World Baseball Classic 30 (EVERYTHING)

[Nassau-Hessen]

Maklohi Vai 3, Nassau Hessen 5
A Pleasant Surprise

The Hessen are all of the sudden back in the game after a five to three upset against Maklohi Vai (of whom isn't having a thrilling start). After two consecutive winnable loses at Brannigan, the Eagles needed some reassessment. The victory proved to be much needed as the Eagles currently hold second place, a qualifying spot, in the division. If all goes in the way of the Hessen, they may even continue to hold that spot coming into the second leg of the group stage.

Group J has been an interesting one so far, many new teams have pulled off upsets and the standings is consequently a mess. Alitaba is currently in first with a strong three wins and no losses start. Maklohi Vai is licking their wounds near the bottom, but can turn that around with a potential win over Alitaba tonight. It is hard to draw the line between lovable and annoying for the Cuthbert Islands and Organized States. They have both pulled off upsets against the Lumai and the Eagles, but both lost to Alitaba. The only true way to dictate the view of the multiverse spectators on them will be their results in the second leg.

The men of the tundra faced off against the islanders last night in the home of the Fentermacher Owls. The face-off between the ethnicities of two drastically different climates attracted an almost sold out crowd of nearly 15,000. The pitcher Aonmai Rutulotoa of Maklohi Vai led off against the Nassauite Arnold Carpuccio.

Bats made contact in the first inning, as each team scored a run. The Lumai scored through a solo home run by Ri’ino Uilnai into the high seated left field section. Nassau initiated the need for the opposing run by a single and a steal from Frederick Prosser, who was batted in by a hit from late Hessen star Isaac Mac Dougal that went straight through the hole between Arnao and Aputo Roma’ai.

The Maklohi Vai Lumai then got another run in the fourth by an impressive triple from Moalna’akai Lai that drove in Arnao (Lai was later called out on a close play at home plate). The Eagles responded in the sixth by a deep sacrifice fly from third basemen Victor Casfeld that drove in designated hitter Thaddeus Flint, who had a double.

The seventh inning came, and both teams went all out. Maklohi Vai once again retook the lead through taking advantage of a wild pitch from Carpuccio by stealing home (Ri’ino Uilnai got the run). The Eagles again responded in the eighth with two outs by a two run homer from none other than Isaac Mac Dougal, putting the score in favor of the Hessen for the first time since the first inning. Charles Trent made his first move of the tournament by getting a follow-up solo home run that landed in the central mid section. Raymond Rodriguez finished the job by getting two strikeouts in the final inning, securing the win and second place.

[Britonisea]

Britannual News- Update

---

Down to 3rd, we are loosing.

---

Country: New Wolfopolis

Ayer, it was great. We was on top of the group K standings, but as we suspected we are going to take a big dip in our tables.

We played a match against Gregoryisgodistan, and since we played them earlier, The Britonish Men was too full of them selves when The Gregoryisgodistani men beat Britonisea.

(Image)

Group K
Gregoryisgodistan 9, Britonisea 5
New North Aqmuland 2, San Jose Guayabal 3 (F/10)

   Team                    P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 San Jose Guayabal       3  2 0  1  11   8  +3  6
 2 Mount Tamobet           3  2 0  1  14  17  -3  6
 3 Britonisea              4  2 0  2  23  20  +3  6
 4 New North Aqmuland      3  1 0  2   8  11  -3  3
 5 Gregoryisgodistan       3  1 0  2  15  15  +0  3

Gregoryisgodistan has beaten us 9-5 very quickly. To see what happens, look at The Gregoryisgoditani sportsman. Other than that, I do not think that we are going to play tomorrow so that will put us at the end of the league, probably 4th if Gregoryisgodistan loses. Hopefully. We beat Mount Tamobet yet they are higher than us in the table. Does that make sense? Either way, New Wolfopolis is not giving us any glory. Wondering if we were managed by the government of Super-Llamaland, would we be so bad in the league. At least Super-Llamaland likes Britonisea. Maybe we should threaten New Wolfopolis. We shall not. We don't like nuking other nations like some. But, we could tell them to load the ball (Meaning make the ball come to us). This will taken for ages anyways. It has been drama from the passed 4 days and we will be keeping you up to date with the fun and bad parts of The World Baseball Classic 30, Held in New Wolfopolis and Super-Llamaland!

[The Serbian Empire]

Looks Like No Defectors, Yet

First things, first... The Serbian Empire and Gregoryisgodistan both won their games. The Serbs won 4-3, but it's the Gregoryisgodistan team that is frustrating us as we can't siphon any players from the authoritarian regime in the form of defectors. What did those Bat Slaves do was scoring a total of 9 runs to Britonisea's 5 runs. The Serbs love to free players from that awful regime, but the opportunity hasn't presented itself. Anyways, there's a storm brewing in Mosktopia where their team was defeated by children no older than seven or maybe even eight years of age. I heard several players were suspended for a single game, but one has to enjoy that underdog story win from Levivania. The team effectively has strike zones so small that it would be hard to strike out the players by over powering them. One would have to lower velocity just to get it to even be in the tiny strikezones of the small children.

[Nova Anglicana]

Lion's Roar

A SportsWorld Weblog

We Don't Give A Jeck
by Alpha Lion

After we came this close to defeating Diegstra, with Kareem Al-Aniz's home run being pulled back from over the fence, I said this team needed to get its ass in gear. And it looks like that's what they've done so far. Two games against Jeckish teams, two wins, and we're back to 2-1 and tied for 2nd in the group. I have to say, both Jecatria and Jeckland looked like a bunch of nobodies out there, especially since we haven't gotten any information from Jeckish media about them. I cannot for the life of me figure out how both of these teams beat Zwangzug, and Diegstra got whipped by Jeckland. If I had a softball coach for a national team manager, I don't think I'd be very motivated to play either. And nobody really expected Diegstra to go 4-0 in the first half, did they?

Anyway, the Lions were much better offensively and pitching-wise in their last two games. Justin Garcia's got to be the hero of the Jecatria game for his 8 IP, 2 R, 11 K performance, but let's not forget Kareem Al-Aniz's three-run jack to straightaway center that staked him to a 3-0 lead before the second inning had begun. Tyler Rocke's a tough place to hit one out of, being about 400 feet to straightaway center and having some thick air that really slows balls down at certain times of day. Josh Heckman was the star in the Jeckland game, hitting a bases-clearing double in the 3rd that got the Lions out of an early 2-0 hole. He later added an RBI single in the 6th to extend the lead to 4-2, and Flick Barnes hit a 3-run bomb to left later that inning to really give the Lions some cushion. Chris Keyes had some trouble early, giving up two runs on four hits in the first two innings, but he righted the ship and gave us seven good innings. The best moment of the night was this pitch, though:



Keyes throws his curveball at about 70 usually, which is really slow, but he took about eight to ten MPH off of this one, which completely freezes the Jeckland batter. Just look at his reaction. "The hell you mean I just struck out on a 60 MPH pitch?" Siddown, meat.

Next up for the Lions is Zwangzug. The Zebras have gotten off to a rough start, losing all three of their games so far. They got dominated by Diegstra, 9-2, and then dropped two close ones, 7-6 to Jeckland and 3-1 to Jecatria. All softball motivational tactics aside, Hubert Lehrer (doesn't even have a good baseball name) needs to get the Zebras going. Just not against us, please. The Lions need this one to finish the first half on a good note and tie Jeckland for first at 3-1. The Zebras essentially need to win out to have any chance of advancing. The Lions will start the lanky lefty Brad Bryan, while the Zebras will likely counter with Eleanor Inebren, a 28 year-old right-hander. The Lions need this game, so they can't underestimate the female hurler (women have really shut the Lions down before) or the Zebras as a whole, who have their backs to the wall. Let's finish strong.

