ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

Arlon needs to change their nickname - they are not playing like Champions at all.

Maybe so, but it's not likely... the team is owned by the Kobeer and Champion Sport Apparel Company.

Arlon Champions

Owner: Kobeer and Champion Sport and Athletic Apparel
GM: Mark Cameron
Manager: Lanny Gray

Arlon, a town of 87,000 in the Caledonia River delta in southwestern Tycobbia, is located 50 miles north of Turon, a seaport on the Kelnyck Ocean. It was settled by cotton growers from the American South in the 1850's and 60s, who wanted to get away from that country's disasterous civil war. Arlon’s basic economy is cotton and textile manufacturing. Rich alluvial cotton fields stretch for miles outside the town and are the source of its prosperity. Horse farms are also in abundance. Arlon is also noted for thoroughbred horse racing at Derby Downs, a magnificent racetrack that features the million-dollar National Derby each April. Another national event is the Kobeer Marathon each July, sponsored by Kobeer Sport and Athletic Apparel Company.

Kobeer is also the proud owner of the Arlon Champions of the Islandian Pro Alliance and play in the Tycobbian Union West Division. The Champions were named after the tennis shoe, “The Champion”, that started the company on the way to being one of the premier sporting and athletic apparel corporations in the country. The Champs play at Derby Downs, one of the most splendid settings in all of baseball. Derby Downs ballpark dates from 1915 and is adjacent to Arlon Derby Downs, the beautiful racetrack, whose twin green grandstandtowers can be seen out over the centerfield fence. Kobeer regularly has fan appreciation days with free jerseys, caps, sweat suits and shoes just for coming to a Champions game. And in keeping with that old south Tycobbian tradition, delicious mint juleps are served at the concession stands along with other southern delicacies like fried chicken, watermelon and sweet potato pie. Tycobbians of all types love to eat and imbibe almost as much as they love Champs baseball.

This year Mark Cameron became the Arlon General Manager. He played outfield for the team from 2033 to 2048, batting .275 in his career with 517 homers and 1421 RBIs. Cameron was a three-time All-Star and won the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player Award in 2039. He replaced Rocco Belasario as skipper in 2050 and was honored as the TU Manager of the Year in '56. Belasario was a Hall of Fame outfielder and successful manager. He was awarded the Tycobbian Manager of the Year twice, in '39 and '43. Belasario batted .301 in his 22 seasons with 508 homers and 1658 RBIs. He was a 9-time All-Star and 5-time Golden Glove. The first skipper of the Champions was the great Gary Louis, known as the baseball Man of Steel when he played company ball for Kobeer Apparel in the amateur times. Not only was he an outstanding hitter, rivaling Baby George and Cobb Tyson as the best ever. He never missed a game in his legendary career. Louis was voted Tycobbian Manager of the Year in '06 and '08. He also never missed a game as manager.

The current Arlon manager is former star hurler Lanny Gray... He had a fabled 20-year career with 329 victories and 258 losses and a fine 3.18 ERA... 5 times Gray posted 20-win seasons. He took over this season for Wee Willie Shoemaker, a famed horse trainer and jockey at Derby Downs. Bellasario hired Shoemaker to manage the Champions when he became GM in 2066. Shoemaker flopped so badly as a skipper that it cost Bellasario his job. Bellasario said Shoemaker could make the Champs a winner despite not have much of a baseball background. Shoemaker finished 6th, 4th and 6th in his 3 seasons as skipper.

Derby Downs Park (1915)

Capacity: 10,983

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

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Maybe so, but it's not likely... the team is owned by the Champion Sports Apparel Company.

Ah, so there is another meaning. That explains it!

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, July 17, 2069

3 STRAIGHT FOR TU ALL-STARS... NOW LEAD OVERALL SERIES 47-22
The Tycobbian Union still has the bragging rights in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the Tycobbian All-Stars defeated the Ruthlandian All-Stars 5-2 in extra innings to increase their dominance in the IPA All-Star Classic to 47 victories and only 22 defeats.

