ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 14, 2025

2025 IPA Pro Cup Series

SF Nears Pro Cup Title, Tettelbach Wins 6-3
South Fork's 20-year-old rookie right-hander Jim Tettelbach continued to blitz the opposition in the playoffs... unbeaten Tettelbach posted his fourth win with a 6-3 victory over Middlefield, putting the Stallions in command in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... South Ford leads the series three games to two and only needs one more triumph to win its first-ever Pro Cup.

Tettelbach worked 8 innings, gave up 3 runs, one unearned, and 7 hits... he fanned 7 and walked only one... Tom Galloway got his 6th save in the postseason with a scoreless ninth, but the Roosters loaded the bases with three singles before Galloway put them away... the game was close for 6 innings with South Fork up 3-2... the Stallions put 3 on the scoreboard in the seventh to nail down the verdict... Danny Denver ((2-2 3.40) took the loss, permitting 6 runs and 12 hits in 6-plus frames.

South Fork had a 13-10 hit advantage, led by LF Patric Giles (.311) with 2 RBIs... CF Shelby Glasscock (.303) added 2 hits and drove in a run... and RF Robby Michael (.266) had 2 hits and scored twice... CF Tom Daniels (.371) paced the losers with 3-for-4 and an RBI.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

2025 IPA Pro Cup Series

Roosters Tie Pro Cup, Force 7th Game
The Middlefield Roosters bats boomed just at the right time to stave off elimination in the Pro Cup Finals... the underdog Roosters ravaged South Fork for 15 hits and an easy 8-2 victory to tie up the series at three games apiece... game seven will be tomorrow in South Fork for all the marbles... winning pitcher Frank Dean (3-1 3.59) tossed a steady game, holding the Stallions to 6 hits and 2 runs with 4 walks and 4 Ks... RF Chuck Larkin (.210) and SS Wes Gore (.246) sparked Middlefield with 2-run homers each... Larkin, playing with bruised ribs, had 2 hits and 3 RBIs... Larkin has 5 homers in the playoffs... manager Duroche "Lips" Leon took a gamble by starting Ozz Gatsby (2-1 10.80) in place of Gary Price, but it didn't pan out... Gatsby was hit hard for 6 runs and 11 hits in 4 innings... Price has labored in the postseason with an 0-4 record.

Slated to pitch in tomorrow's finale are rookie Bill Massey for South Fork and 5-year vet Danny Denver for Middlefield... the 20-year-old Massey was 21-10 with a 2.99 ERA in the regular season and the 23-year-old Denver was 23-7 with a 3.31 ERA... in the playoffs Massey is 4-1 with a 4.71 ERA, while Denver is 2-2 and 3.40. Denver will be working on just 2 days' rest.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 16, 2025

2025 IPA Pro Cup Series

What a Relief, South Fork Wins First Pro Cup
Great relief work in the seventh game of the Pro Cup Finals paved the way for South Fork's first-ever Pro Cup victory... three Stallion relievers stopped Middlefield cold, blanking them over the final 6 innings on one hit, striking out 9 and walking only one... that gave South Fork a chance to rally from a massive 6-run deficit after 3 innings... they slowly pecked away and shaved it to 6-4 after 7 innings and then delivered the coup de grace - a 5-run explosion in the eighth, putting them ahead to stay 9-6... the big blow of the game was when PH Lou Boone crashed a 3-run triple to put South Fork ahead 7-6.

Winning skipper Lips Leon exclaimed excitedly at the press conference, "Wow, that was a wild and crazy game and a wild and crazy series... to come back from a 6-0 score in game seven is fantastic... thank heavens we hit the ball today... We won the series, but got outscored... how about that!"... Both clubs averaged almost 6 runs a game with Middlefield having the edge 42-41.

Just like they were the entire season, the Stallion bullpen was fabulous... Kyle Preston worked four hitless innings and fanned 4... winning pitcher Ricky Raeburn (2-0 1.98) struck out all 3 batters in his only inning and closer Tom Galloway got his 7th save with a scoreless ninth... Galloway allowed one hit and whiffed 2 batters... Working on 2 days' rest Danny Denver ran out of gas in the late innings and lost it... Denver (2-3 4.12) was tagged for 7 runs and 8 hits in 7 innings... the Stallions outhit the Roosters 12 to 9... RF Robby Michael (.296) had 3 hits, including a home run... he drove in 2 runs... 3B Ray Hershberger (.324) also batted in a pair of runs with 2 hits.... 1B Keith Yashin (.329) had a 3-run double to pace the Roosters.

Losing manager Bailey Norcross was disappointed, but not down. "The Roosters had a great season... we won our division for the third year in a row and we went all the way to the finals of the Pro Cup... we whipped two fine teams in Wynnamac and Crystal Lake and we came pretty darn close to whipping another fine team... we had our chances... we were up two games to one... we just didn't do it... South Fork did... congratulations to Lips and his boys."

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 17, 2025

SF's Tettelbach 2025 Pro Cup MVP
A 20-year-old rookie right-hander named Jim Tettelbach was honored as the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player today by The Islandian Times. Tettelbach was the prime reason why the South Fork Stallions won the IPA Pro Cup for the first time in history. He was superb in the playoffs with a 4-0 record and a sparkling 1.06 ERA. Tettelbach whipped Middlefield twice in the Finals, 6-2 in game two and 6-3 in game five. He also defeated Ginza 2-0 in the TU Final 4 and Rolling Hills 1-0 in the Elite 8. During the regular season Tettelbach recorded a 17-12 mark with a 3.63 ERA.

