ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 11, 2088

SUMMERLAND AND OZARKA ARE THE DARLINGS OF THE PLAYOFFS
Two overlooked teams are making big waves in the Islands baseball playoffs. In the Tycobbian Union #8 Summerland and #6 Ozarka have shocked the higher-ranked #1 La Claire and #3 Hartsdale by sweeping the first two games of their first-round clashes. Over in the Ruthlandian Union as expected the Forest City Firebirds are red-hot with two consecutive victories over the Belair Beach Sunbirds. In the other RU First Round Series, La Grange and Belle Plaine have split their first two contests. Each series will now switch towns for the next part of the IPA postseason series.

Ruthlandian Union First-Round Series
FC FIREBIRDS ON FIRE, SOCK IT TO SUNBIRDS AGAIN IN GAME 2
One of the top teams in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs the Forest City Firebirds socked it to the Belair Beach Sunbirds again for the second afternoon in a row at home. The Firebirds thumped the Sunbirds 5-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the Ruthlandian Union best-of-seven first-round series. Youthful Matty O'Mara (20-7/3.21 ERA), a 20-year-old rookie, stumped Belair Beach 5-1, holding them to just 4 hits, while striking out 7 and walking 4 in 8 innings of work. Curt Leininger worked a scoreless 9th to wrap up the game. Another rookie Jim Mitchum (14-12/3.24 ERA), just 20, was nailed with the loss after allowing 5 runs in 7 frames. Pacing the Forest City attack was Fuzz Smiley and Clete Ward with roundtrippers. It was Smiley's second day in a row to go deep. The Firebirds got 9 hits, all of the them given up by starter Mitchum.

GATORS ONLY GET 2 HITS, BUT KNOT THE SERIES WITH MUSKETEERS
Belle Plaine starter Allie Tuthill had a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead heading into the last of the 7th frame, when the LaGrange bats suddenly flared up with two away. After a base on balls Guy Masson got the first hit and doubled in the tying score. Tommy Cantrell followed with a game-winning single to send the poor Tuthill down to defeat after a superlative start. That knotted the series at one game apiece. The Gators got a strong performance from its own starter Orin Wessex (16-11/3.31 ERA), who fired a complete game, permitted only one run on 5 hits with one walk and 6 Ks. Tuthill walked 5 batters and fanned 7 in 7 and two-thirds innings. Belle Plaine only score came of a home run by Olav Frandsen in the 3rd inning. Games three, four and five are slated for Musketeer Field in Belle Plaine, beginning Wednesday afternoon.

Tycobbian Union First-Round Series
SUNSETS STUN LA CLAIRE ON DIEPPE GRAND SLAM, SWEEP BOTH GAMES ON THE ROAD
Defending IPA Pro Cup champion La Claire was ready in game two with Sookie Garsett, last year's Pro Cup MVP with a 6-0 mark and a fantastic 0.81 ERA on the mound. As expected Garsett (18-4/2.55 ERA) did his job, turning the game over to ace closer Von Eldredge (4-3/2.96 ERA/17 saves/55 games) with a 5-2 lead in the 7th. That was the formula last year in the playoffs. It didn't pay off this time around -- Devereaux Dieppe spoiled it with a grand slammer that gave the Sunsets a 6-5 lead. Summerland added an additional run in the 9th and toppled the stunned Lynx 7-5 for a totally unexpected 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. In a workhorse outing winning pitcher Joren Vanderzee (18-11/2.75 ERA) lasted the whole game, allowing 3 earned runs and 7 hits with 3 bases on balls and 8 strikeouts. Summerland collected 12 hits with three players getting 2 hits each: Norris Chance, Gerrit Maas and Kent Monford. Montford doubled in 2 runs. Dicky Norman was La Claire top bat with 2 hits and 3 RBIs. The series will switch to Sunset Stadium in Summerland for at least games three and four with the possibility of game five, too.

NATS CHAUCER DOMINATES HELLCATS WITH 13 KS FOR 2-0 SERIES EDGE
Ozarka rookie southpaw Miles Chaucer (19-9/2.58 ERA) continued his winning ways by dominating the favored Hartsdale Hellcats in the second game of the Tycobbian First-Round Series. For the second straight game the Naturals stiffed the Hellcats 6-1, banging out 12 hits overall. Chaucer was magnificent with 13 strikeouts and only one base on balls. Going the route the 21-year-old twirler limited Hartsdale to one run and 6 hits. Leading the way at the plate were Ernie Packenham and Deke Gallagher with 3 hits apiece and Rikki Inkamara and Vladya Grigorovich with 2 hits each. Grigorovich sparked them with 3 runs batted in. Hartsdale starter Emile Beranger (16-9/2.73 ERA) pitched well, but tasted defeat. He gave up 3 scores, but only one was earned in 6 and two-thirds innings. The best-of-seven series will resume at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka after a day off for travel. If needed, games three, four and five will be played there.

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, October 13, 2088

TOP-RANKED POWERS LA CLAIRE AND HARTSDALE ON THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION
It's going to take a couple of miracles for Pro Cup favorite La Claire and highly-regarded Hartsdale to get past the first round in the IPA playoffs. And just in case you don't know it, miracles very rarely happen in postseason baseball in the Islands. These two Tycobbian Union powerhouses are down 3-0 in best-of-seven series. Only 5 times in 87 years has a team managed to do this. The last 3-0 miracle comeback was in 2080 when White River rallied against East Point. Two overlooked ballclubs Summerland and Ozarka have so far accomplished the highly improbable. The Sunsets have dealt the current Pro Cup champion La Claire Lynx three straight defeats and the Ozarka Naturals have done the same thing to the Hartsdale Hellcats.

