It's been 18 years since the White River Rascals appeared in the postseason (2027)... they have made it only 4 times and have yet to win a Pro Cup, never coming close... good things were expected this year, but didn't happen... the Rascals had a fine 88-66 season in 2043, just 5 games behind winner North Hills, good enough for second place... this year they fell to fifth in the standings at 76-78 (16 GB)... the only place the Rascals stood out was in home-run power... they slammed 196 (4th) into the stands.

At the plate longballers LF Billy Joe Hickman (.279/47/128/100), 2B Warren McKenzie (.246/34/104/73) and 1B Enrique Encarnacion (.244/23/83/73) led the club with help from SS Kunta Burton (.295/4/44/92)... Hickman had a fine season, ranking 3rd in the IPA with 47 homers and 7th in RBIs with 128... only Wayman Stetson of Denton City with 56 homers and Dale Weston of Ranford with 48 topped him in the IPA... the Rascals were led on the hill by Trenton Anderson (18-17/3.28) and Nicky Palmer (13-9/3.23)... and in the pen by Les Dennis (12-5/2.98/10 saves)

WHITE RIVER: 5th Place (16 GB)

The Fairfax Frogs ran well in the first half of the season, but slumped badly in the second half... they trailed North Hills by only 5 games at the All-Star break, but wound up 17 games back in sixth place... its been a dozen years since the Frogs won the division crown (2033)... Fairfax has appeared in the postseason 8 times, but has never claimed a Pro Cup trophy.

The Frogs were fourth in 2043 with a 77-77 record (16 GB)... they slipped a bit to 75-79 this year to sixth... they have an average offense and average pitching... the Frogs hit well for average with a .273 BA (4th), but have very little power, hitting only 101 home runs (32nd)... RF Brad Johnston paced the club with 91 RBIs and 91 runs, while batting .314... 3B Bobby Joe Daniel (.320/5/43/79) had the best average at .320... long-time star 2B John Velasco (.314/17/76/76) still swings a good bat at age 38... C Scott Courtney (.267/17/85/76) tied Velasco for the home-run lead with 17... and SS Daniel Pierce (.314/3/62/64) also batted over .300... the mound leaders were starters Harold Dorman (15-11/3.46) and Shaun O'Riley (15-15/3.53)... and Wes Christopher (8-9/2.78/22 saves) and Terry Sawyer (6-3/1.72/6 saves) in the bullpen... Christopher was the IPA co-leader in saves with 22, tied with Kenwood's Artemus Hale and Ginza's Timmy Hitchens.

FAIRFAX: 6th Place (17 GB)

Nothing new in Oxford where the Red Caps came in near the bottom for the seventh straight season... they were seventh in 2043 (23 GB) and it got worse this year as they were again seventh, but 32 GB... last year Oxford was 70-84, this year a very poor 60-94... the Red Caps haven't graced the playoffs since the golden year of 2006, when they won their only Pro Cup... Oxford made the postseason five of the first six IPA seasons, but none since.

The Red Caps don't do much very well... Tekkan Nishikawa (13-15/3.550 and Rudy Mellancamp (13-23/3.50) are the most reliable starters... RF Donny Braun (.282/15/76/67), C Glen Lee (.285/16/60/57) and 3B Alonzo Norris (.243/22/79/84) are only fair at the plate.

OXFORD: 7th Place (32 GB)

Only the Ancona Red Elephants of the Ruthlandian North Division had a worse record than the Mahaska Haymakers... Ancona was 56-98, while the Haymakers were 58-96, tied with Belair Beach of the RU South... Mahaska was dead last in the Tycobbian North this season, 34 games out of first... they were also last in 2043 with a 60-94 mark (33 GB)... the Haymakers' last playoff appearance was in 2028... Mahaska has been to the postseason only 4 times in its history... so far, they have no Pro Cups... the closest the Haymakers ever came was when they were swept by Valmara in the 2026 Pro Cup Finals.

Mahaska's pitching is horrible with a 4.53 team ERA (31st)... and the offense is just mediocre (23rd)... star C James Boswell is the only standout ballplayer... at 27 Boswell is one of the top backstops in the IPA... he placed 5th in the IPA with 130 RBIs and 6th in homers with 45... Boswell batted .268 and scored 88 runs... aging 37-year-old star 2B Mikk Kukk still is outstanding with the glove and pretty fair with the bat... Kukk hit .293 with 10 HRs, 67 RBIs and 67 runs... young SS Rocco Bertara is a solid light-hitting defender with a .283 BA, 4 HRs, 40 RBIs and 68 RBis... 38-year-old Freddy Pfeffer is the most dependable starter, but was only 11-20 with a 4.34 ERA... Pfeffer is 255-228 with a 3.65 ERA in his 17 seasons in the IPA... he has split time with three teams, Mahaska, Valmara and Elnora.

MAHASKA: 8th Place (34 GB)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 19, 2044

SUN SOX EASY WINNER IN TU SOUTH
Southport chalked its third consecutive Tycobbian South championship in easy fashion with a 17-game bulge over second place Summerland... third place went to San Alejo, 23 games back... and in fourth place was Cape Coral, a distant 26 games behind... the Sun Sox built up a 15-game margin by the All-Star Game and never looked back... they won 104 games, the most in the IPA this season... and will be one of the Pro Cup favorites again this year... Southport took its only Pro Cup in 2027... they were highly-favored the past two seasons, but came up empty both times and were eliminated in the first round.

Southport had an outstanding season and dominated the IPA with a .271 BA (3rd), 822 runs (1st), 172 HRs (9th) and a splendid 2.91 ERA (2nd)... heading up the pitching corps was Johnny Swanson (25-10/2.61) and Billy Hoover (21-14/2.38)... Swanson finished third in the IPA in wins behind Jay Murphy (27-8/2.59) of South Fork and Tommy Carter (26-8/2.47) of Kenwood... Hoover has been a 20-game winner for the last three seasons... the other starters were Gordon Forbes (18-10/3.43) and Brandon Delmore (12-7/3.82)... the relief corps is also outstanding, led by Hal Combs (11-1/1.54/16 saves) and Wayne Stewart (6-2/1.53/10 saves)... the Sun Sox don't have any great bats, but has a lot of good ones... 1B Eddy Douglas (.293/32/88/79) and CF Barney Douglas (.300/28/85/75) are the prime producers with lots of help from LF Chris Jones (.323/4/64/79), SS Gonzalo Topez (.304/5/46/65), C Vasilis Vlachos (.283/17/74/69), 2B Owen Wallace (.316/5/50/59) and 3B Craig Glennon (.274/15/61/52).

SOUTHPORT: 1st Place

Summerland had the best pitching in the IPA with a super 2.88 ERA, but can't hit a lick... the Sunsets batted .252 (23rd), scored only 648 runs (25th) and hit 109 home runs (31st)... 10 times in the last 12 years they have been a first-division team and won two pennants... in 2040 Summerland lost in seven games to the Ranford Bulls in the Pro Cup Finals... that's as close they have ever come to winning the IPA crown... this will be the Sunsets' fourth playoff appearance... last season they ran up a 90-64 record and came in third (2 GB)... an 87-67 mark this year was good for second place (17 GB).

The starters were great... leading the rotation was Jacob Gillen (20-7/2.44), who blossomed at the ripe old age of 36 as a starter... along with Jayson Hallstrom (20-13/2.56) and Billy King (19-11/3.18)... even Dutch De Boer (10-17/2.99) posted an ERA under 3.00... the bullpen was just average with a 3.40 ERA (15th)... and the bats poor... LF Tony Vargas (.305/8/56/79) and 1B Stan Terry (.279/20/78/87) were the best of the lot.

SUMMERLAND: 2nd Place (17 GB)

In its history San Alejo has only made the postseason 6 times with one Pro cup to show for it... the Montaneros won it all in 2032... lately they have been in contention often with 11 first-division finishes in the last 13 seasons with 4 TU South championships... the Monties last won the division flag in 2037... they were 91-63 last year, losing out by just a single game... this year they were 81-73 and 23 games back of Southport in third place.

San Alejo has good starters in Matt Bell (19-13/2.03), who ranked third in the IPA behind the ERA leaders: Jack Rogers (6-5/1.30/16 saves) of Tuckanarra and Clark Van Vreeland (14-5/1.92/11 saves)... Will McKinney (20-14/3.16) and Benny Buckmaster (10-11/2.67) are also strong starters... this was 24-year-old McKinney's third consecutive season to win 20 games... McKinney ranked number two in the IPA with 277 Ks in 307 innings, topped only by Harry Elliott (22-11/3.69) of Denton City with 285 in 324 innings... at the plate it was the foursome of C Filipe Zamora (.321/31/130/90), RF Paolo Teixeira (.297/37/81/110), LF Charlie Wilberforce (.302/27/82/74) and CF Andrew Hicks (.253/23/81/99) that led the way.

SAN ALEJO: 3rd Place (23 GB)

If standout hitting could win the pennant, Cape Coral would have won it often in the last 20 years... the Hurricanes can put runs on the scoreboard, but so does the opposition... they need better pitching... Cape Coral is still looking for its first Pro Cup title... the 'Canes have made 8 playoff appearances, but never have taken the trophy home... the last time they won the TU South was in 2041... Cape Coral was 81-73 in 2043, good for fourth place (11 GB)... this year they were again fourth with a 76-78 record (26 GB).

Cape Coral led the IPA with a .283 BA, were in the top 10 in scoring and 4th in homers with 213... the pitching was a little deficient with 4.11 ERA (26th)... the Hurricanes can start five .300 hitters with superstar LF Rikky Van Dalen (.358/35/117/113) heading up the list... Van Dalen was second to the IPA leader Roberto Campos (.359) of St. John in the Ruthlandian Union... Van Dalen won the Tycobbian batting crown... other prolific bats were 1B Stan Ferguson (.306/43/113/87), 8th in the IPA in homers... 2B Kent Mantle (.328/23/83/96), RF William Snyder (.311/19/72/69) and CF Maxi Tselika (.304/23/77/69)... the only reliable moundsmen were Vernon Marks (21-16/3.44) and Benton McCall (15-16/3.76).

CAPE CORAL: 4th Place (26 GB)

For the fourth year in a row the Ginza Ninjas have been stuck in mediocrity... stuck in the second division... they were 75-79 last year (17 GB) in sixth place in the TU South standings... this year the Ninjas were 76-68 in fifth, but 28 games out... Ginza has never captured a Pro Cup... the only time they ever got to the Finals, they were swept by Volusia in the inaugural title game in 2001... the last time the Ninjas were in the postseason was in 2031.

Ginza has an average offense and pitching with pretty good power... they hit 195 roundtrippers (5th)... the main leaders at the plate were 1B Kim Kudo (.306/20/70/93), SS Sam Essex (.277/35/104/89), CF Sogo Takagi (.250/26/74/86) and C Whip Harrell (.291/22/75/57)... top hurlers are Julian Bass (16-15/3.48) and Carlos Del Toro (14-11/3.23)... the bullpen leader is Timmy Hickens (11-12/3.09/22), who tied Wes Christopher (8-9/2.78) of Fairfax and Artemus Hale (5-7/3.48) of Kenwood for the most saves in the IPA with 22.

GINZA: 5th Place (28 GB)

Turon can hit and score, but they lack pitching... therefore the Typhoons ended up sixth in the division with a 67-87 mark (37 GB)... in 2043 they were in the cellar with a 67-87 record (25 GB)... Turon has been one of the best franchises in the IPA with 4 Pro Cups and 15 playoff appearances... they are tied with North Hills for the most IPA titles... 6 times the Typhoons have been a Pro Cup finalists... the last Pro Cup came in 2018... the last pennants was more recent... 2038 and 2039.

Turon led the TU with 217 homers, while batting a solid .265 (8th) and scoring 732 runs (8th)... pitching was their downfall with a lousy 4.45 ERA (30th)... only Nate Stocksdale (17-16/3.47) and Jarred Franklin (11-5/3.46) were reliable in the starting rotation... the best reliever was Kyle Collins (6-9/2.63/14 saves)... the batting order was chocked full of good hitters and booming bats: 1B Nick Fisher (.296/34/99/94), 2B C. C. Kingsford (.301/31/89/90), CF Guido Gervasio (.291/29/96/78), 3B Al Salisbury (.296/21/72/82), RF Wallace Sonnier (.261/36/77/105) and SS Rafer Robertson (.269/26/77/73).

