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Tueday, July 16, 2080 RU STARS SNAP TWO-GAME SKID... COLFAX BOZEMAN HOMERS, NAMED MVP IN IPA ALL-STAR GAME AT ROLLING HILLS The Ruthlandian Union rarely wins in the Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Classic, but this year they triumphed in the annual star-studded game 3-1, played in Rolling Hills, the reigning Pro Cup champion... Tim Bozeman of the Colfax Black Sox socked a roundtripper in the opening frame and led the RU All-Stars to victory... the Ruthlandian Union had dropped the last two All-Star clashes... it has only won 29 times in 80 games... Bozeman was voted the game's Most Valuable Player, The Tycobbia Stars evened the score at 1-1 in the last of the third on Garrett Pulver's (Blue Lake) RBI two-bagger... the RU Stars promptly grabbed the lead back in the top of the fourth when Norris Wheeler (Taranto) doubled in the go-ahead run... Ruthlandia's final score came in the fifth when Buzz Mauldin (Cold Creek) scored from third base on Conrad Clark's (Sligo) sacrifice fly ball. Good pitching ruled the day... the Ruthlandian hurlers were just a lttle better today... 36-year-old Nobuo Ojima (Far Mountain) notched the win, but gave up a run in his inning... taking the loss was Kent Burleigh (East Point)... he gave up the go-ahead run in the fourth frame. Attachment 1003178 Attachment 1003179 |
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Monday, September 30, 2080 LOTS OF JOY IN THE ISLANDS, 8 TEAMS QUALIFY FOR THE PRO CUP PLAYOFFS Yes, indeed, there is lots and lots of joy, jubilation and celebration all across Islandia... the Islandian Pro Alliance just finished its 80th season... 8 towns are estatic, but there is sorrow in some of the other 56 communities... especially in Eastshore, Turon and Ozarka where they came up a wee bit short of making the Pro Cup playoffs... the Cotton Kings lost to Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian East by only 2 games and the Typhoons fell to Arroyo Grande in TU South by 3 games... the saddest end of all was Ozarka, who wound up just one game behind TU East titlist East Point... another hard-luck story was the long-suffering Arlon Champions... they fought Kenwood all season long in the TU West, but finally succumbed by 7 games... it's been several decades since Arlon made the postseason playoffs and 15 years since they had a winning record. And away we go! Let recap the 2080 IPA season IPA 8 DIVISION CHAMPIONS The Ruthlandian Union Division champions this year were the Ranford Bulls, Crystal Lake Skippers, Wynnamac Sundowners and Sligo Rovers... the Tycobbian Union Division victors were the White River Rascals, Arroyo Grande Suns, East Point Panthers and Kenwood Wildcats. The IPA Pro Cup Playoffs start tomorrow with Wynnamac traveling to Ranford to begin the best-of-seven series and Sligo hosting Crystal Lake in the Ruthlandian First Round... in the Tycobbian First Round it will be Kenwood going to Arroyo Grande and East Point entertaining White River. The baseball prophets see it all end like this: Crystal Lake will win the Ruthlandian Union and be victorious over Kenwood, champion of the Tycobbian Union for the treasured Pro Cup Trophy... the Skippers have won it 4 times in history, while the Wildcats have captured it only once. 2080 IPA Pro Cup Poll By The Islandian Times 1. Crystal Lake (96-58) - The Skippers won in it in 2074... have done well in recent years... good hitting, good power, good pitching and good defense... this could be the Year of the Sailors in the IPA... in 15 appearances they have 4 Pro Cup Trophies so far... 2. Kenwood (93-61) - The best thing the Wildcats have going for them - they wrestled the TU West title from the 2079 Pro Cup champion, the Rolling Hills Racers... Kenwood is a well-balanced club and a serious threat to win the whole shebang this year... the Wildcats captured their only Pro Cup years ago in 2014... this year will be the 14th time Kenwood has been in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs. 3. White River (92-62) - The Rascals can score, hit with power and have quality pitching... should go deep into the playoffs... this will be White River's 17th quest for the legendary IPA Pro Cup Trophy... the Rascals have never won it, however, the have come close four times... they lost in the Pro Cup Finals in 2021, 2049, 2050 and 2055... it's about time for White River to win it. 4. Ranford (102-52) - The Bulls racked up 102 victories this season, best in the IPA, and easily ran away with the RU North by an ungodly 18 games... power and pitching go a long way in the playoffs... yeah, buddy, Ranford has it... the baseball experts are bullish on the Bulls... Radford won their only Pro Cup in 2040.... the Bulls are appearing for the 11th time in the postseason. 5. Sligo (96-58) - The Rovers always do well on the mound, but they come up short at the plate... twice in recent years, Sligo did well in the playoffs, reaching the Pro Cup Finals in '75 and going to the Ruthlandian Title Round in '78...overall, Sligo has made the IPA playoffs on 18 occasions... if the Rovers can put some runs on the scoreboard, they will do well this year... Sligo snared its only Pro Cup Trophy in 2021. 6. Wynnamac (91-63) - The Sundowners were the 2076 Pro Cup champions... they made the playoffs in 2078... they are playoff proven with many of the same bats in the lineup that they had in '76... success will depend on the pitchers they have this year... they had them in '76 and nabbed the overall IPA crown... however, it's a new mound crew this year... the Macs have previously garnered 4 Pro Cups... this marks the 24th year Wynnamac is in the playoffs. 7. East Point (92-62) - The Panthers are one of the great IPA stories this season... they have been pathetic for decades... and I mean bad with a capital B... the last pennant was in 2052... East Point went from the outhouse to the penthouse this year... they were dead last with a 69-85 mark last season... the terrific turnaround was fostered by fine pitching... the Panthers don't have the hitting and scoring to contend for the Pro Cup Trophy this year, but it sure is great to see them in the playoffs... glory hallelujah for the dregs of IPA society... the Panthers previously appeared in the postseason 8 time... East Point has never won a Pro Cup... but they did make the Pro Cup Finals in 2033... they lost to the Elnora All-Stars in 7 games... this is their 9th time to make the Pro Cup playoffs. 8. Arroyo Grande (87-67) - The Suns are another hopeless and hapless franchise... this is the first time in eons that Arroyo Grande graced the postseason... not since long ago and faraway in 2024 have the Suns won a TU South pennant... Arroyo Grande is a great story, too, but they won't go far in the playoff this year... but thank goodness, the Suns made it this season... it's good for baseball... the Suns are still seeking their first-ever IPA crown... this will be their 6th postseason attempt... would love to see the Suns shine brightly in the Pro Cup playoffs and win it all... yeah, buddy, that would be something special. 2080 Ruthlandian Union Season Recap It was only close for a little while in the Ruthlandian North Division... the Ranford Bulls won it in a rout... last year's pennant winner Valmara and Taranto offered some opposition until midseason and then they faded... the Vipers lost out by 18 games, the Tars by 20... preseason favorite LaGrange never really challenged and slumbered in at the fourth spot, 21 games behind the Bulls. The Crystal Lake Skippers took command right from the start in April in the RU South pennant chase... they scatted to the top of the heap right away with a 20-3 record and were never really challenged... the Sailors were up by 9 games in June and never looked back... this was their third flag in 7 seasons... Valka was a distant second 9 games out with San Dimas and Grand City even further back in third place, trailing by a whopping 19 games... Crystal Lake has won the division for the last two years and were picked to repeat in the preseason poll. Ruthlandian East winner Wynnamac began the season sluggishly below .500, standing 6th in the standings on May 1st... Eastshore and Cold Creek ranked near the top until midseason... the Raccoons swooned and dropped out of the race... it became a two-team tango the rest of the way with the Macs and Cotton Kings slugging out right to the end of the season... Wynnamac held off Eastshore in September and snagged the division crown by a 2-game margin... the Cotton Kings were the preseason pick... last year's flag winner Elnora wound up in third place, 10 GB... Cold Creek and Beechwood tied for the fourth spot, 16 games off the pace. 6 teams, Colfax, Middlefield, Sligo, Fort Benton, Stoner and Forest City, contended until August... then the Sligo Rovers went on a 22-3 rampage and surged ahead by 9 games... the race was over... the Rovers were the preseason choice and they won it going away by 12 games over runner-up and last year's champion Fort Benton... Stoner was third, 14 games back... Volusia and Middlefield tied for fourth, 20 GB. 2080 Tycobbian Union Season Recap There was good competition in the Tycobbian North race most of the season... White River took charge in April and was never headed... however, Luxora, last year's winner Mahaska and Oxford stayed within striking distance until September, but never really pressed them... the Rascals were the preseason favorite and they came through... at season's end, the Zorros were 6 games behind White River, Mahaska came in 10 games off the pace and Oxford was 12 games back. Three clubs, Turon, Arroyo Grande and Cape Coral, tussled for the league lead until August, when the Typhoons got hot, the Suns cooled off and the Hurricanes lost power and blew themselves out of the race... preseason-favored and last year's champ Turon had a 6-game bulge going into the final month of the season, September... that's when Arroyo Grande surged to 17-8, the Typhoons swooned to 9-16 and the Suns won the TU South flag by 3 games... mighty Turon had fallen... the Typhoons won the pennant 8 times in the last 10 years... Cape Coral went 16-36 the final two months of the season, yet still came in tied for third place with the Southport Sun Sox and Ginza Ninjas, all 7 games behind Arroyo Grande. 