Saturday, October 17, 2082
#1 CRYSTAL LAKE HOSTS #7 KENWOOD IN IPA PRO CUP FINALS
A close look at the combatants in the best-of-seven Islandian Pro Cup Series reveals the superiorty of the Ruthlandian Union champion, the Crystal Lake Skippers over the Tycobbian Union titleholder, the Kenwood Wildcats. The baseball scribes, crystal ballers and prophets are all in agreement that the Skippers are the team to beat, but they do have one reservation. The Wildcats are on a roll. To reach the Pro Cup Finals they have beaten two pretty good teams, #4 Ozarka and #3 Hartsdale. Crystal Lake had the easier task in getting by #6 LaGrange and #8 Elnora. Should Kenwood keep hitting the ball the way they have so far in the postseason, they will pose a problem for the Skippers.
Both clubs are missing valuable starters in the final round. Kenwood's Gordy Francis (16-9/3.34 ERA) was injured in the Hartsdale series and Crystal Lake's Elton Zahn (14-6/3.34) has missed the entire postseason and is not likely to be back in time to help out in the Pro Cup Series. Francis has been the Wildcats most effective starter in this year's playoffs. He will be sorely missed. In three starts he is 0-0 record-wise with a strong 0.75 ERA in 12 innings.
The Skippers' strength is in its starting rotation. Lloyd Mason (16-7/2.83 ERA) and Earl Noland (15-6/3.00 ERA) gives them a strong 1-2 punch. Mason has stood out with a 3-0 mark in the postseason with a 2.64 ERA in his 4 starts, while Noland is 2-1 in 3 starts with a 2.70 ERA. Andre Hurst (5-1/3.13 ERA) and Maya Mayakovski (2-1/2.21 ERA) will be in the rotation for the Skippers.
The Wildcats will depend on Casey Shipp (10-9/3.15 ERA), Jim Singer (19-5/3.47 ERA) and Billy Batton (15-14/3.49 ERA) as their primary starters with help from Jordi Thornberry (6-11/3.87 ERA). Shipp has been the best in the postseason with a 2-1 record and a sparkling 1.78 ERA in 3 starting assigments. Batton has stood out with a 1-0 mark and a flawless 12 shutout innings in 3 appearances and 2 starts. The other two have been adequate.
Crystal Lake's attack is led by 3-time batting champion Jake Osborne (.352 BA/16 HR/86 RBI), Cookie Garland (.302 BA/26 HR/102 RBI), Gino Lorenzetti (.306 BA/16 HR/76 RBI) and Culver Jensen (.297 BA/19 HR/60 RBI). These four have to provide the bulk of the scoring. The rest of the batting order is fairly anemic.
Kenwood has a solid bat in each slot of the lineup, sparked by Kenny Sergeant (.294 BA/29 HR/112 RBI), Johnny Davidson (.314 BA/5 HR/73 RBI) and Ardell Armstrong (.286 BA/59 RBI) during the regular season. Everybody is hot in the playoffs. That's why the Wildcats are so dangerous. Ozarka and Hartsdale certainly are well-acquainted with the boys from Kenwood. Just ask managers Glen Jenkins and Hugo Sutton who they are picking in the Pro Cup Series.
Crystal Lake skipper Pat Dillon said his club must cool off the Kenwood bats to win the Pro Cup. Wildcat manager Rusty Bradford stated his pitching staff will be the key.
2082 IPA Pro Cup Series Outlook:
The superior Crystal Lake pitching corps will lead them to the Pro Cup championship in 6 games. The Skippers' offense will be able to put enough runs on the scoreboard, too. Crystal Lake is a solid, good-around ball club. It will be Crystal Lake's 5th Pro Cup Trophy. Kenwood possesses only one. The Skippers were IPA champions in 2020, 2022, 2058 and 2074. The Wildcats only Pro Cup crown came in 2014.