Island Pro Alliance Pro Cup Poll:
1. Rolling Hills Racers
2. Claxton Diamonds
3. Oxford Red Caps
4. Tuckanarra Tiger Cats
5. Valmara Vipers
6. San Alejo Montaneros
7. Sligo Rovers
8. Wynnamac Sundowners
This year the Rolling Hills Racers are easily the best team on paper... and they have won it twice in the last four years... the Racers clearly have the best attack, but they may not have the pitching they have had in the championship seasons... Rolling Hills will have to hit well to win it this year... Rolling Hills will face a pretty fair and well-balanced team in the first round -- the Tuckanarra Tigers Cats... don't be surprised if they give the Racers quite a tussle.
The Claxton Diamonds really had quite a year in the Ruthlandian South... and they did it with superior pitching and standout defense... Claxton looks to be the class of the Ruthlandian Union... the outlook is for a Rolling Hills-Claxton Pro Cup Finals... the Diamonds are rated the second-best team in the IPA this year.
The Pro Cup prognosticators think Oxford is the third-best club in the playoffs... the Red Caps are a veteran team with much playoff experience... they always give Rolling Hills a tough time in the postseason... they have done well in the Pro Cup playoffs in recent years... Oxford always give stiff competition in the postseason... that should continue this year... the Red Caps have to beat the San Alejo Monteneros in round one... they should handle the Monties, who are short on #3 and #4 starters, but they do have two solid #1 and #2's.
Coming in at number four is Tuckanarra... the Tucks have three quality starters and some solid hitters... but the Tiger Cats are a little lax defensively... Rolling Hills will know they are in a series in the first round of play... the Racers will have to play well.
The fifth-best pick to win the Pro Cup this year are the Valmara Vipers... they are a good all-around club... good hitting, good power and their pitching may be darn good, too... both starting and in the bullpen... it will be a good series between the Vipers and Claxton in first-round action... Valmara will not have to win with its bats... it has a quality mound staff, too.
