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Eugene Church · 06-15-2023, 06:49 PM

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 2, 2023

Pro Cup Starts Tomorrow In Tuckanarra
Only 15 teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance have won the much-revered Pro Cup. 49 teams have never had the honor and the pleasure. A Pro Cup is hard to come by. This year two of the non-winners will get a chance to move into elite circles. Will it be favored Tuckanarra or underdog Valmara? Neither have been to the finals lately. Tuckanarra was last there in 2013 and Valmara in 2003. Both came away empty-handed - but not this time. One of them will be victorious.

The two clubs are very similar in style of play. Blue Jays manager Carlton "Lefty" Stevens has a strong pitching staff. Vipers skipper Jet Kazmarek also relies on his fine mound corps. Tuckanarra has the decided edge with three standout starters in Dean Peterson (20-11 2.92), Glynn Starr (25-10 3.00) and Quinn Starr (19-17 2.35). Valmara only has two high-quality starters in Billy Ray (20-11 2.21) and Clem Carmouche (18-12 2.87). The only problem is Peterson is out because of blisters and may not be availabe for a week. That's a crucial loss. The key element in the series will be the number three starters. Valmara's Johnny Vasylenko (16-16 3.93) and Tuckanarra's Apari Churchill (16-16 4.58) will be decisive factors. Neither have overly impressive in the playoffs. Vasylenko is 0-1 in 2 starts with a 4.32 ERA, while Churchill (0-1 11.75) flopped in his only start, lasting just 4 innings. Stevens is toying with the idea of using Peterson, despite the injured finger.

Tuckanarra will go with Carmouche (2-1 1.62) in the opening game, opposed by Quinn Starr (3-0 2.86). Game two will feature Glynn Starr (2-0 1.96) for the Blue Jays against the Vipers Billy Ray (4-0 1.36). Game three starters are still up in the air with Johnny Vasylenko likely for Valmara. Stevens is undecided who will go for Tuckanarra.

Both teams have very capable closers. 33-year-old Archie Desmond (8-0 1.11) had a great season for the Blue Jays with 33 saves and has continued it in the postseason with a 1-0 record and 4 saves in 6 appearances with a 1.59 ERA. The V's bullpen ace is a 21-year-old rookie Chris Phillips (2-1), who took over the closer role at mid-season and notched 11 saves with a 1.16 ERA. Phillips has stood out in the playoffs with a 1-0 record, 3 saves and a 1.29 ERA in 5 appearances. Tuckanarra may have a slight edge in middle relievers.

During the regular season Tuckanarra was the better team at the plate, but not in the postseason. If the Blue Jays continue to struggle, Valmara might sneak up and win it. RF Danny Redd (.339 BA/15 HR/79 RBI/107 R), 1B Lynn Starr (.330BA/36 HR/112 RBI/114 R) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.283 BA/18 HR/68 RBI/92 R) will have to regain season form. They have only one homer between them in the playoffs. The Tucks are just not scoring enough runs. But the Blue Jays have won anyway because of the great pitching. Valmara's line-up was only so-so in the regular campaign: CF Teddy Szymanski (.287 BA/22 HR/88 RBI/80 R), 2B Ron Freiberg (.287 BA/13 HR/56 RBI/94 R), LF Sonny Oliver (.269 BA/18 HR/81RBI/73 R) and C Pete Gibbs (.264 BA/14 HR/79 RBI/50 R). The Vipers have homered 6 times in the playoffs, but also have trouble putting runs on the scoreboard. It looks like the pitchers will dominate in this Pro Cup Finals. Tuckanarra had the better seasonal record 96-58 and will have the home-field advantage in the best-of-seven series that gets underway tomorrow at Central Park Stadium. Valmara was 90-64. In the playoffs this year the Blue Jays are 8-1 and Vipers 8-2.

As far as defense, both Tuckanarra and Valmara are just average with a .972 FA.

Pro Cup Prediction:
Tuckanarra's pitching and experience will prevail in 6 games.

