BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
CBO Semifinals Round Results
NCA Semifinal: #4 The Slog Ghouls vs #1 County Crossing Bloodbugs
Game 1: The Slog 10, County Crossing 6
Ghouls Top Bloodbugs, 10-6, to Begin ASF
The The Slog Ghouls faced a tough opponent in County Crossing Bloodbugs shortstop Cy Thompson, but did just enough to pull out a win in Game 1 of the Association Semifinal Round, which they now lead 1-0. The Ghouls won, 10-6, at Beantown Brewery Stadium, despite the efforts of Thompson, who was 4-4 with a home run, a double, 2 singles, and a walk. He scored 3 runs and drove in 3.
The Slog took control in the top of the sixth. With two out and the bases loaded, Cypher Raige hit a 2-run single to make it 7-5, Ghouls.
"It's nice to deliver when your team's counting on you," said Raige.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Beantown Brewery Stadium in County Crossing.
Game 2: County Crossing 3, The Slog 1
County Crossing Win Evens Series at 1
Leave it to the veteran.
The County Crossing Bloodbugs got a great start from 38-year-old right-hander Gavin Eviritts, as County Crossing won the contest, 3-1, at Beantown Brewery Stadium. Eviritts threw 7.0 innings allowing 1 run in the win, which knotted the best-of-5 series at 1-1.
With scoring opportunities rare, the Bloodbugs had to cash in when they had the chance. One such opportunity presented itself in the bottom of the third, when shortstop Cy Thompson hit a 2-run single. The single came off Flirt Perez and made the score 2-0, Bloodbugs. Thompson was 1-4. He drove in 2 runs.
"We're happy," Thompson told reporters after the win. "When you're in the playoffs, you've got to treat every game like it could be your last."
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at Tarberry Field Forever in The Slog.
Game 3: The Slog 5, County Crossing 2
Bloodbugs Hammered by Washington, Drop Game 3 to Ghouls
The The Slog Ghouls moved to within one game of the Association Championship Series, downing the visiting County Crossing Bloodbugs at Tarberry Field Forever by a score of 5-2. Ghouls left fielder President Washington did some major damage. He went 3-3 with a home run, 2 singles, and a walk. He drove in 3 runs and scored once. The win gives the Ghouls a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 Association Semifinal Round.
Washington had an important at-bat with a runner on 2nd in the bottom of the seventh, when he hit a 2-run home run. The Ghouls went on to win.
"At the end of the day, it's always about your starting pitcher," said The Slog skipper Nate Pugh.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Tarberry Field Forever in The Slog.
Game 4: The Slog 6, County Crossing 1
Ghouls Advance to Association Championship Series
The Association Semifinal Round didn't live up to the billing from those who thought it would be an all-out battle to the last game.
But the The Slog Ghouls are no doubt pleased by the results, as they have knocked out the County Crossing Bloodbugs 3-1 to advance to the Association Championship Series.
"It doesn't matter how you win it, as long as you win it and get yourself moving forward," said Ghouls left fielder President Washington. "I know a lot of people thought this was going to be a really tight series the whole way through, but we're glad it didn't go right down to the wire."
The Slog won the final game by a score of 6-1 at Tarberry Field Forever.
Washington was named series MVP after hitting .412 with a .474 on-base percentage. He also had 3 home runs, drove in 6 RBI and scored 4 runs.
The Slog Ghouls will play against the Nahant Celtics-Fort Hagen Silver Shroud winner in the next round. The Association Championship Series schedule will be announced after the Association Semifinal Round finishes.
Analysis
We thought the County Crossing offense may have some problems scoring, but we did not expect Babs Rooth's absence to be this significant. The Bugs scored 6 in the first game but then combined for 6 in the next three, including their only win, in dropping the series to their league rivals.
For the Ghouls, they may just have something cooking this season, reaching the NCA Championship Series for the first time ever. It is worth noting that The Slog won the first Sole Survivor Series when the league operated as four separate leagues before the playoffs. This season, The Slog was goods but maybe not better than the Bugs good. This series changed that, and now the Ghouls get to play for a chance to represent the NCA in the Sole Survivor Series.
