44 team rosters of 64 have been updated.

In order to get decent rookies, I must manually create them. The AI doesn't do a very good job.

53 of the 64 team rosters have now been updated.

Only 11 more to go and then it's season number 39 of the Islandian Pro Alliance.

IPA season number 39 is ready to go.

This season I will give a monthly report of each team and each division. This may help me become better immersed in the league.

Any suggestions to improve the coverage of the league are welcome.

What would you like to have included in the coverage?

Normally I do a preseason poll, then a recap of the first half of the season, announce the All-Stars and post first-half individual batting and pitching leaders. I cover the All-Star game in detail, then play out the second half of the year. Year-end stats are posted, followed by a Pro Cup preview, recap of each playoff game, and finally announcing the Pro Cup MVP, Golden Glovers, Golden Bat and Golden Arm winners, league MVPs and Managers of the Year.

I also announce the Hall of Fame inductees, if anyone is elected.
During the playoffs I give the town histories of some of the teams in a series called "Around the Town in the IPA".

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, March 5, 2039

TURON, SUGAR VALLEY PRO CUP PICKS
Spring has sprung in Islandia where everybody's attention turns once again to baseball. The Islandian Pro Alliance is beginning its 39th season in April, but first the teams have to get in shape for the coming season with a month's slate of Spring Training games. The North Hills Hawks of the Tycobbian Union will try to fend off 63 other clubs and will attempt to snare its fourth Pro Cup crown in the last six seasons.

In The Islandian Times annual survey the baseball gurus are going with the Turon Typhoons and the Sugar Valley Rattlers as the mostly likely contenders for the IPA title. The Typhoons have been made the Pro Cup favorite and are favored to edge out the Rattlers in IPA Finals.

Turon's main competition in the Tycobbian Union will probably come from San Alejo, North Hills and up-and-coming Red Bluff and Arlon. In the Ruthlanian arena, the tough Cold Creek Catamounts and Colfax Blasters are still around and potent enough to challenge Sugar Valley.

In the Ruthlandian North, Kilkenny will beat out Ancona, Taranto and defending division champion Far Mountain. In the RU South Waleska gets the call over San Dimas, Grand City and Crystal Lake. Last year's winner Claxton is nowhere in sight this season. It looks like a two-team tussle in the RU East between Sugar Valley and Cold Creek. The Rattlers are the reigning division winner. Out West the Colfax Blasters should take home its second consecutive division flag, whipping Fort Benton and Sligo.

The North Hills Hawks are forecast to take its sixth straight Tycobbian North title, but is expected to have a lot of challengers in Mahaska, White River, Fairfax and Hartsdale. In the TU South the nod goes to Turon over the San Alejo Montaneros. The Typhoons won last year. Cinderella Red Bluff is the surprise selection in the TU East over perennial powers Tuckanarra and East Point. The baseball pronosticators say that the Arlon Champions are ready to dethrone last season's TU West titlist La Claire this year. Denton City, Rolling Hills and Kenwood will be in the hunt, too.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

DEFENDING CHAMP REDHAWKS LEAD RU NORTH
After the first month of play, last year's Ruthlandian North Division winner Far Mountain has picked up where it left off last year... the Redhawks are up by two games over Ancona, three ahead of preseason favorite Kilkenny and four in front of fourth place Taranto and LaGrange.

1. Far Mountain (16-9) - Great pitching by Karl Nordheim (6-0/1.61), Chad Cummings (5-1/1.68) and Dennis Sasek (4-2/3.00) got the Redhawks off to a great start in April... team ERA is 2.76 (5th)... top bats are CF Gilbert Bauer (.311/4/17/19), 1B John Burrell (.281/5/12/12) and RF Bert Richter (.308/5/10/9)... team BA is only .251 (22nd)... good defense (.989 FA).

2. Ancona (14-9/2 GB) - Fine pitching and excellent hitting and defense got the Red Elephants off in the right direction... they are hitting .286 (3rd) and posted a 2.75 ERA (4th) with a strong .979 FA... 3B Tommy Richardson (.392/2nd) had a monster month with 6 HRs and 30 RBIs (1st-tied)... LF John Lewis (.375) scored 16 runs and batted in 9... RF Pettis Pentleton (.315) added 12 RBIs and scored 16 times... mound standouts are Jock Fraser (3-1/3.07), Lucian Kairis (3-3/2.52), Clyde Fairchild (3-3/2.85) and Pablo Pilar (3-3/2.87).

3. Kilkenny (13-12/3 GB)- Cats have weak hitting (.244/27th), but very good pitching (3.14/7th)... along with a super .980 FA... Dave Whitaker (4-3/1.68) and Judson Davis (3-1/2.45) are top starters... old reliable 3B Leevi Viru (.279) is bat leader with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs... CF Barry Dunne (.407) has the best average and has scored 13 runs and stolen 11 bases.

4. Taranto (12-13/4 GB) - Tars are less than average on the hill (4.07 ERA) and at the plate (.252 BA)... poor defense with a .969 FA... Tommy Brown (4-1/3.74) leads club in wins... most effective has been Ric Vizzini (2-4/2.72)... bullpen standout has been Fast Eddy Romano (2-0/0.75) with 4 saves... only productive bat has been LF Derrick Damon with a .299 BA, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs and 12 runs.

4. LaGrange (12-13/4 GB) - Sports have good pitching (3.23 ERA-9th), but don't score well (.259 BA-16th)... have lousy fielding with a .967 FA... top starters are Hot Dog Huxtable (3-1/2.45) and Walt Thurber (3-2/2.77)... Mike York (1-3/2.27) and Arnie Ayers (1-0/2.57) are the other starters... 3B Claude DesJardins is tops with a .368 BA and 18 RBIs... CF Deron Barkley has 7 HRs, 18 runs with a .279 BA... RF Charley Bacque is off to a good start with a .349 BA, 11 RBIs and 11 runs.

6. Valmara (9-16/7 GB) - Bad month for the Vipers, who didn't do much very well... Matt Reeves (4-2/3.22) and Harold Hudson (2-3/2.37) looked good on the mound... LF Gary Peterson stood out in the batter's box with a .385 BA, 5 HRs, 13 RBIs and 10 runs.

6. Glasco (9-16/7 GB) - Athletics had a bad April, too... defense is atrocious with a .958 FA... offense and mound corps not so hot either... Bob Bondy (2-1/0.34) stood out in 3 starts... rest of staff was mediocre to bad... most dependable bats were CF Travis Houston (.309/5/14/12), 2B Taylor Hampshire (.253/1/15/8), RF Tim Jarvis (.292/2/9/15) and 1B Greg Stone (.286/2/10/16)... LF Galen Watson had 4 HRs, 14 RBIs and 15 runs, but hit only .247.

8. Ranford (8-17/8 GB) - Seems to be another bad year for the Bulls, who have been stuck near the bottom the last five seasons since winning the division in 2034... surprisingly they sport a magnificent 2.64 ERA (2nd), but are hitting a miserable .220 (32nd)... defensively they are good with a .975 FA... Ralph Hawk (4-2/1.69) tops the team on the hill... hard-luck Ronnie Schroeder (1-5/2.73) has had no run support... the other two starters, Frank Yosarian (1-5/3.79) and Miguel Mandina (0-3/3.33), have made quality starts, but don't have a lot to show for it... 3B Doug Greensberry (.247) tops the team with 14 RBIs... 1B Joey Gompers (.194) is the club leader with 4 HRs and 11 RBIs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

WESTERNERS, CRUSADERS BEST IN RU SOUTH
Only two clubs have winning records in the first month of play in the Ruthlandian South... preseason favorite Waleska has a slight one-game edge over the St. John Crusaders... defending division champ Claxton is seven games back and not expected to contend this year.

1. Waleska (17-8) - The Westerners have the basically the same team that took the IPA Pro Cup two seasons ago and they are playing like champions again with superb pitching and quality hitting... Waleska is first with a brilliant 2.29 team ERA and ranks fifth in batting with a .279 mark... the only weakness is on defense (.967 FA)... three starters have been lights out so far... Terry Richards (4-1/2.01), Craig Nash (4-1/2.13) and Tony Haskell (3-1/2.19) have been magnificent... the bullpen, led by Niles Nielsen (1-0/0.87/3 saves) has been even better with a 1.37 ERA (1st)... hitters are in abundance, too... led by RF Niles Gregory (.298) 6 HRs, 20 RBIs and 15 runs... 2B Joey Harris (.351) with 8 RBIs and 16 runs... LF Teke Holmes (.360) with 10 RBIs and 9 runs... SS Bobby Denton (.361) with 3 HRs, 9 RBIs and 9 runs... CF Jon Lassiter (.320) with 3 HRs, 12 runs and 7 RBIs... and 1B Shayn Lambert (.307) with 12 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

2. St. John (16-9/1 GB) - The Crusaders played second fiddle to the Claxton Diamonds last season and are ready to move up in class... they have strong starters with a 2.69 team ERA (3rd), better-than-average scoring (9th), but need lots of improvement on defense with a poor .967 FA... the foursome of Vito Sanfratello (4-0/2.70), Lou Neuman (4-1/2.95), Jeremy Kirk (4-2/1.65) and Emile Papajohn (3-3/3.19) have been outstanding... top hitters BA-wise are Nicky Farrugia (.353) and 3B Bobby Joe Daniel (.330)... Farrugia leads the team with 8 homers and 18 RBIs... CF Art Kelley (.264) has collected 4 homers and driven in 15 runs... two newcomers to the line-up have contributed well... rookie SS Tab Allison (.274/0/9/14) and LF Frankie D'Amato (.266/1/10/15).

3. Belair Beach (12-13/5 GB) - The Sunbirds were cellar-dwellers last year, but have vastly improved over last year with fine pitching (3.21/8th) and hitting (.269/10th)... defensively they are average with a .972 FA... Todd Clyman paces the pitchers with a 4-2 mark and an impressive 1.93 ERA, followed by Stefan Zeeman (3-4/3.00) and Joel Gregg (2-3/3.00)... Jose Munoz (0-0/2.84/2 saves) and Jody Younger (1-2/2.66) anchor the bullpen... 1B Jason Butler (.303) is the offensive leader with 11 homers, 20 RBIs and 15 runs... Butler is tied with Clay Johnston of High Mesa and Tyler White of Sugar Valley for the IPA HR lead... other contributors are CF Bobby Meusel (.287/3/10/12), SS Lanny Lansberry (.338/2/8/15), 2B Vander Heggen (.325/4/12/12)... rookie C Eddy Schrecker has been a pleasant surprise with a .309 BA.

4. Crystal Lake (11-14/6 GB) - The Crushers have horrendous pitching with a 5.58 team ERA (32nd), the worst in the entire IPA, but somehow have managed to stay close to the .500 mark... only one starter has a winning record... Danny Darby is 3-2 with a poor 4.60 ERA, but he is the best of the lot... Eddie Lane (0-0/2.08/1 save) and Clyde Thompson (2-0/2.38/4 saves) have been strong relievers... veteran stars RF Paul Dillon (.316/6/13/15) and C Stan Stanek (.274/4/15/12) are the offensive backbone with a little help from four rookies: 2B Jim Henley (.325/1/10/11), CF Jesse Walker (.250/1/4/13), 1B Daryl Brady (.279/2/9/7) and 3B Marv Roy (.219/3/8/9)... they are strong defensively with a .978 FA.

5. Valka (10-15/7 GB) - The Blackhawks have been picked for the lower rungs of the RU South and so far are living up to it... however they have fair pitching with a 4.02 team ERA (22nd) and good home-run power (25 HRs-8th tied)... Valka is marvelous with the gloves, chalking up a .983 FA, the best in the IPA, tied with Fairfax in the Tycobbian Union... four solid vets spark the offense, headed up by LF Gilberto Duarte (.371/3/6/12), 1B Bobby Scott (.326/5/13/13) and RF Kenny Mitzusaka (.324/1/8/13) and 3B Bill Bradford (.323/0/6/8)... 20-game winner from last year Dave Gronkowski leads the mound staff with a 4-3 record and a 4.05 ERA... Travis Saunders is 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA... Julien Rouse (1-1/1.17/1 save) and Duncan Duplessis (1-1/2.30) are the top relievers.

5. San Dimas (10-15/7 GB) - The Rancheros were the second pick to Waleska in the preseason poll, but they have been left at the starting gate... the hitters are still better than the pitchers... RF Denny Hendrix (.313) has 4 home runs and 16 RBIs, 3B Leonard Purkey (.303) has 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 15 runs and CF Klaus Stordahl (.296) has 3 roundtrippers and scored 14 runs... the RBI leader is LF Austin Epps (.260) with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs... the only quality pitcher has been reliever Milt Kirkland, who is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 7 relief appearances.