Competition has been better in the Ruthlandian Union where Forest City and Belle Plaine are up 2-1 in their series against Belair Beach and La Grange.

Tycobbian Union First Round Series
SUMMERLAND SHOCKS LA CLAIRE 3RD TIME IN A ROW AND NEARS SWEEP
Defending Pro Cup champ La Claire went into the 8th frame with a 3-2 edge, but they couldn't stop the determined Summerland Sunsets, who rallied for a 4-3 triumph and captured their third victory in a row in the best-of-seven series. Bok de Korver tied the score up with a double and Dutch Verlander drilled the go-ahead single to bring home the win. Losing pitcher Roger Arenado (16-10/2.82 ERA) started and did very well until the ill-fated 8th. Overall he gave up 4 runs in his 7 innings with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts. Three Summerland hurlers combined for the win. Cees De Groot (14-12/2.59 ERA) tossed 7 solid frames, yielding 3 runs on 6 hits with one walk and 4 Ks. His bullpen came in and finished the job. Jaime Osorio (4-2/3.03 ERA/3 saves/44 games) got the win with a runless 8th and Rik Boone (2-8/3.13 ERA/20 saves/62 games) notched the save with a scoreless 9th. The Sunsets got 8 hits in the game, while the Lynx only mustered 7. La Claire's best bat was Sonny Zambello with 2 for 3 and 3 runs scored. Game four will also be in Summerland.

NATS ROOKIE PASSMAN SHUTS DOWN HELLCATS FOR 3-0 SERIES LEAD
Ozarka's 19-year-old pitcher Ron Passman (14-13/2.76 ERA) had a strong outing and defeated the Hartsdale Hellcats 4-2 to give the Naturals a 3-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Nats are just one win away from eliminating the favored Hellcats. Passman held Hartsdale to 6 hits, fanned 7 batters and walked only one in a route-going performance. He outhurled Willie Ditchburn (18-5/2.38 ERA), who worked a fair game, allowing 3 runs and 9 hits in 6 innings. Ozarka cracked 12 hits in the game, led by Ernie Packenham with 3 hits. Banger Barnhill and Tommy Kingston each contributed a pair of hits. Gerrit Troost and Jorah Hladki belted solo roundtrippers to pace the Hellcats. The Naturals will try to wrap up the series in game four, also at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka.

Ruthlandian Union First Round Series
36-YEAR-OLD VET POIROT STAVES OFF FIREBIRDS IN GAME 3, GETS SUNBIRDS BACK IN THE SERIES
It took a 14-year grizzled veteran portsider Felix Poirot (8-6/3.60 ERA) to cool off the sizzling Forest Hill Firebirds. He gutted out a complete game and got his Belair Beach Sunbirds back in the postseason picture with a 5-4 victory in the third game of the series on his homefield Bayside Park. Poirot bent, but didn't break, permitting 4 runs on 9 hits, while walking 4 batters and whiffing 3. The Sunbirds broke up a 2-2 duel with Thomas Tate (18-8/3.18 ERA) in the last of the 7th when Lucky Hayden doubled in 2 runs and Jermaine La Rocque bashed an RBI base hit to put them ahead to stay. Poirot survived 3 solo homers, 2 by Clete Ward and one by Willie Collingham. It was Ward's 3rd clout of the series. Dutch Van Donk smacked 2 hits, a triple and a homer and drove in 3 runs to pace the Sunbirds. Mees Achthoven also rapped a pair of hits. In spite of the loss, Forest City outhit Belair Beach 9 to 7. Tate sustained the loss, working 6 and one-third innings, giving up 5 runs and 7 hits with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. Game four and five will be played in Belair Beach.

BELLE PLAINE'S GIROUD WINS GEM FROM LAGRANGE'S HAYWORTH, BUT MUSKIES STILL TRAIL 2-1 IN SERIES
It was nip-and-tuck between Marcel Giroud (11-10/3.65 ERA) and Cale Hayworth (13-9/3.27 ERA) until the bottom of the 6th frame when Belle Plaine took charge on Callum Hayford's bases-loaded game-winning fly ball. Winning pitcher Giroud tossed 7 and two-thirds innings, surrendering only one run on Tommy Cantrell's second-inning blast. Giroud sat down 8 on strikes, walked 2 batters and gave up 5 hits. Johnny Koonce (12-5/4.15 ERA) was perfect in relief, retiring all 4 batters he faced, fanning 2 of them. Hayworth took the loss, but only allowed one earned run in 6 innings and 4 hits. Claude Mayeux led off the game and sent one soaring out of the park for the Musketeers. The Gators prevailed in the first two games of the best-of-seven series. The Muskies are back in the series but still trail two games to one with games four and five at their home ballpark Musketeer Field.

[Eugene Church]

FIRST ROUND OVER IN TU AS SUMMERLAND AND OZARKA SWEEP POWERHOUSES LA CLAIRE AND HARTSDALE
IPA champion La Claire and highly-regarded Hartsdale had their Pro Cup hopes shattered as unsung and unheralded Summerland and Ozarka did a broom job on them and eliminated them in the very first round of the Tycobbian Union playoffs. The Sunsets and Naturals will now square off against one another in the TU Title Series.

And it looks like the Ruthlandian Union First Round may go just about as quickly. Forest City and Belle Plaine have nabbed three of the first four games of the best-of-seven series and could soon knock out the Belair Beach Sunbirds and the La Grange Gators from the postseason.

