ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

2083 Ruthlandian Union First-Round Series

Volusia Batting and Pitching Stats


Far Mountain Batting and Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, October 14, 2083

V'S AND PANTHERS ADVANCE TO PRO CUP FINALS
Two underdogs made very quick work of two favored teams in the Ruthlandian and Tycobbian Union title series. East Point upset Pro Cup favorite Rolling Hills for the TU title and Volusia surprised #3-ranked Belair Beach for the RU crown. The Panthers and Vigilantes disposed of the highly-rated Racers and Sunbirds in just five games and will now meet for the overall Islandian Pro Alliance championship in the Pro Cup Series beginning this Friday afternoon in East Point at Armed Forces Park. The Panthers (92-62) had the best record in the regular season and will have the homefield advantage over the Vigilantes (89-65) in the best-of-seven series. East Point gained the Pro Cup Finals with excellent pitching, while Volusia used its superior offense.

2083 Tycobbian Union Title Series


East Point Batting and Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

Rolling Hills Batting and Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

2083 Ruthlandian Union Title Series

Volusia Batting and Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

Belair Beach Batting and Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

2083 IPA Pro Cup Series
Line Scores

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2083

EAST POINT FINALLY WINS 1ST PRO CUP AFTER 82 YEARS IN IPA
It was really a long, long, long time coming but the East Point Panthers finally attained perfection in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Panthers captured their very first Pro Cup Trophy in its 82nd season in the IPA. Superb pitching and just enough offense carried them past the Volusia Vigilantes in six games. Kent Burleigh and Jorgy Neal joined forces to blank the V's 2-0 in game six played before the home crowd at Armed Forces Park in East Point. Shortstop John Bircher delivered the vital 2-run base hit in the last of the 4th frame that provided the winning margin. Burleigh fired 5 scoreless innings and fanned 4 batters. Neal went 4 scoreless frames and whiffed 3 batters. Volusia only managed 7 hits in the game. The Vigilantes only threated twice in the game, leaving two runners on each time.

Johnny Moore, in his 18th year at the helm of the Panthers, couldn't contain his joy at the press conference, shouting out the phrase, "We did it! We did it!" over and over. Overjoyed and out of breath he finally calmed down a little bit, saying it was his wonderful pitching staff that finally brought home the cherished Pro Cup to East Point. "They only allowed some of the best-hitting teams in the IPA a 2.30 ERA in 17 postseason games. Check out the sensational ERAs of my starters". Stats show that Burleigh had a 2.84 ERA in 5 starts, Abercrombie 1.65 ERA in 4 starts, Satterlee 1.50 ERA in 4 starts and Berghoff 2.37 ERA in 4 starts. The bullpen really did a superlative job, too. Neal had a 2.45 ERA in 10 games and 22 innings and Wible posted a 2.30 ERA in 9 games and 16 innings".

Volusia skipper Brock Josephson said his club "handled the pitchers well in the first two rounds, but East Point was at another level in the Pro Cup Finals."

Moore also gave credit to his batters. "Kerek, Prudhomme, Bircher and Ruskin gave us a lot of timely and crucial hits in the Pro Cup Finals and all during the playoffs. So did Marchand and McPherson."

[Eugene Church]

Volusia Pro Cup Series Batting and Pitching Stats

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 24, 2083

BIRCHER HONORED AS PRO CUP MVP IN CLOSE VOTE
Support for the 2083 IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award was spread out among 5 vital performers who sparked the East Point Panthers to their very first Pro Cup Trophy in the team's very long and disheartening 82-year history. In a very tight poll Golden Glove shortstop John Bircher just barely beat out his teammates first baseman Julian Marchand and three hurlers Kent Burleigh, Jorgy Neal and Howie Wible.

The 36-year-old Bircher stood out in the postseason playoffs with a .344 BA in 17 games with 21 hits, 6 doubles, 1 roundtripper, 12 RBIs and 8 runs scored. Ironically, Bircher starred in last year's Pro Cup Series, leading the Kenwood Wildcats to the IPA crown. He was traded in the offseason to the Panthers. Bircher came in 4th in the Pro Cup MVP poll last year. 4 times he has been acclaimed a Golden Glove winner.

