World Baseball Classic 54 (IC thread)

[Zwangzug]

The quarterfinals conclude!

United Adaikes          3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0  7
Quebec and Shingoryeo   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 1  8

Quebec and Shingoryeo wins series, 3-2

Ranoria                 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Kriegiersien            1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1  3

Kriegiersien wins series, 3-2

Scorinated by Tikariot:

Zwangzug               0 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 0  6
South Newlandia        1 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 X  7

South Newlandia wins series, 3-2

Semifinal matchups:
Banija @ Quebec and Shingoryeo, Swainyo Stadium, Zwischen
Kriegiersien @ South Newlandia, Worm Hole, Spenson

[Kriegiersien]

The meat lover
Your magazine for good cuisine

WBC 54

Ranoria                 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Kriegiersien            1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1  3

Kriegiersien wins series, 3-2


Kriegiersien won the Southeast Division and as reward will play against South Newlandia in the semi-final in the WBC.

Congratulations came in from the president via pigeon post and the win was celebrated with a golden pineapple.


But now we have to address the Elephant in the room. Yes, South Newlandia. This is big. The team has to go down the Worm hole to beat them and the kitchen was waiting for the moment to present this as appetizer:



May the feast begin.

[Banija]

Banija knocks out the reigning champs; Advance to the WBC 54 Semifinals


Banijan players celebrating their series win over Quintessence of Dust after Game 4

ZWISCHEN, ZWANGZUG- This World Baseball Classic has been a banger so far, has it not? Three quarterfinal series went the distance, needing all five games to decide three of the semifinalists. And the Banijan v. Quintessence of Dust series, while it did not go 5 games, lived up fully to its billing. The two teams re-established themselves as two of the best in the world across four games. No blowouts, first two games each going to extra innings. But Banija has always been a team whose calling card has been its starting pitching. Calling upon our back-end rotation starting pitchers in the big moments, under the bright lights, they delivered with all the pressure on them, and punched our ticket.

Game 3

It was the 29 year old southpaw we put on the mound in Game 3, with Xolile Gola knowing the importance of trying to get off to a good start in what was functionally, now a Best of 3 series. It would be team Banija that would draw first blood in this game. A leadoff double by our designated hitter, Luxolo Mbeki, that went straight into the gap. After our #5 hitter struck out, it would be the rising star, Ugonna Akachi, who would come to the plate. He's getting more and more at-bats during this Classic, and seems to be picking up confidence with everyone one. It didn't faze him, as Akachi lined one into the gap in left center. A 1 out, RBI double, as Mbexi got home standing up as the ball had gone all the way to the wall. An early 1-0 lead for Xolile Gola.

On the other hand, Xolile Gola was dealing to start the game. Throughout the first four innings, she only allowed one base runner- a 2 out double in the third inning, by, of all people, their catcher- Yazhu Long. Gola was actually fortunate that one did not go out, as it looked like he got all of it off of the bat, but he simply didn't get enough air under it. It hurried towards the top of the wall in left field in a hurry, but safely bounced back into play. Gola was able to force their leadoff hitter to pop up, but other than that, she was dealing on the day. First four innings, just that one baserunner via that double. 4 strikeouts. Does a start get any better than that? But the fifth inning, everything started to unravel. To lead off the fifth, Kutoshi Kawasuda stepped up to the plate. And Kawasuda went yard- 420 feet down the right field line. Suddenly, the game was 1-1. But the Things weren't done there.

Ágústsdóttir singled. Then Yutani also singled, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. No bullpen action yet from Oladipo, although he did send his pitching coach out for a mound visit. Borgþórsson came up and struck out. 1 away, runners on the corners, Long at the plate- their catcher who hit a double already. Long got his second hit of the game, hitting a single up the middle of the infield. IT was not hit that hard, but enough for the runner to score. The Things have runners at first and second, only one away, and it was 2-1. Oladipo got a pitcher up in the bullpen. But ultimately, after he paid a mound visit, he decided to keep her in. "Look, you've got to trust your starters in some of these tight spots." He told reporters. "I told her to slow down, take a breath, and she could do it, despite us being down." And she got the payoff pitch. Brøndum, at the top of the order, hit a sharp grounder to Oneko at 3rd. He quickly tagged the base and then gunned to first, throwing out Brøndum by half a step. Gola pitched in and out of trouble, and got the 5-3 double play while limiting the damage.

She ended up going eight strong innings. But of course, after her inning in the seventh, she was still down 2-1. But that's when the Banijan bats really got going. It all started with Melusi Calata, our leadoff hitter, getting a base hit to leadoff the inning. And then, the shortstop was gunning- after three pickoff attempts, on the first actual pitch to Oneko, he was off like a flash. He stole second by a hair, and suddenly, he was in scoring position. This was good for team Banija, as Oneko hit a slow one into right field. Calata was gunning around third, never even getting his head up. The slide was brilliant, the throw was barely late, and suddenly, it was a 2-2 ballgame. But that's not it. Malik Solely would hit a ground rule double. Runners on second and third, nobody out. Mbexi, unfortunately, struck out. But Nyaniso Hani hit a 2 run single up the middle, scoring both Oneko and Solely. 4-2 to Banija. And then, very next batter, Akachi was able to hit another liner down the left field line. Hani got a great jump since it had been a hit and run, and scored all the way from first without a throw.

5-2 to Banija. That inning turned the game, and inevitably the series, on its head. Gola would pitch 8, and then Yoro Coulibaly, our closer, came in for a 1-2-3 9th inning. Game, set, match. Ava Odoyo would take the mound in Game 4 with a chance to clinch the series.

Game 4

You can always ride your starters, right? That's the Banijan philosophy anyways. And Ava Odoyo, the 30 year old at the back of the rotation, had a chance to shut the door and clinch the series. But she was the story of this game. It would be her pitching like an ace that would close out this series. Was it two rounds ago where we had our Games 3 and 4 starters log a combined 3 innings? Odoyo wanted to one-up Gola's excellent performance from the day before, and that she did. Odoyo pitched like an ace in command. The fact that it was an elimination game? Did not faze her. She went 8 and 1/3 innings, with 7 strikeouts, throwing 109 pitches in pursuit of the complete game. While she didn't get that, she only allowed 2 walks and 3 hits. The real damage coming from a 5th inning solo shot by Luka Chevalier.

The Banijan bats did more than enough to back her up. And, like the Things, we did so via the longball. All five of our runs came via four home runs in this game. In the fourth inning, it would be a two run jack by Malik Solely that would give the Banijans a 2-0 lead. And then, when QoD halved that lead in the top half of the next inning, the Banijans really went to work in the bottom half of the inning. Who led off the bottom of the fifth? The free swinging Ugonna Akachi, who smashed a solo home run to lead the inning. And then, the very next batter. Cedron Aloo, working himself a 2-0 account. A meatball over the heart of the plate, also smashed into the left field seats. Back-to-back home runs by Banija to build a 4-1 lead.

Our slugger, the designated hitter, Luxolo Mbeki, smashed a solo shot in the 7th inning to give Banija 5-1 lead, and that was all she wrote. Odoyo did try to go the distance, as we said earlier. But Oladipo was taking no chances in the 9th. After a 1 out triple was followed by a 1 out walk, Oladipo went to fetch his starter, who got a huge standing ovation from the Banijan fans at the stadium. Oladipo called on the setup man, Oyella Lagum, to get the job done in the non-save situation. QoD's first batter popped up, and QoD's final batter of the series grounded out to Cedron Aloo at second base. And that was the conclusion of the heavyweight battle- this time, QoD sent packing, while Banija through to the semifinals.

"This, absolutely, was one hell of a series." Isaac Oladipo told reporters afterwards. "You see why Quintessence of Dust are the defending champs- they play with that air. That's why this was such a huge win for our boys. A lot of people stepped up over the last two days. It is an incredible accomplishment to win three series at the Classic, and take ourselves to the Final Four. But the job's not done. It's only gotten much harder. The semifinals will be a hell of a time- but it'll take everything we got to beat an opponent with Quebec's quality." Quebec, of course, are a familiar rival, as we went 5 games against them on home soil in WBC 53. They had one of the most insane comeback wins you've ever seen. Down 6-0 in the bottom of the 8th, in the do-or-die Game 5, Quebec put up 4 in the 8th and 3 more in the 9th(opponents scored one in the top of the 9th) to send the game to extras. And then, they walked it off.

