Tuesday, October 5, 2066
FINAL FOUR BATTLE IN IPA PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
Four fine ballclubs have survived first-round action in the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs... Thursday afternoon the Valmara Vipers will vie with the Sligo Rovers for the Ruthlandian Union League Championship and the Southport Sun Sox and Rolling Hills Racers will renew old postseason acquaintances for the Tycobbian Union League Championship... Sligo will host the Vipers at Silver Mountain Park for the first two games of the best-of-seven series and the Racers will entertain the Southport Sun Sox at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds.
With a record-setting 111 wins Rolling Hills is the Pro Cup favorite this season, but Southport carries some weight as the defending IPA titleholder... last year the two powerhouses went seven games before the Sun Sox triumphed in the TU title series... it should be more of the same this year.
The Ruthlandian title series has two quality ballclubs, too... both capable of upsetting the powers-that-be... Valmara upended a strong Claxton club in first-round play... the Diamonds were one of the prime favorites to win it all this year... Sligo has solid pitching and will be tough to deal with in the playoffs... offense and scoring runs is the Rovers' big downfall... the Vipers can score runs with its solid core of hitters... they handled Claxton with some good hitting and some surprisingly good pitching... Sligo's relief corps may decide the outcome... Valmara's bullpen is weak... this series is a toss-up just like the Tycobbian finals.
Rolling Hills has won 5 Pro Cups in its history... Southport 4... Valmara 4... and Sligo has been the overall IPA champion just one time... the Sun Sox last won it last year, the Racers in '60 and '62, the Vipers in '49 and '50 and the Rovers in '21... will 2066 be the year of the juggernaut or the year of the lesser light?
Ruthlandian Union Forecast:
Sligo in 6 games... the Rovers' rotation is better, starters and bullpen... this year Sligo may have found a little more offense, too.
Tycobbian Union Forecast:
Southport in a blockbuster series... this will go 7 games again this year... the Sun Sox have the knack to win in the clutch... they have solid pitching, both starting rotation and bullpen... and they have better offense this year... in spite of being such a talented team, Rolling Hills has a habit of losing vital games... weak bullpen is a big dilemma for the Racers.