Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization

[StLee]

The Metal Bucket with George, Anne, and Rex

G: Welcome one and all to “The Metal Bucket.” I am your host George Cooper. Joining me today are Anne Hargraves and Rex Goodman. We just watched the Vault 81 Dwellers clinch the weekend series here in Week 10 versus the Egret Scrappers in Railroad League action. Anne and Rex, we had an amazing series with all three games decided by one or two runs.

A: It was the most exciting weekend we have seen so far!

R: Tides of impressiveness washing over our very souls.

G: Yes, that too.

A: I know we are closing up the stadium with another late game, so let me get to the Bottoms Up Award for this week. The man with no bum plan is Skyler Pickpocket. In a series where there were so many moments to choose from, Pickpocket’s grand slam in the seventh inning of today’s game put the Dwellers up for good, 8-6. He has the rump to get behind his team and push them forward. Bottoms Up! And this week, we have a six-pack of Bobrov's Citrus Beer, made with artificial flavors.

R: I am going with my Sportiest Sport Award. And for this week’s award, I am giving it to the venerable Paladin Danse of the Scrappers of Egret. Although his team lost two games this weekend, it was no fault of the Paladin’s. In fact, he hit both a game-tying home run and a go-ahead home run in losing efforts. Despite his team’s heartbreaking weekend, Paladin Danse is indeed the Sportiest Sport. We did not have a donation for the Sportiest Sport, so Paladin Danse gets a case of Purified Water.

G: I will finish up this week’s show with the Outstanding Player of the Series. That player is without a doubt Vault 81’s shortstop, Terry O’Dell. In the three games, he was a combined 6 for 12 with two home runs, five runs scored, six runs batted in, a walk, and a free base after being hit by a pitch. Congratulations to Terry O’Dell. This week, you get a bottle of Bobrov’s Best Moonshine. “Make the night shine with Bobrov’s Best Moonshine.”

Next week we will visit Starlight Drive-In to watch the Lady Killers and Sunshine Tidings Chemists in Institute League action. The Chemists lost earlier today to drop to 14-16, while the Lady Killers are a game and a half behind first place Abernathy, who leads Lexington 5-1 entering the bottom of the 9th. Starlight is 17-13.

Let’s close out this week’s show with some Andrew Sisters with Danny Kaye, “Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEyDNTLlRgU

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

7 June 2296 - Assaultrons Pitcher Seeks Treatment, Will Miss Time

East Boston Prep Assaultrons reliever Marc Woodsman suffered a slight mental breakdown yesterday, so the team will send him to Goodneighbor for some treatment, along with some rest and relaxation. He is expected to miss at least a week.

The Memory Den has used its memory chairs to help people not only remember pleasant memories, but also to cope with unpleasant ones.

Woodsman was found naked just north of Easy Town while beating on a tree with a baseball bat. He was chanting, "I'm a little teapot," with some other rhymes to it while beating on a tree and told Brotherhood soldiers that found him that he needed to chop down the tree for the "tea fire."

Woodsman has been doing well so far this season on the mound, so he will be missed by the Assaultrons. In ten relief appearances, he has a 1-1 record with a 2.20 ERA. In 16.1 innings, he allowed four earned runs on 15 hits with six walks and 19 strikeouts. East Boston Prep is 15-15 and in third place in the Brotherhood League.

[StLee]

The 2296 season is halfway done. Wildcard spots for the playoffs are still wide open. For some teams, they have 30 down and 30 to go.

[StLee]

BL - Week's Best Player: Finch Farm's Honeycutt: Danny Honeycutt has the tools to stick in this league for many years. The 17-year-old left fielder of the Finch Farm Four Leafs had a hot bat in the Brotherhood League over the past seven days and won the Player of the Week honors.

Honeycutt batted .750 with 9 hits in 12 at-bats, 2 home runs and 4 RBIs.

Honeycutt is batting at a .370 pace this season, picking up 47 hits in 127 at-bats with 8 home runs, 24 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

IL - IL Awards Best Batter Prize to Qesadena: Willie Qesadena demonstrated his potential to be a star in the game last week and today he took home the Institute League Player of the Week Award.

The Starlight first baseman wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers last week, pounding them for a .462 average (6-for-13) with 3 home runs and 12 RBIs on his way to claiming the honor.

For the season Qesadena is batting .333 with 40 hits and 7 home runs. He has scored 27 times and batted in 36.

ML - Cuttooth Wins ML Honor: Patty Cuttooth burst onto the Minutemen League stage in a big way last week. This promising 6th-round left fielder for Warwick garnered everyone's respect by putting up some remarkable numbers and picking up the Player of the Week trophy.

The 25-year-old haunted opposing pitchers hitting .563 (9-for-16) with no home runs and 5 RBIs last week.

In his season totals, Cuttooth has 1 home run and a .348 batting average.

RL - Gerdenheimer Wins RL Player of the Week Honors: 16-year-old Crops Gerdenheimer sent shock waves through Railroad League last week with an eye-popping performance that brought him the Railroad League Player of the Week Award.

A 3rd-round pick for the Scrappers, Gerdenheimer made the establishment sit up and take notice, punishing opposing pitchers with a .643 average, 9 hits in 14 at-bats, 1 home run and 2 RBI.

Where the Egret Scrappers right fielder goes from here, only the baseball gods know for sure, but Gerdenheimer certainly made his mark last week.

This season Gerdenheimer is batting at a .367 clip with 9 home runs and 33 RBIs.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

Settlements Today

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

9 June 2296 - University Point

Each Tuesday for the upcoming weeks through the playoffs, we will feature one of the settlements, teams, and owners of the Commonwealth Baseball Organization. This is meant to tell you more about life in the Commonwealth, as well as give you more information about the teams and their owners.

In our ninth installment of "Settlement Today," I visited one of the settlements in the Commonwealth with a sad history.

