Senior Baseball World Series Everything Thread

[Sarzonia]

Small ballfields throughout Sarzonia have been freshly mowed, fields have been lined and umpires hired for the inaugural edition of the Senior Baseball World Series, which will be played entirely in Sarzonia.

There will be three fields, one in each of Sarzonia's Big Three cities of Woodstock, Portland and Nicksia. In addition, Portsmouth, Wilmington and Tacoma will also host matches. There will be two groups of seven teams each featuring double round robin matches. In other words, you will face each team from your group twice. You will also have at least one bye week in each half of the group stage.

The knockout stage will feature the top four team from each group battling it out in single elimination matches with the top seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third seed. The winners of each match will face each other in a group title match. The winners of that match will play a best-of-three championship series.

The groups have been drawn. As host nation, Sarzonia are automatically placed in Group 1.

GROUP 1
Sarzonia
Virabia
Rent Is 3 Damn High
Western cuba
Newmanistan
Bluth Corporation
Darmen

Group 2
Civil Citizenry
Kazerjan
Delaclava
West Guiana
Tukistan
Bergnovinaia
Wayong

MATCHDAY 1 (22 Aug)
2 v. 7
3 v. 6
4 v. 5
1 BYE

MATCHDAY 2 (23 Aug)
1 v. 2
6 v. 4
7 v. 3
5 BYE

MATCHDAY 3 (24 Aug)
3 v. 1
4 v. 7
5 v. 6
2 BYE

MATCHDAY 4 (25 Aug)
1 v. 4
2 v. 3
7 v. 5
6 BYE

MATCHDAY 5 (26 Aug)
5 v. 1
4 v. 2
6 v. 7
3 BYE

MATCHDAY 6 (27 Aug)
1 v. 6
2 v. 5
3 v. 4
7 BYE

MATCHDAY 7 (28 Aug)
7 v. 1
6 v. 2
5 v. 3
4 BYE

Next Monday (29 Aug) will be a mid-qualifying break (after all, these are geriatric baseball players!), following by resumption of the group stage on 30 Aug in reverse of the above. In other words, teams that played as the home side in the first leg will play as the away side in the second leg.

The knockout round begins the Thursday after Labor Day in the United States (8 Sept). Saturday will feature the third place match and Game 1 of the championship series.

Very important: If you have anything OOC to discuss, please do so in the sign up thread until such time as it may be necessary to create a discussion thread. Any solely OOC posts in this thread will incur a RP bonus penalty.

[Sarzonia]

Sarzonia Senior Stars

Manager: Jim Paulsen
Paulsen was dismissed as manager of the regular Stars team in favour of Delaclav-born Khalil Dennis. However, Paulsen chose to retain his link to Sarzonian baseball and agreed to assume the managerial duties for the 35-and-over Stars.
Bench Coach: Johnny Martin
Martin, who retired recently as bench coach of the Stars, agreed to come out of retirement to serve as bench coach for his former boss Paulsen.
Pitching Coach: Jim Wiesen
Yet another former member of Paulsen's coaching staff who eventually left the team after Dennis took over, Wiesen still keeps in touch with current pitching coach Ken Sutcliffe on a regular basis.

Roster (in line up order)
SS 12 Noah Clementi
Clementi stopped playing organised baseball after a failed tryout with the Woodstock Mountaineers when his college career ended. However, the 38 year old was recently clocked faster in the 90-yard dash than Dewey Griffin.

RF 4 Chris Kelvin
The 36-year-old retired five years ago because he had problems with his knees. However, recent surgery in a Catherina hospital allowed to resume baseball activity for the first time since his retirement. He still has a dangerous right arm in the outfield.

3B 10 Lyle Dunaway
Dunaway, 42, recently began playing in a 40-and-over recreational league and actually caught the attention of scouts who were considering establishing a professional league for 35-and-over players. However, the league's lack of a solid insurance plan led him to decline the offer, at least for now.

1B 44 Hank Everly
The hitting coach for the former world champion Stars couldn't resist joining the senior Stars as a player for one last go of it. He brings considerable power from his days as an international standout.

LF 15 Clayton Spencer
Spencer's arm in left may leave something to be desired, but he is better at positioning himself in the outfield and his RBI potential ensures that he will stay in the game. He turned 37 a month ago.

DH 18 Brynn Matthews
She may not be the stereotypical big bopper as a designated hitter, but the 36-year-old can hit for average and has the best eye on the team. Has been known to take very close pitches for balls.

CF 7 Brad Casey
Casey is still a speedster, although it took the 39-year-old's seven years away from the game as a player and serving as an analyst to study pitchers. His recent training to get back into game shape should help him be a better base stealer than he was in his heyday.

2B 3 Sarah Martin
She celebrated her 35th birthday the day the Senior Baseball World Series was announced, so she is the youngest player on the Senior Stars. She also has impressive range, although her arm is a bit inaccurate.

C 8 Todd Clancy, 36
Clancy recently resumed play as a catcher with a 35-and-over league after a cup of coffee at first base and designated hitter. He serves as manager of a minor league team in suburban Saugerties.

