THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 17, 2040

NORTH HILLS REIGNS SUPREME AGAIN IN TU NORTH
It's getting to be old hat... the North Hills Hawks won the Tycobbian North Division again for the seventh time and as per usual in fairly easy fashion... they whipped runner-up Mahaska by 8 games, third place Luxora and Fairfax by 11 games... the Hawks have won nine TU North flags in their history with three Pro Cups... they are now getting ready to try and win a fourth IPA title in the last seven seasons... North Hills captured the championship trophy in 2034, 2036 and 2038... and will be one of the favorites to win in 2040.

1. NORTH HILLS HAWKS (97-58): the Hawks put up the second-best record in the Tycobbian Union this year, topped only by Summerland in the Tycobbian Union with 98... Cold Creek of the Ruthlandian East led the IPA with 101 wins... North Hills does it with great pitching and adequate offense... registering a super 2.88 ERA (2nd)... only Summerland in the TU South was better with a brilliant 2.83 ERA... the Hawks' scoring could be better... they hit well with a .269 BA (7th), but lack scoring and firepower... North Hills scored only 676 runs (20th) and hit 135 HRs (23rd)... they are good defenders with a .975 FA.
Top Pitchers: 34-year-old southpaw Jeff Owens had a tremendous year with a 28-7 record and 2.48 ERA... He easily had the most wins in the IPA... last year's Golden Arm winner Tony Mack (20-14/3.03) won 20 games again... Frankie Lambert added a 19-14 mark with a strong 2.89 ERA... veteran Dave Michael was a good number four with a 13-12 record and a 3.30 ERA... the bullpen was outstanding, too, with Nelson Hooper (4-5/2.63/22 saves), Kyle Oliver (8-4/3.21/4 saves) and Joey Santini (5-1/2.02/3 saves).
Top Batters: superstar All-Star LF Adam Thurgood (.324/23/90/91) again led the club with help from some reliable hitters: 1B Ric Hamilton (.340/24/92/69), 2B Tommy Vavas (.289/14/62/91), CF Kris Anastas (.274/16/73/65) and 3B Jim McDermott (.280/12/67/62).

2. MAHASKA HAYMAKERS (89-65) (8 GB): for the third year in a row the Haymakers have come in second to North Hills... they have three pennants to their credit, but none since 2027... and the team is still looking for its first Pro Cup... pitching is good with a 3.57 ERA (7th), but not near the class of the Hawks... the Haymakers have better power with 164 HRs (14th) and a better offense with 730 runs (10th)... defense is good with a .976 FA.
Top Pitchers: the ace was well-traveled 34-year-old Freddy Pfeffer (17-14/3.06), who reached the 200-win milestone this season in his second year with Mahaska... he was stuck in the bullpen last year, but got his chance this year and did quite well... Pfeffer is 207-170 in his 14 seasons with a 3.06 ERA... another 34-year-old journeyman Jergen Fyelstad (21-10/3.46) posted the most wins on the team... vet Greg Douglas (14-8/3.58) was a quality number-three starter... in the bullpen Luke Cargill (9-7/2.53/26 saves) stood out with 26 saves, beaten only by Ronald Shaddock (12-6/2.27) with an IPA-leading 27 saves.
Top Batters: All-Star 2B Mikk Kukk (.330/22/83/93), RF Anton Hymel (.277/29/100/74) and rookie 1B Mark Graham (.290/19/60/61) were the only real threats in the batting order... the 25-year-old Graham came over in a July trade with Volusia of the Ruthlandian Union for 28-year-old SS Duane Blayney (.320/28/83/65) and could be a find... so far it looks like the Vigilantes got the best of the trade... time will tell... 19-year-old pitcher John Polk was also included in the deal.

3. LUXORA ZORROS (86-68) (11 GB): stuck in third place the last three years... the Z's have won the TU North eight times, but have never captured a Pro Cup... 2031 was their last postseason appearance... good all-around club with .268 BA (8th), 754 runs (6th), 215 HRs (3rd) and a 3.50 ERA (6th)... very good gloves with a .977 FA.
Top Pitchers: 34-year-old lefty Kent Halloran (19-14/2.16) is one of the best in the IPA... he had the second-best ERA next to IPA leader Jayson Hallstrom (24-7/2.08) of Summerland... 21-year-old Joao Damaso (13-13/3.66) and Roy Watson (14-13/3.86) were pretty fair starters, too... workhorse reliever Fernando Sanches (9-11/2.72/23 saves) appeared in 64 games.
Top Batters: club leaders were 29-year-old All-Star SS Joel Poche (.319/29/91/100) and 35-year-old LF Milt Powers (.278/31/97/79)... along with one of the comeback players of the year 37-year-old 1B Gerry Hathaway, who hit 35 homers, batted in 85 runs and scored 87 times, while batting a solid .289... 36-year-old 3B Todd Dubbins also contributed a .303 BA, 26 HRs, 63 RBIs and 62 runs.

3. FAIRFAX FROGS (86-68) (11 GB): another top-notch club that plays in a strong division... on paper the Frogs are really good except for HR power (110 HR-30th)... impressive pitching with a 3.41 ERA (3rd), very good offense with a .278 BA (2nd) and 747 runs (7th), plus excellent defense with a .978 FA... but year-after-year North Hills beats them out for the division flag... the Frogs have won the TU North on six occasions, most recently in back-to-back seasons in 2032 and 2033.
Top Pitchers: Lucien Vashon (21-17/2.94), Harold Dorman (20-14/3.35), and Scott Ray (10-2/2.47) are three very good starters... Bruno Statton (5-2/1.76/14 saves) did another great job in the bullpen this year.
Top Batters: the Frogs really need some power in the line-up... 1B Sal Mauk (.255) topped the team with 11 homers... and C Joe King (.290) and CF Eric Kusek (.278) had 10 each... the rest were Punch-and-Judy types: LF Bobby Joe Daniel (.343/3/77/83), RF Roger Krieger (.307/7/56/49), 2B Ferrell Dillard (.316/7/41/73) and SS Gilbert Miles (.276/6/76/84).

5. WHITE RIVER RASCALS (79-75) (18 GB): the Rascals have posted winning season the last four years, but have been stuck in the second division... they have only 4 division crowns in their history and no Pro Cups... the last playoff appearance was in 2027... the Rascals have fairly good pitching with a 3.67 ERA (10th), average hitting with .258 BA (17th) and 688 runs (17th), but very good HR power with 196 homers (7th)... but they have lousy defense with a .968 FA.
Top Pitchers: Paul Sardini (17-12/3.46), Trenton Anderson (19-15/3.76) and Mickey Cronyn (14-11/3.79) are better-than-average starters... 37-year-old Sardini has been around for 18 seasons and has compiled a 275-220 record with a standout 2.94 lifetime ERA.
Top Batters: CF Buford Cross (.304/22/81/84), RF Zachary Kriger (.299/12/40/96) and 3B Richie Cook (.297/17/58/61) are the best contact hitters, while the sluggers are C Stevee Dee Daniels (.245 BA) with a club-high 35 HRs, SS Warren McKenzie (.246) had 29 roundtrippers and a club-high 87 RBIs and LF Billy Joe Hickman (.264) chipped in with 26 HRs and 81 RBIs.

6. BLUE LAKE BLUE SOX (74-80) (23 GB): the Blue Sox have only two division flags in their history, but they do have one Pro Cup (2030)... that was the last postseason appearance... Blue Lake had four straight seasons over .500, but broke it this season by winding up in sixth place... the Blue Sox had pretty good pitching with a 3.62 ERA (9th), but suffer from a severe lack of offense with only a .254 BA (21st), 635 runs (28th) and only 107 homers (31st)... only average defensively with a .971 FA.
Top Pitchers: they boast three quality starters in Sal Mays (22-13/3.51), Andre Montrose (18-17/3.19) and Frankie Quinn (13-20/3.67)... 24-year-old Mays has won 20 games in four of his five seasons... 34-year-old Quinn has won 20 or more games nine times in his 14 seasons... overall he is 265-195 with a 3.05 ERA.
Top Batters: there are no standout sticks on the club... 2B Egon Ojamaa is the club leader with 20 HRs and 86 RBIs, but is batting only .235... LF Jack Ryan has the best BA with .306... CF Paddy Rajak (.264) is tops with 83 runs scored.

7. HARTSDALE HELLCATS (73-81) (24 GB): the Hellcats didn't raise any havoc in the TU North this year... not even a little heck... they are just a mediocre team with a .256 BA (20th), 125 HRs (28th) and a 3.91 ERA (20th)... after a one-year-reprieve in fourth place (81-73) last season, they are back in the second-division for the fifth time in six years... the Hellcats have never come close to a Pro Cup trophy, always eliminated in the opening rounds... have won only four pennants... the last was in 2029.
Top Pitchers: Freddie Whitaker (17-16/3.70) and Gil Younger (17-18/4.12) lead the staff in wins, while Wayne Dawson (16-20/3.45) had the best ERA among starters... 20-year-old Alfonso Cervera (4-6/2.86) was the best in the bullpen with 13 saves.
Top Batters: the only fair bats were SS Greg Melton (.270/16/87/85) and CF Darrell Nesbitt (.292/8/62/82).

8. OXFORD RED CAPS (47-107) (50 GB): the Red Caps were a terrible team, perhaps one of the worst in IPA history... they tied North Hills (2019) for the most losses in a season... last year they were 52-102... Oxford has won the division four times and even a Pro Cup (2007)... that was the last time they made the playoffs... the Red Caps hit only .239 (31st), scored only 554 runs (32nd) and posted a 4.96 ERA (32nd)... however, they are a good fielding club with a fine .977 FA.
Top Pitchers: rookie Tekkan Nishakawa (10-17/4.39) was the best starter... it got much worse after him.
Top Batters: the best of the lot were C Jayson French (.275/16/60/44), 2B Alonso Norris (.254/21/60/75) and CF Dalton Ward (.218/26/69/67).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 17, 2040

OZARKA WINS TIGHT TU EAST RACE
In the tense Tycobbian East Division race, Ozarka got hot in the stretch drive with a 25-19 record and came away with title... the Naturals nipped High Mesa by one game... the Cowboys were on top going into the last six weeks but floundered badly at the end, going 17-27... Tuckanarra was a close third, just three games back... the East Point Panthers, the 2039 champ, came in fourth this year and trailed by five games... it really was a good race as South Fork, Red Bluff and Hillsboro all had their chances... they tied for fifth in the standings, just six games behind Ozarka.

1. OZARKA NATURALS (81-73): the Nats lived off their pitching and copped their 11th division crown and first in over 10 years... the last one came in 2030... Ozarka is still waiting for its first Pro Cup... it's not likely to come this year... the Nats are just an average club and are not forecast to go very far in the Pro Cup playoffs... the Naturals have good starters... they ranked fifth in Tycobbian Union with a 3.47 ERA... Ozarka was solid defensively with a .976 FA.
Top Pitchers: Glen Jenkins (18-15/2.16), Stan Carey (17-10/3.29) and Billy Hill (14-11/3.39) gave them three very capable starters... Jenkins was the Tycobbian strikeout king with 291 Ks.
Top Batters: 3B Jimmy Woods (.321/28/104/81) was the top performer and led the team in BA, HRs and RBIs... C Jaak Pajukivi (.279/24/81/58) and LF Lonnie Gillespie (.272/10/72/92) were only fair at best.

2. HIGH MESA COWBOYS (80-74) (1 GB): it was a wonderful turnaround season for the Cowpokes... they went from the cellar to the runner-up spot... they were a pathetic 57-97 in 2039... the Cowboys got good bang for the buck with 203 HRs (6th) and scored well with 725 runs (11th)... played very well on defense with a .977 FA, combined with much better pitching (3.77 ERA/15th), which was really something in their small ball park, it gave them a good chance to finally make the postseason after a long, long drought of almost 40 years... High Mesa made the playoffs lastly in 2002 and 2003 and even won the IPA title in 2002... however, when the going got tough, the Cowboys went 17-27 and fell one game short of their goal.
Top Pitchers: Dean Harris (21-15/3.14) and Warren Sackett (13-11/3.74) were the most effective starters... William Morris (6-3/3.45/12 saves) was the bullpen's best.
Top Batters: longballers led the way at the plate: All-Star 1B Clifford Coleman (.268/39/113/90), RF Corbett Brooks (.239/38/80/106) and All-Star LF Clay Johnston (.289/34/90/81).

3. TUCKANARRA BLUE JAYS (78-76) (3 GB): as one of the most successful IPA franchises with 11 division flags and three Pro Cups, the Bluebirds had their worst season in almost 15 years, yet were still in the race at the end and finished a very close third... their shortcoming was mainly on the mound... the Blue Jays posted a so-so 3.94 ERA (22nd)... they were good-to-average in the batter's box with a .267 BA (9th), 717 runs (13th) and 152 HRs (16th-tied)... only average with the gloves (.972 FA).
Top Pitchers; Junior Bristow (22-12/2.97) rallied from a 16-16 mark in 2039... Jeff Buttrum (15-19/3.37) struggled again for the second year... he was a 20-game winner in 2038... Bobby Reid (16-16/4.48) had the worst year in his 12 years in the league... Jack Rogers (6-8/2.57/17 saves) was the leader in the relief corps.
Top Batters: 35-year-old IPA icon All-Star RF Lorne Evans had two sub-par seasons when he hit .271 in 2038 and .260 last year, but he roared back with a .330 mark this season with 41 homers, 89 RBIs and 125 runs scored... C John Paul was the only other productive hitter with 26 HRs, 87 RBIs and a .279 BA.

4. EAST POINT PANTHERS (76-78) (5 GB): the Panthers, who sneaked in and stole the pennant last year from Tuckanarra, went into a funk this year, winding up in fourth place... for the first time in almost 15 years they had a losing record... about all the Panthers do well is hit homers (209-4th) and score runs (733-9th)... otherwise they are not very good with a .249 BA (27th) and a 4.35 team ERA (27th)... East Point played pretty fair defense with a .974 mark.
Top Pitchers: Darnell Slaughter (16-11/4.02) and Albert Sharpton (13-10/4.43) were the only starters with winning records... Johnny Moore (14-18/3.24) was one of the few with a respectable ERA... aging vets Frank Blair (9-19/5.53) and Dixie Brooks (4-0/2.57/1 save) are 35 and 34 respectively... Blair really had a bad year and Brooks was relegated to the bullpen after going 15-14 in 2039 with a poor 4.89 ERA... both of them are well over 200 victories in their careers.
Top Batters: leading the attack were free swingers 3B Dean O'Donnell (.242/30/81/70), 2B Tetsu Tanaka (.260/29/79/87), 1B Bert Henrich (.282/28/75/74), RF Max Lebowitz (.287/26/65/85), LF Ricky Urbina (.237/20/67/79), C Chris Cardinale (.266/19/66/58) and CF Andros Ciak (.240/18/63/52).

5. SOUTH FORK STALLIONS (75-79) (6 GB): this was the fifth consecutive second-division finish for the Stallions... they only have three pennants in their history with one Pro Cup trophy in 2025... this season just an average team with good power (180 HR-12th)... .260 BA (14th)... average pitching with a 3.80 ERA (17th)... average defense with a .972 FA... weak finish hurt them... 19-25 in the last six weeks.
Top Pitchers: the Stallions had three quality starters in Big Murph McAlister (22-11/2.47), Jay Murphy (17-9/3.16) and Billy Joe Clinton (13-14/3.38).
Top Batters: CF Scotty O'Sullivan (.278/47/113/92) was fifth in the IPA with 47 HRs... other sluggers were 1B Paul Sexton (.285/32/105/87), SS Jess Wilkerson (.273/27/97/70), 3B Elton Jacoby (.298/26/81/98).

5. RED BLUFF RED SOX (75-79) (6 GB): the Red Sox were similar to South Fork, but with worse pitching (4.38 ERA-28th)... they could go deep with 208 HRs (5th)... could score with 709 runs (15th), but batted only .251 (26th)... played solid defense with a .976 FA... wound up in the second division for the fourth year in a row... it's been almost 30 years since Red Bluff was in the playoffs (2009)... however, they do possess one Pro Cup trophy, won in 2004.
Top Pitchers: Jud Cox (21-15/3.47), Ayden Carmack (16-18/4.12) and Mickey Rosen (12-9/4.17) were the most dependable starters.
Top Batters: most of them didn't hit for much average, but did have some punch... RF David Kelso (.291/38/91/81) was the biggest threat... other reliable bats were LF Jesse Shaw (.283/27/67/99), 3B Fran Blanchard (.240/28/69/63), SS Leemon O'Donovan (.284/22/77/75), CF Ike Sweetwater (.229/23/78/95), 2B Gene Bates (.268/22/73/53), 1B Garris Aiken (.220/18/54/51) and C Allie Blackwell (.285/12/54/75).

