ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

You know what? i don't have a favorite team. i'm a big fan of your playoff writing. And i think it helps that i don't have a favorite, because i don't lose interest if a particular team make the (or advance in) the playoffs. Based on the games, i may start to root for a team in a series. But it never carries over.

i'm the same way with the Metro Leagues; no favorites... he has a different way of telling the story, but it is a great presentation.

As far as picking a winner, i'd say one of the team's with the starting pitchers so that would be Denton, Turon or St. John's. Turon seems like it may be more my style of team.

So i'll pick Turon.

It's seems good pitching is a must... I have seen good pitching with a so-so offense win the Pro Cup... however, a strong offense with so-so pitching can win, too.

[SuperHappyTime]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Hey, folks... I need to take a break from the Islandian Pro Alliance for a few weeks... I want to play around with OOTP19 and get ready for the last update which usually comes sometimes in July... I want to work on my new project and get it ready.

I'll finish up the 2057 IPA Pro Cup playoffs and season a little bit later this month.

Looking forward to playoffs. Can’t wait Eugene!

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 20, 2057

PRO CUP PLAYOFFS START THIS AFTERNOON
Four ballparks around the Islands will be bustin' at the seams this afternoon as the highly-heralded and much-anticipated Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs get underway... Denton City is picked to win the Tycobbian Union, while Valmara gets the call in the Ruthlandian Union... but it won't be easy for either club... all eight teams in the postseason are given some chance of winning the overall Island championship... it should turn out to be a frenzied fight to the finish.

REDBIRDS WILL MAKE THE RED SOX SEE RED
In the opening round of play in the Tycobbian Union, the Denton City Redbirds (95-60) will tangle with the Red Bluff Red Sox (87-68), conquerors of the mighty Midway Wolves (86-69) in TU West action... three Redbird 20-game winners, Flash Stringfellow (24-12/2.82), Carl Coons (21-14/2.58) and Jayson Mannon (22-9/3.43), will lead the way, backed up by the top closer in the IPA Burnell Kelley (3-2/0.81 ERA/37 saves/54 G) and a slew of sluggers in SS Vincent McCloud (.306/31 HR), CF Winky Biggio (.251/28 HR) and 1B Val Anniston (.269/27 HR).

The Red Sox will be sparked by two 20-game winners, Duane Sturgeon (22-12/2.90) and Wilson Sharpe (20-16/2.99)... Red Bluff possesses some big bats, too, with RF Toni Kulkov (.279/36 HR), 2B Dazzy Bevis (.274/32 HR), rookie CF Paul Gaddison (.299/27 HR) and 1B Monty Lyons (.294/19 HR)... one big shortcoming is the undistinguished Red Sox bullpen, along with the lack of reliable starters past the top two... this will be the difference makers in the series... the Redbirds should take the Red Sox in six games.


TURON TO TAKE OXFORD IN A TYCOBBIAN THRILLER
In the other Tycobbian matchup, it will feature the hard-hitting Oxford Red Caps (88-66) and the rock-solid pitching of the Turon Typhoons (93-61)... the Typhoons will try to knock off the Red Caps with an abundance of standout starters: Yancey Hedges (21-10/3.15), Dickie Parmenter (18-7/2.12), Ivar Jevicks (13-8/2.69) and Ollie Dickenson (15-13/3.38)... Turon is lacking a good bullpen and a good offense... offensively the Typhoons can't match up with Oxford firepower with C Doyle Ashcroft (.252/21 HR), RF Matthew Fears (.276/19 HR), LF Andy Wilkerson (.291/18 HR), 1B Shoyo Yuro (.264/18 HR), CF Maxie Mullinax (.277/12 HR) and 3B Omar Price (.271/10 HR)... they will have to win with the superiority of their starting pitchers... Oxford has one fine starter in Maury Statler (26-10/2.94)... he tied for the most victories in the IPA this year... but the rest of the rotation is questionable with Weldon Eddington (17-11/4.14), R. C. Russell (11-12/4.71) and Dingo Willmon (9-9/4.26)... however, the Red Caps are awesome at the plate with 257 roundtrippers, tops in the IPA… the big sticks are terrific rookie 1B Buddy Blackford (.285/41 HR), 3B Roland Latimer (.253/36 HR), CF Frankie Beckwith (.303/34 HR), LF Wade McGrew (.322/31 HR), RF Ozzy Ackerman (.289/25 HR) and LF Dwayne Wagner (.255/21 HR)… it's really anybody's series to win... but give the series to Turon in a very intense and hotly-contested seven-game series...we'll soon find out if good pitching can beat good hitting.

