THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 3, 2050

2050 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 4

Ruthlandian Union

VALMARA SWEEPS MIDDLEFIELD
With eight straight victories and back-to-back sweeps, the vaunted Valmara Vipers are headed back to the Pro Cup Finals and will have the opportunity to repeat as IPA champion... in game four the Vipers eliminated the Middlefield Roosters with a 3-1 victory and swept all four games, dominating them with great pitching and timely hitting... Darus Grajek (3-0/2.56) copped his third decision in the playoffs, limiting the Roosters to just one run and four hits in eight innings, fanning four batters and issuing just one walk... Mirko Musial (0-0/0.00/2 saves) claimed his second postseason save with a runless ninth... 25-game winner James Long (2-2/2.38) did his best, but was undone by faulty fielding... Long went the distance and only permitted one earned run on seven hits, while walking one and whiffing six... the Roosters committed three errors.

SS Ken Jensen (.324) went 3-for-5 , scored two runs and drove in one for the Vipers... C Karol Koska (.265) had a sac fly... and the othe run came in on an infield error... the Roosters only got five singles with 1B Cliff Patterson (.343) getting three of them... Middlefield was held to just eight runs in four games.

Speaking with the press, Valmara manager Vanya Vasylenko said, "Our pitching is hard to beat and we get enough hits to win... it's worked well the last few years and hopefully, it will continue in the Finals... that's the formula to win it."

Middlefield manager Ricky Tinker echoed those same sentiments, saying "We need home runs to win... they held us to just one in the four games... can't win that way."

Tycobbian Union

YARBROUGH GOES YARD FOR RASCAL WIN
In the top of the ninth in game five of the Tycobbian League Championship Series, White River was down 2-1 and down to its last out when Kenny Yarbrough went yard with two runners on and powered the Rascals past Bay St. Clair 4-2... the win gave White River a huge 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven affair... one more Rascal victory will put them in a rematch of last year's Pro Cup Finalists, which went to the Valmara Vipers in six games.

The White River staff did a yeoman's job of stranding 16 Buccaneer runners in the game... Butch Slattery (1-1/2.45) started and worked seven and two-thirds innings... Slattery was pelted for 11 hits and walked four, but only surrendered two runs, while striking out eight... relievers Todd Cole (1-2/4.26/1 save) and Clem Warren (2-0/0.00/1 save) got the final four outs with the win going to Cole and the save to Warren... Buc starter Scotty Hedwall (1-3/3.51) did well until the fatal ninth, allowing four runs in all on 10 hits, while going the route.

Both clubs had plenty of hits, but fizzled at clutch time... White River got 10 and were led by 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.283) with a pair of hits and three RBIs... 1B Ruben Reaves (.256) also put one out of the park, a solo job in the fourth frame... Bay St. Clair rocked out with 12 hits, paced by 3B Trace Burney (.233) with a homer in the second giving the Bucs a 1-0 edge... 1B Stan Terry (.200) singled in the other run in the third.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 4, 2050

2050 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 5

Tycobbian Union

HAWKINS KEEPS BUCS ALIVE 6-3 IN GAME 5
Dion Hawkins came up with a big game and kept the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers alive in the Tycobbian LCS, whipping White River 6-3 in game five... Hawkins (1-2/2.39) stopped the Rascals on one run and three hits over seven innings to narrow the Rascals' lead to three games to two... he was relieved in the eighth by Cadillac Bogart (0-0/3.00/1 save) leading 6-1... Bogart gave up two in the ninth, but still preserved the victory... still the Buccaneers have a mighty big row to hoe to win the final two games of the best-of-seven series and do it on the road in White River... the Rascals are 5-1 at White River Stadium in the playoffs, while Bay St. Clair is only 1-4 out of town.

Offensively the Bucs blasted 13 hits with 3B Trace Burney (.277) getting three of them and driving in two runs... pinchhitter Stan Terry (.250) also delivered a two-run triple... and 1B Clive Caviness (.244) and 2B Dwayne Mungle (.268) added the other RBIs... Caviness leads the postseason with 13 RBIs... C Duke Sims (.237) sparked the Rascals with two hits and two RBIs... LF Billy Joe Hickman (.167) accounted for the other run.

White River starter Nicky Palmer (2-1/2.94) took the brunt of the loss, being slammed for 12 hits and all six scores... it was his first defeat this playoff season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 4, 2050

2050 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 6

Tycobbian Union

REAVES' RAMPAGE SENDS RASCALS TO PRO CUP FINALS
Ruben Reaves clubbed a three-run homer in the third frame and tagged a two-run triple in the last of the eighth to eliminate Bay St. Clair 6-3 in the Tycobbian title game and send the White River Rascals back again to the Pro Cup Finals against defending IPA champion Valmara of the Ruthlandian Union... the Rascals captured the Tycobbian crown four games to two.

Manager Mick Cronyn revised his starting rotation, replacing Keil Trickett with Clem Warren in game six and Warren rewarded him with a solid outing... he held the Buccaneers to two runs on seven hits in seven innings... Warren (3-0/1.42/1 save) departed with a 3-2 lead... Todd Cole (1-2/4.32/2 saves) wasn't effective, but he salvaged his second postseason save, but gave up three hits and a run... fortunately for him the Rascals put three insurance runs on the scoreboard in the eighth to expand their lead to four runs... losing pitcher Jerry MacIntyre (2-2/3.94) didn't fare as well as he did in game three... he was pounded for six runs and eight hits, but went the distance... MacIntyre hurled a one-hitter in the 12-0 game-three triumph.

