A team that depends almost totally on its pitching staff doesn't win the Pro Cup very often.

The San Alejo staff is really something... every one on the staff is a quality pitcher... fine starters in Muniz, Doak and Acosta... it's bullpen was amazing in the first round against Oxford... not a single run given up in 15 innings of relief.

If the pitching continue to be good and Raven, Yorke, Juban and Redondo can continue to put a few runs on the scoreboard, the Montaneros may have a chance at the Pro Cup.

Beware Rolling Hills Racers... the Monties are a very solid ballclub.

Personally, I don't think the Racers are the juggernaut they have been in recent years... the pitching is borderline mediocre and the bats are not booming like they used to.

I might be pulling for San Alejo, too.

Attachment 701259
Around the Town in the IPA

SLIGO ROVERS
Owner: Derrick Dalrymple, CEO of the Silver Mountain Ski Resort
GM/Manager: Les Patterson

Sligo is located in the slopes of the Silver Mountains in northern Ruthlandia. Because of its remote location, the area was largely uninhabited until 1872 when silver was discovered in the hills surrounding the town. The name of the town comes from Theodore Sligo, one of the men who originally discovered the silver. Sligo laid out the roads and a tent city popped up shortly after the discovery. By the turn of the century, the mines had produced more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Many fine examples of Victorian architecture that were built during the era are well-preserved today.

When the mines stopped producing in the late 1940s, the town lost almost half of its population and fell upon hard times. It survived mainly on its timber industry until the 1970s when environmental concerns caused the town to form a commission that would seek alternative industries that could sustain the economy. The commission findings led to a rebirth of the once-beautiful city. Through various tax breaks, the town was able to attract several builders to construct ski resorts just outside of town. The town also refurbished many of the historic buildings that had fallen into disrepair and decided to place its economic emphasis on tourism.

With a population of only 38,000, Sligo is the smallest town to own a team in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Sligo Rovers go back to the early days of baseball to the days of amateur and industrial-league baseball. At various times the team struggled to make ends meet despite having very loyal fans. The 1973 commission made it clear in its report that the town should figure out a way to provide long-term stability to the local nine as it would be a devastating blow to civic pride if the Rovers were to fold or to leave town. As a result, the ballpark was part of the downtown refurbishment and the team signed a long-term lease that makes it difficult for the Rovers to leave. In the 1980s, the team was sold to Myron Dalrymple, owner of the highly successful Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Dalrymple is respected among long-time Sligo residents for settling in town and helping to revive its economy... his grandson, Derrick, is at the helm of the Ski Resort enterprise and operates the Rovers ballclub, too.

The Rovers play at Silver Mountain Park, one of the oldest parks in the Islands, which seats 5,678 spectators and was built in 1912. The ballpark’s mid-seventies facelift did a good job of preserving its historic nature and the town funded yet another update in 1998 when four sky suites were added along with expanding the clubhouses. SM Park sports its original brick façade at its entrance and is tucked away in the historic Main Street shopping district. There is no parking here, but the sight of fans walking to the ballpark on a balmy summer afternoon fits in well with the town’s quaint ambiance. The team plays to that ambiance by having a barber shop quartet stationed outside the main ticket booth to greet approaching fans.

Speaking of music, you won’t find loud rock and roll music blaring from a state of the art sound system here. Like Hillsboro, Kenwood, Ozarka and Marston, the team employs an organist who serenades fans with classic tunes and is quite adept at finding songs that have something to do with the batter’s skill or idiosynchracies. Food here is among the most affordable in all of the IPA, and while you will find classic ballpark fare like peanuts, hot dogs, and crackerjacks, the most popular item on the menu may well be the roasted corn on the cob that is slathered with mayonnaise.

Despite its nod to the traditional, the team has added one of those big fuzzy mascots in recent years. “Rover”, a giant gray dog, roams the stands entertaining children and adults alike. When fans catch a foul ball, the public address announcer will announce to “give that fan a contract,” and Rover will indeed present the fan with a “contract” and a "doggy bag" filled with club gifts. Another Silver Mountain park tradition traces its roots back to the team’s longtime manager in the early days of the franchise, Eddie Keys. During his playing days in the industrial leagues, fans would jingle their keys whenever he came to bat. The tradition continues to this day whenever a rally is in order.

