I like Phil Baylor, Tommy Johnson, Walt and Nathan Ivy and Cooter Eldridge and all of the Hellcats, too... but I also like the Colfax Black Sox... my allegiance is torn between two teams... and both of them can't win.

Attachment 689484
Tuesday, October 23, 2063

63RD PRO CUP FINALS FEATURE BLACK SOX AND HELLCATS
64 teams began the 63rd edition of the Island Pro Alliance back in April and now they have been whittled down to just two - the champion of the Ruthlandian Union and the champion of the Tycobbian Union -- and they will be playing for the renown trophy known as the IPA Pro Cup... this year's finalists are the Colfax Black Sox and the Hartsdale Hellcats, two fine clubs that have gone through the rigors of 154 games and won the division title and also have survived as the fittest of the eight division champions in two rounds of intense competition... the Black Sox will represent the Ruthlandian Union and the Hellcats will represent the Tycobbian Union... both ball clubs are seeking their second Pro Cup trophy... Colfax won it long ago in 2010 as the Blasters... Hartsdale captured it in 2046... so both of them have been waiting for quite some time... the Black Sox last made the playoffs in 2042... the Hellcats last appeared in the postseason in 2047... consequently, they are both hungry and poised to be the baseball champion of the Islands once again... teams don't get that chance very often and you have to make the most of it... the chance of a lifetime is right now.

The 2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Finals is a genuine toss-up... the two talented combatants are like two peas in a pod... even-steven... one would think they will have to go at it at a minimum for seven games to decide who's the better team... Colfax pitches well, both starters and bullpen... hits well for average... scores well... can go deep... and they are very good defenders... Hartsdale also hits well for average, has power throughout the lineup, runs well and steals bases, can put runs on the scoreboard, and the pitching may be better than its numbers... but they have one shortcoming compared to the Black Sox... the Hellcats are just average with the gloves.

Just at a glance, Colfax seems to be the most likely winner... the Black Sox have some potent bats in Bralen Josephson, Lanny Waldrep, Owen McElwain and Monty McDermott... and on paper the mound staff has much better numbers than Hartsdale... none of the Colfax starters Karl Kruger, Blaine Barkins, Terry Starr and Shorty Trahan go deep in the game and none of them except Starr has prospered in the playoffs... however, the bullpen is strong with Tommy Birchfield, Terry Dubrovnik, Gerry Gamble, Stan Fleming and Thom Harlin... they have really stood out in the postseason.

Reviewing the Hellcats... they depend on the entire batting order to produce runs... Colfax depends on just four... that might give Hartsdale some advantage... the Hellcats also have the best starters in the Pro Cup Finals... two of them, Phil Baylor and Tommy Johnson, have won 5 of 6 starts in the postseason... if they can win two games apiece, the Hellcats will win the Pro Cup... but that is a tough chore... the other two starters Nigel Remington and Cris Knighten Hartsdale have not come close to doing the job they did in the regular season... they are highly suspect with 7.00 ERAs in the playoffs... plus the Hellcats bullpen is not on par with Colfax... at the plate the Hellcats are not quite as good as the Black Sox... offensively Walt Ivy, Cooter Eldridge, Nathan Ivy and Wilson Dunn have carried the club in the playoffs... they will have to do it again in the Finals and do it well to prevail.

After all is said and done, I think the 2063 IPA Pro Cup champion may be... or will be... the Colfax Black Sox... they are just too darn good all-around... this year's Pro Cup Finals should be a heck of a ruckus... Colfax in seven games, but Baylor and Johnson might make it close... or they just might win it outright.

After making my wishy-washy Pro Cup prediction... it just occurred to me that the Tycobbian Union has bested the Ruthlandian Union the last four years.
Maybe I should incorporate that statistic in a revised prediction... naw, I'll still go with the Black Sox... but I have developed a real liking for Phil Baylor and Tommy Johnson.

Colfax Black Sox Home Page
Attachment 689491

Hartsdale Hellcats Home Page
Attachment 689492

Around the Town in the IPA

COLFAX BLACK SOX
Owner: Enim Dlog Enterprises (Precious Metals Corporation)
GM: Mitch Fullerton
Manager: Garry August

Colfax is found in west central Ruthlandia, population 89,000. It is a "City of Gold" situated on the scenic Silver River, which flows out of the Silver Mountains northwest of Volusia, past Colfax and then eastward to the nation's capital, Forest City. It then merges with the Green River, which winds its way through the southern half of the country and ends at Belair Beach.

The town was settled during the Gold Rush of the 1850's and is still quite profitable. It is also an important coal mining center.

