Attachment 939208
Thursday, October 21, 2077

RU CHAMP ELNORA PRO CUP BOUND, SOUTH FORK LEADS TURON 3-1 IN TU TITLE SERIES
The Elnora Clippers are the champion of the Ruthlandian Union... they completed a 4-game sweep of the Kilkenny Cats with a dramatic 9th-inning 6-5 comeback victory and will now advance to the IPA Pro Cup Series... this
will be the 4th time Elnora has appeared in the IPA title series... during those seasons they were known as the All-Stars... Elnora made the IPA Finals in 2002, 2033 and 2057... the Clippers will trying to snare their second Pro
Cup Trophy... they won it in '33.

The Tycobbian Title Series is almost over, too, as the upstart South Fork Stallions are leading that series three games to one after taming the Pro Cup favorite Turon Typhoons 5-2 in the fourth game of the series... the Typhoons
were forecast to win the IPA Pro Cup again this year for the 6th time in the team's illustrious history... Kilkenny was supposed to be their opponent... the Cats were rated the second-best club in the IPA playoffs this year.

2077 IPA Title Series Stars of the Game
Attachment 939209

2077 Ruthlandian Union Title Series - Game 4
Attachment 939210
Attachment 939211
Attachment 939212

2077 Tycobbian Union Title Series - Game 4
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Attachment 939216
Attachment 939217

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA
The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 21, 2022

2022 IPA PLAYOFF PREVIEW
(best-of-seven)

REIGNING CHAMP Rovers Favored Over Reds In IPA Pro Cup Playoffs, Sligo Picked To Win 2nd Straight Pro Cup Trophy
If the predictions are right, it will be the Sligo Rovers of the Ruthlandian Union going up against the Rolling Hills Reds of the Tycobbian Union in this year's IPA Pro Cup finals. In The Islandian Times annual poll the Rovers were named the favorite team in the playoffs and they are expected to capture a second consecutive Pro Cup crown. Rolling Hills was the second choice of the pollsters with Crystal Lake running third and Arroyo Grande fourth. Ancona came in fifth, Wynnamac sixth, Midway seventh and Luxora came in eighth and last.

Sligo has a good all-round club with superb pitching (2.77 ERA-2nd) and solid firepower (.265 BA-6th). Rolling Hills counters with good pitching (3.28 ERA/4th), great defense (.978 FA) and adequate hitting (.267 BA- 6th).

The IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series open this afternoon at four sites. In the Ruthlandian Union Crystal Lake will host Ancona, while Sligo is at home against Wynnamac. Over in the Tycobbian Union it will be Rolling Hills entertaining the Midway Wolves and Arroyo Grande tangles with the Luxora Zorros at the Suns ballpark.

The Islandian Times Poll Rankings
1. Sligo Rovers (RU)
Team Record: 95-59 (2nd)
Team BA: .265 (6th)
Team Scoring:785 runs (5th)
Team HR: 159 (4th)
Team ERA 2.77 (2nd)
Team Defense: .973 FA (10th-tied)

2. Rolling Hills Reds (TU)
Team Record: 96-58 (2nd)
Team BA: .267 (6th)
Team Scoring: 777 (5th)
Team HR: 140 (18th-tied)
Team ERA: 3.28 (4th)
Team Defense .978 FA (1st)

3. Crystal Lake Crushers (RU)
Team Record: 97-57 (1st)
Team BA: .253 (21st)
Team Scoring: 667 runs (25th)
Team HR: 113 (22nd-tied)
Team ERA: 2.66 (1st)
Team Defense: .971 FA (18th-tied)

4. Arroyo Grande Suns (TU)
Team Record: 97-57 (1st)
Team BA: .275 (2nd)
Team Scoring: 855 runs (1st)
Team HR: 220 (2nd)
Team ERA: 3.55 (10th)
Team Defense: .964 FA (32nd)

5. Ancona Red Elephants (RU)
Team Record: 84-70 (7th)
Team BA: .265 (5th)
Team Scoring: 788 runs (3rd)
Team HR: 170 (3rd)
Team ERA: 3.68 (11th)
Team Defense: .971 (18th-tied)

