ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 1, 2090

TYCOBBIAN UNION RECAP

UPSTART RASCALS UPSET HELLCATS IN TU NORTH
The baseball pundits were right on in the Tycobbian North preseason predictions. It was supposed to be a close two-team race between White River and Hartsdale and that's exactly what it was. The Rascals pulled away in August and had a 10-game edge over the Hellcats. White River won out despite a second-half swoon. They defeated Hartsdale by 5 games. Last year's division-winning Oxford was never a factor in the race, winding up in third place and a distant 13 games behind. The Rascals won with rock-solid pitching and a fairly-decent offense. Hartsdale and Oxford could put runs on the scoreboard, but did not possess the same level of pitching as White River. For the last decade the Rascals have been a bad ball club. Their last division crown came in 2081. White River did win their first-ever Pro Cup in 2080. But they did rise from sixth place to third place two years ago and went all the way this year. The general consensus is the Rascals lack offense and will not be able to win the Pro Cup with pitching alone. The Tycobbian Union first round will feature two strong staffs pitted against one another, while the other first-round series will be between high-scoring South Fork and La Claire. White River will open on the road in Summerland and South Fork will travel to play the Lynx in La Claire.

SUMMERLAND SIZZLED IN TU SOUTH AND SWEPT 3RD STRAIGHT TITLE
After winning two photo-finishes in 2088 and 2089, the Summerland Sunsets sizzled and left everyone in their wake this year in the Tycobbian South and swept to their third division flag in a row. An influx of impact newcomers enabled the Sunsets to win 101 games, something they had never done before. It may well be the season the Sunsets will rise up and win a Pro Cup. They made the Pro Cup Finals two years ago and reached the TU Title Round last year. 2090 was a great year for Summerland. They built up a solid 9-game edge by midseason and improved on it in the second half, winning the TU South by 12 games over the Southport Sun Sox. In the preseason poll the baseball experts had picked the Sun Sox to top the Sunsets in a tight race. No other clubs were given any chance at the pennant. Summerland is in the same boat as White River. They both depend on their mound staffs. They both will run into teams that can hit and score runs in the second-round TU Title Series. It will be at that point where they will have to prove their mettle.

SF STALLIONS SURGE IN SEPTEMBER TO SNARE TU EAST FROM TUCKERED-OUT BLUE JAYS
According to the preseason prognostications only two clubs had a shot at the Tycobbian East title. Ozarka was a slight favorite over South Fork. Tuckanarra was a distant rival forecast to finish way back in the third spot in the standings, 10 GB. The Stallions were the reigning division champ and had won three of the last five pennants. However, the Naturals had a good resume, too. The Nats won the TU East in 2082, 2084 and 2088. Now according to the pundits they were going to prevail in a tight race over the Stallions. Ozarka was never in the chase, wallowing in fourth place, 16 GB at the half-season mark. It was the Tuckanarra Blue Jays who provided the competition for South Fork, but not until the second half of the season. The Stallions possessed a comfortable 6-game edge at midway point over the Tucks. The Blue Jays surged in August to take the division lead with a 20-8 record, while the Stallions slumped to 12-13. Going into September, the final month, it was a just a two-team battle between Tuckanarra and South Fork, just one game separating them. The Stallions rose to the occasion with a 15-11 mark. The Tucks fell out of the race with a poor 10-17 in September. The Blue Jays fought hard, but lost out due to the home-run power of the Stallions' attack. South Fork homered 200 times, while Tuckanarra went deep with 147 dingers. Only Red Bluff (210) and Valmara (202) had more roundtrippers than South Fork. The Blue Jays have been an also-ran for more than a decade. They did win the TU East in 2087, but that was an outlier. The Tucks hadn't been to the playoffs since the mid 70s when they won 3 straight TU East titles. Look for South Fork to be a force in the Pro Cup playoffs. They lost to Pro Cup champion Valmara last year in 7 games in the Pro Cup Finals. The Stallions are a potent ballclub with fine hitting, HR-power and good pitching. South Fork will be seeking its 5th Pro Cup Trophy. The last ones came in 2073 and 2077. The Stallions are a hungry team.

LA CLAIRE HOLDS OFF ROLLING HILLS IN 2-TEAM TU WEST TUSSLE
In the Tycobbian West preseason preview the outlook was for just a two-team race between perennial power La Claire and an unlikely rival, Denton City. No one else was given any chance whatsoever. The poll was partly correct. It was just a two-team affair, but between La Claire and Rolling Hills. No one is sure what the baseball analysts saw in Denton City. The Redbirds hadn't been to the postseason for three longsuffering decades. The only positive in the last 10 years was a third-place finish last year. The baseball media thought Denton City was on the rise --- Nope! Didn't Happen! --- The best the Redbirds could do was to stay out of the TU West cellar and end up in seventh place, 31 games behind. However, there was a good pennant race between the late-starting Lynx and the Racers. April and May was not good for either of them. Both of them turned their seasons around in June. From then on it was just the Lynx and the Racers. All of the six other clubs began to fade into oblivion, never to be seen near the top of the standings again. After two months La Claire was just 24-23. The top teams in the early going were Chicopee 27-22, Bay St. Clair 27-23, Kenwood 27-23 and Rolling Hills 27-23. The rest of the season belonged to the La Claire Lynx. They went 74-33 the last four months and staved off Rolling Hills by 4 games. The Racers stayed in the hunt with a 67-37 mark from June to November. It was good --- just not good enough to catch La Claire. It was the Lynx's mound corps that made the difference. La Claire has been at the top of their game the last six seasons with four straight TU West flags, one runner-up spot (3 GB) and one third-place finish (1 GB). The Lynx won the Pro Cup in 2087. It is about time they did it again. La Claire will be prominent in the Pro Cup playoffs this season. It is destined to be a dogfight with reigning Pro Cup king Valmara, Forest City, South Fork, La Claire and Summerland in the spotlight and Belair Beach, Belle Plaine and White River lurking close by in the shadows. Anyone can win the IPA Pro Cup Trophy this year. It is a really good 8-team field.

