ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 24, 2031

.353 Average Wins Title for Pentleton
The numbers speak for themselves: a .353 batting average in 149 games, 217 hits, 27 doubles, 9 triples, 15 home runs, 98 RBIs, 111 runs scored and 39 walks. Those numbers added up to a batting title for Pettis Pentleton of the Elnora All-Stars, who paced his club to the Ruthlandian East pennant. The 25-year-old right fielder received his first Ruthlandian Union batting trophy today. At the award ceremony, Pentleton was definitely proud of his achievement. "I always knew that I had the talent to win a batting title," Pentleton commented to reporters, "but I've had trouble at times with consistency. Everything came together this season. I hope this is not the last time. It will be a challenge, but I hope to win it again." In his five seasons in the IPA Pentleton sports a standout .328 batting average.

Pentleton had a comfortable lead over Elnora's Travis Glass, who finished second in the batting race with a .338 average. In 146 games Glass slammed 25 homers, drove in 95 runs and scored 91 times. Stoner first baseman Fletch Fowler came in third with a .336 BA, 18 roundtrippers, 85 RBIs and 66 runs in 119 games.

Kenwood's Kessinger Takes Home TU Batting Honors
Jan Kessinger of the Kenwood Wildcats put the wraps on a fine season by winning his first Tycobbian Union batting crown and leading the IPA in the process. The Wildcats second baseman outperfromed all others with his .357 average. For the season, Kessinger played in 139 games, collected 174 hits, 1 home run, scored 67 times and knocked in 58 runs. Lifetime in his 9 years in the IPA, the 30-year-old Kessinger has compiled a .314 BA. His Kenwood Wildcats wound up third in the Tycobbian West this year.

It was a close battle with Summerland's Mandu Purula, who finished up 5 points back with a .352 mark in 136 games. Purula rapped 23 homers, batted in 86 runs and scored 72 for the Sunsets. In the number three spot was Rolling Hills' fine first sacker Billy Christianson. He played in 154 games, hit .336 with an IPA-leading 133 runs and batted in 75 runs.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 25, 2031

2031 IPA Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven games)

Ruthlandian Union

Elnora Outslugs Sligo 11-6, Series Knotted
The hard-hitting Elnora All-Stars pounded out an 11-6 triumph over the Sligo Rovers to knot up the Ruthlandian Elite 8 at a game each... playing in the friendly confines of State Fair Park, the All-Stars rattled the fences for 16 hits, led by RF Pettis Pentleton (.400) with 3 hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Mike Long (.333) with 2 hits and 4 RBIs, and 3B Mike Houston (.444) with 4 hits and a run batted in... Long and Pentleton slapped homers... Elnora busted up a 7-6 game with a run in the bottom of the seventh and 3 more in the eighth... Cliff Jackson and Paul Martina starred in relief by blanking the Rovers in the last two frames to save the win for starter Jeremy Sellers (1-0), who was belted for 6 runs and 13 hits over 7 innings... SS Wally Buck (.300) led Sligo with 2 doubles and 2 runs batted in... LF Dan Jackson (.500) also contributed 3 hits, 2 runs and an RBI... Sligo starter Earl Perkins (0-1) was ravaged for 7 runs and 10 hits in 5-plus innings.

Rancheros Nudge Vipers 6-5, Split Series
Valmara was up 5-3 after 6 innings in game two of the RU Elite 8 Series, but they couldn't hold off San Dimas, who rebounded late to nudge the Vipers 6-5 and even it up at a game apiece... in the seventh 2B Joey Harris' (.286) sacrifice fly made it 5-4 game... Valmara starter Teddy Lem carried a 5-4 lead into the top of the ninth and was relieved by Ivan Guzek after a lead-off single by 1B Billy Hawkins (.222)... losing pitcher Guzek (0-1) couldn't close it out and botched the save via a wild pitch, passed ball and a game-tying single by RF Pachito Flores (.250)... two more walks loaded the bases and Gregg Mathis (.250) put San Dimas ahead for good 6-5 with a sac fly.

San Dimas got solid relief from by Shannon White and Hector Villa, who stymied Valmara for the last three innings... Villa (1-0) got the victory with 2 scoreless frames... neither starter was effective as Lem surrendered 5 runs - only 3 earned - and 8 hits in his 8 innings, while Ranchero starter Joaquin Lima allowed 5 runs and 8 hits in 6 innings.

San Dimas got 9 hits and was sparked by CF Ramon Escobar (.375) with 3 hits, C Cisco Vina (.333) with 2 hits, including a home run, and 2 runs scored, and RF Pachito Flores (.250), who had 2 hits.... the Vipers collected 11 hits, headed up by CF Reno DiBenedetto (.556) with 4 hits... DiBenedetto socked a solo homer and scored 3 times.

Tycobbian Union

Reds Tame Panthers 3-1, Series Tied
In Rolling Hills at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds, the hometown Reds rode good pitching to tame East Point 3-1 in game two of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series and tie the series at one game each... C Tony Brinkerhoff's (.429) 2-run two-bagger snapped a 1-1 tie and give the Reds the victory... Tom Pierson combined with Kenny Leonard and Maury Cantrell for the win... Pierson worked 6 and a third innings, gave up one run and 7 hits, struck out 6 and walked one... Leonard and Cantrell held East Point hitless over the last 2 and two-thirds innings with Cantrell (1-0) notching the win... Dixie Brooks (0-1) went all the way for the losers, giving up 3 runs and 7 hits in 8 innings with 3 walks and 5 Ks.

Ninjas Nip Z's 1-0 In 11 Innings In Game 2
Game two of the TU Elite 8 Series was a masterpiece at De la Vega Stadium in Luxora... Ginza got great pitching from Andrei Schuler and Frank Beard to nip Luxora 1-0 in 11 innings and gain a split in the first two games... Schuler blanked them for 9 innings on 5 hits and Beard finished the Z's off with 2 scoreless innings... Beard (1-0) picked up the win and struck out the side in the final frame... Fabio Madeiros was flawless for the Zorros, too... he hurled 9 scoreless innings, fanned 7, walked 2 and stopped Ginza on just 4 hits... Halloran (0-1) was the loser when he allowed a one-out single in the 11th to CF Cotton Cornwall (.125), who promptly stole second base and scored the game's only run on SS Russ Van Kleek's (.375) two-out single.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 26, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series
(best-of-seven games)

Ruthlandian Union

Elnora Edges Sligo 6-5, Take Series Lead
Playing on the road at Silver Mountain Park in Sligo, Elnora trailed early 3-1, but mounted a comeback in the late innings to edge the Rovers 6-5 in game three of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... the All-Stars now lead the series two games to one... Elnora socked 14 hits to put Sligo away... Travis Glass ripped a 3-run shot that sent the All-Stars ahead 5 to 3 in the sixth inning... a run in the seventh gave Elnora a 6-3 lead and they held off a late rally by the Rovers in the ninth.

LF Clint Thomas (.267), 2B Matt Boyd (.500) and 3B Stan Bajek (.600) all cracked 3 hits each for Elnora... Thomas had a homer and batted in a pair of runs... while 3B Howie Robertson (.154) and 2B Bo Clancy led the Rovers with 2 runs batted in apiece... both teams were plagued with shoddy defense... Elnora committed 3 errors and gave up 4 unearned runs and Sligo made 2 miscues and also surrendered 4 unearned runs.

