The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 22, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

WYNNAMAC SUNDOWNERS

Owner: Granger Co-Operative Association
GM/Manager: Matt Donnelly

Wynnamac is a town of 86,000 residents and can be found about 50 miles inland from the Valerian Ocean, which is the eastern border of Ruthlandia. It is located in the northeastern part of the country in the Central Plains, which spans east to west across it and is a well-known farming region, filled with seemingly endless fields of ripe golden wheat and rustic farms. It is the "Breadbasket of Ruthlandia". Settled by a diverse band of hearty and hardworking Canadian and Australian immigrants, who worked "sunup to sundown". They became known as "Sundowners" because of their great work ethic and love for the land...and for their love of baseball and the homestanding Wynnamac Sundowners. The area is also a center for meat packing and dairy industries.

Life hasn't changed much here for a hundred years and probably won't change much in the next hundred years. Wynnamac is a member of the IPA's Ruthlandian East Division. The club plays at Granger Field, which is built right next to a grain processing plant with huge silos and a water tower with a gigantic ear of corn on it...all visible from the ballpark. The Sundowners are owned by the Granger Co-operative Association, farmers banded together for the common good.

At the concession stands you get nothing fancy...just soda pop, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, peanuts, crackerjacks and ice cream. No beer or alcoholic beverages are permitted at the stadium. It is against the law in Wynnamac county and strictly enforced.

Wynnamac's General Manager and Field Manager is Matt Donnelly, who loves the game of baseball like no other. And he played the game very well, too. He was an outstanding hitter and first baseman for quite a few seasons in the local company leagues, playing until he was almost 50.

Granger Field (1967)
Capacity: 7,965
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 355
Left Field - 375
Left Center - 415
Center Field - 404
Right Center - 375
Right Field - 350
Right Field Line - 325

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 22, 2022

IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Rovers Even Series, Thump Sundowners 7-4
In game two at Sligo's Siver Mountain Park, the Rovers rebounded from a series-opening shellacking by thumping visiting Wynnamac 7-4 to even up the RU Elite 8 at a game apiece... the Rovers racked up 11 hits and were led by 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.286) with 2 hits and 3 RBIs... RF Clell Renshaw belted 3 hits and drove in a pair of runs... both Harder and Renshaw hammered solo homers in the opening frame... Sligo built up a 6-1 after five innings and were never headed... Ralph Odakota (1-0) notched the win by working 8 innings, allowing 4 runs and 9 hits in a so-so performance... new postseason closer Sam Tate closed it out with a perfect ninth... Jerry Meeks lost it for the Sundowners... he was whacked for 6 runs, only 3 earned, in 6 innings... LF Joey Eaton (.250) paced Wynnamac with 2 hits, including a 2-run homer in the sixth... the Rovers had an 11-9 advantage in hits.

Crystal Lake Crushes Ancona 9-1 In Game 2
Everybody said Crystal Lake had great pitching and they have certainly showed it in the first two games of the RU Elite 8 Series... in game two Ralph McCullough (1-0) fired a 1-hitter to whip Ancona 9-1 and go up two games to none in the RU Elite 8 Series... McCullough went the distance, fanned 3 and walked 3... the only hit he gave up was a third-inning single to SS Yanni Kouris (.333)... Spiro Zodiates was KO'd in the 7-run third after being smacked for 5 hits and 3 bases on balls... Crystal Lake collected 9 hits... leading the Crushers at bat was RF Andy Marshall (.500) with a homer and 2 RBIs... SS Alton Sonnenberg (.400) drove in 3 runs with a double and triple... 2B Greg Murphy (.500) went 3-for-3 and LF Jed Franks (.143) had 2 runs batted in.


Tycobbian Union

Zorros Sink Suns 8-6 on 3 HR
The experts say the Luxora Zorros are the worst team in the Pro Cup playoffs, but they haven't quite lived up to that reputation in the first two games of the TU Elite 8 with the favored Arroyo Grande Suns... The Z's powered 3 home runs to come back and beat the Suns 8-6 in the second game of the series.

Trailing 5-1 after 5 innings, 2-run shots by C Jim Thorpe Chandler in the sixth and LF Jon Stafford in the seventh gave Luxora a 6-5 lead... the Suns quickly tied it in the bottom of the inning, but the Zorros retaliated with two in the top of the eighth to win it... pinchhitter Francisco Ortega's sacrifice fly was the game-winner... RF Rick Schaffner (.333) got the second run in with a single... Chandler (.600) collected 3 hits for the Z's with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs, while Stafford (.400) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

Arroyo Grande's fabulous rookie 1B Rusty Vizcarra (.286) had a double and a single and batted in 4 runs to lead the Suns... Vizcarra led the IPA with 58 roundtrippers in his freshman season... RF Buddy Bechtel (.429) added 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Luxora had 11 hits and the Suns 10... The Zorros got fine work from the bullpen... four relievers blanked the Suns over the final 4 and two-thirds innings on just one hit... Frankie Kisielius (1-0) picked up the win with 2 scoreless innings... Tommy Wrightman closed it out in the ninth for the save... reliever Steve Sampson (0-1) worked the last 3 frames and lost it... he was touched for 2 hits and 2 runs.

Wolves Wolf Whips Reds 3-2, Series Tied
After two games the TU Elite 8 between Rolling Hills and Midway is tied at two games each... the Wolves evened it with a 3-2 triumph, getting a fine outing from Motega Wolf, who went 8 innings and stopped the Reds on 2 runs and 7 hits... closer Dom Vilaggio saved it for Wolf (1-0) with the loss going to Sal Jordan (0-1)... Jordan struck out 9, walked 4 and gave up 3 runs and 6 hits in his 9 innings... the Wolves went up with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames... Rolling Hills mounted a late-inning rally, but fell one run short... LF Chitto Chandler (.125), C Sammy Murphy (.333) and SS Maska Chandler (.167), Chitto's brother, each drove in a run to spark Midway... Rolling Hills got 8 hits and were led by SS Tony Ptacek (.400) and C Duane Simon (.200), who batted in the runs with singles.

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 22, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

ROLLING HILLS REDS

Owner: Lemroh Meat Company

GM/Manager: Matty Christianson

Rollings Hills has a population of 78,000 and is located in the west central part of Tycobbia and was originally settled by the Kewanna Indians. "kewanna" means "hills that rise and fall" in their language. That is exactly what the landscape looks like here...gentle, rolling hills populated with sporadic groves of birch trees and acre after acre of cattle, dairy, pig, chicken and agricultural farms. Crops include wheat, oats and corn, potatoes and vegetables. In town are the stockyards and meat and grain processing plants. The population is mainly Americans and Brits with only a few Kewannas remaining.

Rolling Hills is an oldtime middle class town with wooden storefronts and bricks streets, lined with gas lamps and pedestrian walkways. No cars are allowed in the midtown area.

