ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

You mean ten, don't you, EC? It would be ten if you've done only 54 so far, out of 64. By the way, I am going to have at least one surprise for you later, although I don't know when I'll be able to post it or them for your viewing here, in any case, just yet. So watch for it to be posted as soon as possible, where possible and/or appropriate, of course. CD out.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 30, 2020

2020 IPA Final 4 Series: Game 1
(best-of seven)

Rutlandiand Union

Bobcats Bop Crushers 5-3 In RU Opener
In the opening game of the Ruthlandian Final 4 Series at City Park Stadium in Beechwood, the Bobcats 27-year-old pitching whiz Billy Ray stifled Crystal Lake 5-3... the short, stubby right-hander with a 95-mph fastball held the Crushers to 2 runs and 4 hits in 8 innings... he fanned 7 and walked just one... Ray left the game with a 5-2 lead... closer Jeff Lyons was touched for a run in the ninth, but got his 3rd save in the postseason... 2B Darrell Woods (.190) sparked the Bobcats with a 2-run homer in the second frame and SS Ace Parker (.423) had 2 hits and 3 RBIs... Parker drove in one run in the second and 2 more in the fourth to put Beechwood up 5-1... the Bobcats collected 8 hits, all off starter and loser Ralph McCullough (0-1 9.95)... McCullough, a 23-game winner in the regular season has struggled mightily in the playoffs... Crystal Lake could get only 5 hits, but 2 of them went yard... C Eddie Robertson (.345) and 2B Greg Murphy (.258) hit solo shots in the fifth and ninth innings.

Tycobbian Union

Z's Torres Tops Nats Osterman 4-3 In First Game
Two of the best hurlers in the IPA tangled today in the first game of the Tycobbian Final 4 Series at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora...Luxora's 25-game winner Tiago Torres got the best of Ozarka's 21-game winner Benny Osterman 4-3... Torres was ripped hard in the top of the fourth for 3 runs, but toughed it out and blanked the hard-hitting Naturals the rest of the game... in a complete game, Torres (2-1 1.67) allowed 6 hits, whiffed 8 and walked 4... LF Jon Stafford (.267) hit the game-winner, a two-out RBI single in the last of the ninth... Ostermann kept Ozarka in the game, leaving with the score tied at 3-all after 8 innings... Osterman permitted 7 hits, fanned 7 and walked 3... Howard Hutch (0-1) relieved him in the ninth and lost it... the Zorros cracked 9 hits, while the Naturals got only 6... the Z's got two runs on wild pitches... Osterman had 3 in the game.

[Eugene Church]

Get ready for some IPA baseball... season 2075 is on the way.

Just completed all of the 64 roster updates.

Playing spring training right now.

Will try to give a look at the promising rookies in the league.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 1, 2020

2020 IPA Final 4 Series: Game 2
(best-of seven)

Rutlandian Union

CL Clips Bobcats 2-1 On Murphy's HR
It was a dismal day for Crystal Lake until Greg Murphy walloped a 2-run homer in the top of the ninth to beat the Beechwood Bobcats and Marty Panko 2-1 to split the first two games of the RU Final 4... Panko had a magnificent 2-hit shutout going into the last inning, but only had a 1-0 lead... winning pitcher Duncan Welch (3-1 3.38) notched the victory with a fine 8-inning outing, yielding only 1 run on 7 hits with 4 Ks and 2 walks... Jeff Jernigan closed out the game for his first save this postseason... Jernigan sat down the Bobcats in order... losing pitcher Panko only allowed 4 hits in all with 3 strikeouts and 4 bases on balls... Beechwood got its only run in the fourth on 3B Maury Charles' (.357) lead-off double... he advanced to third on a ground-out and came across on C Billy Gorham's (.267) single... in the ninth frame, CF Andy McGee (.273) got things rolling for the Crushers with a lead-off double and scored on Murphy's (.257) game-winning blast.

