WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 17 ROSTERS/RP/SCORES

[Silver Beach]

2-0 Crushing Deficit!

In the Third Place series game 2 matchup, Sean Carey outpitched Grant Hendell, going 8 innings for the Oxen, and allowing 1 ER on 6 hits. Todd Jones had another 0-4 game, as he is 0-8 with 5 strikeouts in the series so far. We bring you the complete coverage of the matchup.

Things went bad from the get-go in this matchup. Janet Corell, the leadoff hitter for the Oxen against Grant Hendell, immediately on the first pitch of the game, had a lead off double to get things rolling for the oxen. After a ground to third base by Tyson McGillicutty, David Sdmar, the catcher for the Oxen, hit a 2 run blast down the left field line to make it 2-0 to the Oxen after the first inning. After mustering just 4 hits yesterday, the Silverian bats woke up for one inning, and then went back to sleep.

In the second innning, after Carey 1-2-3 LaFave, McMall, and Todd Jones, Hank Johnson led off the inning with a single. Hey, it looked like the Silverians had some form of life in them. After Silver Beach failed to score in the previous game, and were immediately down 2-0 tonight, they would need something to lift them, and their spirits, up if they wanted to fight back and not go down 2-0 in the best of 5 series. Everybody though Alphonso Ramirez did just that, hitting it to straight away center field, the deepest part of the ballpark here in Charlestown, but Tyson McGillicutty, the center field, robbed a home run for Ramirez. That left the momentum on the Oxen side, and it never let go. After De Winters tripled in Hank Johnson, Evan Sartorious and Hanley Choo both struck out to end the inning, and seemingly the last threat for Silver Beach, who scattered 4 hits in the rest of the game.

In the 4th inning for the Oxen, they got their last runs of the game, the last ones that they needed to finish off Silver Beach. Carl Holmes and Jayde Sinclair both singled, while Emma Flint walked to load the bases for the Oxen, with nobody out. Grant Hendell then immediately gave up a two-run double to Daniel Jae, and then the manager took him out for the long reliever, Ryan Brown. Ryan Brown then struck out Arthur Thomas and Janet Corell(who was 4-6), but allowed a two-run double to McGillicutty, to stop the scoring in the game.

Overall, the Silverian bats are getting dominated in this series. In the last two games combined, the Silverian offense has 10 hits and 1 run, with 3 extra base hits in there, and no HRs. Silver Beach needs to make more contact with the ball, and remember, they have to score to win. Louis De Graza always seems to come up big in big games, so they are confident on the mound. But Todd Jones(0-8 in the series), the superstar, needs to step it up, and get some runs on the board for Silver Beach. The top of the order needs to score early, and give De Graza a cushion to work with. When he works with a lead, he is fine. But when he doesn't.... It gets ugly. Look out for Todd Jones being the key man tomorrow, if he hits, Silver Beach will be fine, but if he doesn't..... Look for the Oxen to get out their brooms.

[Qazox]

Qazox at WBC17

Qazox a win away from best finish in 16 years.

in our semifnal review, we stated that the Qazox bullpen was in need of depth. So far in the 3rd place series vs. Silver Beach, the bullpen's seen nothing but the pen itself as another complete game puts Qazox up 2-0. Sean Carey went the distance, allowing just an unearned run in the 7th, as Qazox moved 1 win from taking home 3rd place. If the Pheonix do manage to win this series, it will be their best finish since WBC9, when they last won a title.

Grant Hendell allowed 6 runs to score, giving Qazox a 6-0 lead, before being pulled with 2 outs in the 7th. A good day for Carl Holmes, who drove in the last 3 runs for Qazox, breaking out of a 4-for-26 slump. Jerri Werth will start Game 3 against Louis De Graza.

BOX SCORE:

Qazox        0 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 0  6 16 1
Silver Beach 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1  7 0

Scoring Summary:
Qazox 2nd: Holmes popped out to catcher. Sinclair singled to center. Flint doubled to right, Sinclair to 3rd. Carre flied out to center, Sinclair scored. Jae singled to right, Flint scored. Thomas struck out. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB. Qazox 2-0.

Qazox 5th: Carre singled to left. Jae singled to right, Carre to 2nd. Thomas flied out to right. Corell singled to center, Jae to 2nd, Carre to 3rd. McGillicutty struck out. Sdmar singled to center, Carre scored, Jae to 3rd, Corell to 2nd. Holmes singled to right, Jae scored, Sdmar to 2nd, Corell out advancing (9-6-2-5) 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 LOB. Qazox 4-0.

Qazox 7th: Thomas singled to left. Corell walked, Thomas to 2nd. McGillicutty grounded into fielder's choice (5-6), Corell to 2nd, Thomas out at 3rd. Sdmar flied out to left. Holmes doubled to right, Corell and McGillicutty scored<Pitching change: Grant McLeonard in for Grant Hendell>. Sinclair flied out to center. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 LOB. Qazox 6-0.

Silver Beach 7th: Alphonso Ramirez reached on Carey's throwing error, Ramirez to 2nd. Franklin De Winters singled to center, Ramirez to 3rd. Evan Sartorious flied out to right, Ramirez scored. Hanley Choo singled to center, De Winters to 3rd. Jonah Miller struck out. Yamano LaFave grounded out to 2nd. 1 run, 2 hits, 2 LOB, 1 error. Qazox 6-1.

I really hate to tell Silver Beach this, but the above is my RP, for our game 2. Which I accidently over-wrote my Game 1 RP. I vastly apologize for the confusion.

[Newmanistan]

BRUCE STRUGGLES, ROCKETS IN A HOLE

St. Catherine- Well, at least the Rockets are beginning to get some of their swagger back off the field. After Jessica Brasfield’s long stare down with Gina Torretta, Courtney Ratigan had this to say about Torretta, “She reminds me of a minor league hockey player. You know, the one that score all of those goals at the minor league level, and maybe win a minor league trophy or two, but when they get to the big time, they crap their pants, probably because they can’t play defense worth a lick. Sure, she’s got good numbers in the league they have. What’s the name of it again? I forget. After all, it’s just a minor league compared to ours. Let’s see how good she would be playing in Newmanistan.”

While that remark will surely get the Tarrentum players fired up to hit against Ratigan, the way this series is going, they might not get a chance too. The first game of this series could have gone either way, and many believe that Newmanistan was the better team for nine innings, but that cannot be said in game two. Tonight, the Falcons were clearly the better team. Surely, Ratigan’s comments circulated across their locker room and inspired the team to take it out on young Brianna Bruce, who had nothing to do with the comments. It reminds of the Kate Schmidt incidents with Sarzonia in WBC 12. Schmidt had the war of the words with Rockets players, including Stacey Keisler, but when the Rockets played the Stars, it was when Michelle Harrison was on the mound. At the time, Michelle was a 20-year fifth starter just trying to make her debut, but she could not get out of the first inning due to being ejected in a brawl that occurred. So here was Bruce, the 24-year old fifth starter who swallowed her pride in being skipped over for that fifth game against Silver Beach in favor of Courtney Ratigan, knowing it was best for the team, being able to get a chance here to show her stuff. Then, in a twist of irony, thanks to comments by Ratigan, Bruce had to face a group of Falcons ready to kick some ass.

It didn’t start well. Ferdini Zappataro led the game off with a single, and would steal second. That steal came during the at-bat of Gina Torretta, who drew a loud reaction from the fans in the stands, either loud cheering or loud booing, depending on whom one was rooting for. As much as she would have loved the two-run homer in this spot, she would certainly settle for the RBI-double, and later scoring on a Xavier Gradoni single. A Joe Thomas single later in the inning brought in a third run to give the Falcons the early advantage. The Falcons would add a singe run in the 3rd and then the 4th to make it 5-0, with Torretta getting he second RBI, that in the 4th on a single, and then her best friend (just ask a bunch of tourist from WBC 16) Dessea Vallena-Favella hitting a solo bomb in the 5th. On the flip side, Romeo Vasparian was doing a good job shutting down the Newmanistan hitters. And they were actually worried about this guy? Well, he certainly stepped up, only allowing two soft singles over five innings as the Falcons began putting the game away. On Southport Baseball Tonight, Carrie Nicolette told viewers that, “Vasparian clearly wants to get out of Tarrentum. He’s got a messy contract situation over there, and the media is on his case. So I am sure this really made him excited to pitch against the Rockets and hope that he might get a contract offer to play here, instead of over there.” It was a good observation from the two-time WBC Champion second baseman, who later in the broadcast mentioned that this series could have a few NBL teams look to buy players from the IBL and perhaps create a rivalry between the two leagues.

As for Brianna Bruce, she did not go past the fifth inning. Michelle Harrison would once again be in the wrong place in the wrong time in the sixth inning. While facing Gina Torretta, she got a little too high and tight to Gina’s liking on a 1-1 count, and Gina marched toward the pitching mound. The two had a shouting match and exchanged a couple shoves before catcher Tara Rulison separated them. Strangely, the home plate umpire did not eject either, and decided they would each get a warning. The benches emptied, to a point, but no players really went further then their respective baselines on either side of the field before they realized nothing more was really happening. While Harrison eventually got Torretta to ground out, a home run later in the inning by Joe Thomas made it 6-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Rockets managed a pair, thanks to a 2-RBI single from Meghan Butler, but they were never able to threaten the Falcons any more then that. Cassie Herrick shut the Falcons down over the final three innings to keep it from getting worse, and the final score would end up 6-2.

Following the game, manager Christina Sanders was bombarded with questions from the media asking if the team was properly focused, and what she thought about Ratigan’s comments. While she said that felt the focus was there, and she would not tell her players what to say and not say, she did seem to realize that the Rockets are in a tough hole now. “Next game, let’s just shut up and win.” The soft spoken Kaitlyn Ahearn is on the mound, so maybe that is a good start in achieving that.

[Tarrentum]

Tarrentum Falcons Sporting News
Falcons Out to Early 2-0 Lead in Series

St. Catherine, Lycrabon - Though TFSN had some technical problems between Games 1 and 2, all issues at the mothership have been fixed. What can be said about the first two games in this series? The Falcons have outperformed all expectations and swept the first two games against Newmanistan in Lycrabon. However the main story has not been solely about the play of the Falcons but about the budding rivarly between these two nations' baseball teams.

While Game one went extra innings (as is the norm for the Falcons these Playoffs) the story came when Jessica Brasfield and CF Gina Torretta got into a heated argument in the top of the 8th inning after a blown ball 4 call by the Sarzonian Umpire. With expletives being thrown back and forth between the two women, the umpire threw out Torretta for what the International Umpiring Association later said in a statement was due to instigation by Torretta. Torretta herself said after the Game 1 victory that it was all due to Brasfield's obnoxiousness and pompousness that she lost her cool.

