ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS) - Page 313

Eugene Church · 02-18-2019, 10:12 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2059

IPA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH HONORED
The top batters, pitchers and rookies have been honored by the Islandian Pro Alliance for standout play in June... in the Ruthlandian Union Valmara's Semyon Tomczak (.383/13 HR/29 RBI/21 R) was named the Batter of the Month, Sugar Valley's Hector De Andres (5-1/1.43 ERA) claimed the Pitch of the Month Award and Eastshore's Norbert Ruston (.320/0 HR/14 RBI/11 R) was the RU Rookie of the Month... Tomczak led the division-leading Valmara Vipers to a sensational 21-5 mark in June... De Andres paced fifth place Sugar Valley to a 14-12 record and Ruston's sixth place Eastshore Cotton Kings could only muster 11 wins and 15 defeats.

The Tycobbian Union June winners were Batter of the Month Teddy Stonich of Rolling Hills, who hit .413 with 10 homers, 26 RBIs and 27 runs... last month the Reds posted a 15-11 record and are riding high atop their division... Pitcher of the Month Ian Timms chalked up an impressive 5-0 mark and a 2.14 ERA for the third place Tuckanarra Blue Jays, who were only 12-14... Summerland's Johnny Pendergrass won top Rookie honor for the second time this season... he hit .357 for the month with 6 homers, 16 ribbies and scored 9 runs... the second place Sunsets put up a strong 16-10 record.

Ruthlandian Union Top Performers
June, 2059

Eugene Church · 02-18-2019, 10:15 PM

Tycobbian Union Top Performers
June, 2059

Eugene Church · 02-20-2019, 09:00 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2059

IPA BAT AND PITCH KINGS AT MIDSEASON

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Ruthlandiand Union Batting Leaderboards

Eugene Church · 02-20-2019, 09:06 PM

Tycobbian Union Batting Leaderboards

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Eugene Church · 02-20-2019, 09:20 PM

Ruthlandian Union Pitching Leaderboards

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Eugene Church · 02-20-2019, 09:25 PM

Tycobbian Union Pitching Leaderboards

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Eugene Church · 02-21-2019, 11:42 AM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2059

IPA REACHES HALFWAY POINT
There is some new blood in the Islandian Pro Alliance pennant hunts... the upstarts Marston Nine, Valka Blackhawks, Colfax Blasters, Ginza Ninjas and Summerland Sunsets are looking like genuine contenders this year at the halfway point in the season... none of them swooned in June... there is also some perennial old blood, too... top dogs like the Valmara Vipers, Oxford Red Caps, Red Bluff Red Sox, Crystal Lake Skippers, Wynnamac Sundowners and Southport Sun Sox.

Marston, Ginza and Valka were not highly heralded in the preseason rankings, but they have certainly done well so far... Marston (52-25) is on top of the Ruthlandian East with a 5-game margin over Wynnamac (47-30)... the Nine has the best record in the IPA so far... Ginza (47-30) has had a remarkable turnaround... the Ninjas have the lead in the Tycobbian South... 4 games better than runner-up Summerland (43-34) and 6 games up on defending champion Southport (41-36) and much-improved Cape Coral (41-36)... Valka (40-37) has the lead in the crowded Ruthlandian South race... but they are just one game ahead of St. John (39-38), 2 in front of last year's Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake (38-39)... Claxton (37-40) and Grand City (37-40) are just 3 off the pace... it's wide open to just about everybody in the division... the surprise club in the RU West is Colfax (45-32)... the Blasters are running a very close second to the division-leading Sligo Rovers (47-30), trailing them by just 2 games.

Four powers are going strong as usual... Valmara (51-20) is already 7 games up on the Glasco A's (44-33) and looks like they have a good shot at its third RU North flag in a row... Red Bluff (43-34) is in first place in the TU East, but not by much... they are being pushed hard by the High Mesa Mustangs (42-35), just one game back... Tuckanarra (40-37) is lurking 3 games out... and Red Sox rival, Midway (38-39), is in the 4th spot in the standings, 5 games behind... Rolling Hills (44-33) is rocking and rolling in the Tycobbian West with a 5-game edge over second place Denton City (39-38)... the Oxford Red Caps (50-27) are running rampant in the Tycobbian North with an 8-game bulge over defending champion Luxora (42-35)… the Oxies have the second-best record this year in the IPA.

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Eugene Church · 02-21-2019, 11:55 AM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2059

ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE LEADERBOARDS (Midseason):
Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union

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Eugene Church · 02-23-2019, 12:05 AM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2059

IPA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH HONORED
The top batters, pitchers and rookies have been honored by the Islandian Pro Alliance for standout play in June... in the Ruthlandian Union Valmara's Semyon Tomczak (.383/13 HR/29 RBI/21 R) was named the Batter of the Month, Sugar Valley's Hector De Andres (5-1/1.43 ERA) claimed the Pitch of the Month Award and Eastshore's Norbert Ruston (.320/0 HR/14 RBI/11 R) was the RU Rookie of the Month... Tomczak led the division-leading Valmara Vipers to a sensational 21-5 mark in June... De Andres paced fifth place Sugar Valley to a 14-12 record and Ruston's sixth place Eastshore Cotton Kings could only muster 11 wins and 15 defeats.

The Tycobbian Union June winners were Batter of the Month Teddy Stonich of Rolling Hills, who hit .413 with 10 homers, 26 RBIs and 27 runs... last month the Reds posted a 15-11 record and are riding high atop their division... Pitcher of the Month Ian Timms chalked up an impressive 5-0 mark and a 2.14 ERA for the third place Tuckanarra Blue Jays, who were only 12-14... Summerland's Johnny Pendergrass won top Rookie honor for the second time this season... he hit .357 for the month with 6 homers, 16 ribbies and scored 9 runs... the second place Sunsets put up a strong 16-10 record... Pendergrass also captured the honor in April.

Ruthlandian Union Players of the Month
June, 2059

Eugene Church · 02-23-2019, 12:09 AM

Tycobbian Union Players of the Month
June, 2059

Eugene Church · 02-23-2019, 10:23 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2059

ONLY 3 CLOSE RACES IN THE IPA
We all love hot-and-heavy pennant races... living and dying on a daily basis for our beloved baseball teams... well, going into the fourth month of the current Islandian Pro Alliance campaign 6 of the divisions have fairly close races... in the Ruthlandian South Division the Valka Blackhawks (40-37) are up by a single game over runner-up St. John (39-38)... defending Pro Cup titleholder Crystal Lake is 2 games back in third place... Marston (52-45) is 5 up on Wynnamac in the RU East... Sligo (47-30) tops the RU West by 2 over the Colfax Blasters (45-32) with last year's flag winner Volusia (43-34) sticking close and trailing by 4 games... over in the Tycobbian East the Red Bluff Red Sox are being squeezed by runner-up High Mesa (42-35), only a game out of first and Tuckanarra (40-37), just 3 games behind in third... in the Tycobbian South the Ginza Ninjas (47-30) have a 4-game edge over second place Summerland (43-34) with last year's champ Southport (41-36) 6 games off the pace... Rolling Hills (44-33) has chalked up a 5-game lead over Denton City (39-38) in the Tycobbian West... two divisions are bordering on runaways... the Valmara Vipers (51-26) have vaulted to a comfortable 7-game margin over the Glasco A's (44-33) in the Ruthlandian North, while the biggest lead of all is enjoyed by the Oxford Red Caps (50-27) in the Tycobbian North... they have shot ahead of last year's division winner, Luxora (42-35) by 8 games.

VIPERS SUPER PLAY IN JUNE
High-scoring Valmara (51-26) soared ahead in the RU North with a torrid 21-5 mark in June... Glasco (44-33) went 18-8... Far Mountain (43-34) was 17-9... and LaGrange (43-34) ended up 16-10... Ancona (40-37) chalked up 15-11... Kilkenny (32-45) a poor 10-16... Taranto (31-46) was only 12-14 and Ranford was a lowly (29-48) 10-16.

Ruthlandian North Season Outlook:
Valmara looks like a shoo-in for its third straight pennant in the RU North... the Vipers' power-laden attack and solid pitching are just too much for the other teams... Look for Valmara to go far in the postseason this year...the Vipers are very well-balanced with no apparent weaknesses... Pro Cup trophy #5 could be in the club's future... Far Mountain and Glasco will fight it out for second place... LaGrange and Ancona will tussle for the fourth spot... all of the others are just second-rate second-division clubs.

SUPER TIGHT IN RU SOUTH
The race in the Ruthlandian South is super tight with 4 challengers trying their best to dethrone the IPA champion Crystal Lake Skippers... at the end of June, Valka (40-37) has the lead by just a game over St. John (39-38)... the Blackhawks were even for the month at 13-13... the Crusaders were 14-12... the Skips had an horrendous 8-20 May, but turned it up in June with a 16-10 mark, the best in the division... the Claxton Diamonds (37-40) could only put up a 10-16 and fell below .500... they were tied with Valka last month for the top spot... the rest of the division were bad, too... Grand City (37-40), Belair Beach (35-42) and Waleska (34-43) wound up only 11-15... and stuck in the RU South basement are the sad San Dimas Rancheros (29-49)... the Vaqueros could only manage 10-16 in May.

Ruthlandian South Outlook:
The teams are evenly matched in the RU South... nobody is heads-and-shoulders better... it's gonna be a genuine donnybrook with 6 teams in the mix... reigning Pro Cup titlist Crystal Lake gets the call, but will sweat it out... they will have to fend off more than St. John this year... Valka, Claxton and Belair Beach could be spoilers, along with Grand City... the Skippers can score runs and the pitching is good... they are just a little better than the rest of the contenders... the Skips should repeat as division champion... however, Pro Cup champ again may be quite a stretch... Crystal Lake doesn't seem to have the power it had last year.

MARSTON, MAY BE BEST NINE IN IPA
One of the strongest divisions in the Islandian Pro Alliance is the Ruthlandian East... 5 of the teams are over the .500 mark with the Marston Nine leading the way with the best record in the IPA at 52-25... the Nine can do it all... hitting with power, scoring runs and standout pitching... they are the class of the RU East, and perhaps, the best in the IPA... Marston came in a distant 6th last year, but certainly has set the league on fire this year... the Nine had the best division record in June at 16-10 and upped its lead over Wynnamac (47-30) to 5 games... the Macs registered a 13-13 record... the Sundowners won the pennant last year... Cold Creek (42-35) has done well early in the year, but slipped to 12-14 in June... the Catamounts were under .500 in '58 and wound up 5th... Elnora (42-35) only went 11-15 for the month, despite having a terrific attack... bad pitching is a killer... the Sugar Valley Rattlers (40-37) compiled a good 14-12 mark... Eastshore (33-44) continued its losing ways with 11-15... Belle Plaine (37-46) had an atrocious May with only 7 victories and 19 losses... and the dead last Beechwood Blues (24-53) were even worse at a hellacious 5-21.

Ruthlandian East Outlook:
Marston is the odds-on favorite in the RU East... and should be one of the prime Pro Cup contenders... the Macs, All-Stars, C'Cats and Rattlers will cat fight it out for the runner-up spot... Belle Plaine, Eastshore and Beechwood will be distant also-rans at the bottom of the barrel.

