Friday, October 24, 2081
ROLLING HILLS ROLLING IN PRO CUP SERIES; ON THE VERGE OF 10TH PRO CUP TROPHY
The Rolling Hills Racers took command of the 2081 IPA Pro Cup Series with the Crystal Lake Skippers as Elvis Hutton spun a 4-0 gem in game four On his home diamond giving them a huge 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series. Hutton held the Skippers to just 6 hits, winding up with 7 Ks and 3 walks. It was his 3rd victory this postseason. Hutton is unbeaten in his 3 starts and has posted a 2.70 ERA. One more win and the Racers will capture their IPA-leading 10th Pro Cup Trophy. Crystal Lake has a very steep hill to climb, the Skippers must win all 3 remaining games to win the IPA crown. The odds are strongly stacked against them. It has happened only two times in the Pro Cup Finals. After falling behind three games to one in the 2011 Pro Cup Finals, the Far Mountain Redhawks triumphed over the Ozarka Naturals and in 2014 the Kenwood Wildcats came back and defeated the Belair Beach Sunbirds.
Both Hutton and Crystal Lake's Augie Augustus tossed complete games. Augustus (1-2/3.69 ERA) gave up 4 runs on 10 hits. He was done in by Clifford Stratton's 2-run shot in the opening inning and by Pete Palazzi's 2-run double in the 6th frame. Stratton (.339) went 3 for 4 in the game, while Palazzi (.304) was 2 for 3.
Only left fielder Jake Osborne (.394) had a good game at the plate for the Skippers, but he got no help from the others in the lineup. Osborne got half of the 6 hits off Hutton. He got 3 hits in 4 plate appearances.
Lloyd Mason (14-11/3.63 ERA) will try to keep Crystal Lake alive in the series in game five. Ivan Malek (14-12/3.85 ERA) will start for Rolling Hills. Game five will also be played at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds in Rolling Hills. Malek is 1-2 in the playoffs with a strong 2.81 ERA in his 3 starting assignments, while Mason is 3-0 in 4 starts with a superb 2.14 ERA. Malek lost the first game of the series 3-2 to the Skippers. Mason pitched well in the second game won by the Racers 4-3, but did not get the loss.
