World Baseball Classic 29 - Everything Thread

[Kingdom of Costa Luna]

"Breaking News out of Costa Luna tonight. Princesa Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré responds to threats from the government of Gregoryisgodistan stating, 'I will not tolerate terroristic threats by Gregoryisgodistan. If they continue to threaten the safety and security of any nation, especially Costa Luna, in this World Baseball Classic, I will have the Costa Luna home game against Gregoryisgodistan be held here in Lake Monroe. However, I will not lift the ban against citizens, leaders, and athletes from Gregoryisgodistan. Therefore forcing Gregoryisgodistan to forfeit the game to Costa Luna. While I do not expect a statement of retraction from Gregoryisgodistan, I do expect that they learn their place in international affairs. Costa Luna will not have to "bribe" their way to knock off Gregoryisgodistan, if there is no game due to a forfeit. However, I would like to make one final statement to Gregoryisgodistan and their leaders: If you test me, you will fail.'

In other baseball news, Costa Luna dropped their home opener 4-2 yesterday. Costa Luna got out to an early lead, but failed to hold on after their starting pitcher, Frank Naturally, left in the third with a sore arm. Sources report that Naturally is fine and will pitch in his next start. The bullpen, who has been worked fairly hard, will be shorthanded tonight and the Royals might call on either first baseman, Alan Who, or catcher, Randy Today, to help ease the work load this evening against first place Mochria. With a win tonight, Costa Luna will move into a tie for the lead. Tomorrow will be on the mound today as he pitches to Today. Who claims that the Royals will be victorious tonight on the road. Costa Luna is 1-0 on the road, so far."

[Middleton Valley]

From: The Desk of President K.A. Possible, President of Middleton Valley
To: Princesa Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré, Princesa of Costa Luna

Greetings,

After the comments made by the government of Gregoryisgodistan, Middleton Valley has decided to decline the offer to host the Costa Luna verses Gregoryisgodistan. This decision has been made earlier than expected because of the closure of Middleton Valley borders to citizens, leaders, and athletes from Gregoryisgodistan. Middleton Valley agrees with Costa Luna that Gregoryisgodistan is a very dangerous threat to the security of any nation participating in this tournament.

Middleton Valley wishes to extend their best wishes to the Royals of Costa Luna in their battle to knock off the Ice Slaves of Gregoryisgodistan. We are sorry that we cannot assist your nation in the relocation of the Costa Luna verses Gregoryisgodistan game.

Best of luck,

President K.A. Possible
President of Middleton Valley

[Equestrian States]

World Baseball Classic 29 - Group Stage
Match Day 3 Results

Group 1
Lymantatia                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
The Serbian Empire               0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 X  1

The Royal Barangay               0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  2
Karditan                         0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 X 10

Levivania                        0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0  4
Pacificana Islands               0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  2


  Group 1                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Levivania                         3    3   0    15    6   +9    1.000
2 The Serbian Empire                3    2   1    16   11   +5    0.667
3 Karditan                          3    2   1    27   24   +3    0.667
4 The Royal Barangay                3    1   2     7   18  −11    0.333
5 Pacificana Islands                3    1   2     9    9    0    0.333
6 Lymantatia                        3    0   3    11   17   −6    0.000

Group 2
Vaugania                         3 4 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 11
Estope                           0 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 1  6

San Jose Guayabal                0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3  5
Premier Thomas Willette          0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4  6

Lycrabon                         0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0  4
Jeckland                         1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1  5


  Group 2                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Vaugania                          3    3   0    20    8  +12    1.000
2 Premier Thomas Willette           3    2   1    16   15   +1    0.667
3 Lycrabon                          3    1   2    14   11   +3    0.333
4 Estope                            3    1   2    19   22   −3    0.333
5 San Jose Guayabal                 3    1   2    10   16   −6    0.333
6 Jeckland                          3    1   2     8   15   −7    0.333

Group 3
Britonesia                       0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1  4
Crystal Empire                   0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2

Allinlia                         3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  4
Super-Llamaland                  0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1  5

Mosktopia                        2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1  4
Yttribia                         0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1  5


  Group 3                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Britonesia                        3    2   1     8   12   −4    0.667
2 Crystal Empire                    3    2   1    13   12   +1    0.667
3 Super-Llamaland                   3    2   1    17   11   +6    0.667
4 Yttribia                          3    2   1    14   10   +4    0.667
5 Allinlia                          3    1   2    10   12   −2    0.333
6 Mosktopia                         3    0   3     8   13   −5    0.000

Group 4
Kinzar                           1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0  5
The Andromeda Islands            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Ko-oren                          0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 1  6
The Fair Republic                0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0  2

Sicoutimont                      0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0  3
New Koln                         0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0  2


  Group 4                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Sicoutimont                       3    3   0    16    7   +9    1.000
2 Ko-oren                           3    2   1    10    8   +2    0.667
3 The Fair Republic                 3    2   1     8    9   −1    0.667
4 Kinzar                            3    2   1    14    5   +9    0.667
5 The Andromeda Islands             3    0   3     7   16   −9    0.000
6 New Koln                          3    0   3     5   15  −10    0.000

Group 5
Bonticello                       0 2 0 0 0 3 1 0 0  6
Patistan                         1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0  5

Darmen                           0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1  3
Costa de Ouro                    0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 3  5

Zwangzug                         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3  4
New Wolfopolis                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 X  6


  Group 5                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 New Wolfopolis                    3    3   0    17   11   +6    1.000
2 Bonticello                        3    2   1    14   10   +4    0.667
3 Patistan                          3    2   1    21   11  +10    0.667
4 Costa de Ouro                     3    1   2     8   16   −8    0.333
5 Darmen                            3    1   2    19   22   −3    0.333
6 Zwangzug                          3    0   3    17   26   −9    0.000

Group 6
Nassau Hessen                    0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0  4
Imota                            0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2  6

Saintland                        2 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1  7
Cassadaigua                      0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  2

Rizealand                        0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  2
Maklohi Vai                      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1  3


  Group 6                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Saintland                         3    3   0    17   10   +7    1.000
2 Maklohi Vai                       3    2   1    12    8   +4    0.667
3 Rizealand                         3    1   2    12   12    0    0.333
4 Imota                             3    1   2     9   12   −3    0.333
5 Nassau Hessen                     3    1   2    13   17   −4    0.333
6 Cassadaigua                       3    1   2    10   14   −4    0.333

Group 7
Hicana                           0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1  5
Equestrian States                2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1  6

New North Aqmuland               0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  2
Milchama                         1 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 X  6

The Dark Star Republic           0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3
Strawbee                         0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1


  Group 7                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Equestrian States                 3    2   1    16   15   +1    0.667
2 Hicana                            3    2   1    18   14   +4    0.667
3 Milchama                          3    2   1    16   11   +5    0.667
4 The Dark Star Republic            3    2   1     8    7   +1    0.667
5 Strawbee                          3    1   2     9   14   −5    0.333
6 New North Aqmuland                3    0   3     5   11   −6    0.000

Group 8
New Montreal States              1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  3
Saugeais                         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1

Kingdom of Costa Luna            0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0  2
Mochria                          2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 X  3

Gregoryisgodistan                0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 1 2  8
Azherden                         0 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0  6


  Group 8                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Mochria                           3    3   0    13    9   +4    1.000
2 New Montreal States               3    2   1    12    8   +4    0.667
3 Gregoryisgodistan                 3    2   1    17   14   +3    0.667
4 Azherden                          3    1   2    13   16   −3    0.333
5 Kingdom of Costa Luna             3    1   2    11   12   −1    0.333
6 Saugeais                          3    0   3     6   13   −7    0.000

Group 9
The Royal Kingdom of Quebec      1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0  3
Nova Anglicana                   0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2

Middleton Valley                 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  6
Alitaba                          0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0  3

Qazox                            0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0  3
Noburu Taiyou                    0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 X  4


  Group 9                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Noburu Taiyou                     3    3   0    16    8   +8    1.000
2 Alitaba                           3    2   1    18   11   +7    0.667
3 The Royal Kingdom of Quebec       3    1   2     8   16   −8    0.333
4 Nova Anglicana                    3    1   2    11   11    0    0.333
5 Qazox                             3    1   2    15   16   −1    0.333
6 Middleton Valley                  3    1   2    14   20   −6    0.333

[New Montreal States]

The Ministry of Morale is pleased to present the roster for World Baseball Classic 29. After a highly embarrassing incident involving an ice storm, a traffic accident with three mobsters driving a semi with a stolen live walrus in the trailer, 2000 øz. worth of expensive gin and an entry form being sent, via telegram, to Mr. E.W. Lattice of Parc-Cholet, the Reformed Expos failed to enter WBC 28 before the deadline.

After that fiasco, and a WBC 27 performance so uninspired that les Réformés might as well have stayed home, the Ministry of Morale has brought on Ephraim Zimbalist, Jr., the leadoff man, centerfielder and psychic locus of the WBC 26 champions, to rebuild the Reformed Expos into the team that won the whole enchilada, and not the team that shat out said enchilada all over the field during the worst title defense in the history of titles.

