THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

SPORTS REIGN IN RU NORTH, 4TH FLAG IN 5 YEARS
In the Ruthlandian North it was a battle to the finish line with the LaGrange Sports nipping the Kilkenny Cats by two games... this was the Sports' fourth flag in the last five seasons... playing in one of the weaker divisions in the IPA only LaGrange and Kilkenny had winning records... Glasco was third 8 games back... the preseason favorite Far Mountain faltered badly and came in fourth, trailing by 9 games... the Sports will be the underdog in the Elite 8 opening round against the St. John Crusaders.

1st - LaGrange: four division titles in five seasons... won pennant last year by 7 games... this year by 2... good pitching with a 3.31 team ERA (4th), mediocre hitting with a .255 BA (26th), good power with 161 HRs (12th), pretty good defense (.974 FA)... played in postseason 4 times before... never won Pro Cup... appeared often in recent years (2032, 2033 and 2035).
Top Performers: Walt Thurber (20-13/2.62), All-Star Chazz Bassett (20-16/3.09), Nicky Palermo (20-14/3.47), Earl Perkins (2-1/1.10/7 saves), RF Charles Basque (.308/24/85/92), All-Star 3B Claude DesJardins (.287/26/80/69), CF Russell Watkins (.259/20/87/65), SS Fred Bird (.242/4/52/100)... won't be seeded very high in Pro Cup playoffs.

2nd - Kilkenny: lost pennant by 2 this year... closest they have ever come to winning the pennant... Cats were third 8 GB in 2035... never made the playoffs... not much at the plate (24th), pretty fair pitching (7th), strong defense (.978 FA)
Top Performers: All-Star Dave Whitaker (23-11/2.01), Ted Flanagan (17-11/4.05), 3B Leevi Viru (.276/24/75/93), LF Kevin McLaglen (.323/15/75/63)

3rd- Glasco: 8 games behind LaGrange... up from sixth last season 24 GB... average on the mound (3.91 ERA/16th), lousy at the plate (.246 BA/32nd), fair on defense (.970 FA)... finished two games under .500... made the playoffs in two of first three seasons... none since 2003
Top Performers: Jimmy Willard (17-14/3.42), Matt Morgan (13-10/3.75), All-Star CF Travis Houston (.265/20/86/80), 1B Johnny Hensley (.271/16/65/94)

4th - Far Mountain: 9 GB... preseason pick, but pitching let them down... finished second last year, 7 games out... last postseason 2025... three Pro Cups 2011, 2012, 2013... better than average batting (.267 BA/14th) and pitching (3.66 ERA/10th), very good defensively (.976 FA)... 4 games under .500
Top Performers: Chad Cummings (17-15/2.25), Jeff Cooper (13-9/4.07), All-Star C Ron Marlowe (.260/28/96/62), LF Harman Silver (.327/17/78/72), CF Wes Wernstedt (.287/4/52/81)

5th - Ancona: 11 GB... rose up from cellar last year 38 GB... 2022 was last playoff appearance... never won Pro Cup in five playoffs appearances... lacks scoring (29th)... poor pitching (4.22 ERA/21st)... average in the field (.973 FA)
Top Performers: Steven Russell (17-16/3.29), Buddy Palmer (6-4/1.34/13 saves), SS Tommy Richardson (.349/16/86/76), 3B Alex Zitek (.256/27/82/58), CF Carl Trent (.303/18/66/83), 1B Jesse Clayton (.281/10/75/83)

6th - Taranto: 15 GB... fourth in 2035, 16 games back... in playoffs 4 times total, last in 2019... won one Pro Cup in 2015... hits poorly (.249 BA/30th) but has power with 182 HRs (4th)... average on the hill (3.89 ERA/15th)... average defense (.971 FA)
Top Performers: Rio Lobo (13-16/3.64), Rex Perrilloux (14-16/3.72), Don Jahnke (3-1/1.68/5 saves), All-Star C Angelo Rossi (.307/46/120/97), LF Wes Marlowe (.236/40/85/69)

7th - Ranford: 17 games behind... also seventh last year 26 games off the pace... 2034 was last postseason appearance... have made the postseason five times with no Pro Cups... poor offense with .258 BA (19th)... poor pitching corps with 4.33 ERA (25th)... solid defense with .976 FA
Top Performers: rookie Ronnie Schroeder (20-13/3.89), Rube Satcher (17-16/3.75), 3B Alex Vanno (.265/23/81/81), 1B Joey Gompers (.252/30/80/62), rookie RF Dale Weston (.302/24/59/53)

8th - Valmara: 25 games back... 23 games out last year in fifth place... 13 times in the playoffs... most recently in 2031... won only Pro Cup in 2026... near the bottom in almost everything... .253 BA (29th), 4.37 ERA (27th) and .971 in fielding average
Top Performers: Freddy Pfeffer (15-18/3.65) obtained in a trade with Elnora... 3B Andy Ruffino (.302/11/62/70), RF Benny Hooper (.268/17/82/70)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

ST. JOHN BREEZES TO RU SOUTH FLAG
The Ruthlandian South pennant chase was supposed to belong to defending champ Waleska again this season, although Belair Beach and Grand City were expected to be strong contenders... instead the division crown went to unheralded St. John, who was forecast to wind up in seventh place... this despite the fact that they have been near the top of the division the last five years, finishing no worse than third... however, the Crusaders rode strong hitting and good pitching to win in a breeze by 11 games over Waleska, 12 better than San Dimas and 13 in front of Belair Beach... St. John dominated the last two months with a marvelous 34-14 record to pull away from the pack... Crystal Lake came in fifth and 14 games back... in sixth was Claxton, 24 games off the pace... Grand City tumbled down to seventh, finishing 27 out... and Valka had the cellar to themselves, trailing by 29 games... five of the teams in the RU South wound up with winning records.

1st - St. John: won second title in six years... also won in 2033... the Crusaders have been in the postseason five times, but don't have a Pro Cup so far... last year they came in a distant second to Waleska... St. John is a powerful club with a high-powered offense, fine pitching and a pretty fair defense (.974 FA)... the Crusaders have a .276 BA (4th), rank second in scoring with 789 runs and posted a good 3.48 team ERA (5th)... St. John is a well-balanced team and should be a strong contender for the Pro Cup this year.
Top Performers: All-Star Lou Gianakos (21-13/3.07), Jeremy Kirk (19-15/3.64), Lou Page (16-6/3.39), All-Star Nicky Farrugia (.323/34/121/113), rookie sensation CF Art Kelley (.309/33/92/89), All-Star SS Byron Johannsen (.325/8/68/81), 3B Marty Blankenship (.252/22/90/71)

2nd - Waleska: 11 games behind St. John... offense let the Westerners down this year... have appeared in the playoffs 5 times, winning the pennant last year and their only Pro Cup in 2028... still has standout pitching with a 3.30 ERA (3rd)... offensive numbers are down with a .268 BA (12th)... better-than-average .974 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Terry Richards (21-11/2.47), Craig Nash (17-14/2.85), Tony Haskell (18-16/3.37), rookie C Rodney Hanson (.31/23/85/73), 2B Joey Harris (.277/13/63/101), LF Loco Dillinger (.277/19/75/65)

3rd - San Dimas: 12 games back in third place... moved up from 23 games behind and fourth last season... the Rancheros have never won the Pro Cup and have only made the postseason 3 times... last pennant was in 2031... hit .270 (9th) with 179 HRs (5th)... scored well with 784 runs (4th)... pitching is lackluster with a 3.96 ERA... and weak on defense (.969 FA)
Top Performers: Carroll Cain (24-9/3.06), Zack Dowdle (19-16/3.94), Toby White (17-16/3.45), RF Denny Hendrix (.313/24/80/81), CF Joe McGarrett (.272/34/97/91), 3B Leonard Purkey (.318/21/83/93), rookie C Hermie Goetz (.288/9/57/82)

4th - Belair Beach: 13 games behind... one of the top preseason picks, but the Sunbirds never challenged... however they did finish well in September with a 15-5 mark... ranked sixth in 2035, 29 games back... the Sunbirds have made the playoffs seven times, but have never been IPA champion... it's been over 20 years since they made the postseason (2016)... average hitting (.258 BA-18th), good power with 166 homers (8th), but the Sunbirds have trouble scoring (25th) with only 693 runs... mound corps is average with a 3.82 team ERA (14th)... good defensive club with a .974 FA
Top Performers: Stefan Zeeman (19-15/4.29), Kerstan Mak (15-15/3.93), Wally Hudson (12-10/3.95), All-Star LF Bobby Meusel (.306/21/91/93), 1B Jason Butler (.279/35/99/79), SS Tony Ptacek (.289/12/49/72)

5th - Crystal Lake: 14 GB... improved from 8th last year (33 GB)... the Crushers have 2 Pro Cups to their credit, 2020 and 2022... and have captured 7 pennants... they have a potent offense with a .279 BA (3rd) and average power (154 HR-13th tied)... the Crushers can score (768 runs-5th tied)... but are miserable on the mound with a 4.22 ERA (22nd)... defensively they are impressive with a .975 FA
Top Performers: Arnie Cason (20-12/3.71), Darragh Whelan (13-7/3.93), All-Star 3B Marty O'Reilly (.300/24/95/100), who was signed as a free agent from Hillsboro of the Tycobbian Union, RF Pat Dillon (.315/12/59/91), 1B Big Sam Takota (.300/26/103/89), C Stan Stanek (.298/20/81/92), LF Zach Collins (.314/15/85/66)

6th - Claxton: 27 GB... a drop from third last season (16 GB)... the Diamonds have been a playoff team 9 times... have won six pennants, but have no Pro Cups... last finished first in 2032... offense is good with 745 runs (10th) and 163 HRs (10th tied)... but pitching floundered badly this year with a whopping 4.55 team ERA (28th)... average in the field with a .973 FA
Top Performers: Dave Wojcik (13-7/3.76), All-Star 2B Gary Colton (.309/23/100/82), 1B Jojo DeLucca (.294/25/113/90), SS Stevie Wynn (.314/15/68/121), RF Foxy Fuchs (.272/23/88/97)

