World Baseball Classic 43- Everything (Finals G6 Posted)

[Beepee]

World Baseball Classic

MATCH DAY 4-6

Match 4

 Away to Gloriax

After a fabulous start to the tournament, the wheels fell of the bus (literally) on the road to gloriax.

The start of the match was delayed by over an hour as the Beepeean squad had you await a repair truck.  

The delay played havoc with the pre- match rituals of Homer Unn, and his squad looked out of sorts against a well drilled Gloriax side.

 After the match Unn stated  "That match was like a night out... The boys looked like they were drunk out there... they certainly weren't scoring."      

Onwards to game day 5

Match 5

Home against Super-Llamaland

The match against Super-Llamaland had as the hallmarks of a classic... in the end Beepee folded like a pack of cards. Giving up errors left-, right-, and centre field.

Super-Llamaland showed their class and although Beepee put up a reasonable fight in the end couldn't do much more than stand in awe at the world number 1.

After the match, Unn said "there are two good teams in this group and we aren't one of them".

Match day 6

Bye

Match day 6 saw Beepee have a day of rest.

Homer Unn failed to learn from the previous bye day by taking his squad to a petting zoo.

The local press snapped a photo of Mr Unn fighting with a squirrel over a nut.

Unn stated "our team is like that squirrels house, full of nuts!"... before mumbling something about how hungry he was.


Onwards to game day 7

[USS Monitor]

Journal of George Geer, May 27:

Returned to Virginia today, and got our first win against Ko-oren! I scored one of the runs, too. This time there were no misunderstandings about the rules of the game. "Modern" baseball is new to us, but we are getting the hang of it.

It feels strange to come back here after the trip to Ireland and see everything as we left it. I might think that trip was all a dream if not for the fact that our Ko-orenite opponents carried devices that I have never seen in the 19th century. I wonder what the men on the other teams think of our improvised ball field.

May 29:

I had never heard of South Covello before this tournament, but it is a fascinating place -- different from Ireland Isles, but every bit as exotic and awe-inspiring. Once again, there is not enough time or a enough paper to write down everything that deserves to be said. We collected a few items to bring back to the United States for study. It may help the war effort if we can unravel the secrets of this foreign technology.

We lost the game 3 to 4, but I am not upset.

May 31:

Today, I discovered something called "shampoo." The Melbergians use it to wash their hair, and it gives the hair a wonderful texture and scent. I hope we can learn how to manufacture it in New York.

I would write more, but I am too tired. We won our game 4 to 2, and we stayed out very late celebrating the win.

[West Phoenicia]

Ratings for West Phoenicia Sports #1 have made a sharp climb this week after the World Baseball Classic has come around again. As usual ratings are expected to rise as the Confederates start their play for a finals win.

After a rest day on day 3, the highlight of the last 3 games was against The Greater Nordics an unranked team who West Phoenicia has had its eye on after some terrific game play against other teams in the pool.
The Confederates wanted to set the record straight from their first encounter that they were here to dominate and win.
The West Phoenicians did as promised and defeated The Greater Nordics 5-0.

Hitters of the day; Jacob Texas (1) Glen Melbourne (1) Lukas Towers (1) Carson Van Buren (1) and Jake Navy (1)


Meanwhile Minister of Sports and Recreation Hon Maximillan Dogg has applauded the creation of a Women's Professional Baseball League in West Phoenicia that will be looked after by the West Phoenician Baseball Federation who looks after the current West Phoenician National League.

The official Women's Professional Baseball League will start its first season with 6 teams pulled from the 50 city-states in West Phoenicia. The debut teams will consist of The Jackson Belles, Tallahassee Central Sirens, Titania Lassos, New Tudor Queens, Blackfoot Territory Cowgirls and the New Rome Goddesses. The first matches will commence in 1 month time.

Minister of Sports and Recreation: Hon Maximillan Dogg, hopes the creation of the womens league will be enough for the Feminist Party who has made calls for females to be included in the Confederate lineup. Something which most West Phoenicians oppose.

[Oscioru]

Just above Vicchelia, January 17th, 1992, 1406 LOCAL HOURS

And there they were, above the village that was now just a piece of history and reduced to rubbles. Rufino, the captain could not see anything and thought it was just a part of the coastline that was uninhabited, then Edgardo loudly pointed out the destroyed homes.
"CAPTAIN! I SEE RUBBLE! I SEE RUBBLE! WE ARE HERE! SHOULD WE GO DOWN?"

"It is dangerous to go down right now, I see no suitable place to land the helicopter an-"

"Freaking get down, we are supposed to help people, even if that means risking our own lives and if picking up dead bodies is what we shall do in this village, then so be it."
Tears were running down Edgardo's face, even though he had no relatives or any people he knew of in this area, these tears were his inner child, trying to find a way to help out. If losing his innocence while volunteering for the greater good was the cost, he was willing to take the risk. Rufino couldn't refuse such a request, as it'd hurt his honor, he managed to land the helicopter with great dexterity on a nearby cliff, just a bit outside the village. It was a dangerous task, but Rufino's experience in flying was enough for him to safely land the helicopter. The trio got out of the helicopter and they were awed by the spectacle of this once bustling fishing village, now destroyed.

"Gabriele, you should look after the helicopter while we are gone to the village. This is a great responsiblity you have lad. We will be having shifts in looking out the helicopter, so don't you worry about missing all the 'good' stuff, alright?" said an awkwardly smiling Rufino

"I can do it, try bringing as many alive people as possible."

"Yes we will, hopefully."

Soon after, Edgard and Rufino up a stretcher and a first aid case and moved on to the village to find any surviving citizens.

---

In the meanwhile, Adrien had just returned to the village in search for drinkable tap water to have as many resources near him as possible. He searched a lot in many of the destroyed houses but he had found nothing but rubble or contaminated water. Then as if a lightbulb had opened up in his head he thought 'There is a healthy mountain stream of water in a hill nearby, it's only around 10 minutes of walk from here so if I run towards the desired destination and fill up around 2 of the 3 buckets grandpa had inside his boat, that would be great. I should go there now.' And as if he had become a feather, he ran towards the boat at full speed, feeling as tireless as ever and picked up the buckets, then he went on to the hill.

There was this formerly foresty area slightly outside the village, but all trees were blown off by the windstorm and there were some pretty spiky spots on the trees but Adrien wasn't moving on carefully and he tripped on one of them, slightly injuring his left shoulder. A loud "GAH!" echoed through the silence, a lot of blood was running from Adrien's shoulder, but being the survivalist he is, he took off his shirt and wrapped it around the wound. It didn't matter that he felt slightly cold, the warm Osci spring weather would cover for it pretty soon. He kept his journey to the hill...

[Abanhfleft]

Tales From the Front, Part Two

Tamanskaya District
[RAKE CITY], [ESTORVIPA]
Currently under occupation by the [FEDERATION OF ESTORVIPA AND ESTORPIVA]

It was the culmination of a three-month manhunt for one of the most most valuable targets in the history of Pridnestrovia. It became very clear to the Pridnestrovians when the oligarchs of RAKE City argued for peace with the Democratic People's Republic and the Federation of ESTORVIPA AND ESTORPIVA without their leader and Autocrat Zhiv I, the former Vissarion Zhivkov, that while the oligarchs were more than ready to lay down their arms and face the fates that awaited them at the hands of the Pridnestrovians and the Federation, Zhivkov did not want to do the same. In fact, the oligarchs had negotiated peace and peaceful occupation of their territory with the Federation behind Zhivkov's back, and as a result Zhivkov had to flee his own capital with the assistance of the MILITIA, a paramilitary group created by the ESTORVIPAN COMMUNE up in the north to provide an extra security force inside the COMMUNE and to stir fear and cooperation to the COMMUNARD regime in the other ESTORVIPAN factions' territories.

The Federation Defense Forces had assembled Task Force Autocrat to track down and capture or kill Vissarion Zhivkov when and where found. The task force had been augmented by soldiers from Pridnestrovia's Airborne Troops (the VDV) and the Military Intelligence Directorate (the GRU) in their quest for Zhivkov. By following up on clues from captured ESTORVIPAN OLIGARCHY soldiers and some of the surrendered oligarchs themselves, as well as intel picked up during raids on MILITIA camps and bases in and around the territory of the former OLIGARCHY, Task Force Autocrat was slowly able to assemble a picture of where Zhivkov had been in the past three months, where he had been hiding out to evade capture, and it turned out that he, the MILITIA, and crack troops from the IMPERIUM had been hiding out in a secluded mountain base in the outskirts of RAKE City where the MILITIA were able to conduct their constant and incessant raids on RAKE City's occupiers. A combined Federation and Pridnestrovian assault force had driven through the mountains to reach the mountain camp and were able to eradicate both the camp and the majority of its occupants, but noticeably absent among the casualties was Vissarion Zhivkov.

The Pridnestrovians and the Federals took this as a sign that Zhivkov was still loose and in hiding somewhere else, so the search for him began anew. But it would have most probably taken Task Force Autocrat at least three months more to even have a general idea of Zhivkov's potential location had not a Pridnestrovian analyst for the Committee for State Security not come across a news item posted on the Greater Imperial News Network stating that Autocrat Zhiv I would feature on a live video interview from ESTORVIPA sometime soon. The KGB took note of the date and passed it on to Task Force Autocrat, and the KGB sent an electronic warfare team to ESTORVIPA to assist the task force in tracking down Zhivkov during his supposed interview. Finally, the day of Zhivkov's interview with GINN came, and as had been advertised, Zhivkov did indeed appear on the IMPERIALS' news network via a smartphone videoconferencing application, and as expected Zhivkov immediately entered into a tirade on how the Pridnestrovians had once again violated ESTORVIPAN sovereignty and how the Pridnestrovians had coerced both the Republic of ESTORPIVA and the ESTORVIPAN OLIGARCHY into an illegal occupation of the territories of both states, and then Zhivkov swore that as soon as he had assembled a large and capable enough force, he would personally expel the Pridnestrovians and the Federation from the ESTORVIPAN OLIGARCHY's territory and then personally spearhead a combined OLIGARCHY, COMMUNARD, and IMPERIAL invasion of the Pridnestrovian homeland himself. Through their laughter at Zhivkov's highly improbable and bombastic remarks, the KGB e-warfare team were able to intercept the signal from the IMPERIUM to Zhivkov's phone and subsequently triangulate the location of where Zhivkov was transmitting from. The e-warfare team were finally able to narrow down Zhivkov's possible location to a street of bungalow-style apartments in one of RAKE City's suburbs just about a few miles away from where his original mountain camp had been located. With his location now known, Task Force Autocrat had made the decision to go after Zhivkov now, while they still knew where he was and before he had a chance to relocate himself or be relocated elsewhere by whoever was helping him, be they the MILITIA or the IMPERIUM.

Major Gavrina Vasilyevna Kumilyova was the officer on duty for the VDV when the call came from the task force that they had found Zhivkov and that they wanted to take him down now once and for all. Kumilyova wasn't the highest-ranking VDV officer with the task force herself, but as she was the one who was available (the others were off on their own missions to liberate scattered villages and "areas of vital military interest" from either Zhivkov's loyalists or the MILITIA, she had been offered command of this operation to take care of Zhivkov once and for all by the task force. Not that she minded, but Kumilyova knew that the men and women about to be placed under her command were, for lack of a better term, ground infantry. They hadn't had the specialized training that both VDV and GRU troopers have with regards to entering homes and buildings police-style, and Kumilyova was also concerned that if Zhivkov had MILITIA or loyalist soldiers with him then the raid could turn into an absolute bloodbath. But this was what she had at her disposal, and she would have to do her best with all of these.

"Do we have a visual on Zhivkov's house?" Kumilyova asked the KGB e-warfare team as she stepped into their unmarked van.

"In a minute, Comrade Major," one of the e-warfare techs replied. He was holding what appeared to be a videogame controller in his hands, and he manipulated the two joysticks on the controller and pressed buttons just like he was playing a video game. The television in front of him showed an aerial view of the street where they had managed to narrow down Zhivkov's possible location, and now they were using the drone to zoom in on which house Zhivkov actually was in.

