ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 22, 2016

2016 IPA Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elegants Thump Colfax In Elite 8 Opener
The Eastshore Elegants went on a rampage with 6 runs in the fifth frame to thump Colfax 6-3 in the first game of the RU Elite 8 Series... playing at home before a Kraft Stadium crowd, the Elegants got a fine complete game from rookie Danny Siegfried (1-0), who held the Blasters to 3 runs - 1 earned - and 8 hits with 6 strikeouts and 3 bases on balls... Both clubs collected 8 hits each... Eastshore SS Gil Lantz got the only homer in the game... rookie Cliff James (0-1) took the loss, yielding 6 runs on 6 hits, but only one was earned... Colfax committed a pair of critical errors that led to the big inning.

Ott's HR Beats Belair Beach In 11th
Far Mountain edged Belair Beach 3-2 in 11 innings to capture game one of the best-of-seven RU Elite 8 Series... C Otis Ott walloped a walk-off homer to decide it... closer Jesse Hughes (1-0) won the game with two scoreless innings and Groot Tenbrook lost it for the Sunbirds... Tenbrook (0-1) allowed 1 runs and 2 hits in 1+ frame... starters Denny Whitaker and Woody Crawford battled to a 9-inning draw, leaving with the score tied 2-2... CF Jonas Boehm and RF Julian Zuvala paced the Redhawks with 2 hits apiece, while CF Norbert Putnam had 2 hits and 2 runs batted in for the losers.

Tycobbian Union

Turon Trounces NH Hawks 9-1 In Game 1
Nicky Engstrom was splendid as usual and the Turon bats were booming in a 9-1 triumph in the first game of the TU Elite 8 at the Hawk's Nest in North Hills... Engstrom (1-0) went the route and fired a 3-hitter... Lou Dozier (0-1) was slapped with the loss after going 6 innings and giving up 5 runs... CF Mac McCurnan hit a 3-run homer and drove in 5 overall... 1B Clyde Kingsford homered and singled, scored 4 times and batted in one for the Typhoons.

Viks Vault Past Nats 8-6 In 11
Bayview went 1-up in the TU Elite 8 with an 8-6 victory over Ozarka at Ellie Ewing Stadium... a 3-run outburst in the 11th sparked the win... Don Griggs (1-0) blanked the Naturals for 2 inning for the win, while Dennis Purcell (0-1) lost it in relief... Purcell was slammed for 3 runs in the decisive frame... 3B Karl Benson led the Vikings with 2 hits and 4 RBI, including a homer... RF Tommy Riddle scored 3 times, had 2 hits and tied the score in the ninth on a two-run shot... the lead run came across on a wild pitch... then Benson blasted a two-run double to cinch it... Ozarka 1B Benny Rousseau rapped two hits, including a 2-run triple... RF Ken Mayberry smacked 3 hits, scored twice and batted in a run in defeat.

The pitching duel between each team's ace never materialized... starters Benny Ostermann and Harald Turi had rocky goings... Turi exited with his Nats trailing 5-3 after 6 innings... Ostermann labored for 9 innings for Bayview. fanned 7, walked 4, but surrendered only 2 earned scores... Ozarka played shoddy defense and committed 3 errors... Ostermann departed after 9 innings with the game tied 5-5 after blowing a two-run ninth-inning lead... The Nats outhit the Viks 12 to 11.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 23, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Sunbirds Fly By Redhawks, Series Even
Young 6-5 rookie southpaw Rik Flippen (1-0) of Belair Beach stopped Far Mountain pretty cold on 3 hits 7-2 to even the RU Elite 8 Series at a game each... the Sunbirds cracked 10 off Robby Kelly (0-1) and sent the veteran to the showers in the eighth after scoring 7 runs on him... 3B Zippy Parks drove in 3, scored 2 and had 2 hits for Belair Beach...CF Norbert Tarver chipped in 2 hits and 2 RBIs... and RF Ron Dizon hit 2 doubles and scored twice... Far Mountain 3B Mackie McAllister drove in both Redhawk runs with a first-inning two-bagger... the Sunbirds turned 3 double plays to support Flippen.

Eastshore Rallies, Gets By Colfax 5-3
On the road in Eastshore, Colfax got off to a fast start with 3 runs in the top of the second, but it didn't last... the Elegants chipped away at the lead with 2 in the fifth, 2 in the sixth and 1 more in the seventh for a 5-3 victory... Eddie Lance (1-0) led the way on the mound with 8 solid innings, allowing just 5 hits and 3 runs, only one of the earned... Jimmy Joe Cartner couldn't protect the early lead... Cartner (0-1) permitted 4 runs and 8 hits in 6 innings... Eastshore racked up 12 hits in all, led by SS Gil Lantz with 4 hits and CF Larry Lowe with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... Lantz and rookie 3B George Alford both homered for the Elegants... RF Norm Payton went deep for the Blasters with a 2-run blast.

Tycobbian Union

Turon Hammers Hawks 12-1, Up 2-0 In Series
Visiting Turon smashed 4 homers and 14 hits to trample the hometown North Hills Hawks 12-1 in game two of the TU Elite 8 Series...it was the Typhoons second straight win... superstar 1B Clyde Kingsford belted two out of the park and drove in 3 runs... C Cory Moore hit a two-run clout and bagged 3 RBIs... LF Andy Porter also hit a 2-run homer... and CF Mac McCurnan added 2 more RBIs... lost in the scoring-fest was a masterful performance by Ted Farentino (1-0), who gave up only 1 run and 5 hits with 5 Ks and a walk... a second-inning home run by 1B Rob Pearson was the only score he surrendered... North Hills starter Lenny Black (0-1) was gone after 5 innings... Black was tagged for 5 runs and 7 hits.

