THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, June 22, 2056

GOOD RACES GOING IN TYCOBBIA, TOO
The pennant races are still going strong in Tycobbia Union... none of the division leaders have huge leads at midseason... Turon (45-28) has the biggest edge in the TU South with a 5-game margin over Arroyo Grande (40-33)... Midway (46-27) in the TU East is up by 4 games over Ozarka (42-31) in the TU East... North Hills (42-31) also has the same margin over second place White River (38-35) in the TU North... but the closest race is a battle royal over in the TU West where Arlon (44-29) has just a scant one-game lead over runners-up Rolling Hills (43-30) and Kenwood (43-30)... and Denton City (41-32) is just 3 games out in fourth place... the races are running pretty much true-to-form... favorites Midway and Turon are on top of the TU East and TU South as predicted by the Island baseball experts... Denton City is hanging close in the TU West... only Oxford in the TU North looks like they are in trouble... the Red Caps are 6 games off the pace of surprising North Hills.

Tycobbian North Division

5-TEAM TUSSLE IN TU NORTH
The Oxford Red Caps were strong favorites to take the TU North this year, but it hasn't panned out that way halfway through the season... it's the North Hills Hawks that are flying high... but the Red Caps are still close enough to get back into the hunt... last year's division winner White River, Luxora and Hartsdale all should be contenders, too.

TU North Outlook: North Hills may be for real... they are the solid ball club and just may pull it off... White River is not as good as they have been in recent years... the Rascals' pitching appears to be on the downturn... but they still have some good starters... Luxora's strength is in its starters, too... Hartsdale has the good offense and may have just enough pitching to hang around in the race... and should Oxford get its mound staff up and going in the second half, they could win it... the Tycobbian North looks like one of the best pennant races in the IPA this year.

1st Place: North Hills Hawks (42-31) are the Cinderella of the Islandian baseball world this season... forecast to finish near the bottom of the TU North, they are sitting pretty atop the standings at the All-Star break with a .259 BA (13th), 325 runs (16th-tied), 38 HR (32nd) and a solid 3.43 ERA (9th).
Last Year: 4th Place (75-79) (7.5 GB)
Last Pennant: 2045... 13 Playoffs... 4 Pro Cups ('34, '36, '38, '41)
Top Batters: LF Clifton Mahaffey (.290/4/47/43/10 SB), RF Eddy Carlyle (.337/6/33/24), All-Star 3B Sam Dunstone (.315/0/31/44/9 SB), 2B Eddie Rojek (.342/4/29/20/4 SB).
Top Pitchers: starters Zip Harben (11-7/3.94), Johnny Kristoff (7-4/2.71), Thad Vachon (6-3/3.73), Juan Cintron (5-3/2.77) and Chuck Kilshaw (7-4/3.77)... reliever DeWitt Dobkins (0-1/1.23/15 saves/20 G)

2nd Place: White River Rascals (38-35) (4 GB)... batting .257 (18th) with 296 runs (25th-tied) and 75 HR (10th)... 3.63 ERA (15th)
Last Year: 1st Place (83-72) (beat Oxford in playoff game)
Last Pennant: '52 and '53... 10 Playoffs... No Pro Cups (made Finals 4 times ('21, '49, '50, '55)
Top Batters: All-Star CF Pudge Tate (.269/17/47/44/11 SB), 1B Fred Kraft (.272/14/37/28/4 SB), LF Jed Small (.292/10/26/19)
Top Pitchers: starters Noel Woods (10-7/2.71), Nicky Palmer (6-5/2.85), Butch Slattery (7-5/4.24), Cody Butler (4-2/3.23)... reliever Ronald Doss (4-4/3.77/8 saves/21 G)

3rd Place: Luxora Zorros (37-36) (5 GB)... hitting .254 (21st) with 296 runs (25th-tied), 57 HR (21st-tied) and a 3.47 ERA (10th).
Last Year: 3rd (81-73) (1.5 GB)
Last Pennant: 2031... 11 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: 1B Wade Tibbs (.335/11/45/42/3 SB), SS Emmett Cusack (.280/6/25/33/11 SB), C Francisco Queiro (.302/8/34/33), RF Marvin Harrelson (.281/3/27/30/6 SB)
Top Pitchers: Starters All-Star Juliano Machado (11-2/2.43), Paolo De Freitas (5-8/2.99), Mack Wellman (6-9/3.93)... reliever Kippy Stearns (3-0/2.67/6 saves/18 G)

3rd Place: Hartsdale Hellcats (37-36) (5 GB)... batting .254 (22nd) with 349 runs (7th), 81 HR (8th) and 3.82 ERA (18th)
Last Year: 5th (74-80) (8.5 GB)... 9 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2046)
Top Batters: C Kenton Carmichael (.247/17/46/39), 3B Al Wakefield (.256/10/37/34/5 SB), 2B Smoky Nix (.259/9/32/42/4 SB), 1B Oscar Blackwood (.255/8/34/36/1 SB), CF Leon Croyle (.298/7/35/34/11 SB), RF Nathan Ivy (.273/6/32/25/6 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Chet Salsbury (12-5/3.11), Christopher Wolfe (7-7/3.54), Bradley Barr (5-9/3.45)... reliever Roy Krieger (3-5/4.15/13 saves/24 G)

5th Place: Oxford Red Caps (36-37) (6 GB)... batting .267 (10th) with 364 runs (5th), 71 HR (13th-tied) and 4.15 ERA (25th)
Last Year: 2nd Place (82-73) (1 GB)
Last Pennant: '52 and '53... 7 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2007)
Top Batters: CF Dwayne Wagner (.282/11/43/37/4 SB), LF Ozzy Ackerman (.305/8/31/30/11 SB), All-Star C Giles Gilliam (.313/8/36/28), SS Roger Bajon (.313/3/30/35/2 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Maury Statler (11-6/2.85), R. C. Russell (6-8/3.79)... reliever Barton Benedict (2-1/2.35/no saves/25 G)

6th Place: Mahaska Haymakers (33-40) (9 GB)... batting .266 (12th), 322 runs (18th-tied), 46 HR (30th-tied) with 3.98 ERA (22nd)
Last Year: 7th Place (66-88) (16.5 GB)
Last Pennant: 2028... 4 Playoffs... No Pro Cup
Top Batters: CF Dub Forrester (.305/10/38/45/6 SB), SS Elvis Gifford (.261/5/42/47/6 SB), 3B Kody Dafford (.273/2/29/24/7 SB)

7th Place: Fairfax Frogs (42-31) (13 GB)... batting .269 (6th), 337 runs (12th), 53 HR (25th) with 4.59 ERA (32nd)
Last Year: 8th Place (65-89) (17.5 GB)
Last Pennant: '32 and '33... 8 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: C Scott Courtney (.291/9/38/39/1 SB), 1B/C Mike Mitchell (.307/3/35/29), LF Wyatt Clausen (.287/6/34/42/20 SB), 3B Andre Marceau (.27/3/28/25/6 SB), 2B Jarred McMain (.253/7/36/35/11 SB), RF Downtown Wyatt (.254/5/32/33/2 SB), 1B Javis Tyler (.267/9/23/16/2 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Shaun O'Riley (7-8/4.16), Jay Jay Dillaway (6-10/4.14)... relievers Robinson Crenshaw (1-3/1.35/8 saves/19 G), Pete Rambone (3-2/2.92/1 save/40 G)

7th Place: Blue Lake Blue Sox (29-44) (13 GB)... batting .252 (24th), 307 runs (23rd), 68 HR (15th) and 4.19 ERA (27th)
Last Year: 6th Place (71-83) (11.5 GB)
Last Pennant: 2030... 3 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2030)
Top Batters: All-Star C Daryl Monaghan (.361/8/39/44/13 SB), 3B Billy Blue (.286/10/41/33)
Top Pitchers: Weldon Nettleton (10-7/3.04), Bobby Nobles (4-3/2.68)... reliever Marty Manush (2-2/2.05/5 saves/15 G)

Tycobbian South Division

TURON TEAM TO BEAT IN TU SOUTH
The Turon Typhoons (45-28) have had a terrific five-year-run, taking the Tycobbian South three times and coming in second twice, losing by one game each time... they are favored by the experts to win by a wide margin this year... so far, so good, this year with a 5-game bulge over Arroyo Grande (40-33)... the Suns appear to be their only competition... third place Summerland (38-35) has super pitching, but can't hit a lick... last year's champ Southport (34-39) just hasn't played well this year... both pitching and hitting is off from last season.

TU South Outlook: Look for the Turon Typhoons to take off in the second half of the season and blow everybody away... with its fine pitching and firepower Arroyo Grande might stay around for a while, but look for the Suns to fade in the race... Turon is just too good.

1st Place: Turon Typhoons (45-28)... batting .273 (2nd), 346 runs (8th), 66 HR (16th) and 2.85 ERA (4th)
Last Year: 2nd Place (98-57) (1 GB)... 18 Playoffs... 4 Pro Cups (2003, 2006, 2009, 2017)
Top Batters: RF Matthew Fears (.304/10/36/38/1 SB), 1B Shoyo Yuro (.288/8/39/34/3 SB), C Doyle Ashcroft (.283/9/36/39), SS Bill Wolverton (.274/5/21/35/6 SB), CF Maxie Mullinax (.285/1/17/32/21 SB), 3B Joel Guidry (.230/9/39/34/2 SB)
Top Pitchers: Bobby Reimer (8-2/2.15), Ollie Dickinson (8-4/2.53), All-Star Yancey Hedges (10-6/2.81)... relievers Nate Scottsdale (3-4/4.07/8 saves/21 G), Dickie Parmenter (4-7/3.84/5 saves/22 G)

2nd Place: Arroyo Grande Suns (40-33) (5 GB)... batting .229, 330 runs, 96 HR (3rd) and 3.59 ERA (12th).
Last Year: 3rd Place (89-65) (9.5 GB)... 4 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: All-Star CF Rueben Jones (.284/26/58/57/7 SB), 1B Russell Taylor (.279/10/29/45/7 SB)
Top Pitchers: Beau McCloud (12-7/3.38), Nap Vickerson (10-5/3.20), Roy Tuthill (10-6/3.27)... reliever Stan Chaffin (1-1/1.76/10 saves/15 G)

3rd Place: Summerland Sunsets (38-35) (7 GB)... batting .234 (30th), 252 runs (31st), 56 HR (23rd) and 2.64 ERA (1st)
Last Year: 8th (62-92) (36.5 GB)
Last Pennant: 2046... 4 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: 2B Zane Howe (.277/11/37/28), SS Jayson Nickell (.270/8/22/38/5 SB), 1B Markus Cruyssen (.270/6/28/20/4 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters All-Star Tommy Underhill (11-4/1.94), Jayson Hallstrom (9-6/2.61), Jacob Vandenboom (5-5/2.68), Rudy Hilgendorf (6-7/2.39)... reliever Rory Poe (3-3/3.00/11 saves/22 G)

4th Place: Southport Sun Sox (34-39)... batting .248 (26th), 283 runs (29th), 48 HR (27th) and 3.36 ERA (7th)
Last Year: 1st Place (99-56)
Last Pennant: 2055... 11 Playoffs... 3 Pro Cups (2027, 2044, 2047)
Top Batters: RF Manuelo Garcia (.303/9/44/36/7 SB), 1B Zee Graham (.240/9/32/25), CF Ross Good (.258/3/31/35/10 SB), 2B Buzzy McGinnis (.281/3/22/40/8 SB), SS Kenny Urban (.253/2/20/33/5 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Zach Phillips (10-6/2.57), Irv Carwell (8-7/3.48)... reliever Troy Hill (1-2/0.39/12 saves/22 G)

5th Place: San Alejo Montaneros (32-41) (13 GB)... batting .223 (32nd), 254 runs (30th), 54 HR (24th) and 3.61 ERA (14th)
Last Year: 6th Place (69-85)... 8 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2032)
Top Batters: CF Paulo Teixeira .277/11/38/34), LF Royce Grantham (.228/11/32/28/2 SB), 1B Dontrelle Bradbury (.235/10/38/22), RF Erik Landau (.247/3/24/38/5 SB), 2B Allen Hooper (.249/4/23/33/4 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Will McKinney (8-8/2.64), Matt Bell (8-9/2.68), Elmer Cane (6-9/4.05)... reliever Marcelo Cervantes (3-2/2.38/13 saves/23 G)

6th Place: Ginza Ninjas (31-42) (14 GB)... batting .268 (7th), 333 runs (13th), 59 HR (20th) and 4.22 ERA (28th)
Last Year: 7th Place (64-70) (14 GB)
Last Pennant: 2031... 7 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: All-Star Ss Kuzuki Tamura (.335/8/43/50/11 SB), 2B Vic Carnaggio (.358/10/38/41/8 SB), LF Chris Pfeiffer (.298/8/38/28/2 SB), 1B Crash Corrigan (.335/7/30/20/1 SB), LF Otto Beckford (.301/3/18/23/4 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Fran Kercheval (9-5/3.16), Motohiro Shima (5-9/3.94)... reliever Abram Worth (1-3/1.71/12 saves/23 G)

7th Place: Colchester Elites (30-43) (15 GB)... batting .258 (17th), 300 runs (24th), 83 HR (6th) and 4.12 ERA (24th)
Last Year: 5th (73-81) (25.5 GB)
Last Pennant: 2036... 4 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: Graig Sutton (.319/19/44/39), 1B Erroll Waldrep (.284/15/50/37), C Ty Kelleher (.261/9/25/20), CF Eldon McLennan (.283/4/25/40/21 SB), 2B James Murchison (.288/4/17/29/7 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Denzel Durand (9-8/3.19), Johnny Walker (6-7/4.02), Champ Meadows (5-10/3.88)... reliever Wiz Allman (1-2/3.35/no saves/29 G)

7th Place: Cape Coral Hurricanes (30-43) (15 GB)... batting .267 (9th), 325 (16th-tied), 61 HR (19th) and 4.54 ERA (30th)
Last Year: 4th Place (79-75) (19.5 GB)
Last Pennant: 2041... 8 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: 3B Jaybird Ethridge (.278/11/53/35/1 SB), 1B Kalian Coston (.274/13/37/36/4 SB), RF Darrin Abernathy (.317/6/25/35/9 SB), 2B Lynwood Barley (.333/5/37/40/10 SB), LF Marvin Cordice (.265/5/22/46/13 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Edgardo Arriaza (8-8/4.22), Frisco Francis (7-11/4.26), Jerrod Kipling (5-11/3.38)... reliever Hawkeye Crozier (3-1/1.86/10 saves/18 G)

Tycobbian East Division

MIDWAY STILL MIGHTY GOOD IN TU EAST
The Midway Wolves won the Pro Cup two years running and had a chance to make it a three-peat last year, but the mighty Middies fell a little bit short and the Wynnamac Sundowners stole their thunder... however, the Wolves are back again and as hungry as ever, on the prowl for their fourth Tycobbian East title in four years and third Pro Cup in four years... at the midway point in the season, Midway (46-27) is still on top of the division by 4 games over the Ozarka Naturals (42-31), 5 games in front of the Red Bluff Red Sox (41-32) and 9 games ahead of their perennial nemesis, the East Point Panthers (37-36).

Tycobbian East Outlook: Midway is still the dominant team in the division by a pretty wide margin and will roll to its fourth flag in a row... none of the pretenders have what it takes to knock the Wolves off the top spot... Ozarka, Red Bluff and East Point will only be playing for the second spot in the standings... the Middies will probably win by double-digits again this year... Midway is actually performing better this year... they still have the same high-octane attack and now have much better pitching... the Wolves will definitely be one of the Pro Cup favorites... a word to the wise: Beware of the Wolves.

