Friday, July 1, 2061
IPA MIDSEASON RECAP
At the halfway point in the 2061 season, five of the eight divisions in the Islandian Pro Alliance are still in question... but three of them may be nearly decided... the Valmara Vipers in the Ruthlandian North are ahead by six games... the Wynnamac Sundowners are up by seven in the Ruthlandian East... and the defending Pro Cup champion Rolling Hills Racers have a comfortable eight-game edge in the Tycobbian West race.
Five of the preseason favorites are currently in the top spot in their division... Wynnamac and the Volusia Vigilantes in the Ruthlandian Union... and Rolling Hills, Midway Wolves and Oxford Red Caps in the Tycobbian Union.
The Vigilantes still have competition in the RU West from the Sligo Rovers, who trail by four games... the Red Caps are in a tight race with at least two other clubs in the TU North... Mahaska is just one game out in the race... and North Hills is only two games off the pace... in the TU East, the Wolves are still being pressured by South Fork, 4 GB... Red Bluff, 5 GB and by Tuckanarra, 7 GB... Arroyo Grande is on top of the TU South, leading Summerland by four, Ginza by five and Turon by seven.
The best race in the IPA is in the Ruthlandian South Division where the St. John Crusaders are being challenged by four teams, the San Dimas Rancheros, Waleska Westerners, Claxton Diamonds and Belair Beach Sunbirds... only four games separate the five clubs.
VIPERS HAVE GOOD 6-GAME CUSHION IN RU NORTH
In the Ruthlandian North, the high-scoring Valmara Vipers (54-26) continued its very good play in June with an 18-8 mark... last year's champ Ranford (48-32) and Glasco (47-33) stayed right with them at 17-9... but preseason pick Far Mountain (46-34) dipped to 13-13... the rest of the division is pretty much out of the hunt... they are way behind, 16 or more games back.
5-TEAM STRUGGLE IN RU SOUTH
It's a close five-team tussle in the RU South... last year's division winner, St. John (47-33) jumped to the top of the standings with a 17-9 month in June... surprising second place San Dimas (45-35), picked for the cellar, is just two games out after going 16-10... last month's leader and this year's favorite, Waleska (44-36) slumped to 11-15 in June and is now three games behind... Claxton (43-37) broke even last month at 13-13 and is now tied for fourth, 4 GB... Belair Beach (43-37) had a good month with a 15-11 record... they are tied with the Diamonds for fourth place... none of the others look like contenders.
MACS OPEN UP A LEAD IN RU EAST
The Wynnamac Sundowners continued their winning ways in the Ruthlandian East with a 17-9 mark in June... the Macs upped their lead to seven games over runners-up Marston (41-39) and Elnora (41-39)... the Nine has a bad month with a 12-14 record, but the Clippers had a solid 17-9... as long as they can stay away from a losing month, Wynnamac looks like they are headed for the third pennant in the last four seasons... Elnora appears to be their only challenger.
V'S, ROVERS BATTLE IN RU WEST
It appears to be just a two-horse race in the Ruthlandian West this season... first place Volusia (50-30) and second place Sligo (46-34) are the best in the west this year... the Vigilantes finished 15-11 in June, while the Rovers were just a tad better at 16-10... third place Stoner (40-40) and Middlefield (40-40) had lackluster months at 13-13 and 11-15 respectively... fifth place Rocky Rapids (39-41) , picked to be a pennant threat to Volusia in the preseason poll, has floundered badly and trails by 11 games... however, they had a decent month at 14-12 in June... the other teams have too much ground to make up to get back in the race.
Ruthlandian Union
