ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 17, 2030

2030 Tycobbian South Final Recap

CC 'Canes Cop TU South Crown
The Cape Coral Hurricanes hadn't won a pennant in 15 years... they last took the TU South crown in 2015... but manager Flipper Bird has the 'Canes on the rise during his tenure, going from 7th to 4th to the top spot in three years... it was a 5-team race at mid-season, but Cape Coral surged to a good cushion over San Alejo Montaneros, Colchester Elites, Southport Sun Sox and defending champ Ginza Ninjas by July, then held off Colchester's closing charge... the other clubs faded in the home stretch... the Elites wound up 4 games back, the Sun Sox were third and lost by 8, the Monties were fourth, 9 games off the pace and the Ninjas were in fifth place and trailed by 10.

The Cape Coral Hurricanes (93-61) had the second-best record in the Tycobbian Union... only Ozarka (94-60) in the TU East had more wins... the 'Canes hit well with a .282 BA (4th), scored well with 733 runs (6th), but didn't hit with power... they had only 112 homers (30th)... on the hill the Hurricanes were capable with a 3.49 team ERA (10th)... skipper Flipper Bird had some quality bats with RF Jan Krammer (.337/16/81/83), C Tonio Libertore (.323/4/37/88) and 1B Sandy Coburn (.308/6 HR/66/73)... chipped in with CF Dan Isenberg (.269/17/65/81) and 3B Roger Wilson (.223/21/74/68) and you have a good attack... pitcher-wise it was Randy Burns (23-11/3.20), Izaak Booten (16-15/3.11) and Skylar Ris (13-12/3.97) leading the way.

Manager Patsy Bates' Colchester Elites (89-65) had a very good season and ended up in the runner-up spot to Cape Coral... the Elites fell 8 games back by July and just couldn't make up the difference on the Hurricanes, who played well down the stretch... the club hit .272 for average (11th), could score with 788 runs (3rd) and could hit with power (157 HR-8th)... the Elites did well on the mound, too, with a 3.41 team ERA (6th)... standouts were Mackie McGinnity (22-7/3.01) and Mike Kierkegaard (18-10/3.00), along with Mac Flowers (18-11/3.60)... CF Jim Lewellan (.288/45/131/112) had a great year, outshined only by Southport's Triple Crown winner Lorne Evans... other major contributors were 1B Big Sam Takota (.294/27/94/88), RF Cleve Belton (.282/34/99/86), LF Carlos Manuel (.290/23/71/95), 2B Jackie Jackson (.320/9/67/79) obtained in a July trade from Forest City of the Ruthlandian Union for 1B Steve Burns (.341/28/76/82) and 3B Joel Collins (.301/2/56/79).

10 of the past 11 years third place Southport (85-69) has been a first-division team, but this season they fizzled when it counted most with a poor 4-10 September as they dropped 8 games out of first place... manager Charley Oscar had fine pitching with a 3.38 team ERA (5th), paced by his starters Bob Bondy (22-14/3.30), Mel Underwood (18-14/3.03) and Don Pascioni (17-13/3.05)... closer Tomas Taviero (5-4/2.76/12 saves) also had a quality season... magnificent Triple Crown winner RF Lorne Evans boomed 59 homers, drove in 134 runs, scored 140 times and led the league with a .386 BA... other bat leaders were C Luis Alvarado (.283/21/73/78), 1B Kyle Ross (.282/20/80/56) and LF Cody Dougherty (.255/19/70/66)... as a team the Sun Sox walloped 179 homers (2nd) with a .267 BA (15th) and ranked 13th in scoring with 701 runs.

It's been a severe pennant drought in San Alejo. The club hasn't made the postseason since 2003... however in recent years skipper Alberto Herrera has seen his San Alejo Montaneros (84-70) make good progress as the club climbed up from 7th to 4th place, finishing up 9 games out in the pennant chase... the Monties were a well-balanced team with a .276 BA (8th), 170 roundtrippers (5th), 725 runs (7th) and a solid 3.37 team ERA (4th)... the bullpen was the best in the TU with a 2.30 ERA (1st)... Roland Oates (18-7/2.77) and Johnny Brown (17-17/2.94) excelled on the mound, while relievers Herb Stewart (6-2/1.59/16 saves) and Clete Lawson (3-4/1.19/13 saves) were a tough duo... at the plate the attack was led by 3B Bubby Blackwell (.356/15/68/98), LF Orlando Ybarra (.287/26/92/83), 1B Ramon Escabedo (.305/26/83/74) and CF Mark Delaney (.276/23/65/57).

Powerhouse Ginza (83-71) has won four TU South division flags in the last eight seasons, but slipped to fifth place this year, losing out by 10 games... manager Huroko Uchiyama's pitching corps failed him as they slumped to a 3.93 team ERA (21st)... last year it was a very respectable 3.19... only Ryuji Kaneko (17-7/2.82) and Hollis Pace (18-9/3.04) had good years... the Ninjas bats were still prolific with a .288 BA (3rd), 776 runs scored (4th) and 131 home runs (17th), led by CF Cotton Cornwall (.345/36/124/109), 1B Johnny O'Rorke (.288/23/99/87), SS Russ Van Kleek (.327/19/89/81), LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.310/11/62/119), 3B Taro Mori (.317/2/45/95), 2B Howard Winston (.307/7/61/54) and RF Hideo Kojima (.312/8/53/54)... Uchiyama has hitters in abundance.

The rest of the teams in the division never challenged and spent the entire season deep in the basement... the Turon Typhoons and Summerland Sunsets deadlocked in sixth place in the standings and finish out of the running 24 games behind... the Arroyo Grande Suns came in last, 29 games off the pace.

Once-proud Turon (69-85) languished near the bottom of the division for the fifth year in a row... the Typhoons have won four Pro Cups in its history, but not recently... Turon won it last in 2018 and last made the playoffs in 2019... skipper Alan Hansen has a pretty fair bunch of hitters with a .278 team BA (6th), rank decently with 689 runs (15th) and has some power with 120 homers (22nd-tied)... on the hill the Typhoons put up a 3.94 team ERA (22nd)... 3B Michael Page (.331/32/99/69) is Turon's only standout stick... on the mound the most reliable hurlers are Victor Suarez (16-15/3.68), Sal Quattrone (14-13/3.93) and James Newland (.12-12/3.50).

Perennial also-ran Summerland (69-85) has made the first division only twice in the last 18 seasons, played in only one postseason and the Sunsets have never come close to winning the Pro Cup... manager Will Hackett's club batted only .258 (24th), scored only 651 runs (24th-tied), but had decent power with 129 roundtrippers (18th-tied)... Summerland had three capable starters in Ron McDonald (17-13/3.34), Scotty Ellison (15-12/2.85) and Clve Coxford (14-15/3.12), but not much of a relief corps... the bullpen chalked up a 4.08 ERA (26th)... at the plate the most productive Sunsets were 1B Mandu Purula (.290/21/90/77), SS Gregg Proctor (.281/23/88/62) and LF Joe DeLucca (.278/13/60/79).

The Arroyo Grande Suns (64-90) have seen their fortunes drop drastically in recent years... for the third consecutive season they are at the bottom or near to the bottom of the division... for the second year in three the Suns are in last place and 29 games back of this year's champ Cape Coral... the once-potent offense is non-existent except for homers... the Suns slammed 166 homers (7th), but ranked only 30th with 627 runs, while batting only .245 (31st)... not any better on the mound with a 4.17 team ERA (28th)... reliever John Nelson (9-8/2.69/19 saves) was the only pitcher of note... longtime star 1B Rusty Vizcarra still swings with power and drives in runs... Vizcarra slammed 39 homers and batted across 103 runs, but hit only .255... no one else in the lineup posed any threat at all... not much talent left in Arroyo Grande... only Vizcarra remains from the glory years 2018 to 2027 when the Suns challenged almost every year and won four division titles.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 17, 2030

2030 Tycobbian East Final Recap

Ozarka Nats Prevail Over Panthers and Blue Jays in TU East
The Ozarka Naturals have just been a lackluster team over the past decade after a wonderful run where they captured 11 division pennants from 2005 to 2021... manager Frank Kiffin snapped a 9-year postseason dry spell by leading the Nats to the Tycobbian East title this season... Ozarka built up a helfty lead with a strong 20-8 record in July and then held off its only two challengers, the East Point Panthers and Tuckanarra Blue Jays by 6 and 8 games respectively... the South Fork Stallions finished a distant fourth 14 games behind them.

First place Ozarka (90-64) had the best record in the Tycobbian Union, outdistancing Cape Coral (93-61) of the TU South and Bay St. Clair (92-62) of the TU West... Frank Kiffin has a well-rounded team with a .279 BA (5th), 735 runs (5th), but is weak in the power department with only 105 home runs (31st)... the Nats have fairly good pitching with a 3.42 team ERA (8th)... Stan Carey (21-10/3.22), Brady Bell (19-9/3.18), Sam Tate (16-10/3.41) and Norm Phillips (17-15/3.68) stood out on the hill... and the bullpen was fairly effective with a 3.63 ERA (17th)... the team's top batters were 1B George Jenkins (.321/22/89/81), SS James Couch (.342/10/66/112), RF Byron Glenn (.276/22/72/57) and CF Lonnie Gillespie (.303/1/58/86).

