ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 28, 2043

2043 IPA PRO CUP DIVISION SERIES - Game Six

Tycobbian Union

SWEET VICTORY, CHAMPS FORCE STALLIONS TO 7TH GAME
Arlon won its third straight from defending Pro Cup champion South Fork to force a seventh-and-deciding game in the Tycobbian Division Series... Paul Sweet (1-1/2.70) hurled a stout game, stopping the Stallions on two runs and six hits in a 3-2 victory... Sweet fanned six batters and walked only two in going the distance... Big Murph McAlister (1-1/2.25) pitched well in defeat, permitting three runs on nine hits.

The winning scores came in the last of the seventh... Arlon trailed 2-1, when pitcher Sweet (.167) singled and moved to third on a double by LF Charlie Hastings (.400)... after a walk to CF Scotty Durham (.083) loaded the bases, C Nick Shafer (.320) tied it up 2-2 with a deep sac fly that scored Sweet... RF Mark Cameron (.261) then put the Champions ahead to stay with a line-drive single that scored Hastings from third.

LF Maury Yates (.333) gave South Fork an early 1-0 lead when he homered in the second frame... Arlon knotted it up in the fifth when a walk and an error placed runners on the corners... Hastings then singled in Jason Dixon (.211) from third... the Stallions took back the lead 2-1 in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by SS Jess Wilkerson (.261).

The series finale will also be played in Arlon at Derby Downs... Arlon will have Lanny Gray (1-1/3.31) on the hill, while Chris Sorensen (1-1/3.60) will get the starting assignment for South Fork... both hurlers are lefties... in the regular season Gray was 13-11 with a 3.95 ERA and Sorensen was 22-12 with a 2.68 ERA... they have split in the series thus far... Sorensen won 7-1 in the opener and Gray took game four 10-0.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 26, 2043

2043 IPA PRO CUP DIVISION SERIES - Game Seven

Tycobbian Union

STALLIONS WIN IN 7 ON SORENSEN'S SHUTOUT
Game seven of the Tycobbian Union Division Series at Derby Downs in Arlon was a magnifcent pitching duel between two splendid southpaws... in the end it was South Fork's Chris Sorensen, who prevailed 1-0 over Lanny Gray and the Arlon Champions... the winning run came after seven scoreless innings... in the top of the eighth Maury Yates singled with one out... Frank Stewart, a pinchrunner for Yates , stole second base and then scored when second baseman Genji Kurashima botched a groundball for an error.

Sorensen (2-1/2.25) struck out seven, three of them in the ninth, walked two and limited Arlon to just five hits... Gray (1-2/2.13) was brilliant in defeat, tying the Tycobbian playoff record for most strikeouts with 12... Gray gave up no earned runs, walked one and allowed five hits.

Manager Blackie Terranova, beaming with the crucial victory, told the press, "this was just too close for comfort... we needed a big game and Chris gave it to us... we started off the series well with three wins in a row... then they got hot and almost did the improbable... win four in a row." Terranova added, "You know, that nothing is easy in the postseason... each series is a super test... last year we had to win two 7-game series to get a crack at the title... so this is nothing new." The next test for the Stallions will be the powerful North Hills Hawks for the Tycobbian Union league title. South Fork is trying to repeat as IPA champion, while the Hawks are shooting for a fifth Pro Cup in ten years.

Rocco Belasario, the Arlon skipper, lamented the loss. "We just ran into a fine pitcher, who had a super day... otherwise my Champs would be playing for the league title next week... we came real close to knocking off a very fine team... I'm very proud of my boys... we've had a wonderful season."

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 2, 2043

IPA LCS BEGIN TOMORROW
The IPA Pro Cup field has been cut to four teams. Last year's champion South Fork Stallions are still in the hunt along with the North Hills Hawks, Volusia Vigilantes and the surprising Valmara Vipers. In the Tycobbian League Championship Series the Stallions, ranked sixth in the Pro Cup poll, will be at home against the Hawks, who were rated to have the third-best chance of winning the Pro Cup by the professional odds-makers. Playing for the Ruthlandian League title will be number four Volusia, hosting unheralded Valmara, the least likely team to take the Islandian title.

South Fork won the Pro Cup last year, but was given little chance by the prognosticators to haul in the trophy. Ditto for this year in spite of being the reigning champion. To repeat this year, the Stallions are going to have to get past powerful North Hills, who swept the top pick Southport in the Division Series. South Fork had a tough seven-game series with the number-seven ranked club, the Arlon Champions.

The Hawks looked invincible against the favored Southport Sun Sox, winning four straight games. They hit .298 as a team and had a fantastic 1.17 ERA. The three starters David Michael (1-0/1.06), Tony Mack (1-0/0.00) and Joey Santini (0-0/2.00) were all outstanding. South Fork's numbers against a weaker Arlon club didn't look good in comparison. The Stallions batted only .222 and posted a 3.38 ERA. However, their starters Chris Sorensen (2-1/2.25), Jay Murphy (1-0/3.86) and Big Murph McAlister (1-1/2.25) did well in the first round. It was at the plate and in the bullpen where the Stallions suffered. This looks like North Hills' year. They should prevail over South Fork in the Tycobbian League Championship Series and then go on to win the IPA Pro Cup, their fifth in the last ten years.