6. Wynnamac Sundowners (RU)
Team Record: 93-61 (
Team Batting: .263 (10th)
Team Scoring: 752 runs (11th)
Team HR: 123 (19th)
Team ERA: 3.25 (3rd)
Team Defense: .971 FA (18th-tied)

7. Midway Wolves (TU)
Team Record: 92-62 (3rd)
Team Batting: .259 (12th)
Team Scoring: 774 (6th)
Team HR:179 (4th)
Team ERA: 3.25 (3rd)
Team Defense: .973 FA (14th-tied)

8. Luxora Zorros (TU)
Team Record: 84-70 (7th)
Team Batting: .247 (25th)
Team Scoring: 690 runs (16th)
Team HR: 161 (6th)
Team ERA: 3.40 (8th)
Team Defense: .967 FA (26th-tied)

Attachment 939672

Friday, October 22, 2077

PRO-CUP FAVORED TURON FALLS TO SOUTH FORK IN 5 GAMES
An arroused bunch of South Fork Stallions stampeded by this year's Pro Cup favorite Turon Typhoons, knocking them off four games to one
for the Tycobbian Union title and the right to play for the IPA Pro Cup Trophy in the Pro Cup Series against the Ruthlandian Union champion,
the Elnora Clippers... South Fork will be going for their 4th Pro Cup in the club's history, while Elnora will be seeking their second trophy.

2077 IPA Playoffs Stars of the Day
Attachment 939673
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Attachment 939676

Around the Town in the IPA

ELNORA CLIPPERS (AKA ALL-STARS 2001-2059)

Owner: Costanza Investments, Inc.
General Manager and Manager: Enos Conrad

Elnora, population 101,000, is a port city at the edge of the Great Plains on the east coast of Ruthlandia near the Valerian Ocean. It is one of the earliest settlements in the Islands. Elnora is the site of grain processing plants, vast wheat fields and shipping docks.

It was the home of the first amateur teams formed by companies and commercial enterprises in the 1920s. Players were given jobs by the companies and then given ample time off to practice their skills and to play games to publicize the companies' wares, services and products to the baseball fans of Ruthlandia.

The Elnora All-Stars were first owned by a wealthy eccentric by the name of George Costanza. He made a fortune in reality television with a show "about nothing". Yep, "about nothing'. In 2000, Costanza jumped at the chance to get a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance and immediately began signing up all of the amateur all-stars and named his team the All-Stars. But IPA commissioner, John Banson, refused to approve the contracts. Costanza had to go through the league draft to get his players like all of the other teams. Costanza appealed it all the way to the Islandian Supreme Court, but the league prevailed.

Elnora plays in the Ruthlandian Union and is in the East Division. Elnora rebranded as the Clippers in 2060. They play at State Fair Park, which is the site of the Ruthlandian State Fair each year. It is the largest midway and carnival in the Islands. State Fair Park is known for serving great soups, made by the famous Elaine Benes Soup Company. Costanza imported a renowned and sometimes difficult chef from Argentina to manage his concessions. In addition to traditional baseball foods, wonderful soups like mulligatawny, turkey chili, crab bisque, cold cucumber, corn and crab chowder are served up at the ballpark. A word of warning, don't ask for bread. Back in the early days of Elnora baseball that Chef demanded that all customers in his restaurant follow his meticulous (and seemingly arbitrary) soup-ordering instructions to the letter, lest they be refused service by his insistent avowal, "No soup for you!"

Costanza did go out and get a great manager for the original All-Stars. He hired one of the most successful industrial league manager in Ruthlandian baseball history, Zoggy White. He was only a semi-mediocre outfielder, but really made his mark as a manager. In reference to his success as a player versus his success as a manager, White once said, "Baseball has been good to me since I quit trying to play it." His style of play, which was nicknamed "Whiteyball," concentrates on pitching, speed, and defense to win games rather than home runs. White's baseball philosophy also includes a preference for patient hitters with high on-base percentages. White retired in 2026 after 27 seasons at the helm and took over as general manager. His success in the amateur leagues didn't transfer to the IPA as White only managed 3 pennants and 5 playoff appearances in his tenure.

