ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, September 24, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series - Game 5

Hamilton Halts Roosters 7-1, Elnora Leads Series
The Elnora All-Stars upended the Middlefield Roosters on the road 7-1 to grab a three-to-two advantage in the Ruthlandian 8 Series... young right-hander Will Hamilton (1-1 2.57) halted the Roosters on 5 hits and C Leon Carter (.353) blasted a 2-run homer to snap a 1-1 tie in the 4-run sixth inning... Hamilton had 6 strikeouts and walked 4, while going the distance... vet Frank Dean (1-1 3.60) was the loser... Dean gave up 7 runs in 6 innings... the All-Stars had 11 hits and were led by Carter with a pair of hits, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored... plus 2B Michael Griffin (.421) smacked 4 hits in 5 tries.

Valmara KOs Crystal Lake In 5 Games
It's all over for the reigning Pro Cup champs... No repeat for the Crystal Lake Crushers... the 8th-seeded Valmara Vipers upset them in a 5-game series, stunning the Crushers 4-3 with two late-inning home runs in decisive game five... LF Sonny Oliver (.200) 3-run salvo tied the score in the last of the eighth and C Pete Gibbs (.357) won it with a two-out walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the ninth... that made a winner of Billy Ray (2-0 1.59), who pitched a complete game, allowing 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks... Crusher starting pitcher Dennis Taylor held the Vipers scoreless on 4 hits for the first 7 innings, but ran into trouble in the eighth... Mark Carey (0-1) lost it in the ninth... Crusher 1B Phil Gravelli homered in the fourth to give them a 2-0 lead... Crystal Lake added another run in the top of the eighth... Valmara will now advance to the RU Final 4 and take on the winner of the Elnora-Middlefield series.

Sardini Shines, Rascals Dump Ninjas 5-1
At Ninja Stadium in Ginza, 20-year-old Paul Sardini powered White River past Ginza 5-1 and gave the Rascals a one-game edge in the best-of-seven Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... White River leads three games to two... Sardini, who throws up to 100 mph, has allowed only one unearned run in 14 innings in the postseason... Sardini (2-0 0.00) limited the Ninjas to one run and 7 hits in 8 sharp innings... Carl Dreux closed it out with a scoreless ninth... taking the loss was Yuko Takata (0-2 6.55), who permitted 4 runs and 5 hits in 5 innings... the Rascals racked up 9 hits to 8 for the Ninjas... White River scored first in the third on a RBI ground-out by 3B Sammy Tucker (.368) and added 3 more in the fourth on SS Kenny Young's (.118) single and Sardini's (.400) 2-run two-bagger... Ginza finally got a run in the eighth on an RBI double by 1B Johnny O'Rorke (.353), making it 4-1... the Rascals wrapped up the scoring with a run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by 1B Sandy Scott (.000).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, September 25, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series - Game 6

Elnora Bombs Roosters 10-3, Wins Series
Known for its fine pitching, it was the Elnora bats that sparkled in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series against Middlefield... the All-Stars erupted with 14 hits to maul the Roosters 10-3 in game six at State Fair Park in Elnora to capture the series four games to two... 1B Benny Cortazzo (.238) hammered 2 doubles and a single, driving in 4 runs... 2B Michael Griffin (.478) went 3-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored... and RF Travis Glass (.273) cracked a 2-run homer and scored twice... Hal Wilkerson (1-1 3.55) worked into the ninth for the win, yielding 3 runs and 9 hits, while Dicky Donato (1-1 5.54) suffered a painful loss... Elnora shelled him for 7 runs in 4 innings... The All-Stars will now face the Valmara Vipers in the RU Final 4... the 8th-seeded Vipers shocked defending IPA Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake in the first round... Elnora is seeded fifth in the playoffs.

French Blanks Ginza 5-0, WR In TU Final 4
20-year-old Don French hurled the White River Rascals into the Tycobbian Final 4 with a 5-0 shutout over the Ginza Ninjas at White River Stadium... the Rascals won the Elite 8 Series in six games and will now meet the Tuckanarra Blue Jays for the TU title... French blanked the Ninjas for 8 innings and then turned it over to Jim Ladendorf to complete the shutout... French fanned 10, issued 2 walks and gave up 7 hits... Ginza's ace Yutaka Yoshida matched French for 6 innings, allowing just one hit in a scoreless draw, but Ken Kichita was pounded for 5 runs and 3 hits in the eighth... PH Hal Littleton (.750) singled in the first score of the game... CF Jake Doerr's (.240) deep fly got run number 2 in... and 3B Sammy Turner (.348) hit the clincher, a 3-run clout... Ninja 1B Johnny O'Rorke (.476) went 4-4 in defeat... White River, a sixth seed, won only one of 6 regular season games against the tough, second-seeded Tuckanarra Blue Jays... the IPA Final 4 Series will begin Wednesday afternoon with Elnora hosting Valmara in the Ruthlandian final and the Blue Jays at home against the Rascals in the Tycobbian title series... During the regular campaign Valmara won two of the three games with Elnora.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series - Game 1

Vipers Trounce All-Stars In Final 4 Opener
The unheralded 8th-seeded Valmara Vipers picked up in the first game of the Ruthlandian Final 4 where they left off in the first round - the Vipers beat a favored team with outstanding pitching... Valmara, fresh off upsetting defending Pro Cup titleholder Crystal Lake, got another strong outing from Clem Carmouche, who stymied 5th seed Elnora 7-1 on 3 hits... Carmouche (1-1 2.22) struck out 4 and walked 4 in a complete game... the Viper bats were blazing, too... they racked up 13 hits in trouncing the All-Stars... 2B Ron Freiberg (.364) and RF Gerry Kazmarek (.240) each had 3 hits and SS Tyler Ferguson (.238) and Pete Gibbs (.389) had two apiece... Kazamarek had 2 doubles and a triple, while Gibbs got the only homer in the game... it was a bad performance by Lucien Vachon (2-1 4.76)... Valmara battered him for 10 hits and 5 runs in 4+ innings... he went to the shower behind 5-0.

