Summerland must be one of those cursed teams in the IPA. They've never won a Pro Cup in my dynasty or yours - they might finally do it this season.

Yep, you may be right, jg2977.

Attachment 890401
Saturday, October 27, 2074

SUMMERLAND'S FIRST PRO CUP IS IN SIGHT... SUNSETS NEED ONE MORE WIN
Game 4 in the best-of-seven IPA Pro Cup Series went to the Summerland Sunsets... they slipped past the Crystal Lake Skippers 5-4 at Sunset Stadium yesterday afternoon... Summerland upped its lead to 3 games to one... all the Sunsets need is one win in the last 3 games, while Crystal Lake is in dire straits, needing to sweep all 3 games... that is a very tough road to travel... in the Pro Cup Finals only 2 clubs have ever trailed 3-1 and rallied to take the Pro Cup Trophy... that was the Far Mountain Redhawks in 2011 and the Kenwood Wildcats in 2014.

2074 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2074 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 4 at Sunset Stadium in Summerland
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Go Sunsets, you can do it! One more win ends the curse!

In my new IPA I feel bad for Belle Plaine. They've made it to the Ruthlandian Union Title Series 4 times in the first 8 seasons, but have lost all four title series and have yet to reach the Pro Cup.

Attachment 890536
Sunday, October 28, 2074

FAVORED CRYSTAL LAKE HANGING IN... STAVED OFF ELIMINATION WITH WIN IN GAME 5

Yesterday afternoon, the Skippers toppled the Sunsets 7-3 to narrow the margin to 3 games to 2... heading into the fabled Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series, the sports media gave a slight nod to the Crystal Lake Skippers over the unsung Summerland Sunsets... so far it's been Summerland's series with 3 wins in the first 4 games... the first-ever Pro Cup Trophy is very much within their grasp, if only they can win one of the 2 remaining games... it would seem so easy to win one game, but in reality, it is so, so hard.

Summerland is trying to send Skippers sailing off into the sunset, but they are not exactly cooperating... Crystal Lake is hanging tough and trying to win 3 straight games... one down and 2 more to go to capture their 4th Pro Cup Trophy... it is an improbable possibility, but not an impossible one.

The two clubs are now switching venues for the final games... Crystal Lake will host Summerland at Lakefront Stadium where they are a gaudy 55-22... as a road team the Sunsets are only 39-38... they split the first 2 games in Crystal Lake... overall in the postseason playoffs Summerland is 5-2 out of town and Crystal Lake is 4-2 at home.

2074 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Game
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2074 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5 at Sunset Stadium in Summerland
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I'm looking for Summerland to close out the series in Game 6 for the Sunsets' first title. The veteran pitcher will outduel the rookie again. Mason will pitch better than in Game 3, but it won't be quite enough.

I'm not so great at predictions, so that means that Crystal Lake will probably force Game 7 on a Mason 3-hit shutout!

OOTP has a mind of its own... I don't think any of us can predict the outcome of games very well

I thought Oxford had the best team...thought Chicopee was second best... and Eastshore third... missed on all of them... Crystal Lake is the highest-rated team left... they were my 4th pick... Summerland was #7.

That's why i like to say "That's why we sim the games." OOTP gives us great stories.

Looking forward to seeing what happens in Game 6!

Yep, I need a life... yep, EC spent this whole afternoon and evening researching all of the Pro Cup Playoff MVPs and postseason stats in IPA history... Summerland's CF Carroll Coxe looks like he is having a record-breaking postseason.

Enjoyed perusing the good old days of the IPA.

Barney Lewis had 23 RBIs for the Southport Sun Sox in 2044.
3B Craig Glennon hit 8 roundtrippers for the Southport in 2047.

Coxe will have a chance to break those marks in game 6 and game 7 of the Pro Cup Series.

Attachment 891813
Wednesday, October 30, 2074

LORENZETTI BLAST SAVES SKIPPERS IN GAME 6... CRYSTAL LAKE IS NOW TIED WITH SUMMERLAND IN THE PRO CUP SERIES... IPA SEASON DOWN TO ONE SINGLE, SOLITARY 7TH GAME
Once down 3 games to one to the Summerland Sunsets, the Crystal Lake Skippers have been invigorated and revitalized in the Pro Cup Series with 2 wins in a row in games 5 and 6... Gino Lorenzetti smashed a 3-run homer in the last of the 8th and sent the Skippers sailing past the Sunsets 6-3 in the sixth game of IPA title series... Crystal Lake has now battled back and tied the series at 3 games apiece... the decisive game seven is set for Lakefront Stadium, the home of the Skippers.

2074 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2074 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 6 at Lakefront Stadium in Crystal Lake

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Lots of history on the line in Game 7. Pulling for Summerland, but if Crystal Lake wins it will complete an incredible comeback, and a 4th Pro Cup title would cement their legacy as one of the most successful franchises in IPA history.

Attachment 892341
Wednesday, October 30, 2074

LOTS OF JOY IN CRYSTAL LAKE... SKIPPERS SINK SUNSETS IN GAME 7... NO PRO CUP THIS YEAR IN SUMMERLAND
There is much joy, jubilation and celebration on the shores of Crystal Lake after the Skippers absconded with game 7 of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series... Crystal Lake defeated Summerland 6-3 in the decisive final game... the Skippers did the improbable and the almost impossible by rallying from a 3-1 deficit to sink the Sunsets... Crystal Lake accomplished something that had been done only twice in IPA history... only the Far Mountain Redhawks in 2011 and the Kenwood Wildcats in 2014 ever managed to come back and win the Pro Cup with 3 straight victories after falling behind 3 games to one.

2074 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2074 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 7 at Lakefront Stadium in Crystal Lake

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In what seasons has Crystal Lake won their four Pro Cups? And which teams have won four or more?