The current manager of the Sligo Rovers is IPA Hall of Fame pitcher Les Patterson, who starred for 17 seasons from 2017 to 2033, posting a 306-230 record in his IPA career with a standout 2.79 ERA. He led them to 4 pennants during his playing days. Patterson's last three years were with the Grand City Cybercats. He retired at age 42. Patterson sparked the Rovers to their only Pro Cup trophy in 2021. He was 4-2 in the playoffs that year with a sparkling 2.09 ERA in his 6 starts. Patterson was named a co-winner of the Pro Cup Most Valuable Player that season. He was twice voted the Ruthlandian Golden Arm of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and was named to the All-Star team on 7 occasions. Patterson took the reins of the Rovers in 2052. Sligo came in sixth his first season. Since then it has always finished near the top of the standings.

Silver Mountain Park (1912)

Capacity: 5,678

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 328
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 382
Center Field - 387
Right Center - 382
Right Field - 366
Right Field Line - 342

Around the Town in the IPA

Claxton Diamonds
Owner: DeBeers Mining Company
GM: Dixie Baker
Manager: Abe Schiffman

Claxton is a company town, a mining town of 107,000 in the southwestern foothills of the Silver Mountains, famous for its very high quality diamond industry. DeBeers, the world's largest diamond company, has a branch in Ruthlandia, where the ultimate diamonds are mined, cut, polished and processed, then distributed to the four corners of the world.

Claxton Diamonds are very much in demand worldwide because of their very fine quality. Gold and silver mining is also a vital part of the town's and Ruthlandia's economy. Claxton is a hardworking, blue collar town, who really love their baseball team, the Claxton Diamonds.

The club is owned by DeBeers and plays their games at gorgeous Avalon Stadium, built by DeBeers as a showcase stadium in 1990, complete with a scenic view of the Silver Mountains. The Avalon Casino is located in center field and is one of the most popular in the Islands. World famous entertainers appear regularly there.

DeBeers sponsors a "Lucky Diamond" sign on the right side of the left field scoreboard. DeBeers starts off each season with diamonds worth $1000 in the pot and increases it by $1000 each game, until someone wins it. Whenever a Claxton batter hits that sign, the player wins whatever is in the Diamond Jackpot and a lucky fan is also a jackpot winner, too. The lucky fan is chosen by the lucky scorecard number. During the fourth-inning stretch it is a Diamonds' tradition for the ladies at the game to sing "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". A diamond is given away at each game to some lucky lady. In the seventh inning everybody joins in for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". At the concession stands you can feast on hot dogs, hamburgers, cokes, beer, peanuts and crackerjacks.

The Claxton Diamonds are in the Ruthlandian Union and play in the South Division. The first GM and manager was the iconic Stacy Engel, known as "The Old Perfesser". He was the most successful manager in the Islandian amateur and company leagues. Engel was the only one considered for the Claxton job in 2001, the first year of the Islandian Pro Alliance. His amateur success continued in the IPA with 8 division flags. Engel retired in 2029.

Currently the Diamonds are run by general manager Dixie Baker, a star Golden Glove outfielder for the Diamonds from 2001 to 2014. He batted .266 in his 13-year career with 363 homers and over 1100 RBIs. Claxton made the postseason playoffs 5 times in his playing days. Baker also skippered the club for 22 seasons, 2029 to 2051, garnering 6 pennants. He became the GM in 2052 with superstar player Jojo DeLucca taking charge as player-manager.

One of the greatest player in the history of the Islands, DeLucca had a fabulous 24 years in the IPA, batting .303 with 635 homers, 2425 RBIs and scored 2099 runs. The great infielder made the RU All-Stars 15 times, was a 6-time Golden Glover and was named the RU Most Valuable Player in 2045. Delucca retired as a player at age 42 and was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2061. But, after five straight subpar seasons, DeLucca resigned in 2057... durable and workhorse hurler Abe Schiffman took the helm and he has turned the team around.

Schiffman was 238-177 with a 3.70 ERA for 15 seasons from 2037 to 2051 and helped the Diamonds win 5 pennants. Three times Schiffman paced the Ruthlandian Union in strikeouts.

Avalon Stadium (1990)
Capacity: 10,500

Dimensions:
LF LINE 325
LF 350
LC 390
CF 399
RC 365
RF 355
RF LINE 320

Around the Town in the IPA

ROLLING HILLS RACERS
Owner: Lemroh Meat Company
GM/Manager: Billy Christianson

Rollings Hills has a population of 78,000 and is located in the west central part of Tycobbia and was originally settled by the Kewanna Indians. "kewanna" means "hills that rise and fall" in their language. That is exactly what the landscape looks like here...gentle, rolling hills populated with sporadic groves of birch trees and acre after acre of cattle, dairy, pig, chicken and agricultural farms. Crops include wheat, oats and corn, potatoes and vegetables. In town are the stockyards and meat and grain processing plants. The population is mainly Americans and Brits with only a few Kewannas remaining.

