THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 1, 2055

3 PRO CUP CONTENDERS FALL TO THE WAYSIDE
The first round of the IPA Pro Cup playoffs didn't pan out the way most people were thinking... the number one, two and three picks were suddenly gone, leaving number four and IPA titleholder Midway in the driver's seat... the Wolves will not have to worry about the Middlefield Roosters, Denton City Redbirds and Southport Sun Sox... Midway's quest for a third consecutive Pro Cup title certainly was made easier... they will be challenged by the league's lesser lights the rest of the way, not the elites.

At a glance Midway and Wynnamac are very likely going to have a rematch of last year's Pro Cup Finals, where the Wolves feasted on the Macs, torching them in four straight games... Midway has the tougher foe in White River because of the pitching strength of the Rascals' rotation... they could slow down the Midway three-peat express... the Wynnamac Sundowners are big favorites over upstart Far Mountain, which didn't have much opposition in the first round... the Grand City Cybercats were not ready for the postseason prime-time players just yet... the number-five ranked Macs once again pulled a mild surprise in whipping Pro Cup Favorite Middlefield for the second year in a row in the Ruthlandian Union Division Series.

The current Pro Cup champion Midway Wolves demolished a very good Denton City team in the opening round in just four games... it's not likely White River's pitching will be able to hold them down like they did the poor hitting Southport Sun Sox... White River has a major flaw ... they are one of the worst hitting clubs in the IPA... but their strong staff could win a couple of games against the reigning baseball king of the Islands... the Wolves will win in five or six games.

On paper Far Mountain matches up with Wynnamac pretty well statistically, but looking closer at the player comparisons, the Macs are much superior... Wynnamac is much more talented on the mound and at the plate with much greater depth... the Sundowners will shoot down the Redhawks in five or six games.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series Tale of the Tape
*********** Midway Wolves *************************** White River Rascals ***********

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series Tale of the Tape
********** Wynnamac Sundowners ************* Far Mountain Redhawks *********

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 4, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 1

REDHAWKS OUTSCORE MACS IN GAME 1
Everybody was expecting a pitchers' duel in game one of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series played at Granger Field in Wynnamac, but instead they got an old-fashioned runfest... the underdog Far Mountain Redhawks pulled it out 8-7 in the top of the 9th, overcoming a 7-5 Wynnamac lead... Fernando Gonzales ripped a two-out bases-loaded two-run base hit to whip the Macs... the Sundowners' vaunted pitching staff let them down... Far Mountain scalded starter Sammy Hayes for five runs in five innings, but couldn't hold it... Wynnamac bounced back with seven runs in the next three innings to take the lead, but the Macs' bullpen blew it... C Jethro Bibbs (.265/5 RBI) walloped a three-run homer for the Macs... other contributors were RF Manny Sendejas (.333/8 RBI) with three hits and two runs scored and 1B Enos Benham (.324/3 RBI) with two hits, two runs and an RBI... the top batsmen for Far Mountain were C Fernando Gonzales (.323/7 RBI) and 2B Mylon Towner (.229/5 RBI) with two ribbies apiece... Wynnamac had advantage in hits 13 to 10.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 1

MIDDIES NIP RASCALS IN SERIES OPENER
White River really made the reigning IPA Pro Cup champion Midway Wolves sweat, but in the end the Middles nipped them 5-4 in the opening game of the Tycobbian title series at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... the Rascals went up 4-2 in the 7th, but couldn't stop the Wolves in the late innings... wildness by reliever Butch Slattery helped Midway tie it up 4-all in the bottom of the 7th... a bases-loaded walk to RF Daryl Vale (.111/6 RBI) and an RBI single by LF Norishige Ito (.316/2 RBI) evened the score... more walks by Slattery led to the game-winner... with the bases again full of Wolves, SS Kax Clark (.182/2 RBI) lifted a fly to left field that scored C Bobby Martinez (.353/4 RBI) and salvaged the victory... it was a tough defeat for White River as they outhit Midway 11 to 6... the Wolves' bullpen saved the day... they shut out the Rascals the final two and two-thirds innings with Jeffrey Leonard (2-0/2.70/3 G) notching the win... Slattery (0-1/1.50/4 G) was tagged with the loss... Ito sparked the Middles at the plate with two hits and two RBIs, including his first roundtripper of the postseason... 2B Mark Gates (.240/3 RBI) paced the Rascals with two hits and two runs batted in... Midway is unbeaten in five games in the postseason.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 5, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 2

MACS MEDWORTH MOWS 'EM DOWN, TIES SERIES 1-1
It's all even after two games in the Ruthlandian title series after Wynnamac right-hander George Medworth made quick work of the Far Mountain Redhawks... he stumped them 4-2, permitting only four hits... the only damage was LF Frankie Neill's (.231/4 RBI) two-run homer in the fourth frame... going all the way Medworth stuck out four batters and walked only two... backing him up at the plate was clean-up hitter RF Manny Sendejas (.378/11 RBI), who has gone wild in the playoffs with 5 roundtrippers and 11 RBIs... Sendejas got three hits and drove in three more runs, two of them coming on a home-run clout in the opening frame... taking the loss was Redhawk starter Ryan Kolb (0-2/5.12), who was shelled for nine hits and four runs in his six innings.