Leon Carter took the reins from White in 2027. Carter was a 7-time All-Star catcher for Elnora from 2013 to 2026. He finished his career with a lifetime .287 BA , 284 homers and over 1000 RBIs... Carter initially had success as the Elnora skipper... he won four pennants in his first decade, including the Pro Cup in 2033. His next decade was pretty good with six first-division finishes, however the All-Stars went into a decline and Carter was finally replaced by Stan Kivas in 2052.

Kivas was a pretty darn good starter from 2033 to 2048, posting a 237-203 mark with a 3.45 ERA. As a 23-year-old rookie reliever in 2033, Kivas played a part in Elnora's only IPA Pro Cup victory, posting a fine 1.42 ERA in 9 relief appearances with three saves. As the new manager and GM Kivas made a dazzling debut. He cleaned house his first year with 17 rookies on the roster and wound up in third place in the RU East standings. The Clippers did well under Kivas consistently in the Ruthlandian East first division. They won 3 pennants over the next decade. However, the team declined his last three seasons and he was replaced by Enos Conrad in 1968.

Enos Conrad was an outfielder for 16 seasons (2036-2051) with the All-Stars and quite a contact hitter. He batted .333 lifetime with 2308 hits. Conrad won two RU batting titles, hitting .391 in 2041 and .369 in 2042. He was a 3-time All-Star and won the Ruthlandian Golden Bat in '41. Conrad has had only mediocre success in his tenure. His only RU East title came in 2077.

State Fair Park (1971)
Capacity: 12,500

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 335
Left Field - 370
Left Center - 399
Center Field - 415
Right Center - 399
Right Field - 370
Right Field Line - 335

AROUND THE TOWN IN THE IPA

SOUTH FORK STALLIONS

Owner: Ewing Oil Enterprises
President and CEO: Cliff Barnes Ewing
GM: James Billings
Manager: Jay Murphy

South Fork is a rural and provincial town with a population of 58,000. The main industries are cattle and ranching mixed with agriculture. South Fork is situated in the fertile Caledonian River basin in southern Tycobbia. Rich and black alluvial soils produce a plethora of crops on the farms in the area.

This is cowboy country and home of the South Fork Stallions of the Islandian Pro Alliance, begun by Bobby Ewing of the wealthy, influential and powerful Ewing family headed by patriarch Jock Ewing. The Stallions play in the Tycobbian Union East Division.

Here is the fabled history of the creation of the South Fork Stallions. Bobby and brother J. R. were squabbling vice-presidents of the Waleska Westerners of the old Tycobbian Industrial League in the 1990s. To separate the two siblings, the family patriarch bought each one of them a baseball team. Bobby got South Fork and J. R. got the Ozarka Naturals. Bobby built a beautiful new stadium and named it after his daddy, Jock Ewing Stadium. It is located at the edge of town and has a wonderful panoramic view of the town rising up behind the gigantic electronic scoreboard. J. R. built a new state-of-the-art stadium with a monstrous scoreboard, too, and named it Ellie Ewing Stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie... the Stallions and Naturals are still bitter rivals in the Tycobbian East Division, even though the Ewing Brothers have long ago past the torch to their offspring, who still run Bobby Ewing Enterprises and Ewing Oil Company.

Stallions fans are a rowdy bunch who love their team. They never let up on the opposing teams, giving them a lot of discouraging words and a lot of harassing at every opportunity. They even throw home run balls hit by the opposition back onto the playing field. No self-respecting Stallions fan would want possession of a ball that harmed the best interests of their favorite team.

For entertainment the Stallions have a Texas swing band at every game. You ain’t never heard a better version of “Take me out to the ballgame”. There is a whole lot of two-steppin’ during the seventh inning stretch at Jock Ewing Stadium. And when the buckaroos and little darlin's mosey on over to the concessions stands hot and juicy charcoal-broiled steak sandwiches await them there along with imported Lone Star Beer (“Brewed deep in the heart of Texas”).

