2076 Tycobbian Union Title Series - Game 5
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Looks like the Racers won't go down without a fight. :eatpop:

And how about that Stonestreet performance out of the bullpen?

Yep, Stonestreet saved the day and the season with 3 shutout innings.

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IPA PRO CUP STAGE IS SET... #1 WYNNAMAC VERSUS #2 SAN ALEJO IN PRO CUP SERIES
You couldn't ask for anything more... the Pro Cup Series got the top two teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance in this year's finale... Ruthlandian Union champion Wynnamac will take on the Tycobbian Union champion San Alejo for
overall baseball supremacy in the Islands... they emerged from two tough rounds of postseason baseball and will now try to prove they are the very best in Islandian Pro Alliance baseball.

Both of them won their round-two series in six games... the Macs eliminated the Stoner Stars and San Alejo cast aside last year's Pro Cup winner Rolling Hills.

2076 IPA Title Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Tycobbian Title Series - Game 6
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2076 Ruthlandian Union Title Series - Game 6
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Good run by the Racers; must get more pitching. But that Stonestreet made a name for himself...

Now let's see what the Mounties and Macs can do. :eatpop:

San Alejo vs. Wynnamac - should be a fun one. I usually root for teams who have never won a Pro Cup, so I'm hoping that the Monties win.

Yep, pitching has always been the problem for the Racers... I don't think there ever was a year when they had good pitching.

Just might be a 7-game series.... both are good, solid all-around teams.

You and me both.

Actually, both teams have won the Pro Cup... the Macs three times... and the Monties once... I posted that they have never won one in error... I think I fixed the post.

Attachment 918446
Wednesday, October 28, 2076

PRO CUP FAVORITE MACS SLIGHT PICK OVER MONTIES IN IPA PRO CUP SERIES
The best two baseball clubs in the Islandian Pro Alliance survived the first two rounds of diamond warfare and now are pitted up against one another... #1 Wynnamac and #2 San Alejo will go toe-to-toe for the IPA Pro Cup Trophy, the ultimate prize in the Islands beginning this Saturday afternoon at Granger Field in Wynnamac... the Macs have chalked up 3 Pro Cups in its history, while the Montaneros have only collected one... the Sundowners claimed it in 2008, 2055 and 2070... IPA Pro Cup trophies are very hard to come by... San Alejo has only managed to win one... that was years ago in 2032... the oddsmakers have made Wynnamac a slight favorite... they are the choice of the baseball pundits and experts in a tight series... the best-of-seven series will probably last 6 or 7 games... the Macs get the homefield advantage... they were 96-58 in the regular season... that was the best overall record in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season... the Monties compiled the second-best mark at 94-60.

Looking at each team's assets and liabilities, here's how the two Pro Cup challengers shape up... Wynnamac hits better for average, while San Alejo has more power... call it equal overall offensively... both clubs feature a rock-solid lineup throughout the batting order... team speed is pretty equal... they both can run and steal bases... however, both teams have good catchers with good arms... the mound corps appears to be about the same in quality, both starting rotation and bullpen... the most glaring difference is in defense... the Macs are much better than the Montaneros... the Sundowner starters as a group are superior to the Montanero starters... Priit Laur, Noel Arboneaux and Don Brick are more steady and consistent than their San Alejo counterparts... give the Monties some added points in the talent evaluation because of Sebastian Solis... he is the only bonifide ace pitcher on either team... he is a stud... it will be tough for Solis to win 3 games in the series... his pitching mates Philip English and Ronald Milsap have to come up with one or 2 victories between them for San Alejo to prevail... give the Wynnamac bullpen a slight favoring with more depth... they have one more trusty arm than the Montaneros with Rufus Crafton, Jason Irons and Clarence Marlowe... San Alejo usually just depends on two relievers for most of the work, Lando Vargas and Rollie Taft... the Macs also have an advantage with a solid group of bench players... it is a little better than the Monties.

It's time to just flip a coin to choose the victor... it's just too close to call... the 2076 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series should be a crackerjack series and go to the limit of 7 games... Wynnamac and San Alejo are well-balanced teams and well-matched... it should be an exciting climax and finish to a fine season.