Banija v. Quebec again. This time, for a spot in the WBC Championship Series. Can Banija win this series to compete for the sport's ultimate prize for a third time? Or will Theo-Alexandre Pinson and Heo Myeong-Shin push the Quebecois all the way to the sport's pinnacle?

[South Newlandia]

Wally has made his choice.

The Elephants were moving on.

Now, time for batting practise.

---

Disclaimers:
* this project would not be possible without the efforts from Super-Llamaland. The words on screen right now were made by me, but would not be possible without extensive background work from both of us. Please do grade accordingly.
* yada yada yada

SNL Wildcard Game (Masmow Dragons @ Newport Dolphins)

Baseball can be a cruel game. 160 games journeys take close to two years, and it all, success or failure, comes down to a single game. Such is the Llamaphant Pro Baseball Wildcard game. You can do your best for an entire season, win all sorts of games, but a single mistake in a single game might just cost you your entire season. Such was the case for the Newport Dolphins. The defending LPB champions had won 92 games; but that was only good enough for second place in the SNL Central. Therefore, the Dolphins had to win the wildcard game against the Masmow Dragons, who had won just 82 games. Both teams had the luxury to put their aces on the mound; pitting two South Newlandian national teamers against each other. Ryan Hunter and Jay Kramer, each elite in their own right, would be the men to fight it out. In the regular season, Dolphins and Dragons had faced each other eight times – seven of those ended in Dolphins’ wins, including every single home game.
Jay Kramer was rocked early, with Luka Chevalier going yard in the first, scoring Tallis and Larsen and putting the Dolphins up 3-0. However, the Dragons chipped at the lead early, with a 2-RBI single by Laure Valle cutting the lead to just one run. Kramer ended up being pulled in the third inning following a bases-loaded two-out single for Stuart Hernandez that made it 4-2 Dolphins.
While Hunter was able to settle in after that, the Dragons’ bullpen got the situation mostly under control. In the sixth, the Dragons cut the lead to one with a homer by Gabriel Acosta, but the Dolphins immediately re-established the two-run lead with a Kelly Tallis double. In the seventh, Hunter loaded the bases, which led to the Dolphins going to the bullpen as well; but Montaro Wakajoshi gave up a two-run single to Daryl Dunlop, tying the game at 5 apiece. No more runs followed in the coming innings, sending the game to extras; following four scoreless innings with no shortage of relievers and pinch hitters, the Dragons got something in the 12th inning in a Daryl Dunlop lead-off double. Lexi Burrows laid down a bunt, moving Dunlop to third; and a Denis Caamano deep fly ball was enough to score a run for the Dragons.
In the bottom of the 12th, Barnaby Butt came out with a chance to grab the save that could send Masmow to the SNLDS, but he was up against the scary part of the Dolphins’ line-up. Lead-off man Mike Larsen hit a soft grounder to Acosta, before Drum struck out on three pitches, making Kelly Tallis the last one standing for the Fins. On a 2-2 count, she launched a fastball down left; only for it to settle harmlessly into the glove of Daryl Dunlop. The Dragons had managed to come into Dolphin Stadium and upset the reigning LPB champs to move on to the SNLDS, where a date with the Blue Sox waited. For the Dolphins, there was only heartbreak. They had chances. In the bottom of the ninth, they put two on with one out, only for Vince Nelsen to escape the jam with a pair of strikeouts; and in the bottom of the tenth, Kelly Tallis was 90 feet away from walking it off, but Kendra Annovar grounded out to end the inning instead. Baseball is a cruel game.

Masmow Dragons          0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1  6
Newport Dolphins        3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  5

[Zwangzug]

Let the semifinals commence!

Quebec and Shingoryeo   0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3  6
Banija                  0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0  2

Quebec and Shingoryeo   1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Banija                  0 0 0 4 0 3 0 0 X  7

Series tied 1-1

South Newlandia         1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Kriegiersien            0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X  2

South Newlandia         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 7  8
Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Series tied 1-1

Edit: the IC "home teams" should have been the other way around. Since it doesn't make a difference to the OOC scorinator, I'm going to have these results stand. I recognize that you can't just swap the home/away lines for batting last purposes, so feel free to RP whatever with regards to treating this as canonical. If there's no objection, I'll try to remember to keep things "switched" so the teams that weren't ICly home today will be for games 3 and 4.

[Kriegiersien]

The meat lover
Your magazine for good cuisine

WBC 54

South Newlandia         1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Kriegiersien            0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X  2


South Newlandia         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 7  8
Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Series tied 1-1


After being smashed out of the stadium to the moon, Kriegiersien strikes back.





It is the Top 4. So we are beginning to have more sophisticated cuisine. Some fine wine and cheese

followed by cheesecake.

[Banija]

Banija and Quebec split the series opening pair; turn the semifinals into a Best of 3


Banijan player celebrates a RBI during their Game 2 win over Quebec and Swainyo Stadium

ZWISCHEN, ZWANGZUG- We're reaching the endgame now, aren't we? Just four teams left. All four have legitimate aspirations at a world championship. And both series are incredibly tight, as one would expect. With no sweeps last round, and three of the four quarterfinal series going to 5 games, it makes sense that, at this point, we would also have a pair of attractive series. While the games haven't been particularly close on this side, both Banija and Quebec have shown plenty of flashes of why people are picking either side to reach the WBC Championship Series.

It was interesting, to say the least, to see how this series turned out so far. Banija thrives on those starting pitching matchups, and Game 1 went exactly as you'd think for seven innings. A pair of star starting pitchers, with Ramata Kabba on the mound for Banija, to take a game deep. Kabba was able to go 7 innings and allow just one earned run, from the fifth inning. Quebec's starter went 6+, allowing their earned run in the 7th inning of Game 1. But, as tends to happen with this team, it was the bullpen that gave us trouble. Quebec, while unable to get to Ramata Kabba, the starter, reached into and wacked around the bullpen. A pinch hit, 2 out, 2 run bomb by Theo-Alexandre Pinson gave the Quebecois a 3-1 lead in the top of the 8th. And when we halved that in the bottom half, and tried to keep it a one run game going into the 9th, the Grim Reapers lived up to their nickname. They put our hopes of wining Game 1 to bed when Heo Myeong-Shin bombed one into the seats in right center.

A total of 1 earned run for our starters across 7 innings, and five earned runs for four members of our bullpen, across 2 innings. Nothing around it being unacceptable, right? Which meant that when Faraba Conateh got the ball and took the mound to pitch Game 2, it would be on him to bring the Banijans the distance. And after struggling his way through jams in the first and third innings, he really settled into the game. He got some help from Banija's bats in the fourth. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Banijans exploded for a huge inning, scoring four runs. What was the main play of that inning? The bases loaded, bases clearing, 3 run triple by Ugonna Akachi. The teenager got 3 RBIs, got the lead for Banija, and with Conateh on the mound, we never looked back. Our #2 starter grew into the game- he retired the final 9 batters he faced, as he pitched a complete game for Banija. We added another run in the fourth, and 3 more in the 6th, for insurance, as we won 7-2 behind Conateh's complete game effort.

As we all know, it's now a best of 3. What can separate us from Quebec across the next two games, to set us up for our first trip back to the Championship Series since WBC 51?

Banija's Keys to Victory

#1 Continuous Excellent performance from the starters

Ramata Kabba had 7 innings of one run baseball in Game 1. And Conateh had 9 innings of 2 run baseball in Game 2. It's rather unfortunate how we only won one of those games. But that's what it takes to win at the highest levels- other teams have elite pitching as well. But Banija has always been reliant on its starters, and in the late stages of Game 2, that will not change. "The top of the rotation has set a great tone for this series, even if we're only tied at one game a piece." Said manager Isaac Oladipo. "We've got to continue the success we've found on the mound for our starters, and allow them to go deep into games. Pitching bullpens for 4 innings or something, is generally not a winning strategy."