TURON: 6th Place (37 GB)

For the past 8 years the Colchester Elites have been mired deep in the TU South... for the last three years they have been stuck in seventh place... the Elites were 61-93 this year (43 GB)... last year 69-85 (23 GB)... on only 4 occasions in its history has Colchester made the playoffs... 2036 was the last pennant... never have they won a Pro Cup.

The Elites are just mediocre on the mound and bad at the plate... Robby Rice (18-16/3.01) and Dan Scott (12-13/3.65) are the most dependable starters... LF Blake Barrister is the only run producer in the line-up... he hit 36 homers and drove in 94 runs, but batted a very poor .203 for average.

COLCHESTER: 7th Place (43 GB)

Arroyo Grande has pathetic pitching and a terrible offense... for the 11th successive season the Suns have been floundering in the second division of the TU South... last season they were a decent 78-76 (14 GB) and wound up in fifth place... this season the Suns plunged to the basement with a dismal 59-95 mark (45 GB)... Arroyo Grande has been to the postseason just four times in its history... the last pennant came in 2024... the Suns have never won a Pro Cup trophy.

Fernando Campos (11-21/4.11) and Enrique Lopez (10-23/4.11) were the co-leaders in ERA, while Anthony Lombardi (14-18/4.27) had the most wins... the bullpen was led by Duane Russell (7-5/2.78/6 saves)... sadley 3B Antoine Masson (.243/24/71/64) and LF Kenny Wade (.304/16/54/53) were the best the Suns had in the line-up.

ARROYO GRANDE: 8th Place (45 GB)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 19, 2044

RED SOX PLAYOFF BOUND, 1ST TIME IN 35 YEARS
It was an historic season for the Red Bluff Red Sox, who are Pro Cup bound for the first time since 2009, a 35-year drought... in a two-team race the Red Sox outfought the South Fork Stallions in a season-long struggle, winning the Tycobbian East Division by 2 games... thus snapping the Stallions' three-year run as champ... Red Bluff trailed them by 7 games at mid-season, but they went 23-6 in a red-hot July to overtake South Fork... Tuckanarra finished a distant third, 19 games behind... and Ozarka came in fourth in the standings, 20 games back.

The Red Sox will be a force to contend with in the postseason... Red Bluff used impressive pitching and longball power to take their fifth TU East flag in its history... giving the Red Sox a shot at their second Pro Cup trophy... they last won it in 2004... never known much for its pitching, the Red Sox have steadily improved on the mound the last three seasons... going from 3.59 to 3.43 to 3.07 (3rd) in ERA... last year the team finished second with a 78-76 record, losing out by just 2 games to South Fork... this year they really stepped it up to 95-59.

The Red Sox have four fine starters in Jud Cox (21-12/2.20), Jack Wallace (20-9/2.34), Mickey Rosen (18-12/3.00) and George Reynolds (21-11/3.79)... the relief, however, is not so much with a 4.13 ERA (24th)... two players slammed over 40 homers each... Red Bluff was second with 216 HRs in the Tycobbian Union, third in the IPA behind Sugar Valley (231) and Turon (217)... super slugger RF David Kelso (.268/46/105/90) hit 45 to rank 4th in the IPA... 3B Fran Blanchard (.293/40/101/91) added 40 to the the total... CF Ike Sweetwater (.264/28/73/76) and LF Jesse Shaw (.287/17/70/89) were also reliable bats.

RED BLUFF: 1st Place

South Fork is solid ballclub, ranking well in scoring runs with 737 (6th) and 170 HRs (10th) with a very good 3.38 ERA (8th)... in its history they have won two Pro Cups (2025 and 2042) with a total of 6 postseason appearances... the Stallions were the TU East division champion from 2041 to 2043.

Jay Murphy (27-8/2.59) led a top-notch staff... he had a colossal season and paced the IPA with 27 victories... and got plenty of help from Chris Sorensen (20-16/3.37), Jonas Clay (16-12/3.44), Big Murph McAlister (10-9/2.85) and Mike Lambertini (11-7/3.47/10 saves)... top bats were 2B Pete Arnold (.294/10/44/104), SS Elton Jacoby (.290/25/77/94) and 1B Paul Sexton (.306/23/63/64)... Arnold was first in the TU and third in the IPA with 43 steals... Bevan Shuler of Eastshore (RU) was tops with 47... followed by Micah McDade of Ranford (RU) with 44.

SOUTH FORK: 2nd Place (2 GB)

Tuckanarra was fourth last year with a 76-78 mark (4 GB)... this year third with a 76-78 record (19 GB)... for the 22nd straight season the Blue Jays finished in the top four of the Tycobbian East... in IPA history the Tucks have been to the playoffs the most, a total of 17 times and have won three Pro Cups... they won in 2023, 2024 and 2035... their last pennant came in 2038.

Tuckanarra has strong pitching, but very little in the way of offense... the staff ERA was 3.08 (4th) sparked by Dickie Pittman (18-6/3.04) and Pete Cross (17-12/2.45)... in the bullpen Jack Rogers had a spectacular year and set a new IPA ERA mark at 1.30... Rogers is the first reliever to lead the IPA in ERA, breaking Kent Halloran's 1.47 in 2035 with the Luxora Zorros... Rogers worked in 80 games and posted a 6-5 record with 16 saves... the bats were pretty bad... 1B Ronnie Simmons (.286) was the club leader with 21 homers and 57 RBIs... SS Little Mac McCurnan (.277) topped the team with 69 runs... CF Hal Granders led the team with a .288 BA.

TUCKANARRA: 3rd Place (19 GB)

Ozarka was fifth in 2043 with a 76-78 record (4 GB)... fourth this year, but with a 75-79 mark (20 GB)... basically the Naturals are just an average club... the Nats have made the playoffs 15 times in history, but have never won a Pro Cup despite making the finals 5 times... the last pennant came in 2040.

Glen Jenkins (18-15/3.41) was the top starter, while Pedro Gonzales (7-7/3.02/12 saves) and Gene White (7-3/2.80/6 saves) stood out in the bullpen... SS Duffy Morrison (.277) was the club leader with 20 homers, 82 RBIs and 70 runs... 3B Jimmy Woods (.270) chipped in with 16 homers and 65 RBIs.

OZARKA: 4th Place (20 GB)

After finishing in the runner-up spot in 2042 with an 84-70 record, just one game behind winner South Fork, the High Mesa Cowboys have fallen into the second division since... to 75-79 (5 GB) and sixth place last year to 72-82 (23 GB) and fifth place this year... in all their years in the IPA the Cowpokes have made the playoffs only twice (2002 and 2003)... however they did win the Pro Cup in 2002... pretty much absolutely zilch since then.

The biggest plus High Mesa has is three pretty fair sluggers in 1B Johnny Tallis (.261/39/122/66), LF Clay Johnston (.274/27/106/73) and SS Clifford Coleman (.278/37/108/67)... outside of them there is little hitting in the lineup... one of the IPA's most prolific home-run hitter, RF Corbett Brooks (.236/9/29/47), called it a career at the end of his 22nd season... the 42-year-old Brooks retired with 727 homers, second only to the Hall-of-Fame great Jack Elliott, the IPA lifetime leader with 848 roundtrippers... a .263 hitter, Brooks had 3008 hits with 1980 RBIs (7th all-time) and 2002 walks (6th all-time), along with a record 2968 strikeouts... on the hill Tee Bo Templet (18-11/4.25) had the most wins for High Mesa, while Emil Nowak (15-22/3.87) was the most effective starter... at age 39 pitching vet Dean Harris (1-0/3.31) also retired... he was with Kilkenny of the Ruthlandian North for his first 8 seasons and spent the last 10 with High Mesa... Harris was 244-260 and had the misfortune to play with mediocre teams, but posted a very credible 3.18 lifetime ERA.

HIGH MESA: 5th (23 GB)

Hillsboro had its first winning season in a decade last year, winding up in third place with a 78-76 record (2 GB), but the Blazers couldn't stand prosperity very long as they fell to sixth this year with a 70-84 mark (25 GB)... Hillsboro has never made the postseason in its 43-year history in the IPA... the Blazers are the only team in the league with this dubious distinction.

Hillsboro is very poor at the plate (.237 BA-30th), but pretty good on the mound (3.49 ERA-9th) ... the starting four are quality arms: Robby Lee Stillwell (13-10/2.48/9 saves), Ralph Quick (16-16/3.63), Jamie Lee Bradley (13-13/3.33) and Steve Cooper (9-23/3.29)... reliever Cazzie Reier (7-1/2.17/6 saves) was also reliable... SS Scotty McNeill had the best BA at .303... 1B Ernie Moxley (.261) had the most HRs with 29 and RBIs with 82... CF Rick Willis (.285) scored the most runs with 93.

HILLSBORO: 6th Place (25 GB)

Midway has made the playoffs only three times in its existence... the last division title was in 2027... in 2022 the Wolves went to the Pro Cup Finals, but lost in six games to Crystal Lake... they are currently in the worst period ever in history with five straight years near the bottom... twice the Wolves have been last and three times were next-to-last in seventh place... they were 63-91 (17 GB) and in the basement last year and 66-88 (29 GB) in the seventh spot this season.

Midway has the worst pitching in the Tycobbian Union with a 4.66 ERA (32nd)... the bats are not much better with a .248 BA (25th)... Jeff Chandler (17-21/4.35) and Charlie Chase (14-18/4.15) are the most dependable starters, while Sam Lewis (10-6/3.10/10 saves) is the top reliever... young LF Justin Morrison leads the club with a .309 BA, 92 RBIs, 81 runs and 21 SBs... and 2B Hunk Allen (.268) has the most homers with 23.

MIDWAY: 7th Place (29 GB)

Like Midway, the East Point Panthers are in a rut... they have come in last in three of the past four seasons... seventh in the other year... only five times in the club history have the Panthers made the playoffs and they have never won a Pro Cup... but East Point came close in 2033, falling to Elnora in seven games... the last TU East flag came in 2039... the Panthers were 72-82 (8 GB) in 2043 and 59-95 (36 GB) and last this season... only Ancona (56 wins) and Belair Beach (58 wins) in the Ruthlandian Union and Mahaska (58 wins) in the Tycobbian Union were worse.

The Panther offense is hideous with a .231 BA (31st) and only 528 runs (32nd)... pitching is fair with a 3.76 ERA (16th)... 25-year-old starter Barney Benton (22-13/3.21) had a magnificent season, winning 22 games with a terrible club... RF Andros Ciak (.248) led the team with 21 homers and 65 RBIs... no one else was worth mentioning.

EAST POINT: 8th Place (36 GB)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 19, 2044

KENWOOD SNATCHES TU WEST WITH SUMMER SURGE
The Kenwood Wildcats captured their third Tycobbian West crown in the past four years with a sizzling summertime surge... the Wildcats went 37-20 in July and August to pass the fading Denton City Redbirds, who were only 24-33... Kenwood won the title by 7 games... the Redbirds had a 5-game edge over Kenwood at the All-Star break... third place went to the Bayview Vikings, who trailed by 8 games... and in fourth place were the Arlon Champions, 11 games back... this was the fifth time in its history Kenwood has made the playoffs... the Wildcats have racked up one Pro Cup... that came in 2014.

They moved up from third place to the top spot this year, improving from 81-73 (4 GB) to 90-64... Kenwood can score fairly well with 718 runs (10th-tied), but don't have a lot of power with 136 HRs (19th-tied)... on the mound they have a good group of solid veterans, who posted a 3.50 team ERA (11th)... the baseball experts have placed the Wildcats in the middle-of-the-pack in the Pro Cup pairings.

