Friday, November 5, 2088
BELLE PLAINE SHORTSTOP NAMED 2088 PRO CUP MVP
The top player in the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs has been selected. The honor went to Belle Plaine's talented shortstop Jean-Paul Lacombe. He sparked the Musketeers to their very first Pro Cup crown with 7 homers, 19 RBIs, 19 runs and a .407 BA in 16 games. Lacombe went 24 for 59 and also walked 13 times for a lofty .514 OBP. The Musketeers were 12-4 in the postseason playoffs this year. They waltzed by LaGrange in 5 games, Forest City in 6 games and Summerland in 5 games to garner the IPA Pro Cup championship.
Lacombe had some spirited competition from his teammates. Closer Johnny Koonce came in second in the MVP poll, followed by starting pitcher Marcel Giroud, second baseman Claude Mayeux and right fielder Dominique Roche.
Koonce was a vital factor in Belle Plaine's postseason success with a 3-1 mark, 4 saves, 1.60 ERA in 11 relief appearances and 17 innings pitched. Giroud also stood out with 4 wins and no losses in 5 starts with an impressive 1.60 ERA. Teams only managed to hit .158 against him.
Claude Mayeux and Dominique Roche also contributed to the Musketeers' postseason prosperity. Second sacker Mayeux hit .359 with 23 hits, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, 14 RBIs, 15 runs, 10 walks and 6 stolen bases. Right fielder Roche batted .387 with 24 base hits, 8 runs and 10 RBIs.
During the regular season the 25-year-old Lacombe compiled a .318 BA in 149 games with 35 home runs, 107 RBIs and 103 runs. In his 7 IPA seasons Lacombe has a .321 career average with 126 roundtrippers and 474 ribbies. He is a 3-time All-Star, one-time Golden Glover. In 2087 Lacombe won the RU Golden Bat and the RU Most Valuable Player Award.
