Found a way to update new rookies manually... normally it takes me 7-10 days to update each team's rosters... I did it in 3 days using a new method... it was always available... I just recently noticed it.

2057 IPA season coming soon.

Season previews on the way.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

PERENNIAL POWERS PICKED PENNANT WINNERS
According to The Islandian Times' preseason poll, not much is predicted to change in the Islandian Pro Alliance circles for the 2057 season... five of the forecast favorites are perennial powerhouses... in the Ruthlandian Union, Pro Cup champion Middlefield is poised to win its 8th straight RU West flag and will be seeking its third IPA crown in the last six seasons, Wynnamac should cop its 5th RU East division crown in the last 6 seasons... over in the Tycobbian Union the choices are the Midway Wolves, Turon Typhoons and Denton City Redbirds... the Wolves are favored to take their 6th consecutive TU East title, the Typhoons should win their 6th TU South pennant in the previous 7 seasons and the Redbirds will triumph for the 3rd time in 5 years in the TU West.

Among the non-elite teams, the biggest surprise in The Islandian Times' preseason poll is the Glasco Athletics, slated to upend the defending division champion in the RU North, the Taranto Tars... the A's could do no better than tie for sixth last year... the Crystal Lake Skippers, fifth last year in the RU South are predicted to run away with the division flag, won last year by the Waleska Westerners... the only other non-powerhouse pennant favorite is the Oxford Red Caps in the TU North... the Red Caps finished fifth last year... the White River Rascals are the reigning division champion.

According to the preseason prognosticators, the defending Islands' titleholder, the Middlefield Roosters, will again capture the Pro Cup, mowing down the Denton City Redbirds in six games for the overall IPA crown.

Ruthlandian Union Division Champions

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

UNLIKELY A'S FAVORED IN RU NORTH
The baseball media says the Glasco Athletics will emerge the victor in a fairly competitive 4-team race with Valmara, last year's Ruthlandian North Division winner Taranto and Kilkenny... the A's are the surprising pick this season... many are wondering also why the Far Mountain Redhawks fared so poorly in The Islandian Times' preseason survey... the Redhawks were a close second last year to Taranto... the RU North is one of the lesser divisions in the Islandian Pro Alliance... six of the clubs finished below the .500 mark last year.

This Year/Team Name/Last Year's Record/Position)

1. Glasco Athletics (68-86) (23 GB) (6th-tied)
Still pretty much the same as last year with only one new rookie pitcher, Jayden Furman... the A's were not very impressive last year... hard to see them winning the division... more likely to be Valmara, Taranto or Far Mountain... Glasco can score runs with the likes of CF Ross McFalls (.272/26 HR), RF Karl Merkel (.259/21 HR), LF Callum Slattery (.317/13 HR) and 3B Allen Spears (.302/8 HR)... but don't have much on the mound... best in the rotation are Monte France (17-14/3.85), Herb Goodman (13-16/3.32)... Rip Scobie (3-8/2.83/8 saves) and Coy Gosselin (1-3/3.13/15 saves) are just fair in the bullpen... the Athletics look like a second-rate team to me... will wind up in second division of the RU North.

2. Valmara Vipers (72-82)(19 GB)(4th Place)
The V's have fallen in quality the last five years when they were an elite team... Vips still have some quality players... best returnees are 1B Timmy Benford (.315/23 HR) and 2B Vladimir Szymanski (.294/16 HR) and C Karol Koska (.254/24 HR)... six quality rookies could really shake up the division... if 2-3 of them produce, Valmara could really jump in statue and in the standings... keep an eye on C Piotr Zacek, 3B Alek Solarski, SS Bazyli Ciesla and outfielders Borys Balicki, Jozef Kuklinski and Semyon Tomczak... solid pitching staff is good, but getting old fast... 33-year-old Darius Grajek (16-12/3.38), 37-year-old Primo Sirak (16-14/3.38) and 34-year-old Carver Dillon (6-4/3.50/16 saves) might be able to make one last good run or two before retirement... rookie hurler Tony Joe Carnes could be a good one.

3. Taranto Tars (91-63) (1st Place)
Still has strong overall pitching and quite a few powerhitters... still a very good ballclub... best of rotation are Freddy De Angelis (22-7/2.61) and Valerio Rossi (20-11/2.54)... top bats are RF Lenny Buisson (.275/31 HR), CF Renzo Caruso (.233/31 HR)... need some contact hitters to get on base for the sluggers... only one rookie... 1B Buddy Lark will be a good addition... excellent contact hitter with good power.

4. Kilkenny Cats (65-89) (26 GB) (8th Place)
Good influx of young talent that will have to prove itself... includes starter Bretton MacKay (better-than-average starter), C Niles Bedford (very good average with good power, average defensively), RF Cliff Savio (pure contact hitter, fine speed, little power, poor defender) and LF Tory Bettis (fine hitter, fair power, weak defense)... finished last in '56... don't really look like a first-division club yet... but is improving... best holdovers are starter Billy Joe Wooster (16-18/3.27), 1B Ryan Reagan (.287/19 HR) and CF Vance Snead (.304/3 HR).

5. Ancona Red Elephants (68-86) (23 GB) (6th-tied)
Just a run-of-mill second-division club... starter Yannis Bubas (16-12/3.69) and closer Chet Sheldon (4-5/1.63/19 saves) are staff leaders... nothing to brag about in the batting order... best of the lot are RF Franco Briganti (.295/19 HR), LF Horace Nickens (.285/12 HR), 3B Jerry Coppock (.278/18 HR) and C Robin Hargroder (.269/15 HR)... best rookies are reliever Kontos Christakis and good-glove, contact-hitter 2B Pablo Dias... both are expected to contribute this year.

6. Ranford Bulls (71-83) (20 GB) (5th Place)
Lost 361-game winner, superstar and future HOF-er Ralph Hawk (13-15/3.63) to retirement... the Bulls have declined in the last season... probably will get worse without the great Hawk... holdover starters Mac Roberts (13-9/4.22) and Primo Uzzo (11-14/4.46) are not likely to make fans forget Ralph Hawk... neither will rookie starter Darrell Askew... still have strong closer Martin Futch (7-6/2.05/24 saves)... only real threat in the batting order is LF Jedd Blodgett (.296/18 HR)... Blodgett is a bonafide batter... just not a lot of talent on the Bulls... top rookie is 2B Erik Neilson, only fair with the glove, but can go deep and hit for average... good potential.

7. Far Mountain Redhawks (88-66) (3 GB) (2nd Place)
Don't know why they have been downgraded to 7th place... still one of the better teams in the RU North... won the pennant in '55... second place last season... did it with solid pitching... really needs some offense... capable starters are still around, but aging somewhat... mound leaders are Benny Van (21-14/2.98), 36-year-old 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) is 36 in the bullpen, but he had a crackerjack year with 29 saves... the trio of 1B Ox Gless (.287/20 HR), CF Lew Aston (.268/23 HR) and 2B Lew Hazlett (.305/10 HR) provide most of the offense... newcomer LF Oskar Neumann is forecast to be a special player... hits with power and for a high average... handles the glove well, too... could be wrong, but I think Far Mountain will be in the pennant hunt this year... definitely still a first-division ballclub.

8. LaGrange Sports (73-81) (18 GB) (3rd Place)
Not a lot of talent on the team... not a lot of talent in the division with six teams under the .500 mark... the Sports didn't get much in the offseason... not much in the way of rookies... CF Tony Rojas will start the season as a regular... good contact hitter, good pop... just a decent defender... returning starters J. T. Dwyer (16-15/3.77) and Pat Causey (12-13/3.69) are quality arms... just fair hitters in the lineup, led by 1B Billy Broadway (.295/18 HR), RF Sonny Ricard (.278/17 HR) and LF Robby Rousseau (.278/16 HR)... the bullpen is just so-so... Rob Fullmer (6-10/3.99/30 saves) is sometimes very good, but also sometimes awful ... it'll be a long season for the Sports... could be a cellar-dwelling season... most of the other division rivals have improved.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

CL SKIPPERS BIG FAVORITE IN RU SOUTH
Last year the Crystal Lake Skippers came in a fairly close fifth in the Ruthlandian South Division... this season they are forecast to really make waves in the 2057 season... the baseball experts are impressed with the Skippers... they think Crystal Lake will handily take care of business and leave everyone in their wake... the Skips are stocked with several standout prospects who will make their IPA debut this year... the Valka Blackhawks and St. John Crusaders are expected to only give Crystal Lake a token challenge in the pennant race... a double-digit victory is not out of the question... last year's RU South winner Waleska was picked to end up a dismal 6th in the pennant race this year.

This Year/Team Name/Last Year's Record/Position)

1. Crystal Lake Skippers (78-76) (8 GB) (5th Place)
Crystal Lake has promoted six rookies this year... a couple of them, C Jim Clary and CF Mel Brouwer, will start the season as regulars, joining an already solid core of hitters... Crystal Lake has a good lineup anchored by LF Zippy Coburn (.332/27 HR/102 RBI/18 SB), 2B Gib Conlan (.265/25 HR/100 RBI) and 3B Jasper Shackleford (.289/22 HR/87 RBI)... the Skippers have the best offense and best mound corps in the RU South... heading up the rotation are starters Merle Pitts (17-11/2.16) and Ozzy McLendon (14-13/3.52)... Pitts led the IPA with a sparkling 2.16 ERA last year... manager Duncan Welch has also added two impressive newcomers to the staff... Juliano Cordova and Yuri Kirchoff will start the season in the bullpen... Welch really needs help there to have a shot at the pennant... the sportswriters and broadcasters think the Skippers will improve by leaps and bounds this year... they wound up a fairly close 5th last year.

2. Valka Blackhawks (80-54) (6 GB) (4th Place)
The Blackhawks thrive on their pitching staff, which is solid with Aavo Keskkula (20-11/2.32), who stood out in his rookie season, along with Clark Herrrington (17-15/3.53) and Norbert Borden (14-10/3.95)... Valka lost Arvi Tamm (8-4/2.40) in July last year... his lost may have cost them the pennant... but he has healed and is ready to go... Tamm should be a big plus... Blackhawks' manager Arno Vainmaa needs help in the bullpen and could use a boost in the batting order, too... rookies 1B Taavi Soosaar, CF Nicky Boles, RF Jon Tottingham and CF Dain Raadik all had a fine springs and show promise this year... Valka is slack on firepower... RF Mel Shadwell (.281/13 HR/72 RBI), 3B Corey Belk (.278/4 HR/71 RBI) and SS Olev Tarvas (.317/4 HR/66 RBI) are the prime run producers.

3. St. John Crusaders (81-73) (5 GB) (2nd Place)
The Crusaders are excited about the coming season... three newcomers have manager Nicky Farrugia in a very optimistic mood... rookies Deke Eubanks and Tom Smithson won spots in the starting rotation this spring and first-year SS Sonny Petrisko blistered the ball in bigtime fashion and nailed down a spot in the lineup... St. John has a bunch of impressive bats... they hit .282 last season, led by 3B Ozwaldo Romero (.307/23 HR/91 RBI), CF Freddie Woodruff (.271/8 HR/61 RBI) and All-Star Gold Glove C Tuffy Palmieri (.298/8 HR/58 RBI)... on the hill the Crusaders have two mainstays in Teddy de Grom (20-16/3.56) and Whitlow Cornwell (18-11/3.37)... things are looking good for St. John this year.

4. Claxton Diamonds (68-86) (18 GB) (8th)
After 7 consecutive losing seasons Claxton has replaced longtime skipper Jojo DeLucca with Abe Schiffman... the Diamonds had a lousy last-place finish last year, but have added several quality rookies to the roster... look for CF Virgil McGriff to play a lot... and reliever Mark Meister to get a shot at closer... Claxton only has one capable starter in Leon Reynolds (18-11/3.73)... but Schiffman has three fair starters in Heinrich Scholz (12-16/4.29), Claus Antoon (12-18/4.33) and Matt Goodrum (12-18/4.83)... 41-year-old All-Star 2B DeLucca (.298/28 HR/10 RBI) is still a very productive ballplayer and he will still be in the lineup, along with LF Scoops Dunn (.305/23 HR/88 RBI), SS Fred Hahn (.279/22 HR/79 RBI) and RF Bobby Bright (.280/24 HR/73 RBI)... not sure the Diamonds will be able to climb as high as the fourth spot in the RU South standings... that might be a tough task for Schiffman in his initial season... Schiffman starred for the Diamonds from 2037 to 2051, logging a fine 238-170 record with a respectable 3.70 lifetime ERA... Claxton won 5 pennants during his tenure.