SLIGO STAFF SENSATIONAL IN RU WEST
Well, it is June, but the Sligo Rovers mound staff did not fling and sway and fade away... they are still going at a sensational pace with a near IPA record 2.50 team ERA... the Rovers may have the best overall pitching corps in IPA history... top to bottom all 11 pitchers can not only get the job done well, they can do it in style and quality... there are no bad pitchers on the team... but the Colfax Blasters and Volusia Vigilantes are still giving chase... Sligo (47-30) is only 2 games up on the Blasters (45-32) and 4 games in front of third place Volusia (43-34), last year's RU West flag winner... hurlers and homers are leading the way for the Rovers... they had a 15-11 mark in June, while surprising Colfax was ringing up a sparkling 17-9... the V's were 15-11... fourth place Forest City (39-38) broke even for the month at 13-13... fifth place Rocky Rapids (37-40) went 15-11, while Fort Benton (37-40) could only muster a 13-13 draw... followed by the Middlefield Roosters (36-41) and the cellar-dwelling Stoner Stars (35-42)... the Roosters wound up 11-15 and the Stars recorded 13-13 for the month.

Ruthlandian West Outlook:
It's going to continue to be a 3-team tussle with Sligo hauling in the division title this year, nipping out last year's winner Volusia... Colfax has the best offensive arsenal, but the Vigilantes have them beat on the slab... the Blasters will have to be satisfied with the third position in the standings... four clubs, Forest City, Rocky Rapids, Fort Benton and Stoner, will fight it out for fourth place... it appears the best Middlefield can do is last place.

Eugene Church · 02-25-2019, 05:39 PM

Ruthlandian Union Division Leaders

Eugene Church · 02-25-2019, 05:54 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, July 1, 2059

OXFORD OWNS THE TU NORTH
It's only July, but the red-hot Oxford Red Caps (50-27) already have an 8-game lead in the Tycobbian North Division... the Red Caps are running roughshod over all comers with an explosive attack second to none in the IPA... Oxford chalked up a 16-10 mark for June to increase its lead over last year's TU North champion, the Luxora Zorros (42-35)... the Z's lost ground with a 13-13 record... at 39-38 North Hills, Fairfax and Hartsdale are tied for the third spot in the division standings, 11 games behind Oxford... the Hawks had a good month at 16-10 and climbed up from 7th place... the Frogs played fairly well with a 14-12 June... but the Hellcats slipped badly to 11-15 for the last month... the lesser lights did not do well... 6th place Blue Lake (37-40) continued its downward trend with a sluggish 11-15 record... 7th place White River (35-42) was only 11-15... and poor last place Mahaska (27-50) finished the month 12-14.

Tycobbian North Outlook:
Hitting home runs and scoring runs at a record pace, Oxford is running away with the TU North... led by the dynamic duo Buddy Blackford and Showboat Lynn, the Red Caps are ripping through the league with wild abandon... it looks the pennant race is already over... no one is likely to catch them... the only race left is the battle for second place between Luxora, Fairfax, North Hills and Hartsdale... none of the bottom three clubs, Blue Lake, White River and Mahaska, are likely to finish any higher.

GINZA GRAB LEAD IN TU SOUTH
June was a good month for the first place Ginza Ninjas (47-30)... they mopped up along with Summerland (43-34) and surging Southport (41-36)... the top team in May, Cape Coral (41-36), crumbled and tumbled... so did highly-rated Turon (40-37)... Ginza grabbed the lead via a solid 16-10 run... the Ninjas are 4 games ahead at midseason... Summerland is in the runner-up spot... the Sunsets also posted a 16-10 mark... third place now belongs to defending division champ Southport after a terrific 19-7 showing last month... the Cape Coral Hurricanes dipped to fourth with a lousy 9-17... Turon fell from the 3rd spot down to 5th by going only 11-15... sixth place Colchester (39-38) went over the .500 mark with a 15-11 record in June... also-rans Arroyo Grande (36-41) and San Alejo (36-41), deadlocked for last place, had lackluster months at 12-14 and 13-13.

Tycobbian South Outlook:
There is no real standout team in the TU South... the winner will come from Ginza, Turon, Cape Coral and Summerland or last year's winner Southport... of the five, the Ginza Ninjas and the Cape Coral Hurricanes might have the best chance... Ginza's big plus is three solid and dependable starters... Cape Coral because of their high-powered offense, combined with fairly decent pitching... the other clubs have trouble putting runs on the scoreboard... Summerland's strength is also its mound corps... but the Sunsets can't score... Southport had a great month, but they have big time troubles on the hill and are just average at the plate... Turon has adequate pitching, but not much at the plate... the sixth place Colchester Elites can boom the ball, but so can the opposition... the Elites hurlers are not very elite... the bottom two teams, Arroyo Grande and San Alejo, are not all that bad... either of them could sneak up and challenge for the first division... from top to bottom only 14 games separate them from first place... the Suns can't hit a lick for average, but the short fences give them lots of longballs... the Suns also come up short on the hill... San Alejo certainly doesn't look like a last place club... the Montaneros have average hitting, average power and average pitching... the Monties could climb as high a fourth place.

RED SOX UPRISING IN TU EAST
Powerhouse Red Bluff (43-34) is back in business in the Tycobbian East Division... the Red Sox went on an 18-8 winning spree in June and took the top spot away from the High Mesa Mustangs, Tuckanarra Blue Jays and Ozarka Naturals, the division co-leaders in May... the TU East is jam-packed, tightly-tangled and bunched... from top to bottom is only 9 games... the Mustangs (42-35) stayed near the top with a 14-12 record last month... the Red Sox have a 1-game lead over them... the Tucks (40-37) slipped to third place, 3 games back, after going 12-14... the perennial power Midway Wolves (38-39) are still struggling in the fourth spot in the standings... the Middies also posted a 12-14 mark and trail by 5... the Nats (37-40) and East Point Panthers (37-40) are tied for fifth place, 6 games off the pace... Ozarka took a bad plunge in June, recording a very poor 9-17 mark... the Panthers are on the prowl and did well with 15-11... the seventh place Hillsboro Blazers got out of the TU East basement... they were 14-12 and are 8 games behind... and South Fork (34-43) sunk to the cellar with 12-14, falling 9 games out in the race.

Tycobbian East Outlook:
Red Bluff really got it going in June and is considered the prime team to take the division title this year... but High Mesa could challenge them... the Red Sox have the best pitching in the division by far... they have a solid offense, too... the Mustangs may be better at the plate, but not on the mound... Tuckanarra is not quite in the same league as Red Bluff and High Mesa... the Blue Jays lack offense... as far as Midway, the Wolves are not the same club that has won 6 of the last 7 pennants... they still bang homers, but the mound corps is mediocre... the Middies are just a fair-to-middling ball club now... no longer one of the elite IPA franchises... looking at the second division clubs, fifth place East Point appears to be the best of the lot... followed by Ozarka, South Fork and Hillsboro.

REDS UP LEAD IN TU WEST
In May, the Rolling Hills Reds (44-33) took over first place in the Tycobbian West Division... and in June, they expanded it with a 15-11 mark... the Denton City Redbirds (39-38) tailed off to 12-14 in the month and fell 5 games behind the Reds... two teams are tied for the third spot and 7 games off the lead, last year's title winner Arlon (37-40) and Bay St. Clair (37-40)... the Champs were only 12-14 last month, while the Buccaneers broke even at 13-13... the Kenwood Wildcats (36-41) suffered a bad month (10-16) and dropped to fifth place, 8 GB... they are tied with the up-and-coming Bayview Vikings (36-41)... the Viks put up the best month in the TU West at 16-10... the La Claire Lynx (34-43) didn't do well with an 11-15 record and sunk to seventh place, 10 GB... poor eighth place Chicopee (32-45) had an awful June with only 6 wins and 20 defeats.

Tycobbian West Outlook:
The prime pennant contenders are Rolling Hills, Arlon and Denton City... the Reds hit very well for average and put runs on the scoreboard, but they have questionable pitching and only average home-run power... the Champions have won the division crown 3 times in 5 years... they have solid bats and starters, but have a woeful bullpen... the DC Redbirds have a fine mound staff and pretty good firepower, but they are just average at scoring runs... give the edge to Arlon... they have won it often before and have a good chance to repeat again this season... Bay St. Clair and Kenwood are not contenders... neither are La Claire and Chicopee... but Bayview could make a move on the first division this year... they have some good young arms in their rotation and a few young sluggers... the Vikings looked impressive in June... let's see how they do in July.

Tycobbian Union Division Leaders

Eugene Church · 02-26-2019, 04:32 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, August 2, 2059

TOP IPA ROOKIE PERFORMERS
The 2059 Islandian Pro Alliance rookie class is sparse and few in numbers, but 14 have had an impact on their teams... the best bets for this season's Rookie of the Year honors are Skippy Hayes, right-hander for the Far Mountain Redhawks and right fielder Johnny Pendergrass for the Summerland Sunsets... these budding newcomers are the frontrunners for the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Awards.

Hayes is 11-4 for the year with a 3.33 ERA in 17 starts... the Redhawk rookie has tossed 2 shutouts and fanned 79 batters in 140 innings with 37 bases on balls... his biggest competition will come from third baseman Norbert Ruston of Eastshore, who is batting .309 with 23 doubles, 11 triples and 1 home run... Ruston has driven in 39 runs and scored 60 in 103 games... San Dimas second sacker Rodrigo Valdez has shown some good power... he is batting .275 in 89 games with 20 homers and 58 RBIs... Stoner shortstop Lyle Clanahan is hitting .266 in 101 games with 23 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 31 ribbies, 54 runs and 9 stolen bases... and Claxton hurler Kurt Fritsch (10-9/4.31) has started 22 games and performed well at times.

The top freshmen performers in the Tycobbian Union are RF Johnny Pendergrass of Summerland... twice he has been named the Rookie of the Month... for the year Pendergrass is sporting a .325 BA with 15 roundtrippers, 45 RBIs, 55 runs 10 SB, while playing 103 games... another standout is East Point pitcher Vitorio Descalsco with an 11-5 mark and a strong 2.91 ERA... he has made 20 starts and posted one shutout... Rolling Hills has two newcomers... in 87 games third baseman Lloyd Bearden has hit .323 so far with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 37 RBI and 40 runs... in 82 games his Reds' teammate CF Gil Arthur is carrying a .274 BA with 16 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homers, 39 RBIs, 46 runs and 14 SB... Tuckanarra second basemen Rex Heyman has done well in 99 games with a .282 BA, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 60 R and 3 SB.

A few other rookies have contributed: White River southpaw Dink Scully (9-9/3.56) has 116 Ks in 151 innings and has hurled one shutout... lefty starter Ed Hill of Kenwood is 9-5 for the season with a pretty good 3.70 ERA... La Claire Maurice Aronson is 10-10 with a 4.26 ERA and one shutout... he has struck out 117 batters in 133 innings... and South Fork's Caine Hanlon is 8-7 with a 4.23 ERA in 19 starts.

Eugene Church · 02-26-2019, 09:32 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, August 2, 2059

6 WEEKS TO GO IN THE IPA
Four months into the '59 Islandian Pro Alliance season, only a couple of the divisions are still a good horse race... the other six have teams with seemingly borderline safe leads going into the final six weeks of the season... in the Ruthlandian Union the RU South is still up-in-the-air... Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake (56-51) has a slight 2-game edge on the Valka Blackhawks (54-53)... and in the Tycobbian Union the Rolling Hills Reds (59-48) are in a tight race with the Arlon Champions (57-50), just 2 games behind.

