ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Clovidequano Dovatha]

But we were still somehow quite fortunate to be able to keep from being beaten in that game, and ultimately we won the Series in 2011, of course. Although I'll certainly admit Texas was rather good for a few years around that time, in any case, more or less. They just couldn't finish the job well enough somehow, to be sure, when they were back then. Maybe one day, they'll win a title, or not, as time permits and all, if it does. CD out.

[care4ameatball]

That had to be one of the best Pro Cup Finals in history, I know they're celebrating hard in Wynnamac!

[Eugene Church]

Been real busy with Christmas in real life.
Will get back to covering my leagues in January.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.

[Eugene Church]

Back from the extended holiday vacation... ready to restart my posting and cover of my leagues again.

Have missed all of you.

May Our Creator bless all of us in 2023.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by care4ameatball

That had to be one of the best Pro Cup Finals in history, I know they're celebrating hard in Wynnamac!

Yep, it was a good one.

Thanks for checking out the IPA over the past few years.

Happy New Year.

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, November 13, 2976

IPA AWARDS WEEK BEGINS WITH GOLDEN BAT HONOREES
The 2076 Islandian Pro Alliance season is now history... all that is left is Awards Week, when the best of the best are honored... for the next 6 days the best IPA batters, pitchers, rookies, defenders and skippers will be revealed.

Starting off the glittering array of diamond talents is the Golden Bat Awards... this year winners are Ethan Youngman of the IPA Pro Cup champion Wynnamac Sundowners and Virgil Welsh of the Denton City Redbirds... both of them are first-time winners.

Youngman was the recipient of the Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award... just in his second season with the Macs the 26-year-old second baseman topped the entire IPA with a .370 BA and led the Sundowners to the RU East Division crown... he delivered 207 hits, 15 homers, 98 RBIs, 88 runs and stole 38 bases... lifetime Youngman is batting .347.

Coming in second in the RU Golden Bat competition was Cold Creek's first baseman Dude Gurley, who paced his club to the runner-up spot in the RU East race... Gurley finished second to Youngman with a .356 BA... he topped the league with 133 RBIs and slammed 27 home runs.

Third place in the balloting was Rod Rheems of the Waleska Westerners... the 25-year-old third baseman batted .349 and was third in the batting race... Rheems had 25 roundtrippers, 96 RBIs, 97 runs and 15 stolen bases... the Cowpokes finished a very close third in the RU South.

The 2076 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat victor was Virgil Welsh, Denton City standout first sacker... he was the runner-up last year in the top batter category... this season Welsh led the league in RBIs for the second straight year with 121... the 9-year veteran hit .317 with 35 homers... he was a prime player in the Redbirds season... they finished sixth to division champion Rolling Hills in the tight TU West Division, but were only 6 games out of first place... in his career Welsh has posted a .285 BA with 214 home runs and 780 runs batted in... twice he has been an All-Star.

Turon center fielder Eliott Carleton finished second in the TU Golden Bat voting with a .353 BA, second to Kenwood's Johnny Davidson, who hit .356... the 30-year-old Carleton was important to the Typhoons second-place finish in the TU South... they were 9 games behind winning San Alejo... in his 6th year he came in first in the Tycobbian Union with 108 runs and 92 stolen bases... Carleton has been an All-Star the last two seasons.

Johnny Davidson blossomed in his third year with the Kenwood Wildcats... the 22-year second baseman captured the TU batting crown with a .356 BA, topping the league with 210 hits... the Wildcats wound up second in the TU West to Rolling Hills, just 3 games off the pace... Davidson made the All-Star team this season.

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Back from the extended holiday vacation... ready to restart my posting and cover of my leagues again.

Have missed all of you.

May Our Creator bless all of us in 2023.

Nice to have you back.

And that Ethan Youngman put together some nice numbers.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Nice to have you back.

And that Ethan Youngman put together some nice numbers.

Always good to hear from you, Dark Horse.

Hope you have a great 2023.

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, November 14, 2076

MACS MARLOWE AND OXFORD MCCAMMON ACCLAIMED IPA MEN WITH THE GOLDEN ARMS
This year's winners of the Islandian Pro Alliance Golden Arm trophies are Clarence Marlowe of the Wynnamac Sundowners and Paddy McCammon of the Oxford Red Caps... it is the first time they have been acclaimed the best pitchers in the league.

Wow, what a year for the IPA Pro Cup champion Wynnamac... not only did the Sundowners reign as the overall league champion, Clarence Marlowe won the 2076 Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award and outfielder Ethan Youngman captured the 2076 RU Golden Bat trophy.

Marlowe, the premier RU pitcher, worked in 53 games overall with 27 starting assignments and compiled a sterling 19-8 record with a league-leading 2.44 ERA... the 2-year veteran, only 23, tossed 247 innings, struck out 257 batters and held batters to a paltry .211 BA... lifetime Marlowe is 30-15 with a fine 2.85 ERA... he was 11-7 in 2075 with a 3.39 ERA in 26 starts.

