[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 20, 2034

Pro Cup Prime Time Begins Tomorrow, Eastshore Favorite
Late September is the best time of the season for Islander baseball aficionadas. The IPA prime time teams will be battling for the coveted Pro Cup. It all gets underway tomorrow afternoon at four towns around the nation. Featured in the Ruthlandian Union opening round will be the Eastshore Elegants hosting the Volusia Vigilantes and Crystal Lake Crushers entertaining the Ranford Bulls. Over in the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series it will be the Chicopee Braves going up against the Blue Jays in Tuckanarra and the North Hills Hawks welcoming the San Alejo Montaneros. All rounds in the Pro Cup playoffs are best-of-seven series.

The Tycobbian teams have garnered four of the last five Pro Cups, but overall Ruthlandia holds a slight 17-16 lead in the competition. Last year's winner Elnora is not back to defend its title. They tied for fifth in the RU East. The 2033 runnerup East Point didn't make it to the postseason either. The Panthers finished a very distant third to Tuckanarra in the TU East this year. The only recent Pro Cup trophy winner among the teams is San Alejo, who won just two years ago. Chicopee is making its first ever appearance in the playoffs. Volusia returns after a 28-year absence. Same thing for the Ranford Bulls. North Hills hasn't participate in the postseason since 2016. Eastshore was last in the Pro Cup playoffs in 2019. Crystal Lake played in the 2029 season, while Tuckanarra and San Alejo played in it in 2032.

Five of the clubs have won Pro Cups in the past. Crystal Lake, Eastshore and Tuckanarra have captured the IPA title trophy on two occasions, while San Alejo and Volusia each have one Pro Cup in their history. Any one of seven teams have a shot this season according the the baseball scribes around the Islands. Ranford was the only team that got very little support in THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Pro Cup poll.

On paper the Eastshore Elegants are the favorite to take the Pro Cup this year, but it won't be easy. Tuckanarra, North Hills and Crystal Lake are all formidable clubs, along with Chicopee and Volusia. It's a wide-open field this year.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES PRO CUP POLL

1. Eastshore Elegants (98-56)... .285 BA, 2.95 ERA, 151 HR, 730 runs, .975 FA... potent attack led by Scotty Lagrange (.332/41 HR), Neil Richard (.367/16 HR), Johnny Petrak (.296/22 HR) and Larry Romney (.290/21 HR)... strong staff with Koy Clampett (22-13/2.90), Don Klingenberg (21-10/2.90) and Ramon Contreras (18-11/2.76)... Eastshore doesn't seem to have a weakness.

2. Tuckanarra Blue Jays (98-56)... .288 BA, 3.32 ERA, 163 HR, 863 runs, .969 FA... terrific offense and good pitching, but lacks defense... poor bullpen... top hitters are superstud Lorne Evans (.331/39 HR), Pancho Villa (.299/28 HR), Spade Weldon (.323/17 HR), Paul Jackson (.316/16 HR) and Josh George (.273/23 HR)... best hurlers are Bobby Reid (25-8/2.59), Junior Bristow (21-13/3.23), Jeff Buttrum (17-9/3.03) and Duke Mahoney (18-7/3.66).

3. North Hills Hawks (91-63)... .278 BA, 3.20 ERA, 155 HR, 740 runs, .972 FA... two super starters in David Michael (26-13/2.80) and Jeff Owens (23-13/2.82)... top run producers are Adam Thurgood (.329/35 HR) and Dean O'Donnell (.310/19)... may not have the depth at pitching or at the plate like Eastshore and Tuckanarra... Michael and Owens could make them serious contenders.

4. Crystal Lake Crushers (91-63)... .292 BA, 3.70 ERA, 140 HR, 782 runs, .976 FA... good all-around balance... strong batting order with Big Sam Takota (.313/31 HR), Pat Dillon (.342/11 HR), Mackie Cummings (.320/22 HR) and Stan Stanek (.315/23 HR)... impressive starters in Arnie Cason (21-5/2.84) and Denny Mills (22-13/3.35)... can put runs on the scoreboard... excellent defense... number three starter Douglas Merrill (16-16/3.70) could be the key to the Crushers' playoff success.

5. San Alejo Montaneros (91-63)... .266 BA, 3.19 ERA, 173 HR, 713 runs, .967 FA... lots of experience, good power and abundance of top-notch pitchers, but poor defensively... Monties are a better team overall than the 2032 Pro Cup champs... winning it again wouldn't be a great surprise... staff led by Pablo Pilar (21-9/2.47), Clete Lawson (19-9/3.08), Johnny Brown (18-16/2.86) and Ollie Olivares (11-5/3.37/11 saves)... top bats belong to Adrian Otero (.261/34 HR), Dusty Rogan (.304/28 HR), Steve Daniels (.257/27 HR), Bubby Blackwell (.310/15 HR) and Dwight Dickey (.310/6 HR).

6. Chicopee Braves (96-58)... .275 BA, 3.62 ERA, 173 HR, 804 runs, .977 FA... high-powered attack, excellent defense with good starting pitching, only fair bullpen... best starters are Kajika Fleetfoot (21-13/3.23), Ryan Ledbetter (17-12/3.26), Heyoka Chaska (17-12/3.26) and Byron Wilson (18-7/3.80)... offensive leaders are Kurt Gustavsen (.325/26 HR), Alfredo Cobos (.307/24 HR), Charley Kota (.283/27 HR) and Nelson Hunter (.264/18 HR)... the Braves can go as far as their pitchers will take them.

7. Volusia Vigilantes (84-70)... .281 BA, 3.78 ERA, 165 HR, 751 runs, .973 FA... hit well for average, pretty good power, average pitching and defense... mound leaders are Jacy Chandler (20-8/3.40), Tommy Smith (20-14/2.79) and Marv Webb (18-9/3.57)... lots of .300 hitters, sparked by Ernie Pryor (.303/31 HR), Tubby Tarkanian (.316/29 HR), Ernesto Andujar (.316/25 HR), Antonio Diaz (.302/19 HR) and Sonny Oliver (.277/18 HR)... could challenge if pitchers come through.

8. Ranford Bulls (84-70)... not much offense compared to the other 7 Pro Cup clubs, fairly good pitching, average defensively, poor bullpen... .259 BA, 3.42 ERA, 107 HR, 643 runs, .971 FA... Jimmy Collins (21-9/3.38), Chad Cummings (17-14/2.43) and Rube Satcher (14-15/2.80) are all quality arms... Alex Vanno (.280/27 HR) is the only threat in the lineup... not expected to go far in the playoffs.