5. Claxton (10-15/7 GB) - Last season's RU South Division titlist Claxton has slumped badly at the plate in the first month of the year... the Diamonds are batting only .234 (30th)... last year they were one of the best with a .285 mark... superstar 1B Jojo DeLucca is down from .340 to .295, LF Foxy Fuchs from .335 to .230, C Jaan Hoogendoorn from .299 to .209 and 2B Gary Colton from .301 to .233... but DeLucca has ripped 8 homers and driven in 17 runs... and CF Ivan Krause has helped out with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs... but the pitching corps has held up pretty well... Abe Shiffman (3-3/2.42), Stan Yudesh (3-3/4.14) and Sam Nathan (2-4/3.25) have given them quality starts... newcomer from Chicopee (TU) Ben Itaha (2-0/0.48) has done well in the bullpen, along with Maxie Richter (0-1/0.00)... it could be just a matter of time till the Diamonds sparkle on the scoreboard and the win column.

8. Grand City (8-17/9 GB) - The Cybercats are another club that were rated well by the preseason predictions, fated to come in third place, but they have stumbled badly in the early stages... for the last five seasons they have camped out near the bottom of the division and so far this year nothing seems to have changed... hitting is way off and pitching is only mediocre... Grand City is batting only .240 (28th) with a 4.18 team ERA (25th)... however, C Iggy Van Dyck (.346/4/12/16), 3B Mickey Etheridge (.283/6/12/12) and SS Teddy Grantham (.301/3/10/8) have done their work at the plate, they just need more help... strikeout king Kenny Morrow is still at it, but he has suffered in the won-lost department... he is only 2-5 with a 2.98 ERA and 52 Ks in 54 innings... he is tops in the Ruthlandian Union in strikeouts and number two in the IPA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

COLD CREEK ATOP RU EAST
The Cold Creek Catamounts are atop the Ruthlandian East Division after the first month of play... they hold a two-game lead over Elnora and Belle Plaine... with preseason favorite and Sugar Valley trailing by three games.

1. Cold Creek (16-9) - Pitching-rich Cold Creek has won two of the last three RU East flags and is forecast to battle defending division champ Sugar Valley again this year.
Top Pitchers: starters J. J. Gillespie (4-1/3.48), Rob Hutchins (2-1/2.63), Joey Baker (2-2/2.72), George Bailey (2-2/3.18)... and reliever Pete Heller (2-1/1.29/5 saves)
Top Batters: RF Ken Brennan (.348/0/14/15), SS Jeremy Hall (.330/1/16/20), CF Guy St. Laurent (.302/5/17/12), 2B Pat Ellis (.290/3/8/11)

2. Elnora (14-11/2 GB) - Good bats and improved pitching should keep the All-Stars in contention this year.
Top Pitchers: Rick Lowe (3-2/2.92), Dan Pitts (4-3/3.28), Stan Kivas (2-0/2.52)
Top Batters: 2B Akihiro Samurakami (.390/2/12/13), C Cannon Johnson (.337/4/16/16), CF Clive Kenyon (.315/3/10/15), 1B Larry Mosley (.316/2/9/13)... 3B Cooter Whitter is batting only .200, but has 5 HRs and 14 RBIs.

2. Belle Plaine (14-11/2 GB) - The perennial also-ran Musketeers had a good first month, but they have been near the bottom for the last five years and are picked to finish last this time around... so far the Muskies have blistered the ball at a .294 clip, but they have a sky-high 5.23 ERA.
Top Pitchers: Alex Gillespie (5-2/2.72) has been the one standout in the mound corps... the others have been bad to atrocious.
Top Batters: RF Boo Boudreaux (.366/6/16/18), LF Noel Martin (.341/3/19/23), 1B Mitch Mason (.370/5/16/15), C Lee Leslie (.333/3/12/12), 3B Carl Lund (.286/6/15/14), RF Larry Mills (.324/4/16/7)

4. Sugar Valley (13-12/3 GB) - The Rattlers, who are picked to win the Ruthlandian Union this year and take on Turon in the IPA Pro Cup Finals, are off to a very slow start... for the last four seasons they have averaged around 97 wins.
Top Pitchers: Juan Navarro (3-2/2.26), Jeremy Blanchard (3-1/3.86)... bullpen standout Stan Lindahl (1-0/1.42/2 saves)... 21-game winner Christopher Dunsberry (2-2/4.25) has gotten off to a slow start.
Top Batters: long-time slugger LF Tyler White is off to a super season with a .384 BA, 25 RBIs, 24 runs and is in a three-way tie for the IPA home-run lead with 11... 2B Richie Strickland has 8 roundtrippers, 12 RBIs and 22 runs, while batting .277... superstar RF Bobby Gamble is batting only .245 so far, but has 5 homers, 16 RBIs and 20 runs.

5. Wynnamac (12-13/4 GB) - It's been a decade since the Sundowners won a pennant and and three years since they have had a winning season... no one expects one this season, either... they were slated for a sixth-place finish in the preseason poll... Wynnamac has good hitting and scoring, but lacks pitching.
Top Pitchers: Ernie Hodges (4-2/3.90), Geoff Hobart (4-2/4.79)... bullpen ace Jace Boyer (0-2/2.00/4 saves) has done well and just got a spot in the starting four.
Top Batters: CF Darrell Donnelly (.294/4/30/15)... Donnelly is tied for the IPA RBI lead with 30... other contributors are 1B Jack Pope (.287/4/20/16), C Edward Williams (.372/2/17/9), SS Lou Borcellino (.324/2/13/16), 3B Duane Hudson (.267/1/13/19).

5. Beechwood (12-13/4 GB) - The Bobcats lost their ace Maury Patterson recently for the season with disc problems... he won an IPA-high 26 games last season and won the RU Golden Arm Award... he was a dismal 1-4 with a 6.03 ERA this year... in the preseason poll the Bobcats were select seventh in the division... Beechwood began the season with eight rookies on the roster, four of them hurlers.
Top Pitchers: Ken Arby (3-2/3.02), Larry Carmen (2-2/2.37), Neil Palmer (2-2/3.34)... reliever John Mueller (2-1/2.57/2 saves)
Top Batters: SS Cody Hanks (.346/5/18/13), RF Eddie Wilson (.338/4/11/12)

7. Marston (11-14/5 GB) - The Nine is a run-of-the-mill club predicted to wind up fifth in the pennant race... and that's just the way they played in April... Marston has spent 9 of the last ten years in the RU East second division.
Top Pitchers: rookie Howie Hudson (4-1/2.70) has been very impressive, along with Barry Sexton (3-4/3.06)... last year's RU Rookie of the Year Val Farnsworth (1-5/4.43) has fallen into mediocrity thus far... last season he was 20-9... reliever Webb Walden (1-0/0.00/2 saves) has also looked good in 6 appearances.
Top Batters: LF Alan Bailey (.373/4/10/11), RF Leonard Crawford (.371/3/12/10), 3B Lonnie Trekell (.275/5/11/7), 2B Philip DeWey (.273/5/10/11), SS Stan Mila (.302/2/9/9).

8. Eastshore (8-17/8 GB) - The Elegants were ranked a distant third in the preseason poll... the mound staff had a miserable month except for the bullpen... the offense did a pretty fair job at the plate... maybe April was just a bad month.
Top Pitchers: Ramon Contreras (3-4/4.10) and Teddy Noble (2-2/4.24) were the best of the starters, while Delaney Moss (0-0/0.60), Kenny Chandler (1-1/0.96/1 save) and Ari Baxter (0-0/2.84) were strong in the bullpen.
Top Batters: IPA elite CF Scotty Lagrange is off to a wonderful year with a .380 BA, 6 HRs, 22 RBIs and 22 runs... so is 1B Paul Reed with a .392 mark, 2 HRs, 13 RBIs and 13 runs... SS Johnny Petrak has chipped in with 15 RBIs, 11 runs, 2 HRs and a .267 BA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

TIGHT RACE IN RU WEST
After a month's action seven clubs are going at it hot-and-heavy in the tight Ruthlandian West, all with over .500 record... From first to seventh is only a four-game spread... the Sligo Rovers have a slight one-game margin over Fort Benton, two games up on Rocky Rapids and preseason favorite and last year's winner Colfax, three games ahead of Forest City and only four in front of Volusia and Middlefield.

1. Sligo (17-9) - The Rovers are a good, all-around ball club, solid in all aspects... picked third in the preseason vote... came in second to division champ Sugar Valley by 7 games last year.
Top Pitchers: starters are strong with Scotty Price (4-0/2.57), Randall Steele (5-1/3.33), Tom Pierson (2-3/2.60)
Top Batters: CF Joe McGarrett obtained in a trade with Eastshore has given the team a boost with his bat... McGarrett (.284) has 5 HRs, 15 RBIs and 21 runs scored... 1B Denny Simmons (.257) is the big man on the team... he has 4 HRs, 11 RBIs and has scored 19 runs... SS Neil Mitchell (.267) had added 2 HRs, 15 RBIs and scored 15 times.

2. Fort Benton (16-10/1 GB) - The Defenders were chosen number two in the preseason and are also a solid team... tied with Sligo for second place last season.
Top Pitchers: good veteran staff with Augie Marquis (5-2/2.95), Jordy Raeburn (3-1/2.49), Tommy Baylor (2-1/3.24) and Edd Farmer (3-1/3.75)... three rookie relievers Arnie Patterson (0-1/1.93/1 save), Robby Duhe (1-0/1.59) and Forrest Moore (0-0/0.00) have done well in limited games so far.
Top Batters: C Hunter Glenholmes (.363/0/14/19), SS Mitch Hamilton (.341/0/13/15), 1B Oscar Pendleton (.323/3/12/10), UIF D. D. Badeaux (.308/2/9/12), 2B Alec Leclerc (.345/0/6/9)... rookie RF Luther Naismith looks like a player, batting .365 with 10 RBIs and 12 runs scored in the early going.

3. Colfax (15-10/2 GB) - Maybe be better than last year... favored to win RU West again this year.
Top Pitchers: quality set of vet starters in Bobby Porter (6-0/3.19), Ray Maxon (3-2/3.83), Randell Perkins (2-3/3.86) and Norm Harbison (3-4/4.15)... Porter won 24 games last year and is starting off even better.
Top Batters: strong group of good bats... led by 1B Kristian McEly (.304/6 HR/18 RBI), LF Chet Penn (.286/6 HR/13 RBI), C Mitch Fullerton (.333/4 HR/12 RBI)... rookie 3B Angus McKeag shows much potential with a .432 BA, splitting time with vet Benny Reier (.304).

3. Rocky Rapids (15-10/2 GB) - coming off six second-division finishes and sub .500 seasons, the Snappers showed much improved pitching with a very strong April... a .500 season was forecast in the preseason ratings... picked to finish fifth in the standings... need offense to move up to contender.
Top Pitchers: staff leaders are Randy Peters (4-1/2.84), Randy McKenzie (3-1/3.60), Janek Zoldak (2-1/3.10) and rookie Jamie Taylor (3-4/3.24).
Top Batters: CF Crusher Derringer (.329/3/10/19), RF Joe Hughes (.367/3/14/7), OF Marty Hogart (.425/2/10/7), 2B Matthew Cashman (.368/0/7/4).

5. Forest City (14-11/3 GB) - The Lumberjacks haven't finished in the first division in almost 10 years and last made the postseason in 2013... they have gotten off to a good start with solid pitching and a few good bats... however, the 'Jacks were picked for the cellar in the preseason prognostications... the team has ten rookies, including six on the staff.
Top Pitchers: veteran starters Pat Veach (3-1/2.15), Walter Gibbons (3-2/2.35) have been standouts... and closer Omar Cordero (1-1/3.60) has racked up 5 saves so far.
Top Batters: vets C Bob Brisdon (.303/5/13/10), 1B Pistol Pete Picard (.302/2/14/9) and RF Junior Chandler (.345/1/9/5) head up the batting order with help from CF Kiki DeRouen (.276/3/10/10) and 30-year-old rookie LF Ernie O'Neill (.400/4/12/5).

6. Volusia (13-12/4 GB) - Since back-to-back division titles in 2034-35, the Vigilantes have been entrenched near the bottom of the heap and they are likely to remain there... the V's were ranked seventh in the preseason balloting.
Top Pitchers: strong point is starters: Drew Selby (5-1/3.46), Hector Vargas (3-2/2.57), Raul Navarro (1-3/2.47).
Top Batters: only decent ones are 1B Kris Wilson (.309/4/19/13) and SS Billy Clarke (.343/0/7/10).

