ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, September 23, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 1

Ruthlandian Union

SNAPPERS SNATCH OPENER FROM SUNDOWNERS 2-1
Light-hitting Nick Nova drove in both runs and Jamie Taylor bested Jimmy Willard 2-1 in Rocky Rapids' opening game victory over favored Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian Division Series at Granger Field in Wynnamac... 20-game winner Taylor (1-0) scattered 7 hits and went the distance, topping 24-game winner Willard... Willard (0-1) was tagged for 9 hits, struck out 6 and walked 4 in also going the route.

RF Jose Ramos paced the Snappers with 3 hits... SS Nick Nova had 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Nova got RBIs in the top of the sixth and top of the eighth... and 3B Duncan Musselwhite also had 2 hits... CF Darrell Donnelly drove in the Sundowners' only score in the sixth.

TWARDZIK THWARTS CRUSHERS, VIPERS WIN 3-1
Last year's Pro Cup MVP Teddy Twardzik picked up where he left off by stopping Crystal Lake 3-1 in game one of the RU Division Series at War Memorial Stadium in Valmara... Twardzik (1-0) fanned four and walked only one, while giving up one unearned run on 6 hits in a route-going performance... the Vipers bunched all their runs in the bottom of the fourth against loser Eddie Lane (0-1), who also hurled a complete game... Zarek Boczek and Antos Dacko had RBI singles in the inning and Twardzik got the third run on a sacrifice fly... two errors by the Vipers gifted the Crushers with their only score in the top of the eighth.

Valmara was sparked at the plate by 2B Ken Jensen, 1B Cain Greene and SS Antos Dacko, all with a pair of hits apiece... CF Kenny Gray had two hits for Crystal Lake.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX SNEAK BY HAWKS 5-3 IN GAME ONE
Pro Cup favorite Southport sneaked by arch-rival North Hills 5-3 in game one of the Tycobbian Division Series on a hot, windy day at Pleasure Beach Park... the big blow in the game came off the bat of Gonzalo Topez, who belted a 2-run homer in the last of the sixth to give the Sun Sox a 4-3 lead... Billy Hoover (1-0) was on the hill for Southport... the 21-game winner was backed by three double plays to ward off the Hawks... Hoover allowed 8 hits and 3 runs in a complete game... David Michael (0-1) also went the entire game in defeat... he was touched for 5 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 7 and walking 2.

1B Eddie Douglas also homered for Southport, a 2-run shot in the opening frame... leading batsmen for the Hawks were RF Adam Thurgood and 2B Jim McDermott with 2 hits each... Thurgood, 3B Ric Hamilton and RF Jimmy Jay Ferguson drove in the Hawks' runs.

RED SOX CREEP PAST WILDCATS 3-2 IN OPENER
Playing in the postseason for the first time in 35 years, Red Bluff creeped past Kenwood 3-2 in the opening game of the TU Division Series at Red Bluff Park... Jud Cox and Slick Little teamed up to tame the Wildcats on 5 hits and just two runs and sending 26-game winner Tommy Carter down to defeat... Carter (0-1) went all the way, yielding 3 runs on 7 hits... Cox worked 7 and two-thirds innings, allowing 2 runs on five hits... only one of the runs was earned... Little got the save, retiring the final four batters in order, striking out 2 of them.

Kenwood jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the first frame when 1B Bert Henrich grounded out and scored 3B Country Crowder from third... Red Bluff bounced back with two scores in the bottom of the third on RBI doubles by 2B Big Boy Payne and CF Jesse Shaw... the Red Sox increased the lead to 3-1 in the fourth on a double by 3B Fran Blanchard and an RBI single by Cox... the Wildcats ended the scoring in the eighth... SP Tommy Carter got on base because of an error and scored on 3B Country Crowder's triple.

CF Ike Sweetwater led Red Bluff with two hits, while 3B Crowder and RF Wes Wernstedt had a pair apiece for Kenwood.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, September 24, 2044

2044 IPA Division Championship Series - Game 2

Ruthlandian Union

WYNNAMAC EVENS SERIES, SMACKS SNAPPERS 5-3
The Wynnamac bats came alive in the second game of the Ruthlandian Division Series at Granger Field... Wynnamac cracked 14 hits to smack Rocky Rapids 5-3 and even up the series at one game apiece... Nioka Inkamara (.444), Jack Pope (.375) and Dale Fisher (.500) sparked them with three hits each... and southpaw Sammy Hayes (1-0) did the job on the hill, holding the Snappers to 1 run on 7 hits in 8 innings... Hayes struck out 6 and walked 4, departing with a 5-1 lead... Randy Peters (0-1) suffered the loss, being shelled for 12 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings.

The Sundowners broke open a 1-1 tie with a 3-run outburst in the last of the sixth... they added another run in the eighth... the Snappers made a belated rally with 2 runs in the top of the ninth off reliever Mickey Allen.

CRUSHERS TIE VIPERS, MCCAULEY STOPS THEM 4-1
In a sharp performance on the road at Valmara, Don McCauley stopped the Vipers 4-1 to tie up the Ruthlandian Division Series at one game each... McCauley held the defending IPA champ to 1 run and 6 hits in the second game of the series... he struck out 5 and walked only one, while going the distance... McCauley was aided by two-run homers by Pat Dillion (.250) and Marv Roy (.250)... Dillon's blast gave the Crushers a 2-0 lead in the first inning and Roy's cinched it in the eighth inning... they both came off losing pitcher Zak Reeder (0-1), who allowed 4 runs on 9 hits in 8 and two-thirds innings.

SS Joji Yamasaki (.667) led Crystal Lake with 3 hits... RF Zarek Boczek (.375) collected 2 hits to pace the Vipers.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX TOP HAWKS 5-4 IN 12 INNINGS
Pro Cup favorite Southport won its second straight tense duel with North Hills by defeating the Hawks 5-4 in 12 innings... Vasilis Vlachos singled in the winning run with a clutch single that scored Gonzalo Topez from second base to put the Sun Sox up two games to none in the best-of-seven series... Cade Brockton (1-0) was the winner, in relief of starter Johnny Swanson... Brockton hurled three shutout innings... the loser was Kyle Oliver (0-1), who relieved Tony Mack after 9 innings.

