THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 4, 2053

TARS TAME IPA CHAMPS AGAIN, UP 2-0
Coming into the playoffs Taranto was known for its fine pitching staff... and the Tars have really shown it in the first two games of the Ruthlandian LCS... Armani Pizziconi (1-0/1.08) was brilliant at the Palazzo di Sport, mermerizing the mighty Middlefield Roosters on just two hits in a 5-1 victory... the Roosters are the reigning IPA Pro Cup champ and one of the most potent batting orders in the league... but not yesterday afternoon... they were pussy cats with no claws at all, y'all... they were harmless at the plate for the second consecutive day... and now Taranto is way ahead two games to none in the best-of-seven series... the Tars were sparked by LF Kuma Toyota (.217) with a double, a homer and three runs batted in... and RF Cody Losby (.444) provided two hits and two runs to the Taranto attack... 22-game winner Hollis Dale (0-1/3.38) caught the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings... Pizziconi was almost perfect except for LF Rufus Blackburn's (.421) solo blast... the series will now head to Middlefield Park in Middlefield for games three and four for sure... and five, if it is needed.

BULLPEN SAVES WOLVES, LEAD TURON 2-0
Midway won its second straight game on the road at Typhoon Stadium in Turon, toppling the Typhoons 4-3 in another squeaker... the Wolves' bullpen saved the day and gave Midway a big 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Tycobbian title series... Jeffrey Leonard (0-0/1.86/2 saves/5 G) came on in the 6th frame, made his fifth postseason appearance and blanked Turon the final three and one-third innings... it was his second save in the IPA playoffs... Midway starter Yank Atchley (3-0/3.42) recorded the win, but he was touched for three runs in his five-plus frames... the outcome was decided in the top of the 4th when the Wolves tallied twice on four singles and a sac fly after two were out... Atchley's (.200) RBI single knotted the score 3-all and CF Ernesto Diaz (.189) drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded walk... Turon put three runs on the scoreboard in the first inning... C Doyle Ashcroft (.310) got the first one in with a sac fly... 1B Shoyo Yuro (.333) doubled in run number two... and 2B Gaylen Clive (.192) plated the third score with a long sacrifice fly... the Wolves are headed home to Joe Wolf Stadium for the next three games, should they be necessary.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 5, 2053

TARS TAKE 3-0 LEAD IN RU TITLE SERIES
Taranto got another marvelous mound performance in the Ruthlandian title series to take an overwhelming 3-0 lead over the Pro Cup favorite and defending champion Middlefield... for the third game in a row the Tars got a masterpiece... this time it was Freddy DeAngelis (2-0/1.00), who spun a 2-1 gem, stopping the Roosters on just four hits... high-scoring Middlefield has managed only three runs in the three games and is now in dire danger of being swept... the game was scoreless until the 5th frame when 2B Rico Messina (.286) singled in the first run of the game... CF Renzo Caruso (.258) made it 2-0 in the 6th with his 4th homer of the playoffs... Middlefield finally got a run in the 9th on a roundtripper by 3B Natty Colclough (.190), his 3rd of the postseason... loser Larry Wheelhouse (0-1/1.20) also stood out for the Roosters, allowing only two runs and four hits in seven innings... just one run was earned... Taranto will try to put the broom to Middlefield in game four.

MIDWAY NEARS SWEEP IN TU TITLE SERIES
Two mighty teams went at it tooth-and-nail in the third game of the Tycobbian League Championship Series at Midway's Joe Wolf Stadium and only one could come away with a win... and it was the hometown Wolves who prevailed... Beau McCloud was neat and nasty in a 1-0 victory over the Turon Typhoons that gave Midway a huge 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series... McCloud (2-0/0.59) hurled a superlative two-hitter, just barely outpitching 23-game winning Glenn Avery (2-1/1.13), who permitted only six hits... Midway 3B Nate Stilles (.333) teed off on an Avery fastball in the 4th frame and sent it soaring out of the park for the only run of the game... the Wolves will try and wrap up the Tycobbian title in game four, also at Joe Wolf Stadium.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 6, 2053

TARS BROOM, ROOSTERS SWOON
The Taranto pitching was stunning in the Ruthlandian Union title series... the Tars swept away the reigning IPA Pro Cup champion in four games and will now advance to the Pro Cup Finals... for the fourth straight game Taranto got superb mound work... Valerio Rossi (3-0/1.07) finished off the Middlefield Roosters 4-0 in game four, firing a very impressive three-hit shutout... Rossi outhurled 23-game winner James Long (2-2/2.25), who was beaten for the second time in the series... Long allowed three earned runs and seven hits in eight innings... Tars LF Kuma Toyota (.185) drove in a run in the opening frame on a fielder's choice... Taranto chalked up three more in the 4th on RBI singles by SS Dan Armistead (.281) and 2B Rico Messina (.280) and a sac fly by Rossi (.182)... Middlefield was held to just three runs and 14 hits in the four defeats... during the regular season the Roosters racked up over five runs a game... they had swept Waleska in round one with five runs a game.