Blue Jays Beat Rascals 5-1 In Game 1
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays won the first game of the Tycobbian Finals, but suffered a serious loss, when starting pitcher Dean Peterson went out with blister on his throwing hand... nonetheless, the Tucks took the game 5-1 with some fine relief pitching... They are unbeaten in five postseason games this season... Gene O'Reilly and Tom Thomas came in trailing 1-0 and stopped the hard-hitting Rascals on 3 hits and no runs over the final 5 and two-thirds innings... O'Reilly (1-0) was the winner... he worked four and two-thirds innings and allowed just 2 hits with 4 Ks and no walks... Thomas gave up a hit in the ninth, but finished off White River and sealed the win... Peterson left in the fourth, trailing 1-0... Peterson surrendered 2 hits and a run with 4 strikeouts and a walk... Peterson could be out 1-2 weeks and miss the rest of the playoffs... Rascal RF Kenneth Kent's (.292) RBI ground-out got in the first run of the game... Paul Sardini made it stand up until the bottom of the eighth when Tuckanarra tagged him for 5 runs... Sardini (2-1 2.08) walked 6 and fanned 6 in the loss... he had a 2-hit shutout for 7 innings... 3B Koora Nawajuk (.333) put the Blue Jays ahead with a 2-run single, CF Thomas Parker's (.333) sacrifice fly made it 3-1 and PH Tony Nicholson wound up the scoring with a 2-run double.

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 28, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series Game 2

Valmara Wins Again, Ray Stops Elnora 3-2
Underdog Valmara won its second in a row on the road in the RU Final 4 Series as Billy Ray stopped Elnora 3-2 at State Fair Park... it was Ray's third consecutive postseason victory... Ray (3-0 1.44) logged 8 innings, permitted 2 runs and 6 hits, struck out 3 and walked just one batter... closer Chris Phillips chalked his second save in the playoffs with a 1-2-3 ninth... Will Hamilton went all the way for Elnora, allowing only 1 earned run and 7 hits, while fanning 6 and walking 4... right off the bat the V's took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, scoring on an infield error and an RBI double by 2B Ron Freiberg (.346)... Valmara added another run in the third inning on a passed ball... RF Travis Glass tripled in both All-Star runs in the last of the sixth... SS Tyler Ferguson (.320) collected 3 hits and an RBI for the Vipers and CF Teddy Szymanski (.407) had 2 hits and scored twice... Glass (.345) had 3 hits for Elnora and CF Charley Beard (.235) a pair.

Blue Jays Up By 2, Skim By WR 3-2 In Game 2
Tuckanarra topped White River for the second successive game at home on the Blue Jays home field, Central Park Stadium... Tuckanarra got another stellar start from Glynn Starr, who only gave up 2 runs and 4 hits in his 8 innings... but Starr's (2-0 1.69) control was shaky as he walked 6... Starr had 6 Ks... closer Archie Desmond struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the win... Desmond has 3 saves in the playoffs... Starr also drove in the winning run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly, snapping a 2-2 tie... Don French (2-1 2.31) was the loser... he permitted 3 runs and 6 hits in 6+ frames... 6 walks caused French a lot of trouble... not many hits in the game... 7 for the Blue Jays and just 4 for White River.

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 29, 2023

2023 IPA Final 4 Series - Game 3

Elnora Salvages Game 3, Wiggles By Vipers 8-7
It was almost do or die for the Elnora All-Stars... they badly needed to win game three of the RU Final 4 with Valmara and the All-Stars did it... Elnora escaped with an 8-7 victory to cut the Vipers lead in the series to two games to one... It was Leon Carter's solo smash in the top of the ninth that put the All-Stars ahead 8-6 and they managed to survive Valmara's ninth-inning rally... Carter (.323) led Elnora with 3 hits and 3 RBIs... RF Travis Glass (.324) provided 2 RBIs and CF Charley Beard (.263) had two hits and scored twice... Valmara outhit Elnora 15 to 11 and were paced by LF Sonny Oliver (.273) with 3-5, 2 runs and 2 RBIs and CF Teddy Szymanski (.438) with 3-5, 2 runs and an RBI... it was a 1-1 pitcher's duel between Hal Wilkerson and Johnny Vasylenko for 6 innings, then Elnora piled up 6 runs in the seventh for a 7-1 advantage, but Valmara came right back with 5 in the bottom half of the inning... Wilkerson (2-1 2.75) managed to get the win, in spite of giving up 6 runs and 12 hits in 7 innings... only one of the runs was earned... Joel Bassett got the save despite allowing a run in the ninth... Vasylenko (0-1 4.32) was the losing pitcher... he allowed 7 runs and 9 hits in 6+ innings.