NCA Semifinal: #6 Nahant Celtics vs #2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud
Game 1: Nahant 7, Fort Hagen 2
Road Win Lifts Nahant to 1-0 Lead in ASF
The Nahant Celtics started the Association Semifinal Round in style, winning on the road against the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud at Hubris Comics Park by a score of 7-2 to take an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Celtics catcher Ayag Mour excelled. He was 3 for 4 with 3 singles and a walk.
The game was all tied up in the top of the eighth, until Mour delivered big-time for Nahant, stroking a dramatic run-scoring single off Max Grove. The game-changing hit put the Celtics on top, 3-2.
"I thought we played a nice game," Mour told the Nahant Daily News. "Good pitching, timely hitting, it was all there."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Hubris Comics Park in Fort Hagen.
Game 2: Fort Hagen 5, Nahant 2
Raucous Hubris Comics Park Crowd Propels Silver Shroud to 5-2 Victory; Series Tied at 1
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud took down the Nahant Celtics by the score of 5-2 and moved into a 1-1 tie in the Association Semifinal Round. The largest share of the credit belongs to Fort Hagen starter Clubhouse Treelover, who threw 6.0 innings of 4-hit ball.
With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Hid Matsumoto barreled up a fastball from Matt Bowman. The result was a 2-run home run, putting the Silver Shroud in front, 5-2.
Fort Hagen manager Darnell Bright called it "a good, solid win."
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at The Wharf at Nahant in Nahant.
Game 3: Nahant 6, Fort Hagen 5, 11 inn.
Silver Shroud Hammered by Peacock, Drop Game 3 to Celtics
The Nahant Celtics needed some late heroics to do it, but ultimately emerged one game away from the Association Championship Series. The Celtics needed 11 innings before taking the 6-5 win against the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud in a walk-off at The Wharf at Nahant. Nahant third baseman Ajani Peacock was 3-6 with a home run and 2 singles, while adding 2 RBI and scoring once. The win gives the Celtics a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 Association Semifinal Round.
The game was still up for grabs in the bottom of the 11th. With no one out, Peacock hit a fastball from La'Ray Kalel for a solo home run. The Celtics, in dramatic fashion, had a walk-off win.
"Winning is always a team effort," Peacock said after the game.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at The Wharf at Nahant in Nahant.
Game 4: Nahant 7, Fort Hagen 0
Celtics Win Association Semifinal Round
By a score of 7-0, the Nahant Celtics have sealed a victory in the Association Semifinal Round over the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud.
"We knew we would be in for a tough series and that's what we got," said left fielder Thrifty Iraheta of the Celtics, who was named the series MVP. "The Silver Shroud knew how to battle and gave us a good test."
The next test for Nahant will come in the Association Championship Series, after winning this series 3-1.
The Nahant Celtics will play the winner of the County Crossing Bloodbugs - The Slog Ghouls series. The Association Championship Series schedule will be announced after the Association Semifinal Round finishes.
Analysis
And there it is: a major upset in the playoffs. The defending champions are defending no more as Fort Hagen could not get it going in their matchup with the Celtics. Nahant had all the answers, and now they will get a chance to be the first 6th seed to reach the Sole Survivor Series. In 2310, Starlight made it to the NCA Championship Series as the 6th seed, but succumbed to #1 Nordhagen Beach.
The Shroud have to be particularly disappointed since they checked all the repeat boxes throughout the season. The regular season was then, the playoffs are now. That means that Fort Hagen has to start figuring out what changes they want to make to be right back here in 2314. For now, the Celtics have maximized their luck.
SCA Semifinal: #5 Diamond City Swatters vs #1 Vault 81 Dwellers
Game 1: Vault 81 4, Diamond City 2
Association Semifinal Round Game 1 Victory for Summerset and Vault 81
The Vault 81 Dwellers started the Association Semifinal Round in style, downing the visiting Diamond City Swatters at CURIE Inc. Field by a score of 4-2 to stake an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Dwellers right-hander Exxie Summerset threw 7.0 innings of shutout ball.