Tycobbian Union

Ozarka Zaps Zorros 10-3, Series Even
In game two of the Tycobbian Final 4 at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora, the powerful Ozarka Naturals unloaded some heavy lumber to zap the Z's 10-3 and even up the series at a game apiece... the Nats clouted 3 roundtrippers and 14 hits off four Luxora pitchers... in addition Yuka Nawajuk (2-0 1.67) restricted the Zorros to 5 hits and 3 runs, just one earned, in another strong postseason performance... RF Ken Mayberry (.286), C Frank Kiffin (.286) and 1B Benny Rousseau (.351) whacked homers to lead the offense... 3B Andre Dumas (.351) also added 3 hits and scored twice... Julio Higuera (1-1 3.04), who has done so well in the playoffs, lost for the first time 3 starts... Higuera was roughed up for 9 hits and 4 runs in 6+ innings... He went to the showers trailing 4-0... Higuera is one of the key elements for Luxora to have a chance in the Final 4 with Ozarka... either he or number three starter Steve Aaron has to step it up to beat the Naturals... Zorro ace Tiago Torres can't do it all by himself... Aaron get his shot tomorrow afternoon in game three... Aaron was 14-12 with a 3.59 ERA in the regular season... Eddie Roberts (18-3 2.44) will be on the hill for the Nats.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 2, 2020

2020 IPA Final 4 Series: Game 3
(best-of seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Crushers Homer Past Bobcats 6-3
In game three of the Ruthlandian Final 4 Crystal Lake blasted its way past Beechwood 6-3 with 3 homers and rode the good left arm of Vic Bauer to victory and a 2-1 lead in the series... Bauer (1-1 3.52) struck out 11 batters, walked 3 and held the Bobcats to 3 runs and 5 hits, shutting them out until the ninth... 2B Greg Murphy (.256), C Eddie Robertson (.343) and 3B Herb Buck (.214) unloaded home runs to led the Crushers... Each club could manage only 5 hits each... the loss went to Stephen Ladd (0-1 6.75), who was rocked for 6 runs and 5 hits in 4 innings.

Tycobbian Union

Luxora Grabs Series Lead 5-4
After splitting the first two games in Luxora, the Zorros grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Tycobbian Final 4 by skimming by Ozarka 5-4 at Ellie Ewing Stadium... The Zorros could only get 6 hits off three Nats pitcher, but that was enough... the Z's took the lead 4-3 in the seventh on RF Rick Shaffner's (.294) 2-run swat, then held on... Steve Aaron (2-1 4.50) came through for Luxora, holding the Naturals to 4 runs in 8 innings... Aaron allowed 9 hits, struck out 5 and walked 2... 2 of the runs were not earned... Jay Brewer worked a scoreless ninth for the save... 3B Andre Dumas gave Ozarka a brief 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer... Howard Hutch (0-2) relieved starter Eddie Roberts in the seventh, blew the save and took the loss, giving up 3 runs in 1 and two-thirds innings... Ozarka had a 10-6 hit advantage... Dumas (.390) went 3-4 and scored twice, while SS James Couch (.343) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs in defeat.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 3, 2020

2020 IPA Final 4 Series: Game 4
(best-of seven)

Ruthlandian Union

CL's McCullough Stops Bobcats 4-0
Ralph McCullough was beaming today after the Crystal Lake right-hander blanked the Beechwood Bobcats 4-0 on 6 hits at Lakeshore Stadium to take a huge step toward the Pro Cup Finals... the Crushers took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series... McCullough (1-1 5.82) has been terrible in three of his five postseason starts after winning 23 games in the regular season... but he came through today in the crucial fourth game of the RU Final 4 Series with a superb performance, fanning 7 and walking 3... plus McCullough had to beat the Beechwood ace, Billy Ray... Ray (2-1 1.36) went the distance and only surrendered 2 earned runs on 7 hits in losing for the first time in this year's playoffs... 1B Phil Gravelli (.314) doubled in the first Crystal Lake run in the first inning... the Crushers increased it to 4-0 in the second frame on RF Jed Franks' (.259) sac fly, CF Andy McGee's (.268) ground-out and 2B Greg Murphy's (.262) base hit.

