ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 27, 2052

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series: Game 2 at Middlefield Park in Middlefield

TARS TAME ROOSTERS, SPLIT SERIES
Taranto's talented rookie twirler Phil Castle (23-3/1.83) had trouble with his control, but he still came out the winner, taming Pro Cup favorite Middlefield 7-2 in game two of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... the Tars split the two games at Middlefield Park and now will head home for the next three contests... Castle (3-0/1.14) won his third postseason game... he walked five batters in seven innings, but held the Roosters to just two runs, then gave way to closer Louie Toscano (0-0/0.00/2 saves/3 G) for two scoreless innings... rookie C Niccolo Parisi (.345/8 RBI) drove in three runs to lead Taranto... Parisi hit his 2nd postseason roundtripper... 1B Phil Wilson (.400/4 RBI) added in two RBIs... 2B Natty Colclough (.435/8 RBI) accounted for all of the Rooster runs with a two-clout, his 5th in the playoffs this season... 26-game winner James Long (1-1/3.68) copped the loss, slapped for four runs in his seven innings.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series: Game 2 at Armed Forces Park in East Point

RED CAPS POUND PANTHERS IN GAME 2
The underdog Oxford Red Caps pounded powerful East Point 10-4 in the second game of the Tycobbian League Championship Series... the two clubs divided the first two games at Armed Forces Park in East Point... Oxford slashed 14 hits including 6 doubles, a triple and a home run and were led by 3B Allen Spears (.455/8 RBI) with three RBIs... CF Dwayne Wagner (.208/6 RBI) crashed his 3rd roundtripper in the postseason and drove in two runs... LF Ozzy Ackerman (.308/8 RBI) batted in a pair of runs, too... Panther RF Doug Dennhardt (.241/8 RBI) went deep and poled another homer, driving in three runs... veteran hurler Lou Ellison (2-0/2.05) cashed in another victory, surrendered four runs and nine hits in a complete-game stint... 21-game winner Ralph Wallace (1-2/5.57) never had a chance... the Red Caps ramrodded him for eight runs and 11 hits after just four frames... it's on to Winchester Stadium in Oxford for the next three games in the best-of-seven set.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 27, 2052

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 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]

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]

Map of Islandian

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 28, 2052

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series: Game 3 at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto

ROOSTERS ROUT TARS, COLLIER BLANKS 'EM
Looking every bit a Pro Cup champion, the Middlefield Roosters routed Taranto 10-0 in the third game of the Ruthlandian LCS and moved up two games to one the best-of-seven affair... and they did it at the Palazzo di Sport, the home of Tars... the Roosters crowed loudly with three homers in the top of the 9th... all back-to-back-to-back by CF Johnny Wyatt (.233/7 RBI), 2B Natty Colclough (.440/10 RBI) and RF Rufus Blackburn (.229/6 RBI)... this was Colclough's 6th roundtripper in the playoffs... Middlefield has now hit 20 postseason homers... in addition the Roosters got a magnificent 2-hit shutout from Carroll Collier (3-0/2.31)... the game was over after a 6-run explosion in the top of the 3rd... Valerio Rossi (1-2/3.27) was no match for Middlefield today... the 20-game winner was jolted for seven runs in eight innings.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series: Game 3 at Winchester Park in Oxford

PANTHERS SOCK IT TO THE RED CAPS, UP 2-1
Boy, you talk about a bad day at the office... or on the baseball diamond... nothing went right for Oxford at their home field, Winchester Park... the Red Caps committed 8 errors that produced 7 freebies for the East Point Panthers and walked 9 batters... needless to say the visiting Panthers pounded out a 10-3 victory to go up 2-1 in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... East Point only got 7 hits, but it was more than enough to wallop Oxford... LF Jakie Spears (.409/2 RBI) sparked the Panthers with three hits... RF Doug Dennhardt (.229/10 RBI), SS Mason Woods (.219/6 RBI) and pinchhitter Jay Jay Nix (.409/5 RBI) all batted in two runs each... Benny Allen (1-0/3.48) and Chet Dowler (1-0/0.00/1 save/3 G) combined to beat the Red Caps... Allen chalked up the win... he held Oxford to two runs and five hits in six innings and left for a pinchhitter in the 7th with a 4-2 edge... Dowler went the last three frames and gave up one run... losing hurler Tekkan Nishikawa (1-1/2.38) allowed eight runs in six-plus innings, but only one was earned.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 29, 2052

