THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 17, 2055

MACS' MEDWORTH VOTED PRO CUP MVP
In a poll conducted by The Islandian Times, there was a lot of competition for this year's Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award... five players got support with the final tally choosing Wynnamac's star right-hander George Medworth, who went 4-0 in the postseason playoffs with a fine 2.52 ERA in 5 starting assigments... during the regular season Medworth, a 5-year veteran, went 15-5 with a strong 2.88 ERA in 22 starts... he also was one of the best relievers the Sundowners had... in all, the 28-year-old Medworth appeared in 38 games.

Medworth was the clear winner getting 55 of the 128 votes... White River's Cody Butler was quite a ways behind Medworth in the balloting, winding up second with 35 votes... number three was Wynnamac left fielder Manny Sendejas with 18... tied in fourth place was Sundowner pitcher Dion Delgiorno and Mac right fielder Marv Washburn, both with 10 points each.

Butler was a standout in the playoffs for the White River Rascals, who lost in the Pro Cup Finals to Wynnamac... Butler was 3-0 in 4 postseason starts with a brilliant 1.26 ERA... he posted victories over Southport, Midway and this year's IPA champion Wynnamac... overall this year Butler appeared in 33 games with a 13-6 record and a 3.15 ERA... he made 24 starts.

Sendejas was the Sundowners' main offensive force with 5 home runs, 14 RBIs and 13 runs scored... Sendejas batted .284 in 18 games... in the regular campaign, he was platooned and compiled a .317 BA with 4 HRs and 33 RBIs.

Delgiorno had a superlative postseason for the Macs, posting a 3-1 mark with a microscopic 1.14 ERA in 4 starts... he beat Middlefield twice in round one... shut out Far Mountain in round two... but lost to White River 3-1 in the Finals... otherwise he would probably have been voted this year's Pro Cup MVP... Delgiorno made 35 starts this season and posted a 15-12 mark with a 3.62 ERA.

Washburn was also an important ingredient in Wynnamac's Pro Cup title... in 17 games he hit .284 and led them with 15 RBIs in the playoffs... Washburn hit 3 homers and scored 10 runs... during the regular season he was one of the top bats in the Sundowner lineup with 17 homers, 67 RBIs and 76 runs... Washburn hit .273 in 115 games.

*** MEDWORTH ** BUTLER ** SENDEJAS * DELGIORNO * WASHBURN ***

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 18, 2055

IPA GOLD BATS GO TO STODDARD AND ITO
The overall best batters in the IPA for 2055 were Tyler Stoddard of the Stoner Stars and Norishige Ito of the Midway Wolves... these were the most dangerous hitters in the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions this season and the winners of the prestigious Golden Bat Awards... for Ito it was the fourth time in his career to be named... he also won it in '52, '53 and '54... this is the fourth year in a row Ito has been honored... Stoddard spectacularly captured it in his rookie season.

Superstar Norishige Ito had another super season with gaudy numbers... he came in second in batting with a .340 mark... only his Midway teammate Daryl Vale had a better average at .350... the 28-year-old Ito also finished second in the Tycobbian Union with 42 homers and 129 RBIs... Cape Coral's Jaybird Ethridge was the home run and RBI leader with 44 and 139 respectively... Ito played in 147 games and led his Wolves to their third straight TU East division title.

Tyler Stoddard, a 20-year-old rookie first baseman for the Stoner Stars, had a terrific debut, batting .307 with 30 home runs, 108 RBIs and scored 102 runs in 147 games, while helping the Stars come in third in the tough RU West.

In the Tycobbian Golden Bat balloting, Daryl Vale finished a close second to his fellow Midway outfielder, Ito... Vale topped the TU with a .350 BA, 214 hits and 118 runs... Vale played in 141 games, drove in 102 runs and had 28 stolen bases.

Third place in the TU poll went to High Mesa's left fielder Tracy McGriff... he sparked the Mustangs to third place in the strong TU East... McGriff was second in homers in the league with 42 and fifth in RBIs with 109 RBIs... McGriff, age 28, hit .306, scored 105 runs and stole 25 bases in 146 games.

Stoddard really had some competition, too, for the Ruthlandian Golden Bat trophy... Middlefield's talented outfielder Trip Agarn had an outstanding year, topping all league batters with 125 RBIs and 105 runs... in 142 games Agarn sported a .310 BA with 31 roundtrippers and paced the Roosters to their seventh consecutive pennant in the RU West... the 27-year-old Agarn has starred for them for the past four seasons.