6. Middlefield (13-12/4 GB) - Only broke the .500 mark one time in the last nine seasons with no playoff appearance since 2026... but this year could be different... the pitching has improved... the Roosters were the fourth choice in the preseason poll.
Top Pitchers: rookie James Long (4-3/2.68) and Royce Richardson (1-3/2.50) are the most dependable starters... veteran closer Ray Owens (1-0/2.20/6 saves) has done well in 11 relief appearances.
Top Batters: star C Brad Alexander (.301/8/18/17) has kicked off the year with a bang, but needs more help... light-hitting 2B Earl Elliott (.316/1/10/12) is the only other regular over the .300 mark.

8. Stoner (10-15/7 GB) - The Stars are on a nine-year run of poor seasons and picked to end up sixth this season... there are 8 rookies on the squad... pitching is horrific... bats are missing, too.
Top Pitchers: rookie Michael Keller (3-4/2.00) and Earl Marley (3-0/4.03) are the only dependable pitchers.
Top Batters: 3B Wesley Neal (.347/2/15/11), 2B Don Cain (.297/2/8/12) and RF Amos Mars (.279/3/11/12) are the only reliable bats.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

LOGJAM IN TU NORTH
There's a big logjam in the Tycobbian North Division with seven teams within four games of each other... the Mahaska Haymakers are in first place by a game over runners-up Hartsdale and Fairfax, last year's Pro Cup winner North Hills and Blue Lake are 2 games off the pace, Luxora is three games back in sixth and White River is only four games out in seventh place.

1. Mahaska (17-8) - The Haymakers are making a move this year to break North Hills' strangle hold on the TU North... the Hawks have won it for the last five years and are favored to win it again this year... Mahaska's good power, good scoring, good pitching and excellent defense might make it possible this season.
Top Pitchers: the Haymakers have a fine starting foursome with Mark Pennington (4-2/2.28), Warren Heath (4-1/2.87), Darrell Geoffrey (5-1/3.49) and Mackie McGinnity (2-0/2.70)... the bullpen is held down by Freddy Pfeffer (0-0/2.57/1 save).
Top Batters: 2B Mikk Kukk (.359/5/16/15), 3B Duane Blayney (.329/4/11/14), LF Anton Hymel (.415/5/13/18)... RF Grisha Urbonas has 4 roundtrippers and 16 RBIs, but is hitting only .214.

2. Hartsdale (16-9/1 GB) - The Hellcats haven't been raising much hell the last four seasons, winding up on bottom or near the bottom each year... but this year the pitching has been superlative with a 2.67 ERA, third best in the IPA behind Waleska's unbelievable 2.26 ERA and Ranford's 2.64 ERA... both of those clubs play in the Ruthlandian Union.
Top Pitchers: vets Wayne Dawson (6-1/2.06) and Freddie Whitaker (4-1/1.94) have been outstanding, alonge with rookie Jimmy Howard (1-2/2.20)... the bullpen has quality, too, headed up by veteran Hank Cooke (2-1/1.90).
Top Batters: the offense is the team's sore point... only SS Paul Wynn (.309/5/13/16) and UIF Robinson Alomar (.333/3/7/10) has had much success... star 1B Hayden Richardson has started off slowly with a .263 BA, but has 3 HRs, 8 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

2. Fairfax (16-9/1 GB) - Last year the Frogs flopped to sixth place, snapping a 9-year run in the first division... picked for fourth place in the preseason, they are thundering back this year with super batting and pitching in the first month of the season... the Frogs also play the best defense in the IPA... Fairfax may not be a flash-in-the-pan... they might be real.
Top Pitchers: Steven McLeod (4-1/3.10), Lee Rose (4-1/3.06), Harold Dorman (3-4/2.28) and Lucien Vashon (2-1/3.80) are an impressive starting rotation... the relief corps has three rookies, but look very good, too.
Top Batters: C Joe King has been fantastic with a .421 BA, 3 HRs, 11 RBIs and 16 runs... 2B John Velasco just might be headed for a career year with a .339 BA, 5 HRs, 26 RBIs and 16 runs... CF Sam Price at age 34 is getting his first real chance as a regular and he has been great with a .347 BA, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs and 17 runs... old reliable LF Eric Kusek is still productive with a .274 BA, 17 RBIs and 13 runs.

4. North Hills (15-10/2 GB) - The Hawks have won three Pro Cups in five years... 'nuff said, they are still a powerful club and will be tough to be dethroned... they were chosen to win a sixth-straight pennant in the preseason poll... another Pro Cup is very difficult, but it is not out of the question.
Top Pitchers: top-notch starters in David Michael (3-2/2.93), Jeff Owens (3-3/2.19) and Joey Santini (2-1/1.45), all veterans of the three Pro Cups and five consecutive TU North flags... 18-game winner Tony Mack (3-0/1.54/2 saves) now anchors the bullpen.
Top Batters: the potent offense is led by superstar LF Adam Thurgood (.311/5/18/13), RF Gerry Rice (.358/0/5/11) and rookie phenom CF Jimmy Jay Ferguson, who has burst on the IPA scene with a .386 BA, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs and 14 runs... other Pro Cup vets C Mikhail Romanovsky (.253/4/11/11), 2B Tommy Vavas (.239/1/7/17), 1B Ric Hamilton (.278/1/4/7), CF Kris Anastas (.293/1/10/6), SS Norris Henry (.286/1/9/5) and backup UIF Kiril Ivonoski (.323/1/3/3) are still around and playing their roles.

4. Blue Lake (15-10/2 GB) - The Blue Sox have been a distant fourth the last two seasons, but could move up in the standings with its improved pitching... still again, they could just as easily slip to sixth due to the strong competition in the division... Blue Lake was selected the sixth-best team in the TU North in the preseason poll.
Top Pitchers: two 20-game winners lead the staff: Frankie Quinn (5-2/3.03) and Sal Mays (4-1/2.38).
Top Batters: the line-up includes a solid core of hitters, paced by 2B Egon Ojamaa (.276/5/17/13), C Jan Kobak (.292/4/17/11), SS James Hamilton (.306/3/7/11), 1B Elton Graff (.317/1/6/6), CF Pudge Clinkscale (.309/0/4/9), LF Jack Ryan (.310/3/9/9) and RF Raddy Pajak (.298/3/8/13).

6. Luxora (14-11/3 GB) - The Zorros were third last year and are forecast to finish seventh this season... according to the scribes the hitting and offense are suspect this year.
Top Pitchers: recent acqusition Roy Watson (4-0/1.11) has been a jewel so far... he and ace Kent Halloran (4-1/3.10) give them two capable starters, but they need help in the rotation from 17-game winner Jose Beltran (3-2/4.96), who has struggled this year... the bullpen is in good hands with Fernando Sanches (0-0/0.00/5 saves).
Top Batters: SS Joel Poche (.304/2/4/14), 3B Todd Dubbins (.325/3/11/15), LF Milt Powers (.245/3/18/12) and RF Derrek Jackson (.272/2/13/10) have shouldered most of the offense... long-time star 1B Gerry Hathaway may be showing his age at 35... he is batting only .203, but has 4 homers... youngster Tiago Chaves (.378) might give him a big fight for his spot in the line-up.

7. White River (13-12/4 GB) - The Rascals only have average pitching and very little offense, but they are still over the .500 mark, yet in seventh place... the TU North is tough... White River was rated third in the preseason... for the last four seasons in a row they have come in fifth... the Rascals have not been in the playoffs since 2027.
Top Pitchers: 36-year-old Paul Sardini (3-2/2.09) is still strutting his stuff and is still the ace of the mound corps... he has help from Trent Anderson (4-2/3.06)... the relievers are doing a good job with a 2.92 ERA.
Top Hitters: CF Buford Cross is the only hitting up-to-par with a .329 BA, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs and 17 runs... SS Warren McKenzie leads the club with 6 homers and 22 RBIs, but is hitting a lowly .247... C Stevee Dee Daniels also has 6 roundtrippers and 15 RBIs, but is batting just .212... third place looks unlikely.

8. Oxford (8-17/9 GB) - 2038 was a bad year for the Red Caps - they came in seventh... this year looks worse... they can go deep and score - Oxford is second in the IPA with 41 homers (Sugar Valley of the RU East is first with 42) and is seventh in scoring - but the pitching is abysmal and they can't stop anybody.
Top Pitchers: B. B. Driskoll (2-5/4.35)... all the other starters range from 5.03 to 6.98 in ERA.
Top Batters: LF Donny Braun (.280/6/19/16), 2B Alonzo Norris (.333/6/14/15), SS Johnny Palmer (.261/3/10/13) are the most productive batters, C Jayson French (.352/4/9/9) and CF Terrence Yeoman (.351/4/7/11) top the club in average... slugging CF Dalton Ward is batting a microscopic .179, but has 9 homers, 18 RBIs and 18 runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

CLOSE RACE IN TU SOUTH, TOO
All of the pennant chases in the Tycobbian Union are closely bunched... in the Tycobbian South Division you could easily go from seventh to first in two weeks or so... Pro Cup favorite Turon and its number-one nemesis San Alejo are at it again, tied for first place... Southport is just a game behind them... Summerland and Cape Coral are tied for fourth and two games out... Colchester and Arroyo Grande are in the sixth spot and only 4 games off the pace.

1. Turon (14-11) - The Typhoons have averaged 94 victories a season for the last two years and they may be a better team this year... the baseball pros have named them the team mostly likely to win the Pro Cup... they are strong at the plate and on the hill, but fall far short on the defensive side of the ledger.
Top Pitchers: Wes Brynnton (5-1/2.12), Clyde Engstrom (4-3/3.40) and Nate Scottsdale (3-2/3.29)... Ralph Fulton (0-1/0.00/5 saves) heads up a solid bullpen.
Top Batters: LF J. P. Trevenot (.354/5/15/22), RF Guido Gervasio (.348/5/19/17)... star SS C. C. Kingsford has started slowly with a .248 BA, but has 5 HRs and 19 RBIs... rookie CF Frankie Brazzi has prospered so far with a .302 BA, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs and 7 runs in platoon action.

1. San Alejo (14-11) - The Montaneros are not the same team that won the 2032 Pro Cup and four pennants from 2032 to 2038, but they still have enough in the tank to rank high in the TU South... the Monties were forecast to come in second this year in the preseason poll... mainly the mound staff has dropped off in quality in recent years... overall this year they had a bad month in April.
Top Pitchers: Benny Buckmaster (3-1/2.12) was the only one to have a good month... most of the others struggled.
Top Batters: star C Filipe Zamora (.297/5/23/14), 1B Ted Hatch (.273/5/14/10), CF Dusty Rogan (.266/2/12/14), 3B Sancho Cruz (.275/1/9/15), 2B Derek Kristensen (.306/1/5/13)... rookie SS Sal McAllister has worked his way into a starting role with 4 HRs, 18 RBIs and 22 runs, but is batting only .250... LF Charlie Wilberforce missed two weeks with a leg injury... for the month he hit .410 with 6 RBIs and 5 runs... though the Montaneros didn't hit much for average, they do have a high on-base percentage and can score runs.

3. Southport (13-12) - For the last four years the Sun Soxx have been under the .500 mark... wholesale changes were made to the roster this year with 10 rookies on the squad... four of them hurlers... Southport was picked to finish fourth in the standing this season... pitching has been especially good early this season... bats are very poor.
Top Pitchers: rookie Billy Hoover (3-3/2.75), Johnny Swanson (2-3/2.39) and Don Pascioni (2-3/3.60) have led the starting rotation... the bullpen has been especially effective with a 1.27 ERA (2nd)... rookie Hal Combs (0-1/1.54/2 saves), Brandon Delmore (2-0/0.00) and rookie Wayne Stewart (1-0/1.86) have really done a fine job as relievers.
Top Batters: C Davy Reichert (.359/5/9/12) has been the biggest threat, but has gotten some help from a couple of rookies 2B James Long (.266/4/15/12) and 3B Ricky Whitaker (.269/0/6/7).

4. Summerland (12-13/2 GB) - The Sunsets have played .500 or better the past four years... this year they were upgraded to third place by the baseball preseason poll... the Sunsets have solid pitching and standout defense, but are weak at the plate.
Top Pitchers: Jayson Hallstrom (2-3/2.44), Freddi Rossi (1-4/2.30) and Dutch De Boer (0-2/1.88) have had very little run support... the bullpen has prospered with the likes of Freddy Farentino (3-0/1.24/1 save) and Ronald Shaddock (2-0/3.38).
Top Batters: CF Antonio Vasquez (.333/1/17/12), 3B Norm Murdoch (.302/0/8/13), 2B Todd Cummings (.280/5/12/10)... RF Mark Delaney slumped to .178 in April, but has 4 roundtrippers and a team-high 20 RBIs... 1B Gene Bright (.308/1/4/4) is the only rookie out of five to dent the starting line-up.