Lucien Vashon (1-0) gained the win... he allowed all 5 runs - only one earned run - in 8 and two-third innings, struck out 5 and walked 4, while giving up 8 hits... reliever Cliff Jackson got the final out and the save as he put an end to Sligo in the ninth... Terry Bailey (0-1) was the loser as he was tagged for 14 hits and 6 runs in 7 frames, but only allowed 2 earned runs... Bailey fanned 9 and issued 2 bases on balls.

Vips Rap Rancheros 11-8, Up 2-1 In Series
Hitters had a field day at Ranchero Stadium in San Dimas and Valmara gained a two-to-one edge in the RU Elite 8 Series.... Valmara pounded out 17 hits en route to an 11-8 triumph over the hometown Rancheros, who totaled 13 hits... San Dimas blew 6-4 and 8-6 leads as the Vipers took the game with a 4-run ninth, highlighted by LF Benny Hooper's (.357) game-winning 2-run single... the victory went to Valmara starter Carroll Cain (1-0) and the loss to Miguel Valdes (0-1), neither one was effective in the slugfest.

The Vipers were led at the plate by SS Teddy Rudek (.444) with 2 hits and 4 RBIs... Rudek had a 3-run homer... C Floyd Randolph (.333) racked up 3 hits and 2 RBIs, including a solo home run, and 3B Amos Gallagher (.375) added 2 hits and 2 RBIs... CF Reno DiBenedetto (.600) continued to blister San Dimas with 4 hits... topping the Rancheros' hit parade were 2B Joey Harris with 3-4 and 3 RBIs, including a 2-run homer, SS Cloyd Middleton (.308) with 3 hits and 4 runs scored, and RF Andre Venturella (.286) and 3B Gregg Mathis (.231) with 2 RBIs each.

Tycobbian Union

Ginza Grabs 5-4 Win, Leads Luxora 2-1 In Series
Gutsy pitching and clutch hits grabbed the Ginza Ninjas a 2-1 lead in its Tycobbian Elite 8 Series against heavily-favored Luxora at Ninja Stadium... the Ninjas trailed 4-0 after four frames, but chiseled away and came back to win 5-4... for the second day in a row 2B Russ Van Kleek was the hero... yesterday he drove in the game-winner in the 1-0 eleven-inning thriller, this time Van Kleek tied the score with a homer in the eighth and then won it with a sacrifice fly in the last of the ninth.

Winning pitcher Harlan Wilson (1-0) was belted hard early, but he settled down and blanked the Z's over the last 5 frames... Wilson permitted 4 runs on 7 hits... 3 double plays helped Wilson out... reliever Kent Halloran (0-2) lost for the second successive day... he relieved Valente Viero to start the ninth and was smacked for 2 hits and walk and the winning run... Viero shut out the Ninjas for four innings, then weakened... Viero worked 8 innings, fanned 5, walked 2 and allowed 4 runs and 11 hits... the score was tied 4-4 when he exited.

Ginza collected 13 hits and were paced by Van Kleek (.417) with 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 runs batted in... 1B Roger Lanier (.250) also went deep for the Ninjas... Luxora got 7 hits and was led by LF Forest Orr (.600) with 2-4 and 3 RBIs... Orr and RF Keith Butler (.200) homered for the Z's.

Reds Hold Off Panthers 5-4 In Game 3
They were outhit and outgunned in game three of the TU Elite 8, but Rolling Hills still came away with a 5-4 decision over the East Point Panthers for a one-game lead in the best-of-seven series... the Reds ran up a 5-1 margin after 5 innings, then managed to stave off the Panthers... Reds LF Lonnie Chadwick (.417) drove in 4 runs with 3 hits, including a 2-run homer in the fourth and a 2-run double in the fifth... East Point's 1B Tetsu Tanaka (.308) and CF Kenko Aoki (.250) homered in defeat... Aoki led the Panthers' 11-hit attack with 3 hits, while Tanaka, RF Kyle Pike (.273) and 3B Riley O'Day (.364) put up 2 hits apiece.

Buck Myers (1-0) picked up the victory... he permitted 4 runs on 11 hits in 8 frames, fanned 3 and walked none... Myers held East Point to one run in the first six frames, then weakened... reliever Maury Cantrell worked a runless ninth to wrap up the win... Joe Foley (0-1) caught the loss for the Panthers... he gave up 5 runs and 5 hits in 7 innings.

[Eugene Church]

Map of the Islands

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

SAN DIMAS RANCHEROS

Owner: Esai Montanez
GM: Paco Banderes
Manager: Wesley Pate

San Dimas is located in the southeastern tip of Ruthlandia on the Valerian Ocean in the swampy lowlands. The town and its surrounding area were founded by Spanish settlers in the 1700s. Originally, the area was called Mud Springs, but when this name proved to be troublesome in recruiting new settlers from Spain, it was changed to San Dimas.

Because of its remote location, San Dimas remained largely a ranching area until the start of the 20th century. The San Dimas climate was perfect for farming, and in 1903 the San Dimas Irrigation Company was formed, and the following year the Ruthlandia Railway Line reached San Dimas. The combination of the two established the town as the heart of a vast agricultural community that continues to thrive to this day. Oranges, grapefruits, sugar cane, and all types of vegetables are grown in the San Dimas region.

Despite agriculture taking over as the dominant economic force, ranching remains the face of the community. Each February brings the San Dimas Exposition and Livestock show to the Stockyards, kicking off a three-week celebration that includes the largest rodeo in Ruthlandia. The area around the old Stockyards has been preserved as a Ruthlandia Historic Site and includes a state of the art Western museum along with renovated stores that recreate old San Dimas. During the rest of the year there is a local rodeo on every Saturday night when the Rancheros aren’t in town.

Some of San Dimas' other highlights include San Dimas A & M University. A & M is the finest agricultural university in the nation and the center for most cultural activities in town.

As evidenced by the town name, San Dimas’ culture is still very rooted in its Spanish heritage. Many of the buildings still reflect the architecture of the Spanish colonial era. These influences can be further seen in music and food as well. San Dimas boasts more tapas bars than anywhere else in the country, and flamenco is very popular in many of the local establishments.

The Rancheros struggled for many years at the box office as the team played second fiddle to the ever popular rodeo. In 1974 the club was purchased by Esai Montanez, changing the team’s fortunes almost immediately. Mr. Montanez held numerous promotions and promoted a lively, fan-friendly atmosphere at the ballpark. The team was so successful that dozens of other owners came to San Dimas to attend seminars on how to model their franchise after the Rancheros. The atmosphere continues to this day as the team employs a pig to bring the umpires balls between innings and is still famous for its many other whacky promotions. Among the more popular promotions are Trekkie Night where fans wearing their Star Trek costumes get in for $1 and two-for-one beer nights dubbed “Thirsty Thursdays.” The seventh-inning stretch features flamenco dancers on both dugouts, and fans can expect to be entertained by the team’s mascot, “Bucky the Bronco.”

Another successful aspect of the Montanez ownership has been the construction of Ranchero Park. The project was a combination of public and private financing with the town paying for all of the infrastructure costs and the Montanez family paying the stadium construction costs. Ranchero Park was opened to the public in time for opening day 1988 and has been a huge success for both the club and San Dimas. Originally it held just over 6,500 fans, but in 2002 for their debut into the Islandian Pro Alliance, the club built a picnic area, luxury suites and bleachers in left field that has added an additional 1,000 seats.

