ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by HRBaker

Bless you Eugene; 84 is a milestone I'm only at 77, so looking forward to catch up to you

I agree with you that the traffic here on the forums is significantly down. If anything, I think actually Covid propped it up for a while when so many were home, but I think the "Emigration" to Reddit is the primary cause of our ghost town. The younger generation is all about instant-communication and anything that requires one to wait for an answer is considered too slow. Dynasties are like magazines - no one reads them any more.

That said, however, your IPA is a nobel prize winner, Eugene. I remember your struggles when you started, but you persevered through those growing pains and gave us 15 years of a story we won't forget.

Keep up the league Eugene. I wish I had your perseverance

HRB

Thank you for the kind words, HRB... much appreciate them.

Hang in there... just stay young at heart and keep playing OOTP... and in no time at all, someone will be wishing you a Happy 84th birthday, too.
You never know... but it is plausible I just might be the happy birthday wisher.

Just so you know, Home Run Baker just might be back in action for the Philadelphia Athletics in my new Major League Baseball Premier League, coming soon to a ballpark near you... it's my ultimate dynasty league using the original 16 MLB franchises... I will begin it with the best players on each team during the first two decades... as I need new players, I will go to the third, four, fifth, sixth and seventh decades.... Babe Ruth and all the great stars will soon be back in action on the Dynasty Forum here.

A wise person on the Forum... yep, we do have quite a few... once told me that the reason to do a dynasty league is for the personal enjoyment... not for the number of views and popularity.

From the bottom of my heart... thanks to all of you who have made the Islandian Pro Alliance possible and so enjoyment for the last 16 years... I am going to try to do 100 seasons and then retire the league... but I don't intend to retire... the MLB Premier League will keep me busy.

Kudos to each and every one of you.

We only have 20 more seasons to go!

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, October 19, 2080

WHITE RIVER AND WYNNAMAC VIE IN PRO CUP FINALS
The White River Rascals will represent the Tycobbian Union in this year's IPA Pro Cup Series... they will be opposed by the Ruthlandian Union champion, the Wynnamac Sundowners... the best-of-seven series will begin this Sunday afternoon at White River Stadium... the Rascals will have the home field advantage... White River will be going for their first-ever Pro Cup Trophy... the Macs have hauled in the esteemed prize on four occasions... most recently in 2076 and 2070... the Rascals have made the Pro Cup Finals four times in 2021, 2049, 2050 and 2055 and lost them all.

#6-ranked Wynnamac disposed of this year's Pro Cup favorite, the Crystal Lake Skippers, in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series... the Sundowners defeated the Sailors four games to two... White River, rated #3 in the Pro Cup Poll, swept past unheralded and #8-ranked Arroyo Grande in six games for the Tycobbian Union crown.

Tycobbian Union Title Series Recap

WHITE RIVER OUTSHINES THE SUNS IN TU TITLE ROUND
When it was needed, the White River pitching corps rose to the occasion and finished off the upstart Arroyo Grande Suns four games to two in the Tycobbian Union Title Series.

Arroyo Grande started off in grand style with a 9-1 thrashing of the favored Rascals in the series opener... the Suns hammered them for 14 hits and 3 home runs... Nicky Carrick walloped a pair and Vern Garvin got the other roundtripper... unbeater hurler Dean Colburn (3-0/2.42 ERA) chalked up his 3rd victory this postseason, holding White River to 6 hits... Shorty Meaux (1-2/4.00 ERA) lost it, shelled for 7 runs in his 6 innings.

In game two White River evened the series at one game apiece, edging the Suns 5-4 in 10 innings... it was a pretty good pitching duel between Fuzzy Swearingen (1-0/2.00 ERA) and Desmond Croft (0-1/3.38 ERA)... neither figured in the decision... Babe Coleman cracked a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th to claim the game.

The scrappy Suns rebounded in game three at home to go up two games to one... trailing 7-6 in the last of the 9th, Denny Bradburn belted a 2-run roundtripper to sink the Rascals 8-7... Bradburn sparked Arroyo Grande with 4 runs batted in... Babe Coleman went deep for White River and drove in 3 runs.

White River nipped Arroyo Grande in game four 5-4 to tie the best-of-seven series at two games each... the Rascals had to rally again in the late innings... the Suns were ahead 3-1 when White River erupted for 4 runs to take the game 5-4... J. R. North's 3-run smash in the top of the 8th frame was the big blow in the game... the winning hurler was Bubby Dancer (2-1/4.50 ERA)... the lost went to Enrique Esteban (1-2/3.33 ERA)... Esteban had it his way until North unloaded on him.