In all his years as a player and manager Middlefield skipper Rinky Tinker said he had never seen anything like it, "The Tars were in total command in all four games... we never had a chance."... The Roosters batted a horrific .114 in the series.

Taranto's Augie Marshall told reporters, "Coming in I thought we would have to beat the Roosters with our bats, just hoping our pitchers could slow their batters down some... hold them to maybe 3 runs a game or so... in all my dreams I never imagined this... Rossi, Pizzaconi and DeAngelis were magnificent."

MIDWAY SWEEPS TURON IN TU TITLE SERIES
Midway 27-game winner Charlie Chase was at his best, blanking Turon in the fourth game of the Tycobbian League Championship Series... the 33-year-old Chase (1-1/2.61) tamed the Typhoons on five singles in the 7-0 shellacking... he fanned four and walked none in a peerless performance, thus knocking powerful Turon out of the postseason playoffs... the Wolves rolled over them in a 4-game sweep... they collected 12 hits and were led by 3B Nate Stiles (.412) with three hits, two runs and two ribbies... Stiles got his 3rd homer in the playoffs...RF Daryl Vale (.370) went 4-5, also scoring twice and driviing in a pair of scores... Midway now gets to advance to the IPA Pro Cup Finals opposed by the juggernaut Taranto Tars, who led the entire IPA with 103 triumphs... Midway chalked up 100 wins in the regular season.

Current IPA titleholder Middlefield was rated the best bet to take this year's Pro Cup, followed by Taranto, Midway and Turon... so it will be the #2 Tars taking on #3 Wolves for the overall IPA championship... the #1 Roosters and #4 Typhoons will have to call it a season.

Midway manager Bobby Dorignac told the press, "We knew coming in we would have to be at our best to get by Turon... and we did it... when we had to score runs, we did and when we needed to pitch... we did... don't think this was a one-sided affair... we just eked out wins in the first three games... this series could have easily gone to seven.... looking ahead to the Pro Cup Finals against Taranto, Dorignac said his pitching will have to as good as the last two shutouts against Turon... "When you only allow Middlefield to score three runs in four games, that speaks volumes about your staff... you are sho 'nuf good."

"The key to winning in the playoffs is to rise to the occasion when it is presented," Turon manager C. C. Kingsford related to the media after game four, "Coming through in the clutch is the name of the game... getting the hit at the right time... making the right pitch at the right time... making the right play at the right time... they did it... we didn't... so we're headed home for the long, cold winter,,, and Midway and Taranto get to bask in the glorious warmth of the sunshine for awhile longer... and maybe extend it through the whole wintertime and into the splendid spring when we all get to play this wonderful game again. "

Looks like Taranto took exception to the Roosters being labeled the favorites.

And now it looks like Taranto and Midway are on a collision course! Can't wait!

Should be a sensational Pro Cup Finals... both clubs have terrific pitching... plus they both can score runs, too.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 7, 2053

PRO CUP FINALS PREVIEW
And then there were two... the #2-ranked Taranto Tars and the #3-rated Midway Wolves... the final two titans left standing so far in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... the two very talented teams will vie for the much-coveted Pro Cup, emblematic of professional baseball supremacy in the Islands... the Ruthlandian Union winner will be opposed by the Tycobbian Union titlist...the IPA title series begins tomorrow afternoon at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto, pitting the hometown Tars against the visiting Midway Wolves.

Unbeaten Taranto got to the Pro Cup Finals by whipping the 8th-ranked Waleska Westerners in round one... and then in a mild upset knocked off the reigning Pro Cup champion and this year's favorite, the Middlefield Roosters... the Tars tore through both rounds with ease, sweeping both series with unbelievably great pitching... Taranto is 8-0 with a microscopic 1.27 ERA, yielding only 12 runs.

The Midway Wolves have been quite impressive, too, posting an 8-2 mark in the first two rounds... the Wolves disposed of the 7th-rated Denton City Redbirds in 6 games and then proceeded to sweep the tough 4th-ranked Turon Typhoons in the TU title series... the Midway mound corps has been very solid with a 2.80 ERA in 10 games against two fine-hitting clubs... and the Wolves averaged almost 5 runs a games against two very good pitching staffs.

The question everyone is asking: can Midway put any runs on the scoreboard against Taranto's terrific twirlers?... that will be the key element according all of the Islands' baseball experts.

The Wolves have the better offense, but Taranto has the superior pitching.

Taranto skipper Augie Marshall will send the trio of Valerio Rossi (15-9/2.88), Armani Pizziconi (25-9/3.09) and Freddy DeAngelis (17-12/3.17) against the Midway bats... in his bullpen the Tars will have starters Jaron Montague (14-4/3.31), Mario Martinelli (16-7/3.61), also with relievers Louis Toscano (3-4/2.13/17 saves/36 G) and Raphael Palmieri (4-1/1.52/2 saves/19 G).