1B Ruben Reaves (.275) got two hits, a homer and a triple, and batted in five runs to top White River at the plate... it was his fifth clout and 12th RBI of the playoffs... LF Billy Joe Hickman drove in the other run... the Bucs' top bat was RF Butch Thornhill (.269) with two hits and two RBIs... Thornhill got his seventh roundtripper of the postseason.

Cronyn told reporters, "I sitll have faith in Keil, but Clem seemed to be a better fit against the Buccaneers... I made the right call today... Clem gave us a fine game."

Bay St. Clair skipper Cotton Cornwall had the same position, "Warren handled us the whole series in his three appearances... we only got to him for two runs in nine innings... I was hoping to get to a seventh game and put our hopes in Scotty Hedwall... he definitely had good success against the Rascals in this series."

White River manager Cronyn said, "Our pitching was the key to our success in this series, but it will be the bats that have to come through against Valmara."

Cornwall chimed in, "We just didn't hit like we ordinarily do in this series... and give the Rascal staff credit for that... they held us to seven runs in the four losses... we scored 24 in the final three games against East Point.... if we had done half that against White River, we might be going to the Pro Cup Finals."

White River will clash again with powerful Valmara for the 2050 Pro Cup trophy... with standout pitching the Vipers have swept two straight series in the playoffs this year... the Rascals overcame tough Southport in a seven-game series in the first round... they are 8-5 in the postseason this year... oddsmakers are favoring Valmara in the Finals.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 6, 2050

PRO CUP RIVALS BACK AGAIN, VIPERS FAVORED TO REPEAT
It's deja vu all over again in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... defending champ Valmara will take on White River for the second year in a row... only one other time has this ever happened in the Islandian Pro Alliance... that was way back in 2011 and 2012 when the Far Mountain Redhawks knocked off the Ozarka Naturals two straight seasons.

It will be the number-one ranked Valmara Vipers going against the number-three choice the White River Rascals... the Vipers won the Pro Cup last year in six games... they had the homefield advantage... not so this season... the Rascals had the best record, chalking up 102 wins to 100 for the Vipers.

Comparing the rosters, White River may be stronger this year... Valmara has suffered the loss of two front-line starters Teddy Twardzik and Mark Polaski this season... Twardzik, a 20-game winner in '48 and '49, missed the entire season, while Polaski was 14-9 with a 3.82 ERA... Polaski was hurt in August and will miss the playoffs.

Valmara can do it all... they have wonderful pitching, strong bats and fine fielding... White River's starters can pretty much match the Vipers... and they probably have the edge in the bullpen... offensively the advantage goes to the Vipers... power-wise the Rascals are better... defensively it's a draw... both clubs are very good defenders... White River had a .977 FA in the regular season and Valmara was .976.

Viper manager Vanya Vasylenko will use Darus Grajek (25-9/1.98), left-hander Primo Sirak (19-10/2.63) and southpaw Darek Polaski (18-8/2.42 as his starters with Kasio Bajek (11-5/3.92/18 saves) and Mirko Musial (5-9/4.19/9 saves) working out of the bullpen... Rascal skipper Mick Cronyn will go with portsider Butch Slattery (26-8/2.41), Nicky Palmer (24-8/2.92) and Clem Warren (19-16/2.70) as his three starters with Keil Trickett (21-8/3.08) and Todd Cole (9-8/2.45/16 saves) being his primary relievers.

PRO CUP PREDICTION: the baseball experts are going with Valmara pretty much because they are the defending titlist and very experienced in the postseason... this will be their fourth appearance in the Finals in eight years... Valmara won it in '43, lost it in '46 and won it last year... it looks like a seven-game series.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 8, 2050

2050 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 1

GRAJEK GEM IN OPENER, VIPS TOP RASCALS 6-2
The streak continues... Valmara won its ninth consecutive game in this postseason and 11th straight over the last two years... they stung White River 6-2 in the opening game of the 2050 Pro Cup Series at White River Stadium... the defending Pro Cup champion got a mound gem from Darus Grajek (4-0/2.25), who held White River to just two runs on five hits in his eight and one-third innings... after a short rain delay in the ninth, Zak Reeder finished up for him and got the final two outs on just three pitches.

Valmara socked 10 hits off of two White River hurlers and were led by C Karol Koska (.316) with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored... Koska hammered his fifth playoff homer in the second inning to tie the score at 1-1... White River got a run in the first frame when 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.292) scored on a sacrifice fly by RF Ryne Hyland (.211)... the Rascals went in front 2-1 in the fifth with an unearned run... the Vipers erupted for three runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by a two-run double by 2B Arnie Pliska (.280) and a base hit by LF Tomek Abramczyk (.343)... then added single scores in the seventh and eighth on Koska's RBI single and SS Ken Jensen's (.308) two-bagger.

The losing pitcher was White River starter Butch Slattery (1-2/2.82), who allowed five runs on eight hits in seven innings... Slattery totaled 8 Ks and walked four in a mediocre outing.

Around the Town in the IPA

VALMARA VIPERS

Owner: Viper Offshore Services, headed by the estate of Capt. Stanislaw Lem, Ruthlandia Navy (ret)
GM: Jet Kazmarek
Manager: Vanya Vasylenko

Valmara is located in the northeastern part of Valdar Island, a port town of 81,000 people on Valmara Bay, an excellent deep water harbor. A clash of a warm Valerian Ocean current and a cold Kelnyck Ocean provides for heavy early morning fogs and sometimes nasty rainy weather.