The Rascals continued to roll in game five... Shorty Meaux (2-2/3.82 ERA) stood out on the mound, went the distance and stopped the Suns 5-2 on just 4 hits, putting White River on top in the series three games to two... the Rascals gave the Suns' ace Dean Colburn (3-1/2.83 ERA) his first postseason loss this season, tagging him for 5 runs and 8 hits... Colburn also tossed a complete game... Jake Bourland homered and drove in 2 runs for the Rascals... Babe Coleman plated a pair of runs, too... Nicky Carrick sent one out of the park for the Suns and batted in both of their runs.

In game six of the TU Title Series White River and Fuzzy Swearingen finished off this year's postseason darling, the Arroyo Grande Suns, 6-3 to cop the series four games to two and advance to the Pro Cup Series... the Rascals took charge of the game in the middle innings, went ahead 6-2 and never faltered ... in a solid performance Swearingen (2-0/2.33 ERA) went all the way to wrap up the series and a spot in the revered Pro Cup Series... the Suns only runs came on solo swats by Miggy Montalvo, Tony Langhome and Nicky Carrick... the Rascals racked up 11 hits, led by Viggo Frandsen, J. T. North, Denny Schlesinger and Jake Bourland... James Lundin went deep for them... Frandsen topped the Tycobbian Union with a .357 BA.

Ruthlandian Union Title Series Recap

MACS WHACK FAVORED SKIPPERS IN RU FINALS
For the second straight round the Wynnamac Sundowners sneaked up and knocked off a favored opponent... and this time, it was a big one - the #1 choice to win the IPA Pro Cup - the Crystal Lake Skippers... the Macs smacked the Sailors four games to two, in spite of losing two of the first three encounters, finally wrapping it up with three straight victories.

Game one went to Crystal Lake 6-5... it was tied 4-4 heading into the 9th frame... the Macs nabbed the lead in the top of the 9th 5-4 on Ethan Youngman's double and an RBI base hit by Max Crossman... however, Crystal Lake's Gino Lorenzetti decided it with a 2-run single in the last of the 9th... both hurlers worked complete games... Lloyd Mason (1-1/10.02 ERA) copped the win with the defeat given to Lando Vargas (1-1/2.65 ERA)... Wynnamac's Julius Goodson cracked the game's only roundtripper, a 2-run shot... the Skippers had the edge in hits 13 to 11.

The Macs won a slugfest in the second game, tying the series at one game each with a 10-7 triumph... the Sundowners socked 16 hits, while the Skippers collected 13... Wynnamac pounded three homers, one each for Max Crossman, Jamie Blevins and Chris Blake... Crossman and Alex Durham drove in 3 runs apiece... reliever Otto Sikis (1-0/0.00 ERA) saved the day and picked up the win for the Sundowners with 4 scoreless innings in the middle of the game... Crystal Lake starter Lew McGrane absorbed the loss, slammed for 7 runs in 6 innings... Culver Jensen paced the Skippers with 3 runs batted in, while Gino Lorenzetti and Jimmy Ransom chimed in with 2 each.

On the road in Wynnamac, Crystal Lake got a standout performance from 20-game winner Angelo Marinello in game three... he stymied the Macs on 6 hits and went the route in the 4-2 victory and put the Skippers up two games to one in the series... Culver Jensen led them at the plate with 3 hits, including a home run... Wynnamac only runs off Marinello came via roundtrippers... solo shots by Ethan Youngman and Jurgen Rainer... Clifton Branch (1-1/3.96 ERA) also fired complete game, but he was touched for 4 runs and 9 hits with 7 Ks and 2 walks.

The Wynnamac attack again woke up and clobbered the Skippers 11-0 at home in the fourth game, thus deadlocking the series at two games apiece... Noel Arboneaux (2-0/1.73 ERA) was also brilliant on the hill, shutting down the Skippers on just 2 hits... Alex Durham paced the hit parade with 5 runs batted in... Ethan Youngman added 3 more scores and Jurgen Rainer pitched in with 2 RBIs... the Macs got 14 hits in the game... everybody in the batting order got at least one base knock.