It is the home of the Rolling Hills Reds of the IPA's Tycobbian Union West Division. The Reds play at historic Midtown Base Ball Grounds, a relic from the early days of baseball. Built in 1907, it is surrounded by birchwood trees in a picturesque park area of town, where families can picnic and enjoy strolls, bicycle rides and boat rides on the park ponds, all amid the peaceful shade trees. A quaint aspect of the ballpark is that the power alleys are deeper than center field. They measure 425 feet, while to dead center it is 410 feet. It takes quite a blast for righthanders to get it out...350 down the line in left field and 375 in straightaway left. However, the lefthanded hitters love it...only 320 down the right field line and 350 to straightaway right .

The Lemroh family owns the team as well as being the owners of the stockyards and meat processing plants. The concessions stands are unique in design. All are set up like soda fountains, complete with stools. They serve up tasty hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, thick shakes and malts.

A Dixieland band provides the music between innings and helps the Rolling Hillians cheer their Reds to victory. Many times throughout the game the fans will dance the Charleston. During the seventh inning stretch you get a rousing Dixieland version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

The GM and Manager of the Rolling Hills Reds is the legendary pitcher, Matty Christianson, one of the most revered players and managers in Tycobbian baseball history.

Midtown Base Ball Grounds (1907)

Capacity: 6,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 375
LCF 425
CF 410
RCF 425
RF 350
RF Line 320

Map of Islandia

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 23, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

CRYSTAL LAKE CRUSHERS

Owner: John William Flood III, Casino Enterprises
GM/Manager: Herman "Baby" George

Crystal Lake is the largest lake in Ruthlandia, situated in the southeastern corner of the country. The town, Crystal Lake, is located on a spit of land at the southwestern corner of the lake from which it got its name. Crystal Lake is south of Valka and just 25 miles across the lake. Belair Beach, San Dimas and Grand City are also close by. Crystal Lake is a polyglot town of 77,000 people who march to the beat of a different drummer.

Crystal Lake is best known for its liberal politics. Think of San Francisco in the United States for a comparable culture. Environmentalists, Jesus Freaks, Rock 'n' Roll enthusiasts in a fairly free society. Locals claim they are not liberal, they are libertarians. Critics counter that residents aren't libertarians, they are libertines. European tourists compare the town to Amsterdam, but not quite as notoriously liberal.

The lowlands around the town are more properly classified as bogs. Glacial activity 10,000 years ago scooped out what would become Crystal Lake and dumped quite a moraine when retreating, forming the land that was settled in the late 1800's. The area never really did grown because of the swampy terrain.

That's all changed. Crystal Lake was a planned town and came into being in the early 1920s when John William Flood began developing it. It was intended to be a summer resort getaway for the wealthy to escape the dog days of summer before the invention of air conditioning. It is laid out on a grid with north-south streets given names based on trees in alphabetical order (Aspen, Birch, Cedar...) and east-west streets given numbers (First, Second, Third...) and called avenues. Crystal Lake has always been a footloose and fun-loving town. 80 years ago, during the brief Ruthlandian prohibition experiment, they ran speakeasys and night clubs. 50 years ago, they built casinos. Present day Crystal Lake is a little Las Vegas.

Getting around Crystal Lake is pretty easy to do. The town was built around an electric traction trolley system that takes people everywhere. The town never adapted to the automobile, which is practically prohibited by ordinance today. It is a biker and walking society, that espouses pollution-free air, exercise and health.

The baseball team has been in business in some form for 70 years. The team name comes from a 1921 letter from the team owner to his manager on his vision for building the club.

John William Flood wrote to the first ballfield manager Andy Capson: "I don't like watching a bunch of dandies or young boys prancing around the basepaths like thieving fools. Bunting is for the birds. I want to see men crush the ball."

Hence, the Crushers were born.

John William Ford III owns the team now. He makes his money in the casino business and is rather diffident about day-to-day baseball operations. Since he's in his late 60's, he has been concerned about his legacy. He's been examining the Green Bay Packers business model closely and is seriously considering willing the club to the people of Crystal Lake.

The Floods have always been shady characters. John Williams Flood II was considered a scamp, regularly testing the will of the ABA commissioner in the days of the company leagues. John Williams Flood III is too busy developing real estate to break the rules like his ancestors did. The team has a somewhat unsavory reputation that is no longer deserved because of what happened more than three generations ago.

The famed slugger, Herman "Baby" George, the most prolific home run hitter in the annals of Islandian amateur leagues, is the manager of the Crystal Lake Crushers. When it comes to hitting a baseball, Baby George is "Mr. Baseball" in the Islands. There has never been anyone quite like him. George is a bon vivant and literally in a class by himself. George began as a pitcher and was a very good one, but his hitting prowess soon converted him into a fulltime position player. He holds the all-time career homer mark in the industrial league. He turned out to be a pretty darn good manager, too. And the fans love him in Crystal Lake for his savoie-faire attitude.

The Crystal Lake Crusher amateur and industrial teams played in John William Flood Stadium in the 1920s. The name was shortened to JWF Stadium by the press and the public over the years. A new ballpark, Lakefront Stadium, was built in 1985 by the town council. Five years ago, the town fathers sold the naming rights to the famous entrepreneurial real estate developer, Trumpy Donald. This upset the baseball purists, but after a lenghty court battle, it was allowed anyway. Its new name is Trumpy Donald Stadium. Newspapers originally refused to use the new name and still referred to the ballpark as Lakefront Stadium. Donald then banned all the newspapers from the press box and the gourmet buffet and put an end to that practice. Like they say, "The way to a sportswriter's heart is through his stomach."

Trumpy Donald Stadium is located right at the water's edge on Crystal Lake. Occasionally a player will hit one over the right center field fence into the beautiful blue waters. Fans get a magnificent view of the lake. On game days, the best way to get to the ball park is by taking The Traction to the stadium or by sailing up to the marina.

The food is typical baseball fare that tries to cater to both tourists and to the whole Earth Day crowd. The hot dog is a foot-long kosher dog served on a dark brown wheat roll. The beers are local microbrews and all claim to be genetically-modified organism free. Manager Baby George is known to enjoy several hot dogs and a few refreshments during the game.


Trumpy Donald Stadium (1985)
Capacity: 10,500

Dimensions:

Left Field Line - 340'
Left Field - 370'
Left Center - 405'
Center Field - 400'
Right Center - 381'
Right Field - 370'
Right Field Line - 340'

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 23, 2022

2022 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Up By 1, Slips By Sundowners 4-2
Game three of the RU Elite 8 Series was played at Granger Field in Wynnamac, however it didn't make any difference to Sligo as the Rovers rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to take the game 4-2 and move up two games to one in the series... Sligo got an excellent start from Luka Abromowitz (1-0), who limited the Sundowners to 4 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings... closer Sam Tate came in the ninth and finished it off, holding Wynnamac runless... Both teams got 6 hits each... the Sundowners scored single runs in the first two innings... Sligo got one of them back in the fourth on Johnny Lee Harder's sacrifice fly (.300), then wrapped up the game with 3 more in the sixth, highlighted by RBI doubles by Harder and 3B Manny Alou (.250)... loser Dean Barber (0-1) in a good effort went the distance in defeat, fanning 3 and walking 3... Wynnamac CF Ian Holmes (.583) doubled in the first and scored on a wild pitch... 2B Floyd Kidman (.100) doubled in the second score in the second frame... that was it as far as scoring for the Sundowners.