The teams that are in somewhat of a "comfort zone" are the Sligo Rovers with a 5-game edge in the RU West and the Valmara Vipers with a 6-game lead in the RU North... the teams in the "feel good zone" are the Red Bluff Red Sox, on top of the TU East by 7 games, and the Ginza Ninjas, leading the TU South, also by 7 games... the teams in the "safe and sure" zone are the Marston Nine in the RU East with a 9-game margin and the Oxford Red Caps in the TU North with a 10-game lead... but, hey, we all know that it ain't over till it's over... that's what history and Yogi tells us.

VIPERS HAVE SOLID LEAD IN RU NORTH
So lets's take a whirlwind tour of the Islandian Pro Alliance and see what has transpired thus far in the 2059 season... in the Ruthlandian North, first place Valmara (67-40) went 16-13 in July, but lost some ground to on-coming Far Mountain Redhawks (61-46) and LaGrange (61-46).... the Redhawks and Sports are tied for second place and trail by 6 games... both had good Julys... FM was 17-12... LaGrange was better at 18-10... the Glasco Athletics were 15-14 and dipped to the fourth spot in the standings, 7 GB... those four clubs are the only ones in the pennant hunt... the bottom four in the RU North second division are just playing out the season... 5th place Ancona (52-55) posted a 12-17 mark and is 15 games back in the race... Taranto (47-60) and Kilkenny (47-60) are deadlocked in sixth place, 20 games behind... they both were 15-14 in July... and last place Ranford registered a 12-17 record and are a whopping 26 games off the pace.

Ruthlandian North Outlook:
Valmara has an awesome arsenal... .277 BA (5th)... 591 runs (1st)... 135 HR (1st)... and fine pitching to go with that potent attack... 3.36 ERA (4th)... 'nuff said... if the offense holds up, the Vipers are headed for their 3rd straight division title... and a 5th Pro Cup could be on the horizon, too... Far Mountain is almost as good... should finish second... the Redhawks have better starters... but no bullpen... 3.55 ERA (7th)... .259 BA (19th)... 493 runs (8th)... and 113 circuit clouts (5th)... LaGrange is solid, too, with good pitching (3.48 ERA/6th) and scoring (467 R/14th).. and will come in third... the Glasco A's are the fourth-best team.

SKIPS HAVE SLIGHT EDGE IN RU SOUTH, Y'ALL
It's still nip-and-tuck in the Ruthlandian South Division with 7 clubs still in the race... the defending Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake Skippers (56-51) have finally recovered from the miserable 8-20 May and moved into the top spot in the Ruthlandian South Division by 2 games over the Valka Blackhawks (54-53), 4 games up on the Claxton Diamonds (52-55) and 5 on the Belair Beach Sunbirds (51-56)... the St. John Crusaders (50-57), in 5th place are only 6 games out... the sixth place Grand City Cybercats (49-58) are 7 back and the Waleska Westerners (48-59) are seventh in the standings and trail by just 8 games... the Skippers topped them all with a good July, going 17-12... the Blackhawks slipped to 14-15... the Diamonds 15-14... the Sunbirds 15-14... the Crusaders flopped badly with an 11-18 month... the Cybercats also did poorly, winding up 12-17... with the Westerners only 13-16.

Ruthlandian South Outlook:
Only Carnack the Magnificent could figure this race out... where is a crystal ball when you need one?... and the winner and still champion is: Crystal Lake... by just a little bit, the Skippers have the best offense and the best pitching in a very evenly-matched division... Claxton will edge Valka for the runner-up spot... Belair Beach will probably come in fourth... St. John pitching has declined to the point the Crusaders are a second-division team now... the Skippers will edge the bunch of them out in a close one... they have been playing well the last two months and could pull away from the crowd in the RU South.

MARSTON IN COMMAND IN RU EAST
The Marston Nine (70-37) are having a marvelous year... with a 9-game lead heading into the final six weeks of the campaign, the Nine should rack up their first Ruthlandian East flag since 2047... they have piled up the most victories in the IPA thus far this season and will probably be the favorite to take the Holy Grail of Baseball in the Islands, the much-revered IPA Pro Cup... Marston can hit, score runs and has very impressive pitching... the Nine are batting a lofty .292 (1st), scored 542 runs (4th) and have compiled a standout 3.09 ERA (2nd)... that's why second place Cold Creek (61-46) is 9 games behind them in the pennant race... a pretty good ball club and last year's division winner, third place Wynnamac (60-47) is 10 games back... another offensive powerhouse Elnora (58-49) is 12 games out of first place... the Nine had a good month in July with a 17-12 record... Cold Creek went 18-12... Wynnamac slumped to 13-16, while Elnora was 15-14... fifth place Sugar Valley (56-51) was also 15-14... Belle Plaine (48-59), sixth in the standings, put up a 16-13 mark for the month... seventh place Eastshore (44-63) was only 11-18... and eighth and last place Beechwood (36-71) wound up 12-17.

Ruthlandian East Outlook:
No crystal ball or fortune teller needed here... Marston is hands down the best team in the division and one of the best in the IPA... give second place to the Wynnamac Sundowners... they have superior pitching to the offensive-minded Cold Creek Catamounts and the high-scoring Elnora All-Stars... the Sugar Valley Rattlers will have to settle for fifth place... they have pretty good pitching and home-run power, but have trouble scoring... the other three clubs, Belle Plaine, Eastshore and Beechwood, are destined for the bottom of the second-division in the RU East.

SLIGO SUPER SLINGERS ON TOP OF RU WEST
The Sligo (66-41) super slingers are still going strong in the Ruthlandian West Division... the Rovers' super staff led them to an 18-11 record in July and they upped their lead to 5 games over the runner-up Colfax Blasters (61-40) and 7 over last year's flag winner, the Volusia Vigilantes (59-48)... both clubs had good months with identical 16-13 marks, but they still lost ground in the pennant race... Sligo's magnificent mound staff has a microscopic 2.47 ERA (1st), by far the best in the IPA... Marston in the RU East is next best with a 3.08 ERA... 2.41 is the all-time record set by the Forest City Lumberjacks in 2048... fourth place in the RU West belongs to the Rocky Rapids Snappers (55-52), 11 GB... they were 17-12 last month... Forest City (52-55) is fifth in the standings... the Firebirds had a down month at 13-16 and are now 14 games off the pace... Stoner (51-56) is tied for sixth with Fort Benton and 15 games behind... the Stars had a good July with 16-13... Fort Benton (51-56) was 13-16... the Middlefield Roosters (46-61) are having their worst season in almost three decades... dead last, 20 GB... the Roosters were a pathetic 9-20 in July.

Ruthlandian West Outlook:
Despite a lack of hitting, Sligo has adequate scoring to compliment its magnificent mound corps... the Rovers are batting .257 with 446 runs (20th) and have hit 82 out of the park (21st)... compare that to the hard-hitting Colfax Blasters, who sport a .272 BA (6th), scored 557 runs (3rd) and hit 92 homers (15th-tied)... the difference between the two contenders: Colfax has a 4.50 team ERA (29th)... third place Volusia has pretty good pitching with a 3.56 ERA (8th), but lacks scoring and firepower... the Vigilantes have scored only 431 runs (27th) and hit only 68 home runs (28th-tied)... Sligo is the odds-on favorite to capture its first RU West flag since 2040... Colfax's high-scoring ways should give them second place... Volusia will be third... Rocky Rapids, Forest City, Stoner and Fort Benton will vie for the fourth spot in the RU West... the Middlefield Roosters will definite have to wait until next year.

RUTHLANDIAN UNION STANDINGS

Eugene Church · 03-01-2019, 01:27 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, August 2, 2059

RED CAPS ROMP IN TU NORTH
When you have high-powered firepower and decent pitching, you can do well in the Islandian Pro Alliance... Crystal Lake, the reigning Pro Cup crownholder, is proof of that... that also fits the Oxford Red Caps (69-38) to a T... the Oxies are making shambles of the Tycobbian North with a devastating attack and OK pitching... the Red Caps have ballooned to a 10-game margin over last year's division winner, the Luxora Zorros (59-48), 13 better than the Fairfax Frogs (56-51) and 15 games ahead of the fourth place North Hills Hawks (54-53)... most baseball analysts would say the race is over.

In July the Tycobbian North Division had a good month... 6 of the clubs posted winning marks... led, of course, by Oxford's 18-11 record... the Z's were 16-13... Frogs 17-12... Hawks 15-14... Blue Lake 16-13... the Hellcats and Rascals were the only losing clubs with 13-16... even the last place Haymakers were on the winning side of the ledger at 16-13.

Tycobian North Outlook:
Oxford has been terrific at the plate this season with a .284 BA (2nd), 627 runs (1st) and 173 HR (1st)... the Red Caps make it look easy with two All-Stars in the lineup: first baseman Buddy Blackford with a .338 BA, 41 HR and 86 RBI and LF Showboat Lynn batting .337 with 30 roundtrippers and 94 ribbies... and enough quality pitching to get by with Maury Statler (14-6/3.59), Meldon Eddington (15-4/3.33) and Wiley Beckford (15-5/3.73)... add in standout All-Star closer Pat McFarlane (3-3/1.40 ERA/32 saves/43 G) and you have a high-quality ball club... one that is pretty likely to win the pennant... and a team likely to be one of the favorites in the Pro Cup playoffs.

Five teams are still in the chase for second place... Luxora has the best shot at it... the Zorros have two solid starters in Wallace MacPherson (15-6/2.83) and Mack McKitrick (16-6/3.06)... but the other three starters are lousy... the offense is also good with a .262 BA, 506 runs (6th) and 113 homers (9th)... evenly-matched Fairfax, North Hills, Blue Lake and Hartsdale will fight it out for the third spot on the TU North.

KARATE KIDS ON TOP OF TU SOUTH
One of the delights of the IPA season is on top of the Tycobbian South... the karate kids in Ginza (65-42) are kickin' butts with a 7-game edge over runner-up Turon (58-49)... third place Cape Coral (57-50) and Summerland (57-50) are still hanging around, but are 8 games behind the Ninjas... a lot of people are cheering and rooting for Ginza, which has not won a pennant for 28 years... maybe Mr. Miyagi can pull off another miracle.

The Ginza Ninjas are not doing it with mirrors or martial arts, they are doing it with impressive pitching... they have three quality starters with Kurt Brophy (11-4/3.27), Yoshiro Makihara (10-8/2.62) and Franco Funicello (11-5/2.96)... plus two more reliables in Kenny Cabot (8-5/3.82) and Kodai Norimoto (7-6/3.98)... and in the bullpen All-Star closer Abram Worth (7-4/2.42 ERA/24 saves/49 G)... the team ERA is 3.42 (3rd)... the Ninjas do need help in the batter's box... they have trouble scoring runs despite a .264 BA (9th)... only 83 homers (25th) and 445 runs (23rd)... but Ginza wins ball games... the Ninjas went 17-12 in July, tied with Turon for the best record in the TU South... the Cape Coral Hurricanes did well at 16-13... the Summerland Sunsets slumped to 14-15... the Arroyo Grande Suns were 16-13... Colchester only 12-17... San Alejo 14-15... and eighth place Southport fizzled at 10-19, thus killing its chance for a second-half comeback... the Sun Sox won the TU South a year ago... but it ain't gonna happen this year... no way, Jose... no way no how.