Nats Nick Viks 2-1 In 10, Series Tied
For the second successive day in Ozarka the TU Elite 8 Series went extra innings... this time Ozarka got the win 2-1 to tie it up at one game apiece... speedy RF Ken Mayberry hit a lead-off single, was sacrificed to second, stole third and came across with the winning run on a balk by losing pitcher Ivar Bergmann (0-1), who had come on in the ninth in relief of starter Rick Pritchard... Dennis Purcell (1-1) fared better today and notched the win... He was the loser yesterday... today Purcell pitched a 1-2-3 tenth... Wayne Gates went the first 9 for the Nats... Gates and Pritchard only gave up 1 run each in their stints... the Naturals were paced by 3B Andre Dumas, 1B Benny Rousseau and CF Ryoma Nakayama, all who had two hits each... LF Davey Krueger led the Vikings with 3-for-3 and batted in their only score... Each club collected 10 hits apiece.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, September 24, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elegants On Verge Of Sweep, Whip Colfax in 10
A great season could be even better, if the Eastshore Elegants win one more game in the best-of-seven RU Elite 8 with the Colfax Blasters... Eastshore took its third in a row with a come-from-behind 6-4 triumph in 10 innings... They trailed 3-1 going into the eighth, when they struck for 3 runs to take a 4-3 lead on RF Stan Cuccinello's (.250) 3-run clout... Cuccinello was the big hero... he also walked and scored the game-winner on an RBI double by 2B Gerry Garner (.333)... Garner came in to score on 1B Ricky Rose error on a groundball... winning pitcher Mel Key (1-0), who had let Colfax tie it up in the ninth, got redemption with a perfect tenth inning... Eastshore caught closer Dallas Somerville on an off-day and stuck him with the loss... Garner paced the Elegants with 3 hits, while 3B Mike Janocko (.200) homered for the Blasters... Eastshore outhit Colfax 10-5... relievers Paul Walker and Jack Wilson combined for 3 hitless innings in the sixth, seventh and eighth... Rodger Wright worked 6 fine frames for Colfax, holding the Elegants to 1 run and 5 hits... a long rain delay forced him to leave the game... his relief couldn't save it for him.

Redhawks Slip By Sunbirds 6-5, Up By A Game
After the Redhawks and Sunbirds split the first two games of the Ruthlandian Union Elite 8 Series in Far Mountain, the series switched to Bayside Park in Belair Beach... in a hotly-contested affair Far Mountain rallied for 2 runs in the top of the ninth to snatch a 6-5 victory and go up two games to one... Behind 5-4, the Redhawks tied it up on C Otis Ott's (.200) RBI single and went ahead on 2B Tim Walczek's (.333) double... starter Bobby Snow (1-0) won it, but struggled through 8 innings, allowing 5 runs and 11 hits... reliever Jesse Hughes got a shaky save... he allowed two hits in the last of the ninth, but got out of it with a double play and a fine throw by LF Phi Stewart, who cut down a runner going from first to third on a base hit to end the game... reliever Nasty Naymick (0-1) was the losing pitcher... Naymick was the victim of the ninth-inning uprising... Both teams has 13 hits each... Far Mountain was led by CF Jonas Boehm (.333), 1B Fran Grzanka (.308) and RF Julian Zuvala (.400), all with two hits apiece... topping the Sunbirds were 1B Derek Krohn (.400) with 3 hits and CF Norbert Tarver (.545) with a pair of hits... there were no home runs in the game.

Tyrobbian Union

Hawks Halt Typhoons 7-0 In Game 3
After being totally demolished in the first two games of the TU Elite 8 Series, the North Hills Hawks finally played like a division winner and knocked off Turon 7-0 behind 23-year-old right-hander Chris Zhiroff, who hurled a 7-hit shutout at Typhoon Stadium... Zhiroff walked 7 and threw a lot of pitches, but always managed to hold off Turon, who stranded 13 runners... at the plate North Hills was led by C Todd Simons (.182) with a two-run double and a two-run homer... James Stuart (0-1) sustained the defeat... he was ravaged for 6 runs in 8-plus innings, but only permitted 2 earned runs.

Nats Annihilate Viks 12-6, Ozarka Leads 2-1
The hitters were out in force at Downtown Plaza Stadium in Bayview, but it was the visiting Ozarka Naturals that did the most damage... the Nats walloped four out of the park and belted the Vikings 12-6 in game 3 of the series to take a 2-1 lead... 1B Benny Rousseau (.538) and RF Ken Mayberry (.400) had solo homers, CF Ryoma Nakayama (.538) hit a two-run shot and 3B Andre Dupas (.462) finished off the Vikings with a grand slammer in the sixth... Eddie Roberts (1-0) worked 5 innings for the win... Roberts was hit hard for 4 runs and 8 hits, but departed ahead 7-4... middle reliever Wayne Haren worked 3 scoreless innings for the Naturals... Norm Roy (0-1) lost it by giving up 6 runs in the first 3 innings... Dumas led the Ozarka hit parade with 3 hits and 5 RBIs and Nakayama had 3 hits and 3 RBIs... 1B Benny Rousseau also slapped out 3 base hits... Bayview LF Davey Krueger (.600) had a 3-run shot in the first frame to top his club... 2B Tommy Shore (.438) and 1B Stan Haddix (.357) chipped in 3 hits each in defeat.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, September 25, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elegants Stun Colfax 3-2, Sweep Elite 8
It was a day Eastshore back-up catcher Todd Sheppard will long remember and Colfax pitcher Cliff James will not soon forget... in the top of the ninth, Sheppard stepped to the plate with his team behind 2-0, two runners on and two outs and he sent a long drive into the stands to put Eastshore up 3-2 in game four of the RU Elite 8... that set the stage for reliever Jack Wilson to finish off the Blasters and he did... this stunning end gave the Elegants a sweep over Colfax in the Ruthlandian Union Elite 8... Eastshore won all four games and will now await the winner of the Belair Beach Sunbirds and the Far Mountain Redhawks... Elegant starter Danny Siegfried (2-0 1.59) tossed a strong game, going 8 innings, yielding only 2 runs and 6 hits... James hurled brilliantly until the fatal homer by Sheppard... James (0-2 2.57) allowed 7 hits in defeat... 1B Ricky Rose (.455) was Colfax's best bat with 3 hits.