Tommy Carter was the ace of the mound staff with a brilliant 26-8 record and a strong 2.47 ERA... only IPA leader Jay Murphy (27-8/2.59) of South Fork had more victories... Rusty Bradford (20-14/3.94), Freddy Gooch (15-12/3.78) and Clyde Myers (18-19/3.27) were also reliable starters... tops in the bullpen was Artemus Hale (5-7/3.48/22 saves), who tied Wes Christopher (8-9/2.78) of Fairfax and Timmy Hickens (11-12/3.09) of Ginza for the IPA lead with 22 saves... leading the Wildcats hitters were superstar C Corky DiNozzo (.335/36/109/91), 3B Country Crowder (.320/2/48/102), CF Warren Vickers (.271/17/77/94) and 1B Bert Henrich (.267/23/72/70).

KENWOOD: 1st Place

Denton City had home-run power (182 HRs-8th) and better-than-average pitching (3.73 ERA-15th) this year... the Redbirds were fourth in the standings last year with an 80-74 mark (5 GB)... this season they rose up to second place with an 83-71 record (7 GB)... on 9 occasions the Redbirds have made the postseason... the most recent was in 2040... Denton City has yet to capture a Pro Cup in its history... twice the Redbirds were finalists, 2005 and 2008... a second-half flop cost them the pennant this year.

Superstar 1B Wayman Stetson had another monster year... he led the IPA with 56 homers, was sixth with 204 hits, was seventh in RBIs with 128, seventh with a .323 BA and ninth in runs with 112... other run producers were SS Sammy Thornton (.313/13/65/109) and RF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.267/14/64/83)... Harry Elliott (22-11/3.69) led the staff in wins... 39-year-old Francisco Salcido (16-16/2.91) is still a very effective starter though he was injured in September and will be four months in recovery... in his 17 seasons Salcido is 247-190 with a respectable 3.40 ERA... James Webb (16-16/3/54) was also a reliable starter.

DENTON CITY: 2nd Place (7 GB)

It's been an eternity since the Bayview Vikings graced the playoffs... their last TU West title came in 2016... they have never won a Pro Cup in six postseason appearances... the Viks did improve this season, going from 74-80 (11 GB) and sixth place to third place with an 82-72 mark (8 GB)... Bayview contended for most of the season with a potent offense and a solid starting rotation... however, the bullpen was atrocious.

The Vikings ranked 5th in scoring with 747 runs, 6th in homers with 193, batted .263 (9th) and chalked up a respectable 3.59 ERA (12th)... the starters' ERA was 3.43 (11th), while it was a lofty 4.54 (28th) for the bullpen... Bayview has four quality starters in Bobby Knudsen (22-16/3.30), Vance Codsworth (18-6/3.04), Jerome Dean (16-16/3.73) and Johnny Young (16-17/3.37)... Sammy Sarver (3-9/3.63/16 saves) is hit-and-miss in the bullpen, but did save 16 games... superstar 3B Jerry Culpepper (.294/40/120/83) and SS Andreas Stokke (.253/32/81/89) are the main firepower with 40 and 32 homers, respectively... Culpepper is only 30 years old and already has 586 career roundtrippers... CF Ivar Nilssen (.284/21/81/80), LF Rusty Hunter (.305/7/44/96) and 2B Zack Mason (.302/19/66/95) also put some runs on the scoreboard.

BAYVIEW: 3rd Place (8 GB)

The Arlon Champions have won two pennants in the last six seasons, taking the division in 2039 and 2043... 5 times in history they have made the playoffs, but never winning a Pro Cup... the closest the Champs ever came was in 2039 when they fell to Waleska in six games.

Arlon won the TU West last year with an 85-69 record, but slipped to fourth this year (11 GB)... they were 79-75 this season... the pitching was pretty fair, but the offense was lackluster... fireballers Lanny Gray (23-13/2.48) and Peter Shannon (20-12/3.46) anchored the pitching corps, while RF Mark Cameron (.294/35/93/78), 1B Robby Westin (.302/23/78/69) and C Nick Shafer (.268/27/91/73) led at the plate.

ARLON: 4th Place (11 GB)

For the ninth year in a row Bay St. Clair has failed to make the TU West first division... in 2043 the Buccaneers were seventh with a 67-87 record (18 GB)... they improved to 76-78 this year (14 GB), good for fifth place... the Bucs have appeared 9 times in the postseason, the last time was in 2030... they have not won a Pro Cup, but did make the Finals in 2015, losing to Taranto in five games.

Bay St. Clair has a weak offense and decent pitching... aging vets Freddi Hahn (18-15/3.32) and Andre Karkinos (17-11/3.96) led the starting rotation... and Clark Van Vreeland (14-5/1.92/11 saves) stood out in the pen... all of them are in their late 30s... Van Vreeland led the TU with a 1.92 ERA... he was second to Tuckanarra's Jack Rogers (6-5/1.30/16 saves) for the IPA lead... the only reliable batters were RF Spade Weldon (.287/20/67/97), 1B Myrt Breland (.309/12/56/59) and SS Edison Randall (.273/15/84/64).

BAY ST. CLAIR: 5th Place (14 GB)

Rolling Hills has won 10 TU West pennants in its history, but not lately... 2032 was the last postseason appearance... twice the Reds have been IPA Pro Cup champs, in 2029 and 2031... last year they broke even at 77-77, finishing fifth, 8 GB... the Reds dipped a bit this year to sixth with a 71-83 record (19 GB).

Rolling Hills had a pretty good offense with 718 runs (10th-tied), but second-rate pitching (4.02/22nd)... star 1B Darwin Tard ranked 4th in the IPA with 208 hits, tied for 2nd with 42 doubles and was 7th with a .344 BA... he led the club with 105 runs and collected 97 RBIs and 20 homers in another very good season... RF Jimbo Foxx topped the team with 33 homers and 115 RBIs, but batted just .243... CF Trent Hutchins (.278/24/78/68) also helped out offensively... Matthew Christianson (15-15/2.88) was the only quality pitcher.

ROLLING HILLS: 6th Place (19 GB)

Chicopee had its only success in a three-year period, 2034-2036 when they won the division flag each season... otherwise the Braves have missed the playoffs... they have never won a Pro Cup or even come close... since the pennants the Braves have been in the cellar (3 times) or close to it... they were last in 2043 with a 65-89 mark (20 GB) and next-to-last this year at 70-84 (20 GB).

Neither the offense, nor the pitching is much to boast about... Wes Pennington (15-17/4.52) had the most wins... Paul Foster (13-22/3.57) the best ERA... and Josh Dougherty (14-18/3.65) was fairly decent... the most productive bat was 1B Sam Patrick (.259), who had 33 homers and 87 RBIs, tops on the club... other contributors were RF Denny Halverton (.301/10/66/70), LF Frankie Montgomery (.282/14/77/82), 3B Ken Smith (.315/7/55/68), SS Fred Phelps (.251/13/82/61) and CF Marty Hogart (.253/17/61/89).

CHICOPEE: 7th Place (20 GB)

La Claire has had little success in the IPA with only four pennants in its history... the most recent was in 2038... the Lynx have never been IPA champ... they came in second last season with an 81-73 record (4 GB), but plunged to the basemen this year with a 69-85 mark (21 GB).

At the plate LF Donny Griffith (.293/24/86/82) is the most reliable threat, leading the club in homers and RBIs... RF Hank Morton (.312/7/68/74) has the best batting average... SS Royce Hill (.260/11/51/83) scored the most runs... 2B Donnie Nilsson (.295/12/68/80) had a decent year, too... on the hill Nelson Stubbs (15-19/3.47) was the most dependable starter... while vet Terry Baird (8-3/2.21/13 saves) excelled in the bullpen with 76 appearances.

LA CLAIRE: 8th Place (21 GB)

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 21, 2044

SOUTHPORT-WYNNAMAC FORECAST FOR PRO CUP FINALS
Pro Cup Fever is breaking out all across Islandia. Beginning this Friday afternoon the eight best teams will vie for the IPA Pro Cup trophy, given annually to the team that reigns supreme in the Islands. Last year's surprise winner Valmara is back to defend its title, but the Vipers still don't get very much respect from the baseball experts. They were picked number five in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Pro Cup poll. Southport, Wynnamac, North Hills and Red Bluff were selected ahead of them. The Sun Sox are predicted to beat the Sundowners for the overall title.

As usual, the teams with the best records are expected to meet in the IPA Pro Cup Finals, but that's not what usually transpires in the playoffs. We have learned to expect the unexpected. Favorites usually flop in the postseason. Only three times in the last two decades has the team with the best record won the Pro Cup. Most of the time an underdog pulls it out in the end. In reality, any one of the clubs could win the Islandian crown.

1. Southport Sun Sox (104-50) .273 BA (3rd)/822 runs (1st)/172 HRs (9th)/2.91 ERA (2nd)/.970 FA (23rd-tied)
2. Wynnamac Sundowners (98-58) .271 BA (4th)/800 runs (4th)/153 HRs (8th)/3.25 ERA (2nd)/.975 FA (5th-tied)
3. North Hills Hawks (92-62) .278 BA (2nd)/764 runs/3rd)/163 HRs (11th)/3.26 ERA (7th)/.974 FA (9th-tied)
4. Red Bluff Red Sox (95-59) .255 BA (20th)/692 runs (18th)/216 HRs (2nd)/3.07 ERA (3rd)/.972 FA (17th-tied)
5. Valmara Vipers (93-61) .268 BA (13th)/775 runs (7th)/132 HRs (18th-tied)/3.35 ERA (5th)/.971 FA (21st-tied)
6. Kenwood Wildcats (90-64) .271 BA (6th)/718 runs (10th-tied)/136 HRs (19th-tied)/3.50 ERa (11th)/.975 FA (5th-tied)
7. Rocky Rapids Snappers (85-69) .261 BA (23rd)/770 runs (8th)/132 HRs (18th-tied)/3.60 ERA (10th)/.972 FA (17th-tied)
8. Crystal Lake Crushers (85-69) .281 BA (2nd)/780 runs (6th)/123 HRs (26th)/3.90 ERA (17th)/.972 FA (17th-tied)

In the Ruthlandian Division Championship Series Valmara will play host to Crystal Lake at War Memorial Stadium and Rocky Rapids will be on the road in Wynnamac at Granger Field. The Tycobbian Division Championship Series will have powerful Southport opening up at home at Pleasure Beach Park against strong North Hills and Red Bluff entertaining Kenwood at Red Bluff Park. All series will be best-of-seven affairs throughout the playoffs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 22, 2044

SEASON RECAP AND PRO CUP FORECAST:
Southport chalked its third consecutive Tycobbian South championship in easy fashion with a 17-game bulge over second place Summerland... the Sun Sox built up a 15-game margin by the All-Star Game and never looked back... they won 104 games, the most in the IPA this season... and will be one of the Pro Cup favorites again this year...5 times the Sun Sox have been to the postseason... they won their only Pro Cup in 2027... the Sun Sox were highly favored to win it the last two seasons, but they came up empty both times and were eliminated in the first round... once again for the third year in a row the Sun Sox have been made the top pick in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Pro Cup poll to capture the Pro Cup.

Clubs have won 100 games a total of 18 times in IPA history.. only three of the "100 Win" Club have gone all the way and captured the Pro Cup... Colfax did it in 2008... Turon in 2018... and the Sligo Rovers in 2021... Ozarka is the leader as they have reached the 100-victory mark three times in its history... 2016, 2018 and 2021... sadly the Naturals have never won the Pro Cup, but they have been a finalist five times.

Southport had an outstanding season and dominated the IPA with a .271 BA (3rd), 822 runs (1st), 172 HRs (9th) and a splendid 2.91 ERA (2nd)... heading up the pitching corps was Johnny Swanson (25-10/2.61) and Billy Hoover (21-14/2.38)... Swanson finished third in the IPA in wins behind Jay Murphy (27-8/2.59) of South Fork and Tommy Carter (26-8/2.47) of Kenwood... Hoover has been a 20-game winner for the last three seasons... the other starters were Gordon Forbes (18-10/3.43) and Brandon Delmore (12-7/3.82)... the relief corps is also outstanding, led by Hal Combs (11-1/1.54/16 saves) and Wayne Stewart (6-2/1.53/10 saves)... the Sun Sox don't have any great bats, but has a lot of good ones... 1B Eddy Douglas (.293/32/88/79) and CF Barney Douglas (.300/28/85/75) are the prime producers with lots of help from LF Chris Jones (.323/4/64/79), SS Gonzalo Topez (.304/5/46/65), C Vasilis Vlachos (.283/17/74/69), 2B Owen Wallace (.316/5/50/59) and 3B Craig Glennon (.274/15/61/52).