The best-of-seven series will revert to the Far Mountain home field, the beautiful Sky High Stadium in the Appian Mountains... games three, four and five are slated there... Far Mountain is the northern-most city in the Islands.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 2

MCGILL DOMINATES RASCALS, MIDWAY UP 2-0
They are the current Pro Cup champ... they are the unbeaten Midway Wolves... and they are playing like they will capture their third Pro Cup in a row... 19-game winner Arnie McGill almost totally dominated the White River Rascals yesterday afternoon at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... the 26-year-old right-hander fired a 5-0 two-hitter in the second game of the series, fanned seven and walked five as the Wolves racked up their sixth straight triumph in the postseason playoffs... they now possess a 2-0 lead in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... and they beat a grizzled 35-year-old chubby superstar with 236 wins to do it... Nicky Palmer (2-1/3.13) didn't quite have it on the mound... the Middles slammed him for 10 hits and five runs in six frames... RF Daryl Vale (.182/8 RBI) and LF Norishige Ito (.348/4 RBI) tagged him hard with two hits apiece and two runs batted in...Vale had the only homer in the game, while Ito doubled in his runs.

White River will try to get back into the series on the homefront... White River Stadium will be the site of the series for the next three games, if they are all necessary... could Midway be headed for a four-game sweep?

Midway is in the central part of Tycobbia.
White River is located in the northwest part in the western Appian Mountains.
Wynnamac is near the east coast, middle ways into Ruthlandia.
Far Mountain is the northern-most city, high in the eastern Appians.

Map of Islandia

Wouldn't it really be something if Far Mountain, the only team in IPA history to win three Pro Cups in a row, won the Ruthlandian Union title and went up against the Midway Wolves, who are seeking to three-peat... would be special, but not likely... Wynnamac's pitching is too good for the Redhawks, me thinks... Far Mountain accomplished the great feat in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

AROUND THE TOWN IN THE IPA

FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS

Owner: Becker Hospitality Enterprises
GM/Manager: Robby Kelly

Far Mountain, located in northern Ruthlandia in the Appian Mountains, is a very popular year-round ski resort and convention center. A beautiful town of 75,000 founded by immigrants from the German and Swiss Alps, Far Mountain oozes Tyrolian charm and culture. Horse drawn sleighs and buggies provide free public transportation. The rich and famous come here for wonderful ski vacations, to savor the good life and to enjoy the great hotels, nightclubs, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Yet it is priced for every pocketbook. Middle class families also partake of its many pleasures and activities. And with fine convention facilities, Far Mountain plays host to many professional and educational organizations.

And it is the home of the Far Mountain Redhawks baseball team of the Ruthlandian Union. The team is in the North Division and plays their games at Sky High Stadium with a magnificent panoramic view of the Appian Mountains in the distance. A specialty at all Redhawks games is a great polka band that furnishes music and songs, whenever there is a break in the game action. During the seventh-inning stretch Redhawks supporters have a great time doing the “Chicken Dance” and singing “Take me out to the ballgame” to the accompaniment of the polka band. And fans get to enjoy special culinary treats of Bavarian beers, Nurnberg bratwurst mit sauerkraut (fried sausage with sauerkraut), Schwartzwalder kirschtorte (Black Forest cake) and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) pastries and hot gourmet soups at the games. Many fine German beers are served in profusion, too. In addition all of the traditional ballpark favorites are provided.

The Far Mountain Redhawks have been owned by Becker Hospitality Enterprises for 150 years. They are the proud proprietors of one of the oldest hotels in town, The Bavarian Gasthaus. Johan Becker developed a love for baseball in high school and college and played varsity baseball for both. He met Jock Ewing of Ewing Oil and Ewing Enterprises and developed a business relationship with him to make Far Mountain into a tourist resort. When Ewing offered him one of the franchises in the IPA, Johan quickly invested in it... his family is still running the business.

Far Mountain has had only three managers in its history. For a general manager and field manager, Becker originally hired one of the great pitchers of the industrial leagues, Alex Groveland, who was the architect of the famous Far Mountain three-peat, the winning of three straight Pro Cups in 2011, 2012 and 2013. It's been accomplished only one time in the annals of the Islandian Pro Alliance. Grove made the playoffs 10 times in his managerial tenure.

The second skipper was one of the best players in IPA history, Hall-of-Fame shortstop Don Nichols. As a player Nichols sparked Far Mountain to the three consecutive Pro Cup titles and seven division flags. In his 24 years in the league Nichols batted .310 in 3523 games (8th) with 3760 hits (5rd), 1773 RBIs (16th), 2161 runs (4th) and stole 668 bases (8th). In 95 playoff games he hit .300 with 9 homers, 51 RBIs, 53 runs and 17 stolen bases. Nichols was elected to the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027. He played 17 years with Far Mountain and 7 with the Marston Nine. He retired as a player in 2024.