Years before Nate Howard arrived on the scene, University Point was a thriving settlement. I won't copy the entire background here, but the former Massachusetts Bay University (MBU) played an important part in the pre-War United States' military development. Read more from an intraweb terminal here: https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/University_Point

According to Detective Nick Valentine, University Point was also a major settlement player in the Wasteland Commonwealth, thanks to the forming of the Commonwealth Provisional Government (CPG). The CPG was formed as a way to regulate and civilize the post-War Commonwealth. Unfortunately, at the time, the Institute under different leadership viewed the CPG as a threat and sent synths to murder every representative forming the CPG. That event, known as the CPG Massacre of 2233 (now given the year as 2233 though no one is absolutely sure that was the correct year), resulted in the Institute officially declaring war on the Minutemen and any other factions looking to unite the Commonwealth under a central government.


University Point - 2287 or 2288 - After "The Cleansing"

Despite the failure of instituting the CPG, University Point still thrived as a major settlement in the Commonwealth, and was considered to be a trading epicenter near the coast. Deacon, who is the Railroad representative (thus Railroad League president), used to be a member of a gang there called the University Point Deathclaws, which he had to put down after they killed his synth wife.

In 2285, the Institute again struck University Point when they sent the ruthless mercenary Conrad Kellogg (also of fame for kidnapping Nate Howard's son Shaun and murdering his wife Nora) to retrieve technology the settlers there had discovered. The settlers did not comply to Kellogg's liking, and Kellogg inevitably slaughtered most of the citizens there and had the Institute Gen-1 and Gen-2 synths occupy the settlement. Heather Casdin, one of Howard's associates and companions not currently involved in the CBO, was there for the slaughter and saw her sister murdered. Casdin, who is a descendant of a Brotherhood of Steel family, survived and fled UP. Years later, she returned with Howard to take the territory back, which they nicknamed "The Cleansing."


Mayor Heather Casdin

Today, Casdin has been at the front of UP's revitalization. Today, it is one of the more picturesque areas, with a beautiful downtown area and established small farmlands and nearby restaurants and a brewery. The stadium, in fact, is named Gwinnett Brewery Park. Casdin is now mayor of University Point.


University Point - 2296. A peaceful night in downtown.

Since most of the farming is for local consumption, University Point has made its newest mark by Casdin helping to restore MBU as an active learning center. Therefore, University Point appropriately is nicknamed "College Town" with wastelanders seeking practical studies in technology and hydroponics.

Owner - Ronnie Shaw



The former Minutemen quartermaster, later general, decided to retire while she could still walk, but retirement was never going to slow down Ronnie Shaw. She knew that Nate Howard assisted the Minutemen in retaking the Castle, the Minutemen's fort headquarters near University Point, and she wanted to repay Nate in whichever way she could. When he told of the desire to create a professional baseball league in the Commonwealth, she was all in. After retiring to University Point to be near The Castle but "not up everyone's *** there," Ronnie used her retirement caps to invest in purchasing the University Point Deathclaws team. With Ronnie's military background, she is one of the more demanding owners in the league, but she will build a team of respect and discipline.

The Drinkin' Buddy and the Restoration of Gwinnett Brewery


Gwinnett Beer logo on the brewery and Button Gwinnett's signature preset for labels on all beers produced in the Gwinnett Brewery

Rufus Rubins, with the help of his trusty protection Drinkin' Buddy, left the confines of the Hotel Rexford in Goodneighbor to get the Gwinnett Brewery up and running. One of the favorite watering holes in the Commonwealth, the Gwinnett Brewery and Restaurant serves plenty of the Minutemen stationed at The Castle, as well as other travelers coming from the Southeast or Downtown Boston.

Just like Easy Town serves the Brotherhood soldiers on leave, Gwinnett Brewery and Restaurant attracted plenty of Minutemen on leave, making it perhaps the most popular eatery and drinkery in the entirety of the Commonwealth.

[StLee]

I am looking to speed up this dynasty a little. I looked through my broadcasting schedule and see that only two teams have yet to be featured in either the DCR or WRVR broadcasts: East Boston Prep and Fort Hagen. They are scheduled on the broadcast in Weeks 12 and 13, I believe.

I wanted to give every team some love and introduction in Year One; that's why I made two different broadcast teams. Lately, I dread making these previews but do them as part of the "formula" of my dynasty. However, I am going to mostly scrap them from now on and continue to make the post-series writeups as short as possible for Travis and the Charles River Trio. That way, I can get through the second half of the season a little more quickly, leading up to the division races at the end.

The DCR and WRVR broadcasts are still going on in the background, but there will be just a little more imagination needed. Anyway, I am posting the full broadcast schedule below. The final five weeks are flex weeks where the broadcast teams get alternative choices of which series they will cover, with the possibility of covering the same teams over and over.

Just a head's up for those who are reading this. I would like to finish the Year One season within the month rather than August when I will be too busy to post regularly. I also want to have some time to do a little more of my own creative writing and fuse some of that into this dynasty world, like I did with "The Shadow Man" and my New Vegas dynasty.

[Tyke]

That sounds good, StLee.
Having read your introduction to University Point, I must say that if I had realised that Mayor Casdin was so hot, I might not have chosen the Party Boys to follow!!

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

8 June 2296 - Funeral for Party Boy

Nordhagen Beach Party Boys closer Kevin Containment, who was discovered dead and partially consumed on the beach last Thursday, was buried in a ceremony today in town.

Containment disappeared last weekend, though none of his teammates remember him going missing. Several players were partying at the Beach House restaurant, and some slept on the beach. It is assumed that Containment also slept on the beach, but was pulled to sea by a mirelurk.

Because of the state of his body, he was buried in a closed casket ceremony attended by his teammates, the owner of the Party Boys Emogen Cabot, and several others.

The Party Boys will be at home this weekend against The Slog Ghouls. They plan a special ceremony before the game where his number 11 will be retired. Containment will be the first person to have his jersey retired, mostly because his teammates feel bad about his death, even though he was a ****** pitcher and hardly ever spoke to them.

9 June 2296 - Containment's Tombstone Graffitied

One day after Nordhagen Beach Party Boys' closer Kevin Containment was buried, it has been discovered that someone carved the words, "Can't Contain Anything" on his grave.

