BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
5 October 2303
#3 Nordhagen Beach vs #2 Concord
Game 1: Nordhagen Beach 4 at Concord 1
Nut Handcuffs Radstags, Party Boys Seize 1-0 Advantage in ASF
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys powered past the hometown Concord Radstags, 4-1, in the opener of the Association Semifinal at Nuka Park today. Nordhagen Beach starting pitcher Beachboy Nut threw 7.0 innings of 3-hit ball, to lead the charge. The Party Boys now lead the series 1-0.
Nut gave Nordhagen Beach a solid start. The left-hander allowed 1 run on 3 hits over 7 innings.
Nut said his team "played with focus."
The game was tied heading into the top of the 9th. Sheffield Williams took the mound for the Stags in the inning and walked Michael Fogcrawler on four straight pitches. Star RF Jonathan Angelou then came up and hit a two-run home run to give the Boys the lead. Maxx Murtagh then followed with a back-to-back home run for the game's final tally.
All three Concord hits came in the 4th inning. Dusty Brownell led off with a single, followed by a double by Josh McIntyre to put runners at second and third. Tenthree Leader then singled in Brownell for the Radstags' only run.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Nuka Park in Concord.
Game 2: Nordhagen Beach 2 at Concord 5
Radstags Even With Party Boys After Walk-Off Win
In a crucial game, the Concord Radstags put on their best show, beating the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys by a final score of 5-2 today. Ugio Church threw 7.0 innings of 3-hit ball. Concord and Nordhagen Beach are now tied at 1 wins apiece in the best-of-5 affair.
David Stahl was the walk-off hero for Concord. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Radstags pinch hitter hit a dramatic 3-run home run to send the teams home.
"It's great to see the crowd jacked up," Stahl said.
Dan Erb of Concord and Dirty Dog Sapienza of Nordhagen Beach hit a home run for their teams.
Matt Breakball suffered the loss just one day after getting the win in the game. Stags SP Spider Caddell threw a lot of pitches in a short time, chasing him early. In just 4.2 innings, he threw 92 pitches, allowing one earned run on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
The next game is set to be played for Friday, October 2nd , 2303 at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium in Nordhagen Beach.
Game 3: Concord 9 at Nordhagen Beach 4
Brownell Blasts Party Boys, Radstags Take Game 3, 9-4
The Concord Radstags moved to within one game of the Association Championship today, downing the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys on the road at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium by a score of 9-4. Radstags first baseman Dusty Brownell went 3 for 3 with 2 home runs and 2 walks. He scored 3 runs and drove in 3. The win gives the Radstags a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 Association Semifinal.
Tyler Powers had a timely hit in the top of the fifth inning. With no one out and the bases empty, the Concord starting pitcher hit a solo home run. That put the Radstags in front, 9-4.
"It's nice to come out on top today," said Powers.
Dan Erb added two hits, including a double, with three RBI. Tenthree Leader added two RBI on his double.
The Boys were held to seven hits, but Ryan Combs was 4 for 4 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium in Nordhagen Beach.
Game 4: Concord 3 at Nordhagen Beach 8
3B Sapienza Lights Up Radstags for 5 RBIs as Party Boys Tie ASF
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys and the Concord Radstags will take the Association Semifinal to a decisive 5th game. In a must-win situation today, the Party Boys beat the Radstags 8-3 at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. Nordhagen Beach third baseman Dirty Dog Sapienza slugged 2 home runs. He drove in 5 runs and scored twice.
The Party Boys took a 8-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Facing Concord hurler Jason Jumping with two outs, Sapienza hit a grand slam home run.
"Anything I can do to help the team win," said Sapienza.
Maxx Murtagh was 2 for 4 with a home run, a run, and two RBI. Lucky Oldsun had three hits for the Stags.
The next game is set to be played for Monday, October 5th , 2303 at Nuka Park in Concord.