Tycobbian Union First Round
SUNSETS KAYOED LYNX IN STUNNING 4-GAME SWEEP
In a stunning surprise the lowly Summerland Sunsets shocked the current Pro Cup champion and this year's favorite La Claire by sweeping all four first-round games in the Tycobbian Union. Paul Pegram (2-0/1.00 ERA) was double trouble for the Lynx. After whipping them 2-1 in the series opener, Pegram finished them off with a strong 4-1 complete-game victory, stopping them on 6 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeout. He outpitched 22-game winner Doug Bartels twice and dealt him 2 defeats. Bartels was tagged for 4 runs and 8 hits in his 7 innings. Light-hitting Summerland was sparked by Kent Montford (.417 BA) with a solo home run and got RBIs from Norris Chance (.353 BA) and Bok de Korver (.154 BA).

NATS KNOCK OUT AND SWEEP FAVORED HELLCATS
The upstart Ozarka Naturals totally dominated the highly-heralded Hartsdale Hellcats in first-round play in the Tycobbian Union. The Nats sweep four straight games and only allowed 5 runs. Pitchers Miles Chaucer (2-0/1.00 ERA), Mordecai Partridge (1-0/1.00 ERA) and Ron Passman (1-0/2.00 ERA) tossed four complete games to knock the Hartsdale out of the playoffs. Ozarka wrapped up the series with a 3-1 win behind Chaucer, who again went the distance in game four and held the heavy-hitting Hellcats to just 4 hits, while striking out 7 and walking only one batter. Mickey Houlihan (.500 BA) snapped a scoreless duel with Sid Humphrey (0-2/6.28 ERA) by tripling and scoring on a wild pitch in the 4th frame. In the 7th Banger Barnhill (.375 BA) added to the lead with a 2-run two-bagger, making it 3-0. Hartsdale got its only score in the top of the 9th on a home run by Jorah Hladki (.312 BA). It was his 3rd solo shot in four games. Humphrey went all the way, permitted 3 runs on 9 hits, fanning 4 and walking 3. Neither Ozarka, nor Summerland has ever won a Pro Cup. The Naturals have been to the Pro Cup Finals 5 times and lost each time. The Sunsets have made it 3 times and lost them all.

Ruthlandian Union First Round Series
FC FIREBIRDS NICK BB SUNBIRDS IN GAME 4, NOW UP 3-1
At Bayside Park in Belair Beach, Forest City prevailed in a tense pitching duel to take game four of its RU first-round series 3-2 in 10 innings. The Firebirds had to rally in the late innings. In the 8th frame Jim Raver (.412 BA) tied it up 2-2 with an RBI double that scored Willie Collingham (.385 BA) and Fuzz Smiley (.308 BA) nailed it down when he doubled in the 10th and drove in Collingham again with the winning run. This put the Firebirds in front three games to one and on the verge of going into the RU Title Series. 20-game winner Matty O'Mara (2-0/1.50 ERA) won his second game of the series. He went the route, shackled the Sunbirds on 7 hits, while firing strikes past 8 batters and issuing just one base on balls. Belair Beach starter Georgie Adams had the upper hand with a 2-1 lead through 6 frames. Adams was wild with 6 walks, but he restricted the Firebirds to just 3 hits. His bullpen couldn't hold the lead for him. The defeat went to closer Orval Columbus (0-1/3.38 ERA), who worked the fatal 10th inning. Belair Beach jumped off to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame on Dirk MacIntyre's (.188 BA) RBI double and Dion Gallimore's (.188 BA) run-scoring base hit. Both clubs had 7 hits each. Forest City was paced by Collingham and Raver with 2 hits apiece. Jermaine La Rocque (.500 BA) cracked 2 hits in 4 at bats for Belair Beach. The 5th game is also slated for Bayside Park in Belair Beach.

MUSKETEERS POWER PAST GATORS WITH 4 HOMERS IN GAME 4, TAKE 3-1 LEAD IN RU SERIES
At Musketeer Field in Belle Plaine, the hometown team socked 4 out of the park and got solid pitching from Anton Petit in a 6-2 drubbing of the LaGrange Gators. Jean-Paul Lacombe (.417 BA) slammed 2 of the roundtrippers and drove in 3 runs, Callum Hayford (.231 BA) belted a 2-run job and Jace De Grom (.143 BA) hit a solo swat. Petit (1-0/3.24 RA) had a fine outing and went the distance, holding the potent Gators to 7 hits with 6 Ks and 4 walks. Orin Wessex (1-1/4.02 ERA) was torched for the 4 homers and took the defeat. After shutting the Muskies out for the first 5 frames, he was scorched for 6 runs and 8 hits in 6 and two-thirds innings. Lacombe led Belle Plaine with 3 hits. The fifth game of the best-of-seven affair is also at Musketeer Field.

[Eugene Church]

Friday, October 15, 2088

Ruthlandian Union First Round

BELLE PLAINE TOPS LAGRANGE TO ADVANCE TO THE RU TITLE SERIES
In game five of the Ruthlandian Union First Round at Musketeer Field in Belle Plaine, the Muskies finished off the LaGrange Gators 6-5 to cop the best-of-seven series four games to one and advance to the RU Title Series. Left fielder Callum Hayford (.312 BA) homered twice and batted in 4 scores to top the Musketeers at the plate. Third baseman Jace De Grom (.222 BA) went 2 for 4 and drove in a pair of runs. Claude Mayeux (.350 BA) pitched in with 3 hits and a run scored. Hayford won the game and the series with a solo shot in the last of the 8th inning sending reliever Jules Dufour (0-2/5.40 ERA) down to defeat. Hayford had a great series with 3 homers and 10 RBIs. Johnny Koonce (2-0/0.00 ERA) chalked up his second series victory with 2 runless innings. The big pitcher's battle between 20-game winner Richard Cartier (0-0/6.23 ERA) and Alfie Tuthill (7-2/2.17 ERA) never materialized. They both had a tough time and left the game with the score tied at 5-all. Belle Plaine now awaits the victor of the Forest City-Belair Beach tussle to see who they will be playing in the second round of the playoffs. The Firebirds are currently in the driver's seat with a three games to two edge. The series will be decided in Forest City, where the last two games are scheduled.

