THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 4, 2054

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 2

TARS TRIM MACS, TIE SERIES 1-1
It was another stellar pitchers' battle in game two of the Ruthlandian LCS, however this time Taranto got the best of Wynnamac and tied the series at one game each... the Tars trimmed the Macs 2-1 behind the superb pitching of Armani Pizziconi, who yielded only four hits and one run, while tossing a complete game... Pizziconi (2-1/1.50) bested James Duncan (1-1/2.25) in an impressive duel... Pizziconi went all the way, fanned eight Sundowners and walked only two... Duncan went eight innings, fanned nine batters and walked three, gave up six hits and two runs... Taranto CF Renzo Caruso (.243/8 RBI) broke open a scoreless game with a two-run smash in the top of the eighth frame... it was his fifth of the postseason... RF Charley Bristol (.281/2 RBI) accounted for the only Sundowner score with an RBI single in the last of the ninth.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 2

WOLVES WIN IN 10, UP 2-0 OVER TURON
Two tremendous teams went at for 10 tense innings before Midway was the victor... the Wolves nipped Turon 5-4 to take a 2-0 lead in the Tycobbian title series... faulty defense cost the Typhoons the game... a two-base error by third sacker Joel Guidry (.903 FA) led to the winning run... two singles by 3B Jamey Southwick (.423/4 RBI) and 2B Tom Goodnight (.400/3 RBI) decided the game... reliever Jeffrey Leonard (2-0/1.04) notched the win for the second day in a row with one perfect frame... Dickie Parmenter (0-1/0.00) was the loser, though the run was not earned... three of the Midway runs came via three miscues by the Typhoons... Southwick homered for the Wolves... Turon went deep twice... 1B Shoyo Yuro (.478/6 RBI) slammed a solo shot in the second frame and LF Matthew Fears (.200/2 RBI) hit a two-run blast in the ninth to send the game into extra innings... Midway had the edge in hits 11 to 8.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 5, 2054

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 3

MACS RALLY PAST TARS, TAKE 2-1 LEAD
After two low-scoring contests in the Ruthlandian title series, the bats started booming in game three with seven balls leaving the yard at the tiny Palazzo di Sport in Taranto... Wynnamac slammed four of them to rally past the Tars 10-9 and take a 2-1 lead in the series... the Sundowners jumped in front 6-2 after two innings, but got creamed for seven runs in the third and fell behind 9-6, then they rebounded to tally the last four runs in the game... the Macs got the winning run in the top of the 11th on an RBI single by Dickie Key, who drove in Whiz Ivie from second base... the Wynnamac bullpen was marvelous, blanking the Tars over the last eight and one-third frames... Duncan Heathershaw (1-0/0.87/1 save/5 G), George Medworth (0-0/0.00/1 save/4 G) and Dion Delgiorno did a peerless job, allowing only two hits between them... Delgiorno (1-1/3.38/4 G) registered the win, working the final three innings.

LF Wally Bonds (.464/6 RBI) led the Sundowners' blistering barrage with four hits, two homers and four RBIs... CF Dickie Key (.302/7 RBI) homered and batted in three scores and SS Whiz Ivie (.333/6 RBI) went deep and drove in two runs... Taranto got roundtirppers from LF Kuma Toyota (.300/11 RBI), RF Lenny Buisson (.410/7 RBI) and 2B Rico Messina (.257/6 RBI)... Toyota and Buisson have hit five homers each in the playoffs, while it was Messina's second.

The best-of-seven series continues with game four tomorrow afternoon at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto... and game five will also be played there.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 3

TURON TRIMS MIDWAY FOR FIRST WIN
It was another nailbiter in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... game three was also decided by one run with the triumph going to the Turon Typhoons 4-3 over the current IPA Pro Cup champion, Midway... youngster Spunky Kinchlow (2-0/2.112) and Bobby Reimer (0-0/2.25) combined to get the Typhoons' first taste of victory after dropping the initial two games... the Wolves still possess a two games to one advantage in the best-of-seven set... SS Bill Wolverton (.405/11 RBI) sparked the Turon hit parade with four hits, including a two-run homer, his fifth this postseason... and Midway 3B Jamey Southwick (.433/5 RBI) hit his third playoff home run... Midway starter Will Deberry (0-2/4.50) dropped his second postseason game, slammed for four runs in six innings... the Typhoons had the edge in hits 11 to 7 over the Wolves.

Games four and five will also be at Typhoon Stadium in Turon.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 6, 2054

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 4

TARS BUISSON SLAM TIES SERIES 2-2
In the fourth game of the series in the Ruthlandian LCS at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto, Phil Castle tossed a shutout gem and Lenny Buisson blasted a grand slammer giving Taranto a 4-0 victory over Wynnamac and a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven series... in a super outing Castle (3-2/1.98) throttled the Sundowners on just four hits, fanned seven Macs and issued only one base on balls... except for Buisson's four-bagger Hayes (1-2/2.63) kept the Tars off the scoreboard... in seven innings he permitted only four hits, but walked four... in contrast to seven homers in game three, there was only one yesterday... the wind was blowing in...now it's a brand new series... game five will also be at the little home-run haven.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 4

ITO HR PUTS TURON IN HOLE 3-1 IN SERIES
Midway superstar Norishige Ito finally made his presence known in this year's playoffs with a game-winning three-run homer that gave ther reigning Pro Cup champion Wolves a 4-3 triumph over the tough and testy Turon Typhoons... Midway took a big step in the best-of-seven Tycobbian title series, expanding their lead to three games to one... the Wolves got a fine relief job from Rocket Rhodes (0-0/0.00/3 G), who blanked Turon the final three frames and protected the tenuous Midway lead for starter Arnie McGill (3-0/2.25)... losing pitcher Yancey Hedges (2-2/3.41) went eight innings, was tagged for four runs and 11 hits and absorbed the defeat... the Wolves outhit the Typhoons 11 to 8... Ito's homer came in the top of the fifth and put Midway ahead 4-2... this was the fourth consecutive game won by just one run... it has been a hotly-contest series.

Turon really has its work cut out for them... they will have to sweep the last three games to stay in the playoffs... that's a tall order, since two of the games are scheduled for Midway's Joe Wolf Stadium.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 7, 2054

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 5

MACS NIP TARS, UP 3-2 IN RU LCS
The Wynnamac Sundowners only need one more win to move on to the Pro Cup Finals... Taranto now needs two victories to get there for a second straight season... the Sundowners are up three games to two... game five of the Ruthlandian title series went to the Macs 3-1 with Jamie Duncan (2-1/1.86) stifling the Tars on just five hits... Duncan worked the entire nine innings, fanned eight Tars and issued just one base on balls... back-to-back doubles in the seventh frame by RF Charley Bristol (.227/3 RBI) and CF Dickie Key (.294/8 RBI) pushed across the go-ahead runs... Sundowner 1B Enos Benham (.304/6 RBI) went yard for the first run in the third... the only run Duncan allowed was a home run by 2B Rico Messina (.293/7 RBI) in the third inning... Taranto starter Armani Pizziconi (2-2/1.97) tossed a solid game, allowing three runs in eight innings.