ISLANDIAN PRO CUP PLAYOFFS

TYCOBBIAN UNION 42 PRO CUPS
RUTHLANDIAN UNION 32 PRO CUPS

Rolling Hills 7 ('29, '31, '48, '60, '62, '67, '69)
Southport 5 ('27, '44, '47, '65, '66)
Turon 5 ('03, '06, '09, '18, '72)
North Hills 4 ('34, '36, '38, '41)
Valmara 4 ('26, '43, '49, '50)
Crystal Lake 4 ('20, '22, '58, '74)
Tuckanarra 3 ('23, '24, '35)
Middlefield 3 ('05, '52, '56)
Waleska 3 ('28, '37, '39)
Far Mountain 3 ('11, '12, '13)
South Fork 3 ('25, '42. '73)
Eastshore 2 ('16, '17)
Midway 2 ('53, '54)
Wynnamac 2 ('08, '55, '70)
Red Bluff 2 ('04, '57)
Oxford 2 ('07, '61)
Hartsdale 2 ('46, '63)
Sugar Valley 1 ('45)
Taranto 1 ('15)
Volusia 1 ('01)
Ranford 1 ('40)
Rocky Rapids 1 ('19)
San Alejo 1 ('32)
Sligo 1 ('21)
Blue Lake 1 ('30)
Colfax 1 ('10)
Elnora 1 ('33)
High Mesa 1 ('02)
Kenwood 1 ('14)
Arlon 1 ('51)
Ginza 1 ('59)
Claxton 1 ('64)
Forest City 1 ('68)
Belair Beach 1 ('71)

30 teams have never won the Pro Cup.

EC, if the IPA somehow completes 100 seasons, and there are less than ten to fifteen teams left to win at least one Pro Cup, and you are able to keep playing OOTP easily enough, might you perhaps reconsider retiring the IPA after a century of history, and then trying to see just how long it takes for any or all of those teams to win at least one IPA Pro Cup? After all, technically, in our real-world timeline, the Chicago Cubs franchise didn't actually win an official World Series for more than a century of known baseball history, if you really think about it. So maybe you could then see if one or more of those teams could finally win any Pro Cups after such a long period of waiting, you know. Just wondering, that's all. CD out.

That an interesting thought, CD.

At the rate I'm going, I will be most fortunate to live to play 100 seasons... it could take me 7 to 10 years to do it at the current pace.

Congratulations to the Crystal Lake Skippers - brutal loss for Summerland though. But that's baseball. The joy of victory vs. the agony of defeat.

I'm going to start a list just like yours for my IPA champions. That will be a nice way to keep track of the titles - clean and easy to read. I'll do lists for the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian champions separately too.

Well, as always, I will try to remember to pray for you as often as I can and all, and I hope our Lord and Master will keep you in good health for many more years to come, as long as He wishes you to remain in THIS world of ours. I pray that when and if you depart this world, that you yourself, will be much like Moses was when he departed after seeing, but not entering, the Promised Land, where he was still in good health, if not entirely like him, EC. That's if the Lord wishes to call you Home while you are still in good health, of course, in many different ways.

In any case, I think we who will be with Him will be with Him in the not-too-distant future, although I still don't know just when that might possibly be the case for us all, you know. It could be just a few years, or at least a decade from now, but as one of Amy Grant's songs says, "In a little while, we'll be with the Father," if memory serves me correctly enough here. Personally, I don't expect to make it to 65 in this life on this planet, but as long as I'm here, I intend to do my Father's work, whatever it may be, as best and as often as I can, for sure. Whether it's difficult or easy, and whether or not I get to enjoy myself at times playing games like OOTP, for instance, I still do, of course, EC.

This is a rather fun and interesting dynasty on these forums, most definitely, and I really hope that if it is the Lord's will, that you somehow are actually able to continue this dynasty until it's at least 100 years old, if not older than that. But if you can't, then so be it, of course. Thank you for starting it and creating it and reporting on it for so long, and you may not agree, but seeing so many teams in it makes it much more interesting to me, I think, when it comes to seeing just who might come out on top of the pile, so to speak, every season here. Just so you know, EC. CD out.

CD, thank you for your prayers for me.

I'm hoping that both of us will "die healthy" on the day that the Lord calls us home... EC does not want to suffer and die a lingering, painful death... no one does... I just want to pass peaceably in my sleep... that's the way my mother died... she just slowly stopped breathing over a 30-hour period.

Until God is ready for me, I shall enjoy every day and every moment of my life... He has promised to get me through the trials and tribulations that will come my way... I am content in his wonderful love and care... God keeps his promises... I can do it in His strength... I am weak, but He is strong... the more I depend on Him and the less I depend on me, the better my life is.

My philosophy is don't worry about tomorrow or when I will die... God is in control... enjoy today no matter how tough your life gets... if God takes care of the little sparrows and little creatures, He certainly will take care of you and me... 'cause He loves us dearly -- we are His beloved children.

EC will live until he dies... God knows when... I don't worry about it at all.

I just pray He gets me through this life.

I jokingly say I prefer to die rich and healthy than sick and poor. ;)

LONG LIVE THE ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE, CD AND EC !!!

May we all live long and prosper !!!

I plan to stand boldly for the Lord as best as I can, whenever I can, for the rest of my mortal life on this planet, and if that means I eventually do get somehow martyred in reality one day for it, then so be it. But I definitely won't compromise my beliefs and my trust and faith in God, even if what I say or think, et cetera, is not popular with other people in this world, if I can possibly ever avoid doing so somehow. I will fight for what I feel is right, in any area He leads me to fight in, wherever and whenever that is, and stay calm whenever it is not the proper time for me to fight in a certain area, for sure, as well, to the very best of my ability, EC.

There's much more to this world than the world of cyberspace, of course, and one day, my parents may both no longer be around me in my life, you know, seeing as they're both now in their seventies, in truth. But I'm still quite sure that God will take really good care of me somehow, even if they are no longer walking this Earth anytime in the next ten to fifteen years, if not sooner than that, most definitely, EC. CD out.

Attachment 892494
Thursday, October 31, 2074

SUMMERLAND CENTER FIELDER COXE BREAKS TRADITION... LOSING TEAM PLAYER NAMED PRO CUP MVP
Traditionally in the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series, the Most Valuable Player Award goes to a player on the winning team... but not always... for just the second time in IPA history, the winning team will get the Pro Cup, but no player on the team will get the top player honor... Carroll Coxe, Summerland's talented center fielder failed to get the main prize, the IPA Pro Cup, but he will get the 2074 IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player trophy.

For the second time in Pro Cup postseason history, a player on the winning club did not get the MVP trophy... it happened for the first time in 2030... Valmara lost to the Blue Lake Blue Sox in a 7-game series, however pitcher Teddy Lem was acclaimed the standout performer and was given the Pro Cup MVP honor... Lem went 6-1 in 7 starts... won 2 games in the Pro Cup Series... and wound up with a 2.37 ERA in the playoffs... this anomaly usually occurs when the winning team doesn't have a player with super stats in the postseason.