It is also the home of the Colfax Black Sox of the Islandian Pro Alliance, who play in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the West Division. The team is nicknamed for the miners, so important in mining the gold, silver, copper and coal. For the first six decades the club was known as the Blasters, which has a double meaning. A "blaster" would set off the dynamite in the mines, while a "blaster" at the ballpark would blast the ball out of the park.

Due to its great financial wealth and success, Colfaxians have a town of stunning beauty and charm. Built by the coal barons and the gold mine owners, it is filled with grand buildings and mansions, intermingled with the smokestacks that loom over the landscape. To lessen the environmental impact, quiet canals and man-made waterways flow through the town. Visitors can glide by boat along the tranquil Silver River or walk the fabled cobblestoned streets and discover a town that time has almost forgotten. You can hear its famous landmark, "The Belfry", a carillon or bells that toll every hour and has continuously for over 150 years. Colfax also boasts an opera house, concert hall, theater and a ballet company.

Colfax's Mountain View Stadium is known for its gorgeous view of the town, the Silver Mountain backdrop beyond the outfield fence and for its "Pot of Gold". It is an actual pot, five feet in diameter, located in the center field section of the ballpark, 410 feet away. Whenever a Blaster or Black Sox player hits a ball that ends up in the "Pot of Gold", that player and a fan each receive $5,000 in gold coins. The fan is chosen in a "lucky scorecard number" drawing.

At the ballpark you have hardworking and hard-living miners and the white collar and managerial set...the beer set and the champagne set. Both are attended to at Mountain View Stadium. You can get anything from hot dogs to caviar at the concession stands.

The Colfax original owner was Enim Dlog, whose ancestors are from somewhere in the Baltics. It was one of his ancestors, who first discovered gold in the 1850's. In fact, the new ballpark was built on the same site as the first gold mine.

One of the greatest players in Colfax history is Hall-of-Fame hurler Ilya Szabo, who pitched 19 seasons for the Blasters from 2003 to 2021. Lifetime Szabo was 327-210 with a great 2.57 ERA. He sparked them to 8 pennants and a Pro Cup in his tenure as a player. Colfax beat Turon in the 2010 Pro Cup. Szabo was inducted into the first HOF class in 2027. He was a 9-time All-Star, captured 4 RU Golden Arm Awards and was twice the Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player. He retired as a player in 2021 at age 42. Szabo went 18-17 his final season with a 3.76 ERA... Szabo also served as General Manager and Manager of the Blasters for many years.

The current General Manager is former star catcher Mitch Fullerton. He played with Colfax for 19 seasons and finished with a lifetime .294 BA, 300 homers and 1244 RBIs. Fullerton's career spanned from 2026 to 2044. Garry August, the skipper of the Black Sox, never played in the Islandian Pro Alliance. In fact, he never played baseball at any level. August never played any sports at all in organized leagues. He got his experience as a high school coach, was very successful in all sports, went to work for Fullerton as a bench coach when Fullerton was the manager and was hired as manager in 2062.

Mountain View Stadium (1971)
Capacity: 10,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 315
LF 345
LCF 375
CF 405
RCF 375
RF 360
RF Line 345

Very Special Thank You: Teflon Skies created this beautiful stadium... it took him 100 hours for each of his brilliant creations.

Around the Town in the IPA

Hartsdale Hellcats
Owner: Pioneer Brewing Company
GM Emeritus: Jud Turchin
GM/Manager: Mark Markis

Hartsdale, with population of about 74,000, is situated on the slopes of the Appian Mountains of Northern Tycobbia. It is a blue-collar, working class town, functional and old-fashioned in architecture. Primary industries are coal and iron ore mining, timber, glassware and beer. The vital Appian River begins in the Appian Mountains near North Hills, travels most of the country from north to south, past Hartsdale to the capital city, La Claire, then finally culminates at Bay St. Clair, a seaport town on the west central coast. The river provides an inexpensive source of transportation and is crucial to Hartsdale’s and Tycobbia’s economies.

Hartsdale is also the home of the Hellcats baseball team of the Islandian Pro Alliance. They are in the Tycobbian Union North Division and play at Pioneer Park. The Pioneer Brewing Company owns the club and is the maker of Tycobbia’s favorite brew, Pioneer Premium Beer. The brewery can be seen just beyond the center and right field fences of Pioneer Park. In fact, the brick walls of the factory form part of the right field bleachers. Company bigwigs can watch the ballgame from their offices.