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series: Game 4 at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto

TARS TROUNCE ROOSTERS, EVEN SERIES 2-2
The Ruthlandian League Championship Series is all even at two games apiece after Taranto trounced visiting Middlefiield 14-4 in game four at the Palazzo di Sport... the Tars exploded for 14 hits, paced by C Niccolo Parisi (.306/11 RBI) and 2B Rico Messina (.269/6 RBI) with three RBIs each... and LF Vic Lombardi (.400/2 RBI), SS Nick Grasso (.209/2 RBI) and pitcher Freddy De Angelis (.286/2 RBI) all batted in two runs apiece... De Angelis (2-0/2.50) put it into cruise control after Taranto tacked nine runs on the scoreboard in the last of the 3rd inning... he surrendered seven hits, stuck out one batter and walked four... loser Larry Wheelhouse (1-1/3.09) was slammed for nine runs in just two and two-thirds innings... game five will also been in Taranto.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series: Game 4 at Winchester Park in Oxford

OXFORD KNOTS SERIES 2-2, MCCANLESS HERO
Playing at home underdog Oxford slowed down the favored East Point Panthers yesterday afternoon the fourth game of the playoffs at Winchester Park, battered the Roosters for four runs in the 8th to top them 5-2 and knotted the Tycobbian LCS at two games each... the Red Caps got sharp hurling from starter Homer Keaton (11-16/4.55) and his relief Rene McCanless (2-1/5.87/6 G)... Keaton halted the powerful bats of the Panthers to two runs and seven hits in his seven innings... McCanless shined with two scoreless frames in the 8th and 9th and collected the victory... McCanless also batted in the winning run... the Red Caps also got RBIs from SS Mito Fujkawa (.200/4 RBI), 1B Cliff Nilssen (.351/3 RBI), RF Wade McGrew (.206/5 RBI) and CF Dino Rastelli (.250/1 RBI)... both clubs garnered nine hits each in the game... taking the defeat was starter Milt Easterling (0-1/2.87), who was pelted for five runs in 7-plus innings.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 30, 2052

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series: Game 5 at the Palazzo di Sport in Taranto

ROOSTERS TAKE LEAD ON WYATT'S GRAND SLAM
All closer Louie Toscano needed in game five was three outs in the 9th and Taranto would take the series lead from the Pro Cup favorite Middlefield Roosters... but it didn't happen... instead the Roosters went on a 6-run rampage and battered the Tars 9-4 for a game lead in the best-of-seven Ruthlandian League Championship Series... one more Middlefield victory and it's on to the Pro Cup Finals... in the top of the 9th Rooster CF Johnny Wyatt (.263/12 RBI) walloped a grand slammer to put his club ahead to stay... for the day Wyatt had five RBIs... LF Trip Agarn also hit one out of the park, his 6th in the playoffs... he also had driven in 16 runs... Taranto stayed in the game for a while with three solo homers by CF Renzo Caruso (.178/4 RBI), LF Kuma Toyota (.200/6 RBI) and 1B Phil Wilson (.400/5 RBI)... Toscano (0-1/6.23) was the losing pitcher, charged with six runs in less than two innings... Middlefield had the edge in hits 11 to 10... the rest of the series will be played at Middlefield Park, home of the Roosters.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series: Game 5 at Winchester Park in Oxford