With Torretta out of Game 1, Ferdinand Cossomo substitued in Brenaccio Macca. Who, as most Tarrentians know, stole 75 bases last year and led all IBL outfielders with 148 runs. Macca has mostly been used as a pinch hitter and defensive substitution in this WBC but he has been very proficient in this role. Macca's play helped win the game for the Falcons as his single and stolen bases in the top of the 11th helped put the Falcons up by 2 when Valerio Utteroni hit a ball over the left field wall. The 2-run deficit was insurmountable by Newmanistan in the bottom of the 11th and the Falcons took the first game in the finals 3-1.

Game 2 started with Romeo Vasparian on the mound and Antoni Favella behind the plate. Favella, star of WBC 16 and widely regarded as a top catcher in the IBL, has been very ineffective this tournament in his pinch hitter role. Cossomo gave the starting lineup position to Utteroni and stuck with his older catcher throughout the tournament after Utteroni's MVP play during the IBL season. Now with a slumping Favella behind the plate in the 8th spot the Falcons looked to expand their series lead of the #1 Rockets to two games. [OOC: Newmanistan, I just moved my lineup up one position and put Favella in the 8 hole.]

Vasparian, who has only pitched 13 innings in relief this tournament, was the key to the Falcons victory. He threw 6 shut out innings and only gave up two hits to the powerful Rockets lineup. While many in Tarrentum thought that Vasparian was losing his touch. The young pitcher showed them, and the IBL, why he deserves a starting role and new contract (disputes have been ongoing with Lower Marentian) in the IBL. While Carrie Nicolette of Newmanistan's Southport Tonight stated Vasparian was ready to jump at the chance to get out of Tarrentum and move to the Nemanistani Baseball League, IBL insiders tell TFSN that Vasparian is extremely happy in Tarrentum.

Yet while the run-scoring proficiency of the Falcons helped them overcome the Rockets once more. It was Gina Torretta who lead the storylines of most of the dailys in Tarrentum. Torretta and Michelle Harrison almost came to blows in the sixth as Harrison clearly threw a high fastball to back Torretta off the plate on a 1-1 count. While the Milchaman umpire did not throw out either woman he offered warnings to both the batter and the pitcher as well as both benches. Torretta eventually grounded out but Joe Thomas smashed a solo homer over the right field wall to put The Power Company up 6 - 0. Newmanistan eventually added two more runs off of Guignard Arico and the game ended 6 - 2.

After the game bench coach Father DeSalvo said that cooler heads need to prevail between these two teams. "International competition is meant to bring the best out of opposing nations but it seems that if we continue down this path of targeting Torretta that things will come to a head much sooner than anyone in Tarrentum, Newmanistan or on the WBC Council would like to see." Torretta herself offered an olive branch. "Let's just say that if they don't throw at my head again I won't beat the shit out of them." Clearly Torretta has been spending too much time with Erni Washini.

Ferdiand Cossomo fielded a lot of questions from the media about the Falcons early lead in this series. "I'm not going to say that I'm not surprised, because I am. We can't get too ahead of ourselves though. We've been extremely lucky that we haven't seen the full brunt of Newmanistan's power. They will win some games in this series, I have to prepare my team for that inevitability, and how to respond to such a situation." The series will indeed see some Newmanistani win's but we here at TFSN are confident that the Falcons can respond. The series now moves to the Falcons being the "home" team. Liona Marrada will start Game 3 and will look to have the Falcons jump out to a commanding 3-0 lead inthe WBC finals.

[Lycrabon]

Game 3 cutoffs...do we have a sweep and a necessary Red Sox miracle?

AT CHARLESTOWN
Silver Beach 11, Qazox 3 [Qazox leads series 2-1]
AT ST. CATHERINE
Tarrentum 5, Newmanistan 1 [Tarrentum leads series 3-0]

[Qazox]

Qazox at WBC17

Werth shelled in 2/3rds of an inning as Silver Beach dominates.

Jerri Werth, who had improved vastly since her opening night start was lambasted for 9 earned runs in just 2/3rds of an inning as Qazox was routed by Silver beach in Game 3 by the score of 11-3. Silver Beach, facing elimination, scored the most runs ever allowed by Qazox in a single inning, scoring 10 runs in the 1st inning. The bullpen, which had the 1st two games off due to complete games by Michael Hunter and Sean Carey, combined to allow just 1 earned run on 8 hits over the final 8 1/3 innings. Todd Jones' 2-out Grand Slam in the 1st made 10-0 and both teams began preparing for game 4. Louis De Graza went 8 1/3 strong innings for Silver Beach earning a rather easy victory. Sean Vasa hit a 2-run HR in the 9th, his first carrer HR in a losing effort.

So pitching on 2 days rest for the first time, Hunter will start Game 4 against Ryan Johnson. Qazox will start Sean Carey in a Game 5 situation.

BOX SCORE:

Silver Beach 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  11 16 0
Qazox         0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2   3  8 0

Scoring Summary:
Silver Beach 1st: LaFave singled to right. McMall doubled to center, LaFave to 3rd. Jones struck out. Johnson doubled to right, LaFave and McMall scored. Ramierez singled to left, Johnson to 3rd. De Winter singled to short, Johnson scored, Ramierez to 2nd. Sartorious walked, Ramierez to 3rd, De Winter to 2nd. Choo singled to left, Ramierez scored, De Winter to 3rd, Sartorious to 2nd. De Graza lined out to short. LaFave singled to center, De Winter and Sartorious scored, Choo to 3rd. McMall hit by pitch, LaFave to 2nd. <Pitching change: Randall Wynne in for Werth>. Jones 423ft HR to right, Choo, Lafave and McMall scored. Johnson flied out to left. 10 runs, 8 hits, 0 LOB. Silver Beach 10-0.

Qazox 5th: Sinclair flid out to left. Flint doubled to center. Jae singled to right, Flint scored. Thomas grounded into 4-6-3 DP, Jae out at 2nd. 1 runs, 2 hits, 0 LOB. Silver Beach 10-1.

Silver Beach 7th: Choo doubled to right. De Graza hit into fielder's choice (2-6), Choo out at 2nd. LaFave doubled to left, De Graza to 3rd. McMall grounded into fielder's choice (5-2), De Graza out at home, LaFave to 2nd. Jones singled to right, LaFave scored, McMall to 2nd. Johnson struck out. 1 run, 3 hits, 2 LOB. Silver Beach 11-1.

Qazox 9th: Jae flied out to center. Thomas singled to left. <Pinch-hitter: Sean Vasa batting for Charlene Iya>. Vasa 376ft HR to left, Thomas scored. Corell singled to left. <Pitching change: Shin Mee-Sung in for De Graza>. McGillicutty struck out. Sdmar flied out to center. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB. Silver Beach 11-3.

[Newmanistan]

SHHHH..... THE BATS ARE SLEEPING

St. Catherine, Lycrabon- Whenever a team loses in a series like this, it can be a chore to figure out what went wrong. What was it that you could have done differently? That is not the case for these Rockets, as it is pretty easy to figure out why this team now finds themselves in a 3-0 hole. While some credit needs to go to the hitters of the Falcons, it is their pitchers that have given them this advantage. However, an offense like this has no excuse not to at least be competitive. Other then game one, which Newmanistan had a good chance and may have outplayed Tarrentum for nine innings, the Rockets have hardly mustered much of a fight to their opposition. In fact, in the Falcon dressing room they are probably thinking, “Wow, this is easy.” Let’s go through this Newmanistan lineup now and put these batters on trial.

Stacie Meadows- Stacie is supposed to be the catalyst of the offense, jump starting it with her speed. While that speed accounted for the Rockets lone run in game one, Stacie has not stolen a base since then, because she has been unable to get on base. She has just three hits in this series, although that’s more then others in this lineup. It had been rumored that this would be the last Classic for the 33-year old. This performance should make that all but official even if she desired to return.

Danielle Scott- Danielle had a strong series against Silver Beach, and has an RBI in this series, but that’s about all we can say with her. In fairness though, Danielle’s production is only going to be noticed when Stacie Meadows is on base. With the former not happening, Danielle is not going to be as noticeable. She’s not the type that would ever be expected to lead and carry and offense, so we’ll give her a bit of a pass here.

Courtney Weinman- Courtney has one hit, a single, in 14 at-bats during the series. After hitting the series-winning home run against Silver Beach, Weinman has struggled to get it going in this series. For Tarrentum pitching, this is the most dangerous of the sleeping bats in the Rockets lineup, because if it does wake up, then that’s presumably how the Rockets would pull of the miracle comeback, if it occurred. She’s always been known to play well in crunch time, so this is most puzzling of the slumps. Of the 13 times in which she has been retired: four have been strikeouts, six ground outs, one hot liner to second, and to fly outs. That could suggest a trend: that she’s been late in her swing. It might be too late for her to get it together, but she needs too.

Meghan Butler- Meghan has driven in three of the four runs scored by the Rockets in the series, including the 2-run double in game two, and her solo home run in the 7th inning in game three. Overall her numbers are pretty solid. But the captain of the team needs to do more, even though it is out of her control. Reports are she called a “players only” meeting following the game three loss, so she seems to be doing all she can.

Kristen Wheeler- Kristen is 2-for-14 in this series, and that ineffectiveness has been just as critical to the team as Weinman’s has been. Because of this, anything that Butler has tried to get done has been cancelled out behind her. If this struggle continues, we wouldn’t even be surprised if the Falcons opted to walk Butler to pitch to Wheeler. Then again, something like that is what might make this bat wake up. If her and Courtney get going, they could pull of the miracle, but let’s face it, this hole is probably too deep. Of the 12 times in which she has been retired: three strike outs, three weak pop outs, three ground outs, and three fly outs. So at least she has been consistent with something.

Rachel Cuyler- Rachel could be doing a little better, but her 4-for-15 isn’t the reason the team is where they are. However, it might make Christina Sanders consider Courtney Stafford at second base in the next classic, something in which a lot of fans think should be happening now. If Rachel wants to silence those doubters, picking up her game would be nice.

Julie Sexton- While Julie’s 2-for-13 is right in line with the other struggles on the team, her costly error in game 1, which allowed the lone regulation Tarrentum run to score in that game, kept the Rockets from winning that game 1-0. In her debut Classic, Julie was inconsistent, and it might be showing again here. Her saving grace could be that Newmanistan doesn’t have another 1B that’s really going to threaten her starting position, but right now you kind of wish there was.

Tara Rulison- The backstop is on the team for her behind the plate ability, and she has worked with the pitchers well. Her 4-for-14 actually gives the Rockets one of their best overall batting averages of the series, but Sanders won’t over-react and move her up in the batting order.

