Attachment 820971
Monday, October 20, 2070

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT - MACS' ROYAL UNANIMOUS PRO CUP MVP
Most certainly the primary reason the Wynnamac Sundowners captured the 2070 Islandian Pro Cup Pro Cup Trophy was its well-balanced batting order... that was the prime key to winning the postseason playoffs... up-and-down the lineup everybody contributed to the offense... top-to-bottom all of them did their part, one way or another... there was no exceptional playoff performances, except for one - pitcher Flash Royal - without his standout pitching the Macs may not have survived and reigned supreme... Flash Royal was the essential element.

By a unanimous vote Flash Royal is the 2070 Pro Cup Series Most Valuable Player... he was the only player that got a vote... all 64 votes from the sportswriters and broadcasters went to him... the 22-year-old lefty restricted the top hitters in the IPA to a meager .179 batting average in his 3 postseason starts... Royal went 3-0 with 26 superb innings pitched and posted a dazzling 1.73 ERA, while striking out 22 batters and walking only 8... Royal fired two complete games and went 8 innings in the other victory that clinched the Pro Cup, a 4-2 triumph over the Turon Typhoons... 2070 was a magical year for Flash Royal and his Wynnamac Sundowners.

Lifetime Royal is 33-18 in his 3 years with the Macs with a 3.30 ERA.

Certainly Flash Royal did not win the Pro Cup alone... he couldn't have done it without the vital contributions of his Sundowner teammates... here are their postseason records.

3B Chuck Waterman (.224 BA/11 H/0 HR/2 RBI/11 R/7 SB)
RF Brandon Reid (.286 BA/14 H/1 HR/4 RBI/11 R/6 SB)
LF Koyo Wiles (.298 BA/14 H/2 HR/10 RBI/7 R)
1B Warren Joshua (.349 BA/15 H/1 HR/9 RBI/7 R/2 SB)
2B Jurgen Rainer (.349 BA/15 H/0 HR/9 RBI/5 R)
CF Kiyo Oshima (.302 BA/13 H/0 HR/6 RBI/2 R)
SS Djaru Wheatcroft (.317 BA/13 H/0 HR/3 RBI/4 R/6 SB)
C Jillawar Alira (.278 BA/10 H/1 HR/7 RBI/4 R/1 SB)
and pitchers Nicky Mosley (2-0/3.55 ERA/4 starts), Mick Flanders (0-0/3.60 ERA/1 save/4 games), Benny Merckx (1-0/0.00 ERA/3 games) and Dan Loewenthal (1-0/1.17 ERA/4 games)

2070 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series Most Valuable Player

Attachment 821218
Monday, October 27, 2070

ALL THAT GLITTERS IN THE IPA GETS THE GOLD - AWARD WINNERS FOR 2070 ANNOUNCED
There is gold galore in the Islandian Pro Alliance... Golden Bats, Golden Arms and Golden Gloves... all of those golden awards winners were announced today by the pollsters, along with the top rookie and most valuable players honors.

WALDREP WINS RU GOLD BAT FOR 3RD TIME
For the third time in his illustrious career Lanny Waldrep of the Colfax Black Sox has been awarded the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat... the 32-year-old superstar had another standout season with a .318 BA, 44 homers (1st), 114 RBIs (7th), scored 120 runs and stole 11 bases... Waldrep also walked 120 times (3rd) and posted a league-leading .440 OBP... still his Black Sox came in dead last in the Ruthlandian West (55-99)... in his 14 seasons with Colfax Waldrep sports a .315 BA with 430 homers and 1387 RBIs... a 7-time All-Star and 5-time Gold Glove defender.

Belle Plaine third baseman Rory Hutchins came in second in the RU Golden Bat vote... Hutchins batted .332 in 148 games with 206 hits (1st), 25 homers, 81 RBIs, 140 runs (1st) and stole 26 bases... the Musketeers still came in at the bottom the RU East standings (66-88)... at age 23, this was his second full season in the IPA.

The third spot in the RU Golden Bat poll went to Belair Beach's outstanding center fielder Alfie Elbourne... he sparked the Sunbirds (91-63) to the RU South pennant this season with a .300 BA in 151 games with 27 roundtrippers, 122 RBIs (4th) and 108 runs scored... he also stole 27 bases.

SUNBIRDS' HEBB TOP RU HURLER
At age 34 Mylon Hebb had his best-season ever and was named the 2070 Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award winner for the first time in his career... Hebb was one of the prime reason Belair Beach won the RU South pennant... he chalked up a 19-6 won-lost record with a strong 2.34 ERA in 33 starts.

Hebb outdistanced Wynnamac's superb Mick Flanders for the top pitcher award... used both as a starter and reliever Flanders finished 18-5 with 9 saves and a 2.89 ERA... his Sundowners (99-55) also captured the RU East pennant and went on to garner the 2070 IPA Pro Cup.

Third place in the RU MVP competition went to Valka's impressive left-hander Priit Laur... in his 4th season with the Blackhawks Laur charted a 16-7 mark in 34 starts (1st) with an excellent 2.24 ERA (2nd)... Valka (90-64) lost the pennant to Belair Beach by just 1 game in the RU East.

ELNORA'S DE GROOT IS RU #1 NEWCOMER
The 2070 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year went to Elnora's fine center fielder Andreas De Groot... in his dazzling debut season the 26-year-old batted .319 with 195 hits (4th), 7 homers, 81 RBIs and 124 runs (5th)... he played in 135 games and stole 22 bases... the Clippers wound up 4th in the Ruthlandian East race (83-71), finishing 16 games back of Wynnamac.

Bert Dougherty of the Stoner Silver Sox at age 25 was the runner-up rookie of the year... his play propelled Stoner to its best season in almost a decade... the Silver Sox ended up in 3rd place in the RU West, 10 games off the pace of pennant winner Volusia... Dougherty, a first sacker, batted .277, but walloped 20 homers, drove in 103 runs and scored 86 times in 136 games.