Les Éxpos Réformés / The Reformed Expos

"Dans nos coeurs, y'est toujours / 1994 / Nos joueurs ne savent pas / comment se soumettre"

Home games are played WITH A DH.
Road games are played with a combination of No-Doz, to stay awake while the pitcher bats, and charcoal-filtered Bourbon, to take the edge off of what pitchers are doing to the fine art of hitting every time they set foot in the box.
Scorination mod is a +2

Manager: Ephraim Zimbalist Jr.
Pitching Coach: Phil Parker, Jr.
Third Base Coach: Alain Vigier
Waterboy: Carson Kennedy-Latendresse

Now batting for the Expos...

...number 4, the centerfielder, Ruben MacGuffin!
...number 32, the second baseman, Jason Rorty!
...number 13, the first baseman, Jean Boulanger!
...number 8, the designated hitter, Calvin Colvin!
...number 10, the right fielder, Yohan Bérubé!
...number 15, the third baseman, Jean Boulanger!
...number 7, the left fielder, Georges Potvin-Poitier!
...number 3, the shortstop, Roland Leroux!
...number 18, the catcher, Ignacio Navarrete-Smith!

Coming off the bench:

22 OF Hubert Lapierre (first pinch-runner)
27 OF/3B Gordon Green
14 C Fabrice Ferrier
9 IF Jacques Vaillancourt
28 SS/2B Chris Loman
11 LF/RF/1B Simon Després (first pinch-hitter, third-string catcher)

The starting four:

4 RHP Chadwick "Corky" Arsenault-Derringer (98 mph fastball, slider, change)
17 LHP Jean Boulanger (94 mph two-seamer, 91 mph four-seamer, breaking ball)
3 RHP Yves Berri (89 mph fastball, slurve, breaking ball, change - paints the outside corner like Vermeer)
28 RHP Ulysses Kerry, (97 mph fastball, cutter, change - minor control problems)

The bullpen*:

99 RHP Terius Gray (closer)
30 RHP Alastair McClintock (set-up man)
12 LHP Michel Morand
6 RHP Ignace Cormier
16 LHP André Boucher
38 RHP Albert Thivierge

*Montréalais League Baseball has a two-batter minimum, excluding injuries, for all pitchers - no LOOGYs or other such situational b******t.

In a "bidding process" that has led to accusations of bribery, but that can't be undone at the 11st hour, all games will be played at the Grand Stade d'Angiers, completed six weeks before the first home game. It was built at tremendous expense by Charles Rodier, heir to the Rodier pasta, mushroom and tomato sauce fortune, immediately after his recent purchase of the Loriots d'Angiers closed.

[Ko-oren]

OOC: given the randomness of the WBC, all my RPs are going to be dedicated to kicking bribery (randomness, or just suspicious outcomes) out of the WBC. Also, I had no time yesterday so I'm going to refer to RPs from the past two days. First part of this thing.

"Boss! Suspicious activity in Gregoryisgodistan!"

"Not again... Mayfield, please, just not now. Our Ice Hockey team is facing them in a day, and I'd like to keep them alive for a day."

"But... our favorite hermit kingdom staged an entire game: the one against Costa Luna."

"And why am I only hearing this now? That game was days ago!"

"Well you know news from there only reaches us after a few days. So let's consider ourselves lucky that we even hear about this while the tournament is still ongoing."

"That's true. We've seen a few briberies and the like when the tournament is over, but what are we even going to do against this one?"

"Speaking of Gregoryisgodistan, any news on the New Wolfopolis incident?"

"Nothing yet, but we're working together with New Wolfopian police here, and Gregoryisgodistani police where possible."

"Sir! This just in: Estope officially calls for an investigation on the host election!"

"Seriously? RUWC, WCoH, nothing, WBC starts, and BAM!, enough work for a year. This is still day one, right?"

"Yeah, Estope might be a valuable ally in this race against corruption. They seem to have the same doubts as we have, only they also think they have the right to host the WBC."

"That might be a bit over the top, but I wouldn't be surprised if the WBC results have been decided on years ago. Betting syndicates, wherever they are from, and probably an inside man in Saintland and the WBC officials. How big is this going to be?"

"Estope talks about bribed umpires, seeing the terrible officiating in their PTW game. Which they lost. Now the question is, are they serious about this or would they have kept silent if they had won that game?"

"Do you think the Mochrians are behind some of this? They seem to be enjoying the upsets a bit too much."

"Like noone enjoys those. Upsets are great. But it's just that most seem to be... not exactly upsets. If you know what I mean. And besides, the Hicanans seem to be enjoying them too."

"Maybe it's both? We'll have to keep an eye on how far they get into this WBC. Of course, not every team that surprises everyone by reaching the semis has bought the WBC, but... it raises some eyebrows."

"Don't say things like 'teams surprisingly reaching the semis', it might end your career here. People have been sensitive enough about the Greenblues coming from nowhere to fourth place three WBCs ago. Just... please don't let that have been bribery too."

---

"Contact the Lycrabon officials, I think they're onto something! And keep in touch with the Estopians! On the double!"

"Sure! What is it this time?"

"Estope hates the umpires here, and Lycrabon is silencing one of their players for mentioning the conspiracy! Also, Mayfield, remember yesterday? Don't think too much of the Gregoryisgodistan actions. Their saying Costa Luna bribed the officials into pretending they won, but they actually won. What we have seen, was a clever ruse setup to make the poor people of GIGistan believe they'd won."

"So instead of looking for bribery, we also have to be on the lookout for what looks like a conspiracy, but is actually a counter-conspiracy?"

"Sort of, yeah!"

"Sooo... Estope and Lycrabon played each other. Our valuable allies in the fight against corruption. Estope won. Lycrabon already silenced their player, so Estope was awarded a win to keep both nations in check. I mean, Lycrabon did what the conspirers want, so that leaves them content, and now they only had to give Estope something to keep them quiet."

"Only... it seems the Estopeans aren't buying it."

"They don't? Good! We need them on our side, quickly! And we need to keep Kristen Lanning from Cassadaigua out of the headlines. She says things that are worrying, at least. Nova Anglicana seems victim of all this as well. Rewatch the Qazox game and tell me if you see anything suspicious - other than the field in a terrible condition."

"Will do."

"Send a few agents to Middleton Valley, who seem a bit too excited to host the Costa Luna - GIGistan game."

"Okay."

"I feel like we are so close to a breakthrough in this case! It's so clever of the WBC officials to hold this tournament so close to other major tournaments, but they'll never know we never even looked at those that seriously. It's all about the WBC. And look at this: Estope and Lycrabon lost today. They must have done or said something that didn't please the syndicates. Darmen and Zwangzug, too. But we didn't even hear from them yet. Zwangzug's loss might have something to do with New Wolfopolis, though."

"This just in from Costa Luna: Mochria won."

"It's really time to find out what is really going on here. This entire WBC reeks more of corruption than the previous 2 combined, and they already smelled bad enough to double as weapons of mass destruction."

"Also, Qazox and Nova Anglicana lost. They don't really look like they will advance at this rate. I know it's just MD3, but don't forget all of the scores to the rest of the WBC are already written down somewhere."

[Kingdom of Costa Luna]

Breaking News: Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré International Airport in Lockdown

In a statement released a half hour ago by Prime Minister Carter Mason, Costa Luna has been put on a high alert after ten people were arrested at Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré International Airport in Lake Monroe this morning. These people have been detained for "highly suspicious activity" and possible connections to "violent, unstable dictatorships." Mason added, "we received the tip a few hours ago and were able to act on it before things escalated any further."

Costa Luna is scheduled to play New Montreal States at Coughman Stadium tonight in the World Baseball Classic. That game is up in the air for where it is to be held as neither team can get into Costa Luna at the present hour. Stay tuned throughout the day for more information as the situation develops.

[Gregoryisgodistan]

Gregoryisgodistan                0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 1 2  8
Azherden                         0 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0  6

"NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA BAT SLAVES! NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA BAT SLAVES! BAT SLAVES! BAT SLAVES! BAT SLAVES!"

"Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and slaves, and welcome to Azherden for this World Baseball Classic qualifier between Gregoryisgodistan and Azherden. The hosts were too dumb to tell us the name of their stadium, so we're just going to call it Stupid Stadium because we need to give it a name. So live from Stupid Stadium, I'm Sportscaster NXK138AHBZA along with Sportscaster P0103ISHS and we are bringing you Bat Slaves baseball live and coming to you on your TV. Azherden is too stupid to submit a roster, so we are just going to make up fake and highly insulting names, as is our custom in situations like these. On the hill is Spelling Enforcement Officer 01AHH183, playing in his first full WBC, having joined the roster in the middle of WBC 28, against the pitcher Stupida Head for the hosts. Head gets set to take the hill and we're ready for baseball.

"Head deals to Shirtmaker 9DHUAS and it is hit on the ground to second. Ima Dunce fields, throws over to Ima Moron and that's the first out.

...