Stallion teammate Patric Giles was a distant second in the voting. Giles, a veteran left fielder, had a fine postseason with a .313 batting average, 2 homers, 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Number three in the balloting was South Fork closer Tommy Galloway, who didn't allow a run in 8 relief appearances and stood out with 7 saves. Also receiving some support were two Middlefield Roosters, left fielder Floyd McClellan and first sacker Keith Yashin. McClellan batted .348 with 5 homers, 11 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Yashin hit 5 roundtrippers, drove in 15 runs and scored 15 times with a .329 average.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 18, 2025

Ranford's Hunt Reaps RU's Rookie Award
The top-ranked rookie performer in the Ruthlandian Union was Ranford catcher Kyle Hunt. It was announced today by league officials that he had been named the winner of the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award. The 22-year-old Hunt chalked up some strong season stats, including a .336 batting average and .401 on-base percentage, while racking up 13 home runs, 71 RBIs and 75 runs scored. Hunt made the All-Star team in his freshman year and led a revival in Ranford, helping the Bulls rise up from last place to fourth place this season. He also threw out 41.7% of the runners that tried to steal.

Beechwood's pitcher Maury Patterson was second in The Islandian Times poll. Patterson, a 22-year-old right-hander, was brilliant in his first year with a 12-7 mark and a super 2.10 ERA. Patterson didn't join the Bobcats until the middle of June. Belle Plaine reliever Mac Shaw came in third in the balloting. Shaw was 7-0 in 31 games with a remarkable 0.33 ERA.

Pascioni Snags TU Rookie Award
Don Pascioni's age didn't show very often in his first year. He performed more like a veteran on the hill for the Southport Sun Sox and today he walked away with the 2025 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Award. The 18-year-old starter registered a 18-13 record this season in 38 starts. Over 303 innings he gave up 243 hits, struck out 241 and issued 109 walks as he held the opposition to a .219 batting average and fashioned a 2.94 ERA. Pascioni was a big reason the Sun Sox climbed from 7th to 4th in the TU South this year. He also made the All-Star squad.

26-year-old Darien Russell was the runner-up to Pascioni with a fine 19-13 record and a 2.97 ERA. Russell was one of the main ingredients the Fairfax Frogs has such a successful season. The Frogs leaped from fourth place in the TU North to first place. Luxora's left fielder Kevin Hanley was the number-three vote-getter. The 19-year-old Hanley hit .286 with 20 homers, 75 RBIs and scored 88 runs for the last-place Zorros.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 19, 2025

Woods Tops Best Hitter List
What a way to finish off the year -- being honored with the 2025 Golden Bat Award in the Ruthlandian Union. It had already been a very special season for Sugar Valley's Dean Woods, but today's announcement really put the icing on his cake. All season long Dean Woods gave opposing pitchers fits by hitting .329 as he collected 164 hits, 29 doubles, 4 triples, 33 home runs and 129 RBIs. The 23-year-old Rattler first baseman played in 152 games and scored 83 runs. Woods topped the Ruthlandian Union with 129 runs batted in and was second overall in the IPA.

The top three vote-getters in the RU Golden Bat competition were all first sackers. Number two in The Islandian Times poll was Belair Beach's Kees Draeger, who batted .328, hit 32 home runs, drove in 97 runs and scored 97 times. Draeger also made the All-Star team. Coming in third in the voting was Ancona's Alekos Kotas. He posted a .325 batting average with 24 roundtrippers, 113 runs batted in and scored 81 runs.

Oxford's Hartwig Named TU's Best Hitter
After coming close in his first two IPA seasons, Dennis Hartwig of the Oxford Red Caps finally copped the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award for 2025. The extraordinary 23-year-old left fielder was second in his rookie season in 2023 and third last year. This year Hartwig hit for a .353 average while collecting 198 hits, 48 doubles, 11 triples, 24 home runs, 109 RBIs and scoring 111 times. His Red Caps came in third place in the TU North.

Hartwig edged out last year's Golden Bat honoree Rusty Vizcarra of the Arroyo Grande Suns. The Suns talented first baseman chalked up another strong season with 33 homers, 130 RBIs and 98 runs, while hitting .296 for average. Vizcarra led the IPA in runs batted in. Rolling Hills right fielder Pat Webb wound up third in the polling. The 23-year-old batted .315 with 21 home runs, 129 RBIs and tallied 85 runs as he sparked the Reds to the TU West flag.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 20, 2025

RU Top Pitcher Selected, Award To FM's Cooper
He's in the early phase of his career, but this past season Jeff Cooper performed like a veteran on the hill for the Far Mountain Redhawks and walked away with the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award in the process. The 23-year-old Redhawks star fashioned a 18-11 won-loss record in 2025 with an IPA-leading 1.85 ERA. In 325 innings of work and 39 starts, Cooper completed 20 games, struck out 178 while giving up 237 hits and 95 walks. He held opposing batters to a .204 average. In his 4 years in the league Cooper has compiled a 79-52 record with a great 2.24 ERA. He was voted the RU Rookie of the Year in 2022. Cooper led Far Mountain to the RU North title this year. The Redhawks were 5th last season and it's been 8 years since they won a pennant.

Golden Arm runner-up Billy Chapel of the Stoner Stars had a fine season, too. For the first time in 18 years the Stars had a shot at the RU West, losing out in the late stages to the Middlefield Roosters by just one game. Chapel played a big role in the Stars success this year with a sparkling 23-11 mark and a strong 2.46 ERA. He led the IPA with 24 complete games. The 33-year-old right-hander is 233-189 in his 13 seasons with Stoner. The third-place finisher in The Islandian Times poll was Sugar Valley's 28-year-old right-hander Benny McConnell, who wound up 21-7 with a 2.86 ERA. McConnell paced the Rattlers to a first-division spot in the RU East this season with an 83-71 record.