The best-of-seven series now switches back to Granger Field in Wynnamac for the remaining games... game six will be this afternoon.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 5

ITO SLAM SENDS WOLVES TO PRO CUP FINALS AGAIN
Midway superstar Norishige Ito was has been strangely silent for most of the playoffs this season, but he suddenly exploded the last two days with game-winning homers and knocked the Turon Typhoons for a loop and out of the playoffs... at Typhoon Stadium, Ito's dynamic grand slam in the top of the ninth sent the current Pro Cup champion back to the IPA Finals... the Wolves won game five 7-5 and will advance to the Pro Cup Finals and go for back-to-back titles... heading into the top of the ninth Midway was down 4-3 against Turon's 24-game winner Nate Scottsdale... a single and an error got rid of Scottsdale... after a walk by reliever Ollie Dickenson loaded the bases, Ito sent one soaring out of the park and sent the Typhoons home for the year... yesterday his three-run smash put the Wolves up three to one and paved the way for the deciding victory in the Tycobbian title series... Midway won the series four games to one with three of the wins by one run.

Midway hurlers had a tough day with Turon, who bashed out 13 hits... closer Jeffrey Leonard (3-0/1.69/3 saves/6 G) was touched for a run in his two innings, but he got the win with help from Will Deberry (0-2/4.85/1 save/3 G).. Deberry gave up a run in the ninth, but got the save... Typhoon starter and loser Nate Scottsdale (1-1/1.41) struggled, permitting five runs in eight innings, but only two were earned.

Midway manager Bobby Dorignac told reporters, "We dodged a bunch of bullets in that series... we won four games to one, but it definitely wasn't that one-sided... we beat a really fine team."... Dorignac added, "Our bullpen really saved us... Leonard and Rhodes were lifesavers."

The Turon skipper C. C. Kingsford was frustrated with the loss... "We had our chances, but just couldn't come through in clutch situations... Midway did... and won the series."

Midway will tangle with the Ruthlandian champion for the Pro Cup trophy... currently Wynnamac has a 3-2 lead over Taranto and needs one more victory to wrap up the RU title... last year Midway swept Taranto for the Island crown.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 8, 2054

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 6

TARS FORCE 7TH GAME WITH MACS
In the critical sixth game of the Ruthlandian title series, both managers changed their pitching assignments just prior to the start of the contest and gave them to two spot starters... and it paid off for both of them... Valerio Rossi (10-6/3.43/1 save/24 G) got the nod from Taranto skipper Augie Marshall and Dion Delgiorno (11-10/3.16/5 saves/39 G) got the call from Wynnamac manager Jerry Meeks... both starters pitched well, but Rossi had better defense... with Delgiorno and the Macs up 1-0 in the top of the eighth, a crucial error led to three unearned scores and gave the game to the Tars 3-1, who tied the series at three games apiece and forced a seventh and deciding game... with one out, two walks by Delgiorno put runners on first and second... SS Whiz Ivie (.958 FA) allowed the tying run in when he committed a two-base throwing error... the next batter CF Renzo Caruso (.222/10 RBI) kept Taranto alive in the playoffs with a clutch and vital 2-run base hit.

Winning pitcher Rossi (1-0/0.82) was outstanding, hurling seven innings of five-hit ball, giving up only one run... he departed for a pinchhitter...Tar closer Louie Toscano (0-1/2.38/2 saves/5 G) nailed down the verdict with two scoreless frames... sadly Delgiorno (1-2/1.62) was pinned with the undeserved defeat... he tossed seven and two-thirds innings, struck out seven Tars, walked two and permitted only four hits... it was a scoreless duel until the bottom of the fifth when Sundowner 3B Jonathan Garrett (.308/2 RBI) snapped the tie by driving in CF Dickie Key (.291/8 RBI) from second with a single.

The seventh-game finale will also be played at Granger Park in Wynnamac and looks like a dilly.. both clubs have their aces primed and ready to go... Sammy Hayes (17-12/2.74) will toss for the Macs and Phil Castle (13-9/2.98) gets the honor for the Tars... both are portsiders and have swapped shutouts and split two games thus far in the series... Hayes took the opener 2-0 and Castle rebounded with a 4-0 blanking in game four... Hayes is 1-2 in the postseason with a 2.63 ERA, while Castle is 3-2 with a 1.98 ERA.

Taranto is trying to get back to the Pro Cup Finals again... they were defeated in a four-game sweep last year by the IPA champion Midway Wolves, who have already cinched the Tycobbian title, topping tough Turon in a torrid five-game series.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 9, 2054

MACS TOP TARS FOR RU CROWN, PRO-CUP BOUND
The Wynnamac Sundowners are Pro-Cup Bound... they topped the spunky Taranto Tars 3-2 in game seven at Granger Park to capture the Ruthlandian Union crown and are now headed for the IPA Pro Cup Finals against the mighty Midway Wolves of the Tycobbian Union, the defending Pro Cup champion... Wynnamac got another standout performance from left-hander Sammy Hayes (2-2/2.18), who went all the way, holding Taranto to seven hits, fanning seven and walking only one batter... the Sundowners built up a 3-0 lead after seven innings and fended off the last-ditch efforts of the Tars in the eighth... with two runs in, right fielder Charley Bristol made the play of the day when he threw out Gaetano Palombo at home to end the inning... Palombo tried to score from first base on Kuma Toyota's long double with the bases loaded... Phil Castle (3-3/2.06) was the losing pitcher... in a lackluster outing Castle was touched for three runs in seven innings.

All manager Jerry Meeks could talk about was Charley Bristol's great play... "Thank Goodness for Charley's great throw... who knows what the outcome would have been?"... Meeks told the press, "No telling what would have happened, if they had tied the score."

Taranto skipper Augie Marshall echoed Meeks' comments, "Until that throw, things were finally taking a turn for the Tars... all by himself Bristol put down the rally and put an end to our season hopes... all in one play it took the wind out of our sails."... Bristol also homered in the game, giving the Sundowners a 2-0 margin in the third frame.

Meeks observed, "All seven games were fiercely fought and pretty much in doubt to the last out... the Tars are one tenacious team."

Marshall said the key to the series was pitching... "From starters to finishers, Wynnamac has some fine pitchers... they shut down our bats pretty well."