[Eugene Church]

2069 Midseason Islandian Pro Alliance Leaderboards and Statistics

Ruthlandian Union


Tycobbian Union

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, July 9, 2069

IPA ALL-STARS SHINING BRIGHTLY OVER THE ISLANDS
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the 2069 All-Star teams that will participate in the All-Star Classic at Forest City on July 16, a week from today... Marston, Southport, Rolling Hills and Kenwood all had 3 players selected... there were two rookies named to the Star squads: pitcher Mel Streeter of Marston and left fielder Charles Larson of LaClaire... Kilkenny hurler Tuffy Hatfield was the youngest played at age 20... there were three 37-year-old oldies, but goodies: catcher Carlos Silva of Volusia, catcher John Michael Lansdell of Kenwood and shortstop Jameson Mulbert of Rolling Hills.

Teddy Stonich, third baseman for Rolling Hills, made the team for the 9th time... teammate Jameson Mulbert was named for the 8th time... 5 players have been chosen 6 times: center fielder Hugo Sutton of Rolling Hills, left fielder Johnny Pendergrass of Summerland, first baseman Roy Roberts of High Mesa, catcher Ozzy Crenshaw of Denton City and catcher John Michael Lansdell of Kenwood.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Maybe so, but it's not likely... the team is owned by the Kobeer and Champion Sport Apparel Company.

Arlon Champions

Owner: Kobeer and Champion Sport and Athletic Apparel
GM: Mark Cameron
Manager: Lanny Gray

Arlon, a town of 87,000 in the Caledonia River delta in southwestern Tycobbia, is located 50 miles north of Turon, a seaport on the Kelnyck Ocean. It was settled by cotton growers from the American South in the 1850's and 60s, who wanted to get away from that country's disasterous civil war. Arlon’s basic economy is cotton and textile manufacturing. Rich alluvial cotton fields stretch for miles outside the town and are the source of its prosperity. Horse farms are also in abundance. Arlon is also noted for thoroughbred horse racing at Derby Downs, a magnificent racetrack that features the million-dollar National Derby each April. Another national event is the Kobeer Marathon each July, sponsored by Kobeer Sport and Athletic Apparel Company.

Kobeer is also the proud owner of the Arlon Champions of the Islandian Pro Alliance and play in the Tycobbian Union West Division. The Champions were named after the tennis shoe, “The Champion”, that started the company on the way to being one of the premier sporting and athletic apparel corporations in the country. The Champs play at Derby Downs, one of the most splendid settings in all of baseball. Derby Downs ballpark dates from 1915 and is adjacent to Arlon Derby Downs, the beautiful racetrack, whose twin green grandstandtowers can be seen out over the centerfield fence. Kobeer regularly has fan appreciation days with free jerseys, caps, sweat suits and shoes just for coming to a Champions game. And in keeping with that old south Tycobbian tradition, delicious mint juleps are served at the concession stands along with other southern delicacies like fried chicken, watermelon and sweet potato pie. Tycobbians of all types love to eat and imbibe almost as much as they love Champs baseball.

This year Mark Cameron became the Arlon General Manager. He played outfield for the team from 2033 to 2048, batting .275 in his career with 517 homers and 1421 RBIs. Cameron was a three-time All-Star and won the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player Award in 2039. He replaced Rocco Belasario as skipper in 2050 and was honored as the TU Manager of the Year in '56. Belasario was a Hall of Fame outfielder and successful manager. He was awarded the Tycobbian Manager of the Year twice, in '39 and '43. Belasario batted .301 in his 22 seasons with 508 homers and 1658 RBIs. He was a 9-time All-Star and 5-time Golden Glove. The first skipper of the Champions was the great Gary Louis, known as the baseball Man of Steel when he played company ball for Kobeer Apparel in the amateur times. Not only was he an outstanding hitter, rivaling Baby George and Cobb Tyson as the best ever. He never missed a game in his legendary career. Louis was voted Tycobbian Manager of the Year in '06 and '08. He also never missed a game as manager.