The Swatters had trouble solving Summerset, who surrendered no runs on 3 hits over 7 innings.
Said losing manager A-Juan Rodriguez: "Not taking anything away from them, but we swung the bats better than what it showed."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at CURIE Inc. Field in Boston.
Game 2: Vault 81 2, Diamond City 0
Vault 81 Pins 2-0 Loss on Diamond City
The Vault 81 Dwellers got a strong performance from pitcher Scruffy Taguchi, who stymied the Diamond City offense en route to a 2-0 win in Game 2 of the Association Semifinal Round. The Swatters could never get a bead on the right-handed Taguchi, who threw 6.1 innings of shutout ball. The Dwellers now hold a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-5 series.
Taguchi tossed 97 pitches over 6.1 innings to clinch the win for the Dwellers. The right-hander allowed just 4 hits, while racking up 10 strikeouts in the game.
"Throwing strikes was the main thing," Taguchi said.
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at The Great Green Jewel in Boston.
Game 3: Diamond City 5, Vault 81 2
Graymane Blasts Dwellers, Swatters Take Game 3, 5-2
The Diamond City Swatters have closed some of the gap between themselves and the series-leading Vault 81 Dwellers, winning, 5-2, at The Great Green Jewel. Swatters center fielder Vignar Graymane went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs, while adding 4 RBI and scoring twice. The win cuts the deficit facing the Swatters to 2-1 in the best-of-5 Association Semifinal Round.
With the game tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the sixth, Graymane had a key at-bat for Diamond City. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Graymane hit a 3-run home run off Ryan Downing, making the score 4-1, Swatters.
"Things broke our way today and that's great," Swatters manager A-Juan Rodriguez said. "It's important, though, to stay focused and not pat yourself on the back too much. We aren't done yet."
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at The Great Green Jewel in Boston.
Game 4: Vault 81 10, Diamond City 2
Dwellers Move on to Association Championship Series
The Vault 81 Dwellers are bound for the Association Championship Series.
A 10-2 win over the Diamond City Swatters at The Great Green Jewel ended the Association Semifinal Round, 3-1.
"We're not trying to get ahead of ourselves, but it's hard not to get pumped up and excited and think about how this season could end," said End Yamada. "This could be the biggest celebration Vault 81 has ever seen if we can win the Sole Survivor Series."
The state of the Commonwealth Baseball Organization championship remains in doubt, but the Dwellers certainly appear to be strong contenders.
Yamada was named MVP of the Association Semifinal Round after he posted a .533 batting average, while adding 0 home runs, driving in 2 RBI and scoring 3 runs.
The Vault 81 Dwellers will play the winner of the FHE Yao Guai - Atom Cats series. The Association Championship Series schedule will be announced after the Association Semifinal Round finishes.
Analysis
As expected, Vault 81 was just too much for the Swatters. The Dwellers have been the CBO's best team, and they are just too tough to beat on a daily basis. The team would have to go collectively cold (kind of like the Bugs and Shroud did in the NCA) to lose a series. Diamond City has to be proud of making it this far, and we would be interested to see if they build a foundation to become regular competitors for a championship.
SCA Semifinal: #3 FHE Yao Guai vs #2 Atom Cats
Game 1: Atom 2, FHE 0
Road Win Lifts FHE to 1-0 Lead in ASF
Baker Dozen and the FHE Yao Guai opened the Association Semifinal Round in brilliant fashion, traveling to Atom and shutting out the host Cats at Coolest Field in Town, 2-0, to secure an important 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Dozen, the Yao Guai right-hander, threw 8.2 innings of shutout ball.
Dozen was in the zone all game. He frustrated Atom hitters while giving the Yao Guai 8.2 innings of quality work. Dozen threw 98 pitches, allowing 4 hits and getting 3 punchouts.
Dozen told a FHE Herald reporter that he was "gratified" with the win.
Both Yao Guai runs came in the top of the 9th off solo home runs. Duncan MacCready led off the 9th with an 0-2 blast off Atom's Junkyard Gourd. With one out, Cyclone Bolt went deep on the first pitch he saw from Gourd.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at Coolest Field in Town in Atom Cats Garage.