Hellcats fans take their baseball very seriously and are serious students of the game. It’s baseball, beer and hot dogs in the hearts of the fans -- and the last two are a very distant second. When they go to a game, their eyes stay glued to the action on the field. They are hardcore Hellcats fans, too, and give no breaks or quarter to the opposing team or their fans. Very few visiting fans have the courage to display their loyalties very much in front of the rough and rowdy Hellcats. They get some very hard stares or worse, if they do. The Hartsdalians are tough and demanding on the Hellcats players, too. "We calls them as we sees them". At the traditional seventh-inning stretch each adult is gifted with a small miniature sample of Pioneer Beer and it is used to toast their cherished baseball team as they sing a few bars of “99 bottles of beer on the wall”, followed by “Take me out to the ballgame”. And you can get the best burgers and dogs in Tycobbia, grilled to perfection on the concessions concourse... Beers, burgers and baseball is what you get at Pioneer Park.

The Hellcats are corporately owned. Zim Donner, a 50-year veteran in amateur and professional baseball, is the GM Emeritus. He was a fine up-and-coming shortstop until he suffered a couple of beanballs that turned him into just a journeyman infielder. But he is one fine manager and baseball teacher. When he was the manager Donner was known to charge the mound occasionally. The fiery Hellcats fans love him. Donner moved upstairs a few years ago and made Hall of Fame shortstop Jud Turchin the skipper. He was a seven-time All-Star in addition to being a Gold Glove fielder, who swung a big bat. In his 21 seasons with Hartsdale (2002-2022) Turchin batted .304 with over 300 homers, 1600 RBIs and 1800 runs scored. He played in 2957 games, collected 3360 hits and was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2036.

The working GM and skipper is Mark Markis. He took over from Turchin in 2062. Markis has a unique background. High School and college ball were his only experience and he was just a mediocre or so-so outfielder at best. He never made it to the Islandian Pro Alliance, but Markis is an analytical genius. Turchin hired him 10 years ago to help him evaluate ballplayers. Markis so impressed Turchin over the years that he was given the reins to the ball club.

Pioneer Park (1954)
Capacity: 10,000

Special Thanks to Teflon Skies for his beautiful stadiums... he said it took about 100 hours to create each one of them... he did dozens.

Dimensions:
LF Line 322
LF 345
LCF 375
CF 415
RCT 375
RF 345
RF Line 322

Attachment 689645
Friday, October 26, 2063

HELLCATS PREVAIL IN PRO CUP DONNYBROOK OPENER
Pitchers beware... it was a wholesale massacre on the mound yesterday in the opening game of the IPA Pro Cup Finals... Hartsdale outscored Colfax 13-10 in a double-digit donnybrook at Mountain View Stadium in Colfax... it was a hitter's holiday... a batter's blast... and a hurler's horror.

2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series - Game 1 (best-of-seven series)
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Attachment 689829
Saturday, October 27, 2063

BLACK SOX NIP HELLCATS, PRO CUP SERIES TIED AT 1-1
The fans were treated to a splendid pitcher's duel in game two of the IPA Pro Cup Finals at Mountain View Stadium... at home Colfax nipped Hartsdale 2-1 to deadlock the seven-game set at one victory each.

2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series - Game 2 (best-of-seven series)
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Attachment 690206
Sunday, October 27, 2063

BLACK SOX BELTS GIVE THEM PRO CUP LEAD 2-1
The Colfax Black Sox bats came alive in the late innings and powered them to a 7-3 triumph over the Hartsdale Hellcats in the third game of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series.

2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series - Game 3 (best-of-seven series)
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Attachment 690426
Monday, October 29, 2063

HELLCATS EVEN IPA PRO CUP SERIES WITH BLACK SOX
Start-to-finish it was an exciting game... and it came down to an exciting ending -- a game-winning homer in the bottom of the 11th... Hartsdale evened the series with spinetingling 3-2 victory at home over Colfax in game four of the best-of-seven IPA Pro Cup Series.

2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series - Game 4 (best-of-seven series)
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Attachment 690614
Tuesday, October 29, 2063

HARTSDALE TAKES REINS IN IPA PRO CUP FINALS
Their second Pro Cup trophy is within the reach of the Hartsdale Hellcats... all the Hellcats need to do is win one of the last two games in the best-of-seven IPA Pro Cup Series and the cherished trophy once again belongs to them... however, they will have to win it on foreign territory... the last two contests are in Colfax... the Black Sox's backs are to the wall... they will have to win both games at Mountain View Stadium to garner their first Pro Cup since 2010.

