Thursday, November 1, 2068
BAPTISTA EDGES MANUSH FOR IPA PLAYOFF MOST VALUABLE PLAYER HONOR
Forest City has quite a few key performers in their remarkable Pro Cup run this season... it is tough to choose just one most outstanding player in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... the 2068 IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award went to pitcher Bruno Baptista, who went unbeaten in the postseason and clinched the honor by defeating the Rolling Hills Racers twice in the Pro Cup Series... Baptista just barely outpolled his teammate Pete Manush in the balloting... they were the only two votegetters in the poll.
Baptista filled two spots in the Firebirds' pitching rotation... he was a closer as well as a starter... Baptista appeared in 7 postseason games, made 3 starts and had two saves... he finished the playoffs with a 3-0 record and an excellent 2.10 ERA... as a starter Baptista beat Wynnamac 3-2 in the first round and Rolling Hills 5-2 and 6-2 in the Pro Cup Finals... Forest City was 7-1 in his appearances... Baptista started 32 games this season and wound up 15-14 with a strong 2.69 ERA... this year's IPA Pro Cup MVP is just 23 and has been with the Firebirds for three seasons... overall Baptista is 34-31 with a 3.09 ERA... he was a closer his first two seasons and chalked up 18 saves.
Pete Manush also excelled... he was 4-1 in 6 starts with a terrific 1.54 ERA... Manush posted wins over Wynnamac 3-1, topped Claxton twice 4-2 and 4-1 and stopped Rolling Hills 4-1 in the Pro Cup Series opener... his only defeat came at the hands of the Racers 7-0 in game 5... but it was not as bad as the score indicated... Manush only allowed 1 earned run in the loss... during the regular season he was 18-11 with a 2.66 ERA... Manush is 30 years old and a 3-year veteran... in his career he is just 38-40 with a 3.30 ERA in 94 starts.