5 teams engaged in the Tycobbian East pennant chase until the halfway mark... East Point, Ozarka, Tuckanarra, Midway and High Mesa... the Tucks, Wolves and Buckaroos tumbled to the wayside beginning in July, leaving the pennant race to the Panthers and the Naturals... it was nip-and-tuck the rest of the way with East Point going 29-23 and Ozarka 28-25... the Panthers pulled it out by a single, solitary game and won their first TU East pennant in 28 years... the poor Nats have not made the playoffs since 2040... but it was great to see two perpetual losers have a shot at a tad of glory this season... it's a shame they both couldn't have won it... Tuckanarra wound up in the third spot, 13 games behind... Midway ended up fourth in the standings, 17 games out... and High Mesa fifth, trailing by 18 games. There was another warm-and-fuzzy, feel-good story in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season -- it was the Arlon Champions -- for the first time in 15 years they had a winning record and a darn good one to boot, 86-68... and for the first time in two decades they were in the hunt for TU West title and a spot in the Pro Cup playoffs... Arlon was picked to finish seventh in the preseason prognostications... Denton City was the top choice in the preseason poll to be the best in the TU West this season... the Bayview Vikings and the reigning Pro Cup champion Rolling Hills Racers were the second and third picks... Arlon began the season near the bottom... then things began to jell... the Champions were in contention by June with 7 other clubs, all within 5 games of one another... by midseason Arlon and Kenwood were deadlocked for the top spot... the rest of the teams would soon do a June swoon and fall out of contention.. the Champs played pretty well the rest of the year posting a 41-37 mark, but the Wildcats were the better ball club and put up a sparkling 48-33 record to cop the TU West Division title by 7 games over the fiesty and very game Arlon Champions... sure would have been a magical season in the IPA to have Arlon, East Point and Ozarka in the postseason playoffs... yeah, buddy, that would have put a nice touch on a wonderful season... maybe, East Point can still win the Pro Cup... yep, that would be mighty nice... Rolling Hills came in third, 10 GB and Bayview ended up fourth, 19 GB. 2080 Ruthlandian Union Final Standings and Team Statistics Attachment 1003400 Attachment 1003401 Attachment 1003402 Attachment 1003403 |
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2080 Islandian Pro Alliance Final Leaderboards
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Thursday, October 10, 2080 UNDERDOG SUNS AND MACS STUN FAVORED WILDCATS AND BULLS IN IPA FIRST ROUND; HISTORIC COMEBACKS FOR ARROYO GRANDE AND WHITE RIVER #2 Kenwood and #4 Ranford both bit the dust and were eliminated unexpectedly in the first round of the Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs... two clubs also made historic recoveries... the White River Rascals came back and won four in a row to win their series with East Point and Arroyo Grande stayed alive in the postseason by winning the final three games over the Kenwood Wildcats. In the Ruthlandian Union First Round #6-rated Wynnamac upended #2-ranked Ranford four games to three... the Bulls won the opener 7-1, but lost the next three, 7-5, 3-2 and 6-2... Ranford stayed alive with an 11-0 rout in game five and a 2-1 squeaker in game six, but then the Bulls perished from the playoffs when the Macs won a thrilling 8-7 victory in 11 innings in game seven. The Pro Cup favorite Crystal Lake Skippers toppled #5 Sligo in six games... the Skippers were victorious in the first two contests, 10-9 and 4-2... the Rovers won game three by the score of 7-5... Crystal Lake went up three games to one with a 7-3 triumph in game four... they fell 9-5 in game five... then finished off Sligo 7-2 in game six to take the series... right fielder Jake Osborne, the 2080 Ruthlandian Union top hitter with a league-leading .371 BA, had a fine series, driving in 9 runs for Crystal Lake. The Ruthlandian Union Title Series will start tomorrow in Crystal Lake... the Skippers will host the Wynnamac Sundowners... it should be a super series... Crystal Lake is the choice to take the series in another stirring 7-game affair. Over in the Tycobbian Union First Round there were two historic series... both of them went the full seven games... underdog and #8 Arroyo Grande, the worst-rated team in the playoffs, stunned #2 Kenwood and put the Wildcats out of the playoffs by winning the series four games to three... the Suns smacked the Cats 8-3 in the opening game, then lost three in a row, 5-0, 4-2 and 4-1... only five times previously in IPA playoff history has a team come back from a 3-1 deficit... yep, the Suns did it... with some super pitching they eliminated Kenwood with three straight victories, 6-3, 5-1 and 2-1. Even more impressive were the #3-ranked White River Rascals... 7th-rated East Point with superb pitching nabbed the first three games, 3-2, 4-0 and 5-0... yeah, buddy, the series is over... NOPE... for just the fourth time in IPA playoff history, the Rascals won four straight games, 5-0, 5-2, 4-3 and 5-4, and won the series. The Tycobbian Union Title Series will also begin tomorrow... White River will be at home, entertaining the upstart and lightly-regarded Arroyo Grande Suns... the Rascals should win in a six-game set. Attachment 1004065 |
I just delved into how long it will take me to reach 1 millions views for the IPA.
Still need about 216,000 views. Considering I will soon be 84 years old, I don't think it will happen... it will take me almost 12 years at the current rate of views per day to reach a million views.... the IPA views per day are way, way down in recent months... just 50 a day... it used to be over 300 per day. Not sure what the problem is... could be the IPA has become mundane and boring... could be that the number of viewers on the OOTP Forums are down... my playoff problem could be the main culprit... going seven months was way too long to get it fixed... people lost interest in the dynasty. I think viewers are down for all of the above reasons. As things stand right now, I hope to keep posting... at least every other day... I have posted daily for the past 15 years of so... That's a hard schedule too keep... I think that is important... but I will do it as often as I can... every two days is the most feasible. Thanks to you 50 folks that are still checking out the Islandian Pro Alliance.... much appreciate all of you. |
Yeah, buddy, EC is still enjoying the IPA.
I'm getting into the 2080 playoffs pretty good. Looking forward to who wins it... my favorite teams remaining are Crystal Lake and the Arroyo Grande Suns... hope they both make the Pro Cup Series... I'll be pulling for the Suns... they have never won a Pro Cup... the Skippers have won it 4 times. Wynnamac has won it ... 4 times... White River has never won a Pro Cup... 5 times in the team's history they have lost in the Pro Cup Finals. So after thinking about it, it would be nice if the Suns or the Rascals win this year. |
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Bless you Eugene; 84 is a milestone :) I'm only at 77, so looking forward to catch up to you ;) I agree with you that the traffic here on the forums is significantly down. If anything, I think actually Covid propped it up for a while when so many were home, but I think the "Emigration" to Reddit is the primary cause of our ghost town. The younger generation is all about instant-communication and anything that requires one to wait for an answer is considered too slow. Dynasties are like magazines - no one reads them any more. That said, however, your IPA is a nobel prize winner, Eugene. I remember your struggles when you started, but you persevered through those growing pains and gave us 15 years of a story we won't forget. Keep up the league Eugene. I wish I had your perseverance :) HRB |
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Hang in there... just stay young at heart and keep playing OOTP... and in no time at all, someone will be wishing you a Happy 84th birthday, too. You never know... but it is plausible I just might be the happy birthday wisher. Just so you know, Home Run Baker just might be back in action for the Philadelphia Athletics in my new Major League Baseball Premier League, coming soon to a ballpark near you... it's my ultimate dynasty league using the original 16 MLB franchises... I will begin it with the best players on each team during the first two decades... as I need new players, I will go to the third, four, fifth, sixth and seventh decades.... Babe Ruth and all the great stars will soon be back in action on the Dynasty Forum here. A wise person on the Forum... yep, we do have quite a few... once told me that the reason to do a dynasty league is for the personal enjoyment... not for the number of views and popularity. From the bottom of my heart... thanks to all of you who have made the Islandian Pro Alliance possible and so enjoyment for the last 16 years... I am going to try to do 100 seasons and then retire the league... but I don't intend to retire... the MLB Premier League will keep me busy. Kudos to each and every one of you. We only have 20 more seasons to go! |
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Saturday, October 19, 2080 WHITE RIVER AND WYNNAMAC VIE IN PRO CUP FINALS The White River Rascals will represent the Tycobbian Union in this year's IPA Pro Cup Series... they will be opposed by the Ruthlandian Union champion, the Wynnamac Sundowners... the best-of-seven series will begin this Sunday afternoon at White River Stadium... the Rascals will have the home field advantage... White River will be going for their first-ever Pro Cup Trophy... the Macs have hauled in the esteemed prize on four occasions... most recently in 2076 and 2070... the Rascals have made the Pro Cup Finals four times in 2021, 2049, 2050 and 2055 and lost them all. #6-ranked Wynnamac disposed of this year's Pro Cup favorite, the Crystal Lake Skippers, in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series... the Sundowners defeated the Sailors four games to two... White River, rated #3 in the Pro Cup Poll, swept past unheralded and #8-ranked Arroyo Grande in six games for the Tycobbian Union crown. Tycobbian Union Title Series Recap WHITE RIVER OUTSHINES THE SUNS IN TU TITLE ROUND When it was needed, the White River pitching corps rose to the occasion and finished off the upstart Arroyo Grande Suns four games to two in the Tycobbian Union Title Series. Arroyo Grande started off in grand style with a 9-1 thrashing of the favored Rascals in the series opener... the Suns hammered them for 14 hits and 3 home runs... Nicky Carrick walloped a pair and Vern Garvin got the other roundtripper... unbeater hurler Dean Colburn (3-0/2.42 ERA) chalked up his 3rd victory this postseason, holding White River to 6 hits... Shorty Meaux (1-2/4.00 ERA) lost it, shelled for 7 runs in his 6 innings. In game two White River evened the series at one game apiece, edging the Suns 5-4 in 10 innings... it was a pretty good pitching duel between Fuzzy Swearingen (1-0/2.00 ERA) and Desmond Croft (0-1/3.38 ERA)... neither figured in the decision... Babe Coleman cracked a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th to claim the game. The scrappy Suns rebounded in game three at home to go up two games to one... trailing 7-6 in the last of the 9th, Denny Bradburn belted a 2-run roundtripper to sink the Rascals 8-7... Bradburn sparked Arroyo Grande with 4 runs batted in... Babe Coleman went deep for White River and drove in 3 runs. White River nipped Arroyo Grande