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Tuesday, October 26, 2088

BP MUSKIES AND SUMMERLAND UP 3-2 ON FC FIREBIRDS AND OZARKA IN IPA UNION TITLE SERIES
Lots of difference in the offensive-minded Ruthlandian Union postseason games compared to the pitching-dominated Tycobbian Union playoff games. In pivotal games Belle Plaine plastered Forest City 7-4 in the TU Title Series and Summerland skimmed by Ozarka 3-2 in the Ruthlandian Union. That lifts both the Musketeers and Sunsets up into the driver's seat in the best-of-seven series with a three games to two edge.

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HOST MUSKIES NABS CRITICAL GAME 5 FOR LEAD IN RU TITLE SERIES
Playing pivotal game five at home at Musketeer Field, Belle Plaine zapped the Forest City Firebirds for 12 hits in a 7-4 victory to gain a three games to two lead in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series. Musketeer shortstop Jean-Paul Lacombe (.455/6 HR/16 RBI) continued to sizzle in the postseason, rapping out 2 hits and driving in 3 runs. Lacombe has lashed 6 homers in the playoffs so far. He could be headed for IPA postseason marks in homers and RBIs. Lacombe had plenty of help from Olav Frandsen (.250) and Claude Mayeux (.395/2 HR/9 RBI) with 3 hits each, plus a pair of hits from Luc Barbier (.289/1 HR/5 RBI). Even the pitching was fairly good. Allie Tuthill (2-1/4.34 ERA) tossed 7 and one-third frames and held the big bad bats of the Firebirds to 4 runs, but he was tagged for 10 hits. Dependable closer Johnny Koonce (2-0/0.00 ERA/2 saves/6 games) again did his job, stopping Forest City one hit and not allowing a run over the last 5 outs. Shannon Slate's playoff woes continued. The 19-game winner is now 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA this playoff season. Belle Plaine banged him around for 5 runs and 9 hits in his 6 innings. Slate (.400) was the Firebirds' best bat with his solo homer.

Forest City has the homefield advantage. With their backs to the wall, the Firebirds will have to take both games at Riverside Stadium Wednesday and Thursday afternoon to keep their hopes alive for the IPA Pro Cup Trophy. The teams get a day off for travel on Tuesday.

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SUNSETS VANDERZEE AGAIN OUTDUELS NATS ACE CHAUCER FOR 3-2 ADVANTAGE IN TU TITLE SERIES.
Summerland's Joren Vanderzee blanked Ozarka and Miles Chaucer in the opening game of the TU Title Series and his mastery continued in game five with a 3-2 decision. That put the Sunsets in front three games to two and just one victory away from the IPA Pro Cup Finals. Vanderzee (3-0/1.67 ERA) threw 8-hit ball, fanned 6 batters and only allowed one base on balls, while going the route. Chaucer (2-2/1.59 ERA) also fired a complete game, permitting 3 runs on 7 hits with 5 Ks and just one walk.

In the bottom of the 6th frame Guus Lutjens (.286/2 HR/6 RBI) broke the scoreless stalemate and swatted a two-run roundtripper, scoring Norris Chance (.385/2 RBI), who was hit by a pitch. The same two combined for the third score in the 8th on a Chance double and a Lutjens base hit. Ozarka's Ernie Packenham (.424/1 HR/8 RBI) made it close with a 2-run shot in the top of the 9th. Vanderzee kept his composure and got the final two outs to put the Naturals away in game five.

After a day off for travel the last two games of the best-of-seven series will be fought on Ozarka's home grounds at Ellie Ewing Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, if necessary.

This is one of the toughest playoffs I've ever seen to find a team to root for! Hopefully one day my Kilkenny Cats can make it to the mountain top... Until then, I think I'd like to see Belle Plaine pull this one off.

Agree with you care4ameatball.

All of these teams deserve a Pro Cup Trophy for years of frustration and failure.

Maybe I'll putl for Summerland, Belle Plaine and Ozarka....they have never won a Pro Cup... Forest City has one Pro Cup Trophy.

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Thursday, October 28, 2088

2088 IPA PRO CUP FINALS: UNHERALDED BELLE PLAINE VS UNSUNG SUMMERLAND
It's the Year of the Unsung And Unheraldes Underdogs in the IPA Pro Cup Finals -- The two lowest-rated clubs, the least likely to succeed, #7 Belle Plaine going up against #8 Summerland. One thing for sure -- somebody will be overjoyed and will be celebrating their very first Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy this year. It will be the Belle Plaine Musketeers tangling with the Summerland Sunsets in a big battle of bats and hurlers. The Muskies have the offense and the Sunsets have the pitching.

