ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Elite 8 Clubs Vie For Pro Cup, Beginning Tomorrow
Where are the traditional Pro Cup participants? Many playoff regulars didn't make it this year. The only returning club from last year is the defending Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake Crushers. There's plenty of new blood this time around. 7 of the 8 teams didn't play in the postseason last year. In fact many teams haven't been in the postseason for many seasons. It really is a wide open affair this year with a lot of new teams. Perennial powers like Ozarka, Eastshore, Turon, Ancona and Luxora failed to make the playoffs. Postseason play is something new for several teams. The Ginza Ninjas haven't been to the playoffs since 2003, 20 years ago. Elnora hasn't appeared for 17 years, since 2006, Middlefield for 17 years, since 2006 and Tuckanarra for 10 years, since 2013. Three others have seen action in recent years. Valmara last participated in 2017. Bay St. Clair and White River both played in 2021. Crystal Lake is the only former champion in the field. The Crushers took the Island title in 2020 and 2022.

The IPA Elite 8 Series open at four sites around Islandia tomorrow afternoon. In first round Ruthlandian action Crystal Lake will be at home against Valmara and Middlefield will travel to Elnora. Over in the Tyrobbian Elite 8, it will be Tuckanarra playing in Bay St. Clair and Ginza going to White River. Each Elite 8 Series will be best-of-seven.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 20, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Elnora Rocks Roosters 8-3 In Game 1
At Elnora's State Fair Park, the hometown All-Stars jolted Middlefield with 5 runs in the fifth and snapped a 3-3 tie en route to an 8-3 win in game one of the RU Elite 8 Series... after giving up a 3-run homer in the opening frame to CF Tom Daniels, 20-year-old rookie left-hander Lucien Vachon (1-0) blanked the Roosters the rest of the game, going all the way, striking out 10, walking 5 and allowing 7 hits... Middlefield rookie Glenn Tackett (0-1) was slammed for all 8 runs in 4+ innings and took the loss... Elnora had 14 hits and were led by 2B Michael Griffin with 2 hits and 3 RBIs, C Leon Carter with 2 hits and 2 runs batted in and LF Joel Simmons, who smacked 4 hits and scored 3 times.

Welch Whacks Vipers 7-2, Crushers Win Opener
24-game winner Duncan Welch of the defending Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake Crushers whipped Valmara 7-2 in the first game of the RU Elite 8 Series... Welch scattered 8 hits, fanned 5 and walked 2, while going the route... the Crushers got him off to a 4-0 lead in the first frame and were never threatened... Clem Carmouche (0-1) was the losing pitcher... he permitted 5 runs and 8 hits in 6 innings... LF Herm Taylor went 3-for-3, drove in 2 runs and scored 2 to top the winners... 1B Phil Gravelli cracked 2 hits, scored twice and batted in a run.

Ninjas Nip Rascals 3-1 In First Game
Opening up on the road didn't bother the Ginza Ninjas... three pitchers combined to hurl a 3-hitter to beat the White River Rascals 3-1 in the first game of the Tycobbian Elite 8 Series at rainy White River Stadium... winning pitcher Yutaka Yoshida (1-0) worked the first 6 innings, stopping the Rascals on 1 run and 2 hits... White River broke the scoreless tie with a run in the last of the fifth, but Ginza came right back with 2 runs in the top of the sixth and an insurance score in the ninth... reliever Ken Kichita pitched two perfect innings and closer Frank Beard tossed a scoreless ninth to preserve the win... Ron Hendrix (0-1) lost it, but pitched well, yielding just 2 runs in his 7 frames... Hendrix ha 6 strikeouts and issued 1 walk... SS Ralph Hart singled in the winning run in the sixth.

Tucks Trim Bucs 4-3 In Elite 8 Opener
On a gorgeous sunny day at Shoreline Park in Bay St. Clair, the Tuckanarra Blue Jays trimmed the Buccaneers 4-3 in the opening game of the Tycobbian Elite 8... RBI singles in the sixth by CF Thomas Parker and pitcher Quinn Starr put the Blue Jays up 3-1... they added another run in the top of the seventh and held off the Bucs, who mounted a serious threat in the bottom of the eighth... Starr chalked up the victory with help from closer Archie Desmond... Starr (1-0) pitched 8 innings, gave up 7 hits and 3 runs with 5 Ks and 2 walks... Desmond worked a flawless ninth for the save... 24-game winner Gary Moss (0-1) struggled in the loss... Moss was tagged for 4 runs and 6 hits in his 8 innings... rookie Moss walked 6 and struck out 4... the winner of this series will be the favorite to haul in the Pro Cup this year... Tuckanarra was voted the most likely to succeed in The Islandian Times annual Pro Cup poll... Bay St. Clair was the third choice.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 21, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series - Game 2

Dean Dazzles Elnora 6-0, Roosters Evens Series
In a peerless performance, Middlefield's Frank Dean shut out the Elnora All-Stars 6-0 and evened up the RU Elite 8 Series at a game apiece... the 33-year-old Dean (1-0) restricted Elnora to just 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4 and got his first-ever postseason triumph... rookie Will Hamilton (0-1) was tagged with the loss, giving up 7 hits and 5 runs in 5 innings... 3B Stu Butterworth paced the Roosters 9-hit attack with 3 hits and 3 runs batted in... Middlefield jumped off to a 3-0 lead in the opening inning and were never challenged by the All-Stars.

