BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, GBRL, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
30 September 2305
SCA Association Championship: #4 Egret Ninjas vs #2 University Point Deathclaws
We thought that the Deathclaws would pull off this series in five games with Egret getting its one victory early in the series. Well, we were spot on in that prediction. The Ninjas were able to wrestle away Game 1, but the Claws prevailed in every other game.
Egret should be proud of its 2305 season since they were not a team expected to be there. GM Gunner Sprague and staff may need to make some moves to guarantee that they can return to the playoffs, but the overall achievements of this team can help a lot in their enthusiasm for the 2306 season.
Game 1: Egret 5 at University Point 4
Ninjas Edge Deathclaws 5-4 to Open ACS
The Egret Ninjas started the Association Championship in style today, winning on the road against the University Point Deathclaws at Gwinnett Brewery Park by a score of 5-4 to take an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Ninjas first baseman Jesus Church excelled. He went 3 for 3 with 3 singles. He drove in 2 runs and scored once.
Jace Nightwatch, the 26-year old center fielder , had a direct impact on the outcome. Nightwatch contributed a 2-run single in the top of the fifth inning to put Egret up, 5-2.
"We squandered some opportunities," said University Point manager Woody Lumpkin.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Gwinnett Brewery Park in Boston.
Game 2: Egret 3 at University Point 5
Raucous Gwinnett Brewery Park Crowd Propels Deathclaws to 5-3 Victory; Series Tied at 1
The University Point Deathclaws topped the Egret Ninjas by the score of 5-3 and moved into a 1-1 tie in the Association Championship today. The largest share of the credit belongs to University Point starter Tony Bertha, who threw 5.1 innings of 3-hit ball in the win.
Tomas Jones hit a 2-run double off Mat Nielsen in the bottom of the first, which put the Deathclaws in front, 2-0. In addition to the double, Jones had 1 single, while going 2 for 4.
"We've got a great group of guys," Jones said, "and we're having fun right now."
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina in Egret Tours Marina.
Game 3: University Point 7 at Egret 5
Road Win Lifts University Point to 2-1 Lead in ACS
Riding the 3-hit performance of center fielder Aesed Hayjen, the University Point Deathclaws got a road win against the Egret Ninjas, 7-5, in Game 3 of the Association Championship today. Hayjen was 3-5 with a double, 2 singles, and a walk. He drove in 2 runs and scored once for the Deathclaws, who now lead the best-of-7 series, 2 games to 1.
In the top of the second, Hayjen had one of his most important at-bats: a 2-run single off Brahmin Lover Beardman that staked the Deathclaws to a 3-1 lead.
"I just try to go out and give it 100 percent every game," Hayjen told a local reporter after the game. "That's my mantra, and like today, it will pay off more often than not."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina in Egret Tours Marina.
Game 4: University Point 9 at Egret 6, 11 inn.
Almost There: University Point On Cusp of ACS Triumph After 9-6 Win
With right fielder Tomas Jones leading the charge, the University Point Deathclaws got past the Egret Ninjas, 9-6, in extra innings in Game 4 of the Association Championship today. Jones went 4 for 6 with a home run, a double, and 2 singles, while scoring 2 times and driving in 4 at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina as University Point managed to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Jones had a clutch at-bat in the top of the seventh for the Deathclaws. Coming up with a runner on 1st and University Point trailing 5-4, he hit a 2-run home run.
"I'm just trying to make good contact," said Jones, "one at-bat at a time."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina in Egret Tours Marina.
Game 5: University Point 6 at Egret 1
Deathclaws Heading to Sole Survivor Series
The University Point Deathclaws will continue the trek towards a Sole Survivor Series title, while the Egret Ninjas are headed home for the season.
University Point won the Association Championship with a clinching game 6-1 victory at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina, concluding the series at 4-1.
1B Barker Cocoa was the Game MVP, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a walk, a run, and an RBI. RF Tomas Jones hit his second home run of the series and ninth RBI for a back-to-back affair with Cocoa in the top of the 5th.
"We didn't want this thing to go any further, that's for sure," Jones said after officially being named series MVP.
He turned in a dominant offensive performance to win the award, with a .500 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, 2 home runs, 9 RBI and 4 runs scored.
The University Point Deathclaws don't know who they will face in the next round. They will play the winner of the County Crossing Bloodbugs - Nordhagen Beach Party Boys series. Nordhagen Beach leads the series 3 games to 0. The Sole Survivor Series schedule will be announced after the Association Championship finishes.
NCA Association Championship: #5 County Crossing Bloodbugs vs #2 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys
We predicted this series would go seven with the Party Boys prevailing, and we were exactly right. Granted, our projections are informed but still up to the baseball gods, but we are proud of going 100% in our predictions for this round.
As far as this series was concerned, it was a classic, and will make the Sole Survivor Series tough to compare, especially if that series does not go seven games. For County Crossing and Nordhagen Beach, it looked to be a snoozer when the Party Boys jumped out to a 3-0 series lead. However, this Bloodbugs team has a "never-say-die" attitude and fought back before the Boys figured out how to win again in Game 7.
Game 1: County Crossing 3 at Nordhagen Beach 7
Association Championship Game 1 Victory for Nut and Nordhagen Beach
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys started the Association Championship in style today, downing the visiting County Crossing Bloodbugs at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium by a score of 7-3 to stake an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Party Boys left-hander Beachboy Nut threw 7.0 innings allowing 1 runs.