4. Cape Coral (12-13/2 GB) - The Hurricanes have a capable offense, lousy pitching and tremendous defense, perhaps the IPA's best... and they were ranked fifth in the preseason poll... the last time the 'Canes won a pennant was about 10 years ago... not likely this year, either.
Top Pitchers: Benton McCall (3-1/2.52), Izaak De Bruyn (2-0/3.38)... long-time starter 37-year-old Norm Dawson (1-0/2.25) has moved to the relief department in the twilight of his career... he is oveall 241-255 with a 3.57 ERA over his 18 seasons with six clubs, the last five with Cape Coral.
Top Batters: 1B Stan Ferguson (.282/5/19/10), CF Max Tselika (.326/4/8/19), 3B Rikky Van Dalen (.310/2/10/20), 2B Kent Mantle (.309/4/10/9), LF Paul Law (.274/2/14/11).

6. Colchester (10-15/4 GB) - Since winning the pennant in 2036 the Elites have tumbled in the standings down to the second division with losing records... forecast for the sixth spot this year in the preseason poll with average pitching and defense, fair offense with little power.
Top Pitchers: Eduardo Rivera (3-1/3.33), Dave Lacoste (2-2/2.75)... Dan Scott (0-1) has stood out in the bullpen with a 1.56 ERA in 11 appearances with 4 saves... he recently was promoted to the number-four spot in the rotation.
Top Batters: 34-year-old rookie 1B Nino Zuccaro leads the club with a .361 BA with 1 HR, 9 RBIs and 18 runs... superstar RF Blake Bannister has also stood out with a .301 mark, 7 HRs, 22 RBIs and 18 runs... 35-year-old rookie 3B Slingshot Kawatoose is making the most of his late opportunity with a .310 BA, 2 HRS, 8 RBIs and 13 runs scored... 2B Joey Rogers has also been productive with a .277 average, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs and 12 runs.

6. Arroyo Grande (10-15/4 GB) - It's been 15 years since the Suns made a postseason appearance... for the last four seasons they have been in the basement or near the basement... the scribes have voted to put them there this season because of mediocre pitching and horrific hitting... one bright spot is their excellent glove work... the Suns are one of the best defensive clubs in the IPA.
Top Pitchers: Mateus Castro (3-2/3.98), Monty Stratford (3-3/3.90), Pedro Mota (3-1/3.07)... the bullpen leader is Cody Simmons (0-0/3.86/4 saves).
Top Batters: CF Rafael Montoya (.271/5/15/16), LF Rene Jesclard (.220/6/15/12).

8. Ginza (6-19/8 GB) - The Ninjas are off to an awful start with no much hope of getting better... they were picked to finish dead last this season... the crux of the problem is really bad pitching... it's been quite a few years since their golden seasons between 2023 and 2031 when they won five TU South flags... that was the time of Crash Davis, Cotton Cornwall, Johnny O'Rorke, current manager Sadaharu Uchiyama and his father Huroko, who managed the team.
Top Pitchers: reliever Timmy Hickens (1-4) is the only decent pitcher... he has a 3.44 ERA and has posted 3 saves... all the other staffers have ERAs between 4.71 and 9.82.
Top Batters: playing manager LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.362/2/11/22), CF Sogo Takagi (.284/8/22/16), RF Ichiro Kazumi (.267/2/11/13).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

TU EAST TIGHTEST RACE IN THE IPA
The teams are not playing well, but the Tycobbian East Division is the tightest race in the Islandian Pro Alliance... only 4 games separate number one from number eight in the standings... only division leader Ozarka has a winning record... all the rest are below the .500 mark... Ozarka has a game lead over second-place South Fork and East Point... two games in front of fourth-place Hillsboro and High Mesa... three games up on the current defending champion Tuckanarra in the sixth spot... and four games better than cellar-dwelling Red Bluff and Midway.

1. Ozarka (13-12) - For the last five years the Naturals have pretty much played second fiddle to the Tuckanarra Blue Jays, who have won the division for the last five seasons... thought the Nats are leading the race in the early going, they were ranked sixth in the preseason voting... on paper Ozarka is just your basic, average team, but they have a strong bullpen and are good defensively.
Top Pitchers: Charlie Chan (4-2/3.23), Glen Jenkins (2-3/3.88), Leon Bernard (2-1/3.93) and rookie Gregg Moore (2-2/3.95)... the bullpen has been very effective so far with Teddy O'Shea (2-0/0.00/1 save), rookie Billy Hill (0-0/0.93) and Dirk Halstad (0-0/2.16).
Top Batters: RF Bob Banachak (.322/5/10/14), 1B Kent Harmon (.324/2/12/10), 3B Jimmy Woods (.304/3/14/11), C Jaak Pajukivi (.299/3//7/14)... vets CF Lonnie Gillespie (.255/4/16/13) and SS Duffy Morrison (.247/4/14/13) have gotten off to slow starts... both are 50 points off their career averages.

2. South Fork (12-13/1 GB) - The Stallions have been way back in the pack the last three years, but this season the forecast was for a break-even season and a fifth-place finish with pretty fair pitching and good, long-ball power... South Fork hasn't made the playoffs since winning its only Pro Cup in 2025.
Top Pitchers: good starters in Big Murph McAlister (5-0/1.88), rookie Roger Johnson (1-0/0.39), Jay Murphy (2-3/2.95)... but weak bullpen.
Top Batters: 1B Paul Sexton is the most productive with 7 homers and 19 RBIs, but he is hitting only .250... C Vic Kohler (.304/4/12/8) and 3B Elton Jacoby (.299/3/8/13) have chipped in, too... rookie SS Goldie Goldschmitt (.375/0/7/7) has looked good in back-up roles.

2. East Point (12-13/1 GB) - The Panthers pitching has been horrible in this new season, but don't expect it to stay that way... East Point is rated the second-best club in the division in the preseason poll... Red Bluff is the favorite... 11 times in the last 12 years the Panthers have been a first-division team... they last made the postseason in 2031 and 2033.
Top Pitchers: only Johnny Moore (3-1/2.81) had a good April... Dixie Brooks (2-3/4.50) and Frank Blair (2-4/5.75) had rough starts... Blair missed most of last year with shoulder problems... they will be the key to the Panthers season... the bullpen has been awful.
Top Batters: CF Andros Ciak (.351/5/13/10), SS Dean O'Donnell (.304/3/13/11), 2B Tetsu Tanaka (.267/3/15/18).

4. Hillsboro (11-14/2 GB) - The Blazers are habitual, second-division also-rans that have never make the playoffs, but they have been picked to wind up fourth in the preseason poll this season... pitching has been surprisingly good, both starting and relief... but the defense is really bad... the Blazers hit with a fair amount of power and can score runs.
Top Pitchers: starters Ralph Quick (3-1/2.89), Lucky Luciano (2-1/2.08), Cazzie Reier (2-2/2.78) and Scott Watkins (2-2/3.14) have been quite effective... Scott Watkins (2-2/3.14/2 saves) and rookie Steve Cooper (1-1/2.13) have done well, too.
Top Batters: CF Vance Jahn (.359/6/14/21), SS Cameron Kennedy (.293/3/18/8)... LF Jurrien Bellini has 7 homers, 12 RBIs and 22 runs scored, but is hitting only .206.

4. High Mesa (11-14/2 GB) - The Cowboys had a winning record last year for the first time since 2026... this season the baseball analysts rated them seventh in the preseason poll... the Cowpokes have been terrible this year at the plate, pretty fair on the mound and great with the gloves.
Top Pitchers: Russ Krolle (4-1/2.44), Dean Harris (1-3/2.18)... rookie reliever Kyell Kellgren (1-0/1.37/1 save) has impressed in 9 appearances.
Top Batters: LF Clay Johnston has carried the offensive load with an IPA-leading 11 HRs, while batting .306 with 18 RBIs and scoring 17 runs... rookie RF Sam Hayes (.264) has 5 homers, 10 RBIs and 12 runs... veteran slugger RF Corbett Brooks is only hitting .173, but has 7 HRs and 15 RBIs... SS Clifford Coleman is batting only .235, but has 6 HRs and 18 RBIs.

6. Tuckanarra (10-15/3 GB) - The Blue Jays are the defending TU East titleholder with five flags in a row... they were selected the third-best team in the preseason poll... however, the Tucks didn't have a good month... they have been disappointing on the hill and in the batter's box, but pretty strong defensively.
Top Pitchers: Jeff Buttrum (3-1/3.44), Bobby Reid (2-3/3.89), Junior Bristow (2-4/3.48) and rookie Dickie Pittman (1-2/3.96).
Top Batters: 2B Daniel Redd (.303/4/8/15), LF Spade Weldon (.303/3/9/15), C Paul Jackson (.346/0/3/5)... superstar RF Lorne Evans did poorly in the first month with a .177 batting average, 3 HRs, 9 RBIs and 12 runs... rookie SS Robby Oliphant stood out with a .318 BA, 4 HRs and 9 RBIs.

7. Red Bluff (9-17/4 GB) - The Red Sox were the top choice to snap Tuckanarra's pennant-winning string at five, but they have disappointed thus far... Red Bluff is not very good on the mound and notoriously bad on defense... goes deep fairly well... not very much batting-wise... you have to go way back to 2009 for a pennant-winning season.
Top Pitchers: Jud Cox (3-3/3.06) and Tony DeFazio (1-2/3.38) are the most effective starters, while George Reynolds (0-1/2.49/1 save) has been the most reliable reliever.
Top Batters: star CF Ike Sweetwater is the club leader with a .307 BA, 7 HRs, 20 RBIs and 16 runs... C Allie Blackwell (.284/1/9/10) has been dependable, while 1B Garris Aiken (.250/3/14/7), LF Jesse Shaw (.223/5/11/17), RF David Kelson (.259/5/10/13), 3B Fran Blanchard (.235/5/10/7) need to pick up the pace.

7. Midway (9-16/4 GB) - For the last three seasons the Wolves have suffered with finishes at or near the bottom of the division... it has been 12 years since the made the postseason... the Wolves are really weak offensively and on the hill, but strong on defense... the baseball expects placed them in last place in the preseason guessings.
Top Pitchers: Carey Snead (4-2/2.91) is the ace of the mound corps... in the pen the top dogs are Taima Nodin (0-1/1.88) and rookies Nickie McGowan (1-1/2.89) and Sam Lewis (1-0/0.00/1 save).
Top Batters: CF Yancey Tanner (.319/0/7/13), 1B Shaman Sakima (.292/1/14/10), LF Bennett Caldwell (.253/2/11/10), 3B James Cline (.250/1/10/10).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, May 1, 2039

6-TEAM SCRAMBLE IN TU WEST
The Tycobbian West Division is a fan's dream race at least in the first month of the campaign... six clubs have winning records with the Rolling Hills Reds on top, one game up on Kenwood and Arlon... three teams are tied for fourth: Chicopee, Bayview and Bay St. Clair... the preseason poll favored the Arlon Champions with Denton City the number-two choice, last year's division champ La Claire third and Rolling Hills fourth.

1. Rolling Hills (17-8) - The Reds have been also-rans for the past six seasons and haven't graced the postseason since 2032, the year after their second Pro Cup crown... they feature an explosive offense with average pitching and defense... the Reds are tied with Belle Plaine of the RU East for the scoring lead in the IPA.
Top Pitchers: Matthew Christianson (4-0/2.52), Maxim Petrosian (4-0/2.20) and Jakob Wagner (2-3/3.60) three capable starters... the bullpen has struggled with a 5.40 ERA.
Top Batters: RF Jimbo Foxx (.329/10/28/18), rookie 1B Darwin Tard (.317/7/16/23), 3B Billy Christianson (.326/1/15/14), CF Scotty Yiska (.308/6/15/10)... the 33-year-old Christianson, son of manager Matty Christianson and brother of pitcher Matty, rejoined the Reds after six solid seasons in Colchester... he said he and his dad had made up over previous disagreements and he wanted to retire with Rolling Hills.