Tycobbian Union

Nats Even Final 4, KO Zorros 6-3
In game four of the TU Final 4 in Ozarka, the Naturals bolted ahead with 4 runs in the eighth inning against Tiago Torres to whip Luxora 6-3 and even up the series at two victories each... Trailing 3-2 the Nats tied it up on SS James Couch's (.368) sacrifice fly, then went ahead on C Frank Kiffin's (.313) RBI single... Kiffin leads the Naturals with 11 RBIs in the playoffs and Couch had driven in 10... 2B Todd Chadwich's (.167) triple and CF Tony Genassi's (.250) single completed the scoring... Benny Osterman (2-1 1.91) hurled a solid game to defeat 25-game winner Torres... Osterman struck out 8 in 8 innings, permitting 3 runs and 7 hits, walking only 2... closer Josh Carpenter pitched a perfect 1-2-3 ninth for the save... Torres (2-2 2.6) lost it as he was ripped for 5 runs and 9 hits in his 7+ frames... 1B Jim Gurney (.306) paced the Zorros with 3 hits... CF Francisco Ortega (.205) added 2 hits and 2 runs batted in.

[Eugene Church]

Will soon post the 2075 season preview and the preseason predictions.

The Islandian Pro Alliance new season is coming to a ballpark near you soon.

Get Ready For Some Baseball.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Will soon post the 2075 season preview and the preseason predictions.

The Islandian Pro Alliance new season is coming to a ballpark near you soon.

Get Ready For Some Baseball.

Now we're getting to the exciting part!

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, April 3, 2075

GREEN MANSIONS AND PRISTINE BALLPARKS AWAIT 64 HOPEFUL IPA TEAMS
The poet Alexander Pope once wrote, “Hope springs eternal.”... I wonder if he was a sports fan.

The Islandian Pro Alliance will open its 75th season this Friday... yep, there is a still a chill in the air in many towns across Islandia, but there will be big opening day crowds, hot dogs and Crackerjacks at all of the baseball palaces... it happens every spring... this coming Friday afternoon the Islandian Pro Alliance season blossoms upon us in all of its radiant glory all across the Islands... every team in every town starts off with a clean slate... last year's record, good or bad, does not count...right now every team has a shot at the division crown and the IPA Pro Cup Trophy... right now they are all tied for the top spot in the standings with no wins and no losses... even teams that have absolutely no chance to win the Pro Cup still get goose bumps wishing and hoping and praying for it on opening day... all 64 teams have a chance, at least in theory... yep, they do, but only in theory.

According to the baseball bards, pundits and savants this is how they see it... come late September the Pro Cup Series will feature the Marston Nine, representing the Ruthlandian Union and its 32 teams, and the Turon Typhoons, representing the Tycobbian Union and its 32 teams... one of those two clubs will be the recipient of the highly acclaimed, much desired and revered Pro Cup Trophy... and yep, this is just in theory, too... a lot can happen in a 154-game season.

Ruthlandian Union Outlook

According to the baseball experts and forecasters the Glasco Foxhounds will prevail over Far Mountain, Kilkenny, the defending champion Taranto Tars and the Ranford Bulls... it is shaping up as a very close and tense 5-team race in the Ruthlandian North Division... Glasco has a fine group of rookies that are supposed to raise them from 7th place to 1st place.

Last year's Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake is expected to win the Ruthlandian South again for the second straight season and to defend their IPA title... their main challengers will be Waleska, Valka and St. John.

It's looking like a 2-team battle in the Ruthlandian East this season between perennial power Wynnamac and resurgent Marston... the Nine are predicted to eke out a close win over the Sundowners... Cold Creek will be a distant third and last year's winner Eastshore is nowhere in sight... the Cotton Kings are going to have a bad crop this year and fall to sixth place... Eastshore has won the division the last two years.

The Sligo Rovers had a good run in the Ruthlandian North Division from 2059 to 2069, winning it 6 times... they have slumped a bit the last few years, but the Rovers still have fielded a creditable ballclub... now Sligo is back and ready to make a serious bid for the division crown... the Rovers have the blessing of the baseball pros and they are predicted to sweep past their three biggest rivals, Colfax, Fort Benton and last year's champ, the Stoner Silver Sox... Stoner won the pennant in two of the last three years.

