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Eugene Church · 05-03-2013, 07:34 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 24, 2036

PRO CUP PLAYOFFS BEGIN FRIDAY, TUCKS FAVORED AGAIN
Get ready for some baseball! The IPA Pro Cup playoffs will begin tomorrow afternoon with four clubs returning from last year for another crack at Islandian baseball supremacy. Defending champion Tuckanarra is back, along with Chicopee, North Hills and LaGrange. According to the oddsmakers the Tucks are given the best chance to take home the trophy. The Blue Jays were picked to be the best team in the Islands in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll. The voting was heavy for the Tycobbian Union with the three top teams hailing from from that league. Tuckanarra was rated number one in the poll with the Chicopee Braves second, North Hills Hawks third and St. John of the Ruthlandian Union ranked number four.

In first-round action in the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series it will be #1 Tuckanarra playing host to #2 Chicopee in a terrific matchup and #3 North Hills hosting #5 Colchester in another dogfight. Over in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series #4 St. John will entertain #8 LaGrange and #6 Cold Creek will be at home against #7 Colfax.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES PRO CUP POLL
1. TUCKANARRA BLUE JAYS (99-55)
The defending Pro Cup crownbearer is primed for its record 15th appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs and will be seeking its fourth Pro Cup trophy, which would tie them with Turon for the IPA mark... the Blue Jays head into the postseason as the number-one seed with a powerful ball club that ranks near the top in almost all categories... five of their players made the All-Star team... the Blue Jays hit .277 (3rd), scored 874 runs (1st) and hit 191 HRs (7th-tied)... just as solid on the hill with a 3.26 team ERA (3rd)... the Tucks only weakness is defense with a poor .969 FA... Tuckanarra will have to get by improved Chicopee in the first round... the Braves have better pitching this year... last year they took Tuckanarra to seven games before losing... North Hills and Colchester are quite formitable foes, too, should the Blue Jays get to the Tycobbian finals... the Hawks and Elites posted 96 wins and the Braves notched 94... there is no weak sister in the Tycobbian playoffs this year.

Top Performers: All-Star Junior Bristow (25-9/2.96), All-Star Bobby Reid (21-9/2.90), Jeff Buttrum (16-9/3.33), Rudy Rosario (17-10/3.82), Jack Rogers (8-8/2.70/15 saves), All-Star LF Lorne Evans (.312/40/100/134), All-Star 1B Josh George (.322/22/86/89), All-Star C Jon Paul (.286/29/90/76), RF Spade Weldon (.287/16/80/91)

2. CHICOPEE BRAVES (94-60)
They won the division for the third straight season... the Braves have registered 90 or more wins the last three years... it took them 33 years to make the playoffs... no Pro Cup so far, but they have a good shot at it this year... Chicopee's lineup is chocked full of fine hitters... the Braves batted .278 (2nd), scored 863 runs (2nd) and clouted 203 HRs (5th)... they also have quality pitchers that posted a 3.75 ERA (14th)... defensively Chicopee is only average with a .972 FA... the Braves will give Tuckanarra quite a test in first-round playoff action just like they did last year... they had the Blue Jays down 3-0 and then lost the series.

Top Performers: Heyoka Chaska (20-15/3.04), Ryan Ledbetter (17-14/3.93), 34-year-old rookie reliever Johnny Stewart (12-3/2.32/21 saves), All-Star Charley Kota (.314/48/152/114), 1B Kurt Gustavsen (.343/25/80/102), LF Alfredo Cobos (.321/24/86/86), 2B Todd Goodwin (.281/13/60/122), All-Star RF Iron Jacket Chandler (.287/22/83/75), who was signed as a 29-year-old free agent from Midway of the TU East.

3. NORTH HILLS HAWKS (96-58)
They also won pennants in 2034 and 2035... and for the first time in the team's history took the IPA Pro Cup in 2034... the Hawks are a better team this year and should be a threat to win the coveted Pro Cup... they have outstanding pitching with a 3.11 team ERA (1st) and strong defense with a .979 FA, coupled with adequate offense... the Hawks hit .271 (6th), scored 706 runs (14th), but lack power... they hit only 120 HRs (28th-tied)... this will be North Hills' fifth appearance in the postseason.

