THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 17, 2041

WILDCATS WHIP REDS 4-3 FOR TU WEST CROWN
The Tycobbian West Divison had a fantastic finish to the 2041 season... it took a single-game playoff to decide the race... Kenwood edged Rolling Hills 4-3 for the crown, the Wildcats' first title in 17 years... third place went to the Bayview Vikings, who were eight and a half games behind... in the fourth position was the La Claire Lynx, who trailed by 11 and a half games... last year's winner Denton City slipped to fifth place, 12 and half games off the pace.

1. Kenwood (90-65): 2024 was the last pennant for the Wildcats... the only Pro Cup in their history came in 2014... they have made the playoffs only three times... Kenwood hit very well with a .282 BA (4th) and scored 763 runs (8th), but didn't hit a lot of homers (126-27th)... the Wildcats had fairly good pitching with a 3.82 ERA (17th)... solid defense with a .976 FA... not expected to go deep into the playoffs... probably not enough pitching... however, Kenwood stacks up better than Pro Cup champ Ranford did last year.

2. Rolling Hills (89-66) (1 GB): the Reds shot up from sixth last year, mainly because of good hitting... it's been almost 10 years since they have contended in the TU West... the Reds have been to the postseason 10 times and have come away with two Pro Cups ('29 and '31)... they were third in scoring with 801 runs, ninth with a .271 BA and tied for 18th in HRs with 154... pitching was average with a 3.89 ERA (18th)... Rolling Hills played standout defense with a .977 FA.
Top Pitchers: the mound rotation featured three solid starters with Matthew Christianson (21-10/3.20), Maury Cantrell (18-14/3.62) and Steve Adams (13-10/3.36)... Jakob Wagner (0-0/4.02) called it quits after 18 seasons... he retired with a 267-203 mark with a very good 3.03 career ERA... five times he won 20 games... Wagner appeared in only 12 games this season, all in relief.
Top Batters: All-Star 1B Darwin Tard topped the team with a .337 BA, and 118 runs... Tard had 26 HRs and 102 RBIs, too... All-Star RF Jimbo Foxx led the club with 28 HRs, drove in 104 runs and scored 85... LF Trent Hutchins paced the team with 110 RBIs, while batting .262 with 23 HRs and 76 runs... CF Scotty Yiska is 36 and still doing a good job after 15 years... he batted .289 with 24 HRs, 75 RBIs and scored 96 runs.

3. Bayview (81-73) (8.5 GB): it's been 25 long years since the Vikings graced the postseason... 2016 was the last flag-winning season... this made the fourth year in a row they have been over the .500 mark... the Viks did it with homer ball... they topped the IPA with 241 HRs and 864 runs, while hitting a strong .275 (5th)... the pitching (4.19 ERA-25th) was decent considering they play in a homer haven... defense is weak with a .969 FA.
Top Pitchers: Bobby Knudsen (19-10/3.03) was the ace of the mound staff... Karl Magga (15-16/3.74), Lucky Luciano (17-12/4.55) and Vance Codsworth (14-19/4.41) were inconsistent, but had some quality starts... they didn't get a lot of help from an inferior bullpen (4.42 ERA-27th).
Top Batters: the heavy hitter was IPA icon and 27-year-old All-Star Jerry Culpepper, who led the IPA with 61 homers and 123 runs, while hitting .348 and driving in 144 runs, second to IPA leader Wayman Stetson of Denton City with 146 RBIs... Culpepper finished third in the TU batting race to Bobby Joe Daniel of Fairfax, who batted .371... that the third time in his career he has hit over 60 homers... other big guns were SS Andreas Stokke (.273 BA) with 38 roundtrippers, 112 RBIs and 95 runs... and RF Roy Ricks (.303 BA) with 32 HRs, 85 RBIs and 87 runs.

4. La Claire (78-76) (11.5 GB): after winning back-to-back division crowns in 2037 and 2038, the Lynx went into decline and dipped into the second division for two seasons, now they are back in the first division with a winning record... La Claire has only made the Pro Cup playoffs four times and has yet to haul in a Pro Cup trophy... they have the pitching with a 3.14 ERA (2nd), but don't have the offense with a .259 BA (19th) and 654 runs (29th)... the Lynx are only average defensively (.971 FA).
Top Pitchers: they have a strong threesome in 27-year-old Marcel LaPlante (20-13/3.05), 26-year-old Nelson Stubbs (18-10/1.95) and 37-year-old future HOF-er Pat Kovacs (14-16/2.78)... Kovacs is nearing the 300-win milestone with an overall 293-207 record in his 17 years in the league... his lifetime ERA is a brilliant 2.76 ERA... Stubbs led the IPA with a 1.95 ERA... 28-year-old Terry Baird (5-9/2.21/22 saves) was the best in the bullpen, but lost 9 games... Baird was third in saves in the TU behind IPA leader Les Dennis of White River with 26 and Scott Watkins of Hillsboro with 24.
Top Batters: RF Hank Morton led the team with a .305 BA, but only hit 11 HRs, drove in 68 runs and scored 74... LF Billy Holland led with 25 HRs and 86 runs and finished second in RBIs with 75... 3B Phil Lyons topped the team with 77 RBIs, was second in homers with 23, but batted only .254.

5. Denton City (77-77) (12.5 GB): after winning the pennant for the first time in almost 30 years, the Redbirds fluttered down to fifth place, but did break even record-wise... the Denton City fans long for the golden days of 2003 to 2013 when the club was a powerhouse with eight postseason appearances and six TU West pennants... the Redbirds made the Pro Cup Finals twice... in 2005 and 2008... Denton City is a better-than-average club with a .268 BA (10th) and 3.76 ERA (13th)... defense is good, too, with a .974 FA.
Top Pitchers: 36-year-old ace Francisco Salcido (22-9/3.19) won 20 games for the second consecutive season... he was the only effective starter.
Top Batters: 24-year-old superstud All-Star 1B Wayman Stetson had his best year with a .325 BA, 51 HRs, an IPA-leading 146 RBIs and scored 93 runs... All-Star SS Sammy Thornton also chipped in with a .317 BA, 6 HRs, 64 RBIs, 98 runs and 107 BBs, while playing strong defense... CF Pete Doyle added 15 HRs, 59 RBIs and 98 runs with a .280 BA... C Felton Welch also had a good year with a .279 BA, 19 HRs and 79 RBIs.

6. Bay St. Clair (66-88) (23.5 GB): the Buccaneers were a second-division ballclub for the sixth year in a row... it's been 11 years since they made the postseason... the Bucs have never won a Pro Cup, but did make the Finals in 2015... this year they were the worst-pitching team in the IPA with a horrific 4.86 ERA... the offense wasn't so good either with 670 runs (26th)... in addition, the defense was the worst in the IPA with a .963 FA (tied with Volusia of the RU South).
Top Pitchers: vets John Karlsen (15-18/4.30) and Freddi Hahn (14-22/4.37) were the best of the starters... Pete Cross (5-0/3.05/11 saves) and Clark Van Vreeland (4-3/3.44/10 saves) did a pretty good job in the bullpen.
Top Batters: RF Cotton Cornwall put up some good numbers at age 36 with a .282 BA, 37 HRs, 82 RBIs and 85 runs... CF Gilbert Bauer had 22 HRs, 68 RBIs and 77 runs, but batted only .245... at 38 years old 3B Bailey Holmsworth collected 24 HRs, 67 RBIs and scored 59 runs, but batted only .253.

7. Arlon (66-88) (23.5 GB): after contending for three seasons, winning the pennant and making the Pro Cup Finals in 2039, the Champions faltered badly this year, plunging down to seventh place and 22 games under the .500 mark... they were just average on the hill (3.80 ERA-16th) and woeful at the plate with only 657 runs (28th)... only average on defense with a .972 FA.
Top Pitchers: Lanny Gray (18-16/3.24) is still a tough customer with 25 complete games, but didn't get much run support... he was tied for third in strikeouts with 253.
Top Batters: most of the offense came from the trio of star RF Mark Cameron (.303/41/102/98), 1B Robby Westin (.308/32/87/80) and C Nick Shafer (.272/26/86/73).