That will put the series in the hands of Xolile Gola, and Ava Odoyo, who are scheduled to pitch Games 3 and 4, respectively. "I have full belief in the abilities of both of our back end rotation starters." Oladipo said. And he said that for good reason. They slammed the door on Quintessence of Dust in the last series, as they each went 8+ innings in back to back wins to sent Banija onwards to the semifinals. "Each of them, on the national team level, have the ability to pitch like a workhorse, to pitch like the real stars they are. We prioritize stocking up on starting pitching for this Classic, and we have done exactly that. They are at the center of our strategy."

Of course, just because they are scheduled, doesn't mean they are locked. Gola is certainly starting Game 3. And Ava Odoyo can definitely pitch Game 4 as a closeout game. But if it's an elimination Game for Banija? If we're down 2-1? Then who knows. Ava Odoyo, obviously, has pitched in big spots during this classic and has been successful. She's been around for multiple classics, for multiple postseasons, and has proven her ability to get it done. But in an elimination game? Our old manager, Ousman Kakay, would likely to go Ramata Kabba on 3 days rest if we were down 2-1. But Oladipo? We'll keep it tight lipped. "Our intention is to win Game 3." When he was asked about the topic. "If things a different way, then we'll plan accordingly." A suggestion by a reporter of a bullpen game for Game 4, if things aren't going well for the Banijans, was deemed 'preposterous' by Oladipo.

#2 Containing Quebec's aging Superstars

Heo Myeong-Shin sits at 33 years old. Theo-Alexandre Pinson? Sits at 31. So in baseball years, especially, they're not considered that old or ancient or anything of the sort. But look at the way Quebec's most famous players have made an impact on this series. Theo-Alexandre Pinson, a single at-bat. And he made the biggest difference, as he took a pinch hitting opportunity in the bottom of the 8th, in a 1-1 ballgame, and sent it over the fence to give Quebec a lead that they would never relinquish. Considering the situation and the stage, that was probability the biggest win probability swing of this entire series. And then, not to be outshone in the very next inning, Heo Myeong-Shin does the same thing- except he had 2 men on, rather than one. A 3 run bomb by the 33 year old to give Quebec a 1-0 series lead.

Pinson, of course, is not playing regularly this series, with a DH lineup at use by both teams. But Heo Myeong-Shin is. And he can absolutely make an impact. Heo Myeong-Shin's RBI double in the first inning of Game 2 gave Quebec an early lead in that one, as well. "It's difficult to plan for a hitter who is as good as MS Heo." Said Banija's game 3 starter, Xolile Gola. "He can make an impact at the plate in a variety of ways. He hits for average, he hits for power, he's patient, he takes excellent swings- nearly the perfect package. You have to be 100% on top of your game if you're on the mound and he's at the plate. If you're not... Then he's going to make you pay."

How does one do that? Xolile Gola says the key is pitching to him without fear. "A lot of people, they're defeated mentally before they even come up to the plate." Xolile Gola told reporters. "But that way, he's already beaten you. You've got to be confident, and most importantly, you've got to hit your spots. Paint those corners. If you miss and leave one over the heart of the plate? Well, you're gonna get to watch him leisurely jog around the bases. And I don't intend to do that."

#3 Getting Banija's veterans going

There's no doubt that Isaac Oladipo inherited a veteran heavy team. The starting rotation was the exact same as WBC 53, with this one shrunk early because of the change in tournament format. The ages of this year's starting rotation? Kabba is 36, Conateh is 33, Odoyo is 30, and Gola is 29. There's only one position player on this team who doesn't have experience in baseball's greatest tournament, and that is the new revelation, Ugonna Akachi, who is just 19 years old. But despite this team being veteran heavy, it doesn't mean we're that old. We've got a bunch of players in their prime baseball years. What's baseball's prime- 27-32? Expand that out by one year on either side, and that is where this roster stands. We've only got two position player starters outside of that 26-33 age range. Akachi, already mentioned, at 19, and our center fielder, Joanna Adoyo, at 22.

But the heart of this team is 30 or older. Our leadoff hitter? 30 years old. Our 3-4-5 hitters, the heart of our lineup? Ages 33, 31, and 32, respectively. We've got to keep them healthy, and keep them going. "Players like Malik Solely, are always going to produce." Said manager Isaac Oladipo. "Our advantage is that these players have been to this stage before. A lot of players on this team have experience from the WBC 51 squad that won it all. We've got to keep our veterans going. Keep them fresh, ensure their recovery on a day-to-day basis is strong, and then ensure that they are supplemented by our young players enough to really get after it."

We can do those three things? Strength of our starters, shutting down their stars, getting our veterans going? That's the path to victory in this series. But of course, easier said than done. "It's the damn semifinals." Isaac Oladipo said. "There's simply too much talent at this stage of the tournament to think you are simply going to impose your will. You have to act, and react. You can't just sit in an air-conditioned office and build a statistical model." Oladipo told reporters, apparently sending shading to his former employers at the LBA. "You've got to trust your guts, trust your instinct. Not everyone has that clutch gene. Not everyone can rise to the occasion? But in those few, high-leverage moments, those moments that separate 'very good' teams from 'elite' teams, we've got to trust our players to get that separation for us."

[South Newlandia]

Ouch

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

@TAPinson 1/6 After ten years playing for the Tricolour Taegeuk, it is my time to announce that I will be retiring from the @TeamQuebec after #WBC54

@TAPinson 2/6 Time's right for me to go out while on top, and I know this feeling's right and real as I slowly prepare for a life beyond baseball.

@TAPinson 3/6 It has not been the easiest of decisions to make, but believe that it is at best interest for everybody.

@TAPinson 4/6 Me and my fellow vets here have worked our way to the top, and now that the peak's reached, we know it's time to go and #FinishTheTask.

@TAPinson 5/6 I'll be continuing my professional career with @BrattleboroBrats. One day I'll be back with @SaguenayLions, my home team, to cap off my career.

@TAPinson 6/6 I'd like to thank my teammates, coaches, parents, wife @NatalieGregoris and daughter Odette for making all this possible. #GoReapers #TAPinson

[Zwangzug]

Today's unrealistic escapist fantasy is titled: "Zwang's head not being on fire!" We look forward to many more installments, if not today.

Banija                  0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1  3
Quebec and Shingoryeo   1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2

Banija                  3 2 0 2 0 1 2 3 0 13
Quebec and Shingoryeo   0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0  3

Banija wins series 3-1

Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2
South Newlandia         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1

Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
South Newlandia         3 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 X  6

Series tied, 2-2. South Newlandia will ICly be the home team for game 5.

[Audioslavia]

Excuse me one moment everyone.

amongus

I've removed these half dozen posts.
*** Warning for spam ***
okay carry on

[Kriegiersien]

The meat lover
Your magazine for good cuisine

WBC 54

Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2
South Newlandia         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1


Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
South Newlandia         3 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 X  6

Series tied, 2-2


And serving a Mammoth in Sauce Hollandaise with Spam and relaxing Audio in the background we go into the final game.




After that it will be decided if we go on to a seven-course dinner with Banija or fast food with Quebec and Shingoryeo.

[Banija]

Top 5 Moments of WBC 54- Chronicling a journey that has led us back to the Summit of this sport


Team Banija celebrating their semifinal clinching Game 4 victory over Quebec & Shingoyreo

ZWISCHEN, ZWANGZUG- It has been a wild ride for team Banija, and the fans of this team. With the extra intensity of a tournament with a much shorter group stage, you have had to follow along and enjoy these moments. As Kriegiersien and South Newlandia prepare for a do-or-die Game 5 to see who has the right to face Banija, Banijan fans will have the luxury of a stress free watch of that game. But as we all know- not everyone has been following the entire journey.

And that's OK! It's natural. Every sports team gets higher ratings towards the end of the tournament than the beginning. And we may have some foreign readership here. And that's alright! Because of that, we're going to chronicle this journey for you. Read this article, you can catch up and converse with even the most diehard of Banijan baseball fans!

