ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, September 29, 2082

SMOOTH-SAILING SKIPPERS WELL-BALANCED; PRO CUP FAVORITE OVER HIGH-OCTANE HELLCATS
As a rule, teams don't usually win the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Trophy with great pitching alone or great hitting alone. Pro Cup champions most of the time are more successful with a well-balanced team. Good starting pitching, good hitting with good home-run power and good defense goes a long way. This year's #1 pick is Crystal Lake. The Skippers only shortcoming is its bullpen. The Crystal Lake Skippers have the markings of a Pro Cup winner this year.
The Skippers have some solid bats, propelled by Culver Jensen (.287 BA/19 HR/60 RBI), Gino Lorenzetti (.306 BA/16 HR/76 RBI), Jake Osborne (.352 BA/16 HR/86 RBI), Cookie Garland (.302 BA/26 HR/102 RBI) and Don Grady (.274 BA/18 HR/77 RBI). Osborne paced the Ruthlandian Union and won the batting crown. Crystal Lake stands out on the mound with two strong starters Lloyd Mason (16-7/2.83 ERA) and left-hander Earl Noland (15-6/3.00 ERA), but the closer Angelo Marinello (10-10/4.72 ERA/13 saves/56 games) did not really have a good season. The weak bullpen could hurt them in their Pro Cup quest.

#2 Pro Cup choice Hartsdale can really blister the ball and go deep. The Hellcats' top guns are Calvin Mannon (.326 BA/43 HR/114 RBI), Max Carline (.305 BA/28 HR/106 RBI), Tom Colson (.248 BA/33 HR/97 RBI) and Eli Kulacz (.278 BA/24 HR/72 RBI). The Hellcats hammered 189 out of the ballpark this season, second best to LaGrange's 194. Hartsdale has pretty fair starters sparked by ace Wayne Wolfe (14-4/2.64 ERA). Others in the starting rotation Barry Boyett (15-14/4.17 ERA), Harmon Ford (7-1/3.32 ERA) and Albert Springer (12-13/3.75 ERA) are just fair-to-middling. The relief corps is very good, headed up by left-handed closer Delwyn Bell (12-6/3.05 ERA/19 saves/75 games), who had a strong season. Defense is somewhat suspicious in Hartsdale. That can be a factor in close postseason games when all elements are important.

3rd-ranked Forest City is another good club, but it doesn't have the pitching Crystal Lake does, nor the power that Hartsdale possesses. Still the Firebirds could be a potent playoff force. They depend on Royce Baker (.290 BA/32 HR/99 RBI), Fuzz Smiley (.310 BA/26 HR/87 RBI), Willie Collingham (.311 BA/20 HR/74 RBI) and Jesse Dobson (.282 BA/13 HR/63 RBI) to put runs on the scoreboard. They hit 153 roundtrippers this year. Forest City has a trio of capable starters in Glen Boston (18-8/3.31 ERA), portsider Ricky Bevinetto (13-6/3.71 ERA) and Brandy Satterlee (11-3/3.28 ERA). Reliable Rufus Arnold (8-8/2.40 ERA/14 saves/47 games) is the main reliever in the bullpen. The gloves are very good and play very good defense.

The #4 Ozarka Naturals have the best pitching in the IPA this year, led by the starting threesome of southpaw Mordecai Partridge (19-6/2.39 ERA), Asmund Bjornstad ( 20-6/2.39 ERA) and Ned McIntyre (16-6/2.67 ERA). The bullpen is very good as well with closer Vernon Echols (8-10/3.28 ERA/22 saves/69 games). Scoring is a problem for the Nats. They are weak at the plate. The best Ozarka batsmen are just modest at best. Tim Robbins (.278 BA/19 HR/68 RBI) and Pete Adriani (.301 BA/17 HR/67 RBI) have to do it all. Teams with great pitching, fine defense and little offense don't often haul in the Pro Cup Trophy.

The darkhorse in the Pro Cup race is the Cape Coral Hurricanes, who do most things well across the board. They are rated the 5th-best team and are the kind of club that does well in the postseason. Adam Christy (.308 BA/37 HR/116 RBI) is a big threat, but he could use more help. He gets some support from Sarge Agarn (.294 BA/22 HR/83 RBI) and Sonny Zambello (.255 BA/16 HR/73 RBI). The 'Canes have three quality starters with Chipper Simpson (17-9/2.64 ERA), Coy Kennedy (15-8/3.01 ERA) and Jayson Wesley (11-7/3.39 ERA). They also have a dependable bullpen, headed up by Javier Santos (11-7/3.12 ERA/11 saves/58 games). Cape Coral is an excellent defensive team.