We have no more information at this time with no suspects. Team and local officials seemed to shrug it off. One was heard saying, "He's dead. What does he care?"

10 June 2296 - Shallowwater in Deep Water

University Point backup second baseman Greg Shallowwater is in trouble with Minutemen officials who have discovered a small ring of child laborers at his property near Somerville Place.

Shallowwater has not been at the property since he reported to duty with the Deathclaws in March, but he had indicated it was being managed by his girlfriend.

On a routine patrol of the area, which sometimes gets unwelcome visitors from the Glowing Sea, Minutemen soldiers discovered that the farm being run by Shallowwater's girlfriend was entirely made up of child laborers.

Interviews with the children, Shallowwater's girlfriend Crella Deville, and the coach of the local youth league showed that some children had been there since late last year. Commonwealth rules stipulate that all children under the age of 15 must be enrolled in an education program and cannot spend their time primarily as laborers, though they can help on farms and other small jobs after they have completed their daily schoolwork.

Shallowwater will have to answer to the Minutemen officials since he was named as the culprit and Deville was merely following orders. Shallowwater left the team to go to The Castle, which is near University Point.

It is not clear when he will be able to play, but the Minutemen official we spoke to said, "No, not this weekend. Maybe not for a long time."

Shallowwater, who was selected in the 24th round, has started seven games and made 18 appearances this season. In 33 at bats, he had five hits for a .152 average. He has two doubles, four runs, three RBI, six walks, nine strikeouts, and a stolen base. Jason Harris, selected in the 5th round, is the usual second baseman for the 14-16 Deathclaws.

11 June 2296 - Danse Has 20-Game Hitting Streak

Paladin Danse's hitting streak is becoming the talk of Egret. The 30-year-old left fielder extended it once again today, this time bringing it to 20 games with a 1-for-4 performance against the Shaw HS Knuckle Punchers. The Scrappers took the game, 10-9.

"People are starting to bring it up to me when I'm around town," he said. "It's getting stressful."

Paladin Danse grounded out in the 1st, hit a solo-shot off Brad Westing in the 3rd, walked in the 5th, flied out in the 7th and struck out in the 8th.

In the current season, Danse has put up a .453 batting average with 58 hits, 14 home runs, 42 runs batted in and scored 39 runs.

11 June 2296 - Slog Pitcher Mauled

Nordhagen Beach has been an eventful location with death and destruction seemingly everywhere. The laissez fair attitude of the place may make people more susceptible to problems, for all we know.

The Slog pitcher David Kiwi found that out when he took a post-game stroll away from Nordhagen Beach and towards a small groups of ships that form an island and passage from Nordhagen Beach to Nahant.

Unfortunately for Kiwi, he encountered a gangrenous feral ghoul on one of the shipping containers, and he had to pay for the encounter. Though Kiwi escaped with his life by slaying the ghoul, the festering sores on the ghoul have probably infected him with potentially-deadly bacteria.

Kiwi was immediately rushed to the clinic at Nordhagen Beach by guards patrolling the area. He is expected to be moved to nearby Easy Town or even the Boston Airport to get treatments from Brotherhood of Steel doctors. He will not be available for his start on Saturday.

On the season, Kiwi has pitched in 13 games, starting five. He has allowed 26 earned runs on 50 hits with 10 walks and 36 strikeouts in 40 innings for a 5.85 ERA. He is 1-2 on the season with 2 saves.

12 June 2296 - County Crossing-Egret Trade: Simms for Scram

Team officials for County Crossing and Egret reported that the Bloodbugs have reached a deal sending 33-year-old LHP Shawn Simms and 21-year-old LF Jason Foghorn to the Scrappers for 25-year-old 3B Brian Scram and 17-year-old RHP Rickey Schoolmaster.

Simms has taken the mound for 10 relief appearances this season, nailing down 2 saves while notching a 0-0 record with a 0.67 ERA. The Egret reliever has limited opposing batters to a .302 batting average.

12 June 2296 - Derp Derped?

Quincy Gunners second baseman Dan Derp was missing in action from tonight's game against the Warwick Mirelurks. Apparently he was complaining of a headache earlier in the day and said he needed a nap.

When a team official went to his apartment to check on him, he found Derp fast asleep with an empty bottle of whiskey nearby. I guess he treated his headache with a headache-inducing pain killer.

Because the team official was unable to stir him in time, Derp was unable to attend today's game. At the time of this writing, the game has begun and Derp is still not at the ballpark.

12 June 2296 - Knuckle Punchers End Danse's Streak

The 20-game hitting streak of Paladin Danse has come to an end. The Egret Scrappers left fielder went 0-for-3 today in his team's 7-1 loss to the Shaw HS Knuckle Punchers at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina.

"It's not just Paladin who came up short today," Scrappers player-coach Troy Phillabum said in his postgame press conference. "This was a team loss."

This year Danse is batting .443 with 58 hits and 14 home runs. He has scored 39 times and has batted in 42 runs.

12 June 2296 - Perez Batters Fairline Hill Estates Big Time

It was a good day for the T-51s at Yao Guai Circle as they clipped the Fairline Hill Estates Yao Guai, 10-5. It was tremendous day for B.J. Perez, who was on a hitting barrage at the plate, finishing 5-for-6.

"I don't know what to call that," the Oberland center fielder told reporters after his big performance. "I'm not 'dialed in' or 'in a zone,' I just try to keep it simple. Basically the pitcher throws the ball, I try to pick up the spin, then I hit it. Today I picked up the spin pretty well."

B.J. Perez singled in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, flied out in the 3rd, singled in the 6th, doubled in the 8th and hit an RBI single in the 9th.

So far this season Perez is hitting .432 with 3 home runs.

13 June 2296 - Milteer Keeps Hit Streak Alive

Chris Milteer's hitting streak is becoming the talk of Oberland. The 19-year-old shortstop extended it once again today, this time bringing it to 25 games with a 2-for-5 performance against the Fairline Hill Estates Yao Guai. The T-51s took the game, 9-8.

"Everyone is excited about it but me," he said. "I'm just trying to put wood on leather."

