain pitching in game four of the Ruthlandian Finals... the Macs smack them for 16 hits and outscored Far Mountain 10-5 to go ahead three games to one in the best-of-seven series at Sky High Stadium... one more win and the Sundowners will advance to the Pro Cup Finals for the second straight season... SS Whiz Ivie (.391/2 RBI), C Jethro Bibbs (.277/7 RBI) and LF Marv Washburn (.310/12 RBI) all batted in two runs apiece and 1B Enos Benham (.375/6 RBI) rapped three hits, scored three times and drove in a run... 1B Benjy Donahue's (.273/5 RBI) three-run clout that put the Redhawks in the lead 5-4 in the last of the seventh, but they couldn't hold back the Sundowners, who demolished them the final two frames with six runs... Garan Parula (1-0/4.11) staggered in with the win, going seven innings and giving up five runs, but he had to get relief help from closer Tike Collazo (1-1/3.18/2 saves/6 G), who held the Redhawks runless in the 8th and 9th frames.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 4

RASCALS DO IT AGAIN, TIE SERIES WITH WOLVES
After dropping the first two games of the TU title series to the Midway Wolves, the White Rivier Rascals have come back and captured games three and four on their own diamond, White River Stadium... game five will also be there... the Rascals jolted the Wolves for six runs in the second inning and went on to win it 6-3, getting a gutsy effort from 20-year-old Noel Woods, who in a surprise got the starting assignment from manager Marty Blake... it was his first start of the season after 40 relief appearances... Woods (1-0/2.45/3 G) was touched for 11 hits by Midway, but he limited them to three runs in eight and two-thirds innings... Woods fanned seven Wolves and walked just two of them... he was 3-2 in the regular season... Midway left 11 runners on base... White River was sparked by 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.160/4 RBI) and 1B Fred Kraft (.205/4 RBI), both with homers... C Bobby Martinez (.259/5 RBI) went deep for Midway.

Around the Town in the IPA

WHITE RIVER RASCALS

Owner: Tycalco (Tycobbian Aluminum Company)
GM/Manager: Marty Blake

The city of White River, with 66,000 inhabitants, is situated in northwestern Tycobbia in the Appian Mountain foothills on the banks of the White River. Most of the time the river flows serenely, but there are occasional whitewater rapids. The river ends at Bayview on the western coast where it empties into the Kelnyck Ocean.

Prior to the mining business, this area was just wilderness. White River owes its existence and development to Tycalco. It is totally a company town. Its economy is dominated by the Tycobbian Aluminum Company, which was established in 1890. Bauxite, alumina and chemicals, found in abundance in the nearby Appian Mountains, are processed into a wide range of aluminum products and shipped to Bayview by water and Fairfax on Blue Lake to the south by rail for distribution. Tycalco’s towering corporate skyscraper can be seen from White River Park across the river in downtown White River. Architecture in the area is modernistic. However, the White River Rascals play at one of the lovely vintage and nostalgic ballparks in Tycobbia. It was built in 1924.

White River Park is a lovely old-time ball park with a scenic and wonderful view of its river namesake just beyond the centerfield fence. The 18-foot high aluminum wire fences down the left and right field lines make it a little more difficult for hitters to hit the ball into the stands, which are only 310 feet away. Tycalco originated company amateur leagues to provide the community and its employees and their families with recreational activities. When the Islandian Pro Alliance was established, the company purchased a franchise. The White River Rascals play in the Tycobbian Union North Division.

A trip to White River Park is something really special. Not only is it a baseball park, it is also a state-of-the-art amusement park. Before and after games amusement rides can be enjoyed by young and old, complete with good food, fun rides, fireworks and music concerts of all genres, all subsidized and underwritten in part by Tycalco,

The Rascals are administered and managed by former first baseman Marty Blake. He had a legendary career with White River with a .312 BA, 711 homers, 2125 RBIs and 2034 runs. Blake was one of the most prolific hitters in IPA history in his 23 years in the league, playing for four clubs from 2013 to 2035. Blake spent his first 18 seasons with White River. He was a 3-time Golden Glove first sacker and 7-time All-Star. Blake was voted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2036. He ranks fifth on the all-time home-run list, sixth in hits, fourth in RBIs, ninth in scoring runs and 13th in walks.

White River Park (1924)

Capacity: 5,685

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 310
Left Field - 340
Left Center - 370
Center Field - 410
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 340
Right Field Line - 310

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 6, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 5

MACS IN PRO CUP FINALS AGAIN
For the second year in a row the Wynnamac Sundowners are heading to the IPA Pro Cup Finals... they are the champion of the Ruthlandian Union... as expected the Macs quickly eliminated the Far Mountain Redhawks in five games... southpaw superstar Sammy Hayes finally finally pitched like a superstar, tossing a splendid 5-hit 1-0 shutout, walking only two batters and whiffing seven... Hayes (1-2/6.04) had been terrible in his three previous postseason starts... and Hayes had to be good in game five... Redhawk righty Benny Van (1-1/2.45) also pitched a heck of a game, yielding only one run and five hits in seven frames... the Sundowners put the only run on the scoreboard in the top of the 4th... 1B Enos Benham (.365/6 RBI) started the inning with a single, moved to second on a base hit by LF Marv Washburn (.311/12 RBI) and came around to score on 2B Phil McLemore's (.268/4 RBI) go-ahead single.

Wynnamac skipper Jerry Meeks told the media, "The Redhawks surprised us when they tore up Hayes in game one... after that jolt, our pitchers settled down and really did their job well, racking up four wins in a row and only giving up seven runs."... the Hall-of Fame hurler added, "Now that's my kind of pitching."

Robby Kelly, also an IPA Hall-of-Famer, echoed Meeks' feelings... "We had a great first game, but then it all went downhill... the Macs have really good pitching... we just couldn't hit them."

Kelly also said, "It was great to back into the playoffs for the first time since '47... it would have been a dream come true for Far Mountain, the only IPA club to win three Pro Cups in a row, to get a chance in the Pro Cup Finals against Midway, who is seeking to tie that mark this year... it could have been a magical title series."

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 5

RASCALS TAKE 3-2 LEAD IN TU TITLE SERIES
Uh Oh!... the shoe is on the other foot... underdog and lightly-regarded White River has somehow managed to take a 3-2 advantage over mighty Midway, the winner of the last two Pro Cup trophies...in game five at White River Stadium, the scrappy Rascals got a super outing from starter Keil Trickett, who stopped the vaunted bats of the Wolves for eight innings in a 5-3 triumph... Trickett held them to just five hits, two runs with no walks and eight Ks... Midway didn't go out quietly and gave the bullpen some problems in the 9th... with one run in and the bases loaded, Ronald Doss (0-1/2.57 1 save/3 G) relieved Arnie Wynyard (0-0/2.45/4 G) and struck out C Bobby Martinez (.258/5 RBI) on just three pitches to clinch the victory... C Wayne Carlton (.487/8 RBI) continued to swing a hot bat in the playoffs... he poked a two-run blast and snapped a 2-all tie in the last of the 6th.. it was his third home run of the postseason... Carlton hit only seven during the regular season... White River collected nine hits, while Midway got seven... RF Daryl Vale (.314/11 RBI) led the Wolves with three hits, including his 4th playoff homer... Rob Land (0-1/3.10) started and did well until the Carlton clout in the 6th... he caught the loss, going six and two-thirds innings and permitting five runs and seven hits... White River won all three games at home.

The Tycobbian League Championship Series will now return to Midway and Joe Wolf Stadium, where the Wolves won the first two games of the series... the Middies have their work cut off for them... they have to win the final two games to get a shot at a third straight Pro Cup... it might be a tall order... White River has two solid pitchers set to go in the last two games... not so for Midway.

The Rascals will go with Nickey Palmer (17-12/3.39) in game six, opposed by Midway's Arnie McGill (19-10/3.14)... game seven, if needed, will pit Cody Butler (13-6/3.16) for White River and Doogie Higgins (12-14/3.86 or Charlie Chase (19-12/4.06) for the Wolves.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 7, 2055

RASCALS UPSET MIDWAY, PRO-CUP BOUND
The scrappy White River Rascals put an end to the Midway dream of a third straight Pro Cup title... the Rascals upset the heavily-favored Wolves in six games, nipping them 7-6 at Joe Wolf Stadium on Mark Gates' 7th-inning homer... relievers Ringo Lanier and Glen Horton were also heroes with five innings of scoreless pitching... Lanier (1-1/3.60/2 G) got the victory with three and one-third innings and Horton (1-0/0.00/3 saves/5 G) logged the save with no runs in the final two frames... it was Horton's third in the postseason... White River racked up 13 hits with RF Junior Sardini (.300/4 RBI) going 3-5, 2B Mark Gates (.318/7 RBI) 2-5, C Wayne Carlton (.477/8 RBI) 2-5 and CF Elton Bellfort (.237/5 RBI) 2-4... even starting pitcher Nicky Palmer got into act with a three-run rip in the six-run second... suffering defeat was the third Midway hurler, Yank Atchley (0-1/2.00/2 G)... he did a fine job, working five innings and only allowing the one run, but it was the game-winner... the top bats for the Wolves were 3B Jamey Southwich (.237/7 RBI) with a three-run homer in the second frame and CF Norishige Ito (.385/8 RBI) with a two-run job in the third... Midway collected 9 hits off three White River pitchers... the Middies battled back from a 6-0 deficit and tied it up in the 4th, but the Rascal bullpen shut them down completely the rest of the way.

White River manager Marty Blake was ecstatic, but controlled... he spoke to the press and said, "Miracles never cease... how about us upending Midway?... we can celebrate the Tycobbian title now, but our main goal is to win it all... tomorrow we'll will have to focus on the Wynnamac Sundowners."

How did they upend such a great team?... the Rascal skipper just replied, "We are not a team of stars... just a bunch of solid ballplayers with a super-duper mound staff."... Blake thought the key to the series was that "We kept the Midway bats under control... and unexpectedly we managed to outhit them... errors played a big part in our victory, too... we only committed 3 miscues in the six games... they made 9... we didn't give up an unearned run... they gave us 11."

White River hit .270 in the six games with 7 home runs and 30 runs... Midway countered with a .259 BA, 25 runs and 8 roundtrippers... As far as team ERAs, Midway posted a 3.35 ERA, while White River was 4.33... the stats are misleading... the errors made a huge difference in the series' outcome.

A terribly disappointed Bobby Dorignac praised White River... the Midway manager told reporters, "White River's play did not surprised us... we knew they had a strong staff going in and they whipped us fair and square... not only are the starters good, so is the entire bullpen."... "Still it's been a magical run for us the past three seasons... we gave it our best and came up short... my bunch of ballplayers are a very special group and I know, win or lose, our fans are still with us."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 9, 2055

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! RASCALS VS MACS IN IPA FINALS
Yes, Island baseball aficianados, it is that glorious time of the year -- the IPA Pro Cup Finals -- when the top two teams in the Islands battle for the much-revered Pro Cup trophy... this year it's between the Wynnamac Sundowners, the best in the Ruthlandian Union, and the unheralded White River Rascals, surprisingly the best in the Tycobbian Union... the 55th edition begins this Monday afternoon, and if needed, will run for one week... it will be a best-of-seven affair... Wynnamac will host the first two games at Granger Field... the next three are slated for White River Stadium... and, if necessary, the final two games are slated for Wynnamac again.

Much to the chagrin of almost all baseball experts, broadcasters and sportswriters all around the Islands, the team least likely to win the Pro Cup is in the Pro Cup Finals... yessiree, the 8th-ranked White River Rascals defied the odds and surprised just about everybody in the Islands... Marty Blake's Rascals will challenge the 5th-rated Wynnamac Sundowners in the 55th edition of the IPA Pro Cup Finals... actually, neither club should be here, but they are... it will be a repeat appearance for the Macs... they lost in four games last year to Midway... White River is back again after a four-year absence... they last appeared in '49 and '50, losing to the powerful Valmara Vipers both years... the Rascals also were in the '21 Finals, falling to the Sligo Rovers... Wynnamac has one IPA crown... they captured it in 2008... the Sundowners also reached the IPA Finals in '44, but lost to the Southport Sun Sox.

On paper, it doesn't look good for White River... the Rascals had the poorest record of any of this year's playoff clubs... they were only 83-72 in the regular season, while Wynnamac was 96-58... White River was near the bottom in batting and offense, while the Macs were near the top in hitting and scoring runs... on the mound they are both about equal, sporting good starters and a good bullpen... also about the same defensively.

So it will be a breeze for Wynnamac?... right?... not so fast... White River bested the 3rd-ranked Southport Sun Sox (99-56) in round one and then pulled a huge upset in the Tycobbian Finals, whipping 4th-rated Midway (98-56), which had won the last two Island championships... now the Rascals must get by a team that whipped the Pro Cup favorite, the Middlefield Roosters (105-49), in the Pro Cup opening round.

IPA Pro Cup Outlook: the teams are evenly matched... should go seven games... and the winner is... surprise! surprise!... it'll be White River... they beat Midway this year... so they should be able to beat the team Midway beat last year... sorry, Wynnamac fans, that's my simple philosophy... this looks like the Year of the Rascals in the Islands.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 19, 2055

WYNNAMAC-WHITE RIVER MATCHUPS
A day before the Pro Cup Finals begin, let's peruse the Wynnamac Sundowners and the White River Rascals, comparing them position by position and looking at the mound matchups... Wynnamac is seeking its second Pro Cup trophy... they won their one and only long ago and far away in 2008... White River has never won the IPA crown... this will be the Macs fourth appearance in the Pro Cup Finals... they also played for the Island title in '44 and '54... the Rascals made the Finals in '21, '49 and '50.

Checking out regular-season statistics, Wynnamac hits much better than White River for average, .277 to .245... scores better 726 to 684... but gets outhomered 125 to 105... on the hill they are fairly even, 3.24 ERA for the Macs and 3.33 for the Rascals... but there is a huge disparity in home runs allowed... Wynnamac only permitted 95 homers to 200 for White River... just about even defensively... White River posted a .974 FA, while Wynnamac was .973 FA... just average clubs with the gloves.

As the old adage says "good pitching beat good batting", let's take a look at the pitching corps... statistically they are almost even... both Wynnamac and White River have strong pitching, but the Rascals have more depth in the bullpen.

#1 starters: Wynnamac gets the edge here... Sammy Hayes (23-10/2.22) gives up far fewer homers than White River's Keil Trickett (18-14/3.04)... Hayes only allowed one home run in the regular season, while Trickett permitted 35... however, the 35-year-old Hayes had two terrible starts in the playoffs and one great one... he's 1-2 with a lofty 6.04 in his 4 assignments... Trickett has been better in the postseason with a 1-1 mark in 4 games and a 3.07 ERA.

