THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 4, 2049

2049 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 4

Ruthlandian Union

SIRAK STOPS SUGAR VALLEY 7-2, VIPERS UP 3-1
He's short and chubby, but Primo Sirak is quite a pitcher... the Valmara left-hander redeemed himself with a 7-2 decision over Sugar Valley at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara putting the Rattlers' postseason in serious jeopardy... it was the Vipers third win in the series, they have lost one game... Valmara can wrap up the Ruthlandian LCS tomorrow with a victory... Sirak (3-1/2.20), who was shellacked in game one, stopped the tough Rattlers on two runs and eight hits... He struck out four and issued three walks in a complete game outing... the Vipers teed off on loser Antonio Cedeno (2-1/3.48) for seven runs and 10 hits in five innings.

Topping the Valmara 11-hit attack was CF Don Ritchie (.367) with three hits, three runs scored and an RBI... Ritchie doubled and tripled... C Karol Koska (.209) got his third roundtripper of the postseason, a three-run blast in the first frame... and LF Tomek Abramczyk (.333) chipped in with two hits and two RBIs... 3B Roy Hobbs (.333) went deep for the Rattlers.

Tycobbian Union

RASCALS TIE BLUE JAYS SERIES ON GROVELAND'S HR
Josh Groveland homered for the second day in a row... this time his eighth-inning two-run blast snapped a 1-1 deadlock and gave White River a 3-2 victory over Tuckanarra in game four of the Tycobbian League Championship Series... the series is tied at two game each... Nicky Palmer (3-1/2.94) posted the win with a sparkling effort on the hill and at the plate... Palmer (.250) homered in the fifth for the first run of the game... he held the Tucks to two runs on eight hits, fanned six and walked three batters... Palmer had lost game one 7-0 to Ozzie Leslie... Leslie was strong again today as well, surrendering only one run on six hits in seven innings... the game was tied at 1-all when he exited for a pinchhitter.

Groveland is now hitting .571 in the playoffs with two homers and nine RBIs... the Blue Jay C Glenn Tinker (.528) continued a torrid postseason with three hits and an RBI... and RF Frank Mason (.342) had a double and a single with one RBI... the Tucks had 8 hits in the game, while the Rascals collected 7.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 5, 2049

2049 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 5

Ruthlandian Union

VALMARA RU CHAMP, TOPS RATTLERS IN 5
According to the baseball experts, you would have to flip a coin to determine who would win the Ruthlandian League Championshio Series... it was just too close to call... both clubs battled long and hard in almost all of the games, but it was Valmara that finally got some pitching to win it going away with four wins in five games... it wasn't easy for the Vipers... in the fifth game they had to get a run in the ninth to send the game into overtime, where Valmara finally won out 4-3 in 11 innings to wrap up the series and send them to the Pro Cup Finals against the Tycobbian champion.

The Vipers got four back-to-back singles in the bottom of the 11th to eliminate the Rattlers... LF Tomek Abramczyk (.341), RF Boyd Holmes (.351), PH Paul McMahon (.375) and 1B Jose Vargas (.357) did the damage with Vargas driving in Abramczyk with the winning score... all the hits came off losing pitcher Christopher Dunsberry (1-1/1.59)... reliever Kasio Bajek (2-0/4.50) got the win with three scoreless innings... Viper starter Darus Grajek (2-1/3.48) performed well, working the first eight frames and allowing three runs, two earned, seven hits with six Ks and two walks... Sugar Valley starter Cullen Winslow (2-1/3.00) was solid, too... he limited Valmara to just three runs in his nine and one-third innings.

The Vipers pelted the Rattlers for 16 hits, led by Jose Vargas with a perfect 5-for-5 day which set a new IPA playoff record in an extra-inning game... Boyd Holmes had a pair of hits, including a homer, and drove in two runs... it was his third homer in the postseason... the Rattlers only managed seven hits and were paced by LF Carl Ramsey (.286) with two RBIs and RF Duncan McEllicott (.276) with one.