Tycobbian Union Outlook

The main teams in the Tycobbian North Division will be the current titleholder, the Oxford Red Caps, and the Luxora Zorros... the other six clubs in the division are given little chance of contending for the crown... Oxford won the pennant by 17 games last season... the Red Caps and the Zorros are expected to make shambles of the race again this year... Oxford led the IPA with 100 victories last year... could repeat it this year.

Potent Turon looks like they are back in the pennant business in the Tycobbian South... the Typhoons dipped after taking the title 4 seasons in a row... last year they dropped to 4th place and 10 games behind pennant-winning Summerland... no one is forecast to rival Turon this year... Pro Cup finalist Summerland will put up the best fight, along with the San Alejo Montaneros and the Southport Sun Sox... no one expects it to be close... the Typhoons on paper looks to be the top team in the Islands.

Only three of last year's division winners have been picked to win it again... the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats are one of the teams... and the baseball gurus are saying they will nip the Hillsboro Blazers in a tight struggle in the Tycobbian East... Red Bluff and Midway could also be in contention... Oxford and Crystal Lake are only other repeat division winners in the IPA.

Well, looky here... look who's back in the saddle and predicted to ride high again in the Tycobbian West standings -- the Rolling Hills Racers... they have now reloaded the offense and are ready to rock and roll in the pennant chase... the Racers will use the old formula they used from 2060 to 2071 when they won the TU West 12 times in succession and piled up 4 Pro Cup trophies -- bang the heck out of the ball and hope the pitchers can get a few batters out... only the Kenwood Wildcats are forecast to be in the hunt... nobody else.

Very Special Thanks to knuckler, txranger and No Pepper for the great logos and graphics.

[Eugene Church]

*

[Eugene Church]

2074 Islandian Pro Alliance Finals Standings

Ruthlandian Union


Tycobbian Union

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

In order to make the IPA more fun and less work, I will give control of the creation of Free Agents to the AI... it takes me 2-3 weeks of very tedious work to create 192 free agents each year... this is way too much work... it is taking all the fun out of playing the IPA.

As long as the league stats stay fairly close to what I hope for, I will be fine... I can adjust league stats should they change drastically because a lower level of talent is being created by the AI and coming into the league each year.

I think Markus has designed the game to work on its own very well... it does not need my micro managing.

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

Yes, I agree, let the game do more of your league-related work for you if and whenever possible and appropriate. I know we both generally want to make sure everything works as best as possible, but remember, EC, there are MANY things in life that we can't control, you know. And perfection is quite impossible for humans to currently achieve in this world, whether in person or in cyberspace, for instance, for reasons I'm quite sure you're very well aware of. Even the best-laid plans, so to speak, of mice and men, if I remember the saying correctly enough, often go astray, it seems to me.

Also, the more one often tinkers with something, when they don't likely need to, the more likely it might be that something unexpectedly happens that people might not want or need to happen for them, in any area of life, whether online or offline. So we must be rather judicious, often, with whatever we might do or say or think or believe about anything or anyone in this life, I firmly believe. Let the game do what it can for you, and just see what happens. Then adjust from there as little as possible, if and whenever necessary and possible and potentially appropriate enough, EC.

Talk more later, as time allows and all, Lord willing and all, of course. Thank you for your time and attention and all here, then, as well, and as usual. CD out.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 4, 2020

2020 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of seven)

Ruthlandian Union

Crushers In Pro Cup, Bobcats Out
Pro Cup, here comes the Crystal Lake Crushers... They made it look easy in game five of the Ruthlandian Final 4 with an 8-2 triumph over the favored Beechwood Bobcats... Baby George's boys eliminated the Bobcats four games to one and will now head to the IPA Pro Cup against the Tycobbian Union champion... Crystal Lake crashed 3 homers and 13 hits, led by its all-time great 1B Phil Gravelli (.359), who pounded out 3 hits and drove in 5 runs... his grand slammer in the second inning was the big blow of the game... 3B Herb Buck (.240) and SS Jimmy Bell (.205) also went deep... Buck also scored 3 times and posted 3 hits... the Crushers superlative southpaw Duncan Welch (4-1 3.07) fired a 5-hitter, whiffing 8 Bobcats and walking 2... Beechwood's fine 22-year-old rookie left-hander Marty Panko (2-2 4.73) did not fare well... Crystal Lake battered him for 6 runs in less than 2 innings.