Chris Milteer hit an RBI single in the 1st, grounded out in the 3rd, hit an RBI single in the 4th, struck out in the 5th and flied out in the 7th.

So far this season Milteer is hitting .407 with 5 home runs, 24 RBIs and 38 runs scored. He has 59 hits in 145 at-bats and a .466 OBP.

13 June 2296 - Warwick Tags Dwellers for 5 Hits

Wally Warwick led Diamond City to a 12-4 victory today over the Vault 81 Dwellers. He stroked 5 hits in 6 at-bats to spark his club in the win.

Wally Warwick struck out in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, doubled in the 4th, doubled in the 5th, singled in the 6th and singled in the 8th.

Warwick is currently batting .355 with 4 home runs and 33 RBIs.

13 June 2296 - Mastodon Hits in 25 Consecutive Games

Tom Mastodon, left fielder for the County Crossing Bloodbugs, ran his consecutive-game hitting streak to 25 games with 4 hits in his club's 20-2 victory today over the East Boston Prep Assaultrons at Beantown Brewery Stadium today.

"Not the outcome we wanted," East Boston Prep manager Graham Route said. "There's never a good time to lose, and it's never fun to be on the wrong end of somebody else's accomplishment."

Tom Mastodon grounded out in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, singled in the 3rd, hit a two-run double in the 4th and doubled in the 6th.

So far this year Mastodon is batting .463 with 3 home runs, 28 RBIs and 39 runs scored.

13 June 2296 - Yellowhair Collects Cycle

Boots Yellowhair did just about everything for The Slog Ghouls -- except win the game. The right fielder had a cycle wasted in his club's loss to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys.

Despite Yellowhair going 4-for-5 with 2 runs batted in and 3 runs scored, the Ghouls were defeated, 14-10.

"The guys feel like they let Boots down," The Slog manager Mack O'Shea said later. "He did all anyone could ask and we couldn't hold up our end of the bargain."

Boots Yellowhair singled in the 1st, doubled in the 2nd, hit a solo-shot off Tommy Beach in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 6th, walked in the 8th and grounded out in the 9th.

In his 2296 season totals, Yellowhair has 8 home runs, .323 BA, .385 OBP, 21 RBIs and 25 runs scored.

[Tyke]

Good result for the Party Boys. Did Emogen Cabot give his "Let's win one for the Container" speech before the game?

[StLee]

Originally Posted by Tyke

Good result for the Party Boys. Did Emogen Cabot give his "Let's win one for the Container" speech before the game?

Good win, but unfortunately, the Party Boys won Game 3 to avoid the sweep.

[StLee]

The Confidence Man Minute with Travis Miles

This is a transcript from Travis Miles’ post-game sign off of Game Three of the DCR Series of the Week.

Welcome to this week's "The Confidence Man Minute" in my hometown, Diamond City, in the stadium where I used to live and work, the Great Green Jewel. I am your host Travis Miles. Let's talk about the action in this Railroad League matchup as the Swatters avoid the sweep, beating the Vault 81 Dwellers 12-4 tonight. That pushes the Swatters back into a third-place tie after Fairline Hill Estates dropped two of three, including today's game, 9-8 against first-place Oberland.

For Vault 81, they broke out of being swept in three straight series by winning their second series in a two to move to 4-2 in their last six. While they are still in fifth place, they remain four games up on the Shaw High School Knuckle Punchers, who also won their series this weekend over second-place Egret, which helped the Swatters in their playoff pursuits.

One player who stepped up for the Dwellers this week is Steve Gunkill. Gunkill was traded to the Dwellers from the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys along with Mark Dombrowski and Charlie Maloney in exchange for pitchers Julian Shed, Kevin Containment, Dirty Dog Sapienza, and Pointie Shroud. Containment has been in the news in Nordhagen Beach for apparently committing suicide by mirelurk. That was concluded when investigators found a note on his home terminal that read, "Failure is forever." Sad news there.

But, back to this game. Gunkill was the Game 1 MVP, a 7-4 Dwellers win. In the game, he was 4 for 5 with two doubles, a triple, and scored three runs. It was definitely his most productive game since joining Vault 81 on May 14.

For Diamond City, Wally Warwick had a hit extravaganza today, going 5 for 6 with two doubles and a run scored. Catcher Jazz Stockton, hitting eighth, was the game MVP here in Game 3 by going 3 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored, three runs batted in, and a walk.

That will do it for "The Confidence Man Minute." Next week, we are heading across the Commonwealth to the Brotherhood League when we watch the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, currently at 13-20 and in last place, host the County Crossing Bloodbugs, who are 17-16 and in third place. Anyway, until then, have a safe and prosperous week!

[StLee]

The Light Bulb with Anne, Rex, and George

A: Hi, our beautiful listeners. This is Anne Hargraves of the Charles River Trio, and you are listening to our weekly post-series wrap up show, "The Light Bulb." I'm here with my handsome hosts, Rex Goodman and George Cooper.

Rex and George, we watched this Institute League series this weekend at Valentine Detective Agency Field where the host Starlight Lady Killers win only one of three against the visiting Sunshine Tidings Chemists. The Chemists improve to 16-17 on the weekend, while the Lady Killers are now 18-15. Starlight remains in second place, while the Chemists move themselves up into a tie with Concord for third place.

R: It was an effort in valiance for the makers of chemical properties.

G: I have no idea what valiance is, Rex, but I agree.

A: We've been broadcasting the late games almost every Saturday, so again we are going to rush forward with a light bulb round of awards. Rex, start us off.

R: There must be a name for borrowed names, but I cannot recall the parlance of the situation. Anyway, the Sportiest Sport this week has a name that rings bells for some, conjures images of cherubs and golden harps for others. And that Sportiest Sport is the home team's Jesus Church. In Thursday's game, Church contributed a double and home run despite the Lady Killers' 6-5 defeat. He also accomplished the walk-off hit in today's victory for Starlight.

G: I get to present this week's Outstanding Pitcher as I do every week that I am not presenting the Outstanding Player, who is almost always not a pitcher. This week's best pitching performance came from Tony Fusion of Sunshine Tidings. In 8 innings pitched, he allowed four earned runs on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts to improve his record to 5-3 on the season. Great job, Mr. Fusion.

