THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 20, 2037

V'S FARMER TOP ROOK IN RU
2037 was not a great year for rookies in the Islandian Pro Alliance, neither in the Ruthlandian Union, nor the Tycobbian Union... there was a dearth of young talent in the leage... Volusia's shortstop Charlie Farmer was hailed as the RU Rookie of the Year... the 25-year-old participated in 136 games, batted .283 and had 7 HRs, 58 RBIs and 78 runs... in the field Farmer showed good range.

His Volusia teammate, center fielder Cazzie Carvalho, finished second in the freshman poll with a .290 BA, 18 HRs, 67 RBIs and 52 runs... and he was strong with the glove, too... Carvalho played in 94 games.

Number three in the rookie voting was Kenny Morrow, a right-hander for the Grand City Cybercats... Morrow was 13-10 in 32 starts with a 3.67 ERA for the last place Cybercats.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 20, 2037

TURON'S STOCKSDALE WINS TU ROOKIE AWARD
One rookie stood out way above all others in the IPA... 21-year-old right-hander Nate Stocksdale chalked up a 21-7 record for the Turon Typhoons with a 3.66 ERA... no other newcomer could come close to him... Stocksdale was one of the prime reasons for the Typhoons great success this season... they were beaten out by the IPA champion San Alejo Montaneros by just one game in the Tycobbian South Division race.

A distance second in the poll was 20-year-old Jayson Hallstrom with a 13-8 mark for the Summerland Sunsets, who also gave San Alejo a tough tussle, winding up just 3 games back... right-hander Hallstrom earned a spot in the rotation in June and put up a solid 3.36 ERA in 18 starts.

No one else qualified in the TU Rookie of the Year voting.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 21, 2037

GAMBLE COPS 3RD GOLDEN BAT
For the third year in a row, the Ruthlandian Golden Bat has been won by Sugar Valley center fielder Bobby Gamble... the 24-year-old superstar had his best year ever with a .352 BA... in the RU Gamble was third in batting average and second in RBIs... and he topped the IPA in runs scored... Gamble slammed 38 HRs, drove in 136 runs and scored 128 times in 143 games... he also won the a Golden Glove for the second time in his 5 seasons... Gamble, a career .319 hitter, paced the Rattlers to a second-place finish in the RU South, just four games back of Cold Creek.

Number two in the Golden Bat race was Valka first basemen Bobby Scott, who also had a remarkable year with a .345 BA, 41 homers, 113 RBIs and 119 runs... he also walked 107 times and played in all 154 games... in spite of his offensive efforts, the Blackhawks came in seventh in the RU South.

The third-best batter in the Ruthlandian Union was Belle Plaine's Boo Boudreaux... the right-fielder led the RU with 47 homers, while playing in 144 games... Boudreaux, just 21 years of age, hit .337, batted in 125 runs and scored 111, while walking 100 times... despite his great season the Musketeers ended up seventh in the RU East Division.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 21, 2037

VIKS CULPEPPER TU GOLD BAT HONOREE
When you hit 60 homers in a season, that should be worth an award or two... Bayview's slugging second baseman Jerry Culpepper had a monster year, batting .307 in 132 games with 119 RBIs and 111 runs scored... that's why he bagged the coveted Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award for the first time in his career... only IPA legend Jack Elliott has ever had more homers in a season... Elliott holds the record with 65 in 2021 for the High Mesa Cowboys... he also clouted 61 in 2013... lifetime Culpepper is batting .292 and has hammered 209 homers in his six IPA seasons... he is only 24 years old.

Tuckanarra terror Lorne Evans, a five-time Golden Bat winner, fell a little short this season and wound up in the runner-up spot... at 32, Evans prospered with a .307 BA in 148 games, hit 40 roundtrippers, batted in 99 runs and scored 112 times... he also walked 119 times and was an important part in the Blue Jays winning the Tycobbian East Division for the fourth successive season... Evans also went over the 500-mark in homers this year, winding up with 522.