Tycobbian Union

Ozarka Wins 3-2 Squeaker, Up 3-2 In Series
In a tense pitching duel at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka, the hometown Naturals won a squeaker from Luxora 3-2 as Yuka Nawajuk bested Julio Higuera... Ozarka now has the edge in the Tycobbian Final 4 three games to two... the victor will gain a spot opposite the Ruthlandian champion Crystal Lake in the Pro Cup Finals... Nawajuk (3-0 1.80) has been brilliant this postseason... today the 10-year veteran struck out 10 Zorros, walked one and limited them to just 2 runs and 6 hits in 8 innings... Nawajuk also knocked in the winning run in the fourth with a single... closer Josh Carpenter came on in the ninth and retired the Z's in order... Luxora took an early lead on a 2-run two-bagger by SS Joaquin Malagon (.303) in the second inning... that gave Malagon 12 RBIs in the playoffs... however, Ozarka quickly tied it up in the third frame, when 3B Andre Dumas (.396) walloped a 2-run roundtripper... in the fourth C Frank Kiffin (.371) doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a ground-out and was driven in by Nawajuk (.250)... both Nawajuk and Higuera threw goose eggs the rest of the way... Higuera (1-2 3.13) tossed a solid game, allowing 9 hits and 3 runs.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 5, 2020

2020 IPA Final 4 Series
(best-of seven)

Tycobbian Union

Ozarka Zonks Zorros In 6 Games
Playing true-to-form the Ozarka Naturals, the favorite to win this year's Pro Cup, rapped out 12 hits and rallied from a 3-0 deficit to edge Luxora 5-4 in game six to win the Tycobbian Final 4 and win a spot in the Pro Cup Finals against Crystal Lake, the Ruthlandian winner... the Zorros jumped on starter Eddie Roberts for 3 runs in the second inning... C Jim Thorpe Chandler (.298) homered to start the inning... SS Joaquin Malagon (.306) singled and moved to third on a double by 3B Robby Christianson (.375)... they scored on ground-outs by 1B Jim Gurney (.279) and pitcher Steve Aaron (.333)... Ozarka got a run in the top of the third, when RF Ken Mayberry (.216) singled, was bunted to second, moved to third on a wild pitch and came in on an error by third baseman Christianson... The Nats moved ahead 4-3 with a 3-run fifth... with two away CF Jose Ordonez (.360) belted one in the stands... 3B Andre Dumas (.377) and 1B Benny Rousseau (.420) singled and SS James Couch (.333) was walked to load the bases... C Frank Kiffin (.359) gave Ozarka the lead with a 2-run single... Luxora came right back and knotted it up a 4-4... Steve Aaron singled, was sacrificed to second and came around to score on a throwing error by 3B Dumas... Ozarka scored the game-winner in the sixth... Mayberry was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and was singled in by Ordonez... Roberts (3-1 3.55) registered the victory... he was tagged for 4 runs and 6 hits in his 7 frames... Roberts walked one and fanned 6... Josh Carpenter, Howard Hutch and Wayne Gates saved it for him with 2 and two-third scoreless innings... it was Gates second save in the postseason... Steve Aaron (2-2 4.85) was the losing pitcher... he was slapped around for 11 hits and 5 runs in 6 innings... Rousseau led the Nats with a perfect 4-for-4 day and Ordonez was 3-for-4... Kiffin has batted in 13 runs in the playoffs so far.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 6, 2020

2020 IPA Pro Cup Series

Ozarka Big Favorite Over CL In Pro Cup Finals

The champions of the Tycobbian Union, the mighty Ozarka Naturals, have been installed by the odds-makers as a heavy favorite to win the 2020 IPA Pro Cup over the Crystal Lake Crushers, champions of the Ruthlandian Union. It's a best-of-seven series and it will begin tomorrow afternoon in Ozarka at Ellie Ewing Stadium. Ozarka was seeded number one in the playoffs this year, while Crystal Lake was rated sixth-best. The Naturals are making their fifth appearance in the Pro Cup Finals. They have never won a Pro Cup. They were beaten out by Rocky Rapids last year. This is the Crushers very first postseason experience. Prior to this year, they had never made the playoffs in the previous 19 seasons.