When Nichols retired, he was replaced by his pitching coach, Robby Kelly, who was a teammate of Nichols during the glory years and also an IPA Hall-of-Famer. Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2030 after a splendid 19-year career... the chubby 250-pound right-hander posted a 279-196 record with a fine lifetime 3.23 ERA... Kelly holds the all-time Far Mountain record for wins. He played a prime role in the Redhawks' three IPA titles with a fine 11-4 mark in the playoffs those years. In a magnificent year Kelly went 22-8 in 2012 with a 2.38 ERA and was named the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm and Most Valuable Player. Kelly's final season as a player was in 2019.

Sky High Stadium (1997)
Capacity: 10,444
Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 354
LC 380
CF 402
RC 380
RF 354
RF Line 330

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 5, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 3

DELGIORNO SPINS SHUTOUT, MACS LEAD SERIES 2-1
The Sundowner pitchers have been standing tall on the hill the last two games in the Ruthlandian title series... in game three at Sky High Stadium in Far Mountain, Dion Delgiorno (3-0/0.70) spun a 6-0 shutout, restricting the Redhawks to seven hits for his third postseason victory... the young lefty struck out seven hitters and walked three to send Wynnamac ahead in the best-of-seven series two games to one... the Macs were booming at the plate, too, banging out 16 hits on three Far Mountain hurlers... seven Sundowners popped two hits apiece, paced by 1B Enos Benham (.349/5 RBI) with two RBIs and a home run... RF Charley Bristol (.400/1 RBI) also had two hits and a solo homer.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 3

RASCALS STOP MIDDIES 6-GAME WIN STREAK
Forget about Midway sweeping the White River Rascals... Cody Butler made certain of that... the right-hander put a stop to Midway's six-game postseason winning streak, corraling them 8-3 in the third game of the Tycobbian LCS... it was the Rascals first win in the series... Midway still has the upper hand two games to one... Butler (2-0/1.25) was tapped for eight hits in seven and two-third innings, but he departed with five-run advantage... southpaw reliever Glen Horton retired all four batters he faced, fanning two of them... C Wayne Carlton (.485/6 RBI) continued to prosper at the plate in the postseason for the Rascals with a homer, single and two RBIs... CF Pudge Tate (.244/3 RBI) also slammed a two-run roundtripper... the Wolves also walloped two out of the park, courtesy of RF Daryl Vale (.222/9 RBI) and 1B Ted Merritt (.308/8 RBI)... they each have three in the playoffs... losing pitcher Charlie Chase (0-1/7.71) lived up to this name... the Rascals chased him after four innings... they pounded him for six runs and seven hits.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 6, 1948

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 4

MACS SMACK REDHAWKS, UP 3-1, NEAR RU TITLE
The Wynnamac Sundowners teed off on Far Mountain pitching in game four of the Ruthlandian Finals... the Macs smack them for 16 hits and outscored Far Mountain 10-5 to go ahead three games to one in the best-of-seven series at Sky High Stadium... one more win and the Sundowners will advance to the Pro Cup Finals for the second straight season... SS Whiz Ivie (.391/2 RBI), C Jethro Bibbs (.277/7 RBI) and LF Marv Washburn (.310/12 RBI) all batted in two runs apiece and 1B Enos Benham (.375/6 RBI) rapped three hits, scored three times and drove in a run... 1B Benjy Donahue's (.273/5 RBI) three-run clout that put the Redhawks in the lead 5-4 in the last of the seventh, but they couldn't hold back the Sundowners, who demolished them the final two frames with six runs... Garan Parula (1-0/4.11) staggered in with the win, going seven innings and giving up five runs, but he had to get relief help from closer Tike Collazo (1-1/3.18/2 saves/6 G), who held the Redhawks runless in the 8th and 9th frames.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 4

RASCALS DO IT AGAIN, TIE SERIES WITH WOLVES
After dropping the first two games of the TU title series to the Midway Wolves, the White Rivier Rascals have come back and captured games three and four on their own diamond, White River Stadium... game five will also be there... the Rascals jolted the Wolves for six runs in the second inning and went on to win it 6-3, getting a gutsy effort from 20-year-old Noel Woods, who in a surprise got the starting assignment from manager Marty Blake... it was his first start of the season after 40 relief appearances... Woods (1-0/2.45/3 G) was touched for 11 hits by Midway, but he limited them to three runs in eight and two-thirds innings... Woods fanned seven Wolves and walked just two of them... he was 3-2 in the regular season... Midway left 11 runners on base... White River was sparked by 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.160/4 RBI) and 1B Fred Kraft (.205/4 RBI), both with homers... C Bobby Martinez (.259/5 RBI) went deep for Midway.