Ginza's rising star Sogo Takagi was third in the voting with a .321 BA, 35 homers, 117 RBIs and 113 runs... the talented center fielder helped the Ninjas to a fourth-place finish in the tough TU South this season... Takagi is 24 and participated in 142 games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 22, 2037

GILLESPIE RU GOLD ARMER OF THE YEAR AGAIN
For the fourth time in the last five seasons the top pitcher in the Ruthlandian Union is Cold Creek's phenomenal J. J. Gillespie... league sports media chose him as the RU Golden Arm winner... the Catamount ace tied for the most wins in the IPA with with Randell Perkins of Colfax and Dan Pitts of Elnora... all of them posted 25 victories each... Gillespie also had the top ERA in the IPA with a 2.22 ERA... overall the 32-year-old righty was 25-9 with 14 complete games in 39 starts... Gillespie sparked Cold Creek to its second consecutive RU East Division title... the Catamounts also had the most victories in the IPA with 101... in nine seasons Gillespie is 142-72 with a marvelous 2.22 ERA... his lifetime ERA is the all-time lowest.

Coming in second to Gillespie was St. John's Jeremy Kirk, who compiled a 22-14 record for the fifth-place Crusaders... Kirk had a 2.83 ERA and led the IPA with 284 strikeouts... Kirk tossed 27 complete games and 5 shutouts in 40 starts.

Waleska's Terry Richards was in third place in the Golden Arm poll... he registered a 22-11 mark for the RU South-winning Westerners with a fine 2.77 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 22, 2037

TU TOP TWIRLER IS BLUE SOX QUINN
32-year-old pitcher Frankie Quinn of the Blue Lake Blue Sox has been around quite a while in the IPA, has been an All-Star five times and now after 11 years he has finally won the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award, given annually to the top twirler in the league... Quinn went 25-13 in 2028 and didn't win, losing out to White River's Paul Sardini, who was 23-7 on the year with a great 2.12 ERA... career-wise Quinn is 212-146 with a 2.96 ERA... this year he was 22-9 with a strong 2.66 ERA, 23 complete games in 39 starting assignments, 242 Ks and had 3 shutouts... Quinn led the Blue Sox to second place in the TU North Division pennant race... they were tied with Oxford and Fairfax, 9 games back of champion North Hills.

Tuckanarra is blessed with an abundance of pitchers, but the best one is 32-year-old southpaw Bobby Reid... he had another standout year and led the Blue Jays to their fourth straight TU East Division flag with a terrific 24-7 mark with a 2.92 ERA and 264 strikeouts... Reid has won 20 or more games for the last five seasons... but he came in number two in this year's Golden Arm balloting.

Last year's Golden Arm recipient Junior Bristow, a teammate of Tuckanarra's Reid, was the third-highest votegetter this year... Bristow was 21-13 with 30 complete games and a 2.66 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 23, 2037

CC'S GILLESPIE ADDS SECOND RU MVP
2037 has truly been a Golden Year for Cold Creek's J. J. Gillespie... not only did he win his fifth Golden Arm this season, but today he was named the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player... this is the second time Gillespie has captured this prestigious honor... he also won it in 2033... Gillespie piled up the most victories in the IPA this season and posted the best ERA... the gifted right-hander was 25-9 with a superb 2.22 ERA and sparked the Catamounts to the best record in the IPA with 101 wins... Cold Creek won its division for the second successive season.

Gillespie had a lot of competition this year from Sugar Valley's great Bobby Gamble, who blistered Ruthlandian pitchers for a .352 BA, 38 HRs, 136 RBIs and 128 runs, while stealing 52 bases and walking 100 times... his heroics helped the Rattlers to a tie for second with Elnora in the really rough RU East, won by Cold Creek by 4 games in a season-long scuffle.

