Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
2 September 2298 - BMU: Galleria Takes DHPL Title in 11
It came down to a coin flip for which team would host the game. It came down to an extra-inning game to become the Dark Hollow Pond League champions and extend the season to the playoffs.
The Galleria Robotics Experts turned back the Greentop Nursery Night People, 4-3, in 11 innings at General Atomics Galleria Park. Lux Schwartz, in particular, had a fine performance. He was 4-6 with 4 singles and a walk. He drove in 2 runs and scored once. The victory gives Galleria a record of 44-33, one game up on the Night People.
The Robotics Experts got the game-winning hit from third baseman Schwartz. In the bottom of the 11th, he delivered a run-scoring single to win the game for the Robotics Experts.
"The house was rockin'," said Schwartz. "We are so thrilled to be the champions over a good club. Now we want to go and win the Boston Minor Series."
2 September 2298 - BMU: Galleria's McAndrews Hopes to Advance Skills
Galleria Robotics Experts backup centerfielder Base McAndrews has been used sparingly since arriving to the Finch Farm franchise in a July trade with Quincy just before the trade deadline.
Today, in his only at bat, McAndrews used a pinch-hit opportunity to hit one of the Robotics Experts' 13 singles. It was only McAndrew's second hit in 14 opportunities (.143) since joining the Experts.
McAndrews is a true rookie to baseball. Born in an area southeast of the Glowing Sea, McAndrews lived to survive rather than play games. On a trade visit to Fairline Hill Estates, McAndrews discovered people playing baseball and asked why they were playing and not working. He was floored to hear that baseball was their job.
"I asked right then if I could play," McAndrews said. "I had no idea what I was doing, but I was fast and figured out how to run after balls, but swinging a bat was tough. I would just push the ball and run when I could touch it at all."
Because of his raw talent, FHE Yao Guai scouting director Jake Kaufman contacted the CBO front office to place him on the scout list. By CBO rules, teams are not allowed to sign their own players without that player being on the OSA scouting list from the CBO central office. Once a player is on the list, then teams can bid on him. Quincy outbid FHE for his rights but gave up on him midway through the season.
"I'm going to spend all my time this offseason working on learning how to bat," McAndrews said. "I'll be sad not to get to play much in the playoffs, but I'll be happy to be a good teammate in the future. One day, maybe I can be the leadoff."
2 September 2298 - CBO Elimination Weekend
We will be starting several games on this Friday, September 2, but we will see some teams eliminated beginning perhaps today.
Four teams have already punched their ticket to the playoffs, with three league titles set: Nordhagen Beach in the Brotherhood League, Goodneighbor in the Minutemen League, and Oberland in the Railroad League. Fort Hagen has also clinched at least a wildcard spot in the playoffs.
Eight other teams are still vying for the last four playoff spots with up to four teams able to clinch the wildcard today depending on results. Easy Town could clinch the wildcard over The Slog in the BL, Abernathy could clinch at least a wildcard over Concord in the Institute League, Warwick could clinch the wildcard over Quincy in the ML, and Diamond City could clinch over FHE in the RL. The Assaultrons, Adamantium, and Mirelurks all have a playoff Magic Number of 1, while the Swatters have a Magic Number of 2.
2 September 2298 - BL: Party Boys Flex Muscles on Easy Town
Easy Town got a terrific game from left fielder Jarrett Metalbox. It wasn't enough, though, to prevent the team from falling to Nordhagen Beach, 11-9. Metalbox went 4-5 with a home run and 2 doubles. He scored 2 times and drove in 4.
Nordhagen Beach reliever Aaron Demps picked up the win, upping his record to 1-1. Ray Housecat absorbed the loss. With the win, Nordhagen Beach pushed its record to a North Charles Association best 65-41.
In the bottom of the sixth, Nordhagen Beach left fielder Michael Fogcrawler put his team on top. With no one out and runners on 1st and 2nd, he hit his 3rd triple of the year. Easy Town pitcher Ray Housecat served it up. Just like that, the Party Boys were ahead, 9-8. Fogcrawler was 2 for 4 with a triple, a home run, a walk, three runs, and four RBI.
"We're in the driver's seat," said Fogcrawler. "I like our chances every day."
2 September 2298 - BL: 9th Inning Rally Extends Ghouls' Playoff Chances
A good performance from right fielder Boots Yellowhair helped the The Slog Ghouls defeat the Finch Farm Four Leafs, 8-7. Yellowhair went 3-4 with a triple, 2 singles, and a walk. He scored 2 runs and drove in 2 for the Ghouls. The Slog reliever Wonder Boy Fultz got the win, raising his record to 2-2. Steve Warwar was tagged with the loss. The win gives The Slog a season record of 58-48.
The game was decided with one out in the bottom of the ninth. With The Slog trailing 7-6, Stoop Bugwing hit a changeup from Steve Warwar to right for a 2-run single. Just like that, the Ghouls had a walk-off win.
