Monday, September 26, 2089
IPA CROWNS 8 DIVISION CHAMPS
Not a lot of multi-team pennant races this year in the Islandian Pro Alliance. In the Tycobbian Union Oxford, La Claire and Ozarka had a fairly easy race and they all won by a goodly margin. There was only one real race, that was in the Tycobbian South where Summerland nipped Southport by 2 games. The Sunsets beat the Sun Sox at home in 3 of 4 vital games the last week of the season. The only other tight fight to the finish was in the Ruthlandian West. Forest City and Colfax dueled the entire year with the Firebirds prevailing by 2 games. Three teams made the playoffs for the first time in decades. It's Claxton's first postseason appearance since 2070, Oxford's since 2075 and Valmara's first since 2079.
VALMARA PULLS AWAY FROM THE RU NORTH CROWD IN THE SECOND HALF
In the preseason poll Valmara was picked to finish way down the list in 5th place, but the Vipers surprised and won the Ruthlandian North by 6 games over last year's champion LaGrange. It was forecast to be a battle between Far Mountain, LaGrange and Ancona. It was real close for half the season, but Valmara edged away in the second half. Superior pitching set the Vipers apart from the rest of the RU North. It will be tough for them in the playoffs. Valmara has trouble scoring runs.
DIAMONDS OUTDUEL WESTERNERS FOR RU SOUTH CROWN
For the first time in two decades the Claxton Diamonds claimed the Ruthlandian South pennant. The Waleska Westerners went toe-to-toe with them until they faded in the last two months and lost out by 4 games. Defending division champ Belair Beach never was a real factor in the race after June and wound up a distant third place. Claxton was a solid choice in the preseason poll and proved themselves to be a worthy and capable team. The Diamonds had the best pitching in the RU South. Fourth place Crystal Lake started and ended poorly, however they did very well in June and July and were right up their with the leaders, Claxton and Waleska.
COTTON KINGS PICKED RU EAST CLEAN, UPSETTING PRO CUP CHAMP MUSKETEERS
The current IPA champion Belle Plaine Musketeers were favored to take the Ruthlandian East for the third straight year and get the chance to repeat as the Islandian Pro Alliance's best overall team once again. However, the Eastshore Cotton Kings had other ideas. The cotton-picking Kings were forecast to wind far behind in the fourth spot. Wynnamac topped the standings until August, then swooned badly the last two months. Belair Beach started poorly, but slowly got back into the chase and finished strongly. Eastshore did not have a bad month and held off the second-half challenge by the Sunbirds, who fell 4 games short of the division title. It was a four-team affair heading into September with Belle Plaine, Marston and Wynnamac in the quest. Both the Nine and Sundowners faded in September. Homers and healthy pitching hauled in the Cotton Kings' RU East crown. Eastshore is looking good heading into the IPA postseason playoffs.
FIREBIRDS BEST IN THE RU WEST
What a great two-team race it was in the Ruthlandian West between champ Forest City and Colfax. It lasted all season long. It all came down to a sizzling September photo finish with the Firebirds finally overtaking the Black Sox and winning by 2 games. The last month was something to behold. Forest City went a red-hot 17-4 down the stretch. Colfax hung tough with a strong 14-7, but it was just not good enough to win. The Firebirds will be one of the Pro Cup favorites come October. Forest City was an overwhelming favorite to take the RU West. No one was expected to rival them in the preseason poll. Only Colfax offered any resistance. The Black Sox were almost as good as the Firebirds. They came real close to beating them.
2089 Ruthlandian Union Final Standings