Game 2: FHE 6, Atom 3
Blitzed by Jobear, Yao Guai, Cats Sink Further in ASF
Riding the 2-hit performance of left fielder Makin Jobear, the FHE Yao Guai got a road win against the Atom Cats, 6-3, in Game 2 of the Association Semifinal Round. Jobear went 2 for 4 with a home run and a walk, while adding 3 RBI and scoring once for the Yao Guai, who now lead the best-of-5 series, 2 games to 0.
Had Jobear not come through in the top of the eighth, who knows how the game would've ended? But with two down, Jobear hit a run-scoring single. The Yao Guai took the lead, 4-3, and never looked back.
"We have been clicking right from the start of this series, so our mission statement at the moment is just don't tinker with anything," FHE manager Squirt Becker told reporters.
The next game is set to be played for Thursday, September 11th , 2313 at BosCom Circle in Fairline Hill Estates.
Game 3: Atom 3, FHE 2
Atom Breaks Through for First Win in Association Semifinal Round; Now Trails 2-1
The Atom Cats have closed some of the gap between themselves and the series-leading FHE Yao Guai, winning, 3-2, at BosCom Circle. Cats right-hander Mesquite Williams threw 7.0 innings of 4-hit ball. The win cuts the deficit facing the Cats to 2-1 in the best-of-5 Association Semifinal Round.
Nu York, who finished 4th in the SCA in batting average with .330 last year, had a direct impact on the outcome. York contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the fifth inning to put Atom up, 3-1.
After the game, Atom manager Josh Mustang applauded the team's effort. "They busted their humps out there," he said.
The next game is set to be played tomorrow at BosCom Circle in Fairline Hill Estates.
Game 4: Atom 10, FHE 8
Dockery Blasts Yao Guai, Cats Take Game 4, 10-8
The Atom Cats and the FHE Yao Guai will take the Association Semifinal Round to a decisive 5th game. In a must-win situation, the Cats beat the Yao Guai, 10-8, at BosCom Circle to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. Atom center fielder Hickory Dockery was 3 for 5 with a home run and a double. He scored 2 runs and drove in 3.
Joe Brocflower had a key at-bat with one out in the top of the eighth for Atom. With the bases loaded and the Cats leading 9-8, he hit a sacrifice fly.
"It feels a lot better to be tied than to be behind, even if it is only one game," Atom manager Josh Mustang said.
The next game is set to be played for Sunday, September 14th , 2313 at Coolest Field in Town in Atom Cats Garage.
Game 5: Atom 3, FHE 0
Atom Takes Association Semifinal Round in Deciding Game
Coolest Field in Town played host to the climax of an exciting Association Semifinal Round tonight.
The Atom Cats and FHE Yao Guai battled hard throughout the whole series, for the chance to move on to the Association Championship Series.
In the end, Atom won the final game by a score of 3-0 and took the series 3-2.
"I think fans got their money's worth in this series. It was just great baseball all the way around," said Cats starting pitcher Doug Creep, who earned the nod as series MVP. "Atom fans especially, I'm sure they're all worked up right now."
For the series, Creep had a 0.00 ERA over 15.2 innings pitched. He added 19 strikeouts with a 1-0 record.
The Atom Cats will play against the Vault 81 Dwellers-Diamond City Swatters winner in the next round. The Association Championship Series schedule will be announced after the Association Semifinal Round finishes.
Analysis
Until Atom won Game 5 at home, no home team had a win in this series. FHE seemed to be on its way to cruising into the SCA Championship Series for the first time in franchise history. Instead, they hit a wall and have to watch the last four teams.
For the Cats, they are looking to make their second-ever Sole Survivor Series. Atom has been among the quietly good teams all season, and we look forward to seeing what the SCA Championship Series brings us.
One other note based on the other series: now that the final four teams are The Slog, Nahant, Vault 81, and Atom, we are guaranteed a first-time champion in the full CBO. We are sure, though, that The Slog would protest that designation since they won the first Sole Survivor Series. Interestingly, that final was against Finch Farm, now Nahant.
CBO Playoff Tree