SUNBIRDS SKIM PAST FIREBIRDS TO NARROW RU SERIES TO 3-2
At home at Bayside Park, Belair Beach remained alive in the Ruthlandian Union First Round matchup by skimming past Forest City in a gripping 2-1 duel to cut the Firebirds' margin to three games to two. All the scoring came in the early going of the game. Forest City got its only runs on two errors in the opening frame, while Belair Beach tallied both its scores in the last of the 2nd. Catcher Taavo Dees (.231 BA) knocked in the first one with a double. He came in to score the eventual-winning run on a sac fly by third baseman Mees Achthoven (.222 BA). Gardiner Palmquist (1-1/3.09 ERA) got credit for the win with the aid of his bullpen buddies, Ty Griffith (0-0/7.36 ERA/2 games) and Orval Columbus (1-1/2.08 ERA/1 save/2 games). They combined to blank the potent Firebirds the last 3 and one-third frames. In a stellar stint Palmquist quelched Forest City on just one unearned run and 3 hits in his 5 and two-thirds innings. Also in a fine performance loser Shannon Slate (1-1/1.7 2 ERA) went the complete game for the Firebirds, holding the Sunbirds to 2 runs on 6 hits. Center fielder Kyran Carwell (.188 BA) made it close for the Firebirds in the 8th with a 3-run blast. The clubs will continue the series in Forest City with the last two games set for Riverside Stadium.

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 17, 2088

SUNBIRDS FORCE FIREBIRDS TO 7TH-GAME FINALE
Game six of the Ruthlandian Union First Round Series at Riverside Stadium in Forest City was a spine-tingling back-and-forth affair finally decided in the 10th inning 5-4. Visiting Belair Beach scored the winning runs without the benefit of a base hit, taking advantage of reliever Curt Leininger's 4 walks. He walked in both runs by walking Jermaine La Rocque and Dutch Van Donk with the bases loaded. Forest City made it close in the bottom of the 10th frame, cutting it to one run on a sacrifice fly by Brodie Northern. The Sunbirds knotted up the best-of-seven series and forced a 7th-game finale, which will be played Monday again on the Firebirds' turf at Riverside Stadium.

Both starters, Georgie Adams (0-0/2.57 ERA/2 starts/14 IP) for Belair Beach and Kerby Mars (0-0/3.38 ERA/1 start/8 IP) did a quality job. They battled to a 3-3 draw after 8 innings. Alejandro Valera's double and Lucky Hayden's single put the Sunbirds ahead 1-0 in the 3rd. Brodie Northern was the man of the hour in the last of the fourth when he singled in 2 runs, putting Firebirds into the lead 2-1. Belair Beach regained the seesaw lead 3-2 back in the top of the 5th on a solo swat by Alejandro Valera and an RBI base hit by Dutch Van Donk. Cale Borden walloped a game-tying clout in the 7th frame, knotting it up a 3-all.

Valera (.167 BA) paced the Sunbirds with a homer, double and 3 runs scored. Van Donk (.238 BA) had 2 hits and 2 ribbies, while Hayden (.208 BA) contributed a pair of hits and an RBI. Northern (.200 BA) sparked the Firebirds at the plate with 3 hits and 3 RBIs. Cale Borden (.286 BA) cracked two hits, including a roundtripper.

Orval Columbus (1-1/1.69 ERA/1 save/3 games) notched the win with a scoreless 9th frame. Leininger (0-1/0.00 ERA/3 games) was stung with the loss. Belair Beach skipper Brock Josephson will send Gardiner Palmquist (14-11/3.65 ERA) to the hill in the deciding clash. Forest City manager Randy Snow has his ace Matty O'Mara (20-7/3.21 ERA) on the mound. In the postseason Palmquist is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in his 2 starts, while O'Mara is 2-0 with a nifty 1.50 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 18, 2088

FIREBIRDS DRUB SUNBIRDS IN 7TH GAME, O'MARA WINS 3RD GAME TO ADVANCE TO THE RU TITLE ROUND
The whole story in the 7th game of the Ruthlandian Union First Round Series was Forest City's 20-year-old rookie right-hander Matty O'Mara, who fired a 5-hitter and drubbed the Belair Beach Sunbirds 7-1. He was in total command, struck out 10 batters, walked 3 and won his third game of the series. The youngster almost single-handedly won the best-of-seven series. O'Mara stumped the Sunbirds 5-1, 3-2 in 10 innings and 7-1 in the series-cinching 7th game. For the series O'Mara had a 1.00 ERA over 27 innings with 25 Ks with a 3-0 record. During the regular season he posted a sparkling 20-7 mark with a 3.21 ERA. Forest City now advances to the Ruthlandian Union Title Series, opposed by the Belle Plaine Musketeers, who disposed of the LaGrange Gators four games to one in the other RU First Round Series. Surprise First Round winners in the Tycobbian Union were Summerland and Ozarka. They both swept the favored La Claire Lynx and Hartsdale Hellcats in four straight games. The Sunsets and Naturals will tangle for the TU crown and a chance to make it to the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

The Forest City bats came alive early in game 7 pounding out 5 runs in the first 2 frames off starter Gardiner Palmquist (1-2/6.07 ERA). Tony Benedetti (.172 BA) and Cale Borden (.280 BA) led the way 2 RBIs apiece. The other runs were driven in by Clete Ward (.200 BA), Willie Collingham (.320 BA) and Jim Raver (.320 BA).