Julian Marchand finished second in the MVP voting this season. He batted .286 with 18 hits in 17 games with 3 doubles, 3 homers, 9 RBIs and 12 runs scored. Marchand is also a 2-time winner fo the Golden Glove Award. He is 31 years of age.

Three pitchers were in the running, too. Many think it was the East Point mound corps that brought home the trophy. Starter Kent Burleigh went 5-0 in his 5 starts with a 2.84 ERA. He came in third in the MVP voting, followed by his bullpen, which saved his victories. Burleigh was the 2080 Tycobbian Union Golden Arm. Fourth place went to Jorgy Neal, who relieved in 10 games, posting a 2.45 ERA with 2 saves and 3 holds. Fifth in the MVP balloting was Howie Wible. He appeared in 9 games with a 2.30 ERA, 3 saves and 1 hold.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 31, 2083

IT'S AWARDS TIME IN THE ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE
Baseball is certainly a team sport that is made of a wide array of talents, some of them outstanding and deserving of individual praise and acclaim. Today the Islandian Pro Alliance honored the best batters, the best pitchers, the best rookies, best fielders and best managers for the 2083 season.

BP MUSKETEER WIELDS BEST BAT IN RUTHLANDIAN UNION
Callum Hayford took Islandian Pro Alliance by storm this year, and he did it all at the age of 25.

For his spectacular campaign, the Belle Plaine Musketeers star has been named the 2083 Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award recipient.

"To be considered amongst the best in the league is overwhelming," said the center fielder. Hayford is a first-time winner of the prestigious award. Sadly, Belle Plaine (64-90) still came in a dismal 7th in the RU East.

On the season he compiled a .334 batting average to go with a .409 on-base percentage. He also added 37 doubles, 17 triples, 35 home runs, 114 RBIs and 115 runs scored. Hayford finished fourth with a .334 BA. Julius Goodson of Wynnamac won it with a .358 mark.

Shortstop Dirk MacIntyre (.306 BA/33 HR/118 RBI/117 R/10 SB) of the Belair Beach Sunbirds finished second in voting, while third baseman Chris Savallas (.308 BA/32 HR/97 RBI/123 R/14 SB) of the Ancona Jumbos finished third.

ELNORA ACE TEMPLETON WINS RU GOLDEN ARM AT AGE 35
In the twilight of his career, Hawk Templeton has no intention of going anywhere anytime soon. The 35-year-old Clippers starter hoisted up the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award earlier today, silencing critics who thought it was time for the "old man" to retire.

To claim the honor for the first time in his 14-year career Templeton crafted an ERA of 2.27 as he won 20 games, dropped 6, fanned 166 and gave up 80 walks in 254 innings of work. It was a good year for the Clippers (81-73), who came in tied for fourth place in the RU South, just 6 games behind winning Wynnamac (87-67).

His main challengers were also up in age. Jim Brockington and Whiz Williamson are 35, too.

Jim Brockington (20-7/2.83 ERA) of the Belair Beach Sunbirds finished second in voting, while reliever Whiz Willamson (13-8/2.56 ERA/22 saves/65 games) of the Far Mountain Redhawks finished third.

ROOSTER RULES ROOST IN RUTHLANDIAN ROOKIES
This year's outstanding newcomer has been selected and the honor goes to the Middlefield rookie Keith Tobin -- the recipient of the 2083 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year Award.

The talented Roosters first baseman took the trophy by hitting .351 in 112 games this season and finished with 135 hits, 32 home runs, 90 RBIs and 72 runs scored. Tobin is 23. His standout performance paced Middlefield (87-67) to the runner-up position in the RU West, winding up just 2 games back of division winner Volusia (89-65).