Ancona Comes Alive, Routs Crystal Lake 10-2
The Ancona Red Elephants came alive on the road with 5 home-run blasts in game three of the RU Elite 8 Series and walloped Crystal Lake 10-2 at Trumpy Donald Stadium... the win cut the Crushers lead to two games to one and was Ancona's critical first win the series... CF Ken Rutledge (.308) led the charge with 2 homers, 4 hits and 3 RBIs... 3B Todd Nasso (.091), 1B Alekos Kotas (.182) and RF Louie DiMucci (.100) also went deep... Hubie Croft (1-0) effectively shut down the Crushers, holding them to 2 runs on 8 hits for the win... Dennis Taylor (0-1) was the losing pitcher... he was slammed for 5 runs and 10 hits in 6 innings.

Tycobbian Union

Suns Finally Win, Zonk Zorros 7-4
The Arroyo Grande big guns unloaded today at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora and the Suns finally won a must game from the Luxora Zorros, cutting their lead to two games to one in the TU Elite Series... LF Eduardo Villanueva tied the game at 1-1 with a solo shot in the third inning and C Gary Troxell (.273) unloaded a 3-run salvo in the 4-run sixth inning to put the Suns ahead to stay... rookie Cesar De Leon hurled a decent game, going all the way and checking the Z's on 8 hits and 4 runs... De Leon had 9 Ks and walked 4 in a credible outing... He stranded 12 Luxora baserunners... the Suns committed 4 errors behind him... Each team collected 8 hits apiece... 1B Jim Gurney (.267) sparked the Zorros at the plate with 2 hits and scored 3 times... Valerio Lopes (0-1) lost it, yielding 5 runs and 5 hits in 5+ innings.

Dorignac Halts Reds 5-2, Wolves Lead By A Game
Playing its first game at home on the happy hunting grounds at Joe Wolf Stadium, Midway erupted for 5 runs right off the bat in the opening frame and held off the Rolling Hills Reds 5-2 in game 3 of the Tycobbian Elite 8... it was the Wolves second win in the series and gave them a surprising two games to one lead over the favored Reds... 22-year-old Bobby Dorignac, a 19-game winner in his rookie year, tossed an impressive game, stopping Rolling Hills on 4 hits and one earned run... Dorignac (1-0) whiffed 8 and issued 3 walks in a route-going job... 2B Frank Reinhard's (.182) 2-run single and CF Johnny Lee's (.455) 3-run roundtripper accounted for all of the Midway scoring... the Wolves got 9 hits off four Reds pitchers, pinning the loss on rookie starter Alan Clay (0-1), who was roughed up for 5 runs in two innings.

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 23, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

MIDWAY WOLVES

Owner: Midway Baseball Cooperative

GM/Manager: Cochise Chandler

Midway is a river town with 55,000 residents, founded on the banks of the Appian River in the central plains of Tycobbia. Midway gets its name because it is right in the middle of the country. Originally settled by the Kewanna Indians, as was most of the central plains area. The Kewannas called the area "place of the wolves". In many ways, a pack of wolves and a tribe of Indians have significant similarities. They both work for the greater good of the pack or tribe, they hunt for all to eat and are both led by a single leader. It isn’t surprising that because of these similarities, the Native Indians had a great respect for wolves and viewed them as a significant part of the world with which they lived harmoniously. In the Kewannan language the word for "wolf" is "Meed-whay". Subsequent English-speaking settlers, who emigrated in the 1870s understood it as "Midway". That is how the town name came to be.

Kewanna Indians still make up a large part of the town's population. The emigres and the Indians have always lived together in peace in Tycobbia. The emigres always treated the Natives fairly and did not take their land without proper payment.

Life has never been easy in Midway as it has to depend on the land for its livelihood. No rich mineral deposits, petroleum or forests are found here. No manufacturing. Just wheat, oats and corn as the staple crops. It also has a thriving dairy industry. There is one big employer in Midway, Nosyt Farms. In the Kewannan language "nosyt" is the word for "chicken". The company was started in 1895 by Joe Wolf and is still run today by his descendants. Nosyt Farms products are known for being grown naturally and are totally free of chemicals. This makes it a very popular brand name in the environmentally-conscious Islands.

Baseball got a late start in Midway. It was the 1920s before teams began to organize. It got its first impetus under the auspices of Nosyt Farms, which began a company league for employees. The company league was soon open to the town residents, too. By the 1940s Midway was competitive with the surrounding towns. It was one of the last town to get a franchise in the new Islandian Pro Alliance.

It is a community-owned franchise with over 5,000 stockholders. They chose the name "Wolves" because of the wolf's tough image and also because of its Kewannan connection and heritage. The Midway Wolves play at an old ballpark on the outskirts of town named in honor of Joe Wolf. It was built in 1928 and dedicated by Joe Wolf himself. It is located on Nosyt Farms and is maintained by the company as a community service.

Joe Wolf Park is not fancy, but it is functional and a good place to see a ballgame. Most modern day Kewanna Indians get their food like anybody else...at the supermarket. Only on special ceremonial days do they prepare tribal foods. So all you will find at the ballpark are the traditional hot dogs, cokes, beer, peanuts and crackerjacks... and of course, delicious Nosyt fried chicken... the best in the Islands.

Cochise Chandler is both the GM and manager of the Midway Wolves. In fact, he holds quite a few shares in the Midway Baseball Cooperative that runs the ballclub. Chandler was an accomplished ballplayer in Tycobbian baseball circles. He was a powerhitting outfielder and played until his mid-forties. Chandler has also been a successful manager, too.

Joe Wolf Park (1928)

Capacity: 7,775

Dimensions:

Left Field Line - 335
Left Field - 360
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 401
Right Center - 380
Right Field - 360
Right Field Line - 335

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 24, 2022

2022 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Wynnamac Wins 6-0, Evens Series With Sligo
Wynnamac's Lon Marshall evened the Elite 8 Series with the favored Sligo Rovers with a superb 1-hit shutout in game four of the best-of-seven series... at his home field, Marshall blanked Sligo 6-0, beating the Rovers for the second time in the series... the teams are now knotted up at 2 games apiece... Marshall beat the Rovers 3-1 on 6 hits in the opening game... in this one Marshall (2-0 0.50) fanned 7 and walked 3, while going the distance... the Sundowners were led by 2B Liam Cadbury (.313) with 2 hits, 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs, including a home run in the seventh... Wynnamac collected 8 hits off two Sligo pitchers... loser Les Patterson (0-2 4.96) worked 6 and a third innings and gave up all the hits and all of the runs... Rover 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.333) spoiled the no-hitter with a fifth-inning single.