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Sunday, Novermber 1, 2076

SAN ALEJO HURLERS SHINE IN OPENER OF THE IPA PRO CUP SERIES
It was the pitchers that shined in the first game of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series... San Alejo starter Sebastian Solis teamed up with closer Rollie Taft to tame the Pro Cup favorite Wynnamac Sundowners in the series
opener 3-1 in 10 innings... this was the first home defeat for the Macs at Granger Field in 7 postseason games this season... previously they were 6-0.

2076 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1
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Good, close Game 1.
i was thinking the Macs in six. We'll see how the bullpen holds up.
Why did Laur get pulled so soon? Is that a common thing? Or was it an injury?
:eatpop:

An injury... it's noted in game recap.

This is not good for the Macs... Laur has been their most reliable postseason starrter... he came to the team in July... will be out about a week.

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Monday, November 2, 2076

MACS SMACK MONTIES IN GAME 2, KNOT PRO CUP SERIES AT A GAME APIECE
The Wynnamac batting corps and mound corps each did their jobs as the Sundowners came away with a split of the first two games of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series... the Macs whipped the San Alejo Montaneros
5-3 in game 2.

2076 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 2
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Wednesday, November 4, 2076

SAN ALEJO TAKES CHARGE IN PRO CUP SERIES... MOVES AHEAD OF MACS 2 GAMES TO ONE
It's still early in the IPA Pro Cup Series, but the San Alejo Montaneros chalked up a critical victory in the third game of the series, impressively beating the favored Wynnamac Sundowners 8-2 at home with the next two games also
set for the Casa de Beisbol... the Macs are only 2-5 on the road in this postseason... they are 7-1 at home at Granger Field... the Monties are 6-0 at home and 4-4 out of town.

2076 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 3
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Thursday, November 5, 2076

MACS STOP SAN ALEJO 6-GAME HOME-WINNING STREAK AND KNOT IPA PRO CUP SERIES AT 2 GAMES APIECE
The Pro Cup favorite Wynnamac Sundowners put a stop to San Alejo's postseason home-winning streak at 6 games and regained the homefield advantage in the best-of-seven IPA Pro Cup Series... it was the Macs big bats
that won the day with 15 hits in a 7-5 victory... game five will take place in San Alejo... the final two games are slated for Granger Field in Wynnamac.

2076 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 4
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Alright. The Macs made sure they could bring the series back home.
i really thought the pitching would make a difference. But it looks like the bats will have to take it for either team. :eatpop:

The Macs losing pitcher Priit Laur from their starting rotation really hurt them.

Looks like we may be headed for a 7-game series... San Alejo has Sebastian Solis for the finale... but he certainly didn't do well in game 4... blistered for 4 runs in 4 batters in the opening inning.

Wow, this series could go either way. It's a best-of-three now.

And Wynnamac has the homefield advantage, where they play much better ball... the Sundowners are 7-1 at home this postseason and just 3-5 on the road.

The Monties really need to win game 5 at the Casa de Beisbol.

The Macs have Rufus Crafton on the hill... he is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in the playoffs... Crafton has been moved into the starting rotation to replace the injured Laur... this is his first start... in 20 innings in 7 appearances he has 3 saves and has only given up 11 hits with 4 walks and 18 Ks.

While San Alejo will depend on Philip English... he has labored in the playoffs with a 6.95 ERA... in 23 innings he has allowed 26 hits with 11 walks and 11 Ks... English was much more effective in the regular season with a 10-10 mark in 56 games with a 2.53 ERA, mainly as a reliever... he started only 11 games... but he did fairly well with a 4-4 record and a 2.73 ERA.

Crafton was 9-6 during the season with a 3.13 ERA... he made 36 appearances with 13 starts... as a starter he was 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA.

Also keep in mind Wynnamac is 42-25 against southpaws... San Alejo had 3 lefties in their starting rotation.

The Sundowners have one left-handed starter, Don Brick, and one in the bullpen, Jason Irons... the Monties are only 31-35 against southpaws this season.

Looks like the Macs have the upper hand in game 5 despite being on the road.