Tycobbian South Outlook:
Ginza is sitting pretty in first place and should make the playoffs with its fine mound staff... second place Turon also has good pitching with a 3.49 ERA, but lacks offense and home-run power... the Typhoons are batting .259 (13th) with 450 runs (22nd) and only 71 HR (29th)... the Cape Coral Hurricanes will be in the battle for second place because of its robust attack... the 'Canes are thumping the ball at a .294 clip (1st), scored 575 runs (2nd) and have hit 97 balls out of the park (18th)... and they are not bad on the hill with a 3.98 ERA (17th)... Cape Coral looks like the runner-up this season... the Summerland Sunsets have the best pitching corps in the TU with a real good 3.08 ERA (1st), but they are batting a paltry .248 (29th) and only have 413 runs (31st)... it looks like fourth in the standings for Summerland... any one of the second-division clubs could wind up 5th... Arroyo Grande, Colchester, San Alejo and Southport are just about even in talent... the Tycobbian South is fairly even top to bottom... only 14 games separate Ginza from Southport.

RED SOX UP BY 7 IN TU EAST
In July the Red Bluff Red Sox (64-43) took charge of the Tycobbian East Division with a marvelous 21-8 record... they broke open a tight race and now have extended their division lead to 7 games over the High Mesa Mustangs (57-50), 8 games better than third place Tuckanarra (56-51) and 10 games over their big rival, the Midway Wolves (54-53)... the Mustangs could only muster a 14-15 mark... the Tucks 15-14... Middies 16-13... and the fifth place East Point Panthers finished the month at 14-15.... and as far as the TU East also-rans, only sixth place South Fork did well at 15-14... Ozarka was a dismal 11-18 and basement-dwelling Hillsboro had a shameful month at 8-21.

Tycobbian East Outlook:
Red Bluff is a shoo-in for the TU East division title... the club continued its fine mound work... the team ERA is 3.16 (2nd), sparked by starters Duane Sturgeon (16-6/2.02) and Wilson Sharpe (11-6/2.17)... the Red Sox also get the job done at the plate with a .258 BA (15th), 504 runs (7th) and 111 homers (10th)... slugging star RF Toni Kolkov (.279/27 HR/71 RBI), CF Paul Gaddison (.271/22 HR/69 RBI), LF Ian Driskell (.300/5 HR/40 RBI) and 1B Monty Lyons (.304/6 HR/33 RBI) are the prime run producers... High Mesa can keep up with Red Bluff offensively, but not on the hill... the Mustangs sport a .255 BA (22nd), 492 runs (8th) and 135 roundtrippers (4th), but the mound staff comes in with a 3.79 team ERA (8th)... All-Star 3B Kagetoki Miyazaki (.304/31 HR/78 RBI) and RF Billy Putman (.255/24 HR/84 RBI) are the top guns in the batting order... the pitching standouts are Weldon Harrington (7-8/2.78), Bucky Dodge (9-5/2.95) and Tuffy Hammel (7-2/3.41)... the Blue Jays have 3 good starters in Ian Timms (16-6/3.11), Ralph Ayers (8-3/2.75) and Skip Eberly (8-10/2.83)... but not much of a bullpen... weak offensively, too... no chance to catch Red Bluff... the Wolves might catch the Tucks... that's the best they can do... Midway is just a so-so ball club that hits homers, but that's about it... offense is just average with 476 runs (15th) and 149 HR (3rd)... still have two of the best players in the IPA: superstars LF Norishige Ito (.310/33 HR/75 RBI/70 R) and CF Daryl Vale (.269/33 HR/78 RBI/68 R/6 SB)... pitching is fair with a 4.03 ERA (19th)... rookie Connie Kees (10-6/3.43) and veteran Dookie Higgins (9-7/3.36) are the only quality starters... the Wolves have dropped back in the pack now due to a decline in pitching... also offense is not like it was in the Pro Cup-winning years and pennant winning years from '53 to '58.

REDS, CHAMPS, REDBIRDS... CATFIGHT IN TU WEST
And just what do we have in the Tycobbian West Division?... lo and behold, I think there is a pennant race going on... and it's a good 'un... it's a catfight between 3 teams, the first place Rolling Hills Reds (59-48), second place and defending division champ, the Arlon Champions (57-50), and the third place Denton City Redbirds (56-51)... only 3 games separate them with just 6 weeks to play in the regular season... the Reds with their explosive bats and mediocre mound corps had a slow month in July, just 15-14... the Champions played like champs with a terrific 20-9 mark and chopped down Rolling Hills lead by 5 games... the Redbirds narrowed the gap by 2 games with a 16-13 record... the Bayview Vikings (52-55), in the fourth spot in the standings, also wound up 16-13 and are 7 games off the pace... the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (51-56) struggled at 13-16... the sixth place La Claire Lynx (49-58) went 14-15... the Kenwood Wildcats (46-61) took a deep dive toward the TU West cellar with terrible 9-20 mark... the hapless last place Chicopee Braves (40-67) were even worse, going 7-22 last month.

Tycobbian West Outlook:
It should be a ding-dong dilly down the stretch... Rolling Hills has the offense to win, but doesn't seem to have the pitching... the Reds are ripping the ball at a .283 clip (3rd), score very well with 548 runs (3rd) and go deep with 98 circuit swats (16th-tied)... but on the hill it's a different story... 4.31 Team ERA (29th)... star 1B Teddy Stonich (.371/35 HR/98 RBI/92 R/3 SB) is having a sensational season... helped out by LF Jean-Luc Roubique (.280/15 HR/67 RBI/53 R), C Lee Fountain (.257/9 HR/51 RBI/36 R) and RF Larry Lamm (.282/9 HR/46 RBI/36 R/5 SB)... Rolling Hills has only two reliable starters in the rotation: Vance Dillaway (10-9/3.45) and Rob Gates (9-4/3.51)... Tommy Otis (4-1/4.11) could be a big help with a good stretch drive... he will be a key factor... bullpen is just OK... second place Arlon is sitting pretty with 4 solid starters and a good offense... the Champions will probaby repeat as TU West titlists for the 4th time in 6 seasons... the mainly over-30 staff is led by J. C. Hilburn (11-9/3.36), Ty Coffee (12-6/3.28), Dicky Towers (8-4/3.77) and Bobby Conoway (4-1/3.38)... even #5 starter Mike Winters (6-8/4.02) can get the job done... 23-year-old Conoway is the only youngster... but the bullpen is hellaciously bad with a 4.15 ERA (29th)... Arlon has a rock-solid offense with a .270 team BA (6th), 522 runs (4th) and 127 homers (6th)... the leaders are LF Jaimey Stansfield (.271/33 HR/79 R), All-Star SS Art Catlin (.309/17 HR/56 RBI), RF Zeppo Thiel (.343/7 HR/35 RBI/43 R/3 SB), 1B Rhett Harper (.304/9 HR/30 RBI/47 R/5 SB), 3B Eduardo Garaza (.290/10 HR/33 RBI/42 R), 1B Jon Cress (.327/8 HR/38 RBI/21 R) and CF Rebel Bryce (.244/16 HR/58 RBI/51 R/2 SB)... Denton City should finish well with 3 good starters in superstar Flash Stringfellow (13-6/3.24), budding star Carl Coons (11-4/2.25) and reliable veteran Rance Hasbrough (8-11/3.73)... the bullpen is in good hands with Burnell Kelley (3-2/1.89 ERA/25 saves/33 G)... the batting attack is just average with a .257 BA (18th), 473 runs (16th) and 104 HR (12th-tied)... the Redbirds will challenge both Rolling Hills and Arlon for the TU West flag... fourth place Bayview has some punch in the lineup with 1B T. D. Proudfoot (.306/30 HR/85 RBI), RF Vern Woodcock (.216/20 HR/59 RBI) and 3B Byorn Karlsen (.234/21 HR/50 RBI)... the Vikings are hitting .253 (26th) with 478 runs (12th-tied) and 128 HR (5th), but they are fair to mediocre on the mound with a 4.10 team ERA (22nd)... the Viks have two fine starters with Ivar Rasmussen (13-9/3.07) and Jules Perot (9-4/3.12)... #3 James Farnham (8-8/3.59) is capable, too... the bullpen has much improved since Harv Hays (2-3/2.95 ERA/3 saves/15 G) took over the closing role... it has been quite poor this year with a 4.37 ERA (31st)... Bay St. Clair is the best of the rest, but will probably end up in 5th place... not likely to make the first division... La Claire, Kenwood and Chicopee are obviously not very good.

Eugene Church · 03-01-2019, 01:36 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
August 2, 2059

TYCOBBIAN UNION STANDINGS

Eugene Church · 03-01-2019, 01:44 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
August 2, 2059

RUTHLANDIAN UNION LEADERBOARDS (Players and Teams)

Eugene Church · 03-01-2019, 01:54 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, August 2, 2059

TYCOBBIAN UNION LEADERBOARDS (Players and Teams)

Eugene Church · 03-01-2019, 05:17 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, August 2, 2059

IPA TOP STARS IN JULY
The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the top stars of the month... the July winners were Jedd Blodgett and Teddy Stonich as the Batters of the Month, Bob Speed and Claude Elliot were honored as the Pitchers of the Month and Norbert Ruston and Johnny Pendergrass were chosen the Rookies of the Month.

The Ruthlandian Union Batter of the Month was Blodgett, left fielder for the Radford Bulls... he smashed 11 homers, drove in 25 runs and scored 21 runs, while batting .280 in July... overall Blodgett carries a .269 BA with 23 roundtrippers and 66 RBIs.

The Ruthlandian Pitcher of the Month went to Bob Speed of the Far Mountain Redhawks... the 22-year-old right-hander was unbeaten in 6 starts with a 6-0 record... he fanned 27 batters in 54 innings, walked only 6 and held teams to a .173 BA... overall this year Speed in 14-4 with a strong 2.47 ERA.

The Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year Norbert Ruston won it for the second straight month... the Eastshore third baseman batted .351 in July with 9 doubles and 4 triples... Ruston scored 20 runs and batted in 12... this season he is hitting .306 with 39 RBIs and 60 runs scored.

The Tycobbian Union Batter of the Month trophy went to Teddy Stonich, the hard-hitting first baseman for the Rolling Hills Reds... he is also a repeat winner... Stonich also cop the award last month... in July he had a fabulous month with a .403 BA, 13 home runs, 33 ribbies and 26 runs... Stonich tops the Tycobbian Union with a .371 BA and 98 RBIs... he is third in the IPA with 35 roundtrippers.

The Tycobbian Pitcher of the Month in July was Claude Elliot of the Fairfax Frogs... he posted an impressive 6-0 mark and a 1.90 ERA for the month... Elliot improved his season record to 11-2 with a 2.47 ERA.

The Tycobbian Rookie of the Month is really something... Johnny Pendergrass had taken the award three times this year... this month he batted .301 with 4 homers, 16 runs and 16 RBIs... for the year Pendergrass sports a .326 BA with 16 homers, 45 RBIs, 55 runs and has stolen 10 bases.