More from Lion's Roar
CEdP III to Start Soon, Do We Have a Chance?
Khris Caldwell Really Likes PB&J (.Gifs Ahoy!)
DC Gets Flattened Again in SEASOGS

(OOC: Logo at top shamelessly cribbed from Pride of Detroit, Detroit Lions blog.)

[Super-Llamaland]

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five

Epic Quest: Twice the amount of Vitamin S as Sunrice!

We fictionally represent, at times, other nations. If its your nation, then please take no offense on how its characterized. TG me with a brief character sketch if you want to be in it, but I may include you anyway.

Chapter Six

After a long day of travel, the two lay down to sleep, collapsing onto the cold grass of the mountain. Each section of the mountain possessed weather of its own. They had struggled through perfidious rain, stinging sleet, bitter snow, pounding sunshine, and flying squirrels. They had trekked through every imaginable climate in NSSport.

At three in the morning, a blue light shattered the tranquility of the mountain, accompanied by a trumpet call. The beam intensified into a laser, and slowly, a form began to materialize in it.

Neither Llama nor Wolfie noticed this, being so tired. They did, however, notice Greg's cheerful appearance in the morning.

---

"Give me a strong drink," Llama informed the green-clad barkeeper three days and quite a bit of mileage later.

"I'm...not...a...bar-" replied the man, who was in fact an alchemist. "What do you mean?" he said, sighing. The disheveled teenager would certainly be surprised in a few minutes.

"You know, something that will really shake me up. Non-alcoholic, please."

"Long day?" the alchemist asked, pouring an elixir.

"You betcha." in fact, it was ten in the morning and all days in Mirasaia were roughly the same length, but after a long day of being attacked by flying squirrels, Llama didn't really care. The alchemist whistled as he poured a drink out of a squat crystal bottle. He mixed and stirred, put a small umbrella in the drink, and served it cold.

"Thanks," Llama said. "You want one?"

Wolfie looked pensive. "I'll see."

Llama sipped and gagged. It was a very strong drink, with a distinct whiff of formaldehyde in it. He chugged the rest of the cup, sighed, and sat back.

"I think we should go, Llama," Wolfie informed his sleeping companion. "That drink wasn't a good idea, Greg, help me pick him up." Greg, who was reading something about Rome, blinked, stuffed the pamphlet in his pocket, and helped Wolfie carry the unconscious Llama away. They stocked up in the surrounding village and prepared to keep going.

The changes began at two the next morning. Wolfie awoke to a terrible thumping. "Llama?" he whispered. In response he received a groan. "Hello?" He flicked on a flashlight and shone it in his companion's face, then gasped and fell back.

Llama's face seemed to be flickering and glowing in the flashlight beam. It seemed distinctly alien, his hair beginning to darken. And the shirt-! It was a lurid blue in the moon, rather than its old green. He looked closely. His ears were slightly pointed.

"Llama?"

Llama blinked. His eyes shone startling emerald. Wolfie took a step back. He had shortened as well.

"Who...are you?"

"Oh, great," Greg said, "I knew that was puppet elixir. Good thing you didn't have anything or you'd be really confused right now."

"That's questionable," Wolfie said curiously. "And secondly, what?"

"Miklandia," Llama replied to Wolfie's earlier question, feathered wings ripping through his shirt.

"In defense of the barkeeper, it did say 'ALCHEMY' on the shop," Greg muttered, packing up his things. "We're getting help right now."

[Hicana]

Female Players Turning Heads in Llamaland

Super-Llamaland, one of the world's finest baseball teams, recently announced the naming of their final roster. Amongst the new players on the WBC-28 championship team were two women, marking a historical moment in Llamanean history. CF Megan Peterson, 23 and one of the first players in the domestic leagues since 1976, found herself named onto the starting lineup. And Brittany Hendrickson, 20, was named to the relief corps. Both have performed quite superbly.

In a 10-5 loss to Darvale on MD2, both players saw their debuts. Peterson exited in the sixth inning with leg injuries after a magnificent diving catch. In her first five innings, she went one-for-two with an RBI double. Pinch-hitting in the tenth inning the next day, she slammed a bases-clearing triple into right center to put the Tigers up 7-2 and break the game wide-open (it would eventually end 11-2, the most runs in the tenth inning ever scored.)

Against Lymantatia in a 6-3 win on MD4, Peterson struggled against ace pitcher John We-don't-know-his-last-name-or-his-first-name-for-that-matter, going 1-for-4 with a single. However, her sterling defense and stolen base made up for it. Overall, Peterson has so far shown herself more than capable, going 3-for-7 (.429) with four RBIs and two stolen bases.

Meanwhile, the twenty-year-old Hendrickson, a student at prestigious Corbin Island Polytechnic, only had one pitching opportunity, and that was a mop-up attempt. Hendrickson, coming in with her team down 8-1 after AJ Rondout threw poorly over three and two-thirds, struck out three and walked none in 2.1 innings, giving up no runs and only one hit.

As female players perform well on a world-class team, it remains to be seen whether the rest of the world will integrate.

[Zenic]

“So, who’s left that we haven’t faced yet?”

“I believe that would Unolia,” said Minister of Sports Zimmel III over the phone. “Following that, everyone gets a day off before the second half of the group stage begins. If you win against Unolia, you’ll put yourself in an amazing position to qualify.” Odilon nodded, sifting through her notes with her free hand to search for the files on the Unolian baseball team. Once she found them, he proceeded to skim it as she talked with Zimmel III. With the break, she could read it later in full with the staff and team. “So, ZImmel, what did you think of the game against Mochria?”

“It was marvelous. Amazing job from yourself as this team just gets better and better,” Zimmel III responded. It was a very impressive match as the game was pretty much over by the 5th inning. Augustine hit a lead-off homerun in the first inning followed by 5 runs in the 3rd with 2 by Lund, one by Earls, another by Milosevic and the 5th by Fleischer. The other three came on a three run homerun in the 4th by Earls. Orland Curtain brought in a run in the 2nd and Jackson Goodreader brought in the second run in the 6th for the Mochrian team.

Mirabella Villa pitched a strong game, throwing 97 pitches in 7 2/3 innings with 5 hits, 2 runs, a walk and 6 strikeouts. Short relief pitcher Tania Ezra finished the game throwing 23 pitches in 1 1/3 innings. For Mochria, Puffy Dontneedcombs left during the huge 3rd inning Zenic had. Now, Zenic needed to wait a day before they faced Unolia.

The team had definitely earned its day off. Now, it had to earn the win against Unolia.

[New Montreal States]

THE BEATINGS CONTINUE, BUT MORALE HAS NOT IMPROVED

Awful bullpen is awful

SUPER-LLAMALAND - The Reformed Expos bullpen is in a state of advanced disintegration.

After failing to protect a 2-run lead against unheralded Yttribia, Les Réformés managed to do even worse against even-less-heralded Patistan, giving up 5 runs in the top of the 9th in a blizzard of balls in the dirt and hanging breaking pitches.

The Expos were in fantastic shape headed into the 9th, p 4-0 on a pair of two-run homers from Byron Hammersmith and light-hitting second baseman Greg Witherpool, and with eight innings of lights-out pitching from starter André Morand. With Morand having thrown 156 pitches to get that far, though, Ephraim Zimbalist Jr. called in ostensible closer Bradley Stone to put an easy win on ice.