[Eugene Church]

Friday, October 19, 2088

IPA UNION TITLES UP FOR GRABS
The second round of the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs begins Wednesday afternoon in Forest City and Ozarka. In Ruthlandian Union action the Firebirds will play host to the Belle Plaine Musketeers and in the Tycobbian Union it will be the Naturals entertaining the Summerland Sunsets. Both series are best-of-seven in duration.

The Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs are now sifted down to just four teams. Belle Plaine (90-64) and Forest City (105-49) will vie for the Ruthlandian Union Title and it will be Summerland (88-66) clashing with Ozarka (92-62) for the Tycobbian Union Title. The winners in the best-of-seven series will move on and battle for the overall IPA crown and the vaunted Pro Cup Trophy.

In the first round Summerland upset the defending Pro Cup champion La Claire in a startling four-game sweep. Ozarka mesmerized the favored Hartsdale Hellcats in a total domination that only went four games as well. Pitching was outstanding in both series. There was a little more competition in the Ruthlandian Union. Forest City singed the Belair Beach Sunbirds in a torrid seven-game set, while Belle Plaine bested the LaGrange Gators in five games.

FC FIREBIRDS FAVORED IN 7 GAMES OVER BP MUSKETEERS IN RU TITLE TEST
It will be a battle of the bats in the Ruthlandian Union. Neither Belle Plaine, nor Forest City are noted for their pitching prowess. Give a slight edge to the Firebirds with their stellar set of starters. The outlook is for a tense and thrilling seven-game affair.

SUMMERLAND SUPER-THIN FAVORITE OVER OZARKA IN SEVEN-GAME TU TITLE SERIES
Super pitching is the dominant factor in the Tycobbian Union Title Series, but it may be the offense that makes the difference. Summerland just might pack a little bit more home-run power and punch than Ozarka. Both the Sunsets and Naturals possess standout mound corps. The scribes and soothsayers are forecasting Summerland to get past Ozarka by the slimmest of margin in a hotly-contested seven-game affair.

This season's playoffs have been dominated by superior pitching. When the IPA Pro Cup Finals come around it will probably come down to the Ruthlandian Union offenses against the Tycobbian Union twirlers. Both Forest City and Belle Plaine depend more on their hitters than their pitchers. Summerland and Ozarka are just the opposite. Will it be the RU's expertise in the batter's box or the TU's talent on the mound that wins out this year for the Pro Cup title?

[Eugene Church]

IPA UNION TITLE SERIES TALE OF THE TAPE
Here is a quick glance at the first-round statistics for each of the final four playoffs teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance Union Title Series.

Record-wise Summerland and Ozarka went 4-0 in the first round, while Belle Plaine was 4-1 and Forest City 4-3.
Ozarka had the best scoring record with 5.25 runs per game, 2 homers and 2 stolen bases in 5 games. Forest City averaged 4.56 runs per game with 9 homers and no stolen bases. Belle Plaine plated 4.40 runs a game with 8 homers and 6 stolen bases. Summerland scored at the rate of 4.00 runs per game with 2 homers and no stolen bases.

On the mound Ozarka stood out with a superlative 1.25 ERA, followed by Summerland's 2.00 ERA, Forest City's 2.43 ERA and Belle Plaine's 2.86 ERA. The Firebirds only surrendered 3 roundtrippers in 7 games, the Musketeers 5 in 5 games, the Naturals 5 in 4 games and the Sunsets 8 in 4 games.

Forest City has the best OBP with 31 walks in its 7 games. Summerland 14 in 4 games, Belle Plaine 14 in 5 games and Ozarka 10 in 4 games.

The Forest City-Belle Plaine affair might be a higher-scoring series than the Ozarka-Summerland clash. Offense rules in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series, while it's the mound corps in the Tycobbian Union Title Series.

The prime players for Forest City at the plate are Willie Collingham (.299/30 HR), Fuzz Smiley (.280/26 HR), Jim Raver(.344/11 HR) and Clete Ward (.281/14) and on the hill Matty O'Mara (20-7/3.21 ERA), Tommy Tate (18-8/3.18 ERA) and Shannon Slate (19-10/3.21 ERA). In the bullpen it will Darrell Shaw (28 saves/3.40 ERA/78 games).

Leading the way for Belle Plaine will be position players Dominque Roche (.279/23 HR), Claude Mayeux (.261 BA/16 HR), Callum Hayford (.273/23 HR) and Jean-Paul Lacombe (.318/35 HR). On the slab it will be Anton Petit (17-10/2.84 ERA) and Allie Tuthill (14-13/3.07 ERA) and Marcel Giroud (11-10/3.65 ERA). The main reliever will be Johnny Koonce (12-5/4.15 ERA).

Ozarka need good play from its hurlers Miles Chaucer (19-9/2.58 ERA), Mordecai Partridge (20-7/2.56 ERA) and Ron Passman (14-13/2.76 ERA). Handling the closer role will be Tony Albergaria (11-7/3.40 ERA). Good run production from Banger Barnhill (.310/25 HR), Vladya Grigorovich (.283/14 HR) and Rikki Inkamara (.310/3 HR) will be crucial, too.