The second place East Point Panthers (88-66) had a fine first half, but slipped at the plate and on the mound in the latter half of the campaign... they were under .500 during the months of July and August and that slump cost them the pennant... the Panthers have finished in the runner-up spot in three of the last four seasons... they were third the other year... Sadly, you have to go back to 2008 for East Point's only pennant... skipper Karol Zodoka's pitchers combined for a 3.34 team ERA (3rd) and his bats compiled a mediocre .256 BA (27th)... however the offense was productive with 709 runs (10th-tied) and 178 homers (3rd)... the loss of starter Joe Foley (11-4/2.57) was critical... he went out with an arm injury in late June... Despite the effort of the three remaining starters Frank Blair (18-14/2.47), Dixie Brooks (18-14/3.51) and Stephen Edwards (17-8/3.72), the Panthers folded in the second half... at the plate 2B Tetsu Tanaka (.296/33/107/108) and CF Kenji Aoki (.262/42/121/95) were outstanding with some help from LF Wally Wright (.282/15/74/82).

Carlton "Lefty" Stevens' Tuckanarra Blue Jays (86-68) have dominated the TU East in recent years with 5 flags and 2 Pro Cups in 8 years... the talented Tucks fell 8 games short this season and wound up in third place... injuries hampered the Blue Jays when starter Philip Marston (15-15/3.93) was lost in September, 1B Lynn Starr (.262/24/78/76) missed the final two weeks and RF George McKay (.272/21/73/78) went out in mid-August... a .265 team BA (18th), 665 runs (21st), 120 homers (22-tied) and a 3.42 team ERA (7th) just wouldn't win it this year... Stevens' top twirlers were veterans Quinn Starr (17-13/2.84) and Croc Wedgedale (14-14/3.87), along with number three starter Ganan Crenshaw (18-13/3.54), who emeged this year as a starter... Matt Stevens was the king of the bullpen with a 9-5 record, 21 saves and a fine 2.14 ERA... in the batter's box SS Jed Turchin topped the team with a .323 BA, 20 homers, 90 RBIs and 88 runs... also RF Dingo Southcott (.312/9/47/61), C Trevor Dowd (.282/9/61/40) and 2B Eddie Darby (.283/6/66/68) lent some offensive support.

It was a pretty good year for the South Fork Stallions (80-74), headed up by manager Duroche "Lips" Leon, but they were never serious contenders... the Hosses wound up in fourth place in the standings and trailed by 14 games... the Stallions had minimal offense and only average pitching with a .251 BA (29th), 636 runs (27th) and a modest 3.71 team ERA (16th), but they could go deep with 181 homers (1st)... 1B Dean Woods (.282/33/89/65), LF Corbett Brooks (.264/25/84/80) and C Mel Danley (.282/30/77/540 led the power parade... Duncan Welch (17-15/3.22) and Richie Raeburn (15-15/3.46) paced the starters and closer Al Thompson (4-3/2.42/32 saves) was the bullpen ace and topped the IPA in saves... Ozz Gatsby (15-18/4.44) was a disappointment this season after winning 21 games last year.

After three straight losing seasons the Red Bluff Red Sox (77-77) reached the .500 mark this year and came in fifth, 17 games out of first... it's been quite a spell since the Red Sox made the playoffs.. the last time was in 2009... manager Jim Schubert's best performers were 12-year vet Trini Corona (19-11/3.19) and 22-year-old Tony DeFazio (16-16/3.56) on the mound... Red Bluff's best position players were 2B Pat Ellis (.326/17/81/87), who was the only reliable threat in the batting order and CF Billy Barton (.295/10/48/85), who played well, too.

The Mahaska Haymakers (69-85) continued their three-year decline since taking the TU East in 2027, descending down to a sixth-place tie with Hillsboro and 25 games back... the Haymakers strong point is the longball with 150 (10th)... otherwise nothing impresses you... top hitters were CF Lanky Mato (.294/11/57/95), 3B Rusty Graves (.261/23/86/83) and 1B Jake Welsh (.281/25/78/64)... at age 30 Bobby Dorignac (18-13/3.01) is still a top-notch starter... Dorignac should reach the 200-win milestone early next year... he is 194-119 in his 10 seasons... the only effective reliever is Hiamovi Wolf (6-6/2.54/13 saves).

The Hillsboro Blazers (69-85) bolted from sixth to second last year, but returned to the second division and sixth place just as suddenly when the pitching went south... Last year it was an impressive 3.02 ERA, this year up to 3.54... for the 29th year in a row the Blazers missed the Pro Cup playoffs... they have never appeared in the postseason... manager Andy Jefferson has limited talent, however Gregg Hughes (14-10/2.16) is a gifted pitcher playing with a bad team... CF Biggy Washington (.275/20/71/64) and RF Bill Kelly (.297/12/60/89) are the best bats in the line-up.

2030 was the worst year in the High Mesa Cowboys (57-97) history... they broke the old club loss record by 10 games this season as the Cowpokes missed the playoffs for the 27th successive season as they ranked near the bottom in just about every category... .245 BA (32nd), 582 runs (32nd) and a 4.32 team ERA (31st)... High Mesa was last in the TU East, a whopping 37 games off the pace... RF Bill Andrews (.276/29/82/51) was the batting leader... IPA icon, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and super-super star 1B Jack Elliott had his second consecutive down year and looks headed for retirement at age 36... Elliott batted just .255 with 16 homers and 43 RBIs, his worst stats in his splendid 18-year career.... lifetime Elliott has a .334 BA, 845 home runs and 2104 RBIs... the High Mesa slugger is the all-time IPA home run hitter and fourth in batting average... Roger Hart (15-17/3.62) was the only decent pitcher this year.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 17, 2030

2030 Tycobbian West Final Recap

Bucs Nip Wildcats and Reds In TU West
With a late season flourish the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers nabbed the Tycobbian West crown in a photo finish from the second place Kenwood Wildcats and third place Rolling Hills Reds, the reigning Pro Cup titlist... the Bucs squeezed past Kenwood by a game and Rolling Hills by just two games... fourth place Denton City was far back, finishing 16 games out of first... heading into September, Bay St. Clair was tied with Kenwood for the division lead with Rolling Hills 3 games off the pace... the Bucs went 8-6 down the stretch, the Wildcats were 7-7 and the Reds were 9-5.

Bay St. Clair (92-62) hauled in its 8th pennant in its history... the last one came in 2023... The Bucs have always come up empty as far as Pro Cups... Denny Coulon, Bay St. Clair's second-year skipper, led his charges to a great 21-8 August, setting the stage for the final drive to the TU West flag... the Buccaneers had trailed Kenwood by 3 games at the All-Star Game... the Bucs were much-improved over last season's seventh place finish with a .259 BA (23rd), 146 home runs (12th), 695 runs (14th) and a strong 3.18 team ERA (2nd)... Coulon rode the arms of Jody Gentry (18-9/2.84), Danny Darby (20-15/3.73) and Ray McClendon (18-9/3.62), backed up in the bullpen by super closer Don Sawyer (5-3/0.75/28 saves)... number four starter John Karlsen (8-9/2.78) was also a tough competitor and pitched much better than his won-lost record... the Bucs best bats were RF Neil Lamont (.270/27/91/82), 2B Terry Adams (.304/17/90/74) and SS Eddy Hunt (.279/12/55/82)... not very much compared to the other contenders, but good enough.

Aaron Hankins let a good opportunity slip by this year for the Kenwood Wildcats (91-63) third division title in history... the Wildcats played well throughout the season with a high-powered offense and much better pitching... they rose up from fifth to the runner-up spot... Kenwood easily led the IPA with a terrific .294 team BA, the second best in league history, topped only by Ozarka's .295 average in 2017... the Wildcats were also first in scoring with 797 runs... they were down the list with only 116 roundtrippers (26th-tied)... pitching decided the pennant race... Kenwood posted a 3.50 team ERA (11th) and Rolling Hills a 3.94 (24th), while Bay St. Clair has a 3.18 ERA mark (2nd)... Hankins really sported a hard-hitting lineup card with six .300 hitters: his son, RF Babe Hankins (.345/23/109/110), 2B Jan Kessinger (.330/1/72/82), CF Hank Lunsford (.324/1/60/85), 3B Randy Towns (.303/0/63/77), 1B Johnny Ostendorf (.322/8/35/41 and IF Jeff Lang (.305/10/64/45)... after them you add in LF Warren Love (.257/25/77/76), rookie SS Rodney Harrison (.294/12/67/69) and C Crash Davis (.288/9/62/75) and you have got some kind of batting order... the Wildcats have some steady pitchers, too, with Rod Bailey (19-14/3.53), Claude Watson (17-13/3.40), Don Curtiss (15-8/3.27) and Trigger Rogers (11-8/3.39)... a fifth pitcher Dave Carnera (12-9/3.84) did pretty well, too... it's really hard to believe they lost the race.

7 TU West division championships in the last dozen seasons with 3 seconds and 2 thirds is a great resume for Matty Christianson and his Rolling Hills Reds (90-64)... last year they hit the pinnacle of success with the 2029 Pro Cup trophy... the Reds had the sticks with a .292 BA (2nd), 789 runs (2nd) and sufficient power with 117 homers (24th-tied), but suffered on the hill with a costly 3.98 team ERA (24th)... still they only came up 2 games short and wound up in the third spot in the TU West... Rolling Hills couldn't overcome losing star pitcher Errol Gaudet in June for three months... Gaudet only made 17 starts and ended up 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA... last season he was a 21-game winner and the Pro Cup MVP with a 5-0 record and a great 1.91 ERA... in 12 years in the IPA Gaudet is 222-131 with a fine 2.81 career ERA and a 7-time All-Star... Tom Pierson (12-6/2.95) led the staff with help from Dave Gronkowski (18-14/4.15) and Buck Myers (18-14/3.78)... closer Bobby Morris also impressed with 18 saves, 2.36 ERA and 7-6 mark in 54 appearances... at the plate the hot-hitting Reds could almost rival Kenwood's explosive lineup with the likes of C Tony Brinkerhoff (.296/25/111/72), CF Dusty Rogan (.318/22/97/96), the manager's son, 1B Billy Christianson (.309/12/87/107), RF Scotty Yiska (.289/15/48/91), 3B Jeff Booker (.315/1/56/73) and 2B Derek Kristensen (.330/5/53/75).

