Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
9 June 2299 - Vault 95 Liking Rookie's Progress
Vault 95 Robobrains manager Chris Puzey and pitching coach Dave Harris both had a lot of good words about rookie pitcher Wizard Balinese.
"He might be the steal of the 2298 draft," Harris said. "I see him getting better every day. His ERA is over 5 right now [5.59] but he can be a good tool pitcher once he learns how to move his changeup off plate."
Balinese does not have the reputation to be as strong of a worker as the average player, but he does learn from his mistakes.
"I'm not ready to throw him out there as a starter until he's truly ready," Puzey said, "but when he's ready, he's going to surprise people. He's a good choice for a feature story. This guy will be a name people around the Commonwealth know at some point."
9 June 2299 - Sunshine Tidings-Jamaica Plain Trade: Soldierman for Hadley
The Baseball News Network is reporting that the Chemists and Red Rockets have consummated a trade. Jamaica Plain will receive 30-year-old LHP Ben Soldierman in a swap for 19-year-old minor league LHP Jason Hadley. A league analyst called the trade a "fairly even transaction."
Soldierman has taken the mound for 13 relief appearances this season, nailing down no saves while notching a 0-1 record with a 1.89 ERA. The Haymarket Mall reliever has limited opposing batters to a .188 batting average.
9 June 2299 - Big Day for Combs in 6-4 Party Boys Win
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys stopped the Easy Town Assaultrons, 6-4, at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium. The Party Boys got a big game from Ryan Combs, who went 4-5 with a home run, a triple, and 2 singles. He scored 2 runs and drove in 4. Tommy Beach, the winning pitcher, improved to 7-5. He pitched 7.1 innings, giving up 8 hits and 3 runs, while striking out 5 and walking 1. Tom Mannequin recorded his 2nd save for Nordhagen Beach.
With Nordhagen Beach leading 2-0 in the bottom of the second, Combs hit a curveball from Angel Waterdrink for a 3-run home run. It was his 4th home run of the season and put the Party Boys ahead, 5-0.
"There's never a lack of effort in our clubhouse. We're willing to do the little things to get the win," Combs told the Nordhagen Beach News.
The win puts Nordhagen Beach at 34-14 this season, pushing them to a 10-game lead in the Brotherhood League.
9 June 2299 - Utsinger Stars for Hancocks in 9-3 Win
Zachary Utsinger left his imprint on the 9-3 Goodneighbor win against the Quincy Gunners. Utsinger was 4 for 5 with a home run, a double, and 2 singles. He drove in 5 runs and scored once. Bruce Iddings, who went 7 innings, was the winning pitcher. He was charged with 3 runs on 8 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 6. His record now stands at 8-4. Goodneighbor now has a record of 34-14 with the win.
Utsinger had a game-changing home run in the top of the sixth. On a first pitch cutter from Manny McDuff, he banged a 3-run home run to right, giving the Hancocks a 5-2 lead. It was the 7th home run of the year for Utsinger.
"I'm just looking for a good pitch that I can hit well," said Utsinger. "And not try to do too much."
9 June 2299 - Kawolski K's 12 En Route to 5-0 T-51s Win
The Oberland T-51s topped the Egret Ninjas, 5-0, in South Charles Association action at Graygarden Park. The standout performance belonged to Oberland pitcher and Duxbury, Massachusetts, native Sheng Kawolski. With the win, Oberland pushed its record to 27-21.
Kawolski made it look easy. He scattered 3 hits over 7.1 innings, while racking up 12 strikeouts. The right-hander upped his season record to 8-2.
"Sheng was throwing strikes, locating well," said Oberland manager Dirk Steadyhand. "He threw a lot of pitches today, though, or else he would have the chance for the complete game."
9 June 2299 - Fort Hagen Beats Starlight, 7-4
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud defeated the Starlight Lady Killers, 7-4, at Valentine Detective Agency Field. Jim Tiller was a standout performer for Fort Hagen. His 3 hits included 1 single and 2 doubles, in addition to the 1 run he scored and 3 he knocked in. Fort Hagen pitcher Matt Hope got the win. He's now 7-2. Justin Sphinx was tagged with the loss. Curtis Thriceshot earned the save for Fort Hagen, his 11th of the year.
In the first inning, Tiller had a 2-run double for Fort Hagen. It was his 16th double of the season and put the Silver Shroud on top, 2-0.
"I play this game for myself and my family, but of course it's always nice when we can win," said Tiller.
Fort Hagen leads the North Charles Association Institute League by 3 games.
9 June 2299 - Dwellers Top Diamond City, 2-1
Vault 81 beat Diamond City on the strength of starter Edwin Mass's fine effort. The left-hander led his team to a win, 2-1. Mass, now 4-6, was the winner. In 8 innings, he gave up 7 hits, while striking out 8, walking 0, and allowing 1 run. Dave Caveman earned the save, his 12th.
Vault 81 used the clutch hitting of Jon Dallas to capture the win. The first baseman drilled a run-scoring double in the top of the ninth inning to give the Dwellers the lead, 2-1. For the game, Dallas had 1 single and 1 double in 4 at-bats.
"We did just enough to win," Dallas said.
With the win, Vault 81 has a record of 22-26. Diamond City falls to 34-14.