Monday, July 3, 2090
FOREST CITY, SOUTH FORK AND SUMMERLAND HAVE GOOD LEADS AT MIDSEASON IN IPA RACES
Three ballclubs have had red-hot seasons so far. Halfway through the season in the Islandian Pro Alliance the Forest City Firebirds, South Fork Stallions and the Summerland Sunsets have solid leads. The Firebirds are the best in the Ruthlandian West by far with a 10 and a half-game margin over runner-up Volusia at midseason. The Stallions are riding herd on the Tycobbian East by 6 games over second place Tuckanarra and the Sunsets have shot out to an 8 and one-half game edge over the second place Arroyo Grande Suns. There are however some good races in the other five divisions.
Ruthlandian North Division
AS PREDICTED TIGHT RACE IN RU NORTH BETWEEN LAGRANCE, VALMARA AND FAR MOUNTAIN
Reigning IPA Pro Cup champion Valmara has a fight on its hands at midyear. LaGrange is atop the Ruthlandian North by one game on the Vipers with Far Mountain hot on the trail and clinging close in the third spot, just 2 and a half games behind. Valmara's rock-solid pitching staff will win it. They have a decided edge on the mound. But it will be a close race. The Gators and the Redhawks can hit the ball, but both need help on the mound.
Ruthlandian South Division
VALKA AND BELAIR BEACH BATTLE FOR THE LEAD IN THE RU SOUTH
At the midpoint of the Ruthlandian South so far it's a battle between the Valka Blackhawks and the Belair Beach Sunbirds. It was forecast to be a 5-team donnybrook, but so far, Waleska and Crystal Lake have faltered. The only rivals the two leaders have are defending champion Claxton and surprising San Dimas, who are clinging close. They each trail by 5 games. The Blackhawks are the best-balanced club between the two co-leaders. Valka has good hitting and good pitching, while the Sunbirds depend mainly on it mound corps. The odds favor the Blackhawks over the Sunbirds, while the Diamonds will win the battle for third place.
Ruthlandian West Division
FC FIREBIRDS DOMINATE RU WEST
At midseason it is a slam dunk for the powerhouse Forest City Firebirds. They are making shambles of the Ruthlandian West with a whopping 10 and a half-game bulge over second place Volusia. Two other perennial rivals Rocky Rapids and Colfax are pretty much out of the race, too. The third place Snappers are 11 games behind and the fourth place Black Sox are a dismal 15 and one-half games back. No one is going to catch the Firebirds this year. Rocky Rapids appears to be the best-rounded team in the battle for the runner-up spot.
Tycobbian North Division
TU NORTH RUNNING TRUE-TO-FORM, RASCALS AND HELLCATS ONLY CONTENDERS
A two-team race was forecast and that's just what is happening in the Tycobbian North at the halfway mark of the season. Preseason favorite White River has a 4 and a half-game edge on Hartsdale. The Hellcats have commanded the TU North for the last decade with 5 division flags, the most recent was in 2088. Last year winner is nowhere to be found this year. The Oxford Red Caps are wallowing back in the fourth spot, 3 games under .500 and 14 games behind. Third place North Hills is not expected to rival the two top teams. The Hawks are 9 games off the pace. White River is good all around, while Hartsdale has a much better attack, but lack good pitching. The Rascals will win the TU North this season. They have not been good for the last decade when they captured the Pro Cup in 2080. Last season they upped their season mark and wound up in third place, but a distant 15 games out. White River seems to have what it takes to succeed this season.
Tycobbian Union Southern Division
SUMMERLAND SIZZLES SENSATIONALLY IN TU SOUTH
When it comes to pitching, no one in the IPA can compare with the Summerland Sunsets. Their entire mound staff is marvelous this year with an overall 2.40 ERA. The IPA all-time record is 2.41 ERA recorded by the 2048 Forest City Firebirds. The Sunsets already have an 8 and a half-game margin over runner-up Arroyo Grande and 9 and a half better than third place Southport and Turon. The Sun Sox got the nod over last year's champ Summerland in the preseason poll by a slight margin. The Sunsets lost in the Pro Cup Finals last season to IPA champion Valmara. They seemed to be determined to win it all this year. It's not likely anyone will overtake Summerland this season. Playoff possibles, White River (2.72 ERA) and South Fork (2.90 ERA) are also blessed with superlative pitching.
Tycobbian East Division
SOUTH FORK STALLIONS STOMPING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT IN TU EAST
The Tycobbian East was expected to be a torrid two-team race between Ozarka and South Fork, last year's division winner. So far -- nothing of the sort. The South Fork Stallions have galloped out to a 6-game midseason lead over the second place Tuckanarra Blue Jays. It's even worst for the third and fourth place clubs. High Mesa is already 11 games behind with preseason favorite Ozarka trailing badly, 16 and one-half games off the pace. South Fork has its all, hitting, scoring, power, pitching and defense. The Tucks will have a tough time catching them. No one else will be in the race.
Tycobbian West Division
FOUR-TEAM FRACAS TO DECIDE BEST IN THE TU WEST; FAVORED LA CLAIRE ATOP STANDINGS AT MIDYEAR
The last six seasons have been good for the La Claire Lynx. They have copped the Tycobbian West crown for the previous three years and they are on top by a shaky 2 games at the midyear mark over the vastly-improved Chicopee Braves. Running a close third are the Kenwood Wildcats and Rolling Hills Racers, just 3 GB. The preseason pundits were not very accurate. It was supposed to be just two teams in the hunt, last year's champ La Claire and perennial also-ran Denton City. The Redbirds haven't been to the playoffs since 2059, but they improved last season and wound up in third place 11 GB behind the Lynx and 2 GB the runner-up Racers. Denton City has been a dismal disaster in the first half of the season, currently resting in 7th place, 9 and a half games out. La Claire is seeking its fourth successive TU West title. The Lynx also captured the revered Pro Cup in 2087 and would like nothing better than to do it again this year. La Claire is an excellent team and does everything well. It will take a good team to defeat them. It looks like there are several challengers on par with the Lynx. The Braves, Wildcats and Racers are giving them fits this year. La Claire has had a relatively easy time the last three years. Not so, this year. It's a wide-open race. Still it would be wise to pick the La Claire Lynx. They are still the best in the West.
2090 Midseason IPA Standings