Crushers Rip Red Elephants 8-2, Up 3-1 In Series
The Crystal Lake Crushers took a giant step towards winning the RU Elite 8 Series with Ancona by smashing them 8-2 in game four to take a three games to one edge... one more win will send the Crushers to the next round, the RU Final 4... Crusher ace Duncan Welch sparkled again on the hill as he shut down hard-hitting Ancona for the second time in the series, stopping them on 6 hits in a complete-game performance... Welch (2-0 1.00) had 6 strikeouts and walked just one... Crystal Lake cracked 12 hits, paced by 1B Phil Gravelli (.267) with 2 hits and 3 RBIs, 3B Tommy Gompers (.412) with 3 hits, 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs... Gompers had 2 triples... and SS Alton Sonnenberg (.583) with 3 hits, 1 run batted in and 1 scored... Ancona ace Clete Dukas (0-2 3.38) took it on the chin... the Crushers belted him for 11 hits and 8 runs in 5+ innings... 3 of the runs were not earned as the Red Elephants committed 3 errors.

Tycobbian Union

Suns Even Series, Slam Z's 6-3 In 10
It was quite a tussle at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora... for 9 innings it was a tense 1-1 duel between the teams' number-one hurlers - Sixto Zamora for Arroyo Grande and Tiago Torres for Luxora... but when they left, all heck broke loose against the teams' bullpens... the Suns exploded for 5 runs in the top of the tenth and held on for a 6-3 triumph after the Zorros mounted a mild comeback in the bottom half of the inning with 2 runs... Arroyo Grande pinchhitter Andre Lajoie snapped the 1-1 tie with a double, CF Johnny Whittier (.059) blasted a 3-run homer and 1B Rusty Vizcarra (.333) finished off the Suns scoring with an RBI single... Arroyo Grande got 10 hits, while Luxora totaled 9... Zamora (1-1 4.14) got credit for the victory as he went 9 innings, allowed 7 hits and a run, while fanning 6 and walking 2... Suns bullpen specialist Jason Patrick struggled in his only inning and gave up 2 runs in the tenth... closer Jay Brewer (0-1) was rocked for 4 runs in the tenth for the loss... Luxora starter Tiago Torres was terrific, striking out 10 in 9 innings, limiting the Suns to just 4 hits and one run, while permitting 3 walks.

Midway Takes 3rd Straight, Reds Trail 3-1
The underdog Midway Wolves got another fine pitching performance and continued to hit with authority to mow down the number-two seeded team Rollings Hills 6-2 in game four of the Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series... it was the Wolves third win in a row, giving them a chance to finish off the favored Reds by winning just one more game in the best-of-seven series... Rolling Hills will have to run out the series to keep its season alive... Dakota Dyami (1-1 4.85) tossed a complete game and held the Reds to 5 hits and 2 runs, striking out 4 and walking 3... Dyami got a lot of offensive support as the Wolves piled up 11 hits, led by 2B Frank Reinhard (.333) with 2 doubles, a single, 2 runs scored and an RBI... RF Kyle Rigney (.400) rapped a pair of hits and scored twice... C Sammy Murphy (.231) drove in 2 runs for the winners... game-one winner Errol Gaudet (1-1 4.20) caught the loss as he surrendered 4 runs and 9 hits in his 7 innings.

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 24, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

Ancona Red Elephants

Owner: Golden Hill Insurance Company
President of the Board: Dimitrios Vakros
GM: Nick Yakis
Manager: Manny Mickens

Ancona, a town of 68,000 is situated on the west coast of Valdar Island, on the banks of Valdar Bay in the nation of Ruthlandia. In terms of topography, it is an area of mostly flat land with rocky soil, coupled with occasional stony bluffs and hills. It is a chilly, rainy and foggy climate, especially in the winter. Founded by Greek settlers in the late 1870s, who set up the town as a supply port for whaling and cargo ships. They named the town Ancona, because the harbor was shaped like an elbow. "Ancona" is similar in meaning to the Greek word "ankon" for elbow. Ancona still has a thriving Greek community and they make up about a fourth of the town's residents.

When whaling began to decline around 1910, the town sought other revenue streams. The Ancona Whaling Cooperative expanded into maritime insurance and started the Golden Hill Insurance Company. By the late 1940s it had become the largest insurance company in Ruthlandia. The company motto stated, "Golden Hill For Life".

The company also owns a IPA baseball franchise, the Ancona Red Elephants, who have an interesting history of their own. Originally founded by Jay Loman, an American emigre stock trader during the Roaring '20s. He was an alumnus of the University of Alabama and was a big fan of the Red Elephants athletic teams. So he named his company team the Red Elephants. Loman spent a fortune on his expensive hobby, building a new ballpark and going to the mainland to sign up the best players he could get, illegally paying his "amateurs" exorbitant salaries. Valdar Island was bypassed by many early immigrants because of its inhospitable topography. No one wanted to live there. Big salaries were the only way he could get the best players to come and play in the Valdar Island league. The Ancona Red Elephants were a very dominant team for a decade and were huge fan favorites in the local industrial league. They won the coveted Silver Whale Cup nine years in a row, which is given annually to the Valdar Island League Champion. Like many speculators, Loman lost everything in the Black Monday crash of 1929, including the Red Elephants, who were sold at auction and purchased by the Golden Hill Insurance Company.

Jay Loman Park still stands today and is considered a timeless classic, with its high-arching bleachers in left and right field offering excellent sightlines. Out beyond center field, the immense gold building that houses Golden Hill can be seen, along with some of the old historical buildings of the town, many of which date back to Ancona's whaling days.

The chief food attraction at the stadium is the Catch of the Day Special, a succulent fish and chips meal whose seafood component is never the same thing for two home games in a row. A hot cup of delicious seafood chowder goes good on a chilly Anconan afternoon at Jay Loman Park. Traditional ballpark fare is also available. You will also be entertained by Eddie and Ellie Elephant, the team's mascots. They lead the fans in dances, songs and cheers at each game. You will hear "The Elephant Trumpet" regularly at Elephant games and especially whenever Ancona hits a home run or wins a game.

Ree Ree Ree!
Elephants on parade!
Elephants on parade!

You think you can beat the best
But you're just like the rest
When pachyderm power strikes!
When pachyderm power strikes!

So goodbye ball! (if a homer)
So goodbye (opponent name)! (if a win)
Three cheers for the Elephants!
Three cheers for the Elephants!

Ree! Ree! Ree!

After the game, fans often go to The Mudbath, the unofficial Red Elephants sports bar to talk about the game, knock off a cold brew or two and listen to live music from a local band.

Speaking of local bands, there's a thriving music scene in Ancona and none is more popular than the world-famous Manatees, a best-selling musical group who sings sea chanties and other traditional songs that hearken back to the city's initial whaling days. They, along with the rest of the local groups, are often found playing in the town's equally popular taverns, especially on cold winter nights.

The Ancona Red Elephants GM is Nick Yakis. He has been a player and manager for over 30 years in the Valdar Island League. And keeping everything in the family, Yakis hired his son-in-law, Manny Mickens, as manager. Mickens was a 16-year old phenom in his playing days in the company league. He was a centerfielder who could do it all on the diamond. After retiring as a player, Mickens was quite successful running the baseball program at Ancona University.

