Thursday, June 2, 2061
RACERS REALLY ROLLING IN TU WEST
Most of the good clubs are doing well after two months of play in the 2061 edition of the Islandian Pro Alliance... especially defending Pro Cup titlist Rolling Hills... the Racers (40-14) are running away with the Tycobbian West... they are already 10 games up on the second place Denton City Redbirds (30-24).
The surprising teams are the Mahaska Haymakers (30-24) and North Hills Hawks (29-25), both in the Tycobbian North Division... and both are giving the Oxford Red Caps (26-28) some trouble this season... the Red Caps have nabbed the pennant three times in the last four years and are heavily-favored this season... the Arroyo Grande Suns (33-21) and the Summerland Sunsets (30-24) are raising a few eyebrows, too, in the Tycobbian South race.
There are also several disappointing clubs... the Rocky Rapids Snappers (25-29) in the Ruthlandian West... the LaGrange Gators (25-29) in the Ruthlandian North... Oxford (26-28) and Fairfax (24-30) in the Tycobbian North... Kenwood (29-25) in the Tycobbian West... and two of the main contenders in the Tycobbian South... the favored Southport Sun Sox (28-26) and the Turon Typhoons (27-27) are a little chagrined with their performances so far.
VIPER ATTACK HAS THEM ON TOP OF RU NORTH
The
Valmara Vipers (36-18) have a three-game lead in the Ruthlandian North despite its lousy pitching... but the Vips power and offense make up for it... they had the best mark in May 18-11 and rose above the other contenders... preseason choice Far Mountain (33-21) was 15-14 and are now in second place, 3 GB... last year division winner, the Ranford Bulls (31-23), are hanging close in third place, five games back... the Bulls were 16-13 last month... the fourth place Glasco Foxhounds (30-24) are six games off the pace... they posted a 16-13 mark in May... and the Taranto Tars (29-25) are within striking distance, 7 games out... the Tars were 15-13 for the month.
CLOSE RACE IN RU SOUTH, COWPOKES AHEAD
Six teams are challenging in the well-bunched Ruthlandian South race... first place
Waleska (33-21), picked to win the pennant, had a strong 18-11 month and took over the top spot... solid St. John (30-24) was 15-14 and slipped to three games behind... the Crusaders are tied with Claxton (30-24) for second place... after a poor April, the Diamonds finished a terrific 19-10 in May and climbed back into the hunt... in the fourth spot are the San Dimas Rancheros (29-25), but they dipped to 14-15 and fell 4 games behind after being one of the co-leaders in April... the Belair Beach Sunbirds (28-26) are keeping their heads above water in the fifth spot in the standings after going 14-15 last month... the Sunbirds trail Waleska by five games... even sixth place Crystal Lake (27-27) is still in the running... they went 15-14 in May and are now six games in the rear... and forget about the other two teams, Valka (25-29) and Grand City (20-34)... they are not headed anywhere.
MACS BACK ON TOP IN RU EAST
Perennial pennant contender,
Wynnamac (31-23), is always somewhere near the top of the Ruthlandian East Division... after two months of play, the Macs are in first place and leading by two games over the Marston Nine (29-25)... both of them played well last month with 16-13 records... all the other teams in the division are under .500 and don't appear to be any threat to the top two... although third place Beechwood (26-28) went 17-12 in May... and fourth place Eastshore (25-29) was 16-13... expected contender Elnora (24-30) is fifth in the standings and is 7 games behind... the Clippers had a bad 12-17 mark for the month.
VIGILANTES REIGN IN RU WEST
Everything is coming up roses for the Ruthlandian West leader, the
Volusia Vigilantes (35-19)... they were the preseason favorite and they are playing like it... doing everything well on the diamond... the V's have already built up a five-game cushion on last year flag winner, the Sligo Rovers (30-24)... six games on third place Middlefield (29-25) and eight games better than fourth place Stoner (27-27)... highly-ranked Rocky Rapids (25-29) has fizzled out so far, trailing by 10 games... the bottom fell out for the Snappers in May... they wound a dismal 10-19... Volusia and Sligo finished 16-13... Middlefield 15-14... and Stoner was 14-15.
