BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
4 September 2310
SCA Semifinal Round
#4 Oberland T-51s (78-52) vs #1 Roxbury Rad Sox (84-46)
Season Series
Oberland 6, Roxbury 4
April 6-7 @Obe: Obe 2-0, Rox 6-0
April 29-May 1 @Rox: Rox 9-6, Obe 5-2, Rox 3-1
July 11-13 @Obe: Obe 9-1, Obe 7-4, Rox 13-4
July 30-31 @Rox: Obe 4-2, Obe 5-3 (10)
Analysis
The regular season series favored Oberland, winning 6 of the 10 matchups, including 4 of the last 5 games. The T-51s were the only SCA team that Roxbury had a losing record against in what turned out to be a very good Railroad League.
The Rad Sox had two surprise seasons of missing the playoffs in 2308 and 2309 after making the playoffs six-straight seasons, including winning it all in 2303 and 2304. Now, the Sox are back as a considerable favorite to make their 5th Sole Survivor Series.
The Sox finished 3rd in runs scored (770) in the NCA despite being 1st in several offensive categories, including batting average (.296). Five of the eight starters finished with a .300 or higher average: 3B Donn Mattingley (.373/34/91), C Ayag Mour (.342/17/86), SS Purple Gupta (.339/17/74), CF Ben Pawlak (.3330/31/86), and RF Brightsun Ramos (.305/15/68). 1B Sum Downie (.298/41/101) led the team in homers and RBI.
On the mound, Roxbury was 2nd in runs allowed (536) with the 3rd-best Starters ERA (3.92) and 5th-best Bullpen ERA (4.36). The playoff starters are Nuke Laloosh (17-5, 3.50), Urm Rehfeldt (17-8, 3.47), and Dobbie Radoncis (11-8, 4.49). Aaron Demps (10-7, 9 SV, 3.77) and Charred Lee Widemore (8-7, 8 SV, 4.80) are in the bullpen for the playoffs with each spending some time in the regular season as the closer. RP Jack Arasmith (2-0, 2.50) was the best pitcher in the bullpen.
Prediction
Roxbury has returned with a vengeance. Oberland is a good team that was in the Sole Survivor Series just one year ago and won the season series. We feel as though the T-51s are the one team that could shut down the Sox, and that is what we will predict in a close series. T-51s 3, Rad Sox 2
#3 Vault 81 Dwellers (83-47) vs #2 Quincy Gunners (77-53)
Season Series
Quincy 3, Vault 81 1
May 16-17 @Qui: Qui 14-2, Qui 7-2
July 28-29 @Obe: V81 7-2, Qui 9-3
Analysis
The regular season matchup was in Quincy's favor, winning 3 of 4 where all games were blowouts. The Gunners never were a dominant team throughout the season, but they were able to figure out a good team in the Dwellers.
This season marks Quincy's second-straight playoff appearance and third overall. Last season, the Gunners were the third-seed, but were swept by University Point. In the full CBO, Quincy is 0-2 in their series, but did win a series in the playoffs out of the Minutemen League in 2297. This season marks the Gunners' first Minutemen League titie.
The Gunners finished 4th in runs scored (686). Their standout players were rookie 1B Gladder Questseeker (.378/22/71), long-time veteran 3B Ben Pettinato (.304/24/94), 2B Shirt Fowler (.318/16/49), and RF Baywatch Fischler (.293/14/52).
On the mound, Quincy finished 7th in runs allowed (592), with the 8th-best Starters ERA (4.50) and the 2nd-best Bullpen ERA (4.08). The playoff starters are Lyle Pine (16-7, 3.98), Village Idiot Recker (12-9, 4.59), and Fosdyke Rochambeau (14-9, 3.81). CL Matt Hoernig (29 SV, 3.20) leads the bullpen with help from RPs Ghost Kyudalson (7-4, 3.35), Adam Bias (5-1, 2.30), and Mark Stuhlsatz (2-3, 3.30).
Prediction
While the Gunners have home-field advantage in this series, we think that Vault 81 is a far better team. We do not think Quincy will be swept at home, but we do not see them winning more than one game. Dwellers 3, Gunners 1