YESTERDAY IN THE IPA
2021 Pro Cup Series
The Islandian Times
Monday, September 20, 2021
2021 IPA Pro Cup Begins Tomorrow, Ozarka Favored
The mighty Ozarka Naturals of the Tycobbian Union have made the long, hard trip to the IPA Pro Cup Finals five times in its history and have never won one. This year the baseball experts are predicting that they will finally be victorious. The Nats won 106 games and lost only 48 this year, falling short of the all-time IPA mark by just one victory. Colfax of the RU won 107 games in 2010 and also copped the Pro Cup. Ruthlandia has prevailed 12 times in the Pro Cup, while Tycobbia has taken it on 8 occasions. Last year's champion Crystal Lake finished third to Grand City in the RU South and will not get a chance to repeat. The surprising Crushers won over heavily-favored Ozarka in 5 games last season.
The Sligo Rovers had a sensational season with a 100-54 record and they are favored to take the Ruthlandian Union and be matched up with powerful Ozarka in the Pro Cup Finals. The baseball prognosticators are slightly favoring Ozarka because they are better offensively than the Rovers and have superior defense. Both clubs have truly outstanding pitching.
From spring training to the last out of the regular season, it has been the goal of every GM, team, manager and player to reach the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs. They all aspire to win baseball's Holy Grail, the Pro Cup Series title. Now, for the 8 division winners, the first step of that journey begins in earnest with the Elite 8 Series starting tomorrow afternoon. All postseason series are best-of-seven series.
In the Ruthlandian Union the Sligo Rovers will play host to the Sugar Valley Rattlers at Silver Mountain Park and the Grand City Cybercats will tangle with the Ancona Red Elephants at Jay Loman Park in Ancona. Over in the Tycobbian Union, the Ozarka Naturals will be at home at Ellie Ewing Stadium against the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers and the White River Rascals will be on the road at Capet Stadium, playing the Arroyo Grande Suns.
Tale of the Tape:
1. Ozarka Naturals (106-48) - TU
.285 BA (1st)
815 runs (4th)
158 HR (10th)
2.95 ERA (1st)
.976 FA (4th)
Home 53-24
Away 53-24
2. Sligo Rovers (100-54) - RU
.265 BA (6th)
798 runs (2nd)
148 HR (8th)
2.90 ERA (1st)
.970 FA (20th-tied)
Home 52-25
Away 48-29
3. Arroyo Grande Suns (97-57) - TU
.269 BA (4th)
818 runs (3rd)
200 HR (2nd)
3.63 ERA (8th)
.972 (12th)
Home 52-22
Away 42-35
4. Ancona Red Elephants (91-63) - RU
.269 BA (3rd)
779 runs (4th)
156 HR (5th)
3.51 ERA (12th)
.975 FA (5th)
Home 51-26
Away 40-37
5. Sugar Valley Rattlers (93-61) - RU
.258 BA (12th)
780 runs (3rd)
203 HR (1st)
3.68 ERA (16th)
.970 (20th-tied)
Home 47-30
Away 46-31
6. Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (92-62) - TU
.273 BA (3rd)
885 runs (1st)
150 HR (12th-tied)
4.04 ERA (19th)
.970 (20th-tied)
Home 46-31
Away 46-31
7. Grand City Cybercats (90-64) - RU
.265 BA (4th)
755 runs (6th)
101 HR (25th-tied)
3.59 ERA (13th)
.976 FA (2nd-tied)
Home 45-32
Away 45-32
8. White River Rascals (81-73) - TU
.264 BA (8th)
782 runs (7th-tied)
163 HR (6th)
4.17 ERA (26th)
.970 FA (24th-tied)
Home 39-38
Away 42-35