[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2036

CC 'CATS COP RU EAST CROWN, NIP SV RATTLERS IN PLAYOFF
It took a sizzling hot July and a single-game playoff before Cold Creek could hoist up its first Ruthlandian East flag in 25 years... after deadlocking in the regular season, the Catamounts triumphed over Sugar Valley 5-1 to decide the tight race... Cold Creek claimed the title by one game over the Rattlers... Sugar Valley had lost out the last two seasons by a scant game... Beechwood came in third in the standings three and a half games back... the fourth spot went to the Eastshore Elegants... Marston, which led at mid-season, faded to fifth place in the second half, winding up nine and a half games behind Cold Creek... Elnora and Belle Plaine tied for sixth place trailing by 15 and a half games... last place went to Wynnamac 16 and a half off the pace... the Sundowners were the only losing team in perhaps the strongest division overall in the IPA... the other seven clubs finished .500 or better.

1st - Cold Creek: Went 23-6 in July to move into contention... had to win last six regular-season games to tie the Rattlers... then won the division in a single-game playoff...last year the 'Cats were third, 7 games out... the last time they qualified for the postseason was way back in 2012... overall in its history this will be Cold Creek's fourth appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs... super pitching brought home the pennant... the Catamounts led the RU with a terrific 3.01 ERA (1st)... they were only average at the plate with a .257 BA (20th) and ranked 14th with 724 runs... Cold Creek was last in homers with 100 (32nd)... they were outstanding on defense with a .977 FA... the Catamounts and St. John are favored to meet in the RU Finals... the Crusaders will have the favorite's role because of better hitting... but don't count out Cold Creek... they probably have the best starting rotation in the IPA.
Top Performers: J. J. Gillespie (20-12/1.97), Rob Hutchins (22-11/3.16), Joey Baker (14-8/2.82), George Bailey (14-1/3.35), Lf Shelby Glasscock (.289/11/63/55), CF Guy St. Laurent (.266/17/78/76)

2nd - Sugar Valley: seems to be snake-bitten... lost the pennant by a game the last two years... overall have made the playoffs 10 times, but were never the IPA champ... last appeared in 2029... only hit .255 for average (25th), but topped the league with 199 HRs (1st) and 805 runs (1st)... quality pitching with 3.63 team ERA 98th)... and only average on defense with a .973 FA
Top Performers: Josh Wilkerson (23-7/2.83), Jeremy Blanchard (19-15/3.29), Juan Navarro (16-15/3.38), All-Star CF Bobby Gamble (.324/39/119/127), 2B Roger Hobbs (.313/30/130/87), All-Star LF Tyler White (.242/50/133/106), SS Jesse Burns (.283/1/42/98)

3rd - Beechwood: only 3.5 GB... up from sixth in 2035 (20 GB)... hasn't been in the playoff since 2027... no Pro Cups to its credit, just 3 pennants... only batted .257 (22nd), but hits the long ball (185 HR-3rd)... yet has difficulty scoring (695 runs-24th)... very good on the hill with a 3.27 ERA (2nd)... pathetic defense (.969 FA)
Top Performers: All-Star Ken Arby (20-12/3.22), Maury Patterson (20-12/3.15), Nick Tarkovsky (17-15/3.13), All-Star SS Cody Hanks (.304/24/92/81), RF Eddie Wilson (.288/33/76/100), CF Howie Baldwin (.257/35/108/96), 2B Leonard Mason (.250/18/58/93)

4th - Eastshore: 7.5 GB... were fifth and 17 games out in 2035... last won pennant in 2034... 2 Pro Cups in 2016 and 2017... 7 postseason appearances... average in the batter's box with a .263 BA (16th), but scored well with 761 runs (8th)... had 154 HRs (13th-tied)... average pitching with a 3.72 ERA (13th)... tough defense with .978 FA
Top Performers: Ramon Contreras (21-13/3.11), All-Star Don Klingenberg (17-13/3.18), CF Scotty Lagrange (.299/32/97/93), SS Johnny Petrak (.306/17/77/97), RF Neil Richard (.314/13/72/89), LF Kelly Chamberlain (.267/17/48/85)

5th - Marston: 9.5 GB... came in seventh last year trailing by 27 games... never won Pro Cup... has made postseason 7 times... most recently in 2028... better-than-average batting (.266 BA/15th) and scoring (735 runs -11th) with good power (170 HR-7th)... better-than-average pitching with 3.63 ERA (9th)... just average in the field with a .973 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Eldon Franklin (15-12/3.32), All-Star Jimbo McGinnity (7-7/1.02/22 saves), Jack Tunstall (14-4/3.12), 1B Lonnie Trekell (.261/37/91/79), CF Marco Ameche (.293/20/78/78), rookie SS Stan Mila (.296/13/56/58)

6th tied - Elnora: 15.5 GB... won RU East flag last season by a game over Sugar Valley... lost to Tuckanarra in Pro Cup Finals... have made the playoffs on 9 occasions... won 2033 Pro Cup... bats very well with a .279 BA (2nd), but scored only 704 runs (18th) with just 111 HRs (30th)... pitching is solid with a 3.55 team ERA (6th)... impressive .976 FA
Top Performers: All-Star Stan Kivas (20-10/3.11), Jeremy Sellers (16-15/3.24), Dan Pitts (16-15/3.27), All-Star 2B Akihiro Samurakami (.336/12/70/63), RF Clint Thomas (.280/20/67/101), SS Pat Kaluza (.263/15/80/73)... C Jan Kobak (.308/6/47/67), CF Clive Kenyon (.309/9/54/62), 3B Danny Bierhoff (.306/15/64/53), LF Pasha Yablonski (.297/2.41/58)

6th tied - Belle Plaine: 15.5 GB... finished last in 2035 (33 GB) and 2034 (22 GB)... only one playoff appearance in 2009... no Pro Cups... strong offense with 789 runs (1st), .280 BA (1st), 173 HRs (6th)... horrific on the hill with a 4.59 ERA (30th)... just fair in the field with a .970 FA
Top Performers: All-Star RF Boo Boudreaux (.330/34/93/103), 1B Mitch Mason (.314/29/85/82), 3B Kit Ritter (.318/14/84/75), LF Noel Martin (.265/17/78/90), CF Lonny Wright (.308/16/60/78)

8th - Wynnamac: 16.5 GB... Sundowners were fourth the previous three years, 11 to 17 games behind... won the 2008 Pro Cup... took 5 pennants in all... not a lot of offense, ranks 17th with a .262 BA, but 26th in scoring (691 runs - 26th) and 113 HR (29th)... mediocre on the mound with a 4.06 ERA ((18th)... defensively fairly strong with a .975 FA
Top Performers: Ernie Hodges (13-5/3.35/8 saves), RF Davy L'Amour (.325/23/90/89), LF Darrell Donnelly (.294/12/73/99), 2B Ed Lane (.280/14/72/92)