ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2053

PRO CUP UP FOR GRABS
Playoff time in the Islands is magical... the 8 division winners tangling in a free-for-all for the IPA Pro Cup trophy, the Holy Grail of Islandian baseball... and it all begins tomorrow afternoon... in the Ruthlandian Union, the defending IPA champion Middlefield Roosters (99-55) will be at home at Middlefield Park against the Wynnamac Sundowners (89-65)... and the Taranto Tars (103-51), the winningest club this year, host the Waleska Westerners (90-64) at the tiny bandbox, the Palazzo di Sport... on the western half of the main Island in the Tycobbian Union, the Turon Typhoons (101-53) will entertain the visiting Oxford Red Caps (91-63) at Typhoon Stadium... and the Midway Wolves (100-54) take on the Denton City Redbirds (89-65) at Joe Wolf Stadium... all series in the Pro Cup playoffs are best-of-seven with the team with the best regular season record given the home field advantage.

Last year in the championship series Middlefield topped the East Point Panthers in six games, winning four games to two... the Roosters got to the Pro Cup Finals by defeating Wynnamac 4 games to 2 in the RU Division Series... and just barely beat out the tough Taranto Tars in the Ruthlandian Championship Series 4 games to 3... longball firepower and clutch pitching proved to be decisive for the Roosters... they were the prime reasons they captured the IPA title.

In 2052 pitching ace, Carroll Collier, led Middlefield to the peak of perfection in the Islands... he led them to the IPA Pro Cup title, emblematic of the best team in Islandia... it has been 47 long years since they won their first in 2005... for his postseason efforts Collier was voted the 2052 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player, edging out teammates Trip Agarn and Natty Colclough in a close vote for the honor... Collier registered a brilliant 6-0 record with sensational 1.46 ERA, posting wins in the 7th game of the Ruthlandian LCS over tough and tenacious Taranto... and finishing off powerful East Point in the 6th game of the Pro Cup Finals... in the regular season Collier chalked up a 16-8 mark with a 3.57 ERA, but he came alive in the postseason and stepped it up to a super level... in his career Collier is 193-138 with an impressive 2.99 ERA.

Winding up second in the Pro Cup MVP balloting was Middlefield's fine 24-year-old slugger, Trip Agarn... the Rooster left fielder paced them at the plate with 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored and a .299 BA in 19 games... coming in third in the voting was Middlefield's 29-year-old second baseman Natty Colclough, who batted .350 with 7 roundtrippers, 15 ribbies and 21 runs scored... during the regular campaign Agarn batted .299 with 37 HRs and 117 RBIs and Colclough hit .254 with 21 HRs and 90 RBIs.

And all of them will be back again defending their title and trying to take the Pro Cup in back-to-back years... other returning star sluggers Rufus Blackburn, Johnny Wyatt and Stan Radzikowski will also be in the Rooster lineup... on the hill the Rooster rotation will feature veteran stars James Long, Hollis Dale and Larry Wheelhouse... Middlefield will probably be the favorite to win the Pro Cup this year... but it will be a daunting task with the likes of Taranto, Midway and Turon.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 23, 2053

ROOSTERS RULE IN PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
There could be a rooster ruling the roost again in the Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs... or there could be a wolf in the henhouse... whoever survives will be put to the test... Middlefield won the IPA crown last year with its home-run power, but it was a struggle getting past Wynnamac, Taranto and East Point... they lost 7 games last year in the postseason... it certainly will be another hassle this year for the overall IPA champion.

The powerhouses Middlefield, Taranto, Midway and Turon will be the odds-on favorites with their high-scoring attacks and strong pitching... the other playoff clubs Wynnamac, Waleska, Denton City and Oxford are lacking one of the two elements needed to win - offense or pitching.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES released its annual Pro Cup Predictions today... the baseball experts are ranking the reigning IPA champion Middlefield Roosters #1, followed by the Taranto Tars #2, Midway Wolves #3 and Turon Typhoons #4... the also-ran will be the Wynnamac Sundowners, Waleska Westerners, Denton City Redbirds and the Oxford Red Caps.

#1 MIDDLEFIELD ROOSTERS (99-55): Strong bats, pitching and very good defense make them a formidable foe in the IPA playoffs... Middlefield has won two Pro Cups... might be #3 this year... but it won't be easy to get past Wynnamac's fine pitching staff in round one or by Taranto in the Ruthlandian Championship Series... James Long (23-12/2.37), Hollis Dale (22-10/3.30), last year's Pro Cup MVP Carroll Collier (12-12/3.19), along with sluggers Rufus Blackburn (45 HR/114 RBI), Johnny Wyatt (40 HR/133 RBI), Natty Colclough (30 HR/91 RBI), SS Stan Radzikowski (28 HR/102 RBI) and Trip Agarn (26 HR/95 RB) are ready to roll again... the Roosters played well in September after a cool August... Middlefield has made the playoffs 16 times, winning 2 Pro Cups in '05 and last year.

#2 Taranto Tars (103-51): best record in the IPA this year... team features standout staff, a lineup full of fireworks and an excellent defense... last year fought Middlefield tooth-and-nail in the Ruthlandian title series before losing four games to three... twirlers Armani Pizziconi (25-9/3.0-9), Valerio Rossi (15-9/2.68), Freddy DeAngelis (17-12/3.17), Louis Toscano (3-4/2.13/17 saves/36 G) and a big batch of batters like Renzo Caruso (.37 HR/85 RBI), Niccolo Parisi (.30 HR/73 RBI), Kuma Toyota (29 HR/73 RBI) and Gaetano Palombo (18 HR/61 RBI) are poised and ripe for winning its second Pro Cup trophy... they won the first one in 2015... the Tars are really playing well and with a lot of momentum... may have been the best team in the IPA the second half of the season... this will be the 6th time Taranto has made the postseason... the Tars won their only Pro Cup trophy in 2015... the long-suffering fans are ready for another one.

#3 Midway Wolves (100-54): could have the best rotation and bullpen in the IPA with Yank Atchley (15-7/2.39), Charlie Chase (27-10/2.51), Will DeBerry (25-10/3.25), Beau McCloud (18-10/3.38), Rocket Rhodes (7-4/2.22/13 saves/36 G) and Jeffrey Leonard (4-2/0.36/8 saves/21 G)... some good batters, too, with Kax Clark (.368 BA/17 HR/88 R), Daryl Vale (.332/21 HR/62 RBI), Tom Goodnight (.289 BA/21 HR/86 RBI) and Jamey Southwick (.263 BA/25 HR/70 RBI)... Midway is just an average team with the gloves... only had a so-so month in September...first playoff appearance in years and years... last pennant came in '27... the Wolves are really hungry for their first Pro Cup trophy.

