World Baseball League: Following the Sheffield Mountain Hares

[dinosauryoshi]

Sheffield Mountain Hares at Luanda Red Caps - Series Recap


Logo by @low

Game 1

Monday, July 26th, 2060 — Red Suns Ballpark
Sheffield (50-50) survived a full-on rollercoaster and nicked this one in 10, 7–6, like they were trying to win on “hard mode” for fun. Adam Koehler did a bit of everything (HR, walks, 3 RBI), but the defining moment came when Nsen Ngunda detonated a 2-run homer in the 10th to finally put Luanda in the rear-view mirror. Nestor Barrios steadied the ship in relief and came away with the win (8-5), while Zerwal Niyangabo took the loss for the Red Caps after a chaotic late push-pull.

Player of the Game: Adam Koehler

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Game 2

Tuesday, July 27th, 2060 — Red Suns Ballpark
Sheffield (51-50) turned the next night into a tense, whisper-quiet 1–0, the kind of game where runs are treated like endangered species. The Mountain Hares scored the only one in the first when Abdul-Karim bin Jameel drove in the key RBI single—and then the pitching did the rest. Isaac Saville worked 5.2 scoreless to earn the win (8-9), and Barrios slammed the door for save #19. Luanda starter Harun bin Kamil was brilliant (7.1, 0 ER), but got stuck with the hard-luck loss anyway.

Player of the Game: Harun bin Kamil

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Game 3

Wednesday, July 28th, 2060 — Red Suns Ballpark
Sheffield (52-50) finally exhaled and put up an 8–2 that felt like a proper midweek declaration. Abdul-Karim bin Jameel went 4-for-5 with four singles and three runs, constantly turning the lineup over like a relentless metronome. The big swing in the story: Jon Milz’s 2-run single with the bases loaded in the 4th, stretching the game out of reach. On the mound, Yushua bin Saqr muscled through 7.1 innings for the win, and Luanda never really found a counterpunch.

Player of the Game: Abdul-Karim bin Jameel

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Game 4

Thursday, July 29th, 2060 — Red Suns Ballpark
Luanda (40-63) avoided the broom with a 5–4 win, and they did it on the back of Lopeti Niley, who hit like he’d temporarily switched the difficulty to “rookie” (4-for-4: a triple, two doubles, 2 RBI, plus a run). Shizuya Tahara gave the Red Caps six sturdy innings for the win, and Niyangabo navigated a wobbly save (two walks, no damage). Sheffield’s late push came via timely extra-base noise and a couple of 2-out RBIs, but they couldn’t quite land the last punch.

Player of the Game: Lopeti Niley

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Series Summary

Sheffield takes the series, 3–1, winning the first three (including a 10-inning thriller and a 1–0 nail-biter) before Luanda spoiled the sweep in the finale.
Overall record after the series: Sheffield Mountain Hares 52–51, Luanda Red Caps 40–63.

[dinosauryoshi]

Rome Legion at Sheffield Mountain Hares – Series Recap


Logo by @20_range


Game 1
Friday, July 30th, 2060
Sheffield Mountain Hares (52–52)

The Mountain Hares opened the series with a game that teased and then tugged the rug away. Nine innings of restraint turned into heartbreak in the tenth, as Rome finally found daylight and edged out a 3–1 win.

Sheffield’s offence never quite got out of second gear, scoring just once and leaving runners marooned like forgotten luggage on the platform. A winnable opener slipped away, setting an early tone of frustration.

Player of the Game: Hamzah Fakhir

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Game 2
Saturday, July 31st, 2060
Sheffield Mountain Hares (53–52)

Game 2 was Sheffield deciding that patience was overrated. The Mountain Hares burst out swinging and flattened the Legion 9–2, a contest that felt settled before Rome had time to blink.

Dan Jula led the charge with a home run among three hits, while the rest of the lineup joined in like a chorus that knew exactly when to come in loud. Rome threatened briefly, but Sheffield shut it down with minimal fuss.

Player of the Game: Dan Jula

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Game 3
Sunday, August 1st, 2060
Sheffield Mountain Hares (54–52)

The finale was all control and no chaos. Isaac Saville carved through the Legion lineup with surgical calm, guiding Sheffield to a spotless 6–0 shutout.

Jon Milz supplied the biggest punctuation mark with a two-run homer, and from there the Hares cruised home, windows down, engine humming. A tidy, emphatic way to put a bow on the series.

Player of the Game: Isaac Saville

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Series Summary

Sheffield Mountain Hares take the series 2–1, rebounding from an extra-innings stumble to claim the final two games in convincing fashion. The Hares close the set at 54–52, carrying momentum forward after a sharply played home stand.

[dinosauryoshi]

Sheffield Mountain Hares - July 2060 Monthly Report

Overview

July felt like June’s more volatile sibling. Where June was about steady accumulation and survival, July swung between dominance and damage. The offence showed clearer identity and punch, but the pitching staff lost some of its early-summer balance. Individual excellence kept Sheffield afloat, yet cracks widened.

Hot Bats

N. Ngunda (CF) was the offensive engine of the month, finishing July with a .281 AVG / .363 OBP / .506 SLG, 5 HR, 16 RBI, and 1.3 WAR across 23 games. Compared to June, his power output ticked up noticeably, turning solid contact into genuine run production and anchoring the lineup on most nights.