7th - Grand City: 27 GB... fifth last season 23 GB... was rated a pennant contender in the preseason... only 3 postseason appearances in the team's history... last division title was in 2030... never won a Pro Cup... just a mediocre club tied for 21st in scoring and ranking 20th in pitching with a poor 4.09 ERA... good power with 163 homers (9th tied)... just average with the gloves (.972 FA)
Top Performers: Shane Tollivar (15-11/2.78), SS Teddy Grantham (.304/22/87/83), LF Junior Baldini (.301/20/64/83), All-Star 1B Reed Gremillion (.313/23/77/70), C Iggy Van Dyck (.251/18/87/55)

8th - Valka: 29 GB... seventh in 2035... 32 games off the pace... the Blackhawks have been in the playoffs only 5 times with 3 pennants in all... no Pro Cups... 2017 was the last year they went to the postseason... average offense with .257 BA (21st), 715 runs (16th), 154 HRs (13th tied)... dismal pitching with a lofty 4.36 ERA (26th)... fairly good in the field with a .974 FA
Top Performers: Heino Nomm (18-11/3.81), All-Star 1B Bobby Scott (.309/29/85/105), RF Kenny Mitzusaka (.323/22/105/83), LF Gilberto Duarte (.256/26/82/83)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

CC 'CATS COP RU EAST CROWN, NIP SV RATTLERS IN PLAYOFF
It took a sizzling hot July and a single-game playoff before Cold Creek could hoist up its first Ruthlandian East flag in 25 years... after deadlocking in the regular season, the Catamounts triumphed over Sugar Valley 5-1 to decide the tight race... Cold Creek claimed the title by one game over the Rattlers... Sugar Valley had lost out the last two seasons by a scant game... Beechwood came in third in the standings three and a half games back... the fourth spot went to the Eastshore Elegants... Marston, which led at mid-season, faded to fifth place in the second half, winding up nine and a half games behind Cold Creek... Elnora and Belle Plaine tied for sixth place trailing by 15 and a half games... last place went to Wynnamac 16 and a half off the pace... the Sundowners were the only losing team in perhaps the strongest division overall in the IPA... the other seven clubs finished .500 or better.

1st - Cold Creek: Went 23-6 in July to move into contention... had to win last six regular-season games to tie the Rattlers... then won the division in a single-game playoff...last year the 'Cats were third, 7 games out... the last time they qualified for the postseason was way back in 2012... overall in its history this will be Cold Creek's fourth appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs... super pitching brought home the pennant... the Catamounts led the RU with a terrific 3.01 ERA (1st)... they were only average at the plate with a .257 BA (20th) and ranked 14th with 724 runs... Cold Creek was last in homers with 100 (32nd)... they were outstanding on defense with a .977 FA... the Catamounts and St. John are favored to meet in the RU Finals... the Crusaders will have the favorite's role because of better hitting... but don't count out Cold Creek... they probably have the best starting rotation in the IPA.
Top Performers: J. J. Gillespie (20-12/1.97), Rob Hutchins (22-11/3.16), Joey Baker (14-8/2.82), George Bailey (14-1/3.35), Lf Shelby Glasscock (.289/11/63/55), CF Guy St. Laurent (.266/17/78/76)

2nd - Sugar Valley: seems to be snake-bitten... lost the pennant by a game the last two years... overall have made the playoffs 10 times, but were never the IPA champ... last appeared in 2029... only hit .255 for average (25th), but topped the league with 199 HRs (1st) and 805 runs (1st)... quality pitching with 3.63 team ERA 98th)... and only average on defense with a .973 FA
Top Performers: Josh Wilkerson (23-7/2.83), Jeremy Blanchard (19-15/3.29), Juan Navarro (16-15/3.38), All-Star CF Bobby Gamble (.324/39/119/127), 2B Roger Hobbs (.313/30/130/87), All-Star LF Tyler White (.242/50/133/106), SS Jesse Burns (.283/1/42/98)

3rd - Beechwood: only 3.5 GB... up from sixth in 2035 (20 GB)... hasn't been in the playoff since 2027... no Pro Cups to its credit, just 3 pennants... only batted .257 (22nd), but hits the long ball (185 HR-3rd)... yet has difficulty scoring (695 runs-24th)... very good on the hill with a 3.27 ERA (2nd)... pathetic defense (.969 FA)
Top Performers: All-Star Ken Arby (20-12/3.22), Maury Patterson (20-12/3.15), Nick Tarkovsky (17-15/3.13), All-Star SS Cody Hanks (.304/24/92/81), RF Eddie Wilson (.288/33/76/100), CF Howie Baldwin (.257/35/108/96), 2B Leonard Mason (.250/18/58/93)

4th - Eastshore: 7.5 GB... were fifth and 17 games out in 2035... last won pennant in 2034... 2 Pro Cups in 2016 and 2017... 7 postseason appearances... average in the batter's box with a .263 BA (16th), but scored well with 761 runs (8th)... had 154 HRs (13th-tied)... average pitching with a 3.72 ERA (13th)... tough defense with .978 FA
Top Performers: Ramon Contreras (21-13/3.11), All-Star Don Klingenberg (17-13/3.18), CF Scotty Lagrange (.299/32/97/93), SS Johnny Petrak (.306/17/77/97), RF Neil Richard (.314/13/72/89), LF Kelly Chamberlain (.267/17/48/85)

5th - Marston: 9.5 GB... came in seventh last year trailing by 27 games... never won Pro Cup... has made postseason 7 times... most recently in 2028... better-than-average batting (.266 BA/15th) and scoring (735 runs -11th) with good power (170 HR-7th)... better-than-average pitching with 3.63 ERA (9th)... just average in the field with a .973 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Eldon Franklin (15-12/3.32), All-Star Jimbo McGinnity (7-7/1.02/22 saves), Jack Tunstall (14-4/3.12), 1B Lonnie Trekell (.261/37/91/79), CF Marco Ameche (.293/20/78/78), rookie SS Stan Mila (.296/13/56/58)

6th tied - Elnora: 15.5 GB... won RU East flag last season by a game over Sugar Valley... lost to Tuckanarra in Pro Cup Finals... have made the playoffs on 9 occasions... won 2033 Pro Cup... bats very well with a .279 BA (2nd), but scored only 704 runs (18th) with just 111 HRs (30th)... pitching is solid with a 3.55 team ERA (6th)... impressive .976 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Stan Kivas (20-10/3.11), Jeremy Sellers (16-15/3.24), Dan Pitts (16-15/3.27), All-Star 2B Akihiro Samurakami (.336/12/70/63), RF Clint Thomas (.280/20/67/101), SS Pat Kaluza (.263/15/80/73)... C Jan Kobak (.308/6/47/67), CF Clive Kenyon (.309/9/54/62), 3B Danny Bierhoff (.306/15/64/53), LF Pasha Yablonski (.297/2.41/58)

6th tied - Belle Plaine: 15.5 GB... finished last in 2035 (33 GB) and 2034 (22 GB)... only one playoff appearance in 2009... no Pro Cups... strong offense with 789 runs (1st), .280 BA (1st), 173 HRs (6th)... horrific on the hill with a 4.59 ERA (30th)... just fair in the field with a .970 FA
Top Performers: All-Star RF Boo Boudreaux (.330/34/93/103), 1B Mitch Mason (.314/29/85/82), 3B Kit Ritter (.318/14/84/75), LF Noel Martin (.265/17/78/90), CF Lonny Wright (.308/16/60/78)

8th - Wynnamac: 16.5 GB... Sundowners were fourth the previous three years, 11 to 17 games behind... won the 2008 Pro Cup... took 5 pennants in all... not a lot of offense, ranks 17th with a .262 BA, but 26th in scoring (691 runs - 26th) and 113 HR (29th)... mediocre on the mound with a 4.06 ERA ((18th)... defensively fairly strong with a .975 FA
Top Performers: Ernie Hodges (13-5/3.35/8 saves), RF Davy L'Amour (.325/23/90/89), LF Darrell Donnelly (.294/12/73/99), 2B Ed Lane (.280/14/72/92)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

COLFAX STAVES OFF FORT BENTON CHALLENGE IN RU WEST
Winning on paper is always easier than on the diamond... just ask the newly-crowned champion of the Ruthlandian West, the Colfax Blasters... they were rated to win easily in The Islandian Times' preseason poll, but when it finally played out, the Blasters just barely beat the fast-closing Fort Benton Defenders by two games... the Defenders dug themselves into a hole in the first half of the season, but turned it on in the second half and almost caught Colfax...the Blasters played well throughout the year and managed to stave off the determined push by Fort Benton... in third place 8 games behind were the Sligo Rovers... fourth place went to the Forest City Lumberjacks, who finished 10 games out.

Stoner was fifth and 14 games off the pace... sixth in the standings were the Rocky Rapids Snappers, who trailed by 16... in the seventh spot were the Middlefield Roosters, 21 games back... and pulling up the rear in the basement were the defending champion Volusia Vigilantes, 23 games behind winning Colfax... only three clubs in the RU West had winning records.

1st - Colfax: moved up from a very close second in 2035 just 2 games behind winning Volusia... were in seventh place in 2034, trailing by 19 games... last won pennants in 2030 and 2032... has made the playoffs 10 times in the team's history with one Pro Cup in 2010 when the Blasters won 107 games, the most wins in IPA history... Colfax is a better-than-average club, but not likely to get far in Pro Cup circles... the Blasters hit very well for average (.279 BA-2nd), but don't score well (704 runs-18th) and don't have much firepower (111 HRs/30th)... mound staff is good with a 3.55 team ERA (6th)... very impressive defense with a .978 FA
Top Performers: Randell Perkins (22-13/3.34), Ray Maxon (13-11/3.45), Jack Scanlon (8-6/2.62/13 saves), All-Star LF Chet Penn (.327/28/101/99), All-Star C Mitch Fullerton (.309/25/87/82), SS Gerry Sives (.277/9/54/94), 1B Kristian McEly (.283/16/78/68), RF Dom DeJohnette (.282/15/60/66)

2nd - Fort Benton: 2 GB... Defenders have been contenders in 8 of the last 10 years... were third last year, only 3 games back... team has never made the playoffs... they can match Colfax on the hill and at the plate, but fall down on defense with a poor .969 FA... the Defenders hit well with a .267 BA (13th), scored pretty well with 765 runs (7th), but hit only 124 HRs (24th-tied)... and the team ERA was a pretty fair 3.69 (12th).
Top Performers: Augie Marquis (19-14/3.41), Edd Farmer (8-4/2.95/14 saves), Jordy Raeburn (14-10/3.54), Tommy Baylor (16-13/3.51)... Brady Bell (5-3/2.02/3 saves), 3B Mitch Hamilton (.324/6/74/109), SS D. D. Badeaux (.292/12/88/54), Rod Myerson (.318/14/78/59), RF Luther Naismith (.292/12/63/85), CF Chuck Sears (.281/14/71/52), 2B Alec Leclerc (.256/2/45/99)