"We now are in the bottom of the second and stepping up is Weluz Disgame for Azherden. Disgame swings and loops the one out slider to center field for a base hit. That's the first hit of the game for either team and will bring up Silly Goose. Here's the pitch to Goose and it's hit into the left-center field gap. Nobody will get there and t's all the way to the wall. Rounding third and scoring is Disgame, Goose will get into second with a double. 1-0 Azherden. That will bring up Dumbo Dumbess. Dumbess lines it to right for a base hit, Goose will try to score, and the throw home is cut off by Spelling Enforcement Officer 01AHH183, the run will score but Dumbess is out by a mile at second as he thought that throw was going home. Good heads up defensive play but it's 2-0 Azherden.

...

"Top 3, nobody on, two outs for Executioner 9D8AH. He's going to try to bunt for a base hit, it's down the first base line, Moron fields and scoops but he has no play. Executioner 9D8AH is going to be safe at first with a single, bringing up Shirtmaker 9DHUAS. Head deals, inside and it hit him. He will take his base. Runner moves to second. That will bring up Chauffeur JJIASDES. Wild, three straight balls out of the zone, make that 4. He walks. Bases loaded. Here comes Soldier JSIAISKS. Wow, nowhere close, ball 1 way up and away. Ball 2 is high and over the head of the catcher Dummy Bear and the run will come home, all runners advance. And now it looks like Head will intentionally walk Soldier JSIAISKS.

"Bases loaded, two outs, for Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles. Inside and that got him on the head. Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles is not happy at all. He's going to charge the mound and start crushing Stupida Head to death. The umps try to get him off, but I think Head is dead. Yes, he is. Meanwhile, the umps are gathering to discuss whether to eject Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles and/or eject the Azherden manager, Coach Ofools. Head might have been tossed for throwing at batters if he were still alive, so it would make sense to still toss the manager.

"Now Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles is running over to the umps and screaming at them, probably threatening to crush them too if he is tossed. So it looks like nobody is getting tossed, not Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles and not Ofools. Meanwhile, Azherden needs a new pitcher, and it will be Dunce Capp coming out of the pen. Capp deals to Barber LIEUIUSH and that's swung on and missed, strike three, inning over but not before the Bat Slaves tie the game at 2.

"Bottom 4 and here comes the catcher Bear with nobody on and two outs. The pitch is hit deep to left and that will get out for a home run. Azherden takes a 3-2 lead here in the bottom of the fourth.

"Top 5, runners on second and third, one out for Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles. Capp deals and it's HIT DEEP TO LEFT. DROP THAT BALL ON COSTA LUNA BECAUSE IT IS A BOMB! A CRUSHER BY THE CRUSHER! BAT SLAVES LEAD 5-3! WOW!

"Bottom 5, Spelling Enforcement Officer 01AHH183 dealing to Goose with a runner on third and one out, it's ripped into the gap that will be a double and get the run home. 5-4 Bat Slaves. That's going to be it for Spelling Enforcement Officer 01AHH183, as in comes Carpenter DHHAUS. That will bring up Dumbess who lines it into right for a base hit. Runner rounds third, will he score, well, the throw is cut off by Chauffeur JJIASDES coming across near home, and Dumbess is going to be out at second again as Chauffeur JJIASDES throws over there. Another baserunning blunder by Azherden. But we're still tied at 5.

"Bottom 7, here comes the third baseman Dumbini Stupini, the left handed batter, so they'll bring in Lampmaker 82477GSS to face him with one out. Nobody on, here's the pitch, drilled deep to right, it will hit the foul pole and Azherden leads 6-5. It was probably a mistake to bring in Lampmaker 82477GSS, and if the Bat Slaves lose, he will surely be executed. Meanwhile, in comes Toiletmaker LAO9183.

"Top 9, last chance for the Bat Slaves, nobody on, two outs, here is Military General Rupert McGee. Lines it into right, just going to dunk in for a base hit. Bat Slaves staying alive, here comes his brother, Military General Rufus McGee. The 2-2 is looped into center, it's going to dunk in for another hit, and Military General Rupert McGee is going for third. He'll make it without a throw. It looks like Doctor WAITOKALE is going to pinch hit for Executioner 9D8AH now. Here's the 1-1, lined down the right field line, base hit, run comes home. Doctor WAITOKALE going to try to stretch a single into a double and he is OUT at second to end the inning, but the game is tied at 6.

"Bottom 9, Pantsmaker OA01929 in hoping to take us to extras. Meanwhile, Military Supergeneral Dominick Brockston comes in to play right and Lumberjack JSUUSI99387 moves over to center field. Good inning for the pitcher. Strikeout. Groundout. Flyout. 1-2-3 goes Azherden and it's time for BONUS BASEBALL! Gotta love this, don't you?

"Leading off the tenth is Shirtmaker 9DHUAS. Looped into left, and it gets down for a base hit. Runner on, nobody out. Chauffeur JJIASDES is going to try to bunt the runner over, it's down, Stupini fields and throws Chauffeur JJIASDES out at first but he gets the job done and the go-ahead run is in scoring position. Here comes Soldier JSIAISKS. Grounded to short, thrown out at first. Two down for Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles. The 3-1, drilled deep to straightaway center, DROP THAT BALL ON COSTA LUNA! IT'S A BOMB! BAT SLAVES TAKE THE LEAD!!!!

"Bottom 10, Chef SHSUUAISSADF on to seal the deal, the lefty closer. Grammar Enforcement Officer OOA0010 takes over behind the plate as a defensive replacement. The 1-2 is swung on and missed at a blazing high heat for strike three. One down. Here's the pinch hitter, Luze Urr. Popped up to second, it will be caught by Shirtmaker 9DHUAS and there are two down. Here's the 1-2 to the next batter, curve, he wasn't expecting that, it catches the outside corner for strike 3 as the Bat Slaves win.

"We will see you tomorrow night as the Bat Slaves host Mochria. Good night everyone."

[Bonticello]

The following displays portions of a formal Congressional Meeting in Bonticello, concerning the ending of segregation, and the merging of the 2 nations (Bonte and Cellopane). The meeting is being called in response to the fact that the people of Cellopane (land of the whites) have been rioting since news broke that Bonticello would be forcing integration, starting with sports leagues. For the purpose of this RP (C) and (B) will represent whether or not the congressman is black or white, and whether he is from Cellopane or Bonte.

---

Congressman Tribidin (C) : [grudgingly] At this time I will now recognize Congressman Green

Congressman Green (C) : We need to squash these riots, and we need to teach the people to bury the hatchet and move the fuck on. Bonticello will not survive if the instilled notions that it's okay to encourage a transnational family feud that's over 300 years old. Bonticello will suffer. Bonticello will fail. We need to show everyone that the people of Bonte and the people of Cellopane are not that different after all.

Congressman Parks (C) : *slowly clapping*. Thank you for thrilling us with that wonderful public service announcement. I'm sure that if we use your platform and have you advocate for that position everything will be peachy keen. All the conflict will stop, Bonticello will become 100% peaces, all the races will be able to sit together and sing in harmony......all we have to do, is tell them what to think. Now in case you didn't notice...this was sarcasm

Congressman Green (C) : I noticed

Congressman Parks (C) : Beautiful. Cindy! Minutes Taker Cindy! Please note that my comment was sarcastic

Minutes Taker Cindy Hunt: It has been noted

Congressman Parks (C) : Fabulous! Now as I was saying....I don't see why we should be trying to go against what the people want and force change. The people obviously don't want to be united, they're fine with the status quo. All this pushing for one ethnically mixed and socially progressive nation does is infuriate the people. They don't want to be united, so why should we unite?

Congressman Jones (C) : Because a 300 year border war is something that we shouldn't be having to deal with.

Congressman Parks (C) : But a nation in riot is sooooo....much better. RIght? Cindy please --

Minutes Taker Cindy: Already noted

Congressman Parks (C) : Thank you. You are really on the ball today Cindy!

About an hour passes, with lead Congressman Tribidin recognizing more members from Cellopane

Congressman Tribidin (C) : We will now recognize Congressman Kepler

Congressman Yates [B] : The hell you won't. I've been in this building for 2 hours, and I've asked to be recognize 12 fucking times. AT WHAT POINT DOES A BONTE'S OPINION MATTER, IN A CONGRESS WHERE HE WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT HIS PEOPLE. WHY MUST I MAKE A COMPLETE AN UTTER FOOL OF MYSELF JUST TO HAVE A VOICE! YOU ALREADY CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE. YOU CONTROL THE MAJORITY OPINION. YOU CONTROL THE MEDIA. YOU ALREADY STOLE 70% OF OUR LAND!

Congressman Parks (C) : Move the fuck on it was 300--

Congressman Yates [B] : Move the fuck on? Aren't you the one that advocated to continue segregation, and a 300 year long border war. We're trying to move on, but you won't let us. We're not the ones out of order .You all are. In case you didn't notice, there were virtually no riots in Bonte after the news was announced. YOUR portion is the one in disarray. YOUR people are the ones that can't move on. And I'M tired of it. Bonte's already gotten with the program. I suggest you figure out how to get Cellopane on board.

Congressman Dickson (C) : WHY? If the majority of the nation doesn't want this change, why should we change?