An overjoyed Vanya Vasylenko, the skipper of the Valmara Vipers, hailed his club, reveling in another chance at a Pro Cup, the second time in six years... the Vipers took the IPA title in 2043, defeating the powerful North Hills Hawks in that club's prime years... Vasylenko gave credit to his hitters and pitchers saying, "The offense was phenomenal the entire series... and the pitchers settled down and came through in games four and five... we just peaked at the right time to whip a fine Sugar Valley club."

Manager Bobby Gamble tongue-in-cheek gave credit to the Vipers. "When a team hits as well as Valmara did in this series, you're lucky to leave with your life... it was dangerous for my pitchers out on the mound... 37 runs and 64 hits in five games... that's lethal... I'm thinking of suing them for cruel and unusual punishment... I don't think it was safe even in our dugout."

Tycobbian Union

RASCALS TAKE THIRD STRAIGHT, 5-3 WINNER IN GAME 5
The Rascals are on a roll with three in a row... one more win and White River will be in the Pro Cup Finals for the second time in its history... the Rascals had to overcome a late-inning 2-0 deficit to come back and beat Tuckanarra 5-3 in game five of the Tycobbian LCS... White River now has a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven set... they were beaten by the Sligo Rovers in the 2023 IPA Finals.

Trailing 2-0 going into the eighth against Dickie Pittman, the Rascals shook loose and clipped him for four runs, highlighted by LF Billy Joe Hickman's (.162) RBI single and Ryan Byrd's (.273) three-run roundtripper... Butch Slattery (2-1/4.03) chalked up the victory, holding the Blue Jays to two runs on eight hits in seven innings, striking out eight batters and walking one... Todd Cole (0-0/4.05)/3 saves) tossed two frames and notched his third save of the postseason, but gave up a run in the ninth... Pittman (2-1/3.77) was the loser... White River got to him for four runs on seven hits... Pittman whiffed nine batters and walked three.

Leading the Rascals 9-hit attack were 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.429) with three hits and two runs... RF Ryne Hyland (.237) and LF Billy Joe Hickman (.162) helped out with two hits, one run and one RBI apiece... the Tucks had 10 hits and were paced by LF Cedric Dennison (.214) and C Glenn Tinker (.538)... they both had two hits.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 6, 2049

2049 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 6

Tycobbian Union

RASCALS TU TITLIST, GO FOR PRO CUP
After falling on their face in the first two games of the Tycobbian League Championshop Series to Tuckanarra, the White Rascals gained face and rallied to win four in a row and capture the league crown and advance to the IPA Pro Cup Finals for the second time in the team's history... they will now take on the powerful Valmara Vipers, the titlewinner in the Ruthlandian Union... the Vipers eliminated tough Sugar Valley in five games.

The Rascals were behind 4-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, but starter Alfie Rutledge (1-2/4.82) faltered and couldn't hold the lead... Todd Cole (1-0/3.52) worked a scoreless inning of relief for the victory and Keil Trickett (0-0/0.00/1 save) nailed down the save with a runless ninth.

3B Kenny Yarbrough (.447), 2B Ryan Byrd (.324) and C Josh Groveland (.611) led the Rascals' 11-hit attack with three hits and an RBI each... Byrd's numbers included three runs scored and a solo homer, his third of the postseason... the Tucks socked 10 hits... LF Cedric Dennison (.277) cracked four hits and batted in two runs... CF Harv Bannerman (.231) and SS Dale Fordham (.314) drove in the other runs for the Blue Jays.

White River manager Mick Cronyn told reporters, "We won the series four games to two, but it was a lot tougher than it seemed... the Tucks made us look bad in the first two games, then we got things going... but even then the last three games could have easily been decided in their favor." Cronyn gave credit to his bullpen for putting away the Blue Jays. "Our starters kept us in the game and our bullpen won it for us."

Speaking with the press at the postgame news conference Tuckanarra's skipper Lefty Stevens told them, "White River has an excellent ballclub... solid starters, fine bullpen and a strong core of batters... that's the reason they are favored to win the Pro Cup this year... we got beat by a darn good team."

After several days off, Valmara will host White River in the 49th edition of the historic IPA Pro Cup Classic beginning this Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... the Vipers earned the right for the homefield advantage by virtue of a better regular season record than the Rascals... it should be a great series between two powerful and talented ballclubs... Valmara chalked up 101 victories, third behind Middlefield's 104 wins and Sugar Valley's 103... White River led the Tycobbian Union with a 98-56 mark.

