THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian North Final Standings

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian North Final Recap

Zorros Zip To TU North Title
The pennant race in the Tycobbian North was only close for half the season. The Luxora Zorros took charge after the All-Star game and won the division handily by a whopping 13 games over the Fairfax Frogs, 16 better than the defending Pro Cup champion Blue Lake Blue Sox and 20 up on the Mahaska Haymakers. The second-half surge gave the Zorros the most wins in the TU. Luxora notched 96 victories, which was second to Valmara of the RU North, who paced the IPA with 99 wins. The Z's won their 8th division title and the first since 2022.

Strong pitching put Luxora (96-58) over the top this season... Manager Lacey Tompkins' hurlers compiled an impressive 3.08 team ERA (5th)... the Zorros finished second last year to Blue Lake in the TU North... good hitting in the second half of the season combined with the fine pitching to run away with the division... The Z's batted .256 (20th) with 138 home runs (12th) and ranked 11th in scoring runs... two 20-game twirlers Benny DeVito (22-14/2.29) and Fabio Medeiros (22-6/2.76) sparked the club... plus Valente Viero (16-15/2.76) and Tommy Ellefsen (13-7/3.83) were capable in the three and four spots in the rotation... relievers Kent Halloran (11-6/2.84/18 saves) and Toby White (6-3/1.98/13 saves) aided the cause, too... leading the Luxora attack were 1B Gerry Hathaway (.304/27/97/86), RF Roger Noble (.295/27/81/65), LF Carl Denton (.280/26/78/70) and CF Kevin Hanley (.283/15/
64/97)... the Zorros are expected to make some noise in the Pro Cup playoffs this year... Tompkins' team is clicking on all cylinders and ready to roll in the postseason.

A bad August took the Fairfax Frogs (83-71) out of the race... skipper Dane Wesner just didn't have the pitching to compete with Luxora, but he had some good bats... the Frogs batted .281 (2nd), scored well (4th) and had decent firepower with 111 roundtrippers (18th-tied)... but they were bad on the hill with a 3.95 team ERA (27th)... only Ricky Woods (19-16/3.43) and Joey Santini (15-15/3.52) had under 4.00 ERAs among the starters... Fairfax had two solid relievers in Lynwood Marshall (4-2/2.57/17 saves) and Manny Hunsinger (5-3/1.99/7 saves)... the bats were better with LF Max Leibowitz (.295/23/87/101), SS John Velasco (.326/15/87/82), CF Eric Kusek (.327/8/79/99) and 1B Ramon Escabedo (.287/18/81/73).

The third-place Blue Lake Blue Sox (80-74) fizzled badly the last two months of the season and will not get a chance to defend their Pro Cup title... poor hitting and offense were the culprits... Rick Hilliard's Blue Sox batted only .244 (30th), hit only 95 homers (29th-tied) and scored only 599 runs (28th)... however Blue Lake was something else on the mound with a super 2.82 team ERA (1st)... the guys that carried them to the Pro Cup title last year still did their jobs... Billy Trakas (15-14/2.68), Willie Taskins (18-16/2.72), Derek Joubert (17-14/2.82) and Chris Landry (12-11/3.26) were a formidable foursome... but the hitters were pathetic... only LF Boom-Boom Baker (.275/21/77/83), 3B Matt Thompson (.282/10/79/56) and Chris Halley (.292/5/44/72) had fair years... the rest of the regulars were of little use... not one single player had a strong season at the plate.

The fourth-place Mahaska Haymakers (76-78) made some strides this season, moving up from seventh place... Rusty Tanussa's Haymakers wound up 20 games off the pace... Mahaska's mound corps registered a fine 3.37 team ERA (11th) and especially stood out in the bullpen with a 2.65 ERA (4th)... Tanussa's top arms were Paco Morales (15-13/3.03), Maxim Petrosian (11-6/3.03) and James Allington (13-17/3.29)... Arno Vainmaa (11-5/3.20/3 saves) did well, too, splitting time between starting and relieving... closer Viktor Stravinsky (4-3/1.54/20 saves) stood out in the pen... though the Haymakers hit for a .264 BA (9th), they were light on power with 117 home runs (17th) and mediocre in scoring (23rd)... Mahaska was led at-bat by CF Pasha Yablonski (.335/5/53/119), RF Travis Tuttle (.306/27/87/69) and LF Johnny Yevtushenko (.292/17/79/55).

The Oxford Red Caps (73-81) and North Hills Hawks tied for fifth in the TU North standings and trailed winning Luxora by 23 games... Cameron Kamara's Oxford club hasn't been to the Pro Cup playoffs in 27 years, though the Red Caps made the postseason 5 times in the first 6 seasons of the IPA... they even won 4 pennants and a Pro Cup in 2007... Oxford has nothing to show for the rest of the years... they hit OK with a .264 BA (10th), scored well with 678 runs (12th), but ranked 22nd with a 3.68 ERA... Mario Lopez (18-14/3.38) is the only quality starter with a winning record... however LF Dennis Hartwig (.311/24/89/94) and 1B Kelly Sterling (.300/32/98/79) are standout hitters... 29-year-old Hartwig is a career .319 batter in his 9 IPA seasons, while 27-year-old Sterling has slammed 210 homers in his 6 years in the league.

The North Hills Hawks (73-81) last won the TU North in 2016 and have only two pennants in the team's history... manager Todd Simons has a modest ball club with a .256 BA (19th) and a 3.59 ERA (17th).... Sam Tate (20-17/2.96) and David Michael (16-9/3.19) are the staff aces... the 36-year-old Tate is 259-194 in his 16 seasons... he has posted a fine 3.02 career ERA... the Hawks have no standout sticks in the batting order... the best ones are just a little better-than-average hitters, led by CF Ronnie Guillaume (.294/16/69/76), 1B Bubby Harris (.301/10/67/52) and C Mikhail Romanovsky (.283/8/62/66).

After winning the pennant in 2029 the Hartsdale Hellcats (71-83) have slipped to 6th and 7th in the standings the last two seasons... the lackluster Hellcats batted .251 (23rd) this year and chalked up a 4.00 ERA (28th)... skipper Kendry Moulton doesn't have much to brag about... his top pitchers are 24-year-old Hank Cooke (9-5/2.44), who showed some great promise this year, and 25-year-old vet Lou Chylak (15-13/3.37)... 12-year vet 1B Johnny Scott (.295/25/96/87) is the only credible threat in the line-up... Scott at age 33 is a career .299 batter with 280 roundtrippers.

For the third season in a row the White River Rascals (66-88) have come in dead last in the Tycobbian North under renowned manager Mick Cronyn... the Rascals are the worst offensive club in the IPA with a .235 BA and rank last in scoring (32nd)... but on the hill they are pretty solid with a 3.40 team ERA (12th)... starter Davey Johnston (18-15/2.94) and closer Johnny Duncan (11-5/2.50/14 saves) are Cronyn's best pitchers, while rookie 1B Allan Ferris (.303/9/49/36) is his only credible batter.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian North Final Standings

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian South Final Recap

Ginza Grabs TU South In 3-Team Race
2031 was not a good year for the teams in the Tycobbian South. Only 3 of the them ended up winning records. Down the stretch it was a 3-team battle with the Ginza Ninjas edging out the Southport Sun Sox by a single game and the Colchester Elites by 3 games. Fourth place went to the Turon Typhoons and Summerland Sunsets, who each trailed by 8 games. The race wasn't decided until the last day of the season. Southport could have forced a playoff if they had won the last day.

Division champ Ginza (82-72) bounced back from a fifth-place 2030 season to take the crown... manager Huroko Uchiyama used home-run power primarily... his Ninjas cracked 169 roundtrippers (6th) and ranked fifth in runs with a .265 BA (8th)... pitching-wise Ginza was not impressive with a 3.83 team ERA (23rd)... the Ninjas featured a solid core of hitters with 1B Roger Lanier (.308/34/95/96), CF Cotton Cornwall (.278/31/108/97), 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.274/31/103/82) and LF Sadaharu Utchiyama (.305/15/72/93)... Lanier came to the Ninjas in June in a trade with St. John of the RU South... Ginza's pitching was suspect... Uchiyama's top starters were Harlan Wilson (18-12/4.19) and Andrei Schuler (16-15/3.66).

The Southport Sun Sox (81-73) continued their winning ways for the 12th time in 13 years with a second-place finish... like Ginza manager Charley Oscar depended on the longball... his Sun Sox slapped 185 (2nd) out of the park, while batting .260 and ranking 8th in runs... not so hot on the hill though with a 3.91 team ERA (26th)... IPA superstar RF Lorne Evans (.307/49/109/119) continued his yearly assault on pitchers as he topped the IPA in homers... a critical loss was CF Rick Cabrini (.336/7/37/52), who missed a third of the season with injury, going out in August... other run producers were 3B Ronny Frick (.292/19/74/66) and C Luis Alvarado (.285/25/64/83)... ace Don Pascioni (23-11/2.87) was the only sure bet on hill.

For the sixth season in succession the Colchester Elites (79-75) contended for the pennant, finally winding up in third place, losing out by just 3 games... the last postseason appearance was in 2007... Colchester only batted .250 (24th), but hit 144 homers (11th)... the Elites were only average in runs scored (17th) and in pitching with a 3.54 ERA (14th)... no regular hit above the .273 mark... the only dependabe bats were CF Jim Lewellan (.273/43/106/102) and RF Cleve Belton (.271/31/84/82)... on the hill Mackie McGinnity (19-13/3.06) and Dave Lacoste (17-14/2.86) stood out.

The Turon Typhoons (74-80) wiped out six years of second-division finishes with fourth place this season, but they still didn't have a winning record... skipper Alan Hansen still hasn't restored the magic of the past, when Turon was the dominant team in the IPA... in its history Turon has won 4 Pro Cups in 6 tries, claimed 11 pennants and played in 13 playoffs... the Typhoons tied with Summerland for the fourth spot... they were 8 games off the pace... the team dropped out of contention after mid-season... Turon hit well with a .267 BA, but were short on power with only 93 home runs (31st), while ranking 7th in scoring... the mound staff was less than average with 3.63 team ERA (20th)... James Newland (19-12/2.72) and Victor Suarez (15-17/3.18) were the best Hansen had in his rotation... 1B Michael Page (.285/26/96/69) was Turon's only heavy hitter... the 29-year-old vet is a career .301 batter with almost 300 homers in his 10 years with the club... other standouts were SS Fred Bird (.322/2/51/102) and CF Edwin Asher (.285/5/53/92).

The fourth-place Summerland Sunsets (74-80) have had little success in the IPA... manager Will Hackett has only made the playoff one time in the team's history... that was in 2005... the Sunsets have never won a pennant... in the early days of the IPA the league had wild cards... Hackett has solid pitching with a 3.21 team ERA, led by Scotty Ellison (13-12/2.74), Freddi Rossi (13-9/2.99) and Clive Coxford (14-14/3.05)... they just need some run support to compete with the teams ahead of them... star 1B Mandu Purula (.352/23/86/72) is an outstanding hitter with a lifetime .319 average in 12 seasons, but the 32-year-old vet has little help... the best of the rest are SS Jay Hagedorn (.317/5/40/68) and RF Stefan Noon (.246/19/81/72).

After a great division-winning rejuvenation year in 2030 the Cape Coral Hurricanes (73-81) had the wind taken out of their sails, were blown away this season and sank to sixth place, trailing by 9 games... the pitching staff and free agency losses let manager Flipper Bird down... 23-winner Randy Burns unexpectly fell to 5-12 with a sky-high 4.46 ERA... just an average year by Burns would have put the 'Canes in contention... Burns is normally good for 13 wins... the other starters held their own: Kris Bogaard (18-15/2.95), Izaak Booten (14-13/3.44) and Mike Rinaldi (9-7/3.09)... closer Curt Garrett (5-4/1.72/23 saves) enjoyed a fine year in the bullpen... Bird lost several fine players to free agency: C Tonio Libertore (.275/3/58/63) to Ancona of the RU North and RF Carl Denton (.280/26/78/70) to Luxora of the TU North... CF Dan Isenberg (.245/21/81/85) was the most productive returnee, but hit only .245 for average... 1B Sandy Coburn (.293/1/47/68) and RF Jan Krammer (.284/12/53/53) only had modest seasons.

The seventh-place San Alejo Montaneros (66-88) continued on the woeful path that they have trudged for 29 consecutive years... the Monties haven't made the postseason since 2003... San Alejo was a powerhouse in its first two IPA seasons as they won the pennant both years and racked up almost 100 victories in each of them... but it's been zilch since... things began to look good after they came in fourth last year with a fine 84-70 mark... but that didn't last long... San Alejo went right back to the bottom of the division, 16 games behind winning Ginza... skipper Alberto Herrera had a pretty good offense with a .271 BA (5th), ranked 10th in scoring and had good power with 134 home runs (14th), but not much in the way of pitching... the team ERA was a lofty 3.90 (25th)... Roland Oates (16-16/3.86) was the only decent starter, while closer Herb Stewart (7-2/2.08/21 saves) had an excellent season... the Monties were sparked at the plate by LF Orlando Ybarra (.310/18/92/82), 1B Rob Lewis (.328/23/76/59) and 2B Christo Columbo (.293/14/48/88).

The golden years for the Arroyo Grande Suns (64-90) were 2020 to 2024 when the club captured four division flags in five seasons... for the last four years the Suns have been deep in the second division, finishing last three times... manager Cyclone Cobb's club came in last this year, 18 games back... Arroyo Grande posted a poor .238 BA (31st), but can score fairly well... the Suns hit 182 homers (3rd) and ranked 16th in scoring runs... on the mound they compiled a poor 4.05 ERA (30th)... super slugger 1B Rusty Vizcarra (.258/29/100/63) is still a threat at age 32... Vizcarra is a career .284 hitter with 400 homers and 1234 RBIs... LF Rod Jacobs (.254/28/58/90) can also go deep... the top averages belong to CF Robbie Kiner (.287/5/49/75) and RF Steve Stroud (.295/14/57/71)... SS Valerio Cortes (.217/24/71/59), C Fank Jourdan (.258/20/70/52) and 2B Kenny Cable (.216/20/63/57) all can go long, but don't hit for average... longtime ace Cesar De Leon is still around at age 37 and holding his own with a 16-21 mark and a good 3.20 ERA, especially in the small confines of Capet Stadium... after 11 years De Leon is 178-153, third most wins in a Suns uniform.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian North Final Standings

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian East Final Recap

EP Panthers TU East Champs
For only the second time in its history East Point has won the Tycobbian East. The first time it happened was 23 years ago in 2008. The Panthers parlayed powerful pitching, home-run punch and good scoring to subdue the high-scoring Red Bluff Red Sox by 4 games and the South Fork Stallions by 7 games. Red Bluff couldn't keep pace with the Panthers in September and dropped back to second place. The Stallions faltered in August and September. East Point had an 8-game margin over fourth-place Tuckanarra. The Panthers will contend with Rolling Hills and Luxora for the TU title and the right to play for the IPA Pro Cup against the Ruthlandian Union champion. The Tycobbian Union looks like a 3-team tussle with Ginza of the TU South not likely to be much of a contender. Last year's pennant winner Ozarka, struggled in the cellar in the first half of the season and could only climb up to fifth place by season's end. The Naturals were 9 games behind in the race.

Manager Karol Zodoka has the East Point Panthers (89-65) revved up and ready to go in the Pro Cup playoffs, which starts up in three days... the Panthers scored 696 runs (9th), and socked 175 home runs (4th), but only batted .253 (22nd), while chalking up an impressive 3.05 team ERA (3rd)... Zodoka had 5 starters at various times during the season... heading up the rotation was Dixie Brooks (21-15/2.53), Frank Blair (17-16/3.11), Jack Bolden (8-5/3.07/12 saves), Stephen Edwards (15-8/3.11/11 saves) and Joe Foley (7-3/2.88)... Foley missed a year and came back in July to help fend off Red Bluff... Bolden and Edwards did double duty as starters and closers during the season... at the plate the Panthers were led by power-hitters 1B Tetsu Tanaka (.263/39/106/102) and CF Kenko Aoki (.275/35/89/87) with help from LF Wally Wright (.305/9/65/73).

It's been a while since the Red Bluff Red Sox (85-69) won a pennant... you have to go back to the early days of the IPA when the Red Sox were a strong force with 3 pennants and a Pro Cup trophy... that was back in the years 2002 to 2009... manager Jim Schubert almost pulled it off, but his club slumped in September and fell to second place after being neck-to-neck with East Point the entire season... stronger pitching would have done it for the Red Sox... they ranked only 21st with a 3.64 ERA, but put up some good offensive numbers with 203 roundtrippers (1st) and 771 runs (2nd), while hitting .257 (17th)... 9 Red Sox had 10 or more homers... top batters were 2B Leander Burks (.270/30/91/86), 1B Garris Aiken (.265/29/82/87), CF Ronnie Roussell (.304/22/78/57), SS Roland Campbell (.264/19/84/90) and CF Billy Barton (.311/12/49/94)... top hurlers were Tony Defazio (21-14/3.30), Terry Johnson (14-11/3/23) and Trini Corona (16-16/3.66)... one big shortcoming was the Red Bluff bullpen, which was not effective with a 4.12 ERA (29th).

The South Fork Stallions (82-72) wound up 7 games off the pace in third place... skipper DeRoche "Lips" Leon had some top-notch pitchers, but not enough offense... the Stallions registered a fine 3.06 ERA (4th), but batted only .249 (25th) and ranked only 25th in scoring, despite good power with 153 homers (9th)... Leon's prime starters were Duncan Welch (16-14/2.96) and Swifty Swift (15-10/3.35) with help from Gary Price (6-6/1.98)... in his 15 years Welch is 295-199 with a superb 2.58 ERA... excelling in the bullpen were Al Thompson (7-6/1.55/17 saves) and rookie Christopher Ewing (6-3/1.86/3 saves)... the Stallions lost their main stud RF Leon Bourque (.321/12/46/41) for the season in August... otherwise the South Fork's bats were disappointing... only newcomer CF Teddy Szymanski (.302/18/71/61) had good numbers... Szymanski came over in a trade with Valmara of the RU North... however 1B Dean Woods (.229/23/58/53), RF Patric Giles (.260/22/69/62), LF Corbett Brooks (.239/22/64/65) and C Mel Danley (.239/18/66/56) did go deep occasionally.