Battling for the Ruthlandian crown are Volusia and Valmara. The Vigilantes knocked off the number-two team Sugar Valley in five games in the first round action, while the Vipers KO'ed the number-five rated club, the Crystal Lake Crushers in four games. This could be a high-scoring series. Volusia batted .287 against Sugar Valley and outscored them 36 to 20. The V's pitching was fair with a 3.91 ERA. Valmara did even better with a .312 BA. On the mound they compiled a fair 3.50 ERA. The baseball gurus are giving a nod to the Vigilantes in the series because of slightly better starting pitching.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 3, 2043

2043 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game One

Ruthlandian Union

VIPERS NICK VIGILANTES 3-2 IN RU OPENER
Teddy Twardzik was too tough for Volusia to solve in the opener of the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series at the Jailhouse... Twardzik (3-0) stopped the Vigilantes 3-2, tossing eight solid innings, giving up six hits and two runs with three Ks and three walks... the save went to Paul Holloway, who blanked the V's in the ninth, though they put two runners on with one away before Holloway fanned the final two batters... the Vipers remained unbeaten in the postseason... this was their fifth victory in a row and snapped Volusia winning streak at four games.

Drew Selby (0-2/3.60) had a good outing, yielding three runs on nine hits in a complete game... Selby whiffed five and walked two... the Vipers got to him for two runs in the top of the eighth for the win... CF Don Ritchie singled to lead off the inning... Cain Greene tripled him in to tie it up at 2-2... Zarek Boczek's deep fly ball plated the winning run.

Valmara took the lead in the first frame on a double by 2B John Banks (.235) and an RBI single by Don Ritchie (.435)... Volusia crashed two homers back-to-back in the last of the fourth... RF Lonny Womack and SS Floyd Naylor put them ahead 2-1.

CF Don Ritchie sparked Valmara at the plate with three singles...1B Cain Greene (.250), RF Zarek Boczek (.222) and Ritchie (.425) drove in their runs... Womack (.214) and Naylor (.500) led Volusia with two hits and an RBI each.

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS TAKE STALLIONS 4-3, MCDERMOTT HITS 2 HRS
Unbeaten North Hills also chalked up its fifth straight postseason win... in game one of the TU League Championship Series at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, David Michael and Jim McDermott teamed up to give the hometown Hawks a 4-3 triumph over defending Pro Cup champ South Fork... McDermott smashed a three-run game-winner in the bottom of the fifth to send the Hawks off to a high-flying start in the best-of-seven series... he also homered in the fourth frame... Michael (2-0/1.73) went the distance, holding the Stallions to three runs on six hits, three of them for home runs... he walked one and struck out three... South Fork ace southpaw Chris Sorensen (2-2/2.81) also hurled a complete game, giving up four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and two bases on balls.

3B McDermott (.381) topped the Hawks with two hits and four RBIs... this was his first homers of the postseason... 2B Pete Arnold (.111), 3B Elton Jacoby (.310) and C Paul Richardson (.176) all hit solo homers for the Stallions.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 4, 2043

2043 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Two

Ruthlandian Union

VALMARA WINS 6TH STRAIGHT, WHIPS VOLUSIA 6-3
The red-hot Valmara Vipers are on a roll with six wins in a row in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... the Vipers whipped Volusia 6-3 on the road and now have taken the first two games of the Ruthlandian LCS... but they had to rally in the late innings... trailing 3-1 after five innings, Valmara took the lead 4-3 with three runs in the top of the seventh... the Vips clipped the V's for 14 hits , sending Leandos Dizon (2-1/4.29) down to defeat... he surrendered 13 of them, good for five runs in seven innings... Zak Reeder (2-0/2.08) was the winner... he permitted 11 hits, but only three runs in eight and one-third innings... Paul Holloway picked up his third postseason save by getting the final two outs in the ninth.

Valmara got solo homers from CF Don Ritchie (.429), his second in the playoffs, and from LF Jacek Prusak (.333), his first... 3B Kris Jensen (.357) socked four hits for the Vipers and scored two runs, Ritchie had two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs, and 1B Cain Greene (.320) had three hits and two RBIs... leading the Vigilantes' 11-hit attack were SS Duane Blayney (.313) with three hits... chipping in with two hits apiece were 1B Kris Wilson (.276) and CF Cazzie Carvalho (.267)... Carvalho had a two-run double.

Volusia will now have to try to stave off elimination at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara, the site of the next three games.

Tycobbian Union

THURGOOD GIVES HAWKS 4-3 WIN IN 11 INNINGS
For the second day in a row at the Hawk's Nest, North Hills got the best of defending Pro Cup titleholder South Fork 4-3... Hawks' superstar Adam Thurgood's sacrifice fly scored Norris Henry from third base in the last of the 11th to send the Hawks in front in the best-of-seven set two games to none... North Hills won its sixth successive postseason game... the Hawks are unbeaten this year in the playoffs.

North Hills was behind 3-2 going into the seventh, when yesterday's hero 3B Jim McDermott (.385) singled in SS Norris Henry (.222) with the tying run... the Hawks hammered out 14 hits and were paced by C Timmy Stevens (.433) with 4-for-6... McDermott (.385), Jimmy Jay Ferguson (.238) and CF Kris Anastas (.370) also added two hits each... the Stallions picked up 10 hits with SS Jess Wilkerson (.229) hitting a two-run homer in the fifth to give them a short-lived lead... Wilkerson and CF Scotty O'Sullivan (.250) had two hits each, while LF Maury Yates (.346) went 3-for-4.

Starting pitchers Tony Mack for the Hawks and Jay Murphy for the Stallions kept their teams in the game... Mack worked eight innings, allowed three runs on nine hits and Murphy tossed seven frames and was tagged for 12 hits and three runs... neither figured in the decision... Alex Peters (2-0/1.13) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the 11th for the win... and Ryan Madison (0-1/2.70) caught the loss... Madison went three and a third innings, gave up one run, two hits, walked three and fanned three.