Sidenote: As a pinch-hitter in the nine hole, Courtney Stafford is 2-for-3 in this series with a run scored (in game 2). Since 2B is her natural position, and many people at the beginning of the series thought she was equal to Rachel Cuyler, this kind of production could make start Stafford over Cuyler.

Oh wait, you mean she’s going to do that in game 4? Well, that’s an interesting jolt, so all you people keeping score at home, remember to pencil Stafford into the six-spot instead of Rachel Cuyler.

Do-or-die for Tarrentum?: Well, calling it do-or-die for a team up 3-0 is obviously an exaggeration. But we make this point because in game 4, the Rockets will have the historically inconsistent Brittany Castelli on the mound. With that, the Falcons should want to finish off the series here and now and not play around. The way miracle comebacks happen is that the team that is behind begins working up momentum leading up to that deciding game 7 if they got it there. If Newmanistan wins with the historically inconsistent Castelli on the mound in game four, then the Rockets go to the top of the rotation with Courtney Ratigan in game 5, and Jessica Brasfield in game 6. You could see how the momentum could work in our favor there. So look for Falcons manager Ferdinand Cossomo to be stern in delivering a message that his team cannot rest on this lead in game 4. They’d rather not see Ratigan a first time, or Brasfield again.

[Tarrentum]

Tarrentum Falcons Sporting News
Get the Brooms Ready

St. Catherines, Lycrabon - Ferdinand Cossomo was the best choice for the job. That issue can now be put to rest. When the TSC fired Tiberius Wavi from the helm of the national squad, most thought that it was the wrong move. Yet people said the same thing when the TSC released Gregori Burindi as the head manager of the National Football Squad and replaced him with Daestegwen Dlartanina, a Sylvanae from Dorian and Sonya. All Dlartanina did was lead the Imperials to a Round of 32 appearance. All Ferdinand Cossomo has done was bring his winning ways from the IBL to the world stage and has lead his team to a 3-0 lead in the championship series of the 17th WBC.

The 3-0 series lead has been impressive not just because the Falcons have returned to their winning ways with a vengence, but becuase they are doing it against the world's #1. While Newmanistan was well deserved to win a record-setting fourth WBC title, it looks like they will not be able to now. While we aren't going to crown the Falcons champions just yet, that would be a disservice to the Newmanistani's, we have to point out that overcoming a 3-0 series deficit is nigh unthinkable.

The Falcons took Game 3 just as they won Games 1 and 2, with outstanding, dominant pitching. This time the great pitching came from Liona Marrada. The Tarrentian Ace was helped out by a 3-run first inning where Zappataro helped out with another two stolen bases in an inning. Zappataro was then brought home by a Torretta double into right. Utteroni followed with a single to right which Dessea Vallena-Favella cleaned up with a triple into the gap. From there the Falcons kept the pressure on the Rockets throughout the rest of the game.

Tarrentum should look towards their own team however. The tournament has gone longer than any player had thought it would and the beat writers have started to see that something is not quite right. While it's nothing to be alarmed about currently, the issues are just below the surface. Rumours have it that the Favella's have split up and our now sleeping in different hotel rooms. Gina Torretta, while being instigated to anger in Games 1 and 2 by the Newmanistani's underhand tactics, kept relatively calm during Game 3. Torretta has not forgotten about the problems in the first two games however as she exchanged some heated words with Stacie Meadows. Though the women were separated before anything too drastic happened Ferdinand Cossomo and Christina Sanders got together and issued warnings themselves to their teams.

While it is only one game left this has definantly been an interesting series to say the least. As the World Cup starts up all of Tarrentum hopes to move from one phenomonal performance to another. Still, there needs to be one more game played. One more victory. One more (hopefully) 9-inning game for the Falcons to take their place as world champions.

[Lycrabon]

Game 4 cutoffs....is the end of WBC 17, or a dramatic game 5 and the start of another miracle comeback?

AT ST. CATHERINE
Newmanistan 8, Tarrentum 6 [Tarrentum leads series 3-1]

AT CHARLESTOWN
Qazox 4, Silver Beach 3 (F/10) [Qazox takes third place 3-1]

[Qazox]

Qazox at WBC17

Qazox staves off Silver Beach to take 3rd place.

Mike Mazeroni's bloop PH single to center in the 10th gave Qazox a thrilling 4-3 win and 3rd place at WBC 17. Both Michael Hunter and Ryan Johnson came out throwing, combining to allow just 4 hits through 6 innings, but in the 7th the offenses managed to begin to scrape a few runs together and the bullpens would decide it. After allowing Silver Beach to tie it in the 8th, Qazox' Greg Chambers shut SB down over the final 2 innings, setting up Mazeroni's heroics.

Despite the bad start, this has been one of Qazox' better teams as this edition of the Pheonix had the 2nd most wins at a WBC in team history (16), trailing only the legendary WBC 8 championship team. Since the oldest player on the team is only 24, (Jerri Werth); this team finally could be the one to bring a title back to Qazox. But for now, having the best finish in 12 years will suffice, but not for long.

BOX SCORE:

Silver Beach 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0  3  8 0
Qazox        0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1  4  8 0

1 out when winning run scored.

Scoring Summary:
Silver Beach 7th: Hank Johnson doubled to left. Ramierez singled to center, Johnson to 3rd. De Winter doubled to left, Johnson and Ramierez scored. Sartorious flied out to left. Choo grounded out to 2nd, De Winter to 3rd. Ryan Jackson grounded out to first. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 LOB. Silver Beach 2-0.

Qazox 7th: McGillicutty tripled to left-center. Sdmar flied out to center, McGillicutty scored. Holmes singled to left. <Pinch runner: Yasmine Herrera running for Holmes>. Sinclair singled to right, Herrera to 3rd. Flint doubled to center, Herrera and Sinclair cored. Jae lined out to third. Thomas struck out. 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 LOB. Qazox 3-2.

Silver Beach 8th: <Fielding change: Victor Fuller in for PR Herrera at 1B>. LaFave doubled to center. <Pitching change: Michella Brown in for Hunter>. LaFave stole third. McMall grounded out to 2nd, LaFave scored. Jones flied out to left. H. Johnson singled to right. Ramierez flied out to left. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 LOB. 3-3.

Qazox 10th:<Pitching change: Ryan Brown in for Edward Museveni>. Flint singled to left. Jae singled to right, Flint to second. Thomas out on sac bunt (2-4), Flint to 3rd, Jae to 2nd. <Pinch hitter: Mazeroni batting for Chambers>. Mazeroni singled to center, Flint scored. 1 run, 3 hits, 2 LOB. Qazox 4-3.

[Newmanistan]

ROCKETS AVOID SWEEP

St. Catherine, Lycrabon- If there is to be a major historic comeback, you first must take baby steps. As Meghan Butler said prior to the game, “You can’t come back from a 3-0 deficit in one game.” So while one the most famous sporting cliches of take it one game at a time applies in this situation and it allows Rockets fans to at least think “what if”. After all ace Courtney Ratigan pitches game 5, and Jessica Brasfield, who shut down Tarrentum in game 1 but got no run support, pitches game 6. If they perform as they are able, and this series goes seven, then all of the pressure would be on the Falcons to avoid an epic collapse. They would have young 19-year old Fironte Sareb on the mound, a player that can perhaps relate to Rockets starter Brittany Castelli. We all know about Brittany’s classic “Great one game, poor the next” history in the Classic, and fans of the sky blue were just hoping that she would have a big one in the cards tonight (although if you went by her pattern of good, bad, good, etc, today had that “bad day” stench). Sareb, known as the “The Kid” in his homeland had a lot of hype associated with him, and many of their fans expected him to just develop smoothly into the #1 spot of their rotation, perhaps in this Classic. But that did not happen, as according to the numbers we were given from Tarrentum sources, he had 15 walks and only one strikeout in the entire season. “When I look at those numbers, my first thought is, that can’t be right, it must be a misprint. Maybe it is.” said analyst Carrie Nicolette on Southport Baseball Tonight, “Batters consistently put the ball in play against him, which is fine if they are hitting it to someone. But it tells me he doesn’t have good stuff, or at least his stuff needs to develop more. Though, he gets results. Obviously, he would not be on the team if he didn’t. It begs the question for me though. Knowing how batters make contact with his pitches in way or the other, is this the kind of pitcher that you want going up against slumping batters on the opposition? It’s the perfect storm for waking those struggling bats up. Ferdinand Cossomo is a very good manager, but he’s dropped the ball here. You can’t give Sareb the ball in this situation. If the Rockets win this game with offense, then a lot of that blame should be put on Cossomo’s shoulders for this decision. If the Rockets then come back and win this series, then Cossomo blew it for his country.”

Carrie’s observation couldn’t have been more true immediately when Stacie Meadows legged out an infield single in the top of the first, and stole a base. Then Danielle Scott blooped a single into left-center to bring in the first run. Could Courtney Weinman then finally get a big hit? Well, no, she flew out to deep center, but made hard contact with the ball, which is something that could make her more confident as the series went on, and Meghan Butler would double in Scott to make it 2-0. So how about the struggling Kristen Wheeler? She too made hard contact, but the sharp liner was caught by shortstop Dessea Vallena-Favella, who was able to beat Butler back to the bag to double her up. But unbelievably, for the first time in this series, Newmanistan had the lead! In the second inning, it carried over to Courtney Stafford, who sought to take advantage of this opportunity to start (in favor of Rachel Cuyler) by hitting a triple into the right field corner, and a sac fly off the bat of Julie Sexton gave the Rockets a 3-0 advantage. The Falcons managed one in the bottom of the inning, but the Rockets kept on playing well in the third. With one out, Courtney Weinman this time was able to get herself a basehit, with a seeing eye single up the middle. After Meghan Butler was retired, Kristen Wheeler broke out of her slump, at least temporarily, quite loudly with a monster 430-foot home run to left field to make it 5-1 in favor of the Rockets. Sareb would not go past the third inning as finally the Rockets had something to cheer about and the Falcons fans who brought brooms casually let them rest underneath their seats.

Leave it to Brittany Castelli to blow the lead. Sparked by a two-run double by Joe Thomas in the fourth, and two-run bomb by Gina Torretta in the fifth, the brooms found their way from under the seats to being waved by the fans wearing the orange and blue. Torretta was sure to pump her fists in celebration while staring into the Rockets dugout during her home run trot, but Gina wasn’t done hitting home runs even though Castelli was done in the fifth. In the 7th, and the score still tied at 5, Torretta hit a solo shot over the right field wall off of reliever Cassie Herrick to give the Falcons the lead, and the series seemed as though it was slipping away from Newmanistan. The Tarrentum bullpen had re-silenced the bats, allowing only one hit between the 4th and 7th innings, but if we know anything about these Rockets, it is that they are resilient. In the top of the 8th, they found a way to bounce back. With one down, Courtney Weinman hit a sharp double into right-center, and playing the percentages, Cossomo opted to walk Meghan Butler. Even though Kristen Wheeler had homered earlier in the ball game, her struggles leading into this game led the Falcon manager to this decision, and he got the double play ball that he wanted. However, an aggressive slide by Butler into second, making Vallena-Favella to be off with her relay throw just enough that it forced Xavier Gradoni off the bag at first, allowing Wheeler to reach safely and advance Weinman to 3rd. Next up was the inspired Courtney Stafford, who laced a double into left field, scoring both baserunners to put the Rockets in front again. A Julie Sexton single then scored Stafford to make it 8-6.