The general manager and former field manager of the Rancheros is Paco Banderes. He is one of the few managers in the Islandian Pro Alliance that did not play in amateur or industrial leagues. Banderes always says, "I was always the last one chosen when we would choose up sides on the playground." But that didn't keep him from being a successful manager in company league circles. "When it comes to baseball, I may not be able to do it, but I can sure heck tell you how to do it. And there ain't too many guys around that can out-manage me, either!"

The current skipper for the Rancheros is a former player, Wesley Pate. who was a journeyman catcher with club for 14 years. Pate posted a career .282 batting average from 2005 to 2018.

Ranchero Park (1988)

Capacity: 7,500

Dimensions:

LF Line 330
LF 350
LCF 375
CF 402
RCF 375
RF 350
RF Line 330

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

EAST POINT PANTHERS

Owner: Silver Mountain Marble Works
GM: Jesse Goodwin
Manager: Karol Zodoka

East Point is primarily a military town with a population of 84,000 inhabitants. It is a splendid town surrounded and fortified by a ringed wall of white marble, which is found in great abundance in local quarries and pits. The marble business is one of the important elements of the local economy.

East Point is reminiscent of ancient Rome and Athens, but on a much smaller scale. Majestic marble statues and buildings are ever present sights. East Point is on the westside of the Silver Mountains in east central Tycobbia and located right on the Ruthlandian border at Frontier Pass, the only land route connecting the two countries. East Point was established to protect Tycobbia from invasion from the east. Right across the border is Ft. Benton, its Ruthlandian military counterpart.

All branches of the military are headquartered here. Basic training is conducted on the base. It is also the site of the War College, which trains the officer corps at East Point Military Academy. Future officers are educated and trained here. It is also a retirement home and medical facility for veterans. Many military and medical suppliers have their home offices here as well.

East Point is a model town, organized and structured in military fashion. It is a well-designed and well-planned town with perfectly square blocks, all identical in size. All streets run perfect parallel, north to south and east to west. There is a civilian government, but it works closely with the military authorities, who provide boot camp trainees for sanitation purposes. Streets are pristine clean and well-manicured because the military recruits sweep through the town each morning and police the town of any trash, litter and debris.

It is also home to the East Point Panthers Baseball Club of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Panthers are in the East Division of the Tycobbian Union. The club is owned and operated by the Silver Mountain Marble Works. Running the ball club is general manager Jesse Goodwin and his field manager Karol Zodoka. Both Goodwin and Zodoka excelled as players for the Panthers. Both were hard-hitting infielders. Goodwin played for 15 seasons from 2005 to 2019 with a .287 BA, 430 homers and 1300 RBIs. He made the All-Star team on 5 occasions and won the Golden Bat one time. Zodoka had an outstanding career from 2002 to 2017. He was a 7-time All-Star, won 4 Golden Gloves, a Golden Bat and RU MVP Award. Zodoka batted .293 with 391 homers and over 1300 RBIs.

The Panthers play at ancient and majestic Armed Forces Stadium, named in memory and in honor of the men and women of the Tycobbian Armed Forces. Marble was used extensively in the stadium construction and peripheral facade. Beyond the outfield walls there is a breathtaking view of the town in the distance, replete with marble buildings and monuments. Armed Forces Stadium is not a big ballpark dimension-wise. The fans and batters love it because of the high-scoring games, but pitchers dread pitching here.

Music is supplied at the ballpark by the Army, Air Force and Navy bands to inspire the Panther fans and spur their team on to victory. At the seventh inning stretch one of the service anthems is played, followed by the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Food-wise you get soft drinks, beer, hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts and crackerjacks. Sorry, no "K-rations" or "SOS". One doesn't want to rile the troops. No "KP" either!

Armed Forces Stadium (1935)

Capacity: 9500

Dimensions:

LF Line 326
LF 345
LCF 375
CF 388
RCF 375
RF 345
RF Line 326

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 27, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Slams Elnora 10-3, Evens Series
The Sligo Rovers tore up Elnora 10-3 in game 4 of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 and deadlocked the series at two games each... the Rovers rapped out 15 hits with Kevin Spencer leading the way with 4 RBIs... Spencer smashed a 3-run homer in the first inning as Sligo scored early and often, scoring all of the runs in the first four frames... Bud Foster chalked up the victory by going solid 8 innings... Foster (1-0/1.59) gave up 11 hits, but only 3 runs... Ray Fletcher worked the last inning in perfect fashion... so far seventh-seeded Sligo is hanging tough with number-three seed Elnora.

Spencer (.333) had 2 hits and was backed up by SS Drayton Henderson (.600) and 1B Maury Rice (.353), who drilled 3 hits apiece... and Darryl Collins (.375) and LF Dan Jackson (.412) each with a pair of hits... Rice and Collins scored 3 times each and Henderson 2... CF Travis Glass (.313) and C Jerl Coleman led Elnora at the plate with 2 hits each... 1B Mel Long hit a solo homer for the All-Stars... losing pitcher Freddie Pfeffer (0-2/2.08) was knocked out early to the tune of 8 runs on 6 hits in 2-plus innings... 3 Elnora errors cost him 7 unearned runs.

San Dimas' Barajas Beats Valmara 3-1, Series Tied
In game four of the RU Elite 8 Series at Ranchero Stadium, San Dimas got a sharp outing and a 3-1 victory from Jay Barajas to get a split with Valmara... the series is tied at 2 games each... the Rancheros back Barajas up with 11 hits, paced by LF Kenneth Kent (.444) and 3B Gregg Mathis (.353) each with 3 base hits... Kent had a single, double and home run, scored twice and batted in a run, while Mathis had a double and 2 singles, one RBI and a run scored... Barajas (.400) also helped out with 2 hits and an RBI... Valmara was rated the top seed this year in the Pro Cup playoffs, while San Dimas was picked as the fourth seed.

On the hill Barajas (1-1/2.81) went the distance and stopped the Vipers on one run and 5 hits with 6 Ks and no walks... Garry Gronek (1-1/3.00) of the Vipers also pitched a complete game, yielding 3 runs on 11 hits with 5 strikeouts and a pair of walks... 1B Jerry Rembert (.235) accounted for Valmara's only run with a fifth-inning roundtripper.

Tycobbian Union

Ninjas Zero Zorros 3-0, Near Series Win
In an unlikely turn of events, the last-seeded Ginza Ninjas have bolted to a 3-1 lead in the Tycobbian Elite 8 over heavily-favored and number-two seed Luxora... winning pitcher Ryuki Kaneko (1-1/3.95) tossed shutout ball into the seventh inning, then gave way to Frank Beard, who finished up the 3-0 victory... Kaneko was superb, holding the Zorros to just 2 singles, while fanning 4 and walking one... Beard got the last 4 outs and struck out 2 of them... LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.250) homered in the third inning and SS Taro Mori and 1B Roger Lanier delivered RBI singles in the seventh... Benny DeVito (1-1/1.59) went all the way and only allowed one earned run, along with 9 hits in defeat... Mori (.176), Lanier (.313) and RF Chuck Wilson (.500) all had 2 hits for Ginza.

Reds Win In Ten 6-4 Over Panthers, Up 3-1
On the road fifth-seeded Rolling Hills Reds overcame 5 errors to whip the number-six seed East Point 6-4 in 10 innings and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven TU Elite 8 Series... Tony Brinkerhoff snapped a 4-4 tie with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th and CF Terry Wade (.250) padded it with a run-scoring single... Bobby Morris (1-0) notched the win and the save went to Kenny Leonard... reliever J. D. McDermott (0-1) got the loss as he was tagged for 2 runs and 3 hits in his 2 innings.