2090 Tycobbian Union Final Standings

[Eugene Church]

2090 Tycobbian Union Division Champions
Special Thanks to Pepe for the La Claire Lynx logo.
Sorry, don't know who did the White River Rascals.
South Fork was just stolen from the San Francisco 49'ers.
EC did the Summerland Sunsets.

[Eugene Church]

2090 Tycobbian Union Team Batting


2090 Tycobbian Union Team Pitching


2090 Tycobbian Union Team Fielding

[Eugene Church]

2090 Tycobbian Union Batting Leaderboards



2090 Tycobbian Union Pitching Leaderboards

[Eugene Church]

Sorry, been busy doing the radio programs.
Tomorrow I will do the Pro Cup preview.
I'm excited... it look like a very hotly-contested postseason.
All 8 teams have a chance to win the Pro Cup this year.

[Eugene Church]

Sorry for the delay in the Pro Cup Predictions.
6 of the 8 teams have been done... I will do the last 2 on Monday and post the Pro Cup Preview.

[Eugene Church]

Friday, October 6, 2090

IPA PRO CUP PLAYOFFS SET TO GO SATURDAY AFTERNOON
FOREST CITY FAVORED IN RU, SOUTH FORK IN TU
FIREBIRDS WILL WIN IT ALL IN 2090
October is here and all of Islandia is poised and ready to enjoy the ultimate baseball experience beginning this Saturday afternoon at four diamond venues. Get ready! It's Pro Cup time all across the Islands! Come November there will be a new IPA Pro Cup champion. Will it be Valmara, Belair Beach, Belle Plaine, Forest City, White River, Summerland, South Fork or La Claire? Last year's Pro Cup champion, the Valmara Vipers are back again, better-than-ever and ready, willing and able to repeat. In fact, anybody could win the IPA crown this year. There are 8 solid, good all-around contenders. Last year Valmara nabbed the overall title by defeating the South Fork Stallions in a stirring 7-game series.

The opening round features Belair Beach at Forest City and Belle Plaine at Valmara in the Ruthlandian Union. Over in the Tycobbian Union it will be La Claire hosting South Fork and Summerland entertaining White River. All postseason series are best-of-seven. According to the Pro Cup Preview Poll it will be a Forest City-South Fork Pro Cup Series with the Firebirds favored over the Stallions. The Ruthlandian Union has won five of the last six Pro Cup Trophies. Overall the Tycobbian Union has captured the Pro Cup 50 times. The Ruthlandian Union has been IPA champion only on 39 occasions.

2090 IPA PRO CUP PREVIEW POLL by The Islandian Times

1. FOREST CITY FIREBIRDS (106-48)
Won its only Pro Cup in 2068... Firebirds have won RU West three straight years... lost in Union Tittle Series to Pro Cup champ Belle Plaine in 2088 and to Pro Cup winner Valmara last year...powerful offense... strong pitching, starters and bullpen... strong defense... won 106 victories, third-best in IPA history...has everything going for it this season... looks to be a postseason powerhouse!

2. South Fork Stallions (94-60)
Four Pro Cups, last one in 2077... 3 TU East titles in the previous 5 seasons... rock solid club... can hit and score with HR-run power... very good pitching... good defense... lost to Valmara in the Pro Cup Finals last year in 7 games.

3. La Claire Lynx (98-56)
Copped only Pro Cup in 2087... TU West titlists for the last four seasons... picked high in Pro Cup polls last few years, but disappointed... they didn't hit... pitching and defense are strong points... offense is adequate and better this year... to WIN a Pro Cup a team has to HIT and PITCH... the Lynx are improved at the plate this year... yeah buddy, I do declare it just might be another Pro Cup season for La Claire.

4. Summerland Sunsets (101-53)
The Sunsets have been a strong postseason presence in recent years, reaching the TU Title Series last year and the Pro Cup Finals in 2088. Summerland has never won a Pro Cup... weak bats has always hindered their Pro Cup aspirations... the Sunsets have the pitching and defense... they need more offense to win a Pro Cup... on paper this could be "the year" for Summerland.

5. Valmara Vipers (95-59)
Don't let the #5 rating fool you... all 8 playoffs teams are good this year... the defending Pro Cup champion Vipers could easily win back-to-back IPA titles... Valmara just might be better that last year... they can score, hit with power and play good defense... the key will be their pitching staff, which has several newcomers... also several new bats, too... the Vipers have won 5 Pro Cups in its history... just might add #6 this year.

6. White River Rascals (92-62)
It's been a bad decade for the Rascals... for the first time since '80 and '81 they have made the playoffs... White River nabbed its only Pro Cup in 2080... the Rascals have the pitching and defense to win a Pro Cup, but probably don't have the offense.