#4 Turon Typhoons (101-53): one of the best franchises in the IPA with 16 postseason appearances and 4 Pro Cups (2003, 2006, 2009, 2018)... talented club that is heading in the playoffs playing very well... an impressive attack with good contact hitters, can score runs, but lacks longball power... good defensively... top-notch starters... fair bullpen... offensive leaders are Stoyo Yuro (.316 BA/18 HR/81 RBI), Gaylen Clive (.327 BA/3 HR/61 RBI), Joel Guidry (.289 BA/16 HR/96 RBI) and Doyle Ashcroft (.279 BA/19 HR/114 RBI)... top staffers are Nate Scottsdale (25-10/2.77), Glenn Avery (23-12/3.39) and rookie Yancey Hedges (8-4/2.81), who missed the first half of the season with an injury... not as highly heralded as the trio of Middlefield, Taranto and Midway.

#5 Wynnamac Sundowners (89-65): team possesses some fine starters in Sammy Hayes (23-24/2.26), Simon Northcott (22-10/2.50), James Duncan (15-14/2.79) and George Medworth (11-11/3.49)... not a lot in the bullpen... gave IPA champ Middlefield fits last year in the postseason, but it wasn't the pitching... it flopped last year in the playoffs... gave up 14 homers and 56 runs in 6 games and lost the series 4-2... the Sundowners are a modest hitting club with Dickie Key (.299 HR/21 HR/96 RBI), Enos Benham (.353 BA/13 HR/60 RBI) and C Jethro Bibbs (.301 BA/7 HR/58 RBI) the best of the lot... WMACs have average fielding... not likely to get past powerful Middlefield in opening round... the one and only Pro Cup came years ago in 2008... Wynnamac will be making its 9th postseason appearance.

#6 Waleska Westerners (90-64): same boat as Wynnamac... fairly good pitching corps, but not a lot of offense to go with it... defense is just fair... the Westerners put up a fight last year against Taranto in the round one, but lost 4 games to 2... might be even harder this year as the Tars really are a fine team with Pro Cup potential... but if they are right Kenny Foster (20-12/3.11), Vince Gibson (25-11/2.57), Trey Earnest (13-10/3.18) and Lou Carlson (11-15/3.45) could throw a monkey wrench into the Tars' title aspirations... the pitchers will have to do it all... runs don't come easy for Waleska... no power, but decent contact hitters... defense is just fair at best... most productive batters are Boomer Barnes (.275 BA/14 HR/70 RBI), Jingo Jernigan (.303 BA/8 HR/65 RBI), Richie Fry (.331 BA/1 HR/42 RBI) and Hisashi Yamaguchi (.289 BA/3 HR/57 RBI)... the Westerners have done well in the Pro Cup playoffs winning 3 IPA crowns (2028, 2037, 2039) and have made the postseason 9 times... this will be the third year in a row they have won the division flag... but it will be a tough task to take Taranto.

#7 Denton City Redbirds (89-65): two veterans Flash Stringfellow (21-10/2.53) and Johnny Wingate (21-8/2.67) make the Redbirds a dangerous team... if Harry Elliott (14-13/4.08) has his good stuff, they could challenge the Midway Wolves... Denton City ranked third in pitching and fourth in scoring runs, but is just an average fielding club... the top guns at bat are Harper Catlow (.262 BA/34 HR/104 RBI), Vincent McCloud (.313 BA/23 HR/110 RBI), Tristan Redgrave (.351 BA/17 HR/72 RBI), Val Anniston (.295 BA/22 HR/71 RBI) and Ronnie Lambert (.290 BA/11 HR/58 RBI)... the Midway hurlers better be ready... the Redbird bats will test them... Denton City will be making its 10th postseason appearance, the first in 13 seasons... it has never won a Pro Cup trophy.

#8 Oxford Red Caps (91-63): the Red Caps played well in the second half of the season and are ready for the playoffs... Turon was favored over them in the first round action last year, but Oxford knocked them off in a mild surprise 4 games to one... the Red Caps will still be underdogs this year... but Oxford still has the same explosive attack that eliminated Turon last season... the Red Caps tied Middlefield for the top-scoring team in the IPA this year... Look out, Turon, Ozzy Ackerman (.252 BA/40 HR/111 RBI), Ethan Cuthbert (.329 BA/32 HR/89 RBI), Dwayne Wagner (.282 BA/24 HR/99 RBI), Cliff Nilssen (.315 BA/1 HR/49 RBI) and Mito Fujikawa (.272 BA/14 HR/79 RBI) are coming back at you again... on the mound Oxford has one truly fine pitcher Rudy Mellancamp (27-3/1.97), who posted one of the best season's ever in IPA history... but he can't win it all by himself... he will need a lot of help from Lou Ellison (19-15/3.73) and Homer Keaton (8-4/3.97) to upset the Turon Typhoons again... the Red Caps have better-than-average pitching and just average defense, but their bats are blazing... Oxford has only made the playoffs 6 times in its history, most of them long ago in the early years of the IPA... they have captured one Pro Cup... that was long ago, too, in 2007... their series against Turon just might be a toss-up.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 25, 2053

IPA KING ROOSTERS REIGN IN OPENER
It was clear, sunny and 83 - a perfect day for baseball at Middlefield Park - and the hometown fans left happy... they saw their Middlefield Roosters, the reigning king of IPA baseball, shut out the Wynnamac Sundowners 3-0 in game one of the Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series... 33-year-old right-handier James Long stopped the Sundowners cold on five hits, struck out nine batters , while walking just two... 23-game winner Long was the master of the day, outpitching another tough customer 23-game winner Sammy Hayes... a two-run homer by CF Johnny Wyatt in the opening frame was all that Hayes allowed in seven strong innings.,, last year's Pro Cup champion could only muster seven hits off two Wyannamac pitchers.

LOSBY HR SAVES THE DAY FOR TARS IN GAME 1
It was a breezy day at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto with the wind blowing in, where the Tars took a classic pitchers' duel from the Waleska Westerners 2-1, winning the game on an 8th-inning two-run smash by RF Cody Losby... his liner gave Valerio Rossi the victory over Vince Gibson... in eight sharp innings Rossi restricted the Westerners to just three hits, whiffed five batters and walked only one... Louie Toscano garnered the save with a flawless 9th... Gibson was almost as good as Rossi, permitting just two runs on seven hits, while going the distance... Waleska snapped the scoreless game in the top of the 6th when SS Jingo Jernigan tripled and scored on 3B Richie Fry's RBI grounder.