Both teams had 9 hits apiece... Reds starter Errol Gaudet coasted for 7 innings with a 4-1 edge, but he faltered in the 3-run eighth when East Point tied the score, though only 2 of the runs were earned... Brinkerhoff and Wade each batted in 2 runs for the victors, while SS Jug Slavin (.333) had 3 hits and scored twice for the losers... Panther LF Wally Wright (.278) got the game's only homer.

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

ELNORA ALL-STARS

Owner: George Costanza
GM: Zoggy White
Manager: Leon Carter

Elnora, population 101,000, is a port city at the edge of the Great Plains on the east coast of Ruthlandia near the Valerian Ocean. It is one of the earliest settlements in the Islands. Elnora is the site of grain processing plants, vast wheat fields and shipping docks.

It was the home of the first amateur teams formed by companies and commercial enterprises in the 1920s. Players were given jobs by the companies and then given ample time off to practice their skills and to play games to publicize the companies' wares, services and products to the baseball fans of Ruthlandia.

The Elnora All-Stars are owned by a wealthy eccentric by the name of George Costanza. He made a fortune in reality television with a show "about nothing". In 2000, Costanza jumped at the chance to get a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance and immediately began signing up all of the amateur all-stars and named his team the All-Stars. But IPA commissioner, John Banson, refused to approve the contracts. Costanza had to go through the league draft to get his players like all of the other teams. Costanza appealed it all the way to the Islandian Supreme Court, but the league prevailed.

Elnora plays in the Ruthlandian Union and is in the East Division. The Elnora All-Stars play at State Fair Park, which is the site of the Ruthlandian State Fair each year. It is the largest midway and carnival in the Islands. State Fair Park is known for serving great soups, made by the famous Elaine Benes Soup Company. Costanza imported a renowned and sometimes difficult chef from Argentina to manage his concessions. In addition to traditional baseball foods, wonderful soups like mulligatawny, lima bean, turkey chili, crab bisque, cold cucumber, corn and crab chowder are served up at the ballpark. A word of warning, don't ask for bread. The Chef demands that all customers in his restaurant follow his meticulous (and seemingly arbitrary) soup-ordering instructions to the letter, lest they be refused service by his insistent avowal, "No soup for you!"

Costanza did go out and get a great manager for the All-Stars. He hired one of the most successful industrial league manager in Ruthlandian baseball history, Zoggy White. He was only a semi-mediocre outfielder, but really made his mark as a manager. In reference to his success as a player versus his success as a manager, White once said, "Baseball has been good to me since I quit trying to play it." His style of play, which was nicknamed "Whiteyball," concentrates on pitching, speed, and defense to win games rather than home runs. White's baseball philosophy also includes a preference for patient hitters with high on-base percentages. White retired in 2026 after 27 seasons at the helm and took over as general manager. He did not attain much success as the All-Stars only managed 3 pennants and 5 playoff appearances in his tenure.

Leon Carter is the current manager. He took the reins from White in 2027. Carter was a 7-time All-Star catcher for Elnora from 2013 to 2026. He finished his career with a lifetime .287 BA , 284 homers and over 1000 RBIs.

State Fair Park (1971)

Capacity: 12,500

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 335
Left Field - 370
Left Center - 399
Center Field - 415
Right Center - 399
Right Field - 370
Right Field Line - 335

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

LUXORA ZORROS

Owner: De la Vega Foundation
GM: Rodrigo Alejandro
Manager: Lacey Tompkins

Luxora is a picturesque town of 65,000 people of Spanish and Andorran ancestry located in the Silver Mountains of northeastern Tycobbia. Both Spanish and English are spoken there. Snowy winters and mild summers lure tourists from all over, who come in great numbers to enjoy the natural hot thermal springs and spas, snow skiing, snowboarding, whitewater rafting and the wonderful duty-free bazaar overflowing with electronics, luxury goods and fine handmade clothing made from the famous Luxoran wool in the town textile factory. Everywhere in the area you will see a plethora of sheep ranches, along with timber, lumber and wood products which are processed and manufactured there. Luxora benefits greatly from its proximity to the Rio Loco, a wild and raging river and a source of great hydroelectric power. By way of a series of dams and locks the river flows from high in the mountains, skirting the town on its western journey through the foothills before finally flowing into the sky blue waters of Blue Lake near Fairfax. As a result, it is the headquarters of the Tycobbia Electric Authority.

Luxora itself is a modest town steeped in traditional ways. It has narrow streets and plazas in which to get happily lost among the grand and ancient churches and mansions. Because of the cultural tradition of “siestas”, Spanish-owned companies give their employees time off each day so they can attend the local team’s games with their families, a practice and custom that soon spread to all of the townships in baseball-crazed Tycobbia and Ruthlandia.

It is also the home of the Luxora Zorros (“foxes” in Spanish) of the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Z's are a member of the Tycobbian Union East Division. Luxora plays at De la Vega Stadium (affectionately called “The Foxhole” by the locals), named for Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro, the legendary black clad hero who fought Portuguese despotism during the 1800’s and eventually led the Tycobbian people to freedom. His descendants, wealthy landowners with huge sheep and Arabian horse farms, are the owners of the team. Of course, you can see Zorro atop his wondrous black stallion, Toronado (Spanish for “tornado”), galloping around the stadium to the cheers of the crowd as they rally the home team to victory. A splendid mariachi band serenades and provides a festive atmosphere at all the games. You can also enjoy the Spanish delicacies at the concessions stands: cunillo (succulent rabbit cooked in tomato sauce), escudello (a fantastic chicken, sausage and meatball stew), and fried ice cream, too. Traditional ballpark food is provided as well.

Even the GM and former manager of the Zorros is of Spanish descent. Rodrigo Alejandro, an outstanding power hitter and shortstop as an amateur, was the highest paid “amateur” ever in company league circles. Many say Alejandro was the best home run hitter in the Islands history. As Luxora's manager Alejandro made the playoffs 10 times and won 7 pennants. The current skipper of the Z's is a former standout outfielder Lacey Tompkins, who starred for Luxora from 2001 to 2007. Overall Tompkins played 18 seasons in the IPA and compiled a .296 career batting average with 205 home runs, 1081 RBIs and 1113 runs scored. He made the All-Star team twice and won two Golden Gloves.

De la Vega Stadium (1967)

Capacity: 9,487

Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 345
LCF 371
CF 408
RCF 371
RF 345
RF Line 330

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 28, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Sligo Outscores Elnora 10-7, Leads Series 3-2
The bats were sizzling again at Silver Mountain Park in Sligo where the Rovers trounced Elnora 10-7 to go up three games to two in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series... Sligo slammed 16 hits in game 5 and scored double digits for the second game in a row... LF Dan Jackson (.476) slugged a 2-run homer among his 3 hits and drove in 4 runs... 3B Howie Robertson (.238) and 2B Bo Clancy (.333) both had 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Elnora banged out 13 hits and were led by 3B Mike Houston (.533), who went 4-5 and drove in 3 runs... Houston had a 2-run homer and 1B Mel Long (.262) got a solo job, his 3rd in the series... starter Earl Perkins (1-1/7.36) picked up the win... he left in the sixth with an 8-3 lead after allowing 6 hits and 3 runs... the bullpen saved it for him, but just barely... in a losing effort, All-Stars starter Jeremy Sellers (1-1) was severely bashed for 8 runs and 9 hits in 2-plus innings... Elnora will have to win the next two games at home to stay alive in the postseason.