Stone walked three men in a row, and then things got really bad.

Setup man Henri Desharnais came in and got some random Patistani to swing on a ball in the dirt. The next man up drove Desharais's first offering right down the third-base line, over the head of a leaping John Smithfield. Thomas Thibault's throw home was wildly off the mark, and Les Réformés's lead was cut in half, 4-2.

Desharnais got the hook in favor of Ian Ford-Harris, who induced a nameless Patistani first baseman into hitting a weak roller back to the mound, which he then launched two feet over Jean Boulanger and into the stands. One run scored on the grounder and another was waved home by the umpires, tying up the game.

Ford-Harris coaxed a pop-fly foulout to Fabrice Ferrier for the second out. The infield jogged back to regular depth when the Patistani double reverse fine leg mid wicket jolly good tally ho oh i say guv'nor how about a spot of tea eh god save the monarch and damn the krauts confound their politics frustrate their knavish tricks on him their hopes they fix god save third baseman launched a triple into deepest right field, driving home the fifth run.

Patistan got Les Réformés to go down in order in the bottom of the 9th.

A WC26 Intergalatic Planetary Series rematch with Sicouimtont is up next; a win will eke the Expos back to .500. Will a small sample size doom Les Réformés once again?

Yeah, probably.

[Imota]

The Imota Professional Baseball League (IPBL) Official Website: Your WBC 30 Headquarters!

Clouds Rolling In; Sunwings Drop Three Straight (http://www.ipbl.im/wbc30/md4)

The Sunwings dropped their third straight game tonight, being shut by the Wolfpack 7-0. Despite getting runners to third base three times, the ‘Wings simply could not bring them the last ninety feet.

Things got off to a bad start. In the top of the first, a one out triple by Andre Harding scored two right off the bat. The third was even worst, as Maurice Martinez blasted a 2-1 fastball into the right field stands with two on to make it 5-0.

Besides these mishaps, starter Sakuya Izayoi pitched very well, and she allowed just one Wolf to reach base after the start of the fourth. After visibly tiring in the eighth, though, she was replaced with Himeko Yaegashi in the ninth, who promptly gave up singles to pinch-hitter Ricky Sawyer and Katsunori Matsuoka before allowing Wade Campos to score them both on a double to left.

The Sunwings offense needs to kick into gear. With the first half done for the Sunwings, the bats have averaged just two runs per game, almost half that of the next lowest team (the Wolfpack, who have scored their 15 runs in just three games).

The Sunwings have the next two days off, before facing the Royal Kingdom of Quebec in a road game. Haruki Saegusa will start.

[New Wolfopolis]

Speech by President Rose Cho to the people

International Guests, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentleman of New Wolfopolis, I speak to you today about our hosting of the World Baseball Classic. Many of you international guests are here solely for that purpose, and many Wolfopians have seen ballgames at stadia across the country. This is a great event for sports fans across the multiverse, and it is a huge honor for us to be co-hosting this great event, with help from co-host and honorable nation Super-Llamaland. I'm sure you, along with people all over the multiverse, have enjoyed the limitlessness of LTC, the victory at Viz, the legend of Lomanto, the beauty of Brannigan, the uniqueness of the UNI-Dome, and the captivation of Cromartie. But some have not enjoyed the World Baseball Classic, specifically, the games taking place in New Wolfopolis. This is because of one isolated, terrifying incident.

New Wolfopolis is, for the most part, a land of freedom.
The audience chimes in:We're not free to smoke!
Or have a drink!
Or shoot a gun!
New Wolfopolis is, for the most part, a land of freedom. You are free to wear clothes when you want, and not where clothes when you don't want. It is a long-standing tradition in the land of Mount Tamobet to be naked. They were worried about law enforcement of other countries prohibiting them from carrying on these traditions when going to their games internationally in the WBC. However, they were drawn in New Wolfopolis, a land of freedom, where, like in Mount Tamobet, not wearing clothes is perfectly fine. So, they went onto the baseball field to play the team from Gregoryisgodistan, the Bat Slaves. In Gregoryisgodistan, it is highly illegal to not wear clothes, and the punishment for any public nudity is dickapitation and castration. These laws are enforced by "Pervert Chasers." One such person, Pervert Chaser NAUSJW, is the pitching coach of the Gregoryisgodistan Bat Slaves. So, when the Nahuelii players took the field at the UNI-Dome in Aux Eveques, Pervert Chaser NAUSJW dickapitated Moema, the third baseman, and Sayen, the shortstop, and castrated Moema. He was quickly apprehended by Wolfopian police, and charged with assault and sexual abuse. Moema and Sayen are in the hospital, in stable conditions. Pervert Chaser NAUSJW is in custody, waiting for sentencing.

Lord Almighty Gregory, leader of Gregoryisgodistan, has demanded extradition of the criminal, citing the fact of Rebecca Lillard's extradition during IBS IV as something to return the favor for. However, these are different circumstances. In Lillard's case, she was a Wolfopian citizen who killed a Wolfopian citizen. This is not the case here. Pervert Chaser NAUSJW is a Gregoryisgodistani citizen, who injured Mount Tamobet citizens. Also, in Lillard's case, murder was illegal both in Gregoryisgodistan (the country where the crime took place) and New Wolfopolis (the country of origin of the criminal and the victim), so there would be some punishment. In Pervert Chaser NAUSJW's case, the crime is illegal in New Wolfopolis, but legal and encouraged in Gregoryisgodistan. This means that, if the criminal were extradited, Pervert Chaser NAUSJW would pay nothing for his crimes. In New Wolfopolis, he would be rehabilitated and sent back to his country of origin, in this case, Gregoryisgodistan. So, in summary, two factors hold us back from extraditing Pervert Chaser NAUSJW back to Gregoryisgodistan. First, that the crime did not happen to a Gregoryisgodistani citizen, and second, that he would not face any punishment in Gregoryisgodistan.

These citizens think it is ok to enforce their laws in other nations of the mutltiverse, when really, it is not. The only way we would ever extradite Pervert Chaser NAUSJW to Gregoryisgodistan is if they sent a lot of money to both New Wolfopolis and to Mount Tamobet, and if we were removed from our obligations issued to us during Ms. Lillard's case. It is important for us to remain a neutral state in international affairs. We need to show Gregoryisgodistan that their actions cannot be permitted.

[Super-Llamaland]

Demons by Imagine Dragons into comings MD5 Llamanean cutoff! Not enough time for the full song but hopefully you're getting the point by now.


When cutoffs are made
And RPs get grades
When you see the scores
Do Margaret you hate?

When your dreams all die
To unranked no-RPs
Are the worst beheld
When losses are held

I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
From Margaret's great wrath
There is no exit path

No matter what we try
Her whimsicality
Comes to stifle us all
Comes to stifle us all

When you lose so hard
Look into her eyes
It's where the demons hide
Where demons of random hide
Don't get too close
It's so dark inside
It's where the demons hide
Demons of random hide


Let's end the first half strong, shall we?

