World Baseball Classic 26- Everything Thread (IC)

by **Lycrabon** » Tue May 28, 2013 1:15 pm

Slembana no match for Jays, await next opponent

SLEMBANA - Lycrabon's easiest scenario against their hosts was simple: win, get a top ten seed. That is exactly what they did. A 5-1 win clinched group ten and the fifth overall seed in the postseason. The Blue Jays now await the 21-12 matchup for their round of sixteen opponent.

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Capital City Gazette - SPORTS - Page 16

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Their possible opponents in that round are Ko-oren, runners up in Group 2 and Taeshan, surprising third place finishers in Group 10, behind the Jays and Saintland, the thirteenth seed. That sets up - if both keep winning - a quarterfinal matchup between Saintland and Lycrabon that Tom Benson made a thinly veiled reference to headhunting.

by **The Serbian Empire** » Tue May 28, 2013 1:30 pm

The Serbian Empire Playoff Special

With the day of rest scheduled and the four man rotation Vladimir Halisevic will start Game Two and Game One is scheduled for #33 Milorad Vranes against the #23 ranked and 16 seeded Thatius team. This is the second time in as many tournaments the Serbian Empire has been in the playoffs, but never as a seed better than 17th.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Tue May 28, 2013 3:00 pm

Group 9
Soviet Party 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 5
Zwangzug 0 3 4 0 7 1 0 0 X 15

Super-Llamaland 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 4
Allinlia 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3

Sakurakoku 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 4 0 8
Carasatoga 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 2 1 9

Group 9 Pld W L RF RA RD Pts
1 Zwangzug 10 8 2 69 28 +41 24 Q
2 Super-Llamaland 10 6 4 48 53 −5 18 Q
3 Allinlia 10 6 4 53 36 +17 18 WC
4 Carasatoga 10 4 6 45 49 −4 12
5 Sakurakoku 10 4 6 50 57 −7 12
6 Soviet Party 10 2 8 19 61 −42 6

Tiebreaker Applied: Super-Llamaland swept season series over Allinlia, 2-0, so is placed 2nd.

In an excited final-day, eighth-inning rally, the Llamas edged Allinlia 4-3 to grab victory and a playoff spot.
Allinlia lost, but got in as a wild card. Said bullpen coach Chris Evans: "Well, we don't have anything against Allinlia. They played good against every other team but us. Just a nice job from them, a nice job from us, and we both move on."

The Llamas needed the win to advance. Allinlia apparently now did not.
DAVIS: 7 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 8 K/2 BB, 106 Pitches
(W) MUELLER: 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K/0 BB
(SV) BOWDEN: IP, 0 ER, H, K/BB

Leo Davis was solid, as was Darren Mueller who is 1-0. Nick Bowden got in a runners on the corners, one out jam and a strikeout and a flyout ended it.

The Llamas got runs in the sixth and seventh but were down 3-2. Alex Cameron and Jake Addams drove in the first two. Then, with two down, Darren Bradley slammed a two-run double to put the Llamas up 4-3. Bradley, 2-for-4, said: "Was just looking for a good pitch, got it [hanging slider] and hit it. I'm glad it fell in the gap or it would have been really close."

As the (19) Seed, we next play Equestrian States in their stadium. We hope!

THE OTHERS:

ZWANGZUG was upset twice but ended up 8-2 with a dominant 24-run differential.
SAKURAKOKU lost their last two to go 4-6 but nearly ended the Llamas' run.
CARASATOGA won their last two to end up in fourth by tiebreaker.
SOVIET PARTY was awfully awful, 2-8 with a -42 differential.

by **Sicoutimont** » Tue May 28, 2013 4:04 pm

Podcastin' With Jacques and Fidel!

"Well, hello then, we're Jacques and Fidel! Our Podcast has just returned, and we're on the road to Cassadaigua right now! Yup you heard that right, we're taking a road trip!"

"Obviously I am driving"

"Fidel that's only because I have to record this podcast."

"Maybe so."

"Anyway, we left Lac-Drouin 2 hours ago, and we are on Autoroute 192 towards Beaudette!"

"Beaudette 78km"

"That's right! But our final destination won't be Beaudette, we'll be crossing the Riviere du Turbot-"

"That's Turbot River for you English folk"

"and entering Cassadaigua, home to the 26th World Baseball Classic!"

"We're going to Brattleboro, baby, Brattleboro!"

"That's right Fidel. But we're going to Brattleboro to see Sicoutimont take on Strawbee in the first round of the playoffs of WBC 26."

"Right, Jacques. Strawbee are ranked 33rd in the world, and finished the group stage with a 7-3 record in Group 3, qualifying as one of the top 4 teams 3rd in there group. That might be confusing to you, but think of it as they were one of the best teams not to finish in the top 2 of the group."

"That might be more confusing, Fidel"

"Ok, but anyway, let's reveal the starting pitchers for the series!"

"Alright, here they are: Fidel Sanchez will start Game 1, Yves Canton will start Game 2, and if needed, Javier Perreois will pitch Game 3. This rotation would likely continue should Les Royales defeat Strawbee. Sanchez is 1-1 at the tournament, Canton 2-0 and Perreois 1-1."

"Uh, Fidel, question'

"What?"

"You got the passports, right?"

"Umm......I want to say yes....."

"Don't worry, here they are."

"Ok good, hey, you got the radio with the border wait times?"

"Right....uh...channel 91.6?"

"Yup."

"Ok.....'2 hour wait time at North Bridge, Brattleboro to Beaudette/2 heures de temps d'attente a Pont-Nord, Brattleboro a Beaudette"

"2 hours!"

"Um....yeah....."

"Is that the only bridge?"

"Closest to the stadium, and our hotel is located on the bridge. Plus the Autoroute connects to it, but anyways, uh...."

"2 hours......"

*30 minutes later......*

"So we're at the border now, and we're lined up back to Rue de Nord, about 1.2km to the border."

"What are we going to do over the border?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, do we just go to the stadium, or the hotel first?"

"Well the hotel is on our side of the border....."

"Oh."

"Shouldn't we go on that side so we only have to cross back, not back and forth every day?"

"Um....."

"We've got 2 hours, call the hotel."

*1 and a half hours later......*

"Passports please"

"Here you are, sir"

"What are your purposes on leaving the country?"

"World Baseball Classic"

"You going to the games?"

"Yeah"

"I got tickets to game 2, hopefully the boys can pull out a win there"

"Yeah"

"Anyways, have a nice visit, and remember to have a safe one too!"

"The border guard was nice"

"Yeah"

"So you said the hotel was where again?"

"On this street"

"Oh, this street?"

"Yeah, that street"

"Well which one?"

"That street"

"Oh, okay."

"We're in the hotel now, and we're just getting ready to go out to the stadium here in Brattleboro, which is just a few kilometers inside the border. See you next time on Podcastin' With Jacques and Fidel when we talk about Game 1, and continue our adventures across the Turbot River!"

by **Qazox** » Tue May 28, 2013 4:06 pm

Qazox                           0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0  6
New Montreal States             0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3  5

Up 6-2 with 2 outs no one on, and the CP-WC game still tied heading into the bottom of the 17th inning, Qazox had a qualifying spot clinched. Then came the worst 7 minutes and 17 seconds for Qazox at a WBC in a while, as an almost assured qualification turned into a long trip home.

So as the 6th decade of the WBC starts, Qazox is still slumping horribly and odds are when the next rankings come out they'll be lower than 15th.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Tue May 28, 2013 6:47 pm

Group 9
Soviet Party 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 5
Zwangzug 0 3 4 0 7 1 0 0 X 15

Super-Llamaland 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 4
Allinlia 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3

Sakurakoku 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 4 0 8
Carasatoga 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 2 1 9

Group 9 Pld W L RF RA RD Pts
1 Zwangzug 10 8 2 69 28 +41 24 Q
2 Super-Llamaland 10 6 4 48 53 −5 18 Q
3 Allinlia 10 6 4 53 36 +17 18 WC
4 Carasatoga 10 4 6 45 49 −4 12
5 Sakurakoku 10 4 6 50 57 −7 12
6 Soviet Party 10 2 8 19 61 −42 6

Tiebreaker Applied: Super-Llamaland swept season series over Allinlia, 2-0, so is placed 2nd.

Group 10
Lycrabon 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 5
Slembana 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Taeshan 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 0 8
Komodo Dragon 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 4

Saintland 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 5 0 8
Scandigrad 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4

Group 10 Pld W L RF RA RD Pts
1 Lycrabon 10 8 2 43 30 +13 24 Q
2 Saintland 10 7 3 57 32 +25 21 Q
3 Taeshan 10 7 3 45 29 +16 21 WC
4 Slembana 10 3 7 33 47 −14 9
5 Scandigrad 10 3 7 35 53 −18 9
6 Komodo Dragon 10 2 8 29 51 −22 6

Tiebreaker Applied: Saintland and Taeshan split season series, so tiebreaker determined by overall RD.

Playoffs: (First place teams get seeds 1-10, Second place teams get seed 11-20, and wild cards 21-24 regardless of record)

(9) New Montreal States vs (24) Sangti
(10) Free South Califas vs (23) Allinlia
(11) Sicoutimont vs (22) Strawbee
(12) Ko-oren vs (21) Taeshan
(13) Saintland vs (20) Cassadaigua
(14) Equestrian States vs (19) Super-Llamaland
(15) Michael VII vs (18) Western Cuba
(16) Thatius vs (17) The Serbian Empire

Second Round

(1) Milchama plays 16/17 winner
(2) Zwangzug plays 15/18 winner
(3) Maklohi Vai plays 14/19 winner
(4) Saugeais plays 13/20 winner
(5) Lycrabon plays 12/21 winner
(6) The Sova Empire plays 11/22 winner
(7) Karditan plays 10/23 winner
(8) Kinzar plays 9/24 winner

STARTERS:
Game One: CHRIS LEE
Game Two: ALLAN ROSWELL
Game Three (if needed): EVAN MASORKA
Game one of next round: LEO DAVIS

by **Ko-oren** » Wed May 29, 2013 1:37 am

Overture
(PS: It's a link!)