No one else put up much of a fight in the division... the Denton City Redbirds (76-78) were 16 games back in fourth place... this is the first time since 2024 they made the first division... Denton City hasn't appeared in the postseason in 17 seasons... although the Redbirds 8 times in the IPA's first 12 years made the playoffs, but have never captured a Pro Cup... manager Trevor Tomlinson just has a so-so club... his top performers are 6-year vet Glenn Hamilton (17-13/2.97) and 4-year vet 2B Keith Ingram (.304/20/85/79).

For the eighth consecutive season the Bayview Vikings (70-84) have been submerged in the TU West second division... the Viks last pennant was in 2016... manager Chaucey Quibedeax brought the club in fifth this year... the Vikings were 22 games out of the money... Bayview has a good offense with a .268 BA (14th), scored well with 712 runs (9th) and can go deep with 169 homers (6th), but the Vikings get ransacked on the mound with a whopping 4.32 team ERA (30th)... they have two quality starters in Vern Harstad (16-14/3.32) and Daniel Shields (15-14/3.83)... RF Wayne Kenney (.297/32/113/87) is a gifted hitter with a .300 lifetime BA, who averages around 28 homers and 100 RBIs a year over his 5 years in the IPA... Kenney get some help from LF Roy Ricks (.283/22/75/92) and LF Manny Suarez (.240/25/85/68).

The Chicopee Braves (69-85) were set to contend this year after coming in third last season, missing out on the pennant by only 2 games... but pitching woes flared up again and they finished a disappointed sixth and 23 games behind champion Bay St. Clair... the Braves have never made the playoffs in 29 years of play in the IPA... manager Ivan Burkholder just doesn't possess the pitching... a 4.53 team ERA (32nd) just won't cut it in the IPA or anywhere else... closer Matt Reeves was his best with an impressive 2.18 ERA, 21 saves and a 7-5 record in 66 relief appearances... Gary Cobb (14-21/3.91) was the only starter under 4.00... the top winner was Bob Ferguson (19-12/4.37)... Chicopee has some firepower in the batter's box... the Braves boast a .267 BA (16th), pretty good scoring with 705 runs (12th) and 175 homers (4th)... young 24-year-old SS Kurt Gustafsen (.334/27/100/84) really blossomed this year in his 4th season... veteran RF Charlie Jensen (.282/28/94/91) also stood out... along with 4-year LF Sakima Shaman (.300/19/60/95), who didn't put up the numbers he usually does, but still had a good year... leading off apparently cut into his RBI totals.

In 2028 the La Claire Lynx (63-91) celebrated by winning the team's first pennant in history, the first time they had ever made the playoffs... but it's been all downhill since, second place in 2029 and now all the way to seventh this year, 29 games out of the race... skipper Zeppy Deshotel is bewildered by the team's decline... almost all of the championship team is still around... the Lynx are average with a .265 BA (17th) and homers with 139 (14th), but don't put runs on the scoreboard like they used to, scoring only 651 runs (24th-tied)... pitching is actually better than the title year (3.65 ERA to 4.05 ERA)... except for the bullpen which has a poor 4.19 ERA (27th)... Pat Kovacs (10-18/3.25) is still a quality pitcher, so are Jules Delhomme (11-18/3.24), Jeff Buttram (12-9/3.56) and Leon Uris (14-19/3.91)... in the batting department Deshotel has some talent in LF Carroll Candy (.322/22/79/82) and CF Kelly Chamberlain (.315/24/92/92), but just not enough of it... 2B Norman Petitjohn (.260/22/79/57) and RF Lonnie Wright (.268/16/66//97) add some production, too... 37-year-old superstar 3B Flash Devlin (.242/18/68/59) has lost a lot of his glitter this season... the future HOF-er is a career .317 batter that averaged 30 homers and 100 runs batted in... those numbers are sorely missed.

For the last three years the Arlon Champions (60-94) made some good progress... Rocco Belasario's Champs wound up in fourth place in the TU West standings each of those years, but they moved closer to first place each season, going from 21 games to 16 to just 2 behind the pennant winner... this year Arlon fell into the pits, all the way to the bottom, 32 games out... the Champions ended up near the bottom statistically, too, with a .257 BA (26th) and a 4.24 team ERA (29th)... they ranked 26th in scoring runs, but did swat 134 out of the park (16th)... Raydon Burks (10-16/3.35) was the only starter with an ERA under 4.14... and CF Del Carpenter was the club leader with a .290 BA, 23 HR, 84 RBIs and 79 runs... no one else in the batting order came close to his stats.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 17, 2030

BSC Bucs and GC 'Cats Pro Cup Picks
The 30th edition of the IPA Pro Cup playoffs gets started this Thursday afternoon with the Elite 8 Series. The Islands' baseball experts are picking the Grand City Cybercats of the Ruthlandian Union and the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers of the Tycobbian Union to battle it out in this year's Pro Cup Finals for the IPA championship with the nod going to the Bucs because of superior pitching and defense. Bay St. Clair is a well-rounded club with good starters and relievers, power and defense.

Grand City will be challenged by the Valmara Vipers, Colfax Blasters and Wynnamac Sundowners, while Bay St. Clair's competition will be the Ozarka Naturals, Blue Lake Blue Sox and the Cape Coral Hurricanes. The Vipers will be making their fifth straight postseason appearance. Valmara is the only team returning from last year's Pro Cup participants. They made it as far as the Final 4. The Vipers are the only club among the Elite 8 to ever win a Pro Cup. They took the title in 2026. Last year's champ Rolling Hills failed to make the playoffs this season, finishing third to Bay St. Clair in the Tycobbian West. The Ruthlandian Union has won 16 IPA Pro Cups, while the Tycobbian Union has prevailed 13 times.

In the first round action Grand City will host the Valmara Vipers and Colfax will be at Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian Elite 8. Over in Tycobbia, Ozarka will entertain Bay St. Clair and Blue Lake opens up in Cape Coral.

Here is how the clubs ranked in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll:
1. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (TU West) 92-62... fine starters, great bullpen, good power, adequate offense, strong defense
2. Grand City Cybercats (RU South) 90-64... hits well with power, top scoring team in IPA, excellent bullpen, pretty good defense, fair starters
3. Ozarka Naturals (TU East) 94-60... can score well, little power, strong starters, average bullpen, solid defense
4. Colfax Blasters (RU West) 84-70... not much punch, but can score, better-than-average staff, three good starters, super bullpen, quality defense
5. Wynnamac Sundowners (RU East) 86-68... bats no problem, potent attack, plenty of firepower, fair starters, excellent relievers, fine defenders
6. Valmara Vipers (RU North)... lots of playoff experience, two good starters, strong closer, questionable, but underrated offense, just average on defense
7. Blue Lake Blue Sox (TU North) 85-69... best starters in IPA, but only average in pen, pathetic offense, average defense... ace Doug Kirkpatrick (22-9/2.92) will miss most of the playoffs with a sore arm
8. Cape Coral Hurricanes (TU South) 93-61... bats for average, but no pop, can score, two strong starters, poor to mediocre bullpen, top-notch defense

Best Record: Ozarka 94-60
Best Team BA: Cape Coral .282
Best Team Scoring: Grand City 746 runs
Best Team HR: Grand City 162
Best Team FA: Wynnamac .976 FA, Bay St. Clair .976
Best Team ERA: Blue Lake 3.07
Best Team ERA - Starters: Blue Lake 2.98
Best Team ERA - Bullpen: Bay St. Clair 2.44

Worst Record: Colfax 84-70
Worst Team BA: Blue Lake .257
Worst Team Scoring: Blue Lake 609 runs
Worst Team HR: Ozarka 105
Worst Team FA: Valmara .972 FA
Worst Team ERA: Wynnamac 3.59
Worst Team ERA - Starters: Grand City 3.76
Worst Team ERA - Bullpen: Cape Coral 3.90

[Eugene Church]

Map of the Islands

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

Bay St. Clair Buccaneers

Owner: Louis "Sugar Lips" Charles
GM/Manager: Denny Coulon

Bay St. Clair is a major port, tourist destination and petroleum and railroad center, located in southwestern Tycobbia on its namesake, Bay St. Clair, a great natural harbor. It is a town of 117,000 resting on the Appian River, which empties into the Kelnyck Ocean. The town was established in the 1850s by a group of American abolitionists from the North and the South, who saw the coming Civil War. They wanted to set up a country free from slavery and religious intolerance.

Offshore oil rigs in the Southern Sea provide a great boost to the local economy and a thriving petroleum business. Noxxe Oil Corporation is one of the nation's biggest and its home office is in Bay St. Clair.

Breathtakingly beautiful white beaches and luxurious hotels dot the coastline. Bay St. Clair has a multicultural heritage with French and Creole backgrounds. It is known for great music, exquisite cuisine and good times. Bon Temps ("Good Times" in French) is a lenten carnival, famous for parades, costumed balls and frivolity. Jazz funerals are a noted part of the town's culture.