1st Place: Midway Wolves (46-27)... batting .272 (3rd), 376 runs (1st), 88 HR (4th) with a brilliant 2.74 ERA (2nd).
Last Year: 1st Place (98-56)
Last Pennant: 2055... 6 Playoffs... 2 Pro Cups (2053, 2054)
Top Batters: All-Star RF Daryl Vale (.341/18/71/45/10 SB), All-Star LF Norishige Ito (.325/21/61/54/4 SB), All-Star SS Kax Clark (.328/3/27/48/2 SB), 1B Ted Merritt (.297/7/38/38/6 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters All-Star Arnie McGill (12-4/2.49), Rob Land (8-6/2.75), Doogie Higgins (11-5/3.12), Will DeBerry (6-9/3.06)... relievers Rocket Rhodes (3-2/1.33/11 saves/21 G), Jeffrey Leonard (1-0/2.21/no saves/15 G)

2nd Place: Ozarka Naturals (42-31) (4 GB)... batting .248 (25th), 296 runs (25th-tied), 47 HR (29th) and 2.98 ERA (5th)
Last Year: 6th Place (27 GB)
Last Pennant: 2040... 15 Playoffs... no Pro Cups
Top Batters: RF Scotty Hannon (.332/7/32/42/4 SB), 2B Foxy Alderson (.263/7/44/26/5 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters John Dickinson (10-6/2.85), Jordy Alberstadt (9-4/3.25), Delmer Jeffries (6-4/2.85), Willis Reece (8-8/3.20), rookie Ronny Belzer (4-4/2.54)... reliever Kaleb Cooper (1-5/3.27/11 saves/21 G)

3rd Place: Red Bluff Red Sox (41-32) (5 GB)... batting .258 (14th), 344 runs (9th), 73 HR (11th-tied) and 4.03 ERA (23rd)
Last Year: 7th Place (67-87) (31 GB)
Last Pennant: 2047... 8 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2004)
Top Batters: All-Star RF Toni Kolkov (.307/21/51/43/1 SB), 3B Monty Lyons (.283/5/25/47/15 SB), SS Wesley Robertson (.306/2/38/39/10 SB), LF Jonathan Haworth (.274/10/39/34/2), C Harry Teed (.295/6/36/29/9 SB)
Top Pitchers: Wilson Sharpe (10-7/2.80), Fred Taylor (5-0/2.26)... All-Star reliever Dontrelle Gilbreath (4-2/0.60/14 saves/26 G)

4th Place: East Point Panthers (37-36) (9 GB)... batting .258 (16th), 363 runs (6th), 80 HR (9th) and 3.89 ERA (20th)
Last Year: 2nd Place (85-69) (13 GB)
Last Pennant: 2052... 7 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: CF Skip Donley (.291/19/55/45/15 SB), C Kenny Bailey (.298/14/42/30/1 SB), 2B Teddy Flack (.269/9/24/56/18 SB), 1B Alvaro Cavacos (.286/8/47/36/10 SB), SS Justin McRae (.265/6/28/46/8 SB), RF Jakie Spears (.302/0/29/35/4 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Benny Allen (8-6/3.04), Al Coatsworth (8-5/3.74), Chip Dowler (5-4/3.42)... reliever Kerry Woodburn (2-6/2.54/11 saves/25 G)

5th Place: Tuckanarra Blue Jays (34-39) (12 GB)... batting .247 (27th), 250 runs (32nd), 49 HR (26th) with 3.08 ERA (6th)
Last Year: 8th Place (64-90) (34 GB)
Last Pennant: 2049... 18 Playoffs... 3 Pro Cups (2023, 2024, 2035)
Top Batters: 3B Newt Crutchfield (.311/8/32/32), LF Jali Toba (.303/6.26/22/8 SB), 1B Rodger Parsons (.280/5/17/21)
Top Pitchers: starters Ozzie Leslie (7-4/2.01), Justn Shank (9-5/2.50), Ian Timms (4-10/2.84), Ralph Ayers (7-9/3.31)... reliever Paul Landale (4-2/2.88/11 saves/22 G)

6th Place: High Mesa Mustangs (33-40) (13 GB)... batting .266 (11th), 370 runs (3rd-tied), 111 HR (1st) with 4.28 ERA (29th)
Last Year: 3rd Place (83-71) (15 GB)
Last Pennant: 2048... 3 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2002)
Top Batters: CF Tracy McGriff (.265/22/44/48/5 SB), SS Tommy Yost (.323/11/31/40), 1B Ward Catlin (.294/17/42/37), 3B Kagetoki Miyazaki (.254/19/49/43/1 SB), RF Curly Yeats (.298/7/30/29/3 SB), 2B Sherm Abernathy (.279/4/36/20/3 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Tuffy Hammel (5-7/3.29), Norman Gurley (7-9/3.98)... reliever Lloyd Armstrong (3-6/3.13/12 saves/27 G)

7th Place: Hillsboro Blazers (32-41) (14 GB)... batting .240 (28th), 322 (18th-tied), 97 HR (2nd) with 3.68 ERA (16th)
Last Year: 4th Place (76-78) (22 GB)
Last Pennant: 2051... 1 Playoff... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: RF Ichiro Ichikawa (.268/15/34/46/10 SB), 1B Dan Bushnell (.298/11/27/24), 3B Bobby Bartell (.252/10/28/41/12 SB).. CF Ziggy Crosby (.209/15/48/27/4 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Elliot Frampton (9-7/3.42) Clay Spencer (6-8/3.51), Ian Barrie (6-11/3.94)... relievers Ron Pryor (1-0/2.39/2 saves/29 G), Hank Greenberry (1-3/2.60/6 saves/17 G)

8th Place: South Fork Stallions (31-42) (15 GB)... batting .253 (23rd), 332 (14th), 48 HR (27th-tied) with 4.55 ERA (31st)
Last Year: 5th (72-82) (26 GB)
Last Pennant: 2043... 6 Playoffs... 2 Pro Cups (2025, 2042)
Top Batters: RF Bob Purkey (.330/11/38/43/11 SB), 1B Pete Arnold (.285/3/32/29/2), C Rudy Maroney (.244/6/29/37/4 SB)

Tycobbian West Division

TU WEST CLOGGED WITH CONTENDERS
Nobody is running away with the Tycobbian West this year... the preseason favorite Denton City Redbirds (41-32) won it handily last year, but they have their hands full of challengers this year... Arlon (44-29) has the lead at midyear, but not by much... Rolling Hills (43-30) and Kenwood (43-30) are both just one game behind with Denton City snipping at their heels only three games off the pace.

Tycobbian West Outlook: Who is the best in the West?... this year's pennant race looks like a humdinger... the top four clubs are in it for the long haul... this one could go right down to the last day of the season to decide it... they are evenly matched... Denton City has the best pitching by far, but the other three clubs can hit and score better than the Redbirds... still we're going to go with the baseball pollsters and pick Denton City in a fight-to-the-finish... with Arlon second... in the recent years the Champions are a proven ball club, even won the Pro Cup in '51... so are the Kenwood Wildcats, who will wind up a close third... the Rolling Hills Reds are the new kids on the block, so we'll place them fourth... the TU West should be a real treat for the fans.

1st Place: Arlon Champions (44-29)... batting .268 (8th), 372 runs (2nd), 88 HR (5th) with a 3.76 ERA (17th)
Last Year: 2nd Place (91-63 (8 GB)
Last Pennant: 2054... 7 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2051)
Top Batters: LF Jaimey Stansfield (.286/24/51/51/13 SB), CF Rebel Bryce (.303/15/44/38/3 SB), C Riley Earnshaw (.336/5/35/34), SS Art Catlin (.292/9/37/27.3 SB), RF Dickie Ringer (.320/2/24/22/3 SB), 1B Timothy Webb (.299/2/18/36/6 SB), 3B Eduardo Garaza (.262/8/35/46/3 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Erik Branham (10-5/4.26), Ty Coffee (10-5/4.00), J. C. Hilburn (7-6/3.16), Dicky Towers (6-3/3.87)... reliever Mack Blair (2-1/2.01/15 saves/27 G)

2nd Place: Rolling Hills Reds (43-30) (1 GB)... batting .278 (1st), 370 runs (3rd-tied), 57 HR (21st-tied) with 3.83 ERA (19th)
Last Year: 4th (79-75) (20 GB)
Last Pennant: 2048... 11 Playoffs... 3 Pro Cups (2029, 2031, 2048)
Top Batters: All-Star 2B Dustin Thibodeau (.315/10/49/46/2 SB), RF Rory Teed (.350/6/30/37/2 SB), LF Jean-Luc Roubique (.269/10/47/34/2 SB), SS Jameson Mulbert (.301/2/31/46/7 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Vance Dillaway (9-3/3.42), P. J. Dunham (10-2/4.02), Tommy Otis (6-7/3.39)... reliever Matty Mosby (2-1/0.37/15 saves/22 G)

2nd Place: Kenwood Wildcats (43-30) (1 GB)... batting .257 (18th), 342 runs (10th-tied), 62 HR (18th) with 3.51 ERA (11th)
Last Year: 3rd Place (82-72) (17 GB)
Last Pennant: 2052... 10 Playoffs... 1 Pro Cup (2014)
Top Batters: All-Star 1B Bralen Connally (.283/16/65/47), LF William Gloucester (.336/5/25/19/1 SB), 3B Delaney Beaufort (.319/1/13/25), CF Linc Chappell (.275/7/25/46/15 GB), SS Bailey Brumley (.251/6/34/36/3 SB), RF Chris McNeal (.217/12/38/32/2 SB)
Top Pitchers: James Farnham (6-4/3.28), Mickey Maughan (7-5/3.85), Ward Elliott (7-7/3.87)... relievers Pee Wee Windham (4-6/2.48/17 saves/30 G), Neal Wilbert (6-0/2.87/no saves/22 G)

4th Place: Denton City Redbirds (41-32) (3 GB)... batting .255 (20th), 319 runs (20th), 64 HR (17th) with 2.76 ERA (3rd)
Last Year: 1st Place (99-55)
Last Pennant: 2055... 11 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: SS Vincent McCloud (.296/12/34/36/5 SB), 1B Val Anniston (.287/11/40/32), 2B Joey Lake (.299/3/30/31/1 SB), CF Pee Wee Crenshaw (.269/9/22/24/3 SB), LF Kris Dustin (.293/10/30/23/1SB)
Top Pitchers: starters All-Star Flash Stringfellow (13-6/2.43), Jayson Mannon (6-10/2.75), Johnny Wingate (6-6/3.13), Randall Neighbors (4-8/3.34), Rance Hasbrough (5-2/2.01)... relievers Burnell Kelley (3-0/0.60/8 saves/17 G), Carl Coons (2-0/0.44/no saves/17 G)

5th Place: Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (36-37) (8 GB)... batting .242 (28th), 290 runs (18th), 73 HR (11th-tied) with 3.37ERA (8th)
Last Year: 5th Place (74-80) (25 GB)
Last Pennant: 2050... 11 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: LF Jed Killick (.270/15/41/39), 1B Clive Caviness (.270/13/38/32), RF Erik Kruger (.270/9/31/29/4 SB), 3B Trace Burney (.265/7/19/38/7 SB), C Hersh Cranmore (.261/5/20/25)
Top Pitchers: starters Scotty Hedwall (10-8/3.32), Kerma Jarvi (6-6/4.15), Jerry MacIntyre (5-8/3.75), Kyle Eastman (4-11/3.60)... relievers Cadillac Bogart (2-2/1.13/15 saves/23 G), Travis Childs (2-1/2.38/no saves/15 G)

6th Place: La Claire Lynx (35-38) (9 GB)... batting .271 (4th), 342 runs (10th-tied), 71 HR (13th-tied) with 4.16 ERA (26th)
Last Year: 6th Place (67-87) (32 GB)
Last Pennant: 2038... 4 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: All-Star 1B Charlie Rodgers (.335/17/52/44), RF Kippy Born (.285/11/38/32/5 SB), SS Horace Rutherford (.305/8/37/28/3 SB), 2B Derek Winchester (.306/3/28/53/12 SB), LF Wilmer Burgess (.280/5/30/31/1 SB), LF Frankie Filchock (.351/5/19/22/2 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Krisjan Valk (10-5/3.38), Kelly Hudgins (7-2/3.22/2 saves/33 G), Chance Coursey (8-7/4.37)... relievers None

6th Place: Chicopee Braves (35-38) (9 GB)... batting .270 (5th), 313 runs (22nd), 46 HR (30th-tied) with 3.59 ERA (13th)
Last Year: 8th Place (61-93) (38 GB)
Last Pennant: 2036... 3 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: RF Travis Ledger (.336/3/38/36/9 SB), LF Johnny Helwig (.299/7/28/27/3 SB), 2B Darrell Stelly (.295/4/19/25), 1B Tex Whatley (.267/6/36/16/2 SB)...Kohana Chaska (.265/4/27/18), LF Alex Mendes (.300/3/13/23/4 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Russ Clooney (9-5/3.53), Chuta Shaman (7-8/3.76), Sharlon Barbour (6-11/3.61)... relievers Rocky Dowling (2-1/1.65/10 saves/16 G), Don Beeton (1-0/1.42/no saves/27 G)

8th Place: Bayview Vikings (34-39) (10 GB)... batting .258 (15th), 314 runs (21st), 82 HR (7th) with 3.93 ERA (21st)
Last Year: 7th Place (67-87) (32 GB)
Last Pennant: 2016... 6 Playoffs... No Pro Cups
Top Batters: All-Star 3B Byorn Karlsen (.321/19/48/34), SS Lou Kauchak (.349/7/26/34/5 SB), LF Noel Connors (.281/1/21/38/10 SB)
Top Pitchers: starters Herm Monday (9-7/3.28), Jules Perot (5-7/4.27), Pedro Montalvo (7-10/4.45)... relievers Skeets Dycus (2-4/3.75/13 saves/24 G), Harv Hays (0-0/1.90/2 saves/33 G)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 1, 2056

SEPTEMBER SURGE OR SWOON?
Six Islandian Pro Alliance Divisions are still up for grabs going into the final month of the season... it's September - time to splurge, surge and soar -- or heaven forbid -- to slump, swoon and go home for the winter... two divisions have been wrapped up so far -- powerhouses Midway in the Tycobbian East and Turon in the Tycobbian South -- both clubs are ahead by 10 or more games.

The best pennant chase is in the Tycobbian West between the Arlon Champions (86-52), Denton City Redbirds (85-53) and Kenwood Wildcats (83-55)... all three are jammed packed with only three games separating them with 16 games to go... they are all sizzling heading into September... it should be quite a finish... the survivor will definitely be one of the prime Pro Cup contenders this year... the TU West is one of the toughest divisions, with solid teams top to bottom... six of the clubs have .500 or better records.

Just like last year the White River Rascals (73-68) and Oxford Red Caps (73-65) are battling it out again in the TU North... the Rascals won it last year by the slimmest of margins, but the Red Caps were the preseason favorite... they are both deadlocked for the top spot this year... it's still too close to call... technically, four other clubs are still in the race, but not likely to overtake the two leaders... in a big surprise White River made it to the Pro Cup Finals last season, falling to champ Wynnamac in six games... the TU North is the weakest division in the IPA... don't expect the division champ to go far in the playoffs... however, I think I said the same thing last year.