A: Thank you, boys. I will now name the previously mentioned Outstanding Player Award. This week, the award is Sunshine Tidings left fielder Amari Nukes. In three games, he batted 7 of 13 with a home run, a run scored, seven runs batted in, and two walks.

That will wrap up our wrap up here on "The Light Bulb." We are staying in the Institute League next week when we will watch the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud for the first time this season. Unfortunately for them, they are in last place in the league with a 13-20 record. They are hosting Starlight, so we get to see the Lady Killer two weeks in a row, and the Lady Killers will try to use a series against the sixth place team to make a move on first-place Abernathy, who leads by three games with a 21-12 record. Abernathy swept Concord this week.

You fellows know I like men, so let me cut to the music with Betty Hutton and "It's a Man." Some of these boys in baseball uniforms are men! Hit it, Betty! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLHY0qonl4

[StLee]

Maybe a week late, but in correlation with the standings, some projected leaders in the top batter and pitcher races. Each of the league's will have its own named awards that are faction-based. We will see those names after the conclusion of the season.

BL
Batter - Tom Mastodon, County Crossing - .463/.490/.714, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 39 R, 6 SB
Pitcher - Steve Rocky, Finch Farm - 9-0, 3.92 ERA, 85 IP, 104 H, 19 BB, 50 K

IL
Batter - Austin Engill, Abernathy Adamantium - .358/.497/.696, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 46 R, 2 SB
Pitcher - Tim Fusion, Sunshine Tidings - 5-3, 3.68 ERA, 80.2 IP, 77 H, 22 BB, 75 K

ML
Batter - Jumper Hayes, Goodneighbor - .415/.481/.778, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 42 R, 3 SB
Pitcher - John Diner, Warwick Mirelurks - 7-2, 3.75 ERA, 74.1 IP, 79 H, 20 BB, 67 K

RL
Batter - Paladin Danse, Egret - .444/.519/.926, 15 HR, 44 RBI, 40 R
Pitcher - Bow Rome, Fairline Hill Estates Yao Guai - 6-3, 3.52 ERA, 84.1 IP, 100 H, 9 BB, 65 K

[StLee]

BL - BL Names Best Player: Tommy Talkington demonstrated his potential to be a star in the game last week and today he took home the Brotherhood League Player of the Week Award.

The Nordhagen Beach third baseman wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers last week, pounding them for a .643 average (9-for-14) with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs on his way to claiming the honor.

This season Talkington has banged out 56 hits in 144 at-bats for a .389 average with 8 home runs. He is getting on base at a .413 pace and his totals also include 33 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

IL - Church Wins IL Honor: It can be difficult for a young player to step out of the shadows and assert himself in the Institute League, but last week Jesus Church of the Starlight Lady Killers reminded everyone just why he's here as he threw up numbers that made him an easy selection for Player of the Week. Church rocked opposing pitching for a .615 average (8-for-13), 1 home run and 5 RBIs to come away with the award.

This year Church is batting .324 with 4 home runs and 36 RBIs.

ML - Flatt's Strong Week Earns ML Trophy: Cody Flatt is respected by most Jamaica Plain Treasures fans for his no-frills style of play. The 17-year-old first baseman went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Minutemen League Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .875 average (7-for-8) with 1 home run, 4 RBIs and 5 runs scored.

Currently Flatt is batting .319 with 37 hits and 8 home runs. He has knocked in 26 runs and scored 24 times.

RL - Week's #1 Player Honored by RL: 19-year-old B.J. Perez sent shock waves through the Railroad League last week with an eye-popping performance that brought him the Railroad League Player of the Week Award.

The second-round pick of the T-51s, Perez made the establishment sit up and take notice, punishing opposing pitchers with a .625 average, 10 hits in 16 at-bats, no home runs and 3 RBI.

Where the Oberland T-51s center fielder goes from here, only the baseball gods know for sure, but Perez certainly made his mark last week.

For the year Perez is hitting .444 with 3 home runs. His stats include 30 runs batted in and 40 runs scored.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

16 June 2296 - CBO Fringe Player Not Happy

Dan Lowbridge, who just changed his name from his birth name of Dan McCaul, is not very happy with the CBO. Lowbridge, who was released by Nordhagen Beach today, was seen throwing, kicking, slamming, and punching various items at the Red Rocket Stadium facilities.

He was quoted as saying, among a string of expletives, "I'm done with this league. It's collusion. Total collusion."

Lowbridge, a reserve relief pitcher, may have a legitimate complaint. Despite the CBO relaxing the reserve roster rules, most teams have stayed at 40 players. At the current rate of available players for the 2296 season, teams on average could have about 45 players per team.

So, as one of about 100 current free agents in the CBO, it does not make sense to Lowbridge why he has been signed and released so often, sometimes without even reporting to the team that signed him.

Lowbridge was not drafted, but he first signed with the Finch Farm organization on Februay 11. The next day, his contract was passed to the Concord Radstags in a no-trade agreement teams currently have for making moves on their reserve roster.

On February 13, Concord released Lowbridge. He was then picked up by Starlight a day later, who no-trade passed him to The Slog on February 17. On February 18, he was then no-trade passed to Starlight. Starlight then dropped him on February 19. On February 21, Goodneighbor signed him.

Asked about the situation through the ESAU, a representative for Goodneighbor responded. "We liked McCaul [now officially Lowbridge] OK, but he was our 40th man at the time. In the end, we needed to make moves for our roster."

The Hancocks happened to be Lowbridge's longest tenure. On April 2, the lineup juggling began again. Goodneighbor released Lowbridge, and then University Point picked him up three days later. On April 6, the Deathclaws dropped him, and he returned to Goodneighbor on April 9. On April 10, the Hancocks no-trade passed him to Shaw HS.

Lowbridge stayed with the Knuckle Punchers for 19 days before they no-trade passed him to East Boston Prep. From April 29 until May 15, he was no-trade passed 19 times!