Bench
SS/2B 9 Jolene Lewis, 36
OF 29 Samuel Bellamy, 40
1B/3B 33 Tim Hewson, 39
C 6 Sara Marcos, 37
INF 5 Nolan Bannister, 39

Starting Pitchers
23 David Coffey, 38, LHP
Coffey began his career as a fireballer with poor control. He eventually learned to pitch by the time he retired at 35 because his arm lost some of his best fastball.

31 Hal Starrette, 43, RHP
He didn't play organised baseball after leaving high school, but a year of intense workouts in the gym gave him a surprisingly powerful fastball. He then made the team as the No. 2 starter.

32 Brent Williams, 36, LHP
Williams pitched in a Sarzonia Series for the Portland Fishermen, winning Game 3 three years ago. He's only the No. 3 starter because he's attending his daughter's graduation from university.

39 Matt Wells, 45, RHP
Wells is a righthander with quirks that would make a lefthander proud. He usually throws in the low-to-mid 80s, but has been known to hit 93 when he has to.

43 Tommy Johnson, 47, LHP
Johnson hadn't picked up a baseball in 14 years because of a torn rotator cuff. When he finally decided to try his hand at it, he found he appreciated the game much more than he did when he played previously.

Bullpen
14 Hal Spencer, LHP (long relief)
28 Carlton Rennie, RHP (long relief)
30 Daniel Thurmond, RHP (middle relief)
37 John West, LHP (middle relief)
40 Cliff Torrance, RHP (set-up relief)
45 Hank Satchell, LHP (situational/set-up relief)
48 Pete Nelson, RHP (closer)

Depth players to be filled in later.

[Sarzonia]

RP cutoff for Matchday 1!

EDIT: Actually, scratch that. Having some trouble with the files, so Matchday 1 is postponed until tomorrow.

That will also give you an extra day to RP. The rest of the schedule will be pushed back by a day.

[Darmen]

Darmen Senior Baseball Team
Manager-Philip Highland-59

Starting Pitchers
LHP-Jacob Fore-58
RHP-Kevin Gould-55
RHP-Gerald Krause-53
RHP-Andrew Isenberg-50
LHP-Raymond Hendley-46

Relief Pitchers
LHP-Anthony Cushman-40
RHP-Ernest Wilkinson-41

Closer
RHP-Joseph Maddox-42

Catcher-Craig Sparrox-44
First Base-Manuel Puga-47
Second Base-Victor Huggins-51
Short Stop-Edward Saad-48
Third Base-Jefferey Bowie-46
Infielder/Utility-Tony Guimond-43
Outfielder-Chad Askins-39
Outfielder-Jeff Sherer-55
Outfielder-Brian Beaver-42
Utility-Anthony Busse-46

[Sarzonia]

Take two for RP cutoff for Matchday 1!

GROUP 1
Virabia 1–6 Darmen
Rent Is 3 Damn High 3–2 Bluth Corporation
Western Cuba 6–4 Newmanistan
Sarzonia BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Darmen                              1    1   0    6    1   +5    3
2 Western Cuba                        1    1   0    6    4   +2    3
3 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 1    1   0    3    2   +1    3
4 Sarzonia                            0    0   0    0    0    0    0
5 Bluth Corporation                   1    0   1    2    3   −1    0
6 Newmanistan                         1    0   1    4    6   −2    0
7 Virabia                             1    0   1    1    6   −5    0

GROUP 2
Kazerjan 4–3 Wayong
Delaclava 3–0 Bergnovinaia
West Guiana 4–9 Tukistan
Civil Citizenry BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Tukistan                            1    1   0    9    4   +5    3
2 Delaclava                           1    1   0    3    0   +3    3
3 Kazerjan                            1    1   0    4    3   +1    3
5 Civil Citizenry                     0    0   0    0    0    0    0
4 Wayong                              1    0   1    3    4   −1    0
5 Bergnovinaia                        1    0   1    0    3   −3    0
6 West Guiana                         1    0   1    4    9   −5    0

[Darmen]

In Darmeni Manager, Philip Highland's, Hotel Room, Highland prepared a poem he had written for Margaret.

I miss you like the sunrise
Winter nights became realit's home,
Snowmen stand here like soliders of Rome,
My tears freeze before they kiss the wind,
I think of warmth and miss you then,
Since when did rose petals crack while pondering love,
Depressed in pitch black with this somber sun,
I sit and fish, out of the river Styx,
Catching cold souls with their quivered lips,
They whisper sweet like lemons drip,
And gaze my eyes like Medusa's gift,
My bait is smiles.
Unhook me, look me not into dusk,
Ease my cuts, and release my lust,
Inhale my words, and breathe my wants,
Let the light marry my eyes,
And let the same inherit the skies.
I miss you like the sunrise.

He attached the poem to a ballon, said a prayer to guide the ballon to Margaret, and uttered, "All Hail Margaret, may she find favor in us."

[Sarzonia]

The morning of his team's first match in the Senior Baseball World Series saw Noah Clementi staring at his computer screen.

It was 4 a.m. He'd never had this many nerves before a game. Of course, he was mostly playing in 35-and-over leagues that could best be described as beer leagues. The biggest stakes he was used to playing for was bragging rights at the office the next day.