The Greenblues have made it to the WBC! Actually, we knew that yesterday, but it is always nice to have a confirmation after all 10 games are over. Milchama qualified as our group's best, with only one loss (well, who could have been responsible for that?), and even Sangti qualified for the WBC as one of the best four third placed teams. In the middle is Ko-oren, with 8-2 (loss against Milchama on MD1, loss against Sangti on MD7). Actually, 8-2 is not that bad... But as a runner-up, and being the second best runner-up, the seed now is #12. Instead of, wait for it, #6 if seeds #1-#10 weren't restricted to group winners. As #12, and therefore being one of the best four runners-up, the next opponent is one of the four third placed teams. In fact, it will be Taeshan, who finished third in a group with Lycrabon and Saintland. They finished higher than Slembana, Scandigrad and Komodo Dragon. Comparing them to Sangti: Taeshan did better based on record (7-3 vs 6-4) and RD (+16 vs +8).

So now we stand at the overture of the WBC. The main event is about to start and we've just had the beginning. Twenty-four teams left, of which sixteen will first play a play-in, and the winners will then play the remaining eight teams. In case Ko-oren eliminates Taeshan, the next opponent will be Lycrabon. At least the playoffs will give us a chance to ask them about that team, given that the two have been in the same group for 10 match days already. But that is just in the event of a win. Now that we're here, let's take a minute to look at Ko-oren at previous WBCs. This Classic is the fifth for the Ko-orenite team, that have played with the exact same roster for all five Classics. It did not prove to be a disadvantage, as the team kept doing better and better, with eventually the qualification for WBC 25 (where the team was immediately eliminated after two losses vs. Equestrian States). Before this tournament, the team played 43 games, of which exactly 22 were losses. So there were 'only' 21 wins. A bit of a sad statistic for the team, and even the run difference over 43 games is negative (-17). This tournament is in multiple aspects a turning point in history, where the Greenblues are finally positive in both W-L and RD: the eight victories take the W-L record to 29-24, and the -17 RD is nullified with the +21 RD of WBC 26 so far. Hopefully the actual tournament won't put a dent in this too much.

As far as this tournament goes: "This was a triumph! I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS!! It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.".

Ko-oren               2 5 5 10 4 8 10 12 9  | 60
Others                9 5 4 1  1 4 5  3  7  | 39

With over 10 runs in three innings total, the end of a game is finally the better part of the play for the Greenblues. The beginning is a bit meager, but overall it is not bad at all. Only in the first inning, opponents outscore us, and in one inning (2nd) the score is equal. Hopefully the fans learn that a bad start does not mean that the game is lost already. And to be honest, most of the first inning deficit is caused by the last game, where Cyborg Holland scored 3 runs versus 0 by the Ko-orenites. Anyway, any opponent does pretty well in the first part of the game, while the difference is striking from the fourth inning on. Just the ninth is close together again, but that is also often because winning teams won't get the opportunity to increase their score after the losing opponents' ninth inning. Not that this happened often (only once, on MD3 versus GSE), but it could be a small cause.

Overall, the biggest victory must be over World's Best Milchama. Second is the 12-3 victory over Sangti, another team that has made it to the finals. Next up is Taeshan...

by **Sangti** » Wed May 29, 2013 6:59 am

SANGTI EARNS CASSADAIGUA TICKET

By Rafael Sigua

Sangti players after knowing that they made it past the group stages in WBC 26.

The Royal Kingdom of Quebec 3-5 Sangti
Group 2, World Baseball Classic
Estadio Beisbol de Sangti, Ciudad Sangti

For the Sangti Indios, it wasn't win or go home. It was win or stay home. And after all of the drama all over the stadiums in Matchday 10, they earned the last wild card slot for the Playoff stages of the World Baseball Classic.

The Indios faced RKQ at home knowing that a loss would mean elimination. And in the end of the first inning, Sangti drew first blood, 1-0. However, at the third inning, things turned around and RKQ had a 2-1 lead, and with Qazox who is directly below them leading New Montreal States, the Indios were knocked out of the wild card spots momentarily.

Then came the sixth inning. RKQ further extended their lead, 3-1, but in the bottom 6th, Sangti made a huge play.

With runners in 1st and 3rd bases, Levin Dabu, the Indios' cleanup hitter, notched a home run that made the score 4-3. That may not be enough with other teams getting victories, and Qazox's game ending later than Sangti's.

The score remained 4-3 until the bottom of the 9th when Ramil Magtalas stole the home plate for Sangti. The game ended, 5-3.

However, they had a 7 minute wait as Qazox's game was also at the bottom of the ninth at 6-2. With Sangti at 4-3, it would be Qazox and not Sangti who might enter as a wild card.

The entire stadium erupted after Larry Walker of NMS scored a home run that made the score 6-4, Qazox. The game ended there 6-5 and a pitch invasion in Estadio Beisbol happened. Sangti qualified as the last wild card (24th seed) and the bookies would like to put the Indios out of the running already.

New Montreal States(#9), the nation who put Qazox out of its misery, will be Sangti's next opponent in a three-game series. The first game will be held at Victoriaville. The winner will face Kinzar, the 8th seed who made shockwaves last year when the then-unranked team reached the last 16. Moreover, the Indios could face the Warriors at the quarterfinals, adding motivation to the Sangtian players.

by **Saintland** » Wed May 29, 2013 10:06 am

Saintland defeats Scandigrad 8-4, faces Cassadaigua in Cassadaigua

(SP) The Kingdom of Saintland locked up 2nd place in Group 10 today by defeating Scandigrad 8 to 4. The game would be close for most of the day, but the Sanctii pulled ahead decisively in the 8th. Little did they suspect when they pulled ahead that they would earn the very seed necessary to face the host nation in the Round of 24. This sets up a matchup that will overshadow the rest of the Round of 24. "Today, we fell behind early, but we knew we couldn't afford a loss. I kept checking the Lycrabon score, but it seems that Slembana couldn't get the job done, denying us a spot in the top 8 and a bye to the Round of 16. However, I am still satisfied with our performance so far and I'm looking forward to putting the country of Cassadaigua in their place and proving that the baseball diamond is a man's world. Like most people in the Kingdom, I don't always agree with Sister Polus, but she is absolutely right about Cassadaigua. The classless antics of their fans at the International Basketball Championship proved that. Cassadaigua is a wicked female supremacist nation that brutally oppresses its male population and persecutes Christians. Cassadaigua is a nation that lets its female athletes throw themselves upon men and tempt them into sin. Cassadaigua is a nation where up is down and down is up. We are looking forward to eliminating Cassadaigua from the World Baseball Classic and we want to dedicate our imminent victory to the men of Cassadaigua. We ask the men of that country to come out to the games, root for our Kingdom and cheer us on as we put your Infernus-bound oppressors in their place. We will be sending missionaries from the Church of Saintland with our team and we ask that you convert to our Church, the True Church. If you do so, we will help you regain your rightful place of authority over the out-of-control women of your country. They think they can meddle in our affairs by aiding and abetting the terrorists from Feministvs Sanctvsterra, but we can also meddle in their affairs. We will prevail in the Round of 24, for the greater glory of God and his Kingdom. I am certain that we are the instrument through which God will carry out his Judgment against Cassadaigua. May God's Will be done." - Petrus Tragus

Ioannes Bebius started the game for the Kingdom of Saintland and took some time to settle in. He gave up a leadoff homer to Jones to start the bottom of the first. In the 2nd inning, Bebius allowed McGowen to double to lead off the inning. After Harris and Wagner hit consecutive sac flies, McGowen had scored. Scandigrad had an early 2 to nothing lead.

The Sanctii responded in the top of the 3rd. Marcus Tragus led off with a single. Ioannes Bebius bunted him over to second. Petrus Tragus turned on a 2-1 Ray splitter and sent it into the outfield, where it landed deep in left field. Marcus Tragus came around to score, while his brother Petrus had a double. Ioannes Sentius flied out to the warning track in right field, moving Tragus to 3rd. Matthaeus Bebius drew a walk and Lucius Maccius came up with 2 outs and 2 on. Maccius fell behind 0-2. Ray threw an 0-2 pitch just outside of the strike zone. Maccius swinged at it and missed it. Scandigrad still led 2 to 1.

After Ioannes Bebius struck out the side in the bottom of the 3rd, the Sanctii took the field again. Lucas Maianius took the first pitch from Ray in the top of the 4th and sent the curveball into the left field bleachers. Suddenly, the game was tied at 2. Neither team would reach first base again until the top of the 6th. That inning, Matthaeus Bebius led off for the Sanctii. Bebius hit a 1-1 pitch past Harris and into the outfield for a single. After Ray threw a ball to Maccius for the first pitch, Bebius decided to go on the 2nd pitch. Jones threw it, but Bebius was already safe at second before the throw arrived. Down 2-0 to Maccius, Ray was desperate for a strike. He threw a fastball down the middle and the Sanctii slugger sent a rocket into the outfield. The slow Maccius was soon at second base for a double. Bebius scored easily. The Kingdom of Saintland led 3 to 2. Scandigrad went to their bullpen, bringing in Tangeman as the new pitcher. After Maianius struck out and Iulus drew a walk, Marcus Vagnius stepped up to the plate. The Sanctii catcher hit a ground ball to Harris, who flipped it to Hernandez for one out. Hernandez threw it to Ku and Scandigrad had an inning-ending double play.

Bebius continued to pitch well, leaving the game after 7 innings. Ioannes Sentius led off the top of the 8th with a single. Matthaeus Bebius hit a ball into left field, which landed just shy of the fence and bounced over for a ground rule double. The Sanctii had runners at 2nd and 3rd. Lucius Maccius drew a walk. Lucas Maianius was up next and Carey fell behind 3-0, threw a strike to get to 3-1 and then walked in the 4th Sanctii run. That brought Petrus Iulus up to the plate. Carey's first pitch was a mistake as he gave Iulus an easy fastball down the middle. Iulus hit it very hard and the entire stadium knew it was gone. Petrus Iulus had a grand slam and the Kingdom of Saintland led 8 to 2. Thomas Ulpius came in for the Sanctii for mopup duty, allowing 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th and leaving the bases loaded with 2 outs. Petrus Tragus pulled Ulpius and brought in the "Wild One" Josephus Oppius. Oppius struck out Purnell on 3 pitches and the Kingdom of Saintland had an 8 to 4 victory against Scandigrad.