Game 5: Nordhagen Beach 3 at Concord 4
Association Semifinal Goes the Distance, Concord Prevails
The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat were on full display tonight at Nuka Park as the Association Semifinal stretched to the final game.
It was the Concord Radstags feeling the thrill of victory, with a 4-3 win over the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, who were feeling the devastation of coming up short in their quest to make the Association Championship.
"There's no way around it -- this sucks," said Nordhagen Beach manager Matt Ballhawk Getman. "Congratulations to Concord, but I won't sugarcoat it, no one is happy about anything that transpired here tonight."
Instrumental in the 3-2 series win was first baseman Dusty Brownell, who was named MVP. He hit .412 with a .474 on-base percentage. He had 2 home runs, drove in 3 RBI and scored 4 runs.
"We've got the most important stat of all and that's this final win -- that's the one that matters," he said.
Nordhagen Beach took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 4th. With Spider Caddell on the mound, Jonathan Angelou led off with a single. Maxx Murtagh then walked and Angelou tagged up to third on Dirty Dog Sapienza's fly ball. Mike Swift then reached on an error, scoring Angelou and advancing Murtagh to third. Caddell then threw a wild pitch to make it 2-0. With two outs, Brian Masterson doubled in Swift for the 3-0 lead.
That lead remained until the bottom of the 8th. Nordhagen Beach pitcher Ugio Church remained on the mound and still looked good, getting the first two Stags' hitters to fly out. Church then walked Pockets Aintfull and then allowed a single to Dan Erb to bring the tying run to the plate with two outs. Gene Leftswipe then hit an RBI single to cut the lead to two, 3-1. Matt Breakball then came on to relieve Church with two runners on. That lead for the Boys lasted exactly three pitches before Kyle Boohoo went deep to give the Radstags the 4-3 lead.
Sheffield Williams pitched the 9th for the save. Bobby Carvajal was credited with the win. Breakball was the loser, his second of the series.
The Concord Radstags don't know who they will face in the next round. They will play the winner of the County Crossing Bloodbugs - Fort Hagen Silver Shroud series. That series is tied at 2 games apiece. The Association Championship schedule will be announced after the Association Semifinal finishes.
#4 Fort Hagen at #1 County Crossing
Game 1: Fort Hagen 3 at County Crossing 4
Association Semifinal Game 1 Victory for Eviritts and County Crossing
The County Crossing Bloodbugs started the Association Semifinal in style today, downing the visiting Fort Hagen Silver Shroud at Beantown Brewery Stadium by a score of 4-3 to stake an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Bloodbugs right-hander Gavin Eviritts threw 7.0 innings allowing 3 runs.
Babs Rooth broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a run-scoring sacrifice fly. It put the Bloodbugs in front, 4-3. For the game, Rooth drew 1 walk.
"Say want you want about this team, they play nine innings hard," said County Crossing manager Crow Guai.
Ajani Peacock and Long Hall each had two hits for the Bugs. Peacock doubled, scored, and drove in a run. Cy Thompson had a solo shot off Fort Hagen's pitcher Derek Green. Green was credited with the loss.
Well Done Dungan was the only Shroud player with multiple hits. He was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Tutton Gatekeeper had the only extra-base hit for Fort Hagen. He was 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Game 2: Fort Hagen 5 at County Crossing 3
Fort Hagen Win to Pull Even With County Crossing
With second baseman Mark Miller leading the charge, the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud got a road win over the County Crossing Bloodbugs, 5-3, in Game 2 of the Association Semifinal today. Miller went 3 for 5 with a double and 2 singles at Beantown Brewery Stadium to help Fort Hagen force a 1-1 tie in the best-of-5 series.
Fort Hagen used a well-timed hit by Ben Pawlak to capture the win. The center fielder socked a 2-run double in the top of the fifth inning to put the Silver Shroud ahead, 4-2. Though it was his only hit in 3 at-bats, it was important.
"We'll take some time to unwind," said Miller, "and then get after it again."