Rolling Hills is an oldtime middle class town with wooden storefronts and bricks streets, lined with gas lamps and pedestrian walkways. No cars are allowed in the midtown area.

It is the home of the Rolling Hills Racers of the IPA's Tycobbian Union West Division. They were the Reds for over 50 years and became the Racers in 2060... The Racers play at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds, a relic from the early days of baseball. Built in 1907, it is surrounded by birchwood trees in a picturesque park area of town, where families can picnic and enjoy strolls, bicycle rides and boat rides on the park ponds, all amid the peaceful shade trees. A quaint aspect of the ballpark is that the power alleys are deeper than center field. They measure 425 feet, while to dead center it is 410 feet. It takes quite a blast for righthanders to get it out...350 down the line in left field and 375 in straightaway left. However, the lefthanded hitters love it...only 320 down the right field line and 350 to straightaway right .

The Lemroh family owns the team as well as being the owners of the stockyards and meat processing plants. The concessions stands are unique in design. All are set up like soda fountains, complete with stools. They serve up tasty hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, thick shakes and malts.

A Dixieland band provides the music between innings and helps the Rolling Hillians cheer their Racers to victory. Many times throughout the game the fans will dance The Charleston (dance popular in the 1920s). During the seventh-inning stretch you get a rousing Dixieland version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

The first GM and Manager of the Rolling Hills Reds (Racers) was the legendary pitcher, Matty Christianson, one of the most revered players and managers in Tycobbian baseball history. Christianson stood out as a player and manager in the company leagues. When the IPA began play in 2001, Christianson became a vital part of the Rolling Hills franchise. A record four times he was named the Tycobbian Manager of the Year. Under his leadership the Reds won 10 TU West flags, made the playoffs 12 times and captured 2 Pro Cups (2029 and 2031). This IPA legend retired after 51 years at the helm. Since Christianson's retirement, his sons Billy and Matthew, have starred for the team. Billy Christianson made the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2049. He was a 6-time All-Star and 5-time Gold Glove winner. In his 20 seasons Christianson had a career batting average of .302 with 258 homers and 3173 hits. At age 38 he retired. Billy has managed the club since 2052. Matthew retired in 2052 after 18 seasons with a fine 292-219 record and an impressive 2.98 ERA. He was a 4-time All-Star. Matthew is the Racers' pitching coach.

Midtown Base Ball Grounds (1907)
Capacity: 6,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 375
LCF 425
CF 410
RCF 425
RF 350
RF Line 320

Around the Town in the IPA

SAN ALEJO MONTANEROS
Owner: Petro Internationale
GM: Paolo Teixeira
Manager: Matt Bell

San Alejo rests on a large plateau in the highlands of Arvonian Island, which is south of Tycobbia and Ruthlandia and is bordered by the Southern Sea and Belair Bay. Its population is nearly 40,000, making it one of the smallest towns in the IPA.

The initial settlement was founded in the 1850's by remnants of Portuguese sailors that settled Arroyo Grande. They sought the safety of the isolated central highlands. Over the next hundred years the initial group of 42 settlers grew to a modest town of 10,000 inhabitants. They survived predominantly on subsistence farming and hunting. Life was hard in San Alejo.

In 1937, all that changed as a Mexican oil and gas baron, Antonio De Nova, brought commerce and industry to the town. His company, Petro Internationale, discovered natural gas in the area. Instant prosperity came to San Alejo. With their newly-found wealth, the city fathers greatly improved life with modern hospitals and schools. As Petro Internationale grew in size, De Nova had to import oil field workers from Mexico. In 1947, De Nova built the first stadium the town has ever had. He called it the Casa de Beisbol, which was primarily for his plant workers to play baseball and soccer. The Casa de Beisbol is not a fancy stadium. It is on the rustic side and just a functional ball park. Because of the ballpark, baseball became an important part of the town's culture. Only recently were the wooden bleachers rebuilt using steel. This was done when the town received a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance.