3rd - Sligo: 8 GB... came in fourth 4 GB last year and last 21 GB in 2034... has won 7 pennants overall, 4 in the last decade... last playoff appearance in 2033... gained its only Pro Cup in 2021... good offensive team with a .272 team BA (7th), 768 runs (5th-tied) and 152 HRs (18th)... bad pitching with a 4.25 team ERA (23rd)... only average with the gloves (.973 FA)
Top Performers: Tom Pierson (17-14/3.97), Scotty Price (10-6/2.75/15 saves), 2B Lou Wilhoit (.331/24/94/67), 1B Denny Simmons (.315/11/73/85), LF George Stanley (.304/27/75/78), SS Dan Vance (.302/2/50/70), RF Pat Foreman (.255/14/56/90)

4th - Forest City: 10 games behind... fifth last year 7 GB... second-division team the last decade... last participated in playoffs in 2013... no Pro Cups in history... good bats with a .275 BA (5th), 728 runs (12th) and 136 HRs (21st-tied)... odorous on the hill with a 4.26 ERA (24th)... average defense with a .973 FA
Top Performers: Walter Gibbons (21-13/4.18), Rich Barstow (16-17/3.27), 3B Kelly Hardison (.310/22/90/94), LF Ronnie Pollet (.308/21/94/75), 1B Pistol Pete Picard (.306/22/90/79), C Bob Brisdon (.306/16/65/59), 2B Hal Burton (.286/5/42/102)

5th - Stoner: 14 GB... climbed up from cellar in 2035 (26 GB)... only three postseason appearances... last time in 2029... average offense with 701 runs (20th)and .272 team BA (8th)... not a lot of power with 124 roundtrippers (26th-tied)... poor in the field with a .969 FA
Top Performers: Jorge Metaxis (17-13/4.24), C Barney Swindell (.305/23/102/70), CF Don Cain (.280/9/56/91), SS Phil Chase (.262/11/73/77)

6th - Rocky Rapids: 16 games behind Colfax... was sixth for the third year in a row... won one Pro Cup in 2019... played in postseason only four times... last time in 2020... features poor hitting (.255 BA-28th) with only 645 runs (30th) and 136 HRs (21st-tied)... mediocre on the mound with a 4.09 team ERA (19th)... not much on defense with a .970 FA
Top Performers: Randy McKenzie (19-16/4.02), Johnny Griffin (15-14/4.08), John Young (7-4/1.79/22 saves), 3B Duncan Musselwhite (.320/2/44/60), free agent from Elnora LF Travis Glass (.288/22/59/47)

7th - Middlefield: 21 GB... also finished seventh in 2025 (24 GB)... won its only Pro Cup in 2005... made postseason 9 times... not a very good team... hits a lot of homers because Middlefield Park has such short fences... second in RU with 194 HRs, but opposing teams hits 233 (32nd) against them... scores pretty well with 747 runs (9th), but ranks 32nd (848 runs) in runs allowed... team BA is only .248 (31st)... team ERA is 4.68 (31st)... average defensively with a .972 mark.
Top Performers: Ray Owens (9-9/2.55/24 saves), Victor Suarez (13-17/3.98), LF Alejandro Dominguez (.279/31/98/97), C Brad Alexander (.236/31/95/79), RF Norman Antonioni (.264/28/66/61), CF Tony Parsons (.263/20/75/94), 3B Colt Chadwick (.271/13/73/87)

8th - Volusia: 23 games back... won RU West last two seasons in 2034 and 2035... played in Pro Cup playoffs 8 times, winning it in IPA inaugural season in 2001... Vigilantes had a terrible year both at the plate and on the hill... pathetic pitching with a 4.72 ERA (32nd)... scored only 633 runs (31st), batted only .255 (27th) with 107 homers (31st)... sub-par defense with a .970 FA
Top Performers: Sammy Barton (19-16/3.61), 2B Vidal Rega (.288/3/47/70)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

NH HAWKS WIN 3RD STRAIGHT TU NORTH FLAG
Winning the Tycobbian North came tough in 2034 and 2035 for the North Hills Hawks... they took the titles by two games and one game... but this year the Hawks soared out to a 6-game lead at the All-Star Game and never were challenged... they won in a romp by 10 games over runner-up Blue Lake... North Hills was ranked first in The Islandian Times preseason poll with a tight race with Luxora chosen second and Blue Lake predicted third... third place went to the Fairfax Frogs, who were 16 games off the pace... only the three top clubs finished with winning records... in fourth place were the Oxford Red Caps, trailing by 22 games. White River and Hartsdale deadlocked for fifth place 25 games back... seventh went Luxora, 30 games out in the race... and last place went to the Mahaska Haymakers, 36 games behind.

1st - North Hills: also won pennants in 2034 and 2035... and for the first time in the team's history took the IPA Pro Cup in 2034... the Hawks are a better team this year and should be a threat to win the coveted Pro Cup... they have outstanding pitching with a 3.11 team ERA (1st) and strong defense with a .979 FA, coupled with adequate offense... the Hawks hit .271 (6th), scored 706 runs (14th), but lack power... they hit only 120 HRs (28th-tied)... this will be North Hills' fifth appearance in the postseason.
Top Performers: Frankie Lambert (18-8/2.85), All-Star Jeff Owens (23-12/2.99), Nelson Hooper (21-7/3.06), David Michael (20-18/3.42), All-Star LF Adam Thurgood (.341/32/127/75), RF Gerry Rice (.336/3/44/61), 3B Tommy Vavas (.297/9/43/88)

2nd - Blue Lake: rose up from cellar last year (19.5 GB)... the Blue Sox had been no better than seventh or eighth since 2032... they have made the playoffs only 3 times previously with one Pro Cup taken in 2030... Blue Lake has solid offense, pitching and fielding... they batted .270 (8th), tied for sixth in scoring (756 runs), posted a 3.62 ERA (7th) and fielded at the rate of .976... but the Blue Sox do have weaknesses at the plate (95 HR-32nd) and in the bullpen (4.58 ERA-31st)
Top Performers: All-Star Frankie Quinn (21-12/2.84), Sal Mays (20-11/3.62), Andre Montrose (19-14/3.39), CF Raddy Pajak (.309/12/79/98), LF Jack Ryan (.305/10/88/96), 1B Elton Graff (.310/8/51/64), SS Joe Korman (.286/11/80/105)

3rd - Fairfax: made first division for eighth year in a row... ended up 16 games behind North Hills... last year lost a one-game playoff to North Hills... never won a Pro Cup, but has made the playoffs on eight occasions... last won TU North in 2032 and 2033... good pitching with a 3.56 ERA (5th)... fairly good offense with .274 BA (5th), 707 runs (13th), but only fair firepower with 128 HRs (28th-tied)... top-notch defense with .978 FA
Top Performers: Harold Dorman (18-11/2.58), Lucien Vachon (16-14/3.58), who was gotten from Elnora in an off-season trade, Bruno Stratton (4-6/2.34/22 saves), All-Star SS John Velasco (.301/20/88/81), 1B Leonard Crawford (.331/4/69/83), RF Roger Krieger (.313/19/85/72), LF Sonny Oliver (.308/22/82/64), who was obtained in late July in a trade with Colchester, All-Star C Jaak Pajukivi (.262/13/65/55), who was traded to Elnora at deadline

4th - Oxford: 22 GB... up from seventh last season 16.5 GB... no postseason since 2007, when the Red Caps won their only Pro Cup... they have made the playoffs five times... good HR power with 208 (2nd-tied), pretty good offense with 732 runs (9th), average hitting (.254 BA/19th)... good defense with .976 FA... not much on the mound with a 4.34 team ERA (28th)
Top Performers: Tommy Ellefsen (8-3/2.90), RF Crusher Derringer (.309/18/62.59), LF Dennis Hartwig (.297/16/48/75), 2B Alonzo Norris (.250/26/87/86)... CF Dalton Ward led with 30 homers, but hit only .212 for average... 1B Kerry Sterling had 21 roundtrippers and 73 RBIs, but batted only .245... 3B Boyd Olsen has 20 home runs with a .274 BA

5th tied - White River: 25 GB... also fifth last season 11.5 GB... no Pro Cups... Rascals have picked up 4 pennants... 2027 was the last postseason appearance... mediocre on the mound (4.00 ERA- 20th), terrible bullpen (4.39/29th) and under average at the plate (.248 BA-29th)... just average defensively (.972 FA)... fairly good power with 172 HRs (12th)... poor scoring with 635 runs (31st)
Top Performers: Kenny Nikas (19-17/2.81), CF Buford Cross (.301/20/62/97), C Stevie Dee Daniels (.237/31/100/57), 1B Davey Sloan (.278/25/81/65)

5th tied - Hartsdale: 25 GB... was in sixth place (12.5 GB) in 2035... been in the playoffs 6 times... most recently in 2029... no Pro Cups in its history... basically just a second-division club with .251 BA (25th), 641 runs (29th), 133 HRs (26th), 4.10 ERA (24th) and a little above average in the field with a .974 FA
Top Performers: Larry Urban (17-11/3.88), 1B Hayden Richardson (.293/26/66/84), SS Jesse Jenkins (.290/9/44//78)

7th - Luxora: 30 games behind winning North Hills... down from third just 6.5 games out in 2035... 11 playoff appearances in history, but no Pro Cups to show for them... last postseason was in 2031... impressive pitching with a 3.26 ERA... very poor scoring runs (610 runs-32nd)... fair power with 149 HRs (21st)... slack on defense with .970 FA
Top Performers: Jake Weiland (19-16/2.50), Kent Halloran (13-15/2.54), Benny DeVito (15-21/2.91), All-Star 3B Toddy Dubbins (.311/25/78/56), SS Kelvin Cassidy (.277/19/67/60), LF Larry Collins (.310/14/47/57), 1B Gerry Hathaway (.276/21/62/72)

8th - Mahaska: 36 GB... dropped from fourth place last year (9.5 GB)... in playoffs only 4 times... no Pro Cups... last postseason was in 2028... pretty much second-division team the last eight seasons... bad on the hill with 4.34 ERA (29th)... weak hitting with a .249 BA (27th), but has decent power with 167 HRs (15th) and 711 runs (12th)... absolutely horrendous on defense with a .958 FA, probably the worst fielding team in IPA history
Top Performers: rookie Kirk Stanley (7-6/2.74/14 saves), 2B Mikk Kruk (.298/20/80/104), RF Anton Hymel (.313/28/81/66)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

COLCHESTER PLAYOFF BOUND, FIRST FLAG IN 30 YEARS
A three decades' long drought has just ended for the newly-crowned champ of the Tycobbian South, the Colchester Elites... they rampaged through the division for 96 victories and led the way from start to finish... the Elites were on top by 9 games at mid-season and wound up beating second-place Summerland by 6 games, third-place Turon by 12 and fourth-place Cape Coral by 18.