Ray Outduels Taylor 2-1, Vipers Tie Crushers
Underdog Valmara tied up the RU Elite 8 Series with Crystal Lake with a strong outing from Billy Ray, who outdueled Derek Taylor 2-1 in game two... Ray (1-0) held the Crushers to 5 hits and a run in 8 innings... closer Chris Phillips finished off Crystal Lake by blanking them in the last of the ninth... Taylor (0-1) went the distance, only permitting 2 runs and 5 hits... Viper 3B Bobby Greb opened up the scoring in the top of the second with a solo homer... in the last of the fourth the Crushers tied it 1-1 on a lead-off double by LF Herm Taylor, who moved to third on a ground-out and came in when Ray committed a balk... Valmara got the winning run in the fifth on rookie CF Teddy Szymanski's sacrifice fly.

Series Tied, Rascals Rout Ninjas 13-2
The White River Rascals broke loose with 14 hits and routed the Ginza Ninjas 13-2 and tied up the TU Elite 8 Series at a game each... LF Kenneth Kent (.375) had a career day with 8 RBIs, including a grand slam homer, 2-run triple and a 2-run single... on the mound rookie Paul Sardini (1-0) struck out 11 in 6 innings and blanked the Ninjas on 4 hits... two relievers finished the game for him... Sardini was up 4-0 when he departed... Ginza's runs came on late-inning solo homers by 1B Johnny O'Rorke (.500) and CF Augie Vitanza (.250), which was too little, too late... 20-game winning rookie Yuko Takata (0-1) left after 6 innings and surrendered 4 runs and 5 hits.

Nawajuk's HR Sinks Bucs 2-1, Tucks Lead By 2 Games
Rookie Koora Nawajuk sank the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers with a 2-run homer in the sixth inning to boost the Tuckanarra Blue Jays to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven TU Elite 8 Series... that gave Glynn Starr a 2-1 victory over Eddie Lasky in a very well-pitched ballgame... Starr hurled 8 innings and restricted the Bucs to just one run and 2 hits... Archie Desmond garnered his second playoff save by holding the Buccaneers without a run in the ninth... the Tucks outhit them 8 to 3.

[Eugene Church]

Sorry, I apparently did not post game 3 scores.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 23, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series - Game 4

Elnora-Middlefield Even, All-Stars Win Game 4
In game four of the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series, the Elnora All-Stars evened it up at two games each with an 8-5 comeback victory over the Middlefield Roosters... back-to-back homers in the seventh inning by 3B Jeff Matthews (.375) and 2B Michael Griffin (.286) put the All-Stars up 5-4... then Elnora finished off the Roosters with 3 more in the eighth, highlighted by Matthews' 2-run triple... winning pitcher Lucien Vachon (2-0 4.00) went the distance, but had a rocky start as he was tagged for 4 runs in the first 5 frames, but Vachon settled down and held Middlefield to just one run in the last 4 innings... overall the Roosters got to him for 5 runs and 8 hits... like game one, losing pitcher Glenn Tackett (0-2) was routed again, being ripped for all 8 runs in 7+ innings... Matthews paced Elnora with 3-4, scored 3 times and batted in 3... C Leon Carter (.333) drove in a pair of runs... the Roosters were led by 3B Stu Butterworth (.545) with 3 hits and 2 RBIs and 1B Allan Stewart (.333) with 2 runs batted in.

Valmara In Driver's Seat, Leads CL 3-1
For the third straight game, Valmara got standout pitching and now is close to knocking off the vaunted Crystal Lake Crushers in the RU Elite 8 Series... the Vipers eked out a 3-2 ten-inning win at home to take a huge three games to one lead in the series, putting the defending Pro Cup champ on the ropes and in danger of elimination... Clem Carmouche worked into the tenth and stopped the Crushers on 7 hits and 2 runs, while fanning 7 and walking 3... Ivan Guzek (1-0) got credit for the win when he induced a double-play ball in the top of the tenth when Crystal Lake had runners on first and second with one away and the score tied... the Vipers won it in the last of the tenth on a walk-off hit by 2B Ron Freiberg (.357), who doubled in CF Gerry Kazmarek (.176)... Kazmarek manufactured the game-winner by singling with one out, stealing second and continuing to third on a throwing error... for the second day in a row reliever T. D. Burnham (0-2 4.5) suffered the loss... Crusher starter Duncan Welch pitched 8 innings, permitted only 2 runs on 9 hits with 5 Ks and a walk... Valmara had the edge in hits 11-8.

Ninjas Win In 10, Tie Rascals 2-2
It's still a wide-open series in the Tycobbian Elite 8... Ginza squeaked by White River 3-2 in 10 innings, winning on a passed ball... that knotted it up at two games each... Ninja starter Yutaka Yoshida blanked the hard-hitting Rascals the first seven frames and held a 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold it... Yoshida hurled 8 sharp innings, limiting them to just 3 hits, struck out 5 and walked one... White River rallied with single runs in the eighth and ninth to send it into overtime... in spite of blowing the save in the ninth Frank Beard (1-0 3.00) chalked up the win... Beard struck out 4 in his 2 innings, allowed a run and 4 hits... Rascal starter Ron Hendrix went 7 nice innings and gave up 2 runs and 6 hits... the third White River pitcher lost it... Lou McKenzie (0-1) was the victim of the unearned winning score... Ginza collected 8 hits, while the Rascals only got 5.