Leon Blocker of the Cold Creek Raccoons finished second in the RU Golden Arm voting and second in victories... he chalked up a 21-8 record with a 2.77 ERA... the Raccoons came in a distant second in the pennant race to division champion Wynnamac, 10 GB... winding up #3 was Lew McGrane of the Crystal Lake Skippers, who posted a 17-11 mark with a 2.91 ERA and 223 Ks in 312 IP and a league-leading 41 starts... his Skippers lost out in a very close race in the RU South to Valka... the Blackhawks just barely topped Crystal Lake by just 1 game.

The 29-year-old Paddy McCammon had a brilliant season with an 18-8 record, starting 34 games and running up a 2.55 ERA... opponents hit only .205 against him...he was awarded the 2076 Tycobbian Union Golden Arm for his accomplishments... his Oxford Red Caps came in a close third place to pennant winner Mahaska, losing out by just 4 games... McCammon finished second in strikeouts with 271 and second with 6 shutouts... career-wise in 4 seasons McCammon is 49-37 with a 2.97 ERA and 60 saves... he was a fulltime starter for the first time this year... he led the Tycobbian Union in 2075 with 281 Ks in 203 innings and 109 relief appearances.

McCammon outpitched Tomaso Ortega of Arroyo Grande and Jim Singer of Kenwood for the TU Golden Arm trophy... Ortega (17-10/2.61 ERA) and Singer (17-6/2.56 ERA) ran second and third in the voting... Ortega's Suns were 4th in the standings (79-75), 15 games back of first place San Alejo in the TU South race, while Kenwood was in the third spot, trailing division winner Rolling Hills by 3 games.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, November 15, 2076

PREMIER ROOKS PICKED BY IPA... PITCHERS ALBERTS AND CARLTON BEST NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR
Pickin's were sparse this season in Islandian Pro Alliance circles when it came to the top rookies... there were not many impactful first-year players... hurlers triumphed in both leagues... the 2076 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year was Jason Albert of the Glasco Foxhounds and the 2076 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year was Spike Carlton of the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats... neither of them were spring chickens... both of them are 30 years old and late comers to the IPA.

Workhouse Alberts sparked his hounds to the pennant in the RU North Division by winning 18 games in 41 starts with 13 defeats... he posted a 3.85 ERA in 290 innings of work.

Elnora's versatile third baseman Bernie Calderone was voted #2 in the RU freshmen category... he only batted .267, but had 149 hits, 23 doubles, 13 triples, 5 home runs, 50 RBIs, 97 runs and stole 63 bases... overall in 143 games Calderone played 89 games at third and 50 in center field... the Clippers came in second place and trailed pennant winner Wynnamac by 10 games in the RU East race... Calderone is 29.

A distant third in the RU Rookie of the Year was pitcher Al Ptacek of the Stoner Silver Sox... in 26 starts the 29-year-old right-hander logged a 10-8 mark with a 3.28 ERA in 189 innings of work... the Silver Sox captured the RU West title.

The best rookie in the Tycobbian Union was Spike Carlton, the ace of the pennant-winning Tuckanarra Tiger Cats in the TU East... Carlton was a key element with a team-leading 16-8 record with a solid 3.12 ERA in 30 starting assignments.

Second place in the TU Rookie Award went to left fielder Kenny Sergeant of the Kenwood Wildcats... the 21-year-old played in 116 games, batted .294 with 12 roundtrippers, 61 RBIs, 72 runs and 18 stolen bases... the Wildcats had a fine season, winding up in the second spot just 3 games behind the Rolling Hills Racers in the TU West.

Turon's right-hander Wyatt Quinton was the third choice for rookie of the season... at age 29, he made 31 starts and wound up with an 11-9 record and a 3.90 ERA... his Typhoons were runner-up to first place San Alejo in the TU South, ending up 9 games behind.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, November 15, 2076

IPA TAPS BEST GLOVES AND DEFENDERS FOR 2076 SEASON
The top glovemen in the Islandian Pro Alliance were revealed today... the 2076 Ruthlandian Union Golden Glovers were led by Ranford right fielder Deke Cronin and Eastshore shortstop Ollie Daggs, two 4-time winners... Anchoring the 2076 Tycobbian Union Golden Glove squad was third baseman Arie Vermeer of Summerland and shortstop Yazzy Ricks of Cape Coral... they have been honored 3 times in their careers.

Ricks is the elder statesman at age 38... Daggs is 31, Cronin 28 and Vermeer 26.

Only one rookie make this year's Golden Glove rosters... that was Jesse Dobson, the 21-year-old second sacker for the Forest City Firebirds.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[jg2977]

Looking forward to the MVP announcements and then, the 2077 season! My 100th birthday!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

Looking forward to the MVP announcements and then, the 2077 season! My 100th birthday!

Live Long and Prosper !

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, November 17, 2076

IPA MVP TROPHIES GO TO MACS YOUNGMAN AND DENTON CITY'S WELSH
The Islandian Pro Alliance recognized two players that did the most for their teams' success this season... the standout players in 2076 were Wynnamac second baseman and the top batter in the Ruthlandian Union Ethan Youngman and Denton City's terrific first baseman Virgil Welsh.