The Sundowners' strong pitching continued in game five giving them a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series... 34-year-old veteran Lando Vargas outpitched Lloyd Mason 3-1... Vargas is 2-1 in the postseason with a strong 2.08 ERA... during the season he went 14-10 with a 3.49 ERA... it was Mason's second defeat... he is now 1-2 with an 8.16 ERA... Mason was much better in the regular season at 14-11 with a fine 2.99 ERA... both clubs got 10 hits apiece... Max Crossman sparked the Macs with a homer and 2 ribbies... Julius Goodson batted in their other run... Gino Lorenzetti plated the only score for the Skippers.

Wynnamac won their third game in a row to sink the Pro Cup-favored Crystal Lake Skippers in the Ruthlandian Union Title Series... the Macs won the series four games to two and will now advance to the IPA Pro Cup Series against the Tycobbian Union champion, the White River Rascals.

Game six at Crystal Lake was again dominated by pitching... Wynnamac's Shotgun Clayburn (1-2/7.77 ERA) went 7 innings and held the Skippers to one run and 5 hits en route to 5-2 victory... he was 9-9 with a 4.02 ERA this season... Lew McGrane (0-3/5.70 ERA) went the distance in defeat, dropping his 3rd playoff game... the Sundowners only managed 5 hits, but 2 of them went out of the park... Mike Mantle homered and drove in 4 runs... Jurgen Rainer has a solo roundtripper.

[Antonin]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Thank you for the kind words, HRB... much appreciate them.

Hang in there... just stay young at heart and keep playing OOTP... and in no time at all, someone will be wishing you a Happy 84th birthday, too.
You never know... but it is plausible I just might be the happy birthday wisher.

Just so you know, Home Run Baker just might be back in action for the Philadelphia Athletics in my new Major League Baseball Premier League, coming soon to a ballpark near you... it's my ultimate dynasty league using the original 16 MLB franchises... I will begin it with the best players on each team during the first two decades... as I need new players, I will go to the third, four, fifth, sixth and seventh decades.... Babe Ruth and all the great stars will soon be back in action on the Dynasty Forum here.

A wise person on the Forum... yep, we do have quite a few... once told me that the reason to do a dynasty league is for the personal enjoyment... not for the number of views and popularity.

From the bottom of my heart... thanks to all of you who have made the Islandian Pro Alliance possible and so enjoyment for the last 16 years... I am going to try to do 100 seasons and then retire the league... but I don't intend to retire... the MLB Premier League will keep me busy.

Kudos to each and every one of you.

We only have 20 more seasons to go!

Glad to see that this dynasty is still going strong! Keep on keeping on, Eugene!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Antonin

Glad to see that this dynasty is still going strong! Keep on keeping on, Eugene!

The Good Lord willing and those two creeks don't rise, EC will keep on keeping on!

Thanks for the nice words, Antonin.

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, October 19, 2080

WHITE RIVER AND WYNNAMAC TANGLE FOR IPA SUPREMACY IN PRO CUP SERIES
The field in the Islandian Pro Alliance postseason playoffs has been honed down to just two clubs, the White River Rascals, the Tycobbian Union champion, and the Wynnamac Sundowners, the Ruthlandian Union titlist... both clubs have survived the rigors of a 154-game season and two rounds of high-class competition, where the best eight teams go head-to-head for the coveted Pro Cup Trophy... White River has never won the Pro Cup in its history... the Macs on the other hand have claimed it four times and reached the Pro Cup Finals an additional three times... Wynnamac won it in 2008, 2055, 2070 and 2076... the Sundowners came close in 2044, 2054 and 2060... this will be their 24th postseason appearance... the White River Rascals are making their 17th appearance in the IPA playoffs and have nothing to show for it... however, they did come close four times in 2021, 2049, 2050 and 2055.

The IPA Pro Cup Series gets underway tomorrow afternoon in White River at White River Stadium... the Rascals will have the home field advantage, based on their slight edge in season record... they were 92-62, while the Macs posted a 91-63 mark.

2080 IPA PRO CUP SERIES TALE OF THE TWO CITIES

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 21, 2080

WR RASCALS SLIGHT FAVORITE OVER MACS IN IPA PRO CUP SERIES... PLAY GETS UNDERWAY TODAY
It's Islandian Pro Cup Series time all across the Islands... the best-of-seven series for the whole shebang opens today at White River Stadium in White River... the favored Rascals, champion of the Tycobbian Union, will host the Wynnamac Sundowners, the champion of the Ruthlandian Union, for the baseball supremacy in Islandia.