For the 10th time in 11 seasons the North Hills Hawks have copped the Tycobbian North Division... this time around they outlasted the Blue Lake Blue Sox, Luxora Zorros and fast-closing Hartsdale Hellcats by 4 games... it's the 12th time the Hawks have made the postseason, thus giving them a crack at a record-setting fifth Pro Cup... North Hills is currently tied with the Turon Typhoons of the TU South for the most IPA titles... the Hawks won in 2034, 2036, 2038 and 2041... the Hawks, the number-two selection, have their work cut out for them, they meet favorite Southport in first-round action.

North Hills is a very solid ballclub with a .278 BA (2nd), 764 runs (3rd), 163 HRs (11th) with a fine 3.26 ERA (7th)... top Hawk hurlers are starters David Michael (23-13/2.64) and Tony Mack (22-12/2.70)... in 15 years the 37-yer-old Michael is 274-194 with a 3.01 ERA... Mack, age 32, has won 20 games for five of the last six seasons... Butch Cortelloni (15-9/3.36) and Joey Santini (16-15/3.94) are credible starters, too... Kyle Oliver (5-4/1.86/11 saves) was tops in the bullpen... best batters were superstar LF Adam Thurgood (.315/37/111/110), 1B Oscar Pendleton (.345/23/69/63), SS Tommy Vavas (.297/16/78/95), C Timmy Stevens (.304/13/69/76), 3B Ric Hamilton (.314/12/64/57) and 2B Jim McDermott (.272/16/70/82).

Four teams tussled back-and-forth throughout the year for supremacy in the rugged Ruthlandian East Division with Wynnamac finally hauling in the pennant in a three-way playoff... the Sundowners slammed defending champ Sugar Valley 13-7 in the playoff opener and then won the title with a 7-3 triumph over Elnora... Wynnamac whipped the Rattlers and All-Stars by one and a half games... Cold Creek was also in the running, winding up just 3 games back in fourth place... all of the first division clubs won 94 or more games.

This was the Sundowners second RU East division title in the last three seasons... they led the Ruthlandian Union with 98 victories, second best to Southport of the Tycobbian South, who notched 104 wins to top the IPA... last year they were fourth, but only 4 games off the pace... the Sundowners have racked up one Pro Cup, but it came years ago in 2008.

Third-rated Wynnamac is a well-balanced team that does everything pretty well and it will be a potent force in the Pro Cup playoffs... .271 BA (7th), 800 runs (4th), 153 HRs (11th) and a 3.25 ERA (2nd)... two 20-game winners head a quality mound staff: Jimmy Willard (24-10/2.93) and Sammy Hayes (22-12/3.54)... with help from Shirai Nakamura (19-17/3.29) and Geoff Hobart (15-5/3.76)... the bullpen standout is Johnny Mitchell (9-5/1.67/12 saves)... Willard was a godsend this year... at 37 the journeyman hurler tied for fourth in the IPA with 24 wins... only three Tycobbian twirlers Jay Murphy (27-8/2.59) of South Fork, Tommy Carter (26-8/2.47) of Kenwood and Johnny Swanson (25-10/2.61) of Southport were better... Willard (182-198/3.91) has seriously considered retirement the last few seasons because of mediocre performance... the top bat for the Sundowners is superstar RF Nioka Inkamara with a .321 BA, 40 homers, 131 RBIs and 114 runs scored... he was third in the IPA in RBIs and tied for sixth in scoring runs... ranked sixth in the RU with 40 homers... other fine run producers are CF Darrell Donnelly (.312/23/104/98), 1B Jack Pope (.294/19/91/94) and 3B Duane Hudson (.292/5/57/96).

Fourth ranked in the Pro Cup poll was the Red Bluff Red Sox, It was an historic season for the club, who are Pro Cup bound for the first time since 2009, a 35-year drought... in a two-team race the Red Sox outfought the South Fork Stallions in a season-long struggle, winning the Tycobbian East Division by 2 games... thus snapping the Stallions' three-year run as champ... Red Bluff trailed them by 7 games at mid-season, but they went 23-6 in a red-hot July to overtake South Fork... Tuckanarra finished a distant third, 19 games behind... and Ozarka came in fourth in the standings, 20 games back.

The Red Sox will be a force to contend with in the postseason... Red Bluff used impressive pitching and longball power to take their fifth TU East flag in its history... giving the Red Sox a shot at their second Pro Cup trophy... they last won it in 2004... never known much for its pitching, the Red Sox have steadily improved on the mound the last three seasons... going from 3.59 to 3.43 to 3.07 (3rd) in ERA... last year the team finished second with a 78-76 record, losing out by just 2 games to South Fork... this year they really stepped it up to 95-59.

The Red Sox have four fine starters in Jud Cox (21-12/2.20), Jack Wallace (20-9/2.34), Mickey Rosen (18-12/3.00) and George Reynolds (21-11/3.79)... the relief, however, is not so much with a 4.13 ERA (24th)... two players slammed over 40 homers each... Red Bluff was second with 216 HRs in the Tycobbian Union, third in the IPA behind Sugar Valley (231) and Turon (217)... super slugger RF David Kelso (.268/46/105/90) hit 45 to rank 4th in the IPA... 3B Fran Blanchard (.293/40/101/91) added 40 to the the total... CF Ike Sweetwater (.264/28/73/76) and LF Jesse Shaw (.287/17/70/89) are also reliable bats.

Picked fifth in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES postseason poll was defending IPA Pro Cup champion Valmara... The Vipers will get a chance to win it all again... they captured their second straight Ruthlandian North Division crown with a second-half 55-19 surge that blew them by second place Far Mountain (7 GB) and third place Ranford (11 GB)... the Vipers (33-38) trailed by 10 games at the All-Star Game, but revved it up and won going away by 7 games... Far Mountain (43-28) and Ranford (42-29) had the first half to themselves, but they fell apart in the last half of the campaign.

Valmara got fine pitching from its starters (3.50 ERA-6th) and great pitching from its relievers (2.23 ERA-1st)... coupled with good scoring (775 runs-7th)... that was the formula for winning the Pro Cup last year... maybe lightning will strike twice... it's doubtful the Vipers will be overlooked this year... the Viper rotation had four 20-game winners in Teddy Twardzik (20-15/3.14), Kasio Kitowsky (20-14/3.38), Zak Reeder (21-14/3.62) and Harold Hutson (22-9/3.91)... all of them are left-handers except for Reeder... closer Paul Holloway (7-3/1.09/17 saves) also had a great season in the bullpen... the top batters are 1B Cain Greene (.297/25/106/82), 3B Ken Jensen (.321/7/64/99) and CF Don Ritchie (.289/4/59/83).

The number-six selection to win the Pro Cup this year are the Kenwood Wildcats... they captured their third Tycobbian West crown in the past four years with a sizzling summertime surge... the Wildcats went 37-20 in July and August to pass the fading Denton City Redbirds, who were only 24-33... Kenwood won the title by 7 games... the Redbirds had a 5-game edge over Kenwood at the All-Star break... third place went to the Bayview Vikings, who trailed by 8 games... and in fourth place were the Arlon Champions, 11 games back... this was the fifth time in its history Kenwood has made the playoffs... the Wildcats have racked up one Pro Cup... that came in 2014.

They moved up from third place to the top spot this year, improving from 81-73 (4 GB) to 90-64... Kenwood can score fairly well with 718 runs (10th-tied), but don't have a lot of power with 136 HRs (19th-tied)... on the mound they have a good group of solid veterans, who posted a 3.50 team ERA (11th)... the baseball experts have placed the Wildcats in the middle-of-the-pack in the Pro Cup pairings.

Tommy Carter is the ace of the Kenwood mound staff with a brilliant 26-8 record and a strong 2.47 ERA... only IPA leader Jay Murphy (27-8/2.59) of South Fork had more victories... Rusty Bradford (20-14/3.94), Freddy Gooch (15-12/3.78) and Clyde Myers (18-19/3.27) are also reliable starters... tops in the bullpen is Artemus Hale (5-7/3.48/22 saves), who tied Wes Christopher (8-9/2.78) of Fairfax and Timmy Hickens (11-12/3.09) of Ginza for the IPA lead with 22 saves... leading the Wildcats hitters are superstar C Corky DiNozzo (.335/36/109/91), 3B Country Crowder (.320/2/48/102), CF Warren Vickers (.271/17/77/94) and 1B Bert Henrich (.267/23/72/70).

Sportwriters and broadcasters placed Rocky Rapids in the number-seven spot in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Pro Cup balloting... Preseason pick Rocky Rapids lived up to its billing and won the Ruthlandian West Division for the first time in 24 years... in a season-long duel the Snappers held off the Middlefield Roosters and Forest City Lumberjacks, finishing 5 games in front of them... fourth place went to the Stoner Stars, who trailed by 10 games... defending division champ Volusia came in fifth and 11 games back.

Rocky Rapids has steadily improved over the last six seasons, coming in fourth twice, moving up to third the next three years and then rising up to the top spot in the RU West this season... the Snappers were 79-75 (13 GB) in 2043, upping their record to 85-69 this year... they have only appeared in the postseason four times in their history... the last time was in 2020... but the Snappers have won a Pro Cup (2019).

They have pretty good pitching with a 3.60 ERA (10th) and can score runs... Rocky Rapids ranked 8th in scoring with 770 runs... they only have average power with 132 HRs (18th-tied)... the Snappers have two excellent starters in Jamie Taylor (21-12/3.01) and Randy Peters (19-14/3.00)... and a good closer in Steve Owens (10-9/2.74/10 saves)... three players provide most of the offense: 2B Marty Featherstone (.300/30/107/100), C Carney Kirkpatrick (.298/12/77/77) and 3B Duncan Musselwhite (.295/5/52/85)... the baseball prognosticators don't expect much out of the Snappers in the Pro Cup playoffs.

According to the pollsters, the least-likely winner of the Pro Cup trophy this year is Crystal Lake... for the second year in a row Crystal Lake is the best team in the Ruthlandian South Division... the Crushers got off to a great start, had a good lead at mid-season, then had to fend off several contenders down the stretch... Crystal Lake nudged out two fast-closing clubs, Waleska by 2 games and St. John by 3 games... Claxton bombed out in late summer and finished fourth, trailing by 5 games... the San Dimas Rancheros faded in the last two months and slipped 7 games back and came in fifth.

Crystal Lake didn't have much power with 123 HRs (26th), but they could put runs on the scoreboard with a .281 BA (2nd) and 780 runs (6th)... pitching was adequate with a 3.90 ERA (17th)... defense just average (.972 FA)... the Crushers have racked up 9 pennants in their history and won two Pro Cups (2020 and 2022)... they have won three division flags in the last 5 years... Eddie Lane (15-5/2.93) is the ace of the staff with help from Dave McCauley (16-15/3.93) and Ken Lawson (16-14/3.93)... the bullpen is handled mainly by Clyde Thompson (8-7/3.66/19 saves) and Josh Crosby (13-9/3.13/16 saves)... at the plate the club leaders are 1B Daryl Brady (.325/20/89/83), CF Kenny Gray (.331/22/77/59), RF Paul Dillon (.322/11/82/88) and 3B Marv Roy (.288/25/105/74)... the Crushers can compete on the scoreboard, but not on the mound.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 23, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 1

Ruthlandian Union

SNAPPERS SNATCH OPENER FROM SUNDOWNERS 2-1
Light-hitting Nick Nova drove in both runs and Jamie Taylor bested Jimmy Willard 2-1 in Rocky Rapids' opening game victory over favored Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian Division Series at Granger Field in Wynnamac... 20-game winner Taylor (1-0) scattered 7 hits and went the distance, topping 24-game winner Willard... Willard (0-1) was tagged for 9 hits, struck out 6 and walked 4 in also going the route.

RF Jose Ramos paced the Snappers with 3 hits... SS Nick Nova had 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Nova got RBIs in the top of the sixth and top of the eighth... and 3B Duncan Musselwhite also had 2 hits... CF Darrell Donnelly drove in the Sundowners' only score in the sixth.

