[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2053

PRO CUP PLAYOFFS DOWN TO 4
The first round action in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs has pruned the list down to the Final 4... and they just happened to be the teams rated the best four clubs in the postseason... #1 Middlefield will defend its IPA crown against #2 Taranto in the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series and it will #3 Midway battling #4 Turon for the Tycobbian title... both series will be best-of-seven and will begin Thursday afternoon at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto and Typhoon Stadium in Turon... last year in the Pro Cup Finals the Middlefield Roosters defeated the East Point Panthers in six games.

Ruthlandian Union

Reigning IPA champ Middlefield (99-55) has an arsenal at the plate and impressive starters and relievers on the hill... but the Taranto Tars (103-51) can match them in both respects... both teams sweep their first round series... both clubs have very good defense... even though Taranto won more games in the regular season and will have the homefield advantage, the Roosters are favored mainly because they are Pro Cup champion and they have played in the postseason the past four seasons and have a lot of experienced veterans... in actuality, both are very talented and well-balanced ballclubs... there's not a hair's difference between them... the simplest way to pick the winner would probably be to flip a coin.

#1 MIDDLEFIELD ROOSTERS (99-55):
Strong bats, pitching, very good defense and postseason experience make them a formidable foe in the IPA playoffs... Middlefield has won two Pro Cups... might be #3 this year... but it won't be easy to get past by formidable Taranto in the Ruthlandian Championship Series... James Long (23-12/2.37), Hollis Dale (22-10/3.30), last year's Pro Cup MVP Carroll Collier (12-12/3.19), Larry Wheelhouse (15-5/3.93), along with sluggers Rufus Blackburn (45 HR/114 RBI), Johnny Wyatt (40 HR/133 RBI), Natty Colclough (30 HR/91 RBI), SS Stan Radzikowski (28 HR/102 RBI) and Trip Agarn (26 HR/95 RB) are ready to roll again... the Roosters played well in September after a cool August... Middlefield has made the playoffs 16 times, winning 2 Pro Cups in '05 and last year... only negative is they don't have the homefield advantage.

#2 TARANTO TARS (103-51)
Best record in the IPA this year... team features standout staff, a lineup full of fireworks and an excellent defense... last year fought Middlefield tooth-and-nail in the Ruthlandian title series before losing four games to three... twirlers Armani Pizziconi (25-9/3.0-9), Valerio Rossi (15-9/2.68), Freddy DeAngelis (17-12/3.17), Louis Toscano (3-4/2.13/17 saves/36 G) and a big batch of batters like Renzo Caruso (.37 HR/85 RBI), Niccolo Parisi (.30 HR/73 RBI), Kuma Toyota (29 HR/73 RBI) and Gaetano Palombo (18 HR/61 RBI) are poised and ripe for winning its second Pro Cup trophy... they won the first one in 2015... the Tars are really playing well and with a lot of momentum... may have been the best team in the IPA the second half of the season... this will be the 6th time Taranto has made the postseason... the Tars won their only Pro Cup trophy in 2015... the long-suffering fans are ready for another one.

Pro Cup Forecast: a tough call to make... OK, give it to Middlefield... experience counts...actually, I just tossed a coin... I couldn't have made it as a sportswriter.

Tycobbian Union

In the Tycobbian Union League Championship affair, you got the same thing... two closely matched and talented teams... Turon (101-53) racked up the most victories in the TU in the regular campaign with Midway (100-54) right on their tail... the Typhoon bats are a little better at scoring runs, but the Wolves have slightly better pitchers and much better home-run power... with the gloves they both are just average defenders... neither of them have much playoff experience... this is Midway first time to appear since 2027... Turon made the postseason last year, but lost in the first round... prior to that you have to go back to 2038 and 2039.

#3 MIDWAY WOLVES (100-54)
Could have the best rotation and bullpen in the IPA with Yank Atchley (15-7/2.39), Charlie Chase (27-10/2.51), Will DeBerry (25-10/3.25), Beau McCloud (18-10/3.38), Rocket Rhodes (7-4/2.22/13 saves/36 G) and Jeffrey Leonard (4-2/0.36/8 saves/21 G)... some good batters, too, with Kax Clark (.368 BA/17 HR/88 R), Daryl Vale (.332/21 HR/62 RBI), Tom Goodnight (.289 BA/21 HR/86 RBI) and Jamey Southwick (.263 BA/25 HR/70 RBI)... Midway is just an average team with the gloves... only had a so-so month in September...first playoff appearance in years and years... last pennant came in '27... the Wolves are really hungry for their first Pro Cup trophy.

#4 TURON TYPHOONS (101-53)
One of the best franchises in the IPA with 16 postseason appearances and 4 Pro Cups (2003, 2006, 2009, 2018)... talented club that is heading in the playoffs playing very well and has the homefield advantage... an impressive attack with good contact hitters, can score runs, but lacks longball power... average defensively... top-notch starters... fair bullpen... offensive leaders are Stoyo Yuro (.316 BA/18 HR/81 RBI), Gaylen Clive (.327 BA/3 HR/61 RBI), Joel Guidry (.289 BA/16 HR/96 RBI) and Doyle Ashcroft (.279 BA/19 HR/114 RBI)... top staffers are Nate Scottsdale (25-10/2.77), Glenn Avery (23-12/3.39) and rookie Yancey Hedges (8-4/2.81), who missed the first half of the season with an injury... not as highly heralded as the trio of Middlefield, Taranto and Midway.

PRO CUP FORECAST: Midway is our choice to take the Tycobbian title over Turon... strong pitching, both starters and bullpen... and more firepower make the difference.