The Boys are most certainly impressing me! I was impressed on their push towards the playoffs, on hoding off Easy Town, on beting up on a pretty good Lexington team, and now so far dominating a hot Quincy team.

And then, there is the Oberland dominance, which definitely is a different proposition!

2297 - CBO Playoffs - Oberland vs Fairline Hill Estates
 

Semifinals - Game 3

Story and Box Scores

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600261106
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600261106

Player of the Game

Kawolski is absolutely dominant in the playoffs. I think he has been player of the game all four times he pitched so far!

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1599853073

2297 - CBO Playoffs - Quincy vs Nordhagen Beach
 

Semifinals - Game 3

Story and Box Scores

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600266311
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600266311

Player of the Game

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1599662381

2297 - CBO Playoffs - Playoff Tree
 

For the second straight season, the wildcard team from the Brotherhood League is trying to win it all against a league champion. The Slog may have had more of an advantage thanks to seeing Finch Farm 12 times during the season. Nordhagen Beach does not have that sort of scouting report against an Oberland team that just looks built to win, especially with Sheng Kawolski absolutely dominating every game he pitches. Well, in this best-of-seven Sole Survivor Series, we'll see which team can win four!

The Party Boys have the moral victory just by getting this far. Not that they should just give up, obviously, but they've already exceeded expectations, and anything else is a bonus, even if they're who I'm pulling for.

Granted, this early on in a league, it's not like we have one team dominating the championship, so it's not like The Slog are back here creating a monopoly which would be a bit easier to rally against.

Yes, you're right. The closest team to looking like it may be here for awhile is Oberland since they are back-to-back #1 overall seeds. Last season, that meant nothing, but this season, they are in it to win it.

I do hope that the Party Boys can find a way to get their bats on Kawolski's balls. Any of them.

Now this is fun! As you guys say, the Boys have exceeded all expectations getting to this point, but the Oberland outfit pose some formidable problems, to say the least. I hope no one in the Nordhagen camp is thinking, "We're just happy to be here" because that certainly won't cut it. There's nothing to lose now, let's just come out fighting! :box:

2297 Playoffs - Sole Survivor Series - Preview
 

BANNER

The CBO revealed its logo for the 2298 season on its 2297 Sole Survivor Series banner, along with new color schemes.

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600282785

LINEUP MATCHUPS

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600282785

POSITION MATCHUPS

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600282785

ANALYSIS

This matchup appears to be a true 90-pound weakling versus a behemoth battle when the surprising Nordhagen Beach Party Boys visit the dominant Oberland T-51s on Tuesday, September 7.

Nordhagen Beach features a good hitting team that has seen its below average pitching staff look really good in the playoffs. Ace Julian Shed has not been on top of every game, but he has helped the Party Boys in all four games he pitched in the first two rounds. After Shed, Tommy Beach moved back into the starting rotation in the Semifinals and pitched well in his one start. He will have to continue that to hold the T-51s' offense in check.

Offensively, there is a list of contributors. RF Tomas Jones is a good all-around hitter, but he has not been the Boys' best hitterm which serves them well. That honor goes to LF Michael Fogcrawler who hit an impressive 19 home runs in 61 regular-season games. 3B Tommy Talkington was not a good hitter, but when he hit, he hit for power. 1B Dustin Mart was second on the team in home runs.

For Oberland, there is really only one players to talk about in the playoffs: ace Sheng Kawolski. In four games, he has dominated the playoffs, holding teams to 1, 2, 1, and 0 runs. He has been so good, that the T-51s offensive woes in the playoffs when he has pitched has been overshadowed. Gerald Jerry has not been as good, but he did win 11 games in the regular season, followed by Matt Udder (who will probably pitch only Game 5 if necessary) who won 12.

Despite the offense not being impressive in the playoffs--they scored a maximum of five runs in any game against Fort Hagen in the Quarterfinals Round--there was the 17-run affair in Game Two, though the T-51s still also only scored four and one in the other two games. Still, when there is offense to be had, LF Prof Castillo is in the middle of it. Other than batting average, where he trails teammates Jonathan Abern and B.J. Perez, Castillo is the powerhouse of the offense. Only two players in the lineup batted below .300 and both of them are still decent players in RF Bloatfly Williams and 1b Curtis Slingshot, to was second on the team in homers and RBI.

PREDICTION

Oberland is just too much for the Party Boys and takes this one in FIVE.