BIG COMEBACK GIVES PANTHERS SERIES LEAD
Just like Taranto blew game five to Middlefield in the Ruthlandian Union, Oxford did the same thing in the Tycobbian Series... the Red Caps built up a 6-3 lead in the first five frames, then lost it when East Point shelled them for 8 runs in the 7th inning, highlighted by a two-run single by 3B Justin McRae (.170/5 RBI), a two-run error and a three-run clout by pinchhitter Jay Jay Nix (.435/8 RBI)... East Point overwhelmed Oxford 11-8 to go up three games to two in the series... both teams piled up 13 hits apiece with LF Jakie Spears heading up the Panther attack with three hits and two runs scored... CF Pokie Ash (.264) also smacked three hits... and RF Doug Dennhardt (.233/12 RBI) cracked a homer... the Red Caps put up a fight with three roundtrippers, but 5 errors hurt them... LF Ozzy Ackerman (.282/11 RBI) hit two of the home runs and batted in three runs... that was his 6th of the postseason... 2B Ethan Cuthbert (.200/5 RBI) also belted on into the stands... the Panthers can wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon at Armed Forces Park in East Point... if needed, game seven will also be there.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 1, 2052

Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series: Game 6 at the Middlefield Park in Middlefield

CASTLE AND TARS FORCE 7TH GAME
Forecast to be a nip-and-tuck thriller, the Ruthlandian League Championship Series is playing out right according to script... in game six at Middlefield Park Taranto's terrific rookie southpaw Phil Castle (4-0/1.38) was on target again with a 3-2 verdict over Pro Cup favorite Middlefield... the series is tied at three games apiece with the seventh game on tap for tomorrow afternoon in Middlefield... at stake: the Ruthlandian Union title and a spot in the Pro Cup Finals against the Tycobbian Union champion... the Roosters touched Castle for nine hits, but stranded nine baserunners... Castle hurled a complete game, struck out six batters and issued only one base on balls... the Tars could only muster six hits off losing pitcher James Long (1-2/3.48)... he also went all the way, fanned five and walked one... two of the hits were solo salvos by LF Kuma Toyota (.208/7 RBI) and C Niccolo Parisi (.326/12 RBI)... it was Toyota's 4th homer in the playoffs and the 3rd for Parisi... they both came in the 6th frame... 1B Phil Wilson (.409/6 RBI) doubled in the other run in the 4th... the Roosters got both of their runs in the last of the 6th on C Johnny McDonald's (.317/8 RBI) RBI double and pitcher James Long's (.250/1 RBI) base hit.

Tycobbian Union League Championship Series: Game 6 at Armed Forces Park in East Point

RED CAPS RIP PANTHERS, 7TH GAME TOMORROW
What a day for underdogs in game six of the IPA playoffs... Taranto whipped Pro Cup favorite Middlefield... and lightly-regarded Oxford upended powerful East Point... those surprises set the stage for a game seven finale in both leagues... Oxford poured it on the East Point Panthers 14-1, demolishing them with 18 hits... RF Wade McGrew (.333/11 RBI) and 1B Cliff Nilssen (.362) both batted in four runs for the Red Caps... and SS Mito Fujikawa (.255), LF Ozzy Ackerman (.318/13 RBI) and C Giles Gilliam (.300/10 RBI) all collected three hits apiece... not only were the Red Caps on top of their game at the plate, Lou Ellison (3-0/1.45) turned in a fine performance on the mound with a 4-hitter... he struck out six batters and walked five, while going the route... Oxford torched Panther starter Ralph Wallace (1-3/6.66) for eight runs in the first four innings... the Tycobbian league title and a spot in the IPA Pro Cup Finals is up for grabs tomorrow afternoon at Armed Forces Stadium in East Point.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 2, 2052

ROOSTERS HEAD TO PRO CUP FINALS
The Pro Cup favorite Middlefield Roosters rule the roost in Ruthlandian baseball circles... they captured the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series and are now headed to the IPA Pro Cup Finals against the Tycobbian titleholder East Point... Taranto didn't go down quietly... it took Middlefield seven games to finish off the tough Tars... the game seven finale went to the Roosters 5-2 behind the sharp pitching of Chris Collier (4-0/1.67), who stymied the Tars on just three hits... Collier had a no-hitter for six innings... he walked no one and fanned two batters... none of the runs were earned... Middlefield went up 5-0 with four runs in the 6th... Collier (.214/2 RBI) doubled in two runs, Rupert Forbest (.273/4 RBI) hit a sac fly and SS Stan Radzikowski (.254/3 RBI) singled in the last one... Taranto got both of the its runs in the 7th on C Niccolo Parisi's (.304/13 RBI) sacrifice flyball and LF Leo Marchetti's (.400/6 RBI) run-scoring single... the defeat went to Valerio Rossi (1-3/4.03)... the Roosters rapped him for five runs in seven innings.

