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Best Dynasties in IPA history:
1. Rolling Hills Racers (2060-2071) 12 playoff appearances in 12 years with 4 Pro Cups. 2. North Hills Hawks (2034-2045) 10 playoffs in 11 years with 4 Pro Cups. 3. Turon Typhoons (2002-2019) 13 playoffs in 18 years with 4 Pro Cups 4. Tuckanarra Blue Jays (2023-2038) 11 playoffs in 16 years with 3 Pro Cups 5. Middlefield Roosters (2045-2056) 10 playoffs in 12 years with 2 Pro Cups 6. Far Mountain Redhawks (2009-2016) 7 playoffs in 8 years with 3 Pro Cups 7. Southport Sun Sox (2042-2050) 7 playoffs in 9 years with 2 Pro Cups. 8. Valmara Vipers (2023-2031) 8 playoffs in 9 years with 1 Pro Cup. 9. Ozarka Naturals (2010-2021) 10 playoffs in 12 seasons with no Pro Cups, but they were Pro Cup Finalists 5 times. |
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Wednesday, October 4, 2073 IPA PRO CUP PLAYOFFS - BASEBALL IN ALL ITS SPENDOR Yep, you got it right... baseball in all its splendor is just around the corner all across Islandia... it's time once again to determine the best team in the Islands... the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs begin this Friday afternoon... defending IPA champion Turon will be trying to repeat as titlist... but the Typhoons will be severely put to the test by 7 other clubs seeking the renowned Pro Cup Trophy... back-to-back crowns are hard to come by... it rarely happens... the record for most wins in a row is held by the Far Mountain Redhawks, who captured Pro Cups in 2011, 2012 and 2013... 5 other clubs have won 2 in a row, Eastshore in 2016 and 2017, Tuckanarra in 2023 and 2024, Valmara in 2049 and 2050, Midway in 2053 and 2054 and Southport in 2065 and 2066. The team with the most Pro Cups in their trophy case is the Rolling Hills Racers with 7... next in line are the Turon Typhoons with 5... and Valmara Vipers, North Hills Hawks and Southport Sun Sox with 4 apiece. This year's Pro Cup favorite is the White River Rascals... they are forecast to win it all this season... should it come to be, it will be the first time for the Rascals... the baseball soothsayers are picking them to whip Eastshore for the overall IPA title. 2073 IPA Pro Cup Poll by THE ISLANDIAN TIMES 1. WHITE RIVER RASCALS (106-48) Could be the year of the Rascals... the are back in the Pro Cup playoffs for the third time in the last 4 seasons... the Rascals have been improving each year... this season White River is loaded... not only can they pitch, this year they can hit... 3.23 team ERA (2nd)... .280 BA (6th)... 158 homers (3rd)... 836 runs (1st)... most win in the IPA (106)... fine defense, too (.979 FA)... on the mound Shorty Meaux, rookie Jamey Ellison, Henry Youngman and Edward Carlin are ready to reap their first-ever Pro Cup... and they have a rock-solid lineup, too, featuring top guns like Kerry Quick, Finley McTavis, Paul Douglas and Mac Blau... the IPA Pro Cup is theirs to lose... this would be the first Pro Cup title in White River history... they have never won one... the Rascals made the Pro Cup Finals in 2021, but lost to the Sligo Rovers... also were there in 2055, but were beaten by the Wynnamac Sundowners... this will be the team's 12th postseason appearance. 2. Turon Typhoons (96-58) The reigning kings of the IPA are just as good as ever... the Tycobbian Title Series will be something to behold, assuming both Turon and White River get there... the Typhoons have proven themselves the last 3 seasons and they are ready to repeat as IPA champions... it will be the pitching that will make or break Turon... pitching won it for them last year... both the pitching and hitting has gotten a little better this year... Cookie Culpepper had a very fine season with 21 wins... 2072 Pro Cup MVP Skippy Mulroy, Ivan Malek and Billy Pearl are back to defend the title... so are Corky Apple, Maxie Mullinax, Robert Newell and Freddie Civik... plus Turon had added a standout first sacker to the batting order, Artie Falcon... he took over the cleanup spot and has thrived in that spot in the lineup... the bullpen will be the key to victory for the Typhoons... this is the 25th time Turon has made the IPA playoffs... they hope to come home with their 6th Pro Cup... yep, the Typhoons are sho 'nuff good enough to do it, y'all. 3. Eastshore Cotton Kings (96-58) The Cotton Kings are newcomers to the postseason... they have not made the playoffs since 2056... only made the playoffs 8 times in the team's history... however, they possess 2 Pro Cups (2016, 2017)... but it is likely Eastshore will make its presence known... the Cotton Kings sport a fine, good all-around club, deep in hitting and pitching with good power... the team is led by 3 quality starters, Vinnie Harrington, Ayasha Kanjorsky and Eric Steinhardt... in addition, veteran closer Tommy Johnson is strong in the bullpen... Eastshore put up a 3.38 ERA (2nd)... only Taranto was better in the IPA with a 3.33 ERA... and the Cotton Kings can put runs on the scoreboard with the likes of Hugo Cieka, Alec Lauricella, Ollie Daggs, and Roland Ellis... the only downside to the team is its so-so fielding (.974 FA)... otherwise Eastshore could make some loud noise in the IPA playoffs this season... 2017 was the last time the Cotton Kings captured the Pro Cup Trophy... back then, they were known as the Elegants and they won their second straight Pro Cup... IPA Pro Cup #3 just might be just over the horizon. 4. Valmara Vipers (98-56) The Vipers have been making regular appearances in the postseason... Valmara has been to the playoffs more time than any other IPA team... this will be the 30th time for the Vipers... this is the fourth consecutive year... but in recent seasons they have never played up to expectations... Valmara just doesn't have a dominant pitcher which is necessary to cop a Pro Cup... they hit well in the regular season, then fizzle in the postseason... on paper the Vipers have it again... 858 runs (1st)... hit for a .276 BA (10th) with 140 roundtrippers (4th)... have a fine defensive team (.979 FA)... they are certainly not hurting for hitters, sparked by budding superstar Stefan Skarzynski, Leevi Lindmaa, Jim Diliberto, Cyryl Kozak, Alex Janicki and Ricardo Vargas... and the pitchers are solid, too... Jaromir Kaminski, Andre Zajac, Mark Rummel and rookie Cale Abercrombie.... and Milosz Mazur and Axel Heiden are solid in the pen... if Valmara plays like they do in the regular season, they could do some damage in the IPA playoffs. 5. Kenwood Wildcats (94-61) The Wildcats have not graced the IPA playoffs in a long, long time... not since 2052... and their only Pro Cup came years earlier in 2014... this is their 11th appearance... Kenwood is a dark horse in the Pro Cup derby... they have all the hallmarks for Pro Cup success... high-octane attack, impressive starting rotation, but they come up lacking in the home-run power, bullpen and defense... only 108 homers (21st), 3.76 ERA (17th) and .973 FA (24th)... Paulo Passo, Kurt Gammons and Dallas Dodson give them quality innings, but the bullpen is suspect, maybe even poor... but the bats blaze with a lineup of Miguel Blanco, Misha Makowski, Bitsy Sumter, Elvis Groom and Maksim Issak... top-to-bottom this may be the best batting order in the IPA... it is really difficult to win the IPA Pro Cup just strictly with offense... the pitching has to be fairly decent... Rolling Hills used to do it, but Kenwood is not Rolling Hills. 