Attachment 919516
WYNNAMAC WINS CRUCIAL GAME 5 OVER SAN ALEJO... ONE WIN AWAY FROM 4TH IPA PRO CUP TROPHY
This year's Pro Cup favorite Wynnamac surged past the San Alejo Montaneros 9-6 in crucial game five of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series and are now in the enviable position of being one win away from another Pro Cup title with two chances to win it and both games are at home where the Sundowners are 7-1 in the playoffs... on the road in the postseason the Monties are 4-4.

2076 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5
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Alright, the Macs can still win this in six. But it will have to be a slugfest. And slugfests aren't easy. :eatpop:

The Macs are on a rock 'n' sockin' roll in the last two games with 32 hits in them... the Montaneros led two games to one, but have dropped the last two 7-5 and 9-6 in hitfests.

So far in the series Wynnamac has outhit San Alejo batting average-wise... can Max Crossman (.476), Jurgen Rainer (.455), Tasmin Beasley (.381), Mike Mantle (.350), Art Call (.318), Kenny Dorcaster (.316), Ethan Youngman (.286) and Jamie Glisson (.250) continue to blister the baseball?

But San Alejo has outscored the Sundowners 25-24... Can Alberto Amigo (.500), Donny Brian (.333), Rodolfo Vera (.316) and Enrique Clarizio (.304), Bob Raven (.286) and Matty Cardoso (.263) get some help from Jerry Jeff Usher (.150) and Jamie Yocum (.077)... it will take all hands on deck for the Monteneros to rally from a 3-2 deficit.

It will also take a good effort from Ronald Milsap (1-0/2.25 ERA) and Sebastian Solis (0-1/4.50 ERA) on the mound... they need to go deep in both games for the Monties to win the their second Pro Cup... Wynnamac starters Don Brick (0-1/9.00 ERA) and Noel Arboneaux (2-0/4.85 ERA) have got to win one of the games.

Wynnamac gets the edge in bullpen... Rollie Taft (1-0/0.00 ERA/5 IP/3 games) and Noah Fairclough (0-0/0.00 ERA/5 IP/3 games) have done very well for the Sundowners... a little better than San Alejo's Clarence Marlowe (0-1/1.12 ERA/2 saves/3 games/10 IP) and Jason Irons (0-0/2.25 ERA/1 save/3 games/4 IP)... both bullpens are suspect when you have to go deeper in the relief corps... that's why it's crucial for the starters to give them 5 to 6 innings.

It will be important for each team to take the lead early in the game, so they don't have to use pinch hitters for the pitchers to get back into the game.

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Sunday, November 8, 2076

THIS AFTERNOON MACS AND MONTIES PLAY 7TH GAME FOR THE 2076 IPA PRO CUP TROPHY
Down to their last defeat of the year, the San Alejo Montaneros soared to great heights and defeated the Wynnamac Sundowners 6-5 in the sixth game of the IPA Pro Cup Series, forcing a 7th game between the two rivals...
what a special season in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the two best teams in the Islands playing a seventh game for the historic Pro Cup Trophy... this is as good as it gets... nothing better... the Pro Cup favorite Wynnamac
Sundowners will engage with the second choice, the San Alejo Montaneros, at Granger Field in Wynnamac... game seven will be for the whole kit and kaboodle -- the overall IPA championship.

Will the favored Sundowners shoot down San Alejo?
Will the Montaneros reach the mountain top and win the ultimate prize in the Islands?

2076 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 6
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How much is a ticket for Game 7 of the 2076 IPA Pro Cup Series? I want a front row seat behind the third base dugout. Actually, on second thought, give me a luxury suite for me and my friends!

I'm way ahead of you, jg2977... EC has already arranged a suite at Granger Field for you, CD, Dark Horse and careforameatball.

I appreciate that, we'll be there. Please arrange for me to be able to enter the stadium early so that I can catch batting practice balls and get autographs.

THANKS EC! i got my ticket.

The popcorn's on me. :eatpop:

Who going to furnish my all-time favorites?... peanuts, hot dogs, Crackerjacks... and of course, RC Colas and Moon Pies.