VAUNTED VIPERS TOP CHOICE IN RU
In the Ruthlandian Union, favored Valmara (96-58) just might have its hands full with the unheralded St. John Crusaders (87-67)... both clubs can score runs and pitch well... the Vipers had the edge in home-run power... that might give them edge in the series... Valmara has a potent offense sparked by five .300 hitters: 1B Timmy Benford (.313/24 HR), rookie 2B Borys Balicki (.312/8 HR), 3B Vladimir Szymanski (.308/10 HR) and rookie SS Alek Stolarski (.302/11 HR)... and C Karol Koska (.241/26 HR) and CF Doc Pollins (.254/19 HR) supply the longballs... the Vipers has a good set of starters in longtime veterans Primo Sirak (19-12/3.97) and Darus Grajek (20-16/3.71)... youngsters Tony Joe Carnes (12-2/3.08) and Lukasz Chojnacki (18-11/3.76) are also reliable starters... the Valmara bullpen is just fair-to-middling with Kris Fourcade (5-2/3.23 ERA/27 saves/42 G) and Carver Dillon (2-0/1.80 ERA/2 saves/25 G).

The Crusaders don't look good on paper offensively, they are short on power, but they did put some runs on the scoreboard with 3B Oswaldo Romero (.288/19 HR), C Tuffy Palmieri (.283/13 HR) and CF Freddie Woodruff (.293/9 HR) doing most of the damage... topping the mound corps are starters Teddy de Grom (18-12/4.06), Tom Smithson (16-13/3.37) and Teddy Howell (14-12/3.35)... last season signee, Gibby Pritchell (5-5/2.73) could get his chance in the starting rotation, too... other possibility is Deke Eubanks (12-14/3.83)... the bullpen is in capable hands, anchored by Mark Faber (2-2/2.62 ERA/23 saves/45 G)... Valmara should take the series in six games... better hitting and pitching should get them past the Crusaders... the Vipers would really relish winning its record-setting fifth Pro Cup this season... it looks like they just might get their chance.

ALL-STARS TOO STRONG FOR DEFENDERS
It will be the Elnora All-Stars (86-68) and the Fort Benton Defenders (87-67) in the other half of the Ruthlandian Union playoffs... both had to get past long-time powerhouses Wynnamac and Middlefield to make the postseason... the Defenders defied the odds by upsetting the reigning IPA champion Middlefield Roosters in the RU West... the All-Stars knocked off the Sundowners in the RU East.

Elnora looks to be the better team with its fine arsenal of bats, home-run power and three quality starters... SS Dickie DeBusshere (.314/31 HR), 1B Gus Abreu (.320/16 HR), CF Keith Colburn (.296/10 HR), C Kuro Ishihara (.284/9 HR), 2B Mickey Wilbur (.267/23 HR) and RF Robb Norwood (.318/16 HR) can put some runs on the scoreboard... and Bud Hathaway (24-10/3.74), Matt Mackowiak (18-13/3.71) and Jerry Bertrand (18-11/3.94) are dependable starters... the bullpen doesn't have a consistently good reliever... but the All-Stars should top Fort Benton in six games... they have better hitting and just enough pitching to get by the Defenders.

Fort Benton hits very well for average, but doesn't go deep very well... pitching is also kind of spotty with no depth... top bats are 1B Mel Lightfoot (.334/17 HR), RF Charlie Bondy (.319/12 HR), CF Kip Drumm (.315/7 HR) and 3B Eamon Hooper (.284/12 HR)... Noel Blissard (19-12/4.01) and Gil Hicks (17-16/3.88) are fairly good starters and Randy Rinehart (5-4/3.09 ERA/24 saves/45 G) is a pretty good closer.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 22, 2057

2057 Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series: Game 1 at War Memorial Stadium

[Eugene Church]

2057 Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series: Game 1 at Old Fortress Park

[Eugene Church]

2057 Tycobbian Union Division Championship Series: Game 1 at Douglas Denton Field

[Eugene Church]

2057 Tycobbian Union Division Championship Series: Game 1 at Typhoon Stadium

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 23, 2057

2057 Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series: Game 2 at War Memorial Stadium

[Eugene Church]

2057 Ruthlandian Division Championship Series: Game 2 at Old Fortress Park

[Eugene Church]

2057 Tycobbian Union Division Championship Series: Game 2 at Douglas Denton Field

[Eugene Church]

2057 Tycobbian Union Division Championship Series: Game 2 at Typhoon Stadium

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 24, 2057

2057 Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series: Game 3 at Cathedral Park

[Eugene Church]

2057 Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series: Game 3 at State Fair Park

[Eugene Church]

2057 Tycobbian Union Division Championship Series: Game 3 at Red Bluff Park

[Eugene Church]

2057 Tycobbian Division Championship Series: Game 3 at Winchester Park

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA
Monday, September 24, 2057

FORT BENTON DEFENDERS
Owner: Military Motor Works
GM/Manager: Augie Marquis

Fort Benton, a military town of 62,000, is located in the rugged west central part of Ruthlandia in the Silver Mountains, which forms the western border of the country. Situated on the only land route into the country, Frontier Pass, and just east of the Tycobbian border town, East Point, Fort Benton is named for the garrison and fort that has protected the nation from invaders from the west down through the years. It is still a military training base and site of the Army College, famed for its military research and tactical innovations.