Yesterday was a 3-2 stunner... Hartsdale won game five in 10 innings to go ahead in the series three games to two... the Hellcats trailed for the first eight innings in the game... they remarkably tied it in the bottom of the ninth and then won it in the 10th on a home run.

2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series - Game 5 (best-of-seven series)
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Attachment 690944
Wednesday, October 30, 2063

HARTSDALE IS 2063 IPA PRO CUP CHAMPION
Unheralded Hartsdale got some great pitching in the IPA Pro Cup Series and upended the touted Colfax Black Sox in six games... the Hellcats finished them off with three straight victories to snare their second Pro Cup trophy... Hartsdale also won it in 2046 when they topped the Valmara Vipers in seven games.

2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series - Game 6 (best-of-seven series)
Attachment 690945
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Attachment 691119
Wednesday, October 31, 2063

HELLCATS JOHNSON THIS YEAR'S MR. OCTOBER
This year's Mr. October in the Islandian Pro Alliance was Hartsdale's sensational southpaw hurler, Tommy Johnson, who led the Hellcats to their second Pro Cup championship in the club's history... Johnson was acclaimed this year's IPA Pro Cup Series Most Valuable Player for his outstanding postseason performance... Johnson was chosen by a wide margin over his teammates, Colby Pickens, Cooter Ethridge, Nathan Ivy and Walt Ivy... Colfax's Bralen Josephson also picked up some votes as well.

The 26-year-old Johnson had a superb postseason, posting a 4-1 record and a terrific 1.07 ERA against the best teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance... he worked 42 innings in 5 games, walked just 7 batters and fanned 24... his only defeat was 2-1 in game two of the Pro Cup Finals against Colfax... Johnson returned in game six and finished off the series with a masterful 3-2 victory... Johnson is a six-year veteran with a career 67-56 mark and a 3.71 ERA.

Hartsdale closer Colby Pickens was a distant second in the MVP poll... the rookie had a very impressive postseason and he played a crucial role in the Hellcats winning the Pro Cup trophy... Pickens appeared in 7 games, chalked up a 3-0 record with 2 saves and posted a very strong 0.79 ERA in 11 innings.

Hartsdale third baseman Cooter Eldridge came in third in the Pro Cup MVP polling... he hit .368 in the playoffs with three homers, 7 RBIs, 11 runs and 6 stolen bases.

Fourth in the MVP balloting was left fielder Nathan Ivy... he starred in the postseason with a .358 BA, 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 10 runs scored... Ivy hit .435 in the Pro Cup Finals.

Colfax's superlative first baseman Bralen Josephson wound up fifth in the Pro Cup Most Valuable Player voting... he blistered playoff pitchers for a .351 average in 18 games with 4 roundtrippers, 14 RBIs and 13 runs... Josephson hit .542 in the Finals.

Hartsdale's shortstop Walt Ivy also got some support and ended up sixth in the MVP poll... in 17 games he hit 5 homers, drove in 11 runs and scored 10 times... Ivy also walked 11 times for a .368 on-base percentage.

Attachment 691437
Thursday, November 1, 2063

IPA GOLD BATS TO SUTTON AND MARCUM
The two best bats in Islandia belonged to Hugo Sutton of the Rolling Hills Racers and Eliot Marcum of the Belle Plaine Musketeers... they were recently honored with the IPA Golden Bats, emblematic of the top hitting stars in the league... Sutton received the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award and Marcum got the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award.

Sutton is just in his second year with Rolling Hills... in his first full season the 23-year-old center fielder put up astronomical numbers... in 153 games, he batted .343 with 209 hits, 32 doubles, 21 triples, 32 homers, 141 RBIs and scored 134 runs... Sutton also stole 17 bases... he is also a standout defender... Sutton led the Tycobbian Union in batting average, runs, hits and triples... he sparked the powerful Rolling Hills Racers to 106 victories... they easily won the TU West title.

Eliot Marcum is a six-year veteran of the IPA... the Belle Plaine left fielder has really come into his own the last two seasons... this year he swatted .338 in 153 games with 198 hits, 35 doubles, 9 triples, 42 homers, 113 RBIs and 122 runs... Marcum is also a fine defender... despite his great season the Musketeers still wound up near the bottom of the Ruthlandian East Division with a poor 68-86 mark... the Muskies came in seventh... Marcum topped the RU in runs, homers and RBIs... lifetime he is hitting .303 with 193 homers and 560 runs batted in his six seasons.

Sutton beat out his teammate Teddy Stonich for the Tycobbian Golden Bat trophy... High Mesa's Roy Roberts was third in the voting... Stonich had a fantastic year, too... he posted a .335 BA in 152 games, and led the TU with 57 doubles and 152 RBIs... the 29-year-old Stonich has played with the Racers for seven seasons and carries a .335 career average.