Life at Jock Ewing Stadium was always quite interesting for the fans... Finley Charles was the Stallions’ GM and promotions director for the first 20 years. Charles was famous for his creative promotions and innovations in baseball. His teams were the first to wear loud-colored uniforms, like solid orange road uniforms. One of his amateur teams even dressed in a soft pink and wore Bermuda shorts. He also experimented with an orange baseball and having only 3 balls and 2 strikes in the game. He said it would speed up the game and create more action. None of his leagues instituted his ideas, but he kept trying. Charles retired in 2025 and things settled down to normalcy in South Fork baseball circles.

The Stallions were quite a team with a GM like wacky and creative Finley Charles and an outspoken skipper like Deroche "Lips" Leon... South Fork finally won the Pro Cup in 2025 under Leon, who had a stormy career. Lips didn't get along with many people. And he didn't care, saying "nice guys finish last". But Leon lasted 38 years as the skipper. Taking over after Lips was Blackie Terranova. He starred for them for 15 seasons (2010-2024), winding up with a fine 273-202 record and a 3.31 ERA... Terranova retired at age 42. His last season was 15-21 with a 3.56 ERA for a sixth-place club... South Fork had a rejuvanation under Terranova, winning the Tycobbian East three years in a row from 2041 to 2043... in 2042 the Stallions won their second Pro Cup... he was fired in 2051 after a 56-98 season.

Running the ballclub currently is general manager James Billings, famed for his statistical baseball research and analysis. Billings has applied his findings to the team's operation and has been very successful.

The current manager is Jay Murphy, a former player... he was the ace of the 2042 Pro Cup title team... Murphy was the Tycobbian Golden Arm winner in 2042 (25-7) and 2044 (28-7). He also captured the Tycobbian MVP in '44. Overall his lifetime statistics for 16 seasons is 250-185 with a fine 3.24 ERA. He has turned the Stallions around since taking over in 2058. South Fork fields a competitive team year after year. Murphy's Stallions have won 6 pennants and one Pro Cup in 2073. So far South Fork has nabbed 3 Pro Cups. They also won in 2025 and 2042.

Jock Ewing Stadium (2000)
Capacity: 11,750

Dimensions:
LF Line 347
LF 360
LCF 383
CF 400
RCF 383
RF 360
RF Line 347

Attachment 940367
Thursday, October 28, 2077

STALLIONS SLIGHT FAVORITE OVER CLIPPERS IN PRO CUP SERIES... STARTS SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN SOUTH FORK
Two well-tested and fined-honed ballclubs face one another in this year's IPA Pro Cup Series that begins Saturday afternoon at Jock Ewing Stadium in South Fork... no one reaches this far
in the postseason playoffs that doesn't have a solid squad... a quick look at each club, their strengths and their weaknesses, shows the South Fork Stallions have the better pitching and
better defense, the Elnora Clippers the better bats... the main question in the minds of most baseball scribes and pundits is whether the Clippers will continue to get the standout pitching
they have shown so far... South Fork skipper Jay Murphy and Elnora manager Enos Conrad have their teams primed and poised to win the Holy Grail of Islandian baseball - The Islandian
Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy... about a week from now, the best baseball team in the Islands will be proclaimed.

The best-of-seven Pro Cup Series kicks off in South Fork... the Stallions get the homefield advantage because they had a better record in the regular season... South Fork was 88-68 during
the season, while Elnora was 86-68... South Fork will host games one and two this Saturday and Sunday... Monday is a travel day... games three, four and five are slated for State Fair Park
in Elnora... the teams will take another day for travel... should they be necessary, the series will revert to South Fork for the final two games.