Kilkenny's Fred Doyle wound up in third place in the RU MVP selection... it was a splendid season for the 32-year-old journeyman hurler... he went 21-13 for the year with a 2.82 ERA and led the Cats to second place in the RU North... they had a good chance to win the pennant, but swooned in September and lost by five games to LaGrange... Doyle was just 37-56 going into this season... he has been with Kilkenny for six years.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 23, 2037

TUCKS REID TAKES TU MVP
Tuckanarra's Bobby Reid came in second in the Golden Arm race, but still merited a pretty fair consolation prize - the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player Award... Reid got the award over Turon's super shortstop C. C. Kingsford and Tuckanarra's legendary slugger Lorne Evans... Reid compiled a superlative 24-9 record with a 2.92 ERA and paced them to a fourth consecutive TU East Division title... for the fifth season in a row Reid has totaled 20 or more victories... overall he is 141-80 with a brilliant 2.65 ERA for his nine IPA seasons... this was the first time in Reid's career he has won the MVP.

Kingsford was the main kingpin for the Turon Typhoons, who almost beat out the mighty San Alejo Montaneros for the Tycobbian South pennant... the Typhoons came in second, just one game behind in the race... Kingsford led the Tycobbian Union with 222 hits, which was second in the IPA to Gerry Sives of Colfax, who had 226... Kingsford had the third-best batting average in the IPA with a .362 average... Kingsford was tops in the TU in average... in 143 games he collected 26 HRs, batted in 109 runs and scored 99 times... he is the son of IPA Hall-of-Famer Clyde Kingsford... in his four seasons with Turon Kingsford has a .330 BA.

In third place in the MVP race was Tuckanarra's fabulous Lorne Evans... he has won it four times in his career... this season in 148 games Evans batted .309 with 40 roundtrippers, 99 RBIs, 122 runs and walked 119 times... for the fourth year in a row the Blue Jays copped the TU East Division flag.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 24, 2037

RU GIVES OUT GOLDEN GLOVES
The Ruthlandian Union announced the Golden Glove team for 2037. There were five repeat winners. Larry Romney is tops with five Golden Gloves, Scotty Lagrange has three, and double winners are Jojo DeLucca, Leevi Viru and Chet Penn. No rookies were selected this year.

Pitcher: Brady Bell (Fort Benton Defenders) (18-12/4.00) 1.000
Catcher: Ron Marlowe (Far Mountain Redhawks) (.271/25/53/77) (.995 FA/2 PB/28.9% RTO)
First Baseman: Jojo DeLucca (Claxton Diamonds) (.311/34/108/111) .994 FA
Second Baseman: Gary Colton (Claxton Diamonds) (.291/22/113/91) .988 FA
Third Baseman: Leevi Viru (Kilkenny Cats) (.258/21/74/78) .970 FA
Shortstop: Larry Romney (Eastshore Elegants) (.260/16/80/73) .971 FA
Left Fielder: Chet Penn (Colfax Blasters) (.378/25/125/102) .994 FA
Center Fielder: Scotty Lagrange (Eastshore Elegants) (.285/32/105/1.0) .995 FA
Right Fielder: Bobby Gamble (Sugar Valley Rattlers) (.352/38/136/128) .990 FA

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 24, 2037

TU HONORS OUTSTANDING DEFENDERS
The Tycobbian Union Golden Glovers have been chosen. All except Eddie Darby are first-time recipients. Darby has been honored five times in his career, four times at second base and one time at shortstop. There were no rookies on the TU squad.

Pitcher: Ryan Ledbetter (Chicopee Braves) (12-13/4.43) 1.000 FA
Catcher: Mikhail Romanovsky (North Hills Hawks) (.247/24/82/75) (.998 FA/2 PB/33.0% RTO)
First Baseman: Karl Jankauskas (East Point Panthers) (.252/37/105/89) .993 FA
Second Baseman: Todd Goodwin (Chicopee Braves) (.259/14/57/87) .986 FA
Third Baseman: Kurt Gustavsen (Chicopee Braves) (.287/22/91/77) .963 FA
Shortstop: Eddie Darby (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) (.268/11/69/81) .980 FA
Left Fielder: Sadaharu Uchiyama (Ginza Ninjas) (.304/13/79/88) .997 FA
Center Fielder: Ike Sweetwater (Red Bluff Red Sox) (.292/31/83/98) .986 FA
Right Fielder: Gregorio Oliviera (Arroyo Grande Suns) (.276/22/70/72) 1.000 FA

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 25, 2037

CC 'CATS LEMIEUX SKIPPER OF THE YEAR AGAIN
For the second year in a row Cold Creek's Scoop Lemieux has been chosen Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year. He edged out Waleska's Roy Hobbs for the honor. The Cold Creek Catamounts captured the RU East Division for the second straight season as the club improved from 93-62 to 101-53. Lemieux had to beat back two outstanding teams to win it this year. Sugar Valley and Elnora both won 97 games and gave the Catamounts the fight of their life before succumbing. Cold Creek led the IPA with 101 victories.