5. Grand City Cybercats (81-73) (5GB) (3rd Place)
In recent seasons the Cybercats have been on a good run for them... first-division finishes the last 5 years, including the RU South crown in '55... they ran a good race last season, but lost out to Waleska in a pretty close battle... manager Thomas Hall still has a good mound staff, but could use improvement on offense... Hall has four rookies that might get some playing time, but no one stood out in the spring games... both C Mo Kershaw and 2B Joey Trout are good glovemen and can hit for average... Grand City's top guns are LF Dave Durocher (.291/18 HR/90 RBI) and 1B Vince Kinston (.332/24 HR/70 RBI)... on the pitching side of the ledger sheet, Steve Shirley (13-5/2.21/12 saves) had a great year in '56, but split time between the bullpen and a starting role... this year he will be the number one starter... he should get some solid help from Jozef Chojnaki (17-16/3.39), Fred Barrow (13-13/2.82) and Zac Borden (11-15/3.60)... the Cybercats may be better than they were picked... Grand City should make the first division again this year.

6. Waleska Westerners (86-68) (1st Place)
Roy Hobbs and his Westerners have taken the RU South title 4 of the past 6 seasons, but were the 6th choice this year by the sports media... Waleska still has good pitching with Rory Beecroft (17-15/3.05), Bret Shockley (20-12/3.50) and Lou Carlson (17-11/3.89), all quality starters... the Westerners need some longball hitters to get out of the good status and move up to the Pro Cup class in the IPA... they can win the RU South flag, but never get far in the playoffs... CF Boomer Barnes (.278/16 HR/93 RBI) is Hobbs' most potent threat... the rest, 1B Johnny Dillinger (.312/12 HR/71 RBI), C Cubby Nash (.272/13 HR/76 RBI) and LF Bitsy Boccabella (.282/15 HR/71 RBI), have a ways to go... in coming rookies haven't impressed Hobbs so far... the best of the four position players appears to be good-fielding second sacker Javon Grammer... he and CF Cuz Patterson could get a little playing time... in my opinion Waleska will remain one of the better clubs in the Ruthlandian South and will finish among the top four teams in the standings.

7. Belair Beach Sunbirds (76-78) (10 GB) (6th Place)
The Sunbirds have turned the managerial reins over to Jason Butler, a former star first baseman, who spent 17 years with Belair Beach... Butler, age 44, hit 578 out of park in his fine career... he inherits a near .500 ball club from former skipper Bob Meusel, who had very little success... the Sunbirds are on a 8-year losing streak... the last time they topped .500 was in 2048... new rookie shortstop Kyle Kipling did well in the spring and will get a shot at the leadoff spot... otherwise Blake has the same club as last year... he has decent starters in Chris Malbrough (14-11/3.66), Jeffrey Verblen (16-15/3.82), Glen Long (16-16/4.25) and Tom Wilder (11-18/4.28)... the Sunbirds have a fine closer with Kyle Gibson (7-5/2.34/28 saves)... in fact, the bullpen is one of the team's strength... Blake needs some bats with punch... his best hitters are contact hitters... the club leaders are All-Star OF Chad Cochran (.330/7 HR/61 RBI/85 R/32 SB) and 3B Rusty Van Slyke (.292/15 HR/67 RBI)... Belair Beach may be destined for the bottom of the standings again.

8. San Dimas Rancheros (73-81) (13 GB) (7th Place)
The San Dimas Rancheros have a new skipper this season... 41-year-old Leonard Purkey just retired in 2051 after 17 years at third base... the Rancheros hope Purkey can perk up the anemic offense... he is number two all-time with a .304 BA and 313 homers... only once in the last 12 years have the Rancheros posted a winning season (2050)... they were 7th last year and selected 8th in this season's Islandian Times' preview poll... most of the clubs in the Ruthlandian South are about equal... no one really stands out... not even the division champ... just a bunch of mediocrity... so a few good rookies can make a difference in the standings... 2B Rex Macalester and 3B Julian Ortiz could be those guys... both hit with power and both are fine defenders... they will join LF Gilberto Gallardo (.317/27 HR/92 RBI) and SS Emiliano Martinez (.259/16 HR/81 RBI) and try to put some much-needed runs on the scoreboard... San Dimas has a fairly good rotation with Hernando Almora (17-13/3.88), Tomas Olmeda (16-16/3.83) and Tyler Tydings (16-17/3.95)... in the bullpen the Rancheros have one of the best closers in the IPA in Kenny Robinson (1-3/1.31/30 saves)... so things are not bad on the hill... they just need some juiced-up bats.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

MAC PICKED TO WIN 5TH RU EAST IN 6 YEARS
2056 was an aberation for Wynnamac Sundowners... they were upset by the Eastshore Cotton Kings by 2 games last year spoiling their run of four consecutive Ruthlandian East Division championships... and even worse, the Macs didn't get to defend their Pro Cup title.

Well, Wynnamac is back in 2057 and favored to prevail in the RU East again... but they will have a few challengers in the Elnora All-Stars and Marston Nine, both up-and-rising clubs... rounding out the contenders is last year's RU East division winner and IPA Cinderella club of the year, the Eastshore Cotton Kings.

1. Wynnamac Sundowners (90-54) (2 GB) (2nd Place)
The Macs are a solid, veteran club with three rookies this year... Luc Ogburn could be a solid starter with the already fine rotation and bullpen... bats are very capable, too... the Sundowners with Jerry Meeks still at the helm are a good Pro Cup possibility.

Top Batters:
1B Enos Benham (.312/18 HR/91 RBI), 2B Phil McLemore (.313/13 HR/89 RBI), 3B Marvin Hayes (.294/9 HR/62 RBI) and SS Whiz Ivie (.292/3 HR/54 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Sammy Hayes (20-14/2.68), Garan Parula (18-6/3.93), James Duncas (12-8/3.90) and Duncan Heathershaw (11-6/3.30)... Tike Collazo (1-2/0.21/31 saves) was fantastic in the bullpen... Ogburn would be a good addition.

Outlook:
Wynnamac is the class of the RU East and one of the best teams in the IPA... should win the division crown again... the 5th in the last 6 seasons... should be a contender for their 3rd Pro Cup trophy.

2. Elnora All-Stars (79-75) (13 GB) (4th Place)
Manager Stan Kivas has an arsenal in his lineup... no trouble scoring runs, but he could use some pitching if the All-Stars want to make a serious bid for the RU East pennant.

Top Hitters:
1B Gus Abreu (.345/15 HR/83 RBI), CF Keith Coburn (.316/10 HR/51 RBI), SS Dickie DeBusshere (.326/10 HR/73 RBI), C Kuro Ishihara (.303/14 HR/70 RBI)... Abreu posted the top batting average in the IPA last year.

Top Pitchers:
Only two proven starters: Matt Mackowiak (19-12/3.52) and Jerry Bertrand (18-12/3.42)... if three rookies Bud Hathaway, Freddy Grosscup and Barney Mayberry produce, Elnora will be a legit contender... bullpen needs to step it up, too.

Outlook:
Things are going well in Elnora... they could make some noise in the RU East in 2057... definitely one of the top four teams in the division... not good enough to whip Wynnamac, but should be trouble for Eastshore and Marston in the fight for second place.

3. Marston Nine (82-72) (10 GB) (3rd Place)
Russ Woodward has had his club playing well the previous 7 seasons... all first-division finishes... came close to winning in 2054... lost by 2 games to Wynnamac in '54... has a good core of hitters, not a lot of power... coupled with a fine corps of starters and relievers.

Top Hitters:
3B Jarrod Crutchfield (.314/20 HR/89 RBI), RF Luke Cranshaw (.313/10 HR/84 RBI), 2B Damien D'Amboise (.289/7 HR/70 RBI), LF Joe Duplantis (.348/12 HR/54 RBI), C Boomer Merritt (.254/25 HR/91 RBI)

Top Pitchers: Mark Henley (19-13/3.21), Toby Claypool (17-12/3.40), Lance McElveen (16-18/3.68), Tris Windham (11-10/3.99)... new rookie Billy Rogen could move into the starting rotation... bullpen is excellent with Robert Tringle (3-3/1.33/28 saves), Jeffrey Fraser (2-1/1.78) and Kiki Vuk (0-2/2.67/1 save).

Outlook:
Marston looks to be a better team than Elnora because of its pitching... the Nine might be the main challenger to Wynnamac for the top spot.

4. Eastshore Cotton Kings (92-62) (1st Place)
Scotty Lagrange's club made a dramatic jump from 6th to 1st last year and surprised powerhouse Wynnamac... pretty much the same roster, but with a new talented SS Sidney Krause, who won the spot in spring training... strong contact hitter, no much punch and suspect in the field... but may make them better offensively... team's strength is its quality pitching staff.

Top Batters:
RF Ian Kelehan (.310/26 HR/75 RBI), CF Elton Woody (.279/16 HR/78 RBI), 2B Pepper Trantham (.305/8 HR/54 RBI), C Tony Brunetti (.289/12 HR/65 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Bebe Kinney (23-10/2.57), Dain Moore (20-17/3.20), Sam Carmon (22-11/3.49), Malcolm Tansbury (12-9/2.49 ERA/13 saves)... Tansbury is moving into a starting role after a fine stint in the bullpen.

Outlook:
Eastshore should be as good this year as last... maybe a little better offensively, if SS Krause proves he can hit IPA pitchers... the Cotton Kings should stay in high cotton this season and wind up in the second or third spot in the RU East standings.

5. Sugar Valley Rattlers (78-76) (14 GB)
Carl Ramsey's Rattlers rose from 7th to 5th last year and ended up with a winning record... appears to be just about the same ballclub... only one rookie CF Chuck Toefield and he didn't play much in the spring... Sugar Valley depends on home runs... to get back into pennant contention they needs some contact hitters and some better hurlers.

Top Hitters:
1B Freddy Lipton (.274/21 HR/54 RBI), LF Fuzzy Durel (.316/13 HR/46 RBI), 2B Bobby Mingo (.306/13 HR/44 RBI), RF Marv Shaw (.349/13 HR/37 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
At age 36 Antonio Cedeno (20-13/2.87) is still going strong... others in the rotation Elvis Bonham (18-10/3.48), Linus Bourque (13-13/3.99) and Alan Montreuil (11-16/3.72) and decent starters... bullpen is lousy... really needs help.

Outlook:
Sugar Valley is still a second-rate club... not like the good old days of Bobby Gamble in the 2040s and early 2050s when they copped 7 RU East flags and the 2045 Pro Cup... looks like a .500 club... no better than 5th in the standings.

6. Belle Plaine Musketeers (72-82) (20 GB) (7th Place)
One of the worst franchises in the IPA... only one playoff appearance long ago in 2009... came in 3rd two years ago, but slipped last year back to the bottom of the division... manager Slick Hammill has some solid bats and a couple of good starters, but little else... the bullpen is just plain bad... but help may be on the way... two rookie hurlers Jerome Kincade (starter) and Adrien Renaud (reliever) did well in spring training... but newcomer CF Clem Rousseau had a tough spring... hit under .200.

Top Hitters:
2056 Golden Bat winner 1B Chuck Gregory (.311/38 HR/137 RBI), SS Jed McIntosh (.255/28 HR/88 RBI), C Eliott Somers (.318/18 HR/99 RBI), RF Cody Losby (.274/16 HR/66 RBI), LF Andy Williams (.301/6 HR/56 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Ike Alister (18-16/3.42), Joe-Joe Bouvier (18-12/3.27)... little else on the hill.

Outlook:
Belle Plaine has a pretty good offense... needs the rookie pitchers to contribute to improve in the RU East standings... will remain in the second rung of the division... probably no better than 6th.

7. Cold Creek Catamounts (73-61) (19 GB) (6th Place)
The C'Cats have a new skipper, All-Star Joe Cochrane, who will also play SS at age 37... he replaces all-time Hall of Fame great J. J. Gillespie (294-170/2.46 ERA), who failed to get the team into contention... the best he could do was a 4-year first division run about 10 years ago... Cochrane takes over a team that has had a losing mark for the last 6 seasons... he inherits a mediocre club... rookie C Spunk Ryburn showed a good bat and good defense in spring training... and Lenny Toscano, a hard-throwing southpaw also stood out and earned a spot in the rotation.