Tucks Take 3-0 Lead, Rascals Fall 4-3
For the third successive game Tuckanarra held the White River bats at bay and came away with a 4-3 triumph... the Blue Jays are unbeaten in 7 postseason games this year and only need one more win to wrap up the best-of-seven TU Final 4 Series and earn a trip to the Pro Cup Finals... Quinn Starr (3-0 2.86) went a strong 8 innings for the win, yielding just 2 runs on 6 hits... Starr left with a 4-2 lead... closer Archie Desmond surrendered a run in the ninth, but got the final out with the tying score on second... it was Desmond's 4th save of the playoffs... Tuckanarra socked 12 hits to 7 for the Rascals... SS Narra Gilyinju (.269) had 3 hits for the Blues Jays with an RBI... 3B Koora Nawajuk (.320) had 2 hits and a run batted in... RF Danny Redd (.227) and 1B Lynn Starr (.292) drove in the other two runs... CF Jake Doerr (.233), 1B Marty Blake (.250) and catcher P. J. Blake (.241) batted in the runs for the Rascals... Ron Hendrix (0-2 3.13) went the distance in defeat, striking out 6 and walking 2.

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 30, 2023

2023 IPA Final 4 Series - Game 4

V's Win Third Time In 4 Games, Top Elnora 4-0
30-year-old lefty Clem Carmouche blanked Elnora 4-0 to send underdog Valmara up three games to one in the Ruthlandian Final 4... Carmouche (2-1 1.62), an 18-game winner in the regular season, was on top of his game as he sat down the All-Stars on 5 hits, fanned 6 and walked 3... 3B Teddy Rudek (.300) busted up a scoreless battle between Carmouche and Lucien Vachon with a 3-run clout in the bottom of the fifth... 2B Ron Freiberg (.343) upped it to 4-0 with a solo shot in the sixth... Vachon (2-2 5.20) was the loser... the V's tagged him for all 4 runs and 9 hits in 5 innings.

Rascals Torch Tucks 15-4, WR Still Alive
White River took advantage of Tuckanarra's number four starter and torched the Blue Jays 15-4 to remain alive in the Tycobbian Final 4... the Rascals snapped the Blue Jays playoff-winning streak at 7... Tucknarra still has a huge 3-1 edge in the series and needs only one win to capture the TU championship and advance to the Pro Cup Finals against the Ruthlandian champ... White River chalked up 10 hits, 6 homers and 8 walks in the runaway... the Rascals scored only 6 runs in the first three games of the series... 1B Marty Blake (.286) and catcher P. J. Blake (.303) each hammered 2 homers... RF Kenneth Kent (.281) and 3B Sammy Tucker (.316) also went deep... Marty Blake and Kent drove in 4 runs apiece and P. J. Blake had 3 RBIs... Blue Jay 20-game winner Dean Peterson had to skip this start because of a bad blister... Apari Churchill (0-1) started in his place and lasted only 4 innings...Churchill was the loser as he was slammed for 5 runs in 4 innings... he departed trailing 5-3... White River starter Paul Sardini (3-1 2.60) copped the win, but struggled with 7 walks... Sardini went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs and 5 hits with 6 Ks... Sardini was ahead 7-3 at the time... the Rascals put the game out of reach with 6 runs in the seventh.

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 1, 2023

2023 IPA Final 4 Series - Game 5

Valmara Pro Bowl Bound
After 20 years of frustration and failure, the Valmara Vipers will get another chance for a Pro Cup, symbolic of pro baseball supremacy in Islandia... Billy Ray pitched a whale of a game, stopping Elnora 2-1 in game five of the Ruthlandian Final 4 Series to take the series four games to one and advance to the IPA Pro Cup Finals... Ray (20-11 2.21) was obtained in a trade with the Beechwood Bobcats and the stubby 30-year-old right-hander has made a huge difference in his first season with the Vipers and was one of the main reasons they made the playoffs... in the playoffs Ray (4-0 1.36) has been even better... he worked 8 strong innings for the win, yielded 5 hits and a run with 5 strikeouts and 5 walks... closer Chris Phillips got his 3rd postseason save with a scoreless ninth... LF Sonny Oliver (.282) saved the day for Valmara with a 2-run double in the last of the eighth that wiped out a 1-0 Elnora lead... Will Hamilton (1-3 2.03) pitched very well, too, but suffered another hard-luck loss... Hamilton held Valmara to 5 hits and 2 runs with 5 Ks and 4 walks... in the top of the eighth, the All-Stars broke the scoreless tie when 2B Michael Griffin worked Ray for a bases-load base on balls... but Hamilton couldn't hold it... Valmara last played in the Pro Cup in 2003, when they were swept by the Turon Typhoons... the Vipers will meet the winner of the Tuckanarra-White River series.