There are two pretty good races going on in the Ruthlandian Union... the Far Mountain Redhawks (82-56) are trying to fend off the Taranto Tars (79-58) in the RU North race... both are solid clubs with very good pitching and home-run power... the winner should do well in the postseason... heading into the final weeks of the regular season the Redhawks have a three-game lead over the Tars... Far Mountain won the pennant last year in a torrid battle with Taranto and the Valmara Vipers.

The Ruthlandian East is also close... currently the upstart Eastshore Cotton Kings (86-52) are three games ahead of reigning Pro Cup champion Wynnamac (83-55)... both teams are talented with fine pitching and good bats... both will be threats in the postseason playoffs... the Sundowners are better than they were last year, but the Cotton Kings are a potent force, too... the windup will be exciting.

Over in the Ruthlandian South, five games separate the first-place Waleska Westerners (77-61) and two teams tied for the runner-up spot, the St. John Crusaders (72-66) and last year's winner and this year's favorite, the Grand City Cybercats (72-66)... with the fourth-place Valka Blackhawks (71-67) and fifth-place Crystal Lake Skippers (70-68) lurking within striking distance... doubtful if anyone can catch Waleska... none of the teams, including the Westerners, are playing much better than .500 going into the last few weeks of the season... regardless of whoever wins the division flag, they will probably lose out in the first round of the Pro Cup playoffs.

Over in the Ruthlandian West, the Middlefield Roosters (87-51) have prevailed, but they haven't dominated the division this season... yet the Roosters go into September with a safe seven-game edge over the second place Sligo Rovers (80-58)... Middlefield is seeking its eighth consecutive RU West crown... and will head into the postseason as one of the top contenders... the Roosters have not been able to get past Wynnamac the last two years.

The mighty Midway Wolves (89-49) are 12 games in front in the Tycobbian East on the way to a fourth flag in a row... just about the same for the talented Turon Typhoons (86-52) in the Tycobbian South... the Typhoons have a 10-game bulge ... it will be their fourth title in five seasons... both are primed for the postseason and ready to add another Pro Cup to their collections.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 19, 2056

MACS MISS PLAYOFFS, FALL TO COTTON KINGS
It's all over but the crying in 56 locales around the Islands... however, there is much happiness around the Islandian Pro Alliance, too... at least in the 8 towns that made the Pro Cup playoffs... as expected the juggernaut Middlefield Roosters, Midway Wolves and Turon Typhoons won their divisions and now will be joined by 5 other winners: the Taranto Tars, Waleska Westerners, Eastshore Cotton Kings, Arlon Champions and White River Rascals.

One of the teams missing out on the postseason this year is the defending Pro Cup champion Wynnamac Sundowners, who were knocked off by the Eastshore Cotton Kings in the Ruthlandian East... the Cotton Kings (90-62) outlasted the Macs (90-64) by two games... Eastshore just bearly hung on, going 6-10 in September... Wynnamac had their chance to overtake them, but finished up 7-9 and came up a little short.

The Far Mountain Redhawks (88-66) seemingly had their second straight Ruthlandian North Division title in their sights going into September, but the Redhawks took a dive and were beaten out by the Taranto Tars (91-63)... the Tars went 12-4 down-the-stretch and took the title by 3 games... Far Mountain slumped badly to 6-10 in the final two weeks of the season.

The Waleska Westerners (86-68) triumphed in the Ruthlandian South, holding off the second place St. John Crusaders (81-73) and the preseason favorite Grand City Cybercats (81-73) by 5 games... the Valka Blackhawks (80-74) came in fourth, 6 games back... Grand City took the division flag last year... all of the clubs ended the final weeks of the season with identical 9-7 records.

Mighty Middlefield (95-59) copped its 8th straight pennant in the Ruthlandian West Division, beating out the scrappy Sligo Rovers (89-65) by 6 games... this was the closest battle for the Roosters in years... most of the time they have won by 10 or more games.

The Arlon Champions (97-58) and Denton City Redbirds (96-59) battled down to the wire in the Tycobbian West... the Champs broke the Redbirds' hearts once again with a 4-0 victory in a single-game playoff yesterday afternoon to capture the division flag... this is the third time in eight years that Denton City has had their pennant hopes crushed that way... Arlon did it twice... this season and in 2049... Southport did it in 2054.

Defending Tycobbian North champion White River (82-72) fought off Oxford (78-76) and North Hills (78-76) in September by 4 games to nail down its third division title in a row... the Rascals were 9-7 down the stretch, while the Red Caps folded with a 5-11 mark... Oxford was the preseason pick... the Hawks closed well with a 10-6 record, but had too much ground to make up... White River made it all the way to the Pro Cup Finals last year before succumbing to the Wynnamac Sundowners in 6 games.

IPA powers Midway and Turon both won in routs... Midway rolled to an IPA-best 101 victories and easily claimed the Tycobbian East by 15 games over the East Point Panthers (86-68)... the Wolves were 101-53.

The Turon Typhoons (96-58) reigned supreme in the Tycobbian South Division, trouncing the second place Arroyo Grande Suns (84-70) by 12 games.

2056 FINAL ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE STANDINGS

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 20, 2056

TARS OVERTAKE REDHAWKS IN RU NORTH
The Taranto Tars (91-63) were the preseason favorite in the Ruthlandian North Division and the baseball pollsters were right... the Tars got hot down-the-stretch and whipped defending champ Far Mountain by 3 games... Taranto chalked up a 12-4 in September, while Far Mountain faded to 6-10... the Redhawks blew a 3-game margin in the final weeks of the campaign.

Taranto's fine pitching led them to the RU North title with a impressive 2.96 ERA (1st)... offensively the Tars had very good firepower with 200 homers (1st), but they only hit .248 and were just average in scoring runs (18th-tied)... vets Freddy DeAngelis (22-7/2.61) and Valerio Rossi (20-11/2.54), Phil Castle (15-12/3.42) and Chris Gallo (16-14/3.51) were a solid starting rotation... the bullpen was good, too... defense was just average with a .974 FA... no great contact bats in the lineup, but Taranto had good power with RF Lenny Buisson (.275/31 HR/65 RBI/75 R/8 SB), CF Renzo Caruso (.233/31 HR/56 RB/64 R/17 SB), C Nicolo Parisi (.234/22 HR/69 RBI/54 R), 1B Kuma Toyota (.236/21 HR/69 RBI/46 R) and LF Dominick Sanna (.243/20 HR/60 RBI/71 R)... 9 players had 10 or more roundtrippers... the club just doesn't hit for much average, but they can go deep... the Tars got a good draw in the opening round of the Pro Cup playoffs... they will host lightly-regarded Waleska (86-68) and have a good chance to advance to the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series against the survivor of the Middlefield Roosters (95-59) and the Eastshore Cotton Kings (92-62), two of the stronger clubs in the Ruthlandian Union... the Tars might be a factor in the postseason with its very good starting rotation and long-ball power... however, the bullpen could hurt their chances... lack of contact hitters, too.

Second Place Far Mountain (88-66) took a turn for the worse late in the season and it cost them the division flag... they compiled a solid 3.35 ERA (4th) and had a better-than-average offense (12th), but only average power (14th)... defense just fair with .971 FA... the Redhawks had a solid rotation with Benny Van (21-14/2.98), Stan Smith (17-12/3.05), Eldon Bittner (15-13/3.68) and Frankie Frasier (10-8/3.37)... Brian Townsend (5-6/2.01/29 saves/49 G) was a standout closer... 1B/OF Ox Gless (.287/29 HR/88 RBI/98 R/24 SB) was the biggest threat and had a fine season... 2B Luke Hazlett (.305/10 HR/65 RBI/82 R/7 SB), LF Frankie Neill (.239/29 HR/92 RBI/82 R/15 SB) and CF Lew Aston (.268/23 HR/86 RBI/72 R/10 SB) also contributed to the offense... Far Mountain just picked a bad time to play poorly.

It appears that the Ruthlandian North will belong to Taranto and Far Mountain for the next few seasons... none of the other teams in the division played winning ball and might be a few years away from pennant contention... LaGrange (73-81) came in a distant third, 18 GB... Rudy Barnett (12-9/3.19) and J. T. Dwyer (16-16/3.77) put up the best numbers for the starters... the bullpen was only mediocre with closer Rob Fullmer (6-10/3.99/30 saves)... the Sports only have so-so bats in the lineup... the best sticks are CF Bert Rockenbaugh (.280/13 HR/60 RBI), RF Sonny Ricard (.278/17 HR/67 RBI) and LF Robby Rousseau (.278/16 HR/68 RBI)... there are no real threats in the batting order.

The Valmara Vipers (72-82) finished fourth in the standings, 19 GB... mediocre pitching, batting and fielding... aging vets topped the twirlers: 33-year-old Darus Grajek (16-12/3.26) and 37-year-old All-Star Primo Sirak (16-14/3.38)... no one special in the bullpen, either... C Karol Koska (.254/24 HR) was the most productive bat with some help from Vladimir Szymanski (.294/16 HR) and 1B Timmy Benford (.315/23 HR)... looks like it's time for Valmara to rebuild.

Fifth place went to the Ranford Bulls (71-83)... just a lackluster club... superstar Ralph Hawk (13-15/3.63) really showed his age at 38 this year and is rumored headed for retirement... he has carried the club for almost 20 years with a 351-195 career record... Hawk was 21-12 in '55 with a 2.20 ERA... Martin Futch (7-6/2.05/24 saves/44 G) is the only mound talent to speak of... all-around talent All-Star LF Jedd Blodgett (.296/18 HR/92 RBI/98 R/39 SB) showed good progress in his sophomore season at age 22.

The Glasco Athletics (68-86) were forecast to seriously challenge for the division crown... the A's were the second choice for the pennant, but it never happened... they never contended at all, going 6-20 in April and wound up tied for sixth place with Ancona... Monte France (17-14/3.85) is a fairly good starter... not a lot of offense... fair hitters in 2B Ross McFalls (.272/26 HR/87 RBI), CF Callum Slattery (.317/13 HR/83 RBI/78 R/13 SB) and 3B Allen Spears (.302/8 HR/65 RBI/82 R/8 SB).

The Ancona Red Elephants (68-86) were picked sixth in the preseason poll and wound up right there... 21-year-old rookie hurler Yanni Bubas (16-12/3.69) did well this year, but didn't have much help... Chet Sheldon (4-5/1.63/19 saves/37 G) was another youngster who did well in the closer spot... Ancona just has a few average bats, but nothing special... best of the lot is LF Franco Briganti (.295/17 HR/69 RBI), CF Horace Nickens (.285/12 HR/69 RBI/18 SB) and 2B Jason Seleznick (.249/20 HR/76 RBI).

For the third straight season the Kilkenny Cats (65-89) came in last in the RU North, 26 games behind pennant winner Taranto... Kilkenny is one of the IPA worst franchises with just one postseason appearance back in 2043... Billy Joe Wooster (16-18/3.27) is a quality starter, along with Carroll Hudsmith (17-12/4.07)... and 22-year-old Willie Tobin (1-4/1.23/16 saves/45 G) showed well in the bullpen this year... CF Vance Snead (.304/3 HR/35 RBI/98 R/25 SB) and SS Rex Parkhill (.284/5 HR/68 RBI/72 R/28 SB) are the best veterans... and 19-year-old 3B Tory Upton (.230/22 HR/98 RBI/74 R/6 SB) impressed with his power and production, but didn't hit much.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 20, 2056

WALESKA GRINDS IT OUT IN RU SOUTH
The Ruthlandian South is one of the lesser divisions in the Islandian Pro Alliance, but it was a good race for the fans... seven of the clubs were near the top of the standings at the All-Star break... and it was still up for grabs at midseason... the gritty Waleska Westerners just hung in the hunt and wound up the winner by 5 games over second place the Grand City Cybercats (81-73) and the St. John Crusaders (81-73)... Valka (80-74) came in fourth trailing by 6 games... last year's winner, Grand City, was favored to repeat in the preseason poll this year.

The Waleska Westerners (86-68) played well throughout the entire campaign with only one down month, 14-15 in May... the Cowpokes hit well, score well and have average defense... only shortcoming is power... only 98 HRs (29th)... Waleska won the division three times in succession in '51, '52 and '53... lapsed to fifth in '54, but rebounded to a close third last year... now they are back on top... the starting rotation is a good one with three quality arms in Rory Beecroft (17-15/3.05), vet Lou Carlson (17-11/3.89) and tremendous rookie Bret Shockley (20-12/3.50)... the Westerners need help in the bullpen... the best reliever was Kenny Foster (6-4/3.98/18 saves/42 G)... the rest all had 4.00 ERAs or worse... the top bats belonged to CF Boomer Barnes (.278/18/93/90/5 SB), 3B Richie Fry (.364/4/62/69), LF Bitsy Boccabella (.282/15/71/67/5 SB), 1B Johnny Dillinger (.312/12/71/56) and C Cubby Nash (.272/13/76/83)... Waleska is not expected to get deep in the postseason playoffs... likely to lose in the first round... short on home-run firepower and weak in the bullpen.

Last year's RU South winner Grand City (81-73) flopped in August (11-18) and wound up second, 5 games off the pace of Waleska and tied with St. John... scoring is a problem for the Cybercats with 645 runs (27th)... lack power with 100 roundtrippers (28th)... but the pitching is good with a 3.62 ERA (9th)... they are just average defensively (.973 FA)... leading the lineup are LF Dave Durocher (.291/18/90/77/9 SB), SS Scott MacIntyre (.308/4/44/59/9 SB), 1B Zane Faulkner (.286/2/44/59) and RF Rocky Valverdi (.297/8/26/43/9 SB)... Valverti lost half the season with a bad elbow... have four dependable starters in Steve Shirley (13-5/2.21), Fred Barrow (13-13/2.82), Jozef Chojnaki (17-16/3.39) and Zac Borden (11-15/3.60), but nothing much in the bullpen.

After a seventh-place finish in '55 (71-83), St. John (81-73) improved their attack and climbed into contention this year... the Crusaders also had a bad August (13-16) and lost out late to division winner Waleska by 5 games... they hit very well with a .282 BA (3rd), score well with 743 runs (7th) and the mound staff is fair with a 4.02 ERA... and they handle the defense very well (.977 FA)... most of the offense comes from three regulars: 2B Ozwaldo Romero (.307/23/91/73), CF Freddie Woodruff (.271/8/61/91/18 SB) and All-Star C Tuffy Palmieri (.298/8/58/62)... the trio of Teddy de Grom (20-16/3.56), Whitlow Cornwell (18-11/3.37) and Teddy Howell (14-10/4.11) are pretty reliable starters... with a fine closer in Mark Faber (5-4/2.17/23 saves/45 G), but he has little help in the rest of the bullpen.

Fourth place in the RU South standings went to the Valka Blackhawks (80-74)... they ran a very tight race until midyear, then just slowly slipped behind Waleska, ending up 6 games back... the Blackhawks have a good club... they won the division in '54 (82-72) and were third last year (81-73), just 4 games out... Valka features solid starters (3.49 ERA), but could use some help in the relief corps... the Blackhawks don't hit very well with a .259 BA (25th), but have average scoring with 689 runs (18th-tied) with no firepower... only 85 roundtrippers (31st)... but are strong defensively with a .977 FA... anchoring the mound staff is rookie phenom Aavo Keskkula (20-11/2.32), along with Clark Harrington (17-15/3.53) and Norbert Border (14-10/3.95)... and also Arvi Tamm (8-4/2.40) had a fine season going, but got hurt in July and was lost for the year... Tamm was a big loss... he might have helped the Blackhawks rise higher in the standings... might have posed a bit of a challenge to first place Waleska... another big problem is the bullpen... it's bad... Ricky Cockburn (2-9/3.12/22 saves/44 G) was only decent... he had 22 saves, but was just 2-9 in the won-loss department... the most productive batters were All-Star Olev Tarvas (.317/4/66/78/24 SB), RF Mel Shadwell (.281/13/72/85/9 SB), 3B Corey Belk (.278/4/71/76/11 SB) and CF Marcos Arredondo (.234/9/48/89/33 SB).