The team is called the Montaneros, Spanish for "Mountaineers". San Alejo's GM is Paolo Teixeira, star outfielder from 2039 to 2056, 9-time All-Star, with a career .297 BA, 559 homers and 1664 RBIs. Retired in 2056 at age 37. Made the IPA Hall of Fame in 2057 The Montaneros are a member of the Tycobbian Union South Division. The most successful skipper is former player Alberto Herrera, who toiled long and hard on the mound for 17 seasons from 2002 to 2018 with a 203-250 lifetime record. Herrera compiled a fine 3.30 ERA and was a much better pitcher than his won-lost record shows. San Alejo was pretty bad during those years, finishing deep in the second division most seasons. Herrera won 20 games twice in his career and made the All-Star team once. He became the team manager in 2021 and slowly, but surely, the Monties got better. Beginning in 2032 success finally came to town. Remarkably, right out of the blue, San Alejo won its only Pro Cup trophy in 2032. And they won 3 more division flags in the next 5 seasons. And the success continued for two decades. Herrera retired in 2049. The Montaneros were regular contenders for all of those years until 2054 when decline set in. That changed in 2062 when Hall of Fame hurler Matt Bell was named skipper. Bell is number two on the IPA all-time wins list with a 391-225 mark over 19 seasons with a remarkably low 2.42 ERA and is also second on the all-time list with 4819 strikeouts. He was a 3-time recipient of the Tycobbian Golden Arm Award ('45, '47, '49) and 6-time All-Star. Bell retired in 2057 at age 37 and was voted into the Hall of Fame that same season.

Stadium: Casa de Beisbol (1947)
Capacity: 8,000
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 340
Left Field - 360
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 400
Right Center - 380
Right Field - 360
Right Field Line - 340

Attachment 701830
Saturday, October 11, 2064

RUTHLANDIAN, TYCOBBIAN TITLE SERIES BEGIN
It's the second round of the Islandian Pro Cup postseason playoffs... it's down to the final four-best teams... two pitching-dominated clubs will vie for the Ruthlandian Union championship... the number-six ranked Sligo Rovers will tangle with the number-two rated Claxton Diamonds in a best-of-seven series beginning Sunday... in the Tycobbian Union title series it will be the well-balanced San Alejo Montaneros facing off with the high-scoring Rolling Hills Racers... the Monties were the seventh choice to win the Pro Cup in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll, the Racers were the top pick... Claxton and Rolling Hills will have the homefield advantage... the Diamonds and Racers are the odds-on favorites in the two matchups.

DIAMONDS WILL OUTSHINE ROVERS IN 7 GAMES
In the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series, the Claxton Diamonds have tremendous pitching, but very little offense... the Sligo Rovers have a very good mound staff, but not a lot of hitting... give the edge to Claxton in a hotly-contested seven-game series... the Diamonds shut down a very good-hitting Valmara club and should able to handle the Sligo bats

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RACERS FAVORED IN 7 OVER MONTANEROS
It could be another seven-game series in the Tycobbian Union... Rolling Hills is by far the best-hitting team remaining in the playoffs, but they have questionable pitching... San Alejo might sneak up on them and have enough offense to hang with the Racers... the Monties pitching corps is quality throughout, starters and bullpen... they never run out of a good pitcher... not so for Rolling Hills... the starters are fairly good, but the bullpen is poor... should be a fine series... Rolling Hills should win it... too much firepower... but a San Alejo upset is possible.

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Monday, October 13, 2064

HOME TEAMS WINS OPENERS IN IPA PLAYOFFS
The home-team advantage paid off at least in the opening games of the second round in the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs... the Claxton Diamonds copped the Ruthlandian Union opener 3-0 over the Sligo Rovers... and the Pro Cup favorite Rolling Hills Racers routed the San Alejo Montaneros 8-4 in the Tycobbian Union... both winners demonstrated their strengths... Claxton's strong pitching and Rolling Hills' potent attack.

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Tuesday, October 14, 2064

DIAMONDS AND RACERS SPARKLE ON THE HILL AND IN PLAYOFFS
Everything is coming up roses for the Claxton Diamonds and the Rolling Hills Racers in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... both of them have won the first two games of the League Championship Series... yesterday they did it with standout pitching... in Ruthlandian Union play Claxton nicked the Sligo Rovers 1-0 and Rolling Hills stopped the San Alejo Montaneros 3-1 in the Tycobbian title series.

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Wednesday, October 15, 2064

SWEEP TIME FOR #1 ROLLING HILLS AND #2 CLAXTON
They have done it in two different ways but the Claxton Diamonds and the Rolling Hills Racers have captured all three of the IPA League Championship games with the Sligo Rovers and San Alejo Montaneros... the Diamonds have hurled three consecutive shutouts, while the Racers have used their big bats to polish off the Monties... now it's sweep time in the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union... both Rolling Hills and Claxton, rated the top two teams in the postseason playoffs, are just one win away from the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

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Thursday, October 16, 2064

CLAXTON AND ROLLING HILLS SWEEP SERIES
The Claxton Diamonds and the Rolling Hills Racers were forecast to meet in the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Finals and true-to-form, they will be there... the two highest-rated teams will clash for the Holy Grail of the Islands, the IPA Pro Cup trophy... in the Ruthlandian Union title series, the Diamonds quickly disposed of the Sligo Rovers in a four-game sweep, while over in the Tycobbian Union, the Racers did the same thing to the San Alejo Montaneros.