"You're right above the target, Rostislav," another member of the e-warfare team called out.

"All right, let me just hover the drone right... here," Rostislav, the tech manning the drone, said as he made the necessary inputs to ensure that the drone was stationed directly above the house where they believed Vissarion Zhivkov was hiding.

"Switch to thermal imaging," Kumilyova ordered.

"Yes, Comrade Major," Rostislav replied. The drone that the task force was using to track down Zhivkov was actually a commercially available model that could be bought at any department store for upwards of 700 rubles, and it had proved to be a cost-efficient investment for a Pridnestrovian Armed Forces that sought to keep up and upgrade in terms of technology without spending too much. The only modifications that the Armed Forces had made to these drones was replacing the factory-standard visible-light camera with one that could switch between visible light and infrared that was proprietary to the Pridnestrovian Armed Forces.

The e-warfare tech switched camera modes, and the image on the television was replaced by a seemingly black-and-white screen with three human-shaped splotches scattered inside the target house. "Is that all of them?" Kumilyova asked the tech.

"I believe so, Comrade Major, yes," the tech replied.

"Is there any way that you can make sure that there's only three of them inside the house?" Kumilyova pressed.

"You're looking at it, Major," the tech said. "Trust me, Comrade Major, if the camera shows only three people inside the house then there are only three people inside the house. One of them might be Zhivkov, or it might not be. But what we do know is that there are three people inside the house. That is what our cameras are telling us, and our cameras are the best that our country is capable of producing."

Not that Kumilyova didn't trust the technology itself. It was the low number of guards around Zhivkov that worried her. If it was even Zhivkov. Maybe the IMPERIALS had figured out a way to spoof the transmissions being picked up by the e-warfare team and redirect it to where they wanted the task force to be and not where Zhivkov really was. Well, there was only one way to find out, really.

"All right, Slava, keep me updated on what's happening inside the house," Kumilyova said, patting the tech's shoulder before hopping out of the van to meet with the rest of the VDV and GRU troopers who were going to lead the assault on Zhivkov's house. There were only four of them there, Kumilyova included, but they all knew each other well. They had all participated in a mission to capture and occupy a vital ESTORVIPAN fortification as preparation for the Pridnestrovian invasion before they were finally able to move their operations to TREASON, the capital of the former Republic of ESTORPIVA and now the temporary capital of Federation of ESTORVIPA AND ESTORPIVA. That was the first time that their respective VDV and GRU units had worked together, and both of them had come out of that operation with a profound understanding and respect of the other for their skills and professionalism.

"So?" Sergeant Arya Vladimirovna Nukova, Kumilyova's VDV comrade, asked. "What did they say about the situation?"

"The e-warfare team put a drone over Zhivkov's house," Kumilyova replied. "As of the moment, there are only three people inside the house, and one of them could be Zhivkov."

"Only two guys with Zhivkov?" Senior Lieutenant Dmitriya Sergeyevna Shevtsova, the highest ranking GRU officer available for the operation, said in response to Kumilyova's latest information. "That seems to be a bit low."

"Yes, and that's why I have my suspicions about this whole thing," Kumilyova said. "It all looks like it could be a trap."

"On the other hand, though," Junior Lieutenant Olga Titovna Grisenko piped up, "if it is Zhivkov in there and he only has two bodyguards with him then this is actually the best time for us to strike." When the other Pridnestrovian officers turned to look at her, she said, "Hey, someone has to be optimistic between the four of us."

"You're right," Kumilyova said reluctantly as she pondered her decision. "Well, there's only one way to find out, da? Where's the translator? Translator!" she called out.

An ethnic PIVAN soldier wearing the woodland digital pattern camouflage combat uniform of the Federation Defense Forces ran over to where the Pridnestrovian officers were and saluted. "What is it, Comrade Major?" he asked in fluent Russian.

"Tell the troops that we're moving in," Kumilyova told him. "Zhivkov is lightly defended; he only has two bodyguards with him, but I still want maximum silence and stealth from the troops. We need Zhivkov to remain unaware that we have found him for as long as we can, because as soon as he sees us, he will run. This is our best shot at capturing Zhivkov. We cannot afford to slip this up. Remember, maximum stealth. And get some soldiers to watch the back door in case Zhivkov does try to run away. Tell the troops that, okay?"

"Yes, Comrade Major, as you wish, Comrade Major," the Defense Forces translator nodded. He saluted the Pridnestrovians once again, and then he ran back to where the task force troops were assembled and began repeating Kumilyova's orders in VIPAN and PIVAN. At the same time, Kumilyova began discussing their own part of the operation with the rest of the officers. "Arya and I will take the near side on the approach to the house," she said. "Dmitriya, Olga, you two go to the far side. We'll both link up on the house beside Zhivkov's before we make the final approach. Weapons check," she said, and the four of them took out their Makarov pistols and checked that both the chamber and the magazines were fully loaded. "All right, let's go!" Kumilyova shouted, and Task Force Autocrat began moving in on their ultimate target.

[Hampton Island]

Hampton Island Sports Brief

Golden Bears Off To Good Start

Game 1: Newmanistan 9, Hampton Island 5

The game got off to an exciting start when Chris Tyson hit Hannah Bates in the knee on the first pitch of the game. Most fans were just beginning to turn off their smartphones when the incident happened. Bates was fortunate that it was not a direct hit to the knee, and she recovered fine. That was evident when she legged out an inside the park home run in the second inning. Newmanistan scored six in that frame, and that did in the Golden Bears. Tyson was ejected in the second inning after hitting Lexi Alcorn in the leg following the Bates home run. The Golden Bears, down 9-1, chipped away somewhat at the deficit, but it was not meant to be. Tyson told reporters that, “My control was off today, sorry for hitting people.” Hannah Bates, in a quote provided to Newmanistan’s The Rocket Report, seemed to warn Tyson and the Golden Bears that the response to hit batters may be more physical next time.

Game 2: Hampton Island 9, Stetzra 8

After their bye day, the Golden Bears went to the nation of Stetzra and picked up a victory from the jaws of defeat. Once again, the team was awful in the second inning, allowing Stetzra three runs in that inning. After seven, Stetzra held a 4-2 lead when the Golden Bears suddenly exploded in the eighth for seven runs. Both Larry Huckston and Bryce Mueller hit two run homers in the innings, as the team sent ten batters to the plate overall, turning the deficit to a 9-4 lead. However, they nearly choked, as Stetzra scored four in the bottom of the ninth and left the bases loaded when Nicolas Muhlfeld flew out to the warning track.

Game 3: Hampton Island 6, Crystalline Caverns 5 (11 innings)

Once again, the Golden Bears seemed destined for a defeat. The visitors from Crystalline Caverns played a solid road game, and stymied our bats. They took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth, when their closer came in to shut us down. He would record the first two outs in very routine fashion. He then appeared to strike out Adam Voorman as well, but the catcher dropped the third strike, and Voorman took off for first, and beat the throw. One of the reasons he beat the throw is because it was errant, allowing him to get to second. Patrick Seguin did not make much contact, but his little dribbler down the third base line was tough to handle, and he would beat the throw, putting runners on the corners. Larry Huckston then stepped up to the plate, and smacked a three run homer over the right field fence to suddenly tie up the game in the most shocking of ways. The Golden Bears won in the 11th on an RBI single from Anthony Cianci.

Game 4: Hampton Island 7, Chagall 6 (10 innings)

Another extra inning affair, as this one went back and forth. This time, the Golden Bears were on the receiving end of bottom of the ninth heroics when Chagall’s Albert Pinholes, hit a two-out RBI double to tie up the game. Fortunately, we were able to escape any further damage, and the game headed to extra innings all tied at 6. In the top of the 10th, Patrick Seguin hit an RBI-double of his own, scoring Adam Voorman to give the Golden Bears a 7-6 lead, and that score would hold up. The win put us to 3-1.

Game 5: Hampton Island 6, Newmanistan 3

Playing on the road, most people did not expect the Golden Bears to knock off the Rockets. Instead, they sent the message that Newmanistan is not going to put this group away early, like they insist they are capable of doing. A two-run home run in the top of the seventh by Kalvin Nellis put us on top 3-2, and ensured that we would get to the Rockets bullpen, which is always a good thing. In the ninth, five consecutive singles put two runs on the board, and a sacrifice fly put on another, and the Golden Bears had a shocking 6-3 lead, which they would not relinquish. Some tensions arose in this game in the fourth inning on an aggressive slide by Larry Huckston into Rockets SS Kayla Carey to break up a double play. Huckston, who was going to be out by a mile, slid into the legs of Carey, and Kayla got up and gave him a glove to the chest in retaliation. The umpire gave warnings to both players, and to both benches, and there were no ejections. Tensions, however, are rising. Hampton Island is 4-1, tied with Newmanistan, and has no plans to go away in the group anytime soon.

[Cassadaigua]

Player Blog: Cortnie Nicholson answers e-mail questions

Good afternoon everyone, I am Cortnie Nicholson and today I am going to respond to some of the mail that I have received from fans out there who are asking general questions, or making general comments. But before I do, I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support of our team. We are off to a 3-1 start, and are a half game behind a couple of our first time nations, Xelsis and Brookspring. New Sangti is not off to a good start, but we know that they will turn it on, so I have to say what might have seemed like smooth sailing for us to make the playoffs at home now may turn into a fight. These things are always more difficult then they seem on paper, so we will need that support. Thanks for being there!

My first question is from Natalie, from Winchester, who wants to know if Winchester will be awarded playoff games this year. Well, obviously that decision belongs to CAB (Cassadagan Association for Baseball), and I cannot say for certain if Winchester will be included. We know that games will go to Concord Heights, Grande Mountain, New Lakeland, and Brattleboro. Victoriaville and Rutland are safe bets as well. After that, Winchester seems like an option, but how many host cities will there be? If I had my way, we would have sixteen host cities for the first round of the playoffs, which will lead to many Cassadagan facilities getting a chance to host that did not have a chance in prior Classics. I think you will be ok, Natalie.

Next, Corey from New Lakeland, wants me to talk about the New Lakeland Tycoons and how they won the Club Baseball Classic this year. Congratulations to them, after a year where several of our players left Cassadaigua to play in Newmanistan professionally, it is great for one of our teams to get their moment in the sun like that. We don’t know if Cassadagan baseball will ever get the international recognition of the well known leagues out there, so to win a title like that will at least show that our league should be respect. I have to congratulate Kelsey Bowen, Elizabeth Chapman, and Alyssa Harrington, part of our national team who are also members of the Tycoons. Bowen pitched great for them, and we should be expecting to Kelsey to continue that trend into this competition. It’s been a good time for the city of New Lakeland, since New Lakeland University won the NSCAA 9 Tournament this year too. Good to see, as in general that city gets overshadowed in Cassadaigua sometimes, and it is a great place to visit.

Becca, from South Granby, asks me if we pay attention to other sporting competitions while we are in the middle of one of our own. In particular, she wanted to know if we follow the Cup of Harmony. The answer is that yes, we do keep an eye on it. Most of the players on our respective national teams have gotten to know each other from sporting banquets, sponsorship functions, and simply being active in the community. Because of that, you make friends on these teams and there several on our soccer team, for example, that I am close too. I want to see them do well, so we will keep an eye on it. Do we sit down and watch the games? No. We don’t have time for that, but we do know when the games are going to be played, we check scores like everyone else, and support and/or congratulate our friends.

Lauren, from Victoriaville asks me what my greatest World Baseball Classic moment is so far. Right now, Lauren, that is my first game of playing for the team back in WBC 39. I know, we have had great moments since then, but until/unless we win a championship, I am not going to say a semifinal appearance can top my first game. You have to remember there was a long lull of non-participation, so growing up we never expected to represent Cassadaigua. Putting on that jersey and taking the field for the first time was a moment that I never thought possible. We’ve been through a few cycles now, but we can’t forget that it was not that long ago where we were not participating.