BSC's Moss Elbows His Way to TU Award
21-year-old Greg Moss of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers put together a super year in 2025 for such a young player. Moss was named today as the winner of the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award. He was a first-time winner. Moss crafted an impressive 25-11 record and a 1.91 ERA, topping the TU with a splendid 1.91 ERA. In 320 innings he allowed 238 hits, struck out 252, walked 60. Moss tossed 22 complete games, leading the TU in that category. Players only hit .207 against him.

Quinn Starr was number two in the TU Golden Arm balloting. The 27-year-old Tuckanarra star southpaw, won more games this year than anyone in the IPA with a 26-13 record. Starr led the Blue Jays to second-place in the TU East, losing out to the eventual Pro Cup champion South Fork by only 3 games. He notched 20 complete games and an excellent 2.33 ERA. Third in the voting was Daniel Ferguson, who sparked the Ginza Ninjas to a second pennant in the last three years with a 21-12 mark and a sensational 1.97 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 21, 2025

RU Honors Golden Glove Award Winners
Defense is a critical element in the game of baseball. Good defenders are worth their weight in gold and today the best of them for 2025 have been recognized. Multi-year Golden Glove winners were Jug Slavin of Grand City (7 times), Russ Woodward of Marston (5 times), Warren Fisher of Waleska (3 times) and Gerry Garner of Eastshore (2 times). The only rookie on either team to be honored was Ranford's Kyle Hunt.

These players will receive the Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Award:
Pitcher: Billy Chapel (Stoner Stars) 1.000 FA (23-11 2.46)
Catcher: Kyle Hunt (Ranford Bulls) .993 FA/41.7% RTO/5 PB (.336 BA/13 HR/71 RBI/75 R)
First Baseman: Benny Cortazzo (Elnora All-Stars) .995 FA (.254 BA/18 HR/87 RBI/62 R)
Second Baseman: Gerry Garner (Eastshore Elegants) .977 FA (.237 BA/14 HR/70 RBI/79 R)
Third Baseman: Jug Slavin (Grand City Cybercats) .978 FA (.254 BA/7 HR/36 RBI/91 R)
Shortstop: Warren Fisher (Waleska Westerners) .978 FA (.256 BA/0 HR/35 RBI/55 R)
Left Fielder: Lil Hoss Burkhalter (Wynnamac Sundowners) .987 FA (.289 BA/29 HR/108 RBI/77 R)
Center Fielder: Russ Woodward (Marston Nine) .998 FA (.298 BA/32 HR/101 RBI/98 R)
Right Fielder: Kevin Fisher (Stoner Stars) .993 FA (.271 BA/8 HR/63 RBI/89 R)

Year's Best Gloves Selected by Tycobbian Union
It's been said that the best offense is a good defense. That's why contending teams are always looking to improve on the defensive side of the game. Keeping runs from scoring is just as good as driving them in. Norm Owens of Bayview tops the teams with 10 Golden Gloves, followed by Jim Schubert of Red Bluff with 7, Danny Redd of Tuckanarra with 4, Tommy Shore of Bayview and Eddie Lasky of Bay St. Clair with 3 each and Andy Pearson of Arroyo Grande with 2.

The top fielders have been chosen in the Tycobbian Union for 2025. Here are the Golden Glove Award winners:
Pitcher: Eddie Lasky (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) .988 FA (14-19 4.45)
Catcher: Jim Schubert (Red Bluff Red Sox) .994 FA/43.1% RTO/8 PB (.251 BA/8 HR/43 RBI/55 R)
First Baseman: Johnny O'Rorke (Ginza Ninjas) .995 FA (.309 BA/31 HR/97 RBI/89 R)
Second Baseman: Tommy Shore (Bayview Vikings) .987 FA (.281 BA/14 HR/63 RBI/69 R)
Third Baseman: Sammy Tucker (White River Rascals) .979 FA (.300 BA/3 HR/43 RBI/67 R)
Shortstop: Andy Pearson (Arroyo Grande Suns) .981 FA (.343 BA/18 HR/74 RBI/97 R)
Left Fielder: Norm Owens (Bayview Vikings) .995 FA (.262 BA/10 HR/58 RBI/58 R)
Center Fielder: Alton Dale (Fairfax Frogs) .997 FA (.293 BA/13 HR/57 RBI/83 R)
Right Fielder: Danny Redd (Tuckanarra Blue Jays) .990 FA (.306 BA/7 HR/41 RBI/117 R)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Stars Chapel Acclaimed RU MVP
The Rutlandian Union has awarded its Most Valuable Player trophy to Billy Chapel, Stoner's ace right-hander. Chapel was a vital part in the Stars rise from fifth to second in the RU East this season. Stoner fought tooth-and-nail with Middlefield and came up one game short. The 33-year-old Chapel fashioned a 23-11 mark with a 2.46 ERA. He led the IPA in complete games with 24.

Chapel edged out Ancona's fine first baseman Alekos Kotas, who led the Red Elephants to the runner-up spot in the RU North. Far Mountain beat them out by 3 games. Kotas is 28 and a 7-year veteran. He batted .325, the best of his career. Lifetime he is a .299 hitter. Kotas hit 24 homers, batted in 113 runs and scored 81, while playing in 151 games.

Number three in The Islandian Times MVP poll was Sugar Valley's talented first sacker Dean Woods. He is 23 years old and a 4-year vet in the IPA. Woods batted .329 with 33 home runs, 129 RBIs and scored 83 runs. The Rattler slugger was the top RBI man in the RU. Sugar Valley ended up fourth in the RU East with an 83-71 record.