"It's a thrill to get that kind of win," Bugwing said.
2 September 2298 - IL: Adamantium Earn Playoff Spot with Comeback Win
The Abernathy Adamantium outlasted the Starlight Lady Killers in an extra-inning thriller.
Led by Po Greenzone, the Abernathy Adamantium downed the Starlight Lady Killers, 5-4, in 10. Greenzone went 4 for 5 with a home run, a double, and 2 singles, while scoring 2 runs and driving in 2 for the Adamantium. Abernathy pitcher Kyle Hooch got the win. He's now 6-3. Ricky Six Pack was tagged with the loss.
The game was still up for grabs in the bottom of the tenth. With one out, Greenzone hit a fastball from Ricky Six Pack for a run-scoring single. The Adamantium, in dramatic fashion, had a walk-off win.
"The game of baseball will test you," said Chase Stingwing, the Abernathy skipper. "This one tested us."
The current losing streak for Starlight has reached 4 games. They were already eliminated from the playoffs heading into this series.
2 September 2298 - IL: Silver Shroud Maintain One-Game Lead
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud topped the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, 5-3, in North Charles Association action at ArcJet Systems Stadium. The game was highlighted by the performance of Fort Hagen pitcher Joey Dimes. Dimes got the win, improving to 12-10. He allowed 7 hits and walked 0 over 7 innings. Dimes allowed 3 runs. Curtis Thriceshot notched his 33rd save in 36 chances.
Fort Hagen relied on the hitting of Ben Pawlak to pick up the win. The center fielder clubbed a 3-run home run in the top of the third inning to put the Silver Shroud on top, 4-2. For the game, Pawlak had 1 home run and 1 single in 4 at-bats.
"Nice to tuck this win away," said Dimes.
With the win, Fort Hagen upped its record to 59-47, one game up on Abernathy for the Institute League lead.
2 September 2298 - ML: Goodneighbor Beats Quincy, 8-7
Jumper Hayes impressed in the 8-7 Goodneighbor win over Quincy. Hayes, who is on pace for 87 RBI this season, went 2 for 5 with 2 doubles, while scoring 2 runs and driving in 3.
John Oldsink, the winning pitcher, improved to 16-5. He pitched 8 innings, giving up 9 hits and 5 runs, while striking out 7 and walking 1. Bus Paula was credited with the save. He has now successfully converted 15 of 16 save opportunities.
Zachary Utsinger hit a 2-run double off Rapid Roberts in the top of the first, which put the Hancocks in front, 2-0. In addition to the double, Utsinger had 1 single and 1 walk, while going 2 for 4.
"I just tried to make good contact," said Utsinger.
The Hancocks, now 75-31, have won 9 in a row, putting them one game ahead of Oberland for the South Charles Association's best record. With the loss, the Gunners are eliminated from the playoffs.
2 September 2298 - ML: Mirelurks Snatch Late Win
The Warwick Mirelurks withstood an impressive performance by Jamaica Plain left fielder Carney Cornseed to defeat the Red Rockets, 5-3, at The Homestead. Cornseed was 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 singles, while scoring 2 runs and driving in 2. Picking up the save was Pem Pollack. He's now 24 for 27 in save chances. Warwick raised its record to 64-42 with the win and clinched the wildcard and third seed in the SCA playoffs.
Warwick took a 5-3 lead on Jonathan Sapplicker's 16th home run of the season. The 3-run home run came off Jamaica Plain pitcher Mike Grille in the bottom of the eighth. The Mirelurks entered the inning down 3-1.
"Our goal is to improve each and every day," Sapplicker told the Warwick Daily.
2 September 2298 - RL: Fusion, Swatters Get 6-2 Win
The Diamond City Swatters got a strong performance from pitcher Tim Fusion, who stymied the Roxbury offense en route to a win, 6-2, at The Great Green Jewel. Diamond City now has a record of 54-52 with the win. Waiting on the results of the FHE-Vault 81 game, the Swatters' Magic Number is now down to 1 for the four-seed in the SCA playoffs.
Fusion allowed 2 runs over 8 innings. He also racked up 11 strikeouts.
"I just tried to attack the bottom of the zone," Fusion said.
2 September 2298 - RL: Vault 81 Rally Eliminates Yao Guai
The FHE Yao Guai got a superb performance from pitcher Bow Rome, but the Vault 81 Dwellers still won the game, 6-5. Rome threw 8 innings of 4-hit ball. Vault 81 goes to 44-62, FHE to 51-55.
Vault 81 entered the bottom of the 9th trailing 5-0. In the bottom of the ninth, with one out and the game tied, 5-5, center fielder Aesed Hayjen won it for Vault 81. With runners on 1st and 3rd, Hayjen hit a 1-2 fastball from Jonathan Drumlin for a run-scoring double, giving his team the 6-5 win.
"We'll relax tonight and get back after it tomorrow," Hayjen said after the game.