The third-best votegetter for top RU rookie was Middlefield's fine hurler Charlie Taylor, who compiled a sparkling 18-7 mark with an impressive 2.72 ERA in 31 starts... his Roosters came in 5th in the RU West race, trailing by 15 games.

BELAIR BEACH'S ELBOURNE PICKS UP RUTHLANDIAN MVP PRIZE
Alfie Elbourne, center fielder for the Belair Sunbirds came in third in the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award poll, but the sportswriters picked him as the 2070 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player... Elbourne outpolled the RU Golden Arm winner Mylon Hebb for the top honor given out by the league... Hebb is his teammate... together the duo paced the Sunbirds to a super season.

Elbourne batted in the cleanup spot and did his job to perfection... this year's RU MVP hit .301 in 151 games with 180 hits, 27 home runs, 122 RBIs (4th), 108 runs and 27 SBs... Elbourne also stood out in center field with a .983 FA and 455 put outs... lifetime he carries a .300 BA with 274 HRs, 1151 ribbies and 1204 runs scored... Elbourne has stolen 337 bases in his 13-year career.

Hebb was acclaimed for his fine mound performance... the big 6'6" right-hander had his best year at age 34 this year... Hebb posted a 19-6 record in 33 starts with a strong 2.34 ERA (3rd)... he was 3rd in wins behind two 20-game winners, Casey Baynes of Cold Creek (20-14/4.31 ERA) and Hawk Templeton of Elnora (20-6/3.56 ERA).

Another giant on the hill came in third in the RU Most Valuable Player competition... 6'9" Mick Flanders of the Wynnamac Sundowners... Flanders was instrumental in the Macs (99-55) winning the RU East pennant with an 18-5 mark in 22 starts and 30 relief appearances with a 2.89 ERA... Flanders saved 9 games and struck out 233 batters in 209 innings... he led the league in Ks... he finished second to Hebb for the RU Golden Arm Award.

2070 RUTHLANDIAN UNION GOLDEN GLOVE TEAM

Pitcher: Matt Goodrum (Claxton Diamonds) (1.000 FA/15 PO/30 A) (16-12/2.77 ERA/11 saves/71 games) (1-time Golden Glove)
Catcher: Gail Montgomery (Belair Beach Sunbirds) (.988 FA/77 A/2 PB/11.1% RTO) (132 G/.268 BA/9 HR/69 RBI/54 R) (1-time Golden Glove)
First Baseman: Clarence DeSaix (Forest City Firebirds) (.993 FA/119 A) (154 G/.215 BA/22 HR/66 RBI/69 R) (1-time Golden Glove)
Second Baseman: Norbert Sumrall (Ancona Jumbos) (.965 FA/534 A) (151 G/.226 BA/10 HR/70 RBI/53 R/14 SB) (1-time Golden Glove)
Third Baseman: Oskar Hoffmeier (Cold Creek Raccoons) (.957 FA/276 A) (129 G/.221 BA/3 HR/46 RBI/74 R/16 SB) (1-time Golden Glove)
Shortstop: Rufus Sikes (San Dimas Rancheros) (.954 FA/522 A) (152 G/.258 BA/12 HR/59 RBI/77 R/23 SB) (2-time Golden Glove)
Left Fielder: Leevi Lindmaa (Valmara Vipers) (.990 FA/298 PO/8 A) (144 G/.248 BA/21 HR/78 RBI/85 R/10 SB) (2-time Golden Glove)
Center Fielder: Justin Lowe (Glasco Foxhounds) (.986 FA/540 PO/19 A) (150 G/.307 BA/5 HR/67 RBI/97 R/35 SB) (3-time Golden Glove)
Right Fielder: Lanny Waldrep (Colfax Black Sox) (.977 FA/316 PO/18 A) (153 G/.318 BA/44 HR/114 RBI/105 R/120 BB/11 SB) (5-time Golden Glove)

HIGH MESA'S ROBERTS REIGNS AGAIN, TU KING OF SWING FOR THE THIRD TIME
The colossal offensive machine for the High Mesa Mustangs has done it again... superstud first sacker Roy Roberts has been christened the 2070 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat for the third time in his legendary career... Roberts was honored previously in 2066 and 2069.

For the 6th time Roberts has led the Tycobbian Union in homers... for the 4th time in RBIs and runs scored... in fact, he has topped all three categories for the last two seasons... Roberts is still going strong at age 31... he batted .291 this season with 171 hits in 153 games, 59 roundtrippers, 140 ribbies and 130 runs scored... no fault of Roberts, but the best High Mesa could do was 6th place in the TU East (72-82)... lifetime Roberts is hitting .290 for average with 573 homers and 1331 RBIs in 11 years with the Mustangs... there no telling what kind of numbers he will end up with by the time he retires.

This season's TU Golden Bat easily outpolled his closest competitors, Cooter Eldridge of the Hartsdale Hellcats (150 G/.315 BA/27 HR/119 RBI/114 R) and Zak Smalley of the Bayview Vikings (151 G/.310 BA/21 HR/97 RBI/100 R)... the Hellcats (84-70) finished 2nd in the TU North and the Vikings (86-68) ended up in 4th in the TU West.

LITTLE MEAUX OF THE RASCALS IS TYCOBBIAN KING OF SLING
Shorty Meaux is just 5'5", but the little hurler stands mighty tall in the Tycobbian Union... Meaux led the White River Rascals (96-58) to the TU North title with a standout 19-5 record and a 2.34 ERA... only Rolling Hills' Brownie Ashmore (20-12/4.03 ERA) and Carl Lindell (20-3/3.11 ERA) won more games... and only Turon's Skippy Mulroy (17-4/2.27 ERA) had a better ERA... Meaux had the most strikeouts with 239 Ks in 243 innings and was second in shutouts with 5... South Fork's Michael Block topped the TU with 6 shutouts... it was a brilliant season for Meaux and White River.