Tucks Take Rascals In 5, Play V's In Pro Cup
For the first time in a decade, Tuckanarra will be in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... the Blue Jays finished off the White River Rascals 5-2 in game five to win the Tycobbian title four games to one... the Tucks snapped a 2-2 deadlock in the top of the ninth on PH Vince Di Lazzaro's 2-run homer and back-up SS Kevin Morris' solo blast... they came back-to-back off loser Arnie Montel (0-1 7.50) and made a winner out of Blue Jay bullpen ace Archie Desmond (1-0 1.59), who logged a perfect eighth... Gene O'Reilly recorded his 2nd save by retiring the Rascals in order in the last of the ninth... Tuckanarra starter Glynn Starr gave them 7 good innings, holding White River to 5 hits and 2 runs with 5 strikeouts and no walks... Don French started for the Rascals, but left early because of a long rain delay... French pitched 4 and two-thirds innings, gave up 2 runs and 3 hits with 4 Ks and 2 walks... the teams were tied 2-2 when French left the game... White River took an early lead on a double by Kenneth Kent (.278) in the top of the second frame... Kent went to third on a ground-out and scored when 2B Vinny Uhrich (.200) grounded out to second base... Tuckanarra took a 2-1 lead on 3B Koora Nawajuk's (.290) 2-run double in the bottom half of the inning... in the fourth the Rascals evened the score at 2-2 when RF Hal Littleton (.318) doubled and scored on catcher P. J. Blake's (.297) two-bagger... the top-seeded Blue Jays will be challenged by the eighth-seeded Valmara Vipers, who have come into their own in the postseason... the Pro Cup Finals will get underway Tuesday afternoon at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra... the Blue Jays have played in only one Pro Cup and lost it in a sweep to the powerful Far Mountain Redhawks in 2012... the Redhawks won the Island championship three years running 2011-2013.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 2, 2023

Pro Cup Starts Tomorrow In Tuckanarra
Only 15 teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance have won the much-revered Pro Cup. 49 teams have never had the honor and the pleasure. A Pro Cup is hard to come by. This year two of the non-winners will get a chance to move into elite circles. Will it be favored Tuckanarra or underdog Valmara? Neither have been to the finals lately. Tuckanarra was last there in 2013 and Valmara in 2003. Both came away empty-handed - but not this time. One of them will be victorious.

The two clubs are very similar in style of play. Blue Jays manager Carlton "Lefty" Stevens has a strong pitching staff. Vipers skipper Jet Kazmarek also relies on his fine mound corps. Tuckanarra has the decided edge with three standout starters in Dean Peterson (20-11 2.92), Glynn Starr (25-10 3.00) and Quinn Starr (19-17 2.35). Valmara only has two high-quality starters in Billy Ray (20-11 2.21) and Clem Carmouche (18-12 2.87). The only problem is Peterson is out because of blisters and may not be availabe for a week. That's a crucial loss. The key element in the series will be the number three starters. Valmara's Johnny Vasylenko (16-16 3.93) and Tuckanarra's Apari Churchill (16-16 4.58) will be decisive factors. Neither have overly impressive in the playoffs. Vasylenko is 0-1 in 2 starts with a 4.32 ERA, while Churchill (0-1 11.75) flopped in his only start, lasting just 4 innings. Stevens is toying with the idea of using Peterson, despite the injured finger.

Tuckanarra will go with Carmouche (2-1 1.62) in the opening game, opposed by Quinn Starr (3-0 2.86). Game two will feature Glynn Starr (2-0 1.96) for the Blue Jays against the Vipers Billy Ray (4-0 1.36). Game three starters are still up in the air with Johnny Vasylenko likely for Valmara. Stevens is undecided who will go for Tuckanarra.

Both teams have very capable closers. 33-year-old Archie Desmond (8-0 1.11) had a great season for the Blue Jays with 33 saves and has continued it in the postseason with a 1-0 record and 4 saves in 6 appearances with a 1.59 ERA. The V's bullpen ace is a 21-year-old rookie Chris Phillips (2-1), who took over the closer role at mid-season and notched 11 saves with a 1.16 ERA. Phillips has stood out in the playoffs with a 1-0 record, 3 saves and a 1.29 ERA in 5 appearances. Tuckanarra may have a slight edge in middle relievers.

During the regular season Tuckanarra was the better team at the plate, but not in the postseason. If the Blue Jays continue to struggle, Valmara might sneak up and win it. RF Danny Redd (.339 BA/15 HR/79 RBI/107 R), 1B Lynn Starr (.330BA/36 HR/112 RBI/114 R) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.283 BA/18 HR/68 RBI/92 R) will have to regain season form. They have only one homer between them in the playoffs. The Tucks are just not scoring enough runs. But the Blue Jays have won anyway because of the great pitching. Valmara's line-up was only so-so in the regular campaign: CF Teddy Szymanski (.287 BA/22 HR/88 RBI/80 R), 2B Ron Freiberg (.287 BA/13 HR/56 RBI/94 R), LF Sonny Oliver (.269 BA/18 HR/81RBI/73 R) and C Pete Gibbs (.264 BA/14 HR/79 RBI/50 R). The Vipers have homered 6 times in the playoffs, but also have trouble putting runs on the scoreboard. It looks like the pitchers will dominate in this Pro Cup Finals. Tuckanarra had the better seasonal record 96-58 and will have the home-field advantage in the best-of-seven series that gets underway tomorrow at Central Park Stadium. Valmara was 90-64. In the playoffs this year the Blue Jays are 8-1 and Vipers 8-2.

As far as defense, both Tuckanarra and Valmara are just average with a .972 FA.

Pro Cup Prediction:
Tuckanarra's pitching and experience will prevail in 6 games.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 3, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

Hill's HR Nips Vipers, Tucks Win 3-2 In Opener - Game 1
A 32-year-old journeyman outfielder Dan Hill was the hero in the opening game of the 2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals... the unsung Hill smashed an eighth-inning homer to give Tuckanarra a 3-2 decision over the Valmara Vipers... until then the Blue Jays Quinn Starr and Vipers Clem Carmouche were locked in a 2-2 tie... Starr (4-0 2.70) was the winning pitcher... he stopped the V's on 5 hits and 2 runs, fanned 7 and walked 2... veteran closer Archie Desmond (1-0 1.35) struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in a perfect ninth for his 5th playoff save... Carmouche (2-2 1.96) went the distance, allowed 9 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2... Hill (.118), 1B Lynn Starr (.333) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.314) led the Blue Jays at the plate with 2 hits each... 3B Bobby Greb (.316) drove in both of the Vipers runs.

