Sunday, April 4, 2060
4 CLUBS PICKED TO REPEAT IN IPA
The Islandian Pro Alliance returns to the diamonds for real tomorrow afternoon all across the Islands... spring training is over and the 64 clubs will be playing for keeps... in the preseason polls, Ginza, the defending Pro Cup titlist, is forecast to repeat as the division winner, along with three other clubs that won the pennant last year: Valmara, Sligo and Oxford... if the baseball prognosticators are correct, there will be four new faces in the fight to replace the Ninjas as the champion of Islandia... St. John, Wynnamac, Tuckanarra and Kenwood are expected to be the new challengers... in last year's Pro Cup Finals the Karate Kids unexpectedly mopped up on the Valmara Vipers in a 4-game sweep... High Mesa and Sligo made the semi-final round.
VIPERS SEEKS 4TH STRAIGHT FLAG IN RU NORTH
Rock solid Valmara is a strong favorite to prevail in the Ruthlandian North Division... the hard-hitting Vipers are a powerhouse at the plate with fair pitching and are picked to take their fourth straight pennant... the other contenders are not quite on par with Valmara... the Far Mountain Redhawks will be their biggest problem... the Redhawks can score runs and have decent pitching... the LaGrange Gators and Glasco Foxhounds have better pitching, but aren't in the ballpark when it comes to scoring runs.
Ruthlandian North Division
**Team (last year's record)
1. VALMARA VIPERS (94-60/1st)
2. Far Mountain Redhawks (86-68/3rd)
3. LaGrange Gators (80-74/5th)
4. Glasco Foxhounds (88-66/2nd)
5. Taranto Tars (69-85/7th)
6. Ancona Red Elephants (81-73/4th)
7. Ranford Bulls (64-90/8th)
8. Kilkenny Cats (72-82/6th)
CRUSADERS CLASS OF THE RU SOUTH
The St. John Crusaders have been in the pennant mix the last few years and are now ready to take the giant step and win the Ruthlandian South title... St. John won the division flag in '57 and would like nothing better than to do it again... they stand just a little higher talent-wise than the competition, Waleska, current champ Crystal Lake, Claxton and Grand City... but the experts think the Crusaders have an improved attack, now on par with Crystal Lake with a superior mound staff than the Skippers... the Westerners, Diamonds and Cybercats can't match St. John and Crystal Lake on the scoreboard... the Crystal Lake Skippers may be hard to skuttle... they have won it the past two seasons... and definitely could do it again... looks like a two-team race.
Ruthlandian South Division
**Team (last year's record)
1. ST. JOHN CRUSADERS (74-80/3rd)
2. Waleska Westerners (70-84/6th tied)
3. Crystal Lake Skippers (85-69/1st)
4. Claxton Diamonds (70-84/6th-tied)
5. Grand City Cybercats (73-81/4th)
6. Belair Beach Sunbirds (72-82/5th)
7. San Dimas Rancheros (65-89/8th)
8. Valka Blackhawks (81-73/2nd)
Ruthlandian East Division
MACS BEAST IN RU EAST
The Ruthlandian East had an abundance of good teams last year with Marston rated one of the best teams in the IPA... but this year perennial power Wynnamac is the cream of the crop... even better than Marston... the Sundowners finished third last year... the Macs have the best mound staff and the best offense this season and they have captured 5 of the last 8 pennants... some experts say that the Sundowners just might win by 10 or more games... they are that good... last year's pennant winner Marston is rated second-best in the preseason poll... Cold Creek was second last year and is picked third this year... none of the other five clubs are expected to be contenders.
**Team (last year's record)
1. WYNNAMAC SUNDOWNERS (87-67/3rd)
2. Marston Nine (95-59/1st)
3. Cold Creek Raccoons (89-65) (2nd)
4. Sugar Valley Rattlers (78-76/5th)
5. Eastshore Cotton Kings (63-91/7th)
6. Elnora Clippers (80-74/4th)
7. Belle Plaine Musketeers (69-85/6th)
8. Beechwood Jackrabbits (51-101/8th)
Ruthlandian West Division
ROVERS WILL ROMP IN RU WEST
Six straight seasons of frustration finally ended last year for the Sligo Rovers... they had been mired and stuck in second place in the Ruthlandian West Division since 2053... but last season Sligo hit the jackpot and nabbed the division crown... and this year is supposed to be even better... no one else in the RU West is given any chance to win... the Rovers have outstanding pitching, the best in the Ruthlandian Union... only the Summerland Sunsets in the Tycobbian Union are ranked higher... and not by much... the forecast calls for Sligo to triumph by double digits... improved offense is the cause for much optimism this season.
**Team (last year's record)
1. SLIGO ROVERS (88-66/1st)
2. Volusia Vigilantes (82-72/2nd)
3. Middlefield Roosters (71-83/8th)
4. Rocky Rapids Snappers (78-76/4th-tied)
5. Fort Benton Defenders (75-79/6th)
6. Colfax Blasters (82-72/3rd)
7. Stoner Stars (78-76/4th-tied)
8. Forest City Firebirds (74-80/7th)