Hobbs, an IPA Hall-of-Fame player, took his Waleska Westerners from second place and an 82-72 mark to the RU South Division crown with a 93-61 record. Elnora's Leon Carter got a lot of support, too. He came in third in poll. His All-Stars went from sixth place to a second-place tie this year. Last year Elnora was only 77-77. They were noticeably better in 2037 with a 97-57 mark. Sugar Valley's Gibby Bobkins came in a distance fourth in the balloting. The Rattlers improved from 92-63 to 97-57, but still finished second in the RU East for the third successive season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 25, 2037

MONTIES' HERRERA WIN THIRD TU SKIPPER TROPHY
This year's Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year race was a tight one between San Alejo's Alberto Herrera, Turon's Alan Hansen, Tuckanarra's Lefty Stevens and La Claire's Zeppy Deshotel. When the vote came in, Herrera won it for the second consecutive year and the third time in his career. He previously won it in 2032 and 2035. Last year the Montaneros sunk to fifth place, 22 games out of first. This year they shot up to 94-60 and hauled in the Tycobbian South Division crown.

The Turon Typhoons were much improved this year under Alan Hansen. They came in third in 2036 with an 84-70 record, 12 games out of first. They rose up to 93-61 this season, winding up a very close second to San Alejo, just one game back in the race. Tuckanarra had another superlative season with Carlton "Lefty" Stevens at the helm. For the second year in a row the Blue Jays won 99 games and again won the TU East. It's the fourth straight year the Bluebirds have done that. Fourth in the best-manager poll was Zeppy Deshotel of the La Claire Lynx, who climbed from third place in the TU West, 14 games behind, to the top spot. The Lynx chalked up an 80-74 mark in 2036 and bettered it with an 89-65 record this year.

That will do it for year 2037 in the Islandian Pro Alliance.
I'll begin work on the new season in a week or so.

Until then I will take a break from it.

Don't worry if the IPA drops off page one.

I plan to continue at least through the 2050 season. At that time I will create a new Dynasty using OOTP14. I'm pretty sure I will only have 12-16 teams in the new Dynasty. 64 teams is entirely too much to cover.

Thanks to all of you who continue to follow the IPA.

I much appreciated it.

After a short break from the IPA, I will now get ready for season number 2038.
It will take a week or so to get it ready.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, February 1, 2038

DEVLIN, DILLINGER LEAD LIST OF IPA HOF-ERS
Four great ballplayers will be inducted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame at the ceremonies scheduled for March 1 at the baseball shrine in Marston, Ruthlandia. This year's honorees will be Flash Devlin, Loco Dillinger, James Couch and Crash Davis.

Flash Devlin starred for 19 seasons at third and shortstop with the La Claire Lynx in the Tycobbian West Division from 2013 to 2031, compiled a lifetime .317 BA with 559 HRs, 1799 RBIs and 1995 runs. Devlin ranks 13th all-time in the IPA in batting average, 10th in homers, 9th in RBIs and 11th in runs scored. He was a 13-time All-Star. Devlin was 37 when he retired and collected over 3,000 hits.

Outfielder Loco Dillinger was a career .316 hitter for Waleska in the Ruthlandian South Division, playing from 2023 until 2037. Dillinger won the RU Golden Bat five times in his illustrious career and captured the league MVP trophy twice in back-to-back seasons in 2027 and 2028. He was also named the Rookie of the Year in 2023. Nine times Dillinger was an All-Star. Dillinger helped the Westerners win the IPA Pro Cup in 2028 and three division titles. The gifted slugger went deep 479 times, drove in 1551 runs and tallied 1379 runs in a 15-year career. Dillinger called it quits this year at mid-season, saying his legs gave out on him.