In the Ruthlandian Union Title Series 7th-rated Belle Plaine upset the highest-ranked club left in the postseason, the high-powered and 2nd-ranked Forest City Firebirds. The Musketeers flexed their muscles with 9 roundtrippers in the series and tripped up the Firebirds four games to two to advance to the IPA Pro Cup Finals opposed by the Summerland Sunsets. Longball power also played a part in Tycobbian Union Title Series. The #8 Sunsets sent 7 baseball soaring out of the park in their victory over the #6 Ozarka Naturals also in a 6-game series.

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MUSKETEERS MAUL FIREBIRDS IN 6TH-GAME FINALE
Belle Plaine was an easy 8-1 victor in game six on the road in Forest City, paced by Jace De Grom's (.238/2 HR/8 RBI) 3-run blast and a 2-run shot by Anthony Taliaferro (.227/1/4 RBI). Dominque Roche (.341/5 RBI) added 3 hits, 2 runs and an RBI. They backed up solid pitching by starter Marcel Giroud (3-0/1.71 ERA) and his relief Johnny Koonce (2-0/0.00 ERA/2 saves/7 games/9 IP) and Sal Armani (0-0/1.69 ERA/2 games/5 IP). Giroud worked 6 and two-thirds innings and held the Firebirds to one run on 5 hits. He gave the Musketeers a 5-1 lead. The two relievers shut out Forest City the last 2 frames. Tony Benedetti (.246/1 HR/5 RBI) topped the Firebirds with 3 for 5 including a solo homer. The Musketeers outhit them 9 to 6. Forest City ace Matty O'Mara (5-1/3.31 ERA) sustained his first loss in the playoffs. He was hammered hard by the Muskies for 5 runs in 7 innings.

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SUNSETS BOOM 4 OUT OF THE PARK TO ADVANCE TO IPA PRO CUP FINALS
Game six in Ozarka was another fight-to-the-finish. The visiting Summerland Sunsets socked 4 home runs to finish off the Ozarka Naturals 4-3 and take the series four games to two. In the throes of a horrible postseason slump Hennie Hendriks (.074/1 HR/1 RBI) went deep in the top of the 9th to eliminated the Nats. In addition Norris Chance (.386/2 HR/4 RBI) slammed 2 roundtrippers and Guus Lutjens (.282/3 HR/7 RBI) clubbed another one. Summerland got solid mound work from starter Cees De Groot, who limited Ozarka to 2 runs in his 6 and one-third innings. He was still in front 3-2 when he exited. The Naturals popped 15 hits in all, but stranded 12 critical baserunners. Mickey Houlihan had a perfect 5-for-5 day at the plate. Tommy Kingston, Rikki Inkamara and Banger Barnhill all knocked 2 hits each, but to no avail. Kingston, Barnhill and Houlihan batted in the Nats runs. Ron Passman (1-0/2.52 ERA/3 starts) went the first 7 frames, gave up 3 runs on 6 hits with 7 Ks and 2 walks. The defeat went to closer Sarge Chester (2-1/3.60 ERA/4 games/5 IP).

After a two-day layout the IPA Pro Cup Series will get started in Belle Plaine at Musketeer Field on Saturday afternoon. The Musketeers (90-64) will have the homefield advantage over the Summerland Sunsets (88-66).
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Friday, October 29, 2088

2088 IPA PRO CUP PREVIEW AND PREDICTION -- SUNSETS SLIGHTLY FAVORED
Neither #7, nor #8 Summerland were expected to make it to the Pro Cup Series, but here they are, alive and kicking and raring to reap their first Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy. Almost 9 decades of baseball decadence will come to an end for Belle Plaine or Summerland. It will all come down to this. If the Musketeers just hit well and nothing else, they will not win. If the Sunsets just pitch well and nothing else, they will not win. It's the well-balanced team that usually wins the Pro Cup. It is rare for a team just to hit its way to the overall IPA crown and it's rare for a team to just pitch its way to the coveted prize.