The Crystal Lake Skippers (78-76) ran a steady race, winding up in fifth place, 8 games behind... the Skips were a serious challenger until midseason, then fell back in the second half of the year... they were fourth in '55 (80-74), trailing by 5 games... '44 was the last time Crystal Lake won the RU South... the Skippers possess good starters, weak bullpen, average offense and just average gloves (.974 FA)... they hit .263 (16th) and scored 689 runs (18th-tied) with 129 homers (16th)... the Skips were 11th with a 3.73 ERA... Merle Pitts (17-11/2.16) led the staff starters, followed by Ozzy McLendon (14-13/3.52) and Robin Norbourne (12-15/3.93)... not much in the pen... Josh Crosby (5-12/4.30/28 saves/59 G) was the best they had... he had lots of saves, but lots of losses and a sky-high ERA... Crystal Lake had some potent hitters in All-Star LF Zippy Coburn (.332/27/102/100/18 SB), 1B Gib Conlan (.265/25/100/96/1 SB), SS Bama Quade (.287/3/37/91/27 SB) and 3B Jasper Shackleford (.289/22/87/75).

The Belair Beach Sunbirds (76-78) remained in close contention until mid-June, then fizzled out, ending up sixth in the RU South, 10 GB... it's been 9 years since the Sunbirds won the division (2047)... for the fourth straight season they have been a borderline .500 club... they haven't posted a winning season since '47... last year Belair Beach (74-80) was fifth, 11 GB... the Sunbirds don't hit very well with a .262 BA (19th), nor score well with 633 runs (29th), nor hit homers well with only 104 (26th)... the pitching is average with a 3.83 ERA (14th)... however, the defense is outstanding with a .978 FA... the starting rotation consists of Jeffrey Verblen (16-15/3.82), Chris Malbrough (14-11/3.66) and Glen Long (16-16/4.25)... the pen is pretty good with Kyle Gibson (7-5/2.34/28 saves/55 G)... at the plate the best sticks are All-Star LF Curtis Cochran (.330/7/61 85/32 SB), 3B Rusty Van Slyke (.292/15/67/54/1 SB) and 2B Mark Hawkins (.278/14/57/49).

The seventh-place San Dimas Rancheros (73-81) stayed in the RU South race until the halfway point, then quickly dropped out with a bad July (11-17) and an awful August (8-21)... they were 13 games behind by season's end... San Dimas had lackluster hitting, scoring and pitching... with average fielding (.974 FA)... the Rancheros haven't made the playoffs since their last RU South pennant in 2041... they were last in '53 (59-95) and '54 (60-94) and sixth in '55 (73-81)... San Dimas has been stuck in the second division for some time now... but they do have some quality starters in Hernando Almora (17-13/3.88), Tomas Olmeda (16-16/3.83) and Tyler Tydings (16-17/3.95)... plus a very fine closer in Kenny Robinson (1-3/1.31/30 saves/44 G)... the club could use some better relievers... the Rancheros have a few good bats with LF Gilberto Gallardo (.317/27/92/85/1 SB), SS Emiliano Martinez (.259/16/81/59/20 SB) and 1B Kenneth Joost (.337/17/55/49/1 SB).

Pulling up the rear are the last place Claxton Diamonds (68-86), 18 GB... they never were close in the RU South pennant race... the Diamonds can hit homers and score, also have standout defense, but they have bad pitching... they batted .259 (24th), scored 735 runs (9th), hit 181 out of the park (3rd), posted a very fine .977 FA, but had a 4.30 ERA (29th)... Claxton came in eighth last year (69-85), too... won the RU South flag four times in five years from '45 to '49... they have had seven straight losing seasons since... the Diamonds have four pretty fair hitters in CF Scoops Dunn (.305/23/82/88/15 SB), 41-year-old superstar All-Star 2B and player-manager Jojo DeLucca (.298/28/102/85/4 SB), SS Freddi Hahn (.278/22/79/80/1 SB) and RF Bobby Bright (.280/24/73/65)... not a lot on the mound for Claxton... Leon Reynolds (18-11/3.73) is the only starter with a winning record and an ERA under 4.29... Ramon Santos (1-1/2.32/no saves/40 G) might be a good closer next year... he did well in middle relief this season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 20, 2056

COTTON KINGS UPSET MACS IN RU EAST
The outlook in the Ruthlandian East Division this year was not a bed of roses for the current Pro Cup titlist Wynnamac... the pollsters predicted a tough five-team battle for the division flag this season with the Macs the favorite and Marston, Belle Plaine, Sugar Valley and Eastshore in contention... it was a tightly-bunched battle until midyear, but ended up just a two-team affair in the second half of the season between the Sundowners and the upstart Eastshore Cotton Kings... Eastshore, the fifth-choice for the pennant, upset Wynnamac, holding them off by two games... both clubs floundered in the stretch drive with subpar marks... the Cotton Kings slumped to 6-10, while the Macs could only go 7-9.

Eastshore (92-62) is a solid ballclub with fine pitching, good offense, but mediocre defense (.968 FA)... the mound staff chalked up an impressive 3.18 ERA (3rd), the hitters batted .263 (17th) with 733 runs (10th) and 138 homers (11th-tied)... the Cotton Kings were third two seasons ago (87-67) and sixth last year (70-84)... this was the first pennant since 2034... they had a trio of 20-game winners, paced by Bebe Kinney (23-10/2.57), Sam Carmon (22-11/3.49) and All-Star Dain Moore (20-17/3.20)... Malcolm Tansbury (12-9/13 saves/42 G) started in the pen and ended up a starter... Jim DeWeese (4-4/3.62/13 saves/44 G) was just a fair closer... All-Star 3B Ian Kelehan (.310/26/75/101/15 SB) was the team's top batsman with support from 2B Pepper Trantham (.305/8/54/71/3 SB), CF Eldon Woody (.279/16/78/92/20 SB) and C Tony Brunetti (.289/12/65/50)... since they conquered the defending Pro Cup champion Wynnamac, you would think Eastshore would command some respect in the postseason playoffs... the Cotton Kings will be seeking their third Pro Cup trophy, having captured it in 2016 and 2017.

The Wynnamac Sundowners (90-64) were a sound club with a strong attack... the Macs scored 785 runs (3rd), batted .274 (8th) and hit 122 homers (20th)... solid on the hill, too, with a 3.61 ERA (7th)... but just average on defense with a .974 FA... a string of four consecutive division flags was broken this year... the Sundowners made it to the Pro Cup Finals in '54, but lost to champion Midway... they took the IPA title in '55... Wynnamac had a good starting four with superstar Sammy Hayes (20-14/2.68), Duncan Heathershaw (11-6/3.30), Garan Parula (18-6/3.93) and James Duncan (12-8/3.90)... and closer Tike Collazo (1-2/0.21/31 saves/44 G) had an outstanding season... plus the Macs could really smack the ball, sparked by 2B Phil McLemore (.313/13/89/99/9 SB), 1B Enos Benham (.312/18/91/80/1 SB), LF Claude Garmon (.267/19/65/92/27 SB), SS Whiz Ivie (.292/3/54/79/29 SB), 3B Marvin Hayes (.294/9/62/76/8 SB) and CF Snooky Bartels (.314/10/57/60/2 SB)... it took a darn good team to beat them and keep them out of the playoffs this year... look out Pro Cup aspirants Midway, Arlon, Turon and Middlefield... there's a new kid in the Islands - the Eastshore Cotton Kings.

The third place Marston Nine (82-72) have been bridesmaids for the last seven seasons, winding up second or third in the pennant chase... they hung in until midyear, then fell back in the race, eventually losing by 10 games... their last pennant came in '47... Marston, the birthplace of baseball in the Islands, had never won a Pro Cup... the Nine were a well-balanced club with a .282 BA (4th), 736 runs (8th), pretty good pitching with a 3.61 ERA (8th) and good defense (.976 FA)... but they were short on long balls with only 101 (27th)... Marston has a young mound staff with Mark Henley (19-13/3.21), Toby Claypool (17-12/3.40), Lance McElveen (16-18/3.68) and Tris Windham (11-10/3.99)... all are fairly good starters... and Robert Tringle (3-3/1.33/28 saves/50) is a standout closer... leading the Nine attack are RF Luke Cranshaw (.313/10/84/87/12 SB), 2B Damien D'Amboise (.289/7/70/104/34 SB), 3B Jarrod Crutchfield (.314/20/89/60/2 SB) and C Boomer Merritt (.254/25/91/75/2 SB)... Marston is young and talented, but they play in a pretty tough division.

Fourth in the Ruthlandian East Division are the Elnora All-Stars (79-75)... they have been near the top of the standings for the last five seasons... coming in fourth the last three years... over two decades have past since Elnora's last division title (2035)... this year's squad has the artillery and the heavy guns with a .290 BA (1st), 830 runs (2nd) and 158 HR (6th), but possess very little pitching with a poor 4.24 ERA (28th)... and the defensive skill is also lacking (.967 FA)... the top bats are 1B Gus Abreu (.345/15/83/92/3 SB), C Kuro Ishihara (.303/14/70/86/1 SB), 3B Dickie DeBusshere (.326/10/73/68/7 SB), CF Keith Colburn (.316/10/51/79/33 SB) and LF Donald Ray Mooney (.291/23/77/60/1 SB)... Elnora only has two good starters... Matt Mackowiak (19-12/3.52) and Jerry Bertrand (18-12/3.42) are quality arms, but there aren't any other dependable hurlers... the cupboard is bare.

Former powerhouse Sugar Valley (78-76) is still in a five-year long stupor... just prodding along in the second division of the RU East, which they dominated from 2043 to 2051 with 8 pennants and one Pro Cup (2046)... the Rattlers were seventh a year ago (67-87), but improved to fifth this season... they stayed in the hunt for the pennant until midseason, then faded in the second half... Sugar Valley only hit .249 (30th), are mediocre in scoring with 680 runs (22nd), but do hit the ball out of the park with 190 (2nd)... that's mainly because of the small ballpark with its short fences all around... pitching is average with a 3.88 ERA (16th)... fielding is subpar (.969 FA)... not much talent in the lineup... they don't hit the ball with any regularity... most productive are SS Tuck Alstott (.247/18/64/74/24 SB), 3B Shiloh Harris (.217/19/61/62) and C Gavin Claymore (.253/16/59/54/1 SB)... actually the Rattlers have a pretty fair starting rotation with All-Star Antonio Cedeno (20-13/2.87), Elvis Bonham (18-10/3.48), Linus Bourque (13-13/3.99) and Alan Montreuil (11-16/3.72), but the bullpen is lousy.

Sixth place Cold Creek (73-81) had a great start this year... the Catamounts were in first place after the first month... however, the party was over at the end of May when reality set in again... 16 years have gone by since the last pennant (2041)... the C'Cats are just a lackluster club this year with a .260 BA (20th), 716 runs (13th), 140 HR (9th) with mediocre pitching (27th) and just fair fielding (.971 FA)... the top regulars are All-Star SS Joe Cochrane (.289/23/87/96/6 SB), 3B Sandy Ketteridge (.303/16/67/83/11 SB), RF Mel Parnell (.268/19/85/66/9 SB), CF Dave Lord (.297/5/41/62/12 SB) and 1B Bobby Dundee (.303/10/56/55)... heading up the starting rotation are Steve Singletary (15-17/3.77) and Rusty Rotherham (12-12/4.17)... in the pen Rodger Brockhoff (5-6/1.63/31 saves/59 G) had another sensational season.

After two real good winning seasons in a row the Belle Plaine Musketeers (72-82) were predicted to move up in class and challenge preseason favorite Wynnamac... the baseball scribes and pollsters picked the Muskies to finish in third place... but it never happened... out of the gate in April Belle Plaine's fate was sealed with an 8-18 mark... they wound up a distant seventh in the RU East standings, 20 GB... only once in its entire IPA history have the Musketeers made the playoffs... that was almost 50 years ago in 2009... this year's team hits well with a .270 BA (11th), scores really well with 776 runs (4th), has good power with 151 HR (8th), not so good pitching (26th) and they are just fair with the gloves (.970 FA)... the Musketeers are blessed with fine hitters in All-Star 1B Chuck Gregory (.311/38/137/104), C Eliott Somers (.318/18/99/81), LF Andy Williams (.301/6/56/100/9 SB), RF Cody Losby (.274/16/66/83/6 SB) and SS Jed McIntosh (.255/28/88/69/7 SB)... Gregory had a career year at age 32 with 137 RBIs (1st), 38 HRs (2nd) and 104 runs (3rd)... he will be in the running for the RU Golden Bat Award... Belle Plaine only has two dependable pitchers on the staff... starters Joe-Joe Bouvier (18-12/3.27) and Ike Alister (18-16/3.42)... the rest of them have ERAs far above 4.21.

The poor Beechwood Blues (63-91) continue to struggle... they haven't had a winning year for the last 11 seasons (2045) and it's been almost three decades since they played in the postseason (2027)... the Blues were eighth last year (54-100) and eighth again this year, but with 9 more wins... there's not a lot of talent... Beechwood batted .259 (23rd), scored 631 runs (30th), hit 126 homers (18th) and posted a terrible 4.68 ERA (32nd), but they play defense pretty well (.975 FA)... only a few batters are productive: 3B Erik Coulter (.302/8/61/76/11 SB), RF Darrel Felton (.277/7/62/70/10 SB) and SS Eldon Gilbert (.274/6/49/61), all with very modest numbers... Corvell Eddins (13-18/3.83) is inconsistent, but turns in quality starts... Sandy Wilbur (14-14/4.84) led the club with wins, but has a sky-high ERA... in the bullpen Owen Greenacre (4-6/2.68/26 saves/46 G) has the makings of a pretty good closer.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 19, 2056

ROOSTERS ROLL TO 8TH STRAIGHT RU WEST TITLE
By their standards it wasn't a great season for the Middlefield Roosters... they only won 95 games, but they ruled the roost in the Ruthlandian West again for the 8th straight season... Middlefield led the race start-to-finish, piling up a 12-game lead by the All-Star Game and then the Roosters just breezed to the division crown... however, the tough little Sligo Rovers (89-65) closed in on them in the stretch drive a little bit... still Middlefield (95-59) beat them by 6 games... it's the closest race they had in the 8-year run... most of the time the Roosters romp by 10 or more games... the Stoner Stars wound up 14 games back in third place and the Fort Benton Defenders (77-77) finished fourth, trailing by 18 games... the RU West played true-to-form this season... the top four picks in the preseason poll came in exactly that way.

Middlefield (95-59) will not have to deal with its nemesis Wynnamac in the playoffs this year... the Sundowners whipped them the last two seasons in first-round play and spoiled their Pro Cup hopes... but Middlefield will still have to get by a tough and talented team, the Eastshore Cotton Kings in the opening matchup... the Roosters are seeking their third Pro Cup, having won in 2052 and 2005.

Middlefield has the most potent offense in the Ruthlandian Union... the Roosters are the top-scoring club with 895 runs (1st), primarily because of 173 homers (4th)... but they hit fairly well, too, with a .265 BA... the pitching is fairly good with a 3.88 ERA (17th), not a bad ERA considering the small park they play in... however, the Middlefield staff gave up the most home runs in the league with 196 (32nd)... that could really hurt them in the playoffs... the Roosters are just average with the gloves (.974 FA).