7. Belle Plaine Musketeers (94-60)
The last 7 years have been the very best in Belle Plaine's plain terrible history with just 5 postseason appearance in 82 seasons... the Musketeers have won 3 RU East flags in the last 4 years... in '88 they won their first-ever Pro Cup... last year they came in second place in the standings... now the Muskies are back again... Belle Plaine has almost everything needed to win a Pro Cup... they can score fairly well, hit with good power, good defense, good starting rotation, all they need is good bullpen work. That will be the key factor to their postseason success.

8. Belair Beach Sunbirds (90-64)
One would think the Sunbirds will be in the Pro Cup fight... they won the RU South 6 times in the last 8 seasons... Belair Beach also prevailed in the Pro Cup twice, in '84 and '86... they had a better attack back then... not so, present day... it will be tough to win the Pro Cup with just a good pitching corps... the Sunbirds only have a few of those players from the Pro Cup years... the outlook is not good for the Sunbirds in this year Pro Cup playoffs.

2090 IPA Pro Cup Outlook:
Forest City will prevail over defending Pro Cup crown bearer Valmara in the RU Title Series... South Fork will get by La Claire for the TU title... the Forest City Firebirds will defeat the South Fork Stallions for the Pro Cup Trophy. All three rounds will be hard-fought and competitive... there should be mostly 6 and 7-game series... all 8 division champions are good ballclubs.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

2090 IPA Postseason Tale of the Tape (Ruthlandian Union, Tycobbian Union)

Best Overall Offense: Forest City, South Fork
Best Starters: Forest City, White River
Best Bullpen: Valmara, La Claire
Best Overall Pitching: Valmara, Summerland
Best Overall Defense: Valmara, Summerland
Most Runs: Forest City 872 runs, South Fork 742 runs
Best BA: Forest City .282 BA, South Fork .268 BA
Most HR: Valmara 202 HR, South Fork 200 HR
Best ERA: Forest City 3.28 ERA, Summerland 2.80 ERA
Fewest HRA: Belair Beach 86 HR, La Claire 72 HR
Most HRA: Valmara 128 HR, White River 113 HR
Most CG: Valmara 29 CG, Summerland 40 CG
Best FA: Belle Plaine .980 FA, Summerland .982 FA
Best ZR: Valmara +47.2, Summerland +48.3
Best DEF: Valmar .719, Summerland .730

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 8, 2090

FIREBIRDS, VIPERS, LYNX, SUNSETS POST OPENING WINS IN IPA FIRST ROUND, ALL AT HOME
Pro Cup favorite Forest City, Valmara, La Claire and Summerland all posted first-round victories in the opening games of the IPA playoffs. In the Ruthlandian Union the Firebirds trimmed Belair Beach 4-2 and the Vipers rallied past Belle Plaine 3-2. In the Tycobbian Union La Claire held off the South Fork Stallions 5-3 and Summerland outscored White River 8-6.

Ruthlandian Union First-Round Game 1 Recaps

Center fielder Clete Ward sparked Forest City past Belair Beach with 3 hits and 3 RBIs. 2 of his hits were two-baggers. His second double broke up a 2-2 tie and pave the way to the 4-2 victory. The Firebirds got solid pitching from starter Matty O'Mara, who held the Sunbirds to one run on 4 hits in his 5 innings. Thomas Tate picked up the win, but he gave up one run in 2 frames. Curt Leininger notched the save with 2 scoreless innings. Reliever Lacy Thome lost it. He was slapped for 2 runs and 5 hits in 3 innings.

Valmara saved the best for last and got a 9th-inning game-winning pinch-hit single from Grisha Ivanoff to skim by the Belle Plaine Musketeers 3-2. Starter Shura Azarin stood out with 5 runless innings. He allowed only 3 hits. Closer Paolo Portocarrera gained the win, tossing 4 innings and giving up 2 unearned scores. Al Doak was pinned with the loss. Tavio Ortega homered for the winners, while Nate Goldsberry went 3 for 5 and drove in a pair of runs in defeat.

Tycobbian Union First-Round Game 1 Recaps

La Claire got the best of South Fork 5-3 at home. The Lynx gained a 5-1 edge at the end of 5 innings and then held off the Stallions. David Glascock, Dennis Culpepper and Rick Wall led the way. Glascock was 1 for 3 and doubled in a pair of scores, Culpepper had 3 hits, including a double and a triple and one RBI and Wall cracked 2 doubles and drove in a run. Will Wilford led South Fork wtih 2 hits and 2 runs batted in. Don Bartels chalked up the victory, working into the 8th frame and allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. Paul Unruh closed it out for him and did not give up a run in his one and two-thirds innings. South Fork starter Owen Frank labored in defeat. He was banged around for 5 runs and 7 hits in 6 innings.

Pitching powers Summerland and White River, not known for a lot of offense, locked up in a scoring fest of sorts with the Sunsets pulling it out 8-6 with 3 runs in the last of the sixth. Pinch hitter Dutch Verlander bashed a 2-run double to put Summerland ahead to stay. In relief Duke Snijder blanked White River the final 3 frames for the save. Neither starter, Paul Pegram for Summerland and Satchell Pike for White River were effective. Pegram got credit for the win, despite giving up 5 runs in 6 innings. Pacing the Sunsets at the plate were Gerrit Maas with 3 hits and 2 RBIs and Marty Getchell with a 2-run two-bagger. Maas homered for Summerland, while Jeff Heimlich went deep for White River. Stallion Roger D'Abboville collected 2 hits and drove in 2 runs and Andre Arcenault added 2 hits and batted in one score.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 9, 2090

FOREST CITY AND VALMARA TAKE FIRST TWO GAMES IN RU PLAYOFFS, ALL TEAMS SPLIT IN TU, TIED AT 1-1
The Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs are off and running. After two games Pro Cup favorite Forest City and the reigning Pro Cup king Valmara have jumped off to a 2-0 lead over Belair Beach and Belle Plaine in Ruthlandian Union First Round action. Over in the Tycobbian Union both series are deadlocked at one game each.