6. South Fork Stallions (97-57) After a 4-year absence, the Stallions are back in the IPA playoffs... this will be appearance #10... South Fork won the Pro Cup in 2025 and 2042... it's time they won it again... they have the offense to do it, but not the pitching... the Stallions batted a strong .279 (7th), cracked 127 out of the park (13th) and scored 806 runs (3rd), but their starters posted a mediocre 4.23 ERA (17th)... the best one is superstar veteran Mark Meisner, now 37 years old and on the decline in the sunset of his great career, but still quite productive this year with a 16-9 mark and a fine 3.31 ERA... he was dominant when he hurled for the Claxton Diamonds in the '50s and 60s... Meisner led the Diamonds to an upset Pro Cup victory over vaunted Rolling Hills in 2064... overall in his great career Meisner is 202-93 with a superlative 2.57 ERA... he is a Hall-of-Famer for sure... however, the Stallions don't lack for offense, paced by superstar slugger and future Hall-of-Fame Pat Johnstone... and he has plenty of help from Carroll Ezzell, Patrick Packenham, Mal Galbreath and Jake Glazer... South Fork can sho 'nuff do the job with the bats... in addition to its pitching shortcomings, the Stallions only play average defense (.975 FA)... as far as the Pro Cup is concerned, this is probably not the Year of the Hoss... but hey, I can dream, can't I?... would be special if Meisner led the Stallions to the Pro Cup crown... yep, that would be nice. 7. Volusia Vigilantes (89-65) For the third time on four seasons, the Vigilantes are back in the postseason... this will be their 15th appearance, but they only have one Pro Cup trophy, which came 72 years ago in the very first IPA season... Volusia is another team with blockbuster bats - 1 through 8 in the batting order, the V's are strong - but they have no pitching and no power... defense is a little above average (.976 FA)... the Vigilantes are not a big threat to win the Pro Cup this year... but they have some super sockers in Lenny Larker, Dante De Jesus, Valentino Robles, Raul Bernardo, Benito Santana, Gail Scott and Shig Morton... however, the mound corps is subpar with a 4.33 ERA... the best of the lot is Tim Cayton, Nobuo Ojima and Darrell Waldrep... Volusia had a pretty fair bullpen with Dave Loxley and Nickie Acosta... the Vigilantes will have to wait till next year to win the IPA Pro Cup... not gonna happen in 2073. 8. Valka Blackhawks (95-59) The Blackhawks have never won a Pro Cup in 6 tries... never reached the Pro Cup Finals, either... but they can hit the heck out of the horsehide... and they have a couple of good starters... Valka just might be better than the pundits are prognosticating... up-and-down in the batting order is a rock-solid hitter... Jackie Hanford, Jimmy Czarnecki, Olef Kotli, Flash Callis, Martiinus Kaasik, Markko Petrov and Jim Kennedy... the Blackhawks hit .279 this season (6th), scored 784 runs (7th), but did not hit with much power... only 96 roundtrippers (24th)... pitching was good with a 3.77 ERA (4th)... Priit Laur and Dorsey Burnette are solid starters, but the bullpen is suspect... another good attribute is a fine defense (.979 FA)... sounds like the Stoner Silver Sox last year, don't it?... Stoner almost won the Pro Cup last year... maybe Valka is better than we think. |
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Special thanks to txranger for the beautiful new primary and secondary logos for the Turon Typhoons and Eastshore Cotton Kings.
Special thanks to No Pepper and cephasjames, too... they have updated some of the non-playoff clubs. txranger, No Pepper and cephasjames really make my IPA league really enjoyable... they do splendid logos, jerseys and caps for the whole OOTP Community. |
I played around with creating camera views for the game's animation.
Got some good help in a thread on OOTP21 Discussions I posted. I liked the simple default settings... really liked them... was quite content with them... but they are pale in comparison to the custom views I created this evening. The animation in OOTP22 is really something. My new camera views has me sitting right behind home place with a view of the entire field... the camera switches blend smoothly and I only lost view of the ball one time... it was a foul ball near the dugout on the first-base side. Learn how to create your own camera views... it is worth it. Very special thanks to twins_34, Sweed, Bluenoser and a bunch of others on the OOTP22 Discussions Forum.... they really help a very old computer illiterate make the game much better. Also I think they fixed the weird foul balls in the latest patches... no outfielders ran through the walls, either. My new computer is so fast and so smooth... really, really pleased with it. And yeah, I know it is "overkill" when it comes to playing OOTP with animation... but I think the better processor and graphics card will give me good service for maybe 4-5 years or so... it should be better in the long run than my previous computers, which were excellent. |
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Wednesday, October 3, 2073 RASCALS, TYPHOONS, COTTON KINGS, VIPERS ARE IPA POWER PICKS... WHITE RIVER AND EASTSHORE TO VIE IN PRO CUP FINALS There are some new kids in town in this year's Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs... among the IPA Elite 8 newcomers are the Kenwood Wildcats and the Eastshore Cotton Kings... Kenwood has not appeared in the postseason since 2052 and Eastshore last played in 2056... 3 clubs are returning again this year for another crack at the prestigious prize... defending Pro Cup champion Turon is back for the 5th straight season, Valmara for the 4th successive time and Valka is appearing for the second year in a row... at the top end of the success scale the Valmara Vipers are making their 30th appearance in the postseason playoffs, Turon its 25th and Volusia for the 15th time... the Vipers and Typhoons will be trying to win their 5th Pro Cups... Valka and White River are seeking their very first IPA title... Pro Cup favorite White River and the #3 choice Eastshore are forecast to battle for the 2073 Islandian Pro Alliance Trophy... current Pro Cup possessor Turon and Valmara are highly-regarded, too. Playoff action begins this Friday with White River (106-48) at home against the Kenwood Wildcats (94-61) in the Tycobbian Union First Round... Turon (96-58) will challenge the South Fork Stallions (97-57) on the road... in the Ruthlandian Union First Round it's the Valka Blackhawks (95-59) visiting Eastshore (96-58) and the Valmara Vipers (98-56) welcoming the Volusia Vigilantes (89-65)... all three rounds of the postseason series are the best-of-5 games. |
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Around the Town in the IPA