Middlefield only has one solid starter... to compete for the Pro Cup trophy, you need three quality hurlers... All-Star James Long (20-9/2.21)... starter number two Scott Cole (19-13/3.53) is pretty good, too... but there is nothing after them... luckily the Roosters possess a good bullpen with Norm Coventry (1-2/1.21/24 saves/42 G) and Yazzy Yastrzemski (7-2/2.33/7 saves/35 G)... where Middlefield shines is with the bats... they have a bunch of them, sparked by last year's RU MVP superstud LF Trip Agarn (.284/43/125/104/5 SB), who had another super season... he tied with High Mesa's Kagetoki Miyazaki for the IPA lead with 43 roundtrippers... was second in the RU with 125 RBIs and third in scoring with 104 runs... other good run providers in the linuep are CF Johnny Wyatt (.255/30/104/67/3 SB), who won the RU MVP in '54, SS Stan Radzikowski (.276/22/92/102/8 SB), 1B Natty Colclough (.298/18/79/59)/2 SB) and 3B Donnie Hix (.271/13/69/92)... Middlefield lives and dies with the long balls... without a solid starting rotation, the Roosters will not go deep into the playoffs... many suspect they will fall in the first round to the Eastshore Cotton Kings.

The second place Sligo Rovers (89-65) have come in second to Middlefield the last four seasons and drew nearer this year, losing out by just 6 games... the Rovers have solid pitching with a 3.08 ERA (2nd), excellent fielding (.977 FA), but lack scoring... they batted .268 (12th), hit 109 HRs (24th) and scored only 671 runs (25th)... to win the division, they need more offense... Sligo's last RU West titles came in '39 and '40... the Rovers won their only Pro Cup in 2021... they are on the rise and have a young team... the future is shining bright in Sligo... Judah Carmack (21-10/2.48) was the biggest winner, but veteran All-Star Mickey Walsh (19-17/2.70) is the ace... Jacky Harshman (17-15/3.02) is a very good number three in the rotation... the bullpen is pretty good with closer Tiger Snodgrass (9-7/3.07/22 saves/46 G)... the Rovers have a lot of fairly good hitters, but no superstuds... SS Clancy Beaufort (.267/25/84/58/3 SB) is the main power and RBI guy... RF Scooter Pugh (.344/8/62/75/14 SB) is the best average... CF Merle Bliss (.290/16/54/80/28 SB) is a good, all-around performer... other contributors are 1B Cliff Hawthorne (.279/15/78/62/14 SB) and LF Josh Brolin (.275/13/58/78/17 SB)... a pennant may soon be on the horizon for the Sligo Rovers... another starter and another good bat could do it.

The Stoner Stars (81-73) have finished a distant third the last two seasons, 22 GB and 14 GB... they haven't won a pennant since 2029... have seldom made the playoffs... just 3 times in the club's history... never won a Pro Cup... the Stars hit well with a .278 BA (6th), average home-run power with 130 (15th) and score well with 757 runs (5th)... pitching is pretty good with a 3.80 ERA (12th)... and they are average defensively (.974 FA)... Stoner's starting rotation has five dependable arms, led by Al Raver (17-10/3.69), Donald Gilpin (16-11/3.92), Brad Squires (15-15/3.66), Ivan Kleczko (13-12/3.75/6 saves/39 G) and Stan Ulmer (12-12/3.48/7 saves/38 G)... none are standouts... nothing special in the bullpen since Ulmer and Kleczko were promoted to starting rotation... the Stars do have a budding star in 1B Tyler Stoddard (.289/22/94/105)... he was the RU Rookie of the Year and Golden Bat last year, but his numbers were down in his sophomore season... still Stoddard had a good year... Stoner has several .300 hitters in the lineup: SS Mac Lord (.325/7/65/67/11 SB), LF Anton Schindler (.315/7/34/59/9 SB), 3B Lance Andre (.313/10/70/77) and RF Tommy Boutwell (.306/14/41/54/8 SB)... plus several that missed it by just a little bit: CF Floyd Baxter (.297/7/50/46/16 SB) and 2B Doug Moody (.292/6/52/56/5 SB)... when the pitching kicks it up to another level, Stoner will be a solid flag contender, not just on the outside looking in from a distant third or fourth place in the standings.

For the first time in 14 years, the chronic also-ran Fort Benton Defenders (77-77) broke even and came in fourth in the Ruthlandian West... they have a horrendous history in the IPA with only one postseason playoff... that was back 2037... 9 times in the last 14 seasons the Defenders finished in the division cellar... so this year was really something to the fans... Fort Benton has a bunch of contact hitters, but no power... they hit really well with a .285 BA (2nd), scored better-than-average with 712 runs (14th), but were terrible with just 74 homers (32nd)... pretty good on the hill with a 3.63 ERA (10th)... and just average defense with a .974 FA... the leading hitters are CF Teddy Keyes (.302/4/73/103/35 SB), 1B Mel Lightfoot (.305/15/82/73), 3B Steve Hornblower (.303/9/76/64/11 SB), SS Sandy Harling (.312/3/67/59/11 SB) and LF Charlie Bondy (.290/6/58/56/2 SB)... heading the mound corps were Zeke Yoder (17-14/3.71), Dave Llewellyn (14-13/2.83) and Gil Hicks (13-19/3.82)... the Fort Benton bullpen is ranked first in the RU with a 2.43 ERA (1st), led by 37-year-old Randy Rinehart (5-5/2.17/25 saves/56 G), Julian Le Carre (3-5/2.56/7 saves/44 G) and Darius Kimberly (5-1/2.11/2 saves/31 G)... the Defenders may hover around the first division in the fourth or fifth slot at best unless they can get a few power hitters... that's their biggest need.

The Rocky Rapids Snappers (71-83) have digressed the past two seasons and slumped into the second division of the RU West... they are fifth this season, 24 GB... last year they were sixth (72-82) and wound up 32 GB... the Snappers are just a lackluster club with a poor offense overall (32nd), average long ball power (17th), solid defense (.975 FA) and good pitching with a 3.55 ERA (5th)... anchoring the staff is Clay Callaghan (21-12/3.14), Lance Obermueller (14-11/3.52) and Kip Golden (15-17/3.73)... but the Snappers have nothing noteworthy in the bullpen... closer Rance Donnelly (5-6/3.72/25 saves/49 G) is inconsistent... sometimes good, sometimes not... not much at the plate, either... best of the lot are just decent hitters: 2B Charles Stradley (.265/13/73/85/20 SB), LF Joe Clarkson (.263/20/74/68/3 SB) and 1B Deke Lundy (.304/20/63/56)... Rocky Rapids has made the postseason playoffs only 6 times in its history with one Pro Cup (2019)... the last pennant came in 2046... a couple of power hitters could make the Snappers contenders in the RU West... help in the bullpen is also a vital need.

The Volusia Vigilantes (69-85) wound up tied for sixth in the RU West, 26 GB... they make contact well with a .276 BA (7th), but have no power with only 86 HRs (30th) and are just average with 710 runs (15th)... the pitching is just so-so with a 4.06 ERA (24th)... and they are not good defensively (.968 FA)... Lonny Rinehart (20-15/2.98) is a very good starter with help from Cloyd Queen (15-17/4.07) and rookie Reynaldo Medrano (10-17/4.11)... young rookie Philip Duron (4-1/3.65) showed well in the last six weeks of the season in 9 starts... nothing much in the bullpen... leading the V's at the plate were 3B Teddy Cornelius (.301/13/69/95/2 SB), 1B Kees Tenbrook (.301/11/61/77/25 SB) and CF Rupert Myles (.290/16/47/57/6 SB)... the Vigilantes have been stuck in the second division for four straight seasons... they were in the RU West cellar last year (62-92)... Volusia has made the playoffs 9 times and won the very first IPA Pro Cup trophy back in the inaugural season 2001... the V's won their most recent pennant in 2043... Volusia is not likely to move up in the RU West... at least, not in the near future.

Colfax (69-85) is a contradiction... they have four All-Stars... and yet the best they could do this year was tie for sixth place in the RU West standings... the All-Stars sparked the offense: CF Stan Kovalenko (.316/9/82/111/20 SB), 1B Nicky Yorke (.303/24/85/84), 3B Nigel Colvin (.296/20/68/89) and C Darrell Dillon (.270/15/81/62)... but the mound corps didn't help them out... Larry McDuffie (14-13/3.66) is the only quality starter... Keith Himmel (12-13/4.23) is just fair... and the top winner Alan Schmitt (18-11/4.76) had the best record because of good run support... and the bullpen is terrible... it's been 7 years since the Colfax Blasters (69-85) posted a winning mark (2049)... they have come in seventh 3 times in the last 5 seasons... Colfax has a fairly good offense with 720 runs (11th), solid hitting with a .272 BA (9th), good home-run power with 138 (11th-tied), average defense (.972 FA), but the pitching is pretty bad with a 4.46 ERA (31st)... Colfax last won the RU West in 2042... in all, the Blasters have appeared in the playoffs 13 times, but most of them in the club's Golden Years... they won 7 pennants in 9 years from 2008 to 2016 with one Pro Cup trophy (2010)... in that glorious season they set an all-time IPA record with 107 victories... Midway tied that mark in 2054... two HOF-ers led that club in that historic year: Ilya Szabo (27-4/1.79) and Jasper LaForge (19-10/3.35)... Jimmy Joe Cartner (27-4/2.86) also played a prime part that season... the top bats were CF Ryan Raines (.293/28 HR/122 RBI/108 R/21 SB), LF Paul Coniglio (.290/30/104/99/9 SB) and 3B Mike Janocko (.344/15/71/48)... a return of the glory years doesn't seem to be in the Blasters' future anytime soon.

The last place Forest City Firebirds (65-89) didn't do very much well this season... they batted .255 (28th), scored 675 runs (23rd), had good power with 153 roundtrippers (7th), poor defense (.969 FA) and a lofty 4.30 ERA (30th)... this is the third straight losing season... no pennants since '48... only 5 postseason playoff appearances... and no Pro Cups... not a very impressive history at all... CF Randy Snow (.296/30/84/89/6 SB) was the club leader in almost every category... you name it and he led it... 175 hits, 26 doubles, 4 triples, 30 home runs, 89 RBIs, 89 runs and .296 batting average... Snow didn't get a lot of help... 1B Edward Pierson (.237/26/76/64/1 SB) and C Dan Brownmiller (.221/14/68/59/11 SB) helped out a little with a few homers and some RBIs... on the hill the Firebirds had a couple of fair starters in Cale Ballantine (20-14/3.71) and Ben Drummond (13-16/3.82)... and closer Tim Varnado (3-7/2.72/18 saves/40 G) had a pretty good year... not much else to brag about... it's going to take Forest City some time to get out of the second division, much less become a contender... the Firebirds have a tough row to hoe.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 19, 2056

RASCALS RAKE IN 3RD TU NORTH FLAG IN A ROW
Defending Tycobbian North champion White River (82-72) fought off Oxford (78-76) and North Hills (78-76) in September by 4 games to nail down its third division title in a row... the Rascals were 9-7 down the stretch, while the Red Caps folded with a 5-11 mark... Oxford was the preseason pick... the Hawks closed well with a 10-6 record, but had too much ground to make up... White River made it all the way to the Pro Cup Finals last year before succumbing to the Wynnamac Sundowners in 6 games... it's not likely the Rascals will go deep into the playoffs, but it wasn't likely last year, either... they will really have a tough task to take the Tycobbian Union title... Midway, Turon and Arlon are very formidable foes.

7 times in the last 9 seasons the White River Rascals (82-72) have taken the Tycobbian North Division flag... they do it almost entirely with quality pitching... the team has a 3.35 ERA (7th)... poor hitting with a .248 BA (24th) and poor offense with only 595 runs (30th)... average power with 137 HRs (17th)... and the Rascals are pretty good defensively (.974 FA)... superstar ace Nicky Palmer (19-11/2.55) is still going strong at age 37 and had a fine season... Noel Woods (16-18/2.69) suffered from lack of run support, but had an impressive year... #3 Cody Butler (14-9/3.14) was a capable starter, too... not much in the bullpen... All-Star CF Pudge Tate (.259/30/83/86/18 SB) and 1B Fred Kraft (.286/29/88/69/9 SB) were the only productive bats.

A terrible June (7-19) and a lousy September (5-11) were fatal to the second place Oxford Red Caps (78-76)... they were picked to win the TU North handily... White River was only the fourth pick... right behind Mahaska and Luxora... recent years have been pretty good to the Red Caps... they won the division crowns in '52 and '53... were third in '54... and second last year, beaten by one game in a playoff with White River... the Red Caps captured their only Pro Cup trophy in 2007... home-run power and scoring are their strengths... they batted .264 (12th) this season with 189 homers (4th) and 760 runs (7th)... Oxford is just fair on the hill with a 4.00 ERA (21st)... and just average with the gloves (.972 FA)... 7 reliable hitters supply the offense: CF Dwayne Wagner (.289/20/81/74/5 SB), LF Ozzy Ackerman (.293/20/56/63/20 SB), 3B Roland Latimer (.269/29/79/71/3 SB), All-Star C Giles Gilliam (.290/16/62/56), RF Wade McGrew (.271/23/72/68/6 SB), SS Roger Bajon (.289/6/64/78/6 SB) and 2B Ethan Cuthbert (.263/18/69/72/9 SB)... Oxford has one very good starter in Maury Statler (20-12/2.60)... veteran ace Rudy Mellancamp (16-10/3.65) is still solid at age 34... and #3 R. C. Russell (15-17/4.23) is dependable... the bullpen is bad with a 4.35 ERA (28th)... all the Red Caps need is a good #4 and an improved bullpen and they will be the best in the TU North... that all that is lacking.

The North Hills Hawks (78-76) did better than expected, tying for the second spot in the standings with Oxford... the Hawks were forecast to finish seventh... for the previous three years the Hawks hovered around the breakeven mark with a third-place finish in '53... and fourth in the last two seasons... North Hills had an impressive postseason resume with 13 appearances and 4 Pro Cups (2034, 2036, 2038, 2041)... from '34 to '45 they were a juggernaut with 11 TU North division crowns... the Hawks are tied for the most Pro Cups with Turon and Valmara... North Hills had better pitching this year with a 3.54 ERA (11th)... they lacked home-run power with only 77 homers (32nd), but hit fairly well with a .266 BA (10th) and scored well with 716 runs (12th)... but the Hawks were bad defensively (.967 FA)... all five starters are quality arms, led by Zip Harben (19-15/3.69), Chuck Kilshaw (13-7/3.67), Thad Vachon (11-8/3.01), Johnny Kristoff (13-14/3.41) and Juan Cintron (12-8/3.70)... the bullpen is hit-and-miss with DeWitt Dobkins (0-7/3.09/27 saves/44 G)... North Hills has several good contact hitters in its batting order, but not a lick of power... the club leaders are All-Star 3B Sam Dunstone (.321/1/65/106/19 SB), LF Clifton Mahaffey (.292/8/82/78/12 SB), 2B Eddie Rojek (.319/9/57/60/10 SB), RF Eddie Carlyle (.321/11/75/47) and SS Pat Johnston (.281/3/71/47/15 SB)... North Hills is on the rise... the future looks good... one or two long-ball hitters are all that's needed to put them over-the-top in the Tycobbian North Division.