Ruthlandian Union Players of the Month

02-18-2019, 10:12 PM	#6241
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, July 1, 2059 IPA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH HONORED The top batters, pitchers and rookies have been honored by the Islandian Pro Alliance for standout play in June... in the Ruthlandian Union Valmara's Semyon Tomczak (.383/13 HR/29 RBI/21 R) was named the Batter of the Month, Sugar Valley's Hector De Andres (5-1/1.43 ERA) claimed the Pitch of the Month Award and Eastshore's Norbert Ruston (.320/0 HR/14 RBI/11 R) was the RU Rookie of the Month... Tomczak led the division-leading Valmara Vipers to a sensational 21-5 mark in June... De Andres paced fifth place Sugar Valley to a 14-12 record and Ruston's sixth place Eastshore Cotton Kings could only muster 11 wins and 15 defeats. The Tycobbian Union June winners were Batter of the Month Teddy Stonich of Rolling Hills, who hit .413 with 10 homers, 26 RBIs and 27 runs... last month the Reds posted a 15-11 record and are riding high atop their division... Pitcher of the Month Ian Timms chalked up an impressive 5-0 mark and a 2.14 ERA for the third place Tuckanarra Blue Jays, who were only 12-14... Summerland's Johnny Pendergrass won top Rookie honor for the second time this season... he hit .357 for the month with 6 homers, 16 ribbies and scored 9 runs... the second place Sunsets put up a strong 16-10 record. Ruthlandian Union Top Performers June, 2059 Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-18-2019 at 10:18 PM.

02-18-2019, 10:15 PM	#6242
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	Tycobbian Union Top Performers June, 2059 Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-18-2019 at 10:17 PM.

02-20-2019, 09:00 PM	#6243
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, July 1, 2059 IPA BAT AND PITCH KINGS AT MIDSEASON Click on each image section to enlarge Ruthlandiand Union Batting Leaderboards Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-20-2019 at 09:26 PM.

02-20-2019, 09:06 PM	#6244
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	Tycobbian Union Batting Leaderboards Click on each section to enlarge Attached Images

02-20-2019, 09:20 PM	#6245
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	Ruthlandian Union Pitching Leaderboards Click to enlarge each section Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-20-2019 at 09:22 PM.

02-20-2019, 09:25 PM	#6246
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	Tycobbian Union Pitching Leaderboards Click on each section to enlarge Attached Images

02-21-2019, 11:42 AM	#6247
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, July 1, 2059 IPA REACHES HALFWAY POINT There is some new blood in the Islandian Pro Alliance pennant hunts... the upstarts Marston Nine, Valka Blackhawks, Colfax Blasters, Ginza Ninjas and Summerland Sunsets are looking like genuine contenders this year at the halfway point in the season... none of them swooned in June... there is also some perennial old blood, too... top dogs like the Valmara Vipers, Oxford Red Caps, Red Bluff Red Sox, Crystal Lake Skippers, Wynnamac Sundowners and Southport Sun Sox. Marston, Ginza and Valka were not highly heralded in the preseason rankings, but they have certainly done well so far... Marston (52-25) is on top of the Ruthlandian East with a 5-game margin over Wynnamac (47-30)... the Nine has the best record in the IPA so far... Ginza (47-30) has had a remarkable turnaround... the Ninjas have the lead in the Tycobbian South... 4 games better than runner-up Summerland (43-34) and 6 games up on defending champion Southport (41-36) and much-improved Cape Coral (41-36)... Valka (40-37) has the lead in the crowded Ruthlandian South race... but they are just one game ahead of St. John (39-38), 2 in front of last year's Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake (38-39)... Claxton (37-40) and Grand City (37-40) are just 3 off the pace... it's wide open to just about everybody in the division... the surprise club in the RU West is Colfax (45-32)... the Blasters are running a very close second to the division-leading Sligo Rovers (47-30), trailing them by just 2 games. Four powers are going strong as usual... Valmara (51-20) is already 7 games up on the Glasco A's (44-33) and looks like they have a good shot at its third RU North flag in a row... Red Bluff (43-34) is in first place in the TU East, but not by much... they are being pushed hard by the High Mesa Mustangs (42-35), just one game back... Tuckanarra (40-37) is lurking 3 games out... and Red Sox rival, Midway (38-39), is in the 4th spot in the standings, 5 games behind... Rolling Hills (44-33) is rocking and rolling in the Tycobbian West with a 5-game edge over second place Denton City (39-38)... the Oxford Red Caps (50-27) are running rampant in the Tycobbian North with an 8-game bulge over defending champion Luxora (42-35)… the Oxies have the second-best record this year in the IPA. Click on Screen to Enlarge each Section Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-22-2019 at 04:34 AM.

02-21-2019, 11:55 AM	#6248
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, July 1, 2059 ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE LEADERBOARDS (Midseason): Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Click on Screen to Enlarge Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-21-2019 at 11:57 AM.

02-23-2019, 12:05 AM	#6249
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, July 1, 2059 IPA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH HONORED The top batters, pitchers and rookies have been honored by the Islandian Pro Alliance for standout play in June... in the Ruthlandian Union Valmara's Semyon Tomczak (.383/13 HR/29 RBI/21 R) was named the Batter of the Month, Sugar Valley's Hector De Andres (5-1/1.43 ERA) claimed the Pitch of the Month Award and Eastshore's Norbert Ruston (.320/0 HR/14 RBI/11 R) was the RU Rookie of the Month... Tomczak led the division-leading Valmara Vipers to a sensational 21-5 mark in June... De Andres paced fifth place Sugar Valley to a 14-12 record and Ruston's sixth place Eastshore Cotton Kings could only muster 11 wins and 15 defeats. The Tycobbian Union June winners were Batter of the Month Teddy Stonich of Rolling Hills, who hit .413 with 10 homers, 26 RBIs and 27 runs... last month the Reds posted a 15-11 record and are riding high atop their division... Pitcher of the Month Ian Timms chalked up an impressive 5-0 mark and a 2.14 ERA for the third place Tuckanarra Blue Jays, who were only 12-14... Summerland's Johnny Pendergrass won top Rookie honor for the second time this season... he hit .357 for the month with 6 homers, 16 ribbies and scored 9 runs... the second place Sunsets put up a strong 16-10 record... Pendergrass also captured the honor in April. Ruthlandian Union Players of the Month June, 2059 Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-23-2019 at 05:02 PM.

02-23-2019, 12:09 AM	#6250
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	Tycobbian Union Players of the Month June, 2059 Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-23-2019 at 05:02 PM.

02-23-2019, 10:23 PM	#6251
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, July 1, 2059 ONLY 3 CLOSE RACES IN THE IPA We all love hot-and-heavy pennant races... living and dying on a daily basis for our beloved baseball teams... well, going into the fourth month of the current Islandian Pro Alliance campaign 6 of the divisions have fairly close races... in the Ruthlandian South Division the Valka Blackhawks (40-37) are up by a single game over runner-up St. John (39-38)... defending Pro Cup titleholder Crystal Lake is 2 games back in third place... Marston (52-45) is 5 up on Wynnamac in the RU East... Sligo (47-30) tops the RU West by 2 over the Colfax Blasters (45-32) with last year's flag winner Volusia (43-34) sticking close and trailing by 4 games... over in the Tycobbian East the Red Bluff Red Sox are being squeezed by runner-up High Mesa (42-35), only a game out of first and Tuckanarra (40-37), just 3 games behind in third... in the Tycobbian South the Ginza Ninjas (47-30) have a 4-game edge over second place Summerland (43-34) with last year's champ Southport (41-36) 6 games off the pace... Rolling Hills (44-33) has chalked up a 5-game lead over Denton City (39-38) in the Tycobbian West... two divisions are bordering on runaways... the Valmara Vipers (51-26) have vaulted to a comfortable 7-game margin over the Glasco A's (44-33) in the Ruthlandian North, while the biggest lead of all is enjoyed by the Oxford Red Caps (50-27) in the Tycobbian North... they have shot ahead of last year's division winner, Luxora (42-35) by 8 games. VIPERS SUPER PLAY IN JUNE High-scoring Valmara (51-26) soared ahead in the RU North with a torrid 21-5 mark in June... Glasco (44-33) went 18-8... Far Mountain (43-34) was 17-9... and LaGrange (43-34) ended up 16-10... Ancona (40-37) chalked up 15-11... Kilkenny (32-45) a poor 10-16... Taranto (31-46) was only 12-14 and Ranford was a lowly (29-48) 10-16. Ruthlandian North Season Outlook: Valmara looks like a shoo-in for its third straight pennant in the RU North... the Vipers' power-laden attack and solid pitching are just too much for the other teams... Look for Valmara to go far in the postseason this year...the Vipers are very well-balanced with no apparent weaknesses... Pro Cup trophy #5 could be in the club's future... Far Mountain and Glasco will fight it out for second place... LaGrange and Ancona will tussle for the fourth spot... all of the others are just second-rate second-division clubs. SUPER TIGHT IN RU SOUTH The race in the Ruthlandian South is super tight with 4 challengers trying their best to dethrone the IPA champion Crystal Lake Skippers... at the end of June, Valka (40-37) has the lead by just a game over St. John (39-38)... the Blackhawks were even for the month at 13-13... the Crusaders were 14-12... the Skips had an horrendous 8-20 May, but turned it up in June with a 16-10 mark, the best in the division... the Claxton Diamonds (37-40) could only put up a 10-16 and fell below .500... they were tied with Valka last month for the top spot... the rest of the division were bad, too... Grand City (37-40), Belair Beach (35-42) and Waleska (34-43) wound up only 11-15... and stuck in the RU South basement are the sad San Dimas Rancheros (29-49)... the Vaqueros could only manage 10-16 in May. Ruthlandian South Outlook: The teams are evenly matched in the RU South... nobody is heads-and-shoulders better... it's gonna be a genuine donnybrook with 6 teams in the mix... reigning Pro Cup titlist Crystal Lake gets the call, but will sweat it out... they will have to fend off more than St. John this year... Valka, Claxton and Belair Beach could be spoilers, along with Grand City... the Skippers can score runs and the pitching is good... they are just a little better than the rest of the contenders... the Skips should repeat as division champion... however, Pro Cup champ again may be quite a stretch... Crystal Lake doesn't seem to have the power it had last year. MARSTON, MAY BE BEST NINE IN IPA One of the strongest divisions in the Islandian Pro Alliance is the Ruthlandian East... 5 of the teams are over the .500 mark with the Marston Nine leading the way with the best record in the IPA at 52-25... the Nine can do it all... hitting with power, scoring runs and standout pitching... they are the class of the RU East, and perhaps, the best in the IPA... Marston came in a distant 6th last year, but certainly has set the league on fire this year... the Nine had the best division record in June at 16-10 and upped its lead over Wynnamac (47-30) to 5 games... the Macs registered a 13-13 record... the Sundowners won the pennant last year... Cold Creek (42-35) has done well early in the year, but slipped to 12-14 in June... the Catamounts were under .500 in '58 and wound up 5th... Elnora (42-35) only went 11-15 for the month, despite having a terrific attack... bad pitching is a killer... the Sugar Valley Rattlers (40-37) compiled a good 14-12 mark... Eastshore (33-44) continued its losing ways with 11-15... Belle Plaine (37-46) had an atrocious May with only 7 victories and 19 losses... and the dead last Beechwood Blues (24-53) were even worse at a hellacious 5-21. Ruthlandian East Outlook: Marston is the odds-on favorite in the RU East... and should be one of the prime Pro Cup contenders... the Macs, All-Stars, C'Cats and Rattlers will cat fight it out for the runner-up spot... Belle Plaine, Eastshore and Beechwood will be distant also-rans at the bottom of the barrel. SLIGO STAFF SENSATIONAL IN RU WEST Well, it is June, but the Sligo Rovers mound staff did not fling and sway and fade away... they are still going at a sensational pace with a near IPA record 2.50 team ERA... the Rovers may have the best overall pitching corps in IPA history... top to bottom all 11 pitchers can not only get the job done well, they can do it in style and quality... there are no bad pitchers on the team... but the Colfax Blasters and Volusia Vigilantes are still giving chase... Sligo (47-30) is only 2 games up on the Blasters (45-32) and 4 games in front of third place Volusia (43-34), last year's RU West flag winner... hurlers and homers are leading the way for the Rovers... they had a 15-11 mark in June, while surprising Colfax was ringing up a sparkling 17-9... the V's were 15-11... fourth place Forest City (39-38) broke even for the month at 13-13... fifth place Rocky Rapids (37-40) went 15-11, while Fort Benton (37-40) could only muster a 13-13 draw... followed by the Middlefield Roosters (36-41) and the cellar-dwelling Stoner Stars (35-42)... the Roosters wound up 11-15 and the Stars recorded 13-13 for the month. Ruthlandian West Outlook: It's going to continue to be a 3-team tussle with Sligo hauling in the division title this year, nipping out last year's winner Volusia... Colfax has the best offensive arsenal, but the Vigilantes have them beat on the slab... the Blasters will have to be satisfied with the third position in the standings... four clubs, Forest City, Rocky Rapids, Fort Benton and Stoner, will fight it out for fourth place... it appears the best Middlefield can do is last place. Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-26-2019 at 05:03 PM.