The town began as a small fishing village in the 1880s and pretty much remained that way until the late 1930s. Valmara has never been considered a pleasant place to live with rocky soil, thick ocean fogs and moss growing everywhere. If not for its wonderful port, no one in their right mind would live there. The harbor and the port have brought commerce and jobs.The prime industries of Valmara revolve around the sea, be it catching and processing fish, servicing deep-ocean oil rigs or supporting the ten-ship navy of Ruthlandia.

With the threat of world war on the horizon in 1938, the Ruthlandian government established Valdarian Military Academy, a college for cadets and midshipmen studying for future service in the Ruthlandian Navy.

During the Second World War, Ruthlandia was swept up in the maelstrom in the nation's first and only war. The nation sent a regiment of troops and a fighter squadron to England to aid the Allies. The Ruthlandian navy served proudly with the 2nd Polish Corps in the Italian campaign, especially at Monte Cassino. After the war, many Poles opted not to return to their Soviet-occupied nation and several hundred emigrated to Ruthlandia. Many of the ex-soldiers did not go far past Valmara when they got off the boat.

Over the next four decades, many Poles emigrated (or escaped) from behind the Iron Curtain to Ruthlandia. After two generations of migration and birth, more than half of the town is of Polish descent.

The Valmara Vipers are owned by the family of Capt. Stanislaw Lem, RN (ret.) of Viper Offshore Services. He was not related to the noted author of the same name, which often causes non-native reporters much trouble. The owner liked to be called "The Captain" in public. Lem made a small fortune after his navy career operating ships and helicopters that serve offshore oil rigs. Thanks to the vast supply of petroleum offshore, his company's profits have gone through the roof. The Captain had no problem coming up with money to buy a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance in 2001, the first pro baseball league in the Islands history. Valmara plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the North Division.

The Valmara Vipers trace their history from the frigate Viper, which had a team in the Naval League in the 1940's. When the amateur league players became semi-pros in the 1950s and worked and played baseball for companies, the Vipers were sponsored by Marine Midland Bank. The Captain played baseball for his service team in the 1960s and was active in the industrial leagues as a sponsor in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Since Captain Lem had been the captain of the frigate Viper in the late 1960s, when it came to naming his IPA franchise, it was a no-brainer. The Valmara Vipers were born.

The Vipers play their games at historic old War Memorial Stadium. Amateur and industrial league teams have used it for years. It is dedicated to the memory of the 121 men from Ruthlandia killed in action in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. It is a old stadium built for football and soccer, but improvised and used for baseball since 1946. The Captain commissioned noted architectural company HOK to renew the old park into a suitable baseball park. He spared no expense in updating the old stadium with modern technology and conveniences. Yet it still retains the charm of an old stadium.

Game-Day Experience:

Like many successful immigrants, the people of Valmara have fiercely adopted the values of their new nation. Ruthlandia's flag is navy blue and green. In Valmara, it's just taken to a ridiculous extreme. The team’s colors are navy blue and green. So are the water towers, the dockyard cranes, the street signs and the new city hall.

Captain Lem wanted to build a new ballpark, but the city fathers persuaded him to just refurbish the old stadium in the old part of town to be an anchor for a new mixed residential-commercial district. Civic pride got the best of the Captain and he agreed to use War Memorial Stadium. The civic renewal project was quite successful. Because there is little parking nearby, fans have to walk nearly a quarter mile to the park. On the way, they are treated to a dozen restaurants, bars, and pubs. The integration into the neighborhood is considered to be charming. The revitalization project has brought a good deal of commerce and energy into the east side of town. The worst of the neighborhood was torn down. The city fathers have expanded the renovations and given the old town a new look.

Food:
Fans love to scarf down bigos (cabbage and meat stew) and rye bread at cafes adjacent to the ballpark. Inside the park, everyone loves perogis (potato and cheese dumplings). The Captain persuaded Mama Kolski's Restaurant (home of the best perogis in town) to open a stand at his newly-renovated ballpark and it was a big hit.

Beer sales are strictly regulated by city ordinance to two beers per person. This is due to the locals’ love of pale lagers that are 9% alcohol. Also in recent years, draft Coors is a trendy choice.

Ambiance:
Music at the ballpark is best described as LOUD. The Captain installed a very modern, very powerful sound system at the refurbished stadium.

In 2001, a sound system operator substituted the Village People's "In the Navy" for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch and started a new tradition. It was a college night at an industrial league game, with plenty of middies from Valdarian Military Academy on hand and many crewmembers from the frigates Viper and Foxx. It was a smash hit, no doubt fueled by a hot autumn evening, cold pale lager and the nine-run Viper lead. Since then, "In the Navy" has been played during the seventh inning stretch of every game save one -- the first game at the revamped War Memorial Stadium. The Captain hated the tune and thought with the public reopening that the club could stop playing that vile song. During the Vipers first exhibition game, the fans nearly rioted and the stadium's debut was marred with a near five-minute interruption of boos before play resumed. Wisely, The Captain made a quick command decision and allowed "In the Navy" to be played during the 8th inning break...and during every game since. Of course, the Captain saw to it that "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was restored to its revered seventh-inning spot.

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)
(written by Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Willis)

Mascot

The Captain (he considers himself a traditionalist) did not believe in having a mascot until he put his own money into the old ball park. At that point, he had to figure out how to attract every dollar possible from every fan possible. So Vippy and Vippa Viper came into being. They parade around the ballpark entertaining the fans and leading cheers, dances and songs. Viper fans are noted for hissing at the umpires and the opposing teams. The Captain sells a lot Vippy and Vippa apparel and memorabilia...even rents them out to for birthday parties at the stadium.