8. Chicopee (59-95) (30.5 GB): since winning three pennants in a row from 2034 to 2036 the Braves have settled down deep in the second division... for the last two years they have ended up in the basement... Chicopee has never won a Pro Cup and has made the playoffs only three times... this year they had awful pitching (4.83 ERA-31st) and average offense with a .262 BA (14th), 696 runs (19th) and 146 HRs (23rd-tied)... the Braves were average defenders as well with a .971 FA.
Top Pitchers: Tommy Brown (16-17/4.76) and Heyoka Chaska (12-15/4.28) were the most decent starters... the bullpen was terrible with a 4.51 ERA (28th).
Top Batters: aging veterans LF Wayne Kenney (.298/26/99/75), 1B Fred Phelps (.296/24/73/96) and 3B Kurt Gustavsen (.292/18/65/71) led the way at the plate.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 18, 2041

'CANES, RANCHEROS PRO CUP CHOICES
The Cape Coral Hurricanes got the kiss of death... they were chosen by the Island baseball gurus to win the 2041 Pro Cup... rarely does the top pick win the IPA championship... the Hurricanes of the Tycobbian Union are favored to defeat the San Dimas Rancheros of the Ruthlandian Union in the Pro Cup Finals... the IPA Pro Cup playoffs begins tomorrow afternoon at four venues around the Islands... In the Tycobbian Union first-round action pits Cape Coral at home against potent North Hills and Kenwood entertaining the South Fork Stallions... Over in the Ruthlandian Union San Dimas will be at home against the defending Pro Cup champion Ranford and Cold Creek will open on the road against the Middlefield Roosters... All of the series are best-of-seven in the postseason.

Only three clubs are making return trips to the playoffs this year... Ranford, Cold Creek and North Hills... in a miracle run Ranford won it all last year... Cold Creek and North Hills were among the favorites, but they were eliminated in the first round... Sligo upset Cold Creek in seven games and Pro Cup finalist Summerland whipped North Hills in six games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Pro Cup Poll:
1. Cape Coral (97-57) (TU South): the Hurricanes have a high-scoring attack, five All-Stars and two tough starters.

Cape Coral rose up from sixth place in 2040 (24 GB)... their last pennant was in 2030... they have never come close to winning the Pro Cup... the 'Canes were a powerhouse this season with a .285 BA (2nd), 816 runs (2nd) and 189 HRs (9th)... the pitching was good considering they play in a hitter-friendly ballpark... the team compiled a fairly decent 4.06 ERA (21st)... just average defensively with a .973 FA... ability to score might give them the best chance Cape Coral has ever had to win a Pro Cup.
Top Pitchers: All-Star Tommy Van Noord (23-11/3.12) and Stacy Boyle (11-2/3.20) are two quality starters... number three is Charlie Britton (19-10/4.15) and number four is Benton McCall (17-16/4.42)... bullpen is weak.
Top Batters: superstar All-Star 1B Stan Ferguson (.322/45/131/85) had a great year with 45 homers and 131 RBIs... other solid contributors were All-Star RF William Snyder (.323/25/85/97), All-Star 3B Kent Mantle (.275/28/88/83) and All-Star LF Rikky Van Dalen (.284/22/79/101).

2. San Dimas (92-62) (RU South): the Rancheros are a well-balanced ballclub with fine pitching and a solid core of hitters.

San Dimas has a strong attack and strong pitching... rose up from fifth place (19 GB) in 2040... All-Star Gil Arnaud (24-5/2.63), Toby White (19-10/2.94) were the mainstays, while Dale Huff (17-11/3.65) and Seth Dawson (14-10/3.93/10 saves) were solid in the number three and four slots in the rotation... All-Star 3B Leonard Purkey (.314/23/108/108), 1B Austin Epps (.317/22/104/71), C Hermie Goetz (.313/12/82/91), CF Klaus Stordahl (.284/13/81/79) and RF Denny Hendrix (.275/22/84/92) led the team's hit parade... weak bullpen could be San Dimas' downfall in the playoffs.

3. North Hills (95-59) (TU North): the Hawks have won three Pro Cups since 2034... they have great pitching, good bats and good gloves... however they lost their ace Tony Mack (23-9/2.69) in September... still they have strong pitching despite the huge loss... North Hills led the IPA with a superb 2.73 ERA.

The Hawks will be going for a record-tying fourth Pro Cup this year... they won it in 2034, 2036 and 2038, but failed the last two years despite being the favorite... second-best record in the IPA with 95 wins... only Cape Coral of the TU South was better with 97... the Hawks have great pitching with a 2.76 ERA (1st) and pretty good offense... and better-than-average defense (.975 FA).
Top Pitchers: All-Star Jeff Owens (22-11/2.33), Joey Santini (14-5/2.45/7 saves), Nelson Hooper (14-11/2.59)... ace Tony Mack (23-9/2.69) will miss the playoffs due to injury... that's a big loss, but Hooper and Santini may be able to fill the huge gap.
Top Batters: 30-year-old superstar LF Adam Thurgood (.307/35/99/95) still carries the team, but had solid help from CF Kris Anastas (.294/22/82/78), 3B Jim McDermott (.307/19/79/70), 1B Ric Hamilton (.264/19/78/71) and 2B Tommy Vavas (.273/16/70/98).

4. Middlefield (90-64) (RU West): the Roosters have explosive bats and solid pitching... they topped the RU with 228 roundtrippers and were second in the IPA behind Bayview, who slammed 241 homers.

Middlefield was fifth last year, 8 games back... this year the Roosters used good pitching and the home-run ball to take the division crown... considering the small ballpark they play in, they posted a pretty fair 3.59 ERA (9th) and led the RU with 228 HRs (1st)... two All-Stars CF Alejandro Dominguez (.292/40/115/103) and C Brad Alexander (.254/36/95/53) led the way with help from RF Wes Stanley (.285/38/96/80), LF Norman Antonioni (.262/29/58/98) and SS Kenny Johnston (.266/12/73/87)... on the hill it was All-Star Larry Wheelhouse (22-9/3.08) and James Long (19-18/2.74)... the other two starters Harry Morgan (18-9/4.61) and Hollis Dale (16-15/4.45) benefited from great run support... and Ray Owens (6-7/2.64/24 saves) was solid as usual in the bullpen... Owens tied Far Mountain rookie Amos Tandy (7-11/2.98/24 saves) for the most saves in the RU and was runner-up in the IPA to Les Dennis (5-5/1.32/26 saves) of White River.

5. Kenwood (90-65) (RU East): the Wildcats have three fine starters, strong batting order top to bottom and very good defense... could be this year's sleeper.

2024 was the last pennant for the Wildcats... the only Pro Cup in their history came in 2014... they have made the playoffs only three times... Kenwood hit very well with a .282 BA (4th) and scored 763 runs (8th), but didn't hit a lot of homers (126-27th)... the Wildcats had fairly good pitching with a 3.82 ERA (17th)... solid defense with a .976 FA... not expected to go deep into the playoffs... probably not enough pitching... however, Kenwood stacks up better than Pro Cup champ Ranford did last year.

Top Pitchers: All-Star Freddy Gooch (20-13/3.56), Clyde Myers (19-12/3.48), Glen Murray (19-15/3.74)... in the bullpen Rusty Bradford (7-8/2.83) was the best.
Top Batters: All-Star C Corky DiNozzo (.343/30/71/63) had a great season going but he missed one-third of the season with an injury... he will be back for the playoffs... All-Star 2B Country Crowder (.319/6/64/91), 1B Antonio Dominguez (.308/13/82/68)... plus a good bunch of role players that hit the ball well.

6. Ranford (86-68) (RU North): after a surprising Pro Cup title last year, the Bulls are getting a little more respect this year... they were picked eighth in the poll last year, but have been moved up two notches to six this year... Ranford is better this year... they have much better starting pitching and a slightly improved offense.

Leading Ranford this year was All-Star ace Ralph Hawk (20-13/2.50), who got some help from Ronnie Schroeder (20-14/3.07)... Schroeder was 17-7 last year, but missed the postseason because of an injury... the Bulls are a better team this year with his addition to the playoff rotation... LF Dale Weston (.270) is back again to lead the attack with 42 homers, 101 RBIs and 100 runs scored... C Arlo Guthrie topped the team with a .323 BA.