Top Performers: Frankie Lambert (18-8/2.85), All-Star Jeff Owens (23-12/2.99), Nelson Hooper (21-7/3.06), David Michael (20-18/3.42), All-Star LF Adam Thurgood (.341/32/127/75), RF Gerry Rice (.336/3/44/61), 3B Tommy Vavas (.297/9/43/88)

4. ST. JOHN CRUSADERS (93-61)
Won second title in six years... also won in 2033... the Crusaders have been in the postseason five times, but don't have a Pro Cup so far... last year they came in a distant second to Waleska... St. John is a powerful club with a high-powered offense, fine pitching and a pretty fair defense (.974 FA)... the Crusaders have a .276 BA (4th), rank second in scoring with 789 runs and posted a good 3.48 team ERA (5th)... St. John is a well-balanced team and should be a strong contender for the Pro Cup this year.

Top Performers: All-Star Lou Gianakos (21-13/3.07), Jeremy Kirk (19-15/3.64), Lou Page (16-6/3.39), All-Star Nicky Farrugia (.323/34/121/113), rookie sensation CF Art Kelley (.309/33/92/89), All-Star SS Byron Johannsen (.325/8/68/81), 3B Marty Blankenship (.252/22/90/71)

5. COLCHESTER ELITES (96-58)
Improved from third place and 18 GB in 2035... the Elites have been first-division mainstays in 12 of the last 13 seasons... the last pennant came in 2007... Colchester had only made the playoffs three times prior to this year... they feature rock-solid scoring with 829 runs (3rd) with 197 HRs (6th) and a .261 team BA (9th), along with adequate pitching (3.91 ERA/17th) and average defense with a .972 FA... the Elites don't have the pitching to go deep into the Pro Cup playoffs.

Top Performers: Dan Scott (22-11/4.10), Roy Watson (19-8/4.15), Eduardo Rivera (12-08/3.35), Tony Dazzi (16-8/3.60), Dave Lacoste (15-13/3.79), All-Star RF Blake Barrister (.311/49/129/111), All-Star 1B Billy Christianson (.301/17/93/109), SS Joey Rogers (.273/3/54/99)

6. COLD CREEK CATAMOUNTS (93-62)
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)

7. COLFAX BLASTERS (86-68)
Moved up from a very close second in 2035 just 2 games behind winning Volusia... were in seventh place in 2034, trailing by 19 games... last won pennants in 2030 and 2032... has made the playoffs 10 times in the team's history with one Pro Cup in 2010 when the Blasters won 107 games, the most wins in IPA history... Colfax is a better-than-average club, but not likely to get far in Pro Cup circles... the Blasters hit very well for average (.279 BA-2nd), but don't score well (704 runs-18th) and don't have much firepower (111 HRs/30th)... mound staff is good with a 3.55 team ERA (6th)... very impressive defense with a .978 FA

Top Performers: Randell Perkins (22-13/3.34), Ray Maxon (13-11/3.45), Jack Scanlon (8-6/2.62/13 saves), All-Star LF Chet Penn (.327/28/101/99), All-Star C Mitch Fullerton (.309/25/87/82), SS Gerry Sives (.277/9/54/94), 1B Kristian McEly (.283/16/78/68), RF Dom DeJohnette (.282/15/60/66)

8. LAGRANGE SPORTS (84-70)
Four division titles in five seasons... won pennant last year by 7 games... this year by 2... good pitching with a 3.31 team ERA (4th), mediocre hitting with a .255 BA (26th), good power with 161 HRs (12th), pretty good defense (.974 FA)... played in postseason 4 times before... never won Pro Cup... appeared often in recent years (2032, 2033 and 2035)... lost in first round the last two postseasons... unlikely to get far this year.

Top Performers: Walt Thurber (20-13/2.62), All-Star Chazz Bassett (20-16/3.09), Nicky Palermo (20-14/3.47), Earl Perkins (2-1/1.10/7 saves), RF Charles Basque (.308/24/85/92), All-Star 3B Claude DesJardins (.287/26/80/69), CF Russell Watkins (.259/20/87/65), SS Fred Bird (.242/4/52/100)... won't be seeded very high in Pro Cup playoffs.