Jay Loman Park (1922)

Capacity: 8,899

LF Line 332
LF Line 352
LCF 375
CF 415
RCF 375
RF 352
RF Line 332

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 24, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

LUXORA ZORROS

Owner: De la Vega Foundation
GM/Manager: Rodrigo Alejandro

Luxora is a picturesque town of 65,000 people of Spanish and Andorran ancestry located in the Silver Mountains of northeastern Tycobbia. Both Spanish and English are spoken there. Snowy winters and mild summers lure tourists from all over, who come in great numbers to enjoy the natural hot thermal springs and spas, snow skiing, snowboarding, whitewater rafting and the wonderful duty-free bazaar overflowing with electronics, luxury goods and fine handmade clothing made from the famous Luxoran wool in the town textile factory. Everywhere in the area you will see a plethora of sheep ranches, along with timber, lumber and wood products which are processed and manufactured there. Luxora benefits greatly from its proximity to the Rio Loco, a wild and raging river and a source of great hydroelectric power. By way of a series of dams and locks the river flows from high in the mountains, skirting the town on its western journey through the foothills before finally flowing into the sky blue waters of Blue Lake near Fairfax. As a result, it is the headquarters of the Tycobbia Electric Authority.

Luxora itself is a modest town steeped in traditional ways. It has narrow streets and plazas in which to get happily lost among the grand and ancient churches and mansions. Because of the cultural tradition of “siestas”, Spanish-owned companies give their employees time off each day so they can attend the local team’s games with their families, a practice and custom that soon spread to all of the townships in baseball-crazed Tycobbia and Ruthlandia.

It is also the home of the Luxora Zorros (“foxes” in Spanish) of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Z's are a member of the Tycobbian Union East Division. Luxora plays at De la Vega Stadium (affectionately called “The Foxhole” by the locals), named for Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro, the legendary black clad hero who fought Portuguese despotism during the 1800’s and eventually led the Tycobbian people to freedom. His descendants, wealthy landowners with a huge sheep and Arabian horse farms, are the owners of the team. Of course, you can see Zorro atop his wondrous black stallion, Toronado (Spanish for “tornado”), galloping around the stadium to the cheers of the crowd as they rally the home team to victory. A splendid mariachi band serenades and provides a festive atmosphere at all the games. You can also enjoy the Spanish delicacies at the concessions stands: cunillo (succulent rabbit cooked in tomato sauce), escudello (a fantastic chicken, sausage and meatball stew), and fried ice cream, too. Traditional ballpark food is provided as well.

Even the Manager and GM of the Zorros is of Spanish descent. Rodrigo Alejandro, an outstanding power hitter and shortstop as an amateur, was the highest paid “amateur” ever in company league circles. Many say Alejandro was the best home run hitter in the Islands history.

De la Vega Stadium (1967)

Capacity: 9,487

Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 345
LCF 371
CF 408
RCF 371
RF 345
RF Line 330

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 24, 2022

2022 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Sundowners Down Rovers 5-1 In Game 5
A big upset is in the making... the Wynnamac Sundowners downed the Sligo Rovers 5-1 in game 5 of the RU Elite 8 Series and they are on the verge of sending the reigning Pro Cup champ home for the season... Wynnamac leads the best-of-seven series three games to two and needs just one more win to advance in the playoffs... RF Bob Carr (.222) snapped a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eighth with a dramatic grand-slam homer... and Jerry Meeks pitched a whale of a game, scattering 8 hits and permitting only one run, while going the route... Meeks (1-1 2.40) allowed 2 walks and struck out 4 for the win... Ralph Odakota (1-1 4.50) also went the distance... he gave up 5 runs on 7 hits with 8 Ks and 4 bases on balls... Carr had 2 homers in the game and batted in all 5 runs for the Sundowners.

Ancona Still Kickin', Edges Crystal Lake 3-2
Behind three games to one in the RU Elite 8 Series, the Ancona Red Elephants didn't roll over and play dead against favored Crystal Lake, they came back and won a thrilling 3-2 victory and now trail by just a game... a loss would have ended their season... LF Kenny Willard (.300) was the hero when he drilled a walk-off double in the last of the ninth... another hero was Spiros Zodiates, who came up with a clutch performance... Zodiates was rocked for a 2-run homer in the opening frame by 2B Greg Murphy (.294), but the 23-year-old right-hander quickly settled down and blanked the Crushers the rest of the game... Zodiates (1-1 6.94) allowed 7 hits and 2 runs in a superlative outing... Ralph McCullough was sharp, too... he worked 8 innings, was touched for 8 hits, but only 2 runs... McCullough issued 4 walks and fanned 7 in the game... Roger Bishop (0-1) went to the hill in the tenth and was tagged with the defeat.

Ancona fought back with single runs in the fourth and sixth to tie the game at 2 apiece... 1B Alekos Kotas (.222) tripled and scored on C Davy Trexler's (.200) sac fly and Kotas (.222) doubled and scored on Louie DiMucci's RBI single.

Tycobbian Union

Suns Take Series Lead, Bomb Z's 10-4
In the pivotal fifth game of the TU Elite 8 Series, Arroyo Grande leaped out to a 5-0 lead after 3 innings, Luxora rallied to cut it to 5-3 at the end of 5, then the Suns pulled away to triumph 10-4 and move up three games to two in the series... the teams will now head to Arroyo Grande for games six and seven, if necessary... the Suns pounded five Luxora hurlers for 15 hits, powered by three home runs by LF Eduardo Villanueva (.348), C Gary Troxell (.263) and SS Andy Pearson (.300)... Troxell and Villanueva had 3 RBIs apiece... Ernie Matthews (1-0 4.20) notched the victory, allowing only one earned run and 9 hits with 5 strikeouts and a couple of walks... Z's starter and loser Mike Boyce (0-1) didn't get out of the first inning, when the Suns jumped him for 4 runs.

Midway Wins RH Series, Final 4 Bound
In an unbelievable 17-inning game, seventh seed Midway did the unthinkable and upset second seed Rolling Hills in the TU Elite 8 Series, winning it in five games... the Wolves won it with a remarkable 1-0 victory in 17 tense innings, finally ending it on 1B Cal Hunter (.300) homer off losing pitcher Johnny Selleca, the fourth Reds pitcher... Midway used 5 pitchers with the win going to Benny Cobb (1-0), who came on in the top of the 17th... the Wolves had the edge in hits 10 to 7 over the Reds... both starters were sensational... Rolling Hills' Sal Jordan worked 9 scoreless innings and gave up 6 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts, while Midway's Motega Wolf fired 9 shutout innings with 5 Ks and 2 walks... the upstart Wolves will now advance to the TU Final 4 against the winner of the Arroyo Grande-Luxora series... the Suns lead the Zorros three games to two in that series.