If any team can hit its way to the Pro Cup title, it's the 6th-best team, the LaGrange Gators, who feasted this year with 194 clouts, the best in the IPA. Ruthlandian HR champion Tory Swinnerton (.296 BA/44 HR/114 RBI) topped the longball batters for the 8th time in his 10-year career. 6 other Gators hit 10 or more home runs: Jules Robichaux (.278 BA/29 HR/85 RBI), Robin Moncriffe (.210 BA/21 HR/47 RBI), Michel Colbert (.277 BA/20 HR/58 RBI), Bertrand Amedee (.274 BA/18 HR/55 RBI) and Mike Mangum (.269 BA/11 HR/59 RBI). Now, if LaGrange just had a few good men on the mound, they surely could do some postseason damage. Juro Kinura (18-9/3.82 ERA) is the only decent starter, but the Gators has a strong pen with the likes of Joe Buras (3-3/2.34 ERA/2.60 ERA/15 saves/54 games) and Wayne McClintock (12-8/2.80 ERA/21 saves/69 games). On occasion IPA teams do win the Pro Cup at the plate, but they need their pitching to step up and win it for them. The Rolling Hills Racers have managed to this quite few times in postseason history. The Racers top the IPA with 10 Pro Cups to their credit.

#7 in the Pro Cup Poll, the Kenwood Wildcats don't seem to have the hitting to take the title this year. Their best offensive performers are few in number and numbers. The best of the lot is Kenny Sergeant (.294 BA/29 HR/112 RBI), Johnny Davidson (.314 BA/5 HR/73 RBI) and Ardell Armstrong (.286 BA/10 RBI/59 RBI). Sorry, 'taint enough to take the IPA title. However, the hurlers are another story. They are four pretty fair starters, sparked by Jim Singer (19-5/3.47 ERA), Gordy Francis (16-9/3.34 ERA), Casey Shipp (10-9/3.15 ERA) and Billy Batton (15-14/3.49 ERA). The bullpen is not great overall, but the closer is a good one. Andre LaFrance (13-4/2.52 ERA/18 saves/62 games) had an excellent year.

Coming in at #8 and dead last in the Pro Cup Poll is the Elnora Clippers. They have the pitching to win the Pro Cup Trophy, but the Clippers lack the offense. Elnora was dead last in the entire IPA with only 67 homers. Still the Clippers won the pennant led by the mound work of starters Hamilton Burger (17-14/3.34 ERA), Davis Hickerson (15-11/3.05 ERA) and Hawk Templeton (18-10/3.83 ERA). The Elnora closer Babe Hatch (8-6/2.30 ERA/22 saves/61 games) also stood out. The #5 starter Tsutomu Takahaski (11-7/2.95 ERA) will certainly be called on in the postseason playoffs, too.

2082 IPA Pro Cup Outlook:
Crystal Lake won the Pro Cup in 2074. This team looks to be superior to that club. The press say this is the Skippers best team in recent years. The pitching is better. The Hartsdale Hellcats are a very tough team to reckon with. They could win the whole shebang if they can get some solid pitching. That is probably not going to happen. Look for Crystal Lake to nab the Pro Cup title in a torrid 7-game affair.

[jg2977]

Really nice season recap and playoff preview, EC. Right to the point and not complicated to read. Will be looking forward to seeing what happens in the 2082 playoffs.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

Really nice season recap and playoff preview, EC. Right to the point and not complicated to read. Will be looking forward to seeing what happens in the 2082 playoffs.

Thanks, jg2977. Really appreciate your support and nice comments.

As you can see, I have simplified the coverage. Hope it is enough for you guys. It make it a lot easier for me.

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 3, 2082

PITCHERS PREVAIL IN IPA FIRST ROUND; ELNORA AND HARTSDALE NEAR SWEEP; CRYSTAL LAKE AND KENWOOD UP 2-1
So far the pitchers have the upper hand in Islandian Pro Alliance first-round play. In the Ruthlandian Union playoffs Elnora hurlers have limited potent Forest City to 6 runs in 3 games and won all three games so far. Crystal Lake chunkers have held heavy-hitting LaGrange to just 6 runs in three games and lead the series two games to one. All three games have been decided by just one run. Over in the Tycobbian Union playoffs powerful Hartsdale has swept the first three games from the Cape Coral Hurricanes, allowing only 8 runs. The Kenwood Wildcats has limited offense-challenged Ozarka to just 5 runs in the three games with two wins and a loss. The Naturals' fine pitching is keeping them in the series.