Carroll Coxe had a tremendous postseason... he tied the record for the most home runs and the most RBIs in Islandian Pro Alliance playoff history... Coxe tied Middlefield's Bailey Norcross and Southport's Craig Glennon with 8 home runs... and he also tied Barney Lewis of Southport with 23 RBIs... Norcross set the record in 2005 originally... Glennon did it again in 2047... Lewis set his record in 2044.

This postseason Coxe played in 18 games, went 31 for 74 at the plate with a hefty .419 batting average, swatted 8 out of the park, drove in 23 runs, scored 20 and stole 10 bases... he was chosen IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player over quite a few Crystal Lake performers... no one came close to his numbers... the Skippers had some good bats with good numbers, but none of their pitchers posted standout stats.

Second in the postseason MVP balloting was rookie pitcher Noel Arboneaux... he was 5-1 in his 6 postseason starts with a 4.07 ERA... Arboneaux won 2 games in the Pro Cup Finals for Crystal Lake, but he was lackluster in his other playoff starts.

Crystal Lake second sacker Sookie Murphy stood out with 22 runs scored, the most runs ever scored in the IPA playoffs... he batted .300 in 17 games, socked 3 homers, stole 9 bases and drove in 6 runs... Murphy wound up 3rd in the playoff MVP poll.

4th place in the voting was center fielder Sammy Silfen, who topped the Skippers with a .356 BA in 16 games... he drove in 9 runs, scored 8 times, stole 7 bases with 6 doubles, 2 triples and one home run.

Number 5 in the playoff MVP poll was Crystal Lake first baseman Jeff Setser... he batted .281 in 17 games with 2 roundtrippers, 13 RBIs and scored 9 runs... 11 of his RBIs came in the Pro Cup Finals.

Gino Lorenzetti, the Skippers' second baseman, only hit .242 with 13 ribbies and 11 runs scored... in the Pro Cup Finals he hit 3 crucial home runs... LorenzettI finished a distant 6th in the postseason poll.

The 7th-best votegetter was Crystal Lake's third baseman Cookie Garland... he batted in 11 runs, scored 6 times with a .254 BA in his 17 games.

The Skippers got solid contributions from an array of players, but none really stuck out compared to Carroll Cox.

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A very special thanks to txranger and knuckler for the great graphics.
txranger did the beautiful IPA logo.
I think he and knuckler worked together on the logos, jerseys and caps.

It's people like txranger and knuckler that make my IPA so special... otherwise it is just an ordinary stats dump and dynasty report... it's the great logos, jerseys and caps that help me to enjoy playing out games immensely.

I'd like to thank them as well, plus CD. He's contributed some nice graphics for my IPA for teams such as Glasco, Denton City and Hillsboro.

Yep, CD is getting better everyday with his graphics.

Nice comeback. Congrats to the Skippers. Heartbreaking for Summerland fans...

Attachment 892897
Sunday, November 4, 2074

HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW... 10 NEW SKIPPERS IN IPA
Four IPA managers were successful over the years and they finally decided to call it a day and retire of their own volition... that is the best way to go... 6 other skippers left under less than happy circumstances... their services were no longer needed... they got the proverbial pink slip from management... the Islandian Pro Alliance will feature 10 rookies managers in 2075.

The legendary Hall of Fame player Roy Hobbs spent 42 seasons at the helm of the Waleska Westerners... he won 2 Pro Cups (2037 and 2039) and 7 pennants... the 81-year-old Hobbs said, "This is the world of the young... the oldtimers need to turn it over eventually to the vibrant and the energetic."... 37-year-old former Waleska hurler Rick Howzer will be his replacement... Howzer pitched 10 seasons and wound up with a 113-83 mark and a fine 3.11 ERA... Hobbs batted .345 in his career and belted 587 homers out of the park... he was selected for the Hall of Fame in 2032.

Compared to Hobbs, Red Bluff manager Ike Sweetwater is a spring chicken at age 64... he has put in 23 years in command of the Red Sox after a fine 19-year- career as a star center fielder (.285 BA/521 homers)... as a skipper Sweetwater captured 5 pennants and finished in the top 4 teams most of the time, rarely falling out of the top half of his division... Red Bluff won the IPA Pro Cup under his leadership in 2057... one of his former star players, Dontrelle Gilbreath, will succeed him... Gilbreath is only 40 years old... he just retired in 2073 with 215 wins and 166 losses, along with a very impressive 2.77 ERA.

Another IPA octogenarian, 80-year-old Marty Blake is also riding off into the sunset and heading to the happy hunting grounds of retirement... he retired as a Hall of Famer player in the 2030s... Blake starred for the Rascals for 23 seasons with a lifetime .317 BA and 640 homers... he was called out of retirement in his 70s, became skipper in 2066 and turned the team around... Blake had a solid run, winning 4 pennants in his 9 seasons... Blake was 76-78 his first year, then over .500 the rest of the way... his successor is ex-hurler Butch Slattery, who posted a 137-111 mark in 13 seasons (3.42 ERA) with White River from 2047 to 2059.

Dennis Hartwig was quite successful as the Red Caps skipper, winning 9 pennants in his 23 years with the club. He also captured the Pro Cup in 2061, the second time in the team history. Oxford won it the first time in 2007. At age 72 Hartwig retired after at the end of the 2074 season. His last few years ended up below the .500 mark, but his managerial career did end on a happy note. The Red Caps under Hartwig went out with a bang. They won 100 games in his final hurrah season. Oxford pitching coach and former star pitcher Donnelle Gilbreath will take over the reins for Hartwig. For 14 years from 2054 to 2067 Gilbreath went 219-141 with a solid 3.39 ERA.

Ginza manager Sogo Takagi, a legendary Ninja player, turned in his resignation at 61... he said the club needed new blood and rejuvenation... Takagi won the Pro Cup his second year in 2059, but tailed off considerably over the rest of his career... he did make the playoffs in 2059... Takagi had losing seasons in 9 of his 17 years as manager... taking his place is former third baseman Vic Carnaggio (.288 BA/130 HR), age 41... he retired in 2066 with Ginza after 12 seasons... Takagi was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2057... he batted .298 with 538 roundtrippers.

