Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
12 July 2298 - Goodneighbor-Oberland Start Two-Game Set Today
The two best teams in the CBO start a two-game series at Graygarden Park tonight when the Goodneighbor Hancocks (48-20) on an eight-game winning streak take on the Oberland T-51s (52-16), the best team in the CBO in all three regular seasons.
First pitch is at 7:05 PM when Sheng Kawolski (10-1) will match up with the Hancocks' leadoff hitter, Good Don Duck. John Oldsink (8-4) is the starting pitcher for Goodneighbor.
The teams have won two games apiece in their matchups, splitting a series at Goodneighbor in April and the second series at Oberland in June. After this series, the teams will meet one more time in the regular season on August 23 and 24 at Goodneighbor's Third Rail Stadium at S. Boston HS.
12 July 2298 - BMU: Sentry Bots Drop Snipers, 6-1
We are starting to suspect a pattern here. We feature a BMU settlement, and then its team promptly loses the Tuesday game. Maybe we should start calling our "View from the BMU" segment the "Curse of the Publick" instead!
The Somerville Place Sentry Bots picked up a win at Memory Den Field, knocking off the Trinity Plaza Snipers, 6-1. On the mound for Somerville Place was right-hander Danny Bell, who played a pivotal role in the win. With the win, Somerville Place pushed its record to 25-24.
Somerville Place used a well-timed hit by Jason Eisch to capture the win. The first baseman socked a run-scoring double in the top of the first inning to put the Sentry Bots ahead, 1-0. Though it was his only hit in 4 at-bats, it was important.
"We'll kick back tonight, then get set for the next one," Bell said.
12 July - BMU: Angelou Goes Wild, But Nerd Ragers Win
The College Square Nerd Ragers defeated the Greentop Nursery Night People, 12-11. Doing his part was left fielder Jonathan Angelou, who was 1 for 1 with a home run and 5 walks, while scoring 3 runs and driving in 3. The winner in relief was Lost Dog Coleman. He is now 3-0. The right-hander allowed 1 run on 3 hits in 1.1 innings. College Square is now riding a 4-game win streak.
It could have been a different outcome for College Square, had it not been for Jared Zaccone, the 21-year old center fielder . Zaccone contributed a 2-run single in the top of the fifth inning to put College Square up, 8-6.
"It was one of those games where both teams were swinging the bat well," Zaccone said.
12 July 2298 - BMU: Wilde has 3 hit night, Commandos Move to 35-14
No one was more impactful than Hunter Wilde in the 6-4 Haymarket Mall win over Mass Pike. Wilde, who is tied for 4th in the MA in home runs with 12, went 3 for 3 with a home run, a double, and a walk, while scoring 2 runs and driving in 3. With the victory, the Commandos upped their record to 35-14.
Wilde contributed in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded, he drew a walk, driving in 1 run. It was one at-bat among others that helped Haymarket Mall get the win.
"I don't feel you win baseball games by working harder than the other team or 'wanting it more,'" Wilde told the Haymarket Mall Citizen. "You win just by scoring more runs."
12 July 2298 - Hancocks Make It 9 In a Row with 6-4 Triumph
Oberland first baseman Curtis Slingshot had a terrific game, but it still wasn't enough to get his team a win. Slingshot was 3 for 4 with 2 home runs and a double, while adding 3 RBI and scoring twice, even as Goodneighbor beat the T-51s, 6-4. The winning continues for Goodneighbor, with the latest making it 9 straight.
Goodneighbor used the bat of Good Don Duck to get the win. The right fielder hammered a 3-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to put the Hancocks ahead, 4-0. It was his lone hit in 5 at-bats, but it did its damage.
"Our guys are never satisfied," said Goodneighbor manager Jeremy Whiteplate.
John Oldsink (9-4) earned the win, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 8.0 innings. He allowed two home runs in the contest, both to the T-51s' Curtis Slingshot who now has 18 on the season. Bus Paula picked up his first save of the season.
Sheng Kawolski (10-2) lost for just the second time this season. In 6.0 innings, he allowed five runs, three earned, on 11 hits with one walk and six strikeouts, He also allowed two home runs.
Bryan Assman and John Rose both homered for the Hancocks. Jumper Hayes had four hits on the day, including two doubles.
12 July 2298 - Seaweed Shows Off, Hits for Cycle
David Seaweed did everything he could for the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets today -- literally. What seemed rare just a few weeks ago is suddenly becoming commonplace.
The 20-year-old right fielder hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run for the Red Rockets, going for the cycle and helping them get past the Roxbury Knuckle Punchers, 10-6, at Red Rockets Stadium.
"Yeah, I was some kind of hitter in this game," Seaweed reflected later. "It was like all I had to do was close my eyes and swing the bat."
In a game headed for the record books, Seaweed banged out 4 hits in 5 at-bats and totaled 5 runs batted in and 1 run scored. Speaking with the press about the feat, he attributed it to "a lot of luck."
"A triple is so hard to hit," he said. "To just decide to get one in a game when you need it for a cycle, it's impossible. Usually something weird has to happen, the ball kicking past an outfielder or somebody falling down. There's a ton of luck in hitting for a cycle."
David Seaweed hit a two-run home run off Casey Diehl in the 1st, hit an RBI single in the 2nd, hit a two-run triple in the 3rd, struck out in the 6th and doubled in the 8th.