[Super-Llamaland]

GROUP A
Zwangzug 10, Nova Anglicana 4
Diegstra 1, Jecatria 3
   Team                P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 Jeckland            4  3 0  1  23  17  +6  9
 2 Diegstra            4  2 0  2  17  17  +0  6
 3 Nova Anglicana      4  2 0  2  20  20  +0  6
 4 Jecatria            4  2 0  2   10  12  -2  6
 5 Zwangzug            4  1 0  3   19  23 -4  3
GROUP B
Saugeais 3, Vaugania 2
New South Aqmuland 8, The Kytler Peninsulae 10
   Team                       P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 The Kytler Peninsulae      4  4 0  0  28   16 +12  12
 2 Kinzar                     4  3 0  1  18  19  -1  9
 3 Saugeais                   4  2 0  2  22  23  -1  6
 4 Vaugania                   4  1 0  3  14  12  +2  3
 5 New South Aqmuland         4  0 0  4  19  31 -12  0
GROUP C
Mosktopia 4, The Fair Republic 2
The Emerald and Formerly Crystal Isles 5, Levivania 0
   Team                                        P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Estope                                      4  4 0  0  30  21   +9  12
 2 Mosktopia                                   4  2 0  2  19  15   +4   6
 3 Levivania                                   3  2 0  2  16  17   -1   6
 4 The Emerald and Formerly Crystal Isles      4  1 0  3  16  22  -6   3
 5 The Fair Republic                           4  1 0  3  13  19   -6   3
GROUP D
Equestrian States 6, New Wolfopolis 4 (F/13)
Allamunnic States 5, Royal Kingdom of Quebec 8
   Team                         P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Allamunnic States            4  3 0  1  27  18  +9  9
 2 Equestrian States            4  3 0  1  24  20   +4  9
 3 Royal Kingdom of Quebec      4  2 0  2  25  23   +2  6
 4 New Wolfopolis               4  1 0  3  19  21   -2  3
 5 Imota                        4  1 0  3   8  21  -13  3
GROUP E
Sicoutimont 3, New Montreal States 2 (F/10)
Orennana 8, Yttribia 10 (F/10)
   Team                     P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 Yttribia                 4  3 0  1  23   17  +6  9
 2 Patistan                 4  3 0  1  21  18  +3  9
 3 Orennana                 4  2 0  2  21  24  -3  6
 4 New Montreal States      4  1 0  3  14  13  +1  3
 5 Sicoutimont              4  1 0  3   10  19  -9  3
GROUP F
Karditan 0, The Royal Barangay 4
Zenic 5, Unolia 6
   Team                    P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Zenic                   4  3 0  1  29   15  +14  9
 2 Mochria                 4  3 0  1  19  18   +1  9
 4 Unolia                  4  2 0  2   11  17   -5  6
 3 Karditan                4  1 0  3  10  14   -4  3
 5 The Royal Barangay      4  1 0  3   12  20  -8  3

[New Wolfopolis]

Group G
Hicana 3, Cassadaigua 5
Brenecia 1, Mizuyuki 6

   Team             P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Thatius          4  3 0  1  13  10   +3  9
 2 Cassadaigua      4  3 0  1  23  16   +7  9
 3 Mizuyuki         4  2 0  2  19  14   +5  6
 4 Brenecia         4  2 0  2  25  24   +1  6
 5 Hicana           4  0 0  4  15  31  -16  0

Group H 
Feministvs Sanctvsterra 8, Milchama 5
Cosumar 6, Vettrera 1

   Team                         P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 Cosumar                      4  3 0  1  24  14 +10  9
 2 Vettrera                     4  2 0  2  14  22  -8  6
 3 Feministvs Sanctvsterra      4  2 0  2  19  17  +2  6
 4 Milchama                     4  2 0  2  22  22  +0  6
 5 Noburu Taiyou                4  1 0  3  16  20  -4  3

Group I 
Darmen 5, Ko-oren 1
Falupia 3, Western Cuba 2

   Team                P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Darmen              4  3 0  1  24  18   +6  9
 2 Ko-oren             4  2 0  2  23  11  +12  6
 3 Crystal Empire      4  2 0  2  18  17   +1  6
 4 Falupia             4  2 0  2  22  41  -19  6
 5 Western Cuba        4  1 0  3   6   6   +0  3

Group J 
Alitaba 3, Maklohi Vai 0
Organized States 0, Cuthbert Islands 6

   Team                  P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Alitaba               4  4 0  0  23   8  +15  12
 2 Nassau-Hessen         4  2 0  2  16  16   +0   6
 3 Cuthbert Islands      4  2 0  2  11   5   +6   6
 4 Maklohi Vai           4  1 0  3   6  14   -8   3
 5 Organized States      4  1 0  3   6  19  -13   3

Group K
San Jose Guayabal 6, Gregoryisgodistan 3
Mount Tamobet 8, New North Aqmuland 6

   Team                    P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 Mount Tamobet           4  3 0  1  22  23  -1  9
 2 San Jose Guayabal       4  3 0  1  17  11  +6  9
 3 Britonisea              4  2 0  2  23  20  +3  6
 4 New North Aqmuland      4  1 0  3  14  19  -5  3
 5 Gregoryisgodistan       4  1 0  3  18  21  -3  3

Group L
The Serbian Empire 2, Super-Llamaland 3
Darvale 7, United Eastedge 6

   Team                    P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Darvale                 4  3 0  1  26  18   +8  9
 2 The Serbian Empire      4  3 0  1  18  11   +7  9
 3 Super-Llamaland         4  3 0  1  25  17   +8  9
 4 United Eastedge         4  1 0  3  18  22   -4  3
 5 Lymantatia              4  0 0  4  12  31  -19  0

[The Serbian Empire]

Serbs Lose To #2 Super-Llamaland 3-2

Fortunately, this loss can be explained in the rankings as the Serbs are #18. The talent gulf between them and us is as great if not greater than the talent gulf between the unranked and the Serbian Empire. That being said, Darvale is likely the odd team out in the rankings and will likely fall to third as the gulf of talent given that Lymantatia is ranked in the upper 20s may be able to gather two wins or more if they get better luck. Still, I doubt that the Serbs will be able to make the jump to having a bye in the tournament's round of 24. It's asking too much from a team with lackluster offense and stingy defense. The lackluster offense is likely the greatest concern as many teams have far more offensive styles of play.

[United Eastedge]

United Eastedge falls 7-6 after a big Darvale comeback
Jimmerson, Zircasia, New Wolfopolis

---

Things in the World Baseball Classic turned bad for United Eastedge since the third match day of the tournament, in which they were defeated by Super-Llamaland with a embarrassing final result. Yesterday, our team played against the other underdog of the group, Darvale. The game was very close from the beginning to the end of the game with Wilbur Owen pitching his second game in the tournament. After this new defeat, United Eastedge is ranked fourth in the standings of the Group L, situation that worries the entire nation.

Currently, we are in the halfway of the group stage and the position in which United Eastedge is, is quiet bad. This is starting to be worrisome; it would be horrible for United Eastedge's sporting fans, to fail in another attempt. As we mentioned a lot of times, United Eastedge has failed in all of their attempts in international tournaments, which includes Basketball and Rugby League, both teams were eliminated in the group stage. As you may know, baseball is the second most popular sport in the nation, and that's a reason why this team needs to go ahead.

United Eastedge lost 7-6 on Friday after a surprise rally turned a two-run ninth inning advantage into a Darvale victory at Jimmerson, Zircasia, New Wolfopolis. The game began with both starting pitchers dominating the first innings, highlighting the great job done by Wilbur Owen again. He threw 6 innings allowing four of the seven runs of Darvale. Nevertheless, in the first innings he was completely dominating Darvale's batters. Darvale opened the scoreboard in the second inning by a home run on a fly ball drive to the right field. Fortunately, in the top of the third, United Eastedge turned the scoreboard 2-1 with a single and a stolen base by Aaron Sullivan and a RBI double by Cameron Terry. After the first third of the game, United Eastedge was winning 2-1. The fatigue that had Owen was remarkable in the bottom of the fourth. He was throwing weak balls to the batters, and that caused that Darvale scored the equalizer run. On the fifth, United Eastedge, with a lot of courage, take the advantage in the scoreboard again now 3-2 with a home run of Wayne Douglas, by the way, his second home run in the tournament. Unfortunately, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Darvale scored 2 runs more, enough to turn the scoreboard 4-3. That's why the manager, Erik Schultz decided to replace Wilbur Owen with Eric Burton. Immediately, United Eastedge tied again the game 4-4 with an amazing play based in walks, stolen bases and sac bunts. Then, amazingly in the ninth inning, they recovered the lead in the match with two runs more. It seemed that United Eastedge would stay with the game. But, surprise! Darvale made a surprising three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth turning again the scoreboard and finishing the match with a victory for them.