Top Hitters:
All-Star SS/Manager Joe Cochrane (.289/23 HR/87 RBI), RF Mel Parnell (.268/19 HR/85 RBI), 3B Sandy Kettridge (.303/16 HR/67 RBI), 1B Bobby Dundee (.303/10 HR/56 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Steve Singletary (15-17/3.77) and Rusty Rotherham (12-12/4.17) are just fair starters... but in the bullpen the Catamounts have a very fine one in CL Rodger Brockhoff (5-6/1.63 ERA/31 saves), one of the top relievers in the IPA.

Outlook:
Cold Creek could be a little better... could wind up as high as 5th, but no higher... too many question marks on the mound... not much in the batter's box either.

8. Beechwood Blues (63-91) (29 GB) (8th Place)
It's been 11 years since the Blues had a winning season in 2045... no postseason appearances since 2027... and only 3 pennants in its history... former star pitcher Maury Patterson (267-190/3.04 ERA) was fired this year and replaced by former star pitcher Ken Arby (293-242/3.39 ERA)... Beechwood has one of the worst staffs in the IPA... Arby will try to rejuvenate the Blues with 6 rookies... 21-year-old flamethrower Luis Villavaso had a good spring as the closer and seems to be the best of the lot... Beechwood is bad at the plate, too... Arby's rookie year will be arduous to say the least.

Top Hitters:
3B Erik Coulter (.302 BA/8 HR/61 RBI)... not much in the batting order beyond him.

Top Pitchers:
Corvell Eddins (13-16/3.83) is a decent starter... next best is the mediocre Sandy Wilbur (14-14/4.84)... Owen Greenacre (4-6/2.68 ERA/26 saves) is a pretty good closer... rookie Villavaso should help out a lot.

Outlook:
Beechwood will have to depend on the 6 rookies to come through for them... the likely scenario is another last place finish at the bottom of the Ruthlandian East Division... the Blues really are very properly named.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

ROOSTERS WILL RULE ROOST AGAIN IN RU WEST
So what's new in the Ruthlandian West Division?... no much really... The Islandian Times' preseason poll is predicting the Middlefield Roosters will be crowing loudly again in 2057... they are forecast to win their 9th successive division title... but they might get some stiff competition from the Sligo Rovers and Stoner Stars... the Volusia Vigilantes could be in the hunt as well... the Roosters are coming off a splendid Pro Cup season... they whipped Turon in five games last year to claim the IPA championship and will be looking to repeat if they don't fall victim to old age.

1. Middlefield Roosters (95-59) (1st Place)
Manager Ricky Tinker has pretty much the same roster... just a year older... and age could be a factor... Middlefield has several stalwarts in their mid 30s... especially the pitching staff... anchoring the starting rotation will be 36-year-old James Long, who has won the RU Golden Arm for the last three years... 35-year-old Scott Cole and 21-year-old Rick Goldman will be the other primary starters... the bullpen is aging, too... Norm Coventy, age 36, and Yazzy Yastrzemski (7-2/2.33/7 saves), age 35, will handle the bullpen again... Coventry was the 2056 Pro Cup MVP... he was 3-0 in 9 games with one save and did not allow a single run in the playoffs... the Roosters will led once again by Trip Agarn, the RU MVP for two straight years... aided by Johnny Wyatt, Stan Radzikowski and Natty Colclough... only one rookie made the roster this season... C Tyler Sistrunk is a fairly good defender with good power, but didn't fare too well in the spring... even though the Middlefield Roosters are up in years, they will still have enough to take the RU West... but it will be a little tougher than in the past.

Top Batters:
CF Trip Agarn (.284/43 HR/125 RBI), RF Johnny Wyatt (.255/30 HR/104 RBI), SS Stan Radzikowski (.276/22 HR/92 RBI), 1B Natty Colclough (.298/18 HR/79 RBI).

Top Pitchers:
starters James Long (20-9/2.21), Scott Cole (19-12/3.53) and Rick Goldman (20-3/4.20)... relief specialists Norm Coventry (1-2/121 ERA/24 saves) and Yazzy Yastrzemski (7-2/2.33 ERA/7 saves).

Outlook:
Middlefield is still a very talented club and should take the RU West again this season... but Sligo and Stoner might be sneaking up on them... it should be a pretty fair pennant chase.

2. Sligo Rovers (89-65) (6 GB) (2nd Place)
Lately the Rovers have just been a bridesmaid and never a bride... for four straight years they have played second fiddle to the powerful Middlefield Roosters... could this be Sligo's year?... manager Les Patterson has solid solid core of hurlers on his staff... that's the Rovers' strength... they just need more offense to get over-the-hump and past Middlefield... last year was the closest they have come in beating the Roosters... three rookies have made the team this spring... one of them 2B Johnny Wagner looks like a good one with a little power, much needed by the Rovers.

Top Batters:
SS Clancy Beaufort (.267/25 HR/84 RBI), CF Merle Bliss (.290/16 HR/54 RBI), 1B Cliff Hawthorne (.279/15 HR/78 RBI) and LF Josh Brolin (.275/13 HR/58 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Judah Carmack (21-10/2.48), Mickey Walsh (19-17/2.70), Jacky Harshman (17-15/3.02)... last year's closer Tiger Snodgrass (9-7/3.07 ERA/22 saves) gets a shot at the starting rotation this season... bullpen could now use some help.

Outlook:
If the rookie bats produce, Sligo could challenge Middlefield... all they need is one solid threat at the plate and one more reliable starter to topple the mighty Roosters.

3. Stoner Stars (81-73) (14 GB) (3rd Place)
Stoner has just been a little better-than-average in recent years... lack of long balls has hurt them... it's hard for singles' hitters to beat Middlefield's maulers, even if you have a respectable mound corps... manager Fletch Fowler might have a fine rookie starter in Alberto Temozos... he stood out in spring training and won a spot in the rotation... none of the three rookie position players made much of an impact so far... CF Reynaldo Dantes, strong contact hitter, seems to have the best chance of getting into the lineup... C Claude Brick could do well, too.

Top Batters:
Best Rookie and Golden Bat in '55 1B Tyler Stoddard (.289/22 HR/94 RBI) had a good sophomore year... 3B Lance Andre (.313/10 HR/70 RBI), SS Mac Lord (.325/7 HR/65 RBI) and 2B Doug Moody (.292/6 HR/52 RBI) are quality bats, too... but can't go deep often.

Top Pitchers:
Al Raver (17-10/3.69), Donald Gilpin (16-11/3.92), Brad Squires (15-15/3.66), Ivan Kleczko (13-12/3.75 ERA/6 saves), Stan Ulmer (12-12/3.48 ERA/7 saves)... plus rookie Alberto Tamozos.

Outlook:
Stoner has a capable starting rotation, pretty good bullpen, good contact hitters, but very little firepower... but they could be a factor this season in the Ruthlandian West... they will be improved this season... could win 90 games... definitely a first division team... as high as second place... not likely to surpass Middlefield.

4. Volusia Vigilantes (69-85) (26 GB) (6th Place-tied)
Not an inpressive team... broke .500 only once in a decade... suffers from lack of home-run power... but they are good hitters for average... with a run-of-the-mill mound staff... skipper Tubby Tarkanian has come in 8th and 6th in his two seasons... on the hot spot... he needs a first-division finish and a winning record this year... the V's have one rookie starter in Sixto Domenguez, who had a decent spring training... several position players, 1B Lando Vila and 2B Sandy Infantes, show a little power potential... they both are expected to get a lot of playing time early at least.

Top Batters:
Tarkanian is big on platooning... uses a lot of players... 3B Teddy Cornelius (.301/13 HR/69 RBI), C Kees Tenbrook (.301/11 HR/61 RBI), CF Ellie Hudgins (.310/8 HR/59 RBI/CF Rupert Myles (.290/16 HR/47 RBI), LF Johnnie Dalrymple (.336/1 HR/47 RBI), RF Flash Nash (.317/8 HR/40 RBI), RF Bandy Barnwell (.320/2 HR/45 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Lonny Rinehart (20-15/2.98), Cloyd Queen (15-17/4.07), Reynaldo Medrano (10-17/4.11)... bullpen is only so-so... Dan Hunt (3-1/3.32 ERA/3 saves) is the best reliever.

Outlook:
Volusia might be improved enough this year to contend for fourth place... but no higher... most likely will wind up 5th or 6th.

5. Forest City Firebirds (65-89) (30 GB) (8th Place)
Manager Rich Barstow brought them in 4th two years ago near the .500 mark (76-78), but slipped badly to the basement last year... he needs improvement this year to keep his job... the Firebirds have 7 rookies on the roster... only one of them impressed in spring training... newcomer Dale Madison earned a spot in the starting rotation.

Top Batters:
CF Randy Snow (.296/30 HR/84 RBI)... the only real threat in the batting order... not much after him.

Top Pitchers:
Cale Ballantine (20-14/3.71), Ben Drummond (13-16/3.82)... closer Tim Varnado (3-7/2.72 ERA/18 saves) is quite good at times.

Outlook:
Forest City is mediocre at the plate and on the hill... just a second-division club... will wind up close to the bottom in the RU West.

6. Fort Benton Defenders (77-77) (18 GB) (4th Place)
Comparatively speaking, last year was a great year for manager Augie Marquis and his Defenders... for the first time since 2041, they reached the .500 mark... they pitched fairly well and hit very well and wound up in 4th place... and this year they have added two more pretty good bats to the roster in CF Kip Drumm and 1B Marlon Hazard... but the Defenders lacks long-ball power... just a lot of good contact hitters... only the Middlefield Roosters hit homers in the RU West... that's the prime reason they have dominated for so long... Fort Benton has more good hitters than they can play.

Top Batters:
1B Mel Lightfoot (.305/15 HR/82 RBI), LF Teddy Keyes (.302/4 HR/73 RBI), SS Steve Hornblower (.303/9 HR/76 RBI), 2B Sam Arnett (.312/3 HR/67 RBI), RF Charlie Bondy (.290/6 HR/58 RBI), C Terry Caslin (.284/4 HR/41 RBI) and SS Billy Currie (.307/3 HR/47 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Dave Llewellyn (14-13/2.83), Zeke Yoder (17-14/3.71), Gil Hicks (13-19/3.82)... bullpen is chocked full of good arms, led by Randy Rinehart (5-5/2.17 ERA/25 saves)

Outlook:
The media has slated Fort Benton for the 6th spot in the RU West standings, but they don't look like one... you could make a good argument that the Defenders are good enough to challenge Sligo and Stoner for second and third place... on paper they could do it... and just maybe on the field, too... Marquis has an improved team.

7. Colfax Blasters (69-85) (26 GB) (6th Place-tied)
It's been 7 long years since Colfax had a competitive team (86-68) in the RU West and that was good enough for 3rd place... they have just been a lackluster club ever since... this season the Blasters made a change in management and fired long-time skipper Mitch Fullerton... his replacement is Jorgen Krogstad, a journeyman hurler for the club from '42 to '54... his career record was 148-162 with a 4.00 ERA... the Ruthlandian Union has 7 new managers this season... Krogstad has a fine hitting squad, maybe second to Middlefield... has good power and hits for average... but the pitching is pathetic... Krogstad will go with pretty much the same staff, but has found a pretty fair closer in rookie Karl Kruger, who pitched well in the spring... he's sticking with the same position players, too... except for rookie C Jerry Vayda, who may give 38-year Darrell Dillon some rest this year.

Top Batters:
CF Stan Kovalenko (.316/9 HR/82 RBI), 3B Nigel Colvin (.296/20 HR/68 RBI), 1B Nicky Yorke (.303/24 HR/85 RBI), 2B Lon Downer (.297/8 HR/58 RBI)

Top Pitchers: Larry McDuffie (14-13/3.66), Alan Schmitt (18-11/4.76), Keith Himmel (12-13/4.23)... the bullpen is bad... hopefully rookie Karl Kruger will fill the closer spot.

Outlook:
Good hitting can't make up for lousy pitching... that's Colfax and new skipper Jorgen Krogstad's problem... the Blasters will probably wind up near the bottom again this season.

8. Rocky Rapids Snappers (71-83) (24 GB) (5th Place)
Manager Junior Noland has not been pleased with his Snappers the last two seasons... they were 6th in '55 with a 72-82 mark and 5th last year at 71-83... he has a pretty good pitching staff, but the offense is not adequate... Noland's Snappers have been ranked the worst team in the RU West this year and picked to be in the cellar... Noland doesn't agree with that assessment and thinks his club can get into the first division with a little improvement... he was very impressed with his new OF Corey McGee, who had a strong spring... McGee is a fine outfielder and an even better hitter... he also can go deep at times... Noland thinks McGee will be one of the best rookies in the IPA this year... rookie SS Ian Starkey should be a good addition to the roster, too... he hits for average and has a little power and will start the season as a regular.