#3-ranked White River and #6-choice Wyannamac are both fresh off 4-2 victories over #1 Crystal Lake and #8 Arroyo Grande in the TU and RU Title Series... the baseball pundits favor the Rascals because of their home-run power and scoring ability... White River had a big edge over Wynnamac in the regular season with 178 roundtrippers... the Sundowners only cracked 97 out of the park... the top guns for the Rascals are James Lundin, Olaf Erikson, Viggo Frandsen and Babe Coleman... all of them hit 20 or more homers... the Macs only had one... that was Julius Goodman with 26.

On the hill in the opening game will be right-hander Clifton Branch (22-7/3.13 ERA) for the visiting Macs and manager Nioka Inkamara... getting the call from Rascal skipper Butch Slattery will be southpaw Jimbo Munsey (17-12/2.96 ERA)... both of them are well-traveled... Branch has played for 3 teams in his 6 seasons, while Munsey is on his 4th team in his 10-year career.... Branch has been the most effective with a 72-33 mark and a 3.42 ERA... Munsey has found a home in White River, but he is only 70-79 with a modest 4.09 ERA... both of them have made 5 postseason starts this year... Branch is 2-2 with a 4.17 ERA... Munsey is 2-3 with a 3.59 ERA.

According to The Islandian Times Pro Cup Poll, White River will cop the series four games to two.

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 21, 2080

RASCAL MUNSEY MOWS DOWN SUNDOWNERS IN PRO CUP OPENER, FRANDSEN HR WINS IT
The first game of the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series opened with a flourish at White River Stadium in White River... it was the hometown Rascals that came away with a hard-earned 3-2 victory over the Wynnamac Sundowners... fine pitching by Jimbo Munsey paved the way... it was 20-year-old Viggo Frandsen's blast in the 7th inning that provided the difference in the game.

Jimbo Munsey and Cliff Branch battled on the mound and both hurled complete games... Munsey stopped the Macs on 6 hits... Branch was even better... the Rascals only got 4 hits.

In the 4th frame White River broke the scoreless tie... Babe Coleman and J.R. North singled to place runners on the corners... a wild pitch scored Coleman... later in the inning the Rivermen padded their lead to 2-0 on an RBI base hit by Dan Bayless.

Wynnamac got back into the fray and tied it up at 2-2 in the top of the 7th on Max Crossman's 2-run rountripper... that set the stage for Frandsen to win the game in the last half of the inning... it was Fransen's 3rd postseason homer... he was the Tycobbian batting king with a .357 BA... it was also Crossman's 3rd dinger in the playoffs.

The second clash of the best-of-seven series is also slated for White River Stadium... the Macs ace Noel Arboneaux (21-7/2.82) will take the mound, opposed by Shorty Meaux (17-12/3.52)... Wynnamac plays much better at home (56-22) than they do on the road (36-41)... White River is a comfortable 46-31 at both places, at home and out of town.

[ChromEagle]

This is a great read, I always look forward to seeing your updates on your dynasty Eugene!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by ChromEagle

This is a great read, I always look forward to seeing your updates on your dynasty Eugene!

Thank you for your nice words, ChromEagle.

Glad you enjoy it.

I enjoy recapping the seasons and the playoffs.

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, October 22, 2080

MACS SMACK RASCALS IN SHOOTOUT TO EVEN PRO CUPSERIES
It wasn't easy... Wynnamac jumped off to a 6-0 lead, but then had the fight of their life in game two of the IPA Pro Cup Series... the Macs hung on and nicked the White River Rascals 8-7 to even the series at one game each... Sundowner shortstop Jurgen Rainer lit up the Rascals for 3 hits and 5 RBIs... Rainer had a double and a homer (4th)... Alex Durham (2nd) also homered... and Ethan Youngman also cracked 3 hits and scored 3 times... Rainer and Youngman were vital parts of the 2076 Pro Cup victory over San Alejo Montaneros in an exciting 7-game classic.

Wynnamac ace Noel Arboneaux survived 12 walks and still got the victory, his 3rd in the postseason, but it was ugly as it gets... lucky for him the Macs gave him plenty of runs, while the Rascals left 11 runners on base... the top run producers for White River were Denny Schlesinger and Babe Coleman with two ribbies apiece.