Hawk starter Tony Mack took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, but couldn't hold it... 1B Eddie Douglas tied it up with a two-out two-bagger... Douglas (.400) cracked 3 hits and drove in two runs to lead the Sun Sox... Vlachos (.444) also had 3 hits for the winners and SS Gonzalo Topez (.429) added 2 hits... North Hills' top guns were LF Adam Thurgood (.400) and 3B Ric Hamilton (.500)... they each clubbed 2-run homers... C Timmy Stevens (.333) also chipped in a pair of hits for the Hawks.

KENWOOD CLIPS RED BLUFF 3-1, SERIES EVEN
It was another pitcher's duel at Red Bluff Park with Kenwood getting the best of the hometown Red Sox 3-1 behind the fine pitching of Clyde Myers... he blanked Red Bluff for 8 innings and exited ahead 3-0... Myers (1-0) surrendered only 3 hits, whiffed 8 and walked 5 in his outing... closer Artemus Hale got the save, but was rocked for a solo roundtripper by C Phil White (.143) in the last of the ninth.

Kenwood was led at the plate by C Corky DiNozzo's 2-run smash in the first frame... pinchhitter Jorn Weese (.500) got their third run in in the ninth with an RBI single... Jack Wallace (0-1) was the loser... he tossed the first 8 innings, permitting 2 runs on 5 hits with 5 Ks and 4 bases on balls... Wallace went to the showers trailing 2-0... CF Ike Sweetwater (.571) topped the Red Sox with 2 hits.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Great thread!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Great thread!

Actually just a good thread based on it contents... but thank you anyway.

Longivity is what makes it a special dynasty... nobody in his right mind would do it for so long. 64 teams to cover is way too much. Next time it will 16 teams maximum.

I'm shooting for 50 seasons and then I will retire the IPA.

Actually, it's the guys who follow this thread that should get the credit. I wouldn't do it except for their loyalty. For a long time, I had a 15 regulars per day... now it numbers about 100... sometimes last year the viewers numbered 200... I think 236 is the record for one day.

Thanks, guys!

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, September 25, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 3

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS NIP SNAPPERS 2-1, UP 2-1 IN SERIES
On the road at Snapper Stadium in Rocky Rapids, Wynnamac finally got its bats going in the ninth to nip the Snappers 2-1 and take a 2-1 lead in the Ruthlandian Division Series... with one away Duane Hudson singled and was tripled in by Nioka Inkamara... Darrell Donnelly followed with a go-ahead single... it was a terrible ending for Dirk Halstad (0-1), who had blanked the Sundowners for the first 8 innings... Geoff Hobart and Johnny Mitchell combined to hold the Snappers to a single run on 7 hits... Mitchell (1-0) notched the victory with 2 scoreless frames... he allowed 2 hits.

Wynnamac's CF Darrell Donnelly (.545) and 3B Duane Hudson (.300) led the way... Donnelly was 4-4 and Hudson 2-4... 3B Duncan Musselwhite (.417) and C Carney Kirkpatrick (.333) had 2 hits each for the Snappers.

LAKERS NOSE OUT VIPERS 2-1, TAKE LEAD
After three games Crystal Lake has defending Pro Cup champion Valmara in a little bit of trouble... the Crushers nosed them out 2-1 to take a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven series... a pinchhit homer by Rod McKay (.500) in the last of the ninth gave Crystal Lake the victory... the Crushers got good outings from starter Ken Lawson and closer Josh Crosby, who shut down the Vipers on 7 hits... Lawson went 7 frames and allowed one run on 6 hits... he had 7 strikeouts and 4 walks... Crosby (1-0) was the winner with 2 spotless innings... Harold Hutson (0-1) hurled a strong game in defeat, giving up only 2 runs on 8 hits... Valmara's only run came on a solo homer by LF Lech Nowakowski (.125).

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX SOCK HAWKS 8-6 FOR 3RD STRAIGHT
Southport took a huge step in their quest for the Pro Cup by socking North Hills 8-6 at the Hawk's Nest... the Sun Sox boomed three homers and 12 hits to defeat the Hawks for the third straight game... all Southport needs is one more win to eliminate powerful North Hills from the playoffs... the Sun Sox were picked as the Pro Cup favorite with the Hawks' the second choice... Owen Wallace (.300) and Barney Lewis (.286) had 2-run clouts and Chris Jones a solo shot to spearhead the victory... Gordon Forbes (1-0) went the distance, despite giving up 10 hits and 6 runs... he survived a 4-run ninth-inning rally... Butch Cortelloni (0-1) caught the loss as he was battered for 7 runs in 5 innings... Southport led 7-2 at that point.

RF Chris Jones (.385) and 3B Ricky Whitaker (.750) sparked the Sun Sox with 3 hits each... and 2B Owen Wallace (.300) posted a pair of hits... the Hawks hammered two out of the park... 1B Oscar Pendleton (.273) and C Timmy Stevens (.385) went deep with solo homers... SS Tommy Vavas (.308) went 3-for 4 and LF Adam Thurgood (.400) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

RED SOX ROSEN HALTS WILDCATS 3-1 IN GAME 3
Red Bluff's Mickey Rosen came through with a solid performance in the 3-1 triumph in game three over Kenwood at the Olde Towne Grounds... Rosen (1-0) stymied the Wildcats on 1 run and 7 hits in a complete-game outing... 2B Big Boy Payne was the hitting hero with a game-winning 2-run double in the top of the eighth inning... Kenwood's Rusty Bradford (0-1) suffered a tough loss as he didn't give up an earned run in his 9 innings... the Red Sox got to him for only 6 hits... Bradford walked none and fanned one in the game.

The Wildcats scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening frame when C Corky DiNozzo (.200) singled in CF Warren Vickers (.167) from third base... Josh Stevens (.091) tied it up for the Red Sox in the second with a home run... 2B Big Boy Payne (.250) led the Red Sox with 2-for-4 and 2 RBIs... 3B Crowder (.545) went 3-for-3 for the Wildcats.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, September 26, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 4

Ruthlandian Union

W'MAC-RR KNOTTED, SNAPS WIN IN 10TH 5-4
It's all even in the Ruthlandian Divison Series... Rocky Rapids trimmed Wynnamac 5-4 in 10 innings to knot it up at two games each... behind 4-0 going into the bottom of the ninth the Snappers mounted an improbable rally, highlighted by Vance Forbes 3-run homer that sent the game into overtime... Rocky Rapids won it in the tenth when Carney Kirkpartrick singled and advanced to third on two groundouts, then scored on Johnny Watts' base hit.