Mike Cartrette got the start for the Shroud, allowing two earned runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Brent Hooker came on in relief and was credited with the win.
Whip Lashley suffered the loss for the Bugs. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at Hubris Comics Park in Fort Hagen.
Game 3: County Crossing 7 at Fort Hagen 3
Silver Shroud Hammered by Hall, Drop Game 3 to Bloodbugs
The County Crossing Bloodbugs moved to within one game of the Association Championship today, downing the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud on the road at Hubris Comics Park by a score of 7-3. Bloodbugs center fielder Long Hall was 2 for 3 with 2 home runs and a walk, while adding 3 RBI and scoring twice. The win gives the Bloodbugs a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 Association Semifinal.
The game turned with two out in the top of the sixth when Hall hit a 2-run home run. It propelled the Bloodbugs into the lead, 4-2.
"I'm just looking for a good pitch that I can hit well," said Hall. "And not try to do too much."
Biter Trout had his first big game in the series, going 3 for 5 with a double, a home run, two runs, and three RBI. Ajani Peacock and Taygun Topaloglu each added two hits. Topaloglu hit an RBI triple.
Ginger Rogers and Jim Tiller each had two hits for the Shroud. Tiller tripled, scored, and drove in a run.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Hubris Comics Park in Fort Hagen.
Game 4: County Crossing 5 at Fort Hagen 6
Silver Shroud Clip Bloodbugs 6-5 in ASF Contest
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud and the County Crossing Bloodbugs will take the Association Semifinal to a decisive 5th game. In a must-win situation today, the Silver Shroud beat the Bloodbugs 6-5 at Hubris Comics Park to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. Fort Hagen center fielder Ben Pawlak was 3 for 3 with a double, 2 singles, and 2 walks.
The game was at a stalemate until second baseman Mark Miller came to bat in the bottom of the eighth. Facing County Crossing pitcher Drama Miller, he hit a 2-2 fastball for a run-scoring double. It was a game-changer, putting Fort Hagen on top, 6-5.
"Say want you want about this team, they play nine innings hard," said Fort Hagen manager Belch Melcher.
The Bugs spread six hits among six players. Cy Thompson was 1 for 3 with three RBI. Babs Rooth was the only County Crossing player with an extra-base hit, an RBI double in the 5th. He finished 1 for 2 with a double, two walks, a run, and an RBI.
Neither of the starters, Gavin Eviritts or Derek Green, had a say in the final. Kevin Marsh got the win with the save by Radscorpion Johnson. Drama Miller suffered the loss.
The deciding game is set to be played for Monday, October 5th , 2303 at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Game 5: Fort Hagen 3 at County Crossing 2
Silver Shroud Prevail, as Association Semifinal Goes to the Wire
Mark one up for the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud.
In the crucial final game, they put away the County Crossing Bloodbugs 3-2 at Beantown Brewery Stadium to win the Association Semifinal, 3-2 and advance to the Association Championship.
Although his team came up short, County Crossing's Biter Trout was named the series MVP, with many of the league media feeling the series would have been over much sooner if not for his contributions.
"Trout did a lot to keep County Crossing in it, no doubt about that," said Silver Shroud manager Belch Melcher.
Kevin Marsh got the win for the Shroud for the second straight game after the pitcher's duel left things in doubt. Fort Hagen starter Mike Cartrette allowed just two runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Brent Hooker then pitched three shutout innings for the Silver Shroud before giving way to Marsh.
County Crossing was led by Whip Lashley, who pitched 7.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Drama Miller suffered his second straight loss.
Gargoyle Falcone had the best day offensively for the Silver Shroud. He finished 2 for 4 with a double, Fort Hagen's only extra-base hit, with a run and two RBI. Taygun Topaloglu had three hits, two doubles, for the Bugs. Trout was 2 for 3 with a solo home run.
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud will play against the Concord Radstags in the next round. Concord won their series against the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys 3 games to 2. The Association Championship schedule will be announced after the Association Semifinal finishes.