United Eastedge's start are definitely in the worst moments of their careers. Although they had not participated in an international tournament until now, they were more explosive at the moment in which they are batting. We hope that the team bounce back in this tournament with our support. They need a miracle to win the group, but is possible, the only way to do that is winning the five matches remaining and a bit of luck. Is a pity to depend of the other results to advance to the next stage, but is the reality of Eastedgean Baseball, but we can change that...

Whatever, thanks for reading again in UEE Sports, national leader in sports. We have round trips to New Wolfopolis or Super-Llamaland for the final series of the current World Baseball Classic. As always, UEE Sports progressing and surprising everybody since 2014. Good-bye and check out our page for more information about those round trips we have for you. Go Eastedge!

[Gregoryisgodistan]

San Jose Guayabal 6, Gregoryisgodistan 3

"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!"

"Hello, I'm Sportscaster 1938XXB and we are coming to you live from New Wolfopolis for Gregoryisgodistan baseball. Today's game features Gregoryisgodistan and San Jose Guayabal. Time for the national anthems, to be sung by New Wolfopian citizen Daniel Clark. First, the national anthem of San Jose Guayabal, to be sung in Spanish.

San José Guayabal - nuestra amada Tierra,
San José Guayabal - pene niña eres por Dios.
territorio libre de las fuerzas represivas-
grande eres entre todos los países .

Grande es tu gente, Dios es grande
bella entre todas las naciones
grande es tu gloria y tu territorio
La lucha del Glorioso Pueblo para liberarte!.

Nuestra grande y hermosa tierra
la perla del mundo, con grandes
bosques y lagos, majestuosa es
mi hermosa, mi patria bella.

"Pene niña eres por dios"? I don't think that's the real lyric. You can look up what that means, we're not going to say it on air. But the actual lyric is 'bendecida eres por dios.' Good Greg. That was an awful mistake and Clark should be fired, but he's going to sing the Gregoryisgodistani national anthem. You can see the Guayabalese players are laughing on the field and dugout. It's a pretty amusing mistake."

Gregory Gregory Lord Almighty
We Praise You We Worship You
Gregory Gregory Lord Almighty
Master of Gruel and Prune Juice
He Gives Us Gruel And Prune Juice Yes
We Worship Him as a Deity and Bow Down To Him Whenever We See Him
On TV or In Person or In Statue
Gregory Gregory Lord Almighty
We Love You We Worship You
Gregory Gregory Lord Almighty
A million praises unto you
Gregory Gregory Is Immortal
He Considers Us His Little Playthings
A term He Only Uses In Jest Because He Has Infinite Mercy for Us All
Gregory Gregory We Adore Thee
We Bow Down To Thee In Praise
Thou Art More Smart Than Sir Einstein So We Say "Einstein Who?"
Gregory Gregory Master of Slave Labor
We Are All Your Slaves in Heart
Some Of Us Are Slaves to this Nation
Some of Us Just Wish We Were
Gregory Gregory Inventor of the Solar Bomb
Which We Use to Vanqiush Our Enemies
Gregory Gregory Master of Everything
Thou Art Lord and Thou Art God
Gregory Gregory You Wrote This Song
Our Favorite Song In The Entire World
We Sing it Every Hour on The Hour
Like Clockwork We Praise your Lordship
Gregory Gregory We Bow Down Again
We Fly This Flag Outside Our Home
Gregory Gregory We Have Shrines in Our Homes
In Our Shops and Everywhere
Gregory Gregory We Worship You Day and Night
In Our Dreams We even Worship You
Gregory Gregory This is the Only Song We Sing!

"Now, let's play ball. On the hill is Andres Sifuentes against Executioner HUD8S. Bat Slaves looking to get back to .500 and 2-2. Mount Tamobet is 3-1 and in first place, and with a win, SJG would tie them. (OOC: RPing this game as taking place after Mount Tamobet-New North Aqmuland at the same site. If either of those nations have a problem with this, they can TG me.) This would make it almost impossible for the Bat Slaves to finish in the top two and advance to the next round. It's a tough road as is, but they can handle it if they win today. They will be facing their archnemesis, San Jose Guayabal.

...

"Top two, two outs, second and third for Oscar Lozano. Here's the pitch. Looped into center for a base hit. One run will score. They will wave Luis Bojorquez. Here's the throw. Cut off by the pitcher and they have Lozano caught between first and second. Throw to second is easily in time, but the second run will score and it's 2-0 SJG. The inning is over, however, and we head to the bottom of the Frame.

...

"Bottom four, it's still 2-0 San Jose Guayabal and the Bat Slaves are looking for some runs. That will bring up Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles with first and third and two outs. Here's the pitch - DRILLED DEEP TO LEFT THAT BALL IS GONE! DROP THAT BALL ON COSTA LUNA BECAUSE IT IS A BOMB! HOME RUN BAT SLAVES! Gregoryisgodistan leads 3-2. What a shot.

...

"Top eight, and we will see a pitching change for Gregoryisgodistan. Military General Jake Robertson will come in. I don't understand this move - most of the bullpen should be fully rested, why use your worst reliever? Anyway, the top of the order is due up. Here is Karl Marcsian. He swings and loops it into center for a base hit. Runner on first, nobody out. Here comes Julio Martínez. He's going to try to bunt the runner over to second, it's down the third base line, Grammar Enforcement Officer CUPSI19291 fields, throws Martinez out at first, one down, runner moves to second. Here comes Mateo Sunsín. That came too far inside and got him on the leg. He'll take his base. San Jose Guayabal has first and second and one out. Retiree 913H012S will try to settle his pitcher down, with the pitching coach in jail still, that duty falls on the manager. He'll stay in the game. Here comes Lucio Márquez. That pitch is high, ball four. Bases loaded, just one out. Here comes Macario Vargas. That ball is drilled deep down the right field line and it will make the seats for a home run. San Jose Guayabal with a grand slam and they take the lead 6-3. Military General Jake Robertson is coming out of the game, in comes Slave Beater QAIIZ1, which is who they should have brought in to begin with. And now it looks like Executioner HUD8S, the original starter, is meeting Military General Jake Robertson in the dugout and forcibly dragging him into the clubhouse. Is he going to be executed? It sure looks like it. Let's cut to our clubhouse cam while the new pitcher is warming up. Yep, Military General Jake Robertson is being executed in the clubhouse as we speak. But let's show you the game now. You can catch a feed of the execution on the Execution Channel if you want. But this is the Sports Channel so we're showing you the game. Here is Lucas Paulino. First pitch swinging, grounded to short, two down. Here is Gabriel Zelaya. Popped up behind home plate. Enemy Crusher Bobby Furgles makes the catch and that will do it. But SJG strikes for four runs and Military General Jake Robertson loses his life after blowing the game. Let's show you the rest of that execution. Yep, time for him to be beheaded. Off with his head. It will be taken home to Gregoryisgodistan and used to blow up the family home with the family chained inside.