R. Graham (2B) continued his steady upward curve, posting a .283 / .371 / .533 slash with 4 HR and strong situational hitting. While his overall line closely mirrored June, July reinforced his value as a stabiliser rather than a streak bat.

E. Ali (SP) was in great form at the plate as well as on the mound (we'll get to that later). In July, he produced a staggering 9 HR, 1.017 OPS, and slugged .617.

Underperforming Bats

J. Morales (RF) endured a difficult July, hitting just .185 with a .553 OPS, a clear regression from his already muted June output. Contact issues persisted, and his struggles frequently stalled rallies.

E. Aas (1B, NOR) also slipped backwards month-to-month, finishing July at .192 AVG with 23 strikeouts, the highest total on the team. His power failed to surface consistently, limiting his impact in run-producing spots.

Bench production remained thin, offering little relief when regulars faltered - a continuation, and slight worsening, of June’s trend.

Rotation & Bullpen

June leaned on rotation depth. July leaned on one arm.

E. Ali (SP, ETH) was Sheffield’s clear ace in July, posting a 3.57 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and holding opponents to a .183 batting average across 22.2 innings. All three marks represented improvements over June, and he was the only starter to consistently halt losing streaks.

Behind him, June’s warning signs hardened into July problems:

I. Saville (SP, NZL) struggled with command, finishing the month with an elevated ERA and frequent early exits.
R. Ochoa (SP, VEN) faced similar issues, running high pitch counts and exposing the bullpen more often than in June.

Out of the bullpen, S. Burhan (RP) emerged as a major positive, recording a 1.04 ERA over 9 appearances, with excellent strike efficiency and minimal traffic. Conversely, N. Barrios (CL, DOM) battled command, allowing inherited runners to score and turning multiple save chances into high-stress situations.

Defence & Fundamentals

Defence remained broadly steady compared to June, but July’s pitching volatility magnified every minor lapse. Where June’s staff could absorb an error, July’s often could not. Aggressive baserunning stayed central to Sheffield’s identity, though success rates dipped slightly under increased pressure.

July Awards

Pitcher of the Month: Eskinder Ali (SP, ETH)
3.57 ERA, 22.2 IP, 0.93 WHIP, .183 OPP AVG
Ali was already strong in June, but July marked a clear leap. Improved command, run suppression, and workload stability made him indispensable.

Batter of the Month: Nsen Ngunda (CF)
.281 / .363 / .506, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 1.3 WAR
A tangible month-to-month improvement, combining patience, power, and consistency to become Sheffield’s most reliable bat.

[dinosauryoshi]

Sheffield Mountain Hares at Budapest Red Squirrels - Series Recap


Logo by @low


Game 1
Monday, August 2nd, 2060
Sheffield Mountain Hares (54-53) - Budapest Red Squirrels (54-53)

Budapest kept the party loud at Budapest Grounds and handed Sheffield a 7-1 loss. The Hares actually struck first - E. Aas launched a solo homer in the 1st (his 18th) off Corey Root - but that was Sheffield’s lone run on the night.

Root did the rest, working 5 innings for the win (6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K) to move to 7-7. Sheffield’s Y. bin Saqr took the loss (5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K), and Budapest steadily pulled away with a pair in the 5th (including Mauricio Robles’ run-scoring sac fly) before breaking it open late.

Player of the Game: Joe Jackson

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Game 2
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2060
Sheffield Mountain Hares (54-54) - Budapest Red Squirrels (55-53)

Another early avalanche buried Sheffield as Budapest rolled 9-2 to extend their streak. The decisive blow came in the 3rd - Jonas Saarinen crushed a 2-run homer, and D. Christie followed with a 3-run shot in the same inning, turning a quiet game into a rout.

Abdul-Fattah Hana earned the win with a steady 5.2 innings (4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) to improve to 6-9, while Eskinder Ali wore the loss after getting tagged for 8 earned runs in 2.1 frames. Sheffield’s lone highlight was T. Ramirez’s 2-run homer in the 6th, but the Hares never seriously threatened after that third-inning surge.

Player of the Game: Abdul-Fattah Hana

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Game 3
Wednesday, August 4th, 2060
Sheffield Mountain Hares (55-54) - Budapest Red Squirrels (55-54)

Sheffield finally flipped the script, outslugging Budapest 11-7 to salvage the finale and square Budapest’s record. The Hares piled up 13 hits and repeatedly answered when the Squirrels made noise, with Nesen Ngunda at the center of everything - 2-for-4 with a triple, a 2-run homer, a walk, and 3 runs scored.

Budapest starter B. Peet was knocked around (5.0 IP, 4 ER), and Sheffield did damage in layers - extra-base hits from M. King, E. Aas, and J. Milz, with Milz adding a late 3-run homer in the 9th to put the game out of reach. The Squirrels’ big counterpunch was H. Pongia’s 3-run homer in the 8th, but it wasn’t enough to erase the gap.

Player of the Game: Nesen Ngunda
Special Note: Klas Cederberg tied the BUD regular season game record for bases on balls with 4.

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Series Summary
Budapest takes the series, 2-1. Sheffield leaves town at 55-54 after dropping the first two before winning the finale; Budapest finishes the set 55-54.