The Islandian Times
Sunday, September 25, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

SLIGO ROVERS

Owner: Myron Dalrymple, CEO of the Silver Mountain Ski Resort

GM/Manager: Eddie Keys

Sligo is located in the slopes of the Silver Mountains in northern Ruthlandia. Because of its remote location, the area was largely uninhabited until 1872 when silver was discovered in the hills surrounding the town. The name of the town comes from Theodore Sligo, one of the men who originally discovered the silver. Sligo laid out the roads and a tent city popped up shortly after the discovery. By the turn of the century, the mines had produced more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Many fine examples of Victorian architecture that were built during the era are well-preserved today.

When the mines stopped producing in the late 1940s, the town lost almost half of its population and fell upon hard times. It survived mainly on its timber industry until the 1970s when environmental concerns caused the town to form a commission that would seek alternative industries that could sustain the economy. The commission findings led to a rebirth of the once-beautiful city. Through various tax breaks, the town was able to attract several builders to construct ski resorts just outside of town. The town also refurbished many of the historic buildings that had fallen into disrepair and decided to place its economic emphasis on tourism.

With a population of only 38,000, Sligo is the smallest town to own a team in the Islandian Pro Alliance and has at various times struggled to meet ends meet despite having very loyal fans. The 1973 commission made it clear in its report that the town should figure out a way to provide long term stability to the local nine as it would be a devastating blow to civic pride if the Rovers were to leave town. As a result, the ballpark was part of the downtown refurbishment and the team signed a long-term lease that makes it difficult for the Rovers to leave. In the 80s, the team was sold to Myron Dalrymple, owner of the highly successful Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Dalrymple is respected among long-time Sligo residents for settling in town and helping to revive its economy.

The Rovers play at Silver Mountain Park which seats 5,678 spectators. The ballpark’s mid-seventies facelift did a good job of preserving its historic nature and the town funded yet another update in 1998 when four sky suites were added along with expanding the clubhouses. SM Park sports a brick façade and is tucked among historic Main Street’s shopping district. There is no parking here, but the sight of fans walking to the ballpark on a balmy summer afternoon fits in well with the town’s quaint ambiance. The team plays to that ambiance by having a barber shop quartet stationed outside the main ticket booth to greet approaching fans.

Speaking of music, you won’t find loud rock and roll music blaring from a state of the art sound system here. Like Hillsboro, Kenwood, Ozarka and Marston, the team employs an organist who serenades fans with classic tunes and is quite adept at finding songs that have something to do with the batter’s skill or idiosynchracies. Food here is among the most affordable in all of the IPA, and while you will find classic ballpark fare like peanuts, hot dogs, and crackerjacks, the most popular item on the menu may well be the roasted corn on the cob that is slathered with mayonnaise.

Despite its nod to the traditional, the team has added one of those big fuzzy mascots in recent years. “Rover”, a giant red dog, roams the stands entertaining children and adults alike. When fans catch a foul ball, the public address announcer will announce to “give that fan a contract,” and Rover will indeed present the fan with a “contract” and a "doggy bag" filled with club gifts. Another Silver Mountain park tradition traces its roots back to the team’s current manager Eddie Keys. During his playing days for the Rovers, fans would jingle their keys whenever he came to bat. The tradition continues to this day whenever a rally is in order.

Silver Mountain Park (1912)

Capacity: 5,678

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 328
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 382
Center Field - 387
Right Center - 382
Right Field - 366
Right Field Line - 342

The Islandian Times
Sunday, September 25, 2022

Around The Town In The IPA

Arroyo Grande Suns

Owner: Capet Manor Vineyards, Abelard Capet, President and CEO

GM: Jean-Luc Marchand
Manager: Cyclone Cobb

Arroyo Grande is a coastal town of 72,000 located on Arvonian Island, which is south of the main island that composes Tycobbia and Ruthlandia. Arvonian Island is politically part of Tycobbia.

When the first Portuguese sailors and settlers arrived to the region, they discovered a native people already there, who called themselves the Islans (Iz-lons) and spoke their own language, Islandean (Iz-lon-dee-an). The name of the town is from the Portuguese language and translates into English as "Magnificent Spring".

As you might expect from the name, there is a stunning hot spring located in the town, with several tributaries appearing on the outskirts that provide the fountain for the many bath houses that are a major component of the town's tourism industry. Indeed, as the famous Tycobbian author Nicholas Appleby wrote upon visiting the main spring, "I stepped into those steaming, blissful waters and knew then that heaven exists not in the remote sky, but in the town of Arroyo Grande."

Another critical component to the economy is Capet Manor, a massive fruit farm and vineyard operation on the outskirts of town. Makers of the famed Capet Manor wines and juices, the estate has been owned by the Capet family since the early 1900s. They claim to be able to trace their lineage all the way back to the Capet dynasty of French kings. Abelard Capet is the current owner of both the Manor and the Arroyo Grande Suns.

It is almost a requirement that residents be multi-lingual. English, Islandean, French and Portugese are heard on the busy streets of Arroyo Grande. Arroyo Grande University, a private four-year college of 4,500 students, further affirms this, with their specialities in languages, literature, history, drama, and dance.

This lovely coastal town has more to offer than just academia, hot springs and something to drink. The white sand beaches are a delight to sunbathe on with the wonderful Southern Sea just a few steps away for swimming and boating. In the town itself, theatres and moviehouses abound, offering plays, ballets and movies ranging from the latest blockbuster hits to one of the fine independent films from Arroyo Grande's small, but high quality cadre of independent filmmakers.

And of course there are the Arroyo Grande Suns. The team plays in Capet Park, a grass field stadium that has one of the most beautiful backdrops in all of the Islands. In the distance are the sky-blue waters of the Southern Sea. Multitudes of gorgeous palm trees line the pretty boulevards and streets of the town.

An upper deck level that sits out in center field directly beneath the scoreboard is nicknamed the Sunspot and it's home to the most diehard Suns fans, who paint their faces orange and yellow, the team's colors, roaring and beating on their drums in celebration whenever there's a home team home run or rally.

The food at the stadium is a mixture of traditional ballpark fare and food unique to Arroyo Grande, such as native Islan dishes that include the popular rissora, a curry rice that washes down well with your favorite Capet Manor drink.

The Arroyo Grande Suns are skippered by Cyclone Cobb, who was quite a speedster in his 15 seasons in the IPA... Cobb stole 689 bases and batted a respectable .278, while playing for San Dimas, Bay St. Clair, Arroyo Grande and Glasco. The general manager Jean-Luc Marchand was jouneyman catcher in the Arvonian industrial leagues, who became an outstanding manager after his playing days. Marchand also ran the Arroyo Grande University sports program as the athletic director and baseball coach.