Defending division winner San Alejo, the top team in the TU South in three of the past four seasons, never really got in the running this year and staggered to a fifth-place finish, 22 games behind... the Montaneros were tied with the Ginza Ninjas... Arroyo Grande came in seventh and trailed by 29 games... in the TU South basement were the Southport Sun Sox, who wound up 31 games off the pace... the preseason poll had Turon favored in a battle with San Alejo and Summerland.

1st - Colchester: improved from third place and 18 GB in 2035... the Elites have been first-division mainstays in 12 of the last 13 seasons... the last pennant came in 2007... Colchester had only made the playoffs three times prior to this year... they feature rock-solid scoring with 829 runs (3rd) with 197 HRs (6th) and a .261 team BA (9th), along with adequate pitching (3.91 ERA/17th) and average defense with a .972 FA... the Elites don't have the pitching to go deep into the Pro Cup playoffs.
Top Performers: Dan Scott (22-11/4.10), Roy Watson (19-8/4.15), Eduardo Rivera (12-08/3.35), Tony Dazzi (16-8/3.60), Dave Lacoste (15-13/3.79), All-Star RF Blake Barrister (.311/49/129/111), All-Star 1B Billy Christianson (.301/17/93/109), SS Joey Rogers (.273/3/54/99)

2nd - Summerland: 6 GB... struggled in early season with a 25-26 record, but got better... were fourth in 2035 23 games back... won the pennant in 2033... in the postseason only twice in its history with no Pro Cups... the Sunsets have a top-notch mound corps with a 3.39 ERA (4th)... average bats with a .254 BA (18th), 687 runs (19th) and 142 roundtrippers (23rd-tied)... have very good defense with a .976 FA.
Top Performers: Johnny Young (21-12/2.88), Freddi Rossi (19-10/2.79), Yancy Garrett (21-14/3.32), Ronald Shaddock (8-4/1.92/18 saves), 1B Chuck Moyer (.289/31/90/74), 2B Todd Cummins (.275/32/91/63), CF Antonio Vasquez (.299/7/66/97), RF Eamon O'Toole (.287/19/88/85).

3rd - Turon: 12 GB in race... picked to win in The Islandian Times preseason poll, but faltered with a 23-28 mark in the early going, but played very well in the second half, surging to 61-42... Typhoons were runner-up last year, 18 games back of San Alejo... Turon has a storied history with 4 Pro Cups in 13 playoff appearances, but not recently... the last pennant came in 2019 and the last Pro Cup in 2018... mound work is pretty good with a 3.73 ERA (13th)... fair offensively with a .253 BA (22nd), 690 runs (18th) and 159 HRs (16th-tied)... Typhoons play good defense with a .975 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Clyde Engstrom (20-10/2.75), Ralph Fulton (7-4/1.17/12 saves), All-Star SS C. C. Kingsford (.323/29/109/91), RF Guido Gervasio (.275/27/96/77), 1B Steve Burns (.286/10/43/87)

4th - Cape Coral: 18 games behind champ Colchester... a club on the rise... moved up from fifth a year ago... was a cellar-dweller from 2032 to 2034... Hurricanes have made the playoffs 7 times, but have never won a Pro Cup... last postseason was in 2030... 'Canes have a potent offense with a .288 team BA (1st), 809 runs (5th) and 180 HRs (9th)... just average on the hill with a 3.96 ERA (19th)... defense is bad with a .968 FA
Top Performers: Izaak De Bruyn (18-15/3.89), Mario Morales (14-10/4.04), All-Star 1B Stan Ferguson (.321/43/145/105), LF Paul Law (.347/25/101/113), RF William Snyder (.315/24/109/80), 3B Buddy Brando (.293/18/60/80)

5th-tied - San Alejo: 22 GB... 6-17 record in April killed season... was one of the favorites... Montaneros have been in the postseason 5 times with one Pro Cup in 2032... won division flags in 2032, 2034 and 2035... pretty good on the mound with a 3.56 ERA (6th)... not-so-hot at the plate with a .261 BA (11th), only 669 runs (24th) and 142 HRs (23rd-tied)... lacks defense, too... with a poor .969 FA... drop in hitting and pitching were the reasons for the disappointing year.
Top Performers: Johnny Brown (19-14/2.62), Tommy Smith (19-14/3.41), CF Dusty Rogan (.289/25/80/87), C Filipe Zamora (.277/23/81/65)

5th- tied - Ginza: 22 GB... moved up from last place last year... never won a Pro Cup... has 7 postseason appearances... 2031 was most recent pennant... the Ninjas have a fairly good attack with 735 runs (8th), a .256 BA (15th) and 159 HRs (16th-tied)... mound staff is mediocre with a 4.11 ERA (25th)... defense struggles with a .969 FA
Top Performers: Hollis Pace (16-13/3.52), 1B Steve Daniels (.292/19/94/73), CF Sogo Takagi (.306/15/73/91), SS Johnny O'Rorke (.274/21/84/69)

7th - Arroyo Grande: 29 GB... was seventh last year, 32 games out... Suns have never won a Pro Cup... have chalked up 4 pennants... pitching is pretty good with a 3.64 ERA (9th)... but offense is weak with a pathetic .238 BA (32nd) and only 659 runs (27th), but team possesses some power with 173 HRs (11th)... defense is sub-par, too, with a .968 FA
Top Performers: Mateus Castro (17-12/2.91), LF Rene Jesclard (.267/28/86/70)

8th - Southport: 31 GB... fell from sixth and 30 GB in 2035... not much success in its history with only three playoff appearances and no Pro Cups... last postseason play was pennant-winning years of 2027 and 2028... Sun Sox are decent on the mound with a 3.92 ERA (18th)... but a flop in the batter's box with a .249 BA (28th), 671 runs (22nd-tied) and 141 HRs (25th)... Southport is just average on defense with a .972 FA
Top Performers: Ronnie Galus (19-12/2.87), RF Cody Daugherty (.281/21/69/45), rookie SS Craig Glennon (.257/31/89/83)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

TUCKS DOMINATE TU EAST AGAIN
No one has ever dominated a division like the defending Pro Cup champion Tuckanarra Blue Jays... for the third year in a row the Tucks have won over 97 games and made shambles of the pennant race... this year they topped the IPA with 99 wins and again ran away with the Tycobbian East by a margin of 16 games over second-place Ozarka... the Red Bluff Red Sox were 18 games behind in third place... and the preseason favorite East Point flopped in fourth place, 21 games away from the pennant.

At the top of the second division was the Hillsboro Blazers in the fifth spot... the Blazers were 24 games off the pace... Midway finished sixth and trailed by 27 games... in seventh place was the High Mesa Cowboys, 33 games out... in the TU East cellar was South Fork, 35 games back of Tuckanarra.

1st - Tuckanarra: the defending Pro Cup crownbearer is primed for its record 15th appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs and will be seeking its fourth Pro Cup trophy, which would tie them with Turon for the IPA mark... the Blue Jays head into the postseason as the number-one seed with a powerful ball club that ranks near the top in almost all categories... five of their players made the All-Star team... the Blue Jays hit .277 (3rd), scored 874 runs (1st) and hit 191 HRs (7th-tied)... just as solid on the hill with a 3.26 team ERA (3rd)... the Tucks only weakness is defense with a poor .969 FA... Tuckanarra will have to get by improved Chicopee in the first round... the Braves have better pitching this year... last year they took Tuckanarra to seven games before losing... North Hills and Colchester are quite formitable foes, too, should the Blue Jays get to the Tycobbian finals... the Hawks and Elites posted 96 wins and the Braves notched 94... there is no weak sister in the Tycobbian playoffs this year.
Top Performers: All-Star Junior Bristow (25-9/2.96), All-Star Bobby Reid (21-9/2.90), Jeff Buttrum (16-9/3.33), Rudy Rosario (17-10/3.82), Jack Rogers (8-8/2.70/15 saves), All-Star LF Lorne Evans (.312/40/100/134), All-Star 1B Josh George (.322/22/86/89), All-Star C Jon Paul (.286/29/90/76), RF Spade Weldon (.287/16/80/91)

2nd - Ozarka: 16 GB... the Naturals have been stalled behind Tuckanarra with three consecutive second-place finishes... overall the Nats have made the postseason 14 times, but have never claimed a Pro Cup... the last pennant was in 2030... Ozarka has lost a record five times in the Pro Cup Finals... the Nats batted a decent .261 (10th), scored fairly well with 715 runs (10th), but severely lacked the long ball, only going deep 112 times (31st)... better-than-average pitching with a .3.63 ERA (8th)... like Tuckanarra, not much on defense with a poor .969 FA
Top Performers: Glen Jenkins (18-13/2.90), Leon Bernard (18-11/3.31), CF Lonnie Gillespie (.291/14/85/89), LF Reggie Davidson (.269/19/81/77), All-Star C Jaak Pajukivi (.262/13/65/55), who was obtained in a trade at the July deadline, 3B Duffy Morrison (.287/13/72/60), RF Bob Banachak (.282/13/58/64)

3rd - Red Bluff: 18 GB... Red Sox jumped from seventh to third with their first winning season in the last five and only the second in 12 years... they haven't been in the postseason since 2009... Red Bluff has only been in the playoffs on four occasions, however they do have a Pro Cup, won in 2004... the club was much improved this season with great firepower... they led the IPA with 235 HRs (1st) and had fairly good pitching with a 3.66 ERA (10th)... batted only .253 (23rd), but tied for 10th in scoring with 715 runs... six players had 20 or more homers... defense was the Red Sox's shortcoming with a poor .968 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Banzuki Hasegawa (19-16/2.60), All-Star Dennis Austin (10-7/2.27/15 saves), Tony Defazio (15-12/3.73), Ayden Carmack (16-15/3.94), RF David Kelso (.300/39/102/87), CF Ike Sweetwater (.298/33/82/104), LF Jesse Shaw (.292/24/57/83), 3B Fran Blanchard (.282/24/70/60), 2B Gene Bates (.262/21/63/44)