Vital to the success of the Summerland Sunsets will be starters Paul Pegram (20-7/2.64 ERA), Joren Vanderzee (18-11/2.75 ERA) and Cees De Groot (14-12/2.59 ERA), plus Rik Boone (20 saves/3.13 ERA/62 games) in the bullpen. The critical bats will be Guus Lutjens (.303 BA/27 HR), Bruce Quarterman (.276 BA/19 HR), Norris Chance (.316 BA/14 HR), Danny Defoe (.298 BA/17 HR) and Hennie Hendriks (.289 BA/13 HR).

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, October 21, 2088

FIREBIRDS BLISTER MUSKETEERS IN RU TITLE OPENER, SUNSETS SLIP BY NATURALS IN TU TITLE OPENER
Forest City seems to be the best of the best of the remaining postseason powers in the Islandian Pro Alliance Title Series. The potent Firebirds burned the Belle Plaine Musketeers 9-4 in an opening-game romp in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series. Forest City is the highest-ranked club at the #2 spot. The other three playoff teams, Ozarka, Belle Plaine and Summerland were rated #6, #7 and #8 in the Pro Cup Preview Poll. Lightly-regarded Summerland prevailed 2-1 over Ozarka in the first game of their best-of-seven Tycobbian Union Title Series.


FIREBIRDS BLISTER MUSKIES 9-4 BEHIND BIG BATS OF SMILEY AND NORTHERN
Forest City waylaid Belle Plaine for 5 first-inning scores to handily dispose of the Muskies. The Firebirds scored 9 unanswered runs before the Musketeers finally posted on the scoreboard in the late innings. Forest City smacked 14 hits, sparked by Fuzz Smiley (.385/3 HR/8 RBI) and Brodie Northern (.269/1 HR/5 RBI). Smiley and Northern each homered and drove in 3 runs and 2 runs respectively. Smiley, Northern, Clete Ward (.220/4 RBI), Tony Benedetti (.206/3 RBI), Jim Raver (.345/5 RBI) and Matty O'Mara (.308/1 RBI) socked 2 hits apiece.

O'Mara (4-0/1.75 ERA) rang up his 4th consecutive playoff victory, going all the way and surviving 4 runs and 8 hits with 4 walks and 7 Ks. Thank goodness his offense bloomed and blossomed and put a bunch of runs on the scoreboard. Belle Plaine starter Anton Petit (1-1/4.64 ERA) didn't last long, slammed for 8 runs in less than 5 frames.


SUMMERLAND'S PEGRAM OUTHURLS OZARKA'S PARTRIDGE IN FIRST GAME
A tight pitcher's duel was predicted and that's just what transpired in the first game of the series in Ozarka at Ellie Ewing Stadium. Summerland starter Paul Pegram went the distance and outpitched Ozarka starter Mordecai Partridge 2-1 in a torrid cliffhanger. Pegram, a 20-game winning 21-year-old rookie, spun a gem, limiting the Naturals to 7 hits with 5 strikeouts and just one base on balls. It was his 3rd straight postseason win and dropped his ERA to just 1.00. Partridge (1-1/0.50 ERA) did not allow an earned run, gave up 6 hits with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts. He also hurled a complete game. His Nats' defenders committed 4 errors behind him.

Ozarka snapped the scoreless duel in the last of the fourth when Vladya Grigorovich (.381/6 RBI) singled in Mickey Houlihan (.500) for the initial run of the game. Summerland regrouped and rebounded with 2 runs in the top of the fifth, getting one run on an error and the go-ahead run on a base hit by Norris Chance (.333) that scored Dutch Verlander (.286) from third base. That's all Pegram needed as he shut down the Nats the rest of the way.

[Eugene Church]

Post Deleted.

Game is crashing when I try to play out a game in the manage mode.

[Eugene Church]

I'm worried... one playoff game was not stored recently... no box score... but it counted the game in the series.

Today I could not play out a game. It would crash when I clicked the "Start Game" button.

I tried to quick play and it did it. But the game did not register. I hit quick play again and a different team won the game.

This is not a good omen.

I will see what happens now. Hope it has fixed itself and got back in synch.
I will try to play out the next games and see what happens.

[Eugene Church]

This time when the game loaded up it reloaded the database. This wiped out the second games of the series and rescheduled them, but it crashed when I tried to play out one of the game.

This is not good at all... I am very poor at trying to report problems to the Tech Support people. They are too knowledgeable for an inept computer person to deal with. It's not them, it's me and my lack of computer expertise.

Very disheartening.

That's it for today. Tomorrow is another day. Hope it will be better.
Still OOTP is not a life and death matter. My life will still go on and be vibrant should it be without the Islandian Pro Alliance.

[Eugene Church]

Still can't play out a game, but it will do a quick play.
Will see if it will register each game and save them.

[Eugene Church]

IN TU TITLE SERIES SUMMERLAND STOP OZARKA BATS AGAIN; IN RU TITLE SERIES BELLE PLAINE GAIN SPLIT WITH FOREST CITY
Super pitching by Summerland gave them a 2-0 advantage in the Tycobbian Union Title Series over the Ozarka Naturals. In the Ruthlandian Union Title Series so far it's the offense that has reigned. In game two it was the Belle Plaine Musketeers that prevailed. They leveled the hard-hitting Forest City Firebirds to even the series at one game each.


