OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

Eugene Church · 07-09-2014, 03:50 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 1, 2047

STRETCH TIME IN THE IPA
September is suddenly upon us and it's crutch time once again in the IPA. Since April, 64 teams have battled tooth-and-nail for the 8 division titles in the Islandian Pro Alliance. One race has been decided and one is almost decided, but there is still much to be settled in 6 divisional races. About 15 teams still have a shot at the 8 playoff slots availabe in the proverbial quest for the Holy Grail of Islandia - the much loved and much cherished IPA Pro Cup trophy.

The Far Mountain Redhawks (96-44) soared high this year and wrapped up the Ruthlandian North title very early. The Redhawks beat second place LaGrange by 18 games in a runaway. In the RU West the preseaon pick Middlefield Roosters (86-54) go into the September stretch drive with a comfortable 8-game edge over runner-up and last season winner Rocky Rapids (78-62). However, there is a lot of baseball left to be played in the other six divisions.

The tightest race is in the Ruthlandian South where four clubs are still in the running. The Crystal Lake Crushers (75-65) and Belair Beach Sunbirds (75-65) are currently tied for the top spot with the preseason favorite Waleska Westerners (73-67) just two games back. Last year's winner, the Claxton Diamonds (71-69), are in fourth place and four games off the pace. Right now the Diamonds are playing the best baseball. They went 18-11 in August. The Crushers and Sunbirds chalked up 16-13 marks and the Westerners slumped to 13-16.

In the Ruthlandian East defending champ Sugar Valley (83-57) shaved two games off first place Marston's (87-53) lead with a torrid 20-9 record for the last month. The Nine played well, too, with an 18-11 mark. Marston still has a four-game lead with 14 games left of the schedule.

All four divisions are still in question in the Tycobbian Union. The reigning Pro Cup champion, the Hartsdale Hellcats (79-61), are in the fight-of-their-life with unheralded White River (78-62), a perennial also-ran. The Hellcats are up by a slim game over the Rascals. During August Hartsdale was 16-13 and White River 17-12.

It's still a battle in the Tycobbian South between the Southport Sun Sox (83-57) and San Alejo Montaneros (81-59). Just two games separate them heading into the final 14 games of the regular season. The Monties posted an 18-11 record in August to cut the Sun Sox lead by four games. Southport led by a seemingly safe six games heading into last month, but slumped to 14-15. Summerland (67-73) was the titlist last year, but has fallen to sixth place this season. Southport was picked to win this year in a spirited tussle with the Monties.

In the Tycobbian East last year's winner Red Bluff (87-53) and this year's preseason pick Tuckanarra (85-65) are still going head-to-head with the Red Sox in front by two games. Neither of them played especially well in August with Red Bluff going 13-16 and the Tucks 14-15.

In the Tycobbian West the Rolling Hills Reds didn't look like much in the first two months of the season (21-36), but they have really rocked and rolled the past three months (56-27) and really put Kenwood in a precarious position. The Reds rollicked to a 19-10 record in August and chopped the Wildcats' margin to jut one game. Kenwood was 15-14. The Wildcats were the heavy preseason favorite to win the division for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. The Reds were given only a modest chance to win the pennant. They were a distant third choice.

07-09-2014, 03:50 PM	#4268
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,699 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Sunday, September 1, 2047 STRETCH TIME IN THE IPA September is suddenly upon us and it's crutch time once again in the IPA. Since April, 64 teams have battled tooth-and-nail for the 8 division titles in the Islandian Pro Alliance. One race has been decided and one is almost decided, but there is still much to be settled in 6 divisional races. About 15 teams still have a shot at the 8 playoff slots availabe in the proverbial quest for the Holy Grail of Islandia - the much loved and much cherished IPA Pro Cup trophy. The Far Mountain Redhawks (96-44) soared high this year and wrapped up the Ruthlandian North title very early. The Redhawks beat second place LaGrange by 18 games in a runaway. In the RU West the preseaon pick Middlefield Roosters (86-54) go into the September stretch drive with a comfortable 8-game edge over runner-up and last season winner Rocky Rapids (78-62). However, there is a lot of baseball left to be played in the other six divisions. The tightest race is in the Ruthlandian South where four clubs are still in the running. The Crystal Lake Crushers (75-65) and Belair Beach Sunbirds (75-65) are currently tied for the top spot with the preseason favorite Waleska Westerners (73-67) just two games back. Last year's winner, the Claxton Diamonds (71-69), are in fourth place and four games off the pace. Right now the Diamonds are playing the best baseball. They went 18-11 in August. The Crushers and Sunbirds chalked up 16-13 marks and the Westerners slumped to 13-16. In the Ruthlandian East defending champ Sugar Valley (83-57) shaved two games off first place Marston's (87-53) lead with a torrid 20-9 record for the last month. The Nine played well, too, with an 18-11 mark. Marston still has a four-game lead with 14 games left of the schedule. All four divisions are still in question in the Tycobbian Union. The reigning Pro Cup champion, the Hartsdale Hellcats (79-61), are in the fight-of-their-life with unheralded White River (78-62), a perennial also-ran. The Hellcats are up by a slim game over the Rascals. During August Hartsdale was 16-13 and White River 17-12. It's still a battle in the Tycobbian South between the Southport Sun Sox (83-57) and San Alejo Montaneros (81-59). Just two games separate them heading into the final 14 games of the regular season. The Monties posted an 18-11 record in August to cut the Sun Sox lead by four games. Southport led by a seemingly safe six games heading into last month, but slumped to 14-15. Summerland (67-73) was the titlist last year, but has fallen to sixth place this season. Southport was picked to win this year in a spirited tussle with the Monties. In the Tycobbian East last year's winner Red Bluff (87-53) and this year's preseason pick Tuckanarra (85-65) are still going head-to-head with the Red Sox in front by two games. Neither of them played especially well in August with Red Bluff going 13-16 and the Tucks 14-15. In the Tycobbian West the Rolling Hills Reds didn't look like much in the first two months of the season (21-36), but they have really rocked and rolled the past three months (56-27) and really put Kenwood in a precarious position. The Reds rollicked to a 19-10 record in August and chopped the Wildcats' margin to jut one game. Kenwood was 15-14. The Wildcats were the heavy preseason favorite to win the division for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. The Reds were given only a modest chance to win the pennant. They were a distant third choice.