in game four 5-4 to tie the best-of-seven series at two games each... the Rascals had to rally again in the late innings... the Suns were ahead 3-1 when White River erupted for 4 runs to take the game 5-4... J. R. North's 3-run smash in the top of the 8th frame was the big blow in the game... the winning hurler was Bubby Dancer (2-1/4.50 ERA)... the lost went to Enrique Esteban (1-2/3.33 ERA)... Esteban had it his way until North unloaded on him. The Rascals continued to roll in game five... Shorty Meaux (2-2/3.82 ERA) stood out on the mound, went the distance and stopped the Suns 5-2 on just 4 hits, putting White River on top in the series three games to two... the Rascals gave the Suns' ace Dean Colburn (3-1/2.83 ERA) his first postseason loss this season, tagging him for 5 runs and 8 hits... Colburn also tossed a complete game... Jake Bourland homered and drove in 2 runs for the Rascals... Babe Coleman plated a pair of runs, too... Nicky Carrick sent one out of the park for the Suns and batted in both of their runs. In game six of the TU Title Series White River and Fuzzy Swearingen finished off this year's postseason darling, the Arroyo Grande Suns, 6-3 to cop the series four games to two and advance to the Pro Cup Series... the Rascals took charge of the game in the middle innings, went ahead 6-2 and never faltered ... in a solid performance Swearingen (2-0/2.33 ERA) went all the way to wrap up the series and a spot in the revered Pro Cup Series... the Suns only runs came on solo swats by Miggy Montalvo, Tony Langhome and Nicky Carrick... the Rascals racked up 11 hits, led by Viggo Frandsen, J. T. North, Denny Schlesinger and Jake Bourland... James Lundin went deep for them... Frandsen topped the Tycobbian Union with a .357 BA. Ruthlandian Union Title Series Recap MACS WHACK FAVORED SKIPPERS IN RU FINALS For the second straight round the Wynnamac Sundowners sneaked up and knocked off a favored opponent... and this time, it was a big one - the #1 choice to win the IPA Pro Cup - the Crystal Lake Skippers... the Macs smacked the Sailors four games to two, in spite of losing two of the first three encounters, finally wrapping it up with three straight victories. Game one went to Crystal Lake 6-5... it was tied 4-4 heading into the 9th frame... the Macs nabbed the lead in the top of the 9th 5-4 on Ethan Youngman's double and an RBI base hit by Max Crossman... however, Crystal Lake's Gino Lorenzetti decided it with a 2-run single in the last of the 9th... both hurlers worked complete games... Lloyd Mason (1-1/10.02 ERA) copped the win with the defeat given to Lando Vargas (1-1/2.65 ERA)... Wynnamac's Julius Goodson cracked the game's only roundtripper, a 2-run shot... the Skippers had the edge in hits 13 to 11. The Macs won a slugfest in the second game, tying the series at one game each with a 10-7 triumph... the Sundowners socked 16 hits, while the Skippers collected 13... Wynnamac pounded three homers, one each for Max Crossman, Jamie Blevins and Chris Blake... Crossman and Alex Durham drove in 3 runs apiece... reliever Otto Sikis (1-0/0.00 ERA) saved the day and picked up the win for the Sundowners with 4 scoreless innings in the middle of the game... Crystal Lake starter Lew McGrane absorbed the loss, slammed for 7 runs in 6 innings... Culver Jensen paced the Skippers with 3 runs batted in, while Gino Lorenzetti and Jimmy Ransom chimed in with 2 each. On the road in Wynnamac, Crystal Lake got a standout performance from 20-game winner Angelo Marinello in game three... he stymied the Macs on 6 hits and went the route in the 4-2 victory and put the Skippers up two games to one in the series... Culver Jensen led them at the plate with 3 hits, including a home run... Wynnamac only runs off Marinello came via roundtrippers... solo shots by Ethan Youngman and Jurgen Rainer... Clifton Branch (1-1/3.96 ERA) also fired complete game, but he was touched for 4 runs and 9 hits with 7 Ks and 2 walks. The Wynnamac attack again woke up and clobbered the Skippers 11-0 at home in the fourth game, thus deadlocking the series at two games apiece... Noel Arboneaux (2-0/1.73 ERA) was also brilliant on the hill, shutting down the Skippers on just 2 hits... Alex Durham paced the hit parade with 5 runs batted in... Ethan Youngman added 3 more scores and Jurgen Rainer pitched in with 2 RBIs... the Macs got 14 hits in the game... everybody in the batting order got at least one base knock. The Sundowners' strong pitching continued in game five giving them a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series... 34-year-old veteran Lando Vargas outpitched Lloyd Mason 3-1... Vargas is 2-1 in the postseason with a strong 2.08 ERA... during the season he went 14-10 with a 3.49 ERA... it was Mason's second defeat... he is now 1-2 with an 8.16 ERA... Mason was much better in the regular season at 14-11 with a fine 2.99 ERA... both clubs got 10 hits apiece... Max Crossman sparked the Macs with a homer and 2 ribbies... Julius Goodson batted in their other run... Gino Lorenzetti plated the only score for the Skippers. Wynnamac won their third game in a row to sink the Pro Cup-favored Crystal Lake Skippers in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series... the Macs won the series four games to two and will now advance to the IPA Pro Cup Series against the Tycobbian Union champion, the White River Rascals. Game six at Crystal Lake was again dominated by pitching... Wynnamac's Shotgun Clayburn (1-2/7.77 ERA) went 7 innings and held the Skippers to one run and 5 hits en route to 5-2 victory... he was 9-9 with a 4.02 ERA this season... Lew McGrane (0-3/5.70 ERA) went the distance in defeat, dropping his 3rd playoff game... the Sundowners only managed 5 hits, but 2 of them went out of the park... Mike Mantle homered and drove in 4 runs... Jurgen Rainer has a solo roundtripper. Attachment 1004235 |
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Thanks for the nice words, Antonin. |
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Saturday, October 19, 2080 WHITE RIVER AND WYNNAMAC TANGLE FOR IPA SUPREMACY IN PRO CUP SERIES The field in the Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs has been honed down to just two clubs, the White River Rascals, the Tycobbian Union champion, and the Wynnamac Sundowners, the Ruthlandian Union titlist... both clubs have survived the rigors of a 154-game season and two rounds of high-class competition, where the best eight teams go head-to-head for the coveted Pro Cup Trophy... White River has never won the Pro Cup in its history... the Macs on the other hand have claimed it four times and reached the Pro Cup Finals an additional three times... Wynnamac won it in 2008, 2055, 2070 and 2076... the Sundowners came close in 2044, 2054 and 2060... this will be their 24th postseason appearance... the White River Rascals are making their 17th appearance in the IPA playoffs and have nothing to show for it... however, they did come close four times in 2021, 2049, 2050 and 2055. The IPA Pro Cup Series gets underway tomorrow afternoon in White River at White River Stadium... the Rascals will have the home field advantage, based on their slight edge in season record... they were 92-62, while the Macs posted a 91-63 mark. 2080 IPA PRO CUP SERIES TALE OF THE TWO CITIES Attachment 1004629 Attachment 1004630 |
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Monday, October 21, 2080 WR RASCALS SLIGHT FAVORITE OVER MACS IN IPA PRO CUP SERIES... PLAY GETS UNDERWAY TODAY It's Islandian Pro Cup Series time all across the Islands... the best-of-seven series for the whole shebang opens today at White River Stadium in White River... the favored Rascals, champion of the Tycobbian Union, will host the Wynnamac Sundowners, the champion of the Ruthlandian Union, for the baseball supremacy in Islandia. #3-ranked White River and #6-choice Wyannamac are both fresh off 4-2 victories over #1 Crystal Lake and #8 Arroyo Grande in the TU and RU Title Series... the baseball pundits favor the Rascals because of their home-run power and scoring ability... White River had a big edge over Wynnamac in the regular season with 178 roundtrippers... the Sundowners only cracked 97 out of the park... the top guns for the Rascals are James Lundin, Olaf Erikson, Viggo Frandsen and Babe Coleman... all of them hit 20 or more homers... the Macs only had one... that was Julius Goodman with 26. On the hill in the opening game will be right-hander Clifton Branch (22-7/3.13 ERA) for the visiting Macs and manager Nioka Inkamara... getting the call from Rascal skipper Butch Slattery will be southpaw Jimbo Munsey (17-12/2.96 ERA)... both of them are well-traveled... Branch has played for 3 teams in his 6 seasons, while Munsey is on his 4th team in his 10-year career.... Branch has been the most effective with a 72-33 mark and a 3.42 ERA... Munsey has found a home in White River, but he is only 70-79 with a modest 4.09 ERA... both of them have made 5 postseason starts this year... Branch is 2-2 with a 4.17 ERA... Munsey is 2-3 with a 3.59 ERA. According to The Islandian Times Pro Cup Poll, White River will cop the series four games to two. Attachment 1005367 Attachment 1005368 Attachment 1005369 |
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Monday, October 21, 2080 RASCAL MUNSEY MOWS DOWN SUNDOWNERS IN PRO CUP OPENER, FRANDSEN HR WINS IT The first game of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series opened with a flourish at White River Stadium in White River... it was the hometown Rascals that came away with a hard-earned 3-2 victory over the Wynnamac Sundowners... fine pitching by Jimbo Munsey paved the way... it was 20-year-old Viggo Frandsen's blast in the 7th inning that provided the difference in the game. Jimbo Munsey and Cliff Branch battled on the mound and both hurled complete games... Munsey stopped the Macs on 6 hits... Branch was even better... the Rascals only got 4 hits. In the 4th frame White River broke the scoreless tie... Babe Coleman and J.R. North singled to place runners on the corners... a wild pitch scored Coleman... later in the inning the Rivermen padded their lead to 2-0 on an RBI base hit by Dan Bayless. Wynnamac got back into the fray and tied it up at 2-2 in the top of the 7th on Max Crossman's 2-run rountripper... that set the stage for Frandsen to win the game in the last half of the inning... it was Fransen's 3rd postseason homer... he was the Tycobbian batting king with a .357 BA... it was also Crossman's 3rd dinger in the playoffs. The second clash of the best-of-seven series is also slated for White River Stadium... the Macs ace Noel Arboneaux (21-7/2.82) will take the mound, opposed by Shorty Meaux (17-12/3.52)... Wynnamac plays much better at home (56-22) than they do on the road (36-41)... White River is a comfortable 46-31 at both places, at home and out of town. Attachment 1005562 Attachment 1005563 Attachment 1005564 Attachment 1005565 |
This is a great read, I always look forward to seeing your updates on your dynasty Eugene!
