BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
3 September 2310
Wildcard Round Results
#6 Starlight Killers (74-56) vs #3 Sunshine Tidings Chemists (76-54)
Game 1: Starlight 3, Sunshine Tidings 2
Killers Edge Chemists 3-2 to Open WCR
The Starlight Killers powered past the hometown Sunshine Tidings Chemists, 3-2, in the opener of the Wildcard Round at ArcJet Systems Stadium today. Starlight starting pitcher Digger Vadim threw 7.0 innings of 6-hit ball, to lead the charge. The Killers now lead the series 1-0.
Vadim had a critical at-bat in the top of the seventh for Starlight, coming through with a 2-run single to put Starlight in front, 3-1.
"If you pitch well, you give yourself some opportunities," said Starlight manager Austin Shuler.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at ArcJet Systems Stadium in Sunshine Tidings.
Game 2: Starlight 7, Sunshine Tidings 2
Killers Move on to Association Semifinal Round
Many baseball pundits expected a close series in the North Charles Association Wildcard Round. It turned out quite a bit different.
The Starlight Killers swept aside the Sunshine Tidings Chemists to advance to the Association Semifinal Round, winning the final game by a 7-2 score at ArcJet Systems Stadium.
The series MVP was left fielder Glenn Higinbotham, who hit .222 with a .222 on-base percentage. He had 2 home runs, drove in 2 RBI and scored 2 runs.
"We expected this series to go right down to the wire, so to sweep is a bit of a surprise," he said. "But we'll take it."
The Starlight Killers will play against the Bunker Hill 75ers in the next round. Bunker Hill had a bye in the Wildcard Round. The Association Semifinal Round schedule will be announced after the Wildcard Round finishes.
#5 County Crossing Bloodbugs (75-55) vs #4 The Slog Ghouls (75-55)
Game 1: County Crossing 6, The Slog 5
Why Blasts Ghouls, Bloodbugs Take Game 1, 6-5
With center fielder Any Why leading the charge, the County Crossing Bloodbugs got a road win over the The Slog Ghouls, 6-5, in Game 1 of the Wildcard Round today. Why was 2-4 with a home run and a walk, while scoring 2 times and driving in 3 at Tarberry Field Forever to help County Crossing take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series.
The Bloodbugs took a 6-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Facing The Slog hurler Tiger Fanne with two outs, Why hit a 3-run home run.
"We're one win closer to our goal," Why said in postgame remarks.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Tarberry Field Forever in The Slog.
Game 2: The Slog 7, County Crossing 2
Raucous Tarberry Field Forever Crowd Propels Ghouls to 7-2 Victory; Series Tied at 1
The The Slog Ghouls topped the County Crossing Bloodbugs by the score of 7-2 and moved into a 1-1 tie in the Wildcard Round today. The largest share of the credit belongs to The Slog starter Isaiah Swindler, who threw 6.0 innings of 3-hit ball in the win.
Silvam Fourteen, who finished 4th in the NCA in doubles with 34 in 2306, chipped in for The Slog with a grand slam home run in the bottom of the first. For the game, the catcher had 2 hits in 4 at-bats with 1 home run, 1 single, 1 run scored, and 4 RBI.
"We'll hit the hot tub in good spirits tonight," said Fourteen.
The next game is set to be played for Friday, September 2nd , 2310 at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Game 3: County Crossing 7, The Slog 4
Wildcard Round Goes the Distance, County Crossing Prevails
The County Crossing Bloodbugs are off to the Association Semifinal Round after an exciting Wildcard Round triumph.
County Crossing downed the The Slog Ghouls, but needed the entire series to do so, with a 7-4 win tonight at Beantown Brewery Stadium wrapping up the series 2-1.
"It's every guy in this room that made this happen. Without us all pulling in the same direction, we don't win this series," said Taygun Topaloglu, who earned MVP honors for a standout offensive series.
Topaloglu put up a .308 with a .308 on-base percentage in the series. He also had 2 home runs, drove in 6 runs and scored 3 runs himself.
The County Crossing Bloodbugs will play against the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys in the next round. Nordhagen Beach had a bye in the Wildcard Round. The Association Semifinal Round schedule will be announced after the Wildcard Round finishes.
#6 Egret Ninjas (74-56) vs #3 Vault 81 Dwellers (83-47)
Game 1: Vault 81 11, Egret 10
Ninjas Hammered by Gains, Drop Game 1 to Dwellers
Vault 81 center fielder Stu Gains rose to the occasion at CURIE Inc. Field, leading the Dwellers to a Game 1 victory over the Egret Ninjas. Gains went 2 for 5 with a home run. He scored 2 runs and drove in 4 as the Dwellers won, 11-10, to seize a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 Wildcard Round.
The game ended with a bang. In the bottom of the ninth, with Vault 81 trailing 10-9, Mark Dombrowski jumped on a 2-0 fastball from Mike Pond for a 2-run home run, sending the Dwellers to a walk-off win.
"The ending was a real humdinger," Gains told reporters after the game.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at CURIE Inc. Field in Boston.
Game 2: Vault 81 11, Egret 5
Dwellers Advance to Association Semifinal Round
It was a sweet sweep for the Vault 81 Dwellers as they eased past the Egret Ninjas to advance to the Association Semifinal Round.
Vault 81 won the final game by a 11-5 count and the series 2-0.
"We're just fortunate to get through it quickly and be able to rest up for the next series," said Phantom Vargas, who was named series MVP.
For the series, Vargas hit .875 with a .900 on-base percentage. He had 2 home runs, drove in 6 RBI and scored 3 runs.
The Vault 81 Dwellers will play against the Quincy Gunners in the next round. Quincy had a bye in the Wildcard Round. The Association Semifinal Round schedule will be announced after the Wildcard Round finishes.
#5 University Point Deathclaws (76-54) vs #4 Oberland T-51s (78-52)
Game 1: Oberland 9, University Point 7
Malone, Oberland Open WCR Strong with 9-7 Win
The Oberland T-51s powered past the visiting University Point Deathclaws, 9-7, in the opener of the Wildcard Round at Oberland Stadium today. Oberland third baseman Joe Malone went 2-4 with a home run. He scored 2 runs and drove in 3, to lead the charge. The T-51s now lead the series 1-0.
Had Da Game not delivered a key base hit in the bottom of the eighth, the outcome might have been different. Instead, with two down and the bases loaded, Game hit a grand slam home run. That made the score 9-7, in favor of the T-51s.
"We're one game closer to our goal," Oberland manager Proper Lighthouse said later. "It isn't any more complicated than that."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Oberland Stadium in Oberland.
Game 2: Oberland 7, University Point 1
T-51s Win Wildcard Round
The Oberland T-51s proved to be too much to handle for the University Point Deathclaws in the Wildcard Round, and a sweep was the end result.
Oberland punched its ticket to the Association Semifinal Round on the strength of a 7-1 win in the deciding game, which wrapped up the series 2-0.
Oberland third baseman Joe Malone, named series MVP, was instrumental in the sweep, as he mashed University Point pitching to the tune of a .429 average, with a .500 on-base percentage. He had 1 home runs, drove in 3 RBI and scored 2 runs.
The Oberland T-51s will play against the Roxbury Rad Sox in the next round. Roxbury had a bye in the Wildcard Round. The Association Semifinal Round schedule will be announced after the Wildcard Round finishes.
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