SUNSETS GO UP 2-0 BEHIND VANDERZEE'S BRILLIANT VICTORY
Summerland did it again. Their superb pitching shut down the Ozarka Naturals for the second straight day, blanking them 4-0 on a brilliant 2-hitter by Joren Vanderzee (2-0/1.50 ERA). The 21-year-old rookie southpaw struck out 4 and walked 2. In the regular season Vanderzee was 18-11 with a 2.75 ERA. He outhurled Ozarka's 21-year-old rookie Miles Chaucer, who was 19-9 with a 2.58 ERA. Chaucer (2-1/1.04 ERA) also performed well and only allowed 1 earned run in his 8 frames. The Nats' defense let him down with 4 miscues and 3 undeserved scores. The Sunsets only managed 7 hits. Kent Montford (.450) led them with 2 hits and an RBI. Guus Lutjens (.182) also drove in a run. The other two were gifts. Games three, four and five, if needed, are slated for Sunset Stadium in Summerland.



MUSKIES' OFFENSE EVEN SERIES WITH FIREBIRDS
There were plenty of fireworks in Forest City at Riverside Stadium in the second game of the best-of-seven Tycobbian Union Title Series. Each club smashed 11 hits, but Belle Plaine got the most out of theirs and triumphed 7-3 to deadlock the series at one game apiece. 31-year-old veteran Allie Tuthill (1-1/4.15 ERA) gritted out 7 tough innings for the victory, although he was tagged for 9 hits and 3 runs. Tuthill also issued 4 walks. Forest City had plenty of opportunities, but squandered them by stranding 12 baserunners. Closer Johnny Koonce (2-0/0.00 ERA/1 save/5 games) clinched the verdict with 2 scoreless innings.

Shortstop Jean-Paul Lacombe (.409) led the way for the Muskies with 2 hits, 2 runs and 3 RBIs, including a 2-run homer, his 4th in the playoffs. Third sacker Jace De Grom (.308) added 3 hits and batted in 2 runs. Forest City only got 11 singles and were paced by Fuzz Smiley (.387) and Jim Raver (.364) with a pair apiece.

Firebird starter Shannon Slate (1-2/4.03 ERA) blanked the Musketeers the first 4 innings, however they hit him hard after that, slamming him for 7 runs in 7 innings.

Friday will be a day off for travel. Game three will be at Musketeer Field on Saturday afternoon in Belle Plaine. Games four and five will also be played there.

[Eugene Church]

I fixed my 3D animated game play problem.
On a whim I went in and downloaded the last OOTP25 patch and it fixed it.

What a relief! I just knew this might be the end of the IPA.

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 24, 2088

BP MUSKIES BOMB FC FOR 2-1 LEAD IN RU TITLE SERIES; OZARKA NATS CLIP SUMMERLAND IN 12 INNINGS, STILL TRAIL SUNSETS 2-1 IN TU TITLE SERIES
In the Ruthlandian Union Title Series the Belle Plaine Musketeers showed no mercy to the Forest City Firebirds in the third game of the series at home at Musketeer Field. Belle Plaine bombed the Firebirds for 20 hits and 3 roundtrippers and soundly defeated them 13-2, upping their lead in the best-of-seven series to two games to one. Over in the TU Title Series Ozarka finally got a little offense and edged the Summerland Sunsets 5-3 in 12 innings at Sunset Stadium. Banger Barnhill blasted a 2-run homer for the game winner.


BELLE PLAINE BLASTS FOREST CITY IN GAME 3 FOR RU TITLE SERIES LEAD
Belle Plaine had it all their way. Claude Mayeux (.353/2 HR/8 RBI), Jean-Paul Lacombe (.440/5 HR/11 RBI) and Callum Hayford (.308/4 HR/11 RBI) all swatted roundtrippers in the 13-2 rout. Mayeux and Lacombe drove in 4 runs each. Luc Barbier (.233) smacked 4 hits, scored 3 times and batted in one run. Olav Frandsen (.207/2 RBI) contributed 3 hits, 2 runs and an RBI. 6 Musketeers socked 2 hits apiece. In addition, Marcel Giroud (2-0/1.88 ERA) and Archie MacNamara added to the Firebirds' misery with solid pitching. Giroud won it with 6 and two-thirds innings. He held them to 3 hits and 2 runs, while MacNamara fanned 3 in his short stint and didn't give up a run on one hit. They tossed a 4-hitter between them. Thomas Tate (0-2/8.71 ERA) was torched for 5 runs in 4 innings for the loss. The Muskies hammered all of the Firebirds bullpen staffers.


NATS MUSTER UP SOME OFFENSE; TRIMS SUNSETS IN 12TH ON BARNHILL BASH
The Ozarka Naturals finally mustered up some offense and outlasted the Summerland Sunsets 5-3 in 12 innings. Banger Barnhill bashed a two-run game-winning clout to cut the series lead to two games to one in favor of Summerland. Ron Passman combined with his bullpen to topple the Sunsets for the first time in the Tycobbian Union Title Series. He didn't get the win, but Passman restricted the Sunsets to 2 runs and 6 hits in his 9 innings. Summerland starter Cees De Groot performed well, holding the Naturals to 2 runs and 7 hits in 7 and two-thirds innings. Summerland reliever Arlo Carrow (0-1) suffered the loss when Ozarka tagged him for 3 runs and 4 hits in his 2 innings.

It was a tense back-and-forth affair. Summerland scored first in the bottom of the 3rd when De Groot (.000) walked and was tripled in by Danny Dafoe (.263). Guus Lutjens (.259) made it 2-0 in the 4th on a solo shot. Ozarka finally dented the scoreboard in the 5th on throwing error to cut the margin to 2-1. Tommy Kingston (.185/2 HR) forced extra innings when he knocked one out of the park to tie the score at 2-all in the top of the 8th. Both teams put runs on the scoreboard in the 11th. Pinch hitter Tinos Diamandis (.667) doubled in Frankie Doane (.103) from second base to give the Nats a short-lived 3-2 margin. The Sunsets came right back and evened the score 3-3 when Bruce Quarterman (.111) doubled and scampered in on Guus Lutjens' base hit. Lutjens (.259) tried to win the game by scoring from second base on Ken Montford's (.458) single, but he was thrown out at home by right fielder Tommy Kingston.