Runner-up in the TU Golden Arm poll was Turon's superb southpaw Skippy Mulroy (17-4/2.27 ERA)... he sparked the Typhoons (99-55) to the TU South crown... and third in the voting was Michael Block of the South Fork Stallions... Block (19-10/2.47 ERA) paced his club to the 3rd spot in the TU East (79-75).

OLD GUY BOGGAN NAMED BEST NEWCOMER IN TYCOBBIAN UNION
What a season to remember for La Claire first baseman Ronald Boggan... after years and years of failing to make any of the IPA teams, the 29-year-old Boggan finally signed a contract and headed to spring training... not only did he make the team, Boggan became the starter... lo and behold, good things started to happen... Boggan sparked the Lynx to a 90-64 mark, good for second place behind mighty Rolling Hills (101-53) in the TU West... he batted .267 in 149 games, collected 156 hits, 30 doubles, 3 triples, 25 home runs, drove in 83 runs and scored 100 times... Boggan also handled the glove well with a .991 FA... and then to top off a great season, Boggan was picked as the 2070 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year... who says you can't have it all?

Boggan beat out some youthful folks for the top rookie award... he bested one of his La Claire teammates, 23-year-old pitcher Jethro Firestone, and 22-year-old Boyd Sadler, the first sacker for the East Point Panthers... Firestone was 16-8 with a 3.08 ERA in 33 starts for the Lynx... Sadler played in 151 games, batted .290 with 33 doubles, 3 triples, 15 homers, 80 RBIs and scored 77 runs for the 7th place Panthers (68-86).

KING OF THE HILL MEAUX ALSO WINS TU MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PRIZE
Most of the time the award voters value everyday position players over the every four or five-day chuckers... but not this year in the Tycobbian Union... the 2070 TU Most Valuable Player was this year's Golden Arm - Shorty Meaux of the White River Rascals - and number two was a twirler, too - Skippy Mulroy of the Turon Typhoons - both pitchers are left-handers and were vital parts of their teams' successful seasons... Meaux posted a 19-5 record with a 2.34 ERA, 5 shutouts, 239 Ks in 243 innings, 12 complete games and 26 quality starts... he topped the IPA in strikeouts and was second in ERA and shutouts... Meaux is 27 years old and has played with White River for 6 seasons with an 82-48 mark and a fine 2.75 ERA.

Mulroy had a super season, too, going 17-4 with a league-leading 2.27 ERA in 31 starts and 225 innings... he was also tied for second place in shutouts with 5... the 28-year-old hurler tossed 10 complete games and made 24 quality starts... Mulroy is just in his second season with the Typhoons... he was 18-8 as a rookie with an excellent 3.08 ERA.

Hartsdale's fine third baseman Cooter Eldridge wound third in the Tycobbian MVP balloting... in 150 games he had 188 hits with a .315 BA, 42 doubles, 6 triples, 27 roundtrippers, 119 RBIs, scored 114 runs, walked 88 times and stole 26 bases... the Hellcats (84-70) finished a distant second to White River (96-58) in the TU North pennant race... Cooter has been with Hartsdale since 2057 and has put up a .287 career BA with 256 home runs, 1146 runs, 1099 RBIs and 300 stolen bases... Eldridge is 32 and a 3-time All-Star.

2070 TYCOBBIAN UNION GOLDEN GLOVE TEAM

Pitcher: Hank Southard (Hartsdale Hellcats) (1.000 FA/16 PO/34 A) (11-10/4.07 ERA) (92 G/.208 BA/13 HR/43 RBI/45 R/3 SB) (1-time Golden Glover)
Catcher: Tory Akins (Rolling Hills Racers) (.995 FA/1 PB/13.8% RTO) (131 G/.279 BA/9 HR/66 RBI/56 R) (2-time Golden Glover)
First Baseman: Billy Southward (Blue Lake Blue Caps) (.994 FA/134 A) (152 G/.286 BA/18 HR/99 RBI/98 R/15 SB) (2-time Golden Glover)
Second Baseman: Doc Agarn (Denton City Redbirds) (.969 FA/468 A) (150 G/.265 BA/11 HR/71 RBI/87 R/1 SB) (1-time Golden Glover)
Third Baseman: Andrew Woolfolk (South Fork Stallions) (.964 FA/318 A) (141 G/.244 BA/30 HR/83 RBI/74 R/1 SB) (2-time Golden Glover)
Shortstop: Yazzy Ricks (Cape Coral Hurricanes) (.960 FA/496 A) (152 G/.235 BA/19 HR/87 RBI/74 R/10 SB) (2-time Golden Glover)
Left Fielder: Winky Biggio (Denton City Redbirds) (.994 FA/318 PO/7 A) (150 G/.261 BA/27 HR/99 RBI/92 R/3 SB) (2-time Golden Glover)
Center Fielder: Boogie Boyd (Hillsboro Blazers) (.992 FA/478 PO/20 A) (150 G/.199 BA/35 HR/80 RBI/101 R/27 SB/112 BB) (2-time Golden Glover)
Right Fielder: Ollie Pierre (Oxford Red Caps) (.992 FA/362 PO/19 A) (150 G/10 HR/62 RBI/110 R/35 SB) (1-time Golden Glover)

Attachment 821773
Friday, October 31, 2070

V'S TARKANIAN AND RASCALS' BLAKE PICKED AS BEST MANAGERS IN THE IPA
Taking a team from 7th place to first place and taking a team from the 4th spot to the top spot will win you an Islandian Pro Alliance Manager of the Year Award in most seasons... turnaround seasons are usually the best way to accomplish it... the 2070 skippers of the year are Volusia's Tubby Tarkanian and White River's Marty Blake... they beat out a dozen deserving managers to win the prestigious awards.

2070 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year Award
Tubby Tarkanian is the 2070 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year... his Vigilantes went from 4th place and 75-79 in 2069 to 94-60 and the Ruthlandian West title this year... this is his second top manager trophy... Tarkanian also won in 2058.