The stakes here would be bigger. It would be an international audience watching these matches. Granted, it wasn't nearly on the same level as the World Baseball Classic, but a former World Baseball Classic team manager was managing his team. Not only that, but Sarzonia's national team's manager was pitching in this Senior Baseball World Series.

He wasn't worried about scouts giving him a look. He wasn't worried that he was going to fail for the series. He was nervous, however.

"Honey, try to get some sleep," his wife said, trying to stifle a yawn as she stared at the digital display on the alarm clock on her side of the bed. "You don't have to be up until 6."

"I know. I'm just..."

"Nervous?"

"Yeah," Clementi said with a sigh. The anxiety he felt began the previous night. It saw him barely pick at a steak dinner his wife had cooked for him. It saw him go out for a nighttime jog, an activity he normally never did.

"You're going to tie yourself up in knots," she said. "Come to bed."

"I ... can't."

It would be another 45 minutes before he would try to get some fitful sleep before the alarm blared.

[Sarzonia]

I'm too stunned by the news of the death of Mike Flanagan to say anything creative, but RP cutoff.

GROUP 1
Bluth Corporation 3–7 Western Cuba
Darmen 1–4 Rent Is 3 Damn High
Sarzonia 1–4 Virabia
Newmanistan BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Western Cuba                        2    2   0   13    7   +6    6
2 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 2    2   0    7    3   +4    6
3 Darmen                              2    1   1    7    5   +2    3
4 Virabia                             2    1   1    5    7   −2    3
5 Sarzonia                            1    0   1    1    4   -3    0
6 Newmanistan                         1    0   1    4    6   −2    0
7 Bluth Corporation                   2    0   2    5   10   −5    0

Note: Ties sorted by run differential.

GROUP 2
Bergnovinaia 6–3 West Guiana
Wayong 6–4 Delaclava
Civil Citizenry 2–3 Kazerjan
Tukistan BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            2    2   0    7    5   +2    3
2 Tukistan                            1    1   0    9    4   +5    3
3 Wayong                              2    1   1    9    8   +1    3
4 Delaclava                           2    1   1    7    6   +1    3
5 Bergnovinaia                        2    1   1    6    6    0    3
6 Civil Citizenry                     1    0   1    2    3   -1    0
7 West Guiana                         2    0   2    7   15   −8    0

Notes: Wayong ahead of Delaclava on head-to-head result. Delaclava ahead of Bergnovinaia on head-to-head result.

[Sarzonia]

Will the teams playing this Senior Baseball World Series be able to stand after Matchday 3? One way to find out! RP cut off!

GROUP 1
Rent Is 3 Damn High 2–7 Sarzonia
Western Cuba 2–3 Darmen
Newmanistan 0–3 Bluth Corporation
Virabia BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 3    2   1    9   10   -1    6
2 Darmen                              3    2   1   10    7   +3    6
3 Western Cuba                        3    2   1   15   10   +5    6
4 Virabia                             2    1   1    5    7   −2    3
5 Sarzonia                            2    1   1    8    6   +2    3
6 Bluth Corporation                   3    1   2    8   10   −2    3
7 Newmanistan                         2    0   2    4    9   −5    0

Notes: Three-way tie sorted by record in combined matches. Rent Is 3 Damn High is 1-0, having defeated Darmen. Darmen defeated Western Cuba. Virabia ahead of Sarzonia on head-to-head result.

GROUP 2
Delaclava 6–2 Civil Citizenry
West Guiana 3–2 Wayong
Tukistan 4–3 Bergnovinaia
Kazerjan BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Tukistan                            2    2   0   13    7   +6    6
2 Kazerjan                            2    2   0    7    5   +2    6
3 Delaclava                           3    2   1   13    8   +5    6
4 Bergnovinaia                        3    1   2    9   10   -1    3
5 West Guiana                         1    1   2   10   17   −7    3
6 Wayong                              3    1   2   11   11    0    3
7 Civil Citizenry                     2    0   2    4    9   -5    0

Notes: Tukistan ahead of Kazerjan on run differential. Three-way tie sorted by record in affected matches. Bergnovinia defeated West Guiana, which defeated Wayong.

[Sarzonia]

The first two matches of the Senior Baseball World Series were in the books, and Sarzonia were sitting with a 1-1 record.

The team lost its opener to Virabia, but then got its offence in gear in a 7-2 victory over Rent Is 3 Damn High. After taking the collar in his first game action since his retirement as a player, first baseman and current Stars hitting coach Hank Everly had a breakout match. He went 2-for-3 with a mammoth three-run shot that gave Sarzonia a 5-0 lead.

"Their pitcher tried to fool me with a slider away," Everly said. "It got too much of the plate. My bat's at least slider speed."

The Stars also got a solo shot off the bat of catcher Todd Clancy that put the finishing touches on the match. For manager Jim Paulsen, getting his first win as the manager of the 35-and-over team was "sweeter than I expected.

"When I signed up for this gig, I really didn't know what to expect," he said. "But when you turn on the lights and put on that uniform, you get acclimated to playing baseball real quick."

Fans who were expecting to see a glorified old timer's game reported being pleasantly surprised to see players wearing game faces, grimacing at strike calls or exhorting teammates to expend effort. Home plate umpire Drew Callahan even warned both benches when a Rent Is 3 Damn High relief pitcher threw behind Everly. Paulsen came out to argue the call and was nearly ejected.

