Wednesday, October 14, 2076
IPA TITLE SERIES: MACS FAVORED OVER SILVER SOX IN RU... MONTIES PICKED OVER RACERS IN TU
The glorious end is in sight... the prized and hallowed Islandian Pro Cup Trophy is there for the taking... just win two more series and it is yours... yep, that is your mission... just win two best-of-seven series and your team will be celebrated throughout the Islands as the best-of-the-best in IPA baseball.
The Islandian Pro Alliance has worked itself down the the final four teams... it's time for the Ruthlandian Union and the Tycobbian Title Series... the semi-final round... the Stoner Silver Sox and Wynnamac Sundowners will tangle for the RU crown, while the defending Pro Cup champion Rolling Hills Racers will take on the San Alejo Montaneros for the TU title... it all begins this Saturday afternoon.
Wynnamac and San Alejo had better season marks than Stoner and Rolling Hills and will have the homefield advantage... the Macs will host the Silver Sox in the first two games of the best-of-seven series at Granger Field, while the Montaneros will welcome the Racers to the Casa de Beisbol.
In the Pro Cup poll Wynnamac is this year's choice to win it all... San Alejo is ranked #2, Rolling Hills #4 and Stoner comes in at the 6th spot... in first-round Ruthlandian action the Macs eliminated #7 Glasco in 6 games and the Silver Sox knocked out #5 Valka in 6 games... while the Monties were beating #8 Mahaska in 5 games and the Racers upended #3 Tuckanarra in a torrid 7-game battle royal.
Wynnamac looks like a powerhouse this season... they fairly easily handled the Glasco Foxhounds... the Sundowners can sock the old horsehide and they have a very capable pitching staff, starters and bullpen... the Macs did everything well in round one... they hit .302, outscored Glasco 31-15 and shut down the Foxhounds' bats... they batted only .228 in the series... Wynnamac's staff posted an impressiive 2.25 ERA... Glasco had a 4.94 ERA... however, Stoner is no slouch... they have no power, but they peppered the ball for a .290 BA and stole 12 bases in beating slightly favored Valka... the Silver Sox pitched well with a 2.75 ERA to 3.83 ERA for the Blackhawks... keep in mind that Stoner has been to the postseason 3 times in the last 4 years... still the Macs should win in 6 games.
San Alejo is a very well-rounded club, too... rock-solid hitters, fine starters and a quality bullpen... they took care of the Mahaska Haymakers in a quick 5-game affair... Rolling Hills is the current IPA champ, but they might have trouble with the Montaneros' capable mound corps... in addition the San Alejo hitters should handle the mediocre pitching of the Racers... on paper it looks one-sided... take the Monties in 5 games... the Montaneros dominated Mahaska with a .299 BA, outscored them 27-15 and compiled an excellent 2.49 ERA to the Haymakers' sky-high 5.28 ERA, while Rolling Hills batted just .238 against a good Tuckanarra staff... the Tucks hit .285 against the Racers... but give the Racers some credit, they beat a sound Tiger Cats team, outscored them 35-27 and outpitched them with a 3.86 ERA to 4.16 ERA for the Tucks... also keep in mind Rolling Hills is the reigning Pro Cup champion... the Racers won "ugly" in the first round against a pretty good Tuckanarra team... Rolling Hills has been known to just outhit and outscore its opponents in many playoff series in the last 15 years... who needs good pitching?... the Racers won the final two games against the Tucks by hammering them 10-4 and 10-6... 'nuff said... Rolling Hills made a good point.