The "pink slipers" had little success... the only female manager in the IPA, Didi Zaharias, was fired after 9 seasons with the Beechwood Jackrabbits... she was a hugely successful college softball and basketball coach... Zaharias only had 2 winning seasons with the Jacks ('67 and '68)... then it was all downhill, culminating with 100 losses this season... little known Weldon Barney, a 37-year-old backup outfielder with just 4 seasons in the IPA, will be the Beechwood field general next season... he has been managing in semi-pro circles since his retirement from the IPA in 2065... Barney says he loves the game and is a baseball lifer... he is just thankful for the chance Beechwood has given him.

Hersh Cranmore skippered Bay St. Clair since 2062 with very little success... his teams only hit the .500 mark twice and just barely... Cranmore was a solid catcher for 13 seasons with the Buccaneers with 159 homers and a .265 BA... the new man for the Buccaneers is former pitcher, 53-year-old Scotty Hedwall... from 2049 to 2058 he was a solid starter with a 150-119 mark and a very good 3.39 ERA... the Bucs made the playoffs in his first two years, '49 and '50... Bay St. Clair is hoping the team can create a winning atmosphere under the guidance of Hedwall... the Buccaneers were a competitive team during his career.

Middlefield replaced Johnny Walters after 12 modest seasons... his teams were always around the .500 mark... but they never made the playoffs... he was hired by the Roosters' owner when the highly successful Pro Cup-winning Rinky Tinker retired in 2062... Walters was a very successful high school baseball coach at Middlefield High School, but his high-school magic didn't work in the IPA... now the pros are returning to the roost... former star outfielder Johnny Wyatt will be in charge of the Roosters in the coming season... Wyatt was a winner from 2049 to 2062 as a slugging outfielder... the Roosters won 9 pennants and 2 Pro Cups during his tenure (2052 and 2056)... Wyatt batted .273 with 492 home runs in his career... hopefully Wyatt still has the magic touch at age 47... Middlefield is banking on Wyatt's winning touch to turn the team around and make it a pennant contender again.

Nap Vickerson was a so-so hurler for the Arroyo Grande Suns from 2052 to 2062 (154-157/3.73 ERA)... he was appointed the head honcho in 2066 and lasted 9 years... Vickerson began very well with 2 winning seasons, but he never made the playoffs and really came close only one time in 2067... a former star infielder Dan Fargo will replace him... the 37-year-old Fargo was a slugging, great-fielding shortstop, but he batted only .234 in his career... otherwise, he was a Hall of Famer... he hit 469 homers and was a 4-time Gold Glover.

Colchester's Dickie Teal took over in 2068... he turned the Elites around in his first two years with 3rd-place finishes... but he never made the postseason... was under .500 the rest of the time... ending up with 102 losses in 2074... 'nuff said... Teal is toast as a manager... as a player he was just a second-string journeyman outfielder... Teal hit .261 lifetime with 68 homers in 7 seasons (2061-2067)... Colchester is hoping one of its best pitchers Denzel Durand can revamp and rebuilt the club into a consistent contender... the 50-year-old Durand was a good starter for a bad ball club from 2048 to 2058... he chalked up a 168-169 record with a pretty fair 3.71 ERA... he won 20 games on two occasions... Durand had a reputation for being a tough customer and a sometimes headhunter... it was said you did not dig in on Durand... 'twas not a healthy thing to do.

Attachment 893416
Thursday, November 8, 2074

IPA AWARDS BANQUET SLATED FOR SATURDAY AT HALL OF FAME IN MARSTON
The IPA stars will be shining brightly this coming Saturday night at the Hall of Fame in Marston... all of the major awards for 2074 will be bestowed by the Islandian Pro Alliance in a poll conducted by the Baseball News Network broadcasters and sportswriters.

Ruthlandian Union Awards

Volusia first baseman Matt Hazelton won the Ruthlandian Union batting crown... the 5th-year veteran led the league with a .361 batting average, 212 hits, 31 homers, 119 runs and 120 RBIs... he edged out second baseman Stosh Dusek of Fort Benton and first baseman Dude Gurley of Cold Creek... rookie Dusek played in 113 games, batted .356 with 210 base hits, 33 doubles, 7 triples, 2 homers, 69 RBIs, 116 runs scored and stole 47 bases.... second-year man Gurley collected 208 hits in 12 games with 37 doubles, 3 triples and 3 home runs... he drove in 113, scored 116 times and stole 4 bases.

The top winning twirlers in the RU were all rookies... Hamilton Burger of Elnora with 18 wins... Vince Bonner of Taranto and Lloyd Mason of Crystal Lake came in second with 17... Burger was 18-8 with a 3.99 ERA... Bonner posted a 17-6 mark with a 2.92 ERA and Mason was 17-7 with a 3.72 ERA.

Anxo Di Lima of Middlefield had the top ERA... he was 14-8 for the 7th place Roosters with a sparkling 2.18 ERA... rookie Glen Boston of Forest City was second with an 11-10 mark and a 2.37 ERA... third was Crystal Lake rookie Lew McGrane with a 14-4 record and a 2.52 ERA.

The 2074 RU Golden Bat went to Matt Hazelton of the Volusia Vigilantes... he led the league hitting with a .361 average... Dude Gurley of Cold Creek was second in the balloting and Cookie Garland of Crystal Lake was third... Hazelton played in 150 games, had 212 hits, 40 doubles, 9 triples, 31 homers, led the the RU with 120 RBIs and scored 119 with 21 stolen bases... in 152 games Gurley batted .355 with 202 hits, 37 doubles, 3 triples, 36 HR/113 RBI, 116 R and 4 stolen bases... Garland starred with a .351 mark in 150 games with 35 doubles, 6 triples, 20 roundtrippers, 106 ribbies and 105 runs, along with 6 SB.

Stoner closer and workhorse Darryl Edmonds was picked the best pitcher and won the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award... he compiled a 15-10 record in 97 games with a 2.95 ERA... Edmonds also chalked up 20 saves and fanned 220 batters in his 198 innings... ERA leader Anxo Di Lima of Middlefield was second in the poll with a 14-8 record and 2.18 ERA for a 6th-place club... third was Lew McGrane of Crystal Lake with a 14-4 mark and a 2.52 ERA.

The best rookies in the Ruthlandian Union were outfielder Tory Swinnerton, second sacker Sookie Murphy and pitcher Lew McGrane... LaGrange's Swinnerton topped the RU in homers with 43... he was acclaimed the RU Rookie of the Year... he batted .281 with 158 hits and 120 RBIs... Murphy of the Crystal Lake Skippers was second in the voting and stood out with 19 homers, 57 RBIs, 113 R and 44 stolen bases with a .270 BA... third place went to McGrane with 14-4 record and a fine 2.52 ERA.