"You forget real quick that it's supposed to be a low stakes tournament," he said. "After all, Delaclava has Khalil [Dennis, Sarzonia's World Baseball Classic team manager] pitching for them. There's no way in hell that can be low stakes if we ever face them."

Sarzonia's next match is against Western Cuba, but the following day's match figures to be more interesting for many Stars supporters, even if it is the Senior Stars who are playing.

"We're facing Newmanistan," Everly said. "No matter what, that's going to be huge. It's us against Stacy Keisler."

No word on whether Carrie Nicolette will play for Newmanistan, but Grey Field in Woodstock is already sold out, according to event organisers.

"We've actually contracted to bring in temporary bleachers to expand seating to 10,000," said Grey Field maintenance supervisor Larry Handley. "Even with those seats being added, it's still a sellout. We may have to ask to move the match."

[Sarzonia]

Time to rock you like a hurricane! Er, I mean RP cutoff time!

GROUP 1
Darmen 6–4 Newmanistan
Sarzonia 3–2 Western Cuba
Virabia 7–12 Rent Is 3 Damn High
Bluth Corporation BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 4    3   1   21   17   +4    9
2 Darmen                              4    3   1   16   11   +5    9
3 Sarzonia                            3    2   1   11    8   +3    6
4 Western Cuba                        4    2   2   17   13   +4    6
5 Bluth Corporation                   3    1   2    8   10   −2    3
6 Virabia                             3    1   2   12   19   −7    3
7 Newmanistan                         3    0   3    8   15   −7    0

Notes: Rent Is 3 Damn High ahead of Darmen on head-to-head result. Bluth Corporation ahead of Virabia on run differential.

GROUP 2
Wayong 2–5 Tukistan
Civil Citizenry 2–3 West Guiana
Kazerjan 7–5 Delaclava
Bergnovinaia BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Tukistan                            3    3   0   18    9   +9    9
2 Kazerjan                            3    3   0   14   10   +4    9
3 Delaclava                           4    2   2   18   15   +3    6
5 West Guiana                         4    2   2   13   19   −6    6
4 Bergnovinaia                        3    1   2    9   10   -1    3
6 Wayong                              4    1   3   13   16   -3    3
7 Civil Citizenry                     3    0   3    6   12   -6    0

Notes: Tukistan ahead of Kazerjan and Delaclava ahead of West Guiana on run differential.

[Sarzonia]

State governors and emergency personnel have CUT OFF road travel unless it's an emergency due to Irene, like I'm cutting off RPs for Matchday 5!

GROUP 1
Western Cuba 7–16 Virabia
Newmanistan 1–7 Sarzonia
Bluth Corporation 5–2 Darmen
Rent Is 3 Damn High BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                            4    3   1   18    9   +9    9
2 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 4    3   1   21   17   +4    9
3 Darmen                              5    3   2   18   16   +2    9
4 Virabia                             4    2   2   28   26   +2    6
5 Bluth Corporation                   4    2   2   13   12   +1    6
6 Western Cuba                        5    2   3   24   29   -5    6
7 Newmanistan                         4    0   4    9   22   −13   0

Notes: Sarzonia ahead of Rent Is 3 Damn High on head-to-head result. Bluth Corporation ahead of Virabia on run differential.

GROUP 2
West Guiana 7–9 Kazerjan
Tukistan 1–2 Civil Citizenry
Bergnovinaia 4–2 Wayong
Delaclava BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            4    4   0   23   17   +6   12
2 Tukistan                            4    3   1   19   11   +8    9
3 Delaclava                           4    2   2   18   15   +3    6
4 Bergnovinaia                        4    2   2   13   12   +1    6
5 West Guiana                         5    2   3   20   28   −8    6
6 Civil Citizenry                     4    1   3    8   13   -5    3
7 Wayong                              5    1   4   15   20   -5    3

Notes: Delaclava ahead of Bergnovinaia on head-to-head result.

[Newmanistan]

Stacey Keisler and Carrie Nicolette don’t spend a ton of time together due to their busy schedules, but they briefly took the moment, here.

“Who are these clowns?” asked Keisler, “And why weren’t we our anyone else invited?”

Nicolette shrugged, “It was more of a NBL thing. They didn’t want you all to be distracted with this sp they just took some people who actually do play in these senior leagues.”

“Look at how well that’s working out thus far. I can’t believe that these are the best people of this age group that have no connections to any of our World Baseball Classic teams. Who the hell are they anyway?”

Carrie paused, “I have a list of their names somewhere around here, but I can’t find it. It’s not really that important. It’d be cool to go out there but we all have jobs. You’re a broadcaster, I’m a journalist. Most of the former Rockets stars are coaching now, they just thought this would pass. The Empire isn’t gonna get too worked up over this, the Emperor thought, so there’s a bunch of no-names out there. Quite honestly, I don’t care who they are either and I don’t even think the Emperor cares. A roster still hasn’t been posted, formally.”

“I’m gonna see if I make some calls. I know their 0-4, but maybe there’s enough time. Do you want to go, seriously?”