05-03-2013, 07:34 PM	#3513
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,894	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Wednesday, September 24, 2036 PRO CUP PLAYOFFS BEGIN FRIDAY, TUCKS FAVORED AGAIN Get ready for some baseball! The IPA Pro Cup playoffs will begin tomorrow afternoon with four clubs returning from last year for another crack at Islandian baseball supremacy. Defending champion Tuckanarra is back, along with Chicopee, North Hills and LaGrange. According to the oddsmakers the Tucks are given the best chance to take home the trophy. The Blue Jays were picked to be the best team in the Islands in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll. The voting was heavy for the Tycobbian Union with the three top teams hailing from from that league. Tuckanarra was rated number one in the poll with the Chicopee Braves second, North Hills Hawks third and St. John of the Ruthlandian Union ranked number four. In first-round action in the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series it will be #1 Tuckanarra playing host to #2 Chicopee in a terrific matchup and #3 North Hills hosting #5 Colchester in another dogfight. Over in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series #4 St. John will entertain #8 LaGrange and #6 Cold Creek will be at home against #7 Colfax. THE ISLANDIAN TIMES PRO CUP POLL 1. TUCKANARRA BLUE JAYS (99-55) The defending Pro Cup crownbearer is primed for its record 15th appearance in the Pro Cup playoffs and will be seeking its fourth Pro Cup trophy, which would tie them with Turon for the IPA mark... the Blue Jays head into the postseason as the number-one seed with a powerful ball club that ranks near the top in almost all categories... five of their players made the All-Star team... the Blue Jays hit .277 (3rd), scored 874 runs (1st) and hit 191 HRs (7th-tied)... just as solid on the hill with a 3.26 team ERA (3rd)... the Tucks only weakness is defense with a poor .969 FA... Tuckanarra will have to get by improved Chicopee in the first round... the Braves have better pitching this year... last year they took Tuckanarra to seven games before losing... North Hills and Colchester are quite formitable foes, too, should the Blue Jays get to the Tycobbian finals... the Hawks and Elites posted 96 wins and the Braves notched 94... there is no weak sister in the Tycobbian playoffs this year. Top Performers: All-Star Junior Bristow (25-9/2.96), All-Star Bobby Reid (21-9/2.90), Jeff Buttrum (16-9/3.33), Rudy Rosario (17-10/3.82), Jack Rogers (8-8/2.70/15 saves), All-Star LF Lorne Evans (.312/40/100/134), All-Star 1B Josh George (.322/22/86/89), All-Star C Jon Paul (.286/29/90/76), RF Spade Weldon (.287/16/80/91) 2. CHICOPEE BRAVES (94-60) They won the division for the third straight season... the Braves have registered 90 or more wins the last three years... it took them 33 years to make the playoffs... no Pro Cup so far, but they have a good shot at it this year... Chicopee's lineup is chocked full of fine hitters... the Braves batted .278 (2nd), scored 863 runs (2nd) and clouted 203 HRs (5th)... they also have quality pitchers that posted a 3.75 ERA (14th)... defensively Chicopee is only average with a .972 FA... the Braves will give Tuckanarra quite a test in first-round playoff action just like they did last year... they had the Blue Jays down 3-0 and then lost the series. Top Performers: Heyoka Chaska (20-15/3.04), Ryan Ledbetter (17-14/3.93), 34-year-old rookie reliever Johnny Stewart (12-3/2.32/21 saves), All-Star Charley Kota (.314/48/152/114), 1B Kurt Gustavsen (.343/25/80/102), LF Alfredo Cobos (.321/24/86/86), 2B Todd Goodwin (.281/13/60/122), All-Star RF Iron Jacket Chandler (.287/22/83/75), who was signed as a 29-year-old free agent from Midway of the TU East. 3. NORTH HILLS HAWKS (96-58) They also won pennants in 2034 and 2035... and for the first time in the team's history took the IPA Pro Cup in 2034... the Hawks are a better team this year and should be a threat to win the coveted