Coming in third for the Ruthlandian Golden Bat was Fort Benton's 29-year-old third sacker, Steven Hornblower, who came out of nowhere this year to hit .352... in his previous eight seasons with the Defenders, he rarely got a chance to play... he blossomed this year with 16 homers, 93 RBIs and 87 runs in 148 games... Hornblower lost the Ruthlandian batting title by just two points to Enos Benham of the Wynnamac Sundowners.

***** Stoddard ***** Agarn ***** Hornblower ***

*
********** Ito ********** Vale ******** McGriff ******

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 19, 2055

BEST HURLERS HONORS OF '55 GO TO LONG AND HEDGES
The 2055 IPA Golden Arm trophies are in good hands this season... Middlefield's 17-year veteran James Long was honored by the Ruthlandian Union and young Yancey Hedges of the Turon Typhoons was selected by the Tycobbian Union as the best pitchers in the IPA... they were chosen in a media poll by The Islandian Times... this was the third time Long has been award the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award... he also was presented the award in '50 and '54... this is the second straight year Long has won... and the first time Hedges has nabbed the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award.

For the coveted mound awards, Long beat out Wynnamac's Sammy Hayes and Grand City's Zac Borden and Hedges got the best of Arlon's J. C. Hilburn and Southport's Champ Shafer... 35-year-old James Long has had a legendary career with the Middlefield Roosters... 12 times in his tenure the right-hander has chalked up 20 or more wins... in fact, for the past seven seasons Long has reached 20 wins... overall he is 361-208 with a strong 2.67 ERA... the all-time IPA mark belongs to Frankie Quinn with 391 victories... Long is currently ranked 6th... this season Long had some lofty stats with a 25-8 mark and a 2.98 ERA... this year his numbers included four shutouts, 13 complete games and 198 Ks in 305 innings in 39 starts... his Roosters rang up their seventh pennant in a row in the RU West.

Long had some mighty stiff competition for the RU Golden Arm... in second place in the voting was sensational southpaw Sammy Hayes of the Wynnamac Sundowners, who posted a 23-10 record with a super-low 2.22 ERA in 35 starts... at age 35 Hayes led the Macs to their fourth consecutive RU East Division flag.

In the third spot for the RU Golden Arm trophy was Grand City's Zac Borden, who jumped into the IPA limelight this year with 22 wins and 10 losses with a fine 2.45 ERA in 39 starts... the Cybercats won the RU South for the first time in 25 years... Borden is just 22 years of age and throws right... he just finished his second season in the league.

The Tycobbian Union honored 4-year vet Yancey Hedges with 2055 Golden Arm Award... Hedges had a remarkable year with a splendid 26-4 record, posting an impressive 2.24 ERA... he chalked the most wins of anyone in the IPA this season... the 27-year-old righty sparked the Typhoons to a very close second-place finish in the Tycobbian South Division... they were nudged out in a one-game playoff by division-winner Southport.

Number two in the balloting was Arlon's J. C. Hilburn with a 23-11 mark and an excellent 2.34 ERA in 38 starting assignments... the Champions came in second in the TU West to powerful Denton City... Hilburn is 33 and has been with Arlon for the past five years.

The third-highest votegetter was 29-year-old Champ Shafer, who has played seven seasons in the IPA... he began his career with Crystal Lake, but has been with the Southport Sun Sox the last four years... a portsider, Shafer had an outstanding year with a 23-12 mark and a fine 2.59 ERA... he really stepped up to another level this year and helped the Sun Sox win their first TU division crown in five years.

******** Long ********* Hayes ******* Borden *******

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 20, 2055

STODDARD, ICHIKAWA TOP IPA ROOKIES
New blood is the life of all the 64 teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance... it's the rookies and newcomers that regenerate aging franchises and propel clubs that need a little lift to get to the next level and be a contender... from the ashes of the old come the vibrant new players and rejuvenated teams... the top rookies for 2055 were Stoner's Tyler Stoddard and Hillsboro's Ichiro Ichikawa... Stoddard was acclaimed the Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year and Ichikawa captured the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year trophy.

Tyler Stoddard already hauled in the Ruthlandian Golden Bat Award for this season... now he has added the 2055 Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year accolade... in his freshman year in the IPA he helped the Stoner Stars to a third place finish in the RU West pennant race... the 20-year-old slugging first baseman hit at a .307 clip in 147 games with 30 homers, 108 RBIs, 102 runs and 107 bases on balls... Stoddard beat out Taranto's Mark Trupiano and Valmara's Vladimir Szymanski for the best rookie honor.