4th - East Point: 21 GB... came in fifth last year (18 GB)... was preseason choice to win the division... Panther pitching let them down... they have made the playoffs four times, but have yet to snare a Pro Cup... won pennants in 2031 and 2033... excellent power with 208 homers (2nd-tied)... but don't hit much with a .245 BA (30th)... average scoring with 702 runs (16th)... average pitching with a 3.83 ERA (16th)... above average defense with a .974 FA
Top Performers: Johnny Moore (15-11/3.50), Dixie Brooks (15-18/3/41), Jack Bolden (5-6/2.74/10 saves), All-Star SS Dean O'Donnell (.272/35/85/84), 1B Karl Jankauskas (.237/33/83/84), who was traded from Valka (RU) in April, 2B Tetsu Tanaka (.242/22/72/81), RF Ricky Arnold (.309/7/47/74)

5th - Hillsboro: 24 GB... moved up a little from eighth place (31 GB) in 2035... Blazers have never made the playoffs or won a Pro Cup... only finished over .500 10 times in team history... only average at the plate with a .255 BA (17th), but does score well with 756 runs (6th-tied) and hits with power (171 HR/13th)... lousy pitching with a sky-high 4.53 team ERA (31st)... Hillsboro has a terrible bullpen with an astromomical 6.01 ERA (32nd)... horrible on defense, too, with a .966 FA

6th - Midway: 27 GB... fell to second division this season after finishing in the first division for four straight seasons... Wolves have made the playoffs just 3 times... 2027 was the last time... no Pro Cups in the team's history... pitching is lackluster with a 4.03 ERA (21st)... near the bottom offensively with .252 BA (24th), 649 runs (28th) and only 116 roundtrippers (30th)... quite good with the gloves however (.976 FA)
Top Performers: future HOF Bobby Dorignac (19-13/3.32), who chalked up his 300th win this season age 36, 2B Albert Wherry (.268/25/81/73), LF Yancey Tanner (.318/5/67/81)

7th - High Mesa: 33 GB... came in near the bottom for the tenth year in a row... made the playoffs only twice in the club's first two seasons and never again... won its only Pro Cup in 2002... hits homers and scores runs only because of its small ballpark... 678 runs (21st) with 191 HRs (7th-tied), bats only .242 (31st)... very little pitching with a 4.25 ERA (27th)... one of the worst defensive teams in the IPA with a horrendous .964 FA
Top Performers: Dean Harris (16-17/2.47), LF Corbett Brooks (.236/39/89/90),who was a 34-year-old free agent from La Claire, RF Clay Johnston (.247/34/74/81), CF Brad Holland (.288/12/54/98), rookie C Zee DiCaprio (.291/18/68/75), 1B Michael Page (.253/23/69/52)

8th - South Fork: 35 GB... tumbled from third (17 GB) last year... appeared in postseason just three times and won the Pro Cup in 2025... haven't made it since... terrible pitching with 4.71 ERA (32nd)... average bats with .255 BA (16th)... pretty good power with 168 HRs (14th)... mediocre scoring with 663 runs (26th)... strong defenders with a .976 FA
Top Performers: Chris Sorensen (18-19/3.50), 3B Elton Jacoby (.319/27/76/100), LF Joel Fowler (.268/27/93/79), SS Jess Wilkerson (.305/19/74/82), CF Scotty O'Sullivan (.247/20/75/81)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

BRAVES HOLD OFF DC REDBIRDS IN TU WEST
For the first time in three seasons the Chicopee Braves had a tussle on their hands... in 2034 and 2035 they swamped everybody in the Tycobbian West by double digits... however this year the Denton City Redbirds stayed right with them most of the season before losing out by just three games... Chicopee opened up a good lead in July with a sizzling 21-8 record and fought off a determined rally by Denton City in September... it was the third successive TU West title for the hard-hitting Braves... third place went to the La Claire Lynx, who were 14 games out in the race... the Rolling Hills Reds came in fourth, 17 games back.

The rest of the clubs were under the .500 mark with Kenwood 20 games behind in fifth place... sixth-place Arlon was 25 games off the pace... seventh-place Bay St. Clair finished 29 games out of first... and Bayview was eighth and 30 games behind champ Chicopee.

1st - Chicopee: they won the division for the third straight season... the Braves have registered 90 or more wins the last three years... it took them 33 years to make the playoffs... no Pro Cup so far, but they have a good shot at it this year... Chicopee's lineup is chocked full of fine hitters... the Braves batted .278 (2nd), scored 863 runs (2nd) and clouted 203 HRs (5th)... they also have quality pitchers that posted a 3.75 ERA (14th)... defensively Chicopee is only average with a .972 FA... the Braves will give Tuckanarra quite a test in first-round playoff action just like they did last year... they had the Blue Jays down 3-0 and then lost the series.
Top Performers: Heyoka Chaska (20-15/3.04), Ryan Ledbetter (17-14/3.93), 34-year-old rookie reliever Johnny Stewart (12-3/2.32/21 saves), All-Star Charley Kota (.314/48/152/114), 1B Kurt Gustavsen (.343/25/80/102), LF Alfredo Cobos (.321/24/86/86), 2B Todd Goodwin (.281/13/60/122), All-Star RF Iron Jacket Chandler (.287/22/83/75), who was signed as a 29-year-old free agent from Midway of the TU East.

2nd - Denton City: 3 GB... leaped up from sixth and 19 GB last year... this was the first time in over 20 years that the Redbirds contended... DC was a powerhouse in the early years of the IPA with 8 playoff appearances in the first 12 years, twice getting to the Pro Cup Finals in 2005 and 2008... the Redbirds scored well with 816 runs (4th), hit well with a .277 BA (4th) and have good power with 174 HRs (10th)... pitching is average with a 3.80 ERA (15th)... and they are slightly below average with a .971 FA.
Top Performers: Denny Mills (22-7/3.99), Francisco Salcido (18-12/3.66), Stephen Edwards (15-15/3.63), RF Pete Doyle (.319/30/90/103), C Felton Welch (.308/24/106/76), SS Sammy Thornton (.312/3/59/91), 1B Barry McKnight (.290/21/86/53)

3rd - La Claire: 14 GB... up from fifth place the last two years 15 and 16 GB... only made the postseason twice in its history, 2028 and 2033... no Pro Cups... the Lynx are a respectable ball club with a .258 BA (13th), 691 runs (17th) and 146 HRs (22nd)... pretty average on the hill with a 3.68 team ERA (12th)... solid in the field with a .975 FA.
Top Performers: All-Star Pat Kovacs (20-9/2.49), who went over the 200 mark in victories this year at age 32, rookie Terry Baird (12-6/2.00/26 saves), rookie C Weldon Waller (.339/13/54/62), 1B Kris Wilson (.246/20/98/68), RF Billy Holland (.263/21/83/84)

4th - Rolling Hills: 17 GB... 4th and 12 GB last year... finished eighth in 2034 (31 GB)... one of the better IPA franchises with 10 playoff appearances and two Pro Cups (2029 and 2031)... in the middle of the pack talent-wise with a .270 BA (7th), 705 runs (15th) and 153 homers (19th)... better-than-average on the mound with a 3.68 team ERA (11th)... solid on defense with a .975 FA.
Top Performers: Mike Daniels (19-11/3.15), Matthew Christianson (18-14/2.83), CF Jason Garrett (.336/20/74/78), 1B Angelo Nardone (.295/20/84/61), 3B Dino Manale (.310/7/60/84), SS Buffy Kowalczyk (.302/10/57/59)

5th - Kenwood: 20 GB... up from seventh in 2035 (23 GB)... has one Pro Cup in 2014 and three postseason appearances, last one in 2024... fair offensively with 664 runs (25th), .258 BA (12th) and 158 HRs (18th)... not so hot on the hill with a 4.09 team ERA (23rd)... a little above average on defense with a .974 FA.
Top Performers: Doug Kirkpatrick (16-16/3.90), All-Star C Corky DiNozzo (.299/46/110/88), RF Stuart Pickens (.309/25/65/66)

6th - Arlon: 25 GB... up a little this year... on bottom or near the bottom the previous three years... only been in playoffs three times, last time was in 2020... no Pro Cups... mediocre ball club with 4.18 team ERA (26th)... 637 runs (30th) with a .257 BA (14th) and 127 HRs (27th)... and good defense with a .976 FA.
Top Performers: Emil Nowak (17-17/3.64), Lanny Gray (15-15/4.17), RF Mark Cameron (.293/41/118/96), LF Charley Hastings (.322/10/59/85)

7th - Bay St. Clair: 29 GB... third last season 10 GB... this year snapped a six-year first-division run... last won the pennant in 2030... 9 postseason appearances overall, but no Pro Cups... pitching took a turn for the worse this year with a 4.08 ERA (22nd)... no much offense with 671 runs (22nd-tied), but fairly good power with 151 roundtrippers (20th)... just average with the gloves (.973 FA).
Top Performers: Jay Callahan (15-12/3.71), LF Milt Powers (.289/33/101/81), CF Cotton Cornwall (.308/17/89/59), 1B Ryan Dukes (.269/22/65/71)

8th - Bayview: 30 GB... sudden drop from second-place finishes the previous two years, 11 and 10 games off the pace... six times in the playoffs, but not lately... last pennant year was 2015... no Pro Cups... plays in a small ballpark... hit 204 home runs (4th) with 686 runs (20th) and batted .253 (21st)... lousy pitching with a 4.42 team ERA (30th)... could improve on defense with its .970 FA.
Top Performers: Christy Kane (14-16/3.41), All-Star 2B Jerry Culpepper (.301/46/105/97), SS Wade Rosewall (.284/35/84/75), 3B Marius Lokken (.285/23/58/80), 1B Giles Butler (.266/23/73/54), RF Roy Ricks (.260/20/70/73)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 24, 2036

PRO CUP PLAYOFFS BEGIN FRIDAY, TUCKS FAVORED AGAIN
Get ready for some baseball! The IPA Pro Cup playoffs will begin tomorrow afternoon with four clubs returning from last year for another crack at Islandian baseball supremacy. Defending champion Tuckanarra is back, along with Chicopee, North Hills and LaGrange. According to the oddsmakers the Tucks are given the best chance to take home the trophy. The Blue Jays were picked to be the best team in the Islands in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll. The voting was heavy for the Tycobbian Union with the three top teams hailing from from that league. Tuckanarra was rated number one in the poll with the Chicopee Braves second, North Hills Hawks third and St. John of the Ruthlandian Union ranked number four.