For 32 years EC was on the radio as a DJ, "Sippin' on ice-cold RC Colas, nibblin' on Moon Pies and playing the best music in town".

When I drink soda, I generally prefer orange soda, especially Sunkist Orange soda, but sometimes have drunk other brands of orange soda besides Sunkist Orange soda, or even other flavors of soda. However, I still prefer orange soda, when I drink soda, and have for a long time.

Also have liked 3 Musketeers a good deal, come to think of it, more than most, if not all, other candy bar types/brands, folks. But it's not always good to eat the sweet stuff at times, you know, health-wise, if at all. CD out.

In OOTP there's only one type of soda sold at the ballparks - lemon soda.

CD, in the Islands we prefer a Big Orange... a Big Nehi Orange (pronounced "knee high").

Or maybe an Orange Crush in the dark brown bottle.

Note the unique bottle designs.

lol

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Monday, November 9, 2076

WYNNAMAC REIGNS SUPREME IN IPA, TOPS SAN ALEJO IN 7 GAMES
It was a magnificent season for the Wynnamac Sundowners in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the Macs outlasted the San Alejo Montaneros 6-4 in the seventh game of the Pro Cup Series to capture the overall IPA league championship.

2076 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2076 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 7
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2076 Pro Cup Series Team Batting and Pitching Stats

Wynnamac batting on the left side... San Alejo on the right side

That series was an instant classic. Things must have been tense in Wynnamac when the Sundowners fell behind 4-2 in the 3rd inning, but the stadium was filled with electricity when the home team came back.

I don't remember a Pro Cup Series where a team hit as well as Wynnamac.

The best-hitting club I remember recently was the Rolling Hills Racers in the 2060s when they won 4 Pro Cups.

It's impressive what the Macs did. I'm counting 6 players with 9 hits or more, 3 players with 12 in the series. Every starting player except for one batted over .300.

I reviewed all of the Racers Pro Cup titles in the 2060s... they never hit like Wynnamac in the 4 Pro Cup years.

Do believe this was a historic year for the Macs offensively.

That Mac bullpen was heroic in game seven.

Great series. Great championship.

That was center fielder Jamie Glisson with a .250 BA... he also contributed with 5 RBIs in the 7 games... he was the #2 RBI guy in the series for the Macs... Tasmin Beasley led them with 8 ribbles in the Pro Cup Series.
Glisson's two-run single in the 5th inning of the 7th game put the Sundowners ahead to stay 5-4... you might say Glisson won the Pro Cup Trophy.

Wow, I didn't even catch that. Talk about clutch. He got hits when it mattered most.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2076

MACS BEASLEY OUTPOLLS CRAFTON FOR 2076 PRO CUP MVP
It took the whole team to win the 2076 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy this year... no one player stood clearly above everyone else... there were lots of deserving players for the IPA Pro Cup Series Most Valuable Player Award... support was split among 10 players, 6 on the champion Wynnamac Sundowners and 4 on the runner-up San Alejo Montaneros... in the final tally this year's MVP was the Macs first baseman Tasmin Beasley... the 31-year-old veteran prevailed in one of the tightest ballots in recent years... 10 players were tightly bunched with only a handfull of votes separating them... Beasley nudged past his teammate Rufus Crafton and San Alejo's Alberto Amigo for the prestigious honor... other challengers were the Macs Ethan Youngman and the Monties Matty Cardoso.

1. Tasmin Beasley (Wynnamac) - in 19 postseason games he starred by hitting .311 with 23 hits in 74 at bats... Beasley cracked 6 doubles, 2 homers, drove in 15 runs and scored 14... this year in his 8th year with the Macs he batted .307 with 19 roundtrippers and 82 RBIs in 140 games... Beasley is a career .301 batter with 70 homers and 414 RBIs... he has been a regular for only the last 4 seasons.

2. Rufus Crafton (Wynnamac) - he played a crucial role in the bullpen with 9 appearances... Crafton posted a 1-0 record with 3 saves and a stellar 1.82 ERA... the 29-year-old hurler finished 9-6 in the regular season with a 3.13 ERA in 36 games, 13 of them were starting assignments... he has been with the Sundowners for 9 seasons, compiling a 112-60 record with a 3.36 ERA... 2-time All-Star in '70 and '73.

