Four extra-inning games in the NCA!
Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
28 April 2299 - Chemists Honor Fusion's No-Hitter Anniversary
The Sunshine Tidings Chemists honored current Diamond City Swatters SP Tim Fusion today in pre-game ceremonies for the anniversary of the only no-hitter in Commonwealth Baseball Organization history.
On April 24, 2296, while a member of the Chemists, Fusion pitched a no-hitter in a win against the Lexington Synths. He allowed four walks and struck out eight on the day. His no-hitter stands at the best day any pitcher has had.
Even though the feat was accomplished on April 24, the Chemists wanted to wait until they had a home game to honor Fusion before the game. He was traded in May of last season to the Swatters.
Fusion was also honored at Quincy on April 26 when he started the game. The Gunners crowd gave him a standing ovation before the first pitch. They then booed him the rest of the way as he pitched 8.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on 11 hits with two walks and six strikeouts in the Diamond City 7-4 win, pushing his record to 4-0 on the season.
In two seasons and a month with the Chemists, Fusion was 24-15 with a 3.78 ERA in 45 starts. He led the Institute League in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts in 2296 and 2297, and he finished with the IL best ERA and WHIP in 2296.
Last season with time split between Sunshine Tidings and Diamond City, he finished the season 17-7 with a CBO best ERA (2.60) and WHIP (1.09), earning him the 2298 SCA and CBO Pitcher of the Year Awards.
28 April 2299 - Hayjen 5-for-5 for Dwellers, Swatters Rally
Aesed Hayjen was a tough out and went 5-for-5 in a fine hitting display today, but the Diamond City Swatters managed to overcome his performance and top the Vault 81 Dwellers, 11-9.
"I got my pitches and I connected," Hayjen said. "They all found the right holes on the diamond. Some days you hit shots and they're right at somebody, and some days they fall in. And some days you lose, no matter how well you play."
On this occasion, Hayjen played well enough to get his name in the record books, tying the Vault 81 record for hits in a game. Hayjen doubled in the 1st, hit an RBI double in the 3rd, hit an RBI single in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 6th, and singled in the 8th. This year Hayjen has hit 1 home run and posted a .293 batting average.
The Swatters entered the 9th inning trailing 9-8 after the Dwellers took the lead in the bottom of the 8th. With Dave Caveman on the mound attempting his fifth save, pinch hitter Danny Bloodsworn hit a first-pitch home run to tie the game, 9-9. With one out, Caveman walked two batters before Witcher Craft was caught trying to steal third base. With two outs and a runner on first, Tyler Ross got the game-winning hit, a two-run blast for the 11-9 final.
Noah Williams (3-1) picked up the win in relief. Josh Samm pitched a 1-2-3 9th to earn his ninth save on the season. Caveman (0-2) had his first blown save of the season.
28 April 2299 - Hits Galore: Samuels Drills 5 Hits
It was a hits blitz for Sean Samuels at Easy Town Field today.
The Easy Town Assaultrons center fielder tore into the Finch Farm Four Leafs for 5 hits in 5 at-bats, but it wasn't enough to win the game. The Four Leafs swept past the Assaultrons 11-10 in 10 innings to ruin Samuels's day.
"We weren't locating our pitches well," Easy Town manager Graham Route explained after the game. "Once you get behind in the count, you have to make really good pitches, rather than pretty good pitches, and we weren't able to do that today. Getting 5 hits from Sean was nice but it wasn't enough."
Finch Farm took a 11-10 lead on Danny Honeycutt's 8th double of the season. The run-scoring double, which Honeycutt hit in the top of the tenth, left Easy Town pitcher Aaron Geneva shaking his head. Honeycutt finished the game 4 for 5 with two doubles, a triple, a walk, two runs, and two RBI.
"If we play like this, we can win a lot of games," Honeycutt told the Finch Farm Citizen.
Samuels doubled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, hit an RBI single in the 4th, hit a solo-shot off Good Company Schiller in the 6th and singled in the 9th.
Looking at his season stats, Samuels has compiled a .360 batting average and a .405 on-base percentage, while hitting 2 home runs and driving in 9 runs.
RF Matt Basile and C Gary Gary Gary each had three hits for the Leafs. Each player doubled. Basil scored twice. Gary scored once and drove in two runs.
Jarrett Metalbox was 3 for 6 for Easy Town with two doubles, a run, and six RBI.
28 April 2299 - Silver Shroud Drop Radstags in 10, 2-0
Fans who congregated at Nuka Park were treated to extra-inning drama.
Mike Cartrette (3-1) was masterful in helping the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud take down the Concord Radstags, 2-0. Fort Hagen goes to 14-4.
The Radstags had trouble solving Cartrette, who surrendered no runs on 3 hits over 9 innings with a walk and 10 strikeouts. Curtis Thriceshot sent the Stags down in order in the 10th to pick up his fifth save and maintain a 0.00 ERA.
"Exciting game to play in," said Cartrette. "Getting the win makes it even better."
The Silver Shroud broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 10th off reliever Bell Franklin (1-3). With one out, Jim Tiller hit a triple. Andrew Nuka then singled him in for the winning run. With two outs and runners at the corner, Paul Grog singled in Nuka for the 2-0 final.
Concord starter Gwinnett Southie allowed no earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 8.1 innings in the no-decision.
28 April 2299 - Party Boys Pull Off Thrilling 4-3 Win in Extras
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys scored a tight 4-3 win in 10 innings versus the Salem Witch Hats at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium. Nordhagen Beach pitcher Chet Arthur held his own in the contest but came away with a no-decision. Salem drops to 5-13, while the Party Boys rise to 14-4.
The Party Boys relied on second baseman Brian Masterson for the game-winning hit. And, in the bottom of the tenth, he delivered, hitting a run-scoring single to seal the deal when Jonathan Angelou crossed the plate. Angelou hit a two-out double before Kevin Marsh (1-2) intentionally walked Dustin Mart.
Masterson said his team "played with determination."
The teams entered the 9th inning tied 2-2. Party Boys starter Chet Arthur continued into the 9th inning, but with one out, Hats RF Chris Treestump hit his fourth home run of the season for a 3-2 Salem lead. Arthur also allowed a two-run home run to SS Dan Ackerman in the 5th.
Nordhagen Beach answered in the bottom of the 9th thanks to some small ball exploits. Masterson singled to lead off the inning off Dan Beantown and moved to second on Jon Hitman's sacrifice bunt. Beantown then moved to third on Beantown's wild pitch. After Beantown walked C3-88 Puppetboy, Clux Oldstreet came through with a pinch-hit RBI single to score Masterson. It was Beantown's first blown save.