Another important annual event and tourist lure is the Bay St. Clair Jazz and Music Heritage Foundation's "Razzmajazz". This is ten days of jazz, blues, gospel and rock greats.

Bay St. Clair is also home of the Buccaneers baseball team of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Bucs are in the Tycobbian Union's West Division. They are owned by jazz immortal, Louis "Sugar Lips" Charles. This Creole singer and trumpeteer loves his baseball just about as much as his music. He was one of the league creators along with Jock Ewing, Rob Jackson and John Banson.

The club plays at Shoreline Stadium, which looks out on the beautiful white beaches and blue-watered bay. The Buccaneer Brass Band, often led by "Sugar Lips", entertains the fans at all Buccaneers' games. And when the opposing teams have to go to the bullpen for a relief pitcher, the Brass Band welcomes him with a funeral dirge, a sad and mournful song. When the game is decided in favor of the Bucs, they begin playing a lively Dixieland victory tune "When the Bucs Go Marchin' In" and parade around the stadium.

Concessions are great with wonderful Creole soul food, gumbo (seafood/okra soup), red beans and rice, jambalaya (seafood casserole), hot beignets (pronounced "ben-yays"), hot out-of-the-grease doughnuts, covered in powdered sugar, cafe au lait (chicory coffee with hot milk), pecan pralines (candy), snowballs, topped with sweet condensed milk, and the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs.

Bay St. Clair's GM and Manager is hometown boy, Denny Coulon, a fine righthander that won 342 games in a 23-year career for the Buccaneers and Summerland. Coulon was inducted into the IPA Hall-of-Fame in 2029.

Shoreline Stadium (1940)

Capacity: 11,900

Dimensions:
LF Line 332
LF 360
LCF 388
CF 400
RCF 381
RF 350
RF Line 325

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 19, 2030

2030 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Colfax Blasts Macs 12-5 In Opener
In game one of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 at Wynnamac's Granger Field, the Colfax bats were really booming with a 15-hit attack in the 12-5 triumph over the hometown Sundowners... in addition starter Bobby Fleetfoot (1-0) shut out Wynnamac on 2-hits for the first 5 frames as the Blasters build up an 8-0 lead... 3B Vic Draper sparked Colfax with 4 hits and 3 RBIs... 1B Kris Bernhoffer also drove in 2 runs with a homer and RF Glen Smith batted in 2 for the winners... 1B Giles Butler paced the Sundowners with a two-run homer... Fleetfoot fanned 7 and walked one and was the winning pitching, while starter Killara Bardo (0-1) sustained the loss for Wynnamac... he was slammed for 5 runs and 6 hits in just 3 innings.

C'Cats Rally Late, Whip Vips 5-3 In Game One
Grand City starter Kip Day was clobbered for 3 runs in the opening frame, but that's all the Valmara Vipers got for the day... the Cybercats bounced back and rallied late for a 5-3 victory on 2B Liam Cadbury's 2-run triple in the last of the eighth... Day went the route, struck out 6, issued 2 walks and gave up 7 hits for the win, whipping the Vipers Teddy Lem, who also went the distance, allowing 7 hits with 4 Ks and a walk... Cadbury sparked Grand City with 3 hits and 3B Jack Howell smacked a 2-run homer... Valmara was led by 1B Jerry Rembert with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... C Floyd Randolph got the other Viper run in.

Tycobbian Union

'Canes Blow Away Blue Sox 17-5
No contest at Seaside Stadium in Cape Coral... the Hurricanes totally destroyed the Blue Lake Blue Sox 17-5 in game one of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... the 'Canes blew them away with a 21-hit barrage as they snapped a 3-3 tie with 7 runs in the seventh and 7 more in the eighth... leading the Cape Coral hit parade were RF Jan Krammer with 5 RBIs, C Tonio Libertore and CF Dan Isenberg with 3 each, and 2B Vic Hayes and P Randy Burns with 2 apiece in the shellacking... Burns got the win... he gave up 10 hits and 5 runs, whiffed 6 and walked 2... LF Eddie Nagen had a 2-run homer in defeat and 1B Herb Hull collect 3 base hits... rookie Derek Joubert was the loser.

BSC Bucs Nip Nats 2-1 in 10 Innings
The visiting Bay St. Clair Buccaneers won game one of the TU Elite 8 in a masterful 2-1 pitching duel with the Ozarka Naturals at Ellie Ewing Stadium decided in the tenth inning on SS Eddy Hunt's RBI double that scored 3B Teddy Nixon with the winning run... neither starter got the decision, but they both hurled excellent games... Ozarka's Brady Bell was expecially tough as he limited the Bucs to just one run and 5 hits in his 9 innings... Bell struck out 12 and walked 2 in a sharp performance... Jody Gentry went 8-plus frames for Bay St. Clair, yielded just one run and 6 hits with 8 strikeouts and a walk... the Bucs' bullpen ace Don Sawyer (1-0) logged a shaky win, allowing 2 hits and having to get out of a first and third situation in the last of the tenth... Denny Mills (0-1) was tagged with the defeat... Mills came on in the tenth and lost it... the Bucs were outhit 8-7 in the game.

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

OZARKA NATURALS

Owner: J. R. Ewing
GM/Manager: Joe Mac Carney

Ozarka, a Silver Mountains resort town of 73,000, is located in south central Tycobbia and near the Caledonia River, which flows southward through Hillsboro, then westward and comes to an end at Turon on the southwest coast. Nestled among scenic forests and outdoor hot springs, Ozarka is host to tourists who come for snow skiing during the winter and boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking and hunting the rest of the year. Big time developers have made this a mecca for the rich and famous with luxury hotels and nightclubs that attend to every possible need: hot spring spas and bathhouses, superstar entertainers, magnificent golf courses, gourmet food, art galleries and gift shops. Ozarka is a retirement center, too.

It is also home to the Ozarka Naturals. J. R. Ewing’s father, Jock Ewing, got tired of the incessant sibling quarrels over the operation of the family-owned Waleska Westerners in the Ruthlandian Amateur Association, so he bought the battling brothers and club vice-presidents, J. R. and Bobby, their own teams in the IPA. Bobby owns the South Fork Stallions and J. R. has Ozarka, where he is a prime real estate developer. Bobby named his brand new stadium after his dad. Not to be outdone, J. R. named his brand new stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie. So the sibling rivalry continues on and off the field. Ellie Ewing Stadium is one of the few parks in baseball that still has a live organ player at each game, which adds a nice nostalgic touch, especially during the seventh inning stretch. Marston, Kenwood and Hillsboro are the other teams that feature a live organist. And at the concessions stands is a succulent gourmet buffet fit for the rich and famous. You will also find all of the traditional baseball fare at a Naturals game.

J. R. Ewing spares no expense when it comes to impressing people and paying his ballplayers. He likes to get his way. He even got the all-time winningest manager in company league history to come out of retirement and take over his team. Joe Mac Carney is now the GM and Manager of the Naturals. And he is very well paid, too.

Ellie Ewing Stadium (2001)

Capacity: 11,750

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 370
LCF 390
CF 375
RCF 390
RF 370
RF Line 350

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 20, 2030

2030 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Meeks Even Series, Wynnamac Edges Colfax 2-1
After being clobbered 12-5 in the opener at home, Wynnamac got a stellar start from Jason Meeks to even the Ruthlandian Elite 8 at one game each... Meeks (1-0) stymied Colfax 2-1 on 6 hits and Lil Hoss Burkhalter (.333) and 1B Giles Butler (.333) slugged solo homers to edge Smoky Rogers and the Blasters... Meeks only allowed a run in the fifth, struck out 4 and walked 4, while going the route... Rogers (0-1) was terrific except for the longballs... He fanned 12, walked only one batter and allowed just 4 hits... CF Hal Granders (.222) drove in the Blasters only score... Burkhalter's shot tied it up in the sixth and Butler's won it in the seventh.

The series will now head up to Colfax for the next three games.

GC Cats Trim Vipers 5-4 In 11, Up By 2
When you outhit a team 18-7, you would think it would be an easy win... but not so for the Grand City Cybercats, who committed 6 errors and stranded 12 runners... it took them 11 innings to derail Valmara 5-4 in game two of the RU Elite 8... Mitch Langston's bases-loaded hit sent the Vipers down to their second straight defeat... Grand City starter Sammy Cagle pitched well and gave up only one earned run in his 8 innings... Viper starter Carroll Cain was hit all over the ballpark... he was tagged for 15 hits in 10 innings, but left with a 4-4 tie... the Cybercats got good relief work from Danny Denver, who blanked Valmara in the ninth and tenth... and from winner Lefty Frizzell (1-0), who worked a perfect eleventh... Ivan Guzek (0-1) couldn't get an out in the last inning and took the loss.

At the plate 1B Mitch Langston (.300) stood out for Grand City with 3-6 and 2 RBIs... RF Tyler LaFontaine (.500), LF Wes Marlowe (.375) and C Jumbo Carver (.429) all added in 3 hits apiece... SS Teddy Rudek (.429) had 2 hits to pace Valmara... Rudek clouted the game's only roundtripper.

Valmara will try to get back into the series at War Memorial Stadium, the site of games three, four, and five, if the Cybercats don't sweep.

Tycobbian Union

'Canes Storm Past Blue Sox 5-2, Lead Series 2-0
For seven innings in game two of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Cape Coral could do nothing at the plate against Blue Lake's Chris Landry... he had them eating out of his hand and had a 2-0 lead, but the Hurricanes exploded for 5 runs in the last of the eighth to deal the Blue Sox a defeat for the second game in a row... Landry suffered the loss, yielding 5 runs on 9 hits in his 7-plus frames... 2 of the runs were unearned as the Blue Sox committed 3 errors... Cape Coral got a fine outing from winning pitcher Izaak Booten (1-0), who permitted 2 runs, only one earned, and 9 hits in 8 innings... Booten had 7 strikeouts and walked none... Derek Nieman closed it out in the ninth and notched the save.