James, from Concord Heights, asks me how important it will be to win the group. I think this is something that is very important. For some nations who among the top ranked in the world, this format probably seems a little too easy. However, as I think we are all learning right now, many of these new nations have come to play, and they are not going to make things easy on any of us. I think it is awesome how much first time support there is and I hope that many of these will continue to be regular participants. This is such a fun tournament, after all! Winning the group and getting a top 16 seed will be important, as you don’t want to take chances of having another top ranked nation oppose you too early. Plus, there will be some very successful first time nations advancing as well.

Well, time for me to be on my way. Thanks for you comments and questions, and we’ll do this again sometime!

[Ko-oren]

"Hello, this is Kuniyuki Sugihara, Ko-orenite NT!"

"Kuniyuki? It's Eiichi, head coach of the Aviansola Admirals. Hey!"

"Hey Eiichi, it's been a long time. Sorry about the season last year."

"Would've probably squeezed out a few wins if you were still on our staff... Speaking of that, I might have made a bet I don't want to lose."

"Aww man, don't give me that. There's reports of matchfixing everywhere already, I'm not going to get into that stuff. What you do with your money is your thing, I appreciate everything you've done for the Admirals, for me and my career, but I'm not going to get stuck in something like this. If you make stupid bets on the Dragonflies, that's your problem... I'm so sorry."

"No! No, it's not like that. I don't have money on the Dragonflies. There's no money involved. Directly. But it's sounding a lot sketchier than it is. I've bet on the Admirals to do better than the Quarry."

"Current champions Suvira Quarry? Whoa, tough one."

"Yeah, but I need your help in this."

"I like my job with the national team, again, I'm so sorry, but I'm staying with the team. I seriously think we can go far next Classic."

"Again, kind of borders on it but that's not the offer I'll be making. No... right now, the general manager is hiring some left field personnel for a baseball team. I want to become an assistant coach to the Dragonflies for this Classic."

"Left field. Haha. Baseball jokes. Still, personnel hiring and you moonlighting for the NT? I don't see the connection, you sure you haven't lost it? I'll even one-up you. I don't think I'm in the same ballpark as you with these weird suggestions."

"I'm dead serious."

"Sorry."

"It's ok."

"..."

"... Right, so what about this? I predict the kind of personnel our general manager is hiring, and you get me to become an assistant manager on the Dragonflies, getting me in charge of quality control. You know, the stat guys."

"Isn't that a gridiron thing?"

"I'm making it a baseball thing."

"Ok, shoot, what are the Admirals hiring? Not promising anything, but this is probably in the top 3 of most interesting phone calls of the year for me. If this gets big, I want to be in on it. Is this going to get big?"

"If the Admirals do better than the Quarry, it's going to get big. So the Admirals will be hiring some advanced stat guys... Data miners and scientists. And I want to prepare myself by specialising in it for the NT. Honest truth."

"I don't know, you saying 'honest truth' makes it that much more suspicious in half a second. Ok, if this is true, I need to hear this coming from a few different sources for it to be true. If it is, I'm putting in a good word for you. You do know that data science is just a fancy word for stats right?"

"Give me till next week. News should be everywhere then."

"Sure, but the qualification for the Classic has started by then."

"Fine, I'll join the staff whenever. I'm out after the Classic though, back in time for the preseason."

"Right... you've given me a chance to make a living in baseball. I'll see what I can do."

[The Sherpa Empire]

* * * * * * * *

The flight to the United States of Devonta was long and boring, and Luochong Zhuang made it worse by talking about genetically engineered crops and sustainable agriculture for three hours straight.

"Do you have an off switch?" Tashi Siedler asked.

"An off switch for what?" Zhuang answered with a look of sincere confusion on his face.

"YOUR MOUTH!"

Zhuang blinked. "What? But I was just telling Tsheri..."

"I stopped listening two hours ago," Tsheri Pham interjected.

"Doesn't anyone around here ever like to have an intelligent conversation?" Zhuang said, disappointed.

"Debashish Morrison is back there somewhere," Pham said, pointing toward the back of the plane.

"Is he interested in the environment?" Zhuang asked.

"No," said Siedler.

"Have you asked?" said Pham. "He's interested in a lot of different things."

"He's not going to care about the crop yield of genetically engineered rice."

"Crop yields are important if we're going to feed everyone," Zhuang insisted.

Siedler unbuckled his seatbelt, stood up, and yelled across the plane, "Hey, Jamling! Does magic have any side effects that affect the environment?"

Jamling Ihawa looked up from the blog he was reading. "Yes. Why?" he said.

"I think Zhuang would be interested in it," said Siedler.

"Oh, I already know a lot about magic-pollution," said Zhuang. "The other day I saw a great article about how magical run-off from Tibet is damaging giant panda habitats in Sichuan. Residual magic from spells used at monasteries in Tibet seeps into the water supply, and the rivers wash it down into the Sichuan basin, and then because it's at a lower elevation, if the structure of the spell hasn't completely broken down, it gets stronger as it goes downstream. It can actually cause health problems for the person that cast the spell if they used blood magic, because it will still be drawing power from their body, but even if it's drawing power from a talisman or the Tao..."

Siedler let out a wordless noise and buried his face in his hands.

"What?" said Zhuang. "I was just explaining..."

"Dude, nobody fucking cares!" said Siedler.

"But you're the one who brought it up!" said Zhuang.

"Because Ihawa knows about magic and I was trying to get you to go talk to him!" Siedler said. "Nobody else gives a shit."

"I don't give a shit either," said Ihawa. "I mean, I care about responsible magic, but I'm not really interested in pandas."

"But they're an endangered species!" said Zhuang.

Ihawa sighed, flipped his laptop closed, and said, "Come here."

Zhuang climbed past Siedler to get to the aisle and made his way over to where Ihawa was sitting. "Giant pandas could go extinct if we don't stop destroying their habitat!" he said.

"I know," said Ihawa. "That's not why I want to talk to you."

"But it's really important!" Zhuang protested.

"I don't live in China," said Ihawa.

"Didn't you hear what I was saying about magical runoff from the Himalayas? People use magic and it gets into the water supply and..."

"I don't live in Tibet," said Ihawa. "If I contaminate the water supply with my magic, it won't drain into the Yangtze watershed."

"There's evidence that magical pollution in the Ganges is responsible for a drop in the elephant population in the southern provinces of the Sherpa Empire," Zhuang said.

"Brother Zhuang, I want to ask you something," said Ihawa.

"What is it?" said Zhuang.

"Why are you here?"

Zhuang looked confused. "They might need me to pitch in the game against Devonta," he said.

"Why are you not working in environmental conservation?" asked Ihawa.

"I don't have a degree," said Zhuang.

"You played the whole season with Hangzhou," said Ihawa. "I know how much you got paid. You can afford to go to university."

"Yeah, but even if I get a degree, I wouldn't make as much money doing environmental work as what I can make playing baseball," Zhuang said.

"Is that what's important to you?" Ihawa asked. "It's fine if you say yes. I'm just asking."

Zhuang opened his mouth to answer, but then realized he didn't know what to say. He closed his mouth and thought for a moment, then said, "I could never quit baseball! I love it too much."

Ihawa smiled. "Then you're doing the right thing," he said. "But I don't think anyone on this plane cares about panda habitats the way you do."

"Nobody ever cares," said Zhuang. "My family doesn't care, he people at my high school didn't care, when I go to the bar, nobody there wants to talk about it. How are we supposed to protect the planet if nobody cares? I know there are charities I can give money to, but I want to talk about it."

"Well, you'll have to talk to someone else," Ihawa told him.

The game in Devonta didn't go much better than the flight. Hanyi Yang gave up 4 runs in the first inning, and the Sherpa team never came back from it. Zhuang gave up another run in the 8th, but the team was already losing anyway. After the game, Zhuang, Yang, and a few other players went to a bar, but the language barrier prevented Zhuang from discussing deforestation with the locals, and he couldn't discuss it with Yang because Yang was busy getting drunk.

* * * * * * * *

Hanyi Yang slept through the whole flight to Nanjing and missed an informative, but totally boring, discussion about the nutritional value of whale blubber and the logistical challenges of dealing with beached whales. He was hung over when Mohn woke him up and herded the team off the plane.

Although the game in Nanjing was nominally a "home" game, none of the players on the Sherpa national team actually played for the Nanjing Mandarins during the regular season. Tao Xi and Hiroyuki Sakamoto, who had represented the Mandarins at WBC 42, both narrowly missed the cut to return this year. The game was a real pitchers duel, scoreless until the 8th inning. A couple of people got on base -- a little blooper here, someone reaching base on an error there. But the bullpens did not have as good of a night as the starters, and Pasang Sherpa-Zhou took a loss after giving up two runs in the 8th. The offense started to mount a comeback in the bottom of the 9th, but Phurba Desai hit into a double play to end the game.

Tao Xi and his wife stopped by the clubhouse with a steamer full of home-cooked dumplings, but Mohn told them they could not come in. They both took it as a personal snub, but there was not much they could do about it.

The second game in Nanjing was a soggy mess. It wasn't quite wet enough for the game to be rained out, but it was drizzling off and on all day, and the field was slippery with mud. The red lanterns that adorned the stands stood out brightly against the drab gray sky, and the spectators huddled under blankets and ponchos.

A string of small hits in the 3rd inning gave the Sherpa team a one run lead. In the 4th inning, they picked up right where they left off, scoring 3 more runs before Daniau pulled the starting pitcher. The Osci bullpen managed to stop the bleeding, but by then it was too late. Zhuang gave up a run in the 8th, but then Lakpa Fang struck out the side for a quick 9th inning and a Sherpa win.

* * * * * * * *

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

The Alpine Union wins two in a row after losing against Anthor

Oglethorpe, Republic of Chattahoochee - (NAP) After losing 10-5 on the road against Anthor, the Alpine Union returned home to face Wabijust at the mythic Finley Park, home of the Oglethorpe Red Sox. Zvonimir Hajrovic was the starting pitcher and Nobody was stating for Wabijust. Center Fielder was the first at bat at the top 1st inning and he hit a solo homerun over the blue monster in left field and Wabijust was leading 1-0. Travis Layne, who plays in Newmanistan, was the first to bat in the bottom two inning and he hitted a double. Zlatan Belec was grounded out and Layne stayed at 2nd base. Esmeralda Sanchez followed with a single, Layne scored from 2nd base and the game was tied at 1-1! At the bottom 3rd inning, starting pitcher Zvonimir Hajrovic is the first to bat and he's striked out. Wilton Jimenez follows with a single. He steals the 2nd base. Kevin McNeill hits a single too, Jimenez advance to the 3rd base. Nate O'Flaherty follows with a sacrifice fly in left field, Jimenez scored and the Reprezentacja Alpejski is leading 2-1! In the top 4th inning, 3rd baseman scored from the 2nd base when 1st baseman hitted a double and the game is tied again at 2-2. Then the Alpines took the lead in the bottom 5th inning. Zvonimir Hajrovic is batting first and he's grounded out. Wilton Jimenez follows but he's flied out. Kevin McNeill hits a double in left field and Nate O'Flaherty follows with a two runs homerun in center right field and the Bisons are leading 4-2! This is the final score, Zvonimir Hajrovic (1-0) earned his first win in his first game, he also striked out 9 batters, and Genevieve McGowan (0-0-2) earned her second save in the tournament.

On the next day, the Alpine Union recieved Mezropolis , again at Finley Park in Oglethorpe, the 3rd largest city and 2nd largest metropolitan area in the Alpine Union. Tyler Floyd (0-1) and Voula Van Dael (1-0) were the starting pitchers. In the bottom 2nd inning, Travis Layne was batting first and he striked out. Zlatan Belec followed with a double. Esmeralda Sanchez walked. Nick Riefenhauser hitted a double, Belec scored, Sanchez tried to score from the 1st base but was ruled out trying to reach the plate. The score is at 1-0 Bisons. Mezropolitan player Thalia Bezuidenhout hitted a solo homerun at the top 4th inning and the game is tied at 1-1. Nick Riefenhauser was the 1st at bat at the bottom 5th inning and he hitted a single. Jared Hanson was flied out. Pitcher Tyler Floyd hitted a sacrifice bunt, Riefenhauser advace to the 2nd base. With two outs, Wilton Jimenez hits a single, Riefenhauser advance to the 3rd base. Kevin McNeill is at bat, Jimenez steals the 2nd base and Riefenhauser steals the home plate and the Alpine Union is leading 2-1! On the next throw, Kevin McNeill hits a single, Jimenez scores from the 2nd base and the Bisons are leading 3-1! In the bottom 6th inning, Travis Layne hits a solo homerun. Pinch hitter Krunoslav Bogdanovic hits a solo homerun in the bottom 7th inning and the Reprezentacja Alpejski is leading 5-1! Mezropolis added another point in the top 8th inning when Lieve Van Peij scored on a double hitted by pinch hitter Elena Van Arendonk and the score was 5-2 Alpine Union. Once again, Genevieve McGowan (0-0-3) preserved the win in the 9th inning. Tyler Floyd (1-1) was the winning pitcher and Voula Van Dael (1-1) was the losing pitcher.