Middlefield manager Ricky Tinker commented to the press, "It sure is good to have Taranto behind us... they were just as tough as we expected... fortunate for us, Collier really came through for us in his two starts... our offense did well against maybe the best staff in the IPA... 6 runs a game should beat most teams."

Augie Marshall, Tars' skipper, told reporters, "It was a hard-fought series between two fine teams... we gave it our best and came up one game short... Middlefield really has a potent offense... good hitters up-and-down their lineup... averaging 6 runs a game against our pitchers speaks volumes for how good they are... we scored almost 5 runs a game and lost... we were just outgunned."

DONLEY'S HR ADVANCES PANTHERS TO PRO CUP
Miracles still happen... just ask the East Point Panthers... down 6-1 going into the last of the 5th in the seventh and deciding game of the Tycobbian title series against the lightly-regarded Oxford Red Caps, the Panthers made a great rally to triumph 7-6 and advance to the IPA Pro Cup Finals against the Middlefield Roosters, the Ruthlandian champion... 20-year-old rookie pinchhitter Skip Donley (.250/3 RBI) got the biggest hit of his career, walloping a three-run homer and making East Point the Tycobbian champion... a remarkable victory for East Point... and a heartbreaking defeat for the underdog Oxford Red Caps... the Panthers got stellar relief work from rookie Chip Dowler and Pudgy Putnam, who blanked the Red Caps over the final five frames... the win went to starter Benny Allen (2-0/3.86), but Oxford went to town on Allen for six runs in five innings... the Red Caps left 13 runners on base... leaving them loaded in the 8th inning against Dowler without a run... Oxford also missed another golden opportunity to tie the score in the top of the 9th when Allen Spears (.390) led off with a triple, but Putnam stranded him there and escaped without giving up a run... East Point got 11 hits in the game, while Oxford collected 9... starter Tekkan Nishikawa (1-2/5.51) was the loser, permitting seven runs in five innings.

"Too close for comfort", is how victorious skipper Frank Blair described the outcome at the press conference... "Nishakawa and Oxford were well on the way to a win and the Pro Cup Finals, when we snapped out of the slumber and put six runs on the scoreboard... Donley got the biggest hit of the year for us."

Oxford manager Dennis Hartwig lamented the loss, "This one really hurts to the core... up 6-1 and we lose... we outscore them 49 to 40 and we lose... one win away from the Pro Cup Finals... sorry, it will take me a little time to get over this."... Later Hartwig offered a more positive note, "Despite this, it was a super season for us... mark my words, the Red Caps will be back next year."

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN NEWS
Thursday, October 3, 2052

DREAM PRO CUP FINALS
A match made in heaven... the top-ranked Middlefield Roosters tangling with the #2-ranked East Point Panthers for IPA Pro Cup trophy, the symbol of baseball supremacy in the Islands... the Pro Cup Finals are a dream matchup this year... and it all begins this Saturday afternoon at Middlefield Park with the hometown Roosters welcoming the visiting East Point Panthers... it's the champion of the Ruthlandian Union going up against the Tycobbian Union titlewinner for all the marbles in world of professional baseball in Islandia... whoever wins the best-of-seven series will gain the much-revered and much-coveted Pro Cup.

The two powerful diamond combatants only have one Pro Cup title between them... Middlefield whipped the Denton City Redbirds in 5 games way back in 2005... since then, the Roosters have come very close twice, losing 7-game series on both occasions... the South Fork Stallions nipped them in 2025 and the Southport Sun Sox edged them in 2047... East Point has never won the IPA title, but did reach the Finals in 2033, falling to the Elnora All-Stars four games to three.

The oddsmakers have made Middlefield the favorite... both clubs have potent attacks with good hitting and good power... the difference may be in the pitching and defense... Middlefield has four quality starters and the Roosters also have the better defense, .968 FA to .965 FA.