History

Baseball on Valdar Island had a late beginning. Due to the Island topography, climate and lack of mineral deposits it was not as desirable as the Ruthlandian mainland, so it was bypassed by the immigrants until about 1910, when the towns of Valmara, Ancona, Kilkenny, Taranto and Ranford sprang up. From 1910 to 1920, touring amateur baseball teams from the mainland would play games from time to time and the game was introduced slowly. But it did catch on. In a desire to assimilate with the rest of the country, where baseball was like a religion, the Valdarians took to the game with passion and fervor. Amateur baseball clubs and company-based teams began to organize in the 1920s. By the mid-1940's Valdar Island baseball was as good as the Mainland.

The team was first managed by J. Jackson Samuel, a run-of-the-mill industrial league player that became a legendary manager. Samuel broke Jay Loman's record for the most Silver Whale Cups, given to the best amateur team on Valdar Island. Loman was the manager of the Ancona Red Elephants in the 1920s and won nine straight Valdar Island League titles. Samuel won 12 during his amateur career. He led the club to its first Pro Cup title in 2023.

Samuel retired and turned the reins over to one of the all-time great Vipers, Jet Kazmarek. who was a .350 career hitter in his 16 IPA seasons. Kazmarek was an 8-time All-Star and won the batting title 9 times. He is also the only .400 hitter in the annals of the league. Kazmarek batted an awesome .428 in 2002.

Kazmarek retained his GM title, but in 2036 turned the managerial duties over to Vanya Vasylenko, a former Valmara pitching star. Vasylenko starred for 20 seasons for the Vipers and compiled a 304-261 record with a 3.45 career ERA. Valmara captured two Pro Cup trophies during Vasylenko's tenure. The Vipers were IPA champions in 2043 and 2049.

War Memorial Stadium (1946)

Capacity: 9,595

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 330
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 405
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 330
Right Field Line - 309

Around the Town in the IPA

WHITE RIVER RASCALS

Owner: Tycalco (Tycobbian Aluminum Company)
GM/Manager: Mick Cronyn

The city of White River, with 66,000 inhabitants, is situated in northwestern Tycobbia in the Appian Mountain foothills on the banks of the White River. Most of the time the river flows serenely, but there are occasional whitewater rapids. The river ends at Bayview on the western coast where it empties into the Kelnyck Ocean.

Prior to the mining business, this area was just wilderness. White River owes its existence and development to Tycalco. It is totally a company town. Its economy is dominated by the Tycobbian Aluminum Company, which was established in 1890. Bauxite, alumina and chemicals, found in abundance in the nearby Appian Mountains, are processed into a wide range of aluminum products and shipped to Bayview by water and Fairfax on Blue Lake to the south by rail for distribution. Tycalco’s towering corporate skyscraper can be seen from White River Park across the river in downtown White River. Architecture in the area is modernistic. However, the White River Rascals play at one of the lovely vintage and nostalgic ballparks in Tycobbia. It was built in 1924.

White River Park is a lovely old-time ball park with a scenic and wonderful view of its river namesake just beyond the centerfield fence. The 18-foot high aluminum wire fences down the left and right field lines make it a little more difficult for hitters to hit the ball into the stands, which are only 310 feet away. Tycalco originated company amateur leagues to provide the community and its employees and their families with recreational activities. When the Islandian Pro Alliance was established, the company purchased a franchise. The White River Rascals play in the Tycobbian Union North Division.

A trip to White River Park is something really special. Not only is it a baseball park, it is also a state-of-the-art amusement park. Before and after games amusement rides can be enjoyed by young and old, complete with good food, fun rides, fireworks and music concerts of all genres, all subsidized and underwritten in part by Tycalco,

The Rascals are administered and managed by former pitcher Mick Cronyn. He was 196-201 with a 3.76 ERA in his 15 seasons with White River (2003-2017).

White River Park (1924)

Capacity: 5,685

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 310
Left Field - 340
Left Center - 370
Center Field - 410
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 340
Right Field Line - 310

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 9, 2050

2050 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 2

VALMARA ROLLS ON, 10TH STRAIGHT WIN
The unbeaten Valmara Vipers continued to roll in the playoffs this season, racking up their 10th straight victory, but it didn't come easy... they nipped the White River Rascals 3-2 in 10 innings with the winning run coming in via a wild pitch by losing pitcher Todd Cole, who came on in the 10th... Valmara, the defending Pro Cup trophy holder, now has grabbed the first two games in the best-of-seven series.

The victory went to Mirko Musial (1-0/0.00/2 saves), who worked one and two-thirds innings in relief of starter Primo Sirak... the save went to Kasio Bajek (1-0/0.00/2 saves), though he put the lead in jeopardy in his only inning, the 10th... but he got out of it unscathed after walking two batters... Sirak (2-0/1.25) worked into the seventh before being relieved, stopping the Rascals on two runs and four hits, striking out six and walking five batters... White River starter Nicky Palmer (2-1/2.53) was quite effective, yielding only one earned run and eight hits in his nine innings... Cole (1-3/4.82) was tagged with the loss... Mirko Musial (.500) walked with one out in the 10th... moved up to second on a walk to CF Don Ritchie (.400)... they both advanced on a groundout to third base... Musial scored the game-winner when Cole uncorked a wild pitch.

Sirak and Palmer battled scorelessly until the Vipers scored two in the top of the fifth... SS Ken Jensen (.295) got the first run in with an RBI single... the second one scored on LF Tomek Abramczyk's (.368) sac fly... Rascal 1B Ruben Reaves (.259) chopped it to 2-1 in the last of the sixth with an RBI single... and RF Ryne Hyland (.213) deadlocked it in the seventh with a solo homer.