The Bisons' next game is on the road in Ethane at the McTidley arena. Starting pitchers are expected to be Rusty Castillo (1-0) and Harry Markwright (0-0). Then, the Alpines will have a bye and they'll recieve Anthor at the Houser Stadium on the next day. Alejandro Gonzalez is expected to start for the Bisons.

[Newmanistan]

Kayla Carey was sitting in her hotel room in the nation of Stetzra going over some game tape of the next opponent. There is more information now available about that team, and thus the scouting material is available in a more effective manner. It’s been a tough off-season for the player most known to trash talk with opponents. She loved to live it up with rivals, especially with Tenburg back in World Baseball Classic 40. What people might not always know about Kayla is if she is trash talking you, it means deep down that she respects you. The ENBL off-season had not been kind her, suffering an injury in August, at around the same time that Courtney Duvall sustained hers. Carey meant everything for the North Charlotte Wildcats and when the shortstop went down, so to went the Wildcats season.

Kayla could only watch as North Charlotte’s biggest rival, the South Charlotte Condors went on a surprising run all the way to the ENBL World Series. She quietly rooted for the Southport Tigers to defeat them, and was happy for her Rockets’ teammate Mallory Harris and the rest of the Tigers when they won the title. Carey was also a free agent. Still is. Will she be back in North Charlotte, or is she going to go elsewhere? Many people want to know, but Kayla herself, did not know. It was not about the money, she had plenty of it, and while she would want a market value contract, everything had to be a fit.

Kayla turned off the scouting tape for a moment, and went to the ice machine down the hall. There, she meant up with a familiar face.

“Hi Kayla!” pitching coach Tracianne Conti said in introduction.

“Hey, coach.” she replied. Carey did not talk to Conti all that much, as after all, Conti was the pitching coach, and Carey a star shortstop.

“Can I talk to you for a second? In private?” Conti asked. Carey nodded, as there was no reason to be concerned. They walked down to Conti’s room, and went inside and a conversation took place.

“Kayla, you know, I have to tell you something. Ashley (head coach) and I would really love for you to play in Loudon. Have you ever thought about it?”

“Coach, with all respect, I am not really thinking about that right now, my mind is focused on Stetzra.”

“Don’t worry too much about Stetzra. It’s just one game, but the big picture is the ENBL for all of us. We didn’t have as good of a year in Loudon as we wanted too, and coach Stevens could be in jeopardy of her job there if we don’t have a big year. We want to offer you a contract of about 27 million a year? Is that in your ballpark?”

“Coach, my agent told me not to get into contract talks during the World Baseball Classic. I am going to have to honor his request, it is unfair for the Leopards to be talking to me face to face in countries like Stetzra while back at home other teams are not having a chance.”

“Maybe so, but Michelle Covington (second baseman) and you are very close. We want to make sure that you don’t go to Jessicaville of all places. Can you at least tell me that you are not considering going there?”

“All the options are open, including Jessicaville. Sorry. Michelle and I are close, yes. It’d be pretty bad if we weren’t close given our positions on the field for this team.”

“That must mean you are talking to them. We will match anything they propose in Loudon. Can you at least give us a chance to match?”

“I can’t make any promises. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t, but I would like to talk to my agent before going any further. I would like to excuse myself now.”

“Sure, Kayla, didn’t mean to bother you all that much, but just remember the coaches you have here would be your coaches in Loudon!”

With that, Kayla returned to her room. “Last time I go get ice without checking the hallway first,” she thought before realizing that her ice bucket was still empty.

She turned on the scouting material again, when her phone rang. Naturally, it was her agent.

“Kayla, do you have a moment?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Loudon wants to know if you’ll take three years for 28.5 million dollars per year. I don’t think it’s a great deal, so I would turn it down if I were you. You can get 30 per year somewhere, like Jessicaville. The Millionaires are going to up the ante.”

“You know, I was wondering. What about other teams?”

“Other then Jessicaville and Loudon? I mean there are other teams. Pocono City is dragging their feet a little on it. North Charlotte can’t afford to match. You know you won’t get more then 25 per year there, and you’d be lucky to get that. Tundra Falls might be lurking in the midst of all this.”

“No, I mean, like from other countries?”

“They probably don’t think you are in play, Kayla. If they did, I am sure I would hear offers, but that’s what it will take. Do you want me to put out an announcement that you are considering moving to another league?”

“Not sure. Tired of this free agency thing and getting all these coaches wanting to talk to me but only seeing me as what I can do for them. They want to throw all this money at me and insist that their city is the perfect fit. It makes me just want to stay in North Charlotte, quite honestly, even if they can’t pay me as much. But I want to win a championship. I can’t see that happening with North Charlotte.”

“It will never happen with North Charlotte, Kayla. You know it, I know it.”

“I hate to admit that, but probably. So, I go to Jessicaville, be a hired gun, win a title, but what fun is that? That’s why I wonder about other leagues. Seems like it might be fun.”

“If that’s what you want, I would put out a presser saying you are open to the possibility. I will leave it at that. It will have the Newmanistanian press all over you, I can see Brianne Henry texting you immediately upon announcement. Don’t let it become a distraction.”

“I know. The time is now. Go ahead but just say I am open to the offers, but am still unsure.”

[Free Republics]

Sporting World

Letters to the Editor

Free Republics 4, Midand 3

Mario Rothschild looked downright terrible out there. I still can't believe he managed to get that guy [Intran Ropa] to ground into a triple play with the bases loaded. What a lucky way to get out of the inning with a save!

Julien Dupuy
Republic of Frontana

I was at the game and I just want to say that I had a really good time there. My kids love the Nicholas Fisher bobbleheads and my husband was so happy when we won! Baseball games are alot of fun even if I don't really understand what's going on half the time. I urge everybody, whether you like sports or not, to go to the ballpark and have a good time with your friends and/or family. You won't regret it.

Katrin Schmidt
Republic of Keronoma

I still can't believe I got Honomi Kamei's autograph at the game. She's so nice and it was great just to have a chance to talk to her. If you're going to a game, try to show up early because you can get up close and personal with the players. It was even cooler when I caught a foul ball hit by Honomi Kamei that bounced off the upper deck and landed right in my glove! I'll never forget this moment.

Hisako Tominaga
Republic of Keronoma

World Cup 80

I can't wait for the World Cup to start and its amazing that we're finally going to be playing Nephara again. I was there 12 years ago and I still remember how exciting it was to see Soccer General Theriault's team steal a draw. Little did we know at the time that we witnessed the beginning of one of the great runs in World Cup history. Here's to hoping that this match will be the beginning of the FFR's return to international soccer's elite where we belong!

Jonas Olsen
Republic of Plymouth

I wish the World Cup would stop pre-empting my favorite show. I'd rather watch Dancing with the Celebrities and Republican Idol than watch a bunch of losers kick a ball around. I don't understand why my husband is into this boring sport and I wish sports would go away so he'd actually get some work done around the house for once!

Sophia Robinson
Republic of Jolarus

The Editor Responds: I'm sorry that your husband spends all of his time watching sports but I can't relate to that. My husband Kieran is so sweet! He does all of the work around the house so that I don't have to and he even lets me do whatever I want to him in bed! Sometimes, I think I may take him for granted a bit but he's really a great guy and I appreciate what we have together. Did I mention that he used to play for the National Soccer Team? If an athlete can do his fair share of the housework, your husband certainly can too! I do think it is a shame though that you're not interested in sports. They're so exciting and the best part is that you can look at a bunch of hot guys you aren't married to and still have plausible deniability!

When is Soccer General Rule Theriault going to re-integrate the National Team? While we've got a great young team at the moment, just think how much better they could be if talented players like Connie Chase were allowed to play for them. Maybe we'd actually have a team that could win the World Cup instead of just making it to the World Cup!

Nikita Alexeeva
Republic of Amolotopia

World Series of Baseball

I would be wholly in favor of the World Series of Baseball. While the Club World Baseball Classic is neat and all, it excludes many nations. For example, there is no Republican representative competing in it this year. That is not right and only an open entry international domestic club competition can rectify this. I can't wait to see it happen.

Adalgisio Milanesi
Republic of Nejax

[Cassadaigua]

Matchday 7:

Group 1
The Wolf Zones                         0 2 0 4 2 0 0 0 1 1 10
Sandberg                               2 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 4 13

Krossa                                 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0  4
Deseret and Zion                       0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1  3


  Group 1                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Scootalove City                         5    5   0    28   13  +15    15
2 Krossa                                  6    4   2    26   17   +9    12
3 Sandberg                                6    4   2    25   27   −2    12
4 The Wolf Zones                          6    1   5    26   39  −13     3
5 Deseret and Zion                        5    0   5    11   20   −9     0

Group 2
North Prarie                           0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
Lycrabon                               0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1  3

The Autonomous Region of Helsinki      1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Banija                                 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 X  4


  Group 2                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Banija                                  5    3   2    21   17   +4     9
2 The Autonomous Region of Helsinki       6    3   3    23   22   +1     9
3 East Ares                               5    3   2    21   21    0     9
4 Lycrabon                                6    3   3    20   20    0     9
5 North Prarie                            6    2   4    21   26   −5     6

Group 3
Melbergia                              0 0 0 1 3 1 0 0 0  5
Ireland Isles                          0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0  2

South Covello                          0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 1  7
Ko-oren                                0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 0  6


  Group 3                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 South Covello                           6    6   0    31   15  +16    18
2 Melbergia                               6    3   3    27   23   +4     9
3 Ko-oren                                 5    2   3    31   23   +8     6
4 USS Monitor                             5    2   3    16   27  −11     6
5 Ireland Isles                           6    1   5    15   32  -17     3

Group 4
God and Country                    0 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 0  5
Equestrian States                  3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  4

St Saratoga                        1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3  6
The Imperial Frost Federation      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0  3


  Group 4                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Equestrian States                   6    4   2    41   27  +14    12
2 St Saratoga                         6    4   2    31   32   −1    12
3 New Jarwel                          5    3   2    34   27   +7     9
4 God and Country                     6    2   4    22   34  −12     6
5 The Imperial Frost Federation       5    1   4    14   22   −8     3

Group 5
Northwest Kalactin                 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0  2
Super-Llamaland                    1 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 X  7

Nuevo Caracas                      0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0  2
Beepee                             5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 X  6


  Group 5                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Super-Llamaland                     6    6   0    41   18  +23    18
2 Beepee                              5    3   2    28   16  +12     9
3 Nuevo Caracas                       6    2   4    20   32  −12     6
4 Gloriax                             5    2   3    18   30  −12     6
5 Northwest Kalactin                  6    1   5    24   35  −11     3

Group 6
Xelsis                             0 0 2 0 0 3 1 0 2  8
Brookspring                        1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  2

New Sangti                         0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0  2
Cassadaigua                        0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1


  Group 6                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Xelsis                              6    5   1    39   11  +28    15
2 Brookspring                         6    4   2    22   21   +1    12
3 Cassadaigua                         5    3   2    16   14   +2     9
4 New Sangti                          6    2   4    19   31  −12     6
5 Highton                             5    0   5    11   30  −19     0