The current Arlon manager is former star hurler Lanny Gray... He had a fabled 20-year career with 329 victories and 258 losses and a fine 3.18 ERA... 5 times Gray posted 20-win seasons. He took over this season for Wee Willie Shoemaker, a famed horse trainer and jockey at Derby Downs. Bellasario hired Shoemaker to manage the Champions when he became GM in 2066. Shoemaker flopped so badly as a skipper that it cost Bellasario his job. Bellasario said Shoemaker could make the Champs a winner despite not have much of a baseball background. Shoemaker finished 6th, 4th and 6th in his 3 seasons as skipper.

Derby Downs Park (1915)

Capacity: 10,983

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

Need to get Silvam to make a 3D version of this ballpark, that would be something!

[jg2977]

Where do you get the standings that show the Runs Scored and Runs Against?

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

Where do you get the standings that show the Runs Scored and Runs Against?

Go to League History > History Index > then click on the current year at the bottom of the page... click on the league you want... and it will give you some really good stats for the current season.

Click on RU for the Ruthlandian Union and TU for the Tycobbian Union.

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, September 1, 2069

SEPTEMBER SURVIVAL IS IN THE AIR IN THE IPA
Down the stretch it's survival of the fittest... 8 Islandian Pro Alliance division leaders are counting the 29 days until the end of the season... September is here... the final month of the regular season... the big question all around the Islands is what will it take to win the pennant?

Only one team is looking signed, sealed and delivered... that would be the Red Bluff Red Sox (75-54)... they have a solid 8-game lead in the Tycobbian East... it will take quite an effort for the Hillsboro Blazers (67-62) and the South Fork Stallions (67-62) to catch them... two teams have 5-game leads... Pro Cup favorite and Tycobbian West-leading Rolling Hills (81-48) and Marston (76-53), the top team in the Ruthlandian East, both are up by 5 games... the Southport Sun Sox (80-49) appear to be in control of the Tycobbian South with a 4-game edge over Turon (76-53)... but after that, the other 4 divisions are up in the air and up for grabs... the flag-winning clubs will have to have a good September to make the Pro Cup playoffs.

Ruthlandian Union Recaps and Recollections

NO GUARANTEED WINNERS IN THE RU... PENNANTS UP FOR GRABS
It's a three-team tussle in the Ruthlandian North race... Far Mountain (73-55) now has a fight on its hands... preseason favorite LaGrange (71-58) and Taranto (70-59) have surged back into the race with strong play in August... the Gators feasted with a standout 18-9 mark and the Tars were right on their tails at 17-10... Far Mountain's lead has been cut to just 2 and a half games over LaGrange and 3 and a half over Taranto... the Redhawks were 14-13 for the month.

The Claxton Diamonds (76-52) have captured the Ruthlandian South the last 6 seasons, but it has not been easy this year... they have been harassed the whole season by the Valka Blackhawks (75-54) and Belair Beach Sunbirds (67-62)... for half the season Grand City (61-69) and Waleska (63-66) gave them fits, too... Claxton finally made it to first place in August fending off everyone except the high-flying Blackhawks... both clubs had sizzling summers... in July and August the Diamonds went 33-19 and the Blackhawks 34-18... the winner of the RU South will be the team that stays the hottest and sizzles in September... Claxton's margin is down to just one and a half games... every game will be crucial.

Heading into September things are looking swell for the Marston Nine (76-53) with a 5-game edge over the Wynnamac Sundowners (71-58) and 6 games better than the Eastshore Cotton Kings (70-59)... all of them had steady months in August... all a little better than .500... the Nine was 14-13, the Macs 15-12 and the Cotton Ballers 15-13.

And just who will win in the chaotic Ruthlandian wild, wild West?... it will be one of 6 teams... Sligo (68-62) tops the division by an eyelash... a half-game better than Volusia (67-62) and Middlefield (67-62)... only 2 ahead of Rocky Rapids (65-63)... and would you believe the fifth place teams are just 2 and one half games off the pace... last year's Pro Cup champion Forest City (65-64) and Fort Benton (65-64) are both breathing down the necks of the Rovers... Rocky Rapids (17-10), Sligo (15-13), Middlefield (15-12) flourished in August, while Forest City (13-14) and Volusia (12-15) slipped some.