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 3, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

Hill's HR Nips Vipers, Tucks Win 3-2 In Opener - Game 1
A 32-year-old journeyman outfielder Dan Hill was the hero in the opening game of the 2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals... the unsung Hill smashed an eighth-inning homer to give Tuckanarra a 3-2 decision over the Valmara Vipers... until then the Blue Jays Quinn Starr and Vipers Clem Carmouche were locked in a 2-2 tie... Starr (4-0 2.70) was the winning pitcher... he stopped the V's on 5 hits and 2 runs, fanned 7 and walked 2... veteran closer Archie Desmond (1-0 1.35) struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in a perfect ninth for his 5th playoff save... Carmouche (2-2 1.96) went the distance, allowed 9 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2... Hill (.118), 1B Lynn Starr (.333) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.314) led the Blue Jays at the plate with 2 hits each... 3B Bobby Greb (.316) drove in both of the Vipers runs.

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 4, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

Tucks Tame Vipers 7-3 In Game 2
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays got the usual good pitching, but this time they got more offense, too... the results was an easy 7-3 triumph over Valmara in game two of the IPA Pro Cup Finals... it was the Blue Jays second win in a row at their home park, Central Park Stadium... Glynn Starr blanked Valmara 7-0 until the ninth, when they scored 3 times... Starr (3-0 2.25) went all the way and posted his third playoff win, permitting 3 runs and 8 hits, while striking out 9 and walking 3... Billy Ray (4-1 2.75) lost for the first time this postseason... he was hit hard by the Blue Jays for all 7 runs and 7 hits in 6-plus innings... a 4-run seventh kayoed him... little-used LF Vince Di Lazzaro (.571) provided the firepower for Tuckanarra... Di Lazzaro had a 2-run homer and a 2-run triple, batting in 4 runs in all... rookie 3B Koora Nawajuk (.316) also drove in 2 runs for the winners... Nawajuk leads the team in the playoffs with 11 RBIs.

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 5, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals

V's Win In 11th On Ferguson HR - Game 3
After dropping the first two games of the IPA Pro Cup Finals in Tuckanarra, Valmara came home to War Memorial Stadium for game three and for three innings it looked bad... they dug a hole for themselves and fell behind 5-2, but rookie starter Johnny Vasylenko settled down and blanked Tuckanarra over the next five innings and the Vipers finally caught up with 2 runs in the fifth and one in the last of the ninth... then won it 6-5 on 1B Tyler Ferguson's 11th-inning homer... now Valmara is back in the hunt for the Pro Cup, trailing two games to one in the best-of-seven series... Strong relief by two rookies saved the day... Ivan Guzek hurled two scoreless innings and Chris Phillips (2-0 1.12) finished off the Blue Jays in the 11th for the win... Tuckanarra's number four starter Apari Churchill got the call due to an injury to Dean Peterson... Churchill kept the Blue Jays ahead most of the game and left with a 5-4 lead after 8 innings, but the bullpen bunch couldn't hold it... closer Archie Desmond (1-0 2.08) blew the save in the ninth and George O'Reilly (1-1 2.53) lost it in the 11th.

The V's outhit the Blue Jays 11 to 10 with Ferguson getting 3 of them and driving in 4 runs... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.161) got 2 hits and scored 3 times... LF Sonny Oliver (.255) batted in 2 runs and now has a club-high 10 in the playoffs... 1B Lynn Starr (.317) and RF Danny Redd (.286) sparked the Tucks with solo homers and LF Dan Hill (.200) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 6, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 4

Valmara Ties Pro Cup On Szymanski's HR
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays were within one out of going up 3-1 in the IPA Pro Cup Finals, but they didn't get it - Valmara's Teddy Szymanski swatted a two-out 3-run homer in the bottom of the ninth at War Memorial Stadium to edge the Blue Jays 4-3 and tie up the series at two games apiece... it's a brand new series... Tuckanarra starter Quinn Starr fired a brilliant game and took a 3-1 lead into the ninth... Starr allowed only 2 hits in his 8 innings... but closer Archie Desmond (1-1 1.93) lost his first game of the season when Szymanski homered... none of the runs off Desmond were earned... Clem Carmouche started for the Vipers and worked a strong game, permitting only 4 hits and 2 runs with 5 Ks and 6 walks in 8 innings... Ivan Guzek (2-0 4.50) picked up the win, despite giving up a run in the top of the ninth... Valmara was outhit 6 to 4 by the Tucks.