Summerland is a slim, slight and slender favorite to capture its first-ever Pro Cup Trophy. The Sunsets are talented with 4 All-Stars on the club. They have the superior pitching and just might be able to put just enough runs on the scoreboard to prevail over the Belle Plaine Musketeers. The Sunsets have a bunch of pesky bats. It won't be easy. It probably will extend to 7 games. The Muskies have the homefield advantage, which in a tight series might be the difference maker. Looking back at the results in the postseason this year, it hasn't been much of an advantage. So far, 5 of the 6 series winners did not have the homefield edge.

Summerland skipper Jayson Hallstrom will have to continue to get the dynamite mound work to win and find a way to muster up enough runs to win a game. All-Star Paul Pegram (20-7/2.64 ERA), Joren Vanderzee (18-11/2.75 ERA) and Cees De Groot (14-12/2.59 ERA) will be the 3 starters. They have been 6-0 in 10 starts with a superb 0.48 ERA in 65 innings. Prime relievers will be long man Daishi Miyamoto (13-10/3.99 ERA), short man Jaime Osorio (4-2/3.03 ERA/3 saves/44 games) and closer Rik Boone (2-8/3.13 ERA/20 saves/62 games). The bullpen has been effective in the playoffs, too.

The best bats are All-Star 3B Guus Lutjens (.303/27 HR/125 RBI/89 R), All-Star RF Norris Chance (.316/14 HR/70 RBI/87 R), All-Star catcher Hennie Hendriks (.289/13 HR/46 RBI/100 R) and LF Bruce Quarterman (.276/19 HR/80 RBI/74 R).

Belle Plaine's strength lies in its high-powered attack, propelled by All-Star shortstop Jean-Paul Lacombe (.318/35 HR/107 RBI/103 R) and a bunch of solid threats like right fielder Dominque Roche (.279 BA/23 HR/96 RBI/72 R), third baseman Claude Mayeux (.261/16 HR/66 RBI/98 R/25 SB), left fielder Callum Hayford (.273/23 HR/92 RBI/89 R), 3B Jace De Grom (.283/21 HR/80 RBI/70 R) and center fielder Anthony Taliaferro (.274/17 HR/68 RBI/98 R/19 SB).

The Musketeers manager Eliot Marcum will just need good performances from its trio of starters Anton Petit (17-10/2.84 ERA), Allie Tuthill (14-13/3.07 ERA) and Marcel Giroud (11-10/3.65 ERA). Only Giroud (3-0/1.71 ERA) has done well in the postseason. He will get the assignment in the opening game. Petit and Tuthill have been inconsistent and shaky in the postseason. Still together they are 3-3 with 5.00 ERAs in 8 playoff starts between them. Half the time they did fairly well and produced a victory.

Both of the IPA Pro Cup finalists are led by successful and talented managers. One was a great pitcher and one was a standout hitter. Summerland's Jayson Hallstrom is a Hall of Fame hurler with a standout 368-274 mark and a very impressive career 2.65 ERA. He was inducted in 2061 after a 20-year career. Hallstrom has been at the helm of the Sunsets since 2061. He retired as player in 2057 at age 40. Hallstrom was a 7-time All-Star and 9-time 20-game winner for just a fair to middling ballclub. Summerland has captured 2 pennants during Hallstrom's managerial regime. At age 39 he won 20 games. In his final year he posted a 16-8 record with a 3.38 ERA with an average 4th-place team.

Belle Plaine's Eliot Marcum also had a fine IPA career from 2058 to 2069. He was a 3-time All-Star outfielder and twice the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award in 2063 and 2064. Marcum has guided the Muskies since 2076. He has produced 3 pennants in the last 5 seasons. Lifetime Marcum played 11 seasons and retired early at age 32 while still a viable and productive player. He batted .299 with 396 roundtrippers, 1204 RBIs and scored 1167 runs. As a player, Marcum had no help. Belle Plaine only had one winning season in his 12-year career. The Musketeers finished over .500 only in his final season -- and just barely -- 78-76.

2088 IPA Pro Cup Series Prediction:
Really it is just too close to call. I flipped a coin and chose Summerland because of their great pitching and adequate offense. I think the Sunsets staff will slow down the big Belle Plaine bats just enough for them to eke out a win the Pro Cup in 7 games and win their first-ever Pro Cup Trophy after almost 90 years of frustration. Having said that, Belle Plaine could easily win their very first Pro Cup.

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