5. HILLSBORO BLAZERS (75-79) (6 GB): for the seventh year in succession the Blazers were a second-division team... the Blazers and Kilkenny of the RU North are the only IPA franchises that have never been in the playoffs... it was another ho-hum year... they hit only .247 (28th), scored only 656 runs (26th-tied) with a 4.10 ERA (24th), but did hit 151 out of the park (19th)... the Red Sox were average defenders with a .974 FA.
Top Pitchers: Lee Dixon (16-13/3.84) and Valdon Riley (14-15/3.80) were the best starters... Scott Watkins (10-5/1.73/19 saves) had a super season in the bullpen.
Top Batters: All-Star 1B Claude Kingston (.255/47/118/86) came in fifth in the IPA home-run derby with 47... LF Jurrien Bellini (.271/28/90/88) and SS Scotty McNeil (.283/6/53/89) were also decent bats, too.

8. MIDWAY WOLVES (63-91) (18 GB): this was a very disappointing season for the Wolves... last year they surged up to second place and fell just one game short of their first pennant since 2027... expectations were up for 2040, but they never happened... nothing went right at the plate or on the mound as they tumbled all the way to last place... the team BA dipped from .260 to .242 (30th) and the ERA went from a respectable 3.61 to a poor 4.29 (26th)... defense was just average (.973 FA)... Midway has only been in the postseason three times and never has won the Pro Cup.
Top Pitchers: Charlie Chase (12-22/3.41) made the All-Star team, but had a terrible second half... Bobby Boy Wolf (16-16/4.27) topped the club in wins.
Top Batters: no great shakes at the plate... RF Bennett Cardwell (.318/9/61/55) topped the team in BA... 3B Albert Wherry (.275/23/81/71) had the most homers... and 1B Shaman Sakima (.265/21/83/82) had the most RBIs and scored the most runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 17, 2040

DC REDBIRDS FLY BY ARLON AND BAYVIEW
After 27 frustrating years of failure, the Denton City Redbirds finally put together a season good enough to win the Tycobbian West Division... they took command of the race with a great 19-10 month in August to fly by defending champ Arlon and Bayview by three games... the Kenwood Wildcats came in fourth, winding up 7 games off the pace.

1. DENTON CITY REDBIRDS (86-68): the Redbirds were a power in the early days of the IPA, making the postseason eight times in the first 12 seasons of the league... six of those years they won the division... twice the Redbirds made it to the Pro Cup Finals, but didn't win... that was in 2005 and 2008... now Denton City is back again with a capable club that features good pitching with a 3.61 ERA (8th)... good bats with a .269 BA (5th), 757 runs (5th) and 185 HRs (9th-tied)... defense-wise they are only average with a .971 FA... Denton City could be a factor in the Pro Cup playoffs this year.
Top Pitchers: Francisco Salcido (21-14/3.43), Freddy Hogue (16-7/3.40), Troy McIntosh (17-14/3.28) and Kevin Blevins (13-6/3.82) were the main starters... Harry Elliot (4-9/3.13) was off-and-on in the bullpen, but he did save 21 games.
Top Batters: the Redbirds had a good core of hitters, sparked mainly by All-Star 1B Wayman Stetson with 43 homers, 136 RBIs, 98 runs and a .330 BA... Stetson wound up third in RBIs and eighth in home runs in the IPA... the other solid bats were C Felton Welch (.297/27/86/73), RF Pete Doyle (.272/24/75/111), SS Sammy Thornton (.306/4/74/92)... a new addition to the club was LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.293/13/63/81), who was acquired in June in a trade with Ginza... he is 32 years old and a career .301 hitter and a Golden Glove outfielder.

2. ARLON CHAMPIONS (83-71) (3 GB): they went to the Pro Cup Finals last season, but were beaten out by the IPA champion Waleska Westerners in six games... the Champs have made the postseason only four times in history... a drop off in pitching played a role this year... the team ERA fell from 3.31 in 2039 to 3.74 in 2040... the bats were off a little, too, dipping from .262 to .257... however defensively Arlon was fine with a .977 FA.
Top Pitchers: Lanny Gray (21-7/2.31) was the ace with help from Peter Shannon (14-12/3.64) and Ronny Farnsworth (16-17/3.48)... Farnsworth had a down year... he was 21-8 in 2039 with a 2.64 ERA... Pat Stuyvesant (10-13/4.75/8 saves) was off as well... Stuyvesand was 20-9 last year.
Top Batters: RF Mark Cameron (.289/40/116/93), All-Star C Nick Shafer (.296/18/94/67), LF Charley Hastings (.306/17/50/114), 1B Robby Westin (.301/21/79/47).

2. BAYVIEW VIKINGS (83-71) (3 GB): better pitching moved the Viks up from fifth (17 GB) to the runner-up spot this season... 2016 was the last pennant... so this was a very exciting season for the fans... on the hill Bayview improved from 4.47 ERA to 3.83 (18th)... they are just an average club with a .258 BA (18th), but make up for it with 250 HRs, the best in the IPA and almost a new season record... 260 HRs by Arroyo Grande in 2005 is the all-time team record... leading the way with a record-breaking 66 HRs was superstar 2B Jerry Culpepper... he beat Jack Elliott's 65 for High Mesa in 2021... Culpepper has hit the 60 mark three times now with 63 in 2039 and 60 in 2037... in a truly superlative season Culpepper hit .334, third best in the Tycobbian Union... he also topped the IPA with 146 RBIs and 134 runs... Bayview had nine players with 10 or more homers... SS Andreas Stokke (.246/29/83/77) had 29, RF Roy Ricks (.330/28/81/92) hit 28, All-Star CF Ivar Nilssen (.287/25/84/66) popped 25, LF Derek Jorstad (.252/21/57/80) knocked 21 out of the park, 1B Barrett Bosch (.300/18/51/53) had 18, 3B Giles Butler (.231/16/50/58) totaled 16, C Dan Abbott (.227/10/46/42) chipped in 10 and OF Cleve Belton (.246/10/20/25) added 10... on the mound Vance Codsworth (23-13/2.78) had a standout season and got help from Lucky Luciano (17-11/4.13), Karl Magga (14-13/3.73) and Christy Kane (13-11/4.01)... on defense the Viks are just average with a .972 FA.

4. KENWOOD WILDCATS (79-75) (7 GB): the Wildcats faded in the final weeks of the season and ended up in the fourth spot in the standings... they were neck-and-neck for a good while... it's been 17 years since Kenwood made the playoffs, but they have come close in recent years... missing out by two games last year and also by two games in 2037... in 2030 they lost by only one game... 2024 was the last postseason year... the Wildcats have only two pennants in their history, but they chalked up a Pro Cup in 2014... Kenwood's strength is its pitching (3.45 ERA-4th)... the offense is a little less than average with 669 runs (22nd) and 129 roundtrippers (25th)... defense is good with a .974 FA.
Top Pitchers: Freddy Gooch (18-10/3.25) led in wins... Glen Murray (17-20/2.81) in ERA... and Ben Abramo (15-14/4.14) had some quality starts, too... Artemus Hale (4-5/1.83/13 saves) was the best reliever.
Top Batters: All-Star C Corky DiNozzo (.323/39/95/69) topped the team in BA, HRs and RBIs... 2B Country Crowder (.320/3/61/88) and LF Harry Tashina (.304/12/68/56) also had good years average-wise.

5. BAY ST. CLAIR BUCCANEERS (77-77) (9 GB): after four miserable years in last place or near last place, the Bucs broke even this year and came in fifth... they hit a respectable .265 (11th), scored 718 runs (12th) and had 131 HRs (24th) with a decent 3.86 ERA (19th)... the Buccaneers have seven TU West pennants in their history, but no Pro Cups... the last time they made the playoffs was in 2030.
Top Pitchers: John Karlsen (18-16/3.58), Mac Shaw (14-14/3.33)... in the bullpen Pete Cross (5-3/2.15/18 saves) did well.
Top Batters: at 35 star RF Cotton Cornwall (.314/20/85/86) had another solid season... he led the club in BA and RBIs, and tied for the HR lead... CF Gilbert Bauer (.262/19/60/94) had the most runs... 3B Bailey Holmsworth (.281/20/69/57) tied for the HR lead.

6. ROLLING HILLS REDS (75-79) (11 GB): the Reds got better in the second half of the season... still they only finished in sixth... last season the Reds were third... Rolling Hills has two Pro Cups to its credit (2029 and 2031)... plus eight pennants... but no playoffs since 2032... at the plate they are just an average ball club with a .259 BA (16th), 712 runs (14th) and 141 HRs (20th)... on the hill just so-so with a 3.79 ERA (16th)... with the gloves the Reds are fairly good with a .975 FA.
Top Pitchers: Johnny Howard (18-11/3.64) was the biggest winner... and 35-year-old Maury Cantrell (12-12/2.84) was the most effective starter... Matthew Christianson (11-17/3.57) slumped this season after posting a fine 20-11 mark last year... Travis Hooper (5-7/2.84/15 saves) was the top reliever.

7. LA CLAIRE LYNX (73-81) (13 GB): after two pennant-winning years back-to-back in 2037 and 2038, the Lynx have sunk deep into the second division the past two seasons... offensively they have not been the same ball club... the pitching has been good... and the defense very good with a .977 FA... they batted only .254 (22nd), scored 661 runs (24th-tied) and hit 137 HRs (22nd)... and the team ERA was 3.74 (14th).
Top Pitchers: at 36 Pat Kovacs (16-13/3.11) is still the ace... one of the all-time IPA greats he is closing in on 300 wins... lifetime Kovacs is 279-191 with a strong 2.79 ERA... he holds the record for strikeouts with 391 in 2028... 24-year-old Bruce Kinson (11-10/2.93) showed good progress this year... at 26 Marcel LaPlante (13-13/3.89) and 25-year-old Nelson Stubbs (13-20/4.27) had some quality strarts, too.
Top Batters: not much talent on the team... LF Billy Holland (.288/13/77/80) topped the club in RBIs and runs... 2B Sam Norman (.222/20/61.64) had the most homers... and RF Hank Morton (.338/5/43/66) has the best BA... 1B Phil Lyons (.293/18/60/55) showed some promise.

8. CHICOPEE BRAVES (50-104) (36 GB): since winning three straight pennants from 2034 to 2036, it's been all downhill for the Braves... this year was terrible with 104 losses and a last-place finish... pitching was atrocious with a 4.78 ERA (31st)... offense was pathetic, too, with only 560 runs (31st)... homers are down to 129 (25th)... defense is adequate with a .973 FA... Chicopee has only made the playoffs three times and has never won a Pro Cup trophy.
Top Pitchers: Jacy Hekaka (13-11/3.60) was the only decent starter.
Top Batters: no one worth mentioning... the best of the lot were 3B Kurt Gustavsen (.298/24/63/56), 1B Fred Phelps (.265/14/65/58) and C Augie Meaux (.254/12/58/57).

Sorry, I forgot to post this in the right order.


THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 17, 2040

SUNSETS RISE IN TU SOUTH, WIN IN A ROMP
Sensational pitching by the Summerland Sunsets created a runaway in the Tycobbian South this season... the Sunsets made shambles of the pennant race by whipping second place Southport by 13 games, Ginza by 14 and San Alejo by 15 games... Turon, the winner for the previous two years, tumbled to fifth place, 21 games off the pace... Summerland really took charge in the second half with a torrid 52-20 record.

1. SUMMERLAND SUNSETS (98-56): the Sunsets won the most games in the Tycobbian Union with super slabwork: 2.83 team ERA, the best in the IPA... they didn't hit much (.243 BA-29th) or score much (661 runs-24th tied), but neither did the opposing teams... the Sunsets are also one of the best defensive teams with a .978 FA... this will be only the third playoff appearance in the club's history... the others were in 2005 and 2033... look for Summerland to shine in the postseason this year.
Top Pitchers: Jayson Hallstrom (24-7/2.08) led the Tycobbian Union in wins, ERA and shutouts (8)... Dutch De Boer (10-1/2.11) and Johnny Young (22-11/3.120 had strong seasons, too... the bullpen excelled as well with Ronald Shaddock (12-6/2.27/27 saves) and Pete Ashley (5-4/2.70/4 saves)... Shaddock was number one in saves in the IPA with 27.
Top Batters: RF Eamon O'Toole (.296/19/93/68), 1B Stan Terry (.290/14/69/70) and 2B Todd Cummins (.241/21/85/540 were the only decent hitters in the batting order.

2. SOUTHPORT SUN SOXX (85-69) (13 GB): this was the Sun Soxx's best record since back-to-back pennants in 2027 and 2028... they had a potent attack with a .270 BA (4th), 813 runs (2nd-tied), 171 HRs (13th) and adequate pitching with a 3.92 ERA (21st)... defensively they were lacking with a .970 FA.
Top Pitchers: Johnny Swanson (21-9/3.32) and Billy Hoover (18-18/3.45) were quality starters... Hal Combs (8-4/3.69/19 saves) was hit-and-miss in the bullpen.
Top Batters: leading the offense were 3B Craig Glennon (.259/43/136/91), 1B Eddy Douglas (.335/33/98/93) and 2B James Long (.299/26/73/72)... Glennon was third in the IPA with 43 homers and seventh in RBIs with 136.

3. GINZA NINJAS (84-70) (14GB): they shot up from seventh place in 2039 to third place this year... the Ninjas were 59-95 and 35 games out of the running last year... the team's last playoff appearance was in 2031... better hitting and better pitching made the difference... Ginza went from .259 to .273 (3rd) in BA and from 4.66 ERA to 4.23 ERA (25th)... they were second in scoring with 813 runs and fourth in homers with 218... and better-than-average with the gloves with a .975 FA.
Top Pitchers: Charley Waskins (15-10/3.53) was the most reliable starter... Timmy Hitchens (9-8/4.23/22 saves) made the All-Star team, but fizzled in the second half badly... yet he posted 22 saves.
Top Batters: LF Ichiro Kazumi (.343/19/80/97) won the TU batting crown with a .343 BA... All-Star CF Sogo Takagi (.298 BA) had a super season with 50 homers, 117 RBIs and 119 runs... Takagi was second to record-breaking Jerry Culpepper of the Bayview Vikings in homers... Culpepper broke Jack Elliott's all-time IPA mark with 66 this year... Elliott hit 65 in 2013 for High Mesa... other Ginza guns were All-Star Whip Harrell (.296 BA) with 32 HRs, 99 RBIs and 85 runs... 3B Sam Essex (.287 BA) with 31 roundtrippers, 100 RBIs and 91 runs... RF Scott Sparks (.247 BA) also chipped in with 27 HRs, 71 RBIs and 62 runs.

4. SAN ALEJO MONTANEROS (83-71) (15 GB): the Monties won four pennants in the last nine years and one Pro Cup in 2032... but this year they slipped a bit to fourth place... mainly because their pitching declined from a very good 3.02 ERA to 3.70 (12th)... San Alejo can still put runs on the scoreboard with a .266 BA (10th), 738 runs (8th) and 185 HRs (9th-tied)... mediocre defense with a .970 FA.
Top Pitchers: 21-year-old Matt Bell (20-15/2.89) topped the team in wins and ERA... Johnny Brown (15-11/3.17) was solid, too... but Benny Buckmaster (16-16/3.98) and Tommy Smith (11-15/4.27) had sub-par seasons... Buckmaster was 22-10 last year with a sparkling 2.53 ERA and Smith was 15-14 with a 3.20 ERA.
Top Batters: All-Star CF Dusty Rogan (.333/31/105/77) and C Filipe Zamora (.292/26/102/66) sparked the team at the plate... 1B Ted Hatch added 35 HRs and 83 RBIs, but batted only .232.