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 4, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

Tucks Tame Vipers 7-3 In Game 2
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays got the usual good pitching, but this time they got more offense, too... the results was an easy 7-3 triumph over Valmara in game two of the IPA Pro Cup Finals... it was the Blue Jays second win in a row at their home park, Central Park Stadium... Glynn Starr blanked Valmara 7-0 until the ninth, when they scored 3 times... Starr (3-0 2.25) went all the way and posted his third playoff win, permitting 3 runs and 8 hits, while striking out 9 and walking 3... Billy Ray (4-1 2.75) lost for the first time this postseason... he was hit hard by the Blue Jays for all 7 runs and 7 hits in 6-plus innings... a 4-run seventh kayoed him... little-used LF Vince Di Lazzaro (.571) provided the firepower for Tuckanarra... Di Lazzaro had a 2-run homer and a 2-run triple, batting in 4 runs in all... rookie 3B Koora Nawajuk (.316) also drove in 2 runs for the winners... Nawajuk leads the team in the playoffs with 11 RBIs.

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 5, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

V's Win In 11th On Ferguson HR - Game 3
After dropping the first two games of the IPA Pro Cup Finals in Tuckanarra, Valmara came home to War Memorial Stadium for game three and for three innings it looked bad... they dug a hole for themselves and fell behind 5-2, but rookie starter Johnny Vasylenko settled down and blanked Tuckanarra over the next five innings and the Vipers finally caught up with 2 runs in the fifth and one in the last of the ninth... then won it 6-5 on 1B Tyler Ferguson's 11th-inning homer... now Valmara is back in the hunt for the Pro Cup, trailing two games to one in the best-of-seven series... Strong relief by two rookies saved the day... Ivan Guzek hurled two scoreless innings and Chris Phillips (2-0 1.12) finished off the Blue Jays in the 11th for the win... Tuckanarra's number four starter Apari Churchill got the call due to an injury to Dean Peterson... Churchill kept the Blue Jays ahead most of the game and left with a 5-4 lead after 8 innings, but the bullpen bunch couldn't hold it... closer Archie Desmond (1-0 2.08) blew the save in the ninth and George O'Reilly (1-1 2.53) lost it in the 11th.

The V's outhit the Blue Jays 11 to 10 with Ferguson getting 3 of them and driving in 4 runs... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.161) got 2 hits and scored 3 times... LF Sonny Oliver (.255) batted in 2 runs and now has a club-high 10 in the playoffs... 1B Lynn Starr (.317) and RF Danny Redd (.286) sparked the Tucks with solo homers and LF Dan Hill (.200) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 6, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 4

Valmara Ties Pro Cup On Szymanski's HR
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays were within one out of going up 3-1 in the IPA Pro Cup Finals, but they didn't get it - Valmara's Teddy Szymanski swatted a two-out 3-run homer in the bottom of the ninth at War Memorial Stadium to edge the Blue Jays 4-3 and tie up the series at two games apiece... it's a brand new series... Tuckanarra starter Quinn Starr fired a brilliant game and took a 3-1 lead into the ninth... Starr allowed only 2 hits in his 8 innings... but closer Archie Desmond (1-1 1.93) lost his first game of the season when Szymanski homered... none of the runs off Desmond were earned... Clem Carmouche started for the Vipers and worked a strong game, permitting only 4 hits and 2 runs with 5 Ks and 6 walks in 8 innings... Ivan Guzek (2-0 4.50) picked up the win, despite giving up a run in the top of the ninth... Valmara was outhit 6 to 4 by the Tucks.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 6, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

Tucks Trim V's 4-0 in 10, Take Pro Cup Lead - Game 5
The pitching was magical in game five of the IPA Pro Cup Series... two 20-game winners were on the hill and they both did magnificently... Glynn Starr went 9 shutout innings for Tuckanarra and Billy Ray tossed 8 scoreless inning for Valmara... the Blue Jays finally broke it open with 4 runs in the top of the tenth off losing pitcher Frank Favazzo (0-1 5.40) and now are within one game of Island baseball supremacy... Tuckanarra leads the series three games to two... RF Danny Redd (.260) drove in the game-winner with a sacrifice fly, then 1B Lynn Starr (.327) clinched it for his brother with a 3-run homer... Glynn Starr (4-0 1.76) got the victory, striking out 9 and walking only one batter... Tuckanarra had the hit advantage 9 to 5... the series resume tomorrow afternoon in Tuckanarra... If needed, the final two games will be there at Central Park Stadium.

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 6, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

Peterson Pitches Tucks To First Pro Cup Title - Game 6
For days Dean Peterson has been itching to take the hill in the IPA Pro Cup Finals and he finally got his chance... Peterson hurled Tuckanarra to a 6-3 triumph over the Valmara Vipers in game six at Central Park Stadium to win the Pro Cup Series four games to two... this was Tuckanarra first Pro Cup trophy ever... a bad blister kept Peterson off the mound for 9 days... today Peterson (2-0 2.33) worked a solid game, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in his 8 innings with 6 strikeouts and only one walk... closer Archie Desmond (1-1 1.74) registered his 6th postseason save with a scoreless ninth... leading the Blue Jay bats were CF Thomas Parker (.244) and LF Dan Hill (.250), who smacked homers... RF Danny Redd (.278) added 2 hits and scored twice... 2B Ron Freiberg (.298) and CF Teddy Szymanski (.393) homered in defeat for the Vipers... Valmara starter Johnny Vasylenko (0-2 5.28) took the loss, yielding 6 runs in 6 innings... the Blue Jays collected 11 hits to 7 for the V's... Tuckanarra lost to Far Mountain in its only other Pro Cup appearance in 2013, while Valmara last appeared in 2003 and lost to Turon.