Abramczyk and RF Boyd Holmes (.313) got two hits each to top Valmara, while 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.300) slapped two for White River.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 10, 2050

2050 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 3

VALMARA NEARS REPEAT, POLASKI WINS 4-1 IN GAME 3
With 11 wins in a row, defending IPA champion Valmara is nearing a sweep of the postseason games and is fast closing in on its second straight Pro Cup title... Darek Polaski (3-0/2.08) crafted a 4-1 victory in game three of the Pro Cup Finals at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... he stiffed the White River Rascals on four hits and an unearned run to give the Vipers a commanding three-to-nothing lead in the series... Polaski registered 6 Ks and walked nobody in a superb outing.

Valmara put the Rascals away early with three runs in the opening frame and added a fourth in the second... CF Don Ritchie (.395) doubled in the first one... C Karol Koska (.261) got number two in with a groundout to short... and 3B Arnie Pliska's (.242) sacrifice fly scored the third one... the Vipers got an unearned run in the second... 2B Jorge Aparicio (.293) got aboard on a two-base error by catcher Duke Sims (.250), went to third on a sac bunt and came home when SS Ken Jensen (.292) groundout out to short... that gave Jensen 15 RBIs for the postseason.

In a solid effort Clem Warren (3-1/1.74) went all the way in defeat, allowing only two earned runs on seven hits... it was his first loss of the postseason... LF Tomek Abramczyk (.381) and RF Boyd Holmes (.333) paced Valmara at the plate with two hits apiece... CF Pudge Tate (.232) had two for the Rascals.

Only three times in IPA history has a club swept through the playoffs without losing a game... Far Mountain did it in 2013, Eastshore in 2016 and Rocky Rapids in 2019... The longest all-time winning streak in postseason play belongs to the Eastshore Elegants, who ran off 20 consecutive triumphs in the '16 and '17 postseason play.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 11, 2050

2050 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 4

VIPERS SWEEP AND REPEAT AS IPA CHAMP
They did it... the Valmara Vipers have repeated as IPA Pro Cup champion and they did it in a sweep of the White River Rascals, finishing them off 7-6 in game four at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... not only did they sweep the Rascals, the Vipers ran off 12 consecutive victories in this year's playoffs, going unbeaten... only three other clubs have accomplished that phenomenal feat... Far Mountain in 2013, Eastshore in 2016 and Rocky Rapids in 2019... Valmara tied Turon and North Hills for the most Pro Cup trophies with four... Waleska, Rolling Hills, Southport and Tuckanarra have garnered three IPA crowns.

Valmara played powerball in game four, slugging three homers in the win... Jorge Aparicio (.311), Ken Jensen (.321) and Arnie Pliska (.270) all went deep... Pliska led the Viper hit parade with three RBIs and two hits... Jensen got three base hits and two RBIs... and Aparicio was 2-4 with a run scored and one driven in... Jensen led the playoffs with 17 RBIs... C Karol Koska (.240) had 13, and Pliska and LF Tomek Abramczyk (.378) had 10 apiece.

White River was sparked by LF Billy Joe Hickman (.197) with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored... two of his hits were four-baggers, giving him six in the playoffs this year... Hickman also doubled... SS Kunta Burton (.343) collected three hits for the Rascals... and 1B Ruben Reaves (.242) batted in two runs and had 15 in the postseason... Hickman finished with 13.

The Vipers busted up a tight 3-2 affair with four runs in the sixth to make it 7-2, then managed to hold on and survive White River's belated comeback with four runs in the seventh... neither starter was particularly effective... Darus Grajek (5-0/3.02) did get his fifth win of the playoffs, but was drilled for six runs and nine hits... Grajek fanned eight and walked one in seven and two-thirds innings... reliever Mirko Musial (1-0/0.00/3 saves) carded his third playoff save and wrapped up the series by striking out three in his inning and one-third, thus preserving the win for Grajek... in a lackluster performance Butch Slattery (1-3/2.97) took the loss, giving up seven runs in six-plus innings, though only three of them were earned... three errors hurt the Rascals.

Overjoyed with another Pro Cup, Valmara skipper Vanya Vasylenko gave credit to his offense today... "It was the offense today, but overall, it was our pitching... the mound staff really stood out in the postseason... to win a Pro Cup is quite an accomplishment... to win it two years in a row is almost beyond belief."

Vasylenko also had words of praise for his bullpen... "Some people thought we were weak in relief, but Kasio and Mirko proved the critics wrong... they didn't give up a single run in eight games and 12 innings... totaling two wins, no losses and five saves... they may have been the difference in the two clubs."

Mick Cronyn, the White River manager, said, "My Rascals are a very fine ball club, but we ran into one that was a little bit better... Valmara does everything well... I didn't see any weaknesses."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 12, 2050

VALMARA'S JENSEN NAMED PRO CUP MVP
Not only is Valmara's Ken Jensen a slick-fielding shortstop, he handles the bat very well, too... he led the Vipers to their second straight IPA title... for his batting exploits the clutch-hitting Jensen was named the 2050 IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player, an award given to the top player in the postseason playoffs... this year's winner batted .321, but topped the playoffs with 17 RBIs... Jensen had RBIs in seven of the Vipers' dozen victories... Valmara went through the playoffs unbeaten and won 12 games in a row to take the IPA crown.

During the regular season the 30-year-old Jensen achieved a .320 BA with 67 RBIs, 100 runs and 21 stolen bases, while playing in 140 games... in nine seasons with Valmara he has put up a .312 BA.