5. TURON TYPHOONS (77-77) (21 GB): after winning the TU South the past two years, the Typhoons' pitching went into the pits, rising up from 3.20 to 3.69 (11th)... the bats suffered, too, dropping from .277 to .264 (12th)... their offense is just average, despite 182 HRs (11th).,, defense is average, too, with a .973 FA.
Top Pitchers: Clyde Engstrom (15-15/3.34), Armin Boehm (16-14/3.65) and Nate Scottsdale (17-18/3.46) all had off-years... all were 20-game winners last season... Ralph Fulton (8-10/2.05/14 saves) was the best in the bullpen.
Top Batters: most of the regulars had sub-par seasons, though they had some good numbers. just not what they were accustomed to... 2B C. C. Kingsford (.294/30/93/85), RF Guido Gervasio (.278/29/95/83), CF J. P. Trevenot (.266/29/88/88), 3B Rafer Robertson (.287/26/89/66), SS George Jordan (.257/21/63/45).

6. CAPE CORAL HURRICANES (74-80) (24 GB): the 'Canes were fourth last year and fell to sixth this year... super bats with a .282 BA (1st), 821 runs (1st), 189 HRs (8th), but lousy on the hill with a 4.40 ERA (29th)... and bad on defense with a .969 FA.
Top Pitchers: Tommy Van Noord (17-17/3.20) was the only effective starter.
Top Batters: superstar All-Star RF William Snyder (.341/37/104/101) had another fine season with help from C Stan Ferguson (.341/29/88/86), 3B Rikky Van Dalen (.308/28/82/109), LF Paul Law (.298/26/87/103) and All-Star SS Joel Collins (.301/12/69/83).

7. COLCHESTER ELITES (64-90) (34 GB): a second-rate, second-division club for the fourth year in a row with a .252 BA (24th) and 4.49 ERA (30th)... but the Elites can handle the gloves well with a .976 FA.
Top Pitchers: Dan Scott (13-9/4.06) was the only decent starter... Tony Dazzi (8-4/2.74) was the only good reliever.
Top Batters: star All-Star RF Blake Barrister (.278/49/136/99), LF Chet Porter (.308/11/64/87) and 3B Joey Rogers (.284/14/74/86) pretty much carried the club offensively... Barrister came in third in the IPA with 49 HRs and 136 RBIs.

8. ARROYO GRANDE SUNS (59-95) (39 GB): the Suns are one of the worst teams in the IPA... they have finished near the bottom of the division for the seventh year in a row... the last three in the cellar... the Suns haven't been to the playoffs in 17 years (2023)... they hit only .237 (32nd) and have a mediocre 3.94 ERA (23rd)... but are a little better-than-average defensively with a .974 mark.
Top Pitchers: Mateus Castro (14-18/3.89), Anthony Lombardi (13-20/3.75) and Ramiro Marrero (12-15/3.61) are fairly decent starters with no run support... and Cody Simmons (3-6/2.52/17 saves) and Duane Russell (2-0/2.70) are pretty good relievers.
Top Batters: 3B Rene Jesclard is the club leader with 27 homers, 69 RBIs and 85 runs, but he batted a poor .235 for average... CF Rafael Montoya has the best batting average with .293... Montoya had 13 HRs, 44 RBIs and scored 62 runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 18, 2040

HAWKS FAVORED OVER CC 'CATS IN PRO CUP
Only three teams return to the IPA Pro Cup playoffs this season. The Waleska Westerners were upset in a close race by Crystal Lake this year. So the Islandian Pro Alliance will have a new crownbearer. The North Hills Hawks from the Tycobbian Union and Cold Creek Catamounts and Sligo Rovers from Ruthlandia are back again in quest of the IPA Holy Grail - the Pro Cup trophy. Crystal Lake and Ranford will join them from the Ruthlandian Union, while the other Tycobbian clubs will be Summerland, Denton City and Ozarka.

The oddsmakers are forecasting a North Hills victory this year, the Hawks' third in the last six seasons... usually the favorite's role is the kiss of death in the postseason... the title usually goes to the team that gets hot in August and September and continues to play well into October... keep an eye on Summerland and Crystal Lake, if this is true. Both clubs were a sizzling 50-22 in the second half of the season.

PRO CUP POLL
1. NORTH HILLS (TU)
2. COLD CREEK (RU)
3. CRYSTAL LAKE (RU)
4. SUMMERLAND (TU)
5. DENTON CITY (TU)
6. SLIGO (RU)
7. OZARKA (TU)
8. RANFORD (RU)

1. NORTH HILLS HAWKS (97-58): the Hawks put up the second-best record in the Tycobbian Union this year, topped only by Summerland in the Tycobbian Union with 98... Cold Creek of the Ruthlandian East led the IPA with 101 wins... North Hills does it with great pitching and adequate offense... registering a super 2.88 ERA (2nd)... only Summerland in the TU South was better with a brilliant 2.83 ERA... the Hawks' scoring could be better... they hit well with a .269 BA (7th), but lack scoring and firepower... North Hills scored only 676 runs (20th) and hit 135 HRs (23rd)... they are good defenders with a .975 FA.
Top Pitchers: 34-year-old southpaw Jeff Owens had a tremendous year with a 28-7 record and 2.48 ERA... He easily had the most wins in the IPA... last year's Golden Arm winner Tony Mack (20-14/3.03) won 20 games again... Frankie Lambert added a 19-14 mark with a strong 2.89 ERA... veteran Dave Michael was a good number four with a 13-12 record and a 3.30 ERA... the bullpen was outstanding, too, with Nelson Hooper (4-5/2.63/22 saves), Kyle Oliver (8-4/3.21/4 saves) and Joey Santini (5-1/2.02/3 saves).
Top Batters: superstar All-Star LF Adam Thurgood (.324/23/90/91) again led the club with help from some reliable hitters: 1B Ric Hamilton (.340/24/92/69), 2B Tommy Vavas (.289/14/62/91), CF Kris Anastas (.274/16/73/65) and 3B Jim McDermott (.280/12/67/62).

2. COLD CREEK CATAMOUNTS (101-53): the 'Cats always have strong pitching, but this year they added rock-solid hitting to their arsenal... they batted .282 (2nd) and tallied 785 runs (5th), but hit only 111 homers (30th)... on the mound they were as good as ever with a 2.97 ERA (1st), third best in the IPA after Summerland (2.83) and North Hills (2.88)... defensively Cold Creek is very good with a .978 FA.
Top Pitchers: All-Star J. J. Gillespie (23-11/2.26) topped the 200-win milestone this season and is now 206-105 in 12 seasons with a fantastic 2.28 ERA... Gillespie's career ERA is the all-time best in the IPA... Gillespie topped the RU with a 2.26 ERA this season... Joey Baker (20-8/2.30) and Peter Heller (20-11/3.78) also chalked up 20-win seasons... and reliable Rob Hutchins (17-11/3.37) rounded out the starting foursome.
Top Batters: SS Jeremy Hall (.310/7/86/84), CF Guy St. Laurent (.253/32/99/88), C Rodney Marshall (.301/23/78/69).

3. CRYSTAL LAKE CRUSHERS (94-60): for the last five seasons Crystal Lake has languished in the second division, but in a surprise rise the Crushers moved up from fifth place to the top spot this season... by a wide margin they outhit and outscored everybody in the IPA with a .295 BA and 843 runs... defense is outstanding, too, with a .980 FA... this was the eighth pennant for the Crushers in their history with the most recent one in 2034... since they dethroned IPA champ Waleska this year, the Crushers just might surprise in the Pro Cup playoffs.
Top Pitchers: just enough pitching to get by with 36-year-old Arnie Cason (23-9/3.05) having the best year in his career... 35-year old vets Ken Lawson (20-12/4.09) and Douglas Merrill (18-11/4.26) benefitted often from the high-scoring offense.
Top Batters: RF Paul Dillon (.344/10/89/97), CF Jesse Walker (.344/0/49/92), All-Star LF Johnny Kennedy (.299/24/98/81), All-Star C Stan Stanek (.314/24/99/117), 1B Daryl Brady (.315/19/91/74), 3B Marv Roy (.283/16/88/74), SS Morten Jonassen (.310/1/57/72).

4. SUMMERLAND SUNSETS (98-56): the Sunsets won the most games in the Tycobbian Union with super slabwork: 2.83 team ERA, the best in the IPA... they didn't hit much (.243 BA-29th) or score much (661 runs-24th tied), but neither did the opposing teams... the Sunsets are also one of the best defensive teams with a .978 FA... this will be only the third playoff appearance in the club's history... the others were in 2005 and 2033... look for Summerland to shine in the postseason this year... Summerland really took charge in the second half with a torrid 52-20 record... could be a good omen.
Top Pitchers: Jayson Hallstrom (24-7/2.08) led the Tycobbian Union in wins, ERA and shutouts (8)... Dutch De Boer (10-1/2.11) and Johnny Young (22-11/3.120 had strong seasons, too... the bullpen excelled as well with Ronald Shaddock (12-6/2.27/27 saves) and Pete Ashley (5-4/2.70/4 saves)... Shaddock was number one in saves in the IPA with 27.
Top Batters: RF Eamon O'Toole (.296/19/93/68), 1B Stan Terry (.290/14/69/70) and 2B Todd Cummins (.241/21/85/540 were the only decent hitters in the batting order.

5. DENTON CITY REDBIRDS (86-68): the Redbirds were a power in the early days of the IPA, making the postseason eight times in the first 12 seasons of the league... six of those years they won the division... twice the Redbirds made it to the Pro Cup Finals, but didn't win... that was in 2005 and 2008... now Denton City is back again with a capable club that features good pitching with a 3.61 ERA (8th)... good bats with a .269 BA (5th), 757 runs (5th) and 185 HRs (9th-tied)... defense-wise they are only average with a .971 FA... Denton City could be a factor in the Pro Cup playoffs this year.
Top Pitchers: Francisco Salcido (21-14/3.43), Freddy Hogue (16-7/3.40), Troy McIntosh (17-14/3.28) and Kevin Blevins (13-6/3.82) were the main starters... Harry Elliot (4-9/3.13) was off-and-on in the bullpen, but he did save 21 games.
Top Batters: the Redbirds had a good core of hitters, sparked mainly by All-Star 1B Wayman Stetson with 43 homers, 136 RBIs, 98 runs and a .330 BA... Stetson wound up third in RBIs and eighth in home runs in the IPA... the other solid bats were C Felton Welch (.297/27/86/73), RF Pete Doyle (.272/24/75/111), SS Sammy Thornton (.306/4/74/92)... a new addition to the club was LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.293/13/63/81), who was acquired in June in a trade with Ginza... he is 32 years old and a career .301 hitter and a Golden Glove outfielder.

6. SLIGO ROVERS (84-70): they went to the RU League Championship Series last year before falling to eventual Pro Cup winner Waleska... the Rovers have a big task in the first round... they are matched up against powerful Cold Creek, one of the Pro Cup favorites this year... Sligo is a little above average in scoring with 738 runs (12th) and on the mound with a 3.65 ERA (9th)... possesses the best defense in the RU West with a very good .978 FA.
Top Pitchers: All-Star Scotty Price (22-9/2.78) is the staff ace with help from Randall Steele (18-14/3.74) and Tom Pierson (16-14/3.36)... Richie Joyner (1-2/2.09/3 saves) did well in middle relief.
Top Batters: most productive bats were All-Star 1B Denny Simmons (.337/17/80/97), CF Joe McGarrett (.291/22/84/77), SS Neil Mitchell (.273/21/67/102) and LF Rudy Putnam (.297/15/59/78).

7. OZARKA NATURALS (81-73): the Nats lived off their pitching and copped their 11th division crown and first in over 10 years... the last one came in 2030... Ozarka is still waiting for its first Pro Cup... it's not likely to come this year... the Nats are just an average club and are not forecast to go very far in the Pro Cup playoffs... the Naturals have good starters... they ranked fifth in Tycobbian Union with a 3.47 ERA... Ozarka was solid defensively with a .976 FA.
Top Pitchers: Glen Jenkins (18-15/2.16), Stan Carey (17-10/3.29) and Billy Hill (14-11/3.39) gave them three very capable starters... Jenkins was the Tycobbian strikeout king with 291 Ks.
Top Batters: 3B Jimmy Woods (.321/28/104/81) was the top performer and led the team in BA, HRs and RBIs... C Jaak Pajukivi (.279/24/81/58) and LF Lonnie Gillespie (.272/10/72/92) were only fair at best.

8, RANFORD BULLS (80-74): up from third last year (11 GB)... the Bulls were the best in the weakest division in the IPA... only two clubs had winning records... third pennant in team's history... last was in 2034... not expected to do much in the playoffs... just an average ball club with .261 BA (19th), 646 runs (27th), 140 HRs (19th), 3.95 ERA (20th) and a .975 FA.
Top Pitchers: Ralph Hawk (20-14/2.62)
Top Batters: 3B Pete Bankston (.302/18/83/71), RF Dale Weston (.289/45/112/95).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 19, 2040

2040 IPA DIVISION SERIES -Game One

Ruthlandian Union

GILLESPIE BLANKS SLIGO IN OPENER 3-0
Two of the top twirlers in the IPA were matched up in the RU Division Series opener at Holmes Field in Cold Creek... Cold Creek's J. J. Gillespie won the battle with a 3-0 shutout, stopping Sligo on just one hit... in a brilliant game 23-game winner Gillespie fanned 10 Rovers and walked only two... third baseman Mel Dillard's eighth-inning double was the only hit... 22-game winner Scotty Price went the distance, giving up six hits and three runs... Cold Creek got all their runs in the first on an RBI single by Wayne Kenney and a two-run double by LF Jimmy Howell.

RANFORD RIPS CRYSTAL LAKE WITH 3-RUN 9TH
In game one of the RU Division Series at Crystal Lake, heavy underdog Ranford bulled its way past Crystal Lake 5-3 with a three-run ninth-inning uprising against the Crushers' relief corps... 3B Pete Bankston led the Bulls 10-hit attack with three hits, including a homer... LF Jamie Holcomb also homered... starters Ralph Hawk and Arnie Cason battled to a 2-2 draw with Hawk going six innings and Cason eight... Frank Yosarian (1-0) got the win with two scoreless inning and Miguel Mandina got the save with a runless ninth... closer Eddie Lane (0-1) was roughed up for three runs and suffered the loss... Ranford outhit Crystal Lake 10-9... SS Mackie Cummings led the Crushers with three hits.

Tycobbian Union

SUNSETS RALLY IN GAME 1, EDGE HAWKS 4-3
Playing game one at home at Sunset Stadium, Summerland edged Pro Cup favorite North Hills 4-3 by coming back in the late innings from a 3-1 deficit... 24-game winner Jayson Hallstrom (1-0) got the best of 28-game winner Jeff Owens by holding the Hawks to six hits and three runs in eight innings... Ronald Shaddock, the IPA saves leader, got another one with a perfect ninth... Owens (0-1) went the route and allowed four runs on seven hits.

REDBIRDS ROMP OVER NATS 7-2 IN FIRST GAME
At home at Douglas Denton Field, the Denton City Redbirds romped over Ozarka 7-2 in the first game of the the Tycobbian Division Series... they banged out 14 hits and were sparked by RF Pete Doyle with four hits and CF Sam Carson's three hits... 3B Rod Hunt got the Redbirds only homer... Troy McIntosh (1-0) notched the victory by tossing eight sharp innings... he permitted only three hits, but two of them were homers... McIntosh struck out five and walked two... C Jaak Pajukivi and 1B Omar Velazquez accounted for all of the Naturals' runs with solo homers... Glen Jenkins (0-1) caught the loss... he was ripped for 11 hits and four runs in his seven innings... he exited with Denton City up 4-2.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 20, 2040

2040 IPA DIVISION SERIES -Game Two

Ruthlandian Union

STEELE EVENS SERIES, ROVERS OVER CC 'CATS 6-2
Sligo righthander Randall Steele fired a two-hit gem and evened up the RU Division Series at a game apiece... Steele tamed Cold Creek 6-2 in a route-going performance at Holmes Field, striking out four and walking four... SS Neil Mitchell (.222) struck the big blow of the game, a three-run homer in the second inning... the Rovers racked up 12 hits, 11 of them off losing pitcher Joey Baker (0-1), who allowed six runs in eight innings... 1B Denny Simmons (.375) went 3-for-5 for Sligo... and CF Joe McGarrett (.222) and Steele added two hits each for the winners... Cold Creek CF Guy St. Laurent (.250) had a solo homer.

