Friday, April 2, 2083
ONLY 3 REPEATERS IN 2083 IPA PRESEASON POLL; IPA KING KENWOOD NOT AMONG THEM
It is mighty tough to repeat as the IPA Pro Cup champion. The greatest achievement so far in the annals of the league's 82 seasons was by the Far Mountain Redhawks, who reigned supreme three years in a row, winning three Pro Cups from 2011 to 2013. Three other clubs have managed to win back-to-back titles: Eastshore (2016, 2017), Tuckanarra (2023, 2024) and Valmara (2049, 2050).
Sentiment this year among the baseball pundits is that the tradition will continue. Last year's Pro Cup champion Kenwood will lose out in a close race with perennial powerhouse Rolling Hills in the Tycobbian West.
As usual every spring, hope springs eternal.
This is the year again for all 64 Islandian Pro Alliance franchises!
Yeah, buddy, but only in your dreams. They are all in first place on the first day of the season. But that number drops drastically on the second day of the season to just 32 teams. And it gets progressively worse as the days go by.
GATORS FEAST AGAIN IN RU NORTH REPEAT
Here is the way the new season will pan out around the Islandian Pro Alliance. The LaGrange Gators will take the Ruthlandian North for the third season in a row. And the Gators will do in in grand style by 15 games. Ancona, Far Mountain, Ranford and Valmara will be battling for second place far back in LaGrange's rear-view mirror.
BATTLE OF THE BIRDS IN RU SOUTH BETWEEN BLACKHAWKS AND SUNBIRDS; SKIPPERS DISTANT 3RD
Not much of a race is forecast for the Ruthlandian South where the Valka Blackhawks are predicted to whip the Belair Beach Sunbirds by 6 games. The division champ for the last four years and last year's Pro Cup finalist, Crystal Lake is expected to wallow 11 games back and tumble down to third place. The rest of the lot will have losing records.
MACS ARE BACK IN RU EAST AGAIN
The baseball pickers and prognosticators are going back to the tried-and-true Wynnamac Sundowners. The Macs are their choice in the Ruthlandian East by a big margin over last year's winner Elnora. The Clippers will wind up at least 10 or more game behind and end up in second place. Sugar Valley and Eastshore will have winning records, but they will finish 20 or more games back in third and fourth places. Wynnamac has not has a losing season since 2041 and has wound up in first place 18 times. Even the bad years are good for the Macs.
SLIGO AND COLFAX BEST IN THE RU WEST; FORT BENTON AND FOREST CITY WILL CONTEND, TOO
The Forest City Firebirds run in the Ruthlandian West will be short-lived according to those "baseball folks in the know". However, they do expect a pretty good 4-team pennant race. The Sligo Rovers will win a photo-finish with second place Colfax. The Rovers have won 3 of the last 8 years. Fort Benton still has a good club and will be a close third. The Cannons have nabbed the division flag three of the previous 6 seasons. Forest City will come in a distant fourth place.
HARTSDALE TO DOMINATE TU NORTH AGAIN
The hard-hitting Hartsdale Hellcats will repeat in the Tycobbian North again this year. The Hellcats have snared the division title 5 times in the last 11 years. And Hartsdale will win the division quite handily - most likely by double-digit numbers - just like they did last season. Mahaska, Oxford, White River and Fairfax will contend for second-place honors. Everybody else in the TU North will be under .500 this year.
HURRICANES TO BLOW BY NINJAS AND TYPHOONS IN TU SOUTH IN 3-TEAM TANGLE
For the third successive season the Cape Coral Hurricanes will rule the roost in the Tycobbian South Division, but it won't be easy. Rivals Ginza and Turon will take them to task again this year. The Ninjas and Typhoons have better pitching than the 'Canes, but they are not quite as potent at the plate. Ginza will be tougher to beat, but Turon could be challenge, too. Just like last year it should be a very good race in the TU South.
SF STALLIONS COMING ON STRONG IN TU EAST
Vastly-improved South Fork almost won the Tycobbian East last season with a strong second-half run, but the Stallions came up 3 games short to the pennant-winning Ozarka Naturals. The Stallions are ready to run a better race this year and they are the preseason favorite by a comfortable margin over runner-up Midway. Defending champ Ozarka is forecast to fall to a distant third place this year. It will be a two-team affair between the Stallions and the Wolves. All of the other clubs will pretty much post losing records this season.
ROLLING HILLS WILL RACE OFF WITH THE TU WEST IN A CLOSE RACE
Look for a fan-pleasing lollapoloosa in the Tycobbian West this season. It will be a 5-team firefight which will finally be won by the always dangerous Rolling Hills Racers, who will skim past defending Pro Cup champion and current division champion Kenwood in a torrid battle. Denton City will be in it, too, along with the Bayview Vikings. The Arlon Champions could be in the fracas, too. It was just a two-team tussle last year between Kenwood and Denton City. Not so, this year. A bunch of ballclubs will be in the mix.