Top Batters:
1B Deke Lundy (.304/20 HR/63 RBI), RF Joe Clarkson (.263/20 HR/74 RBI), 2B Charles Stradley (.265/13 HR/73 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Clay Callaghan (21-12/3.14), Lance Obermueller (14-11/3.52), Kip Golden (15-17/3.73)... reliever Big Jim Wakely (5-12/3.62 ERA/2 saves/55 G) moves to the number four starter slot this year... closer Rance Donnelly (5-6/3.72 ERA/25 saves) will still be the main man in the bullpen.

Outlook:
Rocky Rapids has improved its offense with the new rookies McGee and Beaton... if Wakely can give them another quality starter, then the Snappers may be a contender for 4th place... they certainly don't look like a last-place team.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

RED CAPS GET THE CALL OVER RASCALS IN TU NORTH
It may not be business as usual in the Tycobbian North Division in 2057... the White River Rascals have been the top dog in the division for the last decade with 6 pennants... they have won it the past 3 seasons... but the sports media have placed them 6th in The Islandian Times' preseason poll... most of the sports broadcasters and writers made the Oxford Red Caps the top team, followed by the Luxora Zorros, Hartsdale Hellcats and North Hills Hawks... the TU North is one of the weaker divisions in the IPA... last year only three clubs had winning records... two of them just barely made it with 78-76 marks... so it should be a wide-open race once again this year.

1. Oxford Red Caps (78-67) (4 GB) (3rd Place)
The Red Caps have done well in recent years under the leadership of manager Dennis Hartwig... they won the pennants in '52 and '53 and have been close in the other three seasons... not really an impressive club... have so-so pitching and hitting... but can hit with power... rookie 2B Scott Schneider (fair power, good defense) and reliever Pat McFarlane looked good in spring training... might be good ones... Red Caps need contact hitters.

Top Batters:
3B Roland Latimer (.269/29 HR/79 RBI), RF Wade McGrew (.271/23 HR/72 RBI), LF Ozzie Ackerman (.293/20 HR/56 RBI), CF Dwayne Wagner (.289/20 HR/81 RBI), 3B Ethan Cuthbert (.263/18 HR/69 RBI), C Giles Gilliam (.290/16 HR/62 RBI), SS Roger Bajon (.289/6 HR/64 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Maury Stadler (20-12/2.60), Rudy Mellancamp (16-10/3.65), R. C. Russell (15-17/4.23)

Outlook:
Oxford will be in the chase for the TU North division title and has a good shot at it... needs another good starter to prevail... booming bats are a big plus.

2. Luxora Zorros (69-85) (13 GB) (7th Place)
The Z's haven't been to the postseason in almost three decades... manager Kent Halloran just doesn't have much offense... and the pitching is just fair... rookie reliever Bartolo Baptista looks like the real thing... and newcomers in the outfield Clayton Mathews and Omar Solis could really boost the offense.

Top Batters:
1B Wade Tibbs (.300/23 HR/86 RBI), C Francisco Queiro (.275/22 HR/76 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Three good starters in Juliano Machado (17-11/3.20), Paolo De Freitas (12-19/3.35), Mack McKitrick (9-14/2.56)... fair bullpen headed up by Kippy Stearns last year... rookie Bartolo Baptista should be a good addition.

Outlook:
Offense is weak, but will be a little better this year... starters are good... the bullpen is improved and better... it's hard to see Luxora going from 7th to 2nd this year... maybe 4th or 5th place... time will tell if the preseason prognosticators are right.

3. Hartsdale Hellcats (74-80) (8 GB) (5th Place)
The Hellcats won the TU North in '46 and '47, then slowly trinkled down in the standings... 8th in '53... and 5th the last three years... improved pitching has them on the rise... Hartsdale hits for a low average, but with pretty good power... 18-year-old rookie SS Walt Ivy won a starting spot with a good spring... may be a diamond in the rough... he is the younger brother of RF Nathan Ivy.

Top Batters:
C Kenton Carmichael (.267/29 HR/88 RBI), 1B Al Wakefield (.237/20 HR/75 RBI), 2B Smokey Nix (.247/18 HR/68 RBI), RF Nathan Ivy (.261/14 HR/67 RBI)

Top Pitchers: Chet Salsbury (20-15/2.90), Bradley Barr (13-18/3.69), Christopher Wolfe (12-16/3.65)... top reliever is Roy Krieger (3-8/3.10 ERA/26 saves)... bullpen is fairly good.

Outlook:
Hartsdale still looks like a 5th-place club, but could climb up into the first division if manager Wayne Dawson can find more offense... that's the primary problem for the Hellcats.

4. North Hills Hawks (78-76) (4 GB) (3rd Place)
For the last four seasons the Hawks have hovered around the .500 mark... came close last year winding up a close third... this may be the make or break year for skipper David Michael... he has added 6 rookies in hopes of kicking it up to another level offensively... North Hills has found a jewel in rookie C Jarred Creed, who could be one of the best newcomers in the IPA... he hits very well and with power... North Hills hits well for average, but has no home-run power... has solid mound staff.

Top Batters:
RF Eddy Carlyle (.321/11 HR/75 RBI), LF Clifton Mahaffey (.292/8 HR/82 RBI), 3B Sam Dunstone (.321/1 HR/65 RBI), 2B Eddie Rojek (.319/9 HR/57 RBI)

Top Pitchers: 5 quality starters with Zip Harben (19-15/3.69), Chuck Kilshaw (13-7/3.67), Johnny Kristoff (13-14/3.41), Juan Cintron (12-8/3.70), Thad Vachon (11-8/3.01)... bullpen is fair led by DeWitt Dobkins (0-7/3.09 ERA/27 saves).

Outlook:
North Hills could be a pennant contender with five quality starters and some good contact hitters... the Hawks will give Oxford a run for their money... rookie C Jarred Creed will give them a big boost at the plate.

5. Blue Lake Blue Sox (59-95) (23 GB) (8th Place)
The Blue Sox haven't had a good team since the early 40s when they regularly won over 80 games a season and were a fixture in the first division of the TU North... three decades have past since the last postseason appearance in 2030, the year of their only Pro Cup championship... last year was terrible with 59-95 record... after a decade of frustration and defeats, IPA all-time wins leader Frankie Quinn (391-297/3.04 ERA) resigned as manager and turned it over to Juan Luis Barcelona, who retired in '55... Barcelona starred at catcher for 13 years and was a 5-time All-Star... he hit .288 in his career... hard to think Blue Lake will end up near .500 this year even if rookie starter Bobby Layne and rookie CF Steve Schueler do well this season... both had good springs... Blue Lake comes up short on the mound and at the plate... good hitters are few... quality arms are few, too.

Top Batters:
C Daryl Monaghan (.322/14 HR/67 R), 3B Billy Blue (.297/18 HR/79 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Weldon Nettleton (19-16/3.38), Bobby Nobles (10-12/3.73)... the starters are only fair and the bullpen is plain mediocre.

Outlook:
In the preseason poll Blue Lake was picked to finish at the top of the second division in 5th place... it's really hard to see that happening.

6. White River Rascals (82-72) (1st Place)
For 6 of the last 8 years the Rascals have won the Tycobbian North flag with fine pitching and modest bats... they have even done well against the powerhouses in the Pro Cup playoffs, three times making the Finals before losing... manager Marty Blake's team doesn't hit well, but they do have some quality starters... 5 rookies will try to perk up the offense... RF Jake Bohannon and CF Jerry Boggs could see a lot of playing time this year... both of them showed good offensive potential in the spring... the pitching staff might be showing its age a little.

Top Batters:
CF Pudge Tate (.259/30 HR/83 RBI), 1B Fred Kraft (.286/29 HR/88 RBI), LF Jed Small (.281/17 HR/49 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Nicky Palmer (19-11/2.55), Cody Butler (14-9/3.14), Noel Woods (16-18/2.69)... need help in lackluster bullpen... starters are very good.

Outlook:
The Rascals don't look like a 6th-place club, but that's where the preseason poll placed them... I think they will win their 4th straight TU North division title... Nicky Palmer is 36, but still seems to be a fine pitcher... his age would be my only concern... if he declines, White River would drop back in the pack a bit, but still have enough to be competitive in a weak division.

7. Mahaska Haymakers (75-79) (7 GB) (4th Place)
Manager Travis Tuttle and his Haymakers showed some improvement last year, rising up from 7th to 4th in the TU North standings... Mahaska came close to winning the division in '52, but lost out by one game to White River... sadly, the last postseason appearance was in 2028... the Haymakers have three rookies on the roster... 3B Buddy Minkler was the best of the lot and won a spot in the lineup... Minkler, 1B Les Larker and 1B Timothy Honor could give Tuttle's team much needed firepower.

Top Batters:
2B Elvis Gifford (.272/13 HR/80 RBI), RF Dub Forrester (.307/15 HR/59 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Morrie Dalman (18-16/3.62), Pip Cordice (15-12/4.06), Marty Mobley (13-21/3.15), Seth Scully (11-18/4.21)... the bullpen is only fair headed up by Cubby Darville (6-1/3.47 ERA/24 saves).

Outlook:
Mahaska could wind up higher in the TU North race... could finish anywhere from 3rd to 7th... the four starters are decent... and the offense should be a little better with the influx of power by the rookies.

8. Fairfax Frogs (73-81) (9 GB) (6th Place)
For 10 years in a row the Frogs have been a losing team... '46 was the last winning season at 80-74 (4th Place)... haven't made the playoffs since 2033... popular playing manager Scott Courtney, an 8-time All-Star and quite likely an IPA Hall-of-Famer, resigned at the end of last year, but will still play ball... the new skipper is Ken Hill, who starred for the Frogs from 2010 to 2029, winning 313 games... he was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2030... Fairfax needs pitching a lot... hits well, but suffers from a lack of power... Hill has three rookies on the squad... reliever Val Jackson did well in the spring on the hill... SS Kirk Waner won a spot in the lineup... and CF Derrek Yorke had a good spring and should get some playing time in the outfield.

Top Batters:
C Scott Courtney (.298/19 HR/87 RBI), 1B Mike Mitchell (.309/5 HR/84 RBI), LF Downtown Wyatt (.285/13 HR/82 RBI), RF Paddy Fenroy (.322/3 HR/58 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Jay Jay Dillaway (13-19/4.22), Ken Wallington (13-12/4.11)... the bullpen is pathetic... the best of the lot is Robinson Crenshaw (3-8/3.51 ERA/25 saves)... much improvement needed.

Outlook:
New manager Ken Hill has a big job... the pitching corps needs a lot of work... but he has a pretty good offensive club... they need more home-run power to create any movement in the TU North standings... most likely finish is the basement... the Frogs have a long, long way to leap out of the second division and into the first division... that will be a big jump for them.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

TURON AGAIN ATOP TU SOUTH
The Turon Typhoons have had their way the last five years in the Tycobbian South Division, winning four of them in runaway fashion... only a sensational season by Southport Sun Sox in '55 deprived the Typhoons of taking five flags in succession... Turon won 98 games that year and lost the pennant in a playoff game... this year in 2057 the Typhoons are again the choice, but it is forecast to be quite a race with six clubs in contention for the crown... Summerland, Ginza, Southport, Arroyo Grande and Cape Coral could be in the chase this year... the baseball critics are picking Turon to win a tight race in The Islandian Times' preseason poll... the Typhoons are not expected to win in a cakewalk this year.

1. Turon Typhoons (96-58) (1st Place)
Manager C. C. Kingsford will still be leading the charge... he has a top-notch team with fine pitching and strong hitting... and they are just as good as ever... and may be a little bit better with the return of Ivar Jevicks (5-1/2.94) from the injury list after doing so well in his freshman year... rookie left-hander Johnny Hatchett has made the squad and did well in the spring... the Typhoons are loaded.

Top Batters:
RF Matthew Fears (.323/23 HR/89 RBI), C Doyle Ashcroft (.294/20 HR/79 RBI), 1B Shoyo Yuro (.313/19 HR/94 RBI), SS Bill Wolverton (..299/15 HR/75 RBI), LF Andy Williams (.288/14 HR/56 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Bobby Reimer (22-6/2.48), Yancey Hedges (20-14/3.44), Ollie Dickenson (12-8/3.25), Judson Bacall (11-6/3.48)... good bullpen, too, led by Dickie Parmenter (7-9/3.46 ERA/12 saves) and Glenn Avery ( 5-0/2.39 ERA/2 saves)

Outlook:
It's hard to see anybody beating Turon in the TU South this year... they are just plain good... and should stay good for quite some time... it will take a whale of a team to beat the Typhoons.