Tuckanarra Sweeps BSC
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays polished off the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers in a four-game sweep to advance to the Tycobbian Union Final 4... Tuckanarra rebounded from a 4-run first-inning deficit to take game four 7-6, going ahead in a 3-run sixth... though outhit 14 to 11, the Blue Jays still managed to come out the winner... CF Thomas Parker (.417) sparked them with 2 hits, an RBI and 3 runs scored... 2B Joey Hilton (.308) pitched in with 2 hits, 2 runs and a run batted in... and C Josh Muller (.200) added a pair of base hits and one RBI... the pitching had dominated in the first three games, but not in this one... Quinn Starr (2-0 3.86) was credited with the victory, but it was quite shaky for him as he was ripped for 5 runs and 9 hits in 6 innings... fortunately his club gave him a 7-6 lead before he exited and saved him... the Blue Jay relievers didn't do a whole lot better as they gave up 5 hits in 3 innings, but just one score... losing pitcher Greg Moss (0-2 6.92) had another bad outing and was rocked for 7 runs in 5 innings... in the TU Finals Tuckanarra will play the winner of the Ginza-White River series, which currently stands all even at two games apiece.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, September 24, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series - Game 5

Hamilton Halts Roosters 7-1, Elnora Leads Series
The Elnora All-Stars upended the Middlefield Roosters on the road 7-1 to grab a three-to-two advantage in the Ruthlandian 8 Series... young right-hander Will Hamilton (1-1 2.57) halted the Roosters on 5 hits and C Leon Carter (.353) blasted a 2-run homer to snap a 1-1 tie in the 4-run sixth inning... Hamilton had 6 strikeouts and walked 4, while going the distance... vet Frank Dean (1-1 3.60) was the loser... Dean gave up 7 runs in 6 innings... the All-Stars had 11 hits and were led by Carter with a pair of hits, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored... plus 2B Michael Griffin (.421) smacked 4 hits in 5 tries.

Valmara KOs Crystal Lake In 5 Games
It's all over for the reigning Pro Cup champs... No repeat for the Crystal Lake Crushers... the 8th-seeded Valmara Vipers upset them in a 5-game series, stunning the Crushers 4-3 with two late-inning home runs in decisive game five... LF Sonny Oliver (.200) 3-run salvo tied the score in the last of the eighth and C Pete Gibbs (.357) won it with a two-out walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the ninth... that made a winner of Billy Ray (2-0 1.59), who pitched a complete game, allowing 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks... Crusher starting pitcher Dennis Taylor held the Vipers scoreless on 4 hits for the first 7 innings, but ran into trouble in the eighth... Mark Carey (0-1) lost it in the ninth... Crusher 1B Phil Gravelli homered in the fourth to give them a 2-0 lead... Crystal Lake added another run in the top of the eighth... Valmara will now advance to the RU Final 4 and take on the winner of the Elnora-Middlefield series.

Sardini Shines, Rascals Dump Ninjas 5-1
At Ninja Stadium in Ginza, 20-year-old Paul Sardini powered White River past Ginza 5-1 and gave the Rascals a one-game edge in the best-of-seven Tycobbian Elite 8 Series... White River leads three games to two... Sardini, who throws up to 100 mph, has allowed only one unearned run in 14 innings in the postseason... Sardini (2-0 0.00) limited the Ninjas to one run and 7 hits in 8 sharp innings... Carl Dreux closed it out with a scoreless ninth... taking the loss was Yuko Takata (0-2 6.55), who permitted 4 runs and 5 hits in 5 innings... the Rascals racked up 9 hits to 8 for the Ninjas... White River scored first in the third on a RBI ground-out by 3B Sammy Tucker (.368) and added 3 more in the fourth on SS Kenny Young's (.118) single and Sardini's (.400) 2-run two-bagger... Ginza finally got a run in the eighth on an RBI double by 1B Johnny O'Rorke (.353), making it 4-1... the Rascals wrapped up the scoring with a run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by 1B Sandy Scott (.000).

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, September 25, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series - Game 6

Elnora Bombs Roosters 10-3, Wins Series
Known for its fine pitching, it was the Elnora bats that sparkled in the Ruthlandian Elite 8 Series against Middlefield... the All-Stars erupted with 14 hits to maul the Roosters 10-3 in game six at State Fair Park in Elnora to capture the series four games to two... 1B Benny Cortazzo (.238) hammered 2 doubles and a single, driving in 4 runs... 2B Michael Griffin (.478) went 3-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored... and RF Travis Glass (.273) cracked a 2-run homer and scored twice... Hal Wilkerson (1-1 3.55) worked into the ninth for the win, yielding 3 runs and 9 hits, while Dicky Donato (1-1 5.54) suffered a painful loss... Elnora shelled him for 7 runs in 4 innings... The All-Stars will now face the Valmara Vipers in the RU Final 4... the 8th-seeded Vipers shocked defending IPA Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake in the first round... Elnora is seeded fifth in the playoffs.

French Blanks Ginza 5-0, WR In TU Final 4
20-year-old Don French hurled the White River Rascals into the Tycobbian Final 4 with a 5-0 shutout over the Ginza Ninjas at White River Stadium... the Rascals won the Elite 8 Series in six games and will now meet the Tuckanarra Blue Jays for the TU title... French blanked the Ninjas for 8 innings and then turned it over to Jim Ladendorf to complete the shutout... French fanned 10, issued 2 walks and gave up 7 hits... Ginza's ace Yutaka Yoshida matched French for 6 innings, allowing just one hit in a scoreless draw, but Ken Kichita was pounded for 5 runs and 3 hits in the eighth... PH Hal Littleton (.750) singled in the first score of the game... CF Jake Doerr's (.240) deep fly got run number 2 in... and 3B Sammy Turner (.348) hit the clincher, a 3-run clout... Ninja 1B Johnny O'Rorke (.476) went 4-4 in defeat... White River, a sixth seed, won only one of 6 regular season games against the tough, second-seeded Tuckanarra Blue Jays... the IPA Final 4 Series will begin Wednesday afternoon with Elnora hosting Valmara in the Ruthlandian final and the Blue Jays at home against the Rascals in the Tycobbian title series... During the regular campaign Valmara won two of the three games with Elnora.