Ginza's Ferguson Nabs TU MVP
Prior to Daniel Ferguson's arrival in Ginza in 2023, the Ninjas had never won a pennant and hadn't played in the postseason since 2003, when wildcards were part of the Pro Cup playoffs. The 24-year-old lefty quickly changed that by leading Ginza to it first division title. This season Ferguson was a big part in winning its second pennant in three years with a 21-12 mark and a superlative 1.96 ERA. He had the fourth-best ERA in the IPA and ranked third in the TU. The Ninjas had to fight off 3 tough challengers, topping Turon by one game, Arroyo Grande by 5 and Southport by 6.

The second-highest vote-getter in The Islandian Times poll was Rolling Hills right-fielder Pat Webb. The 23-year-old Webb was ranked second in the IPA and TU with 129 RBIs. Arroyo Grande's Rusty Vizcarra edged him out for the honor with 130. Webb hit .315 with 21 homers and scored 85 runs, helping the Reds run away with the TU West by 10 games with a 91-63 record.

Tuckanarra's talented southpaw Quinn Starr came in third in the balloting for the MVP. Starr led the IPA with 26 victories, while losing 11 games. The 27-year-old helped the Blue Jays to a fine 93-61 mark, second best in the TU East. Tuckanarra lost out by 3 games to the Pro Cup champ, the sensational South Fork Stallions. Starr had 20 complete games and posted a 2.33 ERA in 40 starts.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 23, 2025

Ranford's Fargnoli Top RU Skipper
The Ranford Bulls made a huge turnaround this season under manager Rick Fargnoli. The Bulls soared from deep in the cellar to fourth place in the RU North, winding up 84-70 this year 7 games off the pace. Last year they were a lowly 62-92 and trailed by a whopping 35 games. For his efforts Fargnoli has been selected as the Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year for 2025. This is the first time Fargnoli has been so honored.

Dave Torregrossa of the Belle Plaine Musketeers was the runner-up in The Islandian Times poll. Torregrossa improved the Muskies from third to second place this year, just barely losing out by a game in the RU East to the Wynnamac Sundowners. Belle Plaine went from 81-73 to 91-63 and still couldn't win.

Benny Stern guided his Stoner Stars up from fifth to second in the RU West. Stoner fell just one game short of the pennant, losing out to Middlefield. The Stars went from 70-84 and 15 games back to 84-70.

SF's Leon Snares TU Best Manager Award
The Tycobbian Manager of the Year was also a first-time winner. This season Duroche "Lips" Leon piloted his South Fork Stallions to a great season, moving them up from sixth to first place. The Stallions were a dismal 69-85 in 2024, winding up 27 games out of first. South Fork was the winningest club in the IPA with a 96-58 mark. In a remarkable season the Stallions eventually won the Pro Cup.

Leon won a tight vote with Huroko Uchiyama of Ginza, Whitey Richburn of Turon, Dane Wesner of Fairfax and Charley Oscar of Southport. Uchiyama was the second-highest vote-getter. The Ninjas won the TU South by a slim game in a great battle with the Typhoons of Richburn. Uchiyama also edged Richburn in the Manager of the Year poll. Tied for the fourth spot in the poll were Fairfax's Wesner and Southport's Oscar. The Frogs won the TU North this season after finishing 4th the year before. The Sun Sox climbed up from seventh to fourth in the strong TU South, just 6 games out.

[Eugene Church]

I have played 25 years now in the IPA.
Several readers have asked me to give the history of each franchise so they can get a better understanding of the league. So I will now recap each IPA division. There are 8 of them, North, South, East and West in each league with 8 teams in each, a total of 64 teams.

I think it would be better to cover all the teams division by division, rather than just go from the worst franchise in both leagues to the best franchise in both leagues. This should give a better understanding of the league's history. It will show you how division teams compare to one another.

So I will cover the Tycobbian East first, beginning with the East Point Panthers. I will go from worst to best in each division's history.

After I have recapped the franchise histories, I will announce the IPA Hall of Fame. It's time I started electing the HOF-ers.

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 24, 2025

RU West, TU East Won Most Pro Cups
In its first 25 years of play in the Islandian Pro Alliance, each division has won at least one Pro Cup with the Ruthlandian West and Tycobbian East the leaders with 5 victories each in the Finals. The TU East has made the most Pro Cup appearances with 12 and has compiled a 5-7 mark in the Finals, while the RU West is 5-3. The RU North is 4-4, followed by the RU South at 2-1, the TU North is 1-1 and the TU West is last with a 1-3 record.

The Turon Typhoons have captured the most Pro Cup trophies with 4. Far Mountain of the RU North is number two with 3 titles. Three clubs have won a pair of Pro Cups each: Crystal Lake from the RU South, Eastshore of the RU East and Tuckanarra of the TU East. One-time winners are Taranto of the RU North, Wynnamac of the RU East, Volusia, Middlefield, Colfax, Rocky Rapids and Sligo of the RU West, Oxford of the TU North, South Fork, High Mesa and Red Bluff of the TU East and Kenwood of the the TU West. Turon has the most Pro Cup appearances with 6. The Typhoons are 4-2. Ozarka has played for the championship 5 times, but has never won. Far Mountain is 3-1 in the Pro Cups.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 24, 2025


East Point Panthers History
The Tycobbian East is the toughest division in the IPA down through the years and is tied with the Ruthlandian West for the most Pro Cup crowns. The two divisions have won 5 apiece. The TU East, however, has appeared 12 times overall, but has posted a lackluster 5-7 record, while the RU West is 5-3.