Forest City used its fine pitching to whip the Belair Beach Sunbirds 4-1 in the second game of the series. Valmara used its home-run power to outlast the Belle Plaine Musketeers in 12 innings 7-6. South Fork showed its toxic high-powered attack in lashing the La Clair Lynx 13-2. In a one-run squeaker White River nicked the Summerland Sunsets 4-3.

Monday is a travel day. Games will resume in Belair Beach, Belle Plaine, South Fork and White River in the best-of-seven series. Game three will be played Tuesday.

2090 Ruthlandian Union First Round Series - Game 2 Recaps
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Valmara's Craig Ballantyne and Thomas Tate blanked Belair Beach for 8 innings in route to a 4-1 triumph in the second game of the series. Ballantyne chalked up the victory, stopping the Sunbirds on 2 hits with 6 Ks in his 5 innings. Tate blanked them the next 3 frames. Belair Beach's only run came on a solo shot by Jordi Goodlow in the top of the 9th. Lefty Mays suffered the loss, permitting 2 runs in 6 innings. The Firebirds rapped 12 hits, led by Milt Moncriffe with 3 and Jim Raver with 2. Pinch hitter Bryan Stubbs sent one soaring out of the park in the 5th. Mees Achhoven socked 3 hits to no avail for the Sunbirds and Dion Gallimore chimed in 2 more. Belair Beach did not present much at the plate.

It was a whale of a game at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara. The Vipers led most of the way, then the Musketeers rallied late in the game and took charge. In the 12th Valmara trailed by 2 going into their last at bat, but they pulled it out, escaping with a comeback win 7-6. Victor Rykov tripled in one run, Rutger Kreutzmann tied it up with a single and Howie Dassner won it with a base hit. Keith Tobin homered twice and drove in 3 runs and Dassner had 2 hits and batted in 2 runs. Jean-Paul Lacombe and Claude Mayeux keep the Muskies in the game. Lacombe clouted a 3-run roundtripper and Mayeux plated a pair of runs. Not a lot of pitching to be proud of in the game. The starters were fair, but both bullpens should hang their heads in shame.

2090 Tycobbian Union First Round Series - Game 2 Recaps

The South Fork Stallions went on a stampede and trashed the La Claire Lynx 13-2 to even the series at one game apiece. The Stallions smashed 14 hits, paced by Biggy MacLemore with 3 hits and 4 ribbies, Davy Mannington knocked 3 hits and drove in one and Cristian Morales had 2 hits and 2 RBIs. Even winning pitcher Dobie Wilbur joined in the bash with 2 runs batted in. MacLemore and Yank Yankovich blasted home runs. Wilbur stood out on the hill, tossing 8 innings and holding La Claire to 2 runs on 8 hits with 4 strikeouts and 3 bases on ball. Lynx starter Shuggie Garsett took it on the chin, pounded for 7 runs in just 4 innings.

White River and Summerland went at it again tooth-and-nail at Sunset Stadium in game two of the best-of-seven series. This time it was the Rascals that came out on top 4-3, putting the winning run on the scoreboard in the 7th frame on Freddie Aaronson's RBI triple. Give credit to the White River bullpen, too. Phil Western and Boogie Mickelson both twirled 2 runless innings to preserve the win that knotted the series at 1-1. Western got the win, while Duke Snijder lost it. Snijder gave up one run in 3 innings of relief. The Rascals got their other runs from Chris Savallas' solo homer, Pete Pettavina's double and Ryo Matayoshi's base hit. Summerland tallied its runs in the 2nd on Boogie Bonham's 2-run two-bagger and Rik De Graaf's solo swat in the 4th frame. Both teams had 7 hits apiece.

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, October 11, 2090

BROOM TIME IN RU FOR FIREBIRDS AND VIPERS, IN TU LYNX AND SUNSETS TAKE 2-1 LEAD
Forest City and Valmara are red-hot in the Ruthlandian Union First Round. Both clubs have a shot at sweeping their series with Belair Beach and Belle Plaine. Over in the Tycobbian Union it's more competitive. La Claire and Summerland were shockingly triumphant in game three and now have taken a two-games-to-one edge on South Fork and White River.

2090 Ruthlandian Union First Round - Game 3 Recaps

In game three of the RU First Round Series Forest City let loose its big bats in a 16-4 massacre of the poor Belair Beach Sunbirds --- and it was on the Sunbirds home field. The Firebirds hammered hits galore, a total of 17, to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Forest City is just one victory away from a sweep. Jurgen Borgmann wreaked havoc with 2 hits, 4 ribbies and 3 runs scored. He had plenty of help from Clete Ward with 3 hits and 3 RBIs, Jim Raver 4 hits and 2 runs and a 3-run triple by pinch hitter Cyril Morse. Borgmann and Brodie Northern both went deep, Borgmann's was a grand slammer. The Sunbirds managed to stay close until the 7th frame when the Firebirds broke it open with 10 runs in the last three innings. Forest City got good work from its bullpen. Clarence Rush and Werner Eisenbraun held Belair Beach to one run in the final 5 innings.

