BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
9 September 2313
CBO Playoffs 2313
NCA Semifinal Round: #6 Nahant Celtics (68-62) vs #2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (81-49)
Season Series: Fort Hagen 4, Nahant 0
April 7-8 @DFtH: FtH 7-5, Nah 6-3
July 24-25 @Nah: FtH 5-1, FtH 7-0
Analysis
The Nahant Celtics and Fort Hagen Silver Shroud do not have a history of meeting each other in the playoffs. When the Silver Shroud were in the playoffs from 2298-2304, Nahant (then known as Finch Farm) only appeared once, 2302. That season, the Four Leafs were able to reach the NCA Semifinals, but they had to face off with Nordhagen Beach, in which they failed to advance. The Pary Boys and Shroud then met in the NCACS with the Boys moving on to the Sole Survivor Series. In 2311, they were both in the playoffs again, but again they both made the Semiifinals Round without meeting each other. Neither team advanced that season.
So here we are. The first meeting between the Celtics and Shroud will commence in a battle to make it to the NCACS. Fort Hagen, of course, is the CBO's defending champions and should have most of the advantages against a Nahant team that should mostly be happy that it was able to outlast Bunker Hill and Nordhagen Beach to get here.
In the regular season, it was all Shroud, winning all four of the games. Part of the reason was the Silver Shroud's dominance in the NCA. On offense, Fort Hagen was 2nd in runs scored (710) , including having the top OBP (.357). RF Orcin Cardinal (.303/31/107) was the star with a lot of help from C Sleve McDichael (.303/22/90), 2B Nauseous Revere (.348/18/77), and SS Brennan Colt-45 (.288/17/72). Danny Faraday (.273/14/62/46 SB) led the team in steals.
On the mound, the Silver Shroud were tops in runs allowed (531) and Starters ERA (3.50). Ace SP Sarthis Idren (18-6, 2.93) was quite dominant in this era of heavy hitters. Trade acquisition Clubhouse Treelover (9-9 4.17 overall; 4-1, 2.93 with Fort Hagen) assumes the second slot with Nien Nunb (6-3, 11 SV, 2.63) expected to be the third starter. That means the Shroud sent La'Ray Kalel (8-4, 4.09) and Josh Woods (5-9, 5.37) to the bullpen. Fort Hagen started eight different pitchers during the season, so they know they can outlast most teams in their bullpen depth.
Prediction
We kind of expect the Semifinals Round to be a no-contest in the NCA. Fort Hagen is good. Nahant would have to play way over their heads to win this series in what would be one of the major upsets of CBO playoff history. We don't see that happening. Fort Hagen 3, Nahant 0
NCA Semifinal Round: #4 The Slog Ghouls (73-57) vs #1 County Crossing Bloodbugs (81-49)
Season Series: County Crossing 6, The Slog 4
April 15-17 @CC: Slog 9-7, CC 8-2, CC 4-3
May 24-25 @Slog: CC 4-3, CC 6-4
June 21-23 @Slog: Slog 4-2. Slog 5-4 (11), Slog 4-3 (10)
August 4-5 @CC: CC 3-1, CC 6-1
Analysis
While the season series was in favor of County Crossing, the series was an interesting one with three different sweeps. The Bloodbugs won the first three-game series, got a sweep, got swept by The Ghouls, and then swept The Slog again. It seems a streaky success story that could make this a quick series.
In the playoff history of both teams, it is important to look at The Slog first. Making their fifth trip to the playoffs, the Ghouls appeared before in 2299, 2300, 2310, and last season. The Bugs are making their 11th appearance with misses since 2301 just coming in 2308 and 2311. That means these two teams were ever in the playoffs together in 2310 and 2312. In 2310, they met in the Wildcard Round with the #5 Bugs knocking off the #4 Ghouls, 2 games to 1. Last season, they were both in the playoffs again, but did not meet, both falling in the Semifinals Round.
County Crossing has one of the most dominant offensive stars, but that will change with RF Babs Rooth (.351/32/103) suffering a late-season injury to knock him out of the playoffs. The Bugs are also minus 1B Zeldolph Violet (.257/11/28). The team 5th in runs scored (670), thus, will have to find offense elsewhere. Two guys that have stepped up have been SS Cy Thompson (.273/27/71) and 1B Plain Morris (.282/23/69). Morris moved from 3B to 1B once Violet went down.
County Crossing was much better on the mound, finishing 2nd in runs allowed (558) and Starters ERA (3.65). The three starters are good: College Luckyman (15-7, 4.13), Gavin Eviritts (12-9, 3.00), and Shaak Ti (17-4, 3.32). Whip Lashley (13-9, 4.24) moves to the bullpen to join CL Wick Prater (33 SV, 3.38) and Jesse Bibeault (4-5, 3.25), two of the best relievers in the league.
Prediction
We have no doubt that The Slog could win this series, especially with Rooth out. However, we think the Bugs have just a little bit more as far as talent is concerned. County Crossing 3, The Slog 1