WHITE RIVER RASCALS Owner: Tycalco (Tycobbian Aluminum Company) GM/Manager: Marty Blake The city of White River, with 66,000 inhabitants, is situated in northwestern Tycobbia in the Appian Mountain foothills on the banks of the White River. Most of the time the river flows serenely, but there are occasional whitewater rapids. The river ends at Bayview on the western coast where it empties into the Kelnyck Ocean. Prior to the mining business, this area was just wilderness. White River owes its existence and development to Tycalco. It is totally a company town. Its economy is dominated by the Tycobbian Aluminum Company, which was established in 1890. Bauxite, alumina and chemicals, found in abundance in the nearby Appian Mountains, are processed into a wide range of aluminum products and shipped to Bayview by water and Fairfax on Blue Lake to the south by rail for distribution. Tycalco’s towering corporate skyscraper can be seen from White River Park across the river in downtown White River. Architecture in the area is modernistic. However, the White River Rascals play at one of the lovely vintage and nostalgic ballparks in Tycobbia. It was built in 1924. White River Park is a lovely old-time ball park with a scenic and wonderful view of its river namesake just beyond the centerfield fence. The 18-foot high aluminum wire fences down the left and right field lines make it a little more difficult for hitters to hit the ball into the stands, which are only 310 feet away. Tycalco originated company amateur leagues to provide the community and its employees and their families with recreational activities. When the Islandian Pro Alliance was established, the company purchased a franchise. The White River Rascals play in the Tycobbian Union North Division. One of the big ballpark features is the team mascot Rascal, based on the old-time movies with the beloved Our Gang. A trip to White River Park is something really special. Not only is it a baseball park, it is also a state-of-the-art amusement park. Before and after games amusement rides can be enjoyed by young and old, complete with good food, fun rides, fireworks and music concerts of all genres, all subsidized and underwritten in part by Tycalco, The Rascals are administered and managed by former first baseman Marty Blake. He had a legendary career with White River with a .312 BA, 711 homers, 2125 RBIs and 2034 runs. Blake was one of the most prolific hitters in IPA history in his 23 years in the league, playing for four clubs from 2013 to 2035. Blake spent his first 18 seasons with White River. He was a 3-time Golden Glove first sacker and 7-time All-Star. Blake was voted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2036. He ranks 6th on the all-time home-run list, 6th in hits, 4th in RBIs, 10th in scoring runs and 14th in walks... Blake took over as skipper in 2066. White River Park (1924) Capacity: 5,685 Dimensions: Left Field Line - 310 Left Field - 340 Left Center - 370 Center Field - 410 Right Center - 370 Right Field - 340 Right Field Line - 310 |
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TURON TYPHOONS
Owner: Anastas International Shipping GM: C. C. Kingsford Manager: Nate Scottsdale Turon is a seaport town of 118,000 in the Caledonia River basin on the southwestern coast of Tycobbia and its second largest population-wise. The Caledonia River terminates here after winding 500 miles from east to west from Red Bluff in the central Silver Mountains southward through Hillsboro and then flowing westward near the towns of South Fork, Denton City and Arlon. The river finally comes to an end in Turon and empties into the Kelnyck Ocean and Southern Sea. It is a cosmopolitan town with a diversified economy and a mecca for tourists. Turon is a busy trade and distribution center with many shipping interests. Agriculture flourishes here with extensive farmlands in the Caledonia River basin. It is also a diversity of cultures and was settled in the 1840s and 1850s by French, Scottish, Irish and German settlers, who came to get away from religious intolerance and persecution. Southerners from the United States came in good numbers after the Civil War defeat. Turon became their New South, but minus the slave culture. Turon is resplendent with beauty. Streets and boulevards lined with grand live oak trees and antebellum mansions. In the countryside are majestic plantations. Near the coast you'll find sugar-white sandy beaches. You'll find plenty of Old World in Turon, but also plenty of the Modern World, too. The Turon Typhoons of the IPA's South Division play in a baseball palace, Typhoon Stadium. It is built with concrete and steel to withstand the occasional typhoon that emanates from the cold and icy waters of the Kelnyck Ocean. The old ballpark was completely destroyed twice in 1938 and 1967. The current stadium was completed in 1999 and houses the Tycobbian Baseball Hall of Fame, a must-see for all Islandian baseball fans. It covers the entire spectrum and includes memorabilia from the amateur, college and industrial leagues. The Typhoons really are active promoters with something going on each inning during the ballgames. All kinds of promotions, games and stunts to enliven and entertain the fans. Wild music tracks fill the stadium to rally the Typhoons and their fans. Concessions are stocked with all of the traditional ballpark delights. Turon is owned by the family of wealthy shipping tycoon, Onnie Anastas. One of the most successful GMs and managers was Ashton “Whitey” Richburn, one of the finest defensive center fielders and lead-off men in Tycobbian amateur baseball history... he ran the club for the first few decades, which were the "glory years" of Turon baseball, when they won four Gold Cups (2003, 2005, 2008, 2018)... Richburn was followed by a father-son team, the great Hall-of-Famers Clyde Kingsford and C. C. Kingsford... the elder Kingsford hit .319 for 14 seasons and hit 486 out of the park with the Typhoons and was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2029 and is now the general manager-emeritus... his son is the current GM... C. C. starred for Turon for 19 seasons, batting .308 with 432 homers... the younger Kingsford was an 8-time All-Star and played from 2034 to 2051... he was installed and joined his father into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2061... C. C. Kingsford retired as skipper and took over as General Manager... another fine Turon star took over in 2068... Nate Scottsdale assumed the managerial reins after a standout career on the mound... he also ended up in the IPA Hall of Fame, finishing up with a 362-277 record with a 3.44 ERA... Stocksdale played his entire career in Turon from 2037 to 2056... 8 times in his career he won 20 or more games... he did it 5 times in his final 6 seasons when he was in his late 30s... Stocksdale made the Hall of Fame in 2057. Typhoon Stadium (1999) Capacity: 8,010 Dimensions: Left Field Line - 335 Left Field - 355 Left Center - 380 Center Field - 410 Right Center - 380 Right Field - 355 Right Field Line - 345 |
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EASTSHORE COTTON KINGS
(aka Elegants) Owner: Tara Plantation, Inc. President and CEO: Bonnie Blue Butler GM: Scottty Lagrange Manager: Malcolm Tansbury Eastshore is a town of 85,000 on the southeast coast of Ruthlandia, situated on the Valerian Ocean, just 50 miles east of Crystal Lake. It was settled by emigres from the American South in the 1870s, who were disillusioned by the post Civil War problems. Agriculture has always been the backbone of the Eastshore economy because of the perfect climate for growning cotton. Cotton is king in Eastshore. The port of Eastshore is one of the Islands' busiest and is also a vital part of the area's economy. Southern charm and hospitality are a way of life here in Eastshore. One would think they were in Savannah or Charleston in the United States, instead of a world away. Moonlight, magnolias and mint juleps are still in vogue at the many plantation homes that inundate the farmlands in the area. The "New South" is alive and well in Eastshore. But modern day Eastshore is more friendly than formal. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, you'll be welcomed with true Southern hospitality. Hip and historic, robust and refined, Eastshore is where you'll find amazing architecture, spooky cemeteries and rich history, along with global sophistication, funky night life and fabulous food. It's where history resonates into the present day and where memories are still being made. Like all of the towns in Islandia, Eastshore loves its baseball and has since it first began in the late 1890s. The community has supported town ball, amateur leagues and industrial leagues down through the years and now have a professional team. The proud owners of the IPA Eastshore Elegants in the early years of the IPA were Clark and Vivian Butler. Their granddaughter Bonnie Blue O'Hara is the current CEO. The Cotton Kings are owned by Tara Plantation, one of the largest cotton plantations in Ruthlandia... the team rebranded in the 2060s. Running the Elegants is renowned hard-hitting slugger and IPA Hall-of-Famer Scotty Lagrange, who starred for many years with the club. Lagrange was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2049. He was a 5-time All-Star, 6-time Gold Glover and the 2034 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player. Lagrange batted .295 in his 18-year career with 451 homers and 1414 RBIs... he is the general manager... the manager is Malcolm Tansbury, a former workhorse pitcher for Eastshore... he was 193-215 in 17 seasons with a standout 3.26 ERA... Tansbury was the RU Rookie of the Year in 2043... both Lagrange and Tansbury played for mediocre teams... Eastshore only made the postseason one time in each of their careers, 2034 and 2056. Eastshore plays its games at Kraft Stadium, built by Kraft Foods in 1996. Since the 1920s Kraft has sponsored teams in company and amateur leagues. Kraft Stadium (1995) Capacity: 11,575 Dimensions: Left Field Line 330 Left Field 350 Left Center 375 Center Field 400 Right Center 375 Right Field 350 Right Field Line 330 |
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VALMARA VIPERS
Owner: Viper Offshore Services, headed by the estate of Capt. Stanislaw Lem, Ruthlandia Navy (ret) GM/Manager: Don Ritchie Valmara is located in the northeastern part of Valdar Island, a port town of 81,000 people on Valmara Bay, an excellent deep water harbor. A clash of a warm Valerian Ocean current and a cold Kelnyck Ocean provides for heavy early morning fogs and sometimes nasty rainy weather. The town began as a small fishing village in the 1880s and pretty much remained that way until the late 1930s. Valmara has never been considered a pleasant place to live with rocky soil, thick ocean fogs and moss growing everywhere. If not for its wonderful port, no one in their right mind would live there. The harbor and the port have brought commerce and jobs.The prime industries of Valmara revolve around the sea, be it catching and processing fish, servicing deep-ocean oil rigs or supporting the ten-ship navy of Ruthlandia. With the threat of world war on the horizon in 1938, the Ruthlandian government established Valdarian Military Academy, a college for cadets and midshipmen studying for future service in the Ruthlandian Navy and Army. During the Second World War, Ruthlandia was swept up in the maelstrom in the nation's first and only war. The nation sent a regiment of troops and a fighter squadron to England to aid the Allies. The Ruthlandian navy served proudly with the 2nd Polish Corps in the Italian campaign, especially at Monte Cassino. After the war, many Poles opted not to return to their Soviet-occupied nation and several hundred emigrated to Ruthlandia. Many of the ex-soldiers did not go far past Valmara when they got off the boat. Over the next four decades, many Poles emigrated from behind the Iron Curtain to Ruthlandia. After many generations of migration and birth, more than a third of the town is of Polish descent. The Valmara Vipers are owned by the family of Capt. Stanislaw Lem, RN (ret.) of Viper Offshore Services. The owner liked to be called "The Captain" in public. Lem made a small fortune after his navy career operating ships and helicopters that serve offshore oil rigs. Thanks to the vast supply of petroleum offshore, his company's profits went through the roof. The Captain had no problem coming up with money to buy a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance in 2001, the first pro baseball league in the Islands history. Valmara plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the North Division. The Valmara Vipers trace their history from the frigate Viper, which had a team in the Naval League in the 1940's. When the amateur league players became semi-pros in the 1950s and worked and played baseball for companies, the Vipers were sponsored by Marine Midland Bank. The Captain played baseball for his service team in the 1960s and was active in the industrial leagues as a sponsor in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Since Captain Lem had been the captain of the frigate Viper in the late 1960s, when it came to naming his IPA franchise, it was a no-brainer. The Valmara Vipers were born. The Vipers play their games at historic old War Memorial Stadium. Amateur and industrial league teams have used it for years. It is dedicated to the memory of the 121 men from Ruthlandia killed in action in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. It is a old stadium built for football and soccer, but improvised and used for baseball since 1946. The Captain commissioned noted architectural company HOK to renew the old park into a suitable baseball park. He spared no expense in updating the old stadium with modern technology and conveniences. Yet it still retains the charm of an old stadium. Game-Day Experience: Like many successful immigrants, the people of Valmara have fiercely adopted the values of their new nation. Ruthlandia's flag is navy blue and green. In Valmara, it's just taken to a ridiculous extreme. The team’s colors are navy blue and green. So are the water towers, the dockyard cranes, the street signs and city hall. Captain Lem wanted to build a new ballpark, but the city fathers persuaded him to just refurbish the old stadium in the old part of town to be an anchor for a new mixed residential-commercial district. Civic pride got the best of the Captain and he agreed to use War Memorial Stadium. The civic renewal project was quite successful. Because there is little parking nearby, fans have to walk nearly a quarter mile to the park. On the way, they are treated to a dozen restaurants, bars, and pubs. The integration into the neighborhood is considered to be charming. The revitalization project has brought a good deal of commerce and energy into the east side of town. The worst of the neighborhood was torn down. The city fathers have expanded the renovations and given the old town a new look. Food: Fans love to scarf down bigos (cabbage and meat stew) and rye bread at cafes adjacent to the ballpark. Inside the park, everyone loves perogis (potato and cheese dumplings). The Captain persuaded Mama Kolski's Restaurant (home of the best perogis in town) to open a stand at his newly-renovated ballpark and it was a big hit. Beer sales are strictly regulated by city ordinance to two beers per person. This is due to the locals’ love of pale lagers that are 9% alcohol. Also in recent years, draft Coors has been a trendy choice. Ambiance: Music at the ballpark is best described as LOUD. The Captain installed a very modern, very powerful sound system at the refurbished stadium. In 2001, a sound system operator substituted the Village People's "In the Navy" for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch and started a new tradition. It was a college night at an industrial league game, with plenty of middies from Valdarian Military Academy on hand and many crewmembers from the frigates Viper and Foxx. It was a smash hit, no doubt fueled by a hot autumn evening, cold pale lager and the nine-run Viper lead. Since then, "In the Navy" has been played during the 8th-inning stretch of every game. In the navy Yes, you can sail the seven seas In the navy Yes, you can put your mind at ease In the navy Come on now, people, make a stand In the navy, in the navy Can't you see we need