BULLS BLAST CRUSHERS AGAIN, WIN GAME 2, TOO
Don't tell the Ranford Bulls they are not as good as the seven other teams vying for the IPA Pro Cup... for the second day on the road the Bulls put it to the heavily-favored Crystal Lake Crushers 6-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the RU Division Series... Ranford walloped 13 hits and won going away at Lakefront Stadium... in the first playoff start of his career Winston Moses (1-0) held hard-hitting Crystal Lake to one run and eight hits... he also had a three-run double that broke open a scoreless duel in the top of the sixth... he sent Ken Lawson (0-1) down to defeat... though he had 11 strikeouts, Lawson was shelled for 13 hits and six runs in seven innings... Moses (.750) and 3B Pete Bankston (.600) drilled three hits apiece for the Bulls... and three players had two each: 1B Maury Quave (.222), CF Roger Farnsworth (.222) and 2B Martin Satcher (.333).

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS SLIP BY SUNSETS 5-4, TIE SERIES
Game two of the Tycobbian Division Series was another nailbiter just like game one... North Hills fought back from 4-2 deficit after four innings to win 5-4 and tie up the best-of-seven series at a game apiece... Adam Thurgood's HR (.250), Jimmy Jay Ferguson's (.667) RBI triple and Skipper Shearer's sacrifice fly (.000) highlighted the decisive three-run sixth... winning pitcher Tony Mack (1-0) settled down after a rocky first four innings and blanked the Sunsets over the last five frames... Mack struck out seven and walked one, while giving up seven hits... left-hander Dutch De Boer started for Summerland, but left in third with a 2-1 lead... he departed with a muscle strain... Pete Ashley (0-1) relieved him and took the loss... he was banged around for four runs and four hits in three innings... the Hawks were led at the plate by 3B Jim McDermott (.429), who had two hits and two RBIs... LF Adam Thurgood (.250) also had a pair of hits... North Hills had nine hits and Summerland 7... the Sunsets were sparked by RF Eamon O'Toole (.571) with three hits and CF Antonio Vasquez (.375) with two hits... LF Russell Edwards (.333) had a two-run homer in defeat.

SALCIDO STOPS OZARKA 2-1, REDBIRDS UP 2-0
At age 35, 13-year Denton City veteran portsider Francisco Salcido finally chalked up his first postseason victory... he stopped the Ozarka Naturals 2-1 to give the Redbirds a 2-0 edge in the TU Division Series... Denton City won the first two games at their homepark Douglas Denton Field... Salcido limited the Nats to one run and seven hits in seven innings with four walks and seven Ks... 37-year-old Stan Carey (0-1) went the distance in defeat, permitting two runs on seven hits... C Felton Welch (.333) slammed a homer in the last of the seventh to bring home the win for the Redbirds... CF Russ Foster (1.000) went 3-3 to lead Denton City and 3B Rob Hunt (.500) was 2-3... 1B Omar Velazquez (.500) collected three hits for Ozarka.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 21, 2040

2040 IPA DIVISION SERIES -Game Three

Ruthlandian Union

ROVERS RALLY, TOP CC 'CATS 4-3 IN GAME 3
Apparently the Sligo Rovers are not going to just roll over and play dead for the favored Cold Creek Catamounts... they won 4-3 on their homegrounds at Silver Mountain Stadium and now have the lead in the RU Division Series two games to one.

The Rovers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the eight to pull out the victory... RF Pat Foreman's (.125) sac fly was the game-winner... Tom Pierson (1-0) worked eight innings and checked the Catamounts on three runs and six hits... he fanned four and issued two walks... Joey Hicks picked up the save when he retired the 'Cats in the ninth... Rob Hutchins (0-1) was sharp for the first seven frames and held a 3-1 lead, going into the eighth... then he fell apart and lost it... Hutchins surrendered four runs on five hits, walked five and struck out four.

CF Guy St. Laurent (.273) homered for the second straight day... it was a two-run shot in the sixth that gave Cold Creek a 3-1 lead.

RANFORD STUNS AGAIN, LEADS CL CRUSHERS 3-0
Can you believe it?... the unheralded Ranford Bulls ripped Crystal Lake for the third consecutive game and now need just one more win to send the Crushers home for the year... the Bulls blasted them 8-1 at Ranford County Stadium to grab a very surprising three games to none lead in the RU Division Series... Ranford was picked last in the Pro Cup poll, while Crystal Lake was ranked third and given a fair chance of winning it all.

Ranford got a standout performance from Lanny Smithers (1-0), who stifled the big bats of Crystal Lake on just four hits and a single run over his eight innings to beat Crusher veteran Douglas Merrill (0-1)... loser Merrill was tagged for five runs and five hits in six innings... he was behind 5-1 when he headed for the showers.

RF Dale Weston (.167) cracked a two-run homer and 2B Martin Satcher (.455) hit a solo job to spark the Bulls... Weston also had a two-run double in the third and four RBIs in all.

Tycobbian Union

SUNSETS SINK HAWKS 4-2, LEAD SERIES 2-1
In game three of the Tycobbian Division Series at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, hurler Johnny Young pitched and hit visiting Summerland to a 4-2 triumph over the Pro Cup favorite... the Sunsets were the fourth pick in the Pro Cup poll and they now have a two to one lead in the series.

Young bent, but he didn't break... he gave up 10 hits in a complete game, but held the Hawks to just one earned run... Young (1-0) had six strikeouts and no walks... he also singled in two runs in the critical sixth when the Sunsets expanded their lead to 4-0 against losing pitcher Frankie Lambert (0-1)... RF Eamon O'Toole (.417) drove in the other two Summerland runs... Lambert went eight innings and was touched for four runs on five hits... he struck out seven and walked five.

OZARKA CLAIMS FIRST WIN, NATS NIP REDBIRDS 5-4
Down 2-0 in the TU Division Series after losing the first two on the road, the Ozarka Naturals found Ellie Ewing Stadium more to their liking when they knocked off Denton City 5-4 in game three and cut their lead to two games to one... but it was hard to pull off... the Nats built up a 4-1 lead after seven innings, then blew it and had to win in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth on Jimmy Woods' bases-loaded RBI single off losing pitcher Harry Elliott (0-1), Denton City's third pitcher... the third Ozarka pitcher Leon Bernard (1-0) blew the save by giving up the two tying runs in the top half of the ninth, but he got the win anyway.

Ozarka was outhit 12 to 9 by the Redbirds... the Nats were led by 2B Mac Coleman (.143) and 1B Omar Velazquez (.500), both with a pair of hits and an RBI... C Jaak Pajukivi (.333) drove in two runs for the winners... topping the Redbirds' offense was C Felton Welch (.455) with three hits and two RBIs... he tied the score with a two-run shot in the ninth, his second homer of the series... three Denton players had two hits apiece: RF Pete Doyle (.462), SS Sammy Thornton (.273) and 1B Wayland Stetson (.250).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 22, 2040

2040 IPA DIVISION SERIES - Game Four

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

GILLESPIE EVENS SERIE AT 2, 'CATS NIP ROVERS 3-2
On the road in Sligo for game four of the Ruthlandian Division Series, the Cold Creek Catamounts got another great win from star pitcher J. J. Gillespie... the stocky right-hander gave up a first-inning two-run home run to Denny Simmons, but nothing else until the ninth... Gillespie outpitched Scotty Price again, nipping him by a 3-2 count to even the series at two games each.

Gillespie (2-0/1.04) yielded two runs on eight hits, fanned eight and walked no one in his eight and two-thirds innings... Price was tough, but not tough enough... he tossed eight sharp innings, held the Catamounts to just four hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts and a walk... defense was his downfall... with one away in the top of the fourth LF Jimmy Howell (.200) reached second on an error by SS Neil Mitchell (.125) and scored the eventual-winning score on John-Michael Krikma's RBI single... that unearned run put Cold Creek ahead 3-1.

CF Guy St. Laurent (.267) smashed a two-run clout in the opening frame for the Catamounts other runs... Sligo picked up a run in the last of the ninth on Pat Foreman's base hit... with the score 3-2 and runners on first and second, George Bailey relieved Gillespie and got a game-ending double play for the save. 1B John-Michael Krikma (.300) led the 'Cats with two hits... C Don Tucker (.214) collected three hits for Sligo.

The Rovers were missing CF Joe McGarrett (.300) today... he injured his hamstring in yesterday's game and will miss at least six weeks and the rest of the playoffs... a big setback for the Sligo... they will miss McGarrett's big bat and defense... veteran Jim Lewellen will replace him in the batting order... Lewellen hit only .198 in a back-up role this season, but did hit 12 homers in 232 at bats... McGarrett batted .291 during the year with 22 HRs and 84 RBIs and is a Golden Glover in the outfield.

CRUSHERS STILL ALIVE, WIN 5-4 IN GAME 4
Hanging on by their finger tips, Crystal Lake squeezed out a 5-4 victory in 11 innings to remain alive in the RU Division Series against surprising Ranford... on the verge of being swept, the Crushers got their first win in four tries against the underdog Bulls... Paul Dillon was the hero with an RBI single off loser Miguel Mandina (0-1/0.00)... the run was not earned... Eddie Lane (1-1/6.75) blew his second save of the series, but got a reprieve and got credit for the win with the help of Mitchell Clarkson, who finished off the Bulls in order in the last of the 11th.

Crystal Lake picked up 14 hits in the game, paced by 1B Stan Dixon (.500) with 3-4... and CF Jesse Walker (.357) and RF Pat Dillon (.353) with two hits each...Ranford had nine hits... RF Dale Weston (.250) had a two-run homer in the first to top the Bulls... it was Weston's second one in the series.

TYCOBBIAN UNION

HAWKS' MCDERMOTT TIES SUNSETS WITH HR IN THE 11TH
Desparate for a win to tie the series, North Hills battled back with a tying run in the last of the ninth at the Hawk's Nest and then won it 5-4 in the 11th on Jim McDermott home run off losing pitcher Ronald Shaddock (0-1/6.75)... David Michael (1-0/0.00) got out of a bases-loaded, no-outs predicament to get the victory.

The North Hills bullpen almost blew it... starter Jeff Owens had a 3-0 lead after six innings as he stopped the Sunsets on four hits, struck out four and walked none in a fine outing... relievers Kyle Oliver and Nelson Hooper let the Sunsets go in front 4-3 in the eighth... the Hawks belted 13 hits and Summerland had 10... CF Kris Anastas (.412) went 3-for-5 to lead the Hawks... LF Adam Thurgood (.294) also added a pair of hits... Summerland 2B Norm Murdoch (.250) had two hits and two RBIs... RF Eamon O'Toole (.412) also banged out two hits and batted in a run.

NATS KNOT SERIES AT 2-2, RIP REDBIRDS 9-3
In game four at Ellie Ewing Field, Ozarka tore up Denton City 9-3 to knot the TU Division Series at two games apiece... the Naturals rattled the boards for 15 hits with 3B Jimmy Woods (.294) leading the attack with three hits and three RBIs... C Jaak Pajukivi (.412) chipped in with three hits and two RBIs... Glen Jenkins (1-1/2.63) got the first postseason win of his career... he worked six and two-thirds innings, allowed 2 unearned runs on six hits, struck out eight batters, but walked six in a shaky performance... the Nats shelled loser Troy McIntosh (1-1/6.57) for seven runs and 12 hits in four-plus frames.

Denton City got eight hits and were led by RF Pete Doyle (.444) with a homer and a single and C Felton Welch (.500) with a double, single and two runs batted in.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 23, 2040

2040 IPA DIVISION SERIES - Game Five

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

CC 'CATS STOP SLIGO 4-0 IN 11 INNINGS
In game five of the Ruthlandian Division Series at Sligo, the magnificent mound corps of Cold Creek showed its stuff by blanking the Rovers 4-0 in 11 innings for a three games to two lead... Joey Baker, George Bailey and Harvey Fullerton combined on a seven-hit shutout... Baker worked eight innings, Bailey three and Fullerton closed it out in the 11th... Bailey (1-0/0.00) notched the win... Randall Steele held Cold Creek scoreless for eight and two-thirds innings... Bill Walker (0-1/4.50) took it on the chin in the four-run 11th and took the loss.

The Catamounts socked 13 hits... Lamont Cramer broke open the game with a two-run pinch-hit homer... later on in the inning RF Wayne Kenney (.227) and 3B Pat Ellis (.105) had RBI singles.

The series returns to Cold Creek for game six tomorrow afternoon... if necessary, game seven will also be there.

CL CRUSHERS CLIP BULLS 7-2 IN 12 INNINGS
Game five of the RU Division Series between Crystal Lake and Ranford also went extra innings before the Crushers bushwhacked the Bulls 7-2... doing the damage were CF Jesse Walker (.400) with an RBI single, a sacrifice fly by LF Johnny Kennedy (.083) and a three-run blast by RF Pat Dillon (.333)... reliever Mitchell Clarkson (1-0/0.00) chalked up the win with two scoreless innings, while Miguel Mandina (0-2) was the loser, the victim of the five-run explosion... Crystal Lake is now back in business, but still trails Ranford 3-2 in the series... the rest of the games will be played at Lakefront Stadium in Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake bagged 15 base hits... Walker had three hits, two RBIs and scored two runs for Crystal Lake... Dillon had 2 hits and 3 RBIs... and 3B Marv Roy (.333) added two hits and scored twice... Ranford popped 12 hits in defeat with 1B Maury Quave (.250) getting three of them... and 3B Pete Bankston (.333), RF Emory Rice (.273) and C Arlo Guthrie (.238) all getting a pair of hits.

TYCOBBIAN UNION

KING CONKS HAWKS 4-0, SUNSETS IN THE LEAD
Game five of the TU Division Series started badly for the Summerland Sunsets, but ended up on a bright note... starter Dutch De Boer strained a muscle warming up and had to be replaced by Billy Hill, who promptly pitched them to a 4-0 shutout over powerful North Hills and a 3-2 lead in games... Hill (1-0/0.00) fired a three-hitter against the Pro Cup favorite, struck out five and also walked five... the Sunsets backed him with three double plays... Tony Mack (1-1/3.18) suffered the defeat, going eight frames and giving up three runs on six hits... Mack totaled eight Ks and issued four bases on balls.

Summerland got only eight hits and were sparked by 3B Norm Murdock (.316) with two hits and an RBI... King (.250) drove in two runs in the seventh with a single... Mark Brenneke (.167) got the final run in with a ninth-inning single.

Summerland will try and wrap up the series at home... they just need one win in two games to advance to the Tycobbian League Championship.

DC REDBIRDS DRUB OZARKA 10-3, UP 3-2 NOW
It was nip-and-tuck for seven innings in game five of the TU Division Series with Denton City holding a slim 3-2 lead over Ozarka... then the Redbird bats went to town and put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth and added four runs more in the ninth to totally drub the Nats 10-3... the win gave Denton City the series lead at three games to two.

The Redbirds pelted four Ozarka pitchers for 17 hits... LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.222) paced the hit parade with two hits, including a three-run homer... 1B Wayman Stetson (.286) chipped in with three hits, a run and an RBI... and SS Sammy Thornton (.316) scored three times, had two hits and batted in a run.

Ozarka only got seven hits, all off starter Francisco Salcido (2-0/1.80)... Salcido went eight innings, walked four, fanned five and gave up only two earned runs... Lenny Evans relieved him in the ninth and set the Nats down in perfect order... the losing pitcher was Stan Carey, who kept the Redbirds in check... he left trailing 3-1 after six frames... Carey (0-2/1.93) permitted nine hits, but only one earned run.

The sixth game will be in Denton City tomorrow... and, if needed, Douglas Denton Field will be the site of the decisive finale.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 24, 2040

2040 IPA DIVISION SERIES - Game Six

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

SLIGO FORCES 7TH GAME, TRIMS CC 'CATS 4-3
The Sligo Rovers have been a handfull for the Cold Creek Catamounts, the number-two choice to take the IPA Pro Cup this season... the number-six pick has now forced, a win-take-all seventh game in the Ruthlandian Division Series with a 4-3 triumph.

Back-to-back doubles in the top of the ninth by SS Neil Mitchell (.200) and 1B Denny Simmons (.308) decided game six at Holmes Field in Cold Creek... Sligo won despite four errors and careless defensive play... winner Tom Pierson (2-0/1.69) didn't allow an earned run in his eight innings... he permitted five hits, walked three and struck out three... Richie Joyner closed it out with a scoreless ninth and sealed the verdict... Tommy Wynn (0-1/4.50) lost it in relief of starter Rob Hutchins, who worked seven innings and gave up three runs on seven hits... Wynn allowed one run on two hits.