The series now heads to South Fork for the next three games, if they are needed.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 5, 2043

2043 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Three

Ruthlandian Union

VALMARA EDGES VOLUSIA 2-1 IN 10 INNINGS
The Valmara Vipers continued their torrid postseason blitz, winning their seventh consecutive game, courtesy of Harold Hudson, who stopped Volusia on three hits over his eight innings in a 2-1 ten-inning squeaker... Valmara has the V's on the brink of elimination, with a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

With two outs in the last of the 10th, John Banks (.231) singled in pitcher Paul McKenzie (.500) from third with the winning score... after two poor starts, Hudson redeemed himself with a fine performance... he walked one and fanned four, but didn't get the decision... it went to McKenzie (2-0/0.00), who held the Vigilantes runless in the 10th and the 11th... loser Skeeter Millham (0-1/1.17) pitched impressively, too, going nine and two-third innings, giving up only four hits and one earned run.

Neither club did much offensively... Valmara had a slight 6-5 edge in hits... the Vipers scored first in the opening frame on a 3B Ken Jensen (.364) triple and a fielder's choice RBI by CF Don Ritchie (.406)... Volusia evened it at 1-all on LF Rico Valente's (.286) solo homer in the top of the second... that ended the scoring until the tenth.

Jensen had two hits to lead Valmara, while Valente (.286) and 2B Duane Blayney (.333) cracked two hits each for Volusia.

Tycobbian Union

SANTINI AND HAWKS STUMP STALLIONS AGAIN
North Hills continued to get good work on the hill with its third win in a row over last year's Pro Cup winner South Fork... Joey Santini quinched the Stallions 4-2, putting the Hawks one win away from the Tycobbian league title... the 35-year-old right-hander went all the way, holding South Fork to two runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking three batters... in his career Santini is 6-1 in the postseason with a 2.27 ERA in 8 starts and 24 appearances... the Hawks' defense stood out with three double plays behind Santini.

1B Oscar Pendleton (.393) and C Timmy Stevens (.412) provided the firepower at the plate... Pendleton slammed a 2-run roundtripper in the top of the second for a 2-0 lead... and Stevens added a 2-run shot in the sixth, putting the Hawks in front 4-0... in the last of the sixth the Stallions cut it to 4-2 on an RBI single by SS Jess Wilkerson (.231) and a deep sacrifice fly by CF Scotty O'Sullivan (.231).

Big Murph McAlister (1-2/2.88) did well except for the home runs... he also went the distance, permitted four runs on six hits, walked four and fanned three... the Stallions outhit the Hawks 8 to 6... RF John Dunham (.412), 1B Paul Sexton (.189) and LF Maury Yates (.367) all had two hits apiece... Pendleton paced the Hawks with two hits.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 6, 2043

2043 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game Four

Ruthlandian Union

VOILA! VIPERS SWEEP VIGILANTES!
After sweeping favored Volusia in four games for the Ruthlandian league title, Valmara is headed for the Pro Cup Finals for the first time in 12 years... the Vipers have not lost a game in this year's postseason, racking up eight victories in a row.

Teddy Twardzik tamed the Vigilantes 5-3 in game four at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... in a rock-solid performance Twardzik (4-0/3.09) rang up his fourth win in the postseason, checking the V's on three runs and nine hits, striking out six and walking two in a complete game... he was helped out by Antos Dacko's three-run homer in the last of the fourth inning, giving the Vipers a 4-3 edge... Drew Selby (0-3/4.35) lost his third game in the playoffs... he was shelled for five runs in six innings.

Both clubs had nine hits apiece at the plate... SS Dacko (.367) led the winners with two hits and three RBIs... 1B Cain Greene (.333) went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for the Vipers... and C Antonio Dominguez (.267) went 2-for-4 and drove in a run.... 3B Charlie Farmer (.323) led Volusia with three hits and two runs scored... CF Cazzie Carvalho (.243) batted in two runs in defeat.

Valmara will now prepare for the Pro Cup Finals against North Hills or defending IPA champ South Fork... the Hawks have a 3-0 edge so far in the Tycobbian title series... this will be the Vipers' sixth trip to the Finals... they were last there in 2030 and 2031, but they lost out both times... Valmara has won only one Pro Cup in its history... that was in 2026 when they whipped Mahaska in four games.

Victorious manager Vanya Vasylenko starred for the Vipers in his playing days... Vasylenko was 304-261 in his career with a 3.45 ERA... He played from 2001 to 2020 and pitched in five playoffs with a 3-1 mark and a 4.07 ERA... 2026 was the days of Teddy Szymanski (.299 BA/230 HR), Sonny Oliver (.290 BA/348 HR), Teddy Lem (125-74/3.64 ERA), Clem Carmouche (184-146/3.00 ERA) and Billy Ray (255-181/3.08 ERA), who starred in the Pro Cup that season.

Vasylenko spoke with the press in the locker room and said, "The hitters got us past Crystal Lake in the first round and then it was the pitching that got us past Volusia... Twardzik, Reeder and Hudson really shut down the V's."

Joe De Lucca, skipper of the Vigilantes, agreed with Vasylenko, "If we had hit better, we could be going to the Finals... it was a close series in spite of the sweep... we contested every single game and could have won all of them."

Tycobbian Union

HAWKS SWEEP STALLIONS, WIN 5-1 IN GAME 4
For the fifth time in the last decade, the North Hills Hawks are in the Pro Cup Finals... they won the right by sweeping last year's IPA champ South Fork in four games... great pitching gave the Hawks the Tycobbian league title... they won game four 5-1 in 11 innings... like Valmara they are unbeaten in the postseason with eight straight wins.

Starters David Michael and Chris Sorensen couldn't have been any better... Michael (3-0/1.25) worked 10 innings for North Hills and got the win... he blanked the Stallions on four hits... Sorensen was sensational, too, shutting out the Hawks for 10 innings on five hits with nine Ks and three walks.