It has been a banner year for the 26-year-old Youngman, not only did he spur the Wynnamac Sundowners to the Ruthlandian East pennant by a wide margin, he also topped the league with a .370 BA and captured the RU Golden Bat Award... in 131 games Youngman collected 207 hits, 15 homers, 98 RBIs, scored 88 runs and stole 38 bases, while playing solid defense with a .983 FA... in his 3 seasons with the Macs he sports a .347 BA.

Like he did in the Ruthlandian Golden Bat voting, Youngman again edged out Cold Creek first sacker Dude Gurley for the MVP honor... winning the division flag may have made a difference with the voters... Gurley had a great season, playing in 153 games, batting .356 with 27 roundtrippers, a league-leading 133 RBIs for the second straight season and 102 runs scored... however, the Raccoons came in 10 games back of the Macs in the RU East pennant race... Cold Creek was tied for second with the Elnora Clippers... Gurley has been with the Raccoons for 4 seasons and carries a splendid .348 BA... this is the third successive season he has finished second in the Ruthlandian Union MVP balloting and also in the Golden Bat voting... he was the Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year in 1973.

Wynnamac's fine fireman Clarence Marlowe wound up third in the MVP race, but he won the RU Golden Arm Award... working in 53 games the 22-year-old righty compiled a 19-8 won-lost record with a sterling 2.44 ERA in 247 innings of work, topping the league in ERA... Marlowe fanned 257 batters and made 26 starts... he came in second in strikeouts... this was his second year with the Macs... he was 11-7 with a 3.39 ERA in his rookie season... Marlowe was a vital part of the Sundowners sensational season.

Virgil Welsh, the Denton City first sacker, excelled by topping the Tycobbian Union for the second year in a row in RBIs... playing in all 154 games the 31-year-old 9-year veteran batted .317, drove in 121 runs, scored 97 and played a solid first base... his Redbirds ran a strong race in the tight TU West Division, coming in 6th, but just 6 games behind the pace of champion Rolling Hills... lifetime Welsh is a .285 batter with 214 homers and 780 RBIs... twice he has made the All-Star team... last year Welsh came in second in both the TU MVP and Golden Bat race.

This year Turon's Eliott Carleton also was runner-up in the TU Golden Bat Award to slugger Virgil Welsh of the Denton City Redbirds... the 30-year-old centerfielder ended up second in the batting race with a .352 BA in 137 games... Carleton paced the Typhoons to second place in the TU South, 9 games behind the TU South champion San Alejo... he hit 9 homers, led the league with 92 thefts, drove in 72 and scored a league-leading 108 runs... he spent his first 2 seasons with Kilkenny in the RU North and was traded to Turon in 2072... overall in his 6 seasons Carleton has batted .323.

The sports scribes and broadcasters managed to give praise to pitcher Lee Rushing, who won 22 games for the last place East Point Panthers in the TU East and wound up third in the MVP competition... Rushing was 22-7 for a team that finished 69-85... in 40 starts Rushing tossed 302 innings, struck out 187 batters and chalked up a 3.17 ERA... the Panthers are his third club in 7 seasons... he is only 46-39 lifetime with a 4.19 ERA... Rushing tied for the most starts, came in second with 6 shutouts and second with 302 innings... he is 32 years old and is a junkballer with a wicked screwball and changeup.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, November 18, 2076

IPA BEST SKIPPERS ARE MACS INKAMARA AND MONTIES BELL
Even though the Islandian Pro Alliance Manager of the Year Awards are based solely on the regular season, it turned out that the skippers that went head-to-head in the Pro Cup Series were this year's recipients... Wynnamac's Nioka Inkamara and San Alejo's Matt Bell were the winners this season... both of them are IPA Hall-of-Famers and are first-time winners of the best-manager honors... they easily outpolled their peers and won the awards... Inkamara's Sundowners bested Bell's Montaneros in 6 games for the overall IPA title.

The Macs Nioka Inkamara has been at the helm since 2066... he has led them to 5 division crowns and 2 Pro Cups... this year's Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year took his club from second place in 2075, 9 games off the pace, to the pennant this year with a 96-58 mark, topping the previous year's 88-66 record.

Inkamara topped Valka's Matvey Kazak, Glasco's Eddie Darby and Stoner's Billy Chapel for the award... all three skippers won division crowns this season in the Ruthlandian Union.

Matt Bell and his San Alejo Montaneros had a super season... the Monties came in fourth in the standings in 2075 and won the pennant this season... they went from 84-70 and 16 GB to the division flag with a 94-60 record... San Alejo triumphed by 9 games in the TU South race... Bell has captured the TU South pennant three times in his tenure with the Montaneros.

Bell outdistanced two fine managers... Tuckanarra's Quinn Starr won his second consecutive Tycobbian East, taking the title by 7 games, while Pip Cordice went from fifth place, 77-77 and 10 GB to 85-69 this year, snaring the pennant by 3 games in a super-tight 5-team struggle.

[Eugene Church]

Yep, folks... that puts a wrap in the 2076 Islandian Pro Alliance season.

Will soon get busy with the 2077 season.