The teams will take a day off for travel... they head to Wynnamac's home grounds at Granger Field where they are 55-22 this season... game three starters are
Bubby Dancer (16-9/2.96 ERA), a 35-year-old right-hander getting the nod for White River... Dancer is a 16-year veteran with a 183-165 mark and a 3.44 ERA... Wynnamac also has an experienced hurler Lando Vargas (14-10/3.49 ERA), now in his 15th season... overall his record is 163-125 with a fine 3.27 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, October 24, 2080

WR RASCALS MOVE AHEAD OF MACS IN 12-INNING HITFEST
The bats were booming again in the IPA Pro Cup Series... White River walloped Wynnamac 9-8 in 12 innings and moved ahead in the series two games to one... shortstop Jake Bourland boomed a game-winning bomb in game three at Granger Field in Wynnamac and gave the Rascals a one-game edge over the Sundowners.

Bourland led the White River 17-hit parade with 3 hits, 3 runs scored and the game-winning blast... but he had plenty of help from Viggo Frandsen with a 3-run smash... 4 hits, 2 RBIs and 2 runs from James Lundin... 3 hits by Denny Schlesinger... and 2 RBIs from J.R. North.

There wasn't a whole lot of pitching, but Elizar Belasario and T.D. Calkins held Wynnamac runless the last 3 and two-third frames... a key element in the win.

The Sundowners never gave up... the Macs fought back from an 8-4 deficit in the late innings... they pounded out 16 hits, led by Jamie Blevins with a homer, double and 4 RBIs... Max Crossman added 2 hits and 2 runs batted in... and Jurgen Rainer had another great day with 4 hits and 2 runs scored.

The next two ball games are set for Granger Field in Wynnamac... portsider Fuzzy Swearingen (5-4/4.77 ERA) will twirl for White River and manager Butch Slattery... Wynnamac manager Nioka Inkamara will counter with another lefty Shotgun Clayburn (9-9/4.02 ERA)... the Rascals are 18-15 this season against southpaws, while the Macs handle them very well... the Sundowners are 44-22.

Should they be necessary, game six and seven will be played at White River Stadium.

[Eugene Church]

Friday, October 25, 2080

RASCALS TAKE 3-1 PRO CUP LEAD BEHIND JOURNEYMAN SWEARINGEN... MACS BACKS AGAINST THE WALL
Game Four of the IPA Pro Cup Series at Granger Field in Wynnamac, pitted two journeymen of modest accomplishments, but they pitched like headliners... White River behind 11-year veteran Fuzzy Swearingen skimmed past 7-year veteran Shotgun Clayburn and his Wynnamac Sundowners 3-1 to take a three-games-to-one edge in the best-of-seven IPA title series... the Macs backs are against the wall... they need to win 3 straight to overcome White River... nope, this doesn't happen very often in the Pro Cup Series... this has occurred only twice in 79 seasons... Far Mountain did it in 2011 and Kenwood did it in 2014.

Fuzzy Swearingen fired an almost masterpiece, going the distance and shutting down the Sundowners on just 2 hits with 6 strikeouts and 4 bases on balls... the Macs didn't get a hit until the 8th inning... this was his 3rd victory in the postseason with no defeats... in 4 starts Swearingen has limited teams to a .180 batting average and a 2.00 ERA... Shotgun Clayburn more than held his own, tossing 8 solid frames, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits with 5 Ks and 2 walks... it was a scoreless duel for the first 5 innings... Clayburn dropped to 1-3 in the playoffs with a 6.68 ERA in his 4 starting assignments.

White River broke the ice with a run in the top of the 6th... first baseman Denny Schlesinger doubled in James Lundin for the first run of the game... in the 7th Jake Bourland sent a 2-run shot soaring out of the park and gave the Rascals a 3-0 lead... Wynnamac finally put a run on the scoreboard in the 8th when pinchhitter Tasmin Beasley doubled and later scored from third on a fielder's choice... White River tried to get him out at home, but the throw was late... Beasley was the 2076 Pro Cup Series MVP and sparked the Macs to their 4th Pro Cup Trophy.