2. Summerland Sunsets (78-76) (18 GB) (4th Place)
Manager Antonio Vasquez has a superb pitching staff, starters and bullpen... just about the best in the IPA... but he lacks offense to go with it... rookie OF Gerrit Peerenboom could be a find as a powerhitter... he looked good in spring training and should get a lot of playing time early in the year... still the Sunsets need more runs on the scoreboard to challenge Turon... Summerland has has strong pitching for the last five seasons and didn't come close to topping Typhoons.

Top Batters:
LF Cy Brigman (.218/23 HR/65 RBI), 3B Markus Cruyssen (.224/17 HR/63 RBI), 1B Zane Howe (.255/16 HR/71 RBI), SS Jayson Nickell (.258/12 HR/61 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Jayson Hallstrom (20-12/2.45), Tommy Underhill (18-15/2.66), Rudy Hilgendorf (15-14/3.35), Jacob Vandenboom (11-10/2.88)... bullpen has Rory Poe (4-6/2.40 ERA/26 saves)

Outlook:
Standout staff will go along way... but weak bats and offense will be a killer to Summerland's pennant aspirations... don't think they can upset the Turon applecart... but certainly the Sunsets will be in the hunt for the second or third spot in the Tycobbian South standings.

3. Ginza Ninjas (64-90) (32 GB) (7th Place)
The Ninjas haven't come close to a winning record for five years, wallowing down near the bottom of the Tycobbian South... so they called on all-time great Sogo Takagi to take over from the unsuccessful Tokuji Takahara, who lasted three seasons, finishing up 7th each year... gold glover Takagi hit .298 over two decades with the Ninjas with 538 homers and made the All-Star team 10 times... five rookies made the squad this spring... Kurt Brophy and Yoshiro Makihara both made the starting rotation... three position players could be starters: 1B Brendan Duffield, 2B Tookie Murrah and CF Tamotsu Saikawa... they are the key to the Ginza resurrection.

Top Batters:
Batting champion 2B Vic Carnaggio (.344/18 HR/72 RBI), SS Kuzuki Tamura (.305/12 HR/89 RBI), RF Chris Pfeiffer (.283/14 HR/64 RBI), 1B Crash Corrigan (.283/12 HR/45 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starter Fran Kercheval (14-16/3.76), relievers Abram Worth (2-5/1.97 ERA/23 saves), Corvell Dobbins (3-0/2.85 ERA/3 saves)

Outlook:
Rookies may perk up the scoreboard and help the starting rotation, but it's a long way from 7th place to contender... yet the baseball experts are impressed with the improvement of the Ginza Ninjas this year... 4th or 5th may be possible, but not any higher.

4. Southport Sun Sox (80-74) (18 GB) (3rd Place)
The Sun Sox have not had a losing season in 15 years... except for 2051 and a 5th-place finish (78-76), they have wound up first, second or third... manager Lorne Evans has a fine staff, but could use some quality bats... he signed six rookies to kick start the offense... one of them, CF Mike Jones, did fairly well in spring training and could see some action in a platoon role.

Top Batters:
LF Manuelo Garcia (.302/17 HR/82 RBI), 1B Zee Graham (.252/18 HR/85 RBI), 2B Buzzy McGinnis (.271/12 HR/61 RBI), CF Ross Good (.255/11 HR/51 RBI), SS Kenny Urban (.271/8 HR/59 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Irv Carwell (22-11/3.31), Zack Phillips (19-16/3.24), Champ Shafer (12-16/3.13)... bullpen CL Troy Hill (5-5/0.82 ERA/25 saves)

Outlook:
Southport is not likely to supplant Turon like they did in 2055, but the Sun Sox can hold their own on the hill... second or third place is likely... they should continue their winning seasons to 16 in a row.

5. Arroyo Grande Suns (84-70) (12 GB) (2nd Place)
Good pitching and lots of homers are a good formula for success for manager Eduardo Villanueva... the thing that could make the Suns a serious contender is contact hitters to get on base for the sluggers... since Villanueva took over in '54 the Suns have gotten much better... the prior 25 years had been miserable for the Arroyo Grande fans... four new rookies made the team, but none stood out in spring training... look like benchwarmers.

Top Batters:
CF Rueben Jones (.256/41 HR/106 RBI), SS Dan Fargo (.256/32 HR/84 RBI), 3B Russell Taylor (.281/26 HR/80 RBI), C Jaime Garcia (.223/20 HR/51 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Beau McCloud (25-12/2.94), Roy Tuthill (20-14/3.15), Nap Vickerson (19-14/3.15), Rocky Steed (15-17/4.06)... poor bullpen with Stan Chaffin (3-5/3.38 ERA/22 saves) the best of the relievers.

Outlook:
Don't be surprised if the Suns aren't in the thick of things in the Tycobbian South this year... they are a pretty fair ballclub... should be right up there with Summerland and Southport... Turon might be too high a mountain to climb this season... but Arroyo Grande is definitely a first-division club.

6. Cape Coral Hurricanes (67-87) (29 GB) (5th Place-tied)
The 'Canes have had only one winning year in the last nine seasons... overall they have just been slightly on the wrong side of the ledger... manager William Snyder is on the hotseat this year and needs to produce... Cape Coral scores well, but has a poor mound staff... only one rookie was impressive in the spring... 1B Kerry McCardell could break into the starting lineup with his power bat... rookie reliever Manny Rosetti also looked good at times... both of these could help out.

Top Batters:
3B Jaybird Ethridge (.268/29 HR/114 RBI), 1B Kalian Coston (.277/29 HR/84 RBI), LF Marvin Cordice (.303/12 HR/62 RBI), RF Darrin Abernathy (.312/11 HR/62 RBI), SS Lynwood Barley (.318/8 HR/70 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Edgardo Arriaza (17-11/4.20), Frisco Francis (15-21/4.66), Jerrod Kipling (11-17/4.01)... no one had a good year in the bullpen... really needs some help.

Outlook:
Cape Coral hits and scores well, but simply doesn't have the pitchers to challenge the TU South elites... it will be hard for the Hurricanes to wind up as high as 5th place... no way they will challenge for the Tycobbian South division title.

7. Colchester Elites (67-87) (29 GB) (5th Place-tied)
A former Colchester star OF Blake Barrister (.264/453 HR) is the skipper... for the previous five years the club has been on the downgrade with nothing but second-division finishes... only twice in the past 14 seasons have they mustered up a .500 record... Barrister is in bad need of pitching, but has some fairly good bats... rookie Bunky McCracken has good credentials, but struggled in the spring in 6 starts... two rookie postion players C Rick Chaucer and CF Paddy Terry had trouble hitting IPA pitching.

Top Batters:
RF Graig Sutton (.295/36 HR/83 RBI), 1B Errol Waldrep (.300/32 HR/108 RBI), LF Eldon McLennon (.314/13 HR/67 RBI), 2B James Murchison (.282/12 HR/53 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Denzel Durand (17-18/3.82) and Johnny Walker (11-18/3.89) are decent on the hill... closer Haden Fraser (5-4/3.92 ERA/17 saves) is showing signs of age at 34... his career 2.41 ERA took quite a tumble this year.

Outlook:
The Islandian Times' preseason poll has Colchester near the bottom of the TU South and that looks just about right... the Elites are not a very good team.

8. San Alejo Montaneros (62-92) (34 GB) (8th Place)
For two decades (2032-2052) won 5 TU South flags and even captured its only Pro Cup in '32... the Monties were contenders year-after-year... but no more... long-time skipper Filipe Zamora has called it quits after three straight dismal years and has been replaced with All-Star starter and soon-to-be IPA Hall-of-Famer, Will McKinney... he was 314-187 in his 14 seasons with a superlative 2.66 ERA... McKinney won the TU Golden Arm Award 4 times... it will be tough for him... the Montaneros are terrible at the plate and just fair on the hill... it will be a major rebuilding job for McKinney... at least he will have one good pitcher for one more year... his long-time mound mate, Matt Bell (15-17/2.85), will shooting for the all-time IPA wins mark this season... going into his 19th season Bell is a brilliant 382-218 and need just 10 victories to claim the record from Blue Lake's Frankie Quinn (391-297)... Bell is 37... San Alejo has four new additions to its roster and they did fairly well in spring training... RF Wilfredo Peralta, RF Javy Beltre, 1B Manny Baez and LF Adolis Escobar could be the future for the Montaneros.

Top Batters:
3B Allen Hooper (.271/8 HR/39 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starter Matt Bell (15-18/2.85)

Outlook:
The cupboard is empty for new skipper Will McKinney... it will be a long, long season for San Alejo... easily the worst team in the Tycobbian South... and perhaps, the entire IPA... highly unlikely they will finish any higher than 8th.

Here's hoping Midway get a second shot at the Pro Cup - was unfortunate last time around!

One day I'll have to sit down and read more than this... although I may need more than a day :D

Yeah... you might just want to go back a few years and pick it up from there... this league is way too big with a history covering over 50 years... I can't hardly keep up with all of the teams... much less keep up with the players.

I started the IPA with 12 teams... wish I had been smart and kept it there.

Still love this league even though it really requires a lot of time to update it 2-3 times a season... love the playoffs when I can really get immersed in the teams and players.

It broke my heart when Midway apparently won a spot in the Pro Cup Finals in 2056, but the game did not properly save the fifth game in the TU Finals against White River... when I replayed the game, they lost it, the next game and the series... and didn't get a chance to win their third straight IPA Pro Cup title.

The Midway Wolves will be one of the favorites to win the Pro Cup this year again.

A computer glitch might have cost them a third straight Pro Cup crown... a playoff game they won was wiped out... they lost the replay.

I have to really watch extra-inning playoff games... it has happened twice because of a game glitch... haven't figured out the problem yet.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

WOLVES WILL FEAST IN TU EAST
For the fifth consecutive year the mighty Midway Wolves are the choice of the Tycobbian East Division... the Wolves have devoured the division each season since 2053, capturing the division flag by an average of 14 games... no one has come close to knocking the Middies off their pedestal... but could the landscape be changing?

This year the baseball braintrust think there might be a pennant race for the first time in recent memory... The Islandian Times' preseason poll shows it just might be a three-team tussle this season... Midway is still a solid pick, but the second-ranked East Point Panthers and the third-rated High Mesa Mustangs could make them sweat a little bit according to the experts... even the fourth pick Hillsboro Blazers and the fifth selection Red Bluff Red Sox have an outside chance of contending... Midway is striving for its third Pro Cup in the last five years... the Wolves' hearts were broken when they missed out on a third straight IPA title in '55, when White River upset them in the Tycobbian Union Finals... Midway has averaged almost 102 victories a year the past four seasons.

1. Midway Wolves (101-53) (1st Place)
Manager Bobby Dorignac has one of the greatest teams in IPA history... basically the Middies are fairly young, but the mound staff might be showing signs of age... that's why the baseball world has downgraded the club going into this season... the Wolves are still the class of the TU East and a highly-regarded Pro Cup contender... Midway is anchored by four All-Star performers: Daryl Vale, Norishige Ito, Kax Clark and Arnie McGill.

Top Batters:
TU MVP and Golden Bat RF Daryl Vale (.343/41 HR/1133 RBI), CF Norishige Ito (.314/36 HR/116 RB), SS Kax Clark (.300/6 HR/59 RBI) and 1B Ted Merritt (.287/26 HR/101 RBI)... three rookies made the team, but will be used in backup roles: MR Linc Christopher, SS Bryan Busby and RF Fred Coleman.

Top Pitchers:
Arnie McGill (22-6/2.62), Rob Land (21-9/2.74), Dookie Higgins (21-9/3.24) and Will Deberry (14-14/3.05)... bullpen is excellent with Jeffrey Leonard (2-1/1.31 ERA/8 saves), Rocket Rhodes (9-5/2.75 ERA/21 saves) and Charlie Chase (6-2/2.92 ERA/0 saves)

Outlook:
Midway should be a formidable power for a few years to come... Rob Land is 36 and coming back from arm injury... he is the question mark on the club, along with 37-year-old Charlie Chase... still the Wolves have enough firepower to win the Tycobbian East for a fifth year in a row.