#2 starters: the Rascals look best here with George Medworth (15-5/2.88) over aging Nicky Palmer (17-12/3.39)... in the postseason Medworth is 2-0 in 3 starts with a 2.57 ERA, while 36-year-old Palmer is 2-1 in 4 starts with a 4.73 ERA.

#3 starters: White River's Cody Butler (13-6/3.16) has had an outstanding postseason with a 2-0 record and 1.35 ERA in 3 starts and is favored slightly over Dion Delgiorno (15-12/3.62)... Delgiorno has been the Sundowners best pitcher in the playoffs with a 3-0 mark and a super-low 0.70 ERA.

#4 starters: in this comparision it goes to White River... reliever Noel Woods (3-2/3.14/38 RA), only 20 years old, probably will get the call from manager Marty Blake... in the postseason Woods has started one game and won it... he has relieved in two other games... Woods is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA... Macs' skipper Jerry Meeks will go with vet Garan Parula (11-11/3.45) with a playoff mark of 1-0 with a 4.11 ERA in 2 starts and 1 relief appearance.

Bullpen: Wynnamac has the best closer by far with Tike Collazo (5-5/1.48/32 saves/57 G), but he doesn't have much reliable help after him... overall White River's relief corps is much deeper with Glen Horton (9-13/3.89/12 saves/43 G), Butch Slattery (2-1/2.34/1 save/43 G), Ronald Doss (10-12/3.46/2 saves/41 G) and Arnie Wynyard (4-4/4.03/28 G)... the Rascal relievers could be the difference in the series... they have really stood out in the playoffs... much more so than the Sundowners.

Catcher: Wynnamac's Jethro Bibbs (.305 BA/5 HR/53 RBI) hits better than White River's Wayne Carlton (.256 BA/7 HR/41 RBI)... but Carlton is the better defender... edge to Bibbs and the Macs

1st Base: it's even here... Sundowner Enos Benham (.354 BA/10 HR/63 RBI) led the RU in batting with a .354 average, but has little power... Rascal rookie Fred Kraft (.267 BA/26 HR/99 RBI) has power and is an RBI guy... also better fielder.

2nd Base: Wynnamac's Phil McLemore (.262 BA/13 HR/72 RBI/93 R/11 SB) is solid at the plate and excellent in the field... he's more productive offensively than Mark Gates (.228 BA/11 HR/66 RBI)... both are fine defenders... this spot goes to the Macs.

3rd Base: call it even with the Wynnamac's rookie Jason Meeks (.310 BA/2 HR/49 RBI/78 R/8 SB) and White River's Kenny Yarbrough (.263 BA/13 HR/65 RBI/79 R/23 SB)... both are just fair with the gloves.

Shortstop: put this in the Wynnamac column... Whiz Ivie (.293 BA/3 HR/79 RBI/71 R/17 SB) handles the bat well and is excellent in the field... neither Joey Rutigliano (.228 BA/2 HR/35 RBI/12 SB), nor Clifton Remington (.277 BA/7 HR/24 RBI) are close to Ivie's level.

Left Fielder: easily go to the Rascals' Pudge Tate (.309 BA/31 HR/98 RBI/109 R/20 SB)... he's a strong hitter and defender... Wynnamac's Marv Washburn (.273 BA/17 HR/67 RBI/9 SB) is just a dependable and reliable player... Tate is a star.

Center Fielder: not much talent here offensively or defensively on either team... Wynnamac's rookie Claude Garmon (.255 BA/17 HR/40 RBI/70 R/21 SB) is the better of the two... Garmon has more power than Elton Bellfort (.220 BA/5 HR/31 RBI)/9 SB)... don't be surprised if you see Jed Small (.229 BA/11 HR/47 RBI) in the lineup for White River and Dickie Key (.261 BA/4 HR/19 RBI/5 SB) for the Sundowners.

Right Fielder: there are mixed feelings here... rookie Manny Sendejas (.317 BA/4 HR/33 RBI/29 R/4 SB) makes more contact and hits with more power than Junior Sardini (.248 BA/2 HR/43 RBI/97 R/46 SB), but Sardini plays much better defense, scores more runs and steals a lot of bases... even split.

Pro Cup Outlook: Going head-to-head at every position, Wynnamac gets the nod 6 to 5... but the White River mound staff sets them up as the Pro Cup favorite... looks like a seven-game nail-biter with the Rascals pulling off their third big upset in a row in the postseason... the key will be holding down the Wynnamac home runs... the Rascals are also going to have to score some runs, too... the pitchers cannot shoulder the whole load.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 12, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1

MACS NIP RASCALS IN PRO CUP OPENER
Everything went right in the Pro Cup opener at Granger Park in Wynnamac... the Sundowners got solid work on the hill from ace left-hander Sammy Hayes, Whiz Ivie scored three runs and the Macs nipped White River 4-3... Hayes (2-2/5.28) did his job, working into the seventh, permitted only two runs on five hits to even his postseason mark at 2-2 this year... Tike Collazo (1-1/3.29/3 saves/7 G) made his 7th playoff appearance and notched his third save, but he struggled to hold off the Rascals... they got to him for one run and two hits in his two and one-third innings... after a rough 8th, Collazo settled down in the 9th and disposed of White River in quick fashion, retiring all three batters in order... Ivie (.415/2 RI) was the hitting star with four hits and three runs... Wynnamac CF Dickie Key (.273/2 RBI) got the game's only homer... the Macs smacked losing pitcher Keil Trickett (1-2/3.31) hard for four runs and eight hits in his six innings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 13, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 2

MACS WIN GAME 2, TOO!
Known for its fine pitching, Wynnamac posted it second straight victory in game two of the Pro Cup Finals... George Medworth (3-0/2.48) limited White River to just two runs and three hits in his eight innings and stopped them 4-2... the Sundowners are on a postseason roll, racking up their sixth consecutive win... Medworth fanned six Rascals and walked three in winning his third playoff game this season... the Macs jumped on loser Nicky Palmer (2-2/5.28) for four runs in the opening frame... Palmer's three walks added to the big inning... 3B Jason Meeks (208/1 RBI) led the Sundowners at the plate with three hits... they got eight all total... RF Junior Sardini (.294/5 RBI) went deep for the Rascals.

The IPA Pro Cup Finals will switch to White River Stadium for games three and four... if the series goes further, game five will also be played there... game six and seven are slated for Wynnamac.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 14, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 3

RASCALS ALIVE, END SUNDOWNERS' 6-GAME STREAK
Two unbeaten hurlers in this year's postseason playoffs were matched up in game three of the IPA Pro Cup Finals at White River Stadium... going head-to-head were Cody Butler for the hometown Rascals and Dion Delgiorno for the Wynnamac Sundowners... desparate for a win, White River got a fine performance out of Butler, a 31-year-old journeyman... he stymied the Macs 3-1 to cut their margin to two games to one in the best-of-seven series... Butler permitted only six hits, whiffed six and walked none to get his Rascals back into the running for the Pro Cup trophy... another defeat would have probably been fatal... Delgiorno was not at his best as the Rascals rapped him for three runs and six hits in six innings... Butler upped his postseason record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.26, while Delgiorno is now 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA.

Wynnamac got on the board first in the opening frame... CF Dickie Key (.267/3 RBI) doubled to lead off the game and came around to score on 1B Enos Benham's (.344/8 RBI) RBI single... White River tied it up in the second frame on an error and two base hits when 2B Mark Gates (.308/8 RBI) singled in 1B Fred Kraft (.180/4 RBI)... in the third, three doubles by LF Junior Sardini (.306/5 RBI), CF Pudge Tate (.219/6 RBI) and RF Jed Small (.208/3 RBI) put the Rascals 3-1 up for good... that was all the runs Butler needed to put an end to Wynnamac's six-game winning streak in the playoffs this year.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 15, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 4

RASCALS EVEN UP PRO CUP AT 2-2
He only 20 years old and in his second year in the IPA, but Noel Woods is pitching like a grizzled veteran... the White River right-hander evened up the Pro Cup Series at two games each... in game four Woods (2-0/1.80) shackled Wynnamac 3-1, tossing a four hitter, striking out six batters and walking only two... White River only managed three hits themselves... no one could score in the first five frames as Sundowner starter Garan Parula (1-1/4.03) match Woods zero for zero... in the 6th the Rascals got to Parula for a pair of runs on an RBi single by 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.192/6 RBI) and a sacrifice fly by 1B Fred Kraft (.175/5 RBI)... an inning later CF Elton Bellfort (.244/6 RBI) cracked a home run... the Macs couldn't dent the scoreboard against Woods until the 9th... CF Dickie Key (.265/3 RBI) tripled and was driven across by 1B Enos Benham (.338/9 RBI).

Pitching has dominated the series thus far with Wynnamac taking the first two games on their home field and White River getting two straight victories at Granger Field... game five is also scheduled on the Rascals' diamond.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 16, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5

MACS TAKE PRO CUP LEAD 3-2 OVER RASCALS
It was another down-to-the-wire finish at White River Stadium with the Wynnamac Sundowners taking a tense tussle 3-2 to take a 3-2 lead over the Rascals in the best-of-seven Pro Cup Finals... one more win for Wynnnamac and they will capture their second Pro Cup trophy... Sundowner starter Sammy Hayes hurled seven excellent innings and left for a pinchhitter with a 2-0 lead, but his bullpen couldn't hold it... the Rascals battled back and tied it in the bottom of the 8th... the Macs got the winning run in the top of the 9th when 3B Jason Meeks (.190/2 RBI) hit a sac fly with the bases filled that scored LF Marv Washburn from third base... reliever Billy Skidmore (0-0/0.00/3 saves/7 G) closed it out in the last of the 9th to save it for winning pitcher James Duncan (1-0/3.72/1 save/6 G).

Long balls played an important part in the contest... Washburn (.286/15 RBI) homered in the second for the Sundowners first score... 1B Enos Benham (.338/10 RBI) made it 2-0 in the 8th with another roundtripper... it was the third home run for each of them in the postseason so far... White River came back and tied it in the bottom half of the frame on RBIs by SS Clifton Remington (.154/1 RBI) and pinchhitter Elton Bellfort (.238/7 RBI), but losing pitcher Butch Slattery (0-2/2.00/6 G) couldn't keep the Macs off the scoreboard in the 9th.

White River will have to regroup on the road in Wynnamac... the remainder of the Pro Cup Finals will take place at Granger Field in Wynnamac... game six will feature George Medworth (15-5/2.88) on the hill for the Sundowners and 36-year-old veteran Nicky Palmer (17-12/3.39) on the mound for the Rascals... the Macs beat Palmer 4-2 in the second game of the series.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 17, 2055

MACS WIN 2ND PRO CUP, TOP RASCALS IN 6 GAMES
Two unlikely teams met in the 2055 Pro Cup Finals with 5th-ranked Wynnamac topping 8th-rated White River in six games... standout pitching was the key to the series... the Macs slipped past the Rascals 3-2 in game six at Granger Field to wrap up their second Pro Cup title... 48 years ago the Sundowners won their first IPA crown... George Medworth and Tike Collazo teamed up to whip White River... Medworth (4-0/2.52) started and worked into the 7th frame... the Rascals hit him freely with 10 hits, but they could only cash in for two runs... Collazo (1-1/3.86/4 saves/9 G) took over and posted his fourth postseason save with two and two-thirds scoreless innings... Collazo paced the IPA with 32 saves in the regular season.

White River jumped ahead 1-0 in the opening frame on an RBI single by C Wayne Carlton (.409/9 RBI)... Wynnamac CF Claude Garmon (.278/4 RBI) evened it up with a solo clout in the bottom half of the inning, only to have the Rascals go in front 2-1 in the top of the 2nd, when RF Junior Sardini (.333/6 RBI) singled and drove in SS Clifton Remington (.200/1 RBI), who doubled... it stayed that way until the last of the 5th... Nicky Palmer's bases-loaded balk tied it up at 2-2, then pitcher George Medworth (.083/1 RBI) grounded out to shortstop and plated 2B Phil McLemore (.224/4 RBI) with the Pro Cup-winning run... Medworth notched the win, while Palmer (2-3/5.30) lost it... Wynnamac managed to win despite being outhit 12 to 8.

Wynnamac's mound staff really was magnificent... they restricted the Rascals to 16 runs on 42 hits in 52 innings for a sparkling 2.42 ERA... White River hit a paltry .222 against them with only two roundtrippers... however, the Sundowners just barely outscored them 16 to 15 in the six games.

The White River hurlers did a fine job, too... the Macs batted only .222 against them... with 4 homers... and the Rascals posted a fine 2.65 ERA.

Manager Jerry Meeks of the champion Sundowners was jubilant at winning the Pro Cup, but was a little irked with press and media... "Hey, guys, nobody laid down and let us win... we beat some darn good teams along the way... Middlefield won 105 games this year and we beat them... and then we beat White River, who beat Midway, a team that won 98 games... I'm not sorry we beat all of the teams you picked ahead of us."

White River skipper Marty Blake said he was very proud of his club... "What a season we had... and despite the loss in the Finals, the postseason was even better... we took on the best the IPA has to offer and almost won the whole shebang."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 17, 2055

MACS' MEDWORTH VOTED PRO CUP MVP
In a poll conducted by The Islandian Times, there was a lot of competition for this year's Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award... five players got support with the final tally choosing Wynnamac's star right-hander George Medworth, who went 4-0 in the postseason playoffs with a fine 2.52 ERA in 5 starting assigments... during the regular season Medworth, a 5-year veteran, went 15-5 with a strong 2.88 ERA in 22 starts... he also was one of the best relievers the Sundowners had... in all, the 28-year-old Medworth appeared in 38 games.

Medworth was the clear winner getting 55 of the 128 votes... White River's Cody Butler was quite a ways behind Medworth in the balloting, winding up second with 35 votes... number three was Wynnamac left fielder Manny Sendejas with 18... tied in fourth place was Sundowner pitcher Dion Delgiorno and Mac right fielder Marv Washburn, both with 10 points each.

Butler was a standout in the playoffs for the White River Rascals, who lost in the Pro Cup Finals to Wynnamac... Butler was 3-0 in 4 postseason starts with a brilliant 1.26 ERA... he posted victories over Southport, Midway and this year's IPA champion Wynnamac... overall this year Butler appeared in 33 games with a 13-6 record and a 3.15 ERA... he made 24 starts.