Capet Stadium

Capacity: 9,849

Dimensions:

LF Line 340
LF 355
LCF 375
CF 400
RCF 375
RF 355
RF Line 340

The Islandian Times
Monday, September 26, 2022

2022 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Forces 7th Game
With their backs to the wall, the defending Pro Cup crownbearer Sligo Rovers roared back from an early 3-1 deficit to slide past Wynnamac 7-5 in game six of the Ruthlandian Elite 8, tying the series at three-all and forcing a seventh game tomorrow afternoon... the Rovers won the game despite being outhit 14 to 10 by the Sundowners... Luka Abromowitz (2-0 2.81) got the win, but gave up a lot of hits, 12 in 8 innings... Abromowitz surrendered 4 runs, walked 2 and fanned 5... Sam Tate (0-0 3.00) notched his third save in the series, but struggled, giving up a run on 2 hits in the ninth... Sligo's big bats were LF Biff Blauer (.273), 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.444) and 3B Matty Alou (.182), all with 2 RBIs each... Wynnamac was led by CF Ian Holmes (.542), 1B Pete Simmons (.304) and RF Bob Carr (.333), each with 3 hits and an RBI... Dean Barber (0-2 4.50) was the losing pitcher... Sligo got to him for 6 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings... the Sundowners raced to a 3-1 lead after two innings, but the Rovers came back to tie it up in the third and go-ahead in the fourth with 3 more scores, making it 6-3... Sligo increased it to 7-3 in the seventh... Wynnanmac came up with single runs in the eighth and the ninth.

Crushers Move On, Take Ancona In 6
Not noted for hitting, Crystal Lake certainly wielded some good bats to knock off Ancona in six games in the RU Elite 8 Series, especially in game six... the Crushers pounded out 14 hits to beat the Red Elephants 8-3... 2B Greg Murphy (.333), CF Andy McGee (.273) and 1B Phil Gravelli (.250) all went deep for Crystal Lake... a 4-run fifth decided the game pushing the Crushers up 6-3... winning pitcher Dennis Taylor was tagged for 11 hits, but was tough in the clutch and permitted only 3 runs... Taylor (1-1 4.20) had 7 strikeouts and one base on balls... the Red Elephants were led by SS Yanni Kouris (.261), LF Kenny Willard (.348) and 1B Alekos Kotas (.273), who socked 2 hits apiece... Hubie Croft (1-1 4.73) suffered the loss, yielding 6 runs in 4+ frames... Crystal Lake got fine mound work except for game three when Ancona routed them 10-2... the Crushers will meet the Sligo-Wynnamac winner in the Ruthlandian Final 4 Series.

Tycobbian Union

Suns Eliminate Zorros 5-4
Arroyo Grande rookie phenom Rusty Vizcarra (.348) came through when it counted... he crushed two out of the park and drove in 4 runs in the 5-4 victory over the Luxora in game six of the TU Elite 8, eliminating the Zorros from the Pro Cup playoffs... the Suns won the series four games to two... it wasn't easy though... the Suns ran up a 5-0 lead after 5 innings, then had to fight off a determined rally by the Z's, who came up one run short with 2 in the seventh and 2 in the ninth... rookie Cesar De Leon (2-0 2.65) hurled a fine game, stopping Luxora on 5 hits and 2 runs in his 8 innings... De Leon departed with a 5-2 lead, which was almost blown by closer Jason Patrick in the ninth... 1B Jim Gurney (.214) and 2B Julio Canseco (.364) topped the Zorros at the plate with 2 RBIs apiece... Arroyo Grande had the hit advantage 9 to 8... rookie Valerio Lopes (0-2 9.00) was the loser... he was shelled for 5 runs and 7 hits in 4 and two-thirds innings... the Suns will now advance to the TU Final 4 against the Midway Wolves, who upset the powerful Rolling Hills Reds in the first round.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 27, 2022

2022 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Shuts Out Wynnamac In Game 7
The defending Pro Cup holder Sligo Rovers played like champs today at home at Silver Mountain Park and blanked Wynnamac 6-0 in the game seven finale of the RU Elite 8... ace Les Patterson (1-2 3.20) came through for the Rovers and fired a 3-hit shutout to take the hard-fought series four games to three... the Rovers will advance to the RU Final 4 against the powerful Crystal Lake Crushers... game seven was close until the seventh when Sligo turned a 2-0 game into a 6-0 lead with a 4-run uprising against loser Lon Marshall (2-1 2.08), who had dominated them in two previous starts... Marshall pitched the entire game, allowing 11 hits and 6 runs with 10 Ks and 5 walks... Patterson struck out 8 and walked none in a superlative outing... at the plate RF Clell Renshaw (.385) had 2 hits and scored twice for the winners... LF Biff Blauer (.280) had a hit, walked twice and scored twice... 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.425) delivered 2 hits and an RBI... Wynnamac had its chance with a three games to two lead, but the Sundowners just couldn't put the Rovers away... the RU Final 4 will get underway on Thursday in Crystal Lake... the Crushers were 97-57 this season, while Sligo was 95-59. The team with the best season record gets the home field advantage in the postseason.

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 28, 2022

IPA Final 4s Start Tomorrow
Seeds 1, 3, 4 and 7 have made the IPA Final 4 round in the Pro Cup playoffs. Play is slated to get underway tomorrow afternoon. In the Ruthlandian Final 4 defending Pro Cup titlist and number-one seeded Sligo Rovers will tangle with the Crystal Lake Crushers, a third seed. The Crushers won the Pro Cup in 2020. In the Tycobbian Final 4 it will be the fourth-seeded Arroyo Grande Suns meeting the seventh-seed Midway Wolves, who surprised number-two seed Rolling Hills in the opening round of action.

Sligo and Crystal Lake have outstanding pitching. The Rovers are favored to take the series because of superior offense. The opening two games will be played at Trumpy Donald Stadium in Crystal Lake. In the other match-up it will be Arroyo Grande's firepower against Midway's mound corps. The experts are giving a slight nod to the Suns' scoring ability. However, the Wolves can go deep, too. Both clubs' regulars hit 10 or more homers this season. The Suns have the home field advantage and will host games one and two at Capet Stadium.

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 28, 2022

2022 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Welch Humbles Sligo 3-1, Crushers Win Opener
Playing on its home grounds, Crystal Lake copped the Ruthlandian Final 4 opener from Sligo 3-1... 6'7" stringbean southpaw Duncan Welch (3-0 1.04) did his job almost to perfection, holding the Rovers to 6 hits, while fanning 10 and issuing 2 walks in a sharp performance... all the scoring took place in the first three frames... the Crushers were led by RF Augie Marshall (.360), LF Jed Franks (.280) and 2B Greg Murphy (.364), who drove in the runs... Crystal Lake got 2 in the first and one in the third... Sligo got its lone run in the third on an RBI single by SP Ralph Odakota... Odakota (1-2 4.13) went the distance in defeat, surrendering 3 runs and 9 hits with 6 walks and 4 Ks... Sligo lost its fine 2B Garlin Delk early in the game when he was injured making a diving play on a pop fly... doctors said Delk will miss 2-3 weeks and not be available for the remainder of the postseason... During the regular season Delk batted .303 with 15 homers and 101 RBIs... in the playoffs he has slumped badly with a .143 BA and only 1 RBI... Sligo needed his bat badly to repeat as Pro Cup champion. He will be sorely missed.