“Stacey, really, I’m quite happy where I am now. What more do we have to prove?”

“C’mon Carrie, what happened to the Carrie I knew from those days?”

“Stacey, I’ve hardly swung a bat in ten years. Unlike you and some of the other former players who are coaching and might not be totally rusty, I have to say that I am. This is my career now, on TV. I can’t go out there and make a fool out of myself. If it was something for charity, I would, but I’ve moved on.”

“Nonsense. When I’ve assembled this group of players to go crash the party in Sarzonia and rally the team from their last place status right now, you’ll just have to come with us. See, come out onto the field, and I bet you can hit my pitches and I will throw it right into your wheelhouse.”

Carrie sighs. “My former wheelhouse, Stacey.” Though Carrie, ever curious takes Stacey up on the offer and heads out to the field just to see what she can do. Stacey throws 10 fastballs in Carrie’s wheelhouse, and Carrie makes contact with two: popping one up to the first base area, and another soft grounder back to the pitcher. Stacey grins. “Well, maybe you can be the coach.”

[Sarzonia]

In the World Baseball Classic, a Sarzonia-Newmanistan match is a made for TV spectacle. It puts umpires and security personnel on high alert. It ups the ante among the players, coaches and media types covering the team.

Even though most of the players on Sarzonia's and Newmanistan's respective teams had no history of facing each other in the World Baseball Classic, the tension was still plenty high. The crowd that packed

That's why Sarzonia's 7-1 victory over Newmanistan still felt great to the Sarzonia supporters and the players who actually played on those World Baseball Classic teams. Carrie Nicolette may not have been wreaking havoc and Stacy Keisler may not have toed the rubber, but for manager Jim Paulsen, it didn't matter.

"Those jerseys still say 'Newmanistan' on them," he said. "I don't care if their entire roster of over 35s was made up of former world champions or none of them were. It's still the Rockets, it's still the Stars."

Senior Baseball World Series organisers obviously felt that way. Instead of the customary two umpires for most of the group stage matches, they had a full postseason compliment of six. Third base umpire and crew chief Dale Cunniffe even warned both managers prior to the first pitch.

"You haven't even seen us throw a pitch yet," Paulsen said, shaking his head.

"I know the history between your countries," Cunniffe said. "Even the Under 15 teams can't be trusted to keep the beanballs out of it. Anything bad happens and both you and your pitcher are hitting the showers."

Matt Wells reacted incredulously to the news. He was Sarzonia's fourth starter. In addition, he had zero connection to the World Baseball Classic and had never faced anyone who wasn't Sarzonian or Delaclav.

"I have no history with those guys," he said. "What makes you think I'm going to hit one of them?"

"The history," first baseman Hank Everly said.

"You have a history with them. I don't," Wells said.

"No, I have a history with their former World Baseball Classic players, none of whom are here," Everly said. "These guys are a completely different team."

There were no ejections, no brushbacks, no ejections. All that happened was a well-played ballgame between two teams that looked like they belonged there. At least through the first five innings. Then, Everly got a hold of a hanging slider and deposited it over the 325 foot sign in left field. It led to a five-run inning that turned a 2-1 Sarzonia lead into the 7-1 margin of victory. Wells finished the day with a six-inning, five hit, two walk, four strikeout performance that was one of the best Sarzonia has had thus far.

Sarzonia will next face Bluth Corporation, another name that is a fierce rivalry, but this time in another sport.

"We have a history against them in gridball, not in baseball," Wells said. "I don't know how interesting it's gonna be."

[Sarzonia]

My power was restored after less than 24 hours, but it was no fun having it CUT OFF by Irene. Damn bitch...

Anyway, scores and tables for Matchday 6 up soon!

GROUP 1
Sarzonia 2–0 Bluth Corporation
Virabia 7–6 Newmanistan
Rent Is 3 Damn High 5–3 Western Cuba
Darmen BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                            5    4   1   20    9  +11   12
2 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 5    4   1   26   20   +6   12
3 Darmen                              5    3   2   18   16   +2    9
4 Virabia                             5    3   2   35   32   +3    9
5 Bluth Corporation                   5    2   3   13   14   -1    6
6 Western Cuba                        6    2   4   27   34   -7    6
7 Newmanistan                         5    0   5   15   29   −14   0

Notes: Sarzonia ahead of Rent Is 3 Damn High and Darmen ahead of Virabia on head-to-head result.

GROUP 2
Civil Citizenry 3–0 Bergnovinaia
Kazerjan 6–5 Tukistan
Delaclava 1–5 West Guiana
Wayong BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            5    5   0   29   22   +7   15
2 Tukistan                            5    3   2   24   17   +7    9
3 West Guiana                         6    3   3   25   29   −4    9
4 Delaclava                           5    2   3   19   20   -1    6
5 Civil Citizenry                     5    2   3   11   13   -2    6
6 Bergnovinaia                        5    2   3   13   15   -2    6
7 Wayong                              5    1   4   15   20   -5    3

Notes: Delaclava ahead of both Civil Citizenry and Bergnovinaia on head-to-head results. Civil Citizenry ahead of Bergnovinaia on head-to-head result.