North Hills went to town on South Fork reliever Gary Golden (0-2) in the top of the 11th and ripped him for five runs... RF Adam Thurgood (.250) snapped the scoreless tie with a solo home run, then SS Norris Henry and pinchhitter Jimmy Jay Ferguson each cracked two-run doubles to pretty much cinch the victory... Stallion RF John Dunham (.410) got them on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 11th with a roundtripper off Jeff Owens, who relieved Michael.

Thurgood (.250) and 3B Jim McDermott (.375) paced the Hawks with two hits each, while Dunham (.410) and 3B Elton Jacoby (.333) had two hits apiece for the Stallions.

A jubilant Todd Simons will now take his Hawks to the Pro Cup Finals again... he already has four Pro Cups to his credit... one more and he will set a new mark for most Pro Cups by a manager... Simons is now tied with Turon's great skipper Ashton "Whitey" Richburn... another Pro Cup trophy will give the Hawks the franchise record, too... they currently have four and are tied with Turon.

Simons praised his superb starters David Mack (3-0/1.25), Tony Mack (1-0/1.69) and Joey Santini (1-0/2.00) and his hitters Timmy Stevens (.385), Jim McDermott (.375), Oscar Pendleton (.344), Kris Anastas (.333) and Adam Thurgood (.250). "My starters and bullpen have been remarkable down through years and even more remarkable in this postseason... can you believe the team ERA is 1.78 in the playoffs this year?... the bats have been solid, too... we always seem to get enough runs to win."

South Fork manager Blackie Terranova chimed in afterward at the press conference, first congratulating North Hills and then saying, "We thought we had a good chance to repeat this year... my Stallions gave it all they had, but it just wasn't enough... last year we had things go our way, but it didn't work out this year... Chris (Sorensen), Jay (Murphy) and Big Murph (McAlister) gave it their all... I'm very proud of them... and I'm very proud of our entire club... they are a special group of guys."

It looks like David versus Goliath in the Pro Cup Finals this season... unheralded Valmara will represent the Ruthlandian Union, while perennial power North Hills will be the Tycobbian representative... the Hawks had the best record in the IPA this year at 93-61... the Vipers had the poorest record of all the division winners... they were only 80-74 in the regular season... but they swept both series to get to the Pro Cup Finals... the Hawks also went unbeaten in this year's playoffs... this is the first time in IPA history that two team have made the Pro Cup Finals with unbeaten records.

Valmara and North Hills will try to be the fourth club in IPA history to go through the playoffs unbeaten... In 2012 Far Mountain of the Ruthlandian Union went 12-0... Eastshore (RU) did it in 2016... and Rocky Rapids (RU) also won 12 games in a row in 2019.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 7, 2043

HAWKS AND VIPERS VIE FOR IPA PRO CUP
Something's got to give in the opening game of the IPA Pro Cup Finals. Somebody will have to suffer its first defeat of the postseason. Both league champions came through unscathed in the first two rounds. Game one is slated for the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, where the Hawks will host upstart Valmara, the Cinderella club of this year's playoffs. North Hills will be trying to win a record fifth Pro Cup, while the Vipers will looking for their second one.

The Hawks have been to the big show four times and came away winners each time, capturing the title in 2034, 2036, 2038 and 2041. Valmara has been here on five occasions, but picked up its only crown in 2026. North Hills and Turon are tied for the most Pro Cups with four each. The Turon Typhoons have appeared a record six times in the IPA Finals.

North Hills looks like a prohibitive favorite with its great pitching, solid hitting and strong defense, but stats don't win the Pro Cup. Forecasts don't, either. Under-rated clubs have often won the Pro Cup. The Hawks had the best record in the IPA this year with a 93-61 mark, while the Vipers were just 80-74, the worst record of any of the playoff clubs.

The Hawks seem to have it all with a 3.56 ERA (5th), .276 BA (3rd), 721 runs (13th), 146 HRs (21st) and an impressive .977 fielding average. The Vipers compiled a .266 BA (17th), but scored quite well with 796 runs (4th). Valmara homered 151 times (14th), posted a decent 3.83 ERA (12th), but were only average with a .971 FA.

Going deeper into the numbers, North Hills plays well on the road (48-28) and at home (44-33) and hits lefties (29-17) and righties well (64-44). Valmara was 44-33 at home and 40-37 out-of-town, went 14-14 against southpaws and 70-56 against right-handers. The Hawks' starters are all right-handed, while two of the Vipers are portsiders. Valmara had two more left-handers in the bullpen and North Hills also has two lefty relievers.

PRO CUP FORECAST: NORTH HILLS IN SIX GAMES... super starters and strong defense are too much for Valmara.

TEAM LEADERBOARDS: (Hawks in Red and Black... Vipers in Blue and Green)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 9, 2043

2043 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game One

VIPERS WIN 9TH STRAIGHT, STUN HAWKS 8-2 IN OPENER
In the opening game of the 2043 Pro Cup Series at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills, visiting Valmara stunned the favored Hawks 8-2 for their ninth straight victory in the playoffs this year... this snapped North Hills' eight-game winning streak in the postseason... for the first time in IPA history two teams came into the Finals unbeaten... the Vipers dominated the game with 14 hits and strong pitching by southpaw Teddy Twardzik, who went the distance for his fifth successive win in the playoffs.