Jay Murphy is depending heavily on his starting trio of Mick Flanders, Mitch Hynes and Russ Redford to put a clamp on the big bats of the Clippers... South Fork has a fine bullpen, too, with
relievers Ron Halloran and Billy Lake... the Stallions will live and die on how well they hit... Murphy needs big series from his main weapons Carroll Ezzell and Carroll Coxe... his lesser lights
have done very well in the postseason... Murphy is hoping Patrick Packenham, Jake Glazer, Jojo Bond and Billy Hollander can continue to come through with solid offense... pitcher Mick
Flanders and shortstop Carroll Ezzell both made the Ruthlandian Union All-Star team... South Fork soared past two higher-rated clubs to reach the Pro Cup Finals... in the first round they
swept past #4-ranked La Claire four games to one, then upset Pro Cup favorite Turon in a four-game sweep for the Tycobbian title.

The Elnora Clippers under Enos Conrad had also been a surprise in the postseason... the Clippers knocked off two highly-regarded opponents... in the opening round they eliminated #3-rated
Valka in a hard-fought 7-game series... Elnora did even better in the Ruthlandian Title Series, sweeping #2-ranked Kilkenny in four games.

Not only did the Clippers hit well and score runs in the early rounds, unexpectedly they pitched even better... offensively Elnora batted .293 with 67 runs in 11 games and 11 roundtrippers...
they only allowed 3 homers, 44 runs and posted an impressive 2.85 ERA against high-caliber teams... Conrad has a rock-solid core of hitters, top to bottom in his lineup... the South Fork
hurlers will be severely tested in the Pro Cup Series... All-Star third baseman Ronald Bayless, Andre Langdon, Troy Young and Ardell Armstrong can put runs on the scoreboard, but they
don't have to do it alone... the rest of the batting order is very sound, too... yep, the bats have been very productive in the postseason, but the trio of starters, Javis Packham, Hamilton
Burger and Hawk Templeton have really shined... the question mark is the bullpen... the good thing is the starters go deep in the game and don't require a lot from the bullpen.

2077 IPA Pro Cup Forecast: The Pro Cup Series should go to South Fork in 7 games... the Stallions are more fundamentally sound, play standout defense, are strong in the starting
rotation and in the bullpen... but, and this is a biggy, South Fork just comes up short at the plate in comparison to the Clippers... Elnora big weakness may be defense... they gave up a
lot of unearned runs, a total of 15 in the first two rounds... South Fork only gave up one unearned run.

IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1 - Saturday
Attachment 940368
Attachment 940369

South Fork Stallions Home Page
Attachment 940370

Elnora Clippers Home Page
Attachment 940371

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA
(Recap of 2022 IPA Playoffs)

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 21, 2022

IPA Elite 8 Series Picks
The Crystal Lake Crushers are back again in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs after a year's absence. The 3rd-seeded Crushers won it all in 2020 under manager Herman "Baby " George and have a better team this year according to the experts. They drew a tough ball club in the RU Elite 8. The 5th-seeded Ancona Red Elephants (84-70) hit very well and have pretty fair pitching, while Crystal Lake (97-57) tied Arroyo Grande of the Tycobbian Union for the best record in the IPA this year. The Crushers have great pitching with three 20-game winners in veterans Duncan Welch (23-12 2.18), Ralph McCullough (20-9 2.56) and rookie phenom Dennis Taylor (21-9 2.41). In a super trade, the Crushers acquired star RF Augie Marshall from Taranto in August and now have him in the lineup to support all-time legendary 1B Phil Gravelli (.312 BA/21 HR/87 RBI) and 2B Greg Murphy (.312 BA/14 HR/61 RBI). Marshall (.293 BA/24 HR/97 RBI) is a much-needed addition and could be a crucial factor in the playoffs.

The key to the series is Manny Mickens' mound corps: Clete Dukas (17-14 3.29), Spiros Zodiates (16-8 3.40) and Hubie Croft (13-13 3.16). If they can stop the Crushers Big 3, Ancona has a shot at winning. The Red Elephants have one of the best attacks in the IPA with 3B Todd Nasso (.306 BA/32 HR/109 RBI), 1B Alekos Kotas (.301 BA/27 HR/125 RBI), LF Kenny Willard (.320 BA/27 HR/103 RBI) and SS Yanni Kouris (.303/10 HR/63 RBI).

