Wednesday, September 28, 2072
IPA POSTSEASON PLAYOFFS BEGIN THIS WEDNEDAY AFTERNOON
There is a infusion of newcomers in the Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs this year... only three teams are returning from last year, the Valmara Vipers, Wynnamac Sundowners and last year's Pro Cup finalist, the Turon Typhoons... joining the returnees are the surprising Stoner Silver Sox, Hartsdale Hellcats, Valka Blackhawks, La Claire Lynx and Red Bluff Red Sox... for the first time in 12 seasons, missing from the eight IPA elites is super power Rolling Hills... in addition, last year's Pro Cup champion Belair Beach did not survive the cut this year... the Sunbirds fell to the Valka Blackhawks in the Ruthlandian South Division... La Claire prevailed over the mighty Racers in the Tycobbian West Division... the last time Rolling Hills failed to make the playoffs was in 2059.
The crusade for the Holy Grail of Islandian baseball -- the revered Pro Cup Trophy -- begins this Wednesday afternoon at four venues around the Islands... all playoff series will be the best-of-five... the Ruthlandian Union First Round will feature Wynnamac (91-63) traveling to Valmara (97-57) and Stoner (95-59) on the road, tangling with Valka (96-58)... in the Tycobbian Union First Round action it will be Hartsdale (94-60) at home hosting Red Bluff (87-67) and La Claire (92-62) entertaining Turon (91-63)... the Typhoons and Vipers will be seeking their 5th Pro Cup, the Macs their 4th and the Hellcats and Red Sox their 3rd... three of the postseason participants, the Blackhawks, Silver Sox and Lynx, have never won a Pro Cup title in their IPA history.
Wynnamac was the most recent winner... the Sundowners copped the crown in 2070, Valmara claimed it in 2066, Hartsdale last won in 2063, Red Bluff in 2057 and Turon in 2018.
Opening game starters in the Ruthlandian Union will be Sherm Boswell (10-6/3.51 ERA) for Stoner and Priit Laur (16-8/4.04 ERA) for Valka... and Wynnamac will go with Mick Flanders (19-5/2.92 ERA) opposed by Jaromir Kaminski (19-10/3.31 ERA) for Valmara... taking the hill in the Tycobbian Union will be Cookie Culpepper (16-3/2.73 ERA) for Turon and Alton Liddell (14-9/3.22 ERA) for La Claire... toeing the slab for Red Bluff will be Angus McDade (14-10/3.24 ERA) and Jay Jay Earnshaw (16-9/3.78 ERA) for Hartsdale.