2. Kenwood (16-9/1 GB) - The Wildcats got their only Pro Cup trophy in 2014 and haven't been to the playoffs since 2024... improved bats and pitching have gotten them off on the right foot this season... they played good defense, too... this has gotten the Wildcats fans excited.
Top Pitchers: starters Glen Murray (4-2/2.66) and Ben Abramo (3-2/3.00)... and in the bullpen Artemus Hale (4-0/0.66) and Brett Wilkins (0-0/2.16/1 save).
Top Batters: spectacular rookie 2B Country Crowder has exploded with a .420 BA, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs, 20 runs... star C Corky DiNozzo has boomed 9 HRs with 16 RBIs, 13 runs and a .319 BA... IF Ricky Boyer (.354/1/11/8), CF Warren Vickers (.310/2/15/9) and SS Rod Jenkins (.316/2/6/12) have contributed, too.

2. Arlon (16-9/1 GB) - The Champs are the preseason favorite and sport standout pitching and defense, along with average offense... they made a run last year, but lost out to La Claire by 3 games... it's been almost 20 years since Arlon was in the playoffs... they have never won a Pro Cup... optimism reigns in Arlon.
Top Pitchers: Frankie Gautier (4-1/1.54), Emil Novak (5-0/3.22), Lanny Gray (2-3/3.19)... heading up the modest relief corps is rookie Peter Shannon (0-0/1.20/1 save).
Top Batters: RF Mark Cameron (.344/8/24/13), LF Charley Hastings (.313/2/7/24), C Nick Shafer (.309/3/18/10), 1B Ernie Pryor (.298/3/12/16), CF Gussi Czaik (.278/1/13/19).

4. Chicopee (14-11/3 GB) - After taking the division title for three straight seasons 2034-36, the Braves have been in a funk since with two second-division finishes... the offense is back, the defense is great, but the pitching is lackluster.. the preseason prognosticators placed them seventh in the standings.
Top Pitchers: Paul Foster (2-3/2.78) has been the most effective starter... vets Heyoka Chaska (3-1/4.70), Jimmy Beckwith (4-3/4.39) and Lou Gianakos (2-4/5.32) have had it rough so far... rookie Wes Pennington (1-0/0.00/4 saves) has been a very good addition to the bullpen.
Top Batters: RF Rick Nellis leads the line-up with a .402 BA and has collected 2 HRs, 8 RBIs and scored 13 runs... other run producers are 3B Kurt Gustavsen (.337/5/10/17), 2B Todd Goodwin (.313/5/16/10), CF Big Jim Moran (.305/5/18/15) and LF Charley Kota (.284/4/11/13).

4. Bayview (14-11/3 GB) - the Vikings are a scoring machine with firepower, decent pitching for such a homer-happy stadium and excellent glove work... they came in a close third last year, losing out by 4 games... the Viks have been a mediocre team since winning the division in 2016... this is their best shot in a long, long while.
Top Pitchers: Christy Kane (3-1/1.44) is the only effective starter... Lars Frydenlund (1-0/2.25/1 save) and Chris Landry (1-0/0.93) are the best relievers.
Top Batters: CF Derek Jorstad (.326/3/10/20), 1B Claude Kingston (.333/4/13/18), SS Andreas Stokke (.305/2/5/13), RF Ivars Nilssen (.370/5/13/12), SS Ted Macy (.289/4/14/9)... veterans sluggers 2B Jerry Culpepper (.229/6/18/13) and LF Roy Ricks (.254/5/11/14) are down a bit in batting average, but still go deep and drive in runs

4. Bay St. Clair (14-11/3 GB) - after a good run in the early 30s, the Bucs have sunk down near the bottom... the last postseason year was 2030... they have good power, average offense and defense with weak pitching... picked sixth in the pennant race.
Top Pitchers: Russell McIntosh (3-1/4.44) and John Karlsen (3-3/4.69) are the most reliable starters... in the bullpen it's Andre Karkinos (2-1/2.93), Sam Zale (1-0/3/24/3 saves) and Pete Cross (4-0/3.95/1 save).
Top Batters: at 34 RF Cotton Cornwall has a new lease on life with a .400 BA, 9 HRs, 24 RBIs and 17 runs... he's playing like his early years with Ginza... LF Sakima Shaman also has rejuvenated this year with a .372 BA, 6 HRs, 15 RBIs and 11 runs... also aiding the offense are SS Zip Lowery (.296/0/8/13) and CF Robby Palmer (.276/0/8/16).

7. Denton City (9-16/8 GB) - The Redbirds were a preseason contender, but have just been plain bad in the first month of the season... they will need a quick turnaround to get back in the race... Denton City's glory years were 2002 to 2012, when the club won six pennants and made the playoffs 8 times... the IPA had wild cards in it first few years... twice they made the Pro Cup Finals, but lost.
Top Pitchers: James Webb (2-2/3.33) and Troy McIntosh (2-4/3.56) are the most dependable starters... in the bullpen Stephen Edwards (1-2/2.19/4 saves) and Denny Mills (1-0/2.25) have been the best.
Top Batters: no one on the team has had a good start... RF Pete Doyle (.252/5/11/12), SS Sammy Thornton (.253/1/4/13), C Felton Welch (.247/3/15/11) and 1B Wayman Stetson (.238/3/8/12) have been the best of the bad.

8. La Claire (8-17/9 GB) - Forecast for a third-place finish, it's been a rocky beginning for the defending division champ... lousy hitting, mediocre pitching and average defense has put them deep in the cellar... the Lynx have won four TU West flags in the last decade.
Top Pitchers: vets Pat Kovacs (2-5/2.56), Tony Rossi (3-2/2.92) and John Page (1-2/3/12) have pitched well, but haven't had much offensive support... the bullpen hasn't been much help to them, either.
Top Batters: 1B Eddy Veevers (.309/0/9/8), rookie 3B Phil Lyons (.300/1/5/5) and 2B Sam Norman (.277/5/9/9) top the club in batting average... star SS Jarred O'Neal (.217/2/11/8), star CF Billy Holland (.237/1/9/7) and C Weldon Waller (.235/4/7/8) have struggled thus far.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

REDHAWKS LEAD KILKENNY IN TIGHT RU NORTH
After two months of play it's boiling down to a two-team battle in the Ruthlandian North... defending division champion, the Far Mountain Redhawks, maintained its three-game edge over preseason favorite Kilkenny... the Redhawks won it last year and aren't going to give it up without a struggle... both clubs went 19-10 in May... all of the others fell back in the race with under .500 records... Ancona is third and 9 games off the pace... LaGrange is fourth and trails by 11.

1. Far Mountain: 19-10 May... Redhawks' good pitching is keeping it ahead... Karl Nordheim (11-1/2.55), Chad Cummings (9-4/3.46) and Dennis Sasek (6-4/3.08) are a strong threesome... the team ERA is 3.32 (8th)... rookie Ryan Kolb (3-2/2.91/6 saves) and Benny Weissmann (0-0/1.82/2 saves) have been strong in the bullpen... the offense isn't very potent with a .257 BA (20th), but it gets the job done, led by CF Gilbert Bauer (.316/9/37/33), 2B Johnny Kaufman (.315/3/19/23), LF Harlan Silver (.279/5/26/22), SS Dan Vance (.299/1/17/27)... 1B John Burrell (.283/7/21/21)... the Redhawks are better-than-average on defense with a .974 FA.

2. Kilkenny: also 19-10 in the last month... runner-up Kilkenny is tops in pitching (2.87 ERA), very good on defense (.979 FA), but last in hitting (.239 BA)... the Cats have solid starters in Dave Whitaker (8-6/1.83), Judson Davis (8-3/3.13), Dave Stratford (8-5/3/45) and James Crockett (5-6/3.18) and an excellent bullpen (1.89 ERA/1st), headed up by Joe Pierce (0-1/1.74/5 saves)... only three players have put up any good numbers... CF Barry Dunne is the club leader with a .356 BA with 2 HRs, 11 RBIs and 30 runs scored... he has also stolen 22 bases and is tied for the IPA lead with Charley Hastings of Arlon (Tycobbian Union)... 3B Leevi Viru (.282) tops the club in RBIs with 37 and 9 HRs... and 1B Jorge Collazo is hitting .276 with 18 RBIs and 25 runs.

3. Ancona: flopped to 12-17 in May... top pitchers are Pablo Pilar (6-7/2.50) and Lucian Kairis (5-6/2.67)... the only threat in the batting order is star 3B Tommy Richardson, who is having an outstanding season with a .365 BA, 15 HRs and 53 RBIs... he has the third-best average in the RU and fifth-best in the IPA.

4. LaGrange: 13-16 last month... best pitchers are veteran star Walt Thurber (6-5/2.65) and Hot Dog Huxtable (6-3/3.07)... top bats are 3B Claude DesJardins (.354/5/30/24), CF Deron Barkley (.280/10/16/33), SS John Rodgers (.293/4/28/29), RF Charley Bacque (.322/4/22/25) and LF Vasco Aguilar (.304/5/20/16).

5. Glasco: 15-14 in May... top pitchers are Basil Newchurch (6-5/3.06), Jimmy Willard (5-7/3.41) and Bob Bondy (4-7/3.32)... best batters are CF Travis Houston (.299/9/31/21) and RF Tim Jarvis (.285/7/26/33).

6. Ranford: 15-14 in May... good mound staff led by Ralph Hawk (7-4/2.34) and Frank Yosarian (5-5/3.08)... not much at the plate... 2B Ernie Ardis is the club leader with a .326 BA... Ardis has 4 homers, 25 RBIs and 21 runs... LF Dale Weston leads with 9 HRs, 27 RBIs and 34 runs.

7. Taranto: terrible month with a 9-20 mark... Mario Martinelli (3-1/3.47) and Ric Vizzini (3-8/3.12) have been the only effective starters... 1B Mark Delaney is the team leader with 8 HRs and 28 RBIs, but is batting a lowly .221... LF Derrick Damon has the best BA at .296 with 4 HRs, 25 RBIs and 22 runs... the Tars don't do very much well.

8. Valmara: 10-19 for May... just a bad team... but do have a couple of good starters in Harold Hudson (7-5/2.72) and Matt Reeves (7-5/3.85)... only decent bats are CF Paul Anthony (.318/4/17/23) and LF Gary Peterson (.308/11/25/22).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

ST. JOHN SOARS AHEAD IN RU SOUTH
The high-flying St. John Crusaders are making monkeys out of the preseason forecast... the fifth pick has soared to a seven-game bulge at the end of May in the Ruthlandian South Division... favorite Waleska and Crystal Lake are tied for the runner-up spot with last year's champion Claxton lagging back in fourth place nine games out of first.

1. St. John: 18-11 in May... top-notch club except defensively (.970)... splendid starters Jeremy Kirk (9-4/2.15) and Vito Sanfratello (8-3/2.29)... Emile Papajohn (8-4/3.82) and Lou Neuman (6-3/3.66) fill out a solid rotation... star slugger RF Nicky Farrugia is off to a super season with a .377 BA, 10 homers, 37 RBIs and 38 runs... CF Art Kelley (.279/10/31/32) is reliable, too... LF Bobby Joe Daniel (.314/2/23/33), rookie SS Tab Allison (.297/3/21/34) and CF Frankie D'Amato (.309/1/15/31) are contributors as well.

2. Waleska: slumped badly to 10-19 this month... offense didn't produce... strong starters in Terry Richards (6-1/2.11), Craig Nash (6-3/2.55), Tony Haskell (4-6/3.00)... best hitter is 1B Shayn Lambert (.322/9/29/31) with some help from RF Niles Gregory (.270/11/35/29), C Rodney Hanson (.266/3/31/19) and CF Jon Lassiter (.267/1/24/23).

2. Crystal Lake: Crushers were 16-13 in May to move up several positions in the standings... weak pitching, but pretty good batting and fielding... vet Arnie Cason (6-6/4.86) is the only starter to break even... Clyde Thompson (3-1/2.22/4 saves) is the bright star in the bullpen... only two decent bats are RF Paul Dillon (.324/7/22/29) and C Stan Stanek (.254/8/36/27).

4. Claxton: 15-14 in May... the Diamonds are poor at the plate, average on the mound and deficient on defense... mound leader is Abe Schiffman (7-5/3.51) and he needs help to contend... best threats in the batter's box are vets 2B Gary Colton (.323/9/33/26), star 1B Jojo DeLucca (.291/15/34/34) and SS Stevie Wynn (.306/4/16/32)... talented LF Foxy Fuchs (.205) still hasn't found his stroke... far off his 2038 numbers.

5. San Dimas: number-two preseason pick went 14-15 in May... fairly much just an average team so far, but has some reliable batters... Duffy Davidson (3-4/2.92) and Carroll Cain (3-7/3/24) have given them quality starts, but poor run support has cost them... club leaders are 3B Leonard Purkey (.326/4/22/30), C Hermie Goetz (.322/3/20/26), CF Klaus Stordahl (.284/9/20/30), LF Austin Epps (.291/7/31/22), RF Denny Hendrix (.269/8/32/27) and 1B Pat Sautier (.288/6/28/24).