MELLANCAMP MOWS DOWN TURON IN 1ST GAME
Coming off a brilliant 27-3 season Oxford's Rudy Mellancamp rolled up a 7-3 win over the tough Turon Typhoons in the first game of the best-of-seven Tycobbian Division Series at Typhoon Stadium, going the distance and scattering eight hits, while fanning seven batters and walking none... 25-game winner Nate Scottsdale didn't have his best stuff and the Red Caps whacked him for 13 hits and five runs in six innings... Scottsdale departed on the short end of a 5-0 score... Turon is one of the Pro Cup favorites, along with current champ Middlefield, Taranto and Midway... 3B Cedric Qualls and C Giles Gilliam sparked the Red Caps with home runs... Qualls drove in three runs and Gilliam two.

REDBIRDS NIP WOLVES IN OPENING GAME
In the opening game of the Tycobbian Division Championship Series at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway, the Denton City Redbirds nipped the Wolves 5-4 by builting up a 5-2 margin at the end of five frames and then holding off a late rallly... the Redbirds outhit them 11 to 8, while Flash Stringfellow, a 21-game winner, got the best of 27-game winner Charlie Chase... Stringfellow notched the win, working seven innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs... he departed with a 5-3 lead... Razzy Richmond saved it for him with one and two-thirds scoreless innings... he retired all five batters he faced... losing pitcher Chase was socked for nine hits and five runs in seven frames.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 26, 2053

ROOSTERS EDGE WMACS WITH 4 HRS
Wynnamac took the lead 4-2 in the top of the 9th on a three-run blast by Tate Bretton, but it wasn't good enough... IPA champion Middlefield came right back with back-to-back roundtrippers and stole a 5-4 victory and are now up two games to none in the best-of-seven RU Division Championship Series.... LF Rufus Blackburn (.250) crashed a two-run homer to tie the score at 4-all, then RF Trip Agarn (.222) sent the game-winner soaring out of the park to the delight of the Rooster fans at Middlefield Park... two 20-game winners tangled and kept it close... Simon Northcott left after seven innings and held Middlefield to two runs on seven hits, while Hollis Dale worked into the 9th, stopped the Sundowners on two runs and eight hits in eight and one-third innings... Norman Coventry won it despite being slammed for two runs in the top of the 9th and lost the lead... Garan Paran suffered the loss... the Roosters ripped four homers... besides Blackburn and Agarn, 2B Natty Coclough (.200) and CF Johnny Wyatt (.571) also went deep... it was Wyatt's second clout in the series... Wynnamac skipper Jerry Meeks is hoping to get back into the series as it switches to the Sundowners' home field, Granger Park, for the next three games.

TARS UP 2-0 ON ARMISTEAD'S BLAST IN 14TH
Six homers flew out of the tiny Palazzo di Sport in Taranto with the hometown Tars blasting four of them and coming away with a hard-earned 6-5 triumph over the Waleska Westerners... light-hitting SS Dan Armistead crushed one in the bottom of the 14th frame to send Taranto to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Ruthlandian Division Championship Series... Mario Martinelli got credit for the win with three shutout innings... CF Renzo Caruso (.400) hit two out of the park for the Tars and batted in three scores... 3B Gaetano Palombo (.222) also added a solo shot... 2B Richie Fry (.100) kept the Westerners in the game with a three-run clout in the top of the 9th to send it to extra innings... RF Boomer Barnes also hit one out for Waleska.

TYPHOONS EVENS TU SERIES, AVERY WINNER
Turon's Glenn Avery evened the series with Oxford at one game apiece, hurling a 5-1 victory in game two at Typhoon Stadium... Avery, who won 23 games in the regular season, tamed the Red Caps on six hits, struck out five and walked two batters, while going all the way... 3B Joel Guidry (.500) pounded two homers and batted in three runs to back up Aviery's fine performance... Oxford starter Lou Ellison was the losing hurler... the Typhoons tapped him for five runs in his six innings... six walks really got him in trouble... Turon only got three hits off of him, but two of them were homers... the two clubs will change venues... games three, four and five will be played at Winchester Park in Oxford.

MIDWAY KNOTS SERIES WITH DC AT 1-1
Midway and Denton City split the first two games of the Tycobbian DCS... the Wolves knotted it up at one game each with a 6-3 decision at Joe Wolf Park... now the series will head to Denton City for games three through five... game two featured a fine outing by Yank Atchley, who held the Redbirds to five hits, while chalking up 6 Ks and walking only one batter... Atchley went the route... Midway's top hitters were CF Ernesto Diaz (.300) with a two-run homer and SS Kax Clark (.500) with three hits, two runs and an RBI... 21-game winner Johnny Wingate bit the dust... the Wolves slammed him hard for 12 hits and six runs in just six innings.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 27, 2053

ROOSTERS NEAR SWEEP, UP 3-0
Playing on the road at Granger Park in Wynnamac, the current Pro Cup champion Middlefield Roosters moved closer to knocking off the Sundowners in the Ruthlandian DCS... in a tense 10-inning game the Roosters pulled out a 3-2 win to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series... the Middlefield fans are breaking out the brooms for game four... an error by second baseman Danny McDougal (.970 FA) was the Sundowners downfall... LF Rufus Blackburn (.375) singled off reliever Duncan Heathershaw (0-1) to lead off the 10th... McDougal then botched CF Johnny Wyatt's (417) grounder and put runners on first and second... RF Trip Agarn (.357) hit into a force play at second with Blackburn moving to third base... 3B Natty Colclough (.100) grounded into another force play at second base and Wyatt scored the go-ahead run when Wynnamac failed to complete the double play... Yazzy Yastrzemski (1-0) notched the victory, but gave up the tying run in the last of the 9th... game four will also be played at Granger Park in Wynnamac.

TARS TRIM WESTERNERS, BROOM TIME
It was another pressure-filled playoff game at Westerner Field where the visiting Taranto Tars trimmed Waleska 2-1 in game three of the Ruthlandian Division Championship Series... it's also broom time in this series... Taranto is totally in the driver's seat with a 3-0 edge in the best-of-seven series... one more victory by the Tars and the Westerners will call it a season... Taranto got a standout job from number three starter Freddy DeAngelis (1-0), who held Waleska to just one run on five singles, struck out six batters and walked only one... Westerner starter Trey Earnest (0-2) was pretty tough, too... he worked seven innings, allowed only two runs and eight hits, while fanning six and walking two... both clubs got fine pitching... Taranto drew first blood in the top of the 3rd on a solo homer by RF Cody Losby (.467)... it was his 2nd of the series... Waleska evened it up 1-all in the last of the 5th... C Jimmy Butler (.182) walked, was bunted to second and came home on a two-out base hit by 2B Richie Fry (.143)... a single by Taranto LF Kuma Toyota (.187) and 1B Phil Wilson's (.250) provided the winning score in the 6th... that was all the runs winning pitcher Freddy DeAngelis needed... he blanked the Westerners over the final four frames to seal the verdict... Taranto will try and sweep the series this afternoon at Westerner Field in Waleska.