Tycobbian Union

Suns Squeak By Wolves 4-3 In 11 Innings
On the road in Arroyo Grande at Capet Stadium, Midway blew the first game of the Tycobbian Finals 4-3 in 11 innings... the Wolves starting pitcher Motega Wolf gave them a 3-1 lead going into the ninth, but his relief couldn't nail down the verdict... rookie 1B Rusty Vizcarra (.321) slammed a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie it and send it to overtime... Vizcarra now has 12 RBIs and 3 home runs in the playoffs... in the eleventh RF Buddy Bechtel's (.292) two-out single drove in PR Glen Lindsay with the winning score... Jason Patrick (1-0 9.00) got the win with a scoreless frame... left-hander Sixto Zamora started and worked 10 innings, permitted 3 runs on 5 hits, but walked 7 and struck out 8... Wolf was really sharp, giving up only one run on 3 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2... Big John Littlefeather (0-1 1.93) took the mound in the last of the eleventh and took the loss... Arroyo Grande got 8 hits to 6 for the Wolves... Bechtel had 3 hits and 2 RBIs to pace the winners.

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 28, 2022

2022 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Crystal Lake Edges Sligo 3-2 In Game 2
Slight underdog Crystal Lake has outpitched and outhit favored Sligo in the first two games of the RU Final 4, winning two close games... winning pitcher Ralph McCullough (2-0 1.80) got the best of Rover ace Les Patterson (1-3 3.24) 3-2... McCullough went 8 strong innings, allowed 2 runs and 6 hits with no walks and 6 strikeouts... closer Roger Bishop (3.38) finished Sligo off with a perfect ninth... Patterson hurled a complete game, yielding 3 runs on 6 hits, fanning 9 and walking one... CF Andy McGee (.267) won it with a solo homer in the last of the eighth, snapping a 2-2 tie... 2B Greg Murphy (.346) also homered in the first inning for the Crushers... CF Chris Michel (.212) and RF Clell Renshaw (.394) drove in the Sligo runs in the third and eighth.

Midway Evens Series, Dorignac Sinks Suns 5-2
A last-minute change in starters paid off for Midway manager Cochise Chandler... he gave the ball to 22-year-old Bobby Dorignac instead of the scheduled starter Dakota Dyami... Dorignac has looked better in the playoffs... Dorignac downed Arroyo Grande 5-2 to gain a split in the first two games of the TU Final 4 Series... Dorignac (2-0 1.59) bent, but didn't break... he gave up 9 hits, but only 2 runs... Dom Vilaggio blanked the Suns in the ninth for his second save in the postseason this year... Ernie Matthews was the losing pitching in a lackluster start... Matthews (1-1 4.91) was rocked for 5 runs and 6 hits in 7 innings... C Sammy Murphy (.250) collected the winning hit with and RBI single in the 4-run sixth that put the Wolves up 5-1... SS Masko Chandler (.111) then delivered the crusher, a 3-run shot that put Midway out of reach... Arroyo Grande outhit the Wolves 9 to 6, but just didn't get timely hits.

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 1, 2022

2022 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of-seven)

Rovers Awake, Clobber Crushers 13-4 In Game 3
Trailing 3-2 after 4 innings, the Sligo Rovers roared back with a vengeance and clobbered Crystal Lake 13-4 to finally win a game in the RU Final 4, cutting the Crushers lead to 2-1... leading the Sligo hit parade were 3B Matty Alou (.229) with two hits and 4 RBIs, RF Clell Renshaw (.405) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs, LF Biff Blauer (.257) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs and SS Vic Carlin (.188) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... the Rovers racked up 12 hits off four pitchers with Alou and Carlin going deep... Luka Abromowitz (3-0 2.16) continued his postseason success with his third win... he was touched for 4 runs and 9 hits, but only one was earned... it was sloppy game with each team committing four errors... losing pitcher Dean Taylor (1-2 4.87) was battered for 7 runs in 5+ innings.

Midway Mauls Suns 17-1, Goes Up 2-1 In Series
It was a runaway in the Tycobbian Final 4, too... Midway mauled Arroyo Grande before the happy home fans at Joe Wolf Stadium 17-1, bashing 16 hits and 3 roundtrippers... SS Maska Chandler (.125) cracked a grand slam and drove in 4 runs to lead the pack... brother LF Chitto Chandler (.194) had 3 hits and 4 RBIs, including a 2-run homer... 2B Frank Reinhard (.258) had 2 hits and 3 RBIs... CF Johnny Lee (.333) collected 3 hits, homered and drove in a pair of runs... Dakota Dyami (2-1 3.27) had a strong outing, limiting the Suns to just 4 hits with 7 Ks and 3 walks... Cesar De Leon (2-1 4.74) was knocked out after 2 innings... he left trailing 5-0.

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 1, 2022

2022 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of-seven)

Crushers Clip Rovers 6-4 In Game 4
5 errors gifted Crystal Lake with 6 runs in its 6-4 victory over Sligo in game four, pushing the Crushers lead to 3-1 in the RU Final 4 series, bringing the defending Pro Cup champ to the brink of elimination... Duncan Welch (4-0 1.29) struggled, but went the route, permitting only 2 earned runs and 5 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts... 2B Greg Murphy (.400) sparked the Crushers with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... his second-inning two-bagger gave Crystal Lake a 4-2 lead... 3B Tommy Gompers (.333) also had 2 hits and scored twice... RF Augie Marshal (.324) and LF Jed Franks (.265) batted in the other runs... Ralph Odakota (1-3 3.41) was the victim of the shoddy defense... Odakota worked 5 innings, gave up 5 hits and 6 unearned runs... he departed behind 6-2 and Welch made the lead hold up... C Sherman Albert (.256) doubled in 2 runs in the first inning giving the Rovers a short-lived 2-1 edge... RF Clell Renshaw (.400) homered in the seventh and narrowed the score to 6-4... there were only 11 hits in the game, 6 for the Crushers and 5 for the Rovers.

Wolves Skim By Suns 6-5 In 12 Innings
In game four of the Tycobbian Final 4 Midway's Sammy Murphy stepped up to lead off the bottom of the 12th and slammed it into the stands for a 6-5 victory over favored Arroyo Grande... the Wolves only need one more win to advance to the Pro Cup Finals for the first time in the club's 21-year history... Midway blew a 5-3 lead in the ninth, but came back in extra innings to triumph... the Wolves got 17 hits, but had a tough time putting away Arroyo Grande... they left 13 baserunners on base... Motega Wolf shut out the Suns 2-0 for the first five frames, but was stung by 1B Rusty Vizcarra's 3-run homer in the sixth... single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth gave the Wolves a 5-3 lead, but the Suns tied it with 2 unearned runs in the top of the ninth... in all Midway committed 4 errors... Big John Littlefeather (1-0 1.35) worked 2 scoreless innings for the win, with the defeat going to Steve Sampson (0-2 5.73)... Murphy (.364) topped the Wolves with 4 hits... RF Kyle Rigney (.381) had 3 hits and scored 2 runs... 2B Frank Reinhard (.314) smacked 3 hits and batted in a pair of runs... and CF Johnny Lee (.333) homered and drove in 2 runs... Arroyo Grande managed only 8 hits with Vizcarra (.325) getting 3 of them... the rookie has hit 4 out of the park in the postseason, after topping the IPA with 58 in the regular season.