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Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kowalski
3 May 2298 - Diamond City Swatters Ship Prospects to Sunshine Tidings for Fusion
The rumor has been out there for a while now and today it was made official. The Diamond City Swatters have sent 21-year-old minor league RHP Rafe Sauce, 19-year-old minor league 3B Danny Jacomet and a 2nd round draft pick to the Sunshine Tidings Chemists for 24-year-old LHP Tim Fusion, 18-year-old minor league 2B Danny Trigger and a 4th round draft pick.
This year Fusion has registered 3 wins and 2 losses in 5 starts with a 3.13 ERA while registering 29 strikeouts and 7 walks in 37.1 innings. Fusion will be the second or third starter in Diamond City but could eventually become the team ace over X10-44 Mannson.
While the Chemists pick up two talented young prospects, there are rumors that 1st overall pick Oren Gep was on the table. However, Swatters GM Tommy Doddy denied those reports.
"I'm not saying he's not on the table," Doddy said. "I'm just saying, we're not giving [Gep] up unless we're getting serious firepower on the mound and at-bat in return. Right now, he's our franchise's future. We'll keep him in Natick Banks where he belongs."
Jacomet was originally an undrafted free agent in the 2296 Inaugural Draft. He signed with the Lexington Synths at first but was traded last July in a deal that included CF Jim Uglyhair and sent CF Nasty Byrd and RP Alan Nathy to the Synths. While he is considered an emerging prospect, Jacomet was only batting .231 in 14 games with the Big Leaguers this season.
Sauce was selected in the third round of the 2296 Rookie Draft. This season, he appeared in five games for Natick Banks, registering a 0.00 ERA and four saves. He is expected to be a CBO closer one day.
3 May 2298 - Big Leaguers Top Cannibals, 6-1
The first-place Natick Banks Big Leaguers took on the Charles View Cannibals in front of a spirited crowd.
The Natick Banks Big Leaguers went home winners at Poseidon Park, thanks in large part to starter Burp Taylor. Taylor stifled the Charles View Cannibals, enabling Natick Banks to grab the 6-1 win. Taylor picked up the win for Natick Banks, going 8 innings. He gave up 1 run on 6 hits. He now sports a record of 3-1.
Oren Gep hit a grand slam home run off Brian Bridges in the bottom of the sixth, which put the Big Leaguers ahead, 5-1. In addition to the homer, Gep had 1 double, while going 2 for 4.
Diamond City had produced a trade earlier in the day that sent 3B Danny Jacomet and CL Rafe Sauce to the Sunshine Chemists franchise. Rumors were that Gep was on the table. He responded in not being traded by showing why he is a future star in the CBO.
"It was a tough night at the plate," said Charles View manager Jeff Butt. "For us. That Oren Gep kid did all right, though."
At 11-4, the Big Leaguers have played well so far.
3 May 2298 - Hits Galore: Castillo Drills 5 Hits
The Salem Witch Hats upended the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud at Hubris Comics Park today, thanks in large part to center fielder Mike Castillo, who had a smashing day with the bat, racking up 5 hits in 5 at-bats. His big effort helped propel the Witch Hats to a 8-2 victory.
Mike Castillo singled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, hit a two-run single in the 4th, singled in the 7th and singled in the 8th.
This season Castillo is batting .263 with 25 hits, 5 home runs, 13 RBIs, .293 OBP and has scored 13 runs.
The Shroud got a scare when young star Ben Pawlak went down in pain after doubling in the second inning. He was removed from the game for pinch runner Mark Worth, but he is expected to return to the lineup either tomorrow or Friday with a slight abdominal strain.
3 May 2298 - Westing Shuts Out The Slog, 1-0
Brad Westing kept the opposition off the scoreboard and the Abernathy Adamantium were all smiles after winning 1-0 against the The Slog Ghouls at Tarberry Field Forever today. The left-handed Westing gave up no runs in his start, permitted 6 hits and had 6 strikeouts.
"If there was a stat for 'team shutout,' this would be it," Westing said later. "My catcher called a great game, guys delivered at the plate and when I messed something up the guys behind me were where they needed to be."
3 May 2298 - Gunners Whitewashed by Kawolski
Sheng Kawolski of the Oberland T-51s blanked Quincy 5-0 on a 3-hit complete-game shutout, striking out 3 batters and walking 3.
His record this season is 4-0 in 6 starts and Kawolski has a 1.93 ERA.
So far this year Westing has a 5-1 record with a 3.17 ERA.
3 May 2298 - Dwellers Nip Red Rockets, 5-4
The Dwellers grabbed a win, 5-4, at CURIE Inc. Field, overcoming a fine effort from Jamaica Plain pitcher Chris Teddybear. Teddybear went 8 innings and allowed 1 run. The winner was Radscorpion Johnson in relief. His record improves to 2-0. Steven Rockman took the loss. The win gives Vault 81 a record of 13-8 after winning their ninth straight.
The game ended with a bang. In the bottom of the ninth, with Vault 81 trailing 4-2, Knud Bather jumped on a 1-0 fastball from Steven Rockman for a 3-run home run, sending the Dwellers to a walk-off win.
"It's great to be on a roll," said Bather.
3 May 2298 - Diamond City Stops Its Losing Streak
The Diamond City Swatters beat the Warwick Mirelurks, 6-2, at The Homestead. The win was due in part to third baseman Allen Bishop, who was 2 for 4 with a home run and a walk. He scored 2 runs and drove in 2. The Mirelurks drop to 10-11 and continue their inconsistent start to the 2298 season. Diamond City is now back to its winning ways, something it had not done in nine games.
Bishop came through for Diamond City with a run-scoring single in the top of the second. He hit a 2-2 splitter to right field, staking his team to a 2-1 lead.
"We played a good game and came out on top," said Bishop. "Finally, we came out on top."
3 May 2298 - Synths Down Party Boys, 4-3
Lexington and Nordhagen Beach put this game in the books despite some radrain.
The Lexington Synths did just enough to sneak past the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, 4-3, at Super Duper Mart Stadium. Lexington pitcher Pete Pembroke, in particular, had a standout performance despite a no-decision, allowing three earned runs in 9.0 innings. Nordhagen Beach falls to 15-6.
The Synths procured the win, in large part because of third baseman Justin Daros. In the bottom of the tenth, he produced the game-winning run-scoring single.
"This place went bonkers at the end," Pembroke said. "I tip my cap to Justin."
The Synths' biggest hit came in the bottom of the sixth trailing 1-0. There Crooked Tostado took a Tommy Beach pitch yard to give Lexington a 3-1 lead at the time. Nordhagen Beach tied the game with two runs in the top of the eighth on Dustin Mart's two-run home run.