Tarkanian had some tough challengers in Wynnamac's Nioka Inkamara and Valmara's Don Ritchie... the Macs improved from 2nd place and 87-68 to the RU East pennant with a splendid 99-55 mark... Richie also had an extraordinary season... his Vipers were 4th in '69 with an 82-72 mark... Valmara ran off a 97-57 record and won the RU North.

Also in the running for the top RU skipper honor were Belair Beach's Brock Josephson, Valka's Matvey Kazak and Stoner's Billy Chapel.

2070 Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year Award
White River's Marty Blake captured the 2070 Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year trophy, but the prize could have gone to a number of other elite skippers.

Blake had five strong contenders... Tuckanarra's Quinn Starr was a close second... his Tiger Cats climbed from 7th place in '69 in the TU East with a 73-81 record to a very close 2nd place finish with a 91-62 mark, just 2 games back... third in the polling was Jayson Hallstrom, who saw his Summerland Sunsets take a giant leap from 75-79 and 4th place in the TU South up to 92-62 and the second spot in the standings.

Rolling Hills' Billy Christianson, Red Bluff's Ike Sweetwater and Turon's Nate Scottsdale also received votes in the poll.

Well, that puts the wraps on another Islandian Pro Alliance season.

As you know it would be nice to get to 100 seasons.
In order to have a chance at doing that EC needs to pick up the pace and sim the seasons and the playoffs quicker.
I also have to let the AI control the teams... I micro-manage the rosters too much.

I intend to let the AI control it all, including the creation of all the new free agents... in the past the talent level dwindled... the rookie class were just poor and mediocre.

I will just hope for the best and hope the AI surprises me.

Hope the IPA will just keep on truckin'!

Attachment 821898
Wednesday, April 1, 2071

IPA PREVIEWS PREDICTABLE... 6 DEFENDING CHAMPS PICKED TO REPEAT
In the new 2071 Islandian Pro Alliance season the winners will just keep right on winning according to the preseason prognostications... 6 of last season's division winners are forecast to rule the baseball diamonds once again... the favorites in the Ruthlandian Union are all the same, Valmara, Belair Beach, Wynnamac and Volusia... favored in the Tycobbian Union are Red Bluff and Rolling Hills... last year's winners White River and Turon missed the cut just by a skosh... they will finish a little bit behind Oxford and Southport... so, in reality, there will not be many new faces in the IPA playoffs come October.

It looks like a three-team race in the Ruthlandian North between Valmara, LaGrange and Taranto with Ranford lurking in the distance... Belair Beach and Valka will duke it out again for the pennant with Crystal Lake, St. John and Claxton hoping and wishing in the distant background... Wynnamac is a big favorite to take the Ruthlandian East... no one is expected be very close... Elnora, Beechwood, Eastshore, Sugar Valley and Marston will bang heads for second place... in the Ruthlandian West, Volusia will have its hands full with Forest Hill and perhaps third place Middlefield and fourth place Stoner.

The division races will be tighter and more contentious in the Tycobbian Union... only Rolling Hills in the Tycobbian West will have an easy time, winning by double digits... Red Bluff is the choice to repeat in the Tycobbian East again this season, but will be challenged by the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats... no one else is forecast to compete with the Red Sox and the Tucks this year... South Fork, Hillsboro and Ozarka will have to wait for the proverbial next year... Oxford is a slim pick in the Tycobbian North... top to bottom this is a dogfight division... the Red Caps could easily be toppled by a bevy of ballclubs... all seven of the remaining clubs could win the pennant... Fairfax, last year's winner White River, Hartsdale, North Hills, Blue Lake, Mahaska and Luxora could surprise... Southport did not win the TU South last year... the Sun Sox were a little out of their normal character, winding up in the third spot in the standings, 11 games off the pace... the pollsters think Southport is back... but so are last year's division champion, the Turon Typhoons... the Sun Sox will also have to fight off the San Alejo Montaneros, too.

The October Pro Cup Series Outlook is for the Rolling Hills Racers to cop the Tycobbian title again and tangle with last year's Pro Cup champion, the Wynnamac Sundowners, the Ruthlandian repeat winner, in the IPA Finals... the Macs will win the showdown... the Racers are getting long in the tooth and can't go on forever... too many players in the late and mid 30s... they will be going on the decline this year.... it started last year.

Attachment 821899
Attachment 821900
Attachment 821901

Rolling Hills projected to go 99-55? They just won't go away! However, this may be their last chance at another Pro Cup for a while.

13 Racers are over 30... shortstop Jameson Mulbert is 39, third baseman Teddy Stonich is 37 and left fielder Jean-Luc Roubique is 35... but they are still performing well... Mulbert and Stonich made the All-Star team for the 10th time... and they earned it... they earned with their performance, not their reputation... the IPA has no honorary appointments to the All-Star Classic.

The old guys are still busting the ball and winning games... Rolling Hills may win 100 games again this year.

Attachment 822338
Sunday, July 12, 2071

71ST IPA ALL-STAR CLASSIC SET FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON IN WYNNAMAC
Granger Field in Wynnamac will be the gathering place this Wednesday for all the Islandian Pro Alliance elite stars at the 71st IPA All-Star Game... 24 top stars for the visiting Tycobbian Union All-Stars will tangle with 24 standouts for the Ruthlandian Union All-Stars.

The Tycobbian Stars will be led by Teddy Stonich and Jameson Mulbert of the Rolling Hills Racers, who will be making their 10th appearances in the star-studded event... they will be ably assisted by teammate Hugo Sutton and High Mesa's Roy Roberts, who have made the TU All-Stars on 8 occasions.

Ruthlandia will field a younger team, headed up by Lanny Waldrep of the Colfax Black Sox, an 8-time All-Star... most of the All-Stars are first timers... only one rookie was honored this season... left fielder Jon Northrop of the Claxton Diamonds was the only one in the IPA freshman class to make the grade.