The hapless East Point Panthers are a member of the TU East and are the worst franchise in the IPA... the Panthers are over 600 games below .500 in their IPA history with a .416 winning percentage (1538-2159)... they have made the playoffs only twice and have just one pennant to show for 24 seasons in the league... East Point join the IPA in its second season as part of the expansion from 24 to 64 teams... the last time the Panthers made the postseason was way back in 2008... Denton City swept them in the TU Elite 8 Series... the Redbirds went to the Pro Cup Finals that year and were beaten by Wynnamac in 6 games... in 2002 South Fork eliminated the Panthers in the first round 2 games to none... the Stallions fell to the High Mesa Cowboys in 3 games in the Elite 8... the Cowboys whipped Elnora in the Pro Cup 3 games to none... East Point has been in the cellar 13 times and in the first division only 4 times... its 4.60 ERA is the highest ERA in the IPA.

Top Hitters: 2B Karol Zodoka (2002-2006) is East Point's all-time star with a .305 BA and 193 homers in his 5 years with the team 2002-2006... in his fine 16-year career with 3 teams Zodoka hit 391 homers and batted .293... Zodoka made the All-Star team 7 times and won 4 Golden Gloves... in 2002 he won the Golden Bat... 2B Jesse Goodwin (2008-2019) stood out for 12 years, hitting 375 homers and batting .283... won the Golden Bat in 2012 and made the All-Star team 5 times... overall Goodwin played 15 years with Ranford and East Point with a .287 BA and 430 homers...3B Rex Sokolov (2002-2006) starred in the Panthers best years, batting .278 with 136 roundtrippers (7th) and 437 RBIs (8th)... he and Zodoka formed a great 1-2 punch... Sokolov was a 2-time All-Star... 1B Bill McCann (2020-2025) was signed late in his career after 12 seasons with Southport of the TU South... with the Panthers he really blossomed and slugged 136 home runs with a .280 BA and won a Golden Glove... McCann retired at 42 after this season... SS Gil Rayfor (2014-2025) has hit .290 for his 12 years... 33-year-old Rayfor has twice been an All-Star... and is the career club leader in hits with 1930, doubles with 334 and walks with 1003.

Top Pitchers: pitchers have a tough time at hitter-friendly Armed Forces Stadium... 32-year-old Bingo Long (2013-2025) has suffered through 13 years in East Point... Long is the top winner with a poor 153-233 mark and a decent 3.95 ERA... Long is still in the current starting rotation... one of the few good pitchers the team ever had was Jarred Robillard (2003-2006), who was with the club for 4 seasons 2003-2006 and compiled a 54-49 record with a 3.85 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

Islandian Times
Saturday, October 25, 2025

Hillsboro Blazers History
The Hillsboro Blazers have never made the playoffs and are a sub .500 team overall... they have won 1769 games and lost 1927... the closest the Blazers have ever come to a TU East pennant was a third-place finish in 2020, when they came in third and just 2 games behind... the powerful Ozarka Naturals were in their prime and edged out second-place Midway by a game... that year the Nats made it all the way to the Pro Cup Finals, but fell in 5 games to Crystal Lake of the Ruthlandian South... the Blazers usually are a second-division fixture in the Tycobbian East except for the last 9 years... it took Hillsboro until 2017 to finally make the first division.

Not a lot of great ballplayers in Hillsboro's history... 14-year veteran, current ace and 2-time All-Star Tom Edgar 2012-2025 has been a very fine starter in his 14 seasons, chalking up a 219-201 record with mediocre to bad teams... Edgar's standout 3.05 ERA speaks volumes for his talent... Edgar might have been a 300-game winner with contenders... two other hurlers Pat Buettner (2013-2025) and Yank Yoland (2013-2025) have been solid, too... Buettner is 181-163 with a 3.79 ERA and Yoland is 172-148 with a 3.79 ERA... they each have 13 years' experience... Edgar is 38, Buettner is 35 and Yoland is 33... all are in the current rotation.

25-year-old 1B Larry Guichard (2020-2025) had been a standout in his 6 years on the team... Guichard is an All-Star performer (2023) and has a career .311 BA, the highest in Hillsboro history... He is a longball threat with 96 homers so far... Guichard is the only .300 career hitter the Blazers have ever had... 1B Andy Jefferson (2013-2024) had a very good career, batting .292 with 320 homers and 845 RBIs from 2013 to 2024... Jefferson is the team's home run leader and is number two in RBIs... 13-year vet Matt Lalonde (2013-2025) is the current second baseman... Lifetime he has the second-best BA at .294 and is also number two in homers with 182... Lalonde tops the team in doubles with 360... Lalonde was an All-Star in 2019... SS Tommy Cooper (2007-2021) was a reliable infielder for the Blazers for 15 years, leading the team all-time in games played and RBIs, but hit only .257... Cooper was in 2057 games (1st) with 238 home runs (2nd), 850 RBIs (1st) and scored 889 runs (1st).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 25, 2025

High Mesa Cowboys History
The High Mesa Cowboys started off great in the IPA and won the Pro Cup in its first year of the franchise's existence in 2002. The Cowboys swept the Elnora All-Stars in three games. High Mesa also qualified for the postseason in 2003, but were quickly eliminated in the first round by Tuckanarra, two games to none. Since then the team has only come close one time to qualifying for the Pro Cup playoffs. That was in 2023 when the Tuckanarra Blue Jays edged them out by just a single game. The powerful Blue Jays went on to claim the Pro Cup by whipping Valmara in 6 games. Most of the time the Cowpokes wind up in the first division, but rarely close to the pennant winner. In 24 seasons High Mesa has put up a winning .514 mark in the TU East with a 1898-1798 record.