...

"Bottom nine, two down, Here is Barber LIEUIUSH with a runner on third. That is popped up to short. Martinez under it and the ballgame is over. San Jose Guayabal wins 6-3. Disappointing loss for the Bat Slaves, who know they would have won if not for that infidel blowing it."

[Diegstra]

The atmosphere was tense as Tomoe Kikuchi entered the room. Everyone knew why. The Knights, after beating the two best teams in their group, had been pounded by Jeckland and then narrowly defeated by Jecatria. Now, they were in second place, only by virtue of tying with Nova Anglicana and Jecatria on wins and losses but pulling ahead on head to head results and run difference.

Tomoe walked to the head of the room. Before her stood twenty-eight of Diegstra’s best baseball players. They may have lacked experience, but she knew that not a single one of them wanted for effort. She took a deep breath and began to speak.

“I know how we all must be feeling right now,” she said, “and I know it’s not a pleasant feeling at all. But I didn’t call you here to call you losers or quitters, because you aren’t. I know that, and so do you, better than anyone else.

“At this point we’re two and two, and in second place. Three days ago, we were two and oh. I’m not saying you’re doing it on purpose, but this isn’t college or weekend ball. This is the highest level of interdimensional baseball the multiverse has ever seen. No matter how well we do, we can’t get complacent, especially when vigor’s one of the few things we’ve got going for us. We belong here, and we have to prove that, with every game and with every play.

“Complacency has sunk better teams than ours, and it can creep up with absolutely no warning. So be watchful. Whenever you practice, the two questions you should always keep in mind are “Am I doing my best?” and “How can I improve?” Never tell yourself that it’s going to be easy, or that it’s impossible: that’s the job of the bloggers and the twits. Some things are impossible, granted, but without effort, even the possible will become impossible, and you don’t really know until you try. If you truly give your best effort, the worst they can say is that you didn’t win.” Tomoe paused for a moment.

“We’ve got four more games coming up,” she said. “Four more hurdles to overcome, but also four more chances to show the world what we’ve got. Let’s take them, and tell the world that we belong here!” She punched the air for emphasis. The players gave a shout of approval and punched the air. Tomoe exhaled.

“That’s… well, that’s all I really wanted to say. Our next game’s against Zwangzug, and the Zebras will be looking to avenge their loss. They’re also in last place, so they’ll be hungry, and they’ll come at us with everything they’ve got. Bel?” Belcelica Meltman nodded in acknowledgement. “You’ve got the start. Let’s make it three and two!” The team broke for practice, energy renewed. Tomoe smiled as she watched them leave.

“Well, here goes,” she said as she adjusted her cap and followed them out.

[The Fair Republic]

Tony Williams marches into the clubhouse after another loss puts the Toucans at 1-3 and last in the group. He grabs a wooden bat and swings it against the wall shattering the bat into a thousand pieces. The Toucans get the message, he is pissed. "WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?!!!" Williams screams "YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING LIKE CRAP. NO THAT'S AN INSULT TO CRAP, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PLAYING LIKE THE CRAP THAT CRAP CRAPS! 9TH IN THE WORLD? PLEASE YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING LIKE 99TH IN THE WORLD. JUST BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE TOP 10 IN THE WORLD MEANS THAT IT IS A GUARANTEED SPOT IN THE NEXT ROUND! TOMORROW DOUBLE PRACTICE, DOUBLE FILM SESSIONS AND I EXPECT YOU GUYS TO BE AT THE PARK AT 8:00 AM SHARP. ANYONE LATE EVEN AT 8:01 WILL BE BENCHED!." Lowering his voice to now barley a whisper, "I know this sounds tough but we should be first in the group, I know that we have the talent to win, but I'm not sure that you guys have the drive to win. I know we can make a deep run so play your hearts out and we still have a chance to win. Team Dismissed.

[Ko-oren]

(Our two presentors look considerably healthier)

"Welcome back... or rather, welcome to KSN! Consider that we've never been off the screen yet. But we have had some rest... thanks to the Greenblues dropping out of the IBC and the AOCAF quickly. Yay for bad results!"

"Absolutely, and with the network just showing the highlights of the games in those competitions that are on, we have more time to spend on the WBC, which is now in full swing. Eh, that's half swing: they're halfway!"

"Correct! The Dragonflies have not been doing as well as hoped, but then again, it's the WBC. We might as well put my grandmother as a left fielder and my 3-year old cousin in instead of Sayar, and the results would be nothing different."

"That's not a very nice thing to say, but I feel like you are right. None of the Pot 1 teams occupy the first place in their group. Wait, let me say that again. That is the 12 most talented, apt teams in the world, and none of them managed to be first halfway the competition. Including us. But we are second, and even that seems to be better than the average first potter."

"Second? But that is a big hint about the outcome of last game..."

"Oops! That's not all my fatigue dealt with. But yes, Darmen managed to get the better of our mighty Dragonflies. 5-1, might I add, so it was a bad game."

"Samson completely showed us who's boss. That's the Darmeni starting pitcher, folks. And his successors Neville and Autenberry did not do much worse. But may I add that Gwgan was not bad, not bad at all. Two errors on account of our third base man, Yorick van der Meer, and a less-than-good appearance of relief pitcher Van Ballengooijen is what us cost the game. But that doesn't do the Darmeni justice: they kept it together and stayed concentrated for about three hours."

"And now I kind of want to go back to bed again..."

"Sorry man... The World Cup of Hockey just began."

"NOOOOOooooo"

[Zwangzug]

(OOC: Good catch on the inspiration, Nova Anglicana. I was surprised at how loud softball players are!)

The Kerlagrad Courier
A win at last, but questions remain

It was a defensive press conference on the part of Hubert Lehrer. With the Zebras having lost their first three straight games, he must have known the pressure was on going in to somehow beat the top seeds and avoid a winless first half. Amazingly enough, Zwangzug did accomplish this! A bases-clearing double from Salut Ster-Adan gave the Zebras a lead they would never relinquish, and Eleanor Inebren was credited with the win.

This, at least, averted the worst of the questioning. "Do you think the Zebras can keep it up" was the obvious followup (not shockingly, he did), followed by "why did it take them so long" (they're on pace with the last iteration of the team), and then, "do you have higher standards" (he has very high expectations for his team in all walks of life, on and off the field), leading to "are they meeting them" (mostly).

But that was only the cue for even more probing questions, these related to Lehrer's cryptic past. Inspired by some investigative journalism of the Lion's Roar, interviewers pressed him to know whether he had a background in softball coaching. Lehrer shut down every line of inquiry, deflecting all suspicions about his associations with bygone Olympic organizers. "I do not believe that the underhand delivery is an effective strategy at this level," he was forced to clarify, "or indeed any level related to baseball, which is the sport we are participating in, correct?" He then visibly resented the suggestion from a couple writers that Zwangzug were arguably not playing baseball over the last few days.

Nevertheless, he was grilled on several more topics by journalistst trying to catch him in a lie. How many innings should a regulation game last? "Nine. Sometimes ten or more! But at least nine. Er, eight-and-a-half, that would require us to have the lead...Nine." Did or would he consider employing a "designated player"? "I'm sorry, I don't follow. If our opponents were the home team and wanted a designated hitter, then, of course, Claes would start...I might start him anyway, he's been hot...But he just bats for the pitcher, that's all."

There is no telling whether this will be the start of a turnaround for Zwangzug that justifies all of Lehrer's inscrutable tactics. If they slump again, however, no doubt there will be even more inquisitions. If nothing else, the questions will not be softballs.