In the first two rounds Middlefield (106-48) got by two very fine teams, #3-ranked Wynnamac (95-59) in 6 games and #6-rated Taranto (99-55) in 7 games... and they did it with great hitting... 24 home runs... just about everyone in their batting contributed in the postseason... 2B Natty Colclough batted .444 with 7 roundtrippers, 13 RBIs and 17 runs... LF Trip Agarn hit .345 with 6 homers, 16 RBIs and 13 runs... CF Johnny Wyatt walloped 3 out of the park with 12 ribbies, 9 runs scored and a .261 BA... and 3B Cramer Landis posted a .321 BA with 2 home runs, 13 RBIs and scored 10 times.

On the hill manager Ricky Tinker has gotten a sensational playoff performance from Carroll Collier... he has compiled a splendid 4-0 record with a 1.67 ERA... Hollis Dale (1-1/3.27), Larry Wheelhouse (1-1/3.09) and James Long (1-2/3.48) are also quality starters... Middlefield has a capable bullpen, too, with Norm Coventry (1-0/1.59/1 save/2 G), Ken Willis (0-0/3.60/3 G) and Yazzy Yastrzemski (0-0/2.08/2 G)... mainstay reliever Ricky Farris has not fared well in the playoffs... in two assignments he has worked a total of one inning and been tagged for two runs... Farris was outstanding in the regular season with an 8-2 mark in 42 appearances, 1.68 ERA and 7 saves.

8 East Point players were on the 2047 team that made the Pro Cup Finals... still on the roster are first string C Johnny McDonald... and backup infielder Ike Gary and backup center fielder Russell Martin.. returning pitchers are Collier, Long, Dale, Wheelhouse and Farris.

East Point's competition in the postseason wasn't quite the quality that Middlefield faced... the Panthers (96-58) got past the 4th-rated Kenwood Panthers (91-63) in 6 games and were forced to 7 games by the 8th-ranked club in the playoffs, the Oxford Red Caps (86-69)... basically the Panthers hit their way into the Pro Cup Finals... skipper Frank Blair's entire staff struggled in the postseason... and now they must face arguably the best-hitting team in the Islands... Ralph Wallace (1-3/6.66), Benny Allen (2-0/3.86), Lee Price (1-0/5.29) and Milt Easterling (0-1/2.87) will have to revert to regular-season prowess or it will be a dismal finish to the season... Blair's bullpen is pretty good with Pudgy Putnam (1-0/3.65/2 saves/6 G), Kerry Woodburn (2-1/2.70/5 G) and Chip Dowler (1-0/0.00/1 save/5 G).

Only two hitters hit much for average in the postseason: RF Jay Jay Nix (.400/2 HR/8 RBI/6 R) and LF Jakie Spears (.432/1 HR/4 RBI/5 R)... however, the most productive bats belonged to RF Doug Dennhardt (.245/3 HR/12 RBI/8 R), C Kenny Bailey (.269/2 HR/11 RBI/10 R), 2B Major Woods (.204/1 HR/9 RBI/8 R) and CF Pokie Ash (.238/2 HR/7 RBI/8 R)... the Panthers have hit 14 homers in the postseason so far.

Pro Cup Prediction: On paper, it is a dream match... but when you look at the performance in the postseason, Middlefield seems to have the upper hand with its longball power and solid rotation... give it to the Roosters in 6 games.

[Dark Horse]

Wow! Two back and forth seven game series!!! If the Pro Cup Series comes up to the level of the two League Championship Series, these will go down as the greatest playoffs in the Islandian Pro Alliance history.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Wow! Two back and forth seven game series!!! If the Pro Cup Series comes up to the level of the two League Championship Series, these will go down as the greatest playoffs in the Islandian Pro Alliance history.