Tuckanarra snapped a 4-year losing streak by the Tycobbian Union. Overall the Ruthlandian Union still owns a 14 to 9 lead in Pro Cup competition. Turon of the TU has captured the most Pro Cups. The Typhoons have prevailed 4 times in 6 tries. The Far Mountain Redhawks top the RU with 3 titles, all back-to-back from 2011 to 2013. The Redhawks have never lost in the Pro Cup Finals. Last year's winner, the Crystal Lake Crushers, fell to runner-up Valmara in the first round this year. The Vipers knocked them off four games to one.

[Eugene Church]

Just completed the 5th division out of 8.

Still have 3 more divisions to update as far as logos, jerseys and caps.

That 24 more teams to update... then I will be able to start the 2078 season.

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 9, 2023

Tucks Glynn Starr Selected Pro Cup MVP
Many people would say this year's Pro Cup Most Valuable Player was the Tuckanarra mound corps and they would be right. The Blue Jay twirlers did a masterful job in the postseason with the prime starters and relievers posting a terrific 2.11 ERA in 13 starts and 16 relief appearances. The Islandian Times conducted its poll and came out with 25-year-old Glynn Starr being chosen the IPA Pro Cup MVP. Starr, part of the super triplets that are the vital cogs of the new IPA champions, was 4-0 with a great 1.76 ERA in 5 starts. Starr tossed 41 innings, allowed only 23 hits, fanned 32 and walked 15. Starr beat Bay St. Clair 2-1, White River 3-2 and Valmara twice in the Pro Cup Finals, 7-3 and 4-0. Teams hit only .161 against him. He fired 7 strong innings in a second game against White River in the 5-2 victory, but did not get the decision. The Blue Jays won it with a 3-run ninth. This year's MVP was 25-10 with a 3.00 ERA during the regular season.

The number two vote-getter was Tuckanarra terrific closer Archie Desmond, who worked in 10 games, saved 6 and notched a 1-1 record with an impressive 1.74 ERA in 10 innings. The 33-year-old Desmond struck out 11 and walked 4.

Glynn's brother, Quinn, was third in the poll with an identical 4-0 mark with a 2.37 ERA. He made 5 starts, pitched 38 innings and struck out 18.

Tuckanarra's first baseman Lynn Starr laughingly told the press, "I was the black sheep of the family. I tried pitching, but couldn't get anybody out." However, the third Starr did his part in the title run. Lynn paced the Blue Jays in the playoffs with a .327 BA and 2 homers, while driving in 6 runs and scoring 8.

[Eugene Church]

Just completed the 6th IPA Division team graphics update.

There are 2 more divisions to go and I can begin the 2077 IPA season.

48 of the 64 teams have been revised and updated.

[Eugene Church]

56 Teams in 7 Divisions have some new logos, jerseys and caps, compliments of hurricanekevin, txranger and No Pepper.

Just one more division to go... it should go quickly... don't think any of the 8 teams were updated.

Thanks to all of the great graphics gurus that have made the IPA logos, jerseys and caps over the years... knuckler did a huge number of them... many others have contributed... perhaps 20-25 overall.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

56 Teams in 7 Divisions have some new logos, jerseys and caps, compliments of hurricanekevin, txranger and No Pepper.

Just one more division to go... it should go quickly... don't think any of the 8 teams were updated.

Thanks to all of the great graphics gurus that have made the IPA logos, jerseys and caps over the years... knuckler did a huge number of them... many others have contributed... perhaps 20-25 overall.

Looking forward to it. What team did you put me on, I forgot.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

Looking forward to it. What team did you put me on, I forgot.

You are on the LaGrange Gators in the Ruthlandian North Division... a second-string second baseman... the guy ahead of you is just a fair player... nothing special... you have better ratings as hitter and fielder... don't know why the AI picked him over you... I moved you to second base and put him on the reserve roster... Hope the AI will leave you there.

This should introduce you to yourself and your new team.

You had a great debut weekend in the South Island Secondary League for the Bar Harbor Acadians... see the box scores and recaps... the Cajuns opened the season with a doubleheader sweep.
You should be a little above average as a player in the South Island League.

[jg2977]

Thanks for the update!

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, February 2, 2078

IPA HALL OF FAME WELCOMES HURLERS MEISNER AND JACKSON
The Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame rewarded two hurlers for their standout careers by naming them to the hallowed halls of Island baseball glory... star southpaw Mark Meisner and superb closer Val Jackson became the 129th and 130th baseball immortals to be inducted... the IPA Hall of Fame contains 81 position players and 49 pitchers.