Wynnamac will now face another IPA powerhouse in the Pro Cup Finals... so far in the playoffs the fourth-rated Macs upset second-ranked Middlefield in the first round, last year's Pro Cup finalist, Taranto, in round two and now will have to face the ultimate test, last year's IPA titlist and this year's favorite to win, the Midway Wolves.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 10, 2054

WOLVES ON THE PROWL FOR PRO CUP REPEAT
The Midway Wolves have reigned supreme in the Islandian Pro Alliance for the last two years... they won 100 games last year and upped it to a all-time record-tying 107 victories this season... and the Wolves are on the prowl for another Pro Cup feast, seeking back-to-back Pro Cup trophies, a feat that has happened only a few times in the league's 53 seasons.

The 54th edition of the IPA Pro Cup Finals begins tomorrow at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... standing between Midway and a repeat crown are the Wynnamac Sundowners... game one will be this Sunday afternoon... the Wolves are the favorite, but no one is counting the Sundowners out... the Macs have a solid pitching staff and enough hitting to pose a problem for the talented Wolves.

In the Tycobbian playoffs Midway (107-47) won both series this year four games to one, but Arlon and Turon tested them to the limit in each game... neither series was one-sided... Wynnamac has much in common with Arlon (99-55) and Turon (104-50)... the baseball gurus are predicting a hotly-contested title series with the nod going to the defending champion Wolves.

The Macs whipped two tough teams to win the Ruthlandian title... in round one they upset the second-ranked Middlefield Roosters, who captured 104 games this year... Wynnamac (94-60) prevailed four games to two... and in the second round the Sundowners knocked off the Taranto Tars (86-68) in a tense seven-game series... the Tars were Pro Cup finalists last year, losing to title-winning Midway in a four-game sweep... the Wolves devoured the Tars and thoroughly demolished them to capture their first-ever Pro Cup trophy, emblematic of Islandian baseball supremacy.

The only teams in IPA history to win two Pro Cups in a row were the Far Mountain Redhawks, who actually won three straight from 2011 to 2013... and the Eastshore Elegants (2016-2017), Tuckanarra Blue Jays (2023-2024) and the Valmara Vipers (2049-2050).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 10, 2054

WOLVES PRO CUP FAVORITE OVER MACS
The mighty Midway Wolves are a solid pick in the 2054 IPA Pro Cup Finals... they ran up 107 wins this season, good enough to tie the all-time mark in the IPA... they won the Tycobbian East pennant in runaway fashion, topping East Point by 19 games... Midway has also knocked off two standout teams to get to the Pro Cup Finals... the Arlon Champions (99-55) went down in five games in the opening round and the Wolves also disposed of the Turon Typhoons (104-50) for the Tycobbian title in five games, too... the Islandian baseball media is giving the Wolves its Pro Cup blessing and annointing... Bobby Dorignac's Midway Wolves will win the 2054 IPA crown.

The baseball professionals are predicting a Midway triumph in five or six games... even without the injured hurler Charlie Chase (16-9/2.41), the consensus is that the Wolves have superior pitching than Wynnamac and better home-run power... the Middles batted .270 (11th), scored 769 runs and clubbed 177 HR (4th) out of the park... Dorignac's mound staff is better than Jerry Meeks', both starters and bullpen... Midway is anchored by ace Arnie McGill (25-7/2.20) with Yank Atchley (17-10/2.97), the number two starter and Dookie Higgins (11-4/2.58/2 saves/33 G), the number three in the rotation... Will Deberry (21-11/3.49), one of the prime starters in the regular season, has been used in long relief in the postseason after struggling in two early postseason starts... Dorignac's relief corps, Jeffrey Leonard (5-4/1.89/20 saves/45 G) and Rocket Rhodes (7-1/2.07/8 saves/56 G) have been brilliant in the playoffs. yielding only two earned runs in 17 innings in 9 appearances with four saves and a 3-0 mark.

Midway also has a solid core of hitters, led by superstar LF Norishige Ito (.317 BA/39 HR/124 RBI/110 R/14 SB), RF Daryl Vale (.326 BA/21 HR/91 RBI/97 R/23 SB), SS Kax Clark (.288 BA/11 HR/74 RBI/98 R/13 SB), 3B Jamey Southwick (.286 BA/31 HR/90 RBI/67 R) and 1B Ted Merritt (.287 BA/22 HR/89 RBI/74 R/8 SB)... Ito and Vale made the TU All-Star team, along with Charlie Chase, who went down to an injury in August.

Wynnamac has a fine staff, too, but not quite up to the level of Midway... during the regular season they compiled a 3.32 ERA (4th)... in comparison, the Wolves posted a splendid 2.69 ERA (2nd) during the year... Sammy Hayes (17-12/2.74) is Meeks' main man, followed by James Duncan (21-7/3.22)... number three is up in the air right now... Meeks will choose between Simon Northcott (18-9/3.47) and rookie Dion Delgiorno (11-10/3.16/5 saves/39 G)... Northcott is 1-0 in the postseason in three starts with an abysmal 9.92 ERA... Delgiorno is 1-2 in one start and five relief appearances with an impressive 1.62 ERA... however, the Sundowner relievers, Duncan Heathershaw (1-0/0.77/1 save/6 G) and George Medworth (0-0/0.00/1 save/4 G), have excelled in the playoffs... Meeks is hoping the Macs bats will make the difference this year.

In past postseason appearances the Sundowners had strong pitching, but had weak hitting... this year they hit .283 (2nd) and scored 821 runs (2nd), but came up a little short on power, hitting 138 home runs (9th)... club offensive leaders are 1B Enos Benham (.346 BA/15 HR/68 RBI/74 R/2 SB), RF Charley Bristol (.321 BA/25 HR/88 RBI/96 R/2 SB), SS Whiz Ivie (.299 BA/7 HR/67 RBI/87 R/31 SB) and C Jethro Bibbs (.314 BA/10 HR/67 RBI/61 R)... Wynnamac doesn't appear to have the arsenal Midway possesses... none of the Macs made the Ruthlandian All-Star team.

Both Midway and Wynnamac staffs are primarily left-handers... the Wolves get the edge here as they posted a 32-8 record against southpaws in the regular season... the Macs were 32-22 against portsiders.

Defensively, both Midway and Wynnamac were among the best in the IPA... the Wolves had a .978 FA and the Sundowners posted a .977 mark.

Since they have the best regular season record, the Midway Wolves will have the home field advantage in the best-of-seven Pro Cup Series... the Wolves will host games one and two at Joe Wolf Stadium... and should the series go the full length, Midway will also get games six and seven... In the opening game Midway will start its only right-handed starter in the regular rotation, Arnie McGill... Wynnamac will counter with a left-hander Sammy Hayes... McGill had a superb season finishing with a 25-7 mark and an impressive 2.20 ERA, while Hayes was 17-12 with a 2.74 ERA... in the playoffs so far, McGill has posted a fine 3-0 record in four starts with a strong 2.25 ERA... in five starts Hayes is 2-0 with a great 2.18 ERA.