18-year-old right fielder Radley Correll (.301 BA/28 HR/84 RBI/83 R/2 SB) of the Sugar Valley Rattlers finished second in voting, while 20-year-old starter Delmer Keel (16-9/3.04 ERA) of the Belair Beach Sunbirds finished third.

SUPER DUPER YEAR FOR SOUTH FORK'S MANNINGTON, WIN TYCOBBIAN GOLDEN BAT
Davy Mannington of the South Fork Stallions proved that you can step out of the shadows and onto the stage if you've got the talent and the drive to hone your skills. Hard work, long hours and a tireless resolve paid off for him today in the form of the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award. Only in his second season in the IPA, Mannington tore up the league at the tender age of 21 with a league-leading .340 BA.

Mannington hit for a .340 average and copped the TU batting crown, while collecting 198 hits, 24 doubles, 4 triples, 44 home runs, 116 RBIs and scoring 116 times. The talented first sacker helped his Stallions (80-74) to a fourth-place spot in the TU East standings, 12 games behind pennant-winning and Pro Cup champion East Point.

Robert Hazle (.292 BA/44 HR/128 RBI/120 R/23 SB) of the Turon Typhoons finished second in voting, while Kazz Yamazaki (.319 BA/38 HR/117 RBI/96 R/3 SB) of the Ginza Ninjas finished third.

MIDWAY'S TATE TAKES TYCOBBIAN GOLDEN HURLER AWARD
29-year-old right-hander Frankie Tate of the Midway Wolves had a fine 18-9 season in 2083 and today claimed the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award. In his 10-year career he is 137-122 overall with a fine 3.16 ERA. This was his first Golden Arm trophy.

He started 31 times, threw 252 innings while collecting 184 strikeouts and fashioned a 2.39 ERA. Tate allowed only 217 hits, 62 walks and a .235 opponents' batting average. However, his Wolves wound up in 5th place with a 78-76 record, 14 games back of first place East Point (92-62), this season's Pro Cup champion.

Skeets Kazlauskas (14-6/2.38 ERA) of the Rolling Hills Racers finished second in voting, while Chuck Chelkowski (15-10/2.71 ERA) of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers finished third.

VIKS' KALLSTROM NABS TYCOBBIAN NEWCOMER AWARD
The regular season is now history and it's awards' time in the Tycobbian Union. This year's winner of the Rookie of the Year Award is 19-year-old Kim Kallstrom of the Bayview Vikings.

The talented right fielder batted .329, played in 153 games and delivered 197 hits in 599 at-bats. His totals also included 46 home runs, 124 RBIs, 98 runs scored, 48 walks and a .377 OBP. Kallstrom's heroics almost won the Tycobbian West flag. The Vikings (88-66) came up one game short of winning the pennant. They came in a very close second to division flagwinner Rolling Hills (89-65).

Kallstrom biggest challengers were two starting pitchers. Hard-throwing hurler Big Boy Pete Bradburn (17-10/3.95 ERA) of the North Hills Hawks finished second in voting, while Martin Ellingsen (16-9/3.43 ERA) of the Bayview Vikings finished third.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Heading up the Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team were two 5-time winners, East Point shortstop John Bircher and
Denton City center fielder Donald Wilhelm. The top glove man on the Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team was right
fielder Tommy Clements of the Ranford Bulls. He was named for the 3rd time in his career.

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team


Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team

[Eugene Church]

Monday, November 1, 2083

IPA HONORS SUPER SKIPPERS OF THE SEASON
There are a lot of deserving managers in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The best of the best in 2083 were announced today at IPA Headquarters in Marston. The Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year went to East Point's Johnny Moore and the Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year was awarded to Volusia's Lonny Rinehart. Moore has won it twice. The first time was just two years ago in 2080.