Around the Town in the IPA

WHITE RIVER RASCALS

Owner: Tycalco (Tycobbian Aluminum Company)
GM/Manager: Marty Blake

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

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

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

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

The Rascals are administered and managed by former first baseman Marty Blake. He had a legendary career with White River with a .312 BA, 711 homers, 2125 RBIs and 2034 runs. Blake was one of the most prolific hitters in IPA history in his 23 years in the league, playing for four clubs from 2013 to 2035. Blake spent his first 18 seasons with White River. He was a 3-time Golden Glove first sacker and 7-time All-Star. Blake was voted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2036. He ranks fifth on the all-time home-run list, sixth in hits, fourth in RBIs, ninth in scoring runs and 13th in walks.

White River Park (1924)

Capacity: 5,685

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

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 6, 2055

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series - Game 5

MACS IN PRO CUP FINALS AGAIN
For the second year in a row the Wynnamac Sundowners are heading to the IPA Pro Cup Finals... they are the champion of the Ruthlandian Union... as expected the Macs quickly eliminated the Far Mountain Redhawks in five games... southpaw superstar Sammy Hayes finally finally pitched like a superstar, tossing a splendid 5-hit 1-0 shutout, walking only two batters and whiffing seven... Hayes (1-2/6.04) had been terrible in his three previous postseason starts... and Hayes had to be good in game five... Redhawk righty Benny Van (1-1/2.45) also pitched a heck of a game, yielding only one run and five hits in seven frames... the Sundowners put the only run on the scoreboard in the top of the 4th... 1B Enos Benham (.365/6 RBI) started the inning with a single, moved to second on a base hit by LF Marv Washburn (.311/12 RBI) and came around to score on 2B Phil McLemore's (.268/4 RBI) go-ahead single.

Wynnamac skipper Jerry Meeks told the media, "The Redhawks surprised us when they tore up Hayes in game one... after that jolt, our pitchers settled down and really did their job well, racking up four wins in a row and only giving up seven runs."... the Hall-of Fame hurler added, "Now that's my kind of pitching."

Robby Kelly, also an IPA Hall-of-Famer, echoed Meeks' feelings... "We had a great first game, but then it all went downhill... the Macs have really good pitching... we just couldn't hit them."

Kelly also said, "It was great to back into the playoffs for the first time since '47... it would have been a dream come true for Far Mountain, the only IPA club to win three Pro Cups in a row, to get a chance in the Pro Cup Finals against Midway, who is seeking to tie that mark this year... it could have been a magical title series."

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series - Game 5

RASCALS TAKE 3-2 LEAD IN TU TITLE SERIES
Uh Oh!... the shoe is on the other foot... underdog and lightly-regarded White River has somehow managed to take a 3-2 advantage over mighty Midway, the winner of the last two Pro Cup trophies...in game five at White River Stadium, the scrappy Rascals got a super outing from starter Keil Trickett, who stopped the vaunted bats of the Wolves for eight innings in a 5-3 triumph... Trickett held them to just five hits, two runs with no walks and eight Ks... Midway didn't go out quietly and gave the bullpen some problems in the 9th... with one run in and the bases loaded, Ronald Doss (0-1/2.57 1 save/3 G) relieved Arnie Wynyard (0-0/2.45/4 G) and struck out C Bobby Martinez (.258/5 RBI) on just three pitches to clinch the victory... C Wayne Carlton (.487/8 RBI) continued to swing a hot bat in the playoffs... he poked a two-run blast and snapped a 2-all tie in the last of the 6th.. it was his third home run of the postseason... Carlton hit only seven during the regular season... White River collected nine hits, while Midway got seven... RF Daryl Vale (.314/11 RBI) led the Wolves with three hits, including his 4th playoff homer... Rob Land (0-1/3.10) started and did well until the Carlton clout in the 6th... he caught the loss, going six and two-thirds innings and permitting five runs and seven hits... White River won all three games at home.

The Tycobbian League Championship Series will now return to Midway and Joe Wolf Stadium, where the Wolves won the first two games of the series... the Middies have their work cut off for them... they have to win the final two games to get a shot at a third straight Pro Cup... it might be a tall order... White River has two solid pitchers set to go in the last two games... not so for Midway.

The Rascals will go with Nickey Palmer (17-12/3.39) in game six, opposed by Midway's Arnie McGill (19-10/3.14)... game seven, if needed, will pit Cody Butler (13-6/3.16) for White River and Doogie Higgins (12-14/3.86 or Charlie Chase (19-12/4.06) for the Wolves.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 7, 2055