The Hurricanes had 9 hits and were sparked by SS Neil Hennon (.364) with 2 hits and 2 runs batted in... Hennon plated the go-ahead runs in the eighth... C Tonio Libertore (.500) homered and had 2 hits as well... 3B Matt Thompson (.500) paced Blue Lake with 3-for-4... in all Blue Lake totaled 10 hits.

The next three games will be played at Harbor Stadium in Blue Lake.

Nats Tie Bucs, Carey Wins 4-3 In Game 2
In game two of the TU Elite 8 Ozarka won at home and split the first two games with Bay St. Clair... 21-game winner Stan Carey (1-0) tossed a solid game... Carey went the distance, held the Bucs to 3 runs and 6 hits, while fanning 7 and walking 3... 3B Nick Rembert (.250) doubled in two runs in the sixth, giving Ozarka a 3-2 margin... Bay St. Clair evened it 3-3 in the eighth... and SS James Couch (.222) won it with a walk-off single off losing pitcher Don Sawyer (1-1) in the bottom of the ninth... Sawyer relieved John Karlsen, who went 8 innings, permitted 3 runs and 5 hits with 8 Ks and 3 bases on balls.

LF Ralph Bevis (.333) went 3-5 to lead Ozarka... Couch had 2 hits and 2 RBIs for the winners... the Buccaneers were led by C Damon Klein (.000) with 2 sacrifice flies... chipping in 2 hits each were RF Neil Lamont (.286) and 2B Terry Adams (.375).

Shoreline Park in Bay St. Clair will host games three, four and five.

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

GRAND CITY CYBERCATS

Owner: Gates Billington, Synergy Technologies
GM/Manager: Wade Joslin

Grand City is a town of 128,000 and the largest population-wise in the Islands. It has a very special and very short history. It was the brainchild of multi-millionaire Gates Billington, computer and financial genius. It was his vision to build the "perfectly planned" town. Originally Grand City was called Emerald and was just a small fishing village on the southern coast of Ruthlandia near the Valerian Ocean. It was settled by the Scotch-Irish and English in the early 1800's, who came to get away from religious intolerance in the British Isles.

It remained a sleepy little fishing village until 1990, when Billington bought up all of the real estate and decided to make his dream city come true. He and his entrepreneurial cohorts pooled their money, ideas and plans and made it come to fruition in 5 short years. Grand City went up overnight and soon became the most populous town/city in the Islands and one of the most prosperous.

Billington created a financial and high tech industrial complex. These ambitious business and civic leaders have boosted Grand City into a sophisticated, fastlane cultural metropolis. It is a town of skyscrapers, beautiful boulevards, condos, high rise apartments, all arranged in perfect symmetry. Autos are not permitted in Grand City. Residents must use it highly-advanced public transportation system, walk or ride bicycles. Only service vehicles are permitted on the streets of the city. And in keeping with the town's high tech, modernistic motif, the Grand City Cybercats of the Islandian Pro Alliance play in a brand new state-of-the-art stadium, Synergy Park.

Billington is a big-time baseball fan and is the owner of the club. He has more money than he knows what to do with. No expense was spared at this ballpark. Everything is computerized. When you get your order at the concession stands, all the hot food items are hot, all the cold items are cold and you get them served quickly without standing in line very long.

The highly-paid technocrats are really pampered with the best of everything.
You don't miss any of the ballgame at Synergy Park. Since the Grand City Cybercats have just come into being in 2002, they have no amateur and industrial league history, so they have no established traditions.

To insure success on the diamond, Billington hired one of the best baseball minds in the Islands, Tory Joseph. He is the general manager of the Cybercats. Joseph was a solid hitter and fair catcher in his playing days, who became one of the best industrial league managers. Joseph recently stepped down in favor of Wynn Joslin, a journeyman shortstop in his playing days with Grand City. Joslin batted .263 in a 5-year career.

Synergy Park (2001)

Capacity: 15,000

Dimensions:
LF Line 340
LF 360
LCF 375
CF 400
RCF 375
RF 360
RF Line 340

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

VALMARA VIPERS

Owner: Viper Offshore Services, headed by Capt. Stanislaw Lem, Ruthlandia Navy (ret)
GM: J. Jackson Samuel
Manager: Jet Kazmarek

Valmara is located in the northeastern part of Valdar Island, a port town of 81,000 people on Valmara Bay, an excellent deep water harbor. A clash of a warm Valerian Ocean current and a cold Kelnyck Ocean provides for heavy early morning fogs.

The town began as a small fishing village in the 1880s and pretty much remained that way until the late 1930s. Valmara has never been considered a pleasant place to live with rocky soil, thick ocean fogs and moss growing everywhere. If not for its wonderful port, no one in their right mind would live there. The harbor and the port have brought commerce and jobs.The prime industries of Valmara revolve around the sea, be it catching and processing fish, servicing deep-ocean oil rigs or supporting the ten-ship navy of Ruthlandia.

With the threat of world war on the horizon in 1938, the Ruthlandian government established Valdarian Military Academy, a college for cadets and midshipmen studying for future service in the Ruthlandian Navy.

During the Second World War, Ruthlandia was swept up in the maelstrom in the nation's first and only war. The nation sent a regiment of troops and a fighter squadron to Italy, where they served with the 2nd Polish Corps at Monte Cassino. After the war, many Poles opted not to return to their Soviet-occupied nation and several hundred emigrated to Ruthlandia. Many of the ex-soldiers did not go far past Valmara when they got off the boat.

Over the next four decades, many Poles emigrated (or escaped) from behind the Iron Curtain to Ruthlandia. After two generations of migration and birth, more than half of the town is of Polish descent.

The Valmara Vipers are owned by Capt. Stanislaw Lem, RN (ret.) of Viper Offshore Services. He is not related to the noted author of the same name, which often causes non-native reporters much trouble. The owner likes to be called "The Captain" in public. Lem made a small fortune after his navy career operating ships and helicopters that serve offshore oil rigs. Thanks to the recent spike of oil prices, his company's profits have gone through the roof. The Captain had no problem coming up with money to buy a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance, the first pro baseball league in the Islands history. Valmara plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the North Division.

The Valmara Vipers trace their history from the frigate Viper, which had a team in the Naval League in the 1940's. When the amateur league players became semi-pros in the 1950s and worked and played baseball for companies, the Vipers were sponsored by Marine Midland Bank. The Captain played baseball for his service team in the 1960s and was active in the industrial leagues as a sponsor in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Since Captain Lem had been the captain of the frigate Viper in the late 1960s, when it came to naming his IPA franchise, it was a no-brainer. The Valmara Vipers were born.

The Vipers play their games at historic old War Memorial Stadium. Amateur and industrial league teams have used it for years. It is dedicated to the memory of the 121 men from Ruthlandia killed in action in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. It is a old stadium built for football and soccer, but improvised and used for baseball since 1946. The Captain commissioned noted architectural company HOK to renew the old park into a suitable baseball park. He spared no expense in updating the old stadium with modern technology and conveniences. Yet it still retains the charm of an old stadium.

Game-Day Experience:

Like many successful immigrants, the people of Valmara have fiercely adopted the values of their new nation. Ruthlandia's flag is navy blue and green. In Valmara, it's just taken to a ridiculous extreme. The team’s colors are navy blue and green. So are the water towers, the dockyard cranes, the street signs and the new city hall.

Captain Lem wanted to build a new ballpark, but the city fathers persuaded him to just refurbish the old stadium in the old part of town to be an anchor for a new mixed residential-commercial district. Civic pride got the best of the Captain and he agreed to use War Memorial Stadium. The civic renewal project has been quite successful. Because there is little parking nearby, fans have to walk nearly a quarter mile to the park. On the way, they are treated to a dozen new restaurants, bars, and pubs. The integration into the neighborhood is considered to be charming. The revitalization project has brought a good deal of commerce and energy into the east side of town. The worst of the neighborhood was torn down. The city fathers have expanded the renovations and given the old town a new look.

Food:
Fans love to scarf down bigos (cabbage and meat stew) and rye bread at cafes adjacent to the ballpark. Inside the park, everyone loves perogis (potato and cheese dumplings). Several years ago, The Captain persuaded Mama Kolski's Restaurant (home of the best perogis in town) to open a stand at his new ballpark and it was a big hit.

Beer sales are strictly regulated by city ordinance to two beers per person. This is due to the locals’ love of pale lagers that are 9% alcohol. Also, for a strange unknown reason, draft Coors is a trendy choice.

Ambiance:
Music at the ballpark is best described as LOUD. The Captain installed a very modern, very powerful sound system at the refurbished stadium.

More than a decade ago, a sound system operator substituted the Village People's "In the Navy" for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch and started a new tradition. It was a college night at an industrial league game, with plenty of middies from Valdarian Military Academy on hand and many crewmembers from the frigates Viper and Foxx. It was a smash hit, no doubt fueled by a hot autumn evening, cold pale lager and the nine-run Viper lead. Since then, "In the Navy" has been played during the seventh inning stretch of every game save one -- the first game at the revamped War Memorial Stadium. The Captain hates the tune and thought with the public reopening that the club could stop playing that vile song. During the Vipers first exhibition game, the fans nearly rioted and the stadium's debut was marred with a near five-minute interruption of boos before play resumed. Wisely, The Captain made a quick command decision and allowed "In the Navy" to be played during the 8th inning break...and during every game since. Of course, the Captain saw to it that "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was restored to its revered seventh-inning spot.

