Tuesday, October 31, 2084
BB SUNBIRDS ALL AGLOW WITH 2ND PRO CUP
The Belair Beach Sunbirds are basking in the glorious sunshine of their second Pro Cup trophy. The Sunbirds took care of the Rolling Hills Racers in six games, winning the
Pro Cup Series four games to two. Led by some fine pitching by starters Delmer Keel and Gardiner Palmquist, the Sunbirds proved to be the best team in the Islands this year.
A proud skipper, Brock Josephson, was overjoyed with his championship-winning club. "There's nothing like winning the Pro Cup... and can you believe it, this is the second time
we did it together?" The Sunbirds and Josephson also won it back in 2071. Manager Josephson and veteran second baseman Evan Murdock were part of the first Pro Cup
in Belair Beach history. Murdock was just 21 years old and in his second season with the Sunbirds. Josephson was in his 6th season at the helm of the team.
Losing Rolling Hills manager Hugo Sutton, who already has won two Pro Cups in his 8 years in charge, told the press, "I know it is a woulda, shoulda, coulda, but we had a
good shot at winning the Pro Cup. We could have easily won games five and six and be Pro Cup champion. The honest truth is we didn't do it and the Sunbirds did. You have
to give them credit. Hats off to them, they came through when the game was on the line."
Starter Gardiner Palmquist went the distance for the victory. He also cracked 3 hits, scored twice and batted in a run. IPA RBI leader Bruno Lutz
and Dutch van Donk drove in 2 runs apiece. Lutz topped the IPA with 144 ribbies this year and 149 last season. Yiannis Kostakos clubbed a
2-run homer and Bruno Lutz singled in a run to top the Sunbirds at the plate.
In the second game Yianni Kostakos and Bruno Lutz again provided the offense for the Sunbirds. Kostakos knocked a 2-run shot out of the
park in the 4th frame and Lutz plated another one in the 6th. Ivan Malek lost it for the Racers, yielding 3 runs and 5 hits in his 5 innings.
In the third game Skeets Kazlauskas stood out on the hill, holding Belair Beach to just 2 scores with 8 strikeouts and 4 walks. He fired a complete
game to get the Racers back into the series. They are down two games to one.
In game four Belair Beach had a decided edge in hits 12 to 4, but the Sunbirds stranded 12 baserunners. Poor Jim Brockington only gave up
1 run and 2 hits in 6 and two-thirds innings. He exited with a 2-1 lead, but Georgie Adams lost it when Rolling Hills banged him around for 2
runs in the bottom of the 8th.