Taeshan had also defeated Komodo Dragon by a score of 8 to 4, so the victory was critical for the Sanctii to secure 2nd place in Group 10. Lycrabon's 5 to 1 victory over Slembana clinched first place in the group and a bye for the hosts of the scandal-plagued 24th World Baseball Classic, where Western Cuba is rumored to have won with help from designer steroid RANK. Lycrabon did not test for RANK at WBC 24, despite such a test existing at that time, and an aging Western Cuba team cheated their way to another championship. The RANK test, known as the RP test, does not detect all quantities of RANK, but it detects teams that are using large quantities of it to gain an unfair advantage. The Kingdom of Saintland is seeded 13th and will face 20th seeded hosts Cassadaigua in the Round of 24. The winner advances to face Saugeais. Taeshan faces Ko-oren and the winner will face Lycrabon. The winner of Lycrabon VS Taeshan or Ko-oren will face the winner of Saugeais VS the Sanctii or the hosts, so a rematch with Lycrabon or Taeshan is possible in the quarterfinals. A rematch with Ko-oren would also be intriguing. Ko-oren's pitcher Iemitsu no-hit the Sanctii in a WBC 25 game. Regardless of what the future may hold, King Paulus XV's lofty goals for this WBC have been met. The Sanctii now need to keep winning to keep the promise by Ioannes Bebius that they would win this WBC. The failure of defending champions Darmen to make the playoffs just proves how competitive the WBC field is. Unlike the International Basketball Championship, there is no overwhelming favorite in the WBC. Even #1 ranked Milchama has been beaten. Royal One will be televising the upcoming series against Cassadaigua. In the coming days, we will begin to find out whether God intends for our Kingdom to be the WBC 26 champions. We have never won a major championship in international sports, but we will when God decides that it is our time to do so. It is not our place to question God's Will. God has Willed everything that was, everything that is and everything that will be. When God is ready, his Kingdom will dominate international sports and the world will embrace His Truth. We don't know if that time is now, but God is with our Kingdom and He will bless us foremost among all the nations when the time is right.

After the victory over Scandigrad, the Sanctii returned home to prepare for their visit to Cassadaigua. King Paulus XV requested the presence of Petrus Tragus, captain of the Saintland National Baseball Team. Petrus Tragus arrived at the Palace and entered the King's Throne Room.

King Paulus XV - Petrus Tragus, I see you have arrived.

Petrus Tragus - Yes, your Majesty.

King Paulus XV - I want to congratulate you on leading your team to the playoffs of the World Baseball Classic.

Petrus Tragus - Thank you, your Majesty.

King Paulus XV - However, I have requested your presence to discuss Cassadaigua. I watched on TV as their fans threw apples at our National Basketball Team. My son Ioannes couldn't concentrate out there.

Petrus Tragus - I heard about that, your Majesty.

King Paulus XV - Petrus, we can drop the formality. After what you've done for my Kingdom, I consider you a friend of the Royal Family.

Petrus Tragus - Thank you.

King Paulus XV - How are we going to stop those crazy women from throwing apples on the field?

Petrus Tragus - I think we may need a Royal Army security force. It would also be a good idea to provide security for our fans that choose to make the trip.

King Paulus XV - I don't want any fans to make the trip. I think its too dangerous. The women of that country hate us because Sister Polus discussed their sins in a Sanctustube video.

Petrus Tragus - It was probably discovered by somebody trying to get around their idea monopoly legislation.

King Paulus XV - I doubt many people in that country speak Latin, so it was probably somebody in the Kingdom that translated it. I sent a directive to my Government asking them not to publish official translations of Sister Polus videos.

Petrus Tragus - Maybe we should also stop translating the SP after what those talking horses did to your heir.

King Paulus XV - I don't understand why they interpreted everything in a negative light. I kind of like the idea of a talking horse and I would love to ride one of them.

Petrus Tragus - I don't think that would be a good idea. The ability to talk seems to have made those horses rather difficult to tame.

King Paulus XV - They can be tamed. You just have to be firm with them and assert your authority. They are intelligent enough to understand when they have no choice but to do what they are told.

Petrus Tragus - I don't understand why foreigners are so obsessed with their freedom to sin. True freedom is freedom from sin and it is the job of the temporal authorities to do their best to keep us free from sin.

King Paulus XV - Those foreigners are clouded by Satanas. They don't understand God's Truth and they don't understand that obeying God's Will is true freedom and true happiness.

Petrus Tragus - Unfortunately, there are even Sanctii that fall into sin. I pray for our former captain every day.

King Paulus XV - I also pray for Arminus every day. I hope he will repent one day and find salvation through obedience to God, his True Church and the temporal authorities anointed by God.

Petrus Tragus - Amen, my King. Amen.

Feministvs Sanctvsterra had not been heard from since the Cup of Harmony. This was by design. Although they were planning to continue lying low, several events changed this.

First, another World Korfball Classic was being held and signups were open, even if a host had yet to be announced. Sicoutimont and the Federation of Free Republics were both bidding for the honor of hosting the world championship of the sport of korfball, a mixed-gender variant of basketball.

Meanwhile, the Patriarchy back home had stirred up some trouble with Cassadaigua. Cassadaigua was considered a model nation by Feministvs Sanctvsterra. They admired the strong independent women of Cassadaigua for their past victories in all the major tournaments, except for the International Basketball Championship. Then, Cassadaigua's men's soccer team defeated the Oppressors in swamp soccer. Agrippina and the rest of the Feministvs Sanctvsterra members that had been in Esportiva for the Cup of Harmony had enjoyed the class shown by Cassadaigua's swamp soccer team, as they openly spurned the reactionaries from MEN and that "men's rights" terrorist organization.

One could only imagine how happy they were when they heard that Cassadaigua was going to face their home nation in the International Basketball Championship. Cassadaigua won game 1 after Ashley Stokes, whom Agrippina was certain was being falsely accused of rape by some reactionary scumbags, hit a late shot to put her team on top. "Sister" Polus, that crazy nun who had gotten the St. Ioannes cell arrested, made a bizarre Sanctustube video. The members of Feministvs Sanctvsterra had transcribed what that traitor to her own gender said and they translated it into English. Soon, this English translation was being posted all over Dagan web sites by Feministvs Sanctvsterra members. As expected, the nation of Cassadaigua was repulsed by the views of the False Church, as expressed by its craziest nun. They bought apples and began throwing them at Sanctii players and fans. Cassadaigua dominated game 2. Then, they beat the "unbeatable" Qazox and made it to the finals, where they are currently preparing for a decisive Game 3 against the Andromeda Islands.

The members of Feministvs Sanctvsterra had appreciated the support they received from the Queen of Cassadaigua, who told off the False Church and their Puppet King. She had invited them to come to Cassadaigua and now that Cassadaigua's own national team was set to face the oppressors, they were more than happy to take her up on the offer. Agrippina, as captain of the Feministvs Sanctvsterra world championship korfball team, spoke to the other members of the group:

Agrippina - As you know, we received an invitation from Queen Cassie of Cassadaigua to come to her nation. Cassadaigua is an example to the rest of the world of the way things should be. Although we really should be preparing to defend our championship, I think we should have some fun for a few days. Hopefully, they have plenty of apples because I'd love to toss some at those misogynists to tell them what I think of their "original sin" nonsense. Maybe we should do some protesting while we're there. I'm sure the ladies of Cassadaigua will be a receptive audience. Let's make sure everybody in Concord Heights knows that Saintland is a country where women are basically treated as minors for their entire lives and wife-beating is not just legal. They actually encourage it! Many people move to Saintland just so they can legally abuse their wife and the government doesn't even allow women to leave the country unless accompanied by a man. They should also know about how the False Church forces schoolgirls to wear corsets. All of us have been through that tortuous experience, but it is not the norm outside of that backward Kingdom, where they still have pillories. We had the misfortune of being born in Saintland. I wish we could move to Cassadaigua, but it would be irresponsible to abandon the oppressed women back home. Let's get going. We need plenty of time to protest after we arrive in Cassadaigua.

Feministvs Sanctvsterra were on their way to Cassadaigua. They would arrive with plenty of time and by the start of game 1, much of Concord Heights would have heard all about how Saintland oppresses its female population...

by **Cassadaigua** » Wed May 29, 2013 10:22 am

A Statement from Queen Cassie to all participants:

I would like to congratulate everyone on making it this far, but first want to express my sympathies towards the teams that were not able to make it Cassadaigua. We are missing out on some very accomplished nations and it would have been great to have had you here. During qualifying, we also saw some great play from aspiring nations, and it would have been our pleasure to have been your host here as well. But alas, only 24 teams can make it to the playoffs. For fans of Milchama, Zwangzug, Maklohi Vai, Saugeais, Lycrabon, The Sova Empire, Karditan, and Kinzar, enjoy your well earned rest for this first round, and we’ll see you when the second round begins.

I want to focus my attention to the Saintland-Cassadaigua series in Concord Heights. I am proud of our team for making the playoffs here at home in their return to the tournament. The nation of Saintland, however, is a nation that has a primitive concept on the role of women in society. This is bound to create a lot of animosity in the country, and I know that I am on record condemning their treatment of Feministvs Sanctvsterra. That is a condemnation which still very much applies, and any members of that group are free to seek refuge in Cassadaigua at any time. Reluctantly, I am going to allow Saintland fans to enter the country and support their national team, because that is what international sports is all about. However I remind all of these fans that do choose to attend to mind your own business and enjoy the game, and then go back home. There is no one here who is going to convert to your church. For our fans, please remember that we are on an international stage. While we can say that they deserved to have apples thrown at them during the International Basketball Championships, please refrain from doing anything that will interrupt the flow of the game. There will be a very heavy security presence at these games, and areas for protestors will be designated and not be crossed. These areas will be close enough so that your message is heard by those who which to listen, but also distant enough so those that just want to watch baseball can do that as well.

Now, to focus on the Grande Mountain area, where Ko-oren and Taeshan will meet. There will also be a heavy security presence here to ensure the safety of the visiting fans. The teams from these nations have played extremely well and deserve to be able to not have to worry about protests and rioting over the recent men’s rights contraversies. Their fans deserve the right to attend these games in peace and not have to worry about their parked cars being set on fire. Protesting at these games will serve no purpose, for citizens of these nations have no control over anything political aspect of Cassadagan life.