Steve Owens (1-0) got credit for the win in relief of starter Jamie Taylor (1-0/1.50)... Owens pitched a perfect tenth after Taylor tossed 9 respectable innings, yielding 4 runs - only 2 of them the earned variety - on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and no walks... losing pitcher Jimmy Willard (0-2/1.45) started and shut out the Snappers for 8 frames... Willard worked 9 and two-thirds innings, allowed only one earned run on 10 hits.

Rocky Rapids collected 11 hits and was led by CF Vance Forbes (.308) and C Carney Kirkpatrick (.438) with 3 hits apiece... 3B Duncan Musselwhite (.412) and 1B Johnny Watts (.364) chipped in with 2 hits each... on the losing side C Kody Howard (.375) socked 2 hits and batted in 2 runs and 1B Jack Pope (.313) had 2 hits and scored twice.

LANE SHARP, CRUSHERS EKE BY VIPERS 2-1
Defending IPA champion Valmara is on the verge of elimination at the hands of Crystal Lake... Eddie Lane outhurled Teddy Twardzik 2-1 in an old-fashioned pitching duel... both of them went the distance... Lane (1-1/2.12) stopped the Vipers on 1 run and 5 hits, fanning 8 and walking 2 in a very sharp outing to put the Crushers up 3-1 in the best-of-seven affair... Twardzik (1-1/0.53) was almost as good... he gave up only 2 runs on 9 hits... only one of the runs was earned.

Twardzik's (.333) home run gave Valmara the lead in the top of the third... Crystal Lake promptly tied it 1-1 in the bottom half of the frame... Lane (.200) doubled with one out and scored on CF Johnny Kennedy's (.400) single... back-to-back errors gave the Crushers the victory in the seventh... pinchhitter Rusty Bayfield led off with a double and came around on 1B Cain Greene's (.267) miscues.

Kennedy (.400) and 3B Marv Roy (.357) topped Crystal Lake with 2 hits each, while LF Paul Anthony (.500) went 2-for-4 for Valmara.

Tycobbian Union

SOUTHPORT SWEEPS NORTH HILLS BEHIND HOOVER
Pro Cup favorite Southport showed their stuff with a sweep of second-ranked North Hills in the Tycobbian Division Series... ace Billy Hoover (2-0/1.00) finished off the Hawks in grand fashion with a 6-hit shutout... Hoover whiffed 5 and walked no one in a complete game... David Micheal (0-2/3.38) was on the losing end of the score, working 8 innings and giving up 3 runs on 8 hits... he walked 4 and fanned 6.

The Sun Sox scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth... C Vasilis Vlachos (.294), SP Billy Hoover (.600) and 3B Craig Glennon (.077) drove in the runs... Hoover and SS Gonzalo Topez had 3 hits each to pace Southport at the plate.

Southport skipper Charley Oscar was ecstatic after the sweep... "You have to play extremely well to beat a fine team like North Hills four straight... we played well the whole season and played extremely well the last four days... let's just hope we can continue to do it in the next series."... Favored to win the Pro Cup in 2042 and 2043, the Sun Sox failed to get past the first round both years.

Todd Simons, the Hawks' manager, told reporters after the game, "We knew going in we would have to play our best to beat a team that won 104 games... my Hawks played hard... we had our chance to win in three of the four games, but just couldn't do it... Hoover and Swanson are very tough pitchers to beat... Southport certainly gets my vote to win it all this year."

WILDCATS ALL EVEN WITH RED SOX
After four games in the Tycobbian Division Series, it's an even split between Kenwood and Red Bluff... the Wildcats tied it up with a 5-4 victory at home at the Olde Towne Grounds with Warren Vickers singling in Keith Silver from third base with the winning score.

Two of the best pitchers in the IPA were on the mound... 26-game winner Tommy Carter for Kenwood and 21-game winner Jud Cox for Red Bluff... Carter exited after 8 innings with a 4-2 lead... he held the Red Sox to 2 runs and 7 hits... Cox was not at his best as the Wildcats got to him for 4 runs and 9 hits in 7 and one-third innings... Cox finished with 5 Ks and no walks... neither bullpen did well... Kenwood closer Artemus Hale (1-0) was rocked for 2 runs and 3 hits in his one inning, but still got the win... Red Bluff's Ayden Carmack (0-1) had an even tougher time as the Wildcats smacked him for 4 straight hits and the winning run.

Kenwood outhit Red Bluff 13 to 10... Wildcat C Corky DiNozzo (.231) snapped a scoreless tie with a 2-run blast in the last of the sixth... Red Sox RF David Kelso (.313) matched it with a 2-run shot in the top of the eighth... in the bottom half of the frame Kenwood again took the lead 4-2 on sacrifice-fly RBIs by DiNozzo and Wes Wernstedt (.250)... Red Bluff again tied the score in the top of the ninth on sac flies by pinchhitter James Baxter (.000) and LF Jesse Shaw (.063).

Sparking the Wildcats at the plate were LF Keith Silver (.375) with 3 hits, CF Vickers (.235) and 3B Country Crowder (.533) with a pair of hits apiece... tops for the Red Sox were CF Ike Sweetwater (.500), who socked 4 hits and RF David Kelso (.313) with 2 hits.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, September 27, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 5

Ruthlandian Union

SUNDOWNERS SINK SNAPPERS 7-3, LEAD SERIES 3-2
At Snapper Stadium in Rocky Rapids, visiting Wynnamac unleashed 13 hits en route to a 7-3 trouncing of the Snappers, thus giving the Sundowners a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series... Sammy Hayes (2-0/2.25) was wild, but hard-to-hit, as he quelled the Snappers on 3 runs and just 2 hits... 8 walks was their main offense.

Wynnamac trailed Rocky Rapids 3-2 after 6 innings, but they rallied in the late innings... the Sundowners took command with a 3-run seventh on RBIs by Duane Hudson, Jack Pope and Curtis Whetstone... they finished off the Snappers with 2 more in the ninth on a Duane Hudson double and a sac fly by pinchhitter Robby Booth.