Shortstop par excellence James Couch of the Ozarka Naturals was selected to the Tycobbian All-Stars 10 times from 2015 to 2036. He played for 22 seasons with .307 BA, 3227 hits, 231 roundtrippers, scored 1601 runs and batted in 1339. Couch made the Golden Glove squad on two occasions. The Nats won 8 TU East Division flags during his tenure. Couch played in the postseason 9 times, but never got a ring. He batted .295 in 104 games with 7 homers, 56 RBIs and 55 runs.

Crash Davis played 17 of his 21-year career with the Ginza Ninjas of the Tycobbian South Division, helping them haul in five pennants as a fine defensive catcher and solid hitter. He played in the IPA from 2013 to 2033, retiring at age 39. Davis posted a .304 lifetime BA with 3018 base hits, 402 homers, 1556 RBIs and scored 1656 runs. 15 times he was picked to play in the IPA All-Star game. David was a four-time Golden Glover.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 4, 2038

FORT BENTON, FAIRFAX FATED TO BE IN PRO CUP
The Islandian Times released its annual preview of the Islandian Pro Alliance today and gave the nod to the Fort Benton Defenders in the Ruthlandian Union and the Fairfax Frogs in the Tycobbian Union. According the sports scribes and broadcasters, those two clubs have the best chance of playing for the Pro Cup crown come October. The Cold Creek Catamounts and Wynnamac Sundowners could challenge Fort Benton, while the Ozarka Naturals, Turon Typhoons and Denton City Redbirds are given the best chance of contending with Fairfax.

For the fourth straight season LaGrange is predicted to win the Ruthlandian North Division, fighting off the Kilkenny Cats and the Far Mountain Redhawks... defending IPA champion Waleska is favored in the RU South, but it will have a tight battle on its hands from San Dimas and St. John.

2038 Ruthlandian East and West Preseason Predictions


The Ruthlandian East is shaping up to be another grand pennant race this year with the defending division winner Cold Creek going at it with upstart Wynnamac in a razor-thin battle... Sugar Valley and Beechwood could be in the mix as well... don't completely count out Eastshore and Elnora... six clubs in the IPA's toughest division could have winning records.

Over in the RU West Division it looks like it will be an easy win this year for the Fort Benton Defenders... Sligo and Middlefield will be distant challengers.

2038 Tycobbian North and South Preseason Predictions

The baseball analysts are forecasting Fairfax in a breeze in the Tycobbian North Division... the Frogs are big favorite to knock off the North Hills Hawks, who have taken four flags in a row... no one else will be in striking distance.

In the Tycobbian South Division the outlook is for a three-team race between favored Turon, last year's champ San Alejo and up-and-coming Cape Coral.

2038 Tycobbian East and West Division Preseason Predictions

The Ozarka Naturals have been deemed the best team in the Tycobbian East Division this season... and they just might win handily over the East Point Panthers... mighty Tuckanarra, who has chalked up pennants the last four years in a row is given only an outside shot at the title.

A tight race is predicted for the Tycobbian West Division between the Denton City Redbirds and the La Claire Lynx, who copped the crown last year... the Arlon Champions will be back in the pack along with the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, June 20, 2038

38TH ALL-STAR CLASSIC SET FOR WALESKA WEDNESDAY
Once again it is time to honor the elite players in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The league office today announced the names of the players selected to play in the annual league All-Star classic. Game 38 will be played this Wednesday afternoon at Westerner Field, the home of the defending IPA Pro Cup champion Waleska. The Ruthlandian Stars have won the game the last two years, but trail the Tycobbian Stars 24-13 in the series.

Four-time honorees J. J. Gillespie and Cody Hanks will lead Ruthlandian with help from Brad Alexander, Roger Hobbs, Johnny Petrak, Cody Hanks and Chet Penn, who have made the team three times apiece.