FM Edges BB 2-1, Takes Charge Of Series
The Far Mountain Redhawks took control of the RU Elite 8 Series with another one-run decision over the Belair Beach Sunbirds...the Redhawks scraped by 2-1 to go up three games to one and need only one more victory to advance in the Pro Cup playoffs... it was Far Mountain's third win by a single run... Woody Crawford outpitched Denny Whitaker in this one... Crawford (1-0 1.06) superbly blanked the Sunbirds in his 8 innings on just 2 hits, while Whitaker (0-1 1.50) went the distance and permitted only 2 runs and 8 hits... the Redhawks scored in the opening frame on 3B Mackie McAllister's (.167) single and in the ninth when McAllister got life on an infield error and moved around on singles by 1B Fran Grzanka (.294) and pinchhitter Johnny Becker (.500)... the Sunbirds threatened in the last of the inning and drew within one run off reliever Jesse Hughes, who made it exciting for the second game in a row before cutting the rally short... SS Ronnie Nossek doubled, then was batted in by C Little Jake Bungarooba's base hit... Hughes settled down and got the last two outs on easy groundballs for his second save in the series.

Tycobbian Union

Engstrom Blanks Hawks 7-0, Turon Nears Clincher
After being shut out the day before, Turon turned on the bats and Nicky Engstrom turned out the lights on North Hills 7-0 to capture its third win in four games in the TU Elite 8 Series... one more triumph by the Typhoons and the Hawks are done for the year... Engstrom (2-0 0.50) stopped them on 5 hits, fanned 8 and walked none in a terrific outing... 1B Clyde Kingsford and company had another field day with 11 hits... Kingsford (.615) poled two more out of the park, giving him 5 for the series... 20-game winner Lou Dozier (0-2 8.76) was battered again... He gave up 7 runs by the time he was KO'd in the seventh.

Turi Tames Ozarka 6-1, Viks Tie Series
Bayview's rookie sensation Harald Turi had a tough time in his first postseason exposure in game one of the Ozarka-Bayview Elite 8 match-up... The Naturals nailed him for 5 runs in 6 innings... however, it was different this time around... Turi (1-0 3.60) had his best stuff and tamed them 6-1 on a 4-hitter to even up the best-of-seven series at two victories each... Turi had a great season with a 26-4 mark and outdid Benny Ostermann, who was 25-6 during the year... Osterman (0-1 3.31) allowed 5 runs and departed in the eighth, trailing 6-0... 2B Tommy Shore (.500) had 3 hits and scored 3 times to led the Vikings with help from SS Dan Conroy (.308), who homered... Bayview collected 12 hits in all.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Monday, September 26, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Ruthlandian Union

FM Finishes Off BB Sunbirds, Advances To Final 4
Favored Far Mountain made quick work of the Belair Beach Sunbirds and finished them off four games to one in the Ruthlandian Union Elite 8, gaining sweet revenge after the Sunbirds spoiled their chance for a 4th consecutive Pro Cup title two seasons ago... Bobby Snow (2-0 3.94) tossed a 4-2 victory in game 5, throwing 8 strong innings with 4 Ks and 3 BBs... Snow gave up 2 runs on 8 hits... Jesse Hughes (1.80) got his 3rd save with a runless ninth, although he permitted 2 hits... the tying runs were on second and third when Hughes got the third out... Rik Flippen (1-1 2.00) went the route in defeat, giving up 8 hits and only 2 earned runs... the winning runs came in the seventh when LF Tom Bennett botched a fly ball and allowed two runs to score, putting the Redhawks up 4-1... RF Julian Zavala (.412) led Far Mountain with 2 hits and 2 runs scored... RF Ron Dizon (.316) had 3 hits for the Sunbirds with 2 RBIs and a home run... Far Mountain, the Pro Cup favorite, will play the Eastshore Elegants for the RU pennant in the Final 4. Both clubs are powerful and it should be quite a series... the Elegants swept Colfax in the Elite 8... prognosticators say the outcome is a toss-up.