TWARDZIK THWARTS CRUSHERS, VIPERS WIN 3-1
Last year's Pro Cup MVP Teddy Twardzik picked up where he left off by stopping Crystal Lake 3-1 in game one of the RU Division Series at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... Twardzik (1-0) fanned four and walked only one, while giving up one unearned run on 6 hits in a route-going performance... the Vipers bunched all their runs in the bottom of the fourth against loser Eddie Lane (0-1), who also hurled a complete game... Zarek Boczek and Antos Dacko had RBI singles in the inning and Twardzik got the third run on a sacrifice fly... two errors by the Vipers gifted the Crushers with their only score in the top of the eighth.

Valmara was sparked at the plate by 2B Ken Jensen, 1B Cain Greene and SS Antos Dacko, all with a pair of hits apiece... CF Kenny Gray had two hits for Crystal Lake.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX SNEAK BY HAWKS 5-3 IN GAME ONE
Pro Cup favorite Southport sneaked by arch-rival North Hills 5-3 in game one of the Tycobbian Division Series on a hot, windy day at Pleasure Beach Park... the big blow in the game came off the bat of Gonzalo Topez, who belted a 2-run homer in the last of the sixth to give the Sun Sox a 4-3 lead... Billy Hoover (1-0) was on the hill for Southport... the 21-game winner was backed by three double plays to ward off the Hawks... Hoover allowed 8 hits and 3 runs in a complete game... David Michael (0-1) also went the entire game in defeat... he was touched for 5 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 7 and walking 2.

1B Eddie Douglas also homered for Southport, a 2-run shot in the opening frame... leading batsmen for the Hawks were RF Adam Thurgood and 2B Jim McDermott with 2 hits each... Thurgood, 3B Ric Hamilton and RF Jimmy Jay Ferguson drove in the Hawks' runs.

RED SOX CREEP PAST WILDCATS 3-2 IN OPENER
Playing in the postseason for the first time in 35 years, Red Bluff creeped past Kenwood 3-2 in the opening game of the TU Division Series at Red Bluff Park... Jud Cox and Slick Little teamed up to tame the Wildcats on 5 hits and just two runs and sending 26-game winner Tommy Carter down to defeat... Carter (0-1) went all the way, yielding 3 runs on 7 hits... Cox worked 7 and two-thirds innings, allowing 2 runs on five hits... only one of the runs was earned... Little got the save, retiring the final four batters in order, striking out 2 of them.

Kenwood jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the first frame when 1B Bert Henrich grounded out and scored 3B Country Crowder from third... Red Bluff bounced back with two scores in the bottom of the third on RBI doubles by 2B Big Boy Payne and CF Jesse Shaw... the Red Sox increased the lead to 3-1 in the fourth on a double by 3B Fran Blanchard and an RBI single by Cox... the Wildcats ended the scoring in the eighth... SP Tommy Carter got on base because of an error and scored on 3B Country Crowder's triple.

CF Ike Sweetwater led Red Bluff with two hits, while 3B Crowder and RF Wes Wernstedt had a pair apiece for Kenwood.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 24, 2044

2044 IPA Division Championship Series - Game 2

Ruthlandian Union

WYNNAMAC EVENS SERIES, SMACKS SNAPPERS 5-3
The Wynnamac bats came alive in the second game of the Ruthlandian Division Series at Granger Field... Wynnamac cracked 14 hits to smack Rocky Rapids 5-3 and even up the series at one game apiece... Nioka Inkamara (.444), Jack Pope (.375) and Dale Fisher (.500) sparked them with three hits each... and southpaw Sammy Hayes (1-0) did the job on the hill, holding the Snappers to 1 run on 7 hits in 8 innings... Hayes struck out 6 and walked 4, departing with a 5-1 lead... Randy Peters (0-1) suffered the loss, being shelled for 12 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings.

The Sundowners broke open a 1-1 tie with a 3-run outburst in the last of the sixth... they added another run in the eighth... the Snappers made a belated rally with 2 runs in the top of the ninth off reliever Mickey Allen.

CRUSHERS TIE VIPERS, MCCAULEY STOPS THEM 4-1
In a sharp performance on the road at Valmara, Don McCauley stopped the Vipers 4-1 to tie up the Ruthlandian Division Series at one game each... McCauley held the defending IPA champ to 1 run and 6 hits in the second game of the series... he struck out 5 and walked only one, while going the distance... McCauley was aided by two-run homers by Pat Dillion (.250) and Marv Roy (.250)... Dillon's blast gave the Crushers a 2-0 lead in the first inning and Roy's cinched it in the eighth inning... they both came off losing pitcher Zak Reeder (0-1), who allowed 4 runs on 9 hits in 8 and two-thirds innings.

SS Joji Yamasaki (.667) led Crystal Lake with 3 hits... RF Zarek Boczek (.375) collected 2 hits to pace the Vipers.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX TOP HAWKS 5-4 IN 12 INNINGS
Pro Cup favorite Southport won its second straight tense duel with North Hills by defeating the Hawks 5-4 in 12 innings... Vasilis Vlachos singled in the winning run with a clutch single that scored Gonzalo Topez from second base to put the Sun Sox up two games to none in the best-of-seven series... Cade Brockton (1-0) was the winner, in relief of starter Johnny Swanson... Brockton hurled three shutout innings... the loser was Kyle Oliver (0-1), who relieved Tony Mack after 9 innings.

Hawk starter Tony Mack took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, but couldn't hold it... 1B Eddie Douglas tied it up with a two-out two-bagger... Douglas (.400) cracked 3 hits and drove in two runs to lead the Sun Sox... Vlachos (.444) also had 3 hits for the winners and SS Gonzalo Topez (.429) added 2 hits... North Hills' top guns were LF Adam Thurgood (.400) and 3B Ric Hamilton (.500)... they each clubbed 2-run homers... C Timmy Stevens (.333) also chipped in a pair of hits for the Hawks.

KENWOOD CLIPS RED BLUFF 3-1, SERIES EVEN
It was another pitcher's duel at Red Bluff Park with Kenwood getting the best of the hometown Red Sox 3-1 behind the fine pitching of Clyde Myers... he blanked Red Bluff for 8 innings and exited ahead 3-0... Myers (1-0) surrendered only 3 hits, whiffed 8 and walked 5 in his outing... closer Artemus Hale got the save, but was rocked for a solo roundtripper by C Phil White (.143) in the last of the ninth.

Kenwood was led at the plate by C Corky DiNozzo's 2-run smash in the first frame... pinchhitter Jorn Weese (.500) got their third run in in the ninth with an RBI single... Jack Wallace (0-1) was the loser... he tossed the first 8 innings, permitting 2 runs on 5 hits with 5 Ks and 4 bases on balls... Wallace went to the showers trailing 2-0... CF Ike Sweetwater (.571) topped the Red Sox with 2 hits.

Great thread! :)

Actually just a good thread based on it contents... but thank you anyway.

Longivity is what makes it a special dynasty... nobody in his right mind would do it for so long. 64 teams to cover is way too much. Next time it will 16 teams maximum.

I'm shooting for 50 seasons and then I will retire the IPA.

Actually, it's the guys who follow this thread that should get the credit. I wouldn't do it except for their loyalty. For a long time, I had a 15 regulars per day... now it numbers about 100... sometimes last year the viewers numbered 200... I think 236 is the record for one day.

Thanks, guys!

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 25, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 3

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS NIP SNAPPERS 2-1, UP 2-1 IN SERIES
On the road at Snapper Stadium in Rocky Rapids, Wynnamac finally got its bats going in the ninth to nip the Snappers 2-1 and take a 2-1 lead in the Ruthlandian Division Series... with one away Duane Hudson singled and was tripled in by Nioka Inkamara... Darrell Donnelly followed with a go-ahead single... it was a terrible ending for Dirk Halstad (0-1), who had blanked the Sundowners for the first 8 innings... Geoff Hobart and Johnny Mitchell combined to hold the Snappers to a single run on 7 hits... Mitchell (1-0) notched the victory with 2 scoreless frames... he allowed 2 hits.

Wynnamac's CF Darrell Donnelly (.545) and 3B Duane Hudson (.300) led the way... Donnelly was 4-4 and Hudson 2-4... 3B Duncan Musselwhite (.417) and C Carney Kirkpatrick (.333) had 2 hits each for the Snappers.

LAKERS NOSE OUT VIPERS 2-1, TAKE LEAD
After three games Crystal Lake has defending Pro Cup champion Valmara in a little bit of trouble... the Crushers nosed them out 2-1 to take a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven series... a pinchhit homer by Rod McKay (.500) in the last of the ninth gave Crystal Lake the victory... the Crushers got good outings from starter Ken Lawson and closer Josh Crosby, who shut down the Vipers on 7 hits... Lawson went 7 frames and allowed one run on 6 hits... he had 7 strikeouts and 4 walks... Crosby (1-0) was the winner with 2 spotless innings... Harold Hutson (0-1) hurled a strong game in defeat, giving up only 2 runs on 8 hits... Valmara's only run came on a solo homer by LF Lech Nowakowski (.125).

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX SOCK HAWKS 8-6 FOR 3RD STRAIGHT
Southport took a huge step in their quest for the Pro Cup by socking North Hills 8-6 at the Hawk's Nest... the Sun Sox boomed three homers and 12 hits to defeat the Hawks for the third straight game... all Southport needs is one more win to eliminate powerful North Hills from the playoffs... the Sun Sox were picked as the Pro Cup favorite with the Hawks' the second choice... Owen Wallace (.300) and Barney Lewis (.286) had 2-run clouts and Chris Jones a solo shot to spearhead the victory... Gordon Forbes (1-0) went the distance, despite giving up 10 hits and 6 runs... he survived a 4-run ninth-inning rally... Butch Cortelloni (0-1) caught the loss as he was battered for 7 runs in 5 innings... Southport led 7-2 at that point.

RF Chris Jones (.385) and 3B Ricky Whitaker (.750) sparked the Sun Sox with 3 hits each... and 2B Owen Wallace (.300) posted a pair of hits... the Hawks hammered two out of the park... 1B Oscar Pendleton (.273) and C Timmy Stevens (.385) went deep with solo homers... SS Tommy Vavas (.308) went 3-for 4 and LF Adam Thurgood (.400) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

RED SOX ROSEN HALTS WILDCATS 3-1 IN GAME 3
Red Bluff's Mickey Rosen came through with a solid performance in the 3-1 triumph in game three over Kenwood at the Olde Towne Grounds... Rosen (1-0) stymied the Wildcats on 1 run and 7 hits in a complete-game outing... 2B Big Boy Payne was the hitting hero with a game-winning 2-run double in the top of the eighth inning... Kenwood's Rusty Bradford (0-1) suffered a tough loss as he didn't give up an earned run in his 9 innings... the Red Sox got to him for only 6 hits... Bradford walked none and fanned one in the game.

The Wildcats scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening frame when C Corky DiNozzo (.200) singled in CF Warren Vickers (.167) from third base... Josh Stevens (.091) tied it up for the Red Sox in the second with a home run... 2B Big Boy Payne (.250) led the Red Sox with 2-for-4 and 2 RBIs... 3B Crowder (.545) went 3-for-3 for the Wildcats.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 26, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 4

Ruthlandian Union

W'MAC-RR KNOTTED, SNAPS WIN IN 10TH 5-4
It's all even in the Ruthlandian Divison Series... Rocky Rapids trimmed Wynnamac 5-4 in 10 innings to knot it up at two games each... behind 4-0 going into the bottom of the ninth the Snappers mounted an improbable rally, highlighted by Vance Forbes 3-run homer that sent the game into overtime... Rocky Rapids won it in the tenth when Carney Kirkpartrick singled and advanced to third on two groundouts, then scored on Johnny Watts' base hit.

Steve Owens (1-0) got credit for the win in relief of starter Jamie Taylor (1-0/1.50)... Owens pitched a perfect tenth after Taylor tossed 9 respectable innings, yielding 4 runs - only 2 of them the earned variety - on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and no walks... losing pitcher Jimmy Willard (0-2/1.45) started and shut out the Snappers for 8 frames... Willard worked 9 and two-thirds innings, allowed only one earned run on 10 hits.