The Rovers collected nine hits to five for the Catamounts... 2B Howard Winston (.238) led them with three hits, including a two-run triple in the fourth... Mitchell (.200) also helped with two hits for the winners... RF Wayne Kenney (.240) was the 'Cats best bat with a two-run roundtripper in the first.

Game seven at Holmes Field in Cold Creek will feature both teams' aces, J. J. Gillespie (23-11/2.26) for Cold Creek and Scotty Price (22-9/2.78) for Sligo... this will be the third time they have opposed one another in this series... Gillespie shut out Price 3-0 in game one and edged him 3-2 in game four.

RANFORD UPSETS CRYSTAL LAKE
Not a lot of people gave Ranford much of a chance to beat Crystal Lake in the Ruthlandian Division Series, but they did... the Bulls upset the Crushers in six games to advance to the RU League Championship Series... Ranford did it with the help of three home runs to get past the Crushers 8-5 in game six on the road in Crystal Lake... the Crushers were ranked third in the Pro Cup poll, while poor ole Ranford ranked number eight, the least-likely team to succeed in the playoffs.

Ranford racked up 10 hits, sparked by homers by RF Dale Weston (.292), 3B Glen Ward (.125) and LF Jimmy Holcomb (.231)... Weston and Holcomb had three RBIs apiece... Crystal Lake also had 10 hits and was led by LF Johnny Kennedy (.103) with a three-run clout and C Stan Stanek (250) with a two-run homer.

Lanny Smithers (2-0/3.18) closed out the series with his second victory... he endured 10 hits, surrendered five runs, but survived, striking out six and walking two in a complete-game effort... Douglas Merrill (0-2/4.26) lost it though he only permitted three earned runs... Merrill was tagged for eight runs on 9 hits in six-plus innings... he also had six Ks and two walks.

Winning manager Chris Bernhoffer gave the credit to both his pitchers and hitters. "The whole team did what they had to do for us to win... the 8-3 advantage in homers was a big key, too."

Losing skipper Baby George told the scribes, "We didn't hit much in the first three games... their pitching was impressive... they shut down our offense very well... you can't lose the first three games of a series like we did and come back and win... it rarely happens."

TYCOBBIAN UNION

SUMMERLAND SENDS NORTH HILLS INTO THE SUNSET
The number-four pick in the Pro Cup poll, the Summerland Sunsets, upended the Pro Cup favorite North Hills in six games, capturing the Tycobbian Division Series and advancing to the Tycobbian LCS... the Sunsets sent the Hawks sailing off into the sunset with a 5-3 victory, helped out by Mark Brenneke's three hits and three RBIs and Johnny Young's fine pitching... the Sunsets ran up a 5-1 cushion after eight frames and then survived the Hawks' two-run rally in the ninth.

Both clubs totaled nine hits apiece... SS Mark Brenneke (.273) went 3-4, including a two-run homer... RF Eamon O'Toole (.400) had a couple of hits, one of them a solo swat... Young (2-0/1.06) had another strong outing, shutting down the Hawks on one run and seven hits in eight innings... Pete Ashley gave up the two runs in the ninth.

North Hills hit a pair of homers... 1B Rick Hamilton (.095) had a solo shot in the fourth and pinchhitter Jimmy Jay Ferguson (.286) cracked a two-run salvo in the ninth... Frankie Lambert (0-2/2.81) was the losing pitcher... he went all the way and was touched for five runs and nine hits, but only three of them were of the earned variety as the Hawks committed two miscues.

Sunset skipper Will Hackett told reporters, "Two very fine teams went at it hot-and-heavy... only one of us could win... fortunately it was us... we got a few more clutch hits than they did."

North Hills' manager Todd Simons lamented, "I love the Pro Cup playoffs, but I don't like losing... we pitched well... didn't hit well, but that's because the Sunsets have excellent pitching... the key factor to me was our sloppy defense... we gave away too many runs in close games to win... nine errors and eight unearned runs killed our chances."

NATS 9th-INNING RALLY KNOTS SERIES
Behind 2-1 heading into their last at-bat, Ozarka put up four big ones on the scoreboard and came away the victor 5-3 in game six at Douglas Denton Field in Denton City... Duffy Morrison had the big hit of the inning, a three-run bomb, that kept the Nats alive in the postseason and knotted the Tycobbian Division Series at three games each... game seven is slated tomorrow afternoon, also in Denton City.

25-year-old lefty Billy Hill (1-0/2.35) hurled another fine game, stopping the Redbirds on two runs and six hits and ending up with two walks and four strikeouts... the save went to Stacy Hubbens, in spite of allowing a run on three hits in the ninth.

Topping the Naturals at the plate was SS Duffy Morrison (.300) with two hits, a double and a homer, and three RBIs... LF Leland Cambridge (.273) pitched in with two RBIs.

Losing pitcher Freddy Hogue (0-1/5.40) did not have a good game... going all the way, he was slammed for five runs and seven hits, while fanning seven batters and walking two... CF Sam Carson (.294) drove in two runs in defeat, while C Felton Welch (.409) got his third homer of the series.

Game seven starters are Troy McIntosh (17-16/3.28) for Denton City and Glen Jenkins (18-15/2.16) for Ozarka... they faced one another in game one and four of the series... McIntosh prevailed 7-1 in the opener and Jenkins got revenge in game four 9-3.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 25, 2040

2040 IPA DIVISION SERIES - Game Seven

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

SLIGO SURPRISES, KO'S COLD CREEK IN 7
Scotty Price saved the best for last... the Sligo ace tamed favored Cold Creek 5-1 in game seven of the Ruthlandian Division Series, halting them on one run and five hits for his first win in the Series... he had lost his first two starts... the Rovers eliminated the Catamounts four games to three... in the Pro Cup poll Cold Creek was the number-two choice and Sligo was ranked sixth.

Price (1-2/1.80) went the route, struck out three and walked none to best J. J. Gillespie in a battle of IPA Elite hurlers... Gillespie permitted five runs on seven hits in seven innings with seven Ks and three walks... Gillespie was breezing along with 1-0 lead after six innings, when the Rovers routed him with five runs in the seventh.

Sligo gathered in eight hits, led by RF Pat Foreman (.217) with a three-run homer and LF Rudy Putnam's (.121) two-run single... 1B Denny Simmons (.367) paced them with three hits in four tries.

The Rovers will now take on the Ranford Bulls in the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... the Bulls upset powerful Crystal Lake in first-round action.

Manager Eddie Keys of Sligo commented to the press, "Pierson, Price and Steele were awesome... thank goodness, we got enough runs to win... pitching dominated the series... we won and only batted .207."

Cold Creek skipper Scoop Lemieux agreed, "Eddie's starters were superb... you don't win many series when you hit .181."

TYCOBBIAN UNION

JENKINS BLANKS REDBIRDS, OZARKA ADVANCES
The Ozarka Naturals got a masterpiece from Glen Jenkins to advance to the Tycobbian League Championship Series against the Summerland Sunsets... in game seven at Denton City Jenkins (2-1/1.59) blanked the Redbirds 6-0 on four hits, struck out seven and walked four to capture the series four games to three... Denton City really helped with their downfall with seven errors that led to five unearned runs... Troy McIntosh (1-2/4.35) was the misfortunate loser... in eight-plus innings he allowed five of the six runs on six hits, but just one was legitimate.

CF Lonnie Gillespie (.160) and 3B Jimmy Woods (.296) each drove in two runs for the Naturals... and 2B Mac Coleman (.176) added two hits and scored twice for the winners.

A disgusted Trevor Tomlinson, the Denton City skipper, was beside himself at the press conference. "I don't even think Little Leaguers make seven errors in a game... we won't soon forget this game... come to think of it... Jenkins made us look like Little Leaguers at the plate, too."

Ozarka manager Frank Kiffin was elated, "What a wacky series... we lost the first two games and then came back and won it in seven... Jenkins and Hill pulled it out for us... Pajukivi and Woods got us enough runs to win it."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 26, 2040

POWERS MISSING IN IPA LCS
The jinx continues... The top three of the Pro Cup picks are already gone after first-round action in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... Pro Cup favorite North Hills, number-two Cold Creek and number-three Crystal Lake have already bit the dust... the highest-rated team is number-four Summerland, who will take on number-seven Ozarka for the Tycobbian League Championship... number-six Sligo will vie with number-eight Ranford in the Ruthlandian LCS.

Summerland by virtue of its win over North Hills is touted the Pro Cup favorite now... the Sunsets have the best pitching staff in the Islands and they are expected to get by the Ozarka Naturals in the second round and then take on Sligo for the IPA crown... the Rovers get the nod over the unheralded Ranford Bulls for the Ruthlandian title and a spot in the Pro Cup Finals.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 28, 2040

2040 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game One

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

ROVERS TRIM BULLS 5-3 IN RU LCS OPENER
In the opening game of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series at Silver Mountain Stadium in Sligo, the hometown Rovers trimmed the Ranford Bulls 5-3 behind the fine pitching of Scotty Price, a 22-game winner in the regular season. Price (2-2/2.25) was not at his best, but he prevailed, holding Ranford to three runs on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts... relievers Bill Walker and Gary Booth saved it for him... the save went to Booth as he sat down all five batters he faced in the eighth and ninth... Ralph Hawk (0-1/4.50), the Ranford starter, was the losing pitcher... he allowed four runs on five hits in six innings... and he was wild and walked six.

Sligo trailed in hits 9 to 8... LF Rudy Putnam (.139) and 3B Alex Faxon (.333) led the Rovers with two RBIs each... CF Jimmy Holcomb (.300) had three hits and an RBI for the Bulls and LF Maury Quave had a pair of hits and batted in a run... RF Dale Weston (.296) scored twice for the losers.

TYCOBBIAN UNION

SUNSETS 3 HRS TOO MUCH FOR NATS IN GAME ONE
In game one of the Tycobbian LCS at Sunset Stadium, three home runs powered Summerland to a 7-6 victory over Ozarka... Norm Van Kieken's three-run smash, Doug Maynard's two-run clout and Todd Cummins' solo shot accounted for six of the Rovers' runs... the winning pitcher was Ronald Shaddock (1-1/3.86) and the loser was Teddy O'Shea (0-1/9.00).

Leading Summerland 12-hit attack were 3B Norm Van Kieken (.429) with 2-4 and four RBIs and LF Doug Maynard (.400) with 3-5, two runs and two runs batted in... CF Antonio Vasquez (.286) also pitched in with two hits... Ozarka collected nine hits and were sparked by RF Bob Banachak (.154) with two hits, including a homer... 1B Omar Velazquez (.367) added two hits and scored two runs.

It was a back-and-forth game... the Nats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Sunsets came back with two in the last of the second... Ozarka tied it up 2-2 in the fifth, fell behind 5-2 in the sixth, then regained the lead with four scores in the seventh, making it 6-5 in their favor... pitchhitter Todd Cummins' (.190) clutch homer tied it up in the bottom of the ninth... Van Kieken then won it with a bases-loaded single in the tenth that scored 1B Stan Terry (.194).

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 29, 2040

2040 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Two

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

RANFORD HOLDS OFF SLIGO 7-5, SERIES EVEN AT 1-1
The Ranford Bulls put on their hitting shoes, banged out two homers and 13 hits to knock off Sligo 7-5 in the second game of the Ruthlandian Union LCS to knot it up at one game each in the best-of-seven series... Pete Bankston, Martin Satcher and Arlo Guthrie were the heroes at the plate and Lanny Smithers gutsied out his third postseason win.

1B Bankston (.351) carded four hits, including a homer and a double, two runs scored and an RBI... Satcher (.257) had a three-run roundtripper and a single... and C Arlo Guthrie (.276) scored twice, drove in a run and posted two hits... Sligo got seven hits with three of them for homers... 1B Denny Simmons (.395), LF Rudy Putnam (.175) and 3B Alex Faxon (.286) all went deep... two of them were one-run shots, while Faxon was good for three runs.

Lanny Smithers (3-0/3.91) worked into the ninth, giving up five runs and seven hits with 10 Ks and three bases on balls... After Smithers gave up the Faxon home run, cutting the Bulls' lead to just two runs, Miguel Mandina came in and fanned the final two batters for his second save in the playoffs... Tom Pierson was the losing pitcher... he was shelled for six runs and 10 hits in eight frames... Pierson (2-1/3.00) was trailing 6-2 when he left the game.

TYCOBBIAN UNION

OZARKA ZAPS SUMMERLAND 8-5 IN 10 INNINGS
On the road in Summerland for game two of the Tycobbian LCS, Ozarka pounded the Sunsets for 12 hits in an 8-5 decision, which tied it up at a game each... Omar Velazquez hammered a three-run homer in the tenth inning to decide it.

Velazquez (.389) continued his productive postseason with three hits and three RBIs for the Naturals... in addition to the game-winning homer, he also tripled... SS Duffy Morrison (.303) also got into the act with two RBIs and three hits... and LF Leland Cambridge (.200) batted in a pair of runs... Summerland 2B Norm Murdoch (.400) made his presence known with a perfect 4-for-4 day and two RBIs in defeat.

Reliever Dwight Albans (1-0/9.95) blew the save in the ninth, but got the win courtesy of Velazquez in the tenth... Albans tossed three innings and gave up a run... the Ozarka staff was aided by four double plays... Ronald Shaddock (1-2/10.80) was the loser... Duke De Boer went nine innings and was victimized by three Sunset errors that cost him two unearned runs... in all, De Boer was battered for five runs and 10 hits.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 30, 2040

2040 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Three

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

BULLS RALLY BY ROVERS 6-5 IN 11 INNINGS
No one except a few diehard Ranford fans gave the eighth-rated Bulls much of a chance in the Pro Cup playoffs, but they got past highly-favored and third-ranked Crystal Lake in round one, now in round two they have the upper hand on favored Sligo after three games with a 2-1 edge in games... the Bulls rebounded from a 4-0 deficit after five innings, tied it up in the last of the ninth, then fell behind 5-4 in the top of the 11th before winning 6-5 on Jamie Holcomb's sac fly in the last half of the frame... Sligo pretty much gifted the game to them with five unearned runs caused by four costly errors.

The Bulls piled up 10 hits in the win, led by RF Dale Weston (.371) with three hits and an RBI... LF Maury Quave (.265) added a pair of hits, scored two runs and batted in another one... the Rovers rapped out 13 hits, paced by RF Pat Foreman (.250) with two base hits and two RBIs... and by LF Rudy Putnam (.217) with 3-6, including a homer.

Winston Moses started and had a decent outing, yielding a dozen hits and four runs in eight innings... Moses was in trouble often, but worked his way out of it most of the time... the Rovers stranded 12 baserunners... Frank Yosarian (2-0/0.75) went the final three frames and notched the victory by allowing one run on one hit in three innings... Randall Steele started for Sligo... only one of the four runs he surrendered were of the earned variety... Steele rang up 12 strikeouts, walked four and was tagged for eight hits in nine and one-third innings... Bill Walker (0-2/3.18) couldn't close it out and suffered the loss.

TYCOBBIAN UNION

YOUNG HALTS NATS 6-2, SUNSETS LEAD SERIES
Summerland's vaunted pitching finally got on track in game three of the Tycobbian Union LCS when Johnny Young chalked up a 6-2 triumph over Ozarka that gave the Sunsets a two games to one lead... Young (3-0/1.04) was peppered for 10 hits, but he limited the Nats to only two runs, fanned five and walked two... he stranded 13 baserunners.

C Paco Dias (.333), inserted into the line-up for some punch, did just that... he drove in three runs... RF Eamon O'Toole (.421) also provided some offense with two singles and a double... after RBI singles by CF Lonnie Gillespie (.175) and 3B Jimmy Woods (.286) in the first frame, Young blanked the Nats the rest of the game... Ozarka starter and loser Stan Carey (0-3/3.86) was banged around hard by Summerland for six runs in just four-plus frames.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 1, 2040

2040 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Four

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

BULLS BLISTER ROVERS 10-1 FOR 3-1 LEAD
Maybe the Ranford Bulls are better than the critics think... the Bulls blistered one of the better pitchers in the IPA 10-1 at Ranford County Stadium to take a huge three games to one lead in the Ruthlandian LCS... one more win over the Sligo Rovers and it's on to the Pro Cup Finals... it's doubtful anyone predicted this to happen... the Bulls bombarded 22-game winner Scotty Price (2-3/3.41) for seven runs in five innings, while at the same time getting an impressive start from Ralph Hawk (1-1/3.25), who shut out Sligo for seven and two-thirds innings on seven hits... Hawk walked four and whiffed nine Rovers.