Valmara is on the verge of sweeping its series. All the Vipers need to do is win one of the remaining 4 games. It was a good pitcher's duel at Musketeer Field in Belle Plaine where the Vipers tamed the hometown Muskies 3-1, limiting them to just 3 hits. Starters Arjan Huntsman and Anton Petit both were quite stingy the first 5 innings. Petit blanked the Vipers, while Huntsman only allowed one run on 2 hits in 5 and one-third innings. Petit had a 1-0 edge heading into the 6th frame, when he lost his touch. Valmara got to him for 3 runs in 6 and one-third innings. Keith Tobin ripped his 3rd postseason homer and gave the Vipers a 2-1 lead. Doubles by Victor Rykov and Rutger Kreutzmann added an insurance run in the 7th. Anemic Belle Plaine got its only score in the first inning on an error, wild pitch and passed ball. Arjan Huntsman was the winning pitcher, aided by 3 strong innings of one-hit relief from closer Paolo Portocarrero. He closed it out with 3 and two-thirds scoreless innings. The pitching was pretty good. Valmara got only 5 hits, while Belle Plaine managed just 3.

2090 Tycobbian Union First Round - Game 3 Recaps

South Fork learned the old Yogi Berra lesson, "It ain't over, till it's over". Kenny Falconer was breezing along with a no-hitter for 5 innings. In the 6th La Claire then got 3 singles, but still didn't score. Falconer carried a 2-0 lead into the 8th, when it all fell apart. The Lynx lashed the Stallions for 5 runs, highlighted by David Glascock's 3-run smash. La Claire took the lead 2-1 in the series with a 6-2 shellacking. Gino Manda added a home run in the 9th. The Lynx got marvelous mound work from four pitchers. Rick Gautreau started and hurled 5 stellar innings, gave up just one run on 2 hits. Winner Paul Unruh worked the next two and allowed one run. Billy Ray Troxell and Jerry Miller finished off the Stallions with one scoreless inning apiece. South Fork didn't generate much offense --- only 5 hits. Yank Yankovich had 3 hits and drove in a run. Cristian Morales socked a pair of hits, including a solo homer. Losing pitcher Chuck Landes was torched for 2 dingers and 4 runs in less than 2 innings.

The story was much the same at White River Stadium. The homestanding Rascals were well on their way to winning with a 5-1 lead over the visiting Summerland heading into the top of the 9th, when the Sunsets stunned them for 2 homers and 6 runs and winded up the day a surprising 7-5 victor with a two games to one margin in the best-of-seven series. Here's how it happened. Rik De Graaf doubled in a run, making it 5-2, Bruce Quarterman cracked a 3-run clout to tie it up and Norris Chance broke the Rascals heart with a game-winning 2-run swat. The Summerland bullpen made them a winner and the White River relief corps lost it. Rascal starter Troy Fitzroy excelled, holding the Sunsets to just one run in 5 innings, while White River mauled Summerland starter Wes Warrick for 5 runs in 7 innings. Bama Easterwood and Bubba Byars stopped the Rascals without a run the last 2 frames, while Babe Hatch and Boogie Mickelson blew it. They were ravaged for 6 runs in the fatal 9th. Bruce Quarterman and Norris Chance sparked the Sunsets with homers and 3 RBIs each. Ryu Matayoshi and Roger D'Abboville provided the offense for White River. Matayoshi rapped 3 hits and batted in 3 scores, while D'Abboville produced 2 hits and 2 runs batted in.

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, October 12, 2090

FOREST CITY AND VALMARA SWEEP BB SUNBIRDS AND BP MUSKIES, ADVANCE TO RU TITLE SERIES; TU 1ST ROUND DEADLOCKED AT 2 WINS EACH, ALL 4 CLUBS STILL ALIVE

2090 Ruthlandian Union First Round Series - Game 4 Recaps
Forest City again flourished at the plate with 13 hits. The Firebirds blistered Belair Beach 9-4 in the fourth game and advanced to the Ruthlandian Union Finals against the Valmara Vipers. Forest City swept all four games with the Sunbirds. Milt Moncriffe and Cale Borden both crashed 3-run roundtrippers to propel the Firebirds to victory. Moncriffe has 3 hits and batted in 4 scores. Jim Raver went 2 for 2 with 2 walks and scored twice. Slats Slattery did the job on the hill. He allowed 4 runs in 8 innings with 8 Ks and 2 walks. Clarence Rush closed it out with a scoreless 9th. Barron Garr was pinned with the loss, slammed for 5 runs in just 3 innings. Slattery and Rush held the Sunbirds to 7 hits.

Game four was a must-win game for the Belle Plaine Musketeers. They carried a very slim 3-2 lead into the 9th frame, but they could not put the Valmara Vipers away. Herman Valentine could not nail down the verdict and lost it 5-3. Rutger Kreutzmann tied it up with a single, Alex Adderton put the Vipers ahead with an RBI base hit and Howie Dassner chimed in with another run-scoring single. D.W. Kramer gave the Musketeers a good effort and left them with a lead. He tossed 6 and two-thirds innings and held the Vipers to just 2 runs. Pasha Minorsky and Country Corbin combined for the win. Minorsky surrendered 3 runs, just 2 earned, and 4 hits in 7 and two-thirds frames. Corbin wrapped up the series by retiring all 4 batters he faced. He also posted his 2nd victory in the series. Valmara collected 11 hits in the game, led by Dassner with 3. Kreutzmann, Adderton and Ivan Jurczyk pitched in with 2 hits apiece.