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, October 7, 2082

IPA FINAL 4 TEAMS DECIDED
ELNORA-CRYSTAL LAKE IN RU FINALS
KENWOOD- HARTSDALE IN TU FINALS
After the first round the IPA postseason teams have been shaved down to just four - The Islandian Pro Alliance Final 4 - It will be the Skippers and the Clippers in the Ruthlandian Union title clash. Pro Cup favorite Crystal Lake taking on the upstart and unsung #8 choice, the Elnora Clippers. In the Tycobbian Union title series #2-ranked Hartsdale is pitted against #7-rated Kenwood. #3 Forest City and #4 Ozarka were eliminated in the opening round of action, along with #5 Cape Coral and #6 LaGrange.

In the Ruthlandian Union after LaGrange tied Crystal Lake 2-2 after 4 games, the Skippers took command with solid bats and solid pitching in taking the last two games to take the series four games to two. Pitchers Lloyd Mason and Earl Noland sparked the Shippers on the hill. The Gators offense never did get going. It was Gino Lorenzetti, Ryan Corbin, Culver Jensen, Cookie Garland and Jake Osborne spearheading the Crystal Lake offensive attack.

Elnora's splendid staff dominated the Forest City Firebirds and left them in ashes, sweeping the series in four games. Both the Clipper starters and relievers did their jobs. Hamilton Burger and Davis Hickerson gave them good starts and Tsutomu Takhashi and Babe Hatch gave them superb relief. And the offense, provided by Ronald Bayless, Morton McAdoo, Andre Langdon, Audie Harben and Tuffy Spurgeon, did just enough to put away Forest City. The RU Title Series is just about even. However, Crystal Lake has more home-run power. That is the only difference in the two challengers.

In the Tycobbian Union Hartsdale did what they do best, blister the ball. They walloped 8 four-baggers and defeated the Cape Coral Hurricanes in 5 games. Everybody in the Hellcat batting order contributed at one time or another. Fernando De la Paz, Tom Colson, Eli Kulacz, Calvin Mannon, Wes Gainsborough and Tumbleweek Threadgill came through with key hits and homers. Key in the series was the bullpen, led by Delwyn Bell. They bailed out the starters in most of the games. Except for Barry Boyett, the starters all struggled. Still the Hellcats claimed the series four games to one.

The Kenwood Wildcats got magnificent pitching in eliminating the Ozarka Naturals in 5 games. Starters Casey Shipp, Andre France and Jim Singer starred for the Wildcats. The bullpen was even better. Billy Batton, Stacy Grimmer and Matty Mihalek really did well. And they had to be good. 4 of the 5 games were decided by one run. Ozarka is just an average team offensively. Kenwood will really be severely tested by the Hartsdale Hellcats in the TU Title Series.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2082

RU CHAMPION CL SKIPPERS CLIP ELNORA CLIPPERS IN 6 GAMES
TU TITLE TO KENWOOD AS HARTSDALE FALLS IN 7TH-GAME THRILLER
Crystal Lake and surprising Kenwood will meet for the coveted IPA Pro Cup Trophy.
Pro Cup favorite Crystal Lake won as predicted in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series. The Skippers thumped the Elnora Clippers in 6 games, winning four games to two, while the Kenwood
Wildcats sprung a huge upset and captured the Tycobbian Union title, defeating the favored Hartsdale Hellcats in a dramatic 7-game affair decided in the 12th inning by a dramatic home run.
The 2082 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series begins this Sunday in Crystal Lake at Lakefront Park. The Skippers will welcome the unsung Kenwood Wildcats in a best-of-seven game series.
The Skippers will be seeking their 5th Pro Cup. They last won it in 2074. The Wildcats are going for their second Pro Cup. Kenwood won it previously way, way back in 2014.

Crystal Lake was sparked to the Ruthlandian championship by second baseman Cookie Garland at the plate and by the mound work of ace Lloyd Mason.
Manager Pat Dillon, a 20-year veteran, said, "We just have a good blend of batting, power, pitching and defense. We didn't score a lot of runs against Elnora, but we got 'em when we needed.
Garland had a good series. Mason and Noland gave us 3 good starts and Hurst gave us a key start in game four. That was critical."