It is also the home of the Fort Benton Defenders of the Ruthlandian Union West Division, named in honor of the soldiers that have so long defended the nation. The team plays at a quaint old ballpark, Old Fortress Park, where the outfield walls are formed from the original stone walls and watchtowers of the old fort. Every time the home team hits a homer, an honor guard of soldiers fires a cannon shot for every run scored on the home run.

The Defenders were originally owned, operated and commanded by the former general of the Ruthlandian Armed Forces and lifelong resident of Fort Benton, General Patty "Pistol-Packing" George. Defender players were never out of shape or pampered...the General made certain of that. The current ownership is Military Motor Works, which supplies much in the way of armaments for the Ruthlandian Military Corps.

The General had his own thoughts about pampering fans, too. He said his philosophy is you come to watch and appreciate a ballgame, not to eat, drink and be merry. Therefore the concessions are still quite soldierly and Spartan at Old Fortress Stadium: hot dogs, cokes, hamburgers, peanuts, Crackerjacks, Baby Ruth candy bars and popcorn. Period. No alcoholic beverages were allowed by the teetotaling General. He didn’t allow the players to have beards or facial hair, either. Fort Benton ownership still enforces the General's policies.

The Ft. Benton Defenders are currently managed by Augie Marquis, who also serves as the General Manager. He succeeded long-time skipper and GM Robbie Brooks, who was the finest fielding third baseman ever produced in Ruthlandian company leagues. Marquis took over in 2052. He toiled years on the mound for a bad ballclub, but wound up 368-300 with a fine 3.22 ERA for 21 years, 2025 to 2045. He was a four-time All-Star and won the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm in 2039. Marquis has not made the IPA Hall of Fame yet, but many think he should be there. It's been a rough go of it for Marquis as manager, but he has perked up Fort Benton franchise in recent years, even winning the pennant in 2057... the only other division title came in 2037... the Defenders are one of the worst franchises in IPA history.

Old Fortress Park

Capacity: 8,500

Dimensions:
LF Line 340
LF 360
LCF 385
CF 420
RCF 385
RF 360
RF Line 340

[Eugene Church]

Map of Islandia

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

ST. JOHN CRUSADERS
Owner: The Brothers of St. John the Baptist
General Manager: Clayton Luck
Manager: Nicky Farrugia

St. John is an isolated college town of 79,000, located in the sparsely-settled southwestern part of Ruthlandia. It is in the Southern Lowlands about a 100 miles inland from Belair Bay and the Southern Sea and a little west of the Crystal Lake. Originally established by the Brothers of St. John the Baptist as a monastery and religious retreat. It is now the home of St. John University, a center of learning and the country's elite academic institution and research center. The university is run by the St. John Brothers.

The school's academic specialties are educational, agricultural and medical research. The university is the site of the oldest and largest library in the country. It also houses the largest medical center and hospital in Ruthlandia.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross Convent is also in St. John. The nuns are active in nursing and education. Together the two orders supply many doctors, nurses and teachers for the Islands.

Another important industry run by the Brothers is the Crusader Wagon Company, the makers of top-of-the-line cars, trucks and tractors used throughout Tycobbia and Ruthlandia. The company was started in the 1860s and made wagons and buggies, expanding to automobiles in the early 1900s.

The picturesque and idyllic town is filled with parks and boulevards, all centered around the university and is a nice place to call home and raise a family.

St. John is also home of the St. John Crusaders of the IPA's Ruthlandian Union South Division, who play at lovely Cathedral Stadium on the university campus. The stadium has a great view of the revered gothic cathedrals that pervade the campus. The fans also get a great panoramic view of the downtown area in the distance. The outfield walls and buildings in left, center and right fields are made of white marble. The Crusaders are owned and operated by the Brothers of St. John. Spectators and fans at the stadium can feast on wonderful and delicious sandwiches made with bread from the monastery's famous ovens and sample exquisite wines from its classic cellars and delightful cheeses from its marvelous dairies. All available at nominal prices. Typical baseball fare is also offered at the concession stands.

Crusader fans are noted for being true sportsmen in the truest sense of the word. They never boo the umpires or utter a discouraging word toward their beloved team or the visiting clubs. They will even applaud a good play by opposing players. A visit to Cathedral Stadium is truly unique and enjoyable.

Clayton Luck is the general manager of the Crusaders. He was a solid outfielder for St. John for 18 years from 2005 to 2022, retiring with a .279 career average, 2200 hits, 182 homers, 1278 runs and 846 RBIs.

The current skipper is Nicky Farrugia, who took over in 1949... Farrugia was a standout outfielder for the Crusaders from 2034 to 2047, batting .321 lifetime (13th-best in IPA history) with 365 homers and 1204 RBIs... he was a 5-time All-Star and won the Ruthlandian MVP and Golden Bat Award in 2039... Farrugia was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2047.

Cathedral Stadium (1948)
Capacity: 7,450

Dimensions:
LF Line 360
LF 375
LCF 390
CF 400
RCF 390
RF 375
RF Line 360

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 25, 2057

2057 Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series: Game 4 at Cathedral Stadium

[Eugene Church]

2057 Ruthlandian Union Division Championship Series: Game 4 at State Fair Park