RASCALS UPSET MIDWAY, PRO-CUP BOUND
The scrappy White River Rascals put an end to the Midway dream of a third straight Pro Cup title... the Rascals upset the heavily-favored Wolves in six games, nipping them 7-6 at Joe Wolf Stadium on Mark Gates' 7th-inning homer... relievers Ringo Lanier and Glen Horton were also heroes with five innings of scoreless pitching... Lanier (1-1/3.60/2 G) got the victory with three and one-third innings and Horton (1-0/0.00/3 saves/5 G) logged the save with no runs in the final two frames... it was Horton's third in the postseason... White River racked up 13 hits with RF Junior Sardini (.300/4 RBI) going 3-5, 2B Mark Gates (.318/7 RBI) 2-5, C Wayne Carlton (.477/8 RBI) 2-5 and CF Elton Bellfort (.237/5 RBI) 2-4... even starting pitcher Nicky Palmer got into act with a three-run rip in the six-run second... suffering defeat was the third Midway hurler, Yank Atchley (0-1/2.00/2 G)... he did a fine job, working five innings and only allowing the one run, but it was the game-winner... the top bats for the Wolves were 3B Jamey Southwich (.237/7 RBI) with a three-run homer in the second frame and CF Norishige Ito (.385/8 RBI) with a two-run job in the third... Midway collected 9 hits off three White River pitchers... the Middies battled back from a 6-0 deficit and tied it up in the 4th, but the Rascal bullpen shut them down completely the rest of the way.

White River manager Marty Blake was ecstatic, but controlled... he spoke to the press and said, "Miracles never cease... how about us upending Midway?... we can celebrate the Tycobbian title now, but our main goal is to win it all... tomorrow we'll will have to focus on the Wynnamac Sundowners."

How did they upend such a great team?... the Rascal skipper just replied, "We are not a team of stars... just a bunch of solid ballplayers with a super-duper mound staff."... Blake thought the key to the series was that "We kept the Midway bats under control... and unexpectedly we managed to outhit them... errors played a big part in our victory, too... we only committed 3 miscues in the six games... they made 9... we didn't give up an unearned run... they gave us 11."

White River hit .270 in the six games with 7 home runs and 30 runs... Midway countered with a .259 BA, 25 runs and 8 roundtrippers... As far as team ERAs, Midway posted a 3.35 ERA, while White River was 4.33... the stats are misleading... the errors made a huge difference in the series' outcome.

A terribly disappointed Bobby Dorignac praised White River... the Midway manager told reporters, "White River's play did not surprised us... we knew they had a strong staff going in and they whipped us fair and square... not only are the starters good, so is the entire bullpen."... "Still it's been a magical run for us the past three seasons... we gave it our best and came up short... my bunch of ballplayers are a very special group and I know, win or lose, our fans are still with us."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 9, 2055

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! RASCALS VS MACS IN IPA FINALS
Yes, Island baseball aficianados, it is that glorious time of the year -- the IPA Pro Cup Finals -- when the top two teams in the Islands battle for the much-revered Pro Cup trophy... this year it's between the Wynnamac Sundowners, the best in the Ruthlandian Union, and the unheralded White River Rascals, surprisingly the best in the Tycobbian Union... the 55th edition begins this Monday afternoon, and if needed, will run for one week... it will be a best-of-seven affair... Wynnamac will host the first two games at Granger Field... the next three are slated for White River Stadium... and, if necessary, the final two games are slated for Wynnamac again.

Much to the chagrin of almost all baseball experts, broadcasters and sportswriters all around the Islands, the team least likely to win the Pro Cup is in the Pro Cup Finals... yessiree, the 8th-ranked White River Rascals defied the odds and surprised just about everybody in the Islands... Marty Blake's Rascals will challenge the 5th-rated Wynnamac Sundowners in the 55th edition of the IPA Pro Cup Finals... actually, neither club should be here, but they are... it will be a repeat appearance for the Macs... they lost in four games last year to Midway... White River is back again after a four-year absence... they last appeared in '49 and '50, losing to the powerful Valmara Vipers both years... the Rascals also were in the '21 Finals, falling to the Sligo Rovers... Wynnamac has one IPA crown... they captured it in 2008... the Sundowners also reached the IPA Finals in '44, but lost to the Southport Sun Sox.

On paper, it doesn't look good for White River... the Rascals had the poorest record of any of this year's playoff clubs... they were only 83-72 in the regular season, while Wynnamac was 96-58... White River was near the bottom in batting and offense, while the Macs were near the top in hitting and scoring runs... on the mound they are both about equal, sporting good starters and a good bullpen... also about the same defensively.

So it will be a breeze for Wynnamac?... right?... not so fast... White River bested the 3rd-ranked Southport Sun Sox (99-56) in round one and then pulled a huge upset in the Tycobbian Finals, whipping 4th-rated Midway (98-56), which had won the last two Island championships... now the Rascals must get by a team that whipped the Pro Cup favorite, the Middlefield Roosters (105-49), in the Pro Cup opening round.

IPA Pro Cup Outlook: the teams are evenly matched... should go seven games... and the winner is... surprise! surprise!... it'll be White River... they beat Midway this year... so they should be able to beat the team Midway beat last year... sorry, Wynnamac fans, that's my simple philosophy... this looks like the Year of the Rascals in the Islands.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 19, 2055

WYNNAMAC-WHITE RIVER MATCHUPS
A day before the Pro Cup Finals begin, let's peruse the Wynnamac Sundowners and the White River Rascals, comparing them position by position and looking at the mound matchups... Wynnamac is seeking its second Pro Cup trophy... they won their one and only long ago and far away in 2008... White River has never won the IPA crown... this will be the Macs fourth appearance in the Pro Cup Finals... they also played for the Island title in '44 and '54... the Rascals made the Finals in '21, '49 and '50.