Sendejas was the Sundowners' main offensive force with 5 home runs, 14 RBIs and 13 runs scored... Sendejas batted .284 in 18 games... in the regular campaign, he was platooned and compiled a .317 BA with 4 HRs and 33 RBIs.

Delgiorno had a superlative postseason for the Macs, posting a 3-1 mark with a microscopic 1.14 ERA in 4 starts... he beat Middlefield twice in round one... shut out Far Mountain in round two... but lost to White River 3-1 in the Finals... otherwise he would probably have been voted this year's Pro Cup MVP... Delgiorno made 35 starts this season and posted a 15-12 mark with a 3.62 ERA.

Washburn was also an important ingredient in Wynnamac's Pro Cup title... in 17 games he hit .284 and led them with 15 RBIs in the playoffs... Washburn hit 3 homers and scored 10 runs... during the regular season he was one of the top bats in the Sundowner lineup with 17 homers, 67 RBIs and 76 runs... Washburn hit .273 in 115 games.

*** MEDWORTH ** BUTLER ** SENDEJAS * DELGIORNO * WASHBURN ***

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 18, 2055

IPA GOLD BATS GO TO STODDARD AND ITO
The overall best batters in the IPA for 2055 were Tyler Stoddard of the Stoner Stars and Norishige Ito of the Midway Wolves... these were the most dangerous hitters in the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions this season and the winners of the prestigious Golden Bat Awards... for Ito it was the fourth time in his career to be named... he also won it in '52, '53 and '54... this is the fourth year in a row Ito has been honored... Stoddard spectacularly captured it in his rookie season.

Superstar Norishige Ito had another super season with gaudy numbers... he came in second in batting with a .340 mark... only his Midway teammate Daryl Vale had a better average at .350... the 28-year-old Ito also finished second in the Tycobbian Union with 42 homers and 129 RBIs... Cape Coral's Jaybird Ethridge was the home run and RBI leader with 44 and 139 respectively... Ito played in 147 games and led his Wolves to their third straight TU East division title.

Tyler Stoddard, a 20-year-old rookie first baseman for the Stoner Stars, had a terrific debut, batting .307 with 30 home runs, 108 RBIs and scored 102 runs in 147 games, while helping the Stars come in third in the tough RU West.

In the Tycobbian Golden Bat balloting, Daryl Vale finished a close second to his fellow Midway outfielder, Ito... Vale topped the TU with a .350 BA, 214 hits and 118 runs... Vale played in 141 games, drove in 102 runs and had 28 stolen bases.

Third place in the TU poll went to High Mesa's left fielder Tracy McGriff... he sparked the Mustangs to third place in the strong TU East... McGriff was second in homers in the league with 42 and fifth in RBIs with 109 RBIs... McGriff, age 28, hit .306, scored 105 runs and stole 25 bases in 146 games.

Stoddard really had some competition, too, for the Ruthlandian Golden Bat trophy... Middlefield's talented outfielder Trip Agarn had an outstanding year, topping all league batters with 125 RBIs and 105 runs... in 142 games Agarn sported a .310 BA with 31 roundtrippers and paced the Roosters to their seventh consecutive pennant in the RU West... the 27-year-old Agarn has starred for them for the past four seasons.

Coming in third for the Ruthlandian Golden Bat was Fort Benton's 29-year-old third sacker, Steven Hornblower, who came out of nowhere this year to hit .352... in his previous eight seasons with the Defenders, he rarely got a chance to play... he blossomed this year with 16 homers, 93 RBIs and 87 runs in 148 games... Hornblower lost the Ruthlandian batting title by just two points to Enos Benham of the Wynnamac Sundowners.

***** Stoddard ***** Agarn ***** Hornblower ***

*
********** Ito ********** Vale ******** McGriff ******

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 19, 2055

BEST HURLERS HONORS OF '55 GO TO LONG AND HEDGES
The 2055 IPA Golden Arm trophies are in good hands this season... Middlefield's 17-year veteran James Long was honored by the Ruthlandian Union and young Yancey Hedges of the Turon Typhoons was selected by the Tycobbian Union as the best pitchers in the IPA... they were chosen in a media poll by The Islandian Times... this was the third time Long has been award the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award... he also was presented the award in '50 and '54... this is the second straight year Long has won... and the first time Hedges has nabbed the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award.

For the coveted mound awards, Long beat out Wynnamac's Sammy Hayes and Grand City's Zac Borden and Hedges got the best of Arlon's J. C. Hilburn and Southport's Champ Shafer... 35-year-old James Long has had a legendary career with the Middlefield Roosters... 12 times in his tenure the right-hander has chalked up 20 or more wins... in fact, for the past seven seasons Long has reached 20 wins... overall he is 361-208 with a strong 2.67 ERA... the all-time IPA mark belongs to Frankie Quinn with 391 victories... Long is currently ranked 6th... this season Long had some lofty stats with a 25-8 mark and a 2.98 ERA... this year his numbers included four shutouts, 13 complete games and 198 Ks in 305 innings in 39 starts... his Roosters rang up their seventh pennant in a row in the RU West.

Long had some mighty stiff competition for the RU Golden Arm... in second place in the voting was sensational southpaw Sammy Hayes of the Wynnamac Sundowners, who posted a 23-10 record with a super-low 2.22 ERA in 35 starts... at age 35 Hayes led the Macs to their fourth consecutive RU East Division flag.

In the third spot for the RU Golden Arm trophy was Grand City's Zac Borden, who jumped into the IPA limelight this year with 22 wins and 10 losses with a fine 2.45 ERA in 39 starts... the Cybercats won the RU South for the first time in 25 years... Borden is just 22 years of age and throws right... he just finished his second season in the league.

The Tycobbian Union honored 4-year vet Yancey Hedges with 2055 Golden Arm Award... Hedges had a remarkable year with a splendid 26-4 record, posting an impressive 2.24 ERA... he chalked the most wins of anyone in the IPA this season... the 27-year-old righty sparked the Typhoons to a very close second-place finish in the Tycobbian South Division... they were nudged out in a one-game playoff by division-winner Southport.

Number two in the balloting was Arlon's J. C. Hilburn with a 23-11 mark and an excellent 2.34 ERA in 38 starting assignments... the Champions came in second in the TU West to powerful Denton City... Hilburn is 33 and has been with Arlon for the past five years.

The third-highest votegetter was 29-year-old Champ Shafer, who has played seven seasons in the IPA... he began his career with Crystal Lake, but has been with the Southport Sun Sox the last four years... a portsider, Shafer had an outstanding year with a 23-12 mark and a fine 2.59 ERA... he really stepped up to another level this year and helped the Sun Sox win their first TU division crown in five years.

******** Long ********* Hayes ******* Borden *******

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 20, 2055

STODDARD, ICHIKAWA TOP IPA ROOKIES
New blood is the life of all the 64 teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance... it's the rookies and newcomers that regenerate aging franchises and propel clubs that need a little lift to get to the next level and be a contender... from the ashes of the old come the vibrant new players and rejuvenated teams... the top rookies for 2055 were Stoner's Tyler Stoddard and Hillsboro's Ichiro Ichikawa... Stoddard was acclaimed the Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year and Ichikawa captured the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year trophy.

Tyler Stoddard already hauled in the Ruthlandian Golden Bat Award for this season... now he has added the 2055 Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year accolade... in his freshman year in the IPA he helped the Stoner Stars to a third place finish in the RU West pennant race... the 20-year-old slugging first baseman hit at a .307 clip in 147 games with 30 homers, 108 RBIs, 102 runs and 107 bases on balls... Stoddard beat out Taranto's Mark Trupiano and Valmara's Vladimir Szymanski for the best rookie honor.

Runner-up Mark Trupiano, a 23-year-old third baseman, paced the Taranto Tars to a close second-place tie in the Ruthlandian North Division behind pennant-winning Far Mountain... he lit up pitchers for a .334 BA in 145 games with 15 roundtrippers, 81 RBIs, 76 runs and 10 SB.

Ending up third in the Ruthlandian best rookie balloting was second baseman Vladimir Szymanski of the Valmara Vipers... at 21, he led his team to a second-place tie in the RU North... Szymanski hit .316 in 125 games, winding up with 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and scored 73 runs.

Hillsboro right fielder Ichiro Ichikawa, only 20 years old, thrived on IPA pitching in his rookie season and came away with the 2055 Tycobbian best rookie award... he excelled with a .317 BA in 131 games with 32 homers, 93 RBIs, 94 runs and 28 stolen bases... the Blazers wound up in the fourth spot in the Tycobbian East this season.

Southport's standout second sacker, Buzzy McGinnis, was number two in the TU rookie polling... he played in 143 games, batted .313 with 17 home runs, 65 RBIs and scored 113 runs, while stealing 27 bases... the Sun Sox won the Tycobbian South, upsetting powerful Turon... the 22-year-old McGinnis was a vital element in the Southport success this season.

Coming in third was Bayview's slugging third baseman, Byorn Karlsen... just 19 years of age, Karlsen clouted 36 out of the park in 145 games, drove in 106 runs, while batting .257 for the seventh place Vikings.

***** Stoddard ***** Trupiano *** Szymanski *****

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 21, 2055

AGARN, ITO WIN IPA MVP AWARDS
The two IPA Most Valuable Players both sparked their clubs to over 100 wins this season... Trip Agarn paced his Middlefield Roosters to 105 victories in the Ruthlandian Union and Norishige Ito propelled the Midway Wolves to 104 wins... for their accomplishments this year Agarn was chosen the 2055 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player and Ito was selected the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player... Agarn was a first-time recipient and Ito nabbed his third MVP trophy... he also won in '52 and '54.

The Islandian Times conducted a poll of broadcasters and sportswriters across the Islands to determine the winners... in the Ruthlandian MVP competition Agarn got the best of Golden Bat victor Tyler Stoddard of Stoner and Zac Borden of Grand City... in Tycobbia it was a tight race with Golden Bat winner Ito edging out his teammate Daryl Vale and Golden Arm winner Yancey Hedges of Turon.

In his ninth year in the IPA, the 28-year-old Norishige Ito had another colossal season for the Midway Wolves... in 147 games Ito walloped 42 roundtrippers, batted .340 and collected 129 RBIs, scored 108 runs and copped 16 stolen bases... the Midway outfielder was second in the TU in homers and RBIs to Jaybird Ethridge of the Cape Coral Hurricanes... Ethridge topped the IPA with 44 home runs and 139 RBIs.

Ito's teammate, Daryl Vale, finished second in the Golden Bat poll and also in the MVP survey... Vale, a Golden Glove right fielder, had a marvelous year at bat with an IPA-leading .350 BA... he cracked 28 homers, batted in 102 runs, stole 28 bases and led the IPA with 118 runs scored... Vale is just 22 and has played four seasons in the IPA.

This year's Golden Arm trophy winner, Yancey Hedges of the Arlon Champions, was sensational with a 26-4 record and a standout 2.24 ERA... Hedges is age 27 and has been with the club for four years... he wound up a strong third in the Tycobbian MVP poll.

What a fine season for Middlefield's Trip Agarn... he was just barely edged out by Tyler Stoddard of the Stoner Stars in the Golden Bat voting... Agarn returned the favor in the Most Valuable Player poll... he topped Stoddard this time around... Agarn posted a .310 BA in 142 games with 31 roundtrippers, 125 ribbies and 105 runs scored, along with 10 SBs.

Tyler Stoddard, the Stoner first baseman, hit .307 in 147 games with 30 homers, 108 RBIs, 102 runs and 107 walks... a really astounding season for a rookie.

Third place in the 2055 RU Most Valuable Player balloting went to Grand City's exceptional hurler, Zac Borden... the 22-year-old righty was a prime part of the Cybercats' first pennant in over 25 years... Borden wound up 22-10 this season with a fine 2.45 ERA... he also came in third in the Golden Arm competition.

********* Ito *********** Vale ******* Hedges *******

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 22, 2055

RU, TU GOLDEN GLOVERS ACCLAIMED
Good defenders can make any pitching staff better... defense can be a difference maker in winning and losing... a standout gloveman just might be worth his weight in gold... each year the Islandian Pro Alliance celebrates defense by selecting the top fielders at each position in the Ruthlandian Union and the Tycobbian Union... most of the Golden Glove honorees are youngsters... most of them have not won more than twice in their career... St. John backstop Tuffy Palmieri is the only three-time trophy winner... there was only one rookie to make the teams this year... that was Bayview budding superstar slugger Byorn Karlsen, who had a spectacular rookie season with 36 homers and 106 RBIs... he is also a standout defender at the hot corner.

These are the elite defenders around the IPA for 2055.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Freddy De Angelis - Taranto Tars (18-10/3.03 ERA) (1.000 FA) (2-time winner)
Catcher: Tuffy Palmieri - St. John Crusaders (.298 BA/9 HR/60 RBI/63 R) (.996 FA/3 PB/31.7% RTO) (3-time winner)
First Baseman: Chuck Gregory - Belle Plaine Musketeers (.294 BA/17 HR/81 RBI/99 R) (.993 FA) (1st time winner)
Second Baseman: Pablo Mendoza - Volusia Vigilantes (.235 BA/4 HR/53 RBI/52 R/11 SB) (.983 FA) (1st time winner)
Third Baseman: Allen Spears - Glasco Athletics (.286 BA/9 HR/73 RBI/81 R/7 SB) (.956 FA) (2-time winner)
Shortstop: Phil Wilson - Taranto Tars (.270 BA/11 HR/73 RBI/77 R) (.973 FA) (2-time winner)
Left Fielder: Dave Durocher - Grand City Cybercats (.269 BA/18 HR/70 RBI/.75 R/10 SB) (.982 FA) (2-time winner)
Center Fielder: Callum Slattery - Glasco Athletics (.307 BA/19 HR/72 RBI/89 R/18 SB) (.991 FA) (2-time winner)
Right Fielder: Gilberto Gallardo - San Dimas Rancheros (.302 BA/20 HR/88 RBI/78 R) (.983 FA) (2-time winner)

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Erik Branham - Arlon Champions (18-10/3.91 ERA) (1.000 FA) (1st time winner)
Catcher: Raul Robles - Kenwood Wildcats (.238 BA/7 HR/57 RBI/46 R) (.993 FA/1 PB/32.0% RTO) (1st time winner)
First Baseman : Ted Merritt - Midway Wolves (.251 BA/22 HR/87 RBI/103 R/13 SB) (.994 FA) (1st time winner)
Second Baseman: Bob Foster - Hillsboro Blazers (.253 BA/17 HR/68 RBI/72 R/10 SB) (.984 FA) (1st time winner)
Third Baseman: Byorn Karlsen - Bayview Vikings (.257 BA/36 HR/106 RBI/85 R/4 SB) (.970 FA) (1st time winner - Rookie)
Shortstop: Kuzuki Tamura - Ginza Ninjas (.318 BA/14 HR/87 RBI/109 R/30 SB) (.977 FA) (2-time winner)
Left Fielder: Travis Ledger - Chicopee Braves (.284 BA/7 HR/80 RBI/73 R/15 SB) (.981 FA) (1st time winner)
Center Fielder: Maxie Mullinax - Turon Typhoons (.282 BA/13 HR/62 RBI/90 R/28 SB) (.984 FA) (2-time winner)
Right Fielder: Daryl Vale - Midway Wolves (.350 BA/28 HR/102 RBI/118 R/28 SB) (.988 FA) (2-time winner)

Where do you make/get the circle logos from like the Stoner Stars and the Turon Typhoons?