7. Cold Creek (86-68) (RU East): the Catamounts lived and died with its excellent pitching staff in recent years... they never had enough offense to win a Pro Cup... this year the hitting is up a bit, but the pitching is down a bit... experts don't think the 'Cats are as good as in the past.

For the first time in seven years the Catamounts failed to win at least 90 games... but they still prevailed with good pitching, good offense and standout defense (.978 FA)... All-Star superstar J. J. Gillespie (22-12/2.72) is still the ace... at age 36 he won 20 games for the seventh time in his brilliant career... however 35-year-old Joey Baker (18-18/3.71) and Rob Hutchins (14-12/3.65) were down a bit from last year... Baker was 20-8 in 2040 and Hutchins was 17-11... the offense was more than adequate, but didn't have much power... the Catamounts hit only 109 homers (31st-tied), but ranked sixth with a .274 BA and tied for fourth with 774 runs... 35-year-old CF Guy St. Laurent was the club leader with a .313 BA, 25 HRs, 90 RBIs, 92 runs and 16 SBs... SS Jeremy Hall (.307/7/79/82) and LF Jimmy Howell (.305/5/57/64) both had fairly good years.

8. South Fork (87-67) (TU East): the Stallions are not highly regarded... just average offensively and fairly good on the hill with good defense.

South Fork snapped a five-year run in the second division of the TU East, all of them under the .500 mark... they pulled up from fifth place last season (6 GB)... the last time South Fork was in the playoffs was the Pro-Cup winning season in 2025... that is their only IPA title... pretty good pitching (3.49 ERA-6th), pretty fair offense (.260 BA-17th) and solid defense (.975 FA) brought home the pennant this year... not expected to be much of a factor in the Pro Cup competition... experts are not impress with pitching, nor batting.
Top Pitchers: Jay Murphy (22-8/2.86) and Mike Lambertini (15-11/3.40) give them two quality pitchers... Big Murph McAlister (12-19/3.37) was effective, too, but didn't have good run support.
Top Batters: 1B Paul Sexton (.267/39/109/94) was the club leader in homers, RBIs and runs scored... steady 3B Elton Jacoby (.297/22/82/92) enjoyed another good season... as did SS Jess Wilkerson (.306/18/56/90).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 19, 2041

2041 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game One

Ruthlandian Union

CC 'CATS EDGE ROOSTERS 3-2 IN 11 INNINGS
In game one of the Ruthlandian Division Series at Middlefield Park, visiting Cold Creek got off on the right foot with a 3-2 victory in 11 innings, won on an catcher's interference call with the bases loaded.

Two 20-game winners battled to a 2-2 draw after eight innings... Middlefield left-hander Larry Wheelhouse went nine-plus innings and gave up only one earned run and five hits with 5 walks and 5 Ks... Cold Creek right-hander J. J. Gillespie worked eight innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts... George Bailey (1-0) got the win with two perfect innings and Joey Baker got the save with a perfect eleventh... Ray Owens (0-1) took the loss on an unearned run... the Roosters committed three errors in the game.

The Catamounts outhit the Roosters 11 to 7... the 'Cats were led by RF Jimmy Howell, 3B Eric Hollister, 1B John-Michael Krikma and C Arved Tarand, all with two hits each... 2B Earl Elliott and 1B Cliff Patterson paced the Roosters with two hits apiece.

HAWK LEADS BULLS TO 3-1 WIN IN OPENER
The Ranford Bulls and Pro Cup MVP Ralph Hawk took up where they left off last year in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... they whipped the San Dimas Rancheros 3-1 in the opener of the series at Ranchero Stadium... 20-game winner Hawk (1-0) limited them to one run on six hits with six Ks and one walk... he beat 24-game winner Gil Arnaud (0-1), who surrendered three runs on eight hits in eight innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Ranford got their runs on 3B Pete Bankston's homer in the second, Hawk's RBI single in the fourth and LF Dale Weston's solo shot in the eighth... San Dimas got their only run of the game on a bottom-of-the-ninth blast by 3B Leonard Purkey.

Tycobbian Union

OWENS BLANKS 'CANES 3-0, HAWKS WIN GAME 1
Opening up on the road at Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral, the North Hills Hawks got a magnificently pitched game from super southpaw Jeff Owens, who blanked heavy-hitting Cape Coral 3-0 in game one of the Tycobbian Division Series... Owens held the Hurricanes to just four hits, struck out four and walk one... during the season the 'Canes batted .285 as a team and hit 189 homers... Tommy Van Noord (0-1) went the distance in defeat, yielding three runs and seven hits... Cape Coral is the favorite to win the Pro Cup this year, while North Hills was ranked third in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Pro Cup poll. The Hawks are going for their fourth Pro Cup trophy since 2034.

The Hawks got all three runs in the top of the third frame on a fielder's choice by 2B Tommy Vavas, RBI single by C Timmy Stevens and a sac fly by LF Adam Thurgood.

WILDCATS AND MURPHY PREVAIL OVER STALLIONS 4-2
In spite of four errors, the hometown Kenwood Wildcats prevailed over the South Fork Stallions 4-2 in the first game of the Tycobbian Division Series at Olde Towne Grounds, the first postseason game in 17 years at the old stadium... Kenwood snapped a 2-2 tie on Keith Silver's double that scored Tim Jarvis in the top of the fourth... Rod Jenkins tripled in Antonio Dominguez in the fifth for the last run... Glen Murray (1-0) went all the way for the victory, stopping them on five hits and no earned runs... Murray posted seven strikeouts and walked two batters... loser and starter Jay Murphy (0-1) tossed seven frames, yielding four runs on 10 hits.

The Wildcats banged out 10 hits, paced by 2B Country Crowder, C Corky DiNozzo, 1B Antonio Dominguez and CF Tim Jarvis with two hits each... 3B Rod Jenkins drove in a pair of runs... 1B Paul Sexton had a pair of base hits for the Stallions.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 20, 2041

2041 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Two

Ruthlandian Union

COLD CREEK POWERS BY MIDDLEFIELD 8-5 IN 2ND GAME
After a quiet opening game, the bats spoke loudly in game two of the Ruthlandian Division Series at Middlefield Park... visiting Cold Creek smacked three homers en route to an 8-5 triumph over favored Middlefield, who slammed two out of the park... Reynaldo Alvarado, Guy St. Laurent and Joe Cochrane went deep for the Catamounts as they went up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series... Harvey Fullerton (1-0) notched the win despite allowing 10 hits and five runs... only two were earned... James Long (0-1) took the loss, giving up seven runs and eight hits in six innings... only three runs were earned as the Roosters played terrible defense and committed four errors... the Catamounts also made two miscues in the sloppily-played contest.

Cold Creek collected 11 hits and were sparked by RF Reynaldo Alvarado (.300) with three hits, CF Guy St. Laurent (.222) with a two-run homer and 1B John-Michael Krikma (.300) with a two-run single... C Brad Alexander (.375) had a homer and two singles for the Roosters, who had 10 hits... and 3B Matt Womack (.143) had a solo homer and a sac fly.

BULLS TRIM RANCHEROS 5-4, UP 2-0 IN SERIES
Defending IPA champion Ranford did it again... they whipped favored San Dimas 5-4 to go ahead two games to none at Ranchero Stadium... the Bulls fell behind 4-0 after two frames, but rallied with three runs in the fifth and two in the ninth... CF Jamie Holcomb (.000) tied the game in the top of the ninth with a sacrifice fly and RF Tokuji Taro (.250) won it with an RBI single... both clubs cracked 10 hits each... 2B Joe Alderman (.333) led San Dimas with a three-run clout.

Ronnie Schroeder (1-0) was the winning hurler... he went all the way, allowed 10 hits and four runs, while Seth Dawson (0-1) blew the save and suffered the loss in relief of starter Toby White... White pitched eight innings and departed with a 4-4 score... he gave up four runs on eight hits, walked nobody and fanned five.

3B Pete Bankston (.500) had three hits and scored two runs for the winners... and Taro went 2-4 and batted in two runs.