The All-Star Classic is totally one-sided... the Tycobbian Union has won 47 games, while the Ruthlandian Union is far behind with only 23 wins.

Attachment 822339
Attachment 822340

Delete.

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2071 Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award

Attachment 822387

Attachment 822428
Monday, September 29, 2071

4 FAVORITES WON IN RU, ONLY 1 IN TU... 7 OF 8 TEAMS REPEAT IN IPA PLAYOFFS... ONLY RED BLUFF IS MISSING

The 2071 Islandian Pro Alliance regular season has concluded, but not in the way the preseason pollsters postulated... they got it totally right in the Ruthlandian Union where all of their predictions came out true-to-form... but not so in the Tycobbian Union... the only favorite touted that came through for them was the Rolling Hills Racers.

In the Ruthlandian Union, Valmara, Belair Beach, Wynnamac and Volusia all repeated as division champions... in the Tycobbian circles it was White River, Turon, Tuckanarra and Rolling Hills... the only club that didn't make it back to the IPA playoffs was the Red Bluff Red Sox... they were beaten out by the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats this season.

The preseason pick Valmara Vipers (101-53) took over the Ruthlandian North in July and kept a small lead until September when they went 19-4 and won going away by 11 games over the runner-up Taranto Tars (90-64)... the Sailors didn't get going good until July, but they had a sluggish August (14-13), just when the Vipers got scorching hot.... the Ranford Bulls (89-65) ran a good race, holding on to first place until June 20, then slipping back into third place... no other clubs challenged in the race.

The Belair Beach Sunbirds (100-54) enjoyed another season of success in the Ruthlandian South race, piling up a new club record for victories... 96 triumphs in 2005 was their previous best mark... the Valka Blackhawks (92-62) again tested the Sunbirds this season... they took over the top spot in June when Belair Beach slumped to 13-13... but the Blackhawks lost it by September and finished 8 games behind... the Sunbirds sizzled in the summertime with a 55-21 record the final three months...the best the Blackhawks could do was 44-32... the third place San Dimas Rancheros (79-75) hung close for the first three months, but began to fade in July.

It was just a two-team affair in the Ruthlandian East, but it only lasted until July... at that time defending champ Wynnamac seemed to put on the jets and runner-up Marston seemed to put on the brakes... the Macs kicked butt the rest of the year posting a 53-24 mark, while the Nine dropped under .500 the final three months of the season... the Sundowners beat Marston by 18 games in a wholesale runaway.

For the second straight season in the Ruthlandian West, the Volusia Vigilantes began the year in stagnant fashion... the V's were in 7th place at the end of April, while the Colfax Black Sox shot out into the lead at the start and kept it until well into August... until midseason Fort Benton and Middlefield were their biggest obstacles, but both clubs faded in the second half... Colfax went an ice cold 18-33 the last two months of the season and Volusia (34-16) and Sligo (30-21) caught and passed them... the Vigilantes (86-68) edged out the Rovers (85-69) by a single game... Volusia took over on September 21 and held off Sligo's valiant efforts... first place was finally decided on the final day of the season... Colfax (81-73) wound up in third place 5 games back in the race... Middlefield (77-77) was fourth in the standings and 9 games behind... Fort Benton (72-82) tied for sixth place and ended up 14 games off the pace.

2071 Ruthlandian Union Finals Standings

Attachment 822429

2071 Ruthlandian Union Final Leaderboards

Attachment 822430

2071 Ruthlandian Union Final Team Statistics
Attachment 822435

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Looking forward to seeing the 2071 Tycobbian Union recap!

Working on it now... finished Ruthlandian Union... beginning work on Tycobbian Union... not a lot of details, just a generic recap of each division.

The way you recapped the Ruthlandian Union - that was perfect. A nice quick read and I got a good sense about how the races in each division played out.

Islandian Pro Alliance Single Season and Career Batting Records

Attachment 822637

Islandian Pro Alliance Single Season and Career Pitching Records

Attachment 822638

Attachment 822673
Tuesday, September 30, 2971

THREE REPEATERS IN TU POSTSEASON PLAYOFFS... TUCKS ARE NEWCOMERS, THEY TOPPLED FAVORED RED SOX IN TU EAST RACE
Not a lot of new things in the Tycobbian Union pennant races... Rolling Hills, Turon and White River won again and qualified for the IPA playoffs again... the only new face is the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats, who rebuffed Red Bluff's repeat chances in the TU East Division... but this was no major surprise - the Tucks were the second choice in the preseason poll.

The Tycobbian North was a good battle for the half the season between preseason favorite Oxford, North Hills and last year's champ White River... Oxford (76-78) looked good until midseason, but came in a very distant third place with a losing record... the Red Caps were on top the first three months, then they went into a second-half funk (34-43) and ended up a whopping 21 games behind the Rascals and 5 games behind the Hawks... White River (97-57) caught fire with a blistering 50-26 record over the final three months easily putting away North Hills and Oxford... North Hills (81-73) was the number-two team, but wound up 16 games back in the pennant race... the Hawks fizzled in the second half of the season with a poor 37-39 mark... White River did not have a bad month this season and won the TU North going away.

Not much of a pennant race in the Tycobbian South, either... last year's winner and second choice to win this year, the Turon Typhoons (104-50) blew everybody out of the water, winning by 9 games over runner-up Ginza (95-59), 18 better than Summerland (86-68) and 25 games in front of preseason favored Southport (79-75)... however, the surprising Ninjas led in April and May, followed closely by the Sunsets and Typhoons... then Turon took over, took command and tore the division apart the rest of the year... the Typhoons were 21-6 in June, 18-7 in July, 15-12 in August and 19-4 in September... Turon set a new all-time mark for victories with 104... the old record was 102 in 2018... the Typhoons have topped 100 wins only twice in the team's history.