2B Martin Satcher (.302) and 3B Glenn Ward (.154) sparked the Bulls 12-hit attack... Satcher popped three hits, including a two-run triple... and Ward scored twice and cleared the bases with a three-run two-bagger... 1B Denny Simmons (.375) continues to be one of the few Rovers having a good postseason... Simmons went 2-for-5 and drove in their only run.

TYCOBBIAN UNION

SUMMERLAND BREEZES BY OZARKA 4-2, NEARS TU TITLE
Summerland snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh to defeat the Ozarka Naturals 4-2... Stan Terry singled in the go-ahead run and Eamon O'Toole added an insurance run with a deep sacrifice fly to send the Sunsets up three games to one in the Tycobbian LCS... all Summerland needs is one more win to advance to the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

The Sunsets got another strong outing from their elite pitching corps... Jayson Hallstrom (2-0/3.77) went the distance, stopping the Nats on two runs and five hits... the loss went to Glen Jenkins (2-2/2.65), who was hit hard for 12 hits, but he only gave up four runs, just two of the earned.

1B Stan Terry (.200), RF Eamon O'Toole (.429) and 3B Norm Van Kieken (.462) all had two hits and an RBI for Summerland... Van Kieken had the game's only homer...it was his second of the postseason... RF Bob Banachak (.313) went 3-for-3 for Ozarka.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES

Around the Town in the IPA

RANFORD BULLS

Owner: Barnes Oil Company
President: O'Neal Buckman
GM: Paige Satcher
Manager: Chris Bernhoffer

The Ranford Valley has long been known for its rough and tumble lifestyle. During its early years the town of Ranford was a hamlet set up to offer merchant services to the soldiers at Fort Branagh which was built to protect the Valdar Bay gateway.

The army decided to consolidate all the island’s armed forces in Valmara in 1912. Ft. Branagh was abandoned and Ranford became a refuge for outlaws, gamblers and bootleggers. It was sometimes referred to as the "forgotten city" as much of Ruthlandia cut any existing ties to the area which was kept afloat by the economic backbone of barkeepers and gambling halls.

After the great revival of ’29, churches slowly started to outnumber the saloons and commerce and merchants from the mainland began to return and expand into Ranford. For the next 35 years Ranford’s reputation moved from a town of debauchery to being known as the hardest-working town in Ruthlandia. It was a well-earned distinction as those who toiled with the rough and rocky terrain were well-suited for the country’s lumber and manufacturing faction.

In the mid 1960’s oil was discovered inland and within five years extensive exploration had begun. In what seemed overnight, much of Ranford’s blue collar work force had joined the aristocracy.

Ranford has a diverse population with just about all ethnic groups in the Islands represented. They come from near and far to participate in the oil prosperity in the area. Ranford has become one of the most affluent cities in Ruthlandia, but has kept to its blue collar roots.

The early years of baseball in Ranford consisted of amateur teams made up of soldiers, sailors and ruffians from the area. Despite the amateur status of the teams, the games were taken very seriously and brawls often took place between players and fans alike. During the industrial years the team was known as the Outlaws, but in efforts to makeover the town’s reputation it was later changed to Bulls and stayed that way when the Islandian Pro Alliance was formed in 2001.

The owner of the Bulls is Cliff Barnes of the Barnes Oil Company. He inherited the company from his father, Digger Barnes. The Barnes have always had a running feud with the Ewing family that still continues to this day because Jock Ewing had swindled Digger out of his share of an oilfield partnership, when both were just getting started in the oil industry.

Barnes hired O'Neal Buckman as chief operating officer. Buckman had played for and managed Barnes Oil company teams in the amateur leagues for 30 years and had been quite successful. Buckman surprisingly hired a teammate of many years, Page Satcher, to be his manager. Satcher was a heck of a player, but had no experience as a manager. Satcher alway gave the appearance of not taking the game of baseball too seriously. Many baseball people questioned Buckman's choice for those reasons.
When grilled about this, Buckman just grinned and said, "Old Satch is gonna make you guys regret those words. He's gonna be a darn good manager. You just wait and see."

Satcher, who was a local star for the Ranford Outlaws back in the industrial league years and one of the best pitchers ever to throw a baseball. Satcher played into his 50s and never revealed his age, saying, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" Not only was he good, but he was good with a quote. "I ain't ever had a job, I just always played baseball."

Another of his jewels was his work ethic. "I don't generally like running. I believe in training by rising gently up and down from the bench."

Satcher had the reputation for doctoring up the ball. "I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I would toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation."

Asked what the secret of his success was, he would reply, "Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don’t move."

After two decades at the helm, Satcher retired as manager and became the team's GM. The current skipper is Chris Bernhoffer, who starred for Ranford for 14 years from 2002 to 2015, going 202-197 for mostly mediocre clubs... Bernhoffer posted a solid 3.37 ERA in his career... he was especially good in the playoffs with a 6-2 mark and a terrific 1.89 ERA in nine starts.

The Ranford Bulls play at Ranford County Stadium, a nondescript, but adequate ballpark. It probably won't be long before Barnes tries to outdo the Ewings and build a baseball Taj Mahal.

Ranford County Stadium (1953)

Capacity: 7,850

Dimensions:

Left Field Line - 315
Left Field - 362
Left Center - 382
Center Field - 402
Right Center - 382
Right Field - 362
Right Field Line - 315

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES

Around the Town in the IPA

OZARKA NATURALS

Owner: J. R. Ewing
GM: Joe Mac Carney
Manager: Frank Kiffen

Ozarka, a Silver Mountains resort town of 73,000, is located in south central Tycobbia and near the Caledonia River, which flows southward through Hillsboro, then westward and comes to an end at Turon on the southwest coast. Nestled among scenic forests and outdoor hot springs, Ozarka is host to tourists who come for snow skiing during the winter and boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking and hunting the rest of the year. Big time developers have made this a mecca for the rich and famous with luxury hotels and nightclubs that attend to every possible need: hot spring spas and bathhouses, superstar entertainers, magnificent golf courses, gourmet food, art galleries and gift shops. Ozarka is a retirement center, too.

It is also home to the Ozarka Naturals. J. R. Ewing’s father, Jock Ewing, got tired of the incessant sibling quarrels over the operation of the family-owned Waleska Westerners in the Ruthlandian Amateur Association, so he bought the battling brothers and club vice-presidents, J. R. and Bobby, their own teams in the IPA. Bobby owns the South Fork Stallions and J. R. has Ozarka, where he is a prime real estate developer. Bobby named his brand new stadium after his dad. Not to be outdone, J. R. named his brand new stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie. So the sibling rivalry continues on and off the field. Ellie Ewing Stadium is one of the few parks in baseball that still has a live organ player at each game, which adds a nice nostalgic touch, especially during the seventh inning stretch. Marston, Kenwood and Hillsboro are the other teams that feature a live organist. And at the concessions stands is a succulent gourmet buffet fit for the rich and famous. You will also find all of the traditional baseball fare at a Naturals game.

J. R. Ewing spares no expense when it comes to impressing people and paying his ballplayers. He likes to get his way. He even got the all-time winningest manager in company league history to come out of retirement and take over his team. Joe Mac Carney is now the GM of the Naturals. And he is very well paid, too.

The Nats' manager is Frank Kiffen, who was a fine catcher for Ozarka from 2015 to 2021. Kiffen hit .310 during his IPA career.

Ellie Ewing Stadium (2001)

Capacity: 11,750

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 370
LCF 390
CF 375
RCF 390
RF 370
RF Line 350

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 2, 2040

2040 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Five

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

PIERSON KEEPS SLIGO ALIVE, BLANKS BULLS 7-0
Right on the edge of elimination, the Sligo Rovers got an excellent outing from Tom Pierson, who blanked Ranford 7-0 on eight hits in game five of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series to narrow the Bulls' lead to just one game... underdog Ranford is still ahead three games to two in the best-of-seven series.

Sligo put the Bulls away early with five runs in the opening frame and then added the final two in the seventh... Pierson (3-1/2.18) struck out eight and walked just one in a route-going job... Lanny Smithers (3-1/4.35) tasted defeat for the first time in the playoffs... the Rovers ripped him for seven runs in five-plus frames.

Hits were even at sight apiece... 1B Denny Simmons (.377) topped Sligo with two hits and an RBI... CF Darrell Hewitt (.188) drove in two runs... and LF Rudy Putnam (.218) and 2B Neil Mitchell (.188) both scored a pair of runs in the win.

TYCOBBIAN UNION

SUNSETS SET FOR PRO CUP FINALS
For the first time in the team's 40-year history, the Summerland Sunsets are headed for the IPA Pro Cup Finals... they disposed of Ozarka in five games, nipping them 3-2 in the finale... Dutch De Boer (1-0/2.41) came away with the victory... in seven innings the Nats got to him for only two runs on nine hits... three relievers finished the game for him with the save going to Peter Ashley, his first of the postseason... Billy Hill (1-1/2.93) hurled a creditable game in defeat, giving up only one earned run in six and a third innings.

Ozarka outhit Summerland 11 to 8... however, the Sunsets broke open a 1-1 game with two runs in the sixth with the tying run coming in on a misplayed flyball by RF T. J. Dunn... the eventual winning run came in on C Paco Diaz's (.400) ground-out to second base... Diaz drove in two of the three Summerland runs... SS Duffy Morrison (.267) gave the Nats a 1-0 lead in the second with an RBI single... and 2B Mac Coleman (.145) doubled across the final run in the last of the seventh.

Manager Frank Kiffin of the Naturals told the reporters after the game, "We knew going in that Summerland had great pitching and they certainly proved it in the last three games."

Will Hackett, the long-time Sunsets skipper, reiterated that, saying, "What a year... this will be our first shot at a Pro Cup... 40 years is too long to wait for one... I just hope the staff can keep doing it for one more series... I hope they have four more wins in them."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 3, 2040

2040 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 6

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

ROVERS BEAT BULLS 3-0, FORCE 7TH GAME
It wasn't a thing of beauty, but Randall Steele will take it... Sligo's hard-throwing right-hander tamed Ranford 3-0 in game six of the the Ruthlandian LCS and forced a seventh and deciding game tomorrow afternoon for the right to take on the Tycobbian champ Summerland in the 2040 Pro Cup Finals.

Steele had to throw a lot of pitches... he walked six batters in seven and a third innings, but Steele (2-0/0.52) held the Bulls scoreless on five hits and he struck out six batters... that was good enough to tie the series at three games each... losing pitcher Winston Moses (1-1/1.97) did fine, just not good enough... Moses went the route and gave up only two earned runs on eight hits.

Sligo got all the runs they needed in the first frame when C Don Tucker (.250) singled in LF Rudy Putnam (.211)... Putnam's sac fly and 1B Denny Simmons' (.386) RBI base hit increased the lead to 3-0 in the second... Putnam, Simmons and SS Neil Mitchell (.216) paced the Rovers at the plate with two hits apiece... 1B Pete Bankston (.327) got three of the six hits the Bulls got.

Both clubs will have their number-one pitchers on the hill in game seven at Sligo... Scotty Price (22-9/2.78) will go for Sligo and Ralph Hawk (20-14/2.62) for Ranford... Price is 2-3 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts in the playoffs, while Hawk is 1-1 with a 3.25 ERA in four starts... they have been pitted against each other twice in the series... Price won game one 5-3, while Hawk got sweet revenge with a 10-1 thrashing in game four.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 4, 2040

2040 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Seven

RUTHLANDIAN UNION

RANFORD REIGNS IN RU, TOPS SLIGO 6-4
Unheralded and under-rated Ranford has surprised the Islands' baseball world by reigning supreme in the Ruthlandian League... picked as the worst team in the Pro Cup poll, the Bulls failed to live up to their billing and upset Crystal Lake and Sligo to take the RU crown... Ranford will now take on another heavily favored-team in the IPA Pro Cup Finals, the Summerland Sunsets, champion of the Tycobbian Union.

Ranford defeated the Sligo Rovers 6-4 on the road in game seven of the Ruthlandian LCS... the Bulls snapped a 2-2 tie with three runs in the eighth, highlighted by RBI singles by pinchhitter Emory Rice (.313), 2B Martin Satcher (.296) and Pete Bankston (.350)... they increased it to 6-2 in the top of the ninth on Maury Quave's (.294) sacrific fly, then withstood Sligo's belated two-run rally in the bottom of the inning.

For seven innings it was an old-fashioned duel between the two clubs' aces... Ranford's Ralph Hawk limited the Rovers to two runs and five hits, struck out five and walked one... Sligo's Scotty Price pretty much matched him, holding the Bulls to two runs on seven hits with eight Ks and three walks... then the bullpens took over... neither was very effective... Ranford's was just not as bad as Sligo's... the Bulls battered losing pitcher Richie Joyner (0-1) for three runs and five hits in the eighth and got to Bill Walker for another run on two hits in the ninth... Frank Yosarian did his job with a scoreless eighth, but Earl Cook staggered through the ninth, surrendering two runs and three hits before he finally put out the fire and nailed down the league championship... starter Ralph Hawk (2-1/3.12) got credit for the victory and rightly so.

The Bulls' bats came alive in game seven with 14 hits, led by 1B Pete Bankston (.350) with three hits... 2B Martin Satcher (.296), 3B Glenn Ward (.171) and LF Maury Quave (.294) all collected a pair of hits... the Rovers had nine hits and were paced by 1B Denny Simmons (.410), who had three hits... and 2B Neil Mitchell (.214) and CF Darrell Hewitt (.200) each drove in two runs.

Excited Ranford manager Chris Bernhoffer praised his team, "They just did whatever was needed to win... especially our hitters... after being shut out two games in a row, they really did the job in game seven."

Sligo's Eddie Keys told the press, "The Bulls hit the ball much better than I thought they would... that was the prime reason they won 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. The Sligo Rovers go back to the early days of baseball to the days of amateur and industrial-league baseball. At various times the team struggled to make ends meet despite having very loyal fans. The 1973 commission made it clear in its report that the town should figure out a way to provide long-term stability to the local nine as it would be a devastating blow to civic pride if the Rovers were to fold or to leave town. As a result, the ballpark was part of the downtown refurbishment and the team signed a long-term lease that makes it difficult for the Rovers to leave. In the 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

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 6, 2040

SUMMERLAND BIG FAVORITE IN PRO CUP FINALS
The poor Ranford Bulls are the "Rodney Dangerfields of IPA baseball" - they get no respect. The sports media across the Islands are going for the Summerland Sunsets in a big way in the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

The baseball critics are siding heavily with the Sunsets, who have the best pitching in the entire IPA. It's David versus Goliath all over again. During the regular season Summerland paced the IPA with a brilliant 2.83 ERA and they continued to fare well in the postseason, defeating powerful and hard-hitting North Hills in first-round action. The Hawks were favored to win the Pro Cup this year.

The ragamuffin Ranford Bulls don't excel in anything except upsetting higher-rated team in the playoffs. The Bulls don't hit well (.261 BA-19th), are only average on the mound (3.95 ERA-20th) and a little above average defensively (.975 FA). The Sunsets are pathetic at the plate with a .243 BA (29th), but are excellent with the gloves (.978 FA).

It will all come down to hitting. Can the Bulls find enough offense to beat the Sunsets? This will be the number-one factor. The mediocre mound staff of the Bulls will have an easier time with the Sunsets' bats than vice versa. Ranford pitchers more than held their own against good-hitting Crystal Lake (.295 BA-1st) and Sligo (.262 BA-18th), who both averaged more than five runs a game.

PRO CUP FORECAST: SUMMERLAND IN FIVE OR SIX GAMES... PITCHING IS JUST TOO GOOD.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES

Around the Town in the IPA

SUMMERLAND SUNSETS

Owner: Augie Altonno, La Cosa Nostra Enterprises
GM/Manager: Will Hackett

Summerland is a serene paradise south of the Tycobbian mainland populated by about 93,000 residents and located on the northeastern edge of Arvonian Island in the Southern Sea. It was originally settled by the Dutch in the 1840's and called Sommerland and still has a sizeable Dutch minority, but with a British majority. Both ethnic groups have really taken to the sport of baseball. Like every town in the Islands, baseball is king.