Rocky Rapids collected 11 hits and was led by CF Vance Forbes (.308) and C Carney Kirkpatrick (.438) with 3 hits apiece... 3B Duncan Musselwhite (.412) and 1B Johnny Watts (.364) chipped in with 2 hits each... on the losing side C Kody Howard (.375) socked 2 hits and batted in 2 runs and 1B Jack Pope (.313) had 2 hits and scored twice.

LANE SHARP, CRUSHERS EKE BY VIPERS 2-1
Defending IPA champion Valmara is on the verge of elimination at the hands of Crystal Lake... Eddie Lane outhurled Teddy Twardzik 2-1 in an old-fashioned pitching duel... both of them went the distance... Lane (1-1/2.12) stopped the Vipers on 1 run and 5 hits, fanning 8 and walking 2 in a very sharp outing to put the Crushers up 3-1 in the best-of-seven affair... Twardzik (1-1/0.53) was almost as good... he gave up only 2 runs on 9 hits... only one of the runs was earned.

Twardzik's (.333) home run gave Valmara the lead in the top of the third... Crystal Lake promptly tied it 1-1 in the bottom half of the frame... Lane (.200) doubled with one out and scored on CF Johnny Kennedy's (.400) single... back-to-back errors gave the Crushers the victory in the seventh... pinchhitter Rusty Bayfield led off with a double and came around on 1B Cain Greene's (.267) miscues.

Kennedy (.400) and 3B Marv Roy (.357) topped Crystal Lake with 2 hits each, while LF Paul Anthony (.500) went 2-for-4 for Valmara.

Tycobbian Union

SOUTHPORT SWEEPS NORTH HILLS BEHIND HOOVER
Pro Cup favorite Southport showed their stuff with a sweep of second-ranked North Hills in the Tycobbian Division Series... ace Billy Hoover (2-0/1.00) finished off the Hawks in grand fashion with a 6-hit shutout... Hoover whiffed 5 and walked no one in a complete game... David Micheal (0-2/3.38) was on the losing end of the score, working 8 innings and giving up 3 runs on 8 hits... he walked 4 and fanned 6.

The Sun Sox scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth... C Vasilis Vlachos (.294), SP Billy Hoover (.600) and 3B Craig Glennon (.077) drove in the runs... Hoover and SS Gonzalo Topez had 3 hits each to pace Southport at the plate.

Southport skipper Charley Oscar was ecstatic after the sweep... "You have to play extremely well to beat a fine team like North Hills four straight... we played well the whole season and played extremely well the last four days... let's just hope we can continue to do it in the next series."... Favored to win the Pro Cup in 2042 and 2043, the Sun Sox failed to get past the first round both years.

Todd Simons, the Hawks' manager, told reporters after the game, "We knew going in we would have to play our best to beat a team that won 104 games... my Hawks played hard... we had our chance to win in three of the four games, but just couldn't do it... Hoover and Swanson are very tough pitchers to beat... Southport certainly gets my vote to win it all this year."

WILDCATS ALL EVEN WITH RED SOX
After four games in the Tycobbian Division Series, it's an even split between Kenwood and Red Bluff... the Wildcats tied it up with a 5-4 victory at home at the Olde Towne Grounds with Warren Vickers singling in Keith Silver from third base with the winning score.

Two of the best pitchers in the IPA were on the mound... 26-game winner Tommy Carter for Kenwood and 21-game winner Jud Cox for Red Bluff... Carter exited after 8 innings with a 4-2 lead... he held the Red Sox to 2 runs and 7 hits... Cox was not at his best as the Wildcats got to him for 4 runs and 9 hits in 7 and one-third innings... Cox finished with 5 Ks and no walks... neither bullpen did well... Kenwood closer Artemus Hale (1-0) was rocked for 2 runs and 3 hits in his one inning, but still got the win... Red Bluff's Ayden Carmack (0-1) had an even tougher time as the Wildcats smacked him for 4 straight hits and the winning run.

Kenwood outhit Red Bluff 13 to 10... Wildcat C Corky DiNozzo (.231) snapped a scoreless tie with a 2-run blast in the last of the sixth... Red Sox RF David Kelso (.313) matched it with a 2-run shot in the top of the eighth... in the bottom half of the frame Kenwood again took the lead 4-2 on sacrifice-fly RBIs by DiNozzo and Wes Wernstedt (.250)... Red Bluff again tied the score in the top of the ninth on sac flies by pinchhitter James Baxter (.000) and LF Jesse Shaw (.063).

Sparking the Wildcats at the plate were LF Keith Silver (.375) with 3 hits, CF Vickers (.235) and 3B Country Crowder (.533) with a pair of hits apiece... tops for the Red Sox were CF Ike Sweetwater (.500), who socked 4 hits and RF David Kelso (.313) with 2 hits.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 27, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 5

Ruthlandian Union

SUNDOWNERS SINK SNAPPERS 7-3, LEAD SERIES 3-2
At Snapper Stadium in Rocky Rapids, visiting Wynnamac unleashed 13 hits en route to a 7-3 trouncing of the Snappers, thus giving the Sundowners a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series... Sammy Hayes (2-0/2.25) was wild, but hard-to-hit, as he quelled the Snappers on 3 runs and just 2 hits... 8 walks was their main offense.

Wynnamac trailed Rocky Rapids 3-2 after 6 innings, but they rallied in the late innings... the Sundowners took command with a 3-run seventh on RBIs by Duane Hudson, Jack Pope and Curtis Whetstone... they finished off the Snappers with 2 more in the ninth on a Duane Hudson double and a sac fly by pinchhitter Robby Booth.

Leading the Sundowners' 13-hit attack were 3B Hudson (.368) with 3 hits, including two doubles... and three players with a pair of hits apiece: RF Nioka Inkamara (.348), 1B Jack Pope (.350) and 2B Curtis Whetstone (.222)... LF Buddy Hamilton (.158) and CF Marvin Dark (.200) got the only hits for the Snappers, both singles... Randy Peters started for Rocky Rapids and was the loser... Peters (0-2/6.00) took his second series' loss, slammed for 7 runs and 12 hits in 8 innings.

VIPERS STRIKE LATE, STAY ALIVE
Two ninth-inning homers by Zarek Boczek and Lech Nowakowski kept defending IPA champ Valmara alive in the Ruthlandian Division Series against Crystal Lake... the clutch clouts defeated the Crushers 7-5 in game five of the best-of-seven series and narrowed Crystal Lake's lead to 3 games to 2... the Vipers will be at home for the final games of the series.

Cain Greene's (.350) 3-run smash in the top of the fourth gave Valmara an early lead... Crystal Lake evened it up in the sixth on a 2-run homer by Del Peevy (.188)... the Vipers vaulted back in the lead 4-2 on Novakowski's (.250) sacrifice fly in the seventh and John Banks' (.250) RBI fielder's choice in the eighth... the Crushers tied it up 5-5 on a bases-loaded walk to pinchhitter Jesse Walker and Joji Yamasaki's sac fly in the last of the eighth.

Valmare had the advantage in hits 10 to 8... Greene had 3 hits and 3 RBIs for the Vipers, while Novakowski had 2 hits and 2 RBIs and Banks drilled a pair of hits and scored twice.... Crystal Lake's top bats were RF Pat Dillon (.286), 1B Daryl Brady (.211) and SS Joji Yamasaki (.538) with 2 hits each.

Starter Zak Reeder (1-1/4.86) notched the win for Valmara, but gave up 5 runs on 8 hits in his 8 frames... Reeder walked 4 and fanned 6... closer Pat Holloway saved it with a 1-2-3 ninth... Clyde Thompson (0-1), who relieved starter Dave McCauley in the ninth. lost it on the two back-to-back roundtrippers.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX SMASH WILDCATS 8-2, UP 3-2 IN SERIES
The Red Bluff Red Sox are sitting pretty after an 8-2 romp in game five over the Kenwood Wildcats in the Tycobbian Division Series at the Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood... the Red Sox are headed home to Red Bluff Park with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series... one more win and they will advance to the league championship round against the Pro Cup favorite Southport Sun Sox... Jack Wallace (1-1/1.69) hurled an impressive game, limiting the Wildcats to just one run and 5 hits in 8 innings... losing pitcher Clyde Myers (1-1/4.02) had a bad outing, surrendering 7 runs on 10 hits in 7-plus innings.

an 4-run fifth and 3-run eighth put Kenwood away for the day... Red Bluff racked up 11 hits, including 3-run homers by Ike Sweetwater (.550) and Josh Stevens (.167) to seal the fate of the Wildcats... Big Boy Payne (.273) chipped in with 2 hits and 2 RBIs for the Red Sox... Sweetwater was the leader with 3 hits... CF Warren Vickers (.350) collected 3 hits for the Wildcats, but didn't get much help otherwise... Kenwood got only 6 hits in all.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 28, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPSIONSHIP SERIES - Game 6

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS WHIP SNAPPERS IN 6 GAMES
The number-three pick in the Pro Cup sweepstakes Wynnamac whipped the number-seven choice Rocky Rapids in six games to move on to the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... Geoff Hobart and Johnny Mitchell teamed up for a 3-0 shutout to cinch the series four games to two... they held the Snappers to just 5 hits... Hobart (1-0/0.64) held them scoreless on 4 hits in his 7 innings for the victory... he struck out 6 and walked 1... Mitchell registered the save with 2 scoreless innings... Dirk Halstad (0-2/2.12) made a good effort, permitting only 3 runs on 10 hits in a complete game.

Wynnamac star RF Nioka Inkamara (.444) hit for the cycle, scored twice and batted in 2 runs... 1B Jack Pope (.304) got the other RBI... C Carney Kirkpatrick (.375) got 2 of the Snappers hits.

CRYSTAL LAKE DETHRONES VALMARA 2-1, WINS SERIES
Ding Dong, the king is dead... the reigning IPA champ Valmara fell to the Crystal Lake Crushers in six games in the Ruthlandian Division Series... the Crushers won a tense 2-1 thriller in game six, highlighted by fine pitching from Ken Lawson, who gave up only 1 run on 6 hits in 8 innings... Lawson had to be on top of his game as Harold Hutson stood out for the Vipers... Hutson (0-2/2.16) struck out 9, walked only 1, while allowing only 2 runs and 7 hits in defeat... closer Josh Crosby sealed the series by retiring the side in order in the ninth inning to preserve the win for Hutson... it was Crosby's first save of the playoffs.

Crystal Lake got both of their runs in the top of the fourth on a solo homer by CF Johnny Kennedy (.300) and an RBI single by 2B Jim Henley (.143)... the Vipers got their only run in the last of the seventh on doubles by C Antonio Dominguez (.222) and 2B John Banks (.313).

Herman "Baby" George, the Crusher skipper, gave credit to his mound corps, telling reporters, "Lane, Lawson and McCauley were outstanding in the series... the bats got us through the regular season, but it was the pitchers who stepped it up and got us past Valmara... holding them to just 14 runs was a magnificent achievement."

Viper skipper Vanya Vasylenko had the same sentiments... "You are not gonna win many games when you only score one run... they held us to a single run in each of the four losses... the Crushers' pitching was really, really good."

The eighth-ranked Crushers will now advance to the Ruthlandian League Championship against the third-ranked Wynnamac Sundowners.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX WINS SERIES, TAKE 6TH GAME 2-0
Red Bluff wrapped up the Tycobbian Division Series with Kenwood at home at Red Bluff Park... Mickey Rosen hurled another superb game, stopping the Wildcats 2-0 on a 4-hitter... in a complete-game Rosen (2-0/0.50) chalked up his second gem in a row... he had already beaten them 3-1 in game three... the triumph gave the Red Sox the series four games to two... now they will have to get by the Pro Cup favorite, the powerful Southport Sun Sox, in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... the Red Sox are rated the fourth-best club in the postseason.

There were only 9 hits in the game... 5 for Red Bluff and 4 for Kenwood... Wildcat starter Rusty Bradford (0-2/0.53) lost another tough decision to Rosen... the Red Sox got run number one off him in the bottom of the second frame... 3B Fran Blanchard (.190) led off with a single, stole second and continued on to third on an errant throw by catcher Corky DiNozzo (.190)... Blanchard scored on SS Davis McDowell's (.188) single... Red Bluff got the game's only other run in the fourth when David Kelso (.273) singled, went to second on a wild, pickoff throw to first base and then was doubled in by C Phil White (.190).