[Eugene Church]

Tycobbian Union Triumphs and Tribulations

RED SOX, RACERS AND SUN SOX LIKELY WINNERS IN TU
It would take a great month and a total collapse by Red Bluff to keep the Red Sox from taking the Tycobbian East Division title... though they only have half the lead as the Red Sox, Rolling Hills, Southport and Blue Lake have a pretty good chance of winning their respective races.

After trailing Hartsdale by 6 games in July, Blue Lake has bolted to the top of the Tycobbian North Division with a splendid 33-19 run the last two months... the Blue Caps have climbed to the top of the standings by three and a half games after Hartsdale suffered through a hellish 9-18 record in August... even last year's division champion and this year's preseason favorite Oxford has gotten back into the pennant race after enduring a pathetic 20-30 start in April and May... the Red Caps also took advantage of the Hartsdale slump by going 18-9 last month and 32-20 since July 1st... but they still are 5 games back of Blue Lake and have a lot of ground to make up and only one month to do it... this would be the first time in almost four decades that the Blue Caps have made the Pro Cup playoffs... they have only appeared 3 times in the team's history... 2030 was the last time... Blue Lake won its only Pro Cup that season, defeating Valmara in 7 games... they were the Blue Sox then and had to come back from a 3-2 deficit and win games six and seven on the road.

Defending Tycobbian South champion Southport moved to the top of the heap in May and built a solid 5-game lead over the Colchester Elites by July 1st... at the same time the Sun Sox were 14 games in front of the Turon Typhoons... since then, the Elites (25-27) have fallen to the wayside, but the Typhoons have played magnificently (39-13) and chopped the Southport lead to just 4 games at the start of September... the Sun Sox were 14-14 last month... it should be a heck of a stretch drive.

The Tycobbian East Division is pretty much done and decided despite Red Bluff's 23-29 slide over the past two months... the Red Sox have an 8-game bulge over Hillsboro and South Fork heading into September... the Blazers had a blistering 19-8 mark in August, but they would have to repeat that to have any chance of overtaking Red Bluff... the Stallions were only 13-15 last month and don't appear to be a serious pennant threat to the Red Sox... the Red Bluff pitching is good enough to stave off both Hillsboro and South Fork.

Over in the Tycobbian West Division the Rolling Hills Racers haven't had a bad month this season, yet they didn't take over first place until August... the Denton City Redbirds outperformed the Racers the first four months of the season... the Redbirds fell from their lofty perch with a 26-26 record in July and August... Rolling Hills passed them with an impressive 34-18 surge the last two months... the Racers are up now by 5 games and should notch their 10th consecutive TU West division title... Rolling Hills is looking to win its 7th Pro Cup trophy this year... the Racers are hoping to reign supreme in the Islandian Pro Alliance for the 4th time in the last decade.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Go to League History > History Index > then click on the current year at the bottom of the page... click on the league you want... and it will give you some really good stats for the current season.

Click on RU for the Ruthlandian Union and TU for the Tycobbian Union.

Thank you. It's really helpful to see the runs scored and runs against. They always show the points scored and goals scored for the NFL and NHL, so why not for baseball as well? It can sometimes give a good gauge and how good a team might be compared with their record.

[Eugene Church]

I forgot to post the All-Star teams... go back to post #8045 on this same page to view them.

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, October 1, 2069

7 IPA PENNANT RACES DECIDED IN LAST DAYS
The 2069 Islandian Pro Alliance saved the best for the last this season... all the division crowns were undecided going into the final week of the season... and seven of them went into the home stretch very much in doubt... Rolling Hills was the only pennant winner that settled things early... and the Racers only cinched the Tycobbian West a week before the season ended... all the others were determined in the last few days ... two divisions, the Ruthlandian East and the Ruthlandian West, were decided in sudden-death playoff games.

There was a lot of joy and jubilation around the IPA, but there was also a lot of pain and disappointment, too... only 8 of the teams ended the season on a high note - the ones that won the pennant and secured a spot in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs.