Prediction: Pitching will prevail... Crystal Lake in 6 games... but it won't be easy... Ancona can hit with the best of them.

It will the defending Pro Cup champions, the Sligo Rovers (95-59), battling the Wynnamac Sundowners (93-61) in the other RU postseason match-up. Sligo is the top seed and favored to win the whole shebang again. Skipper Eddie Keys has standout pitching and rock-solid bats. They can hit with Ancona and pitch as well as Crystal Lake. Every regular has double-digit homers, led by 3B Manny Alou (.272 BA/29 HR/115 RBI), 2B Garlin Delk (.303 BA/15 HR/101 RBI), LF Biff Blauer (.322 BA/10 HR/91 RBI), C Sherman Albert (.253 BA/23 HR/81 RBI), RF Clell Renshaw (.289 BA/20 HR/80 RBI), 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.280 BA/21 HR/77 RBI). On the hill Sligo will go with Les Patterson (18-9 1.94), Ralph Odakota (20-11 2.49) and Luka Abromowitz (19-10 3.25) as starters. 24-game winner Sam Tate (24-9 2.42) will switch to the bullpen for the playoffs. Keys has a poor bullpen. That's the Rovers one weakness. Tate went to the bullpen because he has better control and also Abromowitz outpitched him in the playoff last year. Abromowitz was 3-0 with a 3.56 ERA, while Tate was 1-1 and 4.82.

Matt Donnelly's Wynnamac Sundowners are an unheralded 6th-seed by the prognosticators, but they do possess three fine starters in Lon Marshall (24-11 2.90), Jerry Meeks (20-13 3.24) and Dean Barber (15-9 2.88) and a talented closer in Jim Horton (6-6 2.05). Horton notched 25 saves this season. At the plate Wynnamac features four .300 hitters: 2B Liam Cadbury (.322 B/26 HR/103 RBI), RF Bob Carr (.318 BA/4 HR/73 RBI), LF Joey Eaton (.313 BA/20 HR/83 RBI) and CF Ian Holmes (.301 BA/0 HR/52 RBI/102 R). Star 1B Pete Simmons (.296 BA/21 HR/102 RBI) boasts a big bat, too. It really isn't as much of a mismatch as you would think.

Prediction: Sligo will prevail in six games, but the Sundowners will make them sweat.

In the Tycobbian Union it will be 2nd-seed Rolling Hills and 7th-seed Midway in one Elite 8 Series and 4th-seeded Arroyo Grande and 8th-seeded Luxora in the other series. Matty Christianson's Rolling Hills Reds (96-58) may be the best all-around team in the IPA with strong pitching, pretty fair hitting and excellent defense. The Reds will live and die with the offense. If RF Manuel Leon (.269 BA/29 HR/99 RBI), rookie SS Tony Ptacek (.275 BA/31 HR/93 RBI), LF Donnie Lewis (.295 BA/6 HR/73 RBI/106 R), 1B Mickey Greene (.264 BA/17 HR/83 RBI) and CF Mark Coker (.279 BA/19 HR/75 RBI) can hold up their end of the bargain, Rolling Hills can go far in the playoffs.

The Midway Wolves (92-62), guided by Cochise Chandler, are a talented team with strong pitching and good power. Motega Wolf (21-9 2.44) is the ace, although Dakota Dyami (25-8 3.45) led the club in wins. Bobby Dorignac (19-14 2.74) gives Midway another standout starter. Chandler's bullpen could be a problem. Offensively, the Wolves depend on LF Chitto Chandler (.299 BA/30 HR/101 RBI), 2B Frank Reinhard (.301 BA/27 HR/89 RBI), 3B Rob Gigler (.306 BA/13 HR/69 RBI) and RF Kyle Rigney (.270 BA/21 HR/70 RBI). Midway has good home-run power with 179 hit out of the park for the year. Rolling Hills hit 140 for the season.