Congressman Jones (C) : A majority opinion isn't necessarily a correct one. We need to make amends. We've been pushed out of global markets because of these practices, we've been at war for 300 years. None of this makes sense. The family feud needs to end. Congressman Yates is right.

[Saintland]

OOC: In case it isn't obvious, these aren't the actual MD4 results and I'm not the host of this WBC.

Background | "MD1" | "MD2" | "MD3"

Group 1
The Serbian Empire               5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  5
Pacificana Islands               0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0  2

Karditan                         0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0  2
Levivania                        0 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 X  6

Lymantatia                       2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  3
The Royal Barangay               3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X  4


  Group 1                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Levivania                         4    3   1    16   13   +3    0.750
2 The Serbian Empire                4    2   2    13   10   +3    0.500
3 Lymantatia                        4    2   2    20   15   +5    0.500
4 Pacificana Islands                4    2   2    13   14   −1    0.500
5 The Royal Barangay                4    2   2    11   13   −2    0.500
6 Karditan                          4    1   3    12   20   −8    0.250

Group 2
Estope                           1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0  4
Jeckland                         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  2

Premier Thomas Willette          0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0  6
Lycrabon                         0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 1  7

Vaugania                         0 3 2 1 0 0 4 0 3 13
San Jose Guayabal                2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  4


  Group 2                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Lycrabon                          4    3   1    33   24   +9    0.750
2 Estope                            4    3   1    19   20   −1    0.750
3 Vaugania                          4    3   1    26   17   +9    0.750
4 Premier Thomas Willette           4    1   3    16   17   −1    0.250
5 Jeckland                          4    1   3    17   19   −2    0.250
6 San Jose Guayabal                 4    1   3    18   32  −14    0.250

Group 3
Crystal Empire                   0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0  4
Yttribia                         5 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 X  7

Super-Llamaland                  1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0  3
Mosktopia                        0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 X  4

Britonisea                       0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
Allinlia                         0 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 X  5


  Group 3                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Allinlia                          4    4   0    24   13  +11    1.000
2 Yttribia                          4    3   1    20   10  +10    0.750
3 Crystal Empire                    4    2   2    14   12   +2    0.500
4 Mosktopia                         4    1   3    10   23  −13    0.250
5 Super-Llamaland                   4    1   3    18   21   −3    0.250
6 Britonisea                        4    1   3    11   18   −7    0.250

Group 4
The Andromeda Islands            0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0  4
New Koln                         0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  2

The Fair Republic                0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1  3
Sicoutimont                      2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 X  4

Kinzar                           0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Ko-oren                          0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 X  3


  Group 4                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Sicoutimont                       4    3   1    12   14   −2    0.750
2 Ko-oren                           4    3   1    15   12   +3    0.750
3 New Koln                          4    2   2    21   16   +5    0.500
4 The Fair Republic                 4    2   2    20   20    0    0.500
5 Kinzar                            4    1   3    10   15   −5    0.250
6 The Andromeda Islands             4    1   3    11   12   −1    0.250

Group 5
Patistan                         0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1  2
New Wolfopolis                   0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 X  5

Costa de Ouro                    0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0  2
Zwangzug                         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1

Bonticello                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Darmen                           0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 X  1


  Group 5                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Bonticello                        4    3   1    23   15   +8    0.750
2 Costa de Ouro                     4    3   1     8    6   +2    0.750
3 New Wolfopolis                    4    2   2    24   10  +14    0.500
4 Darmen                            4    2   2     9   20  −11    0.500
5 Patistan                          4    1   3    17   27  −10    0.250
6 Zwangzug                          4    1   3     9   12   −3    0.250

Group 6
Imota                            0 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 0  6
Maklohi Vai                      0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1

Cassadaigua                      3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  4
Rizealand                        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Nassau-Hessen                    0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0  4
Saintland                        1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1


  Group 6                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Nassau-Hessen                     4    4   0    20    7  +13    1.000
2 Imota                             4    3   1    21   14   +7    0.750
3 Cassadaigua                       4    2   2    17   14   +3    0.500
4 Rizealand                         4    2   2    17   16   +1    0.500
5 Maklohi Vai                       4    1   3    10   23  −13    0.250
6 Saintland                         4    0   4     9   20  −11    0.000

Group 7
Equestrian States                1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0  5
Strawbee                         1 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 X  7

Milchama                         0 0 1 1 3 0 2 0 0  7
The Dark Star Republic           0 2 0 1 1 0 3 1 X  8

Hicana                           0 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 2  8
New North Aqmuland               0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0  2


  Group 7                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 New North Aqmuland                4    3   1    23   13  +10    0.750
2 Strawbee                          4    3   1    29   24   +5    0.750
3 Hicana                            4    2   2    23   25   −2    0.500
4 Equestrian States                 4    2   2    23   22   +1    0.500
5 The Dark Star Republic            4    1   3    22   29   −7    0.250
6 Milchama                          4    1   3    15   22   −7    0.250

Group 8
Saugeais                         0 0 3 0 0 2 0 1 0  6
Azherden                         0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  3

Mochria                          0 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 0  6
Gregoryisgodistan                0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 0  5

New Montreal States              0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1
Kingdom of Costa Luna            0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 X  2


  Group 8                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Saugeais                          4    4   0    26   17   +9    1.000
2 Gregoryisgodistan                 4    2   2    16   16    0    0.500
3 Azherden                          4    2   2    16   17   −1    0.500
4 Kingdom of Costa Luna             4    2   2    10   11   −1    0.500
5 New Montreal States               4    1   3    13   18   −5    0.250
6 Mochria                           4    1   3    14   16   −2    0.250

Group 9
Nova Anglicana                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  2
Noburu Taiyou                    0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1

Alitaba                          2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  4
Qazox                            0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0  2

The Royal Kingdom of Quebec      0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  2
Middleton Valley                 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1


  Group 9                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Nova Anglicana                    4    4   0    14    7   +7    1.000
2 Middleton Valley                  4    3   1    17   13   +4    0.750
3 Noburu Taiyou                     4    2   2    13   10   +3    0.500
4 Alitaba                           4    2   2    15   13   +2    0.500
5 The Royal Kingdom of Quebec       4    1   3    11   17   −6    0.250
6 Qazox                             4    0   4     7   17  −10    0.000

Margaret's Lottery continued for a 4th day, a day which saw the end of the undefeated runs for Bonticello, Middleton Valley and New North Aqmuland. And then, there were just 4 remaining with a spotless record. With just a day to go until the midpoint, Margaret's Lottery continued to throw up surprises. Then again, what else would you expect from the most random event in sports?

After 4 days, the only remaining winless nations are 2 of Margaret's least favorite nations. First is Saintland. The Sanctii can never catch a break, especially since Feministvs Sanctvsterra worships Margaret and considers her to be the Goddess of Sport. The other is Qazox. Qazox may be highly ranked in most sports, but they are cursed by Margaret and never seem to catch a break, especially in the World Cup. Qazox has competed in World Cups for what seems like an eternity, but has never won one and, these days, cannot even qualify. While Margaret can be a fickle mistress, she really does not like Qazox and it shows in their results so far.

The result of today's game between Cassadaigua and Rizealand showed, once again, that Margaret does not reward quality RP. Rizealand posted an RP that broke new ground in terms of quality. However, they still couldn't make any homeruns against Cassadaigua, even after the 9th quarter. Their ball passes weren't very good, either, as they lost 4 to nothing. Rizealand lost and once again Margaret penalized great advances in the way of RP.

Another loser today was New Koln, who is currently "banned from the NsForums" and therefore unable to RP. New Koln lost to the Andromeda Islands, who is not RPing, but by choice. It is unknown for how long New Koln and his "brother" Puppet of New Koln will remain "banned," so we'll have to wait and see when the "brothers" New Koln make their return. However, it is known that (Puppet of) New Koln remains banned from Esportiva. Esportivans felt so strongly about the need to eject the Puppet of New Koln that they actually overthrew their delegate in favor of a Paradystopian delegate who would banject New Koln's Puppet. This result was the first victory for the Andromeda Islands in the Lottery and dropped New Koln to 2-2 in the Lottery.

Meanwhile, Mochria defeated Gregoryisgodistan 6 to 5. Rumor has it that Lord Almighty Gregory personally ordered the execution of the umpires and staged a fake baseball game with actors to convince his rather intelligent populace that the Bat Slaves had actually won. In fact, the Bat Slaves are 2-2 and, somehow, still second in their group.

As Margaret's Lottery heats up, we will continue to bring you updates regarding the results. May Margaret be with you, if She pleases. May Margaret be against you, if She pleases. May Margaret continue to be Margaret and may the World Baseball Classic always remain Margaret's Lottery. We'll have our Halftime Report for you tomorrow. Until them, keep sacrificing those chickens!