06-15-2023, 06:49 PM	#9564
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,956	YESTERDAY IN THE IPA *The Islandian Times* Monday, October 2, 2023 Pro Cup Starts Tomorrow In Tuckanarra Only 15 teams in the Islandian Pro Alliance have won the much-revered Pro Cup. 49 teams have never had the honor and the pleasure. A Pro Cup is hard to come by. This year two of the non-winners will get a chance to move into elite circles. Will it be favored Tuckanarra or underdog Valmara? Neither have been to the finals lately. Tuckanarra was last there in 2013 and Valmara in 2003. Both came away empty-handed - but not this time. One of them will be victorious. The two clubs are very similar in style of play. Blue Jays manager Carlton "Lefty" Stevens has a strong pitching staff. Vipers skipper Jet Kazmarek also relies on his fine mound corps. Tuckanarra has the decided edge with three standout starters in Dean Peterson (20-11 2.92), Glynn Starr (25-10 3.00) and Quinn Starr (19-17 2.35). Valmara only has two high-quality starters in Billy Ray (20-11 2.21) and Clem Carmouche (18-12 2.87). The only problem is Peterson is out because of blisters and may not be availabe for a week. That's a crucial loss. The key element in the series will be the number three starters. Valmara's Johnny Vasylenko (16-16 3.93) and Tuckanarra's Apari Churchill (16-16 4.58) will be decisive factors. Neither have overly impressive in the playoffs. Vasylenko is 0-1 in 2 starts with a 4.32 ERA, while Churchill (0-1 11.75) flopped in his only start, lasting just 4 innings. Stevens is toying with the idea of using Peterson, despite the injured finger. Tuckanarra will go with Carmouche (2-1 1.62) in the opening game, opposed by Quinn Starr (3-0 2.86). Game two will feature Glynn Starr (2-0 1.96) for the Blue Jays against the Vipers Billy Ray (4-0 1.36). Game three starters are still up in the air with Johnny Vasylenko likely for Valmara. Stevens is undecided who will go for Tuckanarra. Both teams have very capable closers. 33-year-old Archie Desmond (8-0 1.11) had a great season for the Blue Jays with 33 saves and has continued it in the postseason with a 1-0 record and 4 saves in 6 appearances with a 1.59 ERA. The V's bullpen ace is a 21-year-old rookie Chris Phillips (2-1), who took over the closer role at mid-season and notched 11 saves with a 1.16 ERA. Phillips has stood out in the playoffs with a 1-0 record, 3 saves and a 1.29 ERA in 5 appearances. Tuckanarra may have a slight edge in middle relievers. During the regular season Tuckanarra was the better team at the plate, but not in the postseason. If the Blue Jays continue to struggle, Valmara might sneak up and win it. RF Danny Redd (.339 BA/15 HR/79 RBI/107 R), 1B Lynn Starr (.330BA/36 HR/112 RBI/114 R) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.283 BA/18 HR/68 RBI/92 R) will have to regain season form. They have only one homer between them in the playoffs. The Tucks are just not scoring enough runs. But the Blue Jays have won anyway because of the great pitching. Valmara's line-up was only so-so in the regular campaign: CF Teddy Szymanski (.287 BA/22 HR/88 RBI/80 R), 2B Ron Freiberg (.287 BA/13 HR/56 RBI/94 R), LF Sonny Oliver (.269 BA/18 HR/81RBI/73 R) and C Pete Gibbs (.264 BA/14 HR/79 RBI/50 R). The Vipers have homered 6 times in the playoffs, but also have trouble putting runs on the scoreboard. It looks like the pitchers will dominate in this Pro Cup Finals. Tuckanarra had the better seasonal record 96-58 and will have the home-field advantage in the best-of-seven series that gets underway tomorrow at Central Park Stadium. Valmara was 90-64. In the playoffs this year the Blue Jays are 8-1 and Vipers 8-2. As far as defense, both Tuckanarra and Valmara are just average with a .972 FA. Pro Cup Prediction: Tuckanarra's pitching and experience will prevail in 6 games. *The Islandian Times* Tuesday, October 3, 2023 2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals Hill's HR Nips Vipers, Tucks Win 3-2 In Opener - Game 1 A 32-year-old journeyman outfielder Dan Hill was the hero in the opening game of the 2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals... the unsung Hill smashed an eighth-inning homer to give Tuckanarra a 3-2 decision over the Valmara Vipers... until then the Blue Jays