The 2074 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player was Matt Hazelton of Volusia... he was also the league-leading hitter with a .361 BA and Golden Bat winner... just like the Golden Bat balloting, Dude Gurley of Cold Creek was the runner-up MVP with Cookie Garland of Crystal Lake ranking third.

And who are the RU Golden Glove Award winners in 2074?
They are the guys that steal outs... they make spectacular plays, but they also consistently make the routine plays, too... here are the defensive stalwarts that made a name for themselves with their gifted and golden gloves.

Pitcher: Hoyt Vincent (Claxton Diamonds) (1.000 FA/20 PO/17 A/4 DP) (5-20/4.08 ERA) (Only Rookie Winner)
Catcher: Dave Sewell (Crystal Lake Skippers) (126 G/.993 FA/2 PB/18.5 % RTO) (132 G/.265 BA/8 HR/56 RBI/61 R/30 SB) (2nd-Time Winner)
First Baseman: Ike Clark (Beechwood Jackrabbits) (147 G/.993 FA/125 Assists) (.262 BA/23 HR/69 RBI/74 R5 SB)
Second Baseman: Bobby Penfield (Eastshore Cotton Kings) (148 G/.979 FA/477 Assists) (.289 BA/9 HR/73 RBI/64 R/1 SB)
Third Baseman: Koy Magruder (Stoner Silver Sox) (147 G/.962 FA/352 Assists) (.311 BA/3 HR/79 RBI/60 R/3 SB)
Shortstop: Ollie Daggs (Eastshore Cotton Kings) (150 G/.960 FA/560 Assists) (.294 BA/12 HR/89 RBI/99 R/26 SB) (3rd-Time Winner)
Left Fielder: Olev Kotli (Valka Blackhawks) (145 G/.996 FA/265 PO/5 Assists) (.304 BA/15 HR/112 RBI/98 R/30 SB)
Center Fielder: Julio Santana (Fort Benton Defenders) (147 G/.996 FA/444 PO/20 Assists) (.294 BA/7 HR/68 RBI/64 R/13 SB)
Right Fielder: Billy Burbank (Stoner Silver Sox) (133 G/.996 FA/269 PO/15 Assists) (147 G/.319 BA/8 HR/94 RBI/94 R/29 SB)

Tycobbian Union Awards

Kenwood shortstop Wayde Jennings was honored for the top BA in the Tycobbian Union... Jennings hit a blistering .375 this season with 241 hits, 10 homers, 90 RBIs and scored 112 runs... he also stole 23 bases in 149 games... his 241 hits is the second best in IPA history, topped only by the legendary Jet Kazmarek with 248... that was in 2002 when Kazmarek hit a .428 for the Valmara Vipers, the only time any player has ever hit over the .400 mark... coming in second place was South Fork shortstop Carroll Ezzell with a .360 BA... Misha Makowski, the Kenwood first baseman, batted .355 and finished in the third spot... Ezzell's stats show 150 games, 218 hits, 25 doubles, 12 triples, 1 HR, 78 RBIs, 76 runs and 68 stolen bases... Makowski starred with 202 hits, 40 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HRs, 90 ribbies, 84 runs and 3 SB in 138 games.

Tuckanarra right-hander William Pike paced the TU with a 1.82 ERA... in second place was Riku Chisaka of Red Bluff at 2.31 ERA... coming in third was Luc Cochrane of Summerland with a 2.45 ERA... Pike finished with a 17-6 mark... Chisaka chalked up a 16-10 record... and Cochrane compiled a 17-3 record.

The 2074 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award went to San Alejo's talented right fielder Enrique Clarizio... in 153 games the 28-year-old veteran torched pitchers for a .311 BA, 180 hits, 35 doubles, 5 triples, 31 homers, 118 RBIs, scored 121 runs and stole 14 bases... his rookie teammate and first baseman Matty Cardoso finished second in the voting... the young first sacker had an outstanding season with a .328 BA, 180 hits, 32 roundtrippers, 121 ribbies, 98 runs and 25 stolen bases... winding up third in the Golden Bat poll was Bayview's standout third baseman Zak Smalley... he excelled this season with a .343 BA, 195 hits, 19 homers, 104 RBIs And 93 runs.

For the 4th time in his impressive career Rico Alessi of the Oxford Red Caps captured the TU Golden Arm Award... and he did it at the ripe old age of 37... and this is the second straight year he had won it... Alessi also was honored in 2060, 2062 and 2073... this season Alessi was 21-5 with a strong 2.68 ERA in 30 starts... Luc Cochrane of the Summerland Sunsets came in second in the Golden Arm vote... he stood out with a 17-3 mark and an excellent 2.45 ERA... William Pike of the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats wound up in the third spot... he posted a 17-6 record and led the Tycobbian Union with a superb 1.82 ERA.

It was quite a first year in the IPA for San Alejo first baseman Matty Cardosa... not only did he come in second to his teammate Enrique Clarizio for the TU Golden Bat trophy, Cardosa finished first in the 2074 TU Rookie of the Year competition and third in the MVP poll... in 147 games the 21-year-old sported a .328 BA with 180 hits, 32 homers, a league-leading 121 RBIs and he scored 98 runs and stole 25 bases... Cardosa beat out Blue Lake left fielder Herbie Spann and hurler Clancy Mahaffey of Chicopee for the best freshmen honor... Spann hit .283 in 150 games with 32 home runs, 100 ribbies, 91 runs and 14 stolen bases... while Mahaffey was 12-7 in 27 starts with a standout 2.47 ERA.

It was a very tight contest for the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player Award... 37-year-old Oxford pitcher Rico Alessi won it for the first time, outpacing the TU Golden Bat Enrique Clarizio and the TU Rookie of the Year Matty Cardosa, who starred for the San Alejo Montaneros this season... Alessi had a very good season, leading the IPA with 21 victories... he lost only 5 times and registered a fine 2.68 ERA, improving his career numbers to 242 wins and only 125 losses with an overall 2.83 ERA in his 17 seasons with the Red Caps... Clarizio put up some really good numbers, hitting .311 with 31 dingers, 118 RBIs and a league-leading 121 runs... Cardoza topped the TU with 121 RBIs... he batted .328 with 32 homers and scored 98 runs.