The longtime power Tuckanarra Blue Jays (81-73) slumped badly during the summer months and came in fourth in the standings... for the ninth year in a row manager Carlton "Lefty" Stevens has piloted his Tucks to a first-division finish... 5 times in the last 9 years the Blue Jays won the TU East flag and captured the IPA Holy Grail, the Pro Cup, in 2023 and 2024... Stevens lost two valuable players for half the season due to injury: his outstanding SS Jed Turchin (.312/10/41/41) and quality righthander Philip Marston (8-8 2.57)... the Blue Jays still had a solid mound staff with 33-year-old Glynn Starr (18-9/2.97), who reclaimed the magic of his first five years with a comeback season after four years of futility... along with his brother Quinn Starr (16-18/3.30) and relievers Matt Stevens (4-4/0.96/11 saves) and Joel Shepard (5-3/1.95/7 saves)... the other triplet sibling 1B Lynn Starr (.288/23/98/84) led the Blue Jays at-bat with support from CF Dusty Rogan (.293/16/99/85), 3B Eddie Darby (.281/9/45/64) and LF Ted Sabonis (.307/3/56/73).

Last year's TU East division winner Ozarka (80-74) slumbered in last place until mid-season and then snapped out of it, but it was too late, the damage has been done... Frank Kiffin's club had too many games to make up... the Nats still had strong pitching with a 3.14 team ERA (6th), but didn't have the scoring power, ranking 19th in runs in spite of a .266 BA (7th)... last season the Nats were 5th in run scoring... Ozarka also ranked near the bottom in homers with only 107 (26th)... Kiffin's top starters were Stan Carey (15-12/2.62), Marty Lane (12-11/3.06) and Denny Mills (15-11/3.27)... last year's 19-game winner Brady Bell slipped to a disappointng 12-18... Carey won 21 games last season, but dipped to 15 wins this year... Ozarka was led at the plate by RF Byron Glenn (.288/28/89/61), 1B George Jenkins (.275/21/73/69), CF Lonnie Gillespie (.310/3/57/83) and SS James Couch (.292/8/58/72).

Manager Cochise Chandler got slightly improved pitching this year from his sixth-place Midway Wolves (76-78), but was still 16 games out and never really in the pennant race... longtime ace Bobby Dorignac (15-15/2.66) is still as good as it gets in the IPA... in 11 seasons Dorignac is 209-134 with a 2.69 ERA... but the rest of the staff is short on talent... overall the Wolves compiled a 3.84 ERA (24th)... not too stong at the plate, either, with a .256 BA (18th), ranking 24th in scoring and 13th in homers with 136... 1B Jake Welsh (.290/30/88/67) and CF Lanky Mako (.277/11/64/88) were the best of the batters.

There hasn't been much success in the IPA for the High Mesa Cowboys (71-83) in the team's 30-year history... right off the bat the Cowpokes loomed large, winning the Pro Cup in the first season in 2002 and making the playoffs again in 2003... but since then High Mesa has not made the postseason, coming close only one time when the Cowboys were 95-59 and missed the pennant by one game... High Mesa was 18 games behind this season and came in seventh under Rolf Kellgren... ironically, the Cowboys stood out on the mound for a change, rather than being a high-powered offense... the pitching staff set a club record with a 3.30 team ERA (10th), which is unprecedented because of the small band box the team plays in... Queen Ranch Stadium has always been a homer haven with its short 306-foot dimensions in right and 312 in left... the power alleys are only 350 or so... Emil Kaltenborn was unbelievable with an 18-10 mark and a great 2.25 ERA... Kaltenborn led the TU in ERA and was a remarkable 12-4 at home with a 1.91 ERA... Roger Hart chipped in with a 17-15 record and a 3.86 ERA... offensively the Cowboys hit only .248 (27th), ranked 27th in scoring and hit 147 homers (10th)... 3B Freddy Franks (.262/19/67/79) and RF Randy Williams (.259/29/87/57) had the best numbers on the team.

The Hillsboro Blazers (70-84) are one of four clubs in the IPA to never make the postseason playoffs... the Kilkenny Cats and the Fort Benton Defenders of the Ruthlandian Union and the Chicopee Braves of the Tycobbian Union are the other perennial left-outs... this season the Blazers were last in the TU East, 19 games out... the team batted .245 (29th), ranked 26th in runs and collected 133 home runs (15th)... on the hill Hillsboro was average with a 3.62 ERA (19th)... manager Andy Jefferson doesn't have a lot of talent... his best hurlers are Gregg Hughes (12-12/2.26) and Jon French (17-15/3.71)... the best plate performers were 2B Jason DiMucci (.290/10/61/65), RF Bill Kelly (.256/16/83/78) and SS Dandy Meredith (.268/8/35/86).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian North Final Standings

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 22, 2031

2031 Tycobbian West Final Recap

RH Reds Romp In TU West
For the 7th time in 13 years the Rolling Hills Reds have taken the Tycobbian West division crown and they did it by a comfortable 7 games over runner-up Bay St. Clair, 8 games better than Kenwood in third place and by 11 over fourth-place La Claire. The TU West had 5 clubs over the .500 mark, including fifth-place Bayview, who fell 12 games short of the pennant. Bay St. Clair won the title last season.

Matty Christianson's Rolling Hills Reds (91-63) led the IPA with a .290 team batting average and 785 runs... however the Reds were just average in pitching with a 3.57 ERA... Christianson has an abundance of fine bats led by his son 1B Billy Christianson (.336/16/75/133), who easily topped the IPA in runs with 133... RF Scotty Yiska (.306/27/105/89) and CF Terry Wade (.319/6/71/64) also batted .300... C Tony Brinkerhoff drove in 113 runs with 13 roundtrippers and a .262 BA... 2B Derek Kristensen (.297/5/49/76), 3B Jeff Booker (.289/1/64/63) and SS Tony Ptacek (.272/6/37/33) were productive bats, too... part-time regulars 3B Buffy Kowalczyk (.330/6/46/31), LF Lonnie Chadwick (.323/10/42/52), RF Bobby McConnell (.352/2/20/24) and Billy Jones (.301/1/15/19) hit over .300 as well... on the mound Errol Gaudet (21-8/2.75) and Tom Pierson (21-7/2.54) had super seasons... the other two starters Kenny Leonard (10-6/3.79) and Buck Myers (15-12/3.80) had quality seasons, too... closer Maury Cantrell (8-2/2/43/16 saves) was effective in the bullpen... with its high-octane attack and two very capable starters like Gaudet and Pierson, Rolling Hills will be a vibrant challenger in the TU playoffs, along with East Point and Luxora.

The second-place Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (84-70) just didn't have the offense to subdue Rolling Hills and wound up 7 games off the pace... the Buccaneers took the TU West pennant last season, but failed to repeat, mainly due to a lack of offense... the Bucs batted only .254 (21st) and ranked 20th in scoring with 646 runs, but did pound 155 homers (8th)... but manager Denny Coulon possesses a strong core of hurlers with a very impressive 2.94 team ERA (2nd)... his most reliable were Jody Gentry (18-8/2.64) and Carlo Nardini (15-10/3.02) in the starting rotation, while closer Don Sawyer (11-5/1.06/26 saves) had a terrific season... the top Buccaneer run producers were CF Chris Blanton with 33 home runs, 82 RBIs and 82 runs, but hit only .241, RF Neil Lamont with 26 homers, 80 RBIs and 70 runs, while hitting just .230, and 1B Terry Adams cracked 26 roundtrippers, batted in 77 runs and scored 74, but hit just .256... 2B Eddy Hunt was solid at the plate with a .281 mark, 15 homers, 69 RBIs and 79 runs.

Aaron Hankins has a good offensive club in Kenwood (83-71), but lacks pitching... the Wildcats came in third place and trailed winning Rolling Hills by 8 games with a .280 BA (3rd), 758 runs (3rd) and 109 home runs (22nd-tied), while putting up a lofty 4.04 team ERA (29th)... Don Curtiss (21-13/3.54) was the only quality starter... leading the Kenwood attack was 2B Jan Kessinger (.357/1/58/67), who topped the IPA with a .357 BA... other contributors were standout RF Babe Hankins (.287/18/82/86) and CF Alonzo Venacio (.302/11/59/77)... C Crash Davis (.266/7/67/71) and 3B Rodney Harrison (.260/16/69/82) also chipped in.

The La Claire Lynx (80-74) has a much-improved ball club, in spite of the loss of star RF Carroll Candy (.327/12/44/48) in the second half of the season... manager Zeppy Deshotel guided them to a fourth-place finish, up from seventh in 2030... La Claire had two fine starters in Pat Kovacs (19-11/2.26) and Jeff Buttrum (19-11/2.99)... the team posted a quality 3.24 ERA (8th), but was only average at the plate with a .260 BA, 673 runs (14th) and 109 homers (22nd-tied)... dependable 2B Norm Petitjean (.266/21/94/77) was the most prolific bat, along with C Craig Peck (.299/6/51/75), CF Lonny Wright (.249/16/68/84), LF Kelly Chamberlain (.267/11/73/78), SS Jared O'Neal (.278/8/61/67) and 1B Jess Swain (.250/10/72/64).

For the ninth straight season the Bayview Vikings (79-75) missed the first division... Chaucey Quibedeaux's club ended up in fifth place by a scant game... 16 seasons have now come and gone without the Viks making the Pro Cup playoffs... a team 4.19 ERA (31st) is the prime hold-back... Bayview has a fairly good offense with a .263 BA (11th), with 710 runs (6th) and plenty of punch with 168 roundtrippers (7th)... 23-year-old LF Roy Ricks (.329/42/111/105) is a budding superstar... other talented players include 3B Todd Benson (.301/8/52/98) and CF Manny Suarez (.282/28/94/71)... despite a 14-19 record Vern Harstad was impressive with a 2.87 ERA.

The Denton City Redbirds (71-83) hung in the TU West pennant race until mid-year, then faded to sixth and 20 games out... it's been 17 long years since the Redbirds graced the postseason... skipper Trevor Tomlinson doesn't have much to brag about... his team batted only .248 (26th) and ranked 30th in scoring... on the hill his hurlers were average with a 3.62 ERA (18th)... Glenn Hamilton was very effective with a strong 2.49 ERA, but posted a 16-17 record... 2B Keith Ingram (.274/16/74/65) was the only decent bat in the line-up.

The seventh-place Chicopee Braves (68-86) and manager Ivan Burkholder suffered through another losing season as they wound up 23 games behind in the pennant race... the Braves have never made the Pro Cup playoffs in its 30 years of existence... lousy pitching really hurts the team... Chicopee ranks last in the Tycobbian Union with a 4.44 ERA, but has some firepower at the plate... Rick Beasley (12-9/2/61) and closer Matt Reeves (6-7/2.05/27 saves) are Burkholder's only effective pitchers... Reeves was the IPA saves leader with 27... the Braves batted .259 (14th), but went deep 173 times (5th) and ranked 13th with 674 runs... RF Charlie Jensen (.298/43/113/109) was one of the best batters in the IPA this year... and had some help from LF Sakima Shaman (.305/29/83/90) and 2B Kurt Gustavsen (.297/19/61/71).

The Arlon Champions (66-88) were cellar-dwellers this season under skipper Rocco Belasario... the Champs finished 25 games out of the running... it's been 12 years since Arlon was in the playoffs... it's hard to compete with a .246 team BA (28th) and 95 homers (29th-tied)... pitching is just adequate with a 3.58 team ERA (16th)... Frankie Lambert (10-10/3.08) is the best of the starting rotation... RF Carlos Quintana topped the team with 19 homers and 86 RBIs, but batted a pathetic .229... SS Alan Caine had the best batting average at .302 with 43 RBIs and 65 runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 24, 2031

IPA Pro Cup Preview, Vipers Favored
The yearly quest for the IPA Pro Cup begins tomorrow with a pair of opening round games in the Ruthlandian Union featuring San Dimas and Valmara in one Elite 8 matchup and Sligo and Elnora in the other. In Tycobbia it will be Rolling Hills hosting East Point and Luxora taking on Ginza. Baseball analysts are picking Valmara to win the RU, while it's a toss-up in the TU among Luxora and Rolling Hills. The pundits are giving the edge to the Vipers in the Pro Cup Finals. All series will be best-of-seven games.

Valmara is expected to make another serious run for the Pro Cup crown... they won it in 2026 and were finalists last year and in 2023... the defending Pro Cup champion Blue Lake Blue Sox failed to make the playoff this season... for the sixth year in succession Jet Kazmarek's club is the RU North winner... Valmara (99-55) coupled great pitching and solid hitting to lead all comers in the IPA with 99 victories... the Vipers batted .275 as a team, ranked fourth in scoring and paced the IPA with a superior 2.85 team ERA... top performers were Garry Gromek (21-17/2.76), Teddy Lem (17-9/2.74), Carroll Cain (17-13/3.22), Ivan Guzek (10-3/2.06/22 saves), LF Benny Hooper (.325/25/115/92), CF Reno DiBenedetto (.285/16/100/101), RF Gerry Kazmarek (.313/10/64/105), C Floyd Randolph (.295/20/97/64) and 1B Jerry Rembert (.264/25/72/77)... Valmara is just average on defense with a .972 FA.

The San Dimas Rancheros won the Ruthlandian South for only the second time in history... the last year they took the division pennant was way back in 2008... this season the Rancheros pulled away in the second half and won comfortably by 7 games over second place St. John. Manager Wesley Pate guided division champ San Dimas (93-61) up from fourth in 2030 with standout mound work from Jay Barajas (23-10/2.68), Joaquin Lima (22-14/3.10) and Miguel Valdes (17-11/2.99), plus quality help from Shannon White (13-10/3.47) and closer Hector Villa (5-6/2.24/25 saves)... Villa topped the RU with 25 saves... Pate only has an average offense (17th) with very little power... the team hit only 79 homers (32nd)... 2B Joey Harris (.314/10/76/81) was the team's top batter, followed by SS Cloyd Middleton (.299/3/58/67), 3B Gregg Mathis (.291/9/55/73) and CF Ramon Escobar (.279/10/76/88)... San Dimas was tied with St. John defensively with .977 FAs, ranked second in the RU. Last year Blue Lake won the IPA crown with strong pitching... San Dimas thinks they can do it this year.

The Elnora All-Stars went on a second-half rampage and claimed the RU East pennant with ease, winning by 11 games over the defending division champion Wynnamac Sundowners and Beechwood Bobcats, who deadlocked for the runner-up slot... this was Elnora's first flag since 2023 and the fourth overall in its history... they have been stuck in the second division for most of the last decade. Last season was a fright for manager Leon Carter and his All-Stars (95-59) when they suddenly slipped to last place, mainly because of its pitching... this year the staff rebounded with a vengeance, improving from a poor 4.03 ERA to solid 3.42 ERA (12th), sparked by Lucien Vashon (22-10/3.18), Jeremy Sellers (22-11/3.09), Freddy Pfeffer (18-13/3.65) and 34-year-old Marv Elderson (12-8/3.89), who blossomed in a starting role after 8 years of mediocrity in the bullpen... the Elnora bats backed them up with a RU-leading .286 BA (1st) and ranked second in scoring, led by RF Pettis Pentleton (.353/15/98/111), who led the league in hitting, CF Travis Glass (.338/25/95/91), 1B Mel Long (.291/25/103/77) and 2B Matt Boyd (.314/13/85/76)... Look for the All-Stars to severely test the Valmara Vipers in the playoffs.

The Sligo Rovers captured their third RU West division flag in the last five seasons, staving off Fort Benton by 3 games and defending division champion Colfax by 6 games... Sligo has finished in the RU West first division for eight successive years... manager Eddie Keys got improvement in pitching and at the plate this year as his Sligo Rovers (86-68) claimed the RU West crown... Keys' mound staff was solid with a 3.36 ERA (10th) and his offense was sufficient with a .260 BA (19th) as the Rovers ranked 15th in scoring... defensively they were bad with a .966 FA... top pitchers were starters Earl Perkins (15-11/2.75), Bud Foster (13-11/2.60), Terry Bailey (16-13/3.36) and Lou Page (11-7/3.87), along with closer Andy Velasco (7-7/2.36/19 saves)... Sligo had no standout sticks... CF Darryl Collins (.283/22/71/82), 1B Maury Rice (.271/22/71/69) and 3B Howie Robertson (.276/2/56/82) were the most dependable... no one give the Rovers a serious chance in the Pro Cup competition, although they have played very well for the final six weeks of the season, chalking up a 29-19 mark... so have Valmara (29-19), San Dimas (31-17) and Elnora (34-14).

Over in the Tycobbian Union the pennant race in the TU North was only close for half the season... the Luxora Zorros took charge after the All-Star game and won the division handily by a whopping 13 games over the Fairfax Frogs and 16 better than the defending Pro Cup champion Blue Lake Blue Sox... the second-half surge gave the Zorros the most wins in the TU... Luxora notched 96 victories, which was second to Valmara of the RU North, who paced the IPA with 99 wins... The Z's won their 8th division title and the first since 2022. Strong pitching put Luxora (96-58) over the top this season... Manager Lacey Tompkins' hurlers compiled an impressive 3.08 team ERA (5th)... the Zorros finished second last year to Blue Lake in the TU North... good hitting in the second half of the season combined with the fine pitching to run away with the division... The Z's batted .256 (20th) with 138 home runs (12th) and ranked 11th in scoring runs... two 20-game twirlers Benny DeVito (22-14/2.29) and Fabio Medeiros (22-6/2.76) sparked the club... plus Valente Viero (16-15/2.76) and Tommy Ellefsen (13-7/3.83) were capable in the three and four spots in the rotation... relievers Kent Halloran (11-6/2.84/18 saves) and Toby White (6-3/1.98/13 saves) aided the cause, too... leading the Luxora attack were 1B Gerry Hathaway (.304/27/97/86), RF Roger Noble (.295/27/81/65), LF Carl Denton (.280/26/78/70) and CF Kevin Hanley (.283/15/64/97)... the Zorros are expected to make some noise in the Pro Cup playoffs this year... Tompkins' team is clicking on all cylinders and ready to roll in the postseason.