Moving to Brattleboro, I welcome our neighbors from Sicoutimont to Cassadaigua. You guys have played extremely well throughout the group stages, so congratulations. For any fans making the trip across the border, please take comfort in knowing we have increased the amount of border patrol for the sole purpose of getting traffic across the border quicker. You’ll see more security at the border, but they are there to help you meet your destination as fast as possible, and not hinder it. There had been some reports of long wait times, so we wanted to improve on that. I welcome Strawbee to the playoffs, congratulations on making it this far. You were in a difficult qualifying group and advanced, that says a lot.

Our group winner, Free South Califas and up-and-comers Allinlia meet in Starksville. For our fans there, you are being treated to what looks like a very exciting series. Though we didn’t hear much about them, Free South Califas prevailed in a group with a lot of parity, so that says a lot. For Allinlia, better late then never, and please make note of the games start time, so that you do not miss the first pitch!

I believe the New Montreal States and Sangti series is going to be a classic. Here we have a newer nation going up against a nation that is a veteran, but still looking to have a moment of glory themselves. New Montreal States won a tough group, and this will be a tighter series then the 9 vs 24 seeding makes it out to be.

A classic ago, Equestrian States put on a great show. Welcome back to the Classic, but this time you can just worry about playing and not have to worry about all the organization. I’m sure a lot of work is going on with hockey right now, but we hope to see many of your fans in New Lakeland for this series. And congratulations to Super-Llamaland! After barely missing out in the last Classic, you have made it to the playoffs here. It was tight all the way for you guys, but good luck.

In Rutland, Thatius and The Serbian Empire will meet. This might be the best series for the neutral Cassadagan to go too that just wants to enjoy world class international baseball. Both of these nations have played hard to get this far.

In Winchester, we have Western Cuba and Michael VII. Congratulations on making it this far. Western Cuba seems to have fallen off, but we know never to count them out.

(OOC: This was typed up before Saintland RP’d. I will RP again to that in particular).

by **Taeshan** » Wed May 29, 2013 11:02 am

"Well that was lucky."

"Yeah, one of the best third place teams getting to the next round, thank god for that."

"Yeah, sadly though we are the 21 seed and have a bad draw."

"Who?"

"Ko-oren"

"We can take them."

"Yeah, we are still much higher ranked and overall better."

"We just had a tough group."

"Yeah incredibly tough group."

"And to be fair it was a very even group."

"Yeah, us and Lycrabon beat up on each other allowing others into the fight."

"Yep, good times good times."

by **Aardenland** » Wed May 29, 2013 12:20 pm

AARDENLAND SPLITS AGAIN

Wins Final Game against Cassadaigua, who will head to playoffs

Despite recovering from a 1-4 record to finish 5-5, Aardenland again misses the play-offs, after they beat Cassadaigua, 8-3. This is actually the second year in a row that Aardenland has finished in the middle of a division, with a split record, tied with three other teams for second place. Aardenland is also ranked fifth in the group for the second year in a row, through the calculations of head-to-head records. "Semantimathematics," said Bill Sands. "That's what I'd call our fifth place rankings. I don't think we expected to may a playoff bid after our abysmal first half, so it wasn't disappointing to learn that we wouldn't make it after the last game. I, and I think the rest of the team, was very pleased with the result anyway. Still, you can't help being ticked off by the ranking, expecially when it's the same as last year." Luckily, the group rankings don't seem to be an issue, since they have no effect on the presitigious world rankings that will be released soon after the Classic ends. The parallels to last year are incredible.

1. One winning half, the only loss in the first game in it.

2. One losing half, the only win in the very middle of it.

3. Went 2-0 against one team, 0-2 againt another, and 1-1 against the rest.

4. Had a split record, going 5-5.

5. Tied three other teams for division runner-up

6. Was officially ranked fifth, ahead of a single team that finished with a losing record in the division.

So apparently, the National Team remains as approximately a mid-ranked team. Notably different from last year, the team finished with a negative run difference. On the positive side, it won both of its games against the highest ranked team and eventual winner of the group, Free South Califas. Aardenland heads home to wait for WBC XXVII, and wishes Cassadaigua and Free South Califas best of luck in the playoffs.

by **Maklohi Vai** » Wed May 29, 2013 11:25 pm

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

...continued from earlier installments

"Go on."

"Tama, I am the leader of a group called the Observers for the Awareness of Margaret, or OAM more commonly known."

"Who's Margaret?"

"She is a divine----"

"Bullshit. Nothing is divine."

"Tama, let me finish. She is a divine being who----"

"How the hell did you get brainwashed into this crap!?"

"I did not get brainwashed, I had a moment of awareness whe----"

"A revelation? Did you have a fucking spiritual awakening? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Tama, please. I believe that Margaret can control sporting events."

"A sports god? Kumalo, are you on crack?"

"No, tama, I seriously have had a vision."

"What the hell is up with this, Kumalo? Where has your sense gone?"

"Tama, please. There are about 5000 members and we----"

"You've indoctrinated 5000 people into this? What are you, a prophet?"

"Tama, no. I'm just a leader for them----"

"No better than the pope or the tzaddik^"

"Tama, no. I am just asking for you to accept me. You don't have to agree----"

"Bloody hell right I'm not going to agree. Why the hell are you doing this, Kumalo? Did someone turn you religious?"

"I did, tama. I had a vision."

"I am disgusted in you, Kumalo. Don't call back until you've got some freaking sense in you."
*click*

^Orthodox Jewish leader of some sects

Maklohi Vai                0 3 4 1 0 0 0 1 0  9
Beldonia                   0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  2

Scoring Summary:
2nd: After singles by Arnao and Mae'ao, Wolo Rakinalmanai hit a home run to left, driving both in.
3rd: Aputo Roma'ai led off with a single, which Iao Laina then copied. Ri'ino Uilnai was walked, setting up Mae'ao for a monster grand slam.
4th: Mae'ao hit a home run to left with two outs.
8th: Mae'ao hit an inside the park home run that caromed off the right field wall and threw the fielders off track.

Stat Update:
HR: Mae'ao 20, Arnao 3, Wolo Rakinalmanai 3, Iao Laina 1
RBI: Mae'ao 50, Wolo Rakinalmanai 7, Arnao 6, Moalna’akai Lai 3, Koilani Ruputuo 2, Iao Laina 1, Ri’ino Uilnai 1, Rimai Lomukiwo 1

by **New Montreal States** » Thu May 30, 2013 12:05 am

"...And the Reformed Expos chances of a miraculous 9th-inning comeback and a free trip to the second round bite the dust along with Max Fortex. The final score from Old Hoss Radbourne Memorial Stadium in Bloomington: Qazox 6, your NMS Reformed Expos 5. Up next are Marc Lachevelle and Ken Beardsworth with the postgame show, brought to you by les Bazaar Informatiques Desrosiers. There's a Bazaar Informatique Desrosiers in every city that matters, and they now offer 8-core St. James Electronic CPUs for their 100% guaranteed custom built PCs. And they'd like to remind all you kids at home that their 2.5 million oz. prize for devising a better fielding metric is still unclaimed after nearly 8 years. We'll be right back, after a pause for station identification, here on the Sabermetricians Radio Network."

Voiceover: Catch every minute of World Baseball Classic action here on 91.1 NPHX Philemon, or else strangers will point and laugh at you in the street. 91.1 NPHX The Life, the radio station that's cooler than you are and isn't afraid to say it out loud!

"Welcome to the Bazaar Informatiques Desrosiers postgame show, here on the Sabermetricians Radio Network! For Ken Beardsworth, I'm Marc Desrosiers. A mutually destructive outcome for the Expos and Oxen alike tonight, a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth wasn't enough for the Expos to win and earn themselves a bye, but were enough to knock Qazox out of a third-place playoff spot in favor of an upstart Sangti team."

"That's right, Marc, Qazox wasn't at their best this WBC, and ran headfirst into every good team's worst enemy: a small sample size. They faceplanted out of the gates, and couldn't make up enough ground over seven games of playing up to expectations. They came out strong on the road here in Bloomington for eight innings, but couldn't quite finish the job, and an unusual outcome as neither team did enough tonight to better itself in the big picture."

"And speaking of small sample sizes, the Reformed Expos now have a very tough battle on their hands."

"One that I think everyone was hoping we'd be able to avoid; instead, we're the ninth-best group winner by run differential and forced into the first round as a result. The fact that we're apparently the 9th seed and Sangti is 24th is as meaningful as the win record of the staff ace on a historically bad offensive. Advanced metrics show that the Reformed Expos a step ahead of their Sangti counterparts, but the Indios' have four games against juggernauts from Milchama and Ko-oren holding down their numbers. Their rotation has been benefitting from a low BABIP - the lowest of all unranked teams in the tournament - that's due for some regression, but not necessarily over the course of a best-of-three playoff round. Cyril Sumaoang has been striking out about a batter an inning, and if the Expos start chasing his stuff, they might find themselves in a hole they can't dig themselves out of."

"Alright, let's talk about Cassadaigua. What will the Reformed Expos, and visiting fans, be able to expect?"

"An iron-fisted gynocracy, Marc. We've run the advanced sexism metrics, and the results are not particularly flattering: Dagan men have a -0.40 Value Over Replacement Gender, a number only exceeded by women suffering under theocracies."

"How ironic is it that they're playing Saintland in the first round, then?"

"Saintland is one of the few nations out there to have an even lower VORG number - Saintland's women check in at -0.47, by our math. The contrast between the two rates a 4.01 FIP - Fractional Irony Proportion, our newest metric for measuring just how bizarre the non-baseball world can be sometimes. For context, that's halfway between a black fly in your chardonnay and rain on your wedding day."

"Don't suppose you've heard the odds on a bench-clearing brawl at some point during the series?"

"I understand that bet's already off the boards, Marc."

"Can't say I blame the casinos. But, I mean, wow, Ken, never really thought of Cassadaigua like that."

"Really? They're not particularly subtle about it."

"They haven't really made the news here since all the movie studios and famous actresses started paying for their makeup and hair people to go study at the Concord Heights Beauty School. Remember Shenanigans of the Rich and Attractive?"

"How couldn't I? Now that I know a bit about NMS movie history I understand the how and why of the sudden, vast improvement in actresses' hair, makeup and costuming ever since we started interacting with the rest of the multiverse, but when it came out I was thirteen and saw it ten times just to stare at Reese Weatherspoon."

"That was all Concord Heights, right there."