Tycobbian Union

'CANES EVEN SERIES, BLOW BY HAWKS 7-6
Hard-hitting Cape Coral slammed North Hills vaunted pitching staff around for 14 hits in a stirring comeback 7-6 victory in 10 innings... the Hurricanes trailed 6-5 going into the last of the tenth, but got a two-run walk-off single by Rikky Van Dalen to even the series at one game each... Van Dalen (.444) went 4-for-6... the Hawks only got six hits, but two of them were homers by CF Kris Anastas (.222), a three-run jolt, and a solo salvo by LF Adam Thurgood (.375)... reliever Pete Collins (1-0) nabbed the win, while Alex Peters (0-1) caught the loss... neither starter Stacy Boyle, nor Nelson Hooper was effective... Boyle was blistered for six runs in nine and one-third innings and Hooper was clipped for five runs on 10 hits in his eight innings.

KENWOOD KO'S SOUTH FORK 5-2
The Kenwood Wildcats won again at home at the Olde Towne Grounds to take a 2-0 lead in the Tycobbian Division Series... Freddy Gooch (1-0) stymied South Fork 5-2, permitting six hits and two runs in seven and one-third innings with four walks and six strikeouts... the Wildcats supported him with 10 hits... and Rusty Bradford got the last five outs for the save... Mike Lambertini (0-1) went the route in defeat... he whiffed four and walked four... CF Tim Jarvis (.429) broke a 2-2 tie with a single in the bottom of the seventh and Rod Jenkins (.375) followed with a two-run roundtripper to run the lead to 5-2.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 21, 2041

2041 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Three

Ruthlandian Union

'CATS CLOBBER ROOSTERS 9-3, NEAR SWEEP
"Break out the brooms"... that the battle cry at Holmes Stadium in Cold Creek after the Catamounts clobbered Middlefield 9-3 in game three of the Ruthlandian Division Series... Cold Creek won its third game in a row and now needs just one more win to advance to the RU league championship round... Rodney Marshall (.625), Reynaldo Alvarado (.385) and Jimmy Howell (.357) led the offensive splurge with three homers and 12 hits.

Catamount starter Rob Hutchins (1-0) picked up the win by going six and two-thirds innings... he was tagged for 11 hits, but only permitted three runs... Hutchins struck out nine batters and walked only one... he had a 5-3 lead when he was taken out of the game... Joey Baker and Tommy Wynn got the last seven outs in order to preserve the victory... Harry Morgan (0-1) was battered hard for six runs on 10 hits in six-plus innings... he trailed 6-3 when he was replaced.

RANCHEROS RIP BULLS 9-5 IN GAME 3
Favored San Dimas finally made its presence felt in game three of the RU Division Series... the Rancheros ripped Ranford 9-5 for its first win, cutting the Bulls' lead to two games to one in the best-of-seven set... a four-run burst in the top of the ninth, highlighted by RBI singles by Klaus Stordahl (.250) and Leonard Purkey (.308), plus a two-run two-bagger by Hermie Goetz (.308) made the difference... Each club racked up 12 hits apiece.

Dale Huff (1-0) registered the win, but was roughed up for 11 hits and five runs in eight innings... Huff walked no one and fanned six... Cerek Talaga held Ranford scoreless in the ninth to wrap up the win... Frank Yosarian (1-0), who relieved in the eighth was the losing pitcher... he was shelled for four runs and four hits in two innings.

SS James Baxter (.400) slammed a two-run homer for San Dimas... and 3B Leonard Purkey (.308), 1B Austin Epps (.250) and 2B Joe Alderman (.500) all had two hits each... Ranford's best bats were CF Roger Farnsworth (.444) with a two-run homer and two singles... and 3B Pete Bankston (.583) with three hits in four tries.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS TAKE LEAD 2-1, WHIP 'CANES 6-2
Playing at home at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, the Hawks held down the Cape Coral attack in a 6-2 victory behind Joey Santini (1-0), who got an ugly win... Santini walked six, but restricted the Hurricanes to two runs on five hits in seven and two-third innings... he struck out seven and standed nine baserunners... relievers Alex Peters and Butch Cortelloni got the final four outs to seal the verdict... Norris Henry's (.333) three-run double in the eighth nailed down the win, giving North Hills a 2-1 edge in the series... Charlie Britton (0-1) went the distance in defeat, surrendering six runs and nine hits, but only three of them were earned... Cape Coral is the Pro Cup favorite.

The Hawks were led at the plate by LF Adam Thurgood (.417) with two hits, including a two-run homer... and by 1B Ric Hamilton (.167) with a solo home run... 1B Stan Ferguson (.300) had a two-run blast for the Hurricanes.

SOUTH FORK SLOWS DOWN KENWOOD 4-3
Back at the friendly confines of Jock Ewing Stadium, the hometown South Fork Stallions pulled out a 4-3 decision over the Kenwood Wildcats to narrow their Tycobbian Division Series lead to two games to one... the Wildcats were victorious in the opening two games... Maury Yates' (.077) single in the bottom of the ninth scored Frank Stewart with the winning run... Stewart pinch-ran for Paul Sexton (.333), who led off the frame with a base on balls... Stewart stole second and went to third on a ground-out... Kenwood led 3-1 after five frames, but South Fork rallied late... SS Josh Wilkerson (.333) had a pair of homers and drove in three runs to lead the Stallions' offense.

Both starting hurlers worked complete games... Big Murph McAlister (1-0) allowed nine hits, struck out five and walked five for the win, while loser Clyde Myers (0-1) permitted six hits with one walk and four Ks... McAlister was helped out tremendously by five double plays.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 22, 2041

2041 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Four

Ruthlandian Union

'CATS SWEEP ROOSTERS
The Cold Creek Catamounts won their fourth straight game to sweep the Middlefield Roosters in the Ruthlandian Division Series... ace J. J. Gillespie (1-0/1.59) applied the finishing touches with a 3-1 victory... he stopped the potent Roosters on four hits, struck out seven and walked only one... Gillespie gave up a lead-off homer to Earl Elliott, but nothing else in a fine outing... the Catamounts got to losing pitcher Larry Wheelhouse (0-1/2.16) for a pair of runs in the fourth on 3B Eric Hollister's (.235) RBI single and C Arved Tarand's (.250) RBI ground-out... 2B Todd Goodwin (.125) completed the scoring with a solo homer in the sixth... in a spotty performance Wheelhouse walked six, fanned five and gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings.

Cold Creek, the number seven choice in the Pro Cup poll, will now wait to meet the winner of number two San Dimas and number six Ranford... Middlefield was ranked fourth in the survey, but they were totally shut down by the Catamounts' mound staff... Cold Creek held them to a .227 BA with five homers and 11 runs in four games... while the 'Cats scored 23 runs with seven homers and a .270 BA... shoddy defense played a very important role in the series... Middlefield committed seven errors good for eighth undeserved runs... Cold Creek made only two miscues good for 3 runs... the Catamounts staff ERA was 1.89... the Roosters put up a 3.75 ERA.

Cold Creek skipper Scoop Lemieux said, "We played really well in the series... great pitching, strong defense and got timely hitting... which is exactly what we need to win the Pro Cup."

Manager Ricky Tinker of Middlefield agreed with Lemieux, "We got beat by a fine ball club playing its best... that's how you get swept."

HAWK PUT RANFORD UP 3-1 IN SERIES
In crucial game four at Ranford County Stadium, Ralph Hawk beat favored San Dimas 5-1 to lift the Ranford Bulls up to a three games to one lead in the RU Division Series... Hawk limited the Rancheros to just five hits, while striking out seven and walking just one batter... Hawk (2-0/1.04) worked into the ninth, when reliever Miguel Mandina came in and got the final two outs. Ranford had to play without its clean-up man and main power guy, Dale Weston... he will miss at least two weeks with herniated discs in his back... Weston hit 42 homers and drove in 101 runs in the regular season and will sorely missed.