#5 Round of 32: 15 inning marathon to eliminate Murderbum and advance to the Round of 16

Remember that one? Probably one of the maddest games we've seen involving this team- and Banija has been involved in a lot of very crazy games over the years. But the craziest game we've been involved in at this tournament? Absolutely this one. Banija came into the series as mega favorites over Murderbum, expected to just swat them aside and coast into the Round of 16. But those expectations could not be further from reality. While we won 13-4 in Game 1, we allowed runs in the 8th and 9th innings to lose game 2, and suddenly, we were tied 1-1 in the series.

In game 3, we were down 3-0 after 1 and 5-3 after 2, with our starter not lasting the second inning. But we had to claw back, the comeback completed with 3 runs in the 7th inning for us to earn the comeback win. And then, in the closeout game. Our starter, for the second straight day, only lasts less than 2 innings. So, once again, Isaac Oladipo is forced to empty the bullpen. We are down 4-0 after 2 innings, a huge problem for our plans to closeout the series in 4 and avoid the do-or-die game 5. But we come back, slowly. A solo home run by Malik Solely in the 4th, to put us on the board. Strung a few hits together in the fifth, and scored twice without the long ball. Down 4-3 in the 9th, we've got a runner on 1st and are down to our final out. But this team is not fazed by anything- Luxolo Mbexi rips a double down the right field line, and the runner scores all the way from first.

We got into extras, tied at 4. 12th inning, we take a 3 run lead- but then our closer promptly blows the save, ensuring that we continue on with the game tied at 7. But while Murderbum repeatedly showed their grit and heart in this series, this Banijan team had a little bit more. We came back in the 15th, against a stretched and tired Murderbum team, and hit a pair of 2 run home runs to finally beat the fight out of Murderbum, and advance to the Round of 16.

#4 Quarterfinals Game 4: Ava Odoyo throws 8 and a third innings of one run ball to eliminate QoD

Less of a moment, and more of a performance- but let's go through this. Ava Odoyo's brilliant closeout game performance to knock out the defending world champions absolutely deserves a second look. Quintessence of Dust are the world champs- so it was always going to take a special performance to be able to knock them out. And things weren't necessarily going in her favor. Her last start was 2 weeks prior, when she couldn't even last two full innings against Murderbum in the Round of 32. She only pitched an inning in relief in game 3 of the Round of 16, as we finished off a sweep against Kohnhead. So rusty? It had been a while since she had thrown in a start, and that had gone poorly. But she was not fazed. She came out with a game plan to attack QoD, and she did so emphatically. 8 and a third innings? 7 strikeouts? Scattering 5 baserunners on just 3 hits, including a 5th inning home run? Absolute brilliant pitching performance.

"When she can put on a performance like that at the back of our rotation, it gives you confidence that this team can do serious damage in a tournament like this." Said Jonkong Sillah, a former player turned analyst who was a starter on the WBC 47 championship team. "This team has always gone as far as our rotation will take us, and this time, it is they who are at the very heart and core of this tournament's run."

#3 Semifinals Game 4: Banija goes opens the game with back-to-back-to-back home runs as they crush Quebec and clinch berth in the Championship Series

Banija entered Game 4 up 2-1 in the series with Quebec. After a thrilling finish(see below for the top moment) the night before, we had an exhausted Quebecois team, facing off against a pumped up and motivated Banijan team, in a closeout game for our team. But this game was really over before it started. We were up 7-0 after 4 innings, in route to a 13-3 blowout victory that put this team into the Championship Series. It was a great contest, as 33 year old slugger Theo-Alexandre Pinson got a standing ovation at his final at-bat for team Quebec, by both teams, late in the contest. He announced his retirement from the national team shortly before the series began, so that made sense.

But what moment are we talking about? We're talking about the very beginning of the game. Top of the 1st. Quebec's pitcher had struck out the first two Banijan batters. But that's when the heart of the order for Banija turned the game on its head. The 3-4-5 hitters. Three consecutive batters, all going yard. Malik Solely smashed one to straightaway center field, to make it 1-0. The very next batter, Luxolo Mbeki, smashed one fair down the right field line for a homer of his own. And then the next batter, Nyaniso Hani, who rarely goes yard, was able to pull one down the left field line that hit the foul pole. That was his first home run of the entire tournament. Back-to-Back-to-Back home runs in the first inning. A rare sight. A stunning accomplishment.

Simply a personification of the game. Everything went right for us, and everything went wrong for them, as we kicked off our celebrations for making the Championship Series.

#2 Quarterfinals Game 2: Melusi Calata hits go-head 12th inning triple to tie the QF series at 1 game a piece

Remember the Quarterfinals. Lololol. I know you do. We lost Game 1 of that best of 5 series. That meant Game 2 was essentially a must win- coming back, down 2-0, against the defending world champions, is simply not happening. It was a tight, 2-2 game, with the pitching staffs of both countries pulling double duty and dominating for a long time. But somebody had to do something to win this game, right? And that's when Oladipo took his risk. Anathi Zimema hit a leadoff single, and we got a pinch runner. Thank heavens, because this runner was ready for Melusi Calata. Caluta smashed one down the line, and next thing you know, it's the game-winning RBI triple. And then, Yoro Coulibaly coming in and closing the door on QoD. That game tied the series, and gave us a fighting chance to win this thing- which, of course, we'd proceed to do over the next few games.

#1 Semifinals Game 3: Ebrahima Sillah launches go-ahead pinch hit home run in 12th inning; throws out potential game-tying run in the bottom half on a relay

Let's take you through Game 3, shall we? Series tied at one game a piece. Both teams trying everything to take a series lead and make it a decisive one. Xolile Gola on the mound for team Banija. Both team's starters go 7 innings, and we are none the wiser about who is going to take the series lead. In what has functionally been turned into a best of 3, winning this game is crucial. It's the difference between facing all the pressure in Game 4, or going into Game 4 with a chance to place yourselves into the championship series. With the high stakes, both managers had their intensity up. Oyella Lagum pitched the 8th and the 9th for Banija. Ismaela Ndour pitched the 10th inning, while Naiser Ibeamaka stood up for an inning in the 11th.

But in the 12th? What's going on. Our 3rd baseman, Moses Oneko, is 0-4 with four strikeouts. Just not seeing the ball at all today. So, at his fifth at-bat, what does Oladipo do? Reaches for Ebrahima Sillah, their 27 year old platoon player. Why not? And Oladipo's faith was rewarded. Sillah hasn't played since Game 3 of the Kohnhead game, all the way in the Round of 16. So what does he do in his first at-bat in 2 weeks? Oh no big deal- just smashes the go-ahead home run that turns the series.

And then, on defense, he helped clinch this thing. Quebec got a runner on first base, and then Pinson lined one, the opposite way, down the left field line. This is with one out. SIllah ran out to shallow left, to be the cutoff man. Hani gunned him the baseball, and Sillah turned and gunned the ball to the catcher. "It was like it came off his shoulder like a rocket launcher, damn." Said Banta Jawara, another former player turned TV analyst. But it worked- the throw gunned down the runner, and kept the score 3-2. Coulibaly struck out the final hitter to end the game.

How close the margin of error is in this sport? It's why we love it so much. Subsitute hits the go-ahead in the top half, and then clinches it with fantastic defense in the bottom half. And he is a major reason why we will face either Kriegiersien or South Newlandia for a world title in a few nights.

[South Newlandia]

---

The Elephant Valley Mail held a popularity contest between the five South Newlandian starters, but shortly before announcing the results, the results were lost somehow as an intern overwrote the file with his draw in the Caro-Kann defense last week. How could this have happened. Anyhow – the team still remembers bits about the players, including their final placement in the contest, their position in the regular South Newlandian rotation, the domestic club they are most commonly associated with, their best game in this Classic, and their favourite animals (beside elephants). Can you help them piece together the results without looking at my roster or past results, and figure out which players’ favourite animal is Wally the Win Expectancy Worm?