"Remember that scene in Spinoli's awful limo? Where his pet ferret darts out of nowhere and rips off her tank-top straps, and she flails around topless for a few seconds before diving face-down on the floor when Spinoli enters? And then he spends the next two minutes alternating between apologizing to Reese for the 'accident' and slipping treats to the ferret that he'd spent half his time on screen training to do exactly what it did?"

"I think that'll feature prominently if I ever see my life flash before my eyes."

"That was all the work of a bunch of people who hate me for my Y chromosome?"

"They even picked out the best colors for the limo's fake-fur lining to compliment her outfit."

"They go that far into details..."

"Yep."

"And every time I watched that, I was inadvertently helping to hold my own gender down."

"In some very small way, yes."

"So every single one of my afternoons in seventh grade consisted of a gigantic moral compromise?"

"Pretty much."

"And when I hung a giant poster of her character from Shenanigans in my dorm room freshman and sophomore years, I might as been have been flipping the bird to the hopes and dreams of tens of millions of Dagan men?"

"Your words."

"Dammit!"

"Nobody every said it was easy standing up for what you believed in, Marc."

"We'll take a break so I can reconcile my junior-high celebrity crush with my belief in human equality. Once we get back, the highlights from tonight's game, and Professor Eric Latendresse from the Université de Valdemont will tell us the three metrics he's paying the most attention to for the upcoming series against Sangti. Don't touch that dial!"

by **Free South Califas** » Thu May 30, 2013 1:41 am

NO REMEDY BUT FORCE

"Between two groups of people who want to make inconsistent kinds of worlds, I see no remedy but force."
Oliver Wendell Holmes

I. THE DRONE SPRING - KERN COUNTY, FREE SOUTH CALIFAS
-A. Northeastern Terror

It was six thirty in the morning and sweltering hot already on a late spring day in the Kern County borderlands. The harvest was supposed to be in at the Northeastern Commune, and expected in Bakersfield soon, but at least the outer sixteenth of the old city's summer food appeared to be untended, some of it rotting on the plant. A few beasts roamed the outer edges of the field, inspecting the beans and corn for the remaining morsels, picking them as if they had replaced the missing workers.

Sitting at a flimsy card table in the breakfast nook, gripping a tall, narrow glass in both hands as if to steal its frigidity, Oliver stared hard through the window and took a long, shallow sip of what looked like iced tea. He looked no more at peace when he finished than when he began. A moment passed, marked by the blare of a trumpet in Oli's head alone. Now a beat. On the second beat, against his best intentions to stay calm, he jumped at the sound -

Shunk. Ka-shunk. Wzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Lights, gunfire - no, he was here, on the farm, and it was just the drones again. His fist hit the table as he imagined himself growing ever more bald from the stress of the constant drone attacks. A beat, then a fifth, then a sixth, and the thoughts started racing again. Sure, the republicans would never call them attacks, and in Kern County even the communists hesitated to say it out loud, but Oli knew different.

Incursions by unpiloted aerial vehicles had been menacing border farms like his for just over eight months now, scraping crops and scaring the seasonal worker-proprietors away from the outer edges of land in their rightful possession. It was clearly an act of war as far as Oli was concerned, but tell that to the delegates...

Shunk. Ka-shunk. Skkkrrrrrrrrzzt! Wzzzzzzzzzzz...

Jumping half as much as before, he finally set his drink down for good as he settled back down. A look of first resignation and then resolve slowly covered the wide features of his slender, light brown face. Oliver had long ago learned to divorce the outward appearance of his emotions from his inner life, a tragic antisocial effect of life under drone terror for someone who has been in combat.

He started to become angrier when he realized how much the delegates were acting like a State finding its legs, then he started running through the quarterly projections in an attempt to calm down. This had no effect, except perhaps to enlarge his sense of learned helplessness. This didn't feel right, this wasn't Califan, and whoever was trying to invade Kern County, it seemed like perhaps they had already won. What fools were the communists and libertarians, stripped of the dreams their parents had fought for, Oliver thought; an unfair and self-degrading thought, and out of context too, but which felt true to him. A beat, then another, then another--

Shunk. Ka-shunk. Pop! Pop! Ping! Kapow! Fwooooooooooooosh!

Oliver grimaced before an invisible lightbulb burst into flames above his head, and his face lit up before falling once more. The trumpet blared again, but twice. A beat, another, another - no shunk-kashunk - yes, it appeared now was the time after all. A beat, then he smacked the side-arm release button and a Filo X238 gently slid down the third middle tube on the wall adjacent to the living room. Workers' quarters had really been improved since the revolution, but it seemed a small comfort now, under low-intensity warfare one generation later. Hopping up so fast he felt light-headed, Oli quickly threw on a bulletproof vest from the coat rack and covered his underwear - not much else - with a pair of shorts he had perhaps too comfortably left folded up next to the seat.

Every so often, one of the drones malfunctioned, crashed in the planted rows and caught fire. It seemed to Oli that these supposed accidents were actually as purposeful as the flights themselves: never pinned to a specific nation or party, each was explained as an isolated incident of bad cartography or its own malfunction. They were never supposed to fly into South Califas territory, but nary a week went by without an attack at the Northeastern in those days; no device with such sophisticated guiding technology could be aimed so poorly. Some of them, Oli reasoned, had to be made to crash and burn, so the incursions would gain a permanent sense of being accidental and transitory; if a few vegetables in Kern County were seared before they found their way to Bakersfield, well, so much the better for the republican cause.

Doing his best to hide his exhaustion and fear, Oli burst out the door and toward the source of the noise. The downed drone did little to soothe his nerves: another smaller vehicle, perhaps the size of a hummingbird, could be watching his reaction and searching for patterns. Still, he had to keep the blaze, if there was one, from getting out of hand. He gripped the sprinkler control in his pocket and tried to contain his enthusiasm, too, as this presented a rare opportunity to examine republican technology--on the other hand, he feared letting show that he understood their patterns, and anyway it could be a thirty-year-old device on its last legs sent to round out the numbers. The republicans certainly had some pre-revolutionary drones around, and wouldn't that be just perfect for them, to burn up the Commune's crops without showing their hand or drawing international attention?

Half crouching, half sprinting, Oli got closer and saw unclaimed beans cook, sear and pop while corn burst in a few square feet around the disabled, burning vehicle, which had landed just between two narrowly-divided subplots. On a normal spring day there should have been workers left, right and center, but nobody else wanted to work there anymore, not for long.

Oliver turned back, retreated a few yards, and ducked between corn stalks for what little shade he could get, now starting to break a heavy sweat in the vengeful sun. He fumbled for the sprinkler control before pulling it out sideways. Frantically turning it upright, he keyed in A23816 and added parameters for a small, short burst. It was enough to stop the device burning, which had to be good enough for now; finishing the job would risk damaging the drone and the remaining plants in unpredictable ways.

His thoughts turned again to his glass of Long Beach Iced Tea at home, which of course never had any actual iced tea in it, but did include plenty of liquors. Running back toward the drone, that vehicle still smoldering a bit, he grabbed hold of the fifth ear of corn to his left and right for balance, then reached in to pick it up. It was no more than a few feet wide and less than a yard long, surprisingly light, with a bad piece of landing gear on the bottom - probably sent out to cut up some crops and leave us with the recycling bill, Oli figured. There was no time to dwell on it, though; he picked up the drone with one hand and ran back to quarters for the fire extinguisher.

-B. That Dreadful Affair

"And then there was that dreadful affair in Long Beach", Maria recalled with a grim nod to Sasha. She didn't need to be reminded; she was there. Suddenly she was back there again, and Kern County was as if a long boring dream...

Back in Long Beach, the car bomb was the first sign of serious, possibly intractable troubles. It was the summer before, and it was hot as hell, plus a sort of soul-peeling humidity foreign to her native Northeast. Long Beach was as far from a conflict zone as it was from federation-apposite Kern County: protected by the Black Armada and the 1st Califan Detachment to the Red Fleet, the Los Angeles County port city had never been more impervious to conquest. Yet, that only made it all the more meaningful for the republicans to strike there, proving they could affect Califan life in unlikely places.

Sasha was in the port district after being elected by her fellow workers at the Ridgecrest Free Store two months prior. The Free Store was a cooperative effort of many of the businesses and neighborhood assemblies of that eastern Kern County town, most notably the old military air base in South Califas and the majority network of city schools. Her mission was to scour the imported couches and kitchen appliances for items to bring back to the Free Store; the industrial union in possession of the Free Store would give her some leeway to decide according to the elected mandates and referenda, then would arrange to trade something of equal value with whichever group had held the seats and apparatuses.

Getting around the city with furniture was much easier that summer, after L.A. County had relaxed the federal automobile restrictions, especially for a representative of a Free Store, a kind of economic activity that was being actively encouraged by the Long Beach City Assembly that week with the provision of small prepaid fuel cards. August, that was it - August 26. The City Assembly must have never realized that having so many cars and trucks representing Free Stores at the port, full of goods to be shared communally, would draw republican terrorists. Now she couldn't remember anything else except the sight of the burning cars and trucks spelling "REC" and the sound of bangs, crashes, booms and screams. Then sirens...wait, why sirens?