Modern day Summerland is a year-round playground with perfect weather amid a lush tropical landscape. People love to slip away to the sunshine of Summerland with its sparkling stretches of white powdery sand and crystal clear turquoise seawaters. Summerland’s high-rise hotels and seaside villas offer world-class amenities, impeccable service and accommodations topped off with tempting epicurean pleasures and a bountiful array of activities designed to pamper and delight. It is the home of the Summerland Sunsets of the Islandian Pro Alliance, who play at Sunset Park, one of the plushiest ball palaces in the league. The club plays in the Tycobbian South Division.

Sunset Park is built right on the water with the front facade looking out on the Bay of Caledonia. Each evening tourists gather on the shore to watch the majestic tropical sun slowly sink into the sky-blue azure waters. The Summerland skyline, with its luxury hotels and retirement condos, is visible from the park.

The Sunsets are owned by Augie Altonno, a baseball fanatic with questionable business affiliations. Augie Altonno spares no expense when it comes to the Sunsets. At each game he has a big band orchestra (his favorite kind of music) to entertain the fans. After the game an automated dance floor is set up so the fans can swing, sway and dance the night away. Augie loves to dance and can often be seen with a lovely young thing acting like Tony Manero with “Saturday Night Fever” on the dance floor. Most of the time Augie goes home to Mama Rosa and leaves the “Fever” on the dance floor.

And Augie spares no expense when it comes to the concessions at Sunset Park, either. You have wide choice of menu, Italian, Dutch, or standard baseball fare. Delicious spaghetti, lasagna, pizzas and muffalettas are on the menu, along with Dutch specialities like broodje (hot dog), bratwurst, patat met (chips with mayo) and Frikandel (meatloaf croquette). Dutch beer like Heineken's and Grotsch are served along with local and American beer, cokes and fine Italian wine. Augie’s favorite dessert is available, too - Angelo Brocato’s Spamoni ice cream imported from the French Quarter in New Orleans. A visit to Augie’s baseball palace is “to die for” (figuratively speaking, of course).

The GM and manager of the Summerland Sunsets is Will Hackett, noted as a tremendous power hitter and RBI man in his amateur league days.

Sunset Park (2001)

Capacity: 7,550

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 353
Left Field - 372
Left Center - 375
Center Field - 415
Right Center - 375
Right Field - 372
Right Field Line - 353

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 7, 2040

2040 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game One

SUNSETS SLIP BY BULLS 1-0 IN GAME ONE
In a magnificent performance at Sunset Stadium in Summerland, Johnny Young fired a brilliant 1-0 shutout to sneak by Ralph Hawk and the Ranford Bulls in the opening game of the 2040 Pro Cup Finals... southpaw Young permitted only four hits, fanned four and walked nobody... Hawk (2-2/2.72), also a lefty, was almost his equal, yielding only five hits, striking out seven and walking one batter in defeat... Young (4-0/0.77) is unbeaten in the playoffs in four starts.

The two twirlers battled toe-to-toe for eight scoreless frames... Summerland finally eked out the only run of the game in the last of the ninth... CF Antonio Vasquez (.260) singled to lead off the inning and went to third on a single by RF Eamon O'Toole (.392), then scored the winning run when second baseman Gerry Ladner threw home late on a fielder choice... 3B Norm Van Kieken (.286) got the game-winning RBI.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 8, 2040

2040 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game Two

SUNSETS BEAT BULLS AGAIN, DE BOER WINS 7-2
It was a close game for four innings, then Summerland pulled away with five runs over the next four frames for a 7-2 victory over Ranford to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven IPA Pro Cup Finals... another southpaw Dutch De Boer put the quietus on the Bulls for the second day in a row... De Boer (2-0/2.10) worked seven solid innings, striking out nine, walking two and permitting only two runs on seven hits... Lloyd Anderson got the save, his first of the playoffs... He retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth... Lanny Smithers (3-2/4.38) was the loser... he was banged around for five runs on nine hits in six innings.

The Sunsets got 11 hits and were sparked by 3B Norm Van Kieken (.280), who drove in three runs with a 2-run double and a sac fly... CF Antonio Vasquez (.296) added three hits and scored twice... and 1B Stan Terry (.232) chipped in with two hits, three runs and an RBI... the Bulls were held to seven hits... RF Dale Weston (.316) and LF Sparky Sparks (.313) got two hits apiece.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 9, 2040

2040 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game Three

BULLS BREAK INTO WIN COLUMN
Ranford needed a miracle and Winston Moses delivered one... he beat Summerland 3-2 to snap a two-game losing streak in the Pro Cup Finals... now the Bulls trail by a two-to-one margin and have at least a fighting chance to pull a huge upset... Moses (2-1/1.76) went the distance... though he only allowed one earned run, the Sunsets got to him for nine hits... Jayson Hallstrom, 24-game winner, caught the loss... Hallstrom (2-1/3.69) held the Bulls to three runs, but gave up 10 hits.

Ranford ran up a 3-0 lead with single runs in the first, third and fourth frames on RBIs by RF Dale Weston (.328), CF Jamie Holcomb (.277) and LF Maury Quave (.304)... Weston now has the most RBIs in the postseason this year with 15... Summerland cut it to 3-1 in the fifth when LF Russell Edwards (.158) got a bunt single, stole second, was sacrificed to third, and scored on an error by shortstop Matthew Coates (.190)... the last Sunset run came on a solo homer by 2B Todd Cummins (.172), his second in the postseason.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 10, 2040

2040 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game Four

BULLS WINS AGAIN, HAWK BLANKS SUNSETS 3-0
Guess what?... underdog Ranford is back in business and all even with heavily-favored Summerland in the Pro Cup Finals... Ralph Hawk and Frank Yosarian combined for a 3-0 five-hitter in game four to knot it up at two games apiece... it was the Bulls second straight win at home in Ranford County Stadium over the Sunsets... Summerland could be in trouble, if the offense doesn't get out of its funk... they have scored only two runs in the last two games and won the first game by only 1-0.

Hawk (3-2/2.34) hurled the first seven frames, gave up only four hits, struck out six and walked three... Yosarian finished up for him with two runless innings on one hit... it was Yosarian first save in the postseason... he has appeared in nine games so far with a 2-0 record and an 1.04 ERA in 17 innings.

Ranford got to Johnny Young (4-1/1.05) for all three runs in the opening frame... LF Dale Weston (.369) doubled in the first two and Glenn Ward (.163) drove in the third one with a single... the Bulls socked 11 hits with Weston getting four of them and CF Jimmy Holcomb (.304) three... Young went all the way in defeat, fanned nine and walked none... it was his first loss of the playoffs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 11, 2040

2040 IPA PRO CUP SERIES - Game Five

BULLS TAKE PRO CUP LEAD, TOP SUNSETS 3-2
History could be in the making... the team least likely to win a Pro Cup just might do it... the Ranford Bulls won their third straight game at home to take the lead in the Pro Cup Finals three games to two... unheralded Ranford nipped highly-favored Summerland 3-2... one more win and the cherished Pro Cup belongs to the Bulls for the first time in the club's history.

Winning pitcher Lanny Smithers (4-2/3.89) was outstanding, stopping the Sunsets on three hits and one run over seven innings... Smithers walked only one batter and whiffed five... over the last two innings the Bulls used four other pitchers to put the Sunsets away with Arthur Roybal getting the save despite giving up a ninth-inning homer to Stan Terry... Dutch De Boer (2-1/2.20) kept Summerland in the game... in his seven innings he limited the Bulls to two runs, while giving up 10 hits... De Boer trailed 2-1 when he was taken out.

In the second frame Ranford chalked up two runs on singles by Matthew Coates (.203) and Sparky Sparks (.304), who were doubled in by Pete Bankston (.313)... Sunset SS Mark Brenneke (.222) closed it to 2-1 with a solo homer in the sixth... Ranford 3B Glenn Ward (.208) upped it to 3-1 with a 400-foot blast in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Lloyd Anderson... Terry (.221) cut it to 3-2 with a ninth-inning roundtripper.

Ranford collected 11 hits to just four for the hapless Sunsets... Ward went 3-for-4 and Dale Weston (.377) 2-for-4 to pace the Bulls... Summerland has been held to just four runs in the last three games.

Game six will be played in Summerland tomorrow afternoon at Sunset Stadium... Ranford's Winston Moses (10-4/4.56) will try to finish off Summerland... he will be opposed by Jayson Hallstrom (24-7/2.08)... Moses has been superb in the postseason with a 2-1 record and a very impressive 1.76 ERA... Hallstrom, on the other hand, has struggled a bit in the playoffs with a 2-1 mark and a 3.69 ERA... Moses got the best of him 3-2 in game three.

2040 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 6

HALLSTROM HURLS SHUTOUT, SUNSETS FORCE 7TH GAME
Summerland's Jayson Hallstrom picked a great time to pitch a brilliant game... he blanked the Ranford Bulls 4-0 on a marvelous 4-hitter to even up the Pro Cup Series at three games apiece and forced a winner-take-all game seven finale at Sunset Stadium... Hallstrom fired strikes past nine Ranford batters and did not walk anyone in an almost flawless performance... he is now 3-1 in the postseason with a 3.00 ERA.

Eamon O'Toole (.382) and Mark Brenneke (.239) provided the offense with home runs in the second and eight frames, both off losing pitcher Winston Moses (2-2), who also went the distance... O'Toole sparked the Sunsets with three hits... Summerland got eight hits off Moses.

Both Ranford and Summerland will be seeking their first-ever Pro Cup trophy in game seven... the clubs will tangle again at Sunset Stadium with the Bulls' ace Ralph Hawk (3-2) on the hill, opposed by Johnny Young (4-1) for the Sunsets... Hawk was 20-14 in the regular season with a 2.62 ERA, while Young was 22-12 with a 3.12 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 13, 2040

2040 IPA PRO CUP FINALS - Game Seven

UNBELIEVABLE BULLS WIN PRO CUP
The Ranford Bulls made one of the most unbelievable runs in the history of the Islandian Pro Alliance and came away with their first Pro Cup trophy by upsetting heavily-favored Summerland in seven games... Ralph Hawk hurled a terrific game to beat the Sunsets 4-1 in the game-seven finale.

The Bulls were given no chance to win the Pro Cup... they were ranked eighth in the Pro Cup poll prior to the playoffs... but in surprising fashion they ran through Crystal Lake, Sligo and Summerland to win the IPA crown.

Hawk (4-2/2.02) had a super game seven as he limited Summerland to just three hits and no earned runs in eight innings... Hawk fanned seven and walked two batters... he got help from Frank Yosarian in the ninth to seal the verdict and the Pro Cup championship... Yosarian retired the Sunsets in order for his second save of the postseason... Losing pitcher Johnny Young (4-2/1.56) also went all the way... he gave up four runs on ten hits, fanned six and walked three.

Ranford drew first blood in the top of third when LF Sparky Sparks (.357) doubled and then came around to score on 1B Pete Bankston's (.322) two-bagger... Summerland tied it up 1-1 in the last of the fifth on Johnny Young's (.125) RBI single that scored Doug Maynard (.256)... the Bulls got the go-ahead run in the sixth on 2B Martin Satcher's double and Bankston's triple... they added to their cushion with two more scores in the eighth... LF Dale Weston (.360) and CF Jimmy Holcomb (.287) knocked in the last two runs.

Ecstatic over the first Pro Cup in the club's history, skipper Chris Bernhoffer praised his underrated ballplayers, "To the press, we might be a bunch of no-names...We might not have any superstars... but you know we got the Pro Cup... put that in your papers and puff on it... after we lost the first two games, everybody was forecasting a sweep... but my guys didn't buy into that... they just found a way to win in each game and got us back in the series when we did some sweeping of our own with three straight wins in Ranford... then we won game seven on the road... our starters Hawk, Smithers and Winston were marvelous in the playoffs... in the bullpen Yosarian was simply great... and the hitters Weston, Bankston, Holcomb and Satcher kept coming up with clutch hits off the best pitchers in the IPA."

Sunsets manager Will Hackett was proud his team made a seven-game series of it. "You got to give it to Ranford... they outhit us and outpitched us and really deserved to win... the Bulls are a feisty bunch that never quit...they rose to the occasion and won the Pro Cup... we tried hard and had a good chance to win our first Pro Cup, but sadly it didn't happen."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 14, 2040

RANFORD'S HAWK PROCLAIMED PRO CUP MVP
In a tight race Ralph Hawk, ace of the IPA champion Ranford Bulls, was selected the 2040 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. Hawk bested two of his teammates, right fielder Dale Weston and reliever Frank Yosarian for the honor.

Hawk, a 22-year-old southpaw, pitched like a seasoned veteran in this year's postseason. He compiled 4-2 record in eight starts with a very fine 2.02 ERA. Hawk won games four and seven in back-to-back series against Summerland in the Pro Cup Finals and against Sligo for the Ruthlandian League crown. During the regular season Hawk put up a 20-14 mark with a 2.62 ERA.

Outfielder Dale Weston was the key RBI guy for the Bulls. He led them with a .360 batting average in the playoffs. Weston drove in 18 runs to lead everyone in the postseason. He had six doubles, three homers and scored eight runs.

Finishing third in the balloting was reliever Frank Yosarian, who made 11 relief appearances, registered a 2-0 record and two saves. Yosarian was the number-four starter in the regular season with an 11-19 record and a 4.82 ERA, but in the playoffs he thrived in the bullpen.

There was a close battle for the Ruthlandian Batting title with Stan Mila of Marston topping the leaderboard with a .346 mark. He won out over Crystal Lake's Pat Dillon and Jesse Walker, who both hit .344. Fourth in the race was Kelly Hardison of Forest City at .341 and in fifth place was Enos Conrad of Elnora with a .339 BA.

2040 Ruthlandian Union Final Batting Leaders

Eastshore's Don Klingenberg and Volusia's Raul Navarro had seasons they would like to forget. They each lost 25 games and came close to the all-time IPA mark of 27, held by four hurlers: Andre Haglund of St. John in 2020, Doug Watts of Waleska in 2021, Cesar Valdes of San Alejo in 2023 and Phil Bijeaux of Glasco in 2026.

2040 Ruthlandian Union Final Pitching Leaders

Slugger Jerry Culpepper of Bayview set a new home-run standard in the IPA with 66 in a single season, snapping by one Jack Elliott's mark set in 2021. Culpepper also came close to winning the Triple Crown as he topped the Tycobbian Union in RBIs with 146. The only thing he missed out on was winning the batting crown. Culpepper came in fifth with a .334 BA.

The Tycobbian batting race was hotly-contested with Ginza's Ichiro Kazumi the champion with a .343 average. He beat out William Snyder of Cape Coral by two percentage points, Ric Hamilton of North Hills by three points and Eddie Douglas of Southport by five points.

2040 Tycobbian Union Final Batting Leaders

Pitcher Jeff Owens of the North Hills Hawks chalked up 28 victories this season and came within one of the all-time IPA win record, which is held by Shane Farmer. He posted 29 wins in 2018 for the Turon Typhoons.

Summerland's Jayson Hallstrom racked up 8 shutouts this year and came with one of the league record. The IPA mark for shutouts in a season is 9 held by five players: Titus Bristow of Tuckanarra in 2007, Dennis Taylor of Crystal Lake in 2023, Duncan Welch of Crystal Lake in 2023, Bobby Dorignac of Midway in 2024 and Sal Jordan of Rolling Hills in 2025.

2040 Tycobbian Union Final Pitching Leaders

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 15, 2040

IPA ANNOUNCES GOLDEN BAT WINNERS
The Ruthlandian Union gave its Golden Bat trophy to a youngster Nioka Inkamara of the Wynnamac Sundowners and the Tycobbian Union presented it to veteran Jerry Culpepper of the Bayview Vikings. Inkamara was a first-time recipient and Culpepper captured his fourth trophy.

Ruthlandian Union:
1. Nioka Inkamara... Wynnamac RF... hit .316 with 27 doubles, 5 triples and 48 homers in 144 games... led the Ruthlandian Union with 145 RBIs... was second in the IPA to Culpepper's 146 RBIs... also won a Golden Glove... Sundowners came in fifth in the RU East.

2. Bobby Gamble... Sugar Valley RF Bobby Gamble... batted .314 with 32 homers, 105 RBIs and 119 runs... topped the RU with 51 stolen bases... Rattlers finished third in the RU East... Gamble has previously won four Golden Bats.