Group 7
Free Republics                     0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0  3
West Guam                          0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Darmen                             1 0 1 0 1 2 2 0 0  7
Acapais                            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                      6    6   0    45   25  +20    18
2 Darmen                              6    3   3    26   21   +5     9
3 Midand                              5    2   3    21   22   −1     6
4 West Guam                           6    2   4    15   29  −14     6
5 Acapais                             5    1   4    20   30  −10     3

Group 8
Vangaziland                        0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Humaliwo                           0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3  5

Nova Anglicana                     2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Holy Nazirealm                     0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1


  Group 8                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                      6    6   0    27   14  +13    18
2 United States of Yasser             5    3   2    26   23   +3     9
3 Vangaziland                         6    2   4    37   32   +5     6
4 Holy Nazirealm                      5    2   3    24   27   −3     6
5 Humaliwo                            6    1   5    25   43  −18     3

Group 9
New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  2
Drawkland                          0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1  3

Mirfast                            0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0  3
Maklohi Vai                        0 0 4 3 0 0 0 1 X  8


  Group 9                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Saintland                           5    4   1    29   18  +11    12
2 Drawkland                           6    4   2    27   17  +10    12
3 Maklohi Vai                         5    2   3    19   21   −2     6
4 New Haudenosaunee Confederacy       6    2   4    16   22   −6     6
5 Mirfast                             6    2   4    15   28  −13     6

Group 10
United States of Devonta      0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0  3
Oscioru                       0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 X  9

The Sherpa Empire             2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2  6
East Apikai                   1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0  4


  Group 10                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Royal Kingdom of Quebec        5    4   1    27   16  +11    12
2 Oscioru                        6    4   2    31   23   +8    12
3 The Sherpa Empire              6    3   3    20   19   +1     9
4 United States of Devonta       6    2   4    20   33  −13     6
5 East Apikai                    5    1   4    19   26   −7     3

Group 11
Cosumar                       0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3
Bauscland                     0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4  7

Abanhfleft                    0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
The Star Enpire               0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 11                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Bauscland                      6    4   2    31   21  +10    12
2 Abanhfleft                     6    4   2    31   26   +5    12
3 Filindostan                    5    3   2    25   18   +7     9
4 Cosumar                        6    2   4    19   36  −17     6
5 The Star Enpire                5    1   4    11   16   −5     3

Group 12
Newmanistan                   0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0  6
Stetzra                       3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  5

Chagall                       1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  2
Crystalline Caverns           0 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 X  6


  Group 12                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Newmanistan                    6    5   1    34   21  +13    15
2 Hampton Island                 5    4   1    33   31   +2    12
3 Crystalline Caverns            5    3   2    25   19   +6     9
4 Stetzra                        6    1   5    32   41   −9     3
5 Chagall                        6    1   5    27   39  −12     3

Group 13
Liventia                       0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0  6
Pripet Socialist Republic      0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 3  7

Schiltzberg                    0 1 0 0 6 0 0 0 0  7
Juvencus                       0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1


  Group 13                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Schiltzberg                     6    6   0    29   14  +15    18
2 Liventia                        6    4   2    27   24   +3    12
3 Pripet Socialist Republic       6    2   4    17   19   −2     6
4 Valliesta                       5    1   4    10   17   −7     3
5 Juvencus                        5    1   4    21   30   −9     3

Group 14
Kita-Hinode                    0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1  3
West Phoenicia                 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 X  4

Nevis And Kitts                0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
The Greater Nordics            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 14                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 West Phoenicia                  6    4   2    31   28   +3    12
2 Nevis And Kitts                 6    4   2    22   19   +3    12
3 The Greater Nordics             5    3   2    14   13   +1     9
4 Hicana                          5    2   3    17   23   −6     6
5 Kita-Hinode                     6    1   5    25   26   −1     3

Group 15
Anthor                         0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
Mezropolis                     0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 X  2

Alpine Union                   0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2  5
Ethane                         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0  2


  Group 15                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Alpine Union                    6    4   2    29   27   +2    12
2 Anthor                          6    3   3    28   19   +9     9
3 Wabijust                        5    3   2    14   15   −1     9
4 Ethane                          5    2   3    20   23   −3     6
5 Mezropolis                      6    2   4    19   26   −7     6

Matchday 8:

Group 1
Deseret and Zion                       1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 2  6
The Wolf Zones                         0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1  5

Sandberg                               0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0  4
Scootalove City                        3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 X  7


  Group 1                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Scootalove City                         6    6   0    35   17  +18    18
2 Krossa                                  6    4   2    26   17   +9    12
3 Sandberg                                7    4   3    29   34   −5    12
4 Deseret and Zion                        6    1   5    17   25   −8     3
5 The Wolf Zones                          7    1   6    31   45  −14     3

Group 2
Banija                                 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  2
North Prarie                           0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 X  4

Lycrabon                               0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2
East Ares                              0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 2                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Lycrabon                                7    4   3    22   20   +2    12
2 Banija                                  6    3   3    23   21   +2     9
3 The Autonomous Region of Helsinki       6    3   3    23   22   +1     9
4 East Ares                               6    3   3    21   23   −2     9
5 North Prarie                            7    3   4    25   28   −3     9

Group 3
Ko-oren                                0 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0  5
Melbergia                              0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1

Ireland Isles                          0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
USS Monitor                            0 2 4 0 1 0 0 1 X  8


  Group 3                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 South Covello                           6    6   0    31   15  +16    18
2 Ko-oren                                 6    3   3    36   24  +12     9
3 Melbergia                               7    3   4    28   28    0     9
4 USS Monitor                             6    3   3    24   28   −4     9
5 Ireland Isles                           7    1   6    16   40  −24     3

Group 4
The Imperial Frost Federation      0 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0  5
God and Country                    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Equestrian States                  1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
New Jarwel                         0 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 X  5


  Group 4                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Equestrian States                   7    4   3    43   32  +11    12
2 New Jarwel                          6    4   2    39   29  +10    12
3 St Saratoga                         6    4   2    31   32   −1    12
4 The Imperial Frost Federation       6    2   4    19   22   −3     6
5 God and Country                     7    2   5    22   39  −17     6

Group 5
Beepee                             0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Northwest Kalactin                 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 5 X 10

Super-Llamaland                    2 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 0  7
Gloriax                            2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  3


  Group 5                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Super-Llamaland                     7    7   0    48   21  +27    21
2 Beepee                              6    3   3    29   26   +3     9
3 Northwest Kalactin                  7    2   5    34   36   −2     6
4 Nuevo Caracas                       6    2   4    20   32  −12     6
5 Gloriax                             6    2   4    21   37  −16     6

Group 6
Cassadaigua                        0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 0  6
Xelsis                             0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  3

Brookspring                        1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Highton                            0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 X  4


  Group 6                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Xelsis                              7    5   2    42   17  +25    15
2 Cassadaigua                         6    4   2    22   17   +5    12
3 Brookspring                         7    4   3    24   25   −1    12
4 New Sangti                          6    2   4    19   31  −12     6
5 Highton                             6    1   5    15   32  −17     3

Group 7
Acapais                            0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2
Free Republics                     0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 X  4

West Guam                          0 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0  6
Midand                             0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0  3


  Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                      7    7   0    49   27  +22    21
2 Darmen                              6    3   3    26   21   +5     9
3 West Guam                           7    3   4    21   32  −11     9
4 Midand                              6    2   4    24   28   −4     6
5 Acapais                             6    1   5    22   34  −12     3

Group 8
Holy Nazirealm                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Vangaziland                        0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 X  2

Humaliwo                           0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
United States of Yasser            0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1


  Group 8                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                      6    6   0    27   14  +13    18
2 Vangaziland                         7    3   4    39   32   +7     9
3 United States of Yasser             6    3   3    27   25   +2     9
4 Holy Nazirealm                      6    2   4    24   29   −5     6
5 Humaliwo                            7    2   5    27   44  −17     6

Group 9
Maklohi Vai                        1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1  4
New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  2

Drawkland                          0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 4  7
Saintland                          0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2  2


  Group 9                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Drawkland                           7    5   2    34   19  +15    15
2 Saintland                           6    4   2    31   25   +6    12
3 Maklohi Vai                         6    3   3    23   23    0     9
4 New Haudenosaunee Confederacy       7    2   5    18   26   −8     6
5 Mirfast                             6    2   4    15   28  −13     6

Group 10
East Apikai                   2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  4
United States of Devonta      0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  3

Oscioru                       1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2  5
Royal Kingdom of Quebec       0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0  3


  Group 10                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Oscioru                        7    5   2    36   26  +10    15
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec        6    4   2    30   21   +9    12
3 The Sherpa Empire              6    3   3    20   19   +1     9
4 East Apikai                    6    2   4    23   29   −6     6
5 United States of Devonta       7    2   5    23   37  −14     6

Group 11
The Star Enpire               0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
Cosumar                       0 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 X  5

Bauscland                     0 0 4 0 0 4 0 1 2 11
Filindostan                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0


  Group 11                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Bauscland                      7    5   2    42   21  +21    15
2 Abanhfleft                     6    4   2    31   26   +5    12
3 Filindostan                    6    3   3    25   29   −4     9
4 Cosumar                        7    3   4    24   37  −13     9
5 The Star Enpire                6    1   5    12   21   −9     3

Group 12
Crystalline Caverns           0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Newmanistan                   0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 X  4

Stetzra                       0 0 3 1 0 0 0 2 0  6
Hampton Island                0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  3


  Group 12                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Newmanistan                    7    6   1    38   21  +17    18
2 Hampton Island                 6    4   2    36   37   −1    12
3 Crystalline Caverns            6    3   3    25   23   +2     9
4 Stetzra                        7    2   5    38   44   −6     6
5 Chagall                        6    1   5    27   39  −12     3

Group 13
Juvencus                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Liventia                       0 1 0 0 1 0 1 4 X  7

Pripet Socialist Republic      0 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 0  6
Valliesta                      1 0 1 0 2 0 0 4 X  8


  Group 13                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Schiltzberg                     6    6   0    29   14  +15    18
2 Liventia                        7    5   2    34   24  +10    15
3 Pripet Socialist Republic       7    2   5    23   27   −4     6
4 Valliesta                       6    2   4    18   23   −5     6
5 Juvencus                        6    1   5    21   37  −16     3

Group 14
The Greater Nordics            0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0  3
Kita-Hinode                    0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1  4

West Phoenicia                 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
Hicana                         0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 X  4


  Group 14                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Nevis And Kitts                 6    4   2    22   19   +3    12
2 West Phoenicia                  7    4   3    32   32    0    12
3 The Greater Nordics             6    3   3    17   17    0     9
4 Hicana                          6    3   3    21   24   −3     9
5 Kita-Hinode                     7    2   5    29   29    0     6

Group 15
Ethane                         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1  3
Anthor                         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0  2

Mezropolis                     1 0 0 1 3 1 1 0 2  9
Wabijust                       1 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0  6


  Group 15                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Alpine Union                    6    4   2    29   27   +2    12
2 Anthor                          7    3   4    30   22   +8     9
3 Ethane                          6    3   3    23   25   −2     9
4 Mezropolis                      7    3   4    28   32   −4     9
5 Wabijust                        6    3   3    20   24   −4     9

Matchday 9:

Group 1
Scootalove City                        1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
Deseret and Zion                       1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1  3

The Wolf Zones                         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
Krossa                                 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 X  3


  Group 1                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Scootalove City                         7    6   1    37   20  +17    18
2 Krossa                                  7    5   2    29   18  +11    15
3 Sandberg                                7    4   3    29   34   −5    12
4 Deseret and Zion                        7    2   5    20   27   −7     6
5 The Wolf Zones                          8    1   7    32   48  −16     3

Group 2
East Ares                              0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0  3
Banija                                 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 X  4

North Prarie                           3 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0  7
The Autonomous Region of Helsinki      0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  3


  Group 2                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Banija                                  7    4   3    27   24   +3    12
2 Lycrabon                                7    4   3    22   20   +2    12
3 North Prarie                            8    4   4    32   31   +1    12
4 The Autonomous Region of Helsinki       7    3   4    26   29   −3     9
5 East Ares                               7    3   4    24   27   −3     9

Group 3
USS Monitor                            0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1
Ko-oren                                0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  2