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Glad you enjoy it. I enjoy recapping the seasons and the playoffs. |
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Tuesday, October 22, 2080 MACS SMACK RASCALS IN SHOOTOUT TO EVEN PRO CUPSERIES It wasn't easy... Wynnamac jumped off to a 6-0 lead, but then had the fight of their life in game two of the IPA Pro Cup Series... the Macs hung on and nicked the White River Rascals 8-7 to even the series at one game each... Sundowner shortstop Jurgen Rainer lit up the Rascals for 3 hits and 5 RBIs... Rainer had a double and a homer (4th)... Alex Durham (2nd) also homered... and Ethan Youngman also cracked 3 hits and scored 3 times... Rainer and Youngman were vital parts of the 2076 Pro Cup victory over San Alejo Montaneros in an exciting 7-game classic. Wynnamac ace Noel Arboneaux survived 12 walks and still got the victory, his 3rd in the postseason, but it was ugly as it gets... lucky for him the Macs gave him plenty of runs, while the Rascals left 11 runners on base... the top run producers for White River were Denny Schlesinger and Babe Coleman with two ribbies apiece. The teams will take a day off for travel... they head to Wynnamac's home grounds at Granger Field where they are 55-22 this season... game three starters are Bubby Dancer (16-9/2.96 ERA), a 35-year-old right-hander getting the nod for White River... Dancer is a 16-year veteran with a 183-165 mark and a 3.44 ERA... Wynnamac also has an experienced hurler Lando Vargas (14-10/3.49 ERA), now in his 15th season... overall his record is 163-125 with a fine 3.27 ERA. Attachment 1005615 Attachment 1005616 Attachment 1005617 Attachment 1005618 |
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Thursday, October 24, 2080 WR RASCALS MOVE AHEAD OF MACS IN 12-INNING HITFEST The bats were booming again in the IPA Pro Cup Series... White River walloped Wynnamac 9-8 in 12 innings and moved ahead in the series two games to one... shortstop Jake Bourland boomed a game-winning bomb in game three at Granger Field in Wynnamac and gave the Rascals a one-game edge over the Sundowners. Bourland led the White River 17-hit parade with 3 hits, 3 runs scored and the game-winning blast... but he had plenty of help from Viggo Frandsen with a 3-run smash... 4 hits, 2 RBIs and 2 runs from James Lundin... 3 hits by Denny Schlesinger... and 2 RBIs from J.R. North. There wasn't a whole lot of pitching, but Elizar Belasario and T.D. Calkins held Wynnamac runless the last 3 and two-third frames... a key element in the win. The Sundowners never gave up... the Macs fought back from an 8-4 deficit in the late innings... they pounded out 16 hits, led by Jamie Blevins with a homer, double and 4 RBIs... Max Crossman added 2 hits and 2 runs batted in... and Jurgen Rainer had another great day with 4 hits and 2 runs scored. The next two ball games are set for Granger Field in Wynnamac... portsider Fuzzy Swearingen (5-4/4.77 ERA) will twirl for White River and manager Butch Slattery... Wynnamac manager Nioka Inkamara will counter with another lefty Shotgun Clayburn (9-9/4.02 ERA)... the Rascals are 18-15 this season against southpaws, while the Macs handle them very well... the Sundowners are 44-22. Should they be necessary, game six and seven will be played at White River Stadium. Attachment 1005757 Attachment 1005758 Attachment 1005759 Attachment 1005760 |
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Friday, October 25, 2080 RASCALS TAKE 3-1 PRO CUP LEAD BEHIND JOURNEYMAN SWEARINGEN... MACS BACKS AGAINST THE WALL Game Four of the IPA Pro Cup Series at Granger Field in Wynnamac, pitted two journeymen of modest accomplishments, but they pitched like headliners... White River behind 11-year veteran Fuzzy Swearingen skimmed past 7-year veteran Shotgun Clayburn and his Wynnamac Sundowners 3-1 to take a three-games-to-one edge in the best-of-seven IPA title series... the Macs backs are against the wall... they need to win 3 straight to overcome White River... nope, this doesn't happen very often in the Pro Cup Series... this has occurred only twice in 79 seasons... Far Mountain did it in 2011 and Kenwood did it in 2014. Fuzzy Swearingen fired an almost masterpiece, going the distance and shutting down the Sundowners on just 2 hits with 6 strikeouts and 4 bases on balls... the Macs didn't get a hit until the 8th inning... this was his 3rd victory in the postseason with no defeats... in 4 starts Swearingen has limited teams to a .180 batting average and a 2.00 ERA... Shotgun Clayburn more than held his own, tossing 8 solid frames, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits with 5 Ks and 2 walks... it was a scoreless duel for the first 5 innings... Clayburn dropped to 1-3 in the playoffs with a 6.68 ERA in his 4 starting assignments. White River broke the ice with a run in the top of the 6th... first baseman Denny Schlesinger doubled in James Lundin for the first run of the game... in the 7th Jake Bourland sent a 2-run shot soaring out of the park and gave the Rascals a 3-0 lead... Wynnamac finally put a run on the scoreboard in the 8th when pinchhitter Tasmin Beasley doubled and later scored from third on a fielder's choice... White River tried to get him out at home, but the throw was late... Beasley was the 2076 Pro Cup Series MVP and sparked the Macs to their 4th Pro Cup Trophy. Once again the fifth game will be played at Granger Field in Wynnamac... 22-game winner Clifton Branch will work for the Sundowners... it will be 17-game winner Jimbo Munsey on the mound for the Rascals... Munsey got the best of Branch 3-2 in the first game of the series. Attachment 1005885 Attachment 1005886 Attachment 1005887 |
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Saturday, October 26, 2080 MACS HANGIN' TOUGH, NARROW RASCALS PRO CUP LEAD TO 3-2, GAME 6 SET FOR WHITE RIVER The White River Rascals are oh so close to winning their first-ever Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup -- all the Rascals need is just one more victory in the best-of-seven series -- however, the Wynnamac Sundowners are hanging tough -- they shaved the Rascals' lead to three games to two with a hair-raising and heart-stopping 6-5 victory in game five at Granger Field... a 3-run homer by third baseman Alex Dunham and a solo swat by catcher Mike Mantle paced the Macs... Sundowner ace Clifton Branch (2-2/4.17 ERA) toughed out the win... he allowed 14 hits in his 8 innings, along with 5 runs, but he stranded 11 baserunners... closer Clancy Planchard finally finished the Rascals off in the 9th, although they threatened with 2 hits to start the inning... Planchard knuckled down and retired the next three batters, 2 on strikes. Jimbo Munsey (2-3/3.59 ERA) was done in by 4 unearned runs in the 3rd frame... he was tagged for 11 hits and all 6 scores. The Macs were outhit 16 to 11... Julius Goodson rapped 3 bingles... Mike Mantle and James Glisson chimed in with a pair of hits apiece. White River was led by Viggo Frandsen and Babe Coleman with 3 hits each... J.T. North slammed a 2-run homer and Lynn Elkins walloped a solo salvo... Coleman also had 2 RBIs. Game six is slated for White River Stadium... it will be a rematch of game one and game four starters... Noel Arboneaux ( 21-7/2.82 ERA) takes the hill for manager Nioka Inkamara and Wynnamac... toeing the slab for manager Butch Slattery and White River will be Shorty Meaux (17-12/3.52 ERA)... the Rascals won game one 8-7, while the Sundowners nabbed game four 6-3. Should it be needed, game seven will also be in White River. Attachment 1006021 Attachment 1006022 |
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Monday, October 28, 2080 WHITE RIVER FINALLY PRO CUP CHAMP AFTER 79 YEARS Over 8 decades the White River Rascals had come close on 4 previous occasions, this time they accomplished the cherished mission -- White River is the 2080 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Champion -- the best team in the Islands for the first time in its 79-year history... the Rascals finished off the spunky Wynnamac Sundowners 6-3 in game six at White River Stadium to nab their first Pro Cup Trophy four-games-to-two. Though Shorty Meaux is only 5'5", he really stood tall on the hill, firing a complete game... the diminuative southpaw held the Macs to 3 runs and 6 hits with 6 Ks and 2 walks... Meaux was 3-2 in the playoffs this season with a 4.31 ERA... but he certainly came through in the series finale. White River right fielder Babe Coleman put them ahead to stay with a 3-run clout in the bottom of the 3rd that pushed the Rascals in front to stay 4-2 and gave Meaux plenty of runs enough to carry the day... center fielder James Lundin also belted one out of the park... it was the 3rd postseason homers for Coleman and Lundin. The 37-year-old Meaux has posted a stellar 16-year career, all with White River... he is 231-151 with a superb 2.89 ERA... in the playoffs Meaux is 8-6 with an impressive 2.80 ERA. Wynnamac starter Noel Arboneaux (3-1/3.38 ERA) took the loss, shelled for 5 runs in his 6 innings... it was his first defeat of the playoffs. Center fielder Jamie Blevins paced the Macs with a roundtripper and 3 RBIs. It was a sweet, sweet victory for White River skipper Butch Slattery... as a hurler he endured three of the four Pro Cup Finals where the Rascals lost out... "Words can't describe my feelings... not only for myself, but for the players and for the townspeople."... Slattery was a 13-year veteran, all with the Rascals, chalking up a 137-111 mark and a 3.42 ERA from 2047 to 2059... in four postseasons he pitched in 27 games, made 16 starts and wound up with a 7-9 record with a 3.76 ERA... White River fell in the Pro Cup Finals in 2021, 2049, 2050 and 2055. Wynnamac manager Nioka Inkamara in his 15th season was disappointed with the outcome, but was pleased that his Sundowners came close to winning the team's 5th Pro Cup Trophy... the Macs last won it in 2076... "Too much offense... White River did a fine job at the plate... we knew going into the Pro Cup Finals they would be hard-to-handle... just like Crystal Lake, the Rascals are a potent force." Inkamara was a HOF outfielder for the Macs and the Bayview Vikings from 2038 to 2051 with a career .303 BA, 488 homers and 1385 ribbies... Inkamara was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2057. The Macs pushed White River to the max in the series... four of the games were decided by one run, one game by two and one by three... the Rascals only outscored the Sundowners 34-28 in the tight duel. White River was only the 3rd choice to win the Pro Cup in the press and media, while Wynnamac was way down the list at #6... Crystal Lake was the odds-on pick with the Kenwood Wildcats rated the second-best team... the Skippers fell in the RU Title Series to Wynnamac in six games, while the Wildcats dropped their series to Arroyo Grande in the TU First Round. Attachment 1006322 Attachment 1006323 Attachment 1006324 |