Ozarka (93-61), managed by Joe Mac Carney, was the top dog in just about all statistical categories this season, ranking first with .294 team BA and 3.23 team ERA. Underdog Crystal Lake (87-67) hit only .248 (30th), but had a very fine 3.38 team ERA (5th). Both clubs played excellent defense. Ozarka had a .977 FA and ranked 4th in the TU, while the Crushers were second in the RU also with a .977 mark. Pitching will be the key for Crushers skipper Herman "Baby" George. Talking to the press George said, "This is nothing new. We were given no chance against Ancona in round one and little chance in round two against Beechwood, but hey, we're here and we didn't do it with mirrors. If my mound corps can stop the Nats bats, we can win this thing. We need Welch, McCullough, Bauer and Jernigan to be at their best."

Asked for a prediction about the series, Carney stated, "I like our chances, but anything can happen in a short series. Baby has two very fine pitchers in Welch and McCullough and we are not going to take anything for granted. Crystal Lake has to be a very good team, otherwise they wouldn't be here. Luck won't get you this far. You have to play good baseball."

Ozarka's starting rotation will consist of Yuka Nawajuk (23-9 3.30), Benny Osterman (21-11 2.38) and Eddie Roberts (18-3 2.44). Crystal Lake is planning to use Duncan Welch (24-12 2.00), Ralph McCullough (23-11 3.16) and Vic Bauer (18-13 3.45) as its starters. Carney will depend on Josh Carpenter (6-7 2.70) in the closing role. George has had bullpen problems this year, but closer Jeff Jernigan (2-9 4.39) and Roger Bishop (1-2 2.96) have done very well in the postseason and haven't allowed a run in 8 appearances.

The Naturals have a killer line-up featuring six .300 hitters in the its batting order: Ken Mayberry (.328/5/49/102), Benny Rousseau (.318/40/97/100), Andre Dumas (.310/36/117/99), SS James Couch (.305/15/82/90), CF Ryoma Nakayama (.306/7/54/85) and platooners Todd Chadwick (.330/8/53/52) and Teddy Tate (.317/4/38/25). And they have continued to bang the ball in the postseason. Rousseau is batting .421 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs, Dumas is at .377 with 2 home runs. 12 runs scored and has driven in 4, Jose Ordonez has hit .360 with 3 roundtrippers, 10 RBIs and 10 runs, Couch is hitting at a .333 pace with 3 homers, 10 RBIs and has scored 9 times. Frank Kiffin is the team leader with 13 RBIs, .359 BA and 2 home runs.

The Crushers are quite pale in comparison. All-time great 36-year-old Phil Gravelli (.345/22/94/91) has to do it all for them. The IPA career leader in home runs (652), hits (3619) and RBIs (2173) will have to get a lot of help from Greg Murphy (.304/8/68/64), Herb Buck (.217/17/53/117) and Eddie Robertson (.230/13/56/48) to upset Ozarka. So far they have done the job in the playoffs. Gravelli, a 20-year vet, is hitting .359 with one homer and 10 RBIs, Robertson is batting .326 with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs, Murphy has a .277 BA with 3 roundtrippers and 9 RBIs and Buck has 3 homers and 6 runs batted in, but is hitting only .240 for average.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 7, 2020

2020 IPA Pro Cup Series: Game 1
(best-of seven)

Welch Too Tough, CL Ekes By Ozarka In Opener
Uh Oh!
It just might be a series after all... the underdog Crystal Lake Crushers got a beautiful performance from their ace Duncan Welch as he stopped the heavy-hitting and heavily-favored Ozarka Naturals in the opening game of the 2020 IPA Pro Cup Finals... the Crushers eked by the Nats 3-2 on the road at Ellie Ewing Stadium.