Here's the clues the team can remember:
The third pitcher in the SNL lineup had their best start in game three against TJUN-ia.
The third-placing pitcher had long played for the Sun City Flames before being traded, but the Flames will always be the team they are most associated with.
The fourth-placing pitcher is mostly known for playing for the Sophie City Monarchs.
Ryan Hunter is listed first in the South Newlandian rotation.
The fourth pitcher in the lineup finished directly ahead of the second pitcher in the lineup in the popularity contest.
The pitcher who had their best start against Kriegiersien placed right next to the pitcher that likes Ranorian Wolfhounds in the contest.
The pitcher who had their best start against Sevendia is most associated with the Newport Dolphins.
The pitcher that likes Drawkians (not to be confused with Drawks) placed right next to the pitcher that pitched their best start in game three against TJUN-ia.
Jay Kramer placed next to the pitcher that is listed fifth on the Newlandian lineup.
Ben Gonzalo's favourite animal is the Dolphin.
Jacob Conroy had two seperate stints with Elephant Valley United, the team he is most associated with.
The pitcher that had his best start against Kriegiersien placed right next to the pitcher is usually associated with the Masmow Dragons.
Jay Kramer won the popularity contest.
The pitcher that had their best start in game one against TJUN-ia likes Drawks (not to be confused with Drawkians)
Maike Bookmer pitched her best start against the Barrier Islands.

[Zwangzug]

Among Us is also a fun SF game. Will anyone suffer impostor syndrome tonight?

Kriegiersien           1 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  7
South Newlandia        1 0 1 2 0 0 2 3 X  9

Third-place playoff:
Kriegiersien @ Quebec and Shingoryeo, Paddock Park, Arlington

WBC54 final:
South Newlandia @ Banija, Worm Hole, Spenson

Tomorrow's cutoff may be somewhat delayed.

[Kriegiersien]

The meat lover
Your magazine for good cuisine

WBC 54

Kriegiersien           1 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  7
South Newlandia        1 0 1 2 0 0 2 3 X  9

Game over man, game over.
Kriegiersien was close, leading, but in the last minutes choked on its aspiration. Now the kitchen is closed.

The dream to become Classics and Olympic champion at the same time, after coming back from a horrible group stage, with many big losses, with every play-off match more thrilling and delicious than the one before, is gone.




The team had a bucket of chocolate ice cream to drown their disappointment, before they go on to fight the brain freeze. And then Quebec. And Shingoryeo.

[Banija]

@AllBanijaSportsMagazine Who's ready for Game 1 of the WBC 54 Championship Series! It is a rematch of the WBC 51 Championship series, won by team Banija in 6 games. This is South Newlandia's third appearance in the last four classics at this stage. As many commentators would say- they are due. (1/2)

@AllBanijaSportsMagazine But being due doesn't mean anything! They've gotta go and win it. Hype levels are through the roof- Banija, a two-time champion, facing off against the world number ones. The opening pitching matchups? Ramata Kabba against Jay Kramer in Game 1, with Faraba Conateh against Jacob Conroy in Game 2 (2/2).

@BanijaBaseball Who's ready for a trip to the Championship Series! Show your best Banijan baseball swag below as we cheer on our boys in our noble quest for a third world title! #BeatTheElephants

@CoulibalyCorner What do elephants and college football have to do with the World Baseball Classic? It turns out- they have everything to do with this World Baseball Classic! Read more at our own site!

[South Newlandia]

Was this really going to be the end? After yet another Classic of great play, the Elephants were facing elimination. After two blowout wins and two close losses against Kriegiersien, they were massively trailing for the first time in the series. Starter Ben Gonzalo had been long chased from the game after surrendering five runs in the first two innings; more runs than Kriegiersien had scored across the previous four games combined. South Newlandia had fought back a bit, with a 2-run home run for Fabio Ventura in the 4th cutting the Kriegiersien lead to three, but entering the seventh inning, the Elephants were still down 4-7. After the pitching staff had been great all tournament, it was a second Gonzalo collapse – this time in a much bigger spot – that had allowed Kriegiersien to put real runs on the board for the first time, and the bats, which had struggled in both odd-numbered games previously, hadn’t been able to keep pace. They hadn’t been able to even get a single hit in the previous two innings. Kriegiersien was about to march into the WBC final, despite a record of 16-14 across the tournament, including a negative run differential. The 20-6 Elephants would have to settle for a third-place series against Quebec and Shingoryeo. The chance of this was already beyond 90%, according to Win Expectancy. The players took the field again to field the 7th inning – Sally Rivera was trying to prevent further damage for South Newlandia – when they could feel like Worm Hole rumbling. The earth started to shake – this could only mean one thing. Like against the hosts, in the same stadium, just last series, an angelic figure appeared, as Wally crawled out of his hole. It was time to wiggle.
Sally Rivera was dealing, first generating a swinging strikeout with her slider (+1.12%), then a softly hit grounder with another slider (+0.38%), and then left the final batter staring down a perfect cutter at the edge of the zone (+0.58%). It wasn’t much yet, but preventing further damage was crucial as the Elephants geared up for a comeback in the late innings. David Drum led off the first inning drawing a full-count walk (+5.80%), before Malika Bains flew out to deep center for the first out of the inning. (-5.91%). Fabio Ventura battled a 2-2 count with three consecutive foul balls, before an errand breaking pitch hit him on the shin (+6.06%). Third Baseman Hugo Brock fouled off the first two fastballs, but made solid contact on the third one; lining it right off of the third baseman’s glove, scoring Drum and advancing Bains to third with just one out, (+13.49%) the biggest WPA swing on the day so far. Catcher Moore managed to hit a grounder to first base, but the fielder had to make a diving stop, allowing them no more than the force-out on Brock at second, while Bains came in to score. (-1.92%). It may have been an out with a negative Win Expectancy Swing, but the Elephants had narrowed to deficit to one. Mike Larsen popped out on the first pitch (-5.05%), sending the game to the 8th inning.
Abby Conrad came in for Rivera, who had struck out four in three clutch innings of relief. She continued making the opponents struggle, blowing a four-seamer past the second baseman for out number one (+2.47%), before walking a man on full count (-2.87%). However, she sent him back to the dugout immediately, forcing a 6-4-3 double-play on a beautiful slider (+5.40%). The Elephants entered the bottom of the eighth with a win expectancy of under 30%, but Kriegiersien still needed six out to seal the deal. Daryl Dunlop quickly decided that that would not be happening. He got ahead in the count, laying off a couple of outside fastballs, before hammering a breaking pitch out of right field to tie the game with one beautiful swing of the bat. (+34.14%) The game was flipped on its head instantly. With the game tied, and the Elephants still having an entire inning to work with, Dunlop had made them the favourites to win this game and a spot to battle Banija again.
However, the game was still tied. The Elephants needed more runs, and fast; Shawn Zimmerman started working on it instantly by drawing a 5-pitch walk (+6.81%), before taking off and stealing second. (+5.64%). Next up was Adam King, who had hit what would have been a custom-made 4-6-3 double-play – had Zimmerman still stood at first. Instead, the center fielder remained safely at second, but King was still out. (-6.28%). Up next, David Drum poked a base hit into right field. Zimmerman flew around the bases, and scored – thanks to a poor throw toward home, Drum also ended up at second base. (+20.43%). The Elephants were now 90% certain to win this game by ein expectancy, but it wasn’t over yet. Malika Bains struck out (-1.80%), but Ventura added an insurance run with a nice ground-rule double (+6.79%) before Hugo Brock flew out to end the inning. (-0.82%).
The Elephants brought in a pair of defensive substitutes, with Jack Goodson and Emil Hurley replacing Drum and Ventura, before Barnaby Butt took the mound. He’d been closing games for the Elephants with astounding efficiency, yet to blow a single save, while picking up eight so far in these playoffs. After being needed in each of the first six games of these playoffs, he had been allowed to watch a few more comfortable Elephants wins. He’d not been needed yet against Kriegiersien. This was his chance to put the Elephants through for good.
Against the first hitter, Butt fell behind in the count, 3-1, before walking the leadoff batter. Never a good start. (-6.54%). His 2-seamer generated a strikeout on the next man up (+5.52%), before he was caught in another hitters’ count, this time resulting in a base hit. Two on, one out, tying run aboard. (-7.78%). Against the pinch hitter up next, Wally was about to put in the final flourish to his wiggles, as Butt generated weak contact, and Godson was able to make a beautiful grab, flipping the ball to Malika Bains, who threw out the hitter by a step. 6-4-3, ball-game. Elephants win.