HEDGES HURLS SHUTOUT, TURON TAKES LEAD 2-1
In game three of the Tycobbian Division Championship Series, Turon got an extraordiinary mound performance from young 24-year-old Yancey Hedges, who hurled a 4-hit shutout, blanking the Oxford Red Caps 4-0 at Winchester Park.. that gave the Typhoons a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series... hot-hitting Oxford had trouble handling his mid-90's fastball... Hedges (1-0) was in command, walking none and striking out one... Turon collected 11 hits and was led by clean-up hitter Joel Guidry (.455), who socked his 3rd roundtripper of the series and batted in a pair of runs... Doyle Ashcroft (.462) also drove in two runs in the 3-run 4th that pretty much put away the Red Caps... Homer Keaton (0-1) caught the loss, going six innings, but only allowed two earned runs.

MANNON MOPS UP ON MIDWAY, GIVES DC LEAD
Playing at home at Douglas Denton Field, the underdog Denton City Redbirds got a rock-solid start from the number three man in the rotation, Jayson Mannon, and took a 2-1 lead over the favored Midway Wolves in the Tycobbian first-round matchup in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... junk-balling Mannon (1-0) mopped up on the Wolves 4-1, limiting them to just one run on seven hits with five Ks and only one base on balls... the Redbirds only got five hits, but it was enough... LF Paul McMahon (.667) and 2B Rich Prince (.333) broke up a scoreless duel with back-to-back two-baggers in the last of the fifth... they also posted three more on the scoreboard in the next frame on a two-run double by 1B Val Anniston (.200) and an RBI single by McMahon... 25-game winning left-hander Will DeBerry (0-1) was pinned with the defeat, smacked for four runs and five hits in seven frames.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 28, 2053

ROOSTERS ADVANCE, SWEEP WYNNAMAC
Down three games to none Wynnamac never had a chance in game four... the reigning Pro Cup holder Middlefield massacred the Sundowners 10-1 to sweep the RU Division Championship Series... James Long (2-0/0.00) was touched for nine hits, but Wynnamac only got one run of of him and it wasn't even earned... Long went the distance for the second time in the series, struck out five batters and walked no one... mighty Middlefield, favored to take its second straight IPA crown, pounded out 15 hits in the rout with RF Rufus Blackburn (.500) going 3-4 with three runs and three RBIs... 1B Bubby Cranmore (.267) and SS Stan Radzikowski (.250) both garnered three hits and scored a pair of runs... the Roosters will now take on the Taranto- Waleska winner for the Ruthlandian title and the right to play in the Pro Cup Finals against the champion of the Tycobbian Union... Blackburn was hurt flagging down a deep fly ball... no word yet on how serious it was... his loss would put a huge damper on the Roosters repeating as Pro Cup titlist... not too many teams can replace a player who hit 45 home runs and batted in 114 runs.

Sundowner skipper Jerry Meeks told reporters, "All you hear about is how good the Roosters hit the ball... well, they have some pretty darn good pitchers, too... Long is something else... all we could get off him was one run in two games... we didn't much better against Dale and Wheelhouse... 7 runs in 4 games... it's hard to win that way."

The Roosters posted a superlative 1.46 ERA... but the batters did their job, too... they talled 21 runs, hit 5 out of the park and batted .276 for the series against a strong Sundowner staff... Sammy Hayes (23-14/2.26), Simon Northcutt (22-10/2.50) and James Duncan (15-14/2.79) have pretty strong credentials.

Middlefield manager Ricky Tinker praised his whole squad... "the last five years have been special... these guys do it all... we just need to play well in the next series...actually we may have to play better... you know as well as I do, the teams get better with each round."... the Roosters have captured five pennants in a row in the Ruthlandian West Division.

TARS HEAD TO RU TITLE SERIES
The top two picks to win the Pro Cup trophy this year will tangle with each other in the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series... the #2 pick Taranto Tars blew away the Waleska Westerners in four games in first-round action and will now test the top pick and Pro Cup favorite, the Middlefield Roosters... it's a repeat of last year's Ruthlandian Finals which was won in a stirring 7-game series by the Roosters on the way to the IPA title.

To get to the next level in the playoffs, Friday afternoon Taranto eliminated Waleska with a 4-2 triumph in 10 innings at Westerner Field... 1B Phil Wilson snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single and Dan Armistead tacked on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly... Louie Toscano (1-0/0.00) recorded the victory with two runless frames and Lou Carlson (0-1/5.40) was pinned with the loss... both clubs blew quite a few opportunities to blow the game open... Waleska outhit the Taranton 14 to 12 and also stranded 13 runners to 11 for the Tars... RF Cody Losby (.450) sparked Taranto with two hits, including a two-run homer, his 3rd in the series... Wilson (.375) and Armistead (.294) each had three hits in the game.

"Great pitching and home runs can take you a long way in the playoffs."... Those were the words of Augie Marshall, the triumphant skipper of the Taranto Tars... "The starters were sensational... so was the bullpen... and they had to be... otherwise we would be heading home for the winter... Waleska was in every game... I know it was a sweep, but three games were decided by one run... the fourth one by two runs... and two of them went extra innings."

Roy Hobbs, the Waleska manager, spoke in a similar vein to reporters... "A few hits here and there and we would still be playing... it wasn't as one-sided as you might think." Taranto held the Westerners to just two runs a game... the Tars' ERA was a standout 1.71 for the four games.

TURON TRIPS OXFORD, UP 3-1 IN SERIES
In game four at Winchester Park in Oxford, favored Turon tripped up the Red Caps 8-5, topping them with a pair of two-run homers... C Doyle Ashcroft (.471) and LF Darrell Faust (.167) both went deep for the Typhoons, who now have a huge three games to one bulge in the best-of-seven Tycobbian Division Championship Series... Ashcroft batted in four runs with a pair of hits... Turon rapped out 11 hits to 9 for Oxford... both clubs had their aces on the hill, but neither performed like it... Nate Scottsdale (1-1/6.14) staggered to the win... the Red Caps ripped him for five runa and nine hits in his eight and two-thirds innings... Dickie Parmenter came in with the bases loaded and got the final out... Rudy Mellancamp (1-1/5.06) didn't fare very well, either... the Typhoons slammed him for seven runs in seven innings... so much for the pitching duel... it was Turon's third straight triumph... all they need is one more win and they have three games to do it... with the final two at home at Typhoon Stadium.