:)

White River with the upset in 6 games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 7, 2049

WHITE RIVER AND VALMARA TANGLE FOR PRO CUP
It all begins Sunday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara, the 2049 IPA Pro Cup Finals. The Vipers will host the Pro Cup favorite, the White River Rascals. Valmara breezed to Finals with victories over the Claxton Diamonds and Sugar Valley Rattlers, beating both of them in five games. The Rascals also cruised past tough San Alejo in a four-game sweep and topped Tuckanarra in six games after dropping the first two games.

This year's Pro Cup Finals look like a match made in Heaven with two superb and talented clubs going at it in a best-of-seven affair. Valmara will get the home field advantage with the possibility of playing four games at War Memorial Stadium. The Vipers posted 101 wins during the regular season, while the Rascals had 98. Nonetheless, the baseball world usually favors the Tycobbian Union as stronger overall than the Ruthlandian Union. In Pro Cup competition Tycobbian has a slight edge with 28 trophies to 22 for Ruthlandia.

White River possesses standout hitting and scoring, along with superb starting pitching and a great bullpen, while Valmara is almost as good as the Rascals on the mound and at the plate. One big plus for White River is its home-run power. They totaled 198 roundtrippers to just 128 for Valmara. The Rascals also have a decided edge in the relief corps.

However, Valmara has averaged over 7 runs a game in the postseason and has hammered 16 homers. White River has scored over 5 runs a game in the playoffs, but has gone deep only 8 times. Both clubs have slightly above average defense with identical .974 fielding percentages.

Pro Cup Forecast: The consensus says White River should win it in seven games... however, some writers and broadcasters have been impressed with Valmara in the playoffs and revamped their outlooks, citing the Vipers postseason power and run-scoring ability... they give Valmara the edge in starting pitching... if the offense puts up some runs, then the Vipers will win it in seven games.

**** WHITE RIVER TEAM STATISTICS **** VALMARA TEAM STATISTICS

Based on postseason play, I'm going with Valmara... offensively they have been truly awesome and the starting pitching has been solid... but the bullpen is the question mark... the Vipers in seven.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 10, 2049

2049 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 1

RASCALS TOP VIPERS IN CUP OPENER 7-4
Visiting White River got the jump on Valmara in the opening game of the 2049 Pro Cup Series at War Memorial Stadium by polishing off the Vipers 7-4... the favored Rascals broke open a 3-3 tie in the top of the eighth on a two-run double by Pudge Tate, an RBI two-bagger by Kenny Yarbrough and a gift run that came in on an error by third baseman Justin Roscoe.

22-game winner Nicky Palmer (4-1/2.95) registered his fourth postseason win by gritting out a complete game... Palmer allowed four runs on nine hits, fanned three and walked two... Mirko Musial (0-1/9.00) lost it in relief of starter Primo Sirak, who left after seven frames... Musial was slammed for four runs in the eighth.

Both clubs collected nine hits each... White River CF Pudge Tate (.341) chalked up three hits, two of them doubles, and he batted in two runs... 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.442) also doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs... Valmara's top batsman was 3B Justin Roscoe, who went deep for the fifth time in the postseason... he slammed a three-run blast in the second frame... Roscoe has 16 RBIs to lead the playoffs this season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 11, 2049

2049 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 2

VALMARA'S GRAJEK HURLS 10-0 GEM IN GAME 2
Valmara pitching got the worst of it in dropping the first game of the IPA Pro Cup Finals, but came alive in the second game behind the brilliant work of Darus Grajek, who blanked the hard-hitting White River Rascals 10-0 on a four-hitter... Grajek (3-1/2.70), 21-9 during the regular season, struck out five and walked two in evening up the series at one game each... the Vipers pounded Butch Slattery and Keil Trickett for 15 hits with the defeat going to starter Slattery (2-2/5.08), who was ripped for 12 hits and eight runs in just four plus innings.