Runner-up Mark Trupiano, a 23-year-old third baseman, paced the Taranto Tars to a close second-place tie in the Ruthlandian North Division behind pennant-winning Far Mountain... he lit up pitchers for a .334 BA in 145 games with 15 roundtrippers, 81 RBIs, 76 runs and 10 SB.

Ending up third in the Ruthlandian best rookie balloting was second baseman Vladimir Szymanski of the Valmara Vipers... at 21, he led his team to a second-place tie in the RU North... Szymanski hit .316 in 125 games, winding up with 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and scored 73 runs.

Hillsboro right fielder Ichiro Ichikawa, only 20 years old, thrived on IPA pitching in his rookie season and came away with the 2055 Tycobbian best rookie award... he excelled with a .317 BA in 131 games with 32 homers, 93 RBIs, 94 runs and 28 stolen bases... the Blazers wound up in the fourth spot in the Tycobbian East this season.

Southport's standout second sacker, Buzzy McGinnis, was number two in the TU rookie polling... he played in 143 games, batted .313 with 17 home runs, 65 RBIs and scored 113 runs, while stealing 27 bases... the Sun Sox won the Tycobbian South, upsetting powerful Turon... the 22-year-old McGinnis was a vital element in the Southport success this season.

Coming in third was Bayview's slugging third baseman, Byorn Karlsen... just 19 years of age, Karlsen clouted 36 out of the park in 145 games, drove in 106 runs, while batting .257 for the seventh place Vikings.

***** Stoddard ***** Trupiano *** Szymanski *****

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 21, 2055

AGARN, ITO WIN IPA MVP AWARDS
The two IPA Most Valuable Players both sparked their clubs to over 100 wins this season... Trip Agarn paced his Middlefield Roosters to 105 victories in the Ruthlandian Union and Norishige Ito propelled the Midway Wolves to 104 wins... for their accomplishments this year Agarn was chosen the 2055 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player and Ito was selected the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player... Agarn was a first-time recipient and Ito nabbed his third MVP trophy... he also won in '52 and '54.

The Islandian Times conducted a poll of broadcasters and sportswriters across the Islands to determine the winners... in the Ruthlandian MVP competition Agarn got the best of Golden Bat victor Tyler Stoddard of Stoner and Zac Borden of Grand City... in Tycobbia it was a tight race with Golden Bat winner Ito edging out his teammate Daryl Vale and Golden Arm winner Yancey Hedges of Turon.

In his ninth year in the IPA, the 28-year-old Norishige Ito had another colossal season for the Midway Wolves... in 147 games Ito walloped 42 roundtrippers, batted .340 and collected 129 RBIs, scored 108 runs and copped 16 stolen bases... the Midway outfielder was second in the TU in homers and RBIs to Jaybird Ethridge of the Cape Coral Hurricanes... Ethridge topped the IPA with 44 home runs and 139 RBIs.

Ito's teammate, Daryl Vale, finished second in the Golden Bat poll and also in the MVP survey... Vale, a Golden Glove right fielder, had a marvelous year at bat with an IPA-leading .350 BA... he cracked 28 homers, batted in 102 runs, stole 28 bases and led the IPA with 118 runs scored... Vale is just 22 and has played four seasons in the IPA.

This year's Golden Arm trophy winner, Yancey Hedges of the Arlon Champions, was sensational with a 26-4 record and a standout 2.24 ERA... Hedges is age 27 and has been with the club for four years... he wound up a strong third in the Tycobbian MVP poll.

What a fine season for Middlefield's Trip Agarn... he was just barely edged out by Tyler Stoddard of the Stoner Stars in the Golden Bat voting... Agarn returned the favor in the Most Valuable Player poll... he topped Stoddard this time around... Agarn posted a .310 BA in 142 games with 31 roundtrippers, 125 ribbies and 105 runs scored, along with 10 SBs.

Tyler Stoddard, the Stoner first baseman, hit .307 in 147 games with 30 homers, 108 RBIs, 102 runs and 107 walks... a really astounding season for a rookie.

Third place in the 2055 RU Most Valuable Player balloting went to Grand City's exceptional hurler, Zac Borden... the 22-year-old righty was a prime part of the Cybercats' first pennant in over 25 years... Borden wound up 22-10 this season with a fine 2.45 ERA... he also came in third in the Golden Arm competition.