[Delaclava]

Manager: Khalil Dennis

BATTING ORDER:
2B Tim Koerner
SS Wiley Keefe
LF Brian Josephs
3B Frank Jeffries
CF Hal Blake
1B Jimmy Brownstone
RF Sarah Delaney
C Shaun Quintin
P (pitcher)

Note: If Khalil Dennis is the pitcher, he will bat fourth and the rest of the order will be pushed down. In addition, when Dennis is NOT the pitcher, he will play first base, replace Jimmy Brownstone, and bat fourth, pushing the rest of the order down.

STARTING ROTATION/BULLPEN
LHP Khalil Dennis
RHP Michel Jonnson
RHP Brad Haney
LHP Seamus O'Bann
RHP Josehp Volltan

Please follow the rotation. Any pitcher who is not starting that day can pitch in relief.

[Newmanistan]

Stacey Keisler sat in her home feeling discouraged. The lack of interest from members of the great World Baseball Classic teams to participate in the Senior World Series had been highly discouraging. The response from most of them was similar: they had moved on and didn’t see the point. The list of current coaches in the NBL these days is indeed a who’s who of the Newmanistan WBC Hall of Fame. Keisler, herself, is one of them. There was an inner voice telling her that she could still go by herself, but didn’t like that idea as it would seem like a waste of time. The current people there who no one even cares about are performing horribly, and disgracing the Empire. As a pitcher though, she could help, what, once? She’d need support, and right now, that wasn’t happening.

Beside her was her husband, Jeremy McAllister, Jr of World Cup Fame. Junior was also active as a coach in Newmanistanian soccer, but since they both coached the Southport Tigers in the respective sports, these moments were more common then you would think. Just then, she asked Junior a stunning question.

“Hon, I know you’re not hopeless in baseball. Would you go to Sarzonia with me?”

“Sarzonia, why? That old people baseball thing?”

“Newmanistan baseball is being disgraced now by these no-names. Whoever they are. I’m glad we haven’t revealed their names to the general public. I want to go in there and clean house, but no one from our glory teams seems very interested.”

“Stacey, there’s no point. Your peers are right when they tell you that. You have to keep your focus on the Tigers. Those no-names aren’t disgracing the Empire, because there is no expectation of success on them. People who are watching are just doing it for the entertainment, but they are also aware that there is no tie with them and the ex-Rockets. The tournament will come and go. Maybe they’ll have a second half run, but it’s not really gonna matter.”

“The World Bowl ended for us tonight. What else are they gonna watch? The lame Olympiad that we don’t participate in?”

“I thought you were going to go to Cafundeu to lead a protest of baseball not being a medal sport. Now, that sounded like more fun then an old people tournament. Half of participating in something like that means you have to admit to yourself that you’re old in the first place.”

“Yeah, but I would rather play then protest. We all know that the Emperor decided to boycott the Olympics due to baseball not being a medal sport. They’ll be watching domestic baseball a little more. No one cares enough about the senior team. Trust me.”

“I refuse to believe that.”

(For now, the conversation ends on this topic, but Stacey’s determination will not let up).

[Sarzonia]

Rough day today means no creative RP cutoff script for the last matchday of the first half of qualifying. But here it is.

GROUP 1
Newmanistan 3–4 Rent Is 3 Damn High
Bluth Corporation 2–5 Virabia
Darmen 2–4 Sarzonia
Western Cuba BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                            6    5   1   24   11  +13   15
2 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 6    5   1   30   23   +7   15
3 Virabia                             6    4   2   40   34   +6   12
4 Darmen                              6    3   3   20   20    0    9
5 Western Cuba                        6    2   4   27   34   -7    6
6 Bluth Corporation                   6    2   4   15   19   -4    6
7 Newmanistan                         6    0   6   18   33   −15   0

Notes: Sarzonia ahead of Rent Is 3 Damn High and Western Cuba ahead of Bluth Corporation on head-to-head result.

GROUP 2
Tukistan 0–2 Delaclava
Bergnovinaia 0–6 Kazerjan
Wayong 9–7 Civil Citizenry
West Guiana BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            6    6   0   35   22  +13   18
2 Tukistan                            6    3   3   24   19   +5    9
3 West Guiana                         6    3   3   25   29   −4    9
4 Delaclava                           6    3   3   21   20   +1    9
5 Civil Citizenry                     6    2   4   18   22   -4    6
6 Wayong                              6    2   4   24   27   -3    6
7 Bergnovinaia                        6    2   4   13   21   -8    6

Notes: Three-way ties sorted by run differential in combined matches, as each team is 1-1 against level opponents.

As a reminder, there will be NO matches tomorrow night. The tournament will resume Thursday night with Matchday 8.

[Newmanistan]

“The Rent is 3 Damn High?” Jeremy McAllister said to Stacey Keisler. “Sounds like a protest movement in the former Secristan, not a country.”

“It’s disgusting, Jeremy. People are laughing at us.”

“You saw what’s happening in the Olympics right now, right? I don’t think people are even paying attention to the old people in Sarzonia.”

“Hun, would you stop calling it the old people tournament? You know, we’re just as old as them, and when you say that it makes me feel old when I still feel as young as Courtney (their daughter) inside. It’s a senior tournament, for those of us with more life experience then the common person.”

