BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
12 September 2311
CBO Playoffs - Association Semifinal Round Previews
NCA #4 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (73-57) vs #1 Starlight Killers (80-50)
Season Series
Starlight 6, Fort Hagen 4
May 1-3 @Star: Star 6-4, FtH 10-6, FtH 10-8
May 29-30 @FtH: Star 6-0, Star 9-5
June 28-30 @FtH: Star 5-2, Star 10-6, FtH 8-4
August 10-12 @Star: FtH 7-1, Star 5-4
Analysis
As much as both of these teams have been to the playoffs, they have only met twice in the playoffs before, both series victories for Fort Hagen. In 2299, the #2 Silver Shroud defeated the #3 Starlight Lady Killers, 3-2, in the Association Semifinals. The teams met again in 2301 in the Play-in Round. There, the Shroud won the series, 2-1.
The Killers are now in their 9th overall playoff appearance and sixth-straight. Starlight has never been to the Sole Survivor Series, but they have advanced to the NCA Championship Series twice: 2308 as the #5 seed before falling to #3 Bunker Hill and 2310 as the #6 seed before falling to #1 Nordhagen Beach.
In the regular season, Starlight held a slight edge over the Shroud, 6-4. Both 1B Oren Gep (.316/3/5) and LF Glenn Higinbotham (.220/2/11) were the power leaders for Starlight. However, Fort Hagen's SS Brennan Colt-45 (.436/5/13) was out of this world in the series. Both Killers starters Digger Vadim (2-0, 2.04) and Jerry Weisman (2-0, 3.00) were successful in the series.
To earn the #1 seed this season, Starlight found its balance on both offense and defense. On offense, the Killers finished tied for 3rd in runs scored (696) with finishes at the top in OBP (.360), WAR (24.5), and SBs (219). Those 219 stolen bases shattered the NCA record of 128 set by The Slog in 2301 and the CBO record of 168 set by Vault 81, also in 2301. As a note, the 219 stolen bases is now a shared record with Egret, which also had 219 steals this season. Two players had more than 50 steals: 2B Looter Knol (.289/11/61/58 SB) and LF Glenn Higinbotham (.281/25/65/54 SB). C Biter Trout (.336/6/55) led the team in average, and Higinbotham was the homers and RBI leader.
On the mound, Starlight was 1st in runs allowed (552) and Starters ERA (3.73) and 5th in Bullpen ERA (4.54). All three playoff starters have an ERA below 4.00: Vadim (14-5, 3.41), Shaak Ti (12-11, 3.68), and Whokill Poole (15-8, 3.87). Weisman (14-8, 3.68) will move to the bullpen for the playoffs. CL Justin Wilkerson (36 SV, 2.92) was serviceable, and he had help from Ryan Mills (2-1, 3.38) and Bill Sarnacki (3-0, 3.47).
Prediction
Starlight is not in its first bid as the #1 team, but the Killers have looked the part all season. They are a loaded team with pitching that dominated most of the season. Fort Hagen comes in as the preseason favorites, though they showed that some of the CBO newcomers on their team were not as adept at handling the established CBO talent. Still, the Silver Shroud are a tough out. This one seems as though it will be close, and for a five-game series any winning streak can tilt the series. We're going to ride the Killers, though. Starlight 3, Fort Hagen 2
NCA #3 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (76-54) vs #2 Nahant Celtics (77-53)
Season Series
Nordhagen Beach 6, Nahant 4
April 12-13 @Nah: Nah 7-4, NB 5-2
May 5-7 @NB: Nah 11-3, Nah 10-9 (13), NB 5-2
July 17-19 @Nah: NB 9-8, NB 6-5, NB 4-2
August 5-6 @NB: NB 5-4, Nah 6-3
Analysis
Nahant may have won the Brotherhood League crown in 2311, but having to start the playoffs against the back-to-back champions does not seem to be a fun affair. Nahant is making just its second playoff appearance in the full CBO with the last and only appearance coming in 2302 as Finch Farm. In that season, the Four Leafs, as they were known then, got bounced as the #5 seed in the Association Semifinals by #1 Nordhagen Beach.
