Wednesday, April 5, 2073
IPA REVVING TO GO THIS FRIDAY ALL ACROSS THE ISLANDS
Baseball season number 73 is just over the horizon in the Islands... the Islandian Pro Alliance is set to go for another year this Friday afternoon all across Islandia... 64 teams will be toeing the rubber and getting set in the batter's box at diamonds throughout Ruthlandia and Tycobbia.
The word on the coming season from the sportswriters and broadcasters is that it will be more of the same... there are no drastic turnaround teams coming forth this season... the picks of the litter this year looks pretty much like last year's litter... 6 of the 8 teams in the playoffs last year are expected to return this year... all 4 of the pennant winners in the Ruthlandian Union are forecast to be victors again... but that's not the case in the Tycobbian Union where only one division titlist is favored this year... the Pro Cup champion Turon Typhoons should repeat as the TU South champion and defend its title in October... however, the 3 expected winners this year in the TU did finish high up in the standings last year... they are no rising stars coming up over the horizon... no one like the Stoner Silver Sox, who in one season almost gloriously rose from the bottom of their division to the revered heights of the IPA championship.
Last year's Ruthlandian Union flag winners are favored to repeat... Valmara will take the RU North for the 4th year in a row, Valka gets it 2nd straight RU South title, Wynnamac will triumph in the RU East for the 4th successive season and Stoner will repeat in the RU West... however, the scenario is a lot different in the Tycobbian Union... only Pro Cup champion Turon is picked to win again this season... the Typhoons are expected to win the TU South for the 4th consecutive year... the TU North will go to the White River Rascals... and South Fork will prevail in the TU East... but guess who is back in the pennant chase this year?...the Rolling Hills Racers lost the TU West last season for the first time in 12 years... they slipped to the 4th spot in the standings, but now they are back with a newly-revamped lineup... IPA icons Teddy Stonich, Jean-Luc Roubique and Jimmy Brandini have retired... but they still have Hugo Sutton and a group of rock-solid newcomers to keep the torch burning... but don't be too surprised if some of last year's pennant contenders upset some favorite's applecart... teams like Tuckanarra, Bayview, Chicopee, Ranford, Belair Beach, Eastshore, Marston, Sugar Valley and Forest City are waiting in the wings just waiting for someone to stumble and falter.
The Islandian Times IPA Preseason Poll
1. TURON TYPHOONS
2. Valmara Vipers
3. Valka Blackhawks
4. Stoner Silver Sox
5. South Fork Stallions
6. Rolling Hills Racers
7. White River Rascals
8. Wynnamac Sundowners
2073 IPA Pro Cup Forecast
Defending champion Turon will win back-to-back Pro Cups... they also made the Pro Cup Finals in '70 and '71, but were defeated... the Typhoons have the pitching, offense and defense to do it... they will defeat the Valmara Vipers in 6 games for the overall 2073 IPA championship.
IPA clubs have repeated as Pro Cup champions 7 times... the Far Mountain Redhawks did it twice when they won the IPA title 3 years in a row in 2011, 2012 and 2013.