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Eugene Church · 10-17-2013, 04:46 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 21, 2039

HAWKS FAVORED TO REPEAT IN PRO CUP
The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll came out today and ranked defending champion North Hills (Tycobbian Union) the top choice to take the trophy, emblematic of the best team in Islandia. Their first-round opponent Turon (TU) was rated the number-two team. Cold Creek of the Ruthlandian Union came in third, followed by the Arlon Champions (TU) in the fourth spot. Coming in fifth was the Waleska Westerners (RU), sixth was Far Mountain (RU) with Sligo (RU) and East Point (TU) trailing in seventh and eighth place.

Looking back on the Pro Cup polls of the past decade, the winner usually comes from the third, fourth or fifth picks... none of the favorites have won... only one number two has taken the Cup... number threes have won three times... number fours have captured it twice... number fives have been champs two times... and number six and seven have won it on once occasion... so it's pretty much a crap shoot.

RANK, TEAM, SEASON RECORD
1. NORTH HILLS HAWKS (97-57): they had the best record in the IPA with 97 victories... the Hawks do everything well except hit for power... they only had 111 HRs (32nd)... 2.93 team ERA (2nd), which was third best in the IPA behind Cold Creek (2.80) of the RU East and Summerland (2.89) of the TU South... North Hills will be one of the favorites in the Pro Cup playoffs... they will be trying to repeat as IPA champion and win the Pro Cup for the third time in five seasons.
Top Starters: Tony Mack (23-10/2.22), Jeff Owens (19-13/3.00), Frankie Lambert (16-9/2.57) and David Michael (14-12/3.47)... could be the best foursome in the IPA.
Top Relievers: bullpen is solid, too, led by Kyle Oliver (6-4/2.63/7 saves) and Nelson Hooper (8-2/3.04/3 saves).
Top Batters: superstar LF Adam Thurgood (.314/39/117/86) with some help from 2B Tommy Vavas (.285/14/66/97) and platooned rookie standout CF Jimmy Jay Ferguson (.354/9/45/60)... the Hawks also have a fine bench of solid and reliable role players.

2. TURON TYPHOONS (93-61): they have a wealth of talent on the hill and in the batter's box and should be a tough team to beat in the Pro Cup playoffs.
Top Starters: three 20-game winners paced the pitching corps: Armin Boehm (24-11/3.26), Nate Scottsdale (24-8/3.11) and Clyde Engstrom (20-15/2.95)... team ERA was 3.20 (4th).
Top Relievers: one of the better bullpen in the IPA with Ralph Fulton (4-2/1.07/23 saves)... team compiled a 2.27 ERA (2nd).
Top Batters: four regulars batted .300 or better: SS C. C. Kingsford (.340/29/105/102), RF Guido Gervasio (.310/29/112/92), LF J. P. Trevenot (.301/25/74/74/111), 3B George Jordan (.315/20/72/82)... team ranked second in the TU with a .277 BA... Kingsford won the batting crown with a .340 average.

3. COLD CREEK CATAMOUNTS (94-61): great pitching (2.80 ERA-1st), tops in the IPA... and fairly good hitting with a .265 BA (11th) and 743 runs (6th)... could be a Pro Cup year, if the bats produce.
Top Starters: Peter Heller (20-6/2.29/7 saves), J. J. Gillespie (23-9/2.64), Joey Baker (19-11/3.20) and Rob Hutchins (13-11/2.56)
Top Relievers: Harvey Fullerton (4-6/1.17/5 saves) led a top-flight bullpen (2.16 ERA-1st).
Top Batters: RF Guy St. Laurent (.285/20/87/73), CF Ken Brennan (.303/8/65/89), SS Jeremy Hall (.286/3/63/98), C Arved Tarand (.294/8/68/44) 3B Rodney Marshall (.298/15/66/55)