In the bottom of the fifth, Nordhagen Beach first baseman Dustin Mart had a productive at-bat. With the bases loaded and no one out, Mart stroked a 2-run double to left. It made the score 3-1, Nordhagen Beach. For the game, he went 1 for 4 with a double. He drove in 2 runs and scored once.
"We put it together today and came out with the win," Mart said in postgame remarks. "That's the main thing."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium in Winthrop.
Game 2: County Crossing 1 at Nordhagen Beach 7
Murtagh, Party Boys Sink Bloodbugs Again in Game 2
Riding the 4-hit performance of center fielder Maxx Murtagh, the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys stopped the visiting County Crossing Bloodbugs, 7-1, in Game 2 of the Association Championship today. Murtagh went 4-4 with a home run and 3 singles, while scoring 2 times and driving in 3 for the Party Boys, who now lead the best-of-7 series, 2 games to 0.
One pivotal at-bat came with one out in the top of the fourth. With runners on 1st and 2nd and County Crossing trailing 2-0, Tommy Beach needed to bear down against Darth Horse. Beach won the battle, as Horse lined out and the Party Boys went on to win.
The next game is set to be played for Thursday, October 5th , 2305 at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Game 3: Nordhagen Beach 4 at County Crossing 1
Party Boys Win to Extend Series Lead to 3-0
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys are one game away from a sweep of the County Crossing Bloodbugs today after a road win at Beantown Brewery Stadium, 4-1. Party Boys left-hander Ugio Church had a strong outing. He threw 7.0 innings of 2-hit ball. Nordhagen Beach now holds a 3-0 advantage in the best-of-7 Association Championship.
Who knows how it might've ended, had it not been for Jumper Hayes? The Nordhagen Beach second baseman had a run-scoring double in the top of the fifth inning to put the Party Boys on top, 3-1. For the game, Hayes had 1 double and 2 singles in 4 at-bats.
Church attributed the win to his team's "focus and intensity."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Game 4: Nordhagen Beach 1 at County Crossing 5
County Crossing Breaks Through for First Win in Association Championship; Now Trails 3-1
The County Crossing Bloodbugs have closed some of the gap between themselves and the series-leading Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, winning 5-1 at Beantown Brewery Stadium today. Bloodbugs right-hander Gavin Eviritts threw 6.0 innings of 4-hit ball. The win cuts the deficit facing the Bloodbugs to 3-1 in the best-of-7 Association Championship.
Darth Horse, the County Crossing catcher, contributed a run-scoring single in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 2-1, Bloodbugs. For the game, Horse went 2-4 with 2 singles.
Eviritts said his team "played with determination."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Game 5: Nordhagen Beach 2 at County Crossing 5
Thompson Blasts Party Boys, Bloodbugs Take Game 5, 5-2
The County Crossing Bloodbugs have closed some of the gap between themselves and the series-leading Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, winning 5-2 at Beantown Brewery Stadium today. Bloodbugs shortstop Cy Thompson hit 2 home runs, while scoring 3 times and driving in 2. The win cuts the deficit facing the Bloodbugs to 3-2 in the best-of-7 Association Championship.
The game turned with one out in the bottom of the fourth when Thompson hit a solo home run. It propelled the Bloodbugs into the lead, 3-2.
"I got everyone together and told them they did great today," County Crossing manager Crow Guai told BNN reporters after the game. "But I warned them that even if we make it out of the Association Championship, it's only going to get harder."
The next game is set to be played for Monday, October 9th , 2305 at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium in Winthrop.
Game 6: County Crossing 10 at Nordhagen Beach 0
County Crossing Win to Pull Even With Nordhagen Beach
The County Crossing Bloodbugs and the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys will take the Association Championship to a decisive 7th game. Facing a must-win situation today, the Bloodbugs shut out the Party Boys 10-0 at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. County Crossing left-hander Whip Lashley did his part. He threw 9.0 innings of shutout ball.
Lashley, who was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, threw 88 pitches over 9 innings, while allowing no runs.
"We did a lot of things right," said Lashley.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium in Winthrop.
Game 7: County Crossing 1 at Nordhagen Beach 5
Party Boys Win Association Championship
Depending on your loyalties, the Association Championship was either thrilling or heartbreaking.
The series went down to its final game, with the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys and the County Crossing Bloodbugs giving their fans plenty of drama. In the end, the Party Boys came out on top, winning 5-1 at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium today to take the series 4-3.
Beachboy Nut earned Game MVP honors, winning his second game of the series. In 8.2 innings, Nut allowed one earned run on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. he entered the 9th inning having allowed just one hit. In the 9th, he walked Long Hall to start. Hall advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch and scored on Babs Rooth's two-out double. David "AntAgonist" Kidd came on to record the final out in the series.
"We're lucky to be going into the Sole Survivor Series," said Nordhagen Beach CF Maxx Murtagh. "If all the series are like this, it'll definitely be an entertaining postseason."
Murtagh earned series MVP honors, hitting for a .400 average, with 2 home runs, 4 RBI and 5 runs scored.
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys will play against the University Point Deathclaws in the next round. University Point won their series against the Egret Ninjas 4 games to 1. The Sole Survivor Series schedule will be announced after the Association Championship finishes.
Playoff Tree