Midway manager Bobby Dorignac will counter with Charlie Chase (27-10/2.51), Will DeBerry (25-10/3.25), Beau McCloud (18-10/3.38) and Yank Atchley (15-7/2.39)... the Wolves are solid in the bullpen, too, with Jeffrey Leonard (4-2/0.36/8 saves/21 G) and Rocket Rhodes (7-4/2.22/13 saves/36 G).

In the postseason Taranto's Rossi is 3-0 with a 1.07 ERA, DeAngelis 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA and Pizziconi was 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA... while Midway's ace Chase is 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA, Atchley 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA, McCloud 2-0 and 0.59... DeBerry did not do well with an 0-1 mark and skyhigh 9.82 ERA in 2 games... the Wolves' playoff ERA is higher because they faced much better hitting teams than Taranto did.

For offense the Wolves depend on SS Kax Clark (.368 BA/17 HR/88 RBI/108 R/16 SB), RF Daryl Vale (.332 BA/21 HR/62/RBI/57 R/17 SB), 3B Jamey Southwick (.263 BA/25 HR/70 RBI/68 R) and 1B Tom Goodnight (.289 BA/21 HR/86 RBI/86 R/2 SB).

For the Tars it will be CF Renzo Caruso (.276 BA/37 HR/85 RBI/87 R/18 SB), LF Kuma Toyota (.319 BA/29 HR/73 RBI/51 R/5 SB), C Niccolo Parisi (.276 BA/30 HR/73 RBI/60 R) and 3B Gaetano Palombo (.311 BA/18 HR/61 RBI/78 R).

In the postseason for Midway, SS Clark (.425 BA/0 HR/5 RBI/7 R), 2B Del Holloway (.406/1/7/7) and RF Daryl Vale (.370/0/5/5) have been the hottest hitters with some help from 3B Nate Stiles (.412/3/5/5) in the Turon series... 3B Southwick (.115 BA) and 1B Goodnight (.231) have struggled... Midway is batting .272 in the playoffs with 6 home runs.. they are scoring nearly 5 runs a game... Dorignac is hoping Southwick and Goodnight can get it going in the Finals... the Wolves need them to do well to gain their first Pro Cup in the club's history... they came close only one time in the team's history... in 2022 Midway lost to the Crystal Lake Crushers in the IPA Pro Cup Finals in 6 games.

The Tars faced two very good staffs in the first two rounds... they only hit .255, but did hit 10 homers... they averaged 3.5 runs a game... Taranto's top guns in the playoffs have been RF Cody Losby (.412 BA/3 HR/5 RBI/8 R/2 SB), Caruso (.257/4/6/5/1 SB) and 3B Gaetano Palombo (.314/1/3/5)... LF Toyota (.185) and C Parisi (.129 BA) have been disappointing and unproductive... the Tars will need them to beat Midway... Taranto is seeking its second Pro Cup trophy... they won the first and only way back in 2015 when they defeated the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers... Tars manager Augie Marshall played a prime role in that series as a hard-hitting outfielder.

Defensively, Taranto is a little better than Midway with a very good .977 FA...the Wolves are better-than-average at .974.

Pro Cup Forecast: Looks like a great match-up, but you've got to give the edge to Taranto... they really handled last year's winner Middlefield in a very impressive manner... the Tars in 6 games because of their tremendous pitching... Midway might win a couple of games because Taranto bats are a little timid in the playoffs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 9, 2053

WOLVES WALLOP TARS IN PRO CUP OPENER
The Midway Wolves served notice in the opening game of the IPA Pro Cup Finals that they are a heck of a ballclub... the Wolves walloped favored Taranto 11-1 at the Palazzo di Sport to halt the Tars' postseason winning streak at 8 games... Midway got a 3-run homer from 3B Jamey Southwick (.194) and a grand slam from 1B Tom Goodnight (.250) to back up the strong pitching of Yank Atchley, who worked into the 9th and stopped the Tars on one run and five hits... it was Atchley's 4th playoff win... he beat 25-game winner Armani Pizziconi (1-1/1.19)... Pizziconi gave up five runs in six innings, but only one was earned... Midway SS Kax Clark (.444) added three hits, two runs and two RBIs to their 11-hit attack... game two will also be played in Taranto... 27-game winner Charlie Chase got the call from Midway manager Bobby Dorignac and Valerio Rossi will toe the hill for Tars' skipper Augie Marshall... Rossi compiled a 15-9 mark in the regular season with an impressive 2.88 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 10, 2053

CHASE STOPS TARS ON 1 HIT, MIDWAY WINS AGAIN
In game two of the IPA Pro Cup Finals at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto, Midway got another terrific pitching performance and won its second straight game on the Tars' home turf... Charlie Chase (2-1/2.02) was in total command in a 5-0 victory,.. all the Tars got was one first-inning single and two bases on balls... the Wolves only got four hits, but they made good use of them, paced by LF Elton O'Leary (.350) with a home run,.. Chase (.250) even had two of the hits and drove in two runs... talk about doing it all... Valerio Rossi (3-1/1.56) fell for the first time in the postseason, yielding five runs on four hits in six and two-thirds innings... Taranto now has to go on the road to Midway and try to get back into the series... the Tars have some tough sailing to do and may be in waters way over their heads... it's sink or swim time for Taranto.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 11, 2053