[Eugene Church]

Map Of Islandia

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Around The Town In The IPA

VALMARA VIPERS

Owner: Viper Offshore Services, headed by Capt. Stanislaw Lem, Ruthlandia Navy (ret)

GM: J. Jackson Samuel
Manager: Jet Kazmarek

Valmara is located in the northeastern part of Valdar Island, a port town of 81,000 people on Valmara Bay, an excellent deep water harbor. A clash of a warm Valerian Ocean current and a cold Kelnyck Ocean provides for heavy early morning fogs.

The town began as a small fishing village in the 1880s and pretty much remained that way until the late 1930s. Valmara has never been considered a pleasant place to live with rocky soil, thick ocean fogs and moss growing everywhere. If not for its wonderful port, no one in their right mind would live there. The harbor and the port have brought commerce and jobs.The prime industries of Valmara revolve around the sea, be it catching and processing fish, servicing deep-ocean oil rigs or supporting the ten-ship navy of Ruthlandia.

With the threat of world war on the horizon in 1938, the Ruthlandian government established Valdarian Military Academy, a college for cadets and midshipmen studying for future service in the Ruthlandian Navy.

During the Second World War, Ruthlandia was swept up in the maelstrom in the nation's first and only war. The nation sent a regiment of troops and a fighter squadron to Italy, where they served with the 2nd Polish Corps at Monte Cassino. After the war, many Poles opted not to return to their Soviet-occupied nation and several hundred emigrated to Ruthlandia. Many of the ex-soldiers did not go far past Valmara when they got off the boat.

Over the next four decades, many Poles emigrated (or escaped) from behind the Iron Curtain to Ruthlandia. After two generations of migration and birth, more than half of the town is of Polish descent.

The Valmara Vipers are owned by Capt. Stanislaw Lem, RN (ret.) of Viper Offshore Services. He is not related to the noted author of the same name, which often causes non-native reporters much trouble. The owner likes to be called "The Captain" in public. Lem made a small fortune after his navy career operating ships and helicopters that serve offshore oil rigs. Thanks to the recent spike of oil prices, his company's profits have gone through the roof. The Captain had no problem coming up with money to buy a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance, the first pro baseball league in the Islands history. Valmara plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the North Division.

The Valmara Vipers play their games at historic old War Memorial Stadium. Amateur and industrial league teams have used it for years. It is dedicated to the memory of the 121 men from Ruthlandia killed in action in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. It is a old stadium built for football and soccer, but improvised and used for baseball since 1946. The Captain commissioned noted architectural company HOK to renew the old park into a suitable baseball park. He spared no expense in updating the old stadium with modern technology and conveniences. Yet it still retains the charm of an old stadium.

Game-Day Experience:

Like many successful immigrants, the people of Valmara have fiercely adopted the values of their new nation. Ruthlandia's flag is navy blue and green. In Valmara, it's just taken to a ridiculous extreme. The team’s colors are navy blue and green. So are the water towers, the dockyard cranes, the street signs and the new city hall.

Captain Lem wanted to build a new ballpark, but the city fathers persuaded him to just refurbish the old stadium in the old part of town to be an anchor for a new mixed residential-commercial district. Civic pride got the best of the Captain and he agreed to use War Memorial Stadium. The civic renewal project has been quite successful. Because there is little parking nearby, fans have to walk nearly a quarter mile to the park. On the way, they are treated to a dozen new restaurants, bars, and pubs. The integration into the neighborhood is considered to be charming. The revitalization project has brought a good deal of commerce and energy into the east side of town. The worst of the neighborhood was torn down. The city fathers have expanded the renovations and giving the old town a new look.

Food:
Fans love to scarf down bigos (cabbage and meat stew) and rye bread at cafes adjacent to the ballpark. Inside the park, everyone loves perogis (potato and cheese dumplings). Several years ago, The Captain persuaded Mama Kolski's Restaurant (home of the best perogis in town) to open a stand at his new ballpark and it was a big hit.

Beer sales are strictly regulated by city ordinance to two beers per person. This is due to the locals’ love of pale lagers that are 9% alcohol. Also, for a strange unknown reason, draft Coors is a trendy choice.

Ambiance:
Music at the ballpark is best described as LOUD. The Captain installed a very modern, very powerful sound system at the refurbished stadium.

More than a decade ago, a sound system operator substituted the Village People's "In the Navy" for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch and started a new tradition. It was a college night at an industrial league game, with plenty of middies from Valdarian Military Academy on hand and many crewmembers from the frigates Viper and Foxx. It was a smash hit, no doubt fueled by a hot autumn evening, cold pale lager and the nine-run Viper lead. Since then, "In the Navy" has been played during the seventh inning stretch of every game save one -- the first game at the revamped War Memorial Stadium. The Captain hates the tune and thought with the public reopening that the club could stop playing that vile song. During the Vipers first exhibition game, the fans nearly rioted and the stadium's debut was marred with a near five-minute interruption of boos before play resumed. Wisely, The Captain made a quick command decision and allowed "In the Navy" to be played during the 8th inning break...and during every game since. Of course, the Captain saw to it that "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was restored to its revered seventh-inning spot.

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

Mascot

The Captain (he considers himself a traditionalist) did not believe in having a mascot until he put his own money into the old ball park. At that point, he had to figure out how to attract every dollar possible from every fan possible. So Vippy and Vippa Viper came into being. They parade around the ballpark entertaining the fans and leading cheers, dances and songs. Viper fans are noted for hissing at the umpires and the opposing teams. The Captain sells a lot Vippy and Vippa apparel and memorabilia...even rents them out to for birthday parties at the stadium, when the team is on the road.