Tycobbian Union

Typhoons Triumph Over Hawks 3-2, Farentino Winner
It's all over in the Turon-North Hills TU Elite 8 Series... the Typhoons dumped the Hawks four games to one, winning 3-2 behind the sharp pitching of vet Ted Farention, who eliminated North Hills in game 5... Farentino (2-0 1.59) permitted 2 runs on 8 hits, whiffed 4 and issued just one walk in his 8 innings... closer Merle Studebaker came on in the ninth and did his job, setting down the Hawks in order for the save... Turon scored runs in the first two frames for a 2-0 edge... North Hills came back with singletons in the third and fifth to tie it up at 2-all... Typhoon RF Jack Brown (.263) won it with an RBI single in the seventh... Turon only got 5 hits in the game to 8 for the Hawks... Lenny Black (0-2 6.00) lost it, yielding 3 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings.

Ozarka Zaps Vikings 5-2, Takes Lead In Series
The Ozarka Naturals took a huge step in the TU Elite 8 series with a 5-2 decision over Bayview in game 5... the win gave them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven set... one more victory and the Nats will advance to the Final 4 against Turon for the right to play for the IPA Pro Cup... in a standout performance 24-game winner Wayne Gates (1-0 1.50) went the distance and held the vaunted Vikings to just 6 hits and 2 runs... Gates walked 3 and fanned 5... battery mate C Frank Kiffin (.227) rapped 4 hits in support and batted in 3 runs... Ozarka broke open a 1-1 tie with 3 runs in the top of the fourth... Bayview's only two runs came on solo shots by 2B Tommy Shore (.500) in the first and 3B Karl Benson (.217) in the ninth... Rick Pritchard (0-1 2.35) went into the 8th, surrendered 4 runs and 8 hits before exiting... game 6 will be tomorrow afternoon in Ozarka... scheduled pitchers are Georgie Fambreau (10-5 3.67) for Bayview with Eddie Roberts (16-5 3.00) going for Ozarka... Fambreau got the call over Norm Ray and Don Griggs, who have been ineffective in the postseason... Fambreau has pitched only once in the series in relief... Fambreau worked 2 scoreless innings in game 3 while Roberts is 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA in one start... Roberts was the winning pitcher in the Nats 12-6 victory in game 3, when he allowed 4 runs in 5 innings.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, September 27, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Elite 8 Series

Tycobbian Union

Nats Knock Viks Out Of Playoffs
It looked like Bayview would force a seventh game in the TU Elite 8 series with Ozarka... Bayview's Georgie Fambreau was cruising along with a 3-0 lead after 5 innings, but the Naturals reared up and took charge in the late innings for a 7-5 victory that wrapped up a spot for them in the TU Final 4 against the talented Turon Typhoons... Ozarka beat Bayview 4 games to 2... Winner Eddie Roberts (2-0 5.93) labored, but toughed it out... Bayview tagged him for 3 runs in the first on LF Davey Krueger's RBI single and 3B Karl Benson's (.222) 2-run double... Roberts then settled down and shut the Vikings out until the ninth... Roberts took a 7-3 lead into the final frame, but was slammed for 3 hits and two runs... Dennis Purcell came in from the bullpen and got the final out with the tying runs on base... Fambreau (0-1 5.00) was charged with the loss, working 7 innings and permitting 7 runs and 8 hits... 1B Benny Rousseau (.360), C Frank Kiffin (.269) and CF Ryoma Nakayama (.500) sparked the Ozarka 9-hit attack with two hits apiece... LF Davey Krueger (.478) and 2B Tommy Shore (.444) led Bayview with 2 RBIs each... Ozarka, which won 105 games in the regular season, is a slight favorite over Turon in the Final 4.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Round Of 4 Starts Tomorrow In Eastshore And Ozarka
So far the baseball experts have been right on the money. The top four picks in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll have made it to the IPA Pro Cup Final 4, which is slated to begin tomorrow afternoon. Fans will have a heyday as all of the teams are pretty much even. Each best-of-seven series should be hotly-contested with no clear-cut favorites.

In the Ruthlandian Union upstart Eastshore will host perennial power Far Mountain at Kraft Stadium. The Redhawks are favored because they have won the Pro Cup three times and still have quite a few veterans around that won it in 2011, 2012, and 2013. No other team in the IPA has that many titles. However, the Elegants led the RU this season with a 96-58 record, while Far Mountain chalked up an 89-65 mark. The clubs battled to a draw in the regular season with each winning three games. Eastshore has never been a Pro Cup champion. In fact, the Elegants rarely have made the playoffs. Their last appearance was 13 years ago in 2003. At a glance, Eastshore should be a slight favorite in the Final 4, but most scribes are leaning toward the battle-hardened Redhawks.

It will be Ozarka and Turon in the Tycobbian finals. Games one and two will be at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka. The Naturals topped the IPA with a 105-49 record and bested the Typhoons three games to two during the season. Turon was 92-62 on the year. They have won two Pro Cups in their history, while the Nats have been finalists twice, but never won. Ozarka is being given the favorite's role, but the Typhoons always play well in the Pro Cup competition and could sneak up on the powerhouse Nats.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, September 29, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Siegfried Beats Kelly, Eastshore Wins Opener 5-2
Eastshore's outstanding rookie left-hander Danny Siegfried throttled Far Mountain 5-2 in game one of the RU Final 4... Siegfried (3-0 1.08) held Redhawk bats to just 5 hits and 2 runs, none of them earned... Siegfried won 26 games during the regular season and lost only 8 times... the big blows in the game were delivered by 1B Vic Keller (.133), who ripped a 3-run double in the first to put the Elegants on top 3-2... Nats SS Gil Lantz (.625) continued to sizzle in the batter's box with a home run in the seventh to make it 4-2 and LF Tim Lanyon (.263) singled in the final run... postseason vet Robby Kelly with 16 lifetime playoff wins didn't succeed today... Kelly (0-2 7.04) was touched for 5 runs and 6 hits in a complete-game outing... SS Don Nichols (.333) led Far Mountain with an RBI single and RF Julian Zavala (.421) got the other run in on a bases-loaded walk... both came in the first.