3. Alberto Amigo (San Alejo) - in a super postseason at age 23 the second-year right fielder batted .352 in 18 games with 25 hits in 71 at bats, 1 double, 6 triples and 4 home runs with 22 runs scored and 15 knocked in... he also stole 10 bases... traditionally the MVP almost always goes to a player on the winning team... Amigo had the numbers, but didn't have the Pro Cup... but he came close to winning the Pro Cup MVP honor... he hit .268 this season with 16 homers, 50 RBIs, scored 80 runs and stole 31 bases.

4. Ethan Youngman (Wynnamac) - in only his second season in the IPA the talented second baseman led the Tycobbian Union this year with a .370 BA... he continued to prosper in the playoffs with a .364 mark (28 for 77)... Youngman collected 6 doubles, 3 triples, 1 homer, stole 11 bases, scored 15 times and drove in 12 runs in 19 postseason games... he stood out with 207 hits this season with 32 doubles, 10 triples, 15 HRs, 98 RBIs, 88 runs and 38 SBs... Youngman is 25.

5. Matty Cardoso (San Alejo) - part two of the three Amigos (Alberto Amigo, Cardoso and Enrique Clarizio) he was a crucial element in the Montaneros' postseason success with a .319 BA, 3 homers, 18 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 18 games... the 23-year-old first baseman hit .291 in his third season with the Monties... in 151 games Cardoso homered 29 times, drove in 101 runs and scored 105, while stealing 25 bases... lifetime he is batting .303 for average wih 99 roundtrippers, 345 RBIs, 309 runs and 70 SBs... Cardoso was the TU Rookie of the Year in 2074... twice an All-Star in '75 and '76.

6. Rollie Taft (San Alejo) - excellent closer in 10 postseason games, winding up with a 5-0 mark and a 1.27 ERA and 2 saves... in the regular season Taft was 19-9 as a starter/reliever with a 2.78 ERA and 10 saves in 56 games... he is 33 years old and has played with the Montaneros only 2 full seasons... Taft starred for the Mahaska Haymakers for 12 years... overall he is 173-126 with 72 saves and a 3.45 ERA... he was 135-107 with Mahaska and 38-19 with San Alejo... All-Star this year.

7. Sebastian Solis (San Alejo) - wound up 3-1 in 7 playoffs starts with a 2.68 ERA... overall he was 20-7 this year with a 2.77 ERA in 39 starting assignments... Solis is just 21 and in his second season with San Alejo... in his rookie season he was 10-8 in 28 starts with a 3.95 ERA... All-Star this season.

8. Jurgen Rainer (Wynnamac) - this fine shortstop hit .354 in the 19 playoff games with 29 hits in 82 at bats, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 10 ribbies and 12 runs scored... in 149 games Rainer batted .298 in the regular season with 8 HRs, 77 runs, 68 RBIs and 10 stolen bases... he is 27 and has played 7 seasons with the Macs... his career BA is .303 in 7 seasons with the Sundowners with 77 homers, 587 RBIs, 509 runs and 62 stolen bases... All-Star in '74.

9. Kenny Doncaster (Wynnamac) - batted .252 in 19 playoff games... plays third base... had 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 RBIs, 8 runs scored with 9 stolen bases.... during the season Doncaster hit .282 with 7 roundtrippers and 61 RBIs... he scored 86 times and stole 18 bases in 144 games... Doncaster has 6 years experience... the last 4 with Wynnamac... his first two seasons were with Hartsdale... he is 29 years old... lifetime he is hitting for a .302 BA.

10. Art Call (Wynnamac) - played 19 postseason games in left field, batted .294 with 25 hits in 85 at bats, 6 doubles, 12 runs and 4 RBIs with 6 thefts... this season Call hit .260 with 3 homers, 39 RBIs and 77 runs with 30 stolen bases... he is in his second season with the Sundowners at age 29 with a career .273 BA.

EC, how many teams have won four Pro Cups or more? Wynnamac just joined that list, correct? Also, what is Wynnamac's historical win-loss total?

IPA Playoff and Team Winning Percentage History
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