MIDWAY TIES DC AT 2 GAMES APIECE
Game four of the Tycobbian Division Championship Series went to the Midway Wolves 5-1 over the Denton City Redbirds... playing on the road at Douglas Denton Field, Beau McCloud and Jeffrey Leonard combined on a two-hitter to even up the series at two game apiece... winning pitcher McCloud (1-0/1.42) started and worked into the 7th when his control left him... he only permitted one hit and one run, but walked five batters... Leonard relieved and put down the Redbird threat... he blanked the Redbirds over the final two and two-thirds inning on one hit for the save... the Wolves collected nine hits and dealt the defeat to Flash Stringfellow (1-1/1.93), who held them to two runs - one earned - in seven frames... Midway jolted the Denton City bullpen for three runs in the top of the 8th to open up a four-run lead... RF Daryl Vale (.472) socked three hits to pace the Wolves with help from SS Kax Clark (.438) with a pair of hits and two ribbies and LF Elton O'Leary (.231), who scored two runs, had two hits, including a solo swat... game five will also be played in Denton City... game six and seven are scheduled for Midway.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 29, 2053

TYPHOONS BLOW AWAY RED CAPS IN 5 GAMES
Revenge is oh so sweet... just ask the Turon Typhoons... last year in the first round Oxford disposed of them in quick order, wiping them out in five games... this season Turon turned the tables on them... the Typhoons blew away the Red Caps in the Tycobbian Division Championship Series... this time around they did it in five games, eliminating the Red Caps 8-5 in game five... Glenn Avery was not at his best, but he was good enough... Avery (2-0/1.13) was tagged for five runs in seven innings, but only one of them was earned... closer Russell Mallory blanked Oxford in the 8th and 9th for the save... LF Darrell Faust (.235) homered and batted in three runs for the winners... in the 6th 1B Shoyo Yuro (.350) also went deep for Turon with a 2-run shot that cinched the game... Turon will now take on the victor of the Midway-Denton City series for the Tycobbian title and a spot in the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

Turon skipper C. C. Kingsford told the press, "Oxford put it to us last year with some mighty big bats... but this year we got much better pitching and put them away." The Typhoon staff compiled an impressive 2.40 ERA in the first round series against one of the better offensive clubs in the IPA... along with the current Pro Cup champ Middlefield, the Red Caps are the highest-scoring club in the IPA.

Red Cap manager Dennis Hartwig said, "We had high expectations this season after reaching the Tycobbian Finals last year... our pitching was improved over last season and the offense was still operating at a very high level... we were set to go, but C. C.'s staff really cooled us off... we just didn't perform at the plate... or on the mound for that matter."

MIDWAY TAKES 3-2 EDGE IN TYCOBBIAN SERIES
On the road at Douglas Denton Field, favored Midway got great pitching in game five to take a 3-2 victory in 12 innings over underdog Denton City and take a three games to two lead in the best-of-seven Tycobbian DCS... the Wolves starter, 27-game winner Charlie Chase, fired the first eight frames and stopped the Redbirds on one earned run and seven hits, leaving with the score tied at 2-2... three relievers, Jeffrey Leonard, Rocket Rhodes and Artie McGill, shut down Denton City without a run the final four frames with Rhodes (1-0) getting credit for the win... Denton City starter Johnny Wingate, a 21-game winner, kept the Wolves at bay, tossing seven innings and permitting only one run... he departed with score tied 1-all... Midway amassed 12 hits with CF Ernesto Dias (.182) driving in the winning score... his single in the top of the 12th scored 2B Del Holloway (.462) from third base... Redbird RF Tristan Redgrave (.174) led his club with a solo homer, while CF Harper Catlow (.200) collected three hits... Midway will be at home for games six and seven, if they are needed.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2053

DIAZ HIT SENDS MIDWAY TO TU TITLE SERIES
Game 6 was a thriller-diller at Joe Wolf Stadium in Midway... finally decided in the bottom of the 9th on CF Ernesto Diaz's (.185) ground single to right that scored 2B Del Holloway (.523) from second base with the winning run... the Wolves whipped Denton City 4-3 to cop the series four games to two... Diaz also got the game-winning hit in game five... Yank Atchley (2-0/3.00) hurled a solid game, holding the Redbirds to three runs on eight hits with four Ks and no walks... Midway had 12 hits with 3B Nate Stiles (.125) getting a two-run homer... Denton City 1B Val Anniston (.286) hit a two-run shot and LF Paul McMahon a solo clout, both in the 4th frame... the defeat went to reliever Freddy O'Neal (0-2/7.36), who came on in the last of the 9th... O'Neal also was the loser in yesterday's game... Midway will now make their way to the Tycobbian League Championship Series against the Turon Typhoons... the winner of the best-of-seven set will get a spot in the IPA Pro Cup Finals.

Hall-of-Fame pitcher and Midway manager, Bobby Dorignac, was estatic, telling reporters, "For the first time in 27 years we have made the playoffs... I don't want to count my chickens too soon, but this team has what it takes to take our first Pro Cup trophy... we still have to win two more tough series, but this team can do it... we got the pitching and the clutch hitting to do it.

Downcast Denton City skipper Pete Gibbs went straight-to-the-point... "You got to give it to the Midway staff... they are something special... starters and bullpen.. just might be the best in the IPA...we couldn't score runs... you can't win if you don't score runs... 18 runs in 6 games won't cut the mustard."

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2053

PRO CUP PLAYOFFS DOWN TO 4
The first round action in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs has pruned the list down to the Final 4... and they just happened to be the teams rated the best four clubs in the postseason... #1 Middlefield will defend its IPA crown against #2 Taranto in the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series and it will #3 Midway battling #4 Turon for the Tycobbian title... both series will be best-of-seven and will begin Thursday afternoon at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto and Typhoon Stadium in Turon... last year in the Pro Cup Finals the Middlefield Roosters defeated the East Point Panthers in six games.

Ruthlandian Union

Reigning IPA champ Middlefield (99-55) has an arsenal at the plate and impressive starters and relievers on the hill... but the Taranto Tars (103-51) can match them in both respects... both teams sweep their first round series... both clubs have very good defense... even though Taranto won more games in the regular season and will have the homefield advantage, the Roosters are favored mainly because they are Pro Cup champion and they have played in the postseason the past four seasons and have a lot of experienced veterans... in actuality, both are very talented and well-balanced ballclubs... there's not a hair's difference between them... the simplest way to pick the winner would probably be to flip a coin.