Mark Meisner starred for the Claxton Diamonds for 14 years and finished up with the South Fork Stallions for his final 4 seasons... he played from 2057 until 2074... 5 times he was voted the Golden Arm Award winner... Meisner won it 5 consecutive years from 2065 to 2069... Meisner was the RU Most Valuable Player in 2068... he sparked the Claxton Diamonds to the 2064 IPA Pro Cup crown and in 2073 at age 37 Meisner helped the South Fork Stallions win the much-coveted Pro Cup Trophy, posting a fine 3-1 mark with a 1.93 ERA in 5 starts... he was voted the Pro Cup MVP... overall in his illustrious career Meisner was 204-94 on the mound with a fabulous 2.57 ERA... in 29 postseason starts he was 12-9 with an an excellent 2.46 ERA.

Meisner was known as the money pitcher... when his team needed a vital victory, he was the man for the job.

Another pitcher was inducted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame today, but this time it wasn't a starting pitcher... Instead, Val Jackson proved that relievers were worth such a distinction for a career that spanned 1309 appearances. His dominating presence led to 468 saves and a 3.13 ERA, while he struck out 1408 in his 2088.2 innings... During his career Jackson also chalked up a 145-136 record... he never ever started a game in the IPA.

"A lot of people think that relievers aren't important enough to be considered Hall of Fame material," the bullpen ace said during his speech... "But my teammates knew differently. All the starters loved having me come in after one of their good performances because they knew they'd get a win that day. I'm just glad that there are other people that agree with them."

Val Jackson ended his 18-year career at the age of 40... he played for the Fairfax Frogs most of his career, finishing up in 2073 and 2074 with San Alejo... Jackson holds the IPA mark for most saves in a career with 468... he is tied with Midway's Dom Vilaggio for the league all-time record.

[Eugene Church]

Ah... just finished updating all the 64 teams graphics.

My, oh my... yep, I am prejudiced and biased... but the IPA graphics look darn good... it is a joy to view and play games.

There are too many people to thank for the IPA graphics, but knuckler, Hankyu Braves and txranger did an awful of logos, jerseys and caps for the league.

Special thanks to them and the many others who contributed to the IPA graphics.

And of course, a humongous thanks to Markus Heinsohn, Andreas Raht and the entire OOTP Development Team for the greatest sports game in the whole wide world.

[Eugene Church]

Get Ready For Some Baseball.

The 78th season of Islandian Pro Alliance Baseball is coming to a park near you very soon.

[Dark Horse]

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, March 31, 2078

IPA OPENING DAY THIS SATURDAY... EVERYBODY WANTS TO WIN THE 2078 PRO CUP
Another winter has come and gone in the Islands... everybody is fancying some baseball IPA-style... everybody wants to win the Pro Cup Trophy... and on the second day of April everybody will have a shot at it in theory... in reality, however, only one team will emerge with the cherished Pro Cup at season's end... Saturday is opening day in the IPA for the 2078 season.

The South Fork Stallions are the reigning IPA Pro Cup champion... they won it all last year knocking off the Elnora Clippers in 6 games... it's a colossal chore to repeat as the Islandian champion... it's been over a decade since it last happened... Southport won the Pro Cup back-to-back in '65 and '66... that doesn't occur often... Midway did it in '53 and '54... Valmara in '49 and '50... Tuckanarra in '23 and '24... and arguably the best-team ever in the annals of Island baseball, the Far Mountain Redhawks, captured it three straight seasons in '11, '12 and '13.

Parity has set in... all the divisional races could be hotly contested by a lot of teams... Turon and Tuckanarra look like the only favorites that might have a little breathing room in their divisions... perusing the rosters of the 64 teams, the pundits are predicting it will be the Elnora Clippers of the Ruthlandian Union taking on the Turon Typhoons of the Tycobbian Union for the beloved Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup... just like the ballclubs have a lot of trouble repeating as IPA champs, the sport soothsayers have a lot of trouble picking the winner... it is not an easy task.

So here goes... this is how the 2078 season will hypothetically play out... it will be a 5-team battle in the Ruthlandian North between last year's winner Kilkenny, LaGrange, Far Mountain, Taranto and Valmara... the top choice is the Kilkenny Cats in a very tight race... no one team has dominated the RU North in the last decade... Valmara won 4 straight titles , but that was long ago, 2070 to 2073... Taranto took a pair of pennants in '69 and '74... Ranford was the flag winner in '75, Glasco in '76 and Kilkenny last season.

4 clubs will go at it in the Ruthlandian South... the Valka Blackhawks have taken the crown 5 times in the last 6 years... they will be in the hunt with Crystal Lake, St. John and Waleska... with the Skippers forecast to edge out in the end... it will be a down-to-the-wire donnybrook - a photo finish... don't be surprised if the Blackhawks win the RU South for the 4th consecutive time... they may even be better this year.

It will be a 4-team ruckus in the Ruthlandian East... perennial rivals Elnora and Wynnamac will be strong contenders along with the Eastshore Cotton Kings... Sugar Valley might sneak in amongst them and pose a problem, too... no one team has dominated the RU East in the last decade... give the edge to the Elnora Clippers with the Macs and Eastshore right on their heels.

A trio of clubs will be in the pennant chase in the Ruthlandian West... the Stoner Silver Sox and Volusia Vigilantes each have won 3 division titles in the last decade, but neither figure to make the race this year... the Forest City Firebirds are the favorite, followed by the Sligo Rovers and the Rocky Rapids Snappers... last year's champ Fort Benton is picked for a distant 4th-place finish... it will be a close race in the RU West... it will go into the final week of the season.

