Saturday, September 1, 2091
"SURGE AND SOAR" OR" SLUMP AND SWOON" IN SEPTEMBER
September is the "do or die" time in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The "Surge and Soar" teams are Ancona, Far Mountain and Valmara in the Ruthlandian North, Crystal Lake and Claxton in the Ruthlandian South, Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian East and Fort Benton in the Ruthlandian West. The clubs in the "Slump and Swoon" category are the division leaders, LaGrange, Valka, Marston and Forest City.
Over in the Tycobbian Union only two of the four divisions are in question. South Fork and Summerland pretty much won their races a month or so back at midseason. However, the TU North still has a race between first place Hartsdale and runner-up and defending champion White River. The TU West is still in question. Pro Cup champion La Claire is being hard-pressed by second place Rolling Hills.
CRUISING AND PERUSING THE ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE
RUTHLANDIAN UNION SEPTEMBER OUTLOOK
GATORS GOING VERY WELL ATOP RU NORTH
The LaGrange Gators have taken command in the RU North with two solid months of play. The Gators (31-21) are playing very well and should be able to hold off three challengers who are playing good baseball, the Ancona Jumbos (30-23), Far Mountain Redhawks (28-24) and the defending division champion Valmara Vipers (28-24). Valmara was the preseason choice to prevail in the RU North and to three-peat. LaGrange is looking good, but they may feel some pressure before the race is over.
PRESEASON PICK VALKA PLAYING VERY WELL IN RU SOUTH
Three teams are in the chase in the RU South. Preseason pick Valka has a slight lead over second place Crystal Lake (26-26). Third place Claxton (28-24) will have to "surge and soar" to win it. The Blackhawks (34-19) have surged in recent months and look to be the best team down-the-stretch. Last year's RU South winner Belair Beach (24-28) has slumbered recently and fallen out of contention.
MARSTON COMFORTABLY AHEAD IN RU EAST
No one is expecting the Marston Nine to nosedive in September and give away the Ruthlandian East flag to runner-up and preseason choice Wynnamac. The Nine have rolled up a 34-19 in recent months and solidified their spot in the standings. The Macs have tried hard to keep up with Marston, posting a pretty good 28-24 mark, including 18-10 in August, but that is just not good enough to catch the Nine, much less overtake them. Marston was red-hot last month with a super 20-8 record.
FORMIDABLE FIREBIRDS CAN'T SHAKE CLINGING CANNONS
Forest City is a powerhouse. The preseason-favored Firebirds are on their way to a 3rd RU West title in a row, but they have not been able to shake off the scrappy Fort Benton Cannons, who are still staying within striking distance. Both clubs have avoided a bad month this season. In the last few months the Firebirds have been blazing hot at 32-21 --- still the Cannons are clinging fairly close, 5 games behind. Fort Benton is playing well, too, with a 29-23 mark in July and August. No other clubs are in the hunt. Colfax and Rocky Rapids had their seasons killed with one bad month each. Both of them have done well recently with 33-20 and 29-23 respectively. A September surge would not help either team win the RU West. They would have to really soar and Forest City would have to really slumped for the Black Sox or Snappers to have any chance. Nope --- t'aint gonna happen. Fort Benton has really been surprising this year. Still --- they are not going to catch and overtake the powerful Firebirds either.