2031 was not a good year for the teams in the Tycobbian South. Only 3 of the them ended up winning records... down the stretch it was a 3-team battle with the Ginza Ninjas edging out the Southport Sun Sox by a single game and the Colchester Elites by 3 games... the race wasn't decided until the last day of the season. Southport could have forced a playoff, if they had won the on the final day... division champ Ginza (82-72) bounced back from a fifth-place 2030 season to take the crown... manager Huroko Uchiyama used home-run power primarily... his Ninjas cracked 169 roundtrippers (6th) and ranked fifth in runs with a .265 BA (8th)... pitching-wise Ginza was not impressive with a 3.83 team ERA (23rd)... the Ninjas featured a solid core of hitters with 1B Roger Lanier (.308/34/95/96), CF Cotton Cornwall (.278/31/108/97), 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.274/31/103/82) and LF Sadaharu Utchiyama (.305/15/72/93)... Lanier came to the Ninjas in June in a trade with St. John of the RU South... Ginza's pitching is suspect... Uchiyama's top starters were Harlan Wilson (18-12/4.19) and Andrei Schuler (16-15/3.66)... the Ninjas are not likely to get very far in the postseason.

For only the second time in its history East Point has won the Tycobbian East... the first time it happened was 23 years ago in 2008... the Panthers parlayed powerful pitching, home-run punch and good scoring to subdue the high-scoring Red Bluff Red Sox by 4 games... manager Karol Zodoka has the East Point Panthers (89-65) revved up and ready to go in the Pro Cup playoffs, which starts up tomorrrow... the Panthers scored 696 runs (9th), and socked 175 home runs (4th), but only batted .253 (22nd), while chalking up an impressive 3.05 team ERA (3rd)... Zodoka had 5 starters at various times during the season... heading up the rotation was Dixie Brooks (21-15/2.53), Frank Blair (17-16/3.11), Jack Bolden (8-5/3.07/12 saves), Stephen Edwards (15-8/3.11/11 saves) and Joe Foley (7-3/2.88)... Foley missed a year and came back in July to help fend off Red Bluff... Bolden and Edwards did double duty as starters and closers during the season... at the plate the Panthers were led by power-hitters 1B Tetsu Tanaka (.263/39/106/102) and CF Kenko Aoki (.275/35/89/87) with help from LF Wally Wright (.305/9/65/73). The Panthers will contend with Rolling Hills and Luxora for the TU title and the right to play for the IPA Pro Cup against the Ruthlandian Union champion.

For the 7th time in 13 years the Rolling Hills Reds have taken the Tycobbian West division crown and they did it by a comfortable 7 games over runner-up Bay St. Clair... Matty Christianson's Reds (91-63) led the IPA with a .290 team batting average and 785 runs... however the Reds were just average in pitching with a 3.57 ERA... Christianson has an abundance of fine bats led by his son 1B Billy Christianson (.336/16/75/133), who easily topped the IPA in runs with 133... RF Scotty Yiska (.306/27/105/89) and CF Terry Wade (.319/6/71/64) also batted .300... C Tony Brinkerhoff drove in 113 runs with 13 roundtrippers and a .262 BA... 2B Derek Kristensen (.297/5/49/76), 3B Jeff Booker (.289/1/64/63) and SS Tony Ptacek (.272/6/37/33) were productive bats, too... part-time regulars 3B Buffy Kowalczyk (.330/6/46/31), LF Lonnie Chadwick (.323/10/42/52), RF Bobby McConnell (.352/2/20/24) and Billy Jones (.301/1/15/19) hit over .300 as well... on the mound Errol Gaudet (21-8/2.75) and Tom Pierson (21-7/2.54) had super seasons... the other two starters Kenny Leonard (10-6/3.79) and Buck Myers (15-12/3.80) had quality seasons, too... closer Maury Cantrell (8-2/2.43/16 saves) was effective in the bullpen... with its high-octane attack and two very capable starters like Gaudet and Pierson, Rolling Hills will be a vibrant challenger in the TU playoffs, along with East Point and Luxora. The Tycobbian Union looks like a 3-team tussle with Ginza of the TU South not likely to be much of a contender... the hottest TU teams going into the playoffs are Luxora and Ginza... The Zorros notched an 32-16 mark, while the Ninjas were 30-18 the last six weeks... Rolling Hills was 27-21 and East Point posted a 25-23 record.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES PRO CUP POLL:
1. Valmara Vipers (RU)
2. Luxora Zorros (TU)
3. Elnora All-Stars (RU)
4. San Dimas Rancheros (RU)
5. Rolling Hills Reds (TU)
6. East Point Panthers (TU)
7. Sligo Rovers (RU)
8. Ginza Ninjas (TU)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 24, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven games)

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Slips By Elnora 2-0 In 11 Innings
Brilliant pitching and timely hits paced Sligo to a 2-0 victory in 11 innings over Elnora at State Fair Park in the Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 opening game... Bud Foster and Andy Velasco blanked the All-Stars on 7 hits... Foster tossed 9 innings and allowed all of the hits... he stuck out 4 and walked nobody, while Velasco (1-0) retired all 6 batters he faced to get the win... C George Arnick singled in the go-ahead run in the 11th and Dan Jackson's sacrifice fly got the insurance run in... Elnora starter and loser Freddy Pfeffer (0-1) hurled a strong game, striking out 8 in 10 and a third innings and permitting the 2 runs... Pfeffer walked only one batter... 2B Bo Clancy and 1B Maury Rice led the Rover bats with a pair of hits each... 2B Matt Boyd and CF Travis Glass had 2 hits each for the All-Stars.

Vipers Rally In Opener, Whip SD 5-2
Playing the RU Elite 8 opener at home at War Memorial Stadium, the Valmara Vipers erupted out of their slumber for 5 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally by San Dimas 5-2... wildness by San Dimas starter Jay Barajas sunk the Rancheros... Barajas (0-1) went into the inning with a 2-0 lead and a 4-hit shutout, but walked in 3 runs... 2B Alec Leclerc finished him off with a 2-run single... overall Barajas gave up 7 hits, walked 4 and struck out 6... Viper winner Garry Gronek (1-0) held the Rancheros to 2 runs and 4 hits in his 7 inning for the win... Gronek walked just one and fanned 5... closer Ivan Guzek saved it for him with 2 scoreless frames... Leclerc and LF Benny Hooper sparked Valmara with 2 hits apiece... solo homers by 2B Joey Harris and 1B Billy Hawkins were all the runs San Dimas could muster.

Tycobbian Union

Zorros Zap Ninjas 8-4 In First Game
Home-run power and a gritty route-going performance by Benny DeVito got the Luxora Zorros off and running in the Tycobbian Union Elite 8 opening game at De la Vega Stadium... the Z's zapped the Ginza Ninjas 8-4 with the help of homers by LF Carl Denton and RF Roger Noble... DeVito was tagged for 4 runs in the first 4 frames, but survived... only 2 of them were earned as DeVito whiffed 5 and issued a walk... Ryuji Kaneko (0-1) suffered the loss... Kaneko was ripped hard for 6 runs and 9 hits in 6 innings... he trailed 6-4 when he departed the game... Luxora rapped 11 hits with Denton and C Vince Farentino leading the way with 3 RBIs each... RF Chuck Wilson collected 2 triples for the Ninjas and drove in a pair of runs.

Panthers Trim Reds 5-3 In TU Opener
Visiting East Point trimmed the Rolling Hills Reds 5-3 in game one of the TU Elite 8 Series at the ancient Midtown Base Ball Grounds... Frank Blair outpitched the Reds ace Errol Gaudet, holding them to 2 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings... Blair (1-0) notched the win with relief help from Jack Bolden, who gave up a run in his 2 innings... losing pitcher Gaudet was the victim of foul play by the Reds defense, which allowed 3 unearned runs on 2 errors... Gaudet (0-1) allowed 4 runs and 5 hits, struck out 9 and walked 3 in his 7 innings... the loss snapped his 11-game winning streak in the Pro Cup playoffs... SS Jug Slavin sparked the Panthers with 2 hits and 2 runs batted in... the teams tied with 7 hits each... Rolling Hills was led by LF Lonnie Chadwick with 2 hits and a homer.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 24, 2031

.353 Average Wins Title for Pentleton
The numbers speak for themselves: a .353 batting average in 149 games, 217 hits, 27 doubles, 9 triples, 15 home runs, 98 RBIs, 111 runs scored and 39 walks. Those numbers added up to a batting title for Pettis Pentleton of the Elnora All-Stars, who paced his club to the Ruthlandian East pennant. The 25-year-old right fielder received his first Ruthlandian Union batting trophy today. At the award ceremony, Pentleton was definitely proud of his achievement. "I always knew that I had the talent to win a batting title," Pentleton commented to reporters, "but I've had trouble at times with consistency. Everything came together this season. I hope this is not the last time. It will be a challenge, but I hope to win it again." In his five seasons in the IPA Pentleton sports a standout .328 batting average.

Pentleton had a comfortable lead over Elnora's Travis Glass, who finished second in the batting race with a .338 average. In 146 games Glass slammed 25 homers, drove in 95 runs and scored 91 times. Stoner first baseman Fletch Fowler came in third with a .336 BA, 18 roundtrippers, 85 RBIs and 66 runs in 119 games.

Kenwood's Kessinger Takes Home TU Batting Honors
Jan Kessinger of the Kenwood Wildcats put the wraps on a fine season by winning his first Tycobbian Union batting crown and leading the IPA in the process. The Wildcats second baseman outperfromed all others with his .357 average. For the season, Kessinger played in 139 games, collected 174 hits, 1 home run, scored 67 times and knocked in 58 runs. Lifetime in his 9 years in the IPA, the 30-year-old Kessinger has compiled a .314 BA. His Kenwood Wildcats wound up third in the Tycobbian West this year.

It was a close battle with Summerland's Mandu Purula, who finished up 5 points back with a .352 mark in 136 games. Purula rapped 23 homers, batted in 86 runs and scored 72 for the Sunsets. In the number three spot was Rolling Hills' fine first sacker Billy Christianson. He played in 154 games, hit .336 with an IPA-leading 133 runs and batted in 75 runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 25, 2031

2031 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven games)

Ruthlandian Union

Elnora Outslugs Sligo 11-6, Series Knotted
The hard-hitting Elnora All-Stars pounded out an 11-6 triumph over the Sligo Rovers to knot up the Ruthlandian Elite 8 at a game each... playing in the friendly confines of State Fair Park, the All-Stars rattled the fences for 16 hits, led by RF Pettis Pentleton (.400) with 3 hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Mike Long (.333) with 2 hits and 4 RBIs, and 3B Mike Houston (.444) with 4 hits and a run batted in... Long and Pentleton slapped homers... Elnora busted up a 7-6 game with a run in the bottom of the seventh and 3 more in the eighth... Cliff Jackson and Paul Martina starred in relief by blanking the Rovers in the last two frames to save the win for starter Jeremy Sellers (1-0), who was belted for 6 runs and 13 hits over 7 innings... SS Wally Buck (.300) led Sligo with 2 doubles and 2 runs batted in... LF Dan Jackson (.500) also contributed 3 hits, 2 runs and an RBI... Sligo starter Earl Perkins (0-1) was ravaged for 7 runs and 10 hits in 5-plus innings.

Rancheros Nudge Vipers 6-5, Split Series
Valmara was up 5-3 after 6 innings in game two of the RU Elite 8 Series, but they couldn't hold off San Dimas, who rebounded late to nudge the Vipers 6-5 and even it up at a game apiece... in the seventh 2B Joey Harris' (.286) sacrifice fly made it 5-4 game... Valmara starter Teddy Lem carried a 5-4 lead into the top of the ninth and was relieved by Ivan Guzek after a lead-off single by 1B Billy Hawkins (.222)... losing pitcher Guzek (0-1) couldn't close it out and botched the save via a wild pitch, passed ball and a game-tying single by RF Pachito Flores (.250)... two more walks loaded the bases and Gregg Mathis (.250) put San Dimas ahead for good 6-5 with a sac fly.

San Dimas got solid relief from by Shannon White and Hector Villa, who stymied Valmara for the last three innings... Villa (1-0) got the victory with 2 scoreless frames... neither starter was effective as Lem surrendered 5 runs - only 3 earned - and 8 hits in his 8 innings, while Ranchero starter Joaquin Lima allowed 5 runs and 8 hits in 6 innings.

San Dimas got 9 hits and was sparked by CF Ramon Escobar (.375) with 3 hits, C Cisco Vina (.333) with 2 hits, including a home run, and 2 runs scored, and RF Pachito Flores (.250), who had 2 hits.... the Vipers collected 11 hits, headed up by CF Reno DiBenedetto (.556) with 4 hits... DiBenedetto socked a solo homer and scored 3 times.

Tycobbian Union

Reds Tame Panthers 3-1, Series Tied
In Rolling Hills at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds, the hometown Reds rode good pitching to tame East Point 3-1 in game two of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series and tie the series at one game each... C Tony Brinkerhoff's (.429) 2-run two-bagger snapped a 1-1 tie and give the Reds the victory... Tom Pierson combined with Kenny Leonard and Maury Cantrell for the win... Pierson worked 6 and a third innings, gave up one run and 7 hits, struck out 6 and walked one... Leonard and Cantrell held East Point hitless over the last 2 and two-thirds innings with Cantrell (1-0) notching the win... Dixie Brooks (0-1) went all the way for the losers, giving up 3 runs and 7 hits in 8 innings with 3 walks and 5 Ks.

Ninjas Nip Z's 1-0 In 11 Innings In Game 2
Game two of the TU Elite 8 Series was a masterpiece at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora... Ginza got great pitching from Andrei Schuler and Frank Beard to nip Luxora 1-0 in 11 innings and gain a split in the first two games... Schuler blanked them for 9 innings on 5 hits and Beard finished the Z's off with 2 scoreless innings... Beard (1-0) picked up the win and struck out the side in the final frame... Fabio Madeiros was flawless for the Zorros, too... he hurled 9 scoreless innings, fanned 7, walked 2 and stopped Ginza on just 4 hits... Halloran (0-1) was the loser when he allowed a one-out single in the 11th to CF Cotton Cornwall (.125), who promptly stole second base and scored the game's only run on SS Russ Van Kleek's (.375) two-out single.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 26, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven games)

Ruthlandian Union

Elnora Edges Sligo 6-5, Take Series Lead
Playing on the road at Silver Mountain Park in Sligo, Elnora trailed early 3-1, but mounted a comeback in the late innings to edge the Rovers 6-5 in game three of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... the All-Stars now lead the series two games to one... Elnora socked 14 hits to put Sligo away... Travis Glass ripped a 3-run shot that sent the All-Stars ahead 5 to 3 in the sixth inning... a run in the seventh gave Elnora a 6-3 lead and they held off a late rally by the Rovers in the ninth.

LF Clint Thomas (.267), 2B Matt Boyd (.500) and 3B Stan Bajek (.600) all cracked 3 hits each for Elnora... Thomas had a homer and batted in a pair of runs... while 3B Howie Robertson (.154) and 2B Bo Clancy led the Rovers with 2 runs batted in apiece... both teams were plagued with shoddy defense... Elnora committed 3 errors and gave up 4 unearned runs and Sligo made 2 miscues and also surrendered 4 unearned runs.

Lucien Vashon (1-0) gained the win... he allowed all 5 runs - only one earned run - in 8 and two-third innings, struck out 5 and walked 4, while giving up 8 hits... reliever Cliff Jackson got the final out and the save as he put an end to Sligo in the ninth... Terry Bailey (0-1) was the loser as he was tagged for 14 hits and 6 runs in 7 frames, but only allowed 2 earned runs... Bailey fanned 9 and issued 2 bases on balls.

Vips Rap Rancheros 11-8, Up 2-1 In Series
Hitters had a field day at Ranchero Stadium in San Dimas and Valmara gained a two-to-one edge in the RU Elite 8 Series.... Valmara pounded out 17 hits en route to an 11-8 triumph over the hometown Rancheros, who totaled 13 hits... San Dimas blew 6-4 and 8-6 leads as the Vipers took the game with a 4-run ninth, highlighted by LF Benny Hooper's (.357) game-winning 2-run single... the victory went to Valmara starter Carroll Cain (1-0) and the loss to Miguel Valdes (0-1), neither one was effective in the slugfest.

The Vipers were led at the plate by SS Teddy Rudek (.444) with 2 hits and 4 RBIs... Rudek had a 3-run homer... C Floyd Randolph (.333) racked up 3 hits and 2 RBIs, including a solo home run, and 3B Amos Gallagher (.375) added 2 hits and 2 RBIs... CF Reno DiBenedetto (.600) continued to blister San Dimas with 4 hits... topping the Rancheros' hit parade were 2B Joey Harris with 3-4 and 3 RBIs, including a 2-run homer, SS Cloyd Middleton (.308) with 3 hits and 4 runs scored, and RF Andre Venturella (.286) and 3B Gregg Mathis (.231) with 2 RBIs each.

Tycobbian Union

Ginza Grabs 5-4 Win, Leads Luxora 2-1 In Series
Gutsy pitching and clutch hits grabbed the Ginza Ninjas a 2-1 lead in its Tycobbian Elite 8 Series against heavily-favored Luxora at Ninja Stadium... the Ninjas trailed 4-0 after four frames, but chiseled away and came back to win 5-4... for the second day in a row 2B Russ Van Kleek was the hero... yesterday he drove in the game-winner in the 1-0 eleven-inning thriller, this time Van Kleek tied the score with a homer in the eighth and then won it with a sacrifice fly in the last of the ninth.

Winning pitcher Harlan Wilson (1-0) was belted hard early, but he settled down and blanked the Z's over the last 5 frames... Wilson permitted 4 runs on 7 hits... 3 double plays helped Wilson out... reliever Kent Halloran (0-2) lost for the second successive day... he relieved Valente Viero to start the ninth and was smacked for 2 hits and walk and the winning run... Viero shut out the Ninjas for four innings, then weakened... Viero worked 8 innings, fanned 5, walked 2 and allowed 4 runs and 11 hits... the score was tied 4-4 when he exited.