Heading up the Tycobbian All-Stars will be six-time selection Pat Kovacs, five-time picks Dixie Brooks and Jerry Culpepper, four-time selection Adam Thurgood and three-time All-Stars Kurt Gustavsen, Todd Dubbins and William Snyder.

The skippers will be Roy Hobbs of the IPA champion Waleska Westerners for the RU All-Stars and Alberto Herrera of the Pro Cup runner-up San Alejo Montaneros guiding the TU All-Stars.

Representing the Ruthlandian Union:

SP Lou Page (STJ) (8-3/1.55)
SP J. J. Gillespie (CCR) (9-6/2.04)
SP Maury Patterson (BEE) (12-4/2.22)
SP Frankie Moreland (FM) (13-4/2.57)
SP Basil Newchurch (GLS) (14-5/2.95)
SP Jeremy Blanchard (SV) (12-3/3.52)
SP Christopher Dunsberry (SV) (13-5/3.25)
SP Dave Gronkowski (VLK) (13-3/3.39)
C Barney Swindell (STO) (.294/21/57/35)
C Brad Alexander (MDF) (.319/19/55/44)
C Hunter Glenholmes (FTB) (.295/5/25/48)
1B Jojo DeLucca (CLX) (.355/15/63/69)
1B Denny Simmons (SLI) (.331/17/56/57)
2B Roger Hobbs (SV) (.337/19/79/54)
2B John Petrak (ETS) (.316/14/56/46)
3B Leonard Purkey (SD) (.339/15/56/51)
3B Philip DeWey (MAR) (.302/18/55/45)
SS Stevie Wynn (CLX) (.(.328/5/31/42)
SS Gerry Sives (CFX) (.322/3/32/40)
SS Cody Hanks (BEE) (.349/14/58/53)
LF Foxey Fuchs (CLX) (.362/19/56/58)
LF Chet Penn (CFX) (.326/13/57/41)
LF Harman Silver (FM) (.347/12/40/44)
CF Travis Houston (GLS) (.333/16/50/60)
CF Art Kelley (STJ) (.338/17/45/50)
CF Howie Baldwin (BEE) (.291/22/62/62)
RF Nicky Farrugia (STJ) (.317/18/65/45)
RF Kenny Mitzusaka (VLK) (.329/10/49/45)


Participating for the Tycobbian Union:

SP Armin Boehm (TUR) (13-2/2.40)
SP Pat Kovacs (LC) (13-6/2.13)
SP Jeff Buttrum (TUC) (12-6/2.99)
SP Clyde Engstrom (TUR) (13-4/2.67)
SP Mark Pennington (MAH) (12-5/2.99)
SP Dixie Brooks (EP) (10-5/2.27)
SP Frankie Lambert (NH) (10-2/1.77)
MR Terry Baird (LC) (4-0/0.77/14 saves)
C Filipe Zamora (SA) (.315/16/52/48)
C Felton Welch (DC) (.348/17/58/40)
C Stevie Dee Daniels (WR) (.295/15/47/34)
1B Stan Ferguson (CC) (.304/12/68/33)
1B Ted Hatch (SA) (.314/20/47/35)
2B Jerry Culpepper (BAY) (.262/28/62/49)
2B Mikk Kukk (MAH) (.336/9/46/39)
3B Kurt Gustavsen (CHI) (.337/14/49/37)
3B Todd Dubbins (LUX) (.339/14/46/42)
SS Jess Wilkerson (SF) (.335/11/39/42)
SS Clifford Coleman (HM) (.335/14/39/46)
SS Duffy Morrison (OZK) (.305/10/46/39)
LF Adam Thurgood (NH) (.309/17/56/45)
LF Spade Weldon (TUC) (.353/8/46/40)
LF Charley Hastings (ARL) (.325/10/43/51)
CF J. P. Trevenot (TUR) (.343/17/38/56)
CF Eric Kusek (FFX) (.343/3/31/54)
RF William Snyder (CC) (.367/13/41/46)
RF Blake Barrister (CCH) (.295/23/63/55)
RF Guido Gervasio (TUR) (.286/13/51/45)