a hand In the navy Come on, protect the motherland In the navy Come on and join your fellow man In the navy Come on people, and make a stand In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy) (written by Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Willis) You can listen to the song by the Village People here on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3p4e-htTHw Mascot: The Captain (he considers himself a traditionalist) did not believe in having a mascot until he put his own money into the old ball park. At that point, he had to figure out how to attract every dollar possible from every fan possible. So Vippy and Vippa Viper came into being. They parade around the ballpark entertaining the fans and leading cheers, dances and songs. Viper fans are noted for shrill hissing at the umpires and the opposing teams. The Captain sells a lot Vippy and Vippa apparel and memorabilia...even rents them out to for birthday parties at the stadium. History: Baseball on Valdar Island had a late beginning. Due to the Island topography, climate and lack of mineral deposits it was not as desirable as the Ruthlandian mainland, so it was bypassed by the immigrants until about 1910, when the towns of Valmara, Ancona, Kilkenny, Taranto and Ranford sprang up. From 1910 to 1920, touring amateur baseball teams from the mainland would play games from time to time and the game was introduced slowly. But it did catch on. In a desire to assimilate with the rest of the country, where baseball was like a religion, the Valdarians took to the game with passion and fervor. Amateur baseball clubs and company-based teams began to sprout in abundance in the 1920s. By the mid-1940's Valdar Island baseball was as good as the Mainland. The team was first managed by J. Jackson Samuel, a run-of-the-mill industrial league player that became a legendary manager. Samuel broke Jay Loman's record for the most Silver Whale Cups, given to the best amateur team on Valdar Island. Loman was the manager of the Ancona Red Elephants in the 1920s and won nine straight Valdar Island League titles. Samuel won 12 during his amateur career. Samuel ran Valmara in the early days of the Islandian Pro Alliance, but only had modest success with five playoff appearances and two pennants in 16 seasons... in 2017 he retired and turned the reins over to one of the all-time great Vipers, Jet Kazmarek. who was a .350 career hitter in his 16 IPA seasons. Kazmarek was an 8-time All-Star and won the batting title 9 times. He is also the only .400 hitter in the annals of the league. Kazmarek batted an awesome .428 in 2002. He was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027. Kazmarek skippered the Vipers to their first Pro Cup crown in 2026. Kazmarek retained his GM title, but in 2036 turned the managerial duties over to Vanya Vasylenko, a former Valmara pitching star. Vasylenko starred for 20 seasons for the Vipers and compiled a 304-261 record with a 3.45 career ERA. Valmara captured three Pro Cup trophies during Vasylenko's managerial tenure. The Vipers were IPA champions in 2043, 2049 and 2050. Valmara has accrued four Pro Cups. At the helm of the current edition of Valmara Vipers is Don Ritchie, a former outfielder, who played from 2041 to 2056. Ritchie has three Pro Cup rings and batted .289 lifetime with 97 homers, 1301 runs and 957 RBIs. He has been manager and general manager since 2057. War Memorial Stadium (1946) Capacity: 9,595 Dimensions: Left Field Line - 330 Left Field - 350 Left Center - 380 Center Field - 405 Right Center - 370 Right Field - 330 Right Field Line - 309 |
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SOUTH FORK STALLIONS
Owner: Bobby Ewing Enterprises President and CEO: Cliff Barnes Ewing GM: James Billings Manager: Jay Murphy South Fork is a rural and provincial town with a population of 58,000. The main industries are cattle and ranching mixed with agriculture. South Fork is situated in the fertile Caledonian River basin in southern Tycobbia. Rich and black alluvial soils produce a plethora of crops on the farms in the area. This is cowboy country and home of the South Fork Stallions of the Islandian Pro Alliance, begun by Bobby Ewing of the wealthy, influential and powerful Ewing family headed by patriarch Jock Ewing. The Stallions play in the Tycobbian Union East Division. Here is the fabled history of the creation of the South Fork Stallions. Bobby and brother J. R. were squabbling vice-presidents of the Waleska Westerners of the old Tycobbian Industrial League in the 1990s. To separate the two siblings, the family patriarch bought each one of them a baseball team. Bobby got South Fork and J. R. got the Ozarka Naturals. Bobby built a beautiful new stadium and named it after his daddy, Jock Ewing Stadium. It is located at the edge of town and has a wonderful panoramic view of the town rising up behind the gigantic electronic scoreboard. J. R. built a new state-of-the-art stadium with a monstrous scoreboard, too, and named it Ellie Ewing Stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie... the Stallions and Naturals are still bitter rivals in the Tycobbian East Division, even though the Ewing Brothers have long ago past the torch to their offspring, who still run Bobby Ewing Enterprises and Ewing Oil Company. Stallions fans are a rowdy bunch who love their team. They never let up on the opposing teams, giving them a lot of discouraging words and a lot of harassing at every opportunity. They even throw home run balls hit by the opposition back onto the playing field. No self-respecting Stallions fan would want possession of a ball that harmed the best interests of their favorite team. For entertainment the Stallions have a Texas swing band at every game. You ain’t never heard a better version of “Take me out to the ballgame”. There is a whole lot of two-steppin’ during the seventh inning stretch at Jock Ewing Stadium. And when the buckaroos and little darlin's mosey on over to the concessions stands hot and juicy charcoal-broiled steak sandwiches await them there along with imported Lone Star Beer (“Brewed deep in the heart of Texas”). Life at Jock Ewing Stadium was always quite interesting for the fans... Finley Charles was the Stallions’ GM and promotions director for the first 20 years. Charles was famous for his creative promotions and innovations in baseball. His teams were the first to wear loud-colored uniforms, like solid orange road uniforms. One of his amateur teams even dressed in a soft pink and wore Bermuda shorts. He also experimented with an orange baseball and having only 3 balls and 2 strikes in the game. He said it would speed up the game and create more action. None of his leagues instituted his ideas, but he kept trying. Charles retired in 2025 and things settled down to normalcy in South Fork baseball circles. The Stallions were quite a team with a GM like wacky and creative Finley Charles and an outspoken skipper like Deroche "Lips" Leon... South Fork finally won the Pro Cup in 2025 under Leon, who had a stormy career. Lips didn't get along with many people. And he didn't care, saying "nice guys finish last". But Leon lasted 38 years as the skipper. Taking over after Lips was Blackie Terranova. He starred for them for 15 seasons (2010-2024), winding up with a fine 273-202 record and a 3.31 ERA... Terranova retired at age 42. His last season was 15-21 with a 3.56 ERA for a sixth-place club... South Fork had a rejuvanation under Terranova, winning the Tycobbian East three years in a row from 2041 to 2043... in 2042 the Stallions won their second Pro Cup... he was fired in 2051 after a 56-98 season. Running the ballclub currently is general manager James Billings, famed for his statistical baseball research and analysis. Billings has applied his findings to the team's operation and has been very successful. The current manager is Jay Murphy, a former player... he was the ace of the 2042 Pro Cup title team... Murphy was the Tycobbian Golden Arm winner in 2042 (25-7) and 2044 (28-7). Also captured the Tycobbian MVP in '44. Overall his lifetime statistics for 16 seasons is 250-185 with a fine 3.24 ERA. He has turned the Stallions around since taking over in 2058. South Fork fields a competitive team year after year. Jock Ewing Stadium (2000) Capacity: 11,750 Dimensions: LF Line 347 LF 360 LCF 383 CF 400 RCF 383 RF 360 RF Line 347 |