PRO CUP PREDICTION: Midway gets the nod in five games... the Wolves are a tremendously talented team, strong in all areas of the game... Wynnamac is a solid club, but looks to be a little short on starting pitchers.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 12, 2054

THE IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 1 at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway

WOLVES DRAW FIRST BLOOD IN PRO CUP OPENER
The opening game of the 2054 Pro Cup Series at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway was nip-and-tuck and anybody's ballgame and it went to the homestanding Midway Wolves, who drew first blood with a hard-fought 6-5 victory over the scrappy Wynnamac Sundowners... Midway took the first step in repeating as Pro Cup champion... too many free passes cost the Macs dearly in game one... they walked eight batters in the game and actually forced in the winning run in the last of the ninth with a bases-loaded walk to James Southwick... Midway only managed 8 hits and were led by 3B Southwick (.368/9 RBI) and 2B Tom Goodnight (.368/5 RBI) with two RBIs each... the Wolves took advantage of starter Sammy Hayes' three bases on balls in the opening frame to tally five runs... in all Hayes walked six in his seven innings... two walks by closer George Medworth proved fatal in the ninth and gave the Wolves the win.

The Sundowners piled up 13 hits off two Midway hurlers, but had trouble cashing in... the Macs were sparked at bat by 1B Enos Benham (.293/8 RBI) with three hits and two RBIs and C Jethro Bibbs (.330/10 RBI) with a pair of hits and two runs batted in... SS Whiz Ivie (.317/6 RBI) also smacked three hits for the Sundowners... in relief Rocket Rhodes (1-0/0.00) notched the victory, tossing four innings and holding Wynnamac to one run... he blew the save by letting the Macs tie the game 5-5 on an unearned run in the seventh... Medworth (0-1/1.13) took the loss... he came on in the eighth.

Sammy Hayes told the press, "I was too cautious... worked the corners too much... should have gone right at them... six walks will kill you."

Game two will be at Midway with Yank Atchley (17-10/2.97) on the hill for the Wolves, pitted against James Duncan (21-7/3.22) for the Wynnamac Sundowners... Atchley, a lefty, is a lackluster 0-0 in four postseason starts with a 4.50 ERA... Duncan, a right-hander, is 2-1 in the playoffs in four solid starts with a 1.86 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 13, 2054

THE IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 2 at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway

MIDDIES TAKE FIRST TWO FROM MACS
Midway is off and running... in game two of the best-of-seven Pro Cup Finals, defending IPA champ Midway got a fine outing from Yank Atchley to take its second straight game from Wynnamac... the Wolves trimmed the Macs 4-2... Atchley (1-0/3.97) aced the Macs for eight innings, stopping them on two runs and five hits with six Ks and two walks... it was his best start so far in the playoffs this season... Atchley was the Pro Cup MVP last year with a 5-0 record... the Sundowners threated in the top of the ninth, filling the bases against Jeffrey Leonard (3-0/1.54/7 G), but he escaped with his fourth save in the postseason... walks were again the downfall of Wynnamac... in the second frame Atchley (.364/3 RBI) doubled in a run to tie the score at 1-all, SS Kax Clark (.382/6 RBI) singled in two more and LF Norishige Ito (.217/9 RBI) made it 4-1 with an RBI single.

Frustrated Wynnamac skipper Jerry Meeks lamented to the press corps, "Our pitchers have got to throw strikes... walks have cost us the first two games," The Macs issued seven bases on balls in game two and have totaled 15 in the first two games... starter James Duncan (2-2/2.57) was out of kilter and walked six in six innings... Midway socked him for four runs and five hits and pinned the loss on him.

Both clubs will depend on youthful portsiders in game three... Midway manager Bobby Dorignac will send 25-year-old Dookie Higgins (11-4/2.58) to the mound in his first-ever postseason start, while Wynnamac's Jerry Meeks has given the call to 28-year-old Dion Delgiorno (11-10/3.16)... both have been mainly in the bullpen in the playoffs this season... Higgins is 2-0 in long relief with a 4.26 ERA in two appearances... Delgiorno has been effective in six games for the Sundowners with a 1.62 ERA, but is 1-2 record-wise... he has started one game and lost to Taranto 3-1 in the RU title series.

Two veteran starters will be standing in the wings... Midway's Will Deberry (21-11/3.45) and Wynnamac's Simon Northcott (18-9/3.47) had good years this season, but have both struggled in the playoffs... Deberry is 0-2 and has appeared in three games with a 4.85 ERA... he has started two games... Northcott has been terrible in the postseason with a 1-0 record, but his 9.92 ERA is off the chart.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 14, 2054

IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 3 at Granger Field in Wynnamac

MIDDIES MAUL MACS, BROOM TIME
The record-setting Midway Wolves just might be breaking out the brooms... one more victory and Midway will sweep and repeat as Pro Cup champion... on the road at Granger Field, the Wolves mauled Wynnamac 7-1 in game three of the Pro Cup Finals to take a gigantic 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series... it's been a monumental season so far for Bobby Dorignac's club... the Wolves seem to be headed for back-to-back IPA Pro Cup trophies... only the fifth time in IPA annals it's been accomplished.

The Midway bats did their job with 13 hits, paced by superstud Norishige Ito (.275/10 RBI) with four hits, three runs and an RBI... 1B Ted Merritt (.184/13 RBI) blasted a three-run homer... and 2B Tom Goodnight (.386/7 RBI) drove in a pair of runs... the Wolves got it done on the hill, too, with sharp pitching by starter Doogie Higgins (3-0/2.92) and reliever Rocket Rhodes (1-0/0.00/2 saves/6 G)... Higgins hurled six innings, allowed only one run and four hits, whiffed three and walked two... he exited for a pinchhitter and made way for Rhodes (1-0/0.00/2 saves/6 G), who skunked the Sundowners in three innings,.. Mac starter Dion Delgiorno (1-3/1.90) was the losing pitcher, but he fared well, too, yielding only two runs and seven hits over seven frames, striking out five and issuing only two free passes... after he left for a pinchhitter, the Wolves feasted on the Macs bullpen for five more runs.