High Mesa has always featured a high-octane offense and lots of longballs because of its band box stadium, Queen Ranch Stadium, which is only 312 and 306 down the lines and 353 in the power alleys... it's enough to say that High Mesa is a hitter's paradise and a pitcher's nightmare... it's also the home of the greatest hitter in IPA history - the remarkable and legendary 1B Jack Elliott (2013-2025)... Elliott is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time Golden Bat winner, 5-time TU MVP, won 7 batting crowns, 5-time Gold Glover, Rookie of the Year and led the league in homers on 8 occasions... Elliott hit 65 homers in 2021 to set the IPA mark... he also holds the highest IPA lifetime BA at .353 and goes into the 2026 season with 676 roundtrippers... retired great 1B Phil Gravelli is the current leader with 726... Elliott is only 32 and still quite a hitter... it's very likely he will set the all-time HR standard... only recently has Elliott had a good supporting cast... he was the whole show for a decade... it's unlikely that the IPA will ever see the likes of Jack Elliott again.

In the early year of the franchise, the Cowpokes had some solid ballplayers... Adam Zitek, Ed Granberg, Rolf Kellgren, Jay Fessler and John Owens led the team to the Pro Cup crown in 2002... LF Adam Zitek (2002-2006) was twice an All-Star for High Mesa, won the Golden Bat and Tycobbian MVP in 2005 when he slammed 51 homers and drove in 171 runs, while batting .305... Zitek is 6th with 181 home runs and 568 RBIs for the Cowboys... his best seasons were with the Cowboys... Lifetime he played for 13 years, 5 with High Mesa and 8 with South Fork, batting .272 with 262 roundtrippers and 825 runs batted in... 2B Ed Granberg (2002-2006) is the number two Cowboy career batter with a .322 BA, 98 HRs, 483 RBIs (8th)and 498 runs (8th)... Granberg was a 1-time All-Star and Gold Glover... 4-time All-Star SS Rolf Kellgren (2002-2006) is number three with a .312 BA... Kellgren was the 2002 Pro Cup MVP... he hit .466 with 8 doubles, 1 triple and 4 homers as he led the Cowboys to the IPA title, beating the Elnora All-Stars in a three-game sweep... Kellgren also scored 14 runs and batted in 13 in the postseason... Kellgren had a fine 17-year career from 2002 to 2018, playing for five teams in all... Kellgren totaled 2649 hits, 466 doubles, 136 triples, 155 homers, 998 RBIs, 1625 runs and stole 491 bases... his lifetime average was .285... C-1B Jay Fessler (2002-2006) was fourth with a .311 BA... Fessler made the All-Star squad twice... 2-time All-Star IF Wild Deer Etchimin (2008-2021) was second to Elliott with 341 homers, 1077 runs and 1043 RBIs... overall Etchimin batted .276 in his career with 413 home runs, 1308 RBIs and 1330 runs... Etchimin played 17 years in his career, his first 5 seasons were with the Chicopee Braves... 2-time All-Star OF Darrel Alston 2012-2021) split 20 seasons with Eastshore (2002-2011) at first and the later years with the Cowboys... Alston totaled 568 HRs, 1644 RBIs and scored 1563 times in his career and batted .284 for average... he is number three on the High Mesa homer list with 284, fourth in RBIs with 778 and fifth in scoring with 680 runs.

Leading the High Mesa hurlers were 1-time All-Star Kent Wells (2006-2017), who was 193-173 with a 4.05 ERA... 1-time All-Star John Rainer (2005-2024) with a 185-167 mark and a 4.16 ERA... 1-time All-Star Ronald Ward (2016-2025) with a 161-122 record and a 3.91 ERA... and 1-time All-Star Johnny Falcon (2006-2016) with a 159-147 record and a 4.08 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

Are the team histories sufficient?

Comments for improvement would be appreciated.

One thing they will help me with is the Hall of Fame.

They will be a good review of the great IPA players.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 26, 2025

Red Bluff Red Sox History
After excellent success in the early days of the Red Bluff Red Sox franchise, the team has now fallen on hard times. The Red Sox won the TU East three times in the first four seasons. They also won the team's only Pro Cup during that era. Red Bluff rolled over Sugar Valley in the 2004 Pro Cup with four wins in five games, lead by a superb mound corps of Mila Mohoski, Leonard Urban and Frank Beaudoin and position players Tony Blundell, Vern Gable and Kris Grabowski. In 2003 the Red Sox advanced to third round of the playoffs before losing to the Oxford Red Caps in three games. Red Bluff made it as far as the Elite 8 in 2005 when they were eliminated by Denton City in three games. Several seasons later in 2009 Red Bluff won its fourth TU East flag. In the Pro Cup playoffs Denton City disposed of the Red Sox again. This time it was in six games in the Elite 8. The Redbirds were edged out in the Final 4 by the Turon Typhoons in a great series four games to three. Turon took the Pro Cup that year. 17 years have now past since the Red Sox have graced the postseason, but the overall 1923-1773 record is still good with a .520 winning percentage.