EAST POINT'S MOORE NUDGES OUT COLCHESTER'S DURAND AND BAYVIEW'S CODSWORTH IN TU TOP MANAGER POLL
Johnny Moore took over in 2076 and suffered through four bad seasons before things began to click for East Point. Since then Moore has sparked the Panthers to three pennants in four years and even led them to their first-ever Pro Cup this season. This year's top skipper went from 3rd place and 89-65 last year to first place and 92-62 this year. East Point supplanted defending TU East champion Ozarka by 4 games. Moore was a pretty good pitcher for a bad team from 2030 to 2045 for the Panthers, chalking up a mediocre 156-177 mark with a quality 3.49 ERA. Moore just barely beat two of his former pitching peers in a very close vote.

Coming in second place in the TU best manager poll was Denzel Durand of the vastly improved Colchester Elites, who leaped from 7th place and 71-83 last year to 97-57 and the top spot in the Tycobbian South. Colchester ran away with the pennant, winning by 13 games over runner-up and defending champion Cape Coral (84-70). As a pitcher for the Elites from 2048 to 2058 Durand had marginal success with a 168-169 mark and a 3.71 ERA in his 11 seasons. Colchester was a real bad ballclub during his tenure with only one winning season. It has been up-and-down seasons for Durand. He took charge of the team in 2075. This was only his third winning season.

Third in the TU Manager of the Year Poll was Bayview's Vance Codsworth. He took over the club in 2068 and has been in contention often, but the Vikings have never won the pennant under Codsworth. But they did have a fine season. Bayview improved from 5th place last year with a 79-75 mark, 11 GB, to 2nd place, finishing just one game behind the powerhouse Rolling Hills Racers (89-65) with an 88-66 mark. Codsworth was a workhorse for 17 seasons in Bayview, carding 209 victories with 224 defeats and a 4.26 ERA.

V'S RINEHARD SKIMS BY FM'S VAN AND SUNBIRDS' JOSEPHSON FOR RU BEST MANAGER
It was another very tight vote in the Ruthlandian Union where Lonny Rinehart of Volusia bested Benny Van of Far Mountain and Brock Josephson of Belair Beach for the 2083 RU Manager of the Year Award.

It was a marvelous turnaround season in Volusia, where Lonny Rinehart sparked his Vigilantes from 7th place and 69-85 (25 GB) to first place and the Ruthlandian West flag with an 89-65 record. He won the flag by 2 games over Middlefield, 4 games better than third place Colfax and 6 over preseason favorite Sligo. This was Rinehart's first trip to the podium for the top skipper award. He has enjlyed much success as a star pitcher for Volusia from 2055 to 2071, registering a standout 262-171 mark with a 3.15 ERA. Rinehart made the IPA Hall of Fame in 2076. This was his best season by far as a manager.

Benny Van has skippered Far Mountain since 2076 with little success, only 2 winning years, 2076 and this year. He was a fine pitcher for the Far Mountain Redhawks from 2052 to 2062, going 161-115 with a 3.16 ERA. This season Van moved his club up from 7th place and 70-84 (16 GB) to the top spot in the Ruthlandian North with an 89-65 record. He nudged out the Taranto Tars by 2 games. Van said, "Winning the pennant saved my job".

Last year's Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year almost won it again. Brock Josephson did even better this year. His Belair Beach Sunbirds soared from 6 games behind in second place and 90-64 to the top spot and 95-59 and just barely beat out Valka (93-61) by 2 games and last year's winner Crystal Lake (88-66) by 7 games. Josephson wound up a very close third in the voting this year.

[Eugene Church]

That wraps us the 2083 IPA season.

I converted my league to OOTP25 for the 2084 season. Hope the animation is smoother and improved.

Give me a little bit of time off, then I will work on the new season.

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, January 5, 2084

MULBERT, DILLAWAY AND CIVIK ENSHRINED IN IPA HALL OF FAME
The ballots are counted and the results are in. This year we will witness three players added to the Hall of Fame. Rolling Hills shortstop Jameson Mulbert, Ancona center fielder Marcellus Dillaway, and Valka catcher Freddie Civik received the ultimate honor this year in being voted as the newest members of the Hall of Fame.