Game four will also be played at Granger Field with both clubs top starters on the mound... It will be Sammy Hayes (17-12/2.74) going for the hometown Sundowners and Arnie McGill (25-7/2.20) working for the visiting Wolves... neither of them were very inpressive in the series' opener, won by Midway 6-5, but they have been effective in the postseason... right-hander McGill is 3-0 in 5 starts with a 3.00 ERA, while left-hander Hayes is 2-2 in 6 starts with a 2.92 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 15, 2054

IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game 4 at Granger Field in Wynnamac 4

WOLVES WIN PRO CUP AGAIN, SWEEP SUNDOWNERS
The magnificent Midway Wolves made it look easy, sweeping the bewildered Wynnamac Sundowners in four games and repeating as Pro Cup champions... the favored Wolves were never really challenged and walloped the Macs 10-6 in game four at Granger Field in Wynnamac... the Middies outhit and outpitched the Sundowners the entire series and never gave them a chance... 3B Jamey Southwick (.320/12 RBI) homered and drove in three runs in the fourth-game finale... 1B Ted Merritt (.204/15 RBI) cracked a two-run clout... and C Ralph Worsley (.212/5 RBI) and pitcher Arnie McGill (.286/2 RBI) both drove in two runs... McGill (4-0/3.24) wasn't great on the hill, but he came away with the victory, despite giving up 12 hits in his eight and two-thirds innings... Wynnamac RF Charlie Bristol (.309/9 RBI) stood out in defeat with five hits... taking the loss for the Sundowners was starter Sammy Hayes (2-3/3.74), who was ripped for seven runs in five-plus innings... a huge six-run sixth decided the contest and the series.

A jubilant skipper Bobby Dorignac praised his entire team, "Whatever we needed, somebody provided it throughout the playoffs... we don't have a most valuable player, we have a most valuable team." Just like last year Midway roared through the playoffs, again going 12-2 overall... they are the fifth team to win back-to-back IPA crowns... the others were the Far Mountain Redhawks (2011, 2012, 2013), Eastshore Elegants (2016, 2017), Tuckanarra Blue Jays (2023, 2024) and Valmara Vipers (2049, 2050).

Wynnamac manager Jerry Meeks told reporters, "Don't be surprised if Midway three-peats next year... I was a mediocre reliever in 2013, when we got swept in the first round by Far Mountain... the Redhawks dominated us that year and went on to win 12 straight games and take their third consecutive Pro Cup trophy... take it from me, the Wolves are in their class."

Meeks is an IPA Hall-of-Fame hurler, who compiled a 313-214 record in 21 seasons with Wynnamac... lifetime he had an impressive 2.93 ERA... Meeks was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2029.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 14, 2054

MIDWAY'S LEONARD HONORED AS PRO CUP MVP
There were no dominating performances in the Pro Cup Series this year... just lots of good ones on the well-balanced IPA champion Midway Wolves... manager Bobby Dorignac's club ravaged through the playoffs to capture its second Pro Cup trophy in a row finishing up with a flair -- a four-game sweep over the Wynnamac Sundowners... taking the 2054 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player honor was standout closer Jeffrey Leonard, who appeared in 8 of Midway's 14 games, posting a 3-0 mark, 4 saves and a 1.50 ERA... running a distant second in the voting was starter Arnie McGill (4-0/3.24/6 starts)... shortstop Kax Clark was the only position player that got much support... he hit .369 in the postseason in 14 games, scoring 12 runs and driving in 6... but no one came close to Leonard in the poll by the broadcast media in the Islands.

Dorignac was especially high in praise for the 29-year-old bullpen specialist Leonard, now in his 8th season with the Wolves... "The sportswriters had a tough choice... 6 or 8 of my guys contributed greatly to our title... but we may not have won the Pro Cup without the job Leonard did... when he came in, the game was on the line and he came through for us each time."

Career-wise Leonard is 30-18 with 62 saves in 245 games and has a splendid 1.64 ERA.

***** LEONARD ***** MCGILL ***** CLARK *****

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 17, 2054

BENHAM TOPS ABREU FOR RU BAT CROWN
This was the year of the contact hitter in the Islandian Pro Alliance... Wynnamac first sacker Enos Benham topped Elnora first baseman Gus Abreu for the 2054 Ruthlandian Union batting crown this season... last year Benham posted a .352 BA, but didn't qualify for the title... not enough plate appearances... this year he hit .346 and captured his first batting trophy... coming in second at .341 was Abreu... followed by center fielder Teddy Keys of the Fort Benton Defenders... Keys was third with a .339 mark.

Benham is only 23 years old with only three seasons of experience... he played in 130 games for the Sundowners and wound up with 17 doubles, no triples and 15 home runs with 68 RBIs and 74 runs scored... lifetime Benham boasts a .341 batting average... the Macs won the RU East Divison.

The 28-year-old Abreu has played only two full seasons and made the Ruthlandian All-Star team this year... overall he has hit .326 in his career... this year in 154 games Abreu batted .341 with 154 hits, 26 doubles, 3 triples and 17 roundtrippers... he drove in 80 runs and scored 110 times.

Keys, age 24, had a fine year with 212 hits in 145 games with 34 doubles, 8 triples and 3 home runs... Keys batted .339 with 57 RBIs and scored 87 times.

SPEARS NABS TU BAT TITLE
Seven players battled off and on for the 2054 Tycobbian batting title this year with East Point's right fielder Jakie Spears finally corraling it by 10 points over Fairfax catcher Mike Mitchell and 13 better than number three Timothy Webb.

Spears is already a five-year veteran at age 24... he led the TU this year with a .353 BA... in 131 games Spears totaled 165 hits, 29 doubles, 7 triples, 2 homers, 64 RBIs, 92 runs and 12 stolen bases... Spears is also a first-time winner... he was a main cog in the Panthers finishing second in the TU East this year.

The runner-up in the batting title race was Mike Mitchell, who joined the Fairfax Frogs in 2048... in his seven seasons he has hit .314... this year at age 27 Mitchell chalked up a fine .343 batting average with 144 hits in 131 games, 22 doubles, 2 triples and 12 roundtrippers, batted in 75 runs and scored 67... while it was a good season for Mitchell personally, his Frogs croaked in the TU North Division, winding up a dismal seventh.

Winding up in the third spot in the Tycobbian Union was Timothy Webb from the Arlon Champions... he posted an impressive .340 average in 129 games with 161 hits, 13 doubles, 4 triples and 9 home runs... Webb had 39 RBIs, scored 77 runs and stole 6 bases... Arlon won the Tycobbian West flag.

ENOS BENHAM * JAKIE SPEARS

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 18, 2054

IPA ANNOUNCES GOLD BAT WINNERS
The Islandian Pro Alliance has announced this year's victors in the Golden Bat competition... trophies are given annually by the broadcast media... the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union trophies go to the overall best batters in the Islands... the choices this season were Middlefield's Johnny Wyatt and Midway's Norishige Ito.