2. East Point Panthers (86-68) (15 GB) (2nd Place)
East Point skipper and Hall-of-Fame hurler Frankie Blair, the all-time IPA leader with 391 wins, has a good club... they just happen to be in the wrong division... the Panthers have a string of seven solid winning seasons since 2050... they have even won two pennants ('50, '52) and came in second to Midway fives times... East Point could probably win most of the other IPA divisions with its high-powered bats and good pitching... should mythic Midway come out of the skyhigh heavens and back down to earth, the Panthers have the personnel to give them a battle... Blair stayed with the status quo... no rookies made the squad this year.

Top Batters:
CF Skip Donley (.296/41 HR/118 RBI), C Kenny Bailey (.274/27 HR/96 RBI), 1B Alvara Cavacos (.273/25 HR/90 RBI), 2B Teddy Flack (.285/19 HR/59 RBI), SS Justin McRae (.297/13 HR/75 RBI), LF Pokie Ash (.312/9 HR/71 RBI), RF Jakie Spears (.308/0 HR/58 RBI), 3B Manny Powers (.276 /12 HR/58 RBI).

Top Pitchers:
starters Benny Allen (17-10/3.03), Al Coatsworth (18-12/3.60), Eddy Winborne (14-6/3.75)... closer Kerry Woodburn (5-12/2.93 ERA/25 saves) is good some days and bad some days... inconsistent... bullpen needs help to overtake Midway.

Outlook:
East Point has standout core of hitters... pretty good starters... but not so good in bullpen... the Panthers look like a second place team again.

3. High Mesa Mustangs (75-79) (26 GB) (3rd Place)
All-time great slugger Jack Elliott still has the reins of the High Mesa Mustangs... Elliott hit .332, 848 homers and drove in over 2000 runs in his legendary career... he has his club hitting very well and his pitchers are coming along and making some progress... rookie right-hander Weldon Herrington has earned a spot in the rotation after a very good spring training... he, reliever Sandy Stevenson and first sacker Rex Beecroft are the only newcomers on the team... Stevenson has some good credentials, but labored in the spring... Beecroft is set to play against lefties... he hits for average and with some power... looks like a good addition to the roster... High Mesa had some good years '47 to '52 with a pennant and all first-division finishes... slipped into mediocrity three of the last four seasons... on the rise again according to the sports media... coupled with its robust arsenal, improved pitching will move the Mustangs up in the TU East standings... may be as high as third.

Top Batters:
IPA HR co-leader 3B Kagetoki Miyazaki (.273/43 HR/109 RBI) is the top gun in the lineup... helped out in abundance by CF Tracy McGriff (.283/40 HR/104 RBI), 1B Ward Catlin (.292/28 HR/72 RBI), 2B Tommy Yost (.335/21 HR/82 RBI), RF Virgil Lawton (.291/13 HR/48 RBI), LF Curly Yeats (.286/10 HR/53 RBI) and SS Sherm Abernathy (.283/8 HR/67 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Tuffy Hammel (16-13/3.15)... closer Lloyd Armstrong (5-9/2.83 ERA/25 saves) is just alright... bullpen could stand some inprovement... Norman Gurley (11-18/4.18) and David Newell (12-14/4.53) give the Mustangs some quality starts, but not enough of them.

Outlook:
Manager Jack Elliott has his High Mesa Mustangs riding high... they show good promise this season and should wind up in the TU East first divsion behind powerhouse Midway and potent East Point... better pitching would greatly inprove the ball club, but still wouldn't get them up with the division's best teams... but the Mustangs have a good shot at the third spot in the standings.

4. Hillsboro Blazers (64-90) (37 GB) (7th Place)
It was another bad year for the Blazers... they wound up seventh in the TU East... Hillsboro is one of the worst franchises in the IPA... Hillsboro has only made one single, solitary appearance in the playoffs... that was in 2051... all manager Andy Jefferson's club can do is go deep... with a career .248 team BA they are one of the all-time worst hitting team in IPA history... Jefferson had two good seasons with the pennant-winning 98-56 record in '51, followed by 86-68 in '52, good for the fourth spot... but for the last four years just a poor to lackluster record... last season the club had lousy hitting, ho-hum pitching, but good power with 191 homers... the press is picking the Blazers to rise above the .500 mark and end up in the first division this year... they possess a couple of bonafide batters in youngsters CF Ichiro Ichikawa and 1B Dan Bushnell... plus rookie 3B Rube Nealy showed some talent this spring and won a spot in the batting order... hits for high average and with some power and is a solid defender.

Top Batters:
CF Ichiro Ichikawa (.299/34 HR/77 RBI), 1B Dan Bushnell (.283/31 HR/71 RBI), LF Ziggy Crosby (.215/28 HR/84 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Elliot Frampton (15-19/3.65), Ian Barrie (13-17/2.76), Steve Cooper (13-20/4.17)... relievers Hank Greenberry (3-8/2.80 ERA/16 saves) and Ron Pryor (2-0/3.14 ERA/2 saves) just do a fair job in the bullpen.

Outlook:
Hillsboro may be a little better at the plate... 4th place is the most likely finish... Jefferson's Blazers are just a so-so ball club.

5. Red Bluff Red Sox (71-83) (30 GB) (6th Place)
Manager Ike Sweetwater had 12 straight winning years from 2043 to 2054... plus he won four pennants '44 to '47... but has slowly slipped since then... both hitting and pitching has declined in recent years... keep an eye out for rookie right-hander Duane Sturgeon, who throws 100 mph and will start the season in the starting rotation... rookie CF Paul Gaddison won a spot in the lineup with a fine spring... he reportedly can do it all... a 5-tool player.

Top Batters:
RF Toni Kolkov (.279/37 HR/89 RBI), 1B Monty Lyons (.298/12 HR/50 RBI), SS Wesley Robinson (.277/6 HR/70 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Fred Taylor (12-7/3.59), Wilson Sharpe (17-18/3.53)... and closer Dontrelle Gilbreath (5-5/1.89 ERA/23 saves) is a stickout in the pen.

Outlook:
The Red Sox appear to be just a second-division club, but could sneak past Hillsboro for fourth place if rookies Sturgeon and Gaddison perform well.

6. Tuckanarra Blue Jays (78-76) (23 GB) (4th Place)
The Blue Jays last qualified for the postseason with a division crown in '49... just drifted into a fair-to-middling performance ever since... but manager Junior Bristow's team turned it around a little bit last year with some much-improved pitching... the Tucks have high hopes on hard-hitting rookie catcher Odell Overstreet, who hammered 8 homers in spring training... good-fielding rookie SS Curtis Wynn also made the starting lineup this spring.

Top Batters:
3B Newt Crutchfield (.319/13 HR/76 RBI), RF Harv Bannerman (.249/16 HR/56 RBI), LF Jali Toba (.307/12 HR/55 RBI), 1B Rodger Parsons (.305/11 HR/49 RBI), CF Orin Ryder (.301/3 HR/45 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Ozzie Leslie (16-11/2.90), rookie Justin Shank (16-13/3.16), Ian Timms (13-16/3.19), Ralph Ayers (12-14/3.64)... fairly good bullpen, led by Paul Landale (7-7/3.20 ERA/29 saves)

Outlook:
Pitching can take a team a long way... Tuckanarra has a fine staff top to bottom... skipper Junior Bristow just need to crank out more runs from his lineup... rookie slugger Overstreet could make quite a difference... first-year SS Wynn should be a good solid player, too... the Bluebirds could contend for the fourth spot in the Tycobbian East race.

7. Ozarka Naturals (83-71) (18 GB) (3rd Place)
Until last season, the Nats had a losing record in 13 of the previous 14 seasons... better pitching made it possible... almost 20 years has past since the last TU East pennant... young manager Duffy Morrison has the future looking up in Ozarka... they rose from 8th in '54 to 6th in '55 and to 3rd in '56... that's what better pitching can do... and Morrison thinks the Naturals will get even better in '57 with the addition of two fine rookies, SS Chuck Dodkin and CF Chris Kile... they both stood out in spring training and claimed a starting spot in the batting order... slick-fielding Dodkin hit .412 this spring... Kile is a go-getter in the outfield and could hit for a high average as well.

Top Batters:
RF Scotty Hannon (.293/19 HR/78 RBI), 3B Foxy Alderson (.258/8 HR/83 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters John Dickinson (20-12/2.91), Willis Reece (17-17/3.26), Jordy Alberstadt (15-10/3.89), Delmer Jeffries (11-8/3.29)... the bullpen is not very good, which really hurts Ozarka's chances to climb higher.

Outlook:
For some reason the preseason prognosticators don't have much faith in Ozarka... they were chosen 7th in The Islandian Times' preseason poll... Morrison and his Nats think they will do much better.

8. South Fork Stallions (63-91) (38 GB) (8th Place)
The Hosses won their last TU East in '43... they also had a splendid year in '44 finishing second (93-61) to a very good Red Bluff club (95-59)... since then it's been a dismal decade of decline until two third-place finishes in '53 and '54 with 83-71 and 85-69 marks... however in the last two years, not so good again... and really bad last year... manager Eldon Jacoby has little offense and little pitching... he needs a lot of infusion of talent... Jacoby hopes flamethrower reliever Herm McClanahan and all-around good 1B Otto Rommel can begin the rebuilding process.

Top Batters:
RF Bob Purkey (.321/22 HR/72 RBI), C Rudy Maroney (.245/18 HR/83 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Bud Bowens (16-16/3.50), Emmett Coogan (16-15/4.34), Sam Black (8-8/3.12)

Outlook:
Rebuilding will take some time... looks like a long year for the Stallions... another year in the TU East cellar.

Just about finished the preseason preview of the Tycobbian West... should post it tomorrow.

And then it's away we go for season 2057 of the Islandian Pro Alliance.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 1, 2057

DC REDBIRDS PRIMED AND LOADED IN TU WEST
The Denton City Redbirds have suffered two heartrendering defeats in recent years in the Tycobbian West Division, both to the Arlon Champions... the Champs edged them by one game in '54 and last season... the Redbirds copped the TU West in '53 and '55 and The Islandian Times' preseason experts predict they are primed, poised and ready to steamroll everybody in the division in 2057... Denton City is favored by a wide margin to whip its primary pennant challengers, the Bayview Vikings, Kenwood Wildcats and Bay St. Clair Buccaneers... hard to believe, but according to the pollsters last year's winner Arlon is slated for a seventh-place finish this season.

1. Denton City Redbirds (96-59) (1 GB) (2nd Place)
Longtime DC skipper Pete Gibbs has an abundance of impressive talent on the hill and his offense is just barely good enough to get the job done... beware TU West... the Redbirds may even be better with the addition of several fine prospects... infielder Sherm Dobkins tore up the pitchers in spring training and will be hard to keep out of the lineup... rookie southpaw Rob Currie is also a good addition in the bullpen... it may be hard to keep him out of the starting rotation.

Top Batters:
SS Vincent McCloud (.295/28 HR/86 RBI), 1B Val Anniston (.281/22 HR/94 RBI), 2B Joey Lake (.296/8 HR/48 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Flash Stringfellow (22-12/2.71), Rance Hasbrough (16-8/2.94), Carl Coons (14-0/2.93), Jayson Mannon (17-16/2.94)... closer Burnell Kelley (7-2/0.59 ERA/22 saves) is one of the IPA's best... starters may be the best foursome in the IPA.

Outlook:
Denton City is loaded... not likely to lose the TU West this season... but Arlon is still in the TU West... is still a very good ballclub... and still quite capable of running a good race.

2. Bayview Vikings (72-82) (24.5 GB) (8th Place)
The Vikings are banking on longtime hitting star Jack Culpepper (.304/878 HR) to get them competitive in the Tycobbian West... Culpepper had much success on the diamond as a player... he is the all-time home-run king, but he has had to go through three torturous seasons running the ballclub... Bayview wound up last in his first two seasons and seventh in the third year, but the Viks have improved a little each year... going back to 2044 the Vikings have not had a winning season in 12 years... so Culpepper inherited a terrible team when he took charge... but they is some good news... the 2057 rookie class is something special acccording to Culpepper... Ivar Rasmussen is a bonafide starter and three outfielders will get opportunities to start, greatly improving the Viks' offense... keep an eye on Morten Skov, Reidar Henriksen and Jorgen Ostergaard... the baseball media has also been impressed and voted Bayview the second spot in the TU West standings... which is quite a jump from the basement... remember the Vikings already have a high-octane lineup... and the pitching staff is expected to be upgraded a bit from pathetic to borderline run-of-the-mill.