The decision to start Stafford today really paid off, and if the Rockets don’t get any more from this series, they may have found themselves a new second baseman. As Sara Schaefer shut down the Falcons in the 8th, and Erica Barrett closed the deal in the 9th, the team headed back to their locker room appearing as if they had lost the game. No one was making any boasts about a comeback, as they know there is a long way to go. Christina Sanders told us afterwards, “We showed character, but there’s still too much work to be done for us to get excited right now.”

So now, we await game 5, and wonder if Ratigan and Brasfield can keep the Rockets hopes alive. When each debuted in WBC 15, they were seen as being our future stars, the two that would lead the next generation of Rockets into future greatness and more WBC championships. They did win the WBC 15 trophy, but were mid-rotation starters then. In the last Classic, they got moved up into their 1-and-2 spots but so far neither has that classic story that boosted Stacey Keisler, Courtney Lombardi, or Tara Stewart. Sure, Ratigan was excellent in game five against Silver Beach, and that can be a little something towards it. However there has never been a script set up like this right now for them. If they can both lead the Rockets into forcing the 7th game then it can be that moment. Because as we know, and Falcons fans would likely agree, Tarrentum does not want this to go the distance now, because if it does, the pressure will be completely on them.

[Tarrentum]

Tarrentum Falcons Sporting News - LIVE PODCAST

With the budding rivalry between Newmanistan and Tarrentum heating up you decide to take a gander at what TFSN.com has to say. When you get to their home page you see that they have yet another podcast scheduled from Wyle Brocciolo and Mario "Super Fresh" Freccenza. Thankfully (possibly?) you are just in time, fortune smiles upon you again.

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Whatever! It's time for the TFSN Live Podcast. - Once again the announcer's voice is a bit too loud and you are forced to turn down you laptop's speakers.

Wyle Brocciolo: "Heeeelllloooo Tarrentum!"

Super Fresh: "And world!"

W.B.: "It's Wyle Brocciolo and 'Super Fresh' Mario Freccenza with another stirring Live Podcast on the state of Falcons sporting news.”

S.F.: “My name is Mario ‘Super Fresh’ Freccenza.”

W.B.: “Excuse me.”

S.F.: “My name. You never get my name right!”

W.B.: “I know why you’re upset.”

S.F.: “Your mother wasn’t putting out last night, that’s why!”

W.B.: “Well that was a bit over the line, don’t you think?”

S.F.: “Just get my name right and we’ll all be good.”

W.B.: “Fine! But I have to say that ‘all be good,’ is not what the Falcons are right now.”

They fight like an old married couple, you wonder to yourself. Seeing that you love multi-tasking, you start to search for other ‘Super Fresh’ links to see if he has a history of short-term job security – lousy, dirty hippie.

S.F.: “The Falcons are definitely feeling bruised right now after that Game 4 loss to Newmanistan.”

W.B.: “A couple of Gina Torretta home runs were not enough to lift them over the Rockets.”

S.F.: “A shame really.”

W.B.: “Lack of home runs is a shame.”

S.F.: “No I was talking about her not punching out any of those Newmanistani chicks.”

W.B.: “Which is not always a good thing mind you.”

S.F.: “Prude.”

W.B.: *SIGH* “Well the Falcons couldn’t get it done with Fironte Sareb on the mound in Game 4 and Ferdinand Cossomo was widely criticized by that Newmanistani show, Southport Baseball.”

S.F.: “Just a trivial thing, no one watches that.”

W.B.: “I believe that a healthy percentage of the billions of people in Newmanistan do.”

S.F.: “Details, details. The Falcons had a bad game and only lost by 2 runs. They still have a dominant grip on this series and will win it tonight with Pessotto on the mound.”

W.B.: “Yep, Natalie Pessotto is a go for Game 5, Christian Buonconte for Game 6 if necessary and Liona Marrada on short rest for Game 7 if necessary. It’s a shame to see Cossomo have to tack on Game 7. I fear for that scenario.”

S.F.: “So do I. The Falcons need to escape with a win in these next two games or else the Rockets may just be the first team to win a 7-game series in the WBC while being down 3 games to none. Teams are never the same after a failure like that.”

Your interest is piqued (and the search for Freccenza’s work history agonizingly unproductive), you start to look for other epic series’ collapses and come, once again, upon many Message Boards lampooning Tocrowkia’s decision to forfeit their series against Secristan.

W.B.: “Well it’s time for the Falcons to make their mark on the sports world. Torretta has really been hitting ‘em deep these last couple of games, couple that with Dessea Vallena-Favella and you’ve got yourself a dominant team.”

S.F.: “A dominant team that may come apart, if you believe Newmanistani journalism.”

W.B: “Vasparian to a no-name Newmanistani team? Yeah right. He’d get more money from the IBL any day.”

S.F.: “More exposure in Newmanistan though.”

W.B.: “He seems to be doing fine on his exposure here in the WBC. If Lower Marentian doesn’t resign him, expect him to go to a big money spender, possibly Napoliroma or Bolonza.”

You look up the Lower Marentian Rams website to see if they have any breaking news, then go to TSPNN.com and finally TFSN.com.

S.F.: “Vasparian would be crazy to leave. But I think I know who would go, Favella.”

W.B.: “Dessea?”

S.F.: “No. NO! What are you crazy! Don’t give the Newmanistani’s any hint of wanting to take The Dream away! I’m talking about Antoni.”

W.B.: “Possibly. Hasn’t shown much this WBC, but hit 23 HR in 98 games last year. Still, injury concerns and now marital concerns have to be taken into account.”

S.F.: “I think it’s just what the doctor ordered. Dessea definitely has no need for him, she’ll be commanding a hefty salary when she comes up for free agency in a couple of years and I don’t think that Vladgrad City would be willing to pay her out what she would want.”

W.B.: “I’m sure you know exactly what she needs?”

S.F.: “Hells yeah! But that’s besides the point. What we are looking at is a league on the rise. One more victory and people will start talking about the IBL as they did with the LAZY league so many years back.”

W.B.: “Too bad Yafor 2 had to go the way of the Illian Grasshopper.”

S.F.: “What, relegated for piss poor play?”

W.B. *LAUGHING* “Oh, what a way to work in some football there Super Fresh!”

S.F.: “Speaking of football, friendlies have begun but nothing coming out yet about any Tarrentian scheduled matches.”

You begin to search for the World Cup 54 home page.

W.B.: “Yes but Simeone Di Bradini is definitely making waves with his ever expanding book.”

S.F.: “I think Tarrentum’s success here in the World Baseball Classic should translate nicely to the World Cup stage. It’s that feeling of zeitgeist that’ll get everyone going.”

You turn it off, realizing that you are going to be late for your ‘Social Media Anonymous’ support group meeting. You just need to update your status message first…

[Newmanistan]

Welcome back to Southport Baseball Tonight, I’m Carrie Nicolette, and let’s get to the phones to hear what you, the fans, think about the do-or-die game five tonight.

“Yeah, uh, hi this is Paul. I am just wondering if you think that Courtney Stafford has won the second base job permanently?”

“The answer to that is no. Christina Sanders is well aware of what Courtney is capable of doing, and it is not as if she was inserting someone into the lineup who has not gotten a lot of playing time. Stafford has been the DH in all games that have used one, so her at-bats have been plentiful. It wasn’t a huge adjustment for her to step into that situation, and Rachel Cuyler still has the upper hand. Rachel is not the reason the Rockets are down in this series, and Christina is well aware of that. Next caller, please.”

“Dan from Jessicaville. I think it is so awesome to finally be a Newmanistanian. It’s just so cool to be able to watch games for free!”

“Yes Dan, I am sure it is. I think a lot of us here are needing to get used to hearing former Secristani cities now being part of the Empire, and it is good to see that we have your support. It’s a great first step for all of you to officially feel as though you are Newmanistanian.”

“Hey Carrie, this is Danielle and I just want to say I am sick of how critical you are of Brittany Castelli. You make it sound like she sucks. I know she can be hot and cold, but when she is hot, you guys hardly acknowledge it, and when she is cold, you are all over her.”

“Danielle, I will say this to be nice. Get ready for Brittany to be a reliever in eighteen (WBC 18), if she’s on the team at all, just like how Michelle Harrison was downgraded to the bullpen with the emergence of Ratty and Brazzy. (Courtney Ratigan & Jessica Brasfield). That is because Courtney Keisler will be ready, and Christina Sanders couldn’t be any more excited about putting her in the starting rotation. Brianna (Bruce) has bypassed Castelli, and Kaitlyn Ahearn does just enough to keep her spot.”

“Yo, Carrie. I want to know if you were on this team, if you would have punched out Gino Torretta like he was some washed up college quarterback from years ago that could never make it in the big time? Punch him with Hurricane force?”

“Well, whoever you are, the answer to that is probably yes. This Rockets team is more laid back then any I ever played on. Any of the team from seven through twelve (WBC 7-12) would have reacted much more aggressively towards her. I actually respect Gina’s talents though, she’s a good overall player who could probably put up good numbers if she played here. But she was a good target, the team knew she could be tempermental because they know of her incident with her teammate Vallena-Favella in the last Classic.”

“Hey Carrie it’s Rachel from Loudon! Put things in prospective for me if Newmanistan loses the series. I know we don’t want to think that, but how bad is it?”

“It’s bad because we lost. If you want to look at the big picture, this has been an extremely successful Classic for Newmanistan. Look at how other top five teams did in this Classic coming in. The Rockets will leave Lycrabon solidly entrenched as the number one ranked team in the world. The team has played quite well, and they have made their eighth championship series, which means they have been involved in just about half of every single Classic title ever, and we spotted the world six classics having joined in the seventh. If Tarrentum has the trophy when this is said and done, they were the best team of this year, but we are still, by far, the best team ever. Eleven overall appearances, eight final appearances. One last caller,”

“Hey it’s Ashley! My boyfriend has a weird superstition but he said if I wear red socks, then we might make this comeback. What’s up with that?”

“Wear them with pride!”

[Lycrabon]

A shade early, but game 5 cutoff....are we 4-1 or 3-2?