Valmara broke open a close game with eight runs in the middle three frames, led by CF Don Ritchie (.375), 1B Cain Greene (.361) and C Antonio Dominguez (.294) with two RBIs each... everyone in the Viper line-up chalked up at least one hit... Twardzik (5-0/2.66) stopped the hard-hitting Hawks on five hits, fanned three and walked no one... in a terrible outing David Micheal (3-1/2.63) took his first loss in the postseason as he was slapped around for 12 hits and eight runs in just five innings.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 10, 2043

2043 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game Two

10 WINS IN A ROW FOR VALMARA
Everything is coming up roses for the sizzling Valmara Vipers in the playoffs this year... the Vipers pounded North Hills 9-3 in game two of the Pro Cup Series for their tenth triumph in a row... Valmara has yet to lose a postseason game this year... they smacked Hawks' pitching around again for 14 hits with 1B Cain Greene (.390) leading the way with three hits, four runs scored and two RBIs... Greene had the game's only homer, a solo shot... LF Lech Nowakowski (.417) also popped three hits and drove in two runs... Zak Reeder (3-0/1.90) also did his job on the hill, holding the Hawks to two runs and eight hits in six and one-third innings before giving way to Paul McKenzie, who finished up... Reeder fanned six and walked nobody.

North Hills got 11 hits, but they were too spread out... 2B Tommy Vavas (.213) got 3 of them... three others C Timmy Stevens (.404), CF Kris Anastas (.349) and SS Norris Henry (.250) got a pair of hits apiece... Tony Mack (1-1/4.29) was pummeled for seven runs and 10 hits in five innings... the Vipers led 7-2 when Mack left the game.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 11, 2042

2043 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game Three

HAWKS SMASH VIPERS 10-3, END STREAK AT 10
North Hills finally played like the Pro Cup favorite after two dismal displays of baseball in games one and two... the Hawks smashed Valmara 10-3 in the third game to put an end to their 10-game winning skein in the Pro Cup playoffs... backed by a 13-hit attack, Joey Santini (2-0/2.33) allowed the Vipers three runs and nine hits in a route-going, ragged performance... Santini walked six and struck out 3... Santini (.300) also helped himself in the batter's box, scoring three runs and hitting a home run... Valmara still has the edge in the best-of-seven series two games to one.

Leading the North Hills' hit parade were SS Tommy Vavas (.245) and 3B Jim McDermott (.341) with three hits and two RBIs each... McDermott is now the postseason leader with 12 RBIs... C Timmy Stevens (.404) socked two hits and batted in two runs... LF Adam Thurgood (.286) had two hits and scored twice... and 2B Chris Wilson (.167) collected a pair of hits, including a homer, and scored two runs... the Vipers were paced by 2B John Banks (.273) and SS Antos Dacko (.357) with two hits apiece... the top playoff producers for Valmara are Dacko and 1B Cain Greene (.356), both with 11 runs batted in... CF Don Ritchie (.362) is next on the club with 10.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 12, 2042

2043 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game Four

HAWKS ROAR BACK, MICHAEL BLANKS VIPERS 5-0
After three blowout games, strong pitching finally prevailed in the fourth game of the Pro Cup Finals... North Hills' David Michael (4-1/2.16) redeemed himself for a very poor showing in game one with a 5-0 shutout over the Valmara Vipers... He fired a four-hitter to even the best-of-seven series at two games each... the Vipers' Teddy Twardzik (5-1/3.12) fell in defeat for the first time this year's playoffs... the Hawks hammered him for five runs and 10 hits in his eight innings... Twardzik won the series' opener 8-2.

The Hawks teed off of Twardzik for five runs in the first three innings, sparked by LF Adam Thurgood (.296) and SS Tommy Vavas (.259) with two hits and two RBIs each... Thurgood got his third postseason roundtripper in the first, a two-run shot.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 13, 2042

2043 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game Five

VALMARA NIPS NORTH HILLS 5-4 IN GAME 5
After two consecutive losses at home in War Memorial Stadium, Valmara righted the ship with a hard-earned, 5-4 comeback victory over Pro Cup favorite North Hills in game five for a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series... the Vipers trailed at one time 4-1, going into the last of the sixth... runs in the sixth and seventh narrowed the score to 4-3... Valmara won it with two runs in the eighth... a two-base error by second baseman Tommy Vavas scored the tying run... then Cain Greene delivered the winning run with an RBI single that scored Kris Jensen from second.

Gordon White got the win in relief of starter Zak Reeder... White (1-0/0.00) retired all six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth frames... Paul Holloway chalked up his fourth postseason save with a scoreless ninth... Tony Mack worked a complete game in defeat... he was tagged for five runs on nine hits, walked six and fanned four... Reeder went six innings, yielding four runs and seven hits with six walks and six Ks... he was behind 4-2 when he was taken out.

The Vipers outhit the Hawks 9 to 8... Valmara CF Don Ritchie (.339) and 1B Cain Greene (.346) poked a pair of hits each... 3B Kris Jensen (.295) and Greene scored two runs apiece... Jensen, Greene, C Antonio Dominguez (.260), LF Paul Anthony (.296) and RF Zarek Boczek (.200) all drove in a run for the winners... the top bats for the Hawks were C Timmy Stevens (.417) with three hits and LF Adam Thurgood (.310) with two... driving in runs for North Hills were Stevens, Thurgood, 3B Jim McDermott (.315) and CF Kris Anastas (.309)... Anastas hit the only roundtripper in the game, it was his second of the playoffs.

The series will return to North Hills and the Hawk's Nest for the final two games, if needed. Valmara needs only one more win in the two games to wrap up their second Pro Cup trophy. North Hills will have to win them both to win their record-setting fifth Pro Cup. The Vipers are unbeaten in six road games this postseason, while the Hawks are 4-2 at home.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES

Around the Town in the IPA

VALMARA VIPERS

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

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)
(written by Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Willis)

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.

When Kazmarek decided to retire, he kept the job of General Manager and appointed Vanya Vasylenko to replace him as manager. Kazmarek and Vasylenko played together for many years in the early days of the IPA. Vasylenko pitched well for 20 years, from 2001 to 2020, chalking up a borderline Hall of Fame 304-261 mark with a 3.45 ERA. He has come fairly close to getting the votes necessary for induction, but his ERA and high number of losses are held against him.