2090 Tycobbian Union First Round Series - Game 4 Recaps
Both the La Claire-South Fork and Summerland-White River series are still going strong. Not one of the four teams is about to throw in the towel. After the first four games they are all deadlocked at two wins apiece. This time around it was South Fork and White River's turn to win. Strong pitching prevailed in both contests. Snooky Darling and Chuck Landes stood out for South Fork in a 5-2 triumph over the La Claire Lynx. Darling logged the win, firing 5 and two-thirds solid innings and giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 bases on balls. Landes was superb. He didn't give up a run and just one hit in his 3 and one-third innings with no walks and 2 Ks. Roger Arenado took the loss. He permitted 4 runs in 6 innings. Arenado trailed 4-1 when he departed the game. Chipper Engverg got South Fork's first run in on an RBI single in the 3rd frame. Yank Yankovich also belted a 3-run homer in the same inning to pace the Stallions to a 3-run lead. Engverg tripled in the 8th frame and scored the last run on Biggy MacLemore's base hit.

At home, the White River Rascals took down the Summerland Sunsets by the score of 3-1 to move into a 2-2 tie in the TU First Round Series. Give most of the credit to Rascal starter and winner Rick Swaggart, who tossed 7 sterling innings of 5-hit ball. The only run was unearned. Phil Western followed him with 2 scoreless innings and the save. Sunset starter Gary Glanville deserved better. He went 7 innings and didn't allow an earned run, yet he got the defeat. All of White River's runs came in the last of the 2nd. Ryo Matayoshi singled in the first one and Swaggart socked in the last 2 with a single. Summerland got its only run in the 7th on a double by Danny Defoe. He reached third on an error and scampered in on a wild pitch. The Sunsets outhit the Rascals 9 to 6.

The Tycobbian Union First Round Series will continue Friday afternoon in South Fork at J.R. Ewing Stadium and in White River at White River Stadium for one more game. Games six and seven are slated for La Claire and Summerland.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 16, 2090

LA CLAIRE-WHITE RIVER SHOWDOWN IN TU TITLE SERIES
The Ruthlandian Union decided its Union Title Series combatants quickly with four-game sweeps by Pro Cup favorite Forest City and the Valmara Vipers. Not so in the Tycobbian Union. The La Claire-South Fork duel went the full seven games with the Lynx coming away the winner. It took White River six games to subdue the Summerland Sunsets. Round two is set with Forest City at home against Valmara in the Ruthlandian Union and La Claire hosting White River in the Tycobbian Union.

White River, the #6-ranked team, upset #4 Summerland by outpitching the Sunsets in the last two games. The Rascals trimmed them 3-2 and 4-2 to take the series. Satchell Pike was spot on and went the distance in game five, restricting the Sunsets to 7 hits. He outdueled Paul Pegram, who also hurled a complete game. Pete Pettavina slugged a 2-run homer in the first inning. The Rascals added another run in the 8th on an infield error by first sacker Danny Defoe. That run was a critical factor. Without it Summerland would have tied it up in the 9th and forced extra innings. Game six was a tense battle decided in the 9th by 5th-game savior Pete Pettavina's two-run homer. He drove in all 4 Rascal runs in the deciding game. White River's bullpen held up a tad better than Summerland's. Reliever Phil Western got the win, but blew the save. Pettavina's blast saved the day for Western. Pettavina homered twice in the game and drove all of the Rascals runs. He batted .421 with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs in the six games. Boogie Mickelson posted his 2nd save in the postseason with a runless 9th to seal the fate of the Sunsets and send White River to the TU Title Series against La Claire. Summerland closer Duke Snijder dropped his 2nd game in the series. A good bullpen is a vital necessity to win the Pro Cup Trophy.

South Fork won pivotal game five 2-1 to go in front three games to two, but the Stallions couldn't put La Claire away in game six and game seven. Winning hurler Owen Frank delivered 7 solid innings in game five, stopping the Lynx on one run and 6 hits. Don Bartels was strong for La Claire, yielding only 2 runs on 6 hits. He also twirled a complete game. There was very little offense in the game. The Lynx drew first blood in the opening frame when Rick Wall put them ahead with an RBI base hit. South Fork came right back in the last half of the inning and tied it up on Biggy MacLemore's solo shot. It stayed 1-1 until the 6th frame. A leadoff walk to Tommy Leduc started the inning. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a MacLemore single and rode home with the go-ahead score on Yank Yankovich's sac fly.

In game six La Claire got 5 marvelous shutout innings from starter Shuggie Garsett and just enough bullpen help from Paul Unruh and Billy Ray Troxell. They struggled and gave up 2 runs in the last 4 frames, but they managed to hang on to the 3-0 lead Garsett gave them. The Lynx just barely beat the Stallions 3-2 to even the series at 3-all. La Claire put 2 scores on the scoreboard in the first inning. Dennis Culpepper singled in the first one. Run 2 scored on a wild pitch. 2 South Fork errors gave the Lynx a 3-0 margin in the last of the 6th. The Stallions only runs were provided by Rupert Kruger's base hit in the 7th and by Cristian Morales' solo roundtripper in the 9th. Troxell gave up Morales' clout and also issued a one-out walk, but he got the final 2 outs on routine fly balls. Stallion starter Dobie Wilbur lost the game. He was tagged for 3 runs in his 5 innings. The South Fork bullpen blanked the Lynx the final 3 innings and kept them in the game.