“It’s an old people tournament.”

Stacey sighs, “Whatever. And people notice what’s going on in Sarzonia.”

“Maybe some people are aware of it, but with the riot instigated by Newmanistanians in Lafst, and the announcement by the Emperor today, when foreigners think of the name of our nation right now, it is because of that. Not the baseball.”

“Well I support what the protestors are doing out in Cafundeu. It’s disgusting that the greatest sport ever invented is not even a medal sport in what is supposed to be the premier global sporting competition. So, some people were chanting, and some cars were set ablaze. It’s a message that needs to get out.”

“Stacey, not too that extent. You and I have both played in enough international games and been to enough foreign countries to know what’s going on with the protests is too extreme and unacceptable. My brother played professionally in Cafundeu for a while, it’s a great country, and they deserve better.”

“But they don’t play baseball.”

“Stacey, it’s not always about baseball. Maybe we should take a trip... wait... maybe we should go there right now and you can be the more powerful voice to stop the protests that are going on. Surely, they’ll listen to you.”

“If I go to Atlantian Oceania right now, it’s to Sarzonia. And I support the protests. I think I might be making progress getting people to go. Michelle Rancourt told me she would go to Sarzonia.”

“Michelle Rancourt?”

“Yeah, Michelle.”

“Michelle does not have the wow factor, Stacey. And Michelle was only on the team before because of her amazing speed and spent more time on the bench then as a starter. At 50 or so, I doubt she has much of that left. She doesn’t have much pull. She also isn’t a manager in the NBL, so she doesn’t have to sacrifice that like most of the former greats.”

“Maybe not, but she’s a start.”

[Sarzonia]

Let's get the second half of qualifying under way, shall we?

RP cutoff!

GROUP 1
Darmen 7–3 Virabia
Bluth Corporation 8–2 Rent Is 3 Damn High
Newmanistan 0–6 Western Cuba
Sarzonia BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                            6    5   1   24   11  +13   15
2 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 7    5   2   32   31   +1   15
3 Darmen                              7    4   3   27   23   +4   12
4 Virabia                             7    4   3   43   41   +2   12
5 Western Cuba                        7    3   4   33   34   -1    9
6 Bluth Corporation                   7    3   4   23   21   +2    9
7 Newmanistan                         7    0   7   18   39   −21   0

Notes: Darmen ahead of Virabia on 2-0 record in head-to-head matches. Western Cuba ahead of Bluth Corporation on head-to-head result.

GROUP 2
Wayong 6–4 Kazerjan
Bergnovinaia 6–4 Delaclava ()
Tukistan 4–3 West Guiana
Civil Citizenry BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            7    6   1   39   28  +11   18
2 Tukistan                            7    4   3   28   22   +6   12
3 Bergnovinaia                        7    3   4   19   25   -6    6
4 West Guiana                         7    3   4   28   33   −5    9
5 Wayong                              7    3   4   30   31   -1    9
6 Delaclava                           7    3   4   25   26   -1    9
7 Civil Citizenry                     6    2   4   18   22   -4    6

Notes: Four-way tie sorted by combined records in common matchups. Bergnovinia is 3-1, West Guiana is 2-1, Wayong is 1-2, Delaclava is 1-3.

[Sarzonia]

Hopefully I won't have to CUT OFF someone on the highway en route to see Stevie Nicks in concert tomorrow night, but I do have to cut off RPs for Matchday 9!

Let's get the second half of qualifying under way, shall we?

RP cutoff!

GROUP 1
Western Cuba 2–3 Bluth Corporation
Rent Is 3 Damn High 2–3 Darmen
Virabia 9–5 Sarzonia
Newmanistan BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                            7    5   2   29   20   +9   15
2 Darmen                              8    5   3   30   25   +5   15
3 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 8    5   3   34   34    0   15
4 Virabia                             8    5   3   52   46   +6   15
6 Bluth Corporation                   8    4   4   26   23   +3   12
5 Western Cuba                        8    3   5   35   37   -2    9
7 Newmanistan                         7    0   7   18   39   −21   0

Note: Three-way tie sorted by overall record in common matches: Darmen 3-1, Rent Is 3 Damn High 2-1, Virabia 0-3.

GROUP 2
West Guiana () 7–3 Bergnovinaia ()
Delaclava () 6–4 Wayong ()
Kazerjan () 10–5 Civil Citizenry
Tukistan BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            8    7   1   49   33  +16   21
2 Tukistan                            7    4   3   28   22   +6   12
3 West Guiana                         8    4   4   35   36   −1    12
4 Delaclava                           8    4   4   31   30   +1    12
3 Bergnovinaia                        8    3   5   22   32    -10    6
5 Wayong                              8    3   5   34   37   -3    9
7 Civil Citizenry                     7    2   5   23   32   -9    6

Notes: West Guiana ahead of Delaclava and Bergnovinaia ahead of Wayong on head-to-head results.

[Sarzonia]

HOST ANNOUNCEMENT:

(ICly): Due to a combination of a Category 2 hurricane causing massive rainfall on a majority of the baseball fields in play in northern Sarzonia and a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in southern Sarzonia that caused minor damages to some of the overpasses leading to other ballfields, the next matchday will be tomorrow night.