24-game winner Gil Arnaud (0-2/3.38) took his second loss of the series... he allowed five runs on seven hits and went the route... two of the runs were not earned... San Dimas had a 1-0 lead after four frames on Arnaud's (.200) RBI single in the top of the second... Ranford rallied for two in the fifth to take the lead... SS Stan Cobb (.286) singled, stole second, and then continued to third when first baseman Austin Epps dropped an infield throw... Cobb scored on a wild pitch... CF Roger Farnsworth (.385) singled in run number three making the score 3-1... Cobb got the final two Ranford runs with a two-run single in the eighth.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS HOLD OFF HURRICANES 6-5 IN GAME 4
In game four at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, the Hawks flew out to a 6-1 lead after five innings, then fought off a rally by the Cape Coral Hurricanes, who fell one run short... North Hills edged them 6-5 for its third win in four games over the Pro Cup-favored 'Canes... both aces Jeff Owens and Tommy Van Noord struggled... Owens (2-0/2.12) picked up the win even though he was tagged for five runs and six hits in eight innings... Owens had six Ks and four walks in an uneven performance... Van Noord (0-2/2.40) had an even tougher time, as he was battered for 11 hits and six runs in his six innings... however, three of them were not earned.

The Hawks cracked 11 hits and were sparked by 1B Ric Hamilton (.313) with 3-4, including a double, a homer and two RBIs... 2B Tommy Vavas (.235) also drilled three hits... 1B Stan Ferguson (.357) paced the Hurricanes with a grand-slam homer.

3 HRs LEAD WILDCATS TO THIRD WIN
In the tenth inning Tim Jarvis clubbed a three-run smash that delivered a 5-2 win for the Kenwood Wildcats over the South Fork Stallions at Jock Ewing Stadium in South Fork giving the Wildcats a 3-1 lead in the Tycobbian Division Series... Corky DiNozzo slammed two solo roundtrippers in the first and fourth frames to give Kenwood an early 2-0 lead... Glen Murray and Rusty Bradford combined for the victory... Murray worked the first eight permitting two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and a walk... Bradford (1-0/0.00) claimed the win with two scoreless innings... he allowed one hit... Jay Murphy went seven innings for South Fork, holding the Wildcats to four hits and two runs... Murphy had 6 Ks and no walks and exited with the score tied at 2-all... Cecil Alexander (0-1/8.10) was the victim of Jarvis' three-run rip and caught the loss.

C Corky DiNozzo (.429) was Kenwood's top bat with 2-3, three runs and two RBIs... South Fork C Jaan Jaanson (.429) went 4-for-4 with a homer and three singles.

A big thanks to all of you that have run the dynasty over the 100,000 viewer mark. :D

It is very much appreciated.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 23, 2041

2041 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Five

Ruthlandian Union

SPARKS HR KEEPS SAN DIMAS ALIVE
Sparky Sparks' two-run pinch-hit homer in the top of eleventh kept the San Dimas Rancheros alive in the Ruthlandian Division Series... his homer beat Ranford 5-3 and narrowed the Bulls' lead to three games to two... three hurlers, Toby White, Seth Dawson and Alfredo Montes, joined forces to keep the Bulls from wrapping up the series and sending the Rancheros home for the season.

White started and tossed seven and a third innings... the Bulls got three runs and five hits off him... White left with the score tied at 3-3... Dawson (1-0/2.45) got credit for the win with two and two-thirds scoreless innings... and Montes got the save with a runless eleventh... Ranford started Ronnie Schroeder and he went nine innings, giving up three runs on eight hits... Miguel Mandina (0-1/3.38) suffered the loss on Sparks' big hit.

San Dimas got nine hits in all... 1B Austin Epps (.211) had a solo homer... and three players collected two hits apiece: LF Denny Throckmorton (.261), RF Denny Hendrix (.200) and C Hermie Goetz (.333)... Ranford also got nine hits and were paced by 1B Maury Quave (.550) with three hits, including two doubles... and LF Jimmy Holcomb (.250) delivered two hits... he's filling in for the injured Dale Weston... 3B Pete Bankston (.350), SS Stan Cobb (.263) and Holcomb got RBIs for the Bulls.

Tycobbian Union

NH HAWKS UPSET CC HURRICANES IN 5 GAMES
In a mild upset the North Hills Hawks eliminated the Cape Coral Hurricanes, the favorite to win the Pro Cup this year... the Hawks captured game five 5-3 and took the series four games to one... North Hills was rated high in the Pro Cup poll, ranking as the third choice to take the IPA Pro Cup crown this year.

North Hills broke open a 3-3 tie with two runs in the last of the seventh... RF Jimmy Jay Ferguson (.222) plated the game-winning run with a deep fly to right... and 2B Tommy Vavas (.333) added an insurance run with a double later in the inning... Butch Cortelloni (1-0/0.00) notched the win in relief of starter Nelson Hooper... Cortelloni held the 'Canes to no runs and one hit in his two and two-thirds innings... Hooper did decently, allowing three runs on eight hits in six and two-thirds innings... Hooper had six strikeouts and no walks... Stacy Boyle (0-1/5.71) went the distance in defeat... the Hawks got five runs on eight hits off of him... Boyle totaled four strikeouts and walked nobody.

The Hawks were led at the plate by LF Adam Thurgood (.421), who got two hits, including his third roundtripper of the series... he has driven in seven runs... and 2B Tommy Vavas (.333) also went deep for his first playoff homer... Vavas also doubled two times... Vavas has five RBIs in the playoffs... CF J. D. Durocher (.267), SS Felipe Balderes (.190) and 2B Albert Wherry (.200) each drove in a run for the Hurricanes.

In the post-game wrap Hawks manager Todd Simons told reporters, "When you have pitchers like we have, you can hang with anybody... even such a great-hitting team as the Hurricanes." North Hills held Cape Coral to two homers and 17 runs, finishing with a 2.79 ERA... the Hurricanes batted .257 during the series... Cape Coral's ERA was 3.77 as the Hawks scored 26 runs on them and batted at a .250 clip with seven homers.

Losing skipper Flipper Bird said the key to the series was "scoring enough runs, which we didn't do... we needed five runs a game to beat the Hawks."

KENWOOD KO'S SOUTH FORK IN 5
The Kenwood Wildcats made quick work of the South Fork Stallions in the TU Division Series, wrapping it up in five games... Corky DiNozzo crashed a three-run homer in the top of the eighth to KO the Stallions 5-3... Freddy Gooch and two relievers combined for the win... Gooch (2-0/2.40) went seven and two-thirds innings, gave up three runs and eight hits for the victory... Rusty Bradford and Tommy Carter finished it out and got the final four outs... Carter got his first save of the playoffs with a scoreless ninth... three double plays by the Wildcats really helped cinch the series... Mike Lambertini (0-2/5.29) was the loser... he went all the way, surrendering five runs on eight hits.

In addition to DiNozzo's (.444) homer, LF Tim Jarvis (.421) belted a two-run clout, his second of the postseason... DiNozzi has gone deep three times and batted in seven runs... Jarvis leads the club with eight RBIs.

1B Paul Sexton (.235) hit one out for South Fork... the other two runs were driven in by 2B Pete Arnold (.238) and C Jaan Jaanson (.389).

Kenwood manager Aaron Hankins marveled at his mound corps, "We even pitched well in the game we lost... my boys were outstanding on the hill and at the plate."... the Wildcats posted a superb 1.77 ERA in the series, batted .267 and hit six homers... the Stallions hit only .211 with four homers and compiled a 4.50 ERA.

Manager Blackie Terranova of the Stallions simply stated the obvious, "Kenwood dominated us in every aspect of the game."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 24, 2041

2041 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Six

Ruthlandian Union

RANCHEROS EVEN SERIES AT 3-3
With their backs to the wall, San Dimas snapped a 3-3 tie in the last of the seventh on Denny Throckmorton's game-winning solo homer to defeat defending Pro Cup champion Ranford 6-3 and deadlock the series at three games apiece... in the same inning Klaus Stordahl added a two-run single to complete the scoring... the Rancheros were down three games to one after four games, but they have come back and forced a game seven tomorrow afternoon at Ranchero Stadium... both clubs will have their aces on the hill... Ralph Hawk (2-0/1.04) for the Bulls and Gil Arnaud 90-2/3.38) for the Rancheros.

San Dimas got a fine start out of Dale Huff (2-0/3.38), who stymied the Bulls on three runs and five hits, while fanning nine batters and walking none... Seth Dawson came on and close it out with a 1-2-3 ninth... Ranford starter Duffy Davidson (0-1/6.43) was hung with the loss... the Rancheros shelled him for six runs on 11 hits in seven innings.