Newmanistan 11, Tarrentum 0 [Tarrentum leads series 3-2]

[Newmanistan]

ROCKETS WILL NOT GO AWAY WITHOUT A FIGHT

St. Catherine, Lycrabon- We use the word resiliency very often in these reports that it can seem like we overdo the expression, but there is no better way to describe these Rockets. This couldn’t be any more evident then what we are seeing in Lycrabon right now. Here was a team that many had written off after going down three games to none, but they are still here and still alive after five games. They still might not be able to pull off this comeback, but the character that they are showing now would make members of the past Rockets baseball teams very proud. The final scoreline 11-0 shows that this game was a rout, and tonight Newmanistan did thoroughly outplay Tarrentum, but the team knows that the margin of victory here in this game will mean nothing when they take to the field in game six. But with Jessica Brasfield on the hill tomorrow, and off of her great start in game one, you can’t help but have your imagination begin to wander. Can they make this comeback?

Courtney Ratigan didn’t have to be stellar tonight, but she was anyway, and no matter what happens in the rest of the series, this start coupled with her start in game five against Silver Beach will be remembered throughout her career. It is her shining moment, and she has certainly arrived now as the ace of the Rockets rotation. After game two and even with the Rockets down two games to none, Ratigan was not afraid to criticize Gina Torretta and the league of Tarrentum being a minor league in comparison to the NBL. Tonight, Courtney backed up her talk with a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits, walking none and striking out twelve. Oh-fers were seen throughout the box score for the key hitters of the Falcons: Torretta, 0-for-3; Utteroni, 0-for-3; Vallena-Favella, 0-for-3; Thomas, 0-for-3. Tarrentum did not have more then one hit in any inning, and failed to even get a runner to third base in the entire game and if their hitters wanted to prove Ratigan’s assessment of their team following two as incorrect, they would be very disappointed in the long run. Following the game, we sensed that Courtney was biting her tongue a little bit, perhaps wanting to throw down some more smack on the Falcons but realized with the Rockets still facing elimination, she should be cautions about anything she said. “I felt good and was ready to pitch. This was my chance to do something as I could only watch the series and us fall behind from the bench. I wish I could have done something more in this games, but this was my turn tonight,” Ratigan explained, “I wanted nothing more. I know their hitters are better then what they showed here, and that they will bounce back, but I was really in the zone tonight, it was pretty awesome.” Later in her comments, Courtney told us, “We aren’t down three-zip anymore. We’re down three-two. After five games, someone is always down three-two in a best of seven and there is nothing unusual about a team down three-two coming back to win the series.”

Then there is the offense. A team that scored just four runs in the first three games combined has now exploded for nineteen in the last two. They have not only woke up, but are now looking to redeem themselves, and that may be the most concerning aspect of the state of the series now for Ferdinand Cossomo. He was probably hoping for a big game out of starter Natalie Pessotto tonight, but he got anything but. Interesting, if Ratigan thought that the Tarrentum baseball league was nothing but a “minor league”, then what would she think about the league in Western Cuba? That’s a nation that has participated in the last few Classics, if you hadn’t noticed, which would be understandable considering they have not done anything of note in the competition yet. She has some pretty nice numbers there, but the words “consider the competition” certainly apply, though she has done well enough in this Classic to show she belongs, but yet would not intimidate these Rockets. Her bad night started immediately as she walked Stacie Meadows in a 13-pitch at-bat. Stacie stole second, advance on a Danielle Scott ground out, and then scored on a Courtney Weinman single. Then, Weinman took off, surprising Pessotto. “She didn’t look like she was expecting it,” said Weinman, “I think she was a little nervous and didn’t really try to hold me on first, so I got a good lead on the two pitches prior and I just thought, I’m going!” Flustered, on the next pitch Pessotto served up a fat one to Meghan Butler, and it would land 421-feet later in left field. Three consecutive singles following the longball extended the Newmanistan lead to 5-0 before Ratigan even threw a pitch. The sky blue tacked on two more in the third, with Meadows singling, stealing, and scoring on Scott single (say that five times fast). A batter later, Butler had her third RBI of the ballgame after a double to left, and that would end the night for Pessotto.

The Rockets maintained their touchdown lead for several innings, and seemed comfortably in control as Ratigan shut down the Falcons. It wouldn’t be until the 7th until the score would change again, and it would be the bottom of the order joining in the fun this time. With one down, Courtney Stafford doubled and scored on a Julie Sexton single. Tara Rulison doubled in Sexton, and then Ratigan blooped a single to left herself to score her catcher and make it 10-0. And in the 9th, the scoring was finished off by Julie Sexton’s solo home run to left which just barely remained fair. The final score would read 11-0 in favor of the Rockets. An impressive victory, but more work is needed.

Which is exactly what manager Christina Sanders told us after the game, though that should not surprise you. It’s always fun to beat your opponent by eleven runs and shut them out but tomorrow is a completely different story, and the Rockets will need to be ready to start from scratch tomorrow. “We’re certainly not giving in. We don’t have to four in a row now, we only have to win two in a row, and that is certainly something we can do. We have conceded nothing to the Falcons, and with Brazzy (Jessica Brasfield) back on the mound for game six we continue to like our chances. This team is just so resilient, we will never go away quietly.”

Resiliency. Yeah, we do use that word a lot. That is what these Rockets are and always have been. One more win, and we force a winner-take-all.

[Tarrentum]

Scenes from a Tarrentian Locker Room

Immediately following Game 5 loss to Newmanistan

“Well fuck.” Erni Washini threw his batting gloves into his locker. “We’re like damn idiots out there!”

“Speak for yourself Wash,” Raefele Magaglio, the rookie, said to his teammate with a smile, trying to diffuse the situation.

Washini had a look of impertinence on his face and walked right up to Magaglio, inches from his face. “You think something’s funny Raf? You think it’s hilarious that we just got our asses handed to us?” He shoved Magaglio back towards the center of the locker room as some more of the team filed in. “You think you’re better than me?”

“Man, you got some issues Wash, just trying to lighten the mood.” Magaglio said quickly.

“Lighten the mood? Shit, you couldn’t even win Rookie of the Year.”

“Fuck you Erni.”

“What did you say?” Washini asked, demanded was a better word to use.

“Enough!” The command came from the doorway leading into the locker room. By now the rest of the team and sullenly walked to their locker’s, trying to drown out the argument in the middle of the room. With most players in, the voice could only come from one person, Ferdinand Cossomo. “Washini, hit the showers you son of a bitch!”

“Let princess have his way?” Washini replied glibly.

“Hit the showers!” Cossomo repeated. “As for the rest of you, get your heads out of your asses! Look at me and listen. We’ve got two more games, we only need one. Quite frankly I don’t have any confidence that we can beat those Newmanistani’s if we lose tomorrow. So our pitching’s been suspect these last two games, well boo-fucking-hoo. We’ve all been here in our lives. Whether it be college, minors or pros, we’ve had to deal with this.” Some players coughed in the background as Washini stripped at his locker and walked into the showers in front of everyone stark naked.

“So we’re pissed off, who the fuck cares! You deal with your own personal shortcomings outside of this damn stadium! Torretta,” he pointed a finger at his short-tempered center fielder, “wake up! So they’re baiting you out there, who cares? Right now you have a job, be a team player. Dessea,” his star player was slowly running her hand through her pony-tail matted hair, “stop trying to everything on this team!”

“We’re Tarrentians dammit! Damn good ballplayers too! Find something in you to realize two things. First, we are still up in this series against the world’s best. Second, one more game. Forget about Game 7 – it’s not available. One game. Focus and succeed.”

Some players were nodding their heads. Others were stone-faced looking forward.

“Hit the showers and wait for the team bus.”

---

Morning of Game 6 – Practice

“You hear what was being said about us on Southport Baseball Tonight?” Joe Thomas asked Brenaccio Macca as they were both putting on their practice jerseys.

“Something about being akin to the NBL’s minor leagues again.” Macca replied with a sigh.

“You know, I’ve never even heard about the NBL until this series started. You think they are just making it up to look bigger to the world and former Secristani citizens?” Jason Skipper added in.

“You would think the biggest country in baseball would have the most publicized league.” Thomas answered in agreement.

Dessea Vallena-Favella and her husband walked in at that time, both looking a little preoccupied – and not in an endearing sort of way.

“Morning Favella’s!” Thomas said cheerfully.

“Go fu—“ Antoni Favella started but stopped himself.

“Whoa. What’s your deal?” Thomas replied.

Antoni looked at his wife who was slowly getting her uniform out of her locker to put on. Antoni seemed distracted. “You can’t do that…”

“’Can’t do that…’ what?” his wife shot back. “Can’t I do that without three other men in the room? I suppose I could Antoni but then what kind of ballplayer would I be?”

“A decent one.” Favella bluntly replied.

---

Practice at Riverside Stadium

“Arico! Focus dammit, we may need you tonight. This is a quick practice so stay limber.” Pitching Coach Joe Greene yelled at his reliever. “You’ve all,” he pointed to the bullpen pitchers in his vicinity which happened to be all of them, “got to wake up. We lost a lot of games when this tournament started because of a lack of focus. I know we’ve got it in us to succeed. That’s why you are all here – you are talented winners. Let’s make it happen.”

…

Dessea Vallena-Favella laughed as she was fielding ground balls at shortstop with the rest of the infielders. “…then they said that Vladgrad City was in a league of its own! I mean the fans there barely support the Stars such as it is. You think with all of their-“ she quickly scooped up the ball hit her way and flicked it to first base, “ ‘expert’ knowledge they would know that Natalie, Christian and I are still in the IBL.” She laughed a sweet, condescending laugh again.

“I know what you mean.” Ferdini Zappataro replied. “You would think that with billions of capital behind them that Southport would be able to get simple facts right. I suppose that’s what you get when you-“ the speedy infielder quickly fielded a chopping ground ball and flicked it, a little off-target, to first base, “have a country so enamored with it’s own self-worth in one sport.”

“Couldn’t you say the same about us though?” Xavier Gradoni asked.

“You mean us as a team or Tarrentum as a whole?” Magaglio replied.

“Tarrentum. Don’t we kind of get caught up in the excitement of baseball?” Gradoni clarified.

“Well, it is what helped piece the country back together after the war with Meddicia.” Vallena-Favella offered.

“It is our biggest export too.” Zappataro said with a smile.

“All hail Tarrentum for bringing the world together with the IBL.” Washini said mockingly. Everyone started laughing after that, bringing about a rebuke from Father DeSalvo at home plate who was hitting the ground balls.

…

“I’m just saying it’s okay Natalie, we all have bad games.” Sareb said as the pitchers were stretching.

“Fironte, you had a bad game too.” Pessotto replied, still visibly shaken from the 2 1/3 innings of bad baseball she pitched last night.

“Well, but I learned from the last Classic. These are international games against the world’s best. Newmanistan is one of the toughest. You pitched great against Qazox and in the Group Stage…remember that and feed off of that.” Sareb encouraged.