Vipers Lead Series, Edge Rancheros 2-1 in Game 5
In a tense pitching duel in San Dimas at Ranchero Stadium, the visiting Valmara Vipers got a strong start from Teddy Lem, who stopped the Rancheros 2-1 in game five of the RU Elite 8... the triumph put Valmara up three games to two in the best-of-seven affair... the Vipers need just one win in the next two games at War Memorial Stadium to advance to the Pro Cup Final 4... Lem (1-0/1.80) worked 7 standout innings, limiting San Dimas to one run on 4 hits... relievers Ivan Guzek and J. R. Boutin held the Rancheros scoreless the final 2 frames with the save going to Boutin... Joaquin Lima (0-1/3.60) went the route for San Dimas in defeat, permitting 2 runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 5 Ks.

San Dimas took the lead in the last of the third on an RBI double by Billy Hawkins (.267)... Valmara finally tied it in the top of the sixth on a lead-off single by 2B Alec Leclerc (.333), a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by CF Reno DiBenedetto (.478)... the Vipers won in the eighth on RF Gerry Kazmarek's (.143) bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

Tycobbian Union

Luxora's Alive, Tops Ginza 4-3 In Game 5
Everything was stacked against them... Luxora was down 3 games to one and playing on the road at Ninja Stadium, but the Zorros manage to stay alive and get by underdog Ginza 4-3 in game five of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... the Z's Fabio Medeiros (1-0/1.62) hurled them and hit them to victory... Medeiros checked Ginza on 3 runs and 4 hits into the 8th frame, then got good relief from Kent Halloran, who got the save by getting the final 4 outs to seal the win... Medeiros (.333) also homered to put the Zorros up 2-0 in the third... loser Andrei Schuler (0-1/2.12) struck out 10 in 8 innings, but was tagged for 4 runs and 7 hits.

C Vince Farentino (.278) sparked Luxora at bat with an RBI double in the second inning and a RBI groundout in the fourth... 2B Julio Canseco (.333) added 2 hits and 2 runs to the offense... RF Hideo Kojima (.333) singled in the Ninjas' first run in the bottom of the fourth... and 1B Roger Lanier (.316) doubled in the last 2 in the eighth.

The deck is still stacked against Luxora, one of the top seeds in the Pro Cup playoffs... the Zorros will have to win 2 in a row from the upstart Ninjas to remain in the running for the Pro Cup... Luxora is seeded second in the Pro Cup rankings, while Ginza is rated the last seed... however the Zorros will have the home field advantage for the final two games. Luxora was 52-25 at De la Vega Stadium in the regular season, while Ginza was only 41-36 on the road... the Ninjas split the first two games in Luxora and took two of three at Ninja Stadium.

Reds Wins Series, Top Panthers 5-4 In Game 5
The fifth-seeded Rolling Hills Reds took the fifth game 5-4 and took the TU Elite 8 Series from sixth-seeded East Point by winning four of the five games... the Reds wrapped it up on the road in a see-saw match despite being outhit 10 to 5... they scored 2 runs in the first without a hit, scoring on a throwing error and a wild pitch... the Panthers tied it in the fourth on 1B Tetsu Tanaka's (.318) 2-run blast... but CF Terry Wade's (.350) 2-run shot in the fourth frame gave the lead back to the Reds... only to have East Point come back in the fifth and even it up at 4-4 on RBI doubles by 2B Al Christopher (.143) and RF Kyle Pike (.350)... the game and the series was decided in the top of the ninth on pinchhitter Jacy Kuruk's sac fly.

Tom Pierson worked the first 6 frames, surrendering 4 runs on 10 hits... reliever Dave Gronkowski (1-0) took the victory with 2 perfect innings and 3 strikeouts... Maury Cantrell closed it out for his second save in the series... he got in trouble in the ninth and put runners on first and second with one out, but fanned the last two batters.

Rolling Hills will now await the winner of the Ginza-Luxora series... the Ninjas are up 3-2 in the series.

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

SLIGO ROVERS

Owner: Myron Dalrymple, CEO of the Silver Mountain Ski Resort
GM/Manager: Eddie Keys

Sligo is located in the slopes of the Silver Mountains in northern Ruthlandia. Because of its remote location, the area was largely uninhabited until 1872 when silver was discovered in the hills surrounding the town. The name of the town comes from Theodore Sligo, one of the men who originally discovered the silver. Sligo laid out the roads and a tent city popped up shortly after the discovery. By the turn of the century, the mines had produced more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Many fine examples of Victorian architecture that were built during the era are well-preserved today.

When the mines stopped producing in the late 1940s, the town lost almost half of its population and fell upon hard times. It survived mainly on its timber industry until the 1970s when environmental concerns caused the town to form a commission that would seek alternative industries that could sustain the economy. The commission findings led to a rebirth of the once-beautiful city. Through various tax breaks, the town was able to attract several builders to construct ski resorts just outside of town. The town also refurbished many of the historic buildings that had fallen into disrepair and decided to place its economic emphasis on tourism.

With a population of only 38,000, Sligo is the smallest town to own a team in the Islandian Pro Alliance and has at various times struggled to make ends meet despite having very loyal fans. The 1973 commission made it clear in its report that the town should figure out a way to provide long-term stability to the local nine as it would be a devastating blow to civic pride if the Rovers were to leave town. As a result, the ballpark was part of the downtown refurbishment and the team signed a long-term lease that makes it difficult for the Rovers to leave. In the 80s, the team was sold to Myron Dalrymple, owner of the highly successful Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Dalrymple is respected among long-time Sligo residents for settling in town and helping to revive its economy.

The Rovers play at Silver Mountain Park, one of the oldest parks in the Islands, which seats 5,678 spectators and was built in 1912. The ballpark’s mid-seventies facelift did a good job of preserving its historic nature and the town funded yet another update in 1998 when four sky suites were added along with expanding the clubhouses. SM Park sports its original brick façade at its entrance and is tucked away in the historic Main Street shopping district. There is no parking here, but the sight of fans walking to the ballpark on a balmy summer afternoon fits in well with the town’s quaint ambiance. The team plays to that ambiance by having a barber shop quartet stationed outside the main ticket booth to greet approaching fans.

Speaking of music, you won’t find loud rock and roll music blaring from a state of the art sound system here. Like Hillsboro, Kenwood, Ozarka and Marston, the team employs an organist who serenades fans with classic tunes and is quite adept at finding songs that have something to do with the batter’s skill or idiosynchracies. Food here is among the most affordable in all of the IPA, and while you will find classic ballpark fare like peanuts, hot dogs, and crackerjacks, the most popular item on the menu may well be the roasted corn on the cob that is slathered with mayonnaise.

Despite its nod to the traditional, the team has added one of those big fuzzy mascots in recent years. “Rover”, a giant red dog, roams the stands entertaining children and adults alike. When fans catch a foul ball, the public address announcer will announce to “give that fan a contract,” and Rover will indeed present the fan with a “contract” and a "doggy bag" filled with club gifts. Another Silver Mountain park tradition traces its roots back to the team’s current manager Eddie Keys. During his playing days in the industrial leagues, fans would jingle their keys whenever he came to bat. The tradition continues to this day whenever a rally is in order.