The only tight race this year in the Tycobbian Union was in the Tycobbian East... the other three divisions were not very close... all season long Tuckanarra and South Fork went at it, rarely separated by more than a few games... only the Hillsboro Blazers (85-69) made a race of it, but they dropped out by July and wound up in third place, trailing by 12 games... the first place Tucks (97-57) got hot in September with a 16-8 mark and pulled away from the second place Stallions (94-60), beating them by 3 games... South Fork could only manage a 12-10 record in the final month... defending champion and preseason choice Red Bluff (82-72) never really got it going well and wound up way back fourth in the standings and 15 GB... the Red Sox never really challenged in the pennant race this season, but they still wound up 10 games over the .500 mark.

The Rolling Hills Racers may be getting long in the teeth, but they are still rolling along, winning pennants and breaking all-time IPA records... Rolling Hills won its record-setting 12th division flag in a row... this compares to North Hills winning 11 in 12 years (2034-2045) in the TU North... and two clubs Ozarka (2010-2021) in the TU East and Middlefield (2045-2056) in the RU West both taking 10 flags in 12 seasons.

The Racers were rated the best team in the Tycobbian West in the preseason poll, favored over Bayview, Denton City and La Claire... the Racers led by 3 games at the end of April with La Claire, Chicopee and Denton City lurking nearby... the Lynx caught the Racers by June, tying them for the top spot... no one else was close... Rolling Hills went up by 3 games over La Claire by July... Bayview was 8 GB in third place... the Racers upped its lead to 4 and a half games by August... no other team now in sight at all... just a two-team race... by September Rolling Hills stretches it lead to 6 games over the Lynx... and the Racers (96-58) finish up 7 games better than runner-up La Claire (89-65), 9 games over third place Bayview (87-67) and 14 ahead of the Chicopee Braves (82-72)... this is the first time in 12 seasons the poor Braves have had a winning season.

2071 Tycobbian Union Final Standings

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2071 Tycobbian Union Final Leaderboards

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2071 Tycobbian Union Final Team Statistics

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Monday, September 28, 2071

8 CLUBS VIE FOR 2071 IPA PRO CUP CROWN... MACS BACK TO DEFEND TITLE
Coming up this Wednesday afternoon at four venues around the Islands is the Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs... 8 talented division winners are set to battle for the prestigious Pro Cup Trophy, including last year's champion Wynnamac Sundowners and last year's runner-up, the Turon Typhoons... Pro Cup prophets in The Islandian Times' poll have singled out the Macs to repeat as the IPA overall champion, although no one team dominated the survey... ranked as the second choice is the Turon Typhoons in a repeat of last year's Pro Cup Finals... two Tycobbian powers came in third and fourth in the voting, the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats and White River Rascals... followed by number five Valmara, number six Rolling Hills, number seven Belair Beach and number eight Volusia... Tuckanarra is the only new team this season... all 7 others participated in last year's playoffs.

This year's postseason playoffs are wide open... any one of the 8 teams could win it... there doesn't seem to be a dominant team.

This Wednesday afternoon in the Ruthlandian Union it will be Wynnamac (103-51) at home for games one and two, hosting the Volusia Vigilantes (86-68)... Belair Beach (100-54) will travel to tangle with Valmara (101-53) at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... over in the Tycobbian Union it will be Rolling Hills (96-68) opening on the road at Typhoon Stadium in Turon (104-50)... and White River (97-57) hosting the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats (97-57) at White River Stadium.

Last year the teams competed in best-of-three series in all three rounds... there was much criticism from sports fans as well as the baseball teams... this season the IPA will play best-of-five in all rounds... everyone is pretty much in agreement that short series are not the best way to decide the postseason series... the more games played, the better the chance the best team will win.

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Thank you for this post.

Now, i have to play catch up.

i accidentally peeked, so i know the Racers did not repeat. But still there is nothing like IPA Playoffs. :eatpop:

Much appreciate you Dark Horse... thanks for hanging with me all these many years on the IPA... it's no telling how many people you have told about my IPA.

You may be the reason it has run so long.

Yeah, I love the Racers, too... they may have a shot at the Pro Cup again this year... they are getting way, way up in age, but they still have what it takes to win... the 2071 playoffs will be hotly-contested... all 8 clubs could win the Pro Cup.

I fouled up in 2070 when I went to best-of-three series... the Racers would have done better, I think.

Are we going back to best-of-seven series in 2071?

I gonna try best 3-of-5 in all 3 rounds this year and see if that does it.

That seems like a good length.

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Thursday, September 30, 2071

S'BIRDS, V'S, 'PHOONS, RASCALS GET LEG UP IN IPA PLAYOFF SERIES
Four clubs are off-and-running in the Islandian Pro Alliance First Round Series... in the Ruthlandian Union opening games Belair Beach trimmed Valmara 2-1 in a tight one... and Volusia whupped up on the Pro Cup favorite Wynnamac Sundowners 12-4... in the Tycobbian Union the Turon Typhoons blew past the Rolling Hills Racers 7-5 and White River copped a pitcher's duel with the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats 4-1.

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2071 Ruthlandian Union First Round Series - Game 1

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2071 Tycobbian Union First Round Series - Game 1

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Friday, October 2, 2071

VIPERS AND MACS ON THE VERGE OF SWEEPS BY SUNBIRDS AND V'S IN RU... TYPHOONS UP BY 2 OVER RACERS IN TU... RASCALS AND TUCKS HAVE SPLIT FIRST TWO GAMES
Two slight underdogs are having their way with two favored teams in the Ruthlandian Union First Round... Volusia and Belair Beach have snatch 2-0 leads over Wynnamac and Valmara and could sweep the best-of-five series... in the Tycobbian Union Turon is close to eliminating Rolling Hills, but White River and Tuckanarra are all even.