Leading the Sundowners' 13-hit attack were 3B Hudson (.368) with 3 hits, including two doubles... and three players with a pair of hits apiece: RF Nioka Inkamara (.348), 1B Jack Pope (.350) and 2B Curtis Whetstone (.222)... LF Buddy Hamilton (.158) and CF Marvin Dark (.200) got the only hits for the Snappers, both singles... Randy Peters started for Rocky Rapids and was the loser... Peters (0-2/6.00) took his second series' loss, slammed for 7 runs and 12 hits in 8 innings.

VIPERS STRIKE LATE, STAY ALIVE
Two ninth-inning homers by Zarek Boczek and Lech Nowakowski kept defending IPA champ Valmara alive in the Ruthlandian Division Series against Crystal Lake... the clutch clouts defeated the Crushers 7-5 in game five of the best-of-seven series and narrowed Crystal Lake's lead to 3 games to 2... the Vipers will be at home for the final games of the series.

Cain Greene's (.350) 3-run smash in the top of the fourth gave Valmara an early lead... Crystal Lake evened it up in the sixth on a 2-run homer by Del Peevy (.188)... the Vipers vaulted back in the lead 4-2 on Novakowski's (.250) sacrifice fly in the seventh and John Banks' (.250) RBI fielder's choice in the eighth... the Crushers tied it up 5-5 on a bases-loaded walk to pinchhitter Jesse Walker and Joji Yamasaki's sac fly in the last of the eighth.

Valmare had the advantage in hits 10 to 8... Greene had 3 hits and 3 RBIs for the Vipers, while Novakowski had 2 hits and 2 RBIs and Banks drilled a pair of hits and scored twice.... Crystal Lake's top bats were RF Pat Dillon (.286), 1B Daryl Brady (.211) and SS Joji Yamasaki (.538) with 2 hits each.

Starter Zak Reeder (1-1/4.86) notched the win for Valmara, but gave up 5 runs on 8 hits in his 8 frames... Reeder walked 4 and fanned 6... closer Pat Holloway saved it with a 1-2-3 ninth... Clyde Thompson (0-1), who relieved starter Dave McCauley in the ninth. lost it on the two back-to-back roundtrippers.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX SMASH WILDCATS 8-2, UP 3-2 IN SERIES
The Red Bluff Red Sox are sitting pretty after an 8-2 romp in game five over the Kenwood Wildcats in the Tycobbian Division Series at the Olde Towne Grounds in Kenwood... the Red Sox are headed home to Red Bluff Park with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series... one more win and they will advance to the league championship round against the Pro Cup favorite Southport Sun Sox... Jack Wallace (1-1/1.69) hurled an impressive game, limiting the Wildcats to just one run and 5 hits in 8 innings... losing pitcher Clyde Myers (1-1/4.02) had a bad outing, surrendering 7 runs on 10 hits in 7-plus innings.

an 4-run fifth and 3-run eighth put Kenwood away for the day... Red Bluff racked up 11 hits, including 3-run homers by Ike Sweetwater (.550) and Josh Stevens (.167) to seal the fate of the Wildcats... Big Boy Payne (.273) chipped in with 2 hits and 2 RBIs for the Red Sox... Sweetwater was the leader with 3 hits... CF Warren Vickers (.350) collected 3 hits for the Wildcats, but didn't get much help otherwise... Kenwood got only 6 hits in all.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 28, 2044

2044 IPA DIVISION CHAMPSIONSHIP SERIES - Game 6

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS WHIP SNAPPERS IN 6 GAMES
The number-three pick in the Pro Cup sweepstakes Wynnamac whipped the number-seven choice Rocky Rapids in six games to move on to the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... Geoff Hobart and Johnny Mitchell teamed up for a 3-0 shutout to cinch the series four games to two... they held the Snappers to just 5 hits... Hobart (1-0/0.64) held them scoreless on 4 hits in his 7 innings for the victory... he struck out 6 and walked 1... Mitchell registered the save with 2 scoreless innings... Dirk Halstad (0-2/2.12) made a good effort, permitting only 3 runs on 10 hits in a complete game.

Wynnamac star RF Nioka Inkamara (.444) hit for the cycle, scored twice and batted in 2 runs... 1B Jack Pope (.304) got the other RBI... C Carney Kirkpatrick (.375) got 2 of the Snappers hits.

CRYSTAL LAKE DETHRONES VALMARA 2-1, WINS SERIES
Ding Dong, the king is dead... the reigning IPA champ Valmara fell to the Crystal Lake Crushers in six games in the Ruthlandian Division Series... the Crushers won a tense 2-1 thriller in game six, highlighted by fine pitching from Ken Lawson, who gave up only 1 run on 6 hits in 8 innings... Lawson had to be on top of his game as Harold Hutson stood out for the Vipers... Hutson (0-2/2.16) struck out 9, walked only 1, while allowing only 2 runs and 7 hits in defeat... closer Josh Crosby sealed the series by retiring the side in order in the ninth inning to preserve the win for Hutson... it was Crosby's first save of the playoffs.

Crystal Lake got both of their runs in the top of the fourth on a solo homer by CF Johnny Kennedy (.300) and an RBI single by 2B Jim Henley (.143)... the Vipers got their only run in the last of the seventh on doubles by C Antonio Dominguez (.222) and 2B John Banks (.313).

Herman "Baby" George, the Crusher skipper, gave credit to his mound corps, telling reporters, "Lane, Lawson and McCauley were outstanding in the series... the bats got us through the regular season, but it was the pitchers who stepped it up and got us past Valmara... holding them to just 14 runs was a magnificent achievement."

Viper skipper Vanya Vasylenko had the same sentiments... "You are not gonna win many games when you only score one run... they held us to a single run in each of the four losses... the Crushers' pitching was really, really good."

The eighth-ranked Crushers will now advance to the Ruthlandian League Championship against the third-ranked Wynnamac Sundowners.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX WINS SERIES, TAKE 6TH GAME 2-0
Red Bluff wrapped up the Tycobbian Division Series with Kenwood at home at Red Bluff Park... Mickey Rosen hurled another superb game, stopping the Wildcats 2-0 on a 4-hitter... in a complete-game Rosen (2-0/0.50) chalked up his second gem in a row... he had already beaten them 3-1 in game three... the triumph gave the Red Sox the series four games to two... now they will have to get by the Pro Cup favorite, the powerful Southport Sun Sox, in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... the Red Sox are rated the fourth-best club in the postseason.