Roy Roberts is a 24-year-old first sacker for the High Mesa Mustangs... in his fourth year he hit .323 in 154 games, slammed 49 home runs out of the park and drove in 122 runs... the Mustangs finished tied for fifth in the TU East with a 79-75 mark.

Marcum's competition in the Ruthlandian Golden Bat poll came from two Colfax stars, who led the Black Sox to the RU West pennant... first baseman Bralen Josephson was the runner-up... the 27-year-old played in all 154 games this year, his seventh season with club... Josephson hit .356, had 30 roundtrippers and 91 runs batted in and scored 114 runs... Josephson came in a close second for the batting title, losing out to Marlon Hazard of Fort Benton, who hit .359.

At age 25, Lenny Waldrep is already a seven-year vet... this past season he batted .319 with 31 homers, 100 RBIs and scored 103 times in 153 games... Waldrep was third in the RU Golden Bat balloting.

Attachment 691687
Friday, November 2, 2063

IPA GOLD HURLERS ARE GRIFFITH AND SHARPE
The 2063 Islandian Pro Alliance Golden Arms of the Year piled up 39 victories between them this year and only lost 7 times... both Norm Griffith of the Elnora Clippers and Wilson Sharpe of the Red Bluff Red Sox had magnificent years they will long remember... when it comes to hurling the old horsehide, these two are the best of the best in Islandia... Griffith was lauded as the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm, while Sharpe was extolled as the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm... both are first-time winners.

Griffith paced Elnora to the RU East crown with an electrifying year... the 26-year-old right-hander went a remarkable 21-3 in 32 starts, while compiling a fine 2.86 ERA... in his sixth season Griffith won more games than any pitcher in the IPA... his first 4 years were borderline modest with a 25-28 record and a mediocre 4.50 ERA, but in the last two years he has blossomed with an extraordinary 40-11 mark... overall Griffith is 65-39 with a 3.98 ERA.

Sharpe was really something, too... he led all comers in the IPA with a terrific 1.77 ERA, while posting a standout 18-4 mark in his 31 starting assignments... the 28-year-old twirler only allowed batters to hit a paltry .195 against him... in his 9 seasons in the IPA Sharpe has starred with a very fine 146-96 mark and a strong 2.96 career ERA.

As good as the winners were, they had some very talented competitors... in the Ruthlandian Union Carlos Santa Ana of the Valka Blackhawks finished second in the Golden Arm voting... Santa Ana, age 25 and in his sixth year in the IPA, sparked his Blackhawks to a close third-place finish in the RU South with 14 wins and only 5 defeats, while compiling an excellent 2.07 ERA, which topped the Ruthlandian hurlers and ranked second in the entire IPA... only this year's TU Golden Arm winner Wilson Sharpe was better at 1.77.

Third in the Ruthlandian Golden Arm balloting was Jacky Harshman of the Sligo Rovers... a right-hander, Harshman led his club to the second-place spot in the RU West... they gave powerful Colfax fits all season long before losing out by just two scant games... in 32 starts Harshman registered 17 victories and only lost 6 times, chalking up a splendid 2.37 ERA.

Sharpe's biggest rivals in the Tycobbian Golden Arm race were Southport's Jeff Moncriffe and Tuckanarra's Ian Timms... the runner-up to Sharpe was Moncriffe, who had his best year ever with a 17-6 mark and a standout 2.22 ERA and he was very instrumental in the Sun Sox coming in second in the TU South.

Third place went to two-time Golden Arm winner Ian Timms, who continued to flourish with an 18-8 record and a strong 2.30 ERA... however, the best his Tiger Cats could do in the standings was the fifth spot in the TU East.

Just playing catch up here...
:hardware:
Wow! That Pro Cup Series had it all!

slugfest!
pitcher's duels!
comebacks!
extra innings!
walk offs!

The only thing it didn't have was a seventh game. Should probably go down as one of the best Pro Cup Series ever. Hats off to Hartsdale.

Attachment 692107
Saturday, November 3, 2063

BEST RUTHLANDIAN AND TYCOBBIAN ROOKIES
The pickin's were sparse in the Islandian Pro Alliance for freshmen players... it was really tough for the new blood in the league to gain much of a foothold... however, there was enough new talent to name the 2063 IPA Rookies of the Year... both of the winners were pitchers... the Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award went to Claxton right-hander Russell Krohn and the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year was Billy Lake of the Ozarka Naturals.