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]

Map of Islandia

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES

Around the Town in the IPA

NORTH HILLS HAWKS

Owner: Hawk Steel
GM: Hub "Scroogie" Carlson
Manager: Todd Simons

North Hills, a modern and vibrant town with 71,000 population, is in the Appian Mountains in northeastern Tycobbia. It is situated on the important Appian River, which flows the length of the country north to south, passing Hartsdale, La Claire (the capital) and finally coming to an end at Bay St. Claire on the Kelnyck Ocean.

North Hills is rich in natural resources, forests and mining deposits (coal and iron ore). It is the home of Hawk Steel Corporation whose product is much in demand because of its very high quality and relatively inexpensive cost.

North Hills is a cosmopolitan town with a rich and diverse population. Immigrants from the coal and steel industries from the United States, England and Eastern Europe have forged a vibrant culture in the hills of North Tycobbia.

Hawk Steel is the owner of the local club, the North Hills Hawks, who play at The Hawk's Nest from which in the background you can see the majestic Appian Mountains. North Hillian fans love their baseball. And that’s all you get at The Hawks Nest. There are no in-game promotions or sideshows. They sing the National anthem, play ball, sing “Take me out to the ball game” during the seventh inning stretch, have a beer or soft drink, peanuts, crackerjacks, hamburger or hot dog, watch the ball game, cheer their Hawks to victory, then go home and get ready for another day at the mines or steel mills.

The Hawks are run by general manager Hub "Scroogie" Carlson, one of the best left-handed pitchers ever in Tycobbian amateur baseball circles. Carlson was known for his wicked screwball.

IPA Hall of Fame member, Todd Simons, manages North Hills. Simons, a catcher, batted .270 in his 24-year career, hit 323 homers with 1641 RBIs, 1726 runs scored and hold the all-time IPA mark for walks with 2682. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2036.

The Hawks Nest (1998)
Capacity: 6,965

Dimensions:
LF Line 338
LF 370
LCF 402
CF 395
RCF 402
RF 365
RF Line 335

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 14, 2042

2043 IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game Six

VALMARA UPSETS NORTH HILLS IN PRO CUP FINALS
David met Goliath in the IPA Pro Cup Finals and the outcome was the same as in the original battle - unheralded Valmara knocked off favored IPA giant North Hills in six games to garner its second Pro Cup in the club's history... the Vipers nudged by the Hawks 6-5 in game six at the Hawk's Nest... this time around it seemed the bats got the best of some very good pitching... with another title North Hills would have set a new IPA record with five Pro Cups... they are currently tied with Turon of the Tycobbian Union with four IPA titles.

Valmara got an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third frame... CF Don Ritchie (.350) drove in the first run with a fielder's choice groundout... run number two was tripled in by 1B Cain Greene (.339)... but it didn't take North Hills very long to knot it up at 2-2 in the last of the third when C Timmy Stevens (.446) banged a two-run homer... the Vipers lashed out for three runs in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead... Ritchie (.350) singled in another run and RF Zarek Boczek (.209) crushed a two-run clout into the stands... the Hawks came back with one in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead to 5-3... Stevens' (.446) RBI single scored SS Norris Henry (.256)... Valmara added a run in the sixth to make it 6-3... pitcher Harold Hudson (.286) doubled and then scored on an error by first baseman Oscar Pendleton (.241)... the Hawks made a last-ditch rally with two scores in the seventh bringing them within one run on 2B Tommy Vavas' (.254) two-run smash... they made a serious threat in the eighth with runners on first and third with one away, but a double play ended the inning... the Hawks got the tying run on first in the top of the ninth with two outs, but couldn't move it around.

Neither starter was effective... Harold Hudson (1-1/6.12) got the win, but surrendered 12 hits and five runs in his eight and two-thirds innings... Paul Holloway got the clinching out in the ninth for his fifth save of the playoffs... the loser was Joey Santini (2-1/3.18), who was whacked for 12 hits and six runs in seven frames.

Valmara was paced by 3B Kris Jensen (.318) with three hits, two runs and an RBI... Ritchie and Boczek drove in two runs each... and 2B John Banks had a pair of hits and scored a run... both teams had 12 hits... North Hills' top batsman was C Timmy Stevens with four hits and three RBIs... 2B Tommy Vavas (.254), RF Tennis Magee (.400) and SS Norris Henry (.256) all had two hits apiece... Vavas scored twice and batted in two runs... and Henry scored twice.

Winning skipper Vanya Vasylenko, all smiles and holding the Pro Cup above his head in celebration, gave his offense much of the credit for the title. "We averaged over five runs a game against the best pitchers in the IPA... at one time or the other everybody in the batting order came through for us... Greene, Ritchie, Dacko and Jensen were especially good."

Overall in the postseason the Vipers hit .289, while the pitchers posted a very good 3.33 ERA. Vasylenko later told reporters, "Don't forget to give credit to my mound staff, too... they stepped it up a level in the playoffs... we wouldn't have won without Twardzik and Reeder."

Cain Greene hit .339 during the playoffs and had a team high 13 RBIs... Don Ritchie led the club with a .350 BA and tied Caine for the most runs scored with 11, while driving in 12... Antos Dacko batted .327 with 11 RBIs and scored 8 times... and Kris Jensen put up a .318 mark, scored 9 and drove in 7.

On the mound Teddy Twardzik was 5-1 with a 3.12 ERA and Zak Reeder was 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA... Paul Holloway stood out in the bullpen with 5 saves in 5 appearances.