#1 MIDDLEFIELD ROOSTERS (99-55):
Strong bats, pitching, very good defense and postseason experience make them a formidable foe in the IPA playoffs... Middlefield has won two Pro Cups... might be #3 this year... but it won't be easy to get past by formidable Taranto in the Ruthlandian Championship Series... James Long (23-12/2.37), Hollis Dale (22-10/3.30), last year's Pro Cup MVP Carroll Collier (12-12/3.19), Larry Wheelhouse (15-5/3.93), along with sluggers Rufus Blackburn (45 HR/114 RBI), Johnny Wyatt (40 HR/133 RBI), Natty Colclough (30 HR/91 RBI), SS Stan Radzikowski (28 HR/102 RBI) and Trip Agarn (26 HR/95 RB) are ready to roll again... the Roosters played well in September after a cool August... Middlefield has made the playoffs 16 times, winning 2 Pro Cups in '05 and last year... only negative is they don't have the homefield advantage.

#2 TARANTO TARS (103-51)
Best record in the IPA this year... team features standout staff, a lineup full of fireworks and an excellent defense... last year fought Middlefield tooth-and-nail in the Ruthlandian title series before losing four games to three... twirlers Armani Pizziconi (25-9/3.0-9), Valerio Rossi (15-9/2.68), Freddy DeAngelis (17-12/3.17), Louis Toscano (3-4/2.13/17 saves/36 G) and a big batch of batters like Renzo Caruso (.37 HR/85 RBI), Niccolo Parisi (.30 HR/73 RBI), Kuma Toyota (29 HR/73 RBI) and Gaetano Palombo (18 HR/61 RBI) are poised and ripe for winning its second Pro Cup trophy... they won the first one in 2015... the Tars are really playing well and with a lot of momentum... may have been the best team in the IPA the second half of the season... this will be the 6th time Taranto has made the postseason... the Tars won their only Pro Cup trophy in 2015... the long-suffering fans are ready for another one.

Pro Cup Forecast: a tough call to make... OK, give it to Middlefield... experience counts...actually, I just tossed a coin... I couldn't have made it as a sportswriter.

Tycobbian Union

In the Tycobbian Union League Championship affair, you got the same thing... two closely matched and talented teams... Turon (101-53) racked up the most victories in the TU in the regular campaign with Midway (100-54) right on their tail... the Typhoon bats are a little better at scoring runs, but the Wolves have slightly better pitchers and much better home-run power... with the gloves they both are just average defenders... neither of them have much playoff experience... this is Midway first time to appear since 2027... Turon made the postseason last year, but lost in the first round... prior to that you have to go back to 2038 and 2039.

#3 MIDWAY WOLVES (100-54)
Could have the best rotation and bullpen in the IPA with Yank Atchley (15-7/2.39), Charlie Chase (27-10/2.51), Will DeBerry (25-10/3.25), Beau McCloud (18-10/3.38), Rocket Rhodes (7-4/2.22/13 saves/36 G) and Jeffrey Leonard (4-2/0.36/8 saves/21 G)... some good batters, too, with Kax Clark (.368 BA/17 HR/88 R), Daryl Vale (.332/21 HR/62 RBI), Tom Goodnight (.289 BA/21 HR/86 RBI) and Jamey Southwick (.263 BA/25 HR/70 RBI)... Midway is just an average team with the gloves... only had a so-so month in September...first playoff appearance in years and years... last pennant came in '27... the Wolves are really hungry for their first Pro Cup trophy.

#4 TURON TYPHOONS (101-53)
One of the best franchises in the IPA with 16 postseason appearances and 4 Pro Cups (2003, 2006, 2009, 2018)... talented club that is heading in the playoffs playing very well and has the homefield advantage... an impressive attack with good contact hitters, can score runs, but lacks longball power... average defensively... top-notch starters... fair bullpen... offensive leaders are Stoyo Yuro (.316 BA/18 HR/81 RBI), Gaylen Clive (.327 BA/3 HR/61 RBI), Joel Guidry (.289 BA/16 HR/96 RBI) and Doyle Ashcroft (.279 BA/19 HR/114 RBI)... top staffers are Nate Scottsdale (25-10/2.77), Glenn Avery (23-12/3.39) and rookie Yancey Hedges (8-4/2.81), who missed the first half of the season with an injury... not as highly heralded as the trio of Middlefield, Taranto and Midway.

PRO CUP FORECAST: Midway is our choice to take the Tycobbian title over Turon... strong pitching, both starters and bullpen... and more firepower make the difference.

[Eugene Church]

The great graphics guys in the OOTPB Community really made my Islandian Pro Alliance dynasty report really fun to play because of their great logos, jerseys and caps they made for me.

Just want to share a few of them with you.

They really get me into the game.

[Eugene Church]

AROUND THE TOWN IN THE IPA

MIDDLEFIELD ROOSTERS

Owner: Middlefield Merchants Association
GM: Smitty Michaels
Manager: Ricky Tinker

Middlefield, population 76,000, is located in the southern lowlands in east central Ruthlandia on the scenic Green River. The river traverses north to south from Far Mountain in the Appian Mountains, through Rocky Rapids in the northwest plains, eastward to the state capitol, Forest City. There it intersects with the Silver River, then meanders down through Middlefield where it takes a westward bend before continuing on to Sugar Valley, to end at Belair Beach on Belair Bay.

Middlefield was settled in the 1850s by disgruntled Southerners from the United States that wanted to preserve their culture and livlihood and not be involved the political problems that evolved due to slavery. They came to a new country and left slavery back in the USA.

The wonderfully rich and fertile black alluvial soil deposits are vital to the area’s economy. It is a rich farming region with cotton farms, textiles and farm equipment factories and a wide array of agricultural products. The town itself is rural and rustic in nature; the visitor feels that he has traveled back a hundred years in time. Middlefield takes great pride in its revered past and goes to great lengths to keep its old-fashioned flavor. By law, modern architecture is not allowed by the city fathers.

The town’s centerpiece is the exquisite Cotton Palace Fair and Exhibition Center. It is over 150 years old and plays host to farm conventions, music concerts, theatre and the Cotton Palace Opry, famed for its live country music show and dance every Saturday night. Middlefield is a nice quiet place to live, work and raise a family.

It is also home of the Middlefield Roosters Baseball Team. The town merchants banded together in civic pride and sold bonds to individual investors to get the franchise. It truly is a “town team” owned by the citizens of Middlefield and is a member of the IPA’s West Division. The Roosters play at ancient Middlefield Park on the outskirts of town, right in the middle of farmland. Whenever a new pitcher is brought in from the bullpen, he rides in style on a fancy blue and red tractor (team colors) to pay homage to the farm industry. While the relief pitcher is being chauffeured in to the mound, the fans sing “Old MacDonald had a farm” with special lyrics:

Old MacDonald had a farm, Ee-i-ee-i-oh.
Old MacDonald raised pitchers, Ee-i-ee-i-oh.
A fastball here and a curveball there
The Roosters will rule, don't you despair.
Old MacDonald had a farm, Ee-i-ee-i-oh.