Checking out regular-season statistics, Wynnamac hits much better than White River for average, .277 to .245... scores better 726 to 684... but gets outhomered 125 to 105... on the hill they are fairly even, 3.24 ERA for the Macs and 3.33 for the Rascals... but there is a huge disparity in home runs allowed... Wynnamac only permitted 95 homers to 200 for White River... just about even defensively... White River posted a .974 FA, while Wynnamac was .973 FA... just average clubs with the gloves.

As the old adage says "good pitching beat good batting", let's take a look at the pitching corps... statistically they are almost even... both Wynnamac and White River have strong pitching, but the Rascals have more depth in the bullpen.

#1 starters: Wynnamac gets the edge here... Sammy Hayes (23-10/2.22) gives up far fewer homers than White River's Keil Trickett (18-14/3.04)... Hayes only allowed one home run in the regular season, while Trickett permitted 35... however, the 35-year-old Hayes had two terrible starts in the playoffs and one great one... he's 1-2 with a lofty 6.04 in his 4 assignments... Trickett has been better in the postseason with a 1-1 mark in 4 games and a 3.07 ERA.

#2 starters: the Rascals look best here with George Medworth (15-5/2.88) over aging Nicky Palmer (17-12/3.39)... in the postseason Medworth is 2-0 in 3 starts with a 2.57 ERA, while 36-year-old Palmer is 2-1 in 4 starts with a 4.73 ERA.

#3 starters: White River's Cody Butler (13-6/3.16) has had an outstanding postseason with a 2-0 record and 1.35 ERA in 3 starts and is favored slightly over Dion Delgiorno (15-12/3.62)... Delgiorno has been the Sundowners best pitcher in the playoffs with a 3-0 mark and a super-low 0.70 ERA.

#4 starters: in this comparision it goes to White River... reliever Noel Woods (3-2/3.14/38 RA), only 20 years old, probably will get the call from manager Marty Blake... in the postseason Woods has started one game and won it... he has relieved in two other games... Woods is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA... Macs' skipper Jerry Meeks will go with vet Garan Parula (11-11/3.45) with a playoff mark of 1-0 with a 4.11 ERA in 2 starts and 1 relief appearance.

Bullpen: Wynnamac has the best closer by far with Tike Collazo (5-5/1.48/32 saves/57 G), but he doesn't have much reliable help after him... overall White River's relief corps is much deeper with Glen Horton (9-13/3.89/12 saves/43 G), Butch Slattery (2-1/2.34/1 save/43 G), Ronald Doss (10-12/3.46/2 saves/41 G) and Arnie Wynyard (4-4/4.03/28 G)... the Rascal relievers could be the difference in the series... they have really stood out in the playoffs... much more so than the Sundowners.

Catcher: Wynnamac's Jethro Bibbs (.305 BA/5 HR/53 RBI) hits better than White River's Wayne Carlton (.256 BA/7 HR/41 RBI)... but Carlton is the better defender... edge to Bibbs and the Macs

1st Base: it's even here... Sundowner Enos Benham (.354 BA/10 HR/63 RBI) led the RU in batting with a .354 average, but has little power... Rascal rookie Fred Kraft (.267 BA/26 HR/99 RBI) has power and is an RBI guy... also better fielder.

2nd Base: Wynnamac's Phil McLemore (.262 BA/13 HR/72 RBI/93 R/11 SB) is solid at the plate and excellent in the field... he's more productive offensively than Mark Gates (.228 BA/11 HR/66 RBI)... both are fine defenders... this spot goes to the Macs.

3rd Base: call it even with the Wynnamac's rookie Jason Meeks (.310 BA/2 HR/49 RBI/78 R/8 SB) and White River's Kenny Yarbrough (.263 BA/13 HR/65 RBI/79 R/23 SB)... both are just fair with the gloves.

Shortstop: put this in the Wynnamac column... Whiz Ivie (.293 BA/3 HR/79 RBI/71 R/17 SB) handles the bat well and is excellent in the field... neither Joey Rutigliano (.228 BA/2 HR/35 RBI/12 SB), nor Clifton Remington (.277 BA/7 HR/24 RBI) are close to Ivie's level.

Left Fielder: easily go to the Rascals' Pudge Tate (.309 BA/31 HR/98 RBI/109 R/20 SB)... he's a strong hitter and defender... Wynnamac's Marv Washburn (.273 BA/17 HR/67 RBI/9 SB) is just a dependable and reliable player... Tate is a star.