Ginza collected 13 hits and were paced by Van Kleek (.417) with 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 runs batted in... 1B Roger Lanier (.250) also went deep for the Ninjas... Luxora got 7 hits and was led by LF Forest Orr (.600) with 2-4 and 3 RBIs... Orr and RF Keith Butler (.200) homered for the Z's.

Reds Hold Off Panthers 5-4 In Game 3
They were outhit and outgunned in game three of the TU Elite 8, but Rolling Hills still came away with a 5-4 decision over the East Point Panthers for a one-game lead in the best-of-seven series... the Reds ran up a 5-1 margin after 5 innings, then managed to stave off the Panthers... Reds LF Lonnie Chadwick (.417) drove in 4 runs with 3 hits, including a 2-run homer in the fourth and a 2-run double in the fifth... East Point's 1B Tetsu Tanaka (.308) and CF Kenko Aoki (.250) homered in defeat... Aoki led the Panthers' 11-hit attack with 3 hits, while Tanaka, RF Kyle Pike (.273) and 3B Riley O'Day (.364) put up 2 hits apiece.

Buck Myers (1-0) picked up the victory... he permitted 4 runs on 11 hits in 8 frames, fanned 3 and walked none... Myers held East Point to one run in the first six frames, then weakened... reliever Maury Cantrell worked a runless ninth to wrap up the win... Joe Foley (0-1) caught the loss for the Panthers... he gave up 5 runs and 5 hits in 7 innings.

Around the Town in the IPA

SAN DIMAS RANCHEROS

Owner: Esai Montanez
GM: Paco Banderes
Manager: Wesley Pate

San Dimas is located in the southeastern tip of Ruthlandia on the Valerian Ocean in the swampy lowlands. The town and its surrounding area were founded by Spanish settlers in the 1700s. Originally, the area was called Mud Springs, but when this name proved to be troublesome in recruiting new settlers from Spain, it was changed to San Dimas.

Because of its remote location, San Dimas remained largely a ranching area until the start of the 20th century. The San Dimas climate was perfect for farming, and in 1903 the San Dimas Irrigation Company was formed, and the following year the Ruthlandia Railway Line reached San Dimas. The combination of the two established the town as the heart of a vast agricultural community that continues to thrive to this day. Oranges, grapefruits, sugar cane, and all types of vegetables are grown in the San Dimas region.

Despite agriculture taking over as the dominant economic force, ranching remains the face of the community. Each February brings the San Dimas Exposition and Livestock show to the Stockyards, kicking off a three-week celebration that includes the largest rodeo in Ruthlandia. The area around the old Stockyards has been preserved as a Ruthlandia Historic Site and includes a state of the art Western museum along with renovated stores that recreate old San Dimas. During the rest of the year there is a local rodeo on every Saturday night when the Rancheros aren’t in town.

Some of San Dimas' other highlights include San Dimas A & M University. A & M is the finest agricultural university in the nation and the center for most cultural activities in town.

As evidenced by the town name, San Dimas’ culture is still very rooted in its Spanish heritage. Many of the buildings still reflect the architecture of the Spanish colonial era. These influences can be further seen in music and food as well. San Dimas boasts more tapas bars than anywhere else in the country, and flamenco is very popular in many of the local establishments.

The Rancheros struggled for many years at the box office as the team played second fiddle to the ever popular rodeo. In 1974 the club was purchased by Esai Montanez, changing the team’s fortunes almost immediately. Mr. Montanez held numerous promotions and promoted a lively, fan-friendly atmosphere at the ballpark. The team was so successful that dozens of other owners came to San Dimas to attend seminars on how to model their franchise after the Rancheros. The atmosphere continues to this day as the team employs a pig to bring the umpires balls between innings and is still famous for its many other whacky promotions. Among the more popular promotions are Trekkie Night where fans wearing their Star Trek costumes get in for $1 and two-for-one beer nights dubbed “Thirsty Thursdays.” The seventh-inning stretch features flamenco dancers on both dugouts, and fans can expect to be entertained by the team’s mascot, “Bucky the Bronco.”

Another successful aspect of the Montanez ownership has been the construction of Ranchero Park. The project was a combination of public and private financing with the town paying for all of the infrastructure costs and the Montanez family paying the stadium construction costs. Ranchero Park was opened to the public in time for opening day 1988 and has been a huge success for both the club and San Dimas. Originally it held just over 6,500 fans, but in 2002 for their debut into the Islandian Pro Alliance, the club built a picnic area, luxury suites and bleachers in left field that has added an additional 1,000 seats.

The general manager and former field manager of the Rancheros is Paco Banderes. He is one of the few managers in the Islandian Pro Alliance that did not play in amateur or industrial leagues. Banderes always says, "I was always the last one chosen when we would choose up sides on the playground." But that didn't keep him from being a successful manager in company league circles. "When it comes to baseball, I may not be able to do it, but I can sure heck tell you how to do it. And there ain't too many guys around that can out-manage me, either!"

The current skipper for the Rancheros is a former player, Wesley Pate. who was a journeyman catcher with club for 14 years. Pate posted a career .282 batting average from 2005 to 2018.

Ranchero Park (1988)

Capacity: 7,500

Dimensions:

LF Line 330
LF 350
LCF 375
CF 402
RCF 375
RF 350
RF Line 330

Around the Town in the IPA

EAST POINT PANTHERS

Owner: Silver Mountain Marble Works
GM: Jesse Goodwin
Manager: Karol Zodoka

East Point is primarily a military town with a population of 84,000 inhabitants. It is a splendid town surrounded and fortified by a ringed wall of white marble, which is found in great abundance in local quarries and pits. The marble business is one of the important elements of the local economy.

East Point is reminiscent of ancient Rome and Athens, but on a much smaller scale. Majestic marble statues and buildings are ever present sights. East Point is on the westside of the Silver Mountains in east central Tycobbia and located right on the Ruthlandian border at Frontier Pass, the only land route connecting the two countries. East Point was established to protect Tycobbia from invasion from the east. Right across the border is Ft. Benton, its Ruthlandian military counterpart.

All branches of the military are headquartered here. Basic training is conducted on the base. It is also the site of the War College, which trains the officer corps at East Point Military Academy. Future officers are educated and trained here. It is also a retirement home and medical facility for veterans. Many military and medical suppliers have their home offices here as well.

East Point is a model town, organized and structured in military fashion. It is a well-designed and well-planned town with perfectly square blocks, all identical in size. All streets run perfect parallel, north to south and east to west. There is a civilian government, but it works closely with the military authorities, who provide boot camp trainees for sanitation purposes. Streets are pristine clean and well-manicured because the military recruits sweep through the town each morning and police the town of any trash, litter and debris.

It is also home to the East Point Panthers Baseball Club of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Panthers are in the East Division of the Tycobbian Union. The club is owned and operated by the Silver Mountain Marble Works. Running the ball club is general manager Jesse Goodwin and his field manager Karol Zodoka. Both Goodwin and Zodoka excelled as players for the Panthers. Both were hard-hitting infielders. Goodwin played for 15 seasons from 2005 to 2019 with a .287 BA, 430 homers and 1300 RBIs. He made the All-Star team on 5 occasions and won the Golden Bat one time. Zodoka had an outstanding career from 2002 to 2017. He was a 7-time All-Star, won 4 Golden Gloves, a Golden Bat and RU MVP Award. Zodoka batted .293 with 391 homers and over 1300 RBIs.

The Panthers play at ancient and majestic Armed Forces Stadium, named in memory and in honor of the men and women of the Tycobbian Armed Forces. Marble was used extensively in the stadium construction and peripheral facade. Beyond the outfield walls there is a breathtaking view of the town in the distance, replete with marble buildings and monuments. Armed Forces Stadium is not a big ballpark dimension-wise. The fans and batters love it because of the high-scoring games, but pitchers dread pitching here.

Music is supplied at the ballpark by the Army, Air Force and Navy bands to inspire the Panther fans and spur their team on to victory. At the seventh inning stretch one of the service anthems is played, followed by the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Food-wise you get soft drinks, beer, hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts and crackerjacks. Sorry, no "K-rations" or "SOS". One doesn't want to rile the troops. No "KP" either!

Armed Forces Stadium (1935)

Capacity: 9500

Dimensions:

LF Line 326
LF 345
LCF 375
CF 388
RCF 375
RF 345
RF Line 326

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 27, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Slams Elnora 10-3, Evens Series
The Sligo Rovers tore up Elnora 10-3 in game 4 of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 and deadlocked the series at two games each... the Rovers rapped out 15 hits with Kevin Spencer leading the way with 4 RBIs... Spencer smashed a 3-run homer in the first inning as Sligo scored early and often, scoring all of the runs in the first four frames... Bud Foster chalked up the victory by going solid 8 innings... Foster (1-0/1.59) gave up 11 hits, but only 3 runs... Ray Fletcher worked the last inning in perfect fashion... so far seventh-seeded Sligo is hanging tough with number-three seed Elnora.

Spencer (.333) had 2 hits and was backed up by SS Drayton Henderson (.600) and 1B Maury Rice (.353), who drilled 3 hits apiece... and Darryl Collins (.375) and LF Dan Jackson (.412) each with a pair of hits... Rice and Collins scored 3 times each and Henderson 2... CF Travis Glass (.313) and C Jerl Coleman led Elnora at the plate with 2 hits each... 1B Mel Long hit a solo homer for the All-Stars... losing pitcher Freddie Pfeffer (0-2/2.08) was knocked out early to the tune of 8 runs on 6 hits in 2-plus innings... 3 Elnora errors cost him 7 unearned runs.

San Dimas' Barajas Beats Valmara 3-1, Series Tied
In game four of the RU Elite 8 Series at Ranchero Stadium, San Dimas got a sharp outing and a 3-1 victory from Jay Barajas to get a split with Valmara... the series is tied at 2 games each... the Rancheros back Barajas up with 11 hits, paced by LF Kenneth Kent (.444) and 3B Gregg Mathis (.353) each with 3 base hits... Kent had a single, double and home run, scored twice and batted in a run, while Mathis had a double and 2 singles, one RBI and a run scored... Barajas (.400) also helped out with 2 hits and an RBI... Valmara was rated the top seed this year in the Pro Cup playoffs, while San Dimas was picked as the fourth seed.

On the hill Barajas (1-1/2.81) went the distance and stopped the Vipers on one run and 5 hits with 6 Ks and no walks... Garry Gronek (1-1/3.00) of the Vipers also pitched a complete game, yielding 3 runs on 11 hits with 5 strikeouts and a pair of walks... 1B Jerry Rembert (.235) accounted for Valmara's only run with a fifth-inning roundtripper.

Tycobbian Union

Ninjas Zero Zorros 3-0, Near Series Win
In an unlikely turn of events, the last-seeded Ginza Ninjas have bolted to a 3-1 lead in the Tycobbian Elite 8 over heavily-favored and number-two seed Luxora... winning pitcher Ryuki Kaneko (1-1/3.95) tossed shutout ball into the seventh inning, then gave way to Frank Beard, who finished up the 3-0 victory... Kaneko was superb, holding the Zorros to just 2 singles, while fanning 4 and walking one... Beard got the last 4 outs and struck out 2 of them... LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.250) homered in the third inning and SS Taro Mori and 1B Roger Lanier delivered RBI singles in the seventh... Benny DeVito (1-1/1.59) went all the way and only allowed one earned run, along with 9 hits in defeat... Mori (.176), Lanier (.313) and RF Chuck Wilson (.500) all had 2 hits for Ginza.

Reds Win In Ten 6-4 Over Panthers, Up 3-1
On the road fifth-seeded Rolling Hills Reds overcame 5 errors to whip the number-six seed East Point 6-4 in 10 innings and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven TU Elite 8 Series... Tony Brinkerhoff snapped a 4-4 tie with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th and CF Terry Wade (.250) padded it with a run-scoring single... Bobby Morris (1-0) notched the win and the save went to Kenny Leonard... reliever J. D. McDermott (0-1) got the loss as he was tagged for 2 runs and 3 hits in his 2 innings.

Both teams had 9 hits apiece... Reds starter Errol Gaudet coasted for 7 innings with a 4-1 edge, but he faltered in the 3-run eighth when East Point tied the score, though only 2 of the runs were earned... Brinkerhoff and Wade each batted in 2 runs for the victors, while SS Jug Slavin (.333) had 3 hits and scored twice for the losers... Panther LF Wally Wright (.278) got the game's only homer.

Around the Town in the IPA

ELNORA ALL-STARS

Owner: George Costanza
GM: Zoggy White
Manager: Leon Carter

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 are owned by a wealthy eccentric by the name of George Costanza. He made a fortune in reality television with a show "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. The Elnora All-Stars 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, lima bean, 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. The Chef demands 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 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. He did not attain much success as the All-Stars only managed 3 pennants and 5 playoff appearances in his tenure.

Leon Carter is the current manager. He 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.

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

LUXORA ZORROS

Owner: De la Vega Foundation
GM: Rodrigo Alejandro
Manager: Lacey Tompkins

Luxora is a picturesque town of 65,000 people of Spanish and Andorran ancestry located in the Silver Mountains of northeastern Tycobbia. Both Spanish and English are spoken there. Snowy winters and mild summers lure tourists from all over, who come in great numbers to enjoy the natural hot thermal springs and spas, snow skiing, snowboarding, whitewater rafting and the wonderful duty-free bazaar overflowing with electronics, luxury goods and fine handmade clothing made from the famous Luxoran wool in the town textile factory. Everywhere in the area you will see a plethora of sheep ranches, along with timber, lumber and wood products which are processed and manufactured there. Luxora benefits greatly from its proximity to the Rio Loco, a wild and raging river and a source of great hydroelectric power. By way of a series of dams and locks the river flows from high in the mountains, skirting the town on its western journey through the foothills before finally flowing into the sky blue waters of Blue Lake near Fairfax. As a result, it is the headquarters of the Tycobbia Electric Authority.

Luxora itself is a modest town steeped in traditional ways. It has narrow streets and plazas in which to get happily lost among the grand and ancient churches and mansions. Because of the cultural tradition of “siestas”, Spanish-owned companies give their employees time off each day so they can attend the local team’s games with their families, a practice and custom that soon spread to all of the townships in baseball-crazed Tycobbia and Ruthlandia.

It is also the home of the Luxora Zorros (“foxes” in Spanish) of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Z's are a member of the Tycobbian Union East Division. Luxora plays at De la Vega Stadium (affectionately called “The Foxhole” by the locals), named for Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro, the legendary black clad hero who fought Portuguese despotism during the 1800’s and eventually led the Tycobbian people to freedom. His descendants, wealthy landowners with huge sheep and Arabian horse farms, are the owners of the team. Of course, you can see Zorro atop his wondrous black stallion, Toronado (Spanish for “tornado”), galloping around the stadium to the cheers of the crowd as they rally the home team to victory. A splendid mariachi band serenades and provides a festive atmosphere at all the games. You can also enjoy the Spanish delicacies at the concessions stands: cunillo (succulent rabbit cooked in tomato sauce), escudello (a fantastic chicken, sausage and meatball stew), and fried ice cream, too. Traditional ballpark food is provided as well.

Even the GM and former manager of the Zorros is of Spanish descent. Rodrigo Alejandro, an outstanding power hitter and shortstop as an amateur, was the highest paid “amateur” ever in company league circles. Many say Alejandro was the best home run hitter in the Islands history. As Luxora's manager Alejandro made the playoffs 10 times and won 7 pennants. The current skipper of the Z's is a former standout outfielder Lacey Tompkins, who starred for Luxora from 2001 to 2007. Overall Tompkins played 18 seasons in the IPA and compiled a .296 career batting average with 205 home runs, 1081 RBIs and 1113 runs scored. He made the All-Star team twice and won two Golden Gloves.

De la Vega Stadium (1967)

Capacity: 9,487

Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 345
LCF 371
CF 408
RCF 371
RF 345
RF Line 330

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 28, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Outscores Elnora 10-7, Leads Series 3-2
The bats were sizzling again at Silver Mountain Park in Sligo where the Rovers trounced Elnora 10-7 to go up three games to two in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... Sligo slammed 16 hits in game 5 and scored double digits for the second game in a row... LF Dan Jackson (.476) slugged a 2-run homer among his 3 hits and drove in 4 runs... 3B Howie Robertson (.238) and 2B Bo Clancy (.333) both had 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Elnora banged out 13 hits and were led by 3B Mike Houston (.533), who went 4-5 and drove in 3 runs... Houston had a 2-run homer and 1B Mel Long (.262) got a solo job, his 3rd in the series... starter Earl Perkins (1-1/7.36) picked up the win... he left in the sixth with an 8-3 lead after allowing 6 hits and 3 runs... the bullpen saved it for him, but just barely... in a losing effort, All-Stars starter Jeremy Sellers (1-1) was severely bashed for 8 runs and 9 hits in 2-plus innings... Elnora will have to win the next two games at home to stay alive in the postseason.

Vipers Lead Series, Edge Rancheros 2-1 in Game 5
In a tense pitching duel in San Dimas at Ranchero Stadium, the visiting Valmara Vipers got a strong start from Teddy Lem, who stopped the Rancheros 2-1 in game five of the RU Elite 8... the triumph put Valmara up three games to two in the best-of-seven affair... the Vipers need just one win in the next two games at War Memorial Stadium to advance to the Pro Cup Final 4... Lem (1-0/1.80) worked 7 standout innings, limiting San Dimas to one run on 4 hits... relievers Ivan Guzek and J. R. Boutin held the Rancheros scoreless the final 2 frames with the save going to Boutin... Joaquin Lima (0-1/3.60) went the route for San Dimas in defeat, permitting 2 runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 5 Ks.