********* Ito *********** Vale ******* Hedges *******

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 22, 2055

RU, TU GOLDEN GLOVERS ACCLAIMED
Good defenders can make any pitching staff better... defense can be a difference maker in winning and losing... a standout gloveman just might be worth his weight in gold... each year the Islandian Pro Alliance celebrates defense by selecting the top fielders at each position in the Ruthlandian Union and the Tycobbian Union... most of the Golden Glove honorees are youngsters... most of them have not won more than twice in their career... St. John backstop Tuffy Palmieri is the only three-time trophy winner... there was only one rookie to make the teams this year... that was Bayview budding superstar slugger Byorn Karlsen, who had a spectacular rookie season with 36 homers and 106 RBIs... he is also a standout defender at the hot corner.

These are the elite defenders around the IPA for 2055.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Freddy De Angelis - Taranto Tars (18-10/3.03 ERA) (1.000 FA) (2-time winner)
Catcher: Tuffy Palmieri - St. John Crusaders (.298 BA/9 HR/60 RBI/63 R) (.996 FA/3 PB/31.7% RTO) (3-time winner)
First Baseman: Chuck Gregory - Belle Plaine Musketeers (.294 BA/17 HR/81 RBI/99 R) (.993 FA) (1st time winner)
Second Baseman: Pablo Mendoza - Volusia Vigilantes (.235 BA/4 HR/53 RBI/52 R/11 SB) (.983 FA) (1st time winner)
Third Baseman: Allen Spears - Glasco Athletics (.286 BA/9 HR/73 RBI/81 R/7 SB) (.956 FA) (2-time winner)
Shortstop: Phil Wilson - Taranto Tars (.270 BA/11 HR/73 RBI/77 R) (.973 FA) (2-time winner)
Left Fielder: Dave Durocher - Grand City Cybercats (.269 BA/18 HR/70 RBI/.75 R/10 SB) (.982 FA) (2-time winner)
Center Fielder: Callum Slattery - Glasco Athletics (.307 BA/19 HR/72 RBI/89 R/18 SB) (.991 FA) (2-time winner)
Right Fielder: Gilberto Gallardo - San Dimas Rancheros (.302 BA/20 HR/88 RBI/78 R) (.983 FA) (2-time winner)

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Erik Branham - Arlon Champions (18-10/3.91 ERA) (1.000 FA) (1st time winner)
Catcher: Raul Robles - Kenwood Wildcats (.238 BA/7 HR/57 RBI/46 R) (.993 FA/1 PB/32.0% RTO) (1st time winner)
First Baseman : Ted Merritt - Midway Wolves (.251 BA/22 HR/87 RBI/103 R/13 SB) (.994 FA) (1st time winner)
Second Baseman: Bob Foster - Hillsboro Blazers (.253 BA/17 HR/68 RBI/72 R/10 SB) (.984 FA) (1st time winner)
Third Baseman: Byorn Karlsen - Bayview Vikings (.257 BA/36 HR/106 RBI/85 R/4 SB) (.970 FA) (1st time winner - Rookie)
Shortstop: Kuzuki Tamura - Ginza Ninjas (.318 BA/14 HR/87 RBI/109 R/30 SB) (.977 FA) (2-time winner)
Left Fielder: Travis Ledger - Chicopee Braves (.284 BA/7 HR/80 RBI/73 R/15 SB) (.981 FA) (1st time winner)
Center Fielder: Maxie Mullinax - Turon Typhoons (.282 BA/13 HR/62 RBI/90 R/28 SB) (.984 FA) (2-time winner)
Right Fielder: Daryl Vale - Midway Wolves (.350 BA/28 HR/102 RBI/118 R/28 SB) (.988 FA) (2-time winner)

Where do you make/get the circle logos from like the Stoner Stars and the Turon Typhoons?

If you've answered this at some other point in the thread, I apologize. I'm just hopping on the bandwagon here!

No problem... I'm always happy to get comments or questions here.

Believe it or not, as untalented as I am with computers, I used justafan's wonderful software to make those logos... I guess I got lucky, because I can't change colors on logos... whatever the color was on the image was what I had to use.

I found the Stars image and Typhoons image on cephasjames' great site for sports images.

The "T" with the huge wave is the Tulane Green Wave's logo, I think.