San Dimas outdid Ranford at the plate 11 to 5 with 3B Leonard Purkey (.320) getting two hits, including a two-run shot in the third, his second home run of the playoffs... Stordahl (.250) had two hits and two RBIs... Throckmorton (.286), C Hermie Goetz (.346) and RF Denny Hendrix (.263) also chipped in with two hits each... 1B Maury Quave (.542) led the Bulls with two hits... C Arlo Guthrie (.087), 3B Pete Bankston (.333) and SS Stan Cobb (.261) drove in the Ranford runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 25, 2041

2041 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Seven

Ruthlandian Union

BULLS WIN GAME 7 BEHIND HAWK
Defending IPA champion Ranford dodged a big bullet in San Dimas... the underdog Bulls got another clutch performance from their ace Ralph Hawk in game seven at Ranchero Stadium... Hawk completely dominated the Ranchero 4-0 on a three-hitter... he allowed only singles, fanned five and walked only one in a superlative outing... that gave Ranford the series four games to three and kept them in the running for its second straight Pro Cup.

The Bulls charged out to a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on a lead-off double by CF Roger Farnsworth (.259) and an RBI single by 3B Pete Bankston (.321)... 2B Harley Freeman (.154) upped it to 2-0 with a solo homer in the second... 1B Maury Quave (.500) scored Freeman from third with a single in the seventh... Ranford made it 4-0 in the eighth when SS Stan Cobb (.269) walked, went to second on a ground-out, stole third and came in on a passed ball.

24-game winner Gil Arnaud (0-3/3.38) had a decent game... he was touched for nine hits and four runs, while going the route... Arnaud walked two and whiffed seven... he just couldn't match up with Hawk, who continued his amazing postseason run with three victories and a terrific 0.68 ERA in his three starts... Hawk beat the Rancheros 3-1, 5-1 and 3-0... last year he won the Pro Cup MVP and led the Bulls to their first Pro Cup ever.

Winning manager Chris Bernhoffer was overjoyed with the win, telling reporters, "Hawk is unbelievable... and he even gets better when the series is on the line... he's our Money Man."

San Dimas skipper Wesley Pate was downhearted as expected. He told the press, "We came back from 3-1 and it got down to one game and we didn't win it. We dug ourselves a deep hole and we didn't quite dig our way out of it... Keep in mind that Ranford is a solid ball club and just might repeat as Pro Cup champion... there is no shame in losing to them... I'm proud of the way my Rancheros played... the Bulls know they were in a tough series."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 28, 2041

IPA LCS STARTS SUNDAY
We are now down to four teams in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... Cold Creek, the seventh choice to win the Pro Cup, tangles with defending IPA champ Ranford, who was picked the sixth-best team in The Islandian Times' Pro Cup poll... they will battle for the Ruthlandian Union League championship... In Tycobbia powerful North Hills will go up against the Kenwood Wildcats... the Hawks are the highest-ranked club still in the playoffs... they were rated third best in the poll... unheralded Kenwood was in the fifth spot in the survey.

All four clubs are playing extremely well in the postseason so far... it should be quite a donnybrook before the IPA titlist is crowned... the oddsmakers are leaning toward North Hills because they defeated the Pro Cup favorite Cape Coral in five games, completely de-throttling the heavy-hitting Hurricanes... Ranford is just off of an upset of second-ranked San Dimas in a spirited seven-game set... and Cold Creek played superbly in a sweep of number four Middlefield... Kenwood is the least-likely team to take home the famed trophy, even though they easily disposed of the eighth-rated South Fork Stallions in five games.

Most fans don't really pay much attention to the Pro Cup ratings... they don't usually pan out very well. In fact, it seems to be a jinx to be a high pick. Last year Ranford was rated the least-likely to win the Pro Cup and the remarkable Bulls proved everybody wrong. And now they are back again to do it all over again.

Of the clubs remaining in the Pro Cup quest, North Hills has the best record at 95-59... Kenwood finished 90-65 in the regular season... and Cold Creek and Ranford were tied at 86-68. The Hawks will have the homefield advantage over the Wildcats because of a better season record, while the Bulls will get it because they beat the Catamounts four out of six in the regular campaign.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 29, 2041

2041 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game One

Ruthlandian Union

HAWK PREVAILS, BEATS 'CATS IN OPENER 3-1
Two of the top pitchers in the IPA were on the mound at Ranford County Stadium in game one of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... when the dust cleared from the diamond, Ralph Hawk and the Ranford Bulls had beaten J. J. Gillespie and the Cold Creek Catamounts 3-1... Hawk continued his brilliant postseason pitching, limiting the 'Cats to just five hits and an unearned run... he struck out eight batters and walked none for his fourth playoff victory... Gillespie (1-1/1.80) also hurled a complete game, yielding three runs (two earned) and six hits with six Ks and two walks.

Ranford scored first in the fourth when 1B Maury Quave (.452) reached base on a misplayed grounder by third baseman Eric Hollister (.238), advanced to third on a single by C Arlo Guthrie (.097) and scored on 3B Pete Bankston's (.290) base hit... in the next frame CF Roger Farnsworth tripled (.267) and scored on RF Tokuji Taro's (.147) ground out to short, putting the Bulls up 2-0... Cold Creek got its first run in the sixth when LF Reynaldo Alvarado (.250) grounded into a force play with the bases loaded, scoring C Arved Tarand (.273) from third... Ranford added an insurance run in the eighth on a Taro triple and a pinch single by Matthew Coates (1.000) running the lead up to 3-1.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS WIN 4-1, BUT OWENS INJURED
North Hills' opening win in the Tycobbian League Championship Series was good news and bad news... the Hawks won 4-1 behind Jeff Owens (3-0/1.59) and Kyle Oliver, but lost Owens in the fray... he blanked the Kenwood Wildcats for five and two-third innings, but was forced to leave the game with arm pain and a 3-0 lead... Oliver stepped in and went the rest of the way, permitting one run on three hits with three strikeouts and a walk... losing Owens would be catastrophic to the Hawks' title hopes... they already are missing Tony Mack, their top pitcher this season... there was no word on Owens' injury after the game.

Glen Murray (1-1/1.08) only allowed one earned run, while going the distance... he gave up four runs on six hits and walked five in a mediocre outing... the Hawks snapped the scoreless tie with three runs in the bottom of the fourth... CF Kris Anastas (.240) singled in 2B Tommy Vavas (.292) with the first run and SS Norris Henry (.294) chipped in with a two-RBI single that scored LF Adam Thurgood (.391) and Anastas... North Hills made it 4-0 in the sixth on a double by Anastas and a RBI single by Henry... the Wildcats got their only run in the eighth on Country Crowder's (.360) sacrifice fly.

Henry led the Hawks with two hits and three RBIs... Anastas scored twice and had two hits and an RBI... C Corky DiNozzo (.545) sizzled for the Wildcats with a 4-for-4 day... Kenwood outhit North Hills 8 to 6.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 30, 2041

HAWKS ACE OWENS WILL MISS A START
The North Hills Hawks got better news than they thought... ace Jeff Owens only has a sore back and will miss a start or two according to the club's doctors... it could have been worse... his loss for a game is critical, but it's not fatal... if the Hawks had lost him for the rest of the postseason, it's doubtful they would have go far in the playoffs without him... it would have been a double whammy... Tony Mack, who led the Hawks' staff during the regular season with a 23-9 record and a 2.69 ERA, was lost for the season with an elbow injury.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 30, 2041

BULLS SLUGGER WESTON DUE BACK SOON
The biggest bat in the Ranford arsenal Dale Weston should come off the Disabled List in six days and return to playoff action... Weston hurt his back in the third game of the RU Division Series with San Dimas... the Bulls have really missed his big bat... Weston led the club with 42 homers and 101 runs batted in... Ranford beat favored San Dimas without him, but sure could use him in the Pro Cup Finals should they get that far.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 30, 2041

2041 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Two

Ruthlandian Union

BULLS ON A RAMPAGE, BEAT 'CATS 11-4
The raging Ranford Bulls beat Cold Creek again in game two of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... this time the defending Pro Cup champion trampled the Catamounts 11-4, propelled by three home runs and 13 hits... Arlo Guthrie, Roger Farnsworth and Pete Bankston all went deep for the Bulls... with such great offensive support Ronnie Schroeder (2-0/3.67) cruised to the win in spite of allowing four runs on 11 hits... he struck out six batters and walked three, but it was good enough to defeat Cold Creek.