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Tuesday, October 29, 2080 RASCALS COLEMAN CLAIMS PRO CUP MVP HONOR White River right fielder Babe Coleman became of age in 2080... not only did the 7-year veteran blossom and have the best season of his career, he sparked the Rascals to the Tycobbian North Division flag and crowned the year with the 2080 Pro Cup Trophy, the very first one White River has ever won... and to top it off, Coleman won accolades as the Pro Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player... he edged out 5 of his teammates for the award. During the postseason Coleman batted .319 in 19 games, leading White River to 12 victories and 7 defeats... he went 23 for 72 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 15 RBIs and 10 runs... first baseman Viggo Frandsen was the runner-up in the MVP poll, winding up with a .284 BA, 21 hits in 74 ABs, 4 roundtrippers, 11 RBIs and 13 runs in 19 games... third in the poll was journeyman pitcher Fuzzy Swearingen... he had a very impressive postseason, going 3-0 in 4 starts with an excellent 2.00 ERA... teams only hit .180 against him... Swearingen won several critical ball games... in the fourth spot was shortstop Jake Bourland... in 19 games he hit .280 with 21 hits in 75 plate appearances with 5 two-baggers, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 11 ribbies and 11 runs scored... catcher J.R. North finished fifth in the voting... in his 19 playoff games he batted a lowly .185, but he swatted 4 out of the park and drove in 18 crucial runs... last but not least, was first sacker Denny Schlesinger... he wound up sixth in the MVP voting... he hit .278 for average in 19 games, collecting 20 for 72 at the plate with 8 doubles, 5 RBIs and he scored 16 runs. Attachment 1006400 Attachment 1006401 Attachment 1006402 Attachment 1006403 |
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Wednesday, October 30, 2080 LONGTIME SKIPPERS SKIPPMAN AND MOORE GARNER IPA BEST MANAGER HONORS Bert Skippman of the Ranford Bulls and Johnny Moore of the East Point Panthers have been honored as the 2080 IPA Managers of the Year by The Islandian Times... it was Skippman's second time to gain the award... he also named in 2076... Moore is a first-time honoree. Bert Skippman guided the Ranford Bulls to a great season in the Ruthlandian North Division... in his 22nd year his Bulls rose up from fourth place 82-72, 9 GB in 2079 to first place with a shining 102-52 mark, the best record in the IPA this year... two other manangers received support in the voting, Nioka Inkamara of Wynnamac and Mickey Walsh of Sligo... the Macs improved from 76-78 in '79 (4th Place/11 GB) to the RU East Division title with a 91-63 record... the Sundowners prevailed over the Eastshore Cotton Kings by 2 games... Walsh and his Rovers upped their record from second place and 81-73 (8 GB) to the top spot in the RU West with a sparkling 96-57 mark... Sligo handily won the pennant by 12 games over Fort Benton. East Point soared out of nowhere this season to 92-62 to cop the TU East title by a single solitary game over the Ozarka Naturals... the Panthers improved under Johnny Moore, improving greatly from 69-85 and 13 games off the pace in 8th and last place... East Point hadn't been to the playoffs for 29 years and didn't have a winning mark for the last 23 seasons... in his 19th season Moore just barely skimmed past Arlon skipper Lanny Gray in the Tycobbian Manager poll... Gray took his Champions from a lowly 49-105 (40 GB) and 8th place to 86-68 and second place, just 7 games off the pace... Arlon has made the postseason since 2058 and hadn't had a winning season since 2064... Moore and Gray both were truly deserving of the best skipper award... no one else in the Tycobbian Union got any votes. Here are all of the other IPA award winners for the 2080 season. Ruthlandian Union Awards Attachment 1006433 Tycobbian Union Awards Attachment 1006434 |
Whew!
Yeah, buddy, it's good to be back reporting on the IPA on a fairly regular schedule... it's nice that the game playoffs have been fixed... hope it stays fixed for the 2081 season coming soon. Maybe regular postings will get some of the folks back... I don't blame you for not looking in... it took forever to fix the problem. |
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Saturday, January 4, 2081 SUPREME SWINGER ROBERTS AND SUPER SLINGER ALESSI SELECTED FOR IPA HALL OF FAME ROBERTS CLUBS HIS WAY TO IPA HALL OF FAME The 2081 inductees to the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame are supreme swinger Roy Roberts of the High Mesa Buckaroos and super slinger Rico Alessi of the Oxford Red Caps. Roberts is the 83rd position player and Alessi is the 51st hurler. A total of 134 IPA immortals are in the hallowed halls. The Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame honors those players who are the best at their position, those special individuals whose skills make them unforgettable in the eyes of baseball fans everywhere. Another such player was recognized today, as High Mesa first baseman Roy Roberts was enshrined into IPA immortality. He starred for 18 seasons from 2060 to 2077, but sadly never made the postseason playoffs. The robust Roberts made the TU All-Stars 10 times and won the TU Golden Bat Trophy on 4 occasions in 2066, 2069, 2070 and 2071. There was no mistaking the look of pride on Roy Roberts's face as he saw his statue for the first time and the plaque recounting the many accomplishments over his 2600-game career. Roberts played until he was 39 and had a lifetime .285 batting average with 872 home runs. Baseball's newest Hall of Famer batted in 2036 runs and scored 1771 times. Roberts ranked second all-time in roundtrippers and ninth in RBIs. Only career home-run leader Jerry Culpepper of the Bayview Vikings had more fourmasters. Culpepper hit 878 out of the park, 6 more than Roberts. Fans of all ages watched in appreciation as Roberts blinked back tears. "I really don't know what to say during such an enormous moment," he managed to finally say, "because words cannot describe all the feelings and thoughts running through my head. The love and appreciation from all my fellow players and all the fans out there has been overwhelming, but I would not be here today without the love and support of my family. My greatest thanks goes to them." MOUND MAESTRO ALESSI MAKE IPA HALL OF FAME At his Hall of Fame induction legendary pitcher, Rico Alessi reminisced about his baseball career: "My how time flies. It is only a mere moment from your first spring training game to your first oldtimer's game. But it was a magnificent journey." Alessi played from 2058 to 2077. He was proclaimed the TU Golden Arm Award winner 4 times, 2060, 2062, 2073 and 2074. 6 times Alessi made the TU All-Star team. Today Alessi was elected to the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame after his selection by the Islandian Baseball Writers Association. Baseball's newest HOF inductee was one fine hurler for the Oxford Red Caps for 19 of his 20 seasons. When Alessi retired at age 40, he had registered 270 wins and 149 losses, struck out 2225 hitters, pitched in 637 games and compiled a superlative 2.94 ERA. Alessi stood out in the playoffs with a stellar 9-3 mark with an impressive 1.82 ERA. He made 14 starts and made 19 games appearances. Among the many people he mentioned in his induction speech was his first manager. "He gave me my first opportunity when he could have kept other people. I was lucky -- he was a Rico Alessi fan. You can't get in the Hall of Fame without your first chance." Attachment 1006601 Attachment 1006602 Attachment 1006603 |
Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame Voting Results for 2081
The ballots are counted and the results are in. This year we will witness two players added to the Hall of Fame. Roy Roberts, and Rico Alessi received the ultimate honor this year in being voted as the newest members of the Hall of Fame. The full voting results are included here. Players require 75% of ballots cast to be elected to the Hall, may stay on the ballot for up to 10 years if they receive at least 5% of the votes. Players must be retired for 3 years before they are eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame. 1B Roy Roberts 99.1 (1st year) Inducted HOF SP Rico Alessi 93.7 (1st year) Inducted HOF SS Jameson Mulbert 69.5 (5th year) C Freddie Civik 65.6 (5th year) CL Luis Villavaso 60.1 (5th year) CF Maxie Mullinax 55.0 (5th year) RF Gabriel Macedo 39.6 (8th year) 3B Cooter Eldridge 38.7 (4th year) CF Chris Kile 29.9 (4th year) RP Brownie Ashmore 29.0 (2nd year) 1B Bralen Josephson 19.6 (4th year) C Robin Hargroder 17.5 (8th year) C Ozzy Crenshaw 17.5 (5th year) CL Dave Loxley 17.2 (4th year) LF Donald Ray Mooney 16.6 (9th year) 1B Boomer Carlton 15.1 (4th year) SP Paulo Passos 14.5 (4th year) RP Butch Baird 13.6 (2nd year) 2B Luke Hazlett 13.3 (5th year) SP Bucky Dodge 11.5 (2nd year) SP Pat McFarlane 11.2 (8th year) LF Eliot Marcum 11.2 (9th year) SP Eric Connor 9.4 (1st year) CF Freddie Woodruff 9.4 (9th year) SP Hal Christy 9.4 (2nd year) 3B Cleve Juban 9.4 (1st year) SP Dontrelle Gilbreath 9.1 (5th year) RP Don Loewenthal 8.5 (2nd year) SP Carlos Santa Ana 7.3 (2nd year) C Kuro Ishihara 6.0 (5th year) CL Adrien Renaud 5.7 (5th year) RF Alfie Elbourne 5.7 (5th year) SS Walt Ivy 5.4 (5th year) 1B Billy Southward 5.1 (1st year) RF Bob Purkey 4.8 (9th year) Dropped SS Dan Fargo 3.9 (5th year) Dropped SP Angus McDade 0.9 (1st year) Dropped 1B Miguel Blanco 0.0 (1st year) Dropped SP Michael Morris 0.0 (1st year) Dropped |