The victors were the Taranto Tars, Claxton Diamonds, Marston Nine and Sligo Rovers in the Ruthlandian Union... over in the Tycobbian Union the division champions were the Blue Lake Blue Caps, Southport Sun Sox, South Fork Stallions and the Rolling Hills Racers.

This was an especially great season for the Blue Lake Blue Caps, who copped the Tycobbian North Division and finally made the Pro Cup playoffs for the first time in 40 years... the Blue Caps were not expected to be a contender this year... they were picked sixth in the preseason poll.

Ruthlandian Union Season Roundup and Review

TARS TURN IT ON LATE AND TAKE RU NORTH
Taranto (87-67) was rated only the fourth best-team in the Ruthlandian North at the beginning of the season... the Tars turn it on the final two months of the year (35-16) and captured the division crown, beating out the LaGrange Gators by 3 games... Taranto was a blistering 19-6 in September... this will be their first postseason appearance since 2056... Taranto has won one Pro Cup, but that was years ago in 2015... the Tars have been a second-rate team for the last decade... good pitching, solid defense and home-run power were the keys to their success this year... this is the 9th time Taranto has made the IPA playoffs.

Runner-up LaGrange (86-68) played well, going 33-19 in August and September... they were 15-12 the final month, but that just wasn't good enough to top Taranto... third place Far Mountain (85-69) topped the RU North most of the season... they had a 7-game lead heading into August, but the Redhawks fell to 26-27 the rest of the way and wound up 4 games off the pace... the Valmara Vipers (82-72) ran a fairly good race and came in fourth in the standings, 7 games behind.

CLAXTON WINS 7TH STRAIGHT RU SOUTH DIVISION FLAG
The Claxton Diamonds (90-64) won the Ruthlandian South for the 7th straight season, but they really had to sweat this one out... the Valka Blackhawks (89-65) pestered them the whole year and almost won it... the Blackhawks were slated to come in fourth in the preseason poll... Claxton's standout pitching won it for them again... this will be the Diamonds' 21st postseason appearance... they won their only Pro Cup trophy in 2064, upsetting mighty Rolling Hills... Claxton always does well in the playoffs... they have made the RU Finals the last three years, but lost each time.

The Belair Beach Sunbirds (82-72) ran a good first half, along with Grand City (74-80)... the Sunbirds wound up in the third spot, 7 games out... 22-30 in July and August killed their season.

MARSTON WINS AGAIN IN RU EAST... TOPS MACS IN SUDDEN DEATH... 3RD TITLE IN 4 YEARS
The Marston Nine (88-67) were rated the best team in the Ruthlandian East in the preseason poll and they won it the hard way - in a sudden-death playoff game with Wynnamac (87-68)... they beat the Macs 6-4 to win the division flag... this is the 3rd time in 4 seasons the Nine have won the RU South... in the past, it's been the offense that prevailed, but this year they had solid pitching... Marston struggled down the stretch with a 12-14 September record... the Sundowners went 16-10 and caught them, only to lose in the playoff game... the Eastshore Cotton Kings (83-71) did well this year, winding up just 4 and a half-game back in the race... the Cotton Kings were in first place in June, but could not maintain it... this will be Marston's 11th playoff appearance... the Nine has never won a Pro Cup.

ROVERS STAVE OFF 6 CHALLENGERS IN HOT-AND-HEAVY RU WEST... STOP ROOSTERS IN SINGLE-GAME PLAYOFF
The Sligo Rovers (82-73) have been one of the top dogs in the Ruthlandian West for two decades... 6 pennants, 10 second-place finishes and one 3rd place in the last 17 seasons... the Rovers always do it with a fine pitching staff and very little hitting... they really were tested this season in the closely-bunched RU West... it was a 7-team dogfight the entire season that finally ended with Sligo and Middlefield (81-74) tied for the top spot... the Rovers got strong pitching in the sudden-death playoff game and posted a 5-2 victory over the Roosters... this will be Sligo's 15th playoff appearance... the Rovers will be hunting for Pro Cup trophy number two... they won it in 2021.