In first-round action in the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series it will be #1 Tuckanarra playing host to #2 Chicopee in a terrific matchup and #3 North Hills hosting #5 Colchester in another dogfight. Over in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series #4 St. John will entertain #8 LaGrange and #6 Cold Creek will be at home against #7 Colfax.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES PRO CUP POLL
1. TUCKANARRA BLUE JAYS (99-55)
The defending Pro Cup crownbearer is primed for its record 15th appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs and will be seeking its fourth Pro Cup trophy, which would tie them with Turon for the IPA mark... the Blue Jays head into the postseason as the number-one seed with a powerful ball club that ranks near the top in almost all categories... five of their players made the All-Star team... the Blue Jays hit .277 (3rd), scored 874 runs (1st) and hit 191 HRs (7th-tied)... just as solid on the hill with a 3.26 team ERA (3rd)... the Tucks only weakness is defense with a poor .969 FA... Tuckanarra will have to get by improved Chicopee in the first round... the Braves have better pitching this year... last year they took Tuckanarra to seven games before losing... North Hills and Colchester are quite formitable foes, too, should the Blue Jays get to the Tycobbian finals... the Hawks and Elites posted 96 wins and the Braves notched 94... there is no weak sister in the Tycobbian playoffs this year.

Top Performers: All-Star Junior Bristow (25-9/2.96), All-Star Bobby Reid (21-9/2.90), Jeff Buttrum (16-9/3.33), Rudy Rosario (17-10/3.82), Jack Rogers (8-8/2.70/15 saves), All-Star LF Lorne Evans (.312/40/100/134), All-Star 1B Josh George (.322/22/86/89), All-Star C Jon Paul (.286/29/90/76), RF Spade Weldon (.287/16/80/91)

2. CHICOPEE BRAVES (94-60)
They won the division for the third straight season... the Braves have registered 90 or more wins the last three years... it took them 33 years to make the playoffs... no Pro Cup so far, but they have a good shot at it this year... Chicopee's lineup is chocked full of fine hitters... the Braves batted .278 (2nd), scored 863 runs (2nd) and clouted 203 HRs (5th)... they also have quality pitchers that posted a 3.75 ERA (14th)... defensively Chicopee is only average with a .972 FA... the Braves will give Tuckanarra quite a test in first-round playoff action just like they did last year... they had the Blue Jays down 3-0 and then lost the series.

Top Performers: Heyoka Chaska (20-15/3.04), Ryan Ledbetter (17-14/3.93), 34-year-old rookie reliever Johnny Stewart (12-3/2.32/21 saves), All-Star Charley Kota (.314/48/152/114), 1B Kurt Gustavsen (.343/25/80/102), LF Alfredo Cobos (.321/24/86/86), 2B Todd Goodwin (.281/13/60/122), All-Star RF Iron Jacket Chandler (.287/22/83/75), who was signed as a 29-year-old free agent from Midway of the TU East.

3. NORTH HILLS HAWKS (96-58)
They also won pennants in 2034 and 2035... and for the first time in the team's history took the IPA Pro Cup in 2034... the Hawks are a better team this year and should be a threat to win the coveted Pro Cup... they have outstanding pitching with a 3.11 team ERA (1st) and strong defense with a .979 FA, coupled with adequate offense... the Hawks hit .271 (6th), scored 706 runs (14th), but lack power... they hit only 120 HRs (28th-tied)... this will be North Hills' fifth appearance in the postseason.

Top Performers: Frankie Lambert (18-8/2.85), All-Star Jeff Owens (23-12/2.99), Nelson Hooper (21-7/3.06), David Michael (20-18/3.42), All-Star LF Adam Thurgood (.341/32/127/75), RF Gerry Rice (.336/3/44/61), 3B Tommy Vavas (.297/9/43/88)

4. ST. JOHN CRUSADERS (93-61)
Won second title in six years... also won in 2033... the Crusaders have been in the postseason five times, but don't have a Pro Cup so far... last year they came in a distant second to Waleska... St. John is a powerful club with a high-powered offense, fine pitching and a pretty fair defense (.974 FA)... the Crusaders have a .276 BA (4th), rank second in scoring with 789 runs and posted a good 3.48 team ERA (5th)... St. John is a well-balanced team and should be a strong contender for the Pro Cup this year.

Top Performers: All-Star Lou Gianakos (21-13/3.07), Jeremy Kirk (19-15/3.64), Lou Page (16-6/3.39), All-Star Nicky Farrugia (.323/34/121/113), rookie sensation CF Art Kelley (.309/33/92/89), All-Star SS Byron Johannsen (.325/8/68/81), 3B Marty Blankenship (.252/22/90/71)

5. COLCHESTER ELITES (96-58)
Improved from third place and 18 GB in 2035... the Elites have been first-division mainstays in 12 of the last 13 seasons... the last pennant came in 2007... Colchester had only made the playoffs three times prior to this year... they feature rock-solid scoring with 829 runs (3rd) with 197 HRs (6th) and a .261 team BA (9th), along with adequate pitching (3.91 ERA/17th) and average defense with a .972 FA... the Elites don't have the pitching to go deep into the Pro Cup playoffs.

Top Performers: Dan Scott (22-11/4.10), Roy Watson (19-8/4.15), Eduardo Rivera (12-08/3.35), Tony Dazzi (16-8/3.60), Dave Lacoste (15-13/3.79), All-Star RF Blake Barrister (.311/49/129/111), All-Star 1B Billy Christianson (.301/17/93/109), SS Joey Rogers (.273/3/54/99)

6. COLD CREEK CATAMOUNTS (93-62)
Went 23-6 in July to move into contention... had to win last six regular-season games to tie the Rattlers... then won the division in a single-game playoff... last year the 'Cats were third, 7 games out... the last time they qualified for the postseason was way back in 2012... overall in its history this will be Cold Creek's fourth appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs... super pitching brought home the pennant... the Catamounts led the RU with a terrific 3.01 ERA (1st)... they were only average at the plate with a .257 BA (20th) and ranked 14th with 724 runs... Cold Creek was last in homers with 100 (32nd)... they were outstanding on defense with a .977 FA... the Catamounts and St. John are favored to meet in the RU Finals... the Crusaders will have the favorite's role because of better hitting... but don't count out Cold Creek... they probably have the best starting rotation in the IPA.

Top Performers: J. J. Gillespie (20-12/1.97), Rob Hutchins (22-11/3.16), Joey Baker (14-8/2.82), George Bailey (14-1/3.35), LF Shelby Glasscock (.289/11/63/55), CF Guy St. Laurent (.266/17/78/76)

7. COLFAX BLASTERS (86-68)
Moved up from a very close second in 2035 just 2 games behind winning Volusia... were in seventh place in 2034, trailing by 19 games... last won pennants in 2030 and 2032... has made the playoffs 10 times in the team's history with one Pro Cup in 2010 when the Blasters won 107 games, the most wins in IPA history... Colfax is a better-than-average club, but not likely to get far in Pro Cup circles... the Blasters hit very well for average (.279 BA-2nd), but don't score well (704 runs-18th) and don't have much firepower (111 HRs/30th)... mound staff is good with a 3.55 team ERA (6th)... very impressive defense with a .978 FA

Top Performers: Randell Perkins (22-13/3.34), Ray Maxon (13-11/3.45), Jack Scanlon (8-6/2.62/13 saves), All-Star LF Chet Penn (.327/28/101/99), All-Star C Mitch Fullerton (.309/25/87/82), SS Gerry Sives (.277/9/54/94), 1B Kristian McEly (.283/16/78/68), RF Dom DeJohnette (.282/15/60/66)

8. LAGRANGE SPORTS (84-70)
Four division titles in five seasons... won pennant last year by 7 games... this year by 2... good pitching with a 3.31 team ERA (4th), mediocre hitting with a .255 BA (26th), good power with 161 HRs (12th), pretty good defense (.974 FA)... played in postseason 4 times before... never won Pro Cup... appeared often in recent years (2032, 2033 and 2035)... lost in first round the last two postseasons... unlikely to get far this year.

Top Performers: Walt Thurber (20-13/2.62), All-Star Chazz Bassett (20-16/3.09), Nicky Palermo (20-14/3.47), Earl Perkins (2-1/1.10/7 saves), RF Charles Basque (.308/24/85/92), All-Star 3B Claude DesJardins (.287/26/80/69), CF Russell Watkins (.259/20/87/65), SS Fred Bird (.242/4/52/100)... won't be seeded very high in Pro Cup playoffs.

Enjoying your dynasty :eatpop: Just curious...how many no-hitters and perfect games have been pitched so far?

Thank you for following my dynasty.

6 perfect games and 142 no-hitters.
Only four pitchers hurled more than one no-hitter.
Melvin Key had three, while Cory Burg, Benny Ostermann and Paul Sartini had two no-hitters.

Key was 266-223 in his career with a 3.11 ERA. In the postseason he was 5-3 with a 2.48 ERA.

HOF-er Burg was 369-264 in his career with a 2.79 ERA. In the postseason he was 9-2 with a 1.54 ERA.

HOF-er Ostermann was 203-113 lifetime with a 2.79 ERA. In the playoffs he was 8-12 with a 3.03 ERA. Ostermann had a career-ending injury at age 28, but was so good he still was voted into the Hall of Fame, despite his lack of 300 victories, the usual cut-off point.

Sartini was 205-172 with a career 2.87 ERA. In the playoffs he was 5-4 with a 2.43 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 25, 2036

2036 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven series)

Ruthlandian Union

CC 'CATS COP OPENER, BEAT COLFAX 6-4
On a clear and cool afternoon at Holmes Field, the hometown Cold Creek Catamounts beat Colfax 6-4 in the opening game of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... the CC 'Cats posted 5 big runs on the scoreboard in the first frame and then rode home to victory... Shelby Glasscock's 2-run blast was the big blow in the inning... both teams roughed up the pitchers with 11 hits each.