Suddenly she was back in the house with Maria, except Maria was gone and the sirens were blaring.

by **Allinlia** » Thu May 30, 2013 4:09 am

Better Late Than Never!
Allinlia heading to the playoffs after being denied in first 2 WBCs, Wildcard spot clinched after 10th matchday

Group 9

Soviet Party           1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1  5
Zwangzug               0 3 4 0 7 1 0 0 X 15

Super-Llamaland        0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0  4
Allinlia               0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  3

Sakurakoku             0 0 0 2 0 1 1 4 0  8
Carasatoga             1 1 0 0 0 1 3 2 1  9

Group 9               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Zwangzug               10    8   2    69   28  +41    24  Q
2 Super-Llamaland        10    6   4    48   53   −5    18  Q
3 Allinlia               10    6   4    53   36  +17    18  WC
4 Carasatoga             10    4   6    45   49   −4    12
5 Sakurakoku             10    4   6    50   57   −7    12
6 Soviet Party           10    2   8    19   61  −42     6

Playoffs: (First place teams get seeds 1-10, Second place teams get seed 11-20, and wild cards 21-24 regardless of record)

(9) New Montreal States vs (24) Sangti
(10) Free South Califas vs (23) Allinlia
(11) Sicoutimont vs (22) Strawbee
(12) Ko-oren vs (21) Taeshan
(13) Saintland vs (20) Cassadaigua
(14) Equestrian States vs (19) Super-Llamaland
(15) Michael VII vs (18) Western Cuba
(16) Thatius vs (17) The Serbian Empire

Second Round

(1) Milchama plays 16/17 winner
(2) Zwangzug plays 15/18 winner
(3) Maklohi Vai plays 14/19 winner
(4) Saugeais plays 13/20 winner
(5) Lycrabon plays 12/21 winner
(6) The Sova Empire plays 11/22 winner
(7) Karditan plays 10/23 winner
(8) Kinzar plays 9/24 winner

reporting from Starksville, Cassadaigua

"It's actually kind of surreal, never before in my playing career, have I felt happy after a losing a game, but here we are." remarked Aiden Stairs as the team took media statements in Starksville. Silent disappointment in Fonzona as Super Llama-land recorded the final out of the game was followed by jubilant celebration throughout the city of Fonzona as the news came down that Allinlia qualified for the playoffs via the new top 4 3rd place team wildcard format, the first time Allinlia has advanced past the group stage in international competition.

That Allinlia lost at home for the first time in this tournament seems completely insignificant right now, despite the loss forcing Allinlia into one of the lower seeds and causing inevitable whispers down the line that had this WBC been operating under the original playoff format dtandard, Allinlia would have been eliminated again. In Fonzona, one local fan reported a couple players from The Llamas entering the bar he was watching the game from afte rthe match was over. They were greeted with enthusiastic cheers by the Allinlian fans inside!

"It is not a bad thing that they beat us and made it so we both got through." said another fan. "They played very hard and we are more familiar of them so I'm happy that they are advancing instead of some team from an easier group. Congrats to them."

Bonser Aidrun started for the second time for Allinlia before another sell-out crowd at Estes Field in Fonzona, starting for the visiting Llamas was Leo Davis.

Allinlia got the first run of the game in the 2nd inning with a solo home run from Conan Marteen to lead off the inning, the inning ended quickly though after that. 1-0 Allinlia.

The seasoned veteran Bonser Aidrun held Super Llama-land scoreless through 5 innings before finally giving up a run on an RBI from Chris harder to tie the game at 1-1.

Allinlia would strike back in the bottom of the inning as Aiden Stairs clobbered a 2 run homer to bring the score to 3-1 after 6.

Facing certain elimination, the Llamas refused to quit, scoring a run in the 7th inning to bring the score to 3-2 and sending Aidrun out of the game after a very impressive outing. Chris Harder would send in another run on an RBI single in the 8th to tie the game again for the resilient Llamas and would be sent home by a Jake Addams sac fly, giving Super Llamaland the lead at a very close play at the plate.

Once they had this narrow 3-4 lead, Super Llamaland made sure to protect it as Nick Bowden closed the game out strong in the 9th to secure the win and their playoff spot. Allinlia would find out that they also qualified a short time later.

Allinlia is now set to play Free South Califas in the first round. South Califas is a team that has recently rocketed into the elite levels of WBC baseball. Despite securing a good seed, they did not perform nearly as well as anticipated and some are saying that they are one of the teams most likely to suffer an upset in the first round. However, their deep run in the previous WBC should be proof that they are a team that should never be underestimated and they have seemed to get a bit more life into them since the playoff draw was announced. Perhaps getting paired against one of the most exciting up and coming teams has lit a fire under Free South Califas. If so, watch out Allinlia!

Cassadaigua's Queen Cassie made a statement earlier today welcoming all the qualifying WBC teams and remarked "For Allinlia, better late then never, and please make note of the games start time, so that you do not miss the first pitch!" A very clever little dig both at Allinlia taking 3 WBC tournaments to reach this stage despite our excessive boasting, and even then only doing so 30 minutes after their final match had already been decided! as well as an amusing trend that has emerged of Allinlian players showing up just a few minutes late to required WBC appearances and tests. Most notoriously, Nick Fasano who apologized for following "Fasano time" a term his family uses to describe the unreliability of most of it's members in actually showing up at the time they said they would.

Emperor Tomni Fratello said that he is planning on attending the games in Starksville with his wife, the empress, and the two young princes Prince Yoshio (age 7) and Prince Aiden (age 2). In response to Queen Cassie's statements he shot back with a little quip of his own and a "Surely our tendency for lateness will translate into a late exit from the playoffs, a very late one." *wink*

The stadium is sure to be packed with fans traveling from Allinlia, if you were unable to secure a trip to Cassadaigua than you can catch the game live on the Allinlian Broadcasting Network.

by **Strawbee** » Thu May 30, 2013 5:37 am

Playoffbound Once Again
Strawbee travels to host nation Cassadaigua for their second trip to the playoffs

Group 3

Karditan                   2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  4
Skeckoa                    1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  5

Free Republics             0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
Equestrian States          0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 X  3

The Republic of Lanos      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Strawbee                   0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 X  3

Group 3                   Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Karditan                   10    7   3    54   31  +23    21  Q
2 Equestrian States          10    7   3    42   29  +13    21  Q
3 Strawbee                   10    7   3    49   43   +6    21  WC
4 The Republic of Lanos      10    3   7    32   41   −9     9
5 Free Republics             10    3   7    38   49  −11     9
6 Skeckoa                    10    3   7    28   50  −22     9

Playoffs: (First place teams get seeds 1-10, Second place teams get seed 11-20, and wild cards 21-24 regardless of record)

(9) New Montreal States vs (24) Sangti
(10) Free South Califas vs (23) Allinlia
(11) Sicoutimont vs (22) Strawbee
(12) Ko-oren vs (21) Taeshan
(13) Saintland vs (20) Cassadaigua
(14) Equestrian States vs (19) Super-Llamaland
(15) Michael VII vs (18) Western Cuba
(16) Thatius vs (17) The Serbian Empire

Second Round

(1) Milchama plays 16/17 winner
(2) Zwangzug plays 15/18 winner
(3) Maklohi Vai plays 14/19 winner
(4) Saugeais plays 13/20 winner
(5) Lycrabon plays 12/21 winner
(6) The Sova Empire plays 11/22 winner
(7) Karditan plays 10/23 winner
(8) Kinzar plays 9/24 winner

Hector Bolormaa pitched a shutout and Golden Flower, Rupp Batbayar, and Hank Orr hit RBIs to lead Strawbee to a 3-0 win as they were not fooling around one bit against Lanos. Strawbee finishes with a 7-3 record, tied with Equestrian States and Karditan and good for third place in the group due to run differential. Their record was good enough to quickly secure one of the coveted 4 wildcard playoff spots. They will travel to the host nation Cassadaigua to play Sicountimont. It is Strawbee's second playoff appearence in 2 WBCs played.

Strawberry will once again be joining the team and seemed intrigued by the prospect of visiting Cassadaigua which has a bit of a unique culture as it is a definite matriarchal society, whereas despite having a strong female leader as their dictator remains traditionally patriarchal by nature.

When informed about Cassadaigua's ways and asked for her thoughts, Strawberry laughed and said "Ha! Sounds like a good way of doing things to me! Visiting there will be a nice change of pace."

The recent controversy and flood of discussion and attention paid to the much anticipated Saintland-Cassadaigua matchup seems to have rustled a few hairs on her tail as she remarked that she felt both nations were purposefully stirring up trouble with intentionally inflammatory remarks the other to ratchet things up and that they were both just being desperate for attention and trying to artificially inflate the significance of their matches against each other.

"I should certainly recognize a couple of attention [expletive] when I see them." she said flippantly. Well at least Strawberry is honest about herself if nothing else. Most likely she is annoyed by the news drummed up by the tension between these nations and their sports teams as not many people outside Strawbee seem to be discussing their playoff series (with the possible exception of Allinlia and Sicountimont)

When asked which team she'd rather see win she said "I could care less either way, I am only interested in Strawbee's game against Sicountimont."

It would seem though that there is something that is more on the forefront of her mind than they game. "I wonder if Cassadaigua has strip clubs like we do in Strawbee." She mused, "But instead of women they have cute guys! I'm definitely check that [expletive] out while I'm here."

She grinned and added "I really ought to find a way to call up some of the gals on the Cassadaiguan team and ask them to join me. Judging by the way Saintland has been speaking of them they sound like they know how to have a good time."

she also said that she'd like to personally meet with Cassadaigua's leader if she can. "I want to see what she is really like." said Strawberry "And possibly get some advice from her? Cassadaigua has been around quite a bit longer than Strawbee afterall...

You can catch the Strawbee game on Allinlia's AESN sports network, for our Strawbeean readers, your nation will be showing the game live on their government tv channel 8 as well.

by **Cassadaigua** » Thu May 30, 2013 8:14 am

May the playoffs begin!

(9) New Montreal States vs (24) Sangti @ Victoriaville

Sangti                 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
New Montreal States    1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 X  5

New Montreal States leads series 1G-0

(10) Free South Califas vs (23) Allinlia @ Starksville

Allinlia               2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  5
Free South Califas     0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0  3

Allinlia leads series 1G-0

(11) Sicoutimont vs (22) Strawbee @ Brattleboro

Strawbee               0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0  4
Sicoutimont            2 1 1 0 4 0 0 1 X  9

Sicoutimont leads series 1G-0

(12) Ko-oren vs (21) Taeshan @ Grande Mountain

Taeshan                0 0 0 3 2 1 0 1 0  7
Ko-oren                1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1  4

Taeshan leads series 1G-0

(13) Saintland vs (20) Cassadaigua @ Concord Heights

Cassadaigua            0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0  3
Saintland              1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 X  4

Saintland leads series 1G-0

(14) Equestrian States vs (19) Super-Llamaland @ New Lakeland

Super-Llamaland        0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0  4
Equestrian States      0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  5

Equestrian States leads seres 1G-0

(15) Michael VII vs (18) Western Cuba @ Winchester

Western Cuba           1 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0  5
Michael VII            1 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 X  6

Michael VII leads series 1G-0

(16) Thatius vs (17) The Serbian Empire @ Rutland

The Serbian Empire     1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0  3
Thatius                0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  2

The Serbian Empire leads series 1G-0

Challenge: (In no way does this need to be followed. The purpose is to provide inspiration for RP when it could not otherwise be found).