Could be... I'll have to research it.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 6, 2052

IPA PRO CUP SERIES: Game 1 at Middlefield Park in Middlefield

WALLACE SHACKLES ROOSTERS IN OPENER
Coming into the IPA Pro Cup Finals, it was being built as a battle between two juggernaut, high-powered offenses... pitchers weren't given much chance for survival... and then comes along Ralph Wallace (2-3/4.93)... in the opening game of the Pro Cup Series at Middlefield Park, the East Point veteran right-hander fired a 6-0 shutout, stopping the powerful Middlefield Roosters on just five singles... the game was a scoreless duel between 21-game winner Wallace and 26-game winner James Long for the first six frames, then C Kenny Bailey (.286/16 RBI) torched Long for a three-run homer in the top of the 7th to snap the tie... the Panthers really put the Roosters away with three more scores in the 8th... Bailey drove in 5 runs in the game... Long (1-3/3.55) lost it,.. he allowed three runs on five hits, while fanning five batters and walking none.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 7, 2052

IPA PRO CUP SERIES: Game 2 at Middlefield Park in Middlefield

COLLIER EVENS PRO CUP FINALS AT 1-1
In the second game of the Pro Cup Finals at Middlefield Park, the Middlefield Roosters hit the ball well, pitched well and played good defense... and the Pro Cup favorite tied the series at one game each with an 8-1 drubbing of the East Point Panthers... Chris Collier (5-0/1.52) won his 5th game of the playoffs, stopping the potent Panthers on seven hits... his Rooster teammates smacked 13 hits and were paced by 2B Rupert Forbest (.370/6 RBI), SS Stan Radzikowki (.242/5 RBI), RF Rufus Blackburn (.208/8 RBI) and CF Johnny Wyatt (.259/14 RBI) each with two runs batted in... Wyatt hit his 4th homer of the postseason and Forbest had four hits... Benny Allen (2-1/4.55) caught the loss, going six frames and giving up five runs on seven hits... East Point splits the first two games on the road and will now take on the Roosters at Armed Forces Park in the next three games... if necessary, the last two games will be in Middlefield.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 8, 2052

IPA PRO CUP SERIES: Game 3 at Armed Forces Park in East Point

ROOSTERS NAB PRO CUP LEAD
Game three of the IPA Pro Cup Finals went to favored Middlefield... the Roosters won a seesaw battle on the road at Armed Forces Stadium 9-8 in 10 innings... behind 7-4 in the 6th Middlefield fought back and took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series... the Roosters tied it up 8-all in the top of the 7th on an RBI single by CF Johnny Wyatt (.271/17 RBI) and a sacrifice fly by SS Stan Radzikowski (.250/6 RBI)... Middlefield won it in the 10th on another sacrifice fly by 2B Rupert Forbest (.375/9 RBI)... the Roosters got fine work from their bullpen... Ken Willis blanked the Panthers for three innings and Ricky Farris held them runless in the bottom of the 10th... Willis (1-0/5.40/5 G) notched the win and Farris (0-0/4.91/1 save/4 G) got the save... Chip Dowler (1-1/0.82/7 G) was the loser... he came on in the 10th.... Middlefield was paced at the plate by Johnny Wyatt with three RBIs... his 5th postseason homer was good for a pair of scores... Forbest also batted in three runs... the top gun for East Point was 1B Alvaro Cavacos (.232/8 RBI) with a three-run homer and four RBIs... it was homer #3 in the playoffs for Cavacos... RF Doug Dennhardt (.242/14 RBI) pitched in with two runs batted in... and CF Pokie Ash (.247/7 RBI) socked three hits and scored twice for the Panthers, who outdid the Roosters 13 hits to 11... games four and five will also be played in East Point.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 9, 2052

IPA PRO CUP SERIES: Game 4 at Armed Forces Park in East Point

MIDDIES WIN GAME 4, UP 3-1 IN PRO CUP
Two of the highest-scoring clubs in the IPA were shut down in game four of the IPA Pro Cup Series... Middlefield got a fine start from 20-game winner Larry Wheelhouse, who put down East Point 4-2 and gave the Roosters a crucial victory in the best-of seven series... the Middies are now up three games to one... one more win and they claim the Holy Grail of Baseball in the Islands - the much-cherished Pro Cup Trophy... Wheelhouse (2-1/2.75) tossed eight solid innings, gave up only two runs on seven hits... he left for a pinchhitter in the 9th, so reliever Ricky Farris (0-0/3.89/2 saves/5 G) finished up for him and worked a scoreless 9th... the loser was Lee Price, a 23-game victor in the regular campaign... Price (1-1/5.25) went seven frames and was tagged for four runs and six hits... homers accounted for three of the four Rooster runs... RF Rufus Blackburn (.237/10 RBI) cracked a two-run shot in the 4th and 2B Rupert Forbest (.361/10 RBI) nailed a solo roundtripper in the seventh... LF Jakie Spears (.415/7 RBI) and SS Justus Coles (.167/1 RBI) drove in the Panther runs... Middlefield could end it all tomorrow afternoon at Armed Forces Stadium in East Point... the Roosters are seeking their second IPA Pro Cup... they won their only one in 2005 when they defeated the Denton City Redbirds in 5 games.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 10, 2052