Melbergia                              0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
South Covello                          0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 X  2


  Group 3                               Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 South Covello                           7    7   0    33   15  +18    21
2 Ko-oren                                 7    4   3    38   25  +13    12
3 Melbergia                               8    3   5    28   30   −2     9
4 USS Monitor                             7    3   4    25   30   −5     9
5 Ireland Isles                           7    1   6    16   40  −24     3

Group 4
New Jarwel                         0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0  4
The Imperial Frost Federation      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  1

God and Country                    1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  7
St Saratoga                        0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0  3


  Group 4                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 New Jarwel                          7    5   2    43   30  +13    15
2 Equestrian States                   7    4   3    43   32  +11    12
3 St Saratoga                         7    4   3    34   39   −5    12
4 God and Country                     8    3   5    29   42  −13     9
5 The Imperial Frost Federation       7    2   5    20   26   −6     6

Group 5
Gloriax                            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  2
Beepee                             3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X  3

Northwest Kalactin                 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2  5
Nuevo Caracas                      1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0  4


  Group 5                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Super-Llamaland                     7    7   0    48   21  +27    21
2 Beepee                              7    4   3    32   28   +4    12
3 Northwest Kalactin                  8    3   5    39   40   −1     9
4 Nuevo Caracas                       7    2   5    24   37  −13     6
5 Gloriax                             7    2   5    23   40  −17     6

Group 6
Highton                            1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  3
Cassadaigua                        1 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 X  5

Xelsis                             0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
New Sangti                         0 2 0 2 0 0 2 1 X  7


  Group 6                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Xelsis                              8    5   3    43   24  +19    15
2 Cassadaigua                         7    5   2    27   20   +7    15
3 Brookspring                         7    4   3    24   25   −1    12
4 New Sangti                          7    3   4    26   32   −6     9
5 Highton                             7    1   6    18   37  −19     3

Group 7
Midand                             0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
Acapais                            0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 X  2

Free Republics                     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0  5
Darmen                             1 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 X  6


  Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                      8    7   1    54   33  +21    21
2 Darmen                              7    4   3    32   26   +6    12
3 West Guam                           7    3   4    21   32  −11     9
4 Midand                              7    2   5    25   30   −5     6
5 Acapais                             7    2   5    24   35  −11     6

Group 8
United States of Yasser            0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0  2
Holy Nazirealm                     2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 X  8

Vangaziland                        4 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0  8
Nova Anglicana                     0 0 0 8 0 0 0 2 X 10


  Group 8                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                      7    7   0    37   22  +15    21
2 Vangaziland                         8    3   5    47   42   +5     9
3 Holy Nazirealm                      7    3   4    32   31   +1     9
4 United States of Yasser             7    3   4    29   33   −4     9
5 Humaliwo                            7    2   5    27   44  −17     6

Group 9
Saintland                          0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0  2
Maklohi Vai                        2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 X  5

New Haudenosaunee Confederacy      0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0  3
Mirfast                            1 0 3 0 0 2 2 0 X  8


  Group 9                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Drawkland                           7    5   2    34   19  +15    15
2 Saintland                           7    4   3    33   30   +3    12
3 Maklohi Vai                         7    4   3    28   25   +3    12
4 Mirfast                             7    3   4    23   31   −8     9
5 New Haudenosaunee Confederacy       8    2   6    21   34  −13     6

Group 10
Royal Kingdom of Quebec       2 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  6
East Apikai                   0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  4

United States of Devonta      1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  3
The Sherpa Empire             0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 X  4


  Group 10                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Royal Kingdom of Quebec        7    5   2    36   25  +11    15
2 Oscioru                        7    5   2    36   26  +10    15
3 The Sherpa Empire              7    4   3    24   22   +2    12
4 East Apikai                    7    2   5    27   35   −8     6
5 United States of Devonta       8    2   6    26   41  −15     6

Group 11
Filindostan                   0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
The Star Enpire               0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 X  3

Cosumar                       0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Abanhfleft                    0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 X  4


  Group 11                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Bauscland                      7    5   2    42   21  +21    15
2 Abanhfleft                     7    5   2    35   27   +8    15
3 Filindostan                    7    3   4    26   32   −6     9
4 Cosumar                        8    3   5    25   41  −16     9
5 The Star Enpire                7    2   5    15   22   −7     6

Group 12
Hampton Island                0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Crystalline Caverns           0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 X  4

Newmanistan                   2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1  5
Chagall                       1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0  4


  Group 12                     Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Newmanistan                    8    7   1    43   25  +18    21
2 Crystalline Caverns            7    4   3    29   24   +5    12
3 Hampton Island                 7    4   3    37   41   −4    12
4 Stetzra                        7    2   5    38   44   −6     6
5 Chagall                        7    1   6    31   44  −13     3

Group 13
Valliesta                      4 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0  7
Juvencus                       1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 2  6

Liventia                       0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Schiltzberg                    0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 X  4


  Group 13                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Schiltzberg                     7    7   0    33   16  +17    21
2 Liventia                        8    5   3    36   28   +8    15
3 Valliesta                       7    3   4    25   29   −4     9
4 Pripet Socialist Republic       7    2   5    23   27   −4     6
5 Juvencus                        7    1   6    27   44  −17     3

Group 14
Hicana                         0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 2  7
The Greater Nordics            0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0  3

Kita-Hinode                    0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2  4
Nevis And Kitts                0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0  2


  Group 14                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Hicana                          7    4   3    28   27   +1    12
2 Nevis And Kitts                 7    4   3    24   23   +1    12
3 West Phoenicia                  7    4   3    32   32    0    12
4 Kita-Hinode                     8    3   5    33   31   +2     9
5 The Greater Nordics             7    3   4    20   24   −4     9

Group 15
Wabijust                       0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  4
Ethane                         0 6 0 3 1 0 0 1 X 11

Anthor                         0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  5
Alpine Union                   0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4  7


  Group 15                      Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Alpine Union                    7    5   2    36   32   +4    15
2 Ethane                          7    4   3    34   29   +5    12
3 Anthor                          8    3   5    35   29   +6     9
4 Mezropolis                      7    3   4    28   32   −4     9
5 Wabijust                        7    3   4    24   35  −11     9

[Schiltzberg]

Number 4 of 8 in sonnet sequence:

Sonnet 1

Oh, lover dearest, teach me ever all
The ways in which you make me feel your bliss.
In all our days, it seems I do recall
A tender feeling tied tight to your kiss.
Far be it from the ways in which I write
To compliment a woman moderate,
But thee, a spotless virgin dressed in white,
Do make my heart float at a lighter weight.
Thy face doth prove the mighty pow’r of God,
Thine eyes like pearls of heav’n shined from of old,
Thy lips too red to bless this earthly sod,
Thy touch too pure to warm my hand you hold.
And yet, you bless me with your tender touch,
Myself, a mortal, earning nothing such.

Sonnet 2

You make me weary, woman, with your charm,
An infinite and overwhelming dream.
One single word works wonders to disarm
This mind of mine, which otherwise would scheme.
I’m frozen by the calling of my name.
Such simple, gentle parting of your lips
Makes me a still more happy, ever lame,
Compliant pawn set at your fingertips.
These sounds so sweetly slipped into my ear,
Do crawl into the creepings of my brain
To shut out all the other things I hear
And slide out all the slightest bits of pain.
Paralysis is cripplesome to some.
For you, I would be gladly deaf and dumb.

Sonnet 3

What is it that I do that makes you love
Me in the way you obviously do?
When I’m away, it’s me you’re thinking of,
And when you’re happy, it’s when I’m with you.
You are the soul and purpose of my life,
Though you may find it hard to think it so.
How long am I to wait till you’re my wife?
Almighty God, what graces you bestow!
A torrid flame will hardly ever last
Beyond its infant burst and will diffuse,
While embers burning slow with feeble blast
Provide a steady heat and ample cruise.
Indeed, I am a weary soul at best
In need of your soft shoulder for some rest.

Sonnet 4

So changed are you, or are you but the same
As you were, are, and shall forever be?
So altered are you? Was this but a game
Of trick’ry I was just too blind to see?
Your lips that hurt me shall no longer touch
These lips of mine that are no longer pure.
Why did I crave your softness then? How much
A fool was I to not see who you were:
A woman who’s incapable of love
And lacks commitment, compromise, and care,
Who when the things went wrong gave me the shove
And then pretended that I wasn’t there!
Ye men, beware of this deceitful miss;
She’ll trick ye with her Judasian kiss.

[Northwest Kalactin]

Dan Brown: Hello we have a report on the Northwest Kalactin Baseball team right now first of all we have the stat leaders.

Batting

Home runs
Adam Felix 3
Jake Bannon 2
Mike Harbano 2

Hits
Jake Bannon 13
Wendell Barkley 11
Adam Felix 7

Runs
Adam Felix 4
Jake Bannon 3
Make Harbano 3

Batting AVG
Jake Bannon .401
Wendell Barkley .375
Ryan Jackson .345

pitching

ERA
Joe Kenton 0.88
Robert Lewis 2.98
Ben Jensen 4.00

Saves
Christian Brooks 2
Ben Jonson 1

[West Phoenicia]

West Phoenician baseball fans were left aghast that so early in the season they were hovering in third place Blaming a bye for pushing them into the 3rd spot and a loss to Hicana. At such an early stage West Phoenicia is hoping to dominate their pool which has so far not come to fruitation, compared to others of the same calibre in other pools.

While baseball fans are feeling let down, others around the nation are feeling let down at the snub of the West Phoenician royal family in not receiving an invite to the wedding of Prince Harry of the United Kingdom and American trashy actress divorcee Megan Mehkel.

While many nations around the world received an invite to the wedding, King Glenton Gryphon -Bush II and his two wives were officially snubbed.
An aide to the royal family said that a wedding gift of 100 white doves each with a diamond, mined from the West Phoenician diamond mines from the city-state of Lower West Phoenicia was delivered to the royal couple.However no invitation was received, which sources close to the Gryphon-Bush family are fuming at the snub.
"West Phoenicia was an ally to the United Kingdom during World War 1 and World War 2, so its quite offensive to be snubbed when the wedding was for a prince who was unlikely to ever ascend to the throne.

With the marriage of King Gleton Gryphon-Bush II eldest son and daughter soon to marry, many feel a snub back would be a just reward for an ungrateful United Kingdom.

[Lycrabon]

Jays start off well, in the hunt

ST. CATHERINE - Lycrabon's Classic 43 first quarter has been lukewarm, but good overall. The Jays are 4-3 in the group, tied for first with Banija. North Prairie's stadium was a talking point early, as they have the same opportunity as Lycrabon: putting a ball in the water. Against them at Riverside Stadium, it happened, and a walk-off shot at that. Ironically enough, it was the son of a Blue Jay legend, Garry Barnett III, who did it. Even though he's a pitcher (and in this Classic, in the bullpen), he is a very good hitting pitcher. Last season for the New Alexandria Rangers (NBL), he had three homers. For his career of three seasons, he has seven. Even he was surprised at his water shot. "I was expecting a curve, so getting the heat caught me off guard - especially putting it in the river. But I just missed one two years ago in the All-Star Game, so this was redemption.


The Jays have truly played small-ball so far, as Barnett's home run is one of four so far. Any thoughts of a letdown after last Classic are still there, but dwindling.`

[Beepee]

Match day 7

Nuevo Caracas 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
Beepee               5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 X 6

The match against the Caraquenses ended up being a one sided affair a superb start for Beepee saw them race put to an early lead.

The first home run of the touranment went to Kody Pombo who hit the grand slam with the bases loaded allowing Bruce Labare, christian mitchell and chris maino to head home.  The end of the first saw Beepee with a comfortable 5 and oh lead.

The lead allowed martin clemens to relax in the pitching and the lack of any real consistency saw the Caraquenses slump to a 6-2 loss.

After the match Homer Unn stated "We always give 110%, even though it's mathematically impossible to give 110% by definition the most we can give is 100%

Match Day 8
Beepee  0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Northwest Kalactin
                0 0 2 3 0 0 0 5 X 10

A disaster against the Kalactins.