4. ARLON CHAMPIONS: (95-59): after a decade of being in the second division, the tide turned in 2037 with a third-place finish, got better in 2038 with second place and culminated this year with the division title... the Champs strong point is its pitching... offensively they are so-so.
Top Starters: three 20-game winners and the IPA strikeout king lead the staff... Ronny Farnsworth (21-8/2.64), Emil Nowak (21-8/4.03), Pat Stuyvesant (20-9/3.66) and Lanny Gray ((16-15/3.38)... Gray fanned 291 batters in 314 innings to lead the league.
Top Relievers: Dale Greene (4-4/2.91/8 saves) and Peter Shannon (2-5/2.14/10 saves)
Top Batters: star RF Mark Cameron had a career year with 52 homers, 129 RBIs and 111 runs... Cameron batted .324 and was second in home runs in the IPA, third in RBIs and seventh in scoring runs... C Nick Shafer also pitched in with a .304 BA, 26 HRs, 93 RBIs and 73 runs... LF Charley Hastings missed half of the season, but is now back for the playoffs... he hit .307 in 75 games with 3 HRs, 21 RBIs, 62 runs and 29 SBs... not much else in the line-up... this will hurt them in the playoffs.

5. WALESKA WESTERNERS (91-63): the Westerners won their third pennant in five years with super pitching (2.99 ERA-2nd) and fairly good offense (13th).
Top Starters: Jeff Woodruff (22-14/2.94), Terry Richards (18-8/2.64), Craig Nash (18-12/2.91) and Tony Haskell (14-11/3.35)... except for Woodruff, the same bunch that won the Pro Cup in 2037.
Top Relievers: strong bullpen led by Vern Bass (1-7/2.62/14 saves)
Top Batters: RF Niles Gregory (.285/25/103/84), 1B Shayn Lambert (.313/15/60/72), 2B Joey Harris (.282/10/76/80) and CF Jon Lassiter (.287/3/30/74)... all the regulars of the 2037 title team are still in place.

6. FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS (89-65): won with outstanding pitching and lousy bats... second straight division title... not likely to go far in the playoffs... were Pro Cup Finalist last season... were swept by North Hills in four games.
Top Starters: Chad Cummings (25-8/2.84), Karl Nordheim (21-8/3.44) and Dennis Sasek (16-16/2.44)
Top Relievers: Ryan Kolb (5-5/2.50/19 saves), Russell McIntosh (8-9/3.17/5 saves)
Top Batters: RF Bert Richter (.277/23/85/84), LF Harlan Silver (.286/13/65/68)

7. SLIGO ROVERS (87-68): the Rovers had good pitching (3.32 ERA-5th) and can score runs (722 runs-8th), though they don't hit much for average (.256 BA-24th)... they make up for it with firepower (164 HR-9th)... the Rovers could be dangerous in the playoffs with their strong defense (.979 FA), good pitching and homer power.
Top Starters: Randall Steele (25-8/3.25), Scotty Price (19-12/2.53), Tom Pierson (15-16/2.83)
Top Relievers: (none)
Top Batters: leading the way offensively were CF Joe McGarrett (.304/29/94/101), 1B Denny Simmons (284/15/72/87) and SS Neil Mitchell (.279/22/69/85).

8. EAST POINT PANTHERS (83-71): they won a thrilling pennant race, but don't figure to do too well in the postseason... the Panthers only won 83 games, by far, the worse record of any divisional winner... East Point is just an average-hitting team (.250 BA-22nd) with good power (198 HR-6th), but also only has mediocre pitching (4.19 ERA-26th)... not the things that make for Pro Cup championship teams.
Top Starters: Johnny Moore (17-11/3.39), Frank Blair (16-13/3.58)... long-time ace Dixie Brooks (15-14/4.89) struggled this year.
Top Relievers: Tuck Tawney (5-1/2.32/11 saves) and Scotty Bentley (8-6/3.11/19 saves) give the Panthers a very good bullpen.
Top Batters: the power bats were SS Dean O'Donnell (.282/36/100/87), 1B Bert Henrich (.293/32/94/81), LF Sean Flynn (.255/22/56/66) and CF Andros Ciak (.292/21/58/55).