02-25-2019, 05:39 PM	#6252
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	Ruthlandian Union Division Leaders Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-25-2019 at 06:09 PM.

02-25-2019, 05:54 PM	#6253
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, July 1, 2059 OXFORD OWNS THE TU NORTH It's only July, but the red-hot Oxford Red Caps (50-27) already have an 8-game lead in the Tycobbian North Division... the Red Caps are running roughshod over all comers with an explosive attack second to none in the IPA... Oxford chalked up a 16-10 mark for June to increase its lead over last year's TU North champion, the Luxora Zorros (42-35)... the Z's lost ground with a 13-13 record... at 39-38 North Hills, Fairfax and Hartsdale are tied for the third spot in the division standings, 11 games behind Oxford... the Hawks had a good month at 16-10 and climbed up from 7th place... the Frogs played fairly well with a 14-12 June... but the Hellcats slipped badly to 11-15 for the last month... the lesser lights did not do well... 6th place Blue Lake (37-40) continued its downward trend with a sluggish 11-15 record... 7th place White River (35-42) was only 11-15... and poor last place Mahaska (27-50) finished the month 12-14. Tycobbian North Outlook: Hitting home runs and scoring runs at a record pace, Oxford is running away with the TU North... led by the dynamic duo Buddy Blackford and Showboat Lynn, the Red Caps are ripping through the league with wild abandon... it looks the pennant race is already over... no one is likely to catch them... the only race left is the battle for second place between Luxora, Fairfax, North Hills and Hartsdale... none of the bottom three clubs, Blue Lake, White River and Mahaska, are likely to finish any higher. GINZA GRAB LEAD IN TU SOUTH June was a good month for the first place Ginza Ninjas (47-30)... they mopped up along with Summerland (43-34) and surging Southport (41-36)... the top team in May, Cape Coral (41-36), crumbled and tumbled... so did highly-rated Turon (40-37)... Ginza grabbed the lead via a solid 16-10 run... the Ninjas are 4 games ahead at midseason... Summerland is in the runner-up spot... the Sunsets also posted a 16-10 mark... third place now belongs to defending division champ Southport after a terrific 19-7 showing last month... the Cape Coral Hurricanes dipped to fourth with a lousy 9-17... Turon fell from the 3rd spot down to 5th by going only 11-15... sixth place Colchester (39-38) went over the .500 mark with a 15-11 record in June... also-rans Arroyo Grande (36-41) and San Alejo (36-41), deadlocked for last place, had lackluster months at 12-14 and 13-13. Tycobbian South Outlook: There is no real standout team in the TU South... the winner will come from Ginza, Turon, Cape Coral and Summerland or last year's winner Southport... of the five, the Ginza Ninjas and the Cape Coral Hurricanes might have the best chance... Ginza's big plus is three solid and dependable starters... Cape Coral because of their high-powered offense, combined with fairly decent pitching... the other clubs have trouble putting runs on the scoreboard... Summerland's strength is also its mound corps... but the Sunsets can't score... Southport had a great month, but they have big time troubles on the hill and are just average at the plate... Turon has adequate pitching, but not much at the plate... the sixth place Colchester Elites can boom the ball, but so can the opposition... the Elites hurlers are not very elite... the bottom two teams, Arroyo Grande and San Alejo, are not all that bad... either of them could sneak up and challenge for the first division... from top to bottom only 14 games separate them from first place... the Suns can't hit a lick for average, but the short fences give them lots of longballs... the Suns also come up short on the hill... San Alejo certainly doesn't look like a last place club... the Montaneros have average hitting, average power and average pitching... the Monties could climb as high a fourth place. RED SOX UPRISING IN TU EAST Powerhouse Red Bluff (43-34) is back in business in the Tycobbian East Division... the Red Sox went on an 18-8 winning spree in June and took the top spot away from the High Mesa Mustangs, Tuckanarra Blue Jays and Ozarka Naturals, the division co-leaders in May... the TU East is jam-packed, tightly-tangled and bunched... from top to bottom is only 9 games... the Mustangs (42-35) stayed near the top with a 14-12 record last month... the Red Sox have a 1-game lead over them... the Tucks (40-37) slipped to third place, 3 games back, after going 12-14... the perennial power Midway Wolves (38-39) are still struggling in the fourth spot in the standings... the Middies also posted a 12-14 mark and trail by 5... the Nats (37-40) and East Point Panthers (37-40) are tied for fifth place, 6 games off the pace... Ozarka took a bad plunge in June, recording a very poor 9-17 mark... the Panthers are on the prowl and did well with 15-11... the seventh place Hillsboro Blazers got out of the TU East basement... they were 14-12 and are 8 games behind... and South Fork (34-43) sunk to the cellar with 12-14, falling 9 games out in the race. Tycobbian East Outlook: Red Bluff really got it going in June and is considered the prime team to take the division title this year... but High Mesa could challenge them... the Red Sox have the best pitching in the division by far... they have a solid offense, too... the Mustangs may be better at the plate, but not on the mound... Tuckanarra is not quite in the same league as Red Bluff and High Mesa... the Blue Jays lack offense... as far as Midway, the Wolves are not the same club that has won 6 of the last 7 pennants... they still bang homers, but the mound corps is mediocre... the Middies are just a fair-to-middling ball club now... no longer one of the elite IPA franchises... looking at the second division clubs, fifth place East Point appears to be the best of the lot... followed by Ozarka, South Fork and Hillsboro. REDS UP LEAD IN TU WEST In May, the Rolling Hills Reds (44-33) took over first place in the Tycobbian West Division... and in June, they expanded it with a 15-11 mark... the Denton City Redbirds (39-38) tailed off to 12-14 in the month and fell 5 games behind the Reds... two teams are tied for the third spot and 7 games off the lead, last year's title winner Arlon (37-40) and Bay St. Clair (37-40)... the Champs were only 12-14 last month, while the Buccaneers broke even at 13-13... the Kenwood Wildcats (36-41) suffered a bad month (10-16) and dropped to fifth place, 8 GB... they are tied with the up-and-coming Bayview Vikings (36-41)... the Viks put up the best month in the TU West at 16-10... the La Claire Lynx (34-43) didn't do well with an 11-15 record and sunk to seventh place, 10 GB... poor eighth place Chicopee (32-45) had an awful June with only 6 wins and 20 defeats. *Tycobbian West Outlook: The prime pennant contenders are Rolling Hills, Arlon and Denton City... the Reds hit very well for average and put runs on the scoreboard, but they have questionable pitching and only average home-run power... the Champions have won the division crown 3 times in 5 years... they have solid bats and starters, but have a woeful bullpen... the DC Redbirds have a fine mound staff and pretty good firepower, but they are just average at scoring runs... give the edge to Arlon... they have won it often before and have a good chance to repeat again this season... Bay St. Clair and Kenwood are not contenders... neither are La Claire and Chicopee... but Bayview could make a move on the first division this year... they have some good young arms in their rotation and a few young sluggers... the Vikings looked impressive in June... let's see how they do in July. Tycobbian Union Division Leaders* Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-26-2019 at 05:06 PM.

02-26-2019, 04:32 PM	#6254
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Saturday, August 2, 2059 TOP IPA ROOKIE PERFORMERS The 2059 Islandian Pro Alliance rookie class is sparse and few in numbers, but 14 have had an impact on their teams... the best bets for this season's Rookie of the Year honors are Skippy Hayes, right-hander for the Far Mountain Redhawks and right fielder Johnny Pendergrass for the Summerland Sunsets... these budding newcomers are the frontrunners for the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year Awards. Hayes is 11-4 for the year with a 3.33 ERA in 17 starts... the Redhawk rookie has tossed 2 shutouts and fanned 79 batters in 140 innings with 37 bases on balls... his biggest competition will come from third baseman Norbert Ruston of Eastshore, who is batting .309 with 23 doubles, 11 triples and 1 home run... Ruston has driven in 39 runs and scored 60 in 103 games... San Dimas second sacker Rodrigo Valdez has shown some good power... he is batting .275 in 89 games with 20 homers and 58 RBIs... Stoner shortstop Lyle Clanahan is hitting .266 in 101 games with 23 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 31 ribbies, 54 runs and 9 stolen bases... and Claxton hurler Kurt Fritsch (10-9/4.31) has started 22 games and performed well at times. The top freshmen performers in the Tycobbian Union are RF Johnny Pendergrass of Summerland... twice he has been named the Rookie of the Month... for the year Pendergrass is sporting a .325 BA with 15 roundtrippers, 45 RBIs, 55 runs 10 SB, while playing 103 games... another standout is East Point pitcher Vitorio Descalsco with an 11-5 mark and a strong 2.91 ERA... he has made 20 starts and posted one shutout... Rolling Hills has two newcomers... in 87 games third baseman Lloyd Bearden has hit .323 so far with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 37 RBI and 40 runs... in 82 games his Reds' teammate CF Gil Arthur is carrying a .274 BA with 16 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homers, 39 RBIs, 46 runs and 14 SB... Tuckanarra second basemen Rex Heyman has done well in 99 games with a .282 BA, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 60 R and 3 SB. A few other rookies have contributed: White River southpaw Dink Scully (9-9/3.56) has 116 Ks in 151 innings and has hurled one shutout... lefty starter Ed Hill of Kenwood is 9-5 for the season with a pretty good 3.70 ERA... La Claire Maurice Aronson is 10-10 with a 4.26 ERA and one shutout... he has struck out 117 batters in 133 innings... and South Fork's Caine Hanlon is 8-7 with a 4.23 ERA in 19 starts. Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-26-2019 at 04:36 PM.

