Monday, August 1, 2078
6 GOOD RACES GOING INTO THE FINAL TWO MONTHS OF THE IPA SEASON
6 of the 8 Islandian Pro Alliance divisions are still up in the air... 35 of the 64 teams can still make their postseason and Pro Cup dreams come true by playing some good baseball down-the-stretch in the final two months of the season... the only clubs with a comfortable margin are the Ranford Bulls and the Turon Typhoons... but even they are not in the clear yet... Ranford has a 6 and a half-game lead in the Ruthlandian North and Turon is 9 games ahead in the Tycobbian South... the Bulls are fending off the Valmara Vipers and last year's winner, the Kilkenny Cats, while the Typhoons will try to stave off the Southport Sun Sox and the Summerland Sunsets and chalk up their 7th TU South flag in the last 9 seasons... Ranford has contended well for the last 4 years... they won the RU North in 2075.
5 clubs are in a dogfight in the Ruthlandian South race... Belair Beach is being highly-pressured by last year's winner, the Valka Blackhawks, just one-half game behind... Crystal Lake trails by just 2 and a half games... Grand City is only 5 and a half out... and St. John is 5th and just 6 games off the pace.
The Marston Nine is trying to nail down their 5th pennant in 13 years in the Ruthlandian East... Eastshore and Wynnamac have the best shot at them, one game behind... Sugar Valley is 5 and a half games behind the Nine... Belle Plaine and Cold Creek could still get into the tangle... last year's champ Elnora is not looking so good in the 7th spot in the standings, 10 and a half games off the pace.
6 teams are still in the chase in the Ruthlandian West... Sligo has its hands full with preseason favorite Forest City and Rocky Rapids... they are only 2 and a half-game back... Middlefield, just 3 GB... Fort Benton, last year's winner is in the 5th spot in the standings, but just 3 and a half games out... 6th place Stoner is 4 and a half games behind and still a strong contender.
6 clubs are going at it in the Tycobbian North... only 5 games separate them... White River is one game up on Hartsdale, last year's flag winner... followed snugly by Blue Lake (2 GB), North Hills (3 GB), Luxora (3 1/2 GB) and Oxford (5 GB).
This year's Pro Cup favorite Turon is looking fine in the Tycobbian South, in front by 9 games in August... it is doubtful Southport and Summerland can catch them.
Looking great in their new Blue Jay uniforms, Tuckanarra is playing like the good old days, but is being pressured by a big bunch of challengers, including the reigning Pro Cup champion South Fork Stallions, just 2 and a half games out... Ozarka is 3 and a half games behind... High Mesa and Hillsboro are close by, too, just 4 games off the pace... Red Bluff could easily win the race in the last two months of the season... plenty of time to make up 5 games.
The best in the Tycobbian West at this time is the Bayview Vikings, but not by much... 2 good clubs are clinging close by... preseason choice Denton City is just a game out of first place... defending divison champ Kenwood is also right on their heels, 3 and a half-games behind... even Rollings Hills (7 GB), Chicopee (8 GB) and La Claire (9 GB) can't be eliminated just yet with 50 games left to play.
2078 Ruthlandian Union August 1st Standings
2078 Tycobbian Union August 1st Standings