"We're looking into the rule," Nate Howard responded to us at Publick Occurrences. "I think I have a solution he will like. I will reach out to him personally."

Lowbridge enjoyed three days with the Cats before the no-trade pass carousel restarted. From May 18 until June 11, he was no-trade passed 13 more times. The Party Boys kept him for five days before releasing him today.

We appreciate the quick replies from Commissioner Howard and the Goodneighbor organization. We are still trying to get a comment from Lowbridge.


Lee's Note: I removed the reserve restriction from the leagues because of Mr. Lowbridge, among others.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

Settlements Today

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

16 June 2296 - County Crossing

Each Tuesday for the upcoming weeks through the playoffs, we will feature one of the settlements, teams, and owners of the Commonwealth Baseball Organization. This is meant to tell you more about life in the Commonwealth, as well as give you more information about the teams and their owners.

In our tenth installment of "Settlement Today," I visited the "Gateway to the North," County Crossing.


County Crossing - 2287. The NGTY is in the upper-left corner. Beantown Brewery Stadium is now on the other side of the row of rocks on the top of the picture.

County Crossing was once nothing more than a single farm plot with not much going for it. According to the intranet, in 2287, "There is a ruined house without a roof, a small shack with two mattresses, a workshop and two unnamed settlers growing 15 bushels of mutfruit. In the northeast corner of the settlement is a small pond of water that can be used to build water purifiers.

"The settlement is adjacent to two other locations, including the nuclear power station on its western border and the National Guard training yard to the northeast. A super mutant base is also nearby, within the Revere satellite array."


National Guard Training Yard - 2287. No developed pictures-2296-are currently available.

After Nick cleared out the ghouls from the National Guard Training Yard, County Crossing became much safer. The wide-open area became a central all-purpose farming community thanks to the Minutemen's efforts. Settled between Bunker Hill and the rest of Charlestown, County Crossing was an excellent trading center for the Commonwealth, thus its designated nickname, "The Gateway to the North."


County Crossing - 2296. See more of this user's settlement build at: https://imgur.com/gallery/zvU4k

Former caravaner and traveling medicine man, Doc Weathers, decided to take control of the National Guard Training Yard and convert it into a medicine and chems supply station for the Northeast. Beantown Brewery Stadium was built across the highway from the National Guard Training Yard. Many of the players live in housing behind the NGTY.

Owner - Doc Weathers

Before settling in County Crossing, "Doc Weathers is a traveling doctor and caravaneer operating out of Bunker Hill. His only intentions appear to be monetary gain and assisting the general community, but a further approach into his history reveals a secret connection with one of the most feared major organizations in the Commonwealth.

"Weathers is accompanied by his loyal pack brahmin, Idiot. He employs two caravan guards for protection. His route passes through local settlements in the northeastern region of the Commonwealth, including County crossing and The Slog."



After the purification of the Commonwealth, Weathers became the de facto mayor of County Crossing, running both his medical and chems supplies emporium, which most people around the Commonwealth just refer to as the NGTY. It also functions as a country hospital for any serious injuries or illnesses in the Charlestown area.

More Beer . . . and Moonshine


Beantown Brewery sign

Brothers Vadim and Yefim Bobrov won't talk about it, but the men with peculiar accents, which Nate Howard has told us is Russian, have been important contributors of the Commonwealth drinking scene. Before Diamond City only existed inside the Great Green Jewel. During that time, they occupied the first base dugout where they built their bar/restaurant/hotel, the Dugout Inn.

After the cleansing of the Commonwealth, Vadim requested that he be able to rejuvenate the Beantown Brewery. He was once held hostage there, where he was rescued by Howard, DCR's Travis Miles, and University point mayor Heather Casdin.

The Bobrov brothers used to make a small amount of their own liquor, the Bobrov Best Moonshine. By taking over the brewery, Bobrov Best Moonshine is the most widely produced alcoholic beverage in the Commonwealth behind beer. It is a tough mash, so they have now been infusing some artificial flavors into it to give it a bit more of a fruity flavor.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

17 June 2296 - Party Boys Ship Gourd to Shaw HS

Fans in Nordhagen Beach woke up this morning to learn that their team had traded 25-year-old reserve LF Rocky Gourd to the Shaw HS Knuckle Punchers. In return, the Party Boys will receive 30-year-old RHP Sia Abber and 17-year-old LF Pablo Rivera.

In nine appearances, Abber has allowed 11 earned runs on 14 hits with seven walks and eight strikeouts in 11.2 innings for an 8.49 ERA. Abber was the 14th-round pick of the Knuckle Punchers, number 322 overall.

Rivera has appeared in 16 games for the Knuckle Punchers. He never started a game, so all appearances were as a pinch hitter. In 19 at bats, he had five hits, all singles, for a .263 average. He scored five runs, walked once, struck out four times, and stole a base.

17 June 2296 - CBO Makes Major Announcements

The Commonwealth Baseball Organization held a press conference today at the Great Green Jewel in Diamond City. The news was big, and we only have bits of information, but I am looking to reveal as much information as I can. We had hoped to gather these stories and publish them separately, but we need to tell the basics now. There is a lot of information, so here is what we know:

It has been a poorly-kept secret, but it has been obvious ever since Nuka-Cola and Nuka World owner John-Caleb Bradberton visited that there have been more changes in the works for the CBO. Commissioner Nate Howard confirmed the biggest of those changes today after "all pieces came together."

That announcement is this: there will be a minor league system in place starting next season. Simple fenced-in fields have been constructed throughout the smaller settlements in the Commonwealth. Later, Howard will help have seating constructed for those places as well as a vow for "free" baseball for fans. Also, Howard stated that the non-trade agreement system, which is not working as he had intended, will be tweaked for the 2297 season. He said that the minor league system should solve that problem.

There will be an influx of players, available from some of the youth leagues as well as newcomers from other parts of the Commonwealth who were not eligible to play in the CBO this season. Howard is expecting somewhere around 300 new players available for the 2297 season, meaning that teams will have a minor league squad that should have about the same number of players as the CBO.