02-26-2019, 09:32 PM	#6255
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Saturday, August 2, 2059 6 WEEKS TO GO IN THE IPA Four months into the '59 Islandian Pro Alliance season, only a couple of the divisions are still a good horse race... the other six have teams with seemingly borderline safe leads going into the final six weeks of the season... in the Ruthlandian Union the RU South is still up-in-the-air... Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake (56-51) has a slight 2-game edge on the Valka Blackhawks (54-53)... and in the Tycobbian Union the Rolling Hills Reds (59-48) are in a tight race with the Arlon Champions (57-50), just 2 games behind. The teams that are in somewhat of a "comfort zone" are the Sligo Rovers with a 5-game edge in the RU West and the Valmara Vipers with a 6-game lead in the RU North... the teams in the "feel good zone" are the Red Bluff Red Sox, on top of the TU East by 7 games, and the Ginza Ninjas, leading the TU South, also by 7 games... the teams in the "safe and sure" zone are the Marston Nine in the RU East with a 9-game margin and the Oxford Red Caps in the TU North with a 10-game lead... but, hey, we all know that it ain't over till it's over... that's what history and Yogi tells us. VIPERS HAVE SOLID LEAD IN RU NORTH So lets's take a whirlwind tour of the Islandian Pro Alliance and see what has transpired thus far in the 2059 season... in the Ruthlandian North, first place Valmara (67-40) went 16-13 in July, but lost some ground to on-coming Far Mountain Redhawks (61-46) and LaGrange (61-46).... the Redhawks and Sports are tied for second place and trail by 6 games... both had good Julys... FM was 17-12... LaGrange was better at 18-10... the Glasco Athletics were 15-14 and dipped to the fourth spot in the standings, 7 GB... those four clubs are the only ones in the pennant hunt... the bottom four in the RU North second division are just playing out the season... 5th place Ancona (52-55) posted a 12-17 mark and is 15 games back in the race... Taranto (47-60) and Kilkenny (47-60) are deadlocked in sixth place, 20 games behind... they both were 15-14 in July... and last place Ranford registered a 12-17 record and are a whopping 26 games off the pace. Ruthlandian North Outlook: Valmara has an awesome arsenal... .277 BA (5th)... 591 runs (1st)... 135 HR (1st)... and fine pitching to go with that potent attack... 3.36 ERA (4th)... 'nuff said... if the offense holds up, the Vipers are headed for their 3rd straight division title... and a 5th Pro Cup could be on the horizon, too... Far Mountain is almost as good... should finish second... the Redhawks have better starters... but no bullpen... 3.55 ERA (7th)... .259 BA (19th)... 493 runs (8th)... and 113 circuit clouts (5th)... LaGrange is solid, too, with good pitching (3.48 ERA/6th) and scoring (467 R/14th).. and will come in third... the Glasco A's are the fourth-best team. SKIPS HAVE SLIGHT EDGE IN RU SOUTH, Y'ALL It's still nip-and-tuck in the Ruthlandian South Division with 7 clubs still in the race... the defending Pro Cup champion Crystal Lake Skippers (56-51) have finally recovered from the miserable 8-20 May and moved into the top spot in the Ruthlandian South Division by 2 games over the Valka Blackhawks (54-53), 4 games up on the Claxton Diamonds (52-55) and 5 on the Belair Beach Sunbirds (51-56)... the St. John Crusaders (50-57), in 5th place are only 6 games out... the sixth place Grand City Cybercats (49-58) are 7 back and the Waleska Westerners (48-59) are seventh in the standings and trail by just 8 games... the Skippers topped them all with a good July, going 17-12... the Blackhawks slipped to 14-15... the Diamonds 15-14... the Sunbirds 15-14... the Crusaders flopped badly with an 11-18 month... the Cybercats also did poorly, winding up 12-17... with the Westerners only 13-16. Ruthlandian South Outlook: Only Carnack the Magnificent could figure this race out... where is a crystal ball when you need one?... and the winner and still champion is: Crystal Lake... by just a little bit, the Skippers have the best offense and the best pitching in a very evenly-matched division... Claxton will edge Valka for the runner-up spot... Belair Beach will probably come in fourth... St. John pitching has declined to the point the Crusaders are a second-division team now... the Skippers will edge the bunch of them out in a close one... they have been playing well the last two months and could pull away from the crowd in the RU South. MARSTON IN COMMAND IN RU EAST The Marston Nine (70-37) are having a marvelous year... with a 9-game lead heading into the final six weeks of the campaign, the Nine should rack up their first Ruthlandian East flag since 2047... they have piled up the most victories in the IPA thus far this season and will probably be the favorite to take the Holy Grail of Baseball in the Islands, the much-revered IPA Pro Cup... Marston can hit, score runs and has very impressive pitching... the Nine are batting a lofty .292 (1st), scored 542 runs (4th) and have compiled a standout 3.09 ERA (2nd)... that's why second place Cold Creek (61-46) is 9 games behind them in the pennant race... a pretty good ball club and last year's division winner, third place Wynnamac (60-47) is 10 games back... another offensive powerhouse Elnora (58-49) is 12 games out of first place... the Nine had a good month in July with a 17-12 record... Cold Creek went 18-12... Wynnamac slumped to 13-16, while Elnora was 15-14... fifth place Sugar Valley (56-51) was also 15-14... Belle Plaine (48-59), sixth in the standings, put up a 16-13 mark for the month... seventh place Eastshore (44-63) was only 11-18... and eighth and last place Beechwood (36-71) wound up 12-17. *Ruthlandian East Outlook:* No crystal ball or fortune teller needed here... Marston is hands down the best team in the division and one of the best in the IPA... give second place to the Wynnamac Sundowners... they have superior pitching to the offensive-minded Cold Creek Catamounts and the high-scoring Elnora All-Stars... the Sugar Valley Rattlers will have to settle for fifth place... they have pretty good pitching and home-run power, but have trouble scoring... the other three clubs, Belle Plaine, Eastshore and Beechwood, are destined for the bottom of the second-division in the RU East. SLIGO SUPER SLINGERS ON TOP OF RU WEST The Sligo (66-41) super slingers are still going strong in the Ruthlandian West Division... the Rovers' super staff led them to an 18-11 record in July and they upped their lead to 5 games over the runner-up Colfax Blasters (61-40) and 7 over last year's flag winner, the Volusia Vigilantes (59-48)... both clubs had good months with identical 16-13 marks, but they still lost ground in the pennant race... Sligo's magnificent mound staff has a microscopic 2.47 ERA (1st), by far the best in the IPA... Marston in the RU East is next best with a 3.08 ERA... 2.41 is the all-time record set by the Forest City Lumberjacks in 2048... fourth place in the RU West belongs to the Rocky Rapids Snappers (55-52), 11 GB... they were 17-12 last month... Forest City (52-55) is fifth in the standings... the Firebirds had a down month at 13-16 and are now 14 games off the pace... Stoner (51-56) is tied for sixth with Fort Benton and 15 games behind... the Stars had a good July with 16-13... Fort Benton (51-56) was 13-16... the Middlefield Roosters (46-61) are having their worst season in almost three decades... dead last, 20 GB... the Roosters were a pathetic 9-20 in July. Ruthlandian West Outlook: Despite a lack of hitting, Sligo has adequate scoring to compliment its magnificent mound corps... the Rovers are batting .257 with 446 runs (20th) and have hit 82 out of the park (21st)... compare that to the hard-hitting Colfax Blasters, who sport a .272 BA (6th), scored 557 runs (3rd) and hit 92 homers (15th-tied)... the difference between the two contenders: Colfax has a 4.50 team ERA (29th)... third place Volusia has pretty good pitching with a 3.56 ERA (8th), but lacks scoring and firepower... the Vigilantes have scored only 431 runs (27th) and hit only 68 home runs (28th-tied)... Sligo is the odds-on favorite to capture its first RU West flag since 2040... Colfax's high-scoring ways should give them second place... Volusia will be third... Rocky Rapids, Forest City, Stoner and Fort Benton will vie for the fourth spot in the RU West... the Middlefield Roosters will definite have to wait until next year. RUTHLANDIAN UNION STANDINGS Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-01-2019 at 01:56 PM.