If you've answered this at some other point in the thread, I apologize. I'm just hopping on the bandwagon here!

No problem... I'm always happy to get comments or questions here.

Believe it or not, as untalented as I am with computers, I used justafan's wonderful software to make those logos... I guess I got lucky, because I can't change colors on logos... whatever the color was on the image was what I had to use.

I found the Stars image and Typhoons image on cephasjames' great site for sports images.

The "T" with the huge wave is the Tulane Green Wave's logo, I think.

You will note the fonts are just plain, simple and a little boring on both the Stoner Stars and Turon Typhoons... I can only use block lettering... don't know how to do script lettering on logos, jerseys and caps.

Thank goodness, almost all of my IPA logos, jerseys and caps were made by the graphic geniuses that use to be on the OOTP Graphics Forum... it's not as active like it was 3-4 years ago... it's not easy to get logos, jerseys and caps created like it use to be in the good old days.

Here is the OOTP Graphics Forum link... you will see all of the justafan software for logos, jerseys and caps creation, too... cephasjames' link is also there... see the 5000 logos thread/sticky.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...lay.php?f=3636

Let me know if I can help you.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 23, 2055

STANDOUT SKIPPERS SELECTED BY IPA
How important are managers in baseball?
A famous baseball manager succinctly once replied to this inquiry this way, "If you don't have the hosses, hoss... you don't win."

Well, so much for the importance of a manager in the diamond sport... still, the Islandian Pro Alliance gives them credit for the success of the teams by selecting the top skippers in the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions each year... the Managers of the Year for 2055 are Thomas Hall of the Grand City Cybercats in Ruthlandia and Lorne Evans of the Southport Sun Sox in Tycobbia... Evans won it for the second time in his career... he also was chosen in 2047... this is the first time Hall has been honored... both are 50 years old.

In a fairly close race Evans outpolled Arroyo Grande's manager Eduardo Villanueva for this season's Tycobbian Award... both teams play in the TU South Division... under Evans the Southport Sun Sox improved from third place to first place... the Sun Sox upped their record from 82-72 to 99-56 and won the pennant in a playoff by one game over the defending division champion Turon... the previous season Southport was 22 games off the pace... Evans had a standout career as a player in the IPA... he was voted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2045... Evans batted .305 lifetime with 701 homers, which is sixth best in IPA history.

The only other TU manager receiving support was 60-year-old Eduardo Villanueva of Arroyo Grande, a perennial also-ran in the TU South... the Suns have made vast improvement in the last few seasons... going from 8th (65-89) and 36 GB in '53... to 4th (77-77) and 27 GB in '54... to 3rd place (89-65) and only 9 and a half games out this year... Villanueva was a part of the best era in the team's history when they made the playoffs regularly... he was a solid outfielder and reliable bat from 2019 to 2027, winding up with a .304 career batting average and 229 roundtrippers.

Thomas Hall, this year's Ruthlandian Manager of the Year, starred for Grand City for 16 seasons until he retired as a player in 2041... he compiled a .283 BA and hit 321 homers... this year Hall guided the Cybercats to an 85-69 mark and they won their first pennant in 26 years (2030)... his club improved from 72-82 in '54, winding up in third place and 10 games behind in the division standings.

In another nip-and-tuck vote, Hall bested Far Mountain's Robby Kelly for the top skipper trophy... at age 78 Kelly had a fine year leading the Redhawks to their first pennant in eight years (2047)... Far Mountain went from fifth place and five games behind in the RU North to the top spot... the Redhawks were 81-73 a year ago and 85-69 this season... Kelly is also a member of the IPA Hall of Fame, inducted in 2030... he was 279-196 in his 20-year career with a 3.23 ERA... Kelly was a vital part of the historic team that won the IPA Pro Cup three years in a row (2011, 2012, 2013)... he was 16-10 in his 30 playoff appearances.

Well, that concludes the 55th season of the Islandian Pro Alliance.

A special thanks to all of you that continue to support the IPA.
Much appreciate each and every one of you.

Now, the hard work begins... getting the rosters updated with rookies for the next season.

Will keep you posted on the update of the team rosters.

Completed 40 of the 64 teams... adding in new rookies.

I found a way to make it go much quicker.

300,000 views...dang EC! Great to see you still at this!

GH

Markus has created a simply fabulous game that makes it all possible.

I just love this game.

Just to let you know who GForce is... he is one of the greatest dynasty writers ever on this forum.

GForce is truly gifted as a writer.

Check out his dynasties:

Austin James: Playing For His Life
Pastime Baseball League
US Baseball League
Alltime Baseball League

He has linked them all in his signature in his post above.

GForce's work is pure genius!

Austin James is brilliantly written! It will grab you with his very first post!

I really look forward to his return here on the Dynasty Forum.

Welcome back, my friend!

Very kind of you, sir! Thank you!

GH

Completed all of the roster updates.

IPA Season 56 is coming to a ballpark near you soon!

I'll start with a season preview and prediction.

txranger, a super-duper graphics whiz, has made me a new league logo for the Islandian Pro Alliance.

Many thanks to txranger for all the great service he renders to our OOTPB Community with his superb graphics (logos, jerseys, caps).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 2, 2056

5 FLAG WINNERS WILL REPEAT IN '56
According to the baseball gurus all across Islandia, it will be business as usual in the Islandian Pro Alliance in 2056... five of the division winners from last year are forecast to win again, including the reigning Pro Cup champion, Wynnamac... the other expected repeat winners are Middlefield and Grand City in the Ruthlandian Union and Midway and Denton City in the Tycobbian Union... Taranto, Turon and Oxford have been picked to beat out last season's pennant winners, Far Mountain, Southport and White River.

Favorites for the 2056 IPA crown are the powerful Denton City Redbirds, Turon Typhoons and Middlefield Roosters with the Midway Wolves and Wynnamac Sundowners lurking nearby, too.

Ruthlandian Union

In the Ruthlandian North the Taranto Tars get the close call in a very hotly-contested race with five other clubs... they are all fairly equal... looks like it will be a logjam most of the season... none of the clubs will be a Pro Cup contender... not enough talent... here are the preseason predictions:

1. Taranto (2nd-tied)
2. Glasco Athletics (6th)
3. LaGrange Sports (4th)
4. Valmara Vipers (2nd-tied)
5. Ranford Bulls (5th)
6. Ancona Red Elephants (7th)
7. Kilkenny Cats (8th)
8. Far Mountain Redhawks (1st)

It going to be another tight race in the Ruthlandian South with the Grand City Cybercats looking to take the division for the second year in a row... but it won't be easy to repeat...just like last year Waleska and Crystal Lake will be in the thick of things, too... Valka won't go down easy, either... the division is weak overall... the flag winner won't go far into the playoffs... usually a first-round loser.

1. Grand City Cybercats (1st)
2. Waleska Westerners (2nd)
3. Crystal Lake Skippers (4th)
4. Valka Blackhawks (3rd)
5. Belair Beach Sunbirds (5th)
6. St. John Crusaders (7th)
7. San Dimas Rancheros (6th)
8. Claxton Diamonds (8th)

For the past four years the current IPA champion Wynnamac Sundowners have come away with the Ruthlandian East title... and they get the call this season, too, but not by much over Marston, Belle Plaine and Elnora... it just might be a four or five-team dog fight... should the Macs win again, they always play well in the postseason... not too sure the others have pitching good enough for the playoffs... or to beat out Wynnamac for the division crown.

1. Wynnamac Sundowners (1st)
2. Marston Nine (2nd-tied)
3. Belle Plaine Musketeers (2nd-tied)
4. Elnora All-Stars (4th)
5. Eastshore Cotton Kings (6th)
6. Cold Creek Catamounts (5th)
7. Sugar Valley Rattlers (7th)
8. Beechwood Blues (8th)

During the regular season the Middlefield Roosters are invincible, winning over 100 games in three of the past four years... but they have trouble in the playoffs with Wynnamac... the Roosters have ruled the roost in the Ruthlandian West with seven straight pennants... and, most likely, number eight is coming up... only the Sligo Rovers have any chance of dethroning mighty Middlefield... actually, '56 looks like a replay of the '55 season... not a lot of change in the standings.

1. Middlefield Roosters (1st)
2. Sligo Rovers (2nd)
3. Stoner Stars (3rd)
4. Fort Benton Defenders (5th)
5. Forest City Firebirds (4th)
6. Rocky Rapids Snappers (6th)
7. Colfax Blasters (7th)
8. Volusia Vigilantes (8th)

Tycobbian Union

The Tycobbian North just might belong to the Oxford Red Caps this season... they have good hitting, scoring and power and just enough pitching... the Red Caps seem to be the odds-on best club... last year's division winner and Pro Cup finalist, White River, still possesses excellent pitching, but the Rascals just don't hit well... Mahaska and Luxora could be in the battle, too... don't think the flag winner will go far in the playoffs... not a real strong division... last year White River won in a single-game playoff with Oxford... Luxora was just one and a half games back in the chase... it was almost a three-way tie... the Red Caps should win by a decent margin.

1. Oxford Red Caps (2nd)
2. Luxora Zorros (3rd)
3. Mahaska Haymakers (7th)
4. White River Rascals (1st)
5. Hartsdale Hellcats (5th)
6. Fairfax Frogs (8th)
7. North Hills Hawks (4th)
8. Blue Lake Blue Sox (6th)

The Turon Typhoons had a great season last year in the Tycobbian South, but came in a heartbreaking second by a single game to surprising Southport... the Sun Sox beat them in a one-game playoff for the division title... not likely to happen this year... the Typhoons are forecast to win handily... maybe by double-digits numbers... they do everything well... Southport, San Alejo, Arroyo Grande, Cape Coral and Summerland will fight it out for second place in a very strong division... Colchester and Ginza are the only teams out of the running... Turon will be a solid contender for the 2056 Pro Cup championship.

1. Turon Typhoons (2nd)
2. Southport Sun Sox (1st)
3. San Alejo Monteneros (6th)
4. Arroyo Grande Suns (3rd)
5. Cape Coral Hurricanes (4th)
6. Summerland Sunsets (8th)
7. Colchester Elites (5th)
8. Ginza Ninjas (7th)

The Tycobbian East is ruled by the Midway Wolves... they will be seeking their fourth consecutive pennant... many were expecting them to capture a third straight Pro Cup trophy last year... they are deep and talented... and will cruise to the division title in a breeze... and should be one of the favored teams to take the Pro Cup... High Mesa and East Point will battle for the runner-up spot... with Hillsboro, Ozarka fighting for fourth... the rest of the clubs will be also-rans.

1. Midway Wolves (1st)
2. High Mesa Mustangs (3rd)
3. East Point Panthers (2nd)
4. Hillsboro Blazers (4th)
5. Ozarka Naturals (6th)
6. Red Bluff Red Sox (7th)
7. Tuckanarra Blue Jays (8th)
8. South Fork Stallions (5th)

The best team in the IPA might be in the Tycobbian West... Denton City won the pennant in '53... lost it by a game in '54... and won it last year in a romp... and the Redbirds appear to be a runaway winner this season by 10 or more games... in spite of this being a pretty solid division... Kenwood, Arlon and Bay St. Clair have pretty good teams... Bayview and Rolling Hills look to be improved, too... five clubs could go at it for the runner-up spot in the TU West standings... Denton City is long overdue for a Pro Cup trophy... the Redbirds have never won one... 2056 could be their year.

1. Denton City Redbirds (1st)
2. Kenwood Wildcats (3rd)
3. Arlon Champions (2nd)
4. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (5th)
5. Bayview Vikings (6th)
6. Rolling Hills Reds (4th)
7. Chicopee Braves (8th)
8. La Claire Lynx (7th)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, May 1, 2056

NO BIG SURPRISES IN THE IPA
Four of the favorites are in first place after the first month of play in the Islandian Pro Alliance and in most cases the other four are well within striking distance of first place... all of the divisions have good, tight races so far... so almost everyone in the IPA still has high hopes for the new year... as they say, "Hope springs eternal"... especially in baseball.

TARS, REDHAWKS TIED IN RU NORTH
Preseason favorite Taranto (16-10) and last year's champ Far Mountain (16-10) did very well in April and are deadlocked at the top of the Ruthlandian North, but they have bunches of competition... Valmara (14-12) and Ranford (14-12) are tied for third place... LaGrange (13-13) and Kilkenny (13-13) are fifth with breakeven records... seventh place Ancona (11-15) had a poor April... and last place Glasco (6-20) was awful.

Taranto (16-10) and Far Mountain (16-10) both have outstanding pitching staffs and are heads-and-shoulders above the other six clubs... the Tars are ranked second in the RU with a superb 2.83 ERA... Valerio Rossi had a brilliant beginning with a 6-0 mark and a 2.29 ERA for the Tars in the first month... others in the rotation ace Phil Castle (2-3/3.75), Freddy De Angelis (2-1/3.38), and Chris Gallo (3-3/3.70) are holding their own... at the plate RF Lenny Buisson (.364/7 HR/8 RBI/17 R), CF Vito Lombardi (.358/3 HR/10 RBI) and 3B Mark Trupiano (.326/3 HR/11 RBI), 2B Gaetano Palombo (.284/3 HR/14 RBI) and C Niccolo Parisi (.266/3 HR/13 RBI) have been supplying the runs... all of them are off to a good start... none of the talented rookies had a good April, but the Tars didn't need them.