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KENWOOD WILDCATS
Owner: Kenwood Farmers Co-op GM/Manager: Josh Hankins Kenwood, a rustic and rural town of 50,000 located 25 miles off the Kelnyck Ocean in west central Tycobbia, is an agrarian area with little industry. Farms as far as the eye can see dot the landscape. Founded by English and Welsh settlers, life is like merry olde England of a century or two ago. Country inns and pubs with fine ales, fresh trout out of the crystal clear streams or a piece of juicy wild boar or game bird are always on the menu, and you can sample all of the homemade cheeses and wonderfully fresh produce of the region. Corn, wheat, barley and other grains are the main crops; dairy, pork and chicken products are important to the economy, too. Life is peaceful and sedate in Kenwood, where tradition is important. All new construction in the town has to be approved by the Planning Board. Modern architecture is not permitted in Olde Towne, as the central downtown area is known. All buildings must be designed circa 1850 and fit in with the historic décor of the existing buildings. Even the ballpark where the Kenwood Wildcats play is an old ballpark; the fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Olde Towne can be seen over the center field and right field fences and the new part of the town over the left field fence. Olde Towne has a wonderful old-fashioned soda shoppe where you can get homemade ice cream in flavors like orange-pineapple (with bits of pineapple and orange), grape (with real grapes), strawberry (with bits of strawberry), banana (with bits of banana) and vanilla, chocolate and fudge ripple, too. Cherry cokes, vanilla cokes, chocolate cokes and thick shakes, malts, nector ice cream sodas and hamburgers as well. It is a great place to meet after the ballgame. Olde Towne Grounds is perfect for the Kenwoodians. They are old-fashioned at the ballpark, too, with only cold drinks, ale, hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts and Crackerjacks and marvelous thick milk shakes made with delicious homemade ice cream at the concession stands. And in keeping with the oldtime flavor of Kenwood, there is live organ music to entertain the fans. Only three other parks boast an organ player; Ozarka, Hillsboro and Marston. Olde Towne Grounds is is a quaint ballpark with an asymmetrical configuration. The left field line is 380', the same as it is to straightaway center. Right field is more realistic at 350'. It was built in 1911. The Kenwood Wildcats are owned by the Kenwood Farmers Co-op. The first general manager and field manager was one of the all-time great home run hitters and outfielders in Tycobbian Industrial League history, Aaron Hankins. After 30 years at the helm, his son, Babe Hankins replaced him as skipper in 2035... Babe was a star outfielder for 13 seasons, batting .304 with 234 homers and 1109 RBIs... Babe Hankins was a 4-time All-Star, 3-time Gold Glove. Babe led the Wildcats to 7 pennants in his 32-year tenure. The team is currently being directed by his son, Josh Hankins, who took charge of the team in 2068. Josh never made it to the Islandian Pro Alliance, but he was brought up working in all areas of baseball operations under his granddaddy and father. He is both GM and field manager. The Kenwood Wildcats is a family affair. Olde Towne Grounds (1911) Capacity: 6,115 Dimensions: LF Line 380 LF 365 LCF 370 CF 380 RCF 365 RF 345 RF Line 350 |
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VOLUSIA VIGILANTES
Owner: Tierra Wools Consolidated President/GM: Joaquin De la Hoya Manager: Tubby Tarkanian Volusia is a town of 99,000 on the banks of the Silver River in the rugged foothills of the Silver Mountains in west central Ruthlandia. In the early years Volusia was a gold and silver mining community. It was first settled by Spanish and English emigres, who after the gold ran out, became sheepherders and farmers. Now the area is known for fine woolen clothing and textiles. Timber and paper products are also produced. The Spanish settlers were some of the earliest baseball enthusiasts in Ruthlandia and they organized the third amateur team in the country. Marston was the first, followed by La Grange. Because of the cultural tradition of "siestas", the Spanish played their games during this time of day, usually from 3 pm to 7 pm. Commerce and business would shut down. This custom and practice soon spread to the rest of the Ruthlandian townships and eventually to Tycobbia. The "siesta" in the Islands has come to mean quality time with family... and baseball fits this perfectly. Many Volusians are bilingual, speaking Spanish and English. Volusia is a member of the IPA's Ruthlandian Union and plays in the West Division. It is the home of the Vigilantes, so named for the citizen-lawmen, who brought law and order to the lawless wild, wild west in the Gold Rush days. Officially the Vigilantes play at Silver River Stadium, overlooking the beautiful Silver River, but it is often referred to as "The Jail House" by the locals. Part of the old terracotta-colored jail can be seen in right field. The inmates get a good view of the V's games and "cheap" season tickets, too. The team is affectionately called "The Jail House Gang". The lovely old ballpark, constructed in 1919, is located right across the street from the police station, which wraps around the stadium on one side. The massive live oak trees that still dominate the city park landscape were used many times in Volusia's early history for vigilante frontier justice. Over the beautiful brick arches and center field wall, the fans get a great view of the Silver River and the downtown area, just across the river from the stadium. A wonderful Tex-Mex band provides great music during the games. The V's fans bring their sombreros and during the seventh inning stretch, they do a Mexican hat dance. Concessions are unique, too. Tantalizing tacos, fantastic flans (custard) and scruptious fried ice cream are among the culinary delicacies at Silver River Stadium. Frozen daiquiries and margaritas are house specialities. Hot dogs, cokes and beer are available, too. The Volusia Vigilantes are owned by Tierra Wools, a farm cooperative for sheep owners, weavers and spinners to market their products. Joaquin De la Hoya is the president and general manager of the club with Tubby Tarkanian as the field manager. Tarkanian was a good defensive catcher and modest hitter... he played 16 seasons with the V's, retired in '54 and was made skipper in '55... Tarkanian batted .262 in his career with 166 roundtrippers and 800 RBIs. Volusia won the inaugural IPA Pro Cup in 2001, sweeping the Ginza Ninjas of the Tycobbian Union in four games. The Vigilantes had finished second in the regular season to the Far Mountain Redhawks in the Ruthlandian North Division... in the early years the IPA had wild card teams in the postseason. Silver River Stadium (1919) Capacity: 10,250 Left Field Line - 325 Left Field - 375 Left Center - 410 Center Field - 400 Right Center - 410 Right Field - 375 Right Field Line - 325 |