The full voting results are included here. Players require 75% of ballots cast to be elected to the Hall, may stay on the ballot for up to 10 years if they receive at least 5% of the votes. Players must be retired for 3 years before they are eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame.

SS Jameson Mulbert 78.3 (8th year) Inducted HOF
CF Marcellus Dillaway 75.7 (3rd year) Inducted HOF
C Freddie Civik 75.4 (8th year) Inducted HOF
CL Luis Villavaso 57.1 (8th year)
CF Maxie Mullinax 53.3 (8th year)
C Ozzy Crenshaw 47.8 (8th year)
SS Yazzy Ricks 47.5 (3rd year)
SP William Pike 45.2 (1st year)
SS Junior Evans 43.2 (2nd year)
SP Russell Krohn 21.7 (2nd year)
2B Luke Hazlett 17.4 (8th year)
RP Brownie Ashmore 17.1 (5th year)
3B Cooter Eldridge 11.3 (7th year)
SP Galen Busby 10.4 (2nd year)
RP Dorsey Burnette 9.9 (1st year)
RF Alfie Elbourne 9.9 (8th year)
SS Walt Ivy 9.0 (8th year)
C Kuro Ishihara 8.7 (8th year)
1B Jackie Hansford 8.4 (2nd year)
SP Rollie Taft 8.4 (3rd year)
RP Lloyd Fairhead 7.8 (1st year)
SP Sassy Worsley 7.8 (3rd year)
SP Dontrelle Gilbreath 7.5 (8th year)
1B Bralen Josephson 7.5 (7th year)
SP Benny Merckx 6.1 (1st year)
CF Jalen Jackman 5.2 (1st year)
SP Paulo Passos 3.5 (7th year) Dropped
SP Mitch Sweitzer 2.9 (1st year) Dropped
2B Mick Remington 2.6 (3rd year) Dropped
2B Jacoby Elliott 2.0 (3rd year) Dropped
SP Jim Barber 1.7 (1st year) Dropped
CF Ruben Van Laar 1.4 (3rd year) Dropped
SP Tory Tydings 0.9 (1st year) Dropped
C Pieter Eikenboom 0.3 (1st year) Dropped
2B Tony Bellina 0.0 (1st year) Dropped

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, April 6, 2084

84TH IPA SEASON IS HERE!
ROLLING HILLS AND BELAIR BEACH FATED TO MEET FOR IPA PRO CUP CROWN
The dreg and drab days of winter are gone, a glow of green is returning to the lush baseball fields all across Islandia. The Islands are coming alive again. They live and breath baseball in the Islands. Action begins tomorrow afternoon in the Islandian Pro Alliance. 64 teams striving for just one trophy - the treasured IPA Pro Cup Trophy. Only one team will end up with it. This is the 84th edition of IPA baseball. The defending titleholder is the East Point Panthers, who snared it for the first time last year, toppling the Volusia Vigilantes in six games. The renowned Islandian diamond forecasters have gone on record that this is the year of the Rolling Hills Racers. They are the choice to triumph in the Tycobbian Union and then defeat the Belair Beach Sunbirds of the Ruthlandian Union for the overall title in the Pro Cup Series.

Only three clubs are favored to repeat as division champions this season. Belair Beach in the Ruthlandian South, Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian East and Rolling Hills in the Tycobbian West. Last year's Pro Cup winner East Point is given little chance to repeat again this year. The aging Panthers are forecast to end up 7th this season.

RUTHLANDIAN UNION ROUNDUP

LAGRANGE BACK ON TOP AGAIN IN RU NORTH
Here's what the baseball analysts, soothsayers and prognosticators are saying will happen this year in the Islandian Pro Alliance. Longball-hitting LaGrange is the pick in the Ruthlandian North for the third time in four seasons. The Gators have the best arsenal of bats in the division and will win the flag. No one in the RU North has much pitching, but the Gators are supreme in scoring runs and they should possess a comfortable margin at season's end. Kilkenny and Taranto will offer some competition. Last year's division champion Far Mountain will finish far back in the pack.

