BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
9 March 2315
Nuka Cup Tournament
Rounds 1 and 2 of the Nuka Tournament are now complete with a few surprising exits so far and lots of excitement about what the 2315 season may bring. This coming week, we will have Round 3 of the Loser Bracket teams facing off and then the Regional Finals over the course of four days with the Winners Bracket teams having a 1-0 advantage to start.
The Slog Regional
#4 University Point 2, #1 The Slog 1
#3 Salem 2, #2 Diamond City 1
Salem 2, University Point 1
Diamond City 2, The Slog 1 - The Slog eliminated
We called this regional boring, but it has been anything but with the Witch Hats the lone undefeated team in series results. The home team Ghouls are now out, leaving the visitors in town and willing to watch more baseball.
Vault 81 Regional
#6 Malden 2, #1 Vault 81 1
#2 Lexington 3, #4 Cambridge 0
Lexington 3, Malden 0
Vault 81 2, Cambridge 1 - Cambridge eliminated
Malden surprised the host Dwellers in the first round before falling to the machine that has been the Synths so far. Hah! Lexington has not lost yet at the Vault, but we would love to see them face the home team.
Quincy Regional
#4 Starlight 2, #1 Quincy 1
#3 Atom 2, #2 Bunker Hill 1
Atom 3, Starlight 0
Bunker Hill 2, Quincy 1 - Quincy eliminated
There is a pattern here. Both "boring" regionals saw their hosts as the first team eliminated. We feel as though Atom is always in the mix in the Nuka Tournament. Spoiler: they are not. Unless you count 2303 and 2304, of course.
Fort Hagen Regional
#1 Fort Hagen 3, #6 Goodneighbor 0
#5 Nordhagen Beach 3, #2 FHE 0
Nordhagen Beach 2, Fort Hagen 1
Goodneighbor 2, FHE 1 - FHE eliminated
The Silver Shroud were the only host team to actually win their first-round series, and they did it with a sweep. Of course, the Party Boys also swept #2 FHE and then outpaced the Shroud to move into the Winner's Bracket.
CCBL - Sophomore Spotlight
This week, let's take a look at sophomores worth watching. Again, we have selected a combination of good now and top prospects for the CBO Draft, perhaps in 2316.
1. 2B Cool Papa Cornwell, Mass Maritime - Cornwell burst onto the college scene in 2314, hitting .400 and stealing 30 bases for the Buccaneers. Scouts believe he has the chance to be a .400 hitter at the next level, too, making him one of the top prospects as a leadoff hitter. He is also a talented infielder with his position in the future being either of the middle spots. As a 2B, he will be winning defensive awards, though, so that may be his spot.
2. 2B Bastian Gonatas, Boston College - The Eagles' 2B also hit over .400, going .404 with 14 home runs and 34 stolen bases. While not presently as talented as Cornwell overall, Gonatas will see his name called in the 1st Round if he continues this pace.
3. 3B Vacuum Sandoval, Hartford - The man with a vacuum for a glove, the Hawks play him at 3B but he could also play the infield. Sandoval also has high power potential that makes him a hot commodity, though he did not fully show off that power in 2314 with just 16 home runs.
4. LF DJ Shark, Bridgeport - Shark hit .374/12/40 and added 12 SB for the Purple Knights as a freshman. Shark expects to add more muscle and eventually more pop to put himself as a likely Top 10 pick when he declares. He is also a good corner OF, making scouts boost his prospects at the next level.
5. SP Christian Hill, Rhode Island - Hill did not have outstanding stats, but his 5-5, 3.89 mark in 15 starts was a good start. The power-throwing sidearmer has four pitches with his 4-seamer and cutter being his favorite two. While he gave up 10 homers as a freshman, scouts see his potential as being able to keep the ball in the park.
CYL - Sophomore Spotlight
1. SP Talley O'Reilly, Rockport - O'Reilly went 6-3 with a 3.08 ERA as a freshman with the Seafarers. Scouts are expecting him to make a leap in 2315 and be one of the CYL's best pitchers. He can throw arounf 95 MPH regularly and has five pitches that he is almost equally comfortable throwing with his fastball and sinker the two best in his arsenal.
2. SS Alvin Dark, Sandwich - Dark put up a .354/10/28 mark with the Screamers in his freshman season. Scouts see him developing into a tools hitter and a decent enough defensive shortstop to warrant an eventual high pick in the draft.
3. 1B Daniel Bowler, Lewiston - Bowler will show off his stuff in his first year of the CYL after playing last season in the independent Maine leagues. As one of the players coming into the league, scouts think he will be a great all-around hitter with of course great pop with his bat.
4. 1B King Fish Davenport, South Charles Bank - The Moonies first bagger hit 20 homers in his freshman campaign, showing the raw power he has on both sides of the plate. Scouts think he can be an elite hitter at the next level and already love the leadership he shows on the ballfield.
5. RF Shalvey O'Doherty, Haverhill - O'Doherty has all the skills needed to be successful at the next level. If he develops as expected, the Detectives right fielder should be able to bat well over .300 and hit 30 homers. While not the best outfielder, he will not be one that a coach hesitates to place out there.