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VALKA BLACKHAWKS
Owner: Cybertel Andrus Valk, President GM: Jaan Kurus Manager: Matvey Kazak Valka is found on the southeastern coast of Ruthlandia near Crystal Lake, just 20 miles from the Valerian Ocean. It is a modern town of 82,000 inhabitants, settled by Estonian emigres in the 1890s, who wanted to escape Russian domination of their country. A wealthy landowner, Olev Valk, purchased the land near the lake and set up a community. When a town grew up around the Valk estate, the citizens began to call the town, Valka, in honor of the Valk family. There were three other waves of emigration from Estonia, in 1918 after WWI ended, in the late 1930s, just prior to WWII, and in 1991, at the end of Soviet rule. Today about half of the residents are of Estonian descent. Originally Valka was an agrarian economy, based on vegetable farming, poultry and pork. It remained that way until the 1940's, when the Ruthlandian Institute of Technology was created under the leadership of Hendrik Valk. In the 1950s he started a small company, Cybertel, that blossomed in the 80s into a high-tech electronics and communications conglomerate. Baseball was slow in coming to Valka and wasn't played until about 1920. It was an alien game to the Valkans. But as time went by, more and more of their kids began to play the game. By the 1940s the town had an amateur league, which was expanded to an industrial league. Cybertel and the Institute were both active participants in company league baseball. When the Islandian Pro Alliance was created, the Valk family made sure they had a team. They also made sure they had a stadium, too. Cybertel spared no expense in creating a state-of-the-art baseball Taj Mahal, Cybertel Park, the home of the Valka Blackhawks.The team name was chosen by Hendrik's son, Andrus, the current Cybertel board president. As a kid in the 1940's and 1950s, he idolized the comic book heroes, the Blackhawks, a multi-national air squadron, who fought the evil Axis Powers in WWII and the Communists in the Cold War. The team colors are blue and black, the colors of the Estonia flag and also the color of the flying Blackhawks uniform. Cybertel Park is in the centerpiece of a beautiful downtown landscaped park area. A trip to the ballpark is something to behold with its massive centerfield fountains just beyond the outfield fences and huge electronic scoreboard. No ballpark in the Islands has the high-tech electronic pyrotechnic capabilities like the Blackhawks. A special treat for the kids is when the team mascot, Blackie, a trained hawk, delivers baseballs to the homeplate umpire. Concessions at Cybertel Park are traditional with hot dogs, hamburgers, cokes, peanuts and crackerjacks. However, to the delight of many fans, Valka's two favorite beers, Saku and A. Le Coq, are served during the games. Both brands are imported from the old home country. Jaan Kurus, who headed the Cybertel company leagues for many years, is the GM and Manager of the Blackhawks. The Valka manager is Matvey Kazak. He took over the managerial reins in 2068. Kazak never played in the IPA... his main fame came from coaching baseball at the collegiate level, winning multiple national titles in a legendary career at Valdarian Military Academy. Cybertel Park (2000) Capacity: 9,503 Dimensions: Left Field Line - 340 Left Field - 355 Left Center - 375 Center Field - 405 Right Center - 375 Right Field - 355 Right Field Line - 340 |
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I figure they have worked on them. |
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OOTP Animation is not overkill. i admit it might not be everyone's cup of tea. But that's one of the great things about OOTP. so many different fans can enjoy it so many different ways. And, i bought a gaming laptop so i could take advantage of the animations. And i think they are good, but there's room for improvement. i'm looking forward to it getting better. i like to watch replays and highlights of my online league. It's better for me than combing through game logs. And, eventually, i or probably someone else will find a way to incorporate it into a dynasty. And i hope it will be fictional league; if not a fictional world league. Now, back to the IPA playoffs. :eatpop: |
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Let me know if you ever do a Dynasty Report... that would be great... I know you will do a superb job... just like the Laseron Baseball Association. |
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Saturday, October 7, 2073 RASCALS, COTTON KINGS, STALLIONS AND VIPERS WIN IPA FIRST-ROUND OPENERS 4 clubs in the Islandian Pro Alliance took the first tiny steps toward winning the Pro Cup Trophy with victories in the first-round opening games... Pro-Cup favored White River took a close one 2-0 over the Kenwood Wildcats... South Fork stopped reigning IPA champ Turon 5-1... Eastshore outscored the Valka Blackhawks 10-8... and the Volusia Vigilantes skimmed past the Valmara Vipers 3-1. 2073 Islandian Pro Alliance First-Round Stars of the Game Attachment 846208 Attachment 846209 Attachment 846210 |
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Looks like Home team rules in game one. But the Vigilantes and Vipers didn't get the memo. :eatpop:
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Sunday, October 8, 2073 WHITE RIVER, SOUTH FORK COULD SWEEP IN TYCOBBIAN FIRST-ROUND PLAY Two clubs put themselves in position to sweep their first-round series... in the Tycobbian Union Pro Cup favorite White River and South Fork have now won the first two games of the their series and could wrap them up in game three of the best-of-five sets... the Rascals smacked the Kenwood Wildcats 11-6 yesterday afternoon and the Stallions put it to the defending Pro Cup champion Turon 7-5... in the Ruthlandian Union First Round all four clubs have split the series thus far... Eastshore evened up with Valka 7-2 and Valmara blanked Volusia 3-0 to tie that one up, too... the third, fourth and fifth games are slated for Kenwood, Turon, Valka and Volusia. 2073 Islandian Pro Alliance Stars of the Games Attachment 846609 Attachment 846610 Attachment 846611 Attachment 846612 |
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Attachment 847434
Monday, October 9, 2073 PRO-CUP FAVORITE WHITE RIVER SWEEPS KENWOOD... VIPERS, BLACKHAWKS, STALLIONS UP IN OTHER 3 SERIES The Pro Cup-favored White River Rascals are on their way to the Tycobbian Union Title Series after putting away the Kenwood Wildcats in quick fashion, eliminating them in 3 games in the first round... the Rascals' fine pitching was just too much for the Wildcats... White River nipped Kenwood in the third game 2-1. The other three IPA playoff series are still competitive... in the Tycobbian Union last year's Pro Cup champion, the Turon Typhoons, staved off elimination with a 6-5 victory over South Fork and narrowed their lead to 2 games to one in the best-of-five series... in the Ruthlandian Union First Round, there were two extra-inning extravaganzas... both going 15 innings... Valmara nicked the Volusia Vigilantes 5-4 and Valka squeezed out a 5-4 verdict over the Eastshore Cotton Kings... the Vipers and Blackhawks are up 2-1 in those series. 2073 Islandian Pro Alliance First Round Stars of the Games Attachment 847435 Attachment 847436 Attachment 847437 Attachment 847438 |
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Special thanks to txranger and No Pepper for the great new team logos.