It might sound corny, but the Middlefield folks get a big kick out of it, especially the young’uns. They get a big kick out of the great fried chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts, crackerjacks, cokes, beer and ice cream at the concessions stand, too.

The Merchants Association has hired Smitty Michaels as GM. A lifelong resident of Middlefield, Michaels is a famous third baseman and slugger who played many outstanding seasons in the local company leagues. Michaels didn't need it as he packed prodigious power in his swing, but he did benefit from the short fences at Middlefield Park, one of the most compact parks in the IPA.

The Roosters are skippered by Rinky Tinker, solid-hitting first baseman for the team from 2002 to 2020... he batted .290 in his career with 188 home runs and 833 RBIs... Tinker has a gap in his resume... he couldn't make the club from 2006 through 2009... but Tinker did resurrect his career and had another decade of modest success... Tinker has enjoyed much success at the helm of the Roosters taking them to quite a few pennants.

Middlefield Park (1927)
Capacity: 7,450

Dimensions:
LF Line 315
LF 330
LCF 362
CF 385
RCF 375
RF 335
RF Line 326

[Eugene Church]

*

[Eugene Church]

AROUND THE TOWN IN THE IPA

Taranto Tars

Owner: Papa Giovanni's Pizza
GM/Manager: Augie Marshall

Originally Taranto was just a small fishing village on the southeastern coast of Valdar Island settled by Italian immigrants in the 1870s after the unification of Italy caused economic collapse in several areas of the country. Taranto was named after its namesake in Italy. Visitors are enthralled by the quaint and picturesque town. It has the feel and essence of the old country and should not be missed by tourists.

Taranto is also the origin of the common name of the Tarantula spider family, In ancient times, residents of the town of Taranto, upon being bitten by a spider, would promptly do a long vigorous dance like a jig. This was done in order to sweat most of the poison out of their pores and thus survive the spider bite. The dance they did became locally known as the Tarantella, which eventually became the name we use today to describe the large, sometimes hairy type of spider, the Tarantula.

The town got a big boost in the 1880s when the Ruthlandian government decided to construct a naval base here. The natural harbor at Taranto made it a logical home port for the Ruthlandian naval fleet. Taranto has since grown to a present-day population of 63,000. As a result of the naval expansion, baseball leagues sprang up in Taranto. First it was just for the sailors and marines, but soon spread to the town. Baseball has thrived in Taranto since the late 1880s.

The Navy is still the prime industy in Taranto. However, the town is also known for being the headquarters of Papa Giovanni's Pizza, the number one pizza in the Islands. Giovanni Di Bella began making pizzas in 1905 after emigrating from Italy. His pizzas with a special garlic butter sauce soon became a favorite of the townspeople. Papa Giovanni's Pizza's popularity soon spread throughout Vandar Island and then to the mainland of Ruthlandia and Tycobbia. You will now find a Papa Giovanni's Pizza shop in all of the main towns of Islandia.

Papa Giovanni was a good baseball player in his own right, but where he excelled was in sponsorship of the local amateur team. Papa Giovanni also managed the club and got most of his players from the navy leagues, hence the name Papa Giovanni's Tars. He used the team to publicize his expanding pizza business. The more popular his team got, the more pizza he sold.

A "tar" is a sailor. The name comes from the black, petroleum substance used to keep ropes and rigging dry aboard ship. It was also used to seal and make the ships water-tight. It would get on the sailors uniform, so people began to refer to them as Tars.

Papa Giovanni housed his team in the Palazzo di Sport, which was built in 1922 and is still in use today. The Palazzo is known for being a hitter's ballpark with its short fences. It's only 320 down the lines, 360 in the power alleys and just 385 to center. The Di Bello family has continued to big supporters of baseball in Taranto. When they heard that the IPA was going to expand the league, Grandson Gianni Di Bello got the backing of the Admiralty to insure a franchise would be granted to Taranto and to Papa Giovanni's Pizza.

The first general manager and field manager of the Taranto Tars was Tommaso Lazzorda. He gained his fame as a crafty southpaw for the Papa Giovanni's Tars. Lazzorda gained even more success and notoriety as the team's skipper. When the Tars switched over to professional baseball, Lazzorda came, too. Lazzorda loves to eat and loves his baseball. The congenial Lazzorda is good with a quote, too. "When we win, I'm so happy I eat a lot. When we lose, I'm so depressed, I eat a lot. When we're rained out, I'm so disappointed I eat a lot."

And the people of Taranto love him, too. There's no better ambassador of baseball than Tommaso Lazzorda. He often tells reporters, "I love doubleheaders. That way I get to keep my uniform on longer."

Though retired for many years now, Lazzorda is still found around the Palazzo di Sport at game time. The current manager and general manager is Augie Marshall, one of the greatest Tar stars in history. Marshall starred for almost 10 seasons, from 2013 to 2022. A heavy-hitting outfielder he swatted 504 homers and drove in 1719 runs, batting .287 for his career. Marshall was voted the 2013 Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year, a 9-time All-Star and inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2049. Augie Marshall played right field for six teams in his 19 years in the IPA, but played primarily for the Taranto Tars, where he enjoyed his most success from 2013 to 2022. Marshall led the Ruthlandian Union in homers and RBIs in 2014 and 2015. He helped two clubs win Pro Cups. Taranto won in 2015 and Crystal Lake took it in 2022. Marshall played until 2033 when he retired at age 39.

Palazzo de Sport
Capacity: 7,175

Dimensions:
Left Field Line 320
Left Field 335
Left Center 360
Center Field 385
Right Center 360
Right Field 335
Right Field Line 320

[Eugene Church]

*

[Eugene Church]

AROUND THE TOWN IN THE IPA

MIDWAY WOLVES

Owner: Midway Baseball Cooperative
GM/Manager: Bobby Dorignac

Midway is a river town with 55,000 residents, founded on the banks of the Appian River in the central plains of Tycobbia. Midway is right in the middle of the country. Originally settled by the Kewanna Indians, as was most of the central plains area. The Kewannas called the area "place of the wolves". In many ways, a pack of wolves and a tribe of Indians have significant similarities. They both work for the greater good of the pack or tribe, they hunt for all to eat and are both led by a single leader. It isn’t surprising that because of these similarities, the Native Indians had a great respect for wolves and viewed them as a significant part of the world with which they lived harmoniously. In the Kewannan language the word for "wolf" is "Meed-whay". Subsequent English-speaking settlers, who emigrated in the 1870s understood it as "Midway". That is how the town name came to be.

Kewanna Indians still make up a large part of the town's population. The emigres and the Indians have always lived together in peace in Tycobbia. The emigres always treated the Natives fairly and did not take their land without proper payment.