C Karol Koska (.222) and CF Don Ritchie (.409) smashed solo homers for Valmara... it was Koska's fifth in the postseason and number two for Ritchie... Ritchie collected four hits, backed up by 3B Justin Roscoe (.362) with three... and SS Ken Jensen (.407) and 2B Jose Vargas (.340) chipped in with two hits apiece... Ritchie scored three runs and batted in four... Roscoe drove in a pair and now has 18 in the playoffs this year... the league record is 23 by Southport's Barney Lewis in 2044... Vargas and RF Boyd Holmes (.356) also had two RBIs for the Vipers.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 12, 2049

2049 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 3

POLASKI MASTERS RASCALS, VIPERS LEAD PRO CUP
In the third game of the Pro Cup Finals reliever Mark Polaski got a call from the bullpen, but the game hadn't started yet... Valmara's scheduled starter Teddy Twardzik was sidelined because of a bad case of food poisoning and couldn't take the mound... no problem... Polaski stepped in and stepped up with a route-going 2-1 masterpiece over the White River Rascals at White River Stadium to give the Vipers a two to one edge in the series.

Polaski, the number four starter with a 16-8 record in the regular season, had been shifted to bullpen duties in the playoffs... he showed no rust at all and held the Rascals to just a single run and six hits... Polaski got the best of Clem Warren (2-1/2.70), who got the tough loss... Warren allowed only one earned run in eight innings, though he was tagged for 11 hits.

White River took an early lead with a run in the second inning... CF Pudge Tate (.319) walked, advanced to second on a groundout, moved to third on a single by C Josh Groveland (.481) and was singled in by Clem Warren (.200)... in a critical play Groveland was thrown on at home trying to score from second on 3B Kenny Yarbrough's (.400) base hit... a fine throw by Viper LF Tomek Abramczyk saved a run that loomed large in the game.

Abramczyk (.296) had a great game... he also homered in the fourth frame to tie the score at 1-1... it was his third postseason homer... Valmara put the winning run on the scoreboard in the fifth... with two away 2B Jorge Aparicio (.268) got aboard on a two-base error by shortstop Kunta Burton (.222) and was doubled in by CF Don Richie (.417).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 13, 2049

2049 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 4

PALMER PREVAILS 5-3, RASCALS EVEN SERIES
A tight, hotly-contested series was predicted for the 49th edition of the IPA Pro Cup, and so far, that's has come to pass... White River evened it up at two games apiece behind the solid pitching of their 30-year-old ace Nicky Palmer, who prevailed 5-3 over the Valmara Vipers... it was his second win in the series... Palmer was the winner 7-4 in game one.

Palmer (5-1/3.02) won despite giving up 11 hits in eight innings... he stranded 10 baserunners and permitted only three runs... closer Todd Cole (1-0/3.12/4 saves) sealed the win with a runless ninth for his fourth playoff save this year... Valmara's Primo Sirak (3-2/2.51) was the victim of shoddy defense as his club committed five errors and awarded the Rascals three undeserved runs... Sirak tossed seven frames, permitted five runs on eight hits with six Ks and three walks.

The Vipers outhit the Rascals 12 to 8, but still went down to defeat... White River got four runs in the early innings and then fended off Valmara... 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.422) led them with three hits and two runs, while 2B Ryan Byrd (.264) had two RBIs... the other runs were driven in by SS Kunta Burton (.224), 1B Ruben Reaves (.167) and LF Billy Joe Hickman (.143).

Valmara continues to churn out double-digit hits... 10 times in 14 playoff games they have racked up 10 or more hits...1B Jose Vargas (.393) got three of them... three other players picked up a pair of hits each: 2B Jorge Aparicio (.283), CF Don Ritchie (.415) and 3B Justin Roscoe (.377)... driving the Viper runs were Aparicio, LF Tomek Abramczyk (.288) and Roscoe... Roscoe is within striking distance of the IPA playoff RBI mark... he now has 19... the record is 23 by Barney Lewis of Southport in 2044.

What's the pitching match-ups look like for the next two?

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 14, 2049

2049 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 5

GRAJEK BLANKS RASCALS AGAIN FOR SERIES LEAD
Darus Grajek had trouble with Sugar Valley and Claxton in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but he definitely has White River's number... for the second time in the Pro Cup Finals the 26-year-old right-hander has been flawless, shutting out the White River Rascals 2-0 in game five to give Valmara a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series... he bewildered the Rascals 10-0 in game two.