5. Belair Beach:: 12-17 for the month... just an average team, but has some power at the plate with 63 HRs (5th), sparked by 1B Jason Butler (.277/16/32/27), 3B Johnny Wofford (.270/9/26/22) and CF Bobby Meusel (.280/7/21/31)... Joel Gregg (4-5/2.57) has been the most effective pitcher.

7. Valka: 13-16 this month... the Blackhawks have fairly good bats, but pitching is in need of much improvement... the trio of stars CF Kenny Mitzusaka (.342/7/30/27), 1B Bobby Scott (.319/11/32/30) and LF Gilberto Duarte (.292/8/15/35) pace the offense... Ando Lintrop (4-3/3.99) is the best of the lot in the rotation.

8. Grand City: the Cybercats suffered another very poor month with a 10-19 mark... RU strikeout leader Kenny Morrow (5-8/3.04) is the ace with help from Doug Hansack (5-5/3.66)... SS Teddy Grantham (.303/5/18/18) is the club leader in BA... 1B Benny Hull (.287/10/32/24) and 3B Mickey Etheridge (.275/10/22/21) lead in homers... C Iggy Van Dyck (.287/7/22/25) is tops in runs scored.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

4-CLUB CLUSTER IN RU EAST
Preseason favorite Cold Creek is ahead of the pack at the end of May, but the Catamounts have some good competition from arch-nemesis Sugar Valley and upstart Wynnamac and Elnora... the Catamounts are three games in front of the second-place Sugar Valley Rattlers and Wynnamac Sundowners and four games ahead of the Elnora All-Stars... the RU East is a strong division with six of the teams .500 or better.

1. Cold Creek: it was another good month for the Catamounts... they wound up 18-11 for May and padded their lead with excellent pitching and scoring, along with better-than-average defense... Joey Baker (7-2/3.30), Pete Heller (5-3/1.95) and Rob Hutchings (5-2/2.14) have been a tough trio... ace J. J. Gillespie has had a difficult time... 6-5 with a lofty 4.73 ERA is not like him... Tommy Wynn (4-2/2.76/5 saves) leads a very good bullpen... leading the batters are SS Jeremy Hall (.317/2/28/42) and RF Ken Brennan (.348/2/33/32).

2. Sugar Valley: the Rattlers were 18-11 for the month... they top the RU in scoring with 318 runs, second to Bayview of the Tycobbian Union, which leads the IPA with 320 runs... star LF Tyler White has always hit for power and driven in runs, but this year he sports a .322 BA with 50 RBIs and 38 runs... lifetime White is only a .241 hitter... superstud RF Bobby Gamble (.293/11/38/47) perked up in May with a .327 BA... 3B Roger Hobbs added a .316 BA, 10 HRs, 39 RBIs and 32 runs... other contributors were SS Jesse Burns (.311/0/20/21) and 1B Richie Strickland (.265/11/21/51)... the mound corps did their job, too... Juan Navarro (7-4/2.70), Christopher Dunsberry (6-4/3.08), Jeremy Blanchard (8-3/3.72) and Davey Brennan (5-4/3/64) are a very impressive starting rotation... Sugar Valley needs a better bullpen (4.47 ERA-25th).

2. Wynnamac: the Sundowners surged with a super 19-10 record in May... they rank high in scoring (2nd) with 301 runs... the pitching is decent (3.76 ERA-18th)... and the defense is good with a .974 FA... they might make a move upward to the first division... the Sundowners were rated number six in the preseason poll... 25-year-old CF Darrell Donnelly is one of the best player in the IPA this season with a .327 BA, 10 homers, an IPA-leading 63 RBIs and 39 runs... helped out by 1B Jack Pope (.269/8/31/38) and C Edward Williams (.310/4/28/19)... on the hill Ernie Hodges (8-4/3.83) and Geoff Hobart (6-4/4.11) are the club leaders.

4. Elnora: the All-Stars carded a good month with a 16-13 mark... they hit very well with power and have fairly good pitching... defensively they are just average... 2B Akihiro Samurakami (.386/4/22/22), CF Clive Kenyon (.343/5/22/31) and LF Enos Conrad (.302/5/14/21) are the best sticks for average, while 3B Cooter Whitter (.231) is the club leader with 12 homers, 34 RBIs and 29 runs... Rick Lowe (9-3/3.24) and Jeremy Sellers (8-6/3.61) are the top twirlers with vet Jesus Robles (1-0/1.56) the best reliever.

5. Belle Plaine: the Musketeers dipped a little in the second month with a 14-15 record... they hit the ball with authority (71 HRs/3rd) and can score (3rd-284 runs), but the pitching is seriously lacking with a 4.68 ERA (31st)... Alex Gillespie has a 9-5 record, but a 4.05 ERA, which by far the best of the starters... standout batters are RF Boo Boudreaux (.323/15/35/38), LF Noel Martin (.314/6/32/36), 1B Mitch Mason (.345/12/31/29) and SS Kit Ritter (.313/7/17/28).

6. Marton: the Nine were 16-13 for the month... they have average offense with average power and solid defense (.975 FA)... but are deficient on the hill... vets SS Stan Mila (.341/5/36/25) and 2B Lonnie Trekell (.303/13/35/25) are the team' bat leaders... staff leaders are rookie Howie Hudson (8-4/3.41) and Barry Sexton (6-7/3.41)... in the bullpen it's been Webb Walden (2-1/0.00/7 saves).

7. Beechwood: the Bobcats felled to 12-17 in May... they are the worst-scoring club in the division and worst fielding club... the mound corps is average... vets Ken Arby (7-5/3.10), Jimmy Herman (5-5/3.91) and Neil Palmer (4-5/2.89) are the most dependable on the staff... star SS Cody Hanks (.320/9/39/25) and RF Eddie Wilson (.337/9/32/34) are the big sticks in the batting order.

8. Eastshore: the Elegants registered a 14-15 mark in May, but it was far better than April for the team forecast to finish fourth in the division... terrible pitching and average hitting won't get you far in the IPA... star CF Scotty Lagrange (.316/12/36/38) is still the top player... aided by 1B Paul Reed (.348/5/33/23), C Kyle Hunt (.323/2/15/17) and SS Johnny Petrak (.291/5/29/26)... the best starters were Koy Clampett (5-5/3.99) and Teddy Noble (3-4/3.81)... bullpen standouts were Kenny Chandler (3-2/2.30/4 saves) and Delaney Moss (1-1/1.25/3 saves).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

SLIGO GETS SOME SPACE IN RU WEST
After one-third of the season, the Sligo Rovers racked up another strong month and created some space with the rest of the Ruthlandian West Division, moving four games up on runners-up Volusia and Fort Benton and five games ahead of fourth-place Middlefield... still they have a lot of competiton as six of the teams are over the .500 mark.

1. Sligo: the Rovers posted an impressive 18-11 record in May... rated the number-three club in the preseason, they score well, pitch well and field well... the four starters are superb with Randall Steele (9-2/2.79), Scotty Price (9-2/2.79), Tom Pierson (5-3/2.10) and Gary Booth (3-1/2.92)... the offense is led by CF Joe McGarrett (.327/13/36/38), SS Neil Mitchell (.292/9/31/38) and 1B Denny Simmons (.258/5/18/38).

2. Fort Benton: the Defenders slipped a little bit to 15-14 after opening up in April with a 16-9 record... they are another solid contender in the division pennant race, chosen to end up second behind defending champ Colfax... the mound staff is paced by two standout veterans Augie Marquis (10-5/2.49) and Jordy Raeburn (6-5/2.60)... the line-up is also chocked full of fine hitters, but they lack long-ball power... C Hunter Glenholmes (.390/1/22/ 38), SS D. D. Badeaux (.329/4/20/26), 3B Mitch Hamilton (.302/1/22/32), 1B Oscar Pendleton (.322/4/21/22) and 2B Alec Leclerc (.305/0/19/19)... RF Cayman Crittenden (.261/4/30/28) is the RBI leader with 30.

2. Volusia: the Vigilantes sparkled in May with an 18-11 mark, though they were ranked only number seven in the preseason poll... Drew Selby (11-3/2.59) and Hector Vargas (7-5/3.09) were the prime reasons, along with spot starter/reliever Andrew Arryn (5-1/3/24/3 saves)... top bats belonged to 1B Kris Wilson (.313/6/37/26), CF Cazzie Carvalho (.286/5/27/40) and SS Billy Clarke (.338/1/14/24).

4. Middlefield: the Roosters improved to 17-12 in May... this could be the year they finally have a winning season... the sportswriters chose them for the fourth spot in the standings... it's been almost 10 years since the Roosters won more than they lost... it's the pitching that has improved... Larry Wheelhouse (6-2/1.82), rookie Royce Richardson (5-5/2.61) and rookie James Long (6-8/3.20) are capable starters... in the bullpen Ray Owens (1-1) has been fabulous with 12 saves and a 1.44 ERA... he is tied with Arroyo Grande (Tycobbian Union) reliever Cody Simmons for the IPA lead... Middlefield is first in the RU with 80 homers and second to Bayview's (Tycobbian Union) 90 in the IPA... the club HR leaders don't hit much for average and are led by C Brad Alexander (.233/14/38/26), CF Norman Antonioni (.224/13/23/27) and LF Wayne Stanley (.231/10/26/19)... 2B Earl Elliott (.322/4/22/25) and RF Alejandro Dominguez (.293/8/29/28) boast the best averages.

5. Forest City: the Lumberjacks were expected to wind up in the cellar, but have put up a winning record so far, 2 games over .500... they were 14-15 in May... it's improved pitching that is responsible... Rich Barstow (5-2/1.78), Walter Gibbons (4-4/2.33), Pat Veach (5-4/3.25) have been solid starters and the rookie relievers Omar Cordero (2-2/2.95/9 saves) and Lester Stites (2-2/1.65/2 saves) have been outstanding, too... the 'Jacks are only average at the plate, led by C Bob Brisdon (.310/9/29/21), 3B Kelly Hardison (.283/4/23/25) and RF Junior Chandler (.308/2/17/21).

6. Colfax: the Blasters were the preseason favorite and defending division champ, but they didn't play like it in May, slumping to a 12-17 record and dropping back to 27-27 for the season... Colfax has had offensive woes... only LF Chet Penn (.328/13/36/28) and C Mitch Fullerton (.323/6/19/23) have been up to snuff at the plate... top starters are vets Bobby Porter (8-4/3.45) and Randell Perkins (5-4/3.46)... 2B Kristian McEly (.244/8/27/22) and SS Gerry Sives (.242/2/15/25) need to perk up for the Blasters to get back in the race, along with pitchers Norm Harbison (5-7/4.39) and Ray Maxon (5-7/4.11).

7. Rocky Rapids: the Snappers had a good early run, but got back to normal with an 11-18 record in May... the experts had them pegged for last place this year... that's where they could be headed... the Snappers have good starters in Randy Peters (6-3/2.89), Jamie Taylor (6-7/2.74) and Janek Zoldak (7-4/3.39), but are atrocious in the bullpen with a 5.03 ERA... offense is almost non-existent... CF Crusher Derringer (.294/5/24/31) and SS Nick Nova (.291/6/21/25) are the only decent bats.

8. Stoner: the Stars were 12-17 in the month, a little better than April's 10-15... it looks like a long season for the Stars with no pitching, very little offense and no defense... Michael Keller (6-7/2.90) has pitched very well, but he's the only one... 2B Don Cain (.300/7/24/24), C Barney Swindell (.260/8/27/28) and 3B Wesley Neal (.309/3/29/21) have provided what little offense they have.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

FROGS LEAP PAST HAWKS AND HAYMAKERS IN MAY
The Tycobbian North Division is filled with talented teams... it's the home of the defending Pro Cup champion North Hills Hawks... and also the hottest team in the IPA - the sizzling Fairfax Frogs, who leaped pass Mahaska and North Hills to take over first place by three games... the Frogs rolled to a tremendous 21-8 mark in May... the Haymakers and Hawks are no slouches as they chalked up impressive 17-12 and 19-10 marks respectively... fourth-place Luxora is only five games off the pace after going 18-11 last month... fifth-place Hartsdale and sixth-place White River also have posted winning records this season... the Hellcats trail by 8 games and and the Rascals are 9 games behind.

