Saturday, July 1, 2062
STILL 7 GOOD RACES AROUND THE IPA
The fans are getting their money's worth in the Islandian Pro Alliance this year... seven of the eight divisions are still alive and kicking... there isn't much of a battle in the Tycobbian North where Pro Cup champion Oxford is making shambles of it again this year... the Red Caps have shot ahead of Blue Lake by 10 and a half games at the three-month mark... Oxford has won the pennant by double digits the last two seasons and they are again terrorizing the competition... all the rest of the divisions are hotly contested.
There are a bunch of clubs making unexpected noise around the IPA circuit... surprise clubs are the Ancona Red Elephants (42-32), LaGrange Gators (42-33) and Taranto Tars (39-36) in the Ruthlandian North... favorites Valmara (38-36) and Glasco (35-40) have slumbered in the early going.
There's a redhot race going on in the Ruthlandian South this year with six clubs still contesting... the defending champ St. John Crusaders (44-31) are on top of the standings, but not by much... clinging close are the Waleska Westerners (42-32), Valka Blackhawks (41-34), Claxton Diamonds (40-35), Belair Beach Sunbirds (38-36) and Grand City Cybercats (37-38)... only 7 games separate all of them at the end of June.
The Wynnamac Sundowners (43-31) have captured the Ruthlandian East for the past two seasons and three of the last four... this year the Elnora Clippers (48-27) have jumped into the fray and are on top of the division by 4 and a half games... the Cold Creek Raccoons (39-36), Sugar Valley Rattlers (39-36) and Marston Nine (38-37) have winning records, but are not in the race right now.
Lots and lots of surprises in the Ruthlandian West this season... the pennant-winning Volusia Vigilantes have floundered a bit so far, trailing by 5 and a half games in fifth place behind the Rocky Rapids Snappers (43-32), Stoner Stars (41-34), Middlefield Roosters (40-35) and Sligo Rovers (39-36)... even the sixth place Colfax Blasters (36-38) are within striking distance of the top spot in the standings, just 7 games back in the race.
Over in the Tycobbian Union it's the High Mesa Mustangs, San Alejo Montaneros and Southport Sun Sox making waves... the Mustangs (49-26) lead the Midway Wolves (45-30) by 4 games in the TU East... and the Monties (48-27) and the Sun Sox (48-27) are doing quite well thus far in the TU South and have gotten a pretty fair lead... favorite and defending champion Turon (35-39) has tumbled badly below the .500 mark to fifth place, 12 and a half games behind... the third place Summerland Sunsets (42-33) are just six games off place and still a valid contender... 2062 has not been a good year for the Ginza Ninjas (38-37)... they are struggling in the fourth spot and are 10 games off the pace... last year's Cinderella club, the Arroyo Grande Suns (27-47) have fallen off the cliff, plunging all the way to seventh, after soaring to second place last year and almost winning the pennant.
There is a ding-dong dilly of a donnybrook going on the Tycobbian West with a three-team logjam... the favorite Rolling Hills Racers (46-28) are being challenged by the Kenwood Wildcats (45-30) and the Bayview Vikings (45-30)... the fourth place Denton City Redbirds (39-36) are still in the fight, too.
Still a good contest in the Tycobbian East, where upstart High Mesa (49-26) leads Midway (45-30) by 4 games... with the third place South Fork Stallions (42-33) only 7 games out and the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats (40-34) lingering 8 and a half games behind High Mesa.
Juggernaut and reigning Pro Cup titleholder Oxford is crushing all competition in the TU North... the Red Caps (52-23) have the best record in the IPA and a huge 10 and a half-game bulge over the distant runner-up Blue Lake Schooners (41-33) and the third place Mahaska Haymakers (41-34)... Oxford is rolling its fourth TU North Division crown in five years and could be headed for a repeat Pro Cup trophy... we can't wait for another possible matchup between the Red Caps and the Rolling Hills Racers, who are more than likely to meet in the Tycobbian Championship Series... the Racers forced Oxford to seven games last year in a rousing series with a fantastic finish.
We are just at the halfway point in the season with lots of games to be played... a good winning streak could get a lot of clubs back in the thick of things.