The most competitive race in the IPA will probably come in the Tycobbian North... top to bottom the teams are bunched tightly... defending champion Hartsdale has won the division flag 3 times in the last decade... the Hellcats and the White River Rascals are the prime contenders... the Rascals also have won 3 titles in the last decade, but the last one came 5 years ago... the Luxora Zorros and Mahaska Haymakers will also challenge, along with the North Hills Hawks... Mahaska won the division in 2076... after a whale of a race, look for the Hartsdale Hellcats to repeat and snag their 4th TU North title in the last 7 seasons.

The Turon Typhoons have been the class of the Tycobbian South for the last decade with 6 pennants the last 8 seasons... they should make it 7 this year... the Typhoons are favored to win the Pro Cup, too... Southport and Summerland will be the only clubs to put up much of a fight in the weak TU South... but it is doubtful the Sun Sox and the Sunsets will upset powerful Turon... Summerland won the division title in 2074... the last pennant for Southport came over 10 years ago.

The Blue Jays are back in Tuckanarra this season... the Starr triplets, who own the Tucks, have reverted back to the team's original nickname... the Starr triplets led a powerhouse team back in the 20s and 30s when the Blue Jays won 3 Pro Cups and 11 pennants... despite 4 pennants in the last 8 years, Quinn, Glynn and Lynn Starr are hoping the name change will again bring some Pro Cup Trophies to the franchise... the Tiger Cats never won one... the Tuckanarra fans voted overwhelmingly to go back to the original nickname... all of the Starrs are involved with the current team... Quinn is the skipper, Glynn is the pitching coach and Lynn is the bench coach... the Starrs are still going strong at age 79... Lynn's grandson Tucker Starr is the current second basemen.

The Tucks lost a close race to IPA Pro Cup champion South Fork last year by 2 games... the media has picked the Blue Jays to topple the Stallions this year in the Tycobbian East race... Tuckanarra may have the second-easiest race in the IPA next to Turon... only South Fork is expected to challenge the Blue Jays... the Midway Wolves and the Ozarka Naturals will finish a distant 3rd and 4th... Tuckanarra is shooting for the whole shebang this year... they think this will be the Year of the Blue Jays... the Tucks think they can handle the Turon Typhoons and bring home a 4th Pro Cup Trophy.

There should be a torrid race in the Tycobbian West between favored Denton City, Rolling Hills and Bayview... last year's winner Kenwood didn't make the cut according to the preseason poll... the Wildcats are the 4th-best club... the Redbirds are predicted to edge out the Racers and the Vikings for the TU West crown... the division has been pretty even-steven for the last few years... Kenwood was the victor last season... Rolling Hills and La Claire have won twice in recent years and Chicopee once.

2078 Ruthlandian Union Preseason Favorites

[Eugene Church]

2078 Tycobbian Union Preseason Favorites

[Eugene Church]

My view numbers have been out of whack for the last few months... at least I thought they were... one time I had over 2,000 view one day... a normal day is 300... the record was 861.

I thought something was wrong, but maybe they were correct.

Yesterday my views were 1531... I guess this might be accurate.

That's twice the old record.

Thank you for continuing to follow the Islandian Pro Alliance.

I played the new 2078 season to the All-Star break... really enjoyed the beauty of each screen and each logo, jersey and cap... my, oh, my it is sheer bliss to play OOTP24.

I think I have a growning problem... my teams are getting old... young players can't make the active roster... I must find out how to get younger players into the game... so far, the AI is holding on to player too long and not retiring them.

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, July 13, 2078

TU ALL-STARS EDGED RU ALL-STARS IN 9TH ON EZZELL'S HIT
For the second time in the last three years the Tycobbian Union All-Stars upended the Ruthlandian Union All-Stars... the TU Stars won it in the bottom of the 9th on a game-winning base hit by South Fork shortstop Carroll Ezzell... the Tycobbian Union upped its huge lead to 50 wins and just 28 losses in the annual Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game... it was played at Jock Ewing Stadium, home of the 2077 IPA Pro Cup champion South Fork Stallions.

The game started off with a bang... there were 4 home runs in the 3rd inning alone... the Ruthlandian All-Stars took the lead in the top half of the frame on a roundtripper by Tory Swinnerton (LaGrange)... the Tycobbian All-Stars came right back in the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back-to-back blasts by Willie Nelson (Oxford), Zak Smalley (Bayview) and Enrique Clarizio (San Alejo) for a 3-1 advantage... the RU Stars chopped it to 3-2 in the 6th on a sac fly by Cookie Garland (Crystal Lake)... in the top of the 9th Ruthlandia knotted it up at 3-3 on an RBI two-bagger by Jim Prater (Ranford).

An error by first baseman Dude Gurley (Cold Creek) got things going for Tycobbia in the last half of the frame...Jaron Shufford (Rolling Hills) moved him to second base with a single, setting the stage for Carroll Ezzell (South Fork) gamewinner.

Ethan Zahn (Hillsboro) was the winning hurler and the game's Most Valuable Player... he fired the final 6 innings of the game, stopping the RU All-Stars on 2 runs and 5 hits with 5 Ks and no walks... Bryan Bushwell suffered the defeat, surrendering one unearned run in his 2 and two-thirds innings of work.

The TU Stars collected 10 hits in the game with Carroll Ezzell (South Fork) and Willie Nelson (Oxford) getting 2 apiece... the RU Stars logged 8 hits... Swinnerton (LaGrange) was their best with a pair of hits.

The winning skipper was South Fork's Jay Murphy, while the loser was Elnora's Enos Conrad.