The Golden Glove Award winners don't get the recognition of the the home-run hitters, top batters and fireballing pitchers, but they are very much appreciated by managers, their teammates and the fans, who all know the value of defensive excellence... great defense makes a difference in baseball... here are this year's top glovemen in the Tycobbian Union:

Pitcher: Beau Doane (Hillsboro Blazers) (1.000 FA/16 PO/20 Assists) (14-5/3.37 ERA) (Only Rookie)
Catcher: Pieter Eikenboom (Cape Coral Hurricanes) (123 games/71 Assists/4 PB/25.3% RTO) (135 games/321 BA/3 HR/60 RBI/50 R)
First Baseman: Billy Southward (Blue Lake Blue Caps) (150 games/.997 FA/115 Assists) (151 games/.278 BA/15 HR/67 RBI/98 R/34 SB) (3rd-Time Winner)
Second Baseman: Mick Remington (Tuckanarra Tiger Cats) (143 games/.985 FA/376 Assists) (153 games/.274 BA/20 HR/85 RBI/82 R/28 SB)
Third Baseman: Arie Vermeer (Summerland Sunsets) (136 games/.983 FA/276 Assists) (148 games/.265 BA/2 HR/59 RBI/71 R/34 SB) (2nd-Time Winner)
Shortstop: Don Bair (147 games/.982 FA/602 Assists) (148 games/.231 BA/10 HR/66 RBI/64 R)
Left Fielder: Armin Hauer (Summerland Sunsets) (143 games/.990 FA/301 PO/4 Assists) (147 games/.318 BA/2 HR/59 RBI/89 R/53 SB)
Center Fielder: Harry Stansfield (North Hills Hawks) (143 games/.986 FA/396 PO/6 Assists) (152 games/.279 BA/8 HR/61 RBI/74 R/32 SB)
Right Fielder: Donald Wilhelm (Denton City Redbirds) (115 games/.992 FA/240 PO/11 Assists) (150 games/.329 BA/9 HR/66 RBI/93 R/63 SB)

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Sunday, November 11, 2074

CRYSTAL LAKE'S DILLON AND OXFORD'S HARTWIG ARE RIDING HIGH TODAY... NAMED IPA SKIPPERS OF THE YEAR
"HIred to be Fired" -- no matter how successful they are -- that is the fate of Islandian Pro Alliance managers... the wise ones quit while they are ahead.

Crystal Lake's Paul Dillon and Oxford's Dennis Hartwig are on top of the heap this season riding a huge wave of success... they are the IPA 2074 Managers of the Year... it was the first time for Dillon... Hartwig also won it in 2060... Dillon is the 2074 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year and Hartwig is the 2074 Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year.

Dillon guided his Skippers to a great season, not only winning the Ruthlandian South pennant, but also finishing off the season in the grandest of style -- Crystal Lake is the 2074 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup champion -- nope, it don't get any better than that in the Islands... Dillon really perked up the Skippers this season... a year ago they came in second to the Valka Blackhawks, 10 games behind... Crystal Lake jumped from 85-69 to 97-57 , the second-best mark in the IPA this season... only Oxford was superior at 100-54... a Pro Cup can give a skipper a little bit of security for a little bit more time... Dillon replaced Duncan Welch in 1963... he has put up 9 winning seasons in his 12-year tenure... and yep, Dillon will be back in 2075.

Hartwig was quite successful as the Red Caps skipper, winning 9 pennants in his 23 years with the club... he also captured the Pro Cup in 2061, the second time in the team history... Oxford won it the first time in 2007... Hartwig retired after at the end of the 2074 season at age 72... his last few years ended up below the .500 mark, but his managerial career did end on a happy note... the Red Caps under Hartwig went out with quite a bang... they won 100 games in his last season... Maury Statler, his pitching coach, will replace Hartwig in 2075... Statler starred for Oxford from 2054 to 2067 with a career 219-141 record and a solid 3.39 ERA in his 14 seasons.

Dillon outpolled several other other managers for this year's best manager honor... Billy Chapel led Stoner to a fine rebirth, guiding them to the Ruthlandian West title with an 88-66 mark... the Silver Sox had finished 6th the year before with a 71-83 record, 18 GB champion Volusia... third in the voting was Cold Creek skipper Sammy Wright, who sparked his team from 7th place to 3rd place in the Ruthlandian East race... they were only 64-90 the previous year, 32 GB champion Eastshore... the Raccoons improved to 83-71 this season, 10 games behind pennant-winning Eastshore.

In the Tycobbian Union Hartwig bested two outstanding skippers, Chicopee's Ryan Ledbetter and Summerland's Jayson Hallstrom... Ledbetter was the runner-up... his Braves climbed up from the 3rd spot in the standings to first place, going from 87-67 to 95-59... Hallstrom finished third in the best manager voting... his Sunsets jumped from 6th place and 71-83 to taking the TU South title with an 88-66 mark... Hallstrom also took the Sunsets to the Pro Cup Finals this year where Dillon beat him in an exciting 7-game series... this would have been the Sunsets' first-ever Pro Cup... nope, it sadly didn't happen... yep, that's real life for you, huh?

Are those San Alejo Montaneros uniforms in one of your threads? I must say that they look rather nice.

No, they may not be... I think they were on the flash drive I sent to you when you first began your IPA.

I will post them in your thread so you can download what I have.

That wraps up another IPA season... will take a few days off and then assign the new rookie class... I create good free agents, ranging from average to good... on occasion I create a few with star ratings... about every 10-15 years, I create one legend...then randomly assign them to the teams, taking into account the team's individual needs... if they need a pitcher, I assign a pitcher... if they need a shortstop, then a shortstop is assigned to them.

I place 3 new players on each team and let the AI handle them.

I do not know the new players' ratings... only their default information... the talent that a team gets is just simply the luck of the draw... this method has worked fairly well overall... I do notice that players do not play as long as they used to at a high level... but so far it is no problem.

I created 200 free agents for the IPA this afternoon... I will randomly assign 3 players to each team based on the team needs.

3 rookies per team has always given me a pretty good rookie class each year.

I will begin today to assign 3 rookies to each team.

I just completed 10 teams... retired the unproductive players on the reserve roster... also retired the older players that were on the downside of their careers and just hanging on.

I wish the AI would clean up the rosters better than it does.
I wish it would play some of the players on the reserve rosters that have some very good ratings... just don't understand this.

10 teams' rosters have been updated... the rookie class is not a strong as usual... I intend to let the AI take care it... maybe one day as old players retire, the league average rating will be closer to the average rating of the rookie players... I may have to go through a period of not getting the rookies I would like.