Tycobbian Union

Nats Nip Turon 8-5 On Couch's HR In 12th
Ozarka powered its way to an 8-5 victory over Turon in the TU Final 4 opening game at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka... SS James Couch (.205) had a career day with 5 RBIs, including the game-winning 3-run bomb that decided it it in the last of the twelfth... the Naturals swatted 16 hits in all with LF Vic Weinstein (.214) scoring 3 times, batting in 2 and smacking 3 hits... Ozarka's fourth pitcher got credit for the win... Harold Hutch (1-0) worked a scoreless twelfth... Jeb Pickett (0-1) was the loser as he was ripped for 3 runs in less than an inning... RF Jack Brown (.273) paced Turon 12-hit attack with 3 RBIs... Typhoon starter Nicky Engstrom went 7 innings and left trailing 3-2... Nats starter Benny Ostermann worked 8 innings and departed with a 5-2 lead, but reliever Dennis Purcell blew the save and allowed the Typhoons to tied the score and send it to extra innings.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, September 30, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elegants Win Again, Trim FM 4-2
Eastshore got solid pitching for the second day in a row at home and beat Far Mountain 4-2 for its sixth successive playoff victory... the Elegants lead the best-of-seven RU Final 4 Series two-games-to-none... Eddie Lance (2-0 1.69) stopped the Redhawks on 6 hits in 8 innings, allowing 2 runs... closer Jack Wilson retired the side in order for his 4th postseason save... Woody Crawford (1-1 1.88) toiled in defeat... Eastshore touched him for 4 runs and 8 hits in 7 innings... the Elegants struck first with 2 runs in the opening frame on a triple by rookie 2B Gerry Garner (.304) and a single by rookie 3B George Alford (.167)... Far Mountain chopped the lead by one on a solo homer by C Otis Ott (.174) in the second and then tied the score in the top of the fourth on a single by 2B Duane Parsons (.200)... Eastshore regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by C Darrell Adams (.200) and added to it with a run in the fifth on a sac fly by SS Gil Lantz (.556)... the Redhawks had the edge in hits 8 to 6.

Typhoons Even Series, Stop Nats 5-3
Manager Whitey Richburn needed a clutch performance and got it on the road in Ozarka to even up the Tycobbian Final 4 at a game each... Turon's Ted Farentino (3-0 1.80) stopped the Nats on 7 hits and 3 runs in 8 innings for his third playoff victory this year... closer Merle Studebaker shut the door with a perfect ninth for the save... Turon collected 12 hits off loser Wayne Gates (1-1 2.33), who worked a complete game... it was close all the way... the Typhoons jumped off to a 2-0 first-inning lead on a 1B Clyde Kingsford's (.440) and a triple by CF Mac McCurnan (.207)... Ozarka got back in it in the third on an RBI ground-out by C Frank Kiffin (.286) and an RBI single by 3B Andre Dumas (.281)... C Cory Moore's (.179) RBI base hit gave Turon the lead 3-2 in the fourth frame and his double made it 4-2 in the eighth...Dumas drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the last of the eighth to get the Naturals within one run... RF Jack Brown (.269) provided an insurance run for Turon in the top of the ninth with a sacrifice fly.... SS Matt Madison (.367) paced Turon with 4-5... 2B Andy Hansen (.360) scored twice and had a hit... LF Andy Porter (.207) and Moore added 2 hits apiece... Dumas sparked Ozarka with 2 runs batted in... RF Ken Mayberry (.324) scored twice for the Naturals.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 1, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Elegants On Verge Of Sweep, Edge FM 6-5
Returning home to the friendly skies of Sky High Stadium didn't do Far Mountain any good... the Redhawks dropped game 3 to the Eastshore Elegants 6-5 and fell behind three-games-to-none in the Ruthlandian Final 4... Eastshore got a spotty outing from Melvin Key, but still got its seventh straight victory... the Elegants are unbeaten in the postseason... Key worked 8 innings, allowed 3 runs and 6 hits with 5 walks and 4 Ks... closer Jack Wilson almost blew the save by giving up a pair of runs in the ninth as the Redhawks made a belated run at the Elegants... Eastshore racked up a dozen hits and were paced by 2B Gerry Garner (.321) with 2 hits and 3 RBIs... CF Larry Lowe (.179) and SS Gil Lantz (.571) also scored 2 runs apiece... 3B Mackie McAllister (.147) led Far Mountain with a two-run homer... the losing pitcher was Bobby Snow (2-1 4.91), who was slammed for 6 runs and 10 hits in his 6 innings.