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Wednesday, April 2, 2081 DIAMOND BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN; IPA OPENS 81ST SEASON FRIDAY AFTERNOON; WHITE RIVER DEFENDING CHAMP Yeah, buddy, the Boys are back in town this Friday afternoon. All across the Islands baseballs will be flying everywhere as the 81st Islandian Pro Alliance season begins. The White River Rascals, fresh off their first Pro Cup ever, will back in business trying to repeat as IPA champion, something that rarely happens. It has occurred 7 times in IPA history. Far Mountain did it twice (2011-12, 2012-13). Actually the Redhawks did a three- peat. Other clubs that did it were Eastshore (2016-17), Tuckanarra (2023-24), Valmara (2049-50), Midway (2053-54) and Southport (2065-66). The Islandian Baseball Sportswriters and Broadcasters have made the Elnora Clippers and the Turon Typhoons the preseason favorites to meet in November for the IPA Pro Cup Trophy. The Belair Beach Sunbirds may challenge the Clippers in the Ruthlandian Union, while the Ozarka Naturals will contend with the Typhoons in the Tycobbian Union. White River is picked to win the RU North once again, so the Rascals just might be in the hunt, too. Don't forget the Wynnamac Sundowners. The Macs made the Pro Cup Finals last season. You have to be a pretty good team to accomplish that. 2081 IPA PREVIEW PREDICTIONS RUTHLANDIAN UNION ROUNDUP GATORS FEAST IN RU NORTH; BULLS RARIN' TO GO; TARS, TOO The LaGrange Gators are picked to feast in the Ruthlandian North this year in a good race with last year's flag-winning Ranford Bulls and the Taranto Tars. SCRIBES FOR THE BIRDS IN THE RU SOUTH; SUNBIRDS SHINE; BLACKHAWKS FLY HIGH, TOO A trio of teams will tie up in the Ruthlandian South this season. Belair Beach gets a slight nod over runner-up Valka with third place Crystal Lake not far behind. The Skippers are the reigning RU South Division titleholder. CLIPPERS, KINGS AND MACS FAVORED IN RU EAST The Elnora Clippers are rated the top team in the Ruthlandian East, but they are not shoo-ins. The Eastshore Cotton Kings will test them. Last season's RU East Division winner Wynnamac and Pro Cup finalist will certainly have a say, too. The outlook is for a tight, three-team tussle. CANNONS BEST IN RU WEST; BUT WILL BE CHALLENGED BY 5 CLUBS The Fort Benton Cannons are primed and prepared in the Ruthlandian West. The Cannons are exploding with talent and are favored to win their third RU West title in the last five years. Nope, it will not be easy. Parity is rampant in the division. Any one of six clubs could sneak away with the crown. It's always a rat race in the RU West. Fort Benton should triumph in a hot race with Volusia, defending champ Sligo, Stoner, Forest City and Middlefield. Even bottom-rung teams, Colfax and Rocky Rapids, won't be far off the pace in the hotly-contested division. TYCOBBIAN UNION TABULATIONS RASCALS AND ZORROS RIDIN' HIGH IN TU NORTH Reigning Pro Cup champion White River and Luxora are forecast to fight it out for the Tycobbian North crown. They are dead even according to the baseball gurus. The Rascals home-run power should make the difference. There are three other teams capable of making a run for the flag. Hartsdale, Oxford and Blue Lake could be in the hunt. TURON TO TAKE TU SOUTH, YOU ALL Perennial Tycobbian South power Turon is the pick again this year. And why not? The Typhoons have won it 8 times in the last 11 years. They have also won the Pro cup twice in that time (2072 and 2078). Yep, Turon is a team with talent and experience. The Typhoons have good pitching year-after-year. That's why the baseball pundits always have faith in them. Last year's TU South champion and surprise upset winner Arroyo Grande is back again and will not give up their title without a fight. The Summerland Sunsets may sneak in and give chase, too. Darkhorses Colchester and Cape Coral could be in contention, too. EAST POINT FALLS OUT OF FAVOR; OZARKA CHOICE IN TU EAST The East Point Panthers were a wonderful story last season. The Cats came out of nowhere and captured its first TU East pennant in decades. They should still be one of the better clubs. For some reason last year's darling has fallen out of favor with the preseason prognosticators and placed in the sixth spot. Ozarka is rated the top team this year with the Tuckanarra Blue Jays a close second. Hillsboro, High Mesa, Red Bluff and East Point all follow at a distance... The outlook from the scribes is for a two-team race. ROLLING HILLS AND CHICOPEE CREAM OF THE CROP IN TU WEST Last year's division-winning Kenwood is only the third choice to win the pennant in the Tycobbian West. Rolling Hills and Chicopee are the fair-haired lads this year. The Racers and the Braves ranked a little bit better than the Wildcats. The preseason pickers and grinners also low rated the up-and-coming Arlon Champions, who surprised the baseball world and soared up to second place last season after years and years of being an also-ran. The Champs were dropped to fifth in the preseason poll. The Bayview Vikings are forecast to make the race and contest this season. The Vikings should wind up in the top four teams. Attachment 1006672 Attachment 1006673 Attachment 1006674 Attachment 1006675 |
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Tuesday, July 1, 2081 CL SKIPPERS AND WR RASCALS HAVE SOLID LEADS AT MIDSEASON, 6 RACES STILL UP IN THE AIR It seems that the rich just get richer. Two of the top teams from last season are still shining bright this year. Crystal Lake has the best record in the IPA, followed closely by the reigning Pro Cup champion White River. 'Twould not be a surprise to see these two titans tangle for the 2081 Pro Cup Trophy. Both teams are riding high with good 6-game leads. At least 23 teams still have serious aspirations to win the division pennants in the other 6 races. At the midyear point in the Islandian Pro Alliance none of the teams have dominated. Unheralded Cold Creek, Colfax, Colchester and Blue Lake are all pennant contenders halfway through the season. Around the Towns in the Ruthlandian Union FAVORED GATORS CHALLENGED BY VIPERS, TARS AND CATS IN RU NORTH The preseason favorite LaGrange is flourishing in the Ruthlandian North at the halfway mark in the season, but the Gators do have several clubs clinging on their heels. Valmara is 2 and a half games behind, Taranto 5 and a half and Kilkenny 6 games back. RU NORTH OUTLOOK: It will be a tight race between LaGrange, Valmara and Taranto. Any one of them could win the pennant. Kilkenny doesn't have the offense to stay with the other contenders. The Gators, Vipers and Tars are solid teams with good pitching and good hitting. SKIPPERS SMOOTH SAILING SO FAR IN RU SOUTH Halfway through the season last year's champion Crystal Lake has sailed to a 6-game edge in the Ruthlandian South. Only second place Waleska is in striking distance. Third place Valka is 10 games off the pace. It is looking good for the Skippers. Preseason pick Belair Beach has been a disappointing fourth thus far, trailing by a whopping 16 and one-half games. RU SOUTH OUTLOOK: Crystal Lake is going to be hard to beat. The Westerners are not going to catch the Skippers. Valka is a solid team with good pitching and hitting, but they are too far behind to catch Crystal Lake. UNLIKELY RACCOONS ATOP RU EAST The unheralded Cold Creek Raccoons are red-hot in the Ruthlandian East at midseason with a 3 and a half-game margin over runner-up Elnora and 5 games better than defending champion Wynnamac. Fourth in the standings, Belle Plaine and Eastshore are still in the hunt, 6 and one-half games out. Cold Creek, along with Belle Plaine, was only the fifth choice in the preseason poll. RU EAST OUTLOOK: Nobody is expecting the Cold Creek Raccoons to keep playing at the pace they are. They were forecast to be a losing team. The winner should come from the big three, preseason pick Elnora, last year's champ Wynnamac and last year's third-place finisher Eastshore. They are the powers that be that probably will be. This looks like a four-team photo finish in September. The Raccoons have not won the RU East since 2042, almost four decades ago. We wish them luck and hope their critics are wrong and they won't do a second-half swoon. PERENNIAL ALSO-RAN COLFAX BEST IN RU WEST The best in the Ruthlandian West at midyear is the perennial also-ran Colfax Black Sox. It's been 16 years since the Sox copped the division flag and made the Pro Cup playoffs. Colfax was ranked near the bottom of the barrel in the preseason poll. They have surprised and possess a 2-game lead over runners-up Fort Benton and Forest City. Last year's winner and this year's pennant favorite Sligo is in the fourth spot, trailing by 5 games. It a jam-packed division with two more teams in the fracas. Stoner and Volusia are tied for fifth, just 5 and a half-games out. RU WEST OUTLOOK: This year's RU West champion will probably come from perpetual pennant winners, the Sligo Rovers, who have won it 3 times in the last 6 years and the Fort Benton Cannons, the winner twice in the last 4 seasons. The Rovers triumphed last year, the Cannons came in second. Fort Benton was favored to take the title in the preseason poll. Forest City had some good starters and can score runs. The Firebirds will stay in contention, along with the Black Sox, Cannons and Rovers. Volusia can score runs, but has terrible pitching. The Vigilantes will fade away in the second half and drop out of sight. Around the Town in the Tycobbian Union RASCALS ROLLING TOWARD REPEAT IN TU NORTH Yeah, buddy. The White River Rascals would like nothing better than to repeat in the Tycobbian North and also chalk up their second straight Pro Cup crown. Thus far, the Rascals are well on their way with a solid 6 and a half-game bulge over second place Blue Lake. And even better, White River is 11 games up on third place Oxford and 11 and a half ahead of fourth place Mahaska. Preseason co-pick Luxora is wallowing way back in the fifth spot, 14 and a half games behind in the race. TU NORTH OUTLOOK: It could tighten up in the second half of the season. Blue Lake is playing better ball in the last month than White River. If the trend continue the Blue Caps could catch the Rascals. But this is not likely to happen. White River is too good of a ball club. Don't be surprised if they win by 10 games or more. It has been 12 years since Blue Lake made the postseason playoffs. The Blue Caps have only been in the playoffs 4 times in their IPA history, but they did win one Pro Cup back in 2030. Nope, don't think they will win it this year, but the Rascals just might. 