Only the rookie pitchers appear to make the rosters... more so than the position players... but I think this is realistic... it is easier to pitch a baseball than hit it.

Looking forward to the 2075 season!

Thank you for following the IPA, jg2977.

I appreciate it and your comments.

I've got 50 of 64 teams to update their 2075 rosters with new rookies.

Will work on that this afternoon.

20 of the 64 IPA teams have been updated with 3 new rookies each.
I also retired old and declining players that the AI keeps on the reserve and active roster.

30 of the 64 IPA teams have been updated with 3 rookies.
Older, declining and non-productive players purged from the active and reserve rosters.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Monday, September 21, 2020

IPA SCRIBES SELECT OZARKA TO TRIUMPH IN 2020 PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
Ozarka proved itself in the toughest division in the IPA, where they are seven quality clubs ... five of them finished .500 or better... Joe Mac Carney has strong batting and strong pitching, ranking first with a .294 team batting average, fifth in scoring and ninth with 150 roundtrippers... ranking first with a 3.23 team ERA... and coming in tied for third in the IPA with a sterling .977 FA, second in the TU... That's quite a ball team heading into the Pro Cup playoffs... the Naturals feature six .300 hitters in the batting order, led by RF Ken Mayberry (.328/5/49/102), 1B Kenny Rousseau (.318/40/97/100), platooners at 2B Todd Chadwick (.330/8/53/52) and Teddy Tate (.317/4/38/25), 3B Andre Dumas (.310/36/117/99), CF Ryoma Nakayama (.306/7/54/85) and SS James Couch (.305/15/82/90)... on the mound a revitalized Eddie Roberts (18-3 2.44) led the way, adding another strong arm to the already potent rotation of Benny Osterman (21-11 2.38), Yuka Nawajuk (23-9 3.30) and Howard Hutch (14-13 3.96)... Ozarka has lost in its three Pro Cup Final appearances, but is ready again to make a serious challenge... last season Rocky Rapids swept them in the championship round... this year, however, is another year... the Nats are better this year and will be the 2020 Pro Cup champion.

Special thanks to the great schedule expert of days long gone by - Le Grande Orange - hope he is well and still playing OOTP.. LGO did this beautiful logo for me... yep, LGO knew schedules and he was very talented graphically, too.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 22, 2020

2020 IPA Elite 8 Series - Game 1
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Bobcats Beat Snappers In Opener 3-0 On Ray's 4-Hitter
Playing at home in City Park Stadium, the Beechwood Bobcats beat Rocky Rapids 3-0 in game one of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... 27-year-old right-hander Billy Ray (1-0) hurled a fine 4-hitter and outpitched the Snappers Don Chaney... SS Ace Parker, RF Freddie Baxter and CF Vic Valenti led the way with 2 hits each... Baxter doubled in runs in the third and fifth innings, while Valenti singled a run in the fifth... Chaney (0-1) went the distance in defeat, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits.

Ancona Nips CL On Hoover's Homer
At drizzly Jay Loman Park in Ancona, the Red Elephants nipped Crystal Lake 4-3 on Dave Hoover's 2-run shot in the fifth inning... that gave Clete Dukas (1-0) the victory over Duncan Welch in a battle of 20-game winners... Dukas worked 8 innings for the win, permitting 3 runs on 5 hits, while Welch left after 6 innings and gave up 4 runs and 4 hits... closer Lynwood Marshall nailed down his first postseason save with a perfect ninth frame... the Crushers drew first blood with 3 runs in the top of the fourth, but Ancona came back with two in the bottom of the inning and wrapped up the game in the decisive fifth on Hoover's homer... each club got only 5 hits apiece.

Tycobbian Union

Torres Tames Suns, Z's Zap 'em 6-0 In Game 1
On an almost perfect day at Capet Stadium in Arroyo Grande, Luxora Zorro southpaw Tiago Torres tamed the tough hometown Suns 6-0 on 5 hits to take game 1 of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... Torres, who was 25-10 during the regular season for Luxora, had perfect control and walked none, while striking out 4... Earl O'Reilly (0-1) worked 8 innings in defeat, yielding 6 runs and 9 hits... SS Joaquin Malagon paced the winners with 2 runs batted in and LF Carmine Mancuso, 2B Jake Chatelain and 1B Jim Gurney each drilled 2 base hits.

Ozarka Overwhelms Arlon 13-3 In Opener
The Ozarka bats were booming today at Ellie Ewing Stadium as the Naturals bombed Arlon 13-3 in the first game of the Tycobbian Elite 8... Ozarka pounded out 14 hits, sparked by 3 RBIs apiece by SS James Couch, LF Jose Ordonez and C Frank Kiffin... they all had homers and a pair of hits, solidly backing up Eddie Roberts on the mound... the Nats got off to a great start with 4 runs in each of the first two frames... Roberts cruised to the win by scattering 10 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks... Armando Cruz (0-1) took the loss, allowing 7 runs in less than 2 innings.

35 of the 64 IPA active and reserve rosters have been updated for the 2075 season... slowly getting there.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 23, 2020

2020 IPA Elite 8 Series - Game 2
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Beechwood Wins Game 2, Panko Whips Snappers 3-1
Beechwood manager Bret George got exceptional pitching for the second day in a row in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... 22-year-old rookie left-hander Marty Panko held Rocky Rapids to 5 hits in the 3-1 triumph, giving the Bobcats a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series... Panko (1-0) and Joe Anderson (0-1) were locked in a 1-1 draw until 2B Darrell Woods busted it up with a 2-run smash in the last of the eighth... Panko went 8 innings, fanning 5 and walking none in a fine outing... closer Jeff Lyons nailed down the win with a 1-2-3 ninth... Anderson, last year's Pro Cup MVP, went all the way, giving up 8 hits and 3 runs.

Crushers Rally, 12-7 Win Evens Series
The Crystal Lake Crushers were down 7-0 after two innings, but made a great late-inning comeback to even its Elite 8 Series with Ancona at a game each with a dramatic 12-7 victory... Crystal Lake cracked 14 hits and were paced by 2B Greg Murphy with 3 hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Phil Gravelli with 3 hits and 2 RBIs and C Eddie Robertson with 4 hits, 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored... Robertson had the game's only roundtripper, a 2-run salvo in the fourth... rookie SS Larry Morris led Ancona's 8-hit attack with 2 hits and 4 runs batted in... Crystal Lake got fantastic relief work from Roger Bishop, Vincent Schmidt and Jeff Jernigan, who blanked the Snappers the final 7 innings on just 2 hits... Bishop (1-0) got the win with 4 scoreless frames and Jernigan chalked up the save with 2 scoreless innings... Spiros Zodiates (0-1) started and lost it for Rocky Rapids... the 21-year-old rookie was ripped for 8 runs in 6+ innings.