Silver Mountain Park (1912)

Capacity: 5,678

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 328
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 382
Center Field - 387
Right Center - 382
Right Field - 366
Right Field Line - 342

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

GINZA NINJAS

Owner: OmniSea, Ltd.
GM/Manager: Huroko Uchiyama

Ginza began as a little fishing village in southeastern Tycobbia, settled by seafaring Japanese immigrants, who came in the 1860s during the Meiji Dynasty, a period of westernization. Today Ginza is a prosperous town of 88,000 with about half of its citizens being Japanese. Both Japanese and English are spoken here.

The name Ginza comes from “silver mint”, which Japanese authorities built in 1612. The modern day Ginza is a fabulous shopping area in Tokyo. The Tycobbian Ginza emulates it namesake, but on a much smaller scale. It is a free trade port and has many importers and exporters at the International Bazaar. Great bargains are in abundance in Ginza. The town also has a thriving fishing fleet and seafood processing industry.

Baseball got a late start in Ginza. The town inhabitants began playing amateur baseball in the 1930s, but soon began to challenge other towns in the sport. OmniSea Marine Processors, the largest employer in town, began sponsoring leagues and invested heavily in the game's development. OmniSea eventually expanded to industrial leagues and now to the Islandian Pro Alliance. They own the Ginza Ninjas of the Tycobbian Union South Division.

Ginza plays at Ninja Stadium, a modern ballpark built in 1998. A game at Ninja Stadium is really special. Most of the fans are quite reserve and quiet, typical Japanese social demeanor. However, in the left field bleachers it is another world...a wild and noisy place. There, the Ninjas have an official cheering section called “oendan” (pronounced “oh-en-dan”), that plays songs, beats drums and gongs, blows trumpets and waves flags. They stand up the entire time, when the Ninjas are at bat and sit down, when the opposition is batting. Fans clap plastic megaphones along with the oendan and sing chants to each Ginza player. Many fans carry umbrellas to the ballgame. Whenever the Ninjas score a run, they also open up all of the umbrellas, their way of telling the opposing pitcher, he is headed for the showers.

In the Lucky Seventh, the traditional seventh inning stretch, they sing the Ninja fight song and then release hundreds of rocket balloons (jetto fusen). Other unique things about Ninja baseball is the public address announcer is female, the only one in the Islands. You will also see the pitcher bow in reverence to fielders, who make good plays.

At the Ninja Stadium concessions you will find not only traditional baseball fare, but Japanese as well. Ginza fans can enjoy yakisoba (fried noodles), yaketori (BBQ chicken on skewers), takoyaki (fried octopus dumplings) and bento (cold lunch in a wooden box). For the sweet tooth, kakigori (snowballs with flavored syrup and condensed milk), green tea ice cream, sweet potato ice cream, anmitsu (cold fruit dessert) and anpan (sweet bun).

The GM and Manager of the Ginza Ninjas is one of the alltime great players and managers in the Tycobbian amateur and industrial leagues, Huroko Uchiyama. They call him “Mr. Baseball” in Ginza.

Ninja Stadium (1998)

Capacity: 10,667

Dimensions:

LF Line 330
LF 355
LCF 377
CF 400
RCF 372
RF 360
RF Line 335

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 29, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Valmara KOs San Dimas In 6
Top-seeded Valmara got brilliant pitching for the second straight game to knock tough San Dimas out of the postseason... the Vipers finished them off in six games and now head to the Ruthlandian Final 4 against the Elnora-Sligo victor.

Valmara's Garry Gronek (2-1/2.14) and Lucky Lafferty fired a 2-0 shutout and stopped the Rancheros on just one hit... Gronek worked the first 6 frames and gave up the only hit, a third-inning single by C Cisco Vina (.238)... Lafferty held them hitless in his 3 innings and fanned 4 batters for the save... the Vipers got the winning runs on RF Gerry Kazmarek's (.160) 2-run single in the third inning... Miguel Valdes (0-2/5.82) pitched a complete gamel in defeat, allowing Valmara only 4 hits and no earned runs.

Elnora Slips by Sligo 8-7, Forces Game 7
The Elnora All-Stars evened up its Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series with the underdog Sligo Rovers with an 8-7 victory in game six to force a seventh and deciding game tomorrow afternoon... Elnora ran up an 8-1 lead after 7 innings and then hung on as the Rovers rallied for 6 runs in the eighth... CF Travis Glass (.333), SS Jarod Martin (.368) and pinchhitter Akihiro Samurakami paced the All-Stars 11-hit attack with 2 RBIs apiece... Glass got his second homer in the series.

Lucien Vachon (2-0/1.23) hurled a fine game, stopping Sligo on one run and 5 hits in his 6 innings... the bullpen almost blew it in the eighth, but Marv Elderson managed to save it with a scoreless ninth... Sligo starter Terry Bailey (0-2/6.57) was the losing pitcher... he was blasted for 7 runs in 5-plus innings... the Rovers rapped 12 hits in defeat and were led by 3B Howie Robertson (.280), 2B Bo Clancy (.345), C George Arnick (.321) and SS Wally Buck (.333), all with 2 hits each.

Game seven will be played tomorrow in Elnora at State Fair Park with Freddy Pfeffer (18-13/3.65) on the hill for the All-Stars, opposed by Bud Foster (13-11/2.60) for Sligo... in the postseason Foster is 1-0 with an impressive 1.59 ERA, while Pfeffer is 0-2 with a 2.08 ERA... Pfeffer has been victimized by shoddy defensive play.

Tycobbian Union

Ginza Upsets Luxora, Wins Series In 6
In an unlikely upset, the 8th-seeded Ginza Ninjas did the unexpected - they whipped the number two seed, the talented Luxora Zorros - to advance to the Tycobbian Final 4 against the powerful Rolling Hills Reds... the Ninjas mauled the Zorros 9-4 in game six to eliminate them from the Pro Cup playoffs.

Ginza pounded out 12 hits and were sparked by SS Taro Mori (.269) at the plate... Mori hammered 3 hits, including a double, triple and homer and he drove in 3 runs... Mori was one hit short of a cycle... also helping out with a 2-run homer was 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.154) and RF Hideo Kojima (.313) with a 2-run double... the Z's got 8 hits and were led by 3B Lourenzo Rocha, who walloped a 3-run shot in the fifth to get them back in the game... his homer cut the score to 5-4, but Ginza finished Luxora off with 2 runs in the sixth and 2 more in the ninth to win going away...

Workhorse Harlan Wilson (2-0/2.50) went the route, permitting only one earned run... Zorro starter Valente Viero (0-1/6.08) suffered the defeat... he was pelted for 7 runs and 10 hits in his 5-plus innings.

[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 and sometimes nasty rainy weather.

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 England to aid the Allies. The Ruthlandian navy served proudly with the 2nd Polish Corps in the Italian campaign, especially 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 vast supply of petroleum offshore, 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 - 405
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 330
Right Field Line - 309

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

ROLLING HILLS REDS

Owner: Lemroh Meat Company
GM/Manager: Matty Christianson

Rollings Hills has a population of 78,000 and is located in the west central part of Tycobbia and was originally settled by the Kewanna Indians. "kewanna" means "hills that rise and fall" in their language. That is exactly what the landscape looks like here...gentle, rolling hills populated with sporadic groves of birch trees and acre after acre of cattle, dairy, pig, chicken and agricultural farms. Crops include wheat, oats and corn, potatoes and vegetables. In town are the stockyards and meat and grain processing plants. The population is mainly Americans and Brits with only a few Kewannas remaining.