“Just remember too Pesso,” Christian Buonconte said in mock seriousness, “If you fuck up, you have another IBL season with me to look forward too.”

Pessotto rolled her eyes. “I know! I can’t just stay away from you. Oh baby, oh baby oh. I need you. I want you.” She said deadpan.

…

“Why don’t you just threaten to charge the mound?” Skipper asked during outfield drills.

“Threaten to charge the mound? You must be crazy. I’m going or I’m not. If that bitch thinks she can get into my head.”

“Gina dammit, she’s already there! Listen to yourself.” Nax Gatto interjected. “Focus.”

Torretta gave him a steely look. “Don’t you tell me to focus.”

“Ahh hell Gina.” Brenaccio said. “Just save it for the Newmanistani’s.”

[Tarrentum]

Tarrentum Falcons Sporting News
Falcons Pummeled by World's Best

St. Catherines, Lycrabon - The Falcons lost another tough game to the Newmanistan Rockets in Game 5 of the WBC 17 Finals Series last night. This was the second straight game that a Falcons starting pitcher has failed to last a full three innings, being pummeled for multiple run innings in the third. With this loss the #1 Rockets have really started to put the pressure on the #14 Falcons, who were up 3-0 in the series with the trophy in their grasp.

Such is the fickleness of the game of baseball. When you have statisticians trying to determine hot and cold streaks (they found them statistically irrelevant as predictors if you cared to know) you know that this game is a special game. Most people would call that "specialness" a swift kick in the balls. Consider that it only takes one swing of the bat to change the momentum of a game. It only takes one misplayed bounce to be the most reviled human being in your nation. It only takes one spectacular catch to save a 3 hour game. It's this individual effort in a true team sport that makes baseball so unique.

The Falcons found that one of those unique moments can occur over and over again. If we were to speak of the Newmanistani's in literary prose we would speak of how the silent dangerous power of the women of Newmanistan were awakened in an awful way. Do we have such poetic license though? If not, tough cookies, it's been said.

If Tarrentum manages to lose the next two games in the series, Ferdinand Cossomo will be highly regarded as blowing a perfect chance by putting Fironte Sareb on the mound in a decisive Game 4. Bertrando Sabre was well rested having not pitched in the Qazoxian series but the manager still went with his young (20 years old) pitcher. Cossomo said that he was going with Sareb becuase of the pitcher's experience and that can't be argued. A veteran of two previous WBC's, one Keisler Cup and one international tournament (the famed TIBRRT) Sareb has faced a lot of international competition. However, he never faced the Newmanistani's.

The Rockets rode the momentum from Game 4 into Game 5 and knocked strikeout queen Natalie Pessotto out of the game in 2 2/3 innings without even recording a strikeout. Pessotto was so shaken that she was a no-show for her post-game press conference. And really, what could be said? The Falcons starting pitchers in Games 4 and 5 have gone a total of 5 innings and given up 12 runs, 11 earned and 15 hits. Sareb and Pessotto have a .600 Batting Average Against (15 for 25, 28 plate appearances - 1 sac fly, 2 BB) in the past two games with 2 home runs, 2 doubles and 1 triple.

If the Falcons hope to return to any semblance of respect they need to win one game. Of course, they need to only win one more game to win the tournament so respect and a championship go hand-in-hand. Christian Buonconte, Natalie Pessotto's teammate on Western cuba-based Vladgrad City of the IBL, will start. Where Pessotto was #1 in the IBL in strikeouts, Buonconte was #2. Buonconte also came the closest to pitch the first complete game in IBL (including ASML days) history with his 8.3 IP, 0 hit performance during the IBL regular season.

So the Falcons have one more shot - becuase if this goes to a game 7, Tarrentum, you can kiss this championship goodbye!

[Newmanistan]

As the Rockets have been fighting to remain alive in the series against Tarrentum, the Newmanistanian troops that were sent to Secristan to occupy the country were beginning to wait for the message that they may return home. The combat specialists would be able to come back, and this could turn into more of a humanitarian mission now. There would be some security forces to keep the odd rebel at bay, but all the fighting had taken place. A new border was drawn, one in which Emperor Michael IV and Queen Cassie of Cassadaigua had agreed too, and it would be something that would strengthen diplomatic ties between the nations.

For General Freeman and Sargent Hillcrest, it was a great success, a success that they wish could also be equaled by the Rockets in Lycrabon, but even if that is not the case, for these men who have serving the Empire their livelihood, it is something they will cherish forever. Let’s face it, whenever any youngster joins the military in a time of peace, he or she is not expecting to be put in this situation. They do it because they love their country, and they will do everything they can for it. Sure, there are scholarships that can come of it, and job opportunities, and that will motivate a handful of them, but there is nothing that beats that patriotic feeling. For Freeman and Hillcrest, each joined the military while the Empire was at peace, and went through hours upon hours upon days upon months and months of training, just in case. It played out for them, and when they were sent to Secristan by the Emperor they were prepared. They had a plan and they were successful. Now, they were more then just a couple of proud Newmanistanians; now, they were national heroes. As the took some time to reflect, Freeman was given a very important letter:

Code: Select all

General,

You have done well.  Congratulations on making this mission a great success!  This is great moment for Newmanistan, and you have led it well.  The Empire now has complete control over the Penthoria River.  We have annexed Amherst, and Newmanistan-ized it.  We have taken control over the former nation of Secristan; other then what was given to Cassadaigua, and havw increased the land mass of the Empire by about 33%.  With this, we will be able to expand our realm of influence.  Newmanistan will flourish, because if we know anything about people that used to be referred to as Secristanis, it is that they will pay for just about everything.  Our companies can do more business there, and the Palace can create public programs for them as well.  Don’t get me wrong, general, I want the best for the people, because they are now Newmanistanian.  We will put well-trained and ready people in place in our new territory to care and prepare are new civilians for this next chapter in their lives.  You have played an enormous role in this, and I will reward you in Pocono City upon your return home.

That, General, is something you and your men can do tomorrow.  Pack up. We will prepare for your return.  However, in the meantime, I would like for you to do something else.  I realize it is a little late to get you to St. Catherine, Lycrabon for game six of the finals, but if we force that game seven, I would you and Sargent Hillcrest to go there and speak and the team.  Give them that message of bravery, courage, and never backing down from anything that you have made such a big part of your life.   I will take care of all the details of getting you there.  I really hope we have that game 7.  And after all you have been through, I know how very relaxing it would be for you.  You have earned it.  The Empire thanks you.

Sincerely,
 Emperor Michael IV

“Time to go home, Sargent!” exclaimed the General.

“I can’t wait!”

“Well, it might not be time to go home yet. One more thing needs to be accomplished, and if it’s done tonight, going home will have to wait a day. It will be a true battle. A slugfest, where only the strong will survive. It will take heart, character, and everything that one may have within themselves. Above all, it will take continued resiliency! But if we get there, tomorrow will be a great day. We will go home after tomorrow having achieved a most monumental mission.”

Sargent Hillcrest briefly looked puzzled, “Sir, what is it? I thought we were done with our fighting here. What is this great mission that awaits us?”

Freeman chuckled, “Oh it’s not us. I’m talking ‘bout the ladies in Lycrabon. Game 6 tonight, they don’t want to go home tonight, but instead do so tomorrow, but it has to happen tonight, first.”

Hillcrest laughed, “Oh, haha. Gotta love it when the media uses war metaphors to describe a sporting event!”

“Indeed, I knew you would get a kick out of that. But really how this concerns us is that the Emperor wishes for us to go to Lycrabon and speak with the ladies prior to game seven, if they are able to get that far. There wouldn’t be enough time to get there before tonight’s game. That would be so awesome.”

“We are their heroes, just like they are for us. I would love to be able to speak with them.”

“I don’t know what will happen, but with all that courage and strength, I like our chances. For now, let’s put on our lucky red socks, and turn on the game and support our team.”

“May the Rockets shine bright, tonight!”

[Lycrabon]

game 6 cutoff....will we have the winner-take-all game?

Newmanistan 2, Tarrentum 1 [series tied 3-3]

[Newmanistan]

WE’RE ALL TIED UP!

St. Catherine, Lycrabon- Many people would have been ready to write the Rockets off after they fell down three games to none, but not the most loyal of Newmanistanian fans. They saw the potential for the comeback, as long as they got through game four. Perhaps Tarrentum did not fully understand the situation when they were up 3-0, and why even with that lead, they had to take care of business in game four. But perhaps they did, perhaps they were just very confident in Fironte Sareb. As analysts such as Carrie Nicolette pointed out, it wasn’t necessarily because Sareb was a bad pitcher, or a good pitcher that had a subpar season in the IBL, but instead the style of pitcher he is. Newmanistan bats had been virtually silent to that point, and it would have been a perfect moment then, for a pitcher like Natalie Pessotto, who can rack up strikeouts in a hurry. Against Sareb, batters usually put the ball in play. That can be fine, but not ideal when playing an opponent with a powerful lineup that had been in a deep slump as the makings for waking them up would occur; and it happened. So while Pessotto’s stuff could have continued to stifle the Rockets batters, Newmanistan gained confidence in game four. When they played Natalie in game five, they were no longer struggling, and instead playing with renewed confidence. Tarrentum will be a great team in the World Baseball Classic and Ferdinand Cossomo is an intelligent manager and they still have a great chance to win this championship here and now, but Cossomo was clearly outsmarted here by Christina Sanders. It’s one of those things you chalk up to experience; of a manager who’s been here seven times before, and a manager who is here for the first time.