Center Fielder: not much talent here offensively or defensively on either team... Wynnamac's rookie Claude Garmon (.255 BA/17 HR/40 RBI/70 R/21 SB) is the better of the two... Garmon has more power than Elton Bellfort (.220 BA/5 HR/31 RBI)/9 SB)... don't be surprised if you see Jed Small (.229 BA/11 HR/47 RBI) in the lineup for White River and Dickie Key (.261 BA/4 HR/19 RBI/5 SB) for the Sundowners.

Right Fielder: there are mixed feelings here... rookie Manny Sendejas (.317 BA/4 HR/33 RBI/29 R/4 SB) makes more contact and hits with more power than Junior Sardini (.248 BA/2 HR/43 RBI/97 R/46 SB), but Sardini plays much better defense, scores more runs and steals a lot of bases... even split.

Pro Cup Outlook: Going head-to-head at every position, Wynnamac gets the nod 6 to 5... but the White River mound staff sets them up as the Pro Cup favorite... looks like a seven-game nail-biter with the Rascals pulling off their third big upset in a row in the postseason... the key will be holding down the Wynnamac home runs... the Rascals are also going to have to score some runs, too... the pitchers cannot shoulder the whole load.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 12, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1

MACS NIP RASCALS IN PRO CUP OPENER
Everything went right in the Pro Cup opener at Granger Park in Wynnamac... the Sundowners got solid work on the hill from ace left-hander Sammy Hayes, Whiz Ivie scored three runs and the Macs nipped White River 4-3... Hayes (2-2/5.28) did his job, working into the seventh, permitted only two runs on five hits to even his postseason mark at 2-2 this year... Tike Collazo (1-1/3.29/3 saves/7 G) made his 7th playoff appearance and notched his third save, but he struggled to hold off the Rascals... they got to him for one run and two hits in his two and one-third innings... after a rough 8th, Collazo settled down in the 9th and disposed of White River in quick fashion, retiring all three batters in order... Ivie (.415/2 RI) was the hitting star with four hits and three runs... Wynnamac CF Dickie Key (.273/2 RBI) got the game's only homer... the Macs smacked losing pitcher Keil Trickett (1-2/3.31) hard for four runs and eight hits in his six innings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 13, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 2

MACS WIN GAME 2, TOO!
Known for its fine pitching, Wynnamac posted it second straight victory in game two of the Pro Cup Finals... George Medworth (3-0/2.48) limited White River to just two runs and three hits in his eight innings and stopped them 4-2... the Sundowners are on a postseason roll, racking up their sixth consecutive win... Medworth fanned six Rascals and walked three in winning his third playoff game this season... the Macs jumped on loser Nicky Palmer (2-2/5.28) for four runs in the opening frame... Palmer's three walks added to the big inning... 3B Jason Meeks (208/1 RBI) led the Sundowners at the plate with three hits... they got eight all total... RF Junior Sardini (.294/5 RBI) went deep for the Rascals.

The IPA Pro Cup Finals will switch to White River Stadium for games three and four... if the series goes further, game five will also be played there... game six and seven are slated for Wynnamac.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 14, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 3

RASCALS ALIVE, END SUNDOWNERS' 6-GAME STREAK
Two unbeaten hurlers in this year's postseason playoffs were matched up in game three of the IPA Pro Cup Finals at White River Stadium... going head-to-head were Cody Butler for the hometown Rascals and Dion Delgiorno for the Wynnamac Sundowners... desparate for a win, White River got a fine performance out of Butler, a 31-year-old journeyman... he stymied the Macs 3-1 to cut their margin to two games to one in the best-of-seven series... Butler permitted only six hits, whiffed six and walked none to get his Rascals back into the running for the Pro Cup trophy... another defeat would have probably been fatal... Delgiorno was not at his best as the Rascals rapped him for three runs and six hits in six innings... Butler upped his postseason record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.26, while Delgiorno is now 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA.

Wynnamac got on the board first in the opening frame... CF Dickie Key (.267/3 RBI) doubled to lead off the game and came around to score on 1B Enos Benham's (.344/8 RBI) RBI single... White River tied it up in the second frame on an error and two base hits when 2B Mark Gates (.308/8 RBI) singled in 1B Fred Kraft (.180/4 RBI)... in the third, three doubles by LF Junior Sardini (.306/5 RBI), CF Pudge Tate (.219/6 RBI) and RF Jed Small (.208/3 RBI) put the Rascals 3-1 up for good... that was all the runs Butler needed to put an end to Wynnamac's six-game winning streak in the playoffs this year.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 15, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 4

RASCALS EVEN UP PRO CUP AT 2-2
He only 20 years old and in his second year in the IPA, but Noel Woods is pitching like a grizzled veteran... the White River right-hander evened up the Pro Cup Series at two games each... in game four Woods (2-0/1.80) shackled Wynnamac 3-1, tossing a four hitter, striking out six batters and walking only two... White River only managed three hits themselves... no one could score in the first five frames as Sundowner starter Garan Parula (1-1/4.03) match Woods zero for zero... in the 6th the Rascals got to Parula for a pair of runs on an RBi single by 3B Kenny Yarbrough (.192/6 RBI) and a sacrifice fly by 1B Fred Kraft (.175/5 RBI)... an inning later CF Elton Bellfort (.244/6 RBI) cracked a home run... the Macs couldn't dent the scoreboard against Woods until the 9th... CF Dickie Key (.265/3 RBI) tripled and was driven across by 1B Enos Benham (.338/9 RBI).