In a brilliantly-played game Volusia edged out Wynnamac in 10 innings 3-0... Belair Beach skimmed by Valmara 4-2, scoring all the runs in the first frame... and Turon bounced back and beat Rolling Hills 4-3 in another tight contest... Tuckanarra held off White River 6-4.

IPA Stars of the Games
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2071 Ruthlandian Union First Round Series - Game 2
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2017 Tycobbian Union First Round Series - Game 3

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Saturday, October 3, 2071

MACS, RACERS GONE FROM THE IPA PLAYOFFS IN FIRST ROUND BEATEN BY V'S AND TYPHOONS... 4 TEAMS STILL LEFT IN ROUND ONE SERIES
Two longtime postseason powers are history... defending IPA champion Wynnamac and well-regarded Rolling Hills have been eliminated in the first round... the Macs were whipped by the Volusia Vigilantes and the Racers were outclassed by the Turon Typhoons... in the Ruthlandian Union First Round Belair Beach is up 2-1 over the Valmara Vipers and in the Tycobbian Union White River tops Tuckanarra 2-1.

In yesterday's action Volusia swept past Wynnamac 5-2, winning in three straight games... in another sweep Turon torched Rolling Hills 10-6 in the third game... White River nicked the Tucks 2-0... and Valmara blanked the Belair Beach Sunbirds 4-0.

The Sunbirds and Vipers will tangle in game four this afternoon and the Rascals and Tiger Cats will engage in their fourth clash.

2017 Ruthlandian Union First Round Series - Game 3

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2017 Tycobbian Union First Round Series - Game 3

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Sunday, October 4, 2071

SUNBIRDS AND RASCALS ADVANCE TO IPA UNION FINALS AGAINST VIGILANTES AND TYPHOONS
Two more squads qualified for the Final Four of the Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs... the Belair Beach Sunbirds disposed of the Valmara Vipers in the Ruthlandian Union First Round and the White River Rascals took care of the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats in the Tycobbian Union First Round action... both clubs prevailed in the best-of-five series, winning 3 games to one.

Belair Beach slammed Valmara in game four 7-2 and White River finished off Tuckanarra 8-3.

Four teams remain in the quest for the IPA Pro Cup Trophy... the Volusia Vigilantes and Belair Beach will battle for the Ruthlandian Union title and White River and Turon will contest for the Tycobbian Union title with the winners clashing in the IPA Pro Cup Series.

IPA Stars of the Day
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2071 Ruthlandian Union First Round - Game 4
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2071 Tycobbian Union First Round - Game 4

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Monday, October 5, 2071

IPA DOWN TO THE FINAL FOUR... RUTHLANDIAN AND TYCOBBIAN FINALS SET TO BEGIN WEDNESDAY IN BELAIR BEACH AND WHITE RIVER
64 Islandian Pro Alliance clubs took to the diamond in the spring of 2071, dead set on winning the cherished Pro Cup Trophy... those 64 teams were pared down to 8 at the end of the regular season... a week later we are down to the Final Four: Belair Beach and Volusia in the Ruthlandian Union and Turon and White River in the Tycobbian Union... this formidable foursome will tangle for the league titles beginning Wednesday afternoon... the Sunbirds will host the Vigilantes at Bayside Park, while the Rascals will welcome the Typhoons at White River Stadium... all postseason series in the IPA is a best-of-five.

Volusia (86-68) qualified for the RU Finals by upsetting the current Pro Cup champion, the Wynnamac Sundowners (103-51) in a three-game sweep, while Belair Beach (100-54) whipped Valmara (101-53) three games to one... none of the first-round action went the full length... White River (97-57) swept the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats (97-57) three games to none in the Tycobbian Union... Turon (104-50) made the second round of play by getting by perennial powerhouse Rolling Hills (96-58) three games to one.

Turon is the highest rank club remaining on the postseason playoffs... they were the #3 pick of the prognosticators and soothsayers in the Pro Cup poll... White River was #4... and Belair Beach and Volusia were down at the bottom of the list at #7 and #8.

The Sunbirds and the Vigilantes are pretty evenly-matched in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series... both can score runs... Belair Beach led the RU in scoring with Volusia in third place... pitching is good... the Sunbirds may be a little better with starters... their bullpen may be better, too... neither club plays defense very good... but beware, the scrappy and spunky Vigilantes have a history of upsetting favored teams in the playoffs... don't be mislead by their season record.

Forecast: Belair Beach may have a slight edge in the starting rotation and in the bullpen... the Sunbirds should win in a hard-fought 5-game tussle.

It should be quite dogfight in the Tycobbian Union Title Series... both Turon and White River possess good offenses and fine pitching... the Typhoons are better with the gloves... Turon was one of the best defensive teams in the IPA... the Rascals are just average... give the edge in power to White River by a large margin... good pitching coupled with home-run power is significant in postseason play.

Forecast: In a whale of a series, go with the Rascals... they are just a little bit better than the Typhoons... they will triumph over Turon for the TU title... and then go on to win the 2071 IPA Pro Cup Trophy.

I wanna see a Sunbirds-Rascals Pro Cup

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Thursday, October 8, 2071

V'S AND TYPHOONS OPEN UP IPA UNION TITLE SERIES WITH VICTORIES OVER SUNBIRDS AND RASCALS
The second round of postseason action got underway in the Islandian Pro Alliance on Wednesday afternoon... Volusia and Turon triumphed in the opening games of the IPA Union Title Series... in Ruthlandia the Vigilantes swatted the Belair Beach Sunbirds 8-3 and in Tycobbia the Typhoons skimmed by the White River Rascals in a pitcher-perfect 3-2 victory.

IPA Stars of the Day
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2017 Ruthlandian Union Title Series - Game 1
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2017 Tycobbian Union Title Series - Game 1
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Friday, October 9, 2071

TURON COULD SWEEP RASCALS... SUNBIRDS AND V'S SPLIT SO FAR
Turon is looking good in the Tycobbian Union Title Series with two straight victories on the road over White River... the Rascals are in danger of being swept in the best-of-five series... however, it's all even in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series with Belair Beach and Volusia dividing the first two games.