In the regular season, Nordhagen Beach edged the Celtics, 6-4. 3B Jacob Tarberry (.429/5/11) tortured the Nahant pitching. LF Grandson Quarles of the Celts went .429/2/6, having the best overall offensive performance for his team in the season series. One the mound, no one player dominated, though Nahant's SP Zack Million (0-1, 2.16) seemed to have been robbed in his two starts with how well he pitched.
We mentioned how Starlight earned their way to the top due to having the best statistical output in the NCA. Well, the Celtics had the 2nd-best statistical output, thus the #2 seed. On offense, the Celts were tied for 3rd in runs scored (696). 3B Diamond Ball (.356/36/102) was the offensive leader, with Quarles (.313/18/63), 1B Bulleye Shooterson (.326/27/81), and RF Gene Leftswipe (.283/21/64/58 SB) being the main contributors.
Nahant was 2nd in runs allowed (573), Starters ERA (3.96), and Bullpen ERA (4.41). Much of the Starters ERA was due to the top two starters: Million (13-8, 2.84) and Cohort Williams (20-8, 3.43). SP Lonely Gale (5-2, 2.08) was having a great season before a serious hamstring injury. He is expected back should the Celtics advance to the NCACS. In the bullpen, CL Rob Hoode (41 SV, 3.41) was not outstanding but did tie the CBO saves record. RP Mr X Lopez (1-1, 1.59) was dominant in his appearances.
Prediction
Why kid ourselves? Nahant has most of the statistical advantage except for the biggest one: playoff success. We really believe that Nordhagen Beach is the only team that can beat Nordhagen Beach. That does not mean the Celtics cannot surprise, but the Party Boys are going to be the favorites in this one, even as the #3 seed. We'll take them. Nordhagen Beach 3, Nahant 1
SCA #5 FHE Yao Guai (73-57) vs #1 University Point Deathclaws (81-49)
Season Series
University Point 2, FHE 2
June 22-23 @FHE: FHE 7-0, FHE 9-5
August 14-15 @UP: UP 8-2, UP 16-7
Analysis
These two teams cannot be more different in their franchise histories at this point in CBO history. We already previewed that FHE is making just its second playoff appearance, earning its first series victory with a Wildcard Round upset of Vault 81.
University Point, on the other hand, is making its 11th appearance in the past 12 years. This will mark the first meeting between the Yao Guai and Deathclaws in the playoffs. The Yao Guai have already advanced as far as they ever have in the playoffs. The Claws have two Sole Survivor Series championships (2302, 2305) and three appearances overall (2309).
In the regular season, the teams tied at 2-2 with each team going 2-0 at home. Each game was a blowout with the closest match being FHE's June 23, 9-5, victory. There were no players that stood out especially in the season series, but there was one interesting statistic. University Point's rookie backup 2B Mav Coreburst batted nine times, getting five hits and driving in seven. He finished the season .255/2/22 in 145 at-bats. Most pitchers were lit up in the series, but SP Agnet Skinner (1-0, 0.00) pitched 7.2 innings of shutout ball in the Yao Guai's 7-0 victory on June 22.
For the Claws, they were not setting offensive records this season, but they still finished 2nd in runs scored (764) and were at least 3rd in almost every category but stolen bases where they finished tied for 11th (79). Four players had the greatest impact on the power numbers: LF Chris Hirshfield (.289/32/108), 1B Barker Cocoa (.369/30/101), CF Sack King (.239/25/70), and RF Tomas Jones (.322/22/101). 2B Chris Recore (.296/11/43/35 SB) was the lone major stealer on the team.