There were only 9 hits in the game... 5 for Red Bluff and 4 for Kenwood... Wildcat starter Rusty Bradford (0-2/0.53) lost another tough decision to Rosen... the Red Sox got run number one off him in the bottom of the second frame... 3B Fran Blanchard (.190) led off with a single, stole second and continued on to third on an errant throw by catcher Corky DiNozzo (.190)... Blanchard scored on SS Davis McDowell's (.188) single... Red Bluff got the game's only other run in the fourth when David Kelso (.273) singled, went to second on a wild, pickoff throw to first base and then was doubled in by C Phil White (.190).

Red Bluff manager Jim Schubert praised his starting rotation of Jud Cox, Jack Wallace and Mickey Rosen, "We didn't hit a lick against the Wildcats, but we didn't have to... just like during the season our pitching was superb... they only gave up 5 runs in the 4 wins... I'll take that kind of pitching anytime."... Rosen was 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA in his two starts... Wallace was 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in two starts... and Cox was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in a pair of starts.

Kenwood manager Aaron Hankins agreed that pitching was the key to Red Bluff's win... "My pitching was good enough to win the series... I don't want to bad mouth my boys, but we could have picked some other time to go into a slump... the postseason is not a good time for the bats to go flat."

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 29, 2044

IPA PLAYOFFS DOWN TO 4 TEAMS
The IPA Pro Cup playoffs have been carved down to four teams for the League Championship Series. Pro Cup favorite Southport and Red Bluff will vie for the Tycobbian Union title, while it'll be Wynnamac and Crystal Lake tangling for the Ruthlandian crown. Play begins this Saturday afternoon.

The Southport Sun Sox were the number-one choice of the media in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll, while the Wynnamac Sundowners were rated second, the Red Bluff Red Sox fourth and the Crystal Lake Crushers came in eighth and last in the balloting.

The Sun Sox (104-50) had the best overall record in the regular campaign, the Sundowners (98-56) were number two, the Red Sox (95-59) were in third place and the Crushers (85-69) were 18th. Southport and Wynnamac will have the homefield advantage in the League Championship Series.

Southport is favored over Red Bluff... they both have strong pitching, but the Sun Sox offense is superior to the Red Sox... the clubs are just average with the gloves.
Southport: .273 BA (3rd)/822 runs (1st)/172 HR (9th)/2.91 ERA (2nd)/.970 FA
Red Bluff: .255 BA (20th)/692 runs (18th)/216 HR (2nd)/3.07 ERA (3rd)/.972 FA

The experts are giving the nod to Wynnamac over Crystal Lake... the Sundowners' staff is much better than the Crushers... offense is a little better... and the defense is better.
Wynnamac: .271 BA (7th)/800 runs (4th)/153 HR (11th)/3.25 ERA (2nd)/.975 FA
Crystal Lake: .281 BA (2nd)/780 runs (6th)/123 HR (26th)/3.90 ERA (17th)/.972 FA

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 1, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 1

Ruthlandian Union

CRYSTAL LAKE CRUSHES W'MACS 10-5 IN LCS OPENER
In a stunning opening game at Wynnamac's Granger Field, underdog Crystal Lake's Eddie Lane held the favored Sundowners to 2 runs in 7 innings, while his teammates shelled Jimmy Willard for 9 runs in 3-plus innings in the Ruthlandian Union League Championship Series... the Crushers ran up a 10-1 lead after just 4 innings and then breezed to victory... Willard is 0-3 in the postseason with a 3.63 ERA.

RF Paul Dillon (.233) and 1B Daryl Brady (.273) both drove in 3 runs each to spark the rout... Brady had a 2-run homer to lead the way... Lane (2-1/1.88) was touched for 9 hits, but gave up only 2 runs for the win... Wynnamac never was in the game, but did salvage some respect with 3 runs in the ninth off reliever Josh Crosby... the Sundowners lost, but still swatted 14 hits with CF Benjamin Nozak (385) going 4-for-4 and pinchhitter Davy Lamour (.250) homering.

Tycobbian Union

HOOVER HURLS 2-HITTER, SUN SOX TOP RED SOX
Great pitching got Southport past Red Bluff in the first game of the Tycobbian LCS... Billy Hoover (3-0/0.67) pitched an almost flawless game in edging Jud Cox and the Red Sox 1-0... he limited them to just two singles, struck out 4 and issued no walks... it was Hoover's second shutout in a row and third win in the playoffs... the Sun Sox got the only run in the seventh inning when Vasilis Vlachos (.350) doubled to lead off the inning, went to third on a groundout and scored on a sac fly by Ricky Whitaker(.500)... Jud Cox (1-1/2.35) allowed only one run on six hits... he fanned 4 and walked 2 in a tough loss.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 2, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 2

Ruthlandian Union

CRYSTAL LAKE MAULS WYNNAMAC 12-3 IN GAME 2
For the second game in a row Crystal Lake demolished favored Wynnamac in the Ruthlandian LCS... the Crushers rocked them for 14 hits and mauled the Sundowners 12-3 in game two of the best-of-seven series... Jed Murphee (.222) paced the winners with 3 RBIs... Paul Dillon (.273), Johnny Kennedy (.375) and Ken Lawson (.250) also helped the cause with 2 RBIs each... Lawson (2-0/1.88) was the winning pitcher... he went the distance and held Wynnamac to 3 runs on 6 hits, striking out 4 and walking 6... Sammy Hayes (2-1/3.38) took it on the chin, surrendering 7 runs in 5-plus innings... it was 7-0 by the time he made his exit.

Not only did Wynnamac suffered it second straight loss, it's star slugger Nioka Inkamara hurt his hamstring and will miss about a week of games... Inkamara hit .321 with 40 homers and 131 RBIs to lead the Sundowners this year.