MIDWAY NEARS 1ST PRO CUP, UP 3-0
A long, long 50-year drought may soon be over for the Midway Wolves... all they need is one more victory over the Taranto Tars and the Holy Grail of Islandian baseball is theirs - the Pro Cup trophy... Beau McCloud and Daryl Vale teamed up to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series... McCloud (3-0/0/74) went all the way in a sterling 2-1 performance, stopping the Tars on just five hits... and Vale (.382) provided all the runs needed with a 2-run blast in the second inning... in the top of the 9th after a double by catcher Niccolo Parisi (.122) and SS Dan Armistead's (.268) RBI single cut the Midway lead to 2-1, Taranto put the tying and winning runs on second and third with one away, but McCloud rose to the occasion and fanned the next batter... he got the final out when pinchhitter Lou Marchetti grounded out to second base... losing pitcher Freddy DeAngelis (2-1/1.44) was sharp, too... he only permitted two runs on four hits in seven innings.

Midway manager Bobby Dorignac, a Hall of Fame hurler himself, has gotten outstanding pitching in the playoffs... Taranto, one of the top offensive teams in the IPA, has been almost totally shut down... the Tars have scored only two runs in the three games with just 12 hits overall... game four is also set for Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... Dorignac will send southpaw Yank Atchley to the mound to try and sweep the series... Tars skipper Augie Marshall, also a Hall of Famer, will call upon his 25-game winner Armani Pizziconi to keep Taranto hopes alive... Atchley is 24 and in his second season in the IPA... he beat Pizziconi easily in game one 11-1... Atchley is 4-0 in the postseason with a 2.81 ERA in his 4 starts... Pizziconi, a right-hander, is 1-1 in 3 playoff starts with a 1.81 ERA... he is also 24 years old, but is a 6-year IPA veteran.

Only once in IPA Pro Cup history has a club come back from a 3-0 deficit and won the title... in 2009 the Turon Typhoons dropped the first three games to the Far Mountain Redhawks, then stormed back to cop the Pro Cup trophy.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 15, 2009

2009 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Finals - Game 7

Comeback Kids Win, Turon Tops FM 5-4 In Game 7
The Comeback Kids did it!... They have won the 2009 IPA Pro Cup!... The Turon Typhoons came back and took four games in a row from the Far Mountain Redhawks... This is the third Pro Cup for Whitey Richburn and his never-say-die crew... They also won in 2003 and 2006... The Typhoons took the crown with a heart-pounding 5-4 win over a very tough team... In a stout-hearted performance 36-year-old Anthony Nardone (4-1 2.20) went the route, scattered eight hits, walked only one and put a stop to a ninth-inning rally.

Turon scored first with a run in the opening frame against Robby Kelly... CF Mac McCurnan's (.256) sacrifice fly scored 2B Alan Hansen (.243) from third... C Fats Dalton's (.271) double and SS Spook Estes' (.214) single increased the lead to 2-0 in the second... Redhawk CF Shotgun Boggs (.296) cut it to 2-1 with a solo homer in the third... Estes' base hit drove in another run in the top of the fourth, giving the Typhoons a 3-1 edge... in the top of the fifth 3B John Cottrell's (.358) roundtripper and LF Jimmy Tremayne's (.235) sac fly increased Turon's lead to 5-1... RF Hank Burleigh got Far Mountain back within three with an RBI single in the last of the fifth... the scored remained 5-2 until the bottom of the ninth when the Redhawks came close to tying the score with two last-ditch runs... 3B Gabie Barksdale (.500) doubled in one run and then scored on an error, cutting it to 5-4 with the tying run on second... Nardone reached down and got Burleigh on a grounder to short to bring the title home to Turon.

The Typhoons outhit Far Mountain 10-6, led by Estes with three hits and two RBIs... Cottrell and RF Andy Porter (.283) also chipped in with a pair of hits each... Barksdale and Burleigh topped the Redhawks with two hits apiece... Kelly (4-2 2.85) departed after five innings with the loss... He was tagged for five runs and six hits in a poor outing... Kelly also walked five batters.

Holding the Pro Cup above his head, Turon Manager Whitey Richburn described his feelings to reporters after the game, "This is the goal. This is the pinnacle of success. This is why we play the game."