Losing skipper Enos Conrad, who is retiring this year after 14 years at the helm. He will turn the club over to pitcher Hamilton Burger. Conrad told the press that "it would have been great to
go out with a Pro Cup trophy. That the way I would have written the script. I've got a good bunch of ballplayers, but the Skippers are just better. They are one solid ballclub. I'm hoping they will
win the Ruthlandian Union another Pro Cup".

Not many people gave the lightly-regarded Kenwood Wildcats much of a chance against powerhouse Hartsdale. Manager Rusty Bradford, speaking to reporters, told them, "Our bats got hot
just at the right time against the right team. I can't believe we outscored them 32 to 21. We got a big win in game four. Billy Batton did a marvelous job on the hill. Then he came back in relief
in the 7th game with 3 shutout innings to close out the game. Thank goodness Cloyce Farmer hit that homer. I only had one more pitcher left."

At the press conference Mark Markis, the Hartsdale head man, commented, "Give the Wildcats some credit. They really got some great pitching in the series. And they can swing the bats pretty
darn good, too. Getting down 3-1 is just too deep a hole to get out of. But we almost did it. I thought we were going to come back and win after winning games five and six and tying it up and
forcing the 7th game. In the 9th inning of the last game Colson got a leadoff double and we couldn't bring him around to win it. All we needed was one measly bloop single and we would be
playing for the Pro Cup. We got the tying run on second in the bottom of the 12th and didn't do it again. If we could have tied it, they were out of pitchers and we still had 3 rested relievers."

Game 1


Game 2


Game 3


Game 4

[Eugene Church]

Game 5


Game 6


Game 7

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, October 17, 2082

#1 CRYSTAL LAKE HOSTS #7 KENWOOD IN IPA PRO CUP FINALS
A close look at the combatants in the best-of-seven Islandian Pro Cup Series reveals the superiorty of the Ruthlandian Union champion, the Crystal Lake Skippers over the Tycobbian Union titleholder, the Kenwood Wildcats. The baseball scribes, crystal ballers and prophets are all in agreement that the Skippers are the team to beat, but they do have one reservation. The Wildcats are on a roll. To reach the Pro Cup Finals they have beaten two pretty good teams, #4 Ozarka and #3 Hartsdale. Crystal Lake had the easier task in getting by #6 LaGrange and #8 Elnora. Should Kenwood keep hitting the ball the way they have so far in the postseason, they will pose a problem for the Skippers.

Both clubs are missing valuable starters in the final round. Kenwood's Gordy Francis (16-9/3.34 ERA) was injured in the Hartsdale series and Crystal Lake's Elton Zahn (14-6/3.34) has missed the entire postseason and is not likely to be back in time to help out in the Pro Cup Series. Francis has been the Wildcats most effective starter in this year's playoffs. He will be sorely missed. In three starts he is 0-0 record-wise with a strong 0.75 ERA in 12 innings.

The Skippers' strength is in its starting rotation. Lloyd Mason (16-7/2.83 ERA) and Earl Noland (15-6/3.00 ERA) gives them a strong 1-2 punch. Mason has stood out with a 3-0 mark in the postseason with a 2.64 ERA in his 4 starts, while Noland is 2-1 in 3 starts with a 2.70 ERA. Andre Hurst (5-1/3.13 ERA) and Maya Mayakovski (2-1/2.21 ERA) will be in the rotation for the Skippers.

The Wildcats will depend on Casey Shipp (10-9/3.15 ERA), Jim Singer (19-5/3.47 ERA) and Billy Batton (15-14/3.49 ERA) as their primary starters with help from Jordi Thornberry (6-11/3.87 ERA). Shipp has been the best in the postseason with a 2-1 record and a sparkling 1.78 ERA in 3 starting assigments. Batton has stood out with a 1-0 mark and a flawless 12 shutout innings in 3 appearances and 2 starts. The other two have been adequate.

Crystal Lake's attack is led by 3-time batting champion Jake Osborne (.352 BA/16 HR/86 RBI), Cookie Garland (.302 BA/26 HR/102 RBI), Gino Lorenzetti (.306 BA/16 HR/76 RBI) and Culver Jensen (.297 BA/19 HR/60 RBI). These four have to provide the bulk of the scoring. The rest of the batting order is fairly anemic.

Kenwood has a solid bat in each slot of the lineup, sparked by Kenny Sergeant (.294 BA/29 HR/112 RBI), Johnny Davidson (.314 BA/5 HR/73 RBI) and Ardell Armstrong (.286 BA/59 RBI) during the regular season. Everybody is hot in the playoffs. That's why the Wildcats are so dangerous. Ozarka and Hartsdale certainly are well-acquainted with the boys from Kenwood. Just ask managers Glen Jenkins and Hugo Sutton who they are picking in the Pro Cup Series.