San Dimas took the lead in the last of the third on an RBI double by Billy Hawkins (.267)... Valmara finally tied it in the top of the sixth on a lead-off single by 2B Alec Leclerc (.333), a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by CF Reno DiBenedetto (.478)... the Vipers won in the eighth on RF Gerry Kazmarek's (.143) bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

Tycobbian Union

Luxora's Alive, Tops Ginza 4-3 In Game 5
Everything was stacked against them... Luxora was down 3 games to one and playing on the road at Ninja Stadium, but the Zorros manage to stay alive and get by underdog Ginza 4-3 in game five of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... the Z's Fabio Medeiros (1-0/1.62) hurled them and hit them to victory... Medeiros checked Ginza on 3 runs and 4 hits into the 8th frame, then got good relief from Kent Halloran, who got the save by getting the final 4 outs to seal the win... Medeiros (.333) also homered to put the Zorros up 2-0 in the third... loser Andrei Schuler (0-1/2.12) struck out 10 in 8 innings, but was tagged for 4 runs and 7 hits.

C Vince Farentino (.278) sparked Luxora at bat with an RBI double in the second inning and a RBI groundout in the fourth... 2B Julio Canseco (.333) added 2 hits and 2 runs to the offense... RF Hideo Kojima (.333) singled in the Ninjas' first run in the bottom of the fourth... and 1B Roger Lanier (.316) doubled in the last 2 in the eighth.

The deck is still stacked against Luxora, one of the top seeds in the Pro Cup playoffs... the Zorros will have to win 2 in a row from the upstart Ninjas to remain in the running for the Pro Cup... Luxora is seeded second in the Pro Cup rankings, while Ginza is rated the last seed... however the Zorros will have the home field advantage for the final two games. Luxora was 52-25 at De la Vega Stadium in the regular season, while Ginza was only 41-36 on the road... the Ninjas split the first two games in Luxora and took two of three at Ninja Stadium.

Reds Wins Series, Top Panthers 5-4 In Game 5
The fifth-seeded Rolling Hills Reds took the fifth game 5-4 and took the TU Elite 8 Series from sixth-seeded East Point by winning four of the five games... the Reds wrapped it up on the road in a see-saw match despite being outhit 10 to 5... they scored 2 runs in the first without a hit, scoring on a throwing error and a wild pitch... the Panthers tied it in the fourth on 1B Tetsu Tanaka's (.318) 2-run blast... but CF Terry Wade's (.350) 2-run shot in the fourth frame gave the lead back to the Reds... only to have East Point come back in the fifth and even it up at 4-4 on RBI doubles by 2B Al Christopher (.143) and RF Kyle Pike (.350)... the game and the series was decided in the top of the ninth on pinchhitter Jacy Kuruk's sac fly.

Tom Pierson worked the first 6 frames, surrendering 4 runs on 10 hits... reliever Dave Gronkowski (1-0) took the victory with 2 perfect innings and 3 strikeouts... Maury Cantrell closed it out for his second save in the series... he got in trouble in the ninth and put runners on first and second with one out, but fanned the last two batters.

Rolling Hills will now await the winner of the Ginza-Luxora series... the Ninjas are up 3-2 in the series.

Around the Town in the IPA

SLIGO ROVERS

Owner: Myron Dalrymple, CEO of the Silver Mountain Ski Resort
GM/Manager: Eddie Keys

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 and has at various times 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 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 80s, 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.

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 red 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 current manager 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.

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

GINZA NINJAS

Owner: OmniSea, Ltd.
GM/Manager: Huroko Uchiyama

Ginza began as a little fishing village in southeastern Tycobbia, settled by seafaring Japanese immigrants, who came in the 1860s during the Meiji Dynasty, a period of westernization. Today Ginza is a prosperous town of 88,000 with about half of its citizens being Japanese. Both Japanese and English are spoken here.

The name Ginza comes from “silver mint”, which Japanese authorities built in 1612. The modern day Ginza is a fabulous shopping area in Tokyo. The Tycobbian Ginza emulates it namesake, but on a much smaller scale. It is a free trade port and has many importers and exporters at the International Bazaar. Great bargains are in abundance in Ginza. The town also has a thriving fishing fleet and seafood processing industry.

Baseball got a late start in Ginza. The town inhabitants began playing amateur baseball in the 1930s, but soon began to challenge other towns in the sport. OmniSea Marine Processors, the largest employer in town, began sponsoring leagues and invested heavily in the game's development. OmniSea eventually expanded to industrial leagues and now to the Islandian Pro Alliance. They own the Ginza Ninjas of the Tycobbian Union South Division.

Ginza plays at Ninja Stadium, a modern ballpark built in 1998. A game at Ninja Stadium is really special. Most of the fans are quite reserve and quiet, typical Japanese social demeanor. However, in the left field bleachers it is another world...a wild and noisy place. There, the Ninjas have an official cheering section called “oendan” (pronounced “oh-en-dan”), that plays songs, beats drums and gongs, blows trumpets and waves flags. They stand up the entire time, when the Ninjas are at bat and sit down, when the opposition is batting. Fans clap plastic megaphones along with the oendan and sing chants to each Ginza player. Many fans carry umbrellas to the ballgame. Whenever the Ninjas score a run, they also open up all of the umbrellas, their way of telling the opposing pitcher, he is headed for the showers.

In the Lucky Seventh, the traditional seventh inning stretch, they sing the Ninja fight song and then release hundreds of rocket balloons (jetto fusen). Other unique things about Ninja baseball is the public address announcer is female, the only one in the Islands. You will also see the pitcher bow in reverence to fielders, who make good plays.

At the Ninja Stadium concessions you will find not only traditional baseball fare, but Japanese as well. Ginza fans can enjoy yakisoba (fried noodles), yaketori (BBQ chicken on skewers), takoyaki (fried octopus dumplings) and bento (cold lunch in a wooden box). For the sweet tooth, kakigori (snowballs with flavored syrup and condensed milk), green tea ice cream, sweet potato ice cream, anmitsu (cold fruit dessert) and anpan (sweet bun).

The GM and Manager of the Ginza Ninjas is one of the alltime great players and managers in the Tycobbian amateur and industrial leagues, Huroko Uchiyama. They call him “Mr. Baseball” in Ginza.

Ninja Stadium (1998)

Capacity: 10,667

Dimensions:

LF Line 330
LF 355
LCF 377
CF 400
RCF 372
RF 360
RF Line 335

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 29, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Valmara KOs San Dimas In 6
Top-seeded Valmara got brilliant pitching for the second straight game to knock tough San Dimas out of the postseason... the Vipers finished them off in six games and now head to the Ruthlandian Final 4 against the Elnora-Sligo victor.

Valmara's Garry Gronek (2-1/2.14) and Lucky Lafferty fired a 2-0 shutout and stopped the Rancheros on just one hit... Gronek worked the first 6 frames and gave up the only hit, a third-inning single by C Cisco Vina (.238)... Lafferty held them hitless in his 3 innings and fanned 4 batters for the save... the Vipers got the winning runs on RF Gerry Kazmarek's (.160) 2-run single in the third inning... Miguel Valdes (0-2/5.82) pitched a complete gamel in defeat, allowing Valmara only 4 hits and no earned runs.

Elnora Slips by Sligo 8-7, Forces Game 7
The Elnora All-Stars evened up its Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series with the underdog Sligo Rovers with an 8-7 victory in game six to force a seventh and deciding game tomorrow afternoon... Elnora ran up an 8-1 lead after 7 innings and then hung on as the Rovers rallied for 6 runs in the eighth... CF Travis Glass (.333), SS Jarod Martin (.368) and pinchhitter Akihiro Samurakami paced the All-Stars 11-hit attack with 2 RBIs apiece... Glass got his second homer in the series.

Lucien Vachon (2-0/1.23) hurled a fine game, stopping Sligo on one run and 5 hits in his 6 innings... the bullpen almost blew it in the eighth, but Marv Elderson managed to save it with a scoreless ninth... Sligo starter Terry Bailey (0-2/6.57) was the losing pitcher... he was blasted for 7 runs in 5-plus innings... the Rovers rapped 12 hits in defeat and were led by 3B Howie Robertson (.280), 2B Bo Clancy (.345), C George Arnick (.321) and SS Wally Buck (.333), all with 2 hits each.

Game seven will be played tomorrow in Elnora at State Fair Park with Freddy Pfeffer (18-13/3.65) on the hill for the All-Stars, opposed by Bud Foster (13-11/2.60) for Sligo... in the postseason Foster is 1-0 with an impressive 1.59 ERA, while Pfeffer is 0-2 with a 2.08 ERA... Pfeffer has been victimized by shoddy defensive play.

Tycobbian Union

Ginza Upsets Luxora, Wins Series In 6
In an unlikely upset, the 8th-seeded Ginza Ninjas did the unexpected - they whipped the number two seed, the talented Luxora Zorros - to advance to the Tycobbian Final 4 against the powerful Rolling Hills Reds... the Ninjas mauled the Zorros 9-4 in game six to eliminate them from the Pro Cup playoffs.

Ginza pounded out 12 hits and were sparked by SS Taro Mori (.269) at the plate... Mori hammered 3 hits, including a double, triple and homer and he drove in 3 runs... Mori was one hit short of a cycle... also helping out with a 2-run homer was 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.154) and RF Hideo Kojima (.313) with a 2-run double... the Z's got 8 hits and were led by 3B Lourenzo Rocha, who walloped a 3-run shot in the fifth to get them back in the game... his homer cut the score to 5-4, but Ginza finished Luxora off with 2 runs in the sixth and 2 more in the ninth to win going away...

Workhorse Harlan Wilson (2-0/2.50) went the route, permitting only one earned run... Zorro starter Valente Viero (0-1/6.08) suffered the defeat... he was pelted for 7 runs and 10 hits in his 5-plus innings.

Around the Town in the IPA

VALMARA VIPERS

Owner: Viper Offshore Services, headed by Capt. Stanislaw Lem, Ruthlandia Navy (ret)
GM: J. Jackson Samuel
Manager: Jet Kazmarek

Valmara is located in the northeastern part of Valdar Island, a port town of 81,000 people on Valmara Bay, an excellent deep water harbor. A clash of a warm Valerian Ocean current and a cold Kelnyck Ocean provides for heavy early morning fogs and sometimes nasty rainy weather.

The town began as a small fishing village in the 1880s and pretty much remained that way until the late 1930s. Valmara has never been considered a pleasant place to live with rocky soil, thick ocean fogs and moss growing everywhere. If not for its wonderful port, no one in their right mind would live there. The harbor and the port have brought commerce and jobs.The prime industries of Valmara revolve around the sea, be it catching and processing fish, servicing deep-ocean oil rigs or supporting the ten-ship navy of Ruthlandia.

With the threat of world war on the horizon in 1938, the Ruthlandian government established Valdarian Military Academy, a college for cadets and midshipmen studying for future service in the Ruthlandian Navy.

During the Second World War, Ruthlandia was swept up in the maelstrom in the nation's first and only war. The nation sent a regiment of troops and a fighter squadron to England to aid the Allies. The Ruthlandian navy served proudly with the 2nd Polish Corps in the Italian campaign, especially at Monte Cassino. After the war, many Poles opted not to return to their Soviet-occupied nation and several hundred emigrated to Ruthlandia. Many of the ex-soldiers did not go far past Valmara when they got off the boat.

Over the next four decades, many Poles emigrated (or escaped) from behind the Iron Curtain to Ruthlandia. After two generations of migration and birth, more than half of the town is of Polish descent.

The Valmara Vipers are owned by Capt. Stanislaw Lem, RN (ret.) of Viper Offshore Services. He is not related to the noted author of the same name, which often causes non-native reporters much trouble. The owner likes to be called "The Captain" in public. Lem made a small fortune after his navy career operating ships and helicopters that serve offshore oil rigs. Thanks to the vast supply of petroleum offshore, his company's profits have gone through the roof. The Captain had no problem coming up with money to buy a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance, the first pro baseball league in the Islands history. Valmara plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the North Division.

The Valmara Vipers trace their history from the frigate Viper, which had a team in the Naval League in the 1940's. When the amateur league players became semi-pros in the 1950s and worked and played baseball for companies, the Vipers were sponsored by Marine Midland Bank. The Captain played baseball for his service team in the 1960s and was active in the industrial leagues as a sponsor in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Since Captain Lem had been the captain of the frigate Viper in the late 1960s, when it came to naming his IPA franchise, it was a no-brainer. The Valmara Vipers were born.

The Vipers play their games at historic old War Memorial Stadium. Amateur and industrial league teams have used it for years. It is dedicated to the memory of the 121 men from Ruthlandia killed in action in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. It is a old stadium built for football and soccer, but improvised and used for baseball since 1946. The Captain commissioned noted architectural company HOK to renew the old park into a suitable baseball park. He spared no expense in updating the old stadium with modern technology and conveniences. Yet it still retains the charm of an old stadium.

Game-Day Experience:

Like many successful immigrants, the people of Valmara have fiercely adopted the values of their new nation. Ruthlandia's flag is navy blue and green. In Valmara, it's just taken to a ridiculous extreme. The team’s colors are navy blue and green. So are the water towers, the dockyard cranes, the street signs and the new city hall.

Captain Lem wanted to build a new ballpark, but the city fathers persuaded him to just refurbish the old stadium in the old part of town to be an anchor for a new mixed residential-commercial district. Civic pride got the best of the Captain and he agreed to use War Memorial Stadium. The civic renewal project has been quite successful. Because there is little parking nearby, fans have to walk nearly a quarter mile to the park. On the way, they are treated to a dozen new restaurants, bars, and pubs. The integration into the neighborhood is considered to be charming. The revitalization project has brought a good deal of commerce and energy into the east side of town. The worst of the neighborhood was torn down. The city fathers have expanded the renovations and given the old town a new look.

Food:
Fans love to scarf down bigos (cabbage and meat stew) and rye bread at cafes adjacent to the ballpark. Inside the park, everyone loves perogis (potato and cheese dumplings). Several years ago, The Captain persuaded Mama Kolski's Restaurant (home of the best perogis in town) to open a stand at his new ballpark and it was a big hit.

Beer sales are strictly regulated by city ordinance to two beers per person. This is due to the locals’ love of pale lagers that are 9% alcohol. Also, for a strange unknown reason, draft Coors is a trendy choice.

Ambiance:
Music at the ballpark is best described as LOUD. The Captain installed a very modern, very powerful sound system at the refurbished stadium.

More than a decade ago, a sound system operator substituted the Village People's "In the Navy" for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch and started a new tradition. It was a college night at an industrial league game, with plenty of middies from Valdarian Military Academy on hand and many crewmembers from the frigates Viper and Foxx. It was a smash hit, no doubt fueled by a hot autumn evening, cold pale lager and the nine-run Viper lead. Since then, "In the Navy" has been played during the seventh inning stretch of every game save one -- the first game at the revamped War Memorial Stadium. The Captain hates the tune and thought with the public reopening that the club could stop playing that vile song. During the Vipers first exhibition game, the fans nearly rioted and the stadium's debut was marred with a near five-minute interruption of boos before play resumed. Wisely, The Captain made a quick command decision and allowed "In the Navy" to be played during the 8th inning break...and during every game since. Of course, the Captain saw to it that "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was restored to its revered seventh-inning spot.

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

Mascot

The Captain (he considers himself a traditionalist) did not believe in having a mascot until he put his own money into the old ball park. At that point, he had to figure out how to attract every dollar possible from every fan possible. So Vippy and Vippa Viper came into being. They parade around the ballpark entertaining the fans and leading cheers, dances and songs. Viper fans are noted for hissing at the umpires and the opposing teams. The Captain sells a lot Vippy and Vippa apparel and memorabilia...even rents them out to for birthday parties at the stadium, when the team is on the road.

History

Baseball on Valdar Island had a late beginning. Due to the Island topography, climate and lack of mineral deposits it was not as desirable as the Ruthlandian mainland, so it was bypassed by the immigrants until about 1910, when the towns of Valmara, Ancona, Kilkenny, Taranto and Ranford sprang up. From 1910 to 1920, touring amateur baseball teams from the mainland would play games from time to time and the game was introduced slowly. But it did catch on. In a desire to assimilate with the rest of the country, where baseball was like a religion, the Valdarians took to the game with passion and fervor. Amateur baseball clubs and company-based teams began to organize in the 1920s. By the mid-1940's Valdar Island baseball was as good as the Mainland.

The team was first managed by J. Jackson Samuel, a run-of-the-mill industrial league player that became a legendary manager. Samuel broke Jay Loman's record for the most Silver Whale Cups, given to the best amateur team on Valdar Island. Loman was the manager of the Ancona Red Elephants in the 1920s and won nine straight Valdar Island League titles. Samuel won 12 during his amateur career.

Samuel retired and turned the reins over to one of the all-time great Vipers, Jet Kazmarek. who was a .350 career hitter in his 16 IPA seasons. Kazmarek was an 8-time All-Star and won the batting title 9 times. He is also the only .400 hitter in the annals of the league. Kazmarek batted an awesome .428 in 2002.

War Memorial Stadium (1946)

Capacity: 9,595

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 330
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 405
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 330
Right Field Line - 309

Around the Town in the IPA

ROLLING HILLS REDS

Owner: Lemroh Meat Company
GM/Manager: Matty 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 Reds of the IPA's Tycobbian Union West Division. The Reds 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 Reds to victory. Many times throughout the game the fans will dance the Charleston. During the seventh inning stretch you get a rousing Dixieland version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

The GM and Manager of the Rolling Hills Reds is the legendary pitcher, Matty Christianson, one of the most revered players and managers in Tycobbian baseball history.

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

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elnora Triumphs, Stops Sligo 5-1 In Game 7
Elnora did it!... the All-Stars got a superb effort from Freddy Pfeffer in game seven of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series to move on to the Final 4 against Pro Cup-favored Valmara... Pfeffer (1-2/1.71) fanned 11 Sligo Rovers and stopped them 5-1 on just 3 hits in 8 innings as the All-Stars roared back and won the series four games to three... the All-Stars were on the brink of elimination and trailed three games to two... to survive they had to win the last two games from the feisty Rovers... Paul Martina worked a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the win... Pfeffer (.333) also doubled in 2 runs in the bottom of the first... CF Travis Glass (.321) had a solo homer and 2 RBIs in the game... Elnora totaled 10 hits off losing pitcher Bud Foster (1-1/2.16), who surrendered 5 runs with only 3 earned... Elnora is rated the third-best club in the Pro Cup playoffs with Sligo seeded seventh.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 3, 2031

Pro Cup Down To 4 Teams, Valmara Favored
Four clubs have survived in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs and they will continue their quest in the next round, the Final 4 Series. In the Ruthlandian Union it will be number-one seed Valmara hosting the third-seeded Elnora All-Stars. Over in the Tycobbian Union Rolling Hills entertains the Ginza Ninjas. The Reds are seeded fifth, while the surprising Ninjas are the last seed. All things point to a Valmara-Rolling Hills Pro Cup Finals, but it won't be easy. Elnora and Ginza have played very well in the postseason and will not be pushovers.