Historical Challenge: Reference a past World Baseball Classic that I pre-determine. Today, World Baseball Classic 2

by **Sicoutimont** » Thu May 30, 2013 1:30 pm

Podcastin' With Jacques and Fidel!

"Welcome to Jacques and Fidel's podcast!"

"Shut up Jacques, Soriano's up to bat!"

"Anyways, we're at Brattleboro for Game 1 of the World Baseball Classic playoffs!"

"Oh, what a hit! That's a home run! Yes, Yes, Yes!"

"What Fidel is trying to say is, welcome to Sicoutimont vs Strawbee, we're in the second inning of the game here. Loic St-Ignace had a triple in the first inning to bring Boullion Carvier home, and Jaeg Nordstrom would single to make St-Ignace make the score 2-0. Nordstrom would be caught attempting to steal, and the inning would end. Fidel Sanchez struck out the first 4 batters before having Hank Orr go to left field for a double. Just now, Alfonso Soriano went deep to the left porch to put Les Royales up 3-0! We'll be back after the end of the game, talking about the game and an interview with a star player on Les Royales!"

*music played, show title sung*

"Alright! What a game. After a 4-run 5th inning to go up 8-2, Victor Santana was waved home by Alexandre Rouls, the third base coach, on a deep fly ball. That put them up 9-4 in the bottom of the 8th. No more scoring would occur, as closer Fernard Dantes would end the game only allowing a double."

"That was a big move by Rouls there, wasn't it? If Santana was tagged out, the momentum goes to Strawbee in the ninth, and they'd need 4 runs off Fernard Dantes to tie the score."

"Very true, Fidel. In addition to this, Fidel Sanchez proved he was capable of taking on the big games after a 1-1 showing in the group stage, going 6 and a third innings allowing 2 runs. Yves Canton takes to the mound tomorrow against this strong Strawbee team, do you think he has what it takes to end this series?"

"You know Jacques, I really don't know. Canton is a world-class pitcher, and someone who has shown he can take the big games. On the other hand, Strawbee will come out stronger tomorrow, looking to send the series to the decisive game 3."

"Does Canton himself think he can do it? Let's ask him. We met with Yves just before tonight's game, here's what he had to say"

*guitar music plays*

"So, Yves, you're starting game 2. What do you think of this?"

"What do I think? Well, I think that if the boys can deliver a win here tonight, the ball will be in our court, and I'll have to control that and throw a great game."

"Speaking of a great game, your perfect game. How much did that mean to you?"

"That game against Estope.....that was just magical. We were just full cylinder that hole game. I don't think I've ever seen us play a better game at this level, the pitching, the hitting, the coaching, that was just a great game by us. If you consider it 'perfect', I think that was more due to the defense behind me then anything."

"How does it feel to have Trent Davis, your Ile Perrot Epee teammate, also on the team?"

"Yeah, you know, Trent and I are great buddies, we've been together ever since the start down in the minors, got called up around the same time, and now we both provide a solid 1-2 punch for the Epee. It's fun, but looking around the clubhouse, we're all from 5 different teams, but we all get along, ya know, the LBS is a pretty friendly league when it's not the playoffs, haha."

"As someone born in Ile Perrot, I must mention this: Ile Perrot is home to the 2-time World Baseball Club Champions, and last night, the World Handball Club Champions! How do you feel about the self-proclaimed City of Champions?"

"Yeah, that's great for our city. I mean, when you've got teams that good in all sports, it's amazing, it puts a good show out for the fans and residents, and we all enjoy the ride, Ile Perrot's probably the best city to play in in the nation, you see black and silver flags supporting us or our cousins in other sports everywhere."

"Thanks for answering these questions, Yves. Good luck tomorrow night."

"No problem, Jacques."

*guitar music plays*

"Uh, Jacques, you never told me we were interviewing Yves......"

"You never asked"

"Anyways....."

"We'll be back here tomorrow night for the next edition of Podcastin' With Jacques and Fidel, once again here from the Stadium in Brattleboro, as Sicoutimont and Strawbee duel in Game 2!"

by **Super-Llamaland** » Thu May 30, 2013 2:18 pm

(14) Equestrian States vs (19) Super-Llamaland @ New Lakeland
Super-Llamaland 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4
Equestrian States 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5

Equestrian States leads seres 1G-0

The Llamas, in twelve innings, lost a thriller.

ALLAN ROSWELL: 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 K/4 BB, 84 Pitches
RYAN LUCAS: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K/0 BB, 23 Pitches
RICK JACKSON: 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 4 K/1 BB, 36 Pitches
(BSV) NICK BOWDEN: IP, ER, H, 2 K/0 BB
EVAN DAYE, ROBBY IRVING, (L) AARON RAYMOND COMBINED: 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 4 K/BB

Allan Roswell, was...bad. Let's just say bad.
Not that bad, but awfully bad.

A walk, a single, and a home run gave him three runs earned in the third. In the other three of his first four full innings, he allowed a total of three hits and a walk. He struggled for outs and walks alike and threw eighty-four before leaving with the bases juiced and one out.

In a "rehab" start, Ryan Lucas got five solid outs. Rick Jackson threw a nice pair of innings, striking out four without a hit.
Nick Bowden allowed a solo shot in the ninth to tie it up and Aaron Raymond allowed another in the twelfth to win it.

THE OFFENSE
From a viewpoint of hitting coach Steve Mays...

First Inning (7:05 PM)
I told Duncan [Roberts, starting for Max Danks] to lay off the high fastball hitting second. So after Bradley singled, what did he do? Strike out on three high fastballs. Don't know about that guy...I'd take Coleman (19-year-old outfielder Bryant Coleman) any day. Cameron popped out and Mills grounded out. This ~~horse~~pitcher is on tonight.
Second Inning (7:21 PM)
Game moving along slowly thanks to Roswell. Brett (Rochester) tapped one to third, but was fast enough to beat it out...and steal second. And third. Addams had an awfully easy job getting him in with the single.
It is 1-0 early on. Can we steal it?
Fourth Inning (7:54 PM)
Roswell gave up a three-run shot (that was one long three-run shot!) and we're down 3-1. It is early though. Cameron, Mills, and Harder struck out. With this pitcher, it's not looking good.
Seventh Inning (8:41 PM)
Still down 3-1. Harder strikes out on four pitches. Rochester strikes out on three pitches. Addams ~~strikes out~~ GETS TO FIRST on a WILD PITCH. Things are looking up.
More Seventh Inning (8:51 PM)
PH Baines is in against a new lefty reliever. Singles. Dawson HOMERS! 4-3!
Ninth Inning (9:12 PM)
Looks like a win if Bowden holds on.
Eleventh Inning (9:40 PM)
Doesn't look like a win anymore.
Thirteenth Inning (10:23 PM)
Called it.

by **Cassadaigua** » Thu May 30, 2013 2:39 pm

Queen reaches out, apples still fly
by Rachel Sharper- Concord Heights Times

Queen Cassie tried to prevent apples from being tossed at Saintland players during an address delivered before the World Baseball Classic began. The practice that began in the International Basketball Championships was rumored to be going to carry over when the two nations ended up paired together for a first round series. Her Highness did not want this to occur at Concord Heights Stadium, but this temptation was too strong to resist.

As Saintland took batting practice before the game, the first apples began to fly, hitting a few of the players, though they were not thrown with enough velocity to have been anything but a nuisance. Some of the players swung at the apples, shattering them to the ground, until they realized that just created a greater mess. Security did not eject any such fans, making some wonder if the Queen’s statement was simply PR and that such policy would not be enforced. During the game, the apples were not as much a factor, as fans did seem to make an effort to not want to disrupt play all that much. The only lengthy delay due to apples occurred in the bottom of the 6th, after Matthaeus Bebius hit a bases clearing double with two outs to put his team up by the score of 4-2. Unfortunately for Cassadaigua, that proved to be the game winning hit and the Sanctii take a one game to lead in the series. At the time of the hit, apples were thrown at the runscorers, with many landing in the field of play.

Throughout the stands, Dagan fans verbally harassed Saintland all night, even after the team took the lead. Many references to the Eve and Adam story were made in chants and with signs, with other signs reading things such as “See, this is why we don’t trust men!” However, it is interesting to note that there appeared to be a sizeable Feministvs Sanctvsterra presence at this game. Feministvs Sanctvsterra is a group of intelligent, educated women seeking to end the horrible oppression that occurs in Saintland. Their protests during the Cup of Harmony led to arrests, proving that there is one critical difference in the lifestyle of Cassadaigua and of Saintland. Here, we have allowed men to peacefully protest for years, and such protests were even seen at all of the games that were played throughout Cassadaigua. Queen Cassie has offered Feministvs Sanctvsterra members to seek refuge in Cassadaigua, and it is believed that there have been communications between the Palace and Agrippina, believed to be the leader of Feministvs Sanctvsterra about seeking safe haven in our country. Such communication is likely kept confidential, but it very apparent that this group, which had not been seen since the Cup of Harmony, is resurfacing, and is enjoying their freedom here.

The Queen herself was in Concord Heights for the first game, but is actually going to be traveling out to Brattleboro for the second series of games. While she will certainly meet with any leaders of Sicoutimont who attend, the purpose seems to actually be to meet with the Strawbee team. Reports have that they are really enjoying their time here, and she would like to make them feel more welcome.

by **Saintland** » Thu May 30, 2013 4:56 pm

Sister Polus's Thoughts

Hello, I am Sister Maria Polus. I am the High Inquisitor at Progress High School in St. Ioannes. For the benefit of all the wicked ladies in Cassadaigua that may read a translated transcript of this video, I am a nun at a Church of Saintland convent. Of course, I am going to speak about Cassadaigua today.

From what I have heard, what I said in my last video was transcribed and translated to English. Apparently, somebody in Cassadaigua's government read that transcript and published it in their press. The reaction of the Infernus-bound women of Cassadaigua was to start throwing apples at our National Teams. As my viewers remember, last time I mentioned the story of Adam and Eva and explained how Satanas convinced Eva to eat the apple, committing the first sin. As you know, Eva handed the apple to Adam and led him into sin. The response of the Godless sinners of Cassadaigua was to throw apples at Sanctii athletes. This was just appalling behavior.