24-year-old Russell Krohn was a mainstay hurler in the Claxton rotation that garnered the Ruthlandian South crown... Krohn excelled in his first season in the IPA with a 15-10 record and a 3.15 ERA... in 32 starts he worked 220 innings, struck out 102 batters, walked only 67 and made 21 quality starts.

The Tycobbian top rookie was Billy Lake, age 21... he had the best ERA among the outstanding Ozarka starting five and the 10th best in the league... Lake compiled a 10-6 record with a strong 2.37 ERA and sparked the Naturals to a close second place in the TU East race... the Nats finished only 4 games out of first place, beaten out by the talented South Fork Stallions... in 22 starting assignments Lake worked 199 innings, only allowed 157 hits, fanned 109 batters and walked only 69... opposing batters only hit .218 against him.

Krohn and Lake beat out several very capable rookie performers to get the best newcomer trophies... in the Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year Krohn outpolled second-place finisher Chris Talbert, who played played third base for the Stoner Silver Sox... Talbert, only 20 years old, had a fine freshman year with a .299 BA, 30 doubles, 8 triples, 16 homers, 55 RBIs and 59 runs in 128 games... in addition to his batting prowess, Talbert played a solid third base, too.

Coming in third in the RU Rookie of the Year balloting was Alex Wilcox of the Ranford Bulls... Wilcox was one of the few highlights to an otherwise poor season... the Bulls came in seventh in the Ruthlandian North, but Wilcox stood out as their best starter... he wound up 12-11, but his 2.78 ERA was by far the best on the staff... Wilcox made 28 starts, tossed 184 innings, only gave up 154 hits, walked 44 batters and struck out 104... he held hitters to a weak .227 BA... Wilcox made 22 quality starts.

The number two votegetter in the TU Rookie of the Year poll was Lucien McElhinney of the Turon Typhoons... in his initial IPA season he posted a superlative 15-4 mark with a 3.26 ERA... teams only hit .234 against him... McElhinney only permitted 157 hits in his 176 innings... Turon came in third in the TU South race, beaten out by Summerland and Southport.

Last, but certainly not least, was Hartsdale's fine rookie second sacker Maury Donatello, who ended up third in the TU Rookie of the Year voting... Donatello sported a .319 BA in 119 games with 23 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 69 RBIs and 63 runs... Donatello also played very good defense... he played an important part of the Hellcats success this season... Hartsdale won the division crown in the Tycobbian North Division.

Attachment 692472
Sunday, November 4, 2063

IPA DEFENDERS, GOOD AS GOLD
There are many elements that make up a championship baseball team... they hit well, pitch well and they catch well... scoring runs is vital to winning baseball games, but just as important is to keep teams from scoring runs... defenders with the golden gloves are a key element for success on the diamond... the Islandian Pro Alliance announced the 2063 Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Awards... the top nine defenders for each league were honored with golden glove trophies... St. John's Tuffy Palmieri was selected for the 7th time in his career... St. John's Freddie Woodruff has 5 trophies... and Oxford's Buddy Blackford is a 4-time Golden Glove recipient.

2063 Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Lonny Rinehart (Volusia Vigilantes) (.986 FA, 12 PO, 56 A, 33 G) (15-8, 3.05 ERA) (1st-time winner)
Catcher: Tuffy Palmieri (St. John Crusaders) (.994 FA, 85 A, 13 DP, 7 PB, 56.3% RTO, 127 G) (.289 BA, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 51 R, 1 SB) (7-time winner)
First Base: Colin Carr (Glasco Foxhounds) (.995 FA, 84 A, 151 G) (.303 BA, 20 HR, 97 RBI, 73 R, 1 SB) (1st time winner)
Second Base: Arlen Queen (Claxton Diamonds) (.988 FA, 390 A, 124 G) (.258 BA, 5 HR, 44 RBI, 67 R, 5 SB, 14 SB) (2-time winner)
Third Base: Lee Carnahan (Colfax Black Sox) (.967 FA, 330 A, 151 G) (.281 BA/13 HR, 104 RBI, 59 R, 0 SB) (1st time winner)
Shortstop: Bama Quade (Crystal Lake Skippers) (.984 FA, 481 A, 149 G) (.281 BA, 1 HR, 58 RBI, 59 R, 5 SB) (1st time winner)
Left Field: Boots Luckham (Grand City Cybercats) (.992 FA, 374 PO, 2 A, 141 G) (.252 BA, 22 HR, 77 RBI, 69 R, 16 SB) (1st time winner)
Center Field: Freddie Woodruff (St. John Crusaders) (.994 FA, 521 PO, 13 A, 150 G) (.311, 6 HR, 49 RBI, 84 R, 4 SB) (5-time winner)
Right Field: Zippy Balencia (Grand City Cybercats) (.993 FA, 385 PO, 12 A, 133 G) (.288 BA, 8 HR, 43 RBI, 84 R/24 SB) (2-time winner)