History

Baseball on Valdar Island had a late beginning. Due to the Island topography, climate and lack of mineral deposits it was not as desirable as the Ruthlandian mainland, so it was bypassed by the immigrants until about 1910, when the towns of Valmara, Ancona, Kilkenny, Taranto and Ranford sprang up. From 1910 to 1920, touring amateur baseball teams from the mainland would play games from time to time and the game was introduced slowly. But it did catch on. In a desire to assimilate with the rest of the country, where baseball was like a religion, the Valdarians took to the game with passion and fervor. Amateur baseball clubs and company-based teams began to organize in the 1920s. By the mid-1940's Valdar Island baseball was as good as the Mainland.

The Valmara Vipers trace their history from the frigate Viper, which had a team in the Naval League in the 1940's. When the amateur league players became semi-pros in the 1950s and worked and played baseball for companies, the Vipers were sponsored by Marine Midland Bank. The Captain played baseball for his service team in the 1960s and was active in the industrial leagues as a sponsor in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Since Captain Lem had been the captain of the frigate Viper in the late 1960s, when it came to naming his IPA franchise, it was a no-brainer. The Valmara Vipers were born.

The team was first managed by J. Jackson Samuel, a run-of-the-mill industrial league player that became a legendary manager. Samuel broke Jay Loman's record for the most Silver Whale Cups, given to the best amateur team on Valdar Island. Loman was the manager of the Ancona Red Elephants in the 1920s and won nine straight Valdar Island League titles. Samuel won 12 during his amateur career.

Samuel retired and turned the reins over to one of the all-time great Vipers, Jet Kazmarek. who was a .350 career hitter in his 16 IPA seasons. Kazmarek was an 8-time All-Star and won the batting title 9 times.

War Memorial Stadium (1946)

Capacity: 9,595

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 330
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 400
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 330
Right Field Line - 309

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Vipers Trounce All-Stars In Final 4 Opener
The unheralded 8th-seeded Valmara Vipers picked up in the first game of the Ruthlandian Final 4 where they left off in the first round - the Vipers beat a favored team with outstanding pitching... Valmara, fresh off upsetting defending Pro Cup titleholder Crystal Lake, got another strong outing from Clem Carmouche, who stymied 5th seed Elnora 7-1 on 3 hits... Carmouche (1-1 2.22) struck out 4 and walked 4 in a complete game... the Viper bats were blazing, too... they racked up 13 hits in trouncing the All-Stars... 2B Ron Freiberg (.364) and RF Gerry Kazmarek (.240) each had 3 hits and SS Tyler Ferguson (.238) and Pete Gibbs (.389) had two apiece... Kazamarek had 2 doubles and a triple, while Gibbs got the only homer in the game... it was a bad performance by Lucien Vachon (2-1 4.76)... Valmara battered him for 10 hits and 5 runs in 4+ innings... he went to the shower behind 5-0.

Blue Jays Beat Rascals 5-1 In Game 1
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays won the first game of the Tycobbian Finals, but suffered a serious loss, when starting pitcher Dean Peterson went out with blister on his throwing hand... nonetheless, the Tucks took the game 5-1 with some fine relief pitching... They are unbeaten in five postseason games this season... Gene O'Reilly and Tom Thomas came in trailing 1-0 and stopped the hard-hitting Rascals on 3 hits and no runs over the final 5 and two-thirds innings... O'Reilly (1-0) was the winner... he worked four and two-thirds innings and allowed just 2 hits with 4 Ks and no walks... Thomas gave up a hit in the ninth, but finished off White River and sealed the win... Peterson left in the fourth, trailing 1-0... Peterson surrendered 2 hits and a run with 4 strikeouts and a walk... Peterson could be out 1-2 weeks and miss the rest of the playoffs... Rascal RF Kenneth Kent's (.292) RBI ground-out got in the first run of the game... Paul Sardini made it stand up until the bottom of the eighth when Tuckanarra tagged him for 5 runs... Sardini (2-1 2.08) walked 6 and fanned 6 in the loss... he had a 2-hit shutout for 7 innings... 3B Koora Nawajuk (.333) put the Blue Jays ahead with a 2-run single, CF Thomas Parker's (.333) sacrifice fly made it 3-1 and PH Tony Nicholson wound up the scoring with a 2-run double.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 28, 2023

Around the Town in the IPA

TUCKANARRA BLUE JAYS

Owner: Jayden Thorpe

GM/Manager: Carlton "Lefty" Stevens

Tuckanarra is a rural town in southern Tycobbia with a population of 49,000. It is about 100 miles east of Bay St.Clair, 100 miles west of South Fork and 100 north of Denton City. Tuckanarra came into existence in the 1860s, when a group of Australians were shipwrecked on the coast near Bay St. Clair. Not having the means to continue their journey from Tuckanarra, Australia to England, they decided to move inland to set up homesteads. Included in their numbers were a few aboriginal families. These were farmers, cattle ranchers and sheep herders. Wheat, wool, beef and lamb were their main products. They named the town after their old hometown, Tuckanarra. The main industries in modern day Tuckanarra are woolen textiles factories and meat processing plants.