Rolling Hills is an oldtime middle class town with wooden storefronts and bricks streets, lined with gas lamps and pedestrian walkways. No cars are allowed in the midtown area.

It is the home of the Rolling Hills Reds of the IPA's Tycobbian Union West Division. The Reds play at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds, a relic from the early days of baseball. Built in 1907, it is surrounded by birchwood trees in a picturesque park area of town, where families can picnic and enjoy strolls, bicycle rides and boat rides on the park ponds, all amid the peaceful shade trees. A quaint aspect of the ballpark is that the power alleys are deeper than center field. They measure 425 feet, while to dead center it is 410 feet. It takes quite a blast for righthanders to get it out...350 down the line in left field and 375 in straightaway left. However, the lefthanded hitters love it...only 320 down the right field line and 350 to straightaway right .

The Lemroh family owns the team as well as being the owners of the stockyards and meat processing plants. The concessions stands are unique in design. All are set up like soda fountains, complete with stools. They serve up tasty hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, thick shakes and malts.

A Dixieland band provides the music between innings and helps the Rolling Hillians cheer their Reds to victory. Many times throughout the game the fans will dance the Charleston. During the seventh inning stretch you get a rousing Dixieland version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

The GM and Manager of the Rolling Hills Reds is the legendary pitcher, Matty Christianson, one of the most revered players and managers in Tycobbian baseball history.

Midtown Base Ball Grounds (1907)

Capacity: 6,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 375
LCF 425
CF 410
RCF 425
RF 350
RF Line 320

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elnora Triumphs, Stops Sligo 5-1 In Game 7
Elnora did it!... the All-Stars got a superb effort from Freddy Pfeffer in game seven of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series to move on to the Final 4 against Pro Cup-favored Valmara... Pfeffer (1-2/1.71) fanned 11 Sligo Rovers and stopped them 5-1 on just 3 hits in 8 innings as the All-Stars roared back and won the series four games to three... the All-Stars were on the brink of elimination and trailed three games to two... to survive they had to win the last two games from the feisty Rovers... Paul Martina worked a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the win... Pfeffer (.333) also doubled in 2 runs in the bottom of the first... CF Travis Glass (.321) had a solo homer and 2 RBIs in the game... Elnora totaled 10 hits off losing pitcher Bud Foster (1-1/2.16), who surrendered 5 runs with only 3 earned... Elnora is rated the third-best club in the Pro Cup playoffs with Sligo seeded seventh.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 3, 2031

Pro Cup Down To 4 Teams, Valmara Favored
Four clubs have survived in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs and they will continue their quest in the next round, the Final 4 Series. In the Ruthlandian Union it will be number-one seed Valmara hosting the third-seeded Elnora All-Stars. Over in the Tycobbian Union Rolling Hills entertains the Ginza Ninjas. The Reds are seeded fifth, while the surprising Ninjas are the last seed. All things point to a Valmara-Rolling Hills Pro Cup Finals, but it won't be easy. Elnora and Ginza have played very well in the postseason and will not be pushovers.

Valmara (99-55) manager Jet Kazmarek got exceptional pitching the the last two first-round games against San Dimas (93-61) to survive and make it to the Final 4. The Vipers won the series four games to two... starters Teddy Lem (1-0/1.80), Garry Gronek (2-1/2.14) and reliever Ivan Guzek (0-1/2.45/1 save) got them through the Elite 8... the Viper bat were adequate and sparked by CF Reno DiBenedetto (.407/1/3/5), SS Teddy Rudek (.333/1/7/4) and 2B Alec Leclerc (.318/0/2/2)... Valmara's big guns RF Gerry Kazmarek (.160/0/3/1), Benny Hooper (.240/0/3/2) and Floyd Randolph (.261/1/2/2) were quiet in the opening round... 1B Jerry Rembert, who tied with Randolph with 25 homers, will not be in the line-up for a few days... he was injured in the Elite 8... Rembert only hit .167 against San Dimas with one homer and 1 run batted in.

The Elnora All-Stars (95-59), guided by skipper Leon Carter just barely beat off hard-hitting Sligo (86-68) in a high-scoring seven-game series... if the All-Stars can good pitching from starters Freddy Pfeffer (1-2/1.71) and Lucien Vashon (2-0/1.23) and continue to hit well, they could knock off the favored Vipers... the bullpen will have to do better this time around... they were dismal against Sligo... Elnora will be led at the plate by 3B Mike Houston (.526/1/6/4), 2B Matt Boyd (.357/0/3/5), SS Jarrod Martin (.348/0/3/2), RF Pettis Pentleton (.333/1/3/6) and CF Travis Glass (.321/3/8/5)... Glass and 1B Mel Long (.226/3/6/5) supplied the firepower with 3 homers each. In the season they each went deep 25 times to top the team.

Rolling Hills (91-63) manager Matty Christianson got exceptional work from his bullpen to get by East Point (89-65) in the Tycobbian Elite 8, which was much closer than it looked... the Reds took it four games to one, but every game was nip-and-tuck... Rolling Hills won two games by a single run and the other two by two runs... the Panthers only win was by two runs... Errol Gaudet (0-1/1.84), the Reds ace, didn't win a game in the first round, neither did number two starter Tom Pierson (0-0/3.65)... to hold off the strong Ginza bats, both will have to get some wins... closer Maury Cantrell (1-0/1.50/2 saves) was especially good against East Point... he relieved in 4 of the games... the Rolling Hills bullpen allowed on one run in 11 innings in the series... the Reds offense was sufficient, but will probably have to be better against Ginza... top bats were CF Terry Wade (.350/1/4/3), 1B Billy Christianson (.300/0/1/1), C Tony Brinkerhoff (.294/0/5/3) and LF Lonnie Chadwick (.250/2/5/3)... the club home-run leader RF Scotty Yiska batted only .056 against East Point... Yiska led the Reds with 27 home runs in the regular year... Yiska was second with 105 RBIs to Brinkerhoff's 110 and batted a solid .306... in the playoffs Yiska has driven in only one run, but has scored 6 times.

The Ginza Ninjas (82-72) upset powerhouse Luxora (96-58) in six games in the first round with good pitching and timely hitting... Ginza had a poor first half, but became one of the better teams in the TU in the second half... they were 2 games under .500 entering August, but finished very strong and continued to play well into the postseason... they will not be an easy task for Rolling Hills... Harlan Wilson (2-0/2.50), Andrei Schuler (0-1/2.12) and Ryuji Kaneko (1-1/3.95) were effective starters and closer Frank Beard (1-0/0.00) got a win and a save in the series without giving up a run... manager Huroko Uchiyama's club has a chance if they continue to play like they did against Luxora, the best team in the Tycobbian Union this year with a 96-58 mark... only Valmara in the Ruthlandian Union won more games at 99-55... in first round action the Ninjas were led by SS Russ Van Kleek (.364/1/4/4), RF Hideo Kojima (.313/0/3/1), SS Taro Mori (.269/0/5/4) and 1B Roger Lanier (.250/1/4/2)... Ginza's big bats CF Cotton Cornwall (.160/0/1/2) and 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.154/1/2/3) were held in check by Luxora pitching and will need to step it up in the Final 4... they totaled 62 homers between them in the regular season... Cornwall and O'Rorke each drove in over 100 runs apiece.

