Thursday, July 1 2083
Tycobbian Union
HARTSDALE HEALTHY AND WELL IN TU NORTH, PRO CUP POTENTIAL
Hartsdale couldn't be much happier. Sure the Hellcats would like to have double their midyear edge in the Tycobbian North over 2nd place Luxora, 3rd place Mahaska and 4th place
White River. That way they could coast to the division title and get ready for the playoffs. Hartsdale is rolling right along and on schedule to win the pennant by 10 games or more.
The Hellcats were one of the best clubs in the IPA playoffs last year. They could have easily copped the Pro Cup if they hadn't run into a red-hot playoff team, last year's Pro Cup
champion Kenwood Wildcats. Hartsdale is still a potent power. They are not likely to blow their lead in the second half of the year. The Hellcats are serious candidates for the whole
shebang this season - first the TU North title - then the Pro Cup crown.
HURRICANES HIGH-POWERED ATTACK NEEDS A LITTLE PITCHING HELP FOR 3RD TU SOUTH IN A ROW
Yeah, buddy, just like last year the Cape Coral Hurricanes just might look like a mild tropical storm halfway through the season, but they might eventually be a full-blown hurricane
and live up to their name again. They turned up the heat last year in a second-half surge and swept past 4 other challengers in September. According to this year's preseason
forecasters the 'Canes would be powerful again and triumph in the Tycobbian South, beating out the Ginja Ninjas and Turon Typhoons in another donnybrook. Cape Coral got
out of the gate poorly, but it has turned it around in the last two months. They are looking like the Hurricanes of old. In this year's pennant hunt the 'Canes will be dealing with two
lesser lights in the Colchester Elites and Summerland Sunsets, two rare pennant winners, plus the powerhouse Turon Typhoons with 29 pennants and 6 Pro Cups. Turon is terribly
hungry for a pennant. It's been 3 long years since they last won the TU South and even longer - 4 years - since they won the Pro Cup. Cape Coral has quite a task this year. Colchester
is in the top spot, a big 7 and a half games in front of them. Summerland is sitting pretty in second place, 4 and a half games back with Turon in the third spot, trailing the Elites by
5 and a half games. The Hurricanes better get started quicker this year. Yep, the 'Canes better get going soon. Cape Coal can still win their third consecutive TU South. The Hurricanes
are the number-one hitting and scoring team in the IPA. All they need is just a few good pitchers to sorta hold the other team down. They think they have them.
GUESS WHO'S BACK IN TU EAST? POOR LITTLE OLE PANTHERS AGAIN
The long-suffering East Point Panthers, until recently one of the absolute dregs of Islandian Pro Alliance franchises in history. From '58 to '80 the pathetic Panthers never had a winning
season, much less a division flag. Since then East Point has won two pennants and ran a fine race last year but lost out by 3 games in 3rd place. They lost the favor of the sport page
scribblers and were picked to wind up a paltry 5th in the pennant race. Surprise! Surprise! East Point is nestled in first place at midseason with a 5 and a half-game edge over the unlikely
High Mesa Buckaroos, who came in out of the blue to make a race of it - at least to midyear. Midway is third and 8 and a half games behind the Panthers. Two of last year's challengers,
Ozarka and South Fork, are 11 GB. The Naturals are the defending TU East champion and the Stallions were picked to nab the title this year. East Point looks solid again this year. Very
good pitching and good enough scoring to get the job done. Thank goodness, the two main rivals South Fork and Ozarka are way back this year. Midway could be dangerous with its good
pitching staff. High Mesa can hit, but it will fall back because of its mediocre mound staff.
WHO THE BEST IN THE TU WEST? MAYBE KENWOOD OR ROLLING HILLS?
Yeah, buddy. There is a good old-fashioned pennant chase in the IPA. 5 clubs are swinging clubs and hurling missiles at each other in order to claim the Tycobbian West title. Right now
the Bayview Vikings are getting the best of it with a 2 and a half-game margin over the 2nd place Rolling Hills Racers. The baseball sportswriters and broadcasters named the Racers the
potential best in the west this season. This is a tough division. Last year's Pro Cup titlist Kenwood is in 3rd place just 4 games off the pace and you know they know how to win. That
same bunch is back, along with the club that ran 2nd last year, the Denton City Redbirds. You can also include a pretty good team, the Arlon Champions, too. They hit the ball with the
best of them and have decent pitching, too. Get you self set. It's going to be a photo-flash finish in the TU West this year. Mostly likely, the Wildcats. Maybe the Racers. Bayview hasn't
won the pennant since 2018. That's why they won't win. The Vikings have never won a Pro Cup either. However, the Viks can blister the baseball. Now all they need is some good pitching
in the second half of the season. That could make me eat my words.
2083 Tycobbian Union Midseason Standings
