For the first time, the lower seed can be considered the "home" team based on bracket results. Therefore, the team that has been in the winner's bracket the longest is the home team for Games 17, 18, 20 (potentially), 21, and 22. Game 23, if necessary, would be the opposite home team as Game 22.
BATTLE FOR THE NORTH TOURNAMENT
#5 Warwick 0 vs #11 County Crossing 5
Zach DiGrande pitched eight shutout innings, allowing 10 hits, walking one, and striking out six to earn the victory and eliminate the Mirelurks. Warwick had 12 hits in the game, 10 singles, but could never manufacture a run. Mirelurks' starter John Diner allowed just one earned run on seven hits with two strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Unfortunately, the Mirelurks allowed four runs out of the bullpen in the next two innings. LF Tom Mastodon led County Crossing, going 3 for 4 with two RBI. The Bloodbugs had five doubles in the game.
#2 FHE 3 vs #4 Lexington 9
The #2-seed Yao Guai were run over by Tyler Ross and the Synths' offense. Ross finished 4 for 4 with two home runs, a walk, four runs, and three RBI. Crooked Tostado went 4 for 5 with a triple, a run, and two RBI. Jon Hitman was FHE's best hitter, going 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Lawdog Whipple earned the victory by allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
#8 University Point 5 vs #7 Salem 4, 10 inn.
Mag Barbarian's RBI double in the 10th inning put the Deathclaws up for good, sending Salem to the losers' bracket. Jeremy Nicholson led the Claws by going 3 for 5 with a home run, a run, and two RBI. The Witch Hats were held to just five hits, but two were solo home runs by Tyler Spronk and Anotonio Toeclaw. University Point pitcher Adam Froggatt did not get a decision but allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Dave Caveman and Marc Pondsip completed the game
BATTLE FOR THE SOUTH TOURNAMENT
#7 Vault 81 19 vs #10 Atom 7
The Dwellers scored 15-plus runs in their third straight game in eliminating the Cats. Mark Dombrowski was 4 for 5 with a double, a home run, two walks ,three runs, and two RBI to earn Game MVP honors. Aesed Hayjen also had four hits with a double, a triple, three runs, and three RBI. Deer Quickwalker and Knud Bather both homered. The Cat's highlights came on three-run home runs by Shane "Bee's Knees" Stabb and Jeremy Schoolboy.
#8 Starlight 1 vs #4 Goodneighbor 9
Batting second in the lineup, starting pitcher John Oldsink pitched a complete game and had two hits in the victory. Oldsink allowed one earned run on four hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts to eliminate the Lady Killers. He also was 2 for 5 with a run and a stolen base. SS Burtie Cuttooth was 2 for 5 with a grand slam, a run, and four RBI. Bryan Assman was 3 for 4 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI. Wild Cannon had two of Starlight's four hits, all singles. The team only threated in the top of the 2nd when Zeldolph Violet walked, followed by singles by Cannon and Hope Scrapper to knock in Violet. No Killers runner got past first base for the rest of the game.
#3 The Slog 2 at #1 Oberland 0
In a battle of the CBO's only two champions, the Ghouls outlasted the defending champions, sending the T-51s to the losers' bracket. David Kiwi pitched the complete-game shutout for The Slog, allowing nine hits, walking one, and striking out two. Oberland's Sheng Kawolski, last season's CBO Playoffs MVP winner, got the loss after allowing two earned runs on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Both runs were on solo home runs hit by the Ghouls' Boots Yellowhair and C.T. Woodard.