Tycobbian Union

SWANSON SPINS SHUTOUT, STOPS RED SOX 5-0
25-game winner Johnny Swanson fired a 5-0 shutout, stopping Red Bluff on just 3 hits... it was the third shutout in a row for the Southport Sun Sox in the playoffs, the second one in the Tycobbian League Championship Series... Swanson (1-0/1.53) fanned 5 and walked only one in the second game of the series... Gonzalo Topez (.524) led the hitters with 3-for-3 and 3 runs scored... Mickey Rosen (2-1/1.44) lost for the first time in the postseason... he gave up 5 runs and 9 hits in 7 innings... only 3 of the runs were earned.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 3, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 3

Ruthlandian Union

SUNDOWNERS COOL DOWN CRUSHERS 1-0 IN 11 INNINGS
After being blisterered badly in the first two games of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series, Wynnamac put a chill in the Crystal Lake offense and cooled off the red-hot Crushers 1-0 in 11 innings in the third game... Geoff Hobart and Johnny Mitchell blanked them on just 4 hits and Darrell Donnelly supplied the game's only run with a 380-foot homer off losing pitcher Josh Crosby (1-1/6.00)... Hobart worked 8 and a third innings, yielding only 3 hits, while striking out 6 and walking 3 batters... Mitchell took over in the ninth and held Crystal Lake runless the rest of the game on one hit... Mitchell (2-0/0.00) picked up the victory... in three playoff starts Hobart is 1-0 with a brilliant 0.40 ERA.

The Sundowners got 8 hits in all, while the Crushers were held to 4... Dave McCauley started for Crystal Lake, went 10 superb innings and permitted no runs on 6 hits... Crosby allowed a pair of hits.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX OUTSOCK RED SOX 11-5, NEAR SWEEP
Southport had its string of postseason shutouts snapped at three, but they went to town on Red Bluff pitching as the Sun Sox outsocked the Red Sox 11-5 for their third consecutive victory in the TU LCS... one more win for Southport and Red Bluff's season is done... Owen Wallace slugged a 3-run homer and Barney Lewis added a 1-run homer and 3 RBIs to spark the Sun Sox... with the score 7-5 in the top of the seventh, it was Wallace's clout that put Southport up 10-5 and gave them some breathing room.

In a lackluster performance Gordon Forbes (2-0/5.82) registered the win... he was roughed up for 5 runs in his 8 innings on 6 hits... Forbes had 6 Ks and issued 2 bases on balls... in a dismal outing Jack Wallace (1-2/3.31) was banged around for 10 runs in 7 innings, but 5 of them were not earned.

The Sun Sox had 10 hits, while the Red Sox totaled 6... 1B Eddie Douglas (.250) led Southport with 2 hits and 3 RBIs... 3B Ricky Whitaker (.357) had 2 hits, scored twice and drove in a run... Lewis (.321) also had 2 hits, scored 2 runs and drove in 1... and LF Chris Jones (.269) added three runs and batted in a run... for Red Bluff CF Ike Sweetwater (.424) and RF David Kelso (.250) both hit solo homers.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 4, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Game 4

Ruthlandian Union

SUNDOWNERS SLAM CRUSHERS 11-5, SERIES TIED
Wynnamac evened up the Ruthlandian LCS with an 11-5 pounding of Crystal Lake in game four of the best-of-seven series... the Sundowners slammed 13 hits in support of Jimmy Willard, who finally won a postseason game in his fourth start... but Willard (1-3/4.15) needed it... he was slapped for 5 runs and 9 hits in 8 innings, but came away with the win... Eddie Lane (2-2/3.41) was the loser, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in just 5 frames.

Wynnamac's offensive leaders were SS Jeff French (.172) with 2 hits and 3 RBIs, 1B Jack Pope (.343) with 3 hits and 2 RBIs... among Pope's hits was a solo homer... CF Benjamin Nozak (.400) added 3 hits, too... missing from the lineup for the second straight day was the Sundowners' star Nioka Inkamara, who is hitting .429 in the playoffs so far... he has a bad hamstring and will be out for about a week... Crystal Lake was paced by RF Pat Dillon (.310) with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, including 2 homers and 4 RBIs.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX REMAIN ALIVE, COX BLANKS SUN SOX 1-0
It took a monumental effort by Jud Cox to keep Red Bluff alive in the Tycobbian League Championship Series with Pro Cup favorite Southport... trailing three games to none in the series Cox hurled a monumental game in whipping the Sun Sox 1-0 in game four... Cox stopped them on 3 singles, struck out 6 and walked 3 in a complete-game shutout... Billy Hoover (3-1/0.50) was almost his equal, but not quite... he only allowed one unearned run on 6 hits in defeat.

With one away 2B Big Boy Payne (.190) reached first on an error by third baseman Ricky Whitaker (.313)... Payne stole third and rode home on David Kelso's (.278) two-out, game-winning single.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 5, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 5

Ruthlandian Union

CRUSHERS WIN 8-6, LEAD SERIES 3-2
Underdog Crystal Lake exploded for 7 runs in the fifth frame to rally past Wynnamac 8-6 in game five of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... Jed Murphee's 2-run triple was the game-winner that put the Crushers up three games to two in the series.

Crystal Lake was outhit 14 to 11 by the Sundowners, but still came out on top of the score... CF Johnny Kennedy (.435) led them at the plate with 3 hits, while LF Murphee (.222) and 3B Marv Roy (.227) both had a pair... Wynnamac built up a quick 5-1 lead after 4 innings with help of SS Jeff French (.265) with 4 hits, C Edward Williams (.278) with 3 hits, and 2 hits apiece from LF Robby Booth (.226) and CF Darrell Donnelly (.341).

Ken Lawson started and got the victory for the Crushers, though he was treated harshly... Lawson (3-0/3.19) was shelled for 6 runs and 12 hits in 7 innings... Sundowner starter Sammy Hayes (2-2/5.54) couldn't hold the 4-run lead and was tagged with the defeat... Hayes allowed 8 runs and 10 hits in just 4 and two-thirds innings.

Tycobbian Union

RED SOX HANG IN WITH 5-3 WIN OVER SUN SOX
After dropping the first three games of the Tycobbian LCS and being on the verge of elimination, Red Bluff has rebounded with two straight wins to narrow Southport's lead to three games to two... Mickey Rosen was the man of the hour as he beat the Sun Sox 5-3 in game five of the best-of-seven series... this time around he got the best of Johnny Swanson... the Red Sox gave him a 5-run lead in the first and he made it stand up... Rosen (3-1/1.89) worked into the ninth, gave up 10 hits, but only 3 runs, while striking out 7 and walking one batter... Slick Little finished it and got the final two outs for his second save of the postseason... Swanson shut out the Red Sox in game two, but wasn't near as sharp in this one... a 5-run first inning proved to be his downfall... Swanson (1-1/2.66) gave up 5 runs on 4 hits, but walked 5 in his 6 innings... 3 walks and 3 hits in the opening inning did him in.

