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Nuka News Update
Reporting on the NWL, APL, NWLR, and BBL Leagues
by Evan Guy
25 September 2304
Dalton Farm (VL) Outduels Victory (NWL) in Season Pass Series
Game 1 - Road Win Lifts Victory to 1-0 Lead in SPS
The Victory Cave Crickets powered past the hometown Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers, 7-5, in the opener of the Season Pass Series at Blood Tide Stadium today. Victory first baseman C.J. Abney was 2 for 4 with a home run, while scoring 2 runs and driving in 3 for the hosts. The Cave Crickets now lead the series 1-0.
Victory relied on the bat of Cornelius Humperdink IV to get the win. The center fielder ripped a 2-run triple in the top of the seventh inning to put the Cave Crickets ahead, 7-1. For the game, Humperdink IV had 1 double and 1 triple in 4 at-bats.
"We lost," Dalton Farm manager Spider Webb said later. "We'll deal with it. The series isn't over."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Monday, September 19th , 2304.
Game 2 - Victory Wins Again, 2-1
Laurence Crash pitched a gem to help the Victory Cave Crickets escape with a tight 2-1 victory over the Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers in a low-scoring Season Pass Series contest today. The right-handed Crash threw 7.1 innings of 6-hit ball in the win, just enough for the Cave Crickets on a day when their offense dried up. Victory now leads the best-of-7 series 2-0.
Victory used the timely hitting of Jarrett Metalbox to seize the win. The left fielder stroked a run-scoring single in the top of the eighth inning to put the Cave Crickets on top, 2-0. It was his only hit in 4 at-bats, but it was a game-changer.
Metalbox said afterward that his team has grown over the course of the season, adding: "It feels good when a plan comes together."
The next game is set to be played for Wednesday, September 21st , 2304 at John-Caleb Bradberton Honorary Field in Bradberton.
Game 3 - Morris Blasts Cave Crickets, Fog Crawlers Take Game 3, 10-7
The Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers have closed some of the gap between themselves and the series-leading Victory Cave Crickets, winning 10-7 at John-Caleb Bradberton Honorary Field today. Fog Crawlers third baseman Ryan Morris went 4-6 with a home run and 2 doubles, while scoring 3 runs and driving in 2. The win cuts the deficit facing the Fog Crawlers to 2-1 in the best-of-7 Season Pass Series.
Who knows how it might've ended, had it not been for Bill O'Connor? The Dalton Farm catcher had a 2-run single in the top of the first inning to put the Fog Crawlers on top, 3-0. For the game, O'Connor had 1 double and 1 single in 4 at-bats.
"I like our mindset right now," said Dalton Farm manager Spider Webb.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at John-Caleb Bradberton Honorary Field in Bradberton.
Game 4 - Dalton Farm Win to Pull Even With Victory
The Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers topped the Victory Cave Crickets by the score of 5-1 and moved into a 2-2 tie in the Season Pass Series today. The largest share of the credit belongs to Dalton Farm starter Kyle Hooch, who threw 7.0 innings allowing 1 runs in the win.
Ramon Delgado, the three-time All-Star , had a direct impact on the outcome. Delgado contributed a 2-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to put Dalton Farm up, 5-1.
"The hot tub feels extra good after a solid win," said Hooch.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at John-Caleb Bradberton Honorary Field in Bradberton.
Game 5 - Road Win Lifts Dalton Farm to 3-2 Lead in SPS
Game 5 was big. So was Phil Cecil.
The Dalton Farm starter rose to the occasion at John-Caleb Bradberton Honorary Field today, leading the Fog Crawlers to a crucial 8-1 victory over the Victory Cave Crickets. Cecil threw 9.0 innings of 8-hit ball as the Fog Crawlers won on the road to seize a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 Season Pass Series.
Cecil was in the zone all game. He frustrated Victory hitters while giving the Fog Crawlers 9 innings of quality work. Cecil threw 114 pitches, allowing 8 hits and getting 10 punchouts.
"We'll hit the hot tub in good spirits tonight," said Cecil.
The next game is set to be played for Sunday, September 25th , 2304 at Blood Tide Stadium.
Game 6 - Dalton Farm Triumphs Over Victory In Season Pass Association Series
In a fairy tale year, the Dalton Farm Fog Crawlers capped a perfect season with the Season Pass Association title, defeating the Victory Cave Crickets 6-2 to take the series 4-2. The Fog Crawlers manager Spider Webb said he told the club "to be your best when your best is needed, and this team took it to heart. Throughout the postseason somebody always came up with a clutch hit, a key defensive play, or a great pitch. That's what it takes to win." During the Vim! League Fog Division regular season, the Fog Crawlers posted a won-loss record of 55-35, good enough for first place in the standings.
Former University Point 3B Ryan Morris, acquired by the Fog Crawlers in a midseason trade, was named the Series MVP. In six games, he was 9 for 23 with three doubles, two home runs, eight runs scored, and five RBI.