3. Eddie Wilson... Beechwood RF... collected 40 roundtrippers, 109 RBIs and scored 103 runs... Wilson batted. 323 for average... Bobcats improved to second place this year in the RU East.

Tycobbian Union:
1. Jerry Culpepper... Bayview 2B... broke Jack Elliott's home-run record with 66 this year... won the Golden Bat for the fourth time in his career... had a fantastic season with a .334 BA in 148 games... almost won the Triple Crown... led the IPA with 66 HRs, 146 RBIs and 134 runs... sparked the Vikings to a close second place in the TU West.

2. Sogo Takagi... Ginza CF... hit .298 with 50 homers, 117 RBIs and 119 runs in 147 games... the Ninjas wound up third in the TU South.

3. William Snyder... Cape Coral RF... posted a .341 BA, second best in the Tycobbian Union... had 37 homers, 104 RBIs and scored 101 runs in 132 games... the Hurricanes came in sixth in the TU South Division.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 16, 2040

GOLDEN ARMS GO TO COLD CREEK'S GILLESPIE, NORTH HILLS' OWENS
Cold Creek's J. J. Gillespie and North Hills' Jeff Owens were selected the top twirlers in the IPA and were awarded Golden Arms this season... At age 35, Gillespie has now won the Ruthlandian honor for a record fifth time... it was 34-year-old Owens' first time to win the coveted award.

Ruthlandian Union:
1. J. J. Gillespie... Cold Creek... paced the Catamounts to the fourth division crown in five years... they topped the IPA with 101 victories... Gillespie was 23-11 with 269 strikeouts and led the RU with a 2.26 ERA... he was third in the IPA in Ks, first the RU... Gillespie reached the 200-win milestone this season and now is 206-105 in 12 years with the Catamounts... he is number one in the IPA with a 2.28 lifetime ERA.

2. Christopher Dunsberry... Sugar Valley... went 23-8 with a standout 2.67 ERA in spite of having to pitch in a notorious hitters' ball park... his Rattlers finished third in the divison race.

3. Jimmy Herman... Beechwood... 24-13 with a 2.92 ERA and 252 Ks for a second place team... 25 complete games.

Tycobbian Union:
1. Jeff Owens... North Hills won division title for the seventh year in a row... Owens chalked up 28 victories and was the IPA leader... he only lost 7 games and put up a 2.48 ERA.

2. Jayson Hallstrom... led Summerland to its first pennant in eight years with a 24-7 mark and the best ERA in the IPA with a superb 2.06 ERA... Hallstrom had 8 shutouts... the most in the IPA this year and came within one of tying the all-time IPA record.

3. Lanny Gray... Arlon's fine young fireballer... the Champions tied for second in the TU West... Gray was 21-7 with a 2.31 ERA and 227 Ks... he notched 22 complete games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 17, 2040

IPA ROOKIE TROPHIES AWARDED TO MITCHELL & HOWARD
The best newcomers in the IPA were both pitchers. Johnny Mitchell snagged the Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year Award and Johnny Howard copped the Tycobbian rookie trophy.

Ruthlandian Union:
1. Johnny Mitchell... Wynnamac... went 5-4 with 15 saves and an impressive 2.30 ERA in 42 relief appearances for the fifth-place Sundowners.

2. Al Rhodes... LF Eastshore... hit .323 for the sixth-place Elegants with 16 homers, 54 RBIs and 70 runs scored... Rhodes also stole 16 bases while playing in 121 games.

3. Mike Bruce... 2B Valmara Vipers... racked up 175 hits in 134 games with a .310 BA, 1 homer, 40 RBIs and 70 runs scored... the Vipers were a seventh-place team.

Tycobbian Union
1. Johnny Howard... compiled an 18-11 record with a 3.64 ERA for the sixth-place Rolling Hills Reds.

2. Stan Terry... 1B Summerland Sunsets... he hit .290 for the Sunsets, who captured the TU South pennant for the time since 2033... Terry had 31 doubles, 4 triples, 14 homers, 69 RBIs and 70 runs.

3. Hank Morton... La Claire Lynx RF... batted .338 with 5 HRs, 43 RBIs, 66 runs and 12 SBs in 105 games... the Lynx, however, finished near the bottom in seventh place.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 18, 2040

GILLESPIE, CULPEPPER IPA MVPS
Earlier in the week J. J. Gillespie grabbed the RU Golden Arm Award and Jerry Culpepper was named the TU Golden Bat winner. Gillespie and Culpepper are now double winners in this award season. They both have added the prestigious Most Valuable Player trophies to their collection. Gillespie is the Ruthlandian Union MVP for the third time in his legendary career. He also won it in 2033 and 2037. For Culpepper, this is the first time he has been honored as the Tycobbian Union MVP.

Ruthlandian Union:
1. J. J. Gillespie - Cold Creek... helped Catamounts win a fourth flag in the last five seasons with a 23-11 record and a league-leading 2.26 ERA... Gillespie also had the most strikeouts in the Ruthlandian Union with 269, third best in the IPA... Cold Creek piled up 101 victories, the most in the IPA... won Golden Arm for fifth time... went over the 200-win mark this year... lifetime he is 206-105 in 12 seasons... Gillespie has the best all-time ERA in the IPA with a fantastic career 2.28 ERA.

2. Nioka Inkamara - Wynnamac RF... the phenomenal 23-year-old outfielder had a remarkable season with 48 homers, 145 RBIs and 104 runs... Inkamara paced the IPA in RBIs... he played in 144 games and batted at a .316 clip... this was his third season in the league.

3. Bobby Gamble - Sugar Valley RF... the Rattlers' all-everything had another fine season with a .314 BA, 32 HRs, 105 RBIs, 119 runs and 52 SBs... Gamble won the RU stolen-base title for the second time in his 8-year career.

Tycobbian Union:
1. Jerry Culpepper - Bayview's slugging 27-year-old second sacker set a new IPA standard for homers in a single season with 66... that beat Hall-of-Fame icon Jack Elliott by one... Elliott hit 65 in 2021 for the High Mesa Cowboys... Elliott is the all-time home-run king in the IPA with 848... Culpepper's great year helped his Vikings tie for second place in the TU West... not only did he hit homers, Culpepper hit for average, too... he batted .334 and came up 9 points short of a Triple Crown for leading the league in batting average, homers and RBIs... he led the Tycobbian Union with 66 homers and 146 RBIs... the only thing Culpepper missed was the batting title, won by Ginza's Ichiro Kazumi with a .343 average... Culpepper also topped the IPA with 134 runs.

2. Jeff Owens - North Hills hurler also had amazing year... Owens went 28-7 with a 2.48 ERA... he came up one win short of the all-time IPA victory mark of 29, held by Turon's Shane Farmer, which was set in 2018... Farmer had a magical year with a 29-3 record... 34-year-old Owens also won the TU Golden Arm Award this year... he sparked the Hawks to their seventh division title in a row.

3. Jayson Hallstrom - fine 23-year-old pitcher for the Summerland Sunsets... he went 24-7 and led the IPA and Tycobbian Union with a splendid 2.08 ERA... Hallstrom was instrumental in leading the Sunsets to the TU South pennant.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 19, 2040

IPA BEST SKIPPERS SELECTED, LEMIEUX & HACKETT WIN
The best and quickest way to win a Manager of the Year Award in the IPA is to have a sensational turnaround year. Worst-to-first would almost be an automatic award winner. The toughest way to win is to have a great team. To win you have to really have a great season. This season's winners were Cold Creek's Scoop Lemieux, the Ruthlandian Manager of the Year and Summerland's Will Hackett, who captured the Tycobbian Manager of the Year Award. Lemieux has won the honor three times in the last five years, while it's the first time in Hackett four-decades long career that he has been picked. Lemieux won it in back-to-back seasons 2036 and 2037.

Ruthlandian Union:
1. Cold Creek's manager Scoop Lemieux came off a great 2039 with an even better 2040. The Catamounts were 94-61 last year and improved to 101-53 this season.

2. Crystal Lake's Herman "Baby" George rose up from 77-77 and fifth place (14 GB) to win the RU South with a 94-60 mark.

3. Beechwood's Bret George saw his Bobcats improve from 70-84 and seventh place (24 GB) to 94-60, which was only good enough for second place, 7 games behind powerful Cold Creek.

Tycobbian Union:
1. Summerland's Will Hackett motivated his club to rise up from 77-77 and third place, 14 GB to the TU South Division crown with a super 98-56 season.

2. High Mesa's Jack Elliott got his club to perk up from last place with a 57-97 record and 26 GB to second place with an 80-74 mark... the Cowboys lost the pennant by one game to Ozarka in the TU East.

3. North Hills' Todd Simons has been the top team in the RU North for seven straight seasons... last year he was 97-57... this year he was "just" 97-57... ironically, his team didn't improve enough to sway the voters that he was the best skipper in the Tycobbian Union... Simons came in third in the voting.

Note: In order to finish a season quicker, I will just post the All-Star Game score and the mid-season league standings with no team recaps.

But I will recap the teams and the divisions at the end of the season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, June 18, 2041

IPA ALL-STAR GAME TOMORROW IN RANFORD
Tomorrow afternoon at Ranford County Stadium in Ranford it'll be the 41st renewal of the Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star game. The Ruthlandian All-Stars, headed up by last year's Pro Cup championship skipper Chris Bernhoffer, will host the Tycobbian All-Stars, guided by Will Hackett of the runner-up Summerland Sunsets. Tycobbia has a one-sided edge in the mid-summer series. They have beaten the RU Stars 26 to 14 in the annual classic. The TU's Cape Coral Hurricanes have the most All-Stars with five, while Middlefield leads the RU with three players named to the squad. This will be the eighth time Bayview's Jerry Culpepper has made the Tycobbian Stars. Cody Hanks of Beechwood has made the Ruthlandian Stars seven times and J. J. Gillespie of Cold Creek, Johnny Petrak of Eastshore and Chet Penn of Colfax are appearing for the sixth time for Ruthlandia.

RUTHLANDIAN UNION ALL-STARS:
(All-Star years indicated by *)
SP ALEX GILLESPIE (BELLE PLAINE) (13-1/2.77) ****
SP JAMIE TAYLOR (ROCKY RAPIDS) 13-5/2.40 *
SP J. J. GILLESPIE (COLD CREEK) 12-6/2.58) ***** *
SP LARRY WHEELHOUSE (MIDDLEFIELD) (12-3/2.45) *
SP ARNIE AYERS (LAGRANGE) (11-5/2.56) *
SP GIL ARNAUD (SAN DIMAS) 11-2/2/67) *
SP WALTER GIBBONS (FOREST CITY) (14-4/2.83) *
RP JACK SCANLON (COLFAX) (4-1/1.29) *
C CANNON JOHNSON (ELNORA) (.331/15/48/42) ***
C BRAD ALEXANDER (MIDDLEFIELD) (.265/19/53/27) *****
C PAUL JACKSON (BEECHWOOD) (.312/14/41/37) *
1B JOJO DELUCCA (CLAXTON) (.314/15/59/46) ****
1B DARYL BRADY (CRYSTAL LAKE) (.352/12/53/32) *
1B ERNIE KIDD (COLFAX) (.308/17/56/41) *
2B CODY HANKS (BEECHWOOD) (.315/13/42/37) ***** **
2B KELLY HARDISON (FOREST CITY) (.335/13/44/48) *
3B JASON BUTLER (BELAIR BEACH) (.326/25/68/60) ***
3B LEONARD PURKEY (SAN DIMAS) (.337/13/70/56) ***
3B TOMMY RICHARDSON (ANCONA) (.301/9/56/36) ****
SS JOHNNY PETRAK (EASTSHORE) (.316/13/44/36) ***** *
SS JOHN RODGERS (LAGRANGE) (.336/12/47/48) *
LF BOBBY MEUSEL (BELAIR BEACH) (.331/11/57/44) ****
LF CHET PENN (COLFAX) (.374/12/49/36) ***** *
LF ENOS CONRAD (ELNORA) (.376/13/37/57) *
CF KEN BRENNAN (COLD CREEK) (.351/3/43/51) **
CF NIOKA INKAMARA (WYNNAMAC) (.319/28/70/56) **
CF ALEJANDRO DOMINGUEZ (MIDDLEFIELD) (.300/21/55/47) *
RF NICKY FARRUGIA (ST. JOHN) (.347/19/62/51) ****
RF PAT DILLON (CRYSTAL LAKE) (.347/7/50/46) **

TYCOBBIAN UNION ALL-STARS:
SP JEFF OWENS (NORTH HILLS) (14-4/2.57) *****
SP JUNIOR BRISTOW (TUCKANARRA) (11-4/2.26) ***
SP KENT HALLORAN (LUXORA) (11-3/2.82) ***
SP JERGEN FYELSTAD (MAHASKA) (10-3/2.60) **
SP JAYSON HALLSTROM (SUMMERLAND) (11-5/2.02) ***
SP FREDDY GOOCH (KENWOOD) (12-6/2.76) **
SP TOMMY VAN NOORD (CAPE CORAL) (12-5/2.77) *
RP LES DENNIS (WHITE RIVER) (2-1/1.03/15 SAVES) *
C JAMES BOSWELL (MAHASKA) (.350/20/50/39) *
C CORKY DINOZZO (KENWOOD) (.318/21/44/39) *****
C JAAK PAJUKIVI (OZARKA) (.310/12/34/33) **
1B WAYMAN STETSON (DENTON CITY) (.349/28/79/47) ***
1B STAN FERGUSON (CAPE CORAL) (.330/21/59/42) ****
1B DARWIN TARD (ROLLING HILLS) (.332/11/55/62) **
2B C. C. KINGSFORD (TURON) (.316/13/49/46) ****
2B COUNTRY CROWDER (KENWOOD) (.355/4/26/50) *
3B JERRY CULPEPPER (BAYVIEW) (.361/29/71/59) ***** ***
3B KENT MANTLE (CAPE CORAL) (.318/16/45/47) *
3B SAM ESSEX (GINZA) (.328/15/58/43) **
SS JOEL POCHE (LUXORA) (.324/14/55/45) **
SS SAMMY THORNTON (DENTON CITY) (.330/3/30/51) *
SS DUFFY MORRISON (OZARKA) (.301/15/53/46) **
LF ICHIRO KAZUMI (GINZA) (.304/7/39/54) **
LF RIKKY VAN DALEN (CAPE CORAL) (.326/14/43/57) *
CF J. P. TREVENOT (TURON) (.338/13/52/56) ***
CF DARRELL NESBITT (HARTSDALE) (.338/8/47/55) *
CF IKE SWEETWATER (RED BLUFF) (.268/27/63/60) *****
RF JIMBO FOXX (ROLLING HILLS) (.305/18/54/42) *
RF WILLIAM SNYDER (CAPE CORAL) (.332/14/49/52) *****
RF ZACHARY KRIGER (WHITE RIVER) (.318/13/46/58) *

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, June 19, 2041

TU STARS DOWN RU 4-1 IN 41ST ALL-STAR GAME
At Ranford County Stadium, home of the reigning IPA champion Ranford Bulls, the Tycobbian All-Stars got a little bit of revenge for last year's upset loss in the Pro Cup Finals by downing the Ruthlandian All-Stars 4-1 in the 41st IPA All-Star Classic... seven pitchers fashioned the victory, giving up only one run on eight hits, striking out eight batters and walking none. This was the TU Stars' 27th win in 41 games.

Tycobbian 1B Wayman Stetson (Denton City) hit a solo homer in the second inning, SS Sammy Thornton (Denton City) made it 2-zip in the fifth with an RBI single... Ruthlandia's only score came on C Brad Alexander's home run in the top of the seventh that narrowed it to 2-1... then 3B Jerry Culpepper (Bayview) cinched the victory with a two-run single in the last of the seventh.

The TU Stars outhit Ruthlandia 11 to 8 with 2B C. C. Kingsford (Turon) leading the way with two hits in three tries... 1B Daryl Brady (Crystal Lake) got a pair of hits for Ruthlandia... Culpepper was given the game's Most Valuable Player Award.

2041 Ruthlandian Union Final Batting Leaderboard

Enos Conrad of the Elnora All-Stars easily won the RU batting title with a .391 average... the third-best all-time after Jet Kazmarek of Valmara, who batted .428 in 2002 and Juan Mendez of Belle Plaine with a .398 mark in 2008.