Today, I watched on Royal One, like the rest of our Kingdom, and saw the classless antics of the Cassadaiguan fans. When Matthaeus Bebius hit his game-winning 3-RBI double in the 6th inning, the crowd started pelting Sanctii players with apples. Reports in the Concord Heights Times, the local newspaper in the city where today's game was held, indicate that Feministvs Sanctvsterra made an appearance. The pictures that I have been able to find of the protestors online indicate that these are the same protestors that stood around naked outside of the Barton Software Arena at the Cup of Harmony. Presumably, they aren't doing any naked protests in Cassadaigua.

However, I noticed that Rachel Sharper, their reporter, could not even get her facts straight. Contrary to the claims of their media, the arrests of Feministvs Sanctvsterra had nothing to do with their antics at the Cup of Harmony. The Kingdom of Saintland does not arrest anybody when they are outside of our Kingdom. We're quite happy to arrest a fugitive if they ever attempt to enter the Kingdom, but we're also quite happy if they stay in exile until they burn in the fires of Infernus. The organization, composed of women who are rebelling against their Creator and against nature itself, first made its existence known a few months ago when they blockaded the streets of St. Paulus on a Sunday morning, preventing the people of that city from attending Church services. At that protest, six hundred and sixty six of their members were arrested and the majority of the members arrested on this occasion were foreign residents. Virtually all of them were involved in the protest without even the knowledge of their husbands or parents and authorities discovered just 1 example of a man who was encouraging his wife to participate in the protest.

Shortly thereafter, King Paulus XV decreed that being a member of Feministvs Sanctvsterra or financially or otherwise aiding the organization would be illegal in the Kingdom and grounds for immediate arrest. His decree also advised foreign residents to keep a closer eye on their wives and children and dealt with other problems that had come up in foreign resident schools, such as the teaching of something called "sex education" and other immoral things and the general laxity of discipline at such schools. Under the King's Decree, I was appointed as the High Inquisitor at the worst foreign resident school in the Kingdom and given the opportunity to clean it up and set foreign resident youths on a virtuous path. I have worked as hard as I can over these last few months to accomplish that goal.

The King's Decree seems to have virtually eliminated foreign resident membership in Feministvs Sanctvsterra. The group went underground and rematerialized at some event called the World Korfball Classic. Apparently, korfball is a mixed gender sport. It is, needless to say, outlawed in the Kingdom of Saintland. Feministvs Sanctvsterra apparently became the world champions at that sport. During that event, they posted videos to Sanctustube and flooded our Kingdom's networks with spam emails linking to those videos. The spamming by the terrorist organization resulted in Royal ISP's service being down for an entire day.

After the korfball stunt had finished, they returned to the Kingdom during World Cup qualifying and began disrupting our Kingdom's home World Cup qualifiers. At one point, they blockaded the city of St. Petrus after a game, preventing fans from leaving the area around Royal Stadium for a while before escaping as the police arrived. On another occasion, they disrupted a Cantus Virginum halftime show by hacking into the Royal Stadium speakers and playing blasphemous and seditious sound-alike lyrics. Cantus Virginum is a musical group that is beloved by girls throughout the Kingdom and they are also excellent role models for young girls. I was horrified when I was watching their performance on TV and heard blasphemy instead of Cantus Virginum's normal lyrics that promote virtue and glorify God.

That wasn't the end of Feministvs Sanctvsterra's atrocities. They began storming the pitch during World Cup qualifiers. One time, they invaded the pitch during halftime. Fortunately, those involved were arrested on this occasion. Later on, they did the same thing at a World Bowl game, except they stormed the Royal Stadium field while the game was in progress. This was apparently a distraction, as the korfball players, presumed to be the leaders of the group, forced their way into the Cathedral, the holiest of all Church of Saintland Churches, and desecrated the altar.

When the Cup of Harmony began, they left the Kingdom and arrived in Esportiva. During the Cup of Harmony, they were a nuisance, constantly protesting outside of our National Team's matches. However, it was only during the quarterfinal match when they got permission from the Licentian authorities and protested naked outside of the Cup of Harmony match against United Gordonopia. That would be the last this group would be heard from, until the recent news that they had signed up for the next World Korfball Classic. The Feministvs Sanctvsterra members that protested at the Cup of Harmony was the korfball team and they are presumed to be the members that are in Cassadaigua at the moment.

I have been reading reports from foreign sports news web sites. According to these reports, the next korfball event will either be held in Sicoutimont, which borders Cassadaigua, or Free Republics, the nearest neighbor of our Kingdom. I expect the Feministvs Sanctvsterra members to leave Cassadaigua before our Kingdom is eliminated from the World Baseball Classic to compete in that wicked mixed-gender sport.

Those in Cassadaigua who are reading what I'm saying to you right now likely want to know the details of the arrest of the St. Ioannes Feministvs Sanctvsterra cell. There isn't that much to report. I simply discovered a possible location where they may be and tipped off the local police. The police rode their "automobile" to that seemingly abandoned farmhouse and discovered the hideout of a Feministvs Sanctvsterra cell. I will not reveal any more details because they are confidential, but rest assured that authorities are searching the Kingdom, trying to find the locations of the other cells.

I wish to remind Rachel Sharper that she should get her facts straight before writing news reports. I know that the government of that country probably showed her what to write, but her factually challenged reporting is just more evidence that a woman's place is in the home, not the newsroom. I am Sister Maria Polus and I thank you for watching.

by **The Serbian Empire** » Thu May 30, 2013 6:16 pm

(16) Thatius vs (17) The Serbian Empire @ Rutland

The Serbian Empire 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
Thatius 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2

The Serbian Empire leads series 1G-0

This was the best game from Milorad Vranes in the tournament with only a two run home run in the sixth inning. The ace, Vladimir Halisevic will start tomorrow's game with the fourth start, #60 Marek Rancic starting Game 3 if necessary.

by **Sangti** » Thu May 30, 2013 10:45 pm

'WE ONLY SCORED AT THE NINTH INNING...'
by Rafael Sigua

Sangti (24) 1-5 New Montreal States (9)
1st Round, Playoffs, World Baseball Classic 26
Victoriaville, Cassadaigua
(New Montreal States leads series 1-0)

Sangti                 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
New Montreal States    1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 X  5

Starting Lineups

SANGTI
#1 61 2B Ramil Magtalas
#2 87 1B Romie Datu
#3 94 RF Levin Dabu
#4 21 C Micah Sacpa
#5 39 LF Lorenzo Aboganda
#6 97 SS Antonio Luyaben
#7 41 CF Erick Navarette
#8 20 3B Benjamin Dimacuha
#9 74 P Cyril Sumaoang

NEW MONTREAL STATES
CF 90 Ephraim Zimbalist, Jr.
2B 7 Greg George
LF 27 Jean-Charles St-Anton
1B 8 Loic Cloutier
RF 3 Larry Walker
DH 19 Homer Hampton (emergency catcher)
3B 2 Michel Boucher-Thivierge
C 00 Max Fortex
SS 31 Samuel Vaillancourt

There is one target on every team's mind. Win. It does not matter how you win, or by how much. It is only imperative to win, whatever the odds are.

Sangti did not even put a fight in the first game in their series with the New Montreal States, losing 1-5. The NMS, who has been in the WBC since its second inception, seeded ninth and won their group for this edition, far different from the 3-5 record they attained in their debut season. Cyril Sumaoang, the 2nd ace of the Indios side, started the game and immediately gave up a run at the bottom of the 1st from Ephraim Zimbalist Jr., who hit the first pitch of Sumaoang. Loic Cloutier made a sacrifice fly and Zimbalist made a perfectly-timed run to grab the home plate and lead 1-0. Then it was the battle of the pitchers.

Fortex and Sumaoang exchanged strikeout after strikeout... until the bottom of the fifth, when Sumaoang gave Michel Boucher-Thivierge a nice hit to make the ball fly behind the fences at the right hand side of the field. That 2-run homer prompted Monico Deligero to relieve Sumaoang with Roochie Gosiengfiao. Gosiengfiao gave further 2 runs to Loic Cloutier and Larry Walker to make it 5-0. In the top of the ninth though, Antonio Luyaben hit a homer to register Sangti a run, but it proved only a consolation for Sangti, who must now win game 2, still here in Victoriaville to force a deciding Game three to determine who faces the eight seeded Kinzar at the second round.

Regular starter Leevhan Mumar will start in Game 2.

by **Ko-oren** » Fri May 31, 2013 1:53 am

Pathetic

"We've worked so hard to get here. It has taken us 4 WBCs to even qualify, and we do it again now on our 5th. We can't throw all our efforts away now."

"We couldn't handle the 4th to 6th inning... It's been a weak spot in our game this cycle."

"But still. We don't have to lose against Taeshan. We're the sixth best team of the world after the group stage! They might have a higher ranking overall, but we've got some momentum with us since the group stage. Don't you remember the win against Milchama? Wasn't that impossible too?"

"But now we have to win twice in a row to keep Taeshan from winning."

"And we can. You guys all play in the BCCC often. Surely you've done this kind of escape earlier. Wait a second. Any Lava Bearers here? You've beaten the Linda Vista Scholars 2-1 after being behind 0-1. And to the Charging Hounds: you were 1-0 ahead against Darmen's Eau Claire Cavaliers. And you lost! And then the Silver Admirals. After an amazing season, you had to play Ile Perrot Epee from Sicoutimont! Probably the best consistent club of international baseball. And you got 1-0 behind. With 7-0, even. Shutout against the best team there was until that point. And there you go and win by 4-3. And then you do it again, 2-1. I know that we lost by only 3 runs against Taeshan, but a bunch of you have done this before, after losing by 7 runs!"

"Yeah!"

"And don't forget what the Lava Bearers have done in the next round. They were up against Eau Claire Cavaliers. You know they've beaten the Charging Hounds like that. And what happens? You lose 2-0. Shutout. And then you beat them by 6-1 and 7-2! The Lava Bearers and the Silver Admirals were both eliminated from the BCCC after winning the first game. You all know what it feels like to win and to lose like that."

"What about us Golden Generals players?"

"Well, you went and lost 2-0 against another Darmeni team."

"Mm."

"And then, some of you are old enough to retire next season. I hate to say it, but this might very well be your last chance together. Now get out and win!"

World Baseball Classic 26- Everything Thread (IC)

CLINCH!

New Lakeland Special!

Game One--just happy to be here

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