LF Glasscock led the winners with a perfect 3-for-3 day, scored 2 and drove in 2... RF Jimmy Howell chipped in with a 2-run double... leading Colfax were SS Gerry Sives with 2 hits and 2 RBIs, including a solo homer... and 1B Kristian McEly, who smacked a homer, too.

Catamount ace J. J. Gillespie, the IPA ERA leader with a terrific 1.97 ERA, had a tough outing, but still came away with the win... Gillespie (1-0) was tagged for 11 hits in 8 and two-thirds innings, but held the Blasters to 4 runs... Gillespie fanned 5 and walked one batter... George Bailey faced one batter in the ninth and got the final out to pick up the save... 22-game winner Randell Perkins (0-1) took the loss, yielding 6 runs and 9 hits in 6 innings.

ST. JOHN SINKS SPORTS 4-3 IN OPENER
Opening up in the friendly confines of Cathedral Stadium, the St. John Crusaders squandered a lot of hits, but finally squeezed out a 4-3 triumph over the LaGrange Sports in game one of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... Marty Blankenship's walk-off homer in the ninth off Ryan Janssen put the Crusaders in the win column and gave the victory to Jeremy Kirk (1-0), who hurled a complete game and held the Sports to 6 hits and 3 runs, while striking out 6 and walking 6.

St. John had 15 hits, but stranded 14 baserunners... rookie C Sawyer Deane, CF Art Kelley and 2B Norm Murdoch paced the Crusaders with three hits apiece... RF Nick Farrugia and LF Gilbert Hall each chipped in with a pair of hits... Deane and Hall had RBIs, while Farrugia, Kelley and Murdoch each scored a run... C Chris Heffner and RF Charles Bacque had solo homers for the Sports.

LaGrange scored runs in the first and second innings to take an early 2-0 lead... St. John rallied with single scores in the fifth, sixth and seventh to take a 3-2 lead, then the Sports tied it up at 3-all in the eighth... LaGrange's 20-game winner Walt Thurber allowed 12 hits in his 6-plus innings, but permitted only 3 runs... he struck out 4 and walked 3 and left on the short end of a 3-2 score... reliever Ryan Janssen (0-1) lost it... in his 2 frames he allowed 3 hits and the winning run.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS BEST ELITES 6-5 IN 11 INNINGS
The homestanding North Hills Hawks had to come from behind twice in the late innings at the Hawk's Nest to subdue the Colchester Elites 6-5 in 11 innings in the first game of the Tycobbian Elite 8... trailing 5-4 in the last of the eleventh the Hawks tied it up on Jumbo Carter's base hit and won it on Tommy Vavas' game-winning single.

North Hills had to come back in the last of the eighth... Colchester had taken the lead 4-1 on Blake Barrister's solo homer and Jamie Scott's 2-run triple... the Hawks sent the game to extra innings on Ric Hamilton's 2-run double and Gerry Rice's game-tying triple. The Elites went ahead in the top of the eleventh when Joey Rogers got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded... the third Hawks' hurler Tony Mack (1-0) notched the win with 3 good innings of relief... he worked the ninth through the eleventh and gave up one run on one hit... Mack walked 2 and fanned 3... Sean McBride (0-1) suffered the defeat as he was battered for 2 runs and 3 hits in the fatal last inning... both starters fared well... Colchester's 22-game winner Dan Scott worked 10 innings, permitted 4 runs on 10 hits, while North Hills' 23-game winner Jeff Owens gave up 4 runs, only 2 earned, and 7 hits in his 7 and 2-thirds innings.

North Hills outhit Colchester 11 to 8 and were sparked at the plate by 1B Ric Hamilton with 2-5, 2 runs and 2 RBIs, RF Gerry Rice with 3-5, a run and an RBI... SS Norris Henry and C Jumbo Carter also added 2 hits apiece to the Hawks' attack... RF Blake Barrister led the Elites with 3 hits, including a homer and a triple... he and 2B Jamie Scott had 2 RBIs each.

TUCKS TROUNCE BRAVES 10-4 IN GAME ONE
Pro Cup number-one seed and defending IPA champ Tuckanarra outslugged second-seeded Chicopee 10-4 in the Tycobbian Elite 8 opener at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra... the Blue Jays socked 12 hits and got the benefit of 4 Braves' miscues and 7 bases on balls in the win... the Tucks busted up a 4-4 deadlock with 6 runs in the seventh... they had trailed 3-1 after 5 frames.

Blue Jay starter Bobby Reid (1-0) fought off the hard-hitting Braves for the win... Reid tossed 7 innings and was tagged for 10 hits, but he checked Chicopee on 4 runs, 3 of them earned... two relievers Jack Rogers and James Warner saved the day for Reid, each with a perfect inning in the eighth and ninth... Heyoka Chaska (0-1) had a tough outing and was the losing pitcher... Chaska was victimized by shoddy defense... 4 of the 8 runs he allowed in 6 innings were not earned... overall Chaska was ripped for 10 hits and walked 4.

It was open season on two 20-game winners today... the hitters had their way with them... C Jon Paul led the Tucks with 3 hits and 3 RBIs... RF Spade Weldon went 2-for-5, scored twice and batted in a run... SS Eddie Darby and LF Lorne Evans drove in 2 runs each... and 3B Lynn Starr and 2B Nicky Weill scored 2 runs apiece.

Chicopee had 10 hits and were paced by 2B Todd Goodwin, 1B Kurt Gustavsen, CF Charley Kota and SS Felix Roubique, all with a pair of hits each... LF Alfredo Cobos and C James Gamble both batted in 2 runs in defeat... Goodwin scored 2 of the Braves' runs.

The Blue Jays have now beaten the Braves five straight times in the playoffs. Last year in the first round Tuckanarra had to overcome a 3-0 lead by Chicopee and take four in a row to avoid elimination. They went on to win the IPA Pro Cup.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 26, 2036

2036 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

CC'S BAKER BEATS BLASTERS 5-1, 'CATS UP BY 2
At home, the Cold Creek Catamounts got a masterful mound performance from 29-year-old rookie righthander Joey Baker to beat Colfax 5-1 to take the first two games of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... Bailey (1-0) held the Blasters to one run, while giving up 9 hits in a strong 8-inning stint... he walked only one and struck out 3 batters... southpaw Norm Harbison (0-1) caught the loss, going all the way... Harbison permitted 9 hits and 5 runs, fanned 4 and walked 5.

1B Leland Henley (.250) delivered the big blow of the game, a 3-run bomb in the sixth inning to put the Catamounts up 4-0... rookie 2B Simon Pembroke (.571), RF Jimmy Howell (.429) and 3B Eric Hollister (.400) all collected 2 hits and scored a run... Hollister and LF Shelby Glasscock (.667) batted in the other 2 runs for Cold Creek... Colfax had a 10-9 advantage in hits, but left 10 men stranded... SS Gerry Sives (.444) and 3B Caleb McAvoy (.500) led them with a pair of hits each.

The two clubs will continue the best-of-seven series at Mountain View Stadium in Colfax. If needed, games three, four and five will be played there.

ST. JOHN WINS AGAIN, CRUSHES SPORTS 11-3,
In St. John at Cathedral Stadium, the Crusaders belted out 16 hits and crushed LaGrange 11-3 to go in front two games to none in the RU Elite 8... yesterday's hero Marty Blankenship cracked 3 hits and smashed a 3-run roundtripper to lead the way... Blankenship has a walk-off homer in game one... the Crusaders got a good effort from winning pitcher Lou Gianakos (1-0), who went 7 innings, giving up 3 runs and 8 hits... Lou Page finished it up for Gianakos, struck out 3 and pitched one-hit ball in his two scoreless innings.

Other St. John contributors were 1B Johnny Zaun (.750) and LF Marty Armstrong (.600), who also notched 3 hits each... SS Byron Johanssen (.111) scored twice for the Crusaders and plated 2 runners... the Sports had 9 hits with LF Justin McCall (.444) getting 3 hits and C Chris Heffner (.375) and CF Russell Watkins (.375) chipping in 2 hits apiece... it was a dismal day for LaGrange's 20-game winner Chazz Bassett (0-1), who was drilled for 9 runs and 11 hits in just 4-plus innings... an 8-run fifth did him in.

Game three will be played at Sports Stadium in LaGrange, along with games four and five, if the series goes that far.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS WIN 7-6 IN 14TH, AHEAD BY 2 GAMES
North Hills made it two in a row over the Colchester Elites in the Tycobbian Elite 8 with a dramatic comeback victory... down 6-3 in the last of the ninth, the Hawks tied it up and then went on to win it 7-6 on Ric Hamilton's bases-loaded single in the fourteenth frame... the Hawks' bullpen came through big time with 5 scoreless innings in relief of starter Frank Lambert... Kyle Oliver pitched one-hit ball for 4 innings, striking out 5 batters... and Joey Santini (1-0) sat the Elites down in order for the win in the fourteenth... Colchester loser Sean McBride (0-1) had held the Hawks without a run and hitless for 4 innings when they finally got to him for 3 hits and the winning run.

Both clubs racked up a dozen hits each... 3B Jim McDermott (.429) and 1B Ric Hamilton (.455) had 3 hits each for North Hills... McDermott drove in 4 runs and Hamilton 2... RF Nicky Bower and 2B Tommy Vavas (.375) had 2 hits piece... Vavas scored 3 runs and Bower 2... Colchester's best bats belonged to LF Jim Lewellan (.375), who homered and batted in 3 runs... and RF Blake Barrister (.417), who collected a pair of singles and 2 RBIs... SS Joey Rogers (.222), 1B Billy Christianson (.231) and CF Russell Edwards (.333) also had 2 hits for the Elites.

Colchester will try and regroup at home after losing both games at the Hawk's Nest... the next three games are slated for Heyward Field.

TUCKS TAME BRAVES IN 10, BRISTOW WINNER 4-3
Junior Bristow started off poorly, but he finished up in grand style... he led the Tuckanarra Blue Jays to their second straight win over the Chicopee Braves in the TU Elite 8 with a 10-inning 4-3 victory... after giving up a 3-run homer to Alfredo Cobos in the opening inning, Bristow settled down and blanked the Braves the rest of the game... Bristow went the distance, had 6 Ks and one walk, allowing 3 runs and 7 hits... he got help in the tenth from three successive singles off of losing pitcher Johnny Stewart by Lynn Starr, Spade Weldon and Paul Anthony... this was the Blue Jays sixth consecutive postseason victory over the powerful Braves and gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The series will now switch to the Brewster Street Ballpark, home of the Braves, for the next three games, if necessary.