Life has never been easy in Midway as it has to depend on the land for its livelihood. No rich mineral deposits, petroleum or forests are found here. No manufacturing. Just wheat, oats and corn as the staple crops. It also has a thriving dairy industry. There is one big employer in Midway, Nosyt Farms. In the Kewannan language "nosyt" is the word for "chicken". The company was started in 1895 by Joe Wolf and is still run today by his descendants. Nosyt Farms products are known for being grown naturally and are totally free of chemicals. This makes it a very popular brand name in the environmentally-conscious Islands.

Baseball got a late start in Midway. It was the 1920s before teams began to organize. It got its first impetus under the auspices of Nosyt Farms, which began a company league for employees. The company league was soon open to the town residents, too. By the 1940s Midway was competitive with the surrounding towns. It was one of the last town to get a franchise in the new Islandian Pro Alliance.

It is a community-owned franchise with over 5,000 stockholders. They chose the name "Wolves" because of the wolf's tough image and also because of its Kewannan connection and heritage. The Midway Wolves play at an old ballpark on the outskirts of town named in honor of Joe Wolf. It was built in 1928 and dedicated by Joe Wolf himself. It is located on Nosyt Farms and is maintained by the company as a community service.

Joe Wolf Park is not fancy, but it is functional and a good place to see a good ballgame. Most modern day Kewanna Indians get their food like anybody else...at the supermarket. Only on special ceremonial days do they prepare tribal foods. So all you will find at the ballpark are the traditional hot dogs, cokes, beer, peanuts and crackerjacks... and of course, delicious Nosyt fried chicken... the best in the Islands.

The Midway general manager and field manager is Hall of Fame hurler Bobby Dorignac, who starred for 18 seasons for the Wolves from 2021 to 2038. He took over operation of the ballclub in 2047. In his career Dorignac compiled a standout 315-228 record with a 2.96 ERA... he was inducted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2039 and was the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player and Golden Arm winner in 2024.

Joe Wolf Park (1928)
Capacity: 7,775

Dimensions:

Left Field Line - 335
Left Field - 360
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 401
Right Center - 380
Right Field - 360
Right Field Line - 335

[Eugene Church]

*

[Eugene Church]

AROUND THE TOWN IN THE IPA

TURON TYPHOONS

Owner: Anastas International Shipping
GM: Clyde Kingsford
Manager: C. C. Kingsford

Turon is a seaport town of 118,000 in the Caledonia River basin on the southwestern coast of Tycobbia and its second largest population-wise. The Caledonia River terminates here after winding 500 miles from east to west from Red Bluff in the central Silver Mountains southward through Hillsboro and then flowing westward near the towns of South Fork, Denton City and Arlon. The river finally comes to an end in Turon and empties into the Kelnyck Ocean and Southern Sea.

It is a cosmopolitan town with a diversified economy and a mecca for tourists. Turon is a busy trade and distribution center with many shipping interests. Agriculture flourishes here with extensive farmlands in the Caledonia River basin. It is also a diversity of cultures and was settled in the 1840s and 1850s by French, Scottish, Irish and German settlers, who came to get away from religious intolerance and persecution. Southerners from the United States came in good numbers after the Civil War defeat. Turon became their New South, but minus the slave culture.

Turon is resplendent with beauty. Streets and boulevards lined with grand live oak trees and antebellum mansions. In the countryside are majestic plantations. Near the coast you'll find sugar-white sandy beaches. You'll find plenty of Old World in Turon, but also plenty of the Modern World, too.

The Turon Typhoons of the IPA's South Division play in a very modern baseball palace, Typhoon Stadium. It is built with concrete and steel to withstand the occasional typhoon that emanates from the cold and icy waters of the Kelnyck Ocean. The old ballpark was completely destroyed twice in 1938 and 1967. The new stadium was completed in 1999 and houses the Tyrobbian Baseball Hall of Fame, a must-see for all Islandian baseball fans. It covers the entire spectrum and includes memorabilia from the amateur, college and industrial leagues.

The Typhoons really are active promoters with something going on each inning during the ballgames. All kinds of promotions, games and stunts to enliven and entertain the fans. Wild music tracks fill the stadium to rally the Typhoons and their fans. Concessions are stocked with all of the traditional ballpark delights.

Turon is owned by wealthy shipping tycoon, Onnie Anastas. One of the most successful GMs and managers was Ashton “Whitey” Richburn, one of the finest defensive center fielders and lead-off men in Tycobbian baseball history... he ran the club for the first few decades, which were the "glory years" of Turon baseball, when they won four Gold Cups (2003, 2005, 2008, 2018)... the current management are a father-son team, the great Hall-of-Famer Clyde Kingsford and C. C. Kingsford... the elder Kingsford hit .319 for 14 seasons and hit 486 out of the park with the Typhoons and was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2029 and is now the general manager... his son is the skipper... C. C. starred for Turon for 19 seasons, batting .306 with 432 homers.

Typhoon Stadium (1999)
Capacity: 8,010

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 335
Left Field - 355
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 410
Right Center - 380
Right Field - 355
Right Field Line - 345

[Eugene Church]

*

[Eugene Church]

Map of Islandia

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 3, 2053

ROSSI RULES ROOSTERS IN GAME 1
In game one of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto, the hometown Tars stopped the Middletown bats cold with a 5-1 drubbing... 15-game winner Valerio Rossi (2-0/1.46) was in dominating form as he stopped the Roosters on five hits... Rossi went all the way, fanned five batters and walked only one to put Taranto one leg up in the best-of-seven series... Middlefield is the Pro Cup favorite and last year's Islandian titlewinner... the Tars tagged Rooster pitching for 12 hits, led by CF Renzo Caruso (.304) with two hits and a two-run home run... and 3B Gaetano Palombo (333) with three base hits... 23-game winner James Long (2-1/1.88) was no match for Taranto... they solved him for five runs and 10 hits in his six innings.

WOLVES WIN ON HOLLOWAY HR IN 12TH
Not a lot of pitching at Typhoon Stadiuim in Turon in the opening game of the Tycobbian title series... there were 22 runs and 33 hits in the game, won by the visiting Midway Wolvers 12-10 on Derek Holloway's two-run homer in the top of the 12th frame... Turon blew two big leads... they were up 6-0 after two innings and 9-4 going into the 7th... Midway piled up 16 hits with 2B Derek Holloway (.524) leading the way with three hits and four RBIs... LF Lew Dillinger (.375) also had three hits and drove in a pair of runs... and SS Kax Clark (.429) chimed in with three hits, two runs and an RBI... Turon got four hits, three runs and three ribbies from RF Andy Wilkerson (.316) and three hits and three RBIs from 3B Joel Guidry (.440)... there were nine pitchers in the game... four by Midway and five by Turons... taking the victory was Rocket Rhodes (2-0/0.00/3G) with three shutout innings.