Ozarka Rallies Past Turon With 4-Run 9th
At Typhoon Stadium, Turon nursed a 3-2 into the ninth, but couldn't hold it... Ozarka rallied for 4 runs to take the wind out of the Typhoons 6-3 and go up by a game in the TU Final 4... the Naturals have a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven affair... Shaky defense played a huge part in the loss as Turon committed 4 errors, the last one costing them the game... starter James Stuart in a marvelous effort staked Turon to a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth as he limited the Nats to just 3 hits in 8 innings... however, closer Merle Studebaker (0-1 5.79) had a dreadful inning and blew the game, but only surrendered one earned run... winning pitcher Eddie Roberts (3-0 4.98) plugged away for 8 innings, permitting 10 hits, but only 3 runs... Roberts fanned 7 and walked only one... Dennis Purcell closed it out with a scoreless ninth for the save, his second of the playoffs... C Frank Kiffin (.275) batted in 2 runs for the winners, while Turon C Cory Moore (.219) got the only homer in the game.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 2, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Ruthlandian Union

Eastshore Sweeps FM, Pro Cup Bound
For the first time in their history, the Eastshore Elegants are headed for the IPA Pro Cup... They toppled perennial power Far Mountain in a four-game sweep, whipping them 6-3 in game four despite being outhit 13 to 9... the powerful Elegants won their 8th playoff game in a row... they also swept Colfax in the previous round... rookie Danny Siegfried (4-0 1.64) bent, but didn't break... he allowed 11 hits and 3 runs in his 8 innings, but walked none... reliever Paul Walker closed out with a runless ninth to seal the verdict... Robby Kelly (0-3 6.45) caught the loss for the Redhawks, giving up 4 runs and 7 hits in 7 innings... a 3-run first did Kelly in... although Far Mountain managed to tie it up 3-3 after 5 innings... the Elegants regained the lead with a run in the sixth and finished the Redhawks off with 2 more in the top of the ninth... RF Stan Cuccinello (.303) sparked Eastshore with 3-5 and 3 RBIs... 2B Travis McCormick (.182) led Far Mountain with 2 hits and 2 RBIs... SS Don Nichols (.323) also added 3 hits... Manager Killer Brewster will have to wait a few days for his opponent... Turon and Ozarka are still going at it in the Tycobbian Union Final 4.

Tycobbian Union

Turon Ties Nats With Comeback Win 7-6
"It ain't over 'til it's over" is a well-known adage in baseball parlance and it came to past today at Typhoon Stadium in Turon... Ozarka had its way until the seventh inning... the Nats posted a 6-1 lead and seemed destined to go up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, but Turon had other ideas... the Typhoons jumped all over starter Benny Ostermann in the final 3 frames and came away with a 7-6 triumph to deadlock the TU Final 4 at 2 games apiece... 1B Clyde Kingsford's (.441) single made it 6-5, followed by RF Jack Brown (.343) with a 2-run walk-off game-winning triple off losing pitcher Dennis Purcell (1-2), who came on in the ninth with a 6-4 lead, but couldn't stop the Typhoons... Reliever Marshall Price (1-0) got the win with a 1-2-3 ninth... Turon had a 13-10 hit advantage and were led by Brown with 3 hits and 2 RBIs... SS Andy Hansen (.353) went 3-4 and scored twice... and 2B Matt Madison (.395) and C Cory Moore (.250) had 2 hits and 2 RBIs each... CF Ryoma Nakayama (.471) and 1B Benny Rousseau (.400) paced the Naturals with 3 hits apiece... Nakayama had a homer and 3 RBIs, while Rousseau homered and drove in one run.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 3, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Tycobbian Union

Nats Win 5-2, Lead Typhoons 3-2 In Series
Ozarka busted up a tense 2-2 ballgame with 3 in the top of the ninth to win game five 5-2 to take a three-games-to-two lead in the TU Final 4... the Naturals need only one more victory to qualify for the IPA Pro Cup and the Island championship... 1B Benny Rousseau (.400) doubled in the tiebreaker and 2B Todd Chadwick chipped in two more insurance runs with a single... Both clubs got good starts from Wayne Gates and Ted Farentino... Gates worked into the eighth for Ozarka and allowed 2 runs and 9 hits, fanned 7, but issued 4 walks... Farentino went 8 for Turon and permitted just 2 runs and 9 hits... Wayne Haren (1-0) got the win... he got the last two outs in the eighth after two errors and a walk loaded the bases on Gates... Marshall Price (1-1) suffered the loss... the Nats jolted him for 3 runs in the ninth... 3B Andre Dumas (.298) had 3 hits to lead Ozarka at the plate... Dumas got his 3rd playoff home run, a solo shot in the third... 3B Mickey O'Malley (.314) collected 3 hits for the Typhoons... CF Mac McCurnan (.225) had the team's only home run... 1B Clyde Kingsford (.436) and SS Andy Hansen (.389) both had 2 hits apiece.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, October 4, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Final 4 Series

Tycobbian Union

Roberts Blanks Turon 5-0, Nats Win in 6 Games
The Ozarka Naturals are returning to the IPA Pro Cup Finals... they knocked off Turon in six games to win the Tycobbian Final 4... Eddie Roberts hurled a standout game in blanking the Typhoons 5-0 at Ellie Ewing Stadium in Ozarka... Roberts (4-0 3.52) checked them on just 3 hits, all singles, struck out 8 and walked nobody in a masterpiece... the Nats bats rapped out 11 hits led by RF Ken Mayberry (.302), C Frank Kiffin (.296), CF Ryoma Nakayama (.429) and SS James Couch (.229), all with a pair of hits... Mayberry drove in 2 runs... 3B Andre Dumas (.275), 1B Benny Rousseau (.396) and Couch batted in one run each... James Stuart (0-2 3.47) was the loser... he surrendered 5 runs in 7 innings... Now Ozarka will take on a very talented Eastshore for the IPA overall crown... it should be quite a series and a great match-up... experts are saying it's a toss-up... both teams are loaded.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 5, 2016

2016 IPA Pro Cup Finals

Pro Cup Rated Toss-Up, Eastshore And Ozarka Battle
For only the second time in IPA history the teams with the best records in the regular season will be matched up in the Pro Cup. It will be the Ozarka Naturals and the Eastshore Elegants in this year's Pro Cup Series. Joe Mac Carney's Nats won 105 games in the Tycobbian Union this season, while Killer Brewster's Elegants paced the Ruthlandian Union with 96 wins. The only other time this happened was in 2013 when Far Mountain bested Tuckanarra.