In the early 1900s, the game of baseball arrived in the form of exhibition games by the Chicopee town teams, who began to barnstorm the Islands. Initially just traveling to nearby towns like Denton City, Colchester and Tuckanarra, then expanding to Tycobbia, Ruthlandia and even to distant Valdar Island. The Aussies took a liking to the American game and began to form teams, which led to leagues. It took them almost 20 years to compete on the level of the other adjacent towns. By 1920 company leagues were flourishing in Tuckanarra. It stayed amateur and semipro for the next 80 years, when in 2001, the first pro baseball league in the Islands was established, the Islandian Pro Alliance. It was an attempt to get rid of all the corruption in the Amateur Baseball Alliance. Too many teams were just violating the rules by paying the players to just play baseball, but not requiring them to do any bonafide work for the company sponsors.

Since it is one of the smallest towns in the Islands, it seemed like Tuckanarra was going to miss out on the IPA. But local baseball aficionado, playboy and philanthropist, Jayden Thorpe, stepped up to the plate and put up the money for the franchise, the Tuckanarra Bluejays. He chose the name Bluejays simply because it is a tough and feisty bird...just like him. He thought it would make a good mascot, too. Thorpe made his fortune riding high tech stocks in the 1980s and 90s. He hired as GM and manager, Carlton "Lefty" Stevens, a great left-handed pitcher in the industrial leagues.

The Bluejays play at Central Park Stadium, which is located right in the middle of a beautiful park on the edge of the downtown area, which houses the Central Park Zoo. The zoo specializes in animals native to Australia and features a ferris wheel, carousel and a carnival midway. It is a favorite place for Tuckanarran families to while away weekend hours perusing koala bears, kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, platypuses, tasmanian devils and kookaburras. Central Park Stadium was constructed in 1948 and is still a great place to watch a ballgame. Even the aboriginal Australians have taken to the sport of baseball and have acquited themselves very ably over the years.

Food-wise, you won't just gorge out on vegemite (salty food paste) sandwiches and swig Australian beers like VB (Victoria Bitter) and Foster's at the ballpark, you can also get Aussie gourmet treats like barbecue, Tim Tam (chocolate biscuits) and a chocolate Pavlova (a fruit meringue dessert named for the Russian ballerina) with sorbet. Hot dogs, hamburgers and cokes are available, too.

Central Park Stadium (1948)

Capacity: 7,750

Dimensions:

Left Field Line - 340
Left Field - 370
Left Center - 400
Center Field - 385
Right Center - 400
Right Field - 370
Right Field Line - 340

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 28, 2023

2023 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Valmara Wins Again, Ray Stops Elnora 3-2
Underdog Valmara won its second in a row on the road in the RU Final 4 Series as Billy Ray stopped Elnora 3-2 at State Fair Park... it was Ray's third consecutive postseason victory... Ray (3-0 1.44) logged 8 innings, permitted 2 runs and 6 hits, struck out 3 and walked just one batter... closer Chris Phillips chalked his second save in the playoffs with a 1-2-3 ninth... Will Hamilton went all the way for Elnora, allowing only 1 earned run and 7 hits, while fanning 6 and walking 4... right off the bat the V's took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, scoring on an infield error and an RBI double by 2B Ron Freiberg (.346)... Valmara added another run in the third inning on a passed ball... RF Travis Glass tripled in both All-Star runs in the last of the sixth... SS Tyler Ferguson (.320) collected 3 hits and an RBI for the Vipers and CF Teddy Szymanski (.407) had 2 hits and scored twice... Glass (.345) had 3 hits for Elnora and CF Charley Beard (.235) a pair.

Blue Jays Up By 2, Skim By WR 3-2 In Game 2
Tuckanarra topped White River for the second successive game at home on the Blue Jays home field, Central Park Stadium... Tuckanarra got another stellar start from Glynn Starr, who only gave up 2 runs and 4 hits in his 8 innings... but Starr's (2-0 1.69) control was shaky as he walked 6... Starr had 6 Ks... closer Archie Desmond struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the win... Desmond has 3 saves in the playoffs... Starr also drove in the winning run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly, snapping a 2-2 tie... Don French (2-1 2.31) was the loser... he permitted 3 runs and 6 hits in 6+ frames... 6 walks caused French a lot of trouble... not many hits in the game... 7 for the Blue Jays and just 4 for White River.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 29, 2023

Around the Town in the IPA

ELNORA ALL-STARS

Owner/GM: George Costanza

Manager: Zoggy White

Elnora, population 101,000, is a port city at the edge of the Great Plains on the east coast of Ruthlandia near the Valerian Ocean. It is one of the earliest settlements in the Islands. Elnora is the site of grain processing plants, vast wheat fields and shipping docks. It was the home of the first amateur teams formed by companies and commercial enterprises in the 1920s. Players were given jobs by the companies and then given ample time off to practice their skills and to play games to publicize the companies' wares, services and products to the baseball fans of Ruthlandia.

The Elnora All-Stars are owned by a wealthy eccentric by the name of George Costanza. He made a fortune in reality television with a show "about nothing". In 2000, Costanza jumped at the chance to get a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance and immediately began signing up all of the amateur all-stars and named his team the All-Stars. But IPA commissioner, John Banson, refused to approve the contracts. Costanza had to go through the league draft to get his players like all of the other teams. Costanza appealed it all the way to the Islandian Supreme Court, but the league prevailed.

Elnora plays in the Ruthlandian Union and is in the North Division. The Elnora All-Stars play at State Fair Park, which is the site of the Ruthlandian State Fair each year. It is the largest midway and carnival in the Islands. State Fair Park is famous for serving great soups, made by the famous Elaine Benes Soup Company. Costanza imported a renowned and sometimes difficult chef from Argentina to manage his concessions. In addition to traditional baseball foods, wonderful soups like mulligatawny, lima bean, turkey chili, crab bisque, cold cucumber, corn and crab chowder are served up at the ballpark. A word of warning, don't ask for bread. The Chef demands that all customers in his restaurant follow his meticulous (and seemingly arbitrary) soup-ordering instructions to the letter, lest they be refused service by his insistent avowal, "No soup for you!"