BB SUNBIRDS SUPERIOR IN THE RU SOUTH, Y 'ALL
Nobody can put runs on the scoreboard like the Belair Beach Sunbirds. They are the superior team in the Ruthlandian South at the plate and on the mound and will be mighty tough to beat. According to the baseball savants and sages the Sunbirds will take the division crown by storm, beating all comers by double digits and winning back-to-back titles. Belair Beach will leave Valka, Crystal Lake and Grand City far back in their wake. The Skippers have taken four of the last five flags.

NO CLEAR FAVORITE IN RU EAST: MACS ARE SLIGHT CHOICE IN 6-TEAM TUSSLE
It going to be a wide-open shootout in the Ruthlandian East race with no clear favorite. Any one of 7 teams could be a winner. The most likely pennant winner will be the defending champion Wynnamac Sundowners. For the 5th time in 9 years the Macs look like the division champion. The Sundowners and Elnora Clippers have the best pitching, but not the best scoring. That goes to the Eastshore Cotton Kings, who suffer from a lack of pitching. Sugar Valley, Cold Creek and Marston could be contenders.

TWO-TEAM TANGO IN RU WEST BETWEEN BLACK SOX AND V'S
Only two teams impressed the baseball pundits in the Ruthlandian West this year. It will come down to last year's winner Volusia and the Colfax Black Sox. The pickers are leaning to the Black Sox with their better hitting and better pitching. Colfax will get the best of Volusia in the RU West by a scant margin. There will be no one else in the chase.

TYCOBBIAN UNION OUTLOOK

FROGS TO LEAP PAST HELLCATS FOR TU NORTH TITLE
The baseball prophets must have gotten hold of some bad tea leaves this year. They have predicted that the hapless Fairfax Frogs with no pennants since 2033 and only 3 winning years in the last 23 seasons will defeat the Hartsdale Hellcats, who have won the previous two division titles and 6 of the last 12. Maybe the crystal balls are not what they used to be. Supposedly, the Tycobbian North will be a two-team affair with Fairfax edging out Hartsdale in a very close pennant race. Time will tell, seeing is believing and wonders never cease. Sorry, the smart money should be on the hellacious Hellcats and not on the forsaken and forlorn Frogs.

AFTER 4-YEAR DROUGHT TYPHOONS TOUTED AS TOP TEAM IN TU SOUTH
From 2070 to 2079 Turon dominated the Tycobbian South Division with 8 titles in 10 years. A drought has set in since then with Cape Coral (twice), Colchester and Arroyo Grande sharing the pennants. Really and truly the Typhoons have not really been away, they could have easily won 2 division crowns. Like most years this will be a 5-horse race with Turon edging out Arroyo Grande, Cape Coral, Ginza and Summerland. The Typhoon twirlers just might make the difference. The Colchester Elites blitzed everybody last season, posting 97 victories and winning in a runaway by 13 games over Cape Coral. Not sure why, but the baseball experts have soured on Colchester and place them dead last this year.

NATS AND STALLIONS IN PHOTO FINISH IN TU EAST
Ozarka and South Fork will be the class of the Tycobbian East this season. The race will come down to a very tight two-team to-do with the Naturals skimming by down-the-stretch. Last year's Pro Cup winners and division champ for 3 of the past 4 years will not be a factor at all, forecast to finish in 7th place.

ROLLING HILLS READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO REPEAT IN TU WEST
The Rolling Hills Racers will continue to roll in the Tycobbian West. They have garnered 6 of the last 9 flags and won 3 Pro Cups and should repeat again this season. Rolling Hills just barely beat out and nipped Bayview and Bay St. Clair last season in a tense 3-team rumble. The outlook this year is for the Racers to prevailed by a pretty fair margin over Denton City, Bay St. Clair and Bayview. Rolling Hills will keep rolling along their merry way and will win back-to-back division flags.

2084 Ruthlandian Union Division Preseason Picks