txranger created the Eastshore Cotton Kings and the Turon Typhoons, while No Pepper did the update on the Valmara Vipers. |
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And how about that pair of 15 inning classics. :eatpop: |
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How about Kajorsky pitching a 15-inning complete game for the Eastshore Cotton Kings? 171 pitches. All 4 game threes were decided by one run. |
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Tuesday, October 10, 2073 VALMARA AND VALKA ADVANCE TO RU TITLE SERIES... DEFENDING IPA CHAMP TURON FORCES 5TH GAME WITH SOUTH FORK IN TYCOBBIAN UNION Both Valmara and Valka won their first-round matches in 4 games in the Ruthlandian Union and last year's Pro Cup champion Turon remained alive in the playoffs... the Vipers ripped the Volusia Vigilantes 10-5 in game 4 action... the Blackhawks toyed with the Eastshore Cotton Kings, whipping them handily by a 9-4 score.... Valmara and Valka will meet for the Ruthlandian title... Turon evened up the TU First Round Series with South Fork at 2 games apiece... the Typhoons forced a 5th-and-deciding game with a 2-1 victory in game 4... this year's Pro Cup pick, the White River Rascals, have already qualified for the TU Title Round by sweeping past the Kenwood Wildcats in three straight games. 2073 Islandian Pro Alliance Playoff Stars of the Game Attachment 847616 Attachment 847617 Attachment 847618 Attachment 847619 |
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Attachment 847809
Wednesday, October 11, 2073 SF STALLIONS STOP TURON'S REPEAT HOPES IN IPA PLAYOFFS All good things have to come to an end... South Fork spoiled the Pro Cup aspirations of the defending IPA champion Turon Typhoons with a 2-0 victory in the 5th game of the Tycobbian Union First Round Series... the Typhoons' hopes for a repeat Pro Cup trophy came to an end, while the Stallions are looking forward to gaining its 3rd Pro Cup in its history. 2073 Islandian Pro Alliance Postseason Stars of the Game Attachment 847810 Attachment 847811 Attachment 847812 Attachment 847813 |
With my IPA and yours, plus your South Island Leagues, I don't even care that much about MLB's lockout and when it comes to an end. I like OOTP just as much as MLB, if not more.
Wow, South Fork beat Turon. |
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Always appreciate what you have to say. I had mixed feelings about Turon losing... I was pulling for the Typhoons to repeat this year as Pro Cup champion. I guess I will be pulling for South Fork now... hope Mark Meisner, one of my favorite IPA players, will continue to do well at age 37... he lost a heartbreaker to Turon 2-0 in game 4 of the series... both runs scored on 2-out infield errors. |
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Wednesday, October 11, 2073 IPA UNION TITLE ROUNDS: VALKA-VALMARA IN RUTHLANDIAN, SOUTH FORK-WHITE RIVER IN TYCOBBIAN Four fine ballclubs are still going strong in the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs... It will be the Valka Blackhawks and the Valmara Vipers vying for the Ruthlandian Union Title Series and the South Fork Stallions and the White River Rascals taking on one another in the Tycobbian Union Title Series... all postseason matchups are best-of-five... the second round of playoff action get started this Friday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara and at White River Stadium in White River... Valka and White River have never won a Pro Cup... Valmara will be going for their 5th Pro Cup Trophy and South Fork will be seeking its third in the team's history. This year's Pro Cup pick, the White River Rascals, impressed with a 3-game sweep of the Kenwood Wildcats, the 5th-ranked team in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Pro Cup Poll... the Rascals do everything well: offense, pitching and defense... they lost two fine regulars for the playoffs... All-Star third baseman Lynn Elkins (.334 BA/24 HR/104 RBI), injured in late September, and solid center fielder Mack Hamlen (.284 BA/8 HR/49 RBI), injured in July... however, it was the South Fork Stallions that played better than anybody in the first round... the 6th-ranked Ponies dethroned last year's Pro Cup winner, the Turon Typhoons, taking 3 of 5 in the hotly-contested series... Turon was a most-worthy foe and rated the second-best team in the postseason... the Tycobbian Title Series will really be something - a match made in Heaven - on paper, you have to go with White River... one thing for sure, the Rascals will have their hands full with the Stallions... South Fork will not quietly trot off into the sunset. The Ruthlandian Union also has two solid, evenly-matched ballclubs... the 8th-rated high-flying Valka Blackhawks upended the #3 pick, the potent Eastshore Cotton Kings to reach the RU Title Series... the Blackhawks whipped the Kings 3 games to one, displaying a high-octane arsenal... the 4th-rated Valmara Vipers whipped the #7 choice Volusia 3 games to one, too... some good Valmara pitching paved the way to victory... this one is too close to call... the difference may be in the Vipers' home-run power... Valka suffered a big loss in the first round... pitching ace Priit Laur (13-9/3.39 ERA) hurt his knee in his 7-2 victory in game two over Eastshore... in May the Blackhawks lost their #1 starter Carlos Santa Ana (3-2/2.17 ERA)... both of those hurlers will be sorely missed. Attachment 848342 Attachment 848343 |
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Saturday, October 14, 2073 SOUTH FORD AND VALKA WIN IPA TITLE SERIES OPENERS OVER WHITE RIVER AND VALMARA The Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs are now down to 4 elite teams... in a superbly-pitched ballgame the South Fork Stallions outlasted the White River Rascals 4-1 in 11 innings in the first game of the Tycobbian Union Title Series... in the Ruthlandian Union Title tussle the Valka Blackhawks bested the Valmara Vipers 8-2. There were two injuries reported yesterday in the games... Valka lost one of its top batsmen for the rest of the playoffs... left fielder Olev Kotli suffered a thumb injury in a collision at first base... Kotli hit .301 fhis season with 19 HR, 111 runs scored, 83 RBI and had 41 stolen bases... he is also a standout defender... Kotli is batting .308 in the playoffs this year with 6 RBIs. Valmara starting pitcher Cale Abercrombie suffered an arm injury... it is not yet known how bad it was... he is still undergoing tests... Abercrombie was 13-7 this year with a 3.76 ERA... he was the losing pitcher in the series opener... Abercrombie is 1-1 in 2 postseason starts with a 3.38 ERA. 2073 IPA Playoff Stars of the Day Attachment 848547 Attachment 848548 Attachment 848549 |
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