2297 Playoffs - Sole Survivor Series - Game 1
 

#6 NORDHAGEN BEACH PARTY BOYS AT #1 OBERLAND T-51S

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600299882
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600299882
PLAYER OF THE GAME

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1599853073

BANNER

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600299882

2297 Playoffs - Sole Survivor Series - Game 2
 

#6 NORDHAGEN BEACH PARTY BOYS AT #1 OBERLAND T-51S

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600355282
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600355282

PLAYER OF THE GAME

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600355282

BANNER

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600355285

2297 Playoffs - Sole Survivor Series - Game 3
 

#1 OBERLAND T-51S AT #6 NORDHAGEN BEACH PARTY BOYS

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600367053
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600367053

PLAYER OF THE GAME

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600367053

BANNER

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600367057

2297 Playoffs - Sole Survivor Series - Game 4
 

#1 OBERLAND T-51S AT #6 NORDHAGEN BEACH PARTY BOYS

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600431992
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600431992

PLAYER OF THE GAME

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600431992

BANNER

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600431997

Ouch! And it's a shame, as Abber has had a decent season for us [after a couple of shaky outings early on, if I remember correctly.] Still, it's not over yet, as Game 2 showed the Boys can make a real contest of it.

I've had a busy morning, but I want to try to finish this series today if possible.

Nordhagen Beach still has a chance. I was thinking about how, and it would include just ONE surprise win in the last three.

I did not mess with fatigue for the series, so both teams have to use a third pitcher for Game Five. The Boys dropped Diehl off the active roster and instead are going to start Gist whom they picked up in a trade in July. Interesting choice, but the Boys certainly benefit from Kawolski not pitching every odd game.

So, if the Boys can find a way in Game Five, then the surprise win would come in Game Six when it's Kawolski vs Shed again. Win that one to move to Game Seven, and then I think it may be even money on the Beach vs Jerry matchup. In fact, Beach has been pitching better than Jerry in the postseason. Beach had the bad luck of the untimely errors in Game Four, which caused the chain reaction of having to pull him early despite only giving up one earned run. If he pitches like that again, the Boys could easily beat the T-51s in Game Seven.

Three in a row is tough, though! My prediction was for the T-51s to win it in five games, but I hope I was wrong.

Sounds like a plausible path to victory. I like how this universe is fleshed out enough we can actually have these conversations. It's also hilarious that out of all the characters from the game Kawolski has become probably the most influential in the baseball world. Nate doesn't count, because he's the player avatar, so of course, and personally I don't really care for Paladin Danse so him just being kind of there in the background but not a superstar feels about right to me.

Almost every kid that was named in the universe (except the refrigerator kid--that was just ridiculous) has a role in some way in this baseball world.

Players:
Sheng Kawolski - Oberland
Donny Kowalski - Abernathy (have to check spelling every time between Sheng and Donny!)
Tony Bertha (I gave him that family name based on his sister) - Sunshine Tidings
Austin Engill - Abernathy
Wally Warwick - Diamond City
Gavin Eviritts - County Crossing
Pete Pembroke - Lexington
Tommy Beach - player for Nordhagen Beach (unnamed kid at Nordhagen Beach)
Aaron Somer - player for Forest Grove Marsh (unnamed kid at Somerville)

Females:
Small Bertha
Nat Wright-Kawolski (Only Nat Wright in game, but she married Sheng in this world since they were two kid entrepreneurs in Diamond City)
Erin Combes-Engill (Married to Austin Engill, both from Vault 81 and best friends)
Erin Reische - CBO artist, graphic designer, and jersey maker
Meg Merchant (Created a last name since she didn't have one in game--her moms own Easy Town)
Kat Guspal (Created a last name based on her companion sentry bot) - Haymarket Mall owner, co-sponsor of Jamaica Plain Red Rockets

Others/Not named:

Alice and Julia Thompson - I feel I wrote something for them, but I don't remember if either made their way into this dynasty yet. Need to check my notes.
Nina Rodriguez - not named yet, but she has a role to play
Quentin Filmore - not named yet, but he has a role to play
One yet-to-be-named character who has already had a role, but we're getting there soon.

As far as Danse is concerned, well, he was the CBO's only MVP so far, so I would say he is a superstar, just on a bad team.

2297 Playoffs - Sole Survivor Series - Game 5
 

#1 OBERLAND T-51S AT #6 NORDHAGEN BEACH PARTY BOYS

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600455254
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600455254

PLAYER OF THE GAME

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600455254

BANNER

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600455260

Great outing from Derek Gist and also good to see Abber bounce back like that. It IS a contest!

2297 Playoffs - Sole Survivor Series - Game 6
 

#6 NORDHAGEN BEACH PARTY BOYS AT #1 OBERLAND T-51S

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600463694
https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600463694

PLAYER OF THE GAME

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1599853073

BANNER

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600463694

PLAYOFF TREE

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1600463701

Well, there it is. Monster of a scoreline for Oberland that last game. Well deserved. Hope they enjoy it, and let's just hope the offseason gives some other teams time to think up some new strategies.