You will note the fonts are just plain, simple and a little boring on both the Stoner Stars and Turon Typhoons... I can only use block lettering... don't know how to do script lettering on logos, jerseys and caps.

Thank goodness, almost all of my IPA logos, jerseys and caps were made by the graphic geniuses that use to be on the OOTP Graphics Forum... it's not as active like it was 3-4 years ago... it's not easy to get logos, jerseys and caps created like it use to be in the good old days.

Here is the OOTP Graphics Forum link... you will see all of the justafan software for logos, jerseys and caps creation, too... cephasjames' link is also there... see the 5000 logos thread/sticky.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...lay.php?f=3636

Let me know if I can help you.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 23, 2055

STANDOUT SKIPPERS SELECTED BY IPA
How important are managers in baseball?
A famous baseball manager succinctly once replied to this inquiry this way, "If you don't have the hosses, hoss... you don't win."

Well, so much for the importance of a manager in the diamond sport... still, the Islandian Pro Alliance gives them credit for the success of the teams by selecting the top skippers in the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions each year... the Managers of the Year for 2055 are Thomas Hall of the Grand City Cybercats in Ruthlandia and Lorne Evans of the Southport Sun Sox in Tycobbia... Evans won it for the second time in his career... he also was chosen in 2047... this is the first time Hall has been honored... both are 50 years old.

In a fairly close race Evans outpolled Arroyo Grande's manager Eduardo Villanueva for this season's Tycobbian Award... both teams play in the TU South Division... under Evans the Southport Sun Sox improved from third place to first place... the Sun Sox upped their record from 82-72 to 99-56 and won the pennant in a playoff by one game over the defending division champion Turon... the previous season Southport was 22 games off the pace... Evans had a standout career as a player in the IPA... he was voted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2045... Evans batted .305 lifetime with 701 homers, which is sixth best in IPA history.

The only other TU manager receiving support was 60-year-old Eduardo Villanueva of Arroyo Grande, a perennial also-ran in the TU South... the Suns have made vast improvement in the last few seasons... going from 8th (65-89) and 36 GB in '53... to 4th (77-77) and 27 GB in '54... to 3rd place (89-65) and only 9 and a half games out this year... Villanueva was a part of the best era in the team's history when they made the playoffs regularly... he was a solid outfielder and reliable bat from 2019 to 2027, winding up with a .304 career batting average and 229 roundtrippers.

Thomas Hall, this year's Ruthlandian Manager of the Year, starred for Grand City for 16 seasons until he retired as a player in 2041... he compiled a .283 BA and hit 321 homers... this year Hall guided the Cybercats to an 85-69 mark and they won their first pennant in 26 years (2030)... his club improved from 72-82 in '54, winding up in third place and 10 games behind in the division standings.

In another nip-and-tuck vote, Hall bested Far Mountain's Robby Kelly for the top skipper trophy... at age 78 Kelly had a fine year leading the Redhawks to their first pennant in eight years (2047)... Far Mountain went from fifth place and five games behind in the RU North to the top spot... the Redhawks were 81-73 a year ago and 85-69 this season... Kelly is also a member of the IPA Hall of Fame, inducted in 2030... he was 279-196 in his 20-year career with a 3.23 ERA... Kelly was a vital part of the historic team that won the IPA Pro Cup three years in a row (2011, 2012, 2013)... he was 16-10 in his 30 playoff appearances.

Well, that concludes the 55th season of the Islandian Pro Alliance.

A special thanks to all of you that continue to support the IPA.
Much appreciate each and every one of you.

Now, the hard work begins... getting the rosters updated with rookies for the next season.

Will keep you posted on the update of the team rosters.

Completed 40 of the 64 teams... adding in new rookies.

I found a way to make it go much quicker.

300,000 views...dang EC! Great to see you still at this!

GH

Markus has created a simply fabulous game that makes it all possible.

I just love this game.

Just to let you know who GForce is... he is one of the greatest dynasty writers ever on this forum.

GForce is truly gifted as a writer.

Check out his dynasties:

Austin James: Playing For His Life
Pastime Baseball League
US Baseball League
Alltime Baseball League

He has linked them all in his signature in his post above.

GForce's work is pure genius!

Austin James is brilliantly written! It will grab you with his very first post!

I really look forward to his return here on the Dynasty Forum.

Welcome back, my friend!

Very kind of you, sir! Thank you!

GH

Completed all of the roster updates.

IPA Season 56 is coming to a ballpark near you soon!

I'll start with a season preview and prediction.