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

Eugene Church · 01-29-2019, 12:16 AM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 6, 2059

59TH IPA SEASON STARTS TOMORROW
The Islandian Pro Alliance is raring to go for its 59th year of professional baseball in the Islands... 64 teams are romping and stomping at the bits and ready for another year of battle on the baseball diamonds in Ruthlandia and Tycobbia... another season of delight starts tomorrow afternoon at 32 ballparks across Islandia... surprise Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake will try to hit their way to a second Island crown in a row in a repeat performance... the Skippers think they have gotten a little better on the hill and also added some more firepower in the batting lineup.

RU PENNANT PICKS: VIPS, SKIPS, MACS, V'S
Previewing the Ruthlandian Union and its four divisions, it's the perennial powerhouses that are getting the attention of the baseball world... Valmara will going for their third consecutive Ruthlandian North title... the Vipers had an easy time last year, but they could get some stiff competition from Far Mountain, Glasco, Taranto and Ancona this season... don't be surprised if the Ranford Bulls make a little noise this year... they did well in the spring and could contend for the first division... Valmara still has the offense, but its mound corps has aged in recent years... longtime star hurler Darus Grajek retired this year... he said he saw the writing on the wall in the spring and decided to call it a career after 10 years... overall Grajek finished up with a 197-122 record with an impressive 2.76 ERA... however, he was 22-9 in his final season... Grajek said he wanted to go out on top.

Reigning IPA champion Crystal Lake gets the call in the RU South, but may be hard pressed by the St. John Crusaders... the Skippers were 5 games better than the Clerics last year and will be trying to repeat as Pro Cup champion... the Skips and the Crusaders are the class of the RU South... and they look improved this year... improved Valka should be a distant third... the other 5 also-rans will be in the running for the other first-division slot.

The always-tough Wynnamac Sundowners will be seeking their second Ruthlandian East Division flag in a row and 6th in the last 8 years... nobody came close to the Macs last year... runner-up Elnora was 13 games behind... the Sundowners are still the class of the division, but will have to beat out two prime challengers, the up-and-coming Marston Nine and Eastshore Cotton Kings for the pennant... Elnora will probably finish a distant 4th in the RU East this year... the remaining clubs will have to wait until the proverbial and eternal "next year'.

After winning 105 games last year in the Ruthlandian West, the Volusia Vigilantes are fighting mad to do it again... the V's were very disappointed they were beaten in the first round of the Pro Cup playoffs last year by Wynnamac... of course, they were picked by most people to take the IPA title after such a splendid season... Volusia's super pitching just might be a little tad better this year, plus they have added a fine rookie shortstop Mauricio Tejada, who is a strong glove and solid hitter with a little pop in his bat... Tejada was outstanding in the spring... none of the remaining clubs are of the caliber of the V's... Middlefield and Fort Benton could test Volusia, but neither has the pitching and hitting to really rival the V's... last year's runner-up Sligo has solid pitching, but lack any semblance of an offense... the Rovers will compete with Forest City and Colfax for the third and fourth spots in the RU West... believe it or not, the lowly Stoner Stars might be in the mix, too... they showed outstanding pitching in spring training and could be a surprise team in the IPA... the Rocky Rapids Snappers could also be on the rise with an infusion of talent on the hill and at the plate.

01-29-2019, 12:16 AM	#6189
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,971	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Sunday, April 6, 2059 59TH IPA SEASON STARTS TOMORROW The Islandian Pro Alliance is raring to go for its 59th year of professional baseball in the Islands... 64 teams are romping and stomping at the bits and ready for another year of battle on the baseball diamonds in Ruthlandia and Tycobbia... another season of delight starts tomorrow afternoon at 32 ballparks across Islandia... surprise Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake will try to hit their way to a second Island crown in a row in a repeat performance... the Skippers think they have gotten a little better on the hill and also added some more firepower in the batting lineup. RU PENNANT PICKS: VIPS, SKIPS, MACS, V'S Previewing the Ruthlandian Union and its four divisions, it's the perennial powerhouses that are getting the attention of the baseball world... Valmara will going for their third consecutive Ruthlandian North title... the Vipers had an easy time last year, but they could get some stiff competition from Far Mountain, Glasco, Taranto and Ancona this season... don't be surprised if the Ranford Bulls make a little noise this year... they did well in the spring and could contend for the first division... Valmara still has the offense, but its mound corps has aged in recent years... longtime star hurler Darus Grajek retired this year... he said he saw the writing on the wall in the spring and decided to call it a career after 10 years... overall Grajek finished up with a 197-122 record with an impressive 2.76 ERA... however, he was 22-9 in his final season... Grajek said he wanted to go out on top. Reigning IPA champion Crystal Lake gets the call in the RU South, but may be hard pressed by the St. John Crusaders... the Skippers were 5 games better than the Clerics last year and will be trying to repeat as Pro Cup champion... the Skips and the Crusaders are the class of the RU South... and they look improved this year... improved Valka should be a distant third... the other 5 also-rans will be in the running for the other first-division slot. The always-tough Wynnamac Sundowners will be seeking their second Ruthlandian East Division flag in a row and 6th in the last 8 years... nobody came close to the Macs last year... runner-up Elnora was 13 games behind... the Sundowners are still the class of the division, but will have to beat out two prime challengers, the up-and-coming Marston Nine and Eastshore Cotton Kings for the pennant... Elnora will probably finish a distant 4th in the RU East this year... the remaining clubs will have to wait until the proverbial and eternal "next year'. After winning 105 games last year in the Ruthlandian West, the Volusia Vigilantes are fighting mad to do it again... the V's were very disappointed they were beaten in the first round of the Pro Cup playoffs last year by Wynnamac... of course, they were picked by most people to take the IPA title after such a splendid season... Volusia's super pitching just might be a little tad better this year, plus they have added a fine rookie shortstop Mauricio Tejada, who is a strong glove and solid hitter with a little pop in his bat... Tejada was outstanding in the spring... none of the remaining clubs are of the caliber of the V's... Middlefield and Fort Benton could test Volusia, but neither has the pitching and hitting to really rival the V's... last year's runner-up Sligo has solid pitching, but lack any semblance of an offense... the Rovers will compete with Forest City and Colfax for the third and fourth spots in the RU West... believe it or not, the lowly Stoner Stars might be in the mix, too... they showed outstanding pitching in spring training and could be a surprise team in the IPA... the Rocky Rapids Snappers could also be on the rise with an infusion of talent on the hill and at the plate. Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 01-29-2019 at 03:16 PM.