Pitching has dominated the series thus far with Wynnamac taking the first two games on their home field and White River getting two straight victories at Granger Field... game five is also scheduled on the Rascals' diamond.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 16, 2055

2055 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5

MACS TAKE PRO CUP LEAD 3-2 OVER RASCALS
It was another down-to-the-wire finish at White River Stadium with the Wynnamac Sundowners taking a tense tussle 3-2 to take a 3-2 lead over the Rascals in the best-of-seven Pro Cup Finals... one more win for Wynnnamac and they will capture their second Pro Cup trophy... Sundowner starter Sammy Hayes hurled seven excellent innings and left for a pinchhitter with a 2-0 lead, but his bullpen couldn't hold it... the Rascals battled back and tied it in the bottom of the 8th... the Macs got the winning run in the top of the 9th when 3B Jason Meeks (.190/2 RBI) hit a sac fly with the bases filled that scored LF Marv Washburn from third base... reliever Billy Skidmore (0-0/0.00/3 saves/7 G) closed it out in the last of the 9th to save it for winning pitcher James Duncan (1-0/3.72/1 save/6 G).

Long balls played an important part in the contest... Washburn (.286/15 RBI) homered in the second for the Sundowners first score... 1B Enos Benham (.338/10 RBI) made it 2-0 in the 8th with another roundtripper... it was the third home run for each of them in the postseason so far... White River came back and tied it in the bottom half of the frame on RBIs by SS Clifton Remington (.154/1 RBI) and pinchhitter Elton Bellfort (.238/7 RBI), but losing pitcher Butch Slattery (0-2/2.00/6 G) couldn't keep the Macs off the scoreboard in the 9th.

White River will have to regroup on the road in Wynnamac... the remainder of the Pro Cup Finals will take place at Granger Field in Wynnamac... game six will feature George Medworth (15-5/2.88) on the hill for the Sundowners and 36-year-old veteran Nicky Palmer (17-12/3.39) on the mound for the Rascals... the Macs beat Palmer 4-2 in the second game of the series.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 17, 2055

MACS WIN 2ND PRO CUP, TOP RASCALS IN 6 GAMES
Two unlikely teams met in the 2055 Pro Cup Finals with 5th-ranked Wynnamac topping 8th-rated White River in six games... standout pitching was the key to the series... the Macs slipped past the Rascals 3-2 in game six at Granger Field to wrap up their second Pro Cup title... 48 years ago the Sundowners won their first IPA crown... George Medworth and Tike Collazo teamed up to whip White River... Medworth (4-0/2.52) started and worked into the 7th frame... the Rascals hit him freely with 10 hits, but they could only cash in for two runs... Collazo (1-1/3.86/4 saves/9 G) took over and posted his fourth postseason save with two and two-thirds scoreless innings... Collazo paced the IPA with 32 saves in the regular season.

White River jumped ahead 1-0 in the opening frame on an RBI single by C Wayne Carlton (.409/9 RBI)... Wynnamac CF Claude Garmon (.278/4 RBI) evened it up with a solo clout in the bottom half of the inning, only to have the Rascals go in front 2-1 in the top of the 2nd, when RF Junior Sardini (.333/6 RBI) singled and drove in SS Clifton Remington (.200/1 RBI), who doubled... it stayed that way until the last of the 5th... Nicky Palmer's bases-loaded balk tied it up at 2-2, then pitcher George Medworth (.083/1 RBI) grounded out to shortstop and plated 2B Phil McLemore (.224/4 RBI) with the Pro Cup-winning run... Medworth notched the win, while Palmer (2-3/5.30) lost it... Wynnamac managed to win despite being outhit 12 to 8.

Wynnamac's mound staff really was magnificent... they restricted the Rascals to 16 runs on 42 hits in 52 innings for a sparkling 2.42 ERA... White River hit a paltry .222 against them with only two roundtrippers... however, the Sundowners just barely outscored them 16 to 15 in the six games.

The White River hurlers did a fine job, too... the Macs batted only .222 against them... with 4 homers... and the Rascals posted a fine 2.65 ERA.

Manager Jerry Meeks of the champion Sundowners was jubilant at winning the Pro Cup, but was a little irked with press and media... "Hey, guys, nobody laid down and let us win... we beat some darn good teams along the way... Middlefield won 105 games this year and we beat them... and then we beat White River, who beat Midway, a team that won 98 games... I'm not sorry we beat all of the teams you picked ahead of us."

White River skipper Marty Blake said he was very proud of his club... "What a season we had... and despite the loss in the Finals, the postseason was even better... we took on the best the IPA has to offer and almost won the whole shebang."