North Hills' manager Todd Simons complimented the Viper offense. "We just couldn't handle their batters... they were just too much for us... top to bottom in the line-up Valmara was a tough out."

For the playoffs the Hawks hit .276, scored over five runs a game and chalked up an impressive 2.76 ERA. The Hawks best pitchers were David Michael (4-1/2.16) and Joey Santini (2-1/3.18), along with reliever Alex Peters (2-0/0.90) in 4 relief efforts... at the plate Timmy Stevens sported a .446 batting average with 8 RBIs and 11 runs... Jim McDermott topped the team with 13 RBIs and batted .293... Adam Thurgood led the team with 3 homers, while batting .286... he scored 11 times and drove in 6 runs.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 15, 2043

VALMARA'S TWARDZIK VOTED PRO CUP MVP
After laboring several years in obscurity as a journeyman pitcher Valmara's Teddy Twardzik finally got a little notoriety. The 31-year-old hurler was selected the outstanding player in the playoffs and will receive the 2043 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award. Twardzik sparked the unheralded Vipers to the Island championship as they beat favored North Hills in six games. He is only 63-79 in his 7-year career with a 3.56 ERA.

Twardzik went 5-1 in his six postseason starts with a 3.12 ERA. He went the distance in four of the victories. During the regular season Twardzik was only only 16-15 in wins and losses, but he posted a fine 2.59 ERA, fourth best in the Ruthlandian Union.

Twardzik's biggest competiton for the MVP trophy was North Hills' fine catcher Timmy Stevens, who hit a sizzling .446 in the playoffs. Stevens had 7 doubles, a triple and 2 homers in 14 games with 11 runs scored and 8 driven in, collecting 29 hits in 65 at-bats.

Others receiving votes were all Valmara players. Center fielder Don Ritchie was a distant third in the poll. He led the Vipers at the plate with a .350 BA, 2 HRs, 12 RBIs and 11 runs. Fourth was teammate and first sacker Cain Greene (.339/2 HR/13 RBI/11 runs). Finishing fifth was shortstop Antos Dacko (.327 BA/2 HR/11 RBI/8 runs).

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 15, 2043

TOP RUTHLANDIAN PLAYERS PROCLAIMED

Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award
1. Bobby Gamble (Sugar Valley): (.336 BA/40 HR/127 RBI/127 runs)... led Rattlers to RU East title... fifth Golden Bat in his career... also won MVP honor for the third time... led IPA with 127 runs... came in second with 127 RBIs... lifetime .318 hitter with 373 HRs in 11 seasons... 8-time All-Star and twice Golden Glover.

2. Jojo DeLucca (Claxton): (.348 BA/33 HR/112 RBI/107 runs)... paced the IPA with 226 hits... second in the IPA with .348 BA... the only one better was Kris Wilson of Volusia at .358... the Diamonds came in fifth in the RU South... career .314 batter with 265 HRs in 9 seasons... 6-time All-Star and 3-time Gold Glover.

3. Nioka Inkamara (Wynnamac): (.328 BA/44 HR/122 RBI/105)... won Golden Bat and MVP last year... 3-time All-Star... .313 hitter in his six seasons with 210 homers... twice won Golden Bat... 2-time Gold Glover... won Rookie of the Year in 2039... Sundowners finished a strong fourth in the RU East, just four games off the pace.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award
1. Arnie Ayers (LaGrange): (24-13/2.68 ERA)... sparked Sports to close tie with Ranford Bulls for second place in RU North, just two games out of first... tied for third place in the IPA with 24 victories... lifetime is 85-55 with an impressive 2.90 ERA in 7 seasons... 28-year-old right-hander.

2. Pat Meyers (Glasco): (25-12/3.05 ERA)... the Athletics were fourth in the RU North, just five games behind... Meyers was second to IPA leader Billy Hoover (27-11) in wins... just 24 years old... 74-68 in five seasons with a 3.55 ERA.

3. Drew Selby (Volusia): (20-12/2.58 ERA)... helped Vigilantes capture RU West Division... came in sixth in IPA with 2.58 ERA... won 20 games for the third time in his career... Selby is 119-114 with a 3.20 ERA in his seven years in the IPA... ranked fifth in strikeouts in IPA with 263... Frank Long (St. John) was the leader with 299 Ks.

Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award
1. Bobby Gamble (Sugar Valley): (.336 BA/40 HR/127 RBI/127 runs)... won MVP for third time... led IPA with 127 runs... tied for second in RBIs with 127... sixth in IPA with a .336 BA.

2. Pat Meyers (Glasco): (25-12/3.05)... prime reason the A's came close to winning the RU North, only two games behind Valmara, who won the Pro Cup this year.

3. Jojo DeLucca (Claxton): (.348 BA/33 HR/112 RBI/107 runs)... the Diamonds were fifth the RU South... DeLucca was tops in the IPA with 226 hits.

Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award
1. Malcolm Tansbury (Eastshore): (19-11/3/23 ERA)... 24-year-old southpaw helped Elegants wind up in a fourth-place tie in the RU East, just four games out of first.

2. Kenny Gray (Crystal Lake): (.327 BA/24 HR/88 RBI/68 runs)... 23-year-old left-fielder helped Crushers win the RU South.