Jensen easily won the MVP this year, outpolling Viper teammates Darus Grajek, Tomek Abramczyk, Mirko Musial and Kasio Bajek... Grajek was 5-0 in the postseason with a 3.02 ERA in six starts... LF Abramczyk hit .378 in the playoffs and drove in 10 runs... relievers Musial and Bajek were vital parts of the title run... Musial was 1-0 with three saves in four appearances, while Bajek was 1-0 with a pair of saves in four games... neither of them allowed a run in the playoffs.

********* Ken Jensen Pro Cup MVP ********

A very Merry Christmas to all of you.

Peace on earth, good will toward all people.

May God continue to bless us abundantly.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 13, 2050

GOLD BATS GIVEN TO WYATT AND INKAMARA
The IPA Golden Bats have been given out to Nioka Inkamara and Johnny Wyatt. Both are previous winners of the best-hitter awards. Bayview's Inkamara claimed the Tycobbian Golden Bat and the Ruthlandian trophy went to Middlefield's Wyatt.

It's the third time in his great career that the 33-year-old Inkamara has captured the Golden Bat. His first two came in 2040 and 2042 with the Wynnamac Sundowners in the Ruthlandian Union. Inkamara was traded to Bayview in '49, so this was the first time anyone has won a Golden Bat in each Alliance. Wyatt is only 23 years old and he has already been named the Ruthlandian Golden Batter for the last two years, his first two seasons in the IPA.

Inkamara hit 50 homers for the Vikings in 134 games, drove in 120 runs and posted a .317 batting average. He ranked second in the IPA in home runs and was seventh in RBIs. Unfortunately Bayview could do no better than seventh in the TU West Division. In his 14 seasons Inkamara has clubbed 462 homers, collected 1314 RBIs and batted .302. Five times he has made the All-Star team and has won two Golden Gloves in right field. Inkamara also won the Ruthlandian MVP honor in '42.

Wyatt has been phenomenal in his first two seasons, winning the RU Rookie of the Year and the MVP last year and the Golden Bat this year. He topped the IPA with 57 roundtrippers this year and finished second to Benny Hull of Grand City with 133 RBIs. Hull drove in 135 runs this year. In 140 games Wyatt registered a .325 BA and scored 114 runs, leading the Middlefield Roosters to back-to-back pennants in the Ruthlandian East. In his two seasons Wyatt has clouted 102 homers, totaled 254 RBIs and hit .307 for average.

Arroyo Grande outfielder Norishige Ito and Rolling Hills second baseman Miguel Romeros came in second and third to Inkamara in the Tycobbian Golden Bat voting. In 146 games Ito slammed 46 home runs, collected 121 RBIs and scored 120 times, while hitting .284. Despite his fine season his Suns still came in last in the TU South Division. The 23-year-old Ito was the IPA leader in runs scored and was fifth in RBIs. Romeros,age 25, paced the Reds to a second-place finish in the TU West with a .327 mark in 147 games. He went deep 28 times, drove in 121 runs (5th in the IPA) and scored 105.

Johnny Wyatt's biggest competition in the Ruthlandian Golden Bat balloting came from Claxton's young right fielder Jimmy John Ramsey, who hit .338 in 137 games with 38 homers, 125 RBIs and 118 runs. He sparked the Diamonds to third place in the RU South pennant race. Ramsey was fourth in the IPA in RBIs and runs scored. Belle Plaine star Lenny Buisson was third in the voting. He led the Musketeers to the runner-up spot in the RU East with a .336 BA, 44 HRs, 108 RBIs and 116 runs. Buisson won the RU Golden Bat and MVP in 2048.

*** 2050 IPA GOLDEN BAT WINNERS ***
** Nioka Inkamara * Johnny Wyatt **
***** (Bayview) ******** (Middlefield) *****

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 14, 2050

MCKINNEY & LONG KING OF THE HILL
The best pitchers in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season were Will McKinney of the San Alejo Montaneros and James Long of the Middlefield Roosters. McKinney copped the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm trophy, while the Ruthlandian Golden Arm was presented to Long.

Will McKinney, a 30-year-old southpaw, was an important part of San Alejo's runner-up spot in the Tycobbian South with a 26-12 record. He tied for the most wins in the IPA this season with Frank Long of St. John and Butch Slattery of White River... McKinney placed second in strikeouts with 284, just one less than leader Lou Carlson of Waleska and he was tops in shutouts with seven. McKinney was fifth in the IPA with a very impressive 1.93 ERA. Only James Long (1.78), Matt Bell (1.83), Kenny Robinson (1.91) and Jamie Taylor (1.93) posted better numbers. In his nine years with the Monties McKinney has registered a terrific 206-103 mark with an outstanding 2.59 ERA. In his first season in the IPA he won the Tycobbian Rookie of the Year honor and five times has been named to the All-Star team.

McKinney had to beat out his San Alejo mound partner Matt Bell for the Tycobbian Golden Arm trophy. Bell also had a fabulous year with a 23-8 record, 1.83 ERA and six shutouts. Bell finished fifth in strikeouts in the IPA with 273. He wound upn second in the best-pitcher balloting. In the third spot was White River's ace Butch Slattery, who compiled a 26-8 mark and tied for the most wins in the IPA. Slattery had five shutouts and a fine 2.41 ERA.

Middlefield's James Long, age 30, was honored as the top pitcher in Ruthlandian circles with a 25-8 mark and an IPA-leading 1.78 ERA. The Rooster right-hander came in second in victories, topped only by McKinney, Frank Long of St. John and Butch Slattery of White River, all with 26 wins. This year's RU Golden Arm winner led his club to the pennant in the Ruthlandian West race. In 12 seasons with the Roosters Long has chalked up an impressive 242-161 record with a strong 2.78 career ERA. Middlefield has won five flags during his tenure. He has been named to the All-Star squad on five occasions.