03-01-2019, 01:27 PM	#6256
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Saturday, August 2, 2059 RED CAPS ROMP IN TU NORTH When you have high-powered firepower and decent pitching, you can do well in the Islandian Pro Alliance... Crystal Lake, the reigning Pro Cup crownholder, is proof of that... that also fits the Oxford Red Caps (69-38) to a T... the Oxies are making shambles of the Tycobbian North with a devastating attack and OK pitching... the Red Caps have ballooned to a 10-game margin over last year's division winner, the Luxora Zorros (59-48), 13 better than the Fairfax Frogs (56-51) and 15 games ahead of the fourth place North Hills Hawks (54-53)... most baseball analysts would say the race is over. In July the Tycobbian North Division had a good month... 6 of the clubs posted winning marks... led, of course, by Oxford's 18-11 record... the Z's were 16-13... Frogs 17-12... Hawks 15-14... Blue Lake 16-13... the Hellcats and Rascals were the only losing clubs with 13-16... even the last place Haymakers were on the winning side of the ledger at 16-13. Tycobian North Outlook: Oxford has been terrific at the plate this season with a .284 BA (2nd), 627 runs (1st) and 173 HR (1st)... the Red Caps make it look easy with two All-Stars in the lineup: first baseman Buddy Blackford with a .338 BA, 41 HR and 86 RBI and LF Showboat Lynn batting .337 with 30 roundtrippers and 94 ribbies... and enough quality pitching to get by with Maury Statler (14-6/3.59), Meldon Eddington (15-4/3.33) and Wiley Beckford (15-5/3.73)... add in standout All-Star closer Pat McFarlane (3-3/1.40 ERA/32 saves/43 G) and you have a high-quality ball club... one that is pretty likely to win the pennant... and a team likely to be one of the favorites in the Pro Cup playoffs. Five teams are still in the chase for second place... Luxora has the best shot at it... the Zorros have two solid starters in Wallace MacPherson (15-6/2.83) and Mack McKitrick (16-6/3.06)... but the other three starters are lousy... the offense is also good with a .262 BA, 506 runs (6th) and 113 homers (9th)... evenly-matched Fairfax, North Hills, Blue Lake and Hartsdale will fight it out for the third spot on the TU North. KARATE KIDS ON TOP OF TU SOUTH One of the delights of the IPA season is on top of the Tycobbian South... the karate kids in Ginza (65-42) are kickin' butts with a 7-game edge over runner-up Turon (58-49)... third place Cape Coral (57-50) and Summerland (57-50) are still hanging around, but are 8 games behind the Ninjas... a lot of people are cheering and rooting for Ginza, which has not won a pennant for 28 years... maybe Mr. Miyagi can pull off another miracle. The Ginza Ninjas are not doing it with mirrors or martial arts, they are doing it with impressive pitching... they have three quality starters with Kurt Brophy (11-4/3.27), Yoshiro Makihara (10-8/2.62) and Franco Funicello (11-5/2.96)... plus two more reliables in Kenny Cabot (8-5/3.82) and Kodai Norimoto (7-6/3.98)... and in the bullpen All-Star closer Abram Worth (7-4/2.42 ERA/24 saves/49 G)... the team ERA is 3.42 (3rd)... the Ninjas do need help in the batter's box... they have trouble scoring runs despite a .264 BA (9th)... only 83 homers (25th) and 445 runs (23rd)... but Ginza wins ball games... the Ninjas went 17-12 in July, tied with Turon for the best record in the TU South... the Cape Coral Hurricanes did well at 16-13... the Summerland Sunsets slumped to 14-15... the Arroyo Grande Suns were 16-13... Colchester only 12-17... San Alejo 14-15... and eighth place Southport fizzled at 10-19, thus killing its chance for a second-half comeback... the Sun Sox won the TU South a year ago... but it ain't gonna happen this year... no way, Jose... no way no how. Tycobbian South Outlook: Ginza is sitting pretty in first place and should make the playoffs with its fine mound staff... second place Turon also has good pitching with a 3.49 ERA, but lacks offense and home-run power... the Typhoons are batting .259 (13th) with 450 runs (22nd) and only 71 HR (29th)... the Cape Coral Hurricanes will be in the battle for second place because of its robust attack... the 'Canes are thumping the ball at a .294 clip (1st), scored 575 runs (2nd) and have hit 97 balls out of the park (18th)... and they are not bad on the hill with a 3.98 ERA (17th)... Cape Coral looks like the runner-up this season... the Summerland Sunsets have the best pitching corps in the TU with a real good 3.08 ERA (1st), but they are batting a paltry .248 (29th) and only have 413 runs (31st)... it looks like fourth in the standings for Summerland... any one of the second-division clubs could wind up 5th... Arroyo Grande, Colchester, San Alejo and Southport are just about even in talent... the Tycobbian South is fairly even top to bottom... only 14 games separate Ginza from Southport. RED SOX UP BY 7 IN TU EAST In July the Red Bluff Red Sox (64-43) took charge of the Tycobbian East Division with a marvelous 21-8 record... they broke open a tight race and now have extended their division lead to 7 games over the High Mesa Mustangs (57-50), 8 games better than third place Tuckanarra (56-51) and 10 games over their big rival, the Midway Wolves (54-53)... the Mustangs could only muster a 14-15 mark... the Tucks 15-14... Middies 16-13... and the fifth place East Point Panthers finished the month at 14-15.... and as far as the TU East also-rans, only sixth place South Fork did well at 15-14... Ozarka was a dismal 11-18 and basement-dwelling Hillsboro had a shameful month at 8-21. Tycobbian East Outlook: Red Bluff is a shoo-in for the TU East division title... the club continued its fine mound work... the team ERA is 3.16 (2nd), sparked by starters Duane Sturgeon (16-6/2.02) and Wilson Sharpe (11-6/2.17)... the Red Sox also get the job done at the plate with a .258 BA (15th), 504 runs (7th) and 111 homers (10th)... slugging star RF Toni Kolkov (.279/27 HR/71 RBI), CF Paul Gaddison (.271/22 HR/69 RBI), LF Ian Driskell (.300/5 HR/40 RBI) and 1B Monty Lyons (.304/6 HR/33 RBI) are the prime run producers... High Mesa can keep up with Red Bluff offensively, but not on the hill... the Mustangs sport a .255 BA (22nd), 492 runs (8th) and 135 roundtrippers (4th), but the mound staff comes in with a 3.79 team ERA (8th)... All-Star 3B Kagetoki Miyazaki (.304/31 HR/78 RBI) and RF Billy Putman (.255/24 HR/84 RBI) are the top guns in the batting order... the pitching standouts are Weldon Harrington (7-8/2.78), Bucky Dodge (9-5/2.95) and Tuffy Hammel (7-2/3.41)... the Blue Jays have 3 good starters in Ian Timms (16-6/3.11), Ralph Ayers (8-3/2.75) and Skip Eberly (8-10/2.83)... but not much of a bullpen... weak offensively, too... no chance to catch Red Bluff... the Wolves might catch the Tucks... that's the best they can do... Midway is just a so-so ball club that hits homers, but that's about it... offense is just average with 476 runs (15th) and 149 HR (3rd)... still have two of the best players in the IPA: superstars LF Norishige Ito (.310/33 HR/75 RBI/70 R) and CF Daryl Vale (.269/33 HR/78 RBI/68 R/6 SB)... pitching is fair with a 4.03 ERA (19th)... rookie Connie Kees (10-6/3.43) and veteran Dookie Higgins (9-7/3.36) are the only quality starters... the Wolves have dropped back in the pack now due to a decline in pitching... also offense is not like it was in the Pro Cup-winning years and pennant winning years from '53 to '58. REDS, CHAMPS, REDBIRDS... CATFIGHT IN TU WEST And just what do we have in the Tycobbian West Division?... lo and behold, I think there is a pennant race going on... and it's a good 'un... it's a catfight between 3 teams, the first place Rolling Hills Reds (59-48), second place and defending division champ, the Arlon Champions (57-50), and the third place Denton City Redbirds (56-51)... only 3 games separate them with just 6 weeks to play in the regular season... the Reds with their explosive bats and mediocre mound corps had a slow month in July, just 15-14... the Champions played like champs with a terrific 20-9 mark and chopped down Rolling Hills lead by 5 games... the Redbirds narrowed the gap by 2 games with a 16-13 record... the Bayview Vikings (52-55), in the fourth spot in the standings, also wound up 16-13 and are 7 games off the pace... the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (51-56) struggled at 13-16... the sixth place La Claire Lynx (49-58) went 14-15... the Kenwood Wildcats (46-61) took a deep dive toward the TU West cellar with terrible 9-20 mark... the hapless last place Chicopee Braves (40-67) were even worse, going 7-22 last month. Tycobbian West Outlook: It should be a ding-dong dilly down the stretch... Rolling Hills has the offense to win, but doesn't seem to have the pitching... the Reds are ripping the ball at a .283 clip (3rd), score very well with 548 runs (3rd) and go deep with 98 circuit swats (16th-tied)... but on the hill it's a different story... 4.31 Team ERA (29th)... star 1B Teddy Stonich (.371/35 HR/98 RBI/92 R/3 SB) is having a sensational season... helped out by LF Jean-Luc Roubique (.280/15 HR/67 RBI/53 R), C Lee Fountain (.257/9 HR/51 RBI/36 R) and RF Larry Lamm (.282/9 HR/46 RBI/36 R/5 SB)... Rolling Hills has only two reliable starters in the rotation: Vance Dillaway (10-9/3.45) and Rob Gates (9-4/3.51)... Tommy Otis (4-1/4.11) could be a big help with a good stretch drive... he will be a key factor... bullpen is just OK... second place Arlon is sitting pretty with 4 solid starters and a good offense... the Champions will probaby repeat as TU West titlists for the 4th time in 6 seasons... the mainly over-30 staff is led by J. C. Hilburn (11-9/3.36), Ty Coffee (12-6/3.28), Dicky Towers (8-4/3.77) and Bobby Conoway (4-1/3.38)... even #5 starter Mike Winters (6-8/4.02) can get the job done... 23-year-old Conoway is the only youngster... but the bullpen is hellaciously bad with a 4.15 ERA (29th)... Arlon has a rock-solid offense with a .270 team BA (6th), 522 runs (4th) and 127 homers (6th)... the leaders are LF Jaimey Stansfield (.271/33 HR/79 R), All-Star SS Art Catlin (.309/17 HR/56 RBI), RF Zeppo Thiel (.343/7 HR/35 RBI/43 R/3 SB), 1B Rhett Harper (.304/9 HR/30 RBI/47 R/5 SB), 3B Eduardo Garaza (.290/10 HR/33 RBI/42 R), 1B Jon Cress (.327/8 HR/38 RBI/21 R) and CF Rebel Bryce (.244/16 HR/58 RBI/51 R/2 SB)... Denton City should finish well with 3 good starters in superstar Flash Stringfellow (13-6/3.24), budding star Carl Coons (11-4/2.25) and reliable veteran Rance Hasbrough (8-11/3.73)... the bullpen is in good hands with Burnell Kelley (3-2/1.89 ERA/25 saves/33 G)... the batting attack is just average with a .257 BA (18th), 473 runs (16th) and 104 HR (12th-tied)... the Redbirds will challenge both Rolling Hills and Arlon for the TU West flag... fourth place Bayview has some punch in the lineup with 1B T. D. Proudfoot (.306/30 HR/85 RBI), RF Vern Woodcock (.216/20 HR/59 RBI) and 3B Byorn Karlsen (.234/21 HR/50 RBI)... the Vikings are hitting .253 (26th) with 478 runs (12th-tied) and 128 HR (5th), but they are fair to mediocre on the mound with a 4.10 team ERA (22nd)... the Viks have two fine starters with Ivar Rasmussen (13-9/3.07) and Jules Perot (9-4/3.12)... #3 James Farnham (8-8/3.59) is capable, too... the bullpen has much improved since Harv Hays (2-3/2.95 ERA/3 saves/15 G) took over the closing role... it has been quite poor this year with a 4.37 ERA (31st)... Bay St. Clair is the best of the rest, but will probably end up in 5th place... not likely to make the first division... La Claire, Kenwood and Chicopee are obviously not very good.

03-01-2019, 01:36 PM	#6257
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES August 2, 2059 TYCOBBIAN UNION STANDINGS Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-01-2019 at 01:56 PM.

03-01-2019, 01:44 PM	#6258
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES August 2, 2059 RUTHLANDIAN UNION LEADERBOARDS (Players and Teams) Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-01-2019 at 02:02 PM.

03-01-2019, 01:54 PM	#6259
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, August 2, 2059 TYCOBBIAN UNION LEADERBOARDS (Players and Teams) Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 03-01-2019 at 02:02 PM.

03-01-2019, 05:17 PM	#6260
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,094 Blog Entries: 1	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Tuesday, August 2, 2059 IPA TOP STARS IN JULY The Islandian Pro Alliance announced the top stars of the month... the July winners were Jedd Blodgett and Teddy Stonich as the Batters of the Month, Bob Speed and Claude Elliot were honored as the Pitchers of the Month and Norbert Ruston and Johnny Pendergrass were chosen the Rookies of the Month. The Ruthlandian Union Batter of the Month was Blodgett, left fielder for the Radford Bulls... he smashed 11 homers, drove in 25 runs and scored 21 runs, while batting .280 in July... overall Blodgett carries a .269 BA with 23 roundtrippers and 66 RBIs. The Ruthlandian Pitcher of the Month went to Bob Speed of the Far Mountain Redhawks... the 22-year-old right-hander was unbeaten in 6 starts with a 6-0 record... he fanned 27 batters in 54 innings, walked only 6 and held teams to a .173 BA... overall this year Speed in 14-4 with a strong 2.47 ERA. The Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year Norbert Ruston won it for the second straight month... the Eastshore third baseman batted .351 in July with 9 doubles and 4 triples... Ruston scored 20 runs and batted in 12... this season he is hitting .306 with 39 RBIs and 60 runs scored. The Tycobbian Union Batter of the Month trophy went to Teddy Stonich, the hard-hitting first baseman for the Rolling Hills Reds... he is also a repeat winner... Stonich also cop the award last month... in July he had a fabulous month with a .403 BA, 13 home runs, 33 ribbies and 26 runs... Stonich tops the Tycobbian Union with a .371 BA and 98 RBIs... he is third in the IPA with 35 roundtrippers. The Tycobbian Pitcher of the Month in July was Claude Elliot of the Fairfax Frogs... he posted an impressive 6-0 mark and a 1.90 ERA for the month... Elliot improved his season record to 11-2 with a 2.47 ERA. The Tycobbian Rookie of the Month is really something... Johnny Pendergrass had taken the award three times this year... this month he batted .301 with 4 homers, 16 runs and 16 RBIs... for the year Pendergrass sports a .326 BA with 16 homers, 45 RBIs, 55 runs and has stolen 10 bases. Ruthlandian Union Players of the Month Attached Images