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

Mascot

The Captain (he considers himself a traditionalist) did not believe in having a mascot until he put his own money into the old ball park. At that point, he had to figure out how to attract every dollar possible from every fan possible. So Vippy and Vippa Viper came into being. They parade around the ballpark entertaining the fans and leading cheers, dances and songs. Viper fans are noted for hissing at the umpires and the opposing teams. The Captain sells a lot Vippy and Vippa apparel and memorabilia...even rents them out to for birthday parties at the stadium, when the team is on the road.

History

Baseball on Valdar Island had a late beginning. Due to the Island topography, climate and lack of mineral deposits it was not as desirable as the Ruthlandian mainland, so it was bypassed by the immigrants until about 1910, when the towns of Valmara, Ancona, Kilkenny, Taranto and Ranford sprang up. From 1910 to 1920, touring amateur baseball teams from the mainland would play games from time to time and the game was introduced slowly. But it did catch on. In a desire to assimilate with the rest of the country, where baseball was like a religion, the Valdarians took to the game with passion and fervor. Amateur baseball clubs and company-based teams began to organize in the 1920s. By the mid-1940's Valdar Island baseball was as good as the Mainland.

The team was first managed by J. Jackson Samuel, a run-of-the-mill industrial league player that became a legendary manager. Samuel broke Jay Loman's record for the most Silver Whale Cups, given to the best amateur team on Valdar Island. Loman was the manager of the Ancona Red Elephants in the 1920s and won nine straight Valdar Island League titles. Samuel won 12 during his amateur career.

Samuel retired and turned the reins over to one of the all-time great Vipers, Jet Kazmarek. who was a .350 career hitter in his 16 IPA seasons. Kazmarek was an 8-time All-Star and won the batting title 9 times. He is also the only .400 hitter in the annals of the league. Kazmarek batted an awesome .428 in 2002.

War Memorial Stadium (1946)

Capacity: 9,595

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 330
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 400
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 330
Right Field Line - 309

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 21, 2030

2030 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Cruise Cruises, Colfax Whips Wynnamac 4-1
Game three in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series went to the Colfax Blasters 4-1 behind the sharp performance of Jon Cruise at Mountain View Stadium. He stopped Wynnamac on 6 hits over 8 innings. Cruise (1-0) fanned 6 Sundowners and walked 2 to put his Blasters in front in the series 2-1... Rudy Rosario got the save when he retired the 'Macs in order in the ninth... Lon Marshall (0-1) went all the way, gave up only 2 earned runs and 8 hits... Colfax snapped a 1-1 tie in the last of the sixth with 3 runs, highlighted by Frederick Melton's (.167) go-ahead single, 3B Vic Draper's (.462) sac fly and P Jon Cruise's (.500) RBI base hit.

3 HR Power Vipers, Top Cybercats 7-6
Held in check in the first two games of the RU Elite 8 the Valmara bats busted loose on their home grounds with 3 homers in a comeback 7-6 triumph over the Grand City Cybercats... the game-three victory was the Vipers first in the series... CF Teddy Szymanski (.214) hammered a 3-run blast to tie the game at 6-6, then LF Benny Hooper (.231) followed it with a solo homer for the eventual winning run... closer Ivan Guzek nailed down the victory with 2 scoreless frames... Viper rookie Garry Gronek (1-0) posted the win in a spotty outing.. Gronek surrendered 6 runs, 4 earned, and 6 hits in his 7 innings... 37-year-old Billy Ray (0-1) caught the loss...he was battered for 3 homers, 7 runs and 11 hits in 6-plus innings.

Valmara had a 12-7 advantage in hits... Jerry Rembert (.500) was the leader with 3 hits, including a double and a triple... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.308) got 2 hits, including a solo homer in the first... Grand City was led by 1B Mitch Langston's (.308) with a home run and by 3B Jack Howell (.385) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

Tycobbian Union

Blue Sox Skim By 'Canes 3-2 In Game 3
The Blue Lake Blue Sox are back in business in the Tycobbian Elite 8... playing at home at Harbor Stadium the Blue Sox got a solid job from Billy Trakas, who checked Cape Coral on 7 hits and 2 runs in his 8 innings... reliever Gil Donahue saved it for him with a scoreless ninth... Cape Coral is still on top in the series two games to one... rookie starter Travis Arthur pitched well for the Hurricanes, going into the seventh and leaving with a 2-2 score... Arthur allowed 7 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2... Trakas had 9 Ks and walked 4... the losing pitcher was Curt Garrett, who gave up the game-winning homer by PH Gil Willis in the last of the eighth.

Trailing by 2-0 after 5 and a half innings, the Blue Sox responded with singletons in the the next 3 innings to win... 2B Skipper Smith (.167) doubled in the first run in the sixth... LF Eddie Nagen (.400) hit his second roundtripper in the series for run number two in the seventh... 1B Sandy Coburn (.154) led the 'Canes at the plate with 2 hits and 2 RBIs and RF Jan Krammer (.538) went 3-for-4.

Phillips Gives Nats Series Lead Over Bucs
34-year-old Ozarka righthander Norm Phillips was staggered by 3 runs in the first two innings, but got his composure and command down pat and blanked Bay St. Clair over the last 7 innings for a 7-3 victory on the road at Shoreline Park... that gave the Naturals a two-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series... Phillips (1-0) gave up 10 hits and walked 5, but held the Buccaneers to just 3 runs... meanwhile the Nats pounded Danny Darby (0-1) for 3 in the sixth and 4 more in the eighth to win going away.

CF Lonnie Gillespie (.357) cracked 3 hits, scored twice and drove in one for the winners... 1B George Jenkins (.250) also had a homer, double and 3 RBIs... Both teams had 10 hits each... leading Bay St. Clair was SS Eddy Hunt (.200), LF Kelly Lucas (.273) and 2B Terry Adams (.417), all with a pair hits apiece.

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

BLUE LAKE BLUE SOX

Owners: Chance Franklin, Tink Joseph, Ev Johnson
GM/Manager: Ron Hilliard

Blue Lake is a lovely, modern university town on the western edge of its namesake, Blue Lake. Located in the central part of Tycobbia, Blue Lake has about 82,000 residents. Tycobbia State University is the biggest employer in the city. People graduate, but never seem to leave. Blue Lake is a very liberal town in politics and lifestyle. Residents are outdoor and sailing enthusiasts and concerned environmentalists. Only bicycles and pedestrians are permitted downtown.

Blue Lake also has a thriving bicycle and sailboat industry. Saddida and Ekin athletic shoe companies are headquartered here. Computer and hi-tech companies are centered here as well. Fine arts flower in abundance as the symphony, theatre, ballet, art galleries and museums can be enjoyed by the intellectual elite.

It is also the home of the Blue Lake Blue Sox of the Islandian Pro Alliance and they play in the Tycobbian Union's West Division. The club is owned and operated by a three former university athletes. The University loves its sports and support even their former greats. The University owns the baseball stadium and shares Harbor Stadium with the Blue Sox.

Harbor Stadium has a gorgeous view of the downtown skyline across Blue Lake Harbor. There is a festive college atmosphere at Blue Sox games with lots of college cheers led by the Blue Sox cheerleaders, the “Sox-it-to-‘em Girls". One of the fans’ favorite cheers is when they chant, “Sox it to ‘em ... Sox it to ‘em” to spur the Sox to victory. During the seventh-inning stretch everyone stands and sings the university’s alma mater, followed by “Take me out to the ballgame”. At the concessions booths you will find the traditional soft drinks, peanuts, crackerjacks, hamburgers and hot dogs, but also gourmet expresso, cappuccino and latte coffees, and fine esoteric foods like quiche and tofu. Attending a Blue Sox game is truly a unique sporting experience.

Three former TSU baseball players, the famous double play combination during their boola boola days at the university, Chance Franklin, Tink Johnson and Ev Johnson, own and operate the team together. The field manager and GM is Rick Hilliard, a 16-year outfielder for the Blue Sox. Hilliard batted .285 and hit .362 homers during his fine career.

Harbor Stadium (1965)

Capacity: 11,743

Dimensions:
LF Line 320
LF 350
LCF 408
CF 398
RCF 400
RF 365
RF Line 330

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

Cape Coral Hurricanes

Owner: Conway Birdie
GM/Manager: Flipper Bird

Cape Coral is a town of 112,000 on the northshore of Arvonian Island, jutting out into Belair Bay. Arvonian Island is bordered on three sides by the Southern Sea. Cape Coral was settled at various times by the Spanish, Dutch and English with the English taking preeminence when tourism became the main economic focus.

It is a resort area famous for great weather year round in idyllic tropical surroundings. Serene sky blue waters with magnificent sunsets, white, glistening beaches, luxury hotels, night clubs, legendary entertainers and retirement communities. It is a place to be pampered.

It is also known for an occasional tropical storm or hurricane spawned out of the warm tropical currents of the Southern Sea. Hence, the Cape Coral baseball team in the IPA's Tycobbian Union is nicknamed the Hurricanes. They play at Seaside Stadium, which has an eyecatching view of Belair Bay. Some of the myriad of magnificent hotels and casinos can also be seen rising up in grandeur over the island landscape.

Seaside Stadium is known for its exotic beverages and gourmet fare fit for a king. Every fan treasures the house speciality, "The Hurricane", a fantastic blend of tropical flavors and liqueurs, served up in a beautiful souvenir glass.