ROOSTERS WYATT NABS ANOTHER RU GOLD BAT
Awards are nothing new to Middlefield's talented center fielder Johnny Wyatt... in his six seasons with the Roosters he has won just about all of them... Golden Bats, Golden Gloves, MVP trophies... Wyatt began it all by being acclaimed the Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year in '49 and has kept the awards coming ever since.

This is his second time to claim the Ruthlandian Golden Bat Award... Wyatt was also the 2050 recipient... this year he paced the Middlefield Roosters to another great season... they have won the RU West every single season Wyatt has been there... for the last six years the Roosters have ruled the roost... the 27-year-old veteran played in 146 games and was the IPA leader with 131 RBIs... in the RU Wyatt wound up second in home runs with 41 and was sixth in scoring with 108 runs, while batting at a .277 clip... overall he has banged 264 homers in his career.

Far Mountain center fielder Ox Gless was number two in the Golden Bat vote... the 23-year-old star has had three solid seasons in the IPA, peaking this year with a .322 BA, 29 HR (8th), 115 RBI (3rd) and 98 runs (10th), helping the Redhawks come in fifth in the RU North Division... they finished 8 games above .500 with an 81-73 mark, the club's best record in six years... Gless made the Ruthlandian All-Stars this year and is a lifetime .304 batter with 75 circuit clouts.

Wyatt's Middlefield teammate, Trip Agarn, was the third highest votegetter in the Golden Bat battle... the 26-year-old right fielder, a three-year veteran, blistered pitchers for a .322 BA, socked 36 out of the park (4th), drove in 116 runs (2nd) and tallied 94 runs... Agarn has a career .296 average with 99 roundtrippers.

MIDDIE ITO TAKES 3RD TU GOLD BAT
Also no stranger to postseason awards, for the third time in his illustrious career Midway's prolific superstar Norishige Ito has been selected the top hitter in the Tycobbian Union... the broadcast media awarded Ito the 2054 Golden Bat... he edged out Cape Coral slugger Jaybird Ethridge and Oxford's big bat Wayne McGrew.

Ito also garnered the prestigious honor in '52 and '53... this is the third straight win for him... he sparked the Wolves to a record-tying 107 victories this year in his first year with the team... it was a magical year for him and the Wolves, who repeated as the IPA Pro Cup winner.

Ito was obtained in a trade with Arroyo Grande in the offseason... this season the 27-year-old right fielder topped the Tycobbian Union with 124 RBIs, tied for the most runs with 110 and wound up second in home runs with 39... batting-wise Ito posted a .317 batting average in 147 games... and was a member of the TU All-Stars... he has made the All-Stars four times in his eight seasons.

Cape Coral slugging second sacker Jaybird Ethridge came in second in the Golden Bat poll... just in his second full season with the Hurricanes, he led the Tycobbian hitters with 42 homers, was second with 118 RBIs and ended up number three with 108 runs scored... for the year Ethridge, age 27, compiled a .288 batting average in 147 games and made the Tycobbian All-Star team... however, the best the Hurricanes could do in the Tycobbian South was fifth place (76-78).

Third in the Golden Bat balloting was Oxford right fielder Wade McGrew, who at 27 blossomed in his third year with the Red Caps, leading them to a third-place finish in the TU North... McGrew also made the All-Star squad... he batted .312 in 125 games with 37 HR (5th) and 113 RBIs (5th).

*JOHNNY WYATT * NORISHIGE ITO*

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 19, 2054

IPA TABS TOP TWIRLERS FOR '54
There's a little bit of difference between the IPA Golden Arm winners... one is a fireballer and the other is a junkballer... but they also have a lot in common... they both were selected as the top pitchers in the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions... heat-throwing James Long of the Middlefield Roosters collected the RU Golden Arm Award, while powder-puff tossing Ty Coffee of the Arlon Champions picked up the TU Golden Arm trophy... it was Long second time to claim the honor... he also took it in 2050... Coffee is a first-time honoree... both of them had very strong competition.

ROOSTERS LONG CAPTURES 2ND GOLD ARM TROPHY
James Long has been around for years at age 34... he is a 16-year veteran... an 8-time All-Star... and has won 20 or more games 11 times in his legendary career... Long is already assured of induction in the IPA Hall of Fame with a magnificent 336-200 record and a great 2.66 ERA... and the short, stocky right-hander is still going strong, claiming his second Golden Arm Award... Long also won it in 2050... he chalked up a superb 24-5 mark this season with 2.36 ERA... Long was tied for the most victories and came in second in ERA... and easily led the entire IPA with 8 shutouts... it was a very successful year individually... plus his Roosters also racked up their sixth consecutive Ruthlandian West Division title... Long tossed 309 innings and fanned 189 batters... and made the RU All-Stars.

However, it was not a cakewalk for Long... another old-timer almost beat him out for this year's Golden Arm... 17-year vet Ralph Hawk of the Ranford Bulls also won 24 games and topped the Ruthlandian Union with a superb 1.98 ERA... at age 36, Hawk shows no sign of slowing down... this is the third time he led the RU in ERA... a hard-throwing southpaw, Hawk was 24-10 for the second place Bulls in the RU North Division... he fanned 208 batters in 305 innings with two shutouts... Hawk is headed for the IPA Hall of Fame, too... lifetime he has a remarkable 317-168 record with a standout 2.40 ERA... Hawk made the RU Stars for the sixth time this season... and has won three RU Golden Arm trophies ('48, '49, '51).

8-year Sligo star, Mickey Walsh, came in a fairly close third the Golden Arm voting... winding up with an impressive 23-11 mark and a 2.36 ERA for the second place Rovers in the RU West... in 314 innings, the knuckleballer whiffed 217 batters and fired three shutouts... Walsh won the Golden Arm last year... in his career the 27-year-old right-hander has posted a 167-116 record with a standout 2.41 ERA, one of the all-time best career ERAs in IPA history.

CHAMPS COFFEE BEST HURLER IN TYCOBBIA
The 2054 Tycobbian Golden Arm winner, Ty Coffee, hasn't been around very long, but he certainly reached the top pretty quickly... in only his third year with the Arlon Champions, Coffee soared to 27 wins, tops in the IPA... he only lost 9 games this year and sparked his team to the Tycobbian West title... Coffee is a finesse guy with great command and control... he registered a fine 2.72 ERA... his 27 victories helped him edge out a legendary star Matt Bell of San Alejo (23-11) and the youthful Arnie McGill (25-7) of the Pro Cup-winning Midway Wolves.

Matt Bell is a legend in his 16 seasons with the San Alejo Montaneros... three times he has been named the Tycobbian Golden Arm ('45, '47, '49)... and he came very close to a fourth one this year, but wound up second to Coffee... a power pitcher even at age 35, Bell put up a strong 23-11 mark with a brilliant 2.19 ERA, struck out 240 batters in his 312 innings, all for a sixth-place club... overall he is 347-185 with a splendid 2.38 ERA, sixth-best in IPA history.