The Typhoons have now won three IPA championships, two more than any other teams. During the season the new champs compiled a 91-63 record in the Tycobbian Union South and finished in first place in the standings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 12, 2053

MIDWAY SWEEPS TARS, TAKES 1ST PRO CUP
50 years of frustration is over... the Midway Wolves have finally won the IPA Pro Cup... and they did it in grand style, sweeping the favored Taranto Tars in four games... for the fourth consecutive game, the Wolves totally dominated the Tars again, trouncing them 9-1 in game four... Taranto only got 16 hits in the entire series... Yank Atchley (5-0/2.41) breezed past them, stopping the Tars on just four hits, striking out four and walking two... it was his 5th postseason victory... Midway had it on the mound and at the plate, too... the Wolves smashed 14 hits, including solo roundtrippers by 3B Jamey Southwick (.186) and LF Lew Dillinger (.231)... Dillinger drove in three runs in all and SS Kax Clark (.400) two in the rout.

Winning skipper Bobby Dorignac was jubilant in the press room, "Couldn't win it for 19 years as a player, but finally got the job done as the manager... what a bunch of glorious guys... our pitchers were very good in the season, but were out of sight in the playoffs... to go 12-2 against the likes of Denton City, Turon and Taranto is remarkable."

Losing manager Augie Marshall gave his observations, too. "I think it is obvious to everybody... Midway was the superior team... their pitching was stupendous... and the hitting was solid and reliable... we never had a chance... Atchley, Chase and McCloud were not just good... they were brilliant."

The Midway mound corps held Taranto to just three runs and 16 hits in the four games... the Tars hit a pathetic .131 overall, while the Wolves were batting .254 and scoring 27 runs on 34 hits.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 13, 2053

PRO CUP MVP TO ATCHLEY
The Most Valuable Player in this year's Pro Cup Finals was Midway's fine young southpaw Yank Atchley... just 24 years old and only in his second season in the IPA, Atchley came through like a seasoned veteran with 5 postseason victories against the best teams in the Islands... he posted a 5-0 mark in 5 starts with a 2.41 ERA and was unanimously named the top player in the playoffs this year... Atchley won two games in the first round... beating Denton City 4-3 and 6-3... topped Turon in the TU title series 4-3... and captured two games in the Pro Cup Finals, taming Taranto 11-1 and 9-1... during the regular season Atchley compiled a 15-7 record with a strong 2.39 ERA... his career figures are 22-12 with a 2.87 ERA.

Atchley easily outpolled his teammates, shortstop Kax Clark, right fielder Daryl Vale and hurler Beau McCloud, in the MVP balloting... Clark batted .400 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 9 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 14 playoff games... Vale hit .383 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 11 runs... and McCloud was 3-0 with a brilliant 0.74 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 14, 2053

RU, TU SELECT TOP ROOKS FOR '53
The 2053 IPA Rookies of the Year have been selected and the honors go to Sligo's standout starter Bruce Belden and Kenwood's outfielder William Gloucester... Belden was a runaway winner of the Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year Award... he posted a 21-11 mark in his initial IPA season, helping the Rovers finish second to the mighty Middlefield Roosters in the Ruthlandian West this season... the 22-year-old right-hander chalked up a fine 2.85 ERA in 34 starts, winding up with 19 complete games and two shutouts... Belden's closest competition came from Volusia's talented second sacker Pablo Mendoza, who wielded a good glove and good bat... Mendoza appeared in 121 games, collected 132 hits, 31 doubles, 5 triples and 3 roundtrippers with 53 RBIs, 46 runs scored and 16 stolen bases... the Vigilantes came in 5th in the RU West... winding up third in the Ruthlandian best rookie balloting was Belair Beach third basemen Rusty Van Slyke, who hit .294 in 90 games with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 67 RBIs and 39 runs... the Sunbirds were fourth in the RU South Division.

In the Tycobbian Union the top newcomer was 22-year-old left fielder William Gloucester... he was named the 2053 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year for compiling a .321 BA with 25 doubles, 1 triple, 12 homers, 60 runs batted in and 74 runs scored... Gloucester also stole 14 bases and played in 126 contests... Kenwood ended up sixth in the TU West... in the runner-up spot in the top rookie voting was Cape Coral's impressive catcher Deron Agarn... he batted at a .336 clip this year, caught 124 games with 154 hits, 22 doubles, 1 triple, 2 roundtrippers, 55 RBIs and 51 runs... coming in third place was La Claire's rock solid and reliable first-year starter Jacques Guichard with an 11-3 record in 19 starts and a 3.04 ERA... he tossed 2 shutouts and had 7 complete games... the Lynx came in third in the Tycobbian West race.

*** Bruce Belden * William Gloucester ***

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 15, 2053

WALSH, MELLANCAMP TOP IPA TWIRLERS
IPA teams that have strong pitching usually do quite well both in the regular season and in the Pro Cup playoffs... the 2053 Golden Arms in the Islandian Pro Alliance were presented to Mickey Walsh of the Sligo Rovers in the Ruthlandian Union and to Rudy Mellancamp of the Oxford Red Caps over in the Tycobbian Union... both of these hurlers played a prime role in their clubs' success this year.