Costanza did go out and get a great manager for the All-Stars. He hired one of the most successful industrial league manager in Ruthlandian baseball history, Zoggy White. He was only a semi-mediocre outfielder, but really made his mark as a manager. In reference to his success as a player versus his success as a manager, White once said, "Baseball has been good to me since I quit trying to play it." His style of play, which was nicknamed "Whiteyball," concentrates on pitching, speed, and defense to win games rather than home runs. White's baseball philosophy also includes a preference for patient hitters with high on-base percentages.

State Fair Park (1971)

Capacity: 12,500

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 335
Left Field - 370
Left Center - 399
Center Field - 415
Right Center - 399
Right Field - 370
Right Field Line - 335

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 29, 2023

2023 IPA Final 4 Series - Game 3

Elnora Salvages Game 3, Wiggles By Vipers 8-7
It was almost do or die for the Elnora All-Stars... they badly needed to win game three of the RU Final 4 with Valmara and the All-Stars did it... Elnora escaped with an 8-7 victory to cut the Vipers lead in the series to two games to one... It was Leon Carter's solo smash in the top of the ninth that put the All-Stars ahead 8-6 and they managed to survive Valmara's ninth-inning rally... Carter (.323) led Elnora with 3 hits and 3 RBIs... RF Travis Glass (.324) provided 2 RBIs and CF Charley Beard (.263) had two hits and scored twice... Valmara outhit Elnora 15 to 11 and were paced by LF Sonny Oliver (.273) with 3-5, 2 runs and 2 RBIs and CF Teddy Szymanski (.438) with 3-5, 2 runs and an RBI... it was a 1-1 pitcher's duel between Hal Wilkerson and Johnny Vasylenko for 6 innings, then Elnora piled up 6 runs in the seventh for a 7-1 advantage, but Valmara came right back with 5 in the bottom half of the inning... Wilkerson (2-1 2.75) managed to get the win, in spite of giving up 6 runs and 12 hits in 7 innings... only one of the runs was earned... Joel Bassett got the save despite allowing a run in the ninth... Vasylenko (0-1 4.32) was the losing pitcher... he allowed 7 runs and 9 hits in 6+ innings.

Tucks Take 3-0 Lead, Rascals Fall 4-3
For the third successive game Tuckanarra held the White River bats at bay and came away with a 4-3 triumph... the Blue Jays are unbeaten in 7 postseason games this year and only need one more win to wrap up the best-of-seven TU Final 4 Series and earn a trip to the Pro Cup Finals... Quinn Starr (3-0 2.86) went a strong 8 innings for the win, yielding just 2 runs on 6 hits... Starr left with a 4-2 lead... closer Archie Desmond surrendered a run in the ninth, but got the final out with the tying score on second... it was Desmond's 4th save of the playoffs... Tuckanarra socked 12 hits to 7 for the Rascals... SS Narra Gilyinju (.269) had 3 hits for the Blues Jays with an RBI... 3B Koora Nawajuk (.320) had 2 hits and a run batted in... RF Danny Redd (.227) and 1B Lynn Starr (.292) drove in the other two runs... CF Jake Doerr (.233), 1B Marty Blake (.250) and catcher P. J. Blake (.241) batted in the runs for the Rascals... Ron Hendrix (0-2 3.13) went the distance in defeat, striking out 6 and walking 2.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 29, 2023

Around the Town in the IPA

WHITE RIVER RASCALS

Owner: Tycalco, Hughie Howard, President and CEO
GM/Manager: Mick Cronyn

The city of White River, with 66,000 inhabitants, is situated in northwestern Tycobbia in the Appian Mountain foothills on the banks of the White River. Most of the time the river flows serenely, but there are occasional whitewater rapids. The river ends at Bayview on the western coast where it empties into the Kelnyck Ocean.

Prior to the mining business, this area was just wilderness. White River owes its existence and development to Tycalco. It is totally a company town. Its economy is dominated by the Tycobbian Aluminum Company, which was established in 1890. Bauxite, alumina and chemicals, found in abundance in the nearby Appian Mountains, are processed into a wide range of aluminum products and shipped to Bayview by water and Fairfax on Blue Lake to the south by rail for distribution. Tycalco’s towering corporate skyscraper can be seen from White River Park across the river in downtown White River. Architecture in the area is modernistic. However, the White River Rascals play at one of the lovely vintage and nostalgic ballparks in Tycobbia. It was built in 1924.

White River Park is a lovely old-time ball park with a scenic and wonderful view of its river namesake just beyond the centerfield fence. The 18-foot high aluminum wire fences down the left and right field lines make it a little more difficult for hitters to hit the ball into the stands, which are only 310 feet away. Tycalco originated company amateur leagues to provide the community and its employees and their families with recreational activities. When the Islandian Pro Alliance was established, the company purchased a franchise. The White River Rascals play in the Tycobbian Union North Division.

A trip to White River Park is something really special. Not only is it a baseball park, it is also a state-of-the-art amusement park. Before and after games amusement rides can be enjoyed by young and old, complete with good food, fun rides, fireworks and music concerts of all genres, all subsidized and underwritten in part by Tycalco,

The Rascals are administered and managed by former pitcher Mick Cronyn. He was 196-201 with a 3.76 ERA in his 15 seasons with White River.