Greg Murphy's two-run clout in the top of the sixth turned out to be the game-winner... Welch and Benny Osterman put nothing but zeroes on the scoreboard for the first four and a half innings... Ozarka scored first in the bottom of the fifth, when 2B Todd Chadwick (.300) tripled in C Frank Kiffin (.349)... Crystal Lake finally got in business in the top of the sixth, when 3B Herb Buck (.236) and CF Andy McGee (.271) singled and stole third and second base, respectively... 1B Phil Gravelli (.349) evened the score when Buck scored on his ground out... then clean-up man Murphy boomed his homer to give the Crushers a 3-1 margin... the Naturals made it 3-2 in the last of the seventh on three singles and a bases-loaded walk to RF Ken Mayberry (.204).

Welch (5-1 2.76) went 8 strong innings, held the Nats to 6 hits and one earned run, struck out 5 and walked 2... closer Jeff Jernigan netted his second save of the postseason with a scoreless ninth... Osterman (2-2 2.14) hurled a fine game, too... He went the distance and gave up 9 hits and 3 runs with 2 walks and 7 Ks... Murphy (.314) led the Crushers with 3-for-4, while Chadwick had a double and triple for the Naturals... Ozarka collected 7 hits.

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, June 1, 2075

IPA RACES WIDE OPEN AFTER 2 MONTHS OF PLAY
It's a little surprising... defending IPA Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake is not in first place at the end of May... in fact, not one division winner from last season is atop the standings... things are wide open with 8 new clubs leading the leagues.

Ruthlandian Union Review

The Ranford Bulls, a preseason 5th pick, are riding sky-high in the Ruthlandian North Division, but just barely... 4 other clubs are nipping at their heels, no more than 3 games out of first place... last year RU North winner Taranto has started slowly in 6th place, but they are only 6 and a half games out and are still within striking distance with 4 months to go... it's a long haul... so far it looks like a 7-team race... it's anybody's to win... last year the Tars were victorious by 7 games over Kilkenny and 8 games better than Valmara.

Don't worry about IPA champ Crystal Lake, they are still a fine club... they were picked to win the Ruthlandian South again for the second straight season and get a chance to repeat as Pro Cup titlist... the Skippers trail Valka by only 1 game... the Blackhawks are Crystal Lake's biggest rival... Valka won the RU South pennant in 2 of the last 3 years... only one other team seems to be in the running... the Belair Beach Sunbirds are in the third spot, trailing by 6 games, but they don't have the pitching to contend with the Blackhawks and Skippers... probably just a two-team race... Crystal Lake toppled Valka by 8 games last year and they were 16 games better than the Sunbirds.

This year Sugar Valley is the sensation in the Ruthlandian East... forecast to be a very distant fourth in the preseason poll, the Rattlers are reveling in first place, but not by much over favorite Marston, perennial contender Wynnamac and up-and-coming Cold Creek... defending division champion Eastshore was chosen to finish a very disappointing sixth this season... so far they have lived up to that with a sub .500 mark in 5th place... the Cotton Kings are already 8 and a half games out... last season Eastshore nipped the Sundowners by just 1 game... they finished 10 games up on the Raccoons, 12 ahead of Elnora and 13 games in front of Marston.

In the Ruthlandian West in 2074 the Stoner Silver Sox whipped Fort Benton and Volusia by 4 and 5 games respectively with the Sligo Rovers 12 games off the pace in the fourth spot... this year it's shaping up as a two-team tussle between the Silver Sox and Rovers with an outside chance that Volusia, Colfax and Fort Benton could be in the hunt... Stoner has captured the RU West division crown twice in the last three seasons... could be challenged by Sligo this year... the baseball pundits picked the Rovers to win by a wide margin this season with the Silver Sox a distant second-place tie, along with Colfax and Fort Benton.

Tycobbian Union Review

It's a five-team free-for-all in the Tycobbian North pennant chase this season... currently Luxora has a half-game margin over White River, three and a half ahead of Mahaska and five games better than Fairfax and Hartsdale... last year Oxford crushed everybody in the TU North and won going away by 17 games... in the preseason poll Oxford was the top choice, but the Red Caps have slipped to seventh place in the early going... the top pitchers have let them down with a slow start so far... the Luxora Zorros were supposed to be the toughest rival for Oxford... none of the other teams were given much a shot at winning the pennant... don't lose faith in the Red Caps... they are actually better this year with the addition of several rookies... it would not be hard for them to catch fire and put up a good second half surge and win it all again.

