[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Bobcats Picked Best In Pro Cup, Tucks 2nd
The remarkable second-half success of the Beechwood Bobcats is expected to carry over into the playoffs. Beechwood of the Ruthlandian Union is the pick of the pros to breeze through the 2026 IPA Pro Cup playoffs and snatch the first Island championship in the club's history. The Bobcats are favored to whip the Tuckanarra Blue Jays of the Tycobbian Union in the Pro Cup Finals. But it won't be easy, Beechwood will have to get by three other fine ball clubs, the St. John Crusaders, Valmara Vipers and Middlefield Roosters. Middlefield went all the way to the Pro Cup Finals last season only to fall to the South Fork Stallions. It should be quite a dogfight in the Ruthlandian Union with four evenly-matched teams. Tuckanarra's biggest task will be to whip Rolling Hills in the TU Elite 8. Mahaska and Ginza are not rated very highly by the pollsters and not expected to seriously challenge the winner of Tuckanarra and Rolling Hills.

There are only two former champions in the field this year. Tuckanarra captured back-to-back Pro Cups in 2023 and 2024, while Middlefield garnered its only crown in 2005. Valmara made its way to the Finals twice, but lost in 2003 and 2023. The Ginza Ninjas played in the very first Pro Cup Final and lost in 2001. Tuckanarra was also a finalist in 2013, but came away empty-handed.

This season Beechwood and St. John won the most games in the RU with 98-56 records with Valmara and Middlefield close behind with 96-58 marks. The Tuckanarra Blue Jays had the best record in the TU with a 94-60 record, topping Rolling Hills by 4 games. The Reds were 90-64. Ginza came in third with 88-66 and Mahaska followed with an 87-67 mark.

Best Team Record:
1. Beechwood (98-56)
1. St. John (98-56)
3. Valmara (96-58)
3. Middlefiedl (96-58)

Best Team BA:
1. Mahaska .263
2. Tuckanarra .259
3. St. John .258
4. Valmara .256
4. Ginza .256

Most Team HR:
1. Middlefield 155
2. Mahaska 130
3. Ginza 120
4. Beechwood 118

Most Team Runs:
1. Middlefield 732
2. Mahaska 725
3. Tuckanarra 712
4. Ginza 701

Best Team ERA:
1. Beechwood 2.57
2. St. John 2.79
3. Rolling Hills 2.94
4. Valmara 2.95

Best Team Bullpen ERA
1. Tuckanarra 2.20 (1st in TU)
2. St. John 2.28 (2nd in RU)
3. Mahaska 2.53 (4th on TU)
4. Valmara 2.63 (10th in RU)

Best Team Fielding:
1. Beechwood .980
2. Tuckanarra .978
3. Ginza .975
4. Valmara .974
4. Rolling Hills .974

The Islandian Times Pro Cup Poll:
1. Beechwood Bobcats (RU) - great starters and defense, decent power, fair talent in bullpen
2. Tuckanarra Blue Jays (TU) - 2 fine starters with splendid bullpen, excellent defense, fair power
3. Rolling Hills Reds (TU) - 3 strong starters, questionable relievers
4. St. John Crusaders (RU) - 2 splendid starters, superb relief corps
5. Middlefield Roosters (RU) - good power with 4 solid starters, questionable bullpen
6. Valmara Vipers (RU) - 3 capable starters, quality relievers with very fine closer
7. Mahaska Haymakers (TU) - good bats with power and average, tough pen, lacks starters
8. Ginza Ninjas (TU) - only one standout starter, pretty fair power, great closer, but short on middle relief