Game seven started off on a happy note for South Fork. They jumped out in the opening frame 1-0 on Yank Yankovich's double. However the season went sour and south in the second inning. 6 hits, 4 walks and 9 runs later, it was all over but the crying for the South Fork Stallions. La Claire did them in with one huge inning and then staved them off 9-5 to grab the series four games to three. . Rick Gautreau was just good enough to get the win. The bullpen wasn't good, but it was good enough. They held on. Finally, the Stallions ran out of innings. Thank goodness for the offense in that one massive inning. Overall in the game Bill Gallagher, Judah Pickens, Gino Manda and Rick Wall rapped 2 hits each. Manda drove in 3 runs and Howie Ellenberger belted a 2-run homer. Gallagher, Pickens, David Glascock and Rolf Zimmerman also had an RBI apiece. South Fork starter Kenny Falconer suffered the heartbashing defeat. He will long remember the 8 runs he gave up in one and two-thirds innings. It is something he will want to keep secret from his grandkids.

Tycobbian First Round - Game 5 Recaps


Tycobbian First Round - Game 6 Recaps


Tycobbian Union First Round - Game 7 Recap

[Eugene Church]

Friday, October 22, 2090

RU AND TU TITLES SERIES PITS FINAL 4 TEAMS
The IPA Round One Series has pared 8 teams down to 4 in quest of the coveted Pro Cup Trophy. Top-ranked Forest City will welcome the #5 Valmara Vipers in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series, while it will be #3 La Claire hosting #6 White River for the Tycobbian Union title. The surviving clubs will vie for the overall IPA title in the Pro Cup Series. All series are best-of-seven in the IPA postseason playoffs.

Oddsmakers are favoring Forest City over Valmara in RU Series, while La Claire gets the call in the TU Series. The Firebirds and Lynx have more firepower than the Vipers and Rascals. Overall expectations are that Forest City will be the 2090 IPA Pro Cup champion. The Firebirds are potent in every way. Forest City has 6 All-Stars, Valmara 2, White River 4 and La Claire none.

Valmara at Forest City:
Game One: Shura Azarin (15-10/3.71 ERA) vs Matty O'Mara (17-4/2.32 ERA)
Game Two: Steve Griffeth (1-0/1.93 ERA) vs Craig Ballantyne (15-3/2.59 ERA)

Forest City at Valmara
Game Three: Shannon Slate (15-8/3.38 ERA) vs Arjan Huntsman (17-4/3.07 ERA)
Game Four: Slats Slattery (17-7/4.29 ERA) vs Pasha Minorsky (11-5/3.33 ERA)

White River at La Claire:
Game One: Satchell Pike (18-11/2.48 RA) vs Don Bartels (19-7/2.70 ERA)
Game Two: Mike Stanford (14-9/2.62 ERA) vs Shuggie Garsett (16-8/3.35 ERA)

La Claire at White River:
Game Three: Rick Gautreau (15-11/3.51 ERA) vs Troy Fitzroy (16-9/2.75 ERA)
Game Four: Roger Arenado (12-6/3.14 ERA) vs Rick Swaggart (14-8/2.43 ERA)

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 30, 2090

IPA CHAMP VALMARA TAMES FOREST CITY IN 7 GAMES, LA CLAIRE SWEEPS WHITE RIVER; VIPERS VERSUS LYNX IN PRO CUP SERIES
Valmara, the current IPA champion played like a champion and came back and bested Pro Cup favorite Forest City in a dramatic 7-game series to take the Ruthlandian Union Title Series. This qualified the Vipers for the IPA Pro Cup Series against Tycobbian Union titlist La Claire, who swept the White River Rascals in 4 games. Valmara will get a chance to win back-to-back Pro Cup Trophies. Pro Cup repeat winners have only happen 7 times in IPA history. The last time it occurred was in 2065 and 2066. The Vipers will be seeking their 6th Pro Cup, while the Lynx will be in quest of just their 2nd IPA crown. The Far Mountain Redhawks are the only club to three-peat. They did it in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

2090 Ruthlandian Union Title Series Recap
Sparking Valmara past powerful Forest City were the timely hitting of right fielder Tavio Ortega (.280 BA/2 HR/8 RBI), third baseman Alex Adderton (.250 BA/1 HR/5 RBI), first baseman Keith Tobin (.296 BA/1 HR/4 RBI) and catcher Rutger Kreutzmann (.250 BA/1 HR/3 RBI), plus solid pitching by starters Arjan Huntsman (2-0/0.64 ERA) and Shura Azarin (0-1/2.70 ERA) and good work by the closer Paolo Portocarrero (1-0/3.18 ERA/1 save/4 games).


Game 1 went to Valmara 5-3 in 10 innings on the road... Azarin was brilliant, giving up just one run and 2 hits in 8 innings... pinch hitter Grisha Ivanoff's 10th-inning solo homer was the game winner... Yuri Voronin also doubled
in an insurance run... Forest City starter Matty O'Mara was superb with just one earned run on 2 hits in 5 innings with 6 strikeouts, but he trailed 1-0 when he left for a pinch hitter. Cale Borden and Milt Moncriffe both homered
for the Firebirds.