The relief pitchers  failed to proivde any support and the hitting was generally woeful in a match that blew the race for 2nd plave wide open.  After the match the Beepeean squad were pelted with rotten fruit as a sign of the disgust from the fans.

After the match Homer Unn commented... "our team were like a pencil without lead... pointless".

Match day 9
Gloriax 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Beepee 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 3

Beepee's squad bounced back in a turgid affair against Gloriax.

A solid start petered away into a turgid match of mightily averageness.

Regardless, Beepee held on for a win and the fans left generally satisfied.

After the match Unn stated the visiting specators ‘We had people coming here to admire the scenery and enjoy their crisps.’

[Bauscland]

| Matchdays 7-9 |

| Athletics Extend Win Streak to Four in Dramatic Fashion! |
Written by John Mallory; Sports Columnist for The Globe and Mail

Matchday 7:

Cosumar                       0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3
Bauscland                     0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4  7

| Matchday 7 was a hotly contested one as Bauscland returned home to face the 4th place Cosumar Dragons. With Tom Brewer returning from his throwing hand injury that he sustained in his first start, things got off to a rough start with 2 runs let in off of 3 hits in the 2nd. However, the Athletics were able to come back to tie it in the bottom half of the 2nd with 2 walks and 2 hits from Left Fielder Simon Grant and Third Baseman Grady Hatton to make it 2-2. From there, the defenses would take over, each only giving up 1 run each and forcing the game into extra innings. In total, the Athletics would have to employ 3 of their 5 relievers to finish out a 15 inning contest that ultimately ended with a grand slam off of the bat of First Baseman Norm Zauchin. This was the second grand slam so far this season for the Athletics, and it brought no small amount of joy to the nearly 21,000 fans present at the game who were able to witness Bauscland's first home victory of the season. Closer Mel Parnell picked up the win for Bauscland while Cosumar's Journey Rittenhouse was credited with the loss. |

Matchday 8:

Bauscland                     0 0 4 0 0 4 0 1 2 11
Filindostan                   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

| After coming off Matchday 7's hotly contested game, it was a rather surprising twist for the Athletics coming into this one. With an early 4 run lead off a productive 3rd inning, Starting Pitcher Ike Delock had just as easy of a time putting out the Filindostani batters as his last start against Cosumar (which resulted in a resounding 12-1 victory). In total, he struck out 12 and gave up only 3 hits with no walks in 7 shutout innings. From the 6th inning on, the Athletics' bats drove in 7 more runs in convincing fashion. With an 11-0 shutout, Bauscland extended their winning streak to 4 games and now sit on top of their division with Abanhfleft at 5-2. After a relatively rough start, the bats have finally come alive for them, whereas in their first 3 games they were only at a run differential of +2, the Athletics now sitting at a +21 run differential after just 4 games. Such an explosive display from the offense has come as a bit of a pleasant surprise to both the fans and the team. Now, with another day off on Matchday 9, the Athletics will hope that they can extend this winning as they head into a three game stint consisting of The Star Enpire (2-5, currently in last place), Abanhfleft (5-2, tied for 1st) and Cosumar (3-5, 4th place). |

Matchday 9:
BYE

[Northwest Kalactin]

Northwest Kalactin                 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0  2
Super-Llamaland                    1 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 X  7

A hard loss to the llamas after giving up 4 runs in the last inning the only 2 runs were RBIs by Will Fillson and Nate Johnson. Marcus T. Hamilton threw 46 pitches that inning before getting replaced by Christian Brooks after he gave up 4 runs.

Beepee                             0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1
Northwest Kalactin                 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 5 X 10

A great game against Beepee the 5 runs in the 8th inning were scored by Adam Felix, Jake Bannon, Will Fillson, Ryan Jackson and Stevan Thomas. Pitching that game was Jack Trentson and Ben Jensen.

Northwest Kalactin                 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2  5
Nuevo Caracas                      1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0  4

Jake Bannon hit a game winning home run that drove in himself and Stevan Thomas to win the game. Pitching that game was Robert Lewis, Joseph Torres and Christian Brooks. Also Mike Harbano hit a Triple that made it the Kalactanians first of the season.

[Midand]

MIDAND'S PREMIER SPORTS NEWS NETWORK
BY MNN

DOGGOS TAKE LOSS AFTER REASONABLE PERFORMANCE IN TOURNAMENT

The commercial break ends, as the variant of the MNN tune plays and the graphics swoop across the screen.

The title, MNN Sports, is proudly shown, and soon overtaken by the words: "Doggos at the WBC".

The graphics then swoop by to reveal the matchday results on the screen.

Matchday 8
West Guam                          0 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0  6
Midand                             0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0  3

Matchday 9
Midand                             0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  1
Acapais                            0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 X  2

Current Rankings
  Group 7                           Pld    W   L    RF   RA   RD   Pts 
1 Free Republics                      8    7   1    54   33  +21    21
2 Darmen                              7    4   3    32   26   +6    12
3 West Guam                           7    3   4    21   32  −11     9
4 Midand                              7    2   5    25   30   −5     6
5 Acapais                             7    2   5    24   35  −11     6

The chart then exits the screen as we zoom in again on our anchor, who adjusts his ties and takes another sip of water.

He clears his throat and begins to speak.

"Hello and welcome back, baseball fans!" he says, doing the smile he was always told to do. "Earlier these few days we had Matchdays 7 to 9 broadcast live on our channel. You can still be able to watch select clips on our Twitcher or website at MNN.Sports.MD."

He breathes and continues.

"After the reasonably well streak of the Doggos these past few days, their streak has sadly ended as the Doggos had lost 6-3 against West Guam and 1-2 against Acapais, dropping from 2nd to 4th place in it's group. Some fans are still being their cheering old selves despite the loss, while others..."

The camera briefly switches to a clip of screaming fans and back.

"The Doggos are still taking this in stride. We bring you to our secondary sports correspondent Sharol Cardanvers for more. Sharol?"

The camera switches to Sharol standing outside of a field, where a group of boys are practicing their own baseball skills.

She nods and begins speaking. "Thank you. I am standing here with Doggos head coach Daren Danvers, today, and I have some questions for you...", she says to Daren, standing next to her.

He nods. "Sure, go ahead", he said.

"So, what do you think about the Doggos' recent loss?" she asks, putting the microphone closer to his mouth.

"Well", he says. "We're all not perfect. No one is perfect. Some lessons can be learned here. However, our team is not going to let this hinder us. We're going to keep playing as the Doggos we are."

"Thank you", Sharol says. "Back to you John."

The camera then switches back to John.

"Thanks, Sharol", he says. "Despite this loss, the Doggos are not stopping, and have stated they will keep going until they make it."

He clears his throat again.

"And remember to tune into Matchday 10 soon. Details on when it will go live on MNN and MNN Sports will be posted on our website at MNN.Sports.MD and our Twitcher account @SportsMNN."

We cut to commercial.

[Abanhfleft]

Tales From the Front, Part Three

Tamanskaya District
[RAKE CITY], [ESTORVIPA]
Currently under occupation by the [FEDERATION OF ESTORVIPA AND ESTORPIVA]

The forces of Task Force Autocrat, led by Major Gavrina Kumilyova of the Pridnestrovian Airborne Troops, moved towards the safehouse where the former Autocrat of the ESTORVIPAN OLIGARCHY, Vissarion Zhivkov, as quickly as they could white still keeping a modicum of stealth and quietness in their approach. The quick and relatively bloodless occupation of RAKE City by the Federation Defense Forces meant that life had more or less remained the same for the citizens of RAKE City, at least the well-to-do ones who lived in the Tamanskaya District where Task Force Autocrat had tracked down Zhivkov giving a live video interview to GINN. This gave the task force enough cover such as cars, lightposts, street signs and even whole houses behind which they can hide and keep their approach a secret for as long as it was needed. As agreed upon earlier, Kumilyova and the rest of the Pridnestrovian officers assisting the task force in the hunt for Vissarion Zhivkov regrouped at the house before Zhivkov's supposed hideout for one more check of the situation before they committed themselves. "Rostislav, how are our house guests doing?" Kumilyova asked over the radio.

"They're still there, Comrade Major," Rostislav, the KGB electronic warfare tech in control of the drone reported back. "Still three of them, and Comrade Zhivkov is still busy being interviewed by GINN."

"All right, Zhivkov is still in there," Kumilyova said to the rest of the Pridnestrovians. "Move out."

The four Pridnestrovians went ahead of the column of Federation Defense Forces soldiers who were part of the task force task with capturing or taking out Zhivkov once and for all. Kumilyova was at the head of the line, and she had her Makarov pistol in front of her. Finally, they arrived at the door of Zhivkov's supposed safehouse, and she and her fellow VDV trooper Sergeant Arya Nukova lined up on the right side of the door while the GRU operatives, Senior Lieutenant Dmitriya Shevtsova and Junior Lieutenant Olga Grisenko, lined up on the other side. "Slava, final update," Kumilyova whispered on the radio.

"They're still there, Comrade Major," the KGB tech repeated. "There are still three of them."

"Thank you, Slava," Kumilyova replied. "That will be the last time that I ask you about it." To her fellow Pridnestrovians, she said, "Final weapons check." As VDV troopers, Kumilyova and Nukova's standard issue sidearms were the regular Makarov pistols while Shevtsova and Grisenko had the Makarovs with the integral suppressors. It was a subtle reminder of the different missions that they were required to carry out: the VDV as actual combat troops were not required to be stealthy and the weapons issued to them reflected that, while the GRU was more of an intelligence gathering outfit where secrecy was of utmost importance to their mission and so they carried weapons that aided them in carrying out their mission stealthily and quietly.

Once they had made sure for one final time that their weapons were loaded and ready to fire when needed, Kumilyova turned back to the Defense Forces soldiers and called out for the translator. "Yes, Comrade Major?" he asked once again.

"Get the battering ram to the door," she ordered.

"At once, Comrade Major." After the translator had barked out the necessary commands in VIPAN, two Defense Forces soldiers approached the door of the house head on. One of them carried an AK-74 assault rifle, the standard issue rifle of the Federation Defense Forces. The other carried what looked like a stout wooden rod with handles in the middle and the back as well as some sort of foam padding at the front or top. The soldier with the battering ram stood in front of the door and aimed the ram at the doorknob. "On my signal," Kumilyova said. The translator repeated the command to the soldier. "Three, two, one, now!"

This time the rammer didn't need the translation. As soon as Kumilyova's hand went down, the soldier smashed the ram into the doorknob, destroying that particular section of the door and rendering the knob essentially useless in keeping intruders out. The soldier then hurled the ram at the door once more for good measure and then he stepped aside to let the soldier with the Kalashnikov enter the house first. A short burst of automatic gunfire suddenly rang out, and the soldier collapsed facefirst onto the foyer of the house.

Kumilyova poked her Makarov around the corner and squeezed off three shots into the house. She could hear the bullets hitting wood and furniture but not the distinctive meaty thuds of lead slugs hitting their fleshy targets. Senior Lieutenant Shevtsova added her suppressed Makarov into the mix, and then more Defense Forces soldiers began pouring into the house. The distinctive chatter of automatic Kalashnikovs opening fire in closed spaces rang out throughout the house and the whole street, and soon everyone who lived on that street knew that the war for ESTORVIPA had finally arrived at their front doors.

"Go, go, go!" Kumilyova shouted as she followed the Defense Forces soldiers into the house. One more soldier fell under the onslaught of a submachine gun right in front of her, and it was only because Kumilyova ducked into a nearby cupboard that she wasn't hit with a face full of lead as well. "Arya! Dasha! Olga!" she called out.

"I'm right behind you, Rina," Nukova called out as she slid into the same cupboard where Kumilyova was taking cover.

"Did you get eyes on the shooter?" Kumilyova asked her.

"White male, early to late thirties, Caucasian or Nordic features," Nukova replied as she reloaded her pistol. "He's armed with an SMG I've only ever seen in Imperial propaganda videos."

"Shit," Kumilyova muttered. "Where's the GRU?"

"They were behind me last time I saw them," Nukova said. "I don't think they're dead, though. So, what's your game plan, Rina?"

"You draw him out, and then when he runs out of ammo, I'll take him down."

