LAGRANGE MAKES PLAYOFF; 3 OTHER RACES IN A PHOTO-FINISH DOWN TO THE VERY LAST GAME OF THE SEASON
It's the last day of the season, game number 154 and 3 of the Islandian Pro Alliance divisions have not yet been decided. Islandia is a baseball fans' Paradise today. Get ready for one, two or maybe 3 sudden-death playoff games. Let's take a gander at what happened yesterday in the IPA.
Ruthlandian Union Photo-Finish Review
Yes, the LaGrange Gators are the flag winner in the Ruthlandian North, but they didn't win it, Taranto lost it. LaGrange fell for the 4th game in a row, when they could have won it almost a week ago. The Gators were humbled by Far Mountain 6-2. Ned McIntyre (11-15/3.58 ERA) restricted them to just 4 hits and Bradley Scott (.252 BA/15 HR/68 RBI) swatted a pair of homers and drove in 3 runs. Sonny James (14-10/3.49 ERA) couldn't keep the Redhawks off the scoreboard. They slapped him for 5 runs in 7 innings. LaGrange has been dismal both at the plate and on the mound. The Gators are 2-9 in the last 11 games. That is certainly not a good way to head into the Pro Cup playoffs.
The Taranto Tars tried hard this week, but they had the misfortune to run into Kim Madison (9-10/3.62 ERA) of the Ranford Bulls, who shut them down 5-2 and ended Taranto division-title hopes. He went all the way into the 9th frame before he need relief. Madison only permitted 4 hits, fanned 5 and walked one in a sharp outing. Leading 2-1 in the top of the 8th, the Bulls got to losing pitcher Vinny Arcaro (14-8/3.40 ERA) for 3 more runs. Arcaro worked 8 innings and allowed 5 runs on 10 hits. He also walked 5 batters. Taranto really made LaGrange sweat down-the-stretch. It was an exciting week for the Tars, but not quite so good for the Gators.
2084 Pro Cup champion Belair Beach claimed the Ruthlandian South crown Tuesday and enjoyed the last few days of the season without any undue pressure. This was the third year in a row the Sunbirds copped the pennant. They are now preparing for the IPA Pro Cup playoffs with hopes of repeating as the overall league champion. Look for the Sunbirds to be a force again in the postseason.
The Eastshore Cotton Kings had to sweat out the final days of the season playing its main rival, Wynnamac. It was touch-and-go for them. However, the Cotton Kings rose to the occasion Friday afternoon and won the Ruthlandian East by taking the first game of the series 7-6 at home. Yesterday the Macs got a some satisfaction with a 14-2 rout in game two, but that was too little, too late. The best they can do is second place. The Sundowners will again sit the playoffs out this season.
The Colfax Black Sox wrapped up their first Ruthlandian West title since 2065 two days ago, personally eliminating their main nemesis the Forest City Firebirds in a classic 12-inning battle. In game two the Black Sox rode the fine pitching of Julian Cervantez (7-3/3.45 ERA) and a 4-run first frame for a 5-2 triumph. Bernie Yarbrough (.264 BA/16 HR/54 RBI) and Blinky Zelinsky (.218 BA/1 HR/51 RBI) provided 2 ribbies each in the win. Ben Watkins (.246 BA/5 HR/23 RBI) went deep for Colfax.
Tycobbian Union Photo-Finish Review
The Hartsdale Hellcats won their fourth consecutive Tycobbian North crown early this week. Pesky Mahaska pestered them all year long, but the Hellcats finally prevail. Hartsdale will be a big factor in the IPA postseason. The Hellcats are one of the best all-around clubs in the IPA. They will test the other favored teams like defending IPA champ Belair Beach, Eastshore and Colfax. Chicopee, Bayview and High Mesa and Hillsboro should do well, too, but first, they have to win their divisions.
In the Tycobbian South race, runner-up Turon stayed alive by blasting first place San Alejo 10-3 yesterday afternoon at the Casa de Beisbol in the second game of the three-game series in the final days of the regular season. The Typhoons must win today's game to force a playoff for the division flag tomorrow. It was the Montaneros fourth defeat in the last five games. It was Turon's only victory in the last five games. So far, they have split the series, each with a win. San Alejo was victorious in the opener 5-2. Neither club appears to have much of a chance in the IPA playoffs. They have good pitching, but little in the way of offense.
With just one game to go, the High Mesa Buckaroos and the Hillsboro Blazers are still tied for the top spot in the Tycobbian East standings. Both of them took it on the chins yesterday. Buckaroo ace Allie Tuthill, the IPA leader in victories and ERA, pitched his heart out, but lost 1-0 to South Fork and Dolf Kessler (3-4/3.51 ERA), who was superb, stopping them on just 4 hits. Tuthill (21-5/1.84 ERA) went the distance, too, stuck out 8 batters, walked 4 and gave up 5 hits. Rupert Kruger (.304 BA/12 HR/59 RBI) won the game in the bottom of the 9th with a walk-off two-bagger.
Hillsboro also lost a tense showdown in the last of the 9th frame to the East Point Panthers 3-2 on a game-winning double by pinch hitter Rod Rheams (.185 BA/4 HR/23 RBI). 37-year-old Jalen Abercrombie (13-10/2.67 ERA) hurled a splendid game for the win, just barely beating 37-year-old Clancy Mahaffey (14-8/3.01 ERA) in stirring duel.
It's the same scenario in the TU West between first place Chicopee and second place Bayview. The Braves crushed the Vikings 11-3 yesterday to go ahead by one game. Chicopee really needed the win. They are just just 2 and 4 in this critical week, while Bayview has been sizzling hot with a 6-1 mark. The Braves snapped the Vikings 6-game winning string. Chicopee rang up 17 hits in the debacle and got a solid performance from Kevin Shatner (13-9/2.88 ERA). The Braves' top bats were David Glascock (.241 BA/15 HR/42 RBI) and Yuri Karelsky (.260 BA/14 HR/67 RBI) with 3 hits apiece. Red Lilly (.337 BA/7 HR/81 RBI), Junior Andrews (.336 BA/2 HR/24 RBI), Kendall Kiley (.240 BA/9 HR/50 RBI) and Jake Smithers (.154 BA/10 RBI) all socked a pair of hits and batted in a pair of scores. Glascock was the only one to go deep. Shatner twirled a complete game, holding the Viks to 3 runs on 8 hits. Martin Ellingsen (13-9/3.63 ERA) had a crummy outing, torched for 10 runs in just 5 innings. My, oh, my, that was pure torture for a rock-solid pitcher.
One thing for sure all across the Islands this Sunday afternoon the fans will be glued to their TVs and radios, especially in the 6 towns of San Alejo, Turon, High Mesa, Hillsboro, Chicopee and Bayview. Let's hope they all play their best game and the best teams win.
EC will be pulling for the underdogs. Poor Bayview hasn't won a pennant since 2016, High Mesa since 2062 and Hillsboro since 2067. Three other contenders have recently been to the postseason. Chicopee appeared in 2074, San Alejo made it in 2076 and Turon participated just last year, in 2084.
Ruthlandian Union
Tycobbian Union