1. Fairfax - the Frogs are a formidable bunch with super pitching and super bats... defensively they are only average... three starters are below the 3.00 ERA mark... Lee Rose (10-3/2.77), Harold Dorman (8-5/2.59) and Steven McLeod (8-3/2.97) are having outstanding seasons... so is reliever Bruno Stratton (2-1/1.27/7 saves)... though the Frogs don't go deep often, they still can score runs... topping the batting order is vet star 2B John Velasco (.317/10/50/34), who is one of the top RBI guys in the IPA... add in C Joe King (.362/3/34/26), CF Sam Price (.360/4/26/29) and star LF Eric Kusek (.281/3/34/26) and you have quite an offense... whoever survives and wins the TU North will undoubtedly pose a big threat to win the Pro Cup.

2. Mahaska - came out of April with a one-game lead... then had a fine May and now finds themselves three games out of first place... strong pitching, coupled with very good defense and home-run power are paying dividends so far this season... heading up the fine rotation are Mackie McGinnity (8-0/1.94), Warren Heath (8-3/2.75) and Darrell Geoffrey (8-3/3.67)... though Mark Pennington is only 5-7, he has a solid 3.16 ERA... the bullpen is doing its job well with Freddy Pfeffer (0-2/2.43/2 saves) doing the long relief and Luke Cargill (0-3/2.74/8 saves) handling the closings... the best bats are star 2B Mikk Kukk (.329/11/29/31) and old reliable 37-year-old LF Anton Hymel (.300/11/27/34)... the Haymakers sure could use a few more good sticks.

2. North Hills - the Hawks are seeking a sixth successive pennant, but look to have a lot of competition this go-around... they have great pitching, great defense, but just adequate scoring... Jeff Owens leads the way with an 11-3 record and a 1.84 ERA... Tony Mack is 7-1 and 1.76... the other two starters are quality as well, David Michael (5-5/3/67) and Frankie Lambert (3-3/3.18)... Kyle Oliver (3-2/2.51/3 saves) is the bullpen leader... the offensive leaders are superstud LF Adam Thurgood (.320/19/50/33)... he is in a three-way tie for the IPA HR lead with Ginza's Sogo Takagi and Sugar Valley's Tyler White... each of them have 19... other .300 hitters are super rookie CF Jimmy Jay Ferguson (.356/5/19/27), SS Norris Henry (.317/4/17/21) and RF Gerry Rice (.308/2/15/17)... it's tough to repeat as IPA champion, but the Hawks could pull it off... they have won three of the last five years, all in alternate seasons, never twice in a row... that rarely happens... Tuckanarra did it in 2023 and 2024 and Far Mountain won it three straight years from 2011 to 2013.

4. Luxora - the Zorros are off to a good start with two solid months of play, but they still trail by 5 games... it's just hard to stay up with the likes of Fairfax, Mahaska and North Hills this year... the Z's feature better-than-average pitching and hitting, but are weak on defense... the starting rotation has three impressive pitchers in Roy Watson (9-2/2.80), Kent Halloran (8-3/2.57) and rookie Joao Damaso (3-1/2.79)... closer Fernando Sanches (1-0/0.31/10 saves) has been astounding this season in 19 appearances... the main bats are 3B Todd Dubbins (.303/7/26/30), SS Joel Poche (.284/10/28/32), LF Milt Powers (.281/6/35/25), CF Carl Denton (.377/5/23/16) and RF Derreck Jackson (.285/6/29/27).

5. Hartsdale - after three years near the bottom of the division, the Hellcats improved their pitching and they might have a shot at a winning season and a spot in the first division... they were a poor 13-16 last month, but are still four games above the .500 marker... three vets head up a good, quality staff... Freddie Whitaker (9-3/3/25), Wayne Dawson (8-4/2.82) and Hank Cooke (6-3/3.51)... in the bullpen 19-year-old rookie Alfonso Cervera (0-2/2.63/10 saves) has been excellent... rookie Kenny Greenhill (0-1/1.56/2 saves) has looked good as well... it's the offense that is holding Hartsdale back... the have no dominating bats in the line-up... SS Paul Wynn (.276/10/30/33) is the top producer... SS Robinson Alomar (.287/8/24/21) and 3B Greg Melton (.247/7/33/23) occasionally chip in a homer and drive in a run... the Hellcats don't have the bats to play with the big boys in the TU North.

6. White River - the Rascals had a decent 15-14 month in May... they depend on the long-ball and an excellent bullpen... 36-year-old Paul Sardini (5-4/2.89) is the only effective starter... Les Dennis (3-5/3.49/10 saves) and Mickey Cronyn (1-0/0.00/2 saves) have been the best in the bullpen... CF Buford Cross (.323/9/29/36) is the only real thread in the batting order... SS Warren McKenzie (.261/13/43/32) and C Stevie Dee Daniels (.230/13/32/22) are the RBI men, but don't hit for much average.

7. Blue Lake - after opening up with a fine 15-10 record in April, the Blue Sox slipped to 11-18, falling 9 games behind Fairfax... average pitching and average hitting is all they have with no power to speak of... two solid veterans Sal Mays (8-5/3.09) and Frankie Quinn (7-6/3/41) are the staff leaders... not much after them... 2B Egon Ojamaa (.280/9/38/32) and C Jan Kobak (.282/6/32/21) are the best sticks as far as driving in runs... LF Jack Ryan (.310/4/21/20) is the club leader as far as batting average... Blue Lake is way over-matched in the division.

8. Oxford - just an all-around poor team... had another lousy month in May with a 10-19 mark... the Red Caps occasionally hit a homer, they are good with the gloves and the bullpen is good... but they have little else... relievers Rusty Garland (3-3/1.96/4 saves) and Allison Coxe (0-0/1.66) are the mainstays in the bullpen... the top starter is Max D'Albini (5-4/4.88)... all the other starters are 5.00 and higher... LF Donny Braun (.313/11/37/32) and 2B Alonzo Norris (.321/10/25/32) are solid sticks with some power... CF Dalton Ward leads the club with 16 roundtrippers and 34 runs and is tied with Braun with 37 RBIs, but he is batting a very poor .229 for average.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

TYPHOONS AHEAD IN 3-TEAM RACE
Going into the third month of play in the Tycobbian South the preseason favorite Turon Typhoons have a slight three-game edge over number-two choice San Alejo and number-three pick Summerland... Cape Coral is in fourth place and 7 games back with Colchester fifth and 8 games behind.

1. Turon - the Typhoons won the division last season and look like an even better team this year... they hit well with power, can score, can pitch with fine starters and a superb bullpen... defense is their only shortcoming... they showed their stuff in May with a 20-9 record and have first place to themselves... Nate Scottsdale (8-3/2.70), Wes Brynnton (9-4/3.42), Armin Boehm (9-3/3.97) and Clyde Engstrom (6-8/3.28) are all quality arms... Engstrom, a 26-game winner, Tycobbian MVP and Golden Arm winner last year, has had a slow start for him... closer Ralph Fulton (2-1/0.00/11 saves) is second in the IPA with 11 saves and is the bullpen ace... the top swingers are RF Guido Gervasio (.351/10/42/42), LF J. P. Trevenot (.301/13/37/41), SS C. C. Kingsford (.267/11/34/40), C Gil Erwin (.310/5/17/29) and 3B George Jordan (.289/11/32/27).

2. San Alejo: the Montaneros were tied for first after April, then went 17-12 in May to fall back to the runner-up spot... they will remain in the running because of good pitching and good scoring... however the Monties come up short in homers and defensively... Benny Buckmaster (8-2/1.68) has been the team standout starter so far with some help from Johnny Brown (5-4/3.24) and Tommy Smith (5-3/3.71)... bat leaders are C Filipe Zamora (.317/10/35/26), CF Dusty Rogan (.275/5/27/30) and 1B Ted Hatch (.275/6/28/16)... LF Charlie Wilberforce (.366/2/18/19) has been great, but has missed a third of the season with leg problems.

3. Summerland: Sunset pitching has been remarkably good this far... they lead the IPA with a 2.56 team ERA... but Summerland is woeful with the bats and ranks near the bottom in scoring... yet they went 18-11 in May to hang close to Turon... starters Jayson Hallstrom (8-5/1.95), Dutch De Boer (1-3/1.65), Freddy Farantino (3-2/2.31), Freddi Rossi (5-6/2.45) have been tough customers... so has reliever Ronald Shaddock (5-1/1.84/2 saves) in the pen... the most dependable run providers have been CF Antonio Vasquez (.318/2/27/33), SS Mark Brenneke (.288/6/22/32), 2B Todd Cummins (.277/9/25/22) and 3B Norm Murdoch (.265/2/12/29)... not likely a team with such a poor offense can win a pennant, not when its competition has good pitching and can put runs on the scoreboard, too.

4. Cape Coral: the Hurricanes are just the reverse of Summerland, possessing the offense, but with very little pitching... fourth place may be the best they can do... the 'Canes were 15-14 last month and are even for the season... top bats are 1B Stan Ferguson (.352/12/51/24) and CF Max Tselika (.345/7/26/45), who are off to great seasons... other solid bats are 3B Rikky Van Dalen (.290/5/28/38), LF Paul Law (.286/5/28/38) and 2B Kent Mantle (.283/7/29/25)... Mario Morales (7-6/4.64) and Tommy Van Noord (4-3/4.19) are the best the Hurricanes have on the hill.

5. Colchester: the Elites had a bad April, but improved with 16-13 in May... however, they don't look very much like contenders with mediocre batting and a bad bullpen but Colchester has three quality starters in Jimmy Moore (5-0/2.76), Eduardo Rivera (704/3.48) and Dave Lacoste (3-4/3.23)... Moore recently moved into the number-four slot in the starting rotation... talented RF Blake Barrister (.287/15/46/38) leads the club in everything but batting average... other plate contributors are 2B Joey Rogers (.290/5/28/30), 1B Nino Zuccaro (.291/5/21/24) and CF Danny Weaver (.280/2/19/35).

6. Arroyo Grande: the Suns posted a 13-16 mark in May and is not expected to get much higher than sixth place... and will probably do worse if the preseason guesses are correct... they were picked to end up in the basement... the Suns are ranked near the bottom in most categories except for defense... they really handle the gloves well with a .980 FA... closer Cody Simmons (1-1/1.27/12 saves) has been excellent and tops the IPA in saves... but he doesn't have much help... starters Meteus Castro (5-5/4.22) and Fernando Campos (5-7/3.83) are the best of the rest... not much at the plate, either, with the best of the lot being LF Rene Jesclard (.249/11/26/34), CF Rafael Montoya (.270/7/29/29) and 3B Wesley Cox (.260/5/25/22).

7. Southport: after a pretty good April, the Sun Soxx slumped badly to 9-20 in May, falling to seventh place... maybe this was temporary as the baseball experts forecast them for fourth place in the preseason poll... the Soxx have pretty fair pitching, but zilch when it come to offense and defense... on the hill rookie Billy Hoover (6-4/2.96) and Johnny Swanson (5-6/2.24) have been excellent, but haven't gotten much run support... rookie SS Ricky Whitaker is the club leader with a .322 BA... he has 3 HRs, 22 RBIs and scored 22 runs... CF Barney Lewis tops them in homers with 10 and 28 RBIs, but is batting a lowly .241... 1B Eddy Douglas (.283/7/19/18) and C Davy Riechert (.290/6/18/20) have chipped in a little offense, too.

8. Ginza: it looks like a long season for the Ninjas, who have the worst pitching in the IPA... 11-18 in May didn't change that outlook very much... Emil Kaltenborn (5-6/4.08) and Glenn Downing are the only decent starters and they are inconsistent... the Ninjas are only average at the plate, but they do have two talented batters in playing manager LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.383/2/26/42) and CF Sogo Takagi (.323/19/47/46)... Uchiyama leads the Tycobbian Union with a .383 BA, 17 doubles and 77 hits, while Takagi has the most homers in the IPA with 19, tied with Adam Thurgood of North Hills in Tycobbia and Tyler White of Sugar Valley in the Ruthlandian Union.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

MIDWAY WORST TO FIRST IN TU EAST
The preseason poll said the Midway Wolves were destined to finish dead last in the Tycobbian East Division and it proved to be right on the money in April, but lo and behold, the Wolves did a remarkable about-face and went on a 21-8 tear to take over the top spot by the end of May... Midway is now in the lead by three games over runner-up East Point, the second choice in the preseason forecast, four ahead of third pick Tuckanarra and eight in front of the High Mesa Cowboys, who were ranked seventh in the balloting... the top club in the preseason poll Red Bluff has been a gigantic flop and is in last place.