'CANES AND ELITES TOPS IN TU SOUTH, FOLLOWED BY TYPHOONS AND SUNS Two clubs that rarely make the postseason are running neck-and-neck in the Tycobbian South this season. It been more than four decades since the Cape Coral Hurricanes and the Colchester Elites made the playoffs. At the midseason mark the 'Canes are one game in front of the Elites. Lurking in the shadows, just 5 games away, are the preseason favorite and perpetual powerhouse Turon Typhoons. Another threat is last season's division winner, the Arroyo Grande Suns. The pollsters only rated Cape Coral and Colchester, the number-four and number-five choices. TU SOUTH OUTLOOK: Turon and Arroyo Grande are even-steven, but they should be aware that Cape Coral just might be as good as they are. The 'Canes have a pretty good starting rotation and they can put some runs on the scoreboard. The Hurricanes just might prove to the better ball club... it looks like a 3-team tussle in the TU South. SO FAR PUNDITS WRONG, WRONG, WRONG IN TU EAST; PANTHERS ARE STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT The preseason prognosticators picked the Ozarka Naturals to win the TU East -- WRONG. They also chose the Tuckanarra Blue Jays as the second best club - WRONG! The baseball soothsayers also selected last year's flag winner, the East Point Panthers, to wind up way down in the standings at the sixth spot -- WRONG! -- DEAD WRONG AGAIN! Thus far, to the contrary, East Point has a 3-game edge over second place Hillsboro, 5 and a half-game up on third-place High Mesa, 7 games better than fourth-place Midway, 7 and a half games ahead of fifth-place South Fork, 8 and a half in front of sixth place Ozarka, 14 games up on seventh place Red Bluff and finally, 22 and a half games better than last-place Tuckanarra. There is a lot of parity in the TU East this season. Any one of six clubs could win it in the second half. TU EAST OUTLOOK: The pennant race will probably come down to East Point and Hillsboro. The Panthers have a little better mound staff, but the Blazers have a little more home-run power. Give East Point a slight edge in the two-way race. High Mesa could sneak into the hunt. The Buckaroos can score, hit with power and possess 5 solid starters and a fairly good bullpen. The Midway Wolves are very similar and could make a run at the pennant, too. The Buckaroos and the Wolves have been missing from the Pro Cup playoffs since the early 2060s. The Blazers last made the postseason in 2067. Hillsboro has only made the playoffs 2 times in its terrible IPA history. NO BIG SURPRISES; VIKS, RACERS, CHAMPS BEST IN TU WEST The Tycobbian West race is playing out pretty closely to the preseason forecast. At midseason the preseason pollsters' third-choice Bayview and preseason co-favorite Rolling Hills are in a dead heat for the lead, followed closely by third-place Arlon. Preseason co-pick Chicopee and last year's winner Kenwood are standing in the wings, both within striking distance of the leaders. The Braves are fourth, 7 GB. The Wildcats are in fifth place, 8 GB. Any one of the five clubs could spurt in the second half of the season and win it. TU WEST OUTLOOK: Does good pitching beat good hitting? That's what the Tycobbian West race comes down to. Can the Bayview hurlers hurl the Vikings to the division crown? Can the Rolling Hills with its solid pitching and scoring win it? Can Arlon top guns hit their way to the pennant? During the regular season the spoils usually go to the pitchers. In the postseason, it favors the bats. It will be close and down-to-the-wire. Since Rolling Hills has a well-balanced ball club, they are the odds-on favorite in the TU West. Bayview just can't compete offensively. Arlon falls short on the hill. 2081 Ruthlandian Union Midseason Standings Attachment 1007169 Attachment 1007170 2081 Tycobbian Union Midseason Standings Attachment 1007171 Attachment 1007172 |
I went back to the black skin... the graphics and colors look much better to me than on the white skin.
The contrast is much better. My logos show up much better. My logos were designed to be use on the black skin. So it makes sense it would look better. |
Don't know what is wrong, but I can't post any screenshots right now.
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Saturday, July 13, 2081 TU AND RU ALL-STARS WILL SHINE AT WHITE RIVER STADIUM THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON IPA ALL-STAR CLASSIC All of the 2081 All-Stars will be in full radiance at the 81st Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Classic this Tuesday afternoon at White River Stadium in White River, the home of the reigning IPA Pro Cup champion. Tycobbia will be sparked by 9-time All-Star third baseman Zak Smalley of Bayview, 8-time All-Star left fielder Charles Larson of La Claire and 5-time All-Star hurler Clete Engstrom of Turon. Leading the way for Ruthlandia will be 5-time honoree first baseman Dude Gurley of Cold Creek and 4-time picks third sacker Cookie Garland of Crystal Lake and right fielder Troy Swinnerton of LaGrange. The oldest performer is Zak Smalley at age 38 and the youngest are 20-year-old pitcher Adamo Costales of Luxora and 20-year-old first baseman Viggo Frandsen of White River. No rookies made the squads this season. The Tycobbian Union has dominated the Ruthlandian Union in the IPA All-Star Game over the years, winning 51 times and losing only 29 times. White River manager Butch Slattery will be at the helm of the TU Stars. Wynnamac skipper Nioka Inkamara will pilot the RU Stars. Attachment 1007472 Attachment 1007473 |
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Wednesday, July 16, 2081 TU STARS DELANEY AND STRATTON TEAM UP TO DEMOLISH RU STARS The stars shone brightly yesterday afternoon at White River Stadium, home of the current Pro Cup champion Rascals. Especially the Tycobbian All-Stars who demolished the Ruthlandian All-Stars 13-4 in the 81st annual Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Classic. The TU Stars walloped four out of the park, led by two by Clifford Stratton (Rolling Hills) and one apiece from Bobby Delaney (Arlon) and Adam Christy (Cape Coral). Game MVP Delaney drove in 5 runs, 4 of them coming on a grand slam in the 3rd frame. The Tycobbian Union All-Stars upped their lead in the series to 52-29 over the Ruthlandian All-Stars. Attachment 1007565 Attachment 1007566 Attachment 1007567 Attachment 1007568 |
Thanks for following the IPA.
The views have improved greatly in the last week now that I am posting league news on a regular basis. The views are up to 150 a day, about half of what it use to be. |
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Saturday, September 27, 2081 IPA REGULAR SEASON ENDS; PRO CUP PLAYOFFS ON THE WAY MONDAY Eight division winners are set to compete for the prestigious IPA Pro Cup Trophy. The action begins this Monday afternoon across four venues in the Islands. Defending Pro Cup holder White River is back again. Crystal Lake and Rolling Hills, perennial contenders, secured their division titles, along with LaGrange, Fort Benton and East Point. Dark horses Cold Creek Raccoons and Cape Coral Hurricanes surprised everyone by clinching playoff spots. Neither team has been to the postseason in over 40 years. Neither team has ever won a Pro Cup. 5 defending division flag holders Ranford (6th), Wynnamac (2nd), Sligo (6th), Kenwood (5th) and Arroyo Grande (4th) failed to make the playoffs, winding up way back in the pack. Ruthlandian Union (RU) In the RU, the LaGrange Gators narrowly edged out the Kilkenny Cats and Taranto Tars in the North Division. The Ranford Bulls took the division title last year. The Bulls came in sixth, 14 GB. This will be LaGrange's first postseason appearance in 14 seasons. The Bulls have never won the Pro Cup. Crystal Lake, a powerhouse, comfortably secured the RU South title by 10 games. The Skippers have won it for the last three years in a row. Waleska, Valka and Claxton didn't challenge the Skippers very much. Crystal Lake has won the Pro Cup 4 times. 2074 was the last time. Cold Creek surprised everyone by winning the RU East, beating out last year’s champion, Wynnamac, Sugar Valley and preseason choice Elnora in a fairly good race. They all tied for the second spot, 6 games behind Crystal Lake. Preseason favorite Fort Benton prevailed in the Ruthlandian West Division. Runner-up Forest City gave them some trouble, trailing by 5 games. Volusia wound up in third place, 9 GB. The rest of the division were far behind. Last year's winner Sligo floundered badly this season, finishing sixth, 14 games out. The Cannons have never nabbed a Pro Cup. They have copped the RU West crown 3 times in the last 5 seasons. Tycobbian Union (TU) Reigning IPA Pro Cup champion White River dominated the TU North. Blue Lake (11 GB) and Mahaska (12 GB) offered little competition. Preseason pick Luxora (19 GB) never contended and lagged in the fourth spot in the standings. The Rascals won their first Pro Cup last year, whipping the Wynnamac Sundowners in 6 games. Dark horse Cape Coral triumphed in the TU South, surpassing second-place Colchester by 8 games and preseason favorite Turon by 10. Last year's champ Arroyo Grande came in fourth, 13 GB. No one was close at the end, but it was a good race most of the season. The Hurricanes last appeared in the Pro Cup playoffs in 2041. The East Point Panthers repeated their victory in the RU East Division, despite being low-balled in the preseason poll. The Panthers defeated Midway (9 GB), Hillsboro (11 GB), and this year’s preseason choice, Ozarka (11 GB). The pundits picked the Panthers to wind up a lowly sixth this year. East Point is still seeking its first-ever Pro Cup Trophy. Rolling Hills, a perpetual playoff participant, fought off Bayview (4 GB) and Arlon (8 GB) to claim the TU West title. Defending champ Kenwood flopped badly (25 GB) and never put up a fight. Last year's Pro Cup finalists were the White River Rascals and the Wynnamac Sundowners. The Rascals wrapped up the revered Pro Cup in six games. The Rolling Hills Racers will be gunning for their record 10th Pro Cup Trophy. Stay tuned for an exciting week of baseball as the teams battle it out for glory in the Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs starting this Monday afternoon at 4 venues around the Islands! First-Round matchups pit Cold Creek at Fort Benton and LaGrange at Crystal Lake in the Ruthlandian Union. It will be White River hosting Cape Coral and East Point on the road in Rolling Hills. The playoffs in the Islandian Pro Alliance consists of best-of-seven series in all rounds. 2081 Ruthlandian Union Final Standings and Statistics Attachment 1007959 Attachment 1007960 Attachment 1007961 Attachment 1007962 |