Pro Cup... they have outstanding pitching with a 3.11 team ERA (1st) and strong defense with a .979 FA, coupled with adequate offense... the Hawks hit .271 (6th), scored 706 runs (14th), but lack power... they hit only 120 HRs (28th-tied)... this will be North Hills' fifth appearance in the postseason. Top Performers: Frankie Lambert (18-8/2.85), All-Star Jeff Owens (23-12/2.99), Nelson Hooper (21-7/3.06), David Michael (20-18/3.42), All-Star LF Adam Thurgood (.341/32/127/75), RF Gerry Rice (.336/3/44/61), 3B Tommy Vavas (.297/9/43/88) 4. ST. JOHN CRUSADERS (93-61) Won second title in six years... also won in 2033... the Crusaders have been in the postseason five times, but don't have a Pro Cup so far... last year they came in a distant second to Waleska... St. John is a powerful club with a high-powered offense, fine pitching and a pretty fair defense (.974 FA)... the Crusaders have a .276 BA (4th), rank second in scoring with 789 runs and posted a good 3.48 team ERA (5th)... St. John is a well-balanced team and should be a strong contender for the Pro Cup this year. Top Performers: All-Star Lou Gianakos (21-13/3.07), Jeremy Kirk (19-15/3.64), Lou Page (16-6/3.39), All-Star Nicky Farrugia (.323/34/121/113), rookie sensation CF Art Kelley (.309/33/92/89), All-Star SS Byron Johannsen (.325/8/68/81), 3B Marty Blankenship (.252/22/90/71) 5. COLCHESTER ELITES (96-58) Improved from third place and 18 GB in 2035... the Elites have been first-division mainstays in 12 of the last 13 seasons... the last pennant came in 2007... Colchester had only made the playoffs three times prior to this year... they feature rock-solid scoring with 829 runs (3rd) with 197 HRs (6th) and a .261 team BA (9th), along with adequate pitching (3.91 ERA/17th) and average defense with a .972 FA... the Elites don't have the pitching to go deep into the Pro Cup playoffs. Top Performers: Dan Scott (22-11/4.10), Roy Watson (19-8/4.15), Eduardo Rivera (12-08/3.35), Tony Dazzi (16-8/3.60), Dave Lacoste (15-13/3.79), All-Star RF Blake Barrister (.311/49/129/111), All-Star 1B Billy Christianson (.301/17/93/109), SS Joey Rogers (.273/3/54/99) 6. COLD CREEK CATAMOUNTS (93-62) 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) 7. COLFAX BLASTERS (86-68) Moved up from a very close second in 2035 just 2 games behind winning Volusia... were in seventh place in 2034, trailing by 19 games... last won pennants in 2030 and 2032... has made the playoffs 10 times in the team's history with one Pro Cup in 2010 when the Blasters won 107 games, the most wins in IPA history... Colfax is a better-than-average club, but not likely to get far in Pro Cup circles... the Blasters hit very well for average (.279 BA-2nd), but don't score well (704 runs-18th) and don't have much firepower (111 HRs/30th)... mound staff is good with a 3.55 team ERA (6th)... very impressive defense with a .978 FA Top Performers: Randell Perkins (22-13/3.34), Ray Maxon (13-11/3.45), Jack Scanlon (8-6/2.62/13 saves), All-Star LF Chet Penn (.327/28/101/99), All-Star C Mitch Fullerton (.309/25/87/82), SS Gerry Sives (.277/9/54/94), 1B Kristian McEly (.283/16/78/68), RF Dom DeJohnette (.282/15/60/66) 8. LAGRANGE SPORTS (84-70) Four division titles in five seasons... won pennant last year by 7 games... this year by 2... good pitching with a 3.31 team ERA (4th), mediocre hitting with a .255 BA (26th), good power with 161 HRs (12th), pretty good defense (.974 FA)... played in postseason 4 times before... never won Pro Cup... appeared often in recent years (2032, 2033 and 2035)... lost in first round the last two postseasons... unlikely to get far this year. Top Performers: Walt Thurber (20-13/2.62), All-Star Chazz Bassett (20-16/3.09), Nicky Palermo (20-14/3.47), Earl Perkins (2-1/1.10/7 saves), RF Charles Basque (.308/24/85/92), All-Star 3B Claude DesJardins (.287/26/80/69), CF Russell Watkins (.259/20/87/65), SS Fred Bird (.242/4/52/100)... won't be seeded very high in Pro Cup playoffs. Last edited by Eugene Church; 05-04-2013 at 05:06 PM.