Game 2 saw standout pitching by Forest City's Craig Ballantyne (2-0/0.00 ERA) and Thomas Tate... Ballantyne was the 4-1 winner, working 5 scoreless innings and giving up just one hit... Tate logged the save with one run
and one hit allowed in 4 frames... Cale Border, Willie Collingham and Tate drove in one run apiece... Rutger Kreutzmann went deep in defeat for the Vipers' only score... Steve Griffeth tossed a good game for Valmara, permitting
2 runs in his 5 frames. He trailed 2-0 when he exited the game for a pinch hitter... this tied the series at one game each.


It was outstanding pitching again in game three won by Valmara at home 3-1... Arjan Huntsmann, Paolo Portocarrero and Country Corbin combined for the victory... Huntsmann (2-0/0.87 ERA) posted the win by holding
the hard-hitting Firebirds to one run and 3 hits in 5 frames... Tavio Ortega socked 3 hits and a solo homer to lead the Vipers... Shannon Slate (0-1/4.76 ERA) took the loss... he surrendered 3 runs in 7 innings.


Both teams broke loose with the bats in the fourth game... Forest City jumped out to a 7-1 lead and then held on to win 7-6 to even the series at 2 games each. Fuzz Smiley paced the Firebirds with 2 hits and 4 ribbies, including
a 3-run roundtripper. Willie Collingham and Milt Moncriffe drove in the other runs. Valmara was sparked by Alec Adderton, who slammed a 3-run homer, Ivan Jurczyk with a solo swat and Tavio Ortega batted in a pair of runs with
a two-bagger. Valmara had the advantage 11 hits to 9... Slats Slattery (2-0/4.40 ERA) got credit for the victory, but he was tagged for 4 runs and 8 hits in 6 innings... Thomas Tate notched the save, but he allowed 2 runs in 3 innings.

[Eugene Church]

Crucial and pivotal game 5 went to Forest City 4-2 on the road in Valmara... Matty O'Mara (1-0/1.00 ERA) in a solid performance stopped the Vipers
on one earned run in his 8 innings... reliever Curt Leininger picked up the save, his 2nd in the playoffs. He sat down the Vipers in order in the 9th...
the defeat went to Shura Azarin (0-1/2.08 ERA), who tossed a complete game, but gave up 4 runs on 8 hits with 8 Ks and 2 walks. Azarin did not
allow a single run for the first 6 frames... Milt Moncriffe stroked a 2-run double to give the Firebirds the lead in the top of the 7th... Cale Borden's
two-run clout sealed the verdict for Forest City in the 8th... Keith Tobin led Valmara with 3 hits, including a double and a triple. He drove in both
of the Vipers' scores... the Firebirds took the lead three games to two... one more win and they are on their way to the Pro Cup Series.


With their backs to the wall in game six and on the verge of playoff elimination, the reigning Pro Cup titleholder Valmara rose to the occasion
and forced a 7th game in the series with a hard-earned 6-5 triumph over Forest City on the road at Riverside Stadium... the Vipers leaped
ahead 5-0 in the 3rd inning and then held off the rallying Firebirds 6-5 to level the series at 3 games apiece... Viper closer Paolo Portocarrera
again came to the rescue with a solid 3 and one-third innings of relief... he posted his 2nd postseason save by holding the potent Firebirds
to one run and 2 hits... Cale Borden home run in the 8th was the only run he allowed... Valmara starter Steve Griffeth (1-1/3.00 ERA)
was just good enough to win... Forest City got to him for 4 runs and 7 hits in 5 and two-thirds frames... the losing pitcher was Firebird starter
Craig Ballantyne (2-1/0.00 ERA), who victimized by the 5-run third inning... none of the runs were earned, but he still suffered the defeat...
Ballantyne has not permitted an earned run in his 3 playoff starts and 15 innings... Valmara's Tavio Ortega ripped a grand slam homer to highlight
the 3rd frame 5-run outburst... the Vipers got the eventually game winner in the 6th on two walks, a pickoff-throw error and a wild pitch.


The first six games of the series were up-and-down and back-and-forth hair-raisers between two powerhouse teams --- the biggest margin
of victory was just 3 runs --- not so in the decisive 7th game... Valmara gave Arjan Huntsman a 4-0 lead in the opening frame and he took it
and ran with it... Huntsman never gave the Forest City Firebirds much of a chance... he cajoled and powder-puffed them, scattering 8 hits in
a complete game, fanning 7 batters and walking just 2 in a strong performance and a 5-0 whitewashing... the Vipers came back from a 3-2
deficit and won the series four games to three... Valmara will get a chance to repeat as overall IPA champion against the Tycobbian Union
champion, the La Claire Lynx, who knocked off the White River Rascals in a four-game sweep... Viper first sacker Keith Tobin led the way
with 2 hits and 2 RBIs, including a solo homer in the 5th, his 4th postseason swat... taking the loss was Forest City starter Shannon Slate
(0-2/5.17 ERA)... the Vipers zapped him for 5 runs and 6 hits in his 4 innings... the Firebirds only threatened twice in the game... they got
runners on first and third in the bottom of the third, but then hit into an inning-ending double play... two baserunners reached first and second
in the 8th, but that is as far as they got... Huntsman got out of it both times... otherwise it was smooth-sailing, all the way to the Pro Cup Series
and another possible Pro Cup Trophy for Valmara... it was a very disappointing end to the season for the Forest City Firebirds... they were the
favorite to win the IPA overall crown this year.

[Eugene Church]

Sorry, it's late for an old codger like EC.
Will post the La Claire sweep tomorrow.