Crystal Lake skipper Pat Dillon said his club must cool off the Kenwood bats to win the Pro Cup. Wildcat manager Rusty Bradford stated his pitching staff will be the key.

2082 IPA Pro Cup Series Outlook:
The superior Crystal Lake pitching corps will lead them to the Pro Cup championship in 6 games. The Skippers' offense will be able to put enough runs on the scoreboard, too. Crystal Lake is a solid, good-around ball club. It will be Crystal Lake's 5th Pro Cup Trophy. Kenwood possesses only one. The Skippers were IPA champions in 2020, 2022, 2058 and 2074. The Wildcats only Pro Cup crown came in 2014.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 19, 2082

KENWOOD HURLERS SHIPP AND LAFRANCE STYMIE CRYSTAL LAKE BATS IN PRO CUP FINALS OPENER
Yeah buddy, pitching is the most important thing in baseball. Kenwood got outstanding pitching from starter Casey Shipp and his relief Andre LaFrance to top the favored
Crystal Lake Shippers in the opening game of the 2082 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series. The Wildcats shut down and stymied the Skippers by the score of 2-1 and
took the early lead in the best-of-seven series. Johnny Davidson (.345) made Kenwood the winner by easily driving Cloyce Farmer in from third base in the top of the 9th with a deep fly ball
to center field. Farmer led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on Kenny Sergeant's double.

22-year-old Shipp (2-1/1.48 ERA) sparkled with 5 scoreless innings. He held Crystal Lake to just 2 hits. LaFrance (2-1/3.86 ERA) did well, too, holding the Skippers to one run on 3 hits in his
4 innings. He struck out 6 batters and notched the victory. Crystal Lake also got solid pitching from its three hurlers. Starter Andre Hurst (1-0/3.18 ERA) gave up just one run in his 5 frames
and Angelo Marinello (1-1/2.25 ERA) blanked the Wildcats in the 6th and 7th innings. Chip Irby (0-1/1.50 ERA) lost it, yielding one run in 2 innings.

Kenwood collected 10 hits in the game. Cloyce Farmer (.286) and Ragnar Furno (.205) had 2 hits each. Crystal Lake only managed 5 hits.

The Wildcats took the lead in the top of the 2nd on two singles by John Bircher (.275) and Ragnar Furno and a wild pitch by Hurst. The Skippers bats were helpless until the 7th frame.
They tied the score on Ryan Corbin's (.302) triple and Corky Apple's (.556) pinch-hit base hit.

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, October 20, 2082

UH OH! CRYSTAL LAKE IS IN TROUBLE!
UNDERDOG KENWOOD WINS 2ND IN A ROW WITH STRONG PITCHING
Lightly-regarded Kenwood did it again. Strong pitching from Jordi Thornberry stumped favored Crystal Lake 4-3 for the second day in a row at the Skippers home park, Lakefront Park. Thornberry almost went the distance to pick up the win and move the Wildcats ahead two games to none. Now they are in command as the series switches to Kenwood and the Olde Towne Grounds for the next three games.

Thornberry (1-0/1.59 ERA), a 33-year-old 10-year journeyman, really stepped up and gave the Wildcats a critical start. In his stint he tossed 8 and two-thirds innings, held the Skippers to 2 earned runs and 5 hits with 4 Ks and no walks. This was Thornberry's first start in this year's playoff. He made 3 brief relief appearances against Hartsdale in the TU Title Series. After Crystal Lake cut the lead to 4-3 in the last of the 9th on Jake Osborne's (.278) 2-run blast and threatened with runners on first and second with 2 outs, Matty Mihalek put the Skippers away by retiring pinch hitter Buddy Bankhead (.250) on a deep fly ball to seal the victory.

Crystal Lake got on the scoreboard first in the 3rd frame on Ryan Corbin's (.304) two-bagger and a sac fly by Culver Jensen (.214). However, starter Rudi Rudelmeier couldn't hold the lead. Kenwood took a 2-1 lead in the 5th on a sacrifice fly by Ardell Armstrong (.250) and an RBI double by Kenny Sergeant (.304). The Wildcats boosted the margin to 4-2 in the 6th on an RBI grounder by John Bircher (.291) and a base hit by Ardell Armstrong.