The preseason prognosticators made the Turon Typhoons a huge, top-heavy favorite in the Tycobbian South Division this season, but so far, it's been a hotly-contested affair with 5 teams involved... Turon is the leader after two months... the Typhoons have a scant half-game edge over the Southport Sun Sox... 4 games up on last year's division champ and Pro Cup finalist Summerland and Arroyo Grande... and 4 and a half games in front of the Cape Coral Hurricanes... Turon has won 4 of the last 5 pennants in the TU South... last year the Sunsets squeezed past the Sun Sox by just one game for the TU South pennant... San Alejo was just 6 games behind in the third spot in the race... the Montaneros are running sixth this year, 8 GB.

Last year the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats copped the Tycobbian East in easy fashion by 9 games over the South Fork Stallions... the Tucks were also the preseason poll choice to repeat this year... Red Bluff was the number-two pick with Hillsboro third and Midway fourth.... the Stallions, who won the 2073 Pro Cup, were the fifth choice... after April and May, only Hillsboro seems to be out of the race... the Red Sox are on top by 4 games over South Fork, 4 and a half ahead of lightly-regarded Ozarka and 5 and a half games in front of East Point... the Panthers are usually far behind at this point in the season... they were selected the worst team in the TU East preseason preview, but so far, have played .500 ball... after a slow start, defending division champ Tuckanarra has not done well at all... they are 6 and a half games behind in sixth place... but the Tiger Cats are still close enough to come back and win it all... both Red Bluff and South Fork are regular challengers for the TU East title... they are the most likely pennant contenders.

The Rolling Hills Racers are back... after three years of coming in 3rd or 4th and not really being in serious contention for the Tycobbian West crown, the Racers are playing like days of old, when they ran off 12 consecutive division titles and won 4 Pro Cups... they already have a 5-game lead over the Kenwood Wildcats, 7 and a half ahead of La Claire and 8 and a half games better than Denton City... last year's division winner Chicopee is way back at 10 games out... so far this season the preseason pollsters are right on target... they picked Rolling Hills to whip Kenwood in a two-team tango with Denton City, Chicopee and La Claire far back, following in their wakes.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 8, 2020

2020 IPA Pro Cup Series: Game 2
(best-of seven)

Crushers Win Again, McCullough Beats Nats 5-3
What a story is unfolding in the Pro Cup this year... unheralded Crystal Lake got excellent pitching in game two and again whipped highly-favored Ozarka 5-3... Ralph McCullough scattered 10 singles and didn't allow an earned run in his 8 innings... McCullough (2-1 4.25) went to the shower with a 5-3 lead and closer Jeff Jernigan saved it for him by retiring the Nats in order... Yuka Nawajuk (3-1 2.51) lost for the first time in the postseason in a lackluster outing... the light-hitting Crushers got to Nawajuk for 5 runs and 8 hits in 8 innings.

Crystal Lake scored in the first frame on 1B Phil Gravelli's (.362) single and a triple by 2B Greg Murphy (.315)... Ozarka deadlocked it in the third at 1-1 on singles by 3B Andre Dumas (.403) and 1B Benny Rousseau (.421), putting runners on second and third... another base hit by SS James Couch (.340) tied the score... back-to-back doubles in the fourth by RF Jed Franks (.239) and C Eddie Robertson (.306) upped the Crushers lead to 4-1... Franks drove in two runs and Robertson one... Ozarka chopped the lead to 4-3 in the sixth when Rousseau and Couch singled to put runners on the corners... Rousseau scored when SS Jimmy Bell misplayed C Frank Kiffin's (.362) groundball... a sacrifice moved the runners up to second and third and 2B Teddy Tate (.256) got Couch in with a sacrifice fly... Crystal Lake finished the scoring for the day when McCullough (.222) doubled and advanced to third on a ground-out, then scored on CF Andy McGee's (.269) sacrifice fly.