Once again the fifth game will be played at Granger Field in Wynnamac... 22-game winner Clifton Branch will work for the Sundowners... it will be 17-game winner Jimbo Munsey on the mound for the Rascals... Munsey got the best of Branch 3-2 in the first game of the series.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, October 26, 2080

MACS HANGIN' TOUGH, NARROW RASCALS PRO CUP LEAD TO 3-2, GAME 6 SET FOR WHITE RIVER
The White River Rascals are oh so close to winning their first-ever Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup -- all the Rascals need is just one more victory in the best-of-seven series -- however, the Wynnamac Sundowners are hanging tough -- they shaved the Rascals' lead to three games to two with a hair-raising and heart-stopping 6-5 victory in game five at Granger Field... a 3-run homer by third baseman Alex Dunham and a solo swat by catcher Mike Mantle paced the Macs... Sundowner ace Clifton Branch (2-2/4.17 ERA) toughed out the win... he allowed 14 hits in his 8 innings, along with 5 runs, but he stranded 11 baserunners... closer Clancy Planchard finally finished the Rascals off in the 9th, although they threatened with 2 hits to start the inning... Planchard knuckled down and retired the next three batters, 2 on strikes.

Jimbo Munsey (2-3/3.59 ERA) was done in by 4 unearned runs in the 3rd frame... he was tagged for 11 hits and all 6 scores.

The Macs were outhit 16 to 11... Julius Goodson rapped 3 bingles... Mike Mantle and James Glisson chimed in with a pair of hits apiece.

White River was led by Viggo Frandsen and Babe Coleman with 3 hits each... J.T. North slammed a 2-run homer and Lynn Elkins walloped a solo salvo... Coleman also had 2 RBIs.

Game six is slated for White River Stadium... it will be a rematch of game one and game four starters... Noel Arboneaux ( 21-7/2.82 ERA) takes the hill for manager Nioka Inkamara and Wynnamac... toeing the slab for manager Butch Slattery and White River will be Shorty Meaux (17-12/3.52 ERA)... the Rascals won game one 8-7, while the Sundowners nabbed game four 6-3.

Should it be needed, game seven will also be in White River.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Monday, October 28, 2080

WHITE RIVER FINALLY PRO CUP CHAMP AFTER 79 YEARS
Over 8 decades the White River Rascals had come close on 4 previous occasions, this time they accomplished the cherished mission -- White River is the 2080 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Champion -- the best team in the Islands for the first time in its 79-year history... the Rascals finished off the spunky Wynnamac Sundowners 6-3 in game six at White River Stadium to nab their first Pro Cup Trophy four-games-to-two.

Though Shorty Meaux is only 5'5", he really stood tall on the hill, firing a complete game... the diminuative southpaw held the Macs to 3 runs and 6 hits with 6 Ks and 2 walks... Meaux was 3-2 in the playoffs this season with a 4.31 ERA... but he certainly came through in the series finale.

White River right fielder Babe Coleman put them ahead to stay with a 3-run clout in the bottom of the 3rd that pushed the Rascals in front to stay 4-2 and gave Meaux plenty of runs enough to carry the day... center fielder James Lundin also belted one out of the park... it was the 3rd postseason homers for Coleman and Lundin.

The 37-year-old Meaux has posted a stellar 16-year career, all with White River... he is 231-151 with a superb 2.89 ERA... in the playoffs Meaux is 8-6 with an impressive 2.80 ERA.

Wynnamac starter Noel Arboneaux (3-1/3.38 ERA) took the loss, shelled for 5 runs in his 6 innings... it was his first defeat of the playoffs.

Center fielder Jamie Blevins paced the Macs with a roundtripper and 3 RBIs.

It was a sweet, sweet victory for White River skipper Butch Slattery... as a hurler he endured three of the four Pro Cup Finals where the Rascals lost out... "Words can't describe my feelings... not only for myself, but for the players and for the townspeople."... Slattery was a 13-year veteran, all with the Rascals, chalking up a 137-111 mark and a 3.42 ERA from 2047 to 2059... in four postseasons he pitched in 27 games, made 16 starts and wound up with a 7-9 record with a 3.76 ERA... White River fell in the Pro Cup Finals in 2021, 2049, 2050 and 2055.

Wynnamac manager Nioka Inkamara in his 15th season was disappointed with the outcome, but was pleased that his Sundowners came close to winning the team's 5th Pro Cup Trophy... the Macs last won it in 2076... "Too much offense... White River did a fine job at the plate... we knew going into the Pro Cup Finals they would be hard-to-handle... just like Crystal Lake, the Rascals are a potent force."

Inkamara was a HOF outfielder for the Macs and the Bayview Vikings from 2038 to 2051 with a career .303 BA, 488 homers and 1385 ribbies... Inkamara was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2057.