[Cassadaigua]

Newly crowned Queen Courtney addressed several social issues this morning while attending a function in Brattleboro. Here were reponses to some of the issues addressed:

Men’s Rights: Will things be different? How so? Will you work with Male Equality Now? (MEN)

“I believe that under my mother’s leadership, Cassadaigua has come a long way in men’s rights. However there can still remain a stereotype that Cassadagan men do not have a fair chance in life. This couldn’t be any more inaccurate. Men attend the same schools as women, and have the same opportunities at the same universities to pursue a college education. There are examples out there of men in Cassadaigua which are very successful in life. I am aware that a wage gap still exists, but it has been tradition for the palace not to meddle in with business decisions. I intend to keep that tradition in place, because I sincerely believe that if a man puts in the same effort as a woman, then he can get anywhere in his life, and not be hindered because of his gender. I am not intending things to be different. Furthermore, I believe that my mother has always worked with Male Equality Now, so I’m not really understanding the question unless you think I am going to stop communicating with them. I will continue, as always, to listen to their concerns.”

What is your stance on sentient non-humans immigrating to and residing in Cassadaigua?

“Progressive societies are ones that adapt. Part of that is realizing that as humans, we are not the only sentient beings out there. Looking at nations like Equestrian States and Karditan for example, you see examples of highly successful ponies. We also have well-established civilizations of bears that exist. Also elves, dwarves, and so many wonderful variations of life. We should celebrate these differences, and welcome them with open arms if they wish to settle down in Cassadaigua and enjoy life here.”

What about crime? The WA claims we have a high crime rate?

“The WA is a pointless liberal organization who would be happy if all nations became socialist. Obviously, we know that socialism is a recipe for failure, and you will never see Cassadaigua become that. They claim we have a high crime rate because we don’t have the social handout programs like others do. Like I said though, Cassadaigua couldn’t care less what the WA thinks of it. This is an idiotic organization that would ban cars if they could so that a tree can be saved!”

The gap between rich and poor is increasing. What are you going to do about this?

“Encourage people to get a better education so that they can be on the rich end. Reducing this gap is not a priority of mine, and if it becomes less, it’s because we’re bringing up the poor end, not bringing down the rich end, which is how a lot of nations like to resolve this so-called issue. Cassadaigua is in the 97th percentile of the world when it comes to the economy. I am proud of what we have done, and we do that because we are a nation motivated to succeed as individuals and not rely on government handouts.”

Why does Cassadaigua spend so much money on defense? We’re anything but a militant nation?

“Why? Because we have it. There’s a reason why people don’t mess with us. We will always prefer to remain neutral in any kind of conflict, and always see combat as a last resort, but if someone ever decides to test us, well, they’re going to regret it, because we were smart enough to invest in this area.”

Are there any nations that concern you, on a military level?

“No. Right now we are in a state of peace and I plan to keep it that way. Disagreeing with other nations is not grounds for military concern.”

The gambling industry is huge in Cassadaigua. We saw the negative effects of this during World Baseball Classic 27. Will this be contained?

“Gambling is Cassadagan pasttime. We have people out there who are successful in their walks of life that have a surplus of money in which they use to gamble. Hopefully, they make more money, but if they lose money, it allows our casinos to become profitable, or for people to make money as a bookie. And at our many horse racing tracks, someone’s loses at the track is always someone else’s winnings. If people with lesser incomes are spending too much money on gambling, then hopefully they realize it at some point. What happened two World Baseball Classics ago was an attempt at the manipulation of a result, which is gambling fraud, and therefore a crime. That doesn’t mean we are going to stop becoming a haven for this. If anything, I will push to have Cassadaigua become more a gambling mecca.”


(Additional segments will get the Queen’s thoughts on other issues, using the gameside analysis of our nation, in future RP’s)

[Lycrabon]

Paul Lawrence pitched a gritty game, but suffered the loss to unheralded Jeckland 5-4, giving the hosts their biggest upset to date. Lawrence was poised to leave in the tenth with a no-decision, and Mitchell Johnston was warming up in the bullpen to enter in the bottom of the tenth. However, Jeckland fired a split-finger fastball over the left field wall to end it. At 1-2 and third place after three games, the Blue Jays are feeling the heat to if not win out, at least get themselves into the championship stage. After the game it was announced that Paul Bray, the instigator of the incident against Estope, would join Brianna Bruce - who served the first of her two game suspension last night - on the suspended list. Bray will be suspended for six games for his actions, guaranteeing that he misses his next start.


It was also announced that the match between Gregoryisgoistan and Costa Luna (OOC: apologies if either are misspelled) would, if necessary, take place at Charlestown's Charles Davis Stadium. In a statement from President Gregory Hodge:

In the interest of allowing the winner to be decided on the pitch, Lycrabon is willing to host the game. We will warn fans, players, and management of both teams of this: any attempts to disrupt the game above and beyond normal baseball tactics will be treated as an act of terrorism, and be prosecuted as such by Lycrabon's justice system. Terrorists here are punished severely, up to and including the death penalty. We would hope, though, that both fanbases, and personnel associated with the teams, conduct themselves in a manner that brings pride, and not shame, to their countries.

[New Wolfopolis]

OOC: This is not my OOC view. Just an IC storyline.

Good evening, and welcome to the six-o'clock news. I'm Jason Meza, here are tonight's top stories.

Reports have surfaced from Ko-oren that New Wolfopolis and ally Mochria are responsible for corruption in the current World Baseball Classic. This report came about after both teams won their third game in three days, two of only seven teams to do so. They also suspected it due to a show that airs in Mochria, ranking the "Upsets of the Day." They claim that, because New Wolfopolis and Mochria are getting some, surprising, wins, that they have to be tied to betting syndicates. Here's what government spokesperson Tim Ward had to say.

"Betting syndicates? Bribery? I have one word: preposterous. Just because the Wolfpack and Reindeer are practicing more than the other teams and winning games doesn't mean we're cheating. Maybe we've gained some experience, or have more desire to win. Anyway, I ensure Wolfopians, Mochrians, and all citizens around the multiverse that we are not involved in any betting or bribing scandals. This WBC has been tainted by plenty of scandals all around, by ensure that any progress we make will be made cleanly, and not through any type of cheating at all. And you don't have to just take my word for it: I've talked with Coach Best and plenty of his players to ensure that none of them are engaging in any activity that could be even partially considered illegal or unethical."

In other news, New Wolfopolis beat heavily favored Zwangzug in Lupinia today, 6-4, in a game where no runs were scored until the eighth inning. The Wolfpack scored all their six runs in the eighth inning, with a grand slam by Katsunori Matsuoka to cap it off. Reed Cabrera also drove in two runs with an RBI double. As for the pitching side of things, starter Ramon Atkins looked for perfection again, but surrendered it in the fifth. He gave up one run in his eight innings of work. New Wolfopolis takes on Patistan tomorrow, to whom they lost twice last classic.

Coming up next, details on the stalemate of negotiations with Gregoryisgodistan. Stay tuned!

[Zwangzug]

The Kerlagrad Courier
Immovable force meets unstoppable object

According to the New Wolfopolis calendar, this is the third tournament that the Wolfpack have participated in in three years. World Baseball Classic 28 saw them split a series against Zwangzug in the group stage, in a group that also featured Patistan. Later, New Wolfopolis would participate in the International Baseball Slam, reaching the quarterfinals. They have now retooled for the next WBC, drawn alongside Zwangzug once again. Like many previous teams, they have grown disenchanted with their bullpen; this led to a significantly changed roster, the team's third bullpen in three tournaments. Which brought on the inevitable showdown with Zwangzug, whose bullpen was so inept during WBC17 that the national team had given up on the idea of committed relief pitchers ever since. Somebody had to win it. Neither really wanted to.

Except maybe the starters, Ramon Atkins and Jan Kredeek. Both pitched brilliantly into the late innings, and after seven innings, the game was a shutout. In the top of the eighth, the Zebras broke through; Gyeong Rhee's long single to right drove in Aja Demacko to score the game's first run.

So, once the lead had been established, holding it became a concern. This was an abject failure. Eleanor Inebren shelled four runs after a grand slam by captain Katsunori Matsuoka, before Ndidi McGronoss made way to be on the hook for the last two, after Reed Cabrera's RBI double. Not to be outdone, the Wolfpack bullpen took over, with southpaw Henry Nguyen promptly taking over in the hopes that putting the Zebras to bed would be just an inning's work. Three runs, and only one out, later, in came Pedro Thurber, who defies handedness. Whatever methodology he used to propel the ball across the plate, it worked only poorly, as the Zebras put runners on the corners and recorded only one more out (a pop fly, from Demacko to Duncan Richardson). Finally, Max Patterson was brought on to finish the job, and on the first pitch, Rhee speared a line drive to John Parrish at first base.

Patterson probably got the save or something too, which was probably as fair and deserving a use of that statistic as we'll ever see.

[Imota]

Chie Yakumo: (loudly) GOOOOD MOOORNIN’ MULTIVERSE! (loud mic feedback)

Sakuya Izayoi: (winces, bows) Thank you for having us again. I’m Sakuya Izayoi.

CY: And I’m Chie Yakumo, and we’re Batter-yuri!

SI: Well, things went much better today, didn’t they?

CY: I got a hit!

SI: Yeah, a single in the bottom of the eleventh. Good job.

CY: Tee hee…

SI: But, it is nice to be on the winning end for once.

CY: This also marks Imota's first-ever win in overtime!