The Far Mountain Redhawks (16-10) still can't hit a lick, but they sure stand out on the mound... both starters and bullpen are doing very well... third in the RU with a 2.90 team ERA... top arms are Eldon Bittner (4-2/1.19), Ryan Kolb (4-1/3.06), Stan Smith (1-2/3.29) and Benny Van (3-4/3.67)... the Redhawks get most of their scoring from star CF Ox Gless (.281/3 HR/13 RBI/14 R/4 SB), SS Carl Allardyce (.294/3 HR/12 RBI/10 R/1 SB) and sophomore 3B Luke Hazlett (.300/2 HR/12 RBI/11 R/1 SB)... only one rookie doing well... good-fielding 2B Gunter Albrecht (.255/2 HR/11 RBI)... the Redhawks had a very good month.

It was a pretty good month for the third place Valmara Vipers (14-12) in spite of the so-so pitching... only Primo Sirak (4-2/2.44) and 20-year-old second-year man Smoke Dillane (4-2/3.29) did well in the rotation... others will have to step it up if the Vipers want to contend with Taranto... 30 home runs was the reason Valmara has a winning record, sparked by C Karol Koska (.261/5 HR/19 RBI), LF Boyd Holmes (.308/4 HR/9 RBI) and young 1B Timmy Binford (.314/3 HR/17 RBI)... and sophomore 2B Vladimir Szymanski (.278/2 HR/10 RBI/13 R) also helped out.

The third place Ranford Bulls (14-12) have a solid offense with a .280 BA, but lackluster pitching... the top bat was LF Jedd Blodgett (.315/2 HR/11 RBI/23 R/8 SB), who really had a fine April... Blodgett is in his second season and only 21 years old... other contributors were SS Gonzie Spencer (.267/5 HR/14 RBI/14 R), SS John Billingsley (.286/2 HR/15 RBI/12 R) and CF Joey Hawkins (.300/2 HR/12 RBI/7 R/3 SB)... and platooned against lefties, RF Ethan Padgett (.594/2 HR/12 HR) was super in 9 games... only Dutch Hawood (5-1/1.60) had a good month on the hill... 38-year-old superstar ace Ralph Hawk (2-2/4.18) only had a fair month... totally unlike him... is age catching up with him?... and yes, Martin Futch (2-0/0.00/2 saves/7 G) is still a great closer... 24-year-old rookie right-hander Primo Uzzo (1-1/2.45) looked strong in his first two starts... let's see how he does in May... to be a serious pennant contender the Bulls needs help in the starting rotation.

Fifth place LaGrange (13-13) broke even for April and they were just about the worst offensive team in the Ruthlandian Union... but they had pretty good pitching... Amos Wadsworth (3-3/3.22), J. T. Dwyer (2-3/4.06) and Rodger Gagnier (1-3/2.95) are a solid set of starters... and the Sports have three other possibles in Elvis Capell (0-0/3.55), Rudy Bonnett (1-0/2.55) and Pat Causey (1-2/2.55)... things are looking brighter for LaGrange on the mound, but they need some bats... you can't win without a few runs... the future is dismal when your top batters are only somewhat decent... the team leaders are 1B Billy Broadway (.290/3 HR/9 RBI/9 R) and C Teddy Tottingham (.284/1 HR/6 RBI/5 R).

April was a good month for the Kilkenny Cats (13-13)... but they are absolutely the poorest batting team in the entire IPA with a pathetic .217 BA... not much more than mediocre on the mound with a 4.04 ERA... so don't expect them to stay this high in the standings for long... the Cats have been last in the RU North the last two years... Billy Joe Wooster (4-2/3.00) and Carroll Hudsmith (2-0/3.19) were solid the first month of the season... time and arm trouble may mean the end for longtime ace Glen Caswell (3-1/4.63)... he's 38 and missed all of last year... workhorse Braydon Washbourne (0-4/3.96) is a reliable starter, but things didn't go well for him in April... pitched well, but didn't get a break... you know you are going to have trouble scoring runs when your top hitters are SS Rex Parkhill (.293/1 HR/10 RBI/11 R/10 SB) and RF Clyde Cooper (.262/2 HR/12 RBI/14 R/4 SB)... and the big RBI guy 1B Ryan Reagan hit only .153 in April, but did hit 5 homers and drive in 11 runs and score 15 runs.

After the initial month of play the Ancona Red Elephants (11-15) are in seventh place, about where they are forecast to end up... just a drab and ho-hum team... but they do have an exciting rookie hurler in 21-year-old Yanni Bubas (2-2/2.98), coupled with a couple of dependable vets like Hank Worsley (3-3/3.74) and Roger Kostas (2-3/4.91)... a fair starting rotation... and Chet Shelton (0-2/1.93/4 saves/8 G) is a fireballer of the first degree in the bullpen... Ancona is just fair at the plate with the likes of LF Rusty Northcutt (.321/6 HR/14 RBI/11 R/3 SB), RF Franco Briganti (.310/3 HR/12 RBI) and 19-year-old rookie C Robin Hargroder (.286/2 HR/12 RBI/15 R)... looks like a long season in Ancona.

Not a lot went right for the hapless Glasco Athletics (6-20) in the first month of the season... the A's are a serious challenger for the worst team in the IPA... their 36-year-old ace Evan Walsh (1-4/4.30) is getting long in the tooth and struggling badly on the hill... but two youngsters, Herb Goodman (3-2/3.93) and rookie Monte France (2-4/3.06) show some potential... Goodman is in his sophomore season at age 21... France is a freshman and 22... Royce Blackstreet (0-0/2.51/11 G) just got promoted to the starting rotation after doing well in the bullpen... he's only 20... the future looks good in Glasco as far as the starters... there's nothing in the bullpen now... batting-wise the Athletics are having a real tough time putting runs on the scoreboard... they sport a .251 BA... LF Callum Slattery (.330/3 HR/13 RBI/15 R/3 SB), a .325 career batter in his fifth season, is a top-notched threat with some help from C Gordy Glisson (.306/2 HR/10 RBI/9 R) and 3B Allen Spears (.323/0 HR/9 RBI/13 R)... a reliable bat 2B Ross McFalls (.189/4 HR/13 RBI) has been slow to start this season... the offensive outlook is not very good for Glasco.

RUTHLANDIAN NORTH STANDINGS
Monday, May 1, 2056

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, May 1, 2056

REDHOT RACE IN RU SOUTH
Nobody had a great month in the Ruthlandian South in April... and nobody had a really bad month, so everybody is still in the race... right now the top spot belongs Waleska (15-11) and Belair Beach (15-11), but they are only slightly ahead of the rest of the division... third place St. John (14-12) and San Dimas (14-12) are just one game off the pace... fifth in the standings are the Crystal Lake Skippers (13-13)... in the sixth spot are the Valka Blackhawks (12-14)... and tied for the cellar are last year's champ Grand City (11-15) and Claxton (11-15), but they are just four games out.

The Waleska Westerners (15-11) have three solid starters in veteran Lou Carlson (5-2/2.62), Bret Shockley (5-1/1.94) and Rory Beecroft (2-3/2.34)... this trio is pretty much carrying the club so far... the Cowpokes have no bullpen and not much offense... they have no home-run power at all and only one good hitter... SS Hershel Barnes (.365/2 HR/11 RBI/14 R) had a very good April... but he got very little help from the rest of the lineup... CF Boomer Barnes had 15 RBIs , but hit a microscopic .177 for average... Waleska will need much more offense to contend in the RU South.

The Belair Beach Sunbirds (15-11) got off to a fine start in April... doing it with good pitching and a good offense... on the hill Tom Wilder (3-1/2.51), Glen Long (4-1/3.21) and ace Jeffrey Verblen (3-2/3.40) led the way... the bullpen helped out, too... at the plate it was a whole host of hitters: LF Curtis Cochran (.354/1 HR/16 RBI/17 R/6 SB), 1B Rusty Van Slyke (.333/4 HR/14 RBI/11 R), RF Nappy Kiggins (.297/4 HR/12 RBI/7 R/2 SB), SS Bobby Joe Jeffries (.292/5 HR/11 RBI/11 R) and veteran C Johnny Samarin (.289/2 HR/9 RBI/10 R)... is this a fluke?... or are the Sunbirds for real this year?... they were 5th and 6th the last two seasons... we'll let you know in June... right now they are the best-balanced team in the RU South.

The third place St. John Crusaders (14-12) can hit the ball, but they need some help on the hill... thus far, 23-year-old lefty Whitlow Cornwell (4-1/2.62) has done well this year... veteran ace Teddy de Grom (4-4/4.50) has been hot-and-cold... needs to be more consistent... most of the offense has come from three players: 2B Jimmy Upchurch (.330/4 HR/18 RBI/22 R/2 SB), star C Tuffy Palmieri (.354/2 HR/13 RBI/11 R) and 3B Ozwaldo Romero (.373/2 HR/16 RBI/9 R)... the Crusaders were seventh last year and are not supposed to be much higher... basically just a second-division ballclub.

The San Dimas Rancheros (14-12) haven't won a pennant in 15 years... they have been wallowing in the second division for the last three years... and forecast to finish seventh this season... however, they have played good ball the first month of the season... give the credit to a trio of starters Hernando Almora (3-1/3.35), Tomas Olmeda (4-2/3.57) and Tyler Tydings (3-3/3.69) and their bullpen buddies Juan Pablo Montano (0-0/2.35/11 G), Tim Tunney (1-1/2.30/10 G) and veteran closer Kenny Robinson (1-1/1.80/8 G)... the offense is just modest... could be better... the main run producer is RF Gilberto Gallardo (.308/4 HR/18 RBI/13 R)... also contributing C Yunesky Villanueva (.350/1 HR/8 RBI/9 R), SS Emilio Martinez (.299/1 HR/10 RBI/6 R/3 SB) and LF Manuel Madura (.258/1 HR/11 RBI/14 R/3 SB).

The Crystal Lake Skippers (13-13) might be on the rise... they came in a close fourth last year, only 5 games out... the last division title came in '44... the starters are above average with Merle Pitts (3-2/2.53) and Ozzy McLendon (3-1/2.59) in the top two spots... and #3 and #4 Robin Norborne (3-1/4.65) and Kenji Nakashima (1-2/4.44) give them some quality starts... the bullpen is fairly good with closer Josh Crosby (2-2/3.46/6 saves/12 G)... the offense is just average overall, led by RF Zippy Coburn (.286/4 HR/20 RBI/12 R), 1B Gib Coburn (.263/5 HR/16 RBI/13 R), SS Bama Quade (.327/0 HR/7 RBI/20 R/4 SB) and 3B Jasper Shackleford (.323/2 HR/9 RBI/14 R)... just might be a good year for Crystal Lake.

The Valka Blackhawks (12-14) won the RU South in '54 and were in the running last year, ending up 4 games out and in third place... expected to be in contention this year, too... off to a slow start in April with a 12-14 mark, good for sixth place... the Blackhawks have some good starters, lousy bullpen and a little better than average offense... heading up the mound corps are starters Norbert Borden (4-1/3.47), Clark Harrington (3-1/3.05) and Aavo Keskkula (1-3/3.18)... Arvi Tamm (1-0/1.93) is a reliable starter, too... closer Ricky Cockburn (0-2/5.06/3 saves/7 G) has struggled in the early going... has been very good the past two years... Valka best bats are 1B Jess Evans (.292/6 HR/20 RBI/13 RBI), SS Olev Tarvas (.278/2 HR/6 RBI/18 R/3 SB), RF Mel Shadwell (.255/3 HR/13 RBI/17 R/2 SB), rookie C Freddie Civik (.264/0 HR/8 RBI/13 R) and 3B Corey Belk (.253/0 HR/8 RBI/11 R/3 SB)... Blackhawks are better than they played in April.

Last year's RU South pennant winner Grand City (12-14) has stunk up the stadium this season and fallen into the cellar after the first month... pitching is awful... offense is not a lot better... 22-game winner Zac Borden is only 1-6 with an atmospheric 5.51 ERA... and Jozef Chojnaki, 13-9 last year with a 2.88 ERA, has slipped to 2-3 with a lofty 5.03 ERA this season... the offense is down, too... but the Cybercats still have some punch with 1B Vince Kinston (.362/5 HR/14 RBI/16 R), who is having one of his best seasons... 3B Zane Faulkner (.383/0 HR/6 RBI/13 R) is off to the best start of his career by far... he is right up with the league leaders with a .383 mark... RF Rocky Valverdi (.318/2/14 RBI/12 R/1 SB) is solid at bat and in the field... and so is LF David Durocher (.253/1 HR/7 RBI/11 R/2 SB)... the pitchers are going to have to turn it around, if the Cybercats expect to get back in the race... one bad month doesn't ruin a season... despite the lousy start they are only 3 games from first place... and a good winning streak could put Grand City right back in the grand position again... they are favored to take the title again.

The last place Claxton Diamonds (12-14) haven't had a winning season in six years, when they won the RU South in 2049... they wound up eighth last year... they were picked to finish last this year... and that's exactly how they have begun 2056... in spite of all that gloom, there are some exciting things about the Diamonds... they lead the RU with 38 homers and rank 8th in scoring runs... but Claxton has pitiful pitching with a 4.50 ERA... thank goodness for the bats... veteran Leon Reynolds (4-1/4.23) is the ace of the staff, but has a high ERA... along with veteran Claus Antoon (1-4/4.44)... last year Antoon was 20-12 with 3.46 ERA and Reynolds was 12-12 with a 3.70 ERA... rookies Heinrich Stolz (3-2/5.02) and Matt Goodrum (2-3/5.30) are the third and fourth starters in the rotation, but are having difficulty getting IPA batters out... the bullpen is a little better with Alvie London (0-0/2.63/10 G) and Ramon Santos (0-1/2.21/14 G)... closer Darrell Minton (1-3/6.30/3 saves/10 G) had a good season last year, but has been terrible this year... the Ruthlandian South is one of the weaker divisions in the IPA, so there's hope for all of the eight teams... it doesn't take much talent to win the pennant... but one thing is for sure, Claxton can clobber the baseball... top bats are CF Scoops Dunn (.440/4 HR/21 RBI/19 R/3 SB), 3B Dave Hanna (.364/4 HR/12 RBI/14 R/3 SB) and SS Freddi Hahn (.318/5 HR/11 RBI/11 R)... superstar 2B and playing manager Jojo DeLucca (.282/5 HR/17 RBI/11 R) and RF Bobby Bright (.282/5 HR/16 RBI/11 R) also have some punch, too... so does 1B Julius Weissmann with 7 homers and 12 RBIs, but the youngster is batting only .202 so far... DeLucca needs to get his pitching corps to do their part... then the Diamonds would certainly be in the running for the pennant.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, May 1, 2066

C'CATS SURPRISE ATOP RU EAST, MACS 2ND
There's an unlikely leader in the first month of the Ruthlandian East this season... lightly-regarded Cold Creek (15-12) posted the best record in April, but the Catamounts only have a slight one-game edge on defending Pro Cup champion Wynnamac (14-11), Marston (14-11) and Eastshore (14-11)... fifth place Beechwood (13-13) is just two games out in fifth place... it's surprising because Cold Creek was picked to wind up sixth in the preseason poll... three of the others were expected to be contenders with the Wynnamac Sundowners again the favorite.