The baseball experts have labeled this series a toss-up. Both Ozarka and Eastshore had to beat fine teams to get here. The Naturals whipped a fine Turon club in six games and the Elegants swept the Far Mountain Redhawks, the overall favorite to take the crown this year. Eastshore is unbeaten in 8 games this season. They have swept both series they have played.

Ozarka has a decided advantage in offense and defense. The Naturals posted a remarkable .287 BA, scored 828 runs, hit 170 homers and had a .977 FA. Eastshore batted .267, scored well with 801 runs, homered 155 times, but did not field well with a poor .967 FA.

On the hill, it was pretty close with the Elegants getting the edge in the bullpen. Ozarka compiled a great 3.02 team ERA to 3.14 ERA for Eastshore. Closer Jack Wilson (5-5 1.09) gives the Elegants a big plus. The starters are just about equal. Carney has three impressive starters in Benny Ostermann (25-6 2.58), Wayne Gates (24-13 2.82) and Eddie Roberts (16-5 3.00). Wayne Haren (9-7 2.93) will handle the closer role in the finals for the Naturals. He recently took over the chores from the ineffective Dennis Purcell (17-7 3.60). Purcell started most of the season, but handled the closer role in the playoffs. Rookie Danny Siegfried (26-8 2.25) heads up Brewster's rotation. His number two and three guys are Eddie Lance (20-9 3.38) and Melvin Key (16-14 3.64). Key got the postseason call over Al Froelich (20-15 3.63), who gives up too many long balls.

Both batting orders are packed with quality hitters. Ozarka's 3B Andre Dumas (.359/45/123/114) is an elite hitter and 1B Benny Rousseau (.316/34/99/84) is a just a level below. C Frank Kiffin (.320/14/91) and 2B Todd Chadwick (.301/19/92/99) give the Nats two more strong bats. Add in LF Vic Weinstein (.278/9/57/82), RF Ken Mayberry (.295/2/48/80) and CF Ryoma Nakayama (.274/14/77/79) and you have a potent line-up. Eastshore can't match Ozarka at the plate, but they can score runs. The Elegants top bats belong to 2B Gerry Garner (.300/26/97/79), RF Stan Cuccinello (.273/24/76/80), 3B George Alford (.266/23/94/75), CF Larry Lowe (.283/13/60/102) and SS Gil Lantz (.281/11/58/64).

Statistically you have to give the edge to Ozarka, but Eastshore has defied the odds before. But I don't think it will happen this time. Take Ozarka in six games because of better hitting, pitching and defense.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Around The Town In The IPA

EASTSHORE ELEGANTS
Owner: Clark and Vivien Butler of Tara Plantation, Inc.
GM/Manager: Killer Brewster

Eastshore is a town of 85,000 on the southeast coast of Ruthlandia, situated on the Valerian Ocean, just 50 miles east of Crystal Lake. It was settled by emigres from the American South in the 1870s, who were disillusioned by the post Civil War problems. Agriculture has always been the backbone of the Eastshore economy because of the perfect climate for growning cotton. Cotton is king in Eastshore. The port of Eastshore is one of the Islands busiest and is also a vital part of the area's economy.

Southern charm and hospitality are a way of life here in Eastshore. One would think they were in Savannah or Charleston in the United States, instead of a world away. Moonlight, magnolias and mint juleps are still in vogue at the many plantation homes that inundate the farmlands in the area. The "Old South" is alive and well in Eastshore.

But modern day Eastshore is more friendly than formal. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, you'll be welcomed with true Southern hospitality. Hip and historic, robust and refined, Eastshore is where you'll find amazing architecture, spooky cemeteries and rich history, along with global sophistication, funky night life and fabulous food. It's where history resonates into the present day and where memories are still being made.

Like all of the towns in Islandia, Eastshore loves its baseball and has since it first began in the late 1890s. The community has supported town ball, amateur leagues and industrial leagues down through the years and now have a professional team. The proud owners of the IPA Eastshore Elegants are Clark and Vivian Butler, who own the Tara Plantation, one of the largest cotton plantations in Ruthlandia.

Running the Elegants is renowned hard-hitting slugger of the company leagues, Killer Brewster, one of the most prolific home run hitters of all-time. Eastport plays its games at Kraft Stadium, a modern state-of-the-art stadium built by Kraft Foods in 1995. Since the 1920s Kraft has sponsored teams in company leagues.

Kraft Stadium (1995)

Capacity: 11,575

Dimensions:
Left Field Line 330
Left Field 350
Left Center 375
Center Field 400
Right Center 375
Right Field 350
Right Field Line 330

[Eugene Church]

Kraft Stadium

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Around The Town In The IPA

OZARKA NATURALS
Owner: J. R. Ewing
GM/Manager: Joe Mac Carney

Ozarka, a Silver Mountains resort town of 73,000, is located in south central Tycobbia and near the Caledonia River, which flows southward through Hillsboro, then westward and comes to an end at Turon on the southwest coast. Nestled among scenic forests and outdoor hot springs, Ozarka is host to tourists who come for snow skiing during the winter and boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking and hunting the rest of the year. Big time developers have made this a mecca for the rich and famous with luxury hotels and nightclubs that attend to every possible need: hot spring spas and bathhouses, superstar entertainers, magnificent golf courses, gourmet food, art galleries and gift shops. Ozarka is a retirement center, too.