10-17-2013, 04:46 PM	#3765
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,869	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Wednesday, September 21, 2039 HAWKS FAVORED TO REPEAT IN PRO CUP The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll came out today and ranked defending champion North Hills (Tycobbian Union) the top choice to take the trophy, emblematic of the best team in Islandia. Their first-round opponent Turon (TU) was rated the number-two team. Cold Creek of the Ruthlandian Union came in third, followed by the Arlon Champions (TU) in the fourth spot. Coming in fifth was the Waleska Westerners (RU), sixth was Far Mountain (RU) with Sligo (RU) and East Point (TU) trailing in seventh and eighth place. Looking back on the Pro Cup polls of the past decade, the winner usually comes from the third, fourth or fifth picks... none of the favorites have won... only one number two has taken the Cup... number threes have won three times... number fours have captured it twice... number fives have been champs two times... and number six and seven have won it on once occasion... so it's pretty much a crap shoot. RANK, TEAM, SEASON RECORD 1. NORTH HILLS HAWKS (97-57): they had the best record in the IPA with 97 victories... the Hawks do everything well except hit for power... they only had 111 HRs (32nd)... 2.93 team ERA (2nd), which was third best in the IPA behind Cold Creek (2.80) of the RU East and Summerland (2.89) of the TU South... North Hills will be one of the favorites in the Pro Cup playoffs... they will be trying to repeat as IPA champion and win the Pro Cup for the third time in five seasons. Top Starters: Tony Mack (23-10/2.22), Jeff Owens (19-13/3.00), Frankie Lambert (16-9/2.57) and David Michael (14-12/3.47)... could be the best foursome in the IPA. Top Relievers: bullpen is solid, too, led by Kyle Oliver (6-4/2.63/7 saves) and Nelson Hooper (8-2/3.04/3 saves). Top Batters: superstar LF Adam Thurgood (.314/39/117/86) with some help from 2B Tommy Vavas (.285/14/66/97) and platooned rookie standout CF Jimmy Jay Ferguson (.354/9/45/60)... the Hawks also have a fine bench of solid and reliable role players. 2. TURON TYPHOONS (93-61): they have a wealth of talent on the hill and in the batter's box and should be a tough team to beat in the Pro Cup playoffs. Top Starters: three 20-game winners paced the pitching corps: Armin Boehm (24-11/3.26), Nate Scottsdale (24-8/3.11) and Clyde Engstrom (20-15/2.95)... team ERA was 3.20 (4th). Top Relievers: one of the better bullpen in the IPA with Ralph Fulton (4-2/1.07/23 saves)... team compiled a 2.27 ERA (2nd). Top Batters: four regulars batted .300 or better: SS C. C. Kingsford (.340/29/105/102), RF Guido Gervasio (.310/29/112/92), LF J. P. Trevenot (.301/25/74/74/111), 3B George Jordan (.315/20/72/82)... team ranked second in the TU with a .277 BA... Kingsford won the batting crown with a .340 average. 3. COLD CREEK CATAMOUNTS (94-61): great pitching (2.80 ERA-1st), tops in the IPA... and fairly good hitting with a .265 BA (11th) and 743 runs (6th)... could be a Pro Cup year, if the bats produce. Top Starters: Peter Heller (20-6/2.29/7 saves), J. J. Gillespie (23-9/2.64), Joey Baker (19-11/3.20) and Rob Hutchins (13-11/2.56) Top Relievers: Harvey Fullerton (4-6/1.17/5 saves) led a top-flight bullpen (2.16 ERA-1st). Top Batters: RF Guy St. Laurent (.285/20/87/73), CF Ken Brennan (.303/8/65/89), SS Jeremy Hall (.286/3/63/98), C Arved Tarand (.294/8/68/44) 3B Rodney Marshall (.298/15/66/55) 4. ARLON CHAMPIONS: (95-59): after a decade of being in the second division, the tide turned in 2037 with a