SI: (smacks Chie with a harisen) You mean “extra innings”. Don't talk like a Rizealander.

CY: Owwie...

SI: But still, an exciting game, if I may say so. First, we took the lead in the third on a two-run double by Yoshifumi Shameimaru.

CY: Then Hayato Yagami added on with an RBI single in the fifth to make it 3-0!

SI: But Nassau Hessen hit back with a run in the sixth and a two-spot in the seventh...

CY: Boo!

SI: We came back in the eighth, and they hit back in the ninth to make it 4-4.

CY: But then I singled!

SI: That you did. One out, Saki Lilienthal on first, and you singled to bring up Yuzuki Shimizu.

CY: Yumizu was so cool when she tripled to score us both!

SI: And that was Imota's first win of WBC 29, as well as out first ever win in extra innings.

CY: Yippee!

SI: This means that tomorrow, we head off to Maklohi Vai to take on the Lumai, who beat Rizealand 3-2 today on a walkoff run in the ninth to advance to 2-1.

CY: Nyah! (sticks tongue out)

SI: (smacks Chie with harisen) Nozomi Itoshiki will start for Imota. This has been Batter-yuri! (bows)

CY: Rizealand sucks! Nyah! (gets smacked with harisen by Sakuya) Owwie...

[Super-Llamaland]

Group 3
Britonesia                       0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1  4
Crystal Empire                   0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2

Allinlia                         3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  4
Super-Llamaland                  0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1  5

Mosktopia                        2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1  4
Yttribia                         0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1  5


  Group 3                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Britonesia                        3    2   1     8   12   −4    0.667
2 Crystal Empire                    3    2   1    13   12   +1    0.667
3 Super-Llamaland                   3    2   1    17   11   +6    0.667
4 Yttribia                          3    2   1    14   10   +4    0.667
5 Allinlia                          3    1   2    10   12   −2    0.333
6 Mosktopia                         3    0   3     8   13   −5    0.000

the lynder phenomenon
chapter iv

"Yeah. I've been here for a year, and..." Alex's voice trailed off.

"Ack!" Lynn cried. In front of them was a giant swirl in the mist. It would've been innocent except for the surreal darkness of the curling mist. It expanded as it swirled, and soon the two were trapped in the dim cave.

"Uh..." Alex said. "Maybe you could do something? The wraiths only come every few weeks."

"What did you do last time?"

"Hide."

"Is it too late for that?"

The first black tendrils crept across their skin in bone-chilling fashion, curling across their legs. Soon, they would be trapped.

"Probably," Alex replied.

Lynn's pulse pounded as she realized what was going to happen. She cried out, hands raised, and slumped.

"Oh **-" Alex managed before a bolt of blinding light, reflective like ice, snapped out of her outstretched palms and crashed into the wraith. There was a large blue-white explosion, and then nothing.

"Lynn? You okay?" Alex asked. She got no response.

August 5, 2006, 5:18 PM, Lynder Island

Lynn's head hurt. Unconscious for the third or fourth time in the past few days, Lynn woke up again to the concerned face of Alex. She decided a nice, coherent notification of her hunger and consciousness was in order.

"Uggggh," she said. Not a good start.

"Lynn! Are you okay?"

"What happened?"

Alex described it; Lynn's eyes opened wide. "No."

"What? Seems to me somebody with that power would know they had it."

"The Frosslass gave it to me...my Frosslass."

"Ah. So, it's ice power, but it's finite?"

"Yes. All of the above."

They got up and walked, and by the end of the day they were outside of the cave system.

"What now?" Alex asked Lynn, with a slight bit of awe that had intermixed with her voice since she'd woken up.

"Er..."

"How 'bout we call for help?" Alex pulled out a bulky phone-like thing from her pocket.

"I don't think we'll have cell service out here, considering nobody's been here in a thousand years."

"Satellite phone. We don't need to-wait, how did you know it was a thousand years?"

"J-Just a...guess. It's pretty forsaken."

Alex's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. She dialed 911 into the phone. It rang. She held it to her ear and talked.

"Lynder Island. Yes, the new one. What? Uh huh. Shipwreck. A year. S.S. Wintergreen II. Yeah. About. Lynn something or other. What? Yeah. Hey Lynn, what's your last name."

Not having a good substitute ready, she instinctively said: "Tailor. Lynn Tailor."

"Tailor. Lynn Tailor, T-A-I-L-O-R. What? That's strange. Okay. Me? Alex Whitelock. Uh huh. Taylor and John. Lynn? I don't know. Yeah. Huh. Okay, thanks, bye!" She sounded like she was making a normal phone call in that bubbly voice, maybe to book a training session or whatever.

"They don't have a lot of info on you, unless you're sixty-eight."

"What? Yeah. My parents never felt like...putting me into the system." It was technically true, although if a system had existed at the time, her parents would've probably done it.

"System? Oh, I see. Alright, help's coming in six hours. We've been tasked with not dying before then." she snorted. "I've been here for a year. You?"

"I don't know. Pretty recent. Thanks for lying about me being on the Wintergreen."

"Very welcome."

[Hicana]

The Daily: Your Spot for Hicana News!

Defeatable: Hosts top Mist with walk off

-Lead Contributor Alex Pinkerton

Hicana                           0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1  5
Equestrian States                2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1  6

In a battle between two nations partly composed of horses (in our case, our parts are partly composed of horses, if you know what I mean, ahem, centaurs, cough cough), the more purebred pony one won out. Things started off poorly with Tyler Chang making his international debut. It was to be a bad one.

T. Chang: 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 3 K/0 BB, 88 pitches

Chang gave up a two-run bomb to Trevor Amistad early on, scoring the speedy unicorn Blazer to make it 2-0. However, the Hicanans retaliated in the second with a pair of their own.

With two outs, Othellus Trius tripled into the left-field corner with the help of some poor play by Trevor Amistad. The Trius's third career triple was later ruled as a double and an error. Whatever it was, Nostradamus walked and Lukas Nanyolo singled in Trius.

The game rolled on, with both pitchers tossing just well enough to keep runs off the board. But Chang would falter first against host starter, female southpaw Sandra O'Neil.
Chang gave up a single to O'Neil, shocking everybody. He then floated a knuckle-ball much too high for Blazer, who slapped it into left for a single, advancing O'Neil to second. After Matt Jackson struck out on a more successful knuckle, Trevor Amistad slammed a two-run double into right. Alyssa Riis then followed up with a single into left center, scoring Amistad and chasing Tyler Chang.

But Hicana kept fighting! In the sixth, Sammy Manyana led off against O'Neil and hit a solo shot into left. Shocking as it was for the declining Manyana, even better was the back-to-back that came when Wesley Jimenez slammed a jack into center, making it 5-4.

In the top of the ninth, with closer Hot Stuff, a griffon, pitching, the Mist showed their pluckiness, putting it on full display. With the bottom of the order up, the States were favored highly to win. But Othellus Trius drew the portentious leadoff walk, and after Nostradamus and Nanyolo both flew out to right, advancing Trius to third, pinch-hitter Tobine got her first international debut. We'd have to show you the quote.

Two and oh on Tobine. This girl, elf-girl, whatever, loves hitting in hitter's counts. Here's the pitch, a hanging slider, ground ball up the middle BASE HIT! TIE GAME! 5-5! TOBINE COMES THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH!

But unfortunately for the Mist, reliever Charlie Hastings couldn't get his slider right, allowing a lead-off home run to pinch-hitter Steven Wilson to end the game.

W: Hot Stuff (1-0), L: Hastings (0-1), SV: NONE

Group 7                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
 Equestrian States                 3    2   1    16   15   +1    0.667
  Hicana                            3    2   1    18   14   +4    0.667
 Milchama                          3    2   1    16   11   +5    0.667
 The Dark Star Republic            3    2   1     8    7   +1    0.667
 Strawbee                          3    1   2     9   14   −5    0.333
  New North Aqmuland                3    0   3     5   11   −6    0.000

[Kingdom of Costa Luna]

Update on Breaking News out of Lake Monroe

In a recent announcement by Prime Minister Carter Mason, Costa Luna will host New Montreal States in Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City due to the shut down of Costa Lunian borders after this morning's arrests. Costa Lunian authorities are still looking into the extent of the threat, however have released that they were tipped off to the origin of the threat, which was in fact Gregoryisgodistan. The Princesa is expected to have a full press conference later this evening. Stay tuned for more information.

