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This does not edit as easily in Geck as I would like, and I struggle with some basic concepts like adding borders to the text. Therefore, this will have to do until I am rich enough to afford Photoshop!



Goodneighbor Team Photo



Easy Town Team Photo



Game 1 Matchups



Analysis

Here we go, ladies, gentlemen, ghouls, and synths! The third-ever Sole Survivor Series is here! This year's matchup is the #1 team from the South Charles Association, the Goodneighbor Hancocks, taking on the #4 seed from the North Charles Association, the Easy Town Assaultrons, in a best-of-seven battle. This is a matchup of the Harbor as Easy Town is just a boat ride away from getting to South Boston where the Hancocks play their home ball. This week, however, the Assaultrons were in Diamond City and started traveling to South Boston at the conclusion of the Hancocks' 12-6 victory over the Oberland T-51s in Game 5 of the SCA League Championship.

This matchup makes sense since both teams finished among the hotter in the league at the end of the season. The Assaultrons were 17-8 in the August-September regular season's last month, while the Hancocks were 21-4 in that stretch, including an 11-game winning streak to end the season. Both records represented the best in their associations in the time when games counted the most.

Goodneighbor had the CBO's best record for a reason: they are fierce in all three facets of the game. In fact in all of the offensive and defensive categories, the Hancocks finished out of the top half in only two: Bullpen ERA (9th at 4.81) and Strikeouts (T-9th at 767). Now, that bullpen ERA may be disturbing for them; if the Assaultrons can knock out Goodneighbors' starters, then they have a much better chance than being held down. Still, the Hancocks were only behind Oberland in runs allowed (435), Starters ERA (3.59), and Team ERA (3.79). Ace Quincy Eloquent may have had a bad Game 5 versus the T-51s, but he was stout all season at 19-6 with a 2.77 ERA and may be the favorite to win the Pitcher of the Year Award. Bruce Iddings (17-4, 3.41) and John Oldsink (16-5, 4.09) are just too good for most teams' lineups in a three-game period. The dual-closers in Bus Paula (0-3, 3.43, 16 SV) and Bryan Punchine (4-2, 1.86, 16 SV) can keep teams honest in the late game, and usual starter Steve Rocky (12-8, 4.30) can provide some bullpen help if a starter gets chased early or gets injured.

Easy Town counters with pitching that finished in the bottom half of almost every category in the North Charles Association in pitching. That may be a problem, though they have played above their heads in the 2298 playoffs and have been better overall since the start of August. Angel Waterdrink (13-11, 4.59) is the ace, while Smoker Caliman (15-4, 4.59) and David Tech (9-10, 4.75) follow him in the rotation. Closer Aaron Geneva has been one of the best on the year, going 2-1 with a 1.96 and a CBO-best 37 saves. Marc Woodsman (6-2, 2.76) is their other good reliever.

The offense for the Hancocks were second to none and provide the real damage in the series as was seen in Game 5 versus a good-pitching Oberland team. Good Don Duck has now earned Series MVP twice in a row because he is a tough out with some pop on his bat. In just 10 games in the 2298 playoffs, Duck is 16 of 42 (.381) with a double, three home runs, four walks, nine runs, and seven RBI. Pitchers ready to sleep on the Hancocks after Duck bats? Welcome to CF John Rose (.321/18/88 regular season), 1B Bryan Assman (.376/35/102), 2B Jumper Hayes (.360/12/85), LF Zachary Utsinger (.354/12/88), SS Burtie Cuttooth (.301/19/91), and 3B Jason Juras (.245/15/46). Relax a little against eighth hitter Splotch Pollock and the Goodneighbor pitcher.

The Assaultrons are much better when it comes to offense, though they still trail the Hancocks in that category. Easy Town finished second in runs scored in the NCA (599) and hit and ran well to lead in batting average (.299) and stolen bases (83). Part of the reason why the batting average was so high comes from fifth-hitter, LF Jarrett Metalbox (.408/17/89) who won the NCA League Championship Series MVP. Add to that League Semifinals MVP, cleanup hitter RF Dan Squirrel (.372/24/99) and the Assaultrons have a dangerous 1-2 punch in the middle of their lineup. CF Sean Samuels (.348/12/65) and leadoff 1B Joe Ransom (.271/22/67) provide pop in Easy Town's nonstandard lineup. There are definitely weaknesses, including 2B Frank Clawdodger (.278/0/15), but he has been hot in the postseason: 13 for 35 (.371) with a double, a triple, three walks, five runs, six RBI, and a stolen base. The bottom of the lineup is not considered strong, but C Adam Henderson (.246/13/64) and 3B Bobby Carr (.218/15/54) had better numbers than some of their peers.

Fun fact: Easy Town is the third straight Brotherhood League wildcard team to make the Sole Survivor Series. In 2296, The Slog snuck in to beat league rival and BL champion Finch Farm in the SSS. In 2297, the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys advanced to the SSS before falling to Oberland.

Prediction

Goodneighbor appears to be much too strong on paper for Easy Town to have a chance in this series. Our best guess: the Assaultrons find one upset in the mix but eventually fall in five games, 4-1, in the series.