IPA PRO CUP SERIES: Game 5 at Armed Forces Park in East Point

PANTHERS LIVE, FEND OFF ROOSTERS IN GAME 5
The East Point Panthers stayed alive in the IPA Pro Cup Series with a stirring 4-3 triumph on their own home field in game five at Armed Forces Park and narrowed the Middlefield margin to three games to two in the best-of-seven series... the Panthers snapped a 3-3 tie in the last of the 6th frame when a single by Jakie Spears (.421), walk to Kenny Bailey (.282) and a force out at second put runners on the corners... East Point got the winning run on an RBI groundout by SS Thomas Crawford (.163/2 RBI)... starter Ralph Wallace (3-3/4.54) registered the win... he hurled seven innings, allowed three runs on five hits with five walks and four Ks... Pudgy Putnam (1-0/3.52/3 saves/8 G) logged the save with two scoreless frames, pinning the loss on Rooster starter James Long (1-4/3.80)... the Panthers touched him for four runs and seven hits in seven innings... Long fanned four and walked four... Crawford and 1B Alvaro Cavacos (.234/10 RBI) had two RBIs apiece to lead the winners... LF Trip Agarn (.301/17 RBI) hit a homer for Middlefield, his 7th of the postseason and 17th RBI... game six is scheduled for this afternoon at Middlefield Park... game seven, if necessary, will also be played there.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 11, 2052

IPA PRO CUP FINAL SERIES: Game 6 at Middlefield Park in Middlefield

ROOSTERS CROWING ALL ACROSS THE ISLANDS
Lots and lots of time has past - 47 years - but finally the Middlefield Roosters cashed in on their second Pro Cup trophy... the Roosters finished off the East Point Panthers 7-5 in game six of the IPA Pro Cup Series to capture it four games to two... the Roosters did it at home at Middlefield Park, led by Carroll Collier, who won his 6th postseason game... Collier (6-0/1.46) shut down the Panthers for eight innings and went into the 9th with a 7-2 lead... he held them to four hits and one earned run, but they got to him for two roundtrippers and four unearned runs as the Roosters committed four errors... Norm Coventry (1-0/2.16/2 saves/5 G) got the last two outs to save it for Collier... Middlefield only managed five hits, but two of them were homers... CF Johnny Wyatt (.246/20 RBI) hit his 7th of the playoffs, a three-run smash, and LF Trip Agarn (.299/18 RBI) hit his 8th, a singleton... East Point's Skip Donley (.273/6 RBI) blasted a three-run job and Alvara Cavacos (.247/12 RBI) connected on a solo clout... starter Benny Allen (2-2/4.54) took the loss, allowing four runs and four hits in six frames... the last Pro Cup title came to Middlefield in 2005 when the Roosters whipped Denton City in a 5-game series.

"I know it's cliche to say it," Middlefield's skipper Rinky Tinker to the press, "but this truly was a team effort... we had solid pitching and solid hitting in the regular season and it went on into the playoffs... and finally after almost five decades, we won another Pro Cup."

East Point manager Frank Blair echoed Tinker's sentiments... "Rinky has some very reliable pitchers... mix in the long-ball power and you have a winning combination that's hard to beat... I thought we had firepower... but they outhomered us in the playoffs 31 to 16... my staff slowed them down a lot, but they still hit 7 homers to our 4 in the Finals."

[Dark Horse]

The Pro Cup Series did not disappoint. And East Point definitely went out with guns a blazing.

[Sizeman21]

Great end to the thrilling championship! Looking forward to next season! Good work as always Eugene!