The minor league has not yet been named, but we have been able to gather some of the locations. One of the leagues will be in the area of the Brotherhood League and will include Greentop Nursery, Breakheart Banks, Taffington Boathouse, and Malden. Speculation is that General Atomics Galleria and Outpost Zimonja could be the other two teams to represent the Brotherhood League. Some of the other locations that currently have a fenced-in baseball field include Charles View Ampitheater, Corvega Assembly Plant, Mystic Pines, the Cabot House, C.I.T. Ruins, and Postal Square. Some places have been clearing out space, including Bunker Hill, College Square, Haymarket Mall, Boston Common, and Trinity Plaza.

We do not have confirmed reports because these areas are a bit far southwest of Boston proper, but there are also reports of fields constructed at Fiddler's Green Trailer Park, Forest Grove Marsh, Mass Pike Interchange, Natick Banks, and Poseidon Reservoir.

In addition to the announcement of the minor league system, Howard also announced that they had accumulated a pool of sponsors, though some will not begin their official sponsorships until the new baseball year in January or February of 2297. Those corporate sponsors added to the pool are ArcJet Systems, BosCom, Curie, Inc., and Slocum's Joe. Related to the next announcement, there will also be some changes in sponsorship.

The change here is two-fold. First, we know already about Pipercom becoming BosCom and investing in Fairline Hill Estates with plans to purchase the Yao Guai franchise outright.

Also, Kasumi Nakano has made a deal to purchase the Jamaica Plain Treasures outright. We have a follow-up story on that, which we will publish next week following the games. Nakano has released a statement regarding the purchase. Basically, she is pulling her sponsorship of the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys so that Jamaica Plain's stadium will carry the Red Rocket Stadium name.

With the change in sponsorships, Nordhagen Beach and Salem are currently without a sponsor. There are rumors that a few more teams will enter the sponsorship carousel, but we do not know which at this time.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

18 June 2296 - Nukes Goes on Rampage Against Radstags

Thanks to Amari Nukes and his big bat, the Chemists derailed the Concord Radstags 17-8 today at Nuka Park. The Sunshine Tidings left fielder had a standout game with 5 hits in 6 at-bats. Amari Nukes doubled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, hit an RBI single in the 4th, hit a two-run single in the 6th, struck out in the 7th and doubled in the 8th.

This year Nukes has 4 home runs and a .374 batting average.

18 June 2296 - Pettinato Runs Hit String to 20 Straight Games

Ben Pettinato continued his streak at The Stone House today, even as the ballgame did not go his way. The Quincy third baseman was 2-for-4 in today's contest and now has hit safely in his last 20 games. The Gunners were not as fortunate, losing 19-5 to the Goodneighbor Hancocks.

"Pettinato was hitting everything we threw at him," said Goodneighbor player-coach Quincy Eloquent. "He is a tough out. Fortunately, things went our way in the ballgame today and we came away with a win."

Ben Pettinato walked in the 1st, doubled in the 3rd, doubled in the 5th, flied out in the 6th and struck out in the 9th.

Pettinato has collected 58 hits for the Gunners this year, 4 of them home runs. He has also netted 37 RBIs and scored 34 runs while batting .408.

18 June 2296 - No Hits for Milteer, Streak Ends at 25

All good things must come to an end -- and so it was today for Chris Milteer as he saw his 25-game hitting streak end. He went hitless in 2 at-bats at the hands of the Shaw HS Knuckle Punchers.

It wasn't all bad for the 19-year-old shortstop and the Oberland T-51s however, as they defeated Shaw HS 9-2 at Atomatoys Stadium.

When asked about his hitting streak, a smiling Milteer laughed and said, "I guess my luck ran out today."

For the year Milteer is batting .401 with 59 hits and 5 home runs. He has scored 39 times and driven in 24.

18 June 2296 - DCR Series Game 1: Party Boys Prevail, 7-5, Over County Crossing

The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys got a radstorm-interrupted win over the County Crossing Bloodbugs.

The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys defeated the County Crossing Bloodbugs, 7-5, in Brotherhood League action at Red Rocket Stadium.
Nordhagen Beach pitcher Julian Shed had a standout performance despite the no decision. In 6.0 innings, he allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Night Demon Archaki (2-0) picked up the win despite giving up the lead in the top of the seventh. Picking up the save was Ray Human, his 3rd in three attempts.

A defensive lapse proved costly in the contest. In the bottom of the seventh, with the game tied, Mike Swift was at the plate when Nordhagen Beach scored 1 on an error. The miscue enabled the Party Boys to go in front, 6-5.

"I like to keep things lively in the clubhouse," said Swift. "Believe me, it's much easier after a win."

The win makes Nordhagen Beach 14-20 and drops the Bloodbugs to 17-17.



19 June 2296 - Emacipated Shuts Out Warwick

It was a quiet day for the Warwick Mirelurks at The Homestead today -- a little too quiet. Atom Cats starter Jesse Emacipated silenced the Mirelurks, holding them to 3 hits and keeping them scoreless in a complete-game effort.

"It was frustrating against Emacipated today," Warwick player-coach Patty Cuttooth said.

The Atom starting pitcher walked 4 and allowed 3 hits while fanning 7.

This season Emacipated has 3 wins and 4 losses and a 8.66 ERA.

19 June 2296 - DCR Series Game 2: Party Boys Walk It Off for 15th Win of Season

Starting pitcher Melvin Rude was a major factor in the 3-2 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys triumph over the County Crossing Bloodbugs. Newly-acquired Sia Abber, credited with the win, is now 1-0. He allowed no runs on 1 hit in 1 inning. Nordhagen Beach has now won 3 in a row.

Taboo Richardson was the walk-off hero for Nordhagen Beach. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Party Boys shortstop hit a dramatic run-scoring single to send the teams home.

Rude attributed the win to "energy and focus on the part of everyone."



19 June 2296 - Party Boys End Mastodon's Streak

The County Crossing Bloodbugs lost to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys 3-2 today at Red Rocket Stadium, but perhaps the bigger news was the end of Tom Mastodon's 26-game hitting streak. The left fielder went 0-for-4 on the day.