This time around Grajek (4-1/2.20) tamed White River on five hits, while fanning seven batters and walking two in a complete game outing... Valmara got eight hits off losing pitcher Butch Slattery (2-3/5.51), who worked six solid innings, permitted six hits and only two runs.

The Vipers got single runs in the second and third innings... C Karol Koska (.250) hit his 5th postseason homer for the initial run... singles by SS Ken Jensen (.412) and 2B Jorge Aparicio (.281) placed runners on first and third with no one out... CF Don Ritchie (.404) got the second run in when he grounded into a double play... Jensen topped Valmara with a trio of hits and Koska chipped in a pair.

Valmara will try to wrap up the IPA crown tomorrow afternoon at home at War Memorial Stadium. If necessary, game seven will also be played there. White River has a tough task and will have to win both games on the road to capture the Pro Cup trophy. Clem Warren (2-1/2.70) gets the call for the Rascals, while it's up in the air who will be on the hill for the Vipers. Teddy Twardzik (1-0/2.57) or Mark Polaski (1-0/1.64) will have the assignment. Twardzik is recovering from a bout with food poisoning. Polaski subbed for him in game three and put away White River 2-1. Twardzik was 22-14 in the regular season with a fine 2.74 ERA, while Warren was 21-12 and an impressive 2.84 ERA... as the team's number four starter Polaski posted a 16-8 mark with a 2.72 ERA.

Game six at Valmara:
37-year-old Clem Warren (2-1/2.70) for White River... 35-year-old Mark Polaski (1-0/1.64) probably will go for the Vipers... he beat the Rascals 2-1 subbing for the sick Twardzik.. however, Warren has been consistently good in four postseason starts.
Warren was 21-12 with a 2.84 ERA in the regular season, while Polaski was 16-8 with a 2.72 ERA as the Vipers' number four starter.

Game seven at Valmara, if needed, will have the teams' top pitchers:
30-year-old Primo Sirak (3-2/2.51) for the Vipers and 30-year-old Nicky Palmer (5-1/3.02) for the Rascals.
In the regular season Sirak was 25-11 with a 2.32 ERA... Palmer was 22-10 with a 2.59 ERA.

Palmer has beaten Sirak twice... 7-4 in game one... and 5-3 in game four... Manager Vanya Vasylenko may consider Twardzik, age 37, for game seven... but he hasn't looked especially well in the playoffs either.

Sirak and Twardzik are lefties... Polanski is a righty.
Warren and Palmer are right-handers.
White River hits much better against right-handers... Valmara does well against southpaw and righties.

Don't you think, If it goes to the seventh-game finale, the edge goes to White River and Palmer?

Valmara is a great home team... but White River really plays well on the road... better than at home.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 15, 2049

2049 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 6

VIPERS WINS 3RD PRO CUP
Terrific pitching brought the Valmara Vipers their third IPA Pro Cup... the Viper hurlers held hard-hitting White River to just six runs in the last four games of the Pro Cup Finals to capture the crown in six games...four games to two... In the last two games they fired back-to-back shutouts... game six went to Valmara 2-0.

In today's finale Teddy Twardzik and Mirko Musial combined for a 7-hit shutout... Twardzik (2-0/1.89) started and worked five somewhat shaky innings, allowing seven hits, but no runs... Twardzik whiffed four Rascals and walked three... while Musial (0-1/3.38) was magnificent... he got his second postseason save with four hitless innings, walking only one batter and striking out three... Valmara had another hero... center fielder Don Ritchie homered in the third and doubled in another score in the fifth to account for all of the Viper runs.

Twardzik kept the Rascals off the scoreboard, but the wily 37-year-old southpaw was in hot water in four of the five innings... Twardzik stranded 10 runners all total, leaving two on in the first, third and fourth, and got out of a huge bases-loaded jam in the fifth... it was at that point that manager Vanya Vasylenko wisely went to the bullpen for Musial... White River manager Mick Cronyn used three pitchers... starter Clem Warren (2-2/2.86) caught the loss, working four and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on six hits.

Viper CF Don Ritchie (.410) and SS Ken Jensen (.417) sparked them with two hits each... LF Billy Joe Hickman (.172) paced the Rascals with 3-4 and SS Kunta Burton (.259) collected a pair of hits in three tries and walked once.

