[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 22, 2043

HAWKS WIN 9TH FLAG IN 10 YRS
After a slight slump in 2042, the North Hills Hawks were flying high again with their ninth Tycobbian North division flag in ten years. Now the Hawks will be going after their fifth Pro Cup in the decade. After a sluggish beginning North Hills took command in the second half of the season. They had a tussle with White River and Blue Lake until the All-Star Game. The Hawks were up by one on the Rascals and three in front of the Blue Sox, but they pulled away in the hot days of Summer to whip White River by five games, Blue Lake by 11 and fourth place Fairfax by 16... last year's surprise winner Hartsdale was never in the race this year, winding up in fifth place and trailing by 21 games. According to the odds-makers North Hills has as good a chance at the Pro Cup as anyone. The Hawks will be a strong contender.

1. North Hills: the Hawks came in third last year (5 GB)... this year they won the title with some breathing room, ranking third with a .276 BA and fifth with a team ERA of 3.56... veteran starters David Michael (19-13/2.65), Tony Mack (19-8/3.24), Joey Santini (19-11/3.51) and Nelson Hooper (19-15/4.28) all won 19 games... the offense was better-than-average with All-Star LF Adam Thurgood (.295/32/112/88) and 3B Jim McDermott (.304/18/81/85) in the lead... the Hawks also play excellent defense with a .977 FA... North Hills led the IPA with 93 wins, one better than Southport of the TU South and Volusia of the RU West.

2. White River: the Rascals moved up from sixth and 19 GB to the runner-up position, just five games off the pace this year... they hung pretty tough in the race this year, leading in the first two months and stayed within striking distance in the second half of the season... it's been quite a while since the Rascals made the Pro Cup playoffs... the last time they took the division crown was in 2027... White River is still seeking its first Pro Cup... this year they featured a home-run attack, fairly good pitching and solid defense (.975 FA)... the Rascals hit .261 (18th) with 209 homers (3rd) and scored 794 runs (3rd-tied)... All-Star LF Billy Joe Hickman (.318/43/120/106) continued to improve and had a great season and tied for seventh in the TU with 43 homers and was sixth in RBIs with 120... All-Star SS Warren McKenzie (.273) also lent a hand with 36 HRs, 126 RBIs and 88 runs scored... he was fourth in the IPA in RBIs... rookie 1B Enrique Encarnacion (.284/21/76/81) also chipped in with some needed offense, along with 2B Kunta Burton (.267/7/62/103)... three pitchers carried the pitching staff: Jade Garner (20-10/3.82), Clem Warren (20-16/3.69) and Trenton Anderson (19-13/3.57).

3. Blue Lake: last season the Blue Sox were fourth and 7 GB... this year they were third and 11 GB... their last pennant was in 2030 when the Blue Sox captured their only Pro Cup... they had excellent pitching with a 3.16 ERA (2nd) and so-so bats, light on the power... All-Star Van Johnson (24-11/2.87) and vet Frankie Quinn (20-16-2.81) both won 20 games... at age 37 Quinn is 323/239 with an impressive 3.02 lifetime ERA... he has won 20 games 11 times... Johnson was tied for third in the IPA with 24 victories... only Southport's Billy Hoover (27-11/2.83) and Glasco's Pat Meyers (25-12/3.05) finished ahead of him... Sal Mays (15-16/3.26) was another very capable starter... in the bullpen All-Star closer Razzy Richmond (8-6/2.76/21 saves) excelled, ranking sixth in the IPA.

4. Fairfax: after two straight second-place finishes (3 GB and 4 GB), the Frogs were primed to win it all, but it didn't happen... they never really were in the running this year... the Frogs slumped to fourth and 16 GB... Fairfax hasn't been in the Pro Cup playoffs since 2033 and has never won a Pro Cup in its history... the Frogs were just an average team offensively and on the mound... bat leaders were CF Brad Johnston (.325/11/74/106), 3B Bobby Joe Daniel (.302/8/82/65), 2B John Velasco (.290/20/75/90) and All-Star C Scott Courtney (.300/26/87/66)... top starters were Shaun O'Riley (15-8/3.46) and veteran Harold Dorman (17-15/4.05).

5. Hartsdale: the Hellcats were one-year wonders... in three seasons they went from sixth (17 GB) to first, then back down to fifth (21 GB)... their seaon was over after a decent April... Hartsdale has never won a Pro Cup in its history... three starters were decent: Wayne Dawson (18-17/3.16), Gil Younger (15-15/3.40) and Perry Givens (15-18/3.67)... and closer Alfonso Cervera (4-5/2.97/17 saves) did his job well... 1B John Ford (.329/31/92/75) was the only reliable threat in the line-up.

6. Luxora: it was just another mediocre season for the Zorros... for the third year in a row they were near the bottom of the division... seventh in '41 (20 GB)and '41 (29 GB) and sixth this year (22 GB)... no pennant since 2031 and no Pro Cups in the club's history... but they have made the playoffs on 11 occasions... Doug Hansack (20-14/3.65) was the top pitcher... and ace Kent Halloran (11-17/3.47) is beginning to show his age at 37... in his 14-year career Halloran is 221-176 with a sparkling 2.57 ERA... the only bat of any note belonged to vet star 3B Todd Dubbins (.305/35/102/69).

7. Oxford: the Red Caps have been in the TU North cellar on near it the last six seasons... four times in last place and twice in seventh... they were eighth and 30 GB in 2042 and 23 out this year in seventh place... Oxford has been to the playoffs only five times, but has won a Pro Cup... the last pennant came in 2007, the year of the Pro Cup title... 25-year-old All-Star Tekkan Nishakawa (15-13/3.33) was the top pitcher, though he went 6-9 after the All-Star break... Oxford has very little in its batting order... LF Donny Braun led the team with a .276 BA and 81 RBIs... CF Calvin Marbury (.245) topped the team with 26 homers, tied with 3B Alonzo Norris (.252)... Braun was third with 23 roundtrippers... Marbury led the club with 104 runs with Norris number two with 91.

8. Mahaska: the Haymakers dropped from fifth to last this season... they were 16 GB in 2042 and 33 back this year... Mahaska has made the postseason just four times in its history and has never won a Pro Cup... the last pennant came in 2028... Sam Swain (15-12/3.45) had the best record, but Bobby Kelman (13-17/2.85) was the most effective... 1B Mark Graham (.286/22/65/64) was the club leader with a .286 BA... CF Bill Whittier (.257/27/82/94) was tops with 82 RBIs and 94 runs, but batted only .257... C James Boswell (.239/33/78/77) led with 33 HRs, but hit only .239.