"We felt if we could slow down Mastodon, we would win the game," Party Boys player-coach Dan Neofotistos explained. "They really seemed to feed off his streak, so we tried to put more emphasis on shutting him down."

Mastodon is currently hitting at a .445 pace with 3 home runs and 28 RBIs.

20 June 2296 - Flatt and Lidtke Fight, Get Suspended

Cody Flatt of the Jamaica Plain Treasures and Bobby Lidtke of the University Point Deathclaws will be on the sidelines for a few days. They have been suspended for 4 and 9 games respectively by the league office for causing the bench-emptying free-for-all at the recent Treasures-Deathclaws game at The Treasure Box.

Neither player had any comment about the suspensions. Both clubs told Publick Occurrences that Flatt and Lidtke will begin serving their suspensions soon.

This season in 36 games, Flatt has hit at a .315 clip with 39 hits, 8 home runs, 26 RBIs and 24 runs scored.

Thus far this season, Lidtke has tossed 26.1 innings in 6 starts, fanned 27 batters, walked 15 and put up a 5.81 ERA with 1 win and 1 loss.

20 June 2296 - DCR Series Game 3: Party Boys Complete Sweep, Win Again on Walkoff

The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys picked up a win at Red Rocket Stadium, knocking off the County Crossing Bloodbugs, 6-5, in 10 innings.
Starting pitcher Tommy Beach (2-0) was a big reason why, pitching the complete-game win. It was the first time in the CBO a player pitched more than nine innings.

The Party Boys relied on catcher Mike Swift for the game-winning hit. And, in the bottom of the tenth, he delivered, hitting a run-scoring single to seal the deal.

"We cashed in when we had the chance," said Nordhagen Beach player-coach Dan Neofotistos.

Should East Boston Prep lose tonight's game to the Finch Farm Four Leafs, the Party Boys would move into a tie for fifth-place.

[StLee]

Correction from above: DCR Week 12 Series Recap





The Confidence Man Minute with Travis Miles

This is a transcript from Travis Miles’ post-game sign off of Game Three of the DCR Series of the Week.

When I saw that this week's assignment, my first thoughts were about off-field drama and a bad baseball team. As it turned out, all the drama this weekend was on the field. Hi everyone. I am Travis Miles, and this is "The Confidence Man Minute," Diamond City Radio's post-series show.

This weekend, we saw the host Nordhagen Beach Party Boys sweep the visiting County Crossing Bloodbugs, winning two of the three games in walk-off fashion. That included this afternoon's game when the Party Boys' Mike Swift singled in Michael Fogcrawler in the bottom of the tenth inning for the 6-5 win.

The big talking point for Nordhagen Beach is how much change this team has had in a short time and how positively that has affected the team, at least for this weekend. The newcomers had a big weekend. For one, as most baseball fans have heard, Nordhagen Beach lost their closer Kevin Containment to an apparent suicide by mirelurk. That has resulted in shuffling the roster and a trade.

First things first, Julian Shed was acquired in the same trade that brought Containment from Vault 81. Shed did not get the victory in Game 1, but he did pitch well for six innings. Also of note in Game 1, Ray Human, who moved from the starting pitching rotation to take over Containment's spot, earned his third save in three attempts. That has been an upgrade so far.

In Game 2. Sia Abber, who was just acquired three days ago from the Shaw H-S Knuckle Punchers, got to see his first action with his new team. He pitched a single inning, allowing only one hit and striking out one. In the bottom of the ninth, Taboo Richardson knocked in Michael Fogcrawler on a game-winning single to give Nordhagen Beach a 3-2 win and give Abber the win.

Game 3 was influenced by another player benefiting from the Containment loss. Tommy Beach, who moved from the bullpen as the "emergency starter" to the third starter in the lineup. He responded in his second start by moving to 2-0. He pitched all 10 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.

What a weekend for the Party Boys! Well, that's it, folks. Next week, we at DCR are traveling to another last-place team to see what they can do: Jamaica Plain. We learned from Publick Occurrences this past week that the Red Rocket's Kasumi Nakano is purchasing the team, so we hope to feature her during our broadcast. That's all we have for this week. Travis out.

[StLee]

The Duct Tape with Rex, George, and Anne

R: Good afternoon, my trusted friends of the Commonwealth. This is your capable host Rex Goodman broadcasting to you live from Hubris Comics Park where the Starlight Lady Killers defeated the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud by the score of 9-6. With the win, the Lady Killers have won the series, two games to one. George and Anne, your take and awards?

G: I can't say this weekend was surprising. We predicted that Fort Hagen might take one and that is just what they did in Game 2. Otherwise, these two teams are on the opposite side of the Instittute standings. We did not have great pitching this weekend. but one player seemed to do best of them all: Starlight's City Moore. He won Game 1 to move to 3-3. He pitched 8.0 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 8 hits with no walks and 5 strikeouts. So, that makes City Moore our Outstanding Pitcher of the Week.

A: We also only had one comeback to qualify for the Bottoms Up Award for the week. This week it was more of a process than a one-hit wonder, so I will nominate the grandest of those hits. And this week, that player will be Seth Dungan of the Silver Shroud. In Game 2, the Shroud was down 8-7 in the bottom of the 8th. After Bixton Moore doubled in Jason Niederer, Dungan tripled in Moore for what proved to be the winning hit in the 11-8 win. Here's to a symbolic pat on the backside, Dungan.

R: Thank you, my contemporaries. The distinguished award for Most Outstanding Player of the Week goes to Starlight second baseman Wild Cannon. The wild child of the Wastelands had a most successful week with 8 hits in 15 at bats, three doubles, 4 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

That is now the finis to our show, "The Duct Tape." Next week, we will visit East Boston Prep and watch the Assaultrons take on The Slog Ghouls. I think George, Anne, and I will also have to spend some time at Easy City Downs to watch the mechanical beasts race to glory.

Since we are headed to the tracks, let's end this broadcast with Wynonie Harris and his gambling tune, "Grandma Plays the Numbers": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m136JOv3z6w