Tuesday, November 7, 2029
TYPHOONS CHOICE TO REPEAT IN 2079 IPA PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
November is the most popular month of all the Islandians... it's that cherished time of the IPA Pro Cup playoffs, which begin this Tuesday afternoon... 8 division winners will
clash for the overall supremacy in Island baseball -- the much-coveted IPA Pro Cup Trophy.
Defending Islandian Pro Alliance champion Turon is a solid choice to repeat this season in the 2079 Pro Cup playoffs... the Typhoons had another great year, running up
101 victories to easily capture their 8th TU South flag in the last 10 years... Turon toppled Kilkenny in 5 games last year to nab their 6th Pro Cup Trophy... the Cats wound up
third this year in the RU North to the Valmara Vipers... the Typhoons are second to the Rolling Hills Racers for the most IPA crowns... the Racers have copped 8 overall.
The Island baseball scribes, pundits and broadcasters have made Turon the standout Pro Cup favorite, citing that they can run, hit, hurl and play defense with the best of them.
Valmara is the most likely winner in the Ruthlandian Union and is ranked number two in the Pro Cup Poll by The Island Times... none of the Pro Cup challengers appear to be
on the level of the Turon Typhoons.
Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Poll
1. TURON TYPHOONS (101-53)... they can do it all... most talented team in the IPA.
2. Valmara Vipers (91-63)... good offense, good pitching, good speed, good defense... may be short of home-run power.
3. Crystal Lake Skippers (92-62)... has good power, good contact hitting, scores very well, fairly good pitching... not so good on defense.
4. Elnora Clippers (87-67)... solid starters and bullpen... can score runs... hits for average... not much HR-power... mediocre defense.
5. Rolling Hills Racers (89-65)... high-octane attack that puts a lot of runs on the scoreboard, but lacks HR-power... mediocre pitching... poor defense... not a good combination
to win a Pro Cup.
6. Fort Benton Cannons (89-65)... offensive-minded, can score, but no power at the plate... just average pitching staff... with fine defense.
7. Mahaska Haymakers (87-70)... pretty much just an average team in all aspects.
8. Red Bluff Red Sox (82-72)... not a lot on the hill... nor at the plate... poor defense... not an impressive team at all.
In the Ruthlandian Union the Valmara Vipers will host the Fort Benton Cannons in the first game of a best-of-seven series... Crystal Lake will entertain the Elnora Clippers in the
other first-round Ruthlandian Series... over in the Tycobbian Union Turon will open up at home against the Red Bluff Red Sox... in the other series Mahaska will travel to Rolling Hills.
Ruthlandian Union First Round, Game 1
Fort Benton at Valmara
Nick Banfield (15-11/3.47 ERA) vs Milosz Mazur (13-13/3.53 ERA)
Elnora at Crystal Lake
Davis Hickerson (19-8/2.50 ERA) vs Bret Lynch (12-8/3.09 ERA)
Tycobbian Union First Round, Game 1
Red Bluff at Turon
Ernie McNamee (12-7/2.76 ERA) vs. Clete Engstrom (18-3/ 2.60 ERA)
Mahaska at Rolling Hills
Stacy Grimmer (9-9/4.77 ERA) vs Trent Sparks (0-0/0.00 ERA)