The buffet foods make every game very special for the fans and resort visitors. Hot dogs and cokes are available, too, along with the best grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich outside of Memphis, Tennessee.

Music is provided by the Beachcomber Boys, a rock 'n' roll combo. Their version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" really reverberates, rocks and rolls. One of the Beachcomber Boys, Conway Birdie (old rock 'n' roll star and connoisseur of grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches) is the proud owner of the Hurricanes. Birdie was instrumental (pun intended) in the creation of the Islandian Pro Alliance along with Jock Ewing of Waleska, John Banson (former amateur and industrial league czar) and Jorge Trujillo of Belair Beach. The old rock 'n' roller was a pretty fair ballplayer in his day, too.

The Cape Coral manager is Flipper Bird, who starred for 23 years in the IPA, 14 of them with the Hurricanes. Bird was fine shortstop with some pop. He slammed 408 homers in his career, while batting .268 for average. Bird was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame this year.

Seaside Stadium (1987)

Capacity: 13,100

Dimensions:
LF Line 365
LF 375
LCF 400
CF 390
RCF 375
RF 360
RF Line 350

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 22, 2030

2030 IPA Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

'Macs Top C'Fax 4-2, Bardo Evens Series
On the road at Mountain View Stadium in Colfax, the Wynnamac Sundowners evened up the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series at two games each with a 4-2 triumph... the Sundowners got a yeoman's job from pitching ace Killara Bardo and a 3-run homer from Dorak Arando to sink the Blasters... Bardo (1-1/5.73) worked 8 good innings, holding Colfax to 2 runs and 8 hits... he got help from Jim Horton, who tossed a scoreless ninth for the save... Bobby Fleetfoot (1-1/1.35) suffered from 3 Blaster miscues for the loss... Fleetfoot went 8 and a third innings, yielded 4 runs, just 2 earned, on 6 hits with 8 Ks and 3 walks... Aranda's (.200) homer in the third put the 'Macs ahead to stay... SS Kylie Ballentine (.412) paced Wynnamac with 3 hits, while 1B Mitch Fullerton (.333) was the top bat for Colfax with 2 hits, including a solo homer.

Vips Tie Series, Lem Beats C'Cats 5-3
The home crowd went home happy when Valmara rallied in the seventh for a 5-3 victory over the Grand City Cybercats at War Memorial Stadium to tie up the RU Elite 8 at 2-2... Teddy Lem (1-1/4.50) posted the win, giving up 9 hits in 8 innings, but just 3 runs... Lem fanned 4 and walked only one... Kip Day (1-1/4.60) lost it as he was battered for 13 hits in just 6-plus innings... the Vipers scored all 5 of their runs off of him... Tom Greenwood notched the save by 1-hitting the Cybercats in the last of the ninth... trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Valmara took charge with 3 runs... one scored on an error, LF Benny Hooper (.235) doubled in the game-winning score and Erek Wyszynski drove in the final one... the Vipers crashed 14 hits in all, led by RF Gerry Kazmarek (.389) with 3 hits... 2B Alec Leclerc (.176), 3B Erek Wyszynski (.200) and P Teddy Lem (.286) belted 2 hits each... 1B Mick Langston (.412) drove in all 3 Cybercats runs... his 2-run smash in the opening frame made it 2-0 and his triple put them up 3-1... Langston has 2 homers and 6 RBIs so far in the series.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 22, 2030

2030 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Tycobbian Union

Series Tied, Blue Lake Nips Cape Coral 3-2 In 12
For the fourth game in a row the home team has prevailed in the Tycobbian Union Elite 8 Series... Blue Lake, playing at Harbor Stadium, got superb pitching and nipped visiting Cape Coral 3-2 in 12 innings... in the deciding inning Joe Korman hit a 2-out double and scored on pinchhitter Irish O'Dwyer's game-winning single to deadlock the series at 2 games each... both clubs had excellent pitching... Blue Lake starter Chris Landry hurled 8 innings and gave up only 2 runs on 4 hits with 9 strikeouts and no walks... Cape Coral countered with Randy Burns, who was even better... Burns lasted 9 innings, allowed 2 runs (one earned) and 4 hits with 5 strikeouts and a walk... Blue Lake got flawless work from its bullpen... Sherwood Taylor pitched 2 scoreless innings, followed by 2 more by winning pitcher Gil Donahue (1-0/0.00).. the 'Canes Curt Garrett (0-2/9.00) was victimized in the twelfth and lost it.

The Blue Sox had a slight edge in hits 7 to 6... SS Joe Korman (.125) led the winners with 2 runs scored and the game-winning RBI... LF Eddie Nagen (.357) has the game's only home run, a solo shot... C Tonio Libertore (.286) drove in both Hurricane runs.

Bucs 4 HR Beat Nats 5-0, Gentry Blanked 'Em
A peerless performance on the mound and 4 home runs paced Bay St. Clair to a 5-0 victory over Ozarka in game four of the TU Elite 8, evening up the series... Jody Gentry (1-0/0.00) was outstanding, blanking the Naturals on 4 hits, while fanning 5 and walking none... leading the Bucs' offense was 3B Teddy Nixon (.429), who walloped 2 solo homers and had 3 hits... RF Neil Lamont (.214) and 2B Terry Adams (.375) drilled the other two roundtrippers... the Buccaneers only managed 7 hits off three Ozarka moundsmen with the loss going to starter Brady Bell (0-1/3.60), who gave up all the runs and homers in his 6 frames.

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

WYNNAMAC SUNDOWNERS

Owner: Granger Co-Operative Association
GM/Manager: Matt Donnelly

Wynnamac is a town of 86,000 residents and can be found about 50 miles inland from the Valerian Ocean, which is near the eastern coast of Ruthlandia. It is located in the northeastern part of the country in the Central Plains, which spans east to west across it and is a well-known farming region, filled with seemingly endless fields of ripe golden wheat and rustic farms. It is the "Breadbasket of Ruthlandia". Settled by a diverse band of hearty and hardworking Canadian and Australian immigrants, who worked "sunup to sundown". They became known as "Sundowners" because of their great work ethic and love for the land...and for their love of baseball and the homestanding Wynnamac Sundowners. The area is also a center for meat packing and dairy industries.

Life hasn't changed much here for a hundred years and probably won't change much in the next hundred years. Wynnamac is a member of the IPA's Ruthlandian East Division. The club plays at Granger Field, which is built right next to a grain processing plant with huge silos and a water tower with a gigantic ear of corn on it...all visible from the ballpark. The Sundowners are owned by the Granger Co-operative Association, farmers banded together for the common good.

At the concession stands you get nothing fancy...just soda pop, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, peanuts, crackerjacks and ice cream. No beer or alcoholic beverages are permitted at the stadium. It is against the law in Wynnamac county and strictly enforced.

Wynnamac's General Manager and Field Manager is Matt Donnelly, who loves the game of baseball like no other. And he played the game very well, too. He was an outstanding hitter and first baseman for quite a few seasons in the local company leagues, playing until he was almost 50.

Granger Field (1967)
Capacity: 7,965
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 355
Left Field - 375
Left Center - 415
Center Field - 404
Right Center - 375
Right Field - 350
Right Field Line - 325

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

COLFAX BLASTERS

Owner: Enim Dlog (Precious Metals Corporation)
GM/Manager: Ilya Szabo

Colfax is found in west central Ruthlandia, population 89,000. It is a "City of Gold" situated on the scenic Silver River, which flows out of the Silver Mountains northwest of Volusia, past Colfax and then eastward to the nation's capital, Forest City. It then merges with the Green River, which winds its way through the southern half of the country and ends at Belair Beach.

The town was settled during the Gold Rush of the 1850's and is still quite profitable. It is also an important coal mining center.

It is also the home of the Colfax Blasters of the Islandian Pro Alliance, who play in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the West Division. The team is nicknamed for the dynamite blasters, so important in mining the gold, silver, copper and coal...and also the longball hitters, therefore giving Blasters a double meaning.

Due to its great financial wealth and success, Colfaxians have a town of stunning beauty and charm. Built by the coal barons and the gold mine owners, it is filled with grand buildings and mansions, intermingled with the smokestacks that loom over the landscape. To lessen the environmental impact, quiet canals and man-made waterways flow through the town. Visitors can glide by boat along the tranquil Silver River or walk the fabled cobblestoned streets and discover a town that time has almost forgotten. You can hear its famous landmark, "The Belfry", a carillon or bells that toll every hour and has continuously for over 150 years. Colfax also boasts an opera house, concert hall, theater and a ballet company.

Colfax's Mountain View Stadium is known for its gorgeous view of the town, the Silver Mountain backdrop beyond the outfield fence and for its "Pot of Gold". It is an actual pot, five feet in diameter, located in the center field section of the ballpark, 410 feet away. Whenever a Blaster player hits a ball that ends up in the "Pot of Gold", the player and a fan each receive $5,000. The fan is chosen in a "lucky scorecard number" drawing.

At the ballpark you have hardworking and hard-living miners and the white collar and managerial set...the beer set and the champagne set. Both are attended to at Mountain View Stadium. You can get anything from hot dogs to caviar at the concession stands.

The Blasters' owner is Enim Dlog, whose ancestors are from somewhere in the Baltics. It was his great-great-granddaddy, who first discovered gold in the 1850's. In fact, the new ballpark was built on the same site as the first gold mine.