Long has some tough competiton for the Ruthlandian Golden Arm. Valmara's 27-year-old right-hander Darus Grajek was a close runner-up with a 25-9 mark and a 1.93 ERA, while Jamie Taylor was third in the poll. The Rocky Rapids righty posted a 20-13 record with a brilliant 1.93 ERA. In 2046 Taylor won the Golden Arm and MVP with a record-setting 30-7 season, the most victories ever in the IPA.

** 2050 IPA Golden Arm Winners **
** Will McKinney * James Long **
***** (San Alejo) *** (Middlefield) *****

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 15, 2050

CALLIS AND MCFALLS PREMIER ROOKIES
There was a pretty fair crop of rookies in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season, headed up by Heck Callis of the Forest City Lumberjacks and Kelton McFalls of the Colchester Elites. Callis was acclaimed the Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year, while McFalls got the honor in the Tycobbian Union.

Callis is a 23-year old left fielder that helped the Lumberjacks come in second in the Ruthlandian West with a great .339 BA in his freshman year... his average was the eighth best in the IPA... Callis played in 134 games with 169 hits, 31 doubles, 7 triples, 8 homers, 77 RBIs, 82 runs and 18 SBs... he beat out Ranford's Don Connell for the best rookie trophy... Connell, a third sacker, batted .276, but drove in 99 runs, scored 80 times and belted 18 homers... third in the rookie poll was another Ranford Bull, center fielder Zach Isom, who hit .312 with 18 roundtrippers, 84 RBIs and 64 runs.

Over in the Tycobbian Union, the top rookie honor went to Colchester's 22-year-old center fielder Kelton McFalls, who edged out pitcher Beau McCloud and outfielder Doug Dennhardt... McFalls walloped 43 homers in his first season, hit .296 with 113 RBIs and scored 86 runs, while participating in 127 games... the Elites came in fifth in the pennant race... McCloud, age 20, had a marvelous year with a 22-12 record and a 2.47 ERA and sparked the Midway Wolves to the runner-up spot to first place East Point in the Tycobbian East Division... winding up third in the rookie voting was East Point right fielder Doug Dennhardt, who cracked 39 out of the park and drove in 105 runs in only 117 games... Dennhardt batted .275 and scored 81 runs.

*** 2050 IPA Rookies of the Year ***
***** Heck Callis * Kelton McFalls *****
**** (Forest City ) * (Colchester) ****

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 16, 2050

GOLDEN DEFENDERS ANNOUNCED BY IPA
Once again the Islandian Pro Alliance has chosen the league's top glovemen. The Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions each have picked their standout defenders for 2050. There were not a lot of repeat performers, but Darrell Nesbitt of Hartsdale got his fourth Golden Glove trophy this year. Three-time winners were Rocco Bertara of Mahaska, Darwin Tard of Rolling Hills and Ken Jensen of Valmara. No rookies made the squads this season.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Glover Team:
P: Antonio Cedeno (Sugar Valley) (19-14/2.38) (.976 FA)
C: Ryan Nelms (Taranto) (.262/33/96/70) (.989 FA/3 PB/35.4% RTO)
1B: Masaharu Kawasaki (Rocky Rapids) (.267/23/89/76) (.992 FA) (2-time winner)
2B: Damien D'Amboise (Marston) (.254/7/39/85) (.984 FA)
3B: Joe Cochrane (Cold Creek) (.309/26/92/96) (.950 FA)
SS: Ken Jensen (Valmara) (.320/13/67/100) (.969 FA) (3-time winner)
LF: James Thornton (Beechwood) (.269/10/57/65) (.986 FA)
CF: Freddie Woodruff (Fort Benton) (.316/9/81/94) (.986 FA)
RF: Troy McFarland (Eastshore) (.243/28/86/71) (.969 FA) (2-time winner)

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team:
P: Tekkan Nishikawa (Oxford) (10-15/4.25) (.987 FA)
C: Weldon Waller (La Claire) (. 247/16/60/61) (.994 FA/2 PB/27% RTO) (2-time winner)
1B: Darwin Tard (Rolling Hills) (.281/21/92/86) (.997 FA) (3-time winner)
2B: Jace McFalls (Kenwood) (.290/9/60/69) (.975 FA)
3B Sam Essex (La Claire) (.267/32/90/94) (.959 FA)
SS Rocco Bertara (Mahaska) (.280/9/59/67) (.955 FA) (3-time winner)
LF Darrell Nesbitt (Hartsdale) (.234/6/43/66) (.993 FA) (4-time winner)
CF Harv Bannerman (Tuckanarra) (.277/21/54/82) (.997 FA)
RF Guido Gervasio (Turon) (.288/24/83/80) (.990 FA) (2-time winner)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 17, 2050

WYATT REPEAT AS MVP IN RU, TU NAMES SLATTERY
Repeating doesn't come easy in the Islandian Pro Alliance with 64 teams, but it does happen occasionally. This year Johnny Wyatt of the Middlefield Roosters captured his second successive Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player Award. The Tycobbian MVP honor went to Butch Slattery of the White River Rascals.

The legendary Jack Elliott holds the IPA record with three back-to-back MVPs for the High Mesa Cowboys in '21, '22 and '23. Two-time Ruthlandian recipients were Jet Kazmarek of Valmara in '02 and '03 and Loco Dillinger of Waleska in '29 and '30. On four occasions the Tycobbian Union has had repeat MVPs: Dane Wesner of Fairfax in '10 and'11, Lorne Evans of Southport did it in '27 and '28, Junior Bristow of Tuckanarra in '35 and '36 and Jack Culpepper of Bayview in '40 and '41.