Ranford busted up a 5-2 game with six runs in the bottom of the seventh to send Cold Creek reeling... CF Roger Farnsworth (.343) sparked the rout with four hits in five at-bats, three runs scored and two RBIs... 3B Pete Bankston (.343) added 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs... and C Arlo Guthrie (.114) drove in four runs, most of them coming on a three-run clout.

Cold Creek picked up 11 hits, led by RF Guy St. Laurent (.318) with three hits and two RBIs... Harvey Fullerton (1-1/4.61) was tagged with the loss... the Bulls belted him for eight runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS RALLY FOR 5-3 VICTORY IN GAME 2
At the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, the hometown boys were down 3-0 going into the last of the eighth, when they suddenly lit up Freddy Gooch for five runs and a 5-3 triumph for their second win in a row over Kenwood in the Tycobbian LCS... in a solid performance hard-throwing Joey Santini (2-0/2.70) stumped the Wildcats on three runs and six hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

Gooch had a five-hit shutout until the eighth frame when the flood gates opened... five hits turned into five runs, highlighted by C Timmy Stevens (.200) three-run double, RF Jimmy Jay Ferguson's (.267) game-winning triple and SS Norris Henry's (.300) RBI single... Gooch (2-1/3.52) tasted defeat for the first time in the postseason... he was smacked for five runs and 10 hits, while going the distance.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 1, 2041

2041 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Three

Ruthlandian Union

'CATS SLOW DOWN BULLS 6-2
After losing two road games to Ranford, Cold Creek was happy to get back home to comfortable and friendly Holmes Field, where they finally broke into the win column in the RU League Championship Series... 35-year-old right-hander Joey Baker was the man-of-the-hour as he shut down the Bulls 6-2, yielding six hits in a route-going performance... Baker (1-0/1.69) fanned seven and walked two... the Catamounts backed him with a 12-hit attack with LF Reynaldo Alvarado (.286) driving in three runs... SS Jeremy Hall (.290) led with three hits, followed by CF Ken Brennan (.286) and 3B Eric Hollister (.258) with two hits apiece... CF Roger Farnsworth (.333) and 3B Pete Bankston (.359) drove in the Catamounts' runs.

Ranford starter Winston Moses (0-1/6.48) kept it close for six frames with the Bulls trailing 3-2... but Cold Creek jolted him for three more runs in the seventh to decide the game... the 'Cats got to him for six runs, six walks and 10 hits in seven and a third innings.

Tycobbian Union

KENWOOD NIPS NORTH HILLS 2-1 IN GAME 3
Desparately needing a win, the Kenwood Wildcats got one in game three of the TU League Championship Series, compliments of a fine pitching performance by Clyde Myers, the number-three man in the rotation... Myers (1-1/2.08) struck out 10 Hawks en route to a 2-1 victory and cut the Hawks' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series... he stopped them on one run and five hits in his eight and two-third innings... Rusty Bradford got the final out with the tying run on second base... he struck out pinchhitter Gerry Rice (.111) for his second save of the postseason.

The Wildcats took the lead 1-0 in the second inning on CF Marty Hogart's (.235) roundtripper... it continued that way until the top of the eighth when the Hawks deadlocked it at 1-1... three back-to-back singles by C Timmy Stevens (.241), LF Adam Thurgood (.333) and 3B Jim McDermott (.276) produced the tying run... Kenwood got the winning run in the top of the ninth when Marty Hogart (.235) singled, was sacrificed to second and rode home on SS Walt Kimberly's (.300) base hit.

Nelson Hooper (0-1/3.18) really hurled a fine game, holding Kenwood to just three hits and two runs with six Ks and two walks... now the big task is for manager Todd Simons' to find a starter for game four to replace his ace Jeff Owens, who is out with a bad back and won't be available for several days... the most likely choice will be Frankie Lambert (9-5/3.35), who had nine starts in the regular season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 2, 2041

2041 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Four

Ruthlandian Union

BULLS IN CHARGE, HAWK TOPS GILLESPIE 2-0
It was a classic pitching match made in Heaven... game four of the RU League Championship Series... Hawk (20-13/2.50) versus Gillespie (22-12/2.72)... both hurlers were on top of their game... Hawk struck out 10 and Gillespie did even better with 13... but it wasn't good enough... the Ranford Bulls with Ralph Hawk on the mound came away with a 2-0 victory over Cold Creek and J. J. Gillespie to take charge of the series three games to one... Hawk (5-0/0.41) shackled the Catamounts on four hits for his fifth postseason win in a row... the hard-throwing southpaw lowered his playoff ERA to a microscopic 0.40... Gillespie (1-3/1.85) only gave up three hits in defeat... they each walked one batter in the game.

The Bulls went up 1-0 in the opening inning on a triple by lead-off hitter 1B Maury Quave (.349) and a sac fly by CF Roger Farnsworth (.333)... and added another run in the sixth... 2B Harley Freeman (.162) singled, was bunted to second by Hawk (.231) and was doubled in by Farnsworth.

The closest the Catamounts came to scoring was in the first inning... they got runners as far as second and third with one out, but Hawk got out of it with no harm done... he retired them in order in five of the nine innings.

Tycobbian Union

MURRAY TIES SERIES AT 2-2, WILDCATS WIN 6-2
Where is your ace when you really need him?... it's Jeff Owens' turn on the hill, but he's on the DL... that was a big break for Kenwood, who took advantage of his absence to spank the North Hills Hawks 6-2 and even up the TU LCS at two games each... Glen Murray (2-1/1.32) finessed his way passed the Hawks... he bent, but he didn't break... Murray gave up 11 hits, but stranded 10 runners... Frankie Lambert (0-1/6.75), subbing for Owens, was treated harshly by the Wildcats, who rocked him for 12 hits and six runs... he went the distance, but gave up five runs in the first two innings.

C Corky DiNozzo (.515), who is having a great postseason, sparked Kenwood with 3-4, two runs and two RBIs... his two-run blast in the second inning was his fifth and that gave him 11 RBIs in the playoffs... RF Tim Jarvis also was 3-4 with two runs scored... 2B Country Crowder got a pair of hits and drove in two... LF Cleve Belton also batted in two runs for the winners.

North Hills got a lot of hits, but did very little damage... LF Adam Thurgood (.371) led them with three hits... three players 2B Tommy Vavas (.270), C Timmy Stevens (.265) and CF Kris Anastas (.243) all had a pair of hits... Vavas hit his second playoff homer in the fifth.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 3, 2041

2041 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Five

Ruthlandian Union

CC 'CATS STILL ALIVE AND KICKIN'
Down to their last loss in the series, Cold Creek scratched and clawed their way past Ranford 3-2 and is still alive and kickin' in the RU League Championship Series... the Bulls are still in the driver's seat with a three games to two lead, but the Catamounts are still in the running... Eric Hollister's RBI single in the eighth inning broke the tie and pinchhitter Lamont Cramer's single gave the 'Cats a 3-1 lead and they survived the Ranford rally in the ninth.

Rob Hutchins, a belated pick, got the start and tossed six shutout innings despite walking five and allowing six hits... he left with a 1-0 lead, but the bullpen couldn't hold it... Ranford 2B Harley Freeman (.175) tied it up in the top of the eighth with a double that scored SS Stan Cobb (.273)... that set the stage for the Catamounts to win in the bottom of the frame on clutch hits by Hollister (.231) and Cramer (.500).

Tommy Wynn, the fourth of five Cold Creek hurlers, blew the save, but chalked up the victory... Wynn gave up a hit in two-thirds of an inning, but was charged with no runs... Pete Heller got the save, but was rapped for three hits and a run... with runners on first and second and one out, he managed to survive by getting the last two hitters on a strikeout and a liner to second.

In a solid outing Ronnie Schroeder (2-1/3.60) went all the way in defeat... he surrendered three runs on nine hits with three walks and four Ks... the Bulls outhit the 'Cats 11 to 9, led by RF Tokuji Taro (.216) with three hits and 1B Maury Quave (.354) with two... RF Guy St. Laurent (.273) had two hits, two runs and an RBI for Cold Creek... St. Laurent homered in the fourth, his second one of the playoffs.