Prediction: Both clubs have strong pitching... Rolling Hills is superb, while Midway is very good... offensively the two teams are fairly even... defensively, the advantage goes to Rolling Hills... it should be quite a series with the Reds taking it in six games.

Arroyo Grande (97-57) topped the Tycobbian Union in victories and tied Crystal Lake in the Ruthlandian Union for the IPA lead. Cyclone Cobb's Suns have a high-powered offense, the best in the IPA with a .275 BA, 220 homers and 855 runs, ranking second in all categories. The pitching is not on par with the offense. If the pitchers can keep the Suns in the ball game, the teams will go far in the postseason. Arroyo Grande needs strong efforts from Sixto Zamora (19-13 2.86), Ernie Matthews (22-11 3.31) and Cesar De Leon (23-9 4.03). Cobb's bullpen is in great hands with Jason Patrick (5-4), who racked up 26 saves with an extraordinary 1.10 ERA. And what a batting order the Suns have with rookie sensation 1B Rusty Vizcarra (.323 BA/58 HR/165 RBI), C Gary Troxell (.300 BA/38 HR/98 RBI), LF Eduardo Villanueva (.319 BA/30 HR/91 RBI), SS Andy Pearson (.315 BA/19 HR/70 RBI/85 R) and RF Buddy Bechtel (.288 BA/26 HR/62 RBI/80 R). Pearson missed 50 games in the season with an injury, but still put up healthy numbers.

Cristo Viamonte's lowly-regarded Luxora Zorros (84-70) rely on his mound staff. The Z's are never picked very high in the postseason polls, but they did upset highly-favored Arroyo Grande in 2020 in the opening series and gave perrenial power Ozarka fits in the TU Final 4 that year. Luxora's ace is Tiago Torres, one of the finest hurlers in the IPA. He can almost win a series by himself. Viaconte just needs one of the other two starters to step it up and knock off the Suns in a couple of games. Torres was 21-12 with 7 shutouts and a 2.12 ERA this season. It's up to Mike Boyce (19-13 3.01) and Valerio Lopes (17-12 3.47) deliver the goods and upset Arroyo Grande's apple cart. The Zorro bats are led by LF Jon Stafford (.265 BA/35 HR/103 RBI), CF Johnny Clark (.285 BA/31 HR/102 RBI), C Jim Thorpe Chandler (.273 BA/26 HR/81 RBI) and 2B Julio Canseco (.269 BA/19 HR/81 RBI). Good performances by Boyce and Lopes on the hill and by the Zorro hitters could pull a big surprise in the Suns series.

Prediction: Arroyo Grande has too much firepower... the Suns will win in six... Zamora, Matthews and Patrick should be able to put down the Z's offense.

This looks like it will be an intriguing Pro Cup. Looking forward to following it. Which team has had the better history between Elnora and South Fork?

If you mean each club's history... they are pretty even record-wise... but South Fork has won 3 Pro Cups (2025, 2042, 2073) in 11 playoffs... Elnora only 1 (2033) in 13 playoffs..

South Fork overall won-lost record is 6032-5826 (.509 pct.)
Elnora overall won-lost record is 6036-5818 (.509 pct.)

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. Their overall won-loss records are virtually identical. I'd like to see Elnora end their long Pro Cup drought, so I'll root for the Clippers.

I'm more familiar with the South Fork players All-Star SS Carroll Ezzell, CF Carroll Coxe and pitcher Mick Flanders... Ezzell is a 4-time All-Star and won the RU Golden Bat and RU Most Valuable Player Award in 2073, the year the Stallions won the IPA Pro Cup... Flanders is a 3-time All-Star and won the RU Golden Arm Award in 2072.

Elnora is not as familiar to me... I do like 2-time All-Star 3B Ronald Bayless, All-Star catcher Jorgy Jorgensen and hurlers Javis Packham and Hamilton Burger.. Bayless topped the Ruthlandian Union with a .374 BA this year.