The youthful Johnny Wyatt led Middlefield to its second consecutive RU West flag with another marvelous season. The 23-year-old center fielder hit .325, led the IPA with 57 homers and came in second in RBIs with 133, while playing solid defense. He also claimed the Ruthlandian Golden Bat for the second year in a row. Last season Wyatt was also named the league's best rookie.

Wyatt had to outpoll two terrific hurlers to win the MVP trophy. Middlefield teammate James Long was second in the balloting. He wound up with a great 25-8 mark and topped the IPA with a 1.78 ERA. Both were vital cogs in the Roosters ruling the roost in the Ruthlandian West. Third place in the MVP vote went to Valmara's Darus Grajek, who paced the Vipers to a third straight pennant in the RU North with a fine 25-9 record and 1.98 ERA.

In the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player poll, two fine hitters were second and third. The runner-up to Slattery was outfielder Pablo Teixeira of the San Alejo Montaneros and number three was second baseman Miguel Romeros of the Rolling Hills Reds. Slattery pitched White River to its third TU North title in a row and the Rascals also rolled up the most wins in the IPA this season with 102. They lost in the Pro Cup Finals to Valmara in a sweep. Slattery, a 26-year-old fireballing southpaw, finished the year with a super 26-8 record and a 2.41 ERA. He tied for the IPA lead in victories with Frank Long of St. John and Will McKinney (26-12/1.93) of San Alejo. Slattery was third in the Tycobbian Golden Arm competition behind two San Alejo stars, winner Will McKinney and Matt Bell (23-8/1.83).

Teixeira batted .311 in 150 games and sparked the Montaneros to second place to the pennant-winning Southport Sun Sox. He poled 30 home runs, drove in 104 runs, scored 102 runs and walked 110 times for a .424 OBP. Romeros, in only his third season in the IPA, posted some strong stats: .327 BA, 28 HRs, 121 RBIs and 105 runs scored for the second-place Rolling Hills Reds in the Tycobbian West.

*** Johnny Wyatt * Butch Slattery ***
**** Middlefield ******* White River ****

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 18, 2050

VASYLENKO AND CRONYN BEST SKIPPERS IN IPA
After Valmara won its fourth IPA Pro Cup this year, now the Vipers' record-setting skipper Vanya Vasylenko has just tied another record by winning his fourth Ruthlandian Manager of the Year Award. The only other manager to ever do that in the IPA's 50-year history is Matty Christianson, famed skipper of the Rolling Hills Reds of the Tycobbian Union. Christianson won the trophy in '07, '19, '22 and '27. This year the Tycobbian Manager of the Year trophy went to Vasylenko's Pro Cup rival, Mick Cronyn of the White River Rascals. It was the second time in his career Cronyn received the honor.

Both of them had tough races for the awards this season. Vasylenko was challenged by Ranford's Chris Bernhoffer, St. John's Nicky Farrugia and Sugar Valley's Bobby Gamble and just barely beat them out. Same thing in the Tycobbian Union where Cronyn edged out four other managers: Lorne Evans of Southport, Frank Blair of East Point, last year's winner Cotton Cornwall of Bay St. Clair and Bobby Dorignac of Midway.

Vasylenko previously hauled in the Ruthlandian Manager of the Year in '43, '46 and '48. This year Valmara racked up a 100-54 mark and won the RU North for the third year in a row. Last season the Vipers were 101-53... the year before they were 102-52... it's extremely hard to win 100 games in just one season, much less three years running.

Three other skippers have taken the Best Manager trophies three times each. Alex Groveland led the Far Mountain Redhawks to three straight Pro Cups from 2012 to 2014. Groveland won the RU Best Manager Award those years, too. In the Tycobbian Union Carlton "Lefty" Stevens of the Tuckanarra Blue Jays won the award in '13, '17 and '28, while Charley Oscar of the Southport Sun Sox got it in '42, '44 and '45.

The Ruthlandian runner-up to Vasylenko this season was Ranford's Chris Bernhoffer, who paced the Bulls to a second-place finish in the RU North. They lost out to the Vipers by only three games this year. Ranford improved from 83-71 (18 GB) to 97-57 this year. St. John's skipper Nicky Farrugia was third in the top manager voting. His club rose up from fifth place with a 78-76 record (10 GB) to the Ruthlandian South pennant with a 90-64 mark. Sugar Valley's Bobby Gamble came in fourth in the poll. His Rattlers won the RU West title with a 103-51 record in 2049 and also this season with a 99-55 mark.

Mick Cronyn has guided White River to the Tycobbian North crown the last three seasons, improving from 98-56 in 2048 to 102-52 this year. His Rascals led the IPA in victories this year. Cronyn was also selected the top TU skipper in 2021, three decades ago.

Cronyn had lots of competition this season. Ranked second in the Tycobbian Best Manager poll was Southport's Lorne Evans. His Sun Sox went from the second spot in the TU South with an 83-71 (14 GB) record and improved it to 98-58 and the top spot. The number-three votegetter was Frank Blair, who took East Point from 75-79 (11 GB) and sixth place to the TU East Division title with a 91-63 mark. Fourth in the balloting was Cotton Cornwall of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers. His Bucs won the TU West for the second year in a row, improving from 93-62 to 99-55. The Midway Wolves also made great stides under Bobby Dorignac in the Tycobbian East. They were fifth in '49 with a 76-79 record (10 GB) and climbed up to second with an 87-67 (4 GB) mark this year.