1. Midway: the Wolves are the best hitting, best pitching and best fielding team in the TU East... but overall that can be misleading... Midway is just average at the plate (.266 BA-13th), but above average in scoring (7th), very good defensively (.978 FA), only average on the mound (3.86 ERA-14th) except in the bullpen, where they are excellent (2.18 ERA-5th)... they are the only team in the division with a winning record... top pitchers are Cary Snead (9-3/3.13) and Taima Nodin (4-3/3.36)... top hitters are LF Bennett Caldwell (.322/9/39/36), CF Yancey Tanner (.302/0/19/39), 1B James Cline (.305/2/26/26) and 2B Lou Flowers (.278/12/42/35)... the winner of the TU East will have trouble in the playoffs.

2. East Point: the Panthers went 15-14 in month two, but are only 27-27 for the year... not the same team of recent vintage... pitching is down (4.37 ERA-28th)... hitting has never been very good (.248 BA-22nd)... the Panthers were the second choice to Red Bluff in the preseason poll... the only effective starter has been Johnny Moore (7-3/3.26)... long-time ace and 225-game winner Dixie Brooks (3-6/5.63) has floundered miserably and has been relegated to the bullpen... reliever Tuck Tawney (4-1/1.66/2 saves) has blossomed as the closer... the only decent bats are SS Dean O'Donnell (.284/11/30/32), 2B Tetsu Tanaka (.272/7/29/29), 1B Bert Hendrix (.291/8/30/24) and CF Andros Ciak (.308/9/22/23).

3. Tuckanarra: the Blue Jays have rung up five flags in a row, but may find it a tougher task to hang another one up this year... hitting is down, pitching is down... therefore winning is way down... the team is only 26-28... but there is good news... after going 16-13 in May, the Tucks are only 4 games out of first place and on the rise... Bobby Reid (7-4/3.45) is the wins leader, but it's been a down year for all of the starters... 20-game winners Jeff Woodruff (5-5/4.01) and Junior Bristow (4-8/3.64) have struggled and will have to turn it around for the club to prosper and have any chance to repeat as division winner... in the bullpen Jack Rogers (3-4/2.40/7 saves) has done well, but he has no help from the other relievers... LF Spade Weldon (.317/7/24/33) is the only one having a good season... superstar RF Lorne Evans is hitting only .199 with 6 HRs, 23 RBIs and 31 runs, far off his career numbers... if the bats come alive, along with the pitching, Tuckanarra will win the TU East again... there's not much competition in it.

4. High Mesa: the Cowpokes suffered another bad month with an 11-18 record in May... horrendous hitting is the main cause (.218 BA-32nd), worst in the IPA... only LF Clay Johnston (.292/18/33/33) has put up good numbers... he is tied for fourth in homers in the IPA with 18... CF Sam Hayes has 9 HRs, 23 RBIs and 26 runs with a solid .296 BA... SS Clifford Coleman has 13 HRs, 38 RBIs and 30 runs, but is batting only .244... Russ Krolle (6-5/3.78) is the only starter with a winning record and a decent ERA... Dean Harris (2-6/3.04) gives the Cowboys quality starts, but has nothing to show for it... rookie Kyell Kellgren (4-0/1.21/3 saves) will now get a chance to start after showing so well in the bullpen.

5. Ozarka: the Naturals were on top of the TU East in April, but an 8-21 month has dropped them back to the fifth spot in the standings and 9 games out... they are just a lackluster team in most respects and will wind up in the second division... the preseason forecast picked them for sixth, which seems to likely... Gregg Moore (5-4/3.96) has the most wins on the staff... two relievers rookie Billy Hill (2-2/1.78) and Teddy O'Shea (2-0/2.05/2 saves) have been the best in the bullpen... 3B Jimmy Woods (.290/9/32/21) and SS Duffy Morrison (.274/10/24/29) have been the most productive bats.

6. South Fork: the Stallions plunged to 8-21 in May and fell into a tie for sixth with Hillsboro... they have lousy hitting, second worst to High Mesa (.227 BA-31st)... with an average mound staff (3.95 ERA- 16th)... and bad defense (.968 FA)... slotted for a fifth-place spot in the preseason forecast... best pitchers have been Big Murph McAlister (6-5/3.44) and rookie Roger Johnson (4-3/3.60)... you know you are in for a long season when your top hitters have poor numbers... the top bats are 3B Elton Jacoby (.258/6/17/25), SS Jess Wilkerson (.242/10/29/23) and 1B Paul Sexton (.228/9/28/19).

6. Hillsboro: the Blazers sunk to a terrible 9-20 mark in May to fall down to sixth, 10 games out of first place... they have very little offense (.242 BA-27th), but decent pitching (3.63 ERA-10th), especially in the bullpen (2.80 ERA-10th)... Ralph Quick (4-4/3.06) and Cazzie Reier (5-6/3.14) have given the club some quality starts... and reliever Scott Watkins (3-2/1.84/7 saves) has really been impressive... in the batting department there have been no real standouts, but C Brian Davis (.290/8/28/28) has blistered the ball at a .333 pace with 7 homers since being traded from Rolling Hills at the beginning of the month... CF Vance Jahn (.287/8/23/36) has also been decent at the plate... but there isn't much else in the line-up.

8. Red Bluff: what a disappointing season for the preseason favorite Red Bluff Red Sox... they went 9-16 in April and followed it with 10-19 in May... the Sox do go deep occasionally, but have little else... no hitting, no pitching and even no defense (.962 FA)... Jud Cox (6-5/3.62) has been the only reliable starter... and RF David Kelso (.307/11/35/26) and star CF Ike Sweetwater (.279/11/34/31) the only dependable bats.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 1, 2039

WILDCATS RISE UP, BEST IN THE WEST
The unheralded Kenwood Wildcats shot to the top of the Tycobbian West in May with a great 20-9 record... that gave them a scant one-game lead over preseason favorite Arlon... April leader Rolling Hills slipped to third place, trailing by four games and the Bayview Vikings came in fourth, five games off the pace... last year's champ La Claire is a disappointing eighth after two months into the season.

1. Kenwood: the Wildcats are a mild surprise in the standings... they were picked to come in fifth... but they must be doing something right with the second-best record in the IPA (36-18) after Fairfax's 37 wins... Kenwood is better-than-average offensively (.277 BA-6th), average on the hill (3.92 ERA-15th) and on defense (.974 FA)... leading the way offensively are veteran star C Corky DiNozzo (.294/15/30/27), rookie phenom 2B Country Crowder (.370/4/22/32), veteran star LF Harry Tashina (.316/5/20/32) and 1B-C Antonio Dominguez (.289/5/26/25)... Glen Murray (8-4/2.93) and Ben Abramo (6-4/3.07) are the top starters... most analysts think the Wildcats will fade into the second division in the second half of the season.

2. Arlon: the Champs are right up near the top like the preseason predictions... only Kenwood's fantastic May kept them out of first place... Arlon put up an impressive 19-10 last month and trails by only one game... they are the favorite to win the TU West crown this season with their standout pitching (3.13 ERA-6th), solid offense (.272 BA-10th) and excellent defense (.980 FA)... Arlon has four capable starters in Emil Nowak (9-1/3.24), Frankie Gauthier (6-6/2.63), Pat Stuyvesant (4-3/3.48) and IPA strikeout leader Lanny Gray (4-6/3.79)... the relief corps is doing their part, too, with Ronny Farnsworth (5-1/2.67/5 saves) and Peter Shannon (1-0/0.89/4 saves)... the Champions are strong at the plate, too, with the likes of RF Mark Cameron (.344/18/50/35), who is tied for fourth place in the IPA in home runs with 18 and with 50 RBIs... C Nick Shafer (.332/6/36/25) and LF Charley Hastings (.315/3/17/48) have been a big pluses, too... other contributors have been 1B Ernie Pryor (.274/6/28/26) and CF Gussi Czajk (.275/2/20/38).

3. Rolling Hills: the Reds were the top team at the end of April, but they dipped a bit with a 15-14 mark in May... they have the offense (.280 BA/3rd) to win, but are lacking pitching (4.12 ERA-23rd)... defensively the Reds are good with the gloves (.976 FA)... heading up the batting order are RF Jimbo Foxx (.329/13/42/34), 1B Darwin Tard (.321/13/33/38) and vet star 3B Billy Christianson (.343/7/30/35)... on the mound it's Matthew Christianson (7-2/2.95) and Jacob Wagner (6-6/3.34)... the bullpen is especially bad, considering the only effective reliever Maury Cantrell (2-2/3.19/6 saves) has been switched to the starting rotation.

4. Bayview: despite being ranked the worst team in the division in the preseason polling, the Vikings just may be bonifide contenders... after two solid months of play they are resting in the fourth spot and only five games back in the race... 14-11 in April and 17-12 in May speaks volumes to the baseball critics... the Viks are the highest-scoring team in the IPA with 320 runs and number one in homers with 90... they are batting .273 (9th)... play good defense (.975 FA) and have compiled a pretty fair team ERA (4.04-20th), considering they play in a venue with unfriendly fences... star 2B Jerry Culpepper is the big gun with 18 homers, 43 RBIs and 34 runs, but is hitting only .248 for average... Culpepper is among the IPA home-run leaders... the other productive players are 1B Claude Kingston (.287/13/34/36), LF Roy Ricks (.302/10/24/37), CF Derek Jorstad (.279/4/15/38) and SS Andreas Stokke (.293/2/8/22)... Christy Kane (6-4/2.82) is the ace with some help from Karl Magga (4-4/3.49) and Bobby Knudsen (3-4/3.53/4 saves)... Vance Codsworth (8-5/4.54) has chalked up the most victories on the team.

5. Chicopee: so far the Braves have played a lot better than expectations with a 14-11 record in April and 13-16 in May... predicted to come in seventh, they have broken even in the first two months with fine hitting (.277 BA-5th), with very good power (72 HRs-2nd), excellent defense (.979 FA) and so-so pitching (4.04 ERA-19th)... leading the Braves attack are star 2B Kurt Gustavsen (.346/11/28/34), budding star CF Big Jim Moran (.290/11/34/33) and star LF Charley Kota (.329/10/26/25)... the mound leader is Lou Gianakos (7-7/3.47)... Heyoka Chaska (6-3/4.41) and Jimmy Beckworth (5-6/4.28) need to be more effective for Chicopee to challenge the front-runners... 22-year-old rookie reliever Wes Pennington (2-1/1.13/5 saves) has now been moved into the starting rotation.

6. Denton City: the Redbirds have not played up to par... they were supposed to be contenders according to the preseason sages, who selected them the number-two club... after a poor April, the Redbirds may have righted the ship with a 17-12 May... time will tell... they have good offense (.271 BA/11th), but mediocre pitching (4.10/21st) and bad fielding (.966 FA)... top bats are RF Pete Doyle (.314/4/12/39/41) and 1B Wayman Stetson (.310/13/36/33)... star slugger C Felton Welch has only 6 HRs, 29 RBIs and a poor .243 BA in the first third of the season... SS Sammy Thornton (.274/2/17/28) and LF Sam Carson (.265/6/25/22) have had off seasons thus far... they all need to get back to normal in the last 100 games... Francisco Salcido (7-6/3.59) has been the only reliable starter... the bullpen has only been fair... number three and four starters Stephen Edwards (2-3/4.03/6 saves) and Kevin Blevins (4-6/4.33) will have to pick up the slack, too, if Denton City hopes to get back in the race... they have 10 games to make up... it could be done if everything falls into place... but probably will not happen.

7. Bay St. Clair: the Buccaneers are playing almost according to form... they were chosen to finish sixth... they started off surprisingly well with a 14-11 April, but reality set in come May and they tumbled down to a terrible 9-20.... the Bucs are not very good... the most talented player is CF Cotton Cornwall (.347/12/37/30)... he is carrying the club offensively, leading in BA, HRs, RBIs and runs... only two relievers have good stats: Pete Cross (4-1/2.74/4 saves) and Andre Karkinos (2-1/2.68)... the best starter is Russell McIntosh, who is 5-3 with a 4.20 ERA.

8. La Claire: the Lynx won the TU West the last two years and figured to contend again this year as the preseason poll placed them third in the rankings, but it hasn't happened... pitching has gone to the pits and the offense is in shambles... the Lynx were 8-17 in April and 13-16 in May... 25-game winner Pat Kovacs is only 4-8, but with a decent 3.13 ERA... 21-game winner Bruce Kinson is only 3-8 with a sky-high 5.94 ERA... most of the hitters are having sub-par seasons... vets SS Jarrod O'Neal (.249/3/22/25) and CF Billy Holland (.241/4/21/24) are headed for their worst seasons... only 1B Eddy Veevers (.324/5/24/22) has hit well... he easily tops the team in BA with a .324 mark... 2B Sam Norman is next at .281 with a club high of 10 homers.