It is also home to the Ozarka Naturals. J. R. Ewing’s father, Jock Ewing, got tired of the incessant sibling quarrels over the operation of the family-owned Waleska Westerners in the Ruthlandian Amateur Association, so he bought the battling brothers and club vice-presidents, J. R. and Bobby, their own teams in the IPA. Bobby owns the South Fork Stallions and J. R. has Ozarka, where he is a prime real estate developer. Bobby named his brand new stadium after his dad. Not to be outdone, J. R. named his brand new stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie. So the sibling rivalry continues on and off the field. Ellie Ewing Stadium is one of the few parks in baseball that still has a live organ player at each game, which adds a nice nostalgic touch, especially during the seventh inning stretch. Marston, Kenwood and Hillsboro are the other teams that feature a live organist. And at the concessions stands is a succulent gourmet buffet fit for the rich and famous. You will also find all of the traditional baseball fare at a Naturals game.

J. R. Ewing spares no expense when it comes to impressing people and paying his ballplayers. He likes to get his way. He even got the all-time winningest manager in company league history to come out of retirement and take over his team. Joe Mac Carney is now the GM and Manager of the Naturals. And he is very well paid, too.

Ellie Ewing Stadium

Capacity: 11,750

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 370
LCF 390
CF 375
RCF 390
RF 370
RF Line 350

[Eugene Church]

Ellie Ewing Stadium

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 6, 2016

IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game 1

Elegants Win Pro Cup Opener, Edge Nats 5-4 in 13
Everything pointed to a great Pro Cup Series this year... two evenly-matched powerhouses... and that just what the fans got in game one of the best-of-seven series at Ellie Ewing Stadium... Eastshore and Ozarka battled 13 long innings before the Elegants emerged the winner 5-4... Eastshore is unbeaten in 9 games in the playoffs this season... SS Gil Lantz (.484) worked a one-out walk and then scored the winning run on a double by 2B Gerry Garner (.342)... closer Jack Wilson (1-0 2.45) notched the victory with 5 strong relief innings... Wilson allowed a run in the ninth that sent the game into overtime, but he blanked the Naturals the final 4 frames... Howard Hutch, the third pitcher used by manager Joe Mac Carney, was the loser... Hutch (1-1 2.45) came on in the 13th.

Eastshore scored first with a run in the opening inning on an RBI single by Garner... the Elegants made it 2-0 in the third on an RBI ground-out by RF Stan Cuccinello (.256)... Ozarka replied with 3 in the fourth for a 3-2 lead... LF Vic Weinstein (.240) doubled in two and CF Ryoma Nakayama (.426) singled in another... the Elegants regained the lead in the sixth on 3B George Alford's (.229) single and 1B Vic Keller's (.172) double... it stayed 4-3 until the last of the ninth when Nakayama tied it up with a double.

Each team socked 8 hits apiece... 26-game winner Danny Siegfried went 8 strong innings for Eastshore and allowed 3 unearned runs on just 3 hits... 25-game winner Benny Ostermann worked 9 fine innings for the Nats and yielded 4 runs and 5 hits, but only 1 run was earned... Wayne Haren performed very well, too, with 3 shutout innings for Ozarka... Eastshore benefited from 3 double plays... not a good day for the gloves... the Elegants committed 3 miscues and the Nats made 2 errors.

Offensively Gerry Garner led the Elegants with 3-6 and 2 RBIs, including 2 doubles... CF Larry Lowe (.179) scored two runs for the winners... Weinstein and Nakayama paced Ozarka with 2 hits each and 2 runs batted in.

[Eugene Church]

The Islandian Times
Friday, October 7, 2016

IPA Pro Cup Final Series - Game 2

10 Straight For Eastshore, Tops Nats 5-3
There's just no stopping the Eastshore Elegants this year in the Pro Cup playoffs... in a tremendous postseason run they have won all 10 of their games... Eastshore beat Ozarka 5-3 in game two of the Pro Cup Finals... the Elegants shot out to a 4-0 lead in the opening frame and held on behind the solid pitching of Eddie Lance (3-0 2.16), who throttled the Naturals on 8 hits in a complete-game outing... Eastshore made quick work of Wayne Gates, a 24-game winner in the regular season... they teed off on Gates for 5 runs and 8 hits in just 3 innings... Ozarka got great work from the bullpen, but it was too late... Howard Hutch and Wayne Haren shut out the Elegants on 3 hits over the last 6 innings... Hutch fanned 9 in just 4 frames and Haren hurled hitless ball and retired all 6 batters he faced, striking out 2 of them... overall the Nats staff had 13 strikeouts in the game.

Eastshore collected 11 hits and were paced by SS Gil Lantz (.514) with 3 hits and 2 runs scored... Lantz is having a fantastic postseason... RF Stan Cuccinello (.273) and 2B Gerry Garner (.366) delivered 2 hits each for the Elegants... Lantz hit his 4th roundtripper in the playoffs and CF Larry Lowe (.182) got his first... 3B Andre Dumas (.271) and pinchhitter James Mack (.250) belted solo homers for the Naturals... Dumas has 4 homers and 12 RBIs in the playoffs.