White River Park (1924)

Capacity: 5,685

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 310
Left Field - 340
Left Center - 370
Center Field - 410
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 340
Right Field Line - 310

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 30, 2023

2023 IPA Final 4 Series - Game 4

V's Win Third Time In 4 Games, Top Elnora 4-0
30-year-old lefty Clem Carmouche blanked Elnora 4-0 to send underdog Valmara up three games to one in the Ruthlandian Final 4... Carmouche (2-1 1.62), an 18-game winner in the regular season, was on top of his game as he sat down the All-Stars on 5 hits, fanned 6 and walked 3... 3B Teddy Rudek (.300) busted up a scoreless battle between Carmouche and Lucien Vachon with a 3-run clout in the bottom of the fifth... 2B Ron Freiberg (.343) upped it to 4-0 with a solo shot in the sixth... Vachon (2-2 5.20) was the loser... the V's tagged him for all 4 runs and 9 hits in 5 innings.

Rascals Torch Tucks 15-4, WR Still Alive
White River took advantage of Tuckanarra's number four starter and torched the Blue Jays 15-4 to remain alive in the Tycobbian Final 4... the Rascals snapped the Blue Jays playoff-winning streak at 7... Tucknarra still has a huge 3-1 edge in the series and needs only one win to capture the TU championship and advance to the Pro Cup Finals against the Ruthlandian champ... White River chalked up 10 hits, 6 homers and 8 walks in the runaway... the Rascals scored only 6 runs in the first three games of the series... 1B Marty Blake (.286) and catcher P. J. Blake (.303) each hammered 2 homers... RF Kenneth Kent (.281) and 3B Sammy Tucker (.316) also went deep... Marty Blake and Kent drove in 4 runs apiece and P. J. Blake had 3 RBIs... Blue Jay 20-game winner Dean Peterson had to skip this start because of a bad blister... Apari Churchill (0-1) started in his place and lasted only 4 innings...Churchill was the loser as he was slammed for 5 runs in 4 innings... he departed trailing 5-3... White River starter Paul Sardini (3-1 2.60) copped the win, but struggled with 7 walks... Sardini went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs and 5 hits with 6 Ks... Sardini was ahead 7-3 at the time... the Rascals put the game out of reach with 6 runs in the seventh.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 1, 2023

2023 IPA Final 4 Series - Game 5

Valmara Pro Bowl Bound
After 20 years of frustration and failure, the Valmara Vipers will get another chance for a Pro Cup, symbolic of pro baseball supremacy in Islandia... Billy Ray pitched a whale of a game, stopping Elnora 2-1 in game five of the Ruthlandian Final 4 Series to take the series four games to one and advance to the IPA Pro Cup Finals... Ray (20-11 2.21) was obtained in a trade with the Beechwood Bobcats and the stubby 30-year-old right-hander has made a huge difference in his first season with the Vipers and was one of the main reasons they made the playoffs... in the playoffs Ray (4-0 1.36) has been even better... he worked 8 strong innings for the win, yielded 5 hits and a run with 5 strikeouts and 5 walks... closer Chris Phillips got his 3rd postseason save with a scoreless ninth... LF Sonny Oliver (.282) saved the day for Valmara with a 2-run double in the last of the eighth that wiped out a 1-0 Elnora lead... Will Hamilton (1-3 2.03) pitched very well, too, but suffered another hard-luck loss... Hamilton held Valmara to 5 hits and 2 runs with 5 Ks and 4 walks... in the top of the eighth, the All-Stars broke the scoreless tie when 2B Michael Griffin worked Ray for a bases-load base on balls... but Hamilton couldn't hold it... Valmara last played in the Pro Cup in 2003, when they were swept by the Turon Typhoons... the Vipers will meet the winner of the Tuckanarra-White River series.

Tucks Take Rascals In 5, Play V's In Pro Cup
For the first time in a decade, Tuckanarra will be in the IPA Pro Cup Finals... the Blue Jays finished off the White River Rascals 5-2 in game five to win the Tycobbian title four games to one... the Tucks snapped a 2-2 deadlock in the top of the ninth on PH Vince Di Lazzaro's 2-run homer and back-up SS Kevin Morris' solo blast... they came back-to-back off loser Arnie Montel (0-1 7.50) and made a winner out of Blue Jay bullpen ace Archie Desmond (1-0 1.59), who logged a perfect eighth... Gene O'Reilly recorded his 2nd save by retiring the Rascals in order in the last of the ninth... Tuckanarra starter Glynn Starr gave them 7 good innings, holding White River to 5 hits and 2 runs with 5 strikeouts and no walks... Don French started for the Rascals, but left early because of a long rain delay... French pitched 4 and two-thirds innings, gave up 2 runs and 3 hits with 4 Ks and 2 walks... the teams were tied 2-2 when French left the game... White River took an early lead on a double by Kenneth Kent (.278) in the top of the second frame... Kent went to third on a ground-out and scored when 2B Vinny Uhrich (.200) grounded out to second base... Tuckanarra took a 2-1 lead on 3B Koora Nawajuk's (.290) 2-run double in the bottom half of the inning... in the fourth the Rascals evened the score at 2-2 when RF Hal Littleton (.318) doubled and scored on catcher P. J. Blake's (.297) two-bagger... the top-seeded Blue Jays will be challenged by the eighth-seeded Valmara Vipers, who have come into their own in the postseason... the Pro Cup Finals will get underway Tuesday afternoon at Central Park Stadium in Tuckanarra... the Blue Jays have played in only one Pro Cup and lost it in a sweep to the powerful Far Mountain Redhawks in 2012... the Redhawks won the Island championship three years running 2011-2013.

[Eugene Church]

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.

[Eugene Church]

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.

[Eugene Church]

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.