Middlefield used home runs and solid pitching to finish in second place... 9-18 in June cost them the pennant... Sligo consistently played near .500 ball the entire 6 months of the season.

The reigning Pro Cup champion Forest City (79-75) tried hard to repeat, but came up short in the torrid RU West race by just 2 and one-half games... the Firebirds still had the fine pitching, but they were missing the good offense that enabled them to defeat powerful Rolling Hills in last year's Pro Cup Series.

Just to show you how hotly-contested the Ruthlandian West was this season... in September with the pennant on the line, Sligo went 14-11, Middlefield 14-12 and Forest City 14-11... they were the prime contenders... fourth place Fort Benton (77-77) was 12-13, ending up 4 and a half-game back... fifth place Rocky Rapids (76-78) was only 11-15 and lost out by 5 and a half games... and Volusia (75-79) wound up sixth and trailed by 6 and a one-half games... the Vigilantes flopped miserably in September with the pennant in the balance... they dipped to 8-17 for the month.

[Eugene Church]

Tycobbian Union Year-End Review and Recollections

RACERS WIN 10TH PENNANT IN A ROW... BLUE CAPS MAKE PLAYOFFS FIRST TIME IN 4 DECADES... RED SOX TOTALLY COLLAPSE... STALLIONS SURPRISE... AND SUN SOX WIN 4TH TITLE IN 5 YEARS
The big story in Tycobbian Union circles was the total collapse of the Red Bluff Red Sox in the TU East... they couldn't lose the pennant, but somehow they managed to do the almost impossible... the Red Sox blew an 8-game lead in just one month and South Fork came out of nowhere and won it... at midseason Red Bluff led by 12 and a half games.

BLUE LAKE EDGES HARTSDALE AND OXFORD IN TU NORTH
After years and years of mediocity Blue Lake (86-68) played steady baseball the whole season and jumped past struggling Hartsdale (9-18) in August and held the Hellcats and defending division champion Oxford off in September for their first pennant since 2030, the season they also won their only Pro Cup... this will just be the Blue Caps fourth postseason playoff appearance... Blue Lake just barely beat the Hellcats (85-69)... the Blue Caps staggered home with an 11-14 mark in September... Hartsdale went 14-12 and almost caught them in the stretch drive... the Hellcats lost the pennant by just one single game... preseason favorite and last year's division champion Oxford played poorly in April and May, caught fire in June, July and August, then dropped to 12-13 when it mattered most in September... the Red Caps finished 4 games behind Blue Lake.

SUN SOX SHINE AGAIN IN TU SOUTH, BUT HOLD OFF FAST-CLOSING TURON IN THE HOME STRETCH
Southport (95-59) took charge of the Tycobbian South in June and built up a substantial 9-game lead by August... they cruised most of the season, bothered only by third place Colchester occasionally, who led the division at the end of April (18-7)... the Sun Sox have won the TU South four times in the past five seasons... overall this will be Southport's 17th postseason appearance... the Sun Sox are going for their 5th Pro Cup trophy... Southport won it in 2044, 2047, 2065 and 2066.

The Turon Typhoons (92-62) labored early in the TU South... in July they trailed Southport by 14 games and they were malingering in fourth place... but the Typhoons came on like gangbusters in the second half of the season, posting a splendid 55-22 record and almost caught the Sun Sox... after a so-so August, Southport rose to the occasion with a 15-10 mark in September to beat back the Turon challenge... the Typhoons were 16-9 in the last month of the season.

Traditional TU South doormat Colchester (83-71) registered its second straight winning season... the Elites rode high in April and topped the division standings (18-7)... they hung close to Southport until August, only 5 games behind, and then folded, winding up in third place and 12 games off the pace.