The Ruthlandian Golden Arm winner Mickey Walsh led his Rovers to the runner-up spot in the Ruthlandian West... Sligo was beaten out by the Middlefield Roosters, one of the favorites to capture the Pro Cup trophy this season... Walsh piled up a 24-10 record with a 2.28 ERA (3rd), 224 strikeouts (2nd), 2 shutouts and 29 complete games... the 26-year-old right-hander has been with the Rovers for 7 years and posted a 144-105 mark with a standout 2.42 career ERA... winding up second in the RU Golden Arm voting was Wynnamac southpaw Sammy Hayes, who went 23-14 this season with a 2.26 ERA (2nd)... the 33-year-old Hayes was a vital ingredient in the Sundowners hauling down another Ruthlandian East pennant... he is a 12-year veteran with a lifetime 226-174 mark with a fine 2.98 ERA... the third-highest votegetter was a young 24-year-old Clay Callaghan, just in his second season with the Rocky Rapids Snappers... Callaghan had a superb sophomore year with a 21-6 record and a 2.09 ERA... he topped the Ruthlandian Union in ERA... in his two years Callaghan has compiled a 40-15 mark with an exceptional 2.18 ERA... Callaghan sparked Rocky Rapids to a third-place finish behind champ Middlefield and runner-up Sligo in the Ruthlandian West Division.

The 2053 Tycobbian Golden Arm Award went to the sensational Rudy Mellancamp, who paced the Oxford Red Caps to first place in the TU North with an amazing 27-3 record and a superb 1.97 ERA, tops in the Tycobbian Union... Mellancamp has pitched 11 seasons in Oxford, going 207-185 in his career with a fine 2.98 ERA... this is his first Golden Arm trophy... he is 31 years old... coming in second in the RU Golden Arm voting was Charlie Chase, Midway's fine right-hander, who chalked up a super 27-10 record and an impressive 2.51 ERA... he led the Wolves to 100 victories this year... they easily captured the TU East and copped the first Pro Cup trophy in the team's history... Chase is 33 and has registered a 264-250 record in his 15 seasons with Midway... another veteran Jayson Hallstrom ended up third in the best pitcher balloting... he helped Summerland to a third place spot in the Tycobbian South with a 21-10 record, while posting a terrific 2.22 ERA (2nd)... Hallstrom has been with the Sunsets for 17 seasons and has compiled a 318-227 record and a strong 2.63 career ERA.

*** Mickey Walsh * Rudy Mellancamp ***

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 16, 2053

IPA SWING KINGS: BUISSON, ITO
The best batters in the Islandian Pro Alliance were acclaimed today all across the Islands... the 2053 Ruthlandian Golden Bat went to Belle Plaine's 28 year-old superstar slugger Lenny Buisson... and the 2053 Tycobbian Golden Bat was awarded to Arroyo Grande's 26-year-old super stick Norishige Ito... both of them are right fielders, Golden Glovers and multiple winners of this prestigious award.

Despite Buisson's fine season, the best Belle Plaine could do was 5th place in the RU East... Buisson was honored for the third time with the Golden Bat... he also claimed it in '48 and '52... Buisson batted .326 this year with 52 homers, 135 RBI, scored 103 runs and stole 9 bases in 144 games... he was tops in the IPA in ribbies and second overall in home runs... only Ito had more roundtrippers with 55... Buisson is an 8-year standout with a career .335 BA, 303 home runs and 843 RBIs.

Two Middlefield stars put up the biggest challenge to Buisson... second place in the Golden Bat balloting went to 26-year-old center fielder Johnny Wyatt, who hit .337 with 40 home runs, 133 RBIs, 96 runs and 10 SB... in the third spot in the vote was Stan Radzikowski... the 26-year-old Rooster shortstop posted a .320 BA, 33 doubles, 1 triple, 28 homers, 102 RBIs, 98 runs and 6 SBs... these two guys were important in Middlefield great season, propelling the Roosters to a 99-55 record in the Ruthlandian West.

This was right fielder Noshige Ito's second straight Tycobbian Golden Bat Award... he chalked up a .321 BA this season with 175 hits, 55 roundtrippers, 108 RBIs, scored 122 times and stole 14 bases... the Arroyo Grande star paced the IPA in home runs... he was in 147 games this season... however, Ito did it for the last place Suns... Ito is 26 years old and has played in the IPA for 7 seasons with a .312 lifetime average, 240 homers and 649 RBIs.

Midway's sensational shortstop Kax Clark and San Alejo's fine center fielder Paulo Teixeira were second and third in the TU Golden Bat competition... Clark, at age 26 had a brilliant year outshining everybody in the IPA with a sky-high .368 BA, 221 hits, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 17 home runs, 88 RBIs, 109 runs and 16 thefts... Clark participated in 150 games this season... the Midway Wolves won 100 games this season and bagged both the Tycobbian East Division and its first IPA Pro Cup by sweeping the Taranto Tars.

Teixeira is 34 years old and came in third in the Tycobbian Golden Bat voting... he can still do the job after 15 seasons in the IPA... Teixeira batted .308 this year with 162 hits, 35 roundtrippers, 114 RBIs, 103 runs and one stolen base... his San Alejo Montaneros wound up tied for third place in the TU South Division.