2063 Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Timmy Aaron (Blue Lake Schooners) (.985 FA, 12 PO, 52 A, 32 G) (14-12, 2.84 ERA) (2-time winner)
Catcher: Giles Gilliam (Oxford Red Caps) (.992 FA, 110 A, 9 DP, 9 PB, 51.9% RTO, 124 G) (.260 BA/9 HR, 51 RBI, 57 R, 0 SB) (2-time winner)
First Base: Buddy Blackford (Oxford Red Caps) (.995 FA, 74 A, 154 G) (.270 BA, 55 HR, 135 RBI, 102 R, 0 SB) (4-time winner)
Second Base: Renzo O'Brian (Cape Coral Hurricanes) (.985 FA, 418 A, 135 G) (.296 BA, 8 HR, 73 RBI, 63 R, 5 SB) (1st time winner)
Third Base: Kagetoki Miyazaki (High Mesa Mustangs) (.982 FA, 315 A, 152 G) (.252 BA, 49 HR, 101 RBI, 98 R, 2 SB) (2-time winner)
Shortstop: Dan Fargo (Arroyo Grande Suns) (.982 FA, 515 A, 151 G) (.212 BA, 20 HR, 56 RBI, 93 R, 11 SB) (2-time winner)
Left Field: Kev MacKinley (Ozarka Naturals) (.995 FA, 381 PO, 7 A, 147 G) (.217 BA, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 68 R, 9 SB) (1st-time winner)
Center Field: Chris Kile (Ozarka Naturals) (.994 FA, 692 PO, 14 A, 152 G) (.296 BA, 2 HR, 48 RBI, 88 R, 15 SB) (1st time winner)
Right Field: Jimmy Brandini (Rolling Hills Racers) (.980 FA, 413 PO, 20 A, 149 G) (.326 BA, 14 HR, 77 RBI, 112 R, 23 SB) (1st time winner)

Attachment 692687
Monday, November 5, 2063

RUTHLANDIAN, TYCOBBIAN UNION MVP AWARDS
The elite of the elite just might be the Islandian Pro Alliance Most Valuable Player Awards... these awards go to the premier performers, the ones who play key roles in the success of their teams... the 2063 honorees are Eliot Marcum, the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player and Hugo Sutton, the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player.

Ruthlandian Union
Eliot Marcum is kind of a surprise winner... he plays for the lowly Belle Plaine Musketeers, who finished seventh in the RU East... it is tough for great players like him to win awards that are based in some degree on the success of the team... this year's MVP had such a fine year, that he overcame that obstacle... Marcum already was chosen the RU Golden Bat of the Year... and now he has been given the ultimate award -- the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player trophy... Marcum played in 153 games, hit .338 with 198 hits, 35 doubles, 9 triples, 42 homers, batted in 113 runs and scored 122 times... this six-year IPA left fielder has blossomed the last two seasons into one of the best hitters in the Islands... this year Marcum topped the RU in homers, runs and RBIs... came in fifth in hits... and he had the sixth-best batting average... the 26-year-old is a lifetime .303 hitter with 193 roundtrippers... and the best is yet to come.

MVP Marcum beat out two players that played for pennant-winning Colfax, Bralen Josephson and Lanny Waldrep... both of them also came in second and third in the RU Golden Bat poll... Black Sox first baseman Josephson stood out in 154 games with a .356 BA, second in the RU and topped the league in hits with 222... he rapped 28 doubles, 4 triples, 30 home runs, drove in 91 runs and scored 114 times... after seven years in the IPA, Josephson has been a truly great batter with a .344 career mark... 2063 was a monster year for the 6-foot-5, 255-pound slugger... Josephson is 27 years old and in the prime of his career... look out if he has not reached his talent peak yet.

Third place in the Ruthlandian MVP polling went to Lanny Waldrep, Colfax's superstud right fielder... only 25 years old... also in his seventh season... a 3-time Golden Glover and 2-time All-Star... Waldrep stood out with a .319 BA, played in 153 games... hammered 38 doubles, 8 triples, 31 homers with 100 ribbies and scored 103 runs... carries a .311 lifetime batting average with 182 homers.