[Nova Anglicana]

Murphy to Open Up Second Half For Lions

Nova Anglicana Lions ace Felix Murphy will get the nod to start the second half against Diegstra, a source with the team confirmed today. Manager Graig Lowman had been pondering the idea of starting #5 starter and former #1 overall prospect Nate Freeman against the Knights, but decided to go with Murphy. Murphy struggled the last time out against the Knights, giving up three runs in six innings, as well as walking four and striking out four.

Murphy said after the game that he didn't have his best control, and hoped to do better in his second start. The Lions sit at 2-2 following their 10-4 loss to Zwangzug and are tied with two other teams for second place, so they need him to be at his best against Diegstra.

The team also confirmed some other changes to the rotation, namely that Nate Freeman will pitch against Jecatria on MD7, pushing all of the other starters back one day. Justin Garcia will face Jeckland and Chris Keyes will pitch the qualification finale against Zwangzug. This leaves #4 starter Brad Bryan as the odd man out, but he was charged with seven runs in four innings in his last start against Zwangzug, and would likely benefit from having his start pushed back a bit. The team left open the possibility that Bryan could see some relief work to keep his arm fresh.

A Close Race in Group A So Far

When the WBC began, many analysts predicted that the Lions would win the group, and win easily. After all, they faced two unranked opponents, middling Jeckland, and a Zwangzug team that finished 4-6 in the last WBC. But true to form, the Lions have not performed well in the group stage. They have a pair of wins over Jecatria and Jeckland, but have lost to Diegstra and Zwangzug. Many others also thought that Zwangzug would finish in second place easily, but they sit in last with a record of 1-3.

The good news for both the Lions and the Zebras is that only two games separate first and last place, with a 2-2 logjam in the middle. Jeckland has been the surprise of the group, leading with a 3-1 record despite not having released a roster or, it seems, paid any attention to the Classic at all. Jecatria and Diegstra, the two unrankeds, are tied with the Lions at 2-2. Group A is still anyone's to win, but the Lions will need a much better effort than they have turned in so far if they expect to do so.

[New Wolfopolis]

Baker's Ball Blog
First Half Recap: WBC
by Marc Baker
baker@ballblog.wolfopianblogs.nw

New Wolfopolis. Group D. We're at the halfway point of the WBC Group Stage, let's take a look at where things are at.

Currently atop the group are the gridiron-powerhouse Allamunic States, who are new to the baseball scene. They've surprised many, winning 3 of thier first 4 games, including one against New Wolfopolis. They seem to have a suprisingly strong team. We'll see if they can keep it up through the rest of the group stage.

In second is the only team that is keeping up with expectations, Equestrian States. They've also won three of their first four games, their latest, an extra-inning thriller against New Wolfopolis. Many predicted them to be in second by the end, and halfway though, that's holding up. We'll see how long it lasts.

In third, a team who normally is pretty poor at baseball, the Royal Kingdom of Quebec. They excel at sports such as gridiron and hockey, but baseball has been one of their worse sports. They've put together a great team and won two of four in the first half, one against first-place Allamunic States and one against first-pot New Wolfopolis. I wouldn't expect this team to stay in third, however. They seem to be tiring out a bit. We'll have to wait and see.

In fourth, we finally reach our own Wolfpack of New Wolfopolis. They've only beaten one team, last-place Imota, and this classic has been pretty piss-poor for them. Normally, they match or beat expectations, and they're coming off of a quarterfinals appearance. Perhaps they've become a bit complacent. Nevertheless, they'll need to sweep the second half to be in good shape for the playoffs, if they even make the playoffs.

And in last is the constantly snubbed team from Imota. Their one win is against the RKQ team. Normally, Imota is a pretty good team, but they've surprised many with their tank into last place. Perhaps they'll climb back, perhaps they won't. Anything could happen.

New Wolfopolis is not the only Pot 1 team not meeting expectations, in fact, they're far from it. Not a single Pot 1 team is in first place. Let's take a look at those, shall we?

In Group A, Nova Anglicana has split the first half, and they're sitting in third behind unranked Diegstra and surprise first-place Jeckland. Zwangzug, Pot 2 team in Group A, is in last with a 1-3 record.

In Group B, Vaugania is in fourth, behind Pot 4 team Kytler Peninsulae in first, having won only one game.

The Fair Republic has won a single game and is sitting in last place in Group C. Estope, from pot 3, is one of the few undefeated teams left in the entire Classic. They're in first.

New Montreal States has been a roller-coaster ride the past few Classics. This time, they appear to be going downhill, winning one game and sitting in fourth place in Group E, while Pot 4 Yttribia leads the race.

The World Number One, The Royal Barangay, has the same number of wins as their rank: one. They're sitting in last place in Group F, while unranked Zenic is sitting in first with three wins.

Cassadaigua isn't doing too poorly, in second place only to Thatius in Group G. Both teams have 3 wins, but Cassadaigua's only loss was to Thatius.

In Group H, unranked Cosumar leads the way with three wins, while Milchama has two and is sitting in fourth place.

Ko-oren has as many wins as Milchama, but they're doing two spots better, currently holding onto second in Group I.

Maklohi Vai, the only remaining co-host of WBC 27 in the competition (since Saintland hasn't actually sent a team), is sitting in fourth in Group J with one win. Pot 3 Alitaba is undefeated and has a two-game lead in first.

Gregoryisgodistan, the dickapitating monsters who have a pretty good baseball team, have been bitten by karma for their actions against the Mount Tamobet team. Mount Tamobet currently occupy first place, while Gregoryisgodistan feeds on the bottom of Group K.

Finally, we reach Group L, where three teams are 3-1, one of them being Super-Llamaland. They're sitting in third, but could easily move up with a few wins over the next few days.

Enjoy the rest of the Classic, and go Wolfpack!

[Super-Llamaland]

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six

Epic Quest: It's Huelarious, Baby!

We fictionally represent, at times, other nations. If its your nation, then please take no offense on how its characterized. TG me with a brief character sketch if you want to be in it, but I may include you anyway.

Chapter Seven

They climbed and climbed, Llama in their arms. He had tried to resist, being sort of insane by now, but a few rocks and he was out cold. One limp, feathered wing hung from his right side, dotted with blood. He weighed less than before, but it was still difficult going climbing up the mountain. Wolfie and Greg continued to hoist their companion's body as they progressed through the mountain.

After about an hour, they noticed that his weight was rising, or at least it felt so. It could've been fatigue, but the two of them weren't sure at all. Gasping, they set him carefully on a rock, watching the wings recede into his body and his shirt change color.

"Looks like it went away on its own," Wolfie said, seemingly too tired to care.

"I wouldn't bet on that," Greg replied.

Somebody in a white shirt and blue tie dropped from the sky, seemingly through a portal. He blinked in a confused way.

"Bet?" Ecosse said.

"Nothing. Forget it."

"Here at Trembolet, we have-"

"I said forget it." Ecosse nodded testily and was sucked back into the NSSport dimension, a bit confused over how he'd appeared on the mountain.

Llama stirred and groaned. He rolled to the side in sleep...off the rock and the cliff it was tremulously perched on.

"Llama!" Wolfie cried, diving for the rock. In response, it rolled off the cliffside, Llama on it. In perfect slow motion, Llama and the rock parted in midair, tumbling off the mountain to the forests far below.

"Llama!" came the same yell, as the recipient slowly dove, unconscious, towards the bottom. His eyes fluttered open as he fell, and the pair's hearts broke.