The Macs pushed White River to the max in the series... four of the games were decided by one run, one game by two and one by three... the Rascals only outscored the Sundowners 34-28 in the tight duel.

White River was only the 3rd choice to win the Pro Cup in the press and media, while Wynnamac was way down the list at #6... Crystal Lake was the odds-on pick with the Kenwood Wildcats rated the second-best team... the Skippers fell in the RU Title Series to Wynnamac in six games, while the Wildcats dropped their series to Arroyo Grande in the TU First Round.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, October 29, 2080

RASCALS COLEMAN CLAIMS PRO CUP MVP HONOR
White River right fielder Babe Coleman became of age in 2080... not only did the 7-year veteran blossom and have the best season of his career, he sparked the Rascals to the Tycobbian North Division flag and crowned the year with the 2080 Pro Cup Trophy, the very first one White River has ever won... and to top it off, Coleman won accolades as the Pro Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player... he edged out 5 of his teammates for the award.

During the postseason Coleman batted .319 in 19 games, leading White River to 12 victories and 7 defeats... he went 23 for 72 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 15 RBIs and 10 runs... first baseman Viggo Frandsen was the runner-up in the MVP poll, winding up with a .284 BA, 21 hits in 74 ABs, 4 roundtrippers, 11 RBIs and 13 runs in 19 games... third in the poll was journeyman pitcher Fuzzy Swearingen... he had a very impressive postseason, going 3-0 in 4 starts with an excellent 2.00 ERA... teams only hit .180 against him... Swearingen won several critical ball games... in the fourth spot was shortstop Jake Bourland... in 19 games he hit .280 with 21 hits in 75 plate appearances with 5 two-baggers, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 11 ribbies and 11 runs scored... catcher J.R. North finished fifth in the voting... in his 19 playoff games he batted a lowly .185, but he swatted 4 out of the park and drove in 18 crucial runs... last but not least, was first sacker Denny Schlesinger... he wound up sixth in the MVP voting... he hit .278 for average in 19 games, collecting 20 for 72 at the plate with 8 doubles, 5 RBIs and he scored 16 runs.

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, October 30, 2080

LONGTIME SKIPPERS SKIPPMAN AND MOORE GARNER IPA BEST MANAGER HONORS
Bert Skippman of the Ranford Bulls and Johnny Moore of the East Point Panthers have been honored as the 2080 IPA Managers of the Year by The Islandian Times... it was Skippman's second time to gain the award... he also named in 2076... Moore is a first-time honoree.

Bert Skippman guided the Ranford Bulls to a great season in the Ruthlandian North Division... in his 22nd year his Bulls rose up from fourth place 82-72, 9 GB in 2079 to first place with a shining 102-52 mark, the best record in the IPA this year... two other manangers received support in the voting, Nioka Inkamara of Wynnamac and Mickey Walsh of Sligo... the Macs improved from 76-78 in '79 (4th Place/11 GB) to the RU East Division title with a 91-63 record... the Sundowners prevailed over the Eastshore Cotton Kings by 2 games... Walsh and his Rovers upped their record from second place and 81-73 (8 GB) to the top spot in the RU West with a sparkling 96-57 mark... Sligo handily won the pennant by 12 games over Fort Benton.

East Point soared out of nowhere this season to 92-62 to cop the TU East title by a single solitary game over the Ozarka Naturals... the Panthers improved under Johnny Moore, improving greatly from 69-85 and 13 games off the pace in 8th and last place... East Point hadn't been to the playoffs for 29 years and didn't have a winning mark for the last 23 seasons... in his 19th season Moore just barely skimmed past Arlon skipper Lanny Gray in the Tycobbian Manager poll... Gray took his Champions from a lowly 49-105 (40 GB) and 8th place to 86-68 and second place, just 7 games off the pace... Arlon has made the postseason since 2058 and hadn't had a winning season since 2064... Moore and Gray both were truly deserving of the best skipper award... no one else in the Tycobbian Union got any votes.

Here are all of the other IPA award winners for the 2080 season.

Ruthlandian Union Awards


Tycobbian Union Awards

[Eugene Church]

Whew!
Yeah, buddy, it's good to be back reporting on the IPA on a fairly regular schedule... it's nice that the game playoffs have been fixed... hope it stays fixed for the 2081 season coming soon.

Maybe regular postings will get some of the folks back... I don't blame you for not looking in... it took forever to fix the problem.