Belle Plaine and Summerland will host games four and five on their homefields.

[bsmuke22]

Very glad it wasn't the end Eugene!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by bsmuke22

Very glad it wasn't the end Eugene!

Yeah, Buddy!
I'm with you.

My God and Creator has saved my IPA again... I think this may be the fourth time I have had to go through crashes and apparent loss of the game.

I am not tecnically savvy. So any problem with the game is a major problem. One downtime was six months. I thought I had lost the game for good after 56 seasons due to Windows 11 being installed on it without my knowledge. It froze my computer. I could not save my OOTP game data. However, I discovered I had backed the league up after 52 seasons on an external hard drive. So I just deleted all the posts on the Dynasty Forum for the seaons 2052-2056 and restarted the league.

A couple of years ago the league got hung up in the playoffs and I could not finish the playoffs. A wonderful guy Ktulu, I think, saved it for me. Without his help, there would not be any IPA anymore.

About 20 years ago I first started the Islandian Pro Alliance around version 2006 when Markus merged with Sega. My first idea was to start one local league in each of the 64 Islandian towns. Begin with amateur and company leagues in the 1880s and eventually evolve to a 64-team profressional league.

I created 64 town leagues with 4 teams in each local league. After spending a lot of time setting up it up, I discovered that the maximum leagues at that time was 50 leagues. OOTP would not accommodate my 64 local leagues.

Yep, it was frustrating and dishearntening. I then switched to the 64-team one league concept.

You guys have apparently like the IPA. Hopefully I can reach 100 seasons and retire it, then create my ultimate and final small league with no more the 12-16 teams in two leagues.

Also hope to reach 1,000,000 views, too.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 25, 2088

BOTH SERIES ALL EVEN IN IPA UNION TITLE SERIES
Both the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Title Series are all even after four games of the best-of-seven series. Forest City rebounded with a flourish and outscored Belle Plaine 10-7 in the fourth game of the series, while Ozarka won it second consecutive extra-inning clash with Summerland 9-6.


FIREBIRDS FLAME MUSKIES IN SCORING FEST
The Firebirds cracked 11 hits, sparked by Milt DeRozier's (.222/1 HR/10 RBI) 3 ribbies and a pair each from Willie Collingham (.275/1 HR/5 HR) and Fuzz Smiley (.385/4 HR/10 RBI). Smiley slugged his 4th playoff homer. Forest City ran up a 10-3 advantage at the end of 7 frames and then held off Belle Plaine's belated rally. Matty O'Mara recorded his 5th straight victory in the postseason, but was not at his best. He was tagged for 7 runs and 10 hits in 8 and two-thirds innings by the Muskies, who gamely made a game of it. Darrell Shaw got the final out for O'Mara. Belle Plaine got 2 hits apiece from Claude Mayeux (.368/2 HR/8 RBI), Luc Barbier (.265/1 HR/5 RBI) and Jean-Paul Lacombe (.433/5 HR/13 RBI). Barbier clouted a 3-run roundtripper, Lacombe added 2 RBIs and Dominque Roche (.306/0 HR/4 RBI) and Jace De Grom (.257/1 HR/5 RBI) chimed in with one each. Pinned with the defeat was starter Anton Petit (1-2/5.19 ERA), ripped for 7 runs in just 4 and two-thirds innings. Only 4 were earned. The postseason has been hard on Petit, who was 17-10 with a strong 2.84 ERA during the regular season. O'Mara stood out with a 20-7 mark and 3.21 ERA in his rookie season for Forest City.


NATS BREAK LOOSE WITH THE BATS, POWER BY SUNSETS IN SCORING FEST IN 10TH
In a shocking turnaround, Ozarka lashed out with 14 hits and smacked the Summerland Sunsets 9-6 in 10 innings in game four at Sunset Stadium to tie the low-scoring series at 2-2. Even Summerland cracked 12 hits. Sarge Chester (2-0/2.25 ERA/4 IP/3 games) posted the win with a perfect 9th inning, aided by Jimmy Gable, who picked up the save with a scoreless 10th. It was Gable's first playoff outing this season.

It was a 2-2 draw for 7 innings between Paul Pegram for Summerland and Mordecai Partridge for Ozarka, then the bats went wild. The Naturals were paced by Vladya Grigorovich (.364/1 HR/8 RBI) and Ernie Packenham (.448/6 RBI) with 2 hits and 2 RBIs each. Pinch hitter Guido DiMaggio got the only home run for the Nats. Pinch hitter Mick MacKinnon put Ozarka ahead 7-6 in the 10th with a single and Tommy Kingston (.182/2 HR/6 RBI) put the finish touches on the victory with a 2-run base hit. Sparking the Sunsets were substitute second baseman Deveraux Dieppe (.667/2 HR/7 RBI) with a 3-run clout and Bok de Korver (.172/4 RBI) with a 2-run two-bagger.

Game five for both series will be in Belle Plaine and Summerland. Games six and seven will be in Forest City and Ozarka.

[Eugene Church]

I went back and redid the recaps for the second round games by including the line scores... I think that gives you more information that way. It is easier to do it that way rather than posting the box scores they way I used to.