Red Bluff manager Jim Schubert praised his starting rotation of Jud Cox, Jack Wallace and Mickey Rosen, "We didn't hit a lick against the Wildcats, but we didn't have to... just like during the season our pitching was superb... they only gave up 5 runs in the 4 wins... I'll take that kind of pitching anytime."... Rosen was 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA in his two starts... Wallace was 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in two starts... and Cox was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in a pair of starts.

Kenwood manager Aaron Hankins agreed that pitching was the key to Red Bluff's win... "My pitching was good enough to win the series... I don't want to bad mouth my boys, but we could have picked some other time to go into a slump... the postseason is not a good time for the bats to go flat."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 29, 2044

IPA PLAYOFFS DOWN TO 4 TEAMS
The IPA Pro Cup playoffs have been carved down to four teams for the League Championship Series. Pro Cup favorite Southport and Red Bluff will vie for the Tycobbian Union title, while it'll be Wynnamac and Crystal Lake tangling for the Ruthlandian crown. Play begins this Saturday afternoon.

The Southport Sun Sox were the number-one choice of the media in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll, while the Wynnamac Sundowners were rated second, the Red Bluff Red Sox fourth and the Crystal Lake Crushers came in eighth and last in the balloting.

The Sun Sox (104-50) had the best overall record in the regular campaign, the Sundowners (98-56) were number two, the Red Sox (95-59) were in third place and the Crushers (85-69) were 18th. Southport and Wynnamac will have the homefield advantage in the League Championship Series.

Southport is favored over Red Bluff... they both have strong pitching, but the Sun Sox offense is superior to the Red Sox... the clubs are just average with the gloves.
Southport: .273 BA (3rd)/822 runs (1st)/172 HR (9th)/2.91 ERA (2nd)/.970 FA
Red Bluff: .255 BA (20th)/692 runs (18th)/216 HR (2nd)/3.07 ERA (3rd)/.972 FA

The experts are giving the nod to Wynnamac over Crystal Lake... the Sundowners' staff is much better than the Crushers... offense is a little better... and the defense is better.
Wynnamac: .271 BA (7th)/800 runs (4th)/153 HR (11th)/3.25 ERA (2nd)/.975 FA
Crystal Lake: .281 BA (2nd)/780 runs (6th)/123 HR (26th)/3.90 ERA (17th)/.972 FA

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 1, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 1

Ruthlandian Union

CRYSTAL LAKE CRUSHES W'MACS 10-5 IN LCS OPENER
In a stunning opening game at Wynnamac's Granger Field, underdog Crystal Lake's Eddie Lane held the favored Sundowners to 2 runs in 7 innings, while his teammates shelled Jimmy Willard for 9 runs in 3-plus innings in the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series... the Crushers ran up a 10-1 lead after just 4 innings and then breezed to victory... Willard is 0-3 in the postseason with a 3.63 ERA.

RF Paul Dillon (.233) and 1B Daryl Brady (.273) both drove in 3 runs each to spark the rout... Brady had a 2-run homer to lead the way... Lane (2-1/1.88) was touched for 9 hits, but gave up only 2 runs for the win... Wynnamac never was in the game, but did salvage some respect with 3 runs in the ninth off reliever Josh Crosby... the Sundowners lost, but still swatted 14 hits with CF Benjamin Nozak (385) going 4-for-4 and pinchhitter Davy Lamour (.250) homering.

Tycobbian Union

HOOVER HURLS 2-HITTER, SUN SOX TOP RED SOX
Great pitching got Southport past Red Bluff in the first game of the Tycobbian LCS... Billy Hoover (3-0/0.67) pitched an almost flawless game in edging Jud Cox and the Red Sox 1-0... he limited them to just two singles, struck out 4 and issued no walks... it was Hoover's second shutout in a row and third win in the playoffs... the Sun Sox got the only run in the seventh inning when Vasilis Vlachos (.350) doubled to lead off the inning, went to third on a groundout and scored on a sac fly by Ricky Whitaker(.500)... Jud Cox (1-1/2.35) allowed only one run on six hits... he fanned 4 and walked 2 in a tough loss.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 2, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 2

Ruthlandian Union

CRYSTAL LAKE MAULS WYNNAMAC 12-3 IN GAME 2
For the second game in a row Crystal Lake demolished favored Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian LCS... the Crushers rocked them for 14 hits and mauled the Sundowners 12-3 in game two of the best-of-seven series... Jed Murphee (.222) paced the winners with 3 RBIs... Paul Dillon (.273), Johnny Kennedy (.375) and Ken Lawson (.250) also helped the cause with 2 RBIs each... Lawson (2-0/1.88) was the winning pitcher... he went the distance and held Wynnamac to 3 runs on 6 hits, striking out 4 and walking 6... Sammy Hayes (2-1/3.38) took it on the chin, surrendering 7 runs in 5-plus innings... it was 7-0 by the time he made his exit.

Not only did Wynnamac suffered it second straight loss, it's star slugger Nioka Inkamara hurt his hamstring and will miss about a week of games... Inkamara hit .321 with 40 homers and 131 RBIs to lead the Sundowners this year.

Tycobbian Union

SWANSON SPINS SHUTOUT, STOPS RED SOX 5-0
25-game winner Johnny Swanson fired a 5-0 shutout, stopping Red Bluff on just 3 hits... it was the third shutout in a row for the Southport Sun Sox in the playoffs, the second one in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... Swanson (1-0/1.53) fanned 5 and walked only one in the second game of the series... Gonzalo Topez (.524) led the hitters with 3-for-3 and 3 runs scored... Mickey Rosen (2-1/1.44) lost for the first time in the postseason... he gave up 5 runs and 9 hits in 7 innings... only 3 of the runs were earned.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 3, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 3

Ruthlandian Union

SUNDOWNERS COOL DOWN CRUSHERS 1-0 IN 11 INNINGS
After being blisterered badly in the first two games of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series, Wynnamac put a chill in the Crystal Lake offense and cooled off the red-hot Crushers 1-0 in 11 innings in the third game... Geoff Hobart and Johnny Mitchell blanked them on just 4 hits and Darrell Donnelly supplied the game's only run with a 380-foot homer off losing pitcher Josh Crosby (1-1/6.00)... Hobart worked 8 and a third innings, yielding only 3 hits, while striking out 6 and walking 3 batters... Mitchell took over in the ninth and held Crystal Lake runless the rest of the game on one hit... Mitchell (2-0/0.00) picked up the victory... in three playoff starts Hobart is 1-0 with a brilliant 0.40 ERA.

The Sundowners got 8 hits in all, while the Crushers were held to 4... Dave McCauley started for Crystal Lake, went 10 superb innings and permitted no runs on 6 hits... Crosby allowed a pair of hits.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX OUTSOCK RED SOX 11-5, NEAR SWEEP
Southport had its string of postseason shutouts snapped at three, but they went to town on Red Bluff pitching as the Sun Sox outsocked the Red Sox 11-5 for their third consecutive victory in the TU LCS... one more win for Southport and Red Bluff's season is done... Owen Wallace slugged a 3-run homer and Barney Lewis added a 1-run homer and 3 RBIs to spark the Sun Sox... with the score 7-5 in the top of the seventh, it was Wallace's clout that put Southport up 10-5 and gave them some breathing room.

In a lackluster performance Gordon Forbes (2-0/5.82) registered the win... he was roughed up for 5 runs in his 8 innings on 6 hits... Forbes had 6 Ks and issued 2 bases on balls... in a dismal outing Jack Wallace (1-2/3.31) was banged around for 10 runs in 7 innings, but 5 of them were not earned.

The Sun Sox had 10 hits, while the Red Sox totaled 6... 1B Eddie Douglas (.250) led Southport with 2 hits and 3 RBIs... 3B Ricky Whitaker (.357) had 2 hits, scored twice and drove in a run... Lewis (.321) also had 2 hits, scored 2 runs and drove in 1... and LF Chris Jones (.269) added three runs and batted in a run... for Red Bluff CF Ike Sweetwater (.424) and RF David Kelso (.250) both hit solo homers.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 4, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Game 4

Ruthlandian Union

SUNDOWNERS SLAM CRUSHERS 11-5, SERIES TIED
Wynnamac evened up the Ruthlandian LCS with an 11-5 pounding of Crystal Lake in game four of the best-of-seven series... the Sundowners slammed 13 hits in support of Jimmy Willard, who finally won a postseason game in his fourth start... but Willard (1-3/4.15) needed it... he was slapped for 5 runs and 9 hits in 8 innings, but came away with the win... Eddie Lane (2-2/3.41) was the loser, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in just 5 frames.

Wynnamac's offensive leaders were SS Jeff French (.172) with 2 hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Jack Pope (.343) with 3 hits and 2 RBIs... among Pope's hits was a solo homer... CF Benjamin Nozak (.400) added 3 hits, too... missing from the lineup for the second straight day was the Sundowners' star Nioka Inkamara, who is hitting .429 in the playoffs so far... he has a bad hamstring and will be out for about a week... Crystal Lake was paced by RF Pat Dillon (.310) with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, including 2 homers and 4 RBIs.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX REMAIN ALIVE, COX BLANKS SUN SOX 1-0
It took a monumental effort by Jud Cox to keep Red Bluff alive in the Tycobbian League Championship Series with Pro Cup favorite Southport... trailing three games to none in the series Cox hurled a monumental game in whipping the Sun Sox 1-0 in game four... Cox stopped them on 3 singles, struck out 6 and walked 3 in a complete-game shutout... Billy Hoover (3-1/0.50) was almost his equal, but not quite... he only allowed one unearned run on 6 hits in defeat.

With one away 2B Big Boy Payne (.190) reached first on an error by third baseman Ricky Whitaker (.313)... Payne stole third and rode home on David Kelso's (.278) two-out, game-winning single.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 5, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 5

Ruthlandian Union

CRUSHERS WIN 8-6, LEAD SERIES 3-2
Underdog Crystal Lake exploded for 7 runs in the fifth frame to rally past Wynnamac 8-6 in game five of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... Jed Murphee's 2-run triple was the game-winner that put the Crushers up three games to two in the series.

Crystal Lake was outhit 14 to 11 by the Sundowners, but still came out on top of the score... CF Johnny Kennedy (.435) led them at the plate with 3 hits, while LF Murphee (.222) and 3B Marv Roy (.227) both had a pair... Wynnamac built up a quick 5-1 lead after 4 innings with help of SS Jeff French (.265) with 4 hits, C Edward Williams (.278) with 3 hits, and 2 hits apiece from LF Robby Booth (.226) and CF Darrell Donnelly (.341).

Ken Lawson started and got the victory for the Crushers, though he was treated harshly... Lawson (3-0/3.19) was shelled for 6 runs and 12 hits in 7 innings... Sundowner starter Sammy Hayes (2-2/5.54) couldn't hold the 4-run lead and was tagged with the defeat... Hayes allowed 8 runs and 10 hits in just 4 and two-thirds innings.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX HANG IN WITH 5-3 WIN OVER SUN SOX
After dropping the first three games of the Tycobbian LCS and being on the verge of elimination, Red Bluff has rebounded with two straight wins to narrow Southport's lead to three games to two... Mickey Rosen was the man of the hour as he beat the Sun Sox 5-3 in game five of the best-of-seven series... this time around he got the best of Johnny Swanson... the Red Sox gave him a 5-run lead in the first and he made it stand up... Rosen (3-1/1.89) worked into the ninth, gave up 10 hits, but only 3 runs, while striking out 7 and walking one batter... Slick Little finished it and got the final two outs for his second save of the postseason... Swanson shut out the Red Sox in game two, but wasn't near as sharp in this one... a 5-run first inning proved to be his downfall... Swanson (1-1/2.66) gave up 5 runs on 4 hits, but walked 5 in his 6 innings... 3 walks and 3 hits in the opening inning did him in.