Asked why he started Twardzik over Mark Polaski, Vasylenko responded, "I wanted left-handers as long as I could... that's why I started Teddy and relieved with Mirko... I thought I would play the percentages, though my gut feeling told me to go with Polaski, who did so well against them in game three... Twardzik has made 19 starts in the playoffs and is 12-4... he is a true money pitcher... and he really showed it today... he proved me right today... if Musial had gotten into any trouble, Polaski would have quickly relieved him. I had already decided that... it's great how it came out.".

With a big grin on his face Vasylendo added, "Apparently I was quite a genius today."

White River skipper Mick Cronyn told reporters, "Left-handers gave up trouble during the season, but we had our chances today against Twardzik... we just didn't hit when we had to and let him off the hook."

Vasylenko said it was the hitters that played a key role in the run for the Pro Cup this year... "They carried us in the early rounds against Claxton and Sugar Valley, who both punished our pitchers at times." He added, "I think after the opening game loss in the Pro Cup Finals, our pitching got better and made the difference... White River's pitching toned us down offensively quite a bit... we only scored 9 runs in the last four games, but won three of them."

Cronyn complimented Valmara. "The Vipers are a very, very good baseball team... they have it all... excellent starters... good relievers... and not a weak bat in the lineup... the last four games were close... a few hits here and there and we would be playing a game seven... it was not a one-sided series."

It was an amazing postseason for Valmara... they hit .315 as a team with 22 homers and 93 runs in 16 games, while compiling a 12-4 record... the Vipers were just as good on the hill with a 2.39 team ERA... in contrast White River hit only .252 with 8 homers, but did rack up 72 runs... on the mound they were only 4.09 in ERA... the Rascals wound up 10-6 in the playoffs.

This was Valmara's third IPA title... the Vipers won it in 2026, beating the Mahaska Haymakers in a four-game sweep... they also were victorious in 2044, upsetting powerhouse North Hills in six games. This was Valmara's fifth trip to the IPA Finals... they lost out twice before... losing to the Tuckanarra Blue Jays in 2023 in six games and to the Hartsdale Hellcats in 2046 in a great seven-game series.

The North Hills Hawks and Turon Typhoons hold the IPA record with four titles... Valmara joins the Far Mountain Redhawks, Waleska Westerners and Tuckanarra Blue Jays in the second spot with three Pro Cup trophies each. The Tycobbian Union has captured the overall league crown 26 times to 23 for the Ruthlandian Union.

I'm going to take a few days off before I wrap up the 2049 season with the Award winners.

Just a note:

I think my next dynasty will involve the Southern Association, a great minor league from 1901 to 1960.

I lived in Mobile and New Orleans and went to many Southern Assn games from 1950-1957. I was a ball boy for the Mobile Bears as a teenager. I sat in the home team bullpen down along the right field line and chased down foul balls. This was a great time in my life when I met quite a few ballplayers, some of which went to the major leagues. I got to meet players on the opposing teams. I got to talk to Harmon Killebrew (Chattanooga Lookouts) quite a bit. He was really a nice guy. Others were Jim Gentile, Gary Bell, Bill Dailey, Don Demeter, Gordy Coleman... all great Mobile Bears.

I will limit the league to six teams so I can thoroughly cover the league. Each team will have two farm teams. The league will only play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday... 60 games a year... with a shorter schedule and only six teams, I should really be able to immerse myself in it. It will be like the old time semi-pro leagues, where the players played for the sheer joy of the game. Finances will not be used.

I will cover the parent Southern Association in detail and also keep you abreast of the two minor leagues, the Cotton States and the Gulf Coast leagues, but only cover them in general..

I plan to use Southern Association players from 1901 to 1960 and also include high school, college and semi-pro players from the New Orleans and Mobile areas, along with players from the old Evangeline League. I used to follow the Class D league when I lived in New Orleans. The local paper covered that league in addition the Southern Association.

This is just a work in progress right now. Just an idea... and subject to change.

I intend to get the Mod guys to create uniforms and logos and really do the league up right graphically.

I will use OOTP15 for this new dynasty league. I have used OOTP12 for the IPA. I never could transfer it totally to a new version. The league almanac wouldn't transfer properly.