Valmara (99-55) manager Jet Kazmarek got exceptional pitching the the last two first-round games against San Dimas (93-61) to survive and make it to the Final 4. The Vipers won the series four games to two... starters Teddy Lem (1-0/1.80), Garry Gronek (2-1/2.14) and reliever Ivan Guzek (0-1/2.45/1 save) got them through the Elite 8... the Viper bat were adequate and sparked by CF Reno DiBenedetto (.407/1/3/5), SS Teddy Rudek (.333/1/7/4) and 2B Alec Leclerc (.318/0/2/2)... Valmara's big guns RF Gerry Kazmarek (.160/0/3/1), Benny Hooper (.240/0/3/2) and Floyd Randolph (.261/1/2/2) were quiet in the opening round... 1B Jerry Rembert, who tied with Randolph with 25 homers, will not be in the line-up for a few days... he was injured in the Elite 8... Rembert only hit .167 against San Dimas with one homer and 1 run batted in.

The Elnora All-Stars (95-59), guided by skipper Leon Carter just barely beat off hard-hitting Sligo (86-68) in a high-scoring seven-game series... if the All-Stars can good pitching from starters Freddy Pfeffer (1-2/1.71) and Lucien Vashon (2-0/1.23) and continue to hit well, they could knock off the favored Vipers... the bullpen will have to do better this time around... they were dismal against Sligo... Elnora will be led at the plate by 3B Mike Houston (.526/1/6/4), 2B Matt Boyd (.357/0/3/5), SS Jarrod Martin (.348/0/3/2), RF Pettis Pentleton (.333/1/3/6) and CF Travis Glass (.321/3/8/5)... Glass and 1B Mel Long (.226/3/6/5) supplied the firepower with 3 homers each. In the season they each went deep 25 times to top the team.

Rolling Hills (91-63) manager Matty Christianson got exceptional work from his bullpen to get by East Point (89-65) in the Tycobbian Elite 8, which was much closer than it looked... the Reds took it four games to one, but every game was nip-and-tuck... Rolling Hills won two games by a single run and the other two by two runs... the Panthers only win was by two runs... Errol Gaudet (0-1/1.84), the Reds ace, didn't win a game in the first round, neither did number two starter Tom Pierson (0-0/3.65)... to hold off the strong Ginza bats, both will have to get some wins... closer Maury Cantrell (1-0/1.50/2 saves) was especially good against East Point... he relieved in 4 of the games... the Rolling Hills bullpen allowed on one run in 11 innings in the series... the Reds offense was sufficient, but will probably have to be better against Ginza... top bats were CF Terry Wade (.350/1/4/3), 1B Billy Christianson (.300/0/1/1), C Tony Brinkerhoff (.294/0/5/3) and LF Lonnie Chadwick (.250/2/5/3)... the club home-run leader RF Scotty Yiska batted only .056 against East Point... Yiska led the Reds with 27 home runs in the regular year... Yiska was second with 105 RBIs to Brinkerhoff's 110 and batted a solid .306... in the playoffs Yiska has driven in only one run, but has scored 6 times.

The Ginza Ninjas (82-72) upset powerhouse Luxora (96-58) in six games in the first round with good pitching and timely hitting... Ginza had a poor first half, but became one of the better teams in the TU in the second half... they were 2 games under .500 entering August, but finished very strong and continued to play well into the postseason... they will not be an easy task for Rolling Hills... Harlan Wilson (2-0/2.50), Andrei Schuler (0-1/2.12) and Ryuji Kaneko (1-1/3.95) were effective starters and closer Frank Beard (1-0/0.00) got a win and a save in the series without giving up a run... manager Huroko Uchiyama's club has a chance if they continue to play like they did against Luxora, the best team in the Tycobbian Union this year with a 96-58 mark... only Valmara in the Ruthlandian Union won more games at 99-55... in first round action the Ninjas were led by SS Russ Van Kleek (.364/1/4/4), RF Hideo Kojima (.313/0/3/1), SS Taro Mori (.269/0/5/4) and 1B Roger Lanier (.250/1/4/2)... Ginza's big bats CF Cotton Cornwall (.160/0/1/2) and 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.154/1/2/3) were held in check by Luxora pitching and will need to step it up in the Final 4... they totaled 62 homers between them in the regular season... Cornwall and O'Rorke each drove in over 100 runs apiece.

Scheduled pitchers in the opening games will pit Elnora's Lucien Vashon (22-10/3.18) against Valmara's Teddy Lem (17-9/2.74) in the RU Final 4 and Ginza's Harlan Wilson (18-12/4.19) opposed by Errol Gaudet (21-8/2.75) for the Rolling Hills Reds in the TU Final 4 clash.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 3, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Lem Stops Elnora 4-1, Valmara Takes Opener
In game one of the Ruthlandian Final 4 at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara, the Vipers ace Teddy Lem mowed down the Elnora All-Stars 4-1 on a 6-hitter and Reno DiBenedetto walloped a pair of homers and batted in 3 runs... Lem (2-0/1.50) walked only one and whiffed 5, while pitching a complete game... CF DiBenedetto (.452) led the Vipers with 3 hits in 4 at-bats... Lucien Vachon (2-1/2.38) went the distance and lost for the first time in the playoffs... Valmara got to him for 4 runs and 7 hits.

Tycobbian Union

Reds Trip Ninjas 5-3 In Game 1
Errol Gaudet of the Rolling Hills Reds showed his stuff in the opening game of the Tycobbian Union Final 4 with a 5-3 victory over the red-hot Ginza Ninjas at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds... Gaudet (1-1/2.28) went all the way checking them on 3 runs and 6 hits... the Reds backed up Gaudet with some slick defense and turned three double plays... Rolling Hills had a 2-1 lead and broke the game open with 3 runs in the sixth frame, highlighted by Terry Wade's 2-run double.

Heading up the Reds 11-hit attack was SS Jeff Booker (.381) with 4 hits and Billy Christianson (.375) with 3... RF Terry Wade (.333) delivered 2 RBIs... and 3B Billy Jones (.500) and LF Scotty Yiska (.190) batted in a run apiece... 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.200) cracked 2 hits and scored twice to lead the Ninjas... not only was losing pitcher Harlan Wilson (2-1/3.24) hit hard for 11 hits, he was also wild with 5 walks... Wilson permitted all 5 runs in his 7 innings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 4, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Series Even, All-Stars Down Vipers 6-2
Freddy Pfeffer has done it again... the young Elnora right-hander came through for them again in an important game... just a few days ago Pfeffer beat Sligo in game seven of the RU Elite 8 Series... now he has evened up the Final 4 Series with Valmara with an impressive 6-2 victory... Pfeffer won game two in Valmara with a 5-hitter to gain a split in the series... he almost went the route, but needed help in the ninth from Jesus Robles, who got the final out in the game... Pfeffer threw 140 pitches, struck out 5 and walked 3... Garry Gronek (2-2/2.89) caught the loss as he allowed 4 runs and 10 hits in 7 frames... a 4-run second inning got Elnora off on the right foot and the Vipers never recovered... LF Clint Thomas (.220) and RF Pettis Pentleton (.293) topped the All-Stars with 2 runs batted in each... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.188) and LF Benny Hooper (.212) drove in the runs for the Vipers.

The series will now move to Elnora for the next three games.

Tycobbian Union

Ninjas Edge Reds 7-6 In Game 2, Van Kleek Hero
The Ginza Ninjas rallied twice in game two to slip by the Rolling Hills Reds 7-6 to even the TU Final 4 at two games each... Rolling Hills jumped ahead 3-0 in the first on Scotty Yiska's 3-run shot... however the Ninjas regained it 5-3 in the fifth... the Reds took charge again in the last of the fifth 6-5 on a 2-run clout by Tony Brinkerhoff... then in the top of the sixth Ginza's Cotton Cornwall tied it up with an RBI single and Russ Van Kleek singled in the eventual game-winning run.

It was a hit-infested game with 19 for the Ninjas and 12 by the Reds, but not a lot of scoring... Ginza stranded 13 baserunners... four Ninjas got 3 hits each: LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.303), CF Cotton Cornwall (.235), 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.257) and 2B Russ Van Kleek (.400)... RF Hideo Kojima (.318) sparked Ginza with 3 RBIs, Cornwall had 2 and Uchiyama and Van Kleek one each... leading the Reds were RF Scotty Yiska (.231) with 2 hits and 4 RBIs and C Tony Brinkerhoff (.292) with a pair of hits and 2 runs batted in... both Yiska and Brinkerhoff homered... 1B Billy Christianson (.429) smacked 3 hits and scored 2 runs.

Good relief work saved the game for Ginza starter and winner Andrei Schuler (1-1/3.91), who was battered for 6 runs and 10 hits in 6 innings... Hollis Pace pitched 2 perfect innings in the seventh and eighth and Frank Beard survived two singles in the ninth for his second save in the playoffs... Rolling Hills starter Tom Pierson (0-1/5.50) had a miserable game and lost it, giving up 7 runs and 16 hits in just 5-plus frames.

Games three, four and five will be held in Ginza's Ninja Stadium.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 5, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Vipers Raise Cain, Blank Elnora 4-0
The Pro Cup favorite, the Valmara Vipers, raised a little cane in the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 with a 4-0 shutout over Elnora in game three at State Fair Park... this gave the Vipers a one-game edge in the series... Carroll Cain (2-0/3.50) tossed a strong 5-hitter against the All-Stars... Elnora rarely threatened in the game, getting runners as far as second only twice... finally in the ninth a runner reached third with one out, but Cain quickly put out the fire and finished off the All-Stars.

Valmara took the lead early with 2 runs in the first inning on RBI singles by LF Benny Hooper (.243) and C Floyd Randolph (.333)... CF Reno DiBenedetto (.429) hurt his back sliding into second on a double and was replaced in the opening inning... DiBenedetto was the Vipers top hitter in the season and the postseason and will be out of action at least three weeks and will miss the rest of the playoffs... Hooper also doubled in another Viper run in the top of the third... and CF Belton Braddock got the final score in with a sac fly in the ninth... Jeremy Sellers (1-2/8.20) went all the way in defeat, but allowed 11 hits and 4 runs... Randolph and SS Teddy Rudek (.333) had 3 hits to lead Valmara, while Hooper added 2 hits and Braddock (.333) scored 2 runs.

Tycobbian Union

Chadwick's Triple Gives Reds Final 4 Lead
The Rolling Hills bats were silent for most of game three at Ninja Stadium in Ginza, but Lonnie Chadwick saved the day with a 2-run eighth-inning triple to give the Reds a 3-2 triumph over Ginza and a two games to one lead in the Tycobbian Final 4... Buck Myers (2-0/3.38) was the winning pitcher with a sparkling 8 innings... Myers allowed 2 runs on 6 hits, fanned 3 and walked 3... Maury Cantrell (1-0/1.00) made his sixth postseason appearance and notched his third save with a perfect ninth.

After 7 solid frames Ginza's Ryuji Kaneko (1-1/3.38) was in the lead 2-1, but he weakened in the eighth and departed... reliever Frank Beard (1-1/1.35) not only blew the save, but he also lost the game... Kaneko worked 7 and two-thirds innings, permitting just 2 runs on 7 hits... Rolling Hills got 9 hits in all and were led by Chadwick (.321) with 3 hits and a pair of RBIs... 2B Derek Kristensen (.214) drove in the Reds first run in the fourth to tie the score at 1 apiece... CF Cotton Cornwall (.216) and 1B Roger Lanier (.216) has RBI singles in the first and fourth for the Ninjas and LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.324) topped them with a pair of hits.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 6, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Valmara In Driver's Seat, Whips Elnora 8-6
A 7-run explosion in the sixth inning put the Valmara Vipers in the driver's seat in the Ruthlandian Final 4 Series... the Vipers captured game four 8-6 on the road in Elnora and now has a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series... Benny Hooper's 3-run homer put the Vipers ahead 8-2 and they held on as the All-Stars mounted a late-inng rally, but fell short.

Leading the Vipers 12-hit attack was LF Hooper (.262) with 2-for-5, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored... SS Teddy Rudek (.355) also collected 2 hits and drove in a pair of runs... Elnora also racked up 12 hits with 2B Matt Boyd (.341) and CF Travis Glass (.364) leading the way... Boyd has a solo homer in the game... LF Clint Thomas (.244) also chipped in a pair of doubles, scored twice and batted in a run... starter Teddy Lem got credit for the win, despite being tagged for 5 runs and 9 hits in 7-plus innings... Chris Phillips was roughed up in the ninth for a run on 3 hits, but got a shaky save... Elnora starter Lucien Vashon (2-2/3.77) was torched for 8 runs and 10 hits in 6 innings and was charged with the loss.

Tycobbian Union

Reds Romp 8-1 Over Ninjas, Up 3-1 In Series
Solid pitching by Errol Gaudet, backed up by 11 hits, gave Rolling Hills an easy 8-1 win over Ginza in game four of the Tycobbian Final 4... one more victory by the Reds and they will advance to the Pro Cup Finals... Gaudet (2-1/1.93) stymied the Ninjas on 5 hits and went the distance, striking out 2 and walking nobody... his only slip-up was a solo homer by CF Cotton Cornwall in the seventh... the Reds top bats were LF Scotty Yiska (.229), RF Terry Wade (.353), 3B Billy Jones (.500) and 2B Buffy Kowalczyk (.286), all with 2 hits each... Jones was the RBI leader with 2... loser Harlan Wilson (2-2/4.35) didn't fare well for Ginza... he was belted for 6 runs and 8 hits in his 6 innings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 7, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

All-Stars Alive, Pfeffer Blanks Vipers 2-0
The Elnora All-Stars are alive and kicking in the Ruthlandian Final 4... Freddy Pfeffer made sure of that when he hurled a 4-hit shutout to whip Valmara 2-0 in game 5 at State Fair Park and stave off elimination... however the Vipers still have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and the homefield advantage... Pfeffer (3-2/1.40) came through again in the clutch with his third consecutive crucial win... he fanned 8 and walked 3 en route to a complete-game victory... Valmara's Garry Gronek (2-3/2.75) was sharp, too... Gronek also went the distance, fanned 4, walked none, and allowed just 2 runs on 6 hits.

The All-Stars got a run in the opening frame on a triple by RF Pettis Pentleton (.296) and a balk by Gronek... the last run came in the fourth when 1B Mel Long (.239) doubled, moved over to third on a wild pitch, and scored on 3B Mike Houston's (.342) groundout to second... the Vipers only got 4 singles and rarely threatened... they only got a runner in scoring position one time in the game... that's was in the sixth when they had runners on first and third with two away.

The series will now go back to Valmara for game six, and if necessary, game seven... the Vipers need just one win in two games at War Memorial Stadium to clinch a spot in the Pro Cup Finals for the second straight year... Valmara was 51-26 at home during the regular season. Elnora plays well on the road, finishing with a 43-34 mark.

Tycobbian Union

Ginza Stuns Reds 7-6 In Game 5 On Swanson's HR
It was beginning to look like Ginza was gonna be long gone from the playoffs in game 5 at Ninja Stadium... Ginza trailed Rolling Hills 6-2 after 5 innings, but then caught fire with 2 in the sixth, one in the seventh and pinchhitter Benny Swanson's 3-run walk-off smash in the last of the ninth to stun the Reds 7-6 and cut their lead in the Tycobbian Final 4 to three games to two... the series will return to Rolling Hills and the Midtown Base Ball Grounds for the rest of the series... the Reds were 47-30 at home during the year and the Ninjas were only 41-36 at opposition ballparks.

Game five was a battle of home runs with each team going deep 3 times... in addition to Swanson's big blast, 1B Johnny O'Rorke (.234) and C Larry Gilbert also homered for the Ninjas, while RF Scotty Yiska (.237), SS Tony Ptacek (.100) and C Tony Brinkerhoff (.270) all had roundtrippers for the Reds... Rolling Hills outhit Ginza 9 to 8... Frank Beard (2-1/1.04) was the winner in relief... he blanked the Reds in the last two innings... closer Maury Cantrell (1-1/3.38) suffered the defeat as he was victimized by Swanson's blow in the ninth.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 8, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elnora Forces 7th Game, Nips Vips 2-1
At War Memorial Stadium in Valmara, Jeremy Sellers sizzled on the mound and Travis Glass delivered two crucial hits to spark the Elnora All-Stars to a tense 2-1 triumph over the Vipers in game six of the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series and force a seventh and deciding game... Sellers (2-2/5.74) yielded only 4 hits and one unearned run in 8 innings to even the series at three games each... Sellers was wild with 7 walks, but was tough in the clutch, stranding 10 baserunners... reliever Paul Martina (0-0/1.23) got save number two with a 1-2-3 ninth... losing pitcher Carroll Cain (2-1/3.00) had a fine outing and went all the way for the Vipers, surrendering 2 runs on 10 hits with 4 Ks and no walks.

Glass (.353) cracked an RBI double in the sixth to snap a scoreless tie... Valmara SS Teddy Ruzek (.351) promptly smacked a run-scoring two-bagger to even it up in the bottom half of the frame... then Glass delivered a game-winning single in the eighth inning... Glass leads the playoffs with 11 runs batted in... SS Jarod Martin (.333) had 3 hits and scored both runs to lead the All-Star attack... Elnora outhit Valmara 10 to 4.

Tycobbian Union

Ginza Zaps 4 HRs, Trounces Reds 12-7
On the road in Rolling Hills, the visiting Ginza Ninjas unleased 4 homers to zap the Reds 12-7 in game six of the Tycobbian Union Final 4 to even the series at three games apiece... game seven will be tomorrow afternoon again at the Midtown Baseball Grounds... the Ninjas ran up a 12-2 lead in the eighth and then withstood a Rolling Hills rally.