Game four was important for the Falcons because of Courtney Ratigan and Jessica Brasfield looming in games five and six. Courtney took care of business in the last game, thoroughly dominating the Tarrentum lineup in a game that will long be regarded as the best of her international career up to this point, even topping her wonderful performance against Silver Beach in game five of that series. Following the game, you could see some of the Tarrentum confidence fading away, both in the facial expressions of their players, and of their fans in the stands. Now, could Brasfield come through and force the 7th game? Several reporters from both nations may have wondered if there would be any incidents between Brasfield and Gina Torretta, given what occurred in game one. When asked, Brasfield declined to give a specific answer, instead telling us, “I’ll do whatever it takes.” Fans who don’t know any better probably saw that as a response that she would indeed, go after Gina, if she needed to. But fans who know the Rockets knew exactly what she meant. It is the Rockets, being the Rockets; something our players knew Tarrentum had never really seen before, and only heard or read about it. To use a hockey analogy, they are not the goon that plays dirty, but instead that checking-line forward or gritty defensemen; the one that does enough to get under your skin in an effort to throw you off, but within the rules, and once they have you, they have you. You can pretend as though it is not happening, but when they know they have you, they wait for you to retailate; for you to take the penalty, and not them. Furthermore, they can back it up with their production. Brasfield got to Torretta in game one, and knew exactly what she was doing. Michelle Harrison knew what she was doing in game two because it was safe to come close then. She was the reliever, not the starter. If she was tossed Cassie Herrick or Sara Schaefer could easily come in and finish out the game. It wasn’t rewarded immediately, but it was very evident in game 5. Torretta was 0-for-3 then, and 0-for-4 in game 6. Though there are other great players in the their lineup, so much of their offense goes through Torretta, and they knew it. Jessica Brasfield didn’t need to say any more then “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Opposing Brasfield would be Christian Buonconte, a teammate of Pessotto’s in Western Cuba, making one wonder what local Tarrentum fans feel about 2/5th of their national team’s starting rotation playing overseas, especially if their own league wants to be considered a high-profile league. Why can’t the home-nation teams keep pitchers that are among the best in their nation? Maybe Carrie Nicolette is on to something! “I wonder about that 10-year old kid from Tarrentum who’s watching at home,” said Carrie on Southport Baseball Tonight, “He paints his face orange and blue and proudly waves the flag of his homeland. Then, he turns to his greatly patriotic father and asks, ‘Daddy, why don’t our pitchers pitch in Tarrentum during the season?’ That’s gotta be tough for the father to answer. Perhaps the kid then sees the graphics on the Newmanistan players and see that all of them play at home, and then wonders ‘Why can’t we be like that, too?’”

Brasfield and Buonconte were the story tonight, each taking care of business. Newmanistan managing just one hit in the first four innings, and Brasfield tossing five perfect innings to start off. In the bottom of the fifth, the Rockets would have their break through. With Courtney Stafford hitting a one-out double. Julie Sexton then had a piece of doubling herself to do to score Stafford. Tara Rulison flew out to left, and Sexton was unable to advance. With Jessica Brasfield coming up to the plate, the inning seemed as good as done and she appeared to strike out to end the inning, however catcher Valerio Utteroni couldn’t handle the curveball. Ever alert (and who not to know to break for first immediately on a dropped third strike then the opposing pitcher), Brasfield took off for first, and reached safely thanks to an offline throw. Then a single by Stacie Meadows made it 2-0 in favor of the Rockets. The Falcons got one back in the 7th, thanks to a Joe Thomas RBI-double, but they would not be able to do anything else off of Brasfield, who went nine innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out eight. There were no incidents between Brasfield and Torretta, just as the fan who knows the Rockets knew. As Brasfield fanned Utteroni to end the ballgame she glanced briefly into the Tarrentum bench and simply signalled with her fingers, “three-three.”

And that’s where we are. We look back at this, regardless of what happens in game seven, as Ratigan and Brasfield having their international career-defining moments. There will be a game seven, and if you told us that before the series started, that might not have surprised you, but what a wild ride this has been. Many thought we were out. The Falcons were ready to celebrate, but this Rockets team, just like those who have gone before them, just will not go away. It will be Kaitlyn Ahearn on the mound in the deciding game, and that’s just fine. The team had to go for broke to get here, and they did. The Rockets are elated to be here. As for the Falcons; they feel the heat, and now it’s more then just Brasfield or Nicolette or Ratigan in their heads. It is the illustrious history of the resilient Rockets in the World Baseball Classic in general, that is.

[Tarrentum]

Tarrentum Falcons Sporting News
Rockets Knot Series

St. Catherines, Lycrabon - Well, the undesired has occured. Where once the Falcons had the world by the proverbial testicles, they now is struggling just to get to first base (literally and figuratively). A lot of recent incidents are now showing the cracks in the Falcons' facade. But this is to be expected, if unwanted.

Tarrentians are a competitive lot. The predecessor to the great Allied States was, as all Tarrentian school children learn, the Tarrentum Valley Imperium. The Imperium prided itself on it's self-perceived notions of destiny, righteousness and self-worth (sound familiar?) yet after wars (getting warmer?) and internal politiking the Imperium collapsed under its own weight, lost to the world. Yet while the government of the Imperium may have been lost, the culture it created was one of strong-willed, persevering individuals. Whether they be the northern Krozilitians, the southern Tarrentians, the western Apollonians or the eastern Napolitians the people of the Allied States are competitive.

But along with that competitive drive comes some stubbornness and right now that trait may be the most dominant among the team. Father DeSalvo has spoken over and over again about learning from the past and putting the past behind the group but some, notably Gina Torretta and Antoni Favella, seem to be missing that message. Torretta's actions are indeed affecting her game play, as Ferdinand Cossomo alluded to after the Game 6 loss. "[She's] out there trying to do too much and her negative attitude is definantly affecting the rest of the team." Favella himself was said to have left early from the stadium after the loss and not taken the team bus back to the hotel. While reports are unclear, it appears that he and his wife are not on speaking terms anymore.

Despite all of the distractions, the Falcons played a good close game last night against a superior Rockets team. Christian Buonconte (who was lambasted in the Newmanistani press for ludicrous reasons) pitched a decent game. His removal in the top of the 6th was more to do with a "move on" mentality from Cossomo who pinch hit for his starter and then put in reliever Guignard Arico, who has really redeemed himself from earlier in the tournament this series. While the pitching was decent, the bats were once again silent as Ferdini Zappataro, Gina Torretta, Xavier Gradoni and Valerio Utteroni (the top of the lineup) all went "oh-fer" in the game, with Zappa and Torretta drawing walks [OOC: Only way to make her go 0-3 and to get Thomas the RBI double, FYI]. Yet the one bright spot has been the play of Joe Thomas. The second-year WBC participant has been the primary offense for the Falcons in this series.

The Falcons will be looking to for an early lead tonight as they take on the Rockets in Game 7. Most people, including TFSN, thought it would go to seven games. QSPN said that the Rockets would wrap it up in 6 games. Yet it doesn't matter. The Falcons need a strong performance from Liona Marrada, pitching on four days rest. The Falcons also need Dessea and Valerio to awaken and start making contact again.

Updated stats for WBC 17

[Newmanistan]

Christina Sanders gathered her team in the locker room for the morning briefing, as she would on any game day, even though this would be no ordinary meeting. She was aware of all of the reports circulating now that Tarrentum was now the team on the fence, but wanted to be certain that her team would not lose focus of this task at hand. Just like the Falcons had not yet won the series when they took the three-zip lead, Newmanistan had not won it by winning the next three. Deep down, she knew the players didn’t have to hear that message, but it was her job as a coach to say it anyway. Many have been in this situation, so she didn’t need to bring out the cliche of “act like you’ve been there before.” Because these ladies have indeed been in this situation as many were part of, at least, the WBC 15 Championship team. The players and Sanders went over things with one another, just as they always would.

As this was going on, two of Newmanistan’s greatest modern-day heroes were on their way to Riverside Stadium in St. Catherine. General Freeman and Sargent Hillcrest were baseball fans during the Classic, and perhaps it was the baseball tournament that allowed them to remain relaxed and confident. What they did in what used to be called Secristan was very impressive as well not only because of the swiftness of the annexation, but because of the limited loss of life. With messages from Emperor Michael IV helping their cause, they were able to convince the former Secristani people that things would be better for them under Newmanistanian rule since it appears as though their former government has gone by the wayside, for good. Because of that, there was little resistance. The most difficult challenge probably came in Amherst when the rebels tried to organize, but they were greatly outnumbered. The Newmanistanian troops did not terrorize anyone, and now the nation can look forward to its future with most of it now officially part of the Empire. Having completed the mission, the soldiers went home, and the humanitarians and other diplomats went in. However, Freeman and Hillcrest were given this great opportunity, on behalf of the Emperor to go to Lycrabon and speak to the players.

Christina Sanders was the only one who knew they were coming, and when she got a text message that they had arrived, she could hardly wait to let them into the room. Finishing up the topic of discussion that she was on, she introduced them to the team,

“Ladies, I want to introduce to two fine men. These two gentlemen helped lead the annexation of Secristan while we’ve been playing baseball. They were asked to come here by the Emperor, and they were more then happy to do so. I am more then thrilled to have them here. What they faced was unreal, and while it wasn’t war, they came across many people who were down three games to none in the best-of-seven series of life. But those people would not give up. They never surrendered and did whatever they could to stay alive. They have come out victorious now. Well, without any further adieu, here is General Benedict Freeman and Sargent Winston Hillcrest.” The players stood up and gave them a standing ovation.

“I want to thank you all for the kind welcome.” The General began, “First I want to let you know that we were two of your biggest fans. It wasn’t possible to watch every game, but we were sure to catch the highlights of each game and figure out what had happened. In many ways, ladies, it was your games that allowed us to relax. When you are out there on such a serious mission, you are completely locked in to the task at hand, but you can’t let the pressure and the heat of the moment get to you. There were some unexpected results in the Classic as a whole, but you all stood firm and got wonderful results. I think we can say the same thing about what we experienced in Secristan. Heck, they used to be our rival, but those people needed direction, and I mean both the haves and the have nots. Those who were poor, were still poor. Those who were rich lost almost all they had due to no government presence and no law enforcement. Their properties and businesses were looted and destroyed. The occupation was about taking complete control of the Penthoria River, but it became about giving their people a better life. They knew we were there for that and despite some resistance, we were accepted..”

Sargent Hillcrest continued, “I had a 72-year old man come up to me and ask if I remembered twelve (WBC 12). I do. It was Newmanistan’s second trophy, but this man was in attendance, not as a Newmanistanian then, but as a Secristani. Remember, we won twelve on their soil. He told me that he was the only one of his friends that chose to root for Newmanistan in that series. This gentlemen had been a successful business owner, but when the government ceased to exist, his business was looted and set on fire. It burned to the ground, and just as he was getting over that his house was robbed and the thieves took anything they could get their hands on. As if that wasn’t depressing enough to hear from this man, he told me that there was one thing that was taken from him that he missed more then anything else. He caught a foul ball that day, the day the Rockets won the championship. It was off the bat of Carrie Nicolette. The next year, he went to Southport, and got the ball autographed by Carrie. The ball was stolen by the thieves. He told me money and his insurance policy could replace other things but that ball would be gone forever. After telling me of the misfortune, he told me he knew he always liked Newmanistan, laughed, and told me how proud he was to be a Newmanistanian now. He then asked me about you all and I told him that I would do what I could, if you all won the trophy, to bring it to these former Secristani cities. Those people, like this man, who’s name and address I have kept, need to feel like champions.”

Jessica Brasfield reached into a duffel bag that was behind her. “I want you to give that man this.” From her bag, she pulled out the “game ball” from game six. She took a Sharpie from her locker and autographed the ball, but before she could give it to Hillcrest, Courtney Ratigan, who was sitting beside her extended her hands out to sign the ball as well. Soon enough, the ball made its way around the room, with all players and coaches signing it. Jessica handed it to Hillcrest.