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, October 22, 2082

CRYSTAL LAKERS AWAKE; BOMB WILDCATS IN GAME 3
The dormant and quiet bats of the Crystal Lake Skippers suddenly awoke from their slumber to crush the upstart Kenwood Wildcats 9-1 in game three of the Pro Cup Series at the Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood, thus narrowing their lead to two games to one. The Shippers were desparate for a win to avoid being down 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. Maybe this year's Pro Cup favorite is ready to get back into the series.

The Skippers smashed 13 hits, paced by Gino Lorenzetti (.321) with 3 hits and a grand slam homer. Heck Fraiser (.226) added 3 hits and scored 3 times in the game and Cookie Garland (.308) chimed in with 2 hits, 2 ribbies and 2 runs scored. In addition Crystal Lake ace Lloyd Mason (4-0/2.33 ERA) posted his 4th postseason victory in grand style. He worked 8 innings and stopped the Wildcats on one run and 6 hits. Bret Lynch (1-0/3.38 ERA/4 games) finished up for him with a perfect 9th frame.

Mason and Kenwood starter Jim Singer (1-2/5.03 ERA) were locked in a scoreless duel for the first 4 innings. The Skippers then scorched him for 6 runs in the 5th, highlighted by Lorenzetti's 4-run four-bagger.

[Eugene Church]

Friday, October 23, 2082

ALMOST THERE; PRO CUP NEAR FOR KENWOOD WILDCATS
What a win!
When games really matter, the Kenwood Wildcats put on their best show. They skimmed by Crystal Lake 3-2 to cop crucial game three of the Pro Cup Series for an enormous three games to one edge in the best-of-seven series. One more victory for the Wildcats and they will get the dream prize of IPA baseball - the Pro Cup Trophy.

But it wasn't easy. Kenwood had to rally in the 8th and 9th frames to overcome Crystal Lake's 2-1 advantage. John Bircher (.290) deadlocked the duel with a solo swat in the 8th and Johnny Davidson (.324) led them to victory when he singled in Kenny Sergeant (.333) from third base with one away.

A trio of twirlers made it possible. Billy Batton , Andre LaFrance and Matty Mihalek joined forces and held Crystal Lake at bay. Batton (1-0/0.50 ERA) started and went the first 5 frames and gave up both runs, only one of them earned. Batton departed on the losing side of the 2-1 score. LaFrance (2-1/3.98 ERA/10 games) spun 3 scoreless innings and gave way to Mihalek (2-1/0.00 ERA/2 saves/8 games) in the 9th. He sat down the Skippers 1,2,3 and ended up being named the winning pitcher.

Both teams collected 7 hits apiece. Kenny Sergeant led Kenwood with 3 for 4 and 2 runs scored. Pacing Crystal Lake were Jake Osborne and Cookie Garland with 2 hits each.

Crystal Lake jumped out to an early lead in the 1st inning on 3 singles by Jake Osborne (.286) , Cookie Garland (.321) and Gino Lorenzetti (.322). The Skippers added another run in the 2nd frame. An error with 2 outs gave them new life and they took advantage of it. Culver Jensen (.203) singled in the second score, driving in Earl Noland (.111) from second base. The Wildcats cut the margin to 2-1 in the 4th inning, finally breaking through against Noland. Kenny Sergeant (.333) tripled and scored on Arnell Armstrong's (.220) sac fly.

Earl Noland did a fine job for the Shippers. He went into the 6th and held the Wildcats to just one run on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and no walks. His relief Angelo Marinello blew the save and the game. Kenwood socked him for 2 runs and 4 hits in his 2 and two-third innings. Marinello (1-2/2.78 ERA) lost the game, but overall he has been very effective in the playoffs with 2 saves in 11 relief appearances.

The starting pitchers in game five will be Andre Hurst (5-2/2.89 ERA) for manager Pat Dillon of the Crystal Lake Skippers, who are desparate for a win. In the Pro Cup playoffs this year Hurst is 1-0 so far in 3 starts with a 3.18 ERA. The Skippers have to win 3 in a row to claim this year's Pro Cup -- Nope. Not likely to happen -- Rarely does in IPA Pro Cup Finals history. It has occurred only twice. Far Mountain rallied from a 3-1 deficit in 2011 and Kenwood also accomplished it in 2014.

Rusty Bradford, skipper for the Wildcats, has his main man, Casey Shipp (10-9/3.15 ERA), ready to go and wrap up Kenwood's second Pro Cup Trophy. Shipp is 2-1 in the postseason in 4 starts with a splendid 1.48 ERA. He beat the Skippers 2-1 in the opener of the series. Hurst also worked 5 innings in the game, gave up a run, but did not get the loss.