Red Bluff was pathetic at the plate and only got 4 hits in the game... C Paul White (.189) led them with 2 RBIs... 3B Fran Blanchard (.158), LF Jesse Shaw (.143) and 2B James Baxter (.167) batted in the other 3 scores... Southport got its only runs in the eighth on CF Barney Lewis' (.333) 3-run smash... RF Pat Kinney (.200) and 1B Eddy Douglas (.265) each had 2 hits and were on base when Lewis homered.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, October 6, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 6

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS EVEN SERIES 5-3, FORCE 7TH GAME
Favored Wynnamac fought off elimination with a 5-3 comeback triumph in game six of the Ruthlandian LCS and forced a seventh-and-deciding game... the Sundowners cracked 14 hits and were sparked by Jack Pope and Davy Lamour, who hit 2-run homers... Pope tied it up 3-3 in the fifth and Lamour won it in the sixth... Geoff Hobart (2-0/1.20) notched the win in 7-plus innings, where he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits... Johnny Mitchell (0.00) got his second save with 1 and a third scoreless innings, though he allowed 2 hits... the loser was Dave McCauley (1-1/2.45), who had a poor outing... he was hit hard, giving up 12 hits and 5 runs in 6 innings, but 2 of them were not earned.

1B Pope (.349), RF Lamour (.294), SS Jeff French (.289), 2B Curtis Whetstone (.207), 3B Duane Hudson (.340) and LF Robby Booth (.250) all had 2 hits for the Sundowners... the Crushers got 8 hits and were led by RF Pat Dillon (.320) with a pair of hits... and 3B Marv Roy (.234) hit a solo homer.

Tycobbian Union

SUN SOX FINISH OFF RED SOX 6-2 IN GAME 6
The Pro Cup favorite Southport Sun Sox finally finished off the tough Red Bluff Red Sox in six games... after winning the first three games of the Tycobbian League Championship, they let the Red Sox get back into the fray with two wins in a row... but the Sun Sox were not to be denied today... they leaped out to a 6-0 bulge after 5 frames and got a sharp outing form Gordon Forbes (3-0/4.15), who shackled Red Bluff on 6 hits and 2 runs... Forbes fanned 5 and walked only one in going the route... he outpitched George Reynolds (0-1/6.30), who went 6 innings, gave up 9 hits and all 6 runs.

CF Barney Lewis (.325) paced the Sun Sox with 2 RBIs... their other runs were driven in by SS Gonzalo Topez (.351), C Vasilis Vlachos (.268), 3B Ricky Whitaker (.348) and pitcher Forbes (.222)... Jesse Shaw (.196) smacked 3 hits for the Red Sox... and SS Davis McDowell (.172) and C Paul White (.195) drove in the runs.

Southport skipper Charley Oscar gave praise to his entire team, "Everybody contributes in one way or another... we get just enough runs to win... and our pitchers always keep us in the game... we've had two tough series... and now just one more to go... I'm looking forward to being in the Pro Cup Finals again... 17 years is too long to wait."

Jim Schubert, the Red Sox manager, told reporters, "Too much pitching... we just couldn't buy a hit... 21 hits in a 6-game series won't get you very far... the Sun Sox have splendid pitching."

Southport now awaits the Ruthlandian champion... Wynnamac and Crystal Lake are deadlocked after six games... game seven is slated for tomorrow afternoon... the Sun Sox won their only Pro Cup in 2027 when they swept the Crystal Lake Crushers in four games.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 7, 2044

2044 IPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - Game 7

Ruthlandian Union

W'MACS KO CRUSHERS 5-3 IN GAME 7
The Wynnamac Sundowners knocked the pesky Crystal Lake Crushers out of the playoffs with a 5-3 decision in game seven of the Ruthlandian League Championship Series... the favored Sundowners trailed in the series 2-0 and 3-2, but prevailed in the final two games to overcome the Crushers... Jimmy Willard (2-3/3.89) came up with a clutch performance, holding Crystal Lake to 3 runs and 8 hits... Willard whiffed 7 and walked 2 in going the distance... Eddie Lane (2-3/3.96) was the losing hurler... he tossed 7 and one-third innings, yielding 5 runs on 8 hits with 6 Ks and a pair of walks.

Crystal Lake took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a lead-off triple by LF Jed Murphee (.261) and an RBI groundout by CF Jesse Walker (.267) and held it until Wynnamac put 4 on the scoreboard in the last of the fourth... CF Darrell Donnelly (.346) doubled in a run to tie it... 2B Duane Hudson (.358) singled in a run... RF Monji Apunga (.400) made it 3-1 with a two-bagger and Willard (.125) drove in the fourth score in the big inning... the Crushers got back 2 of them in the top of the fifth on RBI singles by Jed Murphee and Jesse Walker, cutting the Wynnamac lead to 4-3... the Sundowners chalked up an insurance run in the eighth when Hudson singled, moved up on a groundout and was batted in by pinchhitter Davy Lamour (.333).

Wynnamac had the edge in hits 10 to 9 with Donnelly and Hudson getting 2 apiece... both of Donnelly's hits were doubles... Murphee collected 3 hits, scored twice and batted in a run for the Crushers and Walker drove in a pair of runs.

Wynnamac manager Matt Donnelly gave praise to Crystal Lake saying, "Start to finish they pushed us to the limit... thank goodness, our offense rose to the occasion when we needed it."

Baby George, Crystal Lake manager, complimented his team, but he wasn't happy with the way the series ended. "Hey, we fought hard and could have won it, but we didn't... Wynnamac is a very fine and capable ballclub... there's no shame in losing to them... still, all we had to do was win two of the last five games and we'd be headed for the Pro Cup... you don't get many shots at a Pro Cup in your career and this was one we really missed."

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 9, 2044

SOUTHPORT & W'MACS VIE FOR PRO CUP
It's been ages since Southport and Wynnamac have made the Pro Cup Finals. Both clubs have been there on only one occasion each. The Sun Sox won it in their only appearance in 2027 and the Sundowners took the trophy in 2009. Southport has appeared in postseason play only 6 times in its 43 IPA seasons, while Wynnamac has made the playoffs just 7 times in its history. Play begins tomorrow afternoon at Southport's Pleasure Shore Park, where the Sun Sox have the homefield advantage in the best-of-seven series.