On the mound, University Point was 2nd in runs allowed (559) with the 3rd-best Starters ERA (4.03) and best Bullpen ERA (4.19). The top two pitchers are Tony Bertha (12-7, 3.50) and Joey Dimes (13-7, 3.86) with contributions from SP Alex Alexson (12-7, 4.54), SP Lawdog Whipple (11-6, 4.13), and RP Marc Pondsip (10-4, 2.22). Willie Lule (35 SV, 3.40) and Matt Hoernig (14 SV, 2.00) man the end-of-game scenarios.
Prediction
University Point seems to have all the advantages, and they have been one of the most consistently good teams all season. We think that FHE has proven it can be an up-and-coming team, starting out the season as a surprise force and hanging on enough to stay in the playoffs. However, we just do not see the Yao Guai putting up much of a fight here. University Point 3, FHE 0
SCA #3 Roxbury Rad Sox (78-52) vs #2 Egret Ninjas (79-51)
Season Series
Roxbury 6, Egret 4
April 17-19 @Egr: Rox 3-2, Rox 10-6, Egr 8-3
May 27-28 @Rox: Egr 6-1, Rox 7-6 (10)
June 24-26 @Rox: Rox 8-5, Egr 7-3, Rox 15-3
August 7-8 @Egr: Rox 7-4, Egr 5-4
Analysis
The way Egret played late in the season, it looked as though they were ready to step up to take over the CBO. That momentum is most certainly not complete, but we are not so sure they are ready yet to take the next step.
What the Ninjas have accomplished is to make it to their fourth-straight playoff appearance and fifth overall. In their first playoff appearance in 2305, Egret upset two teams, including the #1 Roxbury team on their way to an SCACS appearance before falling to #2 University Point. They returned to the SCACS in 2309 as the #4 seed before again falling to University Point. The 2305 matchup is the only time the Ninjas and Rad Sox have met in the playoffs.
In the regular season, Roxbury owned a 6-4 advantage, going 3-2 both at home and on the road. The Rad Sox also had the most lopsided victory in the season series, a 15-3 win on June 26. Three players with at least 20 at-bats had a .400 or better average for the Sox in the season series: 3B Donn Mattingley (.439/1/9), C Ayag Mour (.433/1/5), and RF Cubby France (.409/2/6). Egret's 3B Notorious Fugate (.320/2/7) was the best overall hitter for the Ninjas. SP Urm Rehfeldt (3-0, 6.06) had great run support in his starts against the Ninjas. Egret's most accomplished pitcher was Hry Caje (2-0, 3.77).
The Ninjas were definitely more of a force pitching than hitting. They finished 7th in runs scored (672) with the best statistic being their 219 stolen bases, tying Starlight this season as the two best stolen bases marks in CBO history. Three players had 40+ steals to go with their other impressive offensive statistics: 2B Justin Tootles (.277/6/44/49), 1B Ajani Peacock (.288/15/72/43), and CF Pockets Aintfull (.280/0/43/40). SS Austin Engill (.241/29/83) was the homers and RBI leader, while LF Jesus Church (.300/8/55) led the team in average for qualified players.
On the mound, Egret was really good, especially at starter. Egret was the best in runs allowed (552) and Starters ERA (3.59) and 6th in Bullpen ERA (4.77). The top two starters were tough to beat: Max Grove (12-5, 2.98) and Caje (19-5, 2.45). The third starter will be Admiral Kelm (11-11, 4.55), who struggled a bit after back-to-back 18-win seasons. There were no outstanding players in the bullpen, but the Ninjas now have two closers in Tup Mallory (18 SV, 3.91) and Midnight Flowers (19 SV, 4.91). Mallory started in his first 18 appearances before moving to the bullpen for 45 total appearances. He also went 8-7 on the season.
Prediction
Egret looks to be a good team, especially if its pitching can outshine Roxbury's. We still feel as though we are waiting for the Sox's implosion. After their return to the playoffs as the #1 seed last season and an early exit, we thought they may do the same this season. Instead, the Rad Sox moved on with their win over Oberland. We are not sure which team really has an advantage, so we will go with how the regular season went. Roxbury was better by a game in both five-game sets in the regular season. They will do the same here. Roxbury 3, Egret 2