Top Batters:
3B Byorn Karlsen (.303/40 HR/97 RBI), 1B Eddie Beeman (.246/33 HR/99 RBI), RF Vern Woodcock (.233/30 HR/73 RBI), 2B Lou Kauchak (.327/11 HR/44 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Herm Monday (13-17/3.81), Jules Perot (15-15/3.67)... with a pretty good closer in Skeets Dyson (3-6/2.90 ERA/28 saves)

Outlook:
Bayview is a much better team than when Culpepper took over three years ago... and along with that, this year's rookie class looks special... Culpepper would do well if he can get the Vikings anywhere near the first division... fourth or fifth place would be a fine year for him.

3. Kenwood Wildcats (88-66) (8.5 GB) (3rd Place)
For the past three seasons manager Babe Hankins and his Wildcats have been stuck in the third spot in the TU West standings... and it seems to be more of the same this year... Hankins is in hopes of getting back to winning the pennant like Kenwood did in '52... he is optimistic about his freshman class... it's big and good with lots of potential... five position players will trying to win spots in the lineup... they should kick up the offense and boost the Wildcats' run-scoring ability... Hankins' hurlers are pretty fair... four fair starters and a solid bullpen.

Top Batters:
1B Bralen Connally (.275/29 HR/113 RBI), LF Chris McNeal (.251/29 HR/77 RBI) and C John Michael Lansdell (.297/15 HR/66 RBI).

Top Pitchers:
Mickey Maughan (17-9/3.58), Ward Elliott (15-17/4.12) and James Farnham (13-12/4.19) are reliable starters... Al Bryan (7-4/3.43) is back after an injury cost him the second half of the season last year... the bullpen is handled by Pee Wee Windham (9-11/3.06 ERA/30 saves) and Neal Wilbert (11-1/2.03 ERA/1 save).

Outlook:
Like several other clubs, Kenwood's success depends on the rookies... the Wildcats are a genuine contender for the first division... second place is within the realm of possibility, especially if Al Bryan can pitch like he did before the injury... and should all the rookies produce well, they will challenge talented Denton City for the division crown... Hankins has a good club.

4. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (77-77) (19.5 GB) (5th Place)
The Bucs enjoyed wonderful success in '49 and '50 under skipper Cotton Cornwall... they captured the Tycobbian West title both seasons... but they have declined in recent years, winding up fifth in '55 and '56... BSC has a good staff, but lacks bats... five rookie hopefuls have made the squad with SS Johnny Sammons winning a spot as a regular... he features a good glove with a good bat... can go deep occasionally... newcomer Benny Daye will be in the starting rotation.

Top Batters:
1B Clive Caveness (.259/20 HR/72 RBI), LF Jed Killick (.233/23 HR/74 RBI), C Hersh Cranmore (.270/13 HR/63 RBI), RF Erik Kruger (.289/14 HR/53 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
starters Scott Hedwall (19-15/2.99), Jerry MacIntyre (14-16/3.45), Kyle Eastman (11-17/4.03)... bullpen is strong with longtime star Cadillac Bogart (3-6/1.37 ERA/26 saves).

Outlook:
Bay St. Clair should contest for the first division along with all the other clubs falling in behind powerful Denton City... only poor La Clair is out of the running... quality pitchers can take you a long way... what would really help the Buccaneers is several more threats at the plate... that's their biggest shortcoming.

5. Rolling Hills Reds (79-75) (17.5 GB) (4th Place)
Rolling Hills won the 2048 Pro Cup, but has slowly degraded since, but remained a first-division team until Billy Christianson took over the Reds in 2052 from his dad, Matty Christianson... Billy Christianson has struggled as the Rolling Hills manager... he was under .500 his first three seasons... but has come in fourth in '55 and '56 with 79-74 marks... Christianson has fairly good pitching and good offense with fair HR power... the bats could be better this year with rookies 1B Teddy Stonich and C Lee Fountain in the lineup... the pollsters say 2057 will be much like last year... they ranked the Reds fifth this year in the preseason poll.

Top Batters:
2B Dustin Thibodeau (.315/24 HR/110 RBI), Jean-Luc Roubique (.291/17 HR/100 RBI), SS Jameson Mulbert (.299/7 HR/65 RBI), RF Rory Teed (.327/11 HR/61 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Vance Dillaway (18-11/3.39), P. J. Dunham (16-10/3.88), Tommy Otis (12-14/4.19)... excellent closer Matty Mosby (6-6/2.01)

Outlook:
Good offense could get better with new rookies Stonich and Fountain... pitching may not be as good as last year... Rolling Hills will be one of the six contenders in the battle royal for second place behind favorite Denton City.

6. Chicopee Braves (75-79) (21.5 GB) (6th Place)
Chicopee is not a successful IPA franchise... eons ago they won three straight division flags 2034-2036... but for the last two decades have only had four winning seasons with 80-74 their best in '53... like many clubs in the TU West, they are just fair-to-middling... the Braves have a new skipper Paul Foster (129-169/3.98)... he is replacing Augie Meaux this year... a journeyman pitcher Foster falls heir to a good quality pitching staff and a lackluster offense with not much firepower... to help the offense Chicopee signed six rookie position players... none of them stood out in the spring games.

Top Batters:
LF Travis Ledger (.317/12 HR/75 RBI), 2B Derrell Stelly (.296/10 HR/62 RBI), CF Vance Tunstall (.279/10 HR/41 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Chuta Shaman (18-15/3.66), Russ Clooney (14-12/3.86), Sharlon Barbour (13-23/3.49), Gavin Kinville (13-22/4.22)... really fine bullpen with Rocky Dowling (4-1/1.76 ERA/25 saves/39 G), Don Beeton (3-1/2.03 ERA/0 saves/44 G), Cy Abernathy (3-1/1.84 ERA/4 saves/38 G), Chipper Gilton (2-0/1.57 ERA/0 saves/25 G)

7. Arlon Champions (97-58) (1st Place)
In the recent past the Champs have been one of the elite clubs in the Tycobbian West Division with one Pro Cup title (2051) and three division pennants ('51, '54, '56)... manager Mark Cameron has a very good team with a solid pitching rotation and a more than substantial offense... a well-balanced team... Arlon only added one rookie to the roster, but RF Mychal Baron stuggled in spring training.

Top Batters:
LF Jamey Stansfield (.290/40 HR/103 RBI), 1B Rebel Bryce (.281/27 HR/84 RBI), 3B Art Catlin (.285/24 HR/83 RBI), C Riley Earnshaw (.310/9 HR/79 RBI), SS Leon Normand (.315/12 Hr/65 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Erik Branham (21-10/3.75), J. C. Hilburn (18-12/3.27), Dicky Towers (19-8/3.71), Ty Coffee (17-12/3.94)... fair bullpen headed up by Mack Blair (3-5/3.04 ERA/36 saves)

Outlook:
The Arlon mound corps may be aging a bit with starters Hilburn (35) and Coffee (34), but the Champions are still a fairly young squad... it's strange why they were chosen to wind up in the seventh spot this season... they still look pretty potent on paper... wouldn't be surprised if they end up in second place... Denton City appears to be too strong to beat this year.

8. La Claire Lynx (74-80) (22.5 GB) (7th Place)
After many years at the helm HOF-er Flash Devlin retired as Lynx skipper and was replaced by Pat Kovacs, who starred for them on the hill for almost two decades, finishing up with an impressive 308-228 record and a career 2.84 ERA... he retired in '42 and made the IPA Hall of Fame in '44... La Claire needs help on the mound... they are on the poor side... the offense is fairly good... only three times in the last 20 seasons have the Lynx posted a winning mark... they have not made the playoffs since '37 and '38... only one in-coming rookie... after a good spring young right-hander Tim Halliburton will get his shot in the rotation this year.

Top Batters:
1B Charlie Rodgers (.339/31 HR/109 RBI), SS Horace Rutherford (.296/13 HR/76 RBI), 2B Derek Winchester (.298/9 HR/65 RBI), 3B Frisco Thorpe (.257/20 HR/70 RBI)

Top Pitchers:
Chance Coursey (18-12/3.82), Krisjan Valk (17-15/3.96), Kelly Hudgins (12-10/4.29)... La Claire has a really bad bullpen... best of the lot is Kraig Cutler (1-3/3.38 ERA/11 saves)

Outlook:
La Claire looks like the worst team in the TU West by a long shot... that where the baseball experts placed them... looks like the cellar for new manager Pat Kovacs in his initial season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, May 1, 2057

TIGHT RACES ALL AROUND THE ISLANDS
After the first month of play in the Islandian Pro Alliance every single division is as tight as twin Texas fiddles... the biggest lead any division leader has is just one game... three preseason favorites, Glasco, Middlefield and Turon are on top of their respective divisions as predicted... the other five, Crystal Lake, Wynnamac, Midway, Denton City and Oxford are all within easy reach of first place in the standings.

In the Ruthlandian North, the Glasco Athletics (19-8) are closely followed by the Valmara Vipers (18-9) and lightly-regarded Ancona Red Elephants (18-9), both tied for the runner-up spot... the fourth place LaGrange Sports (15-12) are playing surprisingly well after being picked to finish last in the standings... fifth place Taranto (15-12), last year's division champion, is just four games off the pace and sixth place Far Mountain (14-13) is five games out.

The St. John Crusaders (17-10) and Claxton Diamonds (17-10) are duking it out for the top spot in the Ruthlandian South... Claxton may be playing over its head in the early going... trailing by one game is well-regarded Waleska (16-11), who won the title last year... this year's favorite Crystal Lake (14-13) is in the fourth spot, just three games back in the chase... San Dimas (13-14) and Belair Beach (13-14) are deadlocked for fifth place, just four games off the pace.

Three clubs are snapping at the heels of the Ruthlandian East leader, the Elnora All-Stars (15-12)... Wynnamac (14-13), Sugar Valley (14-13) and Cold Creek (14-13) are entangled in second place, only one game behind... Marston (12-15) is in fifth place, but just three games out... last year's crown winner Eastshore (11-16) has started off slowly in April and is four games back.

Powerful Middlefield is seeking its ninth straight pennant in the Ruthlandian West... the Roosters (15-12) and improved Fort Benton (15-12) are the co-leaders so far with Forest City (14-13) right on their tailfeathers at the end of April... two first-division regulars Sligo (13-14) and Stoner (13-14) are tied for fourth place, just two games back in the pennant hunt... sixth place Volusia (12-15) is only three out in the standings.

The tightest battle going on around the Islands is in the Tycobbian North, the weakest division in the IPA... seven teams are under the .500 mark... however, only four games separate the eight teams... North Hills (14-13) sits atop the standings with last season's title winner White River (13-14), this year's favorite Oxford (13-14) and up-and-coming Luxora (13-14) lurking only a game away... fifth place Hartsdale (12-15) trails by two games... every team is still in the running after one month of play... Fairfax (11-16) is three out in sixth... Mahaska (10-17) and Blue Lake (10-17) are last, but just four games in the rear of the leader North Hills (14-13)... it's a wide-open race.

The top club in the Tycobbian South is the talented Turon Typhoons (17-10), picked to win its fourth division crown in five years... they are off to the races in the opening month, but have only a one-game margin over second place San Alejo (16-11) and Ginza (16-11)... the Monties are off to an unexpected great start... the Ninjas were forecast to be in contention... in the fourth spot just a couple of games back in the standings are the respected Southport Sun Sox (15-12)... followed by Colchester (14-13) and Cape Coral (14-13), sharing fifth place and only three games behind the top team Turon (17-10).

There is also a close fight in the Tycobbian East... Tuckanarra (17-10) and Red Bluff (17-10) have jump ahead early in the year and have a two-game edge... neither of them were ranked highly in the preseason ratings... defending division champion Midway (15-12) and this year's choice is third in the race, along with solid challenger High Mesa (15-12)... not far behind are three other clubs... South Fork (14-13) and East Point (14-13) are fifth in the standings and hanging tough, only three off the pace... even seventh-place Ozarka (13-14) is with striking distance of the co-leaders Tuckanarra (17-10) and Red Bluff (17-10), just four games behind.