Turon took charge of the White River series with a 7-2 bashing of the Rascals... it will be broom time at Typhoon Stadium in game three... in the other playoff series Belair Beach copped a tight duel 2-1 over the Volusia Vigilantes.

IPA Stars of the Day
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2071 Ruthlandian Union Title Series - Game 2
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2071 Tycobbian Union Title Series - Game 2
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Saturday, October 10, 2071

RASCALS STILL ALIVE AND BREATHING IN TU TITLE SERIES... SUNBIRDS SOAR IN RU TITLE SERIES
Land sakes alive!
The White River Rascals are still alive!
Two days ago the Rascals were gasping for dear life, now they are breathing a little better, but they are still on life support and in dire danger... they are hanging in and hanging on and not quite dead yet... White River avoided elimination in the Tycobbian Union Title Series with a 3-0 whitewashing of the Turon Typhoons, who won the opening two games... still the road is all uphill for the Rascals... they have to win two more games and they will have to win them on the road in Turon... the Typhoons are still ahead two games to one and only need one win in the next two games to move on to the IPA Pro Cup Series.

Belair Beach took a big step in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series by besting the Volusia Vigilantes 7-5 with some late-innings heroics... the Sunbirds have won two of the three games in the best-of-five series so far.

IPA Stars of the Day
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2071 Ruthlandian Union Title Series - Game 3
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2071 Tycobbian Union Title Series - Game 3
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Sunday, October 11, 2071

BELAIR BEACH PRO CUP SERIES BOUND... RASCALS AND TYPHOONS TANGLE IN 5TH-GAME SHOWDOWN
The stage is being set for the 2071 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series... one team has qualified already... in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series the Belair Beach Sunbirds toppled the Volusia Vigilantes three games to one and are now bound for the IPA championship series... they will play the winner of the Tycobbian Union, either White River or Turon... the Rascals and Typhoons are all even after four games.

Belair Beach wrapped up the RU title with an 8-5 triumph over the scrappy Volusia Vigilantes that took 13 innings... White River got good solid pitching again and defeated Turon 7-2 in game four.

Islandian Pro Alliance Stars of the Day
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2071 Ruthlandian Union Title Series - Game 4
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2071 Tycobbian Union Title Series - Game 4
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Monday, October 12, 2071

TURON TOPS WHITE RIVER IN DECISIVE 5TH GAME TO WIN THE TYCOBBIAN TITLE... UP NEXT, THE PRO CUP SERIES
The Turon Typhoons came through when it got down to the nitty-gritty... they won when they had to... Turon won game five of the Tycobbian Union Title Series 6-3 over a testy White River team and will now move on up the glorious golden ladder of baseball in the Islands to the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series.

Turon started off like a ball of fire with two straight wins to open the TU Title Series, but White River fended off elimination with "must win" victories in games three and four.

Now the Typhoons face the challenge of the Belair Beach Sunbirds in the Pro Cup Finals... the Sunbirds were the surprise victor in the Ruthlandian playoffs... Turon was the number 2 pick to win the Pro Cup Trophy this year... Belair Beach was way down the list at number 7... the top choice was the defending Pro Cup winner, the Wynnamac Sundowners, who lost in round one to Volusia, the number 8 selection.

IPA Stars of the Day
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2071 Tycobbian Union Title Series - Game 5
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Monday, October 12, 2071

PRO CUP TIME IS HERE WEDNESDAY... SUNBIRDS MEET TYPHOONS IN 71ST PRO CUP SERIES
The 71st edition of the vaunted Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series is set to begin this Wednesday afternoon in Turon at Typhoon Stadium... this year's champion of the Tycobbian Union, the Turon Typhoons, will welcome this year's champion of the Ruthlandian Union, the Belair Beach Sunbirds, in the opening game of the best-of-five series for the Pro Cup Trophy.

Getting to the Pro Cup Finals is never easy... both finalists had to defeat some good ballclubs to get here... Belair Beach beat Valmara in 4 games and Volusia in 4 games to reach the Pro Cup Series... Turon topped Tuckanarra in 4 games and then had to go 5 games to whip the White River Rascals.

Both teams won 100 or more games this season... Turon paced the IPA with a 104-50 mark, while Belair Beach finished up 100-54... the Typhoons are a very good all-around club with no weaknesses...about the only thing you could say is that they could use more home-run power... they have the rest: excellent pitching, good run scoring and strong defense... the only thing the Sunbirds have the edge is in scoring... they topped the Ruthlandian Union this season.

Both Turon and Belair Beach were in the postseason playoffs last year... they both lost to the IPA champion Wynnamac... the Sundowners defeated the Sunbirds in the RU first round and the Macs whipped the Typhoons in the Pro Cup Finals... Turon is gunning for their 5th Pro Cup Trophy, having won in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2018... Belair Beach is seeking their very first Pro Cup crown... the closest they ever came was in 2014 when the Sunbirds were up 3 games to 1 in the Pro Cup Series, but they lost the last 3 games to that year's champion Kenwood Wildcats.

2071 Pro Cup Outlook:
Turon has a bonafide stopper and ace in left-hander Skippy Mulroy... he could win two games in the series... he's a huge plus... but Belair Beach has more "stars"... the Sunbirds have an elite outfield consisting of veterans Curtis Cochran (age 40), Alfie Elbourne (age 32) and rising superstud Andrianus De Jonker (age 28)... Turon can't match them there... the Typhoons have a slight edge in overall pitching... they may have a better bullpen than the Sunbirds... Belair Beach has the edge in scoring runs and in home-run power... Turon is much superior playing defense... should be a great series... pitching and defense will be the keys... Turon will prevail in 5 games over Belair Beach.

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Turon Typhoons Home Page
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Belair Beach Sunbirds Home Page
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