RED SOX BLOW 8-GAME EDGE IN SEPTEMBER AND LOSE PENNANT TO HARD-CHARGING STALLIONS
If you live in Red Bluff and you are a Red Sox fan, you have to be deep down in the mullygrubs and totally depressed... the Red Sox did the unthinkable and the unforgivable - losing a pennant race that you couldn't possibly lose... 8 games ahead with 25 games to go... how did that happen?... well, South Fork went 17-8 the final month of the season, while Red Bluff could only manage 8 pathetic wins and 17 dismal defeats... that gave the Stallions the pennant by a single, solitary game... the Stallions also raced by the Hillsboro Blazers, too... the Blazers had a shot at the pennant, but could only muster 13 wins and 12 losses in the critical last month of the season... South Fork will be appearing in the postseason playoffs for the 9th time... the Stallions have won the Pro Cup trophy twice in the club's history (2025 and 2042)... South Fork last won the TU South in 2060 and 2063.

10 CONSECUTIVE TU WEST TITLES FOR ROLLING HILLS RACERS
The Rolling Hills Racers are showing some age, but they are still rocking along in the Tycobbian West and they are not yet in rocking chairs or riding off into the sunset... most of the lineup is in the mid 30s, but the Racers are still swinging the bats with great authority and even getting some good solid pitching for a change... Rolling Hills captured its 10th division flag in a row... 21 times they have graced the IPA playoffs... 6 times the Racers have won it all... and they are probably favored to win their 7th Pro Cup this year... but this was not an easy year... the Racers won by 8 games over second place Denton City, but that is a little misleading... it was a much closer race than that... the Redbirds actually led the TU West until July... thereafter they were only 39-38 and the Racers rolled past them with a 50-27 mark in the final three months of the year.

[jg2977]

RACERS WIN 10TH PENNANT IN A ROW... BLUE CAPS MAKE PLAYOFFS FIRST TIME IN 4 DECADES... RED SOX TOTALLY COLLAPSE... STALLIONS SURPRISE... AND SUN SOX WIN 4TH TITLE IN 5 YEARS
The big story in Tycobbian Union circles was the total collapse of the Red Bluff Red Sox in the TU East... they couldn't lose the pennant, but somehow they managed to do the almost impossible... the Red Sox blew an 8-game lead in just one month and South Fork came out of nowhere and won it... at midseason Red Bluff led by 12 and a half games.

Very similar to the 2011 real-life Boston Red Sox

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, October 2, 2069

ROLLING HILLS, SOUTHPORT AND CLAXTON ARE THE CREME DE LA CREME OF THE IPA IN THIS YEAR'S PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
The cream of the crop and the creme de la creme -- that's the best ways to describe the top choices to win the 2069 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup this year... perennial powers Rolling Hills, Southport and Claxton are given the best chance of capturing this year's Pro Cup trophy... will there be a surprise champion this year like last year's winner, the Forest City Firebirds?... can Taranto, South Fork or Blue Lake pull off the unexpected?

Probably not... the top three Pro Cup contenders are the Rolling Hills Racers, Southport Sun Sox and Claxton Diamonds... all three clubs have superior offenses compared to the other five challengers... plus they also have better pitching, too.

Only three teams are returning from last year's postseason playoffs... defending Pro Cup champion Forest City did not make the cut this year, but Rolling Hills, Southport and Claxton are back again... they are getting the most support in the Pro Cup polls... the baseball prognosticators and pundits are not giving anyone else a chance to knock off the powerhouses... they are at another talent level than the newcomers.

Opening Day in the 2069 IPA Pro Cup playoffs is Thursday... four games are featured... in Ruthlandian Union first-round action Claxton will host the Taranto Tars at Avalon Stadium and Marston will be at home at Legends Field welcoming the Sligo Rovers... in Tycobbian Union play it will be Rolling Hills entertaining the South Fork Stallions at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds and Blue Lake going on the road to take on the Southport Sun Sox at Pleasure Beach Park... all postseason series are best-four-out-of-seven games... throughout the playoffs the team with the best-regular season record gets the homefield advantage.

Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Poll:

1. Rolling Hills Racers (97-57): the Racers are head-and-shoulders ahead of the other clubs offensively... plus this year they have added some solid pitching... that makes them doubly hard to beat... the Racers just might add its 7th Pro Cup to its trophy collection... they were overall IPA champions in 2029, 2031, 2048, 2060, 2062 and 2067.