It's been decades since the Mahaska Haymakers (75-79) have won the TU North... '26 and '28 were the last division titles... never have the Haymakers won the Pro Cup... basically Mahaska is just a chronic also-ran in the IPA... for the previous three seasons they stagnated in sixth place with identical 66-88 marks... improved pitching moved them up to the fourth spot this year... but they are still not a winning club... the Haymakers are just a fair-to-middling team with a .256 BA (18th), 653 runs (21st-tied) and only 91 roundtrippers (31st)... on the mound they posted a 3.83 ERA (18th)... and defensively they are just average (.972 FA)... on the hill Marty Mobley (13-21/3.15) is the most reliable starter, helped out by Morrie Dalman (18-16/3.62), Pip Cordice (15-12/4.06) and Seth Scully (11-18/4.21)... closer Cubby Darville (6-1/3.47/24 saves/44 G) is inconsistent in the pen... not a lot of quality bats in the Haymaker lineup... the best of the lot are SS Elvis Gilford (.272/13 80/94/13 SB) and RF Dub Forrester (.307/15/59/68/9 SB)... lots of so-so platoon players... a dominant starter and a top-notch hitter would put Mahaska over-the-top and make them a serious challenger in the Tycobbian North... they are not far away from the top-of-the-heap.

The Hartsdale Hellcats (74-80) were picked to wind up fifth this season by the baseball pollsters and that's exactly where they came in... just a so-so ball club with modest pitching and average offense... the Hellcats don't hit for much average, but they have some power... they only batted .244 (27th), but had 152 homers (10th) and scored 694 runs (16th-tied)... pitching was pretty fair with a 3.70 ERA (14th)... and Hartsdale was just adequate with the gloves (.972 FA)... the Hellcats have had only modest success in the postseason playoffs, appearing only 9 times with one Pro Cup title (2046)... no playoff appearances since winning the TU North Division in '46 and '47... anchoring the mound corps is Chet Salsbury (20-15/2.90) with a little help from Christopher Wolfe (12-16/3.65) and rookie Bradley Barr (13-18/3.69)... not a lot in the bullpen... closer Roy Krieger (3-8/3.10/26 saves/46 G) had his first down year after five straight good seasons... Hartsdale has no stud hitters... C Kenton Carmichael (.267/29/88/73) is the team's most reliable and productive bat... and he gets a little help from 2B Smokey Nix (.247/18/68/87/11 SB), 3B Al Wakefield (.237/20/75/74/10 SB), 1B Oscar Blackwood (.242/15/72/68/1 SB), RF Nathan Ivy (.261/14/67/51/15 SB) and CF Leon Croyle (.262/10/57/65/22 SB)... another quality starter, reliever or strong bat could put the Hellcats into the pennant mix... White River has done very well the last decade, but has been beatable the last five years... there is a lot of parity in the Tycobbian North.

The Island baseball polls pegged the Fairfax Frogs (73-81) for sixth place this season and that's how they ended up... the Frogs had a poor first half, but played well the final two months (43-32)... they hit and score well, but don't hit with power... pitching is bad... the Frogs batted .272 (5th) with 744 runs (9th), but swatted only 96 out of the park (30th)... they posted a sky-high 4.37 ERA (29th)... but the defense was above average (.974 FA)... only made the playoffs 8 times in the team's history... last pennants were over 3 decades ago in '32 and '33 with no Pro Cup trophies... Fairfax has been stuck deeply in the TU North second division for a decade... it's been 14 years since they had a winning season... the Frogs were in the basement last year (65-89)... they hit well... CF Paddy Fenroy (.322/3/58/83/21 SB), C Scott Courtney (.298/19/87/72) , 1B Mike Mitchell (.309/5/84/60), RF Downtown Wyatt (.285/13/82/75/4 SB) and LF Wayne Clausen (.270/8/63/89/32 SB) are the offensive leaders... not a lot of talent on the mound... Pete Rambone (7-5/2.65/2 saves/83 G) was used primarily in long relief, but got a shot at an occasional start and was impressive... the starters were just fair at best with Ken Wallington (13-12/4.11), Shaun O'Riley (18-14/4.21) and Jay Jay Dillaway (13-19/4.22)... the Fairfax Frogs could do some loud croaking in the Tycobbian North race with a few good twirlers at The Frog Pond (the Fairfax ballpark).

The Luxora Zorros (69-85) were supposed to ride high this year in the TU North race... Oxford was a strong favorite, but second place was wide open for several other clubs, including the Z's... but they never were in the race and wound up near the bottom in seventh place with no offense, no bullpen and just fair starters... the Zorros only batted .247 (26th), scored just 625 runs (29th), but did sock 149 homers (11th)... defense was alright (.972 FA)... the bullpen was terrible with a 4.72 ERA (31st), but the starting rotation fared fairly well with a 3.65 ERA (10th)... All-Star Juliano Machado (17-11/3.20), Mack McKitrick (9-14/2.56) and Paolo De Freitas (12-19/3.35) are a solid trio... #4 Jimmy Hollis (5-3/2.96) impressed when he was signed in August... veteran closer Kippy Stearns (4-4/3.02/17 saves/40 G) is only fair in the bullpen... the rest of the relief corps is terrible... Luxora only has one legitimate threat in the lineup: 1B Wade Tibbs (.300/23/86/79/5 SB)... C Francisco Queiro (.275/22/78/64) also has a little pop in his bat... nobody else to brag about at the plate... the Zorros had two good seasons back-to-back... second in '54 (7 GB) and a very close third in '55 (1.5 GB)... but this year the offense floundered and they fell to seventh place... the Z's haven't won a pennant since 2031, but have been to the playoffs 11 times in the club's history, but Luxora has never captured a Pro Cup title... and it doesn't appear likely any time soon.

For the last 8 seasons the Blue Lake Blue Sox (59-95) have suffered losing years... this season was one of its worst in history... the last pennant came in 2030, the year the Blue Sox won their only IPA Pro Cup... the team has made the postseason playoffs only 3 times in its history... Blue Lake was 8th in '54 (51-103)... 6th in '55 (71-83), but slipped badly again to last place this year... the Blue Sox don't do anything well... they hit .255 (19th), scored 632 runs (27th) and rapped 117 HRs (22nd)... not much on the mound with a 4.24 ERA (27th) and they are bad on defense (.969 FA)... ace Weldon Nettleton (19-16/3.38) is a solid starter and Bobby Nobles (10-12/3.73) is decent... none of the other starters or relievers are impressive... but Blue Lake does possess an All-Star C Daryl Monaghan (.322/14/67/79/26 SB), who sparkled in his second season with the club... the only other reliable bat was rookie 3B Billy Blue (.297/18/79/66)... the forecast for the Blue Sox is more losing seasons.

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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 19, 2056

TURON TRIUMPHS IN TU SOUTH, Y'ALL!
The Turon Typhoons have won the Tycobbian South Division 4 times in the last 6 seasons... in '51 and '55 they were beaten out in a single-game playoff... in those 6 years they averaged 98 wins per season... yes, you might say Turon has been been a powerhouse in recent years... could this be the Year of the Typhoon in IPA circles?... in the preseason prognostications the Typhoons were a heavy favorite, forecast to win by a dozen or more games... and Turon (96-58) did it... they prevailed over the second place Arroyo Grande Suns (84-70) by 12 games... the Southport Sun Sox (80-74) were third and 16 games off the pace... and fourth place went to the Summerland Sunsets (78-76), 18 games back in the pennant race... Turon was up by 5 games over the Suns and 7 games ahead of Summerland at the All-Star Game break... then the Typhoons proceeded to blow away Arroyo Grande and Summerland in the second half of the season.

Turon (96-58) is a talented team and does almost everything well... the Typhoons batted .279 (1st)... scored 806 runs (3rd)... but they are only average with 139 homers (15th-tied)... strong on the hill with a 3.33 ERA (6th)... and good with the gloves (.975 FA)... the only drawback is its bullpen... it may hurt them in the playoffs... former closer Bobby Reimer (22-6/2.48) really blossomed in his first season in the regular rotation... last year's Golden Arm winner Yancey Hedges (20-14/3.44) still won 20 games, but wasn't as dominating as last year, but did make the All-Star team... Judson Bacall (11-8/3.48) and Ollie Dickinson (12-8/3.25) were pleasant surprises, along with rookie Ivar Jevicks (5-1/2.94)... unfortunately Jevicks had arm trouble and was lost in the middle of May and missed the rest of the season... Turon has a strong core of capable batters: 1B Shoyo Yuro (.313/19/82/88/7 SB), RF Matthew Fear (.323/23/89/79/1 SB), 2B Bo Kaline (.301/8/64/78/28 SB), SS Bill Wolverton (.299/15/75/77/17 SB), C Doyle Ashcroft (.294/20/79/76), LF Andy Wilkerson (.288/14/56/62/6 SB) and CF Maxie Mullinax (.275/4/57/87/35 SB)... the Typhoons have the talent to go deep in the postseason this year... but the winner of the Tycobbian Union really has its work cut out for them with challengers like Midway, Arlon, Turon... and even lightly-regarded White River, which has been known to knock off elite teams in the postseason the last few seasons... the Pro Cup champion this year will probably come out of the Tycobbian Union... the Typhoons have a successful IPA history with 18 postseason appearances and 4 Pro Cup trophies in their collection, tied with North Hills and Valmara... number 5 might be on the horizon this year.

The Arroyo Grande Suns (84-70) have been pretty bad in their history... no pennants and playoffs since 2024... only 4 postseasons overall and zero Pro Cups... but things have gotten better for the Suns ever since they swapped the best player in the IPA in '54... yep, that's right!... they gave up Norishige Ito for three players... they also traded darn good slugging 1B Vince Kinston to Grand City for two starting pitchers... it was a win-win for all three clubs... Midway got superstar Ito, Grand City got powerhitting from Kinston and Arroyo Grande got 5 contributing players in return... two of them strong starters, Beau McCloud and Roy Tuthill... All-Star McCloud (25-12/2.94) has won 60 games in his three seasons with the Suns... Tuthill (20-14/3.15) has chalked up 53 victories in those years... the Suns have solid pitching with a 3.47 ERA (10th), lousy hitting with a pathetic .234 BA (32nd), but good scoring with 196 HR (2nd) and 702 runs (13th)... plus they field well with a .975 FA... add in starters Nap Vickerson (19-14/3.15) and Rocky Steed (15-17/4.06) and you have a formidable foursome on your staff... the bullpen could be better with closer Stan Chaffin (3-5/3.38/22 saves/39 G) the best of the lot... the Suns don't make a lot of contact, but when they do, they do well with the likes of All-Star CF Rueben Jones (.256/41/106/102/18 SB), rookie SS Dan Fargo (.256/32/84/107/9 SB) and solid veteran 1B Russell Taylor (.281/26/80/91/15 SB)... two players in the Midway trade are three-year regulars: 2B Nate Stiles (.227/21/67/66/8 SB) and RF Elton O'Leary (.209/11/53/75/8 SB)... they don't hit for average, but have some pop, and they are good defenders... Arroyo Grande is not far from being a very good club... a couple of good bats and a good reliever could do it.

The Southport Sun Sox (80-74) have been in the first division of the TU South for 15 of the last 17 seasons... winning the division flag 8 times and capturing 2 Pro Cups (2044, 2047)... they actually upset powerful Turon in last year, taking the division flag in a single-game playoff... they always have good pitching, but not always good bats... that's why the Sun Sox slipped to the third spot this year... Southport only batted a weak .249 (22nd), scored only 626 runs (28th), hit just 106 roundtrippers (26th), but compiled a fine 3.23 ERA (4th) and played excellent defense (.978 FA)... the top guns on the staff were Irv Carwell (22-11/3.31), Zack Phillips (3.24) and Champ Shafer (12-6/3.13)... and they have a sensational pen with a 2.22 ERA (3rd), anchored by Troy Hill (5-5/0.82/25 saves/50 G)... no stars in the batting order, but the Sun Sox have a few reliable bats like RF Manuelo Garcia (.302/17/82/82/16 SB), 1B Zee Graham (.252/18/85/54), 2B Buzzy McGinnis (.271/12/61/84/21 SB), CF Ross Good (.255/11/51/77/29 SB) and SS Kenny Urban (.271/8/59/76/12 SB)... boy, what a star hitter or two would do for Southport.

After performing well in '53 (82-72) and in '54 (92-62) with super pitching, Summerland flopped miserably last season (62-92)... but lo and behold the Summerland Sunsets' (78-76) mound staff did a huge about-face and ended up in fourth place with a magnificent 2.93 ERA (3rd)... sadly they didn't have the offense to match... they batted a lowly .238 (29th), scored only 565 runs (31st) and had just 111 homers (24th-tied)... defensively the Sunsets are just average (.972 FA)... Summerland has top-notched starters in 39-year-old superstar and future HOF-er Jayson Hallstrom (20-12/2.45), along with All-Star Tommy Underhill (18-15/2.66), Jacob Vandenboom (11-10/2.88) and Rudy Hilgendorf (15-14/3.35) ... and Rory Poe (4-6/2.40/26 saves/46 G) is a solid closer... the Summerland offense is horrible... 2B Chris Koning (.285/0/22/56/14 SB) has the best average at only .285... LF Cy Brigman (.218/23/65/58/1 SB) has the most long balls... 1B Zane Howe (.255/16/71/55) is the most productive, along with 3B Markus Cruyssen (.224/17/63/40/6 SB)... the overall club history is pretty dismal with just 4 postseason appearances and no Pro Cups... the last pennant came in 2046... right now Summerland is just a middle-of-the-pack so-so club with some mighty fine pitchers... the Sunsets need to get some smack-and-sock in their lineup.

The Colchester Elites (67-87) and Cape Coral Hurricanes (67-87) deadlocked for fifth place this season in the Tycobbian South Division... the Elites are just a lackluster team on the hill (26th) and at the plate (20th), but they do hit with power with 179 HR (8th)... just fair with the gloves (.971 FA)... not very good the last 20 years, finishing mainly in the second division 19 times... Colchester has made the playoffs on just 4 occasions... the last TU South flag was hoisted long ago in 2036... never won a Pro Cup trophy... Denzel Durand (17-16/3.82) and Johnny Walker (11-18/3.89) are just fair starters... and long-time closer Haden Fraser (5-4/3.92/17 saves/36 G) may be showing his age at 34... it was the poorest year he has ever had... however, the Elites have a couple of sluggers in 1B Erroll Waldrep (.300/34/108/77) and Graig Sutton (.295/36/83/78)... CF Eldon McLennan (.314/13/67/90/38 SB) and 2B James Murchison (.282/12/53/69/14 SB) are fairly reliable hitters, too... they really need help on the hill and at the plate.

Success has not come lately to the fifth-place Cape Coral Hurricanes (67-87)... last year they were fourth (79-75), the only first-division appearance in the last 9 seasons... the 'Canes have only been to the IPA playoffs 8 times in their IPA history and have not yet won a Pro Cup... Cape Coral can hit the heck out of the ball with a .276 BA (3rd), 774 runs (4th) and 147 HR (13th), but they can't get anybody out with a towering 4.65 ERA (32nd)... all of the starters have at least a 4.00 ERA or more... Edgardo Arriaza (17-11/4.20) is tops in wins... Jerrod Kipling (11-17/4.01) has the best ERA... and Frisco Francis (15-21/4.66) has the most losses... none of them are really impressive... same thing for the bullpen... sadly most of their ERAs are over 5.00... defense is bad, too, with a .967 FA... but on the other hand, the Hurricanes can hit the ball with 3B Jaybird Ethridge (.268/29/114/74), 1B Kalian Coston (.277/29/84/81/14 SB), SS Lynwood Barley (.318/8/70/80/17 SB), LF Marvin Cordice (.303/12/62/109/34 SB) and RF Darrin Abernathy (.312/11/62/89/20 SB)... a couple of quality starters could really make a difference... the 'Canes could make a run at second or third place.