Red Bluff's best all-time player is SS Jose Aguilar (2005-2025), a 7-time All-Star and 3-time Gold Glover, who put in 21 years with the team before being traded to Kilkenny at the end of this season at age 40... Aguilar, a career .295 hitter, tops the Red Sox in just about all offensive categories with 2922 games, 3223 hits, 459 doubles, 117 triples, 1401 RBIs, 485 stolen bases and 1762 walks... Aguilar is fourth in batting average and second in homers with 317... 1B Tommy Klegg (2006-2018) is the all-time Red Sox slugger with 460 homers and number two with 1353 RBIs... Klegg made the All-Star team on three occasions and hit 475 home runs in his fine career with a .276 BA... 2B-3B James Mack (2019-2025) is the current career leader with a .311 BA and still very productive at age 40... Mack is third with 239 homers and fifth with 766 RBIs... Mack has been picked on the All-Star team three times and has nabbed two Gold Gloves... at age 37 Jim Schubert (2010-2025) has been a standout catcher for 16 years, batting .282 (7th) with 2330 hits (2nd), 336 doubles (2nd), 168 home runs (7th), 1054 runs (2nd) and 837 RBIs (4th), while making the All-Star team 4 times and honored with 7 Golden Gloves... OF-1B and 3-time All-Star Kris Grabowski (2003-2016) played a big part in the Pro Cup year... Grabowski hit .301 lifetime (2nd) in 1701 games (3rd) with 1934 hits (3rd), 216 roundtrippers (4th), 920 RBIs (3rd) and 781 runs (5th)... OF Tony Blundell (2002-2006) only played five years with the Red Sox, but they were good ones... Blundell batted .296 (3rd) with 117 homers (10th)... his main claim to fame is a .377 BA with 5 homers and 22 RBIs in the 2004 Pro Cup... Blundell was traded in 2007 and retired in 2014 at 37... he played for 3 other teams, but never performed like he did in his prime with the Red Sox.

The King of the Hill in Red Bluff history is Mila Mohoski (2002-2006), who was with the Red Sox only four seasons, but he made a huge impact with an 87-52 record and a 3.15 ERA, leading them to three pennants and a Pro Cup Crown... 2004 Pro Cup MVP Mohoski was the ringleader in the championship season with a 4-1 record in the playoffs... in 2006 Mohoski was traded to Denton City for Tommy Klegg... Mohoski had fine success for the Redbirds, helping them win 5 pennants, finishing with a 353-257 record for his 20 seasons and retiring at age 41... Mohoski won the TU Golden Arm in 2010 with a 26-11 mark... other solid pitchers were John Dougherty (2002-2017), the closer in Pro Cup year, who later became a steady starter... Dougherty is the all-time club victories leader with a 235-205 mark, third in saves with 91 and a 3-time All-Star... he is number two behind Mohoski with a 3.21 ERA... and Frank Beaudoin (2002-2019) is second in wins with a 228-207 record... he started more games and pitched more innings than any other pitcher in Red Bluff history, while compiling a 3.69 ERA (5th).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 27, 2025

Midway Wolves History
The Midway Wolves suffered most of the first decade in the IPA with a losing record 7 of the first 9 seasons. However, they have turned it around since 2011 and had winning seasons for the last 15 years. The Wolves never made the playoffs until 2014. They didn't last long that postseason and were knocked out by the Kenwood Wildcats of the TU West 4 games to 1 in the Elite 8 Series. Kenwood went on to take the Pro Cup that year by beating Belair Beach in the finals 4 games to 3. Midway finally made it to the Pro Cup themselves in 2022, but were defeated by Crystal Lake 4 games to 2. The Wolves had a heart-breaking season in 2024 when they wound up second in the TU East to the talented Pro Cup titlist Tuckanarra Blue Jays. Midway posted a terrific 95-59 record, but came up one game short. In its history Midway has chalked up a fine .528 winning percentage, tied for the 8th best in the IPA. Record-wise the Wolves have compiled a 1951-1746 mark in their history.

Midway's all-time great is pitcher Motega Wolf (2012-2025)with a 248-166 record and a marvelous 2.93 ERA in his 14 seasons... Wolf has appeared in 2 All-Star games... the 34-year-old right-hander leads the Wolves in wins and is second in career ERA... young 25-year-old Bobby Dorignac (2021-2025) is tops with a lifetime 2.38 ERA... Dorignac is 98-51 overall and has been sensational in his 5 years with the club... Last year Dorignac won the prestigious TU MVP Award and the Golden Arm Award... in 2022 Dorignac was the runner-up for the Pro Cup MVP trophy... in the loss to Crystal Lake, he was sensational with a 5-0 mark and a super low 0.64 ERA in the postseason... long-time Midway closer Dom Vilaggio (2010-2025) has rung up 440 saves with a 2.99 ERA... he is number two on the all-time IPA saves list... only Turon's Merle Studebaker is ahead of him with 445... 35-year-old Vilaggio is number one in saves and third-best in ERA in the team's history... Vilaggio is 64-95 in his 16 seasons with the club... Sherm Jarvis (2012-2020) (167-108) is the second-biggest winner with 167 victories in his 9 years with the team... Jarvis compiled a 3.86 ERA (9th) with the Wolves... Jarvis played 4 seasons with Eastshore of the RU East at the beginning of his career... overall he was 193-125 with a 3.92 ERA.

OF Johnny Lee, C Sammy Murphy and SS Rob Gigler have been standouts for Midway for quite a few years and are the offensive leaders of the team... 34-year-old Lee (2010-2025) is a 5-time All-Star and tops the team in most categories... Lifetime Lee is hitting .281 (6th) with 2209 games (1st), 2013 hits (2nd), 1364 runs (1st), 382 doubles (1st), 85 triples (1st), 374 homers (1st), 1218 RBIs (1st), 189 SB (2nd) and 1320 walks (1st)... Murphy (2011-2025) is 35 years old and tops in hits with 2040 and ranks high in other categories with 998 runs (3rd), 301 doubles (3rd), 186 homers (7th), 929 RBIs (3rd) and 819 walks (2nd)... Murphy has won one Golden Glove and sports a .277 career BA... the 30-year-old Gigler (2015-2025) is the club and career leader with a .299 batting average and 2 All-Star Game appearances... 26-year-old RF Chitto Chandler (2019-2025) has posted 7 solid seasons with a .292 BA (4th) and 154 homers (9th), made the All-Stars twice and won two Golden Gloves... Chandler is the son of Midway manager Cochise Chandler... one other player deserves mention... LF Lou Sturge (2007-2022) batted only .247 in his 16-year career, but played in 1939 games (3rd) with 362 homers (2nd), 1201 runs (2nd), 1517 hits (4th), 935 RBIs (2nd) and stole 436 bases (1st).