---

[Zwangzug]

Thank you for your patience, let's get this show on the road!!

Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Quebec and Shingoryeo   0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 X  4

South Newlandia         0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1  3
Banija                  0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1

[Kriegiersien]

The meat lover
Your magazine for good cuisine

WBC 54

Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Quebec and Shingoryeo   0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 X  4

After the late loss in the deciding match for the final against South Newlandia, the exhausted and disappointed Kriegiersien team wasn't able to do any run in the first match against Quebec.

Tiger in Rice was dished up to give them back the power to defeat their foe.

[South Newlandia]

Disclaimers:
* this project would not be possible without the efforts from Super-Llamaland. The words on screen right now were made by me, but would not be possible without extensive background work from both of us. Please do grade accordingly.
* (3)yada

SNL Divisional Round Series (1) (Masmow Dragons @ Rüsselsheim Blue Sox)

Surely, most fans had expected the Dolphins to pull it off in the wildcard game, which would have teed up an SNL Central clash between the Blue Sox and Dolphins, one of the hottest new rivalries in South Newlandia. Many fans were hoping for an epic clash between two of the strongest baseball franchises not just in South Newlandia, but beyond – an SNLDS rematch between the reigning champs and the team that took their division crown from them. It would have been an instant classic – not only do both teams have extremely strong pitching staffs, but combine for 5 silver sluggers and 3 gold glove awards.

However, the surprising extra-inning elimination of the Dolphins around Hunter, Tallis, Chevalier and the other stars meant that the Blue Sox were instead going to have an SNLWC rematch with the Masmow Dragons, who they had beaten in the wildcard game the season before. While the two teams share less history with each other, it was still promising to be an exciting matchup, one that had been fun in the regular season. The Sox had taken five of the eight encounters, including three at home; but all games had been competitive, with no game decided by more than 5 runs. It had featured some notable moments, including the staff-wide two-hitter the Sox dealt in a 1-0 home win, or the Gabriel Acosta walk-off grand slam to break a 3-3 tie in extra innings.

The Blue Sox were the undoubted favourites – the Dragons had just had to use Jay Kramer and a large part of their bullpen to even get them into this series, which meant that they’d have to hand the ball to Solderan David Maxwell in game one, while the Blue Sox had their entire staff well rested and Quodite WBC champion Juzo Sakaguchi on the bump. The Sox also had the better hitters – comparing by position, the Dragons were only really ahead with Gabriel Acosta at first, while the Sox were better at second with Raitis Ranta over Len Pijpenbroek, at shortstop with Quodite Jack Theriault over Molina Ishkaya, in Center Field with Lucca Hahn over Marcia McMahon, and at DH with Quodite Rémy Weber over mid-season trade acquisition Sophie Lawrence. The remaining positions (C: Valle/Aoyama, 3B: Burrows/Taboada, LF: Dunlop/Mathis, RF: Caamano/Rentería) were approximately evenly matched between the Dragons and Blue Sox.

Point being, the Sox were better at pitching, and hitting, they would have home advantage, and they were well rested. They proved this in game one, quickly jumping out to a 3-0 lead against Maxwell via 2-RBI single for Jason Mathis in the first and a Weber solo-shot in the third; but the Dragons eventually got to Sakaguchi, too. In the fourth, Molina Ishkaya got the Dragons on the board, and Laure Valle tied the game with a 2-run home run in the 5th inning, driving Sakaguchi from the game. However, the Blue Sox eventually retook the lead in a three-run 6th against the Dragons’ relief pitchers, with a bases-loading hit for Raitis Ranta, followed by an RBI-walk to Theriault and a two-run single for Lucca Hahn. The Sox held the line after that, with Hannasean closer Tom DiVicenzo shutting down the Dragons for good with a 1-2-3 ninth to take a one-nothing series lead.

Game two saw the Blue Sox send out Rudolph Vocar-Dijo. The man from Zwangzug was arguably an even better pitcher than Sakaguchi, but a WBC win comes with its perks. Against Julia Donaldson, the Dragons’ Newmanistan-based starter for game 2, he certainly proved to be capable in the clutch, shutting down the Dragons for eight innings, allowed just a pair of walks and a single base hit to Daryl Dunlop. Meanwhile, the Sox had struggled at the plate for long, with only a Tom Abbott RBI double in the second and nothing else on the board until the 7th. After that, Ranta and Rentería each launched multi-run homers in the 7th and 8th, for a total score of 6-0 into an easy Blue Sox win, shifting the series to the Dragon Island Arena, with Masmow on the brink of elimination.

Going into the series, it was entirely possible that this game could be the last LPB game ever played in Masmow. A stadium deal had still not been reached, with the park of not even 5,000 seats increasingly inadequate for an LPB franchise. Masmow itself was a small market, and trying to build a new, LPB-worthy stadium proved to be difficult in the largely preserved nature of the Dragon Island. Plan after plan fell through, both to build a new stadium in Masmow or to sell the team, with potential suitors in New Colk, Ratzupalfu and Kinjestad, but it was ultimately decided that the Dragons would remain in Masmow for at least the upcoming season.

This meant that game three of this series was basically just a regular old playoff game. Llamanean Nico Cagliari, first-round pick for Masmow 2 seasons ago, would take the ball against Hannasean international Noah Harris, in yet another obviously Sox-sided mismatch. The Sox drew first blood with an RBI base hit for Taboada in the second, but Laure Valle answered immediately by launching a two-run double in the bottom of that same inning. This 1-2 score remained into the ninth inning, with both pitchers allowing little across the board. In the top of the ninth, South Newlandian international closer Barnaby Butt had a chance to get a save to keep the Dragons alive in the series. He started out well, getting both pinch-hitter Bob Flowers and second baseman Ranta to ground out; but Jack Theirault’s ground ball to Pijpenbroek found its way under the glove of the second baseman to keep the Sox alive. Lucca Hahn drew a full-count walk, setting the stage for Rémy Weber, who sent a 2-seamer down the center-left gap to score two un-earned runs thanks to the go-ahead run, Hahn, wheeling around the bases and just beating out the throw by Ishkaya. Save blown. The Dragons were down 2-3, setting the stage for DiVicenzo showing Butt how it’s done by completing a 1-2-3 inning, finished off with an Acosta groundout to Ranta. The Sox had earned a sweep, and were moving on to the SNLCS with home advantage.

Masmow Dragons              0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0  3
Rüsselsheim Blue Sox        2 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 X  6

Masmow Dragons              0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Rüsselsheim Blue Sox        0 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 X  6

Rüsselsheim Blue Sox        0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  3
Masmow Dragons              0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2

[Zwangzug]

Game two is at hand!

Kriegiersien            0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0  2
Quebec and Shingoryeo   1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2  4

Quebec and Shingoryeo leads, 2-0

South Newlandia         0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0  6
Banija                  1 0 2 1 0 3 0 0 X  7

Series tied, 1-1

[Banija]

Manager Isaac Oladipo, the morning of Game 2, sitting with his coaching staff

The Banijans were sitting there, down 1-0 in the series to the Elephants. The loss was a hard one, but of course, these things did happen. Elephants won 3-1 in a pitching duel, with Ramata Kabba allowing 2 earned runs over 7 and 2/3s innings not being enough to push team Banija over the top. But it was set to be a long, seven game series- there was a lot to learn from the game before. Their starter was able to go deep as well in Game 1, after their bullpen had been entirely exhausted. Banija's goal of getting to a tired pen, and making them log serious innings, failed in Game 1.