Only twice in the past 16 seasons has Ginza made the TU South first division (2048, 2051)... it's been almost three decades since they graced the postseason playoffs (2031) and the Ninjas have never captured an IPA Pro Cup title... for the last 5 years they have been marooned near the bottom of the division... finishing seventh the last 4 years in a row... the Ginza Ninjas (64-90) had pathetic pitching this season with a soaring 4.63 ERA (31st)... plus the offense was just average with a .261 BA (15th), 694 runs (16th-tied) and 123 homers (20th)... however, the Ninjas handle the gloves very well with a .977 FA... Ginza has two very talented ballplayers in All-Star SS Kuzuki Tamura (.305/12/89/93/20 SB) and 22-year-old 1B Vic Carmaggio (.344/18/72/90/13 SB), who topped the Tycobbian Union with a .344 BA, which was third best in the IPA... only IPA leader Gus Abreu (.345) of Elnora and Scooter Pugh (.344) of Sligo were better... and not by much... 3B Horace Dyson (.295/3/41/73) and RF Chris Pfeiffer (.283/14/64/58/5 SB) were also fairly good batters... not a lot of quality on the mound staff... Fran Kercheval (14-16/3.76) was the only decent starter... Motohiro Shima (12-19/4.68) also gave them a few quality starts... closer Adam Worth (2-5/1.97/23 saves/45 G) did a very good job with some bullpen help from Georgie Wicker (5-4/3.31/2 saves/63 G) and Sammy Fitzwater (3-2/2.09/2 saves/33 G).

For 17 straight years from 2037 to 2053 San Alejo finished in the first division, but not for the last 3 seasons when they were sixth (75-79), sixth (69-85) and finally this year the San Alejo Montaneros (62-92) sunk down to eighth place, dead last in the Tycobbian South Division... the Monties have never had much offense, always depending on standout pitching, but this year it was abysmal with a .237 BA (30th), only 548 runs (32nd) and 116 HR (23rd)... pitching was just average with a 3.82 ERA (17th)... over the years the keys to the club's success have been superstar hurlers Matt Bell (382-218/2.41) and Will McKinney (321-188/2.64), along with superstar slugger RF Paulo Teixeira (.297 BA/559 HR/1815 RBI)... all of them are up in age... Bell (37), McKinney (36) and Teixeira (37), but still quite productive... Bell was 15-17 with a strong 2.85 ERA... McKinney was 13-21 with a solid 3.28 ERA... and Teixeira led the team with a .280 BA, 23 HR and 74 RBI... McKinney and Teixeira have indicated they may retire this year, but Bell will be back... he only need 12 more wins to become the IPA all-time leader in wins... Frankie Quinn, the Fort Benton and Blue Lake great, holds the record with 391 victories... it might be really tough for Bell to break the record because San Alejo is so bad and seem to be getting worse... the future HOF-ers didn't have much help... closer Marcelo Cervantes (6-8/2.76/17 saves/44 G) performed well, but the rest of the staff was useless... no one in the batting order came close to Teixeira's numbers... 2B Allen Hooper (.271/8/39/75/8 SB) and 3B Benito Clemente (.268/3/53/52/14 SB) were just fair at best... the Montaneros need a severe rebuilding... they are just too old now with very little talent.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 19, 2056

WOLVES DEVOUR TU EAST AGAIN
Just like they have done in recent years, the mighty Midway Wolves (101-53) devoured the Tycobbian East teams again for the fourth season in a row, topping their closest competitor, the East Point Panthers (86-68), by 15 games... the Ozarka Naturals (83-71) came in third, trailing by 18 games... and the Tuckanarra Blue Jays (78-76) wound up fourth in the standings and 23 games off the pace... the Nats (4 GB)and the Red Bluff Red Sox (5 GB) hung kind of close until midsummer, then the Middies just took off and left everybody in their wake.

Midway (101-53) topped the entire IPA with 101 victories... batting .269 (7th), scoring 772 runs (5th) and slamming 172 HR (9th)... they were even better on the mound with a sizzling 2.84 ERA (2nd)... and they were good defensively with a .975 FA... it is hard to find a weakness in the Midway Wolves this year... they will be a very potent team in the postseason... Midway has only been successful in the playoffs in the last few seasons, winning two Pro Cups (2053, 2054)... and they were favored to three-peat last year, but were upset by White River... prior to that they had appeared only 3 times in the playoffs without success... this will be their seventh postseason... they will be seeking a third Pro Cup trophy... it will not be easy as two very good clubs are waiting in the wings: highly-respected Turon (96-58) and highly-regarded Arlon (97-58), along with dangerous White River (82-72), which has a fine pitching staff... the Rascals made the Pro Cup Finals last year and lost to Wynnamac... the Wolves have an outstanding staff, both starters and bullpen... Midway has three 20-game winners, All-Star Arnie McGill (22-8/2.62), Rob Land (21-9/2.74) and Dookie Higgins (21-9/3.24)... #4 starter Will DeBerry (14-14/3.05) is a quality arm, too... the bullpenners may be superior to the starters, led by closer Rocket Rhodes (9-5/2.75/21 saves/49 G) and Jeffrey Leonard (2-1/1.31/8 saves/37 G)... all of the relievers have ERAs under 3.00... the Middies can put runs on the scoreboard, too, with four fine threats: All-Star RF Daryl Vale (.343/41/133/109/23 SB), All-Star LF Norishige Ito (.314/38/116/107/9 SB), 1B Ted Merritt (.287/26/101/96/13 SB) and All-Star SS Kax Clark (.300/6/59/90/5 SB).

The East Point Panthers (86-68) again ran second to Midway... five times in the last seven seasons the Panthers have been the runner-up in the Tycobbian East race... the other two years they were the division winners (2050, 2052)... East Point has a standout offense with a .269 BA (6th), 814 runs (2nd) and 181 roundtrippers (7th)... but they are just average on the hill with a 3.76 ERA... which could be a little misleading... the Panthers play in a small ballpark... the staff may be better than their stats... East Point has made the playoffs only 7 times and have never won a Pro Cup trophy... facing the current Panthers can be daunting... the lineup is stocked with solid hitters, top to bottom... CF Skip Donley (.296/41/118/106/23 SB) had a breakout year... in the IPA Donley finished third in homers (41), fourth in RBIs (118) and eighth in runs scored (106)... and he had a lot of help from 1B Alvaro Cavacos (.273/25/90/84/19 SB), C Kenny Bailey (.274/27/96/69), 2B Teddy Flack (.285/19/59/112/35 SB), SS Justin McRae (.297/13/75/104/21 SB), RF Jakie Spears (.308/0/58/67/14 SB), LF Pokie Ash (.312/9/71/61/16 SB) and 3B Manny Powers (.276/12/58/67)... ace starter Benny Allen (17-10/3.03) had one of his better years and is getting better with age... Al Coatsworth (18-12/3.60) was solid performer... as was rookie Eddy Winbourne (14-6/3.75)... however, long-time star Ralph Wallace (9-10/4.25) had an off-year... the bullpen gave up too many homers... the top relievers were just adequate: Marty Yaden (8-1/3.03/1 save/47 G) and Kerry Woodburn (5-12/2.93/25 saves/51 G).

The third place Ozarka Naturals (83-71) returned to the first division this year for the first time in years... the Nats were a very successful club in the first two decades of the Islandian Pro Alliance with 13 postseason appearances, but it's been all downhill since with only two more pennants (2030, 2040)... however, Ozarka has made progress in the last five years... the Naturals were last for three years, '52 (70-84), '53 (61-93) and '54 (61-93)... they inproved to sixth place in '55 (71-83) and came in third this season (83-71)... better pitching and excellent defense were the reasons for the turnaround... Ozarka posted a 3.38 ERA (9th) this season with an impressive .977 FA... but the offense came up short with a .247 BA (25th), only 651 runs (23rd) and just 100 longballs (29th)... the Nats have a good starting rotation with John Dickinson (20-12/2.91), Willis Reece (17-17/3.26), Delmer Jeffries (11-8/3.29) and Jordy Alberstadt (15-10/3.89)... the bullpen is just so-so with Larry Lambert (6-2/2.23/3 saves/31 G) and Franco Perrina (2-4/3.01/41 G)... Ozarka only has one reliable hitter in the batting order: RF Scotty Hannon (.293/19/78/83/8 SB)... 2B Foxy Alderson (.258/10/83/57/12 SB) is just a fair hitter... not much after him... the Nats have a long way to go to compete with the likes of Midway... not likely soon.

This year the Tuckanarra Blue Jays (78-76) also returned to the first division in the TU East with a fourth-place finish (23 GB)... they were seventh (75-79) in '54 and a pathetic eighth (64-90) in '55... much better pitching did wonders for the Bluebirds... the Tucks posted a 3.31 ERA (5th), along with excellent fielding (.978 FA)... but scoring runs posed a problem (26th)... they compiled a .261 BA (14th), hit only 103 homers (27th-tied) and could turn them into only 638 runs (26th)... Tuckanarra has a good set of starters, led by Ozzie Leslie (16-11/2.90), rookie Justin Shank (16-13/3.16), Ian Timms (13-16/3.19) and Ralph Ayers (12-14/3.64)... the bullpen has a good closer in Paul Landale (7-7/3.20/29 saves/54 G), plus two other solid relievers in Terence Gargan (3-1/2.61/no saves/40 G) and Smokey Joe Ellison (4-1/2.85/1 save/37 G)... the Blue Jays have several fine contact hitters in 3B Newt Crutchfield (.319/13/78/76), LF Jali Toba (.307/12/55/62/18 SB) and 1B Rodger Parsons (.305/11/49/54), but none of them hit with much power... Tuckanarra has done well over the years, but not lately... they finished in the Tycobbian East first division 28 straight seasons (2023-2050)... the Tucks made the playoffs 17 times in the first four decades... and captured 3 Pro Cups (2023, 2024, 2035), but have won just one pennant since 2039... that was in '49... could be quite a while before they win another one.

The High Mesa Mustangs (75-79) hit with robust power, but it couldn't get them into the first division of the Tycobbian East... good pitching is an important ingredient to success in the baseball world... the Ponies came in fifth and 26 GB despite leading the IPA with 211 roundtrippers... they batted a solid .268 (8th) and scored 769 runs (6th), but the pitching staff gave up 191 homers (30th)... the Mustangs logged a ho-hum 4.19 ERA (25th) and also played poorly in the field with a .968 FA... but High Mesa really shined at the plate, led by beaucoup batters like CF Tracy McGriff (.283/40/104/111/10 SB), 3B Kagetoki Miyazaki (.273/43/109/89/1 SB), SS Tommy Yost (.335/21/82/80), 1B Ward Catlin (.292/28/72/74) and LF Virgil Lawton (.291/13/48/78/29 SB)... on the hill Tuffy Hammel (18-13/3.15) was the only effective starter... in the bullpen the only dependable reliever was Lloyd Armstrong (5-9/2.83/25 saves/50 G)... a poor start in April (7-19) doomed High Mesa's season... the Mustangs played fairly well the rest of the year, but had too much ground to make up and they just missed out on the first division... High Mesa (83-71) came in third in '55... overall in their IPA history the Mustangs have made the playoffs only 3 times... they made it their first two years in the IPA in 2002 and 2003... High Mesa won its only Pro Cup in 2002... after winning the Tycobbian East in '03, it took another 45 years to repeat it... 2048 was the last pennant-winning season... with such a fine arsenal, the future looks good for High Mesa... all they need is a few good men that can pitch and the Mustangs will be moving up in the TU East standings.

The Red Bluff Red Sox (71-83) began the season in grand fashion (17-9) and led the TU East into May, but then fell back to .500 baseball until August, then they collapsed and wound up in sixth place (30 GB)... the Red Sox only had humdrum pitching with a 4.13 (24th)... offense was second-rate, too, with a very poor .239 BA (28th), just 642 runs (25th) and 139 roundtrippers (15th-tied)... but defense was a little better-than-average (.974 FA)... down through the years Red Bluff hasn't done well... only 8 TU East flags and one Pro Cup (2004)... they improved from seventh last year (67-87) to sixth place this season... Fred Taylor (12-7/3.59) and Wilson Sharpe (17-18/3.53) were the most dependable starters and pretty decent... All-Star closer Dontrelle Gilbreath (5-5/1.89/23 saves/49 G) had a very good year, but didn't get a lot of help from the rest of the relievers... All-Star RF Toni Kolkov (.279/37/89/84/3 SB) is the star of the team... he is a reliable threat at the plate... other capable contributors are 1B Monty Lyons (.298/12/50/83/27 SB) and SS Wesley Robertson (.277/6/70/72/17 SB)... overall the Red Sox are just a run-of-the-mill second-division club.

The Hillsboro Blazers (64-90) broke even in April, but had losing records each month for the rest of the season... they came in seventh, trailing by 37 games... the Blazers are one of the worst franchises in the IPA with only one pennant in 55 years of play... Hillsboro has never won the Pro Cup... their only division title came in 2051 (98-56)... they were good in '52 (86-68), but slipped into mediocrity since... the Blazers can hit homers, but little else... they slugged 191 out of the park (3rd), but scored only 653 runs (21st-tied) and batted a pitiful .237 (31st)... on the mound Hillsboro was adequate with a 4.07 ERA (22nd)... Elliot Frampton (15-19/3.65) and Ian Barrie ((13-17/3.76) were the top two in the rotation, followed by longtime ace 37-year-old Steve Cooper (13-20/4.17) and Ruben Betros (12-18/4.45)... the best in the bullpen was closer Hank Greenberry (3-8/2.80/16 saves/41 G) and Ron Pryor (2-0/3.14/2 saves/48 G)... last year's TU Rookie of the Year RF Ichiro Ichikawa (.299/34/77/96/27 SB) had another strong season and was aided by 1B Dan Bushnell (.283/31/71/63) and CF Ziggy Crosby (.215/26/84/54/7 SB).

The last place South Fork Stallions (63-91) don't have much talent... the Hosses hit a lackluster .254 (21st), scored 668 runs (19th), but had only 103 home runs (27th-tied)... not too bad on the mound with a 4.10 ERA (23rd)... however, they did handle the gloves pretty well with a .975 FA... Bud Bowens (16-16/3.50) was the most dependable starter with some help from Emmett Coogan (16-15/4.34)... a couple of rookies showed potential: starter Sam Black (8-8/3.12) and reliever Kenny Keffer (4-10/3.27/18 saves/48 G)... sophomore RF Bob Purkey (.321/22/72/91/21 SB) was a standout and looked like a budding star... fine veteran C Rudy Maroney (.24/18/83/59/5 SB) had a decent year, but didn't hit much for average... and 35-year-old 1B Pete Arnold (.282/5/64/58/8 SB) continued his solid play in the field and at the plate... South Fork has only had two good season in the last decade... two third-place finishes in '53 (83-71) and '54 (85-69)... the last TU East division crowns came in '41, '42 and '43... the Stallions won their second Pro Cup in 2042... they got their first one in 2025... overall they have made the postseason just 6 times.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
September 19, 2056

ARLON NIPS DENTON CITY IN TIGHT TU WEST
Wire-to-wire it was a close race in the Tycobbian West Division... it was season-long test for a trio of teams... and was finally decided in a one-game playoff with the division crown going to the Arlon Champions (97-58), who nipped the Denton City Redbirds (96-59) by one game... third place went to the Kenwood Wildcats (88-66), 8 and a half games behind... way back in the fourth spot were the Rolling Hills Reds, trailing by 17 and a half games.