Leading the Blue Jays attack were CF Paul Anthony (.600), SS Eddie Darby (.375) and RF Cobar Madija (.600)... Anthony had 3 hits and 2RBIs... Darby and Madija added 2 hits apiece... Anthony and Darby both had solo homers... 2B Joe Klein (.250) also drove in a run for the Tucks.

LF Alfredo Cobos (.333) was the big bat for Braves with his 3-run blast... CF Charley Kota (.500) and 3B Cooter Whitter supplied 2 hits apiece to the Chicopee cause... Johnny Stewart (0-1) was stung with the loss in relief of starter Ryan Ledbetter, who tossed a fine game, permitting only 3 runs on 7 hits in his 9 innings... Ledbetter walked only one and whiffed 4.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 27, 2036

2036 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

CC CLOBBERS COLFAX 9-2, NEARS SWEEP
Home or away, it makes no difference to Cold Creek... they just keep right on winning... for the third game in a row the Catamounts have taken Colfax to the woodshed... the latest was a 9-2 clobbering in game three of the RU Elite 8 Series to give Cold Creek a decisive 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series... one more Catamount victory and the season is over for the Blasters.

The teams played on even terms for 5 innings, then Cold Creek broke loose for 7 runs in the late innings to win going away... they cracked 2 homers and 9 hits and got fine 4-hit pitching and a complete game from 21-year-old righthander Rob Hutchins (1-0)... Nilos Andris (0-1) got the loss... he was tattered for 7 runs in 6 innings.

The Catamounts' offensive leader was CF Guy St. Laurent (.222) with a grand-slam homer... LF Shelby Glasscock (.545) got 2 hits, including a solo roundtripper, and scored twice... 3B Simon Pembroke (.500) racked up a pair of hits and scored 2 runs... and 1B Eric Hollister (.462) went 2-for-3 and had 2RBIs... LF Chet Penn (.300) got Colfax an early 2-1 lead with a 2-run double in the third.

LAGRANGE LASHES STJ 8-1, CUTS LEAD TO A GAME
After two losses on the road, LaGrange got on the win track at home at Sports Stadium, slamming St. John 8-1 in game three of the RU Elite 8 Series... Nicky Palermo (1-0) hurled a standout game, stopping the Crusaders on 7 hits, finishing with 2 walks and 4 Ks... Palermo also got great run support as the Sports banged out 11 hits, led by Claude DesJardins and Pat Chase with 3 RBIs apiece.

LaGrange started off strong with a 3-run salvo by DesJardins in the first frame, then added 4 more in the fifth, highlighted by Chase's 2-run triple, to get rid of losing pitcher Vito Sanfratello (0-1), who was shelled for 8 runs and 11 hits... 3B DesJardins (.273) was 2-5 and scored 2 runs, while CF Chase (.750) had 3 hits, along with SS Jason Jacquet (.750).

Tycobbian Union

BARRISTER'S HR BEATS HAWKS 4-2, ELITES TRAIL 2-1
There's no place like home - just ask the Colchester Elites, who lost the first two games of the TU Elite 8 Series in North Hills... playing game three at home at Heyward Field, Colchester overcame a 2-1 deficit on Blake Barrister's clutch 3-run homer in the eighth inning to cut North Hills' lead down to two games to one.

The Elites also got an excellent start from Ray Watson, who went the distance and held the Hawks to 2 runs, despite giving up 10 hits... Watson (1-0) struck out 6 and walked no one in a solid outing... Nelson Hooper (0-1) was dealt the loss... He went into the eighth with a 2-1 but couldn't hold it... in all Hooper gave up 3 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings with 7 strikeouts and 3 walks.

In addition to Ballister's (.400) big blast, 1B Billy Christianson (.313) chipped in with 2 hits in 3 tries, scored twice and batted in a run... the Hawks were paced by 1B Ric Hamilton (.533), who had 3 hits and an RBI.

BRAVES BACK IN IT, BLISTER BLUE JAYS 12-8
The big booming bats of the Chicopee Braves blossomed and made the home folks very happy at the Brewster Street Ballpark with a 12-8 shellacking of the Tuckanarra Blue Jays in game three of the TU Elite 8 Series, thus cutting the Tucks' margin to two games to one in the best-of-seven series... Chicopee has lost its last six postseason games to the Blue Jays... they were up 3-0 last year in the Elite 8 and lost the series 4-3... the Blue Jays were victorious in the first two games this year.

Leading the Braves' 13-hit attack were RF Iron Jacket Chandler (.250) with 5 RBIs, LF Alfredo Cobos (.500) with 3 RBIs and SS Felix Roubique (.333) with a pair of runs driven in... Chicopee rebounded from an early 4-1 Tuckanarra lead with 4 runs in the third and 5 more in the fourth, eventually building up a 12-4 lead by the sixth, then held off the Blue Jays' belated rally... Chandler had 3-run homer and a double... Cobos popped 3 hits including a double... and Roubique had 2 doubles.

The Tucks offense was potent, too, with 15 hits... 1B Josh George (.417) had 4 hits, including 2 doubles, and drove in 4 runs... 2B Nicky Weill (.333) drilled 2 homers and scored 2 times... and RF Spade Weldon (.600) went 3-for-4 and scored 3 runs.

Pitching was almost extinct in this game... Kajika Fleetfoot (1-0) got the win in spite of being battered for 7 runs and 13 hits in 7-plus innings... the defeat went to Jeff Buttrum (0-1), who was blistered for 10 runs in only 3 innings.

142?!!!


Holy crap, Batman :eek:

Where ya been?

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 28, 2036

2036 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

COLD CREEK SWEEPS COLFAX
The Cold Creek Catamounts with their super pitching staff made shambles of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series with Colfax by sweeping it in four straight games... the Catamounts knocked the Blasters out of the IPA playoffs with a 5-3 decision in game four behind the solid pitching of J. J. Gillespie, who went the route for his second win in the series... Gillespie (2-0/3.57) fanned 4, walked 2 and held Colfax to 3 runs on 8 hits.

Cold Creek LF Shelby Glasscock (.500) had another big hand in the win with his third homer in the series... he had 2 hits and batted in 3 runs... 1B Leland Henley (.429) also lent a hand with a 2-run homer... and CF Ken Brennan (.158) went 2-for-4 and scored twice... the Catamounts collected 10 hits in the game.

SS Gerry Sives (.467), LF Chet Penn (.357) and 2B Howard Winston (.235) led the Blasters... Sives had a home run among his 3 hits, Penn was 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Winston smacked a pair of hits and batted in 2 runs.

Randell Perkins (0-2/7.07) was the losing hurler... he allowed 5 runs and 9 hits in his 8 innings... he struck out 5 and walked 2.

Winning manager Scoop Lemieux spoke highly of his Catamounts. He said, "We played very well in the series... our pitching was great as expected... but it was our bats that made the different... I just hope it continues... if it does, we have a good chance to bring home the Pro Cup to Cold Creek."

Losing skipper Ilya Szabo told the press, "Our pitching was bad and so was our hitting... 'nuff said... we got swept... Cold Creek will be a factor in this year's Pro Cup if they continue to play anywhere near the way they played us... we knew they had pitching, but their hitting surprised me."

Cold Creek was seeded sixth in The Islandian Times Pro Cup predictions... Colfax was rated seventh in the poll.

SPORTS TIE CRUSADERS, THURBER WINS 6-2
The LaGrange Sports are back in the battle after beating the highly-favored St. John Crusaders at home for the second game in a row... the Sports tied up the RU Elite 8 Series at two games apiece with a 6-2 win... LaGrange got a good outing from 20-game winner Walt Thurber (1-0/2.93), who fired a complete game... he shut out the Crusaders for 8 innings and restricted them to 2 runs on 8 hits, while walking 3 batters and striking out 2... Thurber even helped his own cause with a 3-run double in the 4-run fourth... the Sports got homers from 3B Claude DesJardins (.267) and LF Justin McCall (.385).

19-game winner Jeremy Kirk (1-1/3.94), the IPA strikeout king the last two years, took the loss... in a shaky effort Kirk walked 5, fanned 6 and was tagged for 5 runs and 5 hits in 7 innings... C Sawyer Deane (.438) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs to lead St. John at the plate.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS HAMMER COLCHESTER 9-2, TAKE 3-1 LEAD
Jeff Owens, Adam Thurgood and Kiril Ivonoski combined to put North Hills up three games to one in the TU Elite 8 Series as they hammered the Colchester Elites 9-2 in game four... Owens was outstanding on the mound and Thurgood and Ivonoski supplied the firepower.

Owens (1-0/2.16) stymied the Elites on 5 hits and 2 runs, fanned 5 and walked 3... Thurgood (.250) slammed 2 homers, scored 3 times and knocked in 4 runs... Ivonoski (.250) homered and doubled, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBIs... 3B Tommy Vavas (.438) added 3 hits and tallied 3 runs... Dan Scott (0-1) caught the loss being smoked for 7 runs and 8 hits in 6-plus innings... North Hills broke open a 3-2 game with 4 runs in the seventh and 2 more in the ninth.

BRAVES & BLUE JAYS TIED, CHASKA STOPS TUCKS 5-2
Just as expected the top two seeded teams in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs are having a battle royal... after four games top-ranked Tuckanarra and second-ranked Chicopee are all tied up at two games apiece... Chicopee's Heyoka Chaska (1-1/3.86) gave the Blue Jays fits in a 5-2 triumph as he stopped them on just 5 hits... Chaska was tagged for a 2-run homer in the top of the first by LF Lorne Evans (.188), but he then slammed the door on the Blue Jays for the rest of the game... the Braves bounced right back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Alfredo Cobos (.500), sac fly by Iron Jacket Chandler (.286) and an RBI single by Cooter Whitter (.357) and tacked on 2 insurance runs in the ninth via a homer by 2B Todd Goodwin (.333).

Bobby Reid (1-1/2.45) suffered the loss... 3 Blue Jay errors hurt him badly as Reid only gave up one earned run in 7 and two-thirds innings... Reid surrendered 10 hits and 4 runs... Goodwin had 3 hits for the winners and scored 2 runs and Cobos had a double and a single.