Tycobbian Union

Suns Power Past Z's 8-5, Series Tied
It took 5 home runs for Arroyo Grande to power past Luxora 8-5 and tie up the TU Elite 8 Series at a game each... C Gary Troxell walloped two of them and batted in 3 runs, 1B Sherm Miles had a 2-run clout and 3B Randy Warren and LF Eduardo Villanueva had solo blasts... Luxora kept the game close by outhitting the Suns 12 to 10... 3B Pablo Santa Cruz and C Jim Thorpe Chandler sparked them with 3 hits apiece... Sun starter Sixto Zamora (1-0) got the win, but was bashed for 12 hits and 5 runs in 8 innings... Jason Patrick closed out the win with a scoreless ninth... losing pitcher Steve Aaron (0-1) went out early, surrendering 4 runs and 4 hits in 3 innings... Aaron left trailing 4-1.

Nats Nip Champs 1-0, Osterman Strikes Out 16
Ozarka got a brilliant outing by ace Benny Osterman, who fanned 16 Arlon Champions in a 1-0 victory... Osterman walked 3 and gave up 7 hits in outdueling rookie right-hander Terry Nuxhall... in the bottom of the ninth catcher T. C. Baranski singled in pinchrunner Tony Genassi from third for the game's only run... Nuxhall was outstanding and didn't allow a run in his 8 innings, striking out 9 and allowing no walks and 7 hits... Chuck Combs (0-1) relieved him in the ninth and was the loser, giving up the game-winner on two hits and two walks... Ozarka had 9 hits to 7 for Arlon... the Nats were led by 2B Teddy Tate with 3-3 and 3B Andre Dumas with 2-4... 1B Rod MacCormack had 2 hits to top the Champs.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 24, 2020

2020 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Bobcats Headed For Sweep, Edge Snappers 4-3 in 12
The Beechwood Bobcats continued to roll past the Rocky Rapid Snappers, beating them on their own home diamond 4-3 in 12 innings on Freddie Baxter's solo homer... the Bobcats have won all three games so far in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 and could send Rocky Rapids home for the season with a win tomorrow afternoon... starters Stephen Ladd for Beechwood and Junior Noland for Rocky Rapids battled to a 3-3 draw... Ladd went 8 innings and surrendered 8 hits, while Noland worked 10 innings and allowed 11 hits... Kevin Timms (1-0) was the winning pitcher... Timms blanked the Snappers in the 11th and 12th... Earl Pitts (0-1) got the loss when he was tagged for the game-winning homer by Baxter (.333)... the Bobcats collected 15 hits and were led by CF Vic Valenti (.357), SS Ace Parker (.538) and 1B Ray Slater (.417), each with 3 hits... C Hank Bethel (.286) paced the Snappers with 2 doubles.

Lakers Skim By Red Elephants 3-2 in 10, Up 2-1 In Series
The Crystal Lake Crushers made the hometown fans happy with a 3-2 ten-inning win at Lakefront Stadium to go up two games to one in the Elite 8 Series... RF Jed Franks led off the 10th with a single, went to second on a sacrifice and scored the winning run when SS Phil Alston threw the game away with a bad throw to first base... closer Jeff Jernigan (1-0) picked up the win despite blowing the save in the ninth and allowing the Red Elephants to send it to extra innings... Jernigan was tagged for 5 hits in 2 innings... Lynwood Marshall (0-1) worked the ninth and tenth and was the loser... Ancona outhit the Crushers 10-7... SS Jimmy Bell (.231) and Franks (.556) led the winners with a pair of hits each... Alekos Kotas (.231), LF Kenny Willard (.182) and SS Alston (.286) socked 2 hits apiece for the Red Elephants... the starting pitchers did their jobs... Crystal Lake's Vic Bauer tossed 8 strong innings, limiting Ancona to 5 hits and a run... Bud Garner left trailing 2-0 after 6 frames, giving up 5 hits.

Tycobbian Union

Luxora Wins In 10, Slips By Suns 5-4
The Luxora Zorros knocked off Arroyo Grande 5-4 in 10 innings in the friendly confines of De la Vega Stadium to cop game three in the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series and take a two games to one edge... with two away in the decisive inning RF Jon Stafford slapped a double off reliever Jason Patrick... a dropped foul ball by catcher Gary Troxell gave new life to C Jim Thorpe Chandler and he promptly slammed a line drive single to center to end the contest... Patrick (0-1) took the loss and Z's closer Jay Brewer (1-0) notched the victory with a runless 10th... starters Julio Higuera for Luxora and Ernie Matthews for the Suns pitched decently and departed with a 4-4 tie... Higuera worked 9 innings, while Matthews lasted into the 10th.... Arroyo Grande has 13 hits to 12 for the Zorros... RF Stafford (.357) sparked Luxora with 2-for-5 and 2 RBIs, including a solo homer that tied it up at 4-all in the eighth... LF Carmine Mancuso (.583) smacked 4 hits for the winners... Chandler (.500) also had 2 hits... Troxell (.500) led Arroyo Grande with 3 hits, while RF Buddy Bechtel (.308) and pitcher Matthews (.500) chipped in with 2 hits each.

Nats Win 3rd Straight, Nawajuk Stops Champs 4-2
23-game winner Yuka Nawajuk stopped Arlon 4-2 to send Ozarka to a commanding 3-0 lead in the TU Elite 8 Series... on the road at Derby Downs Nawajuk (1-0) tossed a strong 4-hitter with 5 Ks and 2 bases on balls to whip Kurt DeHaan (0-1), who pitched the entire game, allowing 4 runs and 9 hits... Ozarka was led at the plate by homers by 1B Benny Rousseau (.333) and SS James Couch (.364), who got his 2nd roundtripper in the series...Couch's clout in the seventh put the Nats ahead 3-2... a triple by RF Ken Mayberry (.250) and a single by CF Ryoma Nakayama (.231) made it 4-2 in the eighth... LF Jose Ordonez (.455) also slapped 3 hits for the Naturals... 2B Ed Richter (.364) collected 3 of the 4 hits for Arlon.