[Estope]

Vaugania                         3 4 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 11
Estope                           0 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 1  6

Garrett Masser has been suspended indefinitely for allegedly accepting bribes that led to his poor start against Vaugania. James Horbalt, president of Estope baseball, announced the suspension and connected this bribery to the other instances of corruption that have occurred thus far. "It is very unfortunate to have to do this and never would I have expected that an Estope player would engage in such an act. We first became suspicious after watching him load the bases twice in the first two innings. In the first, 2 walks and a hit allowed Janicek to hit a 3 RBI double to put Vaugania up 3-0. Then, in the second inning, a hit batter, a walk, and then a successful bunt do to Masser over throwing first put him in another close call. The next pitch was almost lobbed to Rychel who easily hit it out of the park. After that Neyman finally took him out of the game. Walking into the locker room, we spotted Masser receiving a briefcase from a shady individual. We were unable to detain him to find out his identity. This behavior is intolerable in the sport and the fact that people go out of their way to try and mess with us is very troubling." Estope president Leon Bare also chimed in. "I have been in close contact with a foreign team of investigators who have alerted me that we are not the only nation that is a victim of this conspiracy. We are cooperating with them in providing any needed information and support. It is comforting to know that others are as aware as we are here of what is really going on. The sport of baseball is at a point now where the corruption is ruining the game. I am completely shocked that an Estopian athlete would betray his nation in such a way. Gambling is illegal in Estope so we can be clear that this was not just a scheme by someone within the nation to benefit from the loss. It had to have come from the Council itself. In an attempt to assure that we fail to qualify they got an inside man within the team. But it must be known that we will not succumb. The team will continue to fight in hopes of qualifying. They are more motivated than ever now to defend our great nation's honor. The international media can try and silence us but we will not stop until a through investigation is conducted and those behind this wide spread conspiracy are brought to justice."

[Middleton Valley]

Middleton Valley Saves Costa Luna, Terror Plot Foiled

Lake Monroe, Costa Luna - Ten people, who were working for the government of Gregoryisgodistan, were arrested this morning at the Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré International Airport after Costa Lunian authorities were tipped off. According to the Head of the Department of Financial and Scientific Advancement, Dr. Emma Fitzsimmons, the Middleton Valley department was first alerted to the possible terror plot when Princesa Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré of Costa Luna asked President K.A. Possible to possibly host the Costa Luna verses Gregoryisgodistan World Baseball Classic game. Despite the President Possible's hesitation to have Middleton Valley host the game, within minutes The Doghouse was sold out for Friday night's game. The sudden buying of tickets was reported to Dr. Emma Fitzsimmons, who investigated the matter.

After a two-day investigation, it was determined by the Department of Financial and Scientific Advancement that all the tickets were bought up by a citizen of Gregoryisgodistan, who was directly connected to the corrupt government. It was figured that the government of Gregoryisgodistan spent about 250,000 Middlebacks on the purchase. Therefore, as Head of the Department of Financial and Scientific Advancement, Dr. Fitzsimmons, was sent to keep tabs on the buyer by going undercover to Gregoryisgodistan.

After President Possible turned down the offer to host the Costa Luna verses Gregoryisgodistan and closed Middleton Valley's borders to any resident of Gregoryisgodistan, the buyer along with ten other individuals including Dr. Fitzsimmons (known in Gregoryisgodistan as Lampmaker 82477GSZ) were sent to "send a message to Her Evilness in Lake Monroe." The group was to travel through multiple destinations before arriving in Lake Monroe on a plane from Houston.

It did not take much for the group to be arrested, as Dr. Fitzsimmons was first off the plane and attracted the authorities attention very quickly by showing a note to a customs officer alerting him to the situation. Dr. Fitzsimmons spend the day talking to Costa Lunian leaders before heading back to Middleton Valley.

[Kingdom of Costa Luna]

The following is a copy of Princesa Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré address to the nation following the foiled terrorism plot in Lake Monroe.

My fellow Costa Lunians, good afternoon. As many of you are aware that this morning Costa Lunian authorities arrested ten people at Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré International Airport here in Lake Monroe. This is completely true and Lake Monroe has been in lockdown since the incident early this morning. Lake Monroe will continue to stay closed for the remainder of the day and should be back open tomorrow. As for the game between Costa Luna and New Montreal States that was supposed to be held in Lake Monroe, it has been moved to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City outside of Costa Luna's borders.

Right now, I would like to commend our customs and police officers for their swiftness in dealing with the matter. This is the second time that they have responded to an attempt by the government of Gregoryisgodistan to do harm to Costa Luna. I applaud their heroic actions to deal with any situation that arises. I also would like to commend the bravery of Dr. Emma Fitzsimmons, the Head of the Department of Financial and Scientific Advancement for Middleton Valley. It is nice to know that we have friends in the international community that are willing to watch our back. I met with Dr. Fitzsimmons earlier to personally commend her on the undercover persona that she took on in such a hostile and dangerous land.

To Gregoryisgodistan, I urge you to stop trying to attack Costa Luna. We have powerful allies and will respond as we see fit. I refuse to reopen and of our borders to your citizens, officials, or athletes. However, Costa Luna will not be intimidated by Gregoryisgodistan anymore.

To President Hodge of Lycrabon, I applaud you for your offer to host the Costa Luna verses Gregoryisgodistan game. However, I have decided that Costa Luna will host the game in Lake Monroe under the following terms. We will allow a team of nine to come to Lake Monroe. The nine includes any managers and trainers needed as well as players. Gregoryisgodistan will be required to announce their team that will be coming to Lake Monroe by Thursday morning. Failure to do so is grounds for forfeit as Costa Luna will not allow the team to arrive in Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré International Airport. Upon arrival in Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré International Airport at four in the morning on Friday, they will submit to a very lengthy (twelve to sixteen hours), search by the authorities of all persons on the team. The team, who will be wearing their uniforms when they are in Costa Luna, cannot bring any bags or other gear to Costa Luna. Four helmets and one bat will be given to the team for use during the game. After the game, the team has exactly a half an hour to be off of Costa Lunian soil. Failure to do so will be grounds for prosecution as a violation to the border closure law.

The game on Friday will be held at 10:00 PM at Coughman Stadium in Lake Monroe and will be free to all Costa Luna citizens.

Thank you for your time and patience as Costa Luna deals with this emergency.

[Rizealand]

Maklohi Vai Beats Rizealand by One Homerun

KOLO LAHI, MAKLOHI VAI-Yesterday, in the capital of Maklohi Vai, Team Rizealand lost to Maklohi Vai's National Baseball Team by only one point. This news comes as a shocker to Team Rizealand who originally expected to be clobbered by Maklohi Vai. Coach Silas Manor stated to the press today that "he never expected such a close margin and is very proud of his boys." The game started out with a homerun made by Rizealand but Maklohi Vai's team followed in suit with two homeruns in the next inning. However, Team Rizealand put up a vailent fight and gained one homerun in what would have been a tie except at the last moment, Maklohi Vai's team scored a homerun, their runner Mao-ao just barely missing an attempt by Rodger Kepler to intercept him. Rizealand has been upgraded to third place in their division behind Maklohi Vai and Saintland. Team Rizealand will be flying back to Rizela City tonight to play Team Cassadaigua in their home stadium.

[Mochria]

Good evening, and welcome to Reindeer Baseball Live. I'm your host, Oswald Thatendswald, let's take a look at the action from the Classic.

Mochria took their third straight win today, this one over the Costa Luna team, 3-2. Two runs came in the first when Jackson Goodreader hit his first home run of the Classic. The winning run came in the eighth off the bat of Horse Jurodeinon, with an RBI single, driving in catcher Wolverine St. Jack John. On the pitching side of things, starter Puffy Dontneedcombs pitched seven innings and surrendered one run. Closer Pan Youregonnapaymebackthattenbucks pitched a perfect ninth to pick up the save for the Reindeer. The team just barely made it out of Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré International Airport in Costa Luna before 10 people were arrested and the airport shut down. The Mochria Reindeers travel to Gregoryisgodistan to face the toughest test yet in the Bat Slaves. Hopefully they can retain their first place position.

Since we've come under fire for our normal "Upsets of the Day" bit, we'll take a look around the Classic for the Obvious Wins of the Day. Because, ya know, everyone loves those.

Gregoryisgodistan beat Azherden. What a surprise.

Milchama beat New North Aqmuland. That sounds like an exciting game.

Maklohi Vai beat Rizealand. Shocking.

Sicoutimont beat New Koln. I don't believe it.

Equestrian States beat Hicana. How is that even possible?

That's it for our show tonight. Thanks for watching!

[Nova Anglicana]

OOC: Late cutoff, so I may as well.

Lions Drop Surprising Game To Quebecois

Allen Talos, Londinium Courier

The madness continues in WBC 29. Yesterday, the Nova Anglicana Lions lost at home to the Royal Kingdom of Quebec 3-2. Quebec is a lightly-regarded baseball nation who did not even participate in the last World Baseball Classic, have been reluctant to release a roster, and have shown no signs of any news coverage about this event. Despite all this, Quebec defeated the Lions by scoring two runs in the 7th and 8th innings and holding the Lions to just seven hits, four of which came in the Lions' 2-run sixth.