The big bats for Ginza were C Larry Gilbert (.273) with a 3-run homer, 1B Roger Lanier (.240) with 3 hits and a 2-run blast, pinchhitter Pat Hall (.500) with a 2-run clout and SS Taro Mori (.235) with a solo shot... CF Cotton Cornwall (.271) drove 2 runs and had 2 hits and 2 runs... Mori scored 3 times... the Reds got 9 hits and were paced by RF Scotty Yiska (.238) with 2 runs batted in... Yiska is now tied with Travis Glass of Elnora with 11 RBIs each in the Pro Cup playoffs.

Ginza starter Ryuji Kaneko (2-1/3.14) did a credible job for the win, going 7-plus innings, permitted 4 runs - 2 earned - on 5 hits... Kaneko exited with a 12-4 lead... Buck Myers (2-1/5.85) took the loss and was hit hard for 7 runs and 6 hits in 4 innings.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 9, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Valmara RU Champ, Outslugs Elnora In Game 7
Pro Cup favorite Valmara escaped elimination with a wild and wooly 14-11 slugfest victory over third-seeded Elnora in game seven of the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 Series... the Vipers prevailed on their home field, War Memorial Stadium, and will now advance to the IPA Pro Cup championship for the second year in a row... last year Valmara fell to Blue Lake in seven games.

It all came down to who had the best relievers and best pinchhitters...Ivan Guzek and Chris Phillips stopped the All-Stars on just 1 run and 3 hits over the final 5 and a third innings to solidify the win... and pinchhitters Belton Braddock (.400) and Roland Hogan (.250) came through with clutch hits... Braddock got a 2-run single in the third and Hogan belted a 2-run double in the sixth.

The game went back-and-forth... Elnora started off with a bang scoring 5 runs in the top of the first... the Vipers retaliated with 6 in the bottom half of the inning... Valmara added 2 more in the third to go ahead 8-5... lost the lead 10-8 in the fourth when Elnora tallied 5 times... the Vipers cut it to 10-9 in the last of the fourth... then busted it open 14-10 with a big 5-run sixth.

The Valmara 14-hit attack was led by CF Russ Gilmore (.167) with a homer and 4 RBIs, LF Benny Hooper (.259) with a double and a triple and 2 RBIs, 3B Amos Gallagher (.278) and RF Gerry Kazmarek (.135) each scored 3 runs, and 1B Jerry Rembert (.212) and SS Teddy Ruzek (.366) had 2 hits and scored 2 runs apiece.

Elnora slammed 3 homers and collected 12 hits... leading the way was RF Pettis Pentleton (.274) with a grand slam homer, 1B Mel Long (.296) clouted a 3-run shot and SS Jarod Martin (.360) hit a solo salvo... it was Long's fourth roundtripper in the postseason and Pentleton's second...Long and Martin paced the All-Stars with 3 hits each.

Both clubs used 5 pitchers each in the game... Valmara's Ivan Guzek (1-1/3.24) copped the win... Guzek came on in the fourth inning and retired all 7 batters he face... Guzek was followed by Chris Phillips, who got his second save in the playoffs with a 3-inning stint in the seventh through the ninth... Phillips allowed 3 hits, but only one run and struck out 3 batters... only Elnora's last pitcher Cliff Jackson was effective with 2 scoreless frames... the defeat went to Jesus Robles (0-1/6.75), who was blasted for 6 runs in 2-plus innings... Robles came on in the top of the fourth and blew the All-Stars 10-8 lead.

Tycobbian Union

RH Reds Heads To Pro Cup, Gaudet Stops Ginza 4-1
The fifth-seeded Rolling Hills Reds rolled over the 8th-seeded Ginza Ninjas 4-1 in the seventh game of the Tycobbian Final 4 to advance to the IPA Pro Cup championship series against the Ruthlandian champion, the Valmara Vipers.

Errol Gaudet put on a masterful performance against gallant Ginza, who gave the favored Reds fits in the series... Gaudet (3-1/1.73) scattered 8 hits and allowed just one run in a complete game, walked none and fanned 2... it ran his postseason record to a brilliant 14-1 over the past 4 seasons... career-wise Gaudet is 16-8 in 27 starts... Gaudet has a very impressive 2.07 ERA in 208 innings spread over 7 playoffs.

A 4-run first off Harlan Wilson gave Rolling Hills more than enough runs... 2B Buffy Kowalczyk (.273) singled in the first run and LF Scotty Yiska (.261) poled a 3-run roundtripper that sealed the fate of the Ninjas... the Reds racked up 15 hits, but wasted many of them... they left 12 runners on base... 1B Billy Christianson (.396) and CF Terry Thorsen (.357) topped the team with 3 hits each... it was Yiska's third playoff homer and ran his RBI total to 14, tops this year in the postseason... LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.340) cracked 3 base hits in defeat for the Ninjas, 2 of them doubles.

Ginza starter Harlan Wilson allowed a lot of hits, but settled down after a bad first frame and didn't give up another run... Wilson (2-3/4.50) was tagged for 13 hits overall and surrendered all 4 scores.

This year's Pro Cup Finals will begin this Sunday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... both Rolling Hills and Valmara are recent Pro Cup champions with the Reds winning in 2029 and the Vipers taking the crown in 2026... Valmara will have the homefield advantage in the best-of-seven series.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 10, 2031

Pro Cup Preview, Vipers-Reds Toss-up
We are two days away from the IPA Pro Cup Finals between the champions of the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions. The top 8 teams in the Islands have been pared down to just two - the Pro Cup favorite Valmara Vipers and the 5th-seed, the Rolling Hills Reds.

For the first time in several years there are no longshots involved. Both Valmara and Rolling Hills are very talented teams and very evenly matched. The Vipers are better on the mound, while the Reds may have the better offense. Baseball experts are split fairly evenly on the two squads. The oddsmakers have made it a "pick 'em" series with no clear favorite.

Both clubs had to survive tough series in both rounds. Valmara whipped two fine teams to get to the Finals. The Vipers defeated San Dimas in six games and were forced to go seven games against the Elnora All-Stars. The Reds took four of five from East Point in a very intense series where no game was decided by more than 2 runs. It was tough sledding against the Ginza Ninjas, too. Rolling Hills prevailed in a seven-game series. Valmara is 8-5 overall in the postseason, 4-3 at home at War Memorial Stadium and 4-2 on the road, while Rolling Hills is 8-4 in the playoffs with a 3-3 mark at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds and 5-1 out of town.

Valmara is expected to make another serious run for the Pro Cup crown... this is their fourth trip to the Finals... they won it in 2026 and were finalists last year and in 2023... the defending Pro Cup champion Blue Lake Blue Sox failed to make the playoff this season... for the sixth year in succession Jet Kazmarek's club is the RU North winner... Valmara (99-55) coupled great pitching and solid hitting to lead all comers in the IPA with 99 victories... the Vipers batted .275 as a team, ranked fourth in scoring and paced the IPA with a superior 2.85 team ERA... top performers were Garry Gromek (21-17/2.76), Teddy Lem (17-9/2.74), Carroll Cain (17-13/3.22), Ivan Guzek (10-3/2.06/22 saves), LF Benny Hooper (.325/25/115/92), CF Reno DiBenedetto (.285/16/100/101), RF Gerry Kazmarek (.313/10/64/105), C Floyd Randolph (.295/20/97/64) and 1B Jerry Rembert (.264/25/72/77)... Valmara is just average on defense with a .972 FA.

Valmara suffered a big setback when their best hitter Reno DiBenedetto hurt his back in game three of the Elnora series and will likely miss the Pro Cup Finals... DiBenedetto was batting .429 in the postseason with 3 homers, 6 RBIs and 7 runs scored... however, the Vipers really got a lift when Richie Raeburn returned after 7 weeks on the DL... Raeburn gives Valmara another top-notch starter, if he is fully recovered from his oblique strain... Raeburn was 10-4 in the regular season and posted a terrific 2.01 ERA, which led the entire IPA.

The Vipers are batting .256 as a team in the playoffs with 8 homers and 62 runs in 13 games... on the hill they have compiled a 3.44 ERA... in 5 starts Teddy Lem was 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA, Garry Gronek was 2-3 in 5 starts with a 2.75 ERA and Carroll Cain chalked up a 2-1 mark with a 3.00 ERA... in the bullpen Ivan Guzek had a 1-1 record with 1 save and a 3.24 ERA and Chris Phillips was 0-0 with 2 saves and a 4.50 ERA... Kazmarek's best hitters have been SS Teddy Ruzek (.366/1/11/7), LF Benny Hooper (.259/1/11/7), C Floyd Randolph (.286/1/6/6) and 3B Amos Gallagher (.278/0/6/8)... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.135/0/5/7) and 1B Jerry Rembert (.212/1/1/5) have struggled so far in the postseason.

This will be the second time Rolling Hills has qualified for the Pro Cup Finals... The Reds won it in 2029... For the 7th time in 13 years Rolling Hills has taken the Tycobbian West division crown and they did it by a comfortable 7 games over runner-up Bay St. Clair.

Matty Christianson's Reds (91-63) led the IPA with a .290 team batting average and 785 runs... they were also one of the best defensive teams with a .978 FA... however the Reds were just average in pitching with a 3.57 ERA... Christianson has an abundance of fine bats led by his son 1B Billy Christianson (.336/16/75/133), who easily topped the IPA in runs with 133... RF Scotty Yiska (.306/27/105/89) and CF Terry Wade (.319/6/71/64) also batted .300... C Tony Brinkerhoff drove in 113 runs with 13 roundtrippers and a .262 BA... 2B Derek Kristensen (.297/5/49/76), 3B Jeff Booker (.289/1/64/63) and SS Tony Ptacek (.272/6/37/33) were productive bats, too... part-time regulars 3B Buffy Kowalczyk (.330/6/46/31), LF Lonnie Chadwick (.323/10/42/52), RF Bobby McConnell (.352/2/20/24) and Billy Jones (.301/1/15/19) hit over .300 as well.

On the mound Errol Gaudet (21-8/2.75) and Tom Pierson (21-7/2.54) had super seasons... the other two starters Kenny Leonard (10-6/3.79) and Buck Myers (15-12/3.80) had quality seasons, too... closer Maury Cantrell (8-2/2.43/16 saves) was effective in the bullpen... with its high-octane attack and two solid starters the Reds will put up quite a fight.

In the postseason the Reds have prospered at the plate with a .271 BA, 9 homers and 61 runs in 2 games running up an 8-4 record... top hitters are 1B Billy Christianson (.396/0/2/8), CF Terry Wade (.333/1/8/8), C Tony Brinkerhoff (.289/2/10/8), RF Scotty Yiska (.261/3/14/13) and LF Lonnie Chadwick (.297/2/8/4).

On the mound the hurlers have put up a decent 3.64 ERA... Errol Gaudet (3-1/1.73) has been outstanding in the playoffs, but Tom Pierson (0-1/5.40) and Buck Myers (2-1/5.85) have had trouble... they will both have to do better against Valmara for the Reds to have a chance at the Pro Cup... closer Maury Cantrell has 3 saves with a 1-1 mark and a 3.38 ERA in 7 relief appearances.

Pro Cup Forecast:
If good pitching beats good hitting, then Valmara will triumph in 7 games over Rolling Hills.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 12, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game 1 at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara

Vipers Bop Reds In Pro Cup Opener 5-1, Lem Winner
Valmara's vaunted pitching staff came through for them in the opening game of the IPA Pro Cup Finals at War Memorial Stadium... Teddy Lem fired a 5-hitter to whip Rolling Hills ace Errol Gaudet 5-1... Lem (4-0/3.24) racked up his fourth postseason victory, striking out 4 and walking only one in a complete game... Gaudet (3-2/2.22) was not on top of his game as he yielded 4 runs on 8 hits in his 7 innings... Gaudet walked one and fanned 3 in defeat.

LF Benny Hooper (.259) and C Floyd Randolph (.283) got the Vipers off on the right foot with RBI singles in the opening frame... in the second 2B Alec Leclerc (.246) rapped a 2-run homer to put Valmara ahead 4-0... Lem held the Reds bats in check for most of the game and they never really challenged the Vipers... SS Billy Jones (.421) doubled in the Reds only run in the fifth, while Valmara got its last run in the eighth on Hooper's groundout... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.179) paced the winners with 3 singles in 4 at-bats.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 13, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game 2 at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara

Reds Romp Over Vipers 7-3 In Game 2
Rolling Hills put it all together in game two of the IPA Pro Cup championship series at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara and came away with a 7-3 win in 10 innings to even up at a game each... the Vipers took game one 5-1... the Reds snapped a 3-3 tie with 4 runs in the tenth frame... the primary hit came on a 2-run double by C Tony Brinkerhoff (.278)... a couple of insurance runs were added on 3B Jeff Booker's (.275) fielder's choice and 2B Derek Kristensen's (.262) single.

Rolling Hills got quality pitching and 12 hits, including 7 doubles and a homer... Tom Pierson hurled the first 6 frames and gave up only one unearned run and one hit... the Reds led 3-1 when he left the game for a pinchhitter... Pierson struck out 5 and walked 2... Buck Myers (3-1/5.87) blew the save in the ninth, but got credit for the victory, working 3 innings, giving up 3 hits and 2 runs... Myers couldn't hold a 3-1 lead, going into Valmara's final at-bat... Maury Cantrell (1-1/3.09) held the Vipers scoreless in the tenth to close out the game... Brinkerhoff (.278) sparked the Reds with a homer, double and 3 runs batted in... 3B Jeff Booker (.275) had 2 RBIs... Valmara starter Garry Gronek (2-3/2.80) was effective... he held the Reds to 3 runs and 8 hits in 9 innings with 7 Ks and no walks... the loss went to closer Ivan Guzek (1-2/7.00), who was laced for 4 hits and 4 runs in the tenth.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 14, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 3 at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds in Rolling Hills

RH Noses Out Valmara 3-2, Takes Pro Cup Lead
Matty Christianson made a change in his rotation and it paid off handsomely... Kenny Leonard in his first postseason start this season gave the Rolling Hills Reds a 2-1 lead in the Pro Cup Finals with a masterful 3-2 decision over Valmara in game three at the Reds' homefield, the Midtown Base Ball Grounds... Leonard got the call instead of Buck Myers (3-1/5.87) and held the Vipers to 2 runs and 6 hits in 8 and two-thirds innings... closer Maury Cantrell (1-1/3.00) was called in to get the final out with the tying run on first base... the Vipers manager Jet Kazmarek also made a change in his starting rotation and got a well-pitched game from Richie Raeburn... in his first start in seven weeks Raeburn (0-1/3.38) went the distance, gave up 3 runs on 8 hits in defeat... Raeburn replaced Carroll Cain (2-1/3.00) in Valmara's Pro Cup rotation... Raeburn led the IPA with a 2.01 ERA this season, while compiling a 10-4 record in 15 starts.

Reds RF Scotty Yiska (.241) smashed his 4th roundtripper in the playoffs to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third, which proved to be the winning runs... Yiska now has 16 RBIs in the postseason, the best total of any player... LF Benny Hooper (.246) put Valmara in front in the first frame with a double that scored 1B Jerry Rembert (.209)... it was Hooper's 14th run batted in... 3B Jeff Booker (.278) grounded out in the second and scored C Tony Brinkerhoff from third to even up the score... in the eighth CF Russ Gilmore (.214) went deep to narrow the Reds' lead to 3-2, but that was all the Vipers got... Rolling Hills outhit Valmara 8 to 6.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 15, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 4 at the Midtown Ball Grounds in Rolling Hills

Reds Edge Vipers 9-8, Take 3-1 Lead
This Pro Cup Finals supposedly pitted a good-hitting team against a good-pitching team and as the old adage goes, "good pitching beats good hitting". It may not be true this year. Hot-hitting Rolling Hills has rolled to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Pro Cup Finals and need only one more victory to wrap up the trophy against the pitching-heavy Valmara Vipers... the Reds edged Valmara 9-8 in 10 innings in game four and is now a top-heavy favorite to win the Islands pro baseball title.

The Reds had to rally from 4-0, 6-4 and 8-6 deficits to pull out the win... it was Terry Wade's two-out single and Scotty Yiska's RBI double in the last of the tenth that decided the contest... it was a 27-hit slugfest with both ace starters gone by the third frame... it was not a good day for the Reds Errol Gaudet and the Vipers Teddy Lem... Rolling Hills used 5 pitchers and Valmara used 3... the Reds banged out 17 hits to the Vipers 10... Rolling Hills RF Scotty Yiska (.270) went 3-5 and batted in 3 runs, C Tony Brinkerhoff (.286) was 2-5 with a 2-run homer and 3B Jeff Booker (.310) was 3-4 with 2 runs scored... Yiska now has 19 RBIs in the playoffs and Brinkerhoff has 4 homers and 15 RBIs... the Vipers best bats were RF Gerry Kazmarek (.191) and LF Benny Hooper (.243), each with 2 RBIs.

Little-used reliever Dave Gronkowski (2-0/0.00) got the last out in the top of the tenth and got the victory... Valmara closer Ivan Guzek (1-3/6.17) blew the save in the eighth when the Reds tied it 8-8 and sent it to extra innings, then lost it in the tenth... Rolling Hills will host game five tomorrow afternoon and could send Valmara home for the season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 16, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 5 at the Midtown Ball Grounds in Rolling Hills

Vips Survive, Hooper HR Wins It 6-3
Game five was a "must win" for Valmara and they got it - Benny Hooper slugged a 2-run homer in the top of the seventh to give the Vipers a 5-3 lead over Rolling Hills at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds en route to a 6-3 victory to remain alive in the Pro Cup Finals... the series stands at 3-2 in favor of Rolling Hills... Garry Gronek hurled a solid game, halting the Reds on 3 runs and 6 hits... Gronek (3-3/2.83) fanned 6 and walked 4, while going the distance... Dave Gronkowski (2-1/3.38) was the losing pitcher... Gronkowski gave up Hooper's decisive homer.

Valmara had 14 hits and were led by Benny Hooper (.267) with 3 hits and 4 RBIs... Hooper now has 2 home runs in the playoffs and 20 runs batted in... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.219) chipped in 3 hits and scored twice for the Vipers.