2. Southport Sun Sox (95-59): as usual, the Sun Sox are right up there with the Racers... the winner in the Tycobbian Union will probably take the Pro Cup trophy... Southport's pitching can handle the Rolling Hills' attack and put runs on the scoreboard, too... it's always a toss-up when the two powers play... this could be the year the Sun Sox win their 5th Pro Cup... they won it in 2044, 2047, 2065 and 2066.

3. Claxton Diamonds (90-64): the Diamonds are sneaky good... they possess fine pitching and can handle the bats fairly well, too... the offense sets them apart from the rest of the Ruthlandian Union... looks like Claxton will get another shot in the Pro Cup Finals... the Diamonds garnered their only Pro Cup in 2064 when they whipped mighty Rolling Hills in a stirring 7-game series.

4. Taranto Tars (89-65): the Tars whipped some pretty good clubs this year... Taranto was rated fourth in the division in the preseason... they came out of left field to outlast favored Far Mountain, Valmara and LaGrange in the RU North... good pitching, good defense and homers are Taranto's keys to success... the Tars have won the Pro Cup just one time in their history... that was long ago in 2015... Taranto has not grace the Pro Cup playoffs since 2056.

5. South Fork Stallions (84-70)... picked in the preseason poll to finish a distant 3rd to Red Bluff and Tuckanarra, the Stallions overtook several good teams in the TU East with a great September stretch drive... they raced past Red Bluff and Hillsboro... South Fork doesn't have the scoring power or pitching to upend Rolling Hills and Southport... the Stallions have two Pro Cups... 2025 and 2042... they last made the postseason in 2063.

6. Blue Lake Blue Caps (86-68)... forecast to wind up in 6th place this year, Blue Lake came out of the blue in the second half to edge out Hartsdale and Oxford in the TU North... the Blue Caps are not on par with Rolling Hills and Southport at the plate... neither is the pitching quite as good as the Racers and Sun Sox... Blue Lake has only made the postseason playoffs 3 times in its history... the last time they made it was in 2030... that was the season Blue Lake won its only Pro Cup trophy.

7. Marston Nine (88-67): the Nine can't compare to Claxton on the hill, nor with its offense... but it has a chance to make the RU Title Series... it's a first-round toss-up with the Sligo Rovers... Marston has never won the Pro Cup... this is the third time in the last four seasons they have made the playoffs.

8. Sligo Rovers (82-73): the Rovers have a woefully weak offense, but their fine mound staff can carry them in the playoffs... but Sligo has no chance against a team with good bats and good scoring... the Rovers won their only Pro Cup trophy in 2021... however, Sligo has made the playoffs four times in the last six seasons.

Rolling Hills Home Page


Southport Home Page


Claxton Home Page


Taranto Home Page

[Eugene Church]

South Fork Home Page


Blue Lake Home Page


Marston Home Page


Sligo Home Page

[jg2977]

I'm glad that you decided to switch to playoff matchups placed on seeding. I'll be rooting for Rolling Hills, it's a shame that they got so close last year yet couldn't get it done. Hopefully they add their 7th Pro Cup Trophy to their collection.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

I'm glad that you decided to switch to playoff matchups placed on seeding. I'll be rooting for Rolling Hills, it's a shame that they got so close last year yet couldn't get it done. Hopefully they add their 7th Pro Cup Trophy to their collection.

Racers still have a potent offense... and the pitching is much better this year... it has always been its downfall in the postseason... Southport can hang with Rolling Hills should they meet in the TU title series... they can score runs and they have better pitchers than the Racers.

[Dark Horse]

Looks like the Racers bullpen has improved. Is Brownie Ashmore new? But the Stallions could be a test...

i'm glad to see Marston back in the fight. But they still need one more bat.

The Tars-Diamonds match should be pretty good in the first round. The Tars have the speed to manufacture runs. The power to turn around a game in an instant. And they are pretty good on defense. If someone on their team gets hot. They could cause trouble...