*Lenny Buisson * Norishige Ito *

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 17, 2053

ROOSTER, RED CAPS NAMED IPA MVP
All the ballots for the IPA MVPs are in and counted... and the winners are... Middlefield outfielder Johnny Wyatt and Oxford hurler Rudy Mellancamp... they both won close votes... Wyatt, the Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player for 2053, nipped Sligo's Mickey Walsh and his own teammate, shortstop Stan Radzikowski... Mellancamp also won the Tycobbian MVP by a narrow margin over two Midway stars, shortstop Kax Clark and pitcher Charlie Chase.

2053 was a banner year for Johnny Wyatt, center fielder for the Middlefield Roosters... for the third time in his 5-year career he captured the RU MVP honor... he also won it in 2049 and 2050... this season he hit a lifetime high .337 with 40 home runs, 133 RBIs and scored 96 runs in 120 games... Wyatt came in second in BA and RBIs, while sparking the Roosters to a 99-55 record and their 5th straight RU West flag... career-wise the 27-year-old Wyatt has hit an even .300 with 223 HRs and 611 RBIs.

Number two in the Ruthlandian MVP voting was Sligo's standout starter Mickey Walsh, who paced the Rovers to second place in the RU West... the 27-year-old right hander piled up a 24-10 mark with a fine 2.28 ERA... Walsh was also named the top pitcher in the Ruthlandian Union and honored with this year's Golden Arm Award... he also made the All-Star team.

Coming in third in the MVP balloting was another outstanding Middlefield player, Stan Radzikowski... in his second season in the IPA, the 26-year-old All-Star shortstop batted .320 with 28 roundtrippers, 102 RBIs and 98 runs scored.

It's easy to see why Rudy Mellancamp was acclaimed the 2053 Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player... he was a vital cog in Oxford winning its second consecutive TU North Division title with a sensational 27-3 record, coupled with the best ERA in the IPA at 1.97... Mellancamp tied for the most wins in the IPA as well... in addition, he won this season's Golden Arm trophy and was selected for the TU All-Star team... in 11 seasons as a Red Cap Mellancamp has compiled a 196-182 record with a 3.02 ERA.

Mellancamp beat out two Midway players for the MVP trophy... second in the vote was the Tycobbian leading batter, Kax Clark, who hit a lofty .368... Clark easily topped the IPA with 221 hits... the talented shortstop hit 17 homers, drove in 88 runs, scored 109 times and stole 16 bases, while playing in 147 games... the Wolves had a fantastic year with a 100-54 record... they also captured their very first Pro Cup, too.

Clark was a vital part of the team's great success, along with 15-year- veteran pitcher Charlie Chase, who tied for the most victories in the IPA with a 27-10 mark... also ranking high with a 2.51 ERA... both Clark and Chase were All-Stars this season.

* Johnny Wyatt * Rudy Mellancamp *

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 18, 2053

IPA TOP DEFENDERS FOR 2053
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the 2053 Golden Glove teams today, honoring the defensive players with the golden touch...most of the honorees were first-time recipients... the Ruthlandian Union had two players that had won trophies previously... Fort Benton center fielder Freddie Woodruff has garnered three Golden Gloves and Middlefield shortstop Stan Radzikowski has been named to the team his first two seasons in the IPA... topping the Tycobbian Golden Glovers was Darwin Tard, first sacker for Rolling Hills, who racked up his third award this season... three players have been chosen twice: South Fork third baseman Pete Arnold, Colchester shortstop Ernie Larmon and Fairfax left fielder Downtown Wyatt.

2053 Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team

Pitcher: Freddy DeAngelis (Taranto) (35 G/.986 FA/17-12/3.17 ERA)
Catcher: Jim Sadler (Sligo) (131 G/.996 FA/4 PB/47.1% RTO) (.265 BA/7 HR/49 RBI/49 R)
First Baseman: Gary Armitage (Marston/Glasco) (151 G/.995 FA) (.253 BA/12 HR/63 RBI/64 R/10 SB)
Second Baseman: Arlen Buchanan (Beechwood) (148 G/.984 FA) (.245 BA/8 HR/68 RBI/74 R/3 SB)
Third Baseman: Allen Spears (Glasco) (149 G/.955 FA) (.262 BA/6 HR/49 RBI/82 R/10 SB)
Shortstop: Stan Radzikowski (Middlefield) (143 G/.972 FA) (.320 BA/28 HR/102 RBI/98 R/6 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Left Fielder: Marcos Arredondo (Valka) (143 G/.990 FA) (.236 BA/11 HR/46 RBI/84 R/43 SB) (3 Golden Gloves)
Center Fielder: Freddie Woodruff (Fort Benton) (148 G/.996 FA) (.312 BA/17 HR/92 RBI/112 R/17 SB)
Right Fielder: Boyd Holmes (Valmara) (146 G/.996 FA) (.306 BA/20 HR/71 RBI/95 R/4 SB)

