ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

2091 TYCOBBIAN UNION FINAL REVIEW

Tycobbian North Division

RED-HOT HELLCATS FINISH STRONG TO HOLD OFF FEISTY RASCALS IN THE TU NORTH RACE
Five to six clubs contested in the Tycobbian North this year up until August when it turned into a two-team affair. Hartsdale was picked to win the division flag fairly easily by 7 games and 8 games over Blue Lake and Oxford in the preseason poll, but it didn't turn out that way. Last year's champion White River hung on to the Hellcats' heels the whole season before they lost out in a photo-finish by one game with three games to go. The pesky Rascals were chosen 4th in the preseason and forecast to wind up a distant 12 games behind in the pennant chase. Hartsdale sizzled the last two months with a 37-16 mark, while White River wound up a solid 30-23. The Rascals had a woeful 13-14 record in August, which cost them the title. The Hellcats have been a perennial contender, last winning the TU North pennant in 2088. This was their 6th division flag in the last decade. Hartsdale will be making their 22nd postseason appearance. They have captured 2 Pro Cup Trophies (2046 and 2063). The Hellcats have a good all-around ballclub and just might be a sleeper in the Pro Cup playoffs.

SUMMERLAND SIZZLES, WRAPS UP TU SOUTH PENNANT AT MIDYEAR
The baseball pundits forecast just a two-team tussle in the Tycobbian South this season with a close race between this year's favorite and last year's flag winner Summerland and second choice Southport. Only Arroyo Grande was given an outside chance of getting involved in the hunt. As it turned out the Sunsets ran away with the division, winning it by 10 games over the Sun Sox and the Suns. Summerland won its fourth division title in a row. This will be their 10th postseason appearance with no Pro Cups. The Sunsets are primed and poised to make a noise in the playoffs this year. The only thing they lack is the longball. Summerland will be a team to watch in the postseason. Their starting foursome is really something.

SF STALLIONS IN A RUNAWAY STAMPEDE IN TU EAST
It was a marvelous season for the South Fork Stallions with 106 victories, one of the best records of all-time in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Stallions won their third TU East title in a row and 4th in the last six seasons. Like Summerland they breezed to the pennant by a ridiculous 21 games over runner-up Tuckanarra. The Blue Jays were rated to end up way back in 5th place, 28 games off the pace. In the preseason poll only Ozarka (7 GB) was given any shot at the pennant. South Fork (20-7) opened up a solid 7-game lead over the Tucks (15-13) by July, never looked back and won going away. The Stallions have the hosses to win their 5th Pro Cup. South Fork previously won the overall IPA crown in 2025, 2042, 2073 and 2077. They will certainly be one of the Pro Cup favorites this season along with Summerland, reigning Pro Cup champion La Claire and Forest City from the Ruthlandian Union. South Fork has its all except for a good defense. That just might be their thorn in the flesh. Otherwise, the Stallions can do it all. However, they have a gigantic task to get by La Claire, Summerland and Hartsdale to get to the Pro Cup Series against Forest City, the heavily-favored Ruthlandian Union champion. This year's Pro Cup playoffs is chocked full of talented teams.

LA CLAIRE OUTRACES ROLLING HILLS FOR 3RD STRAIGHT TU WEST TITLE
By the halfway point in the Tycobbian West the pennant contenders had dwindled down to just 3 teams, La Claire, Rolling Hills and Bayview. The Lynx and the Racers were deadlocked for the top spot in the standings with the Vikings 6 games back. La Claire was favored to win comfortably over Kenwood (8 GB) and Rolling Hills (13 GB) in the preseason balloting. In July Bayview (6-18) faded out of the race and Kenwood (15-9) got into the hunt. The Wildcats didn't last long and fell out of the running by August (13-15). Heading into September La Claire only led Rolling Hills by 2 and a half games. They both fought hard the final month with the Lynx going 18-8 and the Racers hanging right with them with a 17-10 mark. La Claire finally prevailed by 5 games and copped their 5th consecutive TU West title. The Lynx have nabbed 2 Pro Cups in the last 4 seasons and they will be seriously seeking their 3rd IPA overall crown. No one has repeated as Pro Cup champion since the 2065 and 2066 Southport Sun Sox. La Claire just might be a better team this year with more home-run power and a tad better on the mound. I do declare it could be La Claire in the IPA postseason playoffs this year. It will take a rock-solid club to beat the Lynx this season and halt their repeat chances in the Pro Cup playoffs.

2091 Tycobbian Union Final Standings and Team Statistics

[Eugene Church]

2091 Final Tycobbian Union Batting and Pitching Leaderboards