Another youngster, 25-year-old righty, Arnie McGill, wound up third in the Tycobbian Golden Arm competition... he came into his own after two so-so years with the powerful Midway Wolves... this year McGill came out of nowhere to record a 25-7 record with a terrific 2.20 ERA (3rd) for the pennant-winning Wolves... McGill did it with great stuff... he is not an overpowering hurler... he was only 8-5 in his first two years, used mainly in relief.

* JAMES LONG * TY COFFEE *

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 20, 2054

TOP ROOKS HONORED BY IPA
The IPA broadcasters and sportswriters announced the outstanding newcomers for the 2054 season today, recognizing Wynnamac outfielder Charley Bristol and Summerland infielder Markus Cruyssen as the top rookies in the league.

MACS' BRISTOL BEST RU ROOKIE
The voting was tight in the Ruthlandian Union for the best newcomer of the year... Wynnamac's fine right fielder Charley Bristol edged out Dain Moore of the Eastshore Cotton Kings and was presented the 2054 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award... Teddy Cornelius of the Volusia Vigilantes was a distant third in the balloting.

Charley Bristol had a great freshman season, leading the Wynnamac Sundowners to the Ruthlandian East pennant... the 27-year-old outfielder put up some fine offensive numbers with a .321 BA, 25 homers, 88 RBIs and 96 runs in 137 games.

Coming in second in the best rookie vote was Dain Moore, a 24-year-old right-hander for Eastshore... his 19-11 record was an important part of the Cotton Kings' third-place finish in the RU East race... Moore was the ace of the staff with an excellent 2.96 ERA.

Third place in the top newcomer category was a fine third sacker for Volusia... Teddy Cornelius was a good glove man with a pretty fair bat... he hit .283 with 12 roundtrippers, 69 ribbies and scored 89 runs... however, his V's only had a fair season, ending up fifth in the RU West standings.

CRUYSSEN CHOICE FOR TU ROOK TROPHY
In the Tycobbian Union it was an extremely close vote for the 2054 Rookie of the Year... any one of three players could have come away the winner... Summerland third baseman Markus Cruyssen was the choice of the media... the 21-year-old played in 121 games, batted .305 with 26 homers, 86 RBIs and 83 runs... the Sunsets had a fine year and wound up second in the Tycobbian South, topped only by the powerful Turon Typhoons.

Midway's hard-hitting first baseman Ted Merritt was the runner-up in the top rookie poll... Merritt batted .287 in 130 games and socked 22 home runs, drove in 89 runs and scored 74 runs for the mighty Wolves, the winner of the TU East... Midway also captured its second Pro Cup in a row... though the playoffs are not counted in the awards voting, Merritt hit three homers and drove in 15 runs in the postseason for the Wolves.

The third-highest votegetter was 19-year-old rookie hurler Maury Statler... the young right-hander had an auspicious debut in the IPA, posting a fine 15-11 mark with a 3.48 ERA for the Oxford Red Caps, who came in third in the TU North Division.

Charley Bristol * Markus Cruyssen

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 21, 2054

IPA GOLDEN GLOVERS ACCLAIMED
To be a winner in the Islandian Pro Alliance a team needs some combination of good pitching, good hitting, good power and good defense... most of the accolades in the press go to the glamour boys -- the home-run hitters, the standout pitchers... many times defensive prowess is not as prized... however, most knowledgeable baseball people will tell you good defenders are essential... they might be unsung, but they are a critical part of the successful clubs... the Islandian Pro Alliance today awarded the 2054 Golden Glove Awards to the 18 best glovemen in the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions... they were chosen in a poll conducted by The Islandian Times.

The vast majority of this year's select defenders are first timers... only six of the honorees were previous winners... Marston second sacker Damien D'Amboise and South Fork third baseman garnered their third Golden Glove trophies... Arnold was also the oldest recipient at 33... Midway outfielder Daryl Vale was the youngest at 21... no rookies made the teams this year.

2054 Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team:
Pitcher: Keith Himmel (Colfax Blasters) (.986 FA)(14-15/4.10 ERA)(first-time winner)(age 27/7th season)
Catcher: Tuffy Palmieri (St. John Crusaders) (.996 FA/6 PB/41.2% RTO)(.325 BA/11 HR/74 RBI/96 R)(2-time winner) (age 26/4th season)
First Baseman: Gus Abreu (Elnora All-Stars) (.993 FA)(.341 BA/17 HR/80 RBI/110 R)(first-time winner)(age 28/3rd season)
Second Baseman: Damien D'Amboise (Marston Nine) (.974 FA)(.309 BA/7 HR/79 RBI/109 R/20 SB)(3-time winner)(age 25/7th season)
Third Baseman: Eldon Gilbert (Beechwood Blues) (.991 FA)(.290 BA/5 HR/34 RBI/55 R)(first-time winner)(age 23/4th season)
Shortstop: Raphael Julien (LaGrange Sports) (.973 FA)(.242 BA/17 HR/71 RBI/69 R/3 SB)(first-time winner)(age 26/4th season)
Left Fielder: Dave Durocher (Grand City Cybercats) (.992 FA)(.234 BA/8 HR/54 RBI/75 R/16 SB)(first-time winner)(age 28/3rd season)
Center Fielder: Ox Gless (Far Mountain Redhawks) (.992 FA)(.322 BA/29 HR/115 RBI/98 R/12 SB)(first-time winner)(age 23/3rd season)
Right Fielder: Gilberto Gallardo (San Dimas Rancheros) (.991 FA) (.285 BA/22 HR/72 RBI/69 R)(first-time winner)(age 27/3rd season)

2054 Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team:
Pitcher: Beau McCloud (Arroyo Grande Suns) (.968 FA)(15-15/3.58 ERA)(2-time winner)(age 24/5th season)
Catcher: Harry Edwards (Hillsboro Blazers) (.997 FA/3 PB/41.5% RTO)(.229 BA/20 HR/71 RBI/71 R/4 SB)(first-time winner)(age 28/6th season)
First Baseman: Rodger Parsons (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) (.995 FA)(.324 BA/15 HR/68 RBI/82 R/2 SB)(2-time winner)(age 32/10th season)
Second Baseman: Ike Ritter (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) (.980 FA)(.302 BA/1 HR/46 RBI/68 R/1 SB)(first-time winner)(age 26/6th season)
Third Baseman: Pete Arnold (South Fork Stallions) (.984 FA)(.308 BA/9 HR/74 RBI/78 R/17 SB)(3-time winner)(age 33/15th season)
Shortstop: Kazuki Tamura (Ginza Ninjas) (.979 FA)(.286 BA/20 HR/78 RBI/83 R/19 SB)(first-time winner)(age 29/8th season)
Left Fielder: Norishige Ito (Midway Wolves) (.985 FA)(.317 BA/39 HR/124 RBI/110 R/14 SB)(2-time winner)(age 27/8th season)
Center Fielder: Rebel Bryce (Arlon Champions) (.985 FA)(.219 BA/37 HR/116 RBI/97 R/13 SB)(first-time winner)(age 26/3rd season)
Right Fielder: Daryl Vale (Midway Wolves) (.980 FA)(.326 BA/21 HR/91 RBI/97 R/23 SB)(first-time winner)(age 21/3rd season)