Your comments about the new Dynasty would be appreciated.

This was epic!

Great work. I'm very excited to be able to follow one of your dynasty reports from the get-go.

There's plenty of modders that will help you with whatever you want and most of them more-talented than me. In any event, if there's anything I can do to help you just let me know.

Your help would be very much appreciated.
Thanks again for being such a loyal supporter of the IPA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 16, 2049

VALMARA'S RITCHIE RACKS UP PRO CUP MVP
Seven years ago Don Ritchie helped the Valmara Vipers haul in the IPA Pro Cup for the second time in the club's history. Ritchie finished third in the Pro Cup Most Valuable Player poll. This time around the 30-year-old center fielder played even better and was honored as the best player in the 2049 postseason. Ritchie edged out teammate Justin Roscoe and White River's fine hurler Nicky Palmer for the prestigious award.

Ritchie batted .410 in the playoffs, chalking up 25 hits in 61 at-bats with 7 doubles, 1 triple and 3 home runs... he batted in 13 runs and scored 9 in 16 games. During the regular season Ritchie hit .327 with 9 homers and 75 RBIs. Lifetime he is a .292 hitter. Apparently the postseason brings out the best in Ritchie. In his career he has registered an impressive .342 BA in the Pro Cup playoffs in 62 games.

The runner-up votegetter third baseman Justin Roscoe posted a .350 mark at the plate with 5 homers, 19 RBIs and 14 runs. He led the playoffs this year in RBIs and HRs.

White River's gifted pitcher Nicky Palmer came in third in the MVP balloting this year. He went 5-1 in the playoffs with a 3.02 ERA in 6 starting assignments. Two of Palmer's postseason wins came in the Finals against champ Valmara.

** Don Ritchie ** Justin Roscoe ** Nicky Palmer

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 16, 2049

GRANTHAM AND HULL BEST BATS IN THE ISLANDS
The Islandian Pro Alliance has named the best batters in the Islands. The honors go this year to San Alejo's Royce Grantham and Grand City's Benny Hull. This was the first time they have won the Golden Bat.

Royce Grantham is San Alejo's talented left fielder, who beat out Sogo Takagi of the Ginza Ninjas and Ryne Hyland of the White River Rascals for the 2049 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. The 27-year-old Grantham led the IPA with 152 RBIs and batted .303. He hit 36 homers and scored 104 runs, while participating in 148 games and leading the the Montaneros to the Tycobbian South Division title. The Monties led the TU with 97 wins.

Ginza's Sogo Takagi had another rock-solid season with a .302 BA, 35 homers, 103 RBIs and 108 runs, but his Ninjas finished a poor sixth in the pennant race. Takagi is an 8-time All-Star and 3-time Golden Glover.

Third in the TU Golden Bat balloting was White River's fine second-year right fielder Ryne Hyland, who sparked the Rascals to the Tycobbian West pennant. Hyland chalked up a .304 BA, drove in 109 runs, scored 111 times and walloped 36 roundtrippers in 142 games. The 22-year-old Hyland ranked second in the IPA in scoring runs and was tied for fifth in stolen bases with 34.

The Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat trophy went to first baseman Benny Hull of the Grand City Cybercats. Hull, age 34, paced the IPA with 51 home runs and was second to Grantham with 147 RBIs. He played in all 154 games this season and didn't miss a game. Hull hit .294 and scored 97 runs for the sixth-place Cybercats. He is a 6-time All-Star and also has won a Golden Glove.

Runner-up Lenny Buisson was last year's recipient of the RU Golden Bat. He also captured the league's Most Valuable Player honor in a terrific season. This year the Belle Plaine slugger posted a sparkling .341 batting average, fourth best in the IPA. In 145 games Buisson collected 45 homers, batted in 129 runs and scored 109 times and led the Musketeers to a second-place finish in the RU East.

Cold Creek second sacker Milt Swallow wound up third in the RU Golden Bat vote in his sophomore season. He stood out with 41 homers, 132 RBIs, 94 runs and a .308 BA. Swallow was third in the IPA in RBIs behind Grantham and Hull. His Catamounts came in third in the standings.

* Royce Grantham * Benny Hull *