"Well- there's a reason they're in the championship series for the third time in the last four classics." Said the hitting coach, Fanding Soley. "Jay Kramer was absolutely dealing all night long."

"We're gonna have to do a better job of getting to him." Said the first base coach, Idirissa Condé. "And if it's gonna be one of those series, where everything is so tight, where the margins are so slim- we're gonna have to be aggressive on the basepaths."

"Yes, we're gonna have to run more, and run harder." Oladipo told his coaching staff. "We managed, what- 5 baserunners the entire 9 innings in Game 1? IF we get that few in Game 2, we'll have even bigger problems. But we're not gonna have a ton of baserunners this game, maybe across the series." He looked around the room. He looked at his first and third base coaches, specifically. "Idirssa, Suntukung? That's on you guys. You guys are gonna have to direct it. Be aggressive. Take those 50/50s. Put pressure on their defense. We are going to manufacture all sorts of runs."

Satisfied, they moved onto the next topic. Nobody wanted to go down 2-0.

---

Banijan Bullpen goes up 7-0, nearly blows it, but holds on to tie the series at one game a piece


Banijan player celebrates a 3 run jack in the 6th inning that gave the team a 7-0 Lead

SPENSEN, ZWANGZUG- "We're playing for a [redacted] world title." Said Isaac Oladipo, the team's manager, after the team's tight 3-1 loss to South Newlandia in Game 1. "They're the best of the best. The class of the sport. The dictionary definition of elite. It's going to take excellence at every level if we want to beat a team that is as good as South Newlandia." He is right. It was a particularly frustrating game 1 for Banija. While Ramata Kabba allowed 2 earned, across 8 hits and 7.2 innings, it was Jay Kramer and the South Newlandian bullpen that would really turn up the heat. They combined to allow 4 hits and a lone walk throughout the game, as Banija's offense was tamed, as the only time we got a runner past first base was Luxolo Mbeki's 7th inning solo home run.

That set the stage for Game 2. Could South Newlandia take what would be a potentially commanding 2-0 series lead? Or could Banija flip the script on South Newlandia's inevitable inauguration and tie the series at 1?

Game 2

The pitching matchup would be Faraba Conateh against Jacob Conroy. And early advantage? Would be to Banija. Jacob Conroy struggled to find his command early, and, combined with some extra aggression on the basepaths for Banija, it showed. When Mesuli Calata led off the bottom of the 1st with a single, Oladipo was immediately sending him off to the races. It must have surprised even Conroy- there was no pitch out, and he didn't even bring heat, throwing a breaking ball. A brilliant placed breaking ball, one that froze the hitter. But Calata had gotten such a good jump, he stole second base with ease. Moses Oneko slapped a single the other way. While Malik Solely struck out, a Luxolo Mbeki single to right field scored Calata from second base, as he was always getting home. Conroy had pitched himself into a jam- first and second, just one out? But he got Hani to ground to third. Hugo Brock, on a ball that looked as if it was hit sharply on the ground just past third base, made a brilliant diving play at the bag to make sure it didn't get into left field. He got up quickly, tapped third base, and gunned down Hani at first for a brilliant 5-3 double play.

So despite 3 first half hits, Conroy got out of the inning with just one run allowed. Jacob Conroy's Houdini act would be the theme of the day. IN the second inning, Ugonna Akachi belted a leadoff double to start the inning- but then Conroy stranded him by striking out the side. In the 3rd inning, we began to put more pressure on him. Calata led off the 3rd, just like he led off the first- leadoff base hit. While Moses Oneko popped up for the first out, Malik Solely was ready at the plate, to make a big impact. The switch hitter ripped one down the right field line, and everybody was off for the races. Calata is one of the fastest people in this sport, even at 30. They tried to relay a throw home, but couldn't in time. The double got the runner from first base, so we led 2-0, with just 1 out. Another double right after, from Mbexi, made the score 3-0. Were we ready to pile it on and get to the pen? Not quite.

The South Newlandian defense, down 3-0, knew that this couldn't get out of hand. And so when Nyaniso Hani hit a single up the middle, and Mbexi, our big DH, was waved home, there was always going to be a play at the plate. But don't run on Shawn Zimmerman, right? He's got the speed to field the ball quickly, and gun you down. ANd that's exactly what he did- a throw on an tightrope to gun down Mbexi at home plate. "I mean, it happens." Oladipo told reporters afterwards. "I wanted him to run, and therefore, he ran. We thought we had a play at the plate there, and wanted to put pressure on their defense- but ZImmerman rose to the moment. That's championship baseball for you." Conroy got Ugonna Akachi to ground out to second base to end the inning.

Bottom of the order up for Banija in the 4th, right? But with Conroy missing his spots, over the plate, that put the team in position to continue to take advantage. But it wasn't a whole series of things this time. Who would you least expect to hit a 445 foot moonshot in the 4th? That's right- the catcher, Anathi Zimema. After that blast to straightaway center field, Jacob Conroy started to calm down. They were gonna stick with him, give their bullpen more time to rest up after their semifinal series. But that gets this game to the bottom of the sixth. Conroy had his first 1-2-3 inning in the fifth. You think he's got momentum, right? Facing the 5-6-7 hitters for Banija? Well, Hani singled, and then Ugonna Akachi doubled. Cedron Aloo up at the dish, men on 2nd and third, nobody out. Aloo smashes one down the left field line, hits it into the 7th row. Gone. It's 7-0, the bottom of the order is getting in on the fun as much as the top of the order, and everything is going right.

Conroy ended up allowing 7 earned runs over 7 full innings. What was happening while we were on the mound? Well, Faraba Conateh was dominant. He didn't allow a baserunner until 2 outs in the 3rd, when Brad Moore hit a 2 out double. First and second times through the order? Conateh was absolutely sizzling. But you know what they say. It's that third time through the order, right? It's all about those analytics. But you know how Oladipo feels about those- just ask the LBA. Unfortunately, the 7th inning showed the problems. We were up 7-0 entering the top of the 7th. But the Elephants starting figuring him out. Making quality contact. How did Conateh start the 7th? Zimmerman and Adam King hit back-to-back doubles, and then he issued an unintentional 4 pitch walk to David Drum.

Suddenly, his command had escaped him. But Oladipo kept him in the game. And it was a mistake. He did get Malika Bains to an 0-2 count. But then she swung, and got all of it. Lining one straight into the gap in left center. Scoring both runners, including Adam King from first base. Suddenly, the game was 7-3, still no outs, and South Newlandia had all the momentum. Oladipo had no choice- he had left Conateh in too long. He needed the hook. Throw on the middle reliever, Ismaela Ndour. She struck out Fabio Ventura, and then Hugo Brock hit a single to center field. Runners on the corners, one out. Banija at double play depth. Brad Moore hits a deep fly ball all the way to the warning track. Caught by Joanna Adoyo at the track, but Burns scores from third, and Brock stays put at first.

Suddenly, it's 7-4. And then Ndour starts struggling. She allows a ground-rule double. The pressure building. Daryl Dunlop is unintentionally walked. A 7-4 game, bases loaded, they've batted around and Zimmerman is back at the plate? With 2 outs? Oladipo wasn't messing around. Ndour got the hook, and he brought on the setup man, Oyella Lagum. After a ridiculous 14 pitch at-bat, Lagum got Zimmerman to pop up to second to leave em loaded and end the inning. 7-4. Then in the 8th, Oladipo, instead of leaving Lagum in, went straight to Coulibaly, for what would be an unorthodox six out save. "I trust our closer. He's had his ups and downs- but he's still our closer." And that... Was a mistake. Coulibaly has had an up and down classic, and this was one of those down moments. After striking out both King and Drum, he allowed back-to-back-to-back 2 out doubles. Two scored, and suddenly, it was 7-6. Our own closer had to get pulled. Oladipo's gut had failed him. Lwazi Fassie came into the game and got the final out of the 8th, getting Brad Moore to strike out looking.