OOC reason: I just got back from the Stevie Nicks concert in Virginia and I'd planned to not scorinate on the night of the concert anyway.

[Sarzonia]

As clean up continues in Sarzonia's cities and on its interstates, an RP cutoff for you for Matchday 10!

Hopefully I won't have to CUT OFF someone on the highway en route to see Stevie Nicks in concert tomorrow night, but I do have to cut off RPs for Matchday 9!

Let's get the second half of qualifying under way, shall we?

RP cutoff!

GROUP 1
Sarzonia 9–3 Rent Is 3 Damn High
Darmen 1–6 Western Cuba
Bluth Corporation 6–5 Newmanistan
Virabia BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                            8    6   2   38   23  +15   18
2 Virabia                             8    5   3   52   46   +6   15
3 Bluth Corporation                   9    5   4   32   28   +4   15
4 Rent Is 3 Damn High                 9    5   4   37   43   -6   15
5 Darmen                              9    5   4   31   31    0   15
6 Western Cuba                        9    4   5   41   38   +3   12
7 Newmanistan                         8    0   8   23   45  −22    0

Note: Three-way tie sorted by overall record in common matches.

GROUP 2
Civil Citizenry 8–0 Delaclava
Wayong 0–3 West Guiana
Bergnovinaia 5–0 Tukistan
Kazerjan BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            8    7   1   49   33  +16   21
2 West Guiana                         9    5   4   38   36   +2   15
3 Tukistan                            8    4   4   28   27   +1   12
4 Delaclava                           9    4   5   31   38   -7   12
5 Bergnovinaia                        9    4   5   27   32   -5   12
6 Civil Citizenry                     8    3   5   31   32   -1    9
7 Wayong                              9    3   6   34   40   -6    9

Notes: Delaclava ahead of Bergnovinaia on run differential in head-to-head results.

[Sarzonia]

While clean up crews are still hard at work, even on Labour Day, our senior baseball teams will be playing hard as we cut off RPs for Matchday 11!

GROUP 1
Newmanistan () 6–5 Darmen ()
Western Cuba () 4–3 Sarzonia ()
Rent Is 3 Damn High () 9–4 Virabia
Bluth Corporation BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                            9    6   3   41   27  +14   18
2 Rent Is 3 Damn High                10    6   4   46   47   -1   18
3 Virabia                             9    5   4   56   55   +1   15
4 Bluth Corporation                   9    5   4   32   28   +4   15
5 Western Cuba                       10    5   5   45   41   +4   15
6 Darmen                             10    5   5   36   37   -1   15
7 Newmanistan                         9    1   8   29   50  −21    3

Note: Virabia ahead of Bluth Corporation on head-to-head result. Western Cuba ahead of Darmen on run differential in head-to-head results as each team has won a match.

GROUP 2
Tukistan 6–0 Wayong
West Guiana 6–0 Civil Citizenry
Delaclava 3–9 Kazerjan
Bergnovinaia BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                            9    8   1   58   36  +22   24
2 West Guiana                        10    6   4   44   36   +8   18
3 Tukistan                            9    5   4   34   27   +7   15
4 Bergnovinaia                        9    4   5   27   32   -5   12
5 Delaclava                          10    4   6   34   47   -13   12
6 Civil Citizenry                     9    3   6   31   38   -7    9
7 Wayong                             10    3   7   34   46   -12    9

[Sarzonia]

RP cutoff for Matchday 12!

Will anyone clinch a playoff berth? Will the Group 1 clusterf*ck get closer to being sorted? We'll find out!

GROUP 1
Virabia 4–1 Western Cuba
Sarzonia 6–1 Newmanistan
Darmen 5–2 Bluth Corporation
Rent Is 3 Damn High BYE

GROUP 1                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                           10    7   3   47   28  +19   21
2 Rent Is 3 Damn High                10    6   4   46   47   -1   18
3 Virabia                            10    6   4   60   56   +4   18
4 Darmen                             11    6   5   41   39   +2   18
5 Bluth Corporation                  10    5   5   34   33   +1   15
6 Western Cuba                       11    5   6   46   45   +1   15
7 Newmanistan                        10    1   9   30   56  −26    3 E

Note: Rent Is 3 Damn High ahead of Virabia on 2-0 record in head-to-head results.

GROUP 2
Kazerjan 4–8 West Guiana
Civil Citizenry 10–5 Tukistan
Wayong 0–3 Bergnovinaia
Delaclava BYE

GROUP 2                               P    W   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
1 Kazerjan                           10    8   2   62   44  +18   24 Q
2 West Guiana                        11    7   4   52   40  +12   21 Q
3 Bergnovinaia                       10    5   5   30   32   -2   15
4 Tukistan                           10    5   5   39   37   +2   15
5 Civil Citizenry                    10    4   6   41   43   -2   12
6 Delaclava                          10    4   6   34   47   -13   12
7 Wayong                             11    3   8   34   49   -15    9 E

Notes: Ties sorted by run differential in head-to-head results.

Congratulations to Kazerjan and West Guiana for being the first teams to qualify for the postseason! Commiserations to Newmanistan and Wayong for being the first teams eliminated from contention!