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, October 24, 2082

ONE DOWN, 2 TO GO; CL SKIPPERS STILL ALIVE IN PRO CUP SERIES
The Pro Cup favorite Crystal Lake needed 3 straight wins to capture this year's Pro Cup Trophy. The Skippers still have long way to go -- one down and two more to go. Crystal Lake
pounded the Kenwood Wildcats 8-5 in game five of the Pro Cup Series, but they still have quite a task before them. The Skippers must win both games on their home diamond,
Lakefront Park, this Sunday and Monday to win its 5th IPA crown. All Kenwood needs is a split in those two games to garner its second Pro Cup Trophy.

Everything was set for Kenwood to wrap up the series. The Wildcats were at home and they had their top hurler on the hill. But Crystal Lake didn't take kindly to ending its season.
The Skippers banged out 12 hits and lambasted the Wildcats and Casey Shipp 8-5 to prolong the best-of-seven series. Kenwood is still very much in control with a three games to
two lead.

Just about everybody in the batting order contributed to the much-needed win. Pinch hitter Jeff Setser smacked a 3-run triple in the 6th inning to give Crystal Lake a 6-5 edge and
its bullpen blanked Kenwood the rest of the game. Chip Irby (0-1/1.12 ERA/5 games) worked 2 scoreless frames and Lucius Bivins (0-0/0.00 ERA/1 save/3 games) pitched in with
another 2 runless innings.

Crystal Lake was paced at the plate by Cookie Garland (.333) and Heck Fraiser (.246). They both went 2 for 4 and scored 2 runs apiece. Garland slugged his 3rd postseason homer.
Culver Jensen (.217) and Sookie Murphy (.190) each supplied 2 hits and a run batted in to the Skippers cause.

Things were looking great for Kenwood for the first 4 frames. They had a 5-2 lead, but Shipp (2-2/3.03 ERA) couldn't hold it. The 5-run 6th did him in.

[Eugene Church]

CL SKIPPERS WIN AGAIN; FORCE 7TH-GAME FINALE
Poor Kenwood. Oh, the Pro Cup Series was going oh so well for them. The Wildcats won 3 of the first 4 games for a huge three games to one margin over the Pro Cup favorite
Crystal Lake Skippers. All they needed was just one measly win in the last 3 games of the Pro Cup Series and the Pro Cup Trophy would be theirs. Two games and two Crystal
Lake "must win" victories later Kenwood's almost-certain IPA title is now in grave jeopardy. The Pro Cup Series is all knotted up at three games each with the 7th-and-deciding
game set for Lakefront Park in Crystal Lake Monday afternoon.

Game six was a game for the ages. It went 10 tense innings and was decided by Crystal Lake center fielder Sookie Murphy with a game-winning home run. The Skippers nipped
the Wildcats 5-4 for their second win in a row and set the stage for a climactic finale.

Jordi Thornberry started for Kenwood. He toyed with the Skippers for the first 5 innings, stopping them cold on just one hit, while the Wildcats put 4 runs on the scoreboard. Yeah,
buddy, Kenwood was well on its way to its second Pro Cup crown. Then the bubble burst. The mound magic disappeared. Crystal Lake got back into the game with 3 runs. But wait,
Kenwood is still ahead by a run with just 9 more outs and 3 more innings to go. The Skippers went runless in the 7th and 8th. It's the last of the 9th with only 3 more outs to go. The
Wildcats are still up 4-3. Andre LaFrance retired the first two batters on easy ground balls. Just one more out to go and Kenwood is the IPA champion. Lo and behold, Jake Osborne
comes to Crystal Lake's rescue with a soaring home run to tie the score and send it into extra innings.

In the top half of the 10th frame Kenwood got a double from Kenny Sergeant with two outs. He went to third on a pass ball. The Pro Cup-winning run was just 90 feet away. A career
.334 hitter, Celistino Silva is coming to the plate to pinch hit. Nope, he is not a Pro Cup hero today and for the rest of his life. All it would take was one bloop single and the Wildcats
would be IPA champion. Chip Irby whiffed him swinging on 4 pitches.

Now its the Skippers turn. Losing pitcher Stacy Grimmer (2-1/4.50 ERA/7 games) got the first batter Gino Lorenzetti on a fly ball for out number one. 36-year-old Sookie Murphy, a
modest .247 lifetime batter with good power, steps up to the plate and send a 3-2 pitch soaring out of park and gives his team another day of life. God had smiled on Crystal Lake
today and answered their prayers. Who will He smile on tomorrow in game seven? Yeah, buddy. God really loves us all and He must love baseball, too.