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Friday, October 17, 2064

64TH PRO CUP SERIES BEGINS SATURDAY
For the 64th time in Islandian Pro Alliance baseball history, the Ruthlandian Union champion will face off with the Tycobbian Union champion... the Tycobbians have been victorious 35 times, while the Ruthlandians have claimed it on 28 occasions... lately it has been all Tycobbian Union... the TU has captured it for the last five years.

This year's combatants are the high-powered Rolling Hills Racers, quite prolific in scoring runs and the Claxton Diamonds, with a penchant for limiting the runs on its scoreboard... does the age-old adage apply this year?... does good pitching really beat good hitting?... we'll have the answer in a week.

The best-of-seven Pro Cup Series opens up in Claxton at beautiful Avalon Stadium Saturday afternoon for game one... visiting Rolling Hills will be gunning for its 6th Pro Cup trophy, while Claxton is seeking its very first... the Racers have won it twice in the past four seasons in 2060 and 2062... ironically, the Diamonds only time to make the Pro Cups Finals, they fell to Rolling Hills in 2048 in five games... Claxton was 97-57 during the regular season and will have the homefield advantage over Rolling Hills... the Racers were 95-59 this season.

To get to the IPA Finals, Claxton whipped the Valmara Vipers in seven games in round one and then swept the Sligo Rovers for the RU title... Rolling Hills defeated the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats in six games in the opening round and rolled past the San Alejo Montaneros in a four-game sweep... the Racers were picked to take this year's Pro Cup title with the Diamonds being the second choice in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll.

For Rolling Hills to prevail it will have to get solid pitching... the Racers are not likely to dominate at the plate like they did in the first two rounds... Claxton's pitching has been out of this world... they handled hard-hitting Valmara in the first round and then totally shut down the Sligo Rovers in the RU title series... both Pro Cup finalists are really rolling and playing great baseball.

Rolling Hills' key to success with be it maligned mound staff... starters Van Dillaway (14-4, 3.25 ERA), Rob Gates (9-10, 3.19 ERA), Clyde Akins (15-6, 3.53 ERA) and Jordy Wales (14-5, 3.69 ERA) will have to have good series to beat the Diamonds... for Claxton to succeed starters Mark Meisner (14-8, 2.08 ERA), Don Downing (16-7,2.70 ERA), Russell Krohn (19-6, 2.86 ERA) and Eric Baum (5-1, 2.54 ERA) will have to cool off the redhot Racer bats, sparked by a bunch of fine hitters that batted .292 this season.

2064 IPA Pro Cup Outlook: This should be a great series... going six or seven games... look for the Claxton staff to continue to shine... they are good enough to hold down the Racers at the plate... and the Diamonds should be able to score runs against the Rolling Hills starting rotation... Claxton should win its first-ever Pro Cup trophy... methinks, good pitching will do the job this year.

Attachment 703809
Sunday, October 19, 2064

CLAXTON CHILLS HOT RACERS IN PRO CUP OPENER
No one can remember when they saw such spectacular pitching in the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs... but they are witnessing it now... the Claxton Diamonds pitched another gem to capture the first game of the Pro Cup Series, putting a big chill in the Rolling Hills' bats and coming away with a 1-0 victory... remarkably, this is the fourth shutout in the last five games for the Diamonds.

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Monday, October 20, 2064

IN PRO CUP SERIES CLAXTON WINS GAME 2, TOO
The Claxton Diamonds are really rolling... they ran their postseason winning streak to 7 games with a 4-3 squeaker over the Rolling Hills Racers in the second game of the Pro Cup Series... the Diamonds won the first two games at home to take a big lead in the series... and they would like nothing better than to send the Racers home for the season with two more victories in Rolling Hills, the site of the next two games... Claxton is seeking its first-ever Pro Cup trophy... if successful, it would be the Racers' 6th IPA title.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2064

CLAXTON JUST 1 WIN AWAY FROM FIRST PRO CUP TROPHY
The Claxton Diamonds are riding sky high in the postseason... they are just one glorious win away from their first Pro Cup title... the Diamonds would like nothing better than to sweep the series from Pro Cup favorite Rolling Hills and that could very well happen in game four in Rolling Hills... Claxton got another standout mound performance and copped its third consecutive game from the Racers, whipping them 5-3.

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