Quinn Starr and Vipers Clem Carmouche were locked in a 2-2 tie... Starr (4-0 2.70) was the winning pitcher... he stopped the V's on 5 hits and 2 runs, fanned 7 and walked 2... veteran closer Archie Desmond (1-0 1.35) struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in a perfect ninth for his 5th playoff save... Carmouche (2-2 1.96) went the distance, allowed 9 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2... Hill (.118), 1B Lynn Starr (.333) and 3B Koora Nawajuk (.314) led the Blue Jays at the plate with 2 hits each... 3B Bobby Greb (.316) drove in both of the Vipers runs. *The Islandian Times* Wednesday, October 4, 2023 2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals Tucks Tame Vipers 7-3 In Game 2 The Tuckanarra Blue Jays got the usual good pitching, but this time they got more offense, too... the results was an easy 7-3 triumph over Valmara in game two of the IPA Pro Cup Finals... it was the Blue Jays second win in a row at their home park, Central Park Stadium... Glynn Starr blanked Valmara 7-0 until the ninth, when they scored 3 times... Starr (3-0 2.25) went all the way and posted his third playoff win, permitting 3 runs and 8 hits, while striking out 9 and walking 3... Billy Ray (4-1 2.75) lost for the first time this postseason... he was hit hard by the Blue Jays for all 7 runs and 7 hits in 6-plus innings... a 4-run seventh kayoed him... little-used LF Vince Di Lazzaro (.571) provided the firepower for Tuckanarra... Di Lazzaro had a 2-run homer and a 2-run triple, batting in 4 runs in all... rookie 3B Koora Nawajuk (.316) also drove in 2 runs for the winners... Nawajuk leads the team in the playoffs with 11 RBIs. *The Islandian Times* Thursday, October 5, 2023 2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals V's Win In 11th On Ferguson HR - Game 3 After dropping the first two games of the IPA Pro Cup Finals in Tuckanarra, Valmara came home to War Memorial Stadium for game three and for three innings it looked bad... they dug a hole for themselves and fell behind 5-2, but rookie starter Johnny Vasylenko settled down and blanked Tuckanarra over the next five innings and the Vipers finally caught up with 2 runs in the fifth and one in the last of the ninth... then won it 6-5 on 1B Tyler Ferguson's 11th-inning homer... now Valmara is back in the hunt for the Pro Cup, trailing two games to one in the best-of-seven series... Strong relief by two rookies saved the day... Ivan Guzek hurled two scoreless innings and Chris Phillips (2-0 1.12) finished off the Blue Jays in the 11th for the win... Tuckanarra's number four starter Apari Churchill got the call due to an injury to Dean Peterson... Churchill kept the Blue Jays ahead most of the game and left with a 5-4 lead after 8 innings, but the bullpen bunch couldn't hold it... closer Archie Desmond (1-0 2.08) blew the save in the ninth and George O'Reilly (1-1 2.53) lost it in the 11th. The V's outhit the Blue Jays 11 to 10 with Ferguson getting 3 of them and driving in 4 runs... RF Gerry Kazmarek (.161) got 2 hits and scored 3 times... LF Sonny Oliver (.255) batted in 2 runs and now has a club-high 10 in the playoffs... 1B Lynn Starr (.317) and RF Danny Redd (.286) sparked the Tucks with solo homers and LF Dan Hill (.200) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs. *The Islandian Times* Friday, October 6, 2023 2023 IPA Pro Cup Finals - Game 4 Valmara Ties Pro Cup On Szymanski's HR The Tuckanarra Blue Jays were within one out of going up 3-1 in the IPA Pro Cup Finals, but they didn't get it - Valmara's Teddy Szymanski swatted a two-out 3-run homer in the bottom of the ninth at War Memorial Stadium to edge the Blue Jays 4-3 and tie up the series at two games apiece... it's a brand new series... Tuckanarra starter Quinn Starr fired a brilliant game and took a 3-1 lead into the ninth... Starr allowed only 2 hits in his 8 innings... but closer Archie Desmond (1-1 1.93) lost his first game of the season when Szymanski homered... none of the runs off Desmond were earned... Clem Carmouche started for the Vipers and worked a strong game, permitting only 4 hits and 2 runs with 5 Ks and 6 walks in 8 innings... Ivan Guzek (2-0 4.50) picked up the win, despite giving up a run in the top of the ninth... Valmara was outhit 6 to 4 by the Tucks.