[MadBum]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Are the team histories sufficient?

Comments for improvement would be appreciated.

One thing they will help me with is the Hall of Fame.

They will be a good review of the great IPA players.

I like the team by team review, it's a nice history lesson. I think that what you're doing is just fine, although I'd like to see what others have to do. Now I just need to pick a team to support and we should be good to catch up and be able to follow this on a day by day basis.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by MadBum

I like the team by team review, it's a nice history lesson. I think that what you're doing is just fine, although I'd like to see what others have to do. Now I just need to pick a team to support and we should be good to catch up and be able to follow this on a day by day basis.

You comments are muchly appreciated.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 28, 2025

Tuckanarra Blue Jays Histor
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays have chalked up the fourth-best record in IPA history with a .545 winning percentage with a fine 2016-1681 mark. The Blue Jays have garnered 2 Pro Cup titles, taking it recently in back-to-back years, 2023 and 2024. They have appeared 8 times in the playoffs and won 4 TU East pennants. From 2001 to 2006 the division winners and wildcards participated in the Pro Cup playoffs. Since then, only division winners have qualified for the postseason. Two years ago in the Pro Cup Finals Tuckanarra tamed Valmara of the RU North in 6 games. Last year they swept Sugar Valley of the RU West in 4 games. The Blue Jays also reached the Finals in 2013 when they led the IPA with a 100-54 record, but were swept by Far Mountain of the RU North in four games. In five other postseasons Tuckanarra went out early, losing to Pro Cup champ High Mesa (TU East) in the first round in 2002, to Red Bluff (TU East) in the Sweet 16 in 2003, to Bayview (TU West) in the Sweet 16 in 2004, to Arlon (TU West) in the Sweet 16 in 2006 and to Bayview (TU West) in the Elite 8 in 2007.

Tuckanarra twirlers usually were the reason for the Blue Jays success... IPA icon Titus Bristow (2002-2020) spent 19 years with the Tucks and is the club's all-time ace with a 342-258 record and third with a 2.75 ERA... 6-time All-Star Bristow is tied with Denny Coulon of Summerland for third place in all-time IPA victories... Bristow won the 2006 Golden Arm for a brilliant 27-7 record with a great 1.73 ERA... reliable Roy Spence (2003-2018) is number two in wins with a 210-139 mark... Spence played for 15 seasons, putting up a lifetime 3.44 ERA... Delaney Elliott (2006-2016) was a solid starter for 11 seasons, registering a 163-139 record with a 3.42 ERA... closer Stephen Eubarinja (2012-2023) headed up the bullpen for 12 years and saved 157 games with a 43-41 record and a fine 2.77 ERA in 454 games... his successor Archie Desmond (2017 to 2025) has been extraordinary with a 50-30 record, 232 saves (1st) and a sensational 1.71 ERA (1st) in his 9 seasons... Desmond made the 2024 All-Star team and led the IPA in saves with 33... He had 10 saves in the Pro Cup title years... Yuka Nawajuk (2010 to 2019 was a strong starter for the Blue Jays from and went on to more success after being traded to Ozarka in 2019 with two 20-game seasons... He retired in 2024 after a season in Colfax at age 40... Nawajuk was ranked fifth in club wins with a 119-80 mark for Tuckanarra and 203-132 in his 13 years in the league... in the future look for rising young stars Quinn Starr (83-58 2.53), Glynn Starr (77-53 2.93), both 27, and 22-year-old Croc Wedgedale (37-20 2.91) to challenge for club records... they were the leaders in bringing in 2 Pro Cup trophies in recent years.

RF Danny Redd (2013-2025) has been the Tucks offensive leader for 13 years and he had a good shot at the IPA Hall of Fame... Redd is a 6-time All-Star, 4-time Gold Glover and topped the TU with a .371 batting average in 2020... Redd's career BA is .331, ranked sixth-best in IPA history... He leads the Blue Jays in just about all categories: .331 BA (1st), 1816 games (3rd), 2299 hits (1st), 410 doubles (1st), 112 triples (1st), 188 HR (1st), 984 RBI (2nd), 1303 runs (1st) and 457 SB (1st)... in 47 playoff games Redd is hitting .358 with 28 RBIs, 34 runs scored and 11 stolen bases... 1B Erik Vayda (2007-2019) is Tuckanarra's all-time RBI man with 1143... Vayda won 2 Golden Gloves, played in 1887 games (2nd), batted .284 (4th) with 2066 hits (3rd), 165 HR (3rd) and scored 945 runs (4th)... 2-time Golden Glove IF Rocky Fuqua (2007-2020) was a fixture in the Blue Jays line-up for 14 seasons, played in 1997 games (1st), batted .283 (6th) with 2067 hits (1st), 1060 runs (2nd), 297 doubles (3rd), 53 triples (2nd), 118 HR (7th) and 728 RBI (3rd)... 1B Lynn Starr, one of the Starr triplets on the team, has been terrific in his first 4 seasons with a career .321 BA (2nd), 124 homers (6th), 387 RBIs and 412 runs... Starr was an All-Star in 2023... in the two Pro Cup victories Starr batted .345 in 31 games with 6 homers, 24 runs, 20 walks and 16 RBIs.