The Pro Cup Finals will continue tomorrow afternoon with game six at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... the Vipers will send Richie Raeburn (10-4/2.01) to the mound and Kenny Leonard (10-6/3.79) will get the starting assignment for the Reds... Raeburn is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in one start in the playoffs, while Leonard is 1-0 with a 4.40 ERA in 2 starts and 3 relief appearances... should it be necessary, game seven will also be in Valmara.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 17, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 6 at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara

RH Reds Are IPA Champ Again!
For the second time in three seasons the Rolling Hills Reds are again the premier team in the IPA... the Reds knocked off slightly-favored Valmara in the Pro Cup Finals this year in six games, taking game six 5-2 on the road in Valmara... Kenny Leonard and two relievers finished off the Vipers... Leonard (2-0/3.86) notched the win as he worked into the seventh, yielded 2 runs and 7 hits... the Reds were up 5-2 when he went to the showers and Buck Myers and Maury Cantrell protected the win for him with 2 and a third scoreless innings... it was Cantrell's 5th save in the playoffs... Valmara starter Richie Raeburn (0-2/5.54) struggled in defeat by allowing 5 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings.

The Rolling Hills offense was sparked by LF Lonnie Chadwick's (.271) 2-run homer in the second, which put them ahead 2-1 and by Leonard's (.286) 2-run triple in the fifth that made it 4-1... it was Chadwick's 3rd roundtripper of the postseason... Valmara outhit the Reds 8 to 6... LF Benny Hooper (.269) and C Floyd Randolph (.301) drove in runs for the Vipers... Hooper got his with his 3rd postseason home run.

Manager Matty Christianson told the press after the game, "We won in six games, but it wasn't easy... we beat a very, very good team, an excellent team... the key was our hitting... Yiska and Brinkerhoff were the big guns, but everybody in the line-up contributed... on the mound it was Gaudet and Cantrell." Rolling Hills also won in 2029, sweeping the Stoner Stars in four games.

Losing skipper Jet Kazmarek, who lost in the Pro Cup Finals for the second straight season, said, "Losing is never fun... but we gave it another good shot and came up short again... I really thought this was going to be our year... but the Reds are just too good with the bats... that was the difference."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 18, 2031

Pro Cup MVP Goes To Reds Cantrell
The IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player trophy went to Rolling Hills closer Maury Cantrell in a close poll with right fielder Scotty Yiska. The two Reds teammates led the team to their second Pro Cup crown in the last three seasons. This year Cantrell was named the best player in the Pro Cup Finals by a 57-53 vote conducted by The Islandian Times. No other players received any votes in the balloting. This was the first time in IPA history that a reliever won the coveted award.

Cantrell appeared in 11 of the Reds postseason games, saved 5 of the them, while posting a 2.25 ERA and a 1-1 record. In 16 innings Cantrell allowed 7 hits, struck out 21 and walked 7. During the regular season Cantrell posted an 8-2 mark with 16 saves and a 2.43 ERA. In 18 games Yiska led the playoffs with 21 RBIs and tallied 17 runs, but only hit .257. He cracked 3 doubles and 4 homers in postseason action. In the regular campaign he batted .301 with 27 homers, drove in 105 runs and scored 89 times.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 19, 2031

3rd RU Golden Bat For Waleska's Dillinger
For the third time in the last four seasons Waleska's hard-hitting superstar Loco Dillinger has claimed the Ruthlandian Golden Bat Award. The Westerner star also won it in 2028 and 2029. This year Dillinger outpaced Pettis Pentleton of Elnora and Benny Hooper of Valmara in the balloting conducted by The Islandian Times.

The 31-year-old Dillinger led the RU with 43 homers, finished second with 114 RBIs, second in hits with 209 and third in scoring with 114 runs. He came in fourth in the batting race with a .333 batting average. In spite of Dillinger's fine season, Waleska slumped to fifth place this year in the RU South.

Following closely in Dillinger's footsteps was Elnora's Pettis Pentleton, who topped the RU with a .353 batting average and 217 hits and sparked the All-Stars to the RU East division title. Overall Pentleton played in 149 games, stole 35 bases, hit 15 homers, drove in 98 runs and scored 111 times.

Valmara's steady left fielder Benny Hooper was third in the Golden Bat poll. Hooper led the Vipers to their sixth straight RU North pennant with a .325 batting average, 25 home runs and paced the IPA with 115 RBIs.

Southport's Evans Cops 3rd TU Golden Bat
Southport's sensational slugger Lorne Evans continued to terrorize Tycobbian pitchers and copped his third Golden Bat Award in the last four years. Evans led his club to a second-place finish in the TU South this season. The 26-year-old Sun Sox right fielder had the most roundtrippers in the IPA this year with 49. Evans also ranked high in the TU with 109 RBIs (4th) and 119 runs (1st), while hitting .307 for the year. Evans also won Golden Bats in 2028 and 2030.

In a fairly close vote, Evans outdistanced Bayview's young Roy Ricks and Chicopee's Charlie Jensen for the honor. Ricks batted .329 with 42 roundtrippers, 111 runs batted in and 107 runs, while playing in 143 games. 8-year veteran Jensen hit .298 at the plate with 43 homers, 113 RBIs and 109 runs scored.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 20, 2031

Libertini Edges Whitaker and Janssen For RU Golden Arm
In his fourth season in the IPA Aron Libertini stepped up to a new level and came away with the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award, symbolic of the best pitcher in the league. The Sugar Valley 24-year-old star hurler led all comers in the IPA with 25 victories. In all Libertini was 25-10 with a 2.67 ERA, 6 shutouts and 24 complete games. The Rattlers wound up fourth in the RU East. Lifetime in four seasons Libertini is 82-49 with a 3.24 ERA.

Dave Whitaker of the Kilkenny Cats was second in The Islandian Times poll. Whitaker posted a magnificent year with a 22-13 mark for the fourth-place Cats, who were only 76-78 on the year. Whitaker posted a 2.38 ERA with 26 complete games and 5 shutouts.

The third-highest votegetter was 5-year veteran Ryan Janssen of the LaGrange Sports. Janssen rolled up a 20-12 mark with a strong 2.41 ERA and easily led the IPA with 311 strikeouts in 325 innings. The Sports came in second to Valmara in the RU North Division.

HM Cowboys Kaltenborn Named TU Golden Arm
The High Mesa Cowboys didn't have much of a season, winding up in seventh place in the TU East, but they had one of the best pitchers in the IPA. Emil Kaltenborn recovered from two consecutive sub-par seasons with a great year and won the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award. The seven-year veteran chalked up an 18-10 mark with a poor team and compiled a brilliant 2.25 ERA, considering Queen Ranch Stadium is one of the smallest parks in the IPA and is nothing but a "home-run haven". Kaltenborn paced the TU in ERA and was number two in the IPA. The 26-year-old right-hander fired 5 shutouts, struck out 225 batters and had 25 complete games. Career-wise Kaltenborn is remarkable 98-66 with a fine 2.70 ERA. The Cowboys have not had a winning record since 2026 and have been buried in the second division for the last five years.

Luxora's ace Benny DeVito was second in the poll with a 22-14 mark and a 2.29 ERA. The 6-year man sparked the Zorros to the pennant in the TU North and to the second-best record in the IPA with 96 wins. Only Valmara of the RU was better with 99 victories. DeVito fired 5 shutouts, fanned 221 in 334 innings and notched 25 complete games.

Number three in the voting in the TU Golden Arm competition was Dixie Brooks of the East Point Panthers. The Panthers won the TU East Division and Brooks played a primary role with a 21-15 record and a 2.53 ERA. The 5-year vet had 266 Ks in 313 innings, 21 complete games and 5 shutouts.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 21, 2031

Sunbirds Gregg Top RU Rookie
There were pretty sparse pickings in the class of 2031 in the IPA. Very few rookies made an impact throughout the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Unions. The RU Rookie of the Year honor went to Belair Beach's 22-year-old right-hander Joel Gregg, followed at a distance by shortstop Johnny Church of the Marston Nine and outfielder Clint Thomas of the Elnora All-Stars.

Gregg put up a 15-9 record with a solid 3.22 ERA in 38 starts. Church played in 143 games for sixth-place Marston and batted a respectable .283, scored 85 times and drove in 62 runs, while performing well in the field and stealing 22 bases. The Sunbirds came in fourth in the RU South. Thomas helped Elnora to the RU East pennant with a .283 BA, 4 homers, 57 RBIs, 85 runs and stole 35 bases.

Kenwood CF Venacio Best Rook In TU
Not much in the freshman class in the Tycobbian Union either. 25-year-old center fielder Alonzo Venacio hauled in the TU Rookie of the Year trophy with a .302 batting average, 11 homers, 77 runs scored and 59 runs batted in. Venacio was outstanding with a .993 fielding average. Kenwood finished third in the TU West behind Pro Cup champ Rolling Hills.

Two starters were in the runner-up and third spots in The Islandian Times annual poll. Frankie Lambert made 31 starts for the basement-dwelling Arlon Champions and posted a 10-10 mark with a good 3.08 ERA, while Brent Silverstone notched an 11-15 record and a 3.16 ERA for the last place White River Rascals.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 22, 2031

Elnora's Pentleton Prevails In RU MVP Race
In a surprise the RU batting champ prevailed over two strong challengers in the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player poll. Outfielder Pettis Pentleton of the Elnora All-Stars took the prestigious trophy in a close vote over Sugar Valley's Aron Libertini and Waleska's Loco Dillinger. Libertini won this year's Golden Arm Award and Dillinger claimed the Golden Bat honor.

Pentleton, a 25-year-old right fielder, compiled a .353 batting average to lead the RU and spark the All-Stars the RU East Division crown. Pentleton came in second in the Golden Bat competition, losing out to Waleska's Loco Dillinger. This year's MVP smacked 15 roundtrippers, scored 111 runs, batted in 98 and garnered his second Golden Glove award. Elnora's lofty place in the standings apparently swayed many of the voters in the selection process. Libertini and Dillinger both had very impressive seasons, but their clubs wound up far off the pace in the pennant races.

Sugar Valley ace Aron Libertini had a marvelous season and paced the Rattlers to a fourth-place finish in the RU East, won by Elnora. Libertini was the top winner in the IPA with a 25-10 record and 2.67 ERA.

Third in The Islandian Times balloting was Loco Dillinger of the fifth-place Waleska Westerners, a 6-time All-Star and 3-time Golden Bat winner. The 31-year-old slugger topped the RU with 43 home runs, came in second with 114 RBIs and third with 114 runs, while finishing fourth with a .333 BA.

Zorros DeVito TU Top Player
Benny DeVito didn't win the Golden Arm, but the Luxora southpaw hauled in the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player Award. DeVito led the Zorros to 96 wins this season, the most in the TU and second-best in the IPA. DeVito rang up a 22-14 mark with a superb 2.29 ERA to win out over Golden Arm winner Emil Kaltenborn of High Mesa and Golden Bat victor Lorne Evans of the Southpost Sun Sox in The Islandian Times poll.

Kaltenborn had a standout season for the seventh-place Cowboys, but ended up number two in the MVP voting after taking the top pitcher award. Kaltenborn chalked up an 18-10 record with an amazing 2.25 ERA, while playing half his games in the hitter-friendly Queen Ranch Stadium. The 26-year-old righty tossed 25 complete games and 5 shutouts with 225 Ks in 334 innings.

It wasn't a good year for the power-hitters in the IPA as the Golden Bat winner Lorne Evans came in third in the MVP balloting, just like Loco Dillinger of the Ruthlandian Union. Evans, who plays right field for the Southport Sun Sox, a 3-time Batter of the Year and 4-time All-Star, had 49 homers to lead the IPA, the third time he has done that in his career. The 26-year-old Evans was tied for second in the IPA with 119 runs and fourth in the TU with 109 RBIs. Evans played in 148 games and batted .307 for the year. His Sun Sox were beaten out for the TU South pennant by just one game by the Ginza Ninjas.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 23, 2031

RU, TU Awards Golden Gloves
"Hit 'em where they ain't" is a great hitting philosophy, but it doesn't always work when a fielder can seemingly appear out of nowhere to make a play. These magicians are often taken for granted as the season grinds along, but today they take center stage. The Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union announced the Golden Glove Awards for 2031 at a press conference.

The RU Golden Glovers were led by Kyle Hunt, who has been named 5 times in his career, Josh George picked for the third time and Pettis Pentleton for his second time.

The TU had four multiple Golden Glover winners: Freddy Franks, who has been awarded 3 Golden Gloves, and Rob Santorio, Billy Christianson and Babe Hankins have each been selected twice. No rookies made the teams this year.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team:
Pitcher: Walt Wright (Forest City) (.986 FA/11-22/3.90)
Catcher: Kyle Hunt (Ranford) (.994 FA/3 PB/40.7% RTO) (130 G/.317/9/71/74)
First Baseman: Josh George (Crystal Lake) (.991 FA/154 G/.270/21/90/98)
Second Baseman: Byron Johannsen (St. John) (.981 FA/148 G/.327/10/86/91)
Third Baseman: Patrick Cullen (Kilkenny) (.956 FA/141 G/.220/11/44/35)
Shortstop: Teddy Rudek (Valmara) (.959 FA/148 G/.233/4/49/49)
Left Fielder: Raphael Cartier (LaGrange) (.991 FA/145 G/.261/13/50/81)
Center Fielder: Reno DiBenedetto (Valmara) (.998 FA/147 G/.285/16/100/101)
Right Fielder: Pettis Pentleton (Elnora) (.991 FA/149 G/.353/15/98/111)

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team:
Pitcher: Pat Kovacs (La Claire) (.984 FA/19-11/2.26)
Catcher: Rob Santorio (Red Bluff) (.995 FA/3 PB/38.6% RTO) (130 G/.232/15/52/54)
First Baseman: Billy Christianson (Rolling Hills) (.994 FA/154 G/.336/16/75/133)
Second Baseman: Fran Dixon (Ozarka) (.984 FA/144 G/.255/9/62/51)
Third Baseman: Freddy Franks (High Mesa) (.976 FA/146 G/.262/19/67/79)
Shortstop: Dandy Meredith (Hillsboro) (.973 FA/148 G/.268/8/35/86)
Left Fielder: Boom-Boom Baker (Blue Lake) (.984 FA/144 G/.275/21/77/83)
Center Fielder: Antonio Vasquez (Summerland) (.995 FA/.244/2/51/72)
Right Fielder: Babe Hankins (Kenwood) (.992 FA/133 G/.287/18/82/86)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 24, 2031

Elnora's Carter Acclaimed Best RU Skipper
It was just a two-man race for the Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year Award. Leon Carter of the Elnora All-Stars took the honor in a fairly close vote over Valmara's Jet Kazmarek in The Islandian Times annual poll.

Carter did a superb job guiding the All-Stars to it first pennant in nine years in the RU East Division. Elnora improved from 70-84 to 95-55 this year, rising up from last place to first place. The All-Stars had the second-best record in the RU and third-best in the IPA. Only Valmara and Luxora won more games than Elnora.

Runner-up Jet Kazmarek continued his remarkable run as skipper of the Valmara Vipers. His club has totally dominated the RU North Division with 8 flags in the last 9 years, 6 of them in a row. This year the Vipers won more games than anyone in the IPA with a 99-55 mark, 12 games better than the previousn season.

Z's Tompkins TU Manager of the Year
It was a tight battle in the Tycobbian Union for the skipper of the year between two pennant-winning managers, Lacey Tompkins of the Luxora Zorros and Matty Christianson of the Rolling Hills Reds.

Tompkins was named the TU Manager of the Year as he led his Zorros from second place to first place in the TU North standings. Luxora went from 83-71 to a much-improved 96-58 this season, which was the second-best mark in the IPA and best in the TU. It's been 10 years since Luxora last won a pennant.

Christianson moved his Rolling Hills Reds up from third place to first place in the TU West. The Reds posted the second-best record in the TU and the fifth best overall in the IPA with 91 wins and 63 losses. It was the seventh time in his career Christianson has won the division flag and the fifth time in the last seven years.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 25, 2031

IPA Icons Elliott, Hobbs Retire
Two of the greatest players in Islandian Pro Alliance history have hung up the spikes, their playing days are over. Jack Elliott of the Cape Coral Hurricanes and Roy Hobbs of the Waleska Westerners.

At age 38, Elliott (2013-2031) called it quits after 19 seasons, 18 of them spent with the High Mesa Cowboys. The standout first baseman made the All-Star team 13 times, won 12 Golden Bats, 5 Golden Gloves and 3 MVPs (2013, 2021, 2022). Elliott holds the IPA marks for career homers with 848, over 100 more than the next best player, Phil Gravelli. He also holds the season record for homers with 65 in 2021. Elliott also walloped 61 in 2013, his rookie season. The gifted player led the league 9 times in homers, runs 8 times and in batting average 7 times. Elliott played in 2758 games, hit .332 lifetime (3rd) with 3467 hits (10th), 2120 RBIs (2nd) and 2192 runs (3rd).

Elliott told the press, "I had a wonderful time... baseball has been great to me... I only have two regrets... I never got to play in the Pro Cup playoffs... and that I stayed too long... I should have retired after the 2028 season... I hung on 3 years too many... others saw it, but I didn't."

Roy Hobbs decided this year at age 38 to retire from the game after seeing his playing time diminished for the first time in his career. "I only played in 85 games this year. I can still hit pretty good... .305 ain't bad for an oldtimer... but my defense suffered... my speed is down... and the old body just can't play 154 games a year any longer. If I played next year, I would embarass myself. I didn't want people feeling sorry for me."

Hobbs spent 19 years in the Waleska outfield from 2013 to 2031, made the All-Star team 15 times, won 7 Golden Bats, 4 batting crowns, 2 Golden Gloves and 2 Most Valuable Player Awards (2026, 2030). In his career Hobbs hit .345 (2nd), collected 3783 hits (2nd), 2037 RBIs (3rd) and scored 2026 times (8th). He also hit well in the postseason with a .324 BA in 27 games with 5 home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 runs.

I'm working on Hall of Fame inductees and also preparing rosters for 2032.