But you say, it's just one month out of six... not a lot of people are expecting Cold Creek to do it the entire season... anyway, they have the lead going into May and they did it by scoring more runs than anyone in the Ruthlandian Union or the Tycobbian Union... and they did it with very little pitching except for a solid bullpen.

Heading up the Cold Creek (15-12) attack were RF Mel Parnell (.354/3 HR/16 RBI/15 R/1 SB), 1B Bobby Dundee (.360/1 HR/5 RBI/12 R), C John Gaddison (.274/1 HR/18 RBI/14 R), 3B Sandy Ketteridge (.278/2 HR/12 RBI/16 R/3 SB) and veteran 36-year-old SS Joe Cochrane (.301/3 HR/11 RBI/15 RBI)... the Catamounts are also getting good production from 2B Milt Swallow, who has hit four out of the park and driven in 18 runs, but he is batting a lowly .204 for average... so far, Cold Creek only has one reliable starter... that would 36-year-old vet Jimmy Engels (3-1/2.64)... the other three in the starting rotation have sky-high ERAs about 5.00... but the entire bullpen has done a pretty far job... Rodger Brockhoff (1-0/0.66/8 saves/12 G) and Desmond O'Connor (3-0/2.30/14 G) have been standouts... it's not likely Cold Creek can maintain this pace, but it's a good story anyway... it's been almost 20 years since the C'Cats have won the RU East Division.

The Wynnamac Sundowners (14-12) have won the Ruthlandian East the previous seasons and are favored to make it five in a row... the hitters are doing their part in the early going, but the pitching has been a little slack... Sammy Hayes (3-3/2.84) and Garan Parula (5-1/3.54) are off to good starts, but George Medworth (2-4/5.10), the Pro Cup MVP, has been slow out of the gate, along with Dion Delgiorno (2-3/4.54)... but the bats are booming with the likes of 2B Phil McLemore (.389/2 HR/21 RBI/19 R/3 SB), SS Whiz Ivie (.370/1 HR/9 RBI/18 R/4 SB), 1B Enos Benham (.330/2 HR/17 RBI/16 R), RF Snooky Bartels (.339/3 HR/16 RBI/12 R) and RF Manny Sendejas (.341/1 HR/11 RBI/8 R)... no need to worry, the Macs will be in the thick of the pennant race again in 2056.

The Marston Nine (14-12) are tied for second with Wynnamac... for the past five years they have challenged the Sundowners and should do so again this season... thus far, the Nine are hitting the cover off the ball with a .294 BA, second best in the IPA, topped only by La Claire's .300 BA in the Tycobbian Union... Marston also has better-than-average mound work... Mark Henley (4-2/2.55), Lance McElveen (5-2/2.75) and Tris Windham (4-0/2.29) have been outstanding in the opening month of the schedule... a solid number four would really be a good addition to the rotation... some more help for closer Robert Tringle (1-1/2.31/3 saves/10 G) is also needed in the bullpen for the long haul... at the plate the Nine has a slew of solid batsmen: 2B Damien D'Amboise (.417/1 HR/14 RBI/20 R/5 SB) and 1B Jarrod Cruthfield (.403/3 HR/22 RBI/12 R) both hitting over .400... helped out by 3B Andy Kirk (.347/0 HR/14 RBI/17 R/1 SB), RF Luke Cranshaw (.323/1 HR/14 RBI/22 R/4 SB), SS Gino Mastroianni (.319/0 HR/8 RBI/12 R/4 SB) and C Boomer Merritt (.255/4 HR/18 RBI/14 R)... Marston is a serious player this year for the Ruthlandian East crown.

For much of the past decade the Eastshore Cotton Kings (14-12) have floundered in the second division... this year they have impressed a lot of the experts that think they could challenge for the first division... in the first month of the season the Cotton Kings have hung close, currently tied for the second spot in the RU East standings... improved pitching has been the key, anchored by starters Bebe Kinney (3-2/2.70), Dain Moore (3-2/3.09), Sam Carmon (3-3/3.56) and Homer Lawler (1-3/3.82)... Eastshore is a well-balanced club with good hitting and fair power, ranked fifth in scoring runs... paced by C Tony Brunetti (.328/5 HR/28 RBI/13 R/1 SB), CF Elton Woody (.309/3 HR/17 RBI/22 R/4 SB), 3B Ian Kelehan (.333/1 HR/4 RBI/17 R/5 SB), LF Wade Wyndham (.297/3 HR/14 RBI/9 R) and C Ezra Cummings (.298/2 HR/12 RBI/7 R).

For the past 10 seasons the Beechwood Blues (13-13) have been stuck deep in the second division of the RU East... they were eighth last year and chosen last again this year, but so far the Blues are a .500 club... it's been three decades since Beechwood won a pennant... they have won it only three times total in the team's IPA history... not gonna happen this year, either... the pitching is highly questionable... only two starters are doing well... Sandy Wilbur (3-0/1.78) and Corvell Eddins (2-0/2.66)... there is nothing after those two... the Blues are just an average ballclub offensively... the main run producers are RF J. J. Ring (.318/5 HR/22 RBI/13 R), 3B Erik Coulter (.337/1 HR/14 RBI/11 R/2 SB) and CF Rod McClellan (.345/1 HR/8 RBI/12 R/1 SB)... Beechwood is in fifth place currently, but won't stay there... just not enough talent yet.

Tied for sixth in the RU East standings are the Elnora All-Stars (10-16) and the Sugar Valley Rattlers (10-16)... it was a bad month for both clubs... the All-Stars are supposed to be better than that, but the Rattlers are not... Elnora was rated to wind up third or fourth this season... Sugar Valley was forecast to come in seventh.

Nothing went right for Elnora (10-16) in April... they didn't pitch or hit well... many think it was a just a slack month... once the hits start coming, the All-Stars just might climb back into the race... only SS Lee Carnahan (.418/4 HR/15 RBI/10 R/1 SB), 1B Gus Abreu (.303/2 HR/8 RBI/10 R), CF Keith Colburn (.324/0 HR/ 7 RBI/10 RBI), rookie C Kuro Ishihara (.305/2 HR/8 RBI/8 R) and LF Donald Ray Mooney (.265/4 HR/11 RBI/8 R) have had decent years... several of their other fine hitters have really struggled this year and will need to snap out of the slumps to turn the season around... the mound staff has been lackluster this season... only two starters have been fairly reliable: Matt Mackowiak (2-4/3.38) and Wade Mendenhall (2-5/4.14)... the rest have been poor to terrible.

Sugar Valley (10-16) has been on the decline for the three past years and could be headed for a fourth straight bad season... the Rattlers have some quality bats, but quality pitchers are missing... they are average offensively and mediocre on the mound... gone from the lineup is stalwart OF Carl Ramsey, who retired at age 39 this month... he swatted 487 homers and drove in 1517 runs in his 18 years, while batting .270... there are only two regulars with much playing time, SS Tuck Alstott (.275/3 HR/9 RBI/14 R/2 SB) and rookie 2B Lucky Brockton (.305/0 HR/6 RBI/9 R/5 SB)... neither are doing much damage... the rest of the players are heavily platooned... many are hitting well for average and show some signs of longball power... time will tell if they can make a dent in the standings... veteran Antonio Cedeno (3-1/2.00) and Lunus Bourque (3-3/3.02) have been solid starters this year, but there is nothing beyond them... and it gets even worse when you go to the bullpen... they have awful.

It's been a tough start this season for the Belle Plaine Musketeers (8-18)... this was totally unexpected after two good years previously... the Muskies were slated to be right up there with the leaders this season in the RU East... instead they are dead last... they lost their ace starter Ralph Palmieri (1-1/2.95)... he was 18-10 and 3.09 last year... he will be out three months... Palmieri will be sorely missed... the current rotation is fair-to-middling in 2056 with Joe-Joe Bouvier (2-0/2.82), Jaron Montague (1-0/3.47), rookie Ike Alister (2-4/3.62) and Cy Neill (2-4/4.62)... however, the bullpen is pitiful... the hitting has fallen off sharply, too, and is in need of a quick turnaround... only 1B Chuck Gregory (.290/6 HR/15 RBI/19 R), C Eliott Somers (.349/3 HR/8 RBI/16 R) and LF Andy Williams (.295/2 HR/11 RBI/10 R/3 SB) have been productive... May has got to be better for Belle Plaine, if they expect to get back into the pennant race... it can't be another month like April.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, May 1, 2056

ROOSTERS STILL CROWING LOUDLY IN RU WEST
The Middlefield Roosters (17-9) are off and running in the Ruthlandian West ready to take their eighth straight division flag... they had a good April, but so did several other clubs... the Sligo Rovers (16-10) are clinging close by just one game off the pace... Colfax (15-11) played well the first month... so did the Fort Benton Defenders (14-12), Stoner Stars (13-13) and Forest City Firebirds (13-13)... in the preseason predictions Middlefield was forecast to again win the division rather easily... most of the time in the past few years the Roosters have prevailed by double-digit numbers... seven games has been the closest any club came the last seven seasons.

Middlefield (17-9) is already first in the RU West with a solid start in the first month of the season... the Roosters have very good pitching combined with very good power... the mound corps is doing their job very well this year... top starters are aging veterans 35-year-old James Long (4-1/2.22) and 41-year-old Hollis Dale (4-2/2.98)... neither is showing any signs of slowing down yet... Long has won the RU Golden Arm the past two years... rookie phenom Rick Goldman (6-1/2.42) has jump into the starting rotation and into the spotlight with a dazzling display his first month in the league... however, the bullpen has been really bad in the early going with a 5.04 ERA... another shortcoming is the team batting average... the Roosters are 20 points off this year, batting just .251... but they can still score runs... last season's RU MVP LF Trip Agarn (.301/7 HR/20 RBI/18 R/1 SB) has started well... other top bats are 3B Donnie Hix (.279/1 HR/10 RBI/18 RBI) and C Johnny McDonald (.377/1 HR/10 RBI/9 R)... star SS Stan Radzikowski (.247/5 HR/20 RBI/13 R) is productive, but is 40 points under his career BA so far... fine CF Johnny Wyatt (.206/5 HR/14 RBI/7 R1 SB) is way down, too, 90 points off his lifetime BA... still the Roosters are in first place... look out when the hitters hit their strides.

For the past four seasons the second place Sligo Rovers (16-10) have played second fiddle to Middlefield... things are looking better this year for them... the pitching has been remarkable this season... they are ranked first in the RU with a sensational 2.60 ERA... and the bullpen is even better than the starters... the Sligo ace is veteran Mickey Walsh (4-2/2.80), but he is getting solid help from Judah Carmack (3-1/2.55), Jacky Harshman (2-4/2.45) and Ayden Evans (2-3/3.45)... poor hitting has hurt the won/loss records... closer Tiger Snodgrass (2-0/1.64/4 saves/9 G) has excelled so far... the Rovers don't hit well or score well, batting only .255 (23rd)... except for CF Merle Bliss (.348/4 HR/13 RBI/17 R/3 SB) and RF Scooter Pugh (.409/3 HR/11 RBI/11 R/2 SB), all of the rest are having down years... yet the Rover pitching is so good, they just might be able to overcome the lack of offense.

The Colfax Blasters (15-11) are in third place in the RU West and off to a surprisingly good start, just two games behind Middlefield... they were ranked seventh in this year's preseason ratings... the club has had a losing mark for the previous six seasons... it's been 16 years since they won the division... this year the bats are blasting with a torrid .292 team BA... they rank 4th in scoring with 141 runs and 7th in homers with 29... but the Blasters are abominable on the mound with a horrendous 4.91 ERA (31st)... leading the attack are 1B Nicky Yorke (.286/7 HR/25 RBI/15 R), CF Stan Kovalenko (.287/0 HR/18 RBI/18 R/5 SB), 3B Nigel Colvin (.323/5 HR/15 RBI/19 R) and 2B Lon Downer (.320/3 HR/12 RBI/15 R)... the only decent starter is Keith Himmel (3-0/2.96)... Quince Blakeley (1-1/2.08/4 saves/8 G) was just promoted to a starting spot after shining in the bullpen... don't expect Colfax to stay this high in the standings... the pitching is just too bad... should the hitting cool down... and it probably will, the Blasters will, too.

Currently in the fourth spot in the RU West, Fort Benton (14-12) is hanging near the top of the division because they are batting .285 (4th) and are second in scoring runs with 144... but like Colfax, they don't have a lick of pitching (4.17 ERA) except in the bullpen (1.82 ERA)... the Defenders have a solid core of hitters, sparked by 3B Lucien Lindsey (.376/4 HR/13 RBI/19 R/7 SB), 2B Steven Hornblower (.320/2 HR/17 RBI/16 R/2 SB), SS Sandy Harling (.269/1 HR/17 RBI/8 R), CF Teddy Keys (.306/1 HR/16 RBI/22 R/5 SB), C Terry Caslin (.284/1 HR/11 RBI/9 R/1 SB) and UIF Billy Currie (.270/1 HR/13 RBI/12 R/3 SB)... veteran ace Zeke Yoder (4-0/3.00) is off to a good year... youngster Gil Hicks (2-5/3.24) has looked good, too... the bullpen is solid with Julian Le Carre (1-1/2.45/2 saves/9 G), Randy Rinehart (1-2/3.09/3 saves/10 G) and Darius Kimberly (3-0/1.08/1 save/6 G)... until the starting rotation improves, Fort Benton is destined to be a fair-to-middling ballclub... they were picked to wind up fourth this season in Ruthlandian West... one of the league's worst franchises, the Defenders have only won one pennant in their entire IPA history... that was 20 years ago in 2037.

