[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 26, 2030

Pro Cup Trimmed To Four Teams
Several high seeds are gone after the first round of the Pro Cup playoffs. The Pro Cup favorite Bay St. Clair Buccaneers almost didn't make it. Valmara and Wynnamac survived in the Ruthlandian Union, while it was the Buccaneers and Blue Lake in the Tycobbian Union. The two, three, four and eight seeds have bit the dust. In RU Final 4 action it will be five seed Wynnamac opening up at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara, opposed by the sixth-seeded Vipers. Over in the TU Final 4 favored Bay St. Clair will host the the number seven seed Blue Lake Blue Sox at Shoreline Park. Both series will be best-of-seven.

In the RU it will be Wynnamac's pitching against the well-balanced Valmara Vipers. The Sundowners staff carried them past Colfax with a 2.57 ERA. Wynnamac hit only .186, yet still won. Valmara upended the number two seed Grand City with a .263 batting average and a 3.33 ERA. The playoff-seasoned Vipers are favored to take the Ruthlandian title. Valmara has made the postseason in 7 of the last 8 years and won the Pro Cup in 2026.

Bay St. Clair made a remarkable comeback to whip third seed Ozarka in seven games. The Bucs had to win the last two to advance and they did it by the skin of their teeth. Blue Lake had a far easier task and whipped eighth seed Cape Coral in six games. The Blue Sox won the series without 22-game winner Doug Kirkpatrick, who will be out until early October with a sore arm. Bay St. Clair got strong pitching against the Naturals, compiling a fine 2.42 ERA, but batted only .225. The Blue Sox hit .267 against the Hurricanes and logged a 3.60 ERA. The Bucs should be able to handle the Blue Sox this time around and should be headed to the Pro Cup Finals against Valmara.