EC is a sentimental sort... always like Bobby Ewing on Dallas, and of course, beautiful Pam Barnes... also had a crush on Bobby's niece Lucy... also like current South Fork stars Carroll Ezzell and Carroll Coxe... also have always followed Jay Murphy as a pitcher and skipper of the Stallions.

So I will probably pull for South Fork, even though they have won the Pro Cup 3 times before to Elnora's one long trophy.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

Monday, October 23, 2073

SOUTH FORK'S MEISNER ACCLAIMED MVP IN 2073 IPA PLAYOFFS
So many South Fork players deserved credit for winning the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy... it's really and truly was a team effort, but only one player really stood out... that was 37-year-old superstar pitcher Mark Meisner... the 17-year veteran was acclaimed the top performer in the 2073 IPA Pro Cup playoffs by The Islandian Times in a poll of the major sportswriters and broadcasters across the Islands... it was a special award coming in the twilight of his great career... he may be nearing retirement, but Meisner is still King of the Hill... he strutted his stuff again this year... Meisner outpolled his teammates and pitching cohorts Ramsey Crowe and Slinger Sowers as well as position players Mal Galbreath, Charlie Hayden and Jarrod Logan for the best postseason player honor.

Meisner posted 3 important victories in the postseason and lost only one game with a 1.93 ERA in 5 starts... he beat Turon 5-1 in round one and topped White River twice in round two, 4-1 and 3-1... his only defeat came as the hands of Turon 2-1.

Crowe was big part of the South Fork Pro Cup run... he made 5 relief appearances in the playoffs with a 2-0 mark and a 1.46 ERA in 12 innings of pitching... Sowers also played a vital role, too... he came on in relief 4 times, worked 8 innings and did not allow a run... no one batter stood out in the postseason... it really was a team effort... in 12 games left fielder Mal Galbreath led the club with 16 hits and a .320 BA, drove in 5 runs and scored 8 times... center fielder Charlie Hayden contributed 13 hits for a .310 BA with 4 ribbies and 4 runs... and catcher Jarrod Logan swatted 13 hits, batted .295 and had 7 RBIs and scored 5 runs.

Mark Meisner spent his first 14 seasons with the Claxton Diamonds in the Ruthlandian Union... he led them to an upset win in the 2064 Pro Cup Series when Claxton eclipsed powerhouse Rolling Hills in 7 games... the Diamonds also forced the Racers to 7 games before losing in the 2069 Pro Cup Series... Meisner came to South Fork in a trade in 2071... he had a solid season this year with a 16-9 record and a 3.31 ERA... lifetime Meisner is 202-93 with a splendid 2.57 ERA... he should be a shoo-in for the IPA Hall of Fame.

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Sunday, October 31, 2077

SOUTH FORK WINS 6TH STRAIGHT AT HOME IN POSTSEASON
Using the homefield advantage the South Fork Stallions claimed their 6th straight victory in the friendly confines of Jock Ewing Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the opening game of the 2077 IPA Pro Cup Series... the Stallions
rallied past the Elnora Clippers 4-3 to go up 1-0 in the best-of-seven series.

2077 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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2077 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 1
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Just want to let all of you know that many of the IPA teams will be updated as for as logos in the 2078 season.

hurricanekevin, a gifted logo creator, is updating them for me.

You can follow the thread on the OOTP Mods Forum and see his wonderful work.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=345721

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Monday, October 31, 2077

SOUTH FORK OUTDUELS ELNORA IN ANOTHER ONE-RUN GAME, STALLIONS TAKE 2-0 LEAD OVER PUNCHLESS CLIPPERS
So far in the opening two games of the Pro Cup Series the South Fork hurlers have put the damper on the Elnora bats and won two tight one-run thrillers... the Stallions staff have held down the Elnora offense... in game two
South Fork won a 2-1 squeaker at home.. the Stallions have not lost a postseason game at home... they are 7-0... Elnora likes its homefield, too... they are a spotless 5-0 at home in the playoffs... they will host the next 3
games, if needed, at State Fair Park.

2077 IPA Pro Cup Series Stars of the Day
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