Kenwood took a slight lead in April with five clubs within close striking distance only three games apart... at the All-Star break four of them were still in the hunt, separated by just three games... Arlon had a game edge over Rolling Hills Reds and the Kenwood Wildcats with Denton City just three games out... the Reds tanked it in July and were never a factor again... the Wildcats went into a September spiral and fell out of the running.

Arlon (97-58) has been a fine team for the past 6 seasons with 3 Tycobbian West Division flags and 2 second place finishes... and they won their first and only Pro Cup in 2051... this will be the Champions' 8th time to make the playoffs... Arlon is a well-balanced team with a .265 BA (11th), 821 runs (1st), 183 HR (6th) and 3.64 ERA (13th)... defensively they are just average with a .971 FA... they should be quite dangerous in the postseason... the Champs have a good starting four with Dicky Towers (19-8/3.71), Erik Branham (21-10/3.75), J. C. Hilburn (18-12/3.27) and Ty Coffee (17-12/3.94)... coupled with a good bullpen, anchored by Mack Blair (305/3.04/36 saves/58 G), the IPA leader in saves... a big plus for Arlon is the number of solid hitters in the lineup: 22-year-old LF Jamey Stansfield (.290/40/103/104/32 SB), who really came of age this season after three lackluster seasons... other reliable batters were SS Art Catlin (.285/24/83/76), CF Rebel Bryce (.281/27/84/81/9 SB), C Riley Earnshaw (.310/9/79/61), 3B Eduardo Garaza (.260/15/66/96/4 SB), 1B Timothy Webb (.316/6/39/86/10 SB) and RF Dickie Ringer (.288/8/58/52/11 SB)... any club that whips Arlon in the playoffs will really have to earn it... don't think they will go quietly.

Second place Denton City (96-59) lost the pennant three times in the last eight seasons by a heartbreaking one game, all single-game playoffs... it happened in '49, '54 and '55... 11 times in its history they have made the playoffs, but the Redbirds have never yet collected a Pro Cup trophy... strong pitching is their strength with a magnificent 2.78 ERA (1st)... offensively Denton City is just average with a .258 BA, 698 runs (14th) and 148 HR (12th)... they are average defenders (.973 FA)... just take a gander at these starters: All-Star Flash Stringfellow (22-12/2.71), Rance Hasbrough (16-8/2.32), Jayson Mannon (17-16/2.94), Carl Coons (14-0/2.93) and Johnny Wingate (11-10/3.09)... Coons had remarkable season by going unbeaten in 12 starts and pitching in 40 games, but he didn't have enough innings to qualify as a new all-time winning percentage... Marston's Griff Hollman was 13-1 in 2051... the bullpen is superb, too, with closer Burnell Kelley (7-2/0.59/22 saves/44 G)... the Redbirds' shortfall is at the plate... they only have two quality hitters: SS Vincent McCloud (.295/28/86/84/11 SB) and 1B Val Anniston (.281/22/94/66)... with such standout pitching Denton City is set for years to come... they are still a young club... and a solid contenter for the TU West pennant.

The Kenwood Wildcats (88-66) wound up third for the third straight season... '56 was a good one... they challenged Arlon and Denton City all year long, but went sour in September and ended up 8 and a half games off the pace... the Wildcats were 82-72 in '54 and '55... overall Kenwood has been to the playoffs 10 times and they have one Pro Cup to show for it... that was over four decades ago in 2013... this year's club could score runs and the mound staff was better-than-average... the Wildcats batted .260 (16th), scored 743 runs (10th) and clouted 133 homers (18th)... on the hill they recorded a 3.79 ERA (16th)... and were super defenders with a .979 FA... All-Star 1B Bralen Connally (.275/29/113/91) tops the hitters with help from LF Chris McNeal (.252/29/77/83/15 SB), SS Bailey Brumley (.259/11/70/73/7 SB) and rookie C John Michael Lansdell (297/15/66/60)... rookie Mickey Maughan (17-9/3.58) was the most effective starter... Ward Elliott (15-17/4.12) and James Farnham (13-12/4.19) were decent with some quality starts... the bullpen has two capable relievers in Neal Wilbert (11-1/2.03/1 save/44 G) and Pee Wee Windham (8-11/3.06/30 saves/56 G)... in general Kenwood doesn't have the offense that Arlon does, or the really good pitching that Denton City possesses... the Wildcats are just a third place club at best.

The fourth place Rolling Hills Reds (79-75) took themselves out of the pennant chase with a mediocre May (14-15) and a really bad July (10-18)... for the second year in a row they came in fourth... 12 of the last 16 seasons the Reds have been a first-division team... in 2048 they won their 3rd Pro Cup trophy... the other two came in '29 and '31... this year Rolling Hills had a good offense with a .276 BA (2nd), 754 runs (8th), fair power with 119 homers (21st), decent pitching with a 3.93 ERA (20th) and a good defense with a .975 FA... the Reds are fair-to-middling ball club... All-Star SS Dustin Thibodeau (.315/24/110/87/5 SB), RF Rory Teed (.327/11/61/78/7 SB), SS Jameson Mulbert (.299/7/65/94/18 SB) and LF Jean-Luc Roubique (.291/17/100/78/5 SB) are the offensive mainstays... the Reds have a couple of fairly good starters in Vance Dillaway (18-11/3.39) and P. J. Dunham (16-10/3.88)... Tommy Otis (12-14/4.19) is also a quality arm with good potential... plus Matty Mosby (6-6/2.01/26 saves/48 G) is a very solid closer... the Reds will be a middle-of-the-pack team and should challenge for third or fourth place... but not any higher.

It was a so-so season for the fifth place Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (77-77)... they started off well in April (15-11), dipped below .500 in May (12-17) and then just settled down to breakeven ball the rest of the year, winding up 19 and a half games behind division-winner Arlon... the Bucs have a second-rate offense and well above-average pitching... they only hit for a .249 BA (23rd), scored 646 runs (24th), had 130 HR (19th), but posted a very good 3.38 ERA (8th)... the bullpen was especially good with a 2.12 ERA (2nd)... the Buccaneers have a standout defense with a .978 BA... Scotty Hedwall (19-15/2.99) is the ace of the staff... Jerry MacIntyre (14-16/3.45) is a quality #2... the other two in the rotation, Kyle Eastman (11-17/4.03) and Kermo Jarvi (12-12/4.10) are fairly good... the bullpen is excellent with closer Cadillac Bogart (3-6/1.37/26 saves/48 G), Ian Abercrombie (5-1/1.91/34 G) and Darcey Kennedy (6-3/2.69/4 saves/42 G)... at best the batting order is just mediocre with 3B Trace Burney (.265/12/51/80/12 SB), C Hersh Cranmore (.270/13/63/63) and 1B Clive Caviness (.259/20/72/67)... the longballers are CF Don Holliday (.217/25/84/77/6 SB) and LF Jed Killick (.233/23/74/71), but they don't hit for average... Bay St. Clair's last TU West title came in back-to-back years (2049, 2050) when they were 93-62 and 99-59... but they have slowly slipped in the standings since... the Bucs were third in '51 (82-72) and '52 (80-74)... fourth (81-73) in '54... and fifth in '55 (74-80)... the Buccaneers have made the postseason playoffs 11 times in the team's history, but have never the Pro Cup... they will probably straddle the line between fourth, fifth and sixth place... not likely to go higher unless the hitting improves.

The sixth place Chicopee Braves (75-79) made some progress this year in the Tycobbian West... improving from 61-93 in '55 (8th place)... much better pitching did the job... they went from a horrid 4.58 to a respectable 3.55 ERA (12th)... at the plate the Braves did fairly well with a .268 BA (9th), 674 runs (18th), but they hit only 111 HR (24th-tied)... in the field they were just fair (.971 FA)... pitching-wise Chuta Shaman (18-15/3.66) was the top winner... 35-year-old longtime ace Sharlon Barbour (13-23/3.49) still gives them quality starts... Russ Clooney (14-12/3.86) and Gavin Kinville (13-22/4.22) fill out the other two spots in the rotation... the bullpen gives the Braves some solid innings with closer Rocky Dowling (4-1/1.76/25 saves/39 G), Don Beeton (3-1/2.03/44 G) and Cy Abernathy (3-3/1.84/4 saves/38 G)... the offense is just modest... the main run-providers are RF Travis Ledger (.317/12/75/79/18 SB), LF Johnny Helwig (.317/13/57/61/6 SB), 2B Derrell Stelly (.296/10/62/54) and CF Vance Tunstall (.279/10/41/95/36 SB)... Chicopee has been a second-division club for the last two decades... they only occasionally sneak into fourth place in the standings (2045, 2047, 2048, 2053)... the Braves have won only 3 TU West pennants (2034, 2035, 2036) in their history... and have never won the Pro Cup... the future is not looking good for Chicopee... their two main starters Barbour and Clooney are both 35... the staff need some new blood in the next year or so... the Braves will be in trouble without those solid veterans.

The seventh place La Claire Lynx (74-80) wound up near the bottom of the Tycobbian West again this year, but they were improved from the previous two seasons when they were 56-98 (7th) and 67-87 (6th)... the Lynx have a poor history in the IPA with only 4 playoff appearances and no Pro Cup trophies... they last made the postseason in '37 and '38... La Claire has had only three winning seasons in the last 20 years... and the losing just might continue... the current squad can hit the ball and score runs, but the opposition does much better on the scoreboard because of lousy pitching... the Lynx batted at a .273 clip (4th), scored 733 runs (11th) and socked 140 out of the park (14th)... now let's take a look at the pitching corps... Uh Oh!... La Claire is in trouble with a sky-high 4.39 ERA (30th)... it gets even worse, when you combine bad pitching with a poor defense (.969 FA)... the Lynx have three fair-to-mediocre starters in Chance Coursey (18-12/3.82), Krisjan Valk (17-15/3.96) and Kelly Hudgins (12-10/4.29)... notice they all have winning records... that's because they get good run support... however, they get no support from a bad bullpen... heading up the La Claire attack is All-Star Charlie Rodgers (.339/31/109/83), who was the third-best batter in the Tycobbian Union... only TU batting champ Vic Carnaggio (Ginza) at .344 and Daryl Vale (Midway) at .343 were better... 2B Derek Winchester (.298/9/65/100/22 SB) and SS Horace Rutherford (.296/13/78/69/5 SB) were also reliable contact hitters at the plate... 3B Frisco Thorpe (.257/20/70/55/4 SB) and RF Kippy Born (.262/19/70/59/6 SB) both helped out with an occasional home run... several good pitchers, three or four, could put the Lynx on par with all the teams above them except Arlon and Denton City... but it's not often a club adds 3-4 good hurlers to its staff in one season.

The Bayview Vikings (72-82) ended up again in last place in the TU West, but they are in the same boat as four other clubs in the division... they could make a run at the first division with a few talented addition to their roster... fourth place Rolling Hills (79-75) finished just 7 games ahead of the Viks in the standing... that's not a lot of ground to make up... top to bottom the Tycobbian West may be the strongest division in the IPA... Bayview is pretty good at putting runs on the scoreboard with a .255 BA (20th), 186 HR (5th) and 697 runs (15th)... heading up the Vikings' hit parade are All-Star 3B Byorn Karlsen (.303/40/97/86/1 SB), 1B Eddie Beeman (.246/33/99/77/2 SB), RF Vern Woodstock (.233/30/73/67/6 SB)... they all three had over 30 homers... SS Lou Kauchak (.327/11/44/64/10 SB) is a solid contact hitter... LF Noel Connors (.272/6/49/83/19 SB) and 2B Gunnar Lindberg (.271/4/56/70/22 SB) were also productive... not a lot to brag about on the hill with a 4.27 ERA (28th)... Herm Monday (13-17/3.81) and Jules Perot (15-15/3.67) were the best of a bad lot... but Skeets Dycus (3-8/2.90/28 saves/48 G) and Harv Hayes (5-1/3.21/4 saves/59 G) did pretty good work in the bullpen... historically, Bayview is really bad... the last pennant came 40 years ago in 2016... the Vikings have appeared in the playoffs on 6 occasions... and they have never ever won a Pro Cup crown... for the last 12 years they have not posted a winning record... winding up in fifth place (1 time), sixth (2 times), seventh (4 times) and the TU West cellar (5 times)... that kind of dismal record makes a true blue Viking want to get aboard a ship... sail off into the sunset... and never come back... but as you know, in baseball, Valhalla springs eternal... just wait until next year.

2056 IPA FINAL BATTING AND PITCHING LEADERBOARDS
Wednesday, September 20, 2056

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

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2056 IPA FINAL BATTING AND PITCHING LEADERBOARDS
Wednesday, September 20, 2056

TYCOBBIAN UNION

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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 20, 2056

MIDWAY PICKED TO TRIUMPH IN PRO CUP
The Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs are jam-packed with crackerjack teams this year... the 2056 Pro Cup playoffs are a field of dreams... any one of four or five teams could bring home the trophy... and it starts play tomorrow afternoon all across Islandia... in The Islandian Times the Midway Wolves were pegged to win it all according to a poll of the sportswriters and broadcasters that cover the IPA... the Turon Typhoons were picked second, followed by the Arlon Champions and Middlefield Roosters.... the Eastshore Cotton Kings also got some support among the IPA elite powers and came in fifth in the survey... three clubs pulled up the rear in the balloting and were not expected to go far in the playoffs... Taranto was ranked sixth, White River seventh and Waleska eighth... last year's Pro Cup champion, the Wynnamac Sundowners, were ousted from the playoffs this season... Eastshore got the best of them in the Ruthlandian East by 2 games.

Pro Cup favorite Midway (101-53) drew a very tough opponent in the first round... the Wolves will host powerful Arlon (97-58) at Joe Wolf Stadium tomorrow afternoon... the first two games will be in Midway, then switch to Arlon for the next three... if necessary, games six and seven will be played in Midway... the home-field advantage goes to the team with the best regular season record... all series are best-of-seven.

Another big matchup pits #4 Middlefield (95-59) and #5 Eastshore (92-62)... they will tangle at Middlefield Park... #2 Turon (96-58) got a supposedly easy task and will entertain #7 White River (82-72) at Typhoon Stadium... but one must remember, the unsung Rascals were Pro Cup Finalists last year, falling to IPA champion Wynnamac in six games... also on tap two lightly-regarded clubs, #8 Waleska (86-68) and #6 Taranto (91-63), will meet at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto.

In the Ruthlandian Union, the most-likely winner will come out of the Middlefield-Eastshore series... that is an easier call than the Tycobbian Union... Midway, Turon and Arlon are all superior teams and any one of them could advance to the Pro Cup Finals... if the pollsters are correct, it will be a Midway and Middlefield Pro Cup Finals this year... a little more research found that the Pro Cup pollsters are right only 25% of the time.

Seven of this year's Pro Cup challengers have captured the IPA crown before... Turon has won 4 Pro Cups (2003, 2006, 2009, 2018)... the Typhoons are tied with Valmara and North Hills for the most Pro Cups... Waleska has garnered 3 trophies (2028, 2037, 2039)... three teams have won a pair: Midway (2053, 2054), Middlefield (2005, 2052) and Eastshore (2016, 2017)... Arlon (2051) and Taranto (2015) have only won it one time each... that leaves the White River Rascals as the only participant without a Pro Cup trophy... however, the Rascals have been to the Finals four times without success (2021, 2049, 2050, 2055).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 22, 2056

2056 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 1

Wow! All one-run games. Looks like another exciting post season.