The fifth place Stoner Stars (13-13) were forecast for third place this year... they finished third last year, 22 GB... last division crown was way back in 2029... the Stars have made the postseason only three times... and have never won a Pro Cup trophy... they hit very well (.287), score well (9th) and have good power (10th), but lack pitching... it's only mediocre (24th), at best... last year's best rookie and Golden Bat winner 1B Tyler Stoddard (.252/3 HR/15 RBI/17 R) is doing OK, but not as good as last year... club leaders are 3B Lance Andre (.294/3 HR/20 RBI/12 R), along with three LFs Steve Brunson (.395/3 HR/9 RBI/7 R), Anton Schindler (.407/1 HR/4 RBI/12 R/3 SB) and Tommy Boutwell (.278/3 HR/9 RBI/7 R)... 2B Doug Moody (.317/1 HR/8 RBI/8 R/3 SB), SS Mack Lord (.286/2 HR/7 RBI/13 R/3 SB), CF Grayson Lancaster (.328/1 HR/5 RBI/12 R) and RF Sonny Sikes (.303/3 HR/11 RBI/9 R/1 SB) have contributed, too... the only consistent pitchers have been starters Brad Squires (2-1/2.16) and Al Raver (4-2/3.33)... long reliever Ira Monaghan (1-0/2.25/10 G) had done well in the pen... if the pitching comes around, Stoner could finish as high as third... however, the Stars are not in the class of Middlefield and Sligo.

The Forest City Firebirds (13-13) are tied with Stoner for the fifth spot in the RU West Division... the Firebirds last won a pennant in 2048 and have never won a Pro Cup... they have made the postseason only five times in the team's existence... they are a fairly balanced club with average hitting (15th), mediocre scoring (23rd), good power (8th) and just average pitching (13th)... fourth or fifth place would probably be the outlook for this year... that's how the Island baseball gurus picked them... Omar Cordero (3-2/3.49) and Ben Drummond (2-3/2.27) are rated the best starters... there's nothing special in the bullpen...Tim Varnado (0-0/3.00/3 saves/5 G) is adequate, though... the only reliable bats are CF Randy Snow (.280/7 HR/15 RBI/13 R/1 SB), 2B Ziggy Regan (.344/1 HR/6 RBI/11 R/2 SB) and SS Marcel Poirot (.247/3 HR/11 RBI/14 R).

The seventh place Volusia Vigilantes (12-14) finished in the cellar last year and were picked to finish there again in the preseason poll... the V's haven't won a pennant since 2043... they have one Pro Cup trophy... they won the very first Pro Cup trophy in 2001... none since... Volusia is hitting well with a .283 BA (5th), they can score (13th), don't have much power (29th-tied), have very good starters (4th), but a horrible bullpen (32nd)... top starters are rookie Reynaldo Medrano (3-2/2.26), veteran Casimiro Ramires (4-2/3.46), Lonny Rinehart (4-4/2.93) and Cloyd Queen (1-4/2.72)... best run providers are young RF Bandy Barnwell (.540/2 HR/14 RBI/12 R), 1B Kees Tenbrook (.301/2 HR/12 RBI/11 R/3 SB), CF Rupert Myles (.327/4 HR/7 RBI/14 R/1 SB), 3B Teddy Cornelius (.327/0 HR/5 RBI/22 R/1 SB), LF Flash Nash (.333/2 HR/8 RBI/9 R) and 2B Alberto Torres (.286/1 HR/11 RBI/5 R/1 SB)... Volusia is hitting much better so far this year... if they keep it up the Vigilantes could climb as high as fifth in the RU West standings.

The Rocky Rapids Snappers (10-16) are last in the RU West this season... last year they came in sixth... the last pennants came in '44 and '46... the Snappers have won Pro Cup in their history... that was in 2019... the current team's problem is at the plate... terrible offense... they are batting only .241 (30th)... are dead last in scoring with only 83 runs (32nd), but Rocky Rapids has a fairly good mound staff... 3.74 ERA(14th)... fair starting rotation (3.98 ERA)... top starters are Clay Callaghan (4-3/2.98) and Big Jim Wakely (2-3/2.86)... not much in the way of offense... club leaders are LF Joe Clarkson (.291/2 HR/13 RBI/5 R), CF Gary Grable (.306/1 HR/7 RBI/9 R/2 SB), 1B Deke Lundy (.292/2 HR/6 RBI/9 R) and RF Jamey Murton (.272/3 HR/5 RBI/13 R)... Rocky Rapids is a second division club... not first division material at all.

RUTHLANDIAN WEST STANDINGS
Monday, May 1, 2056

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, May 1, 2056

FAVORED RED CAPS UP IN TU NORTH
The sporting press predicted the Oxford Red Caps would handily win the Tycobbian North Division this year and the Red Caps started off in fine fashion with a 16-10 record in the first month of action... the defending division champ and Pro Cup finalist, White River began a little sluggish with only a 13-13 mark and are tied with Luxora and North Hills for the runner-up spot in the standings... Oxford is forecast to take the title by a good margin... the Red Caps are clearly the best team in the TU North... the Mahaska Haymakers, White River Rascals and Luxora Zorros were only given outside chances at winning the flag this year... Oxford is the odds-on favorite in the race.

The Oxford Red Caps (16-10) have played well the last few years... they captured the Tycobbian North pennants in '52 and '53, came in third in '54 and were a very close second last year, beaten in a single-game playoff... but you have to go back to 2007 for the only Pro Cup title Oxford has won... the first place Red Caps played very well in April and look to be improved at the plate and on the hill... they batted .275 (7th), scored 137 runs (5th), hit 33 out of the park (3rd) and chalked up a fine 3.31 ERA (10th)... C Giles Gilliam (.397/6 HR/18 RBI/11 R) is having a breakout year in his fifth season with the club... three veterans stars LF Ozzy Ackerman (.303/6 HR/17 RBI/12 R), RF Wade McGrew (.328/3 HR/14 RBI/8 R/1 SB) and CF Dwayne Wagner (.253/4 HR/15 RBI/15 R) are still reliable threats... SS Roger Bajon (.318/0 HR/7 RBI/11 R) has also started the season off well... rookie 3B Roland Latimer (.243/4 HR/10 RBI/9 R/1 SB) has also shown some power... Oxford has four pretty fair starters in their rotation with two solid vets Rudy Mellancamp (3-2/4.15) and Lou Ellison (4-2/3.91), along with the youngsters Maury Statler (4-2/1.82) and R. C. Russell (2-2/3.33)... the Red Cap relievers could be better... could hurt them in the postseason playoffs... Oxford is the cream of the crop in the TU North... it's their division to lose.

What's going on in White River (13-13) this year?... hitting is much better, but their vaunted pitching staff is down... the second place Rascals have won the TU North flag the last two years and six times in the past eight seasons, mainly with their mound corps... scoring runs has always been a challenge, especially in the postseason... the starters are doing fine with Noel Woods (4-2/2.15), Butch Slattery (3-1/3.18), Ronald Doss (1-1/3.65) and ace Nicky Palmer (1-2/3.70)... but the bullpen is a completely different story... drastic improvement is needed there... star CF Pudge Tate (.278/4 HR/21 RBI/16 R/6 SB) and youthful 1B Fred Kraft (.250/6 HR/16 RBI/9 R) are very reliable run producers... they are also getting some help from LF Elton Bellfort (.286/3 HR/11 RBI/8 R), RF Jed Small (.281/3 HR/9 RBI/8 R), 2B Freddie Bannon (.329/0 HR/6 RBI/10 R), 3B Cliff Remington (.270/3 HR/10 RBI/10 R) and SS Joey Rutigliano (.352/0 HR/4 RBI/6 R/2 SB)... this hasn't been the case in prior years... don't think White River can beat Oxford this year... second place may be the best they can achieve.

The Luxora Zorros were rated slightly better than White River in the preseason prognostications... these two clubs will probably fight it out for the runner-up spot in the Tycobbian North this year... at the end of the first month, they, along with upstart and lightly-regarded North Hills, all finished with identical 13-13 record.

It's been years since Luxora (13-13) won the pennant... almost 25 years ago... the Zorros have never won a Pro Cup... the Z's have much better pitching this year so far with a 3.29 ERA (8th)... the major shortcoming with the club is scoring runs... they rank 20th with a .250 BA, 25th with 104 runs and 21st in homers with only 19... all of the starting foursome are solid with youngsters Juliano Machado (4-0/2.56), Mack McKitrick (3-2/3.03) and Paolo De Freitas (1-4/3.24)... ancient 39-year-old Mack Wellman (2-4/2.88) is doing quit well, too, despite the losing record... but the Luxora bullpen is suspect and needs help... 1B Wade Tibbs (.322/5 HR/19 RBI/13 R/1 SB) and LF Odis Easter (.295/3 HR/11 RBI/13 R/5 SB) are dependable bats, along with CF Vito Angeletti (.250/3 HR/15 RBI/9 R/4 SB) and SS Emmett Cusack (.213/4 HR/11 RBI/10 R/1 SB)... 24-year-old Tibbs looks like a blossoming star... the Zorros will contend for second place.

The North Hills Hawks (13-13) have been hovering around the .500 mark for the past three-four years... however, the baseball experts placed them in seventh place this year in the TU North, falling way below .500 in the standings, though they are pretty much the same average ballclub... they are batting .264 (13th) with just 109 runs (21st) and only 13 roundtrippers (30th)... North Hills has a good bullpen, rated 5th in the league with a 1.91 ERA, but weak in the starter department with a poor 4.42 ERA (27th)... starters Zip Harben (4-3/2.77), Johnny Kristoff (2-1/2.45) and Thad Vachon (3-2/4.35) could use a little help... DeWitt Dobkins (0-1/1.69/4 saves/5 G) is the bullpen leader... heading up the modest North Hills attack are LF Clifton Mahaffey (.322/2 HR/23 RBI/14 R/6 SB), 3B Sam Dunstone (.333/0 HR/8 RBI/17 R/2 SB), SS Pat Johnston (.333/0 HR/11 RBI/11 R/4 SB) and CF Curt Wilkins (.300/1 HR/11 RBI/8 R/2 SB)... young 24-year-old Dicky Dorland (.238/2 HR/9 RBI/18 R/3 SB) has taken over first base and has impressed this year... many think the Hawks are still a pretty fair team and will still finish around .500 and wind up fourth or fifth in the Tycobbian North.

Just like the last two years the Hartsdale Hellcats (12-14) are in fifth place again this season... the last division crowns came about a decade ago in '46 and '47... the Hellcats won their only Pro Cup in '46... they been on the decline since the '52 season, dipping to 8th place in '53 and settling in the middle of the TU North since then... just an average club... they don't hit well with a .244 BA (25th), average scoring with 119 runs (15th), but the Hellcats have some power with 29 homers (8th)... they are just so-so on the hill with a 3.92 ERA (22nd)... the starters are fair, led by Bradley Barr (2-3/3.21), Chet Salsbury (3-2/3.65) and Christopher Wolfe (3-1/4.23)... need a #4 badly... in the pen Roy Krieger (2-2/3.12/4 saves/9 G) is a solid closer... and Steve Owens (2-0/1.89/1 save/14 G) has really stepped it up this year in long relief... SS Gene McKennon (.304/2 HR/8 RBI/14 R) is the only .300-hitting regular... 1B Oscar Blackwood (.259/5 HR/18 RBI/13 R/1 SB) is the top RBI guy... other contributors are CF Leon Croyle (.284/2 HR/12 RBI/11 R/3 SB), 3B Al Wakefield (.244/5 HR/14 RBI/12 R/1 SB) and 2B Smokey Nix (.226/2 HR/12 RBI/10 R/1 SB)... Hartsdale will wind up anywhere from fourth to sixth this season... no higher.

The Mahaska Haymakers (10-16) are off to a bad start in 2056... since coming in second two years in a row in '51 and '52, they have been stuck in sixth or seventh place the last three seasons with identical 66-88 marks... the media was optimistic for Mahaska going into this year because of better pitching... they were picked to challenge for second place with White River and Luxora, but it hasn't happen so far... after the first month of the season the Haymakers are still stuck in the sixth spot in the TU North... pitching is much better than 2055, ranked 7th with an impressive 3.27 ERA... but the offense has slumbered... Mahaska is hitting only .253 (19th), scored just 89 runs (28th) and hit only 13 home runs (30th-tied)... no real big threats... C Dee Fagan (.308/0 HR/6 RBI/11 R) and CF Dub Forrester (.302/1 HR/5 RBI/14 R/3 SB) top the team in batting average... 35-year-old veteran 1B Roger Lewis (.247/5 HR/16 RBI/9 R) leads in homers and RBIs... another productive batter is SS Elvis Gifford (.275/2 HR/16 RBI/15 R/2 SB)... he is tied with Lewis for the RBI lead with 16, too... the four starters Morrie Dalman (2-4/2.12), Seth Scully (1-4/2.66), Pip Cordice (3-2/3.63) and Marty Mobley (3-5/3.74) have given the Haymakers quality starts and deserve better records, but the run support just isn't there... the weak bullpen hasn't helped out much, either... it's too early to give up on Mahaska... the pitchers could help them sneak into the first division... fourth place at best.

Fairfax and Blue Lake were picked to be tailenders by the preseason poll and that's where they are after one month of play in the TU North... already 7 games back of first place Oxford and tied for last place.

The Fairfax Frogs (9-17) were supposed to be the better of the two teams, forecast to end up sixth in the standings... the Frogs hit very well with a .270 BA (10th), score well with 125 runs (11th) and they have fair home-run power with 21 (19th-tied), but they stink on the mound with a whoppingly high 5.10 team ERA (31st)...only La Claire is worse in the entire IPA with a disasterous 5.31 ERA (32nd)... Ken Wallington (4-2/2.86) and Shaun O'Riley (3-3/3.66) are the only quality arms on the Fairfax staff... the Frogs have a bunch of pretty good hitters in 16-year veteran C/1B Scott Courtney (.300/3 HR/16 RBI/12 R/1 SB), still a solid hitter at age 34... plus 19-year-old rookie speedster LF Wyatt Clausen (.314/3 HR/12 RBI/16 R/11 SB), CF Paddy Fenroy (.310/0 HR/8 RBI/16 R/7 SB), C/1B Mike Mitchell (.299/1 HR/13 RBI/13 R) and 1B Sammy Monroe (.315/3 HR/12 RBI/6 R/1 SB)... as good as the offense is, the pitching is just as bad... Fairfax is in for another long season... the Frogs are headed for an eighth straight year near the bottom of the Tycobbian South Division... it's been 28 years since they made the Pro Cup playoffs... the club has never won the Pro Cup.

