Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
31 July 2298 - CBO News: Trade Deadline
For Commonwealth Baseball Organization officials, the trading deadline is a nightmare. The nerve center of the league will be abuzz with last-minute deals -- some obscure, some shocking both in size and scope. Normal trades are allowed again once the playoffs are over and the offseason begins.
We will report any late-night trades in Monday's edition of Publick Occurences. However, if there are any trades during the day or during games, we will report on those in this edition.
31 July 2298 - Finch Farm Signs Three, Removes Them from Unrestricted Pool
The Finch Farm Four Leafs signed three players to minor league deals to remove them from the unrestricted pool for the 2299 season. The three players are now bound by rights to the CBO due to an agreement that the CBO is working out with officials for the upcoming Nuka World Baseball League.
Signed to contracts are 2B Manuel Tellez, C Beer Harku, and 2B Kurt Pool. All three players will join the Galleria Robotics Experts in the Dark Hollow Pond League of the Boston Minor Union. The Experts are currently in first place in that league at 36-22, two games ahead of Greentop Nursery.
31 July 2298 - Ranger Holds Cats Scoreless
The Quincy Gunners shut out the Atom Cats 12-0 today behind the strong pitching of Matt Ranger. Ranger surrendered only 5 hits in recording the complete-game victory, and struck out 5.
Following the last out, Ranger appeared to celebrate a little too boisterously for Atom manager Ben Stoudt, who could be seen scolding the famously outspoken right-hander as the clubs left the field. Ranger's own manager then intervened with some words for his counterpart.
The Cats skipper would not comment on the exchange, but at the Gunners press conference, Ranger confirmed that it was regarding the celebration.
"He basically told me I was being a lousy winner," Ranger said.
"And I told him he was being a lousy loser," Quincy manager Kevin Banner added.
Ranger has made 21 starts, tossed 129.2 innings, struck out 104 batters and walked 35. His record is 9-5 with a 5.00 ERA and he has limited other teams to a .275 batting average.
David Driftwood led the Gunners arsenal by going 2 for 4 with two home runs, two runs, and six RBI.
The Atom Cats' bigger news was the end of Ed Tarberry's 22-game hitting streak. The center fielder went 0-for-4 on the day.
"We felt if we could slow down Tarberry, we would win the game," Banner explained. "They really seemed to feed off his streak, so we tried to put more emphasis on shutting him down. It looks like it worked."
To date this season Tarberry is hitting .370 with 4 home runs.
31 July 2298 - Big Day for Inman in 7-5 Knuckle Punchers Win
The timely hitting of Grognak Inman helped the Roxbury Knuckle Punchers down the Egret Ninjas, 7-5. Inman went 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 singles. He drove in 4 runs and scored once for the Knuckle Punchers. Tom Mannequin recorded the save. In save chances, he's now 13 for 17. The Knuckle Punchers raised their record to 24-59.
Inman had a game-changing home run in the top of the seventh. On a 0-1 fastball from Phlip Wallace, he banged a grand slam home run to left, giving the Knuckle Punchers a 7-3 lead. It was the 16th home run of the year for Inman.
"We played hard and won," said Inman. "Sometimes, baseball really is that easy."
31 July 2298 - Party Boys Shut Out Bloodbugs, 6-0
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys picked up a win at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium, knocking off the County Crossing Bloodbugs, 6-0. Starting pitcher Julian Shed played a key role in the triumph. The Party Boys have an impressive 53-30 record.
Dustin Mart took Gavin Eviritts (4-10) deep in the bottom of the third. His solo home run put the Party Boys on top, 1-0. In all, Mart had 1 single in addition to the home run, while going 2 for 3.
Mart said his team "played with focus."
Julian Shed (10-7) claimed the victory though he had a short outing due to throwing a lot of deep counts. He allowed no runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Accident John and Drama Miller pitched the final 2.2 innings.
31 July 2298 - Fort Hagen Gets 4-2 Win
Behind an impressive start by Derek Green, Fort Hagen beat Sunshine Tidings, 4-2. In 8 innings, Green (11-9) surrendered 6 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 3. He allowed 2 runs. Curtis Thriceshot earned his 28th save in 29 chances.
The Silver Shroud benefited from a costly error in the top of the fifth. With Jim Tiller at bat and Fort Hagen leading 2-1, the Sunshine Tidings miscue allowed Fort Hagen to plate 1 and take the lead, 3-1.
"At the end of the day, it's always about your starting pitcher," said Fort Hagen skipper Mark Andersen.
The victory gives Fort Hagen a record of 47-36. With Abernathy's loss, they sit at two games back of the Adamantium, just like they started the weekend.
31 July 2298 - Hayjen Has Big Day in Dwellers Triumph
The home crowd had a good time watching the FHE Yao Guai and Vault 81 Dwellers get after it.
The Vault 81 Dwellers topped the FHE Yao Guai, 11-5, with center fielder Aesed Hayjen playing a big role. Hayjen went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, 2 singles, and a walk. He scored 2 runs and knocked in one for the Dwellers in the win. The Dwellers raised their record to 36-47.
With two out in the bottom of the third, Kevin Morrison barreled up a fastball from Sage Monticello (8-6). The result was a grand slam home run, putting the Dwellers in front, 7-1.
Morrison called the triumph "a good team win."