The Denton City Redbirds (16-11) were predicted to rampage through the Tycobbian West this season, but thus far, they have some competition, supplied by Bayview and unlikely Rolling Hills (17-10), who have shot to the top in April... they lead second place Denton City (16-11) and Bay St. Clair (16-11) by one game... two other challengers are highly-ranked Kenwood (13-14) and last year's flag winner Arlon (13-14)... both are four games out of first.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 20, 2057

MIDSUMMER SHOWCASE WED IN MIDDLEFIELD
The Showcase for the IPA Stars is coming to Middlefield Park this Wednesday afternoon... the 57th iteration of Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game... it's a delight for every Islander baseball fan... featuring the very best of the Ruthlandian Union against the very finest from the Tycobbian Union... going toe-to-toe once again like they did last year in the Pro Cup Finals, Middlefield skipper Ricky Tinker and Turon manager C. C. Kingsford will again renew old acquaintances on the baseball diamond... the Roosters prevailed over the Typhoons for the IPA crown... Ruthlandia will be trying to put a stop to its seven-game losing streak... the RU Stars haven't claimed a victory since 2049... the series stands at a lopsided 38-18 in favor of the TU Stars.

The Islandian Pro Alliance announced this year's All-Stars yesterday at the league office in Marston... topping the selections were Denton City with four All-Stars and Elnora and Fort Benton with three each... Jojo DeLucca of Claxton made it for the 15th time at age 41... at 37 Dirk Sinclair of Blue Lake was the second oldest All-Star... the youngest was Fort Benton's Kip Drumm, just 19 years of age... six rookies made the TU Stars... the Ruthlandian Stars had none.

Ruthlandian Union All-Stars:

SP Primo Sirak (Valmara Vipers) (11-3/1.86 ERA) (6-time winner)
SP Yanni Bubas (Ancona Red Elephants) (12-5/2.61 ERA) (first-time winner)
SP Monte France (Glasco Athletics) (12-5/2.66 ERA) (first-time winner)
SP James Long (Middlefield Roosters) (12-5/2.74 ERA) (11-time winner)
SP Zeke Yoder (Fort Benton Defenders) (12-5/2.76 ERA) (first-time winner)
SP Fred Barrow (Grand City Cybercats) (11-5/3.01 ERA) (first-time winner)
RP Kris Fourcade (Valmara Vipers) (1-1/1.96 ERA/17 saves/23 G) (first-time winner)
RP Rodger Brockhoff (Cold Creek Catamounts) (1-2/1.69 ERA/16 saves/23 G) (2-time winner)
C Eliott Somers (Belle Plaine Musketeers) (.315 BA/14 HR/52 RBI/39 R) (.994 FA/4 PB/26.1% RTO) (first-time winner)
C Gordy Glisson (Glasco Athletics) (.313 BA/6 HR/38 RBI/26 R) (.995 FA/4 PB/42.9% RTO) (first-time winner)
1B Gus Abreu (Elnora All-Stars) (.345 BA/8 HR/35 RBI/55 R) (.990 FA) (3-time winner)
1B Skeets Barker (Ancona Red Elephants) (.327 BA/14 HR/36 RBI/52 R) (.991 FA) (first-time winner)
2B Jimmy Upchurch (St. John Crusaders) (.330 BA/7 HR/45 RBI/51 R/6 SB) (.971 FA) (first-time winner)
2B Erik Neilson (Ranford Bulls) (.269 BA/12 HR/51 RBI/42 R/3 SB) (.971 FA) (first-time winner)
2B Jojo DeLucca (Claxton Diamonds) (.286 BA/10 HR/50 RBI/34 R/1 SB) (.996 FA) (15-time winner)
3B Ozwaldo Romero (St. John Crusaders) (.327 BA/9 HR/42 RBI/31 R) (.986 FA) (first-time winner)
3B Mike Trupiano (Taranto Tars) (.324 BA/13 HR/35 RBI/37 R/1 SB) (.933 FA) (first-time winner)
SS Dickie DeBusshere (Elnora All-Stars) (.310 BA/14 HR/48 RBI/42 R/1 SB) (.983 FA) (2-time winner)
SS Gordy Bidenwald (Colfax Blasters) (.311 BA/11 HR/46 RBI/33 R/2 SB) (.972 FA) (first-time winner)
LF Donald Ray Mooney (Elnora All-Stars) (.349 BA/12 HR/52 RBI/42 R) (.990 FA) (2-time winner)
CF Kip Drumm (Fort Benton Defenders) (.342 BA/5 HR/28 RBI/51 R) (.989 FA) (first-time winner)
CF Chad Cochran (Belair Beach Sunbirds) (.357 BA/4 HR/36 RBI/41 R/12 SB) (.993 FA) (2-time winner)
RF Charlie Bondy (Fort Benton Defenders) (.344 BA/6 HR/43 RBI/40 R) (.990 FA) (first-time winner)
RF Gilberto Gallardo (San Dimas Rancheros) (.383 BA/13 HR/54 RBI/41 R) (.988 FA) (first-time winner)

Tycobbian Union All-Stars:

SP Weldon Herringdon (High Mesa Mustangs) (12-4/2.25 ERA) (Rookie) (first-time winner)
SP Flash Stringfellow (Denton City Redbirds) (13-6/2.71 ERA) (4-time winner)
SP Dirk Sinclair (Blue Lake Blue Sox) (11-4/3.08 ERA) (first-time winner)
SP Maury Statler (Oxford Red Caps) (11-7/3.12) (first-time winner)
SP Ian Timms (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) (12-4/2.09 ERA) (first-time winner)
SP Carl Coons (Denton City Redbirds) (10-5/2.29 ERA) (first-time winner)
RP Burnell Kelley (Denton City Redbirds) (1-1/1.16 ERA/20 saves/28 G) (2-time winner)
RP Manny Rosetti (Ozarka Naturals) (0-0/1.53 ERA/11 saves/18 G) (Rookie) (first-time winner)
C Kenton Carmichael (Hartsdale Hellcats) (.268 BA/18 HR/45 RBI/47 R) (.979 FA/5 PB/36.7% RTO) (2-time winner)
C Odell Overstreet (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) (.321 BA/14 HR/41 RBI/39 R/9 SB) (.989 FA/9 PB/46.9% RTO) (Rookie) (first-time winner)
1B Teddy Stonich (Rolling Hills Reds) (.283 BA/15 HR/57 RBI/46 R/1 SB) (.986 FA) (Rookie) (first-time winner)
1B Monty Lyons (Red Bluff Red Sox) (.342 BA/8 HR/43 RBI/34 R/2 SB) (.984 FA) (first-time winner)
2B Ike Ritter (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) (.342 BA/1 HR/30 RBI/40 R/1 SB) (.982 FA) (2-time winner)
3B Byorn Karlsen (Bayview Vikings) (.288 BA/20 HR/49 RBI/43 R) (.977 FA) (2-time winner)
SS Vincent McCloud (Denton City Redbirds) (.354 BA/18 HR/61 RBI/47 R/2 SB) (.964 FA) (3-time winner)
SS Jason Hunsinger (Red Bluff Red Sox) (.298 BA/5 HR/28 RBI/46 R) (.981 FA) (first-time winner)
2B Tommy Yost (High Mesa Mustangs) (.310 BA/11 HR/41 RBI/38 R/1 SB) (.979 FA) (first-time winner)
LF Travis Ledger (Chicopee Braves) (.397 BA/2 HR/28 RBI/35 R/3 SB) (1.000 FA) (first-time winner)
CF Wilfredo Peralta (San Alejo Montaneros) (.303 BA/21 HR/49 RBI/47 R/4 SB) (.992 FA) (Rookie) (first-time winner)
CF Bob Purkey (South Fork Stallions) (.367 BA/19 HR/46 RBI/51 R/3 SB) (.984 FA) (first-time winner)
CF Norighige Ito (Midway Wolves) (.312 BA/22 HR/71 RBI/54 R) (.991 FA) (6-time winner)
RF Daryl Vale (Midway Wolves) (.309 BA/17 HR/60 RBI/47 R/4 SB) (1.000 FA) (4-time winner)
RF Jake Bohannon (White River Rascals) (.304 B/16 HR/51 RBI/31 R/5 SB) (.992 FA) (Rookie) (first-time winner)

** Jojo DeLucca ** Kip Drumm **

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, June 20, 2057

SKIRMISHES ABOUND IN THE IPA AT MIDYEAR
Even the biggest leads in the Islandian Pro Alliance are fairly close at the midyear mark in the pennant races... the biggest spead belongs to the talented Turon Typhoons in the Tycobbian South and it's just 7 games... the only other division leader with much of a spread is the redhot Elnora All-Stars with a 6-game margin over the Wynnamac Sundowners in the Ruthlandian East... all the others are fighting for their lives.

Glasco (48-25) and Valmara (47-26) are going at it hot-and-heavy in the Ruthlandian North with the A's up by a skosh over the Vipers... only one game separates them at the All-Star game... last year's division champ Taranto is a distant third and 10 games behind.

It's almost as close in the Ruthlandian South race... the St. John Crusaders (43-30) are slightly in front of last year's champ Waleska (41-32) by 2 games with this year's favorite Crystal Lake (40-33) only trailing by 3... and the improved Claxton Diamonds are in the race just 4 back... St. John just recently lost its ace Whitlow Cornwell (12-5/3.69) for the season with a rotator problem... that could kill their pennant hopes.

The reigning Pro Cup titlist Middlefield (37-36) has had it much tougher than usual this season... the upstart Fort Benton Defenders (41-32) are sidetracking the Roosters from their ninth consecutive RU West flag... the Defenders look like they are for real with several standout rookies leading the way with a crackerjack offensive arsenal... Fort Benton is four games in front of the Roosters... third place Stoner (36-37), Sligo (36-37) and Forest City (36-37) are all five games out... Middlefield has been terrible so far... no hitting and no pitching... the Defenders top the IPA with a .292 team BA... a point better than Glasco's .292.

Over in the RU East fast-rising Elnora (44-29) is using its healthy .290 BA and homer power to go six games above the division favorite and long-time power Wynnamac (38-35)... the Marston Nine (37-36) are seven games behind in third place... the Sundowners have won the pennant four of the last five years... Eastshore (34-39) burned them last year in a mild surprise... the Cotton Kings are lurking around in the fourth spot in the standings, but are 10 games off the pace.

Three of the tussles in the Tycobbian Union are multi-team affairs with everything up in the air to the glee of the Islander fans... only tough-stuff Turon in the TU South has a somewhat comfortable bulge... however, it's only seven games in front of Summerland (36-37)... the tightest scuffle is in the TU East where powerful Midway (41-32) has just a one-game nudge over the highly-rated High Mesa Mustangs (40-33) and the on-the-rise and on-coming Tuckanarra Blue Jays (40-33), who are making some noise this season after a few seasons of silence... chronic also-ran South Fork (39-34) is also near the leaders, just two games away... and to top it all, Red Bluff (37-36) and perennial runner-up East Point (37-36) are just four game from the top of the standings... and actually you can't count anybody out in the Tycobbian East this season... even seventh place Ozarka (35-38) and last place Hillsboro (34-39) are within striking distance should they get on a good winning streak in the second half of the season... the TU East is one heck of a division.

Another logjam is the exciting duel in the Tycobbian North Division... seven clubs are still in the race... the up-and-coming Luxora Zorros (39-34) have zipped to the top spot and have a three-game lead over second place Hartsdale (36-37) and Blue Lake (36-37)... regular contender White River (35-38) is four games out in the fourth spot... preseason favorite Oxford (33-40) has slumbered in the opening half of the schedule and is fifth and tied with North Hills (33-40), six games back... Fairfax (32-41) is seventh and seven games behind... it's not impossible for the Frogs to make up the lost ground... but it's not very likely.

Denton City was forecast to run away with the TU West, but it hasn't been the case so far... the Redbirds (48-25) are being tested by the Rolling Hills Reds (45-28) and Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (43-30)... both of them are playing very well and trail by just three games and two games respectively... time will tell if the Reds and Bucs can hang with one of the best teams in the IPA in the second half of the schedule... fourth place Kenwood (39-34) is another good ball club in the TU West... but they are nine games behind first place Denton City... might be tough to make up that much real estate.

The baseball prognosticators indicated the powerful Turon Typhoons (43-30) in the Tycobbian South Division could be in for a fight this year from three to four other challengers... but thus far, it hasn't transpired... lackluster runner-up Summerland (36-37) is seven games to the rear... followed by Southport (35-38), Cape Coral (35-38), San Alejo (34-39) and Arroyo Grande (34-39)... it's hard to see a bunch of borderline contenders knocking off such a fine squad as Turon... they are just too good and too talented.

2057 Islandian Pro Alliance Midseason Standings

I need to get some new All-Star Game League logos done on the Graphics Forum.

The game just doesn't do a very good job with logos.