Chip Irby (1-1/0.90 ERA/6 games) was the winning pitcher. He held Kenwood scoreless in the 9th and 10th. He got some help from Angelo Marinello (1-2/2.55 ERA/2 saves/12 games),
who didn't allow any runs in his 2 innings.

Josh Osborne (.292), who has won the Tycobbian Union batting crown in his first 3 years in the league, led the Skippers with 2 hits. Cookie Garland (.323) drove in a pair of scores.

Kenwood outhit Crystal Lake 10 to 8. Kenny Sergeant (.342) and John Bircher (.314) collected 6 of the hits. They had 3 each. Sergeant knocked his 4 homer of the playoffs, while
Bircher got his 2nd one.

Kenwood skipper Rusty Bradford will depend on Jim Singer (19-5/3.47 ERA) in game seven, while Crystal Lake manager Pat Dillon will go with Lloyd Mason (16-7/2.83 ERA) for
all the marbles. Mason has stood out in the postseason with a 4-0 mark and an impressive 2.33 ERA in 5 starts. He beat Singer 9-1 in game three. Singer has been shaky in the playoffs
with a 1-2 record and a lofty 5.03 ERA in his 5 starts.

Crystal Lake has the law of averages going against them in game seven. Only two teams have ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit and won the Pro Cup Trophy. The Skippers will be trying to do
what only the Far Mountain Redhawks and the Kenwood Wildcats have ever done.

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, October 27, 2082

UNSUNG KENWOOD RISES TO THE OCCASION, UPSETS FAVORED CRYSTAL LAKE IN 2082 PRO CUP SERIES
The underdog Kenwood Wildcats copped their second Pro Cup Trophy in franchise history. The only time they ever won the coveted trophy was in 2014 when they had to
come back from a 3-1 deficit to overcome the Belair Beach Sunbirds. This time around they righted the ship just in time. It was looking like they were going to blow the series
and let Crystal Lake be the third team to accomplish that awesome feat. However, the Wildcats put it all together in the 7th game of the Pro Cup Series and whipped the Pro Cup
favorite Crystal Lake Skippers 8-4, propelled by a pair of 2-run roundtrippers by first baseman Gabby Mortenson and a gritty mound performance by Jim Singer, who tossed 8
solid innings to nail down the title. Center fielder Ardell Armstrong also stood out with 2 hits and 3 runs scored. Left fielder Kenny Sergeant also contributed 2 runs batted in

The Wildcats took charge in the first 3 innings, built up a 5-1 lead and never gave the Skippers a chance. Kenwood went to town on Crystal Lake ace Lloyd Mason early
and never looked back. They pinned the first loss on Mason (4-1/3.09 ERA) in the postseason. Entering game seven he was a perfect 4-0.

This was the third playoff appearance by manager Rusty Bradford in his 7 seasons at the helm. As a player Bradford pitched for the Wildcats and helped win 7 pennants in his
career from 2039 to 2055. He is the Wildcats' all-time leader in victories with a 260-215 mark and a solid 3.42 ERA. "We never went far in the playoffs. We never won the Pro Cup
in my 16-year playing career," he told reporters. "There is nothing like winning a Pro Cup. It's really special, a once in a lifetime experience. You don't get many chances at a
Pro Cup. It is something we all will cherish the rest of our lives".

"After being up 3-1 in the series, let me tell you it is awfully hard to get that 4th victory. And yes, going into the 7th game was scary. I don't know if I would have gone home,
if we had lost it".

Crystal Lake skipper Pat Dillon told the press, "Yes, I was confident that we would win the series after we came back from 3-1 and tied it up. I had Lloyd Mason rested and
ready to go. We were hitting the ball and playing well. We had the momentum, we were at home and we were ready."

Dillon added, "You know, Kenwood plays in a pretty good division. Rolling Hills is in that division. Anybody that come out of the TU West is a capable ballclub. The Wildcats
weren't picked to win the Pro Cup this year, but let me tell you one thing, they are a rock-solid, scrappy team with a bunch of winners. They really played well in the Finals.
They do what they have to do to win."

Kenwood was outscored by Crystal Lake 32-27, but they still won the Pro Cup. The Skippers supposedly had better hitting, more home-run power and better pitching. And
much better press, too. However, after all is said and done, the Wildcats have the Pro Cup Trophy.

'Nuff said.