3. Del Holloway (Glasco): (.262 BA/13 HR/63 RBI/85 runs)... 21-year-old shortstop... productive bat and quality fielder aided Athletics in fourth place finish in RU North.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team
SP: Steven Russell (Ancona): (19-14/3.92 ERA) (1.000 FA)
C: Ted Jarzinski (Belle Plaine): (.248 BA/6 HR/41 RBI/44 runs) (.996 FA/3 PB/36.4% RTO)... won fourth Gold Glove.
1B Joey Gompers (Ranford) (.259/28/97/86 runs) (.995 FA)
2B Gerry Sives (Colfax): (.310/3/51/103) (.980 FA)
3B Marv Roy (Crystal Lake): (.277/20/100/83) (.961 FA)
SS John Rodgers (LaGrange): (.329/26/91/111) (.966 FA)
LF Chet Penn (Colfax): (.325/28/116/94) (.994 FA)... fifth Gold Glove
CF Kenny Mitzusaka (Valka): (.326/28/97/101) (.995 FA)... second Gold Glove
RF Walter Glenn (Ancona): (.308/2/53/89) (.994 FA)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 16, 2043

IPA PICKS TYCOBBIA'S BEST

Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award
1. Wayman Stetson (Denton City): (.312 BA/47 HR/145 RBI/106 runs)... IPA leader in RBIs with 145... tied for third place with 47 HRs... ranked seventh with 202 hits... led Redbirds to fourth place in the TU West, five games back of top team Arlon... Stetson, age 26, is a first-time winner of the Golden Bat honor... 5-time All-Star and a Golden Glover... career .315 BA in his 7 seasons with 260 HRs.

2. Pablo Teixeira (San Alejo): (.312/45/122/120)... led the Montaneros to the runner-up spot in the TU South, losing out to Southport by just one game... wound up seventh in the IPA with 45 homers, seventh in RBIs with 122 and second in runs with 120... the 24-year-old right fielder has been an All-Star twice... and carries a .297 BA in his five years in the league.

3. Robby Westin (Arlon): (.334/38/115/107)... prime reason the Champs won the TU West... finished 8th in the IPA with a .336 BA... a .309 lifetime batter... with 114 roundtrippers in four seasons.

Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award
1. Billy Hoover (Southport): (27-11/2.83 ERA)... led the IPA for the second year in a row with 27 wins... won 26 last year... major reason Sun Sox took the TU South pennant... ranked 10th in Tycobbia with a 2.83 ERA... first time the 28-year-old righty has been selected as the best pitcher... Hoover also was named the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player this year... he is 100-68 with a great 2.92 ERA in five seasons with the Sun Sox.

2. Chris Sorensen (South Fork): (22-12/2.68 ERA)... sparked the Stallions to another pennant in the TU East... led the IPA with 28 complete games... came in 6th in the Tycobbian Union with a 2.68 ERA... Sorensen, age 31, is a late bloomer... overall he is only 119-148 with a 3.81 ERA in 10 seasons with the Stallions... he helped South Fork win the 2042 Pro Cup and has compiled a fine 6-3 postseason record with a strong 2.57 ERA in 10 starts the last two years.

3. Van Johnson (Blue Lake): (24-11/2.87 ERA)... tied for third in the IPA with 24 victories... the Blue Sox were third in the TU North Division race... Johnson is a lefty, age 28... and is a modest 93-89 in his 10 IPA seasons... like Sorensen, Johnson has blossomed the last two seasons... he has spent quite a bit of his career in the bullpen and has posted 41 saves.

Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player Award
1. Billy Hoover (Southport) (27-11/2.83)... led the IPA for the second year in a row with 27 wins... won 26 last year... major reason Sun Sox took the TU South pennant... ranked 10th in Tycobbia with a 2.83 ERA... first time the 28-year-old righty has been selected as the best pitcher... Hoover also was named the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player this year... he is 100-68 with a great 2.92 ERA in five seasons with the Sun Sox.

2. Wayman Stetson (Denton City): (.312 BA/47 HR/145 RBI/106 runs)... this year's Golden Bat winner... IPA leader in RBIs with 145... tied for third place with 47 HRs... ranked seventh with 202 hits... led Redbirds to fourth place in the TU West, five games back of top team Arlon... Stetson, age 26, is a first-time winner of the Golden Bat honor... 5-time All-Star and a Golden Glover... career .315 BA in his 7 seasons with 260 HRs.

3. Pablo Teixeira (San Alejo): (.312/45/122/120)... led the Montaneros to the runner-up spot in the TU South, losing out to Southport by just one game... wound up seventh in the IPA with 45 homers, seventh in RBIs with 122 and second in runs with 120... the 24-year-old right fielder has been an All-Star twice... and carries a .297 BA in his five years in the league.

Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Award
1. Sam Swain (Mahaska): (15-12/3.45 ERA)... the 27-year-old right-hander had 10 complete games in 25 starts with 3 shutouts for the last place Haymakers in the TU North.

2. Enrique Encarnation (White River): (.284/21/76/81)... the 26-year-old first baseman helped the Rascals jump from sixth to second this season in the TU North.

3. Andrew Hicks (San Alejo): (.317/17/49/77)... a fine, new addition to the Montaneros line-up... the 23-year-old center fielder played a part in San Alejo's second place finish in the TU South... they lost out by one game to Southport.

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team
SP: Johnny Young (Bayview): (16-16/3.64 ERA) (1.000 FA)
C: Jaak Pajukivi (Ozarka) (.265 BA/13 HR/54 RBI/64 runs) (.993 FA/6 PB/39.3% RTO)
1B: Andy Pearson (Oxford): (.266/13/54/64) (.996 FA)
2B: Royce Hill (La Claire): (.282/12/92/71) (.987 FA)
3B: Jay Clarke (Denton City) (.239/8/56/48) (.975 FA)... only rookie to receive a Golden Glove this year
SS: Tom Milton (Tuckanarra) (.285/4/59/93) (.973 FA)... his second Golden Glove
LF: Jurrien Bellini (Hillsboro) (.234/28/78/81) (.988 FA)
CF: Darrell Nesbitt (Hartsdale) (.273/13/61/85) (.993)
RF: Jimbo Foxx (Rolling Hills) (.235/33/107/78) (.995 FA)... second Golden Glove