Wednesday, September 28, 2089
FIREBIRDS, SUNSETS, STALLIONS, COTTON KINGS FORECAST PRIME PICKS IN IPA PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
It all begins three days from now and lasts a month. On Saturday afternoon all of Islandia will be glued to their TVs, radios, internet streams and at four ballparks for the annual diamond
ritual --- the much-revered IPA Pro Cup playoffs. 8 division winners will vie for the much-coveted Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy, emblematic of supremacy in professional baseball
in the Islands. Last year's Pro Cup champion Belle Plaine missed out this year by coming in second to Eastshore in the Ruthlandian East pennant race. The Cotton Kings beat out the
Musketeers by 4 games. Last year's Pro Cup runner-up Summerland is back again for another try at their first Pro Cup Trophy.
Summerland is the only club in this year's postseason playoffs without a Pro Cup. South Fork ('25, '42, '73, '77) and Valmara (.'26, '43, '49, '50) have copped 4 each, Eastshore ('16, '17)
and Oxford ('09, '61) have won twice and Claxton ('64), Forest City ('68) and La Claire ('87) each have one IPA title.
Opening round games features #5 Claxton and #1 Forest City and #4 Eastshore and #8 Valmara in the Ruthlandian Union First Round. It will #7 La Claire meeting #2 Summerland and
#6 Oxford hosted by #3 South Fork in the Tycobbian Union First Round. Baseball experts favor Forest City in the Ruthlandian Union and Summerland in the Tycobbian Union. The Firebirds
are picked to defeat the Sunsets for the overall IPA crown.