"I don't think I like that plan at all!"

"Did you have a better one? Didn't think so!" Kumilyova fired off another trio of shots at Zhivkov's bodyguard, who replied with another burst from his submachine gun, and then it was Nukova's turn to force the bodyguard back to his hiding place. Once Nukova's gun had run out of ammo, it was the bodyguard's turn to riddle the place with full auto fire, but that meant that he went through his clip in just about two seconds. Kumilyova sensed her opportunity and she popped her head out of the cupboard, aimed for the bodyguard's center mass and fired off three more bullets. The bodyguard collapsed before he had even had a chance to register Kumilyova's presence on the hallway. "Clear!" she shouted.

It was only at that moment that Shevtsova and Grisenko, the two GRU agents, stepped inside the house. Kumilyova did not miss this and she said, "Have you two been outside the house this whole time?"

"Did you really think we were going to go in while that bastard was chewing the place up?" Shevtsova asked in reply.

"Never mind that," Kumilyova scoffed. To the Defense Forces soldiers, she called out, "You and you check the rest of the ground floor and the kitchen. The rest of you, up the stairs!" Shevtsova and Kumilyova fell in behind a Defense Forces soldier who climbed up the stairs at a fast pace. As he turned a corner, shots from a handgun rang out, and the soldier collapsed on the stairway. "Chyort!" Shevtsova cried out as she ducked for cover. "This is why I joined the GRU!"

"And yet you still ended up here anyway," Kumilyova retorted. "That was Zhivkov! I can see him! He's making a run for it!" She and Shevtsova followed Zhivkov up to the second floor, but the VDV trooper and GRU agent were immediately met by covering fire from an assault rifle. "He's not going to give up easily now!" Shevtsova said.

Nukova and Grisenko followed them up the stairs and were able to fire back at Zhivkov's other bodyguard, who had to topple a cabinet to give herself some cover from the onslaught of Makarov pistol rounds. And while his bodyguard took the brunt of Task Force Autocrat's attacks, Vissarion Zhivkov was himself forcing his way out of the house and away from the clutches of the task force. He had his pistol with him, a special gift from the Emperor of the IMPERIUM, but the problem was that Zhivkov had already used up all of its ammunition taking down that one single Defense Forces soldier in the stairwell. He had no choice but to smash a window out and hop onto the neighboring rooftop on foot. "Aslaug, come on!" he shouted to the bodyguard, who said something that he couldn't understand, and then the woman followed him through the broken window and out onto the rooftops. However, before his bodyguard could take one step further, more shots rang out and the bodyguard fell forward. "Shit," Zhivkov muttered, knowing that he was now alone against the forces of the Pridnestrovians and the Federation.

This was not the end that he had envisioned for himself.

"Zhivkov!" Gavrina Kumilyova shouted as she jumped through the broken window herself to follow the running Zhivkov. "It's over, man, give it up or we will shoot you!"

In a momentary fit of blind defiance, Zhivkov turned and pulled the trigger of his Imperial pistol on the pursuing Pridnestrovians, but the hammer only clicked on an empty chamber. Zhivkov cursed himself for his stupidity, and he threw the gun away and drew out a revolver tucked in the small of his back. This one was loaded, and the Pridnestrovian officers had to duck their heads as Zhivkov fired blind behind him while running away.

"Where does he think he's going?" Arya Nukova asked no one in particular. "He has nowhere to run!"

Even Zhivkov knew it too. He was very quickly running out of roof to run on. He backed away from the edge of the roof once he saw it, and he contemplated the choices left to him. Either he surrendered himself and allowed himself to be paraded through the streets of Tiraspol and TREASON as a prime example of an ESTORVIPAN traitor, or he could make one final stand against the damned Communists and go out in a blaze of glory.

Before he could do any of that however, three pistol shots rang out, and three big and bloody holes suddenly appeared on Zhivkov's torso. The former Autocrat of the ESTORVIPAN OLIGARCHY didn't even have time to react to getting shot before he collapsed onto the roof tiles in an untidy heap.

"Is he dead?" Nukova asked as the four Pridnestrovians cautiously approached Zhivkov's body.

Lieutenant Olga Grisenko made the first move and turned over Zhivkov's body. To her surprise, and the surprise of everyone else, Vissarion Zhivkov was still breathing, albeit shallowly and rapidly. His bloodshot eyes darted around like flies being chased off of a buffet, and both dark and bright red blood dribbled from his mouth. His mouth itself was also opening and closing, seemingly in an attempt to speak, but no words or indeed noises came out of his mouth.

Gavrina Kumilyova bent down to her haunches as she looked at the dying Vissarion Zhivkov. In his current unshaven, bloodshot and dying state, it was almost impossible to imagine that this man had once been one of Pridnestrovia's staunchest allies, and when he had turned his back on communism and openly accepted the help and influence of the IMPERIUM, Zhivkov had immediately become public enemy number one of the Pridnestrovian Republic (technically, public enemy number five as Pridnestrovia had more than enough enemies to deal with to bother themselves with elevating a former ally turned enemy to most wanted man in the country). Kumilyova also knew of Zhivkov's reputation as an avid dreamer, one who dreamt big of both himself and his country, and she knew that this was not the way that Zhivkov would have wanted to go. Heck, Kumilyova herself would've preferred a quick and easy headshot to bleeding to death while at the same time asphyxiating because the holes in Zhivkov's lungs was leaking all the air back out. It was quite the ignoble end to a man whom, had he not turned his back on Pridnestrovia and communism and become an ally of the IMPERIUM, Kumilyova would have highly respected--

Suddenly, Zhivkov's head exploded, and he finally went still. Kumilyova looked up and saw that Dmitriya Shevtsova's suppressed Makarov was smoking, and the slide was locked back over an empty chamber. "He was going to die anyway," Shevtsova replied to Kumilyova's unanswered question.

Kumilyova sighed, shook her head, and stood up. She turned to face the Defense Forces troops pouring onto the roof from the broken window in Zhivkov's safehouse. Among them was the official translator between the Pridnestrovian and Federation forces, who had survived the fight in the house simply because he had been kept at the back of the troops until the fighting was essentially over. Kumilyova locked eyes with him, and he nodded his head as a sign that he knew and understood what was about to happen next.

"Comrades," Kumilyova said. "Soldiers of the Federation of ESTORVIPA AND ESTORPIVA, Vissarion Zhivkov is dead."

Silence greeted her for the next few minutes. The translator had not bothered to repeat what she had said in his native language. But after a tense and quiet break, the translator finally shouted, "Long live the Federation!"

"Long live the Federation!" the other soldiers repeated in Russian, VIPAN, and PIVAN. "Long live the Federation!"

"Death to the ESTORVIPAN OLIGARCHY! Death to the UNITED STATES OF ESTORVIPA! And death to the ESTORVIPAN COMMUNE!"

"Long live the Federation! Death to the rebels! Death to the Autocrat! Death to the Pakhan! Death to the Chief Communard! Death to all the enemies of the Federation and Pridnestrovia!"

"You know," Nukova said as the Pridnestrovians looked down on Vissarion Zhivkov's body, "if the IMPERIUM is sending its own special forces to guard Zhivkov, that means that he's become very important to them."

"Da, I know," Kumilyova replied. "They're not going to take this sitting down, the IMPERIUM. They're going to strike back at us once they find out what happened to Zhivkov."

Shevtsova nodded her head. "The only thing that we can do now is to keep our eyes open and wait for the IMPERIUM to stab us in the back yet again."

[USS Monitor]

Journal of George Geer, June 3:

I am back in Virginia, and todays game was a smashing success! We won 8 to 1. We played against the Irish today and they seemed puzzled by our field, which has none of the amenities of the stadium where they play in their country. A large crowd came to see the game and the farmer who lives in the house across the road ran out of roast chickens. Other people who live in the vicinity brought more food, but they had to be paid handsomely to part with it. This tournament makes it easy to forget sometimes, but we are still at war and there are food shortages. I really do wonder how our officers managed to arrange all this. I have never heard of anything like it.

June 5:

Ko-oren got their revenge on the field today. We lost 1 to 2, but what a trip! Stodder had a very clever idea and we went to a bookstore and purchased a stack of technical books to bring home to the United States. I am sure they will help the war effort, and they might make us rich in the process. There are books about engines, architecture, metallurgy, & c. that are far beyond anything we have in the 19th century. We will have to read them as soon as possible.

[Ko-oren]

"Welcome everyone. We have gotten an invaluable chance today, I'm sure you are all familiar with Eiichi Shimoda, head coach of the Aviansola Admirals. I'm very pleased to announce that he will support our campaign. In fact, he will join our staff for the remainder of the Classic qualification campaign as well as the Classic itself, should we make it!"

"Isn't that technically espionage? What about an unfair advantage in the league? He can observe every big name opponent his team will face next year!"

"In our last few games, we have suffered from several errors, especially against South Covello, but then again, they're unstoppable in the group. With the addition of Mr. Shimoda, we should tackle these issues, as well as find tiny edges in other parts of our play. In general, though, we've been choosing our pitches very well lately, with support from the infielders who have gotten shifting down exactly the way we want to see it. Keep it up!

Overall, I'm very happy to see that we can score runs. Uyeda is in the top 5 for stolen bases across the entire tournament, and these extra bases count. We're forcing them to choose between an easy out on first, or the more valuable out between second and third and occasionally third and home. That's invaluable. We're on a roll now. Two straight wins, South Covello looks so far ahead now but we're just 3 games behind. We can catch up. Focus on the excellent batting against Melbergia, and the clutch 9th inning run versus the USS Monitor. We're not entirely at our best yet, and to be honest, our run totals have been completely skewed by the win over the Ireland Isles. We've scored 40 runs this tournament, of which 15 came from that one game. Seven runs in the sixth. We've scored more runs that day than many teams totalled up to that point. Baseball is random like that, but keep that feeling going during tough times. We're never out, even if we're six runs down, basically."

Later that day, Eiichi Shimoda's phone rings.

"Mr. Shimoda?"

"Speaking, who is this?"

"This is Julien Timmermans, the lead on the data science team hired to the Aviansola Admirals. We have arrived in Aviansola, and we have made ourselves at home as much as possible. The team is familiar with baseball rules, but we're a little left to our own devices when it comes to what is important to a player's performance... Part of that means we'll be able to set up a methodology 100% independent from common assumptions and traditions, but part of that also means that we have generally no clue what we're actually watching. Is there anyone at the team available to talk us through it, maybe a daily lecture or something, before procedures start at the club?"

"Uh..."

[Hampton Island]

Hampton Island Sports Brief

Or Maybe Not....

Game 6: Stetzra 6, Hampton Island 3

After titling our first entry, “Golden Bears Get Off To A Good Start”, it’s become apparent that we spoke to soon. The game against Stetzra was a complete disappointment, though it seemed ok at the start. This was Chris Tyson’s first start since hitting Hannah Bates of Newmanistan and getting ejected in the second inning, so he should have been fresh and ready to give a great start. However, his control got the best of him again, as in the third inning, he hung a curveball again Matthäus Hoefler, and the first baseman made him pay with a 435-foot bullet to left. It was three-run shot that gave “L’Equipe Royale” a 3-1 lead. On the next pitch, Tyson appeared to be throwing at the head of Nicolas Muhlfeld, but the batter ducked. Tyson was ejected following the pitch. Things only got worse from there.

Game 7: Crystalline Caverns 4, Hampton Island 1

Another poor game, ruined by a stupid baserunning blunder. In the third inning, and already up 1-0, Hampton Island had the bases loaded with just one out, Bryce Mueller hit a long fly ball to left that was caught for the second out, and Larry Huckston seemed to score on the sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Or, perhaps not. The Crystalline Caverns third baseman was alert to the fact that Huckston began took off for home just a split second before their outfielder caught the ball. The umpire was on top of it as well, and the third baseman called for the ball, stepped on the bag, and Huckston was ruled out to end the inning. The aggravating thing was that the ball was hit so deep that Huckston could have had a cup of coffee after the catch and still scored safely. The game was awful from there, and the Golden Bears only had one hit for the remainder of the game.