The GM and Manager of the Colfax Blasters is Hall-of-Fame hurler Ilya Szabo, who pitched 19 seasons for the Blasters from 2003 to 2021. Lifetime Szabo was 327-210 with a great 2.57 ERA. He sparked them to 8 pennants and a Pro Cup in his tenure as a player. Colfax beat Turon in the 2010 Pro Cup and Szabo was the MVP with a 5-2 mark and a brilliant 1.42 ERA. Szabo was inducted into the first HOF class in 2027. He was a 9-time All-Star, captured 4 RU Golden Arm Awards and was twice the Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player. He retired as a player in 2021 at age 42. Szabo went 18-17 his final season with a 3.76 ERA.

Mountain View Stadium (1971)

Capacity: 10,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 315
LF 345
LCF 375
CF 405
RCF 375
RF 360
RF Line 345

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 23rd, 2030

2030 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Meeks Mows Down Blasters 3-1, 'Macs Lead Series
The Wynnamac Sundowners went up 3 games to 2 behind a strong effort by Jason Meeks, who throttled Colfax 3-1 in game 5 of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... Meeks (2-0/1.06) won his second game in the series, stopping the Blasters on one run and 8 hits in 8 innings... Meeks walked 2 and fanned 4... He got help from Jim Horton in the ninth... Horton retired Colfax in order for his second save... 3B Dorak Aranda (.263) and LF Lil Hoss Burkhalter (.250) both slugged solo homers to lead the winners at the plate... Aranda and Burkhalter have now hit 2 each in the series... Colfax starter Smoky Rogers (0-2/2.12) dropped another tough game... he also lost to Meeks in game two 2-1... Rogers struck out 11 and walked 2 as he gave up 3 runs in a route-going performance... one of the runs was unearned.

Rudek's HR Gives Valmara Series Lead
In game five of the RU Elite 8 Valmara got the best of Grand City 4-3 on the Vipers home field to take a three games to two lead in the best-of-seven series... light-hitting Teddy Ruzek ripped a 2-run homer in the last of the eighth to give Valmara its third win in a row... it was Ruzek's second roundtripper in the series... Ruzek only hit 6 during the regular season... Viper starter Carroll Cain (1-0/2.37) gave a sharp performance, holding the Cybercats to just 6 hits and one run... in a complete game Cain struck out 4 and issued one walk... he outpitched Sammy Cagle (0-1/2.81), who was tagged for 4 runs on 8 hits and also went the distance... SS Teddy Ruzek (.368) and CF Teddy Szymanski (.261) topped the Vipers with 2 hits each... Cagle provided Grand City runs with a 2-run homer in the seventh that gave the Cybercats a short-lived 3-2 lead... Cagle (.600) delivered 2 hits in 3 tries, while 1B Mick Langston (.429) also had 2 hits with an RBI.

Tycobbian Union

Blue Sox Hold Off Hurricanes 5-4, Take Series Lead
For the third successive game Blue Lake was the victor in another one-run contest... the Blue Sox held off Cape Coral 5-4 at home at Harbor Stadium and now has a 3-2 advantage in the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... Blue Lake polished off the Hurricanes with an 11 to 6 hit margin... weak-hitting SS Joe Korman was one of the heroes with 3 hits, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored... Korman batted just .207 during the season... Korman (.250), 3B Matt Thompson (.400) and CF Chris Halley (.250) all had RBI singles in the decisive sixth when Blue Lake jumped ahead 5-2... the Blue Sox played loosely on defense with 3 errors that cost them 2 runs... Derek Joubert (1-1/5.74) chalked up the victory... he worked 7 and two-thirds innings, permitted 5 hits and 3 runs, 2 of them earned... Willie Taskins got the last 4 outs and the save... Taskins surrendered no runs in his stint... Izaak Booten (1-1/3.86) was hit hard in defeat... he was ripped for 9 hits and 5 runs in 6 frames.

Carey Tames BSC Bucs 8-1, Ozarka Ahead
The Ozarka Naturals cracked 5 doubles and 15 hits to smash Bay St. Clair 8-1 and go up three-to-two in the best-of-seven set in the TU Elite 8... on the road at Shoreline Park, the Nats jumped all over John Karlsen (0-1/8.71) for 7 runs and 7 hits in just 2-plus innings, while Stan Carey checked the Buccaneers on one run and 4 hits in his 7-plus innings... Carey fanned 6 and walked none in an impressive start... Sam Tate retired 4 in a row to nail down the win.

Leading the Ozarka hit parade were CF Lonnie Gillespie (.409), 2B Fran Dixon (.421) and 3B Nick Rembert (.350), all with 3 hits apiece... Gillespie and RF Byron Glenn (.150) paced the Natuals with a pair RBIs each... Bay St. Clair's only score came on a solo home run by CF Chris Blanton (.176).

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 24, 2030

2030 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Marshall Shines, Sundowners Win Elite 8
It's over in the RU Elite 8 Series between Wynnamac and Colfax... Lon Marshall made certain of that... the Wynnamac righthander blanked Colfax 2-0 in game six to eliminate the Blasters four games to two... Marshall (1-1/1.06) fired a 4-hit masterpiece, struck out 5 and walked just one... loser Jon Cruise (1-1/1.69) tossed an impressive game, too... he worked a complete game, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts... CF Allen Dundee (.174) paced the Sundowners at bat with 2 hits and 2 runs scored... Dundee doubled in the first and scored on LF Lil Hoss Burkhalter's (.250) single... then Dundee homered in the fifth.

Wynnamac will play the winner of the other RU Elite 8 Series between Valmara and Grand City.

Vipers Upset Grand City In 6 Games
Sixth seed Valmara upended second seed Grand City 4 games to 2 to take the RU Elite 8 Series... the Vipers vanquished the favored Cybercats 3-2 on the road in game 6 at Syntergy Park with strong pitching by Garry Gronek (2-0/3.45), who limited the Cybercats to just 2 runs on 4 hits, while walking 2 and fanning 5... Ivan Guzek got the final out of the game for his second save in the series... Valmara built up a 3-0 in the first 3 frames, then held off Grand City, who got solo homers from 1B Mick Langston (.400) in the fourth and CF Thomas Hall (.208) in the ninth... it was Langston's third clout in the series... the Vipers were led by 1B Jerry Rembert (.348) with an RBI double in the first and CF Teddy Szymanski's (.259) 2-run double in the third... Billy Ray (0-2/5.02) pitched fairly well in defeat as he permitted 3 runs on 8 hits in 7-plus frames... Ray totaled 6 Ks and 3 walks.

Valmara will tangle with Wynnamac for the Ruthlandian title in the Pro Cup Final 4 Series.

Tycobbian Union

Webb's HR Wipes Out 'Canes, Sox Win In 6
Playing on the road at Cape Coral's Seaside Stadium, Roger Webb's 2-run blast in the top of the eighth gave the sixth-seeded Blue Lake Blue Sox a 7-6 triumph and knocked out the eighth-seeded Hurricanes in 6 games in the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... both Webb (.333) and RF Boom-Boom Baker (.185) led the Blue Sox's 12-hit attack with a pair of hits each and 2 RBIs apiece... Cape Coral picked up 8 hits and were led by 1B Sandy Coburn (.214) with 2-5, 2 runs and 2 RBIs and RF Jan Krammer (.407) with a 2-run homer... Neither Blue Sox starter Billy Trakas, nor Travis Arthur for the 'Canes were effective... Willie Taskins (1-0/0.00) got credit for the win with a scoreless seventh and Sherwood Taylor posted the save with 2 runless inning in the eighth and ninth... Arthur (0-1/5.02) suffered the defeat as he was tagged for 11 hits and 7 runs in his 7-plus innings. Blue Lake now awaits the victor between Bay St. Clair and Ozarka, two powerhouses and top seeds... the Blue Sox won the series despite the loss of their ace Doug Kirkpatrick (22-9/2.92)... Kirkpatrick will miss part or all of the playoffs with a sore arm... he may be back in early October.

Bucs Rally Late, Beat Nats 9-6 In Game 6
In a last-ditch ninth-inning rally the top-seeded Bay St. Clair Buccaneers staved off elimination in game six of the TU Elite 8 Series with a dramatic 6-run comeback to stun the Ozarka Naturals 9-6 on their homefield at Ellie Ewing Stadium and force a game seven... the winning score was forced in on a bases-full walk by losing pitcher Denny Mills (0-2) to C Damon Klein (.056)... Mills came on with a 6-4 lead and two runners on and blew the save... Bucs starter Danny Darby (1-1/2.87) survived 5 unearned runs for the win... Darby hurled 8 innings and gave up 6 runs on 7 hits... Darby trailed 6-3 when he departed... closer Don Sawyer posted the save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Bay St. Clair rapped 12 hits and were sparked by 3B Teddy Nixon (.381) with 2 hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Jerry Todd (.318) with 3-4 and 2 runs and LF Kelly Lucas (.250) with a 2-run double... SS Eddy Hunt (.222) and Terry Adams (.260) also chipped in with 2 hits each... SS James Couch (.200) and C Russell Smith (.286) paced the Nats with home runs... Ozarka had 7 hits... defense was shoddy as the Bucs had 3 errors and the Nats 2.

Tomorrow afternoon again in Ozarka, game seven will feature Brady Bell (19-9/3.18) for the Naturals and Jody Gentry (18-9/2.84) for the Buccaneers. Gentry had been outstanding in the series so far with a 1-0 record in his 2 starts... Bay St. Clair won both games 2-1 and 5-0... Gentry has allowed only one unearned run in 17 innings... Brady is 0-2 in 2 starts with a 3.60 ERA.