Wednesday, September 1, 2083
PENNANT RACES LOOKING GOOD FOR EAST POINT AND COLCHESTER, OTHER 6 UP FOR GRABS
A couple of clubs in the Tycobbian Union have solid leads heading into the the last month of the regular season. Colchester and East Point are up by 9 and 8 games in their respective divisions. The Elites are playing well going into September with no major challenger in sight. However, East Point has leveled off in August with a 14-14 mark. Running second to the Panthers is blistering-hot Ozarka. The Naturals haven't written off the year just yet. They were 18-8 last month. But the Nats have a lot of games to win to catch up to East Point. In the other 6 divisions there's no telling who will win out. A great ending is looming this season in the Islandian Pro Alliance.
Ruthlandian Union
REDHAWKS SWOOP INTO TOP SPOT IN RU NORTH
Since midseason the hottest team going in the Ruthlandian North has been the Far Mountain Redhawks. They have leaped from 5th place to the top spot, passing up Taranto, Ancona, Kilkenny and LaGrange. Since July first the Redhawks have played at a scalding pace with a 35-17 mark. But Far Mountain still has a fight on its hands. Taranto is just 2 and a half games behind, Ancona 3 games out and Kilkenny trails by just 3 and a half games. The pennant race is far from over. Even LaGrange still has a remote chance, 6 GB. Most people say it will come down to the Redhawks and the Tars.
SUNBIRDS AND BLACKHAWKS BATTLE DOWN TO THE WIRE IN RU SOUTH
It's just a two-team affair in the Ruthlandian South, but it's a hullabalooza between Belair Beach and Valka. The Sunbirds are in the lead by a narrow margin over the Blackhawks by just one and one-half games. Both clubs are playing at a torrid pace. Belair Beach is 31-21 the last two months, the Blackhawks are even better at 34-18. Defending champion Crystal Lake had a bad June (12-15) and fell double-digits behind. The Skippers are no longer a factor in the race. It is going to be nip-and-tuck photo-finish in September in the Ruthlandian South.
NAILBITER IN RU EAST, MACS MOST LIKELY WINNER
5 teams are going at it hot-and-heavy in the Ruthlandian East race. Eastshore, Marston and last year's division champion Elnora were doing quite well until August. They stumbled badly in the month and slipped back into the standings behind first place Wynnamac and runner-up Sugar Valley, who surged ahead last month. Heading in the wrong direction, the Cotton Kings were 10-17, the Nine 9-18 and the Clippers 10-17, while the Macs were 18-9 and the Rattlers 17-10 and going in the right direction. Going into September Wynnamac has a 3-game edge on Sugar Valley, 4 better than Eastshore, 6 and a half ahead of Elnora and 7 games in front of Marston. Most of the prognosticators are saying the Sundowners will win a nailbiter from the Rattlers.
4-TEAM FEUD IN RU WEST BETWEEN V'S, ROOSTERS, SOX AND ROVERS: VIGILANTES AND MIDDIES FAVORED
The battle is still raging in the Ruthlandian West with all of the challengers playing good baseball at the start of September. The baseball analysts favor first place Volusia and second place Middlefield to win it this year, but third place Colfax and fourth place Sligo will be in the mix, too. The Rovers were the preseason favorite. Last year's winner Forest City is no threat, having flopped to 6th place this season. The RU West is anybody's to win this year. The team that gets hot will win it.
Tycobbian Union
Z'S MAKING HELLCATS SWEAT IN TU NORTH
Hold on!
There's still a fight for the pennant in the Tycobbian North. After a poor start the Luxora Zorros have wily gotten back into the race. Basically, it is down to defending champ Hartsdale and second place Luxora. The two teams are very similar with solid scoring, good power and fine pitching. The Hellcats have claimed 5 of the last 11 flags, while the poor Z's have not made the playoffs since 2058. The baseball media say its a toss-up. Toss a coin and take your pick. It is that close. Though they are playing well, third-place Mahaska is not likely to make up 8 and a half games in the last month of the season and overtake the Hellcats and Zorros.
ELITES ALMOST HOME FREE IN TU SOUTH; COLCHESTER'S FIRST PLAYOFF IN 46 YEARS
Yeah, buddy, times are really getting excited in Colchester as the Elites close in on its first Tycobbian South division crown since 2036. The Elites took over the top spot in the standings on April 15 and have held first place the rest of the time. Colchester has not had a losing month this year and seems to be cruising to the TU South title. Second place Summerland trails by 8 games going into the final month of the season. The Sunsets don't appear to pose an immediate threat to the Elites.
DITTO FOR PANTHERS; EAST POINT WAY AHEAD IN TU EAST
The East Point Panthers have had a long run in first place in the Tycobbian East this year. They have been on top since June first. The Panthers paced the division by 11 games on August 1st and look like a runaway winner after posting an impressive 20-7 mark in July. East Point still possesses an 8-game edge over runner-up Ozarka, heading into September. It would take a pretty bad month for the Panthers and a great month for the Naturals to overtake them. Nope. Not likely to occur.
RACERS OUTLAST VIKINGS IN TU WEST; KENWOOD WON'T REPEAT AS PRO CUP CHAMP
In the Tycobbian West preseason poll Rolling Hills was favored to outdo last year's division winner and Pro Cup champion Kenwood Wildcats and the Denton City Redbirds in a close race with the Bayview Vikings back in the fourth spot in the standings. Nope, it hasn't transpired just like that. At the start of September Rolling Hills is the top team with a 3 and a half-game margin over second place Bayview. A distant third is the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers, 7 and a half games off the pace. Denton City and Kenwood have faded out of the pennant picture. A lousy June (8-20) wrecked the Bucs good season. The Racers have done well each month this year. Most of the second half of the season the Vikings have been just a .500 club. Yet, they are just 3 and a half-game out of first place. Bayview is a power-laded club. Rolling Hills is one of the top-scoring teams. It could be close - give the Racers the advantage in the long run. Pro Cup titlist Kenwood only had one good month this year. They made a run in June with a 20-7 record, but soon thereafter dropped back with a disappointing second half.
2083 Ruthlandian Union Standings In September