Scheduled pitchers in the opening games will pit Elnora's Lucien Vashon (22-10/3.18) against Valmara's Teddy Lem (17-9/2.74) in the RU Final 4 and Ginza's Harlan Wilson (18-12/4.19) opposed by Errol Gaudet (21-8/2.75) for the Rolling Hills Reds in the TU Final 4 clash.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 3, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Lem Stops Elnora 4-1, Valmara Takes Opener
In game one of the Ruthlandian Final 4 at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara, the Vipers ace Teddy Lem mowed down the Elnora All-Stars 4-1 on a 6-hitter and Reno DiBenedetto walloped a pair of homers and batted in 3 runs... Lem (2-0/1.50) walked only one and whiffed 5, while pitching a complete game... CF DiBenedetto (.452) led the Vipers with 3 hits in 4 at-bats... Lucien Vachon (2-1/2.38) went the distance and lost for the first time in the playoffs... Valmara got to him for 4 runs and 7 hits.

Tycobbian Union

Reds Trip Ninjas 5-3 In Game 1
Errol Gaudet of the Rolling Hills Reds showed his stuff in the opening game of the Tycobbian Union Final 4 with a 5-3 victory over the red-hot Ginza Ninjas at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds... Gaudet (1-1/2.28) went all the way checking them on 3 runs and 6 hits... the Reds backed up Gaudet with some slick defense and turned three double plays... Rolling Hills had a 2-1 lead and broke the game open with 3 runs in the sixth frame, highlighted by Terry Wade's 2-run double.

Heading up the Reds 11-hit attack was SS Jeff Booker (.381) with 4 hits and Billy Christianson (.375) with 3... RF Terry Wade (.333) delivered 2 RBIs... and 3B Billy Jones (.500) and LF Scotty Yiska (.190) batted in a run apiece... 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.200) cracked 2 hits and scored twice to lead the Ninjas... not only was losing pitcher Harlan Wilson (2-1/3.24) hit hard for 11 hits, he was also wild with 5 walks... Wilson permitted all 5 runs in his 7 innings.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 4, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Series Even, All-Stars Down Vipers 6-2
Freddy Pfeffer has done it again... the young Elnora right-hander came through for them again in an important game... just a few days ago Pfeffer beat Sligo in game seven of the RU Elite 8 Series... now he has evened up the Final 4 Series with Valmara with an impressive 6-2 victory... Pfeffer won game two in Valmara with a 5-hitter to gain a split in the series... he almost went the route, but needed help in the ninth from Jesus Robles, who got the final out in the game... Pfeffer threw 140 pitches, struck out 5 and walked 3... Garry Gronek (2-2/2.89) caught the loss as he allowed 4 runs and 10 hits in 7 frames... a 4-run second inning got Elnora off on the right foot and the Vipers never recovered... LF Clint Thomas (.220) and RF Pettis Pentleton (.293) topped the All-Stars with 2 runs batted in each... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.188) and LF Benny Hooper (.212) drove in the runs for the Vipers.

The series will now move to Elnora for the next three games.

Tycobbian Union

Ninjas Edge Reds 7-6 In Game 2, Van Kleek Hero
The Ginza Ninjas rallied twice in game two to slip by the Rolling Hills Reds 7-6 to even the TU Final 4 at two games each... Rolling Hills jumped ahead 3-0 in the first on Scotty Yiska's 3-run shot... however the Ninjas regained it 5-3 in the fifth... the Reds took charge again in the last of the fifth 6-5 on a 2-run clout by Tony Brinkerhoff... then in the top of the sixth Ginza's Cotton Cornwall tied it up with an RBI single and Russ Van Kleek singled in the eventual game-winning run.

It was a hit-infested game with 19 for the Ninjas and 12 by the Reds, but not a lot of scoring... Ginza stranded 13 baserunners... four Ninjas got 3 hits each: LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.303), CF Cotton Cornwall (.235), 3B Johnny O'Rorke (.257) and 2B Russ Van Kleek (.400)... RF Hideo Kojima (.318) sparked Ginza with 3 RBIs, Cornwall had 2 and Uchiyama and Van Kleek one each... leading the Reds were RF Scotty Yiska (.231) with 2 hits and 4 RBIs and C Tony Brinkerhoff (.292) with a pair of hits and 2 runs batted in... both Yiska and Brinkerhoff homered... 1B Billy Christianson (.429) smacked 3 hits and scored 2 runs.

Good relief work saved the game for Ginza starter and winner Andrei Schuler (1-1/3.91), who was battered for 6 runs and 10 hits in 6 innings... Hollis Pace pitched 2 perfect innings in the seventh and eighth and Frank Beard survived two singles in the ninth for his second save in the playoffs... Rolling Hills starter Tom Pierson (0-1/5.50) had a miserable game and lost it, giving up 7 runs and 16 hits in just 5-plus frames.

Games three, four and five will be held in Ginza's Ninja Stadium.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 5, 2031

2031 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Vipers Raise Cain, Blank Elnora 4-0
The Pro Cup favorite, the Valmara Vipers, raised a little cane in the Ruthlandian Union Final 4 with a 4-0 shutout over Elnora in game three at State Fair Park... this gave the Vipers a one-game edge in the series... Carroll Cain (2-0/3.50) tossed a strong 5-hitter against the All-Stars... Elnora rarely threatened in the game, getting runners as far as second only twice... finally in the ninth a runner reached third with one out, but Cain quickly put out the fire and finished off the All-Stars.

Valmara took the lead early with 2 runs in the first inning on RBI singles by LF Benny Hooper (.243) and C Floyd Randolph (.333)... CF Reno DiBenedetto (.429) hurt his back sliding into second on a double and was replaced in the opening inning... DiBenedetto was the Vipers top hitter in the season and the postseason and will be out of action at least three weeks and will miss the rest of the playoffs... Hooper also doubled in another Viper run in the top of the third... and CF Belton Braddock got the final score in with a sac fly in the ninth... Jeremy Sellers (1-2/8.20) went all the way in defeat, but allowed 11 hits and 4 runs... Randolph and SS Teddy Rudek (.333) had 3 hits to lead Valmara, while Hooper added 2 hits and Braddock (.333) scored 2 runs.

Tycobbian Union

Chadwick's Triple Gives Reds Final 4 Lead
The Rolling Hills bats were silent for most of game three at Ninja Stadium in Ginza, but Lonnie Chadwick saved the day with a 2-run eighth-inning triple to give the Reds a 3-2 triumph over Ginza and a two games to one lead in the Tycobbian Final 4... Buck Myers (2-0/3.38) was the winning pitcher with a sparkling 8 innings... Myers allowed 2 runs on 6 hits, fanned 3 and walked 3... Maury Cantrell (1-0/1.00) made his sixth postseason appearance and notched his third save with a perfect ninth.

After 7 solid frames Ginza's Ryuji Kaneko (1-1/3.38) was in the lead 2-1, but he weakened in the eighth and departed... reliever Frank Beard (1-1/1.35) not only blew the save, but he also lost the game... Kaneko worked 7 and two-thirds innings, permitting just 2 runs on 7 hits... Rolling Hills got 9 hits in all and were led by Chadwick (.321) with 3 hits and a pair of RBIs... 2B Derek Kristensen (.214) drove in the Reds first run in the fourth to tie the score at 1 apiece... CF Cotton Cornwall (.216) and 1B Roger Lanier (.216) has RBI singles in the first and fourth for the Ninjas and LF Sadaharu Uchiyama (.324) topped them with a pair of hits.