Tycobbian Union
The 2063 TU Most Valuable Player was Hugo Sutton... the 23-year-old marvelous center fielder for the Rolling Hills Racers had a gigantic year... just in his second season and first full year, Sutton led the Tycobbian Union with a .343 BA... playing in 153 games he also topped the league with 209 hits, 134 runs and 21 triples... Sutton also added 32 doubles, 32 roundtrippers and 141 RBIs (2nd) to his massive totals... Sutton was one of the primary reasons Rolling Hills rolled up 106 victories and won the TU West Division.

Sutton had some very stiff competion in the Tycobbian MVP balloting... it came from his Rolling Hills teammate, third sacker Teddy Stonich, who was the runner-up... Stonich had the sixth-best batting average at .335... fourth with 204 hits... was number one with 57 doubles and 153 RBIs... he hit 32 out of the park and cracked 7 triples in 152 games... Stonich just might be the best hitter in the IPA... at age 29, the seven-year veteran sports a lofty .335 career BA and is a 4-time All-Star... Stonich was the TU Rookie of the Year in '57.

Another tremendously talented fine all-around performer came in third in the Tycobbian MVP poll... Summerland's sensational center fielder Johnny Pendergrass was the TU Rookie of the Year in '59... 3-time All-Star... twice a Golden Glover... Pendergrass paced the Sunsets to the TU South pennant this season... he batted .341, second to champ Sutton... with 206 hits, again second to Sutton... played in 152 games, had 30 doubles, 4 triples, 21 homers, 96 RBI, scored 101 times and stole 23 bases... Pendergrass is a stalwart defender with a great throwing arm... lifetime he has hit .322 in five seasons.

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Tuesday, November 5, 2063

SUPER SKIPPERS NAMED IN IPA
Just because your ballclub wins more games than anyone else doesn't always mean you will be cited and acclaimed the Manager of the Year in the Islandian Pro Alliance... but it happened this year... Rolling Hills skipper Billy Christianson topped the Tycobbian Union with 106 victories and Johnny Rodgers led his LaGrange Gators to 96 wins in the Ruthlandian Union... Christianson was named the Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year for 2063 and Rodgers was honored at the Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year... this is the unprecedented third year in a row that Christianson has captured the award... his grandfather, the legendary Matty Christianson won the award three times many years ago at the helm of the Rolling Hills Reds... this was the first time Rodgers has received it.

Tycobbian Union
For the last four seasons the Rolling Hills Racers have gotten better and better... manager Billy Christianson had led them to four pennants in a row... they have gone from 93 wins to 99 wins to 102 wins and this year they skied to 106 victories and almost tied the Islandian Pro Alliance all-time wins mark held by Colfax and North Hills with 107... so, it's no wonder Christianson was named the Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year... he beat out Hartsdale's Mark Markis, Summerland's Antonio Vasques and South Fork's Jay Murphy in the balloting.

The number two votegetter, Mark Markis, has done a sensational job in Hartsdale... he has turned the Hellcats around quickly... in his rookie year in '62 the club improved, but it was still a lackluster sixth-place team under .500 with a 75-79 record... but they flourished with abandon this year, upsetting powerful Oxford and winning the TU North pennant... Hartsdale upped its record to 88-67 this year and eked past the Red Caps, beating them in a sudden-death playoff game... in quite a surprise the Hellcats went on to win the IPA Pro Cup this year, beating Colfax in the Finals... postseason play is not considered in picking the awards, only the regular season... otherwise, Markis would have run away with the vote.

Third place in the TU Manager of the Year was Antonio Vasques of the Summerland Sunsets... his club rose from third place with an 87-67 mark in '62 to 95-59 and the TU South title this year... his Sunsets had the third-best record in the IPA, trailing only Rolling Hills (106) and LaGrange (96).

Coming in fourth in the top skipper poll was Jay Murphy... his South Fork Stallions won the TU East with an 88-66 record... in 2062 they came in third with an 89-65 record.

Ruthlandian Union
John Rodgers, the 2063 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year, finished a close third the previous year at 82-72... this year the LaGrange Gators ramped it up to a vastly better 96-58 and won the RU North title... his Gators have improved greatly since Rodgers took the reins in 2058.

Rodgers just barely beat out Colfax skipper Garry August for the top manager honor... August had a brilliant year with the Black Sox, going from sixth place and 73-81 and rising up to first place and 91-63.

Also getting quite a few votes was Abe Schiffman of the Claxton Diamonds, who wound up third in the polling... his Diamonds were 73-81 in 2062 and did an about face, improving to 85-69 this year and winning the Ruthlandian South crown... Claxton went from sixth place in the standings to the top spot.