Blue Lake (9-17) had a dismal and awful April and is tied for last place with Fairfax... the Blue Sox are mediocre in offense and on the mound... they seem to be headed for their eighth consecutive losing season... it's been 27 years since they won the Tycobbian North flag... that's was the same year that the Blue Sox hauled in their one and only Pro Cup trophy in 2030... but Blue Lake does have a one very talented player... 20-year-old phenom C Daryl Monaghan (.462/0 HR/17 RBI/17 R/5 SB), only playing in his second season in the IPA, is hitting an astounding .462 in the first month of play... the rest of the lineup is just average with the likes of 35-year-old veteran RF Johnny Harding (.333/1 HR/8 RBI/6 R), 3B Billy Blue (.300/1 HR/9 RBI/11 R) and 1B Tommy Augustine (.284/2 HR/12 RBI/5 R)... the only quality starter is 23-year-old Weldon Nettleton (4-2/3.23), who is off to a good year, especially for a bottom-tier team... 36-year-old Dirk Sinclair (1-4/3.38) also gives the Blue Sox some quality starts... Bobby Nobles (0-0/2.76/11 G) and Jay Christon (0-1/1.69/6 G) have done well in the bullpen... it looks like the baseball critics are right... Blue Lake is destined for the TU North basement.

TYCOBBIAN NORTH STANDINGS

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, May 1, 2066

TURON TOPS TU SOUTH, TIED WITH SUNS
Preseason favorite Turon (17-9) has started fast out-of-the-gate in the Tycobbian South Division, you all!... but it does have a couple of clubs contending with them at the end of April... the Arroyo Grande Suns (17-9) are right up there tied with the Typhoons with the Summerland Sunsets (15-11) just two games back in the race... last year's division champion Southport (12-14) and Ginza (12-14) are in fifth place, five games off the pace... the baseball writers and broadcasters voted overwhelmingly for Turon in the preseason balloting... the Typhoons are forecast to win the division flag by a wide margin like they did in '52, '53 and '54... nobody is going to upset them like the Southport Sun Sox did last year in '55, nipping them in a single-game playoff... no other club was even close in the last year's race.

Turon (17-9) is already atop the TU South where they have lived for the past six years... the Typhoons are one of the more successful franchises in IPA history with 18 postseason appearances and a record four Pro Cups (tied with Valmara and North Hills)... however, Turon's last Pro Cup crown came in 2018... the Typhoons are a talented team with standout pitching... 2.76 ERA (3rd)... anchored by last year's Tycobbian Golden Arm winner Yancey Hedges (3-4/2.70), Ollie Dickinson (3-0/2.23), Dickie Parmenter (4-2/3.40), Bobby Reimer (1-0/3.07) and Ivar Jevicks (4-1/3.21)... the bullpen is a good one, too, led by 39-year-old Nate Scottsdale (0-0/0.00/6 saves/7 G)... Turon can hit, too, with a .276 BA (6th) and 123 runs (13th-tied), but they come up short on longball power... only 17 homers (25th-tied)... leading the hit parade are SS Bill Wolverton (.385/4 HR/17 RBI/18 R/3 SB), RF Matthew Fears (.338/2 HR/11 RBI/13 R), 1B Shoyo Yuro (.330/1 HR/15 RBI/11 R/2 SB), C Doyle Ashcroft (.287/3 HR/14 RBI/12 R), CF Tank Shepperton (.287/2 HR/7 RBI/12 R/7 SB) and 2B Bo Kaline (.312/9 RBI/0 HR/11 R/4 SB)... Turon has been in the thick of things for the last few years... this would be a good year to make a run for the Pro Cup trophy that has eluded them for so long... they won four in the first 18 years of the IPA... none since... many people think the time is ripe for number five.

It's been over three decades since the Arroyo Grande Suns (17-9) won the TU South... but recently, the Suns have been on the rise... this season they have a strong 2.91 team ERA (5th) and dynamite firepower... despite batting only .228, they have hit 41 out of the park this season, tops in the entire Islandian Pro Alliance... they can put runs on the scoreboard... the Suns have scored 126 runs and rank 10th in the Tycobbian Union... they were fourth in the Tycobbian South standings in '54 (27 GB) and third in '55 (9 GB)... currently they are tied for first place with powerful Turon... heading up the starting rotation is Beau McCloud (7-1/2.48), along with Nap Vickerson (3-2/2.79) and Roy Tuthill (3-3/3.22)... the bullpen is even better with a 1.45 ERA, best in the league... Stan Chaffin (0-0/2.45/4 saves/4 G) and Elliott Sexton (1-1/2.45/no saves/7 G) have done a good job so far... third-year CF Rueben Jones (.311/13 HR/29 RBI/30 R/2 SB) has been amazing this year... he had a good rookie season with 27 homers, but fell off to just 13 last year... his batting average also tumbled to just .179 last year... this year Jones hit 13 in April and is one of the leaders in homers (1st), RBIs (3rd) and runs (1st)... 18-year-old SS Dan Fargo (.290/7 HR/16 RBI/18 R/2 SB) has also sparkled... Arroyo Grande's dilemna is a lack of hitting by the rest of the regulars... they will have to do an about face soon to keep up with potent Turon... the Suns were ranked fourth in the preseason poll, but they are playing like the second-best club in the division.

This season third place Summerland (15-11) has sensational pitching, but also has horrendous hitting... two years ago in '54 they had the same scenario and came in a very distant second to Turon... in this year's preseason poll they were picked to wind up sixth in the Tycobbian South after plunging to eighth place in '55 when the pitching took an unexpected decline... the team ERA skyrocketed from 2.63 to 3.71... if the pitching continues to hold up this year, the Sunsets could be in the running for third or fourth place... they might be able to compete with second-ranked Southport... the Sun Sox also have fine pitching, but little offense... it's unlikely Summerland can challenge powerful Turon with their fine staff and solid offense and well-balanced Arroyo Grande... this season Summerland has a ridiculously low 2.49 ERA (1st), the best in the IPA... but in contrast they are dead last in scoring with only 79 runs (32nd)... Tommy Underhill (4-1/1.53), Jacob Vandenboom (4-1/2.01), 39-year-old long-time ace Jayson Hallstrom (3-3/2.88) and Rudy Hilgendorf (1-3/3.00) are an impressive starting four... with Corey Vinson (1-0/0.84) a pretty good #5... plus the bullpen is in good hands with Rory Poe (2-1/2.79/5 saves/10 G) and Kip Dzerko (0-0/1.86/no saves/5 G)... however, there is no such thing as a good hitter to be found on the roster... the best of the lot is 1B Hans Brouwer (.297/2 HR/7 RBI/17 R/9 SB) and LF Cy Brigman (.207/7 HR/20 RBI/9 R)... neither is much to boast about... but Brigman has some pop... and Brouwer is a speedster... looking at the team's history the last time Summerland made the playoffs was a decade ago... the Sunsets have only appeared in the postseason on four occasions ('05, '33, '40, '46)... and they have never won a Pro Cup.

Last year the Southport Sun Sox (12-14) found enough offense to upend highly-favored Turon for the TU South pennant... however, last year's division champ is off to a slow start this year... they are currently tied for fourth place with Ginzas... Southport hitting is down and so is pitching... the Sun Sox have done well the last 15 years with 8 Tycobbian South pennants and two Pro Cups ('44, '47)... and they have finished above .500 for 14 years in a row... and they did it with a superior mound staff... but they are struggling a bit in the early season so far... the offense is terrible with a .246 BA (24th), only 83 runs (31st) and 15 HRs (28th)... 1B Zee Graham (.358/4 HR/12 RBI/10 R) is the only regular hitting well... but he does get some support from 2B Buzzy McGinnis (.281/0 HR/2 RBI/10 R/1 SB), RF Manuelo Garcia (.275/2 HR/14 RBI/8 R/3 SB) and CF Ross Good (.258/1 HR/11 RBI/8 R/6 SB)... pitching has declined some with a 3.37 ERA (12th)... up a little from a strong 3.07 ERA last year... top starters are Champ Shafer (2-3/2.60), Zack Phillips (3-3/2.52) and Irv Carwell (3-3/3.31)... good rookie prospect Jordy Wales (1-5/4.97) has flopped thus far... they need a solid fourth starter... closer Troy Hill (1-0/0.00/5 saves/7 G) is still holding down the bullpen in very good fashion... the outlook for Southport in 2056 is perhaps third place... they don't seem to have the offense to challenge the league elites, Turon and Arroyo Grande... but they do have enough to hang with the likes of Summerland, San Alejo or possibly Cape Coral.

For the past four seasons the Ginza Ninjas (12-14) have finished near the bottom of the TU South, winding up seventh or eighth in the division standings... they have yet to win a Pro Cup... have appeared in the playoffs only 7 times... the last time the Ninjas captured a pennant was long ago in 2031... the preseason pollsters ranked them last in the division this year... at the end of April Ginza is in a fourth-place tie... the Ninjas have a pretty fair offense with a .268 BA (11th), 135 runs (6th-tied) and 23 homers (16th)... but very little pitching with a poor 4.55 ERA (29th)... they are a second-rate club, likely to end up near the bottom of the division again this year... at the plate Ginza is looking good with star SS Kuzuki Tamura (.320/2 HR/14 RBI/22 R/2 SB), 2B Vic Carnaggio (.411/3 HR/11 RBI/18 R/1 SB), LF Chris Pfeiffer (.418/4 HR/20 RBI/13 R/1 SB), RF Shogo Asamura (.339/2 HR/10 RBI/8 R) and 1B Crash Corrigan (.282/4 HR/18 RBI/9 R)... but they sure could use some help on the hill... Fran Kercheval (3-2/3.68) is a solid starter and Motohiro Shima (3-3/4.15) is reliable, too... they have a couple of good relievers in Sammy Fitzwater (2-1/1.32/no saves/7 G) and Abram Worth (0-0/1.59/3 saves/5 G).

The sixth-place Colchester Elites (11-15) are just a mediocre ballclub in most respects... in April they hit .256 (17th), scored 113 runs (19th) and posted a 4.06 ERA (24th), but on the positive side they slammed 32 out of the park (4th-tied)... top hitters are RF Graig Sutton (.338/7 HR/14 RBI/14 R), 1B Erroll Waldrep (.333/3 HR/15 RBI/13 R) and C Tomas Marantos (.324/4 HR/11 RBI/8 R/4 SB)... the ace of the starting rotation is veteran Denzel Durand (4-2/3.75)... young Johnny Walker (3-2/2.55) has looked very good the first month of the season... best relievers are long-time closer Haden Fraser (1-0/1.42/3 saves/6 G) and Gavin Ainsley (0-1/1.32/no saves/7 G)... Colchester was the ranked seventh in the preseason prognostications... the Elites have never had much success in the IPA... just 4 postseason appearances... 2036 was the last time... Colchester is one of 33 teams in the league that has never taken the overall IPA crown... they have never won a Pro Cup trophy... and it ain't gonna happen anytime soon, either... Colchester will be near the bottom again this season... the Elites were basement dwellers two seasons ago... and fifth last year... Colchester has only had a winning record two times in the last 20 years... that was in '41 and '53.

Perennial contender San Alejo (10-16) has fallen on hard times in recent years, coming in sixth the past two seasons... and the Montaneros are getting old and are not doing very well this year... the hitting is the worst it's been in three decades... and the usually-good pitching has also declined to the point of mediocrity... at the end of April the Monties are in seventh place in the TU South with a pathetic .232 BA (31st), only 91 runs scored (27th) and 19 roundtrippers (21st)... on the hill the team ERA is 4.13 (25th)... but the preseason poll chose them third in the division after Turon and Southport... in actuality, San Alejo will have a tough time staying out of last place this year... the Montaneros have made the postseason playoffs 8 times and chalked up one Pro Cup title (2032)... the last division flags came in '49 and '51.

Two legendary San Alejo pitchers Matt Bell (370-204/2.40 ERA) and Will McKinney (309-171/2.61 ERA), the heart and soul of the team for almost 20 years, are beginning to look like simple mortals on the mound... both are 36 years old... Bell (3-3/3.33) and McKinney (1-4/3.59) are the top two starters in the rotation, but have very little help... not a lot in the bullpen, either... it's gonna be a very long season for both of the IPA greats... Bell is third on the all-time list for the most victories, trailing only Frankie Quinn (391-297/3.04 ERA) and Nicky Engstrom (387-218/2.43 ERA)... Quinn starred for East Point for 7 seasons and 14 for Blue Lake from '27 to '47... Engstrom was with Turon for his entire 20-year career... the best Montanero bat belongs to aging superstar CF Paulo Texeira (.268/7 HR/17 RBI/13 R), who still packs a wallop in his bat, but is a defensive liability at 36... this looks like his last season... a 9-time All-Star he has 543 homers and a lifetime .298 BA... 1B Dontrelle Bradbury (.267/4 HR/15 RBI/8 R) and 34-year-old LF Royce Grantham (.244/3 HR/10 RBI/11 R) also provide a little offense, too... this is probably Grantham's last hurrah, too... he's been a consistent power guy for the Monties for the last decade... a career .266 batter with 276 homers and 903 RBIs.

In the preseason poll the Cape Coral Hurricanes (7-19) were ranked the fifth-best club in the Tycobbian South and were expected to challenge for a high spot in the first division... forecast to be a contender for second place along with Southport, San Alejo and Arroyo Grande... instead, the 'Canes had a terrible month, winning only 7 of 26 games... they were fourth last year and considered on the rise this season... but bad pitching with a 4.47 ERA (28th) and poor offense with only 107 runs (23rd) and only 14 HRs (29th) severely hurt them in April... on the hill 22-year-old youngster Jerrod Kipling (2-4/1.43) has been the only good starter... 19-year-old Edgardo Arriaza (3-3/4.00) has shined at times and shows some potential... the rest of the starting rotation is terrible with 6.00 ERAs... ditto in the bullpen, too... Cape Coral still has one of the top sluggers in the IPA... but 3B Jaybird Ethridge (.303/2 HR/18 RBI/13 R) hasn't hit a lot of homers so far, but he is still a big threat at the plate... SS Lynwood Barley (.333/1 HR/11 RBI/15 R/5 SB) doesn't hit with power, but he is an impressive contact hitter and fielder... powerhitter 1B Kalian Coston (.263/5 HR/16 RBI/13 R) has been a productive batter so far... also C Herbie Reece (.349/1 HR/6 RBI/12 R) is off to a good start... Cape Coral doesn't look anything like a first-division team... not too sure they can do better than San Alejo and Colchester... they will struggle to get out of the TU South cellar, but could wind up as high as fifth place because Ginza, Colchester and San Alejo are bad ball teams, too... historically the Hurricanes have not been very successful in the IPA with only 8 postseason appearances... and Cape Coral has never won the IPA Pro Cup... the last time the 'Canes won the TU South was 15 years ago in 2041... in about half of the seasons since, they were an also-ran in the second division.

TYCOBBIAN SOUTH STANDINGS