Damien D'Amboise ********************** Pete Arnold

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 22, 2054

RU, TU MVPS NAMED BY IPA
This season IPA Most Valuable Player Awards were captured by the 2054 Golden Bat winners, Johnny Wyatt of the Middlefield Roosters and Norishige Ito of the Midway Wolves... they were selected by the broadcast media throughout Islandia... the poll was conducted by The Islandian Times and announced today.

WYATT CLAIMS 4TH RUTHLANDIAN MVP
It was the fourth time Middlefield center fielder Johnny Wyatt has been chosen the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player... the 27-year-old superstar also was honored in '49, '50 and '53... this year Wyatt led the Roosters to their sixth successive RU West Division title... they rolled up 104 victories and easily won the pennant... he played in 146 games, slugged 41 out of the park, the third-best number in the IPA, and led both leagues with 131 RBIs... Wyatt batted .277 for the season... overall in his seven-year career, he is a .296 batter with 264 roundtrippers, 742 RBIs, 108 runs and 10 stolen bases... Wyatt also has Golden Glove defender skills.

Wyatt edged out two of his Middlefield teammates for the Ruthlandian MVP trophy... Rooster ace right-hander James Long was second in the voting, finishing the year with a standout 24-5 record and a sparkling 2.36 ERA in 39 starts... Long led the IPA with 8 shutouts, which was one short of the all-time mark, held by 6 other players.

Middlefield's hard-hitting left fielder Trip Agarn wound up third in the MVP balloting... in 130 games he hit .322 with 36 homers, 116 RBIs and scored 94 runs with 11 stolen bases.

ITO TAKES TYCOBBIAN MVP 3RD YEAR IN A ROW
It was a hat trick for Midway's talented outfielder Norishige Ito... for the third season in a row he has been voted the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player... Ito outdistanced two tough competitors for the award, Arlon's 27-winner Ty Coffee and Cape Coral's heavy-hitting second baseman, Jaybird Ethridge.

The 2054 Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player, Norishige Ito, has really blossomed the last three years, winning the MVP trophy every season since '52... in 147 games the Midway left fielder batted .317 with 39 roundtrippers (2nd), 124 RBIs (1st), 110 runs (2nd) and 14 stolen bases... Ito also a fine defender and reaped his second Golden Glove this year... he made the TU All-Star team for the fourth time... and led the Midway Wolves to 107 victories, which tied the IPA all-time record... lifetime Ito is a .313 hitter with 279 home runs and 773 RBIs... he is an 8-year veteran... his first 7 were spent in Arroyo Grande... this was Ito's first season with the Wolves.

Second in the Tycobbian MVP poll was Arlon's ace southpaw, Ty Coffee, who posted a marvelous 27-9 mark this season with a 2.72 ERA... the 32-year-old hurler got a late start in the IPA and is just in his third season... he was this year's TU Golden Arm winner... Coffee led the entire IPA in wins this year and his club shot to the top of the Tycobbian West Division... they finished fifth the year before with a 78-76 mark... Coffee was one of the prime reasons his club rose up to 99-55 this year.

Cape Coral's talented second baseman Jaybird Ethridge emerged as one of the elite sluggers in the IPA... he topped the Tycobbian Union with 42 home runs and came in second to Ito with 118 RBIs and third in scoring runs with 108... Ethridge was third in the Golden Bat race and also third in the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player poll.

JOHNNY WYATT * NORISHIGE ITO *

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 23, 2054

TOP IPA SKIPPERS NAMED
Most managers always give most of the credit to the ballplayers for the success of the teams... if you got the hosses, you can win the pennant... well, Midway manager Bobby Dorignac certainly had the hosses this year... so did Middlefield skipper Ricky Tinker... they were chosen the top managers this year in the Islandian Pro Alliance... Dorignac was the Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year and Tinker took the honor in the Ruthlandian Union... this is the second time Dorignac has taken home the top manager trophy... and the third time for Tinker... he was also honored in 2049 and 2052.

DORIGNAC BEST TYCOBBIAN SKIPPER AGAIN
Midway's Bobby Dorignac has been the top skipper in the Tycobbian Union the last two years... he was the top votegetter out of the seven nominees... Dorignac edged out Turon's C. C. Kingsford and Arlon's Mark Cameron... there were four strong contenders in the Ruthlandian Union this season with Middlefield's Rinky Tinker nudging past Marston's Russ Woodward and Eastshore's Scotty Lagrange for the Manager of the Year Award.

In the Tycobbian Union Dorignac had a great season guiding his Midway Wolves to a record year with a 107-47 record, tying the Colfax Blasters for the best all-time wins mark... Midway won its second consecutive Tycobbian East pennant... they improved from a superb 104-50 mark the previous year.

Second place in the top skipper award went to C. C. Kingsford of the Turon Typhoons... they went from 101-53 to 104-51 this year... and have won the Tycobbian South for the last three seasons.

Coming in third was young Mark Cameron of the Arlon Champions, who noticeably improved from fifth place and 78-76 to the top spot in the TU West with a 99-55 mark.

Fourth in the balloting was Pete Gibbs of Denton City, followed by Kent Halloran of Luxora, Antonio Vasques of Summerland and Babe Hankins of Kenwood.

TINKER WINS TOP MANAGER HONOR IN RUTHLANDIA
The Middlefield Roosters have enjoyed great success with Ricky Tinker at the helm... this year for the sixth season in a row Tinker's team captured the RU West Division crown... the Roosters improved from 100-54 last year to 104-50 this year... Tinker also was named Manager of the Year in 2052.

Winding up in the runner-up spot was Russ Woodward of the Marston Nine... his club finished 75-79 (3rd) last season and upped it to 92-62 this season, good for second place in the RU East.

The third-highest votegetter in the RU Manager of the Year poll was Scotty Lagrange of the Eastshore Cotton Kings, who improved from 67-87 and 8th place in the RU East to third place and an 87-67 mark.

LaGrange Sports skipper Mike York was a distant fourth in the poll... his team went from 57-97 (8th) in 2053 to a much-improved 76-78 (6th) this season in the Ruthlandian North Division.