In 2298 Seaweed has hit at a .301 clip with 82 hits, 15 home runs, 62 RBIs and has scored 47 times.
12 July 2298 - Adamantium Down Witch Hats, 6-5, in 21 Innings
The Abernathy Adamantium took Salem pitcher Mike Cartrette's best shot and still were able to claim a win at Tato Field. The final score had Abernathy getting past the Witch Hats, 6-5in a record-setting 21-inning affair.
Cartrette went 7 innings and allowed 2 runs, striking out 11. Jim Livermore earned the win after being summoned from the bullpen. The right-hander allowed no runs on no hits in 2 innings. His record is now 1-0. Abernathy raised its record to 38-31 with the win.
The Adamantium procured the win, in large part because of second baseman Shotgun McElveen. In the bottom of the 21st, he produced the game-winning run-scoring triple.
"This isn't football or hockey where you can overwhelm your opponents," McElveen told the Abernathy Herald. "Everyone gets 27 outs and we happened to make the most of them."
Joel Mutfruit did more than his part after he was criticized for his hitting in the Weekly Report. The Adamantium third baseman pounded out 5 hits in 9 at bats to pace his team to a 6-5 thumping of the Witch Hats. Mutfruit struck out in the 2nd, flied out in the 5th, doubled in the 7th, struck out in the 8th, doubled in the 11th, singled in the 13th, walked in the 15th, singled in the 17th, struck out in the 19th, and singled in the 21st, which led to the winning run.
This season Mutfruit has hit at a .248 clip and produced 35 runs batted in, 9 home runs and 30 runs.
Salem's Mike Castillo may be a player to live in infamy as he set a CBO record for at bats with 10, tied in the game by teammate Antonio Toeclaw and Abernathy's Donny Kowalski. However, Castillo was 0 for 10 in those at bats, dropping his batting average to .275 on the season.
Notes: Mike Castillo sets the SAL regular season extra-inning game record for at bats with 8. Donny Kowalski sets the ABE regular season extra-inning game record for at bats with 8. Mike Castillo sets the NCA regular season extra-inning game record for at bats with 9. Donny Kowalski sets the ABE regular season extra-inning game record for at bats with 9. Po Greenzone sets the NCA regular season extra-inning game record for strikeouts with 5. Mike Castillo sets the NCA regular season extra-inning game record for at bats with 10. Donny Kowalski sets the ABE regular season extra-inning game record for at bats with 10. Antonio Toeclaw ties the NCA regular season extra-inning game record for strikeouts with 5. Joel Mutfruit ties the NCA regular season extra-inning game record for hits with 5.
12 July 2298 - Scrapper, Lady Killers Too Much for Four Leafs
The Starlight Lady Killers grabbed a win, 10-6, over the Finch Farm Four Leafs at Finch Family Park. Starlight catcher Hope Scrapper was 3-4 with a home run, 2 doubles, and a walk. He scored 2 times and drove in 4. The win puts Starlight at 38-31 this season.
It could have been a different outcome for Starlight, had it not been for Glenn Higinbotham, the top prospect . Higinbotham contributed a solo home run in the top of the first inning to put Starlight up, 1-0.
"It was a nice win for our side today," said Lady Killers manager Eric Bendure. "Not perfect, but we'll take it."
12 July 2298 - Schmidt Excels, But Cats Win
The Atom Cats weathered an outstanding game by FHE third baseman Pistol Schmidt to topple the Yao Guai, 10-8. Schmidt was 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, and was hit by a pitch. He scored 2 runs and drove in 4. Sam Teflon was the winning pitcher. Over 6.1 innings, he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. The win puts Atom at 28-41.
Pat Shammo dealt the Yao Guai a blow in the bottom of the third. Batting with runners on 2nd and 3rd and Atom leading 5-2, Shammo hit a first pitch fastball for a 2-run double.
"You know, at the end of the day, it's about who scores the most runs," said Atom manager Ben Stoudt.
12 July 2298 - Party Boys Deal Chemists 4-1 Defeat
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys starter Tommy Beach was in a rhythm all game. He led his team to a win over the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, 4-1. Beach picked up the win for Nordhagen Beach, going 8 innings. He gave up 1 run on 6 hits. He now sports a record of 11-3. Night Demon Archacki notched his 14th save in 16 chances.
Jon Hitman, the 30-year old third baseman, had a direct impact on the outcome. Hitman contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the eighth inning to put Nordhagen Beach up, 3-1.
"Throwing strikes was the main thing," Beach said.
The North Charles Association Brotherhood League-leading Party Boys are 43-26.
12 July 2298 - Bloodbugs Drop Silver Shroud, 5-3
County Crossing Bloodbugs starter Zach DiGrande pitched a strong game against the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud at Beantown Brewery Stadium, leading the Bloodbugs to victory, 5-3. In 6 innings, DiGrande surrendered 5 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 0. He allowed 1 run. The win puts the Bloodbugs at 30-39, while the Silver Shroud drop to 37-32.
Joel Carrotflower, the County Crossing second baseman, contributed a 2-run single in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 4-1, Bloodbugs. For the game, Carrotflower was 2-4 with 2 singles, while adding 2 RBI.
"I felt good up there," said Carrotflower. "I saw the ball well."