Red Bluff was pathetic at the plate and only got 4 hits in the game... C Paul White (.189) led them with 2 RBIs... 3B Fran Blanchard (.158), LF Jesse Shaw (.143) and 2B James Baxter (.167) batted in the other 3 scores... Southport got its only runs in the eighth on CF Barney Lewis' (.333) 3-run smash... RF Pat Kinney (.200) and 1B Eddy Douglas (.265) each had 2 hits and were on base when Lewis homered.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 6, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 6

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS EVEN SERIES 5-3, FORCE 7TH GAME
Favored Wynnamac fought off elimination with a 5-3 comeback triumph in game six of the Ruthlandian LCS and forced a seventh-and-deciding game... the Sundowners cracked 14 hits and were sparked by Jack Pope and Davy Lamour, who hit 2-run homers... Pope tied it up 3-3 in the fifth and Lamour won it in the sixth... Geoff Hobart (2-0/1.20) notched the win in 7-plus innings, where he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits... Johnny Mitchell (0.00) got his second save with 1 and a third scoreless innings, though he allowed 2 hits... the loser was Dave McCauley (1-1/2.45), who had a poor outing... he was hit hard, giving up 12 hits and 5 runs in 6 innings, but 2 of them were not earned.

1B Pope (.349), RF Lamour (.294), SS Jeff French (.289), 2B Curtis Whetstone (.207), 3B Duane Hudson (.340) and LF Robby Booth (.250) all had 2 hits for the Sundowners... the Crushers got 8 hits and were led by RF Pat Dillon (.320) with a pair of hits... and 3B Marv Roy (.234) hit a solo homer.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX FINISH OFF RED SOX 6-2 IN GAME 6
The Pro Cup favorite Southport Sun Sox finally finished off the tough Red Bluff Red Sox in six games... after winning the first three games of the Tycobbian League Championship, they let the Red Sox get back into the fray with two wins in a row... but the Sun Sox were not to be denied today... they leaped out to a 6-0 bulge after 5 frames and got a sharp outing form Gordon Forbes (3-0/4.15), who shackled Red Bluff on 6 hits and 2 runs... Forbes fanned 5 and walked only one in going the route... he outpitched George Reynolds (0-1/6.30), who went 6 innings, gave up 9 hits and all 6 runs.

CF Barney Lewis (.325) paced the Sun Sox with 2 RBIs... their other runs were driven in by SS Gonzalo Topez (.351), C Vasilis Vlachos (.268), 3B Ricky Whitaker (.348) and pitcher Forbes (.222)... Jesse Shaw (.196) smacked 3 hits for the Red Sox... and SS Davis McDowell (.172) and C Paul White (.195) drove in the runs.

Southport skipper Charley Oscar gave praise to his entire team, "Everybody contributes in one way or another... we get just enough runs to win... and our pitchers always keep us in the game... we've had two tough series... and now just one more to go... I'm looking forward to being in the Pro Cup Finals again... 17 years is too long to wait."

Jim Schubert, the Red Sox manager, told reporters, "Too much pitching... we just couldn't buy a hit... 21 hits in a 6-game series won't get you very far... the Sun Sox have splendid pitching."

Southport now awaits the Ruthlandian champion... Wynnamac and Crystal Lake are deadlocked after six games... game seven is slated for tomorrow afternoon... the Sun Sox won their only Pro Cup in 2027 when they swept the Crystal Lake Crushers in four games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 7, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 7

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS KO CRUSHERS 5-3 IN GAME 7
The Wynnamac Sundowners knocked the pesky Crystal Lake Crushers out of the playoffs with a 5-3 decision in game seven of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... the favored Sundowners trailed in the series 2-0 and 3-2, but prevailed in the final two games to overcome the Crushers... Jimmy Willard (2-3/3.89) came up with a clutch performance, holding Crystal Lake to 3 runs and 8 hits... Willard whiffed 7 and walked 2 in going the distance... Eddie Lane (2-3/3.96) was the losing hurler... he tossed 7 and one-third innings, yielding 5 runs on 8 hits with 6 Ks and a pair of walks.

Crystal Lake took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a lead-off triple by LF Jed Murphee (.261) and an RBI groundout by CF Jesse Walker (.267) and held it until Wynnamac put 4 on the scoreboard in the last of the fourth... CF Darrell Donnelly (.346) doubled in a run to tie it... 2B Duane Hudson (.358) singled in a run... RF Monji Apunga (.400) made it 3-1 with a two-bagger and Willard (.125) drove in the fourth score in the big inning... the Crushers got back 2 of them in the top of the fifth on RBI singles by Jed Murphee and Jesse Walker, cutting the Wynnamac lead to 4-3... the Sundowners chalked up an insurance run in the eighth when Hudson singled, moved up on a groundout and was batted in by pinchhitter Davy Lamour (.333).

Wynnamac had the edge in hits 10 to 9 with Donnelly and Hudson getting 2 apiece... both of Donnelly's hits were doubles... Murphee collected 3 hits, scored twice and batted in a run for the Crushers and Walker drove in a pair of runs.

Wynnamac manager Matt Donnelly gave praise to Crystal Lake saying, "Start to finish they pushed us to the limit... thank goodness, our offense rose to the occasion when we needed it."

Baby George, Crystal Lake manager, complimented his team, but he wasn't happy with the way the series ended. "Hey, we fought hard and could have won it, but we didn't... Wynnamac is a very fine and capable ballclub... there's no shame in losing to them... still, all we had to do was win two of the last five games and we'd be headed for the Pro Cup... you don't get many shots at a Pro Cup in your career and this was one we really missed."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 9, 2044

SOUTHPORT & W'MACS VIE FOR PRO CUP
It's been ages since Southport and Wynnamac have made the Pro Cup Finals. Both clubs have been there on only one occasion each. The Sun Sox won it in their only appearance in 2027 and the Sundowners took the trophy in 2009. Southport has appeared in postseason play only 6 times in its 43 IPA seasons, while Wynnamac has made the playoffs just 7 times in its history. Play begins tomorrow afternoon at Southport's Pleasure Shore Park, where the Sun Sox have the homefield advantage in the best-of-seven series.

This year's Finals are a rarity - top-ranked teams have made it. Southport won 104 games this year and was given the favorite's role by the oddsmakers. Wynnamac chalked up 98 wins and was the third choice. Second-ranked North Hills fell to the Sun Sox in the Division Championship Series, while number four Red Bluff with 95 victories was beaten by Southport in the League Championship Series.

The baseball prognosticators are mostly lining up behind Southport. The Sun Sox have knocked off two fine teams in North Hills and Red Bluff and feature fine pitching and solid offense. The Sundowners had an easier path to the Pro Cup Finals. Their opponents were seventh-rated Rocky Rapids and eighth pick Crystal Lake. However, Wynnamac is no slouch on the hill or at the plate. Defensively, they are much better than Southport. Both clubs have very good relievers. The general consensus is for the Sun Sox to prevail in six games.

Billy Hoover (21-14/2.38) and Johnny Swanson (25-10/2.61) are two proven veteran starters. Wynnamac's best, Jimmy Willard (24-10/2.93) and Sammy Hayes (22-12/3.54), are not quite equal to the Southport primary starters. In addition, the loss of superstar slugger RF Nioka Inkamara (.321/40/131/114) has really robbed the Sundowners of a great bat. Inkamara is recovering from a hamstring strain and could miss half of the series. He could be ready for game three.

Southport has no great bats, but a good core of reliable hitters in 1B Eddy Douglas (.293/32/88/79), CF Barney Lewis (.300/28/85/75) LF Chris Jones (.323/4/64/79), SS Gonzalo Topez (.304/5/46/65), C Vasilis Vlachos (.283/17/74/69), and 2B Owen Wallace (.316/5/50/59). Wynnamac will depend on CF Darrell Donnelly (.312/23/104/98), 3B Duane Hudson (.292/5/57/96) and 1B Jack Pope (294/19/91/94) to take up the slack of the missing Inkamara.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 10, 2044

2044 IPA PRO CUP FINALS - Game 1

FAVORED SUN SOX GRAB PRO CUP OPENER 5-3
Behind solid pitching from Billy Hoover, Pro Cup favorite Southport, grabbed the opening game of the 2044 IPA Pro Cup Finals from Wynnamac 5-3... after a rocky first 4 innings, Hoover (4-1/1.01) settled down and blanked the Sundowners over the final 5 frames on 2 hits to nail down his fourth victory in the postseason... Hoover's only loss was 1-0 in game four against Red Bluff... he went all the way in this one, holding the Sundowners to 3 runs and 7 hits with 4 strikeouts and only one base on balls.

The Sun Sox's attack got 10 hits, headed up by CF Barney Lewis (.341) and 1B Eddy Douglas (.268) with 2 RBIs apiece... Douglas' two-run blast in the third proved to be the game-winner... it put Southport ahead 5-1... SS Gonzalo Topez (.390) collected 3 hits and scored 2 runs, while RF Pat Kinney (.262) and Lewis each boasted 2 hits... the Sundowners were paced by 2B Dale Fisher (.227) with a 2-run blast in the third frame... RF Davy Lamour (.364) chipped in 2 hits and Jack Pope (.314) doubled in their other run... Wynnamac continued to miss the big bat of injured superstar Nokia Inkamara from the lineup... he is expected back for game three... Inkamara has been out for about a week with a bad hamstring.

37-year-old Jimmy Willard (2-4/3.69) lost it, but only permitted 2 earned runs... all 3 Sun Sox runs in the first were unearned... overall Willard allowed 5 runs and 10 hits in 7 innings in a bad outing for him... he was 24-10 with an impressive 2.93 ERA during the regular season.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 11, 2044

2044 IPA PRO CUP FINALS - Game 2

SOX IN A WALKAWAY 6-3 OVER W'MACS
Southport only got 6 hits in game two of the Pro Cup Finals, but they still walked away with a win due to 10 bases on balls by Wynnamac... the Sun Sox have now taken the first two games of the series... Johnny Swanson and Hal Combs combined to defeat the Sundowners 6-3, though they were tagged for 9 hits... Swanson (2-1/2.64) tossed 7 solid innings, gave up only 2 runs on 6 hits and Combs (3.00) finished it up, but allowed 1 run on 3 hits in his 2 frames.

A 4-run seventh sealed the victory for Southport... a bases-loaded walk to CF Barney Lewis (.356) snapped a 2-2 tie... C Vasilis Vlachos (.250) made it 4-2 with a single and LF Chris Jones (.200) sent the final 2 scores home with a base hit... all the runs came off losing pitcher Geoff Hobart (2-1/2.23)... he was tapped for only 4 hits, but walked 8 batters in 6 and one-third innings.

RF Pat Kinney (.304) was the top gun for the Sun Sox with 3 hits and 3 runs scored... and Lewis and Jones had 2 hits each... leading Wynnamac was CF Benjamin Nozak (.379) with a pair of hits, including a triple, a run scored and an RBI... RF Monji Apunga (.444) also had an RBI and 2 hits, including a double... 1B Jack Pope's (.302) sac fly accounted for the third run.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 12, 2044

2044 IPA PRO CUP FINALS - Game 3

W'MACS WALLOP SOUTHPORT 9-2 FOR 1ST WIN
After dropping the first two games of the IPA Pro Cup Finals on the road, Wynnamac soundly walloped Southport 9-2 at home at Granger Field... everything came up roses with the return of superstar slugger Nioka Inkamara to the line-up after missing about a week of play... Inkamara (.425) ignited the Sundowners with 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs... he got his 2nd homer in the playoffs... but it was 2 homers and 4 RBIs by C Edward Williams (.321) that really led the way... Jack Pope (.316) also had a roundtripper, along with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... it was Pope's third homer in the postseason... Wynnamac had 15 hits and 4 homers in the game and cut the Sun Sox lead to two games to one in the best-of-seven series... the Sundowners also got an impressive start from southpaw Sammy Hayes (3-2/4.37), who stopped the Sun Sox on 2 runs and 5 hits with 7 Ks and 3 walks.

Loser Gordon Forbes (3-1/5.18), Southport's number three starter, took it on the chin as he was blasted for 14 hits and 8 runs in 7 innings... CF Darrell Donnelly (.349) added 3 hits to the Sundowner attack and 3B Duane Hudson (.359) chipped in with a pair of hits... CF Barney Lewis (.388) had 3 hits in defeat for the Sun Sox.