Sunday, October 20, 2086
PRO CUP FINAL SERIES: SUNBIRDS OR RACERS -- YOU PICK IT
It's too close to call.
Will the 2086 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup go to favored and #1-ranked Belair Beach or perpetual powerhouse Rolling Hills? Both clubs have solid reasons for their backing.
Here's why Belair Beach will win its second Pro Cup in three seasons: First and foremost, the Sunbirds whipped the Racers in 2084 Pro Cup Series, two seasons ago. That says something. They won the series in six games, but it was much closer than that. Rolling Hills had leads going into the 9th frame in games five and six and lost them. So that is not a good reason to pick the Sunbirds, who, incidentally, will not have star right fielder Dutch Van Donk in the lineup. He has an arm injury and will miss the series. The teams still have many of the same performers from that season this year. The loss of Van Donk could be vital. He provides steady offense for them and plays a good right field. It will be up to the Belair Beach mound staff to win the Pro Cup this year. The Sunbirds don't have the offense the Racers do. Van Donk will be sorely missed. He provided a .315 BA, 24 homers, 113 RBIs and 118 runs this year in the regular season. Van Donk was having a solid postseason this year until he was injured. He has hit .308 in the playoffs with one homer, 4 RBIs and 3 runs in 8 games.
Belair Beach hurlers Gardiner Palmquist (3-0/1.37 ERA), Georgie Adams (.2-0/0.42 ERA), Felix Poirot (0-1/1.93 ERA) and Jim Brockington (1-0/2.13 ERA) have sparkled in the playoffs. They are the primary reason the Sunbirds have been given the favorite's role. Rookie closer Orval Columbus (2-1/2.16 ERA/5 saves/9 games) is another big plus for the Sunbirds. So far, the Belair Beach bats have been sufficient. They will need Mees Achhoven, Bucky Keats, Dirk MacIntyre and Evan Murdoch and Lucky Hayden to have good series to win the Pro Cup.
Rolling Hills will depend on its attack to bring home its 11th Pro Cup Trophy. Belair Beach is trying for #3.
Liam Geraghty (.319 BA/10 RBI), Danny Marisnick (.366 BA/8 RBI), Emmett Spangler (.304 BA/7 RBI), Clifford Stratton (.310 BA/2 RBI) and Harv Phelan (.270 BA/7 RBI). The Racers can put runs on the scoreboard. They have been rock-solid in the playoffs thus far. They need its pitching corps to step it up a notch to win. Skeets Kazlauskas (3-0/3.32 ERA), Linc Dickens (0-1/3.86 ERA), Junior Ashmore (1-1/4.40 ERA) and Dain Holman (1-0/6.00 ERA) have been unsteady and shaky in the postseason thus far. Fortunately, its bullpen has been lights out with J. B. Deeds (1-1/1.59 ERA/5 games/11 innings), Steve Farnham (1-0/1.29 ERA/3 saves/4 games/7 innings) and Ivan Malek (0-0/2.57 ERA/4 games/7 innings).
I'm going to pick Rolling Hills in 7 games. Their hitting will carry the day. Belair Beach's lack of offense will make the Racers' pitching look better than it is. Also the Racers have beaten much better teams than the Sunbirds in the playoffs. South Fork and Ginza were of better caliber than Marston and Ancona.