And then, the 9th. WIth our setup man and closer both having pitched, who would close out the game? Oladipo would have to do exactly what he hated doing- relying on the middle of the pen. And he went by specialist. He learned something at the LBA, right? Fassie got the left handed Mike Larsen to strike out to leadoff the 9th. Then, who'd we ask to get the final 2 outs? 20 year old blue chip reliever, Naiser Ibeamaka. A highly risky move- she's got talent, but of course, her youth. "Can young players handle the pressure of getting the last outs in a Championship Series game? I think so." Oladipo told reporters. "It wasn't without risk- but of course, we'd already used our back end guys. Ibeamaka was fresh, and was ready for the moment."

And the 20 year old was. Naiser Ibeamaka came into the game, and did not flinch in the face of pressure. Daryl Dunlop struck out, and Shawn Zimmerman lined out to Malik Solely at first to end the game. Series tied at 1. "Not how we're drew it up." Oladipo said in his press conference, laughing. "But there aren't going to be any blowouts in a Championship Series. It's too tight. There's too much talent on both teams. All respect to South Newlandia. They're up 1-0, they could've packed it in and just tried to get out of here. But they fought hard, showing how passionate they are about this game. I can't wait for game 3."

In game 3, Xolile Gola will take the mound for Banija, while Ben Gonzalo will take the mound for South Newlandia. Gonzalo, of course, has pitched in both the 51 and 53 Championship Series, while Gola will be making her Championship Series debut. In press conferences, she said she was ready for the moment. "These are the moments you dream of, as a little girl." She told reporters. "Getting to pitch for a world title? Against the world's number one team? I've never been more excited in my life. I look forward to getting on the mound and having a hell of a matchup against Gonzalo."

[South Newlandia]

Sometimes, despite starting an amazing wiggle, Wally gets tired half-way though and goes home

---

The Lions and the Elephants are currently in the middle of a seven-game series at the Worm Hole to decide the 54th World Baseball Classic Champion. We could look back to the 2 games that split the series at 1-1 so far, but instead, we’ll look forward – who’s likely to turn out the WBC Champion? Time for a position-by-position breakdown on who’s ahead.

Catcher:
Brad Moore (Elephants) - Anathi Zimema (Lions)
At catcher, we have to right-handed players in their late twenties. Both come with distinct strengths, with Zimena demonstrating his power in game two, but Brad Moore might be better behind the plate. The Newport Dolphin has been great in tandem with fellow Dolphins Hunter and Gonzalo, who are both yet to start their game(s) in this Final Series. The LPB Gold Glover also a great defensively, but even in the league, he’s just about a league average hitter, and has been mediocre at the plate in this Classic. Zimena has an edge offensively, but that’s not why Moore is here, mostly – his elite defense makes this matchup at tie.

First Base:
Adam King (Elephants) - Malik Soley (Lions)
A matchup of two absolute stars. Adam King might be the best hitter on the Elephants, as he demonstrated with 39 home runs in the last LPB season, and he’s a great hitter throughout; but Soley is a legitimate superstar too. It’s hard to separate them – King might be the slightly better defender, but Soley’s switch-hitting is inherently valuable, too, keeping pitchers and bullpens on their toes. Two sluggers that also hit for average in their early thirties, this one is a tie as well.

Second Base:
Malika Bains (Elephants) - Cedron Aloo (Lions)
Bains is coming off of a decent season with the Monarchs, a fast player that can hit for good average. Aloo is decent too, former student of Hangaza Tech, but Bains is matching up at the plate and a better weapon defensively. Point for the Elephants.

Third Base:
Hugo Brock (Elephants) - Moses Oneko (Lions)
There’s a reason Brock is hitting eighth while Oneko hits second. The offensive capabilities do not compare, and Brock is not a good enough defender to keep up. Brock’s generally the weak link of these Elephants, and Oneko is taking the point in this battle of third basemen in their mid-twenties. 1-1.

Shortstop:
David Drum (Elephants) - Mesuli Calata (Lions)
We’re back to star-studded matchups. We’ve got the luxury of comparing these two’s stats easily, as both of them play in the South Newlandian league; and while Drum was solid for the Dolphins, Calata was better for the Flames; topping his OPS by about .050, along being faster and a much better base-stealer. Drum might have a slight edge defending, but this is another point to AO. 2-1 Lions.

Left Field:
Daryl Dunlop (Elephants) - Nyaniso Hani (Lions)
Yet another close matchup. Dunlop is a great hitter that basically lives on base, while Hani is a better defender in Left. They’re both really good, not much else to add there – this is another tied matchup.

Center Field:
Shawn Zimmerman (Elephants) - Joanna Adoyo (Lions)
Shawn Zimmerman is a legit competitor to be the best player in the multiverse. He’s an experienced five-tool player. Adoyo is talented, but simply not there yet. 2-2, moving on.

Right Field:
Fabio Ventura (Elephants) - Ugonna Akachi (Lions)
The ultimate battle of youth and experience. Ventura, at age 33, has seen a lot, but has already seen his peak pass, while the 19-year-old Cougar power hitter has his whole life ahead of him. Both stand out as power hitters that aren’t amazing in the field. Ventura, though, has the ultimate clutch gene, so the point is going to the Elephants by the slimmest of margins.

Designated Hitter:
Mike Larsen (Elephants) - Luxolo Mbeki (Lions)
Yay, another matchup of two LPB players! Mbeki, who went to the Athletics last season, is the better player here, but I want to take about the Lions’ defensive setup briefly – if I were Oladipo, I’d put Mbeki in at first, move Soley into Right Field, and either use Akachi as DH or find another good hitter there. Though maybe that’s just me. Where was I? Ah, yes, 3-3.

Bench depth:
The Lions have some solid talent out there, but the Elephants still have Perez, Hurley, Goodson and Grey just sitting in the cold out there. That’s four pretty good players for all types of situations. This is another Elephants’ point, 4-3.

Bullpen:
This is a tough choice, but I’m going with the Elephants here. Barnaby Butt has been a force to be reckoned with, appearing 12 times for 12 saves, and the rest of the bullpen has been extremely good, too. In fact, I couldn’t name a single loss that I could blame on the pen. The Banijan bullpen is good as well, but having both their closer and setup man take hits to their confidence in game two is never what you want to see. 5-3 Elephants.

Starting Pitching:
Ryan Hunter (Elephants) - Xolile Gola (Lions) Games 3&7
We’ll see this matchup of southpaws twice, if everything goes as expected. For the Elephants, Hunter is the only lefty starter, while Gola is joined by Kabba – how much of an advantage that proves to be against the Elephants, who employ three lefty bats (the Lions have just two) remains to be seen. Hunter is great, especially throwing to his favourite catcher, Moore, but Gola’s four-pitch mix and great jersey number hold this matchup to a tie.

Ben Gonzalo (Elephants) - Ava Odoyo (Lions) Game 4
Just like Gola, Odoyo has yet to lose a playoff start this Classic, clinching three series (she won’t clinch this one, though); while Gonzalo struggled in game 2 against TJUN-ia, where he was pulled in the first, and against Kriegiersien in game five, where the Elephants needed a massive comeback after he dug a hole. Gola’s fireball and better pitch mix take this point for Banija.

Jay Kramer (Elephants) - Ramata Kabba (Lions) Game 5
Kramer won this matchup in game 1, and he’s always been a sneakily good pitcher with a wicked slider. Meanwhile, Kabba is extremely experienced in her craft, and used to play for the Blue Thunder. I’m calling this even, still a slim 5-4 advantage Elephants.

Jacob Conroy (Elephants) - Faraba Conateh (Lions) Game 6
Conroy is really not aging gracefully, while Conateh thoroughly dominated game 2. If the Lions can figure out to pull the Flame at the right time, he’s an easy lock to take this matchup, but Conroy’s wealth of experience and leadership are not to be forgotten. Still, point Lions. 5-5.


Conclusion:
Yeah, we still have no idea

[Zwangzug]

And on that note...cutoff!

Quebec and Shingoryeo   0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0  6
Kriegiersien            0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 8 10

Quebec and Shingoryeo leads, 2-1

Banija                  0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0  7
South Newlandia         1 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 1  8

South Newlandia leads, 2-1