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Monday, September 29, 2081 AWAY WE GO! IPA PLAYOFFS BEGIN TOMORROW! RASCALS AND SKIPPERS TO MEET FOR PRO CUP CROWN Beginning tomorrow afternoon the Islands will be aglow at four diamond palaces. It's the annual quest for the cherished Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy. This is the 81st edition, featuring the top 8 teams in the IPA. 5 of the contenders have never won the Pro Cup. Only Rolling Hills (9 Pro Cups), Crystal Lake (4 Pro Cups) and White River (1 Pro Cup) have ever captured the esteemed prize. The Rascals are the reigning IPA champion. White River bested the Wynnamac Sundowners last season in 6 games to nab their first Pro Cup Series. In the opening round, the IPA Elite 8 Series, Crystal Lake will be at home, hosting the LaGrange Gators in the Ruthlandian Union. Cold Creek will travel to Fort Benton in the other RU series. In the Tycobbian Union it will be defending champion White River entertaining the Cape Coral Hurricanes, while Rolling Hills will welcome the East Point Panthers. All IPA postseason series are the best-of-seven. If the postseason plays out according to the way the baseball scribes and soothsayers say in The Islandian Times Pro Cup Poll, it will be Crystal Lake and White River in the Pro Cup Finals with the nod going to the Rascals, who are forecast to win back-to-back IPA titles. THE ISLANDIAN TIMES PRO CUP POLL 1. WHITE RIVER (95-59) Long-ball power coupled with strong starters and a solid bullpen will win it for the Rascals, led by their top guns at the plate Viggo Frandsen and Babe Coleman and Shorty Meaux and Fuzzy Swearingen on the mound. Keep in mind, White River is suspect defensively. They do make errors. Attachment 1008094 2. Rolling Hills (96-58) The Racers are right up their with the Rascals. Ollie Ringer, Clifford Stratton and Jaron Shufford can belt the ball with the best of them. Skeets Kazlauskas, Elvis Hutton and Ivan Malek are a very capable threesome in the starting rotation. The bullpen is rock-solid, too. And the Racers play good defense, too. Attachment 1008095 3. Crystal Lake (98-56) The prime performers for the Skippers are Angelo Marinello, Lloyd Mason and Augie Augustus on the hill. Leading their high-powered attack will be Cookie Garland, Culver Jensen and Jeff Setser. Crystal Lake also plays excellent defense. Attachment 1008096 4. LaGrange (87-67) The Bulls have a powerful lineup with Tory Swinnerton, Gary Harvey, Michel Colbert and Jules Robichaux. They can put runs on the scoreboard. LaGrange has two fine starters in Juro Kinura and Bryan Bushnell. However, they are questionable in the bullpen and with the gloves. Attachment 1008097 |
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5. Fort Benton (90-64)
The Cannons are explosive at the plate with Olev Kotli, Trace Lansing, John Harding and Stosh Dusek. They also have two quality starters in Luis Trevino and Fletch Redmond. Monty Gulliver and Timmy Blythe give them a good relief corps. Fort Benton plays defense with the best of them. The Cannons could be a sleeper. This club reached the Pro Cup Finals in '79 and lost in 6 games to IPA Pro Cup champion Rolling Hills. Attachment 1008098 6. Cold Creek (88-66) The Raccoons are robust with the bats with the likes of Dude Gurley and Benny Wright. Plus Orin Wessex Kristoffer Helgeland and Kyell Stendahl are capable starters. But the defense is lacking. Attachment 1008099 7. Cape Coral (92-62) It's been a great season for the Hurricanes. For the first time in over four decades they won the pennant and made the playoffs. The 'Canes did it with a rock-solid bunch of batters, sparked by Adam Christy, Sarge Agarn, Sonny Zambello and Marcus Paulette. They are one of the best defensive teams in the IPA. And they possess one fine starter in Chipper Simpson. But he is not enough. Teams needs three solid starters and a good relief corps to go deep into the playoffs. Attachment 1008100 8. East Point (92-62) The Panthers can match anybody in the IPA on the mound, paced by Kent Burleigh, Jorgy Neal, Flash Fesmire and Howie Wible. Jalen Abercrombie also excels in the bullpen. Offensively, East Point is pathetic. Judah Woods is their best threat, but he only had 67 RBIs, 19 homers and a .294 BA. The Panthers only hit for a .246 BA. Teams with fine pitching and weak bats never win the Pro Cup. Teams with a high-scoring offense with mediocre pitching staffs can occasionally win it all. It's the good all-around, well-balanced teams that do best in the postseason. Attachment 1008101 2081 IPA Pro Cup Series Forecast: It will be a 7-game series. White River should win it, but don't be surprised if Crystal Lake comes out the winner. The Skippers look better on paper. However, you have to go with experience and the Rascals are the reigning kings of the IPA. They have been there and done that. White River will repeat as the Pro Cup champion. Attachment 1008102 |
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Thursday, October 9, 2081 IPA ELITE 8 SERIES REVIEW FAVORITES FLOURISH, WHITE RIVER, ROLLING HILLS, CRYSTAL LAKE AND FORT BENTON ADVANCE TO IPA FINAL 4 ROUND Pro Cup favorite and current Pro Cup champion White River and three other favored clubs won their Elite 8 Series and will advance to the IPA Final 4 Round. The Rascals polished off Cape Coral four games to one in the Tycobbian Union. White River got fine pitching and 10 home runs to eliminate the Hurricanes. Viggo Frandsen and Babe Coleman both bashed 3 out of the park to spark the Rascals. Shorty Meaux, Bubby Dancer and Hap Hartigan all stood out on the mound. Rolling Hills also triumphed in 5 games over the East Point Panthers. Clifford Stratton and Jaron Shufford paced the Racers at the plate in the hard-fought series. The Panthers just didn't have the offense to hang with Rolling Hills. Skeets Kazlauskas, Elvis Hutton and Ivan Malek really shut down the East Point offense. White River and Rolling Hills will battle for the Tycobbian Union title. Over in the Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series Crystal Lake handily disposed of the LaGrange Gators four games to one to move on to the RU Title Series against the Fort Benton Cannons. Cookie Garland, Don Grady, Gino Lorenzetti and Dave Sewell all hit .400 or better in the series. The Skippers pitching corps was outstanding, led by Angelo Marinello with 2 victories. Bret Lynch and Lloyd Mason copped the other wins in good performances. The Fort Benton-Cold Creek was an offensive brawl. 4 of the 7 games went into extra innings, one of them lasted 18 innings. The Cannons won it in 7 games and had to come back from a 3-2 deficit to win it. Noah Fairclough spun a 5-hit gem in the series finale to send the Raccoons home for the winter. Leland Carmack had 2 homers and 8 RBIs to spark Fort Benton. Stosh Dusek, John Harding and Cloyce Farmer also hit well in the series. Dude Gurley and Benny Wright excelled in defeat. Gurly homered 3 times and drove in 9 runs, while Wright socked a pair of home runs and drove in 7 runs. Attachment 1008211 Attachment 1008212 Attachment 1008213 |
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Thursday, October 9, 2081 RU AND TU TITLE SERIES MADE IN HEAVEN It is almost perfect. Baseball fanatics in the Islands are in for a treat. The top three picks to win the 2081 Pro Cup survived the first round. Only one of them, number four LaGrange didn't survive. The Bulls had the misfortune to meet third-ranked Crystal Lake and the Skippers were at their best. The Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Final 4 Series are matches made in Heaven. Crystal Lake will host number five Fort Benton for the RU title and the right to go on to the Pro Cup Series for the overall IPA championship. In the TU title series number-one choice and reigning Pro Cup champion White River will be at home against number two Rolling Hills. Both are exciting crackerjack matches. They almost couldn't be better. Any one of the four challengers could win the coveted Pro Cup Trophy. Only Fort Benton has never won the IPA overall title. White River and Crystal Lake have the homefield advantage. The victors in this round will be the team that gets the best pitching. Based on first-round statistics Fort Benton has a pretty good chance to upset Crystal Lake. The Cannons will edge the Skippers in a seven-game affair. Fort Benton is hot at the plate and on the hill. Crystal Lake might not have the depth in the pitching department, but the Skippers can swing the bat just about as good as the Cannons. The Tycobbian title series will also go the full-seven game distance with White River skimming by Rolling Hills. The Rascals have the edge in home-run power. The mound corps are pretty even. The Pro Cup outlook is for the Pro Cup Finals to be between the Fort Benton Cannons and the White River Rascals. Then again, you could also say it will be Crystal Lake and Rolling Hills. Yeah, buddy, the fans are in for some great postseason baseball this year. Both series will be rootin' tootin' shootouts. Rolling Hills has nabbed the most Pro Cups, a total of 9, followed by Crystal Lake with 4 and White River with one. The Rascals won it last year, the Racers captured it two years ago and the Skippers were triumphant in 2074. Poetic justice would be for the Cannons to win the whole shebang this year. That's how it would be in a Hollywood script - however, as you and I both very well know, things like that don't happen in the real world of Islandia. |
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Sunday, October 12, 2081 RASCALS AND SKIPPERS GRAB IPA FINAL 4 OPENERS Current IPA Pro Cup champion White River and Crystal Lake are off-and-running in the IPA Final 4 openers. In the Tycobbian Union title series, the Rascals got strong pitching from 38-year-old Shorty Meaux (2-0/3.60 ERA) and bested the Rolling Hills Racers 5-3 on the road. White River rapped 12 hits and were led by James Lundin and Viggo Frandzen with 3 hits apiece and J.R. North with 2-4 and 3 runs batted in. Skeets Kazlauskas (2-1/2.25 ERA) lost it, shelled for 5 runs in 7 innings. In the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 opening game Crystal Lake's Lloyd Mason (2-0/2.60 ERA) won a pitcher's duel with Fort Benton's Luis Trevino (0-2/4.30 ERA), nudging him 2-1. Both of them spun complete games. Gino Lorenzetti's solo homer in the 5th was the difference. |
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