2053 Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team

Pitcher: Dicky Towers (Summerland) (35 G/1.000 FA/10-11/3.48 ERA)
Catcher: Deron Agarn (Cape Coral) (124 G/.996 FA/4 PB/28% RTO) (.336 BA/2 HR/55 RBI/51 R)
First Baseman: Darwin Tard (Rolling Hills) (138 G/.990 FA) (.285 BA/19 HR/79 RBI/79 R/8 SB) (3 Golden Gloves)
Second Baseman: Sam Dunstone (North Hills) (153 G/.997 FA) (.302 BA/3 HR/66 RBI/99 R/16 SB)
Third Baseman: Pete Arnold (South Fork) (148 G/.977 FA) (.286 BA/13 HR/68 RBI/77 R/16 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Shortstop: Ernie Larmon (Colchester) (148 G/.985 FA) (.319 BA/10 HR/57 RBI/81 R/5 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Left Fielder: Downtown Wyatt (Fairfax) (123 G/.997 FA) (.288 BA/13 HR/92 RBI/53 R/6 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Center Fielder: Maxie Mullinax (Turon) (145 G/.989 FA) (.304 BA/4 HR/53 RBI/112 R/50 SB)
Right Fielder: Norishige Ito (Arroyo Grande) (147 G/.988 FA) (.321 BA/55 HR/108 RBI/122 R/14 SB)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 18, 2053

IPA TOP DEFENDERS FOR 2053
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the 2053 Golden Glove teams today, honoring the defensive players with the golden touch...most of the honorees were first-time recipients... the Ruthlandian Union had two players that had won trophies previously... Fort Benton center fielder Freddie Woodruff has garnered three Golden Gloves and Middlefield shortstop Stan Radzikowski has been named to the team his first two seasons in the IPA... topping the Tycobbian Golden Glovers was Darwin Tard, first sacker for Rolling Hills, who racked up his third award this season... three players have been chosen twice: South Fork third baseman Pete Arnold, Colchester shortstop Ernie Larmon and Fairfax left fielder Downtown Wyatt.

2053 Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team

Pitcher: Freddy DeAngelis (Taranto) (35 G/.986 FA/17-12/3.17 ERA)
Catcher: Jim Sadler (Sligo) (131 G/.996 FA/4 PB/47.1% RTO) (.265 BA/7 HR/49 RBI/49 R)
First Baseman: Gary Armitage (Marston/Glasco) (151 G/.995 FA) (.253 BA/12 HR/63 RBI/64 R/10 SB)
Second Baseman: Arlen Buchanan (Beechwood) (148 G/.984 FA) (.245 BA/8 HR/68 RBI/74 R/3 SB)
Third Baseman: Allen Spears (Glasco) (149 G/.955 FA) (.262 BA/6 HR/49 RBI/82 R/10 SB)
Shortstop: Stan Radzikowski (Middlefield) (143 G/.972 FA) (.320 BA/28 HR/102 RBI/98 R/6 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Left Fielder: Marcos Arredondo (Valka) (143 G/.990 FA) (.236 BA/11 HR/46 RBI/84 R/43 SB) (3 Golden Gloves)
Center Fielder: Freddie Woodruff (Fort Benton) (148 G/.996 FA) (.312 BA/17 HR/92 RBI/112 R/17 SB)
Right Fielder: Boyd Holmes (Valmara) (146 G/.996 FA) (.306 BA/20 HR/71 RBI/95 R/4 SB)

2053 Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team

Pitcher: Dicky Towers (Summerland) (35 G/1.000 FA/10-11/3.48 ERA)
Catcher: Deron Agarn (Cape Coral) (124 G/.996 FA/4 PB/28% RTO) (.336 BA/2 HR/55 RBI/51 R)
First Baseman: Darwin Tard (Rolling Hills) (138 G/.990 FA) (.285 BA/19 HR/79 RBI/79 R/8 SB) (3 Golden Gloves)
Second Baseman: Sam Dunstone (North Hills) (153 G/.997 FA) (.302 BA/3 HR/66 RBI/99 R/16 SB)
Third Baseman: Pete Arnold (South Fork) (148 G/.977 FA) (.286 BA/13 HR/68 RBI/77 R/16 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Shortstop: Ernie Larmon (Colchester) (148 G/.985 FA) (.319 BA/10 HR/57 RBI/81 R/5 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Left Fielder: Downtown Wyatt (Fairfax) (123 G/.997 FA) (.288 BA/13 HR/92 RBI/53 R/6 SB) (2 Golden Gloves)
Center Fielder: Maxie Mullinax (Turon) (145 G/.989 FA) (.304 BA/4 HR/53 RBI/112 R/50 SB)
Right Fielder: Norishige Ito (Arroyo Grande) (147 G/.988 FA) (.321 BA/55 HR/108 RBI/122 R/14 SB)

RUTHLANDIAN UNION GOLDEN GLOVERS

*** DEANGELIS *** SADLER *** ARMITAGE ***