Justin Garcia was on the mound for the Lions and conceded a solo home run with two outs in the first inning, putting the Lions down 1-0. He pitched very effectively over the next five innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out six, and had a 2-1 lead when he departed via pinch-hitter in the 6th. Bill McCaffrey came on and retired two batters, but also gave up a walk and a hit. Lefty specialists Ellis Rhodes came on, but was bested, and an RBI single tied the game. He retired the Quebecois pinch-hitter, but they had pulled even. Setup man Kyle Pauley came on and allowed a leadoff triple. A strong throw from Roman Jennings would not be in time on the next batter, and his sacrifice fly gave Quebec a 3-2 lead. As for the Lions, their only sign of life came in the 6th, when singles by Roman Jennings and Tony Barnes put runners at 1st and 2nd with one away. Jarrod Novak singled home a run to tie the score at one, and Chris Fletcher also had an RBI single following Brice Napier's popup. Brooks Merriman pinch-hit for Garcia, but could not add to the lead. In the 9th, the Lions' 8-9-1 hitters were the last chance. Chris Fletcher drew a leadoff walk, and Darius Boudreaux bunted him over, coming very close to earning a bunt single in the process. Torrés grounded out to the shortstop, leaving Josh Heckman as the last hope. He waited until 2-1, then took a mighty hack that sailed well out to left-center field, but was a relatively routine catch for the center fielder, dropping the Lions to 1-2.

They will look to bounce back on the road against surprise group leaders Noburu Taiyou, who at 3-0, look like a strong contender for their first playoff qualification. They defeated Qazox 4-3 yesterday, and also own victories over Middleton Valley and Quebec. The Lions need to reassert themselves and show these upstarts who rules the roost (or at least is supposed to) in Group 9.

[Equestrian States]

World Baseball Classic 29 - Group Stage
Match Day 4 Results

Group 1
The Serbian Empire               0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Pacificana Islands               0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1  3

Karditan                         0 0 1 4 0 2 0 2 0  9
Levivania                        0 2 0 3 1 1 3 0 X 10

Lymantatia                       2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  4
The Royal Barangay               0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 2  6


  Group 1                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Levivania                         4    4   0    25   15  +10    1.000
2 The Serbian Empire                4    2   2    18   14   +4    0.500
3 Karditan                          4    2   2    36   34   +2    0.500
4 Pacificana Islands                4    2   2    12   11   +1    0.500
5 The Royal Barangay                4    2   2    13   22   −9    0.500
6 Lymantatia                        4    0   4    15   23   −8    0.000

Group 2
Estope                           0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0  3
Jeckland                         1 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 X  6

Premier Thomas Willette          1 0 0 1 0 1 5 1 0  9
Lycrabon                         0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1  3

Vaugania                         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
San Jose Guayabal                2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 X  4


  Group 2                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Vaugania                          4    3   1    20   12   +8    0.750
2 Premier Thomas Willette           4    3   1    25   18   +7    0.750
3 San Jose Guayabal                 4    2   2    14   16   −2    0.500
4 Jeckland                          4    2   2    14   18   −4    0.500
5 Estope                            4    1   3    22   28   −6    0.250
6 Lycrabon                          4    1   3    17   20   −3    0.250

Group 3
Crystal Empire                   2 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 0  7
Yttribia                         0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0  6

Super-Llamaland                  0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Mosktopia                        5 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 X  8

Britonesia                       1 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 0  8
Allinlia                         1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1  4


  Group 3                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Britonesia                        4    3   1    16   16    0    0.750
2 Crystal Empire                    4    3   1    20   18   +2    0.750
3 Yttribia                          4    2   2    20   17   +3    0.500
4 Super-Llamaland                   4    2   2    19   19    0    0.500
5 Allinlia                          4    1   3    14   20   −6    0.250
6 Mosktopia                         4    1   3    16   15   +1    0.250

Group 4
The Andromeda Islands            0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
New Koln                         1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 X  5

The Fair Republic                2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  4
Sicoutimont                      1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2

Kinzar                           0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Ko-oren                          0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 X  2


  Group 4                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Sicoutimont                       4    3   1    18   11   +7    0.750
2 Ko-oren                           4    3   1    12    8   +4    0.750
3 The Fair Republic                 4    3   1    12   11   +1    0.750
4 Kinzar                            4    2   2    14    7   +7    0.500
5 New Koln                          4    1   3    10   17   −7    0.250
6 The Andromeda Islands             4    0   4     9   21  −12    0.000

Group 5
Patistan                         1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1  6
New Wolfopolis                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Costa de Ouro                    0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
Zwangzug                         1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 X  4

Bonticello                       0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0  4
Darmen                           0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 X  6


  Group 5                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Patistan                          4    3   1    27   11  +16    0.750
2 New Wolfopolis                    4    3   1    17   17    0    0.750
3 Darmen                            4    2   2    25   26   −1    0.500
4 Bonticello                        4    2   2    18   16   +2    0.500
5 Zwangzug                          4    1   3    21   27   −6    0.250
6 Costa de Ouro                     4    1   3     9   20  −11    0.250

Group 6
Imota                            0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 0  5
Maklohi Vai                      1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  3

Cassadaigua                      0 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 1  7
Rizealand                        0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3  4

Nassau Hessen                    1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
Saintland                        0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 X  6


  Group 6                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Saintland                         4    4   0    23   12  +11    1.000
2 Cassadaigua                       4    2   2    17   18   −1    0.500
3 Imota                             4    2   2    14   15   −1    0.500
4 Maklohi Vai                       4    2   2    15   13   +2    0.500
5 Rizealand                         4    1   3    16   19   −3    0.250
6 Nassau Hessen                     4    1   3    15   23   −8    0.250

Group 7
Equestrian States                0 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 0  7
Strawbee                         0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0  3

Milchama                         0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  4
The Dark Star Republic           0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1

Hicana                           1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  7
New North Aqmuland               0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0  3


  Group 7                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Hicana                            4    3   1    25   17   +8    0.750
2 Milchama                          4    3   1    20   12   +8    0.750
3 Equestrian States                 4    3   1    23   18   +5    0.750
4 The Dark Star Republic            4    2   2     9   11   −2    0.500
5 Strawbee                          4    1   3    12   21   −9    0.250
6 New North Aqmuland                4    0   4     8   18  −10    0.000

Group 8
Saugeais                         0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0  4
Azherden                         0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  3

Mochria                          0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 3  8
Gregoryisgodistan                0 0 0 0 1 9 0 2 X 12

New Montreal States              7 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 15
Kingdom of Costa Luna            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  2


  Group 8                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Gregoryisgodistan                 4    3   1    29   22   +7    0.750
2 Mochria                           4    3   1    21   21    0    0.750
3 New Montreal States               4    3   1    27   10  +17    0.750
4 Saugeais                          4    1   3    10   16   −6    0.250
5 Azherden                          4    1   3    16   20   −4    0.250
6 Kingdom of Costa Luna             4    1   3    13   27  −14    0.250

Group 9
Nova Anglicana                   0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 0  6
Noburu Taiyou                    0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0  3

Alitaba                          0 0 0 5 0 1 0 1 0  7
Qazox                            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1

The Royal Kingdom of Quebec      1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 4  9
Middleton Valley                 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0  5


  Group 9                         Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD    Win % 
1 Alitaba                           4    3   1    25   12  +13    0.750
2 Noburu Taiyou                     4    3   1    19   14   +5    0.750
3 The Royal Kingdom of Quebec       4    2   2    17   21   −4    0.500
4 Nova Anglicana                    4    2   2    17   14   +3    0.500
5 Qazox                             4    1   3    16   23   −7    0.250
6 Middleton Valley                  4    1   3    19   29  −10    0.250

[Qazox]

Qazox         0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0  3
Noburu Taiyou 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 X  4

Qazox maybe shouldn't have kept the mud cleats on for this game. 6 times Qazoxian players were thrown out trying to steal 2nd, as NT's Kawano set a WBC record for catchers with 8 assists, the other 2 coming on bunt attempts by Erica Valier, Qazox' starter. NT scored first in the 3rd, as Hamano drove in Shirai with a double to make it 1-0. Qazox tied it in the 4th with a leadoff solo HR by Jack Stark. Stark would be the main cause of Qazox' loss, dropping a throw from Mary Branson, allowing fellow 1B Tashima on to open the 4th inning. The error sparked a 3-run inning, as NT ripped 3 straight doubles afterwards making it 4-1. Qazox did close the gap in the 6th, getting a clutch 2-run double from Shauna Turner, but the NT bullpen, which has been the talk of Group 9, closed out the win.

Up next, 1-2 Qazox faces 2-1 Alitaba.
-------------------------------------

Alitaba 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 1 0  7
Qazox   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1

Qazox lost it's 3rd straight game, a 7-1 whupping by Alitaba, and now it's offical that Qazox Baseball is dying a slow death. Every year the team gets ranked lower and lower, losing to teams that the first few Qazoxian teams would've slaughtered 25-0. Perfect example was tonight's loss to Alitaba. Granted the gap between #20 and #31 isn't theat large, but to be held hitless for 8 innings at home to a lower ranked team? Inconceivable just a decade ago, but now all too common. Ansemio Dimatakaw almost became the answer to a trivia question, before Stephen Union blooped a double between Ampola and Panagbuhi in left center. Union would score two batters later on a single by Thorensen. Alitaba jumped on Rene de Allian, scoring 5 times in the 4th on 7 hits, batting around. The key blow was a 2-run double by Alab that made it 3-0. Up next 1-3 Qazox ends this troubled first half of qualifying at 2-2 Quebec. Based on recent Qazox WBC history, Quebec might win by 16...