He never had a chance to cry for help. His eyes widened, he looked down, and Wolfie found himself unable to turn away, only able to gaze mutely as Llama tumbled towards the ground, with only one possible outcome-

The wind stirred, and suddenly, a gust halted his fall. No. He was rising now, spinning through the air, and they were too, and the wind was blowing them in a fireless inferno, and suddenly they were on top of the mountain. More improbable things had never been encountered, at least not since PIS 0-1 Weegies.

"Welcome to my palace," somebody said.

Greg spun around, and there shone an emerald-clad goddess on her throne of gold.

"Margaret," Llama and Wolfie whispered.

Greg took a temerous step forward and glared. "You."

---

"What? How do you not know who Margaret is?" Wolfie asked Greg.

"Margaret?" Greg scoffed. "This is Fortuna, the Roman god of fortune."

The goddess rose, confused. "I have not been called by that name in a long time," she said in detached, precise English.

"For millennia have I walked the dimensions in mortal form since you banished me," Greg murmured, glaring. "Do you remember me?"

"Who-" Margaret blanched. "You. How have you found me? No. This is a fiction. Tell me then, what is your name, traveller?"

A corona of light burst around the traveller. He seemed to grow as the light flashed pale gold. He took a step forward and poked his finger towards the goddess. It was a poke that had never met its equal. Margaret flinched.

"Gregorius," he whispered, "mother."

She seemed to shrivel under Greg's intent stare. "No, you don't understand, Jupiter would never have-"

"You banished your own son from Montem Dei."

Hastily created by the author

"Montem Dei was falling-"

"-and you knowingly destroyed its hopes of survival."

Margaret rose as well. "You will not speak to me like that," she said quietly. Greg took a step back. "Montem Dei had fallen, and there was nothing you could do about it."

"Especially since you ban-"

"Shh," she said. "Return to live with me. I will explain."

Wolfie and Llama exchanged confused glances.

"We will see," Greg muttered. "Show us away to our rooms, I suppose." He smirked at the two, but it could not put out the fire in his eyes.

[Super-Llamaland]

Group A
Zwangzug 5, Diegstra 8
Jeckland 3, Jecatria 1
   Team                P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 Jeckland            5  4 0  1  26  18  +8  12
 2 Diegstra            5  3 0  2  25  22  +3  9
 3 Nova Anglicana      4  2 0  2  20  20  +0  6
 4 Jecatria            5  2 0  3   11  15  -4  6
 5 Zwangzug            5  1 0  4   24  31 -7  3
Group B
Saugeais 8, New South Aqmuland 3
Kinzar 0, The Kytler Peninsulae 1
   Team                       P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 The Kytler Peninsulae      5  5 0  0  29   16 +13  15
 2 Saugeais                   5  3 0  2  30  26  +4  9
 3 Kinzar                     5  3 0  2  18  20  -2  9
 4 Vaugania                   4  1 0  3  14  12  +2  3
 5 New South Aqmuland         5  0 0  5  22  39 -17  0
Group C
Mosktopia 6, The Emerald and Formerly Crystal Isles 7
Estope 10, Levivania 3
   Team                                        P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Estope                                      5  5 0  0  40  24   +16  15
 2 Mosktopia                                   5  2 0  3  25  22   +3   6
 3 The Emerald and Formerly Crystal Isles      5  2 0  3  23  28  -5   6
 4 Levivania                                   5  2 0  3  19  27   -8   6
 5 The Fair Republic                           4  1 0  3  13  19   -6   3
Group D
Equestrian States 9, Allamunnic States 5
Imota 4, Royal Kingdom of Quebec 5
   Team                         P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Equestrian States            5  4 0  1  33  25   +8  12
 2 Allamunnic States            5  3 0  2  32  27  +5  9
 3 Royal Kingdom of Quebec      5  3 0  2  30  27   +3  9
 4 New Wolfopolis               4  1 0  3  19  21   -2  3
 5 Imota                        5  1 0  4   12  26  -14  3
Group E
Sicoutimont 0, Orennana 1
Patistan 6, Yttribia 1
   Team                     P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 Patistan                 5  4 0  1  26  19  +7  12
 2 Yttribia                 4  3 0  2  24   23  +1  9
 3 Orennana                 5  3 0  2  22  24  -2  9
 4 New Montreal States      4  1 0  3  14  13  +1  3
 5 Sicoutimont              5  1 0  4   10  20  -10  3
Group F
Karditan 3, Zenic 2
Mochria 1, Unolia 4 (F/13)
   Team                    P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Zenic                   5  3 0  2  30   18  +12  9
 2 Mochria                 5  3 0  2  20  22   -2  9
 4 Unolia                  5  3 0  2   15  18   -3  9
 3 Karditan                5  2 0  3  13  16   -3  6
 5 The Royal Barangay      4  1 0  3   12  20  -8  3

[New Wolfopolis]

Group G
Hicana 1, Brenecia 3
Thatius 7, Mizuyuki 6

   Team             P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Thatius          5  4 0  1  20  16   +4  12
 2 Cassadaigua      4  3 0  1  23  16   +7   9
 3 Brenecia         5  3 0  2  28  25   +3   9
 4 Mizuyuki         5  2 0  3  25  21   +4   6
 5 Hicana           5  0 0  5  16  34  -18   0

Group H 
Feministvs Sanctvsterra 8, Cosumar 2
Noburu Taiyou 4, Vettrera 5

   Team                         P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 Cosumar                      5  3 0  2  26  22  +4  9
 2 Vettrera                     5  3 0  2  19  26  -7  9
 3 Feministvs Sanctvsterra      5  3 0  2  27  19  +8  9
 4 Milchama                     4  2 0  2  22  22  +0  6
 5 Noburu Taiyou                5  1 0  4  20  25  -5  3

Group I
Darmen 3, Falupia 0
Crystal Empire 1, Western Cuba 2

   Team                P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Darmen              5  4 0  1  27  18   +9  12
 2 Ko-oren             4  2 0  2  23  11  +12   6
 3 Western Cuba        5  2 0  3   8   7   +1   6
 4 Crystal Empire      5  2 0  3  19  19   +0   6
 5 Falupia             5  2 0  3  22  44  -22   6

Group J
Alitaba 5, Organized States 1
Nassau-Hessen 1, Cuthbert Islands 0

   Team                  P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Alitaba               5  5 0  0  28   9  +19  15
 2 Nassau-Hessen         5  3 0  2  17  16   +1   9
 3 Cuthbert Islands      5  2 0  3  11   6   +5   6
 4 Maklohi Vai           4  1 0  3   6  14   -8   3
 5 Organized States      5  1 0  4   7  24  -17   3

Group K
San Jose Guayabal 6, Mount Tamobet 2
Britonisea 5, New North Aqmuland 1

   Team                    P  W D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
 1 San Jose Guayabal       5  4 0  1  23  13 +10  12
 2 Britonisea              5  3 0  2  28  21  +7   9
 3 Mount Tamobet           5  3 0  2  24  29  -5   9
 4 New North Aqmuland      5  1 0  4  15  24  -9   3
 5 Gregoryisgodistan       4  1 0  3  18  21  -3   3

Group L
The Serbian Empire 6, Darvale 3 (F/10)
Lymantatia 2, United Eastedge 6

   Team                    P  W D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 The Serbian Empire      5  4 0  1  24  14  +10  12
 2 Darvale                 5  3 0  2  29  24   +5   9
 3 Super-Llamaland         4  3 0  1  25  17   +8   9
 4 United Eastedge         5  2 0  3  24  24   +0   6
 5 Lymantatia              5  0 0  5  14  37  -23   0