This year's Finals are a rarity - top-ranked teams have made it. Southport won 104 games this year and was given the favorite's role by the oddsmakers. Wynnamac chalked up 98 wins and was the third choice. Second-ranked North Hills fell to the Sun Sox in the Division Championship Series, while number four Red Bluff with 95 victories was beaten by Southport in the League Championship Series.

The baseball prognosticators are mostly lining up behind Southport. The Sun Sox have knocked off two fine teams in North Hills and Red Bluff and feature fine pitching and solid offense. The Sundowners had an easier path to the Pro Cup Finals. Their opponents were seventh-rated Rocky Rapids and eighth pick Crystal Lake. However, Wynnamac is no slouch on the hill or at the plate. Defensively, they are much better than Southport. Both clubs have very good relievers. The general consensus is for the Sun Sox to prevail in six games.

Billy Hoover (21-14/2.38) and Johnny Swanson (25-10/2.61) are two proven veteran starters. Wynnamac's best, Jimmy Willard (24-10/2.93) and Sammy Hayes (22-12/3.54), are not quite equal to the Southport primary starters. In addition, the loss of superstar slugger RF Nioka Inkamara (.321/40/131/114) has really robbed the Sundowners of a great bat. Inkamara is recovering from a hamstring strain and could miss half of the series. He could be ready for game three.

Southport has no great bats, but a good core of reliable hitters in 1B Eddy Douglas (.293/32/88/79), CF Barney Lewis (.300/28/85/75) LF Chris Jones (.323/4/64/79), SS Gonzalo Topez (.304/5/46/65), C Vasilis Vlachos (.283/17/74/69), and 2B Owen Wallace (.316/5/50/59). Wynnamac will depend on CF Darrell Donnelly (.312/23/104/98), 3B Duane Hudson (.292/5/57/96) and 1B Jack Pope (294/19/91/94) to take up the slack of the missing Inkamara.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 10, 2044

2044 IPA PRO CUP FINALS - Game 1

FAVORED SUN SOX GRAB PRO CUP OPENER 5-3
Behind solid pitching from Billy Hoover, Pro Cup favorite Southport, grabbed the opening game of the 2044 IPA Pro Cup Finals from Wynnamac 5-3... after a rocky first 4 innings, Hoover (4-1/1.01) settled down and blanked the Sundowners over the final 5 frames on 2 hits to nail down his fourth victory in the postseason... Hoover's only loss was 1-0 in game four against Red Bluff... he went all the way in this one, holding the Sundowners to 3 runs and 7 hits with 4 strikeouts and only one base on balls.

The Sun Sox's attack got 10 hits, headed up by CF Barney Lewis (.341) and 1B Eddy Douglas (.268) with 2 RBIs apiece... Douglas' two-run blast in the third proved to be the game-winner... it put Southport ahead 5-1... SS Gonzalo Topez (.390) collected 3 hits and scored 2 runs, while RF Pat Kinney (.262) and Lewis each boasted 2 hits... the Sundowners were paced by 2B Dale Fisher (.227) with a 2-run blast in the third frame... RF Davy Lamour (.364) chipped in 2 hits and Jack Pope (.314) doubled in their other run... Wynnamac continued to miss the big bat of injured superstar Nokia Inkamara from the lineup... he is expected back for game three... Inkamara has been out for about a week with a bad hamstring.

37-year-old Jimmy Willard (2-4/3.69) lost it, but only permitted 2 earned runs... all 3 Sun Sox runs in the first were unearned... overall Willard allowed 5 runs and 10 hits in 7 innings in a bad outing for him... he was 24-10 with an impressive 2.93 ERA during the regular season.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, October 11, 2044

2044 IPA PRO CUP FINALS - Game 2

SOX IN A WALKAWAY 6-3 OVER W'MACS
Southport only got 6 hits in game two of the Pro Cup Finals, but they still walked away with a win due to 10 bases on balls by Wynnamac... the Sun Sox have now taken the first two games of the series... Johnny Swanson and Hal Combs combined to defeat the Sundowners 6-3, though they were tagged for 9 hits... Swanson (2-1/2.64) tossed 7 solid innings, gave up only 2 runs on 6 hits and Combs (3.00) finished it up, but allowed 1 run on 3 hits in his 2 frames.

A 4-run seventh sealed the victory for Southport... a bases-loaded walk to CF Barney Lewis (.356) snapped a 2-2 tie... C Vasilis Vlachos (.250) made it 4-2 with a single and LF Chris Jones (.200) sent the final 2 scores home with a base hit... all the runs came off losing pitcher Geoff Hobart (2-1/2.23)... he was tapped for only 4 hits, but walked 8 batters in 6 and one-third innings.

RF Pat Kinney (.304) was the top gun for the Sun Sox with 3 hits and 3 runs scored... and Lewis and Jones had 2 hits each... leading Wynnamac was CF Benjamin Nozak (.379) with a pair of hits, including a triple, a run scored and an RBI... RF Monji Apunga (.444) also had an RBI and 2 hits, including a double... 1B Jack Pope's (.302) sac fly accounted for the third run.

[Eugene Church]

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, October 12, 2044

2044 IPA PRO CUP FINALS - Game 3

W'MACS WALLOP SOUTHPORT 9-2 FOR 1ST WIN
After dropping the first two games of the IPA Pro Cup Finals on the road, Wynnamac soundly walloped Southport 9-2 at home at Granger Field... everything came up roses with the return of superstar slugger Nioka Inkamara to the line-up after missing about a week of play... Inkamara (.425) ignited the Sundowners with 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs... he got his 2nd homer in the playoffs... but it was 2 homers and 4 RBIs by C Edward Williams (.321) that really led the way... Jack Pope (.316) also had a roundtripper, along with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... it was Pope's third homer in the postseason... Wynnamac had 15 hits and 4 homers in the game and cut the Sun Sox lead to two games to one in the best-of-seven series... the Sundowners also got an impressive start from southpaw Sammy Hayes (3-2/4.37), who stopped the Sun Sox on 2 runs and 5 hits with 7 Ks and 3 walks.

Loser Gordon Forbes (3-1/5.18), Southport's number three starter, took it on the chin as he was blasted for 14 hits and 8 runs in 7 innings... CF Darrell Donnelly (.349) added 3 hits to the Sundowner attack and 3B Duane Hudson (.359) chipped in with a pair of hits... CF Barney Lewis (.388) had 3 hits in defeat for the Sun Sox.