Tycobbian Union

HENRY'S HR IN 16TH GIVES HAWKS SERIES LEAD
Fighting back from a 5-2 deficit after six innings, the North Hills Hawks tied it up in the ninth and then finally won after 16 innings 7-5 on Norris Henry's two-run smash... the Hawks got great relief work from Alex Peters and Todd Taylor, who fired eight shutout innings between them... Taylor (1-0/0.00) was the winner going the final three innings, while Peters pitched five frames, struck out seven, walked one and permitted two hits... Tommy Carter (1-1/2.92) caught the loss, worked four innings and was tagged for five hits and two runs... Kenwood used five pitchers in all.

North Hills had the hit advantage 16 to 12... plus the addition of 10 bases on balls... 1B Ric Hamilton (.351) delivered four hits and two RBIs... SS Norris Henry (.250) three hits, including a two-run homer and a triple... RF Jimmy Jay Ferguson (.208) also had two runs batted in... LF Adam Thurgood (.381) scored twice and had three hits and 3B Jim McDermott (.289) socked three hits and scored twice.

SS Walt Kimberly (.289) sparked Kenwood with a homer and two RBIs... 2B Country Crowder (.375), LF Tim Jarvis (.341) and CF Marty Hogart (.179) had the other Wildcat RBIs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 4, 2041

2041 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Six

Ruthlandian Union

'CATS NIP BULLS 4-3, FORCES 7TH GAME
Cold Creek is still clinging to its Pro Cup hopes... the Catamounts forced defending Pro Cup champ Ranford into a do-or-die seventh game tomorrow afternoon at Ranford Country Stadium... Cold Creek squeaked by the Bulls 4-3 to knot the series at three game each... Joey Baker (2-0/2.21) got the job done, but had to weather 11 hits to do it... Winston Moses (0-2/4.67) also tossed a complete game and gave up four runs on nine hits.

LF Reynaldo Alvarado (.314) snapped a 2-all tie with a solo shot in the top of the sixth... it was his third home run of the postseason... RF Jimmy Howell (.333) raised it to 4-2 in the seventh when he doubled in 2B Pat Ellis (.350)... 1B Maury Quave (.346) plated Ranford's final score with an RBI single that scored 2B Harley Freeman (.205).

Cold Creek collected nine hits and were paced by 3B Eric Hollister (.256) with two hits, a run and an RBI... and Jimmy Howell with two hits... the Bulls racked up 11 hits with four players getting two hits apiece: RF Tokuji Taro (.236), 3B Pete Bankston (.340), C Arlo Guthrie (.125) and 2B Harley Freeman (.205)... Guthrie hit his second homer of the postseason.

In tomorrow's seventh-game finale, the aces of both clubs will tangle again... Ralph Hawk (20-13/2.50) will be on the mound for the Bulls and J. J. Gillespie (22-12/2.72) will get the call for the Catamounts... Hawk won the first two encounters with 3-1 and 2-0 victories... the 23-year-old portsider has been absolutely brilliant in the playoffs this year with a 5-0 mark and a ridiculously low 0.41 ERA... Gillespie, at 36, is no slouch with a 1.85 ERA, but he has come out on the short end of the score in games one and four of the series.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS EDGE WILDCATS 3-2, PRO CUP BOUND AGAIN
North Hills is Pro Cup bound for the fourth time in the last eight seasons... the Hawks disposed of the Kenwood Wildcats 3-2 in game six to cop the Tycobbian Union League Championship four games to two in a highly-contested series.... winning pitcher Nelson Hooper (1-1/2.93) came through with a strong outing to cinch it... he held the Wildcats to two runs on just three hits, struck out seven, but walked five... Todd Taylor earned the save the hard way... two singles placed baserunners on the corners, but Taylor induced pinchhitter Ricky Boyer to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and the series... hard-luck Clyde Myers (1-2/2.13) deserved better... he went the distance and only gave up two earned runs on eight hits in the loss.

Kenwood drew first blood with a solo salvo by 2B Roger Lanier (.600) in the top of the third... the Hawks rallied with two in the last of the fourth on LF Adam Thurgood's (.370) RBI triple that plated C Timmy Stevens (.244)... and a wild pitch that let Thurgood score from third... the Wildcats tied it up in the eighth on a double by Lanier and two walks that loaded the bases... the tying run came in when Hooper hit C Corky DiNozzi with a pitch... North Hills came right back and got the winning score in the bottom half of the eighth... pinchhitter Skippy Shearer led off the inning with a single, was bunted to second, and advanced to third on a ground out... Shearer scored the game-winner when Myers dropped a throw at first from the first baseman.

Lanier led the Wildcats at the plate with three hits, including a double and a homer, while 2B Tommy Vavas (.250) had two hits for the Hawks.

Hawks' manager Todd Simons told reporters after the game, "We are two-thirds of the way to our fourth Pro Cup... it won't be easy but this team has what it takes... to get there we had to beat two fine teams in Cape Coral and Kenwood... the last hurdle will be another good ball club... but this is what you have to do to win the Pro Cup... beat good teams."

Kenwood skipper Aaron Hankins praised his Wildcats, "My Wildcats gave it their all... I'm very proud of the way we played... a few hits here and there and we might be headed to the IPA Finals... after all is said and done, the Tycobbian Union will be well-represented by North Hills... good luck to Todd and his team."

North Hills will now meet the winner of the Ruthlandian League title series between the defending Pro Cup champion Ranford Bulls and the Cold Creek Catamounts, who will meet tomorrow afternoon in game seven at Ranford.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 5, 2041

2041 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Seven

Ruthlandian Union

CC 'CATS DETHRONE RANFORD IN RU LCS
For the fifth time in the 41-year IPA history a team has rebounded from a 3-1 deficit to win a postseason series... this time it was the Cold Creek Catamounts that did the amazing feat and won the right to advance to their first-ever Pro Cup Finals against Tycobbian titlist North Hills.

On the road at Ranford County Stadium, J. J. Gillespie pitched the game-of-his-life in dethroning the reigning Pro Cup champion Ranford 4-1 in game seven of the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series... the 36-year-old lefty stifled the Bulls on one run and four hits in his eight innings and got ninth-inning help from Tommy Wynn to finish off the Bulls ... Gillespie (2-2/1.71) fanned seven and walked two in getting the best of Ranford ace Ralph Hawk (5-1/1.04), last year's Pro Cup MVP... the 'Cats got to him for four runs on nine hits in seven and two-thirds innngs... Hawk walked two and struck out 8... Hawk had beaten Cold Creek 3-1 and 2-0 in games one and four.

RF Guy St. Laurent (.250) sent the Catamounts into the lead with a solo blast in the top of the second... Bulls' 2B Harley Freeman (.234) evened it up with his homer in the last of the fifth... it was St. Laurent's third roundtripper of the postseason and Freeman's second... Cold Creek took charge in the sixth with three runs... LF Jimmy Howell (.355) doubled in Robert Harrison (.500) to make it 2-1... 1B Eric Hollister's (.261) sacrifice fly upped it to 3-1... and 3B Joe Cochrane's (.333) base hit expanded the lead to 4-1... Ranford never recovered and failed in its valiant attempt to repeat as IPA champion.

Howell and Harrison sparked the Catamounts with two hits each... Harrison took over for CF Ken Brennan, who was injured diving for a ball in the first inning... Freeman had a pair of hits to lead the Bulls at the plate.

With huge tears flowing down his face, brightened up by a big smile on his face Cold Creek manager Scoop Lemieux joyfully said, "We finally made it to the Pro Cup Finals... the 'Cats have won a lot of games in the last six years, but we couldn't get to the big time... now we have... now we've got to finish it and bring the trophy back to the wonderul fans of Cold Creek."

An upbeat Ranford skipper, Chris Bernhoffer, told reporters, "This was another great season for the Bulls... we had a wonderful opportunity to repeat as Pro Cup champion being up 3-1 and all... the team really gave it their all, but just couldn't finish it off... I'm not disappointed... we won the division title again and almost won the Ruthlandian title again... I'm sure there are about 60-something teams in the IPA that would have liked to be in our shoes... no, I'm not disappointed... I have never bought into the philosophy that you have to win the Pro Cup to have a successful season."