“Absolutely Jessica and thank all of you. In closing I just want to say best of luck and remember to have fun out there. There is so much more out there then baseball, yet baseball is so important to many people. But whatever happens tonight, you are champions. The Tarrentum Falcons are champions. How else can a series like this be described in any different way? I know there’s pressure on them. They don’t have the titles we do, and they got to feel like they have let it slip away by this point. You? You act like you’ve been there. Because, you have.”

Kaitlyn Ahearn, the soft-spoken starter for game seven stood up and thanked the military leaders then told her teammates that she would do whatever it took to win this game. When she used those words “whatever it takes”, it didn’t mean the same thing as it did when Jessica Brasfield used them in her interview prior to game six. The players applauded and began talking amongst themselves and with Freeman and Hillcrest. They didn’t know what might happen tonight, but they were certainly inspired and motivated to play. The brave men and women who fought for the country were successful, now they wanted to be as well.

It’s time for game seven. Let’s play ball.

[Lycrabon]

Game 7 cutoff....as Lycrabon-Barnettsville hall of Fame pitcher Garry Barnett Jr. threw out the first pitch...(yes, that's my HOF choice - being that Lycrabon is now entitled to one (5 WBC's)) The bubbly ischilling in both locker rooms as well....

Anyway, who hoists the trophy?

Newmanistan 8, Tarrentum 4 [wins championship 4-3]

[Tarrentum]

Tarrentum Falcons Sporting News
Falcons Fail to Blast Off with Rockets

St. Catherine, Lycrabon - The 17th World Baseball Classic ended tonight with an 8-4 rout of the Tarrentum Falcons by the world's number 1, Newmanistan Rockets. While Tarrentum was the darkhorse to reach the finals in the first place, their failure to capitalize on a 3-0 series lead in this Best-of-7 Series showed that their lead was more luck than talent. Blame could be cast about on one player or another but it's the sad fact that the Falcons failed to capitalize.

Whether it was the decision to start Fironte Sareb in Game 4 or to leave Bertrando Sabre on the bench for the last two series of the tournament, managerial decisions were definantly called into question in this Classic. Yet one thing has to be said of Ferdinand Cossomo and Father DeSalvo, they, together, brought the Falcons further into the tournament than any Tiberius Wavi ever had. Could it be that Cossomo had more to work with? Unlikely as the Falcons roster has the highest turnover of any WBC Council nation from year to year. This turnover is due to the Tarrentum Sports Committee's reliance on the International Baseball Leagues post-season statistics to determine who should get tapped to be on the international roster. No, Cossomo excelled at having the right people on his staff and helping each of his players meld together as a team. When Cossomo was thrown out in the Semi-final series against Qazox, Father DeSalvo deftly handled his responsibilities in the next game.

However the Qazoxian series only foreshadowed the growing discontent that has plagued the last two national teams that were sent to the WBC. Right when things were looking their best, the team began to come apart from within. First Gina Torretta showed increasing signs of frustration during the games against Newmanistan. Then reports came out about a verbal argument between Erni Washini and IBL (and WBC) rookie Raefele Magaglio after the Game 5 loss. Further reports were leaked that the Favella's, IBL's "First Couple" of baseball, were beginning to show signs of estrangement in their marriage. Then, shockingly, Gina Torretta was sat in the last game for speedy Brenaccio Macca.

Macca was the IBL's top base stealer last year and Father DeSalvo said after the loss that he and Cossomo thought that the dual threat at the top of the order (Zappa leading off with Macca hitting second) would help out their chances against Newmanistan's renewed pitching threat. Macca's bat and speed were on display during his pinch hitting stints throughout the entire Classic but he didn't have one more game of glory in him. Joe Thomas once again showed off his hitting prowess against the Newmanistani pitchers as he hit another home run in the 3rd and drove in the Falcons last run in the 8th. Largely silent throughout the entire series was Tarrentum's top player, Dessea Vallena-Favella. However, her increasing marital strife with her husband could be an adequate explanation for her drastically reduced presence.

Tarrentum played the most games out of any participating nation. In fact, the Falcons played every Matchday for the automatically advancing nations during this Classic. The wear was visible as the team lost more and more momentum against the world's best. The ball players wearing the Falcon still showed the world a look of things to come. There's no doubt that the Falcons will be a favorite on some sports books for Classic's to come. There's also no doubt that the world got a look at some impressive baseball talents. Whether you believe the Newmanistani reports that put Romeo Vasparian in an NBL uniform next year or possibly, even, Joe Thomas, it's been a terrific ride for the Falcons.

Next on the agenda for Tarrentum officials is a rumored detailed review of the WBC Constitution by them and the other Council members. Let's hope that Tarrentum's selected few have a voice that the other nations would want to listen to and that the WBC comes out stronger in the end.

[Newmanistan]

FOUR-TIME CHAMPIONS!!

St. Catherine, Lycrabon- With their backs behind the wall and facing elimination against a very talented team from Tarrentum down three games to none, somehow these Rockets found a way to do the impossible. As we know, the Empire’s national motto has always been, “Making the impossible, possible,” and that was witnessed on the baseball. It is almost unbelievable to think that they were able to pull this off, but now those Tarrentum fans that brought brooms to game four can use those to sweep up the mess that their historic collapse has created as for as amazing as this may be for us to have made this comeback, the agony that must be going on with the Falcons must be unreal.

When Tarrentum took their 3-0 lead, Christina Sanders was forced to make a change to the lineup. It wasn’t a major move, and instead very subtle: replacing Rachel Cuyler at second base with Courtney Stafford, and the 21-year old delivered with timely hits in each of the three games that the Rockets were going to win. So it is understandable to know why Ferdinand Cossomo felt as though he needed to make changes to his lineup as well to stop the bleeding and serve as the same kind of wake up call that the Rockets were given after game three. The move may have been unexpected to Rockets fans that admittedly might not know a ton about the Tarrentum players, but when you look at the facts at hand, you can understand the call. Gina Torretta did not start tonight for Tarrentum, benched in favor of the speedy Brenaccio Macca. If Carrie Nicolette on Southport Baseball Tonight says she thought the move was smart, well, should any more be said, “You can see that Gina had been struggling, and I give Brazzy (Jessica Brasfield) a lot of credit for that. In these last two games, you could see this wasn’t the same player that had been such an integral part of getting the Falcons to the title series. Taking such a player out of the lineup is bold, but a great way to send the message that needed to be sent to his players. Even more then this though, I like the addition of Macca. Obviously, Cossomo was planning on using a strategy of a dual speed threat at the top of the lineup, and against a pitcher who relies on offspeed stuff like Ahearn, I like the move.”

As for the Rockets, the team had a couple of special guest-speakers prior to the game in the tune of General Benedict Freeman and Sargent Winston Hillcrest, who led the mission to annex Secristan and make it part of the Newmanistanian empire. We don’t know what might have been said in the locker room in the morning briefing, but we’re sure it was a very inspirational message to here from these two men who led this important mission. Freeman and Hillcrest remained at Riverside Stadium and watched the game from a luxury suite up above with some other Newmanistanian celebrities. Unlike the Falcons, who obviously did not want to be in the seventh game and starting to become unraveled, heck even their famous baseball couple Dessea Vallena-Favella and husband Antoni were showing some signs of strife, leading Tarrentum media sources to wonder about what problems may exist in their relationship, and that said problems may be causing each to slump in this series; the Rockets were very composed. They should have been eliminated a long time ago, but here they were. Newmanistan got here by doing the little things, and with this confidence and their experience, most predicted that the Rockets would win game seven.

And so they did. Kaitlyn Ahearn was good enough and the Rockets won the ballgame by the score of 8-4, becoming the first team to win four WBC championships, and two of the last three. It is the fourth Classic in a row won by a nation from the region of One Big Island. The scoring began in the second inning, as Tara Rulison blooped a single into right center, scoring Courtney Stafford, who had singled and advanced on a flyout earlier, but the Falcons got the run right back when Joe Thomas, perhaps the one Falcon who had a complete 7-game series of producing, hit a solo home run to tie the game in the top of the third. The Rockets poked ahead 2-1 in the fourth on an RBI single from Kristen Wheeler, only to have the Falcons tie it up again in the top of the fifth. While neither starting pitcher, Ahearn or Liona Marrada were having the kind of game that legends were made of, each seemed to be doing good enough and giving their team a chance to win the ball game. However, the bottom of the 6th will go down as where this series was won for the Rockets. Quite often, big innings for Newmanistan start right at the top, with the speed of Stacie Meadows, and that was the case here as she led it off with a double. The next batter, Danielle Scott lined out to second on a tremendous leaping play by Ferdini Zappataro, but that webgem was the lone highlight of this half-inning for the Falcons. Courtney Weinman singled, to drive in Meadows. Then Meghan Butler singled, and Kristen Wheeler brought them both in with a double to make it 5-2. After Stafford was retired on a ground out, Julie Sexton drove in Wheeler to put the sky blue up by four.

Tarrentum inched closer, getting single runs in the 7th and 8th innings to make it 6-4, and Ahearn’s day would end after eight. Her final line showed 8 IP, allowing four runs on ten hits, walking two and striking out seven. It’s not the kind of line that will one an award, but she got clutch outs, as evidenced by the fact that Tarrentum never put any crooked numbers up there on the line score in any inning. In the bottom of the 8th, the Rockets got themselves some insurance as Tara Rulison’s two-out, two-run single made it 8-4. Pulling ahead by four had Christina Sanders call off putting in closer Erica Barrett in the 9th (in case she would be needed later), instead opting for short inning specialist Sara Schaefer. Sara took care of business, allowing only one single in the inning, to preserve the Rockets victory, and ultimately this amazing championship run.

Jessica Brasfield was named the series MVP for the Rockets, although you could have given it to several different players, such as Courtney Ratigan or Meghan Butler. For many on this lineup, it is their second championship, since there are lot of holdovers from WBC 15. Christina Sanders is now a 4-time WBC winning manager. There is expected to be a little bit of turnover for the next Classic but you’ll see many of these names again, too. Sanders, who has coached the team since (WBC) seven, was asked if she might be planning to retire and go out on top. She grinned and held out her pinky finger. “It needs a ring, too.” she said. So Rockets fans can get ready for her to be back.

All of us involved with the Rockets would like to extend our thanks for the wonderful hospitality we enjoyed here in Lycrabon. It was a fantastic tournament, and we are excited about the title defense attempt. We would like to congratulate Tarrentum as well. If we’re arrogant towards you, it means deep down, we respect your national team. Otherwise it wouldn’t be worth the effort. Losing in this manner will only make you stronger in the long run, and we expect that it will start in WBC 18.

Until then, these are your four-time champions, signing out!