third-place finish, got better in 2038 with second place and culminated this year with the division title... the Champs strong point is its pitching... offensively they are so-so. Top Starters: three 20-game winners and the IPA strikeout king lead the staff... Ronny Farnsworth (21-8/2.64), Emil Nowak (21-8/4.03), Pat Stuyvesant (20-9/3.66) and Lanny Gray ((16-15/3.38)... Gray fanned 291 batters in 314 innings to lead the league. Top Relievers: Dale Greene (4-4/2.91/8 saves) and Peter Shannon (2-5/2.14/10 saves) Top Batters: star RF Mark Cameron had a career year with 52 homers, 129 RBIs and 111 runs... Cameron batted .324 and was second in home runs in the IPA, third in RBIs and seventh in scoring runs... C Nick Shafer also pitched in with a .304 BA, 26 HRs, 93 RBIs and 73 runs... LF Charley Hastings missed half of the season, but is now back for the playoffs... he hit .307 in 75 games with 3 HRs, 21 RBIs, 62 runs and 29 SBs... not much else in the line-up... this will hurt them in the playoffs. 5. WALESKA WESTERNERS (91-63): the Westerners won their third pennant in five years with super pitching (2.99 ERA-2nd) and fairly good offense (13th). Top Starters: Jeff Woodruff (22-14/2.94), Terry Richards (18-8/2.64), Craig Nash (18-12/2.91) and Tony Haskell (14-11/3.35)... except for Woodruff, the same bunch that won the Pro Cup in 2037. Top Relievers: strong bullpen led by Vern Bass (1-7/2.62/14 saves) Top Batters: RF Niles Gregory (.285/25/103/84), 1B Shayn Lambert (.313/15/60/72), 2B Joey Harris (.282/10/76/80) and CF Jon Lassiter (.287/3/30/74)... all the regulars of the 2037 title team are still in place. 6. FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS (89-65): won with outstanding pitching and lousy bats... second straight division title... not likely to go far in the playoffs... were Pro Cup Finalist last season... were swept by North Hills in four games. Top Starters: Chad Cummings (25-8/2.84), Karl Nordheim (21-8/3.44) and Dennis Sasek (16-16/2.44) Top Relievers: Ryan Kolb (5-5/2.50/19 saves), Russell McIntosh (8-9/3.17/5 saves) Top Batters: RF Bert Richter (.277/23/85/84), LF Harlan Silver (.286/13/65/68) 7. SLIGO ROVERS (87-68): the Rovers had good pitching (3.32 ERA-5th) and can score runs (722 runs-8th), though they don't hit much for average (.256 BA-24th)... they make up for it with firepower (164 HR-9th)... the Rovers could be dangerous in the playoffs with their strong defense (.979 FA), good pitching and homer power. Top Starters: Randall Steele (25-8/3.25), Scotty Price (19-12/2.53), Tom Pierson (15-16/2.83) Top Relievers: (none) Top Batters: leading the way offensively were CF Joe McGarrett (.304/29/94/101), 1B Denny Simmons (284/15/72/87) and SS Neil Mitchell (.279/22/69/85). 8. EAST POINT PANTHERS (83-71): they won a thrilling pennant race, but don't figure to do too well in the postseason... the Panthers only won 83 games, by far, the worse record of any divisional winner... East Point is just an average-hitting team (.250 BA-22nd) with good power (198 HR-6th), but also only has mediocre pitching (4.19 ERA-26th)... not the things that make for Pro Cup championship teams. Top Starters: Johnny Moore (17-11/3.39), Frank Blair (16-13/3.58)... long-time ace Dixie Brooks (15-14/4.89) struggled this year. Top Relievers: Tuck Tawney (5-1/2.32/11 saves) and Scotty Bentley (8-6/3.11/19 saves) give the Panthers a very good bullpen. Top Batters: the power bats were SS Dean O'Donnell (.282/36/100/87), 1B Bert Henrich (.293/32/94/81), LF Sean Flynn (.255/22/56/66) and CF Andros Ciak (.292/21/58/55). Last edited by Eugene Church; 10-17-2013 at 05:13 PM.